PhotoStory Friday: A Kids First Teacher

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Everyone remembers their first teacher- their kindergarden teacher.

Mine was Mrs. Little.

She really was little.

Maybe about 4'11".

Noah's teacher is little too, but not that little.  

Didn't you adore your kindergarden teacher? 

All of these kindergardeners adore theirs.

Noah's Field Day

I got to attend Noah's Field Day today, and despite the cool, somewhat wet weather, everyone had a great time.  They got to play all sorts of games, each child got a large round button pin and collected stickers all day, and Noah and I even wore matching shirts.  

Waiting in line to play Bucket Ball.

Noah and his friends DeMarquis and Andrew.

Shooting for the basket.

Popsicle break.  For all my Glen Court friends, does this remind you of anything?

"Save us from the rain!"

This would have been super cute if only he had looked at the camera.

Playing in the Carpet Walk.

Doing a jig... I think.

Like little duckies all in a row.

Come back tomorrow... I will post one more picture from today for my PhotoStory Friday.

I Can Do Annie's Hair

I needed something new for Annie's hair, and since her curls are always attacking her face, I decided to pull them back.  

Noah's Field Trip

Noah's class took a field trip to a local animal farm last week, and I decided to tag along.  

Not the best idea in the world.

It was freezing cold, Annie and Cooper didn't really care to be there, and they didn't get to see much because there were so many other kids.  

I couldn't take the stroller because we were walking through the mud, so I carried Cooper and tried to take pictures at the same time. 

Again, not the best idea.

Noah put his hand on a wooden fence as soon as we got there and got a HUGE sliver in his finger.  Of course, he was screaming his head off while I was pulling it out.

And somehow Noah's lunch didn't get packed into the box of lunches in the classroom.  Actually, a few of the kid's lunches didn't get packed.  So, he ate my lunch, which meant that I had to stop at Wendy's for 99 cent chicken nuggets on the way home. 

And why did I go on this trip?

Because Noah will remember that I was there, that I pulled a huge sliver from his finger and that I gave him my lunch.

That's why.

Patiently waiting.

Don't these two look thrilled?

Where's Noah?  I'll give you a hint... he's the only kid in the world that can wear a hood all the time.

Noah's teacher is the short one in the middle.

He's happy because he knows he gets to play on the playground.

Anyone own a fake cow?  Noah is really good at milking them.

You Can Tell Summer Is Here When...

... When your kids faces start to look like this:

About a week and a half ago, while on the outdoor playground at the gym, Annie turfed it.  

The kid care workers came and interrupted my class to let me know that she had fallen, but I wasn't that worried.  I told them to find Noah and let him comfort her, which he did.  Of course, then they were worried that she chipped her tooth in the fall, however we all know that it was already chipped.

Cooper came and sat down next to her as soon as I pulled out the camera. 

And so did Noah.

PhotoStory Friday: Not A Baby Anymore

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

My mini-Cooper is no longer a baby.  Today he is 18 months old!

I love this little boy, and he has recently discovered so many things.  Most importantly... walking!  Yes, he was a little behind, but he caught up, and now tries all sorts of "funny" walks, as Annie calls them, like taking giant steps, bouncing, or walking backwards.  

He has a large vocabulary for his age, probably due to the fact that he has two older siblings talking to him all the time.  He likes to dance and "shake his bum" and has also discovered yelling.  

He yells.  A. Lot.

He has a killer smile, and his eyes are now turing a little hazel.  He may be the only grandchild out of 13  that has green-ish eyes.  

He still can't go an hour without his blanket, and more recently, his crocs.  As soon as he wakes up he asks for them. 

He also knows how to throw a fit.  Actually, he's mastered it.

His hair is a little curly, even though we cut most of the curls off.  

He also has discovered making faces.  He thinks he's pretty cool.  

His new favorite hat. He calls the lizard on it a "dyso" (dinosaur).

The beloved crocs.

Making his "happy face."

