A Sweet Thank You

Julia posted photos from the Winter Formal she attended with a group of friends.

She received this really nice note from a good friend. I thought I'd share it. One of those proud parent moments....

Hey Julia, just wanted to say again that I am very happy and proud that you stuck to your standards and dressed modestly. You have shown that you can be modest and beautiful. I find strength in the ability of one to stick to their standards and wish more girls would do it. You are one amazing girl and I am proud to call you a friend.

You are awesome
Dallin
P.S. Thanks again

tuh-Mater Eater

Kendall Loves Tuh Maters...

He also loves Mac and Mater from the movie Cars

Jaley Honor Roll!

Jaley made the straight A honor roll! Way to go! I am so proud of her!!!

Go Strikers! (Her favorite Soccer Team...sweatshirt)

Winter Formal

Julia is attending a Winter Formal with a group of friends. Can I just say she looks stunning?!?

We had a super busy day today. Morning Ballroom Dance lessons. Home for 45 minutes and then Julia and I headed off to Colorado Springs for the All-State Jazz Concert. She wanted to attend so that she could see what she needed to do to prepare to audition for the elite 16 choir member group (selected from the entire state). It was AMAZING. Two students from Julia's HS made this group. So...we got home with 1 hour and 15 minutes before we had to meet up with the friends.

Julia isn't old enough to date...a good friend of hers, Alex, was so sweet to pick up a flower for her. I grabbed some pictures of them together. They are really good friends...and looked really beautiful/handsome tonight.
I did her hair!!!

On the way to meet up with the group, Julia told me she felt like a princess. She looked like one too!

I don't know what I'm going to do when she is of dating age...lock her in the house? That is less than 2 months away!

AWOL

I know...I've been busy. I need to post Jaley's bday celebration. Stay tuned!

TV, what's that?

Since the move, we haven't signed up for cable or satellite for the TV. We keep up with what is going on via the Internet and the radio.

Today John hooked up the TV to the antenna. I was surprised by the kid's reactions.

"Oh man, now we are like everyone else. I liked being different."

"I didn't miss it. It is such a waste of time."

Wow. From out of the mouth of babes.

I don't miss it either. I did miss watching House, CSI, and NCIS...but only when I wanted to watch them. I loved the DVR/TIVO. Fast Forward through the commercials. I just don't have the patience to sit through the commercials.

(We do have plenty of movies to watch...and the kids keep plenty busy on the computer).

Like Father, Like Sister, Like Son/Brother

I left a note on the counter for Kerst to write his thank you notes while I was gone. I included a list of people along with what he received. I also included a template he could use to write his thank you note.


I came home and found that he had accomplished the request. . .

Sort of . . .


Like Father, Like Son (and sister).

100% done!

The kitchen is FINISHED! It has taken some time, but has been SO worth it!

Here is the before:

We removed the soffits (false wall above the cabinets - which had duct in the corner and electrical wires - John had his work cut out for him!), replaced the wood flooring with Timborana Hard Wood from South America (throughout most of the main floor), reconfigured the work space...and voilà!

Like Father, Like Daughter

In response to John's thank you note writing skills, Julia showed her Dad hers...

Silly girl. (She did write more...on the other ones)

2009 edition of myself

This was sent to me by my sister Kelly. My friend Brian sent me his and Beautifull's too. It is fun to read. A friend passed away back in September and on her memorial website they had these lists posted that she had filled out over the years. It was fun to read.

1. What is your occupation right now?
SAHM aka Domestic Engineer, Musical/stage mom, schedule coordinator, taxi driver, tutor, photographer, chef, doctor, …

2. What color are your socks right now?
White ankle socks

3. What are you listening to right now?
My kids giggling and talking with each other (the best music to my ears). Julia playing the piano and singing a new song she found on a free sheet music website.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Homemade Turkey Carcass Soup (of course without the carcass) with homemade noodles (a favorite memory of mine; my mom always made this soup with homemade noodles. The turkey is one of the turkeys I picked up after Christmas on sale…super cheap. It has now fed our family for 3 meals!). Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes. I learned to drive with a stick…’69 Ford Station Wagon. I dropped first gear learning to drive that car. For my mom’s birthday, my dad had the old car taken to a car recycling place per her request.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone.
Julia. About staying after school for trying on dresses for her part in the musical.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Most Definitely!

8. How old are you today?
Age=37 I believe (my kids will remind me if I forget) – mental age= 20 (wish I was smarter) – physical age = 40s+ (I fell down the stairs today hauling down John’s “little giant” ladder. My ankle is pretty sore. I keep telling myself that my favorite soccer players got up and went back out on the field with a sore ankle.

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
I loved watching ballroom dancing on the PBS channel when John and I were first married. I’ve always enjoyed swimming with the Olympics. I don’t watch much TV because I can think of so many other things I should and need to do.

