Alex and the Car Show

We took the kids down to South Towne Expo Center to see the Car Show.  All the new 2014 makes and models.  We were really worried that the kids would be bored and whining the whole time, but I really wanted to go this year.  In years past Zach has gone with his dad and brothers.  We wanted to check out the new vans, cross-overs, and good gas mileage commuter cars.






When we got there we drove around the parking lot for over 30 min just waiting for someone to pull out.  We actually got one just a few cars from the front.  GREAT!  We walk into the show, and the kids are in awe!  "Can we get in them?" Lyndee asked.  "Yea", Zach replied.  They were having a blast.  In and out of every car they went.  Even Madi was having so much fun.






We were checking the Nissan cars out.  My most memorable moment from that night was this:  Alex crawled in the new, basic Nissan Versa.  Alex starts playing with the passenger window and says, "WOW! Mom, Dad look at this.  I can make the window go up and down by moving this thing. (It did not have power windows).  We realized that none of our kids have ever seen a manuel windows.  Wow, we are getting old if my kids have only had power everything cars.  It made us laugh for sure.  It gave Uncle Matthew, and Aunt JJ a laugh for sure. 






Half way through, the kids did get tired and really wanted to go to the hotel.  But they totally enjoyed climbing in and out of the Toyota Sienna Van.  Lyndee actually begged us to buy it.  I really liked it and would get it if Money were never an issue. 






 Pictures to come of the kids enjoying the car show.  Lyndee and Alex got to do a LIVE shoot with KSL studio.

Funny Madi

So last night Miss Madi wanders into our bedroom just as I had dozed off.  She come right up next to me and this is our conversation:


Madi: Mom?
Mom: Whats wrong Madi?
Madi: I mad at Minnie.
Mom: Why?
Madi: Ummmmmm . . . . . . . (No Answer, she just stands there thinking.)
Mom; Do you want me to tuck you back in bed?
Madi: NO! I mad at Minnie!!
Mom: Why are you mad at her?
Madi: Ummmmmm . . . . . . . . (long, Long, Long pause) SHE GOT IN MY WAY!!!!!


(At this point Zach was trying to hold back the laughter, because she's just so stinking cute)


Mom: I'm sorry  she got in your way, are you ready for bed?
Madi: Yep, I want my minnies and blankie's.
Mom: Ok, lets tuck you in.


As I head back to her bed she wants one of her Minnie's with her under the blaket, and the other (the one that got in the way) up on her headboard.  What a little cutie.  She really does have such a cute personality as she reaches 3 years old.  Love her.  She fights with Alex non stop and feels she rules the roost around the house.  (Secret . . . She kinda does!)

Jayden / Alex Update

Jayden:
Little mister has become a little rolly polly.  He now can sit up by himself, he has 2 lower teeth, and is getting around rolling all over.  On Saturday I had he and the kids in my bedroom with me while I was painting the newly added trim on the baseboards. 

I was busy at work painting and all of a sudden Jayden comes rolling over toward the wall at what seemed 100 mph, right into the newly painted trim.  I was surprised, and laughed.  He got paint on his hands  and legs.  I put my things aside and picked him up and headed to the bathroom to clean him up.  (I don't think he wants to eat paint.)  What a silly baby.  He was so happy.  I was excited that he is getting around.  He brought a smile to my face.

When I told Zach over the phone a few hours later, he didn't see it the same way.  I was informed that I always get too busy, and don't pay enough attention to my kids.  I was upset!!!  I told him about it, because I thought he would think it was funny.  Guess not!  Oh well, it brought a smile to my face and that is all that matters. :)

Alex:
We went to town Saturday night.  I took the girls to my parents, and we took the boys with us to dinner and to pick up a few things.  We decided to take the boys, because Alex had achieved a reading level and was given a free Coldstone Ice cream coupon. 

We ate at Firehouse pizza with Cory and Alexis.  It was good to see them.  It has been a while since we've talked with them.  Alex was the perfect child at dinner.  He was kind, polite and mostly quiet.  He ate his pizza and colored his pictures.  If you know us, you will know, that this is not Alex's personality AT ALL!  It amazes me how good of a kid he really is when he doesn't have to out do his sisters.

We headed to Coldstone for ice cream.  Alex had never been there before.  I explained to him how it worked.  He picked Cotton Candy ice cream, with Kit Kat mix-in.  He thought it was the coolest thing ever.  I had Coconut ice cream with Brownie mix-in.  Zach picked out a few hand dipped chocolates.  We sat down and enjoyed without fighting and screaming.  YES!!

After ice cream we needed to go to Wal-Mart for a few necessities.  I love spending time with my sweet Alex without the other kids.  He has such good manners, he opens my doors, holds my hand and is quite the little gentlemen.  He told me how much fun he had just us (Alex, Zach and I . . . Jayden too).

After last night Zach and I decided that we need to take the kids one on one more often.  Maybe that will be our new Saturday thing.  I guess we'll see.

Lyndee's Solo

Today in church we had an instant choir number for the intermediate Hymn.  Since I am the Music Coordinator (Fancy name for choir director), I felt we needed to do something a little different.  I thought to myself, "I wish I would have planned better, I could have asked someone to solo the first verse. Ugh.  I guess I could do it . . . No!  Wait, I'll have Lyndee sing it with me, then it won't seem so smugish. (If smugish is a word.)"

So I called Lyn upstairs and started teaching her the first verse of, I Need Thee Every Hour.  As we were practicing she asked me if she could do it alone.  WOW!  I told her sure, if she felt comfortable enough.  We practiced for about an hour.  (She practiced singing, and I practiced my awesome piano playing skills.)

