A gLiMpSe aT tHe TeEn ScEnE....

Eight teenage girls + two dogs + three children + three adults = Lots of noise (actually squealing...), lots of food and little to no sleep!!!!
We took Teila and her friends to the cabin for her birthday last weekend. The plan was to play a game, How to Host a Murder, and get out of town for a little mini vacation. We had a great time...we're not saying we weren't surprised and in shock most of the time, but it was a great time! The game was a blast and we can't wait to play again! Have you ever played? Each person takes on a character and has certain clues that they must reveal throughout the game...all the while, trying to figure out who committed the crime. Now, I am not a game player. In fact if a game lasts more than 20 minutes, I am DONE. But this was different! I really enjoyed it! The girls did a great job turning into their characters and even went so far to come up with crazy accents that they used throughout the whole game..well the whole weekend as a matter of fact! It was an added bonus to watch them all try and text while staying involved and committed to the game and then get side tracked with side stories while we played! (If you are interested...we would love to play with adults...let us know! )
We also rode 4-wheelers and cooked. Ron and I are still discussing how much these girls could eat! Poor Little Man and Lil'Bit barely got breakfast, the ladies were putting it down so fast!!! Mom, Aly and Grandma Great made it up in the morning and we got to watch T-Bug open presents, more squealing, and eat cake!!!
All in all, we had a great time and just hope the girls and Teila did as well! We figured it out and to be honest, the whole weekend (even with the food!) was cheaper than we have spent on parties in the past! So, be looking for invitations to the next party!
Happy 15th Birthday Teila! Thanks for letting our family be a part of your special day! We enjoyed meeting your friends and getting introduced into what we have to look forward to in about 6 years!!!

Have you head of the Turkey Tango?

I taught my turkey how to Tango...
His name is Fred, he's from Durango...
He teaches his friends how to Tango...
Peter, Panda, Betty Bear..
They all think he's Fred Estare..
Even all arango, Tango!
He's suave and graceful..
He would never trip or hobble..
He's got that polish..
Like a diamond or a bobble...
He'll teach the Tango....
To San Fransisco....
New York and Albuquerque...
He won't teach to anyone...
Who is being quirky...
Just remember he is a turkey!!!
CHA, CHA, CHA....Gobble!
(Said with a little hip action and then hands straight in the air and a snap!!!)

Our sweet Lil' Bit had her 3rd grade music concert last Friday. She has been so very excited about this program and wanted everyone to be there to watch. So, we loaded everyone up and packed ourselves into a crowded gymnasium to see! It was a "Turkey Time" theme and what a bunch of turkeys we saw! No just kidding! We did hear lots of turkey songs though!
However, here is the best part or the "stuffing" you might say! Lil'Bit got to Tango with her bestest bud, Declan. Declan is the brother of Jonathan's great friend Jacob and is in Elizabeth's grade. If you have been noticing, he has been in many of our pictures lately....Hum. Even with all of the questions and red cheeks, they sure did make a cute little couple as they danced to the Turkey Tango!!!

alL iN a daY or tWo!!!

