Our Happy Home

Our 2 kitties

2011-12-18T21:05:00.001-08:00

I have to admit the addition of these kitties to our home has been one of the greatest blessings of this past year. We LOVE them. They are little Siberians, have low allergen levels, and are the sweetest kittens ever! This definitely was one of Nate's better ideas! On their first night we didn't have their cage yet so we put them in the bathroom and this is how we found them when we woke up.

boy genius

2011-12-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

OK, so both my husband and I agree-- we don't know where this kid came from. As a high school freshman (according to the PSAT) jake just scored better than 99% of juniors taking the same exam. He, also, scored between 29-33 on the PLAN (which is the pre-ACT). What the wha?

The 3 foot chicken

2011-12-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

Me, "I would like to know who drew the 3 foot chicken on my bathroom wall?"
Abby, Vivian..."Not me! Not me!"
Jake, "I want to see this 3 foot chicken"
Emmy, "me too!"
Everyone follows into the bathroom.

Me again, "which one of you did this?"
Abby and Vivian again, "not me! not me!"
Jake, "it couldn't have been Vivian--it's too good. Abby had to have done it"
Emmy, "yeah, Abby had to have done it"
Abby, "no I didn't!!@!"

As everyone exits my bathroom Vivian falls behind to whisper to me, "It's a really good chicken, huh momma?"
Me, "yes, Vivian, it's a really good drawing of a chicken"
Vivian replies beaming, "I did it."

2 favorite quotes from today

2011-06-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

Em, 11 yrs, when speaking of two of her friends, "they get along great they know everything about all kinds of inappropriate stuff".
Viv, 5 yrs, "Abby, you wanna come see my catepillar poop!?!"

I love summer. When else can I be around to hear all the fun things my kids say. Lots more to tell, but I'm busy packing, packing, packing, again......

Peer pressure

2011-03-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

We've been studying Christ's ministry and crucifixion in Matthew as a family over the past month. I've been baffled by how when Pilate brought Jesus before the crowd they all shouted "crucify him". I thought where were the 5,000 that followed him to listen to his teachings? Where were all those he healed to shout "set him free"? Where were they??!! And how could Peter deny him 3 times! I've always been someone who marches to their own tune and didn't mind standing out or apart from the rest--choosing my way even if it departed from the rest. When I was in college I thrived on that fact. I've often thought I wouldn't be able to deny him, but would I have had the strength to speak apart from the rest? If I did I probably would have been stoned or spat upon or who knows as the people back then were brutal.

This past Sunday I got a better understanding of what it must have been like. I direct the children's choir at my church. I am always looking for creative ways to teach the music so that the kids will enjoy singing. This past Sunday I borrowed someone's idea to play tic-tac-toe. I made a giant board with different song titles in each square. I divided the two halves of the room into x -team and O-team and let the game commence. Near the end of one round one child chose not to block the other team to prevent them from winning so that they could sing a particular song. I asked him if he knew how to play and what the object of the game was and he said "yes". There immediately was an uproar from his teammates to change the square. He was holding his ground and starting to turn red in the process. Again the crowd swelled with "NO! CHANGE IT!!!!" The boy about burst into tears and at the last second changed it despite his original desire, sat down and cried while attempting to sing the new song--not of his choosing. My first thought was, "boy, was this a STUPID idea!". My second thought was, "Wow...this is what it must have been like". You could see the shame in his face as he tried to hold his ground and go against what everyone was telling him. The pressure was too great.

As our society grows further and further away from Christianity I wonder if it will again get to that point. In all the films I see whenever there is someone religious they are always painted in a poor light. As someone who is judgemental and self-righteous--imposing their "crazy" beliefs on everyone else. Joseph smith believed in Christ and that He visited him and what happened to him? He couldn't deny what he saw--what he believed and as a result was teased, beaten, thrown in jail for no good reason and eventually murdered. What did he have to gain by sticking to his story? Nothing. When he heard the crowd and how adversely they reacted to what he saw and heard he could have easily caved and denied it all. But, he didn't. Believing and following Christ has never been a "popular" idea and I don't know that it ever will be. I hope I am never put to that test and have to choose like that.

