Play Date With Halle and Tessa

Erik, Jenn and Taylee went on a cruise this week with Jenn's family and they left Halle and Tessa with Luke Grandma. We decided it was a perfect opportunity to swoop in and have them come over for a play day. It's been years since they have gotten to come over, so it was definitely time! We had the best day! I just adore these two girls! Especially my Halle. The kids were so fun together. It was so fun to see some of my old childhood dolls being played with the right way :)

I was able to have all 5 kids take a nap at the same time. Halle and Tessa woke up about an hour before my kids woke up. Grandma asked if I could give the girls a bath at my house since her tub is under construction. They were so excited when I showed them my big tub with all the bubbles. They were complete raisins by the time I convinced them to get out. After the bath I got to have fun playing with their hair. They were such good girls. Both of them held to still and were so patient.

They are such fun kids! I really hope we can have more play days in the future. I just love my girls!

King for a day

Today's episode of Daniel Tigers Neighborhood was about dressing up. That is something that Rhev is very good at!

He thought it would be a fun idea to dress up as a king and be the king of the house for the day. Trayvn, of course, had to be the king as well. So Rhev colored his crown and Trayvn colored his. You will notice that the only way I could convince Rhev that trayvn could be a king too, is if Trayvn's crown was smaller then his.

They were funny bossing me around all day saying "I'm the king, obey me".

However I did get tired of begin bossed so I decided to be a wizard and told them if they bossed me then I would turn them into something. Bossing stopped :)

Later they decided Maylie needed to be the princess of the castle so they could rescue her, but the only rescuing she needed was to get away from her brothers doing the rescuing.

So once again the wizard swooped in and saved the day :)

Where's Aligator

We had a great Sunday today. First we went to church and then over to Luke Grandma's for the afternoon. It was just us, the Goodwins and Halle and Tessa. The kids just played and made messes while the adults watched.

We had to come home earlier then we usually do because Tyce had an Eagle court of honor to attend for one of his scouts. After the court of honor Kayl and Candy Grandma stopped by for a visit so Kayl could play with his boys. He defiantly loves his nephews!

During their play time Kayl thought it would be funny to put Trayvn's alligator on the fan blade.

Trayvn however did not see the comedy in the idea. He just stared, terrified for alligators life.

Luckily Daddy was smart and turned on the fan so that alligator eventually spun his way off :)

Thankfully alligator lived to see another day.

Baby Puppies Birthday

Rhev went to bed last night saying that when he woke up it would be baby puppies birthday. Tyce and I just rolled our eyes and didn't think anything of it. I had to leave early this morning to go judge at a cheerleading competition, so Tyce was home with the kids. Sure enough when Rhev woke up he remembered and it indeed was baby puppies birthday. He went around the house finding things that he could wrap as presents for him. Then he asked if he could make a cake for him. Tyce earned Dad of the year because instead of putting down his imagination he went right along with it and together they made a cake. Then they invited Candy Grandma and Brielle over to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles. Rhev was so happy and proud of himself when I got home. Tyce had made it a great day. I'm so grateful that I was blessed to marry such a wonderful father.

She Brings us Sunshine!

She makes us happy!

Rhev especially loves her!

She makes life good!

Rhev's temples

Rhev has been built a temple nearly everyday that last 3 weeks. Today though, he built a special temple. Once he had his temple built he told me that something was missing. He asked me to make him an angel Moroni to put on the top. He remembered that when we visited the temple before Thanksgiving that their was an Angel Moroni on the top. He of course needed one now to make his temple "a place for Jesus to visit". So He colored a a paper yellow and I cut out the shape. He was so happy with the finished product.

Another sweet story happened a couple weeks ago. Rhev's favorite book is the book written by President Monson called "The Christmas Train". It tells about when President Monson was a young boy at Christmas time and how he got a really nice train for Christmas. 

Well on this particular day I found Rhev looking at the book with himself in the office. I didn't think anything of it and continued on with my house work. A while later I checked on him again and I found him drawing a picture. I questioned him about what he was drawing. He said it was a picture of Presdident Monson's train. I asked him why he decided to draw that picture and he just said because. Then he asked if I could write at the top "to President Monson". I did as I was told. When I was finished he said, "Okay Mom we have to send this to President Monson. I know if I send him this picture then he would let me come over and play with his train."

The insight of my sweet boy melts my heart. The next day his picture got ruined and we weren't able to send it to him, but I'm sure there will be a new picture soon and President Monson will be getting it.

