So Bodie has been loosing teeth like crazy. Jess and I are horrible tooth fairies! Several times we have cut it close with almost forgetting to put something under his pillow! Last night we dropped the ball and actually did forget! It's been snowing, and I told bodie the tooth fairy must have been delayed- that seemed to suffice! Man. Mist not fail tonight!

Bodie turns SEVEN!

Gosh- it's really hard for me to believe my children are getting so BIG. Bodie is a sweet kid. He's kind and considerate. Often he will ask me how it's going, give me a compliment or give me a hug. He's also a goof-ball and pretty "squirrelly" :) He loves little gadgets (um, pocket knife!) and working with his hands. He does well at math and works so hard on his spelling words to get 100% each week. It's pretty cool to see. We threw a low-key party and it turned out great. I made up a few obstacle-course like games to play, we ate pizza and then came in for cake. All had a good time = success. :) Love you Bodie!!!

Grandparents Day

Today Bodie's school had Grandparents Day. Nana and Papa were able to come up for it! They played in class for a bit and then opted to go out to lunch rather than stay at school to eat. (looooooooooooooooooooooong line)


Lucky kiddo.


Man, it was a FRIGID day!!!


I need this lady to come up and play with ME for a few DAYS. :)

Boy and His Dog...

Bodie has been riding Jess's long board around. The other night we went to the high school to mess around. I was walking Kona and handed Bodie the reins. He fell once - but then got the hang of it after I told him just to let go if he got going too fast.... We need Casey Trejo to teach him the ropes!

OH MY GOSH. Funny story about Bodie.

We had a tiny family vaca in the Phx. area. We were driving and Wyatt said something to the effect of kicking a girl in her wiener. I'm not sure why. (this is my life) I said something to the effect like - We don't kick girls and they don't have wieners. Then Bodie goes. Hey Mom, I know what girl's pee pees are called.
Me: Really? What?
Bodie: A china

Oh man. I was laughing for like 5 min. straight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I told him he was close, but it's really pronounced _______ as non-chalantly as I could.
Hindsight I think I should have asked him HOW he knew that.......

Bodie lost his first tooth on the 8th!


Man, 6 is a fun age. Last week Bodie accompanied me on his bike while I ran 5 miles. He was such a great little partner and we chatted it up the whole way.
I remember loosing my first tooth. To me it signifies really starting to grow up, and saying goodbye to early-childhood. Pretty crazy. How is life flying by like this? I still feel so young, but my boys are growing up on me...

Bodie is SIX today! I love this kid.

He is happy-go-lucky, gives great hugs & is a master towel-folder! Not to mention pretty darn good at doing the dishes. (how is he growing up so fast!?)

We had a party at Peter Piper Pizza and it was a hit. They took care of e v e r y t h i n g and the kiddos had a blast. I'll have to get my pics uploaded... sometime! :)

Bodie's birthday at Peter Piper Pizza.

Bodie had talked quite a bit about going here. -So I said we could have his party there.
He came up with his own list of people to invite. Kids from school & church. I think they all had a BLAST!

Nana & Papa were able to make it up!








Playing the games....


Jess combined everyone's tickets and got them each something. He did a good job! :)


Thank you to everyone who came! Bodie loved his presents -but most of all loved playing with everyone!

Bodie's kindergarten pics.


They make me smile... What did they do to his hair & how were they trying to make him smile?

I have been mourning the end of summer. I wasn't ready for the school year to start. I wanted the endless summer...warmth, fun, carefree...

But today I am good with this whole school bizzzness. It's gonna be a fun school year. I love Bodie's teacher - Mrs. LeMoyne -He knows most the kids in his class from last year at the co-op & Brock is now in the classroom next door at the co-op. They are excited about that, and so am I. It's a multi-age program -so they will be doing centers together 1x a week and field trips together. Bodie's school is a 'magnet' school for the arts and sciences. I learned yesterday that each child will be getting (2) 1/2hr. lessons of suzuki violin a week, w/ violins provided for them. This will continue through the 2nd grade. (!) SWEEEEEEEEEET. I am very excited about this. :) Hopefully he will enjoy it - I think he will.

Here are the school boys on their first day: (Brock never disappoints w/ the facial expressions)

This guy graduated from pre-school today. He asked if he could ride his bike to school all by himself, since he's going to be in kindergarten now. (nope)


Yep. He's pretty stoked for kindergarten!


NEVER thought I'd say this...but it does make me kinda sad. Kinda.

Our Little Tiger...
That's what I think he looks like in this picture, anyway. And hello buff arms!


So I made it over to check out wrestling. Bodie has the best time. They do a really good job.


Playing all sorts of games -like sharks and minnows

Oops. He got caught here.


Here was another one -where obviously the little brothers couldn't stay on the side lines.

Bodie's b-day was pretty awesome. He said he wanted a chocolate cake w/ sprinkles...I saw he had a bakugon in his hand, so we decided to make it a chocolate cake w/ sprinkles w/ bakugons...I looked on-line and found a homemade cake that looked do-able. We had a lot of fun making it together - Bodie decorated the bakugons and was pretty proud of them.