10. What is your favorite drink?
Water.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Highlights by my sister Kelly.

12. Favorite food?
Chinese. Homemade Bread (the ends), homemade strawberry jam. If I go out to eat, I like to get something I wouldn’t cook at home.

13. What is the last movie you watched?
Watched or heard? The last movie I heard was Aristocats (Kendall’s new favorite; last week it was Lion King…you should hear his growl during Sacrament Meeting). The last movie I watched was this past weekend (don’t do much movie watching) - I am Legend. I don’t know if you would say I watched it because I had my hands over my eyes or my head buried into John most of the time. I don’t handle movies like that very well.

14. Favorite day of the year?
Every-other Friday (John has that day off of work, so it is an all day date!). I also love the Christmas Season.

15. How do you vent anger?
I can’t say I get angry. Frustrated is more what I would call it. I “complain” to John (poor guy).

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
The blocks my dad made. The tether ball pole my dad put up (and probably made too). I also loved my baby dolls (Baby Beans)

17. What is your favorite season?
Spring – when all of the grass turns green and flowers are in bloom…birds come back. A renewal of life.

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Blueberries. I love making blueberry cobbler for the kids on the weekend for breakfast. (I like peach cobbler best). Cherries remind me of medicine. I will eat cherry pie.


19. Living arrangements?
With my sweetheart and 5 kiddos. In a home that I am still trying to get settled in. It has a new kitchen we designed and installed together…with a few finishing touches we need to complete…and more minor projects to complete around the house. It seems like the list never ends.

20. When was the last time you cried?
I tear up easily. The last time was last Sunday when we sang Jaley’s favorite Primary song because it was her last Sunday in Primary. Holding Hands Around the World is her favorite Primary Song.

21. What is on the floor of your closet?
Laundry Basket. Suitcases in the corner. (Kendall doesn’t sleep in there anymore so I finally have a closet!)

22. What did you do last night?
Attend the HS for a Cast Family meeting for our HS musical and then a meeting to get the choir booster club going.

23. What are you most afraid of?
My kids and John dying before me. I have to also admit that I don’t like strong wind. Worried about what will happen after Jan 20 – the country's debt is frightening to think about.

24. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Grilled … Swiss Cheese with avocado.

25. What is your favorite kind of dog?
Someone else’s…I just can’t dedicate the time to take care of one properly (family allergies too).

26. Favorite day of the week?
Depends on the week. Saturday, but then it feels like I am nagging the kids to do their chores. Friday . . . no more school, no more lunches. Sunday….FHE, Family Counsel, Family Time without any interruptions.

27. How many states have you lived in?
7

28. Diamonds or pearls?
I’m not much of a jewelry person. I guess diamond because I have one on my wedding ring.

29. What is your favorite flower?
Lilacs. They bloom right around mother’s day and we had some that lined the sun room in IL. I loved to open the windows and smell the aroma throughout the house during the weeks they were in bloom. I also love the calla lily.

Last Sunday in Primary

Jaley's last Sunday in Primary was today. We sang her favorite Primary Song "Holding Hands Around the World". I cried.

Why does pregnany seem to last forever but having them at home with you seem just a mere moment?

Still the same

We wrote our Christmas thank you notes for our activity for Family Home Evening tonight. Julia cracked up when she read the one John wrote to his parents.

His notes are still the same . . . short and sweet.

Kerst's mini talent

Today Kerst had to share a mini-talent with his class as a part of the "student of the week".

He shared his talent of jumping rope.

When we moved here 1 year ago, we brought enough to survive until our household goods were delivered almost 2 1/2 months later. Kerst brought his jump rope. That was essential.

He would jump everywhere. We had to remind him that jumping with an invisible jump rope in the chapel at church was not reverent.

He's got talent!

Student of the week - Kerst

Kerst is student of the week in his class this week.

Each day he had an assignment.

Monday: Make a poster about yourself

Tuesday: Bring in your favorite picture book to read to the class. He brought in Curious George. I suggested Parts, but he thought it would be too embarrassing. He wanted to bring in Bark George, but it has been loved too much and is now missing some pages.

Wednesday: Bring in a shoe box that is filled with about 5 items to share with the class. He brought in his swimming trophy, swimming ribbon, soccer medal, WebKinz dog and his Book of Mormon. I included a note for the teacher to read to the class about Kerst (he didn't know)

Kerst is an amazing boy.

He loves to cook. He likes to make pancakes and eggs (by himself, but with a mom or dad close by).

Kerst loves to play outside. He loves having friends. Kerst loves to ski, ride his bike, ride his roller blades, and swim.

Kerst loves to help his dad around the house. If it has anything to do with tools, Kerst is close by ready to help hammer, cut, paint, you name it!

