The Purple People-Eater

Ivy is getting very opinionated on how things need to go.  Especially as far as what she will wear, and how I am to do her hair.  

Wow.

it's a new experience for me, and I'm barely muddling my way through.  Some days, she looks like an absolute ragamuffin!

Anyways, a couple of Sundays ago, she was insisting on wearing this purple dress.  It's a summer dress, mind you with teeny little spaghetti straps.  She did NOT want to wear the stinkin' purple cardigan that I was insisting that she wear (it's not summer anymore...) and it was a happy morning.  Anyways, I finally roped her into wearing the cardigan just through Sacrament Meeting on the condition that she was allowed to take it off for Nursery.  Her hair wasn't an issue this particular morning since the Trunk or Treat was the night before, and Jillonnie's remnants of awesome french braids were still evident.  She also got to wear her pretty purple necklace she got for her birthday that she LOVES and her sparkly purple Jasmine shoes...who wouldn't feel pretty?!

Anyway, she looked cute, despite the negotiations, so we took a picture.  She was more that happy to pose.

Don't be alarmed if I cut her hair into a bob, soon...I can't stand scraggly hair on little girls!  ahhhhh!

classic ives

suckin' her thumb and twirlin' her hair. 

 classic.

the grocery store

We've been busy lately.  busy.  I don't know with what specifically, but playgroup, taking max to school, picking him up, his 100 mile club, volunteering in his classroom, sewing, packing...everything.  The days just fly by and I don't know where they go!

So, today, I took a break...I needed to get some stuff from the store, so on the way out the door to take Max to his morning run, I grabbed Ivy's toy shopping cart that her sweet cousin gave her a while back.  She loves the thing around the house...but nothing compared to taking it to the store for reals today!

 She did EVERYTHING today.  

I told her what we needed and where it was, and she grabbed it off the shelf.

 If it was a little too high, I picked her up to get it.  She chose the bananas, the cucumbers and chose what cantaloupe to get.  She was very particular as to where to put things.  She didn't like the stacking idea, the bananas HAD to go under the cart, and the meat was not her favorite thing to have in her cart.  (hilarious)

 She battled her way around end caps and mid-aisle displays, and around old ladies who were just too slow for her patience ( I totally know that feeling!)

 She was so proud of herself!

 Then she unloaded all of her goods onto the conveyor belt, by herself.

 She swiped my card, pushed the buttons on the debit machine...and then she got a pink balloon for all of her efforts.  

and she was sooo happy!

Max is famous!

There's a new Pediatric Clinic in Gilbert, AZ...who just happens to be my awesome Peds Doc Brother-in-law...and thank goodness he is, because we call him constantly for advise on what shots we should give, how much medicine to give, and if we really should go to the Dr...or just have someone to ease our minds.  He's awesome...and here's his newest flyer starring...our favorite: Max! (upper left)..isn't he YuM!?!

So if you're in the market for a new Pediatrician, and you live in AZ...seriously...Steve's the best!

What Max has been eating lately...

he's gotten one of the legs in his mouth already, just he tip...oh man...I wonder if he'll continue to eat it!

I got this lollipop for him when he turned 4...so, over a year ago, and he wouldn't' touch it then.  no way, no how.  So I showed it to him again the other day, and he was so excited!  I guess Kindergarten does something to a kid!  I'll show you progress as he goes...Nasty!

I got a brand new pair of roller skates

I sent Jeff to Wal mart to see if he could find a new tire for Ivy's little hand-me-down bike that our friends gave us.  He came back with a brand new bike...I guess it was cheaper than buying to new tires!

Anyways, Ivy was thrilled to have a big-girl bike, especially because she hasn't been able to reach the pedals on her little trike.  Anyway, she can ride this one!  woo hoo! so fun!

 Her friend Jaxon came over to ride bikes one morning, and they were out there for almost 2 hours.  (nice, I can just sit on my extremely lazy bum in the driveway and watch!)

Conference

Normally, the FHE before conference, we learn about King Benjamin and how he built a tower so that he could speak to all the members of the church.  All the people gathered around that tower and set up their tents to listen to their prophet.  Then he wrote down what he had said, and sent it around to all the members so they could re-read it and remember his counsel...hmm, sounds familiar, and I think it's so appropriate for my kids to learn about why we have conference, and how important it is to listen to our Prophet today!
So, we normally break out the little kiddie tent, call it a reverence tent, and give the kids a few conference activities to do in their while we're listening.  We usually only make them listen to the Prophet speak on the morning session on Sunday...one talk is MORE than they can handle normally.  I talked about it here.   BUT this time, Jeff was gone at work, I was too lazy to walk out to the garage and get out the tent, let alone set it up by myself, so we make-shifted a tent and called it good.  

 We made it through 5 talks...they were so enthralled with their activity books this year...I was so impressed.  

anyway, i love this tradition that we have an just thought I'd share it...again!

