Sing Song...Sing Song

"Song" ..."Song" ..."Song"...is Caleb's new word. Let's just say that this little guy has developed a love for singing and it makes him so happy. I'm not sure if his love for music started when I got an under the cabinet radio in the kitchen because during "Clean Up Time" I throw on some tunes...normally it is primary songs, hymns, the mo-tab, or my good friend Sarah Sample. My kids love her "birdie" song! It might be also that I sing to him at night. Or maybe it's our new found favorites...soundtracks to movies. Let's just say that Tangled has been playing non-stop for a few weeks now! It has been so cute because if you mention music, or a song, or singing this little guy starts dancing and saying, "song" or "ding - dong"...I will have to put on my blog some video footage I got of him, singing to himself...it's adorable!

This is a picture of the kids dancing at our family party the other night. I have personally enjoyed some tunes around the house lately. I find that the kids are happier and more content. It's been a fun new way to lighten the mood around here. If I haven't mentioned before, I love Scripture Scouts too! If you have young kids like me, you MUST purchase them! I promise you will find yourself not knowing how you have ever lived without them!!

Ouch!

So, as I have mentioned before this little guy has the ability to find trouble every day. Seriously, I am reminded how he requires 100% of adult supervision. So Sunday night we were having a little family get together at my sisters house. The kids were off playing, running, and screaming around the house. The adults were in the front room just talking. Caleb came screaming into the room holding his hand. I thought he had been shut out of the girls room, because they generally don't like him playing in there with him. Well, after several tears and him being very persistent to show me what the matter was. I followed him to where he was playing. I tried to turn the light on, it didn't work. I then noticed he was heading for an iron on the floor. I grabbed it quickly, and realized he had plugged it in...AHHH, yes it was HOT! I then grabbed him and looked at his hand...yes, he got himself! AHHH Again, this little dude has the ability to turn any situation upside down. Instantly I was sick to my stomach realizing how bad it could have been. Thankfully, the inside of his little hand was the only portion of his body that got burned. We emerged his hand in cold water for the rest of the night. It instantly blistered. He was so uncomfortable, we gave him some Tylenol. Anyways, we have to bandage it and put Neosporin on it. He's being a good trooper about it. I am so thankful that he wasn't hurt more than he could have been! The amazing part about this kid is that my sister had her iron in her closet. She found it in there, found a plug that didn't have a kid protector plug in it and turned it on. Seriously! Just to ease all of your minds, our house has plug protectors in all spots! I think requires an extra pair of eyes at all times!!!

Follow Up...

So I so optimistically made it sound like in the previous post that life around here is "totally put together" well, until today...it's yet to actually "be put back together"...Here is my hired help...yup, Jared came home and put on his never worn before apron and said, he's here to help!

This is Calebs reaction to the mess in our front room...

Yes, that would be laundry...Who hasn't been doing the laundry around here? Certainly not me...JUST KIDDING. It's amazing how easy it is to wash a load every day, and then take what you need out of the clean laundry...then shut the door. Then day after day goes by and you end up with this! WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW...If you haven't ever listened to this song about laundry...it's my absolute favorite, honestly if you ever have piles like this, you will come to appreciate this song VERY quickly... Listen to it in the following post...hilarious...tell me I'm totally normal...(totally is my word of them day!)

The kids got a crack up of playing basketball with our laundry...oh, good thing my hired help came just in time today to do ALL my dishes, dinner and laundry...did I mention bed time! Hip Hip hooray...

Life around here...

So, am I the only one that feels like even if I woke up at 6 am (which I don't) it still wouldn't give me enough time in my days to get everything done that is expected of me. Oh, well I say. I realize that this "phase" as older and wiser people call it, will pass. And I will look back on the hand prints on the windows, fridge, oven, walls, and I will miss them. I know that this is true. So until those sad, quiet, and lonely days come I'm going to enjoy the ENERGY and EXCITEMENT that happens EVERY day! Oh, did I mention the joy of serving in all our church callings? Yeah, let's not get started on that one!! :) Oh, speaking of church callings...I just got yet another one...I need HELP with this one...Young Women's Camp Director...suggestions, comments, ideas are VERY welcome!

Here's to teaching children to do jobs...I just can't help but think this isn't the safest way to put dishes away. Either way, I'm glad that we are working in a routine of helping around the house. I have often been noted as the "Aunt that doesn't believe in jobs" but as my children get older I have changed my ways. There is really nothing better than having all the kids (minus Caleb) helping me out around the house. I have found that job charts really don't work for our lifestyle or should I say my personality. We do better with a daily routine. The kids have a laundry basket, if there are clothes in it that need to be put away THEY are responsible to put it away, with out my help! Novel idea I know, but it's taken me about 2 years to figure that one out. Everyday they look, if there are some great, if not they get the day off. Alayna LOVES this idea. Then there's the dishwasher...we take turns every other day...no more fights, no more, options they just have to do it! Then in the morning they have their OWN morning routine...get dressed, brush and make their beds. Other than that I have told them if I need their help they can HELP me. It's not a job, just helping our family work together. Seriously, at their ages it's working...it's the first time...I'm only about 17hundred job charts too late! Ha

Have I introduced you to my little mess maker...maybe it's his personality or his age. I will never know, but let's just say he undoes everything you want done. I think we all need to pray that I don't sprain my ankle with the messes he makes!

I just have to consider this a childhood thing...creative play! He loves to cook all of his crackers, drinks, etc. But then again, I find myself in the kitchen 90% of his life...so he has the option of growing up to cook great food!

Laundry Video

Yet another hilarious video...

Another one...Who knew being a mom is so funny!!

A little bit of this...

