A to Z about me ...

My friend Holly tagged me a couple of weeks ago, and since life has been really crazy lately I am only now getting around to doing it!
A- Attached or Single? Attached to Dan since April 7, 2001 (our first date)
B-Best Friend? Dan
C-Cake or pie? Cake
D-Day of choice? Any holiday and Fridays
E-Essential Item? A slimming pair of jeans
F-Favorite color? Green
G-Gummy bears or worms? Neither ... sour patch kids and peach-Os!
H-Home town? At this exact moment in time it is Tyler, Texas, where I was born (not necessarily raised), but not for long ... (I have also called Provo, Utah, Corvallis, Oregon, Mandeville, Louisiana, Bethel, Connecticut, American Fork, Utah, and Stansbury Park, Utah home)
I-Favorite indulgence? Blue Bell triple chocolate ice cream covered with caramel sauce and Smoothie Skittles
J-January or July? July (The Packer family always has their huge family reunion this month and who doesn't enjoy celebrating the founding of our great nation with yummy summer food, fireworks, family, friends, and fun?!)
K-Kids? William 4, Cicialy 2, Weston 1 and a 1/2 months
L-Life isn't complete without: FAMILY and good FRIENDS!
M-Marriage date? November 16, 2001
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 2 older sisters and 3 younger brothers
O-Oranges or Apples? I really do love all fruit, but I'd have to agree with Holly ... STRAWBERRIES ... and Peaches
P-Phobias? Snakes
Q-Quote? Today's beautiful moments are tomorrow's beautiful memories.
R-Reasons to smile? 3 beautiful children and 1 amazing husband
S-Season of choice? Fall
T-Tag 3 people: Casey, Cori, and anyone else who wants to
U-Unknown fact about me? I used to think David Bowie was really hot
V-Vegetable? Carrots
W-Worst habit? Eating ice cream almost every night after the kids go to bed!
X-Xray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound
Y-Your favorite food? Dan's Strawberry Shortcake
Z-Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Happy Father's Day

Today the kids and I would like to pay tribute to and thank Dan for being such a great Dad!

From Will: "Thank you daddy. I like to play your chess game everyday. You really are handsome and thanks for helping me listen and obey. Hey daddy, I always like going to the Discovery Science Center with you! I like cooking breakfast on Saturday mornings with you for mommy. And daddy, I super duper love you! I am apoligizing for being naughty."

From Cici: "Daddy you are handsome! You help me listen and obey. I love how you help me play computer games like pbskids.org. I love you all morning and all night."

From Weston: "Thanks for holding me and loving me even when I cry all the time. You try so hard to help my tummy feel better and I appreciate that. I love being up in the middle of the night with you. You are the best daddy!"

From Cathie: "Dan, I appreciate all you do for me and the kids. I love how much you love to play with the kids and all the time you spend teaching them to behave better. You are the best Dad a kid could ever want!" We would also like to wish Papagater and Bompa a Happy Father's Day. We love you!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Finally Will is old enough to participate in a team sport! He wanted to play soccer this spring but didn't turn 4 early enough, so he was super excited when we found a t-ball league that he was old enough to play in. His first game was this past Saturday and it was hilarious. Will has a bit of an attention problem while playing in the outfield (dancing around, kicking up dirt, holding his glove over his face), but the second the ball is hit he hustles to get it even if he is the farthest player away. Most of the other kids just stand there and do nothing, but Will runs and dives for that ball. Cici loved cheering for her Will and wishes she could play too. At home she goes outside and practices with Will and Dan, and the day Will got his uniform she wore his batting helmet to bed (we have since had to hide it). Anyways, Will was a terrific hitter and played a great game. Go Will Go!!!

Family Tummy Time and the Big Roll Over!

Will and Cici are in love with their baby brother! In fact, they want to be involved in every aspect of his life from giving him baths to changing his diapers (even if it involves "irritating" {in their minds loving} poor Weston to tears). So, on Saturday evening when Weston had tummy time they wanted in on the fun too.

Well, unlike Will and Cici who thought tummy time was hilarious, Weston hated it. In fact, he hated it so much that at only 3 weeks and 5 days old he rolled over on to his back. We were all amazed at Weston's new trick but thought it must be a fluke. We put him right back on his tummy, and he did it again! (Below are pictures of his second successful turnover).

Oh, I almost forgot, Weston is four weeks old today! Wow, time flies when you are the mom of three kids ages four and under.

And Then There Were Three!

On monday May 5 at 3:07 in the afternoon our little baby boy was born! After remaining nameless for the first day of his life, we finally chose to call him Weston Reed Packer. He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and measured 20 1/2 inches long. The baby and I are both doing great. Below is a picture taken right before leaving for the hospital to have Weston and a few pictures of the baby for you to enjoy!

Our New Favorite Place

Three weeks ago I took the kids to the Discovery Science Place with our playgroup. They loved it! In fact, they loved it so much I had to buy a year long family membership ($50 - a Great deal, especially since they let our entrance fee from that first day apply to the price). After more than 3 hours of playing, I had to struggle to get my kids out of there (hence the reason I bought the membership, promising Will and Cici that they could come back whenever they wanted to convinced them that it was okay to go home). Well, I have definantly gotten my money's worth because we have already been back 3 more times. They were just dying to take their Dad with them so we spent another 2-3 hours there one Saturday, and now it is where Dan takes them to play while I go to my OB appointments during his lunch break. Of course when I go to pick them up they throw a fit if we don't stay at least another hour or two after Dad's gone back to work. When we first get there they love to explore the cave and play on the ship. They even love all of the science stuff and Will is learning a lot. They are learning about gravity, friction, shapes, colors, light, weather systems, x-rays, the human body, magnets, etc. Cicialy loves to play in the pretend town that has a grocery store, bakery, cafe, vet, mechanic, baby hospital, bank, ambulance, theater, opthomologists office, and more! What I love about it is that it is only 15 minutes from the house and that it is indoors. I have been told that once the end of May hits until about October it is too hot to take your kids to the park. For summer and winter it is the perfect place to get out of the house and play. So, if you are ever thinking about us and wondering what we are up to, we are probably having fun at the Discovery Science Center!

