January Break

We had no choice but to go and find warmer weather when our kids had a school break. Sunny Florida  

Legos store. It was amazeballs.

My favorite place we ate. In Hollywood Studios.
It's the Sci-fi diner and you eat out of cars while watching a drive in movie.

Disney: Always worth it.

Cocoa Beach for a Day

This year the kids were all tall enough to go on the rides they were interested in. Jane went on Tower of Terror and still tries to pretend that she enjoyed it. But Maggie went on it Seven times and really did love it. Mags is a little more like Charlie in the dare devil department.

Christmas Break

 We had a quiet Christmas followed by an exciting break with family and a wedding. Here are the pictures to prove it.

Gus Michael

Hmmm I kept trying to think of a way to make this special announcement. 

I couldn't think of anything clever. So here goes.... 

We are having a baby boy this May. 

Yep, that's real. 

Mike and I were surprised by the news because this is the first baby that wasn't planned. 

And yet he has been planned for a long time. 

His name is Gus.  

Jane was supposed to be Gus. 

Maggie was supposed to be Gus. 

Then the last three years and ten Dr. tries were supposed to be Gus.  

So we are grateful for this random act of kindness from Heavenly Father. 

Encore!

Applause, applause. Mike gave a stellar performance last night in the Nutcracker.
First he was the Father and Host of the Party. Here is his lovely ballerina wife, daughter and mischievous son Fritz.

Here he is talking amongst his real friend Brad VanCamp at the lovely party. He's been growing out his beard to make these sweet chops.

Then he changes rolls in the second half and becomes Mother Ginger with all of the lovely bon bon girls under his dress.

In the practices the little girls enjoyed tugging on his legs, hitting each other and trying to pull down his pants.

With that face how could you not be a delight to watch. Yes, he was hilarious and our own children loved bragging that their dad was Mother Ginger.

Birthday and Baptism

Last month we had Charlie's birthday and baptism all on the same day. Grandma, Aunt Leslie, baby Boston and Uncle Matt all came into town. We also had cousins Mallory, Paige, Mike and baby Ada that were able to join us. (because they're all officially locals now)

Charlie had a football game in the morning which he ended up missing because he threw up on the way to the game. So really my biggest concern was just that he keep everything in until after the baptism. We made it. The font water remained clean. After the baptism we returned to our house for a little family party. The day turned out to be very enjoyable. We are so proud of Charlie and his commitment to the Savior.

Charlie

Cousin Mike & Charlie

Dad and Charlie

Boston, Leslie, Mike, Kimber, Helene

Jane, Charlie Maggie

Matt

Charlie, Boston & Leslie

Matt & Mallory

Try at a New Project

I needed a side table to put a lamp on next to my couch. Money was an issue and so I thought that maybe I'd be able to find something at a second hand store. I was looking for a plain flat table but came across this ugly lady for only $15.00

I knew right away what I was going to do to this table. I had to do something a little more fun to get away from the traditional and dated look.

First I stripped off the shiny orange/brown finish. Then some light sanding before the paint job.

Final Product. I like the way it turned out and it gives me hope for future projects.

Do Your Best

 

Maggie: "William, stop eating all of the crackers."

Mom: "Mags please talk nice."

Maggie: "I did talk nice."

Mom: " It didn't sound very nice to me."

Maggie: " Well, it's the best I can do."

Back Again

Cooper, Charlie, Jane, Dylan, Ryan & Carys

Carys, Jane & Gracie



The bus stop boys

Charlie

School is in and we sent the kids off this morning with hugs and kisses. I'm not ready for school to start. I needed another month to play with the kids. This summer went by way too fast. Although it will be nice to go to the Grocery store with one.

Coffee Table - minus the coffee

Our good friends made me a coffee table. I've been talking about this coffee table for over a year now and I finally have it in full bloom. Here's my concept....I wanted a basic wood table that I could paint for the seasons, holiday or whatever event is going on in our life. This table was brown in November then I painted it red for Christmas and we've spiced it up a bit with vinyl for Valentine's. The table sits in our family room and I'm hoping it will bring us many more fun memories. I'll keep you posted as the colors and events change. In the end I hope to have a collage of coffee table memories.

 It became yellow for Easter and Spring

Jane and Maggie helping to paint it for Independence Day

Charlie painting

Finished product. We are having fun with this little table.

quotes

Here are all of the funny or totally embarrassing things that my kids have said. I should keep them to myself, but who am I to ruin all of the fun?

definitions:

noodles - nudies

very - berry

disappear - capeared

remember - bemember

Charlie singing the wrong lyrics to a song that we do not play in our house, "I've got fashion in my pants and I'm not afraid to show it. I'm sexy and I know it." And for the record the real lyrics are even worse than that.

Maggie: "Mom, is it today?"

Mom: "yes"

Maggie: " I knew it. I knew it was today."

Jane: "Mom Carys thinks that I'm the prettiest girl in the whole school."

Mom: I think to myself. That is very weird that her best friend would say that to her. They are a bit competitive with each other. So I say "Really? She said that?"

Jane: "Yeah she told me that." (insert snotty voice here) "She said, Jane, you just think you're the prettiest girl in the whole school."

(She didn't get it.)

When Maggie gets really mad and wants to insult you she calls you a freak. I don't know where she learned it but the other day Charlie was teasing her and she yelled, "knock it off you little freak."

And just today Maggie said, "Mom, Jesus spoke to my heart and said that brushing your teeth makes them dirty. So I don't have to brush my teeth." (really? blaming Jesus?)