My Super Hero turns 4!

Can you believe it?  Austin turned 4 years old.  What a big boy! He only has a short time left before he goes to kindergarten.  This is still a very strange thought to me.  On every even year of my childrens birthday's they get a big friend birthday party.  This was Austin's year for a birthday bash and he wanted to have a super hero themed birthday. 

I was in charge of the cake and Kevin was in charge of the activities.  We had about 15 kids at our house on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.  We had made super hero capes for all of the kids to decorate along with super hero masks.  The kids got to choose their colors and wear them and take them home with them.  They played a super hero balloon popping game Kevin planned, along with an obsticle course.  It was a really hot day and we had a blow up water slide in the back yard the kids played on forever.  It was mass chaos, lots of friends, candy, treats, snacks, TONS of gifts, and loads of fun (Austin was very spoiled)

I love you sweetie, happy birthday!

Mercedes turns 3!!!

March 1st was Mercedes 3rd birthday. We do a family party on the odd years and friend parties on the even years. This years it was Mercedes family party year, but she was very very spoiled as usual. She had a good time, and was so funny. She was as courteous as a 3 year old can be. She kept saying to me, "mom, its a wonderful beautiful day" what 3 year old says that?

The above was the pathetic attempt of a cake. I may even get bold and try a spiderman cake for Austin in a couple of weeks. wish me luck ;)

Ice Skating

For the Andersen family activity in March, we went ice skating. I thought this would be a ball, but the kids really struggled with it, and it was actually harder than I remembered. I took a couple of rounds around, and decided it was too dangerous to do pregnant, so I quit. Kevin (even though he loathes ice skating) was a trooper and took the kids around the rink over and over until they got better at it. By the time we left, I think the kids enjoyed it more.

Miracles in our Lives

Last weekend when Kevin and I went on a date night to see the Hunger Games in the theaters, we left our children with my mother in law for a few hours. While they were at her house, I feel blessed to say that I believe a miracle saved Mercedes life. Tender mercies, miracles, or good luck, call it what you will. The kids were out in her garage playing with balls, toys, and antique typewriters while she vacuumed her car. In her garage she had leaning against the wall was a large beam. The type of beam people put in their vaults in their homes. Austin saw it and was curious and pushed it, or leaned against it. I dont know which, but it started to fall directly over Mercedes. Before it hit her, it fell on top of Lois' car breaking through her back window, and then continued to fall towards mercedes. (Later, when Kevin saw the beam he said that if he had been there when it fell, he didnt think he would have been able to stop it from falling because of the weight.) At this point it continued to fall until it hit something on the antique typewriter that threw the beam out of the direct line of Mercedes. By the time it hit the ground, Lois said it was 3 milimeters away from her leg. I think it may have grazed her on the way down because of a few scratches and she cried that her wrist her for a couple of days, but I believe guardian angles were there to watch over her that day. I am so grateful for my beautiful children and the safety the Lord has blessed them with.

Daddy and Me

Austin saw this at Hobby Lobby and insited we buy this metal cutout for his room. He says it is a picture of him and daddy...How adorable is that!

American Idol season 26, she will be there

Mercedes likes to take my ipod and listen to the playlist I have for kids. She learns all of the words, or I should say, she is learning all of the words and loves to sing it. Can you tell what song this is? I will give you a hint, it's a Disney Song.

The wild child and the moral police

A couple of weekends ago we went to the circuis and we all had so much fun. Kevin and I had never been to the circuis and neither had our children. At the beginning you can go up and see some of the animals and take an elephant ride, or take pictures with a black bear, but once the show started thats when it got fun. To say Mercedes loved it is an understatement. She was clapping and screaming and jumping and just really getting into it. Autin on the other hand looked like he was having an anxiety attack. He kept saying things to me like. "Mom, why is that man in the cage with the tigers? Doesn't he know they will EAT HIM!" or "Mom, why is he on that rope so high, he will fall down and hurt himself!" My favorite comment of the night was "MOM! Those girls bums are hanging out! and Jesus wouldn't like that AT ALL!!" That one made me laugh. Yes, the show girls sparkly leatards were riding up, but how do you explain things like that to a kid? So I tried to just tell him to relax, sit on my lap and enjoy the show because these people train so hard to show us their tricks. After that he did calm down, but I don't think he ever got into it like Mercedes did.

Round Three?

Coming soon. Well, coming in July of 2012. The Dr says he knows the sex, can you tell?

