My Happy Little Helpers

Lance was gone all day skiing with the youth today. He is the Young Men's president. Usually I dread these Saturdays when he is gone all day but today was really a fantastic day, sorry Lance. Sometimes it is just easier when he's not around. When he is here I feel like I have more help so I in turn do less but he never helps as much as I think he should so as a result I get less done. When he is gone I know it is all me. I don't have any of his things to do that he wants me to do, none of his distractions and things work out really smoothly.

I've been working with the kids lately on being obedient and helpful and today it seamed to all come together. We woke up this morning and the kids did their chores without complaining (gasp!) Then they spontaneous went outside with their backpacks on and organized a hunting rabbits game. (ohhhh) They played nice all afternoon (yes!) Isaac and Elaina took a nap at the same time (sigh of relief) I got my closet organized, 6 loads of laundry done, floor mopped and sad little check book balanced (HALLALUIA!) We then went to a baptism for a friend and had an enjoyable time. Then to top the whole night off they spontaneously became happy little helper elves.Eli helped with Elaina by changer her diaper TWICE! He needed help with the poopy diaper after nearly passing out by the sight of it- don't blame him.

Isaac and Eve helped me put the six loads of laundry away. By the time I got my camera out Isaac had put several piles away by himself and while taking the picture I realize he is putting them all in the same drawer. That's okay I'm still so pleased with his volunteering to help.Eve had a little problem with putting them in the right place too but she did a great job. Only complained when I handed her a handful of Eli's underwear to put away.

It was just a really fantastic day. Every mom needs one every now and then. I realize tomorrow will come and be totally different but tonight I'm going to bed smiling about my happy, helpful, kind, wonderful, perfect children.

PS- notice Elaina with her first ponytail! This girl just amazes me with the amount of hair she has!

Lance the "Super Star" Gard

Well- Lance made the paper this time, just barely. He is in the upper right hand corner behind the cheerleaders. Yes, the one with the curly black hair is a man.

One of the teachers at Lance's school has brain cancer, sad I know and it doesn't look like she is going to make it, but on the lighter side... the school did a really fun fundraiser for her last week. They had a spaghetti dinner at $10 a plate and then for the entertainment the 8th graders played the faculty, or old guys as they called them, in a real basketball game. I have to say I don't remember my middle school teachers being so young and good at basketball. So Lance got roped into it. Basketball is not Lance's sport and he is a sport guy. He said his only experience with basketball is church ball and he always got punched in the eye. Despite his lack of experience he did really well. He scored some points and the kids and I were proud to cheer him on. I asked him before the game if they were going to win and said "yea no problem." Well it didn't turn out to be so easy. The first quarter the teachers did great but by the end of the quarter they were a huffen and a puffen like a bunch of old folgies. They got a second wind though and pulled back ahead and won by just a few points. I have to say I saw a lot of fouling on the teachers side. Some of the worst was from the school police officer. I don't think the thought the rules applied to him.Here is the faculty "old men and one woman" basketball team being very uncooperative for thier photo. As you can see they have their own scarry mascot and nurse- left side of photo.

The young spry 8th graders.

Some of the other teachers dressed up as the cheerleaders. It really was a blast. Those teachers were really funny. A bunch of the community came out and they raised over $6000. It was really neat to see everyone come together to support her and her family.

Diaper Cake

I'm just so proud of this I had to show it off. A friend of mine just had her 4th baby- a week after me- so we threw her a baby sprinkle party. Which is like a baby shower only you only give necessity gifts like diapers, wipes, lotion and stuff for mom. So I thought... diapers are boring I'll spice it up a bit. I'd seen one of these made before and it didn't look hard. It wasn't hard but it was time consuming. An hour into the rolling of diapers I was wondering if I was really good enough friends with her to be spending this much time on her gift. She loved it though and it was a hit at the party and it was pretty fun to make. When Isaac saw it he said..." ohhhh Caaaake" I thought it was cute. He was pretty dissapointed when I handed him a piece and it was just a diaper.

Just horsing around

While it seams like the rest of the world is freezing we've had unusually warm weather the last few days. Saturday is hit 65 deg! So like a bunch of people who've been shut in all winter we broke out of hibernation and ran out of the house to greet the sun! We played on the 4 wheelers of course but we do that in 12 deg weather too but grandpa also got out 3 of the 11 horses!!!! WHOO HOO! You would think we would get to ride more often but we never seam to do it enough. Check out Rusty in the above picture with his ears flapping and tong hanging out. I think he is just as excited as the rest of us.

