The Davis Family

A Spooktacular Dinner

2011-10-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

This year we invited our friends, the McBrides, over for our annual Halloween dinner. We had a lot of spooky/ yummy food!

We also had "Ghost Brains"/ rice and "Zombie Guts"/ Italian Cream Cheese Chicken. I didn't get a picture of them though. The kids really love this tradition. And I really love it too!

-Jennifer

The Blue Man Group

2011-10-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

We went as a family to see The Blue Man Group. It was AWESOME! We had great balcony seats and were able to see the whole stage. These guys are incredible at the drums! And they make cool art with paint.

-Jennifer

Things Kids Say

2010-07-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

We had just finished lunch at Mike's and John got cold. He said, "I am so cold I just got the shi**ers". I tried to tell him the correct pronunciation of the word "shivers", but he insisted that he had said it correctly. Mark and I had a great laugh to ourselves.

Alison's Friend Birthday Party

2010-07-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

This year Alison wanted a Luau for her Birthday party. So we invited some of her friends from school over for a wonderful afternoon of fun! They swam, did the hula, played games and ate. We had tropical drinks with Flamingo straws, fruit and of course cupcakes and ice cream cones. The girls all had a great time and got along really well. They were such good friends at school. Alison is looking forward to the new school year to see her friends again.

The Hula Girl!

Kaydyn, Aviana, Quinn, Ella, Alison, Elizabeth

They swam while listening to Hanna Montana. Sometimes a girl just has to dance!

They played Hot Coconut! They also did the Limbo. I was holding the Limbo bar, so no pictures of that one.

Opening presents.

The cupcake tower!

Does she look happy or what!

4th of July

2010-07-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July means Family, Friends, Food and Fun for our neighborhood! It started when Alison was born. A few neighbors have family over, BBQ and set off Washington fireworks. That means ones that go up in the sky! They are not legal here in Oregon. Then we all get to know each other better and we start adding to the group. This year there were about 60 people! So. Much. Fun! It starts with the kids parade. They decorate their mode of transportation and go around the block.

Alison and her scooter.

The whole gang!

Because Ryan was "too cool" to go in the parade, John was as well. So funny!
I must admit, they do look pretty cool.

When all of the parade participants got back we did a human pinata! The adults threw candy at the kids. There was a lot of candy, and it was fun to see the kids scramble for it. A few of us noticed that the kids were not picking up all of the candy. We asked them why. They told us that those were things they didn't like. Kids these days!

God bless America and potluck BBQ's! We had more food than you would know what to do with! Plus a 16 lb. smoked turkey, hot dogs, ribs, and 2 briskets! If you went home hungry, it was your own fault!

Happy Family

We all enjoyed $1200 worth of Fireworks! That's what happens when you get so many people pitching in. It was fabulous! Can you say, "4th of July with the Davis' next year"!

Alison Turns 6

2010-07-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Alison got to celebrate her birthday on multiple occasions this year. When all of the family was here for John's baptism we had a family party for her one night.

One of the Barbie's she has been wanting. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Thompson. She loves it!

A hug from Uncle Sean

Then on her real birthday, breakfast in bed!

She got a double stroller and twin baby dolls from Mark and I.

John gave her Barbie in a Mermaid Tale. She has fun taking that in the swimming pool and bathtub!

She chose Olive Garden for dinner. They don't sing anymore for people's birthdays!

Red Robin gives you a free meal on your birthday (if you sign up on the email). So on Monday we went there for dinner. At least they still sing to you and give you an ice cream! That is my kids favorite part of their birthday.

Dance Recital

2010-06-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the kids dance recital. They have been going to Studio One for a year now. They really love it! John has been taking Break I. Alison was in a Ballet, Tap, Tumble Combo class. Alison was really excited for the recital. She loved her costume and loves to perform. John was very nervous. The rehearsal the night before was very helpful to help calm his nerves a bit. We were lucky to still have Grandma and Grandpa Davis and Jason still here. So they also got to watch the performance. When I get my DVD of the performance I will post their dances. Great job kids! We love watching you dance!

John with his teacher Brian. Brian also heads up a group of break dancers that perform at the Trail Blazer's games!

Alison

John, Jason, Alison.

*Side note- John is not hugging himself. That is how he does his "cool" pose.*

Happy Family

John, Grandpa, Grandma, Alison

John's formal picture

John's class' performance was called Robot Rock.

Alison's formal picture

Alison's class' performance was called Circus Ballerina.

Mt. Saint Helens and Shopping with the Grandparents

2010-06-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

Mark, John and Jason went to Mt. Saint Helens on Saturday. They were blessed with a beautiful sunshine, 75 degree day! They had a great time going through the visitor's center and hiking.

This is a view of the mountain today.

A rock that was thrown during the eruption.

While the boys were at the mountain, Alison and I went with Grandma and Grandpa Davis shopping. They took her out to pick out her Birthday present. She was so excited!

Alison and Grandma having a picnic with her new stuffed animals. She also got a doll play pin and a few diapers for her dolls. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. She loves her gifts!

Fort Stevens and Astoria

2010-06-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

The second day at the coast brought sunshine and an Alison that was feeling much better. So off to Fort Stevens we went! Fort Stevens was constructed during the Civil War and remained active until shortly after World War II. It is the only military installation in the continental United States to be fired on by a submarine. Shells were discharged from a Japanese submarine during World War II. There was no damage, and Fort Stevens did not return fire. It sits at the mouth of the Columbia River.

View of Fort Stevens

Everything at the Fort is hands on. You can go up the stairs, down ladders and into the buildings.

Grandma Davis, Alison, Jason, John, Mark

The family

Alison

John

After a few hours exploring Fort Stevens we went to have lunch in Astoria. Then it was off to the Astoria Column and other fun sites!

Grandpa, Grandma and Jason

Astoria is the first and oldest permanent United States settlement west of the Rockies. The Astoria Column is the final, crowning monument in a series of 12 historical markers erected in the early 1900's between St. Paul, Minnesota and Astoria, Oregon. These markers were meant to salute early explorers and settlers for their critical role in the United States' stretch to the Pacific Coast. The Astoria Column is made of concrete and has 164 stairs!

View of Astoria and the 4.1 mile Astoria-Megler Bridge to Washington. It is the longest continuous truss span in North America.

Alison and John

After concurring the Column it was time to see some movie sights! First up, Goonies!

How exciting!

Goonies House. Yes. someone actually lives there. So this is as far as we went.

We also saw the elementary school used in Kindergarten Cop. It was funny to see these places and talk about the movies. The kids haven't seen the movies and we said we could rent them when we got home. Then we started to remember the movies and realized that we can't let them see them because of language and themes. Oh well, maybe when they are older. Then we headed to the Oregon Film Museum. It is housed in the Old County Jail, another site that was used in Goonies. They had a lot of memorabilia and names of all of the films that have been filmed here in Oregon. Did you know that 300 movies have been filmed in Oregon!

The gang.

Jason with his souvenir t-shirt. They have a wall with different quotes from movies that have been filmed in Oregon. If you could name 10 different movies based off the quotes you won a prize! Jason did it! The fabulous prize was a toy coin like the ones in Goonies or a chocolate coin. He proudly took his toy coin to, I am sure, display in a beautiful frame in his new home.

Alison

John

After Astoria we headed back to Fort Stevens to see more of the coastline and the shipwreck.

View of the coast from an observation platform.

Ahoy mates! John, Mark, Alison and Jason

Jason and John exploring the shipwreck.

To finish our fun filled day we ate at the Pig'n Pancake in Seaside. We had never eaten there before. Think Denny's, only better.

Uncle Jason and Alison

Rockaway Beach

2010-06-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning we said good-bye to the Thompson's. Then the rest of us headed to Mike's Drive-In for lunch. Can't pass up a Mike's Special Deluxe and Onion Rings! Yummy!

Then it was off to the coast for a few days. Poor Alison got the stomach flu that night. So she and I were up all night at the beach house. Mark, John, Jason, Grandpa and Grandma Davis had a nice day at the beach feeding squirrels, playing in the sand and relaxing. Alison and I caught up on much needed sleep.

This is how Alison and I spent our day at the Beach.

A Day in the Gorge

2010-06-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

We all headed out for a day in the Oregon Gorge. First stop was Multnomah Falls.

Grandma and Grandpa Davis with his trusty scooter. He received so many compliments about his scooter during our adventures. Almost makes you want to break your own foot!

John and Grandma Davis enjoying the stream.

Then we headed to Lavender Valley Lavender Farm to see the beautiful sight of Lavender in bloom! And oh the wonderful smell!

Our Flower Girl

View of Mt. Hood. Because of Oregon's extended cold, wet spring this year, the majority of the lavender was not in bloom yet. It is such a beautiful sight to see.

