"Night at the Musuem"

On Monday we went to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with some friends.


On our way there, Hyrum kept saying that: "we go to Night at the Museum." I tried to correct him several times, but the title 'museum' never seemed to catch on...


We started out in the Dinosaur area (but couldn't dig for bones because it was too cold), and then watched a 4D movie - which included some information about Fort Worth's History - but in a fun way. The theater seats moved, we got water and air sprayed on us, and we got to wear 3D glasses so that parts of the movie 'jumped' out to us - one part being a Dinosaur! It was fun - similar to the movie we saw in New Orleans' Isectarium.


Most of our time was spent in this room. I don't know it's name, but it had things for kids of all ages to play with. Joseph, Samuel, and Hyrum LOVED the train table; although I think Samuel almost exclusively played here. He loved ducking in and out of the holes in the table and trying to get his trian all the way around the WHOLE track.


Hyrum loved pushing the kid-sized shopping cart and shopping in the 'grocery store.' I remember when I was growing up, New Orleans' Children's Museum had an area like this and I LOVED the grocery store part!


The Dr. area kept Nadia busy. She took very good care of her baby!


There was even a space for Anna to play in! She loved being able to get out and crawl around (and I loved that there was a place for her too!).

We had so much fun there, and we didn't even get to see the second level! I love places that make learning so exciting!

The New Way to Fingerpaint

So if you don't dust for a while, it gives your kids a great opportunity to be creative. Just look what Samuel drew on our dusty entertainment center:


Samuel, you're getting so good at spelling your name!! Way to go Dude!

Mommy's New "Tricks"

These are the 2 new tricks I have learned:

I made the butterfly applique, put it on a shirt (I bought the brown shirt), and stitched around it!! This was one of Evelyn's birthday gifts, but I let her open it in the morning so she could wear it all day! I learned how to do this from Emily. She makes stinkin' cute shirts for her kids and I'm so glad she showed me how!! Thanks Emily!!



Juana came over one night and taught Saskia and I how to make hair bows!! Juana is soooo talented in her sewing abilities and always makes the cutest bows for Debbie!! I was so glad that she was able to teach us this!! Now I have something to do with all that ribbon I've been collecting! These are the Valentine bows I made, but with Evelyn's school uniform being red and white, she'll probably wear these year-round.

Record Snowfall!

February 11th we woke up to a couple inches of snow. But it just kept coming. It snowed the entire day! The DFW Airport reported 12.5 inches of snow!


The kids were dying to play in it, but I didn't want to go out in it - so when Daddy got home, he bundled up the kids and went outside. They threw snowballs and built the biggest snowman on the block... It's a little taller than Daddy!! AWESOME job guys!


And just as a side note, I am very disappointed in Evelyn's school. Despite record snowfall and hazardous driving conditions, they remained open!! What, like kids need to go to school to learn?? But Evelyn wasn't disappointed, she got to have her Valentine's Day Party! I guess I'm not in New Orleans anymore - they closed school with the threat of snow... Ah, those were the days!

Sabotage or a Parking Lot...

So I was on my way up the stairs when I saw this:



What are these cars doing here?? Yes, they look cute - so carefully lined up, but, I could so easily see myself carrying Anna up the stairs, not see the cars, step on the cars (which would be painful in and of itself), and go tumbling down.

No, I don't think my children were trying to kill me, but how many times do I have to tell them - "Don't put your toys on the stairs"?! - Probably as many times as I have to tell them to share, to not hit, to eat their vegetables, to brush their teeth, to use the bathroom because they are doing the potty dance, etc...

Do you ever feel like a broken record player?

Valentine's Day

This year, I found a Valentine Countdown that I decided to make. It was just for Thayne and I (Evelyn was very upset about that - maybe next year I'll make one for the kids). There are 14 pockets with a card in each pocket telling you something nice you are supposed to do for your spouse that day.


A couple quick examples. One day we had to give each other heart attacks. By putting paper cut-out hearts all over a door and writing why you love your spouse on the hearts. Another day we were supposed to buy our spouse one of their favorite things - candy bar, flower, etc... I thought it was so fun and cute! It reminded me, a little bit, of the movie "FireProof' (you need to see this movie if you haven't!!).


The kids and I also gave Daddy some valentines and I made a valentine for each of the kiddos!


We've never done too much for valentine's Day, so it was fun to put a little extra thought into a day when you're supposed to show your care and appreciation for those you love.

Evelyn's Six!!

Here is the Birthday Princess herself! She and Samuel battled all day over her 'title.' Evelyn insisted on Birthday Princess, and Samuel was sure she was the Birthday Girl... since it was her birthday, I'll let her win!


I just LoVe Evelyn's eyes - - they are so big and beautiful!! This is Evelyn with her birthday flower!! She LOVES getting a flower from her Daddy on her birthday!


On their birthdays, we let the kids pick what they want for their meals. Evelyn has been planning her birthday meals since last year. Her final menu selections were: Breakfast - Crepes (her favorite toppings are strawberries and chocolate syrup), Lunch - 'Cheese Tacos' (a.k.a. - quesidillas), Dinner - Taco Salad, and her Cake - Yellow cake with Strawberry frosting - - I threw in the butterfly at no extra charge ;)


One of my favorite things to do when I was growing up was to lick as many candles as possible...


Obviously, that has been passed down to my children... Samuel started reaching for the candles just as the 'flames' were extinguished - He meant business.


I loved this picture - with only 6 candles to lick, I thought we might see some tears, but my children shared!!


We LOVE you Evelyn and are so happy you are a part of our family!!


Here are some of Evelyn's favorite things as a 6-year-old:

Favorite Breakfast: Crepes

Favorite Lunch: Cheese Tacos

Favorite Dinner: Tacos or Taco Salad

Favorite Color(s): Pink

Favorite Movie: Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Favorite Toy: Barbie - Three Musketeers Doll

Favorite Drink(s): Pink Lemonade

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Favorite Animal: Horse

Favorite Snack: Grapes

Favorite Number: 6

Favorite Temple: Dallas Temple

Favorite Outside Activities: Hula Hoop, Sidewalk Chalk, Playing in playhouse, Duck-Duck-Goose,

Favorite Flower: Daisy

Favorite Song: "Love One Another"

Anna's New "Tricks"

Anna is now 6 months old. At her check up she weighed 14 lbs. 12 oz. and was 26 inches tall. Thursday was a big developmental day for her. She started scooting backwards, she said "mama" (while she was whining), and she got on her hands and knees and rocked back and forth!! She is at such a fun age! Today she said "baba." She loves to play on her tummy and will either roll or scoot all over the room now! Here is a picture of her favorite 'toy:'


Yes, she loves to gnaw on the pack of wipes - and I do watch her carefully. I think she just likes the krinkly feel of it. She also loves to grab things now - including hair, which more often than not, feels like it's being ripped out. But we LOVE her soo much, and LOVE seeing her learn and grow!!

Something's Missing...

I really wanted some Empenadas the other night and Thayne was awesome enough to make them for us!! But when I peeked into the kitchen to see how things were coming, I saw this:


So help me out here, I look at this picture and it just feels like something's missing and I can't quite put my finger on it...

You're right. It's the chef! Haha. Just kidding. It is the bowl!! This is probably why I'm banned from the kitchen when Thayne cooks, because I always ask him 'annoying' questions: Are you missing something?, Why don't you have a bowl?, etc... ;)