Out West

Our Gratitude Turkey

2011-12-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

This year, we started a new Thanksgiving tradition. In November we put a turkey up on our pantry door and everyday (although we forgot a lot) we wrote on a feather one thing we were grateful for. Then on Thanksgiving, we were supposed to read through everything that was written. (That didn't happen yet...but the year is not over)

Here is what everyone wrote:

What Elisa said: DAD!

What Steen said: Captain Jack Sparrow Legos, Austin Simmons( his friend)

Andrea said: Fun friends to play with, a family, a peaceful home,

Michaela said: good food, creative and fun parents, Thanksgiving, talents, freedom

Alison said: music, Heavenly Father loves me, Steven, Michaela, Andrea, Steen and Elisa

Steven said: my loving wife, a good night sleep when I get one, Health

I can't wait to do it again next year!

Steen's first Cello Recital

2011-11-13T16:18:00.001-08:00

Steen played Twinkles and all their Variations in his first solo recital! It was a very long song and we worked so hard so he could stay with his teacher on the accompaniment the whole time! He did so good with his technique and the first two variations were so wonderful. Unfortunately somewhere in the middle his hand got a little off and so the intonation went with it...so I took the liberty of just uploading my favorite portion of the video. ;-) In the part I edited out the chords just sounded like minor 3rds instead of major...maybe a Halloween version! I'm sure in some far east country those chords sounded perfect! Ha Ha! We are so proud of Steen!

Christmas Eve

2011-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year...hanging out, playing games, eating junk food AND being with family! Unfortuantely, we've had some stomach flu going thru the neighborhood and so we had to uninvite ourselves from Christmas dinner with my family and a week later uninvite ourselves from Christmas dinner with Steven's extended familiy. It was a bummer not to be able to see and play with cousins as much...but we made the most of it and had a very nice and quiet Christmas Eve!

Instead of having Roast Beef with my family, we had homemade chicken noodle soup, jello, and rolls! Food fit for a (Recovering stomach flu) champion!

The kids and I each got a new pair of p.j.s that they opened up on Christmas Eve...it's TRADITION!

Steven didn't really want a new pair of pjs this year...but when the kids realized he didn't have a present to open they insisted he needed one...so he wrapped up his old pjs and opened them...SURPRISE...I've never seen these PJs before!
We reinacted the nativity with puppets my friend gave us for Christmas!

It wasn't the Christmas Eve we planned on, but it was great to have our own traditions

and celebrate a quiet peaceful Christmas with our little family!

Rockin out to Jingle Bells

2010-12-16T22:06:00.000-08:00

Steen had his preschool Christmas sing. He did a great job...especially considering he didn't even want to get dressed to go because he was worried he couldn't remember any of the songs. My favorite was him rockin' out to Jingle Bells while the teacher is trying to shh their bell ringing until the chorus.

Here is some advice from preschoolers...if you build a snowman...don't make a pet out of it...don't bring it home to sleep with you...it might run away, but first...it will wet your bed! LOL!

Rudolf is such a classic. Watch for Steen's friend Emma on the left side of the camera...she keeps loosing her antlers.

Twas' the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-10T21:40:00.001-08:00

Michaela played Mrs. Claus in the third grade school play. It was so fun to watch her perform! She got the stomach flu the night before the Wednesday performance and actually had to stay home from school. (One of her understudies covered for her...LOL) Luckily she was better the second day (although a little pale).

Here is Mrs. Claus pouring Santa some hot chocolate and assuring him that everything is going to be O.K.
Taking the final bow...way to go third graders! They need to take their show on the road!

Michaela turns 9!

2010-12-06T10:11:00.001-08:00

Michaela is 9 years old and sweeter than ever!

Just before her 8th birthday when she donated 12 inches of hair to locks of love.

Dance picture 7 years old.

Violin Recital Age 6

Michaela 3 years old!Halloween - age 2.5The day she was born!

Happy Birthday to a sweet girl! She truly has a gift for loving people as they are. She is creative and loves to read! She plays the violin beautifully and has fun playing with her American Girl Doll Lizzy! We love our Michaela!

Andrea's Recital

2010-11-28T20:16:00.003-08:00

Andrea finished her violin Suzuki Book 1. We celebrated her accomplishment by having a book recital where she played 18 of the pieces from her book for family and friends. She did an awesome job and it we were grateful to those who could come and support her! Afterwards we had donuts, hot chocolate, homemade cinnamon rolls, etc. Way to go Andrea...on to Book 2!

Rachel's present

2010-11-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

Elisa's sweet cousin Rachel knit some booties, scarf, mittens and hat. It was adorable. We tried to take some pics of Rachel and Elisa all dressed up, but we caught Elisa at a bad time...the pics were still worth posting. Thanks Rachel! You are sooo talented!

pArTy!!

2010-10-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

so on Tuesday...my friend Jen says, "you wanna have a Halloween party this weekend?"...and so it happened...the very last minute Halloween party hosted by the Fairbanks and the Wests. It was great...I didn't have to clean my house...just come up with games. Jen did an awesome job with the invitations and table spread!

The hosts with the most!

Love the dry ice effect in the punch...there were actually black spiders swimming around in the green jello liquid! Great job Jen!

FeAr FaCtOr

RoUnD 1: used q-tips from cleaning out my kids ears...Each team had to have one member eat 3 q-tip tips (top and bottom). Their score was the time it took them to finish and swallow!

(used marshmallows and peanutbutter chips and cut up q-tips)

RoUnD 2:Stuffed roaches..aka dates stuffed with cream cheese and chopped nuts for a crunchy effect.

Shanna ...how do those stuffed madagascar roaches taste? I hear the inside has a nice crunch.Stephanie and Justin had to leave early. I hope it wasn't to go to the ER after I fed him nuts during fear factor...I guess I should have asked about allergies before the fact.

RoUnD 3: Bubble gum blowing contest with 3 pieces of bubble gum...not as easy as it looks

RoUnD 4: Kitty Litter Clean up

We kept adding fresh warm poop (tootsie rolls)...but I think they were actually harder to swollow when they were warm.

The look on Russ' face...priceless!

Round 5: Little Fingers...deboned and in au jus sauce!

I think they missed the picture where I looked like I was going to gag...who knew vienna sausages tasted so discusting!

RoUnD 6: Vampire Blood- a shot of tobasco sauce!

every team member could participate and get -20 points just for drinking the shot...no time limit.

RoUnD 7: MONSTER Meatball eyeballs

RoUnD 8: Reaching hand in a bucket of ice to find the correct key to unlock pad lock

The winners! 1st place got movie tickets. 2nd place got a kneeder's gift card.

The newlyweds (2.5 years) Maybe next year they will be the pregnant nun and priest. *heh, Heh...j/K...another private joke from the party! :-)

What a cute couple...normally they look scary so they are actually in costume as a cute couple !

Yes...that was their costume. I guess the alternative was the boy from beaver dressing up as a hunter with his buckshot hat..,

Craig and Shanna..."winner winner chicken dinner" ...yeah they won all the games...we won't invite them next time! :-) j/k Other famous moments was Craig doing thriller and then, "elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wipe a tear...blow a kiss!"

Mike the flasher with his awesome tatoo...flasher part is another story! Wendy and her butterfly lashes...way cool. I thought she was flirting with me all night because she kept fluttering her lashes!

The Potato Head Family!
Is Mrs. Potato Head eyeing Mr. Potato Head?

The perfect teenagers! Tell me Doug...is that a mole on your ear? Jen...will you get off your phone?

Hope everyone had fun!

Happy Birthday Steen!

2010-10-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my baby boy is turning 4! Where has the time gone? Steen has been so much fun...I just LOVE being his mom!

We celebrated his birthday with a toy story party and invited his friends to dress up in their halloween costumes....guess what my family is doing for halloween? Toy Story! (Michaela is little bo peep but she doesn't have her hat or shepherd's cane in the pic)

they decorated their goody bags

played some games...
and enjoyed the pinata! We actually tried the pull string pinata this time. I wasn't sure how it would work out...but every kid got a chance to pull a string and then Andrea had a turn and pulled the magic string that made the pinata break open. Does anyone know???? if you pull the right string, would it have opened on the first tug????

One thing I love about Steen is he is MR. SOCIAL! He really has lots of friends and not a day goes by that he doesn't play with at least 1 or 2 of them!

Woody and Jessie...is that not the cutest??? I just have to tell you that this girl's dad made her costume!!! WAY TO GO IDAHO!

Grandma in her costume as a cowgirl...freckles and all! So glad Grandma could drive over...it was her first time since the surgery!

It was a blast to infinity and beyond!

After the party Steen had a blast playing with his new rockets...him and his buddy were shooting them up the stairs to see who could make it go the farthest...definitely a hit!

Scootin' Around!

2010-10-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

Elisa has started scootin' around to get to toys the kids leave around. Can we say...SCARY! Time to start child proofing the house!

Celebration Concert

2010-10-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last week was a busy week. It ended with the girls performing in the LDS Conference center as part of an 2000 person ensemble with violins, pianos, violas, cellos, basses, flutes and voice. It was awesome to be a part of and there is nothing so inspiring as seeing young people play music together! The last song was written just for this event and was not an easy piece as it was very orchestral (meaning they had to learn parts not just melody with long measures of rest in between and synchopated latin rhythms.) However it sounded great! Grandma and Dad came to watch. Where was mom?

Well I was down in the front with the 10 grand Steinway pianos helping seat students. For the last 3 weeks, I've been part of rehearsals for a Ten Piano concert that occured the night before and part of which was repeated at the big Gala event. I coached a couple of the songs and some of my students participated as well. Lots of work but well worth it!

Hooray for families...ten loads of laundry and all!

