Happy Birthday, Jaxson

I can't believe he's 5! My, how the time flies! I love you, Peanut~

Do you think he's hungry?

It's not like I starve him...Jaxson sat here for a good 10 minutes watching the chicken cook...I don't blame him...it's a great recipe! Okay...you twisted my arm...i'll share it with you...here it is...

Creamy Chicken & Biscuits

1/2 large onion

1 1/2 tsp butter

4 cups chopped, cooked chicken

1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped pimiento (the red stuff inside the green olives...yes,they sell it by itself)

1 cup shredded cheese (divided)

6-8 canned biscuits

Preheat oven to 350

Grease bottom and sides of 11X9 baking dish

Dice the onion, saute in butter. Put in bowl.

Add cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk & pimiento. Mix well.

Spoon mixture into baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.

Take out of oven and top with 3/4 cup cheese. Arrange biscuits over cheese and top with remaining cheese. Bake until biscuits are done (20ish minutes). Serve immediately!

Let me know how you like it...Jaxson loves it! (so do the others!) Until next time...

Tag!

Thanks a bunch, Kass for this opportunity...sorry I can't return the favor...love ya lots!

Here goes...

So apparently I've been tagged! This is going to be interesting...

5 things I was doing 10 years ago

1. Sitting in our quite apartment with no kids...(I now have 4)
2. living in warm weather...(our high was 30 today)
3. not much housework...(eric & I both worked 10 hour days...)
4. taking all the naps I wanted...(I can't even spell nap nowadays)
5. dreaming of having a family (see where dreams take ya...)

5 things on my to-do list
1. Laundry
2. Dishes
3. Sleep (somewhere in there...)
4. Clean out the fridge
5. Clean out the oven (my favorite!)


5 snacks I enjoy
1. Popcorn
2. Chips and Salsa
3. Orange Sticks
4. Dang Quesadillas
5. Macaroni & Cheese crackers...YUM!

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire
1. Hire a Maid
2. Go on vacations( yes...that is plural)
3. Hire a driver (with a fancy car)
4. Buy a house where I could have my own floor...with a bowling alley and movie theater and gym and a hogi yogi (I have never thought about this, can you tell?!?!)
5. Stimulate the Economy

5 places I've lived
1. Heaven (hopefully, one day I can go back...)
2. Winslow, AZ (I grew up on a corner there...well, a house on a corner... unless you ask Denise)
3. St George, UT (Love the Pasta Factory)
4. Phoenix, AZ (could use the warm weather about now)
5. Spokane, WA (here until we move elsewhere)

5 things I'm passionate about
1. Family
2. Movies
3. Music
4. Religion
5. Patriotism

5 things I say often
1. FOR THE LOVE...
2. GO TO BED!!!!!!
3. JAXSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. I love you!
5. Dinner is Ready!

5 things I want to do before I die
1. Hire a Maid
2. Stay in a castle in Scotland
3. Swim with the dolphins (preferably while I am still breathing)
4. See my kids graduate high school, college, get married and give me lots of grandkids (in that order, please)
5. Buy an island

5 things I want/need
1. To go to sleep (it's after midnight)
2. My house clean (without me doing it!)
3. My kitchen painted (again, without me doing it)
4. Christmas to be paid for (by someone else)
5. My husband to not have to work so dand hard)

5 places I want to see/visit
1. Disneyland...it never gets old!
2. Australia
3. Scotland
4. Vegas (we always have a great time!)
5. Times Square

5 TV shows I can't live without (I can live with out these I just like them)
1. The Office
2. Survivor
3. The Amazing Race
4. Biggest Loser (I would love to be on it someday...I just hate Alison Sweeney)
5. Supernanny (Again...would love to be on it!)

5 things you don't know about me
1. I love to play games (I am all alone in my family on that note...we still have games from our wedding that haven't been opened!)
2. I love having my feet rubbed (hint to the husband...it has been a while)
3. Sterling Roses are my favorite (eric, I swear you better read this)
4. I love to fill shopping carts in the store and then leave
5. I have narcolepsy (snore, snore...I'm sorry, were you saying something?!?!)


Tag: Whitney, Shiela, Glenna, Natalie, Lauren...You are welcome, Girls!
Until next time...

Happy Birthday, Eric

Eric,
Thanks for being the person you are...my rock, my friend, my partner, my babies' daddy! I hope you had an amazing day...(not really since you had to work...sorry!) Here's to many more birthdays...and hahaha...for now you are as old as me! I love you!

SPOILED ROTTEN!!!

