Jessi's Birthday Weekend

Wow was this a long weekend. I guess it could be because the kids and Tim had Monday out of school and work. Friday night was the HS boys basketball game for Districts. They won of course but Jessi was the team manager. After the game she wanted Shealynn and Emily to come over to spend the night. When we got home she came down and asked if she could turn the heater back on. I had turned it off last week when Tim was gone because I thought I smelled gas. I told him to check on it but he had not had time to do that yet. We turned it on and sure enough he could smell it too. So the girls slept in the living room and the boys and Jenni slept with Tim and I. Thank goodness nothing happenend to the boys. The heater is in the closet in there room. I just thank God that I smelled it and it didn't kill them!

Then Saturday we went over to the pond to get ready for her birthday party. We made a fire ring and took over all the chairs and cut some wood to burn. Then the District finals were Saturday night so we spent valentines night watching the teams play basketball! Both teams won! By the way, Coach Davis texted Jessi yesterday and asked her to be the manager for all of the regional games this weekend. That is really an honor because 5 girls have been trading off all year. So coach wanted Jessi and Cassidy only for this weekend. She said it made Shealynn and Emily mad but what do you do.

Sunday we spent at the pond. We had a really good time. We had the fire going and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. The kids played hide and seek in the trees. I think they had fun. The only bad part was Sam was trying to cross part of the pond on a log and fell in. The poor little guy was freezing! We wrapped that up around 6 p.m. and we were crazy tired. Jessi had Shealynn, Beth and Stacia come and spend the night. I pretty much left them on their own because I was too tired to entertain.

Yesterday I spent the day organizing pictures. Yes pictures from as far back as I could find. I had Tim move in the extra file cabinets from his office that he didn't need any more. I have a drawer for each kid and a drawer for every two years since 1991. Then there is one drawer for everything prior to that. My goal is to get all the pictures scanned in the computer AND make some albums for me and one for each kid. I would like to get all the picture scanned in by the end of this year. I may be hopefull thinking but I'm going to try!

Summer Vacation

Ok girls and mom, we are having second thoughts about disney this summer. We were just there last year and we talked about waiting a year to return. I just thought it would be better than going two years in a row. Anyway just wanting some suggestions on where we could go. Kati have you and Brandon talked about a summer trip. We would love to go with you guys and MOM and BOB if they are here. I thought we could find a place near some really nice hotels so Kimi and Chad could come along.

We talked about Myrtle Beach South Carolina and Yellowstone Park. We also really enjoyed Nashville. Anyway would love input from you guys even if you don't come along.

Snow Day Two!

Oh my here we still are stuck at home. Last night I tried to not let the kids know they were out of school today so I could send them to bed at 9. Well that didn't work. Jake has figured out how to watch the TV for closings and Jessi checked on the internet. I thought I'd get away with it because they had been playing the WII all evening and hadn't seen the TV. When I told them it was bed time they all chorused "we don't have school" then Jake and Jessi started their searches and both realized at the same time they were out. Your probably heard the collective shriek of joy as they turned the WII back on.

Well one good thing is we have had electricity and I am caught up on laundry! Yes can you believe it! Even all the sheets and blankets!!!!

I have vowed to keep a photo album up to date this year. I take all these wonderful pictures and never do anything with them. So far I am caught up with January. This is no small feat when you consider all the birthdays, new years, and I did two basketball pages. I thought I would work on the 2006 album I started next and then maybe get to 2007 in between. OK so I am really ambitious!

Well kids are starting to wake and I'll have to fix breakfast. OH how I love the school cooks!

January Catch Up

Ok wow January has flown by! Last week we had both Jenni's family birthday party, the boys friend party, and Jenni's friend sleepover. It was crazy. Why do I do this to myself.

Tim helped alot on Jenni's family party. He smoked ribs, pork loin, and chicken legs. I made potatoes and beans. We had a delicious lunch. Then the kids played outside. They played football and rode bikes. It was a pretty nice day.

Wednesday was a beautiful day so we planned the boys friend party. Not sure how many total was here but I bet there were at least 15 kids. We had hot dogs, pizza rolls, and cupcakes. They played and played outside. Sometimes I think we overthing birthdays because I had nothing planned and everyone had a ball!