2010-09-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I love being a mom...because of these four kids! And yet, we know that anything truly satisfying in the long term comes with a LOT of work! My grandma gave me a compliment the other day...something to the effect that I am raising a wonderful family and in this day and age...that is quite an accomplishment. The words of Sister Julie Beck from a recent LDS regional conference have been resonating in my mind, "You are doing better than you think!" To all those who are striving to or desire to raise children in this day and age...and sometimes feel overwhelmed that it is not quite the fairytale you always dreamed of...I echo Sister Beck's words. "You are doing better than you think!" I think those who choose family in this day and age, whether they actually realize that blessing to the degree they want or not...are doing better than they think. Seeing my cute kids in this picture reminds me of that too..."I AM doing better than I think!" Hooray for families...ten loads of laundry and all!

Sweet Elisa at 5 months!

Slow and steady wins the Race!

2010-08-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

Today Michaela participated in her first horse show!
Michaela has wanted to take horseback riding lessons for awhile...so we started her this summer in lessons.
Here she is leading her horse to be judged for showmanship. (I really know nothing about this...so just pretend I know what I'm talking about!) She took a very generous 2nd place in showmanship. (Two kids tied for first and two tied for 2nd).

Here she is riding "Maggie" with a western saddle. (They use both western and english saddles.) She won 1st place in the fast walk. The way it works is you can not let your horse trot and you can't let anyone pass you or you are out. (You are basically trying to pass everyone else while only walking.) Michaela controlled the horse in a nice walk, but she probably wasn't the fastest...just everyone else who tried to walk fast would begin to trot. Michaela was content to just go slow and steady and thus eventually took first place! At one point, a rider almost passed her, but the horse suddenly stopped to poop and Michaela kept her lead! It was pretty funny. She won the slow walk hands down. The object of that is to not pass any horses. The horses wanted to go fast and Michaela had no problem keeping her horse reigned in. The next time she takes forever to get going in the morning...I'll just think of how it paid off when she won the fast and slow walk! Slow and steady wins the race!

Here is Michaela riding bare back. This was the dollar race which she didn't win but it was so much fun to watch. All the riders are on their horses with a dollar bill under their leg. The person in the center gives different commands..."walk", "trot," "turn around", "lobe" and they have to do what they are commanded with out losing the dollar bill. The last one in gets all the dollars!

Michaela was very proud of her 5 ribbons. She received 2 first places (fast and slow walk), a 2nd place (showmanship), and 2 participations (fast trot and slow trot.) Great job Michaela!

"I'm all better!"

2010-08-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Steen woke up this morning and replied, "I'm all better!"

Yesterday he had surgery at Primary Children's to remove his nevus or as he calls it his "birth mark."
His "birthmark" has always really bothered him and so he was actually excited to have it removed. He started to get a little nervous after changing into his hospital pajamas and didn't want to wear them anymore. The nurse came and brought bubbles in for him to blow and suddenly he put his shirt back on and was ready to go. They drew an arrow on his face to show where they would excise the nevus...but it got a little smeared. (above picture) Steen did so good before and after.

Before surgery, they gave him some meds to sedate him so when they wheeled him away he wouldn't be anxious...the nurse had him so entertained as she wheeled him away by diverting his attention to all the paintings on the ceiling that I don't think he even noticed we were gone. In recovery he asked "where am I?" and "what room is this?" and "How did I get here?" but that was it. No crying! Way to go Steen!

Here is the after picture. He has stiches with a steri strip and he's good to go! The second steri strip is just holding the string from the stiches. It should heal up with just a fine line scar. We're SOOO glad it all went well. It gave me an appreciation for moms and dads who go through several surgeries and challenges with their kids...and what the kids have to go through! Thank goodness for amazing nurses and doctors!

Steven's MS 150 Bike Ride

2010-06-28T22:07:00.003-07:00

Steven rode for his 7th year in the MS Bike Ride. The route is 100 miles long and took him just under 7.5 hours, including breaks and lunch. Not too bad considering he didn't get in a lot of practice rides with the new baby. He raised over $600 for multiple sclerosis and earned a silver jersey. Way to go Steven!

soccer camp

2010-06-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

Some teenage girls in my neighborhood ran a soccer camp last week so I signed Andrea and Steen up. It was an hour a day each morning and the kids had a blast. Towards the end of the week...Steen didn't last the whole hour...but he's now officially been introduced to soccer and they both plan to play in the fall!

Elisa's Baby Blessing

2010-06-13T17:53:00.001-07:00

Elisa's blessing day was very special. We had a lot of family there to support us which was WONDERFUL! Thank you to all who came! The blessing Steven gave was beautiful. In the blessing, it talked about her ancestors that she was named after and the trials they went through and faith they had. We hope that all our children exercise faith in Jesus Christ and follow the examples of those who have gone before them and sacrificed much so they could learn of his gospel!

Elisa's blessing dress was worn by both of her older sisters and made by my mom.

We took pictures almost as soon as we got home from church...but not before Steen could change out of his church clothes.

We felt very lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa (Steven's parents), Grandma (my mom) & Pops and Grandma Marcina (our close family friends) with us for the occassion as well as my brother's family and many of Steven's aunts, uncles and cousins. Most of them came over for lunch afterwards and brought salads and desserts to share so that all we had to do was the main dish! Thanks everyone. We served french dip sandwiches...here is the recipe. They are yummy to dip in the au jus sauce. We had homemade sourdough rolls ( by Steven ) as well as costco rolls to serve them with. If you make the recipe...they were also good as leftovers made on regular bread like a grilled cheese sandwich and then dipped. Here is the recipe for the yummy french dip sandwiches:

FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES (from my college roommate Erin)

4-5 lb beef roast

1Tbsp garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp oregano

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp rosemarry (optional)

1 1/2 tsp accent

1 1/8 tsp paprika

Put all ingredients into 6-7 cups water in crock pot. Pour mixture over roast. Cook for 8 or more hours. (You can also cook covered in the oven at 300 degrees for 4 or more hours)

Shread meat and let soak up in own juice. Serve meat on rolls and dip in sauce.

Here are some random pics of all our family! Thanks everyone for your support!

Grandma and Grandpa come for a Visit!

2010-06-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Grandma holds Elisa for the first time! Is that not the cutest?!? Grandpa also takes a turn!

Everyone was excited to be with Grandma and Grandpa...we wish they could come out to visit more often. However, since this is the 4th time they've come to visit in the last year...we can't complain!

They got to watch Steen have his swim lesson! (By the way, Steen LOVED his first week of swim lessons and had fun jumping off the diving board and going down the slide. He had absolutely no fear!)

We went on a picnic with Grandma and Grandpa one day.

It pays to have California connections. We got a whole box of peaches, box of apricots and box of fresh plumbs from California!!!! YUM!!! I've been eating about 2-3 peaches a day for the last week and I am in heaven. Today we made apricot muffins. Delicious!

The most special part of their visit was the baby blessing for Elisa...see the next post!

Baby Elisa growing up!

2010-05-23T14:54:00.001-07:00

Baby Elisa is now 5 weeks old and I haven't had a chance to blog since we've been home from the hospital. Check out Elisa growing up!!!!! (You can also check out the next 5 blogs where I tried to get caught up with what has been going on for the last month in my family!)

4 days old... (my sister in law Rachel did an amazing photoshoot of her)

Baby spent the first week and a half on a billie bed because of jaundice. So glad she is done with that and doing much better!
8 days old

11 days old

2 1/2 weeks old

3 weeks old

4 weeks old

5 weeks old

Mother's Day!

2010-05-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day had new meaning this year with a brand new baby. It meant when I got woken up to have a lovely breakfast in bed...I was soooo dead tired that it shows in my picture!

It also means that all the chocolate I got for mother's day and at church can't be eaten by me since it makes a VERY FUSSY baby! Boo hoo! My family made me a lovely dinner...thank you Steven!

And thank you to 4 of the reasons I love being a mom!

Reason #1

Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4

Fathers and Sons

2010-05-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

Steen went on his first father sons campout this weekend. It rained and the wind blew all night...but Steen slept through it. He had fun sharing a tent with his buddy Luke and looks forward to camping again. Daddy just hopes it's a little quieter next time (tent was flapping in the wind all night) so that daddy can get some sleep. I don't feel too sorry for him since I don't ever get sleep anymore with a new baby! ;-)

Dance Recital

2010-05-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

The girls both did awesome in their dance recitals. It was fun to watch! Here are their end of the year dance pictures.

Andrea is 2nd from left....
Michaela is front and center and probably a head taller than most of the girls.

Kindy500

2010-05-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Andrea's kindergarten started a new tradition this year...the kindy 500 . Each kindergartener had to build an applebox car and bring it to school for a parade and program. There were some amazing, amazing cars!!!! I can't believe how hard these kindergarteners (aka. parents) worked! The kids had a blast and after the parade they went to 8 different patriotic stations where they learned about the statue of liberty, mount rushmore, liberty bell, the flag, etc.

Here is a short video of a few of the cars. Andrea is 3rd from front. One of my favorites was the flinstones car!

Also notice the real headlights reflecting off the back of Andrea's car.

Welcome Elisa Ann!

2010-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Elisa Ann was born April 16, 2010 at 39 weeks. She was 7 lbs 1 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. That's the same length as Andrea at 35 weeks and the same weight as Michaela at 38 weeks.

The kids were so excited to meet their new sister. Even Steen didn't seem to notice that she was a girl!

Who does she resemble the most?

Michaela

Andrea

Steen

Waiting...

2010-04-12T02:44:00.001-07:00

Waiting to see what the picture in the empty frame is going to look like!

I bought two new frames and updated my family wall this last week. Thanks Rachel for taking the cute pics of the kids...can't wait until our baby girl "joins the picture!"

