Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I wish I had pictures to share, but my cord got lost in the move. We had a great white Christmas...even if we have a "Charlie Brown" tree. The boys got football gear and ramps for their bikes & skateboards. Sydney got a karaoke machine & lots of High School Musical "stuff." Fun, fun! Everyone was so excited that I found them in the family room at 3am. I convinced them to go to bed, but they were back down 30 minutes later. I had to take them to my bed to get them to sleep a little longer. They held until 7/7:30 then. I think it was one of the funnest years ever. I think being in a new house sure helped that.
We've had lots of company and lots of food. We are a little tired now. Hopefully we will rest up a little before New Year's so that we can go skiing. Life is good. I am a slacker on the Christmas cards too. I was thinking of doing a New Year's card...cheesy, huh?! Love you all and hope you had a great Christmas! Happy New Year!

Busy Days!

Hey everyone! I thought I better update this so that I don't get locked out. I am at home today and working on a bunch of odds and ends. The kids have no school today and they are playing "Christmas!" It's really a great day! Well, we've been busy here, and I'm a fan of lists because I can't quite phrase things the way all of you can. So, here it is.

Things that have happened since I blogged last...

• We finished our house
• We moved into our house!!!!
• We had Thanksgiving...(14 for dinner) This includes the surprise visit from Chris & Cassie & Cam!! What a blast! Mom & Dad came, Brett & Julia, and Curt & Vonnie, oh, and us, of course. The turkey didn't turn out all that great, but the rest was yummy! I think I had cooks syndrome.
• Mom broke her wrist when she slipped on the ice at my house. She fell and hit her head on a rock and caught herself with her left hand. We all thought it was just a sprain until it started swelling up that night. What a trooper! Mom & I drove into Redmond at about 9 pm and saw a doctor that told her she would probably need surgery. Yikes! I was hoping it would turn out that she would need to stay here to recouperate, but that didn't work out so good. I guess she will not need surgery, and she will be going back to AZ tonight. She gets to wear a sling for 3 weeks and a cast for 2. How rotten. Sorry mom!
• Fall decorations went up for the week, and now we are decorating for Christmas. We put some stuff up one night after the kids went to bed and when they woke up you would have thought it was Christmas! They were so excited! I have never seen them so excited. They have been playing Christmas ever since. What fun ages they are this year!
• I was in charge of the Halloween party, and now the Christmas party is tommorrow! No stress! Just a little Christmas around the world. I hope it all comes together.
• Sydney lost 2 teeth. The first one came out awhile ago. The rotten tooth-fairy was running late though. She didn't deliver the goods until Sydney got up and told us the toothfairy didn't come, tearily. The second one came out about an hour ago and has been hanging on by a thread for over a week. Exciting! Hopefully the rotten tooth-fairy won't forget this time!
• The boys had their first choir performance...twirling a flag in a parade. It was really cute even if it sounds dorky. They told me they wanted to join choir this year and I was really baffled. They hardly sing in church! So, I signed them up, and they then told me that they signed up because there was supposed to be a pizza party and a field trip to Eugene. Silly boys. Tommorrow they perform at the Redmond Festival of Trees. It should be pretty cool. I'll try to post some pictures finally!

Anyway, that is what we've been up to. I'm trying to catch up on work and my calling today. I probably should get back to that.

Love you all!

Bad Blogger! Bad!

Ok. I am the worst blogger lately! I have been the worst e-mailer too! My mind has been focused on 2 things.

1. Get my house ready to move into (YEAH!) and all that goes along with that
2. Get the kids through each day...get them to school, pick them up, do homework and all the other after-school activities. (YIKES)

That pretty much takes all my time and energy. I try to throw a little work in there, a little reading, oh, and of course, food & working out. Need I say more? I didn't mention laundry or cleaning. You all know how it is. But, by the end of the day, I hit the pillow hard! This parenting thing is tiring!

This year I am working in all three classrooms. I told myself that I wouldn't do that, but how can I say no to one and work in another's class? It doesn't work! I love being at the school. I am getting to know most of the kids in Sydney's class and I already know all the kids in the boys classes. It's good, because when they start talking about a cute girl...I know who they are talking about. This is already happening, unfortunately. Tyler likes a girl named Riley and Tanner likes a girl named Alex. Scarey! What am I in for if they already like girls?!! Sydney just loves her girlfriends and any attention she gets from boys. Fun, fun!

Anyways, I just thought I would do an update for now. Hope everyone is well...Bike lovers...Babies...Dogs...etc!

Soccer!

Besides working on the house, we have been doing a lot of soccer lately. So, I thought I would share a couple of pictures.

Sydney, the power-house!
Tanner being the goalie! HE is an AWESOME Goalie! Not much got past him.

Tyler is unstoppable. He was the only one really working out on that field. He made 3 goals that day! He's so good and so fun to watch, but he really has an attitude. At practice, the coach put him in a different position, and he was so mad he told him he didn't want to play. He said that he is "center" and everyone else sucks at it. Yikes! We had a talk that night. Who does he think he is?

