Getting Ready...

R, L, and I were deciding what to leave out for Santa and his reindeer today.

R-We should set out cookies, he is Santa after all.

Me-Your right! And what else

R-Carrots for the reindeer

L-No, meatloaf for the reindeer!

Me-I don't think reindeer like that, its cow meat after all

R-Yeah L, and reindeer are practically related to cows!

So Santa gets cookies, and reindeer get carrots, no meatloaf on the menu tonight!

Fun Weekend!

It was a Wonderful Weekend!!! The boys and I got to go to S&M's house, we got to watch D and B at wrestling practice Friday night. Then on Saturday we went to a 9 1/2 hour wrestling match...It was AMAZING! Those boys are so awesome! There was around 500 kids wrestling there, it is so intense and fun and crazy loud! M and I had sore bums, but all 5 kids had so much fun and were so good.
B a.k.a "B. Ferocious" and D a.k.a "D. Animal" are just so good at their new sport, I was one proud auntie! Good job fellas!
Then J came home from his short deployment and met us at S&M's house. (He got there after we all had a huge dinner at the new Mexican restaurant...YUM!) We all stayed up way too late just kickin' it.
Sunday I wrote my 2 essays (not very well, but they were turned in on time) and we got to go play at J's sister's, A&A with J, B, and C the cousins. Yummy dinner, toys, and video games, then lots of yummy snack foods and a candy cane activity.
I love weekends like this!
(My camera was out of batteries so no pics, oops)

Professional At Dinner!

I just love hanging with the boys, they say and do the funniest things! Lately L has been asking me to make meatloaf, R instantly says "NO!" He has no fond memories of the stuff. Tonight during dinner L holds up his garlic bread to his face and says "Mom look, I'm like that kid with the meatloaf!" and makes pig noises, he was imitating the little bro on A Christmas Story.

Then R says "Hey, can we play with our food?!" I told him no, then he looks at me like, why in the world can we not play with food? So then I say "OK, just don't get it on the carpet or your clothes." R looks at me like I am seriously lacking in wisdom and says in all seriousness "Mom, I'm a professional at playing with my food, it helps me eat faster!" I just cracked up as he continued to tell me how he plays with his food during lunch at school and so it only "takes me about 10 minutes to eat it all!"

Ahh, I just love these boys!

Some December Fun

L has been doing great with library school. He is our shy one out in public, but has been opening up a bit now at his "school". He finally participated in the craft, he was so proud!

Next we made some gingerbread houses out of Graham crackers on Monday. It was so fun! We each made one, here's pics of the "pretty one", and then the "Idaho Shanty" made and named by R! I love holiday crafts!

Catch-up!

This was a lot of postings in one day, but I have a working digital and had J download the images finally! So read up!

Here are some pics of the end of fall: R getting the books from Junebug, the boys found fast asleep snuggled up after watching a movie in L's room, a pic of L that is J's favorite, L showing off J's new helmet decal, Me with my two awesome boys at the fair.

Keep on reading until you get to the post about the tree decorations!

Do I Smell Cake?

R is very interested in cooking now.

So one day I said-R make a cake! R-I don't know how.

Me-Do you know how to read? R-Yes.

Me-Can you follow directions? R-Yes.

I handed him a box mix and said-Well, read this and follow the directions. I helped him pour the cake in the pan and put the pan in and out of the oven but that was it. He did everything else himself. So I told him he is now the designated cake maker of the family! Way to go R!

Awesome Weekend!

We got to go play at Uncle S and Aunt M's house over the weekend. R and L have a blast playing with D, B, and A. We drove up to the MT. to play in the snow, ate delicious food, watched movies, stayed up too late, played games and was sad to have to go back home! S, M, D, B, A you guys rock!

Santa Claus Came to Town!

Santa Came! Primary had a Christmas party, we got to decorate sugar cookies, make ornaments, sing carols, hear a Christmas story, and get pics with Santa. L was absolutely amazed!

Getting Ready for Christmas!

The boys and I went to Shelton Walmart for a tree so we wouldn't have to travel the roads that had any mud slides on them. I told the boys to pick any tree they wanted, so of course, they picked the biggest one. We waited for about 20min and no stockboy was available to help us load it up. So I asked the checkout lady for some twine and I hoisted that tree onto the Jeep myself! So I'm struggling to tie it down and I hear R yell out-A little to your right Mom!

Once home J put it in the stand, I held it up and told R to tell me if it was straight, he looks at it and says it's perfect. Our tree is huge, crooked, already dried out, and absolutely perfect!!!

Crazy Weather!

