Random March Pics

Snips and snails and ghetto rat tails...

The original title of this post was, "Boys are GROSS!", but I felt like it had too much of a negative connotation even if I was jesting. (kind of) :) I think I have the two greatest boys in the world, but they have been known to do some gross things. I'm not saying girls are always perfect princesses, but my boys put most to shame. Here are some of the gross things Adam has done lately: (this is a post I'm preserving for future girlfriends)

While watching a movie he left numerous times to use the bathroom. Apparently using the toilet is too difficult, because he opted to urinate in the litter box. Three times. It's clumping litter, so I can understand the fascination but it's harder to scoop his than the cats. (TMI?)

He has also made a habit off using the restroom off our front porch, in parks and other public areas. We've talked to him, put him on time out, and received promises that he'll never to it again but it still does. I'm sure he'll grow out of it, but for now I have to give him constant reminders of where he's allowed to go potty.

Adam has a habit of running his hands through his hair, but not in the normal sense. Most kids, to the dismay of their mothers, wipe their messy hands on their clothes. Not Adam. He likes to wipe them in his hair. We've had honey, jelly, dirt, milk and some unmentionables. It's a funny habit he's gotten and until he grows out of it we'll laugh at our discoveries.

If there is ABC (already been chewed) gum lying around he'll grab it. He found an apparently delectable bunch at Steven's school playground the other day. He also showed up with a partially eaten sucker he found who knows where. I'm sure it's building his immune system but it's super gross.

Last but not least is his choice of haircut. This can't be called gross, but fits into the "puppy dog tails" category. Adam has decided to grow a rat's tail. Yup! We're going ghetto in the Starley household. I don't know where he heard of one, but he did and said he wanted to grow one.

Here is the tail in it's infancy...

March 2nd

Yesterday I needed to cut his hair for school pictures today. He insisted that I use the shortest clipper attachment we have (1/8") but wouldn't let me take very much off the top. When Mike got home even he thought it looked bad so I bribed him into letting me take a little more off the top to even it out a little. I think that the short length gives extra emphasis to the tail.

March 27th

 I'm fine with my kids choosing their haircuts but there's something about this rat's tail that makes me a little self conscious. :) My boss got a good laugh out of it and called it "white trash". Adam says he's going to grow it until it's "too long", so we'll see how long that is. (I'm finishing this post on the 31st and this morning he told my boss he's going to cut it when it gets to his bum. There might be an "accident" during a future hair cut.)

The Book of Mormon

Every once in a while I come across a church talk or thought that I especially like and pass it along to some members of my family. Although I probably won't post something each week I thought it might be easier to just add them to my blog.

Since the beginning of the year I have been the Sunday School teacher for the 12 year olds in our ward. (congregation) There are 22 kids on the class role but I usually have about 10-15 in attendance. They are all great kids and I have really enjoyed teaching them as well as being taught by them. A year or two ago our church started a new youth curriculum called, "Come Follow Me," that covers one gospel topic a month. The new curriculum is student centered and kids are encouraged to take an active role in the lesson. The topic for January was "The Godhead", in February it was "The Plan of Salvation" and this month we've been studying about the "Atonement of Jesus Christ." 

The lesson for this week is "How can the Book of Mormon help me strengthen my faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ." One of the things I really love about the new curriculum is that each lesson is accompanied by scriptural references from the Bible and Book or Mormon as well as really good conference talks and sometimes videos. It's a great way to study the gospel by topic.

For the lesson we watched the, "Book or Mormon" introduction video. At the end of the video is a URL to a page on Mormon.org that discusses the Book of Mormon.
http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-Mormon

In the talk outlined in the lesson it reads,

"The Book of Mormon was written for our day and for the days ahead. Approximately one million copies of the Book of Mormon were printed in the first 100 years following the Restoration. This included 15 languages, a remarkable undertaking. In the next 50 years (1930–80), more than 25 million copies were printed in 41 languages. Since that time 30 years ago, 125 million additional copies of the Book of Mormon have been printed in 107 languages, including Selections from the Book of Mormon. The influence and impact of the Book of Mormon will continue to grow as the kingdom of God is carried to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

The title page, likely written by Moroni, reveals the book’s main purposes. The first purpose specifically addresses the descendants of the children of Lehi. The final purpose is the “convincing of [all people] that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God” (title page of the Book of Mormon)."

