sclater scribbles

{Fourteenth}

2012-02-15T00:13:00.003-05:00

for family home evening (to learn more about Family Home Evening click HERE) this week we had a lesson on service & made a HUGE mess in the kitchen making two treats. We packed them into a bucket & brought them to our local fire station to thank them for their service & to wish them a happy valentines day! Bonus: they got to get in the fire trucks & see where the firemen hang out! The boys thought it was fantastic & I am pretty sure they walked away with a lesson learned from this weeks FHE.

(this is our FHE board. We rotate responsibilities. the kids love being able to run the show or pick the treat!)

Maddox was a nervous nelly when we were lead to the big trucks. With some quick thinking I decided to have T & Britt walk ahead of us. Maddox really looks up to his bothers. I thought if he sees them going in excited he may too. & ta-dah! It worked. tears were avoided & Maddox even climbed into the trucks. He is becoming such a big guy!

On the 14th I try to make a fun table setting for the children to wake to. Maddox had snuck out & spotted all the red & pink. He spent most of the night asking for his "surprises" I finally lugged him into my bed to snuggle up & help him sleep. Rod is working nights so there is an empty space to the right of me at night. Maddox was happy to fill the spot.

When morning finally did arrive the boys & Presley were greeted with fabric envelopes loaded with sweets & some coupons for the boys to pick a date night with either mom or dad. Heart shaped pancakes, berries, hearts shaped donuts were eaten in excess. oh the tummy aches. The boys went to school is red excited to fill their valentine boxes.

The boys were prepared with their own valentines to hand out.

T had mix CDs with 5 of his favorite danceable (& kid friendly) love songs.

Britt was ready with plastic bugs on outlined jars. Pretty cute. Both valentines were found HERE.

Tte made this fun valentine for Rod & I. It lives on our magnet board right now for all to see. & Rod gave his baby girl a beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas. He is thoughtful like that! Lots of giving today to teachers, friends & each other. It was fun! We even got a little package from our sweet little buddies the Whitings!

After school we delivered flowers to our little gal pals. This has become a tradition & its a hit with the boys. They each pick a girlie who they want to give a bouquet to. Its darling to watch them walk up to a big door & knock holding pink flowers. We even send T to school with flowers to give each girl in his class one stem.

When flowers & other valentines were delivered we played outside & our fun neighbor Derrick hooked up his riding mower to the barrels & took the kids for a "train" ride. This street is so fun!

The children were kind-a grumpy after a full day of sugar & play. So after dinner & tubs we skipped homework & snuggled on the couch until story time. I really enjoy those quiet moments with the boys. Presley is in bed & I can give them my full attention.

Another successful 14th!

& to finish off this list of a post....My favorite big lippy girl...

{summer weekend}

2012-02-03T20:54:00.002-05:00

The funny thing about living in a warm place is that friday after school...and every friday that is...its like the start of a mini summer vacation. The kids take off their back packs & shoes & sprint to the back yard in hopes to see little neighbors

playing in their yards too.

we are very happy here.

{100}

2012-02-01T22:02:00.003-05:00

The boys had their 100th day of school yesterday. They came home sporting some pretty radical head ware & glasses! & then we went ahead & put up our valentines day tree complete with silhouettes of children giving valentines & glittery hearts. Having children just makes everything more magical & important.....like 100th days of school & valentines day. Don't you think?

needless to say Maddox was painfully jealous so Rod & I hurried & made some for him to sport too!

she loves a good orange Lolli!

{Elmer}

2012-01-26T22:07:00.002-05:00

The Boys have such amazing schools! Their teachers are fantastic! Britt's Teacher Mrs. H. has completely tamed our craziest. He is such a good little student! I am proud to announce that he has good marks for EVERY SINGLE DAY in his behavior folder. Not a single bad mark! Way to go Brittster! Thats a big accomplishment for our little 4 year old who was still biting everyone is its just a year ago. He was dubbed "the flesh eating Sclater." Not the most endearing of nick names, but it was fitting thats for sure. He really is such a gem!

Mrs. H. has a class pet of sorts. Elmer is his name and every weekend Elmer, the elephant takes a trip home to visit a student & their family. Last weekend was Britt's turn, which also meant he was the star student of the week. All things Britton! He was so excited! His little face was priceless! We had to document the things our guest, Elmer did over the weekend with us, & place them in Elmer's travel journal. It was a quiet weekend, Rod was working, & our agenda was the usual-saturday jobs, pancake breakfast, play. Britt also had to provide the class with a poster of things about himself. I used Walgreen's fancy schmancy poster maker & voila! a poster with Britt plastered all over it! He was a proud little guy! Tomorrow marks the end of his week at school, but I just know he will be talking about "his week" for many weeks to come!

Introducing Elmer....

(do you love my typing errors on our chore lists which hang for all to see in our home? nice. oops!)

{nap time}

2012-01-23T22:28:00.005-05:00

Presley's room faces the front of the house so come afternoon her room is striped from the places where the sun slides through her closed blinds.

The room is always a bit warmer which makes it even more inviting for a mid day rest.

(I have been doing a month trial of a new editing software...not sure I am sold just yet. My pictures font seem to be my own.they look different to me.)

The boys are alive & well..Presley just seems a more willing participant

for my clicking these days.

My own blog has taken a a second to this... I feel blessed to have had a part in this.

{bedtime}

2012-01-17T22:02:00.005-05:00

Presley holding her jammies before bedtime.

she was ready.

It was 80 here today & the four played in the yard until supper.

Our girl was plumb tuckered out.

{Balloons for Bailey}

2012-01-14T22:34:00.006-05:00

We spent the majority of the day outside. Rod was working & actually, still is. He left at 5am & it is now 9:30pm. poor guy. The children jumped on the tramp & played soccer. They dug up the plants in my flower pots too. But they are boys & thats what they do. Presley had her first taste of dirt, & was not at all impressed. In fact she had a rather big melt down over it. Today was a special day too. a bit over 2 weeks ago a girlfriend from high school lost her precious daughter. I prayed my heart out for their little family. The idea of loosing my own daughter makes me shake a bit. Brittany laid heavy on my heart & so I prayed & prayed. I finally felt I needed to give something other than "I love you" & "I am praying for you." I wanted to give Ben & Brittany & big brother Brennan something they could do

every year to celebrate the life of their pretty baby girl, Bailey Delaney.

so I came up with THIS .

It is not much, but It was all I could give. What do you give someone who now has to live their life with half their heart in another life? This is something that brought people together though miles decided us. The children & I dumped the crayons on the table & colored & wrote for Baby Bailey. We tied notes to balloons & set them free. We knelt in the back yard & prayed for the Bradley family. My heart aches for Brittany. Pictures & videos are pouring in from all over of families sending balloons to the sky. Its touching. The thought makes me snuggle my chicks a bit tighter in our nest. heres some pictures of my chicks today... including our balloons to Beautiful Bailey...

{little momma}

2012-01-06T21:38:00.005-05:00

Presley just loves having a dolly in her arms. Her babies. She is such a tiny mommy. She mimics all that I do. If I am washing windows she is right there looking for a rag & a spray bottle (which I have learned to have readily available for our wee miss.) She insists on helping with the switch from washer to dryer. She enjoys kissing & singing to her little dolls & is quick to give a little rub to a hurt or sad brother. She started doing this fun faux whistle thing yesterday & bops around while "whistling" happily. She twirls with arms stretched out & kisses with her whole mouth. I had no idea I could love her as much as I do.

