Valentine's Day

Bryan ordered flowers for me. I loved them. We got to watch the tulips bloom, I love tulips. I ordered the BYU Football dvd for Bryan. Normally I don't encourage the football obsession but to show my love for Bryan, I gave in and got him the dvd.


*I decided to blog about it so that next football season when I am feeling neglected, I can look back I remember that I encouraged it. And who knows when we can give each other actual gifts again.*

Austin's Laundry Basket

I was in the other room, I heard Austin crying (more like whining), so I went to investigate. He was laying in the laundry basket but as soon as he saw the camera, he decided he would smile.
He is saying "cheese" in the first picture. He loves this laundry basket so much that he will empty out and push it around the house and if Adam tries to put something (including himself) inside Austin throws a fit. It is quite entertaining to watch him try to squeeze through chairs, couches, people, doorways (it is a large basket so it really does have to squeeze). He will fight anyone including me for the basket. He has been sick since Saturday night so I needed to post about him when he had more energy and made me smile (instead of sick to my stomach from cleaning up vomit and diarrhea). I can't wait until he feels better.

Adam's Train Underwear

Adam posed for these pictures. He was so proud of his trains. Wearing the underwear lasted 2 days but he decided that he likes diapers better. After we move I will try harder to convince him that the potty is his friend.

This is the third pair of underwear on day 1. But again he is so proud of the train underwear, I just wish he would be so proud about going in the potty. He just WANTS to go in a diaper.

Valentines

These are a few of the valentines that Adam made on Monday. He really enjoys making them and is really quite good at it. I guide him (by putting everything in stacks on the table) and he choses from the stacks. I put the stickies on the back but he takes the paper off the back of the stickies and he sticks the heart or flower or wordstrip on the card. I limit how much he can put on because sometimes he wants everything on it. I like that I get to spend one-on-one time with him and since he always has to share, this is something Austin can't help with yet. Just thought I should post about it so I will remember that I did something crafty with my kids.

Watching TV with Uncle Matt

I think the boys were pretty tired because a few minutes before this Adam was crying. I am not really sure why he was crying but I got them out of the tub and he started crying and kept crying. But then started watching tv with Matt and forgot why he was crying. I love having other people around to get my upset kids away from me. I included the second picture because Austin started doing his pouty face, which I love.

I included this picture because I wanted to show what they were so enthralled with and Ann wanted to see the setup of the new (from early Dec.) tv.

Austi & Con

Austin and Conrad had a great time under the table, while I was trying to get some homework done last week. Everytime I would get the camera out, they would try to get out from under the table. So I would put the camera away, they would get under the table and play really cute together. I think Adam was watching Wallace & Gromit while this was going on (the little boys don't really care about Wallace & Gromit but Adam LOVES it). These were the best pictures.

Karin- The Student

So many of you have been questioning my studying and homework that I mention casually, I am taking an online class to complete my Associate's Degree in Science. If I did not get my Associate's soon I would lose all the classes that I have already taken and when I finally go back to school to get my Bachelor's Degree, I don't want to start from the beginning. It is Nutrition and is more time consuming than I thought. I am so close to finishing this class (it ends on Thursday) , all I need to do is take a few more tests. Then I am free to blog about the cute things that have happened and actually be able to take pictures of them. Wish me luck that I will have the sanity to take the tests and that The Office will not distract me while taking those tests.

SUPERMAN!

I got this Superman set at Target on clearance for $2.34. I thought that is was a pretty good deal until I saw it on clearance at Wal-Mart for $7, then it was an AWESOME deal! When I bought it I never thought that Adam would love it as much as he does or that the older boys would love it at all. Papa has been Superman. Bryan has been Superman. I have been SuperMom (while doing homework). Adam is kind of selective on who he will let wear the cape. The older boys that come over have to wait until he is in bed before being allowed to use the Superman gear.

Adam "flying."

Bryan showing off his "muscles" per Adam's request.

Adam copying his Daddy and honestly, how cute is that?

Before Church on Christmas Eve

I know I should have posted this a month ago BUT I am a student and a full-time homemaker (for 10-15 people depending on the day) so I am not a regular poster these days. (I know excuses, excuses). I LOVE this picture of Austin because he looks like he is scheming something big but I think he is watching Blue's Clues or Backyardigans.
Adam likes to wink at the camera and I am just glad that we captured it to remember forever.
I thought this picture was the best of the 2 of them together. They are saying "cheese." Aren't they cute in their suits? They wear their ties every Sunday now; Adam asks to wear it.

Fun with Cousins

We went to dinner to Claim Jumper on Saturday for Bryan's birthday. His parents, grandma, and brother Jarrod & his wife Susannah, my parents, my sister Katie, and her friend Tyler Frisbee were all able to celebrate with us. Beebe was the best and volunteered to watch all the kiddos, with 5 kids and only ONE older than 3, she took on quite a challenge. Tyler (Beebe's husband) went and played basketball but then came back before we got back. But Matt was there in case of an emergency, does a broken jar of baby food constitute an emergency? I did have a picture of Conrad but he looked high so I deleted it but he was here. And if you look closely in the background of the first picture you can see the dads watching a football game and Beebe & my mom in the doorway watching the kids. **Don't worry Ann I am working on the photo of the new tv set up for you.Annie, Adam & Elena playing with the train table.

