Since recently discovering blogs for the Flamm clan I have discovered so many useful things. Here is one. It is a packet for General Conference to keep your kids interested.
http://coloroftheskyinmyworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/october-general-conference-packet.html
I found it on Weston and Candee's blog. Thanks Candee!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Finally Fall
Summer is gone, it is finally Fall. I must say that I am really grateful that I am due in December with this baby and not August or September. I don't know how Mom had 3 August babies. But I am down to 10 weeks. All this time it has sounded so far away, you know how it seems like December will never come, but it really isn't that long now. Everything has been going really well. This baby is sitting differently than William and Caitlyn did. William and Caitlyn were both really up and forward. This baby is more in, so I actually don't look as big. Unfortunately she is also staying lower so she spend way more time on my bladder. I know that you all wanted to know that detail. William is really excited about the baby, he had to come to grips with having another sister, and is convinced that we should name her William. Caitlyn really doesn't get it but does whatever William does so when William is talking to the baby she does too.
William loves being four. He is constantly talking about when he was three but now he is four so things are different. He was very excited to get his own library card last week, once they can write their own name they can get a card. He is working on taking turns, the worst is Primary and Sharing Time. He just loves to help and struggles with knowing others need a turn too. He is one of the few Sunbeams that will actually talk into the microphone and continues to amaze the Primary with his reading abilities. Of course he amazed the missionaries by reading their name tags and was a little sad that he didn't have one. He experienced going to the dentist right before his birthday and loved it. I know, it is a little weird. He even had to go back and get a tooth fixed and he couldn't wait to go. He had his checkup the day after his birthday and he is as healthy as ever. He loves showing off for someone new. Caitlyn was a little freaked out because she thought that the doctor was going to look at her. William did really well with his shots too. I'm excited that I don't have to take him back for kindergarten shots.
Caitlyn is almost two, and she acts like it. She is very sure of herself, and she knows that everyone loves her. One of her favorite things to do is go to Daddy's work. In fact everyday she will come out of nap time, inform me that she is awake, and then ask to go to Daddy's work. When she is told not today she asks why. I don't remember if William went through a period of why asking after everything, I'm sure he did, but I think Caitlyn does it more. She informed me Sunday that she was a pretty princess after she put on her dress. Monday I asked her if she was a pretty princess and she said no. I asked if she was my beautiful girl and she said yes. So I guess it depends on the outfit.
Brandon is still enjoying work. At least that is what he tells me. For some reason he is not willing to let me work for him for a short time every night while he does bedtime. Go figure. He has a new calling as a Sunday school teacher. I think that he teaches all of the youth. Of course, we don't have many. He keeps me sane, and is pretty good about the fact that when I am tired of the crying and temper tantrums I make the kids call Daddy at work. He is a prince.
William loves being four. He is constantly talking about when he was three but now he is four so things are different. He was very excited to get his own library card last week, once they can write their own name they can get a card. He is working on taking turns, the worst is Primary and Sharing Time. He just loves to help and struggles with knowing others need a turn too. He is one of the few Sunbeams that will actually talk into the microphone and continues to amaze the Primary with his reading abilities. Of course he amazed the missionaries by reading their name tags and was a little sad that he didn't have one. He experienced going to the dentist right before his birthday and loved it. I know, it is a little weird. He even had to go back and get a tooth fixed and he couldn't wait to go. He had his checkup the day after his birthday and he is as healthy as ever. He loves showing off for someone new. Caitlyn was a little freaked out because she thought that the doctor was going to look at her. William did really well with his shots too. I'm excited that I don't have to take him back for kindergarten shots.
Caitlyn is almost two, and she acts like it. She is very sure of herself, and she knows that everyone loves her. One of her favorite things to do is go to Daddy's work. In fact everyday she will come out of nap time, inform me that she is awake, and then ask to go to Daddy's work. When she is told not today she asks why. I don't remember if William went through a period of why asking after everything, I'm sure he did, but I think Caitlyn does it more. She informed me Sunday that she was a pretty princess after she put on her dress. Monday I asked her if she was a pretty princess and she said no. I asked if she was my beautiful girl and she said yes. So I guess it depends on the outfit.
