Happy Birthday Adrianne!

ADRIANNE!!
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you!!!

It's not really my birthday, too, but that is part of the song. Anyway we all hope you have great birthday. I hear you got some pretty great presents! Yeah! Enjoy your cake. We love you!

MUTE!!

Today as the kids were asking question after question and not listening to the answers, I started to think how nice it would be to have a mute button on every child. Then I though of how smart my family is. Surely one of you could come up with a mute button. I'm not talking about putting duct tape on their mouths, that would be cruel and they could still make noise. Anyway, if anyone figures this out, it would make you millions. In the mean time, I guess I'll just keep answering their questions.

We have the coolest neighbors--except of course when the Richey's were our neighbors...Anyway, this couple has two children, both married. They live across the street from us and have kind of adopted us. In the summer, they invited us to bring the boys over and swim in their pool. At Halloween, they made special cupcakes just for the boys and gave them candy for their bags. They live between two houses that are empty. There used to be widows that lived in the houses but they have either died or been placed in a nursing home. When they were still in their homes Max (our neighbor) would regularly mow his lawn and both of these widow's lawns. One of the widow's would call out his name at 2 am and he would go over to her house to see what she wanted. He came and set the mouse traps for us when Mike was in Guam and also jump-started our car when the battery was dead--and he got out of bed with the flu to do it for me because Mike was out of town! They are such great people. When Isaac was born, Sheree made a monogramed blanket for him with his name and birthday with the onces and pounds he was when he was born. Tonight they came over to our house and brought this diaper bag and two burp cloths that she made for us. They are awesome! I love them. We are just so grateful they live next to us. Mike invited them to come to church when we bless Eli and they said they'd come. Mike and I would love to do something for them in return but don't know what to do for them. They are in their late 40's, early 50's and their kids are our age. So what would be appropriate to do for them? Any ideas?

Becca is playing Varsity Softball!

Becca is playing Varsity softball as a freshman, she is the only freshman on the team. She usually plays in left field, and she has been the lead off batter (the first batter on the team). She loves playing for the school and has made some great friends. In the first picture she is bunting and the 2nd picture she is about to take off from second and run to third (she did eventually make it in to score).

Creams

Adrianne just sent me to grab the desitin. She is on the phone and changing a diaper. I hopped up and went to the bathroom. I pulled out the drawer where we keep the desitin and grabbed it...luckily. Right next to the desitin is a very similar looking tube of icy hot. Wouldn't that be a nasty surprise for a little baby bum. I suppose I ought to go move that...

On another subject, I would like to write a book about a world of shapeshifters. I decided to call them shimatims because writing shapeshifter gets old really fast. I haven't decided exactly what the story will be about, but as soon as the first book gets super popular, I will carry on the story, as well as telling the stories of the evolution of the shimatims from people-like creatures. I want the story to be as feasible as possible, so everything I think about these creatures, I try to come up with a fairly reasonable explaination. It's fun to do, and I wish I had lots of free time when I had nothing else I would rather work on...maybe someday.

Mike

Just for fun

Braden saw the camera out and wanted a picture taken. Here are the boys!

W-4

Does anyone have any advice about the number of allowances I should claim on my W-4? I have claimed 0 for the last eight years. I just looked at my last pay check and I get about 71% of what I earn. The rest goes to taxes, SS, and medicare. I would like to get more of that, but don't want to have to pay taxes at tax time ever again...Any thoughts?

Check out our blog.

You should all check out our blog.

Happy Birthday, Laura!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We hope you have had a great day! What fun things did you do?

Too soon???

Do we think it's still too soon to talk family reunion again?

Too bad if you think that. I just want to voice my opinion that we have a Mexican food night, or two. I'm talking chile rellanos, chimichangas, guacamole, homemade salsa, sopapillas, etc. Then afterwards we can go for a 10 mile walk to try and burn it off. Any other food requests? Mom mentioned that she could make and freeze some things ahead of time.
I love to play games, so I am resubmitting a game night. We can pull up the proposed activity plans soon, too and refine, rediscuss them.
I just have fun talking about getting together! Have you got anything to say??

