Lemonade Stand

Rachel and Kaden (but mostly Rachel) wanted to have a "lemonade stand". They had been begging for a few weeks so I finally gave in. It's one of those things that makes just one more thing to deal with so I have tried to avoid it, but I'm trying to be better at letting my kids do things I wouldn't normally let them do just because I think it's inconvenient for me. Rachel was concerned at first that living in a cul-de-sac would make for slow business, but they did pretty well considering the location. They "hired" one of Kaden's friends to go around the neighborhood soliciting their treats. They had a great time and once again I was reminded that it didn't really make more work for me.

Good-bye Black Hole. Hello Patio.

Remember the "black hole" in my backyard?....

It is no more! Yay!

And we broke it in promptly with Nate's brother, Brian, and a few of his kids and my brother, Rick, and his wife and kids.
I must say, I think I had the best s'more I've ever had. Not sure how or why.... it was the same old recipe.... graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hersheys chocolate but it was GOOD!

Farm Country

Tye had another field trip to Thanksgiving Point on April 19th. This time it was a visit to Farm Country. It was perfect weather and we had a great time! They had baby ducks, pigs and a calf along with all the other animals... horses, cows, turkeys, chickens, goats, sheep, etc.. The pony ride is always a highlight. Haley didn't want to get off the pony and tried to squeeze her legs tight so I couldn't lift her off. I won that fight, of course! Tye was such a nice brother and would hold Haley's hand and helped keep track of her... too cute! And Eliza once again was an angel. She hung out in the stroller and hardly made a peep.

New Style

I was in need of a new hairstyle. You like???

I think the kids did a terrific job!

No, really, I needed a change. It takes my hair a LONG time to grow out so I get bored as soon as it finally reaches a certain point. Not to mention my hair is all frizzy, weird, and retarded. I have waves in some spots. Not in others. It "poofs" if I just let it air dry {like in the picture- courtesy Tye}. I have just been pulling it back into a pony tail 90% of the time so it was time to change it up.

I chopped off about 6 inches.... that's pretty good in my book. A rare occurrence. This picture was courtesy Nate. It makes me want to reach my hand in there and straighten out my hair. Oh well.

Are you tired of looking at the back of my head???

Okay, fine! Here's a front shot. I'd much rather be behind the camera and I bet you're wishing I was too! :) {I can't believe I just put that on here. I hope you enjoy- at my expense!}

Just Medium

Rachel: "You're the meanest mom in the world!!"

Kaden: "I think you're just medium. Sometimes mean and sometimes nice."

I can live with "medium". I just hope my niceness out weighs my meanness in the end.

Mullet

mul-let [muhl it] -noun: a hairstyle that is formed by cutting the hair short on the top and sides and allowing it to grow longer in the back.
In this case it never was intentionally cut in that manner, but she's got one all the same. Some might even call it a femullet {girl mullet for those not familiar with mullet lingo}. I should probably trim it a little in the back, but I don't want to get rid of those curls yet.... they will be gone all too soon. They never stay with my kids.

Spring Break {April 5-9}

Well, originally we were going to try to take the kids on a little trip.... away from our regular life and routine, but that didn't end up happening. So we tried to make the most of the week with Nate home {he took the week (mostly) off} and no school.

Monday we took the kids to see How To Train Your Dragon in 3D.I thought it was a cute movie. I think the kids had fun.... and Nate and I would have had fun if it hadn't been for the 2 year old! She wanted to use the restroom about a billion times. I finally just took her to the car to hang out with me toward the end of the movie and THEN she decides she REALLY needs a potty right then and there.... poop! Ugh! I did however have her in a pull-up. I know. I know. I'm pretty much the smartest mom out there! {wink, wink} We also had Nate's family pictures that evening because his brother, Eric, and his family from California were in town. Afterward, we picked up pizzas and hung out.

Tuesday the kids went to "work" with Nate. They had been begging him for awhile to take them to work with him so he decided to let them come along for an under stage door repair in Provo. Of course, the real reason they even wanted to go to work with dad was so they could run wild in the cultural hall.... there's just something about a big empty church on a non-Sunday that makes kids energy quadruple! Later that day Rachel went to a sleep over at Nate's parents house. It was all planned by Aunt Kim. They did nails, hair, make-up and got ice cream cones at McDonalds. (I hear it was a success!) The boys had a "late night" (as it is called at our house) with one friend each.

Wednesday the kids just played. Nate and I went out on a date with just the adults in Nate's family-- Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Bowling afterward. I must say you don't want me or Nate on your bowling team. Aye yie yie!! I even had an injury.... broken finger nail! It hurt, okay?!

Thursday we took the kids to Salt Lake City to stay in a hotel and so we could claim we took them on a trip. It actually turned out really fun.... not super exciting or anything, but we let them call the shots (mostly) and it was a hit! On our way they wanted to go to a McDonald's with a play place so our first stop was McDonald's in Lehi. Wahoo!

Then, as soon as we got to the hotel it was off to the pool.

