We miss you, Warren!

Can't wait to see you tomorrow! Here are some pics of what we have been doing this week. These are our children- just in case you've forgotten what they look like. JK!!
We love you!

God Bless the USA

Hope you all have a Happy 4th of July! I am so grateful to live in a country where I am FREE to live and worship how I please.

Cassidy the Horse

I walked into the room to find Cass with a belt around her neck and the boys trying to ride her. Thank goodness I spotted them before Cass got CHOKED to death!! We moved the belt to the belly and this is what we get.....

Pretty Flowers

Luke was playng outside and ran in the house with a wad full of grass, weeds and dog hair. I was wondering why he brought it in, and why he was trying to hand it to me, until I realized he had picked me some "flowers". So I had Cass go back out with him and find some shriveled dandelions to add to the mix. I didn't have the heart to throw away the "garden variety mix" when he was trying to be thoughful, so we just threw it in a glass bowl on the counter. He was so proud of himself! Cass wanted to add water to make sure they didn't die. I assured her dog hair and brown weeds probably didn't need the extra moisture!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Luke has this constant need to clean the house. It cracks me up. He tried with all his might to open the dishwasher this afternoon- so I had to send Cass over (it's her job to empty it) to help out. Of course the first thing he goes for are the knives and glassware, but Cass is pretty quick to get at them first. He knows where everything goes in the kitchen. His new favorite is scrubbing the sink. What a funny guy! I'll take it for as long as it lasts!!

Cade the Artist

I know I've been blogging a lot about Arts and Crafts at our house, but it just amazes me how many HOURS Cade spends at the kitchen table coloring, gluing, painting, etc. Cass finally talked him into playing house where they made beds and he instantly fell asleep! :)

Great Book

The Parenting Breakthrough: Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent by Merrilee Browne Boyack

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great reference book on how to raise your kids to teach them how to be independent- do work around the house, learn about real life, finances, etc. I LOVE IT!


View all my reviews.

The Grape Lady

When I was in Utah my uncle showed us this "Grape Lady". We were all laughing so hard tears were coming. There are some fun music videos on YouTube that accompany it if you're interested as well. Hope you enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THfiHQZVSw0

Arts and Crafts Time

The kids have been raiding the craft cupboard this week working on all sorts of "creative" projects. I'm not sure what many of them are, but they are having a lot of fun. I had to clean out and reorganize the craft area of the pantry today to make way for all the things they've been making (and to help with clean-up!). Yesterday they spent hours doing it and didn't even ask to watch TV!!!

Doesn't get much Sweeter

Even when they're growing up and helpful, it's nice to see them so at peace in their sleep! :)

Cade vs the Hulk

Movies and more drive ins....
If you live by a Cinemark, hopefully you are partaking in their $1 movies for the summer. We got a summer's pack where they're only 50 cents a piece. So we see a movie once a week- it's a great way to stay out of the heat. Last week was "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium", and today was "Alvin and the Chipmunks". It's been a lot of fun. We've also been getting more use out of our "drive in" cars at our friends' house.

So Proud of LUKE!!!

He went in the potty for the first time tonight!! YEAH!!! When we get back from our Utah trip we'll be going strong on the training! We're all so proud of him!

Ward Splits

Ward splits are so strange. Our ward here in Texas was split on Sunday. I've lived in several wards that have been split- but this is definitely a weird situation being so new. Now I'm REALLY confused who everyone is, and nobody knows I'm new either. We had an enrichment night tonight which included the sisters from the old ward and the new ward- so confusing. At least I don't have all the sad feelings of losing great friends to a different ward, etc, since I don't know anyone anyway!! :) Merced friends- I miss you!!!

Drive in Movies

We made our own drive-in movies today. The kids decorated cardboard boxes and are enjoying a little Pokemon. One of these days we'll have to take them to a "real" drive in- so they understand what they are doing! :)

Piggy Pot Pie Book

For those of you who were asking, this is the book I got the "piggy pot pies" idea from. It doesn't have an author on it- it must be a compilation of different recipes or something! My aunt gave it to me- it is really fun! The pictures inside are great to be able to see what the finished product is supposed to look like. There is an ABC section where you can make different foods through the alphabet and it also has a really fun Halloween section.

