Report Cards

The kids got their report cards last week.  Jonah got all 5's again.  I'm really impressed that he gets 5's in citizenship too.  I know he has a hard time staying quiet during class.  Jonah does a great job at coming home and doing his homework right after school without complaints.  We decided we needed to celebrate their hard work.  I took Jonah to dinner last night.  He was surprisingly chatty.  He is usually pretty quiet, but he talked the whole time.  I think I heard, "and guess what?" about 50 times.  It was nice to have some one-on-one time with him.

Caitlyn has been trying so hard this term.  Last term she had a hard time focusing and doing her best.  She was constantly missing problems that she knew the answer to.  Her grades were still fine, but I knew it wasn't her best.  We have been encouraging her to slow down and take her time with her work and she has been really focusing.  I was so happy to see that all of her hard work paid off.  She had all A's except for one A-.  She also got all 4's in citizenship.  Last time she had some 3's in things like stays on task.  Her teachers commented on the improvements she made and we were all so proud of her.  The most important part was Caitlyn was proud of herself and felt good about herself for working so hard.  Keith and Caitlyn went out to dinner to celebrate her hard work today. 

I had to add this cute picture of Wyatt reading to Hallee today.  Wyatt has been so happy this week.  It has been wonderful.  He has been sleeping and it sure makes a difference.  He hasn't been screaming or throwing fits and he has been telling me he loves me all of the time.  So cute! 

I've only been a kid once mom!

Today, Wyatt told me that he has only been a kid once.  He was being really funny today.  Wyatt started soccer class again.  He was so excited.  He seems a lot more grown up since the last one.  Maybe it is the underwear!  You could see a big improvement in his soccer skills and he wasn't shy like he was last time.

Jonah is loving Jr. Jazz.  I love to watch him play.  He is giving it his all.  Last week he had an awesome game.  His whole team was doing great.  They were passing the ball and a lot of the kids made baskets.  Jonah played great.  This week they played a tough team.  The kids were so aggressive.  Jonah's team didn't quite know what to do.  It is good for him though.  I want him to learn how to win gracefully and lose gracefully!

Keith and Jonah have had a lot of fun going to Jazz games this season.  I always look to see if I can find some cheap tickets for them.  This week they went early to watch the players warm up.  Keith loved it, but I guess Jonah got bored.  Keith took the camera because we don't have any pictures of them at the game.  Jonah was a stinker and didn't want his picture taken.  Thurl Bailey was going around taking pictures with people and Keith couldn't get Jonah to take one with him.  I guess they had a lot more fun when the game started.  It helped that Jonah won some speakers for his mp3 player and someone gave him a free soda. 

Last week we talked about modesty at activity days.  I stole the whole activity from Emilee so I didn't even have to do much to prepare.  It was great and the girls loved it.  Yes we only have three girls for all four years!

Caitlyn and Jonah have had a lot of fun with rainbow loom.  I found a generic loom really cheap so I put it in our prize basket.  We have been trying a new thing where the kids can earn "Loosli bucks" by going the extra mile or improving on something they are working on.  Caitlyn has a hard time being happy in the morning so she can earn a buck by being nice in the morning.  Jonah is working on telling the truth and obeying so he can earn bucks for those things.  Anyway, when they have three bucks they can pick something out of the prize basket.  We used the prizes while potty training Wyatt and now he can earn them by not waking me up at night.  It is mostly simple stuff that I would give them anyway, but they don't know that!  There are a lot of books in there that I got for free from cereal boxes.   I put the rainbow loom in there because I think it is a great activity for them.  Anyway, Caitlyn had enough bucks so she bought the loom for Jonah.  So sweet! 

After dinner last night I looked over and found Hallee and Jonah wrapped up in a blanket together.  Hallee adores Jonah.  He is the only one she will consistently give hugs too and he is so cute with her.  Hallee is the only one in the house that Jonah doesn't purposely bug!

Caitlyn wanted to get in there with them.  I love moments like these.

Cody passed down a suit for Jonah.  He was so excited to wear it today.  He sure looked handsome.

Caitlyn told him that all of the girls were going to think he was handsome.  Jonah seemed a little disappointed when he came home and told me that none of the girls said anything to him. 

