Dreyton turns 12

Dreyton turned twelve in April. He was very anxious to turn twelve, because he was excited about leaving primary and becoming a Deacon. He was also looking forward to being in the Boy Scout troop with his dad. Donovan is the Scoutmaster.

I attempted the red velvet cake again, and I just can't seem to get the frosting right. My mother-in-law has shown me a few times how to make this cake from scratch, but I am terrible when it comes to making red velvet cake. I think I will just have Anne (my mother-in-law) make it in UT and each time she visits us. I'm not meant to make this cake.

Below is a picture of Dominique before the band concert began. I was able to get a quick shot of Dominique, but I could not get close enough to Dreyton.

Both of my boys performed in the spring band concert. Dreyton plays the trumpet in beginning band, and Dominique plays the trombone in the symphonic band. They did a great job!
I can't believe both of my boys are in middle school and growing up so quickly. It seems like just yesterday when they were little toddlers that I could watch over like a mother hen. My boys are changing so much and becoming more independent each day. Dominique will be starting high school in the fall and that means he only has four more years left in my home. Dominique has informed me that he will not be living in Florida, but he "will come visit." I'm constantly reminding my boys that they always need to remember their mom. The other day I told my boys that they couldn't get married to a girl until she went on a family vacation with our family. I told them that when they get married they would inherit another family and they should make sure their wife knows she inherits our family. Their response is, "We know mom!" They better or I will be showing up on their front door! **And you know I will!**

Strawberry Picking at Roger's Farm

On April 24, I went strawberry picking at Roger's Farm. A few friends had told me about a great place to pick fresh strawberries. Florida (and the Newberry area where we live) grows a lot of strawberries. I remember picking apples in St. Louis and thought it would be fun to pick strawberries. Everytime I see a strawberry stand on the corner here in town, I want to stop and buy a case to make fresh strawberry jam. I was introduced to freezer jam several years ago from Donovan's Grandma Lott and his mother. It is the best stuff ever. Anne has come to my home several times to watch my kids, and she has made us several batches of this wonderful stuff. I decided I was going to try and make it. I took my girls and Jasmine's friend, Morgan. We picked six buckets in no time at all. We even ate a few along the way.
We wanted to keep picking, but one can only do so much with fresh strawberries.

Jyllian picked a whole bucket by herself.

I think I should have only picked four buckets. I ended up making two different batches. I made eight containers of freezer jam and twelve jars of jam. They both turned out yummy. We had strawberry jello, strawberry shortcake, and strawberry shakes too.

The girls wanted to go back again...maybe next year.

Spring Break/Day Four Animal Kingdom

April 10, 2010

Our final day of Spring Break in Orlando was spent in Disney's Animal Kingdom. We had asked each of the kids which of the four parks they wanted to go to during spring break. I got four different answers. We had to go with the majority since we weren't going to all four parks in one day. Somehow we keep spending our spring break in Orlando. It usually falls on or right around my birthday. Whenever Donovan asks me what I would like to do for my birthday, I usually say let's go out-of-town for a few days.
The safari ride is one of my favorites at Animal Kingdom. I think we saw more animals this time then on previous visits.

Disney really has spent many hours/months/years creating this park.

Rhinoceros

The tree behind me is not real. It's actually part of It's a Bugs Life (which is a 3-D show). My kids love it.

Dominique gave a thumbs up to Mount Everest. It is a roller coaster ride, and it's great! I was truly surprised that he rode the ride and liked it. I think he is finally overcoming his fear of big rides. Dominique usually is our Jyllian watcher for the rides. But two things happened this trip: 1 ) Jyllian is now 40" (which means she can ride almost all of the rides), 2) Dominique decided to ride the rides. We didn't have to get a child swap card for most of the rides, and Jyllian had a great time...except for the river rapids ride. She sat next to me for this ride, and we happened to be seated in the seat that became drenched. I always carry a change of clothes for her, thank goodness. After getting drenched, she was not happy to be wet and didn't want to ride that ride ever again. I remember last year she tried to stand on her tippy toes to try and ride.

About 3:00 the kids started to get tired and wanted to go home. I couldn't believe it! Who gets tired at Disney? I guess everyone but me. We did leave early and grabbed some McDonalds on our way home.

Jasmine wanted to take our picture, so she tried.

She also took a few pictures of the pink flamingos. Do you know why flamingos are pink? Because of the shrimp they eat.

