Helen done with 1st round of Braces

Helen's 8 months of her 1st round of orthodontic care is over.  She had her "T-Rex" expander--installed in September  and top teeth brackets--added in December, taken off today.  She is one happy camper! 

Now you see them....

Now you don't!

Now we wait for 6 more baby teeth to fall out and put the brackets back on the top teeth, add the bottom teeth and bankrupt mommy and daddy with 2 kids in braces!  Fun times.

Determined Tortoise

Crush is the perfect pet.  He doesn't need you to feed him or give him water or anything.  He just cruises around the backyard and is happy to be there.  The kids love him and you can often find Lewis outside playing with him. 

This is what I found my perfect pet doing the other day.

He was determined to come in even if he had to tip sideways to do it.  Finally  he made it in!

He got in, did a lap around the kitchen table and cruised back out.  Quite the adventure for my little tortoise! 

11 1/2 Years of bondage OVER!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen we have an announcement.  After almost 11 1/2 years of changing diapers we are now DONE!!!

Yes, that magical day has arrived...Lewis wears big boy underwear and no more diapers.  Well, pull-ups at night but that my friends I can live with!!!!! 

Lewis has all of Griffin's hand-me-down undies which is sad  for his tiny-can hardly hold them up-bum but awesome to him for his hero worship of his brother.  They are a bit stretched out from Griffin wearing them but that doesn't bother Lewis at all, he loves them!

Here is the "I'm potty trained" dance......

The girls are grossed out because he is always holding his peeper as you can see in the photo below.  They just don't understand his joy of having the little guy free from the bonds of diaperhood for the last three years.  He has to make sure it's still attached and touch it whenever possible.  He will also give you the full monty just because he can with a shout of.... "Look my big weenie!!!!" before the free show.

My favorite moment was when I was sitting by him on the couch playing the Wii and I glanced over and he has the remote in one hand the nunchuk in the other and just the tip of his peeper sticking out of the undies as he is intently playing the game.  I asked why it was sticking out and he said "He like the air mommy!"   

Just keepin it real.

Earth Day Brace Face

What have you done to beautify the world today?  Mary got her brackets on today!  Oral surgery---check.  Butterfly spacer--check!  Finally the brackets on---check!!!  It's been a fun process but now we are down to the every 2 week check-ups until her stubborn tooth comes down into place and then life will be good.  Happy Earth Day Mary!!

before...

after...

Camp Sky-Y

This year the girls got to go to Math and Science Camp at Camp Sky-Y in the Prescott National Forrest on Feb 22-24. It was a 3 days and 2 nights, camp and they needed parent volunteers and so I signed both Brad and I up.  The camp was in Prescott which equals higher elevation and as we were driving up it was POURING snow. Our bus driver kept telling the kids we might have to turn around if the roads got too bad.  Luckily it didn't really start to stick on the roads until we were really close to the camp so we made it!  On the bummer side we were a group from Phoenix who didn't really know how to pack for the snow.  Now, my mama didn't raise no fool, so my girls, Brad and I were prepared for snowy weather with snow boots, thick socks, extra boots, gloves, warm jammies, etc.  Most kids weren't!  My friend Wendy and I had a group of 9 girls in our cabin and by the end of the first day most of them were wearing my extra socks, my girls extra socks, my girls extra shoes and my extra shoes.  They were wet, wet, wet!  Luckily our cabin had a pretty decent heater and we didn't freeze the first night. 

Not so for Brad.  His cabin was frozen and his top, bunk mate, barfed on him during the night.  Not his favorite experience!  By the 2nd night it was warmer and the camp director had caulked all the windows to keep out drafts and the frozen cabins were much warmer. 

We had lots of fun and the staff was fantastic at keeping the kids busy and well fed.  I'm telling you, you haven't lived until you have seen nine 11 year old girls eat like mountain men.  Our girls were no dainty eaters!  They packed away the food, which was delish, and were hungry 2 hours later. 

Our favorite activities were the owl pellets and archery. Owl pellets (aka owl barf) has the bones of whatever they have eaten that they didn't digest. So we got out the tweezers and looked thorough them for bones. So gross but so cool. Full skulls of little mice with their front teeth were found. Every bone imaginable was found from the owl's diet of small rodents. It was pretty neat and once the girls got over the gross factor they loved it!

So gross but so cool!

EWWWW....

Archery was super fun!  All the girls loved it and had a great time.  Helen did fantastic.  Once she figured out how to aim right she hit the target every time.

Helen takes aim

Helen 3 shots and 3 hits

Mary was amazing.  She never missed!!!  Not once!!  She has never shot a bow and arrow before but she was on fire!!  The leader there kept giving her more arrows to see if she'd miss and she never did!  It was awesome! She even hit the bull's-eye 2 times but I didn't get a picture of that round. 

Mary lets it fly

Mary 6 shots and 6 hits

This picture was day 2 when all the snow was finally melting.  It was too muddy for a hike but we did make it up to the top of the water tower hill and enjoy the view.  It was so beautiful.  Brad and I were so glad we went with the girls because it was an experience none of us will ever forget!

Our whole cabin

Sunday Activities

So,  yesterday instead of relaxing after church, and mostly because we played all day Saturday, we had a bit of canning to do.  We had purchased a bunch of London Broil and strawberries and chicken to restock our supply.  We decided to can most of the beef--we left only 3 roasts for the freezer--and canned the rest. We use it all the time for French Dips, BBQ Beef Sandwiches, Shredded Beef Tacos or Burritos and in Chili or whatever else we can think of.  We borrowed our friend's pressure cooker (thanks Nelsons) and went to town. 

