Argg...

Arrg...we are gearing up for Logan's Pirate Birthday coming up on Friday. The school has a policy if you are having a birthday party you can't bring invites just for a couple of students but for the whole class...so that is 25 kids. (which is only fair those cutie puties) Plus the neighbors and some other friends, so our grand total invited 32...oh boy.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Oh another St Patty's Day rolled around. (we actually thought it was yesterday and we all dressed in green...woops!) Jessica wasn't able to catch her leprechaun, he ate all her candy though...she wasn't thrilled. She walked around all night tonight saying, "I can't believe it, I just can't believe it." She was very confident she would trap him. So you know the old tradition of wearing green or you get pinched. Did you know if you wear red on Saint Patrick's Day you get kissed? So Logan and Jessica made sure they wore green...Hunter? ...he wore red. He said except he wanted people to chase him and try to pinch and kiss him....he said "bring it on..."

One...two...three...four...five...almost six!

Look how my baby boy has grown over the years...I can't believe it. The five pictures are at each of his birthday parties... In five more days he will be six years old. Wow the time has flown by. I wish I could slow time down just a little. I wish I had a blog back then when the kids were babies so I can glance back to look what life was like. I have enjoyed so much watching the kids grow.

Logan was on a birthday bumps and bruises curse for awhile.
Year one: a day before his birthday he was catapulted by Jessica out of the rocking chair and landed on the coffee table with his face. Had 6 stitches under his eye. (you can see in the picture)

Year Two: A day after his birthday he jumped off the couch and landed on a toy...with his face again. His head swelled up he had to be hospitalized for three days because the bump seaped into his eye and caused a secondary infection.

Year Three: The weekend before his birthday Logan was horsing around and bumped the back of his head (not his face this time) on the corner of the wall (where two walls join) there is a metal bar inside the wall so it sliced open his head...so we headed to the doctor again for stitches. We ended up going hiking right afterward...

We have been accident free for years four and five and we hope to continue into year six...we are treading more carefully these last couple days...5 left to go!

Catching a Leprechaun

Jessica was assigned from school to make a leprechaun trap. We took this project very seriously.
After much thought, drafting up some plans, discussing all our options we came up with this trap. Jessica actually came up with 95% off this trap, I tried to advert her from involving wheels and pulleys....

This is the concept according to her...the leprechaun will see the golden paved road and read the sign "Go in here" and do exactly that. Once he enters the little trap, he will get stuck on the sticky tape. He will then try and take the piece of gold and try to run away. (if he isn't too stuck on the tape) But the string tied on the gold once tugged on will activate the trap door and make it close down. (that was all her idea)

I am so proud of Jessica's with this project. If I came up with an idea that she didn't think would work in trapping this little guy, she would work hard at coming up with an alternative plan...elaborate as they may be...

Sleepovers

This weekend we had a sleepover with Hayden and Bailey. (they are moving away in 3 months...so sad) Matt and I like having these once and awhile so we can hang out upstairs and watch a movie together in peace....well sort of peace. While they were watching their movie I snuck downstairs and attacked them with a spray bottle...it was too funny watching them all shriek. They all zonked out around 11pm...good times.

When the weekend was over Jess said to me, "Mom, I want a light saber for Christmas, I like Star Wars now..." Being the only girl out of 4 boys what else is she to do, you can't beat 'em...join 'em.

Mommy Teacher

I have been subbing at the kids school here and there for the last couple of weeks. Sometimes I sub P.E. or Music and only have them for a little bit, and sometimes I sub for their teacher. I find it very interesting how each of the kids react to me being there teacher....

Hunter:
Hunter is pretty casual about me being there. He always has a big smile when he sees me or I am talking with the class. He tries really hard to be the "good example" for his mom and do what I say when I give instructions. He is a big mommy advocate, if I say a funny word or do something different he will lean over and tell his friends other weird things I say or do and then chuckle to himself. He is a rule follower and doesn't try to break them when I am the teacher. He is helpful if I ask, but for the most part he is content doing his thing.

Affection: Less is better, even better instigated by him, usually a quick hug.

Jessica:
Jessica LOVES that her mom is the teacher. She comes bouncing in and yells out "Hi Mom!" Or will raise her hand and start saying, "mooooommmm" I keep telling her to call me Mrs. West which she refuses to do especially when her class loves to call me "Jessica's Mom". As I talk with the class and they are sitting in a circle on the ground she will practically sit on my shoes and start hugging my leg. (I am not kidding) Crocodile tears will erupt if I don't pick her that day to do something. Today, she started the tears up because she had it in her mind that because she didn't feel well that she could sit the rest of the day with me teaching the other classes. Noooooo.... and I scooted her little tear stained self to her next class. She was less than impressed with her mom as teacher after that.

Affection: There is never too much kissing and hugging according to her.

Logan:
Logan likes to keep a very low profile. He is very happy I am there. He will always have a big smile on his face and if I make the kids laugh he will laugh a little harder and longer and look to his left and right as if to say, "ya, that's my mom." But he likes to blend in with the others. He does not like it if I pick him to do something fun, or single him out. In fact he will tell me afterward to not pick him. I asked him why? He said just don't pick me first mom. (I just cannot relate to such introverted behavior) He likes to help me if he can, but usually it is by telling me after school is over the things I did that Mrs Hahne never does. Hmm.

