37 years.........

Happy Birthday to me! I had a wonderful day. I was able to spend time with my family. My parents, sisters and all the kids threw a little party for me and then had a little lunch and went shopping with my sister. It was great to spend time with her and it was nice to have a little break to just look around without the kids :)

Layne got home and we had another little celebration. He got me some cake with some trick candles, I got really light headed from trying to keep them blown out! Layne always does a great job of including the kids in the celebration and gift giving. Saturday we get to continue the festivities and go out by ourselves to a movie and dinner. Can't wait! And I can't forget to add that I even got my birthday song from Phil and Sherry :) Thanks everyone for making my day so great!

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day we had a little family home evening to honor my grandpa Spafford. He served in WWII and was a war hero. My uncle Rick had sent out a letter to all the family about the wonderful service he gave to this country. I will have to get a copy of it and post it. He received 2 purple hearts, a bronze and silver star. He was brave and courageous! We wanted to say thank you to grandpa Spafford and to all the other men and women who helped defend and protect our freedom.

We got a bunch of red, white, and blue balloons to send off and wrote messages on them. We also sent pass along cards on them in case anyone came across the popped balloons. We tied the lesson into families and how we can be together forever. We told all the kids that not everyone knows that families can be together forever and we wanted to share that message with them. It was a great way to honor those who have served us.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Peyton Ella Christensen

My baby sister, Kasey, had her baby today. Her water broke at 9 pm and by 4 am she had a baby. Labor for 5 hours and 30 mins of pushing. NO FAIR! I even had scheduled c-sections that didn't go that quickly!
Anyway, we are so happy to have a new cousin/neice join our family. And may I add the only UTE among a pack of COUGARS!

When I woke up this morning I told Julia that Peyton was here and her mouth dropped open with a big gasp and asked when we could go see her. It was fun to see her reaction and how excited to was to see her new cousin.

I got to go with my other sister Kristy, to the hospital for a visit in the morning. We took a few pictures and got to hold her. She is so tiny(5lbs 14oz.) and so cute. I think she looks just like her daddy! 

Julia kept asking me if we could go visit Peyton but I said we would have to wait until they got home and settled. We went a few days later and Julia was so excited. She got to hold the baby and didn't want to let her go. Christian wasn't really interested except when the baby was in the swing. He would walk up to her and try to push the swing for the baby.

Meeting her new cousin Peyton

House Update

Well, its been a crazy last few days with house stuff. We came across a little problem with the stone they put up on our house. We drove out to see it last weekend and Layne and I both commented on it but never really discussed it until later in the day. The color and the style was not what we wanted. Long story short, we thought we were getting stacked stone instead of what we got and we thought we were getting a very different color then what they had put up.We actually had a very different color of stone and stucco all  picked out that we really liked, but we came up with another style/color, and I do like the alternative idea/color just as much as the other so we went that way. So after debating and trying to get everything sorted out we finally came to a conclusion to keep the stone as is and we are just changing the color of our stucco a little bit. I hope it turns out as well as I think it will.

Kitchen cabinets

Master Shower

Love my new rod iron banister

The rest of the house is coming along great. They had all the painting done and had put in all the tile, the banister, and cabinets. I really like how the master shower turned out. This weekend they said they would be putting in the granite counter tops and carpet would be going in next week sometime. The builder said we are a little over 2 weeks before closing on the home. Hopefully nothing else major goes wrong. (knock on wood) We have been packing up our apartment a little at a time and most of its done. To say the least we are so excited.  Layne and I both said to each other last night that it still doesn't seem real and we will be actually moving into a house.

Funny Kids

Kids have great imaginations.

 My kids took the chair covers and turned them into hats.

Saying 'cheese!'

 

Where's Christian?

Daddy even got in on the fun.

Last Day of Pre-School

Well, it was Julia's last day of pre-school today. I can't believe it! The school year flew by. I remember taking her on her 1st day and it seems like so long ago.


