29 February, 2008

Leap Day Snow Sledding

This is what Alona calls tubing. We had a blast. We all met at Caren's and then headed off to Soldier Hollow. I was able to go the first time with Abbi, the thrill of tubing down those slopes is amazing and the speed scares you to death well okay so it scares Abbi and me. Her face during the downhill ride was just priceless and then once we are finished she has the biggest grin from ear to ear and wants to do it again. Up at the top again she gets a little cautious not wanting to go down.

Riding up hill was really fun too. Alona when I was behind her the first time was pretending that her tube was a horsey and telling it to "giddy-up" she ended up having her tube come off of the pole with all of her pretend galloping! And then she wanted to lie flat on her stomach like she was flying and was dumped over into the snow. Alona wasn't scared at all she was thrilled with each and every bit of it and loved riding down hill with Margaret, they were thrill seekers!
Many snowballs were being thrown by everyone. Abbi was definitely our little happy camper. She fit snuggly inside of the inner tube. Her little hat that she borrowed from Margaret would stick out and her cute little face. She was delighted to be pulled up the hill. She sat at the bottom of the inner tube and she was soaked half way through our time there, the snow and moisture came through the mesh bottom.
Kacen enjoyed his time at the bottom of the hill. Each adult took turns staying down there with him. He liked riding in them until I scared him. I went a little too fast and he came out of the inner tube and the ice and snow hurt his cheeks. He fit into them perfectly and held on so well for being so little. He let me take him very slowly in the inner tube after that but was happier playing on the outside of them. He would poke his head into the inner tubes and go throughout all of them that were on the ground surrounding him.
Grandpa went through the fence. They had a mesh fence at the bottom of the hill and Val's tube hit it and he went under. Margaret was down there before my tube got there and she was laughing. She was able to watch him and thought that it was just hilarious. Others of us hit the fence as well, such as when Margaret, Abbi and I were holding our tubes together, that was great! Occasionally the speeds downhill were to fast to stop that quickly. Alona went by herself once. I didn't understand truly what Margaret was saying that bigger people go faster. I thought that Abbi and I had gone plenty fast together. But Alona with her only 40 lbs. got stopped less than half way down. She is an amazing little girl, she stuck out her arms and started pushing and she was off again. At the bottom the attendant helped her the rest of the way.
I had a lot of fun with my children and Margaret, Val and Ruth and I probably screamed the loudest. I was truly scared, felt like I had no control of what was going on, they tubes went so fast. It helped riding with Abbi every time, I was screaming but calm, reassuring her that it would be alright.

23 February, 2008

Mommy's big helper

Kacen followed me into each and every room that I vacuumed today and vacuumed with me! I got Paul to get the camera, isn't he just the cutest most helpful, loving little boy!

18 February, 2008

Valentines and Abbi's Birthday

  • Wednesday:: The Day before Valentines the kids and I went to a playgroup Valentine Party. The night before we had made boxes to put our valentines in, the girls did an awesome job! The played pass the heart, kind of like hot potato but with a heart pillow. Everyone had a chance to win, though Kacen's patience was truly tested when he was second to last getting a treat.There were valentines for everyone and Alona had made a personalized valentine for each of the twenty children. Pink rice krispie treats and Capri sun' sto drink and another game where they had to swat the heart with the correct color that was mentioned. Which is a good game for most of those children considering the age range. Kacen had fun with the balloons catching one proved to be the hardest part for Kacen, all of the other kids were bigger. But once he got there he enjoyed kicking them.We also received Grandma's box of Valentines goodies this day!
  • Thursday:: I had volunteered to watch a ladies kids on Valentines since Paul would be working. It ended up being real fun. The kids played great together. The oldest girl was the cashier and the girls had fun being the customers. Abbi liked having a little girl around that she could mentor and hug and show her what to do. Kacen also liked having someone younger around that was still kind of his size. They both sat on the little bikes that we have, he was in front and tried to pull her a long, she wasn't having that. I had made cupcakes, they told ME when They were ready to decorate them and they really had fun putting tone of conversation hearts on, flowers, sprinkles,etc. and then we went and made sun flowers out of paper plates, paper and sunflower seeds.
  • Friday:: We celebrated Abbi's birthday on Friday, Paul was home this day and we wouldn't have been able to see him at all on Sunday had we been home. We went to Kangaroo Zoo and jumped around, it was really fun. Kacen even found one that he wasn't too scared to go on. Abbi was real scared at first too, she would not go on her own at first and then Paul took her on the biggest slide, her face just lit up with excitement and she was enthralled with it all after that. She had to do them all "again, again!" and had mom and dad go with her a few times. Alona really enjoyed herself too! We went down slides together! We came home and had dinner with Grandma, Papa and Brandon and opened presents and had cake! Our first Ariel cake, it was a real cute one. Abbi got three dollars from uncle Brandon with a cute card that she can color. And a laptop and disney princess pop up toy container. And Mom and Dad(Paul and I) got her a chest full of dress up clothes, princess and others!








