Taking a picture of the little girl behind me

A little grainy, trying a new setting.

So, this is what I look like behind the camera!

Goodbye!

Caleb's room and stuff

The picture of Grandma that has been there a couple years. Very worn and loved.

The wonderful Knife set on his wall...THANKS( Hardy har) to Uncle Alan. Notice the sticker above it?
I am putting all of these up because I was struck one day how everything in Caleb's room has a special meaning to him. His baptismal promise on the wall. His scriptures, a birthday card from Grandma, car, and just in case, a fairy princess wand...probably compliments of one sister or another!
Dump truck on wall that he has outgrown....:(

A cold sunny Sunday

Brrrrrrr...It is a bit chilly here! It's 32, but with the wind chill it feels like 22. At least it is bright out. Church was wonderful today.

Caleb is working on his pinewood Derby car. He got his wolf book this week, and has nearly memorized the entire thing. He loves Cub Scouts!

I passed off 5 of my Achievement girls for memorizing the Articles of Faith. We sang them, but they did it! I suggested that we have them sing it for a Sacrament meeting. They groaned and moaned about it! We also made invitations for the elderly sisters in the ward for a "Formal" Dinner. They turned out so nice. ( Pictures next week) They will hand address them in February, and we will prepare the meal to freeze until the dinner. They will learn how to set the table properly, and serve these wonderful ladies. I am having fun!


The kids attacked Nathan after we got home today. Giggling girls swarmed him, and he was down fast.

I wanted to tell you about something sweet from out trip. When we stopped in OK for dinner ( The same place as the country dog, city dog pictures below), we were sitting in a little cafe with a view of the gas pumps. Some big rolly polly guy with a full beard pulls up on a motorcycle. He gets off of it, and Sophie screams " HOHOHO" all the while pointing. I glance over and start to laugh. " Santa!" yells Sophie bean...."there is Santa!"


Aubrie and Kiera both are researching for Science Fair projects. It seems cruel to have 2 kids doing it at the same time. * Sigh*

Oh, and I bet you didn't have a clue that Caleb is actually ( Shhhhh, I shouldn't be telling you this !) SUPERBOY!!

Faster than any old girl, stronger than a 3 year old....wearing girl go-go boots......... It's, It's CABLEJOE SUPERBOY!!!

I'm here to save the day! ( If I can have some chocolate ice-cream afterwards..)

Okay, I also held a VERY cool contest that no one else knew about except for me..Very HUSH HUSH. I can really keep a secret! I need a drum roll please.

The winner of the first annual looks best in a balloon hat made by Aaron is..........

WEBSTER!

Close 2nd place prize goes to......

Multi-tasker mogul GARY!

Thank you for participating even though you didn't know you were!

Head song and handsome fellas

Just who are these handsome boys? Why, it's Jared, Caleb and Trey!

We were in the car today, and were listening to kid music. Sophie was being obnoxious and singing the wrong words just to irritate Laney. Laney puts her hand on either side of her face and says " Stop it Sophie, you are giving me a head song....I mean a headache!" It was cute.

I just uploaded 555 pictures of the family in Mesa and reception in Provo. It will take me while to edit them. It is a busy week .

Delaney's people She was so proud that she colored inside the lines!

Sophie took her boots off and lined them up like this by the front door. It was just sweet to me.

I got a kick out of this picture when I saw it! What should the caption be??

Hmmmmm....... Family stuff

Somewhere in Oklahoma....I think! I got a kick out of them!

Hi everyone!
I thought it might be fun to try something a little different. I have been feeling rather sorry for myself as of late. After seeing many of you this Christmas, I realized just how much I miss each one of you. It's so hard being so far away, and missing the little things. Birthday parties, barbeque's. You know, all the fun! So, here is a little bit of us. I am going to try and faithfully record our family stuff on here. Pictures of what happens daily here in Memphis. Report cards, pictures, funny tidbits. A huge family journal for all of you to gawk at occasionally. I don't expect that you will find us perfect, but maybe you will laugh, or cry with us as we go through this latest installment of life.
At this moment, I am content enough to hear Nathan singing The Muffin Man
as the kids fight over who gets to stir the muffin batter next. ahhhh. Better go, because Nathan just asked me what a dollop was. I perhaps will save the day.


