Jacob is 7!!!

Yeah! Today is Jacob's birthday and he had a great day. Last night though he was so excited that it took him 2 HOURS to fall asleep! Luckily that helped him sleep in until after 6:00am at least, even with the excitement. So we all came out at 6:30am and watched him open a present from us...a Star Wars lego set. He got it started before school. The kids and I surprised him and had lunch with him, which he loved.

Zach made Jacob a birthday poster and helped me decorate with streamers and balloons to surprise Jacob when he got home from school (sorry the picture is really dark).

The afternoon was spent finishing his lego set and doing homework.

We had Jacob's favorite for dinner...pancakes and bacon. Then he opened the rest of his presents. He got some chapter books from us (yes Melinda, he does read chapter books and loves them). He got some new clothes from the Strongs and a bunch of army toys from the LeSueurs...apparently Grandma found some good deals on the "after Christmas" sales and Jacob sure benefited from them. And yes Mom, it took me a good half an hour to get everything out of the boxes with all those twistie-ties!

Jacob and Zach playing Star Wars vs. Army guys.

Jacob requested an Exo-Force cake (a type of lego set). Well they are hard to balance normally, let alone on top of a cake. I finally got them to stay up by battling...and sort of holding each other up. Jacob saw it and said "Cool, they're fighting!" Yah...sure...I planned it that way.

This picture was too cute not to add...our own little package of sweetness.

Dallin's car...

Dallin bought a car last night! It is a Mazda 3. We're taking the rental car back today...yeah!

Easter

Sorry, this is a long post. But it's for my journaling...so bear with me. We had a nice Easter weekend. Friday night I went to a performance of "He Is Jesus Christ" that was really nice for getting into the spirit of the weekend (Dallin stayed home with the kids...thanks!). Saturday I spent the morning cooking and then Savannah, Connor & I went to a baby shower. Dallin shopped for a new car and then took the boys over to the school to go running and play soccer. Later we did our version of an egg hunt. Yes, we do it inside. Pathetic, I know. But here's my reasoning...to start with, we have hardly anything in our backyard that can hide eggs...just the slide and the garbage can (which I really don't want the kids touching). So inside has many more hiding options. We also use plastic eggs so I don't have to worry about a mess or losing one. And after I get the hunt going then the kids LOVE taking turns hiding them...which keeps them busy while I get other things done. We gave Connor an egg in the playroom and that kept him busy for just about the whole egg hunt. This is his cute little facial expression when he's figuring things out.

Zach always gets really in to stuff likes this, which helps make the other kids more excited.

Savannah finding an egg under the couch.

The easter baskets had lots of fun things to do...but this was Jacob's favorite. They each got a package of those little pellets that you put in water and they grow into a sponge shape. Jacob said they were "transforming." He sat by the bathtub for over an hour waiting for them all...but got bored and grabbed a book to help pass the time.

Connor checking out his basket. He loves bouncy balls and got two that are his very own...so the older kids can't always take them away from him.

Our kids LOVE rub-on tatoos. And Dallin loves putting them on them. So the Easter Bunny found eggs that had Spiderman and Dora tattoos...48 in each egg. Well Zach is in heaven. Dallin did a few after church and then today Zach has been earning more every couple of hours for being good.

Savannah and her Dora tatoos (there are already a couple more added to that belly).

Jacob...another of Dallin's masterpieces.

Zach today with more being added every hour (the one on his cheek will be washed off tonight because he has preschool tomorrow).

Last night we had our friends, the Davies, over for dinner. It was a really nice time and the kids had a great time playing with Caleb and Emma.

Kids spring pictures...

This morning I took the kids to JCPenney to get their pictures. They did so good and their individual pictures turned out really cute...the one of all of them is okay. But since I won't really be able to blog those pics (maybe I can figure it out) I took a couple of pictures in the backyard with their "picture" clothes still on. Jacob had to hold Connor down because he wanted to go run around. I think they're pretty cute kids!

Car accident!

Dallin's work laptop was in a backpack on the floor underneath this mess on the passenger side. Amazingly both the backpack and computer were just fine.

