Eclipse

I'm half way through Eclipse and while I can not make myself read it slower, I will be sad to have it end. Can't wait for the next book. Any one have any suggestions for my next read? I would love to hear them.

Christmas

Well, Christmas was fun at our house. Santa didn't forget us and we have had a great time spending time with all the family around. I think the highlight was that Sara transitioned from Army crawl to really crawling on Christmas morning, this made the morning really fun with her going after everything and squealing with delight at her new found skills.

Christmas Eve the kids and Teri played some Uno. Our kids are so into card games, we play something almost every night.

The kids in their 'Christmas Eve Jammies'.

I'm not sure if you'll be able to read this, it is Ry's note to Santa. He was so proud that he could write the whole thing with very little help. When he was done, he read it out loud and was even prouder that he had rhymed and didn't know it.
" Dear Santa, Here is a treat for you to eat. Love Ryan and Jenaka and Sara."

Heeley's! I'm not sure if I was glad to see these arrive or not. I did buy them over a month ago. Ryan has begged for them for months. However, we have seen Ry try to skate on 4 wheels before and it was unbalanced to say the least. So I haven't been looking forward to the learning curve that these shoes would surely require. I have to say however I am impressed with how patient he has been with listening to me and taking the steps to learn balance. After only 4 days he was able to run and 'heeley' for a few feet. He still catches a toe every other time and ends up flat on his face, but he gets up and try's again. I suppose you have to really know Ryan to understand, he is sooo impatient! If he doesn't learn something in 2 minutes or 2 try's he is on his bed in tears for 2 hours and there is no talking him out of it. So this has been a refreshing suprise!

New Civic

So we bought another new/used car for Barry. It's not quite as 'cool' as the last one, maybe it won't get stolen this way!

Good Laugh

Ok, sorry if you read Allison's blog too, but this was too funny! I just had to post it!

Nice and Shiny!

Here is the Civic when we bought it only 3 months ago, nice and shiny...sniff, sniff.

Our Stolen Car

I'm trying to find some before pictures so you can tell the difference, but for now here are the afters.
Ryan and Jena's comments over the last few day:
Why would someone do that to our car? Those guys are definitly on the 'Bad' List! (Santa's Bad List) and I think they are going to get a really big piece of coal for Christmas! We hope so too! :)

I think the thing we are most annoyed about is the fact that we have to go look for a new car now. We hate car shopping, it took us about a month of test driving before we found this one and it was in such great shape! GRRRRRrrrrrrrrr!!!

On a lighter Note

Here are a few fun pictures from our weekend.

Barry and Sara at Crown Burger Enjoying some fry's together.
We took the kids to donate Grandpa's Jar of Change to Quarters for Christmas at KSL. They thought that was great fun and wanted to see all the shoes that it would buy for the kids with no shoes.

Grandpa Jake keeping Sara warm while we watched the Nativity at Temple Square on Friday.

Ry, Me and Jen, keeping warm at Temple Square.
(Ry was having camera cooperation problems all night long. Barry said well, he's a boy and he's 6, this doesn't satisfy me.)

Our Family with Granny and Grandpa Hunt and Granny's Dad, Great Grandpa Nielsen.

Granny made her about 5 dozen Cinnamon Rolls on Saturday and Jena made a batch of mini cinnamon Rolls. They are Great Grandma Nielsen's Recipe, Granny said she must be thinking about Grandma because this is what she always made. Sounds like a tradition in the making to me. They are too good, I think I've had about 6 already!


We also went to visit Barry's Grandma, Great Grandma Hansen in Nephi on Sunday. She makes some great Roast Beef! And she is always ready with some great stories too. She is one of the funnest 'Old People' I know! :) Barry's mom, Carol, is in the red sweater, she says to ignore her hair, she was having a 'Bad Perm Day'.

Funny story about the Bear Jena is holding. Today when Centerville police were here, they gave Ry 2 Teddy Bears from his trunk and some Jr. Police stickers. Ry thought this was great and came in to give one to Jena and then told us "He sells them out of his trunk." We all laughed, maybe if you buy a teddy bear from the Centerville Police trunks they won't give you a ticket. Barry told him, "Well, they all have to have some kind of part time job."


