Single Mom for 4!

Ben takes a trip up to Utah once a year for a "college friends" reunion. This year I told Ben to stay an extra day and go to the BYU game with his brother Matt, who had field seats. BYU started off a great season this year, with a win against OU! I knew Ben would have a great time at the game. (If the don't choke) So that put him gone Thursday- Sunday afternoon. So four days of golfing, playing cards, and hanging out with some of his best friends. I'm glad he gets the chance to do it.I really don't mind when he goes. I'm used to him being out of town with all the travel he did with IBM. I run a tight ship, so things get done with or without him here!

Thursday was a little hectic, but not bad. Normally, Ben and I have to shuttle kids to after school activities at the same time. My Mom helped out, by taking Ethan to his music class. Aubrie didn't feel well, so she skipped her 6:00 dance class. So that left plenty of time to get homework done.

Friday, Boston had Grandparents Day. He was so excited. My Mom went. The kids sang songs, and made them a hand print poster. Then the Grandparents were asked to share what life was like for them when they were Boston's age. Because it was Grandparent's day, Boston got to come home early. My Mom and I spent time playing Jenga and Don't Break the Ice with Boston. After school, the kids decided they wanted to paint. I was in the other room, and so Aubrie got everybody set up on her own. Aubrie is so responsible when it comes to stuff like that. Here are the pictures they did.

Aubrie added Ben later, in pencil, to her family portrait! Guess he wasn't there, so she forgot to put him in. Nice of her to think of it later.

After painting, we went to McDonalds for dinner. The kids had fun playing. There was a family that had a son on Ethan's T-ball team last season. So they had fun playing with him, too.

When we got home we watched Free Willy, while we frosted Sugar Cookies. LOTS!!

Then they watched Dragon Slayer (not sure it was the best pick, but they liked it best), while I caught up on journaling.

This morning, Aubrie woke up early to surprise me with breakfast. She made scrambled eggs and pancakes. I made Danny's special buttermilk syrup to go on the pancakes. YUM! After breakfast and a few cartoons we all did chores, piano practicing, reading, etc. Then my my Mom took Aubrie to the library, and then the rest of the kids out for ice cream. Aubrie spent a lot of time playing dress up with Sophia. She painted her nails to match her outfit and everything.

I spent some time getting my handouts for my lesson ready for tomorrow.

Tonight I'll go over the lesson and probably watch more movies with the kids. So far all has gone well. Tomorrow will be the real test; getting 4 kids ready for church all by myself. I guess that will give me a glimpse of what it's like to have a husband in the Bishopric! LOL

Some pics of Sophia at JuJu Berry.

Brain Freeze!

#6

The number 6 represents how many times we have now taken our kids in for stitches (gluing, or staples). Aubrie, Boston and Ethan all split their chins at 3. Aubrie fell off a hammock that her Grandparents had over cement. Boston was chasing a friend in the house and ran right into the arm of the couch. Ethan's chin slammed on Boston's head, as he jumped off the waterfall in our pool at the same time Ben was throwing Boston across the pool. Boston also tore his knee on the staples in the carpet last year, and Aubrie took a golf club the the chin this year. We were all getting ready to hold our breath when Sophia turned 3! We'll she beat them all to it. It wasn't her chin though, so we are not sure if this one counts!Wednesday night, Sophia wanted to take a shower with Ben. She stepped in the shower, lost her footing, and went down on the back of her head. I wasn't home yet, and when I got home I heard Ben calling me from the shower. She wasn't crying. Ben just wanted me to take a looksie and see if I thought it needed stitches. I always err on the side of caution because of infection. I told Sophia she had to go to the Dr. and she started jumping up and down in excitement, saying, "Yeah, yeah, Dr., Dr,!"

Ben took her while I held the fort down and got dinner going. We always take

the kids to an urgent care place, unless they are closed. Ben was in and out in a half an hour. They gave her 3 staples, so they didn't have to shave her head. Ben said she did REALLY good. She didn't even cry. They had to wrap her up in a sheet like a burrito (something they always do there to the younger ones). She didn't even protest that. Every time they put something on her head, (ie antiseptic, numbing agent) she would say,"Yeah, I'm all better". She did whimper and say "Ouch", when she got each staple. But since then, she hasn't complained. What a big girl. She hasn't even asked to swim since since she got them!

