Dollie and her Blankie

Amelia is just growing up so fast. She is so much fun and we love every minute with her because she is usually making us laugh.  She is 14 months now and still not saying any "real" words but she jibbers in her own language constantly. She LOVES looking at books and she will either sit and read them out loud to herself of walk around holding the book out while reading (i need to take a picture of her doing it). She smiles and laughs all the time and is so good at entertaining herself.  Millers LOVES her blankie. She must have it when she goes to sleep. When she gets tired she finds her blanket and get the corner and starts poking her nose with it. We say "Millie is picking her nose so she must be tired". It cracks us up every-time and she also as to have a paci as well.  A few other obsessions she has is cell phones. If I don't call you back ever it is because if the girl sees a phone she wants it. She also loves to hold chapstick.  Oh Millers, what would we do without you. We love Sister so much, thanks for being such a wonderful little lady.

Girls Camp and Boys Camp

As some of you know I'm our wards Girls Camp Director again ( I was 2 years ago- couldn't go last year, Millie was only a few months old). It is such a fun calling and this time it is even better because I'm actually in Young Women's as the Laurel Advisor this time so I already know the girls.  Well a few months back we planned  an overnighter with the girls to go and do all out pre-certification stuff.  Then a we found out the Elder Quorm Presidency (Shaun is the 2nd councilor)  planned their Fathers and Sons the same night (we planned our first though). Millie got to stay at my parents and I went to  "Girls Camp" and Shaun and Ryk went to "Boys Camp" - Ryker started calling it that after he keep hearing me talk about girls camp. =)

 Shaun is not much of a camper  so he got his easy pop up tent that he used as a boy scout. They were warm and cozy  in this tiny tent. But Shaun didn't care because he just had to fold it up to put it away.

Rykers favorite part was when they saw a snake. He would have brought it home as a pet if he could have.

We didn't go to far and everything was perfect!! The weather was great, the food AMAZING and it went rather smoothly. We had the girls put together a tin foil dinner right when we got their then while it were cooking we did our centers and they learned how to start fires and put them out and how to cook dessert in a dutch over.

The next morning we woke up to hot pancakes and eggs then I taught them basic CPR. 

Thanks Amanda for all the help. Who am I kidding, I helped you!! I had a blast and the girls seemed to as well.  Maybe we should do these once a month, hey the boys get to =)

2 extra kids and Sarah Turned 21!!

Well the past 2 weeks have been packed. A week and a half ago we had 2 extra member in our family. Out friends the Porters got to on a neat trip to Honduras so we were able to have their 2 girls for a few days. We started the day with a preschool field trip to Bashas. The kids have to wear hairnets, as you can see Ryker was not happy about it. He got over it though. 

That night for dinner the kids were so good and ate so well I gave them some gummi savers. Well Shaun was teaching them how to play with their food.  They were so funny and tried so hard to do what Shaun was doing.

 

One of the days it was warm and sunny so we busted out the swimsuits and  had a "Water Party" as Ryker calls it. Oh those summer days are coming!!

Then April 17th was my beautiful blonde sister's birthday!! We went over to my parents for some homemade pizza, cake and ice cream. Sarah thanks for being the best sister ever!! I'm so proud of you and who you have become. Keep being the wonderful person you are, even if you think I have *Narpy Pete* =)  And you are the BEST New York buddy ever!! I say we go again SOON.

Oh Sarah what can I say, you are just so much fun and hilarious to be around!! Here she is jumping and being crazy with the kids. 

After Sarah blow out her candles the kiddos wanted their own candle to blow out.

We are taking a family shot and Eden and Delia ran to be in it to, then Delia pulls a face like this I was laughing so hard.  =)  

Uncle Abeos gives the best bull rides.

We had a fun time with the Porter girls. When Amanda came to pick them up  Ryker started to cry and said "I don't want them to go".   I will admit 4 kids is more work but they all did great and had so much fun.  

No Nanny State!!!

We just got back from the Rally in Gilbert!! Their were tons of people their and it was great!!  All walks of life showed up to show their support. And you know I really think this is important because I stood in the wind for an hour and I HATE wind. 

So lets all CALL our CONGRESSMEN and SAVE CAPITALISM!!! If you just sit back and say "I can't make a difference" then you can't COMPLAIN when American goes down the crapper!! 

I'm really bummed I didn't have signs or something. I had preschool this morning so I ran out of time.

Amelias first Rally!! 

The different news stations were there and interviewing some passionate people!!

Also on a sad note, today was my LAST day in my amazing classroom. I'm so grateful to my parents for letting me have my preschool at their house and helping with my kids!!  I'm truly going to miss this and the sweet kiddos I teach.  It is hard because I've had many sibling and have grown close to many families, I will miss you all.   I can't wait for the day I can have another classroom like this.  

Umm what am I going to do with all my stuff???? Oh boy. =)

Tea Party!!!!

Who can go with me!!!  It is Wednesday April 15th Noon to 1:00pm at the Gilbert Town Hall Warner and Gilbert.

Dionne, where are you when I need you??? =)

Peter Cottontail left us some treats!

