Things I never thought I'd say...

As our children are getting older, I find myself saying things that I never thought I would have to say ALL THE TIME. Example from today:

I walk into the girl's room where they are playing with a friend and see Benson's Marine Animals trading cards stuck to the wall.

Me: Grace, why are the Marine Animal trading cards stuck to the wall?
Grace: We're having a Sea Party.
Me: Grace, HOW are the Marine Animal trading cards stuck to the wall? (said as I notice a tube of chapstick laying on the floor)
Grace: Um...chapstick.
Me: (suppressing chuckle) Grace and Sabrina, we NEVER EVER use chapstick to stick things to the wall! Actually we NEVER EVER use anything to stick ANYTHING else to the walls EVER.

I give them points for creativity. A sea party? Chapstick? Wow

Girls ONLY Trip

Since Mike and Benson were going to be gone at the Fathers and Sons Campout and Aunt Sarah was graduating from high school, the girls and I headed to Bartlesville for the weekend. We left Thursday afternoon and came back Monday afternoon.

On Friday morning we went out to Woolaroc with Grandma Stacey, Aunt Kathleen, Spencer, and half of the public school children of Tulsa and the surrounding communities. I have never seen Woolaroc close to as busy, but we still had fun checking out the animals and museum and playing on the playground.

On Friday night we headed to the stadium for graduation. It's hard to believe that Sarah is old enough to be done with high school. As I was thinking about it I realized that I have a child who is only 1 year younger than Sarah was when I graduated from high school. And hopefully we will not have to attend another high school graduation until that child is old enough many, many years from now. Congratulations Aunt Sarah, we are proud of you and all that you've accomplished!

On Saturday, Aunt Julie and Uncle Ryan invited us to their land to ride the horses.

And then we finished the evening at the Kiddie Park. We have finally reached the day where NOBODY cries on the rides at the Kiddie Park, which I think is a big milestone. For a cute video of Spencer and Breeny on the boats, go here.

We missed Daddy and Benson but we still had a very fun and busy weekend! We know they had lots of fun as well. And the drive home went so well that I have hope again that we may actually survive a trip to Utah in a few months.

Fathers and Sons Weekend

This is Mike, I'm writing this post because Jess says we're way behind on blogging and I'm trying to help her catch up. So a couple weeks ago was the fathers and sons camp out. Jess and the girls went to Oklahoma for a visit for the weekend and Benson and I had a "man weekend" (so to speak, anyway). We had tons of fun playing games, going on hikes, sitting around the fire, eating hot dogs, hamburgers, s'mores, and pancakes, etc. Benson loved the games we all played. We played bocce ball and he was very keen on WINNING, but unfortunately for him, we did not. (See the video below of his explanation of the game.) But we did have a lot of fun playing. His favorite game was tug-of-war. He jumped in anywhere he could whenever anyone was pulling on that rope. He also thought the skits performed by the young men and Elders Quorum presidency were hilarious. Honestly, one of his favorite and most anticipated parts was just sleeping in the tent. We shared an air mattress which did not work out very well. We've had it for a long time and it finally gave up the ghost during the night. I ended up flat on the ground, although there was obviously still a little air in it because my weight pushed it all to Ben's side so he still got a decent night's sleep. Benson especially liked going on hikes "during the Triassic Period". I'd like to say I taught him everything he knows, but he surprises me all the time by knowing way more than me about the most random of science facts. He's like the Ken Jennings of Kindergartners. Luckily for him, not only was he blessed with the gift of intellegence and memory retention, but also with the gift of self-confidence. Even if he was incorrect in a recitation of some science theory, you'd believe it anyway. Jess just pointed out that I misspelled intelligence a few lines up. I think I'll leave it just to emphasize my point, that he gets his smarts from his mother.

A face ONLY a mother could love...

and even then it's still a stretch! I really love (wince, shudder) this stage!

Jillian's Roll Over Minute

As of today, Jillian will no longer stay on her back, she almost immediately rolls to her tummy every time you lay her down.


I went in to check on her while she was napping this afternoon and it really hit me how big she has gotten! She is starting to look a little ridiculous in the cradle and since she's rolling over now, it's probably not the safest place for her anymore. As soon as school is out we will set up the crib and move Jillian into a room with Sabrina. Benson and Grace will share the bunk beds in the other room. It is still unbelievable to me how fast 4 months goes and what a difference it makes.