Relaxing

After the Lavender Farm we crossed the bridge into Washington. The first hike we did was to the Ice Cave. It is fun to go exploring in as long as you have good traction shoes (something everyone who visits the cave finds out!), a warm winter coat and gloves. Ice stalactites and stalagmites form from water that drips all winter long. It renews itself each year.

I couldn't take this picture fast enough for John. He wanted to show Grandpa Davis what he was missing and then eat it!

Mark wanted to show his dad what he was missing.

Ice Princess

After the Ice Cave we headed over to the Natural Bridges. Lava formed natural bridges as it flowed through this area millions of years ago. We had fun walking around, taking pictures and being silly.

Standing atop a natural bridge.

The Few. The Proud. The Un-Brave.

Actually, Michelle did go hiking with us. She just got in the car when we got back.

More Gorge Pictures

2010-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

I finally got all the pictures from other people's cameras. Here are a few I could not pass up sharing with everyone!

Mark coming down into the cave. This picture shows just how slippery it really is!

Michelle, Nicole, Jason

Grandpa Thompson

Mark and Nicole

John in the Ice Cave

Michelle, Jennifer, Nicole

Father's Day

2010-06-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

This year we were blessed to have all of our Father's and special men in our lives here with us! We had a great dinner and enjoyed each other's company. We love you all very much!

Alison with Grandpa Davis and the card she made him.

Alison with Grandpa Thompson and his card.

Uncle Jason and John.

Alison and Mark. She painted that bear in school and wrapped it up for him. It is so nice to have teachers that think about the children's mothers and fathers.

Mark and John

John's Baptism

2010-06-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

June 19th was a very special day for our family. John chose to be baptised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In our church children are baptised at the age of 8, because that is when they are accountable, know right from wrong. We were very blessed to have both Mark's parents and my parents come for the service. We were also blessed to have Uncle Jason, Uncle Sean, Aunt Michelle and Aunt Nicole come as well. We love them all and are so thankful for the time they took to come share this special event with us. Mark baptised John and my father confirmed him. Grandma Thompson gave a talk on Baptism. Grandma Davis gave a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was so nice to be in a room with our family and friends and feel the spirit so strong. We love you John and are proud of your decision to be baptised.

Everyone that came!

John and Jake

John and Ryan

Bishop Carlson and John

Grandma Davis, Jason, Grandpa Davis, John, Alison, Mark, Jennifer, Grandma Thompson, Grandpa Thompson, Michelle, Sean, Nicole

Kindergarten Graduation

2010-06-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

Alison has really enjoyed Kindergarten this year. She can read, write, count way past 100, and make new friends! Kindergarten is only 2.5 hours so we had her in Kinder Day as well. Kinder Day starts when Kindergarten gets over and keeps the kids until the end of the school day. This was a great thing for Alison. It kept her busy, with friends and gave her extra practice on reading and writing. She can read at a 1st grade level! We are so proud of Alison and love her very much! Great job sweetheart!

The proud graduate!

Alison, Kaydyn, Aviana, Ella

Elizabeth and Alison

Alison and Teacher Teri

Mrs. McNeel and Alison

The graduating class of 2022!

2nd Grade Zoo Trip

2010-06-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

I got to go to the zoo with John's class. I had four boys in my group. We had a lot of fun! It was a beautiful 78 degrees and sunny! You can't ask for more than that here in Oregon. The boys got along well and were excited to see all of the animals.

John and mom

Jo, Devin, Joseph, John

A Very Merry Un-Birthday to You

2010-06-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

Alison's Birthday is July 1st. She really wanted to have a birthday celebration at school like all the other kids. And since you can only do that in pre-school and kindergarten, we did! We brought cupcakes and juice boxes for the whole class. She felt really special and had a great day! Happy Un-Birthday to you Alison!

"Dig In"

They have a tradition in her class. The birthday child takes the first bite and then announces "Dig In" for the rest of the class to start eating. So cute!

Kiwanis Terrific Kid

2010-05-28T19:12:00.001-07:00

Each month the local Kiwanis club honors two students in each class at the assembly for demonstrating a positive attitude, good character, and responsible citizenship. Each teacher chooses who it will be from their class. It was John's turn!

Walking up to receive his award.

So proud!

We love you John! Great job!

Singing and Dancing

2010-05-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Kindergartner's and their 5th Grade Buddies performed 2 square dances at the school assembly today.

Look at that attitude.

Swing your partner.

Go under the bridge.

Jump and have fun.

Love those pig tails.

Alison and her 5th Grade Buddy, Devyn

Then the Kindergartners sang 2 songs for everyone.

There were some special visitors at the assembly today. Three senior citizens from a local retirement home came to see all of the fun. The gentleman is 106! Mark and I had a lot of fun watching Alison perform. Great job sweetheart! We love you!

Pack Meeting

2010-05-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

We had our first Pack Meeting tonight.

They taught us a song.

John received his Bobcat.

The parents received their Bobcat pin.

Then the parents painted the boys faces. Each color and line represented something like honor, courage, etc.

Don't they look cute, I mean cool.

Den yell.

John also received his Pine Wood Derby badge.

Having now sewn badges onto a shirt, I must say a few things:

1. I can sew badges on a shirt!

2. Don't look to close at said badges.

3. Thank heaven for invisible thread! Think fishing wire, it's the best!

4. Trick; first attach badge with fabric glue. Makes sewing it on easier.

5. Obviously men designed all these badges. Because if a woman had designed them (cause we are the ones that sew them on) they would have all been square or rectangle. I mean seriously! Have you ever tried to sew a on circle badge? Remember it has a bumpy edge!

Kindergarten Zoo Trip

2010-05-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

I got to be one of the chaperons for Alison's Field Trip to the Zoo. We lucked out and had a beautiful sunny, 78 degree day! I had 4 kids in my group. They were all well mannered and we had fun seeing the animals.

From top left: Blaise, Ella, Alison, Jackson

One of the boys saw me putting my sunglasses back on as we were leaving the Penguin building. He said, "You are really pretty. You should leave your glasses off." So sweet!

Dinosaur Science Fair

2010-05-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

The second graders have been learning about Dinosaurs. In class

they did research and wrote about one of their choice. John chose Deinonychus which means "terrible claw". They had to make a visual aid at home for the Science Fair. For one hour they were in the cafeteria and all the other grades came in to look at their projects. Each student had a comment sheet for people to say something to them. John felt very proud because his sheet was filled front and back and even in the margins!

John could not decide between two different projects. So he made both! A fossil of Deinonychus' claw and a diorama of a pack of Deinonychus eating. They hunted in packs you know.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was very special this year. I love that the kids can write now and make me such wonderful cards! I received many compliments like: my mom is good at making macaroni and cheese and cookies; my mom has pretty hair; thank you for making me happy; thank you for taking care of me; you are as pretty as a princess; you are smart, you know how to do pluses (addition)!

John made me this beautiful clay pot. It proudly sits on my bathroom counter and holds my ring at night.

Alison made me hand prints and lovely cards.

Mark took us to Olive Garden for dinner. I am so thankful for these wonderful spirits I have the opportunity to raise here on this earth. I am glad to be their mother. I am also thankful for a wonderful, loving husband.

Cub Scouts

2010-04-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Since John has turned 8 years old, he is eligible to join Cub Scouts through our church. His very first activity was the Pine Wood Derby Race!

This is my favorite picture! I love seeing my two guys working together.

John's Hot Rod

His first race. Lane 3. 2nd place.

Waiting for another race to start!

One happy Cub Scout!

Receiving his certificate for "Best Hot Rod".

Standing proud with his good friend Ryan McBride.

Having grown up with girls, I had never been to a Pine Wood Derby race before. It was so funny to see the boys having fun with each other while they waited for their next race. I think these races are more for the dad's then the boys. The men were all grouped together talking about how they sanded, glued, measured just the right angle, weighted, and graphited their cars. I mean how their son's did all that. Some even went as far as telling the judges that a particular lane was not exactly the same as the others. This was all done in between grabbing their son's car to add more graphite to the wheels. Graphite makes the wheels go faster. I learned this. I have also learned that you can't just use WD40 or some other type of oil because that is heavier than graphite and that would slow your car down. So now we know.

John was very apprehensive. It was a new experience and he did not know what to expect. He kept me glued to his side. Seriously. They have all the scouts sit in a row together inside the roped off race area. They were nice enough to let the "rules" slide and I sat by him until he warmed up. Fortunately, he was in the first race. Watching his car drive down the track was all it took. After that I was able to move to the other side of the ropes and watch the races with the rest of the parents. The leaders really went all out to make it special for the boys. They had monster cookies, trail mix, and antifreeze punch for dessert. It was a lot of fun.

