She's 6!!

Hard to believe this little one is already 6. 

Here's an update on the birthday girl.  She:

* is the one we can count on to make a good choice

* usually listen to us

* is so imaginative....I love listening to her and Sofia play

* can be a little bossy from time to time (she is an oldest child, right?!)

* is very quick to report someone doing something bad

* is definitely very motherly to TJ

* so helpful to have around

* loves music.  She always wants the radio on - and she wants it loud.  She picks up in the lyrics to music after just 1 time listening to a song (which is a little scary).

* loves all things crafty.  From coloring to painting to making jewelry....she loves it.

* is VERY indecisive.  Must be a genetic thing.

* has such a hard time making a normal face for pictures

On her actual birthday we had cupcakes with some ice cream.  She got to open up her gift from us:

Pink Cowgirl Boots.  She asked for these months ago.  I said, 'No way." Not a necessity and soo expensive.  But she really wanted them.  So we created a chart full of squares.  Each square was worth $.50 and each time she did an extra job (you know...above and beyond the expected work at home) she got to fill in the square.  When the chart was full we would get the boots. I figured she'd either work hard if she really wanted them or give up. She spent about 2 months working on the chart and had it about 2/3 full when we came out to Utah for the summer.  She did her fair share of mopping the floorboards - it's a pretty good task for her that I hate doing.  Win-win! When I saw she was still working on it and wanted them 2 months later I figured we could get them for her for her birthday.  She was pretty excited about them.

She had her first birthday party.  Ever.  She was pretty excited.  We invited all the nearby family so there were a bunch of cousins....but didn't take a single picture.  I did manage to snap a picture of the cupcakes when we finished decorating.

Let's not look too closely at the frosting job.  Luckily Hannah was happy with it!!

It was fun to celebrate with her.  It was even fun to plan a little party.  But I am glad she knows she's not getting one for at least another 3-4 years.  We're kinda mean like that!!

Phone Pics

My goal was to do a monthly post of pictures off of my cell phone.  I love my dslr for pictures, but it seems like the phone ends up taking most 'real life' pictures.  Anyway...I didn't meet my goal.  Here's many months worth of photos.

A little bike riding in the pj's.

2 very tired girls after a good hike!

Awful pic, I know....but I love that TJ likes to be in the mess when James is working on a project.

Proof of child labor.

Even more proof...he loves to be right in the action in the kitchen too.

TJ gives great snuggles, especially when he wakes up.  He usually wakes up pretty early.  Sofia too. This particular morning Sofia got to participate in the morning snuggles.

Once they were awake they got to try out the balance beam (at cousins house).  Yes that is a banana in his hand.  Yep, they're definitely monkeys.

This is how to watch a video when your car is old and broken and the windows won't roll down....you gotta have it dark so you can see.  As a side note we wised up and tucked the blanket into the door on our next trip.  Our car does have 3 doors that actually work properly. :D 

Thumbs up after getting a text from her favorite aunt Cassie on her 4th bday!

The new style of rollerblading to work with a bike tire attached to your backpack.  That's how you get around when your bike tire goes flat on the way to school and you've only got 1 car with a wife who needs it.

Enjoying the rides at the mall.  Our kids seem to have as much fun as the other kids who actually get to put money into the machines.......:D

They're really excited to wear the new pajamas Grandma Flammer sent for Christmas.

This is the manly way to sharpen pencils.

Happy bday to me.

Best part about baking!

'Free' face painting and balloons only cost us $5000 for a car.

Too tired to eat lunch.

Last day of kindergarten with the best teacher ever!

A Few of My Favorite Things in Arkansas

Aldi - 

Every time I walk into the store it takes me back to Germany.  I smile every time I put a quarter in to get my cart (which I find very humorous because it always made me so flustered whenever I had to scrounge around for a Euro in Germany).  I love the randomness of the non food items, the normal sized shopping carts with 2 spots for kids to sit, the occasional German food, and the incredibly low prices.  It's like getting a little slice of Germany whenever we go.

Bike Trails -

They are amazing here.  Amazing.  I love how they link up and go through parks.  Love it. 

Curls-

The humidity has several negative side effects, but I LOVE the curl it puts in the girls' hair.  My hair, on the other hand, is more of a frizzy mess....but it gives me an excuse not to do it.  And the girls look so darn cute.  And it covers up the bad haircuts I've given them - double bonus.

