ticket to ride

It's called "TICKET TO RIDE," and surprisingly Jacob has gotten REALLY competitive about winning.
We got this game for Christmas from our Schellenberg cousins. We have enjoyed playing it with friends and family. I've noticed that along with Settlers of Catan, Germans make really good games. We enjoyed many fun rounds with Hannah and Axel when they were here. (Jacob was also caught cheating an hour into the New Year but found out later that his intentions weren't for himself.)

P.S. This is the North America version. There are different countries with different rules for variety.

aunt and uncle ----- sister and brother

We just said goodbye to Hannah and Axel! They came up for a weekend visit to play with us. Time flies when you are having fun with family.

Yesterday the boys shot guns in the early afternoon and then we all enjoyed a little snow play.
We haven't seen Axel in almost 18 months. My kids greeted and played all weekend long with LOTS of ENERGY! They couldn't get enough of either one of them.
Axel triumphed over Hannah on the snow fight.
Katanya had the sled thing a little backwards. She would rather get pulled up the hill than go down.

We also got out the four wheeler and sled and pulled them over the property. Then our neighbor brought over his snowmobile and let us use it for a little while. This weekend happened so fast. It makes you realize how important family is. Thanks Hannah and Axel for coming!

the last of 2009

I have to post the last of 2009's Christmas before we welcome 2010. McKay has wanted (and waited patiently) for a DS for a little over a year now. I wouldn't ever buy one but she finally got one for Christmas. That wasn't all. McKay has a fascination for otters. She absolutely LOVES them. On her list was a build-a-bear otter so that is what we got her. So while she is trying to beat Kirby, she is loving Molly.

P.S. I've got a New Year's Resolution list going in my head. I've also got a bet going with Jacob on one thing (if I accept). We'll see come midnight!

a chalk board and a white board!

Katanya was so excited all Christmas season. Each day she asked when Christmas was coming. She also grasped the concept of Santa and being good. In fact, one evening a friend stopped by as Santa and he asked if she had been good and if he should bring presents. She answered, "No, not today. (She had just thrown her controller at Cruz's head. Gotta give her points for being honest.) She has loved her "chalk board and white board. (I just realized that Santa has followed Hazel's gifting patterns.) Katanya is also always toting her Tinkerbell doll from her aunt with the movie from grandma. She must be a pixie girl!

Kirsten and Eva

One of Kirsten's present was a (target made) American Doll. She had to make her a name necklace to go with the one she made at the beach. When she gets busy and has something to do, she makes sure that either Dad or I are watching her and holding her. It was funny and I even did a double take when I saw Jacob carry a doll around last night. I love the fact that the kids are still playing and being nice today.

final product

We have had a GREAT and Merry Christmas this year at home. The kids played from a little past 8 this morning to almost midnight tonight. I'll bring a few highlights over the next couple days.
Jacob and I finished Cruz's "Idaho Falls City Map" late last night. We sprayed the acrylic coating on a little before midnight. I got up at 6 am and quickly wrapped it and put it under the tree. It was from Jacob and I but he had been waiting so patiently to see his presents under the tree. This was a week long project and I don't think that you could pay me to do another one, (at least anytime soon.) We drove around the town earlier in the week and took pictures of the buildings I wanted on the map. I wanted it as personal as we could get. Cruz loved it with all the "match box" cars that he got with it to go with the city. We even added our "pit" and equipment to the fun as well.

not a creature was stirring ...

... not even a mouse


... not even the one with a pierced ear.

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak when we started on Sunday evening with Cruz's present. I knew what I wanted but I have a hard time putting it to paper but luckily I have a talented and "visionary" husband. Together we have stayed up late the past three nights and worked on this (as well as I have shut myself in my room and worked on it yesterday.) If you look at the time stamp, that is correct and not fixed. One more night and it will be done. Hopefully I can just make it that far.

