Christmas Card 2010

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

Can I have two please?

Did you know that local banks not only give suckers to well-behaved children, but dog biscuits to well behaved dogs too?

It's true.  I'm sitting in my own car waiting for the teller at the bank (Chase), when the man in the car next to me says, "Can I get a biscuit for my dog, please?"  And the teller replies, "Sure."  I had to look over in the car to verify that there truly was a dog there and that I didn't just hear wrong.  To my amazement there sat the dog and in the bank container one milkbone dog biscuit.   

Animalistic Behaviour...

Yes, I've often resorted to the growl myself :)

Lollipop, Lollipop

Black Ops

Note to readers:  the following is a  post by myself and mostly Brad (regardless of 3rd person narration used).  The first portion is mine, but quickly I was kicked out of my computer seat due to my "inferior writing ability".  Additionally, while the story below is true, the photos included only recreations of the actual events in question.

Behind our house, every year at Halloween, a haunted forest gets set up within the river bottom forest that costs $10/person to get into.  Last year, when we first moved here, we promised the kids that we would take them next year when our financial situation would be a little better.  However, this year, Brad got layed off.  (Yes, we're out of work again.  Due to recent Medicaid cut backs our dental office layed off the 4 most recently hired doctors.)  For obvious financial reasons we had to revoke our promise and tried to pacify the kids by walking through the haunted forest in the daytime.  The screams and chainsaws and strange noises they heard every night provided a bitter reminder of the failed promise.  So last night, Brad figured he would just take Jordan out and have a look . . . after all it is public ground, or so he says.  Dressed in the darkest cloths they could find, Brad and Jordan crept up to within a hundred yards or so of the event until they could hear the people in line waiting to get their tickets and enter the forest.  At this point they went into "stealth" mode and crept commando-style on their bellies for the next hour into the dark of the forest and up to within a few feet of the trail entrance.  They lay there still in the dark on the ground watching the regular customers pass, trying to distinguish them in the dark from the workers on patrol attempting to prevent just such intrusions.  As they crept closer the junior commando got caught up  in some heavy brush that resulted in some crackling leaves and snapping sticks.  This permitted the two only slight movements during nearby screams and chainsaw noises resulting in painfully slow progress.  However, just as they were about to breach the perimeter a security worker heard a rustle and came to investigate with a flashlight.   The two commandos were forced into a hasty retreat back through the forest before a lengthy search of that portion of the forest was launched by reinforcement security personnel with flashlights.   All the while the two boys hid out of sight under an overhanging bank on the river for the duration of the search.  After about 30 minutes the search dissipated Brad and Jordan decided to proceed “Navy Seal” style this time and entered the river that runs parallel to the haunted forest path.  Jordan held tight to Brad's belt loops while they waded down the river past the previous point where the mission had been compromised.  This portion of their plan was enjoyed more by Brad than by Jordan as the night air was damp, in the 40's, and the cold river current was waist deep in places and chest deep for Jordan.  They proceeded slowly but surely down the river and cut back into the forest about 50 feet down from the first attempted point of incursion.  Slowly they slithered again across the forest floor to a point between a flaming propane dragon and a hysterical screaming woman that jumped out of a hole in the ground every time anyone passed by.   Luckily the forest floor was wet grass at this point and smoke from a nearby fire was clouding the trees in a spooky haze.  At this point our heroes were wet to their armpits, near hypothermic, covered in stickers and cobwebs, lying face down in the dark but within 10 feet of their objective.  With no good cover for the last and most perilous portion of their journey Jordan suggested they simply run screaming onto the trail and make like scared patrons.  This would have worked well if Jordan hadn't tripped on an unseen log and had to have been drug the last few feet by the command leader who had already fully committed to the bold move.  So, the two of them simply appeared out of the darkness, a wet man, jumping and screaming while bodily dragging an even wetter boy behind him in the dirt down the trail.   Their plan worked in the end as they were able to proceed down the rest of the course satisfied that their ninja-like skills had resulted in the acquisition of their tactical objective.  And so they walked through the remainder of the haunted forest wet and shivering violently, jumping and screaming appropriately as villains and goblins periodically jumped out of the darkness with chainsaws and bloody surgical instruments.  After nearly three hours I began to wonder if Brad hadn’t managed to get himself caught or arrested and was somewhat concerned when the two finally showed up on our doorstep soaking wet and filthy at nearly 11:00 PM both with idiotic grins on their faces and tales to tell of their great feat.

