Hppy Birthday Jake!

Today is Jake's birthday. He has to work. He didn't even complain that he had to work. I love that about him. He is looking forward to his family calling him tonight, and will probably call the one's that he doesn't get to talk to because, really, wouldn't you think he would have the day off on a SATURDAY?!! Especially, if you are the BOSS?!

 

Most people don't get to know Jake very easily, I still laugh about the people who learn that he is really funny if you listen close enough you will get to hear his humor -- they tell me that like I wouldn't know! He has always been a farm boy at heart -- when he was a little kid, he would complain with his next younger brother about having to visit the grandparents in the city -- "it gives me a headache!" "Who would live in the city?" -- they both live in the city. Jake loves to ride horses with his dad andbrothers -- he is excited about his horse ride next week with his dad and brothers.

 

Jake loves to rope, I think if he were to just do what he really wanted, he would have been a cowboy. . .but he is a realist, my boys and our dog are smart enough to run and stay away from Jake if they are in the backyard and he is practicing his roping. He is a do-it-yourself kind of guy. . .he will try to figure out how to fix it himself and try a few times before he will say it is a hopeless endeavor. He loves peace and quiet -- he doesn't find it too often but loves the solitude.

 

He encourages our kids to do their best and will help them be the best they can be. He let's me do whatever I dream up, very rarely does he not "let me do" whatever it is I want to do. He is longsuffering :). Happy birthday, and we love all that you are and all that you do for us.

 

Family Rules

Many of you probably know that I LOVE to play around on the computer. . .and I also love to do craft projects -- I know, I should get a life, but, that is another story :). A few months ago, I saw a blog that made a cute set of rules for their family -- cute, yeah, but not my style. . . but then another blog embellished their rules and made something on the COMPUTER that I totally could do. . .So, I ran with the idea, and here is the family rules that I came up with on my COMPUTER . . . don't look too close, the help on the modge podge wasn't the best, but I LOVE the way the "Rules" came out, and I just LOVE my COMPUTER :). I printed it on as 20x30 print at Costco, grabbed a half inch of foam board and modge podge and less than fifteen dollars later. . . here you go!

 

Rainbow Cake

Ok, for anyone who wants to make their own rainbow cupcakes or cake. . .You just make a white cake, then divide your batter into six different bowls and then put the food coloring in. . .
RAINBOW COLOR DROPS OF FOOD COLORING
Purple 9 red and 6 blue drops
Blue 12 drops
Green 12 drops
Yellow 12 drops
Orange 12 yellow and 4 red drops
Red 18 drops
Looking back, I might try and put a little more in the red and orange batters for the bundt cake, but that would take practice. If you make it, let me know what you end up doing. . .Enjoy!

St Patricks Day

The kids are on spring break this week, and other than a trip to San Diego for the weekend, we have very few plans. So, I schemed in and came up with a way for us to incorporate our very good friends from our old ward and try to meet some new friends from our new ward. St Patricks Day party was the perfect reason to have a party! So, since I have been making invitations for other peoples parties, I decided that I could make an invitation, to make me really do it :) -- twenty minutes later -- I had the invitation -- printing at Costco, and less than 2.00 later we had all the invitations we needed! I thought they turned out cute.

So, I found a super cute cupcake recipe on Family Fun website, but I was not going to be patient enough to make rainbow cupcakes, enter in bundt cake pan. . .I made it the night before and left it upside down in the cake pan when I went to bed. I was pretty disappointed to find that my stone bundt cake didn't release!!!! So, I did my best to get it out -- it was ugly where it stuck in a couple of places -- panic -- enter Cool Whip -- you know kind of like a cloud -- sprinkles, and it was darling!

I didn't do a bunch of games -- we are at the park, right? But, I did have the older kids and then anyone who wanted to dig for money in the sand -- there were pennies and dimes in the sand, the older and some of the younger really liked this!

There was also a pot of gold that the kids had to find and then divy out the loot -- Spencer amazed me, he didn't play one of the games -- he was too busy hauling things from my house -- I was amazed at the things he brought over -- sterile gloves (not anymore), betadine, bandaids, gatorade, water, toys -- you name it -- I guess he just to make sure that no one got seriously injured -- fortunately no injuries!
My kind parents and neice came, and so did my SIL from Oklahoma -- she is here visiting her patents, but somehow makes it to all our fun activities -- here is her cute little girl --

Thanks everyone for coming -- it was fun -- we will have to do something again soon!

