The LETTER P

I am a preschool teacher. 

Parker goes to "Mommy's preschool" 4 days a week, so it isn't really a surprise that he is a SMARTY pants when it comes to letters, numbers, sounds, shapes & colors. Go ahead...quiz him.

He can answer pretty much any question I throw his way about these things.

I've taught him to write his name. He is pretty good at most letters, but "P" is his favorite. Any time he sees a P, he says "MOM!!! P for Parker!!!" And for some unknown reason, he has decided to PUT HIS MARK all over my house! I have been finding random "P"'s written around my house over the last few weeks. At first it was washable marker P's found on doors & tables, which I immediately made him clean up by himself & explained to him why we don't write on ANYTHING BUT PAPER!!!

Then I started finding Pencil P's... I wasn't happy...

all over again...

and made him take an eraser and clean up what he could.

You can only imagine my JOY when I started finding PERMANENT MARKER P's around the house this week:(

and not just around the house...ALSO, IN THE VAN:(

and another one...

WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?

We have talked about this, he has been punished, I have explained the reasoning & he always seems to understand & says he won't do it again.

AND THEN...

I find another P!?!

I love this talk by President Monson.

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

I rewrote his words for my sanity's sake & will try to remember that one day I might miss them, when I most likely find a new "P" tomorrow...

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints and the letter P's that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—you will miss those P's profoundly."

February FHE

Phelps family home evening this month was held at my cousin's backyard & we did a delicious potluck and the kids played & we did some fun "Carnival games"...

Do my boys have CHEESY smile, or what!?! :)

I borrowed this "Cardboard Picture Fun" from my friend
(THANK YOU HEATHER!)

& the kids LOVED it!

My boys playing Aunt Susie's fun dart game!

Uh oh! Parker, getting eatin' by a LION:)

My mom and her siblings...minus Aunt Donna who lives in UTAH:( We miss her!!!

I love my family so much & so glad these siblings have kept all of their kids so close over the years!

Family Lunch Date

I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with Matt's new work schedule- 4 days a week, 10 hour days.

He works Mon & Tues

OFF on Wed & Thurs-AWESOME

works Fri & Sat.

I love that it breaks up our week.

I LOVE that he is home 2 days in a row & can spend time with me & the boys.

He can now help out 2 days while I teach preschool.

I can schedule mid week appts & can go to the doctor while he is home.

We can do fun "family lunch dates" on a random Wednesday to Peter Piper...

Ryler put a token in this Sponge Bob game & pushed the button and scored 250 tickets! haha

I'm taking him to Vegas!

Parker is so sweet & I think he could live at Peter Piper if given the option!

I hate that he works Saturdays.

I think I have had to find someone to watch the kids every Saturday since he started, for various reasons. EVERYONE plans things on Saturdays! So I'm not lovin' the Saturday thing...but I am sure we will get used to it! It has only been 1 month!

Boyce Avenue

Valentine's weekend, we doubled with my little brother Tate & his awesome girlfriend, Melanie!

Tate & Matt have been fans of the band Boyce Avenue for a few years now & so when they came to town, they treated their ladies to a night out!:)

We hit up Rumbi's for dinner...it was delicious!

And then headed to Phoenix for the concert...

Tate & Mel...

My handsome date...

It was so fun, I started listening to their music to "prep" for the concert;)
And I fell in love with them...you should start listening to them if you don't already love them!

It was such a FUN night out!!!

Heidi is engaged!

My baby sister is engaged!

It is slightly weird...because she is my BABY sister, 

but so EXCITING, 

because she found such an INCREDIBLE guy!

The date is set: May 13th!

Looks like wedding plans will be keeping our family busy for the next few months!

ALLEN GRANDKIDS

 It is so fun to watch the Allen side GROW!!!

The best grandparents with their sweet grandchildren...

with 2 more coming in July!

Mom-in-law's BIRTHDAY

We were in charge of SUNDAY DINNER this month & had everyone at our house & had a BIRTHDAY to celebrate that week as well!

My mother-in-law LOVES French Silk Pie from Village Inn, 

so I assigned Aimee to get one, just for her:)

Happy Birthday to the most INCREDIBLE mother-in-law a GIRL COULD EVER ASK FOR!!!

Messes & Smiles

My boys NEVER stop amazing me with 

HOW MANY MESSES they can make in a single day, 

heck I'm amazed EACH HOUR!

And how many times they can make ME SMILE...

in that very SAME DAY!

Tracen Mac

Another sweet nephew was born!

Tanner & Chaya named this sweet baby boy

Tracen Mac Allen

& we LOVE having a new baby around on the Allen side!

Congratulations Tanner & Chaya!
He is beautiful!!!

REALLY outnumbered;)

Went to the Doctor yesterday---and the verdict is in!!!

#3 is a BOY...

and we are so excited!!!

even though our chance of sanity has been thrown out the window, with having 3 little boys running around!

