2015 - week 8

President's Day and no school.  Jessi has been asking to eat at The Egg and I for a while...we finally made it there.  Christian had the granola berry pancake that was the "biggest pancake of his life."

Mike came home early and we went bowling.

I had to pick up Drew from water polo tryouts and run him to an orthodontic appointment.  The kids often have to do changes in the car because of our crazy schedule.  I keep all kinds of things in the car--lotion, deodorant, wet wipes, disposable toothbrushes, socks, sunscreen, lots of snacks and water bottles...we could survive in this car for days if necessary.

Jess went back on track and had a late Valentine's party.  Thank goodness she wanted to reuse her zebra box from a few years ago.

The girls' earrings were out of control, so I got crafty.  I found this cute drawer at Hobby Lobby, the place that has everything, and I rolled and glued some felt into rows for her to stick her earrings in.

And while I was at HL, I found this cute thing for Bev to hang her's on.

Christian's class at school is a lot bit loud. He comes home and craves quiet.  He likes to do his homework at his cute little "office" that sits under his bunk bed.  He also does homework without clothes.

Too many chargers...too...many.  I organize it and within days this happens.

First plant purchase of the year.  I love plants and flowers...so much.

On my way home from an errand, I ended up passing our first home at Countrywood Condos so I pulled over and took a picture.  After we were engaged, Mike literally spent all his pennies to buy this newly renovated apartment-turned condo.  He lived there a month before our wedding.  We moved out right around the time Andrew was born.

I love the spelling sentences he comes up with.  Today's favorite, "I will not be supported when I am 40 by the people I am related to."

This sweet cat lets Jessi carry him around and wrap him up like a baby.  Today, she strapped her monkey and monkey baby on his back. He wore it for a while, then came to me, begging for it to be removed.

New use for duct tape...nose plug for cat litter duty.

Books and Buddies at the school. I helped run it so Mike came to read with the littles.

2015 - week 7

Something going on in the neighbor's yard, and these two sat and watched while I folded laundry.  It is a major step that Tiger will sit on the same perch as Charlie...she is a pretty particular cat and acts annoyed by sweet Charlie who only wants to be her friend.

Christian got all dressed up for his class trip to the Symphony.  He wore his cool jacket, his suspenders and pocket watch...He has always loved dressing up.

Jessie's breakfast.  You just never know what she will do next.

She is such a good cook...she made an omelet and then reminded Christian how to.

Christian's last Blue and Gold Pack Meeting. He turns eleven soon and won't be going to Pack Meetings any more.  He is excited because Mike is the 11 year-old scout leader.

These two went to Maturation.  Christian had been dreading it.  Apparently some of the dads got the giggles, which became contagious.

When he got home, he said that the teacher had shown a picture like on this cover where "the guys got bigger and shaggier."

Thank goodness he wanted to use his cheetah Valentine's box again.

Poor Christian and Jess...they spent hours making tiny clay things...I baked them and this is what happened...We had purchased the cheap clay...never again!

The kids all made cards for Grandma Huff and we went to see her in the rehab center.  She had her first knee replacement surgery in December and had the other one done last week.

Grandma shared a bed with sleepy Jessi.

Lacrosse season is about to begin, and Christian is watching lots of youtube clips on how to string his stick.  Mike and I were snuggled in bed ready to watch Scandal, when he came in to show Mike all he had learned.

Valentine's Day came and two of the four children had other plans, so we postponed our traditional family dinner until Sunday.  Every year Mike gets the girls flowers, I get the boys candy.  This year we gave them all new memory foam pillows (they are comfort snobs.)

Mike poured us some slushy Diet Pepsi's...

and I made our traditional V-Day dinner...breakfast.  Croissant french toast, cream, yummy fruit, bacon and fruit.  The kids talk about how they like it that I sprinkle candy on the table cloth.  It is funny how certain things just become traditions that they love.

Poor Freddy and his big old cyst.  We have had it drained, but because there is no way to put pressure on it, it fills up again with fluid. We have some needles, so I had Camille show me how to drain it. Now Bev and I do the job.

Bev really tried wrapping it up so that it wouldn't fill up again.  Fred is such a good boy...he just lets us do our thing and is so tolerant.  The bandage lasted about and hour and then came off.

Jessi loves watching home movies. Today she watched when we got engaged.  She loves watching the ones with her in them and the ones before she came to our family.

Febreeze is kept in the car because these athletes stink.  Bev got her soccer shoes out of her bag and went to town. Drew was in the back seat and she then tried to Febreeze him.

2015 - week 6

Christian loves earning money, and he also loves spending it. He has been wanting a kendama for a while so Mike took him to the mall to make all his dreams come true.  He plays it non stop.

We love our blankies around here.  Our others were getting shabby and I was at Costco and the kids are now in heaven with their new softies.

This sweet old boy is such a good dog.  When it's bath time, Mike calls him in the walk-in shower and he goes. Then he comes out and sits on his towel. He is a love.

Christian wanted to bring Charlie in carpool.  He then said it would be cool if there were a bring-your-cat-to-school day.  I agree.

Jessi is learning measurements, and darn that metric system. I had to make us a chart.

2015 - week 5

As the coach of Christian's Jr. Jazz team, Mike was responsible for making sure all his players got tickets to a Jazz game. He got a few extra tickets and took two of his players, Adam and Tommy, to a game.  He ended up getting them traded for second row seats.

The boys ended up on the jumbo tron several times.  Here, the cameras were catching people lifting up their kids like on the Lion King.  Christian tried lifting up Adam and the cameras caught him.  At the end of the night Christian declared that several things had been checked off his bucket list that night.

Another shot of Charlie sleeping on Christian.  I just can't handle the cuteness of this cat.

Oatmeal on the way to school.

The three oldest got ski lessons for Christmas.  Mike joined them for their final ski time.

Drew's friend Chris and his brother and dad met them there.

Jessi is off track the same time as Camille's boys so we sometimes get to do fun things together.  This was our first time at the Museum of Curiosity.  In the wind tunnel, Jess yelled, "Mom, look at my afro."

Bev is such a good student.  About once a week she stays after school to get caught up on things.  I picked her up and took a few pics on the way home.

Playing a game of Trivia Crack with her dad.

Her, wondering why I am taking pictures of her playing Trivia Crack.

Her, having no idea what the answer is.

The look of satisfaction at beating Dad.

Mike and Christian and their Jr. Jazz team.  The boys decided on the name "Yellow Snow" because of the neon yellow jerseys.  The team is made up of mostly boys from our neighborhood. It was a fun season, and the boys really improved as the season went on.

With this unseasonably warm weather, we have started cleaning up the yard. Drew raked up leaves and then jumped in the pile.  He is such a good worker, and has asked me to hire him for some paying jobs.  I am happy to put him to work on jobs I want to hire out myself.  So far he has learned to steam-clean tile and wash walls.

Friday night and Jessica was worn out.  Drew had friends over so pizza and chips and dip were on the menu. Jess ate first and then chilled in her room and fell asleep early.  Mike and I always want our kids feel like they can have friends over. We have told them that we are happy to supply food and entertain the little ones, so that the teenagers can have space to hang out.  I love that they want to be here.  I think Mike has stopped for pizza almost every Friday night over the last few months.