"Anika (7), please go get your floss stick so I can floss your teeth." "Mom, when am I going to get to floss my own teeth?!" "When you can get in the back tight teeth." "Mom, if you don't let me start to learn then when I get married my husband is going to have to floss my teeth for me!!!"

Science Fair Project-Yikes!

I must say we are usually pretty good at looking at our kids school work especially when it comes to bigger projects, but somehow we or should I say Jared, as he is the one working with Alex on his science fair project this year, missed a really important detail! We knew Alex was wanting to find out about how a person's emotions effect their body temperature, but what we didn't know was how he was thinking he would go about doing it. Because he had to have people in his experiment he had to get the project signed off by a doctor. Jared sent it to his Uncle Vermon (thank goodness we know him), but he sent it back that he could not sign off on it and sent some new suggestions...a little confused Jared read the details of the project and it was then he realized that Alex was trying to copy a study done in the 1940's that had to do with mentally disabled people and had written that he was going to need to punch mentally handicapped people to make them mad so that he could see if it would effect their body temperature! I am not sure how or where he thought he was going to be able to accomplish this and further more why he thought this would be okay?!
Yikes! In a hurry Jared emailed his uncle back and the teacher so they didn't think we were all psycho and explain that he signed off on the report not having read all the details! Of course, Vermon and Jared had a good laugh over this, and luckily the teacher had missed the error as well and is sending a new paper to be filled out and signed home today!
I hope Alex is a little more thoughtful and that Jared is a little more detail oriented this time...
(What I should add is he didn't understand exactly what he was writing, it was some weird study he found on the internet from decades ago...we have since talked about it and explained the wrongness of it all. He is a sweet kid and would never hurt anyone.)

So Where Do I Start...

after a 2 year break...?! I guess January of this year, and last December!!!

Jackie Chan sighting

so maybe it is because there are not a whole lot of different ethnic groups around where we live that led to Anika's comment at the restaurant tonight when an Asian man walked by our table, "uhh" (big gasp) Jared asks, "what?" Anika replies, "Look! It's Jackie Chan!"

First Scare

little Austin gave us a scare and off to the ER yesterday...right now looks like a virus, cold came upon him in the night, pray it doesn't turn into RSV. :(

13 Lucky Years

13 is a luck number for us as we were married on Friday the 13 and the first apartment we lived in was #13! Who would have thought all those years ago we would be were we are today?! I love Jared so much. He works so hard for us and never complains. He loves his job and the things that he does. He is so good to me and is a wonderful father. Here we are 13 years of marriage with, 5 kids as of 8 weeks ago, (plus his cousin lives with us) and a beautiful home to live in. We are so blessed.
For our anniversary Jared took the day off so we could spend time together. We took Austin with us to the park, but it ended up being rather chilly~ wish I had a coat!
I didn't get very good pictures, not even of one of us together...

Austin 8 Weeks

Cutest Baby in the World! I know every parent thinks this, but he is so darn cute and so lovable.






He has brought so much joy and happiness into my life that I need at this time.

Anika Lost First Tooth

March 11 Anika lost her first tooth and she couldn't be prouder!

Pinewood Derby

A proud moment in every woman's life is that her husband helped her boys make their derby cars! Yes, on his own Jared went and cut the wood and helped the boys in every step of the way this year with no help! A great confidence builder for Jared! ha!ha!ha!


The boys had a fun time racing with their friends.








At the end all the kids that came got to race a "banana car!"



Derby car racing is really relaxed in the two wards we have participated in.
Alex won _____

Andrew won____

Austin 6 weeks old

Here are some of Austin's first smiles :) There is something special about a baby and the first smiles that they give out. It makes people warm and feel love back. What a blessing this little baby is our lives. He brings joy every where he goes.







okay, had it!

Another Anikaism

The boy sitting behind Anika at school was poking and buggy her and the teacher told the boy to stop, Anika turned around and said, "Ya Riley Stop touching me, don't you know my body is a Temple?!"

Austin One Month (5 weeks)

How did this go so fast? Austin is such a good baby, he doesn't overly cry and he likes to love and snuggle. His skin is a little blotchy still but this will go away with time. He is still so small but getting bigger each day. Everyone loves him. I have to say it is nice to be in a ward where there aren't a million babies and people notice and want to help.