I'm so excited to see Cruz's face when he opens it. Although, I don't know which kid will like it more. As I sat in my room tonight drawing, McKay ran to Cruz's toys and started playing with it. I guess I know what to get her for her birthday.

kitchen completion

Jacob finally finished the bar stools yesterday. Or rather, started and completed this project yesterday. It was a lot simpler than he had planned on it being. Just to give you a little hint on how long we've been waiting, the color of the chairs was the whole reason I repainted my kitchen back in January of 2008. I love my house!
So now that we have extra seats for eating and plenty of extra beds, there is always room for holiday visitors!?

McKay's first Christmas....

at home. McKay is excited this year to finally be able to spend Christmas at home (the first for this home.) The last time she spent Christmas at home was in 2003 (below). Every other year she goes to her other dad's.In 2005 we were in Hawaii (no complaints) a couple weeks before and with Betsy for Christmas.
In 2007 we spent Christmas and New Year's with Betsy again!
This year we have decided to stay at home and the kids can't wait.

The Best Minestrone Soup

I should have gotten a picture. This soup was THAT good. It's my new favorite (and it's rather simple). It's from McKay's grandma, Merilyn. Here recipes have always been favorites such as Linda Brown Tacos (which Nate renamed to Amy's Famous Tacos). She tried to recreate Olive Garden's version and I think she beat it. Anyway she gave me permission to share so ENJOY!

2-3 TBSP Olive Oil
1 small onion, minced
1/2 cup zucchini, julienne sliced
1 stalk celery, minced
2 tsp. crushed garlic (jar in produce section)
4 Cans of Vegetable or Chicken Broth (2 boxes)
1 (14.5 oz.) can of Italian Green Beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15 oz.) cans of Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz.) can of Great Northern or White Beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 oz.) can of Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 (15 oz.) can of Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup shredded carrots (you can buy a bag of shredded carrots in the produce section too)
1/2 - 1 tsp. Parsley
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 - 1 tsp. Black pepper
1/2 - 1 tsp. Basil
4 Cups of Hot water
2 Cups Chopped Cabbage
1/2 Cup small Seashell Pasta (it doesn't seem like a lot but....Don't put more!)
****you can also add spinach if desired.

Heat Olive Oil in 10qt. stock pot. Saute onion, zucchini, celery, and garlic in the oil until the onions begin to turn translucent. (I threw my onion and celery in the food processor to mince them. My kids couldn't even tell they were in it.) Add broth, beans, tomatoes, carrots, spices and water. Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes. Add cabbage and pasta and cook for another 20 minutes or until desired soupy thickness. Serve with real grated Parmesan cheese on top. (She sometimes add stew meat to this. Brow and cook (braise) for about 1 hour before adding.

***BONUS****Today I cooked a roast during church and then when I got home I shredded it and added it on the last step.

It was simply DELICIOUS! Katanya and Cruz loved it and ate every bite in their bowl. McKay asked to take some for her lunch at school and I'm already looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

2009 ornament

This year for our "yearly traditional" ornament we decided to go with our visit to Betsy's house in Texas. Near the end of June we traveled out there for a month and stayed with her and her family. It was a fun and memorable experience. We always love spending time with family. (I'm also wishing that we were in Texas right about now out of the cold and snow.)

I still have yet to do a family picture, but I have everything ready. Now that Jake is out of school for the year (2 weeks) I just need snow and one good weathered day. I won't go a year without one so here's crossing my fingers.

P.S. I never cleared the confusion from last year. I only pictured the ornament with the family picture and no description. Since it was a secret until the year was up, I couldn't say anything. It was a glass diamond with a book on it to celebrate Jacob going back to college.

Brrrrrrrrrr!

It is so nice to get out of bed on a cold morning and open the fireplace.

christmas decorations

As I got out the Christmas decorations I noticed something odd in Cruz's bedroom. Does any other kids out there do this? And yes, the bag is almost half full still.

under lock and key

Kirsten and McKay share a huge bedroom. In that bedroom they share a TV that they got for Christmas last year. Last Tuesday night, McKay came up asking if I had seen the remote. Nope. Later in the evening Kirsten was watching a Christmas show when I asked her to go shower. McKay came up 5 minutes later and asked again where the remote was. She then accused Kirsten of locking it in her safe.