Julia was super excited to go today because it was her circus party. All the teachers dressed up like clowns and they played games and had popcorn. She got a big hug from her teacher when she left. As we walked out to the car Julia said "I'm going to miss school and my teacher."

Mrs. Moberly and Julia

Julia's teacher kept a little journal of a few different things they did through out the year and we looked through it when we got home. In the inside cover Julia had a graduation certificate for passing the 4 year old program at her school. Its amazing what she has learned over the last nine months. She has gotten so good at writing her first and last name and just writing letters and numbers. She has learned to cut paper and use glue really well. She knows all her shapes and colors.

School journal

And the best part of it all is that she is already reading. I can't believe how much she knows. The trick will be to keep her reading through the summer. But I am so excited for her and how much she has learned. Her teacher said she does very well at listening to instructions, staying on task, and reading. She very much looks for approval to see if she has done her work correctly and is not afraid to make mistakes and keep trying.

The book she is currently working on

I asked her a few questions and here are Julia's answers:


What did you like most about school?
*painting, coloring and writing my name


What did you like most about your teacher?
*she is beautiful, pretty and I love my teacher


What will you miss most about school?
*my teacher and friends


Who are some of your friends?
*Addison, Taybree, Hannah, Keira, and Jack

I'm so proud of you Julia! WAY TO GO!

Don't Drink and Drive unless......

You are wearing your helmet!!

Horsey, Horsey!

Some of the 1st animal signs Christian learned were horse and dog. He will see either one and just sign it like crazy over and over again. Well, lately I've noticed Christian is obsessed with horses. Either that or he just loves to sign it. Anytime he sees them when we are driving or on T.V. he has to do the little sign for it. Its so cute. Well, I also noticed every time we go over to grandma and grandpa Mott's he will start to sign horse when we turn onto their street and will sign it all the way down the road. When we stop in the driveway, I ask him if he wants to go see the horsey and he gets a huge smile on his face and his little hand pops up on top of his head and he signs it over and over.

While we walk out to the barn I usually will whistle to get their attention and they usually whinny and snort. Christian will stop and look at me and get really excited. I tell him they are saying hello. He starts to run as fast as he can to see the horses. He will even try and whinny or whistle like I do, but all he can manage is to blow air out of his mouth.

He loves to pet the horses and try and feed them. I will usually get some long grass and hold it out for them to eat and Christian tries to copy me and do the same thing. Sometimes I just can't believe what he will pick up from me by just watching me do it one or two times. He LOVES to go to grandma and grandpa's house to see the horses!

Saturday is a Special Day........

Christian wanted to pitch in and help with the chores we had to get done!

Thanks buddy!

Happy Mother's Day

A tribute to all you mom's out there.........................

This next one goes out to my sister Kristy............................

I witnessed this 1st hand yesterday as Kristy was actually making dinner. I'm sure it wasn't funny to her at the time but we had a good laugh.

"I don't understand the whine lauguage, I speak English."   ~ Kristy Rasmussen

Mother's Dictionary of Meanings

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.


Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.


Full Name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.


Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.


Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.


Independent: How we want our children to be for as long as they do everything we say.


Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.


Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours.


Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.

Top Bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.


Two-Minute Warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar-grunting noises.

Whodunit: None of the kids that live in your house.



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Every mom has a favourite quote and a special tone to scold or teach a lesson to their recalcitrant kids. We might hate this momism as a kid but we all so much miss them when we grow up. These harsh sounding and yet so sweet advices from mothers is what makes our childhood so special. These motherly sayings go a long way in building us strong and making us a better person. Though we hate our moms for being so harsh in their statements, ironically we all use the same momism that we received from our mothers on our kids. How much we appreciate our mothers for coming up with such perfect one liners.

Here is list of most common and popular momisms. These motherly advise transcends the borders of time, space, language and culture. For kids are kids everywhere and Mom are always Mom...caring, concern, all knowing and full of love.

•Money does not grow on trees.

•Don't make that face or it'll freeze in that position.

•If I talked to my mother like you talk to me....

•Always change your underwear; you never know when you'll have an accident.

•Be careful or you'll put your eye out.

