It's only a flesh wound

Ok, so I'm realizing that I don't have to post a picture with EVERY single blog I write (although I am a visual person and like to) Is it bad when your 3 year old son comes in the house with blood streaming down his head and onto his shirt ( a white shirt of course) that for a second (after you've collected yourself and realize he's not going to die) you want to take a photo and post it to your blog?! Okay, I have serious problems... So, I didn't do it (I know, it was the right thing to do in Luke's moment of horror) So, no picture to show you the flesh wound he sustained thanks to the hand of the neighbor kid who (along with our son Jack I will add) was throwing rocks at the other kids while hiding in the bushes. SERIOUSLY boys... We thought it might need a stitch because it's pretty deep but put a butterfly band-aid on it instead and it looks okay this morning. Poor Lukas!! So, there was our drama for the evening yesterday. Will there ever come a time when a day goes by that at least one of our kids doesn't come running into the house crying (or screaming) about something?!

I can't believe it's been 2 months!!

Our friend Rebecca took these photos at a party last week and they were adorable so I had to post them. I don't think we've had a baby that smiled so early (@5 weeks) But he's so engaging. We are loving his wise spirit and sweet personality. What a joy it is to see the world again through the eyes of a newborn. I LOVE IT!! He's cooing (which is my favorite baby trait) and will turn his head to see who's talking. He's finding his hands (and desperately trying to get them in his mouth or rub his eyes) He just started sleeping 8 hours at night ( you can't see me, but I'm doing the victory dance right now!!) We love our little Nickolas and are so grateful to be parents.

Hand-Some

So this morning I was talking to baby Nickolas and saying something like "you are so handsome" then realizing that Lukas was sitting next to me I turned to him and asked "are you handsome too?" Lukas turned to me, put both his hands up and said "yes, my hands want some too!" Isn't it funny how quick minded these little ones are?!

These are Dewishes

It's family night at the Onstine house and we are making caramel apples!! Maybe when the kids are older and more patient we'll be able to "really" make caramel apples but for now we are making the 5 minute version thanks to our local grocery store. We found round sheets of caramel which you simply wrap around the apple, insert a stick and bake for 5 minute and presto!! Yummy yummy to our tummies. Luke took one look at his apple and said "Mommy, these are delicious" in his little 2-year old voice which sounded more like "these are dewishes"

Conference Bingo

Isn't it every LDS parents dream that their small children will quietly and attentively sit and watch General Conference every 6 months ?? Okay obviously we are a few years off from that dream coming to fruition but we are getting a bit closer. This conference our kids played bingo (Thanks to our Primary President) and it worked!! The kids listened as best they could to hear words like tithing, scriptures, temple, family, prophet, etc then they'd put something edible over the square until they had an entire row complete, which gave them license to gobble up their tasty treats. They had a lot of fun and it reminded us that even at such young ages we can get them to participate in the spiritual feast with us (or at least some kind of feast be it candy or otherwise) We'll take whatever we can get.

Just call me Mr. Bump

So, I thought I should post about a very well known fact in our family:

JACK IS ACCIDENT PRONE!!

I got a call from the school on Friday letting me know that Jack had taken a header on the playground and that he had a goose egg above his left eye. Not too serious, so he stayed at school. Later that day it rained a bit which made the streets slick. While riding his bike in the court (which we'd asked him not too due to the rain) he took a serious tumble and got these lovely bumps and bruises on his cheek and chin (is it bad while your child is screaming bloody murder to say "I told you so?") Then again the next day bumped the top of his head pretty hard which gave him another goose egg. Will it ever end?? Luckily he's pretty resilient and will give himself a wink as he surveys the damage in the bathroom mirror.....

Planned? I hope not.

Mackenzie's "Incredible" 7th Birthday

Determined to see what's inside!!
YAHOOOO!! For new roller blades
Mackenzie is 7
Nickolas and Logan enjoying the party

pizza anyone?
Lukas and Daddy watching the bumper cars
Lauryn and Mackenzie
Emily, Grandma Susie, Lauryn and Mac
Make a wish!!
Mommy, Nickolas and Mac
Playing games
Luke figured out the games real quick!
This ride was right about Jack's speed...
Auntie April loves to play!

