ballet

Adrie started ballet last month.  My old dance team coach is her teacher.  However, Adrie doesn't like to be told how to do something and she won't try something if she doesn't know how to do it.  Needless to say, ballet has been a trying experience for ME!  Here are a few cute pics from her class last Saturday.

Warm ups.  Shaking out her legs.

Peek a boo, I see you!

More stretching.

And MORE stretching...

blurry stretching.

Cutie girl.

"I know you're trying to take a picture of me"

basketball

Oh, I forgot to post about Conner's basketball game on Saturday. His team has done really well and he's had a good season. This is all new for him and he has taken very well the fact that he doesn't really have any idea how to play basketball. Believe me, that is HUGE for him! To put himself out there in front a ton of people playing something that he's not super good at and doesn't really know the basics is very hard for him. But he has done great and it's been really fun to watch him play.

Conner getting ready to take a shot.

I think this pic is so funny.  #4 was looking at his coach and saying "I got this one".  Notice Conner comes about mid tricep on him.

Another shot of Conner and #4 side by side.  

Although the Huskies put up a good fight and stayed in the game, they ended up losing.  But they played hard and did great!

back to hair!

I did a couple cute do's on the older girls today that I just love! For Alia I just did 2 4 strand braids (I didn't know how to do these and just learned this morning. LOVE them!) but I think it looks so cute on Alia. Ann-Elise did NOT want to cooperate and didn't even want me to do her hair, but I told her she didn't have a choice. I think her hair may be my favorite that I've done on her. SOOO cute! Although, you can tell by the pics she wasn't happy with me!

The proper way to "write a wrong"

My mom and I went shopping on Saturday.  We took Alia, Adrie and Caile with us.  The younger girls were tyrants!  They were horrible.  I was exhausted when we left the store and Adrie was just being obnoxious.  My mom was trying to talk with her on the way home about how disrespectful she was acting towards me.  Well, we had already made an agreement that Adrie and Alia would spend the night at my parents house and my mom didn't really want to take Adrie with her acting that way.  She sat her down and, once again, tried to explain to her that she was being very  mean and that she wasn't going to let her go to her house if she didn't correct her behavior.  My mom told her that she needed to "right the wrong" with her mom.  At which point Adrie turns to my mom, and with her most sad voice says "but I don't know HOW to write my mom's name"!  Oh my goodness.  Does it get any cuter than that?  She walks over to me and (again in the so sad voice) says, "mom, Grammy said I need to write your name, but I don't know HOW to write your name.  I told her that maybe we could just talk about the way she acted and how she was being disrespectful and she didn't need to write my name.  So we spent a few minutes talking about that.  When I gave her a hug and told her that she could now go to Grammy's house, she got all pathetic again and told me "but I didn't write your name, and I don't know HOW to write your name".  So we grabbed a pen and I helped her write "MOM".  

And that class, is how you "write" a wrong!

Ann-Elise's big day

Today was Ann-Elise's baptism.  Here are most of the kids as we were entering the building.

These next pics are for my sister.  Side view of her hair.

Front view.  Pretty girl!

The back of her "heart" hair for her Valentines day baptism.

Leise in the outfit Grammy made her for her baptism.

Leise and Daddy before the big event.

Totally unrelated, but this is Caile as she fell asleep at the table while she was coloring.

Just more proof that is child will sleep anywhere BUT in her bed!

Back to Ann-Elise:  She was baptized today with 3 other children from her church class.  It was an amazing day and we were thrilled to be able to spend it with so many people that we know and love and how special for her to share with her very good friends!

OK, now I'm just looking for praise!

Not really! But if you know me at all. I DO NOT DO HAIR! Seriously. You can probably count on 1 hand how many times I've actually done something nice for my kids hair. It just doesn't happen. With that being said, I've been having a blast this week! However, knowing my ADD, this little "hobby" isn't going to last long, so lets just ride the wave. If history is any indicator, you won't have to bear this much longer! BUT here are the pics from todays hair:

The back of Ann-Elise's hair

I know this is blurry and we still have the problem of her not being able to keep her eyes open EVER when I take a picture of her!

Front of Alia's hair

Alia's double hearts.  Apparently she had told everyone at school that she was going to have hearts in her hair today.  So this morning, she came to me asking me to do her hair!

