My Emmy...

Really, she does look so much like Tawna & Me when we were little as you can see in the above picture!!! (It's either me or Tawna... I don't even know). This is VERY exciting for me to have one that clearly is mine! Maddie has some of my features but is mostly taking after her Daddy's side of the family and Lauren is the spitting image of Kevin (and looks so much like Kaitlin). Every day Emmy gets sweeter and sweeter and she just cut ALL 4 front top teeth over our week of moving! She wasn't all that bad though and I'm sure it was painful. I will post more, because I have A LOT of catching up to do, but for now... I have an entire upstairs to go put together so it will be like our home instead of "camping out". If anyone has an extra twin size mattress they don't want, let me know. We must have lost one off of the trailer or something??? It's a mystery! Until later... :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TAWNA (oh... and me too)!!!! I'm glad I get to share my birthday every year with her, she's a great sister and is ALWAYS thinking of others! She is the NICE twin! Have a fun day!!! (sorry no cute pics, I am still on Kev's computer and I got nothin')

School Days...

I have a lot of updating to do, but here's one... The kids had theme days at school this week and I wish that my camera had been charged and that I thought to take pics. Monday was Patriotic Day, Tuesday was Hawaiin day, Wednesday was sports jersey day, Thursday was Decade Day, and Friday was Favorite Book Character Day. The kids did a great job with ideas for what to wear each day. My two favorite days were Thursday and Friday. Here's a pic of Kaitlin on Decade Day and as you can see she was an 80's girl. She looked and played the part well! Maddie said NO to decade day altogether and Daron was going to wear Kevins big afro wig, but didn't end up getting to. :( For the next day he said he wanted to be a character from his new book series that he is reading lately called Magyk (?spelling). He needed a green cape. I was fresh out of capes and green ones especially, so Oma was very sweet and stayed up late and made him one to surprise him with the next morning. He was thrilled! So, he wore jeans, a white dress shirt and tie and his new green cape, Maddie was a ballerina and put together her own look, and Kaitlin was Victoria from Twilight, not because it's her favorite character, but she looks like her from the description in the book. She wore a long sleeved black shirt, jeans, black boots, and Maddies leopard fur vest and we did her hair all down and wild like fire and put white powder on her face and to finish her off... red lipstick lightly! I really wish I had pulled out that camera! Anyway, good job kids on your fun looks this week!:)

Do we know how to wear them out or what?????

The Jarvis kids are hanging out with us this weekend and I'll post

more about our weekend later, but here is Aden after a Saturday with the Goodwins'!!!

Poor kid!!!

The Next American Idol...

I am adding to Tawna's shout out to vote for this sweet guy on American Idol tomorrow night. He is so very talented and comes from such a talented and good family!!! We were in the same ward in California during our years there growing up and Tawna's husband Nathan grew up with this kid since forever! His Dad, Uncle, cousin and brother even sang at their wedding reception, among so many other events and special occassions, and always sound so awesome together. So anyway, watch on Wednesday night and vote for Kai Kalama as many times as possible afterwards!!!!!!

A Little Worried...

We were at parent / teacher conferences today and as Shane, Kevin and I were standing there waiting to go into Maddie's classroom we were talking about Maddie Girl a bit. She has been talking about a boy named Reese lately, which I found out is spelled Rhys (but I'll get to that in a minute...) and also the fact that Maddie keeps saying she wants to be a tomboy??? What does this mean exactly??? I asked her definition of "tomboy" and she says it's like when you're half boy and half girl. Well, I didn't like her definition, so I asked what that meant and she says she likes to do sports and stuff but she's a girl too. I said "tomboy" means a girl who likes sports and games and playing with the guys and not being a Prissy girl!!! So anyway, the 3 of us are having our discussion and looking at all of the art pictures hanging on her classrooms bulletin board in the hallway by their class door. This is when we come across a disturbing picture of a boy standing in the kitchen (I can only assume because there's a fridge) killing a chicken with a sword and blood going everywhere!!! Further into our talk we notice the name on the picture says... ( to all of our horror I might add) ---RHYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FREAK!!!! I told Shane to straighten her out about Rhys on the way to soccer and dinner tonight and no boyfriends now or ever!!! Maddie's picture was very sweet though... if you notice the whole family was drawn quite nicely even the little head I am holding, which is Emmy I am assuming!!! Good job Monkeygirl and you can have a boyfriend in 10 years!!!! And make a better choice... like someone who doesn't slaughter animals in their spare time in the family kitchen!!!

