Keira Starts Her Exercise Routine

Mrs. Tuba, Tuba
Chubs
Hubba Bubba
has now admitted to herself that she is a little more "rolly poolly" then most 4 months old...
so Keira has started a strict daily routine of ab crunches, leg lifts, and full body rolls.

Recently she has found her feet very irresistible.

And that they make a great playmate.
Always accessible.

She is also very fascinated with arching her back and working her way on to her sides.

But my question is...what color is her hair going to be?
Brown or Blond?

Because seriously Folks, if I have another blond child and another blue eyed child...
(counting 3 with blue eyes and 3 with blond hair)
I'm going to REALLY start wondering who's kids these are.
("Larry, have you been cheating?")

This Is How Wii Do It

After ignoring the manual and whipping the new Wii together in seconds flat.

We sat down for dinner and made everyone wait to finish eating before we would let anyone play. Consequently we all ate quietly and super fast!

Sydney and Emma duke it out in "boxing".
With Ben behind them, DYING for a try.

Look at that stance!

I think she's getting the hang of it!

Oh Ben! He was ECSTATIC when it was his turn.
What a boy!

Must...stare...blankly...at...the...screen...

Mr. Ben even fell on the ground like his Mii when it got knocked out by Sydney's POWER PUNCH.

Larry and I are very happy to see how well each of the kids are at playing the sports games. Even for their young age.
It did take a while for their egos to adjust. They were shocked that they weren't good at ALL of the different sports.
Sydney packs the best punch at the boxing, Emma bowls really well, Sydney is also really improving on her baseball...

(**side note: I can kick Larry's butt sometimes too! hee, hee**)

Great Works of Art

Today I vowed I would actually sit down with the kids and color with them, instead of using it as a tool to occupy/distract them while I did my own thing.
Deep down I was also hoping that it would show the kids the "right" way to color. By taking your time, selecting colors, etc...

Emma did well. She was even asking me what color each animal should be. And I was generally impressed with her awareness of each animal and their spots, etc...

Then I saw Ben's...

Seriously, my 2 year old colored this!
Is it just me or did he stay within the lines really, really well?
Obviously he can't rip the page out of the book as good as he can color.
But...WOW...that's good.

And then it's my masterpiece.
The best part is that Emma said,
"Is that a picture of Daddy?"
"Yep!"
Apparently, Larry is a hopped up on "roids", has rippling pectorals, buns of steel, loves the feel of shaved legs, owns many pairs of thong underwear that he likes to where out in public, gray hair and does part-time work as Santa's bodyguard.

Gosh I'm a lucky woman!!

Night-time Rituals

Daddy couldn't pass up a photo session with me and the kids doing the nightly routine of reading books before bed. Although I do have to admit that 90% of the time Larry is the one reading with the older kids while I'm attending to Keira.

The cutest part about this book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" is that Sydney has watched the movie a couple times at school and can now sing to you most of the book!

We are astonished at how well Sydney is singing the words to the book.

Strangely these pictures show Emma attentively sitting during the book readings, when traditionally it's Sydney close by and Emma distracted by random things.

And a quick kiss for Mom before Ben heads off to bed.
What a cute boy!

Rice, Rice Baby

Our sweet little Keira, has passed another mile stone as we photographed her first tries with rice cereal.

Besides the drooling streams of cereal down her chin...

the occasional gaging reflex as she tries to swallow solids instead of liquids...

and fascination with the spoon.
Keira is more then happy to be apart of the action at the dinner table!

Wishful Thinking

Last night Larry graciously went on a midnight run to Wal-Mart for me.

(okay... it wasn't quite midnight, but still dark...gosh I can't lie it was 9pm...but that's like midnight for parents of little kids, right?)

Back on topic...
My list of course started with 3 items and before dinner was over it had grown to about 25. I mean heck, if he's going he might as well pick up more paint, a bread loaf pan and chips. But for some reason there always ends up being a few extra treats that weren't on the list. AKA: black licorice, a tub of ice cream, Marshmellow Matty's, Dr. Pepper, etc...

To my kids surprise when they checked the snack basket this morning was classic! Emma was more then OVER-JOYED of the little snack-packs of Pringles Chips.

E: "Mom, these are great! When did we get these?"
Me: "Daddy got them at the store last night."
E: "Did Daddy have much money?"

Apparently my excuse of "No, we can't get that because we don't have the money." is starting to sink in. Maybe.

Silence Is Golden

Just in case you are DYING to know if Keira got the hint and slept through the night...

Let's just say at 12:15 I woke up to screaming. I was shocked at how loud it was. I stumbled from my bed to notice Keira's door open. Then I see Larry downstairs bouncing her around in the dark while he takes in the last minutes of a "late night necessity" (Lakers...ESPN...West Coast hours). After cringing for every wail echoing through the house for another 20 minutes Keira finally gave in and settled quietly into her Dad's arms.