OK, so this is quite a lengthy post so I'd better quit. Don't know if it led anywhere, but there's my food for thought for the day..... This morning we'll be reading about Christ's resurrection. At least, there is always a happy ending to the story of Christ's life. I think that's why I like happy endings. I believe in Christ and that we all will be resurrected someday and that is good news!

New Things

2011-02-27T22:50:00.000-08:00

Some new things for me this week:

I've finally joined the new age and am now texting....Or rather, Nate bought me a phone that I have the capability to send and receive texts on. Haven't figured out how yet, but I will.

Mom, jeans. They're called "not my daughter's jeans" and they go ALL the way up to my belly button and I LOVE THEM!!! I am SO sick of trying to find clothes to fit that won't shrink up when I sit down or feel like I'm spilling out the top of them. Goodbye fashion--I'm done with you and moving on to a happier simpler life :)

Vegan Chocolate cake. Viv wanted to make a chocolate cake with yellow frosting tonight for Family Night. We had run out of eggs so while looking for an egg substitute online I found a Vegan chocolate cake recipe that was actually quite good. Halfway through I realized we were out of cocoa so I subbed hot chocolate. Used blood oranges for the orange juice it called for and it turned out great. It was spongy, moist and chewy. I'll have to post it on the Bird Food blog.

New use for a food scraper. If you lock yourself out of a room without the keys a food scraper will work as a shimy to open the door without damaging the door. Nate actually discovered this one, but I thought it was useful information.

The number 1 ladies detective agency and Doc Martin. Two new TV shows the family and I like to watch from netflix.

Posting within a month of my last post.

Good times

2011-02-03T09:11:00.001-08:00

I've been thinking of renaming our blog to "the rantings and ravings of a middle-aged house wife". Sounds good, doesn't it? All I can think of posting, of late, are whinings and unhappy tales. So...if you don't feel like listening, move on!

I seem to have acquired a "bulging disc". I really don't care how many times Nate explains to me what that means, it's a terrible nuisance and I want it to go away! Imagine not being able to sit down or bend over and pick-up anything on the ground. Now imagine 4 children who do nothing but put things on the ground. We are slowly being buried in our own home. Today I actually stepped over a large grape twig--you know the stick-like things that are left after the grapes are gone? Yep, and I left it there too. It's already dried out and in stick form--what's another week. Sorry, "sidetracked home-executives", I will not be reaching my goals this month.

On top of that we are on DAY 3 of Abby's house arrest. I took her to the Doctor yesterday after my sons carpool informed me that she and her children all had H1N1. Abby started out with high fever, flushed cheeks, lethargy DAY 1. DAY 2, lower fever writhing in pain stating her tummy hurt--THAT and the H1N1 news sent me in to the Pediatrician. Turns out she doesn't have H1N1 she has Influenza B! Who knew? Am I kicking myself for not getting the kids flu shots this year? YES!!! Not to complain, but they were only offered the 3rd Thursday of the month, at a clinic 1/2 hour away, AND, ONLY on Thursdays. OK, so if I wanted to do that I would have to skip swimming, piano lessons, soccer and dance--not to mention someone to take my carpools for preschool and Jr. High. If you add all that up (because you can't reschedule classes you've paid for) it comes to a whopping $75 bucks. Could they make it any less inconvenient? Next year--we will make it! OK, so back to DAY 3 of Influenza B. Today is vomiting day. Oh, JOY!!! Doctor ordered her home for 5 days. Oh, and did I mention, my husband, left her $100 Tamiflu prescription out all night when it says to refrigerate?

Yeah. The rantings and ravings of a middle-aged house wife. I think it fits :)

help and high school stuff

2011-01-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

OK, so does ANYONE know how to post an upright picture on your blog without it looking retarded? Yes, I said retarded. Whatever, I give up.