{the family that twists together..}

2012-01-05T21:53:00.002-05:00

{speeding}

2012-01-04T21:34:00.003-05:00

I sped like a crazy person...I mean I drove slightly over the posted speed limit today

This morning Britt was a bit fussy, but he gets that way some mornings. i thought nothing of it. Gave him some kisses on the forehead & asked if he was up for school today. He said yes & even suggested we walk to the bus stop today rather than drive. It was a pretty morning so I agreed it was a great idea. Jackets on, back pack in tow, we headed to the bus stop. Britt climbed the steps of the bus (which were more than 1/2 his size) & we blew kisses. When we returned home to start lunch Maddox grabbed my attention & said he was worried about Britton that he was going to throw up. (I hate the word throw up by the way. Its so gross.) I was not sure where this idea was coming from, but I quickly began to worry, because thats what I do. I turned up my cell phone to extra super obnoxiously loud just in case. I went about my wednesday usuals, stripping beds, vacuuming etc. I checked my phone for no good reason at all & Somehow between folding laundry & playing with baby dolls I missed a call. I knew the number. It was the same number that calls to tell me almost weekly That T hit his head in gym class, is okay, but will be coming home with a bump. I grabbed the keys, told Rod I was going & traded my slippers for shoes. I listed to the voicemail after I buckled up. sure enough...Maddox was right. (insert weird twilight music here) Britton got off the bus & instantly got sick to his tummy. I looked at what time they had called. It had been 30 minuets earlier...& so I put the pedal to the medal to get to my Brittster. I felt awful thinking about him in the nurses office being sick without me there to hold him. I ran like the nut that I am to the school clinic & grabbed my boy. His eyes welled up & out came the tears. He only cries with Rod & I. He won't cry in front of others. He holds it in so tightly. Such a brave boy. I took him home & we snuggled him up in bed with a show & some crackers. He felt pretty sick for the rest of the afternoon, but ate a bit of his dinner & took a bath & then climbed into bed happy. Im still feeling lousy about missing the call.
Presley must have noticed how still Britt was & picked up that something was just not right. she stuck by his side for most of the evening. petting his hair & putting her cheek to his shoulder. She loves him. He is very lovable!

{she}

2012-01-02T00:27:00.003-05:00

She is such a sweet girl.

She is a mommy.

She is a helper.

she is affectionate.

She loves yo gabba gabba.

She is a dancer.

She is a singer.

She is a purse carrying 18 mo. old.

She is a giggler.

She is happy.

She makes all of us happy.

{tonight}

2011-12-31T23:44:00.002-05:00

Im totaly bummed. I had the cutest darn shots of my boys snuggled on the coach watching some talking dog movie on disney & wel-p I sort-a deleted the wrong folder from my desktop. Maybe they will recreate it again for me...not likely...but a girl can dream.
Rod has nights this weekend so Rod is enjoying the last of 2011 in the ICU. The kids & I went ahead & did our 2012 wishes without the man of the house. We strung them to balloons & sent them up. The big boys surprised me. Britt said he wishes to be helpful at school with his friends. T said he wished to be a friend to someone who did not have any. We waited for the last sunset of 2011 & went out to release our balloons & wishes. 1 for each of us.

& we also wish you a happy happy new year!

(yup its new years eve & im blogging. thats what I do when the hubs is gone

& my boys got too sleepy to stay up with me. Buts that A-OK with me..

I get to look at cute little faces while posting.)

{2011 highlights}

2011-12-31T23:08:00.003-05:00

We found out we were moving to Texas for residency...
Rod graduated & we survived medical school....
T graduated from Kindergarten & had to say goodbye

to the friends he spent the last 3 1/2 years with...

we had to say goodbye to our dear friends who became our family for 4 years...
we moved to a new house in Texas & have really enjoyed it here....

Presley turned one....

Maddox started to get help with his speach & has gone frum humming to scentences....
Britt started Pre-school...

We then found out that Rod got the Annestesia spot & will be staying in this great city.

Its been a busy & big year for us.

I am grateful for the many blessings given in 2011.

Heres to another year...

{Presley}

2011-12-28T15:32:00.003-05:00

Did you know Presley's nick name is "Diddy"?
she is always singing & dancing. our own "Diddy"

I have had many friends loose their own baby girls in the last 3 months. Brings me back to reality. Our children are so deeply precious. My heart aches for mother's who face a loss so great that part of their hearts can no longer linger in this life. But I have a testimony that families are eternal. forever. I am grateful for our Heavenly Fathers beautiful plan! I am grateful that my children are & always will be mine!

{somethings cahnge, others stay the same}

2011-12-28T15:14:00.004-05:00

My mom took me out for luch on my birthday. while we were away from the house the Rod & my Dad made a cake & frosting from scratch. pretty impresive. after the song was song & the candles blown out maddox decided it was time to dig in. & so, he did.

I am 30 now. I am okay with that. Things do not feel diffrent then they did when I was 29. Im not suddenly feeling old.
Actually, I still feel stuck at 21. I still worry about the same things & fixate too much, I still think about the things I did last year & even 9 years ago. So many things seem the same. I still have horrible habits I wish I could break. Of course many things have changed too. I feel a greater sense of purpose. I am a mom. I know who I am & am comfortable with my inner self. I am not perfect, but I am not awful either. I am me. I know where I want to be in the future & in some ways I know exactly where I am headed. I have big dreams & hopes & havent decided to give up on those because of where I am in life right now. Motherhood is a huge part of who I am, but its not all of who I am. I get excited about silly things & still dance around when no one is watching. I still like to be called Jenni even though most everyone calls me Jenn. I think about old friends when I blow dry my hair. I worry about bad choices when I clean the house. I dream atleast once a week about the same things I dreamed about while in college. 30 is 30. I am still fun & still get the occasional "are you the nanny?" or "those are all your kids? no way!" when I am out with the Sclater brood. the past 10 years have flown by at a speed totaly out of my control. & with the last decade of my life has come rollercoasters & challenges & fantastic times & growth! lots & lots & lots of growth! I am 30. & that is okay by me! I like who I am at 30.

{the birthday song}

2011-12-27T01:08:00.002-05:00

Every year our dear friends make us a birthday song. This year they did not disapoint. It was so good that I of course started to cry like a baby into my bathrobe. We miss the Sowbys & our home in KY/TN & this song did not help matters!
Thanks friends! we love ya!!!

{youngest}

2011-12-26T20:49:00.002-05:00

I love when our 2 youngest play together.

but when he starts to put a helmet on her...I start to worry what kind of ride he has planned. sweet goobers.

{sloppy}

2011-12-26T19:54:00.002-05:00

Christmas always seems like such a whirlwind. It comes & goes so quickly. Its gard to slowdown. But we did for just a few minuets after all the presents, ham, church & candy. We read from the scriptures & had the children use the nativity to identify diffrent parts of the story. Next year we will do our own little pageant. This year it did not pan out...too much on our plates I guess. It will be a priority in 2012. I took a gazilion pictures. These are just a few I pulled out to post now.

Maybe Ill get to some more later.

the Sclaters got a peg tractor all their own! & a Pottery Barn Kitchen too! our personal Santa(s) was VERY generous this year!!

Presley was darling opening her gifts, so sweetly & with big big smiles for each gift. Babies & a purse amongst her favorites!

Tre was super excited by some gifts that Omah & Opah got him & was eager to show affection! Britt's teacher even gave Britt a gift for under the tree. We love her!

Omah's gift from the Sclaters...the Sclater cookbook.

My husband is adorable! After the kids went to bed us grown ups opened our stockings & exchanged gifts. Rod & I got his(black) & hers(white) ipads from my parents! We feel very spoiled! My mom had opened her gift from us earlier. It is a cookbook with stories about why each recipe has family significance & then pictures to go along.
back to Rod being so cute.
after I gave him his gift (I typed up our story, & got it printed & bound. kind-a pathetic compared to the gift I recieved.) He then handed me a package which had the biggest lump of coal from KY ever! & it lead me on a scavenger hunt...

so sweet. It was fun hunting for the packages & not being able to open them until I found the biggest one. I was giddy. this is the type of thing he used to do when we courted (& had time!). It brought back those memories. He always gives me the best gifts. after all the hunting & finding we cluttered the table with technology & made calls to family & face timed with Brad & Kalen. Kalen is so creative. she framed a picture of their baby to be for my mom. she loved it! I did too. so cute.

having my parents here has been way too much fun. They are such loving grandparents! We are not looking forward to their departure.

I feel like this is all jumbled, sloppy & non sense.

so Ill end here.

In my defense...I am slightly distracted by a cute puppy snoozing on T. My parents just adopted a pretty little grey hound today who loves snuggeling in a baby blanket. cute cute cute.

