Lucky 11

The first of six birthdays in the next six months.

Happy Birthday McKay!

McKay is an official "tween". She turned double 1's yesterday. It's been quite the busy week as yesterday was also the science fair and we have been working on projects all week very late into the night. More on that aspect later.
McKay didn't give a list of things she wanted this year. I also forgot to get an "end" picture of the birthday presents. One gift from the grandparents was a set of beads and watch faces so I based ours off of that as well. We got her a decent size bead organizer with bag, and we are taking her out next weekend for a night of shopping for her taste of beads and clothes! She was excited.
She banned cake from the traditional birthday cake / candle/ singing routine. She only wanted ice cream. So we had four of her favorites there and she was in heaven. McKay is such a sweet girl and I am so glad she is our daughter. I couldn't imagine life without her. We love you, McKay!

not holding back

A couple weeks ago, Keli wrote on Facebook that if we all talked about our problems, we could help each other out. So I'm not holding back tonight.....maybe.

I'm starting work again tomorrow after 9 years of being able to stay at home with my kids. I'm not going back because I "want" to, it's because we "need" it. It's a job that is close by (within 2 miles) and my employer is (I can already tell) the BEST! He understands that I have a family at home. If you want an insight check out his website here. I am going to be running his office, shipping, ordering, managing the books, etc. I'm excited with what he wants to do and that he wants my help in getting there. With Jacob's schedule this semester it makes him at home all but a couple of hours each day. My dear and close friend is helping out so we can make this happen. I really am happy that we have an answer to our prayers and have been blessed. But in the same way...

I'm terrified. The mother instinct kicks in and I don't want to leave my kids. I'm 30 years old and I'm finally realizing what is so important in my life. I have taken for granted that I have been able to stay at home and be with my kids. I have enjoyed helping out in the girls' classrooms and being able to work with their teachers. I've done preschool at home and the Cruz has learned so many things already. I know that I will still be a great mom and that I'm strong and independent but I'm still so scared.

It's official....

Grades came out today and once again Jacob got straight A's ...

Yet somehow he still can't figure out how to use a fuel gauge. Jacob ran out of gas today for the third time this year.

a crafty tick tock

Our Easter 2010

Last Sunday, I slacked and didn't take pictures as the kids found their baskets left by the Easter Bunny. (With all the bad weather, we called off the egg hunt and everything was indoors. Our school district even had a snow day on Tuesday the 6th because of the storms we had got.) The girls had a watch face inside their basket (along with eggs filled with coins) and Cruz had a new Ferret Webkinz.
So on Thursday night, as Jacob was finishing finals, my friend brought over her huge collection of beads and we let the girls make their wristbands. McKay is now addicted and is already talking about doing more. The faces were between 3 and 5 dollars each so if you had the bead collection started it's not an expensive hobby.

Cruz was happy with his toy too. When he names his Webkinz toys he picks out a truck / tractor / equipment name. There are Bobcat, Tractor, Cement Mixer, Dumptruck, and Wheel Loader to name a few. When he was deciding a name for his ferret, he went to his box of trucks and picked out a Road Grader. I was surprised at how well he chose for the resemblance of them both.

She's been JAMMED!

I'm not sure how I should start this post, one way is......
My name is Amy and I am a Turbo Jam addict.
The other way is.....
Poor Sarah! Sarah (Jacob's cousin) has been substitute teaching in Boise and decided to visit us for Spring Break. Luckily I volunteered to become her personal trainer and get her fit for the week while she's here. Actually the truth is I like to work out, but love to work out with someone else, sometimes a little too much. It's always funner to have a workout buddy. Dang endorphins, they'll get you every time.

So on Monday I started her on Turbo Jam. 3 workouts (1 1/2 hrs) consisting of 2 cardio and an ab workout.. Tuesday followed the same way with 3 more (1 hr 50 mins.) Wednesday I took it easy on her and it was only 2 workouts because I had commitments Wednesday night.
We are both sore. Our abs and core scream when finished......but yet it feels so good!
(Kirsten's interpretation of when we are finished.)

the new "no chew" policy

Jacob has always had a rule of no gum. Mostly because he wants the kids to have good teeth and he doesn't like the chewing. I've always sneaked it to the girls here and there but now I have a different opinion....
A little over a week ago, I took the girls in for a trim. Kirsten was the one that needed it most but wanted it the least. We all also know that she is my most opinionated loud spoken child. So I left it to the resort and tried to bribe her. She told me for a pack of gum she would let it be cut. Deal!

