Grateful

I can virtually see my father-in-law rolling his eyes at the subject of this blog. Anywho...I am grateful for...

-my family supports me in whatever I do
-my friends support me in whatever I do
-they both like bags :)
-an opportunity
-feeling like a grown-up again
-confidence
-guts, spunk, and moxie (name that movie)
-snow days
-a husband who does laundry while working from home
-hot chocolate and ginger cookies

Logan Bits

Logan was a funny chap today. We went to my parents for the day after church this morning. It's a little over an hour drive. Half way there, Logan tells Kevin that he's going to make him a superhero...Tree Man. Kevin let Logan know that he didn't want to be the Tree Man because he would be able to do anything to anyone...except maybe leaf them. Logan explained that he could throw rocks and other trees at bad people. Then he named himself Snake Man, Rory Cloud Girl, and Kaelyn Mud Girl. Marley ended up being Baby Taxi Girl, and I'm the Big Boss. I told Logan I was going to be the Big Boss because a car went by and had a sticker on it that said that. He agreed. Later I tried to ask if I could be Water Girl, but no one would let me.

Here's how it works. We battle bad people. Rory rains on Kevin to help him grow and rains on Kaelyn to change the consistency of her mud. Logan hypnotizes people like the Cobra snake does. Kevin throws rocks and other trees. Kaelyn can make quick sand and mud pies. Marley transports all of us on roads and bridges made by Kaelyn and Kevin. I don't do anything because they don't need me. :(

On the way home, Logan exclaimed, "I'm a good hearer but a bad listener." We thought that was ingenious! Looks like he's coming into his own.

Snow Day

We had a snow day here yesterday and today. I'm sure you all did too. I was starting to get worried considering I had purchased the kids' snowsuits in October. I thought for sure we wouldn't have any snow because I was prepared for once...rather than that person wondering around Walmart trying to find snow boots from the couple they have thrown all over the place. So everyone was excited for this snow...the kids got to play...Kevin included...I got the satisfaction of doing something right this time...

Yesterday Kevin took a break from work and got the kids outside for a bit. I was thankful because I haven't been feeling well. It's such a chore to get them all into all that gear too...even with two of us doing it. Here are some pics.
I'm not sure what my boy is doing here, but it sure got us some laughs.
I guess there's something to be said about purchasing things ahead of time. Rory should've been more worried about the flood from melting snow than the snow itself!


Along with Kevin*, they all decided to throw snowballs at me through the glass door. Kevin would've definitely nailed me a couple times if the door had been open. It was a good day had by all. They went out again today, but I didn't get any pictures. At one point Marley and Logan were on the back deck. Marley was sitting in a pile of snow screaming, "Daaaaaddddyyy. Daaaaaddddddyyyyyy." I called out front to Kevin and said, "Marley's fallen and she can't get up!" It was funny.

*not pictured

My Life

Sorry for the delay in posts. Kaelyn has exams this week, so we've been studying for her tests. The same girl who can tell me Smelser's Theory of Collective Behavior can't remember her daily chores. I'll never understand it. Anyway, I decided to let you know some things that are going on in my life.

If I had had time to put a picture here, it would be of blue painter's tape on the cabinet doors under my kitchen sink. You might be wondering why the doors are taped, or thinking that it must be to keep the kids out. WRONG! I have tape on our kitchen cabinet doors to keep the CAT out. That's right...I said(wrote) it...the CAT. We keep his treats under the sink, and he has figured this out...and he opens the door himself and gets in there! I have stopped giving him treats because he doesn't deserve them. When you walk past him, he tries to bite you and sometimes succeeds. Then I was sitting in the kitchen two nights ago, and Kaelyn comes walking in yelling at the cat for biting her and attacking her feet. Then she walks over to the cabinet and reaches in to get his treats out. I asked her what she was doing and her obvious reply was giving him treats. I asked her why she would be giving him treats when he was just attacking her. Her reply was that he was attacking her to GET treats. And now it all makes sense. She has been rewarding his bad and biting behavior this whole time. I let her in on this new development and she actually looked a bit embarrassed by the whole ordeal. After all, what would Smelser think?!