Riding off into the distance

Grandpa, Isaac and Eve riding Cody- papa's horse

Eli and Dave on Tinkerbell

Papa and popcorn- that's his name for Isaac

6 weeks old

That's right... seams like just yesterday I was crying because I thought I would never go into labor and here we are 6 weeks old. We're starting to get to know this new little person in our home and this is what we know about her so far...* She's started giving out a few smiles, although she is very picky about who she gives them to.

* She still spends most of the day sleeping... hurray!
*She doesn't like to be cuddled much. When she is held she insists on being held face out so she can see the world around her. Even her 11 year old Uncle Dave has figured that out about her. The other day when Uncle Adam was holding her, he is Adelle's husband, she was fussing and Dave said "you have to hold her out... not against your chest she doesn't like that." I think its interesting that even an 11 year old can pick up on that characteristic.
* She has already slept through the night twice and usually only wakes up once! I love that about her.
* She doesn't really cry... she mostly just has a high pitch squeal. Cute at first but not so much anymore. I'm kind of over the squealing and welcome the crying. She has to get really upset to break into an all out cry.
* She doesn't like a binki and gives a disgusted look any time one is put in her mouth. I think she might like to suck her thumb but has never been able to coordinate that.

(Oh... a littly FYI... Eve doesn't suck her thumb any more!!!)

For the most part she is just a little sweet heart and we are so glad to have her in our home. Can't wait to get to know her a little more!

Christmas continues

Lance and I happen to be the worst at getting each other gifts. Usually for Christmas and birthdays we just pick out our own present. It works well because we always get exactly what we want. Well this year for Christmas we didn't pick out our own. I did get Lance a shirt so he had something to open Christmas morning but that was it for the both of us. I guess we both felt so poor or we were just so consumed with presents for the kids that we forgot about each other. We both felt so guilty we are making up for that now with really large presents for each other- I love it! We bought me an elliptical- its on order and will be here next month- I'll put in on the blog then. And last week we got Lance the shot gun he's been wanting since we were married.This is Lance and the boys looking manly shooting at skeet. From left to right... Lance, Gabe our neighbor and good friend, Darin Lance's brother and Adam a brother in law. Don't they just look hot? Ha ha

Lance and his new toy. He is one happy boy.
Merry Christmas Lance!!!

Hospital Field Trip

No- not a trip to the hospital like you might thing, thank goodness, Eve's school actually took a field trip to the hospital. Its Community Helper month and they are having all sorts of guests to their class and field trips. Today a Police Officer came, next week a fire fighter, a field trip to the local grocery store- that makes me laugh, a field trip to the Gym where I work out, some construction workers came to their class a few days ago and a whole bunch more. Pretty fun.Yesterday they took a tour of the hospital and they had the kids all wear a bonnet, mask and gloves so they all looked like little doctors- and so they wouldn't catch any germs the hospital had. Eve is the one in the purple dress on the left in the above picture.

This is the kids in the ER. The doctor is showing them one of the rooms and different instruments they use.

What a blessing

Elaina was blessed by her wonderful daddy last Sunday. She wore the dress I made over 8 years ago with my mother in laws help. My how time flies. This first photo is the best one of the hand embroidery on the top of the dress. Ohhh so fancy I know- I don't know if I could do that again. Eve wore the dress when she was blessed and Sunday it was Lainy's turn. I embroidered Evelyn's name and date of her blessing on the slip and I'll do the same for Elaina.

Lance did a beautiful job. The kids were all very excited for Elaina's special day.

Skating and skiing

When in Rome... I'm learning that to live in this country we have to become winter sports people. So we went skating and then the next day everyone went skiing. I stayed home from the skiing trip to watch the babies. Eli went skiing though and did FANTASTIC! He loved it. I would of never thought a 6 year old could ski but he did and now it is one of his favorite things. So here we are all doing a little skating- or in Eli's case... falling.

Lance is actually an excellent skater... why is it that some people can just naturally take to these things?

My in laws... aren't they cute?

Isaac and I even joined in on the fun while Elaina stayed warm inside.

My cute little snow bunnies... they both had a good time.

Bowling

We are just scrambling to keep ourselves entertained with all this Christmas break. Right now the kids are outside being drug on a sled behind the 4 wheelers. Good thing we have those or we might really be board. We are all looking forward to school starting again. So yesterday we did a little bowling. We don't even have a bowling alley in our town we had to drive to the next town over which is 30 min away. We had lots of fun none the less. Bowling is one of Eli's favorite things- that and skiing.

Sorry- I couldn't figure out how to rotate the picture. Eve was ahead of everyone most of the game- I think she came in 3rd after her grandpa.

Strike!
Lance was the winner with a score of 130!