Christmas

Merry Christmas!! We had a great Christmas with no real surpises.......except what Santa Clause brought of course!  Here is Abby with her new Pogo Stick.  I wasn't sure it was anyone was ever going to be able to really use it (you know, those things are kind of hard and some of them don't actually do what they are supposed to) but as soon as what little snow we had dried up Abby was out there bouncing away.  I think her goal to date is 400 bounces without stopping!  Yikes! What a little kangaroo!

Brooklyn has been begging for a new bike ever since she climbed up on her old one after not using it for a few months and discovered she no longer fit on it!!  She was thrilled that Santa knew just what to get her.  And the handlebar streamers make it all that much better:)

Jace had a whole list of things that would have been "totally awesome".  This train may or may not have been on his list, but nevertheless it has been a big hit.  The fact that you can make your track however you want is a big bonus (unless you are the mom that is called on to come engineer it so that every last piece is being used and the ends meet just right after its already built.  Then it's kind of a bummer:)

And here's our little Colby.  He LOVED his dump truck.  Not really.  I'm not sure he's even played with it.  But give him the wrapping paper and empty boxes and he'll have the time of his life.  Good thing we didn't overexert ourselves on his presents this year:)

Here's everyone with their piles of presents.  All in all it was a great Christmas.  The kids had fun.  We had fun.  Everyone had fun!

Abby's turns 8!

 Abby's birthday dawned bright and early with both my girls throwing up.  Boo. We knew Brooklyn wasn't feeling well because she started around 2am with the stomach flu and we were up with her several times after that. It was pretty funny (once I think back to it that is - nothing  funny about being up to your elbows in throw up at 2 am) to hear Brooklyn talk herself through her sickness.  After she had thrown up she asked me  "Mom, do I have the pukey bug?  'Cuz I don't want the pukey bug, (voice pitch getting higher and crazier) do you think I have the pukey bug, I can't have the pukey bug, I don't want the pukey bug. (On the verge of a meltdown) Ohhhh myyyy goshhhhh.  I HAVE THE PUKEY BUG!"  My poor girl.

In fact, Abby came in and slept with me while Darren went in and slept with Brooklyn because Abby was convinced she would get Brookie's germs and she wanted none of it.  I didn't blame her.  I guess it was too little too late because at 6:00 am Abby started in with it.  Uck.
Luckily for Abby, she had a rough morning but was feeling much better by afternoon and by the end of the day she was more than ready to celebrate.  We actually only opened presents.  There was no cake.We saved that for a few days later.

Brooklyn looks pretty good in this picture.  In real life, she wasn't looking so good.  She didn't move from the couch all day and was feeling the after effects for days.

Because of all the sickness we had to postpone Abby's baptism.  We were planning on having it the night of her birthday but since that didn't work out we had it a day later.  Darren's Mom, Dad, and brother were here to help make it extra special!

Two days after Abby's bday.  Chocolate cake and chocolate frosting.  Abby also did not care for her bday cake (remember Brooklyn?) .  Seems to be a pattern here.

Some things about Abby at age 8 -

-loves to play, hates to work

-has a horse club at school with her friends.  Her horse is named Lily.

-always seems to have a loose tooth (and it's always DRAMA to get it out)

-it is becoming very apparent that we will need to have LOTS of orthodontic work done

-is very good at being "in charge" - of everything:)

-has a really great memory and is above levels in school

-likes to play the piano, especially Christmas music

Happy Birthday Abby!!

Brooklyn turns 6

And the November birthdays continue!!  Brooklyn turned 6 on the 26th and she is loving being a whole year older.  I, on the other hand, am wondering where the time is going?!!

Brooklyn with her presents.  She usually gets Christmas wrapping paper for her birthday.  She doesn't mind. 

Abby somehow always ends up with at least one present on Brookie's birthday and this year was no exception.  Grandma Lu figures if Abby is getting the same present as Brooklyn  on her birthday (2 1/2 weeks later) than why not just wrap it up and give it to her now.  Abby totally agrees.