As for yesterday...  My amazingly wonderful friend Mary took the little girls for a few hours and even did their hair for me.  Mike stayed home from work (well, he worked from home) so that I could get some rest.  After I woke up, I felt amazing.  Still not 100%, but at least alive!  Also, on Wednesday night, another of my amazingly wonderful friends, Lisa, brought us dinner.  What an amazing treat.  It was great to know that I didn't have to move and my family would still eat!  Thanks everyone!

Shocking news...

I DID THE GIRLS HAIR 2 DAYS IN A ROW!!!

And not just in a pony tail. But really cute/time consuming do's!

Here's the proof.

The ones of the little girls are actually from yesterday. I haven't done their hair YET today, but I will. Even being sick, I'll get to it!

Ok, you'll need to sit down for this (especially Pony). Sitting? Comfortable?

Ann-Elise's baptism

For any of you that are interested, Ann-Elise will be baptized this Saturday, Feb. 14th at 11am at the Woodburn chapel.  If you need directions, please let me know and I'd be happy to get them to you.  Hope to see you there!

My big sis will be so proud!

I did Leise's hair today.

My sister was going to come over this coming weekend, but because the pass looks so bad between here and Bend, she probably won't make it. The problem... Ann-Elise is going to be baptized on Saturday and my sister is the "hair genius" and was going to do something cute for Leise's hair. So, I have taken matters into my own hands. Literally! This is what I did today:

It's not perfect.  You can't really see the ribbon woven into her hair very well and the heart is a little lopsided, but it will be better next time.  I promise!  Oh and I took about 5 pics of the front and in EVERY one she had her eyes closed.  UGH!

Just playing around

Happy Birthday Leise!

I know I'm a little late, but it's been a crazy weekend.  

Ann-Elise turned 8 on Saturday.  We started the weekend by having her friends come over on Friday night for a "girls night out" with a movie and pizza.  I honestly didn't know that 12 girls could make that much noise!  But they all had a blast.  She spent Saturday playing with friends so I didn't really even see her on her actual birthday, but she had fun, so I suppose that's all that really matters!

I can't believe that it's been 8 years.  When I was pregnant with her, we thought she had a genetic disorder, so half of my pregnancy was spent trying to deal with all of the unknowns.  Turns out she was absolutely perfect when she was born and I think that's one of the reasons that she is so special!  She beat the odds and is my walking miracle.  She is beautiful and funny and happy and helpful!

Happy Day Princess!!!

No, Seriously, WAY too much Wii!

So, I'm driving down the freeway with Adrie.  I hear "pull the trigger, mom, go faster, faster, faster".  What????  Pull the trigger?  Umm, I don't know what kind of tv she's been watching because it hasn't been on MY tv!  Then it hit me.  Pull the trigger.  That's what we say when we're playing Mario Kart and someone has the speed boost.  Then as I pass a truck on my right she sits up in her seat, looks out the window at the trucks and says "Na na na na na"! Oh heavens. We may have to cut her off!

Almost in my good graces!

As you know, it's been a rough couple of days.  Yesterday didn't really go as smoothly as I had hoped and last night was a night mare again.  Caile got into our bed again, and I think at this point I'm just setting myself up for the fact that she'll be with us until she's 18! 

Anyway, I spent WAY too many hours trying to figure out how photoshop works.  UGH.  NOT something I'm good at.  All I wanted to do was black and white a photo and then enhance blue eyes.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Well, when you have a Mac, it isn't!  After spending hours downloading free trials and trying to play with them, I got it to work on 1 picture.  However, for the life of me, I don't recall how I did it!  Oh well at least I got 1 good one!

Only if you were worried...

I thought I'd let you know that I survived the day yesterday.  And probably more importantly, so did all 5 kids!  Man that was something!  If Caile wasn't screaming at me, then Adrie was.  NOT good on very little sleep.  Last night Caile only woke up once at 10:30 and after screaming for 1/2 hour, went back to bed in HER bed!!!  YEAHHH!  I think she's still sleeping now.  That poor girl was tired!  So, I'm looking forward to a great day.

Oh, and here are a couple "they can sleep anywhere except their own beds" pics

.

I don't want to hear it..

from any of you that is.  I'm going on a rant.  Just let me!

I AM SO SICK OF 2 YEAR OLDS!!!  I want my bed back.  I want to have non poopy underwear (on her, not me!) and I DO NOT want to be screamed at.  I'm sick of it.  I'm exhausted from 2 weeks of hell at night with her crawling into my bed.  Screaming at me and banging on the door if I've locked it to keep her out.  I'm done.  Done.  Done.  Done.

AAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Carry on.