Muscle Man

The boys got these "punchers" a little while ago and they play with them all the time! Most of the time they are fighting each other (we had to make a rule - no hitting in the face) but sometimes they just use them to pose.  Beck looks especially buff with just underwear on.

Krispy Kreme

Josh has gotten into the routine of taking the kids to Krispy Kreme Donuts in Orem while they wait for me to finish my run down the canyon.  It is a Saturday ritual that they love!  

Keen's Art

A few of the art projects that Keen has been working on at school...

And a couple of my favorites that he has drawn at home!

Liev's Butterfly Hat

Liev came home from school today with this cute butterfly hat that he made.  Sometimes I think about how big this boy is getting and can't believe it!  Almost a first grader!

Beck's PJs

I love these PJ's that Beck wears.  They are almost too small but I still love when he has them on!  

Twisters

Rease and Rhen have decided to start a weeding business this summer to earn money.  They have one client so far - our neighbor Mike across the street.  But they have passed out their fliers all over the neighborhood and are hoping for some good business!  You go girls!

Crazy Rhen!

Rhen was messing around while sitting in the front seat of the van today and thought she was hilarious that she leaned her seat all the way forward.  She is such a crazy funny girl this Rhen!

Beck goes to the Dentist!

Beck is almost 3 and I decided to let him try out the dental chair while the rest of the kids were having their appointments too.  He did great!  It helps that Papa is the dentist and is so great to the kids.  But Beck didn't fuss one bit and had his teeth cleaned and everything!

Rease's field trip

I got to be one of the chaperones for Rease's field trip to the Museum of Natural History this week.  I love going on field trips with my kids and most times it ends up being the only time I get to help out with their class for the year.  This trip was super fun and we had a great group of girls with us!  The museum is pretty amazing and has lots of things to see and do.  Plus I love being with my girl.  She is the best!

Sleepy Boys

It's not very often that the boys sleep in.  Most of the time they are up as soon as it's light outside and most of the time I'm still in bed!  Today though I got a little extra sleep and woke up to find these guys still fast asleep.  It's 7:29 and that's sleeping in to me! Ha!

Flour game

Ahh the famous flour game.  Rhen came away as the loser this time!

Keri and Desh

Desh bonded with his cousin Keri this weekend while we were visiting in Roy.  She is so sweet and he loved all the attention she gave him!

Easter Week

We were lucky enough to spend our Easter week this year at the cabin!  The kids had school off so we packed up and went to Provo Canyon for a week.  It was wonderful and really great to get away even if it's close!  Highlights of the week include stopping for a potty break along the road...

Climbing trees...

Trying on new gear...

Taking a walk up by the lake.  And of course throwing rocks into the water!  We wouldn't be a family with lots of boys without having a rock throwing contest!

And a must when we're in Utah County - Pizza Factory for dinner one of the nights!

But the highlight of our week is focusing on the Savior and his life as we remember why we're celebrating Easter.  We had a fun time doing our Easter Week at the cabin this year - doing the same things but in a different venue.  It was wonderful.

I love this first day as we can remember what we are all thankful for and how blessed we are.

The kids love recreating the scene at the temple when Christ threw out the money changers.  Also remembering the sacredness of the temple.

Teaching Tuesday is my particularly favorite day of the week.  I love to see the sweet drawings the kids do and how they can teach a parable in their own words.  It's the best thing ever.  Liev chose the parable of the 10 virgins, Rhen the Widow's Mite, Keen the Good Samaritan, Rease the Good and Evil Servant and Beck the Least of These.  Love them all!

Wednesday is fun for the kids cause they get to eat the chocolate coins after we talk about Jesus being betrayed for the pieces of silver.

For Passover Thursday we had fun making these cotton ball sheep and remembering the story of the Passover with the Children of Israel.

Friday we made these plates of the Hill Calvary and each of the kids was able to draw and create their own.

Saturday morning before we left for home we talked about the Spirit World and the importance that temples play in our role here on earth.

And Easter Sunday is always a special day as we talk about the resurrection.  We have loved incorporating this tradition into our Easter Week.  Our kids look forward to it every year and I love the spirit that we feel as a family.

Our week on the wall.  I love having this to remember all that we've learned!

We did sneak in the Easter Egg Hunt with all the cousins at the end of the week.  It's always fun for the kids and they love being with the family!  Happy Easter everyone!

