Some of my favorite kid phrasing I must remember!

5/9/11
Besept...Butsept...  Sean's common substitution for "But except"
Ryan figured out this was funny and laughed today.
5/10/11
Kyle...
"can you wipe away my crying things?"  ie...wipe away my tears?

About to sneeze, Kyle exclaims, "I'm about to bless you!" {Was sick or had allergies for a few days so this was repeated many many times after we found it so cute!}

Hadn't Posted this...because there's been more that I've been wanting to add and am already forgetting!

Beale Air Force Base Air Show 2011

We got to go to the Air Show at our local AF Base a few weeks ago!  It was sooo awesome!

We showed up just in time to see the amazing Air Force Thunderbirds!

Holy Cow...They are unREAL!!!

The Thunderbirds Team:  The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron plans and performs precision aerial maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of modern high performance aircraft and the high degree of professional skill to operate those aircraft. As Air Force ambassadors who travel the world over, the Thunderbird team strives to showcase the integrity, selfless service and excellence embodied by American Airmen everywhere.

They are so impressive...we were in awe!

They look like they are crashing!  

Watching those Thunderbirds up in the sky!  It was a gorgeous day for the airshow ~ but SUPER WINDY!!!

Their precision was incredible!

The director of the airshow was a guy in our ward so a large majority of our ward attended.  The following day was Fast and Testimony meeting...one of the women who went to the Air Show bore her testimony.  She told us about her experience watching the Thunderbirds as her family was seated right at the fence between the crowd and the staging area for the Thunderbirds.  Before the show, these pilots walked their show sequence on the tarmac as if it was a dance ~ even though they have probably practiced their timing and manuevers thousands of times!  After the Thunderbirds were finished, the pilots came out to sign autographs and talk to the crowd.  One of those pilots mentioned that he'd gotten blisters on his hands because he was holding onto the controls so tight to stay on course and avoid getting blown even a little off course from the wind. Failure to stay on course in this instance would be catastrophic!  

Then she related this analogy to adversity that we experience.  She remarked that if we regularly feed our spirits and make decisions ahead of certain circumstances, then we will be prepared for these trials/adversity {as the pilots had prepared for their airshow ~ including being prepared to withstand such wind.}  But even though we practiced and prepared, the adversity and trials will cause blisters because sometimes times are tough. 

Sean was super cute here...he's quite the talker.  I think he takes after my dad.  When he plays pitcher on our baseball team, he's often talking away to the coach from the other team who is controlling the pitching machine.  He is very inquisitive and always thinkin!  Well this pilot was encouraging questions.  As we waited three kids asked if there were guns on the plane.  Nope.  Ryan got up and asked if it had any bombs...{He usually has great questions too...but really loves talking about bombs on all these jets.}  So Sean's turn comes up and he asks:
"When was this plane created?"  1960s
"How long have you been flying this plane?"  16 years
"What is this plane used for?"  Training and practice.
What good questions!  So my dad!  My dad is the King of questions at Museums or tours...and we've learned so much more than we otherwise would have because of them!  Good questions dad and Sean!

Dylan's Flat Stanley got to see some neat stuff!

The Airshow was so awesome!  We hope we can spend even more time there next year!

I loved this analogy to Adversity and Trials so much.  It was so windy.  Remembering these planes that flew SOOO close together, sometimes passing eachother upside down or on it's side, and within such close proximity and realizing how the wind affects planes really made this little analogy so impressive to me.  It makes so much sense.  I can imagine the pilots who have trained and trained and are prepared for any circumstance, focusing and putting to use all of their knowledge to keep them safe and on course.  I have been thinking about this subject a lot in the last few months.  Adversity or Trials come so differently for people; to some it is the loss of a child, the loss of a job, a child with disabilities, a child who strays from the family, financial struggles, emotional struggles, health troubles, and on and on and on...  So I kept a few quotes that I've run across in the last few months, and figured this was a good place to put them, for my future reference...but by no means is this a well researched collection of such quotes...just a few worth remembering...and adding to.
No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God. It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven. ("Orson F. Whitney's Philosophy of Education," Orson F. Whitney; quoted in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p.98-99)

"If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith, remember those faithful Saints who remained true in Kirtland. Hold on a little longer. You can do this! You are part of a special generation. You were prepared and preserved to live at this important time in the existence of our beautiful planet earth. You have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make your life an eternal success story."
Dieter F. Utchdorf