Last night Dallin showed up on the front porch after work. He was in a car accident at the turn right by our house (Gattis School & Rusk Rd.). He was turning left onto Rusk and there was another car waiting to turn left (into the Fellowship) just across from him. It was blocking his view and he didn't see the other car coming...so as he turned left a minivan smashed into the side of his car and sent him spinning. Luckily everyone was okay...but we're not so sure about Dallin's car. Dallin thinks it's pretty totaled, but we'll let the insurance people figure all of that out. I'm just so glad that Dallin's okay!
Update: Dallin got a rental car this afternoon (Wednesday)...nice to have good insurance. The car is at the body shop to see if it can be fixed...ha ha ha. Dallin is going to take pictures of it tomorrow when he goes to get all of his stuff out of it and I'll post one later.
Another Update: It's Friday and the body shop confirmed that Dallin will need to get a new car. He'll probably start looking tomorrow.

Sleeping Savannah...

It is very fun for me to check on Savannah after she falls asleep at night. She will usually play in her room for a little while and rearrange all of her "kids" (her stuffed animals) while she sings to them. She always makes sure that Hilda and Heidi (the hippos) are tucked in...either with her or with another blanket.

She often gets tired before she can make it back to the bed and ends up only half-way on.

The other day Savannah was playing and told me I had to be quiet because all of her kids were sleeping. Savannah doesn't own any baby dolls because she won't play with them...instead her babies include a rabbit, a rocking horse, dog, cat, hippos, teddy bear, care bears and "pillow," which were all tucked under various blankets all over her room. Pillow was given to her by Grandma LeSueur and has a picture of the kids on it. She uses pillow like any other animal...and as you can see gets tucked in too. Last night was so cute because she had her arm around Heidi and Hilda was under the blanket holding "Pillow." Little girls can just be so cute.

Zilker Park

Yesterday the kids and I spent the whole morning at Zilker Park in downtown Austin. I had promised the kids a trip back to the "dino pit" and it was raining when my parents were here...so I got to take them all myself. We had a great time!

First we played at the park there, which has 3 large playscapes next to eachother. This one is like an island with "water" around it. They thought it was so cool to run in the "water". It had a seal to "ride" and cool carvings of ocean life all around inside of it.

One of the playscapes is attached to this really old fire truck...again, very cool for little boys.

We rode the Zilker Zephyr train that goes for 25 minutes along the river and town lake. This was by far Savannah's favorite part of the day.

Jacob and Zach liked how the train goes underneath one of the playscapes...so kids were right above us.

Right after I took this picture is when my camera's battery died. It was probably a good thing because I take way too many pictures as it is. Connor fell asleep on the train ride and then we headed over to the "dino pit" and had a picnic lunch. The kids dug up fossils until they were good and worn out. As we were leaving we discovered an aviary that has "birds of prey" like owls, hawks, vultures, etc. Jacob said "Wow, the vulture droids on Stars Wars sort of DO look like the real vultures." Only Jacob could connect Star Wars with an aviary. It was a fun, fun day.

And oh yes...notice how we're all bundled up because it was overcast and pretty chilly? Well today it was humid and almost 90 degrees. That's Texas weather for you.

I've been tagged...

...by Holly Strong!

A- Attached or single: Attached to my husband Dallin and 4 great kids
B- Best Friends: My mom, Alisha Shumway, great sister-in-laws, lots of friends here in Texas and those I miss in Tucson!
C- Cake or Pie: I'd have to say pie, unless it's cheesecake
D- Day of choice: Thursday during naptime usually
E- Essential item: bed
F- Favorite color: Yellow and lately red
G- Gummy bears or worms: worms...the sour kind
H- Hometown: Mesa, AZ
I- Indulgences: Brownies and Girl's Night Outs (including Book Club)
J- January or July: January (Arizona & Texas are not known for their Julys)
K- Kids: Jacob (almost 7), Zach (5), Savannah (almost 3), Connor (1)
L- Life is not complete without: Dallin & the above-mentioned kids
M-Marriage Date: December 18, 1999
N- Number of Siblings: 2 brothers (6 brother-in-laws & 7 sister-in-laws)
O- Oranges or apples: Gala apples
P- Phobias or fears: my kids being kidnapped or lost
Q- Quotes: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"
R- Reason to smile: At the moment...Connor's cute little face poking around the corner playing peek-a-boo with me
S- Season: Spring
T- Tag three friends: Jody Corbett, Stephanie Montague, Christa Johnson
U- Unknown fact about me: I actually like to do the dishes (the only chore I can say that about)
V-Very favorite store: Super Walmart...it has everything, so I don't have to drag my kids to tons of stores
W- Worst habit: Saying dumb things without thinking
X- X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds
Y- Your favorite food: Italian
Z- Zodiac: Gemini (I think)

Ready, Set, Play...

