Halloween dress-up

This year we decided to do another family theme for Halloween. We were dressed up as characters from the Lego movie! And sadly, we did not get a good picture including all of us! O-well. For the record, Hunter was President Business, I was Em or Emmet, Camilla was Wildstyle, Logan was Benny the spaceman, and Sabrina was the Kragle. 

Get it girl!

Sabrina has been talking non stop lately. It is crazy to see how much talking she can do these days! Today, she kept pushing the stroller saying "I drive momma." It was funny, and cute, and heartbreaking, all at the same time. My baby is not a baby anymore. 

This boy has DIRTY feet all the time! Why must my children never want to wear shoes? Beats me!

Yep, that little pink nose picker is mine. And I wouldn't change her for the world!

Once in a lifetime kind of party

We decided to celebrate Camilla's birthday at Chuck E. Cheese this year. We did the unthinkable and reserved a party celebration for her and 4 other school friends. Even Logan got to bring one special friend. To say it was loud would be an understatement. It was LOUD. And I sure ended up with a major headache after. But Camilla had the time of her life, and that made it so worth it! 

Delicious cupcakes made by our good friend Rebecca Score.

The birthday gang

Happy 8th birthday baby girl! 

Pinstrosity-Halloween style

Once upon a time my children begged and begged to carve a pumpkin. After much asking, daddy decided to get the power tools out and go to town. It was awesome! The children were oh so happy. Then I decided that, since we had carved such pumpkin two weeks before Halloween, we needed to take extra measures to preserve it. Good ol' Pintereat to the rescue! Surely I had pinned somewhere how to make a carved pumpkin last longer! We were so thrilled! Now our pumpkin would last for a while... Right? Nope, not a chance :( two days later this is what I found:

It was a sad day for sure. But I learned my lesson. So next time, when my oldest came asking to carve pumpkins, I said "no way Jose!" Instead we painted them :) and to this day they stand, tall and straight, without any leaks...

The Livermore Pumpkin Patch

We went to the G&M farms pumpkin patch this past Saturday. It was a blast. The kiddos loved the corn pit and the corn maze. And although daddy didn't come into the corn maze with us (he stayed behind with Brina), the children sure enjoyed having their friends there -- the Scores came with us .

It was such a perfect family day. I loved it.

Today we practiced for the primary program next week. I was so impressed with how well behaved Logan was during the whole practice. I was so proud of him! And Camilla sure said her part very well. I can't wait until next Sunday to see the real deal :)

I realized today that I am a couple of months behind in my scrapbooking. Arghh. I hope I can catch up quickly. 

A busy day

5.00 am wake up to the alarm clock

5.20 get up and take a shower

5.50 start reading with Camilla / do homework

6.40 prepare breakfast

7.30 get Sabrina

7.40 drive to school to drop off Camilla

8.20 vacuum 

8.40 get Sabrina ready

8.58 get in the car to drop off Logan at preschool

9.15 drive to Joann's

9.55 check out at the dollar store

10.10 arrive at denkinger building for music time-sing songs

11.00 drive to big 5 to buy an A's hat for Camilla

11.20 drive to preschool

11.50 prepare lunch

12.30 start cleaning after lunch

12.45 ignore the noise Logan and Sabrina are making (in my room, with the door closed, in order to have a few mnutes of computer time)

1.00 check on kids

1.10 change Sabrina's diaper.

1.20 enter numbers in the budget, figure out tithing, write out check.

1.50 homework with Camilla

2.30 prepare snacks

2.55 take Camilla to piano

3.05 meet friends at park

3.15 find out husband will not be able to take Camilla to her dentists appoinment

3.30 pick up Camilla

3.35 arrive at park. Keep playing.

4.00 leave park (and almost forget bikes there), go home and have Camilla brush her teeth.

4.15 leave for dentists appoinment 

5.00 find out husband will not be home until 6 pm

5.10 arrive at home

5.15 cook dinner

5.50 eat dinner

5.58 Dad gets home

7.00 kids in bed

7.15 leave: hit Joann's, Payless, Party City, Ross and Target in order to collect things for Camilla's birthday. 

9.04 get home

9.50 crash.

The end

Some days I wonder where the time went. I typed this up so I could SEE that most of my day was spent doing something. And now I am exhausted. Good night.

On a happier note.. Yesterday we went to the Clayton valley pumpkin patch. 

We had a fun time with friends :)

Preschool snacks: October 2014

Ok, so it hasn't been too long since I wrote something here. Progress!! At the moment I have banana bread baking in the oven. Logan is to bring snacks to his preschool class tomorrow, and he requested banana bread, grapes, and apple juice. He is so excited about bringing snacks tomorrow. He also gets to be the line leader :) too cute. 

Hunter is currently at the gym, though he should be leaving soon and heading over to the Jack in the box in Pleasant Hill to meet up with a couple of guy friends.  Logan and Camilla have been sleeping for a little while now. Sabrina finally quieted down and is sleeping (I think/hope/pray). We are sleep training her so that now she will only sleep wit one binky instead of two. She screamed for almost 45 minutes. Torture for momma. But she is quiet now and I count my blessed stars. 