Nate and I went with our oldest tonight to visit a potential HS. Oh. MY. Goodness!! Holy Cow--it was like a private university. Their language program from day 1 is an immersion program. They're on a 4X4 schedule so they can complete a language in a couple years--including taking the AP exam and then take another. What do they offer, you ask? Oh....Japanese, Spanish, French, and ASL. Their performing arts program offers chamber choir, Vocal Performance--complete with private voice lessons, Gamelan, Samba Corvo, Rock band--they were awesome by the way....many performed for us tonight. Graphic artists was amazing--they pair up with local professionals, have mentor programs. What on earth?!? I WANT to GO THERE! OK, so this doesn't even scratch the surface of what they covered tonight.

The downside--this particular school will mean A LOT of extra driving pour moi. What a brilliant and novel idea--letting the students choose where they want to go for high school. That way the schools have to compete to want to get your child to go there. This is the way ALL education should be based. Nate and I were floored. I hope the other schools are as amazing--especially the one 2 miles from our house. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Signing out...Oh,and I'm serious if anyone can help me make the first page look normal with an upright photo I would be so grateful.

Jeni

Ah....the sweet life

2010-06-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

So, Nate and I have been married 17 years to the day today! Things are going great. I don't know how we got to suddenly be SO lucky. The beginning of this month was SO stressful and today we're feeling so blessed. We LOVE our new place. Our neighbors on one side said we can pick all the avocados (they're Haas, by the way), blood oranges and lemons we want. On the other side we took a peace offering of choc chip cookies for all the fruit the girls have been stealing and they said we're welcome to come pick anytime!!! All their trees drape over our fenceline....Grapefruit, plums, apples, oranges, and the sweetest apricots I've EVER tasted! Mmmmmm.....You know what kind of freaky foodies we are so we are lovin' life.

Oh, and did I mention it is QUIET here? Who knew I could sleep ALL night...Yes, ALL NIGHT! I had no idea how much a quiet neighborhood would mean. Thank you, God, for all we went through to be here today. I LOVE it here!!!!!

Now let's see if those 15 lbs come back now that I'm happy :)

How to lose 15 lbs in 2 weeks! It really works!!!

2010-06-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

OK, so you may not want to try this, but it really worked for me.....

First, you want to have your landlord send you an email telling you he'd like to raise your rent $700 per month. Then you frantically look for another place to live while knocking on everyone's doors in the neighborhood to ask if they are renters and if so if they would divulge how much they are paying. Argue with your landlord (actually my good friend did most of the negotiating for us--but we did have to do the grunt work)

Second, find out you actually qualify to buy a house and start trying to find one. Make an offer--a LOW offer--have them refuse your offer, then accept.

Third, stop sleeping because you're so stressed out.

Fourth, ask your landlord if you can rent month to month until you can buy a home and have him say "no" because he believes in only renting in the summertime for one year periods at a time.

Fifth, spend a lot of money on a home inspection, mold inspection, and I can't remember the other inspection we paid for, but we did!

Sixth, find out you have to move in 2 1/2 weeks because your landlord won't let you stay even 6 more weeks past your lease date expiring. SO in between everything else you're trying to do with 4 kids you have to add packing up the entire house to the mix--and find a place to stay until you can move into the new house. You'll have to put your stuff in storage and move twice.

Seventh, find out there's lots of mold in your proposed new (OLD) house. 300,000th's range in 4 rooms--and sellers are unwilling to clean it up properly because you made a low offer. Cancel offer then...

Last, but not least, you find a new rental and sign all the paperwork to move in in 2 weeks.

Haven't finished the last step yet. I know, I know, there are a lot of steps, but it really worked for me! Boy, somewhere deep down I must like a lot of DRAMA in my life! Yep.

Oh, and did I mention I was planning on auditioning for the San Diego opera in June?--I had to give up that goal midway through this whole fiasco--no time to practice! I did manage to get up my own website for voice amidst this crisis, though :)

The perfect day

2010-04-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

The perfect end to a perfect day. Everyone woke up early to find their easter baskets. After the hunt we ate belgian waffles with fresh strawberries and whip cream. Then we watched conference, practically uninterrupted as the girls ran inside and outside of the house--playing with their new house made from my new dryer box and getting ready for an easter egg hunt outback. After the first session we ate lunch and had 4 egg hunts in the back yard. For the second session I painted all the girls nails and they helped me laminate some things for Joy School.