And this is just a funny picture I found on my dads camera of Barry in our wards July 24th parade. Ry didn't want to ride his bike any more so Barry did, notice the bike helmet on top of his hat. Barry is kind of famous for using his head to 'hold' things.

Something is Missing

Do you see something missing from this picture? See that spot next to the van, the dirt area where a car should be?


Well something is missing, Barry's Civic.


It was STOLEN!

Can you believe that? Sometime very early Sunday morning. The funny part, yes there is a funny part, Barry went out that morning to get something out of the van and he didn't even notice it was gone! Hello, civic, do I own a civic? Grandpa went out a few minutes later to shovel and notice it was gone. You can see the broken glass from the drivers side window here.

*#@*#* (That is a bad word.)

I suppose we picked a bad car in terms of the chances of getting stolen. White Honda Civic EX, cold air intake (I have no Idea what this does but I think it makes it faster?) Euro lights, 17" tires and chrome wheels, Stereo system and speakers. Sort of a little thief magnet.

They found the car late sunday afternoon in NSL, Most of the engine gone, front and rear lights gone, no tires, no wheels, no stereo, no wheels. I'm going to see it tomorrow so I'll post some pictures. I have no idea why, but we keep laughing about it. Barry is more ticked that all his Dave Matthews Band CD's were in the car+ about 30 more.

Just so you know, we don't think Centerville is such a nice little town right now. In the last 10 years we have had the following stolen from this same property: About $10,000 in equipment from the back of my dad's truck (climbing equip, tools ect.), Then Matt's Snowmobile was stolen from the backyard, right after my parent's re-landscaped the front yard someone hit the mailbox and spun out of control through the front yard. And now this! We are thinking about installing a surveillance system!

Waiting, Magic and Frostbite

So I'm finally done with New Moon. Hugh Sigh of relief when Edward finally showed back up! Like Bella I think I was holding my breath. I just made a call to my sister Teri, she is half way through Eclipse and has been given strict instructions to go Quicker!

I know, 'quicker' is not a real word, just an little thing between Teri and I. We get a lot of strange looks when we get together and at like we are young again. We call each other things like 'banana boobs' and 'pork butt'. We tend to get a few strange looks. Sort of like the fact that Teri names her cars and now my kids call grandpas truck 'Lester', as if it's completely normal to name your cars!

We love aunt Teri, the kids had a fun sleep over at her house on Thursday. She taught them a fun little magic trick throwing an invisible ball into a plastic grocery sack. I have to say I was really stumped for about and hour. Good trick! Ry couldn't help himself though and spilled the beans. Later he wanted to know why I kept saying he 'Spilled the beans.' 'I didn't spill any beans today mom.' They also went sledding down the stairs to her backyard. While I'm sure this was great fun, it had the mother a bit...nervous. Ryan was a bit concern he might have frost bite. Luckily his legs are still pink and according to Jena, 'Frost bite will turn you black and you will die', We are glad Ry is still with us!

Out of Pepsi

Saturday is special day it's the day we get ready for Sunday, We clean the house and we get PEPSI at the store so we can make it through until Monday! :)

I've been really good about drinking only like 1-2 pepsi's a week and I think this is why I have kept my 10 pounds off. But there are times I just must have it!

Board this afternoon...

This is a pepsi can from Italy I believe. They put this cool blue plastic on the top so you have a clean can to drink from. Why don't we have that? Although the Soccer on the car must go!!!

A Pepsi bottle from Japan, They are so weird!






I want this Belt buckle, very cute.

Found this video. Sort of fun to watch and remember. Don't you miss Michael J. Fox?

Girls

Dress up was a hoot today! We played house, store, restaurant and even knocked off a few Jedi's (brothers, uhg!) all while running in beautiful plastic princess heels!

We were so glad to have Bart, Karen, Spencer and Allie stop by on their way to Idaho, even if it was for only 1 day. Those Jedi were so fast I couldn't even snap a picture of them.

