Blogging Block

So sorry I haven't blogged in months! I am just not interested in updating lately, nor do I want to spend what little free time I have uploading pictures on my dial service Internet and thinking of clever things to say. But I do appreciate all of your cute pictures and info on your daily lives. My computer is also down! Is that enough excuses? So see you when my computer works again and I feel motivated to sit in front of my slow moving screen while wanting to pull my hair out as the little circles light up one by one telling me that 'yes indeed, it is uploading'

Love you all,

Maribeth

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS

The Von Miller Family

Okay, this is really funny and cute. Sometimes when we as parents are really tired and the thought of getting 5 kids ready for bed sound just way to exhausting, Nathan will blow a whistle and this is what happens.

The kids all run laughing and get in line in birth order.
They line up right where the carpet meets the lamente because that is a straight line. Then Nathan blows out some different noises and starting with Taylor and ending with Andrew the kids step forward one at a time and say their name and something silly. All done while they are laughing hysterically.

Finally, Nathan gives the instructions as they huddle. Shower, brush, floss, rinse, read on your own and be ready for family scriptures and prayer in 10! The whole while I'm laughing at their obedience. And guess what? It really works. They race each other to see who can get done first! And in 20 min. Nathan and I are home free for the night! Until they start getting out of bed one by one:)

Roasting Marshmallows

How fun is this!

It's the best having friends who don't have kids yet because they always want to do fun things for our kids. Roasting Marshmallows after dinner on a nice October night. Nathan now wants to get a fire pit for our backyard. This, I agree with.

The women put this fire together and nothing burned down!:)

Andrew after he shoved an entire marshmallow in his mouth.

Taylor's 11, WOW!

Taylor turned 11 and all I could think about was the night of events that lead to him coming into this world. Yes, we all say this, it really feels like yesterday. The only reason I get sentimental is because he is the first everything. The first child, first son, first to walk and talk, play sports and go to school. He'll be the first to drive, graduate high school and the first to leave home. Nathan always reminds me that in 7 years he'll be gone and I won't be able to see or talk to him for 2 years. Please cry with me now:(

So, his birthday started out as all the kids birthdays start out. He woke up bright and early and waited patiently for all the others to rise up out of bed. Then, we all started down the stairs to see if he could find anything out the ordinary. Kylin hid her present in the play kitchen.

A rock colored Black.

Straight from her imagination and her sweet heart:)

Jalyne did really good hiding her gift in the book shelf.

(I love that the older they get, the smarter they are)

A painting she created in Art Class.

Ashlyn thought the pantry would be a good place to hide her gift.

It did take a while.

A painting she created in Art Class.

She was very clear that she messed up and had not intent to paint the baseball pink.

New baseball cleats and wristbands from mom and dad. The poor boy was squeezing into cleats a 1/2 size to small till we could afford new ones.

A new Rubics Cube from dad which he can now complete in under 3 minutes.

As much trouble and heartache my dear son gives me I still give into his every well not every request. Which for his birthday consisted of:

Omelets and toast for breakfast

Del Taco for lunch and Brownies for his whole class

Fettuccine Alfredo for Dinner with Homemade Donuts for Desert

So between all my running around and chaos for the day, his every wish was granted.

But only for 1 day a year!

Happy 11th Birthday Taylor!

Old Friends, Good Food, Good Times

Chrissy is an old friend of my brothers from NY. She's like family for many reasons. I use to look up to Chrissy and her friends when I was growing up. They were older and so cool. We use to pass silly notes in the hallway and would tell Chrissy how much I loved her handwriting. LOL. Thanks for indulging me when we were younger:) Your family is too cute. It was so good to see you in person instead of on your blog! Call again next time your in town!

Kylin and Mariana

We could not get enough of cutie Karina!

I love how Andrew treats everyone smaller than him.

I know he's 2 but in my house he's the baby so watching him treat others like a baby is really endearing.

Childhood Memories

It's moments like these at the park that you as a parent are so glad you captured on film. The pictures that capture the moment speak so many happy emotions! I always hope that when my kids simple childhood is part of the past, that they will look back and think that it was a happy one full of lots of love. sibling love that happens every so often
This one tickles me and expresses the new found excitement every time we visit the park.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

He Loves Me!

