Happiness Book 2015

 

Happiness is going to nursery and loving it

Happiness is a best friend to always laugh with

Happiness is completing puzzles

Happiness is anytime I get to play outside

Happiness is being a ballerina

Happiness is ‘Oo Oh and Memo’  (Pluto and Elmo)

Happiness is loving every holiday

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Happiness is Grandma watching us while Mom and Dad go on a trip.

 

 

Happiness is the dentist and flossing my teeth

Happiness is dressing up anytime my sisters do

 

Happiness is an unfinished basement to play in all winter.

Happiness is learning to swim

Happiness is feeding the horses

 

Happiness is graduating from nursery

 

 

Fanilows

I'm not sure I've ever mentioned this on this blog but I am a huge Barry Manilow fan.  I don't think I've been to one of his concerts though since I started this blog.  Before I got married I went to 9 or 10 of his concerts.  I've been to LA a couple times, Vegas several times and of course anytime he comes here to SLC.  We have Fanilow friends we see at the concerts and he always gives such good concerts. 

He was supposed to come a couple weeks before I was due with Jaron but about an hour before the concert, he 'postponed' it (indefinitely).  I was soo disappointed.  So we were so happy he came back.  Jennifer and I of course had to wear our Barry t-shirts.

However, he finally made it back and we made sure we had tickets!  I went with Brigitte, Jennifer, my mom, Jennifer's friends Pam and Jen and one of Brigitte's friends Kathryn.  It was such a fun night.  The best part was after the opening number Jennifer and her friends snuck down to the floor.  After we realized we all could and there were some open rows we all got down there.  It was so fun to be on the floor and be a little closer.

His concert was called 'One Last Time' and he says this is his last major tour in the US.  So not sure how many times I'll get to see him but Barry, you did good.  Barry sang a few songs that I love but have never heard in concert before so it was a special treat to hear them.

Disney on Ice

I took the girls to Disney on Ice in March.  I told them all week I had a surprise date for them.  They were soo excited and of course counted how many more sleeps until their date.  Brigitte and Holland joined us as well.

The day of the event I told them we were taking a train and that Mickey and Minnie had left their homes in Disneyland to come be in a show we were going to see.  They were so excited but almost as excited as they were to see Mickey and Minnie they were so excited to ride on the train.

 

We had such a fun time.  The first 5 minutes of the show the girls sat in their seats just waving to all the characters.  I bought them a tub of popcorn thinking they would never come close to finishing it but they sat there the entire time eating the popcorn and it was completely gone by intermission. 

We had a great time and the girls were amazed at it all.  They talked about it for days, even remembering each princess they saw and what a fun time they had.  It's always so fun to go to a few special events like that especially to watch your kids eyes light up.

Winter round up

Now that's it's almost summer, I thought I would do our Winter round up of things we did this winter.  (I know it's already time to do a spring one.)

We took the girls' on the ferris wheel at Scheel's for the first time, since they're finally tall enough.  Siena was nervous but once we got on they had a great time.

We spent a lot of time in the basement riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline and it was a fun place to stay warm and still do something active.

I started letting the girls take naps together in our room. They thought this was such a fun idea.  They would talk for a while then actually go to sleep.  It was all good and working great until I came in to see this mess one day along with Siena practicing writing her S's on my stool in a permanent marker she found in my drawer.

These kids love their shows.  It's so cute when they first get up from their naps to see them all on the same couch watching a little show with their water and snack cups.

We had a very mild and actually warm winter this year.  One day in February is was in the high 60's so we decided to have a picnic. 

We did get a few snow storms enough to go out and play in them.

 

And just some other misc pictures....

 

 

Jaron's backpack imitating his sisters when they walk around the house with their backpacks on.

The girls took 3 rounds of swim lessons.  Although they're not swimming quite yet, it was great to get their confidence up around water so they aren't so afraid of it anymore.

Shane and were lucky enough to get tickets to the Jazz game on the 2nd row.  It was such a fun night and an exciting game even if they did lose a very close game to the Lakers.

 

 

Jaron sure loves his pluto and elmo and sleeps with them every night.

Aunt Margene gave the girls a hair cut.  They loved the specialized attention they got with treats and everything.  Great service when your hairdresser gives you treats.

 

Easter 2015

We had such a nice Easter this year.  Of course the girls were all geared up for Easter the entire month before.  They convinced me to get out some Easter eggs the week before and entertained themselves all week doing practice egg hunts with empty eggs.

We had our family dinner the week before since my parents were going to be out of town.  Easter weekend, was also General Conference, so it was kind of nice to just stay home all weekend and relax.  We had our neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  The girls are so funny, they kept walking past eggs to make sure they got all the pink and purple ones they could.  Jaron of course was loving picking them all up since he had been practicing all week with his sisters as well.  He needed no coaching and help.  I don't think he even knew these ones actually had candy in them until it was all over and he opened them up.  He was just excited to get to pick up the eggs.