2 year & 4 year WELLNESS CHECKS

Took the boys to the Doctor today & it went surprisingly well!:) I don't manage to take both out very often, but they were sweet & had fun playing while we waited.

Ryler's 2 year Old Stats                          (Parker at 2 years old)

Age: 26 months                                             Age: 25 months

Height: 35 1/2" -  60%                                     Height: 34 3/4" - 50%

Weight: 30# 12 oz  - 75%                               Weight: 29 1/2 # - 70%

Head: 19 3/4 - 80%                                          Head: 20" - 92%

They are actually pretty similar at this stage in life! I was surprised how close their weight/heights are at age 2...because Ryler seems like he is such a big kid! But I think that is because he is quickly catching up to what Parker is NOW:)

Parker's 4 Year Old Stats:

Height: 39 1/4 "   - 25 %

Weight: 40 # 8 oz  - 80% (I think this is off...he is about 38#)

They both got shots today & Parker was trying to be SOOO brave since Ryler was watching, but his little lip quivered as she gave him the shot. Ryler didn't hold back and yelled "OWIE!" when she poked him:) 

They both did great & I'm so grateful for my healthy little boys!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

to the DADDY of these 2 adorable boys!!!

 

and to Parker & Ryler...because they are my Valentine's too;)

Hope your day is filled with LOVE & LAUGHTER!!!
 

Phase 10

My boys are going through a PHASE.

Well, lets please hope it is a phase...because that means it will pass, right?

1. For the past few weeks they have been waking up EARLIER THAN NORMAL.

2. TEASING EACH OTHER until tears are produced.

3. Wanting whatever toy, book, marker, ect that their brother has and FIGHTING OVER IT.

4. They are EXTRA CRANKY throughout the day(see #1).

5.  All of the sudden they are PICKY ABOUT WHAT THEY EAT when they normally eat anything I put in front of them???

6. Church is...well...lets just say it nicely & say...REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.

7. Ryler is SUPER ATTACHED to mom and cries when I leave and wants to be held when I'm around.

8. Parker has never WET THE BED and has done so 4 times this week alone.

9. They are usually really helpful and lately have been making mess after mess, REFUSING TO CLEAN UP.

10. BEDTIME has been quite the process lately & they can think of any and every excuse to come out of their room.

 

Please, please tell me that this is just because they are 4 yrs & 2yrs and that they will soon grow out of this!?! 
By the end of the day, I crash in EXHAUSTION & am very grateful they are SO CUTE, or I might have LOST IT that day...

Sincerely, 
Exhausted mom of 2 boys

Computers

Okay the Ipod I understand. It is touch screen...EASY to control.

A laptop? 

I thought it would be a couple more years before my children took it over.

I was wrong.

Family History Night

For Family Home Evening, all of the Brinton Cousins went to my grandparent's(vacant) house & ate a delicious dinner & then sat and listened to siblings(my dad & his brother & sister) tell stories & memories about the house. The home was part of a Mesa Historical Tour the Saturday before & they told us a lot about the construction of the home & many memories they had in that house growing up. I loved listening and could've listened all night long, if our kids didn't need to go home & god to bed;)

I miss my grandparents.

A lot.

I'm so thankful I will see them again!

Parker & Whitney!

Parker chose "Peter Piper Pizza" for his birthday dinner & it was more crowded than I have EVER seen in my life, but he loved it anyways!

I love this SILLY 4 year old!

Parker was ALMOST born on Aunt Whitney's birthday! Whit's is the next day & she has been so nice to share her birthday celebration with Parker & Talia the past 4 years:)

Happy Happy Birthday Whitney!!! You are amazing & I'm so excited for you to get married!!!

Both of Matt's beautiful sisters, Whitney & Aimee...getting ready to go to Whitney's Disco Skateland Birthday Party(LOVE IT!!!)

Mom's Birthday!

We celebrated my mom's Birthday this week & I just hope she knows how INCREDIBLE she is!!!

ps. I think Parker is excited to have a baby...he is alwaysss sneaking peeks at Reese:)

Cake & Presents!!!

Mason bought Grandma new reading glasses from the dollar store;)
They looked pretty cute on Ryler too!

Silly, silly boy!

Two more cute boys with Grandma!!!

I hope you had a wonderful day mom! You deserve that & more! Thanks for being such an amazing example to me throughout my life & continue being so supportive of everything I do. You are the best Grandma to 10 of the cutest kids around...soon to be 12!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Liz's Shower & Baby Reese

My sis-in-law, Liz, is having her BABY SOON, so we threw her a BABY SHOWER to celebrate!!!

There was DELICIOUS FOOD & WONDERFUL COMPANY & she got a TON of great things!

We are so EXCITED to meet their BABY BOY!!!

Speaking of babies...this girl was the hit of the party! 1st time I have seen my sweet niece, Reese, SMILING & she is ADORABLE!!!