A night with the cops

Around midnight Eric comes in the bedroom, wakes me up while grabbing the 30.30 and loading it says "there is someone in our backyard, stay down." HOLY CRAP!

Eric was in the hot tub about 10 minutes prior to coming into the bedroom, when he felt he needed to get out and go inside. He had barely gotten dressed when he then heard noises outside the family room. He looked out the front window to see red and blue flashing lights. That is when he came and got the 30.30. He called 911 and told them that someone was in our back yard. Apparently the guy had stolen a car, rolled into a ditch, hit another car, hit a pole, and sped into our cul-da-sac. The car was trashed... every window blown outm tires shredded, glass everywhere. They caught the guy two blocks away. Apparently he had hopped our fence.

The funny part... the bumper sticker of the stolen car said... "I am a princess, who the hell are you?"

Anna Turns 7

Anna had a great 7th birthday. However, she is currently counting down the months until she gets baptized. It is really all she talks about. I am excited for her.

Anyway for her birthday, I was invited into her classroom for the morning. We got read and write and sing Happy Birthday. I brought cupcakes for the entire class. (One kid's cupcake fell on the cafetria floor - frosting side down, picked it up and ATE IT! - Gross!) I wonder what my kids do when I am not watching - although - I may not want to watch.

We had family come for cake and ice cream. We told her that part of her present was going to Seattle to see the Butterfly exhibit with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Sandi.

Happy Birthday Anna!

Taking Back the Garage!!!!!!!!!

Eric has finally had it. He couldn't even have the garage as his own space. So we built a shed. It is my shed for all my of craft stuff. Eric says that eventually we will put power and heat, but will wait until our house is clean. (Right!?!?!) We are grateful for Dave's and Curtis's help (Eric's dad). Eric DEFINITELY could not have done it without THEM!

Girls Attack Ethan

I feel so sorry for Ethan sometimes. We have so many girl cousins around and only Luke (Mark and Carissa's little handsome) to defend the cooties. Well, the girls did it one day and Ethan came out beautified. Cheeks, lipgloss, eyes, fingers and toes.

Trip to the Butterfly Exhibit in Seattle

Part of Anna's birthday present was going to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Pacific Science Center with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Sandi, Katie and Kimberly. Oh... I didn't expect to have this much fun. We arrived and Grandma and Grandpas house, picked them up on Saturday and headed up to Seattle. Grandma Sandi let the girls wear one of her pins for the day.

The girls didn't want to see anything until they saw the butterflies - not even all the disgusting bug exhibit (with live cocroches, snakes, and spiders) we saw to get there. Once we got inside, their eyes light up. They were incredible. After we were done Anna and Grandma Sandi put together a LARGE 3D grasshopper. (Apparently, grasshoppers are okay bugs).

We got to play 3D checks of which, I kicked everyone's butt. We got to learn about genetics, and play a type of plinko. We spent four and half hours there, before our hunger consumed us.

We ate very well, we played hard and we have memories forever.

Underwear Dust

This is too funny!

One evening a husband, thinking he was being funny, said to his wife 'Perhaps we should start washing your clothes in Slim Fast. Maybe it would take a few inches off of your butt!'

His wife was not amused, and decided that she simply couldn't let such a comment go unrewarded.

The next morning the husband took a pair of underwear out of his drawer. 'What the Hell is this??' he said to himself as a little 'dust' cloud appeared when he shook them out.

'April,' he hollered into the bathroom, 'why did you put talcum powder in my underwear?'

She replied ...'It's not talcum powder......It's 'Miracle Grow'

Anna's Field Trip

I got to go with Anna on her field trip this year. We went to the Portland Zoo. There were so many chaperons that I only had three girls total. We found a tiger in the tree. We wondered how it got there, and how it was going to get down.

David's Birthday

For Dave's birthday we packed up the truck and the Butler's Jeep and headed to the hills. It was about 77 degrees out there, so of course we put the kids in shorts and t-shirts. We got to a good spot to pop out the BBQ and looked around... there is still snow on the ground. We had a snow ball fight in our shorts and t-shirts.

After lunch the kids wanted to get into the water. We agreed up only if one of us was standing there. The water was moving very fast. It was so cold that you could only stand in it for a few seconds and when you got out the joints in your toes ache. Sounds like fun huh?