Mom + Mono = Bad Blogger!

2010-03-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

The first part of February I tested positive for mono! How you ask? We asked the same thing! Since it is the "kissing" disease, and no one else in my family had it... I know what you are thinking and the answer is NO, I did not kiss someone outside of my family. Anyways, I am just starting to get energy back. So this is me telling all of you I am sorry for not updating you about Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mark's birthday, my birthday and everything else that has happened to date. I will repent and get going on it, next week...

Art Night

2009-11-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

The kids school held Art Night tonight. All of the classes make something to put for sale to raise money for the school to have special art projects. Like a professional artist come and work with all the students to make their own painting, etc.

John made a poem about his favorite color and a collage with it in his class. His class also made a really cute lemonade stand/ puppet stand! I was outbid by $5 so we did not get to bring that home. We were bummed, but we might just make it ourselves.

John with his poem.

John's poem.

Alison's class made magnets. Her class also made fingerprint animals on a frame around a mirror. It was cute.

Halloween

2009-10-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

We had a good Halloween here this year. No rain and no coats necessary. We started with lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, kids in costume eat free! We met our friends the McBride's there. Then it was off to another friend's house for a party. Followed by Trick-or-Treating. Mark cut that part short by about 6 houses, due to the fact that the kids kept fighting (on people's door step) about who's turn it was to ring the door bell, if the other was doing it fast enough, and "he keeps running ahead and he is going to get all the candy!". Oh the memories.

Darth Vader

Twiggy

Hannah Montana

Halloween Party

2009-10-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

The youth held a Halloween Party for the Primary kids at church. Lots of games and candy. We had a lot of fun!

I thought this was the cutest costume!

John and Alison (aka Darth Vader and Hannah Montana)

Luke vs. Darth (Brandon vs. John)

Sunday Afternoon

2009-10-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoons are perfect for putting together a 300 piece puzzle.

Spooktacular Dinner

2009-10-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun making this dinner. The whole family enjoyed it and ate everything.

Monster Mash (Italian Cream Cheese and Chicken)

Ghost Brains

Puffed Rats

Vampire Teeth and Mummy Fingers

Ogre Ear Wax

Graveyard Surprise

Carving Pumpkins

2009-10-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

The kids had a lot of fun carving their pumpkins and decorating them.

Do I Want To Grow Up?

2009-10-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was working on the computer and heard someone getting into the closet in my bathroom. A few minutes later Alison appeared with her newest "creation". Every now and then someone in dance class or at school will comment to her about sucking her thumb. We have discussed with her what her options are, if she wants to stop, but are leaving it up to her.

"This is so I won't suck my thumb!"

"See, when I want to suck my thumb, I will think it tastes gross and I won't."

She then asked to pick a movie. Right when the movie started she went to suck her thumb. "Mom, I can't suck my thumb. I think I will try this another time. I want to suck my thumb while I watch the movie." We don't mind her staying "little" awhile longer.

Lego Master Builder

2009-10-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

We received an invitation to go and help a Lego Master Builder build an 8 foot tall Yoda. He is traveling the country so look for him at a Lego store near you. It is free and the kids had fun. They both received a certificate when they were done building.

John and Alison hard at work.

This is what the finished Yoda will look like, only a lot bigger! If you look behind Alison, those are the bricks we were working on. I think we were the first stop on the tour. And yes, it is made out of solid Legos! Lots of fun!

Homework

2009-10-09T17:17:00.001-07:00

Alison got the assignment to fill a bag with 10 things that were important to her.

This is what was in her bag:

1. A craft she made because she likes to do art.

2. Playing outside.

3. Cuddling with mom.

4. Playing with her toys.

5. Music; singing, dancing and listening to it.

6. Sharing with her dad.

7. Playing dress-up.

8. Colby Jack cheese.

9. A pink heart. Her favorite color is pink.

10. A beetle she found outside because she likes to collect things from nature.

Top Reasons to Always Carry a Camera

2009-10-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

You should always have your camera with you because you might be at a stop light and look at the car in front of you and see this...

(click on the photo to see it bigger if you are having trouble viewing it)

and this...

If you didn't have your camera with you, you would not be able to take a picture and post it for all your family and friends to laugh at, I mean look at.

(no clowns were actually harmed or had their feelings hurt in the publishing of this post)

Sweet, Sweet Alison

2009-10-09T16:05:00.001-07:00

Heidi took Alison out for a photoshoot this summer. Alison became quite the diva. When it was time to leave and I told her to get in the car she looked at me and said, "who's going to open the door for me?".

Family Pictures

2009-10-09T15:58:00.001-07:00

It was time to update the family pictures. Heidi did a great job as usual!

When I grow up...

2009-10-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Alison: "Mom I know what I want to be when I grow up."

Me: "You do. What do you want to be?"

Alison: "I want to be a plain ol' mommy like you."

On the Seventh Day of School

2009-09-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

my Kindergartner says to me...

"mom, all of the girls in my class wear things in their hair".

Alison has not let me put things in her hair. She does not like the "feeling".

Oh the power of friends.

On the Fourth Day of School

2009-09-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

My Kindergartner says to me...

"Mom all of the girls in my class have their ears pierced."

Kindergarten

2009-09-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

Alison started Kindergarten today. She was so excited! She went to bed last night telling me how she was going to pose for her pictures in the morning. This year I am giving her a choice between two outfits (that match) and she gets to choose which one. I have been trying to teach her about matching, one piece is a solid while the other has a pattern. She is learning.

Alison's fashionable poses.

Mrs. McNeel and Alison.

Alison is so excited to be in school and loves Mrs. McNeel. She will also be attending Kinder Day. Kindergarten is only 2.5 hours. Kinder Day takes the kids, no more than 12, from the end of Kindergarten to the end of the school day. Alison is so excited to eat lunch at school and ride the bus with John and the other neighborhood kids. I was nervous for her first day riding the bus. It was hard for me to let my baby go and not see her again until 2:30 pm. She is loving school and I know she will have a great year.

Homework

2009-09-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

John's first homework assignment was to decorate and fill a bag with 5 things that were important to him or that told something about him. Here is what is important to John right now:

Cheeseburgers (we put a wrapper in the bag)

Red is his favorite color. He had me cut him out a heart with my Cricut in red paper. He said it also represented love, because he loves everyone.

Doing art.

Legos. Duh!

Friends. This is John with Blake. They both put this picture in their bag.

2nd Grade

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

John started 2nd grade this year. He was very adamit that we could not call him a 2nd grader until school started. His teacher is Mrs. Rinehart. He is getting more used to her and thinks she is very nice. He was sad that his friend Blake was not in his class this year, but we are encouraging him to play with other kids as well. His anxiety is really high right now and we are working with the teacher to help him feel more comfortable in the classroom. We love him very much and are so proud of him.

Mrs. Rinehart and John

I can't believe he is in 2nd grade!

Cuddle Time, Alison Style

2009-09-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Since she was born, Alison has been a cuddlier. As she has grown, she has become specific on how to cuddle her. For example, when you cuddle at bed time she will put her cloth over your face so that the air you are exhaling will not get on her. You are to sleep on the edge of hthe bed and not rest your hand or arm on her. However, when she is actually asleep, she is right up next to you. If you move even an inch, she will find you within 3 seconds. Tonight she tells me, "Mom I'm used to looking at your face while I go to sleep now and you are breathing your breath". So nice to know that I, and my breath, am loved and accepted.

Dance I Say, Dance

2009-08-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

This summer we started dancing. The kids are loving it! They enjoy their own class and like to watch the other classes when it is not their turn.

Alison is in a Ballet, Tap & Tumble combo class.

John is taking Break Dancing. He can "freeze" with the best of them.

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

2009-07-17T22:56:00.000-07:00

I am working in the house while the kids are playing outside with the neighborhood kids. John and his buddy Blake come running in to tell me, "Mom, Alison and Pierce kissed on the lips, twice!" Thanks for telling me, lets go and clean up outside and take Blake home.

When I go outside, Pierce's parents are out too and then Pierce and John both tell them what happened. Heather, the mom, and I discuss what we will be saying to the "love birds".

Later that night as I am putting Alison to bed we have a talk. I tell her that it is not okay to kiss someone that you are not married to. She is only 5, I can tell her to wait until marriage for at least 5 more years. She then tells me that she and Pierce are going to get married so it is okay for them to kiss. I restate, that when they are married they can kiss, but not until they are married. But mom, we are going to get married. I can see that my point is not fully being made. So I throw in, you will have a time out if you do it again.

