Story's mohawk

When I asked Story how she wanted me to do her hair for church today, she said, "Um, I want a mohawk." 

I asked her what a mohawk is and she said it's when your hair sticks up on your head.

Presenting...the princes mohawk!

 aka fountain ponytail, but don't tell Story!

I can't wait to see the hairdos she wants when she's 16.  Oh wait!  Yes, I can.

January/February 2012

At the end of January, my VERY brave sister took all of our kids (together with her 3) overnight so that Grove & I could have a night off.  It was great (understatement).    We went to the Castle Creek Inn and enjoyed some time away.  That was our first night away in 4 years. Natalie really spoiled them too.  I don't know how she did it with all those kids, but they had a blast!

When we picked the kids up, Grove surprised us with a trip to a bounce house place.  The kids loved it. 

In February we went to Hill Air Force Base on Presidents Day weekend.  Grove had 6 days off in a row...which was supposed to be a fun family time, but all 5 kids got sick.  By Monday, they were well enough to take them to the museum, but then they were sick again the next day with secondary infections and whatever they hadn't gotten the first time.

I got released from my stake Primary calling and called as a RS instructor.  I'm so excited to teach the George Albert Smith lessons.  He was a great prophet and leader.

Givon started Nursery the last week of February.  He did great his first week as long as I was nearby.  As soon as I left to go to RS, he cried and cried.  The second week I stayed with him.  I'll let him adjust a little more...he seems too young to be in Nursery...he's not even really talking yet...although he's starting to say a word here and there.  It's always a surprise to me...did he just say that?  Mostly he points & grunts, but we get it.

Givon after his first day of nursery.  I tried to get him to eat lunch before he napped.  He disagreed.  Our church is 11-2 so he really misses his nap.

Bombs away!

Garett in a helicopter sitting on a stretcher

Garett ran laps around the kitchen one morning. I think he got over 400 before he stopped.  Can I channel that energy somehow to me?

Givon & I in the helicopter.  He looked away just as Grove was taking the pic.  Nice.

Givon really loves planes.

Givon before nursery.  My handsome baby.

Givon smiling at me through the bounce house.

Grove & the kids at Hill AFB

Haven, enjoying the stretcher

Haven on the slide

sisters...sisters...

Holland smushing her face into the screen. 

the kids and I in front of the rescue helicopter (the one with the stretcher)

Story isn't much of a climber at home, but she was fearless on these slides.

Story's turn on the stretcher.  She kind of looks like Pippi Longstocking, I know, but she loves to dress herself, and it's one less thing for me to do.

Garett's favorite plane

Temple Week

This is our Stake temple week.  We're encouraged to take our families to the temple.  So we did.  For FHE.  And we had some delicious dinner at Costa Vida, thanks to a generous gift.

President Thomas S. Monson, “As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.”

Haven gets glasses!

Haven failed her school vision exam this year. 

Haven is pretty farsighted in her left eye.  Her right eye doesn't see perfectly either, but if she covers her right eye, her left eye is completely blurry.  Why didn't she ever tell us this?  It's a big mystery.

So, she gets to wear glasses and do patch therapy for 3-4 hours, 5 days a week to improve the vision in her left eye. 

She's been a good sport about it.  Haven has such flair - she can pull off anything. 

And, she says she can see better now - nice to know!  The tops of her ears are sore from the glasses - anything we can do about that?

Upcycling - the mullet dress

I've seen some really cute projects online of tshirts that have been upcycled into new stuff.

Well, here's my attempt.  I saw a really cute dress - the lady called it "party in back".  Grove and I laughed at her reference to a mullet - business in front, party in back - but seriously, this is the mullet dress. 

I love it.  So does Story.  Actually, so do Holland and Haven.  They want one now too.  Garett doesn't.  He told on Story because she had too many dresses on.
Here's the link to the tutorial and blog where I got the idea & technique for the back of the dress.  I didn't have enough striped fabric for the whole thing so I did my own thing there.
http://creatingbycami.blogspot.com/2011/03/business-in-front-party-in-back.html

By the way, it cost me less than $3.  I bought the hot pink fabric because I didn't have any shirts that color that I wanted to use.  The top of the dress is a basic pink t-shirt that she already had but didn't need.  The other shirts are pieces 4 of my old shirts that I cut up to make the ruffles and skirt of the dress.

I know the necklaces are distracting, but for Story they were a package deal...

I love Pinterest for sparking my creativity!

Story's 3 year old interview

What is your favorite color? Pink and purple.  Pink and purple and blue.  And pink.

What is your favorite food to eat? Noodles (pronounced noonoos)

What is your favorite thing to do? play toys, girl toys, pink toys.

What is your favorite movie? Dora.

What is your favorite toy? Pink toys.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Dancer.  A big dancer.  I'm not big either.

What is your favorite song? Dora ballet song (?), Princesses songs, Twinkle Twinkle little star

What are your favorite books? Dora

 What else do you like?  Dora clothes, Dora underwear, garbage, pink garbage
"just kidding", sparkly shoes, turkey, my blankets, chocolate milk.

Have you ever tried to interview a 3 year old?  There you go!  Story in a nutshell.

Story is 

independent,
needy,

reserved,

talkative, 

stubborn, 

eager to please,

sweet, 

sassy, 

(sugar & spice - lots of both), 

a morning person (like 5 or 6am every day), 

nurturing, 

girly.

Lots of contradictions! :)

December pics from the phone

Givon got new blankets from Grandma & Grandpa for Christmas - looks like they passed the test!

Do you know how hard it is to get a "normal" pic of Haven?  She's so silly!
This is Haven's furry frenzy that Santa brought her.  She asked for a puppy for Christmas.  Santa was clever.

Haven stampin' it up with her stamps from Grandma & Grandpa

Sami & Holland on New Years Eve

Holland with her legos from Grandma & Grandpa

Chef Story

Story got cupcake legos (Duplos) from her birthday money from Nana & Grandpar.  These are a big hit with all of the kids.

Stamper Story