SnowMan!

{extra posts and pics so loved ones we are missing right now can enjoy the season with us}
The snow was too dry to make a snowman, so Dave went out and helped the kids with it.


John was bundled so well that he couldn't put his arms down, but he sure was having fun!


It was dark by the time they got done.....

Christmas Sledding

We live in the desert. Sledding on cacti and weeds is neither fun nor safe. How do Lovelockians deal with this problem? Today we found out....
You stay in the valley and pull the sled with a 4 wheeler! Many thanks to our neighbors for inviting us over for the fun.





Happy Christmas to all!
(i really did this 'cuz i am having fun learning to use my new camera!:-)

Getting Ready for Christmas

A quick video to share the Christmas spirit with you.

Video by Kenneth Cope and Liz Lemon Swindle
I hope you have a great day!

all is well...

i just spent 2 days in the hospital with john, he is doing better. he had high fever and febrile seizures. the doc was overly cautious, and we were there 2 nights. as babies often do, he bounced back quickly and was going crazy by yesterday afternoon. he kept making a run for any exit he could find. i couldn't blame him, when i am in the hospital i can't wait to go home either. i am glad his fever is controllable and no more seizures. he seems very thankful to be home too. i might post pics later.

can you smell the panic?

i have a tough final today. if i blow it, i will not be happy with my grade. i planned on studying all day except for cub scouts (yes, i'm still leading cubs) and family home evening. grandma decided to go to wal-mart today (70 miles away). no biggee, i am used to studying with the kids. last night's pots and pans didn't get done and i was planning on leaving them there all day.
at noon 2 vehicles pull into my driveway. grandma had told the two ladies she is singing with in the Christmas program that they could practice here today. when i answered the door and let them know grandma wasn't here, they asked if they could practice here anyway. total and complete mortification. neither of these women had ever been in my home before. here's what they saw:
15 Christmas totes stacked in the office
my homework all over the office table, plus old books and papers everywhere
20 various Christmas boxes in my front room
pillows, blankets, jammies, wipes, toys ALL over the family room (where they practiced)
walmart bags on the counter from saturday...yes, saturday
shoes, papers, ornaments all over the house
i was crazy embarrassed and annoyed at grandma, but when i stopped feeling sorry for myself, i got really sad for grandma. her short-term memory isn't what it used to be. her motor skills haven't been the same since the little stroke. it is hard watching her get old.

well...at least my dishes were done and the kids were clean, so they didn't need to call cps (did i mention one lady was the elementary school principal? :-)

Merry Christmas

i didn't even get around to buying Christmas cards this year. i couldn't find your address if i tried for an hour. please know i think about you and wish you a merry Christmas! happy new year too, while i'm at it.

Why here?

A new family has moved into our little town of about 2,000 people. The husband works with Dave and I am planning on taking some cookies over today or tomorrow. I thought I would make a nice little card on the computer, but the only ones I thought fit were the ones under the label “Sympathy”. I feel this for a two main reasons yet I’m sure others exist. The first reason I want to offer her sympathy is because moving just sucks. I won’t even go into packing, unpacking, extra cleaning and the impossible task of finding the thing you are looking for in the pile of boxes. No, the main reason moving is so horrible is that you leave your friends. It is like a giant bus has crashed and all your friends are gone. It is horrible that the women that can bring you the most comfort in such a hard time can’t really be there for you. Yes, there are people who will one day be your friends, but no one on whose shoulder you can cry right now when you really need to. New jobs, new school for the kids, new neighbors…the whole ordeal is something you need a solid, reliable friend to help you through.
Second reason moving here sucks—well, this town is small. Not like a small town back east, where there is another small town 15 miles away, this small town is an island, 70 miles from anything. This makes shopping crazy difficult. Doctors’, dentists’, orthodontists’ appointments take the whole out of school for the kids. Going to a movie theater means 90 min in the car, sitting for the 2 hour movie then 90 min more in the car. You get the picture. There are many reasons this town is no fun.
But…why here?
A huge reason we live here is summed up on the school calendar in a few phrases such as: Christmas Concert, Christmas Vacation and Easter Vacation. Yes, the music teacher here teaches the children Christ-centered songs for Christmas. They have Christmas parties at school and a Christmas tree. Easter vacation has not been turned into “Spring Break”. It is still Easter Vacation.
My less than coordinated child will be able to do any sport he really wants to do. My neighbor’s daughter is a cheerleader…any of the girls willing to work and go to practice are included. This town nicely spaces it’s sports out so gymnastics began the week after soccer ended. The kids can do all the sports and activities they want to learn. This town is super kid-friendly. We live on this island for our children.
For those with beaches, or shopping or land that grows things I do envy you at times…but not today. I will take cookies and a Sympathy-Welcome card. I will share the great things about our town and encourage her to spend time with her old friends by phone, email and blogs. You will never know how your words helped me when you had no idea I was reading…