Tennessee Tuesday: Pam's True Beauty

I know this has nothing to do with Tennessee, but it's Tuesday, and I figured everyone out in Bloggerville would get a kick out of this:

This is a sticker I had to wear ALL DAY while on Noah's field trip (which is another story to be told later).  I had to take my own picture on the school computer, and as I was making a face, and trying to figure it out, the camera went off.   Annie and I got a good laugh out of it.  I also made sure to put it high enough on my shirt that my hair came over my shoulder and covered it.

Don't I look good?  Come on, be honest.    

Say That Again...

This little package of yogurt has become a source of amusement at our house this week.  

A few weeks ago, Noah was telling me about some yogurt that he wanted me to buy.  I could tell he was asking for a "crush cup", but I wasn't quite getting what kind of "crush cup".

He had been asking me for a "damitall" crush cup.  

It took me until yesterday when I was at the store to figure out that he was asking for a "Danimal" crush cup.  So yesterday we had a lesson on how to pronounce it.  Noah got it, however Annie thought it was quite fun to run around the house singing, "damitall, damitall, damitall!"  It didn't help that we were laughing hysterically.  Aren't we good parents?

PhotoStory Friday: I Swear I Bathe My Kids

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A few days ago, it was cold outside, but the kids really wanted to ride their bikes and scooters. So we pulled the cars out of the garage, and let them play inside it.

At the time, Cooper still thought crawling was the best way to go, and I wasn't smart enough to put pants, socks or shoes on him.

If you look close, you can see a leftover cracker or something on the bottom of his feet. Yummy.

Tennessee Tuesday: The Nashville Temple

Like I have already mentioned, I was able to go to the temple in Nashville this week.  It's a very small, but beautiful temple, and Annie and Cooper enjoyed walking around it.  

By the way, if you look closely, you will see dust spots on these pictures.  I didn't realize how dirty the camera was until I looked at these.  I cleaned the camera that night!

For The Love Of Pete

I love it when people use that phrase, because I can sarcastically reply, that yes, I do love Pete.

Anyway, I am sending a shout out to my awesome husband, Pete. He had surgery earlier this week, and although he is getting around well, he still should be relaxing.  Of course, I had to go and get one of the nastiest cases of strep I have had in a long time, which means I can't do much other than sit around.  I can't help much with the kids, I have no energy, I can't eat, and in general, I just feel like crap.  In the past three days, I have eaten a bowl of soup, two slim fast's (I needed some protein) and two reeses pieces peanut butter eggs (if you let them melt in your mouth, they slide right down your throat).

Pete has stepped in and taken over, so that I can relax.  I was in enough pain, that I got a shot of a painkiller from the doc, and then I was able to take some "sleepy drugs" and Pete got up with the kids at night.  Yesterday, I got to take a nap and he took care of everything else.  Today, yet another nap while Pete took the kids to lunch (in the middle of a tornado watch... they keep showing up unexpectedly), and then he helped the kids with their chores.  He has been great.  He was really looking forward to relaxing this week, and although he got to at the beginning of the week, the end of the week was another story.  So thanks, babe, for being so awesome.  I love you!

PhotoStory Friday: Transfers

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

This week I had the opportunity to take our missionaries to their transfer meeting.  

If you are not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, we send young men and women out to serve full-time missions, spreading the gospel.  Every six weeks or so, some of them are sent to new areas in their mission, with new companions.  That's what happens at transfer meetings.  So I took 4 of them down, came home with 2 of them, one who was brand new.  

As the kids and I were waiting for the missionaries, I noticed this row of suitcases, which turned out to be the suitcases of all the new missionaries.  I thought it was a little symbolic, like they were all standing as soldiers, just waiting for what was to come next...

Playing Catch Up

Well, I have been absent from the blogging world for a while.  We have had a very busy past two weeks, and I am now finding time to blog because I have strep throat, and can't do anything else! 

We spent a week in Utah for Noah's spring break, and we were so busy the whole time.  I didn't take many pictures, in fact, probably less than 50. But here is a quick run down of our activities.