After conference I took the girls swimming while Nate and Jake went on a practice run with 40 lbs packs for Jake's scout Havasupai trip next week. After dinner we snuggled and watched a movie before putting the girls to bed.

I LOVE conference weekend. I was touched deeply and was inspired by so many of the talks. It buoys me up and helps me feel like I can face anything. With the Lord NOTHING is impossible. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and am so THANKFUL for conference weekend! I wish we could do it 4 times a year instead of two. I love getting to sit in my own home to watch it and not have to worry the entire time about keeping my kids quiet. They can do whatever they want by me and play all over the house or outside and they are happy as long as we are all together. The internet broadcast was amazing, too, on our giant plasma TV. We had no interruptions and it looked just like it would have on cable.

Allelujah!

2010-03-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Emmy's dress is DONE!!! It took a month and Aunt Janet's, Cheri's, my Mom's, and Mary Sutton's help. In fact, I'm not really sure what I contributed to the making of the dress--OK, maybe buying the supplies. Can someone remind me to NOT attempt something like this again unless I've had some sewing classes first. This took WAY TOO MANY hours to complete. But it is done and I feel like the Allelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah is playing in the background.

Emmy was so excited when she woke up this morning and got to try it on. It's not perfect, but I think it turned out beautifully.

I'm SO glad it's done and over :)

Redirecting

2010-03-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

I've started taking a parenting class titled, "redirecting children's behavior" and I LOVE it! You see, THIS is what I've always wanted. What I didn't learn in college and why I always feel like I have NO clue whatsoever at being a Mom. People always shush me if I say that--but it's true. I know everything about singing a role on stage or developing a character or how to choreograph a show, etc....But never learned how to raise children. It's all by trial and error so far. I am learning so much and getting wonderful gems to use at home. I have also learned that Nate and I are doing a few things right. Woohoo!

Emmy and I were in a disagreement about something and Jake uttered, "this isn't a democracy Emmy it's a Matriarchy". I said, "What? That isn't true I don't rule the roost" He said, "it's not like I said it was a dictatorship. It is a Matriarchy." OK, so I'm going to have to work on that a little and let my kids make more decisions on their own.

Aunt Emily comes this week! Yeah! Goals: take down the Christmas tree upstairs before she gets here. Yes. I said the Christmas tree.

San Francisco

2010-01-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

Nate and I went away for the weekend. The first in three years--that I can recall anyway. And, no I don't count when we had to go house-hunting last spring. That is NEVER a vacation. Anyway,... We had a wonderful time!!!! We met up Friday afternoon with my friend Juliet and husband, Pat for her 40th birthday dinner. We had a lovely time visiting with them and touring a bit of the city. We ate at the greatest places...mmm....went to the King tut exhibit on Saturday, waited in line to get Wicked tickets for $25 bucks (Danae your crumpling of the ticket theory failed me!)--we still got in, though. They gave all of us that waited discounted tickets (although, not for $25). The theatre had a ton of empty seats. Sunday we stopped in to hear a lively methodist choir singing Jesus' praises complete with live band and HUGE choir, walked around golden gate park (even though it's winter it was still beautiful!), raced back to our hotel, checked out and flew back home.

Oh, and I almost forgot--we got to see a guy peeing on the sidewalk...some woman yell at me "get away from me you f.... b...!" while standing at a bus stop not 5 feet from me...Oh, and one guy, high as a kite, broke into a conversation with Nate and proceeded to follow us for 15 minutes until we finally had to walk back to our hotel to shake him off. Pat and Juliet shared with us the cardinal rule up there, "Do NOT engage! Do NOT engage!" Woops! Didn't know that one. Ah... SF!

The kids were so excited to see us--as we were them. Three days is the perfect get away. I miss them too much after that.