Quirk I forgot to add...

my most interesting quirk of late that i forgot to add: i'm a democrat

Quirks...Who Me?

So I was "tagged" again and I decided to actually respond to it this time. I'm supposed to mention a few quirks or weird things about me. But since those weird things I do seem normal to me, I thought I would ask my loving family for help. Here is what they said--kids words in red:

You Call your kids, and our friends, “Pookey-Bear” just to embarrass us. This is true. I will roll the window down and yell “Hi Pookey Bear” at Jake’s friend walking down the street. They laugh and turn red. I just think it’s funny.

The madder you get, the quieter you get. It really gets their attention.

You think failure is an A- They are picking on me for how stressed I get doing my homework.

At this point they are all afraid to speak, sure that they will say something that will be mean and make me mad.

You like watching ‘Tween movies and the Disney Channel sit-coms for kids. Who doesn’t?

They are out of quirks and now just saying anything that comes to their mind. So I will supply the last few

I still have nightmares about not being able to open my high school locker because I just can’t seem to remember the combination.

I'm not embarrassed about my age, nor do I ever intend to be. Who would want to be 29 forvever? Not me--bring on those birthdays!

What are your Quirks?

My Treats and Tricks

My life is full of things I am happy about, my mental treats. Yet often these treats come with a downside, the little tricks in life. I was just thinking about some this morning as I hold John and type with one hand. Here are a few of the treats, or happy moments, along with the tricks or sad moments that are yoked together.

Treat--I am thankful my family has SO many things to wear. We all have lots of clothes. Trick-- the immense laundry I need to do.

Treat--I’m happy for my friend Christelle. Her husband just passed the Nevada Bar. He has tried a few times and had lost hope. I’m glad he will be able to get a job making more money. Trick--I’m sad my friend Christelle will be moving away this summer because her husband passed the bar. We will try to enjoy the time we have left with her.

Treat--I am glad my children got to play soccer this season. I am also glad soccer season ends this week. No tricks here, just happiness all around.

Treat--I’m happy for my mom; she has retired from the State of Nevada. She will be moving in with us on Friday. I am thankful she will be here to help drive kids and read to my precious babies. Trick--I am sad that I no longer have a play/guest room and that I have had to clean it out. As a side note, Christmas presents have been cancelled this year. We will never need another board game, card game, stuffed animal, puzzle or toy ever again. Now I have to tell the kids and Santa….Do you think Santa will bring us gas cards instead?

Treat—reading your blogs. I love hearing about you. Trick—I miss you all!

It's My Birthday

John celebrated his first birthday with his cousins while we were in Florida. He did make a mess and enjoyed himself. Daddy picked out the cake. Thanks to the Georgia Webb's for taking the pics!!

His brothers and sister can't wait to see where we go for John's second birthday!!!

I can't wait!!!


pics to follow in a few weeks...maybe

Just for Grandma

We took two trips to Lake Tahoe this summer.
Grandma wanted pics,so here you are Grandma!!

Jake, Katie & Justin


Justin loved working like the big kids.


Here are pictures of John's first steps...he looks like he is paying more attention to the camera then his walking.

A final pic ...John saying, "Bye, Bye"