  • Saturday:: We made an early trip to Pocatello (Alona was the only child who stayed awake the whole three hour trip) and Uncle Chris made us pancakes, we visited with the cows and the puppy dog, Rex! And he took us to the dollar theaters where we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. Kacen was able to stay with Aunt Susan (whom Abbi fondly called Grandma while we were there) while we went and the Girls and I had fun! Uncle Chris got them a kids pack of candy, drinks and popcorn! We then ate lunch at Tastee Treet my uncles Restaurant in Pocatello! and then we went to the local pet store where they have a MONKEY! and many other animals that are unusual huge Tortoises and other such things!
  • Sunday:: We went to church with them at 9 a.m. The girls tried out primary but were frightened with not knowing anyone. So Mom and all three children went to Nursery and then the last 15 minutes the girls ventured in to Senior Primary's sharing time, because they weren't scared any more. We had an amazing lunch that my uncle had spent days making and they had bought Abbi a birthday cake. My uncle had also made an extra casserole dish to bring home to Paul for dinner. Every time that we go up there he makes this casserole or navajo tacos for Paul and since Paul didn't go this time, he sent it home for him. His navajo tacos are awesome too! We were able to visit with my brothers turtles before heading back in to Utah. I showed Alona the sign at the Utah-Idaho border and she got hysterical, "But I wanted to go to Grandma's house!" Don't ask me, I do not understand how coming in to Utah means that we had passed Grandma's house, but it was calmly explained that we had a ways to go until we got there! We had dinner with Grandma Price and she had a nice scrumptuous cake as well with Dora figures. Aunt Crystal brought her some Dora figurines and a green shirt and peanut M&m's as well. We came home to a clean house. Paul did a great job!
  • Monday:: TOday! We went before noon to Kiddie Kandids and with her birthday monies she got a whole new outfit from The Children's Place. New shoes, pants, socks, shirt, and barrettes, so pretty. ANd then we went across the way and had her pictures taken and got the free 8 x 10 that they give children for their birthdays, Cute, Cute! We came home had lunch and naps and dinner and then went and played at Chuck E. Cheese! They sent us a coupon for twenty tokens for Abbi's birthday. The kids had a lot of fun there. They enjoy the slide which costs no tokens! And then they had fun riding things and played basketball with mom! Alona kept asking for "money" and went off to find things to put her tokens in herself, and Abbi watched listened and followed her sisters example while going with either Mom or Alona to play. And Kacen well he wandered where he pleased, with Mom on his heels, that boy disappears in the blink of an eye! He goes to explore!

12 February, 2008

Isn't she pretty


Our New 2005 Nissan Sentra. Beautiful red shiny coat, air conditioning! Power everything including a trunk that pops open with a remote, keyless entry, automatic start up, clean everything inside and smells like a brand new car! The speedometer works and the radio! And as Paul would say, this thing can get up and go!
It was also a beautiful day today, nope we are not ready once again for the snow tomorrow!

Questionaires

I posted this on another site and thought that it would be fun to see here too...

1. What is the status of you and the last person you were on the phone with?
I get to see him for more than five minutes for the first time in FIVE days!

2. What is wrong with you right now?
I am sleep deprived and am finding ways to postpone my sleep

3. Do you miss your first love?
no not really, the first boy I remember was in kindergarten.

4. What do you want right now?
sleep, finish the Da Vinci that I have been reading, do more scrapbooking, order pictures

5. Are you happy?
sure

6. Favorite celebrity?
none, i can't relate to them, the media does not portray them as real, though I know that they are, that is all i see

7. What do you smell like?
laundry detergent and a long day with children

8. Whats your favorite thing to have on your bed?
a nice surprise from my husband would be awesome, though I am happy with a small pillow for in between my knees, a big one for my head and a nice comfy blanket

9. What do you wear to bed?
pj pants and a t-shirt, sweat shirt if its real cold, one day my kids won't live here and then maybe that will change..give it a good 20-30 years!