She was so excited.  When we got to church, she saw her name on the program and was so happy.  You should have seen the smile on her face.  I could however tell, that she was starting to become really nervous.  She insisted to Zach that she sit by me, and then she kept singing it over and over.  She couldn't remember the tune in some places, and started to get frustrated.  I assured her that as soon as she had music playing she would remember and be fine.  Pretty sure she had butterflies while listening to the first speaker.  She even jumped up and started heading to the bathroom.  At first I told her she would have to wait, because I thought the speaker was almost done, and we were up next.  I was wrong, so I told her to quickly run, and come right back.  Zach saw her leave and he got nervous.  I'm pretty sure it was the quickest bathroom break she has EVER made. 

We were up!!!  I set up the mic, and step stool for her.  Passed out the music for the choir members, and away we went.  She was a tiny bit slow coming in, as she was nervous, but she did great.  Her first vocal solo ever.  We were so proud of her.  The choir finished out the number, and it sounded good.

I love that Lyn steps outside of her comfort zone and tries new things.  I was a little jealous, as I really did want to sing with her, but proud that she did it on her own.  Love HER!!  Good job Lyndee.

Little Jayden

A couple of milestones have occurred with little Jayden.  First this past week he cut his very first 2 teeth.  The 2 on the bottom in the middle.  Umm . . . this explains a lot!! 

Today, Zach was playing with our little man, and that little quirt is starting to sit up on his own.  What a little stinker.  He still falls over, but not immediately.  He really does a pretty good job.  Love that little man of mine.

Pumpkin, Pumpkins, Pumpkin SMASH!

Tonight was our annual Family Pumpkin Carving Night.  Our kids look forward to this night every year. We order Pizza, this year we went with Papa Murpheys,  Dad pulls the guts from most of the pumpkins, and we get to have some fun.  Our schedule this year was a little tight.  Lyndee was gone to Activity Days, so Zach, Madi, and Alex decided to get a head start.  (This way Zach could take a nap before he has to go to work tonight.  We hate Graveyard!!)  Anyway, the kids had their pumpkins all picked out.  While Lyn and I were away, Zach accidently gave Lyndee's pumpkin to Madi, but gutted a much larger one for her.  When she returned home, Zach was setting their pumpkins out on the porch with candles.  She was mad at first because she thought we did it without her.  She stormed inside and realized that her pumpkin was gone.  She started ranting and raving and stormed back outside.  This is the time she noticed that her pumpkin had already been carved.  She came inside and started yelling at us, and shouting how she hates Halloween, and that she never wants another Halloween again.  (Here is where things get worse.)  She storms outside slamming the front door behind her.  She's gone for 1 min. maybe.  During this minute, I start explaining to Zach that she had picked the pumpkin that Madi carved.  Now, Lyn comes storming inside screaming and crying even more.  Zach chimes in trying to explain to her over her screaming voice that he gutted another, bigger pumpkin for her, and that he thought she would like the bigger one.  Lyndee abruptly stopped crying and says, "Oh".  It got quiet all of a sudden.  She turns around and again goes outside.  What was she doing?  I go to open the door, and see her picking up pieces of Madi's pumpkin off the grass.  WHAT?????  She didn't really just throw that pumpkin in the yard, did she?  Oh yes she did!!  What a brat, I really can't believe she did it.  I never ever would have thought that she would actually be mad enough to do that.  The first time she stomped outside is when she threw it, and was now trying to take back what she had done.  Umm,  unacceptable!!!  I'd like to say that Zach and I were the most awesomeness, wonderful kind parents that sit down and talk and blah, blah, blah, etc.  NOPE!!  She got her butt spanked. She had to know that she did not make the right choice.  Zach sent her to the shower, and told her to get cleaned up and ready for bed.  After shower and Jammies, Zach called her upstairs.  I talked to her first, and told her that I wasn't going to let her carve a pumpkin this year.  Consequences!  Zach was a little nicer. (Softie)  She, Zach and I agreed that she was on 2 weeks dishes duty.  All the dishes, everyday, for 2 full weeks.  (My secret dream come true.  I hate dishes!)  She had to apologize to the whole family for yelling and screaming, to Madi for her pumpkin, and Zach for yelling at his face.  Zach posted something on Facebook about this event and that made her mad again.  She was crying and whining that, "Dad told everyone in the world.  Now all my friends will know, and they will laugh at me."  I looked right at her and said, "I'm not going to sugar coat this for you.  You made a choice, a wrong choice tonight, and that choice has consequences that you have to deal with.  It makes you mad that dad posted it on Facebook, but will you ever do this again?"  "No!"  She replies.  I've learned that through the years I've given in way too much.  I was more than willing to send her to bed without carving.  Dishes work too, she hates doing the dishes.





After she calmed down we got right to work carving the remaining pumpkins.  Alex wanted to carve Jayden's, Madi helped me with mine, and Lyndee did her own.  Zach headed to bed, but left us his phone with some awesome Halloween Music.  Thanks Honey!!

He's as big as our 30lb Pumpkin

                                    

Cheer up Lyn

Zach hates having his picture taken.  Ah, Memories!

One happy baby

Miss Madi and Mommy

Just a little video

Our final Results. 
Top: Ales, Family Name, Zach
Bottom: Madi, Jayden, April, Lyndee
(Yes, we know our name is spelled wrong.  The T's meshed together and became one during construction.)




 





A simple reminder from Madi Moo

Yesterday Madi wandered into my bedroom.  She found the small journal given to Lyndee at her baptism.  It has a picture of the savior on the front cover.  She picked it up, and turned to me and said,

"It's my Jesus Christ, he loves me!"

 

 

With a huge grin on my face, my reply to her was, "Yes, Madi he does love you very much!"  What a simple, but profound reminder from such a little one, that Yes, our savior does love us.  Thank you Madi!  I love you so much.