Signal Hill Park

We have been so busy as a family lately doing all sorts of different activities, that we decided we needed to have more FAMILY TIME. We decided that we would do something as a family each weekend, no matter how busy we were. We become so busy during the week that these little respites are something of a refuge, and definitely something to look forward to as the weekend grows nearer and nearer.
The weekend we decided to start this "scheduled" family time Sean took us to a park on Signal Hill that looks over Long Beach, Lakewood, and everywhere inbetween.

We walked the trail nearby and enjoyed the beautiful scenery...


...and the kids had a blast on the exercise rotations.
James was the first to get ready to go home. His little legs have to travel so far to keep up with his siblings!
All in all we had such a wonderful time that we are more determined to take little adventures as a family.

Chutes and Ladders

(Ok, so I'm completely lazy and didn't get rid of the red-eye. Oh, well)
The kids are having a blast playing games with each other recently, and I just had to take this picture because James won! He tried so hard to be patient waiting his turn (and with 3 other kids that isn't alway easy for a 1 1/2 year old) and all his patience paid off. He was the first winner of the game this night!

* We always keep playing until everyone finishes. This way everyone gets to reach the goal and no one is a "loser."

Gooooooooooo Janey!

Jane decided she had such a fun time last year cheering for the Mayfair Monsoons that she wanted to do it again. We went to the cheer camp one weekend....

...and the next weekend she was ready to cheer! She was all decked out in her cheer skirt, camp shirt, and french braided hair.

Of course, our little cheerleader had to be cheered, herself! And what better fans than her own brothers and sister?

At the end of her cheer time she was given a picture (taken the previous weekend at the camp) and a bag of goodies. She got to keep the hair-bow she was given, as well as the pompoms.

When she was all done we went to Baskin Robins, just across the street, to celebrate the fantabulous job she did!

TGIF!

One of our family traditions is to have "Waffle-Day Fridays!" It's only Eggo, but the kids love it and it speeds up our breakfast time by at least 10 minutes. :) Plus, it makes the house smell so nice. Yet another reason to look forward to Fridays.

Music to My Ears...

Our drive to school in the morning is always...well...loud! With 5 kids in the back of my car it couldn't be anything BUT loud. A lot of the time the kids are singing songs - patriotic, primary, oldies, etc - but today I was hearing two songs over and over (with the wrong lyrics, no less!) and I had finally had enough:

Me - "Ok, guys, pick a new song, or do something else."

Becky - "Mom! Can you put on 'Evil'?"

Me - "WHAT?!"

Becky - "'Evil'. Please, mom?"

Jane - "Mom, I think she means 'Wicked.'"

Me - laughing so hard there was no way I was going to find the right CD before we arrived at school. Ahhh....Becky...your creative mind sure keeps me on my toes!

Personalities

I went to 41q.com and took a simple personality test. These were my results:

Your personality type:

Quiet, reflective and idealistic. Interested in serving humanity. Well-developed value system, which they strive to live in accordance with. Extremely loyal. Adaptable and laid-back unless a strongly-held value is threatened. Usually talented writers. Mentally quick and able to see possibilities. Interested in understanding and helping people.

Careers that could fit you include:

Writers, artists, counselors, social workers, English teachers, fine arts teachers, child care workers, clergy, missionaries, psychologists, psychiatrists, scientists, political activists, editors, education consultants, journalists, religious educators, social scientists.


As silly as these tests sometimes are, I actually agree with the results of this one quite a bit. I have contemplated each of these careers at one point, except for the clergy and political activists. Any of the others I wouldn't mind doing, in fact, I'd probably have a great time being employed in any of them.

A New Word

And just to prove to me that he really is a sweet little boy....

Sean had to conduct a baptism yesterday and we decided that, as a family, we'd go to the chapel to help him set it up. We worked at getting the chairs set up nicely and getting the hymn books placed - all while waiting for the AC to kick in. All the while James was in his stroller watching us work. So, of course, when the baptism started he was anxious to get out and stretch those legs. In an attempt to keep him quiet I gave him a pen and paper to draw on - his new favorite activity.