Well that is until he put her down.

He came to bed apologizing and saying he tried. I agreed. It was now her turn to cry it out. So for another 30 minutes Keira fought between cries and sleep. And just when I was about to call it quits she gave up and went to bed.

THANK YOU!! (a hour+ of crying past midnight was wearing on ALL of our nerves)

But here's the BEST part. Keira didn't wake up again until 5:15am!! NICE!! And I quickly went in and rewarded her by feeding her and putting her back to bed!

Hopefully tonight will be better.

P.S. Did I mention Keira fully retaliated by filling her diaper AND both pant-legs of her outfit with "#2" at the SAME TIME I was sitting down to take the first bite of my lunch at 2pm?

Night Terror or Holy Terror

WHO ME?

YES, YOU!!

Dear Keira, You are usually such a wonderful baby. Full of smiles, coos and lovable rolls!
But as of last night... you've been black listed. Your sweet cheeks and big, blue eyes no longer fooling me.
I am on to you.
That plan of yours to keep those squishy buns by crying every 3 1/2 hours of the night to feed AGAIN!
It's a daring tactic.
But only one that I would agree to if it guaranteed me that my cellulite would transfer from me to you. If you catch my drift.
And THEN, the gall of you to wake up at 647AM, before anyone else!
Is beyond annoying!
Don't you remember the Roberts Family Rules #13: thou shalt not wake up before thy parents.
But what is MOST unforgivable is the cherry on top.
The fact that after I drug myself out of bed to pick you up....
to only have you let out THE BIGGEST FART EVER!
And then smile at me.
This grotesque display of flatulence has pushed me over the edge and vowed that the day you turn 16 you are officially grounded.
Love, Your disgruntled & sleep-deprived parent...MOM

The Perfect Prayer

To correlate with our Primary's goals this year to learn the 13 Articles of Faith, Larry and I decided to make some FHE's based on learning 1 at a time. It was great to see the light click for Sydney as she understood that we have an earthly family and a Heavenly Family. And that these Articles of Faith our the basics of our church and the building blocks of our testimonies. But the one thing that brought all of this together was Emma's closing prayer. It went like this...

E: "Dear Heavenly Father, bless that Jesus would come down again. Thank you for the Holy Ghost. Bless dessert. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Well at least we know what her favorite 3 things are!

Doing Our Part

After being so "on top" of things and getting our taxes done SUPER early. Larry dropped a TON of hints at finally getting one of these ---->

I have to admit, I've been putting my foot down about games like these in our home since the beginning. I wasn't comfortable with it being a BIG distraction, especially when we had school to study.

But now...I was running out of excuses.

And now that it's done and in the mail...
and Larry danced around the room like a giddy school girl...
I'd just like to say that I'm proud.
That's right, I'm PROUD to say that I'm doing my part in helping to stimulate the economy with my purchase of a Wii.
I feel GOOD.
It's almost like that kind of "good feeling" you get when you help someone in need.

But better!

Changing The Look Of Things

Larry had a great idea to paint Keira's room while we were off to California last week.
Here are the results of her "green" room.
At first Sydney wasn't sure that girls should have green rooms.
Strictly purple and pink.
But now she concedes that the Green "works".

After not being able to pull up the sides of his crib any longer and the mattress hooking on to the sides of the head/foot boards with screws...(it was 36+ years old).

We retired the family heirloom and brought out the toddler bed for Mr. Ben!

And so far so good, his first nap in it went off without any hitches!

But I'm sure there will be future post about his antic's as he explores his new boundaries.
Am I ready for this?

Daddy Date #2

Have I mentioned that I LUV free things?
Especially free things for kids?
For Daddy's date with Emma,
they took off early on Valentine's Day to Lowes.
And enjoyed the free Kid's Workshop!

Larry was impressed with Emma's skills with the hammer.
And her abilities to put most of the box together on her own.

Daddy Date #1

It's time to get all GUSSIED up!!
Sydney and Daddy went to their first Dance together!

It was a small production put on at her Elementary School, but being Sydney we had to go BIG!
So she picked out a dress that would spin-out WIDE and asked for some of mommy's make up!

Then she also brought Daddy into his closet and showed him the tie that would match her ensemble. I think we've read "Fancy Nancy" a few too many times!!

Or maybe she's just practicing for her first Prom?

I LUV U

Is it just me or has Valentine's Day lasted a whole week?
With planning Syd's class party I definitely had my hands full,
and was grateful I had done most of the holiday shopping many weeks ago.
But leave it to my extremely intuitive Husband (props to me for picking such a great one)

to hook us up with a babysitter on Friday night so we could catch a quick flick.
You know "date-nights" have been few and far between when Larry mentioned that he'd never even been to the theater a few minutes from our house!!

