April Fools

Happy April Fools day!

Today we had a breakfast where the kids ordered strange sounding dishes from a Menu (like "Hector Nectar", "Juice Brix", and "Crazee Gloop") without knowing what they were ordering.  They also had to eat with strange utensils like a pizza cutter, tongs, measuring spoons, etc...

Carter eating with a pizza cutter

Taylor eating a cinnamon roll with a spatula

Mallory eating with tongs and a fondue poker

Wyatt making his best April Fools face

We had cousins over for a dessert later in the evening.  We stole the idea of making fries out of sugar cookie dough off of Pinterest, but made up the fry-sauce idea when we couldn't find anything that would work in the place of ketchup.  The fry-sauce is frosting with some red and yellow coloring.  After eating about 4 "fries", Wyatt turned to me and in an angry voice said "Hey Mom!!  These are not french fries!!  These are cookies!"  

5th Grade Band Concert

Carter had a band concert tonight.   It was LOTS (no sarcasm at all) of fun.  I'm posting a video clip of the concert so that you may all share in the joy of the music.

  

I think the video says it all.  To all who have never been to a 5th grade band concert.....Enjoy!

Big Changes for Mallory

We finally agreed to let Mallory get her hair cut.   Her hair was almost down to her waist in the back before the haircut.  She wanted to donate her hair to Locks of Love, and that made me feel a little better about her cutting it all off.   

She is thrilled.  In fact, on the way home from getting it cut she said "Mom, I feel like I'm going to cry because I am so happy!"

Also, as you'll notice from the picture below, Mallory has lost quite a few teeth.  She pulled the last tooth (on the top) by herself.  Josh and I were sitting in a room talking and we heard this in the background.  "Ahhh!  Ahhh!  Ohhh!  Ohhh!" (in a panicked cringing tone of voice) and then "YES!!!!  YES!!!!!  I pulled out my tooth!  I pulled out my tooth!"  She came running in dancing around.  We have never seen any child so happy to have a tooth out!

Andy Apple

I let Wyatt have a "big round apple" the other day and after taking a couple bites, he noticed that his bite-marks looked like eyes and a mouth.  He added some hair bites, named the apple "Andy Apple" and carried it around all day.  He spoke to the apple all day, made it "fly", bragged about all the things Andy could do, and thought his apple friend was so cute.  He took it outside to jump on the trampoline and at the end of the day he even brought Andy to family prayer.  When Wyatt noticed that Andy was getting mushy, he began to cry and begged me to make a new Andy Apple in the morning.

Bigger is Better (Unless it Makes Someone Puke)

One of Josh's students told him about a show called "Man vs. Food" which has become a novel way to make our kids eat a lot.  We let the kids watch a few episodes and then took them to this awesome place called "Big Judds" which makes giant 1LB hamburgers.  The kids (well, mostly Carter and Taylor) were so psyched out from the show, that they both ate TONS.  Taylor ate more than 1/4  of the hamburger!  This was amazing, because he rarely can down a small hamburger.

After that day, we have made our own 1 lb hamburgers.  We made the bun in a cake-pan, grilled the giant 1 lb burger on a big piece of tin-foil and loaded it up with lots and lots of good stuff.   We challenged our cousin/nephew, Kenny to eat an entire burger, and made him throw-up.  (sorry, Kenny) We also gave the challenge to some missionaries that we had over for dinner.  One missionary finished 3/4ths of the burger, but then bowed out.  Mallory said the closing prayer and prayed "Bless that nobody will throw-up from our dinner."  That's not exactly what you want to hear in a post-meal prayer.

Kenny before puking

We also made (attempted) a giant doughnut.  (why not?)  It was going to be totally awesome, but apparently that much dough doesn't cook through very thoroughly, so Carter's friend wasn't able to finish it.  I guess he could have if he didn't mind puking it all up too.  

Arrrrr! Tis March 8th!

Four years ago, on March 8th, we made cookies and took them to a couple of families.  When we delivered the cookies, to be funny, we yelled "HAPPY MARCH 8TH!!"

After delivering the cookies, we thought to ourselves, wouldn't it be funny if we brought them cookies every year on March 8th?  So- we marked the date on our calendar, and have celebrated it ever since.

The reactions of the "target" families have been very amusing.  One family remembered March 8th on the second attempt, and when we got to their house they answered saying "Is this because it's March 8th?!"  The other family chuckled, but only a couple of the family members remembered the year before.

Each consecutive year, we've tried to go bigger and crazier.  That's sort of what makes it so fun.  This year we made banners and hung them on the homes (late on March 7th).  We showed up later in pirate costumes and delivered treasure to them.  It was awesome!  It was also awesome because one family delivered a treasure box to us before we even got to them, and the other family gave us "Pirate Booty" as a thank-you the next day.