Ever have one of those weekends when you just are happy with being a family? This was one of them! Mister was home, our schedule was full but not the usual rush, rush, rush!!! We started our morning with Church, then some Christmas shopping. I know surprising, Ron and I actually starting early. Very impressive! We are finally getting the hang of this..two kids and 13 years later!!
Anyways, then we took the kids out to a local middle school for some bike riding practice. Yes, you read that correctly. Our Elizabeth out for BIKE riding practice.
You might be asking, "When did Elizabeth start riding a bike? How long has this been going on?" Our answer before yesterday would have been.. We have tried for YEARS to get her to ride a bike. Well to be honest, we could never even get her to put her helmet on, let alone sit on a bike and ride around!!(With training wheels I might add!) One day last summer, she woke up and said she was ready. We rushed to the store to get her any bike she wanted. Spent all day and probably a few, "not so appropriate" words from Ron to add training wheels and the bike has sat in our garage ever since.
Yesterday we stopped at a bike store to look at new bike for Jonathan Tyler and a special run/bike watch for Ron, possibly for Christmas. (See I told you we are ON it!!) Needless to say, our little princess girl was not thrilled to spend time in a bike store and we are pretty sure that most people could guess that as we walked in. Then there was this lady that came over to ask if we needed help. We explained why we were there and she took us over to the height chart, measured Jon and asked Lil'Bit to come up and get measured. I wish I could have videotaped the whole trip. Elizabeth to the embarrassment to Ron and I, told the lady that she hated bikes and didn't know how to ride them. I wouldn't have blamed the lady for walking away. I am pretty sure we could be labeled as "Oh, you have that kind of daughter!". This lady was different and we now think of her as type of bike, miracle worker. She found a bike for Jonathan(Gary Fisher I might add...holy Toledo Batman! He is a very expensive little man but has to be just like his Daddy!) and puts a helmet on him and sends him out with Ron to go "test drive" it. (Did you know they did this for bikes? Possibly they do because they are almost as much as my first car and then some!) Then she proceeds to strike up a conversation with Liz.
Why don't you like bikes? Have you ever tried? Do you own a bike? Do you have a scooter? Do you like to ride a scooter? What about pink? Do you like pink bikes with Hawaii flowers on it?
Next thing I know, she has a pink bike, a helmet and Elizabeth's hand and is headed out the door. She explains it is "just to see what it looks like outside in the sun". The lady asks Elizabeth how many wheels a scooter has.. Elizabeth answers 2. So she tells her that a bike has the same amount of wheels and she should just sit on the bike.
Now, I am getting closer realizing that at any moment, Elizabeth will tell this lady something that Ron and I really would regret and quietly leave the store as quickly as possible. But as I get closer, I realize the lady already has the helmet on (ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!) Elizabeth's head and has her "just sitting on it to see how it is like a scooter with a seat". Then in a blink of an eye, there goes my baby girl with this very nice lady running behind her for a bit and then lets go! That is it. She is riding a bike. All over the parking lot! Like she has been doing it forever! The lady comes back to where I am standing and says she has to get back in the store, but let her know if we have any questions. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!? Ron is in shock, I am speechless and Jonathan is cheering for her like she has just won the Heisman trophy. Again I ask, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!??!
After about an hour, we bring the kids, the bikes and helmets, in the store and the lady comes over and gives them a quarter for being such great kids. High fives were dealt all around and Ron and I just starred at all three of them. Of course though, the lady doesn't stop there. She tells Elizabeth that the bike she has at home is the same size as the one she was riding and that if she was really brave, she could try one that shifts and would be a bike that she would ride for longer.
Just in case you were wondering, of course we just HAD to test drive that pretty mint green one for another 1/2 hour!
That is the story. That is how our daughter learned to ride her bike. In 10 minutes, with a stranger and on a bike we didn't own!
However, back to our weekend. We took Elizabeth and Jonathan to ride their bikes at the middle school and then drove to the dog park to let the doggies play before another busy week begins. Headed to the gym, had a great dinner provided and cooked by Mister himself!!! It was a good day!!!
Oh...we are taking donations for the bikes! (Just kidding! We have decided that Santa is going to have to come through on this one! The two bikes combined ARE more than my first car!!!) Here are some pictures of our great family weekend! Nothing beats a nice fall day and family outings!

A Family Fall Outing

Every year, I take my students on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and I love it!!! This year I started wondering, why do I never go with my own family?I am pretty sure we did when Jonathan was a toddler but for some reason, we haven't made it back. (Shhh...I know he is 10 and the toddler years were quite some time back!!!)
So, after Jonathan's last football game/bbq this year, we took the kids (A couple of extras too! Jonathan's great friend Jacob and his little brother-who by the way is the same age as Elizabeth) out to the pumpkin patch! I even got Farmer Feist to take a picture with my kids, just like I do with my Kindergarten kids! It was a lot of fun and I am hoping to now make it a October tradition!

