I 'll cry if I want to

What more can you expect from a houseful of girls? We are always having some kind of drama. Or someone crying about one thing or another. Most days, they all take a turn crying. Well, on this particular day, Payton was taking her turn.

What could she possible be crying about? Did she fall and hurt herself? Did she get in an argument with one of her sisters over a toy? Does she miss the Benhams? Did she get in trouble? No, No, No, and No. She is crying because Darth Vader dies at the end of Return of the Jedi. So sad, I tell you.

She is definately my most tender-hearted and sensitive child. She asked if she could be the one to say family prayer last night, because she wanted to pray that she wouldn't be tenderhearted anymore. I tried to explain to her that being tenderhearted can be a good thing. Because even though it causes you to cry sometimes, when you don't want to. It also means that you have a heart big enough to care about people, have compassion, and be kind. I think it made her feel a little better. But, guess what she did when I was explaining this to her? She cried, but just a little. I think she might be more like me, than I ever thought.

Concentration

Hayden is very serious about her "school work." She doesn't go to preschool, but she loves to learn and do her workbooks at home. Anytime we go to Walmart she tries to talk me into buying her another workbook or some flashcards. We've spent many hours around the coffee table doing her workbooks. She loves to write her letters and work simple addition and subtraction problems. This particular book had two pages about telling time. So she is pretty convinced she can tell time without a digital clock now. I love to watch her concentrate. You can see in the second picture that she has a marker tucked behind her ear. She said she was trying to be like daddy with a pen behind her ear.

Weekend tradition

On Saturday or Sunday mornings, Bryan is always good for a batch of pancakes. He usually makes them himself and calls everyone to come eat when they are finished. But on Saturday, he let the girls help him. Aunt Jill gave all the girls aprons and a boxed mix for Christmas. One of the girls got blueberry pancakes and wanted to make them. So Bryan helped them. They looked so cute in their aprons and jammies. (Thanks Jill.)

It was a just add water mix so there really was no mess.
Of course, they each had to have a turn mixing.

But Bryan was the only one allowed to cook (for obvious reasons.)
They willingly posed for a picture before digging in.

But once I brought out the strawberries and whipped cream, they didn't have time for pictures.

Another one bites the dust...

Hayden lost her second tooth on Sunday at church. Lucky for her the tooth fairy left her another $5 bill. However, she "lost" the other one money from her first tooth. I am sure I will be able to find it soon. She is glad that her two loose teeth are gone because she can now eat apples again. She is growing up WAY to fast!

I've been tagged

Dianne tagged me on her blog, so I am playing along.

10 Years Ago: I was in school at the Univeristy of Alabama studying Music Therapy. I was also busy planning my wedding. I had been throwing newspaper for about 3 months and if anyone had told me we would still have a paper route 10 years later I would have never believed it. I think I was still driving my red Honda CRX and had my eye on a shiny new white Ford Ranger.

On My To-Do List: Today: Finish the taxes, find a couple of realtors to interview, laundry, print out March budget info, make dinner (beef enchiladas), load dishwasher, finish helping Payton plan the FHE lesson.

Before I die: Sell my house, take a family vacation to Disneyworld, finish my education, have a weekend getaway with Bryan (this would mean we didn't have the paper route,) give up the paper route, scrapbook all my pictures and have all my albums in order, buy Bryan his dream motorcycle

5 places that I've lived: Heidelberg, Germany; Mobile, AL; Tuscaloosa, AL; Taylorsville, UT; and Fort Rucker, AL

5 jobs I have had: Old Time Pottery, Hostess at Sweetpeas (I spent most of the time in the back rolling silverware because I didn't smile enought for them.) Cashier at Delchamps, Collections for Prime Option Mastercard, Newspaper Carrier

What I would do if I became a billionaire: Payoff debt and do other sensible things like put away for retirement and kids college. Then I would go a on a spending spree: buy Bryan a motorcyle and a 2008 ShelbyMustang GT with the Knight Rider package, write Bryan's two week notice letter for him, buy a houseboat and a hot air balloon (ain't that right, Lynne), go to culinary school, hire a masseuse and a maid, get a pedicure, build the house of my dreams that includes an awesome theater room, Bryan's "man-room," rooms for the kids decorated by Pottery Barn, and an off-the-hook scrapbook room, Have a backyard with tons of grass, a trampoline, a swimming pool, an awesome playground, etc. Take my whole extended family on a Disney Cruise. Take care of the financial needs of our family members. Bryan would probably want to buy a compound in some remote area in Wyoming and move away from everything for a while. I am game as long as there is running water, cable and a Wal-mart within a 15 minute drive.