Spring Break/Day Three Magic Kingdom

This year, Disney offered one free day to the park of your choice for each individual that volunteered his/her time to a non-profit organization. Of course I was immediately checking into a way to go for one free day of Disney. I signed our family up to work on at Heaven's Special Children (see http://www.heavensspecialchildren.org/). This organization offers various forms of therapy not typically covered by regular insurance to children with special needs. One service they offer is hippo therapy. Hippo Therapy is where horses are used in providing therapy. Our participation included helping to clean up some of the grounds where the horses were kept. After we completed our work, we were able to print off vouchers and present them at the Disney park. However, I discovered that the tickets were upgradeable, which meant we had an eighty dollar voucher that could be used towards different types of passes. Disneyworld was offering Florida residents four days of Disney for $99. I asked if we could upgrade to a four day pass. We were able to get a four day pass for $19 per person. I have never seen such a great offer from Disney, and I could not pass up this kind of sweet deal! A four day pass is usually $225 per person (for a Florida resident). You can see the savings and understand why we didn't purchase passes this year. Our annual passes expired last August, and we just couldn't afford another year of Disney. Plus we want to go and see other parts of Florida for our vacations.

On April 8, we were able to got to Magic Kingdom. It is our favorite park, and we wanted to ride the newly remodeled space mountain. Dominique rode space mountain for the first time. Finally, he decided to ride! This has been a long time in coming. After riding, Dominique said he would go again.
We rode the Buzz Lightyear ride. On our way out of the ride the kids decided to pose with Zurg.

I asked Dominique not to spin Jyllian and Jasmine too fast on the tea cups, but he didn't listen. The girls were wishing they rode with me instead.

Throughout the park there are spray fountains that people can walk through to cool off. The kids decided to get a little wet to cool down too.

Below is Donovan snacking on some twizzlers and listening to his ipod. He probably doesn't want to listen to the kids whine throughout the day.

Here the boys are on the jungle cruise.

This is our favorite place to stop and get an ice cream snack. It serves pineapple ice cream floats, and they are DE-LISH. I think we stop here every time we go to Magic Kingdom.

The famous Cinderella castle.

I'm sure you are all familiar with the rides at Disney. The exit of the rides go through a store, and the kids all think they need to buy everything they see. Here is Jyllian picking up princesses in a box.

Spring Break Orlando/ Day One and Two

April 7, 2010

On the first day of spring break, we packed up the car and headed to Orlando. We drove straight to the temple and decided to take turns watching the kids. Donovan went into the temple first, so I walked around the temple grounds and fed the kids snacks. The first half hour was fine, but then the kids started to get bored. They were not very happy about hangin' in the minivan (I mean, what cooler place exists to hang out in than a mini-van?!). When Donovan came out of the temple and I went in, he took the kids for ice cream and to check-in to the condo we had reserved for three nights. I don't think they complained a bit about getting some ice cream. Donovan tends to get the "easier shifts" tending the kids.

I took a few pictures of the kids outside the Orlando temple grounds.

It was a beautiful day, and just a little warm, but I am not complaining about the gorgeous spring weather we had during the month of April.

The kids were asking me, "How much longer?" You know that's the question all kids ask. I just kept telling them that classic parental reply: "Just a little longer."

After finishing up at the temple, the kids went swimming in the pool at the condo. Then we went to Cici's pizza for dinner. I know it's not the best food, but it was a request by the kids. Can you say all you can eat pizza??

Day two: I promised Donovan that we would have one "down day" on our Spring Break. His idea of a vacation and mine are completely opposite. He thinks a vacation should be relaxing and not running all over to cram in as much "fun" as possible. However, I do enjoy his idea of a vacation too. On day 2, the kids were able to swim and watch some TV (something very unusual for them and their daily routine...not!). We had a great dinner at Sizzler. That was my pick as I had not had Chicken Malibu for several years. I think our kids are now Sizzler fans too!

Easter Festivites 2010

I posted about this same event last year. But the girls and myself went back to the annual Easter egg hunt held at the grounds of the local mortuary. The girls were able to ride on this train, eat hot dogs and cookies, pet a few animals, play in a bounce house, and gather eggs full of candy.
Jyllian had fun chasing the bunny around the pen.

Jasmine and her friend Mackenzie met up at the event.

Jyllian didn't want to leave the petting zoo. She didn't get frightened by the goats like she did last year.

Jasmine and Elesse (our neighbor) were trying to decide if they wanted to pet the animals.

Jyllian had so much fun on this slide. She kept running back to get in line to do it again.

It's fun to see Jyllian really start to enjoy coloring Easter eggs. She insisted on coloring them all by herself. Hence, her hands dyed all colors.

Jasmine had a good time coloring her eggs and helping her sister.

The girls wanted to color more eggs, but I told them we didn't have that many people to eat the eggs. Even though we are an egg eating family, one can only eat so many eggs.