{eve}

2011-12-26T11:12:00.002-05:00

waffles for dinner
tracking santa
new jammies from saint nick

Rod's birthday cake
hanging stockings
christmas shows
stories & songs
finding the german pickle ornament
brother's sleepover in sleeping bags
finishing wrapping
sweet dreams & anticipation

{compromise}

2011-12-26T10:53:00.003-05:00

Rod had to work on his birthday. I guess people still are ill even during the holidays. darn. right?! So I had to make some compromises & for go the dinner & friends for his day. Instead I waited till he fell asleep on the 23rd & snuck out to his car & filled it with balloons & party decorations & dangeling notes listing things with appreciate about the man of the house. then on his steering wheel was a poem with challenges. He had to give a christmas treat to the nurses station, give children that he saw a little gift, & cupcakes to share. each challenge's supplies were provided in designated bags. The one challenge, & the one I knew would be the hardest...Rod chose to NOT do. whimp! He was supposed to tell someone it was his birthday.
at the end of his long work day he cam ehome. I had kept the boys up to help sing to their Dad. It was the first time Britt had seen his Daddy in 8 days. & only the second night Madds had seen. We have missed him this month. We had cake & hurried the boys off to bed for Santa to come.
I know his birthday was not perfect, but I am hoping he felt loved.

A big thank you to Rod for all the sacrafices he makes for our family. Imcluding leaving the house at 5am & working till 7pm on his birthday! We love you!

{video}

2011-12-24T00:21:00.001-05:00

{75}

2011-12-23T02:18:00.002-05:00

It was 75 degrees & sunny outside today. & so we moved our afternoon project to the back porch. Why make a mess inside when you can do it out?! The boys put together their gingerbread home. After a few collapses & a lot of finger licking, the house now proudly stands strong on our kitchen counter. (want to know what happened to Madd's chinny chin chin? read the following post.)

{belly flop}

2011-12-23T01:28:00.004-05:00

on the same day that we went to the children's museum (the post that follows this one) the boys woke early & I needed to busy them so we covered the table with butcher paper & dumped out our pale of crayons. away they went making christmas trees & wreaths & rainbows & scribbles. I thought it was cute watching them each draw what was in their minds...so I snapped a few shots. & then after the trip into the city we came home took a 45 minuet siesta & hurried back out the door for the neighborhood christmas party. We helped set up for about an hour (all while Britt was trying to flood the ladies room by the pool. nice.) & then the party began. We drank cocoa, ate cookies & mingled with neighbors , slid down slides, roasted marshmellows & even saw Santa..again. It was all fun & games until... presley decided she was just too tuckered out so we headed home & when we pulled into the drive the kids were all excited to get into the house. So they quickly unbuckled. I pulled presley out & walked around to the other side of the car...opened the door &

BANG!

maddox fell belly flop on the concrete.

blood & cries everywhere! Presley was screaming in my arms, maddox was hysterical from scare i imagine, Tre was freaking out because of blood & Britt just skipped into the house as if nothing was going on. I hurried the kids in. put presley in the high chair & laid maddox on our butcher papered-table masterpiece to check out the damage. sure enough he had a gaping hole in his chin. tissue was hanging out. So I called a friend for a second opinion & some back up. Rod was at work. Omah & opah were out shopping about an hour away. Sitters came & Maddox & I headed to the hospital to get put back together. The nurses & doctors kept saying it looked like he had two tongues...thats how much tissue was spilling out the wound. um..gross. We snuggled & Rod met us at the hospital. Maddox is such a sweet kidd-o. Poor guy was sore all day, but was a super tough boy!

This is a big deal for us! We have 3 boys & in 7 years this is our FIRST ER trip for an injury. pretty freaking awsome record if I may say so myself! hopefully we can go another 7 without kids flying out of cars & making huge holes in their chins.

Ill spare the gross pictures...heres the happier parts of the day...

{museum}

2011-12-23T01:21:00.003-05:00

School is out & Omah & Opah are in town so we went to the city to the children's museum.

It was suprisingly un-busy & very fun for the all 4.

{School party-B edition}

2011-12-20T22:14:00.002-05:00

Teacher & bus driver gifts are handed out & school is done until the new year! We are all so happy about it too! To kick off the christmas vacation the boys' teachers planned parties....& at the same time. Yikes. & since I am one person I called in back up! I asked my parents to come early & help attend parties so the boys would each feel special. It did not take much convincing. They were happy to help. So Omah & Maddox went to T's party & Presley & I went to Brittsters. Watching Britt at school was fun. He really listens well & knows the routine. I love that little guy. He is such a sweetheart. His teachers took pictures of the party activity he completed because it was so symetrical---which is always the case with Britton. Legos are always symetrical, playdoh, drawings, everything. Its cute. I will get to T's pictures once I steel them off of my parent's camera...

in the mean time herea re Britt's party photos.

{Caroling}

2011-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

look at me. getting all caught up! thats 4 posts in one night.
The kids were asked to go caroling with some church/neighborhood friends.
We were thrilled to go. The kids were all antsy & eager & really had a great evening.
they sang just 3 songs, but they sang them good! & even changed some of the words to make them more Texas! cute huh?!

(ps: it was 75 degrees, do you love that we all look like its cold outside? I guess we got used to 110 degree weather)

practice....

Britt's favorite texas cowgirl, Lizzie...
caroling....

pretty little reindeer, ruby...
Inside looking out....

presley with Omah...

Presley's little friend Eliza...

I highly recomend getting a bunch of kids together & knocking doors...It was just so fun for the kids! us adults got a few laughs from the night too!

{giving}

2011-12-19T23:56:00.002-05:00

The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE to deliver christmas things to neighbors & friends. this year they decided they would sing while delivering. This idea was totaly stolen from their buddies the Carlson kids who delivered a treat to us while singing. Its cute to watch. These are the items they helped make & give away! Its a great thing watching the boys have fun giving to others.
peppermint hot cocoa...

Craft baggies...

{house}

2011-12-19T23:48:00.002-05:00

Omah & Opah are here & they are at it again! spoiling the Sclaters! They bought the kids a little house to color (much like the one we made HERE.) Opah put it together while I picked the boys up from school. They got to work fast & then played in the house-all 3 of them-for a long while afterwards. It was pretty cute to watch. & then they destroyed it! silly guys.

{a tree}

2011-12-19T23:24:00.003-05:00

We have a few trees in the house this christmas. One of which stands in our living room where we as a family spend the majority of our time. It was important that this year we do something every day to encourage the children to remember why we celebrate christmas. It needed to be hands on, because the boys are not the type to sit still for a lesson every single night. so we started to make an ornament for the tree in the living room every night. & with each ornament a small message about the birth of our savior & his life. Its been something we all look forward to. After we do our bedtime song & prayer & kiss the baby & put her to bed, the boys & I pick a aseat at the table & I tell them what we are making & why we are making it. Having the tree in a place in our home where we are often has really been great for starting discussions about the gospel. I can see us doing this again & again in years to come.
heres a few of the things the boy's made to go along with our nightly messages:

{no tears}

2011-12-17T07:01:00.003-05:00

The street where we live has some super fun families! One of our neighbors hosted a christmas party for a few of the neighbor families. We were lucky enough to be invited! The kids were thrilled to bits when Santa stopped by while out for the night searching for rudolph. He even had a sac filled with great toys.

& not a single Sclater cried!!

I am still surprised!

It was darling how Presley responded to the jolly old guy. She was all smiles for him, she was too wiggly to sit on his lap, but enjoyed his attention. Presley recieved a baby stroller from santa & for 2 hours walked around with buzz lighyear in it. She was playing mommy. The boys played with friends in Luke's playroom. We stayed up late enjoying our neighbors & food. & after finding out this week that we will NOT be moving for a staff doctor year, we are exstatic to be staying next door to so many great kidd-os & their parents! (insert deep sigh of relief!)

-the end-

{our Elf}

2011-12-15T10:49:00.008-05:00

Things are seriously insane here. but in a good & suprisingly organized way. We are just constantly in motion. Christmas is a bit over a week away & I just wrapped up some family portrait sessions & so getting to my own pictures has been pushed towards the bottom of the list. But I have a growing collection of fun pictures of the sclater kidd-os. many actually are from my phone. like these of our Elf. Aunt Kalen & Uncle Brad mailed him to the boys a few weeks ago. This Elf has been incredibly busy! He even built himself a little fancy thrown made from legos which I neglected to take a picture of! darn! But he has also been fishing for gold fish & hanging from odd places. He even has been found snuggeling up with a snowman. The kids get a treat & note from the Elf & each morning they go hunting for him.

We have a good time with "Bradley the Elf."

