Kind of looks like a Klingon from Star Trek...

I don't know what it is, but there is something about putting something rather large on your head that just makes you feel quite mighty. Perhaps it's a child thing to do but I remember pulling shirts off until they got stuck on my head and instantly had really long hair. Or the all time favorite, balloons in my shirt to show how i've "grown."

But just this morning Eli found the perfect thing for his head. He almost had it right, but i think it was the point to NOT have it right. He found a brothers sparing helmet and put it on in Eli fashion. Pair it with a toy gun and he was set. Another way to take on his little world, I guess. I had a hard time holding the camera still cause i was laughing, so Jared had to do it for me. I sure love that boy.

Giddy Up Cowboy!

Boy Howdy! By gum, 'ave I got a humdinger to tell you!

On Feb 22, 2008, a desparate battle raged between a posse of young gunslingers and a band of parents. Story goes that on that fate filled night, a woman, (believed to have been these young men's mother) had a real bang-up job don her residence and was ready to really clean someone's plow. She was smokin mad! Each one of those gunslingers sure passed the buck. So she decided that she would superintend to things and get that pig sty cleaned up. She propositioned those boys that if they tended to things while she ran into town she would bring back a prize.

For a while now each one of those young bucks had their eye on a double barrelled shot and would do anything by hook or crook. She told them she'd pick them each up one if things were still standin by the time she came back. They all gave such a hoot and holler and she gave it a lick and a promise.

By the time she got back everything was in apple pie order and shining like a bell. At that, those young cowboys were ready for their goods to be forked over. She handed them their guns and off the went.

(My house has never been so clean.)

Happy Birthday

We (females) are all still princess at heart, no matter our age.

Mykael got this cake from her Aunt Launa, and even though Mykael may be 10, it was still very exciting to get it.

The memories we have of our birthdays will always be etched in our minds. Hopefully they were positive ones. We all like to feel special during our special day.

Just because...

Because I think he's a beautiful boy. Because it's my blog. Because I can. I want to share with you my handsome baby. Dylan. Enjoy the pics!

FOUR

1. What are FOUR jobs that you have had in your life? Nanny, Collections for Discover Card, Data Entry for Insurance company, and Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations (aka Mom)

2. What are FOUR places where you have been? Boston, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington D.C.

3. What are FOUR of your favorite foods? Anything Pasta, BabyRuth, Beer bread (it's really yummy!) eggs and toast.

4. Who are FOUR people you would like to get to know better? My neighbor that moved in last fall. Don't even know her name yet, quite a few people in my ward/church. (so that makes up for the next three and them some.)

5. FOUR reasons I love being me? 1. The experiences that i have been through in my life have made me who i am. 2. My dad said i've matured in many ways. (I think he meant it as a compliment. ;o) 3. I have three beautiful boys of my own and two wonderful step kids. 4. I have been given so many blessings that I would be stupid to think i would want to be anyone else or want anything more. I love being me.

6. What are FOUR classes you wish were offered to you that you could participate in right now? Art 101 so i could teach Jade all that i learned, or heck...we could take it together. Cooking Made Easy...How to cook a yummy healthy meal in 1 min that my kids would love. (I don't have a lot of time, so 1 min would be AWESOME!) How to multitask with 5 children and not loose your mind/sanity/temper.

7. Who are FOUR friends or relatives that you would like to tag? Well, the only one i know to tag is, Mom. Tag your it!

My Super Hero...

One thing that has turned out to be a huge bonus, is the fact that Mykael and Jade are so much older than the three little ones and are such a huge help. Sometimes it may be more of a pain for them, but who wouldn't want to be a Super Hero.

Whether he likes it or not, Jaden has been placed on Ashton's #1 list. With his own special name and all. Jaden, or I should say, "Bo bo" (brother) Is the one person Ashton thinks about first thing in the morning to the last thing at night. Everything is about Bo bo. "I'm big like Bo bo." "Bo bo, where are you going?" "Bo bo, let's go play." "Mom, where's my shirt like Bo bo's?" He is always following him around and mimicking every little thing that Jade does. I think it's cute. And most of the time Jaden is good about it and plays with Ashton. I've told Jade a few times that he could teach him anything he wanted because he loved him so much. (I should have been a little more specific as to what is acceptable and which i'd prefer not.)

The other night Jaden and Ashton wanted to play with the Lincoln Logs that Ash got for christmas. So we locked Eli out of the room (he was actually downstairs w daddy) and I spent some time helping them build a Fort. Ash didn't want it to get ruined because of whom he built it with, so we carefully hid it in his closet so Eli couldn't find it.

Some times Jade will "dress up" in army gear which consists of black shirt, camo pants/shorts, black gloves, and work boots then he asks me to dress Ash up as well. Next thing i know, i'm sitting in my recliner with Dylan and i see two little heads pop out from behind a wall and quickly disappear. After which i am then bombarded with all sorts of "bullets, bombs, and whatever else they throw at me." They do belly rolls, army crawls, and whatever other stealthy moves they've got up their sleeves. Little does Jaden know that while he is away at school, I am still getting toys thrown at me, as Ash is "practicing being like Bo bo" and in turn teaches Eli. I have a feeling that i'm going to have toys flying in my direction for a few more years. We've still got dylan.

There's a monster in my...

Sometimes we have kids that are really dependent on us, their parents. And others that are more on the independent side. I have both and I'm going to talk about the independent one. They seem to have more to write about.

Eli is as independent as they come. He wants to do everything himself and has been known to ask for help when needed, but not usually. He knows he can do it and won't stop till he does. (That would probably be why he always wins the battle with Jared and I every night in which bed he will be sleeping. Mine!) Now if we even attempt to put him in his own, he gives us a look saying, "You really want to play that game!?" We have gotten to the point that we'll try every now and then just cause he is so funny when he tries to sneak in. I guess you could call it our nightly comedy routine. We always go to bed laughing. On such nights, he will jump out of bed as soon as we close his door. 10 sec later you hear him shutting his door. By this time we are in bed and watching what he'll do. (only thing missing is the popcorn) We keep the door opened just a sliver and he'll stand their and stick his fingers in and wiggle them around. If their is no response, his toes come in next. No response is always good, so he continues to stick his face in the crack. We'll then say, "Eli, go to bed." And all body parts quickly disapear. About 30 seconds of standing in the hall way he tries his strategy one more time. But is sent back to bed once again. This time, he tried a different approach. The Bold Approach. Find something laying in the hall open the door wide open and say, "Here mom!" and bring it to me cause Ijust might need it. Impressive attempt but mom does not need a empty jug of milk. (Don't ask me why it was in the hall, it just was.) Mission failed and he is sent to bed, yet again. 30 seconds later, here come the fingers, toes, and face. I throw a burp cloth at the door which lands at his feet and he backs away, but then a little arm stretches in towards the bottom of the door, picks up the cloth, opens the door and throws it back at me. Shutting the door afterwards and fingers, toes, and face resume the previous position. This could go on for as long as we'd like but we are tired and give in and say, "Come here Eli". At which point, he opens the door with a huge smile and says, "Hi mom, I did it" while climbing into my bed with the authority of a conquering general of rome. Then looking at dad and saying, "Milk?" At which point he proceeds to drink all of Jared's milk. It's hard work getting what you want.