Apparently...I can't leave these guys alone for one second (I refuse to bring them all in to the bathroom with me)...this is what I found when I came out...Although...I do wish I could find the picture I have of Cayson painting Eric's toenails (it is not safe to fall asleep on the couch at our house...) I only wish I would have had a camera on Eric when he found his red toenails (a scream from the shower...hahahahaha). Anyways, Hailey wanted to paint her own nails but Deni was just fine letting her brothers help her out (I'm not quite sure what happened to her shirt). Seriously...I was just going to the bathroom and getting the dirty clothes out of there so I could throw them into the washer...3 minutes TOPS...man, they move fast! Oh well...at least it didn't end up on my carpet...there's always tomorrow!.



This is pathetic!

So Pretty!!!!



Until next time...

Happy Thanksgiving

Much to be thankful for this holiday season...many family and friends who continue to put up with me...thank you! Eric...you are the love of my life...thanks for putting up with me mostly without an argument...I love you, bloodsucker! Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson, & Deni...thanks for making me laugh everyday...even if the windows get broken (twice)...Supernanny would die in our house! Denise, Kim, Brother...I call him that because he is my brother:)...thanks for always being there for me...keep sending me the funnies, bro! Mom and Dad...what great examples you are to me...thanks for 32 years of unconditional love! Danna, Mike, Charlie, Leslie...thanks for letting me into your family...even though I am a PITA...it seems I fit right in (kidding, kinda)...Gma Brewer...I canned peaches and cried cause you weren't there to tell me I was doing something wrong! To all my friends (the list is WAY too long)...thanks for lots of shoulders to cry on...even if some of them are attached to phones...the list could go on and on...yeah, I do have a lot to be thankful for...you all are a part of me and I love everyone of you...Until next time...

Update on Deni

Okay...thanks to all of your prayers for Deni...they were definately answered. She went to the dermatologist on Monday and here's the news...

1. She has one of the worse cases of excema he has seen on a child...not rash wise...but the different types of sores she has on her body...her bottom and feet are rashes...her belly and legs are sores...it's weird, he says...there is a cream for it!

2. She has blackheads...on her nose and forehead and a little on her belly (weird). Anyways, puberty is gonna be great! There is a cream for this too!

3. Atopic dermatitis...she has been diagnosed w/this before but just not given the right treatment for it...change the laundry soap (All...free and clear), shampoo (Johnson & Johnson no more tears baby shampoo), soap (cetaphil cleansing bar), lotion (yes, there is a cream for this too)
Which brings me to our daily routine...
After bath...moisturize w/cetaphil moisturizing cream, apply one cream to bottom and feet, apply other cream to nose and forehead...put on boxers (the elastic on her panties irritate her skin...she's not excited to wear boys underwear), shirt, pants, socks, shoes....it doesn't seem like much...until you have to remember...did I put that lotion on yet and where does it go?!?! And it has to happen TWICE A DAY! It has been really fun re-washing all of her clothes and bedding and the towels...oh, well...I'm glad we have a road in which to travel with her, though...let's hope it is free of any more speedbumps! Until next time!

Twilight...Brace Yourselves...It is LONG~

Okay...I was hoping to post this a lot sooner but I just haven't...thanks for the push, though (Lauren...I'm talkin' to you...) Here goes...

So Patti and Rachael and Diana and Waz and I all met at the theater at 9:00pm (for the midnight movie). There were a few people there...none of which were nearly as cool as we are! We had some other friends that were coming at 10 but we didn't want to wait for them so we got our place in line (we were 2nd...the 1st had been there since 6:30-yes, there are people crazier than we are) anyways, we were hungry...the kids had already been fed but we wanted "real" food...PIZZA! Now, there aren't many movie theaters out there that serve pizza...so we enlisted the help of an usher named Ethan that we adopted as our pet~(oh, let's say a pet gopher, hahaha). All we had to do was call his name and out of nowhere...tada...there he was! Well, we wanted pizza and so we asked him if they would let us order a pizza...we were sitting not far from a sign that said "NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK". He consulted with the mgr who said...YES...just don't take it into the theater (I think it was safe to say that a pizza wouldn't be there after 3 hours of waiting). So off to Fat Daddy's Patti and Rachael went (it was next door). While they were gone...I heard a very nasty rumor...there was a Twilight party going on in the game room of the movie theater and someone told us that they were going to be able to cut in line...OH, ETHAN...after a squabble with me...Ethan went to find his manager and came back with some news...the people who rented out the game room had paid extra for the services offered...one of which was early admission into the theater...however, since they had WAY too many people in the party room...and WAY to many words with me...and others, I am sure...they decided to give them their own theater...which was fine with me...I still got to put my feet up in the theater and enjoy the movie...or so I thought...Now, I would never in my poorly thought out schemes...ever let my 13 & 14 year olds go to the movies with their friends at midnight...EVER...but that is who was there...1000s of them (or so it seemed). Every time Edward came out on the screen...AAAAGGGHHH!!! They all screamed! SHUT UP, seriously...Ugh! It was awful and I left the movie theater HATING the movie...But, Patti saved me and we went the next night (technically, it was later that night, I guess) with her sisters and I absolutely LOVED the movie...they left out things that I would have liked to have seen...but for the most part...I thought they did a good job with what they had to work with. I think they could have made it a tad bit longer and done things with the other characters to involve them a little more but overall...I gave it a B+...Until next time...(They gave the go-ahead to start on New Moon...)









