Today my first born turned 15.

I knew I loved him before he was born. When he was just a lima bean making me throw up multiple times a day, he had my heart.

I will never forget that direct connection to my Heavenly Father I felt that first evening with my newborn son. The love I felt for him witnessed to me of the love my Heavenly Father feels for us. I would love this child eternally no matter what. I sang him to sleep that night after feeding him and just felt so grateful for that glimpse into heaven.

Happy Birthday Pookie!

Pookie's Minecraft party

Squdge (with a Steve head) hitting the ghast piñata.

Everyone enjoyed wearing the Steve head.  This is Bun in it.  We covered the eyeholes during the piñata and the pin the tail on the pig game.

Pookie, the teenager, blowing out his candles.

This game was called, "Upset the chest."  There was one less chair than people.  Each player was assigned to be:  gold, iron, or diamond.  The person in the middle called out a material.  If it was yours, you had to change seats and the person in the middle would try to get a seat.  Whoever didn't get a seat was the next to call out a material.  If they called out, "Upset the chest!" then everyone switched at the same time.  The twins were guaranteed to call that.  I think they enjoy chaos.  ;)

Pin the tail on the pig -- you play it like pin the tail on the donkey.  Instead of a blindfold, we used the Steve head. There was a whole lot of laughter during this game.

Crush the Creeper game-- 

We blew up green balloons and drew creeper faces on them.  We tied them around our ankles.  The object is to pop other people's balloons without getting yours popped.  Once your balloon is popped, you're out.  There was lots of squealing and panic during this game.

Mining for gold game--

Pack a cup with flour and invert it on a plate.  Put a coin or candy on top.  Everyone takes turns slicing off some of the flour.  

Whoever makes it fall has to get it out with their mouth and no hands to help.

Hammy was clearly upset for Pookie's friend here going for the candy.  

Pookie-- a good sport.

So young and so bearded.

We had lots of fun Minecraft-ish foods.

Golden apples, carrots, slime (lime jigglers), sand blocks (rice Krispy treats).  It was hilarious to see kids from 4-13 walk around with handfuls of the jigglers. They were probably the most popular food.

Dirt blocks (cocoa Krispies treats) and veggie dip next to it-- but are not to be eaten together ;)

Pookie said it was his best birthday ever.  

Mission accomplished.

Pookie birthday party coming soon!

Fool's Gold on Friday

Today we learned about Samuel Champlain and Henry Hudson's explorations hoping to find a quicker passage to India and China to trade for silks and spices in Story of the World Volume 3 chapter 4.

We got done early since Danny had taken Hammy to his speech therapy and Bun and the twins tagged along to help him run errands afterwards.

So basically I just taught Pookie, Gabbers, and Peach about the elusive Northwest Passage, while Biscuit played with Nippett (the dog we are watching for my friend).

We were kinda bored when we were all done with our maps, comprehension questions, coloring pages, dictation sentences and chapter test.

So we made our own version of "fool's gold" with white glue and gold glitter.  We made about 10 gold nuggets.

And we made Peach a potty training success chart.

And we twiddled our thumbs and wondered how quiet and peaceful the house is with four less boys.

And we may have had fun with a sharpie too.

Sing it to the world, Pookie.

My oldest, Pookie, who's 12, just said to me,

"Which Article of Faith starts 'We claim the privilege?'" 

I said, "Number 11."

He said, "Yeah, I think that's my new favorite.  I want to say it to all the world.  I want everyone to know."

And now he's singing it, over and over and over.  Be still, my heart.

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."

11th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Treasure these moments, they are fleeting."

I have been told this countless times.  

Right now I have a spaghetti coated Biscuit.  And while I was upstairs explaining to Pookie (who was supposed to be sleeping) not to make Hammy scream and Hammy how he could die if the mattress came down on him, the twins attempted to crack every cup at the table.

I hope they are fleeting.  I really hope so.

Wash your hands and hang up the towel again please

Nevermind that he knocked the towel rod right off.  He hung up the towel.

Finding Squeegee

I had a dream last night that we got a sucker fish (or Pleco as educated folk call these algae eaters) named Squeegee.  He cleaned the tank so well.

Creamsicle has been our only fish since Rocky Road died right before our Utah/Disneyland vacation.  

My mom renamed the fish when she came after Biscuit's birth last year.  The orange one was Orange Sherbet, the orange and white was Creamsicle, and the sucker fish was Rocky Road.  Mom is a great ice cream appreciator.

The tank has become quite cloudy without Rocky Road to clean it.

I told Danny about my dream last night.  So we did minimal Saturday chores this morning and then headed into town to find Squeegee.

We saw a HUGE sucker fish (about 2 feet long) and decided he wasn't the Squeegee we were looking for.  His name was most likely Toothless as he closely resembled Hiccup's dragon on the movie, How to Train Your Dragon.

The kids had a good time hugging and petting guinea pigs, visiting with a customer's jack russell terrier named Cassie, looking at birds, and watching chinchillas.

In the end, we did find Squeegee plus two new goldfish.  

One goldfish is a vibrant orange with black down his black, was very active, and kept jumping out of the net back into the tank.  We named him Flash.  The other goldfish, who is actually more silver than gold, was a lot more tame.  We named him Gordon.

