September 2011

September was boring.  Just ask my kids.
I didn't take any pictures, but I took a nap every day.
The baby is doing great, and as long as I take that daily nap I won't have as many contractions.
Pre-term labor is normal for me, and I usually end up on bed rest anyway.

I always have really strange dreams while pregnant.  Here is one of the silliest:

I dreamed Miriam told me she needed to lay an egg in her bathroom and it would take 19 hours.  I told her to do it in my bathroom so her siblings could still use that bathroom.  Some time later, we were in her classroom at school (except it was HUGE with about 60 students.)  It was the first day of school, and Miriam's egg (about 12" in diameter) was sitting on the teacher's desk in the front of the classroom in a huge container of warm water.  Cracks began to appear on the shell, and the next thing we knew, it exploded open.  A purple/blue chicken came out.  This chicken had a human face, long blond curly hair to its waist, a big butt, and immediately expanded to about 7 feet tall.  The "chicken" had a bubbly obnixious personality and had to be escorted from the room.  Miriam sank in her chair during the whole event and looked like she might die if anyone revealed she lay the egg.  Evidently, all young girls were starting to lay eggs, and the "chicken people" population was rapidly growing.

Seeing Miriam's expression the morning after as I told her about my dream was priceless.

August 2011

Emily is 11 years old!  With advanced age, comes attitude, and the need to ruin every picture I try to take of her.  Most pictures turn out like this one below.

At least after she ruins a few shots, she lets me have a smile at the end.  Emily got the first birthday "cake" of the year.  Morning sickness has eased up for me, and  Emily was able to enjoy her favorite ice cream cake.

Why is she smiling?  Emily got the one present she has been asking for!  She wanted a picture of EVERY SINGLE TEMPLE.  Her aunt Michele printed them for her, along with stickers containing all of the names.

All Emily had to do was cut them up, and match stickers to temples - all 130 or so of them.  SHE LOVED IT!

How about our annual day in the mountains?
Yes we made time to climb rocks...

Roast Hot dogs - Emily is proudly displaying the stick she whittled herself.

Smores...

And of course, playing by the river! ...

...which always includes a bit of "erosion" thanks to handfuls of rocks the kids chuck into the water.

They even get in the river.

Miriam tries to give her mother (that's me -5 months pregnant) a wet hug...

and wins.

by the way, we found out that baby number 6 is a little girl!

Emily's lists

Emily loves to organize (everything) and make lists.  She is the girl responsible for this comment I posted on facebook:
Michael came upstairs this morning (rolling his eyes) to tell me, "the kids took everything out of their room, piled it in the family room, and sorted it by color!"

I smile every time I find one of these lists she has made.  It is proof that she does listen to me once in a while!

 What I really loved was the 5 page list of how to be happy.  She hung it on her bedroom wall right over her bed.  When  she is in a bad mood, I have to try really hard not to ask her to go read her list to herself.

Here it is:

How to be Happy Page 1 (by Emily Griffith)
Always chose to have a good day.
Do your chores without being angry.
Never ever be upset ever.
Always chose the right no matter what.
Always clean your stuff after playing.
Be kind to everyone.
Never be mad ever.
Always be cheerful.
Never want anyone to get in trouble.
Say everyone's pictures are beautiful.
Never say you are ugly ever.
Say sorry whenever you hurt someone.
Never tell anyone their doing something wrong.
Always say what when someone calls you.

How to be Happy Page 2 (by Emily Griffith)
Never complain.
Always say Thank you.
Never be cranky.
Never fight.
Learn to love everyone.
Don't laugh at people when they get hurt.
Don't take anybody's things ever.
Don't ever hurt anyone.
Help others when they need help.
Never yell at anyone ever never.
Play with others
Listen to your mother.
Don't hurt someone if they hurt you.
Do your jobs without being asked.

How to be Happy - Page 3 (by Emily Griffith)
Always tell the truth.
Never lie.
Don't ever say rude comments.
Always be cheerful.
Always listen to your mother.
Answer people.
Clean up after yourself always.
Never be mad.
Always say thank you and please.
Help people if they get hurt.
Don't do things that are not right.
Clean up without being asked.
Play with your brothers and sisters.
Don't be offended.

How to be Happy - Page 4 (by Emily Griffith)
Don't disappoint others
Be honest
Do what your father tells you.
Don't hurt yourself.
Don't hurt others.
Listen to the scriptures.
Do not pick your scabs.
Don't try to be the most important.
Don't laugh at people when they make mistakes.
Help others when they are sick.
Do not steal other people's things ever.
Do not throw toys at people.
Don't hurt  people for no good reason.

How to be Happy - Page 5  (by Emily Griffith)
Forgive people
Don't tease other people
Repent
Have fun


It's a great list even if there are some repeats.  "Listen to your mother" comes up twice, and "don't hurt people" is there more than three times.  My favorites are those that refer to choosing your own mood.  That is so hard to learn!

July 2011

It is summer vacation and the kids are bored.  (Mom, all you do is sleep all day!)
The girls wanted to make stuffed toys.  We found patterns and fabric.  Look how they turned out.

Emily's dog was made out of a scrap of fake fur.  Miriam's cat is from an old bath towel.  The girls stuffed them with leftover pieces of batting from quilt projects, and found eyes and noses at the craft store.

When you have what seems like 100 pieces of chalk, it is easy to run out of room quickly.

