A few of the kids

At the Chandler parade of lights (Dec 4th)

Making a gingerbread house with Grandma Stewart (Dec 12th)

With mom at the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights & nativity (Dec 18th)

The kids in their new Christmas PJs.

This picture must be taken each year.  The dress was a surprise for Lexi under the tree.  She looked so beautiful in it today so I made them all let me take their picture together again.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Parker's always writing

I often find in his room random bits of paper with the beginnings of a story he's writing.  But today's random find was a little different.  It looks like we watch a bit too much Biggest Loser at our house. 


20 cups of water
Parker's workout
30 pushups
56 jumpy jaks
run mile on tred mell
bung Eligha 100 times (seriously this was on there and then scratched out!)
10 cups of mealk
1 cup of sald
weig in

This next one is a story I found not too long ago.  

The 3 Knits

Parker Stewart
November 3, 2010

 Once a pon a time ther was theer knits.  One hansom and charming, One handsom to but not realy charming, and one uglly his amer was tented had a woden sild and tented soword.  One day King roupet said a anowsment to the three knits "in tow weeks my doter known as prises rillen, will have her tweny fith birthday and will mery the one how deveets a dragen, all the knits will come on her birthday to the batllfilld in tow weeks.  all the knites, servents, sqires, queen Emly, and the prises herself.  Then he walked a way.  the knites thot about this.  Then they stared traning.  The first knite was traned by a dorf.  The sekent knite was traned by a royll srvent and the thrid knite was traned by killing a dragon.
  
 

Oh Crap!

I love everything about this picture

 

But my favorite is Elijah's choir boy hand pose.  Too funny considering this little boys personality.  This was taken at Thanksgiving while I was getting ready for the impossible...a perfect extended family photo.  I needed someone in the picture while I set my white balance (still not quite right as the snow on the ground has a bluish tint) and so these two hopped in the frame for me.  These two are best buddies.  Elijah changed our life so much when he was born.  He changed how we were as people, as parents.  He wrapped his Daddy very tightly around his little finger.  On most occasions, Darren is still there.  This one is getting printed out...remember when they all did?  Kinda miss those days.

Ummm....

Clearly, I have issues.  I mean a year ago I went through these and threw away at least 20 bottles.  I'm embarrassed to tell you how many there are.  It's my little thing...that I do for myself...apparently...quite often.

 

This boy has my heart

While I was in Mexico last week I just kept going back to this picture on my camera that I snapped of Spencer the night before I left.  It's what got me through my five days without any kids or husband around.  This and the snorkeling, Chichen Itza, great food, two fabulous sisters, card making, market shopping, the beaches of Cancun and Cozumel.  Somehow...I muddled through.  But seriously, I can't tell you how many times I grabbed my camera and found this picture on it.

Halloween 2010

I missed Halloween this year.  I was in Cozumel visiting Daniel and Rebecca.  I left instructions with Darren to get some pictures of the holiday though and he came through like a champ.  

 

Harry Potter, Thomas the Train, our personal chef, and Superman!

Apparently here in Arizona it's still so hot that Superman wears knickers instead of his usual tights.

Darren with our four munchkins on his 33rd birthday.  How we love this man!

Elijah is in Preschool

I really went back and forth for a long time about whether or not to put Lijah in preschool.  In the end I decided to do it.  He really loves it!  Of course who wouldn't?  I've got great friends who remember cameras so luckily I have some pictures of him on his first day at Busy Bees Preschool with Teressa Robinson as his teacher.

First day of school - August 10, 2010

Carpooling buddies - Elijah, Kate, Kruz, & Jex

Field trip #1 - Local airport.  Elijah kept trying to tell the guy giving the tour all about his Uncle Brad who has an airplane.

Sitting inside the jet with Jex and Kruz

Field trip #2 Gilbert Fire Station - Both the AM and PM classes with their teacher. 9/30/10

That hat was HEAVY!

Elijah is such an 'arm around' little guy.  He loves to do it.  These little girls just let him too. 

Elijah being silly as usual.  While the airport and planes were cool they didn't compare to the awesome factor of the fire station.  This was a fun field trip even for me!

Late Summer Camping

I have so much to catch up on.  I know some grandmas who are waiting for pictures of what we have been doing around here so I've made up my mind to get a few things up here.  

 It's no secret that I love camping.  Fortunately for me, so do my children.  We arranged to go with another family who are so fun to be around.  The Holbrooks are up for fun anytime and although we only got to stay one night, it was great to let the kids loose and just sit back and relax.  Their dog Lucy was practically mauled to death by my kids.

Renae was such a trooper.  This is where my baby wanted to be the entire time.

