Christmas at our house...

It isn't Christmas, without the completion of a Transformer puzzle.

Christmas Jammies.

Nick's 12 String Acoustic Guitar with hard case...yes, I am awesome!

Yes, I was so excited to get a new purse...and yes, I played to the camera.

Nick got an old school hip hop cd compilation... he played it for us. (UP) Kaden danced (DOWN). Kaden did not want me to video him. so I snuck around a corner to tape him...and then he soon realized. Sorry the tape is sideways...now I know not to do that (since I can't rotate it).

Merry Christmas!

Winter Wonderland!

It snowed again last night! Somewhere around 6 inches or so...they say. The family enjoyed the snow...played, shoveled, and even swung. Good times! The hill that they are sliding down is in the middle of our cul-de-sac. The kids had so much fun. In fact, Austin is still out there now!

Thanksgiving 2008

So this was the 5th time my family met together for our annual Disney Cruise. It was a lot of fun. We had 40 family members all together...tons of fun, tons of sun, tons of food, tons of laughs, and tons of games. Good time as usual. Here are a few pictures to enjoy...

Sydney kissing amaya (the dolphin)

Austin playing in the sand in grand cayman

Nick and Kaden enjoying a beach-side pool...wierd, but awesome!
Sydney, dancing and happy at the Pirates of the Carribean Party

Sydney sad and crying about 5 minutes later (it was WAY past her bedtime)!

Kaden and I on the plane...goofy smile!

the kids and i with princess minnie

Nick and kaden sleeping away a hard day at the pool!

my kade-y

Nick's mermaid look

i am back...

...for today at least.
I have had a blog "hiccup" of sorts...I don't know if life is too busy, if I am too tired, or if I am just too boring...but blogging has seemed hard lately. So here I am, I am now here blogging. Yeah me. Pathetic, I know. At this moment, I can only think of Erin...I just don't know if i can be the true blogger that she is. But that's just me. I guess that I will do what I can...Right now, I am just doing baby steps back into it.

SpongeBob Square Pants

Do you like Kaden's Halloween Costume?! Cute, huh?!

Berry Patch Farm

A couple weeks ago (for Stephanie's Bday), we went out to Berry Patch Farm, out in Nevada, Iowa. While we were there, we took a hay ride, we picked apples, picked raspberries, and even got some baby pumpkins to paint at home. It was a fun day!

Onyx

Guess what?! We got a cat! Can you believe it?! I am mildly allergic to cats...and I sneezed for about 3 days...and now i feel immune to him. Luckily, he barely sheds, so that helps!
We adopted him from the shelter. He is actually a great cat. He is older, so he is quite mellow. He even lets the kids near by...sometimes. Kaden is the worst with him...but as Kaden says, "But Mom, I love him!" But the 2 best things about him: 1- He is quiet. 2-He knows how to use the litter box! Phew!

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney...

So I took Sydney to the hospital today! Yes...AGAIN! Can we say accident prone??!

Tonight's Adventure in 4 Acts

The Background:

Austin and Sydney decided to "golf" with a junior-sized golf club (yes, a real one). I was cleaning out the garage, and didn't notice this fabulous (*note sarcasm*) activity. So yay to me... I get the "inattentive mother award" for the evening!

The Injury:

Austin takes a swing at his tennis ball, and hits Sydney in the head on his back swing. The shrieking alerted me that something was amiss...I look over and Sydney has blood dripping down her face. After the bleeding stopped, I saw that the impact split the skin on her forehead pretty good...and I informed her that we would make a trip to the hospital.

The Post-Injury:

Sydney was crying a lot...obviously it was painful...but when I mentioned the hospital, the wailing increased in intensity. I told her that it wouldn't be like last time...I explained the joy of stitches, band aids, and stickers....and luckily, that won her over. In the mean time, Austin is crying too...wanting to know if I am giving him a time-out. The poor boy was a wreck (and it didn't even happen to him)! After explaining that I wasn't mad, I knew it was just an accident, and that Syd Syd would be okay--he calmed down to a whimper. Oh I almost forgot to mention, Nick had left the house to run to the store (about 20 minutes prior)...and he gets a cryptic call from me. I calmly, yet abruptly say: Nick, Syd got hurt. She is okay, but she needs stitches, so come home so I can take her to the hospital. *click* (By the way, you got to love the one car family situation!!)

