Emily's Birthday

This year Emily wanted another cat cake but requested a purple and turquoise spotted cat complete with a body .  Turquoise has become the color of choice for all my girls lately.  Natali loves it and so the others follow - pretty sweet.  Em's big day fell on the same night as Pine Wood Derby so we celebrated a day early.  No complaints about that.  She loved her cake and the Lego High School she got.  Of course she couldn't really build it, but man, she wanted it.  Consequently, I had the pleasure of putting it together.

As a four year old her favorite thing to do is sit on my lap and have me read books.  She can't get enough of them.  She also loves to play outside and play with her sisters.  Emmy is such a happy little thing.  Every morning when she walks down the stairs she just lights up the room and clears away everyones morning grouchies.  I keep telling her that she isn't allowed to grow any more but must stay four forever.  I just love the phase she is in and don't want it to end.

Bath time is such fun.  Love these girls.

Kate is 7

Kate turned 7 this year and had her first "friend" party.  Typical of me - I only have two pictures and one video - sorry Kate.  She had a rainbow theme and used crepe paper all over the house to look like rainbows.  They had a rainbow fruit tray, rainbow cupcakes, and a rainbow musical chairs game which awarded skittles when you were out.  They had a great time playing rainbow tag with face paints and just being together.  

She invited two boys to her party.  My first child to ever cross genders on b-day invites.  Ironically, they got her the same girl Lego.  Too funny.  She had a great time with all her friends.  Somehow I can't even find a video of her blowing out candles at her family party (I think that little Lily may have done some deleting).  We gave her the big Lego house she had been wanting.

My Kate has changed so much this year.  She started the school year somewhat nervous but now she has tons of friends, is learning to read, and isn't afraid to stand up for herself.  She loves singing and just playing with friends and sisters.  She is also more willing to try new things.

One new thing she picked up this year happens on Sunday.  After church and lunch I like to take a nap.  Kate now walks me to my bed pulls up the covers, tucks me in, and sings me a song.  I love it.  I miss it when she forgets.  

Boys Basketball

The boys both played basketball this winter and loved it.  They both scored a basket or two each game. I'm sure if you ask them they could tell you exactly how many they scored, how many shots they took, how many assists they had and how many times they were fouled and it wasn't called….  I enjoyed watching.

 Andrew shooting

 Hand off

His buddies

Mack's Team (somehow I only ended up with videos of Mack)

Fun with the Girls

 First ice cream cone.  She couldn't get it fast enough and would cry if you took it from her lips.

 These crazy girls have two beds but nearly everynight Kate ends up moving closer and closer to her sister.  Most nights she sleeps in the crease between the two beds.  I guess she just likes knowing someone is close by.  Luckily, Emily doesn't mind most of the time.  Although, we did have one night when she woke up screaming becasue Kate was in her bed.

 I love this girl.

Fun at Grandma's house playing train and boat in her gigantic box.

Playing in the Snow

This winter has been so fun.  I have managed to get on the ski hill with my kids several times.  I loved spending a few days with just the big kids.  We could go almost anywhere- what a reward after so many years of teaching.  Best of all- they love it.  The fighting almost disappears, there are no electronics, just us and a bag of Skittles.  Life is good.

 I spent a lot of time with Kate teaching her the basics.  That process is always full of ups and downs but I love the one on one time and that feeling that I am teaching them something they can enjoy for the rest of their life.  I also discover a little about how they learn.  I just love being up on top of the world and sharing that with my kids.

Here are a few pics from my phone capturing the silliness, beauty, and fun.

Nice hair Mack and Natali!

 Here's my beginner.  It would seem that I took a million videos for her to show everyone - but this is the only picture.

 Andrew has been wearing these boots all season.  Lets just say that these boot might be older than I am and sadly, Andrew finished them off on our last run of the year.  Luckily he managed to get down the hill- but just barely.

This is my niece heading down the hill and look at that view- oh I love it.

