With all the snow this week...we already have a good start on our annual snow tower to the snow gods. This is right in front of our house from all the snow we shovel off our driveway. The kids love to slide down it.
4 years ago
Monday, December 29, 2008
snow, snow, and more snow!
Steen loves his new show shovel that he got for Christmas...he takes it with him everywhere. In the video he is helping dad shovel the drive way.
With all the snow this week...we already have a good start on our annual snow tower to the snow gods. This is right in front of our house from all the snow we shovel off our driveway. The kids love to slide down it.
With all the snow this week...we already have a good start on our annual snow tower to the snow gods. This is right in front of our house from all the snow we shovel off our driveway. The kids love to slide down it.
Christmas Morning 2008
The kids in their new pjs that they opened on Christmas Eve.
For breakfast, we have two traditions. I always make danish abelskievers and above you can see Steven making his yummy Christmas tree wreath from cinnamon rolls.The girls asked for diamond castle barbies from Santa. Michaela even wrote two letters to Santa, one asking for her present and one just to make sure Andrea got a diamond castle barbie as well. What a thoughtful girl. (click play on video below to see them finding their presents from Santa)
Steen got some tools from mom and dad. After opening the tools, he didn't want to open anything else....until...
Dad showed him how to use his tools to open the other presents. He's probably using his screwdriver to open this one.
Michaela bought Andrea a tiara at the dollar store. This year the kids used their very own money to buy presents. They were sooo excited about that!
Michaela's new jewlery box to put all her earrings in.Christmas Eve 2008
Grandma hosted us all for a yummy Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve.
Jared carving the ham.
Our Christmas tradition is to reinact the nativity on Christmas eve. This year we had dinner at my mom's house with 5 of the siblings and their family and then the children acted out the nativity. Michaela was the angel and Andrea was Mary.
Mary and Joseph were told their was no room in the inn. (Andrea and cousin Darien)
Steen played one of the wisemen, but wouldn't keep his costume on for long.Monday, December 22, 2008
happenings of late...
Steen just went poo poo in the potty! Yeah!
This weekend, the phone rang. We have talking caller ID and it said, "CHRCH JESUS CHR". Andrea loves to answer the phone, but since she is 4, I don't like her to answer for just anyone. She looked at the phone and said, "Is Jesus calling?" So cute!
Poor Michaela fell backwards at a friends house and had to get 5 staples in her head. I told her it wouldn't be that different from getting her ears pierced...just a few more holes. Anyway, she said it hurt a little more than getting her ears pierced, but otherwise she was really brave.
And my 4th child...that would be Steven (J/K) won a contest at work for eating the most pieces of pizza. He ate 14. I asked him if he could have kept going and he said yeah, but then he might have started to feel sick. Does he have a hollow leg or what?
This weekend, the phone rang. We have talking caller ID and it said, "CHRCH JESUS CHR". Andrea loves to answer the phone, but since she is 4, I don't like her to answer for just anyone. She looked at the phone and said, "Is Jesus calling?" So cute!
Poor Michaela fell backwards at a friends house and had to get 5 staples in her head. I told her it wouldn't be that different from getting her ears pierced...just a few more holes. Anyway, she said it hurt a little more than getting her ears pierced, but otherwise she was really brave.
And my 4th child...that would be Steven (J/K) won a contest at work for eating the most pieces of pizza. He ate 14. I asked him if he could have kept going and he said yeah, but then he might have started to feel sick. Does he have a hollow leg or what?
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Michaela got some new pets!
Today was Michaela's birthday! It was seven years ago today that she gave me the gift of motherhood...and what an adventure it has been. We are so glad to have Michaela as part of our family. She is thoughtful, caring, imaginative and creative and we love her.
For her birthday, we celebrated with a Littlest Pet Shop Party.
The kids decorated their goody bags as little animals.
They made little pet pals out of little beads that you melt together with an iron. They loved it, but they were quite time consuming.
They dropped milk bones into the bottle to see who could get the most in. It was a lot harder than it looks and the high scorer was Alanna with 4 out of 10.
We played an animal match game.
We played an animal match game.
The kids loved playing musical Lily pads and hopping as frogs. It was all animal fun.
One of Michaela's favorite gifts (she loved them all) was a new black cat named Midnight. Luckily, it's a webkinz so you care for it online...I can handle cleaning up online poop!
Michaela also got lots of littlest pet shop toys. Thank goodness no one brought any real pets! (Don't get any ideas Pops!)