Jasmine's Skate Station Party

March 13, 2010

Jasmine wanted to have a party at the local roller skating rink. She invited a few friends from school and a few girls from our neighborhood. She wanted to have a sleep over too, so I told her she could only have five girls. I don't really like slumber parties (the last thing I get to enjoy during them is an actual slumber), but I know the kids enjoy them. In the picture below are Sydney, Jasmine, Mackenzie, and Grace.Of course, we made the boys come along to the party with all of the crazy girls, and they were very reluctant (I don't know why....I mean, my older brother always liked hangin' out with me and my 9 year old friends when he was a tween). I told them there would be so many people there and no one would know they came with a bunch of girly girls. Donovan strapped on his roller blades and really got into skating. Who knew he liked skating so much? I guess he was reliving his classic skating days (and his affinity for the Bee Gees).

Dominique and Dreyton were having a much better time then I think they would admit.

Morgan is our next door neighbor and Elesse lives across the street. Jasmine has a great time with these two girls. At the beginning of the night, these two girls could barely stay on their feet. But by the end of the evening, they were skating around the rink. In fact the next day, they each went to the store and purchased roller blades. Jasmine and these two have been ripping up the neighborhood. It is amazing what some friendly coercion and positive reinforcement can do to motivate kids to go and go and go to learn something new (even if they fall down hitting the cement floor with their hind ends several times!).

The girls sipped a few slurpees, which I'm sure just added to their sugar intake (and inability to stay still and let me slumber later that night).

Jasmine and the girls were up late watching crazy youtube videos with Donovan. Jasmine is very much like her daddy. It's scary!

The next morning, Morgan wanted to give Jasmine a facial. Morgan used yogurt (with fruit on the bottom) for the face and cucumbers for the eyes.

The girls painted their nails and just pampered themselves like the divas they think they are.

GOING PRIVATE

I have decided it is time to go private. If you would like an invite, please let me know.

February was here and now it's gone.

As we return to a life of blogging after a Kingrey inspired hiatus, here are a few items we did during the month of February.

Donovan went to a conference in San Diego, so I decided to go along with him. Many people say ask, "Why would you need to leave Florida to go on a vacation?" My response is, "Have you seen the bugs in Florida?!" Just kidding...Well, it wasn't really a vacation to enjoy the sites of another city. I wanted to go along to enjoy some peace and quiet (not too much of that in our lil' piece of the Sunshine state thanks to the Fearsome Four Lott Litter). I was able to read one and a half books and sleep in (Did I mention the sleeping?!). I couldn't believe how long I slept. Makes me tired just thinking of it!

We also decided to go to an "exotic and exciting" place while in San Diego. Yep, you guessed it: Luxurious Tijuana, Mexico!! Donovan was able to buy his huaraches (leather sandals with tire tread soles) that he tries to replace every few years when he is in San Diego. We were hoping to get some Mexican jumping beans for the kids, but they were out of season. April through June is the time to go to Tijuana if you are wanting those Latin saltatory lentils.

Dominique had a band ensemble competition while we were out-of-town, and his ensemble received a superior ranking. He has really excelled in band, and we are very proud of him as he literally toots his own horn. Dominique also had to decide which high school he would attend as he had a lot of "recruitment letters" mailed to him asking him to come to certain high school programs due to his academic success. He decided to go to a Criminal Law program at the local high school and is excited to begin this fall. I don't remember having to make these kind of choices when I was 13. When I was 13, all I was worried about decision wise was which boy I was going to be kissing the next day. My how times have changed...or at least they better have changed before our daughters turn 13!

Dreyton has been continuing with his basketball, but the season will come to an end this weekend. He has learned a lot about blocked shots and turnovers (although he has been on the bad end of many of those). Fortunately, he has learned a lot this season and has improved. Donovan is hoping his ability to block others out for rebounds will assist him with tackle football season coming up this late summer! Dreyton doesn't even seem to mind when we tease him about a certain girl (who shall remain unnamed) around Valentine's Day. I guess he will be turning 13 soon...hmmmmmmm...

Jasmine has lost three teeth in the last week and has been preparing for the FCAT. The FCAT is a test in Florida that all of the third graders must pass in order to continue on to fourth grade. She has had more homework than usual and has been working hard to study (translation: her mother has been bugging her more than usual to get her homework and studying done). Today she actually started taking the FCAT. One day down and two to go. Rock the FCAT, Jasmine!

Jyllian had a good time with Grandma Lott who watched our kids while we were in San Diego, but she was very happy to see mom return home. She just LOVES to twirl my hair as she sucks her thumb. I am thinking of cutting a bunch of it off and giving it to her for a birthday gift. She also has taken on the role of Recycle Girl. She will strut her stuff and come running when we call for Recycle Girl. Who is Recycle Girl, you ask. Well, Recycle Girl is a very important figure who saves all mankind (or at least our household) by taking recyclable items from our kitchen to our recycle container out on the driveway. We are thinking of getting her an official uniform and are open for any design ideas you might have, so keep us in mind. She really gets a kick out of being Recycle Girl as her dad breaks into his role as Soap Man (the official liquid soap dispenser filler upper of our home....and he only misses getting the soap in the containers 13.7% of the time....I have been counting).