Our flight was cancelled on Thursday flying to Utah, so we had to leave at 6:00 a.m. on Friday.  It wasn't bad, but we were pretty tired.  Saturday I spent the day In Salt Lake with my good friend Becki at a Zumba training.  The last time she and I attended a Zumba training, the day ended in the basement of the gym while we waited out tornado watches.  This time, the day ended in Ice Cream.  Much better.

Sunday we spent the day with the Emmons family, and celebrated Annie's birthday, along with the birthdays of 4 of her cousins.  2 boys, 3 girls, so we had cupcakes and cakes, all made by grandma Emmons.

Monday I went to lunch with one of my favorite utah girls, my friend Katie.  We went to Cafe Rio (mmmmmm) and it was so great to see her.  We also visited with my sis-in-law Sharon, her husband Chris and their kids.  My kids love playing with those cousins, so we spend as much time with them as possible.  Annie loves her Uncle Chris immensely, and the two of them have a connection like none other.  

Tuesday I spent the day with my very best friend from Wisconsin, Mandie, at her new house in West Jordan.  Her kids and my kids, by default, became best buds, so they were all excited to see each other.  That night we went to dinner at the Emmons house again, this time without the rest of the family.  It was nice to spend time with them.

Wednesday was Annie's actual birthday, and she woke up to balloons and a princess crown from her grandma Hodson.

We went to lunch with my mom that day, and Annie wore her crown the whole time.  When my mom got home from work, we met grandma Emmons at the Build-A Bear shop to make animals.  She gave Annie a gift certificate to make anything she wanted for her birthday, and she also gave Noah and Cooper early presents, and they got to make animals as well.  

Then we took Annie to Red Robin for her birthday dinner.  Here she is with her very own birthday ice cream.

Thursday we had kind of a lazy day, but it was well needed.

Friday, Cooper got his first haircut from my friend Shannon.  I totally forgot the camera, but he did so well.  He didn't fuss, wiggle or cry.  He just sat there talking on my phone the whole time.  

Then we had another party for Annie, this time with my side of the family and a few friends. Again, I failed to take pictures of the party, only the food before.  Annie requested a birthday cookie this year, so thanks to Mrs. Fields, she got one. 

We flew home Saturday after a busy week, but we had so much fun.  We are headed back out there in August for a while, so it will be a little more relaxed, and we will get to visit more people.  So if we missed you while we were there, we'll catch ya next time!

And for this past week....

We got home late on Saturday night (around 11 p.m.) and slept in late Sunday morning (it was conference weekend so we didn't feel bad about it).  I got a call from our sister missionaries that day, and one of them was very ill, and needed a few things, so I spent some time at their apartment, came home to make them dinner, and then spent more time at their apartment.  

Monday we got back into the groove of life, sort of.  Pete had his knee scoped early in the morning, so we spent some time in the hospital.  He did great, and is walking fine now.  It has been nice to have him home, even if he couldn't really walk.  Noah came home from school feeling drained and sick, but wanted to go to school the next day.

Tuesday I had the opportunity to take the missionaries to their transfer meeting at the stake center right next to the temple.  I had never seen that temple before, so the kids and I walked around the temple and took pictures.  It's actually smaller than the stake center.  It was hard to say good-bye to one of our missionaries, because we have become great friends ( she is a little older than the other missionaries) but she is also done in 6 weeks, and we can begin communicating outside of her mission.  Noah came home sick from school that day and we took him straight to the ER.  That's a long story, but he came home with an antibiotic.  

Wednesday we took him back to the doc (again, another long story) after we took Pete to have his leg re-wrapped.  That day I started feeling pretty yucky, and had to find a sub for my evening class.

Today I woke up feeling like I was swallowing my tonsils, so I went to the doc, and the rapid test revealed strep.  I was given a shot of an antibiotic and a pain killer (I have a super-high pain tolerance, and I was almost in tears) and I am feeling better already.  I got subs for my weekend classes because the doc told me too.  Imagine that, I actually did what I was told to do.

Tomorrow, school is out for Good Friday, and I am hoping I feel good enough to take the kids to the park, but we'll see.

So that is the past two weeks in a nutshell.  The next post won't be so long, I promise.