Count down: I'm 38 1/2 weeks and will be induced on the 20th if I don't have the baby sooner.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T15:44:00.001-07:00

Grandma came over Saturday morning for our Easter egg hunt. The easter bunny brought plenty of candy hidden in plastic easter eggs for the kids to find.

I bought some really cute material that Grandma sewed into matching aprons for the girls. Thank you soooo much for the aprons, Grandma!...the girls LOVE them!

Steen got a store bought Diego apron that he loves as well. Stay tuned for our next post of a cooking party since our kids LOVE to help in the kitchen so much!

Fun Run

2010-04-03T15:21:00.001-07:00

The girls both participated in a fun run for their school to raise money. Andrea ran a mile and had fun posing with Rocky the Racoon.

Michaela's personality was evident in her skipping along from the start. She is never in a hurry and loves to just enjoy life! She skipped and jogged 3 laps which was equivalent to a mile. Go girls!

They also had a raffle for those who participated and Michaela won a pogo stick!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Andrea has been trying all day to catch a leprechaun...I told her if we ate green food for dinner...it might attract leprechauns. Unfortunately, we didn't catch any! But here is what we ate:

(going counter-clockwise)

chicken and rice mounds with a green sauce instead of white sauce

asparagus

kiwi and banana salad with whipped cream

4 leaf clover rolls which were actually a pale green, then we drizzled green honeybutter on top

35 weeks tomorrow and counting!

2010-03-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to feel a little big...especially since everyone is starting to ask when the baby is going to be born and is SuRprIsEd that I still have fIvE mOrE wEeKs!!!!! I definitely have pOpPeD OuT! However, I was told by a 6 year old today (I won't mention any names) that her mom ( who happens to be the epitome of cute pregnant woman...but isn't due for 3 more months) is MuCh BiGgEr than I am! I told her NOT to tell her mom that! ;-) but secretly...it made me feel good.

For the benefit of my far away family that can't see how big I've really grown...here's the OtHeR less than flattering angle!

A Happy Ending!

2010-03-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

The cupcakes I promised we'd make after Steven's first birthday cake got trashed! ;-)

(see below if you don't know what I'm talking about)

Steven's birthday weekend

2010-03-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

Steven celebrated his 37th birthday yesterday. The whole weekend was planned out to the minute...not so much because of his birthday, but because his cousin was getting married and we were invited to the sealing, luncheon, reception etc. Friday afternoon as we were driving up to their wedding reception an hour away, Steen got sick and started throwing up and suddenly, the weekend plans quickly unraveled.

Congrats Greg and Mandi on their wedding!!! I took the girls to the reception Friday night. The kids had planned a slumber party at Grandma's after the reception. They were also going to spend the day with her Saturday while we were at wedding festivities. Luckily, the girls still spent the night with Grandma, but Steven spent Friday evening home with Steen throwing up. Saturday, Steven attended the wedding and luncheon by himself while I stayed with Steen, who luckily was starting to feel better. We had to cancel our babysitter for Saturday night and spent the evening home with the kids.

It did get better, but before it did...it got a little worse. I had made one of our family's favorite desserts for Steven called Aztec dessert. It is a yummy oreo cookie crust, mint chocolate chip ice cream and whip cream dessert. Steen was SOOOOO excited to sing Happy Birthday to daddy and have birthday cake, that he opened up the freezer to get it out himself and the glass 9 x 13 pan fell out and shattered into a million shards of glass! We did NOT get to eat any! ;-( I was VERY sad, but since little Steen was devastated, I had to put on a happy face that we could just make cupcakes instead and it would be O.K. Isn't that what life is about??? Roll with the punches, it will be OK!

Here is a pic of us singing Happy Birthday around the trash can with the aztec dessert inside.

But despite the turn of events, Michaela decided to turn it into a special night for Daddy. She made us a romantic dinner and then had the kids hurry and eat and go play downstairs while Steven and I got to eat mostly alone. ;-)

The sign reads..."Alison's and Steven's romantic dinner...by their kids."

Michaela made Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Asparagus and sliced strawberries and bananas. I had already browned beef so she just had to add stuff to it and follow a recipe to stir it while it cooked. She measured out and cooked the rice in the rice cooker and I showed her how to wash and cook the asparagus. She did an awesome job! And Steven got to enjoy as best as we could a quiet evening at home! ;-)

Later that night, Michaela dished up ice cream for all (she made me a strawberry milkshake...very heavy on the milk) and Steven an ice cream sundae. Then she and Andrea played their violins for daddy. Despite the crazy events...everything turned out pretty great!

Thanks Michaela and other helpers! Happy Birthday Steven!

Michaela was baptized!

2010-01-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

Michaela was baptized by her dad yesterday! It was such an awesome day and she looked beautiful in her white dress.

Four other girls from our neighborhood/ward were baptized that day as well. Michaela and her friends all looked so beautiful in their white dresses.

The day was made extra special as we celebrated with family. Steven's parents flew in for the occassion and probably 25 of his aunts/uncles and cousins came. On my side, my mom and my brother and aunt and uncle were able to come. Thank you for those who came and showed support!

Christmas Eve

2010-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Our gingerbread house tradition... The kids love putting together the Costco kits each year. This year I was a little too skimpy on frosting so it didn't last very long before the roof fell off, but the kids had a blast anyway. Their 3 year old cousin Caden also helped and was quite good!

Steen lost interest in helping to build the house...but he was happy to help eat the candy.

We also have some traditions specifically for Christmas Eve Evening.

The first is the kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve which is pajamas.

The next tradition is that we go to my mom's house for Christmas Eve and have a big dinner and reinact the nativity. This year Tammy, Darwin, Caisa, Helen, Ruth and their families were all there as well as my aunt and uncle. We had a nice big clan and plenty of cousins for the nativity.

Michaela and her cousin Michael were Mary and Joseph.

Andrea was one of the wisemen or "wise women".

Steen and his 3 year old cousins were all shepherds.

Christmas

2010-01-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning! Our kids slept in until around 8 or so. (We'd been up for awhile already and had breakfast already made.) The best Christmas present was they all slept in their own beds and not one of them crawled into our bed during the night.

My sister Ruth and her family came in from Texas and stayed with us for Christmas. We had to wake them up around 8:30am cause my kids were ready to open presents and they were still all sound asleep!

Christmas morning tradition: I make danish abelskievers and Steven makes cinnamon rolls. This is the Christmas cinnamon roll wreath he makes.

Steen LOVED his flying airplanes from Santa. Santa was smart enough to bring 2 planes so there wouldn't be fighting with little playmates. Unfortunately, Santa bought cheap batteries (the kind you might find at say the dollar store) and they didn't really last through Christmas morning. We went and bought some rechargeable. batteries the next day.

Andrea got a sleeping beauty vanity from Santa.
Steen was caught playing with it...should we be worried?

Michaela got a camera from Santa and some scrapbooking things from mom and dad. She has been taking pictures of everyone and having a blast.

Grandma and Grandpa West gave the kids a puppet show theater and Aunt Diane and Aunt Helen gave them a bunch of puppets. They had fun doing little shows.

Steen is has his dad's accounting genes and is well on his way to making millions. He immediately opened up shop and started selling his Christmas candy for $5 a pop!

We felt very blessed this Christmas to be with family and have too much yummy food (I think I gained 13 lbs. this month) as well as a warm home and great friends. We're still employed and we have 3 beautiful children with one on the way. Most importantly we have a Savior who loves each of us and we're grateful for his infinite gift that he gave us and we celebrate especially at Christmas!

Edible snowmen...

2009-12-16T14:54:00.001-08:00

Playgroup was at my house today and the boys had a BLAST making edible snowmen. I highly recommend doing it with your kids...they'll love it!

We used a little oreo cookie on top of a big oreo cookie for hat. Marshmallow for the top third of the snowman, little powdered donut for the middle and big powdered donut for the bottom. Chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. Pretzels for arms and Dots candy for gloves. Licoriche for the scarf (but you could also use fruit by the foot.)

The snowman quickly melted into the boys mouths!

I'm a little behind on some posts so scroll down after this one to see two other new posts I put up today...hopefully it won't be blog post overload!

Happy 8th Birthday Michaela!

2009-12-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

Michaela celebrated her 8th birthday last week. We are so excited that she has decided to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We are excited for that to happen next month.

I found edible horse-themed cupcake toppers on-line which made cake decorating ez!
The girls got to color a personalized horse picture while we waited for all to arrive. Later they painted little ceramic horses.

We used sugar cubes to have an indoor relay race.

Later, we had a different relay race out in the garage. They had to put on a hat, cowboy boots and a bandana, ride a tricycle around a chair which proved to be very difficult so we let members of the team push them. Then they had to climb over a bale of hay and gallop on a toy horse. I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants...of course that's partly because I'm pregnant too. I don't know if they kids had fun...but the adults sure laughed hard.

We also took pics with all the guests dressed up to use on their thank you cards.
Sisters!

Cowboy Steen...so cute!

Michaela and her cousin Alanna.

Michaela and her grandma...we love having her live so close.

Michaela got an American girl doll for her birthday...she couldn't be happier!

The kids with Santa

2009-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

The kids each got to sit on Santa's lap at our ward party! Yeah for not having to wait in line at the mall!

Notice Michaela's newer hair do!

And yeah...this isn't exactly Santa...but I forgot to post our Robin Hood themed Halloween costumes back at Halloween.

Locks of Love

2009-11-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

Before

After

Michaela donated almost 12 inches of hair! She has been contemplating it for sometime, and she finally decided she wanted to do this. I heard her on the car ride over saying "bye, bye hair." I'm so proud of her and think she looks adorable!
Look at those Locks of Love!

Good luck Jessica!

