Things are BUSY!

This time of year is always busy... especially at our house. (All of our children were winter babies) So we start in November for Ben, Madi and Brooke have birthdays in December, and Connor is the day before our anniversary... in January. What ever do we do for excitement the rest of the year right?!? So here is Brooke with her blackberry and whipped cream cake... She picked that! The morning of her birthday, she grabbed her backpack and was convinced, now that she was five, she got to go to kindergarten when we took Madi to school. That took a little explaining.

This was our first REAL snow fall of the season. We got five or six inches and the kids were in heaven. They were launching themselves off the slide on the deck.

This is the project I did instead of cleaning... It was a joint birthday present for the girls. They call it their reading tent or something like that. As soon as it was hung up they immediately grabbed books and settled down. It has been really FUN. (For Christmas I am making two pink beanbags for their reading corner).

These last two weeks have been... well kind of like... "AHhhhhhh!" I got really sick after we got back from Thanksgiving and then the kids caught it too. As soon as we were better an attack of pinkeye quarantined us again. We are almost over that plague, thank goodness... But a long story short... I was trying to do some fun homeschooling with Madi (she was home most of this week because of the pinkeye). This was our baking soda volcano science project. The kids loved it and making the volcano kept them busy most of the morning.

Christmas gifts or cleaning?

Do you ever have a hard time fitting everything in? Well, even if you don't... I DO! In a regular month I find it challenging to teach my children preschool, help THEM do THEIR chores, clean the house, laundry that never ever ever ever ends, read to them, make a meal or three, do my church calling, maybe fit in a little project here or there... (and what the heck is "me time"?)

So now that the holidays are here the real fun begins. I love to do homemade gifts... and it is really fun now that my kids are older, to teach them how to make gift for their friends and each other. Unfortunately, I don't have a maid or an Alice from the Brady Bunch to help with all the regular stuff. So each day its a, "Hmmm... do I do fun gift making or clean and clean and clean." Tough choice right? Well, the cleaning never stays done anyway, so what the heck.

Hope you are all having a fun filled holiday season!!!

Holiday's: Thankful for..... Christmas!

I think that I mentioned before that I am like a kid when it comes to holidays... Well, now it's getting closer to the Christmas season and I am getting so excited. Brett has to hold me down so I don't jump on the roof to put up the lights. I love thanksgiving too... but I really think it's a shame to squish all the fun holidays into one season and leave only a few "interesting" ones to hold us out until the next year. I mean, honestly, all you do for St. Patty's Day is pinch people?

No, really I think that Thanksgiving and Christmas are very appropriately situated on our calendars. What better to be grateful for than the birth and life of our Savior? So to all you "bah humbugs" out there: I am getting my Christmas music going, not because I want to blow right through Thanksgiving, but because I am most grateful for He who gave his all for us. So I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday filled with gratitude, love, family, friends, and of course a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast!

Bad Hair Day?

We had a little fun with the Halloween clearance stuff. I think its a good look on Brett.
I think the wig is bigger than Connor.

What a hottie!

Ben is a big cheese ball!

Brooke's Shirt goes well yes?

Halloween

I love holidays! Halloween is just as much fun for me now as when I was little. We had a ball picking out what the kids wanted to be and making costumes. I asked the girls to pick someone out of a story. Brooke chose Rapunzel. (Grandma Conover came up with the yarn wig idea). Brooke wasn't to into the idea when she saw we were making it out of tights... but when we added the yarn that hit her feet she was ok with it again.

Brett was a safari guide... nice hat huh? Madi was Little Bo Peep... that was a fun challenge! Ben wanted to be Mater. He was so excited watching me paint it but when it came down to it he only wore it for a few minutes... so then he was a cowboy again. Connor sported the same bear suit they have all worn. (I love the snuggly costumes... so much smarter for cold). And I grabbed one of my old prom dresses, added wings and a wand with a tooth brush. All in all we had a ton of fun.

Hope you all had a fun and candy filled holiday.

Spooky things are in the air

We are having fun getting ready for Halloween! I'm like a kid when it comes to holidays. (We started making these spiders and ghosties out of plastic bags when we were still in school). It was so much fun that it is now a tradition that the kids really look forward to. It's a really easy craft for the kids and a cheap decoration... plus it's really cute when the wind blows them.
It might be a little sad... but this is the tallest my corn grew. But who cares... it fits just right on our porch. And we grew just enough pumpkins for all the kids to have one.

Brooke, Ben and I made all the silly decorations while Madi was at school. This one is a bat... Brooke wasn't satisfied until we gave it fangs.

Brooke and Ben making "ghosties"

Fun at the Bingham's

I loved doing this when I was little! We had a laughing good time until one of the girls fell on top of Ben.Little Divas! While visiting cousins the girls had fun performing in their music room.
We also got to swim in their pool. Cold yes, but way fun. Brooke would turn blue before she'd want to get out.

