The Klondike Derby

Being a girl, I never had the opportunity to do Scouts.  I could have done girl scouts, but really I wasn't interested in that sort of thing.  I never heard about camping trips or using pocket knives.  Maybe they do those things, but I missed the memo on those.  So I didn't do scouts.

It's truly been a learning experience with Cub scouts, and now Boy scouts.  Noah is an 11 year old scout and just went on his first camp out.  It was called the klondike.  It consisted of the scouts going up to Ensign Ranch, and competing against all the other Boy Scouts up to the age of 17.  That is a really big difference.  My Noah is such a sweetheart I was a little worried that he might have a hard time.

The scout masters told the boys if they wanted their dad's to come and the dad's wanted to they were welcome.  So Dave went up with Noah.  This made me happy because Noah wasn't alone on his very first time.  And I got the real story about everything that happened.  Not that Noah would lie, but his perspective is a lot different than Dave's.

So they went up and ended up getting to sleep in cabins which was great and their were bunks, but Dave didn't bring his air mattress and they ended up sleeping on the hard wood bunk.  But fortunately they got to sleep on the bottom bunks.  This is good too, since Noah sometimes sleep walks in new places.

Dave says Noah got to sleep, but then about midnight the cabin was so hot, he checked on Noah and he was soaked with sweat.  He made him take a couple layers off, but then poor Noah couldn't get back to sleep.  He was up until after 4 am.  Dave couldn't sleep either, because one of the other men in the cabin was sawing logs with a chainsaw.  Dave got about 2 hours sleep.  But I think this is how these things must go anyway.

The next day the boys got up and had breakfast and they went off to compete.  Our boys, the dragon slayers, came in 8th overall.  I think that's the number....but I might have made it up too.  :)

They came in 3rd place in the fire building.  Noah got first place in a bungee cord activity.  Go Noah!!

Overall the Klondike Derby was a huge success.  My boys had a great time, and made it back all in one piece.  Also they were so tired they both went to bed early and slept great!

I'm really excited for my boys to learn and try and succeed in the Scout program.

Noah at the Klondike Derby

We are TV

Today I was driving home from dropping Sydney off at gymnastics.  Abby was in the car with me since we needed to try on a leotard for size for her pre-team.  We were listing to the radio when this conversation happened.  

Abby - Mom, what do you think Jesus thinks about his tv shows?

Me- Jesus doesn't have a tv where he lives.  

Abby - I know mom.  Not a real tv.

Me - Then what do you mean?

Abby - We are Jesus' tv.  He watches us all day.  He watches us all night too.  

Me - That's true.  He does watch over us.  Did you learn the tv thing at church?  

Abby - No Mom.  I said it.  

I love my little lady.  I love that she loves Jesus and she figured out on her own that he watches us like she watches her things.  I'm so grateful for my wonderful children and for all they teach me everyday.  

And that being said it made me think about what I'm doing each day.  I got a lot done today.  :)

I give up...

I give up.  I have such great intentions to get things posted.  Then life happens and posting gets put by the wayside.  I don't mean I'm going to give up doing my blog.  I just mean I'm going to give up trying to do it by a certain time.  For instance....I should have posted about Jacob's pinewood derby.  But that was a month ago.  It's like time is speeding up.

So I will most likely post everything a month or so late.  If I plan for that, I might not feel guilty about it.

Ok so I was going to post a bunch of pics of the kids and what's been happening and I am so far behind, I haven't even downloaded them to the computer yet.  So I'm starting this post off right.

I give up.  Just for tonight.  A good nights sleep might help.  :)

Christmas time is here again...

 Christmas time is here again!!!  Or was here.  Somehow it is past.  Time just keeps flying by.  We had a little bit of a rough start to our December.  By rough start I mean the kids.  I think as soon as they realize Christmas is coming and our wonderful Elf Tootsie arrives they have a really hard time staying nice.  There were reminders everyday to be "good".  My kids are usually such great kids that it doesn't take much to seem like they were being naughty.

But by the end of it all they had figured it out and Santa did deliver.  Not everything they asked for, but some surprises of things they wanted.


Santa was very generous this year.  Both girls got an American Girl Doll.  He did a great job of making them look just like the girls.  They originally named them Jeanette (sydney's doll) and Isabella (Abigail's doll).  But then Abby put Isabella in a fancy red dress and decided she should be called Rose because the dress had a rose on it.  I'm guessing her name will be plum next since she has a purple sweatshirt.

The boys each got an electronic device.  There's a shocker.  Jacob got the new 3DS XL.  I think that's what it's called.  It plays games and takes pictures.  I have no idea how to work it.  Noah got a kindle fire, with a few games on it and books.  He also has his own password that Santa set up so that the brother and sisters can't mess with it.  It's really cute to see him help Abby out to play some games on it.  Such a great brother.

Dave got what he wanted...a GoPro camera that can be mounted to his ski helmet or motorcycle helmet.  I can watch what he is watching.  So now I don't need to learn to ski at all.  :)

I got some beautiful diamond earrings.  Haven't taken them out yet.  :)  It must be true that diamonds are a girls best friend.