Playgroup Strikes Again!

I loved doing play group a couple of years ago with Max...It was just Max and another cute little boy his age, it was easy to plan stuff for two, fun to make stuff for just 2, and I actually LOVED doing it every week.

Last year, we attempted a playgroup with Ivy, and in hopes of giving ourselves more free time, we did it for 2 weeks straight...well, 5 girls (or boys, for that matter) for two weeks straight makes me want to stab out my eyes...I might be the only one!

Anyways, so with not feeling 100% with our little rookie on the way, the thought of doing a big group again made me cringe.  So, we kept it small again this year, with 3 girls (the other two went two are older and went to "real preschool" and we chose to do take on one week at a time!  It's waaaay better!  way!

So, 2 weeks ago, I was in charge of the letters C and D...and my lens on my camera was giving me fits, so I didn't take many pictures, especially on C day...but I still thought I should record what we did!

C was for caterpillar...we learned about them, did a flannel board story, did some color matching with caterpillars, 

 worked on numbers and counting (which also starts with a C..)

and then for snack, we read the very hungry caterpillar, and wandered around our yard snacking on the same foods the very hungry caterpillar ate...apples, pears, plums, strawberries, oranges, a sucker...and lastly, a leaf (a piece of lettuce)...the girls were hilarious with the fruit.  ha!

anyways, that was C...

 D is for Desert

learned about deserts from a couple of books, learned where the desert was in the US, and what kind of animals and plans live there...and why other animals don't!

We explored a desert scene chock full of desert creatures, eek!

We learned about the plant life in the desert...

...and then created our own using green salt dough and broken spaghetti noodles

 and we talked about the scary animals that live in the desert...ok, mostly just this one that Grandma brought us.  yikes!

 Then we worked on the letter D with Dots, of course...they loved this activity...those dot-a-dot paints from Lakeshore are awesome!

Little Turkeys

They sleep with the hall light on and the door open "big" per Ivy's request.  How on earth did this happen without us hearing them? 

What a bunch of turkeys!

...and really, how did they fall asleep right next to each other?  that never happens!

Grandma and Grandpa Came to visit

and all I have to show for it is this ONE picture.

We loved having them here for the weekend!  They got to pick Max up from school and watch one of his football games...and play trucks, etc.  AND...they brought us a real, alive scorpion to peer at through two layers of reinforced plastic.  (it's been a week, and that thing is still alive...and no, I'm not feeding it!)

whip-stip

we're still obsessed with the stuff around here...

she's so fun!

Happy First Day of...

Autumn!  

woohoo, here it comes!

Running Back Max

Here's the video I promised. 

Max is number 9

Friday Night Lights, Day 1

Last night, Max had his first Friday Night Lights experience.  

whew.

it started out super fun, they were all excited and pumped up.  

Here the all-american stud is warming up:

 Here are the rest of the crazy Saints

 Playing catch...the mouthpiece cracks me up!

 Here's the first play...it ended with tears.  As did every subsequent play that followed.

And don't think that any of the other guys on the team cried...nope, not a one.  Just our little Maxer.  

The poor little guy has big dreams, and when it doesn't play out the way he thinks it should in his head: like where he storms right through the center of the defense and scores a solo touchdown...well, the only thing you can do is cry.  every time.

wow.

We have to figure something out.  I'll post a video later.

Here's Max being the QB...he yells SET< HIKE as loud as he can through that huge mouthpiece...hilarious and totally awesome.

And just so you know...he doesn't cry because he's bad...he's totally fast, and does exactly what he's supposed to.  I hate it when stuff doesn't go my way, too...don't you?

poor kid.

We'll work on the crying and try again next Friday...and I'll pray for more patience!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Max has been so excited for today: his very first day of Kindergarten!  He's been asking to go to school non-stop for the last week, and today was the day!

He had a good egg breakfast to start him off right, and got dressed in his new school shoes for his first day!

 When we got to school, we stood in line with his classmates in front of his classroom until it was time for school to start

 and then all the kids filed into the room: here's Max waving to Mommy and Daddy and Ivy...

I think he was getting a littler nervous standing in the line with so many parents and kids around, but I think he'll love it!  We'll let you know how it goes!

Sky Valley Ranch, 2011 Take 1

I took so many pictures when I was in Washington that I don't know what to do with myself!  And, the bad news is that I filled up my camera within the first week...and couldn't get another memory card for several days...so, blah.  AND THEN because I had two memory cards downloaded into 1 file, they mixed into each other and they got all mixed up.  I'm over it!

So, here is our trip...in random order!

The very first thing Max did when we woke up in the morning the first morning (we got in at 1AM) was pick up the big donkey slugs they had there...oh my gosh!  He thought they were so cool...they're like 800 times the size of slugs we have here!

 and then of course, he got all dressed up in his farming, worker outfit and helped Paw  Paw with some chores.  My dad took the week off while we were visiting which was so awesome!