10. Do you tend to make relationships complicated?
with friends, yeah I think so, I put too much into it and extended family too! Though my immediate family, nothing complicated about it, besides our lives.

11. Have you ever made love to a penguin?
Um... what?

12. Tea or coffee?
no on both accounts

13. what did you do last night?
I read the Da Vinci code for 2 1/2 hours after my children went to sleep then folded clothes and cleaned up the kitchen

14. What is your favorite song?
"Stand" by rascal flatts! I can relate so much to that song!

15. Who is one person who never lets you down?
for the most part, Paul

16. How many times have you told someone you loved them and meant it?
A lot! It really has to have some meaning for me to say it!

17. How is your hair?
up in a pony with strands stringing everywhere on the sides of my head

18. Last new movie seen?
I would love to see enchanted! But ummm, I last watched Ratatouille with the girls about a week ago while Kacen was asleep

19. Who is your best friend?
Paul and second up would be my sister

20. What did you do this weekend?
this past weekend, i truly do not recall, its blurs together with everything. My weeks do not have END. It is just a continuous cycle. That should change somewhat at the end of August when Paul is finished with school!

21. Do you like anyone?
Hi, Handsome!

22. Are you bored?
just killing time

23. Favorite retired TV show?
Friends, full house

24. What are you excited about?
tomorrows Valentines playgroup will be fun! Paul will be home! Not too excited about figuring out what to fix for Dinner on Friday for Abbi's birthday dinner, when Marta and Kelly will come over.

25. Are you a JERK?
not at the moment

26.last completed thing?
a crocheted tree skirt

27. What’s on your mind right now?
a zillion things, did i just lose $5500, when will i decide to go to sleep, will i be on time to pocatello on saturday, what a busy weekend I have ahead of me! Budgeting money, the new car in the driveway, Paul, folding more clothes, I need to start another load, I should probably close the blinds, I'm cold, thats not even half of it. Man I think too much!

28. Who was the last person to make you cry?
don't recall

29. Do you care what others think about you?
on occasion

30. Which of your friends is the easiest to talk to?
hmmm my husband or sister, there both easy going, but Paul definitely

31. Do you trust people easily?
Only if I know them really well

32. Best summer?
i liked the ones in california, though I don't remember any with my dad. The summer me, Paul, Alona and my sister went to Cali was good!

33. Do you think you'll be married in 10 years?
sure I can hold on ten more! Or longer!

34. What do you look forward to in the next 3 months?
warmth!

35. Who was the last person who called you?
Paul

36. Who do you want kicked out of the presidential election right now?
Paul doesn't like Hilary, so I will say her.

37. Do you plan on moving out within the next year?
we will see

38. What were you doing at 8pm Friday night?
putting my kids to bed

39. What happened at 10:00 am today?
reading books with my children

10 February, 2008

Play-Doh

Kacen is expounding on the tasks that he can do while at play and in other aspects. He now plays with play-doh. He was very adamant that the small colorful container was what he would like to play with. He brought it to me and was gesturing, "hey, MOM, I want this open"! And so he and his sisters came to the table and he enjoyed more than anything putting the lid to the container on and off. He indulged me and pounded the doh a bit and went back to his lid. He is such a big boy, it is truly amazing watching them each day. Kacen is phasing out from being a baby, he played so well and didn't eat a single piece of play-doh.
I was giving him rolos the other day and I have been showing him a few different signs as I say the words when I am speaking to him and when he got the rolos he was exuberant, he kept signing "thank you" over and over again. He has used it a few times since and also knows a few others like dog! He liked to call ice cream "cracker" and then laugh, cute. And the other day he said "cheese"!
The girls were vying for the spotlight and so mommy took their pictures too! They were discussing what kind of food would be conjured out of their imaginations and vou-lah their blue and red play-doh turned into a batch of brownies. Their were discussing amongst themselves, this is what I get for not listening intently enough, it sounded like Abbi said yeah mine are diet brownies, though I am quite assured that that is not what word came from her mind through her mouth. Maybe they were really chocolate brownies.
We exercise at the stake center 3x a week and on this last Friday the girls were up on the stage playing when Abbi exclaimed "Mommy get me DOWN!" I was a good half court away from her and before I knew it, she had jumped. I heard crying and saw her get up, at first I didn't think much of it. I thought that she was all right. But as I got closer I could see blood,two of her fingers had broken her fall. Her skin above her nails on two fingers had detached and a bruise and two blisters were on her fingers as well. I took her to the bathroom and submerged her fingers in cold water and covered them in a paper towel applying pressure to them. Gathered up our things and took her home, Paul assured me that she would be all right, I just needed to clean her up and put band-aids on her. Her skin looks much better today and after dinner I took her in to the bathroom, she stared at the tub and didn't see it coming. Her BIG blister is deflated and fit with a nice band-aid.
Paul went and looked at a 2005 Nisan Sentra on Friday, awesome deal, only 33,000 miles on the car. And of course like all of the vehicles that we get we would be paying with cash, no payments! Paul is doing awesome in school, I am so proud of him. He is doing awesome work and waking up for classes in the morning, an amazing feat that he has accomplished. He has a four class load right now, unheard of if you understand it, he is at school from 8a.m.-2p.m. four days a week and at work from 2:30p.m.-11:10p.m and then on nights where he doesn't have to wake up the next day for school he stays up until five doing homework(Thursday night, Friday and Saturday) and then on days that he has off of work he spends the day doing homework(Wednesdays and Fridays) and occasionally does homework at work on breaks. I love my husband! We have so deserved a nice vacation when his bachelor's degree gets here!

