Sunshine!

This is what it's all about.

Simple sunshine!

Bright.  Cherry.  Fiery.  Bold.  Warm.  Light.

Iris,
thank you for being my ray of sunshine. 
You truly do brighten everyday,
and I love you!

XOXOMom

4 Year Old + Clothes + Independence = What Not to Wear Outfits!

 

 Look at that smile!  

She is so PLEASED with herself!

  

 Four shirts layered over each other!

Count them!

There's four!

  

This is my favorite!  

And yes, we actually went to the store like this.

I have a question...

Can you nominate four-year olds for the show? 

We could definitely use a $5000.00 Visa Gift Card...

Pray for Your Children That I Won't Punt Them Out the Window

Yes, that's what I actually said to my husband.  And soon you'll know why...

Samuel served in the Philippines, Ilagan Mission, and there he learned a phrase in Tagalog that means mischievous.  The term is: Muk-Muk, or translated into English, means: Iris and Owen!

These two are the epitomy of mischevious, and this past week they really went bananas and drove me bonkers!

Bath time always involves removing all soap and soap-like products OUT of the tub during bath play time.  I thought I had removed them all, but apparently I missed one and they squeezed the contents of an entire bottle of shampoo into the tub making for this gray, soapy-soupy mess...

 

Later, while feeding Gabriel, I noticed that they were quiet.  Hmmm.  That always indicates trouble.  I went into the family room to discover they both had their own cleaning product (Owen had Windex; Iris had the $100 Granite Counter top cleaner), and were spraying furiously onto the coffee table and wiping it up with Gabriel's burp clothes!

Oh yeah, ignore Owen's middle finger inn the shot above.  Focus on the sheepish grin...

 

Still later, Iris came running to tell me that Owen was "playing with a knife".  What she realized as she was waving her arms at me, was that her hands were covered in chocolate frosting.  As her mind comprehended that this too required an explanation, she hurriedly added that Owen-not Iris-Owen, had gotten into the frosting!

Still later, after much scribbling on walls, doors, and basically any surface of any kind, I banned all writing utensils and set my watch for two minutes at a time.  That's how long I would let them go from my sight before checking on them.  They did well, climbing into the "tupperware cabinet" and rolling freshly picked lemons on the floor-I'm okay with that!  But then I later discovered that they had ceased rolling and were now "eating", rind and all, the lemons!  Iris wolfed everything down (I don't know know how she stomached it!), while Owen's chewed up lemon landed in a neat little pile at his feet.  Thanks Owen , I guess!

And if that isn't all, later in the day Owen acted as a human meat tenderizer to the roast I was preparing for dinner!  Aarghhh!

Well, they are now both tucked in for a nap, and I can finally, finally relax!

Or can I...?

Park Days: Inspired!

 Our Relief Society has organized one day every week where we can get together and let the kids play at various parks around the city.

I admit, I hardly ever make it out (mornings are so crazy!), but when I do the kids never fail to have a great time and I love the opportunity to visit with other moms.  It is such a great opportunity to get to know them better, and I always come away smiling.

 

I am so grateful for for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I know the Relief Society Program is ordained of God, and that the meetings and activities truly are inspired and are designed to draw us closer to Christ.

What a resource! 

What a blessing!

As we all strive to strengthen our homes and our families.

Love that Styrofoam!

 

A new picture wrapped smartly  in Styrofoam quickly became the toy of the day!

Overcast Day = Perfect Park Fun

 

 

We met up with a good friend of mine, a fellow school mom, for a park play date and had just the best time.  Nothing beats an overcast day that's perfect for playing while you keep toasty with a warm sweater!

Laundry Fairies

At the close of each day we gather someplace within the house for family scripture study, song, and prayer.  Sometimes there's a mound of laundry nearby, and it never fails that my laundry fairies are eager to help.

Sometimes the help is really that:

Help.

And other times, it's anything but!

Either way, I love it!  And I will surely miss these little hands when they are grown and gone!

Birthday Wishes

For Iris' 4th birthday I let her and Owen decorate the birthday cake.

 

 

They were so excited and did a really great job!

 

Can't forget the sprinkles!

 

Samuel with the kids.

 

Mom too.

 

What a beautiful girl!

 

Iris,
Your mom and dad love you so much!  I still remember the day you came into this world!  You were absolutely beautiful then, and you remain so today.  You were so clingy-you didn't even like Dad!-and yet, over time, you gradually opened up.  You are an absolute delight and we are so grateful to be your mom and dad!

Bath Time

When they're not slapping each other silly they do have an enjoyable time...

Sundays and The Slug

Sunday is the day of rest.

And in our house, it's also when the slugs comes to life!

Iris is our Slug!
Her method of play-fighting and tickling is unique. She just sort of drapes her body over her victims and renders them immobile as they giggle and giggle under the weight of her body.

She comes by it honestly though.
The King of Slugs is, after all, none other than her father, Samuel.

They are a force to be reckoned with, but with some teamwork it's possible to bring them down.

Okay, never mind.
No one can dominate these two!

But it sure is fun to try!

No Cavity Club: Three out of Four

Several months ago-or good grief! Was it last year?-I asked for suggestions on a local family dentist. We finally settled on Dr. Bandala, a pediatric dentist with Children's Dental Care.

We made appointments for all four kids-even Owen!-and finally the day came!

Iris chillin' in the chair watching "Bolt" which was playing on a flat screen on the ceiling.

Bella decked out in ear phones so she could hear the movie during the exam.

Dig the blue pillow under her legs! Talk about comfy! Unfortunately, such comforts did not impress Owen, who howled when it was his turn!

Ava's pearly whites!

When all was said and done, we had three children inducted into the "No Cavity Club": Ava, Iris, & Owen!

Isabella, is unfortunately like her mother (I can't tell you how many fillings and crowns I have), and had six-or was it seven!- cavities! I guess if you're not going to be in the club you might as well go out with a bang!

We've made Isabella's follow-up appointments and soon the "No Cavity Club" should have one more new member!

The Who?!?

On a Sunday visit to my in-laws, Iris' Aunt Rachel passed along this t-shirt that no longer fit her girls. It fit Iris to a "T", and that night, when she put on her new nightshirt, she frolicked into the room shrieking:
"Look! It's the Jonas Brothers!"

Samuel and I started cracking up! First of all, we don't listen, watch, or buy anything even related to the Jonas Brothers! But somehow she was exposed. What's worse is that she confused THEM, with The Beatles!

You're too funny Iris! Thanks for the laugh!

Imagination

I love that my children have one another! Yes they fight, but they also love to play with one another. Sometimes I hear them rooting around in the bedroom, and then, amid squeals of delight, they'll come running to show me what they've been up to! It's always a happy surprise, because you never know what they're going to come up with next!

Playing "mommy & baby".

Playing...?
I don't even think Owen knows!
That's probably half the fun!

Bizzare Sockless Party!

The other day Owen and Iris once again took refuge in Owen's Tupperware Cupboard, only this time they opened the door briefly to fling their socks out! I tried to grab the socks but they quickly snatched them back and closed the doors so I wouldn't have a chance to make them put them on again!