Today

I am loving.....

my career and being a mom to the best kids ever and married to my best friend!

I am wishing.....

I would slow down and enjoy each and every moment that I have!

I am hating.....

every Monday when Mister leaves for the week!

I am wanting.....

a Rockstar. Dang you makers of that wonderful drink!!!! I haven't had one for
over a month and I still want one!

I am excited for....

Christmas music and lights and SANTA!

I am thrilled about...

having a nice, relaxing day at home with just me and the dogs!

I am regretting....

the donut I ate this morning. Ugh!

I am proud of...

my kids and all they are doing!

I am asking....

What is on your Today list?!?!??!

LiFe Is GoOd!!!

Can I take a minute? (Here is your chance to click and move onto another blog!.....)
Life is good....you know...it knocks you down, you have your support group, you cry, you pray, you get angry and you scream (Or stomp and throw a fit...hum, did that just come out? Is that where Lil' Bit gets that from? Me? Oh no!!! Sorry mom. All those years of walking up and down those stairs nicely and I still don't get it right all of the time! You get the last laugh now! I am raising one of my own!) but then you have one of those moments that reminds you that life is just the way it is suppose to be. That everything happens for a reason. That hanging in there is all that matters sometimes.
Football has been different this year. We have a new coach. A coach that likes to win. You know the ones that we all have had and while we all like to win, he has made it perfectly clear that our son just might not be quite the NFL starting line up material, if you know what I mean. He is small, he isn't as fast, he starts out quiet and timid and that is not the kind of kid that a "winning football coach" wants to have or will eagerly put out on the field.
However, we know Jon. We know he does everything with heart and we know that he is a perfectionist. So, I have sat. I have sat and watched my little man play a position that he hated. Yet in spite of it all, he did so every night with a smile and a shrug. Never wanting to quit, never saying a bad word. But as a mommy, I could see in his eyes his disappointment at each practice and after each game. I have hated being here all alone while Ron is gone. I have hated trying to explain it over the phone. I have hated watching Jonathan stand there to do nothing more than represent a position while others did play after play after play.
But not tonight. Tonight my 67 pound little man turned into a pit bull. He has wanted to play defense so bad. After last nights "Dad" cell phone coaching, he went out tonight like he was the biggest player on that field. He tucked his head, held that ball and ran into kids. Then got right back in the other line,squared up, got down low and showed no fear as he tackled the next one.
As I heard each tackle, saw each coach give him "knuckles", bang on his helmet, express genuine enthusiasm and praise for what he had just done, I couldn't help but shed a few tears. (Of course to myself! This is football for crying out loud! No pun intended!) I could see him stand a little taller each time he got up! I couldn't help but beam as well!
But the story doesn't end here...nope...at the end of practice chat. The "win coach" announces that not only will our boy play starting offense, he had just won a ticket as starting linebacker!
Now that is a moment! A moment worth writing down to remember forever! So, maybe we will never see him charge out on the blue turf, or maybe we won't see him on Sunday afternoons but for now...he is bigger than that! He is our own starter on offense and DEFENSE....and we couldn't be prouder!

A little blue + A little orange = Just what we needed!

Many of you know, that our school year hasn't started out to be the best. Our district decided to change the Kindergarten schedule and it has been one of the hardest years I have ever had. A simple procedure for Ronie, provided us with a big scare and many weeks of nursing and hard moments. So, in reality, not so simple! Ronie continues to be out of town (Well, when he has not been here for doctors visits or surgery!) and the kids are starting to miss him horribly. (As do I! Hurry home Mister!) Plus other things that just happen in life are in full bloom and it feels as if they all decided to happen at this exact moment.
However, Friday September 11th brought wonderful news about Ronie. We have a plan to get him better and it is a do-able/easier one! Elizabeth can now do her cartwheel without her very cute but not so textbook, hand cheer. Jonathan won his first Optimist football game ever on Saturday and we topped off the weekend with a Boise State game! Even T-Bug came to join us and we haven't seen her in forever! I hate not being the bus driver!! The only thing that we missed at the game was our Lil' Bit but she got some one on one time with Aunt Tam and Alyson. Which we are all sure she preferred over yet another football game!
We had a great time, BSU won and the night was complete by good friends and snacks/dinner after. Thanks Holm's and Allen's!
All in all, we are happy! Thanks to everyone that has checked up on us, loved us, and prayed for us this past month! We are okay and made it through because of you all! Thank you!! So all in all:
Fall is here~YES! Football is in full swing~YES! I think school will be okay~YES! My mister is fine~YES! The kids are happy~YES! The house is clean~YES! The puppy is~Well, let's not push our luck!!! 6 out of 7, isn't that bad!!!