Time/Money Saver

As I was cleaning up after lunch a fabulous time saving idea came to me. Instead throwing out the food after I have prepared it and served it my family, who refuse to eat it frequently, I could just throw it out before I prepare it. For example instead of making a yummy chicken and sauce dish that you serve over pasta with a nice salad, I could just throw half of those ingredients away and not bother cooking it. I could dump half each cereal box and gallon of milk down the drain before I put it on the table. Think of the time cooking and cleaning that would be saved, but wait.
It then occurred to me that I could just go straight from the store to the dumpster and throw out half the bags of food that I buy. However that sounds rather ridiculous. Smarter would be to only buy the fruit snacks, cookies, candy and juice and forget the rest. If I gave only those foods to the kids, I wouldn't have to do dishes, you don't need plates for fruit snacks. Mike and I could order in or go out with all the money we saved. I would never have to do dishes again, although Mike does like his cereal in the morning, but still way less dishes!!
What a great way to save time and money, no more grocery shopping, no more dishes and no more cooking.
Somehow the kids would find a way to complain about even this, I am sure!!

AUSTIN!!!

Happy Birthday Austin!

We wish you a wonderful birthday full of fun and presents and cake!

This is the best picture I could get. I know you are way bigger than this now!!

The Guessing Game

The time is swiftly approaching for the next in a line of marvelous children to enter this world. Adrianne's due date is May 4th and I am guessing that she will deliver him April 24th. Any other guesses? The prise for winning is that you get to be the favorite Aunt, Uncle or Grandparent if you win. The prise of course is subject to new baby's approval!

Movies

Seen any good movies lately? We rarely see any movies, but the past two weeks, friends have loaned us their rentals. It's been nice to see a movie. I watched them alone after the kids were in bed and while Mike was at work, but it was still nice.

First I saw No Reservations. It was ok, but a little too slow for me.

Second I saw Dan In Real Life. I really liked this and would recommend it. Just a friendly little movie.

What have you been watching?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!
Got Eggs??

Good Friday...

So, I came to post a blog called Good Friday, based on my experience of the day. I got here and there was already a post called that. Lucky for me, my experience is nothing to do with the post from Jess, so I will post it anyway. Here I go:

This morning at breakfast we were talking about why there is no school and Mike has work off today. I told the kids it was Good Friday and they have to be good all day. Mikayla said, Nah uh!! I told her it was on the calendar and she better be good today.
Later we were in the car and she stayed in her place until I got the carseats unbuckled so she wouldn't be in my way. Every other day of her life I remind her to stay out of the way and wait, EVERY DAY! So, I thanked her for remembering to wait and what a good girl she was. She told me
"I remembered what day it was."
What??
"It's good Friday, Mom!"

Nice, I wonder when good Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will come?? I hope I didn't blaphem anything.

Good Friday

I thought to put a post up about what exactly Good Friday is...I didn't really learn anything exciting. It is the day that Christ was Crucified. Many religions fast, take the day off work and have a celebration. But it was good for me to read about everything that led up to the Crucifixtion. There is nothing new, but just a reminder. I hope this isn't too heavy for the blog!

Jesus, having been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by the Temple Guards through the guidance of Judas Iscariot, is brought to the house of Annas, who is father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. There he is interrogated with little result, and sent bound to Caiaphas the high priest, where the Sanhedron had assembled (John 18:1-24).

Conflicting testimony against Jesus is brought forth by many witnesses, to which Jesus answers nothing. Finally the high priest adjures Jesus to respond under solemn oath, saying "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" Jesus testifies in the affirmative, "You have said it, and in time you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven." The high priest condemns Jesus for blasphemy, and the Sanhedron concurs with a sentence of death (Matthew 26:57-66).