It was a great birthday. This last picture was taken last night after Michaela got her present from mom and dad. Can you guess what it was? She was given the option of doing it at the same time to get it over quicker, but she said she'd just do it one at a time and that it was no big deal and didn't hurt. What a brave girl! (Yes...we let her get her ears pierced.)Happy Birthday Michaela!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thanksgiving 2008
For Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to be invited to two turkey meals. Here is Uncle Sterling carving some turkey at meal #1. We had about 35 of Stevens aunts uncles and cousins there and had lots of fun visiting.
Steen folding his arms, patiently waiting to have prayer so we can eat!
Grandma Dixon...93 and still going!
Steven's cousin Kami...the girls ADORE her!
Melanie taught us a cool new game called Curses...it's hilarious if you're playing with the right people...we were!
Kami, Ellianna, and Andrea ...2nd cousins... For meal #2 we got together with my mom and siblings that live here in Utah.
My brother carving the turkey!
Cute Andrea...she wasn't really hungry for meal #2.
Hanging with the family!
My beautiful mom!Quiz...how many American eat turkey on Thanksgiving?90%
How many are lucky enough to eat it twice....not that many!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankful for Part 2
100 things I'm grateful for:
100. warm rolls with honeybutter fluff
99. my space heater in my bedroom that warms me up when I first go to bed at night
98. my beautiful piano for playing on
97. Michaela playing Christmas day secrets on the piano
96. Steen saying please and Thank you (he's very good at it)
95. The game Settlers of Catan with Cities and Nights Expansion Pack
94. game night with the Strattons
93. babysitters
92. email...who ever thought of that?
91. my beautiful home
90. french fries dipped in jalapeno ranch dressing
89. that my children grow out of their clothes...because I know they have enough food to eat
88. a washing machine
87. Andrea playing O Come Little Children on her violin
86. Steen's love of saying prayers
85. fresh squeezed orange juice
84. Michaela's love of reading
83. my cell phone
82. my 6th grade teacher Mr. Yates (along with many other teachers who believed in me)
81. my mother's example of never ending service
80. a storage closet filled with food
79. my carpool for the elementary school
78. Steen getting out Andrea's violin and saying he needs to practice
77. the opportunity I had to go to college
76. a good romance novel
75. that my mom lives 10 minutes away
74. flat irons... which has been broken for 3 months now (I improvise with my curling iron)
73. my impromptu flat iron...aka curling iron
72. DVR which allows you to skip commercials
71. my multi-colored wood kitchen floor which hides dirt really well
70. a warm oven to bake goodies on a cold day
69. my kingsize bed that still gives me enough room even after my kids all crawl into bed with me
68. Steen sitting at the piano and playing "caterpillar crunch crunch"
67. my dad's love of classical music that instilled my love for it.
66. some of my favorite composers, Chopin, Vivaldi, Bach, Rachmaninoff
65. my CD players (especially the one in my car)
64. our delicious peach tree
63. that Steven loves to garden
62. that Steen loves his daddy and follows him around in the garden
61. the neighborhood we live in with great friends
60. homemade strawberry jam
59. my freezer meals that I make in advance
58. teaching piano and my cute piano students
57. my teacher trainer: Cleo Brimhall
56. socks to keep my feet warm at night
55. concealer to hide the bags under my eyes
54. Steven's current job that does not include a lot of travel
53. my nephews and nieces that I get to see each week at piano
52. my nephews and nieces that I don't get to see
51. blogs that enable me to see pics of my nephews and nieces who live far away
50. homemade pizza with garlic butter on the edge of the crust (our weekly tradition)
49. Jack's salsa from Costco
48. my favorite pair of jeans that I would wear everyday if I could...sometimes I do!
47. my ice maker
46. photographs to remember family, friends and happy memories
45. my bathtub with hot, running water
44. Michaela's annimated story telling
43. the freedom to worship
42. Andrea's I love yous
41. a nice back rub from Steven
40. I love you cards from my children
39. The Ensign magazine
38. my old out of county library which has all the books I'd ever want to check out
37. my brand new tiny city library that is soooo close!
36. birth control (sorry...but has to be said.)
35. the miracle of motherhood
34. my friends I visit teach
33. my neighbors who let me shop out of their cupboards when needed
32. the power of prayer
31. priesthood blessings
30. that my kids LOVE family home evening
29. the women of the scriptures...said and unsaid
28. finding a new violin teacher for my daughters that I really like
27. sweet Mrs. Marshall (Michaela's 1st grade teacher)
26. aweome Mrs. Chris (Andrea's preschool teacher)
25. playgroups for my 2 year old
24. that my 2 year old still naps
23. baby wipes...the best invention ever!!!