Here's Rachael and her "Team Jacob" shirt...
Patti's husband made the sign for her back...
gotta love duct tape!











The Whole Gang! We all have Twilight T-Shirts!











Patti wanted Edward on her boobs!
Sorry it's sideways...it's late!





Ethan...our "pet"...he even snuck over and had pizza w/ us! Good Times!

We're On Our Way!

Well...I got a great phone call this morning from Deni's dr...the dermatologist had a cancellation and her appointment got moved to MONDAY!!!!!!!!! I think maybe they just told me it was a cancellation so I wouldn't think that all of my bugging them actually got me somewhere! I'd like to think that it was my "power of persuasion" or maybe all of your prayers...thank you. I'll keep you all posted! Until next time...

The Pledge of Allegiance

So I am really grateful that they still teach The Pledge in school...not only in Elementary School but they are teaching it to Deni and Jaxson in Head Start. It almost brings tears to my eyes when I visit the classroom and listen to these kids (ages 3-5) saying their pledge to our flag and our country. I am grateful to the teachers who explain to these kids, line for line, what the pledge is and its meaning. I feel very blessed to live in a country where we are able to have the freedoms that we are so blessed with. Jaxson was too shy to be in the video...but I think Deni did a great job (we are still working on left hand/right hand...even I get confused sometimes!!!) She is getting so big!

Until next time...

Happy Birthday, Gma

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Grandma! Happy Birthday to you! Cha Cha Cha! Happy Birthday, Mom...we love you! Eric, Tiph, Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson, Deni

Keep Her In Your Prayers

So our little Deni is sick again (still). I think it was some time this summer that she started to get all of these "goosebumps" all over her body. We took her to the dr and he said that she had atopic dermatitis...we should switch our laundry soap to perfume free/dye free and switch our body soap and shampoos as well...we did that...they didn't go away...they got worse. She was just tested for MRSA because the spots had grown in size and started oozing out goo...it was fabulous...the tests came back negative but they put her on antibiotics just to be safe...Well...the antibiotics looked like, at first, they were helping but the last couple of days she has developed more spots on her little body and the "goosebumps" have spread to her nose and her forehead and most of her abdomen. She also has a rash that looks like permanent panties...the drs have prescribed meds for a yeast infection....did nothing to it! We are at our wits end trying to figure out what this could be...the drs office knows me by voice (its sad when you know ALL of the receptionists by voice also...)Anyways, we have been referred to a pediactric dermatologist but cannot get in until mid-December...hopefully, I can "persuade" the dr to call the dermatologist to get us in sooner...until then, please keep her in your prayers. Here are some pictures of some of her "owies"....She looks like a beaten child when I take her to school...she has to have them all covered with band-aids and there are now 16 of them...poor girl!

I have my fingernail in a couple of pictures as a size reference...they are not small sores...

This one is on her left arm...it oozes the most...YUK!





On her belly...this is what they start out as...

This one is on her calf...she says this one itches the most...

This one is on her back...


Poor Thing...Until next time...

Bowling Part 2...aka...meet Fred Flintstone

Here is a video of Jaxson's approach from our bowling trip the other day...At one point (I think I already mentioned) he forgot to let go of the ball and sailed halfway down the lane...what a dope I am for putting the camera away too soon! Oh, Well...Good Times!

If you want sound, you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to pause the music...I know it's a pain but I can't figure out any other way! Enjoy...Until next time...

Happy Veteran's Day

To all the veterans out there...thank you! May we all one day live in peace and harmony. God Bless America!

A Night of Bowling

So on Saturday we took the kids out bowling...I think we have only taken them once before. The kids did all of their chores while Eric was sleeping after a hard night at work and when he woke up, they were ready to go...I got some great pictures of the kids. Jaxson had everyone 3 and 4 lanes down in stitches! He has a great approach but on one of his turns, he forgot to let go of the ball and ended up halfway down the lane...it was funny...I only wish I would have gotten a picture but by that time the camera was put away...maybe next time! Hope you enjoy the pictures...by the way, Hailey was the only one in the whole game that got a strike...way to go!