Weirdest day ever in So Cal

2010-01-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

Emily decided she wanted us to all go to the beach. When we got up I noticed it was raining--doesn't usually do that here. I called her up and said are you sure you want to go to the beach? Yep! So we left. They're plane was leaving out of Long Beach so we decided to make the trek up there so they wouldn't have to travel so far on vacation (it's about an hour away). When we got up to Long Beach the wind picked up the second we got to the bay and then it started to rain. Sheets and sheets of rain. Vivian wanted to go to the car. We stood there for a while all huddled under a blanket while Molly and Abby played in the sand and at the waters edge. Eventually, Abby came over to us with blue shaking lips and said, "Mom can we go?" We packed it all up and headed to "Open Sesame". A Delightful mediteranean place.

After lunch it seemed we were in a monsoon. The trees were all leaning sideways in the wind and it was cold and rainy. Emily wanted to go to the mall so she could go to a store called H & M. We were hoping the kids could find a playplace as most malls have-- to play together before Molly and Ethan had to fly back home. Nope! All they had was a costly carousel. Jake went in the bathroom and came out and said "Dad, look at the water on the floor".....then, it started gushing out of the bathroom door. The entire lower level at South Coast plaza (a HUGE mall) was starting to flood. All the lower level stores were beginning to close. Nate and Pete were advised to go get their cars out of the parking garage as it was also flooding and leaking. We all stepped outside and cars in the parking lot had water almost up to their door handles. It was crazy. When we drove on the freeway every now and again a brilliant driver would go whizzing by us-- dousing us with a wall of water so that you couldn't see a thing for a few seconds. After the mall we decided it best to part ways and go home. I don't think I can recall a day like this EVER in sunny southern california, but I guess they do happen occasionally!

The rain reminded me of storms in North Carolina--hurricane weather really. I still remember vividly trying to escape a hurricane and driving in it the entire 7 hour drive to stay with MJ when Jake was just three and Emmy a newborn. We got so drenched every time we stopped the car and had to get out.

Glad to be home safe and sound in my warm and cozy bed :)

While I was sleeping...

2010-01-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

Today was a horrible, no good, very bad day! I decided to sleep in (always a mistake in my house) and it just happened to be the one and only morning Vivian pooped in her diaper upon waking up and tried to clean it up herself. Yes, she's potty trained, but wears a diaper at night and NEVER poops in it, except this morning. There was poop all over my beautiful blue throw rug in a trail to the diaper box from the bathroom, in the sink, on the counter, etc. Nice :) If you want to put me in the best of moods for the day make me clean up poop first thing. You know this was why I would never go into the medical profession--gross things are GROSS and I don't like having any part of them.

Then I let the girls wear two darling, matching "baby lulu" outfits I had just bought the day before. Abby ripped hers within the hour and Vivian managed to sneak out of her bed at nap time and find the green silly putty. It is now embedded in the fabric. ANYONE know HOW to get silly putty out of mesh fabric? Oh, and did I mention she pee'd on the carpet as well this afternoon? As I was sopping up the pee with a rag and cursing under my breath I thought, "This is it! I am done! I don't want to do this anymore! When will the pee and poop EVER END?!!!!" I didn't send out any Christmas messages this year because THIS is my life-- day in and day out--doesn't make for very sweet tidings.

After dinner, we all watched Evan Almighty--pretty funny, by the way. Afterwards, Viv and Abby wanted to dance to the music. The credits ended with a slow song and Viv squeezed me tight with her head resting on my shoulder while Abby held on at my hip as we danced together and suddenly all was right with the world again. What a roller coaster motherhood is! Or...maybe it's just me.

My not-so perfect day

2009-12-13T22:44:00.000-08:00

Ah! I give up. I thought I would post a new pic, but don't have time to figure out why it only covers half the page....Whatever....