Fast forward a week. I was outside tonight visiting with some neighbors as the kids played. One of my neighbors mentioned that he saw on Heather's blog that Alison and Pierce kissed. The other neighbor then tells me that he saw them kissing yesterday as they drove around in Pierce's power wheel. The image of a moonlight night and a parked car come to my mind.

I tell Alison latter when we are in the house that one of the neighborhood dads saw her and Pierce kissing yesterday. She looks at me with a big smile and then immediately says, "no we didn't. We were just hugging in his jeep".

4th of July

2009-07-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

July 4th brought fun, relaxing and hot weather. We started the day with a trip to the local spray park to try to cool off. We had a lot of fun. The kids love to stand with the water in between their legs so it looks like they are peeing. Oh, kids!

Fun at the park.

Potluck dinner and dessert with the neighbors. Lots of yummy food!

Fireworks, fireworks, and a lot more fireworks! A big thank you to the Kelly's and Brown's for the organization and firework show. We look forward to next year.

Look Who's 5

2009-07-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

Alison, you joined our family on July 1, 2004. You have brought us so much joy and happiness. You are a wonderful sharer. You love to cuddle. You love your brother, John. You want to do everything he does and then some. You love to sing and dance. You love to explore nature and play outside. You love to swing. You love chocolate milk, "Ducky" and "clothy". You put your shoes on the wrong feet every day. You are excited to be in Kindergarten in the fall. We love you very much. We are so lucky to be your parents.

Just so cute!

Alison, how old are you?

Did someone say presents?

Dinner at Red Robin

A Christmas Carol

2009-07-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Disney notified me about the national touring train, "A Christmas Carol". It just so happened to make its stop in Portland the day we took Nicole to the Airport. So I surprised the kids and we went to the train station to see the Disney train. Of course it was all done up Disney style.

Carolers for entertainment while we stood in line. It was a hot day too!

It snowed! They had chimneys that blew snow (soap bubbles) every so often. If you click on the picture of Alison you can see them in her hair.

This was taken inside one of the train cars. Each car was done up with costumes, props, TV screens showing different clips during the editing process, etc. This car was showing how they put the actors in front of a blue screen and filmed their facial and body movements to make the animation more realistic. So cool.

This is a giant inflatable movie house. We got to go inside and watch a 10 minute clip of the movie in 3D. It was awesome. I don't know if the kids will really be able to sit through the movie though. They thought it was pretty scary as they only have "A Mickey's Christmas Carol" to compare it to. Mickey, Donald and Goofy are not as dramatic as these ghosts were. I was in the play in the sixth grade, so I am excited to see it when it comes out this year. Thanks Disney for the fun, FREE event!

Goodbye

2009-07-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

(sung to Goodbye Norma Jean by Elton John)

Goodbye Aunt Nicole.

Though your stay was short,

We sure enjoyed your laugh.

We had good times with you.

Like Youth Conference and Seattle,

Laughing and playing dress up.

Please come back sometime.

Maybe stay a little longer.

We love you.

Party Like A Pop Star

2009-06-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

This year Alison wanted a Hannah Montana Birthday Party. So I made these "backstage passes" for the invitations. The reverse side had the who, what, when, and where. It told the guests to dress in their favorite Hannah clothes or Rock Star clothes. Most of the guests even wore their backstage pass to the party as well. It was a lot of fun to make the invitations.

The invitation

We played "pin the microphone" on Hannah. The girls had fun with that. And yes, that is where the microphones actually ended up. The other game was guess how many M&M were in the jar. There were 575 to be exact. I don't think any girl even guessed above 150. Alison's answer was really funny. She said "a lot". We also did dancing and I had the Karaoke machine set up so they could sing. I kept the party at 1 hour. It was perfect for this age.

We did build your own ice cream sundaes.

Our own "Hannah". Happy 5th Alison. We love you. It was fun to see you all dressed up. I loved watching your friends and you have a good time together.

Relay For Life

2009-06-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

June is here and that means Relay! Here is a wonderful video the event photographer, Heidi Watts, put together. It sums up my 24 hours wonderfully. I was on the committee this year again as the Events and Entertainment Chair. It is so wonderful to see your communitty come together for a great cause. At the end of the event we had raised $62,000 ytd. Way to go Oregon City!

Alpha and Omega in Seattle

2009-06-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

My sister Nicole came to spend a month with us. We really enjoyed having her here. One of the first things she told me was this idea she had. She thought we should make matching shirts. My shirt would say "Alpha" because I am the oldest. Her shirt would say "Omega" because she is the youngest in our family. We met Mark in Seattle and had lunch in the Space Needle Restaurant. It is a revolving restaurant and takes 45 minutes to make a complete rotation. The kids had so much fun watching the view constantly change. So here we are atop the Space Needle.

Jennifer and Nicole. 17 years apart. I was a senior in High School when she was born. I remember my mom having me take her with me on errands. People thought she was my daughter.

Jennifer, John, Alison and Mark atop the Space Needle.

Look what street Seattle has!

John with the Monk Fish. It is attached to a string and the guys behind the counter move it every so often to scare the viewers. This is the famous fish stand on the corner at Pike's Market Place where they throw the fish.

Nicole with the Monk Fish.

Mark, John, Alison, and Nicole

John, Nicole and Alison all smiles on the Monorail.

Father's Day

2009-06-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Father's Day started out with breakfast in bed for Mark. The children sing to the dads at church so Mark came with us to hear the kids sing. We had a wonderful dad with Mark. He is a great husband and father. He is so loving to the kids. They love their dad and miss him when he is gone. Thank you Mark for being a wonderful husband and father. We love you!

Breakfast in bed with Dad

John's breakfast for dad: Diet Dr. Pepper, pop tart, cereal straw, fruit loops, buttered bagel

Alison's breakfast for dad: buttered bagel, fishy crackers, pop tart and water

"I'm so glad when daddy comes home"

Me and my Man

John made this for Mark at school. It is a picture of Mark.

Youth Conference

2009-06-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

I was asked to be in charge of Youth Conference for our Ward this year. I had to come up with a theme, location, menu, transportation, schedule of events and promotion for about 50 people ages 12 and up. The theme I came up with was...

I wanted the youth to be secret agents. They really had a fun time with it. My friend Mark McBride designed the logo for me and we used it on the shirts. The scripture focus for the youth for this year is 1 Timothy 4:12. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I used this scripture to plan my activities. They would be an example in conversation through bearing their testimony. For charity we performed a service project of setting up large tents for the camp. Their spirit and faith were tested through the activities we did as a team.

We went to Zions Camp in Washington. We were there for two days and one night. I had the youth divided into two teams. Each team participated in a row boat competition, archery and ropes course. The main focus was to unify the group. So they had to work together as a team to accomplish each mission. I had a CD player that "appeared" before the mission telling them what to do, and that the message would self destruct. It was a lot of fun.

Everything went off without a hitch. We were able to stay on our time schedule and had no injuries. The only criticism I have received was that I had scheduled too long of a lunch hour. They wanted to get to the activities.

Multitasking

2009-06-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

While emptying the dishwasher, Alison decided she wanted to color. She used her "favorite" ink pen and colored on the counter, dishwasher (inside and out), various bowls, cups and lids. I had her use a "magic eraser" to clean up. She complained the whole time that "it's not coming off". I pointed out that is why we only write on paper. I made her scrub until dinner was ready (2 min tops). She told me, "I don't want to stand here cleaning anymore. I wanted some me time on the couch before dinner". To which I replied, "keep scrubbing".

Field Day

2009-06-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

I helped out at John's field day. It was fun to watch the kids play and enjoy themselves. I can hardly believe that John will be in 2nd grade next year!

Egg on a spoon

Rubber Chicken on a stick

Hopping with bean bag in between knees

Alison's field day was for the whole family. We brought KFC for a picnic dinner. There was face painting, crown decorating and just playing with friends. The kids both got their faces painted. The cottonwood trees were letting loose. It felt like we were in a snow storm! There were so many white flurries falling all over! We all had a great time.

Alison the Kitty Cat

Alison, Nicole (my sister), John, and Jennifer

Autobot John

John's Autobot Symbol

The kids were so proud of their face paint. John had asked the lady to copy the Autobot symbol off his shoe. He was really proud with how it turned out. This was the first time either of them had their face painted. They have never wanted it done before. So bath time that night was not so pleasant for any of us. Oh if things could be permanent.

6 Crows

2009-06-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Alison's class put on three plays. Every child was in one. Alison was a crow in "6 Crows". The teacher read the book as the kids acted it out. They practiced for two weeks, built scenery and decided on costumes. They did a great job. Alison has turned into quite the performer. She loves to get on stage. We have signed her up for a dance class for the summer.