We have had some unexpected weather here in WA! This weekend we actually got real snow (for the 2nd time this year) and then it rained and didn't stop...It rained so much that there was real flooding, mud slides, a bit of power outages, roads closed, and schools canceled! We are a few of the lucky ones and our houses have stayed dry, but there are many who have had flooding around us. This is our 2nd day of no school, and there may be no scouts/mutual tonight. I can't complain about the no school, but I'll be glad when the waters recede. This pic is how WA feels right now!

We've Been Cowed!

I kept forgetting to get the boys their flu shot. Last night J said he got the nose mist at work and that the base had a set up that you just show up to get your vaccination.

So today I surprised R by picking him up early at school. Both boys were not too excited to get a shot. Then L says, "Are we gonna get cowed?" It was so funny and cool that he remembered what that was.

I read to the boys about the scientist who invented smallpox vaccines from cowpox on the way to ID last week. We learned that the word "Vacca" means "Cow", and so when you are vaccinated you are being cowed! L remembered and said he didn't want to be cowed when we got there!

We totally lucked out...we walked in filled the paper out, walked up to a nurse who gave us each the mist instead of the shot, hooray for sniff-mist! The boys were pretty relieved. It was a very easy day to get "bovinated"!

Special Surprise!

Last night we were all inside playing Uno. J asked if it was still raining outside so I told R to go take a look. "It's Snowing!" we hear, so we all rush to the door and sure enough big fat flakes are floating down! It didn't snow long, but there is a dusting on the ground and Mother Nature didn't follow up with more rain so its still here this morning. School is delayed 2 hours and R is outside enjoying it. It gave us flashbacks of ID and NY winter wonderlands! I sure hope it does this for Christmas too!

A Great Week!

I just can't believe Thanksgiving is over! It was a great crazy week, here are some of the highlights:

-Got most of my homework done on Wed, then got my essay done late Sun night, but all turned in!
-New shoes for me, new coat for R
-J and I cleaned the house top to bottom
-The drive to and from ID was perfect
-We had turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, apple salad, rolls, cranberry sauce, veggie platter, cauliflower with cheese, GB casserole, pumpkin roll, sour cream lemon pie, pumpkin pie, cream cheese brownie pie--it was all delicious!
-L and R got haircuts from AuntM, L (as always) was excited to get his cut, but then had an identity crisis and melt down because he "didn't look the same anymore!"
-R's terrible looking black eye from Mutual right before we left, he looked like a rough-punk all week!
-Black Friday shopping, went all day, got good deals, then vegged on the couch and ate leftovers! -J and Dad getting the sheet rock up around the windows.
-Cousin H playing with my boys, they had a great time with her!
-Going to Walmart, L see's a giant Bratz doll display and says, "Hey R wants that!" R falls right for it and says, "NO I don't!" L smiles and says, "Yes you do!"
-Visiting the giant Cabela's store
-L wanting a pocket knife from AuntM, she says he needs to wait til he's at least 8, R says, "yeah, you need to be trustworthy L" then J says, "Yeah L, and right now you look a little shifty"
-Our friends taking care of the dog Buddy
-Grandpa and Grandma giving us all that hamburger, Thank You!
-R learning how to play Apples-To-Apples, and L learning how to play (mostly) Uno
-Movies, movies, movies
-Practically broke my neck, L kicking me at night in the guest room didn't help!
-It was chilly, but no snow which felt a little weird for ID

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Now it's time to bring on Christmas!

To The Future!

Last night L told us what he plans on being when he grows up. Out of the blue he jumped on our bed sat between J and I with arms out wide proclaims, "I'm gonna be a Dad and a Grandpa when I grow up!" and does this funny little dance.

It was just so funny, J and I laughed so hard, L is such a ball of fun!

If you ask R what he'll be all grown up, he is going to be a Scientist that engineers real Pokemon, he dreams big ;-)

Holidays Rock!

I am soooo excited for Thanksgiving, as for Christmas! We are leaving for ID Wed. afternoon and staying til Sun. I am already thinking about how much fun it is going to be cooking it up in my In-Laws at Grandpa and Grandma Peine's kitchen, can't wait! I will be in a fury trying to get all my schoolwork done by Wed. as well as the scout activities for Tues. There is also a dentist appointment, craft time with a friend, aerobics, and library school to squish in...

This weekend J, L, and I went mall hopping while R was at a friends. It was so fun to see all the Christmas stuff out, I'm in the spirit! And this last few weeks there has been so much talk of gratitude and thankfulness at church that I can't help but look at all I have and realize how blessed I am, I am truly thankful.

I kicked off Christmas by finally buying one of my fave holiday movies, The Santa Clause. I love this movie! I also got the 2nd one and on the 20th I'm going out and getting the 3rd! My other fave is the movie Elf, love love love it, sooo funny! It is so nice to snuggle up with the boys and watch holiday movies, I don't know who enjoys it more, me or them!

