Kindergarten Zoo

Tayden had his first field trip yesterday. His class went to the Tauphus Park Zoo and I was lucky enough I was able to chaperone. Of course the little brothers tagged along and had a blast hanging out with big brother at school. All the adults had a group they were in charge of. Tayden was partnered with his buddy Asher, and had loads of fun. It was fun watching him interact with his friends and how much he admires his teachers. He just adores Ms. Kirby. Every time I wanted to take a picture, he acted almost annoyed. But Ms. Kirby would ask him and he posed perfectly. Little stinker. It was a great day. 

There was a funny goat hanging out in the barn that cache was super concerned about. He kept pointing at it asking, "What's that guy doing." Walking out he talked to it as if it was a dog telling him to stay. It was hilarious. 

Kindergarten has been such a great adventure! 

Individuals

All of my kids are individuals and there are some things I am terrified to forget about them.

TAYDEN: He is such a great six year old. He is honestly the best big brother I could have ever hoped for for my younger sons. He loves his little brothers and will stand up for them with a vengeance. On the flip side, he teases with no end. He loves baby Kyle and is my right hand man for help. 

 He loves to play outside. All day every day. He comes home, drops his backpack off, grabs a snack and is out the door until dinner. One day I saw him crouching down by the sidewalk. I wondered what he was up to, but didn't think much of it. He came home and told me to guess what he had in his pockets. I thought rocks. He pulled out a giant glob of earthworms. He probably had 30 or more earth worms that he had been collecting and stuffing in his jacket pocket. He was proud of himself for being the worm saver and sure Heavenly Father was proud of him too.

Tayden is my son and has some of the same funny little quirks. After I  had organized the pantry one day, he walked in and said, "Oh yeah. I like this. This looks good." He likes things to have a special place and keep things tidy. He also likes to look good and is particular about the clothes he wears. Lately though, he has been wearing Becketts pants that are about 5 inches too short, because he can run faster if his pants don't touch the ground. He likes to set his clothes out the night before and gets dressed almost immediately in the morning. He did not get that from me.

He is also his fathers son. And is starting to show weird night time habits. The other night he flipped on the light and starred at Beckett from about 4 inches away. It was a little creepy. He has also been known to yell at Scott or I if he comes into our room and we tell him to go back.

Tayden uses his silly personality to cope with new situations. At his first day of baseball, he didn't know the kids in his group, so he immediately starting acting silly to make the other boys laugh. He is also genuinely funny. He tells funny jokes and stories and is really picking up on big kid humor.

He has started to take a liking in big kid TV. His favorite is Americas Funniest Home Videos. He wants so badly to make a video that will get on TV. He watches a little bit more mature shows and understands the concepts. Its fun to watch family movies and not just cartoons with him.

He is losing all his teeth! He likes to sit on the bathroom sink and examine his teeth. He wiggles the loose ones or searches for cavities. Sometimes he'll sit in the bathroom for 30 minutes at a time checking out his teeth.

He can't wait for first grade. He is so social and loves being surrounded by friends. He told his first grader friend that he should be in first grade already because he has already been to kindergarten three times. Referring to his three different schools.

The boy loves to draw. Give him a notebook and a pencil and he will be busy for hours. He writes notes, draws pictures, does math, etc. He'll fill up an entire notebook in a matter of weeks.

I love Tayden!!

BECKETT: What a fun four year old. Beckett had a rough adjustment to the new baby and finding his place, but he is doing great! He is hilarious and loves to make people laugh.

Beckett could build all day if you let him. He doesn't have much patience to write or color, but give the kid a set of legos and he'll be busy for hours. And he is good at it too. He builds better than me, hands down. He simply loves to build. With anything really. I have taken to calling him Beckett the builder.

He is strong. Like freakishly strong for a four year old. If there is a wrestling match going on, you can bet Beckett is on top. I caught Tayden running away from him one day yelling, "How'd you get so strong?"

Beckett is a mess. When he eats, its a mess. His room is  mess. Everything he touches, basically becomes a mess. I've gotten to the point I just shake my head and laugh.

We just found out the B has asthma. He's been having little episodes where he coughs and has a hard time breathing for a couple days at a time. We got him to the doctor and decided his triggers were probably Idaho allergies and colds. So we are on preventative meds right now. Mainly zyrtec and he has an inhaler if he needs it. I am so glad to be able to help him.

Beckett is a totals mommas boy. He loves me more than the earth, and he tells me quite regularly. He loves to be by me and constantly is giving me hugs and kisses. I'm the only girl he will ever love and he isn't going to get married because, "Then I'll have to take the girl everywhere with me."

His speech has improved alot. Its still not clear, but it is understandable most of the time. He is making new sounds and differentiating letters. I am so proud of how much hard work he has put into speaking better.

He is a Power Ranger fanatic. He loves them. Every kind of power ranger. He pretends to be a ranger and makes up power ranger games. We were yard selling the other day and I couldn't find anything. I just lightly mentioned how I wished I could find a good deal. His response was priceless. He told me, "Power Rangers never give up, so we'll never give up!"

He loves to dance. Especially when he is cleaning up. And those little hips can shake shake shake it!

