Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - Kids and Cookie Monster

OK...So I haven't posted in awhile...not that I think anyone noticed.  But, here are some photos and such from the last couple months.

First of all, check out this little video of Cole.  Cracks me up.  He's very into Cookie Monster right now.

Here are some random photos:

Cole after falling and smashing into the door jam at church.  Not so happy.

This is a walling hanging at Bowman Elementary here in town.  Alex went there for Kindergarten.  After he passed away, his principal commissioned a teacher to make it for the library.  They gave a small version to us.  They have a plaque on the wall about him.  They finally got it hung up recently.  I just love this.  We were really touched by it.  They thought the library would be the perfect place since he loved books so much.

 Miles and Mommy

Joe and Miles snuggling in bed.  We switched kids around and Miles was still a little attached to this bed.  He had a hard time moving rooms.  They enjoyed a moment together.  :)

Cole and Joe

Everyone crowded around to see a little video on the computer

We took a drive out to Portage Glacier a month or so ago.  There is always TONS of snow at Portage since its in a valley.  It was pretty though.

Ethan running the hurdles at a track meet.

Ethan prepping for the triple jump at a track meet...and yes...that's still snow there.  We've had a really really really really really late spring this year.  In fact, we're told me might actually get some this weekend!!!

Cole and Joe attacking Ethan yelling "I've got your leg!  I've got your leg!  Higher! Higher!"  (its from Despicable Me)

A fun lunch out last week with my sisters and mom for my sister's birthday.  We just don't get to do this as much as we'd like.

Another cute video of Cole saying "I Do!"  He raises his hand and says "I Do" whenever he wants something.  He thinks its magic. :)

Kendall's special MOther's Day dinner that he made for me

He made grilled/marinaded chicken, grilled/marinaded shrimp, bacon/shallot mashed potatoes, salad, bread and dutch oven apple carmel crisp.  He cooks for me once a year on Mother's Day.  (He takes me out for my birthday.  He'd avoid cooking on Mother's Day too, if it wasn't on Sunday).  Usually I just get hamburger on the BBQ and a brownie box mix.  He went all out this year.  He got a little stressed a couple times.  I had to help educated him on what a shallot is - and how to get the skin off; how to zest; and the difference between fresh and dried herbs....but for the most part he did it all himself.  I was impressed and he was tired.

Kendall even invited my grand parents over for the dinner.  Here's my grandpa trying to see how to play Angry Birds with Miles

Ethan's impromptu recital for Grandpa

OK...this photo is a little out of order.  Cole loves phones...especially my iphone.  He found a little calculator and thought it was an iphone....after all mine is in a blue OtterBox. :)  He kept holding it up to his ear and saying "hello" (see next photo).  So, Joe was being funny and held his car up to his ear and was 'talking' on it like a phone.

Cole Easter candy mouth

Easter Candy spoils

Cole got his first hair cut this weekend.  I really hated to do it, but it was just getting too, too scraggily.  The top just isn't growing.  I finally chopped it.  Sob sob sob...Here are the 'before' photos.

He was growing a natural mullet.  Time for the hair to go

Here's my clean cut boy!  So much more grown up now.  I hate cutting their hair.  They look so much older.

See!  So much bigger

He was riding in the car cart at the store and just looked SO old with his hair cut.  Made me cry!

Clara turned 9 yesterday.  NINE!!!  I can't even believe it!  My parents came over for the occasion.

We had dinner and opened presents.  My girls are still all about American Girls.  Her grand mother gave her doll an outfit.  Those doll pajamas cost more than the pajamas I buy for Clara! :)

We gave her a doll desk for her Rebecca doll. She got lucky.  I found a discontinued American Girl school desk for dirt cheap.  I've seen these got for $100+.  I got it for $25. woo hoo!  My superior internet shopping skills come in handy once in awhile.

Clara wanted a surf board cake originally, but we settled on this.  She wanted red velvet cake.  She had a gluten free red velvet cup cake in California and was hooked.  I had to do some serious internet searching to find a good recipe.  I had to do a dry run this weekend and try it out.  We were all VERY impressed.  It was probably the best gluten free cake I've ever made.  Even all my kids said they wanted to me to make this specific cake again.  Isabel said she wanted a gluten free red velvet cake for her birthday, and usually the other kids won't touch her gluten free stuff.  It really was a great recipe. It was springy and moist and didn't have any funny after taste like so many gluten free things.  In case anyone is interested....here it is.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gluten-free-red-velvet-cake-2/

Let me leave you with our favorite chuckle right now.  I've watched this 5 or 6 times and I'm still laughing.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - Birthdays and Happenings

I figured that it was the end of March and I'd better get a post in for this month....plus its a good excuse to put off dishes and laundry for another hour.  So...here's our month in pictures.

Here is Ethan with his new(new to him) shotgun.  He turned 15 this month and his grandpa refurbished one of my brother's old guns and gave it to Ethan.  He's thrilled.  Although, he gets irritated because we don't let him take it out very often.  He just wants to take it out and look at it and 'play' with it.  We won't let him.  He has to go take a safety class too before he can use it.  When my dad gets back into town, he's going to take him out shooting.  He's feeling very grown up.  I have other photos of his birthday....somewhere.....but I couldn't find them, so you'll just have to picture him opening presents.

Poor Cole, looking pathetic. He's battled a nasty cold most of the month.

Ethan was in a play at Dimond earlier this month.  He had a great time getting to know the other kids and doing the play.  He really enjoys that kind of thing.  Kendall and I aren't sure where he gets it, because its certainly not our 'thing', but we enjoy watching him have a great time with it. (Ethan is the one on the left)  :)

  

In homeschool, we study classical artists from time to time.  We were studying Michaelangelo and so I set them up like this.  They were pretending to paint the Sistine Chapel.  Yes, I know he didn't technically lay on his back while he painted, but it was just an exercise, and they LOVED it.  I love homeschool for fun stuff like this.

Cole enjoying his 'morning minions' :)

Joe tolerating Stacy.  She was Joe's OCS case worker and she stopped in to say hi and see him.  It was really great to see her.  She worked really hard to get him with us.

Miles fell asleep under his bed one night....WHY?

Miles turned SIX.  I can't even believe it.  My grand parents came over for the occasion.  The kids adore them and love having them over.

Miles got more GeoTrax and all the boys had fun with them.

I bought some balloons that day.  I should buy them more often.  Who knew .99 could buy such joy?  The three little guys clung to those balloons.  Joe and Cole's were just the standard latex balloons, but I got a mylar one for Miles.  3 weeks later, its still going strong today.  Kendall threatened to pop it and Miles freaked out. "Don't pop my balloon!!!!"  Maybe I'll have to get him another one when it finally dies. 

Isabel snuck in 'moose ears' on Kendall....silly girl.

Miles wanted a crocodile cake since he loves "Where's the Water" so much.