May #2

Thursday May 7: Today was Charity's Birthday. That girl is the cutest, sweetest, most tender, adorable, kind, patient, loving little thing in the whole wide world. She is always writing cards and drawing pictures to tell everyone how much she loves them. She has filled her doors and walls with her artwork. She LOVES dance and gymnastics, and she is getting so good!! She loves to sing and dance and be active. I just LOVE that girl! My favorite thing about that day was hearing her say - "Mom, I still feel 5 - I don't feel 6 yet." Ya, Charity - I still feel 21... ;)

The day was filled with fun. She woke up VERY early, so I got the kids ready, packed them in the car and took them to the donut store before school. At lunchtime, I checked her out of school for a date to McDonalds. On the way back to school, we swung by the store and she picked out a cake for herself (a cookie cake) and also some treats to take to her class. When she came home from school, we headed to gymnastics (where she took some leftover treats to her gym class). She had run out of treats by the time she got to ballet class, but I think she had given/partaken of enough treats by then. She came home from school wearing this big hat saying it was her birthday. She didn't take it off ALL DAY (well, she did for gymnastics, but it went right back on for ballet). She got a hoolahoop and a bike and a few new clothes for her birthday. Grandma and Lydia (& Kaitlyn & Mckinsie) came over for her little birthday party. Her cake was quite interesting. It was a cookie cake that had originally had "Happy Mother's day" and hearts all over it. She saw it at the store and LOVED it and just HAD TO HAVE IT! To oblige the birthday girl, I scraped off the Mother's day stuff and wrote her name on it. I just hope she had a wonderful day! I am so glad she was born!

The kids help put in the candles - see - very classy.

The biggest hit was the hoolahoop!! PS: I LOVE having an empty room!

Her face was so cute when she got that bike!!! FINALLY she had a girl bike and not a hand-me-down boy bike from Aaron!

Saturday May 9: We had the big birthday extravaganza!! We convinced Jeff & Michelle & family to come up for the fun! We had a bounce house, and made the party like a carnival - kids had tickets, and we had various activites. I think it was fun. It would have been nice to have maybe 2 more adults there to help me... but overall, the party was successful. The kids were in heaven. They had friends from their classes there, and also their cousins (Dan & Richelle & family and Cherry & Scott & family). It was great! I was so happy the Walls came all the way out as well! Yay for friends, and Yay for having just 1 crazy party a year!

How many kids came? I don't even know...

All you have to do is have a bounce house, and that makes a party - right?!

I wish I would have taken pictures of the ZOO of children in front of our house playing games... Couldn't even catch a breath until only the cousins were left at the house.

Poor Paul - he had to just sit and watch everyone on that bounce house because of his broken collar bone... at least, when the parents didn't have their backs turned... He might just have added an extra couple weeks of healing by doing that though. :( I feel so bad cause that kid is one of the most athletic little boys I know. Somehow, Nate got a hold of my camera, and I just had to jot down how cute he is! My little 3 yr old decided to take pictures of his most favorite toy... Of course, it is a train. He loves pictures. He loves taking them, posing for them and ESPECIALLY looking at them. I had to laugh! This is my favorite from the collection of train photos: I love his little fingers!
Sunday May 10: Mother's Day was very chill. Jeff & Michelle and family packed up and left mid-day. So, I just took Charity and Nate down to my Mom's house to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. I think it was the first time in a VERY long time that I was the only one there, and my kids were the only grandkids there. Mom and I had a chance to play music (duets, violin, singing). We ate dinner and we just had a good time being together with not a lot of chaos surrounding us. I really love my mom. She is seriously my best friend! I had a wonderful evening over there! Happy Mother's Day Mom! You are the best!

OOOOH SO SAD!!!

I was going to go out with a girlfriend.
Alas, before I could go, Joe said - check out the piano room.
This is what I saw.
My home-made music collage crashed to the floor and shattered. I was so sad. Now, my music room is COMPLETELY bare. :(


Monday the 18th: I turned 30. I didn't know how I would take this day, so I just wanted it to be low-key. Joe brought me a bowl of cereal for "breakfast in bed". I went out to lunch with my friend Nancy and new friend Andrea and Lydia (and Joe ended up coming and meeting us there too). FYI: My new favorite place to eat is Corner Bakery! Then, we went to the mall (mini shopping spree), and then Nancy, Lydia and I took the kids to the pool. It was a very low-key day. Joe came home and I got a babysitter and went to dinner. The kids had fallen asleep by the time we got home, so we didn't do birthday cake till the next night. The kids and Joe got me a card, and it was sweet. Very low-key and relaxing - it passed by and was no big deal. It was just the way I wanted it to be.