Mommy Tag

1. Typically what time do you wake up?
I am more often than not awoken in the predawn hours of the early morning somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00 by a cute little girl standing on the side of my bed whispering "Mommy, I love you and your beautiful." What a nice way to start the day. I only wish it wasn't so early! (Cici is bound and determined to make sure she is awake in time to spend some precious moments with her Dad before he leaves for work).
2. On a good night what time are your kids in bed?
The kids are always put to bed between 8 and 8:30, and they used to fall asleep shortly thereafter. Recently though we hear them either yelling at eachother across the hallway or requesting drinks and snacks until 9 or 9:30.
3. How long have you been a mommy?
I have been a mommy for a little over 4 years. Most days I love it, but there have been a few times I've thought "what have I gotten myself into!"
4. How old were you when you became a mommy? 23
5. What is your favorite kids tv show/movie?
I love Mulan! Cicialy and I also really like Enchanted. Cici pretends she is Giselle while we watch it and acts out the entire movie (it is especially cute when she faints after eating the apple and only her father's kiss can awaken her : )
6. What is your least favorite kids tv show / movie?
I can not stand the movie Alice in Wonderland.
7. What is your favorite chore?
I must really like scrubbing down and sanitizing my kitchen countertops since I do it about four to five times a day! Seriously though, I do love to have the kids rooms and closets neat and organized, so I pick all the toys up and put them away at least 3 to 4 times a day.
8. What is your favorite meal to cook?
I am 8 months pregnant right now so I don't really like to cook anything! I do like Dan making me strawberry crepes though.
9. What is the meal you cook most often?
My kids love any combination or flavoring of chicken, rice and sauce (e.g. haystacks, ritz cracker parmesan chicken, apricot chicken, etc), so this is often found at our dinner table several nights a week in various forms.
10. What is your kids favorite meal?
For dinner their favorite meals are chicken, rice and sauce as mentioned above and manicotti. Their favorite meal for lunch is for me to make them homemade lunchables. I give them a stack of ritz crackers and cut squares of turkey and cheese which they then proceed to create mini sandwiches with.
11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids?
I love everything Dan does with the kids. He is the best dad! Especially right now with me being so tired by the end of the day, he is always entertaining them in the evenings by playing board games with them, taking them to the store by himself to get a few things we need, supervising them playing at pbskids.org, making up games for them to play outside, etc. I especially love it when he cooks / bakes with the kids. They love helping him make pinwheels, biscuits, muffins, or navajo bread for breakfast on the weekend.
12.What are 5 things that make you smile when you're being a mom?
#1 Watching Will and Cici's imaginations work as they play pretend. Just this morning they were flying around the house on imaginary broomsticks as Harry Potter and Hermaine and protecting me from bad guys by casting spells with their wands. #2 Snuggling with them on the couch as we watch movies. #3 Peaking in on them after they have fallen asleep and seeing how precious they truly are. #4 Hearing Cicialy yell across the house "Mommy I neeeeeeed yooooooooooou!" #5 They get so excited about Family Home Evening (in fact we have to have it informally at least one more time each week) and more often then not they choose "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam". I love watching them stand in front of us and jump every time they sing the word "beam"!
14. When was the last time you went out without your kids?
Easter weekend we went to Houston and my parents watched the kids while Dan and I went shopping, out to lunch, and then to the temple.
15. What is your favorite past time/activity to do with your kids?
I love to go swimming with the kids. My kids are fish and would stay in the water all day if I let them. In the winter they go swimming in our big bathtub.
16. Name 1 thing you said you'd never do as a mom:
I said I would never let the kids eat in the car. Well that went out the window the second Will was old enough to eat real food. Trips in the car, even short trips, are much more enjoyable if the kids are eating fish crackers or fruit snacks. Thank goodness for leather interiors!
17. What is your favorite quality that your mom has?
My favorite quality my mom has is her dependability and willingness to help. No matter how far away her children live from her, she has come out to help with the birth of every baby and made it to every major life event of her children and grandchildren.
18. What is your advice for new moms?
Take a shower, get dressed in something cute, put on some makeup, and do your hair! I'm not saying you have to do this everyday, but if you do it often you sure feel better about yourself and have more energy to get things done.
19. What is the scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom?
It is always scary when your kids hurt themselves. I don't react very well when blood is involved so the 3 times Will has had to have stitches were always anxious moments for me. (I am fine while he has had to have the stitches put in but not at the moment of the accident when there is blood spilling everywhere). Dan is much better at handling these kind of situations.
20. What is your most joyful moment of being a mom?
I have great kids, so I have a lot of joyful mom moments. It always makes me happy to see how often they share and give eachother hugs. One of the most fulfilling moments was one day when out of the blue Will said to me, "Mom, I'm glad Daddy goes to work so you can stay home and play with us!"
21. When was the last time you were told 'I Love You' by one of your kids?
I am very lucky because my kids tell me "I Love You" all the time.