Easter Cookies with Cousins

While the boys went off to Priesthood session, we headed to Caroline's with all of the kid's to decorate Easter cookies. I had this moment where I realized I will probably frost a lot of cookies in my life, and I will be doing it alone. My boys are just not that interested!

April has arrived!

Breakfast with the Brower's: They invited us over for crepes before the first session of conference. Melinda is amazing and our children are in love with each other. It makes me laugh because my boys are so into her baby Janie, and they generally have NO interest in babies or girls for that matter. So cute. Melinda bakes cookies each time Will comes over and you better believe she had a plate of freshly baked chocolate-chip-cookies ready for him at 7:30am this morning. Because she is honesly that amazing. We LOVE the Brower's.

Let the birthday celebration's begin: This man is turning 4 on April 5. He is a character and I love and treasure him beyond words.

The entire family came to Will's preschool birthday party. He goes to a Montessori school and they do this darling celebration each time a child has a birthday where the child walks around a candle for each year of their life and the parents talk about things that have happened in the child's life up to this point. It was very important to Will that his brother Alex be there so I pulled Alex out of school and we were all there to support him.

Papa's b-day is just 2 days before Will's so we did a combined birthday party at the park after conference. I was too tired to throw a *real* b-day party this year, but this turned into quite the celebration! I mentioned that I was feeling bad about the lack of party for Will and my family came through for him. Sarah contributed a pinata, Caroline made goodie bags, Julie made the cake....and we had ourselves a big feast and a fun time at the park.

Mom & Dad, Nate & Carla, Todd & Jen & family

The day after we were done watching the Brenchley's, half of my family arrived for a visit. My mom and dad came in from Guatemala (my dad's first visit since we moved to AZ), Nate and Carla from Canada, and Todd and family from So. Cal. We had a full-house!! My parents were traveling through en route to conference so we had a little mini-reunion here. I'm horrified that I didn't take more pictures. I think I was just so tired from the week before that I wasn't functioning at full-capacity. We had a great time. We went to spring training, spent a day at the water-park, ate lots of good food, hung out at the park, went on walks, went to our ward's youth service auction (where my fabulous mom purchase massive amounts of babysitting in my behalf- how great is she?!?!), had a picnic with the my Jackson cousins, a missionary reunion for their AZ missionaries, and took them to dinner at our local favorite, Pita Jungle. We also had to introduce them to Ocean Blue, AZ's answer to Pinkberry. My dad spoke in church and taught an amazing combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson that was so inspiring, and has helped us to make some changes around here. The day after they left we recommited to a family scripture study program and it's been going well. We gave each of the boys their own Book of Mormon and have been reading from it each night. They are interested, attentive, and Alex can read every word so I feel like we have broken down a barrier and we are planning to keep it up. There has been nothing but entusiasm from them. We had a great time with my family and just wish it could be more often and for longer. We love them all so much.

Week with the Brenchley's

Caroline called about a month ago with a proposition: I take care of her kids while she goes to Boston/NYC with Paul, and she would return the favor by watching our boys....whenever. I was thrilled, because as many of you know, Alan and I have only ever left both our kids overnight somewhere for more than one night-Once. Last month. When my friend Melinda was nice enough to be on boy duty. I seriously feel incredibly indebted to her for doing that for us. We were beyond overdue for a break from our life with each other. We went to Sedona for 48 hours and I was a different person. Because I can actually be fun and interesting and not-stressed out when I'm not with my kids in our house. Anyway, I was up for the trade. Since they have four kids and a much bigger house we moved in with them and it was so fun and crazy and messy and loud and wild. We got to know their kids so well. There was lots of cousin-bonding and lots of great talks about the details of their lives. They were so great to the boys- Alex and Sam slept in a tent in the basement the whole time and one of favorite memories was listening to Sam read in his "crazy-voice" stories to all of the little kids before bed. It was great and now Alan and I need to get planning--we can finally go away somewhere! Yeah!!

