ikennelly

Clubhouse Door

2012-01-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

We have a room under our stairs, affectionately known as the "Clubhouse" for our children. My husband created the clubhouse a few years ago and included recessed lights and a tv that can get cable if we want. We never got around to putting a door to it till today, I had this idea to use double swing hinges, so the bi-fold door I bought and cut a couple years ago could be pushed open from the outside and inside. I thought that my idea was pretty spiffy, sort of thought of it because my aunt and uncle in Provo have a door that does that in their kitchen, or at least they used too. Anyway, I got my husband to istall the door with the spiffy hinges, of course I need to paint the door, details, details, it will get done eventually. I'm excited, I was thinking about the flat inside of the door could be painted with homemade chalkboard paint or I could ut up a plexi-glass for a white board, who knows, so many ideas. My children are completely enamored by the door and of course think we should let them color it with markers. Just as a side note, the door is hung on the right because the TV is on the wall inside on the left and I could see my children swinging the door just right and smacking the TV.

Becky's Funeral

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

As a family we went to the Banning LDS Chapel for Becky's funeral this morning at ten. I had my strawberry jello salad in tow and tissues to use just in case. My mom met us in the chapel and we began practicing my solo, "In the Garden" made famous by Elvis Presley(Becky's favorite musician) I had never sung the song, and singing for my dear friend's funeral was daunting to say the least. I prayed I wouldn't cry during the song, I wanted to make it through all three verses as Becky had requested of me. As long as I made it through the song crying before and after was totally fair game. Before singing I psyched myself and promised myself I wouldn't look at the family, that would just not help my goal of not crying during the song. I got up to the pulpet started singing, and didn't look till the very end, I made it through and cried as soon as I sat down. Thank you for answered prayers. After the funeral we drove to the gravesite viewing, the four daughters passed out balloons and markers, we were asked to write memories on the balloons, then all together we released our memories heavenward to reach Becky. It was beautiful, I wish I had a camera handy. After the gravesite viewing we headed over to a luncheon at the church, after eating and sharing stories with family and friends we left for home. Becky's mother in law Mary asked me to sing "In the Garden" at her funeral, the woman really is amazing probably wont have to sing for her funeral for many years to come.

My sister, my friend Rebecca Foster

2012-01-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

Rebecca & Landy Foster taken on January 9, 2012

Tonight I had a most incredible evening, I spent hours celebrating my niece and nephews birthday with family and friends and just enjoyed the company. When I arrived home I found my answering machine blinking, three new messages to listen to, what followed was a complete change of my evening, the first message was my Relief Society President asking me to call her back, an innocent call nothing to cause any sort of feelings, the second message will forever be imprinted on my mind as the call that I had been waiting for for a year or more, a call not unexpected but still emotional, our High Priest Group Leader called my husband to tell him that Becky had passed away and please call him to discuss service for the family, this was the call that brought reality back to the front of my life, I cried, I wasn't ready, she couldn't leave me now I had learned so much from these past years of receiving service from her in my attempt to serve her as her Visiting Teacher. I remembered that the time to act was now, I had promised her I would sing for her funeral and now I needed to be ready to make good on that promise, it was the very least I could do, and the most that I could do to help me through this whole reality. I've been thinking about this fellow sister, she has fulfilled her mission in this life, and as her very last Visiting Teacher I can only hope and pray that I accomplished some small amount of service in the calling to serve her. She had been the one to assign me to be her Visiting Teacher, it was a unique experience to start, I was a young mother unaccustomed to the responsibility I faced and she loved children and felt I would be a Visiting Teacher whom she would see on a regular basis. I'm not sure what I expected from my new assignment but what followed was an enduring experience of love and friendship, she was their for me when I didn't think the next day could be any worse because life had become so dismal, she was a listening ear when I needed to speak freely about the pain I tried so hard to contain and deprive the world of. We had come to a relationship, where I felt like part of her family, this wasn't anything new for her, she treated so many people this way, but her ability to help you feel like you were special and truly loved by her was amazing. I wanted to do whatever she said, I wanted to listen to her stories about her daughter's to hear the pain and joy she felt about them and their families. I made sure I was ready for long phone conversations, or lengthy visits because I knew she would have so much to share, and I would be able to glean so much from our conversations. I look back on those years of struggle and deep pain and realize she was with me, she was helping me to stand and walk tall through it and she never left me, other friends tired of the pain I shared so meagerly but she stayed. She taught me that at the moment we became linked through the bond of Visiting Teaching I would be forever changed because she knew, in spite of her own desire, that I would need her and would rely upon her strength. I hope and pray that as I have completed my assignment with her that I might one day have an equally beneficial relationship with another sister. I love you Rebecca Foster, thank you for assigning me to be your Visiting Teacher, and for being my friend for the last eleven years. I hope and pray that your body has found rest, and your blessed with a spirit free of all the Earthly pain you were called to endure.

Honoka Say's Goodbye

2011-12-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

The goodbye posters.

The food, it was yummy too.

Table decorations, so cool, origami.

My boys.

Danya, our fearless leader.

Our hosts/MCs.

Japanese sword fighting.

The students and posters explaining Japanese characters, Honoka is behind the yellow poster.

Honoka writing Isabella's name in Japanese

Honoka writing our names in Japanese

Our family for a week, with Honoka.

Our fearless leaders, Danya, Roxana, and I'm not sure about the third woman.

All the students and their escort.

Honoka and Isabella strike a pose.

My funny family pose for me.

More silliness.

The notes they wrote.

Honoka helping Eagan write and draw.

Honoka's sign says love.

Tonight we had a chance to meet at the Community Center in Tournament Hills where Honoka was receiving English lessons. The students prepared a party for all the hosting families as a thank you and goodbye. The stents explained the customs of Japan, including how to eat noodles, and sword fighting, and they went around and wrote our names in Japanese. Each student designed cards and wrote short notes to read out loud to each of the families. We also were able to try Miso soup and Soba noodles prepared by the students. It was very good experience. When we got home we had an impromptu photo booth rehearsal, so Honoka, Isabella, and Parley used my props and posed for photos before we went to sleep. It was fun to see Honoka pose and also she wrote I love you on a white board to hold for the photos. We have enjoyed our week with Honoka, we hope she is safe with her family, and somemday maybe we can see her again. We enjoyed our very brief exchange hosting experience, and Parley already volunteered our family to do it again. We love you Honoka and miss you.

Christmas Day, Hooray

2011-12-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

Isabella got books, yeah.

Haley opened one of the boys accidently.

Honoka received Harry Potter from us.

Eagan and Daddy kiss.

The gifts under the tree.

Opening gifts.

Honoka receives a doll I made for her

Super excited about Disney Universe

Daddy hands out stockings.

Honoka look in her stocking, with Isabella

Eagan using the gift from Honoka, he loves this party favor.

Our candy cane coal.

Honoka makes origami dinosaurs for Donovan

Donovan with Daddy's gift from Honoka, a fan

Daddy, our gift, calling family

Origami dinosaurs, thank you Honoka

My K'Nex airplane swing, thank you Taylor family.

Playdough fun, Eagan and Honoka

Yummy treats from Tonya, Haley, and Alexis

Our yummy treats

Waiting for dinner, Donovan on Rebecca' lap with Honoka

Bread pudding for dessert.

Girls playing UNO.

Daddy and Eagan

Eagan and Rebecca

Still playing UNO.

Haley and Donovan playing with Groovy girls dolls

The girls together: Rebecca, Kara, Haley, Haley, Alexis, Isabella, and Honoka

Group hug

This morning Parley told our children they had to get ready for church before they could unwrap gifts, wow they got ready without a fight and really fast. While I was almost done getting ready Parley told me our children had finished geting ready, had organized the gift according to recipients and were sitting on the couch waiting for me. I came downstairs, got my camera, and the frenzy began, everyone started un wrapping gifts all at once. We received a lot of gifts from anonymous givers as well as friends. We are so grateful for the generosity of others, they made our Christmas amazing. I'm not sure how Honoka felt about her gifts, but Parley said he enjoyed them. Then my children handed me a gift, from Parley, I was surprised. I opened it and found the camera lens I told him I wanted to get with the income I earned from the wedding I photographed. Thank you Parley for hearing what I said and for surprising me with such a generous gift. My children recieved roller skates, which they were extremely happy about. When Parley opened our family gift, "Disney Universe" they screamed with glee. They were done un wrapping at 7:30 a.m. so then we went and looked at what was in the stockings, we all received coal, Chocolate covered candy cane coal. After stockings we ate Panetonne and chocolate covered donuts. Breakfast was over so we headed to church. We got to sing a lot, our children sang with the Primary, "Stars Were Gleaming" and "Silent Night." I sang with our ward choir. We also were inspired by a talk given by Matt Croad a bout Christmas. After church we went home, Allison Taylor came with us, since her parents and brother were sick. All the children played. I put together the K'Nex our friends the Taylor's gave us. Honoka showed Donovan how to fold the Origami Dinousaurs that she gave him. Eagan enjoyed the blow favor, and then everyone played with Haley's play dough pretend cake making kit. When the rolls I was making were done cooking we left for Parley's sister's house for dinner. Kandi(Parley's sister) made a table full of food including ham, prime rib, bacon Brussels sprouts, toasted marshmellow topped sweet potatoes, Aunt Mary's Salad, yukon mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Tonya and her girls were their as always, they made and gave us pumpkin muffins ans apricot thumb cookies. Honoka sat by our two nieces and two other teenage girls(Rebecca, Kara, Haley, and Alexis), she had a lot of fun, they ate and used her translater and Kandi's cell phone with Google Translate to talk to each other. They had a lot of fun. After dinner we had bread pudding with brandy sauce, candied walnuts, truffles, and homemade peppermint bark. Honoka tried the truffles and loved them. The girls all played UNO and were laughing . I got some cute photos of the girls hanging out. After that we watched silly YouTube videos on Kandi's iPad. After everything was said, eaten, and done I got the girls together for a photo. Haley didn't want to be their, that why she looks the way she does. We had a wonderful Christmas day today.

