Erik, Johnny and the Zoo

Last week Erik was asked to shaperone the Kindergarteners on a field trip to the zoo. This isn't the first time we have done this sort of thing. Although the first time for Johnny. With Kimmie and all her seizure trouble we drive up and met the bus at the zoo and when she gets tired or too hot then we put her in the car and leave. We got up and got ready for the day. I was going to work and Kimmie was headed to school while the boys ventured to the zoo. Erik wasn't too happy that I signed him up but he was going along with it for Johnny. Up until I told him he was going to ride the bus to the zoo. I have to laugh at the response I got. I love my husband but I thought I was dealing with one of the kids on a bad day. The short of the long story is Erik survived the zoo trip. Johnny had a great time.

Easter Clothes

While I was in DC my mom took my kids Easter clothes shopping. Like I have posted before, Kimmie won't wear a dress that isn't made by my Mom or given to her by Aunt Lara. So my mom took her to pick out the material and pattern for the dress. I had a conversation with Kimmie the night they went shopping. It went a little like this...

Me, "Kimmie did you pick out a pretty purple dress for Easter." (we discussed this before hand and she decided that she wanted purple cuz her last one was pink)

Kimmie, "Mom my dress is black and white spots with a pink nose and pink bunny ears."

"What"

"Grandma likes it she will make it so pretty and I will look so cute."

Apparently I looked very frightened. Margo said that she will never forget the look on my face as I was talking to Kimmie.

Kimmie now has a black and white Easter dress. Grandma took Johnny shopping a few days later. I didn't have any suprises there, thank heavens. Although they both look really cute.

Hopefully she has forgotten about the bunny ears and nose. She hasn't brought is up and I really don't want to go there. I listened to the Today show the other day and apparently black and white are the new IN thing. I just didn't know it.

We are stuck together

Our family being new in our ward had to speak in church yesterday. Kimmie was soooo mad that the bishop didn't ask her to take part of our family sacrament meeting. I don't think the bishop was prepared for someone getting mad at him for not asking them to take part of a sacrament meeting. Welcome to our life. Anyway, we decided that we would have the kids sing. Kimmie is really good and Johnny is usually okay in public if he isn't by himself. He doesn't like the primary programs because he has to stand up there by himself. Last year they put the cute little girl he likes right behind him so there was no way he wasn't going to do his part with her standing right behind him. Anyway, as of Saturday morning they decided they didn't want to do the song I am a Child of God. They wanted to do I love to see the Temple. We have Draper Temple tickets for this next weekend so they wanted to do the temple song. Anyway, they only really know the first verse really well. So we were only going to do the first verse! Until we practiced Sunday morning. Kimmie said, "hey, there is more words here." She knew there was a second verse but we discussed this before. So at the last minute both Kimmie and Johnny decided to sing both verses. I wasn't about to cause a fight 5 minutes before we had to be out the door. I just thought this should be interesting. We get through the first verse and most of the way through the second verse when Kimmie sings, "we are stuck together." I couldn't help but laugh, neither could most of the ward. Then right as they get done Johnny being an extra big help says you said the wrong words. What a helpful brother. They were really cute and I am really proud of them.

I can see you but not hug you

Things in my life are always crazy with Crop each year. I miss sleeping and spending time with my kids. By Friday before crop Johnny was as ready as I was to have CBYC over with. Saturday morning I was on KUTV 2 news in the morning. I ended up being asked to do this at the last minute. Then I ended up doing not one spot but two. Erik called right after the spots and the kids talked with me. Johnny said, "I can see you on TV but when you are on TV I can't hug you." I wanted to cry. He is such a cutie.

Today's Miracle

With my life so busy wrapped around crop I haven't had much time to just listen to my kids talking. Yesterday Johnny finally let Erik pull out his tooth that has been nearing the falling out stage for three days now. It was so loose it didn't even bleed when it finally came out. He was so freaked about loosing this tooth. He has lost two before now so why this one was such a big deal I don't know. Anyway, I was laying in bed this morning and I heard Johnny go into Kimmie's room and say, "Kimmie wake up there has been a miracle. The tooth fairy left me a dollar, she really came." Kimmie much to Johhny's sadness says, "I know she has come for me too." Then she proceeds to fall back asleep. Johnny continues, "But Kimmie wake up she came to see ME!" So today's miracle is the tooth fairy came to see Johnny!!!

Nativity

I have to tell you that my Dad's family (the Palmer's) are not really big into the Christmas thing where religion is concerned. I don't remember very many times even hearing the Christmas story out of the Bible with Palmers. But this year Grandpa and Grandma had a party at their house. The grandkids did a nativity. Thank you to my aunt Susan for the costumes. The kids had a great time and Kimmie has been trying to talk everyone she knows into doing the nativity with her. Johnny and Kimmie made great a great Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus was played by my cousins baby Timothy.