"Four in a bed and the little one said Roll over. Roll over. So they all rolled over and one fell out......." sorry it couldn't be helped!
Next, we ordered pizza and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

The next morning we went to Temple Square. Lots of beautiful flowers everywhere... I loved it! We visited Grandpa Bishop at work at the Church Office Building, visited the 26th floor and ate at the cafeteria there (kids choice). We were back home by 2:30 p.m..... pretty much a 22 hour vacation, but the kids loved it.

Rachel had another sleepover with cousins Friday night and the boys had one at Grandma and Grandpa Swensen's house. It made for a quiet night at our house. And that's about it. At least, that's all the excitement I can remember.

Sittin' Time

This was Eliza's first time {4/2/10} actually being able to sit in the Bumbo.... although ours isn't technically Bumbo brand.... not sure what brand it is or what it's called.... anyway.....
Haley was loving on her. {Notice the red mark on Eliza's head? Maybe a little too much love!}

She looks so little. Oh my! I feel like she's getting so big and growing so fast, but this picture proves how little she still is. Phew!! For a minute there I thought she was all grown up and not 3 months old.

Ha, ha!! This picture makes me laugh!

Uh-oh! And we're done.

Face Art

The kids decided one night while mom was feeding the baby and dad was at scouts that drawing on their faces was a good idea. When I bought the package of new markers I mentioned that they were washable..... meaning I was glad it would wash out of their clothes easier than the previous markers. They took it as meaning it washes off "everything". After scrubbing and scrubbing, they all had faded mustaches the next day. Tye's was definitely the hardest to get off. Rachel was laughing at Kaden because the BYU on his forehead was written backwards. I then informed her that her BYU was backwards too, then snapped the picture.... not so funny anymore, is it Rach?! Then of course they have to be such good examples to Haley. Just when she hasn't drawn on herself in a while.... I hope she will forget all about this! She was just copying Tye's grumpy face in the picture. She was quite proud of her "make-up"!

Easter

Grandma and Grandpa Swensen's Easter Egg Hunt

Grandpa and Nana Bishop's Easter Egg Hunt

So I was a slacker this year with Easter outfits. The girls ended up with mismatched jumpers and the boys.... well, they got nada! I guess since General Conference was on Easter and we were out of town the Sunday before, I didn't feel any pressure to have everyone all matchy, matchy and in new duds. And girls are just so much easier to find things for anyway.

All the sillies and the "too cool to be sillies"(Rachel)...

As for celebrating Easter we watched General Conference and had dinner with Nate's family. I did a lot more last year in helping the kids learn about the real meaning of Easter and we celebrated it for an entire week so hopefully I'll do better next year. We of course talked about the Resurrection and all, but I could have done better. The Easter Bunny left some baskets full of candy and a toy, but it was really low key like every year.... we don't make a big deal of it.

The Run Away

Tonight Kaden, I guess, had had enough and decided to run away. He's such a good boy. He's very mellow, doesn't require a ton of attention, and usually goes about doing what he should. Lately he's been wetting his pants while playing outside because he's too lazy to come in the house. So he gets a little punishment for that and of course, Rachel teases him and tattles on him. That's what sisters are for, right?! She'll also tease him about a certain girl he has a little crush on. So he's frustrated with Rachel and all her teasing. I'm the one who has to decide on the punishment so of course he's mad at me, too. I also had to put my foot down about eating snacks. Our rule/routine has always been eat your dinner so your full then we have a little "bed time snack" sometime before bed.... if we have a dessert that night then that's the bed time snack. If not, then they can have some crackers, toast, fruit or whatever. Well, tonight we had brownies (I know, super healthy!), but he asked for more snacks right before bed. Nate and I have given in the last few times he claimed he was "starving", but I put my foot down tonight and it didn't go over well with him. He opened the front door, said he wanted to try a new family and stormed out. He returned quickly, but only to grab his coat! Then off he went shoeless. Rachel and Tye burst into tears. They thought I was crazy to let him go and seriously thought he was never going to return. I watched him walk down the sidewalk about 10 feet then he darted across our front lawn and stood in the rain in our flower bed. I went out there and told him I didn't want him to leave and would miss him too much if he left. He reluctantly came back inside. When I finally had the little ones in bed and was able to sit down and talk to him, what it really came down to was he just wants to know and feel that everyone loves him. Which we obviously do, but for some reason he feels picked on and unloved. Breaks my heart to think about it. I tell him I love him every morning and night and I'm sure a few times in between too. I try to give lots of hugs and kisses.... but I need to do more than that. Since he doesn't outwardly require a lot of extra attention, I haven't been giving him the extra that he needs. I think there's something about the second child in a larger family that they somehow get over looked... They aren't the oldest, the youngest, in the "cute" stage their younger siblings are in, etc.. Don't get me wrong he's adorable and does some really cute, funny and silly things, but you know what I mean, right? There always seems to be something that trumps him. And really it's my own fault. This has made me think deeply about how I can give of myself and my love in 5 different directions by my actions.... not words (and without the help of a husband since he travels half the week). I think I have my work cut out for me, but I can do it! I know exactly who to ask for help....

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matt 7:7-8