Mom and Dad were here with us again this year.  I'm not sure their presents were very exciting, but we were truly glad they chose to spend the Holidays with us.

Here is a shot of our tree with all the presents and stocking laid out.  Love my tree.  It's still up.  I need to take it down, but it makes me sad because then my house feels all bare.  

Here are the stockings from a different angle and the presents Santa left.  Also you can see the the bone wreath he left for Foster.  So nice Santa is.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!  Ours couldn't have been any better.  

Getting ready for Christmas!!

It is crazy how fast this year went by.  It was hard to find time to get anything done.  We did get our Christmas put up by the middle of December.  I had to, we had Dave's work Christmas party here on the 17th.  It was a success.  After all the getting ready for the party we decided to do some fun getting ready.  The girls helped me make some Christmas Crack.

What is Christmas crack you ask?  It's that yummy Chex mix that is all gooey and delicious.  You can't eat just a little...you end up eating all of it, because it's so addicting.  

Ours definitely tasted good but the name Christmas CRACK was a bit too literal.  I cooked the syrup too long and it hardened up really good.  It tasted the same, but it was a little crunchy.  All our teeth are still intact, but I did buy a candy thermometer so it doesn't happen again.  

Here is my cute Abby watching me finish.  We made ours simple with chex mix, golden grahams and pretzels.  It was so yummy with the sweet and salty.  

My cutie pies working on breaking up the pretzel sticks.  They were great helpers.  

Here is our big tree and miss Abigail taking a ride in the barbie camper.  I got this when I was a little girl and used to love to ride it.  Abby is my mini me.

About a week after this we made treats to take to friends and the kids did a great job of delivering them.  It's so fun to see them get excited about giving to others.  It was a fight (a good fight) as to who got to carry the treats to the door.  

I voted!!

I just have to say I'm ready for this election to be over...that being said I hope the person I voted for is the winner. :)

I have tried so hard to stay out of all the political posts on Facebook and stay out of political discussions with people, so as not to become caught up in the fighting of it all.  I have my beliefs and I know others have theirs.  I just don't understand how people can be so brutally mean in the things they say to each other.  Isn't the ability to be different and believe different things and have our own opinions and free agency one of the best things about our country?

That being said...   I VOTED!!!

I have followed my beliefs and hope that my vote is heard.  I hope this country keeps being great and that we will always be able to express our views, opinions and beliefs freely.

First day of School

I know the first day of school was a month ago.  I'm that far behind.  But before you think I'm just a slacker (which sometimes I am), I've been busy. 

Doing what?

Being Super MOM!!!  There are lots of us out there.  Running kids to practices and sports, with 5 minutes in between start times, to places that are 10 minutes away.  Yet we always seem to make it work.  Which is why somethings get put on the back burner.  

The first day of school was September 4th.  I love that my kids are 3 minutes away from the school and they can walk themselves down.  It makes my life a lot easier.  This year we have three in the elementary school.  The school is Wellington Elementary.  Last year was great.  My kids have been in lots of different schools.  Noah and Jacob have been to 4 different elementary schools and Sydney has been in 2.  She is in 1st grade this year.  That's a lot of turn over.  I'm hoping we get to stay here for awhile... What do I mean by that? FOREVER!!!!!

This year Sydney is in 1st grade, Jacob is in 4th grade and Noah is in 5th grade.  Sydney has Mr. Elledge ( who according to her is really tall and funny).  Jacob has Mrs. Bailey, who he had last year.  She is now teaching a 3rd/4th grade split.  So far he really likes it.  The upside....she already knows how crazy he is so there is no learning curve.  Noah has Mr. Barnard.  He is new to the school and who Noah wanted so that works out great.  I like Mr. Barnard too.  He doesn't want volunteers.  He says it's his job to teach the kids.  Now I don't have to feel guilty that I can't get into everyone's classrooms.  It also gives me the chance to volunteer in other classes.  I like all the kids teachers.  It seems to be a great start to the year.  

On a side note, the kids school has 8 male teachers.  That seems like so much.  My elementary school had maybe 2 at one time.  I remember the male teachers being in Jr. High and High School.  My kids really seem to be liking their teachers this year.  

Here they are.  All ready for school.  I'd have shown you their whole school outfits but the combination of patterns and colors would have crossed your eyes so you only get the top.  My kids definitely have their own sense of style.

I do have one other kiddo.  Abigail.  It's always been sad for her to see the other kids leave for school.  She has school this year 4 days a week.  So happy.  She gets to see her friends.  She was very excited.  She has the same teachers this year as last year.  That has been helpful and most of the kids in her class were in her class last year.  She has had to learn how to share her friends with new kids and has struggled a little bit with that.  But all in all off to a good start.  

Here she is in all her purple Hello Kitty glory.    I love that she has on her  fuzzy purple ugg boots with her skirt.  It was really warm that first day.  But hey she matched.

Next year I will have all 4 kids in the same school.  It will be the only time ever they will get to do that.  As for me I have been loving my few hours a day of just me.  A little selfish I know, but nice too.