I love Beckett!!

CACHE: Terribly Twos. Terrific Twos.

Cache is hard. Because he is so dang cute. Nothing really phases him as far as discipline. He just flashes his cute little smile, whispers in his sweet little voice, and wraps his chunky little hands around your neck...and its over. He is the most infectious little boy I have ever met in my whole life.

He thinks he is one of the big boys. He runs with them, wrestles with them, basically whatever they are doing, he isn't far behind. And  they don't go easy on him either, but somehow he manages to keep up.

Cache is the energizer bunny. He doesn't get as much sleep as a two year old needs, but he keeps going and going and going. Sometimes he is only running on 10 hours and still doesn't miss a beat.

He talks non stop. Our bishopric came over for a visit the other day and they couldn't get a word in because Cache kept talking. If he heard any familiar words, then he would chime in with his two sense. We mentioned going to bear world, and he talked their ears off for about 4 minutes about the black bears. They thought it was pretty cute.

The boy loves to be naked. Probably more than the others. I can not keep clothes on him and sometimes I don't even try. He sleeps cold too. I'll walk in his room and he'll be on his bed with just a t-shirt on. The minute I cover him up, he promptly kicks off his blanket. Especially if it isn't his own.

Eats. All day every day. Without stopping. If I can't find Cache, the first place I look is in the pantry.

I love Cache!!

KYLE: Sweet baby Ky. Its funny that his addition is what causes most of the craziness around our house, yet he is my sanity.

He is the sweetest boy. He is probably going to be pretty spoiled because every time he makes a little sound I have to pick him up. Not because I want to, but because if I don't his brothers will. And Beckett is less than gentle and Cache isn't strong enough but still tries.

Luckily, he doesn't fuss much. He is calm and starting to become more predictable. He is sleeping pretty good at night, but doesn't fancy bedtime until later into the evening.

Kyle is starting to smile and coo. Its so much fun and incredibly rewarding when he flashes that cute smile of his.

It's been a fun six weeks getting to know him.

I love Kyle!!

How lucky am I to have four amazing sons? 

Mothers Day Blessings

Mothers Day was great this year. We spent the night in Chubbuck so we could get up and talk to to Scotts brother (Matt-- who is on a mission in South Africa) at his parents house. Unfortunately, when we got to Inkom Scotts mom informed us that the power had gone out in SA and we wouldn't be able to talk to him. It was disappointing, but I am so glad he was able to call yesterday and talk to his mom for a few minutes. We spent the morning with Packards and attended church with them. Dave spoke in church and it was wonderful. I see so many similarities between Scott and his Dad. Scott gets alot of great qualities from his Dad and I think a strong testimony is one.

Scott blessed Kyle that afternoon at his parents home. It great being surrounded by family and feeling every ones love and support. I love having blessings outside of the church. The focus isn't on a quiet baby or the perfect clothes, but on the actual blessing. And Scott gave him a beautiful one. My eyes teared up as Scott gave his last son a name and a blessing. It was a special addition for Mothers Day.

Scott did great this year and got me exactly what I wanted. I asked for a small camera that I could keep in my purse. We have a nice big camera and its fun to take when we go places, but with the circus of kids, its getting harder to back around. I wanted one that I can have with me all the time and get good quality pictures for the blog and prints. He picked out the perfect one and even went one step further. My camera has wifi! So it will send the pictures to my computer, phone or tablet without having to hook up any wires. Get ready for blog post overload again! I am so excited!!

 Grandma and Grandpa Packard 

It was my great idea to try and do pictures at nap time. As you can see, Cache was not having it. 

The pictures of the boys are random, but show just how awesome my new camera is! Yay! 

 Grandpa and Grandma Mennear

 Great Grandma Jane Karlson.

Great Grandma Donna and Great Grandpa Ted Packard. Whom the kids know and so loving call them, Grandma and Grandpa Great. 

It was a wonderful Mothers Day. I am grateful for my mom. She is my best friend. My daily phone call and best advice giver. I'd like to say I'd be lost without her. But she did a great job raising me and taught me everything I needed to know, so I know I could face the world without her. Granted, it would be far less pleasant, but I could because of her. I am grateful for Scotts mom. Our relationship has really strengthened since moving back to Idaho and I genuinely love being around her. She is a kind women who gives of her self to all those around her and is constantly taking care of everyone. We are lucky to have her as Grandma.

I am blessed to be a mother to my boys. They are the light of my world and I thank our Heavenly Father every day that he trusted me with four incredible little spirits. Being a mom is the hardest thing I have ever done, but the most rewarding for sure. Sometimes, I just look at them and my heart wells up. I never knew how much I could love until I became a mother.

It was a day full of Mother Days Blessings.

Direct Answer

First off....I have a computer! Yay. For the first time in 6 months my desk top is set up and I could not be more excited. I am grateful for my phone and Ipad, but the computer is my blogging friend. So hopefully there will be more posts in the future now.

