Gratitude

I am horribly behind on blogging with many posts left incomplete. I seem to either live on my computer "working" or at my craft table "working". It seems as if nothing is ever complete and I am falling way behind on all that I need to do. In the midst of the holidays creeping closer and closer every day I find that if I don't take a moment each day to find the joy and happiness in my life it too may slip right by.

Every day I take at least a few minutes to "blog hop" and am continually inspired by what I find. I am grateful for those who inspire me (most of whom I have never even met). The most important thing I have found lately are posts on gratitude. I found this link which is fabulous and thought I would share. Before the Christmas season starts to consume us let's all take some time each day to remember all that we are thankful for.

Firestation

To save some money I got together with a few other moms and we formed our own preschool. We all take a week and it's 2 days for 2-1/2 hours. This week they were learning about firetrucks and Rene organized a field trip to the firestation. The boys had a blast to say the least and all of us tagged along to enjoy it with them. There is almost nothing better than the wonderful firemen who are so willing to make the little kids feel so special and important.

Our Supermodel

I know I shouldn't brag, but she is mine and she is beautiful, and I am lucky that I got at least one daughter! We were messing around with the camera trying to get some pictures of my hair clips and I just loved some of these pictures of Alexis. So yes I put them on my blog so I could remember that at least once in awhile she obliged us and cooperated and I am glad that I have them.

Another tootless wonder

I love when kids start to lose their first teeth. Of course then all the big ones start to go and their mouths have to go through a "transition" and sometimes it's a little silly looking, but still I do love it. Of course it's a little hard when you realize it's one more thing that puts them on the road of starting to grow up. For me, I seem to be in denial until next thing you know they really aren't babies anymore. Anyway, the picture's aren't the best we have of Collin since we were trying to play with the lighting on the camera and focusing on the teeth and him, etc. We still have lot's of practice to go, but it's fun to work on.

Beach 2009

Slade loved posing for pictures in all the trees around.
Our little beach babe! She could live at the ocean all day every day.

Slade's favorite beach buddy (Papa)!

Slade and Gia playing with the sand crabs.

Collin and Alexis could spend the day boogie boarding...

It sure is nice seeing your kids working together and getting along

(especially when it doesn't happen that often!)

I begged and pleaded and invited myself along with my parents to the beach this summer. They go to Carlsbad twice a year and the first week they took Collin and Alexis and the second week me and the kids joined in. With the heat being unberable in AZ in the summer it was all I could do to get out of dodge permanently.

The week was so much fun living at the pool and beach all day every day. We even drove down to La Jolla and watched the seals and looked for crabs. And of course went to San Diego and ate at Anthony's on the water. YUM! It was so hard to come home especially knowing that school was going to start the day after we got back. At least we enjoyed it while it lasted!

Happy 4th Birthday Logan

What a sweetheart! Logan is by far our most challenging child, but at the same time our most loveable (at least this week.) Actually we just feel that Logan is just plain full of life. He is by far our least shy child and such a ball of fire sometimes. He wants everyone to know he is now 4 and doesn't hesitate to tell anyone his name. Logan hates to sleep and tries everything he can to stay up and party. He is also usually the first one up in the morning and when he's up he thinks everyone should be up too. (VERY frustrating, and no one but Paul and I seem to complain!)

Logan also LOVES going to "Big" primary. He sits in the front row and sings his little heart out. He has been begging to go to big school like Collin and Alexis and can't stop asking if his turn is tomorrow.

Must Try Dessert!

So I have been doing this healthy eating/fitness competition for 5 weeks now. Yes I can tell a difference in my clothes, but I have only lost about 5 pounds. Rules for the competition are NO sugar, 64oz fluid, healthy snacks, take a multi-vitamin, healthy proportioned breakfast/lunch/dinner, and 45 min of excercise, etc. We get 10 points per day and Sunday's are a freebie. Well, let's just say I go for broke on Sunday's. Not good, but hey I have to make up for a week of using all my willpower to be good (and let's just say there is a LOT of willpower going on!)

Anyway, my sister found this recipe for homemade smores a couple of weeks ago on picky palate and I made them yesterday. Now, I am not a huge fan of smores, but these are made with a cookie for the top and the bottom. Let's just say DEVINE! A definate must try if you like all the yummy goodness inside. Oozing Chocolate Chip Cookie S'more Sandwiches

Father's and Son's

So I am totally out of sync with my blog but I forgot to post about the boys Father's and Son's outing. This was the first year I was able to send all the boys so Alexis and I could have girl time. Unfortunately Alexis was pretty sick so she went to Grandma's house to lay on her couch while I went out to dinner with the girls. The boys had a great time though and enjoyed getting as dirty as possible. And what's more fun for boys than being completely dirty. Thank goodness for baby wipes to get them through.