May #1

May is pretty busy, so we'll break it down...

May 3rd: Today was Aaron's Birthday! We woke up, and Aaron chose to have waffles for breakfast. We made his cake, then, we went to church. He got bbq for lunch. He had VERY specific instructions for his birthday cake. He helped me decorate it. Charity helped as well. I had to laugh at how cute he was in describing (and implementing) exactly how he wanted the cake. Then, we had choir at our house. After choir, the Jettons (from across the street) and Dan & Richelle & Jamie, Paul & Kody came over for his blowing out the candles party. He got some cool leggo sets and some rollerblades for his birthday. I hope he felt special that day. I really love that kid. He is so sweet and smart and funny. He is growing up so fast. I can't believe he is already 8 years old! I remember when he was a little baby, and it was just him and me. He has always been my little buddy. I am glad he will still occasionally crawl into my bed in the morning to give me hugs and cuddle with me as I wake up. I am so glad he loves to protect his little brother and sister. He has always been such an easygoing stud. I am so glad he is in my family!!!

ok, here's the funny story - Aaron would NOT stop talking about how he wanted to get a cake in the face. He kept asking if he could smash his face into his birthday cake. I said - "um, NO". Because nobody would be able to eat it afterwards. So, the compromise was a cupcake with frosting on the SIDE that he could smash in his face... That way, his hard work on his "landscape" cake wouldn't go to waste (and I could eat some chocolate cake too). Well, he got what he wanted. He is so silly.

He is SOOO excited because now he is in CUB SCOUTS!!! He loves it!

SPECIAL DAY!!!!

We went to the zoo with Lydia on the kids' random day off school. They had a lot of fun. I am really going to enjoy having Lydia around this summer! I haven't gotten to live by her since I was a newlywed and she was a little freshman at BYU!
I am always so amazed at how Aaron instinctively protects other children. He really is a sweetheart. Just going through my pictures, trying to pick which one to post, I came across these... He is so tender. Seriously, what a stud.

Nate STILL has issues with the birds. He loves all animals - except birds for some reason. It is so funny... One day though - just wait - he WILL feed the birds...

April

Holy Moly! Is May almost over already? Spring is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!

April 8: This was Nate’s birthday! I can’t believe my baby is 3 years old! He is so cute. He is my little buddy. He is such a cute kid. He is so funny and sassy! I love his cuddles. I love this little guy so much. He is so tough and easy going. He loves trains. He loves to just hang out with me. He is actually really fun to have by my side all day doing errands. I love to hear him sing. He is growing up way too fast! He is such a light in my life!

For his birthday, I made him a cake. He LOVES trains, so, of course, we had to make his cake with Thomas the Train on it. He was so excited about the cake. He was so excited about the Thomas toys on top! His day was pretty low-key. He pretty much gets spoiled every day, so making him extra spoiled that day was not very difficult. We cuddled and watched his favorite shows. His dinner was his favorite – MacNCheese. When Joe got home, we had our little family birthday party, where he got his presents and spit out his candles - literally, the classic spit wad on the cake. I laughed pretty hard. He is so funny.



We waited a few days (or weeks) before we had his party. We wanted to wait until Grandma got back in town and Lydia and Dan & Kaitlyn & Mckenzie came out for the summer!!! (so Dan could do summer sales in DFW) We are so thrilled that they are here for the summer! Anyways, once they got here (on the 19th) we had a little birthday for him at Chucky Cheese (the perfect location for a 3yr old’s birthday party). Although, his 2nd birthday cake was pretty pathetic (in the form of cupcakes and a lame triple used candle). The kids (and even the adults) had a great time. Nate had a great time, so it was a successful 2nd birthday for him!

We were also blessed to have Owen and his FIANCE Alyssa come to his party! They were en route to their summer sales/internship location in Atlanta. It was great to see them. I am getting excited for their wedding (set for August).
Birthday Boy!!!!!! He was in HEAVEN!
His oh so classy cake.
Yay for the Liddles being here!
2 very NON COMPETITIVE people...

Because I am an American

I went to a tea party today. It was a peaceful rally held in Southlake TX - for taxpayers who feel like they have been Taxed Enough Already. Because today is "tax day", hundreds of rallies are occurring throughout the United States. It is a grassroots attempt by people just like me to get their ever expansive government to pay attention to them.

I carried a sign. My father came with me. My 3 yr old son was by my side.

I must say, I left feeling even more proud to be an American. I was moved to tears as a prayer was said at the opening. The pastor prayed for our leaders. He prayed that they would have soft hearts and be receptive. He prayed for them to be guided and directed in good. He prayed for our military.

