Family Pictures!

Our last-but-not-least visitors were Rachelle and her family. She walked around DC all day AND took our family pictures. Amazing, I know.

Sneak peek...

Isn't this one awesome? I'm so excited!

April 17th

The D's and the P's

We are sure going to miss the P's when we both move to different parts of the world. I'm so happy to have this picture.

*****

After church that day, we took a drive over to the temple. It was perfect.

Lucky

I got a surprise! Liz came to visit me. And I didn't even know until she walked in the door. How fun is that? Lots, I'll tell you.

Oh, she is also G's new girlfriend.

I loved going to the temple with her.

I loved shopping with her.

I loved eating with her. That girl can eat!

But I'm feeling pretty bad we didn't go roller skating. : ( I'll make it up to you, Liz. Jakarta 2012. Right after we go surfing.

He Digs 5

You know how moms always say they can't believe their kids are as old as they are? How they say it goes by so fast? Well, IT IS SO TRUE! I can't believe Mads turned 5. FIVE! Oh, it hurts my heart just thinking about it. He was such a great 4 year old. Why couldn't he just stay that way?

On his birthday, he got to choose what he wanted to do. Within reason. Of course, he chose to play video games in the morning. And he wanted quesadillas for lunch. He wanted to go bowling, but since the idea of bowling was edging towards stressing me out (it's a slippery slope these days) we decided to go mini golfing instead.

He was perfectly happy with that idea. It was such an amazing day outside, it would have been a shame to stay indoors,

A hole in one!

He is so awesome.

After dinner (Subway- the idea of cooking was on the verge of stressing me out too), we had ice cream and cake with the P's and the missionaries.

I haven't been in the mood to write much lately. I'm blaming it on the fact that all I have been thinking about is my upcoming move. That's a good excuse, right? Anyway, I want to write all about Mads and his coolness, and everything about him right now, but it will have to wait. Maybe once we get settled in a few months I'll get back on track.

Thistle

The big gap.

I pulled this one out. It was kind of dramatic. It was dangling, but it was putting up a fight. I have a before shot too, but I decided not to post it because it was kind of gross looking. We were going out to eat and I didn't think there was any way she would be able to eat with it hanging there. So I yanked it. Apparently it hurt. Because she cried. And there was some blood.

I'm pretty sure she was glad I did it though. I hope.

56 Pillars

We had some more visitors!

First it was Grandpa and Diane. I didn't take very many pictures, but I liked this one of Grandpa walking with the boys.

We had a great time with them, and we are so glad they came to visit us. Because of the cherry blossom festival, DC was more crowded (times ten!) than I have ever seen it before. But we were still able to do some fun stuff, and hang out too.

Then the uncles came!

Here we all are a the Capitol with the Washington Monument behind us.

See those chicks? Those are my new sister-in-laws! I was so happy to hang out with them and get to know them a little bit better. They are awesome.

We had a fun weekend filled with eating, laughing, cramming in cars, video games, flying monkeys, walking, Metro riding, Tangled watching, and more!

National World War II Memorial

My kids with their first cousin on Dad's side! This was the first time they met her in person. For me too! She was as lovely as she looks. Just a super fun baby to have around.

Circus

Dare had a music concert too. Probably because she is in the last grade at her school also. It was the day after B.A's. Same procedure, only this time we started out by doing Dare's and Bronte's hair...

Can you tell who is who?

Dare is almost right in the middle of this picture. She is making a weird face because it was the same day she lost her tooth up top. Anytime she wasn't singing, she was checking out her new gap with her tongue and lips.

It was a super cute program. Dare was really excited, and she loved performing! I was surprised because she is a little shy, but she really got into it.

On the way home.

At Mobil

For around 10 years now, Nate has done this while getting gas, when the kids are in the car. He does it every time. Because every time this kids ask for it. And every time they are entertained. He never says no, and he will do it as long as they keep asking, or for however long it takes to fill up the tank, which ever one comes first.

50 Nifty

B.A. had a music concert! It was really fun. They practiced songs and then one night they perform for families at the high school. On stage! It was so exciting.

First we took the Elders out to Red Robin...

And, of course, there was wrestling in the seats during the pre-show waiting period...


Here she is on the front row. She is pretty much the smallest kid in fourth grade.

I'm guessing they have a concert for forth grade because that's the last grade at the school. That's why Rhon didn't have one.

Good Bye Cute Little Baby Teeth

This tooth took forever to fall out! It has been 6 or 7 months since she lost her bottom ones, and it never stayed loose for very long. It kept changing it's mind about wanting to be loose. She was so excited to finally be rid of it! And she pulled it out at school, which makes it even cooler. Today was a good day.

