The Restroom

"Some people call the bathroom a restroom. It's a restroom because it is somewhere moms can go to rest away from their kids."

David (age 10)

Christmas 2013

Christmas was wonderful- full of smiles and lots of laughter. I am very thankful for my family.

Here are  few snapshots from Christmas morning:

Christmas Lights

"I love Christmas Lights because they give you the perfect excuse to get on the roof." 
Jonathan (age 12)

I love Math

"I love Math because it is the only place where buying 64 watermelons is acceptable." 
Jonathan (age 12)

Half Stupid

Elsie: "Daddy, Thomas said I am stupidish."

Seth: ... so?

Elsie: "So, that means he is saying I am half stupid."

Iron Bowl

 

What a game! Wish it had not ended that way... but we still love our Tide.

Black Friday

David: "What is Black Friday?"

Jonathan: "It is the day after Amercians spend a day being thankful for all that they have, when they trample each other for things they don't need."

When I grow up

"When I grow up I am going to live in Disneyland.

But, I want to have a separate room from my Daddy (meaning, husband) so he doesn't see all of the toys I have."

Elsie, age 5

Overheard at the Dinner Table

Elsie (in Kindergarten):

"You won't believe this but there is a boy in my class that talks more than David."

No one believed her.

Played with Legos

We played with Lego's yesterday at Legoland.

More pictures later. I'm gonna go play at the beach.

I'm stubborn and I know it

This morning, Seth, Jonathan, Thomas and I (Jane Anne) talked about the time change. Jonathan and Seth had been up for a while. I was still sipping coffee trying to wake up and Thomas had just come downstairs. (David is sick and was still sleeping. Elsie was also still asleep.)

We began discussing who in the family is a "morning person" or a "night person."

It is clear-
Seth is a morning person.
Jane Anne is a night person.
Jonathan is a night person.
David is a morning person.
It is too early to tell about Elsie.

Thomas gets in bed and falls asleep fast and hard. Waking up can be a very slow process.

This morning Thomas was unusually chatty. Seth mentioned that he falls asleep quickly and surmised, "Maybe, Thomas is a morning person."

Jane Anne: "You carry him downstairs sometimes because it is so hard to get him to wake up. And, he sometimes he doesn't wake up when you bring him downstairs."

Thomas: "I don't think I am a morning person or a night person. I am just a person.
I am a stubborn person."

Oregon Music at Church

Before church this morning, as we sat in our seats waiting for the service to start, I had a conversation with Elsie what went something like this:

Elsie exclaimed, "What?! The piano is playing but no one is there!"
Momma: "No, Elsie, look- that's the organ being played. It's over there."
Elsie: "What? Oregon music? I don't like Oregon."
Momma: "No, not Oregon music. Organ. She's playing an organ."
Elsie: "That's the SAME. Oregon. Organ. I don't like the Oregon Ducks."

February Highlights

In February:

Seth took David to an indoor archery range to shoot his bow.

Jane Anne and the kids had fun making lollipop valentine's. 

Mom inspired cards:

Kid inspired cards:

Jane Anne made a strawberry ice cream cake for Valentine's day. (The ice cream melted just slightly before it refroze... no one cared, of course.)

David got his first Valentine heart box of assorted chocolates (from Vermont Nut Free Chocolate). His reaction was priceless. 

Thomas proudly showed off his rock collection at Collections Night at school.

We went visited Lake Tahoe as a family on President's day.

We went sledding and played in the snow at Tahoe on President's Day.

Thomas received the character award for his class.

David was on the honor roll with all A's and B's.

Jonathan earned a 4.0 for his second term.

Calling Momma from Paradise

Seth was talking to his mom, Mimi, on the phone.

I said to Thomas:
"You see how Daddy called his Momma. When you are grown you need to call your momma sometimes."

Thomas said:

"I will... as long as I can get a good connection from Hawaii."

January Highlights

Seth and Jane Anne rang in the new year in WA, remembering and celebrating a dear friend's life.

Jonathan, David, and Thomas finished a season of indoor season.

Jonathan went on his first youth retreat. He went to Silver Spur Christian camp in Tuolumne, CA.

David started taking piano lessons.

David, Thomas, and Elsie started going to Pioneer Club on Wednesday nights at church.

Jane Anne started going to MOPS.

Haircuts

On Saturday, the boys got haircuts.

Jonathan
"Why did you choose this haircut?"
"I don't have to brush it and it is so short, I won't have to get another haircut for a while."

David
"Why did you choose this haircut?"
"Um, well... I like it. I did decide to get it a little shorter this time."

Thomas
"Why did you choose this haircut?"
"It's my style!"

[laughter]

Nonsense

Thomas and David accidentally collided. It was a serious head-butt that brought both boys to tears. 

After the tears stopped flowing, I tried lighthearted humor to make them smile.

Momma: "Did it knock some sense into you?"

Thomas: "No. It knocked nonsense into me!"

Elisabeth's birthday

Elisabeth turned five on November 17th. We had such fun celebrating her birthday, it would be a shame not to post any pictures.

Elisabeth chose to have a Care Bear themed birthday.

A few months before her birthday, our neighbor gave her a hand-me-down Care Bear. That's when her love of Care Bears was born. Not too long after that, we found we could record the Care Bears (it comes on TV during the wee hours of each Saturday morning).

Five is such a great age. It was super fun to watch her open presents! The boys were very excited for her.

I surprised her with a rainbow Care Bear cake. 

Elisabeth had her first friend birthday party on the night of her birthday at Pump it Up. She had blast (see Cyclone blast picture as evidence)! It was extra special to have Gran and Daddo there to celebrate. 

We had cupcakes at the party. 

Afterwards, Elsie was tired (and full) and she readily agreed to have her cake the next day.

Elsie's 5th birthday was almost as special she is... almost.