I am so thankful for family and friends,

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, lots of love, B-

Told Ya!

We stopped at Barnes & Noble last night (one of our favorite stores) The boys were playing on the Thomas the Train table with another boy. I was on the other side of a book display when I overheard this:

Boy- There is no such thing as Santa, ask you Mom, she'll say its just her.

My L- No!!! Santa is real, not my Mom!

My R- Its not parents.

Boy- Well, how does he go around the whole world in one night? It really is the parents who do it!

L-NO!!

Then I came around pretending I hadn't heard a word, smiled at the boys and said, "Hey boys, its time to go" Then L stands up and says, "Mom is Santa real?" I say, "Yes"

Then L turns to the boy and says, "HA, told ya!" and walked away with a smile.

So that answers that Q, R and L believe in Santa, continue the magic...

Welcome Back...

It's happened, the end of my school vacation! I can't believe its already here! My classes start today, they are:

Into to Psycology-Why We Do What We Do and Contemporary Issues in American Education.

It was a wonderful 2 weeks off, I got in a few days of mindless TV watching, took the boys swimming, taught aerobics, went to meetings, had too much fun for Halloween, canned apple pie filling and apple sauce, made tons of Zuccini bread, had fun at the Super Saturday by RS, helped J cut/stack/clear/burn wood and branches outside, read some books, and loved it up with my gang! I am so blessed...

Love Them More Each Day!

Here is a bit of R:
I was organizing and moving their rooms around and I had gotten R's all clean and done, L's was still in chaos. The boys also leave their lights on even after we get all over them to turn them off when leaving a room. One day J calls R over and says what's wrong with this (referring to R's light was on and L's was off) R looks at both rooms and says, "Well L's room is pretty messy"
Another day- Mom I can't do this homework or it will give me the stress!
-How do you know? is R's most frequent q to me --referring to me catching him sneak candy, toys, "hiding", He is absolutely baffled that I know what he is up to!
-R said he was "stuffed" after a "yucky" dinner one night. J asked him if he wanted some ice cream, R pauses and says, "No, I'm stuffed remember?" He said this because J will ask the boys if they want something yummy and when they say yes, he'll say Then you have room for your dinner. I called R on it and he smiled admitted he just didn't like dinner and would rather go hungry than eat it!
-I heard him tell a friend that when we had mice in the house he had taken a handful of cereal and put it in his heater vent to see what would happen and the next day mice came and ate it all! Here I was wondering why mice would be in his vent...

Here is some of L:
"I don't like Potatoes" This means pineapple, tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, onions etc..
-I asked L if he was going to ask his Daddy for a new transformer toy one day, he says "no, I'll just ask Jesus!"
-I heard him tell a boy he didn't like "If your mean to me Jesus and I won't love you anymore", We had to have a little talk after that one.
-He told me after primary all sad faced "Mom I'm not a visitor" Every Sunday he had been getting up with the b-day kids and visitors to be sung to and get a sticker, but now they make him sit in his seat.
-"Mom my leg hurts, I fink I need a walking stick" No you don't "Yes!!" No "Yes!" No... "Will you carry me?"
-My tummy/neck hurts!--This means I don't want to eat/clean up/go to bed/listen to you.
-L you need to go to bed, "I can't! I'm too tired to go to bed!"
-"Mom I forgot to give me my undies and now my pants are fallin off!"

These boys make me smile Every day, even when they are being so "sneaky" and whiny! They are total opposites but love each other so much. R told me this morning that his prayer was almost all about being thankful, and that he was thankful for L. I was surprised since they had just had a fight before I sent them off to say personal prayers! What great kids...

This is a pic of them a few years back, I just love it!

Sunday Thoughts

I have the blessing of teaching every other Sunday in Young Womens. I love it!! I get to learn so much and I get to hang out with these awesome girls and the other YW leaders are just so wonderful and loving. It is a nice safe place that I get recharged at and can face another week of go-go-go! This Sunday the lesson was on Optimism, it was great!

The scripture was Doctrine and Covenants 90:24 and it says "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."

Then there was a list of things you can do to become more optimistic in life:

1. Count your blessings.
2. Learn the power of laughter.
3. Enjoy beautiful music and literature. They can lift your spirits.
4. Look for beauty everywhere you go. Look for it in nature, in art, and in the faces of loved ones.
5. Strive to improve yourself each day.
6. Look for the good in everything.
7. Understand and live the gospel, “for in right living there can be no remorse of conscience” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], p. 124).

After going over this lesson and talking with the ladies I realized what a blessing it is to be able to see the good in life. And that I have the power to react the way I want to to anything and still be happy. My goal is to try and be optimistic even when life seems to be difficult!

And the Results Are...