I hope everyone had a fun easter.  We have 8:00am church so our morning was a little rushed. Ryker woke up first and followed the trail of eggs to his basket. We went in and woke Millers up (can you tell) and sorry she looks like a boy, she has like one pair of PJs so she is wearing Rykers old shirt. Stinkin Easter Bunny- why didn't you bring her some jammies???

Happy Easter Family, the sun was pretty bright.

I love my dollie so much and I LOVE her smile when she covers her front teeth!! 

For Easter Sunday we went and had dinner with the Martineaus. After dinner we did a little Easter Egg hunt . They kids were hilarious and we all sat on the beautiful lawn and laughed at the kids. Umm Amelia was the best, she was grabbing as much candy as she could then running off.

They were so cute together!!

So I'm a daughter, sister, wife, mother but STILL not an Aunt (and grandma of course) but THANKS to Missy (and I guess Nolan) that will soon change. I'm finally going to be an Aunt!!!! The best Aunt ever, I might add!!! Congrats to Fishy and Olan, they finally figured things out! (sorry sick joke) but they have been trying for awhile now and HE ( i think it is a boy) will be joining the Martineau clan in the first part of November!!! 

Ok seriously, Mis you will be the best mom ever. I think you are still a kid at heart and I LOVE that about you!!!! 

What a WEEK!!!

Well this has been a crazy week, we have had some ups and some serious lows!!! Lets start at the beginning. For FHE we decided to take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese because the weekend before, Shaun had 2 weddings and didn't get to spend much time with the kids. Everyone had a blast. Ryker loves all the games and Amelia just was in heaven puttering around and looking at all the fun games.

My kids favorite was Ski-ball. I'll admit that was one of my favorites as a kids too. They were so cute and worked together. Millers would get the ball out and gave it to Ryker then he would roll it with all his might!! This is where most of our tokens were spent!!

Some of you know that Shaun likes to volunteer us to be in little promos for ABC15. So I guess they are doing a "how to be green" show and they need to make a little promo to advertise for the show. It is fun to go down to the station and see all the fun stuff they have. We got to use the green screen so who knows what will be behind us. I HATE being in front of the camera, 50% of our home videos you hear me saying "shaun get out of my face with your camera" but they made me say a little line!!! Embarrassing!! 

Amelia was there to but Shauns Boss- Amy LOVES kids and stole her and was walking around the station with her. She was so nice!!!  I have no idea what Ryker is doing, he wasn't yawning.

Then on the way home I thought I could face my fears to let Ryker see some cool stuff. We have never be to the Bass Pro Shop but I know all about it and I knew Ryker would love it!! I'm deathly afraid of real animals that have been killed and stuffed.  I'm not a member of PeTA but dead animals are creepy, I totally think they are going to just come alive and attack me, I'm not kidding.  But I was right, both kids loved the place, I wanted to buy EVERYTHING in the camping area.....one day right????

Well for the bad news, on Thursday an employ from the town of Gilbert came to my parents house and said someone called in and complained about the "daycare" that was going on. I got the list of requirements of the things I need to do to get a permit or make it legal. The list is ridiculous and not to mention I only have 10 days to do it all. I'm not wanting to make this a serious business, I'm doing it for the time being to help with the income and what other job can I work these hours and not take too much time away from being a mom. So I'm truly upset over the whole thing. Yes I will get over it and worse things could happen but I LOVE teaching these kids and it has been the best job possible to have. All I know is this lights a fire under me even more to get more involved with politics. I could go on and on about the whole situation but I'm sure it will bore you all. I'm grateful my husband has a job and I'm sure we can and will find a way to continue to provide for our family. Conference weekend couldn't have come at a better time. I've already been so uplifted today and I am so grateful for the Gospel. 

Joyride!!

Driving around with my kids is one of my favorite things to so lately. Both of my kids love riding around and are always pretty happy. Millers just jib-jabs away and it is so funny. Ryker will say the most random comments ever and they are usually very funny. 

The other day while driving home he saw a school bus:

R: Mom I want to ride on a school bus.

M: Maybe when you are bigger.

R: I am bigger

M: When you are 5 you can go to Kindergarten and ride a school bus to school. (probably not but he doesn't have to know that)

R: Oh cool I want to be a Garden-Kid

M: No Ryk, a Kindergartener

R: oh so do they have Gardens??

Then the other day when we went to Shauns  work, it is across the street from Chinese Cultural Center. From a far Ryker saw this building and said:

R: Mom Mom turn in there, we have to go there!

M: Go where Ryker

(then he was pointing at the buildings

R: There Mom, go fast.

M: Ryker we are going to see daddy we can't go there, why do you want to go there?

R: Because it is Kung Fu Pandas Palace!!!! I need to see him!!!!

Holy Cow I died laughing, he was dead serious and I can't believe he recognized that type of building and truly thinks Kung Fu Panda lives there!!!! I love this boy oh so much.

Of course a picture of my Sweet Dollie. Like I said she loves to just jibber jibber jibber and the other thing she does right away is pull off her bow or flower!!! Drives me crazy but what can I do.