My Homeschooler

At the end of the school year last year Britton and I were talking and he asked if he could be homeschooled next year. We thought and prayed and even fasted if it was an okay decision to make. Then yesterday morning he was sitting on the couch watching Dora with Connor and Sydney and I realized what a great year it has been. It is like taking a vacation together.
We have discovered that Britton is a self starter and is doing awesome with his school work. But the greatest value is the time we have with him. I realize in a couple of years he isn't going to want to sit down and play a game with me, he isn't going to have as much time, but right now he does and I hope these memories stick with him always. As for Syd and Connor they will be 9 and 7 when Britton leaves on his mission. What a great experience they have had getting to know their big brother better.

Don't get me wrong there are days when I don't want someone in the house that answers back to me but overall it has been an awesome experience. I will always remember my year home with my son and the talks we have had. (Hopefully we will finish the year with him never beating me at Settlers!)

Daddy Daughter Dance

Kaitlyn and her dad went to their first Daddy Daughter Dance this weekend. They had so much fun together. Kaitlyn was so excited to get all dressed up and then go dancing with her dad. She says her favorite part is when he would dip her! I thought it was fun to watch them leave together. How fun to have this time with her dad. Kaitlyn took her friend Josie and her dad. They got dressed up together and then were on their way. Kaitlyn met alot of her friends at the dance. She was still dancing on cloud nine when she woke up this morning.
This is my picture of the week. Britton took this picture of Connor before Church this morning. I had to post it so that my mom and dad could see it. The outfit he has on I have a picture of all three boys wearing at this age. I had to get the shot before he outgrows the outfit!

Crazy Day

Okay a friend of mine use to say how she signed on to be a stay-at-home mom, not a stay-at-home housekeeper. I love that. I know when I started staying home I had these fantasy's of frolicking at the park and library and playing all day together. What I seemed to have forgotten is the part where the laundry and dishes start piling up.

Then you add days like today where I would have given anything to stay home and clean house. But I am a stay-at-home mom who is not home!! Volunteering in the classroom, dentist appointments, grocery shopping, parent teacher conferences, and scouts was all what today consisted of. I am tired and p.j.'s aren't on everyone yet!!!

So my dreams of being a stay-at-home mom now consist of just being allowed to STAY AT HOME!!!

Connor's Birthday

I have so many things to post right now! While we were on our trip Connor turned one!! It is amazing to think he is already one! His big accomplishments are

• He says mommy
• He says daddy
• He waves Bye! Bye!
• He can stand up and stay there
• He has taken some steps but perfers crawling
• He loves to attack daddy
• He loves playing with toys
• He loves dinner entertainment

(that is when his brothers and sisters dance and act silly for him while he is eating!)

Connor and Jonah shared their birthday cake with each other. Jonah's grandmother was wonderful to add Connor into the birthday celebration. They even got him a couple of books and a car!
The day after we got home we had another celebration. Britton baked and decorated Connor his very own cake. What would be a first birthday without your own cake!!
Connor obviously enjoyed himself. By the end he had stopped eating and was just playing in it. That didn't stop him from getting mad at me when I took it away.
The thing that made me laugh was that our friend Jodi got a fork and was making room so he could get to the cake and he opened his mouth as to say, "Jodi why am I doing this when you can just feed it too me so much easier!" As usual Connor brought smiles to our faces.

Our Trip

We had a wonderful trip this last weekend! We got to go down south and meet up with some friends of ours from home. I got to see one of my very best friends I haven't seen in over a year. I didn't realize how much I missed her until we were together again. The great thing about true friendship is that as soon as you are together it is as if you were never apart. I think Chandler and Jonah thougth the same thing!! Those two truely are two of a kind. We got to see Jonah get baptized. It was wonderful. I held this little guy when he was just hours old and now I got to see him make one of the first wonderful decisions in his life. I hope both of these playful boys continue to make good decisions. Because I don't know who would say no to them when they are missionaries!!
As for Britton and Chase. They are as cute as ever. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see our Chase again. I couldn't wait to hug her. Chase has had a tough year fighting cancer and her spunky little personality seems to be winning!!! Go Chase. I know that every fast Sunday Britton has fasted for Chase since the beginning of all this. When asked if he had something else he wanted to fast about he has only said, "There is nothing more important right now than Chase!" These two have played together since they were toddlers. It was great to see them together again. ( I must say they were much nicer to be around now!!)

All together it was such a nice get away for our family!!

Connor's First Haircut

Today Connor had his first hair cut.
He sat pretty still. He did not like the back of his neck touched. He also kept giving Jodi the funniest looks whenever he tried to see what she was doing!
Isn't he so cute!! The only problem is he is starting to look like a boy and not a baby! But that is my problem not his. Thanks Jodi for the great hair cut!!

Here is a little video I took with my camera as she was doing it. I mostly took it to play with my camera and see if it would work!

Crazy Life

I love my family but I have got to learn to handle it better!! Yikes. So I haven't had any time at all to blog or even look at blogs so I am going to try right now. Connor may type for me as he grabs for the keys so we will see if this is even readable. So I should have taken a picture of dinner last night. I burnt it. I mean it was gone. The outside was dark and the inside was raw. I ran to the grocery store and picked up a chicken to go with the mashed potatoes I had finished. Yummy!! And to make it worse Monte comes home and says this chicken is great when did you learn to make this!!! I smiled and said it was a new recipe and threw the grocery store box and burnt food in the trash!!

A Really Fun Day!!

I took Connor, Sydney, Britton and his friend to a fun indoor place this last week. Britton and his friend had a blast.
Sydney's favorite part was a slide they had in the toddler area. She did it over and over and over again. She was so tired by the time we left she was asleep eating her snack by the time I pulled out of the parking lot!
Connor was having so much fun playing in a bounce house until his mom turned around to answer a question for someone else and he fell out on his head. That didn't stop him though he was back to playing after a few hugs and kisses.

It was a great day to run and play regardless of all the snow falling outside!!

Snow, snow go away!!!

Okay we have built snowmen! We have gone sledding! We have made snow angels. We have ice skated. We have made snow ice cream. We have made snow cones. I have slid on the ice (numerous times!) We have even attempted to make an igloo! Heaven knows we have shoveled!! So it was nice. Now go away!! I want to see some tulips. I want to see no more snow puddles in my kitchen!! Bring on the sun!!

Tubby Time at Jodi's

Today Connor got to take a bath in Jodi's new sink!! He loved it! Nothing like getting clean at the girls house!! Jodi and I painted her girls room and Connor got filthy!! Thanks Jodi for cute pictures and a clean kid!!

Testing 1,2,3...

Just seeing if I can figure out how to upload a video. Enjoy my beautiful dancing girl! She loved this at the children's museum.

My Boys!!

What a great week. On Wednesday night Britton got his Star class rank in Boy Scouts. That is 3 ranks from Eagle. We are very proud of him. He has worked hard to earn his merit badges and put the service hours in that he needed. Good job Britton!!

As for Connor this morning he took his first 3 steps. We can't believe it. He was standing just a small distance from the chair in our family room and he took 3 little steps to get to it. I can't believe he is getting so big!!

My oldest and my youngest had great milestones this week. Keep up the good work boys!