-Thanks kalen & brad! love you!-

{before you were big}

2011-12-10T21:56:00.005-05:00

My Sweet Tre-Tre,

Before you were a big boy, you were a baby. My first baby. I thought I was ready for you when you arrived. I had blankets & a wicker basinet, your nursery was ready with beautiful pictures framed carefully. I had shelves of baby books with brightly colored covers. We had diapers, wipes & pacifiers, which later you learned to call your "chooch."

You arrived ahead of schedule by 2 weeks. But I could tell you were up to something & so I had packed my bag for the hospital & waited. not so patiently I might add. I was excited to touch your nose to my cheek & feel your fingers in my palm. I wanted to see your eyes. I have told you the story about how Daddy had to practicaly beg me to go to the hospital because I was not convinced it was "time." Remember I told you I was crawling because I could not walk? Your mom is silly, huh?

When the nurse put you in my arms, I cried (your dad did too, but thats a secret. shh.) I cried hard. You were stunning. your little face was smooshed from being in my tummy, but I thought you were the most gorgeous thing my eyes had ever seen. That moment has not been surpassed yet. the moment I first laid eyes on my child. You will understand one day. I promise. I basked in that moment.

& then they let us take you home.

That is when you, tiny, weet itty-bitty you scared me right out of my boots! You started to cry! What was I supposed to do? Its a good thing your Omah was there. She took you in her arms while I cried over my dinner. She gently wraped you in a blanket & then in another blanket & she bounced you while patting your back softly. You would become still & gently fall into a dream about something magical I am sure.

Omah taught me how to take care of you, but you know who taught me to love you? a baby. A sweet little guy with baby blues. Can you guess who it was? YOU goober! I can even tell you the moment my heart fell for you. some mothers say they fall in love instantly, but truthfully, you & I took a bit of time to become aquainted. but like I was saying...It was 3am & I was feeding you.
I usually turned on a movie so not to fall asleep with you in my arms. I worried a lot about that sort-a thing. I wanted you to be safe & sound always! I think I had princess diaries 2 on. Isnt that embarasing! But thats what I was watching. It was playing ever so quietly in the back ground. You had on a sleeper with little green frogs & your cheeks were the brightest pink to match your nose. anytime you ate you warmed right up turning your face the yummiest shade of blush. I looked down, your eyes were closed. It was dark, but with the glow of the television I could see your long eye lashes. I inspected every little part of you. touched your fingernails, your knockles, your footed feet. & I fell. I fell head over heels in love with you, my son, at 3am when everyone else was sleeping & all the houses on our street were dark & still.

& you know what buddy? I still look at your eye lashes, I still rub your fingers between mine when you let me hold your hand. I still breath you in when we snuggle for a story. yeah, we get crazy at one another here & there, but thats what Moms & sons do. Its okay, because at the end of the day, no matter what, from here to the moon & back, for forever & ever...I love you! Infact...I love you more than I did at 3am while watching Princess Diaries 2. Yup! Its true. I love you! Happy Birthday to my forever baby who looks a lot like a big kid now! You have my Heart T-ster!

love, your crazy-head mom

{T's day-sort-a}

2011-12-10T21:25:00.005-05:00

Last year we did this .

Which makes this year look so incredibly....

LAME!

Poor boy. The passing of this birthday officialy makes this the year of no birthday parties for the sclater kidd-os. Sad, but neccisary. Our plates are filled to the max with obligations, appointments, school, work, play etc... But still the no parties pains me a bit. & to add insult to Injury...T saw a Baskin Robins christmas ice cream cake via TV & it HAD to be his! Oh Geez! But he loved it!! I will make him a cake yet! I will! Rod has off Thursday...it is that night that we will have a real cake worthy of the big 7th birthday!

Friday Rod, Madds, Presley & I crashed T's class & handed out donuts & little art kits/goody bags for Tre's 1st grade class. We know many of the cute kids already, as they live in our neighborhood. T's teacher made it a big deal & showed T lots of extra love. We adore her. No wonder this elementry school is in the top 10 in the nation.

so with all that....

heres the pictures.

In the end I felt bad. He had the cake he wanted, unwraped a skateboard & helmet...but his dad was working, it was the ward christmas party which I assisted in a project for...& so he did not get all the attention he deserved.

I love him deeply! I hope he knows that!

{adding more}

2011-12-04T21:58:00.002-05:00

Sometimes..if you can believe it...the boys get a bit LOUD or maybe CRAZY. I know! a real shocker. 3 boys loud? never. But yes, volume control is an area constantly being addressed in our home. Saturday morning the boys were having a difficult time getting along. Enough was enough. I knew the only cure would be to add more kids in the mix. So we went door to door to visit our favorite neighborhood friends. We invited them over for treats & a movie...which turned into playing legos, which turned into building houses with cusions, which turned into wrestling, which turned into dancing. But, no one was fighting anymore. so..Success!

Is it not just too funny that adding more kids makes things more managable? It is one of those mothering mysteries I may never understand.

{seven}

2011-11-30T22:43:00.003-05:00

I am the mother of a child who will be 7. SEVEN! what the heck?! I feel too young to have a seven year old! Life moves full speed. I wouldnt mind if it all slowed a bit.
My parents wanted to give T his birthday gift before they returned home. so after tree decorating & then a bit of story time with opah...th elittle ones got tucked in & T was given his first birthday present for the big S-E-V-E-N!

then the gifting!

yup- a kindlefire. My parents spoil him to pieces! I think after spending so much time with T while we were living in North Carolina they have a special connection to him, & he to them. He loves them deeply. My Dad loaded the reader with tons of books. Tre cannot put the thing down! Tre is a big reader. he loves to hide away & read. I walked in on him doing the whole hiding under the covers with a flashlight reading thing just the other night. Made me smile. I remember doing the same thing.

-Thank you Mom & Dad for encouraging him to love reading.-

{pictures done 7 ways}

2011-11-30T22:16:00.004-05:00

Getting a group of people (4 of which are peanuts) to pose for a pretty pictures is way too much fun. I love looking through the images on my computer after. I thought all the picture attempts were laughable.

Every year after we decorate the tree we take a picture. & I video documented the happenings too, but things are hairy here & its taking me a bit longer to get around to adding music, & arranging clips. Soon. Hopefully.

{lights}

2011-11-28T12:50:00.003-05:00

My Mom & Dad are super stars! My dad booked us an amazing suite (Rod joked taht he thought the President slept there the night prior.) with all the lovely fixings. & While Rod & I were living in the lap of luxury for 2 days My parents were chasing our 4. The Children love them!
Rod & I did not go far, just 30 mins into down town

& out of the suburbs.
We rode the water while looking at all the twinkle lights along & over the river. Christmas music was playing & we had hot chocolate. Having these moments alone with Rod really brings me back down from all the running around & the busy busy go go go life that has become mine. I am grateful to have those moments with him.

& for Dinner we ate at our favorite place here.

Thanks to Aimee & Thad it was not only delicous, but free too!

Now its back to reality. Kidsa re back in school, christmas tree is up (video/pics to come soon), turkey left overs are gone, Mom & Dad returned home today (Maddox is pacing the house asking for them) & christmas & THREE sclater birthdays are coming...fast! It was a fantastic week to say the least!

{The Sclaters do Sea World}

2011-11-25T22:39:00.011-05:00

Omah & Opah took us to Sea World today which just happens to be minuets up the street from us. The children were ooing & awwing

all day. Perfect weather + christmas music & decor +happy Sclaters= a wonderful day.

& some randoms from my mom's camera from this week....

{blue bike}

2011-11-25T00:50:00.004-05:00

Before bed Wednesday night Rod, my father, & T put together a blue bike. Maddox has been saying the words "blue bike" every day atleast 25 times for the past 2.5 months. Thats a whole lot of "blue bike." I suppose he wanted us to know he meant it. I tied a red bow on it & we all climbed into our beds ready for the holiday.

Morning came & Maddox kept business as usual. Up long before everyone else, & long before the sun. we tip toed down stairs & started in on making donuts for breakfast & parade viewing. Rod & I placed a candle in his donuts & we all sang to our Maddox. He glowed.

Tre hurried to the garage & wheeled in the "blue bike." Maddox turned red cheeked & smiled big. He rode the bike through the halls, kitchen, between couches all day long. We had a few victims of tires over toes, but nothing a snuggle could not fix.

