Learning Under the Stars

Alex's and Adam's school hosted a math and literacy night yesterday. Adam was able to participate with his call in the Choral Reading of Jack Prelutsky's Poetry. Adam had two special group readings and then many all boy or class readings. He did an excellent job. Adam and I also enjoyed a few of the activities that they had planned for the students and families. I had never heard of a Book Walk instead of a Cake Walk before, but what a great idea. Adam was also able to be read a book and then paint a picture (Alex's teacher was in charge of this activity), and finally we played Beach Ball Reading and Math. We read a book and then used a beach ball with questions on each color to talk about the book. We had a great night and I have attached a few videos of Adam for you to see. The pictures of the art work of both Adam and Alex were found throughout the school as we walked from each event :)

Amelia's Favorite Pastime

Amelia is always looking for a good sport to take her out to the swing these days! She truly loves not only swinging, but being outside. She enjoys watching the birds in the trees and the leaves blowing. There was a bird using our pool for a bird bath on Thursday which she absolutely loved! Her big brother Adam has taken it upon himself a few times to swing his sister after school. Addison has enjoyed pushing Amelia before school while waiting for the bus.





The video below has Amelia blowing a kiss and pointing out a few birds flying between the trees in our neighbors yard!

Take Steps 2011

The time of year for Take Steps for Crohn's Disease has rolled around again! We will be walking for Addison on May 7th at 5:00 pm at the Phoenix Zoo. We would love to have anyone come and walk with us that can. Today is the final day to register to be a part of Team Addison. If you can't make it but would like to support Addison please donate at http://online.ccfa.org/goto/teamaddison click on a member of the team and click on the support (persons name) and place your donation.
Addison has recently started a new medication and she is now gaining weight. We are thrilled that her body has started to get healthy and is absorbing nutrients. She is truly becoming a wonderful young lady :)

Easter Sunday Best

Our little ones looked very bright and sunshiny today!! Yellow was the main color for us this year, a tribute to Grandpa I guess :) Addison slept in hair ties last night to have her pretty curls today. Amelia on the other had took every opportunity she had to tear her bow out of her hair! The boys weren't very excited about getting their hair combed either, but they sure clean up nice!!

Taking pictures of our little ones as a group is truly a task! Smiling at the same time, looking at the camera, not running off....the list can go on for ever! My personal favorite from today is the one with Alex's finger up his nose, with Addison's great expression and Amelia smile! No matter how long it takes or if I get a perfect picture, I am grateful for my little ones and the smiles they bring to my face each time I get to look at them :)
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter. We are very grateful for our Savior and his love for us. He blesses us everyday and we are grateful.

Easter 2011

Decorating eggs was a lot of fun this year! Alex couldn't wait to eat the eggs and then he realized he could color them too!! Adam and Addison were very creative, they used multiple and half and half as well. We only did two dozen, but that was plenty :)

Occupational Therapy has made a BIG difference in Alex & Addison so the Easter Bunny thought it might be good to have bean bags at home for a little added deep pressure. We didn't have a lot of candy this year, but I don't think the kids missed it all that much. The Easter Bunny forgot to hide the eggs though and I think he has learned never to do that again!!!

Alex and Adam were down stairs this morning at 5:30 a.m. I came down stairs once I heard the excitement and moved the baskets up so that everyone could watch them open their treats. Alex decided to problem solve and try to get his basket.

The kids enjoyed their Easter. The boys built Lego's all day and Addison enjoyed coloring in her new books. Amelia had the most of with the bean bags.

Eggs Anyone!!

Amelia's First Easter Egg Hunt!
Amelia didn't really understand what everyone was so excited about this morning until she picked up her first egg! Once people clapped for her she was ready and willing to do it again. She only picked up around 3 though :) After she was done she went right over to the other toddlers and sat right down! They were supper cute just enjoying the grass and the big kids scattered around them searching for eggs!! Once the hunt was over she was more than happy to spend some quality time on the swing!