Affection: Hugs only. No kisses and no extra attention.

Birthday Mail

Logans birthday is in 11 days. However for the last month Logan has asked to get the mail with Daddy. (our mail is in a box at the end of the street) At first he thought he just wanted some junk mail to play with and kept handing him credit card applications and free car offers. Logan would walk away still not content. It wasn't until about a week ago Daddy figured out what Logan was after..he was waiting for his birthday cards to start trickling in through the mail. On Saturday he received two! One from Grandma Matkin and Auntie Shauna. He was giddy...too cute.

Extreme

Matt is an extreme skier....

Definition: a. Very dangerous or difficult: extreme rafting.b. Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport. c. Extending far beyond the norm

Matt has taken the last 2 1/2 weeks off of work to finish writing up his thesis for his masters degree, (yes...that still looms over the poor man) but before he sits down each day at the dining room table to write, he runs up to ski a few runs. Tomorrow he goes back to work and his sweet daily routine all comes to an end. He started feeling pretty crummy on Sunday and wondered if he was getting sick. Today was his last day of his ski/writing fun and practically crawled out the door with his skis. After an hour I got a phone call saying he was feeling really badly and he was on his way home. After a trip to the clinic his weeks of fun/writing ended in full blown flu. The funny thing is he won't stay home tomorrow on his first day back due to his flu, however if there is a dump of new snow you know where he will be...well he'll at least try...

Husband Survey

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen?
Food Network or X Games

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
ranch

3. What is one food he doesn’t like?
onions anything that is in special organic healthy packaging...like tofu.

4. What kind of drink does he order?
Raspberry Lemonade

5. Where did he go to high school?
Burley High?

6. What size shoe does he wear?
10

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
big toys that take up room in the garage

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Meatball, Roastbeef, Turkey...so many choices so little time.

9. What would your Husband eat every day if he could?
Pie

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Chex

11. What would he never wear?
Anything that would match me.

12. What is his favorite sports team?
Colorado Avalanche

13. Who is his best friend?
Me and Rick

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
Mmm...that is tough he thinks I am wonderful...(oh I just love him) but probably keep talking at night when he is trying to go to sleep, I can't help it.

15. How many states has he lived in? 3
Idaho, Washington, and Montana

16. What is his heritage?
Idahoian? He doesn't know...how should I?

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind?
Me bake? Okay we can dream...German chocolate.

18. Did he play sports in high school?
nope

19. What could he spend hours doing?
cooking and skiing

20. What is he afraid of?
Mmm...he is not so fond of horses and horror movies about people that are psychotic

Little Freckles

I absolutly love how each of the kids have the cutest little freckles sprinkled across their noses. With the kids in good moods, perfect natural lighting and my awesome camera I tried to capture them. Aren't they cute?

Planting Time

Last March we planted a few sunflower seeds for fun in a couple of cups and they turned into enourmous 6 feet tall flowers. (SEE HERE) So this year we felt a little more confident and got a few more seeds and we are trying again. The kids loved looking at how different each of the seeds were and it was so cute watching Logan concentrate while he tried to pick up the little seeds and carefully put it in the dirt. My thumb is FAR from green so I am learning along with the kids. So that it would be fair, I divided the tray into three sections by color. Hunter is green, Jess is yellow and Logan is orange. Now we wait...Logan said he thought he saw his growing already.

Green Eggs

I have been subbing lately at the the kids school. It has been fun being their teacher for a day here and there. Since the business has taken off I haven't had the time to sub much, so now I just do it to be able to teach the kids once and awhile. Today while I was teaching a student from Mrs. Fox class came running in and brought me some of the green eggs they had made for Dr Suess birthday celebration...yummy....

Borrowed New Trampoline

(Press the Arrow to play)

Explanation: When cars were passing by, the boys would duck and lay flat on their tummies hoping they wouldn't be seen without their shirts on...like the see through picket fence would be enough cover....

A friend of ours needed a place to keep her tramp while she is selling her house. She said we can either buy it off of her or try and sell it. We still haven't decided whether we are keeping it or not. It's great leverage with the kids when they don't follow the rules though. We need to purchase some pads and put up the net...but I keep a close eye on them through the window...this is what I saw yesterday....

I asked the boys why they didn't have a shirt on? Hunter said, "It feels good on our pits"...don't ask...

Goodbye Old Blue

(Hunter asked if he could keep the couch in the garage.

When we asked why, he said Hayden is moving

this summer and we have a lot of hanging out we need to do.)

It is time to say goodbye to old blue. The first purchase Matt and I bought when we first got married was a mattress and a big blue couch. Nobody tells you that you better pick wisely because you will have it awhile. If I had known you don't change couches like say you would the curtains I would of picked a more neutral color. Nevertheless, it has followed us for the almost 12 years of marriage and endured it all. I tried decorating around the blue, it isn't so easy. Just in case you didn't know blue isn't on the "what's hot" list. I wasn't planning on getting a new couch for awhile but I was browsing Craig's list and found a leather couch and chair for 500 bucks. Wow. Anyway we talked him down to 400 and after we sell old blue for hopefully 100, it'll cost us about 300. Not bad. What do you all think? We also moved things around and I like the new set up MUCH better.

