Monday, April 27, 2009

It's that time of year!

Spencer is officially in swimming lessons! He loves them and we are fortunate enough this session to have two of his carpool buddies that live on our SAME circle in our class! It is such a treat to have a mom that will come early and keep an eye on Spence while I run and get the brothers from the bus and that we can help get these buddies to lessons! We love it! This was Spencer's first day -- he couldn't wait to get there!

 

One thing growing up, I never worried about was having a cowboy as a child. Never thought about it, never thought I would marry one . . . well, obviously, Jake is a cowboy at heart. . . but YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) I went outside and guess who I saw on Jake's wood horse learning to ROPE?!?!?!
 

Jake said he did pretty good, but really a cowboy Ry? Way to go bud, but really Jake, Sunday?!
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Lemonade

Ok, for any of you that want to know our favorite ratio for lemonade, it is:
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar (maybe a bit less)
1/2 gallon of water
Ice
Delicious!
We still have lemons, does anyone have any lemon related recipes that you want to pass our way?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Lemons, Anyone?!

I should have posted this like at the beginning of the winter, but I didn't -- so, I will now see if anyone would like lemons? We have a tree that has bushels and bushels of fruit left on it, so if you want any, just call, or stop by! We would love to share! Jake has figured out a wonderful recipe for lemonade, if you are interested!

 
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Ten years ago today, I became a mom. In some ways, it seems like yesterday, I was working and rushing to the Dr. and driving myself to the hospital, in other ways, it seems like about a hundred years ago! But, today is Jacob's tenth birthday.
Here are ten facts about Jacob:
1. Jacob is a really sweet, kind and sensitive boy. He is especially kind to younger kids and can always entertain any little one, especially the bored ones at church. He goes out of his way to give little ones their toys back or to help them figure out how the toy works.
2. He loved getting his picture taken, especially when he was little, we won't talk about how he has learned to make faces and roll his eyes now (this is a very new thing for him -- we won't talk about the stress it causes for mom :))

 

3. He loves to build things with anything, especially legos, or kinex.
4. He is easygoing and fun loving.
5. He loves being with his cousins and relatives, even if the oldest cousin is Spencer's age, he plays with them and enjoys them.
 

6. He loves to read. His very favorite books of all time are Calvin and Hobbes comic books. Sometimes to my chagrin he likes to pretend he is Calvin.
7. He loves to eat meat. If it looks like meat, he will eat it, he also likes shrimp. Actually, I should say he LOVES shrimp!
8. He has stayed up all night playing Wii, Jake was home tending them, he slept for a few hours in the morning and then went back to playing, and you wonder why it is in storage?! He is a night owl, if you haven't guessed!
9. He is very competitive, at church they have a contest with bringing scriptures to class and he makes sure EVERYONE in his class has scriptures!
 

10. He loves the gospel and wants to try to do what is right.
 

Happy birthday Jacob, we are so glad that you are in our family, and we are so proud of the choices that you make and the fine young man you are becoming!
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Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Easter

Easter was a busy day at our house, we had quite the get together for dinner -- 8 adults and 4 kids! It was great, but I was crazy busy getting ready for it for the Easter bunny to come until AFTER the get together, so last night about 6 or 7 we had our regular Easter egg hunt and the kids had a great time with Joseph looking for eggs!

 

Before church, I really liked their Easter outfits, you wouldn't believe how many tries it took to get a cute picture though -- Jacob was going crazy with rolling his eyes and Ryan and Spencer weren't in the most cooperative mood. But, I think they all looked sharp!
 
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While Dad is away

Not to be outdone, while Jake was away, we did some fun things! It actuallys was a fun week with just Ryan and Spencer. . .I was glad when he came home, but nevertheless. Spencer had preschool and made some cute Easter crafts, we had a rainy, rainy Easter egg hunt with our ward, I mean SERIOUSLY, rain in April?! This Arizona! Oh well, we survived and had a good time! We also colored Easter eggs and got ready for Easter, fun times!

 

 

 

 
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Jake's Horse Ride

Last Tuesday, Jake went and picked up his younger brother Sam, who with his son Joseph flew to Phoenix from New Hampshire. From there, they got Jacob and loaded the truck and went on a horse ride of a life time! They went to Kanosh and met all of the DeGraffenried brothers and went "where there is no civilization" and camped and rode horses, visited and rode horses. This is a male DeGraffenried favorite thing to do. . . I am not sure how glad they were to come home on Saturday but we were glad to have them back!

 

Here is the posse before they headed out. The oldest of the nephews, minus Colton on a mission and Lars who is just older than Jacob are here. Lars and his dad Ray met up for an overnighter with the posse.
 

 

This is Jake with all of his brothers and Dad -- from Left to Right, Charles, Jake, Ed, Owen, Sam and Dan. These guys haven't gotten to go all together alone for about ten years, so I was glad they could go!
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Father and Son!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

100!!

So, I have finally hit the 100th official post! Hooray for me :)! I thought I was pretty cool when I had been blogging for a year but, obviously I don't post ultra often (my blogiversary was in January) I thought I would copy some people that posted 100 things about themselves, and do one about me. We will see how many days it takes to get 100 random things about me on paper.