We also made strawberry freezer jam and froze whole strawberries, about 20 lbs worth of the red beauties.  Brad also boiled up all of our chicken parts we have been saving for chicken stock and that made 8 quarts of chicken stock. 

Needless to say we were busy and soo ready for bed by 10 pm but had to stay up till 11:30 to get everything done!  But, now we are stocked on beef and freezer jam and only have to do the chicken next.  We aren't going to bottle it, just bag it and freeze it! (probably 40-60 lbs worth!)  Yep, everything seems to be on sale this week so we have to strike when the iron is hot!!

You are looking at:
18  half pints freezer jam
12 pints freezer jam
5 1-lb bags whole frozen strawberries
8 quarts chicken stock
14 quarts of london broil (about 2-2 1/2 lbs in each jar)

chicken stock and canned beef

strawberries

Snowboarders

The girls had lots of fun this year in Flagstaff snowboarding.  They went up quite a few times and most of the time I'd just drop them off and pick them up.  They were brave enough to do it all by themselves and really enjoyed riding the lift alone.  The first 2 times they went up, my mom had them enroll in classes just as a refresher for the year.  They had so much fun.  I know they'd like to have their own boards and not wear borrowed pants and stuff but when you only go 5-6 times a year, it just isn't worth it.  So if you have hand-me-down snow gear, pass it our way!! 

One day Amie brought Leksi up for the afternoon and they went up the big lift all the way to the top and came down through some trees.  Helen said "It was so fun Mommy, I only hit trees 3 times!"  Mary said, "Once I stopped being scared, it was really fun and I only crashed a few times."  So glad they have a positive attitude!  They definitely want to do it again with Amie.  But, sadly, it's over for this year--just next year to look forward to!

My little Citizen of the Month

Yes, Griffin had been made the "Citizen of the Month" in his class.  March's character trait they were working on was honesty and Grif is one honest boy.  He was so thrilled to get this award and we were thrilled for him. 

His teacher Miss Canale had this to say: "He earned it! He has done such a great job of following the rules, following directions, being a friend to others...he has come so far this year and I'm so proud of him!"

Here he is with the spoils of winning.  A certificate, a pencil, a medal and a Sizzler kids meal coupon (kinda funny since we have never paid for Sizzler food--ever)  He was so happy!

Bike Destruction

Did I mention that when we were coming home from our Christmas in California vacation that all our bikes had a bit of a bad day?  Just as we were passing the HOLLYWOOD sign in Los Angeles we felt this thunk from the back of our car.  We were going 70 on the freeway and were in the fast lane so we had to get over 4 lanes to pull over.  Luckily everyone around us could see our bikes dragging and were kind enough to slow down so it only took about a half of a mile but that was enough.  Total bike destruction.  The only bike that survived unharmed was Griffin's bike.  Mine, Brad's, Helen and Mary's all were thrashed.  Helen needs 2 new tires and a little paint touch up, Mary needs new tires and her frame is bent, Brad needs 2 new tires and I need 1 new tire.  The bike rack is totally bent and Brad isn't sure he can fix it.  The only thing that saved us from having bikes all over the freeway was the 2 bike chains we always string through the bikes and lock them onto the bike rack.  Thank heavens for those chains!

My tire is the one in front, the one that the rim is totally missing.

Brad turns 41

Brad hit the big 41 in the middle of our move into our new house.  So we didn't do much but have a yummy dinner.  When all the boxes are cleared out we plan on having a big BBQ and pool party with all our friends....maybe in May? :)

180th General Conference

I really loved General Conference.  Here are some of my favorite quotes....I know there are more but I didn't have my pen and pencil with me for most of it.

Speaking of his children and grandchildren about the internet: "Tragically the same internet that can help me to do my family history work and prepare names for temple ordiances can, without filters and controls, allow access to a global cesspool that can blast a crater in their brains forever." Elder Holland

"The advisary is busy 'extending his coverage' to cell phones, video games and iPods" Elder Holland

"Just run, run as far away as you can get from whom ever or whatever it is that can beguile you...

and please, when fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address." Elder Holland

From Elder Cook: "It is appropriate to disagree it is not appropriate to be disagreeable."

"Moms, as you speak of Jesus to your children, you will feel all the power of the Lord. Your testimony will remain in your child's mind and soul. Your testimony will never leave your children." Elder Anderson

"It is not enough to just know, we must DO!" Elder Hales

"As we participate in gospel activities with our children we will bond with them in faith."  Elder Hales 

Do your children know that you know?"  Elder Hales

Happy Birthday Handsome

Happy Happy Birthday

May all your dreams come true

Happy Happy Birthday

My sweet boy Griffin to you!

My big boy had his birthday on Easter. What fun. He said the Easter Bunny brought his presents. He was so excited. We didn't have a party but we will in a couple of weeks with some friends.  Luckily he had a great day with just his plain old family!  :>

one left!

all out!

We even had an Easter Earthquake. It was kinda like we were on the ocean with gentle rolling waves, no shaking. I just thought I was light headed but then Brad said he felt it too and we looked at the pool and it was like a wave pool sloshing over the sides.  The kids were thrilled to be able to say they lived through an earthquake since they have heard Brad and I talk about having been in an earthquake.  I hope this is the worst one they are ever in!!!