Memorial Beach Day

 We went with some friends to Surf Side Beach.  As you can see, it isn't the best beach in the whole world...but we had a blast!

 Nice guns Mark. :)

 Addison was just pummeled by a wave.  As you can see, we aren't in very deep, but a wave came and took her feet out from under her.  She came up spitting and sputtering, trying to blow the salt out of her nose...It was pretty funny.

 Last time we went to the beach, Reilynn wouldn't put her feet in the sand or the water.  She hated it!!!  But she finally warmed up to the sand and would put her toes in the water without anyone holding her hand by the end of the day. 

 We wore everyone completely out...

 Even Zoe fell asleep next to Parker on the way home.

 Addison fought hard, but finally fell asleep about 10 minutes after we left.

Kas was the only one who stayed awake on the trip home...she is a die hard.

Piano Recital

 

We haven't been the greatest at practicing and doing lessons this year, but we are slowly progressing.   

Addison refused to play, but we will work on it and get her up there next year.

I'm a little behind...

 It is already Parker and Kasidee's birthday and I haven't blogged Mark's yet.

 I say this every year...but, poor Mark has a birthday squished in the middle of 3 of our kids, and he gets the bum end of the deal every year.

 This year, I threw together a quick BBQ with some friends, Mark picked up his own Dairy Queen ice cream cake, and we had a fun night. 

Sorry homie for the party, but I hope you know how much you are loved.  Your children idolize you!

How did we get so lucky, or was it luck?

 2 1/2 years ago, when "Santa" brought Zoe to our house (only a couple weeks after Reilynn was born), some people thought we were crazy.  But this little pooch has been the best thing ever!

Is it weird that I felt inspired when I looked at her that she was the right fit for our family?  Can you be inspired about a dog?  :)  Well, she is the most patient, loving little thing ever! 

Our only complaint is that she is a little racist, no really.  She doesn't like Asians or African Americans.  She also barks at anything walking across the levy in our backyard...but other than that, she is AMAZING!!!  We love you Zoe.

Birthday Girl

 Bailey turned 4 today. 

 We had a fun little Barbie party with Hot Barbie (hot potato)...

 Barbie Barbie Ken (Duck Duck Goose)...

 Heart sandwiches for lunch...

 Dress-up relay races...

 Opening presents...

 And yummy cake.

We love you Bailey!  You are a light in our family!

Happy Mom's Day!

Mark and the kids were so great for Mother's Day!

 They brought me breakfast in bed...cinnamon rolls and orange juice.

 They picked out candy and made me a poster candy bar letter...very cute!

 Mark spoke in sacrament meeting and I taught Relief Society...which we were both very glad to have over with.

 And then I came home and the kids set the table and set out all the sushi they had purchased the day before.  (Which, in case you were wondering, sushi isn't great the next day, but it was a great thought!)

And then the kids gave me their gifts of homeade cards and letters, Sonic gift cards, IOU back rubs, and back scratches...my favorite! 

I hope you all had a very happy mother's day, and you were spoiled rotten like I was.

First Attempt...Failed

 Reilynn decided she wanted to wear big-girl-panties...at the most inopportune time.  But I thought, if she was going to initiate it, we better run with it.

After a couple successes and many accidents, and a schedule too crazy to allow us to stay home and figure it out, we decided that summer is going to be a better time.  Right mom?!?...you don't mind if we potty train at your house do you? :)

Cousins

My cute little nephew and sister-in-law came to visit us for a couple days.  We dragged them around to all our crazy activities, and I'm sure they were ready to have a vacation from their vacation by the time they were done...but we had so much fun seeing them!

Payden took a liking to Bailey, and he didn't let her out of his sight.  It was pretty cute, "Where's Baiwey?"  "Baiwey go?"  I love cousins!!!

A Typical Day Lately...

6:30 am wake up get kids ready for school
7:30 pick up neighbor and drop off everyone at school
8:15-9:15 body step class at gym, shower and dress at gym
9:30 drop off bailey and reilynn off at a friends
Drive into Houston with a friend for Parker and Kasidee's field trip
10:45-1pm at zoo with 2nd graders
Pick up bailey and reilynn, get home at 2:30, clean 2 bathrooms
3:15 kids come home from school
Get snack, load everyone in car
3:45 take kas to tutoring
Run home, teach 2 piano lessons
5:00 pick up kas
5:05 pick up Parker from scouts
Grab dinner at McDonald's
5:45 Parker's basebal practice
7:30 get home and get little girls in bed
Do homework with p and k
8:15 lights out for p and k
8:16 fall on the couch out of utter exhaustion!
8:18 get back up and plan preschool for tomorrow, it is my turn to teach

I can't wait for summer...I need a break!

99 Cent Club

I found out that Sonic has drinks for 99 cents before 10am...maybe I have been a few times.

Well, this morning I went and I missed my 10 o'clock window.  I paid full price for my Rt44...but as I was giving the nice girl my money she told me,

"Because you are here so much, next time tell them you are a member of the 99 cent club and they will give you your drink for 99 cents, even if it is after 10."

I was really embarrassed, but so excited all at the same time.

Break a Leg

Dustin, Cory and I surprised my mom...can you tell?!?

Plane ticket...$400,

Car rental...$20,

 Locking the keys in the rented car and calling the locksmith...$55,

 Seeing my mom almost have a heart-attack, hyperventilate, and bawl her eyes out...PRICELESS!!!

 I did her stage make-up for her, fun.

 Cute and talented cast of the show....(Oklahoma by the way)

 We really missed Brian, but it was fun to have a moment with my brothers.

 The Kilpatricks came too.  It was very fun to catch up with them.

 The 3 hour time difference from WA to WA DC was a killer for poor Dustin!

And I also was able to see my cute cousin Heather and her family. 

It was a very short weekend with a lot of traveling time, but I had so much fun!  Love you mom!

Oh, the IRONY!!!

 The kids worked really hard this last Saturday cleaning the house with me.  As a treat, the neighbor said we could swim in their pool while they were out of town for the weekend, so I took the kids over.  Addison looked at me in my swimsuit and said, "Mom, you are the only one in our family with fat legs."

REALLY ADDISON, REALLY?!?!?

I'll have you know, little miss 9 pounds 5 ounces, that you are the reason for every stretch mark on my "fat legs," and you once had little chubby fat legs too. :)

Oh, the mind of a 5 year old.

The gang

 This is the real us...

 I love that Kasidee will still let me get away with matching dresses.  She isn't in the I'm-too-cool stage yet, thankfully!

 I think this picture describes each one of our kids to a tea:  Sweet Kas, little miss attitude Bailey, then we have our little follower who is trying so hard to be just like her older sisters, Addison (who decided she liked the name Maddie better than her own so she signs school papers with that name now), and I'm way too cool for this now mom and I hate my new clothes because they are too big and don't fit right Parker.

Here are their individuals:

 Kasidee (8 years old)

 Addison (5 years old)

 Bailey (3 years old)

 Reilynn (2 years old)

 Parker (8 years old)

That's the gang.