Week #52: Merry Christmas & the Weeks were Numbered

This week we...

...celebrated Christmas Eve with my family. We finally got snow for Christmas. I'm glad we got some and that it hasn't stuck around. We had good food, visiting, and present fun on Christmas Eve. We had a basketball tournament (thanks to Kent and his tournament brackets), a christmas jeopardy game for the kids, a name that product ad for the adults (Just do it, You can never eat just one, They melt in your mouth, not in your hand, etc.), a pringles taste test (because Shelly loves taste tests and Cherice gave her all the different flavors of pringles to try and share), a favorites exchange (We usually all contribute something for the adults "stocking stuffers" in a bag. This year we decided to make it a favorites party. Great fun!), and a rice krispy house extravaganza.

 

...raced the kids down to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. The kids were up early and we told them to wait a little longer for us to sleep in a little more. That worked for about a half hour. Then Jason and I hurried to get ready and tried to run downstairs unseen. Paul saw us though, and sounded the alarm. So they all rushed down, hard on our heals.

...celebrated Christmas Day with Jason's family. I don't have many pictures of the day because I was helping clean up in the kitchen when the gift unwrapping started. This is us playing one of our new games, Fibber, from Aunt Lara back at home. The kids didn't think these glasses were all that funny, but I laughed every time i looked around at everyone.

...finished the year out watching the weeks go by. I really enjoyed the weekly blog posts this year. I couldn't believe how quickly week 52 came around. I thought it would take forever to get to the end of the year. And then I thought I had miscounted because we were in the 40's so soon and it seemed there had to be more year left than that. Each year has been an adventure. We're growing out of the trying times of wrangling so many little kids so close together in age. Emma and Paul are more independent and such great helpers as they can take care of themselves and help with the other little ones. Lainey is so friendly with everyone, making new friends and endearing herself to one and all. Benjamin and Claire are five - what can I say. Cute as buttons and sweet as pie one minute and raging hurricanes the next. Bring it on 2013!

Week #51: Nine Birthdays Old

This week we...

...gathered once more for Emma's birthday. This time we partied with the family. Emma informed me that she's not a big fan of cake. Now she tells me! After eight years of cake, I find out she doesn't like it. So we decided to have donuts. And we went down the road to Vierra's Bakery. And they are so big and so delicious. It was great!

...attended the Read for the Record Assembly where Paul won a bike! Paul's school does this reading program where you can enter a drawing for a bike if you read 20 minutes every day. We never thought we'd actually ever win the BIG prize. We just do the reading because it benefits the kids and Paul's very consciencious about doing it. Well, this time Paul won! The school called us and we made arrangements to go to the school. Jason was at work, but got it ok-ed for him to come. I don't know how I thought Paul would react when they called his name...maybe a big smile or an excited shout. There was none of that. He just jumped up and matter-of-factly took the handlebars of the bike meant for him. It was so cute!

...feared that our house might actually blow away with us in it creating a Dorothy moment. This wind we had really wreaked havok all over the Tri-Cities. Paul's school was closed for the day and Emma's was on two hour delay because of power outage. The business signs down the main roads were all busted up and lying in the street. Trampolines were crushed up against trees, lying in the middle of the street, and transported  to crazy places. For example, my brother's trampoline was carried from their backyard, over the fence and road, over the neighbor's truck, over the neighbor's fence into the neighbor's backyard where it landed on their shed. The shed? Crushed. Jason sent me this picture as he was out on patrol...The homeowner was actually out of town when this happened, but still...bummer! That's a 40 year old tree there smashed into that house.

...attended the ward party and saw Santa. We enjoyed sitting with our friends, the Hales. The Santa experience was a little weird for me because Lainey wasn't afraid at all. She was sitting on his lap talking like crazy. That's what she does best. I just had them do a group photo and let Lainey sit there, but Emma and Paul were upset that they didn't get any one on one time. Go Figure!

 Jenna (our wonderful babysitter), Lynette, Kendrick, Jim, Travis, Megan (not pictured)

...looking forward to Christmas! Can't wait! We're counting down and displaying everyone's Christmas cards and pictures. We're filling our manger for Jesus by doing nice things for others. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Week #50: First Grade Gingerbread Houses

This week we...

