Four is a lot

Sunday, July 12, 2009

July 11 - My birthday

33 and what a great day it was! First, I got to go take one of my tests for teaching. I had been dreading for months how it was on my birthday and ended up being a blessing in disguise. I got to take a 2 hour drive with no kids, set in a school and take a five hour test about schooling which I love, drive back 2 hours alone, make a pit stop for ice cream to reward me for how good I felt I did on the test and a birthday gift, stop at a scrapbook store to browse, bead store to browse, Joann's to browse then come home to the kids where Kaylin was fixing the frozen pizza's that were bought so I would not have to cook (a reward since I usually make things from scratch up here). Next, I took a shower and no one walked in and asked any questions (first time in probably eight years). Finally, I come back in and I have a birthday cake and the house was picked up. I am not sure I could have had a better day at all. Amazing how the older you get the cheaper the nicest gifts get!

4th weekend

We went with Gloria and Lee to set and see fireworks. It was fun. Then we went on the boat the next morning and to Kingston for the kiddy rides. The kids liked the horse rides and cars the best. Jake was my little helper. When the wind picked up our wrappers Jake took after them to get the trash and throw it away. Remember when Amanda was my neat freak! Boy, have times changed!

Jake sleeping

Jake sleeps like Darrel. It is so cute!

More fishing with the kids at Wild Cat lake

Jake has the fishing pole here and everyone had to watch out. He has the drop and tip and pull rythem but he kept hitting Amanda in the head when he would drop the end of the pole and he thought it was funny which made him want to do it more.

Fishing with the kids...

Darrel loves taking the kids to the parks/lakes here and just letting them cast out.

Wildcat lake was fun for fishing but everyone's favorite is the playground at Island lake where they get to play! It also has the big field they can run and play sports in. It is close and we almost always pack up dinner and eat there because of the park tables to eat at!

2nd day of Viking Fest AM

Mackenzie had Miramba concert also the next day. It was such a busy weekend and it was the first time we all got burned in Washington.

2nd Day of Viking Fest

After Mackenzie's concert we got to go on the rides. The kids had a blast!

Viking Fest

Well, in May was Viking Fest here. It is similar to Gilbert Days. The kids had lots of fun and Kaylin was in the Parade. Amanda and Jake's favorite ride was the carousel. It was well worth them being happy all day. This was the same weekend Darrel was on his fishing trip so everyone got to have fun this weekend!

Wolf to Bear

Michael is now a Bear! He did so much work and he received his patch and 1 gold arrow and four silver arrows (which is extra work). We gave him a cubscouts wallet that we got him for promoting. he was excited because he lost his last wallet so he has not had one for a while.

TSC - Tuberous Sclerosis

Gloria, (our friend up here) has a daughter with TSC. We did a 5K walk with them in Seattle in May. It was lots of fun. The kids loved getting out and going somewhere new.

Darrel's fishing trip

In May, Darrel got to go with a friend fishing in Neaha Bay. They came home with a lot of fish. here they are before they were filleted and then they were able to pay a guy and his son $20 and they filleted it all for them. Darrel was so excited because that is the crap job@! He got to see a walrus sunning on the dock when they tried to pull back in. It was a great trip and our freezer is still full of black cod and reg. cod. In fact, he needs to get to eating it because I went grocery shopping yesterday and almost couldn't get the corn dogs to fit for the kids!

Mother-Daughter Tea for Girl Scouts

Kenzie's girl scouts had a tea party in April. It was lots of fun. The girls made everything and then the mothers got to come and enjoy. It was lots of fun.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Teacher gifts

Well, I have the gifts for the teachers done. Mikes teacher has the lap quilt up top that I crocheted. Mackenzie's teacher is a little older and I thought she might enjoy this shaw I made. It is actually very warm unlike Mike's teacher's lap quilt

Amanda's chick

Jake sure loves Amanda's chick. We were trying after dinner yesterday to get them to share because they were fighting grabbing it from each other. They finally got pretty good about sending it back and forth to each other. Jake still every once in a while would grab it even though it was Amanda's turn but he was so funny Amanda didn't mind. Mike kept trying to get Jake's attention so that Amanda could take it and run but she wanted to share. She loves playing with Jake! (I am so glad and hope it lasts)

Forks for Duane

We found this in someone's yard and immediately thought that Duane would love to have a tree in his yard like this. It took us a minute to see the bear in the yard. Hope you enjoy it Duane!

Easter

Easter here was a very relaxed and lazy day. It was raining hard when we got up and didn't lighten up until about 5 pm so we hunted eggs late. We didn't do a lot for Easter as we are trying to watch money like everyone else and save some so we can start deciding what we might do for getting a house rather than renting forever. They enjoyed hunting the eggs and found them all (yea@!) I don't think raccoons here finding eggs would be a good thing. They would probably come back thinking there was more.