All Day Celebrating Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Isabella on a moose

Donovan on a bear

Honoka on a deer

Haley on a moose

Eagan on a bear

Isabella, Eagan and Honoka at the shooting range

Haley, and Daddy hitting ducks

Eagan, Isabella, and Honoka using a remote control car

Isabella and Honoka still playing

Eagan gets a turn

Daddy, Haley, and Isabella at the driving range

Honoka, Isabella, and Eagan playing Wii

Donovan, Eagan, and Honoka playing Wii

Honoka and Isabella high fives

Donovan and some girl racing remote control cars

Waiting by Santa's workshop

Big chair by Santa's workshop

All five children with Santa Clause

Everyone tell Santa what they want

Eagan liked Santa

Brrrr it's cold just outside Santa's workshop

Everyone together racing cars

At the North Pole with Frosty, very cold, brrrrr

Looking at the fish

Sitting on a turkey bench, Donovan, Haley, and Isabella

Honoka and a pop gun

Haley and Donovan with pop guns

Daddy show Eagan a pop gun. Honoka is done with her pop gun.

Waiting for elevator so they can see fish from other side.

Honoka on an ATV

Haley riding an ATV

Donovan on an ATV

Isabella and Eagan on an ATV

Leaving Santa a plate of Trader Joes Candy Cane Joe Joes and carrots for the reindeer.

We woke up and ate breakfast, I used my pressure cooker to make rice and we had sourdough toast, fried eggs, and leftover sausage form last night. I made the rice super fast with the pressure cooker, so very cool. Donovan is the only one who ate it, Honoka didn't want rice, she ate everything else though, she has been eating everything we have for each meal. After breakfast we received a visit from our neghbor Rob and his daughter Allison they dropped off Christmas gifts for us. Then we counted the mason jar full of coins my sister Heather gave us, WOW, very generous. Then we left for our day of fun. We promised to take Honoka to a book store. We went to the 99 Racho Market(HUGE Asian market) in Rancho Cucamonga. We ended up eating lunch, I asked Honoka to pick what she wanted for lunch, she chose sushi, the other options were Chinese food. I had brought my camera, but not in the store sadly, because we actually got Eagan, Isabella, Haley, and Parley to try sushi, Parley is te only one who liked it. PArley has claimed to not like sushi for as long as I have known him. It was really fun to see Eagan try the sushi, and Honoka loves Eagan I think so she offered him the sushi herself hoping he would try it. After lunch we headed over to Barnes & Noble, Honoka was surprised by how big the store was. We learned she likes Harry Potter a lot, she checked the books out from the library. I learned she had read The Chronicles of Narnia, so we bought her an illustrated hard bound copy of all the books together in one. After the bookstore we took our very reluctant children to see Santa Clause at the Bass Pro Shop. They weren't excited till we got in and they saw the carousel and the Santa Village full of free toys to play with. We went on the carousel first then enjoyed the shooting games, remote control cars, train, and remote control race cars, they also knocked over ducks. It was fun, Honoka enjoyed all of I think. While playing Parley waited in line to see Santa, and we met up with him when he got to the front of the line. Santa was in his workshop waiting for us. All our children posed for a photograph with Santa then explained to him what they wanted. Afterwards we left and played some more then I recommended we show Honoka the rest of the store. Honoka was really in awe of the very large fish tanks and the store is huge, she liked it all, she even took pictures of it all. As we were leaving we saw the off road golf carts or whatever they are called. Our children tried them out and pretended to drive them. At the end of our long day out we went home and ate homemade pizza and watched White Christmas(my favorite Christmas movie). Honoka liked the pizza, not sure about the movie. Then we got ready for bed and our children left a plate of goodies for Santa and an ice cup full of milk and then went to sleep.

Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Poulsen

2011-12-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting to open gifts.

Donovan has his gift.

Haley has her gift.

Eagan has his gift.

Isabella has her gift.

This is my gift.

The boy's all got Kung Zhu's

My new pressure cooker, WOO HOO!

The boys Kung Zhu Arena, super cool

Honoka lets Eagan play with her Casio Translater

Kiss please...

Isabella playing Jingle Bells

Honoka opening party favor

Honoka and Eagan

We celebrated Christmas with my parents and siblings early this year, on Friday evening instead on Christmas Day(Sunday). We picked up Honoka at the O'Harra's house and went to my parents house. We were late so we missed first dinner and everyone else opening gifts. We opened our gifts from the my sister Adrienne and her family, I received a Pressure Cooker(very grateful), the girls received Princess dress up items, and the boys including Parley received a Kung Zhu, Zhu Zhu pet, fighting arena and three Kung Zhu Pets. We received a photo album from my parents and a toll painted triptych of the nativity. Our children received a hand made wooden pencil box with their names on them. My sister Heather gave us a mason jar full of coins and gift cards(very generous). We also gave the Poulsen's a homemade gift basket, an everything you need for hot chocolate kit (I mean everything). After presents I made a lot of Belgian waffles, I used two waffles irons, wow the second waffled iron really made all the difference on how long it took to make all the waffles. We enjoyed opening pop crackers that my sister Adrienne made, a homemade version of a British Christmas party favor. We had a great time, Isabella also played Jingle Bells on grandma's piano and we sang along the second go round. It was a night of good food, great gifts, an immense spirit of giving and a lovely night all together. I ended our night by photographing our entire family. Thank you to everyone for the food, thank you Ballantyne's for the wonderful gifts, my boys(all three) immediately put their Kung Zhu arena together and played with it when we got home, so yes the gifts were very gratefuly received.

Honoka Comes to Visit Us

2011-12-22T22:00:00.000-08:00

Roxana O'Harra our ERDT director explaining what we should expect

Waiting for our student

Parley has our sign, we're ready.

All the other families

All the suitcases

Honoka's suitcase

Honoka with her plaid backpack

All five our children, at least for a week.

We were invited by a friend to host and exchange student for one week, an opportunity for an exchange student to enjoy and American Christmas. We asked our children and they said yes, surprising actually. We were given a choice and Parley agreed that we would host a fourteen year old girl from Japan. Our exchange student's name is Honoka, she is in junior high and lives in Tokyo. We met at the O'Harra's house(Roxana O'Harra is the Director of ERDT the Exchange Student non-profit organization here). Roxana is in our ward. Isabella colored a welcome sign and Parley held it while we all waited in the driveway for the van to pull up with all the students. When I was taking pictures I didn't notice where Honoka was, but afterwards while editing my photos I noticed I got a photo of her looking at me and the camera, amazing. She was tired, but willing stayed up for a few minutes to see our house and sit for a photograph with our children.

Cookie Creativity with the Taylor's

2011-12-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

Time to get decorating.

More decorating.

Isabella decorating a heart.

Donovan decorating Darth Vader.

Eagan decorating the tree.

Haley decorating uh, I don't know.

Isabella and her hearts.

My boys and sprinkles, hmm.

Eagan and his decorated dog.

Eagan enjoying his dog.

Haley decorated a Storm Trooper.

Donovan enjoying his tree.

Our neighbors and friends the Taylor's invited my children and I over to decorate sugar cookies. They had a plethora of sugar cookies in traditional Christmas shapes and Star Wars characters as well. My children had a lot of fun, the girls loved decorating Storm Troopers, Darth Vader, and Yoda like girls in essence. My boys enjoyed decorating, and Eagan managed to get frosting all over himself and his clothing, I know, why should I be surprised by that. We listened to Christmas music while decorating, they have very untraditional songs, from some comedy news show I think. After decorating we watched "Honey I shrunk the Kids" this being their first time watching the movie. It had been awhile since I had watched this movie, but I explained to them that I watched it when I was a kid too. They thought it was funny, afterwards we left the Taylor's in peace, my brood plus the two Taylor children is a handful best enjoyed in short spurts.

Christmas Elf on a shelf

2011-12-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

I was recently approached by a friend, whom I had made a doll for her daughter's birthday gift. She asked me if I could make an elf doll. She liked the concept of "The Elf on the Shelf" but not the elf, she liked the doll I had made better. I said yes and then I drew an elf and we got together to discus my design and fabric choices. She liked my elf design but not the fabrics entirely so she promised to look for fabric. She got back to me a couple days later with four coordinating flannel fabrics. We discussed again what fabrics she wanted for each part of the elf, and decided that three of the fabrics would be used. After a few crazy days, and a failed first attempt the elf was complete and I handed it off to it's new home.

Family Gingerbread House Construction Tradition

2011-12-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

The inside goods.

The packaging.

Isabella opens her kit.

Haley super excited about her house.

The setup.

Eagan just about eat his sugar people

Our icing, thanks Parley.

Donovan ready ice it up.

Parley helping Haley ice it up.

Eagan wants to add people now.

Haley and Eagan working hard.

Parley and Donovan working hard.

My gingerbread house.

Haley's gingerbread house

Isabella's gingerbread house.

Donovan's gingerbread house.

Isabella's gingerbread house right side roof.

Isabella's gingerbread house left side roof.

Donovan's gingerbread roof side left.

Haley's gingerbread house, back side.

Haley's gingerbread house left side roof.

Eagan and his gingerbread house.

Parley's gingerbread house.

Our gingerbread city.

I was shopping at Trader Joe's and saw a stacked display of Gingerbread House Kits(German old fashioned style). I decided on a whim to buy six. Today, after church we started our construction party. I asked Parley to make the icing. When he was done we set to work doing the first step, constructing the house, the house is composed of four pieces, very easy(A-frame design). After putting them together our children had to suffer through a half hour waiting for the icing to stiffen before decorating with icing and candy. These kits came with everything but the egg white and lemon juice for the icing, I mean everything: gingerbread, powdered sugar, piping plastic bag, candy, and sugar people and dog. We all had a fun time decorating, even Parley had fun. After we were done we let them stiffen some more before removing them from the plastic and newspaper. I think each house is adorable, I haven't done a gingerbread house before that was successful, and my children have never had this sort of experience either. I highly recommend the Trader Joe's Gingerbread House kit, I think they were $7.