2009-11-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

We hosted a family baby shower for Steven's niece Jessica. She will be having a little girl sometime around Feb. 6th (nice date!...my b-da) I am excited to be a great aunt again! (Heck...I think I've always been great but this makes me officially great! ;-) Congratulations Jessica!

Steven helped by making cinnamon rolls for our brunch. They were amazing! He is sooo amazing!!!!! (But maybe that's because he's a "great" uncle.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-28T14:43:00.001-08:00

Andrea had her kindergarten Thanksgiving feast. Here is her vest and hat she made. After I took her picture, she wanted Steen to be able to wear it too! ;-) I'm grateful for such a sweet family...most of the time ;-)

Puppy Party!

2009-10-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Steen! He celebrated his 3rd birthday with a doggie party.

He invited his buddies. They're all wearing sunglasses with doggie felt ears glued on. Some of them had their noses painted black with face paint.
His favorite color is green so we had green cupcakes with little dog candles in them.

They ate doggie treats including dog bone shaped cookies.

They played games including pin the tail on the doggie; Dog, Dog, Dog Cat; and doggie doggie where's your bone.
In this game they tossed doggie bones into a doggie dish.
Steen loved the batman cave from mom and dad...
BUT He REALLY LOVED the doggie shirt from grandma and exclaimed, "this is sooo cool" and immediately began to put it on!

And since Steen is now 3 years old...it's time to announce that he has a little baby sibling on the way. I'm expecting #4 on April 22nd.

Apple pickin'

2009-10-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our neighbor invited us to her parent's apple orchard to pick as many apples as we wanted. The kids had a blast picking apples and Steen walked around eating them with two in his hand at a time. Afterwards we had carmel dipped apples and the kids got to ride on the cherry picker tractor. I forgot my camera, so no pics of the actual event, but afterwards, Steven and I canned 12 quarts of applesauce! Thanks Lori for letting us use your special applesauce maker (it separates the peels and seeds from the applesauce) to make it much easier.

Cornbelly's Kindergarten fieldtrip

2009-10-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

Andrea's class went to cornbelly's for their kindergarten fieldtrip and had a blast. I went along as a parent helper and had fun riding the bus with Andrea. They each got to pick a pumpkin to take home from the pumpkin patch. I told the 5 kids in my group that nobody could take a pumpkin that was too big for them to carry...well Andrea chose a huge pumpkin and I ended up carrying it back to the bus most of the way. I guess I should have been better at enforcing with my own child, but she loves her pumpkin and can't wait to carve a jack o' lantern.

Family Pictures

2009-09-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Rachel and her partner Crystal do awesome photography. If you want to check out more go to there blog at www.rcphotographyutah.blogspot.com.

Daddy's boy!

Our Curly Girly!

Sweet Michaela!

It's a miracle this pic ever got taken...Steen wanted to be back hanging on dad and interrupting our kissing session...just like real life!

Ten Year Anniversary Trip to Cozumel, Mexico Part 1

2009-09-01T09:01:00.001-07:00

Ten Years ago, Steven and I made a list of all the fun dates we wanted to go on....and Cozumel, Mexico was on our list! For our ten year anniversary, we got our passports and went and spent a week there...with out the kids! It was an AMAZING vacation and I would recommend it to ALL. I think when our kids are all swimming age, we'll have to go back as a family!

We stayed at the Cozumeleno Hotel which was an all inclusive resort with amazing snorkeling right on their beach!

This was the view from our front door...it overlooked a golf course.

This was the view off our balcony. We were literally right on the Caribbean and the view was spectacular.

Our first night there...eating in the restaurant, sipping our pina coladas. Yum! The food was pretty good! They waited on you hand and foot and you could pretty much order what ever you wanted or get food from the buffet. There was food ready to eat any time of day! My favorite was they would make up fresh omelettes and smoothies for breakfast anyway you liked it! The fish was sooo fresh, I actually loved it, even though I'm not a fish person. Steven's favorite food night was the Spain night...he served his mission there and has been wanting me to try a rice dish called Paella...I have now tried it!

Paella with big shrimp and muscles in it. I think it had octopus and other things as well.

Steven's plate loaded with all his Spanish favorites! Steven had so much fun talking to the waiters in spanish...we both tried to speak Spanish whenever we could. We even went to church on Sunday and it was all in spanish. I was surprised at how much I still understand and we both even made comments in sunday school...yes, in spanish!!!They had entertainment each night...our favorite was Mexican night. They had a whole fiesta with amazing dancers and a mariachi band. I didn't post the picture but they had guys dancing blind folded with machetes...that was pretty amazing! The girls also danced with beer bottles on their heads, and I know they were full because at the end, one of them dropped one and it spilled everywhere.

Steven and I took a bike tour through our hotel down to the marina.

The best part was the snorkeling just right on the beach. I am throwing bread to the fish and they are swimming up to me in hordes!

Steven snorkeling with the fish. Our disposable underwater camera doesn't reflect how blue and clear the water was.

The trip was amazing! And best of all, Steven and I got a whole week of alone time! Grandma stayed with the kids and they had a blast. Keep scrolling down for part 2 of our trip including our expeditions to Chichen Itza and more....

Ten Year Anniversary Trip to Cozumel Part 2

2009-09-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Steven and I took an all day excursion to see the ruins of Chichen Itza as well as Ik Kil which is a cenote or natural water hole. By all day, I mean that we traveled 40 minutes on a ferry to the main Yucutan peninsula and then for 3 hours in a very comfortable bus...and that was only 1 way. We left at 6:30 in the morning and did not get back until after 9pm. Needless to say we were exhausted!!! Here are some of the pics from that trip:

This is Ik Kil...see Steven swimming in the middle. The 120 foot deep swimming area is accessible by a staircase that meanders down into the amazing area. Ik Kil has majestic charectieristics where the sunlight from 85 feet above filters through holes in the ground and vegetation. Known as “the Sacred Blue Cenote”, the fresh water is an intriguing clear turquoise blue and hovers at a comfortable 78 degrees Fahrenheit. (OK...I didn't write that, I stole it off this website which has more information if you want: http://www.mexicovacationtravels.com/snorkeling/enjoy-the-mayan-beauty-at-cenote-ik-kil.html ) The water actually felt cold to me...but that is probably because I have my bath water somewhere around 94 degrees. It was really pretty with the vegetation hanging down and the sunlight streaming in. We both jumped in the water...but I didn't stay in long...someone had to take a picture of Steven, right?

Here's a picture at the top of the staircase looking down into the water hole.

This is Chichen Itza...the sacred Mayan ruins. They used to let you climb up the stairs, but not any more. It was very intriguing to learn about...I would like to even read some more, especially from an LDS Book of Mormon perspective. As for our thoughts on this day...it was VERY HOT!!! About 3pm in the afternoon with no shade. The tour guides offered us umbrellas and we turned them down...what were we thinking? It was cool to see, but I don't know if I'd go again...maybe it would be more interesting first thing in the morning and not after 4 hours of travel and being SOOOOOO HOT!

Most of the days we just hung out at our hotel. It was soooo fun. This is a picture taken from the pier of the backside of the hotel.

Our kids insisted we build a sand castle for them and take a picture. Here is our master piece. We also built Chichen Itza's Temple...but forgot to get a picture of it. Notice Steven's bending over pose. He didn't put sunscreen on his back and a small one inch strip was showing while we worked on the sand castle. He got burned pretty bad on that strip...like we're talking fluorescent RED! Ouch!

This is standing on the pier and just taking a picture from above of some angel fish. The water was amazingly clear and blue on our beach.

This is the view from where we ate each day! Aaaaahhhh! Isn't that water beautiful...I'm ready to go back!

End of the Year Craziness- The after school CELEBRATION!!!

2009-05-31T18:32:00.001-07:00

So...if you scroll through the last 10 posts or so...you can see that we had a busy end of the school year!!!!! Talent Shows, Recitals, Dance Festivals, Graduation, Fieldtrips, etc! (****Please note that I finally figured out how to post video of Michaela and Andrea's talent shows and dance festival...I'd love for you to watch their talent shows since I worked so hard to figure out how to cut down the video in size so I could post!) All that craziness ended Friday and we had a little party to celebrate. I decided to have the party on Thursday and made a few calls. (I'm kind of last minute that way.) It was supposed to be for a couple of hours...but everyone was having so much fun it went well in to the afternoon. The kids had a blast!!!!! We'll have to do this again.

Here's a bunch of the girls in the jacuzzi.

The best part was this cool waterslide we borrowed from our neighbors. That is me going down the slide with Steen and Andrea. Way fun!

The boys hanging together....

Here is Steen and his buddy Luke going up the slide together

Cute Michaela!Friends eating popcicles.

Andrea in her cute new swimsuit with matching towel. Michaela has one too. (Lands End...shopping online...oh yeah!)

My friend Erika...

I ended up making homemade pizza...yum! Others brought chips and salad and stuff. All the moms came and hung out for at least part of it, so I got to celebrate with my friends as well. After all the end of the year craziness...this was a fun way to end. Summer laziness...here we come!

End of the Year Craziness - The Dance Festival

2009-05-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

This was my first year attending the school's dance festival. The kids did a great job. Michaela performed a Singing in the Rain act with all the first graders. They were adorable! Click above if you want to watch a condensed version, she is in the back row with the red umbrella and a pink rain coat and boots.
Andrea's preschool class did going on a bear hunt! Of course, I forgot to download all the pics on my camera from all the crazy activities early in the week, so I didn't have enough memory left to record the whole skit. Here is a condensed, condensed version! (Andrea is in the pink shirt)

It was really fun seeing all the kids from the neighborhood and they all did really well.

