Is Marianne Bleeding?

The other day Maddy asked me, "Mom, is Marianne bleeding?" I reassured her, as I need to reassure you right now... NO she is not bleeding, she just enjoyed a real fruit boysenberry Popsicle. YUM!!!

Sunday NAPS!

Sunday naps are a coveted thing for me. I look forward to taking a Sunday nap all week. So if I do not get one, I am very GRUMPY! If I am having a very successful day I am able to get all my kids to sleep with me. If for some reason they do not cooperate, they are really good about leaving me alone so that I can sleep. That is part do to how wonderful they are, but mostly because they don't want the mama bear to come out and yell at them. Yes the mama bear gets really angry when she is woken up from a much needed nap for some tattling or arguing or extra loud play. So this is the scene at my house right now (or at least it was). And if you can believe it my spot was right in the middle between Haley and Maddy, and Scotty was between my legs. How I managed to escape with out anyone waking is a miracle!

Marianne in her crib. What will I do when she gets big enough to demand a side of mom to snuggle. I guess my head is still available! If she is lucky Scotty may even share a leg!

Mother's Day (a little late)

OK..... I know that it is almost Father's day, but I had to post how grateful I am to be a mother and how wonderful my husband and children are. They are so thoughtful and kind and make me feel special all the time. I love the cute things that my kids make for me and the sweet cards that they write. I find though that you find out what your kids think of you as a mother through these cards.

For example: this is the card Scotty made for me at school, note that I sometimes gets angry at him. I guess I do get after him a lot. He is the child I struggle with the most. But, I was just grateful that he didn't put that I ALWAYS get mad at him

This is the outside of the card and the flower that he planted, he was so proud! He gave this to me on Friday the minute he walked through the door from school, he couldn't wait.... I love his excitement about things!

Haley made me a card with a picture of us and these adorable flowers. She loves surprises and believes that everything should be done at the appropriate time, so she carefully hid her gifts until the perfect time on Sunday to give them to me. She is crushed if you find out about her surprises.

Me and my wonderful children. I love this picture because it depicts their personalities so well. I have Haley and Marianne the more serious, cautious children and then there is Scotty and Madeline the silly, mischievous children. I love them each for their unique qualities and what the each bring to our family.

For Mothers day Scott wanted to get me an outfit, but has not had the best luck picking clothes out for me. So he took me out on a date and took me shopping. We had the best time and I found a great outfit complete with... skirt, blouse, earrings and shoes. He couldn't have done anything more to make this the best mothers day. I love him and love that he constantly takes care of me and teaches our children to love and respect me.

Dutch Oven

I got Scott a dutch oven for Christmas and he just decided to finally break it out of the box and learn a new skill. When he lit the coals to get them ready to put on the dutch oven there was a big flame. The kids thought it was great. They ran in side and asked if they could roast marshmallows. We only had hard Christmas tree marshmallows, but they didn't care. They had a great time making them black, throwing them in the garbage and getting another one ready to roast. Who's needs camping when you can have a fire and dutch oven in your backyard!


They were enamoured by the high flames!

Scott intensely reading about out to season and use his dutch oven. I have the first cobbler was a little dry, but the second one was to die for. He is quite the cook!

Scotty, Maddy and Haley roasting their green Christmas trees!!

Scotty and his burnt marshmallow. He loved catching his on fire and blowing it out!

Marianne didn't care much about roasting marshmallows, she was too busy eating something.... She loves to eat with this cool contraption (don't know what to call it), she gets excited and kicks her legs when I get it out.

Fathers and Sons/ Girls weekend

We had a great weekend, it went by way to fast as usual. Since it is not summer vacation for us yet, (believe me we are counting down the days) we live for the weekends. Since Scott missed our ward Father and sons camp out a couple weeks ago he took Scotty with him this weekend camping (if you call sleeping in a cabin camping) to Alamo the location where they are going to hold our stake YM camp this summer. They rode 4 wheelers, made a bow and arrow and had a great time. I had been struggling with Scotty's behavior the last week or so and he came home a changed little man (for now). I think because he has 3 moms and is forced to play with girls most the time, he feels a little smothered and disgruntled often. So it was great for him to have some MAN time with his dad. I think they will do this more often.

While the men were away the girls played. Haley and her friend Abby wanted to play after their dance class on Friday, so I said OK as long as Abby's mom could play too. So we picked her up and headed to subway for dinner and then to the park. Abby has a sister a little younger than Maddy, so the girls had a great time and I had a great time chatting with a friend. I realized that night that as my girls get older we are going to enjoy some fun times together. We will have many shopping trips, spa days, craft days while Scott and Scotty our on their hunting trips. I love being a girl and am grateful to have girls to love and play with and teach and watch blossom into beautiful young women.