Easter Time Memories

Having lived several places, your mind goes back to special memories during holidays, and special occasions. It seem like each place we have lived holds a special place in my heart, and great memories were made at different times in each place. I was thinking about Easter this time last year. We were living in Colorado, and we had a house full of company and had a big Easter bash at my house with lots of family and friends. It is hard to believe that we were actually there, and it was for such a short time. I'm thankful for all the time that we did get to spend with our family and friends, and I am glad I was able to host things in my home. Even if at times it did seem a little overwhelming, because it really did pass quickly, and who knows when we will all be able to get together again. But I would have to say some of my favorite Easter memories are from when we lived in Brewster. It was a day I truly looked froward to. Every Easter Sunday after church they would have a pot luck dinner, and then the day would be spent visiting, and watching the kids hunt eggs. It was a fun day spent with the brethren. I have several photos to look back on and when I see them I am reminded of the love I have for the brethren in that part, and how each family is near and dear to my heart.

This year was a good Easter likewise. We went over to Bro. Rusty and Sis. Mary's for dinner, and just spent most of the day visiting, and eating :) The kids had fun playing with one another, and it was fun to sit back on the sidelines and watch them interact so well with one another. After dinner we came home, and hid Easter eggs. This year we did our egg hunt inside, because it was so wet, cold and muddy outside. But the kids had a fun day, and so did I. Spending the day with brethren, and watching the kids have fun makes for a great Easter, and more great memories.

Kayla found the prize egg!

She's 14 !!!!!

My oldest daughter Alyssa just had another birthday. I can't believe she is already 14...where did all the time go? Before long she will be driving. How sad, and scary, but happy all at the same time. This year for her birthday we kept it pretty simple. We spent a few hours at the mall, mostly browsing, and she got to try on a few fancy dresses, so that really made her day. It kind of cracks me up (her obsession with formal gowns) but I guess most every gal likes to feel like a princess from time to time, and hers just happens to be anytime we enter a store. I am thinking her wedding dress will be someting she gets a lot of use out of if she dosen't out grow this phase. Here husband will come home and she will be decked out veil and all cleaning house. LOL

I usually let the kids pick what kind of cake or desert they would like for their birthady, and this year Alyssa wanted an icecream sandwich cake. She found the recipe on the internet, and it was so simple, quick and yummy I thought I would share it all with you.

Ingridents:
12 Icecream Sandwiches
1 jar of Hot fudge topping
1 Tub of Cool Whip
1 Small Chocolate bar

Directions:
Place 6 icecream bars in the bottom of a an 11X7 pan, cover with halfof the hot fudge, and then half of the cool whip, repeat with remaining ingridents. Grate chocolate bar on top and freeze for 1 hour before serving.

Anyway like I said it was quick and easy and really good. Here are a few pictures.



He enjoyed the cake!!

Even Better than I thought!

A couple days ago the school called and informed me that we had won more prizes in the raffel on Family Fun Night. Adrianna had entered to win time with a teacher after school having snacks and playing games, and she had also won 4 tickets to the Oregon Zoo, and a pass for the family for the day to the Childrens museum. Lucky gal!

New Blogger

Well Alyssa finaly talked me into letting her get a Myspace account. A lot of her friends have one, and I fugured she is almost 14, so if I moniter what she is doing, it will be a great way for her to keep in contact with her friends in different places. Well since Alyssa got a myspace, Shelbi thought she needed one also, but I really don't think she needs to have one quite yet. She is a bit to young, and really none of her friends her age have one, so I didn't see any reason for her to have one either. I did however agree to let her join the blog. I figure it would be good for her to write things down, and I think she is really enjoying it. Her cousion Bobby LeeAnn also got a blog, so they have enjoyed commenting back and forth on each others. So if you are interesed in reading another version of what goes on around here you can check out her blog at

http://shelbi-secondchildofsix.blogspot.com/
or you can click on the link on my page "Second child of six/Shelbi"

Family Fun Night....I WON I WON!!!

Last night was family fun night at the school. It was a fundraiser to help raise money for next years fifth grade class to take there annual trip to the coast. They had a few different activities for the kids such as a cake walk, karaoke, and bingo. They were also raffling off several items, and had a silent auction. During the bingo they had two different opportunities to win a Nintendo Wii. I was so close to winning, that the anticipation of the next number being called was almost to much. Only one number "G 60".....unfortunately some one else called out bingo. BUMMER!

