Mom or Dad?

Just tonight after dinner, Joe and I were wrestling around with Noah and we started a game:

Joe: Noah, who do you like better, Mom or Dad?

Noah: DAD!

Joe: Who has the strongest muscles, Mom or Dad?

Noah: DAD!

Joe: Who has the nicest eyes, Mom or Dad?

Noah: DAD!

Maren: Yeah, well, who's the prettiest, Mom or Dad? (As a general rule I've learned that which ever name I want them to say, I suggest last).

Noah: MOM! (It didn't work, but thanks!)

Joe: Who has the smallest brain, Dad or Mom? (Joe caught on to my trickery. No fair!)

Noah: MOM!

Maren: Fine. Let's try this. Who has the smallest brain, Mom or Dad?

Noah: MOM! (It didn't work. Again).

Maren: (mumbling) ...That's because Noah thinks your head is so big.

Joe: Who has the snottiest nose? Dad or Mom?

Noah: NOAH! (He has a cold, so it was very appropriate and very true. Haha!)

The End

Ellie the Pioneer

I made another dress. It's called an Apron dress. (Thanks Sarah for the pattern!). She looks like a little pioneer!

And the back.

Yes, I took over 100 pictures and she did not look at me once. Busy doing pioneer stuff I guess.

Easter Weekend Highlights

When I say highlights, ...I mean highlights. This weekend was so super crazy. It seemed like I may have yet again crammed in way too much, but it was all stuff I just HAD to do for the sake of having a fun Easter weekend. First of all, my parents came up for a visit before we left to announce that my Dad's surgery was a success and he is officially cancer-free! Hallelujah!

Eggs in a basket. I made them for the first time for my kids. This totally took me back because I remember my Mom making these for us all the time. I figured with all of the eggs in our fridge, it was only too appropriate.

On Friday morning, Joe had work off so we coloured eggs as a family.

I gave Ellie a crayon and an egg and this is what came of it.

The results. I am sure we can all guess which one was Jackson's favourite. (Aside from the fact that he told me in my last post "Jackson's Easter Quiz").

Jackson is an official two-wheeled biker! Okay. Technically four. He got his first bike on Friday after colouring eggs, so by the time we got to Granny and Grandpa's later on that day he was so ready to ride it. Noah didn't mind that deal so much either because it meant that he got to inherit Jackson's super sweet Cars-Trike!

We biked around the neighbourhood for a while (with Jackson's buddy Spencer from next door), but I knew that wouldn't last too long with a park just around the corner.

I am in love with this girl.

The kids crashed hard Friday night. I'm not sure if it was because they played SO hard all day or if it was because they knew the Easter Bunny would be coming to bring them treats the next morning. This part of being a Mom is so fun! The Easter Bunny hid all of the eggs they coloured the day before, so they got to have an Easter egg hunt first thing in the morning (Well, after eating a few chocolates of course).

I tried to switch things up a bit that weekend. There was a lot of Wii going on, ...so I had to be the mean Mom and MAKE them turn it off. Good thing they love painting, so it wasn't too hard.

We also had a weenie roast for lunch. Yes, that is snow in their back yard. Somehow it still managed to feel like a warm day though. After a while we didn't even need jackets if you can imagine that!

Noah is my little cuddle-bug. I love it!

After a while he even laid down so I could stroke his hair and sing to him. "Can you sing me Child of God Mummy?" or "Wainbows?" (Melt!) He often asks me at night time to do this before bed (or well after he's supposed to be in bed), ...but he had a cold and was extra cuddly that day so I wasn't too shocked. This is another I-love-being-a-Mom moment. He laid there for about a half hour.

After naps and such, we went to JJ Collette to walk the trails AND do Easter Egg Hunt #2!! Much cooler because all the eggs were hidden along the trail and THESE eggs were filled with treats. It was so fun to watch the kids find their little treasures!

I love this picture of Ellie because she was truly not sure how she was possibly going to pick up this third egg. She didn't want to put her other two down, but she wanted desperately to pick up this third. Haha!

With all of the candy and lack of sleep AND colds going around, Easter Sunday was a bit of a wash. I was hoping it would be full of all of these spiritual teaching moments, but alas, it was pretty awful. At the very end of the day after all of the other siblings had left for home and right before we were about to drive back home ourselves we decided to have a little Spiritual Thought. I know I needed one desperately. So Grandpa read a page from an Easter book, then Granny, then Joe, and then me all surrounding the atonement and resurrection of Christ. When it was my turn to read, the kids piled onto my lap to look at the picture of Jesus. I read about the resurrection. I could barely finish reading the page because the image of having my children on my knee learning about Jesus was all too much for me emotionally. I felt like, this is exactly what God wants me to be doing. Teaching my kids about Christ. It was such a clear reminder. We generally read the scriptures as a family everyday, but the difference today was in my example towards my kids. I immediately felt the need to be more kind and gentle towards my kids, even if this was the third pair of underwear and pants I had to change and wash in one day, or even if I'm being wined after, etc (you know the drill Moms). The Saviour blessed me with an atonement that allows me to be able to repent and start anew. So, this week I am going to try to be more patient. It isn't enough for me to go through the steps with reading the scriptures. I need to live them and be a WAY better example to my kids. Anywho, ...I'm glad I was able to re-learn that this weekend. I've already been challenged today (with poopy undies), but I've also seen the blessings from trying to be more kind. Like Jesus. I'm so grateful for this Easter season when I can remember our Saviour's sacrifice and His great gift of the atonement and resurrection for ALL of His children. Even me.

