Flat Stanley

Stanley played with Brennan and Kerstyn.

He even played house with Greyson and Aislinn.

Most importantly, Stanley and Lauklan did their homework together!

Lauklan has been working on Flat Stanley at school for a few weeks. He got to bring Stanley home to spend the afternoon and night with us. Those were a few shots of Stanley's adventures.

Thanks for coming to visit Stanley!

They can really sing!

I was leading the music in Primary today. Telling you that I love to do that would most likely be an understatement. We had about eleven or twelve kids there today, which is a few more than usual. But I'll tell you what, they sang like there were thirty five of them and the spirit was so strong! I looked up one time and even Chris was standing outside the door looking in. I asked him why later and he said that he had gone to the library down the hall and heard them singing so well that he thought he would just stop by.

That is why I LOVE serving in Primary. The children are just amazing!

Lauklan's Blue and Gold Banquet

The kids eating at the dinner.

Lauklan receiving his Tiger Cub Badge and beads.

Lauklan and I.

Lauklan had his Blue and Gold Banquet tonight. It was a nice time for our family to go and celebrate his hard work this year with scouts. He went to Scouts every Tuesday night and was ALWAYS excited to go.

He learned about mapping, libraries, fire stations, families, journaling, and many other things. Chris also took him camping twice and Lauklan always had a positive attitude.

We look forward to many more years of scouting fun for Lauklan.

Random Disney shots

Aislinn was done with It's A Small World.

Both hands Greyson!

Lauklan was 'warming up' to trying to get the sword out.

Isn't she cool with those sunglasses on?

I'm not too sure she's trying real hard.

Brennan really did want that sword out.

We have a good time at Disney. Always.

Did you know?

That it is quite fun to "clean" my van with GOJO?

Greyson decided to do it the other day and when I went out in the garage all I could see was the van COVERED with foggy type circles. Windows too!

OH MY!

Poor thing cried when I fussed because he told me he was cleaning my van.

We loaded up and went to wash the van because I don't even know what GOJO is, but I don't think it is supposed to be smeared all over my van and left there for an indefinite period of time.

Luckily I could get the windows where I could see out of them and after the car wash, the paint looked ok.

Wow Greyson! Good thing I love you!

Book Club

I belong to a book club.

I almost NEVER read the book.

Even more often than not, I decide to read the book AFTER I attend the meeting and get the review.

I go to almost every meeting.

I talk, just like I read every word of every page!

I enjoy getting to visit with friends and they let me come even with my non-compliance to book reading.

That's what I call friendship!

Chili and Grilled Cheese

One of the kids favorite things to eat is grilled cheese. I have made it fairly frequently this winter and I go through about a loaf and a half of bread every time I make it.

I must give thanks to my mom for getting me hooked on them when I was young. So, what was I to do? I must get my kids hooked too! Check!

Oh yeah, with the grilled cheese usually comes chili or a vegetable beef soup. Tonight, it was chili because it was 'chilly' outside.

4 out of 7

Sick!

Not good. Not good. Not good.

Chris, Aislinn, Kerstyn and Lauklan are all not well. I'm still not great, but can at least function.

I need more Lysol!

Stake Conference

Chris had 2 sessions of Stake Conference today. In between the first session and the second, we met at Chili's for dinner with friends. The food was tasty and the company was great.

The adult session tonight was really good. I am always glad to get more help on raising my children in the gospel and our marriage. I can certainly use it.

What I remember most, "Never Give UP!" I know that to be the best advice, but it is nice to be reminded of it. This job of being a mom is WAY HARDER than I ever imagined and I know that I'm just starting in the real issue stage. Bring on the good advice!

Smoking hot!

I took a cycle class last night that was so hot that the amplifier, or whatever the sound thing is started smoking! Good thing it was the last few minutes of class!

It was a really good class which I was even skeptical to go since I had been sick. I wasn't sure if I would have the strength that I needed to enjoy it. But, I did pretty well considering and I really liked the instructor.

Just what I needed after a VERY BUMPY start to the day. See, I LOVE ROUTINE! Well, Chris had to leave early this morning and my routine was disrupted.

Here is all I have to say.

Not good.

Not good AT ALL!

Aislinn the photographer

Greyson looks like he is running from Aislinn, but she is persistent in needing his picture.

In case you ever wondered what Ooh-Rah's food looked like, here you are.

Where Aislinn dreams of getting into real soon. Me too.

Hmmm.

What a nice eye you have there.

