Bedtime at the Israelsens

Not quite sure how it started, but after we say prayers and read scriptures before bedtime, the kids LOVE to have a "don't smile" contest.

It's simple: the person who can go the longest without smiling wins.  If you are ever having a bad day, please come on over around 8:30 and join in the game- you are bound to get a good laugh and TONS of smiles...despite the name of the game.

There are many tactics used in trying not to smile when Mom and Dad are staring at you trying everything to get you to crack a grin.

Here Kenna employs the "disfigure your face" move in an attempt to keep that smile from spreading up her cheeks.  Mildy effective.

Ty man here is trying to pull the extreme boredom tactic.  Good try, little buddy.  Doesn't last too long before you are showing us your teeth in a big grin.  Maybe sitting on the ball brings a little extra good luck?

There is some major effort going on here as Allie pretends to be completely enthralled in her book. Gotta give her a little credit, out of all 4 it seems to be working best.  The other 3 are on the verge of a smile. 

Don't forget the popular suck-in-your-face-like-a-fish maneuver that Lexi here is demonstrating.  Unfortunately pretty soon those fish-face dimples turn into full smile dimples!

Ha ha haha ah ha ha!  This inevitably brings many smiles and giggles into our living room.  Next time you are feeling a little down, just try NOT to smile.  It works wonders!

I Love To See The Temple

Now that the oldest 3 are back in school full time, there's plenty of time for me and my little buddy Lexi Lou.  She keeps pretty close tabs on me during the day and is usually not too far behind me.  I have actually been really enjoying our time together.  For the most part she is over her frequent toddler tantrums and is pretty good to have as my sidekick.

The other day while running errands over in Brigham City, she looked out the window and spotted the temple.  From the back seat she hollered, "Hey Mom, I found the temple!  Can we go to the temple?"  It was a beautiful sunny day so I figured this would be a perfect little impromtu outing. 

Lexi just loved being able to walk right up to the temple.  Of course she insisted we get a picture.  I wanted to try to get her in the picture with the entire temple as the background.  You have to look really close, but on the bottom of the picture just to the right of center there is an itty bitty Lexi standing in front of the fence!

As I looked at this picture, I was taken back by the enormity of the temple and how teeny Lexi looked in front of it.  I couldn't help but have the thought that this should be a metaphor for my life.  I hope that I can always let the temple overshadow any trial or problem I have and keep things in perspective.  Of all I know from my years of attending the temple, I know for sure that I actually know very little of how incredible it really is.  As we walked around the temple, it was so peaceful and beautiful.  Of course Lexi would be drawn to it!  I so hoped that she could feel the beauty and peace in her sweet little 4 year-old innocent way.  So grateful for her little prompting that gave us a somewhat simple yet very profound afternoon.

I love you my Lou Lou!  I hope you always keep your love of the temple.

Phonetics

As I was perusing the contents of Ty's backpack this afternoon, I came across a little paper he had worked on today.  As I read what he had written, I couldn't help but giggle.  As you can see here, he was asked to brainstorm ways he could get to school.  He chose to break up his sentence into 3 different sections:

Yessirreee folks, aren't we all just dying to get to school on "a giant mosquito?"

LAUGH. OUT. LOUD!  I love it!  Now THAT is thinking outside the box.

The best part though, is the next page- his picture:

Just to clarify, that is not TY riding up on the shoulder of the giant "musceeto."  Instead he chose to draw KENNA riding on the giant mosquito.  Why Kenna got the honors I have no idea.  He was so proud of himself when I had him tell me about it!

It is SO FUN to watch as my kids start to put sounds together to make words.  I love to see all the little tidbits they can come up with.   

Time Out For Women 2016

I'm not quite sure why, but the past year has been such an incredible time of learning for me.  I have gained so many great insights and feelings that I am so extremely grateful for.  Can't always say that lessons learned come easy, but they are appreciated nonetheless! 

A few weekends ago I joined the Israelsen gals for Time Out For Women up at the Spectrum.  Oh how I loved this weekend!  The speakers, the music, the company, it all was beyond fabulous.  It was most definitely a spiritual feast for me, and the Spirit filled me with beautiful personal revelation and learning.  Thankfully I had tissues.  They were put to good use.  Yep, I have no shame in saying I am a cryer.  No matter how hard I try, I just can't help but leak out of my eyeballs.  Frequently. 

I have but one picture that I took the entire weekend.  Yes, just one.  But let me tell you, it's a gem.  You want to see it?  Yes?  Oh, well, fine, just because you're special I will share my one picture with you.

   
Ah hah hahah haa haa ha ha!  Yep, that's me and my dearie Sista Maria.