Messin around

Beck and Josh just messin around trying to see all the faces Beck could make to the camera.  Such a cute boy.

Conspiring

I don't often take ALL the kids to the grocery store with me simply because it is pretty crazy trying to keep them all together.  But sometimes I have to grab one or two things and don't have a choice but to take them all in.  Today I caught them huddling up trying to conspire against me.  Their goal: talk me into buying them each a treat.  After this huddle and the fact that they were actually pretty good while we were in there, I did end up getting them each something.  Crazy kiddos!

Mathletes

Rease has been in the Math Club at school this year and has had a blast.  Her teacher Mrs. Willson is also the math club teacher and she has been so fun and makes the kids work really hard.  They had their math competition this week and got to travel to Daybreak Elementary for the day.  Rease was pretty nervous the morning of the competition but was so happy afterward and said they did really good!  I'm so proud of her and all her hard work this year!

Cute Buns

Beck has been so good at going to the bathroom on the toilet and never really has an accidents at all. My favorite is when he sits on the toilet and is waiting to have me help him wipe.  He'll sit there very patiently and call out "mom I need help wiping" or "I need some more toilet paper in here!"  He's such a good boy.

 I did catch him washing his hands with his cute buns exposed today.  If that's the trade off for not going in his pants, I'll take it!  

Girl's Bathroom

We were at the school for parent teacher conferences this week and Josh found himself going into the wrong bathroom.  Despite the large picture of a girl on the wall he still made it all the way in, used the bathroom and walked out without realizing it.  His girls wouldn't let him live it down though and had to document his mistake!

Rhen's School Program

The 2nd graders have been working hard on their "Around the World" program at school.  It turned out to be such a cute program with songs from lots of different countries and even some in different languages.  Rhen was so excited to share the songs with all of us!  Such a cute girl we have!

Tucked in

Two things about this that are adorable.  First - Beck still sleeps in a pack and play.  I know he could probably climb out if he wanted to but he is very content to stay in his bed.  So while he stays, I'm keeping him there!  Second - his favorite beanie boos are all tucked in right next to him.  That look on his face tells you how happy he is to be taking a nap next to these cute creatures.  Sleep tight.

7 Brides for 7 Brothers

We took the 4 older kids to Hale Center Theater tonight to see 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.  They have all seen the movie so are familiar with the story.  I was amazed at how much they were all into it, especially the boys.  They loved it and couldn't stop talking about it!  We'll have to keep bringing them back!

Snot nose

This might be the grossest snotty nose I have ever seen.  The two columns have converged into one giant snot blob.  Yuck.

T-shirt Quilt

I've been saving our old t-shirts that have some story or meaning behind them and finally put them into a quilt this weekend.  I love how colorful it turned out and it was fun to remember where they all come from!  Now I have to put some time into binding it, but the hard part is over!

One last ski day

The kids had one make up ski lesson from earlier in the year so today was the day.  April 1st and our last ski day of the year.  They were all excited to get up there one more time.  It was a beautiful day and they all skied really hard and did great.  Until next year!

Science Fair

4th graders get to participate in the Science Fair at school and Rease has been working hard for the past couple of months getting her project ready.  Her teacher Mrs. Willson is amazing and has had these kids do their project 100% on their own.  She didn't want them to bring it home at all but has given them time in class to study, write and complete their whole project by themselves.  I am so impressed with that and the chance she has given the kids to do something all alone without parents help.  Rease LOVED working on her project and was so proud to say it was her own. 

Today they had the science fair for all of us to walk around and see the presentations that the kids have created.  Part of their grade is their appearance and how professional they look.  Rease really wanted to look nice so she wore her favorite dress and asked if I would do her hair in a bun.  I even let her sneak on some lipstick!  She looked adorable and very professional.  

Rease's project was on the weather.  I love that she chose this because she, of all my kids, is obsessed with the weather.  I think it's mainly because she wants to know when the snow is coming so she can have a good ski day.  Whatever it is, she checks the weather every single morning along with the lunch choices at school.  She is a creature of habit!  Her weather project turned out awesome!  I was so impressed by her clay sculptures and the different things she used to show all the parts of the weather.  Such a fun day for her to show what she has been working so hard on!

 Rease got top scores from her teacher in all areas!  What a great accomplishment!

And I wanted to include all her research cause I think it's pretty great.