San Diego

For those who know me, know two things about me and traveling. . .I love to go on vacations, and I hate to drive far from home. I don't know why I hate to drive so much. . .but there is a stress that I feel whenever I drive out of my familiar areas, but I do LOVE traveling and going different places. . .

This past Friday, my parents were looking for somewhere to go, and I made the off handed remark of we would go to San Diego with them, if they wanted to go there. Usually, we don't go places with them, and the boys are busy and not much of a vacation, but my mom actually thought that might be fun -- she would talk to my dad. Pretty soon, we started talking about it more seriously, there were a few things that for sure had to happen before we would know for sure. . .but so far it was a go -- Jake even thought it would be fine -- he had to work this past weekend --

Around 12:30, my dad called and said well when are we going to leave? I hadn't planned on it this in depth -- I hurried and got our things together -- the boys were starting spring break so they got home around 1, and we were off at 2:30. San Diego, here we come!

 

We actually stayed up by Carlsbad, thinking that we would go to Legoland, our hotel was about 1/4 of a mile from the beach. Two boys didn't want to go to Legoland, just the beach. So, we went down to check out the beach. . .The boys LOVED it! We didn't go very prepared for our trip -- no towels, and only one pair of swim trunks -- so this trip was halted when Spencer was shivering beyond control!

 

In the afternoon, Jacob and I went to Legoland for the last couple of hours -- They charge half price for the last two hours, and Ryan and Spencer went to the beach.

 

It was funny when we came home from Legoland -- the other boys were in HEAVEN -- Grandpa had taken them back to the beach and they had seen a hermit crab and a DEAD SEAL -- Ryan even reported he got to take pictures of it! They also collected some cool rocks. . .they were in heaven!

 

Thanks mom and dad for coming with us, helping with the boys and making some fond memories with us! I told Jake that we should DRIVE back to San Diego because it has so many fun things to do and is so beautiful! Hopefully we will make it back sometime soon!

Pinewood Derby x2

Two cub scouts + 1 very busy Dad + 2 Pinewood Derby cars = STRESS in the Highest Degree!!!

Yep, it was "that time again" -- Pinewood Derby time, to be exact -- Ryan was a new Cubber, Jacob had only had one other car -- the stress -- you want both kids to do well, but you know one is going to beat the other -- you just hope that both will be happy and no crying in front of all of their peers -- ahhhh STRESS!

A couple of weeks ago, Jacob and Ryan had their pine wood derby race -- our new ward made it very official -- you turn your car in early, in a shoe box -- several rules and instructions -- where is Durango ward we need relaxed and fun?!! The turning the cars in early was really a nice thing -- there were no tears on the Tuesday of the race -- they let us cry the Thursday before -- Ryan's car was .7 oz over, so I was able to drill in the bottom of the car all over to get the .7 oz off, while Jake tried to help get Jacob's wheels on at home -- then -- there was the worry, four days of concern, one of the children had been warned he would probably come in last -- but as Jake reminded him, everyone needs someone to come in last so the others can feel good -- same child spent hours sanding his AND his brothers car -- then the wheels. . .ahh, yes, the wheels. Jake didn't have those done until the day of, let's be honest, we were painting one for a second try the morning of turning them in. . .

Race Day, no stress for the boys, just worry in making sure they both are happy at the end of it all. The first heat, brother had to race brother -- come on now, is that cruel and unusual punishment, or what?!

 

Ryan's car beat Jacob's handily, and proceeded to beat all but one car the entire night. Jacob's not so much, but they both left with smiles, and I was so proud of both of them, and grateful for the wonderful Scout Leaders, that even though, yes, cause some added stress, really do their best to make the boys feel good about themselves -- they made cars that they would race for those that were struggling. The thought and effort they put in, is INCREDIBLE!

 

Spencer was even happy, cheering his brother's on to victory and doing his best drawings of Lightning McQueen that he could!

Just in case you wonder, Jacob's seat was the furthest from the audience -- over by the officials, whereas Ryan, being the newest Scout, was closest to me -- thus more pics of Ryan and his car. :)

12 Years Ago Today. . .

An amazing adventure and family began! Graduation from vet school, three states, three moves, (two apartments, and one house) three kids and a million memories. . . Here is to a million more memories, and an eternity to spend together! I love you Jake and I am so grateful for all that you are!