"As you and I walk the pathway Jesus walked, let us listen for the sound of sandaled feet. Let us reach out for the Carpenter’s hand. Then we shall come to know Him. He may come to us as one unknown, without a name, as by the lakeside He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same words, “Follow thou me,” and sets us to the task which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands, and to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings that they shall pass through in His fellowship; and they shall learn in their own experience who He is."
--Thomas S. Monson, "The Paths Jesus Walked", Ensign, Sep 1992, 2


"As we follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront us. Approached with faith, these refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality. Approached in a worldly way, these same experiences cloud our view and weaken our resolve."
--Neil L. Andersen, "Never Leave Him", Ensign, Nov. 2010, 39–42

Ties! A sewing project for my boys!

K....so after seeing the photoshoot my adorable niece did for Urbansunday.com...wearing a tie just like these...I had to have them!  BUT I was not going to pay $25 buck for each tie...especially for little boys who get messy and grow!  I have actually wanted to make them ties for a while so it just motivated me.  I ordered the fabric, found a tutorial and made my boys some ties!  I'll have to make more because they are picky...and apparently the knot on Sean and Ryan's isn't big enough to their liking. 

BUT I LOVE the gray with white polka dots with their blue seersucker pants my

parents got them last  year!

I think Cade needs a bow-tie.

So here we are all together!  I love going to church with my family! 

And a little fuzzy head angel face baby who happened to look at the camera on the picture where everyone else looked funny:)

Easter and Spring Break

We had a great Easter and Spring Break!

We spent our days...

playing on the trampoline...with friends...a little sewing...Easter Egg Hunt...playing with Legos...

trip to the Library...Ryan staying up really late reading...San Francisco!

A friend in our ward hosted a Mommy and me at her parents' home in Auburn.

It was gorgeous!  We enjoyed an egg hunt, soccer games {pick up with the big boys}, play house, park, train ride, train pinata and potluck lunch!

These are just some of the kids...she was brave as there are about 200 kids in our Primary!  Not all came, but we had a large group for sure!  You can see the train station {play house} in the back ground...as well as the play structure.

Gorgeous!

Attempting to take a boy photo after searching for eggs...but they wanted to check out their loot! 

And the field of flowers was too pretty not to take advantage of a sitting baby!  And my friend offerred to take one of me and Cade, but he couldn't stop eating me{one of his favorite past-times}...which is starting to be a problem since he's got a bottom tooth!

I like the no smile pic...just a perfectly cute face!!!

Fun rides!

Again and again!  Such a nice conductor!

Then a few days later we headed to San Francisco with friends to hang out at China Beach!

Digging to China at China Beach!

Unfortunately it turned from cold to freezing!!!

And we got Kara's Cupcakes...the Passion Fruit filled with Cream Cheese frosting and coconut flakes was Am.aze.ing!!!

We had our traditional Ressurection Rolls for Easter breakfast...

Frozen Rhodes Rolls
Large Marshmellows
Butter
Cinnamon
Sugar
Thaw rolls.  flatten out with fingers and wrap around a large marshmellow.  pinch dough closed tighly.  repeat for all the rolls you want.  After they are all wrapped up...roll into melted butter..then roll into a cinnam,on sugar mixture.  Place on baking sheet separated .  let rise a
 little and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Serve warm.  Cut open gently with a serrated knife to reveqal empty tomb.  I forgot to take a picture of mine...and last years picture was sub par...and I think this picture shows more goo left over inside than mine do, but you get the idea.

Easter Sunday was gorgeous and rainy all on the same day!  Handsome boys with new Easter Ties!  Kyle was pretty proud of himself that morning after getting all dressed.  He knew he was sporting a handsome look!

I totally love a little toddler boy in shorts and a tie!  So adorable!

Kyle's Birthday was on Easter!  So we had a little family dinner, opened presents, candles on sugar cookies and sang Happy Birthday!  Then Monday night we had Kyle's friends over...the big kids from the court who love to entertain him...Sophie has been his favorite friend for the last year.  She comes over all the time to ask if he can come outside to play!  It's his favorite thing.  He's also discovered gum.  He envies his brothers reward gum and often steals it and hides under a table devouring as much as he can before he's caught.  Luckily the last time he binged on gum and swallowed them was when he was pukey sick and he puked them out.  And since then he has actually spit out the pieces, we'll find four or five chewed pieces of gum in the garbage.  He really knows he isn't supposed to take other people's gum, so he's been asking for daddy to buy him his own gum for a long time.  So this was a pretty exciting little present!