As for the big kids...they knew what the hunt was all about! Each child needed to find only 12 eggs. Adam did a great job with his count, as for Addison...she found enough to balance out both Amelia's and Alex's basket and we had a few to re-hide for the other kids!! Alex enjoyed getting to open the eggs and have treats he usually doesn't enjoy anymore. We are paying for that this afternoon, but he had a great time :)

Adam and Addison enjoyed painting their Easter Eggs! To celebrate Earth Day they got to plant seeds in egg shells as well. What fun ideas and activities today!

The morning fun was rounded out with a few potato sack races. I am happy to report that both Addison and Adam won first place in at least one of the races!! We had a fun morning and afternoon enjoying the hunt and the findings!!

Summer Prep!

Early this morning around 7:30 am our pool man came to drain the pool and clean it for summer fun! Alex and I were on our way out to therapy so he really didn't understand what was going on. When we arrived home he noticed the drain and could hear the water, but still didn't truly understand.
After lunch Alex wanted to go swimming. He went up stairs grabbed his shorts and came running down. I took him to the door and showed him the empty pool, we quickly went outside where his little face showed everything. He asked "What did you do Dad?" I was grateful that Dad got the blame. Our very sad Alex came inside and repeatedly would say "pool broken".
Addison and I headed to therapy and Dad started to fill up the pool once again! The boys just couldn't resist the chance to have a little fun :) When Addison and I returned she watched the following video and was heart broken. Dad let the kids finish their dinner and go back into the pool where they are as I type!! Summer is really here and the pool is now clean and ready for a lot of summer fun!

Contest Crazed

Whether it is winning the 2011 HGTV home or an IPad. I have a thing for entering contests. I have only won two contests in my life and they were both raffles at Hallmark for huge stuffed animals...so I really don't know why I still try, but I do! I know people that win almost everything that they try for, but not winning doesn't seem to stop me.
I always try to enlist Adam in my craz and now I am going to try to enlist my family and friends!! Disney is offering a wedding at Disney World complete with a ride in the Cinderella Carriage how fun would that be! I have always been a Disney nut, but this would be so cool. You can vote every day until May 23rd and if we win of course you are all invited :)

http://family.go.com/happily-ever-after-contest/stories-category/5-a-s---a-j-61322/

Mommy's Turn

Dadam had been cutting his own hair as well as the boys since they were born! He has always wanted to cut Addison's hair as well and I have always said no, girls hair is a whole other ball of wax. Well I have been wanting a trim for a few weeks now and yesterday I finally said to Dadam those sweet words "Will you cut my hair!" He figured out the undercut and cut away and as you can see....not bad!! I still don't know if he can do Addison's or Amelia's,luckily Addison is trying to grow hers out to look like Tangled, but with a little more practice he might have a side job :)

Waffles & Ice Cream = Conference Weekend!

We have once again enjoyed our Conference weekend! Saturday we started our morning with an 8:00 am baseball game where Adam had a few great hits as well as an out at first base. We headed home to enjoy Conference and naps. Sunday morning we ate our traditional breakfast with a few changes for our new diet. As you can see though the plates are empty!! The kids enjoyed watching conference while working on their packets of puzzles, coloring pages and projects. As you can see above each of them created something completely different from the same packets!

We had a few wiggles by the end of the first session of conference on Sunday so we took a well needed walk. Addison enjoyed riding her bike for about 3/4 of the walk and then climbed into the stroller with Amelia! Alex noticed that Daddy was just pushing the bike home so he hopped on for a ride. Adam had fun with his scooter, we was trying to do tricks and time himself while sailing along. The final session of conference was amazing. The boys played quietly with Lego's and the girls napped. I was very pleased with my little ones this conference weekend. They are really starting to grasp the importance of listening and learning from our Heavenly Father's Apostles and Prophets. Alex even sang Follow the Prophet when he noticed him on the TV and for those of you that know Alex that is AMAZING!!

Adam's Big Double