A Special Little Note On Our Anniversary!

 

To my Mister,
It's been 13 years today, that my life truly began! Hard to believe that it was so long ago, when it seems that we have just begun. So, in honor of our big day, I thought I would share my top thirteen.
Forever I love you because....
1) you can make me laugh always! Even when there is absolutely nothing possibly funny!
2) you helped to create the two very "bestest" children I could have ever imagined!
3) you make the most amazing grilled cheese sandwiches!
4) I always feel safe with you!
5) you like to be with me, even during the times I wouldn't want to be with myself!
6) even when I sneak a Rockstar, you just smile and encourage a better choice!
7) you support me and the kids no matter what!
8) you can keep secrets!
9) you like to snuggle, especially on rainy nights or on the beach!
10)Your a hard worker for us and even spend extra hours so that we have everything we could ever need or want.
11)we can people watch for hours and smile the whole time!
12)you politely put ketchup on foods that I burn/ruin due to lack of impatience or poor time management.
13)you asked me to marry you and be your best friend forever and smiled when I finally said YES!!!!

I Love You Forever Mister! Thanks for being my best friend and husband!

It's beginning to look a lot like...........

FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!

Oh yes my friends, it is football season! (You sillies, you seriously thought Christmas!?!?! Shame on you!!!!) The best part about Fall!!! Cool nights, great football games on TV and the opportunity to watch the little man play our favorite sport ever! Here we go......
~~~~The Boys in Blue and Orange are back and so are the Little Men in Red!

What do you get with a little speech, then another little speech, a sweet little man, a perfect niece and a bbq?

Speech Number One:

Speech Number Two:

Sweet little man (Who is now a Nanakyu~Jr. Rank Orange Belt by the way!):

Perfectly sweet niece (Who is now a Gokyu~Jr. Rank Green Belt!):


You get......

***A little man that is the Most Inspirational of the Year and a niece that has been selected as the Best Sportsman of the Year!

Can I just add that there is nothing better in this world than having your child be recognized as an "inspiration" and your neice be awared the "Best Sportsman"? To have others recognize and share about the kids we have is nothing short of amazing! We have been so blessed!!! Not bad for one afternoon bbq!!!

JuSt A fEw ThOuGhTs.....

Mister left this morning, with his suitcase in hand (AGAIN!), the kids are still sweetly, sleeping in their OWN beds, the dogs are out snoozing in the kennel and here I am taking a minute to think and smile........

We have had two people pass away in the last three weeks, celebrated my sister turning 40 with a surprise and lots of family and friends, money has been overflowing and then scarce, the summer is over and the to-do list has only three things checked off. However, when you sit and watch the sun come up, the house is paid for and quiet, I just can't help but think about all the things that are right. I thought I would write a list to help me remember. (You know on the days when you just need a simple reminder!!!)

So, today I love.........

1. ... my special man because he is a great secret keeper and holds my hand and always kisses me goodnight, goodbye and good morning! Plus he makes me smile all the time!
2. ... when my brother and his family get to come and play and spend time with us and our children!
3. ...watching my darling daughter smile sweetly when she sleeps!
4. ...having my family close and always a part of my life!!
5. ...the smell of a good rain with clouds still in the sky ready to give us more!
6. ...my friends who listen, never judge and are always there to help me!
7. ...the way our little man thinks and smiles when he is being clever!
8. ...how our family laughs, and laughs A LOT!!!
9. ...how my sister is my best friend and my mom is right there too!!!
10. ...learning new things and being taught how to do them.
11. ...that I know there are people who love me a lot.
12. ...that I am a mommy! We have the best kids ever and they are way too cute!
13. ...my job!!!
14. ...watching Mister talk to our kids and how their eyes are eager and dancing to see what he will say or do next!
15. ...being able to be a part of my neices life every day!
16. ...seeing our kids play when they think no one is watching!