Brooklyn's cake.  She doesn't like cake.  But she requested this cake. So I made it.  And she didn't eat it. It tasted different than she thought.  Oh well.  We'll try again next year. 

Abby was helpful by videoing the singing part of Brooklyn's birthday.  So she wasn't involved in helping blowing out the candles like Jace was.  I'm not really sure if Jace cleared it with Brooklyn, but I am pretty sure that Jace blew out half of those candles! 

Things about Brooklyn at age 6 -

-she loves the monkey bars at school
-she is completely shy around lots of strangers (she got a stomache by just going to a bday party alone for a friend in her class - we're hoping she outgrows some of it!)
-loves to entertain Colby (yay!)
-has recently discovered the "side part" and thinks it makes her look like she has bangs
-Captain Crunch is her favorite cereal
-arguably the best hugger in the house
-hates waking up in the morning and is slooooow to get out the door for school
-brushes, and brushes and brushes her teeth before school and before bed - if you hurry her up she has a melt down and insists her teeth are not clean

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We were able to eat at my parents house with everyone that made it home for the Holidays. 

This is my kids with my dad's cousin Desiree and Fancy Anne. 

Uncle Travis and Jace.  It's always lots of fun when the uncles are around!

My grandma Lu and Grandpa Sim.  I was giving my Grandpa grief for not smiling and this is what I got.  Hmmmm.  The good news is my Grandma gave in to a nice smile.

The boys revisiting their childhood plus Jace.  Like I said, Jace loves it whent the boys all come to town.  Who wouldn't love building castles and shooting marbles at towers?  These guys can't say no!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another year..

Happy Birthday to me!!!  Well, it looks as though another year has come and gone.  Amazingly enough, I am still looking fantastic!!!(There's a reason I'm posting the candle- lit picture first:)

The kids and Darren bought me all my favorites - strawberry milk, tapioca, and (sniff, sniff) Hostess mini powdered donuts.  Also thrown in for good measure - Cabela's Big Game Hunter for the Wii.  Yes, go ahead and re-read that.  Yep, still the same.  Well, I already have ideas for Darren's birthday:)

And to make a good birthday even better Colby decided he'd just get up and walk.  Enough of this crawling.  So he did. And there you have it we have a walker!

Ok, his first steps were actually a week or two earlier, but this was the first chance I got to document it.  All in all I had a great birthday and am blessed to have such a great family!

Tetherball

Yesterday morning we got a call from the school secretary.  She wanted to tell us what happened that day before school started.

She had heard a ruckus out on the playground and peeked around the corner to see what the commotion was all about. That's when she saw a big group of kids standing together.  So she decided she better head out and see exactly what was going on.  When she got outside she heard the kids chanting "Abby.  Abby. Abby."

This is where I perk up.  Hmmm?  A school-yard chant?  For Abby.  And not just any old Abby but my Abby?

Abby. Abby. Abby.

Could it get any better?  This is what dreams are made of.  I smiled to myself. Then I closed my eyes and listened again. 

Abby. Abby. Abby.

 Abby was playing tether ball and she was queen of the court.  That's right.  Queen. Girls stood no chance.  Neither did the boys. She was taking down bigger, taller boys one by one by one.


At this point I'm grinning broadly.  I've never been prouder. In fact, I'm so proud that I'm reminiscing.  And I remember myself at the tether ball courts beating the boys.  Take that Rhett Lucero, the school yard bully who got his thrills from tormenting the twins.  While we're at it, take that Mrs. Lucero, Rhett's overprotective playground teacher-mother who at one time forbade myself, my twin sister and our best friend from playing together.  Ever again. That's right.  I haven't forgotten.  She was also the one who sent me to the "corner table", aka, the naughty table, for accidently tripping a boy in my class.  I was humiliated.  And righteously indignant.

 I was recently telling Abby stories of my elementary school years and Mrs. Lucero came up.  I had no idea that Mrs. Lucero was still around and that Abby had in fact had her just last year as a computer lab teacher.  She did  not get good reviews from Abby.  I wonder why, Mrs. You-can-never-play-with-your-best-friends-ever-again- Lucero.  Anyway, I'm off subject.