Secondly, I received a Wii Fit Board and Game for my birthday. I finally cracked it open today. To get started they have to do a physical test and so forth. I did this test and it registered that I was overweight. As it did this, my Mii character grew chunky around the thigh area. My first thought was, "Wow, how did they know it was all in my thighs?" My second thought was something about being embarrassed that Rory and Logan were witnessing all this. They didn't say anything. They just looked at me trying to see if the controller was going to go flying or something. Then when they did their tests, they cheered and hollered when it said they were in a healthy weight range. When I tried to tell my "supportive" husband, he hugged me while laughing hysterically at me. When I went through the story slowly and detailed, he laughed harder. SO...it is now my mission to prove my Wii wrong!

Thirdly, (and this ties in nicely with secondly) I have joined a competition at my gym called "I Lost It At The Gym." (catchy, huh?) You get put on a team and get points for every work out, challenge, and so forth. So far Kevin and I are on the winning team, no thanks to us. Between Rory's strep throat and this weather, who knows how many points we'll get for our team. The competition lasts for 8 weeks. I'll let you know how it turns out.

This is My Life.

Birthdays and Boxes!!!

First I'd like to apologize to Kevin for not giving him a birthday blog for his birthday on January 3rd. I know we had some things going on that week, but still, I think I might have to make a "Wife Of The Year" award speech next...especially since he noticed and didn't say anything about it. It's the 23rd now, and I'm just figuring it out. So here is Kevin's birthday blog.

Happy Birthday, Kevin!!!!!!!!! Kevin turns 35 today (pretend it's the 3rd). Here are a couple things you might not know about Kevin.

1. He turned his life to God this past year.
2. He makes the best humdingers (and only) I have ever had. They're egg pancakes.
3. He has introduced our whole family to dry ramen noodles.
4. He's getting really good at guitar on Guitar Hero or Rockband on Wii.
5. Every night while I'm in the shower, he lays on my side of the bed to warm the sheets, so they're not cold when I lay down.
6. He always helps me prepare my preschool lessons and pack lunches the night before co-op.
7. He's very supportive in all my ventures.
8. He is an awesome dad.
9. He is kind, helpful, supportive, loving, caring, nurturing, intelligent, and loud. :)
10. He is a wonderful provider for our family.

Happy Birthday, Kevin. I love you!!!!!

Now, on to Marley. She's INto boxes lately. Let's roll.
I don't know what this phase is, but it cracks me up!

My Sister's Visit

I am the youngest of three girls. My middle sister, Maria, is closest in age and in relationship. She managed to have three boys...plus a stepdaughter. Funny. Maria lives in Canada...over the Dakotas. She comes to visit twice a year, summer and Christmas. Her husband comes with her in the summer, but he's a hockey guy and winter is not feasible for him to spend any time away. It's normally just Ri and the boys. Her boys come a year after my three youngest. Rory is 7, Dale is 6, Logan is 4, Dayce is 3, Marley is 2, and Drake is 6 months. They all adore each other...especially Marley and Drake.

This past Christmas they visited. Maria's husband came with her to help with the boys, but he only stayed for not even a day and headed back out. We were at my parents as much as possible and let our kids hang out...a lot. Here are some pics from their visit.
I'm so used to Marley being the smallest. This pic really puts it in perspective for me.
Here is Dayce getting a hockey jersey because Canada is all about hockey.
I am not a picture person, but I love this picture. He's so cute!

Dayce asked Uncle Kevin if he could lay down with him.
Pay no attention to the fact that the DS Logan is playing is pink. It's not his.
Look at that mischief! It's almost tangible! A good time was had by all. All the kids were sad that they had to go home. Marley still asks when we're going to see Baby Drake again. My prayer is that they'll move closer...like into the states...on the east coast...somewhere that starts with the letter "M" and ends in a "D". :) I would even settle for a "V" and an "A".