Happy New Year...it was once again a mix of different people, but no matter who shows up we have a great time. Personal favorite of the evening...all the great food and our predictions game. For some reason it's so fun to here what people will think will happen. I have to admit it was last year that I bravely wrote down I would run my first half marathon...I remember being nervous to commit and now look at me 12 months later I ran three and I am totally hooked! It's amazing how one choice can totally change your view on life!!!

So long, Farwell....Here's to my cousin Jordan's last night of family before he enters the MTC. We couldn't be more happy for him to be serving the Lord. We are so proud of him and Alayna hasn't said one prayer with out mentioning Jordan in it. Yeah for missionaries!

Caleb, oh Caleb how you wish you lived in a box, a laundry basket or really anything you can fit your little body into. This little guy is "TALKING" like crazy. Last night we had pizza for dinner and he through out the word, 'Pizzza Mom!" I love this stage when they are comprehending and repeating things you say! One of our favorite things he does is call Alayna, Sissy. It's adorable. He's learning early on that she is BIG and can do LOTS of things for him. Especially if I happen to ignore his first request he goes straight to her asking her to help him. I personally am LOVING watching Alayna be a little mommy to him. Loving the kids for the moment!

I was in my bedroom working on my laptop (for my stake calling) and Jake and Isaac were playing for over an hour. I didn't even check on them or talk to them. It wasn't until I needed a drink that I realized that they were even here. (Good parenting I know!) I came out and found them putting EVERY SINGLE TOY on a pillow or something. They pretty much ignored me when I was taking pictures of them and trying to talk to them. They were so engrossed in their "game" that they didn't want to be bothered with. I finally got out of them that they were "bathing" all of their toys because they were dirty. So each pillow or blanket is a bath. It was hilarious! Isaac found himself in the bucket and Jake of coarse picked his blanket to be his bath. Can I just say I love this age of kids. They have such an adorable imagination. Bring on over your 3 or 4 year olds I will adopt them all!!

Hawaii Grandkid Vacation

Ok, because of such a HIGH demand of additional pictures from our oh so fabulous Grandkid Vacation. Here are the kids after doing the fun game of limbo.

Here they are on the airplane. The little kids in front, then the bigger kids, then the bigger kids in the back. I put together a little educational video about flying on an airplane and what they would see in Hawaii. It had darling Hawaiian Music, pictures, etc. It was so dang cute!

Here was our darling Flight Attendant. With our POG (Passion Fruit Orange Guava) Drink. With the darling umbrellas...we also put little cherries on the umbrellas in their drink. The kids loved it!

Here the kids are being so excited about their little treats and refreshments.

1st Annual Grandkid Vacation- Hawaii

InvitationBoarding Pass

The 1st Annual Grandkid Vacation - Hawaii

Here is a shout out to all of you looking for yet another tradition this holiday season. I have to admit I totally stole this idea from my amazing neighbors. Her parents, who are also my neighbors do this for their grandkids each year. So when I heard Marci's children talking about their favorite tradition, I had to jump on board and run with it! Let's just say that I have had the best time planning this with my mom for these darling grandkids. We mailed out their tickets and invitations. The kids loved getting it in the mail!

Tonight was a major success. We boarded the airplane, watched a quick Hawaiian movie, limbo, had Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner, made Hawaiian ice cream, made our flower lei's, watched Lilo & Stitch, and had one gigantic cousin sleepover. Tomorrow morning will bring yet more Hawaiian activities! Breakfast, more limbo, singing, games, etc.

It has been so much fun! I'll post more details when the activity finishes, but until then it has been a really fun tradition. Thank you for sharing this idea!!

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas 2010
Christmas Eve Perry Family Picture on the stairs. The traditions must live on.

My Dad pretending he's Santa Clause. The kids were laughing hysterically and loved it!

Jake and Isaac in their new matching pajamas. So cute!

Shandra and baby Blake- the cutest chubbiest baby ever!!

Jake on Christmas eve counting down the minutes till it's time for bed!

The little girls ready to open their Christmas Pajama's from Grandma Lou...

Happy little children waiting to go see what Santa left under the tree.

Happy cousins all ready to go see what Santa left under the tree...oh, how we love this tradition.

Our little happy family trying to smile even though it's so early in the morning...

Christmas Eve...my dad pulled out the best surprise yet! New coats for everyone. It was honestly one of the best surprises. Primarily because I have had my eye on this soft shell jacket for several weeks. But I didn't have the heart to pay for it...until Mr. Kohl's 30% Off Man (my dad) came around, and bought it for me! Thanks dad it was a great surprise!! Love it, Love it, Love it! Now I finally have a coat with a hood on it! (Oh, Shandra's coat is not the same coat, she left hers at her house. She didn't know the rest of the gang would be getting one. We just had her put on a black coat so she could be in the picture!

Trip of a lifetime...

So we headed out to Kauai Hawaii for 10 days...it was amazing!

Our hike in the MUD!Poipu...my favorite city...because we always found the sun! Poipu means "hole in they sky" because even if its raining everywhere else the sun is always shining! I loved it here!

Na Pali Coast, boat ride, snorkling...we saw a whale, well three of them! And spinner dolphins. It was outstanding!!!My padres at the Smiths Family LuauKalalau Hike...

Tropical Taco...yummy lunch in Hanalei Bay

Smiths Family Luau

I loved it...once we found some sunshine! The picture above is the Na Pali Coast. It was amazing. I'll post more pictures later, but it was time to post something on the good ole blog! I probably should catch up before Christmas sneaks up on me!

Romance on the Beach

My favorite Spot on the Island...The Grand Hyatt in Poipu...well, okay it was our last night on the island, so saying goodbye to sunshine and the ocean was not my favorite thing to do, but it was absolutely beautiful!

Shipreck Beach