Love this

"We can teach even a child to understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Begin early. We have the greatest opportunity with the young. The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child's life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths. The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, 'with so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?' The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone." Pres. Henry B. Eyring, April 2009 Ensign, Begin Early This gave me goosebumps. So many people think we brainwash our children by "pounding the gospel into them" but this is the real reason I teach my children the gospel.

blog barf?

1. This is Sadie's six month picture. I don't know why but I thought I could write "six months" on an empty cereal box and have a little prop or something. It didn't work so well. Besides, my camera (and my photog skills) leave much to be wanted. But she is a beauty. Mae made this adorable onesie for Sade.

2. I practiced making a cake this weekend and this is how it turned out. I'll admit, I was surprised with myself. As I was assemblying it I had a pit in my stomach thinking how ugly it was. Then I finished and changed my mind. I didn't do so bad for my first fondant cake. I definitely learned a lot along the way. I forgot to cut the red velvet cake therefore I couldn't fill the middle with frosting. Then I forgot to put the fondant on the first layer before putting the second layer on, that was fun. I am going to make a cake for my brother in law, Allen's graduation from dental school (did you guess that already?). Cross your fingers for me, I'm scared.

3. Luke decided to cut off the tip of his pacifier today. Considering this item is so precious and dear to him I don't know what came over him, probably an evil spirit (just kidding). Now he wants a new one. I don't think so. Its about time for him to kick the habit anyway. I'm not about to go out and buy a new one for him. I want to. This boy is so persistent, there is no talking him down. When I left his room (after an hour of trying to get him to consider sleeping) he was sucking his thumb.....hmmm....trading one vice for another. I guess I'll just leave it alone. I'll let his friends shame him out of that one. ha.

4. What y'all doing on Sunday morning? Want to come watch a few thousand people run a ridiculously lot of miles? I'll be caught in that bunch. I wasn't nervous about the half marathon until I just started thinking about it right now. What was I thinking? I hope I don't do worse than my first time, that's my only goal.

Oh yeeaaaahhhh

Well, Sherrill, here ya go. My refrigerator in all its glory. Its actually quite bare right now. I haven't gone grocery shopping in at least a week. But we've got plenty of cheese and cream cheese to keep us going....hahaha.....

he's 5

Somebody pinch me. This can't be right. But it is. Ethan is 5. He's so proud of turning 5. I have a feeling time is going to go into hyper drive now, especially once kindergarten starts. So here are some pictures of the first 5 years.

I remember how much fun Ethan had sitting in this hole.

My dad used to wear these boots too. Ethan loved them while they fit. Aw, yes, the beloved pacifier. This was his best friend for 3 years. I think he still misses it sometimes.

I love this picture. I'm so glad my sister in law Sherrie still had a copy of it. Look at those cute buns. :)

And here he is on the morning of his birthday. He woke up to find one of his presents already assembled. He was so excited.

Steve spent 2.5 hours putting together Ethan's starship. Who is this present for really? Steve is so happy to pass on his love of legos to Ethan. He was happy to go gift shopping for Ethan, so many more possibilities now. Ethan now thinks his dad is a genius (actual words used) because he can put together legos. Is that all it takes?

Ethan opened his gifts from mom and dad in the morning and played with them while Sadie napped. Then we headed out to the Long Beach Aquarium. We gave him the option of having a birthday party with friends or going to the Aquarium or Legoland. He chose the Aquarium again. So we spent the day there. Then we took him out to eat at Red Robin. I love how you take kids out to eat and they don't even touch their food, they just drink their soda. Oh well, it was his birthday right? He didn't even touch the hot fudge sundae the restaurant brought to him for his birthday. He was more interested in the arcades. After dinner we came back to our home for cake and presents from cousins and grandparents. Of course, I forgot to assign someone to take pictures of the cake and candle blowing....grrrrr.....our day at the aquarium is documented on video but I don't have much practice with that machine yet so I can't post anything.

List

1. I took this picture with my phone after I picked Ethan up from preschool. They made these awesome hats and he walked out with his on. It was the cutest thing! We still have it hanging in their room, I think I might have to keep this one. I just love Ethan's preschool. Its such an awesome program. We are so lucky to be a part of it.

