Use Your Words!

So Livi was having (another) melt down yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary... just a lot of whining and crying, as usual. So, Heather says to her, "Livi, use your words." So Livi, still in a whiny tone says, "Cry! Cry!" hehe. She is something else.

Livi has a nudder mudder

Olivia has been calling my sister-in-law, Heather, Mudder. It's SO cute! I tried to correct her and tell her that I was her "Mudder" but she insisted that I was her Momma and she (Heather) was her Mudder. When she really focuses on her words it's "Aunt Hedder" but we like "Mudder". It's sweet.

New Tongue Twister!

This is Olivia's newest phrase. She can say it like a champ. Can you say it 10 times fast?

The wish washer is washes wishes!

[translation: the dish washer is washing dishes]

Warning! Severe stupidity ahead!

So it's been about a week and I can finally laugh at my own stupidity enough to share it with others. I was getting ready for church on Sunday and curling my hair in my G's. While hurriedly engaged in this activity my hand slipped causing the curling iron to fall. The bottom of my hair stuck in the tip of the sizzling tongs and the remainder slapped meanly onto my bare chest. Stunned at not only the screaming pain but also the sheer size of the scorched area of flesh, I abandoned all hope of getting to church as I couldn't leave my ice pack for more than 2 minutes at a time. The bishop as well as my 6 year old students might wonder if I walked into church with a big chunk of ice protruding from my bodice. Such is life.

ps...the burn is about 3" long by 2" wide. There is an unscorched line down the middle of it where the curling iron closes. I'd post a picture but i wouldn't want to offend anyone with my cleavage...or lack thereof. Use your imagination. It looks really gross now as the dead skin is beginning to sluff off. Eeewww!

Here's the Rub

The kids were famished after I hauled them about with me for an hour running errands so when we got home Luke asked for three PPJ sandwiches. I, being a little more sensible than that, replied that two would probably satisfy his growling midsection and went to work shoveling the loads of peanut butter it takes to feed my ravenous little pack. I waitressed the food and went about my housework. A few moments later I hear Luke bragging about his double portion to which Ana, in her most uppity voice, replies,"Don't rub it out, Luke! I don't want two!"
So let this be a lesson to all of you. Don't rub it out. Rub it in!

Luke's Hillarious Autobiography

click on the link below to get an insight into my cute little man's 6 year old brain.
http://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectID=964365&productId=5
ps...if you skip the first page it won't take so long to load. ...then you can go back to it.
pss...Yes, every single word came directly from Luke's mouth. I just transcribed. :) He also drew all the pictures and picked the papers and embellishments I used. He was quite particular about it too!

Proof! They DO like eachother sometimes!!!

Ami..."reading" the phonebook.

Just a sweet little Daddy Daughter moment I managed to catch at Luke's Kindergarten Awards

Cookie batter anyone?

Yes, this is how Ana passes the time. Those are hairbows clipped all the way around her dress.

The Proclaimation To The Family

Love this one! Let me know if you want the template! It's an 8.5x11 Scrap Page.
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=d8002a3f-3048-6168-a6bc-aada9eff630d&productId=70&projectSponsor=347092

For Sale

Yesterday we met with our super-fantastic amazing realtor, Brenda. It's official. Our little 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, with granite, and wood floor, house is on the market. This little slice of heaven we've put our heart and souls into is up for grabs to the highest (or first) bidder. This place where "love is spoken" (sometimes harshly) and where there is "beauty all around" (atleast on Tuesdays when I decide to do the dishes and put the laundry away) is ready to be passed on to a family with fewer children and more money. ...and all for the astounding price of $65,000. Ouch! Yeah, that's only $155,000 less than what we bought it for. Nice, huh? So, I'm just sending this out into the cosmic void. If anyone wants a sweet little cottage...it's ready for you.

Jared's Father's Day Brag Book-w/ new link

I made this little 5"x5" brag book for Jared to take to work with him. It was meant to be a Father's Day gift but he found it and refused to let me take it from him. SO...now it's at it's new home at Jared's place of employment.
Click this link to see my favorite Heritage Makers project thus far. If you are already one of my HM clients (or would like to be) and you like this book... just email me and I'll send you the template and you can pop your own pictures and words in..

http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=45626346-3048-6168-a65d-50080db0738b&productId=1&projectSponsor=347092

What's Best about Being a Mom?