People-

They are so stinking friendly.  I love it.  The people have high moral values, in general, and are so kid friendly.

How?

She went from this on the first day of Kindergarten

 to this on the last day of Kindergarten.

How did it happen?  How has it been an entire school year?  How do we have a 1st grader?  That's entering into the 'real' school category.  What is happening?!!

Memorial Day Hike

We went for our annual hike this Memorial Day.  We were talking about the hikes we've done in the past and Hannah thought it was pretty awesome we do a hike on the same day every year.  

Our 'hike' was really a very short walk along a trail at a nearby state park.  It was about 15 minutes. The kids seamed pretty happy about it because we played at the playground afterwards. We managed to do another little walk before we left.

Birthday Boy

James turned 38!!

We had some pretty simple birthday celebrations. We surprised James by bringing him lunch at his work.  I hadn't planned on this but when I saw his lunch (a banana, I think) I decided he needed a little more than that. For dinner we picked up a pizza and had a picnic at a nearby park.  We came home for cake and ice cream.

The girls insisted on using these mini oreos to top his cake instead of candles.  In case you can't read it is supposed to be a '38' (it was a little tricky considering they don't really give you that many oreos in those tiny little bags of oreos!!) We managed to find room for a candle in the middle.

He had plenty of help blowing out his candles.  At first the girls blew it out for him.  So, we sang to him again.  That time TJ took care of the candle!!

I feel like the birthday celebrations were a little lame.  I'm not sure if it's because we've had so many celebrations going on (my bday, our 10th anniversary, mothers' day, james bday, etc...) that my creative juices have dried up or if I'm just tired from moving prep, but I am tired.  And I feel like James' got a little gypped.  But, he did get a LOT of streamers.....just wish I'd have gotten a picture with them.

10 Years

Time is a funny thing.  I can't even remember what it was like being single, yet I have a hard time believing we've really been married that long.  Does that make sense?

We've had a lot of crazy adventures over the past 10 years:

* 2 years in Thailand for Peace Corps

* LA for the a Doctorate

* Turkey with 3 kids

* 3 kids (that's an adventure all on its own)

* Arkansas for a 'real' job

* More pit stops in Utah than I can count

We may not have a lot of stuff to show for our time together, but we've had some amazing experiences.  We've learned a lot.  Laughed most of the time.  Cried occasionally (ok, maybe just me - but I am a girl!  We're entitled once in a while, right?!). Given the silent treatment from time to time.  

It hasn't been an easy journey, but it's been so good to do it together. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather share the adventure with.  Here's to the next 10 years...

Botanical Gardens

We had some nice weather a few weeks ago and went to the Botanical Gardens.  They're open for free on Saturdays and we've been meaning to do it, but it has taken us forever to get around to it. Why are things always that way?

Anyway, we made it and had fun.  Except for our visit to the chicken coop.  Apparently TJ is scared of the chickens.....

the picture doesn't really do it justice.  His eyes were red and puffy because he would cry/scream if you took him near them!  

However everyone was happy when we went into the Children's garden.

It was fun.  Too bad it has taken us 8 months to visit!

30 Years YOUNG!!

A couple of weeks ago I had a birthday.  The big 3-0.  Scary!

It was a quiet day.  The highlights of the day included:

* sunny weather - we spent the afternoon at the park

* no cleaning - Monday's usually the laundry day but I refused to do it!

* cheesecake that I didn't have to make

Here are the kiddos anxiously waiting to eat dessert.

James printed out my birthday card.  I had to decipher the bottom half telling me what my gift was.....it took me a few minutes to be able to read it.

Let's just ignore the fact that I'm not looking....and that my glasses are totally crooked (kids+glasses=major problems)...and focus on the fact that I got to eat a treat I liked and didn't have to make!!!! Wahoo!

How did I get so old?!

Snug

We recently moved TJ into a forward facing car seat (at 20 months his infant car seat was a little tight!).  James had to take off the arms of the 'new' car seat to do it, but somehow we managed to fit all 3 of them in the back seat of our Corolla.

It's a little tight.  And I'm now back to buckling all 3 of them up most of the time....but they fit.  I wonder how long it will last?