Snowflake: day 2

We found her- up on the kitchen window sill.

Snowflake: our elf

Today we were gifted.
Upon awaking we found 2 new (candy free) advent calendars, a book and a note.
To our surprise they were from an Elf!
We went on the hunt and found Her, on top of the china cabinet.
Isn't she pretty.
We have named her Snowflake.

51-365 my baby turned 5!

Lyla-

You are:

smart, funny, energetic, loving, kind, playful, sweet, picky.

You now:

dress on your own, brush your teeth, brush your hair, put on your shoes, make your own pb&j's, fall asleep w/o a fight in your own bed

You love:

prek, fresh beat band, puzzles, coloring/crafts

You eat:

motza balls, pickles, cheetos, quesadillas, bread, butter, salt, sausage

Valentines '12 & 45-365

My love sent me a little something

45 - 365

3 outta 5 of my Valentines today after school

the last 5 days

So we awake Wednesday to this beautiful snow :)

Luke loved it too!

We then awoke on Thursday to no power.

We got to make coffee the super fun way ;)

Then hey what beats breakfast on the grill. Potatoes, sausage & eggs cooked right there in one pot on one burner.

We stayed home most of Thursday, we decided to head out but after driving around we realize everyone was w/o power too. We found one resturant open anf had a nice warm dinner. We did sleep nat home and tried to function on Friday but we started to get cold quick, the house was losing heat pretty fast. At about noon it was 47 inside. Thankfully hubby had a friend who had a hotel in a nearby city and invited us over. We packed up and headed out, the trees were down everywhere, power lines were hanging, the back roads to base were closed. After 2 hours we finally made it (normally a 45-60 min drive). Get to the hotel just to find out they are w/o power too. We made do, cooked up chicken gumbo & rice on the camping stove. Watched a movie on the laptop and hit the beds early. Saturday hubby got called in- since they didnt work all week- I headed to the house, let the dogs out, cleaned out the freezers since they were defrosted, took a shower, got the proprane filled, feed the kids lunch. We headed out to stay the night in Lacey. Here it is Sunday, I get home first thing to find lights on! say what? yep power is restored. I set up the heater, cleaned up a bit, went grocery shopping and we are home. In our nice warm beds, watching netflix, uploading a few pics, well I'm still up- all are asleep and snoring away.

I will need to call the landlord, theres tree branches all over the roof and in the gutters....

22-365

How fun!
I've never seen anything like this before.

Finally got power back today, heated up the house, let the dogs out, headed back into town to get gas & the kids.
This is what I see as I'm pumping gas :P

Snow Fun!

16-365

The shot of the day

(I'll post more seperately)

11-365

Cookies!!!
L & her friend made our snack today :)

10-365

Good Morning Sunshines!

As much as I say I want to sleep alone-no more kids in the bed-stay in your bed.

This right here is why I'm so gullable to say ok come in just for tonight.

Granted they do fall asleep in their own beds, they stay there a few nights a week actually.

Here though J was with me & Lcame in when she got up- so 'bout 7

9-365

My little helper,

I was looking for the measuring tape-

she found it and had to measure everything in the office.

6-365

Guilty!

Yes I am known to let the littles play on the laptops so I can sneak away for a few minutes.

They are both on Magic Desktop, safe, cool and came free on both pc's.

5-365

~Thankful Thursday~

Thankful for my one of a kind, beautiful, smart, charming, slightly evil, only daughter.

The very unexpected 4th child & the greatest Birthday gift ever!

Today you are pictured here pretending it's summer time- you're at the beach.

This was you getting ready for school, PreK class, at ABC Academy with your teachers Ms Klary & Mr Matt, you love attending there.

Tonight you helped cook the rice for dinner, added the rice, water, ginger powder & sesame oil. Then of course that's all you ate with seaweed pieces.

Right this minute you are screaming my name- from bed- it's 8:28

and you are fighting your sleep/bed time.

P.S. You are the Puzzle Queen!

I Love You,

Mom

3 growing boys

All in one room !?!
really, can it be done?
of course it CAN but comfortably?
w/ privacy?
how about when they are all so different?
or have way to much stuff each?
what about all the gaming stuff they are to "share"



Well I did it! I fit all 3 boys in one room.

Here I'll show you :)
Take the largest room in the house
(yes its even bigger than the master w/o a closet &/or bath)

J's side


C's side


A's side (w/o his stuff- still to be unpacked)


gaming station


from the door

4th of July '11

We celebrated a day early due to the man having to work this morning,

here I'll include a few pictures of us out at Alder Lake, WA.

It's such a great State Park, very nice, clean, complete with everything, volleyball, parks, tables and bbqs all along the lakefront, swimming zone, boat docks, tons of tent and RV spots that also had lots of room, table and a prebuilt fire pits.

We were only there for the day but want to definitely go back for a weekend trip.

Yes we are still alive!

Another move was made, unexpectedly but needed, we are still here in WA, but out in the Mountains, far from the hussle and bussle of the Interstate, City, Bases.
After a few things were finished up with A he has chosen not to come with us, even though it would be best for him, he is still nearby and we are still dealing with a few random loose ends.
C has settled into his new school nicely, J too is liking full day kinder, L is adjusting to being the only child for most of the day.
I'm enjoying the quite, the sun, the birds, not so much the boxes everywhere.....
Hubby seems to enjoy coming home, it is more of a drive for him, no more coming home for lunch, but he does mention he likes the trees and seclusion.
So thats where posting for April and most of May have gone.

Christmas '10

Santa came!


Lyla 'waiting' for Santa on the couch


Not to bad they woke about 7:45

I believe Chris is satisfied :)


Jullian loving his new blanket from Nonna.

Prepping for Christmas '10

(I've completely slacked but we wont get into that)

Heres making cookies with the kids




Getting the tree up




The 2 little ones doing ornaments



More to come :)

Thanksgiving '10

We had a white Thanksgiving this year here in WA
Our snowman was nice & healthy :-)

We found a great sledding hill


& look how fancy we dressed for dinner




(yes we are missing Alex, we will get through this hard time of him making the choice to leave home, we will look back and forget the sadness & remember only the good times)