Wet Dreams

We had some friends over to play games tonight. Ethan and Breeana (a little friend) were up until after 10pm, when Ethan had an accident in his pants. Eric took Ethan in to the bathroom and cleaned him all up, then threw him in the tub. We said goodbye to our friends. I grabbed a towel and headed in to get Ethan out of the tub, only to find Ethan asleep in the tub. After a checking to see if he was still alive, I called for Eric. Eric started squirting him with a water bottle. Ethan find woke up completely disoriented. We got him in some warm jammied and sent him to bed.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Eric told me I could pick out my own birthday present. I know some of you ladies will think I am a bit nuts, but I chose a vinyl plotter. This is my first project. I am willing to share... with any of those fellow-crafters.

From Santa

We sure had fun this year with Papa Jim and Nana, Katie, Dave and the girls and our family. Santa left Anna clothes and box to dress and store her 18" doll from Grandma. Santa spent many hours making all kinds of outfits.

Ethan got a remote controlled car. At 6:10 Christmas morning Eric and Ethan are in the pajamas, coats and hats outside in the dark. We could hear Ethan squealing with excitment. Then we heard Eric... it's my turn.

Santa's goal with Sarah is just make her stuff she could put in her mouth. He did a Great JOB!

Pooter

Katie, Jim, Nana and I are playing Scrabble. Mom asked how to spell a certain word, and then realized she didn't have all the letters and says "Pooter". Katie pipes in and leans to the side and says "Wait just a minute".

Sticky Buns

As a tradition in our home we have sticky buns for Christmas morning. This year Anna and PapaJim made them, and the big mess that went with them. It was good to see the bond grow between these two. Not to mention the bond between my stomach and the delicious sticky buns.

Christmas

This had to be one of the best Christmas ever. We enjoyed the company of friends and family and ate terrific food. We were very please to meet the love of mom's life. We further enjoyed Jim getting to know our family... in the rawest of characters.

Eric came home from work one day in December and said "I want a turducken for Christmas". I had no idea what a turducken was. He asked me to go a butcher and pick it up. I told him that he if he wanted to look like a freak at the butcher's that he should go ask for his precious turducken. He declines, so I got online and found a great website with step by step instructions and pictures. A turducken is a chicken debone and stuffed with stuffing, stuffed inside a ducke with stuffing, stuffed inside a turkey. http://www.chefpaul.com/turducken.html.

Katie was pleased to debone everything for us. It took her over 4 hours to get three carcasses. It feeds 24-30 people. And oh my, it was delicious.

So after it is all assembled, it took over 9 hours to cook. There are only four bones in the entire thing, the legs and wings of the turkey. We look over and Nana is chomping on a bone. What the heck!?!

Reading Scriptures

Tonight we were reading the scriptures and it was Anna's turn. She is learning to read and doing very well. We are in Mosiah Chapter 1:18 ... "to hear the words which his (father)..." She was struggling with the word "father". So, Eric was tried to help her and gave her this clue... "I am this?"... Anna answered "fat". Scripture time was over!

Mobility

I hope this makes your day... please ignore the music in the background...

Smart Little Sarah

When I put Sarah under the play mat, I often shake the bars to distract her from me walking away. Well, she is very smart and figured out how to rotate herself around so that she can kick the bars and move the toys herself.

The Leaves Are Falling

We have a big maple tree in our front yard. I absolutely love it. In the spring, with the new leaves, in the fall with the great colors, and when it snows all covered in white. Well, it is fall, so do the leaves. Ethan and I rake the leaves before Anna got home from school. I left them in a pile so she could jump in them after school - one of the things she looks forward to all year.

A Tisket, A Tasket, Sarah's In The Basket

Eric and Sarah were playing around one night, and she seemed a little stunned.

Ethan's Calling In Life

I keep wondering what is going on with my camera. Everytime I turn it on the batteries are al dead. We got a new camera last month and now we have a gig of space on the flash drive. Well that is 560 pictures of Ethan's body parts, and occasionally some of his sister. I tried to hide my camera, and it is always right where I left it, with some bonuses (smart kid). This is one of Ethan's self portraits.