Beaumont City Annual Light Parade and Sing a Long

2011-12-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

David Castaldo's fire truck decorated.

Beaumont High School marching band.

Isabella & Haley in front of David's truck

Isabella & Haley and the animals.

Income Tax light display.

Another vintage fire truck lit up.

One more vintage fire truck lit up.

Our city Civic Center lit up.

Haley decorating a gingerbread cookie.

Haley eating a cookie.

In David's fire truck.

Haley dancing around Beaumont Veteran's display.

Directing the Sing a Long

Still directing.

Silent Night with the children in front.

I was asked to direct a Sing a Long as part of a Christmas party after our city's annual Christmas Light Parade. My two boys were sick so Parley stayed home with them and I took our girls with me. We went into the Civic Center and got some hot chocolate then tried to find the contact person, Bruce Murrill to figure out where I was leading the Sing A Long, he was still helping the parade go along. We decided to wait outside and I watched the parade and took pictures of each of the different entrants, some of them were vintage firetrucks decked out in lights including our very own David Castaldo's truck which he used to also transport our mayor and wife. It was cool to see the different lights. I finally found out I would be standing on top of David's fire truck directing. After that we waited, we wouldn't start the singing until 7:45 p.m. Haley decorated a gingerbread man. Isabella and Haley also ran around with Luke and Lance Goodman and checked out the donkey goat and pony on display next to the large nativity. It was time to sing and I had a program of five songs to lead, our Beaumont Ward Missionaries, my girls, and the Goodman boys stood on the fire truck with me. Thankfully Bruce gave me a microphone to use thankfully so that was a huge relief, I didn't have to scream to be heard. We sang and then I was approached by a few friends from church telling me they didn't know I could sing so well and also to tell me I did a good job. After that we headed home, I was cold and so were my girls. Thank you Homer Spears for asking me to direct the Sing a Long, it was fun experience. I really am grateful to have lived in Beaumont for these past seven years, we live in a wonderful community.

Beaumont Ward Christmas Breakfast with Santa

2011-12-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

Ready to eat.

Rob and Eagan.

Close up of Rob and Eagan.

Eagan meets Santa.

Eagan on Santa's lap.

Isabella meets Santa.

Santa notices Isabella's Jam shirt.

Isabella on Santa's lap.

Haley meets Santa.

Haley and Santa discuss.

Donovan at the craft table.

Donovan meets Santa.

Donovan on Santa's lap.

We woke up early this morning and headed over to our church building for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Our friends the Taylor family met us their as well. We were served scrambled eggs, ham, and hash browns. After eating the children were able to make homemade foam ornaments and I led a sing a long while we waited for Santa Claus, not so bad except I had some critics nearby reminding me to sing faster(always a critic nearby). After singing we welcomed Santa and I stood in line with my children and photographed them, no crying thankfully and Rob Taylor helped Eagan, he loves our little boy and held him for almost the entire breakfast. When three of my children had finished I went looking for Donovan who was making the craft and then stood in line with him. As usual we are so very grateful for those involved in planning, decorating and cooking for our great activity.

Mission Inn with Grandma Kennelly

2011-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Family at the entrance with a very large Nutcracker

All of us together, except Donovan is hiding

Isabella and Haley in front of an elf on the Grand Piano

Everyone sitting together in the President Taft chair

Grandma and grandchildren

Parley, Eagan, and Grandma

Eagan and Parley(mid blink I think)

Standing by a star, sort of anyway

Eagan and Daddy beneath Santa and his reindeer by the chimney

Everyone by the lights

My children with the reindeer

Meeting Albert the horse

All of us with Albert

Getting into the carriage

Ben and Jerry, the horses

Waiting for me to get into the carriage

All of us in the carriage and ready to go for a ride

So excited

Next to the van, in our very amazingly close
parking spot

We went to the Mission Inn in 2009, but I was thinking for our last night with grandma we could take her to see the lights. When we got to the Mission Inn we found a parking spake right in front of the Mission Inn, truly amazing, it was destined for us to be there I guess. We got out and headed to the entrance, looking at the beautiful lights and statues and other decorations along the way. We went inside to see the decorations inside as well. I tried to set up as many group shots as possible and photograph our experience. We also sat in the chair crafted for President Taft, it is a very large chair that sits in the long walkway area between the common areas and roorms. After we left the indoors and headed for the outdoors we went to the outdoor plaza between the Inn and the stores. We got to see two reindeer, they were resting comfortably in some hay, the signs on their pen described where they live and the fur coat they have to help keep them warm, they come from areas surrounding the North Pole and have around 20,000 hairs per square inch of their body. Anyway we kept walking, looking at the lights and singing carolers and bears in each room balcony and the walls. Then we found a Santa's Workshop where our four children sat on Santa's lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas and received small candy cane, I wasn't allowed to photograph the moment since cameras were not allowed. When we got our Grandma asked the Carriage company workers how much to ride the horn drawn Cinderella carriage ride, $25 for all of us to ride, so we got in line and waited our turn. The company also had a wagon ride as well, but that was $5 a person, but the Kids did meet Albert the horse who was pulling the wagon and we all posed for a family photo with Albert. Then it was our turn, George was our coachman and Ben and Jerry were the horses pulling our carriage. It was so much fun, we rode around the entire Mission Inn and saw the backside and other side which we hadn't done yet. Thank you to Grandma Kennelly for ending our evening with a fantasy ride, Grandma and I received a glass slipper ornament as well. George told us some facts about the Festival of Lights, including that 3.2 Millions light are hung around the Mission Inn, they were hung in one week by a large crew of people, also that a ice rink is set up in the plaza. When we were done with our ride we headed back to the van and went home. It was a wonderful evening, thank you Grandma Kennelly for joining us and for the carriage ride.

Christmas is Coming

2011-11-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Eagan trying to be Santa Clause with a Santa hat and tree skirt.

Donovan and the first Nativity Parley and I were given as
Newlyweds

Grandma, Isabella, and Eagan setting up our Little People Nativity
and Christmas character toys

Haley and Donovan organizing ornaments

Eagan decorating one of our six felt trees

Haley and Isabella decorating our tree

Donovan arranging ornaments

Grandma painting homemade ornaments

Eagan helps put on and take off the

Donovan gets a shoulder ride with Daddy

Isabella gets a shoulder ride with Daddy

Haley gets a shoulder ride with Daddy.

Isabella puts on the star.

Haley puts on the star.

Eagan climbing the ladder.

Eagan puts the star on the tree.

Donovan wont get on the top of the ladder because of the warning label,
Parley laughing because he would do the same thing

Donovan puts the star on the tree.

Last night we welcomed Grandma Kennelly for the second part of her visit with us, since we homeschool and my sister in law has work and her girls are in traditional school we had grandma stay with us the first couple of days of her trip and the last couple days of her trip. Parley promised our children we would decorate for Christmas for Family Home Evening while grandma was with us. My children and I got our all the christmas decorations, disposed of all the Halloween/Thanksgiving pumpkins and started decorating the house, we were going to have Parley get the tree down and decorate at for FHE as planned. I cut out green and brown felt to make trees for the six of us, and red, cream, and gray decorations, the idea being they would be on the walls for the children to enjoy taking the felt ornaments and putting them on the tree and taking them off instead of our 3-D tree(our fake 9 foot pre-lit tree). I also hung brightly colored ornament garlands on our stair bannister and hung our light wreath on the front door and our light trees in the front window. Isabella, Eagan and grandma arranged our Little People Nativity and Christmas character toys on our coffee table. Donovan and Haley arranged our several Nativity sets on our pian with our Snowman statues/snow globes. When Parley came home we ate dinner, I made homemade dairy free coconut ice cream and we set to work decorating the tree. Parley also gave our three older children shoulder rides while they decorated the top parts of our tree. Then each child with Daddy's help got to put our star on the tree. When it was Donovan's turn he wouldn't get on the top part of the ladder since it said not too, smart kids just like his dad. Anyway while all this was going on grandma painted clear plastic globe ornaments for each of our children to keep. Afterwards we ate ice cream, so very yummy, and then off to bed.

PE

2011-11-28T15:30:00.000-08:00

Eagan really wanted a soccer ball.

Isabella dribbling a soccer ball.

Haley dribbling a soccer ball.

Donovan dribbling a soccer ball.

Isabella kicking the ball around the cones.

Haley kicking the ball around the cones.

Donovan kicking the ball around the cones.

Playing a soccer game, trying to kick the ball between the goal cones,
yes Donovan is sulking on the side.

Allison was clearly a great player.

Coach trying to get the ball to Donovan.

I signed up my three school age children to be in a PE class offered here in town by the husband of another school ES(Educational Specialist). It started today at the nearby Brookside Sports Park. Our friends the Taylor's are also in the class, when I mentioned to my children the class was being offered they said no, but when I said the Taylor children were signed up they said great lets do it too. The class started at 2:00 p.m. for Haley and Donovan, then another class was offered at 3:00 p.m. for Isabella. We showed up, Grandma also came with us. Beacuse so few people were signed up, all the children(mine, Taylor children, child of coach, and one other child) were meeting together instead. My girls did great, my son however kept telling me all sorts of reasons why he couldn't be involved, "I didn't sign up for this," "I don't know how to kick the ball," "The other kids took the ball from me," "You aren't by me taking my picture," "I'm thirsty," "I need to go to the bathroom." My son has a gift for excuses, it is amazing sometimes, but mostly it is frustrating. We made it to the end of class, and the coach said we would meet later, 2:30 p.m. from now on, I'm excited. Aside from the traffic issue, the class ends when the nearby High School and Middle School students get out of school, I think it will be a good experience for them, plus I can use photos of them for PE samples when we see our ES each month.