It all started out pretty well. Nate gone, of course on the Sunday we were slotted to sing as a family in church. That's OK, right? I just have to get everyone ready, warmed up, fed, practice a few times and to church by nine. Well, we made it there on time--after a few tears were shed in the car "Jake's singing too loud--he's messing up my part!" Once I get in there they each decide to sit in a different pew. And Vivian decides to duck under one and every time I walk around to get her she crawls to the other side and giggles--boy, must that have been funny to watch! We sang without incident. Church is over. Phew! Go to choir practice, go home, make everyone lunch, read stories, put Viv down for a nap, take a nap myself, wake-up, make dinner, make muffins for choir, burn muffins, race to choir (after a 15 minute search for the car keys), and make it to the choir concert by the skin of our teeth.

The concert went amazingly well. A few gliches here and there, but all in all a beautiful concert. Afterwards, one of the children tells me Abby pinched them and poked them while on stage (yeah...um...what do I say?...she's 5 with a mind of her own) then she decides to go get lost. After searching for nearly 20 minutes I start to panic--as I do. Finally, find her handing out candy canes to people. Aurgh! Get home by 10pm. Luckily, hubbies home and he puts the little ones to bed.

My friends tell me I'm too busy...I think they're right. Ah! bed......

The birthday party!

2009-05-09T18:58:00.001-07:00

Phew! The only way to describe how I feel is complete and utter exhaustion. I can barely lift my arms they are sooo tired. Nate left yesterday morning--but all was OK, because Aunt Katie (poor unsuspecting Katie!) was coming for a visit and would be there to help with the birthday festivities. All I had to do was make two butterfly cakes (because after all we were having a party for TWO birthday girls), wrap the party favors, pick-up balloons and get everyone to our party destination. That doesn't sound too difficult does it?

Well, backtrack two days to when we decided to hire a painter. Our conversation went something like this, "We'd like to use you how soon can you do the job?" Jesus, "Probably next week sometime, if it's not raining. I will call you when it looks good." The very next morning the children yell up to me in my room, "why is that strange man in our backyard?" I run downstairs and who should be starting to water pressure clean our siding, but Jesus! "I thought you were going to call me next week?" I say. "Oh, well, it's not raining tomorrow so we'll start today". OK, I think, but I have no idea what color to pick--between the birthday party, the renters who want to fill out a non-existent application and then sign a non-existent lease, not to mention see the house, as well as company visiting--I can find the time to pick out colors.

The next morning he was there and I'm thinking I don't have any idea what color. I quickly looked at his color swatches (with Nate just before he left) and just picked the color most like what we had and was done with it! That evening I looked at one of the pillars on the front porch and I could stick my finger right through it. I pushed on the wood and it felt like a sponge--oozing with water. I talked to the painter about it and he said, he would just caulk it really well. I got to thinking--this is not a good solution. So, I decided I would attempt the repair myself. After using my great big non-existent muscles I managed to pull the thing apart and go buy wood to replace it with all by 10:30pm. At which time I decided I'd better draw up that lease so the new tenants can sign it and I can take the house off the market and stop showing it and answering tons of phone calls and emails about it. At 12:30 I went to bed. I wasn't able to make the cakes, but I could do it in the morning. I woke up at 6am and hit the groung running--to make the cakes and start on the project on my house before the painters were back to finish. Aurgh! At 10:30am I was finished with the project and I couldn't even nail in the last 4 nails because my arms hurt so bad from hammering. What little strength I had was gone.

Thank heaven for Katie! The poor thing looked at me in horror when she saw the state I was in upon her arrival. "What is going on?" she asked. She bathed the girls for me, made the 2nd cake, helped decorate it, changed poopy pants and took photos of my birthday girls because I had to miss most of the party due to my forgetting to bring drinks. After running around exercising at the gymnastics center I knew those little bodies would be thirsty so I had to run back home for them. I swear I don't know how I function from day to day!

All in all, the girls were thrilled! 16 of their friends came and I think they all enjoyed it. Vivian was elated to get to go down on the gym floor. She usually has to stand behind the railing and watch. The party leader couldn't believe how fearless she was! Katie said she walked across the beam with her arms up totally confident and she has never even been on a beam before. She loves gymnastics! As do the other girls. I will be so bummed when we leave this place as they have made a lot of improvement. Emmy and Abby have more muscle definition than me and Jake put together!