•What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?

•You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes!

•Close that door! Were you born in a barn?

•If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

•Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been!

•Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.

•It doesn't matter what you accomplish, I'll always be proud of you.

•I hope that when you grow up, you have kids "Just Like you"! (Also known as the "Mother's Curse")

•Because I'm your mother that's why.

•This is why we can't have nice things.

•If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.

•If you fall out of that tree and break you leg , don't come running to me.

•Someday your face is going to stick like that.

•Yes, I *AM* the boss of you.

•Because I said so.

•Just wait till your father gets home.

•No dessert till you clean off your plate.

•I brought you into this world and I can take you OUT !!

•I've got eyes in the back of my head, that's how

•Get that thing out of your mouth!

•Just you wait until you have kids of your own - then you'll understand

•I slave for hours over a hot stove and this is the thanks I get?!

•Honestly... You'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on!

•Bored! How can you be bored? I was never bored at your age.

I've certainly heard a few of these from my mom now and again!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

 

Funny Girl...Pictures of the Week!

 

Julia LOVES to take the camera and take her own pictures. She gets some pretty good shots of Christian and especially herself. Julia is usually smiling in her pictures but every now and again you'll get a funny face!

One of Christian..pretty good because he's sitting still!

One with crazy hair!

And the funny face! 

A Mother's Day Program

Today in school, Julia, had a little Mother's Day program for me. I went into her classroom and all the kids sang 3 songs to all the mom's. It was so cute! Julia sang great and did all the cute little actions with the songs. After she was done singing she blew me a big kiss and ran over and gave me a big hug. Moments like these are what makes being a mom so fun.

She also filled out a cute little sheet with her teacher and it said something like this:

I Know My Mother Well!

My mom looks prettiest when ......... she cuts her hair.
My mom's favorite food is............... cereal.
She is happy when ......................... we do silly things.
My mom is ......17..... years old.
If my mom could go anywhere she would go....... to Disneyland.
Her best friend is........... me.
Her job is .................... to paint, to eat and feed Christian.
I Love my mom because.......... we pick flowers together.

It sure is interesting to see what your kids think and say when asked these simple questions. I had to laugh at a few of them.

She also made me a little card that said:

Dear Mom,
I will love you forever, and forever you will be,
The most wonderful mother, you mean everything to me.
So instead of buying flowers, in the usual way,
I thought you would prefer, a Forever Bouquet!

Love, Julia

My Forever Bouquet......I Love it!

Thanks Julia! I love you tons and I am so happy to be your mom!

New House Con't.

Well, just about every weekend we go out to check on the progress of our new house. So we took a drive on Saturday and saw the workers getting the outside ready for all the stucco and rock and then we got a peek inside to see that the whole place had been sheet rocked. We are super excited! They say things should really start moving along now. They say worst case scenario we will be in around the middle of June and I hope that is the case. I better get packing!

The front

The side/back view

Layne in our future family room

Walking up the stairs to the main level

After seeing the home we took a drive down to RC Willey to get a feel for some of the appliances we needed to pick out for the kitchen. The builder gave us a budget that would fit into the price of the home for our range, microwave and dishwasher. I was worried we would have a hard time fitting into the budget they gave us but after the discounts for all three items we are right at budget and I'm happy with the choices we made. We had to get them picked out quickly because the kids were just not cooperating as usually but I'm not to picky and neither is Layne so we tend to pick out things rather quickly. But we do ask questions because we do want the best for our buck.

One Tuesday last week, Layne and I went to pick out the flooring and counter tops for the kitchen and bathrooms. Before we started to build our own home we did a walk through of a home that would be just like ours. I really liked all the colors and tile etc they had picked out. When it comes down to having to pick out my own stuff it can be difficult. I asked the guy if he wouldn't mind just laying out the colors of the carpet and tile the other home had picked just so I could compare. The only thing we kept the same was the granite counter tops. Layne was helpful and we pretty much agreed on the tile and carpet color and it ended up being different than the other home. I am happy with our choices and can't wait to see what it will look like!