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!

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.

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)!

The Fall review...

I'm become so bad at updating my blog...and I'm probably not going to do it more often, but at least my photos tell a story and those are never lacking.  

Here is Cayden on his first day of Jr. High.  He's grown 3 inches in a little over 6 months. He's 5' 3" and weighs 10lbs less than me.  His feet are officially bigger than mine and He's a teenager inside and out.  We are enjoying it (most of the time).  Just as you stop worrying if they are going to make it out of their childhood years, you start worrying if they're going to make to their adult years!

Eliza has been in Jazz, Combo class, and has now announced that she wants to take Gym class with her little bestie.  She loves to try new things and is as sharp as a tac.  She Is reading every sign on the side of the road, every title on the TV screen, and every little book she can get her hands on.  Eliza even "reads" the scriptures at night (she repeats all the words after I read them like she has read them herself.  We still call her the baby and everyone goes along with it because they know it's really hard for me to watch her grow up.  She started Kindergarten this September and I enjoy every morning with her and miss her every afternoon when she is gone. 

We've never had our burning bushes turn red in the seven years we've lived here, so when they turned red this November, I had to document it as a momentous occasion as red is one of my most favorite colors.  I loved planting over 200 tulip bulbs that weekend and kept looking up at the bushes and how vivid the colors were.  That evening the sunset was amazing as well.  It was the last beautiful weekend we had before the snow and bitter cold hit us.

The girls on their first day of Fifth (Hannah) and Third (Madelyn) grade.

 Hannah (Sandy from Grease), Eliza (Leopard Kitty), and Madelyn (Girly Pirate) for Halloween.

Hannah Knee boarding in Bear Lake

Hannah's Birthday- 9(?) girls had their hair done and we went for a limo ride to dinner- it was a blast!

For my birthday Cord took me to a John Mayer concert.  This pic was taken by Cayden (future pro photog) just before we left.  Great concert!

Madelyn loves ballet- she just had her recital (pics to come in my Christmas update)- She can't wait to take in the spring because "they are dancing with Mexican fans" she says.

That's our fall update.  Not all that we've done (by a long shot) but some of the highlights of the last couple of months.  

We bought a couple of cars.  Poor Cord, He bought me a Nissan Armada and after a couple of weeks and a carpool with a few football boys and all my girls, I realized it was too small, so he bought me another Yukon XL that fit my family much better.  So no more Bob the Tamale.  The kids named the new car Kirby.  I have no idea why.  We had a bout of Strep throat run through our family, that was fun.  I think that about sums it up.  We are looking forward to December and the cute plays, programs, and parties.  I am almost done decorating the house as of this week and am most grateful to have the opportunity to reflect on the reason that we celebrate this time of year.  

Happy Holidays!

Bob- the Tamale

Monday started as a great day.  I got things cleaned up in the house, fed the kids, cleaned up some more, and fed the kids again.  Then it was time to take Hannah to camp in Salt Lake.  We got in the car (Eliza, Hannah, and I) and headed out.  About 10 minutes from our destination, my car kicked into a lower gear (it's an automatic) and a whole bunch of errors started lighting up.  I pressed my ever-so-handy OnStar button and the magic person came on asking how he could assist me.  I told him my car had freaked out and to HELP!  He did his nifty diagnostic thing and after telling me that there were three errors with the car, he said he'd start with the least serious.  Are you crazy?  Give me the worst news first, since I'm going full-speed (plus 10) on the freeway!  My worst error was that my transmission could be failing and he suggested that I get off the freeway immediately and that he would call for a tow- That's my trusty OnStar guy!  I made it to the off ramp, which happened to be where we were headed in the first place, and I came to a stop at a left-hand turn lane.  Once I tried to accelerate again, my car was acting like it was a manual and wasn't sure which gear it was in.  Oh boy- on go the hazards.  I gingerly accelerated until I moved forward and made it into the parking lot (which thankfully had a bookstore, clothes shopping, AND a frozen yogurt shop)-I turned my car off.  After the tow truck came and we made it to the dealer, we were given a rental and sent on our way (btw- Cord appeared within 20 minutes- my knight in silver armor).  

Yesterday my car was ready and as I went to pick it up, Eliza Jane asked, "mom, are we going to get the tamale?"  I don't think I could ever correct her- of course Hannah promptly piped up and said, "it's a DENALI"- Thanks Hannah!  I think that was her last baby word, and she stole it.  

Since picking up our car, we have decided to affectionately name it "Bob", first because it's shorter than saying "the black car" and second because after what it went through and the fact that it made it to a safe place for our family, it deserves a name.  I dub thee "Bob, the tamale"- hopefully minus the transmission problems!

Girly rockin' out!

Fwimmin...

Until about a year ago- "fwimmin" is what Eliza called swimming- I will cherish that forever!