With the kids handing out individual cards to everyone in the family and a surprise from MOM and DAD at the breakfast table, we've been on a sugar high ALL day.

Daddy whipped up some delicious Pink Heart Pancakes with Boysenberry Syrup!!
DELICIOUS!! (+bacon)

Each kid received a new pad of paper, chocolate, sweethearts and pj's!
Sydney was VERY please to get another "dress" pajama.

And as you can tell by Emma's HAPPY face she was pleased to get a matching robe like her sisters!

Mom surprised Daddy with a box of Chocolates from our favorite place...
SEE'S!

And we finally broke down and got Ben some more BOY dress up clothes!!
(obviously a BIG necessity in the "House of all things Pink")

I think he got what he wanted...CANDY!

And we couldn't resist this little shirt...
"Does this diaper make my butt look big?"

And of course, Larry received BONUS POINTS for bringing me Tulips, Candy and a gift certificate for a Pedi!!!

Where To Start?

It's been one of those days.
And I'm not sure if I need to blog it so my Kids can apologize when they're older
OR if it's because I just need a show of moral support.
Either way...I just have to write this day down for the books.

Today I had such high intentions of getting things done.
Finishing the last minute details of the Class Valentine's Party for Sydney.
Getting some much needed exercise.
Picking up a prescription.
Putting dinner in the crock pot...etc...

However instead I've dealt with a screaming baby.
(she had shots on Monday and just won't lay down for bed...
screaming every time I try to put her down...and it's Wednesday for Heaven's sake...get over it!)

Plus I tried to be a nice MOM and let Emma & Ben empty out the dress up clothes for playtime.
Instead I had to dress and redress this little guy about 100 times.
Oh and try to do it with a straight face...

How do you not laugh at that?

Or this?
The elephant flashlight, fireman hat and a ripped Snow White dress that almost makes him look like he's flashing everyone his diapers...HA!!!
What I didn't capture was the red high heels that also made an appearance.

(note to self: $100 of tax refund needs to be spent on BOY dress up clothes)

Then I spent 1 hour struggling to get Keira to take a nap so I could "sweat to some oldies".
Finally she went to bed.
I jammed downstairs put on a movie for the other 2, pulled together dinner in the crock pot, ran back upstairs tied my tennis shoes.
And then Keira cried.
I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet!!!

By then it was 11am.
I through everyone outside and told them we were going for a walk.
The older kids needed to get some wiggles out and I needed some kind of exercise.
We walked to a friends house. Joined them for a play group...

Oh wait...this is too good to be true...within 15 mins, my phone rings with a message.
It's the school nurse. Sydney has a 100.2 fever.
What??
So I load back up into the stroller, walked to school.
Push her and Keira in the double stroller (now there's a work-out).
Oh and we can't forget that the nurse recommends that a fever stay out of school for at least 24hours. Which means if this girl doesn't get well, I'll be putting on a Valentine's Party for everyone...BUT HER!!

Hence, I whipped up lunch, put Ben in bed (only to find that the crib from 1970 is on it's last leg and one side won't go up). Put Keira to bed...wait let me be honest about that...let Keira cry for 10 minutes until she finally gave up.
And now it's 145pm, Sydney is FINE. Emma is complaining and wants me to get off the computer so she can play a game.
Which I'm delaying because I'm miffed that she kicked a ball against a wall in the house and came within centimeters of cracking a bunch of frames.
And me...well...I'm going to take a bath.
A bubble bath.
And read a book.
Please no calls, texts, emails, etc...for at least 1 hour.

-Rachel

P.S. Is this a normal day for us mom's or am I just blowing this out of proportion?

Grizzly Adams

This is what happens when there are 4 kids in the house, mom is upstairs with the baby, dad is watching the other 3 and it's FHE dessert time.

Ben is starting Halloween early this year.
He's hands down the best "Grizzly Adams" I've ever seen!

Finger Lickin' Good

If you can't get to the bottom of your bowl with a spoon...why not use your fingers?
Sounds perfectly logical...to a 2 year old.

Sweet, Yummy, Gooey, Chocolaty Delicious.
And it's ALL MINE!!

Ka-boom

Did you hear that? That was the sound of an explosion in my head when the Dr told me that Keira weighed 17.4 lbs and is 25 in long!
Seriously?
Did I mention she's only 4 months old?
Well, here's some face time with K.J.
Before we put her on the weight-watchers diet.

Are you looking at me?

The Elvis impersonation.

Pondering.

Phewy on you-ee.

What? I like my tongue.

This is my drool. Want some? I have some to spare.
I can leave some on a pile on your shoulder, pants, any where totally inconvenient.

Emma, why are you jumping around behind mom?

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.