Hallee looked adorable for church as usual.  I can't believe she is already 18 months old.  She is more opinionated by the day.  She still doesn't say very much.  She has a few words that she uses for everything.  She sure tests my patience, but oh man I love this girl. 

I got her to sit still for a couple of pictures this morning.  I remember Caitlyn wearing this same outfit at this age. 

I had to find the picture of Caitlyn to compare.  Hallee looks a lot like Caitlyn, but I realized when I looked at this picture that I think Wyatt and Caitlyn look more alike and Jonah and Hallee look similar.   Look at that smile, oh I miss little Caitlyn.  She has always been so much fun!

Hallee had a few melt downs at church today.  It was rough, but we made it through Sacrament Meeting.  Wyatt ran into primary all by himself this week which was great!  I took Hallee with us to Sunday School because she still has a cold so I didn't send her to nursery.  She was a mess.  She was screaming non stop.  After Keith and I both took her out a few times Keith told me to just take her home and put her to bed.  That was all I needed to hear.  She was out in a couple of minutes.  Poor girl just isn't feeling good.

Long Weekend

Last weekend the kids had Friday and Monday off of school.  We had a lot of fun and did a lot of fun activities.  We always use our days off of school to catch up with friends the kids don't see much since they are in school all day.  On Friday we went to Hollywood Connection with Allison and the kids.  Caitlyn and Jonah love to see Grace and Max.  Keith kept Wyatt and Hallee home, which was so nice!  We took Dante and Alexys along because my parents were having a party at their house that night.

The kids had a blast riding all of the rides.  They liked playing the video games too.  We were there for a few hours and didn't want to leave. 

On Saturday the kids were invited to Baylee's birthday party.  They were excited because they were going ice skating. 

Jonah and I came late after his basketball game.  I haven't ice skated since I was a teenager so I was a little wobbly!  It was a lot of fun.  I love doing activities with the older kids.  It is nice that they are old enough for us to enjoy the same activities that I enjoy.  

On Monday we went to the zoo with Emilee and the kids.  It was a lot of fun.  We used to go to the zoo all of the time, but since the kids have been in school we haven't gone very much.  I'm glad we got to go.  Hallee loved looking at the animals. 

Wyatt was so excited about every animal.  It was so fun to watch him.

Emilee's pass lets us ride the merry-go-round for free. I think my kids were more excited about this than the animals.  Jonah was so excited that he was acting crazy and running off and pretty much just driving me crazy!  Love this kid, but his endless energy is overwhelming sometimes.

Caitlyn is always my helper.  The other three were testing my patience, but Caitlyn was trying to help.

Wyatt loved picking new animals every time.  He was great until the last ten minutes when he got upset over something.  He is so stubborn and if something doesn't go his way he will completely lose it. 

Hallee didn't want to sit on an animal.  She rode on the bench a few times with me.

This was the best picture I could get of all of us.  Hallee was in a mood and threw a major fit on the way out.  Wyatt was screaming too so I was pushing the stroller with my two screaming kids and I think Emilee could tell I was losing it so she took my stroller and I got to push happy, little Kenzee! 

I had to take a picture of Hallee letting Emilee hold her. She never lets people hold her.  Emilee was great and helped me out at the zoo and took Caitlyn and Jonah home with her.  We got together a few more times last week.  Adam was out of town so I thought it would help if we got out, but she ended up saving me because last week was rough.  Hallee has been so cranky this week and I have been cranky too, which isn't a good combination! She is a mess by nap time and nothing I do seems to make her happy.  My saving grace is that she is sleeping a lot.  Poor thing just doesn't feel good. She is getting her two eye teeth and I am really hoping that is her problem because then it will be over soon!  It was great to get together with Emilee and the kids all week just like old times!

Camera Roll

We got back to our old routine this week with Caitlyn and Jonah going back to school.  It was nice to get back on a schedule and have a little more peace and quiet in the house!  On Monday the kids were golden! Caitlyn and Jonah both got up on their own and got ready.  There was no fighting and no screaming, it was such a great day.  Don't worry, the kids made up for it the rest of the week!  Hallee and Wyatt have been fighting like crazy and if one more kid disobeys me I just might scream! 

