Chandlerisms

Chandler shared with me what he knows about the Book of Mormon Stories after Church today and he did not hesitate or skip a beat when he told me that it includes the Knee-Hi's and the Lame one ites.
The Knee Hi's are the good guys and the Lame-one ites are the bad guys. (just in case you didn't know) The Knee-Hi's are on Jesus' side and they beat the bad guys. Chandler wants to be a Knee-Hi when he gets bigger. He has also said he wants to be a Jedi and fight the dark side.

On the way to church we were driving behind a sedan and it had 3 teenage boys in the backseat goofing off. Chandler looked at me and said "You know mom, there not going to church today. You know how I know? Cause they aren't dressed in church clothes, cause you can't wear hats."
I smiled and told him, that's right, but you know its ok, because we all have free agency and are able to make the choice on whether we go to church or not. He said "Yeah, I'm glad we are making the right choice. They are making the bad choice."
Whew - I thought for sure he was going to call me out on that one. He is always telling me that I can't make him do something and I always say he doesn't have a choice and then today, I tell him he has free agency to make a choice. I think that if he had caught on, we would be making our Next FHE about choices. :)

Thanks for making me smile and for making the right choices!- I Love you Bud!

7 Years Ago

Elder Christansen (AKA Spongebob), and Elder Harlow

Cory and Melinda (Pregnant with Chandler)

Cory with his Dad and Thelma - WE Love you!

Cory's agenda from August 26th, 2001

7 years ago, Cory was baptized in Kent, WA. An important day to us, that often gets overlooked when it comes to celebrating anniversaries and such. I am so proud of my husband, he works so hard and makes so many sacrifices and this was a huge step for not just him - but for us!
Thank you for all you do! And Congratulations on 7 years! you have now earned your free Toaster! :)

The Hunk

I overheard Chandler and Alyssa talking about the Hunk and the strong guy. I was intrigued, so I continued to listen without letting them know that I was listening. Alyssa had the Hunk and Chandler had the Strong guy - were these toys? Or an imaginary thing they play?
I peeked around the corner and this is what I saw.

Oh, you mean The Incredible Hulk and the Dumpster Toss Abomination..... yeah, whatever mom.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!!

Happy 5th Birthday Beans!! We Love you!

Meltdown

I found this at a website that I will probably refer to a lot - fhautism.com - just had to share. If you have spent any length of time with Chandler, you understand all too well. Story of our lives!

Once a year Family Picture Time

Here they are - the event that we know we need to do, but wonder why? after we do it.
It is so hard to get everyone ready for this and have them happy. The one day that Spencer actually takes a nap (during the photos) and Kady skips hers and is crabby. So we made do with what we had.
Dad is a favorite if you can't tell. Each of the kids wanted one alone with daddy. Chandler and Alyssa both took theirs to hang in their lockers at school and Sarah took hers home with her too.

Daddy and his Princess

Sarah and her newest baby sister

Ties for my FAVORITE! Cory told me that this was just a moment that they were having and they took a picture. This was Chandler telling daddy that he was all done taking pictures.

Daddy and two of his girls (Beans and Kadalee)

I was trying to make her smile because she was crying - if you look close, she is starting to smile. If you look closer you'll see her slobber all over my sleeve from where she was sucking on it :)

No wonder people stare at us when we go somewhere all together -I mean look at us, we're good looking people :) oh and yeah there are a lot of us :)

All My Boys

All the Girls (Daddy took off Kady's socks and she stopped crying - way to go daddy!)

Ahhhhhhhh - isn't that cute~
Cory has lost 40lbs since we've moved to Iowa, too bad I'm still working on baby weight.

Ties for MY FAVORITE (and was the kids idea to pose this way)

Alyssa be Nimble

Alyssa's second day of kindergarten she brought home a practice sheet for writing her name. She also had to draw a picture. I just couldn't resist, it's my right as her mom. :)

Howerton Family day of Fun

We spent our day at the Bettendorf Family Museum. Sarah and Chandler had fun playing with the funny mirrors, the science stuff and spinning! Aly and Spencer enjoyed the tunnels, Tornado winds and spinning in the bowl. Kady slept through all of it, but we all had a great time. There were no shortage of smiles here!

Sarah experimenting with speed.

The grocery store - at least there were a lot of vegi's....

A Spencer sized and durable computer

Spencer in the Tornado wind simulator

Sarah and Chandler switching half of their bodies with the funny mirrors

More funny mirrors

Now that's just weird~

Aly in the tree tunnel

Sarah pushing Chandler in the chair - then I pushed Sarah in the chair and she spun for a good minute :)

Spencer and Aly enjoying a spin in the chair. Spencer had a hard time regaining his balance after this.

a spinning bowl just like the amusement parks - but they put some science twist on this one, we just didn't read it all.

Spencer and the Tornado winds again.

Unpack backpack night/ 1st day of school!

McKinley Elementary

Aly walking into school for Kindergarten testing

Chandler and Aly standing on the wall at school waiting for the bell to ring.

Aly standing in her line at school

She didn't even cry - she was so excited!

Chandler at his locker just outside of his classroom

Aly at her locker on unpack your backpack night. Aly's class is the ONLY kindergarten class to get lockers, everyone else gets cubbies.

Chandler on his first day of school - he started one day before Aly

Chandler sitting at his desk

Leaving for school on Chandler's 2nd day and Alyssa's 1st!

my life has changed a little during the days - having both Chandler and Alyssa gone at school is a little weird for me, but so far Spencer loves all the attention! Although he did wander around the house for the first 20 minutes asking for Aly. Cory is hoping for a cleaner house, I'm just excited to have a little quite time during naps. :)

3 Months Old!

Who knew drool could be so cute?

boy, time flies! Kady is 3 months old!

One more reason to smile

The kids found a butterfly outside attached to the side of the trampoline netting. They immediately put it in a cereal bowl, gave it leaves, grass and some Banana then wrapped it with plastic wrap??!
I made them take their new pet back outside and release it, where it would LIVE!
They also took the camera with them and this is what you get when you have kids in charge of the camera. :)

Wishing you a happy day!