We had a silver and gold egg. Amanda found the silver $5 was in it. Kenzie found the gold $10 was in it. They had fun.

3rd beach hike

3rd beach ended up being a 1 1/2 mile hike. We got about 1/2 way and then we turned around. Darrel was nervous because of the bears and the time of the year. They would be coming out of hibernation and they are known to be seen around here. He had no weapon and 5 noisy kids that kept running ahead aways out of view so we walked a ways and then went back. The kids enjoyed the walk and it wore out Jake and Mandy. I loved walking through the forest! I thought it was so beautiful! There was a huge whole in the ground under an uprooted tree where Kaylin and I wondered if there was a bear that had slept in it. It was pleanty big enough. When Darrel found a walking stick Jake had to have one two. He is starting to watch Darrel very closely and do what he does. Darrel has noticed and is very proud of it. He is doing good at watching what he does and says because of this. Jake is crazy about him@!

FORKS

Well, the household here has been crazy over TWILIGHT - a movie and book series. Forks, WA is where the ficitional story takes place. Because of being so close the kids (girls) really wanted to go there. Darrel and I decided to take them Easter weekend. Good Friday we drove 2 hours to Forks where there is a little town of 3000 people. Actually smaller than where we live now. The drive was long but once we got there the girls liked seeing the places were things were filmed in the movie. We got to go to a couple of stores with TWILIGHT things and the girls loved looking at those items. We got to see some pretty waterfalls but unfortunately not the one in the movie cause it required a hike and the little ones were not up to that. We then went to LaPush and got to see the beach. I picked up some rocks from there and they really are flat with different colors. Not as bright as I was expecting but definately different colors. The ocean was beautiful and the kids loved the beach including the little ones. We got some great pictures from that. The sand was black almost and the drift wood I thought was beautiful. The kids liked climbing on it all. Darrel thought it looked trashy and needed to be cleared out but I liked it. They have three beached named "1st beach, 2nd beach, and 3rd beach". The first is the only one like this. 2nd and 3rd are just flat where they filmed the movie at. The pictures at the bottom are of lake crecent on the way to forks. It is huge and beautiful because of the mountain backdrop and the clouds are always so low here. We even saw deer right here and they must be used to campers because the care was only 15 feet way when we took these.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Conferences...

Well, we had conferences this week.

They all went well.

Mike is doing much better with his reading. He is still not as high as he needs to be but he has grown throughout the year so that is a plus. Maybe since he has finally learned those basic sight words that make it so hard we will see a jump soon. His behavior has improved even though he slips up every now and then. Definately less than in the past! Mikes music teacher said he is exceptional with music but needs to watch his talking out. I am not surprised. He loves anything that has to do with singing or instruments.

Kenzie is doing great and her teacher says she is wonderful! Her reading and math have jumped from border low to average to border average to above average. This is huge since it is in both areas. We also put her in an extra writing lab for six weeks. I didn't know how much it would help but it was something extra she wanted to do. It just ended but her teacher saw so much growth in her writing during that time she is amazed at how great she is doing across the board and of course her behavior is exceptional for 4th grade. Her music teacher also said that she exceeds expectations with her class.

Kaylin is in middle school and they do student led conferences here so she had to put together a LOT of her work from all her classes and then set down and present it. She did great and her work is wonderful. She does so good in school compared to a couple of years ago when I remember having to force her to finish anything. Her teachers all love her and are so glad she is here. She has made friends in her classes and is very "chipper and friendly" at school. I was so excited because while she is wonderful at home and is not a problem I don't think those are the words I would have chose to use with her personality here. We are so proud of how well she has done in just the short time she has been here. 3 months and completely adjusted is great!

Three great conferences.. . What else could I ask for!

Kenzie's Doll clothes

I am so proud of myself. I have had fabric since November wanting to make doll clothes for Mackenzies American Girl Doll. They are so expensive to buy. I didn't have to guts to try it before when mom was here because she didn't feel up to helping me. I have been sewing more since the playgroup moms in Amanda's playgroup have all been making quilts. I took my sewing machine and my serger (than you mom) and a couple of the ladies were able to give me basic lessons.

I then worked on a lap quilt and finished the top which I don't really like how it turned out (probably because of the fabrics I chose but it was just for practice and my first one and using what I had) and then I decided to try the doll patterns. I figured since the money was already spent on the fabric it couldn't hurt any. I did the easiest pattern I had and this is the result. I love how it turned out. Mackenzie is going to be so excited! I think I will be able to make a few more for her before she gets back. I already have another one done (they only take me one evening - couple hours each). I have another quilt to start on but I think I feel more successful with the doll clothes and the end result so I don't know when I will get it done.

