Katie started crawling today...and she already looks like she's going to take after me!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Michael, the "President"
The kids get President's Day off from school every year. Michael tells them that they have it off because of his birthday. The best part was that this year he got it off, too!
He got a phone call at 8 a.m. from Scott asking him if he was dressed and had shoes on. Then he told him to go outside. Michael came back in with a steak and cheese bagel from McDonald's and a "Kung Fu Panda" Po that says over 50 phrases and does kung fu moves. The kids love it!
Michael had a pretty relaxing day. He took a good nap (he's still getting over the six hour time change from the Netherlands), did some stuff on his computer (he SAID he was working), and read the newspaper.
This evening, we went to our favorite Japanese restaurant. The kids were fascinated by the hibachi. The volcano created mixed reactions, though. Jonathon, Christian, and Nathaniel loved it. Eliza hid her face because it was too hot and Timmy tried to run away!
Just after we got home, my parents stopped by to give Michael his gift. The kids ran up to my room and got the rest of his gifts to open. He got a restaurant gift card, m&m's, some tools, 3 books about the Mets, and replacement darts for his dartboard that he got last year.
He got a phone call at 8 a.m. from Scott asking him if he was dressed and had shoes on. Then he told him to go outside. Michael came back in with a steak and cheese bagel from McDonald's and a "Kung Fu Panda" Po that says over 50 phrases and does kung fu moves. The kids love it!
Michael had a pretty relaxing day. He took a good nap (he's still getting over the six hour time change from the Netherlands), did some stuff on his computer (he SAID he was working), and read the newspaper.
This evening, we went to our favorite Japanese restaurant. The kids were fascinated by the hibachi. The volcano created mixed reactions, though. Jonathon, Christian, and Nathaniel loved it. Eliza hid her face because it was too hot and Timmy tried to run away!
Just after we got home, my parents stopped by to give Michael his gift. The kids ran up to my room and got the rest of his gifts to open. He got a restaurant gift card, m&m's, some tools, 3 books about the Mets, and replacement darts for his dartboard that he got last year.
Happy Birthday, George! Or should I say Abe?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Love and Marriage... and Chocolate Cake, too!
Our Valentine's Day was kind of interesting, but fun, too. This morning, I gave Michael a boxed set of Polo Sport cologne and deodorant. Then, Michael and Jonathon went to motor vehicle. Michael had to get another vehicle registration card and renew his driver's license. Michael dropped Jonathon off at home and then took his car to a mechanic to get it inspected. He had a hard time finding a mechanic that does state inspections and had time to inspect his car. Not exactly a priority for mechanics...
While Michael was still trying to do that, I took Jonathon and the rest of the kids to the church for his basketball game. Jonathon played about half of the game. Scott, my brother-in-law, coached the game since the regular coaches weren't there until later. Scott was really good about getting the younger players to have plenty of time on the court. It was a really close game! The final score was 39 to 37. Jonathon's team won! This was the first entire game that I was able to see. Jonathon didn't make a basket and only got to hold the basketball once. However, I talked to Scott afterward and he told me that Jonathon did exactly what he was supposed to do. He blocked the point guard while he was bringing the ball up and possibly prevented them from making more shots. He ran up and down the court, kept his hands in the air and was a good defender! Awesome job, Jonathon!
Unfortunately, Michael missed the whole game...but he was able to make his car legal again!!
On our way home, we got some lunch to take home from a roadside BBQ (so it was in a parking lot, we do after all live in a busier part of NJ!)
Later that afternoon, Michael went with his brother, John, to help move a couch. While he was gone, I snuck over to Kristin's and picked up a yummy Chocolate-Covered Strawberry-Topped Cake and Mini Cake Truffles.
After dinner and cake, Michael and I went out to look at some wedding rings. I lost mine a while back and we are trying to replace it. Unfortunately, my finger is much smaller than the pre-fab rings, so I didn't get one yet. Maybe for our anniversary?
Happy Valentine's Day!