Chocolate covered strawberries

We made chocolate covered strawberries and bananas the other night for a fun summery dessert. Cade had more than his fill and tried to hide under the table when helping himself to a few extras!

Chef's helper

Cassidy's new favorite thing is to help in the kitchen. She made our kitchen into a restaurant (complete with menus, an apron, signs, and notebook for taking orders) for Warren for Father's day. She informed us she was the waitress, but also the chef. She had about 20 notes for Warren wishing him a Happy Father's day. Warren told her it was the best one yet and she beamed for hours! :)

A Big Boy Now

Luke is growing up faster than we can keep up lately! He's slept all night in the bunk beds with Cade for 2 nights in a row. I was going to hold off, but every night when we announce it's time for bed he grabs lamby and marches to the bunkbed room.


Yesterday I made some chocolate chip cookies for Warren for Father's day. Before I knew it I looked over and Luke had got a plate out for himself and was sitting at the table with a chocolate chip dough ball on his plate, sitting nicely in his chair. I didn't have the heart to reprimand him since he was so responsible to eat on a plate at the table!


Cade has been wearing himself out lately and has been falling asleep in different locations of the house at odd times of day. Luke took advantage of Cade's nap and eagerly rushed to Cade's box of "Star Wars Guys" excited to play with them without any "supervision" from Cade. (He thought he was pretty sneaky.)

Trying something new...

Luke has been wanting to sleep with Cade in a big boy bed. So, we tried it last night. Cassidy even climbed in- she didn't want to miss any of the action. Luke ended up in his crib an hour later due to mischeivous behavior (including hair pulling and body slams), so try try again some other time. Part of me is very content keeping him in his crib as long as possible since he sleeps so well in there. Though, it would be nice to have him in a bed when the baby needs the crib.

Piggy Pot Pies

This is the summer of fun for us! We have all sorts of activities lined up for kid fun. Yesterday we got together with our friends and made Piggy Pot Pies. I forgot to take pictures of them before we ate them- so there is a pic below ours of the cookbook.

Quick Weekend in Utah

I had a MARVELOUS time in Utah this weekend! I got to see most of my mom's side (the Jardine family- WONDERFUL to see you all!!), one of my new baby nephews, two of Warren's siblings, a great friend from Merced, and BYU roommates at Steffanie LJ McCombs' wedding. (Congrats, Steff!) Warren and Stephenie were great to take the kids while I was on my escape for a couple days- THANK YOU for a break MUCH needed!

A pink eye miracle

Cassidy had pink eye this weekend and she was the ONLY one who got it! We have never been this fortunate! Usually it goes through all of us! Hooray!

Time to take it easier

It's been a stressful couple of months over here. I've had a lot of anxiety especially the past few weeks. So I took a stress test online. I had a stressor in almost every category. It's time to take it a little easier. Warren is only gone for one night this week and one next week. He's been great to help with the kids and even cleaned up the house for me this weekend! What a great guy! Needless to say I'm doing much better already!

Our tooth fairy is going broke

We've been waiting and waiting for Cassidy's teeth to come out and she loses one, and then a second one just a couple days later! You can see her big teeth are already growing in- those little guys must have had strong roots! Another dispute/question in our house- is the tooth fairy a male or female?

A good eater

One thing Luke and I have in common is our love for food. I've never seen anyone lick a yogurt container completely clean- without a speck of yogurt on the inside. The outside and his face, however...:)

Cade's Cast is OFF!

For the last couple days we've been trying to convince him he can take it off and he breaks down balling that his arm still hurts. I was pretty sure he was just nervous. We have been taking it off during baths- so today after bath time I hid the cast and didn't put it back on. He didn't even notice for over an hour. Then he started looking at both arms and started to get really nervous- "My arm! My cast!" So, I said, "Cade your arm is better, you don't need it anymore." And he goes, "Oh, yeah." and that was that. It cracked me up that once it was off he couldn't even remember which arm needed the cast- so it must be doing fine. He doesn't move it around that much- but I think it's more out of habit. The doc says in 3 weeks he should be using it normally.