What a Day!

Yesterday turned out to be quite the exciting day! Ty got a Spider-man potty seat from Wal-mart, and like Reese, he doesn't seem to know what he's supposed to do with it :) Actually, he did put it on the toilet, took his diaper off, and sat for about 5 seconds. All he could get out was a drip...but hey! It's a start! We wouldn't want him to start before the age of 3 and show up his brothers, now would we?


Last night was the Reflections Recognition Night at Syracuse High School. You probably all know what reflections is, but for those of you who don't, its a contest that most elementary schools take part in. Any student who wants to can enter any or all of several categories: Visual Arts, Literature, 3-D Art, Theater, Musical Composition, Photography, Dance, and Film. I have always wanted Devin and Sam to enter, but this was the first year they showed any interest. Devin entered 3-D art and Visual Arts. He also wrote a piano piece for Musical Composition, but we couldn't figure out how to record it on a CD in time-maybe next year. Anyway, He worked really hard on all of his projects, and he won for his 3-D Art!! He thought up the whole idea on his own, and he did an excellent job. Now he will go on to compete at the district level.






Sam didn't work on his painting until the night before it had to be turned in, but he did a great job. He was a little disappointed when he didn't win, but he knows to work harder next year :) Everyone who participated got a certificate and some coupons for free ice cream, swimming, etc. It was a really fun night, and fun for the kids to get up on such a big stage and show off their talents!



Great Job Dev and Sam!!
P.S. Sorry Grandma and Grandpa Keime, and Grandma and Grandpa Spalding, I didn't even think about inviting you until the last minute! We're new to reflections...next year we hope you can come!

The Anti-Social Get Social

Okay, so Mark and I- well, mostly Mark, aren't into getting together with "friends" all that often. It's not that we don't like people-well, Mark doesn't like many...but that's a story for another day:) Anyway, we have a really great ward with some really fun people, and we were lucky enough to get invited to a Halloween party despite our anti-social tendencies. The party was at the home of Ranae and Brad Finch. Ranae and I grew up together. About four years ago she and her husband moved into our ward. It was a costume party, and needless to say Mark and I hadn't dressed up for Halloween in ages. I was trying desperately to think of an easy, CHEAP, costume and then it hit me....White Trash...


Some of the costumes were so creative and fun, so I just had to post the photos. Ranae and Brad were a "real" white trash couple, Brad even shaved his head down the middle (I am dead serious) to complete the look.


Shari and Travis were Juno and Paulie from the movie Juno-great flick by the way. Travis shaved his legs for the cause.


Britney and Jon were Woody and Jessie from Toy Story and their baby, Colton, was one of the Martian Toys. Their costumes were SO cool, the picture doesn't do them justice, but the details were amazing!


We must admit, we had a great time. Mark and I even won the "Newlywed" game! What can we say!? :) We are very blessed to be a part of such a great ward with great friends and neighbors.

It was a Graveyard Smash!

Every year at our house we have a Halloween Party with all the Keime cousins. Everyone dresses up, we have pizza and treats, and we play Halloween Bingo. It was a "smash"!
Peyton as a Bronco's Cheerleader. Go Broncos!

Pace, Carter, and Millie as Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.

Skyla as Hannah Montana, and Reese as Cinderella.

Sam as Zorro!

Devin as a Dodger player, Gavin as Elvis, and Cooper as Dracula.

Ty as Tigger...sleeping....

Devin carved his very own LA pumpkin, he did a great job!


I can't believe it has been a year since our last party...btw, Noah was there-I just didn't want to put up with the crying while I tried putting the Bee costume on. I will at least put it on for one photo on Halloween night. Happy Haunting!

The Mom Quiz

I've been wanting to do this with the boys ever since Paige and Stacie did it, so here goes:

1. What is something your Mom always says to you?

D-Clean up your room
S-Keep trying your best

2. What makes your Mom happy?

D-When we obey
S-Listening to you

3. What makes your Mom sad?

D-When we fight
S-Not obeying you

4. What does your Mom do that makes you laugh?

D-When you sing silly songs
S-Being funny

5. How old is your Mom?

D-25, I mean 35
S-35

6. How tall is your Mom?

D-5 feet
S-100 feet

7. What does your Mom do when she can do anything she wants?

D-You usually don't do what you want to (Amen to that)
S-Eat Dinner (gotta second that one, too)

8. What does your Mom do while you're at school?

D-Take care of Noah and Ty
S- Take care of Ty and Noah

9. If your Mom were famous, what would she be famous for?

D-Winning American Idol
S-A superstar

10. What is your Mom really good at?

D-Making cards and scrapbooking
S-Cooking (funny, he never eats what I make)

11. What does your Mom do for work?

D-You stack stuff (I had just gotten my job at Quilted Bear, and Devin wasn't sure what it was I did, although, I do stack stuff)
S-Take care of us

12. What is your Mom's favorite food?

D-Chocolate
S-Salad

13. What makes you proud of your Mom?

D-You don't beat the shiz out of us (they should be proud of that, it takes a lot of self control :)
S-You take care of us

14. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

D-Sponge Bob
S-A princess

15. How are you like your Mom?

D-I'm really cautious, like you are
S-Being nice

16. How are you and your Mom different?

D-You're scared of spiders
S-Some of us are girls, some of us are boys

17. Why are you glad you're Mom is your Mom?

D-Because you take care of us
S-Because I'm strong and brave

I find it interesting that Devin seems to think I am always eating chocolate, that I'm a yellow squarish strange person, and that I am good to keep myself from beating him, while Sam thinks I eat salads, am a princess, and make him strong and brave. Oh, well...I guess there's some good in both thoughts!! :)

Snow Day!!