Jillian - 5 1/2 months


Jillian - 6 weeks

Mother's Day

Me and the kiddos on my 29th birthday

Today was a great day, which is surprising because I don't think I went to bed until 2am and I got up at 6am! In the past, I've let myself feel guilty on Mother's Day, because while I do try hard, I obviously fall short of the perfect, ideal mother that I wish I could be each and every day. But today I ditched the guilt and just enjoyed my family.

We have to get our kids up early on Sundays because we have 9am church, but they were all up extra early on their own because they were excited to give me my gifts. I got a new waffle iron and a baking stone, both things I really wanted. The kid's each decorated a card for me. Mike stayed home from church with Benson and Jillian because Benson was running a fever yesterday. The musical number that the Primary did went really well during Sacrament Meeting and I felt like my Sharing Time also went well. Mike made and cleaned up all of the meals today and I think I only changed 1 diaper.

But I think my favorite part of the day was this poem that Mike wrote for me. I'm sure nobody else will get all the references that so accurately describe my life right now. It captures some of the most challenging parts of my job these days but also the most wonderful and fulfilling parts. I hope it will help me to remember this wonderful, crazy time of raising small children and the myriad of emotions I feel on a daily basis. I love my job and feel so blessed!

Happy Mother’s Day – A Poem for Mommy
(“More Milk!”...I mean “Please may I have more milk?...right now!”)

You remove our shirts and throw into the wash,
Stained by under-thanked dessert, strawberries with ganache.

You sort through mountains of pajamas soiled,
Yet the manicotti somehow is not over-boiled.

“We need a new show!”, “Not Ben’s turn for computer!”
Every role filled; chauffeur, maid, nurse, and tutor.

Loading up all four kids just to run by the store,
“Gracie, time to come in.” (Duck and cover, it’s war!)

Showing love and some class where mere mortals couldn’t take it,
“Through the Plan of Salvation, son, Zach and Spot just might make it.”

Teaching and guiding with gentle love showing,
Their fruits, Unlike the seeds in our yard you’ll be sowing.

When older and wiser and perhaps more sincere,
They’ll honor and bless your great name – yet you’ll fear…

That still through it all, you somehow fell short,
Then I’ll remind you, my love, with a simple retort,

“That the serpent with less, beguiles many an Eve,
With Promises unworthy the spit-up on your sleeve.”

Mind you don’t pay it, with no time for rest,
Breeny’s crying underfoot, clutching Jilly to her chest.

Besides, the neighbors are here and you have to watch theirs too,
“I’m heading off to work, do these pants go with this shoe?”

With reverence understated and Sunday clothes that match!
With little thanks, you keep at it (Just like Desmond in the Hatch!)

No analogy clever or metaphor bizarre,
Could ever fully describe exactly what you are.

More than an angel sent from heaven to band-aid all their bruises,
Guiding future lives and destinies, a queen and mother chooses.

“Bless you” forever (not just for wiping the nose of big brother)
We love you more than we can say, children always want their mother.

Double Trouble

Remember this?

Once upon a time, Benson thought Trouble was the most hilarious game out there.

Five years and nine months later...

Apparently it is still just as hilarious!

P.S. Jilly rolled over for the first time today without getting her arm stuck underneath her AND can sit unsupported for almost a minute as of today! Like Benson said in the video, it was like the BEST Mother's Day ever.

Dream Options

For the last several months every night before bed, our older kids (Benson especially) ask for dream options. I don't remember exactly how this started, I can't even remember if it was Mike or I that came up with this (probably Mike since he's the creative half of this relationship), but I know it had something to do with Benson telling us every night as we were putting him to bed that he was scared of the dark. So to give him something to think about while he was falling asleep to take his mind off the dark, we give suggestions of what he should dream about.
Sabrina's dream option is always the same, she only ever wants to dream about being a mommy taking care of babies, most often a girl baby and a boy baby.
Grace's dream options have varied a little bit, but they most often involve princesses, ponies, and ballerinas. Her favorite is ballerinas bouncing on her head.
Benson's have been quite varied. Astronomy, meteorology, paleontology, church history, zoology, geology, Shakespeare, actually being an animal (only very specific animals are accepted, like it couldn't be a generic lizard it has to be a komodo dragon that is nice to people) just to name a few. Benson will pick a genre for his dreams and then we are required to give him 3 options within that genre which he will then pick from. And they better be good options or he will reject all of them and make you start over.
They are starting to grow out of this habit, which has kind of been a relief for me since I'm not very creative and it stresses me out when I have to come up with things when I put Benson to bed. But I wanted to make sure and record it because it has been a cute and fun family thing the past few months. And most importantly it has helped Benson stay in bed!