So this vase/pitcher sits next to my sink. Most of the time it's empty. I mentioned to Nathan casually one night that I prefer it with flowers. The night I came back from my RS Women's Retreat a couple of weeks ago, he presented me with these flowers. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Nathan really is wonderful about 'professing his undying love for me!' ha! ha!

Well, my vase is empty again but my kids are really dolls about picking flowers for me.
Lantana's will have to do!

TIME OUT

Yes, sometimes Mom's need a Time Out too! Lucky for me there is a special weekend dedicated to uplifting and inspiring women - Time Out For Women. Bernice and I were able to escape for a night and one day.

Friday Night we skipped out for Sushi:)

Because we didn't eat dinner before we left for the night!

And because it was way over due birthday present.
It was better than I ever remembered sushi to be.

Saturday morning we were both lets say-wanting to really be with our families more than a large group of women. Well the day got better and better with each passing speaker and singer. I knew Hilary Weeks would be there and I was really excited to hear her inspiring music. To my most amazing surprise the first speaker was Virginia Hinckley Pearce. I could not contain myself. She was not planning on being there and came on last minutes notice and is her 1st Time Out ever. I couldn't believe it was happening. We raced down to her during the first break and I poured out my feelings of adoration and love for her family and the book "Letters". I'm sure I was a complete loser but I couldn't pass up the chance to be near her. Okay, corny I know but I really don't care. Then during the next break I went up to her again to have her sign another book she edited about her mother, "Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley".


Bernice and I with Hilary. Bernice said we were acting like people do at Disney Land waiting to take pictures with all the characters and get autographs.
In the end, it was worth being away from the fam for a day.

Kylin's Big Day

Kylin waited in anticipation for her First Day of Preschool!

12:30 could not come soon enough today.

My heart just melted for Andrew today. He got his backpack on, followed Ky right into preschool, put his backpack and shoes into the bin just like her and then ran off to the preschool room. When I called him over he gave me a big hug and kiss and then ran off again. He was convinced that he was staying for preschool! One more year Big Boy.

Today starts the weeks when I get every Tues. and Thurs. afternoon all to myself. What to do for 2 hours without kids? Blog, Clean, Read, Think Clearly:)

Surprise at the Front Door

My friend Alisa came over and showed me this creature at the front door. Apology for all the bug stories. I just got a kick out of watching Alisa try to catch this Preying Mantis. The kids thought is was fascinating. We fed it live bugs, watched it climb a chop stick, and most likely gave it a slight concussion from shacking it around so much. We set it free after a couple of days to go live out the rest of it's life in peace. I think that the female praying mantis' eat the male ones. Jalyne begs to differ. What do you think?

First Day of School

After what seemed like the shortest summer, comes the 1st day of school! I always have the worst luck with cameras. I broke two cameras in a matter of about 3 months. Don't tell my dad because one the them was his. Bernice was generous enough to finally give us a really nice camera. Before this all happened, the battery ran out on the camera during Kylin's Preschool Graduation. So we have no documentation of that once-in-a-life time event. I took some really cute pics of the kids before they left for their first day of school. We took Ashlyn to her class first and the plan was to get that 1st day of school shoot with each of their teachers. For some reason the camera would not let me take anymore pictures because it said it was full. I was so puzzled because the camera showed that I only took 4 pictures. I went home upset because I got no pictures of the kids with their teachers. After about 10 minutes, I finally figured it out. I forgot to put the memory card back into the camera after uploading some pictures on to the computer. That's the reason why if would only hold 4 pictures. Then somehow I erased the pictures I took before we left for school that morning. I only had this one left. The after-school picture I for some reason took when we got to my mom's house. At least is was taken on the 1st day of school.

I really love do having my kids home. I enjoy the days that they have off. I don't really crave having them go back to school. I doesn't bother me having them around. That's why I had kids right? Here's how I spent one on my days this week.

Rain Gutter Regatta

The Rain Gutter Regatta is Half the Work, Half the Stress but just as fun as the Pine Wood Derby!

The Boats are raced by being blown down the rain gutter through a straw.


Taylor Won!

Garbage Truck Man

Like I said earlier, Andrew loves his cars and anything that has wheels. This is the Highlight of his every Tuesday and Friday! When we hear the garbage truck we run outside. Andrew waves excitedly and says HI to the garbage truck. The men are so kind. They always Honk their Horn and Wave at Andrew.