This past week was kind of rough. Sunday in particular. We were getting ready for our 9:00 church and it was looking like we were going to be late again. The morning had not gone well. I felt...FELT...like Scott was not helping as much as he should have. (I'm battling a few baby blues hormones, and poor hubby gets the brunt of it.) Kids weren't listening, I'm the only one that can feed baby, church bag needed to be packed, my dress clothes aren't fitting right, blah blah blah. It seemed never ending. The straw that broke the camels back was the fit that Beckett and Cache were throwing as we were walking out the door. I don't even remember what it was about, but I was mad. I threw my  hands in the air exclaiming I was done. We were not going to church until everyone could figure out how to get along, be happy and enjoy being a family. Scott took Tayden and Kyle out to the car while I sat in with the two middle ones. Blood boiling. Kids crying. Finally, they stopped and we went out to the car. Off to church. Late again.

At church we listened to some great testimonies and learned about what it means to truly follow the prophet. That if I really believe he is the living prophet today that speaks for Jesus Christ, do I learn his works? Do I listen to him in conference? Are we following his command? Well, considering I just had a baby during conference weekend, I didn't listen to as much as I should have. So I made a goal during Sunday School to read the talks.

The day went on and my mood never improved. In fact it got worse. Monday rolled around and I was still angry. I kept asking myself over and over what the point was of even trying. I try to teach the kids to listen, but it seems like a never ending job. I try to make the home a happy place, but there are still people unhappy. I want to teach the boys scriptures, love, about Jesus and how to act properly. I want the spirit to abide in my home. I want it a place were we are safe from the outside world. I want so much for my home, but felt as though I was doing it alone. So I contemplated and contemplated what the point was. Why was I trying if nobody else was. I was frustrated. Sometimes I think of the things I have on my plate and get overwhelmed at the amount of responsibility I have.

Monday evening, Scott was out pulling weeds and  I was feeding Kyle and putting the other boys to bed. I had an overwhelming feeling to start reading the conference talks. I didn't want to. I was still mad. Still trying to figure things out. But the feeling never went away, so I read. The first talk on my list was "Filling Our Home with Light and Truth" by Cheryl Epslin. I laughed at the ironic title, knowing there was something for me in the talk. What happened next was amazing. I received direct answer to my un-uttered prayer.

The talk speaks about two pop cans. One full, one empty. The empty one can be crushed when squeezed by a single hand. The full can cannot be moved. It stands strong because it is full. Likened to our homes, when our homes are full of truth and light, it will be able to withstand the outside pressures and influences of the world. When it is empty, we have no protection. That object lesson really hit home to me. It painted the perfect picture of my ultimate goal for my home and family.

I continued to read and was dumbfounded when I came across these words,

"Strong eternal families and Spirit-filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part. Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference."

Those were the words I needed to hear. It is going to be hard. It going to be rough. It is going to be a never ending job. A strong family and spirit filled home will not just happen, it is going to take continually effort. And sometimes I am going to feel alone in my quest. But even one person can make a difference.

I sorted out through my emotions and talked to Scott. He was completely oblivious to my internal struggle. He knew I was upset, but didn't know the cause. I realized he had nothing to do with it and was in fact trying harder than I give him credit for. I realized that nobody else is in charge of my feelings except for me. And all I could do is worry about how I am affecting the home. Whether for good or not.

I received a direct answer from my loving Heavenly Father. Over my two day or self pity, I never prayed. I asked questions and tried to work it out on my own, but I never prayed. Heavenly Father was aware of me still. He loves me enough to send this talk to me when I needed it more than anything. We hear that most often our prayers are answered through scriptures and other writings and this case is no different. I felt his arms wrapped around me giving me encouragement and showing me what the point to all of this is.

I am so grateful for this life lesson. I have reflected on it all week and am blown away that I had direct blessing from above. He is aware of us and our trials, whether big or small. And what a wonderful gift.

So now, I will try. I will never give up. And I will know that even when I feel alone, I know I am not. Because he is aware of me. And he loves me. And HE is the point of it all.

Fishing fun

We took the boys to Ryder park this past weekend in hopes of catching a fish or two. We didn't expect to catch 12 in a little under two hours. But we weren't complaining! Well, Beckett was a little...because he really wanted to be fishing on grandpas boat, not from the bank. And Cache complained about throwing the fish back. But other than that, there were no complaints! Tayden and Beckett loved reeling the fish in by themselves and Cache just wanted to hold them. Kyle slept the majority of the time and I enjoyed watching Scott fish with the boys. It was a great morning. 

Tayden keeping his fish in the water while Scott got his stuff ready. 

Love his concentration. 

Proud of his fish. 

Beckett reeling in a big one. 

Cache learning the trade. 

Pulling out the hook. 

They wouldn't even look at me for a second. 

Looking for fish. 

After fishing we came home and did some yard work. Beckett found a new friend in the grass. I wouldn't call it a friend, actually. More like scariest thing ever. He took one look at that snake, screamed, ran up the stairs, and huddled in the corner.  It was a pretty big little snake. Our neighbors caught it to show the kids, which Beckett would have no part of. 

And what's a blog post without a picture of our favorite baby Ky? We redneck weighed him today and he hit the scales at 11 lbs. I'm sure it's off a little, but probably not by much. 

Look at those mammoth hands! 

Another fun outing for the books.