Every time I go to get the pictures from the camera to the computer, there are 'extras'. Aislinn LOVES to take pictures and I don't mind her doing it because I always seem to get tickled when I look at them. She really does a pretty good job.

Lauklan the Terrific Kid!

Lauklan and I at his Terrific Kid ceremony. I thought that the guy had already snapped the picture so that is why I look more 'odd' than usual. I am already walking toward the camera.

Lauklan bringing home the award!

We are so proud of him!

Here is Lauklan being called up and receiving his award. Mrs. Bartberger, the assistant principal, reads aloud what the teacher writes about their Terrific Kid.

I had Lauklan read to me what his teacher wrote for his award because I was so proud of him.

Respectful, super student, very helpful, kind to others, great smile, loves to read, responsible.

A JOY TO HAVE IN CLASS!

WAY TO GO!

Family Day

Chris' office is closed today along with the kids being out of school. We were going to go to Disney on Saturday, then today when I couldn't go Saturday, but neither happened. I still can't make it. But, the kids are playing outside, riding the 4 wheelers and terrorizing each other and I'm blessed to have Chris here to help me. I couldn't have done this without him. I'm so glad it fell on a weekend or he would have had to miss work.

The weather is cooler today which is good because Lauklan, Greyson and Aislinn punctured the air conditioner thing outside on Saturday and freon spewed everywhere. We can't run the air conditioning and the repair people thought it would be about $900. Not too sure when we'll have air again...

Slightly better

Chris took all of the kids to church today while I stayed home sick and in bed. I feel slightly better today compared to yesterday, but still not even remotely good.

I don't think I have been this sick in years.

Yuck!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kerstyn ready to go to the dance with Chris.

Chris and Kerstyn in his office getting ready to head off to the dance.

My friend Suzy did Kerstyn's hair for her. She didn't charge me anything to do it because she wanted Kerstyn to get a special treat. I thought it was really nice of her since I wouldn't have spent the money on it being done especially for an elementary school dance.

She's excited.

My roses from Chris. He had a big card and the roses on the kitchen table for me. However, I did not see them until after noon or so when I walked in to the kitchen for some more medicine then right back to the bed.

I spent ALL of Valentine's Day in the bed. Sick. :(

Not feeling well

Chris and Kerstyn are going to the Daddy/Daughter Dance tonight that is put on by the elementary school.

I woke up this morning and was not feeling well again. I think that the kids have shared with me. :(

This morning was crazy too because Chris needed to drop off some stuff at the lab and get some blood drawn. We somehow lost his orders so who knows now. I called the doctor's office to see if they would fax the orders to the lab and OF COURSE, they are closed!

We'll see.

I am going to go to the gym tonight while Chris and Kerstyn are at the dance. I hope that I feel well enough to get a good workout in. After eating all of that popcorn last night, I feel like a moose!

Our Valentine Date

Chris and I went on our Valentine's date tonight. We went to the hopping Lake Square Mall and Chris ate a piece of pizza in the food court, nothing looked good to me.

We walked around for about 30 minutes and then went to see a movie that I picked out.

He's Just Not That Into You is the movie we saw and I must say that I was disappointed. I needed a sappy love story on our date and that was NOT it!

All that aside, we had a nice time together.

Crazy Wednesday!

We had school, homework and the gym today.

Followed by crazy hurrying to get Brennan to Scouts and then back to the house for the girls to have their activity.

After the girls went on their way, I loaded the kids back up to go pick up Brennan. Then home and to bed.

Tiring.

Struggling

One of the kids had a very rough day today. I was called by their teacher and told that they would be receiving Wednesday school next Wednesday because they were pushing 2 other students. The teacher said that the pushes were angry pushes and they were all being quite aggressive.

I didn't have to fuss at this kid because they were already really torn up about it.

So, I said, "you've learned your lesson, right"? And told them that I expected never to hear something like this again.

About an hour later I get another call from the same teacher saying that they just got a call from a parent saying that my child was kicking their child. Not just once, but ongoing for a while.

Can you believe that?

Needless to say, there is an excuse here. So and so kicked me and told me to pass it on at lunch, etc, etc.

I explained AGAIN how we are not to touch others.

Who knows! Then on top of it all the teacher proceeds to tell me that my child is not acting like they usually do and that my child seems sad and the teacher is "worried" about them.

Seriously!

What is going on?

Am I totally screwing my kids up or what?

Busy day

We started off the morning a little crazy. Actually, I got off with Brennan on time and while I was driving home, I was thinking how nice it was to not have fussed.

