Children's Museum

Landon and I went with a couple of friends to the Austin Children's Museum.  She has an annual membership and can bring a couple of friends for free.  I hadn't been in years, so it was Landon's first time.  He loved all the hands-on activities.  I think his favorite was this ball thing.  It had air blowing through it and you could rearrange the tubes however you want.  Then you put a ping pong ball in and it shoots through the tubes.

 We also built our own race car and he could have stayed at this little ramp all day.

 Landon and his buddy Declan

 Landon loved the ball room, but a field trip group came in right after we got there, so we didn't stay long.  His favorite exhibit was this ball "roller coaster."  He loves climbing stairs anyway, but getting to roll a boll down a long track just made it that much better.

Thanks for the fun morning Elizabeth & Declan!

Mother's Day

It was a nice Mother's Day with lots of love.  Most of the kids made me homemade things at school and church and I got flowers and chocolate from Dallin.  He also gave me the entire Harry Potter movie collection on Blu-Ray to be able to watch with the kids as they get older.  (We had to get rid of all of our VHS tapes not long ago, so we're lacking in some of our favorite movies.)

It was so nice to have my mom here for the 2nd year in a row, this time totally by coincidence.  She didn't even realize she'd be here for Mother's Day until after she'd booked her flight.

Since we were taking pictures, here is one of Dallin and I.

My mom made dinner for me this year, so I actually got to relax all afternoon.  Thanks Mom!

We did have a pretty rough afternoon with one child, but luckily Dallin gave me a break and took care of it for the most part.  That was a gift in itself...thanks Dallin!

Jacob's Field Trips

Jacob has a whole weekend of field trips, and loved every minute of it.  On Friday, May 10 he went on his orchestra reward field trip to Main Event.  Since Grandma was in town I was able to go with him.  I am very lucky that Jacob still loves to have his parents near him and likes to do stuff with us.  I asked him if he wanted me to just hang out with the other mom and he said "No, I wanted you to come so you can hang out with me!"  We did Neon Bowling, rock climbing, glow-in-the-dark miniature golfing, laser tag, arcades, and had lunch.  Jacob loved the refillable drink, and spent the day going back for more Sprite.  I'm so happy I was able to go have fun with him, because I'm sure the days of him wanting me along will not last forever.

 

 Jacob is really scared of heights and only made it about halfway up the rock wall each time.  But he went back a couple of weeks later with the deacons for an activity and made it up to the very top.

 

 Fruit Ninja on the big screen

 On the way home our bus broke down and we had to sit for 30 min. or so waiting for the replacement.  Luckily there was a breeze, but the Texas humidity is pretty brutal.

 On Saturday, May 11 Jacob got to go to the temple for the first time to do baptisms.  Dallin was able to go with him and I know they both enjoyed the trip to and from San Antonio.  We're so proud of Jacob for the faithful young man he is.  He always tries so hard to do what is right.

Monday was the 6th grade reward field trip but Jacob didn't want to go (it was at a ranch in Georgetown, outside, and it was hot).  I let him stay home and hang out with Grandma instead since she was leaving that evening.  He got to go to lunch with Grandma alone, which to him was better than a school field trip.

Tuesday was his choir field trip to Austin Parks and Pizza.  I wasn't able to go on that one, but he had a great time doing the arcades, bumper boats, laser tag, miniature golf, and the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Grandma's Visit

We loved having Grandma come and visit!  She was able to attend many events for the kids, which they all loved.  But we had some fun just hanging out at home as well.

I got Connor this snake at a yard sale, and he quickly informed me that it was missing one of its sewn-on "pits."  That is the hole on some snakes that they use for heat-sensing (yes, I just had to ask Connor that to make sure I had it right).  I kept putting it off and when Grandma got here she was happy to sew it for me one night while Connor was sleeping.  

 Landon loved all the attention he got from Grandma while the kids were at school.

 

 On Thursday, May 9 Jacob had his last orchestra concert.  He will not be playing viola next year because he wants to take technology classes instead.  But he had a fun time learning the viola, and was happy to have Grandma there to watch him play.

 

 Just Dance Disney is our new favorite activity after dinner.  

 

 Jacob was in the ward talent show with his deacon's quorum at church.  They did a skit.  We couldn't hear it very well, but he had fun doing it.  I'm thankful for the friendships he's making and how comfortable he feels with all the boys.  He loves going to scouts every week.

 Grandma, Lauree & Savannah getting a pedicure.

Here's a little video of Jacob warming up with his orchestra before the concert and Grandma dancing with the kids.

Gallery Night and Frog & Toad #4

We went to Gallery Night at the elementary school to see the kids' artwork.  It was also the same night as Connor's kindergarten musical.  Grandma LeSueur was so happy that these things just happened to be going on during her visit and it was fun for the kids to have her there.  Zach's word art is up at the top in red.

 Savannah made an arctic scene with a polar bear.

 Connor's abstract art is at the very top of the picture directly above him.

 This was our 4th round of Frog and Toad.  Every year the kindergarten does this musical, so Connor has seen it before and also watches it on our home videos.  He was so excited to finally perform it himself.  He had a small speaking part that he was very proud of.

 In between each song many of the kids would talk or move all around.  Connor just smiled sweetly and didn't move because that's what the music teacher told them to do.