End of the Year Craziness-Last day of playgroup for Steen

2009-05-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

For the last day of playgroup we were supposed to all meet up and go on a picnic. With all the end of the year craziness, it got put off till the last minute and nobody had planned it, so I decided it would be fun if we went to Thanksgiving point farms. It was kind of last minute so several of the kids couldn't go and we invited some other friends as well that weren't in the playgroup...but technically it was to celebrate the last day of playgroup. Both Andrea and Steen had fun riding the ponies. There were lots of little baby animals that had recently been born...so cute! We'll have to go in the spring more often!

Look at that baby calf!

End of the Year Craziness- Andrea's Preschool Graduation

2009-05-31T17:43:00.000-07:00

Andrea graduated from preschool...kindergarten here she comes. She has told me several times she does not want to go to kindergarten because she will miss her teacher Mrs. Chris.
Here is Andrea graduating! They were so cute in their little hats...and yes, if you listen to the video, that is the parents humming the graduation march....not always on key either ;-)

Andrea had 3 teachers in her afternoon class. Thanks Mrs. Chris, Ms. Diane and Mrs. Jennifer! They were all awesome!

Here is a short video of one of the many songs they sang. This one is called Days of the Week.

End of the Year Craziness- Andrea's preschool talent show

2009-05-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

I figured out how to post video...check it out!!!! Andrea played both the violin and piano for her preschool talent show. She did a great job! Here is a video of her violin song called O Come Little Children. I had to cut the video down in size to post, so she is only playing one verse and then I split to the end where everyone is applauding and she is beaming. So cute!!!!

End of the Year Craziness- The Whole School Talent Show

2009-05-29T15:55:00.001-07:00

****I figured out how to post the video...please watch it!
Michaela was 1 of 2 first graders selected from over 7 classrooms of first graders to play in the school talent show. Way to go Michaela!
Just before the talent show, I snuck up on Michaela and took her pic.

Here's the video of her playing! They actually had the 6th graders perform first and went in reverse order, so it was a little noisy by the time she got to play but she did a great job despite all the background noise!!!

At the school assembly, Michaela also received an Outstanding Citizenship Award for the year. She was one of two students from her classroom who received this award. Great job Michaela!!!! (Michaela is 2nd from left)

End of the Year Craziness - The Piano Recital

2009-05-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

To add to all the end of the year craziness, Michaela and Andrea both played in a piano recital AND a violin recital although we forgot to capture the latter on film. If piano recitals aren't crazy enough, try rearranging your entire house and having 15-20 students come perform at your house...and getting them ready, etc. They all did great! Michaela is pictured above taking her bow.Andrea is announcing her piece.

Afterwards, all my students surprised me with individualized thank you notes, some beautiful flowers and a some necklace and earrings. It was very thoughtful of them. I took a picture holding my flowers with some of the moms, but all the kids were off running around and enjoying their refreshments, so no pics of them. One of the funniest thank you notes said, "Thank you for teaching me piano. I love coming to piano lessons but I Despise practicing!" LOL!

End of the Year Craziness- The Dance Recital

2009-05-29T15:26:00.001-07:00

Michaela and Andrea were so cute in their last dance recital. It is fun to see how they are progressing with each one. The first dance Michaela did was snow white and the next one was a Mary Poppins medley where she was chimney sweep.

Andrea was thumbelina in the first number (see the pic above with wings) and then they did a flower song which I can't remember the name of.

I think Andrea is 3rd from the right.

Passing time back stage.

Mary Poppins Medley...Michaela is a chimney sweep in the far back...somewhere...not sure where.

The girls got roses from Mom and Dad (with the help of our friend Brooke). We forgot to buy some before the performance and normally they sell them at the door, but of course, not this year. Our friend shared some of the roses she had got for her girls. Thanks Brooke!
Their teacher gave all the kids crowns as they came back on stage...it was a fairy tale theme and they danced like princesses!

End of the Year Craziness-The Last Games of the Season

2009-05-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

The last game of the season. The girls had fun playing soccer, but both decided to take a break from it for this next year. (Michaela is #5 in the pic.)

Michaela's team with Coach Aceves and Assistant coach Ryan...the blue lightening.

Steen and Luke are best buddies! They were cheering for their sisters playing soccer and wishing that they could play too!

Coach Ryan and Assistant Coach Dad with Andrea's team...Blue Stars!

Coach Ryan was an awesome coach and got trophies for all the kids on both teams! The kids love the trophies!!!!

I didn't get a picture of the girls with their trophies, but you can see a kid holding one in this pic. They have soccer balls on the top that twirl around. Way cool!

5am and 43 degrees

2009-04-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

So what do these two pictures have in common? 5am? 43 degrees Farenheit

They were the time and temperature when we left for the Salt Lake Marathon Bike Tour!

This was my first official bike ride. It was 25 miles long. The first 6 miles were probably all downhill...of course, not having to pedal very much did little to warm me up. It was probably worst for my toes that felt like popsicles.

Here I am with my new jersey. No that is not helmet head...I just didn't realize until I took the picture that I hadn't brushed my hair yet...it was 4:30am in the morning!

The ride was great...nothing too difficult. Steven was very nice and stayed with me the whole time, eventhough he could have easily left me in the dust.

There was one little mishap...however, these were not my battle wounds, but Steven's. Note in the pictures that it is dark still. Well, Steven had on his sunglasses (it helps keep the wind and bugs out of your eyes) and he ended up trying to ride on a painted line in the middle of the street that wasn't really a painted line but a raised median. Actually, just before he did a flip and a roll, someone else did the same thing because it was really hard to see. Steven was bleeding pretty bad and now has a thumb nail barely hanging on. His back was also hurt, but luckily the bike was OK.

Taking care of his wounds slowed us up a bit and we literally ended up at the back of the race behind EVERYONE! Nevertheless...we finished up the ride with out problems. It felt like a metaphor for life...if you feel like you're at the back of the race, don't feel discouraged...it's easy to pass up all the stragglers! If you get ahead of the stragglers...don't think you're better than them, because at the next bend...they will pass you up! Don't judge a book by a cover...the large lady on the 1 speed may be able to ride faster than you on your 'specialized' eventhough you keep trying to pass her up. Some trials are blessings...the extremely cold weather completely numbed Steven's fingers so he didn't feel the pain until much later.Life is better with a partner, even if they sometimes slow you down.

At the end of the race I was starving. They had some bananas and yogurt and ice cream bars...yeah...let's just say I skipped the ice cream bars. (Even by the end of the race, my toes were still numb.) To get back to our car and the start of the race you could take trax (which had at least a half hour wait) or just ride 5 miles back up hill. Steven gave me the option and I chose....

5 miles uphill! It was harder than the whole race! Overall it was a fun, easy ride. I don't think I'm ready for any 100 milers yet, especially with any up hills, but I just might ride again...especially when it is just a little warmer!

Midnight's Birthday

2009-04-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

April 15th is Midnight's birthday...that is Michaela's black cat webkinz. Michaela wanted to have a birthday party for her so we invited a few friends and made cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday.

Easter festivities

2009-04-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Steen is wearing his 1st tie! He loves it and has been talking about how all his friends at nursery have ties like daddy and he wants a tie too! Now he has one!

Easter morning...hunting for eggs.

Coloring Easter eggs.

Reinacting Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday. We tried a new tradition this year where we spent 5 or 10 minutes a day highlighting what happened on that same day during the last week of Christ's life. The kids really enjoyed it. We kind of forgot towards the end of the week...but hopefully with each year, this tradition will develop a little more.

A Salute to all the Soldiers!

2009-04-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is a pic of Steven's cousin, Major Roger Brockbank (in the middle) helping to train an Iraqi nurse to intubate a baby after 5 manniquins and other supplies were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Just wanted to say Hooray for the soldiers who sacrifice being with their families to serve their countries and for their families who must also sacrifice! Thank you!

weather

2009-03-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

We've had some gorgeous weather. Yesterday was the kids first spring soccer games and it was actually nice enough weather that I didn't have to sit in my car to watch the game like I did last year. (Sorry...I'm a wuss and I admit it.) I didn't get any pics, but Michaela actually got in there and kicked the ball a few times. Maybe she'll blossom this spring!
The weather was soooo nice in the evening we went for a family bike ride. We rode to subway and got some dinner and then rode to a park and looped around back home. It was maybe 5 miles and Michaela did great. She's getting to be a pro at riding up and down the big hill by our house that used to freak her out. (Steen and Andrea still ride first class in the trailer on the back of Steven's bike.) The kids had a great time playing at the park and it was such a nice day.
Then today...we went to church in a blizzard. There were white out conditions and it took me at least 15 minutes to get there and our church is literally around the corner, just blocks from our house. They had a 25 minute sacrament meeting and then the bishop got up and said weather was getting worse and to go home. This weather seems a little manic to me! It can't decide whether it is Christmas or spring!

Disneyland in the Rain

2009-02-26T11:47:00.001-08:00

I think the pictures speak for themselves. We had a great time at disneyland...but it was cold and wet. At least that cleared out the crowds! Luckily we packed ponchos so we didn't have to pay $8/person to buy one of those flimsy things.

I think Ponchos are coming back! Don't we look so sexy?

Aunt Janice is such a fun aunt to go to Disneyland with. It was also great to have a 1 adult:1child ratio! Thanks Janice!

Steen loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and actually got a high score of 40,000+ one time. Steven swears he didn't help him at all cause he was too busy fighting his own intergalactic battles. Go Steen!

Notice that except for Tinkerbell, there aren't any pics with Disney characters...I think the rain scared them all away.

We had a great time and can't wait to do it again. Maybe next year we'll go on Andrea's and my birthday so we can both get in free! Any takers?

Andrea's birthday

2009-02-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

Andrea's 5th birthday was celebrated with a FANCY NANCY party. If you have little girls or ever were a little girl and haven't yet seen this book...it is a must read!