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was fun. It was pretty low key, but really fun. On Christmas Eve the boys went skiing and the girls went shopping. Then we made loads of sugar cookies and the kids cut them out and frosted them, they did a pretty good job actually. Then we had our family dinner and waited for Santa. In the morning Santa had come and brought lots of toys for the kids! This year was really fun because my kids are starting to understand the concept of santa, so there was alot of anticipation and excitement. Austin ran into our room way too early in the morning and said "Santa Came, and he brought me toys!"

I really loved having Christmas on a Sunday, because it keeps fresh in mind the true meaning of Christmas. We did nothing but leisure activities all day like breakfast with friends and visiting grandmas and grandpas. It was a very nice day.

Teach them young

Kevin and Austin bought season passes this year. They went skiing for the first time on Christmas Eve, and Austin had a ton of fun! Kevin says Austin didn't even fall. Kevin is a snowboarder but he is learning to ski with Austin. Its a good thing that this is the last weekend of the duck hunt so that Kevin and Austin can go up more and make good use of their passes. To bad there is no snow on the mountains...

It snowed. This is just way too early

So the first snowfall came, it wasn't much, but enough to make a fort at the Walkers home. Ausin loves to play with Damion, and Damion just loves Austin. Look how cute they are building that fort together.

This is a picture of my kids before church last week. Super cute all dressed up for Sunday.

And this is just a snap shot of boys being boys.

Happy Halloween

The kids had a ton of fun! We went to the trunk or treat then carried onto the door to door knocking. Mercedes pooped out early, but stayed home handing out candy to kids at the door. I have got to say though, I have really grown to hate spider man. Austin wants to wear this costume every single day...still... Everytime he puts it on, he starts punching furniture, and people, and everything else. Lots of karate chops and spraying webs on everyones faces....When I tell him that spiderman doesn't hit friends and family, he says we are pretending to be the bad guys...Argh.

Bull-Koda

This short video clip is of Ausin. He wants to get ready for mutton busting at the rodeo, so he was creative and found a bull to ride...you know, to practice. Our dog Dakota is the new bull. He is wearing his favorite mask, grabs dakotas collar and she bucks him around, while he giggles so cute.

(I only type out what happens because when I print the blog...you obviously cant view the video)

Lazy Days

As the school year approached we winded down, but still did fun things.

my daughter that dresses herself. She has a VERY strong opinion on what is fashionable, acceptable and the accessories that go with it...she has a fashion career as you can see.

This was the ward campout at the dam. kids played on the beach, and everybody had a chance to kayak.

pathetic fireworks on the 24th of july...next year we will do better. Austin told me he wants those snap things that you throw on the ground.

The local pool

and girls days together :)

Bear Lake baby!

Its been a while, but I wanted to catch up on our adventures through the end of the summer. We went on a trip with our very good friends, the Tuckers, to their cabin in bear lake. As usual, it was a total blast. Taking a weekend and doing nothing you dont want to, and everything you do but without time constraints is bliss. We went boating, kayaking, played games, park, ate..alot, played volleyball, and just sat on the beach side deck view the view of the lake and a soda in hand. ahhhhhhhhhh....loved it!

PS- the top pic isnt of bear lake, its just of Trisha reading the kids stories, thought it was cute...

This and That

I try to remember the funny things my kids do and say to write them down.
Mercedes is currently terrified of the soap in the bathtub.
My kids have invented what they call the diaper dance...they grab their hips and swing them around and around while singing "diaper dance, diaper dance"
Austin has this phrase, he will come in and say "I am so happy to you mom"
Mercedes is known as a 'spit fire' in her nursery class. Apparently she climbed in the window, opened it, and was on her way out before anyone caught her.
Austin is now sleeping all night long in underpants and not wetting the bed at night. big step for him
When mercedes first wakes up, the first thing she asks me to do is to do her hair like a princess.
Mercedes pronounces crackers, crappers
Austin prounounces lucky charms as yucky charms

So cute!

My friend made this for me. How cute is that! I should print this and frame this.

Horse back riding for FHE

A couple of weeks ago, we went to a friends house to go horse back riding for family home evening. Kevin and I love to ride horses. I always get a little nervous around them for the first while, but it is such a enjoyment to ride them. The kids rode the pony, and Austin loved it...Mercedes thought it was OK as long as I was by here. Both kids ended up in the sprinklers and dirt before the end of the night :)