(this is the funniest pic of him, and he looks 20yrs older than he is, but I'll take it.)

The finished product. Not too bad for a last min. decision! It's a fun one. (And totally NOT my brainchild)


The cake was from a box (2 actually), but I made the frosting and it was perty yummy. I doubled the recipe to ensure I had enough for the triple layer cake and cake balls... In case ya want to know:
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream together w/ the paddle:
-4 sticks of butter (I KNOW -YIKES)
-2 boxes of cream cheese
add:
-4 tsp. vanilla
-8 C. powdered sugar
-1 C. of hershey's powder (maybe more?)
-some milk...4 TBSP. ? again, not too sure - just to get it to the desired consistency.

Bodie was soooo happy and excited the whole day. For dinner he wanted pizza "from the box" :) Then we went downtown for 'winter wonderland' and the lighting of the trees in Wheeler Park. (not too exciting) and then came back home for cake and ice cream...

He FINALLY got a Ben-10 watch...he's been wanting one FOREVER, and his excitement over it didn't disappoint. Dad and Brock got him a BIG bakugon...he has a little one that he always carries in his pocket...it's pretty funny the things these kids get into and what we parents have to learn...Bodie was also so lucky to have both sets of g-parents up...He felt pretty special, and is still on cloud 9. :)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jess is working today. Such a bummer on Sundays. My parents came to church w/ us (that totally worked out in my favor! phew!) After they left for home, the boys and I set up the Christmas tree...It was a lot of fun. Bodie and Brock (Wyatt went down for a nap) were really into it -seeing all the ornaments and putting theirs on the tree. It feels good and festive to have it up finally. Jess set up our outside lights a couple days ago and I love that too.

(Steve made me the grapevine tree on the porch)

I half-way thought of taking the kids to the church to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, and then it clicked that I could watch it on-line. What a treat! The boys were busy doing their thing, and I was able to attentively listen. I was truly EDIFIED...and loved each one's message...To have a conscious, committed effort to bring Christ into our lives and homes this season and to give meaningful gifts, gifts that draw our hearts to the Savior, and gifts of service...to think of those in need. We have always been modest in our gift-giving to the kiddos, but I am excited to have a fresh outlook. I love this time of year. I love the music. I love the feeling in the air. I love the LIGHTS, and the smells, and the FOOD, (although I wish I didn't) and the get-togethers, and I love my Savior.

Goals this Week:
-Get gifts figured out (especially on a budget!)
-Get Christmas cards done -although we don't have many pics to choose from...hmm...
-Practice music (I'm singing in a quartet a beautiful arrangement of Silent Night. We had our first practice tonight and it WAS (mom) a lot of fun!)
-Find a b-day present for Wyatt...prob. anything spiderman... (Nana brought him this:)

And he was pretty stoked. Barely got him into his church clothes this morning!
-Get to the gym everyday
-Do 3 random acts of service

Looking forward to:
-Wyatt's b-day
-The LIGHT parade
-Primary Activity

So much to keep busy with, this time of year. Today is Bodie's birthday. I never thought I'd actually have a 5 year old. It just keeps getting better. Earlier we were out front (it's a beautiful day) and the boys were riding their bikes (but when are they not?) -and I saw 3 little BOYS. (no more babies) And more importantly I saw 3 little friends. I know they're going to have lots of fun together.

my little stink bug in daddy's hat....


This was such a special time. A first delivery, a first baby, a first time Mom... When we pulled into our driveway w/ our new bundle, I saw a house full of warmth and love. My in-laws had put up Christmas lights, there was a decorated tree in our living room, and family had dinner and cookies cooking. It was such a wonderful welcome home. I will always remember it. I think that is part of the reason I love this time of year so much.
Being a new parent was a trip! But yet at the same time everything came so naturally. Looking back it is hard to believe 5 years has passed so quickly and now I have this handsomely lanky, silly kid who's enthusiasm is infectious, who I can barely pick up, who loves his bike more than anything, and makes me laugh every day with the things that come out of his mouth. :) (not to mention 2 more additions!) :) So much has changed in a relatively short period of time.
I feel like I have grown LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

WHIZ KID
definition: a young person who is outstandingly skillful or successful at something

Bodie and I were making pumpkin muffins and he was playing with a baby food grinder...



Our convo went like this:

me: "Bodie, do you think we should have another baby?"
Bodie: "Uh, ya....You just need to have a baby in your tummy and then go to the doctor and let it come out, and then you can feed it with this" *holding up the food grinder*
me: (smiling) "Would you like another brother or a little sister?"
Bodie: "I think, a little sister."
me: "Oh really? What do you think her name should be?"
Bodie: "Madora"
me: "Oh...that sounds...interesting!" :)

Bodie's First Talk in Primary (awhile back)

What he wrote, and the translation... He did an awesome job and held up a picture for each one.

(notice how the papers are all crumpled? That kinda happens at our house)

Back when Jess was building the deck...

Papa came up to help. (love that man)

And Bodie was pretty keen on showing off his muscles.

It reminded me of an old picture I really like to look at.

(Jess, Papa, Auntie, summer day in Ohio, 1984(?))