Now if I can just try to be a good Tooth Fairy. The odds are stacked against me.

7 Blog Posts All Crammed Into 1

Rhon got to build a Greek Parthenon for a school project. It became a family event. Everyone wanted to help with the cool texture paint we got. It was messy, but there were lots of smiles.

*****

One day during pre-spring, we had super nice weather. It was also an early-out day for the girls, so we were able to go to the "Rainbow Park". I can't pronounce it's actual name, so it has become the Rainbow Park. It's such a great park. We could spend all day there. This time was especially fun because 3 other families from our building were there too.

This tire swing is sure to make one of my kids puke one of these times.

*****

Rhon decided (all on her own!) that she wanted to do something nice for the family. She wanted to plan a movie night, buy Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and buy Sour Skittles for everyone. That candy has been hard to find recently, but she saw it at a craft store one day. So we did just that. I even offered to buy the movie, but she wanted to. So here are the kids during the special movie night by Rhon. It was awesome.

*****

One of our favorite families moved to China a few weeks ago. Their boys and ours were really good friends. We are sad but excited for them. I guess saying goodbye is just going to become a way of life. Mads handled it super well. G had a harder time. He would not go to primary the next Sunday. I couldn't figure out what was going on until he told me he didn't want to go because Tommy wasn't there. It is so heartbreaking. Hopefully we get used to it.

*****

Trisha and Travis came for a visit! We loved having them here. And this is the only picture I got. Lame, I know. The kids will be talking about them, and how awesome they are, for a long time. Because seriously, how cool is it that they sit and color with my kids. Not to mention the massive points Travis got for wanting to play video games with the boys. And they enjoyed eating good food with me and Nate, so they were just awesomeness all around!

*****

Jason's Deli. The kids love this place. And I'm super proud it's because they can get a salad bar. It could be because there is ice cream too, but I'm going with the salad bar being the reason for the love. I think they also like to just get what they want. They like the control.

*****

G did his own hair the other day. I could not stop laughing! The picture isn't as funny as it was in real life. Why oh why would his instincts be to part it down the middle?

Since that day, he gave himself a haircut, so I'm buzzing it today. The funny thing about that was when I told him not to cut his hair, he said, "But I needed a hair cut." He has no remorse, and no idea that he did something wrong. I can't teach him right and wrong. His brain doesn't work that way. If he has a reason for doing something, he does it. It doesn't matter if it's against the rules. It's hard to explain, but he is wonderful and difficult all in one.

On Sunday

As I was cleaning out my Sunday bag, I ran across these masterpieces that were created during sacrament meeting.

This is by B.A. It is so like her to try to think about the scriptures during sacrament meeting. It wasn't surprising to me at all that she drew something churchy. I am so proud of her and her love for the gospel. She tries to be a good girl and make the right choices without me having to remind her. She is going to be a wonderful example of a Latter Day Saint to everyone around us, and to her younger siblings.

This is by G. Even though he can draw really well, he must have been in the scribbling mood this day. His favorite color is dark dark dark black, so maybe he just wanted to enjoy laying it out on a pure white sheet of paper. Even though it's not one of his best, I love that he just takes joy in the process.

This is by Rhon. One of her artistic strengths is to draw characters. She is really good at coming up with different dresses, faces, hairstyles, etc. She is great at making drawings that are fun to look at. And she gives them big heads on purpose. That is her character trademark.

This is my Mads. It is a drawing of Yared. I love the brown face. He has been on a kick of drawing people he knows. I'm going to have to remind him to give his people necks.

Dare's is two sided. She does this quite often. She will draw a picture on one side of the paper, then on the other side, draw the same scene with different lighting and all its variables. I love it. I love that she makes drawing fun and interesting. And you have no idea how proud I am that she blends colors! Plain green grass is never good enough for her.

Electronic Superhighway

Still not feeling like writing much. Here are some pictures of things I should be writing about...

I went on a field trip with B.A. to the American Art Museum. It was great.

This is just weird.

Tender. G calls B.A. his "ickle-bickle baby." Even I can't replace her in this new position she's acquired.

Grandma came for a visit!

November 2003

I LOVE this picture.

I've been going through all my pictures lately to try and organize and minimize for our upcoming move. It has been so fun. I hope to scan more.

I want to write about how awesome these 3 girls are, and how happy I am that they have each other, but it's not in me today. But I couldn't help sharing the picture anyway.

Anaconda Squeeze

The first of many (I'm sure) photo ops of the boys wrestling.

From the pictures, it might look like Mads has the advantage most of the time. It's not true. G has amazing takedown abilities. Just ask the girls. They've all been thrown down many times.

He can hold his own for sure.