Fablehaven Launch party

A couple of years ago Austin and I started going to book signings. He now collects signed books, mostly books that are series. Well, Braden is now wanting to get involved so he found out about the Fablehaven book launch party and we decided to head down to SLC. I have to say this was pretty over the top. They had fairy ballerinas, a comedy act, other authors, people dressed up like characters, games, etc. I thought I was at a rock concert! And we weren't the only geeks there, the auditirium was packed and even the balcony was full! Although we didn't get our books signed until 10:30 pm and didn't make it home until an hour later it was pretty fun. The kids were probably sleeping in school the next day! If any of you moms want a book series that both you and your kids can read together Fablehaven is a great series for both kids and adults.

Grandpa's new Harley!

Braden was lucky enough to catch Grandpa visiting with his new Harley (he has 2 now). This was on one of those Spring weather days that have since disappeared! No one is riding harley'd right now with our return of winter!

Braden's Basketball team is undefeated for the season!

So Braden isn't the strongest player on the team and doesn't play more than a couple of minutes a quarter, but when his team got medals that didn't bother him at all! He is good at defensive moves but can't make shots under pressure. So on Saturday it was their last game and his coach told him and another kid who hadn't scored all season that they were both going to score today. So Braden and Tyler played the entire game minus maybe a 2 minute break the third quarter and the kids kept passing to them and gosh darn it they couldn't score. Their team was pretty far ahead so it was okay but they both really wanted to score. Braden took about 30 shots and 90 percent would hit the rim but just wouldn't go in. Tyler scored with 2 minutes left in the game and so they spent the last 2 minutes handing it to Braden over and over, but by then he was so stressed about making a basket that he didn't make one. He cried and was upset but me and Chad were so proud of him. He made tons of rebounds, tipped the ball, stole the ball, got a foul, and like I said he was making the shots they just wouldn't go in.

I feel like Chad should have married someone a little more athletic and maybe my kids would have had a chance.

(I forgot my camera so these are from Chad's phone/ a little fuzzy)

What are you grateful for?

So I asked my kids to think of 5 things to be happy about and this is what they said:

London- I am grateful and happy about playing games, playing with friends, playing by myself, family time, and when people all get along. (She had a whole theme going on).

Braden- I am grateful and happy about Christmas, my birthday, video games, my family, and cursive writing. (Cursive writing- who knew).

Austin- I am grateful and happy for my family, toys, love, fun, and good luck. (I asked him do you really have enough good luck to be grateful for it? and he said you betcha!).

I wrote these down and put them on my fridge for days where the radiator goes out in Chad's car or on days where we find water in our basement.

My kids are afraid of me-

So yesterday I took the boys to get haircuts and Austin had a little mishap. He took his cell phone and i-touch with him in his jacket pocket which he is not suppose to do because his mother has told him they will fall out. Also, the phone is suppose to stay with me unless he is going somewhere or he is home alone (we don't have a home phone). He kept this all a secret until around 9:30pm. He was being all huggy and loving on me (I should have known something was up). I told him to go to bed and he broke down and said he had to tell me he had lost his phone and i-touch, but that he was scared to tell me during the day. I was upset that he lost them but even more bugged he didn't tell me during daylight so we could atleast find them. I called my friend who cuts their hair and she went out with a flaslight and couldn't find them. At 7am Chad went over with a flashlight and couldn't find them. I started thinking maybe I should go look because you know how women sometimes see things men don't. I mean sometimes Chad asks me before he even looks and it is right in front of him! So I went over and found them after a little searching in the grass and snow- they were frozen to the grass!

Austin is very excited because he was going to get his birthday cancelled if he didn't find them. I wanted to go to school and tell him because he was so worried but Chad told me to let him sweat it out so he will be more careful next time. I just keep thinking we are CRAZY for giving our 12 year old these expensive electronics in the first place!

Celebrating being 6!!!

For London's birthday she wanted to go to build-a-bear with some friends. And because she is sooo spoiled that is where we went. It was pretty fun for all the little girl's but a little stressful for Mom.

London Jayde

London: Mom, why didn't you buy my school pictures?
Mom: I don't like school pictures. Wait until we get family pictures and I'll get some of you.
London: You're are breaking my heart right now because you don't want my pictures!
Mom: But honey that isn't your good smile.
London: I will do better at retakes. I'll smile and show teeth- you'll see but, please buy my pictures. You are hurting my heart that you don't want my pictures.
Mom; Honey, I love you but I still don't like school pictures. I want good pictures of you. Just wait until we get professional pictures.
London:Mom, come on just pay for my retakes, I'll smile pretty

This was the conversation last week, so today we went to take some of her outside. It was so cold (suppose to snow) that she didn't last long outside. We just went to my sisters and I took them so she wouldn't think I didn't want pictures of her. She is really good at the guilt thing!

Early Birthday Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa is going on his annual Harley ride to Mesquite so London got to open her birthday present early. Lucky her, she will be spoiled all week! Can you believe my baby is going to be 6!

A BIG girl room!

When we moved in this house almost 4 yrs ago I decorated the kids rooms all cute- Austin got a dragon room, Braden got a pirate room, and London got a Tinkerbell room. Now that my baby is turning 6 she doesn't think she wants a Tinkerbell room anymore. So we have been going back and forth whether we should redo her room. The problem is she is so destructive that she has pulled letters off her wall, broken picture frames and tore posters down. Basically, she doesn't take care of her stuff so should we spend the money to redo what was a cute room. Well this week is her birthday so I decided (and dragged Chad along) to go ahead and order her a bedspread and she picked out some paint and we re-vamped her room. Here are the before and after pictures.

Side Note: When Chad's Grandpa died Chad took the kids over to his house to see if they wanted anything and London fell in love with this lazyboy chair. I guess it is antique - so it looks like a throne. At least that's what my little princess thinks. She says it makes her feel like a queen. We all know that is impossible because I am the queen of this house! J/K! So the chair is purple and that is one of her favorite colors but , we had already picked out pink and green for her room. So I know it doesn't really match but we made it work so she could have her throne. The things you do for your kids

Side- Side Note: I still need to put her name letters on the wall so it won't stay empty above her bed.