Sandbox

The other day I had to have Cortney run get the camera because this is what I found Henry outside doing.  

A poor man's sand box.  Hahaa.  Our house doesn't have gutters so when it rains the water goes into our flower beds and collects in a pool right where Henry is sitting.  Then...it dries and makes this fun dirt pile. 

Dirty baby always getting into trouble.  You may see a lot of plastic cups in this post.  On Saturday one of  Rob's chores was to pick up cups and plates from outside...there were something like 10.  What?

Oliver is getting so good at skating.  He is obsessed.  He told me the other day he was a "skater" and I kinda didn't like it.  I don't want him defining himself so soon in life. 

Look at how high off the ground he is.  I could never in a million years imagine doing something like this.  

Oh plus look at Henry, he has escaped.  He loves escaping.

Showing Henry the ropes. 

I love to sit on my front steps.  I do every evening.  The weather right now is amazing. 

Plus it needs to be noted that I am wearing a skirt that I have worn since I was pregnant with Oliver. 

Proof that I have been wearing this skirt for so long.  This is a picture of me jumping on the tramp when I was pregnant with Oliver in 2003.  I wasn't really jumping...I jumped for the picture.  This was my due date.  I was trying to get him to come out.  Such a horrible picture of me.  Hard to believe I was 23 in that picture.  This picture was taken with ACTUAL FILM...not digital.  Hahaa.  I think it is really funny. 

While we were outside Henry got out of the fence.  And was knocking on our neighbor's front door.  I sent Oliver over to get him.  Having older kids really rules.  I love how much Oliver helps me out.  Rob is a big help too.  It is so nice.  

I love Oliver's happy face in this picture.  Henry DID NOT want Oliver to bring him home...so I sent over the big guns.  And by big guns I mean, not me. 

Henry was fighting as hard as he could to not get carried back to the house.  I had to include a million photos of his little break down.  They make me laugh so hard.  All week I kept looking at these on Cortney's camera and it would make me so happy.  What a little diva. 

Notice the cups in the background...they are like easter eggs.  I love Cortney's face because you can tell he is being so sweet and nice to Henry.  Saying soothing words.  Henry could care less.  I also love these pictures because it really shows how big HENRY is.  Where did my baby go??

I sure love this boy.

And this one too.

Rob and our neighbor Kempton riding off into the sunset together.

Rob doing some tricks.

It is so hard getting our kids in bed when it is so wonderful in the evenings.  It really is the best time to be sitting around outside.  

Tonight Cortney took our two older boys to the School roller skating night.  We have always all gone...but I think Henry would be a nightmare.  He is getting to old to sit in the stroller the whole night, yet not big enough to skate on his own.  He was so sad when they left.  Luckily it isn't something Barney can't solve.  He loves Barney.  It is his bedtime in 20 minutes...I start to countdown right at six.  I love 7 p.m. bedtimes.  :)

p.s.  My legs are sore from all the running around I had to do IN HIGH HEELS for the primary program...yikes...can I really be that out of shape?  I haven't worn heels really since I was called to be president.  We don't have a primary room so we meet in the gym with hard wood floors...I can't wear shoes that are too loud or uncomfy.  

I'm on top of the world.

Today was the primary program. I am so glad it is over. Honestly.

It turned out great...at least considering I have NO experience with this kind of thing and absolutely no clue what I am doing. About 6 weeks ago someone from the bishopric said to me "you know the primary program is coming up next month, right?"..."um NO I DIDN'T, thanks for the heads up." hahah.

The kids were reverent. They all got up and did their parts. They sang the songs pretty loud. The teachers were all there and did exactly what they were supposed to do. Rob and Oli had their parts memorized...along with a lot of the other kids. We even had a bunch of kids show up that hadn't come during the practices. It was great. I was so proud of them.

There is something about having it all done and over with that makes me feel like a million bucks. Cortney said now that it is over I don't have anything to stress about until the baby comes (10 more weeks by the way). Which is totally true. Well I guess I am in charge of a nativity and a halloween party in between. I hate having things I am in charge of. I was really worrying about this program.

Being in the primary is totally out of my comfort zone. I am really starting to come around to it though. :)

Cali took Henry during church, so I wouldn't have to deal with him trying to go up and sit by Cortney the whole time. It was a life saver.

After church, Cameron and Leah came up for dinner. It was great to see them too.

