Easter Weekend 2011

Just a warning, this is quite a long post of pictures. I tried to document all sorts of things, however, I realize I didn't get it all. But here is what happened.

For Easter weekend, we packed up on Friday the 21st and left for Utah. This is what it looked like when we left Idaho. There were even slippery roads on Highway 20 and a really bad accident.

I forget how long of a drive it can be with four children. We haven't really traveled much with Braden, so you can imagine how grateful I am that Tyler easily helped with Braden and kept him occupied. He absolutely loves music!

When we got to Sandy, we decided we wanted to eat lunch at the Mayan. We invited my sister Katie and her two little people to come and meet us. After we arrived, we found out that it wasn't open until 3 p.m. We were really bummed. We wanted our children to be able to experience it. Not for the food, but for the entertainment. If you haven't been there, it is a mexican restaraunt where every 15 minutes they have a "diving" show with people actually diving in this water fall pool thing. It is fun. We did however get a picture of all of them on this thing.

So after a few minutes of making Katie decide what our plans were, she led us to Iggy's. It was pretty good, the company was great. I do have to say that for children, this place outdid themselves in terms of food. They are reasonably priced and then with each kids meal they get an ice cream sundae. They were HUGE! Totally crazy.

We said goodbye to the Gailey family and took up our travel again to the hotel in Payson. Have you ever been to Payson? Fun little town. We checked in and got everything situated. Of course, we were only there for a few minutes when Braden started jumping on a bed. We told him to stop and a few seconds later he jumped funny and went flying head first into the wall. As you all know, it was bound to happen.

We decided that would be a good time to gather the kids and head to Salem where two of their cousins were playing in soccer games. I didn't get any great pictures of them, but they did do awesome and they were fun to watch. However, I did get to meet my newest little nephew, Brandon. He is so chill. What a great little kid!

We went back to my brother's house after the soccer games and the little people all got to go running in the backyard and Tyler got to play basketball. This slide was particularly fun for Braden. He could climb to the top by himself. The slide has a bump though and Braden was catching major air. It's amazing nothing got broken. He loved every minute of it!

I think you can see the bump on his head. Nice right?

Of course, one of the most fun things about staying in a hotel is the swimming pool. We spent a couple of hours down there. It was nice because for the first little while we had it all to ourselves. They all loved it, including Braden. He was the stressful one because he can't swim but he doesn't understand that. Many times I had to catch him from just diving off the side.

After a great nights sleep, we woke up and got ready to head over to the church for the reason we made the visit. My niece Lindsey was being baptized and my nephew Brandon was being blessed. I am so sad I didn't get a picture of Lindsey. She was beautiful and the spirit was very strong. It was such a great opportunity to be able to go. My sister did manage to get a picture of her daughter and Grandpa though. She is so cute!

After the ordinances, we headed back to my brother's house for a really nice lunch and visit time. Then, since it was the day before Easter, they had a big easter egg hunt for all of the little people. All of my children loved this activity. It was just fun to have their cousins there too and spend time with them.

After the egg hunt, we packed up our kids and we drove home. We did to make it home so we could color some easter eggs of our own. Our little people are always so creative and of course mess was definitely involved. Especially with Braden as his hands were dyed for days.

Some of our finished product.

The easter bunny did manage to find us and left the kids a basket which they of course enjoyed. It was a long and tiring weekend, but it was so fun! Glad we were able to make it down.

The 7th Bitthdays

They are 7! What a great birthday they had. Two days of celebration. It began on Friday the 15th, where they took cupcakes to their class. They were also able to give some to some of the other teachers and staff, which they were happy with. They were so excited to go to school and it was fun for them to have their class celebrate their birthdays.

On Saturday the 16th, Allen had to work in the morning but he was able to take the afternoon off where we went to Pizza Pie Cafe (aka Craigo's) for lunch. I told them they couldn't have dessert pizza because we were having cake. Then I decided, who cares? It's their birthday. So, they had a great time there.

Then back home where we got ready for "the party". My parents and my uncle came over for cake and ice cream and the opening of the presents.

I let both of the girls choose a birthday cake. We ordered them from Sam's club, and I loved that I got two for the price of one at Sam's club - which was cheaper than anywhere in Rexburg. It was great too because they have such different personalities. Which it obviously shines through in their choice.

The cake was great. McKenna's was chocolate with buttercream frosting and Kylie's was white with whipped frosting. So, it appeased everyone with them being so different. However, the problem with twins is that you can't just eat one piece of cake. You have to take one from each so they both feel loved.

Cake was quickly eaten and forgotten so the presents could be opened. It looked like Christmas at our house. McKenna got a lot of things to do outside, Kylie got a lot of art like stuff. McKenna got a pogo stick, which has been fun watching her try. Kylie's favorite so far is a little palm electronic device that has different games on it.

Braden of course very upset that he can't open the presents. I know I shouldn't laugh but sometimes his little facial expressions are hilarious!

Overall, they had a great birthday! We can't believe they're seven!

Ty's School Play

For quite a few months now the fourth graders at South Fork have been practicing and preparing for a play. Lines were sent home to memorize. A CD of songs that they would be singing was sent home to practice. A couple of dress rehearsals done. Finally, on Thursday the 14th, it was time for the actual performance. As the class all walked in, we kept looking for Tyler. We couldn't find him. Finally, we picked him out of the crowd. It wasn't an easy task. Unfortunately, my flash wasn't good enough at all to get one in the gym, but I took a picture of him after it was over. Poor Braden didn't recognize him at all. As Tyler was walking towards us after it was over, Braden was so panicked. He wasn't comfortable at all with this stranger hanging out with us. Tyler quickly got the make up off his face and I quickly snapped this picture in front of their backdrop. Braden was quite happy to see Tyler at this point! Tyler did such an excellent job. He was on of the very few who had all of his lines memorized and all together the class did wonderfully. It was fun to watch and forever we will have some of those songs stuck in our head.