Jackson's Easter Quiz

Joe and I have been trying to keep Christ in Easter, so although we've been doing fun things throughout the week, we've also been trying to teach the kids a little about Easter as well. So, here's me "quizzing" Jax. I think he did pretty good.

What day is it today?

When Jesus Died

Do you remember what it's called?

We get to hide the eggs

What are some of the fun things we've done so far for Easter?

Find eggs (what else?) have good family together.

What was your favourite activity?

You maked the Batman egg. That was my favourite part.

What is your favourite Easter treat?

My easter treat is uh... is favourite eggs. The peanut butter eggs

Whose house are we staying at for Easter?

Granny's house (who else lives here) Uh Granny. Uh Grandpa.

What fun things did we do yesterday?

Ride bikes with Spencer (Do you love your new bike). Yeah and Spencer's too

What person is Easter about?

The bunny.

There's a different meaning. Who died?

Jesus!

What is Easter really about?

When Jesus died.

How many days after Jesus Died did He rise again?

Uh three days.

Why do you think Jesus loves you?

Because he likes me to do fun things, not bad things.

What is your favourite Primary song right now?

Follow the Prophet.

Nesting

Sarah and Hannah came over a couple days ago, so we decided to make these cute little birds nests that I saw online. The kids loved it. And I'm not gonna lie. They were TAAAAA-STY!

First, you mix Chow Mein noodles with melted semi-sweet bakers chocolate or chocolate chips and shape it into a nest.

Then add peanut butter in the middle and have the kids stick mini-eggs in it. I added a cute little "Peep" bird for good measure (and more sugar).

Then let it set for a little while. And Viola! A cute little Nesting Bird as an Easter treat!

I have an itty-bitty little feeling that Ellie enjoyed sharing with me. Just a little bit. And of course I let the boys devour theirs after dinner. (A fantastic bribe for finishing a meal)!

Happy Easter everyone!

Easter Baskets

Call it cheap. Call it crafty. Call it what you will. This is me attempting to be a fun Mom on next to zero supplies. I think it worked! I am officially a fun Mom. I thought about digging around in the storage room for last year's baskets. That lasted two seconds. Then I thought about purchasing new baskets... and then remembered how much I LOVE taking all three kids with me to the store! So, I settled with being crafty. Recycle time!

Basically, if you have a box, white paint, tissue paper (or cotton balls) paper plates, pipe cleaners, felts, and construction paper, you are on your way to a fancy Easter Bunny Basket!

This is technically our very first Easter creation with the boys. It's fun with them getting older and more "into" these sorts of things. Jackson's attention span is a little longer than Noah's, but we managed to finish our little project! ...AND have already been spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa O. They brought Easter treats last night that the boys are now devouring whilest I finish my post. I have a feeling that all of their easter eggs are most certainly opened AND empty. Good thing the Easter Bunny will refill them in a matter of days!

Sleeping Beauty

Oh that blessed time of day! The time we call "NAP TIME!" The time where I can check phone messages, fold laundry (while Skyping Jenny), catch up on facebook and emails, finish odd chores. You know the drill. The time where I get to breathe. Well, ...only after everything else is done. Usually the breathing part lasts about 5 minutes.

Ellie's at that point in her toddlerhood where she's not so sure she still wants her morning nap (although I, on the other hand, want her to)! But afternoon comes and she crashes hard. Last week she slept all the way till dinner time and I actually had to go in and wake her up (1:30-5:00? Not bad)! ...Hence the pictures. She's so peaceful when she sleeps and looking at the full length picture only reminds me of how big she is getting way too fast! Way. Too. Fast.

Tick-Tock!

I make meals, like a good Mom. It took me a while to get to this point, but I'm there (well, three times a week, but that's pretty good for me. The other days are leftovers or hotdogs). Usually whenever I spend any amount of time on dinner, Noah doubles the time with how long he takes to eat it. I wish I could say it was because he was savouring the flavour, ...but I'm pretty sure that is NOT the reason in this case.

"Noah. Noah! Take another bite please." "Hmm?" "Noah, I asked you to take another bite. Take a bite! 5-4-3-2...!!" ...and then, and only then, does he finally decide to reach for his fork. ...Why?

...An hour later.

"La-dee-dooby-da-bee-doo... Ho-hum-ho-hum..."

I wish I could say this was a one time thing, but unfortunately this is a common occurrence. Help! Even bribing him with treats does not speed the process. Or threatening early bed time. The funny thing is when we have things like pizza or chicken and fries (things not made by me), ...he downs it so fast! So I suppose the humbling question I should really be asking myself is, ...is it my cooking?!!