I went downstairs and checked and sure enough she had tucked it in a safe place. What a smart girl. She was in the middle of her show, paused it, and didn't want anyone else to start it without her. (We love our DVR.) I chuckled, snapped a pic, and left it locked up.

I love Kirsten's thinking sometimes. Besides, sisters do this all the time right?

Back from vacation

(I'm behind on blogging. Actually not behind but more like unmotivated. Being sick and being in freezing single digits can bring one down. Hopefully, I can update my header very soon. I am still also in dire need of a family picture as it goes with my Christmas tree tradition. )

For Thanksgiving we ended up spending it with my family. We had lots of options and we honestly didn't decide our plans for certain until the weekend before. I hadn't been there for my dad's birthday since the year we got married so that played heavily into the planning. And while loved seeing Erika (and fam), Karl, and Maddy, we missed Betsy in Vegas.Whenever someone in my family has a baby, my dad says he won't hold or play with them until their two. I guess I'm just more pushy than my brother because I have pictures within 2 days to 2 months of him holding all of my babies. With Olivia, it took almost 5 months. Maybe my dad is just getting more stubborn in his age.

It was fun to spend Thanksgiving and his 69th birthday.

Night of the Noteables

McKay had her GATE research presentation tonight. She chose a Greek Goddess. So for those of you up on your Greek Mythology.....any guesses? (without the help of google) Here are some clues: She is the goddess of forest and hills, hunting, virginity and fertility. (How does all of that go together?) She was the daughter of Zeus and the twin of Apollo. For any of you that know Roman mythology, she identified with the Goddess Diana.

She was often depicted with a bow and arrow and also with the crescent of a moon above her forehead. McKay told me Monday evening that a costume was mandatory. So Wednesday evening we put this together. With the help of a few Internet ideas and a few of my own (I actually had another creative light go on) we put together a Goddess outfit. (Total cost of materials was under $15. We had a lot already in the craft and fabric containers.)

Now according to McKay, she is set for next Halloween. I told you I would start early.

double trouble

These two play really good together (most of the time). They have a close bond, and even though it wasn't planned, I am glad they ended up as close together as they did. Often, I get asked the questions if they are twins. While I shake my head and wonder if people really think that, I will say that they do look a lot alike.

I know Katanya will be heart broken when Cruz goes to school next year and she won't. Although it will be nice to have a big brother always there for her.

many expressions

Katanya is a fun and energetic toddler. This was passed on through her photo shoot. I had so many different favorites because many of her personalities came through in different expressions. So sorry ahead of time that there are a lot of pictures.

The day before, I wasn't really satisfied about anything that I wanted her to wear. I went to five different stores looking for options but wasn't happy with anything. Finally that night, I ran to Walmart and was browsing the fabric section. I loved the butterflies and the colors. For $2 in fabric, $2 in seam binding and $1.50 in thread, we had a new skirt that evening. If you add her entire out fit together, (I got the shirt while shopping with Betsy at Kohl's for $1.60) it is $7.10. I love good deals!

graduated!

Cruz has graduated from the Kerksiek (Jacob) smile! That and I fell in love with my camera all over again. My friend Loni, let me come use her studio (and knowledge and lenses) and photograph my two youngest yesterday morning. She has a camera just like mine so she was able to help me with the aperture and all the different settings. I think this time the explanations have stuck. I just need to get out and practice everyday.

He was happy, easy, giggly, and fun to work with. The first picture was my favorite. I have to say, this is definitely the way to go!

P.S. For those that are interested, my little brother finally joined the blogging world. My family is just a little sllllllooooowww. His blog is

www.michaelandhaley.blogspot.com