Then one of my teachers brought this by tonight. A sketch she made of me today. Totally, exactly what my dress looked like...and what I look like in it. I thought it was the sweetest thing. She is one of my good friends (although 8 years younger then me and single) and moving soon...we are going to miss her so much. She has been Rob's primary teacher for 2 years. That alone makes her an angel. She also taught Oliver when he was 4. She is amazing. The scan doesn't do it justice. I wish you could see how awesome it really looks. I did notice I look kinda stressed. Hahaa. She is good.

Now for some random pictures I have taken lately (and since I took them most are out of focus....oh well)

The other morning I woke up and walked into the kitchen to this sight. My three boys sitting on a blanket eating pumpkin scones. So cute.

These pumpkin scones are seriously the bomb. Do people say that anymore, I really don't think so...but they are. Truly. I got the recipe a couple of years ago from a cooking blog and Cali and I are OBSESSED. Even Cortney who doesn't like pumpkin all that much thinks they are one of the best things ever. And so good for breakfast.

My new oven that makes all the scones possible. (they smell so good cooking)

I sat the babies up in a chair the other day to take their picture. I would have never guessed that they would both be blond, and fair. But they really look like they could be twins. More than Kate and Owen ever did.

They love each other and only fight occasionally (right now they are fighting over this ugly ratty naked barbie whose legs light up...they both love her). He always says "hey Noni" and she says "Hey Henry" right back. They kiss and hug all the time.

Noni (short for Fiona) always has her hair in her eyes. It doesn't matter how many times a day Cali puts it in a pony tail it just falls right out. The girl has slickery hair just like me.

2 little trouble makers. I can't believe they are going to be 2 soon.

I pushed her hair out of her eyes for her. What a sweet pair. (she is a little taller then him)

Here is the scone recipe. You can find it all over the internet and is supposed to be a copy cat recipe of Starbuck's scone. Everyone does a double glaze but I found that it only needs the spiced one. It really cuts down the time it takes to make it and you can't tell the difference at all.

Amazing to die for Pumpkin Scones from My Baking Addiction:

Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones adapted from: recipezaar Ingredients Scones 2 cups all-purpose flour 7 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 6 tablespoons cold butter 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 3 tablespoons half-and-half 1 tsp vanilla paste 1 large egg 1/2 cup mini cinnamon chips (Made by Hersey's I found them here in Utah at Ridley's on orem center street...they don't say mini on the bag I don't believe, they are such a delicious addition.)

Spiced Glaze 1 cup powdered sugar 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 tablespoons whole milk 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 pinch ginger 1 pinch ground cloves Directions to make the scones 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. 2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Using a pastry knife, fork, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious. Set aside. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half and half, vanilla paste and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix in mini cinnamon chips. Form the dough into a ball. 4. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into an 8-inch circle and about 1 inch thick. Use a large knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 8 equal triangular portions. Place on prepared baking sheet. (I just make it into a rectangle and then with a pizza cutter cut 16 smaller squares...i find it cooks more evenly when it is cut smaller) 5. Bake for 14–16 minutes. Scones should begin to turn light brown. Place on wire rack to cool. ( I always cook for 12 minutes so watch them...you just want them light brown) to make the plain glaze (I TOTALLY SKIP THIS STEP) -Mix the powdered sugar and 2 tbsp milk together until smooth. -When scones are cool, use a brush to paint plain glaze over the top of each scone. as the plain glaze firms up, make the spiced glaze -Combine the ingredient for the spiced icing together. Drizzle this thicker icing over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (at least 1 hour). A squirt bottle works great for this, or you can drizzle with a whisk. (INSTEAD OF DRIZZLING THIS GLAZE I PAINT IT ON WITH A PASTRY BRUSH LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THE PLAIN GLAZE...IT MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE MILK ADDED...YOU WANT IT TO PAINT ON PRETTY EASY...oh AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL SIDES BUT THE BOTTOM WITH THE FROSTING. YUM) Honestly you might die when you taste how good these are. You are welcome. I linked to the Original recipes if you want to see what they had to say about them.

The little things

Cortney brought home a new oven tonight. New to us that is. I am ecstatic. I made the kids some chicken nuggets real quick tonight and I was so happy. They were so crisp and hot...imagine that. I feel so grateful. Grateful to have so much. We got it off ksl for 100 bucks and it is way nicer than our old oven...plus it cooks food. It is a miracle.