 

 

 

 

Just in case you want to know what we did to celebrate our anniversary, we defrosted our chest freezer on Saturday. Church, and hometeaching with Jake and a yummy dinner tonight -- he promises we will celebrate tomorrow :)!

And Finally

So, we got baby chicks again, we will see if they will be hardier this year and if we have any better luck with hens vs roosters -- Jacob Burnham agreed to take all of our roosters, if we have any -- (he picked them for us at the feed store :)) -- and we have the dog on a vacation for the protection of the hens. . .so we will see how it goes. We got six two of each kind.

 

My boys each staked a claim on a variety and they have been enjoying them. We got them about a week ago now.

The chicks were doing well, all of the obstacles were removed, so I think from the demise of the chicks, or so I thought. . .
On Friday, I was hoping to get Spencer to leave the library without too much fuss, and ask if he had checked the chicks today. . .Nope, not yet, well we need to hurry home and make sure they have water. . .ok, we get home, and I am busy working inside. Spence runs out to check the chicks, I don't think anything of it. . .well, the next thing I know, Spencer is carrying a wet chick that can't stand up on its own into the house and says "mom there is something wrong with this chick" -- your right Spence, what happened -- oh, I gave it a bath -- you what? It was dirty -- so, we go in and start trying to warm up this chick, and I ask if there are any other bathers that I need to know about, yep, two other ones -- we dry them off, two are fine and we put them back outside -- the other, well, let's just say, it needs a vet -- we pack the chick in a container, bring the bright pink hair dryer and go and visit our favorite vet -- Jake drys the chick some more and says it should be fine -- put it under the light in its own little box -- by the time the boys get home, it is all right, it is in a place free of five year old bath providers, -- it is now resting in our backyard in a small marked grave, known only to two little boys -- does anyone want to adopt a five year old, he gives "great baths to week old chicks!"

Ryan's School Performance

Last week, Ryan's second grade class did a patriotic music program. It was fun to see Ryan up in front of people and participating! They all did a good job, Ryan was between two girls that liked to crowd him out, so it was fun to watch that taking place. We also got a picture of Ryan with his second grade teacher, Ms Baker.

 

 

 

Ryan's Baptism

In the craziness of the event, I didn't take very many pictures, but we had loads of fun!

 

Ryan got baptized on February 13, 2010. His grandparents from both sides were able to attend, as well his Uncle Tyler, Uncle Lewis & Aunt Diana and cousins, and Uncle Jon & Aunt Marlene and cousin Grace came to offer support. WE had several family friends that came to support Ryan and we loved having them all come -- thanks for coming!

 

 

The weather was so BEAUTIFUL after the baptism! We had a picnic at the park, and it was so perfect! Jake was kind as we were leaving on Monday for Vegas and had lot's of company coming in for the event, encouraged me to order a party sub -- Subway 6 foot sub filled the bill and the yummy fixings for a picnic filled the bill. Ryan's old, friend Rhett was able to attend from about four years ago, and they had SO MUCH FUN playing, and playing, after reuniting for a few minutes -- I was grateful for all of the people that took the time to support him, there were several from our old ward, a few from our new ward and one special day!

What a Monkey

The other day, the boys were out playing tether ball and Jake likes to keep the ball inside to protect the ball, so he told Spencer why don't you climb the pole and get the ball down? Half in jest, well, the next thing we know, Spencer is pushing the slide over to the pole, climbed on top of the slide and proceeds to CLIMB the pole! All the way to the TOP, he can't get the ball off, for obvious reasons, and then climbs down. And THEN, recreates the scenario, so I can take pictures! Jake then tipped the pole so he could get the ball off. What a monkey!

 

Valentine Madness

So, I finally downloaded the images from my calendar to my computer -- I know, how hard can it really be. . .but, I have had tons of computer issues. . .so, we are rocking and rolling again. . .
I wanted to post my Valentine's that we did for the boys this year to give to their classmates. . .Annually, someone in my family has given the shovel with I dig you and Kisses, I love the way they look, and the boys think it is fun to give them out. . .this year, Ryan and Spencer gave them out.

 

Since Spencer is in two preschools, and gave out I dig you to his preschool last year, I know, I am so lame, I didn't want him to have the same Valentine, we came up with, "Valentine, you blow me away" and gave those to his classmates.

 

 

Jacob came home from school on the day before the Valentine's party, and announced that he wanted to give Valentine's to his class. Valentine, I "chews" you with a pack of gum was my in a pinch solution.

 

Valentines for school was fun!