Evan, Matteo, Rachel, Alison and Julie

After the plays the class went to The Abernathy Center for their end of school year class party. One of the families in her class owns The Abernathy Center and said we could use one of the gardens for the party. It is a beautiful location. They host weddings and other functions. We had a lot of great food and fun! I made t-shirts for the kids. We had fabric markers and they were able to sign the back of each others shirts. They had so much fun!

This was what I put on the class shirts. It was a fun party and a great end to the school year. Alison really loved being in the Butterfly Class. She has grown so much in her Independence, social skills and educational skills. She loves to draw, perform and play outside. Congratulations Alison on a wonderful year of preschool. I can't believe you will be in Kindergarten in the fall.

Ward Variety Show

2009-05-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Our ward held a Variety Show. There was a great turnout. The activity committee made a "Laugh In Wall" and asked some of us to perform. Mike Edson wrote the jokes for Susan, Kelli, Mike and I to perform. We did great and we looked great too! Okay, so I am biased.

Susan McBride, Myself and Kelli Edson all dolled up for the "Laugh In Wall"

Alison performed with a group of 6 girls. Four of the six girls are sisters. The oldest Wilson sisters choreographed the dance and taught it to all of them. Alison loved it! She had so much fun, and keeps asking when I am going to sign her up again for dance class.

John decided at 2 pm that day that he didn't want to be left out of the performing fun. So with a quick phone call I arranged for him to tell a joke at the "Laugh In Wall".

Crazy Hat Day

2009-05-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today was Crazy Hat Day at school for Alison. We made a "Party on a Hat". She loved it!

The Butterfly Spring Sing

2009-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Alison's class and the Mice class invited the parents for a Spring Performance. They sang "This Land is Your Land" and "Inch by Inch". Alison did a wonderful job. She sings loud and proud. She even picked out her own outfit that morning. We are so proud of our little singer.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day! It started with breakfast in bed. The kids are so thoughtful, not the best at selecting a menu, but thoughtful. Then at church I watched Alison sing to me with the other Primary kids and John was next to me singing. John still does not like to go on stage. I got to take a nap and Mark did the dishes. A day of relaxation was just what I needed. I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband and children. They bring me such joy. They make me laugh at all of the funny and cute things they say and do. They try my patience and my faith. They help me become a better mom, wife and woman on a daily basis. I am so thankful Heavenly Father sent me my John and Alison. I am so thankful to have a loving husband who is a wonderful father.

John wanted me to have a picture with his fish.

I enjoyed a performance by both children while I ate.

Alison gave me water, buttered toast and a chocolate doughnut. John gave me orange juice, buttered toast, string cheese, yogurt, and a slice of cheese in a bun. Delicious?

Sea Art

2009-05-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

John's school had an art performance. They had an artist come in and all the kids were able to make fish and other various sea creatures and plants. They used florescent paint. Then the school performed to music and black lights. The audience was able to view an "underwater" performance. John did great. I helped with his class during the performance to make sure their "school" all stayed together on the stage.

Blogging Question

2009-05-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

Can anyone explain why some of my posts show the paragraph spacing, and others don't?

Signed,
Desperately Seeking Unity in Blogging Land

She's Hot!

2009-05-05T23:43:00.001-07:00

While searching a web site with Alison for pettiskirts John comes in to see what we are doing. This picture is on the web page we are looking at.

To which John replies, "wow she's hot!. I want her. Can you buy her?" I explain that she is modeling a skirt we can buy, but we can't buy her.

"Can we trade Alison for her? Then she can be my sister?" I explain that is not a very nice thing to say and no, we can not trade our sister.

"Well, can she be my girlfriend?" If you would like to imagine that she is your girlfriend, go ahead.

He is just 7 years old! What are we going to do when he is a teenager? I have to agree with John though, she is hot.

I Kiss better than I cook

2009-04-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

I have a sign in my kitchen hanging above my pantry that reads "I Kiss better than I cook". I am not offended by this sign at all. I actually had it custom made. When Mark first saw it hanging up he read it and said, "that is true".

If you know me, you know that I do not like to cook. The whole kitchen area is a drag to me. I can actually feel the walls and ceiling closing in on me when I step in there. The lights dim, the air is stuffy and anxiety takes control of my mind and body. To add to my problem, I am a mother and wife, so I spend about 90% of my day in the kitchen. I am also a clean freak. Another reason why preparing meals is so hard for me. So many dirty bowls, knives, cutting boards, pots, pans, spoons... Someone help! My brain hurts just thinking about it. It is hard for me to prepare a meal from start to finish without cleaning up after every step. Thus, my time in the "dungeon" is increased. To which cries from the galley come, "mom I'm hungry", "mom play with me", "mom how do I go to Lego.com". Oh the insanity!

For the last 8 years now, and counting, Mark's job has required him to travel on a weekly basis. This means that he leaves on Monday and comes home on Friday. So I as a wife and mother have only had to cook for myself and then children during the week. Then the "picky eating" stage sets in with the children, like all children and you have two choices. First choice is to continue to make a variety of meals and make your children eat them or else. The second choice is to cater to their whims, make what they will eat and have a nice dinner together. You with your food, them with theirs. I have chosen the latter. This decision has greatly added to my disagreement with the kitchen. When you cater, you don't get practice in the kitchen. I can cook. I just don't like to because it takes too much time.

I have chosen to cater, but secretly hope that some day my children will come around to trying and liking new things. I would like to offer a piece of advice. When you make a decision, don't secretly hope for it to go the other way. I will be working out the catering decision I made in therapy in the future I am sure. Or will I?

I present to you Alison eating Chicken Enchiladas! Not only did she eat an entire serving, she liked it! And had seconds!

Okay, so her face doesn't look like she likes it, but trust me, she does! She cleaned her plate except for the 2 pinto beans she refused to try. Baby steps.

Being the second child she looks up to her older brother. So she decided long ago to follow his eating habits. I have noticed over the last 6 months that she was growing tired of those same 4 things for dinner. In the last week she has tried and likes ham, potato cheese casserole, corned beef, carrots, enchiladas, tri tip, Italian cream cheese chicken, pork spare ribs and a few other things I can't remember. I have been making John take a bite as well. He compiles, but won't take more than a bite.

Could this be the beginning of the end of my disagreement with the kitchen? Too early to say just yet. Time will tell. As for now, I am accepting of the fact that I enjoy food. And I really enjoy food that has been prepared by someone else.

Bedtime is for...

2009-04-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Sleeping! At least that is what I as the mom think. However with the sun staying up longer these days, my little ones are disagreeing.

Two nights ago John came downstairs about 20 minutes after I had left his room and proudly announced that he had pulled a tooth! Wonderful, is it the one that has been loose since October and dangles around in his mouth, disgusting the heck out of his parents, you may ask? Of course not! It is a different one that has been loose for about a month. The one from October is still in his mouth and he refuses to pull it. He wants it to fall out on it's own.

This evening Alison was trying to learn how to snap her fingers. This got the whole family snapping. Again, 20 minutes after I left John's room, who should arrive downstairs? John, who has taught himself how to snap! Wonderful! But what happened to going to sleep?

Tulips with the Edson Family

2009-04-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Tulips finally bloomed, so we had to go back of course. This time we went with our dear friends, the Edsons. The kids had fun playing with each other and looking at the flowers. It was a warm day and the ground was dry. What more could you ask for?

Alison looking cute!

The Whole Gang!

Alison, Jennifer, Kaylee, John, Spencer, Kelli with Aubree, and Jake

This is why I go every year.

Spencer, John and Jake loving on Aubree

I chose to be a mom?

2009-04-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

It is Monday morning and time to wake up and get ready for school. John had an exciting weekend with his Birthday and Birthday party. So of course getting ready for school without playing with toys first was not on his agenda. I went in to tell him to put the toys down and get dressed. To which he looked me in the eye ( a first) and firmly told me, "You are always ruining my life!"

This at 7 years old! What am I going to hear at 12 or 14 years old? I choose to be a mom right? Heaven only knows that I never talked back to my mom. I always did what was asked of me. At least that is how I remember it.

The Lego Birthday Party

2009-04-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

John decided this year to have a Lego themed birthday party. So I put my thinking cap on and came up with a pretty good party, if I do say so myself. I went to Lego.com and made a poster. My friend Mark McBride helped me turn it into an invitation with his photoshop program. I also printed up stickers to put in the gift bags. Since John's birthday is so close to Easter, I was able to find mini Lego sets in the Easter isle at the store and those went into the gift bags as well. John was able to invite four friends. We kept the party to one hour and it went really well. We had the party in the morning (10:30 am to 11:30 am) so that John would not have so much anxiety that day waiting for the guests to arrive.

One of the games was guess how many Lego candies are in the jar. Alison and I made this "basket" out of Legos for the boys to put their guesses in.

