Fine Arts Night

Zoey and I recently went to fine arts night at the school. It's always fun to walk the campus and have a look at all the student art on display. There are some talented, creative kids at the school. I am posting way too many pictures but I couldn't resist. There was just so much I loved. I had a great time walking around with Zoey admiring all the wonderful art.

Her beautiful sunflower, painted with her fingers and her fist.

Pointing to her reproduction of Monet's Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies.

 Wassily Kandinsky circle art. Love the color. Zoey has one of her own in very light pastel colors hanging on our wall at home.

 Presidents.

 These really colorful ones were some of my favorites as well.

 Some pottery work.

 I'm sure you can guess what this is from. Who doesn't love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom?!

 How cute are these ducks in a pond?!

 Another classic and another favorite book of ours, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

 Splatter painting.

 Some abstract sculpting.

Some of these urn/vase drawings had such detail.

 Snapped this one for my hubby.

 We took pictures of Noah's art since he was sick and couldn't come with us.

 I think he did some really nice water coloring in this one.

 Zoey's flag is the one in the top left corner with the Z on it.

 This giraffe pic is for me. I love giraffes! There were a bunch of different ones but this was one of my favorites.

 So much beautiful, vibrant art!

Good Ole Magna Doodle

I love that from age 7 on down to age 2 the Magna Doodle holds equal appeal. These toys have had the greatest longevity around our house and I love it. No batteries, no technology, just draw and erase draw and erase draw and erase. Plus I had all 4 kids hanging out on my bed with me happy and relatively quite for a good 45 minutes. This picture and the simple memory of my 4 kids happily hanging out in my room with me just makes me smile. Just a simple, sweet moment in time but I know these moments with my little ones will be gone before I know it.

Ribs and Missionaries

Just couldn't resist snapping a quick picture of Elders Johnson and Carter when they had dinner with us this week. We fed them beef back ribs not thinking it may not be the easiest thing to eat without getting their white shirts all dirty. My husband being the greatness that he is offered them some t-shirts to put on over their white shirts. I believe as he put it "Hey, I am a pretty big guy. Would you like a huge shirt to wear?", or something to that extent. They gladly accepted and spent dinner swallowed up in Jay's t-shirts. So they got the best of both worlds, a finger lickin' good beef rib dinner and walked away with spotless white shirts. :)

Multipurpose

Olivia may not be able to ride her tricycle yet but it sure does make a nice seat for her while she watches some Disney.

Just a Cute Baby

 The little guy is loving the bumbo. He will sit in it for quite a while. He loves sitting up like a big kid.

 Our skinny little guy looks like he might just be developing a sweet, baby, double chin.

Oldest and Youngest

Zoey wanted to hold Aiden the other day and I couldn't resist snapping some pictures. She loves him so incredibly much, and I love that. Don't mind the name badge on Zoey's shirt. Four hasn't gotten me so forgetful I can't remember their names, she was indeed on a field trip that day. 

 She found a secret button on him. If you touch his nose he opens his mouth. She demonstrated several times and found it incredibly funny every time.

Let's be honest, sweet moments between my kids are not a regular occurrence. I so much enjoy witnessing them though.

Olivia's Pretties

Thank you to Aunt Jenn, Aunt Steph, and Aunt Pam for contributing the money so we could finally get Olivia's ears pierced. Even though she just turned 2 she has been asking for earrings and she got the money for her birthday to do it. We couldn't decide which earrings to pick so Jay said to let Olivia pick. I didn't think she would really care but as soon as we showed her the options she chose the CZ flowers. She definitely knew what she wanted. It was a process to get done, she was not cooperative in any way. She freaked out when the girl used the alcohol wipes on her ears and only Mommy was allowed to use the purple marker to mark her ears for the earring placement. I wasn't so excited about that because I am always so worried about them being even. Then when it came time to do the piercing Jay had to hold her down, especially for the second one. We got it done though and she looks even cuter now than she did before. We didn't think that was possible. Thanks for the great birthday present. Olivia loves her pretties!

Puzzles

Olivia really likes doing her new puzzles she got for her birthday. She is a pro at them already.

A Visit from Julee

We were lucky enough to get to have Julee around for almost a week and a half. We got to see her a lot and she spent a few days sleeping at our house and hanging out with us. I can't believe she is getting ready to turn 15. I must say the best part of having her around was just getting to know her better. Julee is an amazing young woman. You can tell she has a testimony of the gospel and is a good kid. She is in many honors classes in school, is in the band, and plays on the JV volleyball team. Julee is a dedicated student and really works hard to get good grades. She even spends her time between after school and volleyball working hard to get homework done. Julee is a confident, helpful, wonderful young woman and I am so proud of who she has become. Thanks for coming to visit Julee and thank you for all your help with the little ones. It sure was nice having you around. We miss you!

We spent some time playing Wii,

and some Scrabble Go,

 posing for some pictures,

 being a little bit silly,

 and just enjoying being together.

Olivia Turns 2

Our little miss turned 2 on April 14. We celebrated with a family party on that Sunday. Olivia is the funniest, craziest, sweetest little thing there is. She constantly makes us laugh and she is a great snuggler too. With hitting 2 she has developed quite the attitude (learned from her big sister) but it is so hard to discipline such a cute girl. She gives all of us a run for our money. The vocabulary on this girl is insane. She has a new word all the time and she always uses words in the correct context.  Olivia can be the most helpful little person one minute and then the biggest mess maker, disaster the next. She does love to help Mom with chores around the house. Olivia helps with the laundry, helps unload the dishwasher, mops and anything else she can figure out a way to help with. She drives her siblings crazy sometimes but she loves to play with them and inserts herself whenever possible. All around we just love this little lady and we are so lucky she is a part of our family. 

McDonalds for lunch on her actual birthday on Saturday.

 We had cake the weekend before for Easter and Olivia isn't a big cake eater. She LOVES cookies and especially loves M&Ms so I made an M&M cookie bar instead of cake. 

 Dinner was two of her favorite foods, hot dogs and beans. 

 PRESENTS!!!

 She opened them like a pro. She's 2 whole years after all.

 Her very own "puter" (computer) that Mommy and Daddy got her. It's really cute considering how cheap I found it on sale.

 Her very own first "bike" from G&G Kinney. She doesn't know how to peddle yet but she will learn. Her favorite part of it for now is the little trunk thing on the back that can hold her treasures.

 We were extra super lucky to have cousin Julee around for more than a week and she got to celebrate with us. What a great birthday present for Olivia.

 Her two candles were right by each other and she somehow managed to blow them out individually. 

 Cookie bar and Grandma's homemade banana pudding. Yum! Yum!

Apparently now that she is 2 she can spell and play scrabble. :)