Brandon is still enjoying work. At least that is what he tells me. For some reason he is not willing to let me work for him for a short time every night while he does bedtime. Go figure. He has a new calling as a Sunday school teacher. I think that he teaches all of the youth. Of course, we don't have many. He keeps me sane, and is pretty good about the fact that when I am tired of the crying and temper tantrums I make the kids call Daddy at work. He is a prince.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Quiet Time
People say when your kids are being quiet that is when you know they are up to something. But what if they are supposed to be quiet? I'm sure you can see my dilemma. William spends about an hour in quiet time, sometimes more (don't call it naptime or he will freak out), where he is allowed to read or color. If he needs something he usually knocks on the door, he would open it but our bedroom door sticks so he can't get it open. Really I'm not supposed to hear from him unless he needs to go to the bathroom. So last week he knock on the door and this is what I found waiting on the other side.
He told me that he liked his bellybutton best. The details that you can't really see are the smiley faces on his face, even one on the tip of his nose, and on his knees. So we needed an emergency bath, of course Caitlyn woke up for that and wanted to get in, and the discussion that markers are for paper and if there is anymore drawing on ourselves they don't get to be in quiet time. William's response, "I just wanted to do it once." Of course, it is hard to discipline him when I am trying so hard not to laugh.
He told me that he liked his bellybutton best. The details that you can't really see are the smiley faces on his face, even one on the tip of his nose, and on his knees. So we needed an emergency bath, of course Caitlyn woke up for that and wanted to get in, and the discussion that markers are for paper and if there is anymore drawing on ourselves they don't get to be in quiet time. William's response, "I just wanted to do it once." Of course, it is hard to discipline him when I am trying so hard not to laugh.
Fences
Brandon's big projects for the week that he took off involved our fences. He decided they were an eyesore and needed some help. This meant paint, among other things. Brandon decided that the front fence should stay white but then we had to decide what to do with the back fence. We think it is hilarious that there are three different types of fence in the back, one for each side. One of the reasons we find this so funny is because we are pretty sure that they were put up by someone living in our house. I guess they didn't believe in consistency. To cover the wood, the different colors of paint and the graffiti showing through some of the paint we decided on a nice brown. Now the fence is at least the same color. I would love to say that I helped a lot but I mainly refereed the kids.
William got to help paint the fence out front. He thought it was so neat to help Daddy and he got his own paint brush, just his size. He also liked that he had clothes specifically for painting. That is the one good thing about him wearing holes in his jeans, so easy to cut off and I don't care if they get dirty. Caitlyn tried to help and was very sad when she was told that we appreciated her trying but she was done. She did feel better when she figured out that since she had paint on her clothes I didn't care if she wore he clothes into the pool. She had a blast playing in the water with her clothes on.
This is the gate that Brandon built. Someone, either previous residents or the people who fixed up the house to sell it, put up posts for a gate between the house and the garage but never actually put a gate up. So we have had to constantly tell the kids to not go on the driveway by the car. Brandon was tired of it so he built a gate, with a little help from his grandpa and the use of his grandpa's power tools. He is a much better gate builder then the person that put gates in the front fence. Brandon's swings open and everything. Now the kids are trapped, except for the fact that William can get the gate open so we have a rule that he has to ask before he opens it. Brandon figures that his week off was worth it because he finished his really big projects.
William got to help paint the fence out front. He thought it was so neat to help Daddy and he got his own paint brush, just his size. He also liked that he had clothes specifically for painting. That is the one good thing about him wearing holes in his jeans, so easy to cut off and I don't care if they get dirty. Caitlyn tried to help and was very sad when she was told that we appreciated her trying but she was done. She did feel better when she figured out that since she had paint on her clothes I didn't care if she wore he clothes into the pool. She had a blast playing in the water with her clothes on.
This is the gate that Brandon built. Someone, either previous residents or the people who fixed up the house to sell it, put up posts for a gate between the house and the garage but never actually put a gate up. So we have had to constantly tell the kids to not go on the driveway by the car. Brandon was tired of it so he built a gate, with a little help from his grandpa and the use of his grandpa's power tools. He is a much better gate builder then the person that put gates in the front fence. Brandon's swings open and everything. Now the kids are trapped, except for the fact that William can get the gate open so we have a rule that he has to ask before he opens it. Brandon figures that his week off was worth it because he finished his really big projects.Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Paper Bag Pinata
A couple of months ago my mom gave me a bunch of craft books that she didn't use. They have all sorts of fun things that are pretty kids friendly, no we haven't done many of them but William really likes to look at the books. One of the books had a craft for Cinco de Mayo, a paper bag pinata. William remembered having a pinata at his friend Ammon's birthday party last year so he latched onto the idea of having a pinata for his birthday. He told me that he wanted an elephant pinata for his party that we had the saturday before his birthday.