22. pantry closet hugs with my hubby (you'll have to ask my kids about that)
21. date night...did I already say that?
20. the new Smith's marketplace that is so close to my house
19. gas for $1.33 a gallon...Yippee!
18. the funny things my kids say that make me LOL
17. my ancestors and my heritage
16. that I have a week off of teaching piano
15. My dad and his love of learning which he taught to me
14. all the bad experiences in my life that help me appreciate the good I now have
13. my scriptures...especially that so many prophets took the time to write and preserve the records
12. my patriarchal blessing from a loving Father in Heaven
11. Joseph Smith giving his life to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth
10. children's laughter
9. The pioneers who sacrificed much to worship freely
8. The peace I feel when I go to the temple
7. President Thomas S. Monson
6. The Family: A Proclamation to the World
5. my cute little 2 year old Steen and watching his sisters dote over him
4. Andrea with her curly hair and a personality that matches
3. Michaela sweet, sensitive, personality and her creativity
2. my husband Steven for being the best husband ever!!!!!!
1. my Savior Jesus Christ and that he loved me enough to atone for my sins and die for me!
100. warm rolls with honeybutter fluff
99. my space heater in my bedroom that warms me up when I first go to bed at night
98. my beautiful piano for playing on
97. Michaela playing Christmas day secrets on the piano
96. Steen saying please and Thank you (he's very good at it)
95. The game Settlers of Catan with Cities and Nights Expansion Pack
94. game night with the Strattons
93. babysitters
92. email...who ever thought of that?
91. my beautiful home
90. french fries dipped in jalapeno ranch dressing
89. that my children grow out of their clothes...because I know they have enough food to eat
88. a washing machine
87. Andrea playing O Come Little Children on her violin
86. Steen's love of saying prayers
85. fresh squeezed orange juice
84. Michaela's love of reading
83. my cell phone
82. my 6th grade teacher Mr. Yates (along with many other teachers who believed in me)
81. my mother's example of never ending service
80. a storage closet filled with food
79. my carpool for the elementary school
78. Steen getting out Andrea's violin and saying he needs to practice
77. the opportunity I had to go to college
76. a good romance novel
75. that my mom lives 10 minutes away
74. flat irons... which has been broken for 3 months now (I improvise with my curling iron)
73. my impromptu flat iron...aka curling iron
72. DVR which allows you to skip commercials
71. my multi-colored wood kitchen floor which hides dirt really well
70. a warm oven to bake goodies on a cold day
69. my kingsize bed that still gives me enough room even after my kids all crawl into bed with me
68. Steen sitting at the piano and playing "caterpillar crunch crunch"
67. my dad's love of classical music that instilled my love for it.
66. some of my favorite composers, Chopin, Vivaldi, Bach, Rachmaninoff
65. my CD players (especially the one in my car)
64. our delicious peach tree
63. that Steven loves to garden
62. that Steen loves his daddy and follows him around in the garden
61. the neighborhood we live in with great friends
60. homemade strawberry jam
59. my freezer meals that I make in advance
58. teaching piano and my cute piano students
57. my teacher trainer: Cleo Brimhall
56. socks to keep my feet warm at night
55. concealer to hide the bags under my eyes
54. Steven's current job that does not include a lot of travel
53. my nephews and nieces that I get to see each week at piano
52. my nephews and nieces that I don't get to see
51. blogs that enable me to see pics of my nephews and nieces who live far away
50. homemade pizza with garlic butter on the edge of the crust (our weekly tradition)
49. Jack's salsa from Costco
48. my favorite pair of jeans that I would wear everyday if I could...sometimes I do!
47. my ice maker
46. photographs to remember family, friends and happy memories
45. my bathtub with hot, running water
44. Michaela's annimated story telling
43. the freedom to worship
42. Andrea's I love yous
41. a nice back rub from Steven
40. I love you cards from my children
39. The Ensign magazine
38. my old out of county library which has all the books I'd ever want to check out
37. my brand new tiny city library that is soooo close!
36. birth control (sorry...but has to be said.)
