Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spring time!

It's been a crazy spring...and after planting over 250 tulips last fall, I can honestly say I hate the deer.  They have massacred the tulips despite my best efforts to ward them off with my nasty smelling stuff.  It worked so well with my scant tulips last year so I go for the gold and what do you know?  It fails!  Oh well, they are just flowers, I hope you enjoyed them deer!!

We got back from CA for spring break, the kids had an absolute blast with Gma and Gpa and Mom and Dad had some fun too.  I faced my fears and went on the scariest ride I could think of at Magic Mountain which was Superman- and I loved every second (of which there were like 6)- It was AWESOME!!

Here are some pics because you all know that my other blog is where I do all my blabbing and here is where I get to show off the babies.

Cayden our track star!  He rocked it out to the finals that were today actually.  He did really well and we couldn't be more proud!
 We are freezing at one of his track meets- Spring has not been the warmest!

 I am so happy...I'm at the beeecch!


 The kids played for hours in the tide and collected shells- the best entertainment there is.

 Magic Mountain- 3 minutes from my parents home- doesn't get better than that!


 They discovered "Tital Wave"- several times

 Buccaneer with Brady

 Swings with Mamma

 Somebody loves her some Spaghetti

 Giving Grandpa lovin'

 Our last supper

 Best friends (and sisters forever)

The family on Easter Sunday...as the flowers finally decide to stop being shy. 
Happy Spring!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Happy Birthday Eliza and other important stuff


All Eliza wanted for her birthday was a PINK car seat and squinkies as well as a date night out
with Mom and Dad (which is tradition every other year between parties).  We surprised her with a very pink carseat and headed to The Mayan- her pick...not ours.


She's so ecstatic she can't contain herself!




Staying in the snake seems a better option than going home.

Not a whole lot has been going on at the Ottley's.  Eliza had a couple of other celebrations: one at our house and one at the Ottley's with all the cousins and fam.  She got a pink Strawberry Shortcake Cake with Strawberry herself on top (Cord has the pic and I'm too lazy to grab it from him- another post) and it was yummy!

I headed to Vegas with Cord for a long weekend at the end of February which was fun (but of course with no third person, we have no pictures except the two that were taken at dinners that you pay 25$ for).  I went down again a couple of weeks later with friends (and no pics again for which I have no excuse but that we were having fun and shopping- too busy to take pictures).  

Spring break is coming up and we are very much looking forward to that as well as General Conference this weekend.  I have been loving the weather, it's been gorg.  And that's my exit que, when you start to talk about the weather, it's time to end the post.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

the 10 commandments

A few weeks ago I was inspired by a lesson that was taught in church about taking the extra time to teach our children to memorize special things that perhaps I had not thought of previously such as the 12 tribes of Israel, the 39 books of the Old Testament, and The 10 Commandments, among other things.  I thought The 10 Commandments would be a good first challenge to bring on.  We work on memorizing scriptures and songs, but I had not taken it to "this level" yet.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only were all my kids excited (ages 5-13) but they all had them memorized by the end of FHE (Family Home Evening) except for the youngest, and she was eager to follow and had them down pat by the following night.

I wanted to take the time to upload these visuals and the tricks we used to help our kids memorize the commandments:

THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME (THIS ONE'S PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY)

THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE (2-TWO ZOO- ZOO'S HAVE STATUES, STATUES CAN BE IDOLS, DON'T WORSHIP IDOLS- THIS WORKED FOR ALL OUR KIDS).

THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN (LIPS- SPEAK THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN)

REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY (4 AND THE EXTRA STICK= H FOR HOLY)


HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE (BEEHIVE=BEHAVE)


THOU SHALT NOT KILL (SIX STICKS- STICKS HURT OR KILL)


THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY (SEVEN CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN IF YOU COMMIT ADULTERY)

THOU SHALT NOT STEAL (HANDCUFFS- STEAL...GET IT?)



THOU SHALT NOT BARE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR (NINE STOP LYING-THE STOP SIGN LOOKS LIKE A 9)

THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE....(YOU CAN READ THE REST)- WHEN MY KIDS SEE THIS BEFORE THEY MEMORIZED IT, THEY SHOUTED OUT "DON'T COVET"

I hope these are helpful and fun.  I had a really good time putting these together and I think that after making full page laminates, I would now make half page flash card type things so my kids can take them with us- as I come up with other fun tricks to learn other things, I will try and remember to pass them along on the blog (good intentions always, just like the recipes, but you can always email me- I cook, I just forget to put them up here)!






 
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