Here if the finished product. He designed the face and helped Daddy draw it on. No, it isn't covered in duct tape. It is tissue paper. Brandon thought that the kids would break it no problem and Kayla, William's eight year old cousin, was sure that she was going to break it in one swing. It held up better than anyone anticipated. We had seven kids whacking at it and they all got two turns. We do have video footage but our internet has been funny lately so I'm not going to try and put it on here. This was definitely the most cost effective way to have a pinata and William thought it was great. The book said that it was easy to make but not so easy to break and it really was. If you want to test out the pinata yourself here is what you need:
A brown paper bag(big grocery bag)
Tissue paper
Newspaper
Candy
Cover the bag with tissue paper, or you could use paint and paint a design. Fill the bag with crumpled up newspaper and candy. Staple the top and you are done.
Here if the finished product. He designed the face and helped Daddy draw it on. No, it isn't covered in duct tape. It is tissue paper. Brandon thought that the kids would break it no problem and Kayla, William's eight year old cousin, was sure that she was going to break it in one swing. It held up better than anyone anticipated. We had seven kids whacking at it and they all got two turns. We do have video footage but our internet has been funny lately so I'm not going to try and put it on here. This was definitely the most cost effective way to have a pinata and William thought it was great. The book said that it was easy to make but not so easy to break and it really was. If you want to test out the pinata yourself here is what you need:A brown paper bag(big grocery bag)
Tissue paper
Newspaper
Candy
Cover the bag with tissue paper, or you could use paint and paint a design. Fill the bag with crumpled up newspaper and candy. Staple the top and you are done.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Birthday Extravaganza
We've had a busy week this last full week of August. It started Saturday August 23, when we had a party for William. We invited some cousins and friends for lunch, cake and a pinata. The kids loved hitting the homemade elephant and of course getting all the candy. Brandon took the week off to get some projects done. They included painting the fence, building a gate, caulking the bathtub and making a general mess. Perhaps the most exciting event was when William got to chase Charlie the Chukar at the Idaho Falls Chukars baseball game on his birthday. Take a look at the video.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Summer Days
So we really love it when there is something we can take our kids to that is free. Last weekend they had the Summer Days at Taylor's Crossing, which is a really nice business park in downtown Idaho Falls. They have all sorts of vendors come, bike stunt shows, a tent with video games, a concert, movie on a big screen that we never stay for, and all sorts of inflatables that are free for the kids. Last year Caitlyn just hung out in the backpack because she really wasn't big enough to care but William loved it. So we decided we might as well spend our Saturday out in the hot sun.
William just loves it when we go someplace that has face painting. I guess it goes back to him always wanting to draw on himself, which usually happened when he was nice enough to let Mommy nap. He was really happy with his soccer ball stencil.
I think this is the best smile we have ever gotten from Caitlyn, at least since she figured out how to say cheese when she sees a camera. You can't really see her face paint well, this was at the end of the day, but it is pink ballet shoes. I don't think she cares what the picture is because it is pink.
Caitlyn braving the bouncy castle. She just likes to hold onto the side and jump. It is the same thing that she does in the crib.
William braved the obstacle course a couple of times. I thought he might struggle but he was really good at it.
This is the part I thought he would have problems with but he just cruised up the wall to slide down the other side.
Here there are venturing up the big slide.
I know you can't see William but he is holding Caitlyn on his lap. If you count legs you can find the pair that doesn't seem to go to a body because they don't belong to Brandon or Caitlyn. The kids had fun and I love the fact that this was free. So it was worth it, although I was incredible hot and tired by the end.
William just loves it when we go someplace that has face painting. I guess it goes back to him always wanting to draw on himself, which usually happened when he was nice enough to let Mommy nap. He was really happy with his soccer ball stencil.
I think this is the best smile we have ever gotten from Caitlyn, at least since she figured out how to say cheese when she sees a camera. You can't really see her face paint well, this was at the end of the day, but it is pink ballet shoes. I don't think she cares what the picture is because it is pink.
Caitlyn braving the bouncy castle. She just likes to hold onto the side and jump. It is the same thing that she does in the crib.
William braved the obstacle course a couple of times. I thought he might struggle but he was really good at it.
This is the part I thought he would have problems with but he just cruised up the wall to slide down the other side.
Here there are venturing up the big slide.
I know you can't see William but he is holding Caitlyn on his lap. If you count legs you can find the pair that doesn't seem to go to a body because they don't belong to Brandon or Caitlyn. The kids had fun and I love the fact that this was free. So it was worth it, although I was incredible hot and tired by the end.