I can't really blame him for writing on himself - it was a nice pen. :) But when I tried to take it away from him he got angry and I had to take him into the hall. While we were walking the halls James went up to a picture of Jesus visiting the Nephites and, pointing to Jesus, clearly said, "Jesus." Oh, he melts my heart!

Adjustments

School started this week and we've all had a few adjustments to get used to: getting up early, long days, etc. One adjustment that James is having a hard time with is missing his siblings. He gets so excited when I tell him it's time to pick them up at school - it's terribly cute! But on that first day....

I was making lunch in the kitchen while he was playing with Duplos. When I'd finished making the lunch I went to go find James....who had migrated to my bedroom and had dumped the contents of my makeup bag onto my bed. Luckily he hadn't figured out how to open the little cases, he was just content on banging them together. I scolded him, put him out of my room and cleaned up the mess.

When I'd finished cleaning the mess I went to find James....who had snuck into his sisters' room and pulled their mirror off their wall. Luckily he hadn't broken the mirror! I scolded him, put him out of their room and cleaned up the mess.

When I'd finished cleaning THAT mess I went to find James...who had gone into the front room, pulled my purse off the table and proceeded to dump out the contents. Luckily everything was still in that pile and he hadn't hidden anything yet. I scolded him, PUT HIM IN HIS BOOSTER SEAT (see? I can learn!) and cleaned up that mess.

UNFORTUNATELY, by the time all the messes were cleaned up our sandwiches had gone stale and he didn't want to eat any of it.

James had an early nap that day.

Yesterday we went to the mall to play in the play area (I'd thought that I perhaps had neglected him a bit the previous days, getting the kids ready for school and all, so I decided to have just play/fun time with him). Apparently he wasn't in the mood to play, but to get in trouble more. He kept trying to leave the play area, climb up on the benches and walk/run/jump on them, and dump stuff out of the stroller. Just when I was wondering if we should abandon the whole thing...he got off my lap, walked up to a little girl (about his age - who was absolutely gorgeous, by the way) and slapped her across the face. I no longer wondered. We left.*

James had an early nap that day.

Today we're going to a friend's house to swim in their pool. Here's to hoping he doesn't damage their house, or pull the plug on the pool or something. He'd find a way!

* Of course, we left after I apologized PROFUSELY to the parents and scolded James and made him say sorry (which, to him, is to look at someone with a sad face and attempt a hug. The little girl did NOT want a hug!).

My Kids...

My kids are hilarious!

1. We had the kids make birthday cards for their uncle and on our way out the door Jane asked for an envelope for hers. When we're in the car the kids are comparing their cards: Jane has an envelope, Becky's is held closed by a sticker, Alex's is by itself.

Jane: "Becky, why did you use a sticker instead of an envelope?"

Becky: "I didn't want to waste my spit."

2. We were driving to IKEA so the kids could play in the play place and I could find a few things. Since we have a friend joining us for the day our car was full and all the kids were keeping an eye out for the huge blue and yellow store off the freeway. As I started exiting the freeway there was a decline in the road so all the kids threw up their hands and yelled, "Wheee!" as I went down the hill. It looked so funny in my rearview mirror!

3. Last night Becky and I were watching "What a Girl Wants" while Jane and Alex went with Sean to the Dodger game. Each time the movie started playing fun music James would get up and start dancing. He made me laugh so hard!

Contributing

I think only the stay at home mom with plenty of money to spend couldn't understand how happy I am that I can contribute to our family's finances. Lately I've taken up a couple of odd jobs that allow me to stay at home with the kids and I'm so excited to help out financially. I ABHOR DEBT! And knowing that I can contribute to the demise of ours lifts my spirits incredibly!