So an inch was trimmed off and a couple layers put in. With her hair being so thick the layers made it easier to style (and cuter!) We didn't have to have it in a ponytail everyday. Then last Friday I noticed a chunk of hair in the garbage. A chunk of hair with gum in. After Kirsten came home I asked her where she had cut her hair. It seems that she decided to put an extra layer in the side. Thank goodness she has thick hair to cover up the "new blunt cut".

....I have a rule of no gum.

His nightly ritual

Homework, sugar (just a FEW snacks), and soda. The only thing missing is his second dinner. He's set to go til at least 2 a.m.

what color is your tooth fairy?

After loosing a tooth, our kids put in in a glass of water at bedtime. They are so excited to see what color the tooth fairy is. Sometimes I swear they are more excited than Santa at Christmas time. It's been every color from pink to green to purple. On Kirsten's last tooth, it looks like she collected some real fairy dust. She was just a little too excited and woke us up at 6 am in the morning to spread the news.

"it was like pulling teeth!"

Kirsten came to me almost 3 weeks ago with floss and asked me to pull out her loose tooth. While brushing, her older sister had told her that her tooth was so loose that she was going to fall asleep, it would fall out, and she would choke on it. Kirsten believed her.
So we tied the floss and made sure it was snug and tight.
Then she decided that she wanted to pull it herself. This was okay except for the fact that she never pulled "hard" enough.
Then Jacob had a "brilliant" idea. We tied the floss to a five pound weight and Kirsten was to drop the weight when she was ready.
After a couple minutes of holding the weight, she couldn't drop it. She set it down on the ground and went to stand up. This yanked the tooth even looser. She was near tears at this point and wanted the floss off. The problem was, the floss had slipped up around the root and the knot was hidden. Half of the tooth was clear and free with just a little root keeping it in on the other side. So Jacob cut the floss and told her to go get in bed. Now the tears came as she said she didn't want to choke on the floss too. After a careful procedure, I got the floss off with tweezers and she was left with two teeth that stuck out worse than beaver teeth. It lasted 2 weeks that way until she finally trusted me to pull one of them out. So last Tuesday night, on the count of 3 (I pulled on 2) all was said and done. The tooth was out, no tears, and a happy girl that was counting on the tooth fairy. When Kirsten came home the next day, she told me that if I hung up her coat I could pull the other one out too. The tooth came out just as easy as it was to hang up her coat.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

GO GREEN!!!!
(in more ways than one)

Invention Convention

There are 10 kinds of people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.
McKay built a binary counter for her invention convention in GATE this year. Surprisingly when Jacob started to explain counting in binary, she picked it up and could finish how the numbers went. I didn't pick it up so well.

To tide you over....

I volunteered to help a friend make cookies for a couple's party tonight. Jacob had brought a recipe home for me to make and so I decided why not? I found out that it's an easy recipe, quick, with very little clean up. My kind of cookies. Even better, Jacob was right, they are delicious! So while I'm still needing to download pictures and complete my header (I'm so excited on my new feet creation) here is a recipe to pass the time.

ORANGE POPPY SEED COOKIES

1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons of orange zest
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 pinches of salt
2 Tablespoons of poppy seeds.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Makes 36 cookies.
(Allow for the cookies to "spread") I put 12 normal size cookie balls on the sheet and it was perfect.

ENJOY!

Stayed tuned....

I think I'm finally waking up and coming out of hibernation. My two month sleep must come to an end.

This weekend, on top of playing volleyball, writing a talk for sacrament, preparing a lesson, finishing entering in data for Quick Books so we can file our taxes, I'm updating our blog (and yes, the header too!) Let's just hope for a little warmth and sunshine minus the wind!

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.