Next weekend I get to do it all over again for Emmy's party at the gymnastics center. I was thinking we would have a garage sale that morning too. OR, maybe not....

Signing off for now. If ever there was an evening to do nothing but watch TV it would be tonight. I still have a mountain of clean-up to do in the kitchen, however, and tomorrow being mother's day I don't want to have to tackle it then!

Le Piece de Resistance!!!!

2009-03-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

After 4 long weeks I finally have a toilet again in my bathroom! It took Nate every weekend and every spare minute he had (as well, as several hours of our neighbors help) to complete it, but IT IS FINALLY DONE! The toilet leaks now where it never did before, but I don't care the floor is georgeous! And I don't have to share with the kids anymore--and let me tell you, those late night potty trips were NO PICNIC? Do you know what it's like to enter a kids bathroom in the middle of the night when you're half asleep? You never know what you will find. Ick! Now, I just feel like we need to redo the rest, but I will resist the urge. That took WAY too much time and money :) Glad it's done.

Abby just bein' Abby

2009-01-31T23:01:00.001-08:00

Tonight in the middle of dinner Abigail hops out of her chair exclaiming, "Ha! What are they watching now" as she peers out of the dinning room window. Speaking of the neighbors (which you can barely make out a TV screen through the yard and fence), "they watch television every night!"...."Aurgh!" she sighs in despair as she longingly looks out the window, "I bet they can do whatever they want whenever they want."

This is a photo of her in the public restroom after we went on a hike in the rain I found her drying herself off with the hand dryer.

Jake's poem won!

2009-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Jake's poem "Books" (see old posting to read the poem) won at the county level and he was the only one in his category to go on to the state competition. His other poem won a great big blue ribbon as well. Congratulations Jake!

Snow, snow, and more snow!

2009-01-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

The snow just keeps on coming! We hardly went anywhere all vacation--due to the lack of ease of getting out of our driveway and down our street to the main roads. Then Sunday when we stepped out of church our car and the streets were covered in a fresh blanket of snow and it kept snowing until we had 6 1/2 inches. The kids school was delayed two hours this morning. Yeah! One more day to sleep in and make pancakes! I feel very fortunate to live in one of those places where when it snows the whole world stops. It's been a lovely vacation for that very reason.

We, also, hosted a singing soiree at our house and it was a marvelous success! Several of my singing friends came and sang for us. Jake and I sang a duet of "Pie Jesu" and we all sang several carols together. That is one tradition I would like to keep! The kids had a blast staying up late and running around the house with the other children--and they even stopped to sing us a few fun songs. What a night! I was on cloud 9 for 2 days after the party--so much love, delightful food and company were present in our home that night!

Christmas was the usual fare at our house. We had a neighbor guest (Hannah) for our nativity pagent on Christmas eve. Christmas morning we ate Belgian waffles and then opened presents as usual. The rest of the day we played games together. I am so grateful for this time of plenty in our lives we have been blessed to experience. Saturday we took all the Christmas decorations down and I have to admit I did NOT want to take the tree down. It was still drinking water and as georgeous as ever. I hate it when Christmas is over. I just LOVE CHRISTMAStime! Now it's back to the normal hussle and bustle of shuttling kids, planning menus, no more sleeping in and laundry, laundry, laundry....

Christmas Break photos

2009-01-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

Here's some pics from Christmas. I got a new camera for my birthday so I've been especially snap happy. Now I can finally capture Vivian on film before she looks away! Yeah! Viv in front of our Christmas tree. The first we picked out and chopped down ourselves!

Scout racing through the snow. He loved it and we were delighted with his enthusiasm--until we took him inside and we found out snow matts his fur--to the point of no return! Nate had to cut most of them out. There goes any chance we had of showing him in the arena--it takes a good year for their hair to grow out. Oh well. He really loved playing in it.

Emmy with her gingerbread house.

Jake--"Oh, the agony" Why his was the only one that wouldn't stay together I'll never know.

Abby's creation!

