Please not Slytherin...

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

okay, I'm kind of a dork, but a Harry Potter fan non the less. I found this quiz and was curious what house I would be in. I know all you other Harry Potter fans are curious too.:)

Singing/falling in the shower

I hope it's not bad of me to put a video of Maddie in the shower on here (she'll probably be mad at me for taking it when she's about 15). I had to do it, because it was so funny. Maddie was taking a shower and singing the funniest song at the top of her lungs. I was going to try and sneak a video of her, but instead she saw me first thing. So instead of me getting her funny song, I got her slipping and falling. We both had a good laugh.

Maddie keeps watching this video over and over on my computer and she laughs so hard her face turns red.

Madelyn's first day of Ballet

Maddie started her first class of ballet today. She had so much fun! But I'm afraid she has a bit of a competitive side. Every time the line started without her in front she would make her way up to be the leader by the time they got to the other side of the floor. It's funny to watch because she's pretty subtle about it. I'll be watching her and then realize that she is in front again. Before we went, I had to convince her not to wear her Cinderella shoes and her sparkly necklaces-she wanted to be all glamoured up for her dance class. We haven't got the pink tights and ballet shoes yet-but she'll have them for next week.

In this video the teacher told them they could do whatever they wanted, but they had to do it slow. All the other kids copied what the teacher was doing-but Maddie knew she said they could choose what they do-so she did. And notice how she makes sure she is the first one done.

Once again, Maddie becomes the first one in line. oh, well. Her class was so fun for me to watch! I can't believe she's old enough to be in dance.

Pool Scare

So, I take my kids swimming every week (including last week). Now they are saying there is an epidemic and all Utah pools are being closed down, or are no longer able to let kids 5 and under in. Scary! Thank goodness none of us got sick! Looks like I'll have to get the blow up pool out and break it to Maddie that there will be no more big pool and water slides this Summer.

Also, today I got all signed up as a substitute teacher. I know it sounds uneventful, but it's a way for me to stay close to the school districts and earn points for my Level 2 teaching licence, all without actually having to go everyday and make lesson plans. This way I get to go into lots of schools and I get to choose which days I work (which will be whatever days Andy has off of work). I'm excited and the pay isn't to horrible.

Playground Climber

I babysat my friend's kids the other day and we were all playing at the playground. The boys were working hard at trying to get to the top of the ant. Maddie finally got sick of watching and said, "here just let me show you how to do it." She is so funny!

Bedtime stories

Every night, Garen gets 2 stories before bed and Maddie gets 2 or 3. Lately, Maddie has wanted to be the one to read Garen his stories. She does a great job and Garen will just sit there and listen. What a good big sister!

Maddie will ask him to find things in the story and then she will take his hand and make him point to the correct answer followed by a good amount of praise. She is so funny, she loves to be the teacher or the person in charge. And notice Garen's belly hanging out-he is getting so big!

Haircut

We decided it was time to cut Garen's hair-since the sides go past his chin when wet. I just wanted it trimmed and still shaggy. But as we cut, it looked so uneven. So we ended up going shorter and shorter. Now he looks so different! But at least his curls will grow back.

He really did like getting it cut-he thought it was fun to sit in the sink.

no more curls

I don't know how to flip this video the right way-Any ideas?

Camping Trip

Last night we got to go camping, just me, Andy, and Maddie. We left Garen with Andy's parents. It was so much fun. We set up camp, went on a nice hike, and then took a ride and looked at deer (we saw about 50 or 60). When it got dark we built a little fire inside a dutch over (since campfires are illegal now). We roasted marshmallows and told stories-Maddie can make up some pretty good stories. About 10:30 we went in the tent and Maddie fell asleep in like 30 seconds. So me and Andy got to go back outside and spend a few more hours looking and the stars and just talking. It was so beautiful up there and it was fun to finally take Maddie-she's been asking all Summer. In the morning, we shot pop cans with Andy's pistol and cleaned up camp. We couldn't stay to long this morning because Andy had to go to work today at 1:00p.m. Maddie enjoyed every minute and she can't wait to go camping again.



putting the tent up


Maddie taking a break on her dad's shoulders when she got tired on our hike



roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores

Andy shooting his gun and Maddie hiding behind him, covering her ears.

Playing Tennis

This morning we all went and played a little tennis. On our way out we all had our hands full with our rackets and the kids and forgot the keys to the car, which were now locked in the house. So before we got to go play, we had to pull the screen of one of the windows, that thankfully I had left unlocked. We had a fun time playing. Maddie really enjoyed it and she's pretty good!

These pictures taken by Maddie

Nice swing

Ball boy

Check out the look on her face. I think she is pretty worried about missing.

Basket Kids

Like Alisha said on her Blog once before, Who needs to buy lots of expensive toys when you could just give them a laundry basket.

What my kids do for fun

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Dancing Princess

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pretty in Pink

My friend and I finally finished making Maddie's new princess dress today. It's going to be her Halloween costume. The minute she put it on, she was acting just like a little princess. I didn't do to bad on my first big sewing project (of course, I had a huge amount of help from my friend, Brenda).

Last Nights Sunset.

Garen-The climbing machine

Garen's everyday task is to try his hardest to climb on something that shouldn't be climbed on, and then to fall off of it. Here's what he decided to conquer today- the musical play table and Maddie's red chair. And yes, he fell on his head several times. But there is no stopping him.

Eating Spaghetti

Garen-14 months old

Princess Maddie

Yesterday when we went to the hospital to see Levi, Maddie had made a very special card for him all on her own. She found a picture with a fireman "because Levi is a boy", She glued a valentine to in "because she loves him," and she put letter stickers all over it, "because she is going to teach him his letters." I guess I had forgotten to explain that Maddie wouldn't be able to go in and see the baby, since they only let people older then 14 come in. When we got there she was kind of confused and sad that she didn't get to see her new cousin. So, Amber is home now, so we got the chance to stop by today and Maddie got to hold her sweet new cousin.

We were out shopping today and found this Cinderella (Maddie's favorite princess) dress for $7-usually they are $20 or more. She was so excited to dress up and be a "Cinderella dancer girl."

A New Nephew

I now have 15 nieces and nephews. But little Levi is the first nephew on Andy's side. Andy's sister, Amber had Levi early Thursday morning. Since I was in Burley I didn't get to see him till Friday night. He is so tiny and so handsome (he is 5lbs 12oz in the above picture). It will be fun for Maddie and Garen to have a cousin on Andy's side of the family.

Burley Time

On Tuesday, I rode with Sara and her kids to Burley. Mandy and her kids were already there. We went to the good old Burley fair. Of course we had to eat at the Burley West Stake booth, and the kids enjoyed seeing the animals.

Maddie eating her hot dog

Sisters, 4 year old girls, and 1 year old boys

Maddie, Abby, Kaisa, and cows

Grandpa Paul helping Maddie get to the car safely

Garen has discovered how wonderful Popsicles are.

On Wednesday morning we took the kids to the parade. The girls had a great time filling their bags with candy and the boys wanted to run in the rode or take a nap. But we had a fun time.

It was so fun to stay up late and watch movies with my sisters and my mom. Although we spent the majority of our time entertaining the 6 kids, it was fun to be together.

The girls played out side in the pool for hours and Mandy created some Blue's Clues paw prints that we hid on clues and then they had to figure out where the treasure was. In the treasure was some things to paint and some pop-its and some candy.

My mom tried to tire the girls out by taking them to Storybook park for awhile-they head a blast! We also took them to the Mt. View playground.

Joren, Garen, and Colton

Maddie and Garen

Maddie and Abby had fun finding the states they live (or will live) in.

Fun on the slide