 Connor is well-loved at the school by many teachers of all different grades.  His smile is hard to resist.  This is the principal, Ms. Hildebrand, and the assistant principal, Mr. Fleming, with Connor after his performance.

Savannah's Baptism

On Saturday, May 4, 2013 Savannah was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  In our church children are baptized at the age of 8, when they have the ability to choose between right and wrong.  We are so proud of Savannah for her decision to be baptized.

We were so grateful that my mom could be here to celebrate this special day with Savannah.  Grandpa LeSueur was not able to come because of work and Grandma & Grandpa Strong were at the funeral of Savannah's great-grandma, which was the same day.  I know Dallin would have loved to attend his grandma's funeral and we were sad to miss that as well.

Savannah was so excited to share this day with her best friend.  They have been talking about it for years, so it was neat to finally have their special day here.  Savannah was baptized first and stood off to the side of the baptismal font to watch Morgan be baptized.  Savannah's friend April Bingham was also baptized as well.

Savannah's dress was very special to both of us.  A friend of mine in Tucson surprised me and made it out of my wedding dress.  I had given my dress to her for a business she had, because it had a small tear in it.  A few years ago (actually, the week I found out that Landon was a boy) I received a mysterious package in the mail from her and it was a baptism dress she had made for Savannah.  It meant so much to me that my only daughter wore my blessing dress and then my wedding dress for her baptism.

Mom & daugher besties

Savannah was baptized and confirmed by Dallin.  The confirmation is a special blessing given right after the baptism.  The other men who stood in the confirmation circle were Jeremy Benoit, Jeremy Bingham, Garrett Oleen, and James Negri.

Savannah has been blessed with wonderful teachers at school, and we were so thankful to her teacher Mrs. Bond for taking time out of her weekend to come and support Savannah.  Julie Bond is one of Savannah's favorite people right now and she was so happy to have her there.  Mrs. Bond also gave her a beautiful photo album to put all of her baptism pictures in, which I'm sure she will always treasure.

Melissa & James Negri also came to support Savannah.  They are family friends and Sister Negri was Savannah's primary teacher for quite a while.  She made Savannah a hand-stiched bookmark with her name on it.  Sister Emily Lucas also attended, who is the primary president in our ward right now.

After the baptism we changed clothes and went to lunch at the Benoits'.  The kids had fun hanging out and jumping on the trampoline.

This cracks me up, but Landon will totally let Savannah carry him around, especially when he is tired.  I think she only weighs a few pounds more than he does.  I can remember carrying my brother around like this too though.

The boys LOVED having Dallin jump on the trampoline with them.

April's Random Stuff

April 10

Connor lost his first tooth!  He was super excited when it started wiggling like a month before, and it finally popped out without any blood.  He lost the one next to it a few days later.

Connor quote:

I was helping Connor with his kindergarten homework. His math question was "Show how 8 kids could share 12 sandwiches equally." He drew 12 sandwiches and he said that each kid can have 1 sandwich. I asked how he would cut the remaining 4 sandwiches and he said..."Um, I would just put them in the garbage.  Then we don't have to cut them."

I came around the corner one day to see this.  He cracks me up.  (He was doing some concentration yoga thing on the Wii Fit.)

 

Friday, April 12

This was Jacob's year for a friend birthday party and we had it a couple of weeks late.  All he wanted was to invite his two closest friends over for pizza, video games, and a movie.  So after judo they all came here for dinner and then they played Minecraft together on the Kindles.  Landon still idolizes Jacob and thought he was one of the big boys.  He was so sad when they shut the door to the bedroom that they let him come in to hang out with them.

It was the same thing when it was time for the movie.  The four big boys...and Landon.

Friday, April 19

Cousin Blake Medford was born!  We're so excited for Jeremy & Carrie and their new addition, and hope the best for their family right now.

Wednesday, April 24

Savannah started Activity Days at church on April 10.  It is every other week and she loves going and hanging out with the other girls.  Her leaders are awesome!  This particular night they had a "tea party" and learned all about good manners.

 

Savannah & Connor build these "forts" all over the house lately.  I don't mind as long as they let Landon it too, otherwise it turns into one huge fight.

Saturday, April 27

Dallin's grandma, Lorraine Strong, passed away in Alpine, UT.  We are happy that she is no longer in pain and reunited with Grandpa Strong.  We'll miss you Grandma!

I spent the entire month of April totally spring cleaning and reorganizing my entire house.  I have wanted to do this for years, and I finally had the determination to get it done.  I did every closet, drawer, and cupboard, and it felt great.  We finally have like things all together, instead of in 4 different closets (for the most part).  My main achievement was to get the garage organized in a better way.  We have 7 bikes, 5 scooters, camping stuff, ice chests, auto stuff, roller skates, etc., and we park both cars in our garage.  I put up shelves, another bike hanger, and various hooks for the scooters, helmets, and ladder.  I LOVE it!  I love that the kids can put away their own bikes and scooters because it's not a puzzle to fit it in somewhere.  And we don't have helmets rolling all over the place.  Our pool noodles and camping chairs slide in right behind the crate shelves.  

I was pretty excited about these crate shelves that you build that I found at a yard sale.  I also have stacks of 4 cubes each in 3 of the bedrooms as well and with those in the garage together I got them for $3 total.  They are by far one of my favorite yard sale finds ever.