I think it is interesting how much I love the noise and ruckus that comes from having lots of kiddos over for play dates, dinner, etc. I love it. It makes me so happy. Yet, at the same time, I love it when my house is quiet. I have come to love alone time. I am turning into a loner! I guess that's what happens when most minutes in my day are full of noise. Some is happy noise. Much of it is screaming, bickering and crying. But that is just the stage in life I am in. I have been told I will miss it. And I believe it. 

Camilla won the bookmark contest for the Second Grade at her school. She was so excited! She earned 5 nice copies of her bookmark, and 5 dollars to spend at the Scholastic Book fair on campus. 

General conference happened last weekend. This picture was taken during the Sunday afternoon session. Like father like son.

And when there was about an hour left of general conference, I decided to be a cool mom and make a whole lot of popcorn. The children loved it! I should have popped some more the day before!! 

Yes, we are silly and we know it. Hunter would make a cool looking Quasimodo. 

The back fence: fall 2014

So I am currently seating in Camilla's gymnastics class. She has been doing gymnastics for the last 1.5 years. And she loves it. I may not like it so much due to the driving and the idea of having to be somewhere other than home yet another time during the week... But she loves it and looks forward to it. And she is quite strong due to it! Just ask her to do push ups and this girl has it down! 

Usually Hunter or I drop her off at the curb Andes her do her thing until class is over. From time to time though, I surprise her by having Hunyer cook a simple dinner (burritos tonight) and I stay to watch her. And r is a joy to see her glow.

So about these pictures. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at pick up time, Logan, Sabrina and I wait for Camilla to make her way out to the back fence, and that's where we meet her. In the beginning we used to wait for her closer to her classroom, but that got us in trouble with the principal. Parents are not to be in school grounds until the bell rings (unless you have signed in at the front office). So we now wait a bit ways off, and Logan and Brina love the freedom they have to run amuck. 

Brina is talking up a storm now. She will not stop repeating the same word until I say it back to her. We both end up so frustrated at times. Yet I know it is a phase, and I am loving this stage no matter what :)

And so it starts again

Wow. Ok, so has it really been almost two years since I posted something here? How did that happen? Oh my. Well, I just downloaded the blogger app to my phone, so maybe there is hope now. 

My baby, Sabrina, turned 2 years old last August. She is in the middle of the terrible two's. Yet she manages to melt my heart with her cuteness. She is also a very smart child, which means I gotta stay on top of my game and really stick to our rules. She is my little buddy these days, and I truly cherish our one on one time. It is one of my favorite parts of the day.

Music time at the Denkinger building: 5 years later and still attending! 👍👏

This is by far Hunter's NOT best picture, or mine for that matter. But it is the only one I have of the two of us on my phone! This was after a temple date. Note to self: 2 p.m. session can be bring an added measure of sleepiness. Trust me on that one.

Talk like a Pirate day faves us free donuts! It is a yearly tradition for us, and the kiddos look forward to this day. This year even I got dressed up. BTW my sweet Logan is 4 and goes to preschool on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. His coloring is really improving and he is now making an effort to STAY inside of the lines. Some days he is as meallow as it gets, other days he gives me a fight about everything I say. Nonetheless, he is still a very sweet boy. I love him to pieces. 

This sweet girl will be 7 in 10 days. She very kindly reminded me so this morning. My oldest child is in 2nd grade currently and reads at the same level of a 3rd grader. She is such a responsible little girl. For example, this morning we did homework at 5.45. Yes, 5.45. Because in this household we ALL function better in the wee hours of the day. Homework at 6 p.m. (Close to their bed time) was not working too well. I asked her how she felt about doing homework first thing in the morning. She answered she loved it, and  that it felt nice to know it was done. She  is our daughter.

And there you have it. I will attempt to blog more often. I just spent the last 30 minutes reading what I posted several years ago. And I loved it. I love being able to read about our lives back then. Let's hope my motivation stays strong!

Newhall Park: March 2014

I dropped off the Score kids and Logan at school this morning, and then took Brina to Newhall Park. We go there about three times a week due to how close it is to Logan's school. I love the fact that there is a pond really close to it, so we can also feed the ducks (and fight off the mean geese). Sabrina loves it there. And I love mornings like today when I can follow her pace, and not try to rush her. Try being the key word in that sentence. Reasoning with a 19 month old is a bit tricky ;) I must say though, Sabrina understands a lot, so we are making a but of progress. She now gets the concept of "If you do this, then you get this." She can wait for a little bit, but that is hit and miss still. She can repeat like 50 words, and she talks a lot. But I don't understand much of what she says! She is a cutie. I love mornings like today when I feel so grateful to be her mom, and to be able to hug any time I want. Besides, who can resist a little toddler wearing a headband and carrying a hand purse at all times?

Logan should be coming home soon, which means it will be time to prep him some lunch and then put him down for a one hour nap. Then snacks, and then soccer at CYC. Good day.