 

p.s. Chelsey speaking again here.  We are trying to purchase a practice.  Yes, Brad applied to endo school, he got one interview at a very expensive school in Kalifornia.  We decided not to go, that our family needed stability.   And so it looks like we will purchase a practice somewhere in Colorado.   In the meantime, keep us in your prayers.  

Family photos

Brad and I took our own family photos today and I thought I'd post some that I really liked.

These last two I have to add because you can see that we were not without our usual altercations throughout the process.

Riley hurting Jake in some way.

And Jake getting him back:)

Not too bad for a $150 digital camera, a tripod and Brad as the amateur photographer.  Which do you like the best?

Jake, my new workout partner

I think his form is pretty good for a two year old...not too sure about mine:)

Back to school night and Kenzie's letter

One hour of being at the school, and I still had not spoken with one teacher.  Really, when did the teachers start thinking the parents wanted to be lectured too?  Worst back to school night ever, and of course, Brad had work and I attended solo.  However, Kenzie's letter to me gave me a chuckle. (Those of you that are friends with me on facebook may have already seen this but I figured it needed to be journaled.)  It reads:

Dear Mom,
School is great!  Third grade is the BEST grade ever!  I love it!  Mrs. Gingrich is so nice, and I mean nice when I say it.  I'm so glad that school was invented, or I would have to stay home all day with my annoying brothers. (not Jake)

Love,
Kenzie

All I have to reply to that is Thank goodness for school!

Eeeew...Grils...I mean girls

I write it grils, cause that is how Riley says it.  He is really into not liking anything girly.  Some examples:

• He won't eat off any of our purple plates...they are for grils.
• He will not eat grilled cheese sandwiches (he says "girl cheese sandwiches"... I don't know how he made that connection.)
• If his hair is more than a 1/2 inch long, it needs to be cut.  He looks like a gril...and he will cut it himself if you don't.

Riley's b-day

Riley just recently had a birthday and we celebrated in style.  There's a place called Bounce here where they have a whole bunch of bounce houses/toys etc...  Monday night, the day of his birthday, just happened to be 1/2 off admission so we all piled in the car and headed on down.  After Riley insisted on have Little Ceasar's pizza (and who am I to argue when it's $5/pizza) and chocolate chip mint ice cream cake.  Bounce was more fun than I expected and the pizza wasn't too bad (at least I didn't have to make it:).  Happy birthday Riles!!!!!

This was a bouncy toy where you put on a suit, bounce toward the wall and the suit stuck to the wall.  I thought I would give it a try too.  It was pretty fun.  Hard to get the suit unstuck though:)

The cars were a big hit with Riley and Jake

Obviously not the best action shots.  I forgot to put my camera in sports mode:(  This one was a bungy cord that snapped you back after you pulled the cord out as far it could go.

The boxing ring provided some good entertainment too.

Ben's boots

When we were in Moses Lake we received a pair of hand me down boots for Ben.  These boots were loved by Ben and he wore them EVERYWHERE.  He loved them so much, that when he grew out of them, it was around his birthday, and though pricey (and I mean $70 pricey) we bought them for a birthday present for Ben and I am a $30 birthday present spender, no more.  It was his only present from us and he LOVED it.  Ben's boots are worn with shorts in the summer, jeans in the winter, motorcycle riding with dad, to the pool swimming and of course, with church clothes on Sunday.  It was the best $70 I ever spent. 