• Kisses from either big smoochy puckered lips or from tiny teeth because he/she is laughing or smiling so big they can't get their lips together.
• Parades of small children lined up like little ants (all adorned in feather boas, plastic jewels, sandpail hats, underpants, and nothing else) all in honor of she who rescued the ball that became perilously stranded under the sofa.
• A prized sticker pulled with tiny fingers from her own favorite sundress and given as a thank you for helping with violin practice.
• A good pair of comfortable jeans and a great tee and the excuse of 4 kids to wear them (spew-stained and all) every day.
• Three sets of tiny piggies painted a gorgeous shade of "Jack Pot Pink" with "Lilac Mist" sparkles spread liberally on top and then a sad attempt to contain the wiggles for two minutes so said polish doesn't smudge. ...and then tryng to contain my own giggles and anxiety as my pedicure commenses fulfillment by the very same wiggly toed creatures.
• The opportunity to visit a "professional" milinary shop for a very special hat adorned in all manner of florals and feathers and thereafter to be told, "der, Mommy, now you beauuuuufow!"
• The challenge of combining three ponytail holders and four very different bows into one hairstyle in order to make one very particular client happy.
• Trying to explain to Awaeya (Olivia) that chocolate milk is not to be had without the milk (to no avail...of course).
• The ability to bake cookies at leisure under the guise of "teaching my children how to cook".

etc...etc...etc...

Amilynne at 6 months

The Big Game

Luke's been playing tee ball. His dad, of course, is concerned that it will mess up his perfect swing and would prefer coach pitch, but hey! It's primary little league! ;) He had a blast. My little athlete!

Sew This

I actually sewed something with a pattern! I decided after I took these pics that I hated the bows so I took them off and put little flower buttons on.

Livi's Umbrella

We went to Luke's baseball game and the sun was just brutal so Miss Livi found a way to not only cool off but also pass the time.

Ana's Violin

Ana started violin lessons with Becky Gastellum about two weeks ago. She loves it! Her violin is SO cute! It's tiny and,of course, hot pink!

My Latest Heritage Makers Project

I put together a little book for Ana. Let me know what you think.
http://www.heritagemakers.com/?event=projectBrowse&projectId=d9bf9383-f5c8-46a1-a190-440142093e10&productId=5&projectSponsor=347092

Office Trivia

Question...What kind of bear is best? _____.
Wrong! _____ bear.
Bears eat ______.
Bears, ______, __________.

Ode to Jeanna...Photographer Extraordinaire!

Mother's Day

Just thought I'd do a little blogging about my cute little Luke and the little gift he gave me for Mother's Day. He planted this little bean and it's about 12" tall now. It's been fun watching it grow. The little sprout is growing almost as fast as he is.

Welcome to The Price is Right!

I just got back from the grocery store(s) and I feel like super woman!! I jumped on the coupon band wag0n and this is what I got. (Please keep in mind that I am working on my food storage so don't think I'm completely nuts for buying mustard and BBQ sauce in bulk. When the end of the world comes I don't want to be caught without condiments!)
Actual retail price of all 38 items shown above: $91.47. (Pretty depressing)
Super Woman's price: $32.85!
38 item average: $.86 per item! Wohoo! If you take out the diapers it averages $.54 per item.
I LOVE COUPONS!
ps...this is a shout out to you Amanda!

In the Eye of the Beholder

I picked up Luke from school today and after my bear hug he proceeded to tell me that he had a bad day. I, of course, asked him why. He stated simply that he got poked in the eye with a marker and left it at that. I kissed his eye and then began the arduous task of crossing the street and packing the minivan with five small children. We went home, ate lunch, and began homework when the phone rang. It was Jared. He began regalling me with the real story. Apparently he had gotten a call from the school nurse. After a brief moment of panic the nurse told him that Luke was fine but had had an accident. He was opening a black marker and hit HIMSELF in the eye! Luke told the nurse to call Mommy or Daddy because, and I quote, "They are Lainharts and so am I!" Classic. After a brief chuckle the nurse told Jared that Luke is so cute she just wants to sqeeze him and keep him. Funny little man.

DISH CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to Amy for defeating me in the kid dish contest! She squished me by 4 bowls, 4 plates, 23 spoons, and 70 some-odd cups! WOW! You go girl!

Amy's cupboards contain
26 bowls
26 plates
55 spoons
18 forks
94 cups
All kid friendly!!!

For your dish collecting savvy you shall receive a box of hairbows compliments of the endangered For Giggles n Grins website as well as the title of "Mother-of-all-Kid-Dishes"!!
Congratulations, friend!

That's right! It's a soddering iron! The soddering iron of justice! hehehe ;) love you Ams!