Elena & Austin (I made Elena stop for a second so we could see her face).

Annie just loves having her picture taken and she is so cute that I couldn't resist.

Thank You Ali!

Ali, whom I haven't seen in YEARS!, read a comment that I posted and sent me something in the mail pertaining to the comment. Yes, that is correct, she mailed me blue and green lights. I am not calling them Christmas lights because we (mostly Adam) is having a great time with them now and it is not Christmas. Austin and Conrad are enjoying them too, but Adam likes to be in-charge of them and doesn't like people telling him what to do with them or have other people drape them over his shoulders (Brian Durr). I was going to take a picture of him with his lights but I did not have the energy to get the camera maybe tomorrow because they are seriously his new favorite toy. THANK YOU ALI!

Sugar Cookies

Adam is climbing on Beebe & Tyler's chairs to "see" the cookie.

Of course, Austin had to do it too.

Adam is getting so tall. It is a good thing he isn't a destroyer (like Austin) because I cannot put anything anywhere without him being able to get it.
And when standing on the ground doesn't work, he gets a barstool. When my keys were kept in the cupboard, he would push a barstool over and get the keys out and tell me it was time to go. Now it is a little hard to do that since we put up a shelf with hooks for stuff.

*These were taken before Christmas but I am a slacker lately, and I don't have the recent pictures on the computer yet, maybe if I can get some homework done and my talk written and clean a little bit and get dinner started, then I will post some more recent stuff*

Vegas Bowl

Okay, so these aren't best pictures of me. But I had to post about Bryan and I going to the Vegas Bowl, especially since Bryan is the best BYU Football Fan that did NOT go to BYU. We left for Vegas Wednesday night before the game and stayed the night (without any kids! Thank you Mom and Matt) and then had a lazy morning, ate at a great buffet; Treasure Island had a great lunch buffet, we really enjoyed the desserts: cotton candy, chocolate covered strawberries, tarts, ice cream, cake, pies... We went to the Golden Nugget, which is where The team was staying, to buy a sweatshirt for Bryan, a jacket for me and a polo for my dad (with BYU logos, of course). We went over to Mandalay Bay to meet up with Jon & boys and Jarrod & Susannah, and caravan over to the game. It was a great game, even though it was REALLY cold. I am so glad Bryan and I were able to go to spend time with each other and with family. Hopefully the Cougs will go to another bowl next year and we can do it again.

During a commerical.

We went on the field at the end of the game. The team is saying great things about other players and Coach Bronco Mendenhall, while we are on the field.

Jarrod on Bryan's shoulders at the end of the game. Can you see the score? It is 38 - 8.

Christmas Morning

Jill volunteered to work for their secretary who has a 6yo, so that is why is isn't in any pictures. We look at out Santa stuff, eat breakfast and then open presents.We are waiting on the stairs to see what Santa brought.

Adam & Austin checking out the train table. There was another picture that I contemplated posting instead of this one, Adam is standing staring at the train in disbelief that it is actually there.
Adam is watching for the train to come through the tunnel. He kept following it around the table and "helping" it and yelling "move Papa." We are working for asking for things instead of demanding that people do what you want, he is good at asking for actual items (chocolate please, please grapes) but actions are harder for him to grasp.
Austin on his John Deer ATV (Austin is playing on it as I post this). Adam is really enjoying it as well. It sings a song and has blinkers. It also has a few sayings like "let's work."
Mom getting breakfast ready while the rest of us enjoy watching the boys play with their new toys from Santa.
This is the only picture that we have with a present from someone besides Santa. The boys could have cared less about unwrapping presents. We had to call them in everytime it was their turn to open a present and then it right back to the Santa stuff. Adam did get pretty excited when he opened the present from Ga & Papa. Papa asked him what he got and he replied "a BOX!" (it was a red wagon). I hope next Christmas is just as fun as this was.

Christmas Eve

We reinacted the Nativity story and since Bryan & I were the only married sibling around we were nominated to be Mary & Joseph.Notice the belly (it is a bike helmet).

Austin didn't really like being baby Jesus.

Mom was the angel, Jill and Matt were Shepards. Matt had a few different roles: the Star, a sheep, and a shepard. (He has forbidden me from posting sheep pictures)

Adam was a shepard that didn't listen to the angel but followed the crowd to see baby Jesus (he also used his walking stick as a weapon).

Katie looks like an elf (that's why I posted this picture). Isn't she cute?

Austin abandoned his role and I had to wad up the swaggling clothes.

We started our Christmas Eve festivies with our Mexican Fiesta, which was delicious. Then the Nativity, then singing Christmas songs at the piano and my kids went to bed during the singing. We played Settlers of Zarahemla. All in all, we had a great Christmas Eve.

Photos of BRYAN for Dave (aka Garlic Boy)

He posed for this one, he loves to have his picture taken.