17. ...watching the kids sleep with the dogs all curled up with one rubbing an ear, the other snuggled in close.
18. ...seeing how truly unbelievable my brother and sister are and the wonderful talents that they have and the beautiful families they have created!!!
19. ...receiving mail! (Snail, e or text!)
20. ...how my life has turned out! I wouldn't change a thing!!! Who wudda thought!!?!?!??!!?

Just thought I would write some of it down. Just thought I should take some time to remember. Just thought I should think about all of the things that I absolutely love today!

And my birthday present was....oh yea! A Judo Tournament!

I know you are thinking that a Judo tournament is always top on my list of things to do on my birthday! Yup! Of course it is! I am just joking. We went to the Intermountain Shiai (Wow!!! Judo is becoming a part of me! Check out the lingo!!!!) in Twin Falls and it just happened to be during my birthday weekend. We did have a great time though. Elizabeth wormed her way out of going but Teila hitched a ride and we got to have a very nice dinner at a restaurant, The Outback, with some great friends! The bonus, Jonathan finally broke his record of only placing 2nd or 3rd and took 1st in both divisions. Teila amazed everyone (Uncle Ron decided to put her in any fight that she could compete in! Isn't he kind?!?!?! I think she dearly loved him for this!!!) and took 1st in 3 divisions and 2nd in one. Here are some pics of our fun weekend and last tournament of the year!

Where, oh where, did our little girl go?

I am a little behind. Well not a little, more like a lot! Life just keeps speeding ahead and, POOF, it's gone and we are further behind, trying to look back!!! Hours, days, months have passed by in just a blink. I remember when we had Jonathan and everyone said, "Slow down, just enjoy! Take time to just play and remember every moment." But did we? Not really. Do we? Not really! Between doctors visits, growth charts, school and parenting books, we pushed and encouraged our kids to grow/learn/do...just like we said we never would. Just like we promised everyone we wouldn't. As I write this, my blog (supposedly my attempt at a journal)is not updated, my classroom is the exact same way I left it on the last day, my house and it's contents are no where near organized and there is only 4 weeks of summer break left with the list of things we had "planned on doing" with the kids has ONE thing checked off. Coffee and get togethers have been cancelled and rescheduled more times than I care to share....
All of this got me to thinking about all the "firsts" that are over in our house. The first words, the first steps, the first time riding a bike, the first time on the potty chair, the first time coloring, the first tooth, the first tooth falling out, first time reading and the list goes on and on. Not really sad, but more a sweet remembrance and wondering how it went so fast. Then I rolled over (we were all taking a nap) and took a look at Elizabeth. How is our little girl now 8 years old! Our baby, the last of babies we are going to have, is 8 years old. Not so much a baby anymore. She is a young lady! I realize there are more firsts to come and I
can't wait. But realizing that I need to slow down, I need to play, I need to keep better track (blog, journal and/or write down the wonderful things that are happening) and really "live" in the moments that we have. Yes, the housework needs done, the laundry needs folding, bills need to be paid but I am going to try and relax and enjoy the days our family has together and write it down, type it up, or just make sure to document it so we can take a look back when we need to! We have been so blessed!
So, in an attempt to start fresh, better late than never, Happy Birthday Sweet Elizabeth! We love you so very much and are so lucky to have you! You are our princess and no matter how old are, you will always be your Daddy and my baby girl!!!

 

An attempt at being creative.......