Taking down our Thanksgiving tree

2011-11-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Adding the last gratitude leaves

Still writing

Donovan is done writing

Mommy taking down the tree

Uh oh no trunk

Almost done

Haley decides to be a tree

Haley the tree

Isabella helps Haley be a tree

All the leaves are on Haley

Isabella and Haley start a new Thanksgiving Tree

Haley transfers her leaves

Still adding leaves

All done, the new portable Thanksgiving tree

Today was the day to take down our Thanksgiving tree. Our children finished writing on our fallen leaves all that they were grateful for and I took down the tree. Haley decorated herself with the leaves before Isabella gathered them to add to her own Thanksgiving Tree poster. They had a lot of fun making their poster, plus I think we will have the Thanksgiving tree as our annual November tradition.

Thanksgiving Twice

2011-11-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed Thanksgiving twice this year, first on Wednesday night with Parley's sister Kandi and her family and Grandma Kennelly then on Thursday with my siblings and parents. Kandi and Cole have been renovating their mountain house, and so we got to eat in the much expanded dining room and enjoy the delicious food she always makes. I made a homemade Cinderella pumpkin pie and an apple pie. We ate grilled turkey and other amazing food, the children played, and we had adult conversations, I'm not often able to do that so that was really nice. After dinner we headed home, our girls stayed behind to spend the night with their cousins. The next day, Thanksgiving Day I picked up our girls, came home, and we played D&D with our friends Rob and Jen Taylor while their children and our children played. Then I made foccacia and cranberry Salad(Grandma Jacobsen traditional recipe). After everything was ready it was time to go to my brother Todd's house for dinner with my parents and siblings. Dinner was amazing again, my brother fried a turkey and Rachelle and my sisters made yummy side dishes. Our children enjoyed playing with the chickens and finding eggs, then we left and went home. All in all it was a truly blessed Thanksgiving full of family togetherness and yummy food.

Grandma Came to Visit

2011-11-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Haley and Grandma waiting for their turn to play Scrabble

Isabella's turn at Scrabble

Dancing the morning away.

Grandma giving love to Eagan

These boys love to dance

We were blessed and very happy to have Parley's mom grandma Kennelly come visit and stay with us. Parley's sister Kandi lives nearby so we shared Grandma with her, we picked her up from the airport today and have her until Monday. When we were picked her up she was sick and on antibiotics, so we had the chance to take care of her, give her soup, lots of echinacea tea, and a bed to rest in. On Saturday Grandma started to feel better and was ready to enjoy playing with her grandchildren and to enjoy a night out at a single adult activity. Parley and I escorted her while our children stayed home with a babysitter. We ended up having the daughter of two of the daBand members, daBand(name of the band) was performing at said single adult activity, so they dropped of their daughter on the way to the activity. We drove out to Bermuda Dunes and prepared to eat the delicious lasagna and enjoy dancing to the daBand's singing and playing. We were at last year's lasagna dinner and dance as well, Parley did a presentation about Italy, and the Rome temple being built. Needless to say, the same people plus a few people we didn't know were their to greet us and also remember who we were. the daBand member were glad to have some groupies(we dance and sing to all their songs) there to encourage others to dance along. after we ate the music started, and we started dancing. I personally am not a very good dancer, I love to sing a long and I will pretend to look like I know how to dance since I married a man who does know how to dance and loves to dance. We enjoyed several slow dances, as well as song, swing dancing, and some twists. It was fun, we don't get an opportunity to dance very often being married with four children. Parley talked with our friends in daBand and they said they would let us know where they play so we could continue to be groupies, they love us at the dances, especially when they play "Play that Funky Music White Boy" the song that get's Parley to the dance floor to do his signature splits and 80's style dancing. After the dance we cleaned up and headed home. On Sunday we got to take Grandma to church with us, I had a ward choir practice and musical number so it was really wonderful to have grandma with us to help Parley with our children. After church and naps and stuff the girls, Parley, and Garndma played Scrabble. Parley and his mom have been playing Scrabble on the internet but the girls wanted to play the Scrabble board game. Afterwards we ate ice cream, since Grandma was feeling better and then the kids decided to put on a tumbling/gymnastics show with Parley for grandma. It was short lived but cute. Afterwards was scripture reading then bedtime. Today we enjoyed dancing with the radio on loud and Parley danced with Eagan in his arms and grandma as well. Kandi came by to pick up grandma around 3:30 p.m, and we said our goodbyes for the end of the first part of her visit with us.

Gator Skate University Graduation

2011-11-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

Gator says hello

High five Gator

Haley's graduated!

Haley receives gift bag

Donovan graduated!

Donovan get's a gift bag.

Haley and her certificate

Donovan and his certificate

Isabella graduated!

Isabella and her gift bag.

Isabella's certificate.

Eagan and Daddy ready to skate.

Eagan meets Gator.

Isabella's peace out skating

Haley skating

scissors

Grandma and Isabella

Donovan skating

Congratulations cake, yummy.

The girls enjoying cake.

Grandma and Eagan eating cake

Haley eating cake

Everyone enjoying cake

Daddy getting more cake.

Eagan and his cake.

Daddy and Donovan skating

After six grueling one hour weekly sessions of skating lessons curtesy of our school our children graduated from skating class this afternoon. We were able to bring grandma with us since she was feeling better. The graduation started at 11 a.m. Our children and everyone in the Wednesday and Saturday classes lined up together to skate to the teachers and receive their diplomas. It was so cute, the gator mascot was on hand to shake everyone's hands as well. After graduating everyone at the rink got to skate, including a very excited Parley and I. A cake was brought in for the occasion, so we paused our skating for some cake eating. Eagan sat with grandma eating cake and the girls sat close by with two new friends from skating class. After the hour was up we said our goodbyes and thank you's and promised to be back the beginning of the new year for the next class, this time on Saturday so we could stay after class and our children could practice.

Blue Man Group

2011-11-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the concert to start, they had this up on the screen.

The Sergerstrom Performing Arts Center program for the month

The children are ready for the concert, including Donovan with his characteristic scowl

This evening we went and saw Blue Man Group in concert at the Sergerstrom Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. It was a field trip for school, so luckily all three of our children's ticket's were covered by the school. We only had to pay for tickets for Parley and I. We left Eagan with Granma and Grandpa Poulsen. After a mishap with getting off at the wrong place and a traffic inducing accident we made it to the theater. We got into our seats in row P in Tier 2, those were very high up, the seating is very steep stadium seating. We sat down and waited for a few minutes for the show to start. The first flicker of a show starting were these funny statements showing on electronic marques. Like they told us to scream, or to say high to a Curling Olympic Medalist who was in the audience, or hi to just some person, also to stop screaming because a certain person had a headache, so then we helped her with relaxation techniques, and a we also wished someone in the audience a happy birthday. After that the show started. They came to the stage and they had some band member in the top two corners wear glow in the dark outfits playing rock music. They had some funny stunts, like throwing marshmallows at each other and catching them n the mouth, 39 total supposedly. The other blue man had gum balls filled with colored colored liquid that he spit onto a canvas and created a work of art. The marshmallows were shaped and put onto a canvas. These both were given to audience members. At one point a couple walked in late and lights, sirens, and a song starting playing about them being late, as well as a camera trained on them until they sat down. The guys also picked out a young woman from the audience and invited her to the stage to eat twinkies together. they also had drums that they poured liquid on while they drummed them so the liquid would splatter up. They also invited a young man to come up and become a painting art model, they covered his clothing with a painting jumper then cover him with paint hung him upside down with some sort of lift and pushed him against a large canvas then sprayed paint around him. That was crazy. Another part of the show was an explanation about how we see, that our eyes are made of rods and cones, rods see black and white, and cones see red, green, and blue. They also did a presentation on giPads, sort of like giant iPads. They had one for each Blue man. The giPads had a bunch of apps that the men pushed, and they interacted with, then they flashed three different stories that included studies about how teenagers today are reading, texting, and doing all sorts of digital interactions at once. Then they started IMing each other between two of the giPads hanging fromt the ceiling. Then it was time to learn the popular dance moves then have a dance party, this was the audience participation part, Donovan had been sitting on my lap for the show, and by this time Haley and Parley had fallen asleep. The Blue Man Group started playing drums with extremely large inflated balls that lit up, then they released them to the audience while we were supposed to be shaking our bottoms, the narrater, voice whatever kept saying the different nicknames for butt, and their were a lot. Then they asked for their balls back, and they ended with the drumming again and then it was over. Donovan really didn't want to leave, but we had to get back and pick up Eagan. I think they enjoyed the show, at least they said they did. It was fun, it was also the first concert we had taken them too.

Skating Test

2011-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Isabella getting up from sitting

Haley getting up from sitting

Donovan getting up from sitting

Haley and Isabella skating

Donovan skating

Haley, Isabella, and Donovan scissor skating

Haley cannon ball skate

Haley and Isabella stopping

Haley and Isabella skating

Skating a figure eight

Scissor skating around figure eight

Isabella doing the Limbo

Parley doing the Limbo

Haley doing the Limbo

Donovan doing the Limbo

Donovan skating to Daddy

Today was the day our children had to prove they learned the different skating move that they had been taught. They had to prove they could get up on their skates from a seated position, Check; they had to prove they could stop, Check; they had to prove they could skate a figure eight, Check; they had to prove they could do scissor skate, Check. It was fun to watch, and in an amazing turn of events Donovan like his dad is a born test taker, he proved he could do all those moves and all three children passed, hooray. Me made it to test day, next week is Graduation.

