Fun Cleaning

Yes, this is what my kids call cleaning when they are working together.  Someone makes up a game and they start "playing" as they clean.  Oh how I love this!  Cleaning is getting done while I hear giggling.  It's not always fun and games, but there are a lot of times where my house is like this.  I love that they have time to be creative and enjoy each other!

Aiden's Creative Cooking Show

One day while mom was out, the kids got creative again.  This time: movie making.

It's fun to see Aiden so outgoing.

Aiden's first Pinewood Derby

Last week was Aiden's first pinewood Derby.  I hadn't been to one since my brothers were in scouts.  Man, has it come a long way!  I remember the track being some large wooden contraption.  Now look at it!  It's even computerized with laser sensor at the finish line.  His car did not win, but he had some good bonding time with his dad making the car.

Busy month

We have had a lot going on this month.  As I mentioned before, Aaron's sister got married and his family was in town for the event.  Almost all his family was able to attend.  We were only missing one sister whom we missed having with us.  It was a great time catching up with each others lives.

The following week, Aaron's brother Chuck, stayed with us for a week.  He is getting ready to go on an LDS mission to Brazil.  Chuck was 5 when we got married and I used to babysit him.  We had a great time reminiscing about the past and having some time to get to know him a little better. 

The next week we finally made a trip to Colorado to visit our good friends the Milams.  We had made a promise in the spring to visit and just got to busy.  Sonya is an amazing friend to me.  She really took care of me when I was pregnant with Eva by stopping by my house with her big van and telling the kids to hop in and come play at her house so I could rest.  She would bring me meals and invite my family over to eat so I wouldn't have to cook.  She called me nearly everyday to see how I was and to have a nice chat.  She has 7 beautiful children and is one of the most giving people I know.  Sadly we did not get a picture with them while we were there, but hope to when they come to visit in April.

To my surprise, my other dear friend Emma Goltz Dean lives in the same little town that the Milams live in.  I hadn't seen her in 10 years!  We got to spend some time together at a local park catching up and letting our kids play.  She has a miracle baby and is a wonderful mom to her sweet daughter Maggie.  I sure miss Emma's friendship and having her close by.

Tina and Emma.  She looks great!!  I, on the other hand, am starting to look a little wrinkly.  Maybe I should start wearing make up again...

Eva with Maggie Ann.  She just a little older than Eva.

My 5 with Maggie Ann.  Some of them are a little hard to see.

Robyn got a little creative with the berries from a near by bush.  She used the berries to create lips on this turtle.  Then she did this:

Wow!



Do you see her leafs in the wood?

State Fair 2010

Here are some pictures of our Utah State Fair entries. This year I entered in as a amature rather than a professional and found that it was a little more competitive. It's fun to see your own creations at the State Fair. I really enjoy walking around and glenning ideas from all the other entries.

This year my mom was in town to go to the fair with us and my sister in law Monica joined us with of her kids and grand baby. It was a great time.

I got 4th place for Eva's blessing gown

Third place for Robyn's baptism dress

No place for the story coat. I'll have to admit, it wasn't put together well. I got frustrated with it because the lining did not match up well with the outside of the coat. I took it apart and resewed it about 3 times...Gwen loves it and that's all that matters.

Emma's hand embroidered horse got first place!!

Robyn's doll, Johanna, got first place

2 of Robyn's entries both got a first place ribbion!

Gwen's embroidery of her name. Way to go Gwen!!

Aiden's "flying" house. He got 5th place for it!!

Emma and Kali

Robyn and Gabe

Gwen with her cousin, Gabe

Aiden at the "farm"

Monica, my mom Helen and myself

Look at all these kids!!! Kibbie's and the Cassleberry's (cousins)

Robyn's Cute Doll

As some of you know, Robyn has a passion for doll making. She loves to check out books from the library about doll making and try making one. This is her latest attempt (a very skilled one) at making another kind of doll. Her grandma Kibbie was in town while she was working on this one and helped her out with the face. I love how the face turned out with the embroidery. The whole doll was done so well. My good friend Joanne Dittmer took this adorable picture with Gwen in the back ground. If you live in Minnesota, she has a photography business. Check out her site:
www.joannedittmerphotography.com

Clay Things

Last week Robyn went to Joann's and took a clay class. She wanted to learn how to make little roses for her dolls. When she came home she instantly sat down with her supplies and taught Emma how to make these little clay roses. Emma took the ones that Robyn did not want and started making little fairies with them. They also made some hair clips with the roses as well. They are amazing!

What kids do with art supplies...

So, the other day I left the kids to their art supplies. Robyn got very creative with masking tape and her water colors and made fake nails with them....

Robyn making nails for Gwen...

Next thing I know...

"Look at my nails mom!!"

Strange look from mom to Robyn.

Robyn quickly replys "They are boy colors!"

Finally! The State Fair

So after 3 years of going to the Utah State Fair and saying "I really should enter some of my dresses", I finally did it this year! A week or so before I took the dresses in I told the girls that I was going to do this and they could enter something too. Robyn took me up on this and entered some of her dolls. It was really fun to see our creations there and with ribbions too! Our winnings brought us home some fancy ribbions and about $8! Ya!

I made this yellow and white dress for Gwen when she was about 18 months. I entered it into the professional toddler dress catagory and got second prize!

I made this dress for Gwen's blessing. I brought home a first prize on this one
Robyn's cute dolls that brought home a first prize.

This is my favorite part about this doll, a nursy mom, equipment and all! HAHA!!

Random pictures

Here are some fun pictures of my kids just doing what we do on a daily basis.

Gwen with her dog that Grandpa Thompsen gave her for her birthday. She loves that dog!

Gwen with her new hair style. She has asked me everyday for a week to have braids like Emma and Robyn.


Here's Aaron and Aiden playing Go on the board that Gwen and Nate gave Aaron last Christmas. Gwen is playing referee. It's a special treat when he pulls it out.

Today Aiden kept asking me to use my sewing machine when I was working on it. Then I remembered seeing another blog where a lady drew a picture on a piece of fabric and had her son "trace" it with thread. So we found a coloring page of Yoda on the Internet and traced him onto some fabric. He thought this was so cool!

Robyn read the book "Sadokoo and a Thousand Paper Cranes" a few weeks ago. Ever since then Robyn and Emma went crazy folding paper cranes with the paper their Auntie Gwen sent from Korea. They strung them up over Emma's bed. Here's Emma standing with them on her bed.

Aiden's Creativity

One day aiden showed me a picture that he drew. He said "Mom, look at my 'OH NO' picture" There was a monster threatening to eat a little stick guy and in a word bubble it said "OH NO!" He ended up drawing several more of these "OH NO" pictures and here they are...