the Lego movie

After a long busy week, our family loves to relax and have a family movie night. We usually have a rotation, so that everyone gets a turn.

However, since Tuesday, Ivan & Mason have chosen. Although they haven't just chosen at night....it is more like morning, noon and night.

The movie of choice? The Lego Movie. It has been playing non stop.

Last night, Ben & I sat down with Mason & Ivan to watch it. Again. For the 11th time.

I have gone through movie obsessions with all of my kids....

*Elmo in Grouchland
*Hercules
*Toy Story Movies (all of them)
*Cars
*Frozen
*Harry Potter (ok that is me, lol)
*Star Wars
*Indiana Jones
*the Lorax

Who knows how long this newest obsession will last...but for now, everything is AWESOME!

Safe & Sound

Being a parent is TOUGH.

There was a time when my biggest safety concern had to do with covering electrical outlets, making sure car seats were installed correctly and that bath water wasn't too hot.

But as they have grown up, other safety concerns have surfaced.

I find myself wishing to go back to that time. I want life to be easy.

I don't want to be scared for my children. Or my children's friends.

One of my children has been threatened in a way that I have no control over. I have anxiety for them and our family.

 All I can do is pray. Have faith and hope.

I know that this is not the most...specific...but for a variety of reasons, I just can't.

Know that we are being cautious. Know that we have a small handle on the situation. Life is so topsy-turvy.

We are praying, having faith and hoping for the best. We invite all of our family & friends to do the same.

End of the year wrap up

This year has been CAH-RAZY!! We have been super busy...and now it is over.

Summer break has begun. Here is a look back at what the 2013-14 school year brought.

One of the last days of school

1st day of school

 

Harmony:
band, new friends, old friends,  14 years old, band comps, seminary, Rio Mesa zero period classes, AP, freshman, band concerts, band practices, "lettering" in band...everything band!

1st day of school
 

Ethan: 7th grade, Monte Vista, band, writing, baritone, Deacons Quorum president, turned 13, band concerts, bike rides, Scouts, bike crash, broken tooth, swimming, taller than Mom!

One of the last days of school

 

1st day

Connor: 6th grade, middle school, Monte Vista, band, getting glasses, new friends, new schedules, turned 12, swimming, scouts, in mutual, broken toe, good grades

one of the last days

Ivan: 3rd grade, Las Posas, hates writing, loves math, turned 9, broken wrist, red cast, learned to ride his bike, instructional aid, IEP's, highs & lows, new best friend, chess, computer time.

Mason: preschool, United Methodist preschool (UMCDC), 5 days a week, singing songs, playing games, best friends, 4 years old, counting, saying the alphabet, lots of dental work, new bike, big boy!

For me, the school year meant...driving, driving and more driving. Waking up early, making lunches, car pools, helping with homework, meetings, and driving, driving, driving.


Thank heaven for summer...or for the first couple of weeks until all the "I'm boreds" start!

Fathers Day gifts

Whenever my kids talk about gifts for Mothers Day, it is always very sweet things. Like flowers, jewelry, breakfast in bed...

Fathers Day is a whole different ball game.

I have been reading quite a few old posts on this blog, and laughed when I found a Fathers Day post regarding Ethan. His gift suggestions were black socks and a guitar.

There was also the year when Connor got him Star Wars movies, so that they could watch them together, and tennis balls so they could play catch together.

So while doing errands with Mason today, I asked him what he thought we should get Ben for Fathers Day (even though I already have them, I am so on top of things!). This was our conversation:



Mason: "We should get him some tools!"
me: " That is a good idea, except I don't know what kind of tools to get him."
Mason: "OK how about some wood so he can build stuff."
me: "Wow, that is another good idea. But I don't know what kind or what sizes..."
Mason: "How about some bricks to build with?"
Me: " I don't know if Dad ever builds with bricks..."
Mason: "yes he does! With Lego bricks! Isn't that funny Mom!" As he cracks up at his own joke.

I have to say that Mason really knows his Dad well though!

Space Dogz

(the stage)

(the leading man)


(the rowdy audience!)

My kids worked for awhile in producing their first play. Harmony did background music, Ethan wrote the script. Connor and Ethan were actors. They tried to give Ivan a part but he wasn't interested. So he got to be part of the audience.

They were very cute, using their Webkinz as the characters. They were pretty humurous and the play was a cross between Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter...pretty much all of their favorite movies.

When the audience got a little rowdy (ie. Mason) they ended with a bow. And we were only charged a .5 entry fee! (:

summer clearance

(fun stuff!)



(Ivan concentrating very hard!)

Don't you love how fast stores change their seasonal items?! I love getting summer toys at 90% off...in Aug!

The other day I bought squirt guns, 3-d sidewalk chalk and play doh. With the kids being grounded from video games...all these toys came in handy!

park play

(the heart attack contraption)


(seriously, is this not a heart attack waiting to happen?)

(hanging out)

(just one place for a Mom to have a heart attack)

(Harmony says she misses the Guam palm trees)

(taking a little nap break)

(sliding down the huge slide)

We love our housing!! Parks are everywhere! The kids, because of bad behavior have lost all video game privelages. Yesterday boredom had set in so we went for a walk.

We walked down to this one that we hadn't played at yet. The kids scared me to death by hanging from some of the highest spots!

I asked Ethan if he was trying to give me a heart attack and he replied, "maybe"!

We LOVE the zoo

(fish pond)


(poor Mason with sun in his eyes)


(the smelly goats)

(fountatin at the top of the picnic area)

(zoo poo)

Although the Santa Barbara zoo is not very big, there are a lot of fun things to do & see. When we need a break from the house, it is a short drive up to Santa Barbara.

A few days ago, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed up. We sat at a table near the "sliding hill". The kids were prepared with boxes to slide down.

They spent forever looking at and feeding the fish. We also spent a lot of time in the petting zoo area. Stinky.

We have yet to take a train ride but have decided that on our next trip we will.

I brought the wagon and a stroller so I ended up hauling Connor and Ivan around!

We ended our trip with a visit to the gift shop. Ethan was a little worried about the bag of "zoo poo".

Mason grabbed a stuffed monkey and hasn't put it down since! (:

House pictures pt. 2

(the boy's door with vinyl lettering)

(Ethan & Mason's room. When I finish decorating he is going to have a space theme)

(Ethan's verrry red dresser)


(view 2)

(1st view of the boys' Spongebob bathroom)

( oh how embarrasing! Connor and Ivan's room. When clean and I finish decorating, they have a sports theme)

(her door with vinyl lettering)

( the side of her room)


(her verrry green dresser)

(Harmony's room! Her favorite colors are orange, blue & green)

OK here are a few more pictures. These are of the kiddo's rooms. I would just like to say now that after asking Connor & Ivan a thousand times to clean their rooms...well, they still didn't.