Jackson

The other day I ordered an air fryer. Since we have a family of 6 I got a bigger one, and it was huge, bigger than I thought it would be. Even better, Jackson played with the boxes for 2 or 3 days pretty much non stop. I love how he can take pretty much anything and play with it for hours. 

 A few days after Jacks lost his first front tooth, he lost the other one. Now he has a cute big gap in his teeth. He is our last kid to lose his front teeth.

Lesson Learned (We Hope)

This year, with Camden, we have had one argument happen a few times, and it's his lunch box. He lost his original one near the beginning of the year. He left it somewhere and couldn't find it. We gave him a week to find it, he didn't but thankfully Grandma had one that she wasn't using. He used that one for about 2 months and left it at the bus stop. Grandma said it was ok and gave him another one. A few weeks ago I noticed my lunch box was missing and asked the kids and Camden was using it because he lost the other one Grandma gave him.  We again gave him a week to find it but he didn't. After losing so many we were tired of him not caring. He has blamed Beckham for not getting Camden's box, which wasn't Beck's job. He would say he has it at school but never bring it home. So in hopes to have him take better care of box, we made him buy his own. He was not happy to say the least. We showed him very cheap one, $3, but it was something like How to Train your Dragon or wrestling. Then there was a $10 one which was just black. He had this face and stood in the isle like that for a good 10 minutes. Finally I held two different ones and told him to pick or I would. He chose the black one, but was angry the rest of the night that he had to spend his own money. We talked to him before and after how this is just to show him being responsible, how losing 3 lunch boxes in less than a year is too much. The boys have been trying to prove that they are "men" and we told them being responsible is one way to show they are 'grown up'.  He eventually got over having to spend his money and hopefully learned a lesson.

Valentine's Day

It was that time of year, Valentine's Day. The younger kids love this day so much. They were able to make boxes to take to school, which meant Brad spent a lot of time working on them, but they turned out great. 

This is Emersyn's

 Jackson's

Last But First Day

Things have changed pretty big for me. For a while I have been tired of working nights. I hate that I'm gone after they get off school but am home alone during the day. I searched for a while for a job and back in November I interview for 2 jobs. One was the perfect job time for me, I'd have every Friday off. I was very excited when I got the call and I got the job. Thanks to it being in the middle of the holiday times it took a while to get everything set up, but January 31 was my last day in HIM. The next night we had a little party to celebrate that i don't work nights anymore. We went out to eat. The kids chose the place. 

 Then we came back to the house and played cards with chips that they could buy prizes in the end. It was a lot of fun until Camden wasn't number 1 the whole time and threw a minor fit. He eventually got over it and the night was a lot of fun. 

 This past Monday was my first day at Rheumatology and Arthritis. Nervous doesn't really cover what I felt, but I didn't sleep super great that night. I just observed for 2 days and the rest of the week I have training. It helped the first day to know I had a lot of support from everyone. My trainer in the office is really good and patient. Mom and Dad sent me flowers that I got at work and when I got home Brad and the kids got me some flowers and cards as well. 

 It is really going to take a few weeks to get used to getting up early and being awake all day. I feel like I worked night shifts all week, even though I have only worked days. 

Super bowl Sunday happened, it was a slow, boring game, but one good thing happened, it was Grandpa Arrington's birthday. During half time we had cheesecake upstairs, which the kids loved, especially all of the cream and chocolate they put on it. 

Jacks had a really loose tooth this weekend, so loose that he could pretty much push it all of the way to the front and back of his mouth, just holding on by a thread. Brad said he wanted to see it. He just pushed up a little bit and it popped out. After Jacks saw the tooth he was shocked and one of the first things he said was 'Dad lied to me.' It was said in such a shocked way it was both funny but sad, like he didn't know dad would do that. He looks so cute with missing one of his front teeth. We are almost done with all of our kids losing their front teeth!

Beck Band

Before Christmas the boys tired out for a Clinic Band and Beck got to do it. He practiced a few days at school and then yesterday he went Burley all day and practiced with a Professor and kids from all around the valley. He said he had a lot of fun with it and the sounded so good. I really hope he (and all of the kids) stay in music, it is one of my favorite things that they do.

As he walked in he searched for us, I love that he is still looking for us at concerts. 

Galileo

Jackson's class had to do a research project and Jacks had Galileo. The teacher then did a wax museum and the kids could dress up. Jackson had a lot of fun with this and did great on his presentation. All of the kids liked his beard and said he looked like Santa. 

Barnes' House

We spent about 10 days at Grandma and Grandpa Barnes house not too long ago. They went to Italy for the temple open house and we looked after their dogs. Our dogs loved the big back yard and thankfully most of the time we were there we had beautiful weather. Brad and the kids loved their baths. I'm pretty sure they took a bath everyday. It was nice having all of the room but also weird. When we do get a house, it will take some getting used to all of the space again. 