The Hospital:

Sydney whimpers the whole way to the hospital, and the moment we walk in the door...it is all grins and giggles. I even had to remind her that "she needs to sit down" and "she can't skip in a hospital." We were at the hospital for about 45 min to an hour. You gotta love small town life!! We were the only ones there, in the ER at 6 in the evening. Sydney was awesome during the whole stitching up thing...only some minimal whimpering at the end (I wonder if the doc didn't numb it all over). Everyone was so impressed. I guess she had a lot of practice, right?!

The moral of the story:

Hide the golf clubs...it is never a good idea to let children (and even some adults) play with, let alone swing, a golf club!
I'll attach pictures tomorrow!

I don't know...

I really don't know what to blog about. Sorry. I am at a creative lull. sorry. how is everyone out there?!

Not Yet 30!

So the day before my 29th birthday, we celebrated...Ames style. What does that mean you ask? Well, we went to Hickory Park, of course! They sang and all. According to the waitress, Kaden was way more into their singing than I was. Not surprising!

My actual birthday was a super day too...full of food, pampering, and fun! It started with breakfast out with the ladies. I sent out a mass email to ladies in the ward, and asked people to come celebrate with me. We went to the Cafe and I enjoyed my favorite apple french toast! Yummy, yummy! (Sorry to cause pangs of jealousy to you Erin!) After I got home from breakfast, I skipped a church meeting (shhhh!) and went Garage Sale-ing with Sydney instead. I spent way too much money...but got some pretty awesome stuff (including 2 floor lamps for $2 each, a $5 acoustic guitar with bag, 8 shirts and sweaters for myself, just to name a few)! I love Ames and its plethora of weekend garage sales. Let's see...after that...Nick surprised me with an appointment for a pedicure and manicure. He knows that he always wins me over with that present! Stephanie came along...and we enjoyed the pampering. And then that evening, Madison came over to babysit...and we went out to PF Changs in West Des Moines (and no, we didn't see Shawn Johnson, DARN!). What a fun Night!!! Bonus Points to Nick for throwing together a fabulous birthday.

We had to continue the celebration...since we didn't celebrate at home with candles and cake with the kids. Why this matters, I don't really know...but Sydney thought it was essential! So...The next day, we had the "BYUI Gangsta Pimp" missionaries and friends over to celebrate with the family. Luckily, my cake was "ferg-i-licious!" (Sorry, inside joke...sort of!) It was an all-around party, as far as those sort of parties go! Austin even helped me blow out my candle! What a stinker!! He thought it was hilarious! Funny Kid!

Well, I am 29 now...and so lucky!

For Ellie...

This was the birthday cake that I was making when I talked to you!

Mini Ego Stroke Moment!

Yes...I am that proud! I worked hard on these Mary Kay facial boxes...and they turned out nicely! At least, I think so! Thanks for letting me stroke my ego a little! The End!

Yes, we are still here!

Hi everyone! Let's just say...August was my hardest month so far this year. I have learned a lot about myself, my children, and my patience. As for myself, I have learned to realize that I cannot do everything. I have known this for a long time...but it was a friendly reminder lesson for me. As for my children, they are social like me...and camp, school, and other out-of-the-house activities are ways to keep the peace in our home. As for my patience, I have learned that I have very little (if any at all). Well, we have done some fun things this summer...

1. Visited family in Wisconsin...where we did fireworks, boating, and playing!
2. Took a family vacation (24 hours) to Mall of America and Nickolodeon Universe.
3. Entertained lots of family and friends as they made their way through Iowa.
4. And due to some maternal encouragement, I started my own business (as a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant)...and I actually am having fun with it!
5. Built a swing and climbing spiderweb in our yard...or I should say that Nick (and Chip) did that, while I cheered them on!

Yeah, now that summer is over...I am excited for school to start. I am hoping that this will bring a lot of peace back into our lives. I can dream, can't I!!! (wink, wink)

It's a bit late!

This is how Nick really is when it is too late for him!

Sydney's 4th Birthday, 4th of July, and more!

So we survived another birthday! We had a family-fun-filled week! Nick's family came to visit, my sister and her kids came to visit, and we went to Wisconsin (my sister's house) for the 4th of July! It has been a crazy couple of weeks...but we had a lot of fun!

Sydney with Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Mike
Sydney and Austin
Birthday Girls-- Grandma Pat (64) and Sydney (4)
Austin and Grandpa Clyde
Al and ElAustin celebrates!

With Grandpa Clyde and Grandma Pat, Kaden finally slept after an exciting day on the Mississippi River. Deanna and Sydney enjoy the day. Austin is so happy he didn't drown in the Mississippi River after falling off the raft with Mom!