 Paw Paw, Ivy and Max out in the field in front of my parents house with the llamas.

 Max and Paw Paw pulled weeds, moved logs and rocks and lots of other things.  Max was in heaven!

Ivy loved the tractor, too!

 One day while we were there, after Brandy and her kids got there, Mom took us to Edmonds to the ferry dock and we got to play at a different kind of beach than we're used to!  no sand, just rocks, cold water and a ton of slippery seaweed that I grew up pawing around in!  We found tons of crabs (here's Ivy picking one up)

Max holding a crab

 Moving rocks around to find more crabs

We found a few starfish and got to touch a sea anenome.  FUN!

 Ivy loves her Mar Mar

 Here's my sister Brandy and her kids in front of the ferry dock looking through they're shells and bucket goodies.

Max, Carter, Ivy and Clara

 Mar Mar and the crew

Brandy and Carter and Clara

me and the crazies

 Mar Mar and Ivy talking to Dolly

 Ivy feeding Bandita

 Ivy and her cute big cousin, Adee

 Chores!

This is what every grandkid looks forward to every day...when paw paw goes out to feed...all 10 kids pile out there to help!  ahhhhh!

 Max and Baker

 Mar mar and Paw Paw had a little baby llama...but you couldn't touch her because she was so new!  We only got to pet her if Paw Paw could catch her.  She was soooo soft!

 This was what the kids did EVERYDAY.  Max, Clara, Carter and Ivy all traipsed out into the pasture and explored.  Every-single-day.  they loved it.  And really, the moms did too!

Mar Mar and Paw Paw also treated us to a trip to the Reptile Zoo in Monroe.  We got to meet Sam and Syd there, too!  (we were only missing Erin's fam by then!)

Max holding a corn snake...with no employee supervisiion which was not my fav...good thing Brandy was willing to touch it!  haha

Carter and Max petting the tortoises

 Ivy, Sam, Carter, Syd, Max and Clara

 Paw Paw treated everybody to doughnuts before our big hike at the Sultan Bakery.  We were treated like royalty there, and of course, the doughnuts were amazing!  Here's Max picking out his fav.

 The Hike!

Paw Paw took us all on a hike (every grand kid minus Carson) with the llamas.

 Ivy and Paw Paw

She walked for a little bit, but she was mostly carried.  I was sooo glad I had brought my kid back pack!  And even more happy that Paw Paw carried her!

Max, Sam and Adee were little troopers and hit the summit first!

All the kids at the look out! (The summit)

 The Llamas were kind enough to carry up a watermelon for us to feast on at the top!  Here Paw paw and Ivy with Vixie

 At the lookout, we can barely see mom and dad's house...so it's customary for us to yell "MAR MAR" at the top of our lungs to see if she can hear us...she can't!

All the kids at the top messing around on a fallen tree and being wacko, as usual.  It was a good 6 mile hike, my dad said...they did so good!

We also got to celebrate Max's bday while we were there!  We went to a park that I used to run some of our Cross Country practices at.  There are lots of hiking trails, and a petting zoo, and lots of fun things to see.  So, we had a fun picnic, went on a little hike, and had fun petting the animals.  

Here's the bday boy on a tree, growing out of a tree stump...totally cool.

Tire swing

 hiking

Max and Carter just wanted to run...the moms weren't into running at this point!  ( I was starting to feel like absolute pregnancy  poo by now...just fyi)

 And then after a fun day at the park, we got home to a brand new llama....still wet from being in his momma's tummy!  He was born on Max's bday!  so fun!

 More cousins came over for us to sing to max and have ice cream and cake and open 1 million birthday presents.  He had such a fun birthday, how fun to be able to spend it with lots of cousins!

 Here's my Grandma, we call her BooBoo with Ivy.  Her birthday is the day before Max's, so we got to celebrate her special day, too!  She's so fun, and all the kids love her so!

 Max and Carter playing in the pool

Horse-back riding with Paw Paw's MA's horses!  so fun!

Max and Carter were best buds out in the field all day every day for 2 weeks!  I loved that they got to know they're cousins a little better that they haven't seen in forever!

Max and Sam worked to sweep off the front step for Mar Mar...they were landscaping when we were there and it was just too much for us to expect them to stay off the dirt hills! 

We were sure to take some pics with my cute Grandma and a bunch of her Great grand kids...we got all 10 in one pic, barely!

from the left: Sam, Carter, Adee, Clara, BooBoo, Ivy, Max, Carson, Syd, Baker and Kimball

...and then one with just the Great Grand-daughters

...and one with just the boys.  ha!

And even though we were fresh off the hike, we took one of Grandma, Mom, Me and Ivy

The big boys...Life wouldn't be complete without boys, the pasture and 3 huge sticks.

the line-up of work boots on the front porch.  they are a MUST at Sky valley ranch

oh my, there are so many more pics...and more fun things that we did in two weeks, I'll have to put them in another post!