Moose Feet

Mornings require a lot of patience {and a little yelling} around here. We usually have one of two things happen. Option one: Cali sleeps in until the last possible second and then I run around crazy trying to get her to the bus on time...while she takes her own sweet time. Option two: Cali wakes up before 6am, gets ready, makes her bed, loads up her book bag....and then tries to entertain herself for the next two hours...and still barely makes it to the bus.

We've yet to strike the perfect balance, and there is only one week of school left. Well, maybe next year?

This morning was an option two morning. While I was trying to get Caleb fed and cleaned up, I told Cali to get her shoes on and get ready to go to the bus stop. Cali slipped on her flip flops {which are not allowed at her school} and tromped around the house. Just when I felt myself going into a gigantic lecture about obeying and missing the bus she said....

"Look mom, moose feet!" I burst out laughing. To which she replied, "Pheww....I thought you were going to be mad that I didn't get my shoes on, but you thought I was funny!" I took this picture of her moose feet, she finally put her real shoes on and barely made the bus.

Thanks Miss Emily

Carter had the best preschool teacher this year. He calls her Miss Emily, but I like to call her Emily...mainly because she's not only his teacher, but also a good friend of mine. She put countless hours of love and preparation into teaching this very squirrelly boy. He loves her so much! Today we had a fun end-of-the-year picnic at the park to finish off the school year right!

Carter helped me make this apron as a thank you gift to Emily. She spends a lot of her time painting, gluing, doing bubbles, and many other projects. So, we thought that an apron would be very fitting!

This is my random attempt at showing what it looks like on. Not my best photograph ever, but it was a very fun project and Carter and I were so excited to give it to her!

Preschool Graduation

On Monday Carter "graduated" from preschool. Well, technically he graduated from his first year of preschool to his second. He truly loved school this year, and he learned so much. I cannot thank his great teacher, Miss Emily enough. He made new friends, learned new songs, and even learned how to sit on his X...well, for the most part.

The proud graduates with their caps and diplomas...Or as Carter likes to call it, his "Dragon Scroll". Maybe more reading, less Kung Fu Panda watching is in order this summer!

My big boy. I can't believe he is so old. He was our baby for so long, but he has really taken off with this big brother thing!

Check it out! It's official.

Eat Your Heart Out Bono

Stealing From My Sister

There is a {funny, well depending on who you are} joke in Christian's family. Apparently when he was younger if he was running a little low on cash he would sneakily steal some from his frugal siblings. He did it subtly and just little bills at a time. His brothers and sisters never noticed, and didn't find out until years later when Christian confessed.

Instead of stealing sneakily from my sister, I am just going to blatantly rip her off. You see, my sister Dory has the funniest thing she does on her blog. She sums up events in her life by describing the event, and then telling the reader what ensued as a result. It's very "Dory" very clever and very {as is all of her material} well written. So today, in attempt to give a shout out to my youngest sister, and to catch up on some blog slacking. I give you...

What has ensued...{copyright and props to Dory Peacock}

One husband with a large blood clot in his leg...praying, shots, drugs, and stress ensued.
One husband who's blood clot dissolved...thankfulness ensued.
Back to school for me...mountains of reading ensued.
Soccer and Girl Scouts...driving around and around Rock Springs ensued.
Teaching a few extra classes at the rec...tight shredded hamstrings ensued.
Gallons and gallons of mucus draining out of children...a trip to SLC to the doctor ensued.
A diagnosis by our favorite pediatrician...Strep, Strep, and Ear Infection ensued.
Bethany came out for a visit...Much hilarity and shopping at the White Mountain Mall ensued.
Crazy crappy weather for the weekend...Cancelled soccer games ensued.
One baby with no skills or desire to sleep through the night..."You look tired" comments to the mother ensued.
One daughter who wanted to wear sandals to school today in the wind/snow...crying and complaining ensued.
One son who decided to play red rover at church yesterday...getting marched to the car ensued.
One baby jam-packed full of antibiotics...crazy squirty poop ensued.
One mother holding that baby...change of clothes all around ensued...twice!

Happy Monday!

Family Pictures

On Friday, amid our wild dr. appointment adventures, we were able to stop by the Busath studios in SLC to view our family pictures. If you want to take a sneek peek at them you can click HERE. Please keep in mind there are still heads to swap (hence, some random head pictures in the mix), and backgrounds to touch up. We were really pleased with the results.

Where Are You Warm Weather?

We are going squirrelly for some warm weather. This past weekend brought snow, wind, more snow, blowing rain-like crap, sleet, a peek of sunshine, more wind, slush, and cancelled soccer games.

This picture was taken two Saturday's ago on a beautiful spring day that I like to think about when my furnace kicks on for the third time today. We need some warm weather!

Uncle Dustin

With all of our running around this month, I almost forgot to mention that Christian's youngest brother Dustin is staying with us for part of the summer. He has a job in RS and splitting his time between our house and Carson's house. I just can't get enough of this kid. And I say kid, because he was just a kid when Christian and I met. If you know Dustin, you know that his smile is contagious and his wit and humor put everyone at ease. It is really fun having him here.