2. We were quite fortunate to get a visit from the AZ Rasmussens a few weeks ago. We met up at the beach and played for a little while. The previous day we met up at a park and had pizza and hung out with them. Ethan and Luke were thrilled that their cousins Mateo and Porter played with them. I had fun seeing Soffia's reaction to Sadie and vice versa. This was the first introduction of Sadie to Brian and Denice and their family, I think she worked her magic on them....especially Soffia and Stone. In this picture, Sadie is not very happy...I think she's tired.

3. This picture is a little more recent. This last Thursday Ethan's friend from preschool, Brandon, came over to play. I say Ethan's friend because Brandon is in Ethan's class but when Luke is there (Luke goes to the same preschool, different class, only two days a week) they all play together. Anyway, we walked to the park so here they are having a snack. It is so, so, so much easier to stay at home when we have a friend over to play.

4. T-ball has begun. Ethan loves it. He is out there and gung-ho about it. We love watching him. They start off with coach pitch. The coach pitches three balls and if they haven't hit it after the third pitch then they bring out the T to use. They have little mits and its hilarious to watch them try to catch balls. No one gets taken out and there are no fouls. This is my kind of sport. Haha...

Luke on the other hand, we've decided to just let him sit on the sidelines and let us know when he's ready to participate. I want to pull him out completely and not have to worry about going on those days but at the same time I think he should support his team. I also think I should just go and give him the opportunity, without pressure, to participate when he's ready. Maybe he will and maybe he won't. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing but that's what we're doing for now.

5. I made some cupcakes for Easter and got a little creative with my icing techniques. I searched the house all day to find a particular icing tip I wanted. I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. I emptied out both utensil drawers, nothing. I did it again, nothing. I searched all my cupboards, nothing. I had consigned myself to going crazy. And then I began blaming it on my kids. I know, I'm horrible. But you don't know how many times they come and just go through things then I find stuff laying around the house that I've been looking for. I actually asked Luke and Ethan about it. Luke admitted to playing with it. In my head I'm thinking, great - its gone. I start walking around the house with him as if he's going to find it and return it to me miraculously. All the while Ethan is rummaging through one of my utensil drawers. I didn't know why he was doing that because I had already been through those drawers...twice. Then I hear him. Ethan says I found it. I didn't believe him. He walks over to me and shows me one of my measuring cups and sure enough, there is the missing icing tip. What?! I REALLY am crazy. I told Ethan he saved the day and thanked both of them for helping me look for and find my tip.

6. I'm thinking there was something else I wanted to put in this list but now I can't remember what it was. Hmmmm....

Sadie 5 months

Sadie is still not so sure about her baths. She has started sitting up so I started using the mini tub for her baths but she doesn't seem to like that any more than laying on her back. Maybe its because both her brothers were trying to cram into the tub with her....hmmm.... I think she's adorable when she's all wrapped up in her towel though.

Whenever I lay her down on her changing table, even if its just to change her diaper, at some point she crosses her legs and clasps her hangs together and streches. I was trying to capture it in this picture but I guess I cut off the ankles. Here she is practicing her sitting. I didn't dare move her so sorry about all the light your looking at. Isn't she sweet? I just love her.

She loves eating her food. I've given her butternut squash and sweet potatoes, she LOVES it. She's such a good chomper. No sign of teeth still but I'm not in a hurry. She is quite chatty and still hates to be left in a room alone. Slow down, Sadie, you're growing up too fast.

Someone(s) got a hold of my camera

I grabbed my camera to upload my pics and I thought I was losing my mind when it said I had over 100 pics to upload. I didn't take that many pictures. So who did?

Its hard to fit an entire face in the frame.

The view from the floor looking up at the shelves.

Ethan, you've got great legs. Close up....wonder what he was thinking when he decided to take this picture.

Cake, cake...who wants cake?

One of my birthday presents was three cake decorating classes by Anniece Barker. The picture here is one of her cakes. If any of you remember, I've wanted to take cake deco classes for a long time but I've never just done it. I guess my sisters got tired of me trying to talk them into doing it with me because they gave me this gift. Its been so fun! I've had two classes and next week will be my third and final class. I have learned how to make a delicious marshmallow fondant (WAY better than regular fondant) and my favorite buttercream recipe to date. I've learned how to stack cakes. And last week we practiced some simple decorations styles like basketweave, beeding (or is it beading?), and star flowers. Next week she's going to teach me how to make sugar flowers. I'm so excited. I want to make this cake in the picture. I just want to see if I can do it. I don't think I even minutely comprehend what it means to make this cake but I want to do it. But I don't want to have it sitting around to eat. Maybe I should just make it and send it to work with Steve....haha. I offered to make my niece, Ellie's birthday cake but that's not until the end of May. I need to practice though. Anyway....a whole lot of cake is going to be going on pretty soon. Thanks Ev and Mae!