Tyler is sitting on the field here because he just made a goal and kicked it sideways.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear BEEETthhh, Happy birthday to YOUUUU!!!!! You don't look like a monkey, and you smell better tooo!!!

You are one of my favorite people ever, and definitely my FAVORITE sister! I love you and miss you! Hope you have a great day!!! 30...that makes ME feel old:)

10 Reasons to LOVE Beth:

1. She is the best mom EVER! You can not get any better than Beth. She loves and adores her girls and they know it. She should have 20 more because they are so cute and she is soooo goood at it.

2. She is the most organized person you will ever meet. Everything has its place and time. Her refrigerator is always clean, her house is always organized, and her girls have specific spots for specific toys. Before she goes to bed at night, she runs around and cleans up everything that is out of place. When she does work on the side, she fits that in at naptime and after the girls go to bed...in the allotted time. I, on the other hand, have a different theory....I don't have one!

3. She is the best employee ever. If you have known Beth for a long time, you may know about some of her jobs. Well, she still keeps in-touch with about half of her bosses or fellow employees because she was so well liked by everyone she has worked with. Organized, skilled, and efficient, who wouldn't want her to work for them?

4. The funniest person alive. She kills me!!! I love her sense of humor! She takes an ordinary day and finds a lot to laugh about. Like her blog...does she ever not make you laugh? Her kids must have gotten her humor too.

5. She is driven!!! If Beth decides she is going to do something, watch out! Look at this diet and excercise thing she has done...nothing is going to stop her! Go Girl!!! You look awesome!

6. The best photographer...check out her pictures!! I think she has found a new calling in life. She should do it professionally! If you forgot your camera, don't worry, Beth will have hers, it is just strapped to her hip! She catches some of the best moments on camera!

7. The best writer ever. She needs to write a book. I have told her that for years! Whenever she writes, you feel like you are talking to her. She can relate to everyone...she would sell millions!

8. She is the best friend anyone could ever have! Beth has always had soooo mannny goood friends. She collects them. They are attracted to her for good reason. She will do anything for you, anytime. And, she won't forget your birthday, or your kids birthdays...even when she's busy and overwhelmed. You can talk to her about anything without being judged, she will accept anyone just the way they are. I love her!!!!

9. She is the best wife. I know, Kyle, this is your job to claim this, but I have to say, that she is pretty darn good at it. She loves and supports Kyle through everything, and he has a lot going on right now!!!

10. And last, but not least, she is the best sister ever!!! She still likes me even though I was a brat to her....doesn't that say it all? When I was scared, she shared her single bed with me. When I wanted the coveted name for my doll, she let me have it. When I got married and picked a yucky dress for my bridesmaids, she wore it with a smile. When I had a baby (or two), she was here. When I have a birthday, I get a card or present in the mail. When my boys got baptized, she was here. She drops everything to support me and love me even when I'm not always so prompt. I feel lucky to have a sister so amazing! I love you to pieces!

Happy Birthday!

(I apologize for the picture...it is a little old and it doesn't capture you in all of your hottness that you have going on now, but I thought you looked cute with all these kids around you.)

First Day of School

Well, I had to fight for the shots I got. I know, they are lame! Syd is the only one that would pose, as you can see. Tyler was screaming at me ,"NOOO MOOOOM!" Tanner was just sly and got away with only being in the background. They were embarassed and couldn't believe I was trying to take their pictures at school! Oh well.

So, I couldn't wait for school to start and now I am wondering what my rush was. We have dove head-first into homework already. Yikes! I didn't get too much sleep last night because I was worried about Tyler and if he will do ok in the 3rd grade. Last night was his second crying episode saying he hated third grade. So, this morning, I woke him up early and we worked together on his homework that seemed impossible to him last night. He did great! Phew! I don't think I knew what I was in for when I jumped on the motherhood wagon! It sure is a bumpy ride!!!

Labor Day Weekend

Crazy life!!! Labor day weekend we had some friends we know from Portland come over with their (6) kids and camp out in our front yard. It was a lot of fun and a great end to summer. Our kids had a blast with theirs. We played on the boat and ate lots of yummy food. You can't ask for more, right?!

Tyler looks creepy in this shot...but I thought it was cool. He wouldn't get out of the picture, or in for that matter.

Sydney & Halley are 5 days apart and loved each other. Can you tell? When Syd was born they brought their new baby (Halley) over and brought us dinner. How cool is that?!

Another ever-famous hammock shot with most of the kids. Taylor, I thought you might like to know that the cutie in the middle there is a Sophmore and very available. He left his longboard skateboard here for the boys as a birthday present. They were thrilled! He couldn't be any cooler in their eyes!

Tyler really liked Louis, can you tell? He brought his go-cart with him and ended up trading the boys for one of their little 50 motorcycles. We are now proud owners of a really cool go-cart. I love it! It just makes you giggle when you're driving cause it's so fun! (What's that in the background?! For those of you looking for house pics. Oops!) The little guy in the picture is Bliss (that is his name, not the way he is).