So TOFW was sponsoring a service project to help out the local refugee center.  The project was to color letter cards that are used to help the refugees learn english.  Maria and I took this picture to send to Bekka to tell her she really missed out on coloring with us for the last little bit!  I really think it hit home.  I'm pretty sure Bekka was incredibly touched and inspired by us.  I mean really, look at us!  That is the epitome of inspiration.

No really, go ahead and laugh, I totally get it.

Thank you ladies for such a perfect weekend.  I could go on and on and say so much about this weekend.  I will just sum it up:  my cup was filled.

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.....

....That's what little boys are made of.

Well, that is unless you are one of the Israelsen girls.

Frogs:

Snakes:

 Yes, you did observe correctly-  that snake is in my HOUSE.  Thankfully it was quickly escorted back out to its natural habitat.  I do have to chuckle at the look of mild concern on Kenna's face.  She was brave enough to pick it up to come show us, but did drop it a thousand times due to the creepy factor.  I can't really put my finger on it, but something about snakes on my carpet just doesn't sit well.......

Just one word my friends:

 EW.  

I don't do creepy crawly.

 -thankyouverymuch-  

Now here, however, is something I can handle.

Bunnies:

Nothing like producing well-rounded children, right?  

SCHOOL!

It's school time again!

Behold, the Israelsen Family 2016 Back To School:

Kenna D, entering the 5th grade:

How do you feel about 5th grade, Kenna?

Up next is Miss Allie Gal, our resident 4th grader:

She insisted on having Rocky in her picture.  He is so. very. patient.  At least one of them appears to be having a good time!

It's a big year for Mr. First Grade Ty Man- he gets to stay at school all day just like the girls!  He was pretty excited about it.  We discovered his first slightly-wiggly tooth the other day, too.

Check out this awesome crew!

Let us not forget the caboose, Lexi.  Here she is on her first day of preschool with her teacher, Miss Brenda.  Lexi is SOOOOO excited to go to school like the big kids!

It's times like this is sit back and realize how quickly they grow.  We had a fun summer, but we all are ready to be back on a schedule.  I love watching my kids progress through life and learn and grow.  It is certainly a bumpy road, but so very rewarding.  (Note to self:  just remember that when it is especially bumpy....)

Have a great year my little brood!  I'll be here waiting when you walk in the door at 4:00.  From then until bedtime....let the chaos begin!

The Fair

So I've decided this here bloggity blog will have to simply become wee little snippets of mi vida loca.  Just how it has to be.  Aw shucks. 

Here we have some snippets (meaning: extremely abbreviated version) of the FAIR.  AKA a farm kid's Christmas.


CLIPPING with the neighbors.  This is Allie & Kyson.  She's kind of fond of him.

WASHING

SHOWING

WINNING Reserve Grand in Fitting and Showmanship.  Yay Allie!  Jacob and Seth breathed a sigh of relief when Patch here took 3rd in the market show.  They were glad they didn't have to send her packing.

RIDING in the Parade of Champions at the famous Cache County Rodeo

RELYING on awesome fam dam who is willing to lend their expertise.  Bekka gets the photo op, but there was a whole slew of helpers!  It takes an army to help us out at the fair.  Okay, fine.  To help me out while I try to help with the kiddos.  I try to be helpful but I just run around like a chicken cut my head off most the time.  Or something like that......

POSING for pictures on the tractors.  Ty and Lou begged for a zillion tractor pictures.

RIDING on a buckin' bull.  Jacob just had to give in to the incessant requests from Ty to pleeassssse let him ride on the bull.  Poor kid didn't realize the mat below was soft to fall on, so despite the blurry picture, you can see the panic on his face as he held on for dear life! 

SNUGGLING with the piggers.  I'm ok with her snuggling these boys.  Let's keep it that way for the next, oh, say, 20 years.

 

SELLING.  The girls did really well.  Can't give out a big enough thank you to Mom and Dad, Connie and Dustin, and Scott Wallentine for helping out with a successful swine sell.  Hope them ribs are finger lickin' good!

LOVING the rides.  Except for Kenna who was super sad that they wouldn't let her ride anything because of her cast.  Too bad she was only 3 days short of getting it off!

THANKING Jacob for being so darn awesome.  It's because of him the kids have this great opportunity.  Without him our kids wouldn't have any of these great experiences.  He was so busy trying to get our animals all situated, helping to get a bunch of other people all situated with their animals, and working out all the kinks with getting the first goat show up an running.  He did a fabulous job!  It was fun for me to sit back and watch him shine.  Way to go Jacob, YOU. ARE. AMAZING!!