The cake. John really wanted it to be red. The best I could do was pink. So 9:30 at night, with the party the next morning, I called my neighbors to borrow more powdered sugar. And blue it was. The boys all loved it! They thought it looked just like a Lego.

The "ice breaker" activity was a Lego connect the dot picture which they could then color.

The second game was a Lego Build Off. Each boy received a bag of Legos that Mark put together. They all had items to make a car, air plane and/or any thing else they could imagine. After explaining that they could build whatever they wanted we set the timer for 10 minutes. Mark was the judge. It was a tough job, but a winner was picked. The third game was pin the Lego Mars Mission guy next to the Lego Mars Mission Rover. Another poster I printed up off of Lego.com and took to the local printer to have blown up. They boys all had a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday John!

"The Muscle Crew"

Cory, John, Jake, Blake, and Jon

John Turns 7

2009-04-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our John! It is hard to believe that he used to be this little.

John 1 years old.

We woke John up with breakfast in bed.

He received many wonderful presents. He had to wait until after school to open them all. He was excited to put the Lego sets together.

John chose Red Robin for dinner. The kids love the staff singing "Happy Birthday" to them. They love the fact that they get balloons and an ice cream sundae! He really was happy, but would not smile for the camera.

Happy Birthday John. We love you very much. You bring so much joy to our family. We love your smile, sense of humor and abundant energy. We love your desire to learn new things. You are a wonderful person and we are glad you are our son.

Easter

2009-04-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Easter came and went. The bunny comes to our house Friday night. We have made a deal with him to come on Friday night so that we can remember the true meaning of Easter on Sunday. He does not mind this because he has to hop allover, no fancy sleigh! The kids were real excited to see what the bunny would bring them. So excited in fact that John woke up at 5 am! That was an early Easter morning. I went to his room to see his basket and then told him he could play in his room or go back to bed. He just wanted to go downstairs and find eggs. When I said no and he could not wake up Alison he decided he was hungry for breakfast. I told him to eat some of the candy in his basket. By 6:30 am Mark was downstairs with him giving him breakfast. Alison woke up around 7 am and the hunt was over by 8 am.

Alison in her Sunday best. We bought her new "high heel" shoes. She feels so grown up.

Finding eggs!

Found one!

Girlfriends Night

2009-04-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Tonight was opening night of the Hannah Montana movie. A group of us took our girls to see the movie. The girls were so excited! Alison wore her new skirt to be like Hannah. Everyone that saw her complimented her and she loved it! The girls loved the movie! We were at the 7:30 pm show and it was packed! There was singing, dancing, cheering and laughter all around. Such fun times. I cherish these moments that Alison wants to me to go with her to the movies.

Sisters in Seattle

2009-04-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

My sister Tanya is attending Culinary School. She competed in the Western Regional Competition this weekend in Seattle. I asked my dear husband if I could go to see her for a few days and he said yes. He even used points to get me a room in the same hotel as Tanya. It was so nice to spend time with my sister. I unfortunately did not make it out of the house as early as I had planned (laundry, school lunches, notes to teachers, after school arrangements for kids), so I missed seeing her team compete. But we did get to spend time together! I arrived in Seattle around 2 pm. Her team was just finishing and heading back to the hotel. I was able to make reservations for us to eat at 6 pm at the Sky View Restaurant atop the Space Needle. This was her first time in Seattle and my first time eating in the restaurant. It actually rotates! It takes 45 minutes to make a complete rotation. It was a beautiful, clear day in Seattle. Really, you could not have asked for better weather. We enjoyed wonderful food and conversation. I had Kobe Beef for the first time and she had the equivalent to Kobe Beef in Pork. Lucky life for those cows and pigs, except when it came time for us to eat. Anyways, after dinner we went up a floor to the observation deck. It was a beautiful sunset and no wind.

Me in the restaurant.

Chef Tanya in the restaurant.

Sisters on the observation deck.

The Space Needle at night. We took these pictures of each other laying on our back on the sidewalk! I have turned my blog into a book, a family journal. So now I am even more excited about entries to the blog. When I learned that I could for sure go to visit Tanya in Seattle I was so excited! No kids, no responsibility and fun times with my sister for 2 days! I instantly thought of the title for this post and told Mark. He just laughed at me. We visited the gift shop at the Space Needle before heading back to the hotel. We decided that it would be fun to have matching shirts for Pike's Market Place the next day. So.....

I present to you Sisters in Seattle!

Here we are in front of the famous "throwing fish" stand.

Of course a trip for mom would not be complete without souvenirs for the kids. John is loving Lego's right now, so this was the obvious gift for him. He put it together and set it up for me to take the picture. I have been wanting to get Alison one of these petticoat skirts for awhile now. I decided to splurge on her gift and bought it for her. Lets face it, I will never make it. She loves to twirl around in it and wear it whenever she can. My only rule was that she can not wear it to school. Bummer, she would be the cutest girl there. I had a wonderful time with Tanya and I love her so much. I am thankful for my loving husband for letting me go have fun and taking care of the kids for 2 days.

Tulip Fields

2009-04-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

We had beautiful 70 degree sunshine so today was the right day for the Tulip Festival. Unfortunately the flowers are not in bloom yet. We have Artic Storm 2008 to thank for that! They have extended the festival by 2 weeks this year because of the storm in December. We are going to try to go back to see the flowers in bloom. We still had a nice day together. The kids had fun pumping the water for the "Ducky Races". They actually wanted to pose for me this year, so I took them up on their offer. They had a few more vintage tractors this year as well. We even got to see them drive them! That was really great to see old steam engines working and watch how they had to be driven. Thank heaven for modern technology!

Alison pumping away.

John using all his body weight.

Just ducky.

This planter box was one of three that had flowers in bloom.

My sweetie!

Spring Break

2009-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

This year for Spring Break we went to California. The kids and I were looking for sunshine and a beach we could wear swimsuits at. Mark was so kind to drive us to my mom's house for the week. This is what a "road trip" looks like in the year 2009! If we don't have our music players on, the DVD is playing.

We went to Avila Beach for a few days before heading to Bakersfield. We decided to head south via San Francisco so the kids could see the Golden Gate Bridge. We did drive down Lombard Street, but did not do the Trolleys this time. The kids had a lot of fun driving up and down the hills of San Francisco. A lot of questioning was going on if our car would make it! I can't wait to take them back sometime and do the hills in the Trolley.

John saw this guy and pointed him out to us. Yep, he really has only one foot! What balance!

Mark, Alison and John in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The story of the nickel. While at Avila Beach we shared a two bedroom suite with my mom and sister Nicole. On Saturday night Nicole watched the kids for us so Mark and I could go out to eat. We had a super delicious dinner of "Crab Dump". Like a crawfish boil, they dump the crab, potatoes, shrimp, sausage, and corn right on your table. It was yummmy! When we got back to the hotel Nicole relays the nights events to us. John came to her while she was putting Alison to bed and said, "I swallowed a nickel and I can feel it right here" (pointing to his throat). Not wanting to panic him, as she could see he was already concerned, she gave him a drink of water to help wash it down. And down it went. She asked him how the nickel got in his mouth. His reply, "I was looking at my money and decided to swallow it". She told him that it would eventually make it's way out of him, but that he should not put money in his mouth. While she was tucking him in to bed he asked her if she was going to tell his mom what he had done. She replied yes. I think he woke up the next morning waiting to see if I would say something. Of course I did bring it up over breakfast, and reminded him that only food goes in our mouth. Luckily for him, curiosity did not kill the cat this time. How do you decide that you want to swallow a nickel? I don't think I will ever know the answer to that one.

My sister Melissa and her family were also at the beach the same time we were. Here is Sophia, John and Alison in the cove. The tide was low so we went over and looked at the tide pools. The kids loved seeing the crab, clams and anemone. I was handing Mark the camera to take a picture of a crab he had found and oops! And there went the camera in the tide pool. It never turned back on. We luckily did not loose the images on the SD card. My sister let me borrow her camera while we were at the beach. When we got to Bakersfield I did some research and went and got a new one. Bummer!

John playing by the "river".

Alison covered by cousins.

Looking for me?

The view from our patio. The kids loved the pool and hot tub! Now every time we stay in a hotel, which we did on the drive home, they have to go for a swim.

While in Bakersfield some of my sisters and my mom and I went out for dinner one night. My dad watched my kids. Knowing that he was home for the night, I took Grandpa and Grandma and the kids for ice cream. We went to Dewar's. They are a local ice cream and candy shop that have been around since my mom was a little girl. We went to the original location which is down by my high school. We had a lot of fun together. It was really nice to spend time with them. My kids love having that one on one time with Grandpa and Grandma. They were excited to see my high school as well. That has more to do with movie High School Musical.

