day in the life...

Halloween (should I say more?)

2009-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween was fun this year. Is it ever not? We went to a couple of partys and the candy was coming out our ears. Rory and I let our kids just eat their candy as much as they want. We figure that they'll go through it faster and then it will be less days with a sugar high. I also like to throw away any candy that is left lying about. Got to be sneaky about it though...

Kolette and Hannah were cheerleaders this year. They loved it! Kolette was too busy with her candy to take pictures...

Corbett was a 'gatekeeper' He wanted something scary... It is so hard to compromise on a costume when they want this creature that is in some monster book. Of course it would be an impossible costume to create; unless you're in the movies.

Thatcher had a blast being a blood sucking vampire! Him and his friend Jordan were joined at the hip.

Monique had three costume that she got to wear. I only got pictures of two of them. She just couldn't wear the same one to the Halloween Dance, the Stake Halloween party and trick-or-treating...'duh mom'

Here are a couple of the pictures at Monique's first dance as a 'young woman'. Austin,(her cousin) went as Napoleon, he did a great job! Monique was a jail bird, the cutest one ever! The first picture was the very first time that she was asked to dance; by Blake Roylance! OOOHWEE! (sorry Monique, had to document this momentous occasion).

What a Cute Park!

2009-01-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

There is this park in Spokane that we discovered! It is really unique. (I'm sure that a lot of locals already know about it or maybe they've driven by.)

Look at this wagon! You don't really realize how big it is until you are right there.

The big blocks were my favorite.

We had some fun there. Next time we'll take a lunch.

Camping Fun

2009-01-29T06:05:00.000-08:00

At the end of the summer we went up to this place up above Roslyn. It was a "girls only" camp out! (Great idea by the way...) It was one of the best places to go camping. A lot of trees separated all the camp sites and there was a great lake there too. We girls had loads of fun!

The water was cold, but that wasn't detouring for these tough chick-a-dees.

The place was beautiful! I'd totally recommend it.

The Cutest Binky Chains Ever!

2008-10-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

There are a few binky chains that I have gotten and given out. Some people have wanted to know where they came from. Well, my sister is the one who makes them and I must say that she does the best job ever! They are very cute and you could find one to go with just about every outfit. Her blog has a few pictures where you can go and look at them. It is junebugsgrandma.blogspot.com or you could just click on punky and steve in my link list. You can click on the pictures to see them close up. She has also posted her e-mail if you'd like to ask her about them. These are to cutest and best gift to give a new mommy. Go and take a look see. Don't miss out...

On to Boy Scouts!

2008-09-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Since Thatcher has a June birthday, he never gets to move to the next level of scouting around his actual birthday. (Scouting is usually on summer break as well.) He has really been looking forward to the big leap from cub scouts. He just had his Arrow of Light ceremony. We are very proud of all the hard work that he has put into this great program and are looking forward to him becoming an Eagle Scout like his daddy. Go Thatcher!

So Tired...

2008-09-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

So, this is the thing, my body is totally messed up... I have been doing this thing were not matter how tired I am, I wake up in the middle of the night about once an hour; dozing in and out. Tossing and turning...Sometimes I get so frustrated that I just get up around 1, 2, or ,3 and putter around the house doing this and that. At bedtime I think, "I don't need a unisom because I am sooo exhausted." Don't want to be dependent on them. That's been a mistake as of late...doesn't work. Consequently, I am so tired during the day that I just crash. (with Kolette; nap time! yay!) I'd like to try to not nap and see if I can get my nights and days back to normal. But I don't know if I can give up the nap time. I love my snugly bed. LOVE IT! But, alas... the nights are a killer!

I KNOW, I KNOW!!!

2008-09-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

So obviously I haven't been keeping this up... yes...duhhh. Well, to my defense, My camera is dead and we've misplaced (hopefully) the charger. We have been using the old camera and I don't know how to get the pictures off. I love pictures and putting them on with a little somethin' somethin' was the fun part. I'm just not one to get on the computer for fun. Hardly ever check my e-mail, don't surf the internet, etc... Anyone there with me?

This whole getting back to school thing has been a little time consuming. (but nice :) ) I am home schooling Monique this year, well, she'll be doing it on line. It took me a while to find a program that all the classes that she took would be counted toward her credits at public school. This one seemed like the right choice. We are still in the process of getting all the stuff done to get her books and things. Corbett is enjoying 2nd grade. He seems to do quite good in school. Doesn't struggle like the first two anyway. Thatcher likes being in middle school, but I think the realization of the work and independence that is involved is starting to sink in and he doesn't like that.

I'm gonna try to get back on track and be more current in this blogging thing. Wish me luck!!!