Amanda's birthday

Well, Amanda is 4! She had a funny day. We didn't celebrate until dinner so she kept saying it wasn't her birthday and around noon she wanted to know if we could go out to a party for her birthday so we decorated for dinner and had cake and presents for dessert. She loved them all. One just as much as the others. It takes very little to please her... Her cake was Dora in the Mucky mud. She loved that! Happy Birthday Amanda!!

she got a scooter from granny and papa, movie from Bill and Kimmy, austin and Lexi, Baby doll items and a dora coloring book from Missy and Benjamin, a panda light up bear for bed time from Kaylin and Kenzie, Tights from Jake, Playdough from Mike, and a big backyardagain doll from mom and dad (Uniquea).

Jake and Amanda

We took the kids to the mall after we dropped off Mackenzie at the airport. We don't make it to Seattle much and I wanted to see the mall up there. Amazing, one of the biggest malls here and it is the size of one of the smallest in AZ. Just not bigcity feel even up here. I guess there big mall is really outside the Pikes market. I am still dying to get there. I think Kenzie Kaylin, and I would love that one. We will have to pick a day and just the three of us go there.

Jake and Amanda love these little rides. It takes very little to please them. I love it....

Monday, March 2, 2009

More on car accident - Larry

Well, mom posted about Larry and the car accident. Now 24 hours later we have more details and pictures.

Larry was the one ejected from the Tahoe. Kristen was driving (32 weeks pregnant). She was seat belted in. Larry got everyone out of the vehicle after it stopped flipping (the car flipped front over tale 5 times per the police today). The airbags did not deploy at all. When Larry got Kristen out of the car her water broke. Probably from hitting the steering wheel. The first two people on sight of the accident happen to be two nurses. They waited until Kristen was air vaked and then they drove Larry and Rylee (3 yo) to the Tucson Hospital 80 miles away and waited with them for 2.5 hours until Kristen's parents arrived. They were blessings in disguise. Larry was sleeping in the car when they had the accident and remembers nothing until right before they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Kristen was in labor but by the time they landed the air vak the baby was in distress and they did an emergency c-section. They worked with the baby 1.5 hours to get her breathing again. She has been strong every since.

Rylee has a cut on her face, goose egg on her forehead and two black eyes. The baby is doing good and they are hoping to take her off the oxygen by tomorrow (Tuesday or Wednesday). If she continues to do well doctors think she can go home in two weeks. She was 4 lb. 2 oz. and 17 in long so she was good size as you can see in the pictures! Kadence Elizabeth Sanders. By the way mom, Kristen has her own blogspot that she tries to keep updated. This of course has not made it on there but she did blog right before she left Jeanie's and Duane's. It is www.ryleeandkadence.blogspot.com You can flag it and pop on there every once in a while now.

Everyone is doing well and recovering and not one broken bone - Thank God!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Real birthday Kenzie

Kenzie is officially 10! I can't believe it already. I think she had a good day. I took her early to get a birthday treat for her class and they got pudding cups and then I picked her up for lunch and we went to subway (her favorite lunch spot up here). After school she got her presents and we had spagetti for her birthday dinner. Everyone except her and I are not well. We had them all home from school today except her and Darrel came home from work and went straight to bed without dinner. Hopefully they will all be feeling better tomorrow. She got a bike from us and Aunt Missy. she got a camera from granny and papa sent her $10. Unk (Darrel's Uncle) sent her $10 also. Kaylin and Mike got her a camera case and Amanda got her a webkinz puppy and Jake got her speakers for her MP3 player she got for christmas. Kaylin gaver her a gift also. Sorry it is sideways. I couldn't figure out how to turn it.

Jake and Amanda

Jake and Amanda have really enjoyed the extra hats. Amanda has been running around putting them on everyones heads saying they are now married. Jake was trying so hard to get away from her. She can get in such a lovy mood sometimes.

Party time

Here we were with her birthday cupcake and this was a mini cupcake and we were able to fit 10 candles on it thanks to Kaylin. I didn't think it was possible. She got lots of nice gifts! 2 Webkinzs, gift card, tinker musical doll, tinker toy, candy, stuffed animals. 9 girls showed up and they had lots of fun.

Kenzie's party

Kenzie's party. Well, Kaylin and Kenzie's birthdays are only 5 days a part and kenzie this year had her party early because late would have landed on Valentine's day so we have just been busy busy busy. I made the party favors and things for her party. Above is the hats that I made for all the girls. Kenzie loved them. It cost $4 for 12 hats. That wasn't too bad. They turned out much nicer than just paper hats. She wanted a tiny tinker party so we made all these little foods for the buffet and they played fairy games. They had a great time. That morning she got to open grannys gift and guess what... she has a nicer camera than her parents now!