I don't know how she got a strike with this one...it looks painful!

It looks good from here...

I don't care ...lalalalalala

She was just excited to be there!

Are you going to roll or what?!?!

Until Next Time...

Twilight Tickets

Twilight tickets went on sale on Halloween...and I showed great self-control because I bought mine today...that's almost a whole week! You all should be proud! Actually...I had to wait for other people to say if they were going to the midnight showing or not...I am so there! My hope is that a lot of parents won't let their kids go on account that it is technically Thursday night (12:01am Fri. morning) and most of them will have school the next day...I know I am dreaming but it doesn't hurt to be hopeful! I am taking a couple of my BFFs and also Jaxson & Deni's teachers daughters (I loaned them the books and got them hooked!) We had a lot more people but some of them are wimps that go to bed early (gotta take care of kids or some other lame excuse :-o)just kidding! Anyways, feel free to call me on Thursday night...I will be up! Anyone else want to go....Kass, Aud, Jess, Mom, anybody....???? It could be (actually it will be) FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scroll all the way to the bottom to view the countdown! Until next time....

I Miss the Sticker!

So, in Spokane we have just the mail-in ballots and Eric and I were talking today about how they jip us on the "I Voted!" sticker...I know it's just a sticker...but still...I miss it and it was Eric's first time voting so he really felt jipped! Maybe someone could mail us one (grab an extra one or two at the polls)...I turned my ballot in last week...you think they could have something there that when you put your ballot in the box...a sticker pops out...but NOOOOO! Oh, well...I will get over it...Get out and VOTE! Until next time...

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all! Hope you had a fun (yet safe) day! The kids had a lot of fun. Yesterday we went to Spokane Community College's Family Fun Day and the kids got a lot of fun things. Then tonight we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. It was a lot of fun for them...their favorite part was one car we went to was giving out cans of pop...they thought that was cool...the things that make us happy! Anyways...here are some pics of our fun few days...tomorrow we are off to a birthday party...costumes are a must! Maybe this holiday will never end...

Hailey went as a princess! People came up to her and said how beautiful she looked...we think so too!




Cayson went as a Dragon Warrior Ninja...he only wanted this costume because it came with 3 swords and a chinese star... boy, I was excited!





Jaxson went as a cowboy...people thought this costume was so cute that they took pictures of Jaxson and he decided after a while that he didn't want to wear it anymore because people were laughing at him... it took a lot of persuasion to get him back on the horse(hahaha)

Deni went as Alice in Wonderland...lots of compliments on this costume..."she looks just like her" people would say!








The whole gang!




Happy Halloween...Until next time...

A Little Behind...

So here are just a few pictures from the last couple of months I have failed to post. Hope you enjoy...





Hailey and Cayson's 1st day of school! Hailey is in 3rd grade and Cayson is in 1st!







Jaxson's 1st day of school...he is in his second year of Head Start!








Deni's 1st day of school...she is in her 1st year of Head Start and goes to the same class as Jaxson...






Jaxson and Deni had a field trip to Walter's Fruit Ranch in Greenbluff...they got to pick an apple and a pumpkin. They also learned how they made apple butter and apple cider and got to sample both...they were in Heaven!!!







Farmer Mert showing the kids the crown on "King Red"...AKA Red Delicious...the #1 sold apple in the world!

Keep Your Mouth Shut...

Okay...so you would think that by now I would learn to keep my big mouth shut...so not the case...I think it was July 1st that a ban in Spokane County (all of WA by 2010) was put into effect that you could not use dishwashing liquid that contains more than 0.5% phosphorus in it...so they took ALL of the dishwashing liquid off the shelves. Within a week or so they came out with some new phosphorus free stuff...well...I hated it! It left a white film on all of our dishes and it was taking me 2-3 cycles through the dishwasher to get them clean. Anyways...I would offer my opinion (shocking, I know!) about the ban to anyone who would listen (or pretend to listen). My neighbor's mom was visiting and she was complaining that she would have to buy a new dishwasher because it wouldn't clean her dishes...I gave her a bottle of Cascade (I had my mom pick up a few bottles of "real" soap on one of her visits from AZ to WA...) I told her to try the soap and see if it got any better...that was a month ago. So yesterday, I got a phone call from her saying it was the soap and she was happy that she didn't have to fork out money for a new dishwasher. She then informs me that she works for KXLY (Channel 4) news and they would love to interview me about the soap...OH CRAP!!!! Anyways, after scrubbing the kitchen so they could film in there...they came and did the interview...here is a link to the interview (after you click on the link there is a little camera icon on the right where you can watch the video)...Anyways, I hope you can take a couple of things away from this...1)Learn what people do for a living before you offer your opinions & 2)Keep your opinions to yourself...Yeah, right...I will never learn! Until next time...