On Monday we were going to go to the Nature & Science Center with Grandma & Grandpa, but it was raining...so instead we went to Ready, Set, Play! It is a huge building full of jumping castles and blown up things. There are probably more than 30 couches for the adults (although we never got to sit down). They also had 2 toddler areas that were great for Connor. It was so much fun! Connor loving the ball pit (and Savannah teaching Connor to throw the balls out).

Savannah loved the giant slide and probably spent an hour going up and down.

Connor even went in this "bouncy house" with the boys but could only stand up when they weren't jumping. Jacob and Zach were all over the place, so this is one of the few pictures I got of them.

Zach requested that I go on the slide with him...great fun for a Mommy!

Connor in one of the toddler areas. He is such a sweet, fun kid. He's got funny taste in food though. This is a kid who won't eat fresh fruit, hot dogs, etc. But he loves homeade spaghetti and had lasagna and ravioli for lunch at Fazoli's.

Grandma & Grandpa's visit!!!

Grandpa & Grandma LeSueur came for a visit on Saturday afternoon. They had been in Dallas visiting my Uncle Craig and came down in a rental car. The kids worked very hard on this cool poster for them. It was a masterpiece. We went to Chuy's for dinner, where Connor spilled a whole glass of ice water all over Grandma's jeans (30 minutes before we were even seated). So we went and sat in the car to dry off and made quite the spectacle holding Connor's clothes out the windows to dry off in the wind. By the time we actually ate the kids were so tired and full of chips that they hardly ate anything...a testament to why we rarely take our kids out for dinner.

Connor can say "Ah-ma" really good now, and was just working on "Ah-pa" when they left this morning. Grandma & Grandpa watched the kids last night (Monday) so that we could go on a date!!! We also went to Ready, Set, Play...but I'll do that as a different post.

All the kids playing "roll the ball" with Grandma.

Playing "pillow monster" with Grandpa (improvising with stuffed animals).

Zach loved wearing Grandpa's glasses...we thought he looked pretty cute.
Savannah loves to have people at our house...and also likes to monopolize 100% of their attention. This is what happens when she doesn't get her way. It was Jacob's turn to pick the book that Grandma was reading, so Savannah went and pouted behind the couch.

Cousin Joshua!

Joshua Matos LeSueur was born yesterday, March 6, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They did a C-Section because he was right around 10 lbs.!!! (They weigh in kilos so I don't the exact weight.) And that was even a week early. Congratulations Justin and Ana Paula! Justin is my little brother and this is their first baby. Justin is living and working in the U.S. right now and hopes to go back soon to be able to sign the paperwork for Joshua. After that is done and Ana Paula's visa goes through then they will both come live in the U.S. We're excited to meet them in person someday!
UPDATE: Justin sent in a bunch of notarized paperwork and may not have to go to Brazil after all to sign for Joshua. I saw Joshua on the webcam last night and he is so, so cute!

Oh the traumatic life of a 1-year-old...

Lately Connor gets highly offended any time someone shuts a door to keep him out. He stands outside the door screaming and eventually goes to the next door that's forbidden and cries outside of that one.

The kids try to build "walls" to keep Connor out of the playroom when they don't want him messing stuff up. Do the walls help? Never.

Bippity-Boppity-Boo...Star Wars Style

Savannah used to play Star Wars with the boys with Daddy's lightsaber. Well recently she decided that magic is more effective. She uses her magic wand and yells "Bippy-Boppy-Boo!" Apparently it works because the boys go running. When it doesn't work then the wand turns into a lightsaber for hands-on combat.

Bowling!

We've had a busy weekend. In the morning I took Savannah with me to a baby shower. But yesterday afternoon the boys went to a birthday party for their friend E (on the right). It was at a very cool bowling alley and the boys had a blast. They thought the bowling shoes were neat because they could slide around on the floor.

Zach tried every throw possible...from throwing over his shoulder to rolling it at 0.1 miles per hour.

Jacob did a victory dance after every turn...and not just his own. He did a dance for everyone...every time they bowled.

The Transformers cake and party favors were exciting. It was a fun time!