In the morning, the whole assembly brings Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, under charges of subverting the nation, opposing taxes to Caesar, and making himself a king (Luke 23:1-2). Pilate authorizes the Jewish leaders to judge Jesus according to their own Law and execute sentencing, however the Jewish leaders reply that they are not allowed by the Romans to carry out a sentence of death (John 18:31).

Pilate questions Jesus, and tells the assembly that there is no basis for sentencing. Upon learning that Jesus is from Galilee, Pilate refers the case to the ruler of Galilee, King Herod, who was in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Herod questions Jesus but receives no answer; Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate tells the assembly that neither he nor Herod have found guilt in Jesus; Pilate resolves to have Jesus whipped and released (Luke 23:3-16).

It was a custom during the feast of Passover for the Romans to release one prisoner as requested by the Jews. Pilate asks the crowd who they would like to be released. Under the guidance of the chief priests, the crowd asks for Barabbas, who had been imprisoned for committing murder during an insurrection. Pilate asks what they would have him do with Jesus, and they demand, "Crucify him" (Mark 15:6-14). Pilate's wife had seen Jesus in a dream earlier that day; she forewarns Pilate to "have nothing to do with this righteous man" (Matthew 27:19).

Pilate has Jesus flogged, then brings him out to the crowd to release him. The chief priests inform Pilate of a new charge, demanding Jesus be sentenced to death "because he claimed to be God's son." This possibility filled Pilate with fear, and he brought Jesus back inside the palace and demanded to know from where he came (John 19:1-9).

Coming before the crowd one last time, Pilate declares Jesus innocent, washing his own hands in water to show he has no part in this condemnation. Nevertheless, Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall a riot (Matthew 27:24-26). The sentence written is "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." Jesus carries his cross to the site of execution, called the place of the Skull, or "Golgotha" in Hebrew and "Calvary" in Latin. There he is crucified along with two criminals (John 19:17-22).

Jesus agonizes on the cross for three hours while the sun is darkened. With a loud cry, Jesus gives up his spirit. There is an earthquake, tombs break open, and the curtain in the Temple is torn from top to bottom. The centurion on guard at the site of crucifixion declares, "Truly this was God's Son!" (Matthew 27:45-54)

Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin and secret follower of Jesus, who had not consented to his condemnation, goes to Pilate to request the body of Jesus (Luke 23:50-52). Pilate asks confirmation from the centurion whether Jesus is dead (Mark 15:44). A soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a lance causing blood and water to flow out (John 19:34), and the centurian informs Pilate that Jesus is dead (Mark 15:45).

Joseph of Arimathea takes the body of Jesus, wraps it in a clean linen shroud, and places it in his own new tomb that had been carved in the rock (Matthew 27:59-60) in a garden near the site of crucifixion. Another secret follower of Jesus and member of the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus (John 3:1) also came bringing 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes, and places them in the linen with the body of Jesus, according to Jewish burial customs (John 19:39-40). They rolled a large rock over the entrance of the tomb (Matthew 27:60). Then they returned home and rested, because at sunset began the Sabbath (Luke 23:54-56).

Jake-O!

To quote Braden: Is he a cute baby or what?!?!

My peeps are gone!

I was going through our candy shelf in the kitchen a few weeks ago--we have a shelf in the kitchen where we put almost all of our candy (not the hundreds of candy bars that we keep above all the linens in the hallway) to discourage us from eating them all too much--and I found the peeps from last Easter that I had opened up and set in there to let them get stale. I was really excited when I found that they were super hard and totally brittle. I ate part of one, and put the rest back on the shelf. Today, I went to get them so I could take a picture of them and show you all my super stale peeps. I was excited because I know you all share in the same delight of stale peeps. Only, instead of my stale peeps, what did I find? New Easter candy...I was very disappointed. Adrianne said, "They were in there so long, I figured you weren't going to eat them, so I threw them away."!!! grrrr... Now I have to wait a whole 'nother year to have good peeps. Some people!

Happy birthday to my three year old!