Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone, I thought I would share some recent pictures of the Kids all dress up for Easter Sunday.  It was a beautiful sunny day today, and Easter was in the air.  I am so grateful for this time of year to celebrates Christ's Resurrection and the promise it brings to all of us.  I hope your Easter was filled with the Love of the Savior and it was a wonderful day for all.

Dancing Girls

So I decided to turn up the radio and have the girls dance in the parking lot to the park, while we waited for my sister to arrive.  The girls had a blast!! I love the break dancing by Kate.  The running  in a circle with her hands over her head move Jane does is so funny.  Oh and Kate's attempt to do the worm cracks me up every time I watch this. I think Kate has been playing to much Just Dance on the Wii, see if you can recognize some of the moves.....Enjoy!

Easter Story

A few years ago my mom bought me a book to read to my children for Easter.  I didn't know it than but it's been a family favorite and a tradition that we  read it together each Easter Season. .  I love this book because it explains how the world sees Easter and connects it to the Real Easter Story.  So each time they see a something in their Easter baskets they can remember what each color means in the real Easter Story. We read this story as a family for Family Home Evening  this week to get ready for this Easter Sunday coming up.  All the kids really seem to understand better the real meaning for this Easter Season, by such a simple book.  We are looking forward to Easter this Sunday and Celebrating our Savior Jesus Christ his love for us and all he has done to help us return to our Heavenly Father.

 The Colors in this basket are own special way for me to tell the story of that first Easter day.

The Green inside my basket is like the palms that lay upon the ground for Jesus for his parade one day.

The Purple in my basket reminds me of the time, that Jesus shared with his friends a meal of bread and wine.

The Red inside my basket reminds me it is true,that Jesus loves us so he died for me and you.

The Brown inside my basket as dark as in a cave,reminds me of the sad place that was our Jesus' grave.

The White inside my basket is like the angel bright,who gladly said, "He is Risen! Our Jesus is all right.

The yellow in my Basket that matches the bright sun, reminds me of that Easter and what our God has done.

The Colors in this basket I use in my own way to tell the wondrous story of that first Easter day.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will have life even if he dies, And he who lives and believes in me will never die.  (John 11:25)

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss !

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to his fans as Dr. Seuss, is the author of such beloved children's books as "Green Eggs and Ham", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and perhaps his most famous work, "The Cat in the Hat", which was created as a reader for children and used only 225 words. Before writing and illustrating these classics, Geisel served as an illustrator and cartoonist, turning out advertising campaigns for Standard Oil for 15 years. At the time of his death in 1991, Geisel had authored and illustrated 44 children's books as well as provided the source materials for 11 children's specials, a Broadway musical and a major motion picture. He is the recipient of two Academy Awards, two Emmys and a Pulitzer. 

 (I found the following bio on the website great-quotes.com, and I thought it summed up Dr. Seuss better than I could.)

There are so many great quotes that I love from this man's books.  He had such wit and wisdom he would put in his simple Children books.  It is there for the Children to read, but also gives a little nugget of wisdom to the Adults reading them aloud to their kids.  There are so many great little treasures hidden in his crazy books, I just love it.  Today and Yesterday I spent some time reading the Cat in the Hat, One fish Two fish, and Fox with Soxs to my kids. It brought back memories of reading these same books when I was a kid. I have to say after a while I do get a little tongue ties and have to stop.  It's part of the fun I guess.   Kate and Caleb got a kick out of hearing me stumble over the words.  Jane didn't seem to get it quite yet.  I love some many of the books I don't think I could name my favorite, but Here are some of my favorite quotes.......

   - “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

-“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

- “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

- “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

- “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”

 

 -“If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too.”

- “You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting,So... get on your way!”

- “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

- “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

- “Think and wonder, wonder and think.”

- “Look at me!

Look at me!

Look at me NOW!

It is fun to have fun

But you have to know how.”

- “The storm starts, when the drops start dropping

When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.”

“Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.”

 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss thank you for bring magic to us through your words, pictures and imagination!

Fairy Tale Dress-Up

So here is to another day stuck inside due to bad weather.  We got the creative juices flowing trying to come up with another activity to keep the kids busy.  In Preschool we called this Dramatic Play well we are calling it just plain dress-up for home purposes.  The kids got this cute castle for Christmas and we have been collecting dress up clothes along the way for a while now.  I have a tip for all you moms out there, if you have a second hand store or Kid to Kid store, you can go after Halloween and get super cheap costumes to add to your dress up collection.  Mostly a couple of dollars each, it's  really great.

If you don't have a castle like this you can have the kids make their own castle or fort out of blankets  and card table with lots of pillows.  Either way it makes for a super fun time for the kids and it keeps them busy.
The kids had a great time dressing up and using and old phone with a cord on it to talk to one another.  Caleb likes to call himself "Caleb the knight in Shinny Armor"  Jane love snow white and Tinker bell, Kate well she pretty much goes threw the whole dress up box by the time she is done playing.  She has about 10 outfit changes.  Kate loves to make up a whole story to go a long with what they are doing and wearing.  She makes a great playmate for the younger two kids.
I love watching the kids pretend.  Kate and Caleb like to pretend they are dancing at a ball.  Caleb even bows to his sister, so adorable can I just say.  Jane well, she is a shoe girl and likes to see how loud she can stomp her heels on the wood floor.  Watch out if you have a headache it can make it worse :)  This kept the kids busy for hours and I was able to get some much needed chores done around the house.