I can honestly say that I don't have a clue when it comes to all of the gadgets my camera or the publisher program Ron got for me can do! I just basically turn on my camera or computer and play with all of the buttons. (Remember, I teach Kindergarten, so this really is appropriate for the age group I spend most of my time with!) I envy those of you with a "creative eye" and can use all the tech stuff to have projects turn out wonderful! I am always in awe at your quilts, scrapbooks, wall paintings, video's, and the list goes on. You know who you are!!! For that reason, I have always paid, well for the sake of Ron's blood pressure, let's just say too much for pictures of my kids. However, I saw a project that I dearly fell in love with (Thanks Nikki!) and I just couldn't help but give it a try. Now, Ron would love anything that has our kids in it so it really didn't matter what the end result was. Especially with him gone all the time, I thought he would really appreciate having some pictures of the kids to look at. However, our family doesn't just do for one and not for the others! So, guess what? I got to make one for my sister and one for my cousin! However, the kids are beautiful and that is all that really matters in the end. Please disregard light exposures in faces, next door neighbors rooftops, doors, crooked pictures, etc. Remember, I tried! And using the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." I tried to just put the three pictures together to give you an idea what the final project looks like. We put the individual pictures into a 3 place vertical frame and the letters spell out the word dad. Please refer back to the previous statement about my technology failures! Hopefully you will enjoy, appreciate the attempt, critique if you must, but most importantly know how much the "Dads" in our family mean to us!
Jonathan and Elizabeth!
Teila and Alyson!
Brenna, Rylee and Jostyn!

Thank You!!!

I just have to say thank you for all of the prayers and phone calls yesterday you made to us during Greyson's surgery! I was completely in awe that so many of you would take time out of your busy schedules and do that for a baby that many of you don't even know and our family! Thank you! The link to Bob's blog is on under Westfall's for all of the technical stuff, since I don't want to say the wrong thing. However, I can say, the trach is gone and he did well through the surgery. Bob, Stacy, and Greyson are okay. Of course, it isn't over yet. So, if we could ask, please keep them in your prayers. What a living witness of God can do in our lives, even in the midst of uncertainty! This story has definitely been one with God in the center helping,loving and guiding the whole time! Enjoy this picture that I borrowed (Took right off of Bob's blog! Aren't I getting tricky? Thanks Bob! I will be there soon to take pictures of my own!!!)of the sweet little boy you are praying for! Isn't he a cutie!?!? Takes a little after his aunt, don't you think? My prayer is that everything will continue to go well and this little man will get to come and meet you all for the first time! Wouldn't that be a party?

iNtRoDuCiNg.........

Our family would like to introduce to you the new addition to our family, Nikko Ni Ryan. Our bouncing, happy puppy, born on April 8, 2009, weighs 15 pounds and is an energetic and friendly black Labrador retriever!! (What were we thinking? Actually the story goes like this... Ron comes home and says he has been saving cash for a surprise to take us all to the Outback. Aunt Tammy-Thanks Tam-calls to tell us about registered labs-nothing but the best for us!-for sale near Costco. Ronie has always wanted a chocolate lab and after Bailey's ordeal last summer-Oh my!!!-our family dog has gained A LOT of weight and could use a playmate to get him active, so we thought, why not check them out. The rule was this, if there was a chocolate, we would DISCUSS it. If there were none, we would simply walk and be on our way to dinner! Simple, right?!?!?! Well, we drive up and peek into the kennel and guess what? No chocolate labs...so being apparently the only rule follower in our family, I head back to the car. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ron put Elizabeth into the kennel with the 12 adorable, but not at all chocolate,to play and love on, puppies . Just an FYI, never put a seven year old little girl that has a desire to be a zoo keeper in a kennel filled with sweet little puppies and try to tell her no. So, about an an hour and a half later- in the extremely HOT sun!, - we left holding our very own BLACK puppy! Hum....not mentioning any names but someone wasn't listening to the plan!) However, he is cute (NOT when he is pooping and weeing all over the house!) and hopefully with our new favorite TV show, It's Me Or The Dog, will be well trained! So, come on over! He loves to play!!!!
Oh by the way...we never did get dinner that night!So much for the Outback!

 

A Tournament In Twin Falls

 