Ethan's Jedi Training Academy Birthday Party

2011-11-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

Eagan has two lightsaber's, watch out

The party getting started

Haley and Sarina, best friends

Eagan and Isabella fighting Boba Fett

Getting robes for training

Jedi Master awaiting Padawans

Eagan fighting Jedi Master

Eagan still fighting

Haley and Sarina dual

All the Padawan's assembled

Showing promise you are young Padawan's

Oh no Darth Vader and his son

Keep fighting the dark side

The dark side has fallen

Oh wait, he's back up again

Darth Vader leaving

Oh no the Padawan's have turned to the dark side

Still fighting

Nice back handed blow Parley

Getting ready for R2D2 cake

Mmm, cake

Isabella eating R2D2 eye

Eagan liked the cake

Haley wanted the rice crispy treat part of R2D2

Yummy

Present time, he's thinking what is it?

Luke Skywalker

We pledge our allegiance to the good side

May the force be with us

Donovan and the rest of us were invited to his friend Ethan's 5th birthday party. Ethan Babbitt is the son of Ginny Babbitt formerly Ginny Berry the person who suggested Parley take me out on our very first date, probably more information then anyone cares. She and I grew up together, went to school together and were in the same ward for awhile. Anyway, I knew I had to come up with a homemade gift for the birthday boy, I was toying with the idea of a Jedi robe or a doll that looks like a Star Wars character. At the Trunk or Treat ward activity I noticed Ethan dressed up as Luke Skywalker the Jedi from Return of the Jedi so I thought a Luke doll could work. I called Ginny to find out which she thought Ethan would want and she said they were making robes so the doll would be her choice. I used the pattern for a Jedi robe I found to make a miniature robe for the doll and then patterned the doll after what Luke looks like in the movie, and I also made sure he had a gloved hand. After making the doll I figured he needed a lightsaber. I have dowels for some project I forgot about so I cut one and sanded it then painted it with chrome spray paint. Then I used permanent markers to color it to look like the lightsaber Luke made for himself in Return of the Jedi, I found a website that sells real authentic looking lightsabers. the party was today at Yucaipa Community Park, it rained yesterday so It was really lucky that today was clear skies, cold but not raining. We got to the park and helped with the decorations and Donovan and Ethan played. It was nice to see them playing. When the rest of the Berry and Babbitt family arrived the party started. We ate food inspired by the Star Wars series, including Ewoks(gummy worms). The kids played, then it was time for training, the kids each got a foam lightsaber and robe. Donovan ran away at this point, so Parley followed him while I watched and photographed our other children. Eagan really liked hitting with the lightsabers. When Donovan came back it was after the training, he was afraid they would want him to remember the training they had at Disneyland, crazy kid, a little to much like his dad for his own good sometimes. Anyway, after training they went to the playground area and played. Then we had cake, Ginny made cake that looked like RTD2, out of rice crispy treats, red velvet cake, and marshmallow fondant, truly amazing looking. The kids were super excited, Isabella requested the eye, and she got it. After cake was present time, the gifts were mostly Star Wars themed, and Ethan was ecstatic about them. he got to our gift and I was worried, when he opened it he looked stunned, wasn't sure what is was. All the adults were excited and thought Luke doll was cool, told me I should sell them on Etsy actually. Anyway it was fun, after cake we decided we were ready to go home and get warm again. We ended being the only non family at the party, so I guess that makes Donovan a friend for sure to be the only one invited.

Thanksgiving Tree

2011-11-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

I decided since the Halloween decorations were fun I would do something for Thanksgiving/Fall. I woke up this morning with a great idea, I had leftover black poster board and cute scrapbook paper in various fall colors. I cut out the black paper and taped it to the wall of our dining area to look like a tree, then I cut out leaves that I would tape to the tree. Each day we would write something we are thankful and that leaf would then would fall off the tree, as in be taped away from the tree. My children have surprised me with what they are thankful for, and have really loved the falling leaves.

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

Taylor and Kennelly Children

Faster than a locomotive, it's Eagan I mean superman
(he is wearing a train tie by the way)

Eagan and Donovan take a photo op break

This year our Ward Halloween Trunk or Treat was on the Saturday before Halloween. We had our friend's the Taylor's over for D&D before hand then we carpooled over around 5 when it started. I dressed Eagan up as Clark Kent changing into Superman, he was mostly asleep while I did this then he woke up very sad and mad and ended up making himself throw up, of course my husband immediately said he would stay home with Eagan, and I said no. I got him cleaned up and dressed again. Donovan dressed up as a Dalmatian puppy, Haley dressed up as a 50's girl with poodle skirt, Isabella dressed up as a Kachooz Kachat, Parley and I wore Superman shirts and said we were Clark Kent's parents. we got to the church parking lot, and I got a photo of our children and Taylor's children in front of there van before heading over to the festivities. We watched our kids running across the lawn, and talking to friends. We then walked around for the costume parade, after we ate hot dogs and drank hot chocolate then went around to trunk or treat. After we were done we went home. On Monday, Halloween Day, I took our children trunk or treating after Parley got home, he didn't want to come. We drove to Lindsey and Lieu Mabey's house, they had candy but not trick or treaters, then we drove to the Fenn's house, walked up and doen their street, then we drove to Bishop Wells house, and finally went home, about an hour of trick or treating in the end. We weren't overwhelmed with candy but my children had enough to make them happy. And that as they say is history.

