Misc. Photos

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids sledding and a couple from Christmas. Just ones that I thought were cute. We went bowling today and the kids had a great time. Of course I forgot my camera. Maybe next time. Bailey has decided that she wants to have her birthday party at the bowling alley now so maybe there will be a Kodak moment then. Have a great Martin Luther King JR day... no school so my day should be busy.

33, How'd that happen?

So, I'm turning 33 soon. When did that happen? Just the other day I was talking to my daughter, who is going to be 8 a couple of weeks after my birthday, about my good old days in high school and on drill team. We were talking about doing the splits, which I can still do with a bit more stretching than I used to have to do and maybe a slight limp for a couple of days after the feat. She says that some of her friends are more flexible than she is and asked why she isn't. I explained that you need to condition your body to do things, especially if you've never done them and so I suggested stretching her legs and gradually working on getting into the splits. She would like me to sign her up for dance class or gymnastics or something, but this one... this daughter of mine... has unfortunately inherited her fathers sense of rhythm. How do you explain that to her? Of course I won't and I'll let her try anything once. But she really is a more sport oriented kind of girl. She has played soccer twice a year (yes, spring soccer and fall soccer) since she was 4, and has actually aquired some great skills. My 4 year old daughter on the other hand, if I'm not bragging too much, is a chip off my old block (there I said old again). She'll be our dancer, our performer or just our princess that likes to show you what she can do. She's at that stage now where she'll only do it if she wants to though. A little diva in the making. So my point is if I don't feel old am I old? Some mornings my back is a little sore and I can't run around the block to save my life. I'm trying to lose some weight and Brandon and I are going to start working out our poor old (there's that word again) bodies so that we can enjoy our young family for many years to come. We watch our kids with so much energy and just sigh. Biking is great, we all have one and it's not too stressful on the joints... but it's too dangerous to go out riding on the ice. So when the weather warms a little and we can start getting out of the house... it's on, I'll feel 10 years younger. But truthfully do I really want to feel 23 again? Maybe, selfishly, a little.

Mommy and Daddy Vacation

Leavenworth, WA January 2008

Just a little mini-vacation for me and Brandon to get away. We didn't go far (just to Leavenworth, WA) and we didn't go for long (oh, about 36 hours)... but I bet the grandparents would beg-to-differ. Here's a nice shot of Brandon and I in front of the snow that is piled up to our heads. He went on a snow-mobile tour with a friend, while my friend and I went for a spa treatment. A much needed relaxing time with great friends and great food. Thanks Nana, Papa, and Grandma Jane.... much appreciated.

Daycare Woes

It's one oclock in the afternoon... all is quiet... I'm breathing deep now. 7 kids, the oldest is four years old, all asleep now. Oh, what was that? The pitter patter of my 2 year olds feet running down the upstairs hall, and now back the other way - this time it sounds as if there are more sets of little feet. What? Everyone isn't sleeping? The calm before the storm I expect. Rahhhh... I say and I catch them in the wake of taking out all the dollhouse furniture, a few dozen books and the numerous pieces of pretend cosmetology equipment. So I march the 2 year old back to bed, with much protest I might add, and the other two are pretty much in the same boat. O.K... now, back to my deep breaths - just when I fill my glass with ice and water and sit with the remote in one hand and my "much needed" handful of almonds in the other.... Yep, now it's the baby. Well why not she's had her rest time. So much for mine.

This was about a week ago. Aahh, good times. Hopefully we'll go again tonight and I'll post more pictures then.

Oh yeah, a snow day. Why can't it just snow in December when it's supposed to. A white Christmas in Moses Lake... what's that? So I have extra kids today since there isn't any school... wish me luck in surviving our first snow day of the year.