ENERGY

If you have ever wondered what the definition of ENERGY was, it may look something like this:

 

This little one gave up her pacifier only to give up sleep--both at nap time and during the night.  Its been a rough couple weeks.  This too shall pass???

And yes, that is Frozen in the background. We listen to it almost 100x's every DAY.  And sometimes we have to watch it too.  All of the kids (Abby too!) know Let It go word for word, actions and all.  They take turns being Elsa and Anna and every costume has suddenly become Elsa or Anna's.  I want to make these for the girls: http://two-many.blogspot.com/2014/01/princess-anna-cape.html.  But I'm not good at following through...anybody wanna take that one for me??  :)

Pinewood Derby 2014

Xander had his very first Pinewood Derby Race with his Cub Scout Pack.  He and Ben worked really hard on his Ninjago racer.  (The green/yellow/black car in the front row).  He raced it several times and placed 2nd and 1st in 4 heats.  He was STOKED and already talking about next year! :)

Hair Cut

This little one is too busy to let me comb, wash or otherwise touch her hair.  And when she eats, said hair is always in her mouth.  I was tired of the fight and we had some time so I gave her a haircut. She is very proud of it and it looks very nice on her.  I'm not going into the hair cutting business anytime soon but it was a fine job

Good-bye Christmas

Yes I did put Christmas away awhile ago (before the New Year actually) but I have been holding on to my Christmas cards this year.  I got this idea for their display from a friend on FB and I have LOVED having my kitchen cupboards being covered with your beautiful faces.  I had hoped to get a card out but alas it didn't happen.  Sorry.  I will for sure this coming Christmas.  But in the mean time, thank you for making my kitchen beautiful!

New Ages & Stages

I've often wondered what it would have been like to have had my kids spread out to where they could
help each other more...like, what would it be like if one of them could wake up on a Saturday and feed the other ones?  Well, this little guy did just that! He woke up, pulled out the Krusteaz bag, couldn't find the pancake recipe on it so he made waffles instead.  He came up to get me because he said something wasn't quite right...and it was true, he'd read "1/4 C water" instead of "1 1/4 C" so the mix wasn't mixing.  He had even pulled out my frozen berries and added them to the mix.  They were delicious and I nearly cried realizing how old the kids are getting to be...my theme for this year will definitely be, "New Ages & Stages."

Speaking of new ages & stages...this little girl started begging for the Frozen baby doll of Anna after seeing it while we were shopping one day.  She talked about it for awhile.  So i told her that if she gave me her pacifier, she could have it.  Well, she went in her room and got her fires and gave them to me.  So we went shopping and have spent the week (without naps) but learning how to sleep without our 'fire.'

Aren't they cute??

the Long weekend

We had a four day weekend that Daddy couldn't take time off for, so we stole away to visit the Larsons in Placerville.  We had fun playing the day away outside.  It is so hard to wish these gorgeous days away but we truly do NEED the rain! 

Then on Monday we did some fun projects with friends:

 I know I have said it before but I really love having Friday's off!!  Mondays are ok but Fridays are really better for us! 

Eliza's #6 Birthday Party

Eliza had way too many ideas for what she wanted for her birthday party this year. So here it is: 

Cake Boss meets Fancy Nancy!

We set up the food "fancy"

 And as our friends arrived, we got fancy making bracelets and necklaces

 Instead of goody bags, each girl got an apron for the next part of the party. (I made the aprons!) Each girl was given a cup of cupcake batter and there were several options to fill the cupcake with.  We had some very interesting cupcakes!  Each girls was her own though!

Then we did a dress-up relay.  The girls had lots of fun with this. We put all the dress up clothes in a pile, formed two teams and each girl had to run and put two items on before they could tag the next runner. We did it twice. It was some wild fun!

 Then we did some coloring activities while we waited for the cupcakes to finish...and then we decorate the cupcakes, ate the cupcakes and ate some of Eliza's favorite foods! (fruit, cheetos, candy, juice)

Eliza is such a delight to have in our family and we are astonished at how fast she is growing up.  Kindergarten has really matured her.  She is trying to be helpful now, she tries to guide and teach her sisters, it is a wonderful change.  Eliza is reading very well and is starting to learn how to play the piano.  She loves ART! She is always making us love notes and writing books.  While we aren't always good at appreciating the mess that she makes, we do love that she is constantly telling us how much she loves us! Happy Birthday Eliza Joy Sweet Baby Webster! ;)

Eliza's Golden Birthday!

 Eliza turned 6 on the 6th!  Happy Birthday to our creative, giggly, smart, beautiful little lady!  She got to celebrate lots on Sunday & Monday and then was followed by her party of course

 For her birthday we surprised her by enrolling her in a ballet class with Mrs. Kaylene!! (our family friend).  She is so excited to be a part of this group where she will also get to be in a real recital!

New Beginnings

In our church, we change classes at the beginning of the year.  So all the kids changed classes on Jan 4.  the biggest change was the Vi is no longer in the nursery.  She has moved up to attend Primary with her sister & brother.  She was very excited...she didn't even want me or Ben to walk her to class, she wanted to go with her siblings.  :( Sad for us BUT I found a way to go and watch her find her teacher and everything anyways.

 

 

This is Vi and her other friends who moved up getting sung a welcome song.  They are SO cute!

The rest of the kids on the first day of their new class:

Marrakesh

 

We went on a double date with my parents to a restaurant that they love, that Ben & I have always wanted to try.  It did not disappoint!  You sit on pillows on the floor, eat with your hands, the walls are draped with rugs...you feel like you are seriously transported out of Sacramento.  It was so fun.  My Mom & I even took a quick belly dancing lesson!  Oh, and the food was AMAZINGLY good.  Can't wait until next time!

Goals

I know I am not FAT by most people's definition. But I have been struggling at the weight I was (147 @ 5'3").  I was eating healthy, I was exercising and NOT.LOSING.ANYTHING.  I was 136 in 2012 and it slowly crept back on.  And so I was angry, frustrated and annoyed.  I called a friend and she helped me re-configure my diet.  Not only did I finally lose, but I LOST a lot quickly (so quickly I am having a hard time maintaining).  I started with Nicci just before Thanksgiving and was entered into a holiday weight competition.  I WON!  I lost 6% of my body fat between Thanksgiving & Christmas, an inch on my arms alone!!  It was HARD. But I feel so much better.  My body is treating me better. I don't feel so exhausted and achy all the time.  And I finally got under 140 again. I would still like to loose a little bit more but my next goal is a sprint triathlon so I'll be training soon to help with that. :)  I learned a lot during this...I learned that the food I was eating was good but their is better food. I learned my body was craving protein!  And I learned that patience is important...10 months of not losing though was really hard. :/  But hopefully we won't have that problem again.

W.O.W Science Museum

 We arrived in small town Lodi, didn't beat the train!  The kids were SHOCKED to see a train driving down the middle of the road. Man have they been raised in the city.

 I bought this Groupon and it did not disappoint.  We had a blast for almost 3 hours exploring the science experiments throughout this hands-on museum.  We learned a LOT and just enjoyed playing and touching and laughing.

 Watching hurricanes grow!

 Exploring space ships!

 Wind tunnels

 Building blocks

 

I had packed a picnic lunch but when all was said and done we chose to walk and find a burger joint. 

 It was this little place with fries & shakes to die for!   The kids had a blast and we hope to go again some day soon.  Family fun date!