The other day he comes home from school with his pants turned into shorts (he has the zipper pants that zip off and he thought that was the neatest thing ever) and his boots on.  He looked ridiculous.  But he says to me, "Mom I look great in these boots and pants.  I look like a pirate."  Yep Ben, you sure do...you most definitely do :)

Football Season

I have a new love and appreciation for football.  You see, I'll be the first to admit that in highschool I only went to games to be cool and never really watched one (besides our team lost all the time) and at BYU it was the same.  Now all that has changed.  This year is the first year that my son has started to play and I find myself on the sidelines watching every play, biting my nails when it's close and jumping up and down, cheering when our team is doing good.  I'm even learning the rules.  Of course, the social aspect is still there with all the other parents, but I'm actually enjoying watching Jordan and his team play (I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much without Jordan there).  They are really good.  I mean, I see some amazing things from those kids.

Their second game, they played this team that was SOOOO big.  The kids were probably as tall as me and thick to boot. (I would have posted a  picture here but you know all about that...BRAD) I was wondering where their parents got the growth hormones that made them develop so quickly.  Literally they were huge.  I thought we had no chance at all when we were down 6-0 after the first quarter.  But no, Jordan's team, although they looked like smurfs (in their blue uniforms) next to these giants, had a lot of heart and pulled the win 14-12. 

And Jordan is doing GREAT!  He started out on defense, tackling on the front line, and has been working so hard that now he plays all offense (blocking), special teams and some defense too.  He doesn't know all the rules yet but he knows you're supposed to hit harder than the other guy and he loves doing it.  He is having so much fun.  I have to admit that when I see a kid get hurt my heart speeds up a little faster until I see it's not him, but I've never experienced anything quite as exciting as watching my son on that football field.  And, hopefully, with all my boys, I'll have many years of that ahead.

Buzz and Woody

You may wonder why I haven't been blogging.  It's Brad's fault.  We have been cameraless (is that a word?) for a little over a month now because he took our camera (our 1 month old camera) on a float down the Salmon River and yes, flipped his boat on a big wave AGAIN and the camera was well...you know the rest.  He is evil, "EEE-VIL, like it's the FRU-ITS of the DEV-EEL." (I know some of you are So I Married an Axe Murderer fans.)  I got my new camera in the mail yesterday (and this one will not be going on any more river trips with Brad!!!!) so you will see a series of new posts coming up on each kid.  I have so much to say that I woke up at 4:30 in the morning thinking of my posts.  That NEVER happens to me.

Jake is in love with Buzz and Woody.  Now, I know, most parents could say that.  I have pictures of Jordan in his diaper toting around Woody by the neck.  When I recently ordered a new Buzz and Woody for Jake ALL of my children played with them for about a week (including Jordan, he's 10.)  But, when it comes to love, there is love and there is LOVE and Jake LOVES Buzz and Woody.  Some recent scenarios to support my claim.

You know how it is when you teach kids to pray.  For the first while, you say the prayers for them and then sometime, you don't know quite when, they begin to say it by themselves.  Well, the first time Jake prayed by himself it was not, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."  It was literally, "In the name of Buzz and Woody, Amen."  Although it gave me a good laugh, I was quick to correct him and he now prays properly.

Since Jake can't say in the name of Buzz and Woody anymore to end his prayers, his prayers always get said in this order, "Thank you Buzz, thank you Woody, thank you Mom..."  Yep, more important than me.

I got Jake to potty train by getting him Buzz and Woody underwear.  Every time he has gone potty for the last 3 months he says to me, "Never pee on Buzz, never pee on Woody."  And when he does, he cries.

And finally, the word for underwear has become wunderwear.  A made up word from Woody underwear.