Let's get back to where we were going.

Abby. Abby. Abby.

Abby was doing me proud.  And when she came home that day from school I asked her all about it.  She beat "20 boys".  Or something like that.  Half the school was surrounding her watching and cheering.  But they weren't always chanting for her.  Later on in the recess they started rooting for the opponent when it became clear that Abby was dominating. 

Ahem.  Well, this is not exactly what dreams are made of. More like you against the whole wide world.  But, everyone does love an underdog.  Understandable.  (Unless you happen to be the champions mother, that is.)

That's when I picked up on a little nugget of humility.  "Well mom, I can beat most of the boys. Except Dominic.  He's in kindergarten and he's GOOD. He comes up to about right here on me (Abby points to her belly button) but like I said, he's gooooood. "

Wait. What?  Kindergarten?  As in 2 years younger than you? Like Brooklyn's age? And the size of a peanut?!!

At that moment my dreams were shattered.  Thoughts of elevators, ropies, and holdies left.  Ideas of a tether ball court in my backyard crumbled away.

"Anyways Mom, I can't spend too much time playing tetherball or the horseclub will kick me out.  I'm only allowed to play the first recess. Come on Lily!!  Yeehaw!"

And away she rode.

Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween!

My little pirate who insists that he would rather have been Spiderman (I didn't even know he knew who Spiderman was.  And then he starts throwing his hands out in weird finger patterns and asking me why  "it's not working". Huh?  Oh, right, the webs.  Why aren't they coming out of your fingers.  Got it. ) Don't worry, I just hit up Walmart for the 50% off sale and Spiderman is now hanging in our closet for next year:)

Abby really had no choice about Spidergirl.  It was the only one we had in her size (thank you last year's clearance pick up.  I know, I rock:)

Brooklyn took a little more convincing for WonderWoman.  She really wanted to be an angel.  Again.  Remember last year?  I said no.

My little lion.  No, he did not wear this all night.  In fact, we were lucky to get a few pictures with him even wearing it.

Ok, so here's the real story.  This was one of the only "good" pictures I got on Halloween with all my kids.  I was so disappointed that I couldn't get it off my mind.  I just knew we could do better.

So, we dressed back up today (day after Halloween) and did another photo shoot.  What a drag!  Don't tell my kids I said that :) I was much happier with the end results.  Really,  I am so glad we went to the effort. 

 But then I noticed Jaces pirate bandana. And how it looks more like a sloppy do-rag.  Or something.  And I'm a little ticked.  Not sure why I only notice these things after the fact.  I don't even want to talk about it.  And stop thinking I'm obsessive compulsive.  I'm not.  Not really anyway.  Whatever.  Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin Carving!!  It's always seems much more fun to start in on the pumpkin carving than it actually ends up being!  All of my kids bravely attempted to clean out their pumpkins and then Grandma and Mom had to take over. (Dad was nowhere to be found.  He was salmon fishing in California! And Pa conveniently left just as the knives were being pulled out.)

Abby did all of the carving on her pumpkin by herself and was very proud about being the only child who had no help.  In fact, she mentioned it several times:)

Brooklyn chose to do a cat pumpkin.  We had one last year and really loved it.  Abby's was also a cat.  I'm hoping for something a little more spooky next year!! Brooklyn did a little bit of carving on hers and grandma helped with most of it.  I think Brooklyn's pumpkin was the thickest pumpkin we have ever carved in to!  I now know how some of those elaborate pumpkin designs are made.  Talk about having a lot of pumpkin to work with. 

Jace carried over  his pirate costume theme to his pumpkin. He did no carving.  He didn't even supervise.  He took off as soon as he got messy. 

But he was quick to get those pumpkins lit up after we had the mess all cleaned up.  Sorry Colby.   Next year after my tendinitis heals up and your dad is around to help clean out those pumpkins I'll carve you one.  I guess I could have at least put him in the picture, but I was worried about those flames! Anyway, don't they look great?  Happy Pumpkin Carving!