1. I grew up in Globe, Arizona. Yep, a true Arizonan.
2. I moved to (Seattle area) Woodinville, Washington three weeks before I turned 16
3. My fist official job when I was 16 was working at McDonald's. I actually highly recommend the food service industry for any kid.
4. I promised myself when I was ten that I wouldn't marry a veterinarian. I can't help it that my parents moved to one of the few schools with a vet school, nor can I help that Jake decided to be a vet :)
5. When I was young I always said I wanted all boys, what was I thinking?!
6. I like to be ultra prepared, I can't stand not having things I use regularly in my house, it really drives me nuts! I hardly ever run out of things we use!
7. I love to shop! I love a good deal even more than just shopping, in fact very rarely do I get something unless I can get it for a deal!
8. I love Costco, if I can't get it lots cheaper somewhere else I will buy it at Costco, just because I love Costco!
9. I love to get the tools to do anything I like to do, I might not have time to do whatever that is, but I like having the tools! I know it is wierd!
10. I love the morning time when everyone else is sleeping!
11. I love to read children's books, especially when the author has the ability to craft the language in a poetic way -- think "Where the Wild Things Are" -- "The night Max wore his wolf suit, and made mischief of one kind, and another. His mother called him Wild thing and Max said "I'll eat you up!" So Max was sent to bed without eathing anything. That very night in Max's room, a forest grew, and the wall's became the world all around"-- you get the idea and I can't remember anymore of it off hand, Spencer will have to hear it tonight -- love the language and the rhyme!
12. I love the computer! I especially like making things on the computer -- I used to get paid to recreate things on the computer from documents and to correct errors with formatting. Love that kind of thing!
13. While in college, I spent one summer working as a flagger, no, the money wasn't as good as I thought it should be, but I had a killer tan -- we lived in Colorado then!
14. I would love to learn to be a GOOD photographer! I love photography!
15. Jake told me a quirky thing about me is I love to read recipe books to relax, I love to imagine the creative things I can make or do!
16. I worked until three hours before Jacob was born as a Registered Nurse. I haven't been back.
17. I love to get good deals. I will research for hours, where I can goet a good deal and then try to get an even better deal!
18. I like to plan things. I like to figure out what I need and execute the plans, the bigger the project, actually the better!
19. Fonts make me happy. I wish that I could change the font on blogging!
20. Clip art is my friend.
21. If I had nothing to do for a day, I would lay in bed for a few hours with a REALLY good book and read, and then dream up some project that just HAS to be done and get it done!
22. I like talk radio, I really like to listen to Hannity! My kids hate fox news and Sean Hannity.
23. The O'Reilly Factor is my favorite show to watch regarding news.
24. I can't stand to sit and watch a movie. If I am sitting, I am doing. I know it is a sickness!
25. I have a dream of traveling to all 50 states. I delight in coloring in the states I have visited on a map.
26. I had a goal to go on a trip where we flew somewhere and it didn't cost more than the taxes and hotel etc -- we accomplished it, but STILL haven't used it, our year is running out soon -- we need to get planning!
27. Before I got married I was "Homemaking impaired". I hated cooking and crafting -- love them both now!
28. I wish that I had about three more hours in a day, there just never seems to be enough time!
29. I never liked babysitting when I was young, I still am not crazy about it, but it is growing on me!
30. I hate filing fingernails, but I love getting manicures!
31. Feet bug me. I don't like anyoe putting heir feet on me.
32. However, when I sleep, I like to put my feet over something or someone, I know I am not equal on that one accord!
33. I love pedicures, but the scrubbig part tickles my feet so bad that I can barely stand it!
34. A French manicure and pedicure are my favorite! I always do a French pedicure but usually not manicure as I don't think I get as much bang for my buck!
35. I delight in going to lunch. My all time favorite way to get together with someone!
36. I have real issues with rodents. Severe. Mice and guinea pigs, hamsters, rats you name it scare the begeebers out of me!
37. I can't write things down like bills to be paid or things that must be done. . . if I write them down, I promptly forget to do it and it doesn't get done, if I don't write it down, I won't, can't forget until it is done. Strange, I know.
38. I delight in my personal routine, when it gets interrupted my day is a mess all day.
39. I worked until the day Jacob was born, I went to work at 5 am and had him at 12:23 by way of c-section!
40. I work best under deadlines. When in college, I wrote my best essays and reports the night before. Until then, I couldn't get my thoughts together. Only in writing does that work.
41. I love to read historical fiction.
42. I didn't love the Twilight series, I know I am in the minority, but I didn't love them.
43. I love to go to book clubs and talk about books. It is amazing how much I miss until I go to book club.
44. I taught myself to read in kindergarten. My teacher didn't even know I could read until my mom told her.
45. I can still remember the magic I felt when I figured out how it felt to read. I know that is weird but it was amazing.
46. I don't like cats. I am deathly afraid of them. I had one when I was 8 that was a little wild, I will cross the street before I will walk close to a cat. Weird huh?
47. I love to do service. It really is just something that I enjoy.
48. I love to teach. It is just fun to get a class going, and then get good a converstion going.