My "Mother Of The Year" Award Speech

First and foremost, thank you to my family without whom none of this would be possible. I've always wondered what would clinch the award for me. Would it be assuring Kaelyn that I would stay up with her when she had the rotavirus only to sneak back to bed when she went to sleep? Would it be pulling up Logan's pants angry that he couldn't do it himself...yanking too hard and picking him up so that his body fell forward and he hit the toilet rim with his neck? Would it be wanting to get back to my workouts at the gym; therefore, diminishing my production of breast milk so that Marley actually lost weight instead of gained it at 4-6 months old? No. It was when Rory spiked a fever, and I thought it was a tooth infection. I immediately got her into the dentist and had her tooth pulled while she screamed and cried...only to find out she had strep throat. Now she can't even use a straw for her slurpee or soup to help her throat because her extraction site could dry socket...thus cementing my spot in the "Hall of Fame:Mothers of the Year." Thank you again, and I don't hope to see you next year.

Christmas 2010

Here's a quick run down for you. Jesus is born, open stockings, open presents, get in the car and drive, arrive, open stockings, open presents, get in the car and drive, arrive, open stockings, open presents, get in the car and drive, arrive, sit amidst the pile of loot wondering where we're going to put it all, go to bed.

Don't get me wrong...I am thankful that we have family to visit and share the holiday with. I would be dishonest if I didn't say that some part of me every Christmas longs to stay in my jammies, open gifts, and play with everything throughout the day, making makeshift meals and watching movies...with hot chocolate. But my kids love it so we'll keep on chuggin'. Here are some pics.
Kevin got a shiny new toy for Christmas from his parents. It was funny how all the kids gathered around it...including Kevin. :)

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program

So, it's been a while. Sorry about that. I'm going to try and get this blog up and running again. As most of you know we had a very happy belated New Year. We're hoping that this is going to set the tone for the rest of the year. But let's back up for a bit and revisit Christmas.

At Nana and Papa's there's a tradition of a Nerf Gun fight before gifts are opened. I think it actually comes after stockings. We used to get the guns in the stockings I think and then it got technical...different guns for the girls than the guys to give the girls a better shot at winning (get it? better shot? HAHA!) everyone taking time to get ammunition loaded and so forth.

This year the guns were handed out. I was the field photographer. It was rough out there. Everything was going on as normal and then, Uncle Brian disappeared and came back with an automatic nerf gun. It didn't take long for forts to be found and alliances to be formed. The alliances were basically Sam and Brian against everyone else. At one point Brian had to reload his 50 thousand ammunition slots. While this was happening, everyone else decided to load up and they would bombard Brian and Sam once they entered the room.

Unfortunately this didn't work so well, but they gave it the old college try. I'm going to roll the pics in sequence and let you take it all in. It's a fun tradition!
Before Sam crossed over to the dark side...I hear they have cookies?

Et tu Marley?

I'm not sure why Papa looks like he's aiming right for me. It's all about getting the action when you're the field photographer.

Look at Kaelyn's eyes...wild with adrenaline.
Kaelyn didn't let a dress stop her. She hunched down behind this chair for cover. By the way, that's double sided tape on the chairs. Cats don't like to scratch furniture with double sided tape on it. No one told me this when I got Moki(A.K.A. Master Manipulator). Moving on...
Nikki joined forces with Kaelyn in her spot while Kaelyn put a box on her head for extra protection. She soon figured out that even though it saved her from being shot, she couldn't see to shoot.
Has anyone seen Matrix 3? There's a scene where they're recruiting ammo guys and telling them their one goal is to load up their people without getting killed. This shot reminds me of that scene...Marley...the ammo girl.
Notice the plate behind Brian and by the garland on his left...this was serious folks...in case you had any doubt.
I think it was Nana that finally called the game quits. It went on for some time and we still had to open presents. Marley went up to Paula and Paula kept screaming, "Not so close Marley!" and then Marley would shoot her point blank. It was pretty funny even though I should've stopped it like a responsible parent. It really was hilarious. Hope your Christmas was fun and maybe you'll try adding a new tradition next year? What better way to take your frustrations out on your family?