Pumpkin Picking

It's pumpkin time!!!  We love, love, love our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch and were a little worried it wasn't going to happen this year.  My Grampa Sim takes us to the pumpkin patch every year (he works for the farm) but this year he has been very sick and I had just planned on not making it.  Fortunately for us, Grandma Lu stepped in and said we were going!  Grampa even felt good enough to call us from the hospital in Denver while we were at the pumpkin patch.  It was almost as if he had a 6th sense and knew we were there....ok, I think he did know we were headed there and had to get in on the action.  We were just happy he called!

It's a race to find the best pumpkin!

It didn't take long for the girls to pick out their pumpkins.

Jace looked for ones that were just the right size for him and Colby.  He didn't want anything to do with the great big ones! 

Colby's perfect pumpkin.

Did I mention that Brooklyn found her perfect pumpkin right at the start?  And this was her 5th or 6th pumpkin.  Or maybe 10th.  I don't know.  All I know is that we had a van full of pumpkins.  Some for everyone - grandma's, grandpa's, uncles, great-aunts, neighbors.  You name it, we picked it. 

 I think Abby even found a giant squash-pumpkin.  It was a mutant of some kind anyway.  Oh, and  a white pumpkin.  It's very rare and very special.  And I didn't get a picture of it....

Here we all are.

With just a fraction of the pumpkins we actually picked!

Just Peachy

 Jace loves peaches.  He would eat them for every meal if he could.  And never tire of them.  It's unfortunate for him  that peach season is so short.  Although he doesn't mind if his peaches come in a can.  It all started as a sweet one year old.  Grandpa Sim still talks about the day that he and Grandma Lu came over for a visit and Jace was sitting in his high chair enjoying some sort of pureed meal.  That's when his eyes locked in on the bottle of home grown peaches that Grandma was carrying in.  His eyes never left  those peaches. At some point his legs started kicking and he began squealing in delight letting us know exactly what he wanted.
Well, that love for peaches still exists and Grandpa does his best to make sure that his peach tree gives his "little sweetie" the best peaches.

This year we were able to run over and help Grandpa pick peaches and the kids loved it.

Look at all of those peaches!  Grandma Lu just came today with another bottle of peaches for Jace. He makes sure to give her a phone call when he runs out!  Too bad peach season can't last all year round.  Jace would be in heaven:)  And I have to say, I don't think I'd mind it either.  I've got plenty of peach recipes that are to die for!

I miss peach season already......

1st Day of School





I just realized that I never posted our "first day of school" pictures!  Eeeek!  Well, better late than never!

 

I can't believe I now have half of my children in school all day!  Brooklyn was very excited to be a kindergartner and she was more than ready for it.   We have all day kindergarten so I was a little nervous about her being gone all day long.  And I have to say, I do miss her!  But she has done really well with it.  Our school district moved us to a 4 day school week with Friday's off this year so that has been an adjustment as well.  It just meanst that the school days are longer.  For the little ones it makes for a big day.  I didn't think that I would like a 4 day school week at all but it's actually been fine. It's kinda nice to have the kids home on Friday - when they're getting along that is:)

Abby started 2nd grade and she loves it.  She's an old pro at this school thing!  She was very excited to get back and see her "horse club" friends.  Yes, they've created their own club and they ride around on their make believe horses.  "Lily" gets fed often from the leaves of my trees.  And Abby is the club leader.  But she informed me the first week of school that occasionally she steps down so someone else can lead.  How nice. A democracy. 

Brooklyn also has a horse.  Her name is Jessica.  Not to be confused with Travis's new wife.  Our horse Jessica was actually invented before Aunt Jessica came to be:)

This picture was taken on the first morning of school.  The girls walk out at 7:10 am to get to the bus stop on time.  The other pictures were taken the day before when both of them had a required 30 min. test to take, which was officially the first day of school, but not really. ( I know, it gets complicated.)  Anyway, there you have it!  Jace is depressed that his playmates are gone and is constantly looking for the uncles that occasionally visit but are nowhere to be found at the moment. 

Which means that I have been doing a LOT of playing lately.....