As if I didn't torture him enough....

So, as many of you who read my blog know, I took Eric to see Mamma Mia a few months ago...he said I owed him big time! Apparently, he didn't learn his lesson the first time because tonight I took him, along with our good friends, Patti and Andy Alder, to see Phantom of the Opera. Oh, am I in BIG trouble! You would think by now he would learn to say no...(he tried...he asked one of his co-workers at the hospital to go in his place...she apparently doesn't like dating other peoples spouses...expecially women!...hahaha! At least I fed him first (Olive Garden...yum!) It was a good evening for all of us (eric even got a nap in during the show...after he was caught holding Andy's hand :-o!!)What a good man he is...he cancelled his class for tonight and it was a lot of fun being with friends who aren't afraid to act like toddlers with us! I swear they aren't going to let us out in public together anymore! The show was great...not my very favorite broadway show but I was happy I experienced it! There is a very long list of Broadway shows I would LOVE to see...I just may be watching them alone! Anyways, when we got home, Hailey had written a message on our dry-erase board in the kitchen that said "mom and dad...I hope your date was really really great tonight...love, Hailey" how sweet...then lower on the board it said "mom and dad kissed on their date!" and then, at the very bottom it said "mom and dad love each other" yes, we do...thanks for noticing! And we love our kids too! Until next time...

Grandma Duncan

Happy Birthday, Grandma Duncan! We hope you love your flowers! Love, Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson, & Deni

Twilight Movie 11/21/08

Okay...take a look at this and tell me you aren't as excited as me?!?! Oh, the things in life that make us giddy...Until next time...

If you have my autograph...better hang on to it...it could be worth something someday!

Okay...so I was picking Jaxson and Deni up from school on Wednesday when Teacher Valerie gave me a sheet of paper asking if I would be one of the parents involved in meeting Senator Murray at the kids' school on October 17 to discuss HeadStart and the resources available to us as parents. Sure, no problem...until I read that there will be media involved...a little more hesitant, but, hey...why not?!?! Then the next day (Thurs) I was picking up kids again (you think I would learn and let Eric do it from now on)...when Teacher Valerie runs out after me saying..."Janel needs you to call her". Janel is a social services specialist from HeadStart that is also over the policy council of which I am the current president so it is not unusual that I would get a phone call from her. I was loading the kids up in the van and since Eric had the older kids I was in no hurry to get home so I sat in my van on my cell phone and called Janel...she had called to see if I would be so willing as to join her and another HeadStart employee on Oct 22 to be interviewed on PBS for a piece on education something or other. I know it is only PBS and not a lot of people watch it...but still...I was excited that they thought to include me! I guess my next step is the BBC...(just kidding!) Anyways, I am happy about it..HeadStart has done a lot for our family and we have made lots of lifelong friends from the program...I recommend it to anyone who has kids...(it makes me want to have more...well, that may be overreacting just a bit!) Until next time....

Glenna

Happy Birthday, Aunt Glenna! We Miss You! Love, Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson, & Deni

Kim

Happy Birthday, Aunt Kim! We Love You! Thanks for being our friend! Love, Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson & Deni

Thanks for trying to help...but next time don't!

Okay...it's Tiphaine here! Hello to all! So, the other day I was putting groceries away in the pantry and I smelled something rotten. I couldn't quite figure out where the smell was coming from so i started cleaning off the shelves. I started at the top and worked my way down...sorting and tossing and organizing and wiping things down. Still the smell was awful...when I got done with the last shelf...I still couldn't find the smell so I started removing the 5 gallon buckets filled with flour, sugar, and such. When I moved the last bucket...I found the smell...an almost (but not quite) empty bag of potatoes...ROTTEN! Yuk! They were not put back in their spot...someone decided to hide them apparently. They were so rotten that they were leaking all over the pantry floor and the purple print on the outside of the potato bag was now staining my pantry floor....I went to go get the mop to clean it up and Jaxson (the big helper) said, "Mommy...I won't let Deni get into it!" "Thanks, Jaxson...you stay away from it, too!" was my response. When I came back into the pantry from getting the mop wet, I turned around and was immediately met with purple footprints going from my pantry to the bathroom to the kitchen and back to the bathroom...AAAGGGHHHH!!! Jaxson and Deni, both, decided to "dance" from the pantry throughout the rest of the house and thought the purple footprints were the coolest thing ever! Oh, I could have beat them both...but instead, handed them each a wet towel and told them they had to clean it up! They were not too happy that I was making them mop up their masterpiece. Oh...I can't wait until the next adventure....perhaps it will be a mudpie in my bathroom sink (oh, wait...that already happened last week...I sure do wish those two had school on Fridays!)