Shaving Cream Fun!

Just last week it was one of those blistering cold days and the kids were stuck inside.  I brainstormed a little and remember a fun activity I did in Head Start when I taught Preschool.  So this post is a throw back to my good old days teaching.   I know some of you might think I am crazy for letting my kids just go at it with the Shaving cream, but the Kids love it and it serves two purposes.
I had the kids spray a big pile of shaving cream in front of them and spread it all over the table.  After covering the whole table and kitchen counter, we practiced our shapes, number, letters, and just fun pictures.

The kids had a blast and couldn't get enough of this whole shaving cream fun.  So after a while the shaving cream begins to dry and that when you take a warm wash cloth or paper towel and wipe down the surface. All my kids enjoyed clean it all up just as much as messing it up which is rare with kids. 

I love this activity because the Shaving cream works as a cleaner on the table, it clean off marker stains, crayons, pencil and any other marks you may have.  So can anyone say AWESOME....Cleaning and Playing, and keeping kids busy all combined into one, you can't beat that.  I use to do this all the time in preschool, I am so glad I remember this activities.  So after I got done, I sat down and brainstormed some more fun activities I had done back in the good old days of teaching.  I have a whole list of fun to try with my kids.  I guess I just go so caught up in the everyday coming and goings of raising kids, I forgot some of the fun easy thing I can do at home with them.   I getting excited to do more....stay tuned for more fun!!!

Jane Turns 2 years old

 

 Jane's Birthday was on December 1st and she turned the big 2 years old.  I am so happy for this little girl.  Jane had a great day.  We first started out going to the Sandy Mall with my mom and my sisters kids. First we rode the Carousel, which she got to pick out the horse she wanted to ride.  Jane was all smiles.  Caleb on the other hand had a minor freak out, don't ask I don't know.

After that we went downstairs to ride in this indoor train they have.  The conductor was so cute and gave them a little ticket to ride with.  Jane seemed to really enjoy looking out the windows of the train at all the people and shops.  We even got to drive by Santa.  All the kids liked that.  We then played a little in the dinosaur playground they have.  Jane was running and doing her sideways skip all over the place.  It was so neat to see how excited she was.  I also realized right then how big she has gotten. Last time we were there I had to help her with everything. Now she can do is all on her own.  Jane had a great time, along with the rest of the kids.  Soon after that we got some pizza for the kids to eat and headed home for Naps.

This year Jane had a Tinker Bell themed Birthday party.  She is crazy for anything that has to so with Tinkerbell.  She enjoys watching all the movies with her in it.  We decorated the house when she sort of took her nap.  She only slept for a little bit, maybe she was just too excited.  I also got all the presents out on the table.  The night before I made her a purple cake with a huge pink flower on it with vines and other small pink flowers crawling down the two layer circle cake.   I really had a great time making this cake.  This one ranks in the top five cakes I have make.  It was super easy and really fun colors and design.

Jane got a lot of Tinker bell related things.  She got an umbrella, doll, dress up , blanket, socks, and lantern toy all with Tinker Bell on it.  She couldn't get enough of it.  She was excited about each present she got.  Jane really got what was going on, she was  pro at ripping the paper off, she would have a cute reaction and then say NEXT.  It was cute.  Jane favorite's toy of the day was a big baby doll that her Grandma Mott gave her.   She could hardly contain her smile.  She carried it everywhere and even slept with it at night.

Jane trying to hold up two fingers to say "2"

Tinker Bell Dress up sent by Daddy

Her favorite present!

Then we had Jane's favorite thing to eat for dinner.  Chicken Nuggets and Fries.  The adults made them into taco wraps, with fry sauce, lettuce, cheese, and fries all wrapped together.  It was a really easy, quick meal for the party.  It was something other then Pizza that we always have.

After presents and dinner we had some cake.  We sang to Jane and she did really well blowing out her own candles.  I didn't think she knew how to do that yet, I was wrong.  We all cheer for her as she blew out the candles.  Everyone loved the Cake, the chocolate cake tasted so yummy.  Jane devoured hers.   Jane then played with her cousins for a while and then headed off the bed in her new Tinker Bell PJ's.  It was a fun fill birthday.
As part of my Birthday entry on my blog I like to take a moment to describe what Jane is like today at 2 years old.