49. On average I walk at least four miles five days a week. I love to be outside, but I did finally break down and join a gym. I have started doing some weights twice a week.
50. When life isn't what I would like, I often will read a children's novel -- The Anne of Green Gable series is one of my favorites.
51. Actually, as of late, I have started crafting to unencumber my life.
52. I love to buy little girl clothes, any of my SIL's will vouch for that -- almost all of them have received surprise packages in the mail with cute clothes for their girls.
53. When I was in high school, I wrote my "Life Plan" I said I would run a marathon, probably never will happen, but you never know, go to Russia already been there, travel the Orient went there this winter, and go to Switzerland, been there, and go to France -- Jake won't go there and I don't really want to go there on my own!
54. I own a Nintendo DS that I got just for me. The boys borrow mine sometimes, but it is for me, not just so I can supervise!
55. I have been working on this for a week.
56. I like to get cute holiday decorations on clearance or for cheap! Today I am mourning that I was so cheap, but I will just have to play the game better next year!
57. I like signs that can be read for decorations.
58. Red is my favorite color to decorate with.
59. I used to buy scrapbook things to make me feel better that I didn't have the time, now I am trying to figure out how to get rid of it without feeling too guilty, seriously, WHO has time to scrapbook?!
60. My favorite thing to drink is water.
61. I love good Mexican food, but I determine how good it is based on the bean burros, and salsa! When I was a kid, we always got bean burros and tostadas to eat when we went out.
62. I am learning to enjoy putting together Lego sets -- they are actually like a puzzle, search for the right piece and then figure out the directions!
63. Jake and I take FOREVER to make decisions! The house we are in, we searched for about three to four weeks for a house and then went back to a house that we saw on the FIRST day!
64. Jake and I both don't like to spend money on big things until we are forced to -- have you seen the car we are driving? Seriously, it is twelve years old, except for the one that we got for a part of our salary!
65. I don't like conflict.
66. I don't like going into places where we have to haggle for hours for things -- when I joined the health club I belong to, it was all I could do to go in -- it seriously bugs!
67. I have lots of good ideas on decorating, but not enough time, or kids that don't see it my way!
68. I get impatient waiting for Jake to do projects for me, so I teach myself lot's of things!
69. I love flowers, love them! Seriously, it is an obsession! I just forgot the name of my favorite kind, but I always have red ones in front of my house when the weather is right for them!
70. I started canning when Jacob was a baby, have been canning apple sauce and peaches ever since!
71. My children like to sleep in in the morning. Love this, but if they change start times for next year to EARLIER won't like it anymore!
72. I love the Lysol wipes! Those are seriously some of my favorite things ever invented!
73. My crockpot is one of the items I use all of the time!
74. I hate to sew -- not something to brag about, but never found any enjoyment with it!
75. I like to find things cheap on slickdeals.net
76. I enjoy ebay, it is just fun to see what there is to see!
77. I love booking vacations, or planning my next vacation and finding how I can do it the cheapest!
78. Travelzoo.com is my favorite vacation planner.
79. I could go to Disneyland once a quarter each year and not get tired of it, seriously, it is so much fun to go there! Tower of Terror is one of my favorite places!
80. I like to talk to my parents on Skype, and or anyone else!
81. I used to think people that had cell phones must have high opinions of themselves and how it was so unfortunate they couldn't go anywhere without their phone until I got one -- now I can't imagine not having it!
82. I hate to text people. I can do quick notes but texting back and forth, I would rather talk to you!
83. I love the number seven, strange isn't it? I especially like to write the number.
84. I like to buy DVD's. Don't necessarily watch them, but I buy them "just in case" -- refer back to the number where I said I like to be prepared.
85. I used to work at Dunkin Donuts, another summer college job.
86. I do really well when we have a plan, but when we don't have plans for something, it drives me crazy!
87. Grapefruit is my favor scent for lotions or candles, but I hate the taste of grapefruits!
88. I hate to touch raw meat, so I cook my hamburger in large quantities and freeze it cooked!
89. When we get to have company, you can almost plan on the same meal everytime you come. I will mix it up a bit, but almost the same everytime!
90. My favorite ice cream is vanilla with raspberries and oreos mixed in.
91. I love raspberries and strawberries and watermelon! I would probably eat them everyday if I could!
92. Chicken is my favorite kind of meat.
93. Bubble baths are my guilty pleasure.
94. I love plaids to wear or just to have in my house, I have always liked them.
95. I hate to check out books from the library, I always forget about them and have to pay fines!
96. I love a good pair of flip flops, I would wear them everywhere if I could!
97. I cracked my head open when I was in first grade and everyone could see my brains -- not really, but you should have heard the phone calls my parents fielded THAT day after school (I went home early)
98. I love to fly southwest, they let me change everything if I need to and don't penalize me!
99. I got strep throat in seventh grade while my parents were out of the country and I had to beg to go to the Dr (not really but I had to ask) to get diagnosed!
100. I was in a car accident on my honeymoon, talk about memorable!

Ok, so probably most of these things aren't random, but I got this done, it has been a week today that I started working on it. Now I can move on to the next 100! Hopefully, you won't think I am to strange :)!