Friday night was Jenni's night. She had 6 girls over and 4 spent the night. After school I took them all to the movie to see Motel for Dogs. It was really cute and the kids had a ball. There were very well behaved. Next we came home for pizza and cupcakes. They spent most of the rest of the evening upstairs playing. They must have fell asleep pretty early because they were all up before 8. Jessi was a great sport too. They decided they would steel one of her bras and get it wet and put it in the freezer. I warned Jessi but she let them think they pulled one over on her. When she came down after they ate breakfast one of the girls started giggling and teased her. She said and I quote "I'd have been alot more upset if I hadn't spit in the pancake mix." They all got white as a sheet. I was about to die laughing.

Saturday night was the Skeltur Tournament finals. Both Garber teams were in the finals but the girls couldn't pull it out. The boys however won another nail biter against Pioneer. It was really neat because Jessi and the other girl managers all got a medal. I told her I'd get my two out and we could put them in a shadow box. She just rolled her eyes.

Sunday we drove over to Fairfax to look at puppies. We had seen a bulldog pup and Tim said he'd always wanted one. I said if I'm training one puppy I might as well do two. This lady was so nice. She had two beautiful girls that were 4 months old. She wanted to keep them for herself but needed to pay a vet bill. Of course there was a liter of 6 week old pups. One of the older ones went right to Tim and layed with her head in his lap. Josh and I liked the little ones better. So we ended up with Roxie, one of the 6 week old ones. She is so sweet and playful. Of course Buddy didn't quite know what to do. They are getting along better today.

I almost forgot a couple of weekends ago at the boys basketball game I ran into Tony Chesnut and his kids. They were here for the weekend. They were watching Torrie's son Briley play ball.

Crappy Weather!

Well I just got back from getting the kids. They called school off early today due to ice. It is slick out. It is the kind of slick that is just on the pavement and you can't really tell it is slick until you are on your bottom!

So now Jake is playing the WII and Josh is playing his DS Jenni and Jessi are playing with the puppy.

These are the days I really wish we had a fireplace. I miss that most of all from our other homes.

I'm guessing they won't have school tomorrow. So I'll have to come up with some entertainment. I am hoping God will bless us with electricity. I don't know what we will do if it goes off.

Traditions

Today Josh asked me what traditions we do as a family. I couldn't think of anything. I told him what a tradition was and he came up with out yearly trip to Sea World for spring break. I hate to break the news to him but we aren't going there this year. So much for that tradition....

Jessi got to play tonight. She did really good!

This is homecoming week and tomorrow is stripes and polka dot day. Jenni is using fabric markers to put stripes and polka dots on her grey sweats. She just told Jake to write GARBER across her butt!

I decided this week I was going to cook everyday. I am so bad at preparing meals for my family. Anyway I spent Saturday morning working up a menu for the week. I made out a grocery list and then marked off items I already had. I spent $100 at the grocery store but I have seven meals planned.

Yesterday was chicken and noodles. Wow! I should have made those a long time ago. The kids ate like crazy. Jake and Josh had 4 helpings. I only had enough left over for me one meal at lunch. Tonight was a crock pot recipe for tator tot casserole. The kids eat this at school and were anxious for it. My recipe called for green beans. The one at school doesn't have green beans. They were a little hesitant but once they tasted it they liked it so two for two!

Homecoming Week

Wow just got done updating my calendar for this upcoming week. I'm not saying I'm busier than you all just letting you know what we are doing this week.

Monday Jessi has a ball game at Garber. Now this is special because we beat them really bad last week and the 7th graders got to play! So Jessi will probably get to play tomorrow! YEAH!!!

Then Homecoming is Friday so there will be various activities all week. Jake has tutoring on Tuesday and Wednesday evening this week. Then we have another home game on Saturday at Garber.

Our girls placed third and the boys won the Morrison Tournament yesterday. Friday, Jessi was the manager and had to go to the games. Tim was still at work so the little ones and I drove over and after the game we went into Stillwater for some Hideaway Pizza! The kids loved it! I can't believe I had never taken them there. We always go to Mexico Joes or Joseppi's.

Tim went with us last night and between the girls and boys games we went to Joseppi's. The girls game was good but the boys blew out Frontier. They are really really good this year and they are all juniors but one!

Puppy is doing great! It is so wonderful to have a pup that runs around and plays instead of always laying around asleep! Josh even like this puppy. I came in this morning and he had him laying beside him on the couch. This was amazing because he is usually spastic when the kids are around and trying to play ball or tug of war. They were so cute!