A Treasure chest made out of Rice-Krispie treats (and covered with chocolate).

The Kids Decorated Our Own Treasure Chest

An Igloo-less year

Well, this year has not been one for igloos.  This has been sort of fun, but sort of sad too.  We haven't done much sledding or playing in snow at all because it hasn't snowed much.

Here are some pictures of the snow activities we have managed to squeeze in.   At least there have been a couple snowmen.

That's one bewildered snowman!

Mallory and Wyatt made this one without any help at all!

Wyatt in 2011

Here are some of this year's highlights for Wyatt:

1- Went sledding for his first time and HATED it.
2- Graduated from sleeping in a crib.
3- Started drawing faces, circles, and squares.
4- Officially stopped eating ALL meats.
5- Climbed the climbing-wall all by himself.
6- Learned how to jump on a trampoline.
7- Can sing "I Am a Child of God" all by himself.
8- Threw lots and lots of rocks into rivers.
9- Got his first bike.
10- "Helped" make a ton of meals.

Mallory in 2011

Here are some of this year's highlights for Mallory:

1- Lost her first tooth!
2- Started Kindergarten
3- Learned to ride a bike without training wheels
4- Learned to swim with her face in the water
5- Drew at least 700 princesses
6- Was Rapunzel for Halloween
7- Had a Halloween Birthday party
8- Taught Wyatt how to get into all sorts of trouble
9- Took soccer and decided that she HATED it
10- Learned "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater" on the piano and played it at least 200 times
11- Took Zumba and Dance lessons

Taylor in 2011

Here are some Highlights for Taylor in 2011:

1- Caught his first fish
2- Got Baptized
3- Was in a 2nd Grade play as the spider that scares Little Miss Muffett
4- Got REALLY into Dr. Who and now owns 3 Sonic Screwdrivers
5- Learned the Dr. Who theme song on the piano and has played it about 200 times.
6- Earned his Wolf award in scouts
7- Took swimming lessons and got pretty good at it
8- Became famous at the elementary school for his "Chipmunks" impression
9- Learned how to play the card-game Magic and plays it with Dad and Carter
10- Took soccer and decided he likes defense the best
11- Got a score of 99/100 at the Piano Festival
12- Memorized and recited a Halloween poem at a College Poetry function.
13- Went to his first BYU Football game

Carter in 2011

Some of the year's highlights for Carter:

1- Finished Elementary school (4th grade)
2- Wrote about 30 volumes of a comic book called "The Nerd Herd"
3- Got REALLY into the show Dr. Who.
4- Learned the Dr. Who theme song on the piano and played it at least 200 times
5- Perfected the British accent
6- Started taking Ballroom classes
7- Started Middle School and met lots of new friends
8- Got his Weblos award and graduated from Cub Scouts
9- Improved a lot on the piano (mostly by playing and making up versions of the Dr. Who theme song)
10- Memorized the Witches' Double Double Toil &Trouble poem and recited it at a college poetry function.
11- Had dinner with Gary Schmidt.  (famous author that our family LOVES)
12- Went to his first BYU Football Game

Allen Riverdance

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, our family has become a bunch of Riverdance fans.

It all started when Mallory picked up some Irish dance moves while watching "Angelina Ballerina."   We noticed that she actually looked like she knew what she was doing, so we showed the kids some Riverdance on YouTube.  Since then, it has become the new dance of choice when we "bust out the moves". 

I'm posting this video because there are some funny surprises besides Mallory's jigging - Wyatt posing for the camera, and Taylor showing everyone up at the end.

Taylor's Baptism

Taylor was baptized this weekend.  It was a great day.  It is hard to believe that he is growing up so fast.

Here are some pictures from the big day.  Among all the hassle, we didn't get any pictures with Kim and Bill's family, but they were there also.   Taylor's friends Owen, Seth, and Olivia were also there.  His friend Owen missed his last basketball game to come and see Taylor, which was really touching.  We have amazing friends and family.

 

The traditional "Baptism Cake" that Josh finds offensive.  (Our ongoing debate)

Carter's Boot

Carter tripped while going down the stairs last week.  (We keep telling him that he's got to come up with a more interesting story).  He either ended up with a minor fracture/crack in his ankle, or he sprained it really bad.  They couldn't tell from the X-ray, so he gets to wear this boot cast for a couple weeks.

The boot hasn't slowed him down a bit.  Sometimes we forget he is even wearing it.  Hopefully it can come off next week (the first week of February) because he is dying to get out into the snow.  They will X-ray it again at his appointment see if it has healed up.  Until then, he can enjoy a little extra attention and stay warm inside.

