BOOK OF THE WEEK

EYES LIKE MINE
(March 26, 2012)



I loved that this story's message was based around LDS pioneer history. It made me want to read more about the early pioneers in our Church's history. In fact, if anyone has suggestions let me know.

The book itself is ok. It isn't very funny, it isn't life-changing. It just is what it is...just a touching book dealing with hard topics.

Elmo---er...Dave?

For a whole month before this cute little girls birthday party, her dad tried and tried to convince Dave that he needed to dress up as the Elmo for her party. Dave assured him that that was definitely a father's duty and that he'd pass.

No such luck. :) That is Dave himself in the Elmo costume. He finally caved. Towards the end of the party Dave snuck out, put the costume on and surprised everyone. Jaiya (the 2-year-old birthday girl) was so excited! It was really cute. My kids could see Dave's eyes through the mouth of the costume and called him on it.

Book of the Week

BRISINGR
(March 19, 2012)

I LOVED this book. Do I think it is worth it to read the first two books in this series to get to the third? Not necessarily. But I really have liked this book the best so far out of all of them and I can't wait to read book 4! One big huge pet peeve from this series is Saphira. I skipped over the short chapters where the author had her narrate. Her whole personality is just silly to me. In my opinion, dragons are supposed to be strong no matter what gender, and making her into a silly girl isn't doing the series any favors.

beachwood park

Corbin's theater class and production

We signed Corbin up for a little theater class after school. It was SO CUTE!! They helped make the scenery and costumes and they acted out nursery rhymes and then put on a production for the parents. The kids all lined up and sang a song and each child had their own little part in the song. Corbin had to hit spoons together. The production was really simple but really cute.

more psuedo summer days

Eating frozen pops on the deck.

Book of the Week

ANGELA'S ASHES
(March 12, 2012)


This is a memoir about the Irish-American author Frank McCourt. I was not a huge fan of this book. I finished reading the book thinking that there was no point to it. He didn't state what he did to overcome his horrible upbringing and I wanted him to. I wanted there to be a point to his book other than him just telling us about his life.

Grilling it up at Horshoe lake

Met some friends at Horshoe Lake for a little bbcue.

Boy pj's

Ashlyn was going through a boy pj's phase.

Strike a Pose

This picture of Corbin cracks me up. The kids cleaned their rooms and when he was all finished I came up to find him just chilling on his bed with a smug look on his face that read, "That was a piece of cake."

Riding Bikes

More warm weather at the beginning of March. So great. Getting in as many bike rides as possible.



The rule is, if you bring your scooter to the park you have to bring it home. Corbin was not having that on the way back...
P.S. his shirt says, "Friends don't let friends go to the U of U." my favorite BYU shirt

Miracle

Speaking of MIRACLES. I had the neatest experience with Ashlyn. Let me share...

Ashlyn had two field trips in one week. One on Thursday and one on Friday. Since I still have Corbin at home it's a little tricky and I have to find a babysitter to go. Plus, I want to provide fun and education for Corbin too. So, I figured I would go to one of Ashlyn's field trips and use the other day to take Corbin to his Friday play date.

I got a babysitter for Thursday and made my way to Ashlyn's school for the field trip. When I got there they told me it had been cancelled. I was SO BUMMED.
And so was Ashlyn. She begged me to go to the field trip the next day. I was so sad. I didn't have a babysitter for Friday and I had already made plans to go to a play date for Corbin.

I thought about it all day. I didn't want to disappoint Ashlyn and I didn't want to disappoint Corbin as well. What to do?!! I seriously thought about the book, "Yearning for the Living God" all day and said a silent prayer throughout the day that a miracle would happen and that I would be able to give both kids love and attention.

After I put the kids to bed that night I went to a girls night at my friends house and found out that the play date the next day for Corbin (we have them scheduled a month in advance, I just hadn't looked at the list yet) was scheduled to be at the Cleveland Art Museum...THE SAME EXACT PLACE WHERE ASHLYN'S CLASS WAS SCHEDULED TO GO ON HER FIELD TRIP!!!
I was so excited! I couldn't wait to tell her when she woke up the next morning.

When Ashlyn woke up the next morning, the day of her field trip, she said, "Mom, I had a dream about you last night! I dreamt that you were able to go to my field trip today!"

I seriously had tears in my eyes. For one, that God had assured Ashlyn through her dreams and two, that I could indeed tell her she was right and that I could go to her field trip that day.





This might seem like a small coincidence but it was a really big deal to me and my children. I believe it was a small MIRACLE in my life.

Drinking cream soda on the porch

Love. Summer days happening in March in Cleveland.. Unreal

Ashlyn's benderoo door art

Daddy daughter dancing

I love these pictures. Mostly because I remember just how happy my kids were when Dave danced with them.

Egg Parachuttes

Trevor did egg parachutes at school one day. He then wanted to make his own at home. Here is his egg parachute:





I think it lasted through the third launch...and then it was a goner.

Crossed-eyed

Freaky, right? My kids all really want to know how to cross eyes as good as Ashlyn. But I think she is still the master...you decide. :)

Corbin's face is the funniest...he was serious business thinking that he was doing it the right way. Total concentration.

Girl time

Ashlyn loves play dates with friends.

Dancing with Lily.


Being silly with Audrey.

Eating cookies on Emma's birthday.

Chocolate Milk Straws

This is a new find that my kids love. Milk straws. It is a straw that has little beads in it that are flavored. You stick the straw in milk and as you suck the milk up through the straw it tastes like a flavor (we've tried chocolate and strawberry). I got them at Target and it was just for the fun of it.

Book of the Week

YEARNING FOR THE LIVING GOD
(March 5, 2012)

"I felt overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that he would feel I was worthy to serve. I was finally in a position to do something to prove to the Lord that I adored Him, that I had become aware of Him, that I had changed my life, and that I was willing to do everything I
could to build His kingdom."
F. Enzio Busche

Just one of the many quotes that I loved from this book. I feel this same way often.

I loved this book. It was basically a book that contained all of one man's life miracles. It was a testament to me that miracles still happen and that God is aware of us and is more powerful than a human being can comprehend. There were stories in this book that I read and re-read because they were so magnificent I had to read it again to believe it. I felt the Spirit while I read this book and many stories brought tears to my eyes. I would want everyone to read this book.

Wedgits

My kids love to build with Wedgits. The taller and wider the better. :)