Disneyland Field Trip

2011-10-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

Isabella, Eagan, and I waiting for her class to start

Haley on the rockets, Eagan, Donovan, and I behind her in a rocket

Donovan, and Haley checking out bugs up close in Innoventions

Eagan, and Haley checking out a Honda Civic Hybrid in Innoventions

Eagan, Haley and Donovan at the fountain in Innoventions,

My four children and the Alice in Wonderland Rabbit

Daddy, Isabella, Haley, and Donovan in a teacup

Mommy, Donovan, and Haley in a teacup

Haley ready to learn to be a Jedi

Isabella ready to learn to be a Jedi

Haley uses her light saber

Haley and Isabella learn lightsaber's

Isabella uses her lightsaber

Storm troopers storm the place, Isabella is ready

Isabella listening to Darth Vader

Isabella fighting Darth Maul

Haley fighting Darth Vader

Our fearless Jedi Master fighting Darth Vader

Celebrating the dark side's fall

Isabella is a Jedi

Haley is a Jedi

Eagan checking out the in floor puck light at It's Tough to Be a Bug show

A few months back we were enjoying time celebrating our niece's birthday and while talking with our other niece about field trip she said it would be cool to go to Disneyland, funny enough the next day we found out our field trips and that our third field trip for the school year was Disneyland. In case anyone of you were unaware Disneyland offers field trips to children in four grade all the way through high school. Isabella would be able to join the Energy and Waves class and the rest of us could go to Disneyland for the same reduced price. We sign up for our field trips online, and the available slots fill up within moments so I had to make a snap decision. I didn't know how we would pay for the rest of us to go, Isabella's ticket would be covered by the school, but I rather we were signed up and then worry about the cost. Our income is such that it would be a miracle if we found a way to pay for us to go. When I got word we were signed up for all the field trips I sent a check and hoped for the best, not my best idea mind you. We had just enough in our account for the check when it cleared, and well the ramifications of that aren't pleasant so I wont share them. Needless to say we were going to Disneyland, our children were excited, we hadn't been to the magic kingdom since Donovan was the age Eagan is now, so Eagan had never been to Disneyland. I'm not sure what I expected to happen when we prepared to go, but the day was a day to remember in so many ways. Our girls spent the night with our friends/neighbors the Taylor's and would be driving with them to Disneyland. We got our boys dressed and in the van and headed to the park, Parley drove, since I had been tired from a sleepless past few nights with our boys. He missed the ramp to the 91, this was the first of a series of unfortunate events that day sadly. When we got off at the next exit, we got lost trying to get back on the freeway, new onramp, old GPS, not such a good combination. We eventually made it to our desired exit and learned they were re-routing parking traffic to an off site parking area, in our case we were parked at the Woody/Buzz parking lot way far away. We ended up taking a bus to the park, that is how far away we were, and we were not parked near our friends so thus not near our daughters. We got inside the open area between the parks, picked up our tickets and the information about where and Isabella would be for her class, she was assigned the morning class and her best friend was assigned the afternoon class; in other words we would not be spending the day with our friends, and our children would be very sad about this. We muddled through, and because we had a baby with us, between the Fastpass and the rider switch pass our older children rode a couple of big rides twice. We were smart and got Fastpasses for Star Tours as soon as we could. While waiting to use them we went on the rocket ride then we went on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. After those two we headed over toCaptain EO, but it was shut down for repairs. We then walked around and decided to visit Innoventions, it had been a rough morning with a particularly surly husband so I was hoping to appease him with his favorite part of Disneyland, our children enjoyed the bugs under the magnifying glass, they really liked climbing in and out of the displayed Honda Civic Hybrid. Before exiting we found the Rock Band set-up, touch sensitive tables, and cell phone displays. The table were cool, one looked like a fish aquarium, so when you touched it, you saw the rippled as if it was real. We left Innoventions, by this time Captain EO was fixed so we saw that, my kids seemed to enjoy the dancing and music and loved trying to touch the different object flying in their faces. Afterward we headed over to Star Tours, we got the rider switch pass, and Haley, eagan, and I waited at the entrance while Parley and Donovan got on the ride. Eagan wasn't big enough for the ride, but he sure put up a fight trying to get in. When I thought I couldn't handle it anymore Parley and Donovan showed up just at the time when Isabella was done with her class, so I figured, she, Haley and I would ride together. It worked out, we didn't have to wait long, Haley had chosen to wear her hair in a ponytail and a pink Gap hat as well, so when they flashed the picture of our embedded spy we were surprised to see Haley on the screen. It was fun, the girls enjoyed the ride, and I think we went to the home of Chewbacca if I remember correctly before we joined the rebellion. I wanted Eagan to be able to ride the next ride so we went to Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure, it had a 15 minute wait so I figured Eagan would be fine. We made it onto the sub and Eagan really liked it, good thing because he was monster in line. I decided after the ride we would put him in his stroller, he was exhibiting all classic signs of a nap deprived child, sure enough he fell asleep to rolling sensation of the stroller and the hum of rides and happy people noises. By this time we were ready to go on Space Mountain, I waited with our sleeping baby while the other rode the ride, again we had a rider switch pass. When they got back I ended going with all three children as well. It was cool to see the Halloween inspired ride, I was surprised how well Donovan did. We got out and headed over to the teacups, I had never been on the teacups, and we avoided them the few years ago when we went because of our children's sensitive stomachs. I stayed with Eagan, who was still asleep and Parley and our three children rode the teacups, they had fun trying to spin the teacup with out Daddy's help. I got my turn next, Haley and Donovan joined me. Afterwards with a still sleeping baby I recommended Matterhorn, that way we didn't have to disappoint Eagan again. this time I got to go first with my children, they were excited, my girls shared a bobsled and Donovan and I shared one, he was a little scared but he did great. My girls were in the very first bobsled so I told them they might get wet, but they didn't too much. When we got back Parley, Haley, and Donovan went on the ride and Isabella, Eagan, and I waited. After the ride, we met the Taylor's at the Jedi Training Academy, we decided to stay for the show as well, in a stroke of luck our two daughter's and the Taylor's son were picked to join the training. It was really fun to see them in a Padawan robe and wield a lightsaber. After the show we followed the Taylor's to Autopia, and used the bathrooms again, Donovan had to go every hour it seemed like. While waiting my inpatient son and husband left us and walked away, I assumed they headed to It's A Small World where we agreed to go, needless to say having our three other children in tow and walking to the ride didn't help ease my mind, I was mad by the time we got their, and we waited by the exit since I assumed he was already in the line. While waiting we saw them walk up to the line, it was then that we met up with them and got in line. It was really frustrating, sort of a straw that broke the camels back situation. After the ide we went to Toontown to ride the Gadget go Coaster that we couldn't last time because Donovan was too short. I took the kids and we waited in line while Parley entertained the now awake Eagan. We finally had our turn, rode the very short ride and got off, Donovan immediately complained about how short the ride was. On our way out we decided it was really close to closing time for Disneyland so we would head to the Casey Train Depot next to Toon Town and take it to the entrance and leave Disneyland for California Adventure. This particular train goes back in time and you get to see the Grand Canyon in Winter and Summer as well as seeing the Dinosaurs. We made it to the front anded headed to the exit. When we got to California Adventure I recommended we get Fastpasses for the World of Color Show, they only had them for the second showing at 10:15, sadly that would be for after our friends would see it. We went to Arial's Undersea Adventure which was nearby, not much of a line thankfully. That was fun, I took the girls and Parley and the boys went together. The ride is similar to Haunted Mansion except your conveyor belt buggy looks like a clam shell. Eagan kept saying Arial while were at the ride and afterward, so I pretty sure he loved it. I decided in another move to appease my husband we would head over to the Boudin Bread Factory and Mission Tortilla Factory, his favorite parts of California Adventure. We got the free bread and walked through the factory saw the process of making sour dough and went outside. we realized that Mission Tortilla Factory was gone so we were sad about that. I bought a sourdough loaf of bread shaped like a Mickey head for us to share and we sat and ate that for a couple minutes before we went to Bug's Land. When we got to Bug's Land we went to see the 4D show, It's Tough to Be a Bug, Eagan had fun checking out the in floor puck lights with another little boy. The show was a hit, my kids did great. Our next stop was Heimlichs Chew Chew Train, Haley really wanted to go on this ride and smell the watermelon and get sprayed. After the ride again we met up with the Tyalor's at Tower of Terror, Isabella thought we would be able to go on it together, but I told her no I'm sure they had Fastpasses and we wouldn't be able to get on at the same time, when we got their Donovan had to got to the bathroom so Parley took him. We waited and as planned the Taylor's met us after going on Tower of Terror themselves. The plan was for Isabella to join the Allison on California Screamin, since the Taylor's had a Fastpass she could use. We decided that Parley and Isabella would go with Allison and Rob. I would take our three other children with Jen and Nathan and we go on Monster's Inc ride, but when we got their it was an hour wait, so I said no and we headed to our rende vou point. When we got their Jen got a call from Rob saying the ride was closed they would meet us by the Rocket Swing. They guys decided to take the children on the rocket swing instead, and I stayed with a now sleeping Donovan and Eagan and Jen while the others went on the ride. After the ride the Taylor's headed to their spot for the show and we walked around trying to figure out what to do. we got to a concrete bench and sat down, maybe we could see the show then leave. We ended up being told we were supposed to leave. Parley explained the situation and the guy said he could get us into the seating area with our friends. We got to the roped off area and I stayed on one side with sleeping Donovan in the stroller behind some very tall people and Parley and our other children stood by the Taylor's. They kids loved the show, and being with friends. I was glad we saw the show so we could leave afterwards. We waited till the crowd was mostly gone then left in the mad dash for the parking lots. What a day, all I can say is my children enjoyed themselves mostly.

Halloween Decorating

2011-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

My fireplace display cool right?

My swarm of bats in the dining room.

My swarm of bats in the family room.

Our Frankenstein's Monster door.

Pumpkins to the left.

Pumpkins to the right.

My ghost and candy corn.

Our dining room table pumpkin runner.

My witch and Isabella's bedazzled leader bat.

My creepy green eyes.

Take 1, Halloween Photo Shoot

Take 2, after I bribed them with ice cream for breakfast, marked improvement right?

Haley is pretty creative, she figured out this costume a pillow pet idea

I have tried to squelch my desire for decorating for Halloween and every other holiday to please my husband, but this year I couldn't help it I decided that was what I enjoyed doing so neener neener Parley. I didn't spend very much money, maybe $10-$15. I had black scrap booking paper that I cut out to look like bats, these I taped in a swarm pattern on our dining and family room walls. With some more decorative scrap booking paper I created a banner with "Happy Halloween" in cool gothic lettering, I hung it across our fireplace in our living room. With our food stamps, their I said it we are receiving food money because we are that poor, I bought two cart fulls of pumpkins(they were really inexpensive too) of various sizes and colors from Trader Joe's. These for the most part I let my children color with Sharpie pens, we placed some of them surrounding our door stop, some are on our dining room table, and the special heirloom pumpkins(unblemished, not colored) I have in front of my fireplace. At the Dollar Tree I purchased four packages of punch balloons($1 each, spankin deal), so I could have four white balloons to color with permanent markers to look like eyeballs. I found some creepy green eye clipart and enlarged them to fill a 8.5x11 transparency(we have had these transparencies since college) then taped them to our front window. On our door I hung a Frankenstein Monster door hanger I made many years ago as well as black poster board to make our green door look like Frankenstein's Monster. On the inside of our door I hung a witch head that I painted a couple of years ago. On my piano I placed a ghost and candy corn I painted a few years ago. This morning I had my children dress in some of our costumes and pose with our eyeballs in front of our fireplace display. I bribed them with ice cream for breakfast, I know I'm horrible. This is what I have been up to this past week, it has been therapeutic, I feel better having decorated.

Third Piano Recital

2011-10-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Isabella, Allison, and Haley after the recital

Enjoying the refreshments? Right?

"I own the white house" they thought the chapel looked like the white house

Isabella has been taking piano lessons since January of 2009. She has been trying to get me to let her stop, but I wont. I was given a chance to learn how to play piano and I squandered it, sorry mom you tried. She has been going once a week to the University of Redlands to be taught by Jina Silva, she is in her Master's program now. Isabella didn't want to participate in the recital but her teacher and I convinced her. She agreed on the condition she could play a song she arranged herself. The song is based on a Christmas song in her piano book, she changed it to a Halloween song and changed the words and renamed it "Monster's are Coming." I am so very proud of her and the hard work she has put into learning to play the piano, she did great, this time we brought her friend Allison Taylor with her. Thank you Jina for being patient with us and teaching Isabella. I shot a video of her recital for all to see.

Roller Skating Lessons

2011-10-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Getting skates on.

Skating across the rink.

Parley helping Donovan skate, Eagan with Donovan's boots

Donovan skating

Eagan with Donovan's boots

Scissor skating

Eagan getting on his skates

Eagan and Daddy skating

Eagan and Donovan mirroring each others fall

Haley and Daddy helping Eagan skate

Eagan skating

Eagan wanted to be with Donovan on the rink floor

Almost got it, so close

Sandra wanting to take Eagan for a spin

My three older children attend a public charter school, in essence I homeschool my children and get to spend school funds on whatever I choose, within reason of course. We have been discussing extracurricular activities for a couple of months and decided on roller skating lessons, all three school children can do it, and it is within my comfort zone of driving distance. Today was the first lesson of Gator Skate University. Everyone was excited, we picked up Parley from work on the way. We got into the roller rink, and it was so nostalgic for me and so fun to share this experience with my children. I have fond memories of skating at my home towns roller rink, I even got a pair of my very own white roller skates with pink wheels. Anyway, we got the three kids their skates, the skates looked like they were purchased when the skating rink opened, you know in the 70s or 80s sometime, they looked like the kind of skates I used when I was a kid. Parley helped our children get their skates on while I stood by and photographed this momentous event. Eagan helped out by carrying Donovan's boots, he was so cute with a boot in each hand, he wanted to skate too so he walked onto the rink still holding those boots. Sandra is the teacher for the beginning skaters. She was really good, she taught them how to get up if they have fallen, she taught them how to shuffle and glide, how to scissor skate, how to do a canon ball to slow their skating, and also how to stop. It was fun to watch, during all of this Eagan wanted so much to skate, and Sandra just thought he was so cute she told us to go get him a pair of skates, so Parley took him to get skates. The smallest size they have is a 9, so they were big. Eagan is my no fear child, he takes Haley's no fear, get into trouble personality and takes it to whole new level that only a true blooded boy could. Parley helped Eagan skate, while I helped Donovan skate and continued to photograph all of it. When the class was drawing to a close, Sandra got out the limbo bar started the music, oh wow that just really brought me back to my childhood. All four children went under the bar, even Eagan, with a little jiving help from his dad, went under the bar. I shot a video of them doing limbo, so cute. After limbo the last couple of minutes they got to skate with the house lights off, and the disco lights on. It was deja vu overload by this time, if I had skates on I would have been skating, instead I lived it up through my children, so fun to watch them enjoying themselves. Sandra really wanted to take Eagan skating, he wasn't really wanting to let go of his mom and dad but we told her sure take him for a few spins around the rink. When it was all said and done, the lights off and everyone leaving the rink, my children didn't want to leave or give up the skates, Eagan was really mad, Haley asked if she could borrow her skates. We assured them we would be back, and maybe after they learn to skate and if our financial situation has changed as in Parley gets a job then we would buy them skates.

