Leap day...

Since February 29th only comes every four years I thought it would be fun to do a little snapshot/time capsule of what the kids are like right now, something we can open up and look at in another four years.

Leightyn

Age: 4 months, 2 days

Height: 23 inches

Weight: 12.6 lbs.

Favorite Food: Milk

TV Show: Whatever is on, she’s captivated

Song: Music on her swing

Book: Taggie Book

Toy: Gymboree Play Mat

Teeth: 0

Our little dark-eyed girl, loves being swaddled and laying on our bed, wants to be in the middle of everything , super cute

Sawyer

Age: 2 years, 2 months, 10 days

Height: 34 inches

Weight: 22.6 lbs.

Favorite Food: Mac & Cheese, Dino Chicken Nuggets

Cereal: Coco Puffs, Lucky Charm – marshmallows only

Snack: Dora Fruit Snacks

TV Show: Dora, Super Why

Movie: The Wiggles

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes, Old MacDonald

Book: Blue Hat, Green Hat

Toy: Orange Car

Color: Orange

Teeth: 16

Nursery Teacher: Sister Dooley & Sister Hagfeldt

Book of Mormon: 4th Nephi

Super possessive of Daddy, pretends to snore, loves his blanket “buddy”, knows his colors, loves to snack

Ryder

Age: 3 years, 11 months, 3 days

Height: 39 inches

Weight: 34 lbs.

Favorite Food: Saimin, Honey on Sweetbread Roll

Cereal: Cheerios

Snack: Strawberries, Grapes, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

TV Show: Dino Dan, Wipeout

Movie: Cars 2 Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes, Eye of the Tiger

Book: Any dinosaur book

Toy: All dinosaurs, Little brown puppy

Color: Blue

Teeth: 20

Articles of Faith: #1

Sunbeam Teacher: Sister Kuewa

Preschool Teacher: Miss Sariah (Silver Mesa), & Moms (friend preschool)

Book of Mormon: 4th Nephi

Loves Angry Birds, Goes to preschool 4 days a week, likes to do “spikey hair”, left-handed, has a dinosaur obsession, world’s pickiest eater

Brityn

Age: 6 years, 5 months, 4 days

Height: 44 inches

Weight: 42 lbs.

Favorite Food: Sliders & Burritos

Cereal: Trix & Lucky Charms

Snack: Cookies, Candy, Chocolate Chip Muffins

TV Show: Bubble Guppies, Olivia, How It’s Made

Movie: Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Smurfs

Song: Love You Like a Love Song (Kidz Bop), Can’t Touch This, I Hope They Call Me On a Mission

Book: Junie B. Jones, Rainbow Fairies, Skippyjon Jones, Pinkalicious

Piano Book Level: Primer Goldstar Performance

Toy: American Girl Doll, Polly Pockets, Petshop

Color: Purple, Blue, Pink

Teeth: 20, +1 coming in, Lost 2

Articles of Faith: #1

Primary Teacher: Sister Bonnie Graham

Somerset Teacher: Mrs. Reed

Book of Mormon: 1st Nephi

2 wheel bike rider, likes to read, play on computer, plays tennis, wakes up early every morning, Student of the Month

Kendyl

Age: 9 years, 10 months, 5 days

Height: 48 1/2 inches

Weight: 50.4 lbs.

Favorite Food: Spaghetti

Cereal: Cookie Crisp

Snack: Sweetbread Roll with butter

TV Show: Wipeout, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, How It’s Made

Movie: Harry Potter Years 1-7

Song: Party Rock (Kidz Bop), I’ll Walk With You

Book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Piano Book Level: Level 1 Goldstar Performance

Toy: DS, American Girl Doll

Color: Blue

Teeth: 24 teeth, Lost 8

Articles of Faith: #1-12

Primary Teacher: Sister Amanda Concoby

Somerset Teacher: Mrs. Notaro

Book of Mormon: 2nd Nephi

Babysitting, sleeps in, Elementary School Vice President, doing school play “Munchkin Mediation”, loves to read

Suzie

Favorite Food: Orange Chicken, Chicken Alfredo

Cereal: Honey Nut Chex, Frosted Rice Krispies

Snack: M&M Yogurt

TV Show: HGTV, The Voice, American Idol, Castle

Movie: Pride & Prejudice

Song: Good Feeling (Kidz Bop)

Book: Nine Kingdom Series, Jessica Day George

Color: Red

Teeth: 28

Articles of Faith: #1-13, help on #10

Book of Mormon: 4th Nephi

Mom to 5 children with high blood pressure, fatigue, exhaustion, organized, thoughtful, planner, trying to stay on top of everything

Steve

Favorite Food: Bacon Cheeseburger

Cereal: Frosted Flakes

Snack: Ice cream – chocolate fudge brownie

TV Show: Discovery, Holmes on Homes, How It’s Made

Movie: Rocky, Star Wars

Song: Vocal Point

Book: To the Rescue: Thomas S. Monson

Color: Blue

Teeth: 24

Articles of Faith: #1-13 with hints

Book of Mormon: 2nd Nephi

Bishop, building new office, thinning hair, tired, never home, always on the phone, obsessed with staying under 200 texts a month

Say cheese...