I'm totally excited about what I'm about to tell you...My grades are in!
In Criminology I got 248/250 on my final project, and my final grade is 99%
My instructor told me that this was one of the highest scores she has ever given out.
For Math I got 243/250 on my final project, and my final grade is 92%
My instructor told me I did superb on the final test.
My GPA is 3.97 (was a 4.0, but that is OK!) I am just so amazed that I passed math with an A!
I feel great right now!

Spooky!

Happy Halloween Graphics

Graphics for Orkut, Myspace, Friendster, Hi5

L helped pick out the "perfect" Halloween graphic!
Have SPOOKY Halloween!

Saturday Was a Special Day

On Saturday my wonderful R was baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His Dad J performed the batism and his Grandpa Peine confirmed him. R picked primary songs "When I am Baptised" and "Baptism" to be sung. Bro. Kill and Sis. Wing gave awesome talks and directed them right to R. I am forever thankful to my Heavenly Father for all of his blessings, esspecially for R. He has such a strong testimony and great faith. We love R!

Final No More!

Hello 2-week vacation and goodbye Finals! I just finished both of my finals for my Math and Criminology classes and now have 2 blessed weeks off from school! It's like a dream come true/huge jagged mountain off my shoulders! This picture is just how I have felt ALL week, especially today! I now will put all parts of my brain on bedrest until my next classes start...ahhhh, I feel better already

Read All About It...

We all really enjoy reading, a lot! We also really like books on CD while riding in the car. We are just finishing up "Araminta Spookie My Haunted House, and The Sword In The Grotto". It is very cute and funny, Araminta Spookie is one of my new favorite characters!

Currently J- is reading R.A. Salvatore's The Lone Droad, R- is reading a Star Wars chapter book of the 3 original Star Wars, plus books in his classroom. L- is having us read him picture books, his favorite are some Star Wars picture books, and he likes reading along with CD picture books. He just finished up "The House That Jack Built". B- is reading "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret" and "Molly Moon Stops the World".

Rain on Me

I actually Love the rain! Not a lot of people do, sure I get annoyed with it some days, but mostly I have a secret admiration of rain. It rained on my wedding day, and I got married outside, even danced my wedding dance in the rain! (I didn't plan the rain, it just happened, my wedding was on Aug. 1st!)

Anyway, I know this sounds a little weird, but I LOVE to do yard work in the rain. Not a little drizzle, but pouring down rain. And I like to do it on my own. So today is a very rainy day, and J is out of town. I put on J's cowboy boots and a hoodie and did some cleaning up outside. I came in soaked to the bone and feeling very refreshed! All the grumpies and stresses are momentarily washed away in one of the puddles outside. Now I am all renewed and ready to do the inside chores along with my schoolwork.

Being a Mom

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on, Pooped on, Chewed on, Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests, Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

L has informed us he has allergies.

Last night he told J and I that he was Allergic to Girls and Kissing!

He was set in stone serious, even me his Mom cannot give him a kiss goodnight!

Autumn Season sure is Pleasin!

Why Autumn is Awesome:

Leaves, leaves and more leaves!

Fog in the morning

That crisp wonderful smell outside

Jeans and Hoodies, and boots too!

Rain sounds as you drift off to sleep

Putting away fans, air conditioners, pulling out the blankets

Snuggling on the couch under a warm blankie

Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider!

In the mood for oatmeal and soups

Time to Bake!

Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Love the colors brown, orange, yellow, and red

Love Pumpkins!

All the cool new shows on TV

Fall is just a great season!

Oh Boy!

October 11, 2007 @ 12:46am my Sis J and her hubby C welcomed little baby C to the family! Bouncin-Baby-Boy C weighed in at 8lbs 9oz and was 21 inches long! So Exciting!

This picture says it all...

What a Gourd Day!

We had a PUMPKIN DAY!!! I love PUMPKIN DAY!!! I love fall, the smells, the colors, the upcoming holidays, the everything!

Saturday we went to Hunter Farm with my bro S, his wife M, their kids D, B, and A. It has been raining a lot, and when we got there it was a mud bog! It was dirty and smelly, and turned out to be the best ever! The kids got to run around in a hay bale maze, then we got a ride out to the patch, it was a giant patch. There was every size and shape and color of pumpkin imaginable, even mini's, gourds, and squashes. S picked out a 67lb pumpkin out, J's was just a bit smaller, then the kids all picked ones they could carry, it was all so exciting! Us two moms picked out some cute gourds and minis with our white pumpkins.

It was a dirty ride home (even I was wet up past my knees!) The kids had a scrub down, we had lunch, watched Halloween kid movies, decorated sugar cookies, a bit of dinner, and the day ended at about midnight. It was a Gourd day!