I have been anticipating this birthday. somewhere in my head/heart I kept thinking...if we can get past 2 with Maddox we will be okay. I have been pushing forward to this birthday for a year now. I wanted things to be dramaticaly better. They are better. Dramaticaly? no. But Better. I will take better. Infact, yesterday he ran up to me many times & would proclain "Me happy." or "this fun." I have never heard Maddox express that he was HAPPY until now. It melts me to the core. I think every mother finds joy when they know their child is happy. Maddox, my sad boy, is finding happy! My heart is full.

& so with that--I am most grateful this wonderful thanksgiving for the happy my Maddox has found. but near to this is my gratitude for my husband who endures my insecurities, insomnia, & goldfish infested car. & My parents who would drive to the moon & back to see their grandchildren, & who would give all they had to make my life easier. I am grateful for friends who continue to love me though I find myself far from them. I am grateful for adventures, & trials...because after them there is always something that is perfect & peace provoking.

Happy Thanksgiving & a Happy 3rd Birthday to our "HAPPY" Maddox!

{Tuesday}

2011-11-22T23:10:00.003-05:00

Our city has way too many great places to explore. We went to market square & ate out while enjoying some live music & really beautiful twinkle lights. I love twinkle lights. On the drive home we decided to stop at Britton's favorite sweet place. Orange Leaf. The boys filled up their cups with frozen yogurt & toppings. The little ones were thrilled to crawl into bed after a busy night with my parents. Tre stayed up to look through Opah's telescope. T is a sponge. He loves to learn & see new things. Tonight he saw jupiter. These are the types of memories I want our children to remember.

{everyday}

2011-11-22T16:54:00.003-05:00

My camera was bogged down by pictures. but no more. I just cleared it of all my digital memories. most recent pictures included the boys pacing the street in jammies waiting for Omah & Opah's arrival this past saturday night. & when they did arrive they put opah to work right away reading to them before bed. Then Sunday morning all of us went to church. The boys loved having omah & Opah by their side. & I love having back up! Monday Mom & I attempted to take the kids to the park..but get this! It rained...here in Texas. so that was a bust. Monday night we made our gratitude tree, each leaf lists something we are thankful for. that about brings us up to date.

{dance}

2011-11-22T15:50:00.002-05:00

We throw a good dance party around here. We put my phone on the speakers & the kids play DJ on pandora.

{I love to see...}

2011-11-13T06:58:00.005-05:00

When Britt plays, its almost always with legos & he almost always sings songs he learns in Primary. This week his hymn of choice has been "I Love to See the Temple." He sings quietly, but his little voice (which is only little when he is singing wilst playing-by the way. )makes it down the stairs & into the kitchen. Its the prettiest sound.

I needed to go to the temple grounds to take some photographs. The day was busy! school x2, errands, T's pal's birthday party, pictures, & a 2 hour primary program practice! But with my non stop day, everything seemed to stop & be still for that hour I was at the temple.
Because of the busy afternoon for T & Britt, Britt was in tow to the temple. He was a typical 4 yr. old boy outside. Running. & Being all but revrent. BUT, I am glad he was there with me.
Having a temple in view from our house & just 5 minutes up the street is a huge blessing.

what is the temple? read HERE

{a big step}

2011-11-11T01:20:00.002-05:00

our baby girl is busy strutting her stuff...she took her time to get up on her tiny feet, but now she is officialy a walker! She walks like a sumo wrestler or a cowboy just off his horse. & her Brothers could not be prouder! Lots of clapping & laughing in our home this afternoon! Presley thinks falling is just as much fun as making it from one side of the room to the other.

{3:15pm}

2011-11-09T21:06:00.005-05:00

homework, coloring & after school snacking.

{endurance}

2011-11-08T21:44:00.005-05:00

The windows are open today. Its humid because it rained off and on for most of the morning. Uncommon for our dry home. but the temperature is perfect. I like the over cast. Its something diffrent, makes me think of fall. Maddox & Britton are playing with playdoh on cheap laminated placemats. Cutting the playdoh with plastic knives & cookie cutters. Maddox just made a snake & Britton a cookie. Tre is doing his chores before dinner. He is a big helper, & I am grateful for that little boy. Presley is playing with empty playdoh containers in her high chair, not making a sound. Its one of those rare occasions that all 4 are happy. No tears.

Maddox is in therapy now. progress is slow. but it is still progress. I am grateful for that. & for the love Madds has for his therapist. Miss. F. He adores her. He wakes at night asking for her. She always greets him by getting down to his level & offering her hand. I watch them walk down the hall hand in hand, him trying to gab at Miss. F. about his latest love--which for the past 4 weeks has been "blue bikes." & "blue bubbles."

I cry.
a lot.

I want him to be happy like Tre is happy. like Britton is happy. like Presley is happy. I dont want him to cry & scream. I dont want him to be trapped in a box. Its that box that has kept me from meeting Maddox. I feel like I have yet to meet his little spirit. Sometimes when its just he & I, I get a glimspe. Sometimes while he sleeps in the back seat of the car Ill look back at his still face, & Ill see a glimpse of him.

This is my lifes greatest challenge. It feels too hard to carry often. But now & again I feel a confirmation that I was hand picked to be this little boys mother & more then a test, its a blessing. What an honor it is to help this little guy find his voice & his happiness. What an honor it is to be learning what I have & will learn from our boy. It requires endurance. It rquires adjusting plans, & life maps (like having 5 babes.) ...but I love him. I can do hard things for him. I want to.

& now the playdoh which was once 4 diffrent colors, but is now a deep swampy green has lost its appeal. Motherhood calls.

{Take one}

2011-11-06T20:32:00.007-05:00

My friend Aimee is a rather fabulous cook. So fabulous infact that she has been preparing for days for a thanksgiving test run. SAY WHAT?! who does that?! Aimee. thats who. It just goes to show that those who go the extra mile have greater success..even with Thanksgiving Dinner. Thad got up bright & early to get the bird smoking in his big daddy smoker. He even used cherry wood. Yes please! Aimee prepared the rest! My whimpy contrabutions were rolls, muffins & green beans. Everything was delightful! with that said... I am going to change your lives FOREVER! you will want to make these sweet potatoes for November 24th! TRUST ME! I could have died happy after tasting this dish. Happy! Here is the recipe as given to me by lovely Aimee T. :

3C. cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1/2C butter
1C sugar
1tsp. vanilla
1/3C milk
1Tbs. OJ from frozen concentrate.
1tsp. Cinnamon
1/2tsp. nutmeg

Mix all above ingredients & Pour in to a 9x13 pan.
let sit while you prepare the topping.

For the topping:
1C. brown sugar
1/3C butter
1/2C flour
1C. crushed pecans (optional)

Sprinkle on top of sweet potatoes. & bake at 350 degrees for 35 min.
prepare yourself for the most wonderful thing ever!

Thanks Aimee!

The kids crashed after lots of turkey & playtime.

{simple memories}

2011-11-06T00:25:00.004-04:00

I love that we have all these simple moments catalogued here. I was going through videos of the boys & hearing their baby voices, then toddler voices & now kid voices alarmed me. They are changing so quickly. I want to remember it all.

The other day I stumbled upon a part of our city that was very much like my rural home in Kentucky. I loved seeing the cows & not the traffic. I just drove & drove while Presley & Maddox napped in the back. It was on that drive that I found a park that looked like great fun. Now, truth be told I am a park snob. I have a long list of "must haves" to even look at all attractive to me. & this park met all requirements...the first of which was the play area being far from roads. The second being a baby swing.

-------------------------------------------------

(mom-our favorite birthday girl, I had a cute video for ya...its still loading on vimeo. I will post it here when it is done. check back soon!xoxox )

{trick or cheese}

2011-10-31T23:56:00.002-04:00

Britton has been running around saying "trick or cheese" for a bit over a week now & its got us all mixed up. there was more then a few times when I prompted the kids to say "trick or cheese." Presley was a party pooper & asked to go to bed just after dinner. by 6pm she was out cold. Rod passed out candy & our 3 dudes hit the pavement collecting pounds & pounds of candy. We even skipped houses we had so much. highlight of the night: Britton just made himself at home in a neighbors house--just waltzed right in to look for a potty. I flipped. we had to take a timeout to explain trick or treat etiquette. Favorite candy this year: T-Crunch bars, Brittster-tootsie rolls, Madds-starbursts, Presley-gummy anything.