I love the Book of Mormon and what it has brought to my life. I'm grateful I get to "teach" these kids and in the process continue to be taught.

Playing House

Although he may like to call it by another name, Steven loves to play house. When his cousin Amelia comes to visit they play, "Princess and the Guard." They both dress up in "fancy" clothes and he escorts her around the palace and onto their many excursions. I even have a cute video of them waltzing.

He also likes to play house while playing Minecraft. He and his friend Malcolm like to play in cooperative mode. What's funny is that they let their characters have play dates. They will invite each other over to their houses and treat it as if they were playing with Barbies action figures.

My favorite Steven game is when we play house using his Lego's. He asks to play every day before school. I am princess Leia and he is usually my husband Jake. He builds me a house that is complete with guns, lasers, cannons and guards. I am usually kidnapped by aliens and he has to rescue me. Jabba is his nemesis and he gets a kick out of letting me know that Jabba is sitting on me or trying to kiss me and I have to act accordingly. Adam is sometimes allowed to be our son, but usually he has to be a storm trooper.

The reason I love his role playing is that he gets really creative. Whenever we play he lets me know the current scenario and often times gives me my lines. He builds a treasure trove of vehicles, planes and weapons and I have fun being invited into his little world of play. (note- normally there are Legos all over the floor) :)

Trip to Colorado

The kids went off track for three weeks in February so the kids and I spent a week in Colorado with my family. I really need to invest in a new camera because I don't take as many pictures with my phone. We had some good cousin/grandparents time.

My mom envisioned us hitting the slopes three or four times, but we were only able to get two days out of the kids. Adam used a harness and loved it. Steven used the edgy wedgie and became much more confident. Sarah and Angelina stuck together most of the time. Sarah is still really timid, but she enjoys it and that's what's important.

We also went with my Mom and sister Ashley to the Loveland kids museum. My sister took some pictures, so I'll add them when I find them. :)

Apparently Adam swallowed another coin...

It's the day after Adam's 8th birthday and this happened over four years ago. I'd put this in a file called, "To be blogged", but apparently I forgot about that file, because I don't remember this. I've already sent my parents 2014 blog book to be printed, so they'll have to miss this wonderful gem. Since it's in his stomach, he must have passed it. Mike said this is the one where he ate it in the car on the way home from Colorado so without even going home first we headed straight to instacare. Never a dull moment with this wonderful kid of ours.

House update

Here are some pictures of our house getting framed. They started framing and like interested (crazy) home owners I went by almost every day to take a picture. Hopefully they can finish framing soon. I know we're still three months out, but I like to imagine them finishing early. :)

March 3rd

March 4th

March 5th

Front of house

Back of house

 March 6th

March 7th

March 9th (not much change from the 7th)

The kids got to wander into their future rooms

March 11th- Really looking like a house now :)

Little Learners Academy carnival

Every year my kids preschool, Little Learners Academy, has a carnival in the spring to raise money for special projects. They fit a lot of people into a small space, but it's for a good cause so we always go. They were short on Dad's to volunteer as Super Hero's for the event so Mike lovingly volunteered. (or begrudgingly agreed after being volunteered. Either way) ;)

I had to hug this handsome super hero 

They had a "Jedi Academy" themed activity so the kids came dressed up to battle Darth Vader. They liked it so much that we had to do it twice.

Adam was hilarious when he fought Darth. He was so focused on his Jedi moves that he rarely went in for a hit. I missed the first minute because I didn't know how adorable it was going to be. He definitely won the style award.

The girls got to meet the princesses from "Frozen".

And they all held cute little chicks in the petting zoo.

Springtime fun

I know it isn't spring yet, but we had a couple weeks of warm weather so we headed outside for some fun.

Our first stop was Wheeler Farm with Lillian and Malcolm. We started out by feeding the ducks and geese. They weren't too aggressive, but Adam took precautionary measures and stayed elevated.

The kids kept striking poses and telling me to take their picture.

Last week we went to Hogle Zoo on their free Wednesday. We went with the Johnson's, Barnett's and Bauman's. It was a madhouse, but we got the token tiger picture to add to our collection. After losing all three kids at separate times it was time to go. 

The warm days gave me a case of springitis, but thankfully there isn't too long to wait. :)