Our nativity pagent Christmas Eve with Hannah (our neighbor)

Viv
One of those precious moments I never would have caught with my old camera!

California here we come--right back where we started from!

2008-12-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, we just got word this week...Nate's been accepted into the Radiology residency program at Balboa Naval hospital in San Diego!!! Yeah! I feel a little sheepish announcing this as not everyone got their pick. For those people I truly am soooo sorry! But I am so happy to be moving back! Just hope we can find a place as wonderful to live as we did last time. If anyone knows of a rental opening up this summer, PLEASE let us know. We would love to be back in the same area in Encinitas. Our good neighbor Don used to say to us every morning, "another day in paradise" and it TRULY was!

I must say, I will miss it here, though. Nate and I feel like we're both just getting settled and starting to enjoy it here. We will definitely miss our friends here, the georgeous mountains, our great backyard, and well...for me...Macy's & Khols. Nate probably won't miss the latter two. The kids will especially miss their school, friends and neighbors. Every school they've attended in their lives to date has been "the bestest school EVER!" Hopefully, their new school will earn that title.

Everyone's doing well. Jake's latest obsession is school. He talks about his assignments constantly. Emmy has found a great talent in story-telling. She really brings what she reads to life. They both have found they love singing in choir. They both sing in their school and church choirs. Abigail is...well, Abigail. The other day she told someone, "I am 4 and I'm curious, but as an individual I'm smart".
Yesterday she told Emmy, "you just go with that idea, Freddy".
Emmy, "What did you say to me?".
Abby slowed her speech and repeated herself as if Emmy was stupid.
Emmy, "my names not Freddy!"
At 4 she seems to be running the world.
Vivian is full of delight. She is still trying to get speech down. She jibbers all day long, but it's difficult to understand what she's saying. I love looking at her smile!

The view out our bedroom window this morning

2008-12-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

What a lovely thing to wake up to in our nice warm snuggly bed! We got about 8 inches overnight and plan on getting more mixed with rain today. Unfortunately, church was cancelled and so now our lovely Christmas program that I've worked months to prepare is a complete wash. I was so proud of our choir and had some wonderful pieces for them to sing :) Oh well, thus it goes in Washington. The kids & Nate had school/work off Thursday and Friday. All the stores--even the mall shut down because of the snow last week. I ventured out yesterday only to be stuck in the car for 30 minutes to drive 1/4 mile or less. I gave up on the small errand I was planning and drove home. Everyone wanted to try to get their shopping done before the storm came and the stores closed early...again. I don't know what people are going to do that need to shop this week, as it's supposed to be snowy/rainy all week.
As long as we don't have to go anywhere I love the snow. I love having everyone home and having easy days. Nate & I have gotten a ton of projects done. Hurrah!

"Writing on Stone" by Jake

2008-12-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Huge rocky monoliths rise up in the distance as I scramble out of the undergrowth and see for the first time the new world I have stepped into. I see my friends as they climb up towering sandstone spires, and I sprint toward them, racing through an infinite maze of sedimentary rock. Climbing past the coarse stone I notice miniscule specks of rustic fossil, relics of a bygone age. My friends leap from stone to stone, while I take a safer more traveled route, afraid to take the risk of falling. In the sky I see the brilliantly glowing sun, a sparkling gemstone, filling the world with radiant light. Suddenly I find myself at the top of the biggest boulder yet. Stretching out in all directions I see the prehistoric landscape, unchanged by the years. It is a retreat from life; a place where the past can enter the present.

"Books" by Jake

2008-12-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

A universe of wisdom barely contained inside a minute cover, waiting to be read.
I eagerly delve into your surface, hungrily searching your deep reservoirs of knowledge.
I love that papery smell you bring and your vividly realistic plot,
you are a portal to distant worlds.
Ungoverned by reality,
your perfectly written lettering brings a message to all.
You tell of past times, preserving them forever in your carefully crafted pages.
Unstoppable,
neither time nor distance hold any power over you.
You are an escape from life itself, a way to forget earth's troubles for a short time.
You help bring color to my life,
Books.