My baby is 7!!

...................................................................................Christen's 7th birthday is today! I cant believe it! She is so grown up, and yet still loves to be cuddled and doesn't seem to mind when I call her my baby.

We do friend birthday parties every other year and this was her year. I told her that if we did one at the house rather than going somewhere she could invite more friends. And invite she did! Between church, school and dance class we had 14 little girls total on this past Saturday afternoon. We had it pretty organized with 3 different stations with Todd and the boys both helping me - ALOT!! It was fun though.

I made a butterfly cake from an idea in the Family Fun magazine and it turned out pretty cute even though we decided it looked better upside down from the original layout. We just moved the twizzler antennaes.

She also got a bike for her birthday, which she was thrilled about.

A Nght in Paris -Sweetheart Dance

...................................................................................This past Friday night our Stake had a fabulous couples dance!! We have never been before but I think this will be a new tradition!! The theme was A Night in Paris - which is as close as we are going to get for awhile! The decorations were incredible, as was the food and dancing. We even learned a little Salsa - although the lesson was much faster paced than our rec center class! We actually did some of our west coast swing moves too throughout the night. We had many of our friends from our ward there which made it so much more fun!

By the way, Brandon was asked to officially babysit for the first time tonight - for some ward friends who went to the dance with us. He has watched our kids enough now and feels comfortable - but I wasnt sure how this would go! He did great though! A family of boys the youngest out of diapers. He had fun with them and did a great job. Thanks to my friend Andrea - the one doing the bunny ears- for trusting him!!!

Now - we just have to remember to iron his pants before Sunday for when he is passing - so he looks really responsible!! OOPS - I'll blame that on Todd - he is the ironer!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just a shout out to you all that we love and appreciate you all!

It looks like we are going to have a huge storm come in tonight so maybe it will be a late start for school. I hope it isn't cancelled. Poor Trevor has missed the last 3 years of valentines parties due to sickness! Why is it always Trevor?!

later -- The kids had a great day with treats and parties and the weather was not as bad as expected.

Gallon Challenge

Our ward has given us a challenge to turn off our water for a full 24 hours and only use a gallon of our stored water per person! So 5 gallons total for our family. We did it yesterday and we survived ok! The great part was no laundry, no dishes to do, no cleaning. The rough part was the potty usage. Luckily the kids and Todd were gone most of the day and I was gone part of the day. Did you know that it takes more than 1 gallon of water to flush a toilet?

We all showered the night before and had little cups of water to brush teeth. I even made playdough when Brandon told me at 9 pm that he needed it for school the next day. Don't you love when kids don't mention things like that until the last second?!

We were all very grateful for running water and realized that we could all save water in little ways. I have decided to turn off the water when I brush my teeth. Hey, it's a start!!

Cold Camping

Brandon spent last night at his second Klonderee campout. He had a great time and the weather was good for them too. Several of his buddies were able to go because one had just barely turned 12 and the other is almost 12 and his dad was a leader there. It got down to 4 degrees and when it gets below 0 they get a polar bear patch. Maybe next year.

They all stayed warm even though when Brandon got there he realized that he had 2 right hand gloves!! Todd was coming up this morning anyway with some other kids so he brought the match. They went horseback riding and Brandon got his Horsemanship merit badge. 2 badges down and 22 to go!!! Brandon also cooked the chili for the evening meal and also got his first taste of SPAM - not my idea!!

We went to a friend's Eagle Court of Honor on Wednesday night and that was exciting for Brandon to think about his next few years in scouting.

Got Milk?

Trevor and Christen are my big milk drinkers - Brandon, not so much. They usually pour up big glasses of milk and then dont finish it before they get picked up for school. Most of the time the milk gets put in the fridge for them. We have talked over and over about the fact that milk is expensive and that they need to drink what is poured. The other day after they came home from school I told Trevor to finish the milk that was on the table. He fussed a bit but finally drank a bit and then gave me a grossed out look. I took the glass and smelled it and dumped it down the sink. Nasty. -- ok I really dont usually leave milk cups out but it had been a busy morning because I had been called in to the kids school to substitute for the first time!! - 5th grade -it was fun!

That evening we all went to bed at a decent time, especially for me because the school wanted me to come in the next day to sub for the same class again. Then around midnight wouldn't you know we heard someone urping in the bathroom. (At least they are old enough now to get to the bathroom!) It was Trevor saying, "it was the milk, it was the milk!! " I guess he gulped it down instead of the sip I thought he had and the milk had probably been out longer than usual. He was up for the next 45 minutes or so not knowing which end to stick in the toilet!! Very violent!!

So - I poisoned my very own child!! Poor kid. He does have a strong gag reflex, but I certainly didnt mean for that to happen! Especially when I thought so now what do I get a sub for the sub?? As it turned out, he stayed home and slept and I came back to check on him at lunch. I tried to get him to come back to school with me but I felt bad and he stayed home to play Guitar Hero for the rest of the day!!

It's Derby Time!

We recently had our Pinewood Derby on Jan 23rd. It was a success as usual but this was the first time after many years of being behind the scenes that I was in front announcing as a CubMaster. We had a lot of help from all of the leaders and it was definately a group effort. Trevor ended up coming in 4th place. He was excited!

On a side note, I was also excited to find out that our newly appointed prophet, Pres Thomas S Monson is a big fan of Scouting - besides icecream and the color yellow! Tonight for home evening we read some articles from Pres. Monson. My mom recently told me that my dad was set apart as bishop in the 6o's by Pres. Monson. Interesting fact.