We ended up in Twin Falls this weekend for Jonathan's judo tournament. The trip down was just Tammy, Teila, Elizabeth, Jonathan and myself as Ron was already there for work. Thanks Tammy for the ride! We enjoyed the treats, the Teila comments (Have you spent time with a teenager lately? Oh my goodness! It is like the world is a new place for them and they have just arrived! More stories about this I am sure will come now that I am excited about blogging again!) That night, the kids got to swim in the motel which made their evening. In the morning, Jonathan was geared up and ready to go, begging to "play up" at the tournament. Not that we try to discourage him in anything he does, but we tried to explain that this tournament was going to be hard, he has had rough time this year (Well, maybe our tournament wasn't his fault as he left with a fever was horribly sick!) and that the scoring was different than most tournaments. So, well, yes, I guess as parents we did try to persuade him into just sticking to his own division. But our little guy was determined, so we paid the extra $5.00 give him the "you wanted this, no backing out now, no crying to us, we tried to tell you" speech. I am sure it is a typical speech we heard from our parents sometime in our lives!
The tournament begins and our little man proved us wrong and did absolutely amazing! In fact, I have to say, he was relaxed, focused, and really seemed to be enjoying the whole competition atmosphere. He took 2nd in his division (losing by just one opponent for first) and he fought hard and tough and took 3rd in the 11-12 year olds. I enjoyed the day and actually didn't mind sitting there watching! Even Elizabeth was getting into the whole "Judo" thing throughout the day! So that is telling you something!
So, what we learned......listen to our children. They may sometimes know more than we think they do!

PlAyTiMe On PrEsIdEnT's DaY!!

Today we went to one of the kids' favorite places to be rambunctious and get our wiggles, or should I say, sniffles out. Teehee! These colds have been horrible to get rid of! UGH! We went to Planet Kid. It is a perfect place for kids and full of a bunch of toys and slides and tubes! Fun for all and as an added bonus, adults can fit into it all too! Yipee! You haven't had a day unless you tried to slide down a tube with a nice head cold with your lungs straining for just a little more air, and an added bonus of a 3 year old cheering you to go faster, in a place you aren't sure you can get out of! Too much fun!!! No really, we had a great time! One of my favorite friends and her daughter came with us to join in the fun! I love spending time with them! I am so glad they were able to come!! Thanks Kristin and Magnolia! We so enjoy you! Of course Mom and her new crew came with us and it is always fun to play with all of them. (Plus a day with Mom is just an added bonus to anything!) They even opened up the rock wall and let us climb on that too! We were so lucky! We thought we would share some pictures of our pictures so you can see how we spent our Presidents Day. (We did talk about Lincoln and Washington and all they did for our country! See you thought, we didn't spend the day the way we were suppose to! Silly you!)

JuSt AnOtHeR cRaZy MoNdAy!!!

Well, here we go again! Waking up as Ronie heads out the door for Montana! I hate when my best friend is gone! (However, you keep working honey! I completely appreciate how hard you work for us!!) It makes the world seem so very lonely and not as much of a fun place as it was the day before! Thank goodness we have our children so I can see the little things they do that remind me so much of him. Our little friends that make our lives crazy, wonderful and full of joy!! Isn't it amazing that family can make your life seem so complete?!?! So, as they are running through the house in need of my attention, I am sitting here coughing and sneezing, (Oh yes, I have the cold the kids shared with me!), probably feeling a little sorry for myself (Sorry Mom, I haven't figured out how not to, yet!!) I found this song on someone else's blog. It seemed perfect on a day like today! So babe, if you reading this, I love you! Hurry home! We are anxiously awaiting!!!! For everyone else, I hope you enjoy listening to a really good song! (You might want to pause our playlist at the bottom, so you can you hear the song.) Enjoy!! I sure did!

A Weekend Get-Away!

