Parent Teacher Conferences

This month all the kids had P/T conferences. This means having lots of days off school, visiting with teachers, and eating out. The reason we started taking the kids out to lunch is because we don't pay kids for their grades like some people do. But we do want to reward their efforts. School is so much more intense these days. So we decided that we could take the kids out to lunch as a way to show that we appreciate the hard work they do.
This time the girls (Elyse and Julia) picked going to Arby's and Ari chose IHOP. We took all the little kids with us this time so that we could spend some time with everyone. We have been more busy lately, and decided this would be a great way to see everyone.
I do like P/T conf for the meeting with the teachers. We have some great teachers and great kids. It is good to hear how well they are doing, and for THEM to hear how well they are doing. (Julia was probably the most surprised.) It keeps them motivated to keep working hard and doing their best. It's also good to see what the teachers expect from them and things that we can do as parents to help them succeed. Pin It

What my kids think of me.

I saw this on a friends blog, so after reading this I would like to hear what your kids think of you. I started with the boys, then I will ask the girls what they think.


First Jayden:
1. What is something mom always says to you? Clean up. Do chores.
2. What makes mom happy? Cleaning. Leaving blankets on the shelf.
3. What makes mom sad? When I don't do anything she says.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Telling funny jokes.
5. What was your mom like as a child? A kid.
6. How old is your mom? 91
7. How tall is your mom? 43 feet
8.What is her favorite thing to do? Cook.
9.What does your mom do when you're not around? Clean.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Being a rock star?
11.What is your mom really good at? Drawing.
12.What is your mom not very good at? Breaking a door down.
13.What does your mom do for her job? Clean.
14.What is your mom's favorite food? Chicken.
15.What makes you proud of your mom? Doing her chores.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Senator Amidala.
17. What do you and your mom do together? Go to the beach.
18. How are you and your mom the same? We were born the same.
19. How are you and your mom different? I'm a boy and she's a girl.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? By hugging me!

Now Ari:
1. What is something mom always says to you? I love you.
2. What makes mom happy? Chocolate.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don't listen.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Being silly.
5. What was your mom like as a child? Full of energy.
6. How old is your mom? 36
7. How tall is your mom? 6 feet
8.What is her favorite thing to do? Eat chocolate.
9.What does your mom do when you're not around? clean.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Best Mom Ever
11.What is your mom really good at? Taking care of the twins.
12.What is your mom not very good at? Being mean...sometimes.
13.What does your mom do for her job? Being a mom.
14.What is your mom's favorite food? Chocolate.
15.What makes you proud of your mom? She's a good mom.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Animated Yoda.
17. What do you and your mom do together? Clean.
18. How are you and your mom the same? Our hair.
19. How are you and your mom different? she's a mom and I'm a kid.
20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because she takes care of me.

I'll do the girls later when everyone is home. Pin It

Pumpkin carving

This week we did the fun Halloween FHE. We carved pumpkins. We have been trying to fit it into our schedule since the beginning of the month. But here it is almost the end and we are just now getting to it. While at the store picking them out, I had the four little ones with me and 6 pumpkins in the cart. The bagger asked how many kids I had, and was glad that i had 7 and the other 3 were older so I wouldn't spend the whole week trying to carve jack-o-lanterns.
Well, one good thing is that the two carved ones got done in one night (it usually takes 2-3). and Zena was totally happy to paint hers pink and stick foamy shapes on it (no parent involvement needed, just supervision) . Ari thought that we should carve one for Emma and Delta (but I was happy to just assist the other kids and not HAVE to do one alone.
Elyse did an excellent job on hers. She wanted Jack Skellington and you cant just print a template for it because of licensing. So she just created her own. So awesome.
Ari wanted the Grim Reaper, and found something that was scary and easy.
Jayden cleaned his out and painted it and will carve it today sometime.
Julia read (the last book in the Twilight series) to finish up her pages for the trimester due the end of the month. She will work on hers after she is done (can't put the book down except to eat and sleep). Delta and Emma sat in their high chairs and watched for awhile, then I fed them and they went to sleep. Pin It

Good News to Share

As some of you know, Elyse is on the Debate team. They had their first tournament this past week and she won both rounds. The judges said that the only thing she had to work on was speaking louder. I was so excited for her! She was so EXCITED!

I also have Julia's and Ari's school picts. Here is your preview: Pin It

Delta's ready for pork chops

Here is a book that we should read to Delta tonight for bed.

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Wonderful Weekend

Well, conference was so awesome this time, not that it was horrible other times. But I was able to listen, and the kids listened. Even DS Jayden listened. I was amazed.

To start the day off, we had our traditional Saturday meal of crepes.

When we started this tradition we did the most simple recipe:
1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup milk, and 1 egg for each person who is eating. Add a bit of water and mix.
Heat a fry pan up on med-hi. Pour mix in pan, swirl it around until the whole bottom is covered. Turn when the bottom has started to brown. Put on a plate after the other side has started to brown.
For toppings we have a major smorgasbord. strawberries, syrup, chocolate pudding, chocolate chips, sugar, sprinkles, whipped cream, and anything else you can think of.

The recipe we use now is a bit more intense:
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons melted butter
Mix all the ingredients except the butter with a whisk. Add the butter slowly. Let it sit for about half an hour. Cook just like the easy crepes. (While the batter sits I start poached eggs for my Lova Tone.)

Lunch was kinda free for all.
Sunday breakfast is always muffins (except fast Sundays which is cereal for those who don't fast). Always lemon poppy seed and one other.
Lunch was free for all again.
Dinner was Navajo tacos. (One way I've found to make this easier is, first of all, the kids help, and second of all, I let the bread machine do the dough. Then a can of chili for the topping.)

We really didn't have any chores as the kids were out Friday and we got them all done then. It was rainy, so we just wanted to stay in and enjoy the sounds.
The one tradition that we weren't able to do this time is start on Halloween costumes. JoAnns is having a sale next weekend so we will get Elyse's pattern then, and also the fabric. She is off today and is starting on part of it with fabric we already had on hand. Her's is the only one I'm "making" this year. The others are just being thrown together. I love that!
Today I decided to organize my craft area so sewing will not be too trying of a task. Well, while I was straightening, I left Emma to play where Jayden and Katia were. This is where I found her fast asleep a few minutes later.

I knew she could move, but was amazed at how well and how quickly. Pin It

Flashback Fridays

You know, they just don’t make cartoons like they used to. This week let’s flashback to a few of our favorite childhood cartoons.What did you watch?

The cartoon I remember the most is Smurfs. I also loved Battle of the Planets and Super Friends. Chipmunks, shirt Tales, Snorks, Care Bears, of course the Disney cartoons. Captain Caveman, Scooby Doo....
but the one thing that is different today than it used to be, cartoons don't start until 7:00 instead of 5:00am. Before that, the news is on. But there are also a lot of cartoon channels. (By the way, we only have basic cable. Who has time for more than 20 channels anyway. Not our family. We do watch a lot of movies.)

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Gerneral Conference Prep

Okay, so having a large family, I have to get ready for the little things (well, big things) like conference. I have come up with a list of things we need to accomplish as far as chores ans projects. I also printed out packets for the kids to color and do while listening. (Go to this link for some for your kids.) I also like to have fun food to eat, so the menu has to be done as I go shopping on Thursday and don't like going back too many times during the week. I also de-cluttered the front room so that it will be comfy for us to hang out in. Hurray! I have flat surfaces again! Now the only thing we can do is pray for the spirit to be there and hope we hear something that will help our family progress. Pin It