35. the miracle of motherhood
34. my friends I visit teach
33. my neighbors who let me shop out of their cupboards when needed
32. the power of prayer
31. priesthood blessings
30. that my kids LOVE family home evening
29. the women of the scriptures...said and unsaid
28. finding a new violin teacher for my daughters that I really like
27. sweet Mrs. Marshall (Michaela's 1st grade teacher)
26. aweome Mrs. Chris (Andrea's preschool teacher)
25. playgroups for my 2 year old
24. that my 2 year old still naps
23. baby wipes...the best invention ever!!!
22. pantry closet hugs with my hubby (you'll have to ask my kids about that)
21. date night...did I already say that?
20. the new Smith's marketplace that is so close to my house
19. gas for $1.33 a gallon...Yippee!
18. the funny things my kids say that make me LOL
17. my ancestors and my heritage
16. that I have a week off of teaching piano
15. My dad and his love of learning which he taught to me
14. all the bad experiences in my life that help me appreciate the good I now have
13. my scriptures...especially that so many prophets took the time to write and preserve the records
12. my patriarchal blessing from a loving Father in Heaven
11. Joseph Smith giving his life to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth
10. children's laughter
9. The pioneers who sacrificed much to worship freely
8. The peace I feel when I go to the temple
7. President Thomas S. Monson
6. The Family: A Proclamation to the World
5. my cute little 2 year old Steen and watching his sisters dote over him
4. Andrea with her curly hair and a personality that matches
3. Michaela sweet, sensitive, personality and her creativity
2. my husband Steven for being the best husband ever!!!!!!
1. my Savior Jesus Christ and that he loved me enough to atone for my sins and die for me!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thankful for...
Andrea made a cornucopia in preschool and on the top it says:
I am thankful for playing with my sister, my family, and cleaning the bathrooms!
(Do you think that will last...I mean the cleaning the bathrooms?)
Michaela's 1st grade teacher told me today that it touched her heart that during music class yesterday, Michaela said she was thankful for her teacher.
I am thankful for a week of not teaching piano, a wonderful husband, the cutest kids that say the cutest things, my computer that lets me blog and keep in touch with people.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for playing with my sister, my family, and cleaning the bathrooms!
(Do you think that will last...I mean the cleaning the bathrooms?)
Michaela's 1st grade teacher told me today that it touched her heart that during music class yesterday, Michaela said she was thankful for her teacher.
I am thankful for a week of not teaching piano, a wonderful husband, the cutest kids that say the cutest things, my computer that lets me blog and keep in touch with people.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Steen turned 2! Terribles...here we come!
This was a busy week...so I posted three posts all in one sitting. Make sure you scroll through all of them!
Steen turned two and we had a small family party with Diego! Go Steen Go!
Steen got a box full (42 pcs.) of Thomas the Train cars (off of Ebay). There SHOULD be no fighting over who gets the trains now...
Steen loved his cards as much as or more than the presents.
The kids had a blast with the Diego pinata. Poor Diego needed some first aid when it was over. Hopefully he has a first aid kit in his rescue pack. We also went on a treasure hunt finding items for Diego's rescue pack and the clues were in these Diego color books that the kids got to keep.
Steen holding his pinata before it got beaten up!
Go Steen Go!
Steen turned two and we had a small family party with Diego! Go Steen Go!
Steen got a box full (42 pcs.) of Thomas the Train cars (off of Ebay). There SHOULD be no fighting over who gets the trains now...
Steen loved his cards as much as or more than the presents.
The kids had a blast with the Diego pinata. Poor Diego needed some first aid when it was over. Hopefully he has a first aid kit in his rescue pack. We also went on a treasure hunt finding items for Diego's rescue pack and the clues were in these Diego color books that the kids got to keep.
Steen holding his pinata before it got beaten up!
Go Steen Go! Halloween party pics
We went to a fun Halloween party over the weekend and got a consolation prize of $20! WooHoo! Do you see the family theme? Thanks Lisa and Dave for a great party!Thank you pumpkin fairy!
There was a pumpkin thief in our neighborhood. I don't think it was teenage kids. We had a garden full of pumpkins this year, and more than 20 got stolen off our doorstep. (They only left the ugly green ones!) Neighbors also had pumpkins stolen that same night, pumpkins that were so big that they had to be brought out in a wheelbarrow...not likely that teenagers did it. Anyway, Andrea was so sad she brought the rest of our green pumpkins in the house so they wouldn't get stolen. Last night...a pumpkin fairy brought three new pumpkins and some cookies so our kids could still carve pumpkins. Thank you pumpkin fairy!Tuesday, October 7, 2008
TAGGED!