Twilight Saga (this is a long one...)

Okay...so I need to find a Twilight Anonymous meeting to go to. Can anyone help me? For those of you who don't know what I am talking about...where have you been? The Twilight Saga is a series of 4 books, written by an LDS author named Stephenie Meyer, about a vampire who falls in love with a human. That is the jist of it....kind of. Anyways, I really didn't want to get started with these books in the first place because I have seen friends get addicted to them to the point that they had a countdown of when the next book would come out...that is way out of my comfort level (and one of the reasons I did not read Harry Potter...) I can't read part of the story and wait a whole year for the next part of the story...I need it all at once...Well, my mom came for a visit and had read the first one she had borrowed from my neice. So she bought herself one and left it for me to read (I hope she knows she won't be getting it back!) She left at about 10-ish am and lucky for me, it was a rainy day...the kids sat on the couch and watched tv most of the day...and I read! I was done with the book(400-ish pages maybe) by 9-ish pm...I decided I could wait until the next day to read book 2 (until I read the first chapter of book 2 at the end of book 1). I called Eric at work and asked him if I could get book 2 from Barnes & Noble across the street from his work (class doesn't end until 10 but b&n closes at 10...do you see my dilema?)Anyways, I got the book that night (spoiled, I know!) and had it finished by noon the next day (it rained...thanks, mother nature). I got on the computer and checked to see if my Borders coupon had been emailed to me and lucky me...in my inbox was a 40% off coupon...hallelujah! I rushed over to Borders in the rain and got book #3 and #4(book 4 was on the bestsellers list so it was already 40% off). I had books 3 &4 read in the next day and a half...that is 2500 pages in 3 days. Not only that, but in the next 3 days, I had them all read again...that is 5000 pages in 1 week (Eric said it is not something to brag about and my neighbors kept asking me if I had fed my kids..."yes", I would say...and I also did 4 loads of laundry daily!) I am an official "Twilighter". They are great books for those of you who are readers (they are even great for you non-readers)...it is a great story and you really get into the books. There are several ladies at church who read them and on Sundays we have a discussion on them...I think all of my books are currently out on lend right now...I even have a waiting list (I feel like the library!) I can't wait for the movie to come out! I am way excited! November 21st...you can find me in line at the movie theater...I already have a sitter lined up (thanks, eric!) Pathetic...I know...but at least I am willing to admit it! Until next time....

Oldie, but Goodie...

Okay, so Eric fixed me up with another computer (he has a multitude of them at his office) so he decided to bring me one home...how sweet! Anyways, I still can't promise that the postings will be any closer together! I could have put this posting under "they said what?!?!" but I chose to do it this way instead....

Last year while staying at Gma & Gpa Nelson's house...the kids were getting ready for bed and Cayson came in and said..."Mom, Deni pulled some black stuff out of the rectangle CD!" Not knowing what in the heck he was talking about...I went to investigate only to go back into the Family Room laughing so hard...Deni had pulled the ribbon out of the cassette tape and poor Cayson had no clue what the darn thing was! Are we really THAT old!?!?! Anyways, it is this story that inspired my new cassette tape on the blog that plays some of my favorite songs...let me know what you think! Until next time...(hopefully it will be sooner than later!)

P.S....Happy Birthday, Dad! Thanks for being the greatest dad anyone could have asked for! Lots of Love!

9/11

God Bless America!

Papa Mike

Happy Birthday, Papa Mike! Thanks for being our friend!
Love, Hailey, Cayson, Jaxson & Deni

Wii Are A Happy Family!

So the other day I had a hard day...getting ready for school to start on Tuesday (hallelujah!!), going through the kids' clothes to see how many outfits were going to be needed for school, and still trying to get daily chores done before a cranky daddy came home from work...we got most of it done but I figured it was safer for the kids to go to bed than for them to keep trying to "help" me. After I thought all the kids went to bed, I sat on the couch with my feet up (and my stupid books I am addicted to-look for them on a later post) I heard a ka-thunk, ka-thunk (there were approximately 11 ka-thunks) from upstairs...I went to investigate just to be scared at the bottom of the stairs by Cayson...I think I caught him off guard as well! He was coming downstairs to let me know that all the other kids were asleep and could we (and this is a quote) "just play a few games on the Wii because we never get any alone time". BULL!!!! He's gonna be a great negotiator or lawyer or something when he grows up! I thought there would be no harm in playing a couple of rounds of Army Tanks or Big Game Hunter (shooting animals without getting dirty...Deni will tell you to watch out for the bear!) But when it comes to boxing (a game everyone should experience at least once), I have to say I much rather watch than play (Hailey does a booty shake when she plays and Eric turns 30 shades of red!) It is hilarious...Cayson becomes a whole new personality when he plays (as you can see in the pics). So, here it is in a nutshell...anyone is welcome to come play anytime...just call first! Until next time...