This prayer was said in a PUBLIC square, in front of SEVERAL HUNDRED people - I am not of the same faith of the pastor. I am not of the same faith of the person standing next to me. However, I was filled with such pride and hope and patriotism at that moment. The tears streamed down. I wiped them away. They continued to flow as we said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang "God Bless America". I love my country.

It brought to mind this scripture:

Alma 10: 22-24

Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the
prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be
visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people
in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the
sword.

But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye
are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then
will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out
against you; ... and the time is soon at hand except ye repent.

And now it came to pass that the people were more
angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our
laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected.

I went to a TEA party because I feel passionately that OUR government has gotten too big. I see similarities with the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. I see similarities of the collapse of Russia (a SUPER POWER) after the Cold War. I see similarities with the French Revolution. I don't know what the future holds. I don't want to be condemned to repeat the past.

I want my children to have the same freedoms I was blessed to have.

I feel strongly that hardships BUILD character. Entitlements enslave the recipient. The biggest government handout I have ever received was in the form of a low interest federal student loan while my husband finished grad school. He has a job. I am a mother to our 3 children. When money is tight, we cut frivolous spending, and if it is still tight, I find ways to bring in some extra income. We have never gotten WIC, or been recipients of any government programs. We own our cars - they aren't flashy, but they are PAID for! We live in a house we can afford. We don't spend money we don't have to uphold an image we can't afford.

We are taxpayers, and I believe we are the forgotten man.

This is Me & Nate with Mark Davis - local talk show host. (see my poster?)

Snowboarding...

March

Wow... has another month come and gone?
We had a lot of fun this month. We started by going to the ranch. The excuse this time? Jeff's birthday. It was really cold outside, so we all pretty much just stayed inside playing games. The boys braved the gale force winds and even made a fire. Fun times.

Then, we went back and I found out I get to be behind the piano for ward choir. Practices to be back at the Robinson casa as well. Certain things just seem to follow me, but I don't mind. I don't think Joe will mind either (at least till football season starts back up again). YAY ward choir!!! ;)

I painted my walls... Joe actually helped!!! It was a tough day, but having color in the house REALLY warms up the place, and at least helps it feel like it is STARTING to become our home...

We went back to the ranch for spring break. This time, Dan and Richelle also came. The weekend weather was cold and rainy, so we pretty much stayed inside. The boys built a fire IN THE RAIN... the kids got to roast marshmellows... Sunday night, Joe and Jeff's family had to return to their obligations, so me and the kids stayed behind (along with Dan's family) at the ranch. The weather was beautiful on Monday and Tuesday. The kids rode 4-wheelers, and we all had a blast splashing in the mud puddles left behind from the weekend rain.
We went to the prison museum there in Huntsville... about 10 minutes of entertainment... then I took Jamie and Paul along with me and my kids to the Sam Houston monument for another 10 minutes of entertainment.
We woke up Tues morning and rode horses. I don't quite trust the horses yet... but nobody got injured or bucked off this time... Then, we went on 1 more 4 wheeler ride, and headed home to make it back JUST IN TIME for Aaron's baseball practice.