Cute Idea!

2008-06-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

The girls went to Tayor Heslops for a little play date/b-day party and Jenica had the cutest crafty thing for them to make. They are fairy wands. You they are made from pretzels dipped in chocolate! CUTE! Coo does Jenica!

Baseball...

2008-06-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

So glad when it starts, so glad when it ends.

Roto-rooter job for Rory

2008-05-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Bye, bye constant sinus infections! So, Rory has been fighting sinus infection after sinus infection ever since October. If you have ever had one you would know that they knock you on your butt and you feel like you have the flu; they're not nice... Well, after the antibiotics wouldn't clear them up anymore, the doc says, "You need surgery."

The day of, I knew that I would be loosing my big helper for a while so I had him do a couple things before he went in. Nothing big; just move the old fridge to the garage, and rototill my garden beds (after they fixed the tiller-Dallas was there and helped him with everything, thank you Dallas, your a lifesaver!)

It was in 'short stay' at the hospital. I dropped him off at 12:30pm and picked him up at 6:30pm. So when I walked in to get him, he had this white strip of gauze taped under his nose. (Hi el Hitler!) I couldn't help but laugh... poor guy was so out of it! They ended up having to drill a hole in his head, (yes! he has a hole in his head!!) to irrigate the upper cavity that was not draining on its own.

He is doing so much better now though. They ripped out some foam stuff they had packed in there on Tuesday, 4 days post. He said that it was by far the worst part! He took some pictures of the slimy foam mass and showed me, but I won't do that to you...nasty! It will still be a while till he is back to his old, old self. I mean before the infections; not that he's old...i would never!... ;) Love him!!!!

New van!

2008-05-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is our new van! We are in love with it! I was a bit of a surprise to us too. There was a lot with a bunch of cars in it and Rory and I went and checked it out. We came back later and bought this. It's a 2007 with 12,400 miles on it. It was a great buy as well! Bye, bye old Ford Aerostar, hello new Kia Sedona!

Beautiful day for the zoo!

2008-04-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

WE LOVE THE ZOO!

We went to the zoo with our cousins a while back, during a hot spell, in between the cold ones. It was great fun!.

Monique and Shaini

Thatcher and Lars

Corbett and Kortney

Kolette and Rylee

Poor Kolette; mean guys!

Cute matching sisters!

Monique's true family

The 'cave' Thatcher was trying to find the whole time! finally...

The place that we always take our family picture at the Woodland Park Zoo. (not a great one this year)

Okay, so if you know me, you know that I have to post this giraffe picture, even if Kolette and I are all shaded. (I look better anyway...)

The only way to ride!

FUN TIMES!

So Patient..

2008-04-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

I've been the one who cuts Kolette's bangs. We have been trying to keep them a little longer cause we are growing her hair out. (As apposed to when she had the 40's do.)

I'd been pretty successful in trimming them so far. Well this time, I just couldn't seem to get it. They were always a little crooked. So, they ended up too short. She did such a good job of holding still, (for a three yr. old). It took a lot longer than usual and the poor little girl crashed in the process.

Good thing hair grows! Yikes!

Chick Days

2008-04-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

This has been something that the kids and, well, their mom have been looking forward to this last couple of months.

So tender...

Monique's favorite! "Please, please mom! Can we get him?"

Two turkeys :)

What fun!

How can you not just love those babies?

April Fools Rory!

2008-04-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

Okay, so Rory and I haven't really done anything to each other for April Fools Day for quite a while. So, consequently I figured he wouldn't really expecting anything. Thatcher had been begging me to let him do this prank to his big sister and I kept saying "no way!, it's too mean!" Well, my evil side took control. I couldn't resist! I took two hot sauce packets, folded them in half and stuck them under the toilet seat bumpy things. Hee hee... (He always does his business around 9-10AM) I was downstairs when I heard this cry..."KATHY!....you have a mess to clean up!" I came up, and the sight that met my eyes made it all worth it!! I could not stop laughing! You know, with the tears... (He attempted, 'sadly', to get me back the rest of the day, poor Rory!) hee hee...

Happy Birthday Rory!

2008-04-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Rory's birthday yesterday! He is getting to be an old man! (hee hee). The kids honored him by making him that kind of poster with all the candy on it saying all sorts of things. They did a really cute job! (Thank you Mindy for everything you did. It was very appreciated!) I LOVE YOU RORY!!!!

Lots of 'Firsts'

2008-03-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

It may look like this blog is all about Monique, but she just has had a lot of 'firsts'.

This was really neat for us. It was her first trip to the temple for baptisms and Rory and I got to go. Rory was able to be the one to baptize her.