...joined Paul at his school for the first grade gingerbread house making event of the year! I was so glad that I got to go and be part of this day with Paul. I couldn't find anyone to help me with watching my kids, so I took them all with me. And that was all the more fun! They were each able to make their own (Plus our friend Danica that was with us), and we had enough extra candy/frosting that Emma got to make her own when she got home.

...celebrated Emma's 9th birthday with some friends from school. This is Emma's year to have a friend party and she was so excited. We decided to have a shrinky dinks party. Once we figured out the proper way to make them, we were set to go. We ruined a whole batch the first time because I didn't know that the curling action was part of the whole process. Oops! To my credit though, I didn't have the full instructions the first time.

She invited: Zoey Orton, Naomi Jensen, Payton Pixton, Sarah Hamilton, Hannah Muhlbier, Sydney Trebiz, and Katie Zirker (Claire and Lainey were participating too.)

...had dinner with friends. We were excited to host Erik and his mom Valery for dinner, along with our friends the Harris Family. We had chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fruit salad, and steamed carrots. Yummy!

...equipped Claire and Lainey for the first snow of the season. Where's the snow? You wonder. My thoughts exactly. Claire was determined that I get her whole snow ensemble out of storage so that she could go out and enjoy the few flakes that were falling.

...enjoyed lunch and visiting with our friends John and Becky Edvalson. They were here visiting for the Christmas break. They have both spent a lot of time in Guatemala as part of John's doctorate work. It's so fun to hear of their experiences there. Their kids, Lucy, Levi, and Noah were fun to see again and marvel at their growth. Claire wondered where little Noah was at one point and she asked "Where's Moses?" It made me laugh. Yes, you need a prophet name - wrong prophet. :)

...discovered that Lainey makes a good baby in a bag. Emma tried this trick with Lainey one morning before she left for school. It was so funny to see Lainey's head popping up out of the back pack 

Week #49:Christmas Cheer is Here!

This Week We...

...lost baby Jesus. Right above this nativity (see top picture in collage above) I have a sign that says, "Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus," by Elder Maxwell. I was starting to wonder if we weren't making room. It turns out that Lainey took baby Jesus. She told me she took my baby and had it upstairs, but I had no idea what she was talking about until I gasped at the sight of the empty straw manger in my nativity. She was kind enough to produce the baby and we glued him back in his place.

...celebrated Jason's 33rd birthday on the run. We had a lot going on Wednesday the 5th. The above cake is all I have to show for the festivities of him turning one year older. We went out for a quick lunch at Olive Garden before our crazy night got away from us. After lunch, I had to shop for supplies for mutual. He had a guild meeting. I had to take my supplies and go to mutual. The kids did sing to Jason though and he made a wish (probably for a better birthday celebration) before blowing out his candles. Yay! But don't feel too bad for him...We got a babysitter the next night and went out to Texas Roadhouse. Yeehaw! 

...visited train heaven in Toppenish, WA. Grandma and Grandpa Erickson treated us to the Christmas toy train event and we had a lot of fun. There were so many trains to see, so many people to push through, and so many more trains to see. We got to take a ride in the caboose and see Santa and Mrs. Claus on the train. Then we had a fun trip to McDonald's for food and play land fun to top it all off.

Week #48:Get your glow on

This week we...

...had a movie theater, Emma style. Emma loves to organize activities for the rest of the kids. Their favorite thing lately is to play with the monopoly money, but not for the game itself. Sometimes Emma uses it to pay the others for getting her things (drinks of water, snacks, blankets, etc.). One morning before church, Emma had them setting up a store in her room where they could buy and sell from each other. They got to keep the toy for the day and then returned it all at the end. Emma and I both wondered at the propriety of playing store on Sunday...hhmmmm. This time Emma used the money for the others to buy treats before their afternoon movie. She made up a menu and set it all up herself. It was a big hit with them and me (They got to have fun and I didn't have to put it together).

...decorated the house for Christmas. The kids were so excited to get the Christmas decorations out of the attic and set things out. This year our friend Danica Shab got to help us. They mostly had fun decorating the Christmas tree. I handed them the ornament and told them right where I wanted it to go. Fun for me, not so much for them.

...watched Polar Express to kick off our activity advent. In July Benjamin was already asking me when it would be Christmas. I remember telling him five months and thinking that it was so far off. Well, it went fast.

...made a trip to World Market to pick up our new table. Two things to say: Love World Market and love our new table. My sisters, Cherice and Shelly, went with us for our outing to Spokane. We thoroughly enjoyed the Kinder chocolates and Kinder Happy Hippos. Yum! Then we ate lunch at a restaurant called Tomato Street. There were so many menu options we wanted to try and the food was so great.