Happy sugar highs!

{walk like an...}

2011-10-31T22:24:00.002-04:00

Egyptian.
Tre's class has been studying Egypt. Today was the festival. The kids wore there gold & gems & had a handful of activities. where was I during this festival? SICK. worst mom ever! I had to miss it. Lucky for us we have some great momma friends from church who have 1st graders, & cameras! Thankgoodness for Suzie.

I really love Tre's school...not only is it in the top 10 for Elementrary schools in the nation, but its bright & happy & just fun.

{Pumpkins}

2011-10-30T12:04:00.002-04:00

With Halloween just nights away we planned to carve our pumpkins & eat home made pumpkin donuts with friends. The big boys helped in the kitchen with the donuts, & once I gave the sclater kids the OK to eat a donut...they each ate 4. needless to say there are zero left over donuts! & The pumpkins are guarding the door this very moment!

Here is the Recipe we used:

For the donuts:
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup sugar2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup pumpkin puree

For the buttermilk glaze:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Canola oil for frying

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, spice and sugar. Whisk together all of the remaining ingredients (except for the canola oil) in a second, medium bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and stir them around the bowl until the mixture is well combined. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, rolling the donut dough to approximately1/4-1/2″ thick. (I know this will seem quite thin, but the donuts puff up immensley while frying). Cut with a donut cutter.

Meanwhile, whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.

Heat 2 inches of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, gently slide the donuts into the oil, frying on the first side until the edges of the donut are lightly browned, flip carefully and allow to cook on the other side until lightly browned. Remove and dunk immediately into buttermilk glaze.

Allow to air dry on a cooling rack before serving. & eat them all up! (Orig. recipe found HERE)

{Friday Night}

2011-10-29T09:04:00.003-04:00

Last night was the trunk or treat. The ward here is a good size, & then add in another ward & its one HUGE parking lot of treats. We came home with pounds of sweets!

-Happy Halloween!-

{phone}

2011-10-29T08:07:00.010-04:00

The kids use my phone more then I do. Maddox often takes it to nap with him too. He watches Dora on it. They take pictures of each other & I find them. I like to use the camera function too. Sometimes the big daddy camera is too much to lug about. Heres what I found on the phone from the past month or so.

{the storyteller}

2011-10-28T11:20:00.002-04:00

This week we had parent/teacher confrences. which meant half days & crazy schedules. I swear I got in the car on tuesday morning & just got out of it today. At Britton's confrence his teacher & I discussed many things (all good I might add. The Brittster has come a long way from being dubbed "the flesh eating sclater" in nursery 18 months ago.) one of which was his love for hearing & making stories. & Its true. For the past month he has been sitting at the kitchen table coloring & writing away. He makes me books & he reads them to me. He has the biggest imagination. I love it. This morning he was chatting away a mile a min. about aliens coming to earth for halloween & eating donuts & wearing black witches hats. Britton tugs on my heart the most Id say. He has a special quality about the way he looks at you. Big eyed & excited! He is so animated. I enjoy that little boy to no end!

Britton you are my heart!

{Ninja Vanish}

2011-10-26T00:55:00.002-04:00

Tried as I might my kids were NOT going for my idea of themes. I thought Wizard of Oz, I thought pirates, I thought branches of the US military, I thought peter pan. But no. Britton stuck in his heels. He was going to be a ninja no matter what! Tre chose harry potter & Madds went for the Buzz Lightyear costume. With absolutly NO link between these 3 dudes, I was left with no clue what baby Presley should be for halloween. I flip flopped between snow white & a snow man/girl/person for days. In the end the snow man/girl won. I have to say I am pretty happy with how her costume turned out. Her top hat took me a total of 10 minutes to make. Not too bad! so with that back ground.... here is the big reveal. We had been invited to a neighbor's halloween bash last saturday. We really like our enighbors & the kids really enjoy playing with the kids on the block. We really lucked out with this neighborhood (which by the way is refered to as "mini Provo" because of all the church members living here. Love it!)

once there was a snow man, snow man, snowman...

Friday, Saturday & Monday the Sclater Kidd-os will be strutin' there stuff in these costumes. Let the sugar high begin!

{Monday}

2011-10-17T21:31:00.003-04:00

We have a board in our house & all 6 of us have an initial on it. Under our initials we are each given a roll to play for our weekly Family Home Evening (whats family home evening? read here.) This Monday, Tre was assigned the lesson. He loves to prepare & teach the lesson! He chose to teach on the subject of "The Armor of God." He prepared a talk, made a display to use while teaching, I helped him find an extremly 90s, but still useful video, He made paperdolls for each brother with the armor, sword, shield. He even made shields for the boys. It was heart warming. At the end of the cheesy video the young man recieves his mission call. Rod & I both looked at each other. It is very clear to us that Tre will be a hard working missionary. He has a passion for the gospel at 6 years old & a love for his Heavenly Father that is strong & true. I love watching our children develop their testimonies. I see their futures & I get teary eyed. They will do great things!

{Witches!}

2011-10-15T11:31:00.004-04:00

(can you spot me in the above picture? thats me in the middle of the bottom row between bonnie the sassy witch & Julie the firey red fiesty witch! )

------
Last year a cute new momma moved into our ward in Tennessee. I liked her instantly...& then she threw a witches tea & I fell in love! Her party was charming & really made me feel loved. Heather was the queen hostess! I was recently asked to head up a quarterly recipe swap. I thought of Heather & how much fun we ladies had at her dinner...& so the Spell Swap was born. Every lady...I mean witch..brought a favorite dish...wether that be appetizer, salad, main course or dessert. with that dish they provided a recipe (aka:spell) The food was fabulous, the company fun! I had a blast decorating for this party..lots of purple & orange. We had a little best wiych contest complete with prizes. I am really hoping the ladies had as much fun as I did at my first witches dinner party. Im thinking the next recipe swap will be around valentine's day...maybe we will all dress like cupid.

totaly kidding.

---------

check out this fun cake one witch brought! & it was even yummier then it looked if you can believe that!

there was not a single free spot on any counter in my kitchen. so much great food!

I am super grateful for all the help I recieved in preping & ending this dinner party for 25 adorable witches! Such sweet ladies to help me out!

{zoo zoo zoo pals}

2011-10-14T20:38:00.003-04:00

It was under 100 degrees this past monday. & T & Britt happened to have off from school! So we ventured out to the Zoo. After living an hour from the Zoo for 4 years I packed for a long day out. It is such a nice thing to live near to a Zoo, sea world, museums, parks, beaches. Best of everything. Plus I love that we are still rocking shorts & Ts everyday. We were lucky to have friends go to the Zoo with us. Our FRiend Aimee & her husband, Thad are good friends with our dear friends the Sowby fam...so that connection brought us together & we just so happen to have ended up in the same ward. Pretty neat! Aimee is such a giver! She is forever offering to watch my kidd-os & help with my responsibilities. I feel very lucky to have her here with me. (too bad our husbands were not game on letting us scurry up to NYC to see Taralyn. something about husbands having to work gets in the way of spontanious ideas!) Aimee's children are adorable too! Maddox asks to go to Ashley's house anytime we get in the car!

(ps:I think its funny that I put sweatshirts on my darlings because it was 85 in the AM. since when is 85 chili? Im a Texan for real now I am told!)

{smooches}

2011-10-14T20:26:00.003-04:00

Rod has been busy with 2 weeks of night shifts at the hospital. He is such a trooper! We eat dinner & say our family prayers then tuck the 3 littlests in their beds. Rod then leaves. Tre has an hour up before he goes to bed. The other night I decided to make a book for maddox about feelings with faces . (he is in therapy & LOVES his therapist! He asks for her all day every day!He has a sound for her. its sweet.) so I asked Tre to make some faces & I snapped a few pictures--& then after the serious stuff we got silly in the mirror. Tre is such a good kid. He works hard in school, keeps the peace at home. He is a huge help...he did however

have to be spoken to at school.

the offense-- kissing girls.

OH BOY! I dont know what to make of this!