Bad habits: Laughing at everything, correcting others' grammer and word usage when talking to people, being late for everything.

Things I enjoy: Chilling with Bryan after the kids go to bed, visiting Utah, learning something new, snuggling my kids, a good clean book, being caught up on the laundry

Things people don't know about me: I wish I were a really good cook (like Top Chef.) If I could be on any reality show, I would chose the Amazing Race. I iron everyday, and hate every minute of it. I've never ridden a horse, I hate seafood and chinese food. I am a tad-bit competitive when playing games.

Now it is your turn. I am tagging Andrea, Chelsea, Carly, Stacey, and Wendi (start a blog and get posting!)

Things that make my heart happy

It might sound a little cheesy, but I love to find the little things in life each day that bring a smile to my face. So here is my list:

*When my kids wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and hearing them flush and wash their hands.
*Walking passed the Half-price Hershey Easter Eggs at Wal-Mart and not buying any.
*Taylor and/or Payton making their bed without being told in the morning.
*Having my family ask for seconds at dinner.
*Hanging out on the front steps with Hayden after carpool every morning just to hear the different types of birds.
*Pushing myself to do another mile when I feel like my legs are about to give out.
*A phone call from a far away family member.
*People complimenting my children on their behavior.
*Meeting Bryan for lunch during the week.
*Hayden telling me she already knows that I love her and that she loves me as tall as the Eiffel Tower. (this is a pretty common conversation)
*Clorox wipes
*Clean Sheet Monday

That's all I have for right now. If you comment, tell me something small that makes you smile.

Last one until next year

These are the last pictures from Easter that I have. I love Easter because that's when we break out the spring dresses and white church shoes. It was a little chilly, but I still wanted some cute pictures of the girls. So after their fashion show, they stood still long enough for me to take three pictures. Here they are:
One day I will be able to take stellar photographs. But these will have to do for now. However, I don't need perfect photos to see how beautiful they are and to know what great girls they are.

Easter party #3

We had the best time at Grandma's house on Sunday. She had quite the spread for us. She had gotten three different kinds of chicken and every side imaginable. My favorite part was her famous cucumber salad. And she spoiled the girls with as many cookies and rice krispy treats as they could eat. We had a really great time just chillin around the table.

The girls tried to be patient while we finished eating so they could have an easter egg hunt. Grandma's yard is the best because there are actually places to hide the eggs. They waited while Bryan went outside to hide them, and Hayden kept peeking out the window so she could have a leg up on the competition. Even though she had seen some of the hiding spots, she needed help when she got outside. Jake was happy to help. Especially since I told him he could have whatever he wanted out of the eggs. Of course the kids were happy to share.

After hunting eggs, we sat out on the porch while Jake and the kids dug through them for the good stuff. The girls also enjoyed climbing the tree in the backyard while Jake and Bryan checked out Grandpa's old tools in the attic and shed. It was a great afternoon and a perfect way to spend Easter.

Easter morning

How does the Easter Bunny get in the house? That was the big question around our house on Saturday night. Hayden figured it was down the chimney like Santa. Payton figured it just came throught the front door. Taylor thought it was probably through the window like a robber. I was hoping to stay awake to found out. But I got too tired. He must of gotten in somehow because this is what we found on Sunday morning.




Payton didn't want to use her regular Easter basket. She wanted to use that purple one she caught at a Mardi Gras parade. She had been holding on to it for almost two months and was so happy to finally use it. There is no shortage of candy at our house now. And the Easter Bunny was nice enough to bring new toothbrushes to go with all that candy.

Easter party #2

After all the activities at the fairgrounds (see previous post) and sitting in traffic for an hour, we headed over to the Courtneys to continue the festivites. The dads hid all the eggs the kids had gotten earlier plus some more that I brought that were filled with the good stuff.
A few scraped knees and elbows later, the kids had found all the eggs and started checking out the loot. We had a nice laid back afternoon. Tammy had cooked quite a spread with quessadillas, enchiladas, tacos, chips and salsa, and strawberry shortcake. After we were all totally stuffed, we headed outside to dye eggs. Even though it makes a huge mess and everyone ends up with multi-colored fingers, I love doing this with the kids. No matter how old they get, or how many years we have done this, they still get so excited to see the eggs change colors.



Payton was the only one who couldn't wait to break open one of those bad boys and eat it. The others are still sitting in my fridge untouched. I think I will be making some deviled eggs today.