OK...I got tagged by my friend Jennifer and this was actually kind of hard for me...but here goes.
I am. . .wife, mother, teacher. I am the precious adornment worn around the neck of my ancestors. I am a daughter of God.
I think. . . I forget the above sometimes.
I know. . . I don’t want to forget the above.
I want. . . to have my car and/or kitchen floor stay clean for longer than 10 minutes.
I have. . . many blessings!
I miss. . . my dad.
I fear. . . I am going to fail at motherhood and my children will have to suffer the consequences.
I hear. . . my washer and the news in the background. No children…they are asleep…aaaahhhh!
I smell . . .nothing…maybe I’m getting a cold.
I crave . . . chocolate, cinnamon rolls, sweets of all kinds.
I cry . . . sometimes when I’m stressed.
I search. . . for lost keys, lost cell phone, lost shoes. The first two are usually taken by my 1 yr. old son and found in his pocket, the last ones are usually taken by one of my girls and left randomly around the house.
I wonder. . .what I should write here.
I regret. . . if I say something mean.
I wish. . . the world was at peace.
I love. . . my husband, my kids, my mom and sisters, my family, teaching piano, where I live.
I care. . . what people think sometimes more than I should.
I always. . . check my email.
I worry. . . when my son escapes out of the house and I can’t find him in less than two minutes.
I am not. . . a pet lover.
I remember. . . faces even if I don’t remember names.
I believe. . . Yes!
I sing. . . sometimes in choirs, with my kids, to my piano students.
I don't always. . . floss.
I argue. . . more than I wish I did.
I write. . . sometimes on my blog…even less in my journal and scrapbooking.
I win. . . games whenever I can…I’m competitive.
I lose. . . my patience more than I want to.
I listen. . . to my children's violin and piano practice CD's all day long! (That's dedication!)
I don't understand. . .why we can’t choose brand new candidates for the president of the United States.
I can usually be found. . . on the computer, helping my kids with homework or practicing, teaching.
I need. . . to figure out a costume for Halloween.
I forget. . . when it is not written on my calendar.
I am happy. . . when my kids are happy and getting along.
I tag: Sara Liechty and Cynthia and anyone else who wants to do this!
I am. . .wife, mother, teacher. I am the precious adornment worn around the neck of my ancestors. I am a daughter of God.
I think. . . I forget the above sometimes.
I know. . . I don’t want to forget the above.
I want. . . to have my car and/or kitchen floor stay clean for longer than 10 minutes.
I have. . . many blessings!
I miss. . . my dad.
I fear. . . I am going to fail at motherhood and my children will have to suffer the consequences.
I hear. . . my washer and the news in the background. No children…they are asleep…aaaahhhh!
I smell . . .nothing…maybe I’m getting a cold.
I crave . . . chocolate, cinnamon rolls, sweets of all kinds.
I cry . . . sometimes when I’m stressed.
I search. . . for lost keys, lost cell phone, lost shoes. The first two are usually taken by my 1 yr. old son and found in his pocket, the last ones are usually taken by one of my girls and left randomly around the house.
I wonder. . .what I should write here.
I regret. . . if I say something mean.
I wish. . . the world was at peace.
I love. . . my husband, my kids, my mom and sisters, my family, teaching piano, where I live.
I care. . . what people think sometimes more than I should.
I always. . . check my email.
I worry. . . when my son escapes out of the house and I can’t find him in less than two minutes.
I am not. . . a pet lover.
I remember. . . faces even if I don’t remember names.
I believe. . . Yes!
I sing. . . sometimes in choirs, with my kids, to my piano students.
I don't always. . . floss.
I argue. . . more than I wish I did.
I write. . . sometimes on my blog…even less in my journal and scrapbooking.
I win. . . games whenever I can…I’m competitive.
I lose. . . my patience more than I want to.
I listen. . . to my children's violin and piano practice CD's all day long! (That's dedication!)
I don't understand. . .why we can’t choose brand new candidates for the president of the United States.
I can usually be found. . . on the computer, helping my kids with homework or practicing, teaching.
I need. . . to figure out a costume for Halloween.
I forget. . . when it is not written on my calendar.
I am happy. . . when my kids are happy and getting along.
I tag: Sara Liechty and Cynthia and anyone else who wants to do this!
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Circus
Our kids had a blast at the circus last weekend. We used a gift certificate Steven had won from his work back in 2003. Yeah...we don't get out much or we would have used it a lot sooner! We went with some friends and everyone had a blast!
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