06 February, 2008

The living Planet Aquarium

We had family night on MONDAY! I had a flyer from Alona's preschool that she attended back in August saying that family night at the aquarium was Monday's from 5-7 p.m. We left at about five o'clock. Being that Paul took work off to go to the aquarium I took full advantage of this and went grocery shopping and got home at about 4:30. We got to the aquarium at 5:45 at which point the employee at the desk informs us that the aquarium closes at 6:00, needless to say that the flyer I received almost six months ago is out of date. So we have half an hour, right? The clock in the van is off to say the least. You have about ten minutes! So being ostentatious I boldly inquire, can we just walk through then? We had only ten minutes, I mean what could a family of five possibly accomplish in that amount of time. There were many mini aquariums and a single lone aquarium filled with a couple of sharks and then the tangible tank in the middle of the room with the learning facts station, which is where we spent most of our time. There were a crowd of sting rays that were rousing above the water with the edge of their (bodies? they don't have fins!). And they sign above permitted on-lookers to touch the sting rays with two fingers. The children there including ours stuck their whole hands into the water trying to get a feel for the fish. Astounding, Paul was the only one in our family that was able to appeal to their better nature and feel them. We were all able to see them skimming the water and Paul saw one of them jump out of the water. They have a few tunnels that kids can climb through and a ship that holds an aquarium. So grateful that we were able to walk through, it was real amazing to see!

03 February, 2008

hanger angels and snow pie

Sunday's are really a day for imagination at our home. We get home at 2:15 from church and have much time to fill. My children brighten my day by the things that they conjure up in their heads. Alona came out of her bedroom with a hanger on her back, "these are my wings". I have been crocheting! My Christmas tree skirt is almost finished, pictures to grace the screen soon. So I made Necklaces for the girls out of crocheted fabric, though it was a tie at first today and then with her hanger wings, it became a halo.
Paul just came home with a new monitor for our computer! Ours had died yesterday and a friend from worked did him a favor and Paul carried in this 21 inch tonight!
My girls have the utmost contempt for me doing their hair, though they are so beautiful. I managed to figure the art of putting buns in my daughters hair. So with her angel attire, Alona had buns, the bobby pin really was an amazing invention. I am exuberant about the rounded tips that they now have on the ends, more hair stays on the head!
We went outside to play in the snow, the assortment of play kitchen utensils was brought out. They all made snow pies, cakes, etc...Abbi made snow drinks, she was enthralled that mommy take her picture. Ever since 15 months she has loved, to pose and say cheese! Kacen lavished in the snow, first he stared it down totally fascinated with it, leaned in and was absorbed in the miracle of snow.. Here look for yourself,















On Thursday we took dinner to my visiting teaching companion who had just had a baby and we made brownies. Interwoven into the cocoa powder and semisweet morsels was some pureed spinach and carrot, and oh how scrumptious these brownies were. The children couldn't get enough. In the morning following breakfast Alona peered into the pan, Why are there no brownies left? The recipe is in a cookbook, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, and the brownies are truly delicious. There are other recipes in the book that re awesome too! I would highly recommend this!