Red Lobster

We took Kaylin's gifts to the resturant and opened them while we were waiting for our food. She liked them all. She got another tinkerbell toy, boombox, and 50 coin display. She is collecting the 50 US coins so Kenzie and Mike thought she would like it. Amanda and Jake got her the tink and Darrel and I got her a boom box. She missed her one from AZ and they were not able to pack it here in her lugage.

After that we came home and had birthday cake for dessert. Tres Leche cake (3 milk cake) It is her favorite

Kaylin's 13 !!!

Kaylin's mom sent her a $25 gift card to go towards her dinner out since she loves Red lobster, that is where we went. she also got her a tiny Tinkerbell toy. She has a teacher (math) that had the same birthday as her and her favorite color was green so we made this necklace for her. I hope she liked it. Kaylin said she told her she loved it. (I have learned over the years though, being a teacher, you can hate something and still love it because of who thought of you) Hopefully she really does like it. We took balloons to Kaylin at lunch time and we also was able to let her talk to her mom at school. She loved hearing from her.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Baby Doll Quilt

Well, I had a million squares (6 inch) and was going to make a queen quilt and then I got so scared that I would mess it up I decided to cut it down and I made 3 lap quilt tops and 2 baby doll tops. I then was nervious about making them so I started with the babydoll quilt and I tried to quilt it. I got it penned, tacked and trimmed then binded. Here are the pictures I have. I loved how it turned out. I can't wait to finish the rest of them. Determined I have to do this during nap times though.

Boston Cream cupcakes

Jake loved the boston cream cupcakes we made for desert this last month.

Amanda and her teeth

Well, I should have known this was not going to be simple. Amanda has a bad tooth that the doctor says they are going to have to pull because it is so bad and since it is a baby tooth she is better off having it pulled than trying to save it and continuing to have problems. It is inflamed so they needed to give her antibiotics to get the swelling down before they pull it. Well, they gave her straight Penicillin and guess what, she is allergic. None of my kids have been allergic to penicillin based antibiotics but none have them have been given straight penicillin until now either. She had purple freckles all over her face, around her hair line and around her eyes, and then all over her neck, and behind her ears and down to her shoulders. We have been taking benadril round the clock all weekend and they are finally fading away. You can't see the ones around her eyes anymore and all that is left are her neck and behind her ears. They were the brightest and worst. They called in a new prescription and flagged her file with NON-penicillin meds only. We will go later today to pick it up.
Michael is STAR STUDENT this week. I beat teachers dread making him STAR student. I know I always dreaded my problem students getting that much attention. They usually acted worse. Hopefully he won't. He has done a lot better this year. A few setbacks every now and then but nothing like the previous years (weekly).
Kenzie has a sore throat and is very irritated that she can't find something to make it better. She has tried cough drops, warm water, and nothing seems to be working. I think her nose is draining and down her throat. This morning she woke up and it did not hurt as bad as yesterday but she has no voice. I figure it will just cut down on her talking to her friends so since she had no fever and seemed to feel fine other than her throat, I sent her to school and told her to call if there was a problem. She got to ride her bike so I am assuming since she made it and I didn't hear from her in the first hour she is probably going to be fine.
Kaylin's birthday is on Thursday. She is excited. We decided to take her out for her birthday since it is just a family year party. She wanted red lobster for the calamari. I think she will enjoy her gifts. We will see though.
Jake is getting goofier than ever. His newest thing is to stand and act like he is falling over and fall on the ground and then wait for everyone to look and laugh or clap before he stands back up. Hope family in Arkansas are all doing better. I know we are cold here (we haven't been above 38 for quite a while) but our weather is nothing like there. No snow or bad ice. Just small freezing that is gone by morning when the sun comes up.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

snow Ice cream

Granny called and said we should make snow ice cream and the girls got excited. They made it and it tasted okay even though they forgot the egg. maybe next time we will make it right and it will taste even better. They all loved it though.

Darrel's gifts

Well, does anyone else notice Darrel finally found a remote bigger than his head! Maybe he won't loose this one.

The Shark was suppose to be for me but I wrapped it and put Darrel's name thinking I would be cute *(like he would want to use a steamer around the house) In stead of it being funny he goes "ah right, I finally got a steamer to clean my truck tires with!" Boy did that backfire. I did explain that it was NOT to be used for that! It was inside only!

I loved my software for the computer to use with my cutting machine Darrel bought me last year to scapbook with. Hopefully I can get it loaded and use it soon. We loved the hand print from Michael. It was a great gift. And I finally got around to getting Darrel's dad's flag framed. It only took 11 years. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner.

He loved it! And we even have already found a great place for it. I will have to get a picture taken soon.

Mike's favorites...

Mike I think liked the legos the best even though Darrel and I were worried he wouldn't like them because they were not Star Wars. He has played with them the most since Christmas though. We were so happy. They were the best priced items we found (regularly 60 -80 dollars and we got them on clearance for 15 each)