We woke up yesterday morning to find at least four inches of snow on the ground. Our poor tree was still thinking it's summer, and it was loaded down with white stuff. But, the kids were ecstatic! After church they managed to get Mark and I outside for a snowball fight, then the neighbor kids joined in. We threw the whole "no playing with friends on Sunday" rule out the window for a little while. Lots-o-Fun!!!

The BIG 7!!

Sam came into the world on October 10, 2001. He was a big child, 9lbs 1oz at two weeks early, with a big personality to boot!! As a baby he was so happy and content, a welcome break after the first, who was just a tad high maintenance:) Sam started saying words around 18 months, but by the time he was three he was still saying the five or six words he had started with. Our pediatrician suggested having him tested for speech and language problems, and he was diagnosed as developmentally delayed. Sam got to attend a wonderful preschool at our elementary school for two years, and by the end of the second year his speech was tons better, but he was having problems regulating his social and emotional behaviors. Kindergarten did wonders for him, and he is now doing great in first grade! He is really good at math and reading, and he loves art. His teacher talked a lot about his artistic skills when we went in for parent teacher conference.

Sam is very social and had no problem adjusting to first grade and being in school all day. He has many friends and is one of the friendliest people I know. He is usually open to negotiation with his brothers when it comes to who gets to do what first, or who wants what flavor or color. He does not like contention and is not afraid to let you know whether or not you are doing what Jesus would have you do!

Sam is very patriotic and will often put the church and the nation together, for example, when he feels like someone is not doing what they should, he will often say something like this: "You are not following the prophet of the United States of America". He wanted an "American" birthday party this year. So, we had a flag cake, and red, white, and blue star balloons.
Sam loves baseball, specifically the Red Sox and the Athletics, skateboarding, playing video games, swimming, and wrestling with his dad and brothers. We can't imagine life without our Sammy. He is our fighter for the right and will stand up for what he believes in no matter what. Happy Birthday Sammers!

A Conference Ditty

I am following in Carrie's footsteps and posting a little ditty about General Conference. We are at a time in our lives when we have taken several steps of faith into the darkness and are learning as we wait for the light to illuminate the path ahead. I was praying that something would be said to help me feel okay about everything, and wouldn't you know it, it was President Monson's talk. I know there is a lot of joy to be found in my journey, although at times it seems to be well hidden. I loved what he said about stress. He said it will always come into our lives, but we can't forget the things that are really important. We live in a wild house; me being clean, but cluttered, and our four boys being, well, boys- things are never very calm. Add a little stress, and things can get down right crazy. I KNOW I will miss the messes and the noise, but it is something I have to remind myself of on a daily basis. I so appreciated the reminder to enjoy what is going on now. I don't want to look back and regret focusing too much on the little stuff, I want to focus on the eternal, big stuff.

I am so blessed to have a nine year old who can't, I mean literally, can't wait to serve a mission. We talk about it often. "I just don't think I can wait 10 years, mom." We talk about being a missionary now, but he wants to get out there in the world.

I am so blessed to have a nearly seven year old who is the extreme in every way. He can show love and excitement like no one I have ever known. There is no guessing, he wears it all on his sleeve. He fights for the right, and wants justice-even when it may be to his disadvantage.

I am so blessed to have a two year old who is the definition of the little child the Savior talks about in the scriptures: Meek, mild, patient, full of love and long suffering, obedient, and kind.

And I'm so blessed to have an eight month old who has the most beautiful eyes, and a feisty little personality that fills our home with happiness.

Someday they will be teenagers who want nothing to do with me, so I hope I truly can find the joy in the journey and enjoy every minute of every day...even if I've heard "Mooommmm" 50 billion times by the time my head hits the pillow.

Castle Park!!

Today was one of those rare days when I felt brave, and energetic enough to venture out with all four boys. There were several reasons for this: 1) I was feeling guilt ridden because we haven't done anything since the boys have been off track. 2) It was a beautiful Fall day, albeit a little warm once I started packing tubby No-No around. 3) I was beginning to literally feel like a prisoner in my own home. :) So, we got some lunch and headed to the Castle Heights Park in Fruit Heights. I know many of you have been there, and for those who haven't, you must! It is the best park around!



My photos don't do the park justice. It looks like a huge castle and has all kinds of secret passages and places for the kids to play. There is a dragon to climb on, a boat to play in, and lots more. The boys' favorite is the tire swing.


I LOVE Fall!!!! I wish we could have Fall for four or five months and maybe have a week or two of Winter. Just enough time to enjoy some nice white snow, and then have it be over! I guess we live in the wrong state for that. I guess I'd better get the boys out and enjoy it while we can!