As we were moving in the new couch the kids kept saying they didn't want to get rid of old blue and that it was sooooo comfortable.
I said, "Were getting rid of it, you've all peed on it."
After a moment of silence Hunter says, "That's gross mom."

Fundraising Season Again

I am sorry but I hate fundraising. I just hate it. I like helping out schools and coming up with money to help the kids school. But selling the same 20 dollar frozen cookie dough year after year...well I just can't do it. These sly fundraiser companies go to the kids school and show them in person how cool the toys are if they sell a lot of items they can have one too. The big ticket item this year? Some robot thingy. You only have to sell 100 items at 15 dollars each. Hmm that is one expensive robot. In the end, it is cheaper for me to just buy the dang robot myself than buy enough cookie dough to win it. But I won't do that either...I am so mean.

Ordinarily I am all for having the kids set a goal and try to work hard to achieve it...except for fundraising. I tell the kids just forget it...let this dream go...it ain't happening. I know, I am horrible...or maybe just realistic.

The kids had a fit at first begging to ask the neighbors...I like my neighbors too much to subject them to the same frozen cookie dough year after year. Well, some of them...So I resorted to the ever famous...."well talk about it later honey" which in code means (lets drop it, and I will make every effort to not bring it up and get rid of any evidence like flyers that will remind them of it again.)

I am into a lot of things with the kids but this one not so much...I guess I am a meanie mommy crushing their robot dreams....

FHE

Logan conducted our Family Home Evening tonight...suited in his Dr Suess hat he made at school today. We started out with a song that Jess lead. She tried to pick jingle bells again until we all yelled...NO! (it is the only one she knows how to play on the piano) Then Hunter led us in a discussion about the 3 witnesses...it was very educational ...and entertaining. I made a quick scavenger hunt that used stories from the scriptures they had to figure out. The kids LOVE scavenger hunts. They aren't so hard to put together, except when you have to come up with scripture based ones. I think they were wondering what I was talking about half the time...oh well. At the end I had 3 caramel eggs waiting for them...that is all they wanted to get to anyway. Oh well, I tried.

Skiing...what I know for sure...

Skiing with the family...this is what I know for sure...

* Logan spends most of his time chasing snowballs to throw at daddy.
* Hunter likes to raise his arms while he skiis as if a roaring crowd is calling his name.
* Jessica will find every tree route on the side of a run and has no fear zooming through them (giving me a heart attack every time)
* Daddy will find every large boulder/rock on the run and has no fear flying off the side of them. (more heart attacks from mommy.) He is in the top left picture to the right of the tree.

*Mommy has some serious ciculuation problems to her feet and can barely feel them after the first run.

On our way down the run yesteday we found these kids who were doing backflips. If I could of seen Hunters eyes they would of been the size of saucers. They were such nice kids (around 15 years old) and they asked if Hunter wanted to give it a try after he told them he can do it on the ground. So he went down it and flew off of it.... they all cheered. I wonder if I can buy special insurance?

Hunter's Big Debut

Last week all the second graders were in a performance called "Rumpus in the Rainforest". It was a wonderful musical about a blue frog and his adventures in a rainforest. Complete with sloths, army ants, a forest and my son....the medicine man or "shaman". Hunter had to come forward and sing 6 verses of a song about how the rainforest is a pharamcacy. I don't think he was nervous about it until he saw what he had to wear. Then he wanted out of the whole deal. He did great! (It reminded me of when I was in the first grade and had to do a similar thing..I didn't think it was a big deal either...fear comes later in life. ) They put on two shows and he sang infront of packed gym of parents and kids. We are so proud of his great accomplishment! Way to go Hunter! (and you were so cute in those tan tights...)

Happy Birthday EL!!!!

My dear friend El's birthday is today and she turned 32. If I had a million dollars I would...

....fly up to Canada so I could take her out for the day.

...I would take her out to a movie and buy her favorite popcorn and m&m's so she could put the candy in the popcorn so she could have "little surprises" throughout the popcorn. (She really likes that)...AND I wouldn't even talk and ask her questions while she watched...even if I was confused.

....then I would try and find her favorite color blue flowers and fill her apartment with them.

....then I would take her for lunch to White Spot because that was our favorite place to go together growing up...

....then I would take her to Stanley Park and we would try the tandem bike again and I would PROMISE not to take too many breaks and make her petal for both of us.

...Then I would take her home to have Kraft macaroni and Cheese because she only has this with me...no other time.... which would be delicious...

...and we would have birthday cake with candles. I would try and make it first but then have to have Matt re-make another one which would be delicious.

....finally I would take her to a hockey game and not even bring reading material and act very entertained by it....even if I wasn't...and didn't know where the puck was 99% of the time.

That is what I would do if I had a million dollars....but I don't....so I just want her to know that I love her to pieces and hope she has a wonderful million dollar day. Happy Birthday El, my forever friend.