I said to Jen and Allie, "let's take your picture." Allie's response was "Oh, How Perfect!" Spoken like a true princess! I love it!

Sooo Kissable

My Beautiful Sara this morning. She is such a great little baby. Her little cheeks are always pink because we can't stop kissing them! And those little lips! I just can't get enough of this little girl! She re-wraps me around her finger every time she lays that little head on my shoulder.

Our little Actress

Jena had her Preschool program last Thursday. She was so proud that she memorized all of her parts! It was darling, I love that this preschool presents a program about the nativity along with a few fun songs. I was so disappointed last year when Ryan and Jena's school did a program all about Santa. They seem to really learn and understand the story of Jesus Birth when they get to be apart of it.

So here is Jena in her acting debut!



Thanks Natasha for the expert videography! :)

Best Friends!
Lucy, Amelia and Jena
We are so glad Amelia and Jena are able to go to the same preschool this year. They are so cute together.

Seriously

I Seriously need the writers strike to be over! I mead pay the people what they're worth and give me back my Grey's Anatomy! I can't take it anymore!

Family on the move

Our family is all over this Christmas and we are sad they can't all be hear with us. Matt has moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands to fly helicopter tours. He is right above the Domican Republic, east of Cuba and the Bahamas. Pretty amazing right? We think he'll be there for about 6 months. Hopefully we can all visit while he's there!



View Larger Map

Bart and Karen are on the move right now. Bart finally graduated and is officially a Nurse Anesthesthetist. (I don't think that is spell right.) They will be living in Kansas for a few years. So they have packed up and left Boston to drive across the country and spend time in Idaho with her family and then here with us for while they wait for their house to be completed in Kansas.

Teri spoke with Karen yesterday and she said, "I don't think I can live here, it's like going back in time, it's like Sugar City 20 years ago!" We all thought this was very funny. Karen grew up in Sugar City, Idaho right next to Rexburg. I guess she's not a small town girl anymore. Also, apparently Garden City has tons of Slaughter houses and there is a 'Smell' associated with that. Spencer and Allie are not so pleased with the smell of their new town.

New Blogs

I found 2 of my cousins blogs today. I was so excited, I love seeing what everyone is up to and their cute family's. Daphne had this quote on her blog and I just had to share, I think it is so great.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

Christmas Count Down

I love that Ryan can count down to Christmas all by his self this year. As I was getting into the shower this morning, the kids were all sitting on our bed with Barry and I overheard Ryan tell Jena, "Jena! 7 more days to Christmas! And do you know what that means? We get PRESENTS!" Jena squeals and Sara started to clap her hands in all the excitement. Christmas morning should be fun!

New Moon

Well, guess what I did yesterday from 7pm to 2am. Yes, finished Twilight. I couldn't put it down! Starting New Moon Tonight. Teri has the 3rd book so she better hury up with it, at this rate I will need it in about 3 days!

Delayed

So I haven't been getting much reading done. I think I'm on chapter 6 of twilight. Actually I haven't gotten much of anything done that I had planned for the last few days. Why? I owe it to the purchase of this. I love these movies.

It's a Mystery

I have a CD stuck in my player...I wonder how that happened...No one seems to know...I wonder just how many CD's are actually in there?

Our Weekend

We had a patience trying Saturday. To sum it up, Ryan needs a Christmas Break. He is on emotional overload lately and I'm not sure the rest of the family can take any more of it!
We took a trip to Smith and Edwards and this one is lucky we didn't leave him there!


This one doesn't help matters either. She is such a tease! She just knows every button to push.

Notice the beef 'turkey'. This has some kind of magical effect on my children. Buy them a beef jerky from the gas station and they mysteriously calm down.
Gross I know, but whatever works!

Thanks to these 2 little things, mom and dad made it home with our sanity still intact.
And all of the children alive and unharmed! :)

Crime Scene on the Home Front

We have a crime scene on our driveway! Friday night we were headed out to Famous Footwear to get Dad some shoes. Barry headed out to the car with Sara and Jena. Suddenly as Ryan and I were about to come out, Barry came back in holding a screaming Jena and they were both dripping blood! I'm in a panic, help Jena, wait, were is Sara! After getting Sara back out of the car, I found Barry and Jena in the bathroom. Jena was getting her nose packed with toilet paper. Her clothes, Barry's coat and the bathroom counter were blood spattered. She was of course still screaming. Not that I blame her, but Jena is a notorious screamer.