Pookie would've loved to take home a guinea pig.  But I rather value being able to breathe.  I am so thankful for this fun little day trip with Danny and the kids.  I love seeing how gentle Pookie is with the animals.  He has a special connection with the little ones.

I'm so thankful for children that play together.

I love hearing the chatter of make-believe.

Biscuit (left) loves sitting at this step-stool for snacks or play.  And both Biscuit and Peach love things just their size.

These three play together well too.  This pic was taken at Disneyland a month ago.  Bun, Pookie, and Gabbers were giving their best Cheshire Cat impression.

Admittedly, I'm not always thankful when the twins are doing things together.  Sometimes they get wild ideas. 

Here they are passed out at Disneyland.  Danny got lots of comments from people and some even took a few photos.  Hahaha!

And this Hammy of course, is the middle child. He's my mini-me in many ways-- he doesn't look like me (other than his big head).  He plays with Bun.  He plays with Peach.  He plays with Gabbers.  He plays with the twins.  He plays with whoever is willing.  

I'm so very thankful for the blessing of children getting along.  Those are the days that go much more smoothly.

Our last Halloween from this base

Today we got official orders for our move.  So this is our last Halloween on the central coast. 

Here are some fun pics from this week:

Biscuit giraffe didn't answer the FB riddle right. ;)

Little Red Riding Peach caught the vision of trick or treating last night at the ward trunk or treat.  She watched in amazement as people put lollipops and M&Ms in her little basket.  

Is it just me, or does Tater remind anyone of that store in the mall?  Was it called "Hot Dog on a Stick?"

This little Hammy missileer (Squdge too-- but I didn't get a pic) told everyone he was a Daddy for Halloween.

For school crafts this past week we made ghostie pops one day.  Squdge especially enjoyed making them and made like 6 when the other kids made 2 or 3.

We also made pictures to go with our fictional stories we wrote during language arts.  This one is Gabbers.

This one was Pookie's.

Unfortunately the twins' and Hammy's pictures stuck to the table and didn't survive.  

Peach chose to use her torso instead of card stock to decorate.  But I won't be posting that on the web.  :P

Stay tuned for tomorrow.  My 1000th post.

Pookie regularly amazes me with his creativity.

I just know he is going to be a published writer one day.  

Taking Danny to our secret park

Peach and her tongue (she's cutting molars)

Hammy and Gabbers love to swing! 

Bun and his new sling shot

Squdge in a tree

This is our favorite park.  My friend said once, "[This park] is the secret nugget of parks in [this town]." Except of course, she used the park name and the city name. :P

It's true. It has picnic tables, benches, a bathroom, shade, terrific climbing trees, playground equipment, and NO ONE is ever there. Why? I can't figure it out. But we're not telling. It's the perfect place to chat with my friend and let our kids play for hours.

Tater, Peach, and some preggo chunk

I did tell Danny though about it.  Danny came home for an unexpected visit between training and deployment.  We took him to this park last Saturday after running errands.  I intended to get pictures of him with the kids, but somehow he ended up holding the camera.

Pookie talking about how some of his army men are camouflaged by the wood chips

Peach checking out the camera up close

Twin buddies on a slide (Squdge on left, Tater on right)

Me, Peach, and Pookie

In which I realize my brilliance.

The playroom was a grand mess.  I know, this shocks you.  And nobody wanted to clean it up-- not even with the threat of me donating everything. 

 

 

Well, they did start cleaning it up-- begrudgingly and slow.

 

 

Pookie was folding his 35th piece of laundry when I called him out of the laundry room and said, "I want you to go pick up 10 things in the playroom and put them away."

 

 

He didn't whine but he slumped off not amused.

 

 

Then I called him back and said, "Actually we'll have some fun and do a little code with pick-up."

 

 

"Go and pick up 6 things and come back.  When you come back, you're going to write the number 6 on a paper with a line underneath it for the code."

 

 

The next number was 18.

 

 

Basically "F" is the 6th letter of the alphabet. 

 

 

Pookie was having a really good time knowing he'd be decoding when he was done.

 

 

When he was done with all the numbers I told him, "1 = A and 26 = Z."

 

 

Then he started decoding.  As he was decoding I told him, "When you're done you'll see what prize you get."

 

 

In all (if I calculated right), he will have picked up 140 things (be it trash, toys, shoes, clothes, puzzle pieces, whatever).

 

 

And his prize?  F R U I T  S N A C K S

 

 

I sell them occasionally in the Mommy Store and they're always asking for them.  But I am stingy with the fruit snacks.  They're not good for your teeth you know.  These happen to be Angry Birds fruit snacks (not any better for your teeth but awesome looking).

 

 

If you'd like to read about our Mommy Store, you can click on the label "Mommy-Store" on my right sidebar and read the posts that pertain to it.

Sometimes homeschooling is too easy.

Pookie and Bun put together this world puzzle that Grandma W. gave them for Christmas.  

It was part of their homeschool history lesson for the day.  

They sang the continents song they learned from the K12 program they were in.  Actually we all sang it . . . about 12 times through.

and

They talked about different climates and landmarks.

and 

They talked about which was their favorite continent.

PLUS

They got along!

Today is Pookie's birthday.

He is 9!

For lunch we had his favorite food:  Ramen.

Danny came home for lunch for this special occasion. 

Danny thought it would be a good idea to let Squdge feed himself. 

Then Danny scurried off to work.