January So Far....

This first picture is really about December but I realized I forgot to tell everyone about the incredible Christmas miracle that happened at our house. Konrad, for the first time in years, heeded our wishes and put Christmas lights on the house!!!! He went through a saving electricity fad and said it was a huge waste to put them up - would cost too much and wasn't worth it. While he still cares about saving electricity (the girls still have to pay him a quarter if they leave their lights on), he still agreed to put lights up. We were all so excited and grateful for him for taking two of his afternoons to put them up and take them down. Not to count all the hours it took to alternate the strands so they are green/white/green/white. He must love us!
A family of jumpers:

It snowed for the first time yesterday...the girls spent about 2 hours (if not more) out playing in about 1 1/2 inches of snow :) They loved every minute of it.

Don't you love their tiny snowman:

The trampoline seems to take up a lot more room in the backyard when covered with snow...the net makes it seem monstrous!

Jumping in the snow:

Sam outlasted them all (like normal) and made her own snowman on the trampoline. After spending 30 minutes or so working on it, she smooshed it with one jump :)

Today we got even more snow and they've been out for about 3 hours total today. They were able to venture to the park today (we don't play at the park on Sunday's) and made a much bigger snowman with a neighborhood friend. I thought they did pretty good!

While they spend their time playing in the snow I have been going through pictures from YW camp. I had 900 pictures to sort through...but now I'm done with it and I'm glad I don't have to worry about it anymore! I should have just done it months ago so I didn't have to think/stress about it for the past 4 months!

It's pretty blizzardy out there...looks like we'll have a snow day or two this week! I'm hoping to get a snow day on Thursday...that is my birthday wish! :)

New Years Eve

We had a great New Years Eve. Tons of yummy food (thanks again Shaun for adding your mushrooms to the menu...they are my FAVORITE!), friends, and games. Plus our kids are old enough that they don't rely on us too much and just have fun playing with each other! Awesome, right?

Just Dance:

Darcy played a cute game with kids all about left and rights...then they all ended up with prizes

the little girls chose the noise putty...sounds like farting...they had so much fun with it!!

My favorite picture ever. Why, you ask? Well b/c I appear to be the tall one of the group! That doesn't happen very often! :)

it was a bit late...we got a bit goofy

All the kiddos.

Happy New Year!

Remember When...

It was summer...
I was finally getting around to sorting through my YW Camp photos (I know, I'm a slacker...) and found these fun pictures from a spur-of-the-moment trip to Alki Beach in Seattle. I had 3 extra kids and it was happening at dinner time, but I said who cares...we're soaking up the sun while we can!

Burying Sam:

Alli's cute new swim suit:

Konrad rode his motorcycle out to meet us after work...

Some crazy kids decided they actually wanted to get in the water...but not much more than their toes b/c it was rocky and cold (it is the Puget Sound after all!)

Tami checking out the view:

Cute Alli:

Kimber loved it...she was at the beach and could see the city...2 awesome things in her book!

Kenzie:

Sam was the only nut to actually get ALL the way in the water:

Jack and Jordan burying their legs:

Alli, Jack, Jordan, and Hannah

jumping the waves:

The sun will come back, right!?!

(p.s. these pictures were taken with my dad's good camera...guess who is planning on buying one before Costa Rica?? Me that's who! The difference in the pictures is to great to ignore. We've got a year of fun vacations coming up...I want to record those memories with a better camera! Dad, want to sell me yours?? You can borrow it when you need it! :))

Once again...

We are sick at our house.

1 UTI
1 case of strep
1 sore throat yesterday, but feeling better today

This makes 10 cases of strep in our house in the last 6 months. Craziness!

All girls were home from school yesterday (Kimber went, but I picked her up right after preschool).

Thus I've been playing TONS of Words With Friends...I really should be doing productive things with all my time at home, but it's just not happening! Oh, well. If you want to play let me know...the more people the better b/c then I will have less wait time between plays! All you people I'm playing need to stop being productive and just play WWF with me, I don't know what to do between turns!

We're supposed to get snow next week...maybe I'll be productive on our Snow Days :)

Take Our Picture Please!

Tami called us last weekend and asked if she could take some pictures of the girls. She wanted to try out her new lens and her kids weren't willing to pose. I doubt my girls would ever say no to a camera + I've been wanting new pictures of them - so we threw together some outfits and headed out the door. (Next time I'm hiring a costume designer...I hate trying to put together outfits for family pictures...which reminds me...we have extended family pictures in 2 weeks...anyone want to help me figure out what to wear???)

The girls had fun and the pictures turned out great. Thanks Tami!

Anytime anyone wants to practice or use a new lens, let us know!

2012/2013 Preschool Registration Starts Soon

Registration for the 2012/2013 school year (classes start in Sept. 2012) is this month.

Children ages 3-5, must be 3 by 8/31/12, and potty trained.

Registration is as follows:
Current Students who are returning on January 23rd between 9:00-1:00.
Siblings of Current or Past students on January 24th between 9:00-1:00.
Open to Everyone on January 25th between 9:00-1:00.

I will be teaching 2 classes next year.
3 days per week: MWF from 9:30-12:00, $120 per month
2 days per week: T/Th from 9:30-12:00, $100 per month

There is also a non-refundable $35 registration fee, due at the time of registration. There is a registration form as well that needs to be filled out. You can either pick one up at my house or I can email it to you.

Leave me a comment and/or email me for more info if needed.

I'd appreciate it if you could pass on the info to any family or friends that are looking for a preschool!

2012 - Goals for the Year

I'm starting to see posts about goals and it got me thinking.

What am I going to do this year?

First off for ME:
~continue to live the healthier life style I lived last year...even if the threat of losing to Jenni, or paying her money, isn't there :) (I may be regretting this one in a few weeks, I'm crossing my fingers I can do this on my own :)) (which will entail..burn more calories than I eat, exercise everyday, 4 servings of fruits and veggies every day, flossing everyday, big treats on special occasions only, and trying really hard not to eat after 8:00)
~continue practicing the piano everyday
~get back into reading the scriptures. I have been listening to General Conference talks everyday for the past 6 months as my gospel study...I want to keep that up but also get back into the scriptures as well.

For my HOME:
~decorate above my fire place
~paint all of downstairs
~clean it on a very regular schedule - even all the little things that need done every once and awhile (window sills, vacuuming along all the edges of the carpet, dusting!, under the stove and fridge, maybe I should vacuum the stairs too :), etc)
~keep it organized
~get rid of 2 things (of similar size or function) for every 1 thing WE (not just me) bring into the house

For my FAMILY:
~spend time everyday doing something as a family (games, reading, watching a favorite show, dancing, riding bikes, etc)
~figure out a good schedule for scriptures and family prayers
~FHE EVERY.SINGLE.WEEK (even if not on Monday)
~less yelling from me - which I think will equal less yelling from everyone else
~lots more thinking before speaking, especially when talking to Konrad, so I don't come off as grouchy and rude as often
~SLOW DOWN. Stop running around like crazy people and enjoy life and each other more.

For my MONEY:
~Spend it well :)
~Start couponing again
~Open bank accounts for the girls
~Stay away from Thrift Stores and Clearance racks...where I tend to buy things just b/c they are cheap :) Maybe I should say "only shop at thrift store on 50% off days"...oh, wait, that's what I already do! :) Okay, nix this goal...it will never happen!

For my JOB:
~start portfolios in January and work on them each week, as needed, until June
~implement the new ideas I keep meaning to implement :)
~spend time after preschool EVERYDAY preparing for the following day so I don't have to rush around before class
~have all stuff for projects done before class starts
~fill my classes for next year

Happy New Year Everyone!