Monster Trayvn and Super Rhev

Trayvn got a new monster shirt and was so proud of it. He went around all day growling and pretending he was a monster. He makes a very cute monster.

Yesterday after before living kimmy's house, Rhev asked if he could borrow their superman costume and of course she said yes. Well for 2 days now he has not taken it off.

I promise I will wash it before I return it to you Kim and next time, learn to say "No" :)

The Lost Sheep

I got the opportunity to substitute Rhev's class in primary today. The lesson in sharing time was about helping Heavenly Father find his lost sheep and bring them back into the fold. When the teacher asked what the children thought they could do to bring back the lost sheep, Rhev chimed in "The sheep are lost?! Looks like we have a Mystery to solve".
How could such a silly little boy have so much insight and eternal perspective. Bringing back the lost sheep is just like having a mystery to solve. We don't always know why people fall away from the gospel, but it is our job to solve the mystery and bring them back. I am so grateful for his simple explanation. The gospel isn't as hard as we make it out to be sometimes. We simply have to take a step back and look at it with the eyes of a child. I have challenged myself to take a step back and solve the mysteries in myself and help solve the mysteries of my lost neighbors. I know this church is true!

What Maylie Thinks of Mom and Dad

This is what she thinks Mommy is for.

And this is what she thinks Daddy is for.

Any questions?

Indoor Snow Storm

Today we had Tucker come over to play. Indoor snow storms happen when you have two creative 4 year olds get together that wish there was snoe outside. 

They first drew pictures of snow and then layed them around on the floor.

Then they had pictures they would hold up of the moon and the sun.

Rhev was the sun and when Rhev would hold up his picture of the sun, Tucker would have to go and pick up all the pictures of the snow because "the sun melts the snow"

When Tucker was finished picking up the snow, he would grab his picture of the moon and hold it up. Rhev would then get on the floor and lay the snow back out because "the moon can't melt the snow".

They switched back and forth, sun and moon, for almost an hour. Oh the funny creative minds of a child. They turned out to have a very nice indoor snow storm!

Trayvn was having a rough time fitting in with the tow boys, so him and I played Santa. He makes a pretty cure Santa. :)

Family Movie

For the first time, we took our little family to the movies. I was judging a cheer competition in Pocatello all morning so Tyce brought the kids and meet up with the Anderson's for lunch (he left Maylie with Luke Grandma so we were able to make it a special day with just the boys). After lunch they headed over to the theater and that's where I met them at. We went to see the Disney movie "Frozen". The kids had a great time. They were mesmerized by the size of the screen. It was such a cute movie; probably one of my favorites now.

I couldn't get any of my boys to cooperate for a picture :)

The Anderson Family

After the movie we went over to Kiwi Loco for some frozen yogurt and then headed back to Snake River to watch Kayl play basketball. Watching basketball isn't the easiest thing to do with kids, but still we try. Kayl is getting to be a really good ball player and it is really fun to watch him play. Tyce is also fun to watch while he is watching Kayl play. He is the typical big brother and he doesn't hesitate to yell at Kayl for every little mistake :) It's funny :)

Rhev is Learning

Rhev has been LOVING preschool. He has learned so much. He almost knows all his letters and numbers to 20 and he can write his name like a champ. He has also discovered his love of drawing. He doesn't like to color as much, but he loves to draw pictures. 

The last couple of weeks they have been learning about farm animals. Rhev was so proud to bring his poster home and hang in his room. He told me about each and everyone of his animals and what they do. I'm so proud of him!

Trayvn photo bombed this picture :)

Later tonight I found him sitting quietly on a chair in the living room "reading scriptures". It was such a beautiful sight. He is not able to read yet, but you could tell that he could felt the spirit just by looking at them. He is going to make a great missionary some day!

Playing Trains

My Rhev is so lucky to have two of the best Uncles in the world. Two days after Christmas they showed up and moved his Christmas train from the living room up stairs to the add-on in the basement. Not only did they set it up, but they also stayed and played train with him for quite a while. They made a pretty darn awesome track.

Well today one of his Uncles did the coolest thing ever. You see, Chase left to go to college today. It's the first time since he got home from  his mission a year ago that he has left home for a period of time. As he was heading to leave, he took a detour and came over to our house to play trains with Rhev. It was one of the most special things I've ever experienced. A 22 year old man making playing trains a priority with his 4 year old nephew. Rhev was extactic as you might guess and I know it made the pain of leaving home a little better for Chase.

I know this will be a memory Rhev will always keep. Thank you Uncle Chase for loving my boy. I hope that someday he can grow up to be a man just like you!