{Conference weekend}

2011-10-03T22:13:00.009-04:00

We had a nice weekend hanging around the house with the windows wide open while the voices of the general church leaders could be heard. I love conference weekend. I like to bake treats & have snacks ready for the kids & the man. Rod stocked up on busy work for the kids. We heard much of the talks, but not all. Its hard to be able to devote 4 hours a day to listening when you have 4 busy babes. I have much to say about each session, but for now just pictures. I am going to go snuggle up for a movie with the hubs.

want to read or watch the sessions?

go HERE!

{orange}

2011-09-27T20:59:00.002-04:00

October is coming...

& we still have no ideas for costumes!

well thats not all true.

Rod's idea- 3 men and a baby. hillarious!

2 cute mommas from church-Presley be bella & each of their sons be jacob & edward. also hillarious.

but by way of real options--running on empty here.

----

Thanks for the jammies mom & dad! The boys were so excited to return from school to find halloween bags filled with goodies!

{sunday}

2011-09-25T23:25:00.003-04:00

just some pics from the post church portion of our sunday...
Presley decided to give sticky oreo fingers a try as hair product. looking good!

{when life gives your lemons...}

2011-09-25T00:14:00.003-04:00

make a lemonade stand!

I swear T came out of the womb asking to have a lemonade stand in the front yard. There was always a reason not to. mostly, I did not want to see it fail. maybe no one would come. But when I got word of a neighborhood garage sale, my first thought was lemonade stand! having just moved we had nothing to sell, but I knew a stand of treats could be fun. We got the neighborhood kids in on the action too. Their cute smiles brought in a crowd. They sold, brownies, cookies, 2 kinds of pops, popcorn, & lemonade. When business was slow they loaded up a tin pail of treats & took the stand door to door. by noon they had made $42. Not too shabby! The kids all had way too much fun, ate tons of treats & made silly/scary/sweet faces at every car & person that passed. Such a great saturday! We love our neighbors, they couldnt be any more fun!

---------

I finished off the day with dinner with ladies from church, the general relief society meeting (& tears! holy heck tears!)

& frozen yogurt. I wish every woman in the world could have heard what was shared tonight. curious? click on THIS. I feel loved. You will too! I promise.

{guys night out}

2011-09-17T21:14:00.002-04:00

A tailgate & a big BYU vs U of U game.

{game night}

2011-09-11T22:32:00.002-04:00

It is fun having so many members in our neighborhood. Last Minuet Rod decided he wanted to share the BYU vs Texas game with friends & food. Lots & lots of food. (i.e. pizza, donuts, guacamole, chocolate, chips, popcorn etc.) lucky us some of our favorite naighbors were free to come over. The kids dressed up to battle a texas sized beetle on the tramp while us big kids watched the game & chatted & ate way too much food. My girlfriend whipped out her camera to shoot a few shots of her 4 cuties dressed to battle beetles...so I followed in suit. heres my shot. Tre has pants on his head. Real beetle protection I guess. I love when th ehouse is full of kids. The sclater children are busy & happy when friends are around. LOVE IT! Do not however love taht BYU lost at the very end of the game.

{sleepy blankets}

2011-09-09T10:16:00.002-04:00

When we were expecting Tre, my mother began the spoiling process. My parents raided Pottry Barn kids & bought just about anything Baby boy would need or want. Including 2 incredibly soft & fuzzy stroller blankets. Tre had those blankets by his side from day 1. When Britton was born, again my parents bought him his 2 stroller blankets, & again baby & blankets were inseperable. Britton is particular with his sleepy blankets. One must be wrapped around his pillow at night. I imagine that soft baby blanket feels comforting to him on his cheek. the other blanket covers his quilt & his moose. When Maddox was on his way my parents purchased monogrammed PB stroller blankets. As A november babe, he was always snuggled with those blankets. One snowy & slushy afternoon we were running errands & Madd's blanket fell out of the car. It became dingy & it never really came clean. This is when T stepped up to plate. Our 4 year old T gave his new baby brother his 2 sleepy blankets. & So Maddox snuggles to bed & nap each day with those 7 year old blankets. Maddox thumbs the tags on those blankets. They are not as bright as they were when Tre was born 6 1/2 years ago, but they are a favorite regardless. Presley even has her own set, but this time pink! She has proven particular too. She likes her blankets laid beneth her to sleep.
Those blankets have a great deal of sentiment to me & the children. Occasionaly the blankets leave the beds & make their way down stairs. This morning they did. They were laid out on the carpet, & my heart strings were tugged. I really dont want these babies to get any bigger. not ever.

{all hail...}

2011-09-08T22:26:00.004-04:00

Our biggest was crowned king of the day at school today. He was walking a bit taller at the end of the day. With the crown came a book made by his class mates.Illustrations & short sentences describing T-man. He was pretty darn proud of himself! The crown is on his dresser & the book is on his night stand. I imagine he will be talking baout this for days! I love seeing my children happy & T is one happy kid/king.

{after school}

2011-09-07T21:19:00.002-04:00

& before homework...

{7+6}

2011-09-04T16:34:00.005-04:00

When Rod was completing his commisioned officer training for the air force he was in a "flight' (group) with 11 other medical/dental/optometry/law/clergy students. Funny thing is of the 300 people who would be completing COT Rod not only ened up with one of our besties, Jeremy Whiting, but also had a fabulous LDS room mate...& two other LDS guys were just down the hall. anyhow...Rod's room mate, Ethan ended up being a pretty nice guy with a great family! Ethan's sweet wife, Kim & I have been internet pals for 3 years now. I really do love & admire her! We met up about 2 months ago just Ethan, Kim & their littlest, & it wa sthen that we decided we had to get all ours together. For the labor day weekend Ethan, Kim & their 5 drove the 4 hours to our part of texas to have a big ole' sleepover! We had pizza, chocolate & plowed right through 2 boxes of capri suns. The kids jumped on the tramp, played the wii & watched kid history videos via you tube. Legos & lincoln logs were just about everywhere, & I loved it! The kids really enjoyed having a car load of kids to play games with. I think us 4 were shocked by how well it went putting 9 kids to bed. The children slept in sleeping bags & the last 2 clonked out at about 11pm. In the morning we had donuts from a tasty shop here in our city. We even gave "hot dog donuts" a try. The 9 were all sugered up & ready to jump on the tramp some more by 7am. I am sure our neighbors LOVED it. More playroom games were had, a front room boxing match & Kim & Ethan slipped in a temple visit too. They returned with too many sweet treats for us Sclaters. we were spoiled! All the children were wonderful! I really appreciated the way the woodbury children played with Maddox, they would always include him. It was precious! I hope the woodbury bunch know how much we love them, & I hope they will forgive me for my melt down ehen I thought 2 of the littlest were locked in Presley's bathroom. (I had a royal FREAKOUT! sorry friends!)

so all that...now pictures...

the next picture was so kindly taken by my hubs while I was being a stellar baby sitter. Totaly asleep on the job in the middle of 9 kids! Im awsome!)

(l-r front: Britton, levi, jonas, tre, eliza, bryant, bolton, maddox. l-r back: Presley, Rod, me, kim, ethan. that equals 13!)

* It was like having old friends here to visit!

{& then there were 7..make that 8.}

2011-08-25T21:24:00.002-04:00

We would like to welcome to the family...

Lightning & Swimmy.
no, no!!..we are not expecting... we just got fish!

My parents took Maddox & Presley to a pet store today & bought the boy's fish for their rooms with all the neccisary fixings for a fun first pet. Maddox helped as Opah put it all together & placed the fish in their bowls.
When the boys got home from school they were surprised & pleased.
Tre has taught his fish several commands already he has told me.
After bedtime songs & prayers & before stories the fish were fed. They are a big hit.
Omah & Opah scored big cool points on this one!

{river}

2011-08-25T20:03:00.002-04:00

Our city has a historical attraction & just beside it is a beautiful city center piece. The river is lined with unique architecture & restaurants. Fountains & bridges & history everywhere. After day one of the school year we took a boat tour of the river followed by mexican food for all. Maddox drank salsa, business as usual.