 Jane Elizabeth Rasmussen 

• Is a sweet, fun loving little girl.  
• Loves to smile and giggle a lot.  
• Enjoys playing with her Brother Caleb while Kate is at school, they are great playmates.
• Jane is talking a lot more.  She has really taken off with that, she imitates what you say.
• She loves to cuddle with you at night.
• Likes you to read her stories
• Loves to have Grandma rock her to sleep for nap time.
• Knows her body parts
• Starting to know her colors- she knows blue green, pink, purple
• Likes to play with stickers. 
• Colors with her big sister Kate.
• Swimming is her new favorite activity to go do.
• Loves to take baths.
• Things she is into: Baby Dolls, Tinkerbell, Curious George, Popeye, 
• She is now starting to watch shows with her siblings.
• Loves to sing in the Car.
• The only song that will still calm her down in the Car is Taylor Swift.  She loves to listen to her.(I listened to her a lot when I was pregnant with Jane, maybe that's why) 

•  Jane is also into everything she is not suppose to be. She likes to make messes with every baking supply she can find.  The floor is her canvas. She has also started to find markers and pens and draw all over her body.  No matter how many times I tell her paper only.
• Still takes one nap a day
• I need to wean her from her Binky obsession, soon I promise.
•  Loves to dance to any music she can hear.
• Loves to eat Poppies Jelly Beans.
•  Is all about having pockets on anything she wears.
• Likes to take her own diaper off after going poppy, so time to train her.
• Hates to get dressed and undressed, she fights you and squirms the whole time. She likes to say Naked baby and run away.
• Is quick to say sorry and give hugs.  Always stays in time out when in trouble.
• Give Aunt Amy kisses and hugs.
• Likes to give you a report that Amy is home, or at work or Grandma is sleeping or at work.  Jane likes to call everyone to dinner.  "Poppi Dinner time."
• Always wants to say a prayer before Kate leaves for school and before she goes to bed.
• Jane is now repeating prayers now.
• Always say we are home when he drive down our street.

Jane is a very good easy for the most part girl.  I am so blessed to have her in my family.  She is truly and angel send from Heaven.  Happy Birthday to my Baby girl she turned 2 years old Today!  I love you forever and always Miss Janey!

Trick or Treat!

This year Jane went as a pink Fairy, Kate as a Ballerina, and Caleb as a Ghost, which was all his idea.  It was a great day to trick or treat and the kids had a ball.  Happy Halloween Everyone!

Fall picture

This was my first attempt at fall pictures.  It's kind of dark on the kids faces. I think I may try again to see if I can get a decent one, maybe all three kids smiling, yeah right, but I can try right.  Enjoy! Jane is 22 months, Caleb 3 1/2, and Kate is 6 years old.

Alpine Days 2011

Julia, Christian,Kate,Caleb,Jane

As part of Alpine days we visited the Fire Station.  All the Kids had a blast sitting inside the truck and talking to the firemen.

Happy 6th Birthday Kate

Happy Birthday Kate!

Kate turned 6 years old on July 25th. It was a wonderful day full of fun times, great food and family.  We love you Kate, we hope all your dreams and wishes come true for you this year! 

Happy 4th of July......Happy Birthday American!

Happy 4th of July!  We hope everyone enjoy this wonderful holiday.   I am grateful to live is such a wonderful country.  I am thankful to all those men and women who have served and are serving to protect our freedoms.  God Bless American!

Alpine Poppie fields

This past Thursday I ventured out to find the yearly blooming Poppies fields in Alpine to take some pictures with the kids.  I was kind of worried I wouldn't be able to find them on my own, last year we got lost for an hour before we found them.  It was a race with the sun I have to say to find the flowers before high noon.  I sort of just followed my way in to general direction I thought they were in and I ended up recognizing the church I needed to go behind and then follow the dirt road behind it.  I was making good time, it was only 9:30 and I found them.

The crazy adventure part of this outing was my battery on my camera died after I only took a few shots, so frustrating.  I found the place and the whole point was to explore and take pictures. So I loaded the kids back up, when home, charged the battery while I ran an errand to Wal-mart, by then the battery was ready to go and we went back up to see the flowers again. The kids were still very excited to look around, but not so much about taking pictures, they were done.  I don't know what it is, but last year Caleb didn't want to smile and same with this year again. I ended up taking pictures when he wasn't noticing.  It's so hard to get a great picture the three kids, I think it's the ages they are, just not the right age to sit and want to smile.  I got a few good ones, not the greatest. The pictures I did take are the results of poor planning on my part, I didn't get to upset with the kids, they just wanted to walk around, and that was alright with me.

The kids had a wonderful time exploring and walking among the beautiful orange blossoms. If you have lived in Alpine you know about the poppie fields.  There are millions of orange poppies that blossom mid June every year.  It's a prime/optimal location to take some pictures of your loved ones.  That is if they decide they want to cooperate. Alpine seem to get a lot a traffic in this little area at this time of year, so many people come to see the poppies.  It's a great thing to go see if you have never been.  To be able to see so many naturally growing orange poppies with the mountains as breath taking backdrop,  all I can  say is simply Gorgeous!

Jane is saying Cheese in this picture.

My little tree climber

I love this little boy!

I love this picture of Caleb, he is a little dirty from playing but I still love it.

That is the smile I have grown to love so much!

Our little Jane