While Michael was still trying to do that, I took Jonathon and the rest of the kids to the church for his basketball game. Jonathon played about half of the game. Scott, my brother-in-law, coached the game since the regular coaches weren't there until later. Scott was really good about getting the younger players to have plenty of time on the court. It was a really close game! The final score was 39 to 37. Jonathon's team won! This was the first entire game that I was able to see. Jonathon didn't make a basket and only got to hold the basketball once. However, I talked to Scott afterward and he told me that Jonathon did exactly what he was supposed to do. He blocked the point guard while he was bringing the ball up and possibly prevented them from making more shots. He ran up and down the court, kept his hands in the air and was a good defender! Awesome job, Jonathon!
Unfortunately, Michael missed the whole game...but he was able to make his car legal again!!
On our way home, we got some lunch to take home from a roadside BBQ (so it was in a parking lot, we do after all live in a busier part of NJ!)
Later that afternoon, Michael went with his brother, John, to help move a couch. While he was gone, I snuck over to Kristin's and picked up a yummy Chocolate-Covered Strawberry-Topped Cake and Mini Cake Truffles.
After dinner and cake, Michael and I went out to look at some wedding rings. I lost mine a while back and we are trying to replace it. Unfortunately, my finger is much smaller than the pre-fab rings, so I didn't get one yet. Maybe for our anniversary?
Happy Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Timmy's Day
For a just-turned-three-year-old, today was pretty good.
Happy Birthday, Timmy!
We had dinner at about 6 p.m., then opened presents. Michael took the three oldest boys to Scouts at the church while Timmy, Eliza, Katie, and I played with his new airplane set. When everyone got back, we had cake and ice cream.
Oh, and the funny face that Timmy is making was just me catching him in the middle of a word...
- He stayed in his new, favorite Thomas the Tank Engine pajamas until 3 p.m.
- Daddy came back home after being gone for 10 days
- Daddy brought candy and cookies
- Mommy set up his train twice (his favorite toy)
- He didn't have to take a nap (but he did fall asleep for a little while at 5:30 p.m.)
- He got to go with Daddy to pick up Eliza from school
- He had pizza for dinner
- He had punch for dinner (and spilled it twice, once on purpose)
- He got presents: a pull-back Mater, a Disney Cars Color Wonder book, a huge WALL-E coloring book, and best of all, a GeoTrax airplane set that goes with his train set
- He got a cake with homemade chocolate frosting at 9:30 p.m.
- He got to stay up late
Happy Birthday, Timmy!
We had dinner at about 6 p.m., then opened presents. Michael took the three oldest boys to Scouts at the church while Timmy, Eliza, Katie, and I played with his new airplane set. When everyone got back, we had cake and ice cream.
Oh, and the funny face that Timmy is making was just me catching him in the middle of a word...
Three
I can hardly believe that Timmy is three today. It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital.
Here he is right around his birthday, from birth until now...
I couldn't resist putting up the pictures that had cake on his face... The first picture is at the hospital on 2/13/2006, the second is 2/11/2007, the third is 2/13/2008, and the last one is today.
There are so many reasons why I love Timmy, but I'll just name three.
He is so cute. I love his extra-long lashes and his beautiful, green eyes.
He is so sweet. Especially with Katie. He's always playing with her and trying to make her laugh. This morning, as I was cleaning up his train, without me asking, he came and helped me pick it up.
He's constantly making me laugh. Even though I know he doesn't intend to. He has graduated from calling a sandwich "jerkins" to "swickins". Unfortunately, I keep thinking he's saying "dwinkit". So he'll ask for a sandwich and I keep asking him if he wants a drink!
I love my big three-year-old boy!
Here he is right around his birthday, from birth until now...
I couldn't resist putting up the pictures that had cake on his face... The first picture is at the hospital on 2/13/2006, the second is 2/11/2007, the third is 2/13/2008, and the last one is today.
There are so many reasons why I love Timmy, but I'll just name three.
He is so cute. I love his extra-long lashes and his beautiful, green eyes.
He is so sweet. Especially with Katie. He's always playing with her and trying to make her laugh. This morning, as I was cleaning up his train, without me asking, he came and helped me pick it up.