The Bird Feeder

I bought a bird feeder. I hung It on my back porch and filled It with seed. What a beauty of A bird feeder it is, as I filled it Lovingly with seed. Within a Week we had hundreds of birds Taking advantage of the Continuous flow of free and Easily accessible food.
But then the birds started Building nests in the boards Of the patio, above the table, And next to the barbecue.
Then came the poop. It was Everywhere: on the patio tile, The chairs, the table . Everywhere!
Then some of the birds Turned mean. They would Dive bomb me and try to Peck me even though I had Fed them out of my own Pocket.
And others birds were Boisterous and loud. They Sat on the feeder and Squawked and screamed at All hours of the day and night And demanded that I fill it When it got low on food.
After a while, I couldn't even Sit on my own back porch Anymore. So I took down the Bird feeder and in three days The birds were gone. I cleaned Up their mess and took down The many nests they had built All over the patio.
Soon, the back yard was like It used to be.... Quiet, serene And no one demanding their Rights to a free meal.
Now let's see. Our government gives out Free food, subsidized housing, Free medical care, and free Education and allows anyone Born here to be an automatic Citizen.
Then the illegal came by the Tens of thousands. Suddenly Our taxes went up to pay for Free services; small apartments Are housing 5 families; you Have to wait 6 hours to be seen By an emergency room doctor; Your child's 2nd grade class is Behind other schools because Over half the class doesn't speak English.
Corn Flakes now come in a Bilingual box; I have to 'press one' to hear my bank Talk to me in English, and People waving flags other Than 'Old Glory' are Squawking and screaming In the streets, demanding More rights and free liberties.
Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government To take down the bird Feeder.

~I thought this was clever and so very true. I try to keep my political opinions to myself most of the time, but who can when such a fantastic analogy is available!!!

DISH CONTEST!!!

I hereby decree that anyone who thinks they own more kid dishes than me should come forward now. Said person(s) shall receive a reward and a title and shall appear on the cover of THE HARTS OF LAIN blog. (Okay, maybe not the latter, but you will get a reward) Should there be no contenders than I shall keep said title for myself and I will eat...I mean claim the reward.
LET THE CONTEST BEGIN!!!
Certain rules do apply. You must be atleast 18 years of age and provide a "headcount" of all dishes broken up into categories (ie...plates, cups, bowls etc...). Dishes must be unbreakable in nature to qualify. Plates shall be able to double as frisbees, bowls and cups as hats, spoons must be able to act as microphones, and forks and knives should not be able to "stick" when flung across the room at high speed towards a wall or other surface. Winner will be announced on April 20th.

Sad

Just throwing this out into the cosmic void...
I miss my recently departed friends. No, they didn't die! They just departed! ...and I miss them. The cloudy skies and swirling winds seem to match my mood today.

Luke's Announcement

Luke came home from school today and said that Mrs. Howard told them they have to pick what they are going to be. Luke announced in his most authoritative voice that he will be a police officer and we must get a police car right away. When I asked him what prompted this choice he stated, "Well, when someone kills someone, or hurts them, or pulls their hair I want to throw them in jail!" Hahaha.
He then asked what my great ambitions were to which I replied that I want to be his mom. To which he replied, "Forever?"
Me: "Yes! Forever!"
Luke: "Ooook." goofy grin.

Big Announcement

No! I am not having another baby...yet. I'm closing my website! April 30th (Happy Birthday to me!) will be the last day of existence for http://www.forgigglesngrins.com/. If you want anything, now's the time! I really feel the need to spend more time with these little monkeys (see photos below) and focus more on my family, home, and church responsibilities. Thank you so much for your support and for making my little business thrive to such an extent that I have to make this decision. I love you all!

Funny For The Day

Luke: Definition of ankle-the nuts by your feet.
Ana singing: Give said the little string....

Five Years Old and Fabulous!

We celebrated Analee's 5th birthday in total divacity (divacity=diva city). All of the little girls that attended Ana's fabulously fashion forward debut were properly attired (tutus were the order of the day) and given the freedom to dance and twirl until their little hearts were content. It was adorable! After that it was time for pretty toes and then cupcake decorating. By the way, Jayna wins the award for the most...umm...creative? decorating. Hers was awesome! In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined one little girl could get so many sprinkles on one pastry.

Ana's party was a success. Thanks to all the fun friends that were able to make it!

Paige Braswell, Ila Armstrong, Jolee Swazey, Jayna McClellan, Peyton Davies (would have been there if she had her way!) thanks for the great gifts and we hope you had as much fun as we did!