Johnny's School Again

Okay this has not been the greatest thing in the world. All the drama associated with Johnny's decision to stay at the same school all down the drain. The principal wouldn't sign the papers to keep Johnny at MS until the end of the year. I was so frustrated. He had already said he would then he wouldn't. We apparently there is a new law. So he couldn't. With some major HELP I got Johnny's new school to put him in AM kindergarten! I got his old school to agree to keep him there until Christmas. It has been a total nightmare and a half. But the short of the whole long thing is thank you to those who helped me figure this one out and get Johnny's school taken care of.

Johnny's School

The decision has been made to keep Johnny at the same Elementary this year that he started at. I am really glad and rather relieved that things have worked out this way. I know a few people aren't happy with me about it but we went with what was best over all for our family. He is doing so well there. His teacher is incredibly good and he has been working really well with the speech therapists there. I went to register him at the new school. We had nothing but road blocks. I decided that maybe that was our sign that he is suppose to stay where he was. The minute Erik and I went over the pros and cons of keeping him where he is, verses taking him to his new school and decided that he would stay this burden lifted. The new school couldn't put him on AM which messed with the babysitting schedule which was okay. He needed to be picked up from school at the same time Kimmie was getting home and I couldn't leave her alone at home either. I talked with the busing departments and they could move Kimmie to last on the list but that would put her home way too late when the weather gets warm to keep her from having seizures. Plus a few other things. So keeping him where he is has turned out to be a great decision for him right now, we will move for first grade to his new school. Plus he was having stress moving away from the three girls that he likes.

Tee-Ball Fun

I really am not a baseball fan. Although I thought tee-ball it would be good for Johnny. He loved it. These are photos from the last game. He was so cute! Yes, I did almost cry when he got his award at the last game.

Halloween Update

I am updating everything and I am doing it all today, before I forget or get involved in something else!!! I finally have internet connection so I am going to take advantage of it. I never did a Halloween update. We have a very uneventful Halloween for once. I am really grateful! It was so calm and fun. Danielle let me borrow a costume for Johnny and Kimmie was Sleeping Beauty. Thank you to Grandma's pink Easter dress we were set.

Grandma came over and the kids made cookies with tons of frosting and sprinkes. Erik and Kimmie did the pumpkin and we had pizza. It was really a fun and relaxing Halloween. I hope for every Halloween to be this calm.

Johnny's Birthday...

Johnny turned six at the beggining of the month. I can't believe he has gotten so big already. He is such a sweet boy. I am very grateful to have him in our family. His birthday was really different this year. He wanted a Hollywood movie party. So we had award night invitations. We had the kids dress up and they put on a birthday skit and then did the movie pinata. He had a clap board cake. Not one of my best cakes although he loved it. We really enjoyed all the friends and family that joined us to celebrate Johnny.

Tee-ball

Yesterday Johnny had his first ever Tee-Ball game! He was so cute and I loved it! He had a great time and is excited to go again tomorrow. I was taking pictures of my cute big boy and enjoying my son. I told Erik that I couldn't believe that Johnny was big enough to be doing this. He told me to, "Don't be such a Mom, it is only sports and there is no crying in sports." For the record I wasn't crying. Although I did feel like it. For the second, my son did great! I can cry if I want to. All the women in the stands agreed with me and Erik ended up feeling stupid. Although I didn't feel sorry for him. Johnny got up to bat and hit it on the first try right between 1st and 2nd base. Unfortunately the whole other team was standing there and tagged him out at 1st. He actually almost even made it to 1st without being tagged. The first thing Johnny did after running off the field was come and give his Mom a hug and said, "I did it." I was such a proud Mom!

Kindergarten Teacher

I went to drop off Johnny at school today. I was running a little late. I walked into a mess going on the playground. Apparently one parent caused a huge thing on the playground. Johnny's teacher was standing outside talking with some parents. She looked a little upset. One of the other teachers was holding the door open and told Johnny just to go sit down quietly and his teacher would be in soon. I walked with Johnny in the room and here is a room full of kids with no teacher. The kids were being good only a few of them were up running around but for the most part the kids were sitting on the floor waiting for the teacher and her story. So I asked the other teacher if he wanted me to start reading them a story. He was really grateful and said yeah go ahead. So I started reading this story about elephants. Their teacher walked in and asked if I was okay and said she needed to go to the office. So I told her I was fine and we kept reading. She sent down someone from the office to check on me. We did show and tell and told two stories. Johnny thought it was pretty cool that his mom was in the class. One kid even turned to Johnny and said, "your mom reads really good." I think it is because I commented on the photos to tried and make things longer until the teacher got back. I was really grateful to just be in the right place at the right time. Johnny was thrilled to have his mom in the class. I know that kind of excitement about Mom being in class doesn't last long. He has told everyone that his mom came to his class! So I am feeling like a pretty good mom today! I know that won't last either. So today for about 20 minutes I was a Kindergarten teacher!!!

Johnny Kindergarten

Johnny had his first day of Kindergarten today. He cried as we left home. Once we got to school he did fine. He had a great day! The photo of Johnny is after school coming out of the class. He had a great time and really loves his teacher. He made some new friends! I am really looking forward to a fun year of school!

Father's N What???