He's constantly making me laugh. Even though I know he doesn't intend to. He has graduated from calling a sandwich "jerkins" to "swickins". Unfortunately, I keep thinking he's saying "dwinkit". So he'll ask for a sandwich and I keep asking him if he wants a drink!
I love my big three-year-old boy!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Jonathon's 13th Birthday
Jonathon's birthday began with his favorite breakfast. Waffles and sausage. He went to school and, I assume, had a pretty good day. When he got home, my mom was here waiting to take him out. They went to a couple of places, one of which was Toys "R" Us, with $20 from me burning a hole in his pocket. He was so kind to buy himself an inexpensive Lego set so that he could buy Timmy a gift, too. While he was gone, Christian helped me decorate the house with streamers for his party. I wanted Jonathon to feel special on his birthday because Michael was still on his business trip and I knew that Jonathon was disappointed that Michael wouldn't be here. Jonathon and my parents got here about 6:45 p.m. and we ate Jonathon's requested dinner. Lasagna, garlic bread, and Caesar's salad. Yum!
After dinner, Jonathon opened his gifts: another puzzle (jungle picture this time) complete with a roll-up mat, an i-Dog, and a water tennis game from Grandma and Grandpa.
Timmy also opened his gifts: a Buzz Lightyear mini-hovercraft (with wheels) from Jonathon and a WALL-E beanbag chair, Thomas the Tank Engine pajama pants, a Lightning McQueen pajama shirt (sold on clearance as a set, now we know why!) and a Shake 'N Go Lightning McQueen from Grandma and Grandpa.
After Jonathon opened his i-Dog, I plugged it into my i-Pod and all the kids gathered around to watch it.
Then we had Jonathon's favorite cake and ice cream: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream.
So even though Michael wasn't here, we still had a great time and I know it was better because Grandma and Grandpa were here!
P.S. When Michael got home on the 11th, he brought Jonathon two books since Jonathon LOVES to read. They are "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo" and "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret", Books 1 & 2 by Obert Skye. Michael has a knack for picking out good books...we'll see if that holds true for these!
After dinner, Jonathon opened his gifts: another puzzle (jungle picture this time) complete with a roll-up mat, an i-Dog, and a water tennis game from Grandma and Grandpa.
Timmy also opened his gifts: a Buzz Lightyear mini-hovercraft (with wheels) from Jonathon and a WALL-E beanbag chair, Thomas the Tank Engine pajama pants, a Lightning McQueen pajama shirt (sold on clearance as a set, now we know why!) and a Shake 'N Go Lightning McQueen from Grandma and Grandpa.
After Jonathon opened his i-Dog, I plugged it into my i-Pod and all the kids gathered around to watch it.
Then we had Jonathon's favorite cake and ice cream: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream.
So even though Michael wasn't here, we still had a great time and I know it was better because Grandma and Grandpa were here!
P.S. When Michael got home on the 11th, he brought Jonathon two books since Jonathon LOVES to read. They are "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo" and "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret", Books 1 & 2 by Obert Skye. Michael has a knack for picking out good books...we'll see if that holds true for these!
13 and counting
In commemoration of my favorite newest teenager on the planet, let me list the top 13 things that I admire about Jonathon:
13. His cool braces (very original choice of colors)
12. His ability to recall and act out funny lines from movies (although this seems to be a trait that everyone in my family has, except for me)
11. His smile (even if he didn't have cool braces)
10. His aptitude for understanding how to build things (another trait that I struggle with!)
9. His general knowledge of animals (lots of Zoo Tycoon!)
8. His love of science
7. His knowledge of plants and trees (he's a veritable encyclopedia when you're on a hike with him)
6. The way he cares about his younger siblings
5. His patience in understanding that sometimes, things just don't go the way you want it to in life, and that's OK
4. His ability to memorize the Articles of Faith
3. His kindness
2. His humble spirit
1.5. The significance with which he places on his being an Aaronic Priesthood holder
1. His desire to live the standards of the gospel
As you can see, I had trouble keeping the list to 13, so I cheated.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHON!
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