That is a Black and White. Vanilla ice cream with hot fudge topping. Topped with chocolate ice cream with marshmallow topping. Topped with crushed almonds. Yum!

Don't you just love the seats and the two pretty girls?

Sophia turned 6 years old while we were there. So that day Alison and my mom went with Melissa to her school to give out suckers and read Sophia's favorite book. Then that night we had a family party at my mom's house for her. The kids had fun breaking open the pinata and watching her open presents.

Happy Birthday Sophia. We love you.

This is John with Olivia. She belongs to my sister Angela. John fell in love with her. He is really into babies right now and thinks they are the cutest thing ever. She is a real mamma's girl, so John did not get to hold her as much as he wanted to.

Good times with Grandpa and Grandma Thompson!

Do we look alike?

Luck of the Irish

2009-03-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Do we really have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patricks' Day? We think not! We had our friends the McBride family over for dinner tonight. Green soda cans, green confetti and green eggs and ham! The kids sure enjoyed their meal. The adults enjoyed corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage. YUM! It was Mark and Susan McBride's first time ever having corned beef. I was a bit nervous if they would go home hungry. I am happy to report that they loved it! They even went home with leftovers. We had gold coins from our Leprechaun, See's Candies! The next best thing to real gold.

The beautiful table. So corn, toast and applesauce are not green, but make a well balanced meal for young ones.
Green scrambled eggs and deli sliced ham.

The very hungry Ryan, John, Alison and Ella.

Mother Nature

2009-03-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

This is March right? Who ordered snow? I want sunshine!

Cooking with Butterflies

2009-03-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

I had made cookies for the family and was sending the kids to school every day with one in their lunch. The kids in Alison's class decided that they wanted cookies too. I was asked to come and make cookies with them! Me? I don't let my kids in the kitchen with me! I gladly accepted the challenge, I mean opportunity and headed with what felt like my kitchen to the Butterfly class.

This is Alison making glue, not cookies! I just did not have one of her working with me. They get to do so many fun things at school. Thank heavens for school!

Evan and I mixing in the flour. Notice my "hovering" hand. It was really hard for me to not "help" the kids with every step. I wonder if I could have a controlling personality?

The finished product was enjoyed by all!

I had a lot of fun and came home exhausted! I stand in awe of teachers everywhere!

John's Musical Performance

2009-03-03T20:40:00.001-08:00

John did a great job for his performance! He is playing the "boom whacker". Never heard of that instrument? Neither had Mark and I. He was very anxious about this performance for the week leading up to it. But was able to perform without incident. We all enjoyed some ice cream at Cold Stone afterwards. Good job John. Dad and I are very proud of you and love you very much.

Trip to the Dentist

2009-03-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

The seasoned professional. He makes fluoride look cool!

His 6 year molars are almost all in. His loose tooth in the front, that has been loose for 3 months, is still in! He refuses to pull it. It is driving me crazy! It is all I can do to not hold him down and flick it out.

The first timer. She was fabulous! Loved every minute of it.

No cavities, check. Goodie bags, check. Token prize, check.
Excited to go again in 6 months, check.

Sunday Sayings

2009-03-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

During the sacrament, the bread is blessed and served first. John leans over to me and says, "mom, it just tastes like regular bread. I don't taste the blessings."

Later that day, our Home Teachers came over to visit. They are telling a story about a young boy who is trying to round up the family's cattle. They asked if the kids knew what cattle were. John said, "yea, it is a Cadillac". The boy ends up getting lost in the woods and it was starting to get dark. They asked the kids what they thought the boy could do. John said he could pray. Alison said, "He could ask Heavenly Father for a flashlight"!

Spelling

2009-02-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

John needed some help while doing his homework this week.

John: Mom, how do you spell c,h?
Me: c, h
John: Yea, how do you spell c,h?
Me: c, h
John: You know, it makes the "ch" sound? How do you spell c, h?
Me: John, you spell it with a c and an h.
John: Oh, yea, thanks.

Grown Up

2009-02-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

As I was looking at myself in the mirror this morning deciding what part of the makeup routine I could skip in lue of time, I start to think....

Last week I spoke to a group of 50 girls ages 12-13. I had been asked to talk on makeup and fashion appropriate for that age group. The details of that are a whole entry in and of themselves. However, one of my points was that at their age they don't need a lot of makeup to look beautiful. They have a natural, youthful beauty already. I then compared their looks to those of their mothers and women older than them. I pointed out that those of us older than them have had babies, don't get enough sleep at night, and have the aging process all working against us. We need makeup to make us look younger. My point in doing this was to add a bit of humor and to help them realize they are young and naturally pretty.

So back to my own face... as I used my white concealer to diminish the dark semi-circles under my eyes, and my green concealer to diminish the red dot from a previous blemish. I thought of the comment my dermatologist made to me when I was in at my last appointment. I told him how even the smallest of cuts or scratches on any part of my body seem to take months to disappear. They stay red for a long time. His reply, "you are getting older and the body takes longer to heal". Then when discussing my weight with my "women's" Doctor I was again reminded that I was getting older and the body does not work like it used too.

Which lead to another point to ponder. When did I get old enough to have or need a family doctor, Dermatologist, "women's" Doctor, eye doctor, Dentist, ENT specialist, Gastroenterologist, Podiatrist, Periodontist, Orthodontist, or Psychologist? All of which I have a business card for,and have used for myself or some member of my family.

So I am now to that point in life where I NEED makeup, I use Listerine, I am concerned about little ones mouths, bottoms, growth cycle, etc... My daughter tells me that my under ware is HUGE! and hers is little. I HAVE to work out, not just because it feels good. I MUST put Neosporin on even the smallest scratch if I want it to go away with in 2 months.

And with that, I apply the last coat of mascara and walk out the door to start yet another day of being a "Grown Up". At least I get to decide my own bed time. Right?

Happy 34th Jennifer

2009-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Another year older. Another year wiser, prettier, etc..... right? It was a really fun birthday for me. We went as a family to OMSI for the day. Then we went to dinner at La Carretta. Yummy Mexican food and great company! I could not have asked for a better day. Well, unless it came with a million dollars!

"The Sword in the Salsa", idea and photo courtesy of John.

Me trying to pull said sword out of the salsa. I came, I saw, I did not conquer.

Having the employees sing to me. The kids favorite part. They kept reminding the waiter so they would make sure to do this for me. Actually, we think the waiter did forget. So when he came back for our check, the kids just kept saying, "it's our mom's birthday" over and over. I guess he got the not so sutle hint.

Muy bonita senorita!

A Hannah Montana craft set from Alison. How did she know?

A Lego Power Miners Set from John. I guess I have to dig for my own jewels!

Birthday at OMSI

2009-02-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

The kids had Friday off so we decided to go to OMSI for the day. I had won a year's family pass from the radio station and had not yet activated it. Mark took the day off and came with us. We really had a great time. We saw two planetarium shows, Cosmic Collisions and U2; The Dome Experience. Those were great. The annual Rock and Gem show was going on there as well. We were able to see some neat rocks and gems. We watched a man polishing a sphere and a lady faceting a gem. The current exhibit is Da Vinci: The Genius. I don't know why I thought the real Mona Lisa would be there, but I did. It of course was not. It was fun to see his notes and ideas. He truly was a genius.

They also have a US Submarine that you can take a 45 minute walking tour of. This is the first time we have done that and it was really neat. We got to look through the periscope and see the boats on the water. They have real torpedoes on board. A fact that John found to be "really awesome". She is the USS Bluebird. They Navy still owns her and if she was needed, she could be sea ready in a year or less. She was one of the subs used in the filming of Hunt for Red October.

We all had a wonderful time at OMSI. We did of course do all the standard things there are to do at OMSI. Good thing we get to go whenever we want this year. The kids really have a blast. This is video of Alison in the Room of Mirrors that Da Vinci designed. She had a blast! I think her birthday present will be mirrored closet doors.

Field Trip

2009-02-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of going with John's class on a field trip. Although, we did not see a field? We went to downtown Portland to see Click, Clack, Moo. I was responsible for four boys. We had a good time and really enjoyed the play.

Jennifer and John on the bus.

John, Demetrius, Caleb, Jonathan
What you can't see is that Demetrius has both of his ears pierced. Is it just me, or is that a little too young for a boy to have pierced ears? He wears earrings every day. Luckily for me, John has noticed that his ears are pierced, but does not have a desire for his to be as well.

Portland Auto Show

2009-02-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

Mark, John and I went to the Auto Show together. I had suggested that it be a "guys day out", but Mark really wanted me to share it with him. Alison had her choice, and she chose to stay home with a babysitter. (no fair!) We really had a good time together. The guys got to see the Camaro, Charger, Challenger, Viper and many other cool cars. When we were finished, we picked up Alison and headed to Red Robin for dinner. It was a nice Saturday.