Birthday's With Aunt Jen

2011-10-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Donovan and his Build a Bear Ice Cream and Small Fry Rainbow

Isabella's prettified fingernails

Isabella & Jenifer's pretty striped nails

My sister Jenifer is a genius, she had this idea a few years ago to treat people for their birthday time with her, pretty smart right? Anyway, three years ago for Isabella's birthday she went to Build a Bear, since that experience Donovan has been wanting to to got to Build a Bear with his Aunt Jen, she said not until he turned five. Thankfully for us Donovan turned five this birthday, so he was super excited and ready to go to Build a Bear. After I dropped off my pie Donovan and Jenifer went to the Build a Bear store in Ontario Mills, he had a blast picking out a bear, making it then getting outfits and accessories for it. When we got home he was so very happy to show us his bear Ice Cream and his Small Fry Rainbow with their very cute outfits. After lunch Isabella got to go spend time with the her Aunt Jen getting their nails done at Sky Blue Nails here is town. She also went to Walmart to spend her money on a Hello Kitty shirt and Tinkerbell slippers. Isabella loved getting her nails done and came back super excited by her very first experience getting her nails done.

Meet Your Merchant Expo 2011

2011-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

My pie before I took it to the bake off

The three bake off pies

Business Booths

The last of the pie before we left

Isabella making a potpourri basket

Haley making a Valentine's card

My second place ribbon, and roses we got free at the expo

I was reading our local Beaumont Patch blog and found out our local Chamber of Commerce was hosting the second annual Meet Your Merchant Expo and as part of the expo a apple pie baking contest. I dropped off my application at the Chamber of Commerce and got all my ingredients together. I decided I would bake a practice pie using my ideas to see how it turns out. My practice pie had a couple quarks but I knew what I could do to fix them. I made my pie crust the night before, I made it with butter, lard, flour, and ginger ale laced with extra fresh ginger. This morning I peeled and cut the top and bottom off to make it easier to use the apple corer/slicer. I then soaked the four golden delicious and four granny smith apples in a combination of ginger ale and fresh grated ginger for ten minutes. Then after the soak I sprinkled them with sugar and let them sit in a colander over a bowl to allow the excess liquid to drain off. I used my spice grinder to grind whole allspice berries, whole nutmeg, and Saigon cinnamon together to add to brown sugar and white sugar for the flavoring of my apples. I rolled out the crust and put it in a pie tin, put the apples in the crust, and cut out a lattice crust and also three apple shaped dough. I did an egg wash on the top and sprinkled with raw sugar. After baking my pie I took it to the Albert Chatigney Jr. Community Center to be judged. A little after 11 we went back as a family to find out the results of the contest, they called out the results as we were walking in so I didn't get a photo of me receiving my ribbon. I placed second place, woo hoo, sounds impressive right? It would be except that my pie was one of three pies that were submitted. The people at the booth loved the way my pie looked when I dropped it off and said for sure I would win. When I went back to the booth I learned only three pies were submitted, again the people at the booth told me I should have won. My photo will be in the Press Enterprise, if anyone gets that paper please tell me and keep a copy. The woman who won is actually an employee of the Chamber of Commerce, good news is her prize is to be judge next year so maybe next year I can try again and win. After the results we walked around and had our Business Bingo card stamped by all the people at the business booths. Parley is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, so half the people with businesses know him and were talking to him. After we finished our card and turned it in for the raffle drawing Parley held sleeping Eagan while Haley and Isabella created paper bag baskets and a card with the Banning Art Alliance booth. The girls loved getting candy, free stuff like shirts, pens and pads.

LA County Fair

2011-09-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

Isabella hugging Jet the Bald Eagle(school mascot)

Ready to learn some California history

Haley would have loved school in the 1800s

Haley with a Yo-Yo

Haley with a lasso

Love Isabella smile, she's saying "GRRR, I'm going to attack you."

The Kennelly Boy's and pretzels

Haley missed the bean bag

The girls learn about rag rugs

Parley liked the man making brooms

Pretzel, and V8 Fusion juice this time, plus a little cheese please

Pretty ponies

Eagan liked the ponies

Eagan says "WOW dinosaur"

Haley and Eagan face the dinosaur

Isabella running from the dinosaur

My Superman crew face off with dinosaurs

Haley and Isabella see a dinosaur

Haley and eagan get close to the dinosaur

Haley and Donovan with the dead dinosaur

Donovan and Daddy with a dinosaur

Haley and Donovan playing with dinosaur eggs

Riding the dinosaur

Isabella said this dinosaur needs to se a good dentist

Spread those arms wide

Eagan points at the dinosaur

Donovan's in trouble, AHHHH!

Eagan and his pet dinosaur

Princess Haley, Princess Isabella, and Prince Eagan

Eagan finds the missing T-Rex

At the shark exhibit, the kids got to close, whoops

You think they would get out of the shark mouth, Haley and Donovan

Donovan wouldn't turn around, figures.

Haley our little mermaid

Isabella our other little mermaid

Haley the octopus

Eagan and Daddy

Haley pointing to the Mustang, she remembers her Daddy's car

Haley, ready, set, GO!

Haley wanted to show me this car

Isabella, Eagan, and Daddy waiting for the green GO light

Daddy and Eagan admiring cars

Mommy, Isabella, Eagan, and Haley

Boys and guitars

Eagan wanted a car

Isabella and Eagan riding a off road truck

Isabella, and Haley go riding in an automobile

Eagan driving a big truck

Donovan walking on the hay bails

Haley petting goats

Three little piggies, I mean Isabella, Donovan, and Haley

Today was one of those days that I was so glad my children attend a charter school that plans a field trip once a month and I get to go. As a child I do recall going on few field trips, but I do not ever believe that I personally ever went to the LA County Fair, or any county fair for that matter. We got an earl start and headed to the fair. We got there and parked, we were directed to the school entrance, our school has a mascot now, a bald eagle named Jet. It was funny to see our mascot, our children thought he/she was a penguin, not a bald eagle. The child wearing the outfit was the same height as Isabella, and the outfit is black and white. Anyway Isabella hugged our mascot Jet while I photographed her and that was it no one else wanted a hug. We got in line next to another family we know and waited to be allowed in. when the gates were opened we were told that dinosaur exhibit was to the left and the farm exhibit were to the right, our kids chose the dinosaurs. We headed to the dinosaurs, our first set of stops were through an area devoted to the early settlers of California and what their life was like, we saw a a small school house replica complete with school rules, desks, and dunce cap and stool in the corner. Haley learned how to play a type of yo-yo, then she spun a lasso, and did this other game with a little sack and a two sided piece of wood with cups on it. We then took pictures on a hay filled wagon. After pictures we headed to the area where some women were making rugs out of rag pieces and a man making brooms from some sort of plant. The girls thought the rugs were really cool, we might try that sometime, it was cool looking, sort of like a high pile flokati rug. Parley was really entranced by the man making the broom, so we let him watch for awhile. We then kept walking looking for the dinosaurs, we passed some cute ponies. We got into the exhibit, it was sort of like walking into Jurassic Park the movie, basic idea is you have walked into a dinosaur preserve where scientists have lost control of the dinosaurs and they have taken over and gotten loose. Eagan was completely cute, he was so excited he was running from dinosaur to dinosaur pointing and smiling. Our other children got into it and started getting excited too. At the end they got to get to touch a small turtle and sit on a dinosaur. We left the exhibit, and while the kids posed behind signs with face cut outs a guy walked by in a dinosaur suit, Eagan tried to follow him. The next exhibit we went to was the car exhibit, that was pretty amazing to see such a huge collection of restored old automobiles, race cars, and a race car video game that Haley tried out. When we left they posed behind painted wooden cars. Our next stop was at a picnic table in the shade in front of the kids carnival area. We ate lunch then went on to the farm area so we could get free milk for our students. The exhibit had a huge are of animals to feed, a goat to milk, and a hay maze. Haley wanted to milk the goat, but it was too late. across the way was "McGregor's Farm" based on Peter Rabbit. It was a cute exhibit full of rabbits and chickens. We went through the exhibit and went and got our chocolate milk, they drank their milk and I tookt he girls to the bathroom and Parley and Donovan went back to pet the goats and feed them. Donovan in a stroke of luck was given a cup of food by a parent whose child changed their mind. I took our sleeping eagan and sat at the food preserving exhibit under a canopy. When they were done we decided we had enough and were tired.

Family Birthday Party for Donovan & Isabella

2011-09-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Art supplies from the Poulsen's

3-D Sticker set from the Jackson's

Friendships bracelet kit from the Ballantyne's

Homemade doll from Mom & Dad

Donovan loves his LaLa Loopsie doll, can you tell?
Thank you Poulsen Family

Super Donovan doll from Mom & Dad

Happy Nappers, he has been singing that jingle all last night
and today, thank you Jackson family.