A couple of weeks ago Caitlyn went to her friend Katelyn's birthday party.  Caitlyn was the only one invited and they went all out.  They told her to bring her doll and Jenna whipped up these adorable matching aprons for them.  Caitlyn was so excited to tell me that they heard the doorbell ring and out on the porch there were invitations to Hogwarts along with beautiful hand carved wands for them and their dolls.  Jenna gave them both pedicures and sent Caitlyn home with a bunch of spa stuff and told the girls she would sew both of them a harry potter cape.  It was like Christmas all over again for Caitlyn.

We found out that our neighbor's brother passed away on New Years Day.  He was Caitlyn's primary teacher and Caitlyn wanted to do something nice for him when she heard that his brother died.  It snowed that weekend and all of the kids were outside playing.  Caitlyn told them they should go shovel their walk.  It was so sweet to look out and see them all working together.  Jonah and his friends were asking neighbors if they wanted to pay them to shovel their walks, but he said he would do this one for free! 

Hallee has been getting a little better with nursery.  I was in there the whole time last week, but this week she stayed on her own for about forty-five minutes.  It is really tough because it is during nap time so she is exhausted.  She sure looks cute sitting at the table in there!

Hallee has been extra cranky again.  It makes such a difference in my day when she is difficult.  I feel like I get nothing done and I spend the whole day trying to keep her happy.  She has thrown some big fits this week.  On Friday we were grocery shopping all morning and by the time we were checking out of the last store she had had it.   I let her out of the cart and she walked over and grabbed all of the candy bars off the shelf and screamed hysterically when I took them away from her.  Last night I was able to get out with Tiff and Audrey for a girls dinner.  It was great.  I needed it after a week of Hallee and Wyatt screaming all day!

These two, I don't know what to do with them!  They are so cute, but they are both so stubborn.  Wyatt hardly ever does what I say.  One day he obeyed me all day and I didn't know what to do with myself, I had so much extra time when I didn't have to tell him over and over to do things.  Hallee has started going downstairs by herself and that helps a little.  She likes the change of scenery.

Wyatt loves to climb in Hallee's crib.  He puts all of her stuffed animals and books in there and then climbs in with her. 

Wyatt has been obsessed with the Wii this week.  He loves to play Wii Sports Resort.  It keeps him active and gives me some time to get things done during Hallee's nap.

Wyatt has pretty much mastered potty training.  My mom being the great grandma that she is, brought him a present and a certificate!  He loves his new trucks.  He uses the potty independently, which is nice, but he always has his clothes on backwards or inside out when he comes out of the bathroom.  He says he likes it that way. Wyatt has also started going into Sunbeams class in Primary and likes it a lot, even though he is the only one in the class so far. He also likes being in sharing time with his big brother and sister.

Usually I shovel snow during Hallee's nap, but I decided to take her and Wyatt outside with me to shovel the other day.  She really liked playing outside.  She was really excited about her gloves!

They both loved being outside and walking around.  We have been inside a lot so it was nice to get out and get some fresh (well not exactly fresh) air.

Hallee fell a lot.  I loved looking over and seeing Wyatt telling Hallee to grab his hand so he could help her up!  There were a few times Hallee fell and couldn't get up.  I just had to lift her back up and then she would be happy again.

Hallee loves to dance with Keith. So cute! 

We have been feeling like it was time to get a new van.  We really don't want to have a car payment, but we don't want to put anymore money into our van.  We haven't had a car payment since Caitlyn was a baby.  We saw one we liked that we were going to look at a week or so ago and never went.  On Friday we noticed that they lowered the price by $500 so we went to look at it.  We ended up buying it.  It is a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan.  We love it!  It is a huge step up from our old van.  Keith had to talk them into taking our van.  It really is starting to fall apart.  We felt great about the deal and walked away feeling like we got a great deal and we loved the car dealership.  They had the lowest prices we have seen and they were no pressure at all.  It has been fun to drive the new van around and enjoy luxuries like a CD player and key less entry.  I do miss our built in car seats!  We bought the van Friday night and Saturday morning our big screen TV was broken.  That always happens when we spend money, something has to break.  We just bought a cheap used TV because I'm too nervous to make any more big purchases right now.