Lake Part 2 Video Added

Not much better going on so we headed up to the lake again. This time we prepped Alexis enough to have a go. And what should happen, but the little wonder got up on her 1st try. AMAZING!! She went out and tried 3 times and every time she got up. She took directions from Papa so well that when he told her to stay sitting down with her knees bent she really listened. From then on she was too scared to stand all the way up. Who cares though because she did it! YAHOO! Now next week she said she would try even harder. In all the years my dad taught all of our friends and people from church we don't think anyone has been able to do it on their first try. She certainly doesn't take after her mother! Her Daddy is the natural athlete :)

The Lake

We spent our lives growing up at the lake waterskiing. I was never very good, but at least liked to get out there and try. I was great at being pulled along behind the boat but always hated doing anything crazy. Every time I did I always seemed to do some crazy crash that resulted in my eyeballs being pushed to the back of my brain. Anyway, I did finally learn to wakeboard some years back and now can't even seem to get up on one ski anymore let alone 2. It hasn't helped though that over the last few years lake outings have been few and far between. Let's hope that this summer is different and we can get the kids to give it a try.

One of my parents first dates was waterskiing. And while my mom just turned 65 and my dad almost 67. I must say they still got it! Even my grandpa skiied into his 70's.

Last Day of School

We finally ended another year of school. With this whole modified year round schedule it's hard to hang in there for so long. It's weird that this year we got out in June and have to go back in July. I just seems wrong somehow. Anyway it was a fabulous year and we absolutely LOVED the kids teachers. I must say that one of my favorite grades is Kindergarten. With the school system offering all day kindergarten it is kind of hard on the stamina of the little ones, but by the end of the year they seem so grown up. I am continually amazed to watch them grow so much so quickly it seems. They go into school seeming to know almost nothing and then come out able to do so much-the biggest accomplishment being reading. I love that Collin all of a sudden can read almost anything. All the billboards and signs around town and even my emails. (oops, time to be careful now just in case-j/k) One of my favorites was a few weeks ago we were at dinner at my parents house and Logan was acting crazy and I said geez Logan settle down you must have ADD. And Collin pipes in with why does Logan have to add? We were so taken aback and all had a good laugh!

Collin and his teacher Mrs. Thompson

Ethan and Collin

Alexis also had a great year and her teacher was also fantastic! She is suddenly my little bookworm and while it took her awhile to get into the chapter books (which is what they try to focus more on in 2nd grade) she always has her nose in a book and was often getting into trouble at school for always reading (pretty funny to be getting in trouble for reading I thought). Her teacher just said that they are always encouraged to read when they have spare time and sometimes Alexis would try and finish what she was reading instead of finish her work first. We are so proud of her though and I was even more surprised with all she learned in 2nd grade. She learned all her times tables and was even doing some long division. I specifically remember learing all that in 3rd grade and here she is already a year ahead of where I was at her age. Alexis is such a joy at school though and has lots of friends. She never wants anyone to feel left out and is always running around in big groups with lots of fun girls. Let's hope it always stays that way!

Alexis and Mrs. Johnson

Alexis, Kate and Harley

Happy 2nd Birthday Slade

Our littlest is 2. What a big boy he is! (Well, not really since he is so skinny.) He is also our blondest one and our only thumb sucker. He is such a joy and absolutely loves his big brothers and sister. He is obsessed with his "snuggle time" with dad every night and wants absolutely nothing to do with mom (even though she is trying to get back in the game). He is such a giggler and loves to laugh. Driving around town Logan always has him giggling like crazy. He is also obsessed with the hose. We must have to go out there and turn it off about 30 times a day. He is always playing with legos, but wants to have them apart so is always coming up to mom saying "help." Is is such a sweet boy and we love him to pieces.

I also told myself that since I hate potty training (especially boys) I wasn't going to do it until he was 3. Well, every now and again he wakes up in the morning with a dry diaper and sometimes after his nap. So, last week I started putting him on the potty when I can catch him and know he probably will go. Anyway, I am not trying too hard, but he will sit on it at least once a day and go. I have definately NEVER had a kid this easy. Now maybe when I get around to being serious about it he will be easy.

T-Ball Season 2009

This year I very accidentally signed Paul up to be the coach of Collin's T-Ball team. Honestly I don't know how it happened. Well, it turned out to be a great year. Collin had so much fun and was really into it. And with Paul being the coach it was easier to let Logan think he was on the team too. We never let him play in the game, but we had an extra t-shirt and hat for him and he was able to practice with the big boys. We're not quite sure how we're supposed to tell him he still doesn't get to play for 2 more years. (You have to be 5 by April to play in Little League and his birthday isn't until July). We also had a great group of kids (and parents) on our team. Quite a few of the dads were always around to help out at practices and games. And now that Paul has the hang of it let's hope that next year is just as great. Go Rockhounds!!