Addie stealing an M&M maybe? Kids decorating the cakes

Isabella turning 9, blows out her candle

Donovan turned 5, blowing out his candle.

Since Donovan was born, five years ago we have been doing the family for both Donovan and Isabella together and a separate girl party for Isabella. Yesterday Donovan turned 5, today Isabella turned 9. I spent most of the day after church, with Parley's help cooking and cleaning. I made two sheet cakes with Kandi's frosting with chocolate pudding for the flavor. Started marinara sauce on the stove, then made pizza dough, started grilling the beef roasts, cut and seasoned spaghetti squash and brussels sprouts, and ended by using the dough to make pizza tarts(mini calzones). When family started arriving I had them help finish putting the calzones together and it the oven. When the food was ready, everyone ate, and most of the food. It all went very well. Thankfully even though I couldn't spoil my birthday children with gifts, they were spoiled with good food, and family all around them. I had both children choose fabrics and give me ideas for dolls that I could put together and sew for them. I actually ended up cutting open a pillow since I ran out of stuffing. Both were so excited by the dolls, and they received a lot of very cool gifts from family that they are still using today. After gifts, all the children cleaned their hands and decorated both sheet cakes with chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzel M&Ms, including words and border. We brought out the candles and each child was sung to and got to blow out the candle and make a wish, Isabella got two tries so I could get a good photo. I'm not sure how many people ate cake, I'm starting to wonder though, are my cakes gross? Everyone eats cake at our other family parties. I ended up with a lot of cake left over. Everyone left, then we were left with a lot of dishes, cake, and marinara sauce. Luckily our neighbor Rob was very happy to take half the cake home with him.

Donovan's Birthday Camp Out

2011-09-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

In a flash of inspiration we decided Donovan would go camping with his daddy for the night while the slumber party went on. I packed up food and gear for them then sent them away. They went to Bogart Park in nearby Cherry Valley, as in less than 15 minutes away nearby. They enjoyed hot chocolate, cereal, and Donovan was ready to sleep when the sun went down. When the sun came up Donovan was ready to wake up and they had more hot chocolate and s'mores and cereal for breakfast. I guess he wanted to come home for the rest of his actual birthday party. I'm glad they could have a night together in the woods, what a wonderful tradition we'll have to keep up. He spent the rest of the day playing and swimming, at 3:30 we had our friends the Taylor family over and played Dungeons & Dragon's. For dinner I made Cars inspired pasta and cheese that Donovan picked and whole grain penne with turkey sausage and asparagus sauce. Afterwards the kids played outside then we sang to Donovan and ate more cake.

Isabella's Girl's Night Out Slumber Party

2011-09-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

The girls decorating the cake with M&Ms

Eagan is in the blanket, the girls are swinging him

Macaroni & Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Isabella opening Gifts

A special coloring card from Pili and her sisters

Isabella's big mouth

Nintendo DS fun, Isabella, Amanda, and Allison

Eating Belgian waffles

Playing Mario Cart

Pool chain

Isabella had four girl friends come over slumber party last night. Before dinner the girls decorated a sheet cake with M&Ms. She requested macaroni and cheese grilled cheese sandwiches and strawberry milkshakes for her party dinner. The girls loved dinner. They danced to a CD Amanda brought of music by the folk/rock group "Trout Fishing In America." Then Isabella opened her gifts and afterwards the girls all ate cake. When they had finished setting up the sleeping area I turned on "Rio" for the last planned evening activity and then I tried to go to sleep with Eagan. Isabella and Amanda decided to go to sleep while Allison, ili, Samantha, and Haley stayed up to play "Tumbles" then I heard a certain friend screaming at intervals and finally I fell asleep. We did have one girl who made it her goal to stay up the longest and she claims she stayed up until breakfast. For breakfast I made whole wheat Belgian waffles and scrambled eggs, the girls had whipped cream to put on their waffles. Allison and her family gave our family a group gift, "Mario Cart" and she asked to play it before she left for soccer. The girls played a group game on Samantha's two Nintendo DS Lites and Isabella's DS then they played Mario Cart. Afterwards they went swimming. It was a good party, I was tired afterwards but Isabella was happy to have her friends she has known since she was 2 and her new friends she has known for almost 2 years.

Grace Franklin

2011-09-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

We have been privileged to know Grace as our great grandmother, grandmother, and mother. This morning we received the news she passed away. We know that she is with our Heavenly Father and her pain has been taken away. We have faith that through the blessings of the temple we can be sealed to her and be reunited with her. We will miss you Grandma Grace, and we hope and pray that we will remain faithful and true to our covenants so we can be with you again.

Constitution Day 2011

2011-09-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to Redlands to enjoy some fun and free festivities. I dropped my family off at Smiley Library, fond childhood memories were had there. Then I went to face my fears and join a newly formed Redlands High School Chamber Singers Alumni Choir. I love to sing, and being in choir throughout school and especially the honor of being chosen for Chamber Singers was amazing, but high school was an experience I do not care to remember. I bucked up and walked the halls of my old High School, which was showing its age and went to the choir room. We had a nice practice, the other people who showed up were alumni from years after me, two other women I was in choir with were there. we finished our first practice with everyone holding hands in the hallway singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" our song. I left with a good feeling that I had conquered my fear of going back to that place.

Did you know we are a Republic, not a democracy?

Human Nature, as in a human in nature, get it?

Donovan and Haley making their own flags

Isabella making a patriotic bead/straw necklace

Redlands Jazz Kids All Star Band play favorite tunes

Another part of the scavenger hunt

Donovan signing the Constitution

The Mountain Fifes and Drums Group play

All America Car Show

I drove to the Lincoln Memorial Shrine to find out how much my children learned about the Constitution, it being Constitution Day and all. I found out they were hungry so we went to Denny's and ate lunch, then returned to the festivities. Our three older children enjoyed finding out about the history of the constitution while doing a scavenger hunt. When we got back, the girls decided to do the hunt again. When they were finished we went inside the Lincoln Memorial so the kids could see some historical items that related to our current social studies lessons. We then went to the C&C tent(Sons of the American revolution Encampment) so our children could join the ranks, they received a $20 sign on bonus as well. We then ended our day looking at the very cool old restored cars, and a racing car called "The Rocketeer." All in all it was a fun way to celebrate our Constitution and this amazing country we live in.

Funny Hats

2011-09-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Isabella the cake lady, and resident joker aka Eagan

Eagan received some help from our friend Robert Taylor with this combination, Joker and Batman

A close up of Eagan as Batman and the Joker as a dual personality

This is what happens when you combine a a couple funny hats from IKEA, a batman mask, and my children.

Home Depot FREE Kids Workshop

2011-09-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Isabella, Haley, and Allison ready to build

Haley hammering

Isabella helping Allison while she hammers

Isabella hammering

Isabella's finished ESPN Scoreboard

Allison's finished ESPN Scoreboard

Haley's finished ESPN Scoreboard

This morning I took my girls and their friend Allison to Home Depot for the FREE Kids workshop, it's our second time going. The girls were excited to add another pin on their apron. I'm completely clueless about all things ESPN or sports on television in general, so today's project was an ESPN scoreboard, AKA little wooden whiteboard. They got to hammer the nails into the wood, then some screwing in of the screws, and finally the messy painting of it all. I helped with hammering by holding the pieces of wood together, Isabella was able to hammer the nail, and Haley was able to hammer the nail and my hand. We had fun and now the girls love writing checklists on their boards.

Our Happy Anniversary

2011-08-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

When the morning started I was a little worried about how the day would turn out, our children were getting upset and I was tired. I made an asparagus, monterey jack, and onion frittata for breakfast along with toasted whole wheat english muffins. We had school and then I left afterwards to do some shopping, when I returned we had lunch. At 3 p.m. we took our children to our friends/neighbors the Taylor's and left them while we celebrated together. It was Parley's turn to plan our anniversary, at least that is what I told him. He planned for us to bowl two games at the nearby Canyon Lanes, then dinner at Isabella's. We bowled our two games, it was nice to be able to use our own equipment, been awhile. After our games we left, I mentioned the nearby restaurants instead of backtracking to Isabella's. We dropped by Wilson's Leather at Dessert Hills Premium Outlets, I had researched red purses, since mine had worn out. I found a nice leather red purse and then we left to eat dinner. We decided to eat at Ruby's. We both ordered burgers, and then tried to eat the fries, they offer re-fillable fries but we were to full to have refills. Parley mentioned to our server it was my anniversary so he surprised us with an ice cream sundae. After eating we went home and decided what we would do next. After we got home we figured without children it would be a good idea to visit the Verizon Store to find a solution for my abused phone. No solution was available so we went back to our house to pick up our Dungeon's and Dragon's stuff and walk over to the Taylor's house for our children and some role-playing fun. We watched our children perform a dance, including Nathan holding Haley in the air, sort of, then we played D&D while the children watched the old 80's cartoon D&D. We played until 11:00 then took home our boys and left the girls for a last minute slumber party. All in all, it was fun and I am grateful for Parley and for the life we are creating together, including our sometimes crazy four children.

Becca's Sweet Sixteen

2011-08-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Becca reading a card from Aunt Mary

Becca opening our gift

A weekly dry erase calendar

Shy little Donovan and his daddy Parley

Becca is ready to blow out a birthday candle

Becca made a wish, hmm what was it?

Enjoying cake

Family, can you tell?

We had fun meeting up with the Jackson family and celebrate Becca's sweet 16 birthday at "The Spaghetti Factory. " Parley's Aunt Mary was able to be at the party as well, she is about to move to Texas so we were very glad we could meet up before she leaves. The food was yummy, the gifts were appreciated, and we ended with a very delicious homemade cake courtesy of Kandi. Our children were excited to see Kara and Becca(cousins). I made sure the children, Kandi, Parley, and Mary posed for a family photo before we said our last goodbyes to Mary before she moves away to Texas.