Click here for Carter's Retelling of the Story

Taylor's Birthday

 It is so hard to believe that our cute little Taylor is already 8.  Time flies too fast.  He has grown into such a smart, sweet, and thoughtful kid.  We love you and Happy Birthday Taylor!

The Birthday Boy

Taylor's First Birthday (Isn't he the most adorable little kid ever?)

Taylor at 4 yrs. 

Taylor's surprise present:  A Dr. Who Picture Almanac.

Taylor got lots of Legos for his birthday

Taylor's Birthday Cake.  He wanted a sledding hill cake to match the sledding party.

Taylor and his friends at his Birthday Sledding Party

Bigger and Better

This year, Josh and the boys decided to make a bigger and better igloo than last year.  Here are some pictures.

It is actually pretty roomy inside.  Roomy enough that we were able to get the whole family in there to eat dinner a couple weeks ago.  It was also surprising how warm it is inside.
 
Since the next igloo is going to have to be bigger and better than this year's igloo, Josh is considering plans for a 2 room deluxe igloo.  

Two Birthdays!

Every October comes with a lot of excitement because we have 3 birthdays to celebrate.  Carter and Wyatt had their birthdays within the last couple weeks.  (Not only do the two boys look identical, but their birthdays are only 2 days apart. )  Mallory's Birthday is this next week, so I'll post that later.

Here are some pics of Wyatt's Birthday:

I made the dorkiest Birthday hat for Wyatt.  I was trying to be thrifty and use up an old torn gift-bag, and ended up with a feathered dunce-cap.  It's embarrassing for me, but good for a laugh.

Wyatt ripping feathers off his dunce-cap

 Wyatt got a Leap-top computer for his birthday.  He loves it.

Wyatt's Leaptop

I'm not terribly proud of this mailbox cake either, except that it was easy to make and only took 20 minutes to frost.  If I were to do it again, I would round off the top more (making it less rectangular), and I wouldn't use fun-fetti frosting (yeah, it looks gross).   However, the wonderful thing about two-year-olds is that they don't  care.  Wyatt actually ate it (he's not a big dessert fan), and in the beginning he even tried to open it (meaning that it resembles a mailbox). 

Mailbox cake

Carter's Birthday:

I think this is the last year I'll be able to trick Carter into thinking that his presents didn't make it in time for his Birthday.  I told him that his gifts (that were coming in the mail) may not arrive by his Birthday, but if they didn't arrive in time I would make his Birthday TOTALLY AWESOME by giving him a bunch of Pringles that he could eat all day.  (He goes crazy for Pringles - he'd eat a whole can in one sitting if I let him)  Carter is so optimistic that he was able to convince himself that Pringles on his Birthday WOULD be great.

The evening before his Birthday, he saw me buy a bunch of Pringles, and in the morning, I gave him some wrapped Pringles to "psych" him out and then surprised him with his real gifts.  Carter is always a great sport.  He was annoyed that I had tricked him for like the 3rd year in a row, but ended up calling his Birthday the "Best Birthday Ever."

Birthday Pringles

 

Carter got Lego Games and a Bey-Blade set for his Birthday. 

Carter's presents

I was thrilled when Carter told me he wanted homemade Oreos instead of a cake.  How easy is that?!

Birthday Cookies

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!

Some Recent Outdoorsy Stuff

One of the things that makes Idaho bearable enjoyable is the outdoors.  We have been surprised to find so many scenic places within 45 minutes of Rexburg.  The two that we have enjoyed this last month are Harriman State Park and Monkey Rock.

Josh and the boys went camping at the Harriman State Park Yurts at the beginning of October.  They pigged out on tons of sugar and junk food.  They also went on a fun hike.  Yurts are awesome!

Mallory and I (and poor Wyatt who by default gets grouped with the girls) had a girls night out while they were gone.  We made a princess crown for Mallory's pet dog toy.  It was delightful, except that I found the crown torn up on the floor the next morning.

We discovered a new awesome place to take the family, called Monkey Rock.  We have already, in the last month, spent at least 4 hours there.  The amazing thing about the place is that you drive through flat farmland to get there.  You'd never guess there was a waterfall nearby as you make the drive there. 

 Just around the bend from the Monkey Rock waterfall is a small woodsy area where the kids have found an AWESOME climbing tree. 

We took our good friends with us to Monkey Rock a week ago.  We knew these friends when we lived in Egypt and we have a picture of these two (Carter and this friend Avery) in front of the pyramids.  I have to admit that they appeared to have much more fun climbing this tree than seeing the famous pyramids.