Note To Self...

If you take the kids as well as Megan and the grandkids to the park in the winter, be careful. Just because the sun is bright and shiny doesn't mean it isn't COLD (especially when the wind is blowing). The kids may be so excited to be at the park that they run to the play equipment and go down the slide before you can get there to see that there might be some ice and water pooled at the bottom that the kids will slide into and the ice will then go flying and the child is left sitting in a VERY cold icy puddle of water (brrrr) with pants completely drenched. Two kids may do this (since there are two slides at this park) before you get a chance to survey what is going on! Park visit will then be abruptly ended and off you go to change clothes (which adds to Megan's Mt. Washmore) and make "hot chocolate"! Mmmmmm!

PS We found the teddy bear! (Whew)

YIKES! Where is this bear?

When Abby was 3 months old, she took her first family vacation to Disneyland! This Teddy Bear was her souviner! She LOVES it! She sleeps with it every night and when she isn't feeling well, we just whip out the bear and all is well!

Well, needless to say, this bear has taken quite a beating. He has been through the washer/dryer many, many times and dragged around the house, yard, dr. office, well you get the picture. The nose is missing, he is stripped of his original clothes but he is so soft and cuddly. He needed replacing badly. He is not easy to replace since you can only purchase him at the Disneyland gift shop.

Well, a couple of months ago, I found him on Ebay. I bid and won this beloved bear! She slept with and dragged around 2 teddies for a bit, but did adopt the new and much better looking teddy. Yesterday, the teddy went with us to the dr. office (immunizations were due) well, last night, we went to tuck Abby in bed and guess who was missing? You guessed it and boy was Abby sad! She cried and cried! Luckily we hadn't thrown out the old teddy so we were able to surface him and satisfy her immediately, BUT he is frightfully "loved" (you can maybe imagine what he looks like) and hopefully Monday, when the dr.'s office is open, we will be able to locate her new teddy.  

I'm Embarassed!

I'm just sitting here surrounded with noisy, joyful, ever so busy, children! Coaxed in to eating dinner by bribing them with dessert...homemade chocolate chip cookies. YUM!


OK I'm back to writing this. Just got everyone tucked in and picked up a bit and as I was doing all that I realized that I spaced out Abby's 18 mo Dr. appt this morning! For some reason I thought it was tomorrow morning. Now, you may think, oh well, no big deal, everyone has their moments -


BUT -


this is the 2nd time this month I have spaced her rescheduled appt and I will have to re-schedule it for the 4th time since her original appt had to be missed due to her having a really bad cold! (that one I called on the phone and cancelled!) Ugh! Sometimes I fear I'm losing it! My mind, that is. ;o)

Of course, I'm kidding but I really do have to think of some great way to help myself remember important appointments. Ironically, Jesse pointed out to me that I have been forgetting some of these things since I switched from wall calendar to my really cool ipod calendar app. Maybe I should just use my ipod for the games, games for my kids that is! Pretty expensive toy for them although it was worth it's weight in gold the past two Sundays during Sacrament meeting! (I wonder if they make LDS game apps for kids so I don't have to feel too guilty when I pull this out in church!)


Well, I suppose I ought to sign off the computer and see if I can get some of my housework/laundry done while Bryce and Jesse are gone and all is quiet around here at the moment or....


...maybe I should just go hop into a hot tub and take a quiet uninterrupted bath! Ahhhh! ;o)

We frosted sugar cookies today.....

A picture is worth a 1,000 words!! ;o)

Jesse

Let me just tell you how much I love and admire this kid. He is so much fun to be around. He has a great sense of humor and quick wit which keeps us all laughing around here. Here are some other things I love about Jesse.

1) He is a great basketball player and loves the sport. He's fun to watch because he puts everthing he has into the game and is such a good sport and great player and team mate.

2) He is a great musician. He plays the violin (loves to fiddle) and this year he has started playing the guitar. He catches on quickly and loves it.

3) He is a great brother. All of his little siblings look up to him so much. They love Jesse. He plays with them and includes them when his friends are over. (They often get into his "stuff" but he is very forgiving!)

4) He is a great student. He has been on the honors roll many times. He loves to learn new things and I, quite frankly, have learned many new things from him. He especially enjoys science and is really good at it.

5) Jesse pitches in and helps with anything Bryce or I ask him to do. I rarely hear him grumble about anything. He has a super attitude.

6) He has a testimony of the gospel and honors his priesthood and priesthood duties. He is a great example to his family and friends

7) He is a loyal person to both family and friends. I am so proud of him. I could easily go on and on and on but I think you get the picture..... Jesse is one SUPER KID!

Valentines Day...

What a great day to honor and celebrate the love we have for each other! It's so easy to take each other for granted so I, for one, am always happy for these wonderful holidays that helps us stop and reflect on those special people in our lives. Yesterday was really fun. No fancy dinner this year but this past couple of weeks we baked, cookies, made valentines and got everything ready! We delivered them after church and the kids had a blast. Bryce gave me some beautiful roses and a wonderful gift. I am forever grateful to be married to such a wonderful, sensitive, and loving husband and friend. Megan, Weston and the kids came over last night and left us some goodies at the door. My kids were so excited to dash out in the yard and look for them. It was so very fun! It was really nice to be prepared this year. Too many years I try to tie up too many last minute details the day of the holiday and then I'm feeling, tired, stressed etc. This year, we just had fun!

More on January...

WOW! I can't believe that this month has come to an end. I was reading a few posts on facebook by someone who kept wishing this month away. One thing I love about living here is the diversity and weather changes etc. I can't imagine wishing the month away. Here are some things I love about January -

1)I love the quietness of January. I love the cloudy skies and peaceful, restful feeling it lends
2)I love a good snowstorm. My children have loved playing in the snow. I love it too as well as watching them!
3)I love hot chocolate after coming in from a chilly day or evening.
4)I love pink faces when they come in from outside.
5)I love the sun when it peeks through a January cloudy sky or just a beautiful sunny day that makes the snow look sprinkled with glitter.
6)I love the feeling of newness and renewal as I recommitt or set new goals

This is what you get when your hubby and 13 yr old son run up to Evanston to grab a "few" fireworks to set off on New Years Eve!

We added these new appliances! The kids loved watching the clothes spin in the windows. One day I washed Abby's beloved teddy bear and when she discovered it spinning in the window she stood there and cried!

Part of the fun in January is enjoying all the new Christmas toys and joys. The kids got some pellets that tint the bath water. They love tinting the water!

We went to the aquarium this month! We NEVER tire of going to the aquarium. I'm sure there will be more pictures to come each month of this event!