Old "News"

...................................This is really old news - from New Years Eve.--You will see that I have finally played catch up and downloaded pictures. I should have done this one first because it was older. Anyway, we were invited to my friend Leslie's house to have fun with her family and extended family. We had a great time playing Rock Band and playing with a coveted Wii. I still cant believe that my friend's sister just happened to be at Target right as they were unloading the Wii truck and decided to get one even though she hadn't planned on it - And we searched and searched and then finally gave up!!

Christen was really mad because she crashed 15 min before the ball dropped on the Rockin' Eve show and missed all the excitement. When we got home we had to reinact it - but we are good at that from our Christmas - photo experience!!

Since I have caught up so much in one setting, I noticed that my first and most important blog post of the night went into olders posts - so please click on that one too!

Music, Music, Music

.......................................................Todd and the kids had a great jam session with Roger when he came out last weekend. It was so awesome to see Roger and he was so fun with the kids!! They sounded great with their instruments too. Roger brought out his trumpet. It was also fun to hear family stories. I had no idea that Todd walked 3 and 1/2 miles to school and back with a heavy trombone and backpack!!

Roger also told a hilarious story about selling candy and bubble gum to kids at school for profit and then taking all of his hard earned nickels and dimes over to the bank in a glass jar only to drop it on the way, shatterring it everywhere. Of course, he tried to pick everything up but his hands got all cut up and bloody. Then, after collecting as much as he could he walked into the bank with bloody hands and coins, dumping everything on the teller's desk with her looking perplexed and telling him that he had to roll them up in the papers. So, he moved everything over and started rollong!! Sorry - but we were all laughing so hard when he was reminicsing about that!! I think Glenn took over the business after that.

They also talked about their paper routes - which we now really wish that our boys could do. - maybe they will sell candy and gum instead.--One other thing that they talked about was that their music tutor would give them a small candy for each hour that they practiced. Our kids eyes went huge and guess who all are practicing MUCH more than before?!! Oh, for the love of chocolate!

Even Christen has begun to take keyboard lessons from her grandma since they got home. See above - so cute!! This is another added bonus!!!

Benefits of having the inlaws back!!

.....................................................We have so enjoyed having Todd's folks back from their mission!! The kids have enjoyed seeing the deer that come to visit, we loved being able to hear of their stories and be at their homecoming, having family dinners, and a great visit from Todd's brother Roger! We are thrilled that we will be having a family reunion this summer with everyone!!

Tribute to my Father

I saw this at the library and was laughing so hard. This is SO my dad, rest his fixer upper soul!! Unfortunately, the required age for this class is 13 so Brandon cant learn this fine talent of Duct Tape Art yet! Maybe next year. LJC you would be proud!!

Super Bowl 2008

So, as I am trying to play catch up on the blog we have been watching the game. Giants just won!! So - Matthew - you know who you are - you must have jinxed your Patriots with your earlier antics this morning - what DID you actually do to the electric system at the church??
(He is a huge Patriots fan and when his lovely wife asked him what he was fasting for he said he was going to fast and pray today that church would be cancelled because of snow! -kidding of course - I think?! - very unlikely to snow where they live.) As it turns out they had a huge hail storm and and electrical failure with a bad smokey smell - so church was actually cancelled -- and he is an electrician!!

To give him some credit he did help us install out ceiling fans several years ago! We miss you guys!!

More from the big 39th

Check out ALL OF THAT SMOKE! - and it wasnt even 39 candles!

And Misty dog eating "my" cake!! It was a great weekend. I actually had a friend of mine tell me that it was her birthday today and she was 30. I was feeling SO OLD!! I was thinking - OK I was 9 when she was born, etc etc. Anyhow, I hope I make the most of my last year in my 30s! My mom sent me a card that said life starts at 40 - so I guess I am good. I also should mention that I had a great few days with several friends. Leslie and I went out window shopping and for a steamer and danish, Lori and I went out to the movies, my friend Andi sent me flowers, Julie gave me a shout out on her blog, I had many calls and cards, my inlaws, mom, and Todd gave me wonderful gifts or $ and Todd and I had extra time together. What a lucky girl am I!!! -- Well, the checkers at the grocery store have actually been calling me ma'am for a while now. Yikes.

Starting the new year with a sledding BANG!

Over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend we had a fun sledding trip to a local elementary school's fairly steep hill. We had a blast. It was perfect weather. I dont always go along when Todd and the kids take their sledding trips, but I decided to be a good sport. It was good exercise climbing up that steep hill!!

So, I felt like having some fun so I said, "Todd, Lets race!" It reminded me of BYU days when we'd get the cafeteria trays from the Morris center and sled down the Bell Tower hill - ok - I didnt know Todd then but it was still fun! So - all of the sudden I went blasting down the hill and Todd wasnt behind me. I was still going very fast near the end of the hill and so I slid on the pavement -ok -fine -- but then I went into the curb, trying to stop with my feet but ending up stopping with a big thud with my tush!! Wow, did that hurt! And the bruise I had! Woah - It is actually still there. I didnt break anything - too much padding -- but I tried to be a good sport and went down - barely-- one more time.

Our Prophet Dear

What an emotional week after finding out about the death of President Hinckley! I know that we all knew that it would come at some point but, nonetheless, it stiil is hard. This great man and prophet of God is the only prophet that all of my children have known. When we watched the funeral I realized this and the fact also that this was the first funeral that my children have been a part of. I am not really a crier but I sobbed though most of the service. My children were exceptionally reverent and I know that they felt the spirit then, as I did of the truthfulness of living prophets and of the gospel plan.

So, anyhow, I would just like to state publicly how grateful I am for EVERYTHING that I have learned from President Hinckley and I hope that I can honor his memory by standing a little taller and trying a little harder.