We went as long as we could without one but my pregnant body is demanding pumpkin scones. Also the change in the weather makes me want to bake. I love this time of year. It makes me so happy.

26 (and a half) weeks

Today I had a doctors appointment. I forgot I wasn't supposed to eat sugar because it was time for my glucose test and for breakfast I had a rice krispy treat and a couple of fruit snacks. I don't usually eat so unhealthy but this morning I was in a rush to get Oliver out the door and myself read on top of that. Whoops. The nurses said I wouldn't probably pass the glucose test so to come back another day. It made me so sad that Cali isn't pregnant because a 1 hour glucose test is way funner with your sister sitting beside you.

I could have sworn I was 28 weeks but I am only 26 and a half. So far I am having heart burn like crazy, and I can't breathe at all...Cortney said it might be because I am not in shape. Hahaa. I really think it has to do more with the heartburn. I am so tired too. Last time I was pregnant I nested like crazy the whole time. This time I want everything clean and spotless I just want someone else to do it. The baby is really active. He has just started to get the hic-cups and the other day he woke me up in the night for the first time. He never moves when Cortney tries to feel him move, and when I get up in the night to go to the bathroom he totally wakes up.

I always hate having only one bathroom when I am pregnant because I have to trek up stairs in the night multiple times. I have decided however, as I cleaned the tub yesterday, that cleaning one tub while you are pregnant is more than enough. It is just so hard to lean over my tummy and impossible for me to kneel down with my bad knees. So maybe one bathroom isn't so bad after all. I don't know how I would clean any more tubs than what I have now.

So we took some more pictures tonight...I decided to wear the same shirt and also have another one of my kids looking pretty trashy in the background...so we could stick with a theme. Haaha.

I love that Rob is pulling a huge chunk of bubble gum out of his mouth. Little does he know it is sugar free. :)

As Cort was taking my picture our lovely neighbors rode by on their bikes. We stopped and chatted for a while.

Cute hens, and Cort. He doesn't leave Cortney's side when he is home. He LOVES him.

I can't resist how cute he looks in these so there are a lot of Henry.

I don't know what we are doing in this picture but it is funny. Rob with no shirt, Me leaning over the fence like a weirdo, Henry in size 5 shorts (poor kid...his hand-me downs aren't as nice as they once were...haha...and to think I have to dress one more boy in these clothes. The shirt he is wearing and the shorts were Tyson and Jacks before they were ours. YIKES.) Oliver showing our neighbors an old biking wound. Funny picture.

Henry is a mountain goat. He climbs things all day long. Today at the grocery store he got out of the car cart and silently climbed a huge flour display. All while I was looking at chocolate chips. He is crazy.

I know I have my eyes closed in this picture, but I know some day I won't have kids climbing all over me and I will miss it. I know that day I will love this picture.

And in case you didn't get enough one last adorable picture of Henry.

We talked outside with our neighbors until I remembered I was burning dinner inside. Oops. We had partially burned sausage with our eggs and toast (remember still no oven...I have to be pretty creative) but I thought it was still delicious. And well worth it, to have wonderful conversations outside in beautiful weather. (here is to 12.5 more weeks until this baby comes...can't wait)

Labor Day

I need to post more...but I have lost all desire. I hate that I am not posting more because I love more than anything going back and knowing what we did on a specific day in 2007. I hate that I have fallen so far behind. Sam told me I need to post more. I agree. But I can't seem to get the get up and go to do anything. Anything.

On Labor day we decided that instead of sitting around the house wishing for something to do we would plan something and go do it. Ha a novel idea. It is hard here because going out on a holiday guarantees that you will spend your holiday with every other single kid in the state. We decided it was still better than sitting home.

So we decided we would take the kids to bridal veil falls. It has been FOREVER since we have stopped there. It has been so long they don't even remember the last time we went. I knew that the kids would finally be old enough to climb up to the middle part of the fall. It amazes me as our kids get older that they can actually do stuff. Rob was pretty freaked out as we got to the bottom and decided he didn't want to do it. Ha. That kid. We convinced him he would love it, and that it wasn't dangerous and he decided he would go. Henry and I stayed and walked around in the grassy area of the park. He also threw about a million rocks into the river. I thought it would take a lot longer but the boys were up and back really fast. They had a great time. Of course we don't have pictures of their climb but we have some from the park.