Here is the after picture!

Something that happens when the kids get ahold of the camera, "Dress up Sophia and take pictures"!

Finally a "Soccer Mom"

Though I have kept the kids busy doing a variety of activities, soccer never made it on the list. Something about tournaments, Sunday games, and seasons that never seem to end, always kept me at bay. Finally, after much asking by the kids, we signed them up with a Rec. teams that had practices and games within minutes. Tuesday was Aubrie and Ethan's first practice. Conveniently, Ethan and Emmy practice together, and Aubrie and Maya are on the same team. They both had a GREAT time, and did great! Aubrie was working really hard to do her best, and I could tell she was really enjoying herself. I was a little concerned about her taking up soccer since she has so much dance every week, but I think this will be really good for her! Ethan has fun doing anything athletic!

The Forgotten Camera

We always forget to download Ben's camera on my computer. Here are some jewels we found!

Labor Day 2009....in no particular order!

A fun game of kickball!

Or not! He must have gotten out!

It must be time to eat!

We had the Lorenza's over, too! (Marco and Juan's parents)

I love kids helpings. Small and no variety!

Marco's yummy ribs!

Some more "Back to School" pictures!!!

Time in the Sandbox! (in the summer!!!)

Fun times on the Slip and Slide.

Sophia joined in the action this time. We only pull it out once in a blue moon, because by the time we are done, the grass underneath is destroyed and our lawn is a swamp!

Fathers and Sons 2009....

the place where boys run free, eating what they want, playing what they want, and get dirtier than they ever are allowed by their Mothers!

The Things They Say

So much for me staying on top of this. Here are some funnies for the past week.

Boston and Aubrie lost their DS's for not closing them when I needed them for something. I hate when they do that. It's not like they can't pause the game! Well after a few weeks, Boston asked if we could work out something so he could get it back. We decided that we would do a point system. A point for each day that he did good. That meant obeying the first time, not showing anger, and being nice to his siblings. Of course, he got a point every day. He was so excited to get it back, he woke up the next morning at 6:00am (on a school day) to play it. Poor Ethan shares a room with him. He got it so fast, I wondered if he would slip back into old habits. I came up with the ingenious idea that if he had a really bad day I would have the power to take it back. So far, so good. He is such a great kid anyway!

So Sophia is still on the independent, "I want to wear Dora underwear and potty train myself", crusade." She does pretty well, considering she did it herself. There are some bumps in the road (no pun intended there), but it's not like I can tell her she can't use the potty. So I have to persevere her occasional accident and be encouraging. So what's so funny about this? We'll Aubrie potty trained Ethan, and we surprised her with a thank you gift, afterward. I have been telling her, since Sophia was born, that if she potty trained Sophia I would give her something. She had decided most recently on a DS game. So when Sophia started potty training herself Aubrie said, "So does this mean I don't get the game?" I told her she would have to take that loss up with Sophia!

So I forgot about this one. A few Monday's ago, during FHE, I asked the kids, "Where do we get everything we have", hoping they would say, "Heavenly Father". Instead, Boston says WALMART!!!! I then ask, "Where does Dad get all his money from", hoping they would say Heavenly Father. Boston then says, "WELLS FARGO". Well, I tried!

One last one. So Ethan takes this music class called, Lets Play Music. It's an interactive music class that eventually will help teach them music theory and how to read music. One of their activities is using puppets to a classic song , to help them in distinguishing different instruments. Well the particular puppet show they are doing right now is about a Genie and a bottle. Anyway, originally Ethan liked being the Genie because it's the dramatic part. The only thing is you only get to use that puppet once. I guess he finally figured that out. Yesterday my Mom took him (he has to have someone go with him every other week) and when he got back I asked him if he got to do the puppet show. He said he was the monster. I said, "Well that's cool, your favorite part". He then said, "No its a total rip off!" I knew what he was talking about, but asked him why anyway, and his response..."Because you only get to use the puppet one time! A total rip off!" Where does he hear this lingo?