Few Things

 I have really slacked with taking pictures lately, so I really don't have much to write about. 

For Christmas the boys got suckers from a friend and were surprised that you could make suckers. We used to make suckers all the time when i was a kid, so we got what we needed and made suckers. They actually turned out pretty good. It was fun to make them again. 

 I got a jury summons for the first time ever. I was not looking forward to it at all and when I had to go in  I was kind of annoyed. As luck would have it, I was selected to be on a jury and I have to say, I loved it. It was so interesting to see how the judicial system worked. The judge seemed not super nice during jury selection, so I made sure I didn't say much. I would assume he gets sick of hearing lame excuses why people have to leave. He was a lot better during the actual trial. It was a battery case. I thought it would be hard to see both sides, to go in with an open mind but it wasn't as hard as I thought. It became a little hard once you realize that you have the power in your hands to change someones life. The deliberations took about and hour and a half, it was a hard decision. They said I won't have to go back for 2 years, but really I'd be fine going again sooner. 

 Emery had he special day this past Saturday. We did it a little different. She thought about seeing a movie but wasn't hooked on seeing one. She needed some shirts so we decided to have a shopping day. So Emery Brad and I went to lunch and spend the afternoon shopping. It was probably her favorite type of special day. 

 In science the boys have a project on genes where they have to pick 2 super heroes and using punnet squares they had to show what their kid would look like. Then they had to draw their child. Brad helped Camden this weekend draw his. I only got a picture of it half done, but it turned out awesome. His super hero's were Spider-man  and the invisible woman. 

 Emery and Jackson got 3rd place in their class for a spelling bee which meant today they competed with their grade. Emery was a little nervous but she did get 4th place in the grade. 

 Jackson was so nervous I wanted to run up and hug him and help him. He at first didn't want to talk and then he could only get out p. Purr was his word. I'm so proud of them both for getting so far in the spelling bee. 

Christmas Day

I love the look of the tree when it's quiet in the house and it's still nice and neat.

 These are the kids gifts. We got a lot of pops as you can see. Grandma and Grandpa's house is getting over run with them.

 We woke up to a white Christmas, which the kids love. This is by our house....

 This is by the theater just a minute later.

All December we kept telling Beck he can't spend any money and to just save what he has for later. We told them that one year and they didn't believe us, so they woke up Christmas to I think it was the PS4 VR and didn't have money to buy any extra games. With that memory in mind they figured they were getting something for Christmas that they'd need money for, and kept guessing. I tired to confuse them a few times but when they found out Christmas day they were really excited. We were able to get tickets to San Diego Comic Con 2019. Since the boys are 12 now they get in free wit a paying adult, so its the last cheap year we will have with them. I recorded their reaction and just know, that is them VERY excited. They show excitement like their dad does. The first part of the video is Jacks with the bells. I'm not quiet sure what he was thinking.



Christmas Eve

Well this first one is Christmas Eve Eve, but we'll count it. We went and looked at lights around town. The display towards the South Hills I think was everyone's favorite. It rained a little but wasn't too bad.

 We went to Black Bear for breakfast on Christmas Eve. The kids love this tradition. They also love what comes after breakfast.

 The gift exchange presents. They are always very excited to open these ones.

 Beck got Brad a pop, but he didn't want it too obvious, so he wrapped an avocado instead. By the time it was opened it was a very soft avocado.  

That night we played a while elephant gift BINGO game. Every time a number was called we knew who had the number, who had a number close and who didn't have it at all. The kids loved to give a play by play with each number. 

 We did fondue for dinner which was really good. The spinach artichoke was the best one. We also opened crackers both Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

 Then came PJs. Grandpa and Grandma got PJs with us. We even found some for the dogs; which they hated but they looked funny in them.

For the past few years we have done a service chain. Its always fun to see it grow and to see the kids not just thinking of that they get. We got it down the stairs and around the corner.

 After dessert fondue we played an escape game. Grandma, Emery, Beck and I won because the other team cheated and skipped a task. It was pretty fun, and harder than you would think.

 Grandma and Grandpa shared the pickle story. Each year the kids ask why we have a pickle ornament and now finally they know. Sometime I'll post the story here too.

 After Camden rang the bells and it was time for bed. Jacks and Emery watched a show for maybe 20 min before they fell asleep. Camden and Beckham stayed up longer. When we told them we were going to bed, they went right upstairs to see the tree. They didn't wait for us to fall asleep, so I went up and sent them right back to bed. They did however go again when we were asleep at 2 ish and 6 ish.