Well after that let down we went back to the room where they were holding the raffle and silent auction, and to my surprise I had won something! It was two Excursion fare tickets on the Mt. Hood Railroad. I had only put one ticket in that particular drawing, so I was kind of surprised I had won. Anyway I was glad to win it, and it will be fun to get away this summer and enjoy the train ride and all the beautiful scenery. Maybe for our anniversary in June? I will take a lot of pictures and post them when we do go.

Will we make it?

With our recent move and our out of town trips for funerals and such, our homeschooling has been on the back burner for quite sometime. I am fining it hard to get back on schedule, and the schedule seems to be just dragging on and on. Shelbi for some reason this year has had a larger work load than Alyssa, and with us starting late and taking extra time off, it just seems to be getting worse and worse. I have had to reschedule the girls numerous times here recently, which in turn leads to extending our schedule way out into the summer. So to avoid schooling the entire summer, I decided to double up on some subjects. Well that wasn't working either. Shelbi would have 10-14 lessons a day to complete! That was going to be impossible. So I contacted her home room teacher this morning, and she was able to reduce some of the lessons, and reschedule her to 5-6 lessons a day. That was a huge relief for me. We are still going to have to keep on top of it to get it all done, but it definitely looks possible now.

Home schooling this year has been a lot like I thought it would be. I knew that I would do well with it all at the beginning of the year, and get a little burnt out by Christmas, and that we wouldn't always be able to finish every day "on schedule" Knowing this has made it easier in some ways. I didn't set unrealistic goals for the girls, or myself, and so when everything didn't turn out perfect, I didn't feel like a huge failure. I know time will quickly pass, and this homeschooling year will soon be behind me. I just need to stay focused, and catch my second wind.

I'm not sure what next year holds. I have contemplated putting the girls back in public school, but they really aren't for that, and I'm not sure if I am either. I'm not to sure if I want to stick with the online program. There are a few things I like about it, and some things I really don't like. I guess I just need to do some praying about it. Right now I am just trying to focus on finishing this year.

All Kinds of Stuff.....Update.

I realize I haven't posted in a while, time just seems to be quickly passing me by.... and still no posts. Well here in the Easter home I have been trying to focus on getting back on schedule with school work and just our daily routine. I find that after a move it always takes some time to get back in the cycle of normal day life, and get adjusted to new schedules and such. Well I feel like I am finally getting into the groove of things, so maybe I can start posting more frequently again. He he he. However I am sad to report I have not got any decorations up on my walls yet. I don't know what my problem is usually within the first week I have the whole house decked out :) I guess for the most part I am wanting to try some new things in the different rooms, and although I like the newer contemporary style, I am still drawn to the old fashioned country antique style. I think I have watched to many redesign shows on HG TV I just want to incorporate all the styles into my home. I should just pick something and go for it.

I can't tell you how happy I am to be in our new house! We are enjoying all the extra space and most importantly BATHROOMS :) It has been so nice living so much closer to Mary and Trina. My younger girls go to the same school as Mary's boys, and they even get to ride the same bus, so that has made the transition to this school a lot easier for them. They seem to be fitting in really well, and everyone at the school has been really nice.

Well this last week was Hayden's birthday....my baby is 2 years old! The time from when he was born until now has gone by so fast. It is hard to believe he is really 2 I find myself trying to keep him a baby as long as I can. I remember when Alyssa was a baby...the bottle was gone once she turned one, and I tried breaking her from the pacifier at that point too. By 1 1/2 she was no longer a baby....she was the big sister and I thought she should act accordingly. It's kind of sad when I think about it now. So I am savoring every moment and letting Hayden be a baby much longer. However the bottle and pacifier are going to have to go after a while, and I do look forward to the next stages. When he begins to express his thoughts and feeling in words and not just grunts, whines, and hand movements.

We didn't have any kind of big party this year for Hayden, I figure at the age of 2 they really don't care, and why have a big fiasco if you don't have to?? So we just had a simple party at the house with our family. I baked a cake. It was pretty sorry looking, but the girls helped decorate it, so it was made with a lot of love. After dinner we all sang "Happy Birthday" for some reason Hayden didn't really like that and he started to cry, but after being consoled by his Dad he did just fine and enjoyed opening his presents. Here are some pictures of our little party.