How did the kids get out?

This afternoon I was upstairs and heard the front door open. But because Doug was downstairs I assumed everything was under control. I should have known better! When I came down, the front door was still open and I found the kids running around in the pouring rain. I asked Doug if he knew were the kids were and he said no, but came running over. At first we were both bugged thinking of all the cleanup this would entail, but then we ran straight for the camera. The kids had so much fun in the rain!! (Don't you love the addition of the bug antennas that they found in the dress up box!)

About once a month I have to clean the play room. Usually my kids do, but they don't always put things in the right place and after a few weeks no one can find anything. I had just finished this task and was starting to sort laundry when I heard a huge crash. I ran upstairs and grit my teeth and groaned when I saw what had happened. When Dallin saw the look on my face he said,
"Brooke's awfully strong for such a little girl ...don't you think?"




Dallin & Brooke were so proud of themselves. They finally saved up enough money to get the ice cream play dough set that they have been wanting. It was so good to see them save and then combine their money to get something to share. They have so much fun with it & take great care of it.

Fishing with Dad

Dallin was so excited when Doug told him to get his shoes because they were going fishing. They both had tons of fun, but when I saw the pictures I was shocked to see where they went fishing. That is the pond in the front of Nova University. Right behind them is the large fountain!! Who fishes in a pond with a fountain? Doug and Dallin!! They actually caught a lot and had so much fun together.

Dallin and his friend Madison. He loves her! She's in school and Dallin thinks she is so smart & knows everything!

I asked Dallin what he wanted to do today.
Dallin said, "Go get a dog!"
Mom: "Sorry, we can't get a dog until we get our own house. What else do you want to do today?"
Dallin: "Move."
It's going to be a long 2 months!!

Dinner Conversation

Last night I was getting a little tired of the dinner conversation. It seems to me that every night, despite my best efforts, Dallin & Brooke end up leading our discussion. Doug and I usually have a hard time keeping up with the random thoughts and sentences that are shared between them. Not to mention all the strange questions directed at us! Well, last night I posed a question hoping to get a little more structured conversation. You can tell that none of us were feeling really adventurous...

Mom: "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
Dallin: "Probably Ava's house."
Brooke: "The park...or Ava's house."
Doug: "A dark closet, alone, with a couch & TV"

Well...so much for conversation & ambition for that matter!

Favorite Lines of the Week

Brooke: "Mom, you have sprinkles all over the legs." (goose bumps).

I told Dallin that I had to clean my room. His response: "Mom, just pretend that it is invisible...that's what I do."

Brooke: "Who-body sleep with us?" (Whose going to sleep with us).

Dallin while eating banana bread: "Why with bananas it still makes a healthy appetite?" (What?)

I gave Dallin a big hug and said, "You are getting so old." He pulled back and horrified asked, "Am I going to die?"
On Sunday he ate 2 jelly beans and then said to Brooke, "I can only eat half of these jelly beans because if I eat too much sugar I will die." (I really must be exagerating a lot when I tell him he'll get really sick if he eats too much candy!)

Brooke: "Him Dragon going to die that boy" (That Dragon is Going to Kill that Boy)
We've been trying really hard to correct Brooke's speach, but she is so stubborn. Last week while watching TV she said, "Him not scared."
Doug said, "Say, He's not scared."
Brooke: "Him not scared."
Doug: "No, HE'S not scared."
Brooke: "Those boys not scared."
Doug: "No HE's...say HE's."
Brooke: "HIM's"
We've got our work cut out for us!

Pre-Move Clean up

I can't believe that Doug graduates in 7 weeks! It is getting way too close and I decided that I had some serious organizing to do before I can even start packing. So over spring break I started, but bit off way more than any normal person should, resulting in an absolute disaster that has continued for many days. The kids have loved the mess! I've been trying to get stuff done, while still helping the kids. This resulted in hours of playing 20 questions and other similar games. I find that if I am talking to them constantly, I can continue to work and make headway. Here are my favorite rounds of "What Animal am I?"

Dallin: "Is it big?"
Mom: "No, It's small"
Dallin: "What color is it?"
Mom: "All colors"
Dallin: "Does it have fur?"
Mom: "No it has feathers."
Dallin: "What does it say?"
Mom: "Mccaaaw, Mccaaw."
Dallin: "Oh man, I know this one. I just can't think of the name. I know it...I know it."
After several minutes of thinking....
Mom: "It's a Mccaw."
Dallin: "I knew it, I just couldn't remember the name."