This is Sophie. IS SOPHIE! Is this a surprise? ( Christi..." Sophie, what do you want to say to the family? To Grandma and Grandpa?) "Grandpa is not here Mom, Grandma is not here. I got an owie today( Looks down at hand..searching )hey, it's not here. Where did it go Mommy? I have curly hair today." Delaney.." I have curly hair too..." No you don't," says Sophie..hahahahaha. "Superman to the rescue." She is flying Batman around the room. Superman is dressing rather dark these days.

( The comb is stuck in her hair)

Kiera here. I miss everyone. I hope to see you soon. Last night I helped Caleb with his time line. I was smart to print his name on the back. My report card was much better than last time, although I got 1 C, I improved. I got 2 B's and the rest really high A's. Yesterday we had my friend over. It was the first time we had a friend over in a long time. I hope to have a party in February to celebrate my birthday. Hi Kenzie. I miss you a lot. I wish we could see each other really soon. We are saving up for a puppy. But first we have to take care of the hamster. Mom said if we don't take care of the hamster then we can't get a dog because we wouldn't be responsible enough.
Sincerely,
Kiera

See, I printed this....( Kiera )

Do you know the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man ... actually it is the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but Sophie doesn't know the difference. Christi had some complicated muffin mix where you have muffin then a dollup of filling, with a sprinkle of struesel for the top. I had to help out since the kids couldn't figure it out. The muffins have cooled down now says Aubrie. Not sure what her point is. The muffins look good says Kiera. Yes, I suppose they do. Can we have a muffin now says Caleb? With plate in hand - What do we get the muffin out with? Now that is a little more direct and to the point. The difference between girls and boys. Caleb has made every basket that he has attempted during a game this season. He only attempted one. He mostly dribbled the ball up the court and passed to the kid under the basket. His first game was yesterday. He missed the first two games. His team went up 14-0 before letting the other team close to within about six points at halftime. Final score was 38-29. His team is undefeated. I am still studying for the PMP exam and expect to take it next month. I have already had my application accepted and paid the exam fee and PMI membership fees. This week, I have to help Caleb craft his pinewood derby. We will be looking up designs tonight. I need to get to hobby lobby to get some of the weights that you can melt down and pour in the drill holes. I also volunteered to get some decorations for the derby. I hope I can borrow some auto racing memorabilia from AutoZone. We will be borrowing some tools in a couple of days.

Christi here.

Well, there ya go. The first family email on a blog. Hope this finds you well. Check back often!

Hmmmm....Looks a little like, Um, well honestly. Yeah. Tastes good though!

Boys

Thought this was funny!

For those of you who have sons & those of you who are happy that you
don't.


And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like

1.) A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house
4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with
roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong
enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman
cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread
paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on.
When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few
times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) does not stop a baseball hit
by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already
too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a
36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year
old Boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still
can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials
show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not
like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with
or without kids.
25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake
fluid.

Gun Fire

The last 2 nights, gunfire has irrupted just west of our house. Can I just tell you how fast your blood pressure can rise after hearing it? And no, it wasn't firecrackers. This was someone unloading the chamber in a handgun of sorts. I laid in bed, my heart pounding. I heard it Saturday night about 1 :15 am. I woke Nathan up, but he was dead to the world. Then last night about 12, it happened again, and Nathan sat up in bed.
I want to move.
I want to move.
I want to move.
The End.

Mouse, rat, animals

Kiera informed me this morning that Caleb decided to get a mouse with his own money. I am thinking that she had a lot of pull in getting that idea in his head. She presented me with a list of names to choose from.

Champion
Ken
Mickey
Scooby
Kolen ( rhymes with Colon)
Buzz
Digger
Toon


So, what is the vote?

By the way, he isn't getting a mouse. I know I will be subjected to the Simpson curse. ( Meaning, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we can we.....)

I am feeling a little guilty. Caleb's Beta fish went towards the light, well, the dark abyss of the toilet before we left for Mesa. It was still swimming when I waved goodbye. Poor Caleb was crying the other night saying he was lonely, and missed his Fish. We really need a dog for this poor kid surrounded by girls.