The guests were invited to dress fancy. A girl can not have too many accessories! Even Steen accessorized for the occassion. However, when he was asked if he was having fun, he very definitely stated, "no!" I guess this dressing up business is only for the "posh"...a fancy word for fancy!

While waiting for all the girls to arrive, the guests did a craft where they transformed their plain party bags into fancy tote bags! Oooh la la!

We then video taped the guests each making their grand entrance as they walked down the stairs and greeted us in french...."Bonjour, my name is..." Unfortunately,we were never able to watch the videos of the grand entrance since we misplaced a cord to our video camera...still looking for that!

The guests had hor'deuvers which is a fancy word for finger foods. Notice the napkins are folded as flowers. They got to take the goblets home as souvenirs.

Grandma dressed very fancy for the occassion. Here she is serving the pizza.

The dress up relay race was so fun! Every girl needs to know how to run in high heels!

Every fancy girl has to know how to break the "bank"...that's a fancy word for shopping. The purse pinata was a hit...but what pinata isn't?
Michaela gave Andrea a gift she bought with her VERY OWN MONEY! What a generous sister!

Every girl needs a tiara! The kids all got to take a tiara home as well as having a crown cake.

The kids all had so much fun and I was incredibly grateful to my mom for all her help! It's a lot of work...especially when it's your own birthday as well! ;-)

2009-02-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this book to be a great parenting resource!

I just finished reading this book and posted my review on goodreads.com If you haven't read it and are looking for better ways to help parent your children, I highly recommend it. My review is below, but some of the things I found out were:
Andrea loves praise and attention. (I knew that!) I also learned that if I critisize her, raise my voice or yell, she actually interprets it as me not loving her! (Revelation!)
I learned that when Michaela is yelling and I try and stop it with out giving her a chance to let her anger out in non-destructive ways, I am making it worse. By allowing her to have it out, I can then better help her deal with it and move towards more mature ways to express it. I think Michaela's primary love language is gifts and or acts of service because she always loves to make people notes and cards and spend her money buying things for others. I have really tried to write her special notes and do little acts of service for her and she seems to really be responding! Some mornings are a little hectic getting out the door and practicing, etc. This morning, I made a hot breakfast and had it all ready with a love note on the napkin. Then, I told Michaela I loved her and requested that she practice. She got ready more quickly and with out complaining and then we practiced and she went off to school so much more happier. Sometimes, I would want a specific behavior, so I would with hold doing stuff for her until she complied. (Ie., I would make her get her own milk out of the fridge and pour it because she wasn't behaving appropriately...when actually, by showing her I loved her by serving her, her love tank was full and she behaved appropriately!)
Yeah me! Anyway, if you already knew all this stuff...congratulations you're way ahead of me! If you feel like you struggle to get your kids to obey and respond positively, this book is for you!

Here are the basics of the book. Children have a primary language that they communicate love and receive love from parents. They are physical touch, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and praise. We need to give love through all 5 means so that they learn to give love in all those ways, but by using their primary language to fill their love tanks, they know that they are loved. Likewise, if we use their primary love language in a negative way (ie. if physical touch is their love language and we slap them) then it is much worse because they interpret it as us not loving them.

The next part of the book, I thought I wouldn't read, but I found it to be even more helpful. It teaches how to discipline and then how to help our kids manage anger.

When we discipline, we are teaching and we can do it in four steps. So often we punish them first, but our goal is to teach them correct behavior, and punishment often causes resentment and the inability to learn. First we request they change behavior. Second, we command. If that still doesn't work, we then physically move them to action. Finally, we use punishment. However, before and after we punish, we should always use their primary love language to let them know we love them,and that the punishment is to fit the crime and not because we don't love them.

I also learned that when our children are angry verbally, we need to let them have an out. If we don't allow them to express their anger, it will get bottled up. We verbally allow them to express it and praise them for what they did well and then correct what needs to change. I previously thought if my child was yelling, I would end it at all costs, but then I never gave an outlet for the anger. I am working on changing some of my parenting techniques and I already feel like it is making a big difference. I highly recommend this book.

View all my reviews.

fieldtrip to aquarium

2009-02-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

Andrea was very excited to ride on a school bus for the first time!

Andrea loves her preschool teacher.

Andrea petting a snake.

Andrea petting the prickly octapus.
Andrea and I petted the sting ray.

I was a chaperone on the fieldtrip with these kids in Andrea's class.

My birthday dinner!

2009-02-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

Andrea and I have twin birthdays...so I really don't get to celebrate mine that much. This year, my mom made me my own special dinner where I got to pick all my favorites. Above is carmalized rice krispies with ice cream in the middle for my cake. YUM, YUM! It was great to be pampered and have my own special day (a few days before the real day!) Thank you mom!

Pirate party

2009-02-11T07:17:00.000-08:00

I was in charge of a pirate's party for our regional Suzuki piano activity. The kids had a great time! They dressed as pirates, did crafts, rhythm instruments, watched a piano be taken apart and listened to Douglass Bush (from BYU) perform some Bach. I was able to borrow most of the decorations from a girl I visit teach and the back drop belonged to another teacher that her son had made for a play when he was in HS. score! The kids each got to take home pirate booty and they LOVED it!

Dinosaur Museum

2009-02-11T07:06:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur museum with grandma and cousins!

Left with a violin and a Hymnbook

2009-01-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Have you read your Ensign this month? The January Ensign published by the LDS church has an article in it written by my mom. It tells of a family experience we had when I was about 16 years old. It is entitled Left with a Violin and Hymnbook and I am the girl on the violin!
Here is a link to the e-version...but if you have a hard copy, it is on page 58.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a6246a008952b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0

Click on the link and then click on Left With a Violin and a Hymnbook

snow, snow, and more snow!

2008-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

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.

Christmas Morning 2008

2008-12-29T09:35:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

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.

"For unto you is born this day...a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Caisa, Ruth and her baby Brynlee.

Grandma gave the kids all plates with their pictures on them. No more fighting over who gets what plate. The kids LOVE them!

My sister Tammy, neices Hannah and Alanna and nephew McKay.

happenings of late...

2008-12-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

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?

Michaela got some new pets!

2008-12-06T17:51:00.001-08:00

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.

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!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

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!

Thankful for Part 2

2008-11-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

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!

Thankful for...

2008-11-25T15:58:00.000-08:00

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!

Steen turned 2! Terribles...here we come!

2008-10-28T12:26:00.001-07:00

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!

Halloween party pics

2008-10-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

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!

TAGGED!

2008-10-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

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!

The Circus

2008-09-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

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!

Conference Choir

2008-09-28T14:09:00.001-07:00

I had the AWESOME experience of participating in a choir for The general Relief Society Meeting (a worldwide women's organization) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We sang four songs all along the theme of rejoicing in a broadcast that was and will continue to be shown all around the world. Even though the broadcast is translated into over 30 languages, none of the songs are. So when they chose the hymns, they chose ones that are in EVERY latter day saint hymn book. Some countries only have 10 or less hymns!

Can I please tell you just a couple of AMAZING things that I experienced while in the choir?

First off, the conference center holds almost 20,000 people. It was just about packed with mostly women. You can imagine them chatting...it sounded like a rushing river! Just before the meeting started, Thomas S. Monson, our beloved prophet walked in. Every person in the conference center stood up and the room became absolutely silent! It was an amazing feeling I felt as I watched him walk in and smile and my heart was so full with a conviction of his divine calling as a prophet of God, just as Adam, Moses, Noah and others were prophets of old.

I got to hear one of President Monson's counselors, an apostle of the Lord speak. Wasn't President Utdorf so funny? I loved how he talked about how to be happy!

We also heard from Sister Beck, Sister Allred, and Sister Thompson, the Relief Society Presidency. It was amazing to hear how they have traveled all over the world this past year, visiting with sisters all over the world! As we have rehearsed as a choir, each of these sisters have come to our rehearsals and spoken to us. I have such a deep love for them that I didn't before.

For those of you who watched, I'm sure you saw our animated director, Merilee Webb. She is the most motivating person you will ever meet! Every rehearsal, she sang us a beautiful song in Hawaiian that she learned when she taught there. We thought when we went to rehearsals, we would learn the songs. We spent less than half of rehearsal time actually rehearsing. Most of the time was being uplifted and inspired and encouraged to strengthen our testimony, so that as we sang, the words would mean something to us and to all the sisters around the world who would hear them! She reminded us that each of us are daughters of God. The Hawaiian song she sang us taught us that we are the precious adornment worn around the neck of our ancestors. She is also the funniest person you will ever meet!! We were usually in stiches and laughing ear to ear.

As I sang and got ready to sing, I was reminded that each of us is a beloved child of God. He loves us and he wants our happiness. If you didn't get a chance to hear the choir sing yet...here's the address where you can go and listen. You'll see me singing if you haven't already. I hope your heart was as uplifted as mine! I wish I had a bigger picture...but you can just go watch the broadcast yourself. Click on the link below. Then click on English session. After it downloads, you can watch the whole thing or if you click on opening hymn there's a nice shot of me at the end!

http://www.lds.org/broadcast/grsm/0,6220,285,00.html

My friends and I with Sister Webb the AMAZING director!

All stitched up!

2008-09-23T14:20:00.001-07:00

Poor little Steen has had quite the day! Thank goodness they are so resilient at this age! At about 5am Steven woke me up to let me know that Steen was throwing up. Poor Steen...his little tummy was just freaking out. After a few hours, he must have completely recovered because he climbed into the fridge (probably being extremely hungry) and attempted to get the eggs out. Then, while I was cleaning that up (that was a fun mess to clean) he climbed on the counter and ate a cookie. He seemed fine so I figured it must be OK to give him so crackers and soda since he seemed to be back to his normal self. A few hours later he was in the shower and tripped as he was getting out and sliced open his chin. We raced off to the doctor and Steen got 5 stiches. He was sooo good about the whole thing. By the time we had gotten to the doctors, he wasn't even crying, but just kept saying, "It hurts." He did cry when he got the shots, but other than that, he was fine. When he did cry, I said, "Should we go home and get a treat?" He stopped crying right away and said, "treat!" He was so excited to have a treat of "crackers". What a cute kid!

