New Friends

I had a girlfriend at church call me up one night and ask me how good my Japanese was. I told her it was ok, and she told me that at the school where she worked, they got a new family a week ago straight from Japan and they didn't speak ANY english! They enrolled him in second grade, and the teacher was really struggling with how to help him since there were no services specifically for Japanese and no one at the school spoke it. Shayne and I went over and translated a PT Conference for them, met the family and really wanted to help. they are the Tsuchiya Family from Saitama and a really sweet family. I've started volunteering at Ibuki's school each week to try and help him assimilate. He's having quite a rough go getting used to school and everything in America. We've been able to get together with their family a few times outside of school and everyone has had a blast!

  

The Hired Help

 

We finally figured out the trick to getting family to help us out with projects and expertise. Invite them over for a wonderful dinner...produce a fantastic dessert and tell them that they can have some when the chores are done! Thanks Thomas and Bill for your help with the chores!

Come to the zoo

 

Come to the Zoo was Izzy's Troop's "Bling your Booth" idea for Cookie Season.

One Amazing Family

So this semi-newlywed couple the Thuls hadn't started having kids yet, and came across a family of 4 who needed loving parents. They opened their home and their hearts and became a family of 6! Seriously amazing! The adoptions recently were finalized and they went through the temple and were sealed together. 

 

My Happy Corner

Our house is unbelievably empty. I started in one tiny little corner to make it mine, a desk and Command Center to help keep me organized. I repainted an old desk that I inherited and absolutely love how it turned out!

It's a little secretary desk with a fold out tray. Such a fun piece!

Here's a panorama of the rest of the room...all empty walls!!

   

He Pooped!!

This potty-training thing is not for the faint of heart. I had no idea what I was getting into when I had cute kids. My girls spoiled me. They both potty/poopy trained themselves at 18months and never really looked back. My boys on the other hand...Bubba was at least 3.5 years before he finally caught on, and Collin? Well...let's just say we are PAST 4 years old and STILL pooping and peeing in our pants! We did have a MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH recently where Collin sat on the toilet for what seemed like forever, and low and behold...POOPED! You might not think this is something to be celebrated, but believe me, Shayne and I both went in the bathroom and did the happy dance for him, and then Shayne took him straight to the store to buy a new LEGO set. We were beyond ecstatic! All he needed was one success and then we were SURE that he would be figuring it out and we could finally say sayonara to diapers...forever!

  

**UPDATE** We are still pooping in our pants on a regular occurrence...it was just a one time fluke...

Karate Class

Bubba recently started up a new karate class. He's in love. He thinks its the greatest thing ever. They get to do all sorts of punches, kicks, weapons, and tricks and he asks if he can go every-single-day. It is really quite the place.

  

Valentine's Day Party

Collin loved his preschool Valentine's Day Party. They decorated bags, played some valentine's games, made cute valentines, decorated valentine's cookies and had a sugary-fun time!

  

Valentines Dance

Marley Park had a great Valentine's Dance and since it was for the whole family, everyone wanted to go (except Dad...but who went anyways because he loves his kiddos).

Inside the dance was complete craziness and chaos. This was a family dance from grades k-8 so it was BONKERS! Kids everywhere running around and screaming. Bubba quickly found his friends and joined the horde of crazy kids. Izzy slowly gathered all of her friends and stayed away from the parents.

Other than dancing in the gym, they had the cafeteria set up with crafts, a photo booth, a service table to write cards to the Phoenix Children's Hospital, and of course a snack bar...which was where our kids wanted to spend most of the time.

Olivia's NJHS group worked the snack bar, so she worked the entire dance, and loved every minute of it!

    

By the time we got home we (meaning Dad) were wiped out and worn out, and the kids had a blast!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Preschool had one of my kids' favorite days: Teddy Bear Picnic. Olivia, Izzy, and Bubba were all pretty bummed that they had to go to school while the preschoolers would be doing all sorts of great activities at home. Even though Collin has a few teddy bears, he decided to bring his newest stuffed animal (a Christmas Gift from Bubba) PuppyLot to the Teddy Bear Picnic instead.