Sunday we didn't really have to get dressed or go anywhere so it was nice to just relax, watch conference and enjoy the day.  One of my favorite moments of the day was eating breakfast together as a family.  We always eat dinner together, we eat lunch together a few times a week when Shane is home but we hardly ever eat breakfast together.  With no time limitations it was fun to sit around in the morning and talk and enjoy breakfast together.

That afternoon we had Margene and Jennifer over for dinner.  The girls were so excited to have them both over and enjoyed the individual attention they gave each girl.  We even had a little karaoke party after dinner where the girls proudly displayed their loud singing skills.

The week before Easter, we had a little FHE lesson on the real reason we celebrate Easter and although they don't really get what it means to die, they can at least say 'Jesus died and is resurrected'  Resurrected is a hard word for them to say.  They also know that the tomb was empty, which I didn't think they knew until we had the missionaries over for dinner this week and when they said the tomb, Aria jumped at the chance to tell them the tomb was empty.  So they might not really get the real reason but at least they are trying to understand and that makes me happy that they at least know there is a real reason we celebrate.  Jaron recognizes all pictures of Jesus.  It's kind of crazy cuz I know I haven't taught him that but every time he sees a picture, he points to it and says 'Jee-uh'  How lucky and blessed we are to have the knowledge of the gospel in our lives.  I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atonement and resurrection so that I know I can be with my Shane and these 3 cute kids for eternity!

The Miracle

I have to write a quick story about my girls singing with the Primary in Sacrament meeting for Easter.  The primary taught them this song.  The Miracle.  Go listen to it, it's such a pretty song.  Well my girls loved it as well because I'm pretty sure we listened to it at home close to 100 times, no exaggeration.  At lunch each day I turn on music on my ipad so during the month leading up to this, they requested this song each day at least once.  We listened to it before bed and any time someone would come over and willing to listen.  They knew every word of the song.

One of the phrases, 'Jesus healed, the leper'  well Aria insisted on singing 'Leopard' and would emphasize the D at the end.  So we had a little lesson about what a leper is and so when I related it to the song, that the word is actually leper, she turned to me and said 'ok mom, but I'm still going to say Leopard.'  funny girl, but she did stop singing the D shortly after that.

Well it so happens that Siena this same month has been going through some anxiety issues.  Long story but the week leading up to it I knew there was no way she would get up in front of our congregation and sing with everyone else.  Aria is my little singer and lately has no fear so I wasn't worried about her.  But because they had been practicing it over and over I really wanted Siena to get up there and sing as well.  So I did what any mother would do...I bribed them.  Tell me I'm not the only mother that bribes her children?.  So I told them if they got up and sang the song that when they sat back down I had a few candies and a cookie for them.

They had the whole primary come early that day and practice.  Aria got right up there but didn't sing a word.  Siena cried every time I tried to walk her up there.  At the very end of practice she got up there and stood and was fine.  But neither of them sang.  I was totally ok with that.  I just wanted them to feel like they had participated after singing the song so much all month.

So when it was time to get up there, I walked them both up there and I told Siena I would just sit on the front row.  I also told Aria that she needed to sing loud because she loves this song so much.  So the music starts and oh my gosh it was the cutest thing to see them up there singing.  Siena smiled, waved to her dad when she spotted him and even sang the chorus.  I was soo proud of her because I knew how nervous she was and to not only stand up there but also smile and sing!  Aria though stole the show.  She sang sooo loud.  She sang just about louder then the rest of the primary together.  She was so loud.  I asked Shane if he could hear her back where he was and he said 'oh yes, I'm positive everyone heard her.' 

So here's the best part...the kids are all done singing, the piano is playing the little closing bars and Aria, while the piano is still playing looks right at me and pretty loudly says 'Mom...treat!  I want my treat.'  The first few rows all started laughing.  I'm pretty sure my face was bright red as we all headed back to our seats.  So yes now everyone knows I bribe my children.  They got their treats and it all turned out just great.

It's been 2 weeks since they sang the song and they are still singing it.  It's the cutest thing to see your children sing, especially ones that are so meaningful.

PS Not to be out done, but they sang for Mother's day and this time I walked them up and went and sat back down with Shane and Jaron.  Right as the music was about to start Siena decided to yell back to where I was sitting 'Mom, I have to go Potty.'  When I shook my head no (cuz it's a nervous thing she does, she didn't really have to go.) she said it again.  So she came and sat back down with me while Aria stood up there, but didn't sing cuz we had been gone the previous 2 weeks and she didn't really know the song.  So that's 2 for 2 of making the audience laugh during sacrament primary songs!