Ryan in the mean time is pacing up and down the hall and trying not to panic. Ryan does not do well when his sister is hurt or when there is any amount of blood in site.

As it turns out, Jena was running around the van with her hands in her pockets and slipped on the icy driveway landing smack on her nose having no hands free to break her fall. I cringe just thinking about it! We thought for sure she would have a broken nose or at least a huge black eye or something. Turns out she was swollen for about an hour and then perfectly fine! We are so grateful she is fine. She is quite embarrassed when you ask her about this now, but she loves that she has blood on the driveway!

Later that same night, we are standing in the kitchen telling my parents and Teri what happened. My mom looks over and see there is a 2 foot by 2 foot area of wall covered in blood spray! Turns out Barry had started to take her into the kitchen and Jena had coughed right then, spraying blood all over and then he took her to the bathroom. All the blood did come off the wall thank goodness!

Here she is, no worse for the wear!

The Train Set

Just a photo of the fun train set I talked about in an earlier post. I have been forbidden to take it down. I'm complying for now, but they have been told it must come down before Christmas or Santa can't get to the tree!

Teething

Poor Sara has been so grumpy. She had her 9 month check up the on Friday and she is bound to be much taller than Jena. Jena has always been 30-40% in her height, she recently has reached the 50%, yeah! Average! Sara on the other hand is always 75%. We also found out she does not have Thalasemia like Daddy and Jena. This is good news. However Dr. Reese looked in her mouth at her teeth and said, 'Oooh, Ouch!' She has 4 top teeth all about to break through at once, very swollen, very grumpy. Barry has been rubbing them to help them break, she is not too pleased with this. However the right two have broken through. After a power struggle of Barry trying to get Sara to crawl or sit quietly and watch football with him, she finally gave up and took a little nap on top of Daddy.

The De-Junk-a-thon

Tomorrow, I am de-junking my kids room. This is a semi-annual chore that I do not look forward too. My children completely fall to pieces at the mention of 'Mom is going to organize your room'. They know this means they will come back to find all their precious kid's meal toys trashed, broken toys they love but no longer play with missing and the pile of paper about 1 foot high with every scrape of paper they ever made a mark on will have dwindled down to only the really special ones. It's like the movie 'Toys Story' on garage sale day. Only it's my kids who have mass panic not the toys. They are over it in about 24 hours, long since forgotten what it was they couldn't live without. Then you start to hear things from their room like "hey, I forgot I had this doll" and "oh, I love this guy, Mom, look! I found my guy!" Toys they haven't used in months become magical again because they can actually find them! Wow, I think I'm talking myself up for this because I dread it so much. On the other hand it is Sooo nice when it's done!

Speaking of great toys, I think the best toy we have ever purchased, well Granny purchased the first set, is the Fisher Price Geo Tracks Train set. Ryan got this for Christmas when he was 2 and we have added pieces to it for almost every birthday or Christmas for years. He is now 6 and it is still the hit toy. Jena loves it also. It's only downfall is that it is so big now that it takes a 10x10 empty space to set it up! Barry and I get so involved in setting it up perfectly that we won't let the kids near it until the track is positioned so the train can make an unending loop which covers all pieces of track. This is quite a challenge, great if you like puzzles. At least the kids don't reck our efforts now. My cousin's little 2 year old boy Peyton was here last night and the moment he saw the train he was on a mission! He would not leave it alone, he was also like godzilla to the mini train city below, but it was so cute how excited he was.