...had dinner at our new table. My brother Corey and his kids came over for Sunday dinner and we all gathered around our new table. It was fabulous! We all fit!

...had a fantastic Evening of Excellence for the Young Women. I also worked hard and earned my Divine Nature ribbon for my scripture bookmark. So fun! Our theme was Ready, Set, Glow and we talked about the importance of staying on the course and doing our personal progress/scripture study/personal prayers as our own spiritual preparation; the ready, set part. That way we'll be ready to go, or glow...to let our light shine, when the time comes.

Here are some pictures from the last several months that I never got to use...

1. Lainey giving Paul a hug at the bus stop 

2. Claire and Lainey getting a ride in the wheelbarrow 

3. Claire and Benjamin before church - Claire happy, Benjamin not so much 

4. Paul's wild bike moves
5. Jason after a detail with the FBI
6. & 8. Fans of big hair

7. Lainey wrapped up for nap time - marker evidence on her feet

9. Benjamin sliding down the stairs sleeping bad style 

10 & 11. On a bike ride to the Tidwell's house - Ben completely zonked out in the bike stroller, Paul with his stash of tootsie rolls
12. Hanging with Dad before bedtime - Benjamin not photo-ed because he was being a grump

Week #47: We are Thankful

^{This week we...}

^{...celebrated Thanksgiving in Mattawa. We went out Wednesday afternoon and stayed the night. It's always so fun to gather together with family. The four older kids got to go stay the night at their cousin's house after a wonderful showing of Brave. Lainey and I got up with Grandpa Zirker to go help him feed the cows. I thought she would be more excited to help feed, but she was rather frightened instead. Silly girl.}

 

...gave Lainey a clip crown. I was putting a clip in her hair and she just kept handing me more. 

...bugged Paul about getting his front tooth out of there. Even though he's lost three teeth already this year, he is still freaked out. Just look how that front tooth is hanging down so far. IT IS READY. He's not.

Week #46: Crafts Complete

This week we...

^{...got closer to having some organization in the laundry room. Jason is making this for me to use for storing the kids' clothes and fold clothes. It will attach to the wall over my dirty clothes baskets. My laundry room is small and I'm so excited to consolidate to use the area more effectively. Each kid will have their own cubby for their clothes. I can't wait to get it painted and installed.}

^{...participated in the second annual one-stop shopping event at my sister-in-law's home in Mattawa. Sharee had a lot  of vendors which made for good browsing and chatting. The craft monster did consume us for a bit beforehand, but it was nice to just go, relax, and socialize that day. Here's a sampling of what I made.}

Week #45:Back to Routine

This week we...

 ...hung the bikes out of the way - a little upside down organization. We got tired of tripping over, scooting around, and tipping over the bikes. Jason went to work and in no time at all we had bike hooks for a quarter of the cost, free space on the floor, and one happy mom and dad.

...filled out our menu board. Paul decided to help me be more organized and filled it out himself. I loved it because of his spelling - it was like menu meal surprise - and because he was helping me come up with things he will actually eat!

 

In case you're wondering what's for dinner...That's Sloppy Joes, Tacos, Spaghetti, Hawaiian Haystacks, Turkey (he thought it was Thanksgiving), Pizza (I helped with that one),  and Cheese Sandwiches.

...got back into project mania. I'm getting ready for my sister-in-law's home craft show. We're really trying to keep the projects contained and not let the craft monster take over our lives. I don't know how well we succeeded. Ha ha!

...played in the leaves. (We also did this last week. Me and my forgetful brain - sheesh!) We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Erickson's for cousin Warren and Quin's birthdays. The kids had a grand time raking the leaves, jumping in, and doing it all over again.

