Jonah's One Year Pictures

We had Jonah's one year pictures done a little late. When Westley was a baby, I bought a little tuxedo for him to get his picture taken in at the age of one. I saved the tuxedo for Caleb and Travis's one year pictures too. I even bought a second tuxedo a few sizes bigger for Westley when Caleb was old enough to fit in the one year one and the boys wore their little tuxedos to my brother's wedding, back when we only had the two boys. But a few summers ago, when I was struggling with some issues (namely, PCOS) and was told it would be hard to conceive again, I ended up selling the tuxedos, along with a bunch of other baby boy clothes. So when Jonah came along, I no longer had the tuxedo for his one year picture. We found a cute vest outfit earlier this year for the picture, but it just wasn't formal enough compared to all the other one year pictures of the kids. Eliza was in a fancy dress for her one year picture, so putting Jonah in a navy blue vest suit with a blue button shirt just didn't seem right. I checked at Dillard's, where we bought the original tuxedos for the boys, and they still had the same/similar tuxedo. But it was like $50, and I didn't want to pay that much. Then I remembered that I had the pattern for the baby blessing outfit we blessed all the boys in. I made that outfit during the two weeks that Westley was in the NICU after he was born. When I made the outfit, I didn't cut the pattern to the smallest size, I had actually traced it onto some tracing paper instead. So I had all the pattern pieces up to 18 months completely intact. I decided to use the pattern and make Jonah a tuxedo to get his one year picture taken in so he would (sort of) match his older brothers. Luckily, I even had black and white fabrics to use for the tuxedo so all I had to buy was a couple of buttons, a zipper and some snap tape (which was the most expensive part, the snap tape). The tuxedo ended up costing me about $12. Unfortunately, even though I measured him and checked sizes over and over, the tuxedo ended up being too small, but I was able to use a pair of black corduroy pants over the bottom of the tuxedo (which was the too small part) and the pictures came out fine. If we end up having another boy, I may just remake the tuxedo (still have tons of black and white fabric) in the larger size.

The pictures turned out cute though and I was glad to finally have them done!

Superheroes

One sunny day right around Easter, possibly during Spring Break, the kids delved into the costume box and pulled out any cape they could find.  The nature of their game was a band of superheroes, or at least heroes, who worked together to fight off evil.  Caleb is wearing a cape I made him for a costume of a king for his recitation of "Old King Cole" in kindergarten.  Westley is wearing a Batman cape and wielding a wand (really, just a stick he found) and is a wizard, probably Harry Potter.  Travis is wearing a Superman cape and Eliza has on a cape my mom made her for her birthday that is a princess cape.  She is "Super Princess". 

I love how my kids enjoy playing these make-believe games together.  I especially love how the boys include their little sister. 

Our Easter Celebration

We did Easter this year a little differently.  In the past we've done an egg hunt on Easter morning for plastic candy-filled eggs.  This year, the kids went to three different egg hunts, and we thought that cleared the way perfectly to focus more on the spiritual side of Easter.

We decided to still give them an Easter basket.  In years past, they've gotten several candy items in their baskets plus whatever they could find of filled plastic eggs.  This year we did it a little differently.  I still gave them some Easter candy, but I kept it simple.  I filled a few little plastic eggs and put them right in the basket.  Along with those candies, they each received a miniature of the following picture of Christ.

In addition to the picture, each one received a special little gift.  Caleb got a scripture case so he can carry his scriptures to church.  His scriptures will be passed down to Travis when Caleb gets his own new set when he turns eight, and then to Eliza, and so forth.  Westley got a pocket hymnal with his name inscribed.  Travis and Eliza each got a new pocket Book of Mormon because their own regular copies were very worn out.

We hid the baskets and had them do a scavenger hunt to find them. Daddy created clues for them.  The first clue was just out on the kitchen table.

Clue #1: "Jesus taught and showed us that we need to be baptized.  The font looks like a big what?"

The kids figured out bath tub and ran upstairs to their bathroom.

Clue #2:  "We make promises to Heavenly Father when we are baptized.  When you are big you can go to this special building to make more promises."

The kids realized it was temple and went to the large picture of the Los Angeles Temple that we have hanging near the piano in the front room.

Clue #3:  "It is important to feed both our bodies and our spirits.  This is where we find the food to feed our bodies."

The next clue was hidden in the refrigerator.

Clue #4:  "Feeding our spirits is a little different.  We use our eyes and feast upon the Word of Christ."

The next clue was hidden on the shelf where we keep our scriptures.

Clue #5:  "If you want to be close to Heavenly Father and Jesus, you need to make good choices and stay clean inside and out.  This thing helps keep your clothes clean."

The next clue was hidden in the washing machine closet on top of the washing machine.

Clue #6:  "At Easter time, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.  he was buried in the tomb, three days later he rose again.  Where in the house is there a room without light that is like a tomb?"

The kids knew that the room was the closet under the stairs, which was where the Easter baskets were hidden.  After they found their baskets, we talked about the Resurrection, reminding them of its importance and what it means.  Then we had our breakfast of hard-boiled eggs, which we had colored on Saturday.

And here we all are in our new Easter clothes.  I sewed a dress for Eliza and a skirt for myself.  I also made a matching dress for Eliza's doll and a matching little purse for her to carry her scriptures with her to church.  I even made the hairbow she is wearing out of leftover ribbon, rick rack, and rosette that I used for her dress and the doll's dress, so everything matched!  I bought the boys and Corey matching ties at a tie store in the mall. 

Bike Riding Boy

Travis learned how to ride his bike a few weeks ago and ever since has been riding every second of the day that hasn't been cold and rainy (or snowy).  We tried at the beginning of last summer to get him to ride but it was too frustrating.  This time, though, the first time Daddy took him out since last summer, he figured it out in only a couple of tries.  Guess when they're ready, there's nothing stopping them!

Fun Family Home Evening

We try to have Family Home Evening every week and do the whole shebang--lesson, activity and refreshment.  A few weeks ago, we had such an FHE.  Caleb taught the lesson on the life of Jesus Christ.  Then Travis planned the activity, which was playing a game called Headbanz.  This game is like the "Who am I?" games we played at Church youth parties in the 90s where you stuck a paper on your back saying who you were supposed to be and everyone else could see it but you and you had to guess who it was by only asking yes or no questions.  Corey and Travis also baked up some chocolate chip cookies, so we ate chocolate chip cookies and played the game.  It was a great night.

Little Outing

On Thursday, Daddy had the day off work and we had some errands to run.  We drove down to Orem to pick up our Honey-baked ham for Easter and decided to have lunch at the In-N-Out there.  The kids are so used to In-N-Out that they walk into every store like they own the place.

Fun Conversation

Travis:  Was Daddy born before you, Mom?

Me: No, I was born first.

Travis: How is that possible?

Me:  I'm older than Daddy.  He's thirty-three and I'm thirty-four.

Travis: Then how come he's bigger than you?

Me:  Well, generally, men are bigger than most women.  When you're a grown man, you'll probably be bigger than me.  Jonah will probably be bigger than Eliza.

Travis: No, when I'm a grown man, you'll probably be dead.

Me:  I'm a grown up and my mom and dad are still alive.

Travis:  When you're an old woman, I'll come visit you. 

Me:  Thanks, Travis.

Travis:  And I'm going to own a dog too.