Notes From The Cupboard

We were parked in a parking lot the other day and there were some glittery streamer things hanging. Gensie see's them and says "Oh look at da pretty." McKay immediately pipes up and says "Der not so pretty Gens, but der handsome cause der boys."

Last night Gensie says to Quinn and I "I'm getting in da tub. Do you understand me?"

I made some homemade popsicles for the kids the other day. Gensie says to me "Danks much for da cold."

Gensie referred to the piano as a "planlo" McKay being the big brother that he is and always correcting her says "Gens it's not a planlo, it's a plano."

McKay talking about Jesus tells me "Da bad guys killed Jesus, den he was rec-dorated."

McKay says to me in a whinny voice "Mom, I really miss Mason." Then Gens pipes right up nearly matching the whine and says "Mom, I dus really miss da girls." I asked "What girls?" She says "Uh, dus Mia and Mia."

Talking about the cartoon Robin Hood  McKay says to me " They call Prince John 'Joe Hinus'." I said " I think they call him You're Highness." He thinks then says " No, they say Joe hinus."

McKay: "What is dis made out of? Plactis?"

When we were in Indiana in June visiting my sister and her family McKay said the FHE prayer. "We are so grateful we get to stay here for a couple whiles, and for Jesus, Holy Ghost, and an Angel."

McKay says to me "Mom, your  favorite boy da Lone Ranger just got home from work. He works in Vantana."

I asked Gensie if she loves her daddy. She said "Uh, sure enough I guess."

A few minutes before I was ready to serve breakfast Gensie got an apple to eat. I said "Put that back you can't have it right now." She says "But my other daddy said I could have it."

Gensie is singing "Jesus wants me for a tu tu."

Gensie said "I need some olive kids to go away from me." That means I need all these kids to go away from me.

McKay put his "working shorts" in Quinn's drawer. When I asked him why he said "Cause I want them to be in Daddy's drawer cause I love him."

McKay asked if I know how to wrestle when daddy's not here.

Gensie: "Can you guys buckel me out?"

McKay was telling Gensie "Dat's da hospital when someone gets runned over."

We have a black cousin named Bronson and a white friend named Bronson. McKay refers to them as the brown Bronson and da White Bronson (he used to be the vanilla Bronson). Gensie wants to go to da pink Bronson's house.

McKay asks "Mommy, do you like Catakillers?" (catapillars)

McKay praying "Please help my spider man to fight the hulk good." (Remember about praying about the small things?)

McKay was mad at me for something and when he gets mad he feels like he needs to take control of something so he usually says funny stuff. It's his way of trying to have some say when his parents are telling him what to do. He's mad and says "It's mine, I made this world and this earth and everyone is being mean to it."

Gensie wants to know it we can go to "Villie Vallage" (Value Village, a thrift store)

At the pet store Gensie says "Let's go see da Pitty cakes." (Guinea Pigs) She also wanted to see the "Planther" (Hampster)

McKay says "I just punched and killed a big mean dinosour." Gavin replies "Awesome."

I took Gensie's binki away and told her she's a big girl and big girls don't need binki's. She said "but big girls do wear binkis."

When Avonlea gets excited she often will hit some one usually on the face. Obviously she doesn't know it hurts us. She hit McKay the other day and I said "McKay I'm sorry she hit you. She doesn't know it hurts. We need to teach her not to hit." He says "No, Hena Fauder and Jesus need to teach her not to hit cause der da ones dat gived her to us."

Gensie following Avonlea around saying "Mr. Avonlea, Mr. Avonlea. I just want to talk to Mr. Avonlea."

Gens was bugging Lele. I said "Leave her alone." Gens says "I'm just petting Avonlea."

McKay asked me to write a letter to his dad for him.  This is the exact letter: "Wrestling...and watching the real Jungle Book...danks Dad for letting me take a nap...and rest...and relax...danks for getting the rabbit cage for blackberry.  Da End"

 

The First, The Middle, and The Last thing to do

   I love that many of you bloggers share your personal thoughts so often. I rarely, if ever, do that on my blog. I worry no one will want to hear what I have to say. So this is really for me. I have these thoughts in my head and I feel the need to share them. Prayer; aren't we so grateful for it? Do you ever think to thank Heavely Father for prayer? What would we do without it? It's sad to think that none of us use it enough. I LOVE PRAYER! I have grown up in a home with both my parents being great examples of how to use prayer. Especially my mom. She has taught me that prayer isn't supposed to be saved for the big things in life. Life isn't about the big things. It's about all the little things along the way. We should really tell our Heavenly Father ALL of our little thoughts, little worries, little concerns, little joys, etc. Have you ever thanked him for something like mascara? Aren't we so glad we have it? During times when loved ones are going through struggles it's easy for us to say "I wish I knew what I could do to help them." Or "I wish I knew what to say." It's times like this that prayer shouldn't be a last resort. I hope we don't think, "I don't know what else to do so I guess I can pray for them." It's times like this that the first thing we should say to Heavenly Father is "Thank you for prayer. Thank you for the knowledge of knowing prayer works." Then we should say many many prayers asking Heavenly Father to help whoever is in need. I know that my prayers won't stop the trial. But they can really help and strengthen the one going through it. The spirit will be there to comfort them. And just the knowledge of knowing someone loves you and is so concerned for you and is really taking the time to pray for you could be a huge strength to them. A quote I love by President Henry B. Eyring says: "The first, the middle, and last thing to do is pray." We should all learn to really really apply that.