List

1. My friend Kelli and I packed up our kiddos plus one Waldron kiddo and headed off to the Great Park for one of their big balloon rides. We got there and walked right on after getting our "tickets." This is a picture of the entire gang after our balloon ride - Max (1), Jake (7, I think), Ethan, Chloe (3), Luke and Maxwell (4).

The balloon went up about 400 ft. We stood and watched our world get smaller and smaller as we got higher and higher. It was a perfect day for it too, so clear. 2. The boys, well actually Ethan and then Luke by default, have been invited to three birthday parties within the past week. Here they are at one extremely fun party at Pump It Up. Thank you, Lauren, for such a fun time! We have another one to go to in a couple weeks and then it will be Ethan's birthday. I wish I could find a group like my friend Jessica found here. I could not believe everything she got for her little Miah's birthday party. I would NEVER find that here in SoCal.

3. Ok, so this is probably the most exciting news I have to share....Sadie got her ears pierced. I took her to the Piercing Pagoda last Friday afternoon. I just couldn't wait any longer. I packed up the boys and left. We got there and I chose her earrings, sat her on my lap so I could hold her arms down, and bang! bang! pierced ears...voila! While I was choosing her earrings the nice lady working there told me "She will cry, Momma." My reply to her was, "I know. I might too so don't worry about us." She did cry. She probably cried for a few minutes. I should have brought a bottle to comfort her with but I didn't. She didn't even want her paci for a couple minutes. I felt like a bad mom but I'm over it. She's fine and I'm glad I did it now. This picture is in the car when we were headed home.

Here she is moments before the earrings went in.

4. Steve and Seegmiller Johnson played soccer this year. They went from being 4th place (I think it was) to winning the tournament in 1st!!! Way to go guys! The kids and I would go to any of the games that were at 7 and cheer our dad and team on. I didn't know how good Steve is at soccer. See what I mean? Another hidden talent Steve chose not to show me. I swear he doesn't want me to know how cool he is....but he's not foolin' me. We can't wait til the next soccer season. I did not take this picture and this is the best I could get the red eye with my VERY limited photoshop skills.

5. I have to say my two cents about Octomom. You may hate me for it. Don't read it if you don't want to know it. I'm so sick of hearing everyone berate her. Come on, people, get over it. Haven't you ever made a stupid mistake? Even a really big stupid mistake? I know I have. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with it but you know what? Who cares? Those 14 kids deserve all the help her mom can be given. Even if she were married she would still need all the help she could get. Stop sending her hate mail and threatening to kill her, that just doesn't help anyone now does it?

6. Sadie is a green monster. I don't mean anything related to St. Patrick's day. She's got boogers galore. They are coming out her nose and they are coming out her eyes! What is going on?

7. Obama's coming to my town. He'll be right around the block from me. Maybe I should go see what change looks like....or something.

8. I went to Kindergarten orientation last week for Ethan. I still can't believe he's going to be in Kindergarten in the fall. I got to tour the school, meet the principal and PTA president. I wasn't very excited about Ethan attending this school for the longest time but I have to admit my attitude is changing. They have this really cool program called Jump Start that they do a couple weeks before school starts. One parent gets to bring their kindergartner to school for a few hours for 4 days. This way they can meet all the teachers and meet all the new students and make some friends. I think its such a smart idea. I think I might have to join the PTA....there's a thought.

Sadie's four months

I'm a couple weeks late taking this. Yesterday I was going through her closet and looked at the size on this dress. I had thought it was a six month size but its 3-6 month! Phew, what a relief that I caught it before she outgrew it. If she would have outgrown this without wearing it I would be so sad. She has had a fever for a few days but I think she's over it now. She's a good eater. She drinks 5-6 oz. every 3-4 hours. She screams bloody murder when she's hungry. She is becoming gloriously chubby. I think her ears are ready to be pierced (now that she's over her fever).

She's looking up at her dad who is standing behind me. I ordered these shoes for Sade from Aurelia and Annalise and I can't wait for them to get here!