And as we discussed cakes, I offered a Lego cake...but he wanted, "round, tall, chocolate cake and chocolate frosting!"  Really all he cares about is the frosting...so I don't blame him!  Chocolate frosting is the best!!!

Kyle with his bestie Sophie.

We love Kyle!  Three years old! 
He is such fun to have around!  He adores his older brothers and loves his little brother.  He hangs with the big kids and loves it...especially the older girls.  He was super easy to potty train!  He gets so excited about things and can make the funniest faces.  He surprises me often by his grasp on language and thinking through things...and his ability to express it through speaking.  We just love our Kyle!

Lucky!

Quote of the day:

Sean says..."I'm lucky and Kyle is lucky and Cade is lucky...but Ryan wasn't lucky."

me: "why?"

Sean: " because we all had brothers to play with us when we were babies...but Ryan didn't."

TRUE!

but I replied mom and dad got to play with him more too.

And I propose that Ryan Sean and Kyle are lucky cause they have a baby brother to play with...and Cade might not have that.

But we're all lucky to have each other!  Families are what it's all about!

Busy busy! Baseball, school reports, birthdays, scooting, up on knees!, teeth and the book fair

Brothers on the same Baseball team!  So actually, we could be and will be so much busier:)
 Playing a warm-up catch.

Sean's First Baseball season!  He's been sooo excited!  Our first two full weeks of games were cancelled due to rain...including our super fun opening day parade and bounce house festivities.  It was a bummer.  He had lots of anticipation..and would lay in his bed thinking about playing his first game...again and again!  He was a cute excited player!

First at bat and waiting for Scott to get the pitching machine ready to go....Sean was dancing to the music in his head.  Funny thing is that this went on for a long time before this clip too!

Ryan's Famous person report...Troy Polamalu.

He did great!  Sadly you can't see the shoulder pads I made for his costume...

Here you can see them...don't mind the crookedness.  Like the tough football face?

I loved all these shots...so I shared them all! 

This little guy has been getting up on all fours a bunch...sometimes into a pike position, which the boys think is hilarious!  He's been getting brave and lifting up an arm...but not successful crawling yet...he's almost 7 months so I guess he's ready, but it seems bizarre to me that he's already old enough to be eating real food and crawling!  Where has the time gone?

This brand new 6 year old had two super wiggly bottom teeth! 

And finally got to get them out!  Two in one night!

He fondly remembers when Ryan chose him to slam the door for this tooth pulling method and so he returned the favor and let Ryan slam the door!

He was super excited for the Tooth Fairy to come!

And now admittedly has a hard time talking!

A quote I saw somewhere that was a nice reminder!

“Parents, remember that now is your opportunity. You may feel yourself harassed as you struggle through the days with children, but you are living the happiest and most golden years of your life. As you tuck them into their beds at night, please be kind to them. Let them hear a kind voice amid all the angry, vile voices that they will hear throughout life. Let there be an anchor to which these little ones can turn when all else fails. The Lord help will you do so…” ~Harold B. Lee

The school Book Fair...I didn't send him with money because he always wants the toys.  The first day he came home with a camoflague foldable and clipable pen.  Then a few days later he came home with this book.  At least it was a book...but the problem is his friends were buying these things for him...so now I feel guilty for not sending money with him.  And the book is hilarious.  Lots of really gross stuff!  I have lots of boys and this made me really laugh about that.

Love babies in grass photos.

*  Post Edit...yes!  Erica is right!  Kyle has been potty training during all of this and doing AWESOME!  I have always loathed Potty Training since my first two boys didn't take to it so easily...and it was a long process to convince and refine, but Kyle is ready and has had really only 3 pee accidents and maybe 2 poo accidents all together! And it's not because I remind him and ask him every 45 minutes.  Yes, I've done a lot of that...and using the restroom before we leave the house...but he tells me when he needs to go!  Even if we are out at stores!  He's doing great!  Undie Bum picture coming soon.