Henry had the time of his life. He loves his brothers and loves running wild. He falls down so much it is amazing. Cortney probably caught 15 blurry pictures of different falls that Henry had.

What a big boy...he was smiling so big the whole time.

It amazes me to watch what good friends Oliver and Hens are. They play together everyday. I hope Henry always loves him...even when he thinks he is just his OLD fogey brother that doesn't know anything.

Love

You can just see the adoration on that little boys face.

Rob was in his element. He loves exploring outdoors. He was running up and down the little streams. Oh...and he lost another bottom tooth.

more smiles.

I am always doing funny things with my mouth. Maybe it is because it is never still. haha. Cortney said before he took this picture..."do you want me to take the back pack so you don't look so geeky?" Haha. I told him I was way beyond caring about being cool.

Henry throwing rocks. (me at 26 weeks) I am in the awkward stage of pregnancy where no maternity clothes fit and where my regular clothes are starting to get uncomfy. (I have NO BUM when I am pregnant and all pants just fall right off of me. It is crazy. I don't know where my bum goes...but I guess it is from being so sick for so long.)

I decided to take Henry's pants and shoes off and let him get in the river. I thought he would love it.

in...

Nope too cold mom...

and out.

Oli looking cute.

In this picture Henry climbed up by me so he could get on my back so I could take him somewhere. I was refusing and he was getting mad. Haha. Funny baby loves to get on my "back, back".

We had a lovely picnic in the park (until a dog ate Henry's whole lunch...grrr...dog owners who don't put their dogs on leashes drive me crazy...especially since the park was filled with a million people.). It was a great day. It felt nice to actually go and do something. Afterwards Henry and I were exhausted...so we came home and napped. All in all a great labor day.

Kindergarten

I can't believe I left you all for a whole week having to look at what was lodged inside our toilet. Sorry about that.

Rob started kindergarten on Tuesday. HALLELUJAH. He was really excited. He ended up getting the same teacher that Oliver had for kinder, so he was really happy about that. She really is so cute and nice, she should be a good fit for Rob.

He wasn't nervous at all just excited. We decided to put him in afternoon kinder. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but then the first day came and sure enough he was still sleeping at 9:15. He is just a late riser....and so grouchy too. I think it will be way better for him in the afternoon. All it means for me is that he has to come with me to run my errands. Boo. Oh well though, maybe it will keep him from being too mean at school.

Cortney was out of town the first day and I thought he had the camera with him...so I had to take pictures with my phone. Turns out Cortney didn't have the camera. haha.

Rob didn't want his head shaved this year.

What a cutie.

He all of the sudden is super picky about what he wears. But not in a what's cool kinda way. He just wants it to be super comfy. He doesn't like pants that are long (read he wants to wear highwaters), shorts that are too long, they itch his legs, or shirts that are too big. It has been a real chore finding something he will wear to school. (2 days in) He also is real particular about socks. It is crazy.

Henry spent the whole day saying "where's bob?"

I took him to school lunch before the school day. He loves school lunch.

Oliver and Rob after school together. Oliver has been coming home grumpy. I think it is just that he is tired...and not used to the schedule.

Rob said his first day was great. He did however say later he had to sit by himself because he was "fainting" a lot. Hahaa. Oh boy. I just hope he can be good. I know he is so smart...that isn't the issue for me...I know he will learn...I just pray he can be good.

One thing I have noticed is he is way worse in the fall when it is allergy season. He takes zyrtec (costco generic kind) and I think it makes him act crazy. Has anyone encountered things like that before??? I am going to try him on claratin today. We will see.

Now I have some random cell phone pictures I wanted to post.

My grandma Jones has been living with Cali since December. It is so fun to have her here but she is gone in Arizona right now for some Dr. appointments. We sure miss her. Henry (and of course my other boys) loves her so much. He loves to go sit by her in her chair.

Henry at Justin's house with some sweet shades and a tank suit.

We made a trip to the dinosaur museum for one of the 2 dollar tuesdays. We went an hour before closing time and didn't have to deal with crowds too much. It was really fun to get out as a family.

Horrible pictures but the only proof we were there. Henry loved the place. He ran from exhibit to exhibit.

Cali and I have been waiting ages for a cereal sale (our kids eat LOTS of cereal)...finally there was one. This is just Cali's stuff. With my stuff too we could barely fit ourselves in the car. I had to hold a bunch of groceries on my lap. It was CRAZY.

That is all.