Ben had a ball as soon as he remembered what the water wings did.

Madi had a sink or swim lesson. And guess what she decided on? I was so sad that we moved from California just as the kids were getting the hang of swimming. (We were spoiled with a pool just out our front door).

A Pirate's life for me

We had a pirate treasure hunt at my in-laws. (Organized by my charming husband, captain scruffy beard here). We all made hats, and come to think of it... the whole darn get-up, out of paper bags. I think Brett's was the most impressive. We had a lot of fun... and it is nice to know that if on tight halloween budget... it is possible to create a whole costume out of grocery bags.

MY BABY!

I have a sister who, when she was little, totally looked like my aunt's kid... or so they said. So, for those who know Mark and his little crew... Doesn't Connor look like one of his boy's?

I had a really peaceful time making dinner and this is why! I was ok with them making mud pies and it turned into a mud WAR.

Madi's first day of school! We had fun getting everyone ready... Ben and Brooke had to have their new crayons and notebook too. (They are doing preschool with me at home and it is way fun!!!!!) Here is Ben with his pack... he was so excited that he went to bed with it on. That seems to be his thing...

"Camping Trip"

Dad was on a business trip and we needed a little something fun... so we had a camp out in the living room. The kids even drew forest and animals on huge pieces of paper and decorated their "camp site." It was really fun. We had smores and all sorts of nasty camping food (like top rommen and instant oatmeal).

Playing Catch-Up!

So between a wedding and a funeral (the last two weekends) and driving all over the place, we have been really busy, so here is another quick catch-up.Guess where girls! We went to find a geocache in Rexburg while we were there and it was right THERE and I couldn't resist a picture of our old stopping grounds. Kind of silly, but... Hooray for Birch 216!
Me and my Curly Girlies!
The girls both wanted curly hair this morning, so we had some fun with the mousse and blow dryer.

Hot stuff Madi! She kept saying, "I feel like a big girl today." After that, I was all for doing pony tails on her the next day.

Brooke was prancing around like a beauty queen.

Daddy daughter dance! Brooke and Madi LOVED this part! (We were at Brett's cousin's wedding reception).

Brett's cousin Sarah was married in the Rexburg temple. It was so nice to be there, see family, and sit in the temple with my sweet heart. The kids couldn't wait for Sarah to come out. They followed her around holding her train. (She was so tolerant!)

Goodbye Grandma

My grandmother passed away this Monday. She was such a wonderful woman... one of those amazing people that touch the lives of everyone they meet. I am so glad that my children got to meet and really to know her. (Grandma collected dolls like no one I've ever met. She gave each of my girls one of the most beautiful dolls in her collection.) My girls love to hold their "great grandma doll" and I am glad they will have a little something to remember her by. We will miss you Grandma!

Daddy's new hobby is fun for everyone!

My husband has a new hobby and he is including the whole family in the fun... Geocaching! It is like a treasure hunt with a GPS. My kids love to go with their daddy and the hikes and hunts are really neat. We find caches EVERYWHERE we go and I think that geocaching fever has hit my husband. (But to tell you the truth I am so happy that he has found a fun, healthy hobby! One of his other hobbies is computer programing, planning and budgeting. I really don't think THAT is a healthy hobby at this point... I mean, working all day and then coming home to worry more about money. Nice). Brett and the kids following the "compass" to find the "treasure"!

A Wee Bit of an Update

I really should get this updated a little more regularly... but whatever works right. So here are a few pictures of our crazy clan this month. Father's day wrestling match... actually this is a common sight at our house... when ever Daddy has a few extra moments... he is usually ambushed.

Connor being oh so helpful putting away the clean laundry.

This is Ben's gold fish "Jelly Bean." He named it himself and it was the only fish to survive our family. (We started with three and the girl's fishes were both goners by morning). Then we went on vacation... but Jelly Bean still made it. We then bought in bulk, hoping a few would make it a little longer for the girls. They all were wimpy, and once again Jelly Bean had the tank to himself. So I thought I should take a picture of Ben with his fish before anything unforeseen happened. Oh the irony! Jelly Bean went to that big goldfish bowl in the sky only a few hours after this picture. But hey, you can't go wrong with a pet that only costs $0.28 and a free fish tank... it also gave us an chance to teach the kids about death and heaven. So, to make a long story longer... we found out that we are NOT fish people. (And they really smell!) But it was fun while it lasted...

Ben got his first tie and he is SO PROUD! He fell asleep with it in his hand the night he got it. He feels like such a big boy and looks like a mini Brett!

One of the big things here is the miners convention once a year. It is a big ta-do held in the convention center here in town... we just go for the free balloons.

Playing ball with Grandpa Conover... This guy has taught more "all stars" than anyone I know. Start them young right?

Connor and Grandma Conover watering her flowers. Gardening with Grandma is all part of every visit.