dinner talk

I stumbled upon this article today after a conversation at the dinner table that went something like this, ( Trent had to work late so he wasn't in it. and Jordan was to busy hanging upside down from her chair to care what we were talking about.)

Me: Hey guys, guess what fun thing we get to do after dinner!
Carson: a movie?
Me: NO! your life DOESN't revolve around the tv (true story)
Carson: than what else?
Me: We all get to do LAUNDRY!!
Carson: ahhhh...I don't want to do laundry that's not fun at all. (slumps to his room) (after coming back out...)
Me: well Carson, do you think I like doing Laundry? Do you think I wake up and say, "yes! I get to do laundry today!?
Audrey: yes, you love doing the laundry mom.
Carson: i don't know....
Me: well guess what, I really, really don't like doing laundry, in fact, I don't like doing dishes, laundry or even making dinner. but do you know why I do those things? (pause for dramatic effect.....) ..because I love my family and want you guys to be happy. so after dinner could you guys help me do the laundry?
Audrey: Mom! I LOVE doing laundry.
Carson: okay..

on with the article.
(they are currently all putting their clothes away having a great time.)
enjoy!
Encouraging Optimism In Your Family Make and Takes

Easter weekend

Our Saturday started off with my parents neighbors RV being on fire and a fun (for us) show of 8 fire trucks, 2 medical/support trucks and one medic van. Two walks, an easter egg hunt, roller blading and lots of fun time! and that was all before 11:00!

Searching for eggs!

A friend of mine lent us a fabulous game that was enjoyed by all!

grandma Marilyn getting into the game

squishy faces

Grandpa was having a hard time even reading the cards.

Skipping on a walk

coloring easter eggs

Jordan would dip an egg, then dip it in another color, and then dip it in another ....

fun time playing wizards!

enjoying the sun!

dancing in the yard

Trent enjoying his time off

Easter eggs with GG

Easter 1986

Grandma and Grandpa Seal and Great Grandma Audrey Perry (Audrey's namesake)
before the annual Easter Egg Hunt

(can you guess which one I am?)

at this point in the family, we were the lone girls of the group

Lauren, myself and Becca

April 2011

Seal Great Grandkids (some of them)

We headed to the Harbor for the weekend.

Trent had to be in Olympia to speak with the representatives and senators so we all tagged along and did Easter with my family.

It's tradition with the "Seal" side (my grandma's side) of the family for all the grandkids to wait on her front porch with our easter baskets, take a picture and when given the go ahead we all ran and found as many eggs (not candy filled) as possible hoping to find the golden eggs and the silver eggs that we got to exchange for money from grandma.

So with us heading over I called up my grandma and asked if she would be willing to host again for all the great-grandkids in the area. She was thrilled and all the kids had a blast, its fun to see all the great grandkids enjoying the same things we grandkids enjoyed.

(Pictures are just random order from the Saturday festivities)

After the hunt, this is how Jordan was found until we hid her basket. :)

My dad bought a motorcycle and brought is to grandma's to show us all, grandma really wanted to go for a ride...this is as close as she got. :)

Grandma has this "big foot" toy that she LOVES, seriously as a sixth child. So here she is making sure her baby wasn't being malled by the kids.
Love you grandma! :)

The younger three great grandkids playing with Ellenor's toys :)

having lunch, the Olives proved to be pretty entertaining

Sadly, my dad's camera flipped settings so a few of the pictures are fuzzy, but I couldn't resist putting this one on. "Cousin" Lauren is the master of the swing at GG's house.

Audrey showing off her goods! She found 2 gold eggs!

check out Jordan in the background, still eating her sweets

cousins (well that's what we all call eachother) Samuel and Audrey turning in their eggs

Jordan with her goods...again.

Carson happily finding eggs!

Audrey loving the egg hunt!

the boys (my cousin Michael and dad), doing their thing...which they did for a good 30 minutes or more.

It's time........... or so I thought.

Last Monday we started potty training Jordan.

We had a special "potty treat" jar with her own treats she picked out (skittles) :)

We had a special "big girl potty" that we kept in the kitchen and a "big girl" toilet seat that went in the kids bathroom so her little bum wouldn't fall in.

and we had special "big girl underware" for her as well.

and being Carson's spring break we planned to do absolutly nothing but set the timer for every ten minutes.

Distractions are a great thing...

Big girl underware

All smiles

This is after she went number 2 for the first time (TMI)

I DID IT!!

..and after two great days, today (Wednesday) was HORRIBLE... and we are now going to wait a few more months. How do ya like that.

Just because

Aren't they cute!

Grandma GG

First I have to say, (to Pam :) ) it has been a little while since my last post and that's because here is our last two weeks:

1. Carson had the stomach flu

2. a few days later, I got the stomach flu

3. a few days later Jordan, Audrey and Carson all got the flu (I totally blame Trent bringing it home from work.)

4. a few days later I got the flu

5. then Trent got the flu

6. Audrey got an ear-infection

7. then Audrey got pink eye because of #6

8. we all started getting better....slowly.

9. GG came to visit :)

10. oh and I had finals :)

11. we started potty training Jordan.....

12. and then I stopped potty training her

so there's my excuses...

Back to the posting.... Grandma GG came to visit (my mom's mom- we call her grandma gg for "great grandma"), luckily we were all done with most everything but the coughing...and coughing...and coughing. We were all amazed that GG left without any signs of any sickness. so here is our week in pictures..

Grandma teaching them "penny, penny, who's got the penny." so fun to watch them playing

girl time- united states puzzle

Audrey was being a pill and wouldn't smile...imagine that.

grandma had given the kids a couple dollars to spend (grandma bribing Audrey to put in eye drops.) and so we went to Walmart and then grandma took us all to McDonald's so the kids could play..we were there for 2 1/2 hours. :) *GG is holding Jordan's new favorite doll, she jumps in your lap and laughs...and I have to say of all dolls, I don't mind hearing this one over and over and over. it actually sounds like Jordan's laugh

I went to Carson's parent-teacher conference while grandma stayed with Audrey, we then went to Audrey's dance class and then celebrated all the great things Carson's teacher had to say about him with Pizza :) Grandma and Trent making Grandma's famous Cinnamon rolls *she ended up making another batch...the first one turned out "sugar free" on accident, but according to the sister missionaries who happened to stop by as we were pulling them out of the oven and myself you couldn't tell they were sugar free and it made you feel a little better about eating them :) it was sure fun to having grandma here with us, Grandma and I have always been really close, the move has been tough because I can't go visit her all the time like I did. thanks Grandma for flying in! next time, lets plan on some sun and no sickies :)~ Isn't she pretty~ I was asked a few times how long my "mom" was staying

Carson reading to GG

Come again soon GG!!