Wordless Wednesday ~ We Love Our Friend Maisey

Strep Stinks

Yikes, we have had a round of Strep Throat that has been making its way through our house. First, K got it about a month ago. Then two weeks later Jon managed to get it and was laid up for the entire weekend. Then this past weekend, my throat started to get soar and by Saturday morning, I was a mess and felt horrible. Sure enough, I had a strep test done and I got it. I think we are all feeling better now and since we have all been sick this past month with the exception or E, we hope that the illness has left our house! Here's to a weekend full of good health and fun times!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Winter Picnic

Wordless Wednesday ~ A whole lot of pink

Peas

K gets to be president at school tomorrow and he is so excited. One of the honors of being president is that you get to bring a snack to share with your friends. So yesterday I asked K what he would like to bring for snack and his answer was......"Peas"! First, I had no idea he even liked Peas, second, I had no idea he wanted to bring them to school to share with his friends. Jon and I had a good laugh. K was all concerned about bringing something healthy for a snack. He then wanted to bring everyone a green apple. However, since 30 green Granny Smith Apples were not really in the budget, we settled on some mini cookies. You can imagine how shocked we must have been about the Pea idea since K is our biggest sweet tooth around here. It was pretty cute how devoted he was to bringing Peas. He did buy each of the teachers a green apple though!
I can't wait until I get to go to school with him tomorrow. I had to miss both of the girls Presidents days so tomorrow I am going to be there no matter what!

Loveable Quotes & Daddy Forts

The kids have really been saying some neat and special things lately. I want to capture these as they make my heart (and Daddy's heart) swell!

The other night as we were driving home from our weekly Sunday night dinner, I was telling the kids how much I really love and appreciate them.

E said "I am so glad God gave me you as a mommy-I love you"

K said "Mom, I love you more than love" ( I think I will live off this comment for a long time!)

Last night as I was approaching home from a long day at work, I got a call from Jon. He told me that before I walked into the house and freaked out about the mess in the Great Room, he wanted me to know that this is the comment he got from his little E:

"Daddy-I am so glad I was born into this family, we always have so much fun"

a little later E said:

"Daddy-I am so glad God choose you to be my daddy"

Here is what Jon "helped" the kids to build in the great room:



It seriously is the most awesome blanket fort I have ever seen. It is so fun to have a daddy around that knows how to make things so cool and exciting and who can be a kid himself. We all love you daddy!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fun w/ New Neighbors

Weekend Update

The kids had some fun with our friend Sue this past weekend. Here is her update that she sent to me today. I love her perspective and it sounds like the kids have fun and learn when they are with her. It's like Preschool. I love it.

I am not sure if I told you about all the little funnies from last Sunday:

When they were playing store, I heard A ask as she is ringing up all the clothes on the cash register, "Would you like the hangers"


Room service was the best.
We brought Denny down his lunch, they all helped make it and they each carried something down to him and announced they were room service.
We went back upstairs. Pretty soon he called my cell phone, asked for room service, and said he didn't get a napkin. So one of the kids brought it down. (he was watching the hockey game). So I sent down a note asking would he please call and order stuff so that they could all have a turn?

So first time he calls, A answers, and he orders cookies. She brings them down and tells him it is $4.00. He is outraged by the price and tells her. She says if he wants the cookies they are $4. So he tells her to put on his bill.

The next time he calls, it is E turn. He orders a cookie and she brings it down and is gone a long time. Apparently that 1 cookie was going to be $5. He told me later there was lots of negotiating and she finally said okay $1. He said put it on my bill.

Then he didn't call and K was getting sad. (Denny told me later he was busy watching the game). So E decides to go down and tell him he has to order something. Finally K gets his call and it is for one cookie. He tells Denny it is $5. Denny starts to argue and K says okay $2, Denny says $1 and K says okay, it's free.

Interesting how they each have their own sales techniques. A doesn't budge, E negotiates, and K doesn't like the confrontation so you get it for free.

