They'll thank me later...

(It's chocolate. Thank goodness.)

So sleepy...

Ella nodded off in her high chair today. I love these precious moments!

New Game Plan...

 Olivia just timed ME to clean up her playroom. After 180 Mississippi's and a clean room, I am starting to rethink the reverse psychology strategy for her.

Funny Art

Whenever someone asks the kids what their daddy's name is, they reply, "Scottyb!" So without further adieu, here is Ava's art from her Sunbeam class at church. I call it,

"Scottyb and his ladies." aka our family.

 I love the look on daddy's face. So classic.

Camping

We decided to go camping this year in Eastern Washington for 4th of July weekend at Blue Lake, a place where I went camping in high school with some of my best girl friends. It was so much fun, and had hardly changed a bit. We choose Eastern Washington to make sure we would have some nice weather to camp in.

My dream tent, that I sweet talked my honey into buying at Costco this year. It was love at first sight! It's a 10 man tent with all the bells and whistles. And it was a great price too. (Come to find out, I know nothing about tents! to be continued... )

Our first day, we got in around 6pm, and set up camp. The kids played in the dirt while Scott and I set up the tent. There was a really sweet older couple nearby that were so good to us, and the kids. They let Olivia walk/boss around their dog for long periods of time. She really loves to mommy her sisters right now, particularly in disciplinary action (I have no idea, don't ask.)

 I took the kids for a walk around the campground while Scott got things set up. With a trip to the bathroom every 25 minutes. Our little peanut, Makayla, also has a bladder the size of a peanut. Next time I am bringing the Winnie the Pooh training potty with us. Problem Solved!

 We went for a drive at dusk to the Grand Coulee Dam, for the nightly laser light show. It was really fun to see, but the photos didn't really turn out, because it was so dark. Here is Scott telling his dad all about it. :)

 We got back to camp and all went to bed in my palace of a tent. Scott and I woke up at about 1am to high winds. They were very loud. We could barely sleep. The kids kept waking up scared, and I would quickly calm them down, thinking the winds would die down. At about 2am, one of the tent metal poles broke, bringing down one third of the tent, on the side the kids were in. We decided to move the kids into the car to sleep with me, so we removed all of the car seats, and laid down the seats to a make a flat back seat area. We slept TERRIBLE. 4 children ages 6 and under and one adult in about a full sized bed, is not cozy at all. Especially when Ava likes to sprawl and snore super loud and Olivia freaks out when she is too close to anything. Everyone fell asleep in the car at about 4am, and the sun was up at 5. Scott slept in the tent, because there was no room in the car for him. I have to admit, I was jealous of him for a little while. It is a nice memory to have now, all snuggled up to the kids, but for the rest of the next day, I kept falling asleep sitting up. I would catch myself letting out a REALLY loud snore, literally so loud that I would wake myself up. And it happened all day long. Super awkward.

Scott fixed the pole in the morning with a butter knife and duct tape, and reinforced the stakes for the tent with better ones from the mini mart nearby. We got the children ready for the day and went to the campground park. It was nice to really watch the kids play. Without the distractions of day to day home life. That's what camping is all about I guess!

This girl LOVES the monkey bars lately. It's fun, because I remember loving them at that age too.

Here is Ella. She is growing up so fast lately! She reminds me of Olivia as a baby, with the wild hair. Those of you who have seen her killer bald spot know what I am talking about. She has a Mohawk, with a cute little goatee in the back from the sweet bald spot.

Next we went to the lake to let our little fishies make mud pies, and swim to the dock with daddy's help.

Makayla and Ella took naps on the beach with Mommy. Makayla is under all of these towels. I was trying to keep sunburns at bay. She was so tired that she slept for a really long time!

Next we went back to camp to make dinner, chicken that Scott cooked on the camp fire. Then we ate smores, with almond butter, (like peanut butter) instead of chocolate on them, for Scott's allergy diet. They are so good!

 Ahh Yes, Where is Ava?

I don't know why this is upside down. But I can't fix it. You get the idea!