Mothers' Day 2014

This past weekend we had the chance to go up to Sacramento and support Crystal and her family as Alise got sealed for time and eternity to Alex Luke. Those two looked so cute together, and so young! It had been 10 years since I went to a sealing (the only one before this past one being my own!) As Hunter and I sat in the sealing room, all I could think about is how time just flies. I remember Alise being at my wedding, as a timid, soft-spoken 10 year old. Now she knelt at the altar as a brave, happy woman. And it hit me. I realized that from the moment my babies were born, my time as their mom is counted. And the clock is ticking. Now I do know that even after they are off to college, or on missions, or married, I will still be their mom. But it will never be the way it is now. I will never be able to ever again have the answer to (almost) everything. I will never be able to (usually) make things better with a hug again. I will never be able to be their playmate then way I am now. And that thought saddens me! My days can be so exhausting sometimes. Having a little preschooler who is asking questions non-stop, and a toddler whose mood governs everything I do, and an elementary kid who is at school 3/4 of her day is not an easy task. It is not easy to balance it all. It is easy to lose it, and to raise my voice. Yet I want to remember that these days will quickly be gone. That some day Logan, Camilla and Sabrina will be at school all day, and will have school obligations afterwards. And my time with them will be limited to weekends and holidays and summer. Oh how I cherish Summer now.

I love my children dearly. I would give my life for them if I had to. They are my most valuable possession. And I am grateful for Heavenly Father's plan, and for the fact that thanks to me making covenants, such children can be mine forever. That death is not and will never be the end. 

In other news, Sabrina is talking more. We don;t know what she says, but she is saying something! Camilla now has 10 dollars in her piggy bank (big accomplishment!) and Logan is loving the bows and arrows Grandpa Young got for him. Hunter will be going fishing to Arizona with his dad and brothers this week. And I will stay busy with the kiddos, and errands, and getting over a cold that is now making my chest hurt! But at least my ears are not hurting anymore :) Life is good and pleasant. But it all depends on how I look at it. So I better look at it with my positive sunglasses on :)

my three munchkins. they are my world.

Life: April 3rd, 2014

I thought the days of this blog were gone. Like no mas. And then, tonight I find myself foing through old blog entries, and loving how I documented our life happenings. Not big things, just random occurrences in our lives. And I was so happy. I keep a paper scrapbook for our family, and one for each of my children. However, I do not document as much information as I usualy do here!

So I guess the blog must continue!

Where to start? It is April 3rd, 2014. Camilla is now in First Grade and she is thriving in school. Nothing stops her. She is so full of life, so active. She started piano lessons yesterday, and is now adding piano practice to her daily routine. She does it by her own choice. I do not even have to remind her to practice! She drives me insane at times ("Slow down kiddo!), yet I would not change anything about her. Well, maybe she could be a bit less bossy. But let's face it. She gets that from me :)

Logan is almost 4 years old. My sweet boy is such a momma's boy. And I will confess, I LOVE it. He makes me smile, and laugh, and sometimes get mad. But his sweet voice and smile brings me such happiness. He gives the best hugs, and when he holds my hand, I wish he would never let go. I wish he could stay this little forever. Yet I can see how everyday he is growing. He understands more; he asks more questions. He still follows Camilla anywhere she goes, and when those two play together, I feel so happy. Logan is still a very mellow boy, who sometimes gives us attitude. But his tantrums are nothing compared to Sabrina's :)

Sabrina will turn 20 months old this month. She is my mini Camilla. I LOVE it. Yes, the days are long, and full of mood swing. Yes, there is noise at all times, usually from her crying. Yes, she is a pill most of the day. But she is also adorable. And her kisses, oh her kisses are the yummiest. And her scent, her smell... I would pay a whole lot of money to store it somewhere. I find myself sniffing her several times throughout the day. She is my baby, yet she is growing up. And my heart aches, and my mind races, and I worry. I worry about her in this crazy world. I pray she will do well, and be happy.

I turned 29 years old in January. I feel old at times, yet I know I am not. I feel I am living the best years of my life. I am not a newlywed, or a first time parent. I am the mother to three wonderful children, with almost 10 years of marriage under my belt. I love my life. I love washing dishes and cooking dinner for my loved ones. I love playing hopscotch with my children, and painting art. I love reading to them, and just being silly with them. I attempt to find joy in the little things, for I know the big things might not happen as often. I have a close group of good friends, who are willing to help me in any way they can. I am so blessed.

Hunter started a new work schedule this week. He now gets home at 3.45 p.m. or so everyday (no more Fridays off). It has been enjoyable to be able to send the children outside to play with their Dad, while I cook some dinner. So I think I will enjoy this new schedule. He is a good man, who is out doing visits with his first counselor at the moment. I love his love for the gospel. and I love him, warts and all. I think we do very well together. Did I mention he just ordered a photobook from shutterfly as a gift to me for our 10th wedding anniversary? He sure did. he put it together all by himself, and ordered it. Yep, he is a keeper.

And to end in a good note, here are some pictures :) They were taken by my friend Liz Hopkins, one hours before the rain really came down!