Children's Museam

We spent one day of spring break taking the new Light-rail system to downtown Phoenix to check out the new Children's Museum. Sometimes I get so frustrated with Phoenix because they lack so many of the basic things that a big city should have.... I couldn't believe it when I moved here and there was no children's museam!! Anyway, they finally opened one and we had a great time checking it out!

Spring Break

Cousin Kate and brother Chandler (and off course mom Sommer) came to AZ for their spring break- it was so great to see them! The kids just jump right in and run with the crowd of AZ cousins like they never left- I love it and I love them. We miss you guys so much. Can't wait to spend more time together this summer.

Alan took a day off (HOORAY!) and we went to a spring training game with Papa, Nana and Sam. I am not such a fan of baseball, but I'm game to hang out with my husband, and this was his activity of choice....something about the childhood memories of attending such events. Anyway, besides it being like 100 degrees, and me forgetting to bring a hat or sunblock, it was fun.

We spent most of spring break in our pj's, but there was the occasional outing to the park, as shown here with buddy, Ethan.

Cousin Time

My sister-in-laws and I had a bread making day a few weeks ago. We were hard at work grinding the wheat when we discovered our children, painting one another's faces. Too funny. I love the cute stage that Will is in- he is so lively and fun and talkative. He tells me all of the time that I am his "best-friend" and "best-mom."

This week

Yes, we went swimming this week. Yes, it's the first week of March and it's hot enough to go swimming. Yes, it was at the Camelback (a fancy smancy resort in Scottsdale) and we had a blast. Yes, my 4 year-old who can swim is wearing a life-jacket because I'm too lazy to watch him.
In other news. while I was making dinner on Thursday Will got so excited about the food that he put his lip up to the pan on the stove and gave it a kiss. Now he has a fairly painful burn on his bottom lip. Boys also had haircuts on Friday... I will post them as soon as I take a picture. Let's just say it's shorter than I intended.

For Maria

Chocolate Mousse Pie

Mix together:

1 ½ c. crushed graham crackers

¼ c. brown sugar

1/8 t. nutmeg

1/3 c. melted butter

1 (1 oz.) square unsweetened chocolate, melted

Press into 9-inch pie pan and bake 350 for about 7 minutes. Do not overbake.

Filling:

6 oz. package of chocolate chips, melted

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

¾ c. light brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/8 t. salt

2 eggs

1 c. whipping cream, whipped

Combine the above ingredients, except the whipping cream. Once everything is mixed, GENTLY FOLD IN whipped cream. Do not over-mix. Pour into chilled crust. Chill 8 hours or overnight.

When asked to name my favorite chocolate dessert, this is it, hands-down. THE BEST PIE EVER.

The Fifty Nifty

Will has an obsession with geography. He can name every state in the US and many, many countries in the world. He's always bringing me his globe and asking "What country is this mom?" Sometimes it's embarrassing because I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. At Alex's school there is this mural of the US painted on the ground outside of the cafeteria. We walk by it every Friday as Will and I walk Alex to his classroom (He has therapy Friday morning and goes late to school.) Will could spend all day counting the states, pointing specific states out to me, and giving me details about certain ones (ex: Mom, I was born here! while standing on Texas.) On Friday, he sat his little bottom down on Oklahoma and informed me that this is where he would be living when he was a grown-up. Oklahoma? Really? Dude, I think I would rather live in AZ and that is saying A LOT. Also, this child will not look at me with a normal face when I try to take a picture of him. Thus the crazy-faced photos.

FHE

So sometimes we struggle with Family Home Evening. It's hard to get everything accomplished before bedtime on a normal night but Monday's are especially difficult. We have a pretty rigid bedtime routine: dinner, straight to tub, pj's, teeth-brushed, scriptures/prayers, Will to bed for stories, Alex to Mom and Dad's room for therapy, then quiet reading time, and bed. I'm not flexible with the order of things. I guess I just feel like I know what works and I don't feel like experimenting with other options. Also, my kids are exhausted at the end of the day and so am I. They (and I!) do best if they are in bed, lights out, before 7:30pm. This is impossible on Monday nights. My kids LOVE family home evening. Will makes suggestions at the dinner table EVERY night of what we should do for fhe. I am constantly explaining to him that it's only on Monday night. Anyway, Alex has been suggesting for months (since Christmas) that we make graham cracker cookies for fhe. Every week he suggests it, every week I have an excuse of why we can't do it. And let's be honest, there was no good reason. So I felt like mother of the year last week when we FINALLY made all of his dreams came true and made those cookies for our fhe treat. Why did it take me 2 months to listen? I don't know. I think I need to loosen up a bit.
ps-Will's face in the frosting? Not staged AT ALL.