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY MACKENZIE NICOLE!!

Mackenzie turned 7 today!! We had an "incredible" party at John's Incredible pizza with our family. Everyone feasted on pizza, pasta, salad, bread sticks and plenty of dessert. The fresh mini doughnuts were a huge hit for everyone. We played video games, bowled, rode the rides including the mini roller coaster and enjoyed cake and presents. Mackenzie received some wonderful craft projects (which she loves, because she's so creative!) new clothes, books, a game, money and roller blades which she hasn't taken off since. I am praying she doesn't try to wear them to bed tonight... ha ha. We had such a good time with our family and we are so grateful that we are close enough to enjoy these special moments. So Happy Birthday to our crazy little princess Mackenzie. We love you so much and are blessed you are ours. Okay now a funny note. We have been keeping a family gratitude journal for about a year now with our kids that we update every few days or when we remember. Before bed we'll go around the room and ask what things each are grateful for that day and then I write it down in the book next to their name. Mackenzie had asked me if she could have her very own gratitude journal since she can write now, so we bought her one for her birthday. I found it later this evening in the kitchen and wondered if she'd started writing it yet. She had, and this is was she wrote:

I am gratfle for my famaly = I am grateful for my family

I am gratfle for frenz = I am grateful for friends

I am gratfle for Niklis = I am grateful for Nickolas

Then she must have asked all her friends who were in the garage playing today what they were grateful for and this is what she wrote:

Jourdin is gratfle for Sokr = Jordan is grateful for Soccer

Jack is gratfle for diprs = Jack is grateful for diapers?

Josh is gratfle for name tags.

Anyhow, it struck me that even when we don't think our children are paying any attention to what we are trying to teach them, they are. It made my heart smile. Today I am grateful for Mackenzie and her shining example to all of us.

A day with Shouka

Daddy and Mackenzie
The best ride of all
All this playing has worn me out!!
Jack dancing with Sylvester up on stage


Mac, Luke and Jack watching the walrus play
Cute humongous walrus
Luke, Mac and Jack petting stingrays
Super girl
Who doesn't love the merry go round?

Batman
Up Up and Away
Bugs and Daffy
Shouka the whale
Buddies forever

We spent our Saturday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom over the weekend. It was a beautiful 75 degrees. The kids had a blast and since Nickolas is so little he slept most of the day. Because our kids are such animal lovers (especially Macknezie) Discovery Kingdom is the place to go. There is a great assortment of rides for young kids along with plenty of animals and activities perfect for little hands. We loved the "shark experience" and petting the sting rays. Thomas town was a big hit and we rode the merry go round about a dozen times since there were virtually no lines. We watched Shouka the whale do her thing and enjoyed the penguins. The highlight was when Mackenzie and Jack got to go up on stage to dance with some of the characters during the looney toon talent show. Everyone is already asking when do we get to go back again?

Maybe for Halloween!!

Cousin Sleep-overs

Mac, Tristyn, Randy and Jack reading bedtime stories
Randy and Karson playing Horsey
Tickle Tickle Tickle
Big Hugs for Uncle Randy

Superheros Jack, Luke and Kaden
Painting fingernails with our cousins
Grandma Nonnie enjoying the grandkids
Popcorn anyone??
Lukas loves popcorn too!



Thought I'd say a few words about our cousins (My Sister Julie's kids) Our kids love when they get to have a sleep over with their cousins. Although it doesn't occur as often as they'd like we have a blast when they come over. They are such great kids. These pictures are from two separate sleep overs so I could capture some fun moments. The girls love to paint fingers and toes. The boys love to play super heros and the little boys love to eat popcorn of course. Grandma Nonnie was sleeping over both times as well which the kids love because she is not only fun herself but the kids love her dogs Kozy and Roxy.