Two happy campers.

I love this face.

My two sweethearts posing with their "guns".  "Take our picture Momma!"

His poor little eye.  This boy is sooo allergic to mosquito bites.  His forehead was huge!

This is right after I told Parker that yes, he could bring the stick home with us (where it currently resides).  I'm a nice mom like that. :)

You can't tell from the pictures, but Alexia was there too.  I'm not sure where she was hiding while the camera was out.  Probably off on an errand for her momma.  That girl is the best helper I have.  It was such a fun time going with friends.  We will definitely be doing it again.  Thanks Holbrook family for coming along for the fun!

A love letter

Dear Paper Towels,


It's true what they say - absence really does make the heart grow fonder.  You weren't in my budget for the past two months and I'm telling you...I've missed you.  Life here just wasn't the same without you.  I realize I took you for granted.  I thought that a rag or newspaper could take your place. But I was wrong, and I've changed.  I'm making you a priority.  I never want us to be apart again. 

Your's Affectionately,
Heidi

First day of School

For most of you reading, this may not seem like it's coming too late. But my kids have been in school since the end of July so I'm playing catch up.Alexia is in the 4th grade now with Mr. Cederstrom as a teacher.Parker is in 2nd grade with Ms. Mortensen - who was Alexia's 2nd grade teacher as well.I was a good mom who walked her kids to school that day. It was nice outside with clouds and a slight breeze. So after dropping the bigs at school, the littles and I headed to the park, where we lasted about 15 minutes. Spencer really liked the swing (his first time at the park) and it was funny watching him watch Elijah.
"Momma...why you always got that big black thing poking out from your face?" I'm pretty sure that's what he was thinking in that moment.Oh...there's the smile. It's never very far from those chubby cheekies.And this boy...well I was queen for the day because I took him to the park. That's always nice.
Good gravy. Why does Elijah always look like an orphan? I swear, between my letting him dress himself, all the bumps, scrapes, and bruises that come from being a boy who plays hard, and needing a haircut, most days this boy looks homeless. Who is his mother? Poor baby has to wear his big brother's old clothes. He's a bean pole compared to what Parker was at his age and everything seems to hang off the boy.
See what I mean? If I tugged just right those shorts would be at his ankles. And lets take a minute and not check out the little boy behind him with the gel in his hair and matching, well fitted clothing on. Darn little over achiever. :)

What did you do Saturday night?

Turns out it was the Mr. and Mrs. Green with the wrench...in the family room.

Sincerely,
Professor & Mrs. Plum

Isn't she Lovely?

No seriously.

Funny things

Parker has said some doozies over the past few days and I wanted to get them written down.

Parker: "Mom how old do I have to be to go home teaching with dad?"
Me: I think 14.
Parker: "How old do I have to be to go on a mission?"
Me: You have to be 19 Parker.
Parker: "Wow being a teenager is important when you're in the Kingdom of God.


Me: Parks, did you put on deodorant today hon?
Parker: Yep
Me: That's good because you get kind of hot and sweaty and it will help you not to be smelly too.
Parker: Yeah because it has all day protection you know.

Parker: "Today a boy in my class called me stupid."
Me: Why did he do that?
Parker: "I don't know, he just sits by me and he turned around and whispered it."
Me: Well what did you say?
Parker: "I told the teacher on him." (after my 'look') She said that's not tattle telling mom."
Me: Oh, okay.
Parker: "I think he was showing me pride."
Me: What?
Parker: "It means hatred toward your fellow men, and I'm his fellow men. That's pride."

Oh man, I love that boy!

PS. In the picture above, the boys were being knights. Last night I was made queen of their fort castle and the backwards hats are really their helmets.

The Countdown is On!

Only 8 more days until we see this face! Around here, Aunt Melissa is legend!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Okay so for a while now I've wanted a new entertainment center. We bought our old one off of friends 11 years ago for $50. I was tired of it and so we pulled it outside for our yard sale two weeks ago. It didn't sale. We put it on Craigslist. Still, a no go. Meanwhile, I was getting extremely annoyed with having the tv in my room - which translated to the kids begging to be in my room all day. The entertainment center also used to house our kids' computer and the printer as well as the stereo, dvd/vcr and all of the movies. It was all in my room waiting for a replacement piece of furniture. I suppose I'm not patient enough. Or I just love a project. Anyway, my honey humored me last Saturday. It took all day but we took it apart, sanded the sparse shine off of it, ditched the glass doors, painted it, bought new hardware and... there you have it...my newish entertainment center. It is another $50 project that seriously puts a smile on my face every time I happen to look at it.