That all changed when I got back to the house to get Kerstyn and Lauklan and Lauklan had just sat down to start eating his breakfast. He started to eat at 7:58 and we are supposed to leave at 8 for them to go to school.

Not happy!

After I got all the kids to school, it was off to Publix to get the Amoxicillin filled for Aislinn since she was still fighting her cold.

Then to work.

Pick up kids.

Pick up more kids.

Homework

Gym

Dinner

Bed

Whew!

Happy Birthday Chris!

The whole family last night at Rainforest Cafe for Chris' birthday.

42 years young today!

We love you dearly.

For Chris's birthday, he wanted to relax, play a computer game and watch a movie as a family. We did all of that following church. I also made stroganoff for dinner, one of Chris's favorite meals that I cook.

I hope that he had a nice day.

Animal Kingdom

We loaded all up this morning and headed to Animal Kingdom as a family.
The kids in Conservation Station helping get the stuff ready for the workers.
Greyson and Lauklan
Aislinn and Greyson on the safari ride.
Brennan on safari ride.
Kerstyn and Lauklan looking at the animals.
Aislinn and I. Why am I leaning forward?
Brennan and Lauklan looking through the microscopes in Conservation Station.
Aislinn, Lauklan and I. I'm leaning forward again. Weird!
All of the kids having fun at Animal Kingdom!

The kids, all but Aislinn rode that roller coaster 3 times! I rode it once with them and Chris went twice with them. It was really fun.

We also did the safari, rode the train and petted some animals.

I packed a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches and drinks and that really helped.

We ate at Rainforest Cafe, there at the park for Chris's birthday. I don't think that we had been to a Rainforest Cafe in about 10 years. The kids really loved it!

We even had the workers sing to Chris, which he doesn't really like, but he did smile.

We had a blast! I'll post some pictures later.

Scary movie

Chris and I went to see Taken tonight on our date. I was scared to death the whole time! The movie was about a teenage girl going to Paris with a friend and getting kidnapped by a group of men that sell the girls for prostitution, etc.

Not nice.

However, we had a good time together and went to Chili's after the movie. Off to Disney tomorrow.

Gym

I went to the gym tonight. I worked on the StairMaster and several other machines.

LOVE IT!

Family fun evening

The kids and I went to Cici's for dinner last night. They love eating there and the price is the most reasonable around.

So, I sucked it up and went.

I gave them "THE TALK" before we went in. You know 'it'.

The one where you tell them how you expect them to behave, etc.

Believe this?

They actually did it!

They were behaved and didn't embarrass me!

Wow

Do I live in Florida?

I live in Florida. Right?

We're going to have 3 days of freezing weather again.

Didn't we just do this a week or so ago?

I enjoy the colder weather, but this seems kind of odd for us here in Central Florida.

As a side note, I'm excited.
I had my dryer vent sucked out today and now my dryer works like new. LOVE IT!

Going crazy!

We had a blast in New York City, but now it's back to reality.

Things to clean, laundry to wash and fold, carpets to vacuum, kids to feed

AND

the gym is calling my name! LOUDLY! Can't you even hear it?

We're home

I took this picture Saturday night of the temperature. It was 20 degrees. Chilly!

What we found when we finally arrived home. We got here around 10, an hour or so late. Tired, but happy to be home.

Thanks Grandma and Aunt Karen for taking such great care of the kids while we were gone. And, thanks to Sister Garrett for having Brennan for Friday and Saturday nights.

Everyone survived!

WAHOO!

New York City, Day 2

The view from our room. Times Square, well some of it.

We woke up this morning and went to the USS Intrepid that was docked at the pier. It is a retired Air Craft Carrier. I was glad to go on it because my dad lived on one for a few years during Vietnam.
See the white stuff by Chris's feet? It was about 20 degrees today.

Chris having fun.

That is cramped quarters, for sure. Dad, I don't know how you did it.

Chris and I on the Intrepid.

Following our neat visit to the aircraft carrier, we headed to Tavern on the Green for our lunch reservations.

Me at Tavern on the Green

Chris with the cake that I had made for him. It was EXACTLY what I wanted!

One of the several Hot Chocolates that I consumed during our trip. This was at a Starbucks off of Wall Street. We had to go in there to warm up. It was after dark and really windy, which made the temperatures even worse.

Finally, found the bull!

We enjoyed riding the subway to and from the World Trade Center site and back to Times Square. It's a whole world under there!