Hope you're not afraid of heights!!!

2008-08-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I happen to have a fear of heights. However, some friends invited us to hike up to the peak of Mount Timpanogos, the second highest mountain range in Utah (Mount Nebo is the first.) Although it is more than 2 miles (11749 feet) above sea level (probably only a mile up from the Utah valley below), my friend assured me that it was more hiking trails and not really "climbing".

So I agreed to go. The first part was relatively easy and there were several pretty waterfalls.
Half way up this is looking down at where we had come from. At this point you can't even see where we started from, but it was even lower than what you see in the picture.
And this was still looking up to how much farther we had to go! The peak is probably right in the middle of this picture.

It stayed pretty easy with only a few really scary parts until right about when before we hit the saddle. (At the saddle you are at the top of the mountain range, and can look down both sides.) You could no longer walk and literally had to climb up the rocks with only a small valley below to catch you. I was SOOOOOO shaken, I only made it to the top of the saddle and sat down almost in tears. Although I was all smiles in the picture, I just sat on the saddle in that same position not moving for the next hour or so.

Here we are sitting on the saddle and in the background you can see Utah valley and Utah lake. (We actually climbed up the other side of the mountain from what you are seeing.)

I tried to do a 360 degree panaromic from the top! This is looking at Lehi and Lindon.
You can see how big Utah Lake is.
This is the saddle we were hanging out on. It was still another mile hike up to the very top.

The peak in this picture is the top of Timpanogos as we sit on the saddle. Then is looking down the other side....Heber is off in the distance.

I was soooo chicken, I just sat there on the saddle and decided I didn't want to hike the last mile to the peak. It was a spectacular view, but everytime I saw someone go close to the edge or heard the sliding of boots across the rock, I started to fear that I would be in therapy for the rest of my life if someone fell off.

Steven and two of the guys in our group continued on to the peak. This is a picture Steven took looking down from the peak at from where we had climbed up. He said you could even see the Great Salt Lake. From this picture you can only see a little lake and valley and then beyond that in the distance, way down there is where the trailhead began.

In this picture, you can actually see all the hikers traveling from the saddle up to the peak. (Look closely at all the little dots on the trail.) I think more than 450 hikers had already made it to the top by noon. (Obviously there are a lot of daring people out there who are not afraid of heights. There was even a 7 year old who was celebrating his birthday at the top! Of course, there was also someone who threw up at the top! ) It was a 14 mile hike in all, (12 for me) and took from 7am to 5pm! Luckily my mom and sister were kind enough to watch our kids all day. It was an amazing adventure and not so scary at least when you're just looking at the pictures...

Congratulations Jessica and Blake!

2008-08-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Steven's niece Jessica married Blake in the LDS Los Angeles Temple on 8.8.08 . The man who married them talked about how in some cultures, the number 8 is believed to be lucky. He then showed how an 8 turned on its side is actually the symbol for infinity to describe how we believe that when we are married in the temple it is for all eternity. It was really special to be in the temple with family to celebrate Jessica and Blake's special day.

All of Jessica's little cousins were in the wedding party including Andrea, Michaela and Steen. The girls loved their new dresses and had so much fun going to California and visiting Grandma and Grandpa and their cousins.

Here is cousin Brittney with the girls.

Luckily Steen actually posed in the pictures.

Grandma with the girls.

We're so happy for Jessica and Blake!
Jessica and Blake got married 9 years and 1 day after we did in the very same temple. Look at how our family has grown since!

It was a wonderful occasion to get together as a family and celebrate the start of their new family. This is Steven's family with all 6 of his siblings and parents.

Mt. Timpanogos

2008-07-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Two great reasons to live in Utah: (yeah, they were the only two I could think of off hand ... even though we really do LOVE it here) , great national parks and even"Pioneer Day" is a holiday from work! We celebrated by taking our three kids and hiking 1.5 miles up to the caves. If you haven't done it before, it is quite steep and quite the trek for 3 little ones. It gave me new appreciation for the pioneers and how they must have had to listen to their kids complain all the way to the Salt Lake Valley, "I'm so tired!"
Starting off wasn't bad. We're always up for adventure.
But then I started hearing, "I'm tired," every 5 seconds from Andrea. We started a new rule. We complained only when we hit a mile marker ( it turns out those numbers were for rock identification, so they weren't very evenly spaced out...) Of course Andrea being the adorable girl she is, started saying "Thank you" instead of complaining whenever she saw the markers. Nevertheless, we looked forward to the next number so we could all chime in, "I'm soooo tired!" It was great fun...if only it would have worked. We still heard her complain between numbers as well! ;-) Oh blessed pioneers!
The caves were really cool although any of my pictures just don't do justice to the three caves. This is the "heart" in one of the caves. It takes millions of years for these stalactites to form as mineral water drips into the caves and deposits calcites...that's why they look white like bones...(oh yeah...an excuse not to forget my chemistry!)

Steen stayed awake for most of it...then he just conked out!!! Oh blessed day!Here is the view from the top. Don't look too close or you can see our house...(we're about a mile or two away) and Steven hadn't mowed the lawn that day!The best part was going down...instead of taking a whole hour, it took half the time, and the kids got a free ride from daddy! What a great dad.

All lathered up!

2008-07-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Steen found the shaving cream and then covered his legs in it...just like mommy, his face...just like daddy, and his head and and the entire bathtub...just to give mommy something to clean up since she has nothing better to do!

finger lickin' good

2008-07-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

This year our raspberry bush finally produced and we were able to pick just enough to make a jar of raspberry jam. The kids LOVE it! We are working on planting 5 more so that we can actually make more than just one jar...it doesn't last very long!

The girl's room...

2008-07-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our home, we painted the girls walls green to match their bedding. Finally 18 months later, I got some curtains put together that coordinated. And finally today, only another 18 months after that (yes...we just hit our 3 year anniversary in the house), I painted the flower stripe on the wall that I meant to do from the beginning.

I think I like how it turned out and the girls are ecstatic. What I'm not sure about is whether I should continue the stripe around the whole room. Is it worth the effort since it might be another 18 months before I get around to it?

July 4th

2008-07-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

For July 4th, we got together with family at my house.

My sister Caisa with most of her family.

My sister-in-law Rachel and her son Garrett.

Hannah and McKay playing in the jeep...it doesn't move so good in the grass! I guess it isn't meant for off roading.

Steven made yummy pizza in the BBQ. Yes...in the BBQ! That is one of his specialties and it is good. Plus...it doesn't heat up the house.

The cousins played flag tag.

Grandma and the kids made graham cracker flags.

Steen and Jameson in the sandbox... it was sooo cute watching them play.

Then we had fun lighting off fireworks in front of the house. It was SOOOOOOOO much fun to watch Steen. He was hooting and oohing and aaaahing all night at the fireworks. In the picture above, I tried to get him to pose with Andrea, but he was too busy observing the fireworks.

The cousins had a blast! It's fun that my brother and sister and mom live so close.

The wheels in this family go round and round!

2008-07-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Michaela learned how to ride her two wheeler with no training wheels. Go Michaela!

Steven rode his bicycle in the MS 150 this last weekend. It was a hundred mile ride from Logan, UT up through Preston, ID and back. He finished in 5.5 hours and had a fun ride while participating in a good cause. He said he wasn't sore at all, despite not really being able to train much for the ride. For those who sponsored Steven, Thank you very much. He raised almost $500 for multiple sclerosis. If you wanted the opportunity to donate...don't worry, there is always next year. ;-)

I don't have a picture of Steven's ride yet...so instead, here is a picture of Steen dressing up in Steven's jersey. Yeah...he wants to be just like his dad.

Steen loves to push his 4 wheeler...the lawn mower that is. At least 30 times last week (and I am not exaggerating), Steen put on Steven's size 13 shoes and pushed the lawnmower out of the garage . A couple of times I had to fish it out of the street. I finally started placing the lawn mower (on a daily basis) in the middle of the lawn where it was too hard for him to push it out into the street.

Kid Tag ...You're It!

2008-07-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

My Sister Cynthia tagged Michaela and Andrea. it was so fun to ask the questions...try it with your little ones. I officially tag Spencer, Preston, Rachel, Rebecca, Izzy, Courtney, and Audrey.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Michaela: “Put away the dishes.”
Andrea: “Make the bed.”

2. What makes mom happy?
Michaela: “When you surprise her and go in the music room and say ‘practice time.’”
Andrea: “By putting the dishes away…I mean practicing”

3. What makes mom sad?
Michaela: “When you’re not obeying”
Andrea: “By I’m not practicing or if someone stands on the trash can.”

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Michaela: “I don’t know”
Andrea: “I don’t know.” (Apparently, I need to work on that one.)

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Michaela: “nice”
Andrea: “I don’t know…I think you like toys.”

6. How old is your mom?
Michaela: “Is this thinking or guessing…30 I don’t remember…35.”
Andrea: “hmm…I wanna get it right” (in response to Michaela saying guess.)

7. How tall is your mom?
Michaela: “How tall can mom’s grow to be?”
Mom: “ A tall mom might grow to be 6 feet.”
Michaela: “6 feet.” (I'm 5'8")
Andrea: “I don’t know.”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Michaela: “I’m just trying to think…”
Andrea: “Help us practice.”
Michaela: “Reading your chapter books in bed and having little naps.”