This is where PuppyLot stayed perched most of the day. He helped Collin do all sorts of activities from high up on his head.

Our Teddy Bear Picnic attendees

We patterned some delicious teddy bears.

We also made some some teddy bear bread for our snack.

And the wonderful picnic with our favorite teddy bears! I'll admit, everyone ate maybe two bites and then spent the rest of the time playing with our teddy bears.

       

Eyebrows

Collin has recently discovered his eyebrows and has had a lot of fun expressing his opinions with his eyebrows. He's diffused quite a few situations with those eyebrows and gotten himself out of trouble with a few eyebrow antics...I know, we're bad parents, but sometimes it just really is to funny! 

 

Just Another Morning

I don't know about everyone else, but for us, this is pretty run-of-the-mill breakfast routine. 

Even Ninja Turtles need Captain Crunch every once in a while.

A Ninja Birthday Party

This is the first year that Collin has asked to have a birthday party. He had big plans in his head of what he wanted. The main thing he wanted: was to open presents-easy. Then he wanted a circle cake with white and red on it--done.

 

Collin wanted anything ninja: Ninjago, Ninja Turtles, ninja weapons, ninja fighting, etc.

We created some bad guys for us to fight with our new ninja weapons.

Never too much NINJA!

I think our party-goers had a blast!

    

Happy 4th Birthday Collin!

Cookie Boothing Season

Every weekend and during the week too, these girl scouts are out selling their boxes of precious treasure. Girl Scout Cookie Season

 

Averi's Birthday Dinner

We got to go out to an adults-only birthday dinner for Averi at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. It was amazingly delicious, and a great night out with just adults!

 

Happy Birthday Averi! You make 30-something look absolutely amazing!

How We Roll

We play a mesh of all the toys: Pikachu costume (pokemon), Owlet costume (PJ Masks), and plays with Ryder and the gang (Paw Patrol). Just a normal Saturday Night at our house.

 

A BIG Boy

For his 4th Birthday, I asked him what he wanted and he said all he wanted was to be a BIG boy (and then proceeded to list off about 50 toys that he would also like since it's his birthday).

One thing that Collin wanted to spend his birthday money on was an Owlet costume. He likes that it is red and that when he wears it he can fly.

 

He wanted a white cake with white frosting.

 

He wanted to eat dinner at McDonald's, mainly because you get a toy with your meal.

 

One of his favorite gifts was a new pet

He picked out two goldfish: Flop-a-lop and Batman.

  

This guy is coming into his own personality in leaps and bounds. It is fun to watch him explore and learn about everything around him. He comes with such spunk and sass, he'll definitely keep us on our toes. Happy Birthday! I love you 60-100!

Birthdays At School

 

Birthdays at school are always special. Collin was so excited to celebrate his birthday at preschool, make a birthday crown, get cards from everyone in the class and get a special birthday surprise from his teacher...me! Happy Birthday Monkey!

Those Special Moments

There are those rare moments when all my kids wake up happy, eat breakfast together, and act like we are a 'normal' family. Every once in a while, I need to document that it does indeed happen.

 

Quiet Time

 

This guy has a really hard time going to do "quiet time" by himself. He just doesn't want to be in his room by himself. Most days I'll find him either having fallen asleep right outside Shayne's office door, or asleep on the stairs.

Fire Station Field Trip

Preschool field trips are the best! What a handsome little firefighter!

Collin's favorite part was exploring the fire truck.

What a crew of future firefighters! Thank you to El Mirage Fire Station for taking us on a tour and spending so much time with our littles.

Always one of the favorite field trips for preschool.

    

It all begins...

 

Another year...Another Cookie Season...

Awards Assemblies

Somehow, all the awards assemblies this year have been during preschool. UGH! And somehow we've been blessed to have either Nana and Papa or Grandma and Grandpa be able to go and cheer our kids on with their great accomplishments. Both Olivia and Isabelle got Principal's List (Straight A's), and Olivia got the "Hardest Worker" award. Congratulations girls! I know how hard you've worked to receive these awards!