{red apples}

2011-08-24T23:13:00.006-04:00

we have 3 days under our belts for the 2011/12 school year.
The boys love their teachers & gave them each a red apple.
(although Britt's teacher was confused & thought it was for britt's lunch. oh well, we tried.) The boys are making friends. appartently Tre rolls with the guys.Girls are gross this year, or so I am told. They have had a bit of hot lunch & a bit of lunch from home.
T plays tag at recess, & britt drew a picture of a happy vampire.
yeah...Im not sure where he learned about vampires either. He did mention a library book. Both boys have friends from church in their classes! Britt rides a bus to his school to & from T's school. It scares me to death! Britt & Tre have been fighting like cats & dogs after school. I wonder if any other parents are expieriencing this. Its so strange to me. they used to be buddies. Maddox has been getting lots & lots of pool time with Omah & Opah while the brothers are at school. Presley is a bit under the weather...& with all 3 boys occupied I have been able to snuggle my darling for much of her awake hours.

&....drumroll please...the goofiest fake smile award goes to... BRITTON! & the fakest fake smile award goes to....Tre!I love those silly faces!I also love my littlest ones--so I through in some pictures of those cuties too.

{the end.}

2011-08-21T22:22:00.005-04:00

urgh...

Its over.

New school clothes & sneakers laid out, back packs ready to go.
Tomorrow Tre & Britton are leaving home to be with teachers & friends.

everything has fallen to the sidelines as we have been soaking in every last second of summer vacation.

honestly? I dont feel much like writing about the past 2 weeks of summer, because I am still in the mourning process. I havent had my cry yet...but I can tell its coming. Because I HATE H-A-T-E HATE when my kids are not near my side. I worry & fret & panick like a CRAZY person. at this very moment I can see Britt just wondering off at school never to be seen again...

& that is the thought that will most likely keep me up tonight.

I am glad my parents are here to help distract me from my craziness! Yay for parents!

watermellon pool side...

omah is pretty good on the trampoline...

texas style BBQ...

{preparing}

2011-08-06T21:18:00.004-04:00

Its august already.

I am NOT at all itching for school to start, but my rascals sure are, Maddox might have a heart attack when he is left behind while his big brothers head to school with back packs in tow.

It wont be a pretty adjustment...but he will have a schedule of his own with therapy & some other things in the works involving momma & a gym & a fun kid watch.
a few weeks back I took these here pictures of my little brainiacs at work. I forgot they existed until I was cleaning up my desk top. Every day for about 90 minutes (while the little ones nap) Britt, T & I take a seat at the kitchen table & do work sheets, spelling tests, hand writing, math flashcards, alphabet bingo, reading, cookie eating etc etc etc...call it school prep if you will. Its obvious to me that they enjoy the "school" time, but to be honest..I think they just do it for the stickers & the prize that is awaiting them when they finish a section in their work books. Bribes are a marvelous thing in our home. No shame here!

I so need curtains!!

{creepy neighbor lady}

2011-07-28T22:11:00.003-04:00

I am that creepy neighbor who takes pictures

from my upstairs bedroom belcony.

(FYI: my first born rascal & husband are down their too.

does that make me less creepy?)

----

Our neighborhhod is straight out of my youth. Kids riding bikes & parents on front lawns mingeling while the sun sets after a day of work or child wrangeling. I grew up in a neighborhood like this in New Hampshire. I really enjoy the hometown feel this little neighborhood offers us though we find ourselves as city dwellers these days. The skies here turn orange to pink to a deep purple at night & it is a beautiful combination with the sound of kids laughing & neighbors talking. Tre looks out the window after dinner waiting for the first camping chair & skooter to make their way to the culdesac. & When that happens he is running for his bike & husteling down the hill. Im feeling pretty blessed to call this place home. My family is happy here & that makes me happy too.

{playroom}

2011-07-28T11:45:00.002-04:00

just some pictures of the sclater playing in their playroom wednesday morning.
jammies.
bedhead.
toys.

& after a day of this I went out for my first texas style GNO.

--------------
I stumbled accross some pictures from back in cold & snowy February, so sad that we wont be having school cancelations & cute fuzzy winter hats in these parts, but I am sure we will enjoy playing in the yard year round.

{freckle face}

2011-07-27T01:47:00.004-04:00

Britton is my freckled face boy.

I just love freckles!

I like to smother these freckles with kisses.

{goodmorning}

2011-07-18T13:23:00.008-04:00

My parents bought the boys a fun gift for their new backyard.

1,000 bug bites later the trampoline was ready to go! every itch is worth it!

As soon as the sun was up the kids were out jumping. even while the temperature climbed.

I had to bribe them with popsicles to get them in.

Now they have multicolored tungues & rosey cheeks.

Thank you Omah & Opah!

we plan on some evening jumps too!

****

Ill ge back to posting full images again someday.

summer is just too much fun.

{undercover}

2011-07-13T23:16:00.003-04:00

who doesnt eat their meals in disguise?
----

The little boys scared another sitter away last night.

Me-o-my!

But I love them anyways!

{eight is great}

2011-07-12T00:35:00.012-04:00

It is difficult to see clearly what you need in a husband when you are still in your teens (besides the fact that I never anticipated meeting my husbnad while a teen.) I had a list. I wanted a man who was determined, loving, generous, spiritual...Hott. But I truly did not begin to recognize what characteristics I needed in a husband until I had one.I thought I knew him when we knelt accross from one another, me crying, him dried eyed & serious. I did not understand that it was the things I did not yet know about him that would see us through 6 1/2 years of parenthood, illnesses, health, disagreements, dinners out with lots of kids, chaios, the months after the biggest challenge of our marriage, medical school, his constant travels, my succeses, his many succeses, our church responsibilities, our hobbies, many firsts, holidays, dates, trips by sea, air & car--oy the car rides, family get togethers-the good, the bad & the ugly, making big descions, making small descions, late nights worrying, odd jobs, service.
I did not know that how he would respond to these situations would be in exactly the way I would need to be okay, to heal, to thrive, to be happy.
Fast forward 8 years after we walked out of the temple holding hands, me in white still crying & you in a rediculous wool tux in July in our nations humid capitol with wool socks on I might add, I feel like we have grown up together. We arent done yet, but these past 2 months in particular I see us acting more like adults. & We are doing it together. (yay us!)
You taught me to drive, & just as you taught me to drive you have taught me that I married a man who is more mature than I, funnier than me, smarter than me, more spiritualy grounded than me, more patient, more giving, more sacraficing, a better speller than me, more driven than me, better at impersanations, more christ like than me, more well rounded, better pancake flipper, more focused on eternity than me, more wonderful than me. If I had not married someone better than myself I would not be challenged, encouraged & eager to be better. Rod, you are my perfect counterpart. You give me more than I could ever return. & to think this is still just the start. I feel humbled that I am your Mrs.

Happy 8th anniversary to us my darling.
As we say-I love you forever & 3 days.

I adore you. always will.

ps: I love that you kept the wool socks so that our boys wont get "cold feet" on their big day either. nice!

****

I just remembered this post & went back to read it.

what a tear jerker!

{Monday}

2011-07-11T15:33:00.006-04:00

My heart is heavy today.
Presley's room is bright & quickly becoming saturated with pink, but it once was the room of a handsome little boy who just recently lost his life while swimming. I imagine his mother picking up his clothes & making his bed each day in that room. I feel deeply saddened for her, her husband & their other sons. I often find myself taking moments for granted or worrying about the unimportant details of life. I need to not do that. I am truly blessed that my babes are all here with me & well & safe. I have a heart full of friends who are dealing with loss of a child or fighting to keep their children alive. I love them & am deeply touched and encouraged by their strength & testimonies. We can & will be with our loved ones for eternity. I know this to be true.
find out more here

{date night with 2}

2011-07-07T08:59:00.004-04:00

Now that T has his own room (have I mentioned how much I COMPLETLY regret that plan?!) He & Britt dont get much time just the two of them. Tre is always asking for Britt to sleepover with him & do things in his room...I am sure part of it is because 2 year old brothers can be pests, but I like to think its mostly because they are good little buddies who like to play together. I decided a few weeks back that I wanted to take my two big guys out to a movie & dinner. Last night we made it happen. We put the babes to bed, left Rod with a yummy treat & headed out the door to a movie theatre that is just up the street. The neat part is the theatre serves dinner & dessert & all theatre treats you can think of. T & Britt ordered pizzas, milkshakes, candy, lemondaes--can you say full belly? The big dudes had a blast, except for the part where I kept trying to cuddle them in public--they were not too keen on that.

{coloring}

2011-07-05T16:50:00.006-04:00

We picked up a silly activity & the kids got a kick out of it...

I love these beauties--