We went to the park. I didn't wear my boots so I told them I couldn't go on the snow. They all wanted to be pushed on the swings and I couldn't because the snow was too deep. So E says no problem, and she starts pumping from a dead stop. Then A comes and wants a push, again I say sorry I can't. At that point E hops off her swing and gives A a push and A kindly thanks her. E hops back on and starts all over. Then K, E hops off again and helps him (neither A nor K asked for helped, E just did it.) She has to push him the whole time because he can't really get the hang of pumping very well. It is really nice to see siblings so nice to each other so often. That really is unusual.

When we play Monopoly, A has a hard time figuring out the money. K is right on top of it. He knows that $2 and $3 = $5 etc. He and E know the count on the dice, A has to count the dots.

They are all different and all excel in different things. I noticed A has really nice printing when they were sending their notes to Charlie.

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They also got to go Puddle Jumping with Sue. The best part about it is that they were soaking wet but Sue had their stuff all washed up and ready to go and three CLEAN kids came home with me. They loved it. Thanks Sue!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Take us with you daddy!

Wordless Wednesday ~ One Tuff Cookie

Giddy Up

The other day Jon was talking to the kids about where we should take our next family vacation.

E said "Grandma & Grandpa Erickson's House"

K said "Texas"

A said as she batted her eyes "Anywhere I can meet a cowboy Daddy!"

Wordless Wednesday ~ I Now Pronounce You...Brother & Sister!

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday was a hit again this year. I am starting to wonder who enjoys it more...Kids or adults? Our kids love to have a party and that is exactly what we did again this year on Super Bowl Sunday. We had a party and it was at Grandma Mary's and Grandpa Al's house. We had a ton of people show up and we had a lot of kids there this year too. A, E, and K loved having so many friends to play with and it was a fun night over all for everyone. As you can see from all the shoes...we really did have quite the party this year. It was busy but so much fun. We were just bummed that our NFL team did not make it to the Super Bowl this year but we have high hopes that next year they will show up.

Behind

Okay...so to all my faithful readers...if you are still checking in, as you can see I am behind on this blog. Not sure why but time has slipped away from me. So I hope this writer's block will slip away and I will be back soon to updating on a regular basis.

Dancing in the Kitchen

One of our favorite things about our new house is that we have a kitchen that we ALL fit into. This was not the case at our old house so we are delighted to have a bigger kitchen. One of our other favorite things is a speaker system in some of the rooms where we can have our Ipod play. Last night, Jon had Jack Johnson playing while the kids ate their bedtime snack. One of my favorite songs came on and Jon and I started to dance. Our children watched us in awe as we danced close and swayed to the music. Then all of the kids started to dance too. It soon became a full blown dance party right in the kitchen and oh what fun we all had. Nothings better than belly laughing and dancing crazy with your family.
So Thank You Jack Johnson for your music, Thank you babe for the dance, Thank you kids for the laughs, and Thank you God for all the awesome people and things you have brought to my life! Amen!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Wintertime Fun

Cousins Rock

Last weekend we were lucky enough to host Jon's family here at our new house. The kids just love when there Big Cousins E & E are around. They all had a great time together. K loved playing the Wii with cousin E because he knows so much about the games that K likes to play. We had a make your own pizza night and the kids really enjoyed that. On Saturday, cousins E & E came to the kids soccer game and A, E, and K were so proud to have them there and show off their soccer skills. After soccer, cousin Em came to the girls dance practice and all of us girls had a great time.

Saturday night the "dads" headed out to a hockey game of the local college and the one where Jon attended. I cheer for the local college but Jon along with his entire family cheers for the other team! My little E cheered with me though and not to rub it in...the best team won! We also got front rows seats to the funniest puppet show in town. Lots of crazy hair and funny jokes.

Sunday we all headed to church together. We were actually early to church which is not bad considering there was 11 of us to get showered and dressed. After church, we came back to watch some football and have an awesome Turkey dinner.
The kids went outside and did some sliding. They had a blast and Jon used his sisters fancy camera to shoot some great pictures.
It was an awesome weekend and so nice to host company in our new home. I think everyone enjoyed that part of it.

~Family a journey to Forever~

Wordless Wednesday ~ Grandpa Ronnie Surfing w/ Grandkids

Wordless Wednesday ~ Grandpa Al & Squeks

Wordless Wednesday ~ Roller Babes