This week Hallee has been crying out in her sleep a lot.  When I check on her she will reach for me and then just sleep on my shoulder.  I love it!  I want to remember it so I made Keith take a picture.  Keith is such a good man to go along with my crazy ideas.  I know he thought I was nuts, but he just went along with it.  I love having her lay on me.  She never does this anymore, so I just sit in there and hold her for a while when she will let me.

Caitlyn has been doing headstands and flips all of the time lately.  She has also really been into the rainbow loom lately so we have been working on some bracelets together.  After two nights of watching videos, but not being able to figure them out I got pretty frustrated.  After Caitlyn went to bed I stayed up and figured them out and then I made a bracelet for Caitlyn and Jonah.  They were so excited when they woke up in the morning.  I think that is when my addiction began.  Now I make bracelets when they are in bed almost every night.  I think they are fun to make and I feel pretty proud of myself when I figure out a new pattern.  I guess it is relaxing for me or something.  The kids think I'm cool because I can do it!  Jonah came home with some orders from kids at school because he told them that I can make the bracelets.  I did have to draw the line there!

Jonah lost his front tooth.  It was driving me nuts just hanging there for a few days, so I was glad when it fell out.  Jonah had a fun week.  Keith took Dante to a Jazz game this week because my dad was too sick to go.  My parents were nice and bought a ticket for Jonah too.  I couldn't find just one ticket so we had to buy two.  Jonah ended up taking one of his friends along with them.  Gaven was thrilled to go and Jonah felt so important taking his friend to the Jazz game.  They all had a great time.  Jonah is really getting into basketball and was even telling me about the Jazz players the other night.  Keith loves sharing that with him.  Later in the week Keith took him to Young Men's when they played basketball.  Jonah loved going and felt so cool playing with the Young Men.  Yesterday Jonah did great in his basketball game.  He is the only one on the team that can make shots.  There was one play where his team must have shot five or six times and never made a basket and Jonah finally got the ball and made the shot on his first try.  He had all of the points for his team yesterday.  I love how he struts down the court after he makes a basket! 

Burning Energy!

Winter is hard because the kids get so stir crazy.  We love to find ways to get their energy out.  This week we went with our cousins to the Wairhouse.  It was so much fun.  All of the kids loved it. It is a big trampoline park.  Wyatt loved it. 

They had basketball and dodge ball.  The boys loved the dodge ball.  Wyatt wanted to play dodge ball.  Luckily it wasn't very crowded and it was just our boys in there so he could go in and play with them.

I loved watching them just run and jump all over the place.  They were all pretty tired after an hour.

Everything is more fun with cousins!

They could jump off into these foam blocks.  Jonah did some cool jumps in there. 

All of the kids loved it, but you could just see how much the boys loved it and needed it! 

Yesterday we met up with Allison at Jump around Utah.  It is full of bounce houses and a big jungle gym. I love that no matter how long it has been our kids just pick up right where they left off.  Jonah and Max so similar.  They were in heaven running all over the place!

Caitlyn and Grace are also very similar. 

They are both such sweet girls.  They would stop and play with Jack and Hallee.  Hallee loved it.  She loved this big bouncy cushion thing, but she would only do it with Caitlyn.

It was so nice that Caitlyn kept taking Hallee and keeping her happy.  I get a little selfish when I am with my friends.  I just want to visit!  Allison and I had a lot to catch up on so I loved when the kids were off playing and having fun.

Wyatt had a lot of fun, but he was a little grouchy so he kept getting mad when people bumped into him.  The place was packed so it happened a lot.  He would cry and complain and then run off and play for a while before he came back crying.  I think overall he had fun.

Hallee was similar to Wyatt.  She had fun, but spent a lot of time crying.  She wanted the bounce house all to herself and would get mad when other kids came in. 

She kept going over to Jonah and giving him hugs, it was so cute!  After that we went to McDonalds for dinner.  Keith met us there and got some dinner and then took Hallee and Wyatt home so I could stay with the older two for a while and visit while they played.  It was a really fun day and a much needed day out after a few days at home!  We have had a great winter break!