Field Trip, Fun Fair, and Field Day...Oh My!

Benson has been busy at school this past week. Last Friday, the kindergartners went on a Field Trip to the zoo. Jillian and I joined Benson on the field trip and had a lot of fun.


Then on Saturday was the school carnival, which they call the Family Fun Fair. The kid's all really enjoyed this and were really worn out by the time we got home and then were quite grouchy all afternoon.


Monday was Field Day. The girls and I were able to watch Benson participate in a few events before we had to leave for Grace and Sabrina's last ballet class. When we asked Benson how the rest of Field Day was after school he said, "Awesome!"

And here is a picture of his 3-D Model of the Life Cycle of a Butterfly

The brown circle is the egg, the caterpillar is the green and blue thing on the bottom, the chyrsalis is the cotton ball hanging on the left, and of course the butterfly (the wings are made out of coffee filters, a fact that he includes in his description EVERY time). He was really excited to make this and to watch the Painted Lady caterpillars that his class had turn into butterflies.

Now that all the excitement is over, who knows what they will do for the next 3 weeks! Whatever they do I'm sure it will go by quickly...we are all so exicted for summer break!

Five months

This past month we have really started to see Jillian's personality develop, which is so fun. It's interesting with Jillian, since she's our fourth child, I find myself describing her using phrases like "she does this just like Benson did" or "that's just how Grace was at this age" or "I remember Sabrina doing the same thing." But I will try hard in this post to just describe Jillian without comparing her to anyone else.

Jillian laughs hard every day. There are usually a couple of times each day that you can pretty much do anything and she will crack up. We all love it and everyone is constantly trying to get her to laugh!


I think it's obvious that Jilly really does love her big brother and sisters. Each of them can get her to smile and laugh and can help to calm her down when she's upset. They are more willing to help out with Jillian by getting a binky, burp cloth, onesie, diaper, wipes, pajamas, etc whenever they are asked than any other thing I ask them to do. They like to hold her and love on her, sometimes a little too much. Benson ALWAYS blesses Jillian in his prayers, but sometimes leaves out the rest of the family.




Jillian loves getting her bum wiped. She can be crying hard when I lay her down on the changing table, but as soon as I take off her diaper she starts cooing and smiling. I guess I should say she just likes to be fresh because that doesn't sound as weird. I love letting her lay on the changing table after a diaper change and talking and playing with her because she is always so happy. She has also found her toes and always grabs them when she's laying on her back these days.


Jilly loves to be part of the action. She doesn't like to be snuggled or face towards you anymore (unless she's extremely tired), she wants to face out and see the world. When we are out and about it is difficult to get her to nap, she has to be at home in her bed and it needs to be fairly quiet.

Jilly has become extremely interested in food over the last month. She still isn't very grabby, thank goodness, but when she is around anyone who is eating she is staring them down and often starts kicking her legs and breathing faster like she's excited and anticipating something. For this reason, we started her on rice cereal this past week and she LOVES it. She gobbles it up and there's usually crying because I can't keep it coming fast enough. In the past I have not been a big fan of the "learning to eat" phase because it's so messy and often frustrating, but Jilly has taken to it so well, it's actually been kind of fun. Oh and while we have made great strides in the solid food department, we have made almost no progress in the bottle department. She will occasionally take an ounce or two of watered-down juice from the bottle, but that's it.


Jillian loves to give kisses. Actually she just opens her mouth and slobbers on our cheek when we say "kisses, kisses" but then afterwards we say "thank you!" and she gives us a huge smile. Super cute! I've been unsuccessful in getting it on video so far, but hopefully next month.

We actually thought that Jilly was getting a tooth a few weeks ago because she was drooling a lot, really fussy, and then ran a low-grade fever for a day or two, but we have not seen or felt anything popping through yet. She has developed a great love for chewing on her fingers, usually her pointer finger or her pointer and middle fingers together of her left hand.


We can't get enough of our Silly Jilly! I wonder how we ever survived without her in our family.