I woke up the next morning, and decided rather than unpacking, I wanted to spend the rest of the week down in Keller, so I just put the bags we took to the ranch back in the car and headed out to my mom's house.
Jill and Sean (Scott's brother and his wife) were out visiting. They were my old friends from back in the day when we lived in NJ so it was fun to see them. We went to 6 flags on Thursday. Joe took a half day at work to come meet up with us there. It was tons of fun. The kids had a blast. UNTILL... 10 minutes before the park closed, Joe and I decided to go on the TITAN. I used to absolutely LOVE rollercoasters. Officially, I am too old. I got off the rollercoaster and for the next 2 days, had a terrible headache and vertigo and decided that misery is NOT worth it!
Friday, Joe called asking if I was ever going to come home. So I did...
Saturday morning, I looked at my front yard and was competely MORTIFIED! I had weeds bigger than the pathetic bushes... Landscaping is DEFINATELY on the agenda... I spent all day Saturday filling 2 leaf bags of just WEEDS from the garden!!! FUN TIMES!!!
Only 3 people came to choir on Sunday. :( (besides Joe, me and the choir director)
I made valences for my family room and eating area! Very simple, but they TOTALLY help warm up the place... My mom was awesome and came up and spent the day shopping for fabric with me, and then helping me with the project - making dinner for my family while I tried to hurry and finish up... I am so lucky to have my mother!!!
Finally, we are to Friday. Joe and I checked the kids out of school at noon, and dumped them at my mom's house. Then, we went to UT - just the 2 of us!!! I was SOOOOO unbelievably excited. Friday night, we stayed at Lydia's house. Sam, Kat, Steve and Sarra, and Steph joined us there for dinner and games. It was so awesome to have Joe's brothers able to hang out with me and my sisters. Saturday, Joe, me, Sam and Steve headed to Snowbird. It was absolutely beautiful because the sun was out, it was warm, and there was good snow (because it snowed Thurs). A little bump in the day came when Sam lost a ski... then my binding broke, so I had to ride a broken board all over creation to find a screw... But, still the day was a LOT of fun. I am making a video because Joe got some great footage - I wonder why I have a headache.
Sunday was just a relaxing day. Steve, Sam, and Steph came over to Lyd's again, and we played games... Thanks for allowing the chaos Lyd. Then, Joe and I headed up to the Sheraton in SLC. He upgraded us to a suite, and Sam and Kat spent the night up there with us so we could continue playing games. Monday, Joe and I woke up and headed to Park City for another day of fun. It was a bit windy and cold, but still a WONDERFUL day (because it snowed Sunday). I ended up hurting my shoulder on a nasty spill... I keep forgetting I am almost 30... but, it was really nice to just spend the day on the mountain with my hubby. He humors me and does the runs I like just cause he loves me. I wanted to video him, but he preferred to stay behind the camera... although, he did do a couple jumps, and even some box rails... STUD!!! That night, we went to Cafe Rio and met up with Owen and Jen & Ted, and Lyd & fam and Steph & Nate. It was great to see Jen!!! I really wish she would have skiid with us - she used to be my skiing buddy... but I guess it is hard with 3 kids... I will excuse it this time Jen, but next time I am there, I FULLY expect you on that mountain with me!! Then, we went to Lydia's for another round of games... Alyssa finally graced us with her presence... I really think she is cute, and really hope she someday OFFICIALLY joins our family ;)
We got back to the hotel at about 1am, and slept in, went to a movie, bought some chocolate, ate some sushi, went to temple square, then got on a plane to return to our kiddos. It was a WONDERFUL trip. I am so glad I got to go with Joe. We don't do much with just the 2 of us, so it was nice to reconnect with him. I had a few anxiety attacks about the kids because I missed them terribly, but I got over it... They ended up ditching school Monday and Tuesday, but I think they will catch up... Oh gosh I hope they don't develop the same truency issues I had in highschool!!! ANYWAYS... Thanks mom for watching them!!! Thanks kids for being so good for grandma! I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful family that is willing/able to help with my kids. I am also so lucky that my children are so good. I really do have the sweetest and best children anyone could ever wish for.
Plane tickets: $0 (frequent flyer)
Sleeping accomodations: $0 (family and hotel points)
Babysitter for kids: $0 (grandma)
having the most wonderful family: priceless.
Thanks again Mom and Cherry for watching the kids.
Thanks again to Lydia and Dan for letting us not only stay with you and eat your food, but also for letting us bring MORE crazy Robinsons into your house!
Thanks Steve and Sarra for gracing us with your presence. And also for Sam and Kat! (Sorry you ended up buying 1 ski).
Thanks for Steph and Nate (hope you finished your assignment)... and Owen and Alyssa for the use of your snowboard (although, I would gladly have traded that for your actual presence on the moutain with us!) and also for FINALLY coming home and spending a bit of time with us... and also Jen and Ted for hauling out to Cafe Rio for a crazy dinner with a huge group of crazies.
FUN TIMES!!!

Charity's Art

Tonight, we got to go to an ART SHOW! After gymnastics, dinner and baseball practice, we ran over to the career institute in Frisco and it was a ZOO. All the local schools sent over artwork to be displayed. It was kindof cool to see the different kid artwork - some of it (by the middle schoolers) was quite good. The best, however was over in the Tadlock Elementary section. Apparently, they selected about 5 student's art from each grade to display... Charity was one of them! She was so proud. I asked the teacher how they selected them (It had to be random for the Kindergarteners - right?) but the teacher said they actually "chose" them... Joe thinks it is because Charity is just so gosh darn cute that everything she does is "art show" worthy. ;)
Anyways, way to go Charity! Way to draw mountains with chalk!

interesting piece of information about me: When I was in college, I really REALLY wanted a tatoo. However, I knew if I was going to have something painted on me FOREVER, I really wanted it to be symbolic of me and my philosophies on life (not just some generic tribal or random pic). I wanted to get the tatoo of mountains. I drew and drew and looked and searched, but the only picture that would do justice to how I felt about mountains would seriously take up my whole back (not just the tiny 1" area I wanted it)... Needless to say, I never got the tatoo. I just thought it was interesting looking at my daughter's rendition of mountains. If I had a 5 yr old back then, something like this might have ended up painted on me!