Kerst loves to play games. He loves to play spoons (a card game with a normal deck of cards and some spoons, if you get a matching pair, you grab a spoon. Last one left without a spoon is out).

Kerst makes me laugh. I have many fond memories of him. I’m glad I wrote them down. I found him one day with a needle and thread sewing a hole in the knees of his jeans – WHILE HE WAS STILL WEARING HIS JEANS! Kerst says things that make me laugh…like his class is collecting Cannibals.

Kerst LOVES his baby brother. He prayed for a baby brother for over a year and finally got one! Kendall is now 2 ½ and we still call him baby brother. Kerst looked forward to the day when Kendall would sleep in his room. You can hear them giggle at night as they are going to sleep.

Kerst loves his family. He loves to bug his sister Jenna. He loves to watch Jaley play on the computer. He LOVES LOVES LOVES his baby brother Kendall. He loves to be with his oldest sister, Julia (Kerst calls her Daeia). Kerst loves to help his dad around the house and loves to be with his mom.

Kerst is a very loving and kind boy. He wants others to be happy.

Kerst is looking forward to turning 8 so that he can be baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Kerst used to want to be an entomologist, but later discovered he didn’t like to pick up bugs. He now says he wants to be like his Dad when he grows up. I think that is a great choice!

We are SO lucky to have Kerst in our family.

(Kerst said he was embarrassed)

Thursday: Write a paragraph with correct spelling, and punctuation about yourself. He told me that he didn't have to do this part since I already wrote something about him. I told him he needed to share something else the class doesn't know about him.

He wrote:

I am Kerst. I have 2 grandpas, 2 grandmas, 1 great grandpa and 1 great grandma. I have 68 cousins. I have 13 uncles. I have 13 aunts. I am going to 2 Family Reunions this summer. I can't wait to see my family.

Friday Kerst has to share a small talent. I'm not sure what he has decided to do yet.

New appreciation for cake decorators

Cake decorators must have great muscles in their arms and hands... I have a new appreciation for their skill.

I have been using a grout bag (like a cake decorators bag, but heavy duty) to grout the tile in our kitchen and BOY AM I SORE! I am half way done and I worked on it 5 hours yesterday and 2 more hours today. It is taking a lot longer than I planned, but it is worth doing it this way as the cleanup is much easier than the way I have grouted floors in the past.

Deals!

I love the after Christmas Deals ---- mainly spending time with Jaley finding some deals.

Spiral Sliced Ham was on sale at Wal-mart for $1.00 per pound. Turkey was 29 cents a pound!

Hobby Lobby had their Christmas Decorations, etc 80% off. I picked up some great deals! You'll have to come visit next year and see. . . . or start visiting the blog sometime mid-November.

Back to the old grind stone

Man was it hard to wake up some of the kids this morning! Jenna and Jaley had a hard time falling asleep last night. I wonder if it is because they have been staying up until 1:00 a.m. during the Christmas Break...hmmm...

Kendall has had pajama days. He has been in jammies ALL week (clean ones of course)! What a life! Kerst asked this morning when I was getting him ready for school if Kendall was ever going to get dressed again.

Kendall is finally dressed in clothes today.

One Year

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of our move.

It was a bit rocky at the start for the kids, but they have now settled in.

It has NEVER taken me this long to get settled, unpacked, decorated, etc... Maybe the major remodeling had something to do with it ;o) - it was all so worth it!

We still miss our old home, family and friends...

Tile is up

Here is the finished tile installation from yesterday (grout to be done later this week - I have to let the tile sealer cure for 24-72 hour and then we can fasten the outlets back to the wall). I added a "pencil tile" to the top of the tiles to give it a finished look.

I LOVE the look!

John installed the false front on the cabinet he made over the microwave. It fell off the other day just after I moved away from the cook top while making dinner. He is going to do something else...

Oh, and boy am I glad we did the tile yesterday! My tile cutter man would not be happy cutting tiles in the snow!!!

So excited!

I was so excited to get started on my back splash today! I picked up the tiles on Wednesday hoping to get started, but I needed my tile cutter man on board....he finally consented today! (I was more than happy to cut the tile myself, but John is amazing at getting every cut exact!)...plus the weather was GORGEOUS to run the tile saw outside.


I was surprised at how quickly this project went. The tile was up in under 5 hours. I think I prefer tiling a back splash rather than tiling a floor. We had tons of experience tiling floors...this was a nice change.


I still need to seal the tiles and then grout (yuck).

Ringing in the New Year - 2009

We celebrated with New York (via Earthcam).

2 hours early.

John stayed up later with the girls. They continued to party...I snoozed.

I am refreshed this morning. Now headed off to finish putting away Christmas....almost done!

Happy New Year!