Alex and Monique were able to share this; their first time. What a special occasion!

Unique Monique

2008-03-19T17:50:00.001-07:00

Keeah, my niece and amazing hairstylist, offered to give Monique any kind of hair style she wanted for her 12th birthday. She suggested 'maybe a bright color?'

Monique ran with that and decided she wanted pink AND purple. Rory and I thought a lot about it and decided it really was no big deal. It's just hair, and is something harmless and fun.

She has absolutly loved it and has had fun having a unique haircolor. It really suits her; her personality and style.

Fishin' Kids

2008-03-19T16:35:00.001-07:00

Last year we did this fishin' kids and it was a blast!

The kids get to catch two fish, they get a t-shirt and a fishing pole; all for the great price of $5 a child. I thought that was a steal!

It was so fun. They have these netted off areas that they stock with fish and there are people all around to help your kid bait the hook and cast the line.

It is June 15th this year and it's first come first serve, ages 5-14.

I love the Moses Lake Parks and Rec. booklet they put out. It offers so much to do with your family. Fun times!

Our budding make-up artist

2008-03-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

Can you say make-up artist in the making? Every so often, Kolette is getting into my make-up. This was one time where she suckered Hannah into holding still and being her model. What a good friend!

What do you think? Lovely?

Don't forget, the legs need to look good too.

Spring is in the air !

2008-03-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

My mood can sure be affected by the weather. It has been so beautiful this last while and the smell of spring is in the air. The kids are even affected and are craving their outside time. I am loving being outside and am walking when the wind isn't blowing to badly. I love the smells, and the flowers and the sun!!! How can you not.

12 at last !

2008-02-21T13:32:00.000-08:00

On Valentine's Day, Monique turned12 years old! (I won't say how old that makes me feel...) She had a little party on that Friday. She invited 5 girls and they all went ice skating right after school. Then we came home, had some yummy hot chocolate and ordered pizza. I can't believe the appetite those girls had! Two large pizzas - gone!

We then all piled into the car and went to the movie "Spiderwick Chronicles". Monique has been dying to see it as she had already read the books a couple years ago. It was really good!

Getting the girls to settle down was another matter. They were all so hyper! The last couple girls finally drifted off around 4am. All in all I think they all had a good time! Still can't believe I have a Young Woman in my home!!!!

Sammy Rainbow

2008-02-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

So I talked Rory into getting a new kitty last year. I had been wanting one ever since our Roxy had disappeared to the coyotes...we think. I really mourned her for quite a while. I still miss her. Anyways, it had been about six months without a kitty, and Rory and I were out to lunch for our anniversary. Perfect day to talk him into something! So we stopped by Basin Feed to "look"; and there she was. Couldn't pass her up. She has been a good kitty. As soon as we got home we gave her a bath to get rid of the stinky feed store smell. Kolette hauled her around constantly for the first two months. We'd check on the cat and she'd just be purring away. It was sad when she outgrew Kolettes' hood. Kolette named her - Sammy Rainbow. We call her Sammy :) She's grown a ton and I just took pictures to see how much.

I love snow...

2008-01-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

They say that this is the most snow that has fallen here in a long time. We didn't have snow like this last year, that's for sure. There are those who don't like it and can't wait for the snow to all melt and summer to come, but I am absolutely loving it!! When the snow is fresh and the roads are covered, it is so peaceful and quiet. The outside noises are softened and almost gone. Everything is soft and white. How can you not just love that? One of my favorite things is to drive in it. The sound the tires make, the feeling of the car slipping around slightly here and there; that is just the best. The parking lots get plowed and piled high up around the edges. It takes me back to the days growing up in Canada when the snow in between the two lanes of traffic was plowed up so high that you couldn't see over it to the oncoming traffic; you could tell that winter was coming to an end when you could finally see the cars on the other side again. Then there were days that the snow in the yard was so deep that we as kids would made tunnels and rooms that we could sit up inside and still be covered by the depth of the snowfall. Snowshoeing was fun and quite common there. I really miss all the snow. This snow here, now, is the best thing that winter could bring. I still wouldn't mind more and more and MORE!! hee hee!