 But as soon as the sun went down... more winds! And they were stronger than the night before. We said family prayers together, as we always do, making sure to ask Heavenly Father to be safe during the winds. We tucked the kids in bed, and we had the idea to pull the car right up to the tent on the side that the winds were the strongest. After we did this, we noticed all of the campers around us doing the same thing. We went to sleep, and woke several times just to what sounded like our tent about to rip into pieces. And the loud creaking of our tent poles. We kept hoping the wind would die down soon. At about 4am the winds shifted, and Scott was yelling me out of a breif sleep that the stakes had ripped off of the tent, and his side of the tent was coming off the ground. We tried to keep it down from the inside of the tent, with no luck. I ran to the outside and held down the poles as hard as I could while Scott tried to re secure the stakes. After a couple of minutes, we realized we were fighting a losing battle as the poles started breaking, with our children inside. Olivia was the only one awake, I don't know how the others were still asleep through this, but they were! I yell at Olivia who was crouched down outside with her blanket to go and get baby Ella. She is such a good big sister. To be able to be so scared, and still run into what seemed like a danger zone, and get her baby sister without a second thought. So sweet. Scott and I were trying to wake up Ava and Makayla from the outside of the tent by yelling their names, because if we would let go of the poles, it would roll with the kids inside. They had stayed asleep, snuggling with their arms wrapped around each other through all of this. Seriously the cutest thing ever, especially for the situation we were in. Ava wakes up after a while and shoots out the tent and into the car with Olivia. I end up letting go of the tent poles to get Makayla, and as soon as I do, the poles start breaking and the tent falls to the ground. Luckily, Makayla sleeps through this with none of the poles falling on her, and I was able to crawl in and get her. We all get into the car, with wide eyes and thankful hearts to be out of that wind.

We were able to watch the sunrise together as a family, which we have NEVER experienced before.

We can look back and laugh now, because if you look close at the picture below, Scott is in the car, only half awake, and in the background there are the other campers near by still in their tents, with a tent that was rolling away as I took this picture. Look at that orange tent! That would have been more sturdy than ours, but I can't see my kids sleeping through getting slapped in the face by our tent repeatedly, either. We packed up right after this, and drove home defeated, but also a stronger family because of it. And a little bit more humble. ;)

The next day, we returned our tent to Costco. And are now shopping for a pop up tent trailer. Ha! :)

It must be nice to be the Queen...

"tHIS iS tHe QuEEN Ella MY BabY SIsTeR"

 

I found these photos on my camera. The only one I remember taking is the last one. I found her like this one day, on a blanket of baby heaven. The little girl has it good. And she is loved by all.

Cure for the Crankies

I woke up today feeling grumpy, probably from sleep deprivation. Last night was a rough night, with all of the children getting up at different times for something. Then it got a little grumpier with arguing, or when Makayla dumped a bottle of bubbles on the carpet and ripped my MAC makeup sponge to pieces. The kids were ready for round 2 of breakfast, and I told them I would make it after they helped me clean the downstairs. For some reason, if the downstairs is clean, I feel like the rest of the house can wait. It was a slow start, with whining and poking around. Then I turned on some music for them, and away they went! Ava wiped the windows, cleaned the tables, and put away her things. Olivia dusted and vacuumed, and put away her things also. They asked if they could be done, and I said "I need help with one more thing, I need a big hug!" It feels so great to have them old enough to help around the house. This family is ready for a chore chart!

Sisterly Love

I was curling Olivia's hair on Saturday for a birthday party, and Ava yells at me from the living room, "MOM! THERE IS SOMETHING IN KAY KAY'S HAIR!" I yell back, thinking it is something from her lunch, "Get it out then!" Ava keeps repeating the same phrase over and over until I come out two minutes later and witness a hamster Zhu Zhu Pet that Olivia got for her birthday two days before, sitting atop Makayla's head, with it's wheels tightly wound and locked in Makayla's hair. Makayla lets out a whine.  I asked Ava how this happened, and she tells me she doesn't know, but then points to herself. Unfortunately this is not a isolated event. Ava bullys her  little sister all the time: by a whipping with her blanket, giving her a lick on the face when she thinks no one is looking, or simply sitting on her. Just. for. fun. Anyhow I ended up cutting the hamster out of Makayla's hair, and the awesome part is that it was on the very top of her head, and you can't even really tell! She has good hair. And Olivia put her hamster on the naughty spot for the rest of the day.