The First, The Middle, and The Last

 

More Cousin Fun

The fun continued even after we returned from the beach. Steph stayed with us through Sunday. Shannon stayed with us for another week. It was nice having family in town. We miss them so much and wish we could get some people to live by us already.

These cousins just played and played.

We went to a little splash area where the kids enjoyed cooling off.

Look how cute. Quinn is so great. A couple times over the weekend he watched all 3 of our kids, Shannon's 2, and Stephanie's 4 while Steph, Shannon, and I did some great second hand shopping. We had a great time and really enjoyed the break. What a man that can hold down the fort single handedly.

More blueberry picking with Shannon.

The kids had a great time together.

Yea, I love the green ones. We all have a weird secret. I eat green blueberries and Jess keeps her banana's in the fridge.

When people see Avonlea after we pick berries they say "Oh poor baby." I reply "Poor baby? She just had the time of her life." What kid doesn't  like getting this dirty especially with mom's permission.

She even knows how to pick her own berries.

This was a special story we wanted to share. McKay brought Diego with him to the blueberry patch. He played and played with him but when it was time to leave he couldn't find him. He ran all over looking and couldn't find him. Quinn was helping him look and they still couldn't find him. I was still picking a few berries as McKay was running all over.  Next thing I know I hear a little muttering behind me. As I turn to look I see McKay about 10 ft behind me down on both knees, arms folded, and eye closed so tight his whole face was scrunched up. Then I hear "Hena Fader, please please help me find diego. Please Hena Fader I just really need him. Amen" Talk about makin a Mama proud. I'm sure many of you have had those moments when what you teach and teach you then see your child apply on their own. It is a very pleasing and rewarding moment. I turned to Quinn who was just down the row from me and whispered "Quinn look"  he turned saw McKay praying and just as Quinn turned back the direction he was walking he saw Diego laying on the ground a few yards in front of him just as McKay got up from saying his prayer. Quinn then suggested that Mckay go on further down that row to look for Diego and sure enough his little prayer of faith was answered. Don't you just LOVE prayer?

 

 The Zoo

We went to the zoo with Shannon and the kids on Aug 6th, Quinn and Shannon's birthday.  We packed a lunch and spent 4-5 hours there.  Needless to say, the kids loved it and the adults were ready to go home at the end of it.

This is a fun picture. Look at McKay's reflection.

As we watched this ape he climbed all around and gave us a good show. As he climbed higher and higher Gensie yelled louder and louder "Get down King Louie, King Louie, get down now!"

Happy Birthday Quinn and Shannon.  They turned 31 and I had a great time reminding them that I am still in my twenties. Shannon didn't really appreciated the teasing. But then again people get cranky in their old age.

Talk about melting a Mama's heart. He is such a sweet big brother.

These two became great friends. They haven't spent a lot of time together before but they really played well  with each other.

Taking care of Blackberry. It takes a lot of hands apparently.

Saying good bye and giving final hugs. Drive safe cousins.

Eastin Family Reunion 2014

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are 54 pictures; you do the math. We had a wonderful time having 25 family members eat, sleep, and stay at our home this July.

Starting the vacation off right with 4 homemade fresh picked blueberry pies.

We made 5 homemade pizzas with salad and watermelon for dinner #1.

When you run out of room in a home and  yard you have to get creative. The kids played monopoly in the garage.

Rush hour was right in our back yard only it lasted two days. these kids rode these trikes around and around never stopping.

Dinner #2 was pulled pork sandwiches (which our neighbors smoked for us) and salad, homemade potato salad, and watermelon. More pie and ice cream for dessert.

Blueberry picking. People who thought they weren't crazy about blueberries just needed to pick some fresh. I loved sitting and listening to everyone rave about how wonderful they tasted and how much they loved them.

Tent sleeping. Quinn slept in a tent with our kids and Steph's kids. Jason and Nicole slept in a tent with 2 of their kids 2 of Ryans kids and 1 of Shannon's kids. Ryan and Lynnette slept on a air mattress in the garage. Shannon and Jason took the kids room and Steph and Cam slept with me.

Driving to the ocean

Crossing a bridge that some thought was awesome and beautiful and some thought they were going to hyperventilate and DIE

By the way, Nicole showed up 6 months pregnant and surprised us. We are so happy for them. Apparently when Robyn saw me in Pocatello in July she thought I was trying to hide something. She thought I was pregnant. Sorry Robyn you were wrong.

Driving on the beach was so neat.

mermaid or merman?

Avonlea wanted to have a goatee just like Uncle Ryan's.

This is a dead sea lion

Slugs the kids found by one of the light houses.  Yuck.

Steph takes great pictures. This is McKay and Quinn.