Walking through the woods

The weather at Church was really nice so we decided to go to the Price Nature Center. It was so windy at home I wasn't sure we should but we did. It turned out just fine and we all enjoyed it. We just love walking through the woods, listening to the birds and sounds, and seeing what we can see. The fresh air is wonderful and it's just a wonderful place to be!

Check this out!

Xiomara is ... well, she's ... she's 7 and has a hard time paying attention to what's going on around her. She falls frequently, just walking through our house or yard. Friday afternoon, she was running around outside and came inside crying! I went to give her hugs and find out what happened. She had to tell me twice because I didn't quite understand her the first time. She was running away from a neighbor boy and she ended up jinking when she should have jogged. She slammed into our other neighbor's close line pole. I cringed because I knew how bad that would have hurt, especially hitting a sensitive part like your ear. She also scratched her pinky and wanted a band-aid. We cleaned her hand, put on a band-aid and she went back outside. These pictures were taken at the end of the next day.

I'm 29 on the 29th!

Okay, not really, but that's what I'll pretend I am. We enjoyed another Three Day Celebration! It's a wonderful tradition.

Wednesday we celebrated my Fake Birthday. Kevin surprised me with a new 8 qt. pot, with a glass lid! I made my favorite brownies and enjoyed a piece after I put the kids to bed. I would have shared with them but we went to the Cub Scout Pack Meeting and they enjoyed ice cream cone cup cakes.

Thursday was my Almost Birthday. Kevin surprised me with a new 10" pan, with a glass lid. I washed it and used it that morning to cook apples for our oatmeal! I ended up not making a different dessert but shared the one from Wednesday with the kids before I went Visiting Teaching.

Friday was my Real Birthday! Kevin surprised me with a box that holds all the parts and pieces (with instructions) for the cruise control for Harvey, the Beast. He'll have to install it some time in April. The weather was beautiful, so the kids enjoyed playing outside all afternoon. They had all worked very hard to get their school work done quickly and we had a great day! After dinner, Kevin surprised me with two glass Pyrex baking pans. Ben made me a little heart shaped pillow with a note that says, "Some would say I'm made of string and cloth, but really I'm made with LOVE." Marissa drew me a couple cards... I also received a card from my parents, as well as from two ladies from Church. And over 50 of my friends on Facebook sent me birthday wishes! What fun! We all enjoyed the chocolate pie I made for my cake! Kevin ran to the store after dinner to pick up a few items and grabbed a movie for us to watch after the kids were in bed. It was a fun day!

 

This is what we are doing.

I realized I haven't taken any pictures of my kids this week.

Weird, right?

So I took some of what they are doing right now.

Kemiah and Domonique are playing together, 

and are currently getting out some coloring books.

Marissa is reading. Of course she is.

These three guys are playing Settlers of America.

It's a really long game but they are sticking with it.

I remembered to feed Harmonie before we left Church,

and I changed her diaper.

So when she fell asleep in the car on the way home,

I just transferred her to her bed.

She is still sleeping.

I just love how she sticks her fingers of her right had through her blanket

while she sucks the first two fingers of her left hand.

Kevin is at work until later tonight and I'm ready for bed.

I wonder what the kids would do if I just went to bed?

Made me Laugh

Domonique was washing her hands in the bathroom after lunch. I was tending to Harmonie, so she was kind of doing her own thing, unfortunately. When I got to her she was drying her hands with toilet paper. I helped her find the hand towel and then she said, "I peed in my underwear." Bummer. I put her on the toilet and got Harmonie out of her high chair, but had to take her to the tub to brush off the extra crumbs and food she had on her bottom. I came into the bathroom to find a pile of toilet paper on the floor, thanks to Domonique. I told her that was bad and that she shouldn't play with the toilet paper, then I took Harmonie to bed. I came back and took care of Domonique. I got her off the toilet and as we put new underwear on she sweetly looked up at me and said, "Can I have two M&M's?" I told her she peed in her pants so she couldn't have any. She then asked, in a very sweet voice, "Can I have one M&M?" I told her no again, reminding her that she peed in her pants. Her last attempt was, "Can I have one candy for pooping on the toilet?" What a sly little thing! It was so funny how she tried to bargain and get something out of this deal to her advantage. I picked her up, gave her hugs as I laughed and enjoyed her. Then I gave her one M&M. I am no longer timing potty time so I just have take her to the toilet throughout the day. She isn't telling me anymore, when she has to go so that's the only problem. If she has to go and I'm not paying attention then she'll just pee in her underwear. It only happens once a day, if that, so we are doing pretty good and she is just a sweet little thing.

Snow Fort

It's in our neighbor's backyard, but he really enjoyed building it. He got new waterproof boots for his birthday and was out Wednesday afternoon enjoying them. I am glad that he wanted to show me and share it with me.

It was inspired by his Scout Field Guide Book that he got for his birthday. It has all sorts of emergency shelters to build in the snow. He even had a vent hole in the fort that he made sure I saw. Good job, buddy!

Ben is now Eleven!

The big day came! He has been talking about it since March 1!

He was so happy and excited!

He enjoyed helping with the pancakes.

He also enjoyed being the first one to make animals on them.

He picked cookies and cream ice cream!

He asked for an ice cream cake from Grandpa and Grandma Nichols.

It was super delicious!

A cookie crumb crust and different ice cream flavors,

caramel and homemade fudge sauce,

covered with Cool Whip!

Kevin gave him a knife for earning his Webelo badge.

The new tradition is to read some stories right when Grandma and Grandpa get there.

They all take turns reading to each other.

And Dad does some wrestling.

Then it was cake and present time.

There were so many candles I decided to turn off the lights.

It was neat.

Lego set from Grandma and Grandpa Nichols.

We finally got him Hardy Boys #6 - had to order online because the store never has it.

3 LARGE York Peppermint candies - 

he loves them but has only every had the little ones.

Mud boots - over all just getting messy but staying warm boots.

He asked for these.

Molecule building set - he sort of asked for this one.

I thought it would be fun to see the compounds we've been talking about in school.

Marissa and Emily made him some gifts.

I thought that was nice of them.

Here he is with the finished Lego crane.

He's showing that it only took him an hour to build it.

It was a very nice day. We had school and then they did some wood in the afternoon. We enjoyed cheese raviolis for dinner, with store bought alfredo sauce, and garlic bread. 

It is always fun to focus just a bit extra on each child. He's a fun kid, with loads of creative ideas, and loves to play with his sisters. He enjoys building with Legos, playing in the snow, hauling wood, and helping around the house. He loves to read about World War 2 and other war topics, guns and planes and tanks and that kind of stuff. I can't believe he's 11! Love you buddy!