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Michaela: “Takes care of the babies and cleans the house.”
Andrea: “I think she …when she needs to go somewhere I think she needs to go to Costco.”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Michaela: “I don’t know…so you can do Andrea first. Uh…dance.” (not!!!)
Andrea: “I don’t know.”

11. What is your mom really good at?
Michaela: “Helping us clean up.”
Andrea: “Driving”

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Michaela: “I don’t know.”
Andrea: “I don’t know.”

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Michaela: “Teach piano.”
Andrea: “She makes things that she doesn’t know how to makes and sees if they taste good.”

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Michaela: “Chicken pasta.”
Andrea: “Pasta.”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Michaela: “That she makes yummy chicken.” (Apricot chicken)
Andrea: “Cause she loves me.”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Michaela: “The Queen in Sleeping Beauty.”
Andrea: “Curious George!!!”

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Michaela: “Practice.”
Andrea: “Practice.”

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Michaela: “That we both know how to play the piano.”
Andrea: “If you do your hair just like someone else did.”

19. How are you and your mom different?
Michaela: “I have blonde hair and you have short hair.”
Andrea: “Cause they have different hairs and color hair.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Michaela: “Because she tells me she loves me.”
Andrea: “Cause she always tells me.”

California Adventure

2008-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

We spent spring break in California. The weather was beautiful! We visited Steven's brother in San Diego. He took us to some tide pools and we also saw lots of seals just down the beach.

Of course, it wouldn't be a vacation with out a trip to Disneyland. We stayed with Steven's sister Janice for a few days in Torrance and the kids LOVED going to Disneyland and being spoiled by Aunt Janice with cotton candy! We went two days in a row which was honestly overkill. By the middle of the second day, the kids were tired and just wanted to go home and play with their new tinkerbell toys.

The girls' favorite ride was actually in California Adventure in Bug's Life. I don't know what it is called, but it is kind of like the hungary caterpillar who eats a bunch of food including watermelon which is juicy and squirts you. They least liked the rollercoasters which they are now both tall enough to ride. We all rode space mountain, mattehorn, Thunder mountain, splash mountain and Star Tours...although they only liked splash mountain because the others were too fast and scary.

This is our dear friend Tresa who had her first baby three months ago. He was three months early and so is still in the special nursery down in San Diego. We HAD to go visit baby Atticus. (All of our CA friends must forgive us, since with the exception of Tresa and her miracle baby, we only had time to visit family...probably because over half of Steven's 6 siblings and his parents live in CA.)

The rest of the trip: visiting brother David and family, brother Michael and family, Great Grandma (from Alison's side) and Grandma and Grandpa.

(Michael's family, Grandma and Grandpa and us.)

(the kids with cousin Megan...which they said later was the FUNNEST part of the trip.)

(Michaela and Grandma Great)

One REALLY important pit stop...I had to take Michaela back to my old stompin' grounds of UCLA. This is a picture of her in front of the bear...GO BRUINS!!! (Brainwashing must begin while they are young.)

It was really great seeing family, we were sad there was literally no time to see friends, and we enjoyed the weather, and most of all, we enjoyed when it was all over and we could come back home. (Yes, we now realize that we call Utah home...scary!)

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-03-13T21:03:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed a nice dinner at Red Robin. With our birthday coupon for a free entree and the monster dessert on the house, we saved big and Steven (the frugal accountant) was able to enjoy his birthday dinner all the more. Notice Steen in the picture trying to dive into the cake before dad.

Luckily he got lots of milkshake and learned how to suck out of a straw.

The girls also had lots of fun and said this was the best dad birthday ever. I asked them if they liked it better than when mom made dinner at home and they said "yeah, because we got milkshakes!" I hope they are always this easy to please.

What a great helper!

2008-03-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Steen loves to help. I had to capture the moment as he started unloading the dishwasher all by himself! (I had left it open for the girls to unload.) Luckily, it just involved throwing plastic cups and bowls into a drawer, but he did it soooo well. What is even more amazing is that he did all this while standing on the wall...OK, so I was just too lazy to go back and edit them. ;-)

On a scary note, later on in the evening after the dishwasher had dirty dishes in it, he started trying to put those away too. Thanks for the help Steen, but no thanks!

The Joy of Music

2008-03-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Michaela has been busy with her music, especially this last week. Today she played a solo of I know That My Redeemer Lives in sacrament meeting and did a wonderful job. She said it was "fun". If only I could have played the violin like her...NO FEAR. I used to shake so hard they said it was natural vibrato.
Yesterday, she played in a music federation festival on the piano. She played two songs for the judges and played very well in her primer category. She earned a 39/40...we're just proud that she had fun and did so well.
Andrea is watching her big sister and asking when she gets to do what Michaela is doing. Even Steen wants a part of the action. He always manages to climb up to any piano and start playing...even in the middle of sacrament meeting. Although he has never been able to actually play his solo in sacrament, I've had to chase after him a couple of times when he suddenly escapes, including in the middle of prayer! It's fun having a musical family. Maybe if I can figure out how to post a recording I'll put up a demo of Michaela or Andrea playing.

I think He_ _ froze over!

2008-02-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

We have had the worst winter that Utah has seen in over 20 years! Lots of snow. I mean...lots of snow. Pictured is our tower to the snow gods. Steven likes to shovel the driveway all into one big pile. It's been over 9 feet tall, but we've had some nice warm weather that it actually has melted. Yes...the weather was really nice last Wednesday, Feb 13th. It was almost 50 degrees. My friends were wearing sandals and shorts. I thought, it's warm and I've finally acclimated to Utah winters...and then it happened. I think he_ _ froze over. Out of no where came the worst snow storm many people had ever seen. We only got about a foot of snow, but the winds were so bad that the snow drifts in our backyard were over 4 feet high, higher in other areas. The visibility was so bad that people couldn't drive and they closed the highway by our house. As a result...

the school buses from Michaela's school had to turn around and could not take the kids home. Many of the children and teachers were stranded at the school the entire night since their homes are 4 miles down the highway and there was no way to get them home. We live right by the school and so our ward and neighborhood collected blankets, pillows and food and took it over to the school on snow mobiles and 4 wheelers. Since many of the teachers never got to go home, school was cancelled on Valentines.

One bus got stranded on the highway. Those poor kids were on the bus for over 8 hours with no food. They couldn't get off the bus to go to the bathroom because many started to blow away...literally. It was not pretty.

My mother was driving home from my house right when the storm hit. She was stuck on the highway for over 8 hours...Apparently, the wind was so bad, her car was moving even when her breaks were on and the car was in park. There was no where to go as the highway was at a standstill. She was even rear ended a couple of times. Luckily she had her cell phone and lots of gas to keep her car warm and running. Sometime after midnight, she was finally rescued and taken to a nearby church and had to abandon her car on the side of the highway. Apparently, over 50 cars had to be towed off the highway the next morning.

Fortunately, as far as I know, everyone stayed safe. I'd hate to see what kind of a blizzard we would have if he _ _ really did freeze over.

Twins...

2008-02-17T11:55:00.001-08:00

We have twin birthdays in our family. (OK...how many of you saw the title and thought we were making an announcemnt of another sort.... ;-) fooled you!) Andrea and I share our February 6th birthday. Andrea turned 4, and I turned 30 something. Although I try and make a "birthday dinner" for each of the children on their birthday, I decided that Andrea's and my day would always just have to be a go out to eat celebration. This year we went to the Mayan Adventure and had dinner. It is actually pretty affordable and as such the food is just average, but you definitely go there for the atmosphere. For those who have not been, the restaurant has a couple of levels with all the tables facing these cliffs and a swimming pool in the middle. They have a show featuring two cliff divers as well as a fire dancer which put on a show involving the celbration of the Mayan corn harvest with beating drums and all. It was fun to watch and both the girls were in complete rapture. Almost every table in the restaurant was celbrating a birthday. On your birthday, they take a free picture of you in a special headress and give you a free sundae as well...hence the picture shown. (Apparently they only have one headress, so I got out of having to wear it in the picture!)

Andrea celbrated her special day with a cousin "Candy Land" party. Since it was her turn to have her dance playgroup at our house on her actual day, she also had a little party with her playgroup friends.

We played Princess Lolli's Parade of Colors and the kids danced to the music with lollipops as their banner of color. The music tells each color when to stand or sit or march.

The kids decorated candy bags with King Candy and made gingerbread houses with Queen Frostine. Even baby Jameson tried to help!

We played a version of Don't Eat Pete...Don't Eat Lord Licoriche.

We helped Gramma Nut find the missing nuts. The kids searched for little paper nuts and then got peanut "nutter butter" type cookies as a prize.

We played pin the sugar daddy on gloppy. And best of all the kids got lots of candy and had fun.

Thanksgiving Feast or Famine

2007-11-23T18:40:00.000-08:00

Michaela, Andrea and Steen "pose" for the Thanksgiving feast. Really, it was just a pose. Michaela couldn't even hold her head up because she was so sick. She took the picture and went back to laying down. Here are all the "sickies" laying down in their living room cots. Michaela had been sick for days, Steven was getting over being sick and Andrea was just beginning her turn. Michaela was too sick to even eat a popsicle. Her fever was 105 at one point.
We were supposed to have dinner with the family, but with our sickness...we we're banished! ;-) We decided to attempt our own thanksgiving feast and I(Alison) made my very first turkey. Of course, Steven made his rolls.

This is how much food we had before the feast....and after. None of us could eat very much!

After a couple of hours of sponge baths to try and keep Michaela's temperature down the medicine finally kicked in. Her fever temporarily subsided and she got up around 8:30pm for her Thanksgiving famine...a few bites of jello salad and a roll were all she felt up to. It will definitely be a memorable Thanksgiving.