Life moves forward...with chocolate

2008-01-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

The girls, (Monique and Alex) are almost 12 yrs old. Well, they have been invited to the beehive activities on Wednesday nights. I still am amazed that my little girl is going into Young Womens. Last night was very fun! We went out to the Legacy Chocolate Factory. There were 5 girls, including 'my girls'. Neesha Roylance made it so fun for them. Thank you Neesha! First they dipped these toffee & cashew squares and got to decorate them with sprinkles and glittery stuff. Then they made chocolate suckers. They used colored and flavored, chocolate and poured it into heart shaped molds with sticks for handles. Purple was grape and red was cherry. It was very yummy! But, they didn't stop there, oh no. The girls were told to pick out some ribbon for each of the suckers (the choices were endless and soooo very cute), and put them into a bag with the ribbon tied around it in a nice bow all ready to give to their 'valentine'. They were so sweet! Neesha out did herself, she said that you get sick of all the sweets when your around them lots; but I think that it might take me a long time to get tired of it. That toffee, wow, it would be a weakness...
I am getting a little taste of what its going to be like to have Monique in my class... I am a little worried, but also very excited . We are trying to balance an overbearing mother and a growing independent girl with a slight attitude. HELP...! any suggestions????

Almost a disaster!

2008-01-31T11:21:00.000-08:00

Finally! Corbett has been wondering when it would happen; his first lost tooth! He was very excited this morning. Then, while rinsing it off over the kitchen sink, it slipped... into the garbage disposal. Well, the kids all ran upstairs, "mom! mom!" Thatcher said, "I can see it, I just need to turn the light on over the sink and then I can get it out" "Don't worry mom, I know which switch the light switch is." The light switch is right next to the garbage disposal switch and I was well, very afraid... I told him, "don't touch anything!" I went down and after a little digging, carefully removed the tiny tooth from its dark, foreboding place and put it into a nice, clean zip lock bag, safe and sound. Then, a sound makes me turn around; The sound of the disposal! Thatcher smiles and says, "you switched the switches!" Glad he didn't turn the 'light on'. Corbett is very excited about the tooth fairy coming tonight. Let's hope she doesn't 'forget'... :)

Birthday Time !!

2008-01-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

We do big friend birthday parties on the even birthdays and smaller family birthday parties on the odd birthdays. (Although family birthday parties can get pretty big too. Lots of cousins...) Corbett's birthday last year was even - 6 yrs. Things never worked out and he didn't get the friend party that he should of had then. So we did it this year instead. It turned out really nice! I decorated the dining room and made an ice cream cake; since kids seem to like ice cream better than cake. He invited a few boys from school and a few from church and of course family friends. I think the boys had a good time. They came over at 3:30, right after school, and stayed until 7:00. Rory had hooked up two game cubes in the family room and the boys took turns on them. Then we had pizza(cheese of course) and opened presents. Corbett had fun there! After the ice cream cake each child got a goody bag and probably went home with a sugar high. :) Corbett had a couple of the boys stay the night. So, the mayhem continued into the night...ok, so it was a lot quieter mayhem.
All in all, it was a success! Happy 7th birthday my little bugga bug!

Sick of Sick

2007-12-30T22:06:00.001-08:00

We've had a bug going through our house. It started next door, but when celebrating Christmas with family, you tend share more than just gifts. I was the first one to get it. It was not fun! the dry heaving about killed me, but then it wasn't over, I fell asleep funny and tweaked my neck. even after a full day of a hot pad and one of those massager's, it was still killing. it got worse and traveled down under my shoulder blade and up into the head. I decided today to hit it hard; i took 4 Advil and it took the edge off for a good 4 hours! I almost felt normal. Kolette got it a day later. Poor thing was up till 4am. she seems to be doing great now. Nobody else has gotten it yet. Although I am wondering if Hannah won't. I hope not but with Kolette and her being glued at the hip...guess time will tell.
To top it off, we had a family wedding in Spokane. We had family come into town to stay. They were quite leery. Do you blame them? We've had fun though. The little girls and I stayed home, ordered in, watched a movie or two and did a puzzle.
The family is watching Man vs. Wild. It's a special one that shows all the stuff he's eaten to survive. GROSS! The boys love it! Imagine that...

Gonna be a bear

2007-12-30T18:39:00.000-08:00

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When your a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for 6 months. I could deal with that! Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too! When your a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake up to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that! If your a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that! If your a bear, your mate expects you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat! Yup! Gonna be a bear!!

Getting Started...

2007-11-30T11:34:00.000-08:00

Thought that this might be fun. Just want to connect with a few of you out there. There are so many cute blogs, anyone got any ideas? hints? anything...?

Kids are in school, and today that's great! Kolette loves the new kitty! (poor thing)... Rory is working, as usual. He is going over to the west side for meetings and I'll be here...with all the kids.

There's a combined birthday party for my mom and dad that we are trying to go to. Mom is turning 80 and Dad just turned 83. Isn't that great? Although it makes me feel old...

Christmas is so fun! We're getting ready, slowly.

The snow was beautiful!