Babysitter?

Today from Jake:

When I get old and they (the girls) make a mess, I will say no, no don't clean up! Keep the mess and we will watch movies and play computer all day long!

Anybody want a babysitter in a few years? He'll be ready for hire in about 2017...

Prayers

For weeks, Jake was saying the same prayer... a very efficient prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the wonderful day we have.

Thank you for the wonderful things we have.

Thank you for the wonderful stuff we have.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

In an effort to try to get him to be more sincere and thoughtful, I emphasized how we can tell our Father in Heaven what things and stuff we're grateful for. What stuff are you talking about? Let's tell Heavenly Father how grateful we are that we rode our bikes, played outside, went to preschool, etc.

Jake's solution?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the wonderful day we have.

Thank you for the wonderful stuff we have.

This is the stuff:

Riding our bikes, playing with our toys, playing outside, our friends, playing dad's computer, watching movies.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, I figure it's a start. He hasn't watched a movie or played a computer game for at least a week. I think he is living in a fantasy world. He would love to play computer games and watch movies all day, but we've had such beautiful spring weather here, we've been riding bikes and playing outside all day, every day. The kids haven't asked for a movie or computer time for a long time (hallelujah!). I love warm weather.

Alisa's prayer is more like this:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day.

Thank you for the wonderful day we have (follows in her brother's footsteps).

Thank you for my princesses.

Thank you for my princess nightgowns.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The princess additions are her own doing. At least she's thinking of what she's sincerely thankful for!

I am slowly rereading the talks from our church's General Conference .

I read a great talk from Julie B. Beck. I'll leave you with this thought:

We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us.⁹ Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly.

Party for Jacob

He now insists on being called Jacob at school and by his cousins. He still lets us call him Jake. I guess we're lucky.

It was a big birthday party day (Easter weekend). We started off dying eggs, went swimming at the aquaplex in Flag, came home to a 5-year-old's gourmet dinner, ended with presents and cake. It was a tiring day! We had the kids in bed by 7:15 pm. It was the perfect day for Jake, especially being able to spend it with all of his cousins.

Notice my mom holding Jake's egg up. He lasted all of about 30 seconds with the egg dying. Reminds me of my brother, Josh--in so many ways. Oh, heaven help me!!! I've got my hands full with this little 5 year old ball of energy!

New "inja" suit from Josh and Tarah--he loves it!

Two peas in pod--they feed off of each other's energy.

Could two babies look any more different?! Brookie really does carry it in her noggin. Malia, in her thighs! We tried in vain to get Brookie to follow Malia's crawling and pulling up example. That's right. 10 months old tomorrow and still not even a scoot from her.

Yes, it was a labor of love. I've never decorated a cake like this. No, I am not wearing make up, nor have I showered. Nor did I shower until after the pool. Here's Jake's monster cake. Thanks, mom, for the tips.

My mom was so sweet to make exactly what Jake wanted for his birthday. Pancakes for breakfast, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, cheetos, soda pop, and grapes for dinner. He was in heaven (probably because we never have any of that food--except pancakes!).

The just showered look. Lovely. At least I finally took a shower.

Presents from the fam--thank you! He was (and still is) thrilled with all of his presents. Really, he sleeps with most of them in a backpack by his bed (backpack was also a present!).

Little B. Mostly happy. Most of the time. She's getting better. *and just for the record, I did say "lateral incisor" about her tooth. Honestly, though, I have no idea if that's what it really is. I'm just into using fancy dental jargon. It's her side tooth by her top front teeth.

Blowing out the candles--all FIVE of them. Holy cow! How did he get to be so old?!

The Monster Masterpiece

Easter Egg Hunt

We went over to Flag for Easter, and met up with two of my siblings and families. We had so much fun! Glad they could come over (and down!). The kids had a blast together. We missed the rest of you.

We always do our egg hunt on Saturday, since it's not the meaning of Easter. It's still a fun tradition that the kids love. Too bad we're dieting strictly and couldn't sample a pinch of chocolate, candy, ham, deviled eggs, or homemade rolls! Oh, well. It's worth it, I guess.

Here we are puttting the baskets together (for the bunny, of course!).

And that... is a crazy lady. Just kidding. We aren't trying to pose or anything, right?!

Finding the baskets filled with goodies

Alisa was so happy she got pink and purple peeps.

This year the kids found real, dyed eggs and plastic eggs filled with a candy and some change (money--thanks, mom!).

Don't mind that my kids are in their pajamas at 11 am. Hey, we had a great time watching General Conference while the kids kept themselves busy. I haven't gotten that much out of Conference since Jake was a baby!

Jake with ONLY plastic eggs. As soon as he realized the plastic ones held the loot, he rejected any real egg. Literally, he refused to pick them up. He had it all figured out.

It was such a beautiful day! After the egg hunt, we let the kids chow on candy while we cleaned up my parents pine needles, mowed, bagged, raked and swept. Many hands made light work. It was really nice to work all together, then grab a bite to eat before the afternoon session started.

Rockin' Ring Tone

Pre-Easter Visit from the 'Rents

My parents came over for their ward temple trip. It was nice to get to go to the temple with them while Scott watched all the kids. I'm going to miss being so close to the temple. It's always fun to spend some time together. Of course, we played bridge until way too late!

I LOVE this outfit! Doesn't she look adorable? She has most of her front two teeth, with a lateral incisor about to come in, too!

My dad, making paper airplanes for the kids. Purple only for Alisa (we don't have pink paper. Purple is her second choice.)

First self haircut. At least it was in front of all of us so we could stop her right away!

This is how I found Alisa one night. Light on, books out. Gotta love it! At least she stayed in her room. She must've had a nap that day because when she takes a nap, she doesn't keel over right away (She passes out right away most nights at 7 pm.).

April Fool's Courtesy of the Weather

What a joke. It's snowing. Again. Yuck. April Fool's, I guess.

Brookie is cutting her front two teeth and is happy as a clam. Really, she is SO happy lately. Except...

Scott went from this

to this again

and scared Brookie to death. She cried all through dinner, hysterically. She wouldn't eat. She just kept looking at Scott, looking back at me, and crying. I guess she's not very good with change! She felt better after she sat on my lap for 2 hours. She warmed up to him by bedtime, but was still wary.

This morning he got her up and fed her and she was fine, so hopefully it'll stay that way!

Jake and I just finished reading Charlotte's Web, so I got the movie from the library. I thought I got the animated one, but didn't. Jake really liked it. Alisa was VERY affected when Charlotte died. She was so concerned and asked what happened to the spider. Scott said she got really old and died. She had a sad, far-off look for a moment, then turned and said "No." It wasn't a question. There were tears in her eyes. She wouldn't have it. Then she wanted to cuddle and be comforted. Poor, sweet girl!