May you have a March as "fun" and safe as our February!!

Love the Lotts

Seriously Mommy

Am I in trouble when my four-year-old daughter puts her hands on her hips and says, "Seriously mommy!" I'm wondering where she learned this word?

Trip to ut

Last week, Jyllian and I took a trip to UT. A friend had given Donovan two buddy passes on southwest airlines (thanks Alicia). But these tickets required that we go stand-by, and that means there has to be room on the plane. So, I decided I would go in January. I used to be a travel agent, and January is generally a slow month. People have just finished with the holidays and taken vacations, which means they have run out of money. Well, I tried to get out of Orlando last Tuesday, but that didn't work. I called Tuesday night, and Wednesday looked ok. Jyllian and I left the house at 7:00am. I couldn't put my name on the stand-by list until I checked in at the gate. I reached the gate at 10:00am and the flight I was hoping to take had eighteen seats available for standby the day before. Well, not on Wednesday! The flight was overbooked by seven people, and twenty people were trying to go stand-by. I immediately started to figure out another option and that was a 2:35pm flight that connected to Phoenix. At 2:00pm, I checked with the Southwest agent and it didn't look good. After all the people had boarded the plane, I thought it was just not going to happen. I told Jyllian we were going to have to go back home and forget about our trip to UT. She of course was disappointed. My sister Shannon called me at the airport and said she had said a prayer for me that I would be able to get on the flight. I told her thank you, but the flight was full. Well, at the last minute some guy didn't show up, and Jyllian and I were the last two people to get on the flight. My sister has more faith than any person I know. She always says things will work out.

I made it to UT late Wednesday night. Jyllian did great. She was really looking forward to seeing all of her cousins. You see 2005 was the year that six out of ten children in my family had a baby, and Donovan's two sisters each had a baby too. That was a very reproductive year: six girls and two boys were born in our family. Jyllian has five girl cousins her age, and she was in heaven playing with them in UT this past week. She played and played and played.

We went to see Meg (Kristen's daughter). They had a great time with the three musketeers barbies and the hot air balloon carriage. Isabel (Meg's older sister) even got in on some of the fun with her remote control car. Kristen told the girls to jump off the couch, and she would take their picture. I'm sure Grandma Lott didn't mind that the girls were jumping on her couch. :)

The girls in action.I'm not quite sure what they were doing here, and I hope none of the Bloods or Crips who read our blog understand these 4 year old gang signs either.Aunt Kristen was showing Jyllian the pictures she took on her camera. What two kooky girls!

This picture was taken at my parents house. I had all of the four-year-olds sit on the couch. From left to right: Tate, Brielle, Bailey, Jyllian, Sierra, and Taylor

Jyllian played Thursday thru Sunday with her cousins and she had the best time. My parents treated me to dinner at Red Lobster ( Donovan doesn't like seafood, so I rarely go there). On Saturday night, we had a girls night out at Outback Steakhouse. Four of my sisters, three sister-in-laws, my mother, mother-in-law, and I all went out together. Let me tell you...it was a sight of woman power to behold! It was a lot of fun. Jeremy (my brother) also came along too. After all, he loves girl conversations, and he usually has quite a bit to add to them (he's like a mini-Oprah but without the money).

Jyllian and I had to leave on Monday. Luckily the stand-by process wasn't too bad for our return trip. I didn't get on the early flight, but I was able to get home. My sweet husband really needed me back home. Donovan would get the kids off to school and head in to work. The kids took care of themselves for a few hours after school. Luckily, Jasmine and Dreyton are still alive. They fight like crazy. Before I left, Donovan told me that he had the dinners covered. He said do we have top ramen, mac and cheese, and frozen pizza? Then we are set. Well, the kids actually didn't eat any of that. He took them out to dinner at Gelatos on Wednesday. They had Dominios pizza on Friday, Publix chicken dinner on Saturday, Sunday he barbequed hamburgers and hotdogs, and Monday he made them cheesy eggs, bacon and cinnamon rolls. I think they got to eat a little better than they thought. Each day, Donovan packed their lunches and even left them post-it notes in their lunches. Jasmine asked me why I don't leave notes in her lunch, and Dominique told me that a boy a school made fun of him for having a "mommy note" in his lunch. He, of course, told the boy it wasn't a note from his mom, but a note to remind him to watch his younger sister after school. Heaven forbid an eighth grader having a "mommy note." I think my other three children and Donovan appreciated me a little more while I was gone.

Jasmine told me that she ran out of clothes, Dominique said he had never seen the bottom of the silverware tray, and all three told me that their bathroom was a mess. I asked them why they didn't clean their bathroom, and they told me they didn't want to. I guess they were honest. But they did help their dad with the dishes. Wonder if they will still help with the dishes now that mom is back in the saddle??