Christmas Morning



Notice the super awesome motocross pajamas that a family in our ward brought over Christmas eve.




The big hit of the morning was a mustache kit that Jack got from Santa. There were several different styles. The "Inspector", the "policeman", etc. I think Tristan is wearing the policeman in the above picture.

This was Jack's Christmas program. Forgive the filming. Partly I was laughing and we definitely need to invest in a better video camera. The other problem was I was holding it away from me to get as close as possible and my arms were getting tired. This was not the first song I filmed. Jack is especially proud of his saxophone playing.

Jack goes to the Evangelical Free Church preschool. The song just prior to this one was, "Wake up Baby Jesus! It's your birthday."

Oh wait.. Jack's in the front row with a green striped polo on.

My boys think this video is HILARIOUS!

It's still on fire.

Here are three pictures that Brian took from his phone. I have a few more on the camera that I haven't uploaded yet.
The top picture is sequenced right before the next picture. These pictures are looking from Dad's front yard. Brian was up there helping them evacuate.

This picture is from right behind our house looking northwest. Look at the smoke.

When Brian came back from Dad's, Jack said to him, "Dad, were you just eating hot dogs?" He smelled like he'd been at a campfire for hours. Our house still smells like smoke, but it's worse outside. Today, Tuesday, our schools are still closed because the fire is still burning and they need to clean the schools. The ash is everywhere.

Halloween.

This was the first "spooky" costume that we've had. Truthfully it was more fun to dress them up when I got to pick what they wore. Jack was a cowboy, but at the last minute wanted to be Indiana Jones. He told everyone, all day and all night, that he was Indiana Jones dressed as a cowboy.



This is Jack and his best friend Emma. We didn't plan the cowboy/ cowgirl thing. It was purely coincidental.

Legoland!!! Andrew helped me take the kids to Legoland. As you can see, we all had fun.

We got a new car! It dawned on me that this is the first new car I've ever owned for me. We've had other new cars, but they were either to share or for Brian. This is my very own. Brian confessed he has car envy. I was a little sad to see the bus go. It's been good to us, but had several things wrong with it and it didn't seem practical to keep it and keep fixing it.

Under the Weather

I have been sick for 7 days now! Ick! I am so over it. Brian and the boys have been extra helpful during this past week. I did have to laugh when the doctor offered to write me a note to get out of work. Ah... if there were such a thing for a mother. Every morning and evening Brian would kiss me and tell me he loved me and I would think, "really? I haven't showered or changed out of these sweats for 2 days. wow..."
Tristan made me a get well soon card and Jack did his best to comfort me. I was lying in bed and he came in and asked if I wanted company. I was honest and said no. He disappeared and returned with something for me to cuddle, a hard plastic Rock-um Sock-um robot, and a motorcycle poster with a woman in a skimpy bikini on it. He said, "I'll just put this poster next to you so this girl can be your friend and keep you company." Thanks Jack.

P.S. the poster has 2 sides. The non-bikini side just has a motorcycle on it. That's the side we put up in Jack's room.

This is a copy of an email I sent to mom. I'd like everyone's input.

I am the room mom for Tristan's class. As such, I am in charge of the Halloween party. I think it's supposed to last about an hour. I asked the teacher today what she wanted. She said she didn't care. I think an activity, a craft and a snack? She said she had Halloween bingo we could play with candy corn if I wanted to do that.

I'm asking you to tap into your vast in-school party experience and come up with some good ideas.

I also have to decorate the door for red ribbon week. The theme is, "Country Hills Students Live Positive."

Really? Positive? Shouldn't it be positively? You know... an adverb describing a verb.

What the heck am I supposed to do with that? Miss Lutes said she could have the kids write ways that they are living positively and we could put them on the door. I'm thinking of doing leaves and the kids could write on the leaves and we could say, "Miss Lutes' class leaves drugs behind and lives positively!" eh eh... get it...leaves...

Dad asked me to tell everyone that Jeri's mom died today. It wasn't completely unexpected, but still very, very sad coming so soon after the death of Jeri's sister. Jeri's family is in our hearts and prayers.

Yes, it was on purpose.

Jack and I bought a Styrofoam tombstone from Albertsons today. On the way home he was asking me to help him dig a hole to put it in the front yard. I said, "We'll have Daddy help us set the tombstone up." Jack's reply was, and I quote, "That freakin' old guy?"

A little later Brian was in the garage testing out a new hang gliding harness and was hanging from this contraption and all zipped into the harness. Jack comes running into the house screaming, "It's a miracle! It's a miracle! Tristan... Dad is finally trapped outside in the garage and can't ever come in the house again."

Ah.. Jack. This is the same kid that told me that you have to type your name into a computer in the bathroom at preschool, that they have monster truck races at school and also... they skydive there.

First day of School.

These pictures are a little belated, but no less cute!  The kids love to pose with this dog statue we have.  I don't know why.  

Random picture of Jack watching a movie on the computer.  Notice all of his "friends" are watching too.

Birthday Box from Archer.  Jack was so happy to get it and open it.  Thanks!

Tristan's view:

The following pictures were taken by Tristan with his camera.  In his defense, his camera doesn't have a screen where you can see what the picture looks like, just an old fashioned eye peek.  I like this first picture because, although you can't see Jack's face, you can see his legs.  Now here's a boy that knows how to play hard...note the dirt, 2 bandaids and 5 bruises at last count.

Wow, Brian looks kind of scary from Tristan's point-of-view.  I'd do what he says if I were him.

Today's quotes from Jack

Jack upon waking: "Mom I have a spicy in my mouth and throat. The spicy is making it hurt to swallow."

(I'm assuming he has a sore throat.)

Jack after the trip to the grocery store where he got in trouble for yelling, running, punching and tackling Tristan in the check-out line: "The spicy in my throat is making me be naughty." (At least we know whom to blame now)

Jack to me while lying down in his bed that we made into a tent and we now have to refer to as Hawaii... as in... "do you want to go to Hawaii, Mom?" (Do I ever!): "Mom... feel my hair right here. My hair is sure making me hot." (I know... those buzz cuts can really be sweaty.)

A work in progress.  

Here is the kitchen.  We've finished painting the cabinets and the wall, but are still working on the playroom area.  I'll post pics of that soon.  The first two pics are of the kitchen after and the last is a before, sort of.  I forgot to take before pictures, but had one that you can sort of see the cabinets when I was taking pictures of the new floor.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Here's a video of the boys riding their scooters at the local skate park.

Here's a video of Jack riding his bike.

Happy Birthday Amanda!

We had family pictures taken when we went to Idaho. These are the best two. It's difficult to get everyone looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. Obviously, I prefer the pictures where I look the best, but I can't have Jack looking behind him in our family photo.