One of my "jobs" is to take care of an adorable little girl, Bella. She's the daughter of Sean's co-worker. Since her mom went back to work with Sean for the beginning of the school year Bella has joined our household. She really is so sweet and kind and my girls absolutely adore her! Alex has been at his kindergarten prep classes so he hasn't been able to spend a lot of time with her, but what time he has he's enjoyed. When school starts I'll only have her about 2-3 hours a day (1 hour before school, 1-2 after school).

My other "job" is putting together other people's photo albums. They send me their pictures and I put them into a book using a professional program with so many sweet perks! I absolutely love it! But I also understand now why the roofer's house leaks and the housecleaner's home is always messy: Since I've been working on other people's albums I've been terrible at keeping up to date on my own, as well as keeping my blog up to date and full of pictures. Oh, well. I have so much fun doing it! And it's so awesome that people are willing to share with me their special life moments.

Heavenly Father has blessed us so much. He knows that with Sean going back to school not only will this extra income help us financially, but it will also be something to keep me busy - to fill the void while he attends his classes and does homework. I feel so blessed and loved! He surely knows and meets our needs.

My Latest Project

This is the baby quilt I made for Traesa Cox, a good friend, and piano teacher to my kids, who is having her first girl, yet third child, mid-September. We're so excited for her! Yea!

It took me about 6 months, because I didn't work on it faithfully until I got her baby shower announcement (Sorry Traesa!), and because I did it completely by hand (my sewing machine is collecting dust in our garage since I don't know how to use it properly). hee hee hee

I was so pleased at how it turned out and so was Sean. He wants me to make him one now - his size and preferably not pink. :)

Alex's Prayers

So in our family we all know that Alex will have THE longest prayers each night. He prays for everything (and usually with his eyes open so he can look around and make sure he doesn't forget anything). Usually towards the end of his prayers he'll say, "And please bless we'll sweep the floors and mop the floors and do the dishes and do the laundry, and get all of our chores done that we need to get done.....In Jesus Name, Amen." (It's a wonder he hasn't lost faith yet, seeing as I'm REALLY bad at getting those things done!)

The other day we were reading in Helaman about how the Nephites were becoming more wicked than the Lamanites. We had a family discussion about this- about how the wicked were becoming more righteous than the Nephites.

So Alex's prayer that night included, "And please bless the wicked people to be more righteous."

What faith! I almost cried right there (isn't hard, these days, to set me off!). I was so impressed that he had absorbed that principle. What an eye opener for me and I can say it increased my testimony to the fact that the wicked really can have a change of heart, and it will most likely be through this next generation's spirit and work that it is done. I feel so blessed to have such choice spirits in my home.

Pali

On July 24th and 25th I was honored to be a part of a long, dear friend's wedding(s) up in Washington. We'd known each other since 4th grade and through all these years we've kept in touch and stayed close friends. Rupali Giri becamse Rupali Giri Mahli. Hah! What fun!


Me and Pali at her wedding reception. She had two weddings: a Sikh wedding and a Hindu wedding, followed by a fabulous reception on Saturday night.

Our OLD school friends gathered after the Hindu ceremony: (back) me, Justin, Brandon (behind Kyle), Dan, JR (married to Elena); (middle) Omar, Sara, Kyle (Sara's husband), Kari, Chanthay, Anna; (bottom) Satinder-Paul, Pali, Elena

At the Kirkland Waterfront: Omar, Me, Kari, Dan, Elena

Bridesmaids with the Bride in the bridal waiting room at the Sikh Temple: (back) Me, Chanthay, Anna; (front) Kari, Pali, Elena

After the Sikh Ceremony inside the temple: Kari, Chanthay, Me, Anna, and Elena with Satinder-Paul and Pali

We had THE most wonderful time together this weekend. The only thing that could have made it any better were if Sean could have come, but alas, he stayed home with the kids that whole week. I am so grateful to such a husband that supports me in supporting such a dear friend. I truly had a great time reminiscing with them and spending time with my family because HE stayed home so willingly with the kids.
Another shout-out to Melissa and Shauna for helping with the kids that week. You, too, helped me greatly to enjoy my trip. Thank you so much!
And thanks to Grandma Monroe, too, for taking care of all the grandkids on my last vacation day. I know they had a blast with you!
One more shout-out to Leslie (who, Grandma says, was extra helpful, in spite of her gimpy foot. Hope you're continuing to recover!), and Grandpa (who also helped with the kids on that last Monday).
What would I do without such great friends and family?!