Happy 35th Mark

2009-02-02T22:53:00.001-08:00

Look who turned 35!

This is the Birthday Crown as decided by Alison, courtesy of her dress up clothes. She took the picture and told Mark to pose.

She loves her daddy!

John the budding photographer.

Alison's present to dad= Lego Constructor Set

John's present to dad= Lego Racer Set

Dinner at Buster's BBQ

Happy Birthday Mark!

The kids ran in to wake up Mark this morning and tell him Happy Birthday. After school we went to Fred Meyer to buy presents. Then home to wrap them and make cards. The kids were so excited to have Mark open the gifts, that had to be done before dinner. Then off to Buster's BBQ for dinner. Last night when we were discussing dinner choices the kids asked Mark how old he was going to be. He told them 35 years old. Alison said, "I am never going to be that old. That means that you are going to be a Grandpa tomorrow dad!" Oh the innocence of youth! We picked up some shakes at Mike's Drive-In and brought them home to have with Chocolate Brownie Bread from Great Harvest Bread Co. This stuff is to die for! Mark had a wonderful day and it was nice to celebrate his birthday with him. I want him to know how much I love him and appreciate him. Mark you are a wonderful husband and father. I love you, you old grandpa!

Table Talk

2009-01-31T08:56:00.001-08:00

Dinner time is time to catch up on the day, ie ask probing questions to find out how the school day went. Typical answers include: I just don't remember what we did today. Recess was my favorite part of the day. Nothing was good today. Why can't we watch tv while we eat? etc...

A few nights ago Alison started to sing a song. Let me go off on a small tangent. Alison loves music! She has a cd player in her room with all of the kids cds. She loves to listen to music while she plays. She loves to perform concerts with the music and dress up as whom ever she feels like at that moment. We love to watch her perform. She has my ears though. She just hears different words than are actually being said. Case in point.

Song "Stop in the Name of Love"

Alison: stop in the neighborhood, before you rake my heart

Jennifer: it is stop in the name of love, before you brake my heart (said of course while cracking up)

John: no it is stop in the name of The!

Earlier in the month, John decided to tell us at dinner that he wanted a nickname. He did not understand why he didn't have one. We asked him what he thought his nickname should be.

John: Big Thunder D (followed by theme music) and dad can be Little Thunder D

Jennifer: what does the D stand for?

John: Davis of course!

Aubree Arrives

2009-01-30T22:47:00.000-08:00

Aubree Edson

Alison holding "a real live baby"

Congratulations Edson Family! We are so excited and happy for you.

Rewind

2009-01-24T22:43:00.000-08:00

80's Tour for a Cure!

Today was the Relay for Life Kickoff event. I pulled out my 7th grade yearbook for inspiration. My look was Princess Diana meets Valley Girl.

Little Miss

2009-01-21T21:12:00.001-08:00

Is she cute or what! I bought her this fabulous outfit at a boutique in California. We had a girls day on Friday and this is what she wore. She got to bring her money to spend if she wanted something while we were at the store. Our first stop was the corner store to get Mark a drink. I asked her if she wanted to come in a choose a drink for herself. She looked at me and replied, "But not with my money right?" My how quickly they learn!

There have been a lot of babies born in our circle of friends over the past two months. She is enjoying holding them and shaking rattles in their faces to entertain them. This has also brought up many questions about when she was a baby and when Mark and I were babies.

"Mom, who took care of you when you were a baby?"
"My mom and dad did."
"Who took care of dad when he was a baby?"
"His mom and dad did."
A moment of thought and then....
"I guess your mom had to fly a lot when you were a baby."
A moment of thought on my part and then..."No, I lived in Bakersfield, California when I was a baby with my parents. I did not move to Oregon until I was a grown up."

While shopping in the store Alison announced to me that she was a mom too. "I had a baby today. We have to go to the Doctor's office to pick her up. The Doctor got her and now we get to take her home with us." Wow, if it was only that easy!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-01-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

I have just found this site and I love it! Thank heavens for the internet!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Do Unto Others...

2009-01-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

Alison was pretending her duck was taking a nap in the upstairs hallway. She had gone around and turned off all of the lights upstairs. John, who had been playing downstairs, decided he needed a Lego from his room. When he found out what she had done for her duck he turned every single light upstairs back on. This was done so he could find a Lego in his room. This was also done by John while Alison was downstairs telling me what she had done. Of course John came down and bragged how he turned them all back on because he thought Ducky should wake up. Alison left to go see the damage. Then John followed to continue to tease/ brag. Then I hear all hell break loose. I go running upstairs to see what is happening and find John crying like crazy because Alison had punched him in the arm. Alison was screaming at John for touching the lights. Needless to say they were both sent to their room to cool off.

I first approached Alison to get her side of the story. Yet all she can scream is "I hate my brother! I want a new brother!" over and over. Obviously, she is in no condition to talk so I turn on some calming music for her and leave the room. I next go into John's room. After hearing his rendition of what went down, I try to explain how they were both wrong. John is just not seeing it my way and can only focus on her punching him. So then I ask what he thinks should be done to solve this problem. His reply, "I think I should punch her because we should do unto others as they do to you!"

I start to crack up and then can't even think of the correct way to say it! Well, at least we know he is listening in church. And we also know that he is not hearing every word they say.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

2009-01-02T16:23:00.001-08:00

One night while watching television, Mark and I saw a commercial for a collector's plate commemorating Barack Obama as the new President. Mark instantly thought of the two people in his life that would be the most thrilled about receiving such a gift, our fathers. So he decided to order a plate for each of them and have it shipped directly to their homes. Both have received their plates and are thrilled to have this memento to proudly display in their home for the next four years! To show his appreciation my father sent these photos for our viewing pleasure. They included the following captions; "Your Christmas gift has changed my life", "Some things are so desirable they are worth fighting for".

Christmas Day

2008-12-25T20:37:00.000-08:00

This year we actually slept in a bit. John came in at 7:00 am and by 7:30 am we were all downstairs and starting to unwrap gifts. The chaos was finished by 9:30 am and the building of 6 Lego sets, and numerous girl toys began. We never got out of our pajamas! We had a nice day together and received a lot of wonderful presents.

John with a Nerf gun Mark got from Santa

Alison going through her stocking

Mark with his 2 Nerf guns from Santa. How did Santa know we would need 2?

The chaos of unwrapping and waiting your turn

Building one of 6 Lego sets

Having fun with new toys

Makeup artist in training

So beautiful

My new look courtesy of Alison

Finally playing with the new Legos. Yes, it really floats!

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T18:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was spent eating food, playing games and of course, reading the story of Christ's Birth. When it was time for bed the kids got ready so fast! They were excited for Santa to come. On a side note, I know that all of you are jealous of my Christmas Sweater. Mark absolutely can't stand it! I made it when I was a teenager and so for pride reasons, and the fact that he can't stand it, I keep it. I proudly wear it every Christmas just to hear him casually ask me yet again, When did you get that sweater? Is that what you are wearing today? It also comes in handy when your friend tells you that she got invited to a "ugly" Christmas Sweater party and "do you have any thing I could borrow".

Joseph, Mary and Wise Man

Angel, Mary and Wise Man

Our Christmas Eve dessert: giant Fortune Cookie, Gingerbread Man

and other cookies

Yum!

Poor Gingerbread Boy, we caught you!

Arctic Blast Continues

2008-12-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

Day 9. We are cold. We are tired of each other. We are tired of the house. We have over 15 inches of snow! It is still snowing and has been snowing all day long. Mark tried to get us out. He shoveled the driveway. Chained up my car and went halfway down the street. It is to deep, just to get out of the house. Not worth it. Car is back in garage. Shovel, regular one by the way- not a snow shovel- is put away. Is it wrong to celebrate Christmas tomorrow? That way kids can have something new to do. We are in desperate need of sunshine! Please send some ASAP!

Arctic Blast 2008

2008-12-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

We are now in day 7 of Arctic Blast 2008! The awesome name was invented by the news channels. School was canceled all week, that means 3 weeks of Winter Break! It has been in the 30's all week and no sign of warming up until after Christmas. Sunday's snow freezed and lasted until Wednesday. By Friday the roads were clear and all snow was melted. When we woke up this morning, the ground was covered with a few inches of snow again. It snowed all day long! Then we got freezing rain! The top left picture shows the 2 inches we got of freezing rain on the fence top.

On Sunday we went outside for a while to crunch the ice and sink into the snow beneath it. It was a fun experience and time spent outside the house. We can now say with confidence "Cabin Fever"!