...hiked Badger Mountain with the Young Women. I forgot to put this on last week (we actually did this on the 3rd). This was our virtue hike, a reminder to keep high standards to lead us to the Temple and back to our Father in Heaven. We made virtue flags and unfurled them at the top. I loved the signs along the way - please stay on the trail, this area closed, ground under repair. Sometimes we leave the safety of the trail even though there are signs posted along the road of life. We do not head the warnings and we find ourselves desolate, surrounded by brush, or stranded on inclines that we do not have the ability to traverse. But if we stay on the trail we will have a safe journey to the top. It does not mean that the way will be less arduous, by all means. It will still be very taxing and require effort to keep going, but we will know the boundaries of the safest way there. I also liked the sign, Hikers Only. That is what life is all about. We are up against a terrible foe who is unleashing ever more of his poison and lies into society/the world. We have to be determined to be hikers; that we will take on the challenges of remaining strong and pure in the times we live. I'm reminded of Elder Eyring's words from April 2012 Conference when he quotes Spencer W. Kimball, "There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, give me this mountain,’ give me these challenges.”

Week #44: Airborne for Arizona

This week we...

...partied in A-ri-zona! We left on Friday of last week, but I decided to put our adventure all together here on this week. It was so much fun! We stepped off the plane in Arizona to clear skies and a warm breeze. Goodbye overcast, rainy Washington!

Landscape: We were intrigued by the desert landscape and foliage. It was so crazy seeing cactus, palm trees and desert plants. No sagebrush and tumbleweeds. They use a lot of rock in their landscaping. At some of the overpasses they had rock art of rattlesnakes, cactus, and the deadly gila monster. I was a little intrigued by these guys, mostly because the word monster is in their name and because they can kill you. 

source

We were so intrigued by the cactus that grew everywhere. As I said, it's one thing to hear about cactus in the desert, it's another thing to see it. The holes in the Saguaro cactus below are from birds nesting inside. Seeing palm trees was also different. (Notice the police car in the shot of the palm trees - no matter where we go, we're thinking cop.) I had to laugh a little inside at all the cactus we saw propped up with 2x4s on either side. We do that with trees here; they're saving the cactus down there.

Food: I had In-N-Out for the first time and LOVED it!  We ate there twice. We went to Cave Creek, a town built to look like the old west, for lunch at Harold's Corral - ribs, brisket, and baked potatoes. We met up with Katie Potts Taylor and her family, a sister missionary from our mission, for dinner at Five Guys- home of digital soft drinks and all the way toppings. Raleigh and Jordan introduced us to World Market where we ate Hi Chews, a fruit chew from Japan. They taste a little like star burst only they don't get stuck in your teeth. We also went to Trader Joe's where I purchased Pumpkin Pancake Mix, Corn Salsa, Speculoos Cookie Butter and we ate Strawberry ice cream Mochis - They were surprising to bite into, but very tasty. Yum! Yum!

Activities: We had so much fun hanging out with Raleigh and Jordan, and to be in Arizona on top of that was amazing. We stayed up way too late talking when we got there Friday night, and every night. We ate German chocolate cake at 11:20 at night for my birthday, yum. Saturday we went to Kellen's soccer game and watched him tear things up. We also went to the Haunted Zoo. I'm not a big fan of spook alley type Halloween fun, but I went for Jason's sake. Jason and Raleigh kept trying to get us to go to the 13th Floor - the scariest haunted house in the US. No thanks! We were able to see Jason's twin, Todd, and his little family. Many of you have wondered what Jason's twin looks like, or if we are even telling the truth about a twin...well, here's proof. :)

We were able to go to the Mesa, AZ temple and I was so glad. We were intrigued by the grapefruit trees on the temple grounds and watched the Joseph Smith movie in one of their theaters. Just before we left, I discovered that they in fact had a Christus, which I've been thinking about a lot lately as I remember my mission days. (I served my mission at the Washington DC Visitor's Center.) I couldn't help but cry as I saw the statue, heard the words play, and thought about my mission.  As a missionary, I loved to invite people to sit around the Christus and listen to the words play. It was amazing to hear those words every day and testify of the Savior as people came in. Oh, it was wonderful (in DC and AZ)! I've missed it lately and it was so comforting to hear again.

Thank you Raleigh and Jordan! We had so much fun!

...went trick-or-treating! The kids had a blast this year. It wasn't a cold night like last year so it was much more enjoyable going around to the houses. Lainey was really into trick-or-treating this year. She ran from house to house with the older kids, trailing behind them and yelling, "Wait! Wait me!"

...found a ghostly milk message. In case you haven't noticed, we have a lot of spilled milk around here and that has made for a lot of cool messages. :)

...have fall leaves in our back yard. One thing I miss about older neighborhoods is all the trees/foliage that change color in the fall. Well this year we do have a few autumn leaves falling off our trees in the backyard. They're not large in number, but they belong to us.