I wanted to get a new picture for the blog header, so on Sunday, while everyone was looking spiffy in their church clothes, I lined them all up to get some pictures.

Leightyn has changed so much. She is alert and smiling and loves to see what is going on. We tried and tried to get her to smile, but it wasn't until she was in the carseat that she finally started grinning.

She gets the funniest expressions on her face!

Sawyer LOVES to give Leightyn kisses. He calls her "Baby Leightyn" and gives her kisses on her head all day long.

We could NOT get Sawyer to cooperate for a picture by himself...he wouldn't even smile with these glasses on!

Ryder has wanted his hair "spikey" now for a week. He looks so grown up with his spikey hair!

Great picture of Brityn.

And a great picture of Kendyl.

I'm not even going to say what kind of silly antics I had to do to get these kids all smiling and looking in the same direction! At least 4 out of 5 are smiling. :)

Kendyl's new job...

The new charter school that the girls are going to this year has been really great.  The teachers have been fabulous and the girls have been doing well there.  I love the atmostphere and that there are lots of kids from our stake going there and that there seems to be less behavioral issues in the classes.  It has not been without its hiccups, but for the most part, we have been very happy having the girls at this new school.  In January they decided to put together a Student Council for the elementary students, just 4th and 5th graders on the council.  So Kendyl decided to apply, she had to write an essay, and was excited when she was accepted.  Next, they got to give a speech in front of the Middle School Student Council as well as teachers and the principal to decide a 5th grade president and 4th grade vice president.  Kendyl was considerably nervous, but she doesn't seem to have any problems getting up in front of a group of people.  She felt good after her speech, but we tried to prep her about being a team player and a good sport if the vote didn't go her way.  No worries for her...she won!  We are excited to see her grow and take on new responsibilities and enhance her leadership abilities.  We are confident that she is going to make a GREAT VICE PRESIDENT!!!!  Congratulations Kendyl!!!!!

Daddy Daughter Dance...

The girls' school had a Daddy Daughter Dance this last week and the girls were very excited to go.  It was a rush to get homework done and get home from work and eat a quick dinner before the dance, but the girls said it was really fun.  They loved dancing with Dad!

Field trip to Krispy Kreme...

Ryder's preschool class went on a field trip to Krispy Kreme and Sawyer, Leightyn and I all tagged along. We love Krispy Kreme donuts!

Watching how the donuts are made.

 

Leightyn was a very good baby and even fell asleep.  :)

 

Enjoying our donuts!  YUM!!!

Valentine's Day...

This year I tried to persuade the kids to try out some new valentine's, but they all LOVE the heart-shaped cookies on a stick, so we did them again this year. Unfortunately for me, we had to triple the amount because Ryder had 2 preschool parties to take valentine's for...but he did learn to write his name all by himself! :)

Thanks to Steve and the girls for helping! We eventually made it through all 85 some-odd cookies with only a few casualties. Those casualties get eaten quick though! :)

Packaged and tagged.

Ready to go.

Cards and flowers and cookies!

After school the kids came home with a ton of candy and treats.  It is almost as much candy as Halloween!

Steve was nice enough to get take-out for us for dinner and for dessert we had chocolate fondue.  We tried to eat by flameless candle light, but the boys were whining about being in the dark so that didn't last long.  :)  Happy Love Day!

Writing Ryder...

Our big guy is writing his own name! I love Valentine's cards for this very reason. I had Ryder practice writing the letters in his name so he could sign his own Valentine's Day cards.

And now he is writing his name like a champ! Way to go Ryder!!!

Brityn on 2 wheels...

Brityn has been working on riding her bike without training wheels and finally succeeded this weekend. She was so excited she was saying, "I can do it! I can do it!"

Ryder was watching her ride without training wheels and has been thinking about taking his "extra" wheels off.  Maybe we'll have another 2-wheel bike "Ryder"!  :)

My little helper...

Now that Sawyer is 2, he's sleeping in a big boy bed, and going on the potty (he's hit and miss), forming sentences and expressing himself. He is definitely asserting his independence with his little 2-year-old self.

Some of his favorite words are, "I try" and "I go" and he's not to be denied. He can throw a very loud crying tantrum if he doesn't get what he wants.

He is super sweet and likes to check on Leightyn and give her kisses on her head.  He is quick to say "I sorry" and give a hug and he always says "I yove you Mommy."

He is always quick to come help me whenever there's something that needs doing like moving laundry from the washer to the dryer, taking out the recycling, and helping in the kitchen.

If I'm in the kitchen he pulls up a chair so he can "help".  He's pretty good at stirring and dumping things in the bowl.  Possible chef in training.  :)

He loves to dance and sing. He loves "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "Old MacDonald". He picks out his own outfits everyday and loves to wear hats. He knows his colors and says his favorite color is orange.

Love my little helper Sawyer!