Student of the Week

Alex was student of the week. He was SO PROUD of his poster, which was entirely his production- concept, design, execution. He had very specific ideas about this project. He created a book (in powerpoint) that gave details about his life. He wants to be an author when he grows up. He created a table of contents and the first section of his book was "I am a person." He chose to bring blueberry muffins to share with the class for a treat. He is such a serious little man and oh so smart. He is currently reading "Falling Up" by Shell Silverstien and thinks it is about the funniest thing he has ever heard in his life. You should hear the belly laughs. They are enough to make you lose it. I'm so proud of this boy.

The face I wake up to each day

At the mercy of his brother

This is what happens to the 3-year-old when the 5-year-old is left in charge while dad is at meetings and mom is sleeping the Sunday afternoon away. TIC-TAC-TOE, three in a row!

Things I'm Doing Right Now

...and all at the same time:
-overseeing homework duty
-preparing snack after snack after snack
-playing hide-n-go-seek with my 3-year-old
-planning a birthday lunch for a friend
-texting my young women
-scrubbing stains out of wet laundry
-folding dry laundry
-making dinner
-blogging (I had to record this so Alan can know how I spend my afternoons....and why I sometimes seem frazzled by the time he walks in at 7pm).

Woodworking

Alex's class has been doing a unit on woodworking. He built himself quite a masterpiece when all was said and done. A friend snapped this photo for me of him mid-project. It hurts my eyes to see how much it hurts his eyes to be outside without his sunglasses and hat....yet he is still the cutest thing on this earth. I adore this boy.

SO VERY UNHAPPY

It was 86 degrees here today. Will and I ate ice cream in a parking lot to try to cool off. It didn't work. AZ's version of winter is over. Which means I will be suffering for the next 8 MONTHS. No words can describe how very UNHAPPY this makes me. No words.

Dear sister....

This was the best I could do!

January Stuff

Waiting for the players to come out!

Coyotes vs. Sabres
Don't mind the gang sign Will-Monkey-Batman is flashing.

While Alan and I were cheering our heads off during the various fights that broke out during this game (it was awesome-3 huge fights!), Alex was pondering the meaning of infinity. He said to Alan: Dad, is infinity an even or odd number? Hmmm.

This pic is through the glass but I love Will's expression. The boys have been taking "learn to skate" classes at the new ice rink by our house in preparation for Hockey Tots. Alex has completely surprised me- he is doing so well on the ice. Normally he is very resistant to trying new things- especially any kind of after-school activity. The kid actually has a breakdown if we go anywhere but straight home from the bus stop in the afternoons. His days are long and he works really hard at school and he loves to come home and crash. But we have had a break through with this activity! I pick him up from school, pack a really great snack for the drive to the rink, and he happily puts on his skates and is off to his lesson. This is a HUGE milestone for us. Will loves it too....though he has lost is "drawers" on more than one occasion while on the ice with his instructor. I have yet to capture that on camera. The visual imprinted in my mind, however, will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was a proud moment.

Making Curtis Lou's Booze with Papa. We've had more rootbeer around here than neccesary...but it's finally all gone. And so is January. I can't believe it!!

Being behind is the story of life right now.

So much going on. Just can't get on top of things. I do feel like the fog is starting to lift...though I am still adjusting to my new life. I was made YW President....38 YW in our ward. New Beginnings is this week. We have a huge youth service auction next month. Camp is coming up. And my family still needs clean clothes, meals prepared.....let alone homework and therapy every single day. Also trying to make some major life decisions at the same time. In the midst of the chaos we've done some fun things I want to document. I'm in love with my children and husband. They are my greatest joy. None of it would be worth anything without them.