Say Cheese!

Last Saturday we went to SLC to have our family pictures taken. Christian's mom arranged for the Busath Photography Studio to take our Pollastro family pictures. It was a beautiful studio with fancy gardens and many famous Utahns hanging on the walls. The photographers earned their money by endlessly entertaining Cali (6), Carter (4), Parker (1.75), Mia (1), and Caleb (.5). I really cannot wait to see the results!

After the picture taking fun we all went to the Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate Vicki's and Mia's birthdays...and to spend some time together. I think by that time my kids were all smiled out...These are the best pictures I could get. Thankfully they used their good smiles for the real pictures.

The Unthinkable Has Happened

It is true...Christian buzzed Caleb's longest locks. It was a sad day. He still looks handsome, but I really liked his floppy long comb-over. This is the shortest his hair has been since...well, forever. His hair was longer at birth.

For the Sorenson's

Our friends, the Sorenson's, are the only people I know who could pull off a UW fence in their yard. After all, they already have a brown and yellow bus. I took this picture specifically for them...Here's a summer project for you Josh and Becca!

Brown and Yellow...Hello!

Last Saturday we spent the day in Laramie with Bethany, Tyler, mom, dad, and Dory. Bethany {being the over achiever that she is} finished a two year Master's degree program in one year. She and I had grand plans to do it together, but I'm on the nurse-a-baby-while-studying-track. And, as you can see, she's on the get-out-of-my-way-slow-people track. She finished the program so fast and efficiently that even her advisor had to invent a course for her and told her that she set a UW record.

I couldn't be more proud of her, we had a great day, and it was very inspiring to see her fulfil a lifelong dream!

For her "official" school picture the photographer had to tell her to turn her diploma cover right side up. She got it right for this shot!

I just love this bite-sized little nugget, she is so cute. And I kind of feel like I'm pawing at her diploma cover in this picture!

We had to show some love for our "real" school by standing under the Utes sign. No offense UW, it's just that we will always be Utes first!

This, That, and The Other

We've had a busy several weeks, and I am finally getting my pictures and my act together.

There was:
Finals week...Survived
Mother's Day...Celebrated
Anniversary...Reflected Upon
Family...Visited
Graduation...Accomplished
Hair...Cut
Blood Clot...Ultrasounded
Children...Sick

Stay tuned for more photographs and random commentary...

Carter's Mother

My mom is 20 years old.
She makes me laugh when she...tickles me.
I love her because she...makes pancakes for dinner.
She taught me how to...do crafts.
My mom is...blonde and nice and turns on Nick Jr. for me

Sounds like a pretty awesome 20-year-old-blonde-mom to me! And she's rather attractive, as you can see by the artistic depiction.

Scratchy Beard

My dad is famous for rubbing his scratchy stubble beard all over the feet, hands, and face of unsuspecting grandchildren. He did it to us when we were kids, and we thought it was the funniest thing ever. Apparently so does Caleb!

After a Long Hard Soccer Practice...

Mother's Day Project

We had a great Mother's Day this year. For my mother's I made a cute apron. I found a pattern for an "piece of cake" of apron. It turned out to be a really fun project. I made one for Vicki using black and turquoise fabric, I forgot to take a picture of it (I'll have to have her send me one). I made this one for my mom with pieces of the house dresses that my grandma Cook was famous for wearing. I will say, cutting up the dresses was not the easiest task, but I am pleased with the results and am glad that my mom can wear them now.

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

Six Months Today

Quite possibly the fastest six months in world history, and there's no sign of slowing down. This kid is an eater, a grower, and NOT a sleeper. Here are some of Caleb's HAS and HAS NOT's

HAS: Tipped the scales at 20 lbs. 5 oz 28.5 inches long

HAS NOT: Managed to balance that weight into a sitting position

HAS: Eaten every first fruit and vegetable known to Gerber

HAS NOT: Sucked his binki or thumb for weeks now

HAS: Acquired his first ear infection

HAS NOT: Slept through the night on more than 2 occasions

HAS: Started scooting, rolling, and thrusting to get what he wants

HAS NOT: Been able to control the compulsion to scratch (his lady if he had one)

HAS: Mastered the art of fit throwing...it was cute at first

HAS NOT: Realized how good he has it around here

HAS: Received more attention than any one six month old ever should

A Frozen Transforming Tiger

Carter had a soccer game on Saturday as well. It was really way to cold for anything out of doors, but these tough little Transforming Tigers wore gloves and beanies and ran their hearts out. Carter's coach brought blankets for the team to wrap-up in during their bench time. Carter scored a goal, and managed to refrain from running like a tiger...although there were some random belly flops and chest bumps throughout.

Saturday is a Special Day

Saturday was a very busy one for us. Cali had a soccer game at 9am...It was freezing, but she still scored 3 goals!

Later that afternoon Cali had her end of the year gymnastics meet. She nailed her floor routine, and completed her beam routine without falling!

Finally, later that night she and Christian went to the Girl Scout Princess Ball together. They dance the night away...to polka music!