February Catchup 2/10

February is always SO busy. I'm not sure why, more than likely it is just because that is when I get busy with taxes. This year I did something different though. I finally decided not to go to St. Johns to work in Mom's office. It was a big decision (I have gone for 15 years)! I also have around 50 clients down there that I had to figure out what to do with. Some of them are going to mail me their stuff like the majority of my clients up here already do. The others will go to Rashelle, Tracy or Shurell. It was really really hard to do but it has made our family life a lot better so it was worth it. I also decided to try to only work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving the rest of the week open to do all the other stuff I do. Luke also goes to one of my daycare clients so that I can use that time very effectively.

Some things that happened in February: Jake got braces! He will only have to have them for about a year though. It was so crazy, he had perfect teeth at 12 but not so much anymore! He also had Academic Team competitions every Monday of the month as well as another Merit Badge fair (that he choose not to go to and now STILL needs those same three badges he has needed for a year!). Our Relief Society activity for the month was a Night of FONDUE as well as had a great class about organizing paper work and preparing for tax time taught by Jackie Hart. It was oh so yummy, this year we fried seasoned meat as well as having cheese and chocolate. A complete meal! I went to a baby shower (Chelsea Miller) and to the Temple twice, once with Roger and once when Shauna Ray-Ruff who went back to the Temple after at least 10 years away. A very great day! Roger and I had to do a Well Checkup with the doctors for our insurance. I'm great, just need to loose a few lbs. Roger needs to loose a few lbs and work on his cholesterol levels. They are not terrible just higher than they should be. Sam and I went to the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet, inviting him into the program this year. We had Stake Conference. It snowed that morning and the Silver Springs/Yerrington combined choir was not able to have most of their people there (they received over a foot of snow that morning) so the Stake President asked people from the audience to come up, Jake and I did. It was nice since we have been going to choir every week for this Easter program coming up. Lastly,Jake decided he wanted to start going to the Stake Dances in Fallon again. He will be dating in 3 months and I think he wants to start scoping out the girls. LOL

I don't have many picture of February at all. About the only ones I took were of my scrap-book pages so that I could list them on my Etsy shop. All of the others were silly pictures the kids had taken. This one is of Luke on the computer. One of his favorite things to do!

Sam and his beloved DS that he received for Christmas.

Madiysn took well over 100 pictures of herself in the mirror! Silly girl.

This is what I looked like when I saw the next picture of her ROOM!! Ha ha ha..

TEENAGERS!!! I tell ya, you never know what is next. She says that she likes her room to look like this! Funny thing is, once she took this picture the room has been kept virtually spotless. Nothing like a picture to show you how it REALLY is!

January catchup 1/10.

Where has time gone. It always sounds SO cliche but TIME just seems to go by faster and faster.

Some things we did this month: Sam started a basketball camp. He really enjoys it and we are excited for him to learn to play. Luke and I started going to Story Time at the library. Jake had a cold weather camp out. Burr... We had a Relief Society activity that was cancelled due to a heavy snowfall that night. I am still the second counselor in the Relief Society Presidency,so I get plenty to do once a month. (ha ha!I wish I was only busy once a month) Jake had Merit Badge fair. He just needs 3 more to finish and then do his Eagle Project! Sam had a Great to be 8 Primary meeting. How can he be turning 8 this year!!!! Madisyn had her New Beginnings program for Young Women's and she and Jake had a Temple baptism trip. Roger had to finalized the ward finances for the year and do the audit that goes with it. And Finally, Roger Jake and I joined a choir to put on an Easter Program in April. Oh ya, Roger and I started back on the South Beach Diet. We did really well the first two weeks. Roger lost about 13 lbs and I lost 10. Then life got crazy and our resolve faded. We still are doing OK but certainly not loosing anymore. Maybe after tax season when the weather warms up and we are outside more. Just for histories sake, this has been an extraordinarily cold and wet winter for us here in Northern Nevada. We are TIRED of it!!!
I just had to take a picture of my weekly laundry day. This is the 3 older children's piles with Luke's being on the back of the dryer. The deal is in our house, Mom will do your laundry if it is sorted in the hamper in the laundry room by Tuesday (my laundry day) otherwise they have to wash it themselves. Some weeks there is a lot and some weeks not so much. This particular week I think the two older ones had not put all of their laundry in the week before, there seemed to be a LOT more than usual. By the way I only wash and fold. They have to put it away. (on hangers, we don't do dressers)

Madisyn having fun with wigs. We received a new small camera for Christmas and the kids sure have fun with it. I have found all kinds of interesting photos they have taken. LOL

I have opened an Etsy shop with my scrap-booking pages. It is kind of fun in that I am doing a lot more scrap-booking, on the flip side I spend a lot of time at my craft table. Someone was taking pictures when Luke came in crying and looking for mommy time. It is kind of fun to have these very candid photos.

He won't be doing this much longer. I'm glad to see that I was being a good mommy and giving him the love he needed instead of shooing him away or being angry with him for interrupting me. (you know, since I didn't know I was being photographed!)