Brooke's turn (She picks the same thing every time...it's the only thing that she likes because it's pink)!:
Dallin: "what color is it?"
Brooke: "Pink"
Dallin: "Is it a pig?"
Brooke: "You got it...You got it Dallin!"

Dallin and Brooke have also enjoyed playing hide and seek in my big mess. Dallin came into my room and was hiding while Brooke was searching. (Dallin can hide in plain sight and half the time Brooke gets distracted by something along the way and forgets that they are even playing). So, after several minutes Dallin said, "Mom, Brooke can't find me because I am the Master of Disguise!" I wish that I had gotten a picture of his face as he said it. He is easy to love!!

Spring Break and Easter

The Easter Challenge:
Saturday night Doug went to the Priesthood session of conference and told us about President Uchtdorf's talk about patience and the object lesson that he discussed in his talk. Doug decided to give it a try with our kids. He gave them each a jelly bean and said that they could eat it, or if they didn't eat it and waited 5 minutes, he would give them 3 more. They were excited and here are the results...

Brooke ate her jelly bean as soon as Doug turned around!

Dallin saved his!

Brooke got a second chance, but really wanted that Jelly Bean!

She made it!!!

Dallin aced the challenge...Doug was very impressed!




Easter Morning

I have served in the primary presidency since we moved to Florida and have loved it. We have become really good friends with our president, Heidi. She spoiled the kids at Christmas and dropped off Easter baskets for the kids the week before Easter. Heidi is amazing and we love her so much!!! She was the best Easter bunny these kids will ever get!

Spring Break at Wolf Park

This spring break was really relaxing. We stayed home and enjoyed just laying around and being lazy. Wolf park is right behind our house and reminds us of home. We brought our beach chairs and lunch and felt like we were on vacation, camping in the mountains. It was very relaxing and just what we needed. (We planned to spend this week at the beach, but didn't realize how crowded and crazy it was here during spring break).

Neighbors

I love where we live, in fact most students can't wait to leave, but I am really going to miss our townhouse, the great neighborhood, the beach, friends, and so many other things about our time here in Florida. These are my kids friends that live down the street. They come to our door everyday at about 4:30pm and play outside with the kids until it's dark outside. It gives me time to get dinner ready, and my kids love running around with these guys! Dallin & Brooke think they are so big and love trying to impress the older kids.

Kids on the loose...

These are the pictures that I found on my camera when I was getting ready to post this morning...Dallin must have had a great time. Doug was so mad when I told him that the kids got a hold of the camera. He was even more upset when he saw the picture below. Those are Brooke's little hands on his computer. Where were the parents?!?

Girls day out!

Brooke loves to have time just with me. Today we went shopping (grocery, but it doesn't matter to her), we painted our nails, and played dolls. It was a great day to be a girl.

Brooke: "Mom, thanks painting my foots. Girls paint them foots and Boys toot and them so funny."

That's my little Girl!!!

(Dallin wanted to put his feet in to show that he doesn't need nail polish. I never thought he would say that. He has always begged me to paint his nails!)

Miami-Dade Fair

The last two years we have gone down to the Miami-Dade fair with our friends Joe & Lucy. We were so excited when it was time to go again. It was cooler this year and we really enjoyed every minute of it. The kids loved the rides, food, and games. Dallin figured out that he was really good at the dart and balloon game and would have played all night if Doug would have kept the money flowing. Dallin won himself a stuffed tiger and then begged Doug to play again to win Brooke a stuffed monkey. She was so excited and Dallin was beaming when he gave it to her. Last year Dallin was really afraid of most of the rides, but this year was completely different. He was tall enough to go on most of the rides and he wanted to try everything. He even went on some pretty intense rides that made Doug and I incredibly nervous. (At one point I thought Doug might ask them to stop the ride...I was shocked at how protective he was. Afterall, he's the one that is always throwing the kids around & teaching them to do flips off my windowseal and onto the bed)! We all had so much fun, even Brooke who slept through at least half of the excitement. I may have to convince Doug to fly back out next year!!