Adam is so proud of his design!

Thanks to rain, we had to postpone lighting 4th of July fireworks for two days.

For my kids, the best part of fireworks is sparklers,

and the best part of sparklers,

is watching my 3-year old wave her sparkler frantically while saying, "Mom!  I freak out!"  Oh the phrases they learn from older sisters!

These three sure love each other!

This month our family was introduced to a new insult.  Joshua has coined the phrase, "you're a pancake."  He uses it to insult people who offend him.  It's a lot better than "idiot," or "stupid-head."  (use of those phrases earns you a piece of paper and a pencil with which you are required to write as many nice things about the person you called "idiot" as you are years old.)  We have to try really hard not to laugh when Joshua calls us pancakes because it only offends him more, and results in him chanting, "you're a pancake,  you're a pancake, you're a pancake."

and I can't forget to include this gem!  One Sunday I was making breakfast when two bad guys ran through the kitchen dressed in eye patches and carrying swords.

they were being chased by their little sister swinging a plastic frying pan...
Her favorite movie is Tangled, but a close second is Star Wars.  Olivia can sing the Darth Vader theme - in a high soprano register - while she dances around the house.

Joshua has been practicing.  He found a blue ball that someone ripped in half.  Inside, he put his sister's huge dress-up ring.  Around the house he goes, asking every female the same question, "Can you marry me?"
(Olivia has been practicing too - she says yes!)

It's Michael's birthday!  Yes, one candle equals thirty-eight because thirty-eight candles in a small raspberry cheesecake is too destructive.  Yes, this is the best smile I can get.

And the pie theme for birthdays continues because this pregnant mom is so very tired and queasy all the time.  Good thing the family prefers pie.  By the way, here I am 4 months pregnant.

June 2011

Emily had her first piano recital.  Here she is with her teacher, also named Emily

Listen to my Emily play:
She wants you to know the music on the piano isn't hers.  She memorized her piece.

Take a bow!  Have some confidence!

Adam got a slip-n-slide for his birthday.  For some reason, the kids couldn't properly enjoy it without their Dad's help.

Grandpa's 90th birthday party

My Grandpa turned 90 this May.

My grandparents with my family

My girls making necklaces with cousins and aunts.

This is my aunt Marjie.  She lives on the other side of the country, so I only get to see her on really special occasions like this one.

Marjie is the opposite  of my mother.  For example, my mother would never do this:

My grandparents with great grandchildren.  (Notice my child on the floor in the front.)

Grandchildren:

And children:

May 2011

Emily's violin recital.
She was a combination of excitement, terror, and cuteness all in one.

Here is a sample of her performance

Olivia turned three years old!

This is my first time using rolled fondant to decorate a cake.  I love the way the fondant flowers look, but they tasted terrible.  Everyone scraped off all the frosting and ate the cake plain.

I loved the fondant bees with sliced almond wings.

Miriam's third grade recorder recital.
She is on the top row in the middle waiting for everyone to take their seats on the steps before the performance begins.

Her favorite song. (Miriam is right above the man with the red coat)

Adam graduated from Kindergarten

getting his diploma

Adam turned 6.  

I was so thrilled Adam wanted pie for his birthday!  I wasn't feeling too good, and it made it so much easier for his birthday dessert.

One of Adam's birthday presents was a Real Construction set.  It is plastic "wood" pieces, plastic nails, a hammer, and a saw.  Adam was so excited to make something, he did it all by himself!  No help required.  He designed and made this tool box.

The Elementary school dance festival is a lot of fun for some kids.  

But others are forced to hold hands with girls.

Miriam loved dancing to this song

And the biggest news of May 2011, is that we are expecting baby number 6 sometime in December!
Hurrah for morning sickness and ALL the extra activities this month.  (eeewwww!)

April 2011

Miriam's third grade class created a wax museum.  Each child picked one person from history to do a report on.  They needed a costume, poster, and oral report.  Miriam chose Cleopatra.  She did all the research and  created an amazing poster with the information in her own words.

I visited her class during her oral report.  Miriam was amazing!  She was loud, confident, and interesting.  After her report, many of the other parents in the room complimented me on how well she did.

This is Miriam during the wax museum.  They were instructed to pose by their poster and hold still no matter what.  Don't talk, move, or even smile!  Miriam held the pose even when I tried to get her to smile for the picture. 

April also brought strong winds that tore the shingles off the roof.  Michael was able to patch the holes.

And EASTER!
The kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at my Grandma Johnson's house

The three youngest sitting down to open their eggs.

The two oldest playing tether-ball.  It's all fun and games until someone gets hit in the head with the ball.

My Dad and sister Michele made the LONG drive to be at the party.  I didn't catch a picture of Dad, but here is my smiling sister.

My sister Jenny.  She lives closer, but we always love seeing her when we get together with family.

 Of course, the Easter Bunny left a few eggs at our house for the kids to find on Easter morning.
I just love the difference between these next two pictures.  In this first picture, you can see all the attitude of my oldest two girls, and the cuteness of the youngest three.

Next, Joshua's happy smile disappeared, and has been replaced by extreme discomfort when his sisters invade his personal space.  I just love their personalities!

 And where are all the other "hunting for plastic egg" photos?  Have you ever tried to take pictures of kids hunting for Easter eggs?  All the pictures are of backs, and bums, and hair!  No one can stop and grin at the camera, because if they do, their siblings get all the eggs!