Its another long one...

Let's begin with the Super Bowl... We had a few new friends over that evening, and it was pretty fun. Nobody was too involved with the game (until the last few minutes), so it was just fun to visit and eat junk food. The kids had a blast. We played games, and Joe found a friend to remind him of people he knew in high school in Virginia. I mostly appreciate Kimball reminding him of that one girl who was incredibly beautiful...
ANYWAYS, Nate must have been very tired. After people left, I began my walk-through to begin putting things away and children in bed. I got to the media room and happened upon this - evidence of how much of a "SUPER MOMMY" I am:
Did I forget that I still had a 2 yr old? He was so tired that he fell asleep playing (well, thinking he was playing) rock band, in a LOUD media room, FULL of children with CHOCOLATE all over his face!
Moving on...
I helped decorate the stage (new school... somehow the same job finds me?) for the 2nd grade program. My friend knocked on my door with gloves in hand asking me to dumpster dive with her. HECK YA! I'm always up for fun like that! It was recycling day, so we were able to find TONS of milk jugs - all in an effort to build this awesome igloo. The performance was just how I like them - short and sweet and over and done within 20 mins. It was about a "Tacky Penguin". It was a really cute show. Good Job Aaron!

Who remembers playing these in elementary school?

Wow, what a cute stage! Notice the igloo made from milk jugs...

Charity had her last soccer game. It was an indoor league. She apparently scored a goal the 1st game. The reason I signed her up for this particular team was because it was just a repeat team, and they weren't going to practice at all through the season. However, their team never practiced. So rather than getting better, they just got a little worse as the season progressed. Oh well, she still had a lot of fun.

Aaron's basketball season is winding down as well. I really enjoy watching my kids try so hard and RUN so hard. I sat next to a lady who was having a conniption fit because we were losing so bad in one game. Yes, I am competitive, and inside, it would just be awesome if Aaron's team was the BEST... However, at the same time, I am just happy to seem him play and learn. Really, does it matter how well they do in 2nd grade basketball? PS I saw Michael Irvin at Aaron's basketball game... I think his kid was on the team that was playing before us... kindof cool if you are a Cowboy's fan...

Oh, I meant to do a whole post dedicated to Friday cleaning. I love cleaning my whole house top to bottom on Fridays. It really is relaxing - it is my meditation. Each week, I do sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, sanitizing bathrooms, laundry, changing sheets, laundry, dusting, and laundry - all day Friday. Also, on top of the regular cleaning, I add something special - like the baseboards, or getting scuff marks off walls. This week, was polishing and dusting banisters and my absolute FAVORITE: cleaning ot the vacuum. Just kidding. I was dreading this, because the last time I did this was before our apartment. So, it was full of strange apartment hairs, and also strange new home junk. However, I must admit, I am always so much happier when I feel like my vacuum brushes are clean and can pick up more junk. (Am I weird?). Anyways, here is a word of advice: when cleaning the brushes to a vacuum - don't chew gum, or simply put - keep your mouth CLOSED!

Usually, on Friday nights, I keep my house virtuous and clean and go out to eat (my reward to myself and my kids for helping). This last weekend, the kids were not very good at cleaning, and we did not get their toys and rooms picked up and their laundry away without me having to raise my voice. Needless to say, we were all punished, and I had to make dinner :(. Maybe this Friday will be better.

Saturday, (Valentine's Day) Joe took Aaron to his basketball game (of course they won because I wasn't there). I went to Richelle's house to pick up Emma. Christine had come into town, and Charity was SO excited to have her cousin here! Well, Emma expanded into Emma, Jacob, Jamie, Paul and Kody. I took them all to my house, and they just had a blast. The Branns ended up stopping by, and we did an ever so classy "manicure" for the little girls - of course, the nails lasted 5 minutes or less, but they had a fun time, so I guess that is all that matters.

Emma, Marissa, and Charity! (of course, Nate wanted in on the action)

Christine came later in the afternoon, and we played games, and she took all the kids home, but I kept Emma so she could sleep over. The girls were in HEAVEN. She came to church with us, and we really had fun with her. They did not fight or whine or anything... I LOVE it when cousins get along so well! We were sad to see them leave, but I at least had fun with Christine and kids.

As you can see, our Valentine's was full of romance and excitement. The weekend was topped off with Charity feeling beautiful with her green makeup. I love the chunk on the side of her face - she has about as much makeup-putting-on skills as her mom.