Speaking of Godzilla, we refer to Sara as Baby-zilla at our house. She is 9 months tomorrow and wants anything she can get her hands on. She does something that all of my kids have done but it is still just as funny and frustrating. We hand our kitchen hand towel on the oven door handle. When she is in her walker she goes straight to the towel the moment she sees it and pulls it off and throws it over her shoulder. It usually ends up hooked on the back of her walker and she drags it around the house with her. If we can't find it then we get out another and she repeats the process. It's not unusual to find 3-4 hand towels from the Living room to the family room and down the hall if they aren't all stuck to the back of her walker still.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Chris, holy cow you are 8 years old! Happy Birthday to Natalie too, you are forever 25 to me! :) Here is a cute picture of Chris, Sydney too because she is just too cute to leave out! Nat takes all of here kids pictures and they are so great, you've never seen kids be so good for pictures, she's been training them from birth...literally. She took my kids to, they turned out great, I just need updated ones.


By the way Nat, do you notice I keep linking to your blog...maybe you should update it! Ha, Ha!

This just made me smile

This is totally random, but it made me smile, kind of cute.

twilight

Just started reading Twilight last night. I know, I know, what took me so long. I'm sort of stubborn, if everyone is talking about it and tells me to read it, I don't. I'm only 1 chapter in so far, but I have to say I'm hooked! Looks like I'll be having some late nights!

I love my Dad

My dad has to be the handiest person to have around. Sunday the power went out about 10:30 am. I had the kids showered but none of the adults had showered yet. I just resigned myself to the fact that I would have air dried, bad hair for the day.

As I'm getting out of the shower I hear my dad yelling, I realize it is coming from the laundry shoot to the basement, I open it up and he is handing me an extention cord. He had gone out and hooked up the Generator and run extention cords all around the house and up through the basement just so my mom and I could dry and curl our hair! Not only is he handy to have around, he's thinking of us! He's just always in action, doing something, busy, busy, busy, one of the hardest workers around. I admire him so much! It made my day!

Something else I love about him: Watching him play hide and seek with the kids. No one is having as much fun as he is when this game is played. You can see him running through the house and hear him almost giggling as he goes. It is truly an entertaining experience. Anytime he is playing with the grandkids he is so fun with them. This video was Sunday morning in the backyard.



I Love You Dad!

Saturday Night Entertainment

Cute Sara at the Ward Breakfast.

This weekend was nice and slow. We had a ward breakfast Saturday at 8am (too early!) where Santa dropped by, then on to Jena's dance recital at Viewmont where I set up a Scentsy table and Natalie had a vinyl table. We then just hung out, which was nice for a change, no running here and there.


Ryan was not so sure he wanted to sit on Santa's lap, not because he was afraid, but because he couldn't decide what he wanted to ask for. When Santa arrived he finally he decided on something to ask for but told me "mom, that's just Santa's helper". After telling Santa's Helper what he wanted, Santa asked him if he had been good, "yes" Ry replied. Santa: Well, you need to stop arguing with your mother at bedtime." Ryan's eyes got a little bigger and he looked to Barry and I and then replied, "OK". Santa: You also need to stop teasing your little sisters. Ryan's eyes even bigger now, "OK". And off Santa's lap he walks straight to me and says, "Mom, I think that's the real Santa!" This was very entertaining to Barry and I.


Jen's dance recital was great and she did wonderful. The highlight of the day was our Saturday Night Entertainment in the following video. The kids beg Barry to do this several times a day now.

Bumper Cars and Laundry

Sara has become quite the pro in her walker. She can go forward, backup, run, turn in any direction and if something is in her way, including your feet, she will run and ram it until it moves (or not). Run, ram, giggle, back up, Repeat. This is especially fun when anyone opens the refrigerator door which she then knocks shut with you still in it. The dishwasher is her most beloved and frustrating object in the house. She is ecstatic the moment we pull it open and comes running at full speed, she then proceeds to growl at it and us when she can not reach the racks! As soon as she learns to crawl, I predict we find her in the dishwasher.


A conversation between Ryan and his friend Cole on the phone this morning. Cole: Ryan can you play yet? Ryan: No, I haven't done my jobs yet. Cole: Jobs! I don't have jobs, what do you have to do? Ryan: I have to make my bed, pick up my room, brush my teeth, comb my hair and then I have to do the Laundry. Cole: The Laundry? You have to do the laundry? Ryan: Yeah, my mom hates the laundry so I have to do it for her today.