I like how Beebe posed even though she knew I was going to take it of just Bryan but since she was so excited about the camera (and we thought Conrad got his love of the camera from Tyler) I decided not to zoom in and get everybody. Oh, notice the DC and Sudoku.
Adam took this picture, which is why he is smiling. I will post all of Adam's photos later but I had to include this one in the post of Bryan for Dave.

If I thought that Bryan would ask someone at work to take his picture I would send the camera with him. And what would be even better is if he would put his head down on his desk and pretend to nap and have someone take it. Sorry Dave, I can only post what I have.

Austi & Papa

Austin loves his papa and Sundays are really tiring. I posted a picture previously of Austin falling asleep in the high chair so I thought I should post a Sunday picture of someone holding Austin sleeping. Papa was very willing to hold him and then Austi fell asleep within minutes if being held.

Get To Know Me (Holiday Style)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Hot Hot Hot chocolate (Polar Express anyone?)

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Not wrapped and not under tree, in family room with our stockings sitting next to gifts.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I prefer white, but I have always wondered about the blue lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no

5. When do you put your decorations up? This year we put them up the Monday after Thanksgiving for FHE, but last year when we were in Texas, it took me almost 2 weeks to get decorated and then we left for California.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert?) My mom’s cinnamon rolls that we have for breakfast on Christmas morning, oh our Mexican Fiesta on Christmas Eve is delicious too.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: We used to all sleep in the same room (Beebe's) and Jill slept in the closet one year and I slept next to her on the floor, we would stay up late and then get up early. My dad would make us wait for him to "shower" before we could look at our Santa stuff. My mom always passes out the gifts one at a time (I still really like that, it is organized and you can thank the person for the gift right when you open it).

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't know.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? At my parents' it is with some ornaments that have our names on them and red/gold balls and homemade ornaments that were gifts.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Dread it (too cold) which is why I prefer to live in warmer climates: Southern California and Texas.

12. Can you ice skate? maybe with practice

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? all gifts are my favorites

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? being with family and the singing

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I don't know, maybe... I don't know

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? taking turns opening presents and now Christmas Naps

17. What tops your tree? an angel (again at Mom's)

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? giving

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Lullaby

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I like those Bob's Sweet Stripes but those aren't really candy canes

Karin's Layers...Like an Onion

LAYER ONE:
Spell your name without vowels: Krn

LAYER TWO:
-- Name: Karin
-- Birth date: Sept 8
-- Nickname: Kari or Kitty or Sharon
-- Current Location: San Berdo CA
-- Eye Color: blue-green
- Righty or Lefty: righty

LAYER THREE:
-- The shoes you wore today: none yet
.-- Your perfect pizza: pepperoni, olive, bell pepper (prefer red) and pineapple

LAYER FOUR:
-- Most missed memory: Texas Girls' Night Out or the numerous baby showers we had

LAYER FIVE
:-- Pepsi or Coke: diet coke...uh duh
-- McDonald's or Burger King: McDonalds fries but Burger King's other stuff
-- Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate.
-- Cappuccino or coffee: dietcoke

LAYER SIX:
-- Sing: in the car very loudly
-- Take a shower everyday: yes
-- Want to go to college: currently attending, but wish that by some miracle that I could be graduated
-- Like(d) high school: it was okay but I won't go back
-- Want to get married: done it
-- Get motion sickness: no, that would make my love of rollercoasters extremely ironic
-- Think you're a health freak: no
-- Get along with your parents: yes
-- Play an instrument: the piano, kind of

LAYER SEVEN:In the past month..
.-- Gone to the mall: yes,
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos: no
-- Eaten Sushi: no, I don't like cooked fish so I don't think that I would like it raw
-- Gone skating: no
-- Made homemade cookies: yes, Bry, Dad & Jill's favorite, oatmeal chocolate chip (and Jon Shumate's fav too)

LAYER EIGHT:Ever...
-- Been called a tease: yes
-- Been beaten up: physically: no emotionally: yes

LAYER NINE:
-- Age you hope to be married: married at 20
-- Numbers of Children: I'm gonna say 4 (I'm half way there)

LAYER TEN:In the opposite sex..
-- Best eye color?: brown
-- Best hair color: brown
-- Short hair or long hair?: short
-- Height: doesn't matter but Bry is taller than me
(And if you didn't already know, every answer is Bryan)

LAYER ELEVEN:
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: I don't know. Maybe 40
-- Number of tattoos: 0
-- Number of piercings: I wear one earing in each ear but have 3 holes in each ear

Sleeping Babes

Adam and Austin started off in seperate beds, but then Adam somehow got into bed with Austin and they fell asleep this way. Adam can climb in and out of his bed all by himself but he still moves a lot in his sleep so he will remain in the bed for a little while longer. Almost every morning Adam climbs into bed with Austin and they play together for a little while. Those are Adam's "happy" mornings (unlike yesterday where Austin and I were ready to go downstairs and he wasn't; it took him 45 MINUTES to eat a muffin even with having the promise of going to the park!). Today was a happy morning and he ate his cereal within 10 minutes. What a difference it makes when it is YOUR decision to get up.