Mamma Mia!

Okay...so for our anniversary today Eric proved his undying love for me! Today is our 11th anniversary and it just so happens that a few movies we have been looking forward to have just opened within the last couple of weeks...The Dark Knight, Hancock, and of course Mamma Mia! Oh, I have waited for so long for this to become a movie (it is cheaper to pay $9 to see it than $65 to see it as a play). So Eric told me I could pick the movie (a decision he now regrets!) To see this movie, you have to be a fan of musicals...Eric is not! You have to be a fan of chick flicks...again, Eric is not! Finally...you have to be a fan of ABBA...Eric is not, shocking, isn't it?!? He was a good sport, though, and let me make the decision to see this movie that I have been waiting almost a year for...he did pretty good until about the 7th or 8th song (there are at least 11 or 12 songs in the movie)...although, I must say that even though he is hotter than heck, Pierce Brosnan CAN NOT SING! I love him as an actor...he is my new Sean Connery...but he can not sing! Anyways...thanks Eric for a fantastic anniversary and, yes, I do owe you big time! Thank you for 11 wonderful years! I love you! Until next time...

Spoiled Rotten!

Okay, so here's how this adventure started....Tiphaine's mom called her friend, Susan, to see if she knew about tours of the fire department. Susan called back and told us to call the fire station and talk to James...so we did. This is how the conversation went (in a nutshell)..Gma Nelson: Hi James, this is Peggy Nelson calling about the tour of the fire station. James: Where do you live? Gma: 1000 Apache. James: Are you Denise's mom (have you noticed that mom's lose all identity when they have kids?!?)? Gma: Yes, I am. James: How would the kids like it if I came and picked them up in the fire truck? Gma: They would be in hog heaven!
So after a quick rush of "everyone go potty and comb your hair" we rushed outside to wait for the firetruck. He came and picked up Tiph and the kids (you should have seen the neighbors come out to see what was happening) and off they went! He took us on a ride for about 15-20 minutes during which time he let the kids (one at a time) unbuckle (which I told them under normal curcumstances was NOT safe) and turn on the siren. He then took us to the fire station and gave the kids a tour of it...they asked so many questions (Cayson was disappointed that they did not have a fire pole!)and James was very patient and answered each question the kids had for him (what's that? what's in there? how does this work? what does this button do?) He even gave each of the kids a baggy full of goodies (coloring book, tattoo, pencil, activity thingy) and each of them got a bottle of Gatorade (he told the kids it was firefighter juice). He then put us back in the firetruck and took us under the underpass (where it echoes) and blew the horn and siren. The kids loved it! He then took us back to Gma Nelson's house where Aunt Sandra, Gma, and John (a neighbor across the street) were waiting (Gpa had just left for work). It was a great adventure that they will remember for a long time to come. When the kids told Eric about it, I think there was a hint of jealousy there but he was excited for them, too. James told us this is not a usual thing they do...maybe it's just because he knew Denise or maybe he was having a slow day...who knows, we are greatful whatever the reason! Until next time....

Reese

Well...right now the kids and I are visiting the super-exciting city of Winslow, AZ. So far we have gone to a Brewer reunion in Snowflake and then came to Winslow and are staying with Tiph's parents (thanks). The other day (Friday, maybe!?!?) we went to Eric's dad's house and he helped each of the kids make marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe. You should have seen his living room when they got done with it! Well, then we came back to Gma and Gpa Nelson's house and there yard soon looked the same as Gpa Charlie's living room...Deni loves eating the marshmallows off the floor though (yuk!) Anyways...let me get to Reese....Deni and Jaxson got into swimming lessons starting last Monday...Deni was excited until we got there and then wasn't sure about it...Jaxson had an anxiety attack and threw up 3 times before we even got to the pool...anyways, so once they got into the water all was fine...Jaxson has learned lots of things from his teachers (Sharon Cox and her daughter Savannah)as has Deni...all because of her teacher Reese...actually Reese is one of her two swim teachers (the other is Amber Garner-daughter of Wayne & Jodi for those that know them). Anyways...back to the story...Reese goes to my mom's ward and they are good friends of the family. My girls have a crush on him. He stopped by the house on his way from the credit union on an errand from his mom and had a popsicle with the kids (the girls were not about to let him leave without one!) Anyways, Cayson takes fabulous pictures of the kids swimming and one day he decided to let Hailey have a shot at the camera...she took one picture of Deni under water and one of Jaxson floating on his back..........and 12 of Reese!