Freezer

While I understand this post will hold no interest for most of you, it is extremely exciting for us. We got an upright freezer! It is so awesome! Even our kids LOVE it. Tyler took all of these pictures. We are excited because this means that now when we go to Sam's club, if we want to buy 2 bags of chicken, we have somewhere to put it! Think of all of the meals I can make and freeze ahead of time. Extremely exciting for all of us. I think it will easily pay itself off quickly with what we will save on buying in bulk and not eating out because we don't have anything on hand. Another great part. It locks. YEP! It has its own key and everything. Definitely an exciting thing in the Jones house last week!

Pinewood Derby

Another year and another pinewood derby under our belts. I wish I had more pictures, but they just didn't turn out so well. However, here is Tyler's car in his second race. It's the one on the right. Sadly, he didn't win - but it's all about the experience. Right?

Allen and I decided if we ever have to do this again, it would be totally worth it to get some college kids who want to help and pay them for a winning car!

The biggest attraction for the little kids of course, was the pinewood derby cupcakes. For whatever reason, that I don't understand, the scout leaders put them out on a table at the beginning of the evening. All night, there were little kids that just couldn't stand it. They would take out the toppers of the cupcakes and lick the frosting off. Sometimes, they just put their fingers in the frosting and licked. Gross. Lesson learned, don't eat the cupcakes. However, Braden couldn't stand to be left out. At the end, he got a cupcake too.

Days of My Life

Some crazy things going on lately. A lot of randomness. I decided I really wanted to learn to make rolls. I have made bread. I make it all the time and it is extremely easy to do. I throw all the ingredients in my bread machine, it has a seperate compartment for the yeast, I put it on the dough setting and just like that...I have dough. I don't know why I want to learn to do it by hand but I have been trying and trying for awhile now. After many attempts, here it is. My dough, that I mixed by hand. There was a lot of dough so I also decided to try and make cinnamon rolls. I have never done that either and I really wanted to know how. So here was my attempt at that.

After many failed attempts, and I really do mean that, I actually got a pan of good rolls. YAY! Such an exciting thing for me.

They even actually tasted decent. YAY! I am sad I don't have a final picture of the cinnamon rolls. This is my friend Erin's recipe and she has a recipe for cream cheese frosting to go with it. They are to die for! Very good!

Another part of my life is Braden. I know I have said it before, but he is a constant from the second he wakes up to the second he goes to sleep, I have to be on top of it. He is so quick to get into trouble. Seriously, I think I had twins as a precursor to what Braden is. I could easily go back and have twins again compared to Braden. I have resorted to putting those contraptions on the door knobs in the house. My older children, as well as I, struggle with getting certain doors open. I hate them, but they are necessary.

I have put locks on the cupboards and the fridge. Yes, the fridge. Braden loves opening the fridge. He pulls things out and he likes to climb in. I am afraid the door will shut on him and I won't be able to find him.

The other day I was getting ready in the bathroom. I don't have a lock on the cupboards, however it was tied together and it isn't an easy thing to get off. Both Allen and I struggle with getting them off. I left to run into the kitchen for just a moment. I came back in the bathroom and there Braden was sitting on the floor with this pulled out.

He had put it in his mouth and he sprayed it. I heard him trying to spit it out. I just couldn't believe it. It only took a minute and a half, he had gotten the tie off and opened the cupboard. I looked on the back of the bottle. It said to drink water and call a physician or poison control immediately. So, I gave him water and called poison control.

I always use to wonder - seriously - what kind of parent would let their kid get into poison? Who would leave it out in the open? I found out a couple of things through this process. It doesn't necessarily have to be out in the open. Second, I am not the only person who calls poison control. I was actually put on hold for 5 minutes before I got through.

The nice lady that helped me told me that they don't have this poison listed which means they must not make it anymore. I couldn't find anywhere on the bottle where it listed the ingredients. She finally told me to just make him drink a lot. Anything he wants to drink to give it to him, as long as he is drinking. Then she told me if he starts drooling excessively - like a lot of drooling, I should take him immediately to the emergency room.

The lady called back a hour later. He wasn't drooling excessively so she decided he would be ok. So far, so good. But my goodness! I am ready to make a suit out of velcro and stick him places. So I know when I put him somewhere, he'll be right where I left him!

Also another random thing. The girls had a really good day together. It was so great. They were loving playing together and had a great time creating. They took pictures and wanted me to post what they had made. So here it is!

Anyway, crazy busy couple of months, but we are all well and haning in there!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Hopefully everyone had a great St. Patricks Day. Our kids woke up to a special breakfast with Leprechaun juice. I told them they all had to drink it before they got their donut. Tyler was not going to drink it at all, Kylie wasn't sure, but McKenna took the plunge without a problem. Once she told the other two it was just milk, then they were ok with it. Those other two take after me I guess. Sometimes, you just can't get past the color thing. I think that's why you don't see green ketchup anymore?

They were all decked out in their green for that day so luckily they didn't get pinched. Next year I'll have to try and celebrate this holiday more. I feel bad that I don't. I grew up in a home where it was definitely celebrated. We would set traps the night before and try to catch leprechauns. They would always leave things messed up. Good memories.