Happy Birthday Becky!

Today Becky is 9! Can Anyone believe it? I sure can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. Not too long ago, it seems, she was watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks with daddy from the window in our hospital room. They had a great view.
Sean and I knew we had our hands full when she started walking and talking at 9 months- which had progressed to full-on sentences by a year.
She's our little artist, always drawing pictures, writing books, and producing "plays" for her siblings to perform. She loves her Achievement Girls nights (and is so bummed that it's over for the summer), piano lessons, and swimming. She even ventured into Cheerleading and has found something else she can enjoy. He favorite sports are swimming, golf, and ice skating.
Becky loves everything pink, pink and pink. Oh, and also things that sparkle. Becky loves to dress up and is looking forward to going to a school without uniforms next year. She's always asking me which jewelry she should wear - which definitely makes her a Gammie's girl.
Becky has a little phobia performing in front of people, and she absolutely hates her freckles, which makes her so much like her mom (I love hers, but I hated mine when I was little). The dark hair she was born with has come back, replacing the short-lived blonde. Her eyes are brown and she's lost almost all of her baby teeth already - at one point she seemed to lose one a week!
Becky is the best helper to her mom. She loves to take care of her younger siblings, especially when they were babies. She can't wait to babysit, and I have to admit that I'm looking forward to that, too!
For her birthday this year she wanted to get a "big" present instead of having a party (I admit, I bribe my kids! They can choose between a party and a present that would cost about the same as a party - last year she got an IPod). This year she wanted her very own American Girl Doll. She'd been getting the magazines for a while and gave it a lot of thought. She decided her first doll would be Molly. We took her to downtown LA (the 35 miles took almost 2 hours!) to the Grove Mall where the American Girl Store was and when we walked in I had a flashback of getting my own AG doll (Kirsten, when I was about her age). We were in the store for about 45 minutes, long enough to visit the "homes" of all the girls to make sure she knew exactly which doll she was going to get, the doll's pj's and bathing suit. It was heaven for her! Sean, Alex and James were so patient as we looked at all the beautiful doll clothes and accessories.
When we were done there we got back in the car and drove the 1/2 hour back to our neighborhood. We stopped by Toys R Us so she could spend some of her birthday money on a Barbie and Barbie Horse, then to Target where she spent the rest of her birthday money on a new outfit. For dinner we joined Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Leslie, Uncle Ian, Aunt Melissa, cousins Korben and Karsen, and Great-Aunt Cindy and counsin Robyn at Mi Casa, then went back to Grandma's house to play and chat with family.
Ahhh, but the birthday hadn't even really started yet! Today we went to the flag raising at church, then off to Build a Bear at Downtown Disney to get her kitty fixed and get Patriotic Puppy, which we named Uncle Sam. We ate Jamba Juice, walked around, and explored the hotels.
When we got home Sean set up the slip-n-slide for the kids to play on and the kids half-wore themselves out for over an hour. Each person in our family gets to choose a meal to eat out on their birthday, and where they want to go. Becky chose Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner, so we're hoping they finish wearing themselves out there before we go to Grandma's for fireworks.

I love Becky so much! She is special in so many ways, but most importantly to me because she was my first baby. When she was born I became a mom. I will be forever grateful that she chose to come to our family and share her special talents with us. Our family wouldn't be the same without her smiling face and bright countenance shining in our home.
Happy Birthday, honey!

Nursery!

James had his first trip to Nursery on Father's day. We are so excited! And by "we" I mean Sean and I. James wasn't thrilled, and even less so when I had to leave for 10 minutes to help set up the Father's Day brunch. Oh, well. The first step is always the hardest, right?