 When this all went down, I was really ticked. (Hence, no photos. I am not good about remembering to grab the camera in the midst of our special everyday emergencies.) Later that night Scott got home from work, the kids were in bed and I was trying to tell him the story, and I was laughing so hard that I was seriously crying like a crazy pregnant lady. So weird. I love my family and I am so thankful for these funny memories that my children provide so generously. :)

Easy Treat

Today we made these! They are just peanut butter (we used almond butter) between two Ritz crackers, dipped in almond bark, and sprinkled. Super Easy!

First Day of School

Here are some shots from our kindergarten/preschool kick off!

And here are some things to keep us busy while Olivia is at school:

Here is a picture of Ava's first day of Preschool. It was very different than Olivia's, in that Ava didn't want me to stay at all. Very nice, but also very SAD! She is my independent girl!

Fall Fair

While I was taking a shower today, Makayla peed on the floor. She and Ava proceeded to clean it up with toilet paper. Why didn't I think of that? :)

Here are some pictures of our recent trip to a local fair. We went with some good friends, and it was very fun!

I love the fall!

Mom, something happened at school today...

I am thinking, "What was it... a bomb threat...something dangerous?"

M: "What happened?"
O: "Nick was holding my hand! I am going to marry him when we get big!"
M: Phew.... "What!?!"
O: "Do you want to come sit with me and talk about it?"
M: Continuing to breathe into my brown paper bag....

So I guess this little ladies man just held her hand at story time, all by himself. Does this really start this early? Any advice on what to say to her? I am stumped.

Might I add she has been prancing around like a pony all day today since said conversation!

Smart Girl

So I have a funny story about the tooth fairy. Olivia lost her second tooth, and in a rush last night I scrambled to find a dollar bill (out of her piggy bank, I know I make an awesome tooth fairy.) The one I choose was ripped in half (Ava), and taped with blue painters tape (me). Unfortunately I didn't notice that it was the infamous taped bill in the wee hours last night. I did the routine sprinkle of glitter in her tooth fairy jar and thought I was set. Olivia wakes up to find what the tooth fairy left her. Happiness as usual, and a couple of hours later, she comes to me with the conclusion that Ava is in fact the tooth fairy. Dang. I really need to improve my level of preparedness or Santa is toast.

Movie Night

The kids picked out the new Dora Movie at the RedBox, and we set up the air mattress! The kids loved this.

Bed Time...?

I have been finding some pretty funny sleeping habits at my house lately. I put the girls to sleep in bed with pajamas, and by the time they actually fall asleep they are not in their beds, and most the time pajama-less. Ava is so perfectly tucked in on the storytime chair, above. I have a feeling Livie had something to do with it. :)

Ava woke up from her nap today, and I made brownies with Livie when she was asleep. I told her I had a special suprise for her and showed her the brownies. She then suprised me with, "It's my birthday cake?!" Her birthday is next month. So cute. :)

These brownies had crushed up candy cane on the frosting, and they were pretty exciting, for brownies!

Today's Blessing!

What can $35 buy you on Craigslist?

47 Church movies in new condition, that's what! I know. I am still in shock.

Picnic Play

I though I would post some photos from our picnic today. They played together, ate PB&J heart shaped sandwiches, cookies, apples, and ice cream sundaes with whip cream, sprinkles and a cherry on top! Then continued to play and watch a Barbie movie. It was a good day!

Sorry I didn't get pictures of everyone! The kids were not really into me taking their pictures anyhow. Oh well. :) It was really fun to have so many princesses in the house today, and a prince too! :)