Valentine's Day...

This year we had a fun Valentines Day! We got to spend all day together and then we had Kevins old friends, Mike & Brenda and kids, over that night for Pizza, chocolate fondue and Karaoke!!! Here are 3 posts worth of pics...


This is a Candy Gram Daron got from a girl at school... she thinks he's a hottie!

My Valentines to Kevin and the kids...

Emmy's bow from my good friend Terri... she always does such cute gifts for us and she owns a company called Posh Girls Couture. Check out the link on my sidebar!

And, Emmy's cute, cute, cute valentine outfit from Granny that goes oh so perfectly with her bow! Thanks Granny!!!!! Too nice of you and thanks also for the valentines pj's also! Love, love, love all of the hearts!

All of the fixins...

Kevin and Opa throwing the Pizza dough back & forth...

Perfecting the pie...

Getting started...

Lauren...

She is doing great also, except at church on Sundays! She has really had a hard time transitioning from nursery to sunbeams. She screams the whole time during sharing time and I have a class I am supposed to be sitting with during that time. So, after this past Sunday of Terror we have decided to demote her back to nursery for a couple more months. Brenda (primary pres.) syas this happens all of the time and she'll be fine eventually! So, that's the dish on Lauren girl... we love her even when she's so stubborn... which is all of the time pretty much! When your mom warns you you're gonna get one just like you someday, it's true! Thanks for that Mom!!! Anyway, Lauren had fun with a friend that was over, eating pizza and playing some air hockey!

Emmy 6 months...

She's slowly getting happier or more trained however you want to look at it! She freaks out at strangers and even the family she doesn't see everyday! Bad phase!!! Anyway, she is eating food still and we're cutting back on so many bottles and making her stretch it a little. She got spoiled on all of the canned fruit I was feeding her because when I decided to buy baby food at the store instead, as she was eating up my year supply, ... she has determined that she hates the store bought stuff! Oh well. She is doing great!

Wild Hair Saga...

Maddie and me have an agreement that if she doesn't complain about washing her hair or getting it done she can grow it out. It's working OKAY so far and it's getting longer. This particular day she fixed it herself "curly" for school. I decided it was a little wild but so was her jacket, so what the hey!

Crazy Kaitlin...

Kaitlin is doing great too. She is getting so big and grown up! She is just enjoying doing stuff with friends and hanging out. She is wearing a bit of make -up now and learning how to put it on so it looks natural. She's doing a great job! She loves Young Womens and is getting ready for a Snow Trip coming up this weekend where they get to stay in a cabin Friday night and play in the snow all day Saturday! Fun stuff... sound better than soccer games all around town and helping move boxes all day!

The New & Improved Daron...

Well, he had to get glasses but I must say he looks dang cute in them! He had made fun of a girl earlier this year who wore glasses at school (i think he liked her) and I warned him to treat people nicely because you never know if you may have glasses someday. Low and behold...

Anyway, he is a good sport and is very excited about them actually. His Dad told him to say the following if anyone made fun of him...

A boy - "Man I never knew how ugly you really were until now!"

A girl - "Man, I never knew you were so good looking until now!"

Or something along those lines anyway. No one made fun of him though, or that I have heard of anyway. You look GOOOOOOOOD Daron!!!

Maddie Girl...

Maddie & her friend Tess playing high school, where they both had boyfriends and were cheerleaders! The really important things in life you know...

Very cute though and they always have fun together! It's good to have friends on the same block!

Something to think about...

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

TRAITOR...

Why are all kids traitors when it comes to their first words??? I wake up at the butt crack of dawn every morning to feed my starving Emmy girl, wait on her hand and foot throughout the entire day, see to her every waking need... not to mention I carried her around for 9 months prior to her grand entrance... and she says Da-Da first!!! Go figure. But it was bound to happen as it always has before. It is worth seeing how happy these little words/sounds make him though! He deserves it, he's a great Da-Da! Emmy is sooooo big andI mean BIG! She's almost 6 months and weighs about 20lbs. She is very tall though, probably about as tall as Maddie was at a year old. She has the chubbiest thighs and the pudgiest rump! We love it and so does everyone she meets! She is playing in the Johnny Jump Up, her play station, and spendin some time on the floor with toys. She does not like the floor time so much yet and screams until she falls asleep on her belly instead of playing. I will be persistant though because she needs to learn to play better and entertain herself and get the exercise! She is eating vegies and fruit twice a day and drinking regular milk now because she obviously is bulking up just fine and milk has all of the same vitamins as formula. She just started chewing on biter biscuits and loves them and the mess! She has 2 teeth on the bottom and some trying to come in on top I think... we'll see! We sure love her!