Today at church Reese just happened to pass the sacrament to us and Deni said, "That's my teacher, Reese...I love him, I don't hate him!" She then went and showed him her dolly she was paying with during church and a page she had colored...his friends were sitting in front of him but even so, he was a good sport about it! Thanks, Reese!

Well, we are off to swimming lessons again tomorrow. I think perhaps Hailey will get in (Hailey and Cayson were #1 & #2 on the waiting list) but Cayson has opted to go to wrestling camp instead...they both will do great at whatever they get to do! Until next time.....

Okay...we have gotten a few phone calls to see how Deni's eye surgery went...thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Deni is doing just fine. Her eye surgery went well - she only pulled out 1 stitch (1 out of 4 ain't half bad!) She has glasses now and she hates them with a passion! They have stick on prisms on them which means there are vertical lines on the lenses so she complains that she can't see sometimes...things are blurry to her! The longer she wears them, the longer she can wait for her next surgery. Doc Snow told us that a typical child has to have an average of 3 surgeries. In a perfect world, her next one won't be until she is about 10-12. Thanks to Grandma Nelson for taking a flight up here for a week to help out! We love and appreciate all you do for us...sorry we didn't get to cinnamon rolls...next time I'll have some waiting for you! Well...it's been a busy, busy month already and the calendar is full of events...Cayson's bday party is tomorrow...all are invited...it starts at 4! After the party ...eric is cooking his famous cow!!! (he doesn't know it yet). I'll try to post some more pics...i think i finally learned how (thanks, kim!) Until next time....much love to our friends and family!

Our Kids: Our Business

So...my speech went pretty well...the mayor didn't come and I was told that the Sheriff had to attend to an "incident" that was on the college campus. I saw his patrol car there so he was there somewhere. Anyways...I wish I had time to post a blog everyday and I am sorry I don't keep up with it more often...I will keep trying! Well...as promised...here is the cake recipe...it was easy to make and Eric said he liked it (actually, he said, "it's not brownies, but I wouldn't hate you if you made it again!" I guess that means he liked it. Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:
1-1/4 cups butter, softened, divided
2 cups chopped pecans
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
1 package (2 pounds) confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
2/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Directions: In a small heavy skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add pecans; cook over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes. Spread on foil to cool. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and remaining butter. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Beat just until combined. Fold in pecans. Pour into three greased 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. For frosting, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat in enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Let me know if you try it...It is way good! Nothing else going on this way...sorry we aren't very exciting people! Until next time! Lots of Love...

Speech

Okay...so I am a tad bit nervous for tomorrow...I have to give a speech on child abuse prevention (don't laugh) for Head Start. I have been told that the mayor and sheriff will be there but that could just be a rumor (let's hope so). I haven't yet decided what I am going to say (how's that for waiting till the last minute!) We will see how it all pans out. I am excited for dinner 2nite for a couple of reasons...it's done (Eric and I made 2 pans of enchiladas last night) and I made a cake that should be illegal! It's called Butter Pecan cake...and it's fatening(how else are we supposed to maintain our figures). It takes a whole pound and a quarter of butter and 2 blocks of cream cheese just for starters! I hope it tastes as good as it looks! I'll share the recipe tomorrow if i love it! Well...it's time to go get kids from school (spring break is OVER!!:)Until tomorrow....

busy, busy, busy!!!

Okay, so I know it has been a while since the last posting but we are still here! We have been incredibly busy! Eric is still teaching at the school and has just started working graveyards at Holy Family Hospital (we hate it!) Hailey is 7 and 3/4 (so she says) -going on 15 and 3/4!! She will be baptized on her birthday (July 8) in Winslow, AZ so more of Eric's family might be able to come...more info to come later! Cayson is 5 and 3/4 and is getting more and more handsome as each day goes by! Jaxson is 4 and 1/3 and loves to go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, (is there enough room on the page?!?!) he keeps us young! Deni is 2 and 3/4 and has learned a LOT from Jaxson (thank you, son!) They are definately partners in crime! We are looking forward to going to AZ this summer and possibly CA (don't tell the kids!) Eric will have to take a couple of trips back and forth from WA to AZ but Tiph and the kids will stay put for a little less than a month...thanks to Tiph's parents for the room and board! We will start out on a family reunion with Eric's family which we are excited for-it's always fun to see family! I'll try to keep up on the blog...I've been asked about it quite a bit (to be honest, I forgot I started one!!) More to you all later! Lots of love! Remember who you are and don't drink out of any strange toilets!