I'm so glad he's thinking of me!

Nothing Better To Do

I should be doing Laundry, this is the reason I'm still in my pajama's, in front of my computer procrastinating! I hate laundry day. This is where I should have a good attitude and just get it done, I rather go buy more clothes!

So here are some fun pictures of the kids.

Jena was playing with the camera the other day and some how figured out how to work the timer. I'm not really sure how to work the timer myself, so I'm impressed! We then played with her pictures in photoshop and she loved this one.

Ry loves meat! Especially any type that comes on a bone that he can pick up and eat like a cave man. Spicy Chicken Wings are his favorite! Needless to say the turkey thigh on thanksgiving was a hit!


I've mentioned before that Sara has a mind of her own. Lately she had decided she does not want to sleep. 10am and 4pm naps with bedtime at 7or8 is no longer the norm. It is anyones guess when she will decide to sleep lately. And if you decide she is tired before she is ready, no amount of rocking or bottles or swaddling will do the trick, she will also scream till she is horse if you just let her cry it out. Bedtime lately is 9 or 10 and we are up 4-5 times a night again. Here gums are very swollen and she had a fever last night so I'm hoping we sprout some teeth soon and get back on schedule!

Also, Sara has reached one of my favorite milestones. She can locate her binkie by herself and put it in without help. She has also started trying to put it into my mouth and giggling while doing so. Very Funny!

Where the Angels Sit

Yesterday Barry stayed home from church because he was sick, he also kept Sara home with him since her and I usually end up home about and hour after it starts anyway. Sara has decided to rebel early in life and refuses to sit in any church related event for more than 1/2 hour. This ended up being really great because I actually enjoyed church and felt I learned something for the first time in about 10 months! (Sara is only 8 1/2 months but you can't enjoy church 9 months pregnant either.)

Sitting in sacrament meeting, I'm doing my best to keep Jena from breaking into spontaneous Song and Dance as she does on a regular basis. She can hardly contain herself. As the man sitting behind us said at the end of the meeting, "Boy, she's Dramatic isn't she." At least she is entertaining people! And trying to get Ryan to put his feet down, he is laying on the bench holding one straight in the air and kicking the bench in front of us with the other. "It just wants to do that" he tells me. With Ryan there is always a "I just, it just, we just..." for every conversation.

I'm just happy we aren't having the typical whining for drinks and treats. Ry's usual: "Mom, I want a sippy cup", Me: "Ryan, you don't even get sippy cups at home, I haven't let you or Jena use them for almost 2 years", Ryan: "But Moooom, that kid has a sippy cup, why can't I bring one?" Me: "Ryan that little boy is 2!"

In the midst of this, Jena says to me pointing to the front of the chapel, behind the choir seats where there are 2 very tall & skinny windows on each side of the room but they are hidden behind the corner of a small wall and all you can see is the sun shinning in. "Mom, is that where the angels sit?" Aren't kids great! I love when my kids say these kinds of things! "I think it's just the windows Jen." "No, I'm pretty sure those are the shinny Angels Mom" I didn't argue, what do I know, maybe it is the angels!

Life from Sara's point of view

I am so frustrated with all of my family. The don't seem to understand that I Do No Want to Crawl! I try and try to tell them, but no one listens to me. I would be much happier standing up, even trying to walk, but no, the feel the need to put me on my belly and call to me like a dog! I have come up with a plan. From now on when my mom sits me down to get into the shower or make lunch or do laundry, I just fall over face first onto the floor and cry. This also creates little purple bruises on my cheeks and then everyone asks my mom, "What happened to her poor face?" I think she will stop putting me down and making me crawl if I keep this up. I will update you if it works or not! :)




Also, don't feed your baby peas. This is cruel and unusual punishment. Even if the Doctor tells you they are good for your baby, they are not. Just open up some canned peas and take a big wiff...you're gagging right? So why would you feed that to your child? My mom gags, but she still feeds it to me, maybe she will read this and stop.