Kaitlin's 1st New Beginnings...

I know that these pics aren't the greatest, but had to post. Kaitlin is loving Young Womens and had her first New Beginnings program last week. She had a part in the program to tell about Divine Nature and part of the whole group that sang a pretty song. They also highlighted her since she was a new Beehive this year. That was funny! She always gets so embarrassed or nervous about standing up in front of people which I think is nuts since she loves to act and sing! Anyway, Kevin and I loved going and being a part of this. It great to get to spend the one on one time with her and see how she interacts with all of those girls and her leaders. Her leaders can never sya enough how much fun she is and always the life of the party! That is definitly Kaitlin! She did a great job on her part and we can't wait until next year!!! Now, we just have to get started on those goals for her Young Womens Recognition award..... we'll get right on that! A couple of the Mia Maid girls that are tall chicks also, turned around at one point and told Kevin and I that they wanted her to come play volleyball with them. Then afterwards during the refreshments the came up to Kaitlin and gave her a hug and introduced themselves and told her the same thing. She was a little shy, but I could tell it made her happy that they were older and interested in hanging out with her! We'll have to get them together for some volleyball soon hopefully! I thought they played sports in young womens... do they not do that anymore????

Pinewood Derby Time...

Daron and Kevin had a great time making this years Pinewood Derby Car. I thought our ward did a really good job on the actual event day. They had an electric track that was pretty cool and fun decorations and treats for the racers! Daron didn't take 1st prize this year and wasn't too happy about that at first, but after some words from Dad he changed his tune and realized how lucky he was to have won twice already in years past. He had a lot of fun and it was fun for me to watch him with his friends. He won an award and it was a great day!!! Way to go Daron!

The Green Dragon...

Our Green Dragon in her 4th soccer season!!! I am glad her Dad wanted her to do soccer so bad because it's been good for her. She loves to play and gets better and better every season. I love the games that I get to go and watch and am thankful that Shane and Erin are at every game for her. Lauren is rough to take so we have to miss once in awhile. She wants to be out on the field with Maddie and aint nothing gonna stop her, so she can not even go!!! She is a stubborn chick. Anyway, back to our Maddie... I am proud of her for doing so great. She is loving that her team has been the same exact players a couple of seasons now and her coach lives on our street. She'll be playing every Fall and Winter season, so come check her out when you get a chance! She is going to be doing dance and piano in the spring and summer I think, we'll see. She really wants to do hip hop dance????? I think her friend Tess does it and Maddie is pretty interested so we'll see. We are also gearing up for her baptism coming up in April!!!! I can't believe it... We love you Maddie girl (monkeygirl)!!! We will all be at your game Saturday (except Lauren of course)!!! Can't wait--- :)

Out For The Count...

Some form of sickness or another has been making it's way through our house for the last couple of weeks. It got Daron good on Tuesday night. Him and I were sick together! This is him on Wednesday morning after the others left for school. He was OUT!!!! I took really good care of him and didn't even get mad when I found the hersheys kisses hidden in the bathroom cupboard behind his toothpaste! Today I am picking up the toy room a bit which is where Mr Daron spent his two days off from school. Every pill I gave him was stashed behind the movie chairs...that little stinker!!!!! At any rate, he's better know and back up to speed and did awesome in his game Saturday. No goals but some great assists! Look at the size of those feet! Could not look more like his Daddy's for sure!

The Funky Monkey...

Here he is in all of his glory!  The soccer king, goalie, and team captain of the Funky Monkeys...Daron!  I haven't gotten to go to a game yet as I have been home bound with fever ridden kids, but these pictures were awesome to see.  He is loving his soccer season so far and really loves everyone that comes to check him out.  He had a lot of family there to watch this last Saturday and he ate it up!!!  Thanks to all of his supporters!!!!  

I will have to post about Maddie girl on Saturday after I get to her game that day...