Last weekend, after judo practice, we decided to head up to the cabin to get away! It had been an extremely LONG week for Ronie and I and we just needed to spend a little alone time with family for a breather! Sometimes it seems that life just goes way too fast with schedules, jobs, routines, you just need to slow down and get away! So that is exactly what we did! We loaded up the dog, the kids,some food and headed for the hills! It was a beautiful day! The sun was shining, Ron built a campfire and we sat around it watching the kids sled down the back steps! Can life get any better than that? A perfect setting with some perfect family time! A weekend like that takes away all of the bad and fills your heart with fresh renewal for life!

Can we take a minute to brag?

January 29th and 30th, 2009
We were asked to attend award assemblies for Jonathan and Elizabeth. Both of our kids were selected for special recognition as one of the top five in their class for the second quarter. As always, we were so very proud of both of them! It is so nice to see that they are doing well both academically and socially in their new school. Jonathan and Elizabeth both have some new wonderful friends and they have adjusted perfectly!!! Can I say that it was so nice to go to the assemblies and just be a proud mommy! Ronie didn't get to go to because he was out of town in Montana (We missed him greatly!) but thankfully I have an amazing Kindergarten team this year and principal to let me take time off and make it to both of assemblies. The kids were well supported and loved with Grandma Terry, Grandma Great and Grandma and Grandpa Ryan coming to cheer them on. Elizabeth's was Thursday afternoon and I was able to make it there in plenty of time to see her get her award and meet some of her friends in her class. Jonathan's was Friday, so I decided to take the whole day off. It was fabulous to be able to wake up, get the kids ready and have breakfast with them, drop them off, spend some time reading (ALONE!!), hang out with my mom and go to lunch with a good friend before I went to the assembly. To top the day off, Jonathan was not only one of the top five, he was the top of his class so received the "Wildcat" Award. A perfect couple of days, with the exception of not having Ronie there! We have been so very blessed by amazing kids and how hard they work in school! Jonathan and Elizabeth, way to go! We are so very proud of you and all that you do! Congratulations!!!

Here comes the sun....di, di, duh, duh. Here comes the sun... and I say, its alright!!!!

Yipee! I came around the corner and this is what I saw at our kitchen table. I had to take a picture. Yes, it is the sun and its golden rays creeping through our window! I am not really one for summer when the temps get over 90 degrees but I have had enough of this doom and gloom, inversion yuck that we have had this month! It just makes your spirit lift just from seeing our long lost friend. Thanks for coming sun! We have missed you!

Things Will Come If You Just Believe!!!

Last Saturday was Jonathan and Teila's judo tournament and to be honest it was a LONG day! I have to say, I am starting to enjoy the sport and can appreciate Ronie's love for it but our kids just had a rough day. The worst part was seeing our kids act defeated before they even started the fight. We are so proud of Jonathan and Teila (All of the kids at the club actually. We have become quite close and I care about all of them and their families a great deal!)but when you see them not try and just give up without a fight is heartbreaking! They weren't satisfied, we were concerned and our club just didn't put out the effort that we normally do. I know our Sensei's are the best. I know and have seen Jonathan become more confident than ever before. I know we have the culture, possibly the technique and the lingo down more than almost any club out there. But this weekend, we just didn't show it. That's okay though! We can learn. All of us, and we can only pick up where we left off and grow and be better because of it. Isn't that what life is all about anyway? I know that I have learned alot more from situations where it didn't go my way and I had to stop and rethink things. It isn't about winning but a mindset that we can try and do anything! My prayer is that I/we can be the parents to help our kids see that and to continue to help them grow and be fighters in everything they do! To not only learn from what happened on Saturday but to become better because of it! Hum....that might not be just a lesson for our two sweet kids but for all of us! (Note well taken!)