Lily LOVED being out in the snow.  It didn't hurt that it was 45-50 degrees.

Good bye snow - can't wait for next year.

Best Books 2013

This posted is a little belated and maybe it is a little too late to try and do these book justice tonight, but here it goes.  My favorite books from 2013...

The Glass Castle : An amazing memoir by Jeannette Walls telling about her nomadic childhood.  It was shocking to me to read about intelligent people not willing to work to put food on the table for their kids.  Yet, I admired certain traits of her parents and the things they taught their kids.  It mad me laugh, cry, cheer, scream…I loved it.

Gifted Hands : I made Natali read this when I finished.  An autobiography of Benjamin Carson, a famous neurosurgeon.  This book is full of powerful lessons about faith, responsibility, hard work, determination, you name it.  I was inspired by his life.

Ender's Game : This one has been on my to read list forever and I finally got around to it.  I loved the twists and turns and the way the author really makes you think.  A creative and fascinating story.

How Will You Measure Your Life? : Clayton Christensen is a professor at Harvard Business School and closes his students semester by discussing this topic, How will you measure your life?  In the book he outlines his observations about what things matter the most at the end of your life.  I really enjoyed this book and wish I had marked in it more so I could review some of the ideas and apply them better.

Turn Right At Machu Picchu :  Greg read this on his way to Machu Picchu last year so I picked it up and really loved it.  The author, Mark Adams, tries to reenact explorer Hiram Bingham's trip that put Machu Picchu on the map.  I learned a lot about the site and the area around it.  Interesting and well written.

Christmas in the Desert

This year for Christmas we headed down to Mesquite. The kids loved playing at the park and playing football with cousins.  They loved all of grandma's food and the buzz of Christmas.  But everyones favorite part was the day we spent at the sand dunes.  Digging, riding four wheelers, sledding in the sand, hiking, and just enjoying the warmth.   Kate conquered her fear of moving fast and soon became a four wheeling enthusiast.  She has requested one of her own for Christmas next year (probably not going to happen but a girl can dream).  We all loved it.

 Uncle Brad pulling Andrew, Ari, and Natali on the sled.

 Lily got buried in the sand and didn't really mind that much.

 Emily got her turn to drive.

 Mack digging and Kate climbing.

 Kate riding with Dad.

 Mack pulling a cousin off a jump they built.

Andrew climbing and hiding in the rocks barefoot.

We had a great week with Greg's family and a wonderful Christmas.

I love Christmas but I'm always trying to figure out how to reduce the number of toys my kids get.  So this year the kids made each other presents.  They were all supposed to work together to make one gift for each kid.  I put one child in charge of each gift.

It was so fun.  Natali made a book for Kate on Shutterfly.  She wrote a story and had the kids act stuff out while she took pictures.  It turned out great.  She also recorded a CD for Emily full of stories to listen to at night.  Here are a few pictures from the story.  Looks interesting huh?

Mack created this awesome mountain out of salt dough.  Now Andrews animals have a place to roam, sleep, drink and hunt, but don't try to pick it up - it weighs a ton.

Andrew made Mack some marshmallow guns out of PVC pipe and then covered them in camo duck tape. And Kate and Emily helped me make some skirts for Natali.

It was fun to help them think of things the other child would really enjoy that wouldn't cost a lot of money.  We had a lot of fun - especially with that salt dough.

For New Years one of Greg's sisters and her family came to visit.  Teresa brought a ton of things from an Asian food store.  So we had a Chinese feast complete with some Japanese treats for the kids try :)  It was so funny watching everyone try to suck these little Jello like treats out of their tiny package.

We loved the time together playing games and just hanging out.  Andrew love playing with the babies and the girls had such a blast together.  Too bad it ended early because of that stomach bug…the bug that lasted forever.  We had it before Christmas, brought it with us to Nevada, then our hold out child got it the day before the cousins came.  Sadly, they picked it up and left early to nurse themselves back to health.  We had such fun while they were here!  Sorry we got you sick.