Funny to see myself holding him and still going on with what I was doing. Mommy's are so good at multi tasking. LOL

When I was looking for January photos I found this one that Jake must have taken of himself. He is SO proud of those muscles he has been earning in his weights class. TEENAGERS!

Some fun photos of Sam working on his Basketball skills.

These were taken in the first few weeks and he had really progressed at he end of the two months. Good job Sam.

And that's a wrap for January!

New Year, New Fun

While in AZ, on New Years Day the moms and little ones went into the PHX Zoo and the guys took the 4 Wheelers out. I think we all had a good time and we certainly enjoyed the wonderful warm AZ sun. If has been bitter cold at home since the first week of December. In fact one morning it was -8 degrees, needless to say I took Sam rather than have him walk up to and wait at the bus stop.

So close!

All of the little boys thought the baboon in the window was SO cool.
Who doesn't love a giraffe?

Luke and Grant, loving being pushed around like the little ones.

Sam a Roger found a cool saguaro.

Jake and Madisyn getting ready for a ride. Sometimes they really do like each other.

Luke went riding in the ranger with the Price family.

Roger and Sam getting ready to go out again.

Madisyn, Roger and Sam checking out the saguaros.

Madisyn made the comment after we got home about how pretty AZ is. I agree.

Pretty and Warm.

...and December is GONE!

Another BUSY BUSY DECEMBER!

I have liked the way I have been giving a summery of my calendar the last few months. I think I am going to continue with that format for the beginning of my catch up posts. I have found it neat to go back just a couple of months and see things that I had already forgotten about.

We started the month with the Nutcracker performance the whole first week after Thanksgiving, Two snow days that put the world on hold that week, Maddie's Ortho appointment, Ward Christmas Dinner, CTMH Scrap booking, Sam's Concert, Visiting Teaching, Relief Society Christmas Dinner (that I was in charge of), a RS Pres. Breakfast, Dental Cleaning for all four kids, Sam's ENT check up for his tubes, and of course Christmas, and Company for it. And lastly a trip to Las Vegas to visit the Wilson family and then on to AZ for the Sherwood family New Years celebration!!!!!

What a wonderful life we are blessed with.

The annual Nutcracker. Jake, Sam and Madisyn were all in the performance. They all did so well.

The Waltz of the Snowflakes.
Jake as Drosselmyer. (sp?)
He is perfect for the part.
Sam is on the far right in the blue suit. He fits his part just right too!
Madisyn and the girls waiting their turn.

Snow Day!
The first Sunday of December we got our 1st snow storm, and boy oh boy was it a big one. Six inches in one DAY! We had our 1st snow day in the 9 years we have lived here, actually it was 2 snow days and everything in our busy lives was cancelled. FUN FUN FUN!

Pretty icicles hanging from the house.
Looking out the front door.
Jake with his snow cave, Sam inside and Luke looking on.

Lukie the Cutie!
Upside down snow angles.

Mom (me) flying down the hill!

Jake snow surfing.

Maddie having a great time.

Jake, Roger and Luke. Roger met us during his lunch hour and decided to take a quick run.

Sam is so cute!

I've been able to spend a little time scrapbooking!

Santa after the Ward Christmas Dinner. Luke was a little shy with the big guy.

Sorry for the bad picture. It is the best I have from Maddie's 8th grade choir concert.

Silly Sam on the way up for his Christmas Music Concert.

Now on the way back from performing. As a side note, he was so funny, he spent more time making sure we were watching him than watching his teacher. One time I moved to video him and he spent the whole song looking for me. During the break I waved and made sure he found me so he would go back to singing. Cute boy!

Christmas!

Christmas Eve Dinner. Prime Rib in the rotisserie, rolls, mashed potato's and gravy, cranberry salad and yummy homemade apple, pumpkin and pecan pies.

Mom getting ready for Christmas morning.

Santa Came!!!

Ah, the peace and beauty.

One of my favorite ornaments Cute little boys on Christmas morning!

Maddie was SO excited to get makeup!!!!!!! She finally is allowed to wear it.

Sam got just what he wanted! A DS.

Jake with his new MP3 player.

Roger and the camcorder he has been watching.

Reese and Sue and their gift from us. A new bed set for their new bed.

Christmas morning joy! Sam with DS, Luke with V-smile.

Roger got everyone rubber band guns. The hit of the DAY!

Stick 'um up!

Gonna get ya!

Important insert: One the way to AZ we stopped at the DMV and Jake received his driving permit. Yes, we did let him drive some during the trip. He did pretty darn well. Roger also was reissued his permit for his motorcycle. Hopefully, this time he will not let it expire before he goes in and gets his licence!

New Year's Eve in AZ!

Mom and Maddie New Years Eve

The party crowd. Blow that Horn, it is the only chance you have before it goes in the TRASH!

Fun Poppers !

Don't shoot!

New Year's Kiss!

Aaron and Tracy

Shurell and Brian