My ward made a thing about a father's n sons and needing to be free to bring their daughters. The original trip was planned for a few weekends ago but pushed back due to weather. But that put it on Memorial weekend so apparently it wasn't attended well. But Erik took both of my kids and went. (I had an evening all to myself! Although I spent it making Kimmie's birthday cake and doing Memorial Day flowers so it wasn't really relaxing). I love this photo of my kids. They slept in the van due to the cold weather. Erik didn't sleep much but the kids thought it was fun.

Johnny's Graduation

I am so very proud of my son. He has now officially graduated from Pre-school! He can't wait for Kindergarten to start. He will miss his pre-school. They did a fifteen minute graduation thing for the kids, I loved it! He looks so stylin' in his suit coat and jeans. I am proud of you my big boy!

Lost Tooth

Johnny lost his first tooth last week. He was not very excited, it scared him more than anything. Although the tooth fairy was a pretty neat thing. He has come up with a mile long list of things he wants with his tooth fairy money. Although none of which he could actually afford with his dollar. He now has two other loose teeth. He is the first in his pre-school class to loose any teeth. He is getting use to the missing tooth although he is still not too fond of showing it. I have included these photos of him. Becuase of how he is putting his teeth it is hard to see. So it is a bottom one!

I have people tell me it is rare to loose a bottom one first then I have other people tell me that they lost a bottom one first. I don't know

what is normal. But regardless he is happy that it is out and that he got MONEY!

Kindergarten Orientation

I can't believe that today I am taking my son to Kindergarten Orientation. I am trilled for him to attend school and I am really looking forward to it. Although at the same time I am rather sad. I don't believe my baby is going to school. I am not one of those moms that gets all emotional at the first thing their kids do (okay maybe I am a little). But I am not sure that I will not be partying on the first day of school instead of crying. But after all we went through with Kimmie we never got the chance to do these "normal things" like Kindergarten Orientation. So I don't know how to do this kind of stuff. You would think that the first child would train you to handle this kind of stuff but we didn't do any of this kind of stuff with her. I sat this morning filling out paperwork that I swear I never did before. I remember a few of the forms but I remember more medical stuff (obviously) for Kimmie. Johnny is so excited to be going he can't wait. He is so ready to go to school it isn't even funny. He is really sad I won't let him take his pre-school teacher with him. So hopefully one of the new Kindergarten teachers will work. His only request to me as I dropped him off with Bethany this morning is don't be late.

Presidents Day

My kids were really funny about Presidents day this year. I didn't even know that they even understood anything about President's Day. It isn't like we have done anything special for the weekend every year or anything it is just another day off of school. I know that is hard to believe but it doesn't hit the top of my holiday lists.

Anyway, apparently Kimmie has learned a lot more about President's Day than I thought that she had. She learned in school about Lincoln as a young boy in a coon skin hat!?! Anyway, she had decided that President's Day was to wear silly hats. Johnny decided that the day was about the church presidents and not the presidents of the United States. The two of them had a big discusion because Lincoln was never a president of the church so we shouldn't be celebrating him. Johnny also informed me that it was a really sad day because we can't celebrate President Hinckley but that we have to celebrate President Monson and mom doesn't have a FHE game about him yet.

I can't believe the things that they come up with.

Happy New Year and Christmas posting

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas was wonderful at our home. Thank you everyone for your love and kindness that you brought to our home this Christmas season.

The kids top picture is from the Palmer party at Grandma's on Christmas day. The second isn't a great picture but is from Christmas with the Hansen's I thought Johnny looked too priceless. I can't wait to get copies from Lara's camera.

Kimmie had a great Christmas and got everything, plus everything else that she wanted. Her excitement has been over her "little sweetie" she got a princess baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa that she has named Emily. She has been taking it everywhere with her. The doll wasn't even on her original shopping list so it is nice to see that she is loving other things than what wasn't in the Target toy ad.

Johnny had a wonderful Christmas. He is overjoyed about his Leappad learning system. He got four books and I saved a few more for a latter date and he has been playing with them so much I may give him the new books earlier than I expected. This wasn't on the toy ad shopping list either. He is loving every minute of playing with it. I am loving that he is watching less TV and playing something educational. He was really cute Christmas morning. He kept looking for things with his name on it. He even managed to open the gift from him to Kimmie. He just ripped through his gifts and was done with all of it in no time flat. Kimmie had to wake him up in the morning but it didn't take long for him to realize it was Christmas morning and get out of his usual morning funk.

Erik is still getting out of trouble for forgetting my Birthday and Christmas gifts. I am not real nice about him forgetting something like that. I am really good about him forgetting mother's day and our anniversary but not Christmas and my birthday. So he was feeling really bad to open gifts from me and the kids and have nothing to give me for Christmas.

New Years was rather uneventful. Usually we have had family over for the holiday and no one was able to come. So we went to bed early. I know that is showing our old age.

So back to the usual work and school days.

Crop is only one month away now and I am already far behind where I want to be on it. If you are interested in coming be sure and click the link to the right and register!