July 30, 2010 - journal entry

Woken up today at 3:15 am by the pitter patter of Jacob’s tiny feet and his blue eyes looking into my tired face. Reached out my arms and pulled him into bed with me. His warm little body tossed and turned. Switched to other side. He burrowed in closer. Decided can’t get any sleep with him next to me. Hand in mine, we climbed the stairs, slowly because of my hurt foot, to his bedroom. Got him to climb in bed, covered him with blankets, descended below to my own sleepless tossing. 4:00 am gave up and my, morning started. Not so bad to get up this early, scriptures read, emails checked, blogs commented on, coupon sites looked over, ready to greet my children for the day but will pay for this later. Had time to view some more Mormon messages, none so touching as the story of Stephanie Nielson. Searched for her on the internet and added her blog to my to read list. Apparently my computer activities have woken up other children. Can hear Riley moving and it is only 6:45, well before his usual morning rise of 8:00.

I know God is aware of our situations and loves us dearly.

I don't look at Mormom Messages very often.  I have a close friend here that is going through a difficult trial right now.  I was emailing her to let her know my thoughts and prayers are with her.  I thought to myself I should go to Mormon Messages on You Tube and see if there is anything that I can send her that applies to her situation.  This is what I found.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages#p/c/4E784EC0770935C0/1/KHDvxPjsm8E

It is perfectly tailored to her situation.  I have such a strong knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us and knows the things we go through.  He is there for us in these situations.

When I served my mission in Argentina, I came down with Pneumonia.  At night time it got so bad that I couldn't breathe.  I was scared and so far away from home.  I had a wonderful friend staying with me that night, she wasn't my current companion, but a prior one and had stayed to help me.  When I was panicking she read me the scripture in Alma 7:11-12 , which speaks of the Savior and some of the suffering he went through while he was on this earth.

"And he" (speaking of Jesus) "shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.  And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels maiy be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

I immediately felt at such peace and knew that no matter what happened the Lord was there with me and knew what I was suffering.  He would lead me through that moment.

Again, he loves us and He is aware of us.  He knows all trials that we go through.

Does Buzz Lightyear eat yogurt?

Ours Does.

Want to see something pretty?

I've often wondered if I was just a wimp in highschool when I did this to myself playing basketball, needed crutches and was out for two weeks my sophomore season.

After the repeat injury, playing basketball, I've decided I definitely wasn't and I'm hoping two weeks is all it takes to recover this time.  The upside to all this is I got to ride in the electric shopping cart at Walmart.  (No need to say it.  I know you're jealous!!!!)

My favorite part was the, "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP" sound it made as you backed up.  It gave Brad and I a good laugh:).

Deadwood Resevoir

This last weekend Brad had work off fromThursday on so we packed up the suburban and took the whole family camping.  Now, camping is not my favorite of activities.  I mean, it's fun and all for a day or two but four days, three nights, no showers, primitive toilets and lots and lots of dust (not to mention the loads of laundry and cleaning that I have to do today), you know none of that is greatest for me.  Regardless, the kids had a great time and I'm glad I went.

Jake's fun was all over his face...literally.  I could not keep him clean for more than 5 minutes as these pictures show.

At one point I picked him up to dust off his rear and clouds of dirt floated up in the air bringing to mind Pig Pen from Charlie Brown. 

We started off the trip with Brad bringing the kids down the Payette again.  I got a pretty good action shot through one of the rapids.

It isn't as bad as it looks....I think.

Then we headed on up to Warm Lake and stayed the night to break up the trip.  No shots there because I was too busy being eaten by mosquitos.  I literally ended up with mosquito bites everywhere (I counted 15) through my long sleeved shirts and pants and with bug spray on.  The next day we drove another hour and camped at Deadwood near a creek. 

We Fished.

                                   

                                                   

                                   

With the catching of fish Jordan had to learn how to gut them.  He gutted all the fish we caught and ate over the weekend.

We ate good food (Jake kept getting into all the yogurts) and enjoyed the campfire.        

                        

We played and floated in the creek and lake.

  

We explored and found great rocks, sticks and saw lots of small animals.

We rode dirtbikes.

The trip, despite my lack of love for camping, was fun and the country was beautiful.

You always know you were successful when your kids end up like this on the way home.

And to boot, we found a great place to pick huckleberries on the drive home.  You can't beat an ending like that!