Our snowy Valentines Day!

We had so much fun this year on valentines day. We decided to go as a family skiing. I grew up skiing and I have so many childhood memories skiing with my family.I have been pushing to get them all skiing so we wouldn't have to get babysitters anymore. And this was the first time that we all were able to go. Now when you see this next picture, I DO NOT want any calls from child protective services!!!

I know! I know! He is only three! I was just kidding about pushing to get them all skiing. But he REALLY wanted to go and he would have been ALONE on Valentines Day. So we took him. HE LOVED IT! And he really could ski!


Grandpa was so proud! Can you see the icicles on his moustache?


How many of your parent's still ski??!!! It is so fun for my kids to go skiing with their grandparents! I don't remember doing that with mine!:)


I wish I could have gotten all of them together for a picture but they were all over the hill. It was so fun!


I sure got a lot of comments about my crazy kids. Who like to go straight down the hill. Escpecially little M (a.k.a speed demon)! When we got in car E asked me, "what is a maniac?" I told him and asked where he heard that. He told us that someone told him that on the hill!:) It's a good thing they wear helmets!
And the best picture I should have taken was them ALL sleeping on the way home!

For dinner, we had scrumptious fondue. (Side note: Strawberry fondue recipes are just not the same as chocolate):)
It was fun but MESSY! I don't understand how come the kids can't understand "let it drip over the plate!" But we ate on the floor so it was okay!

She's a DECADE old!

My little princess is 10! Does it seem like time is flying by? We had a great day celebrating her. First, she had a date with Grandma and Grandpa. Where she went to an ice cream shop and got to pick out ANYTHING she wanted. (It's a big deal because when we are together as a family, we usually pick out the cheapest kiddie cones for all the kids!) She loved it. She came home and described the banana split in great detail for me. YUM YUM! I love that my parents are so excited to spend time with each of my kids individually. It is a great tradition.




Then we took all the cousins and Uncle Dylan to a fun indoor playground. They had a "BALL" (get it?)

Then we went home and had pizza, ice cream and cake. It is so fun to have a big family to celebrate with.

Just a few words about the Birthday Girl. J is turning into such a young woman. She is so fun to be around. I love that I can depend of her for help with the younger kids, that she is creative and such a leader in helping the younger kids with problem solving, games, and just being kind to each other. She is a very sweet girl who wants to make a difference with her life. I am grateful to have such a blessing as her.

This time of year again?!

Well, it's this time of year again. It brings back alot of memories. I know that you all will probably be annoyed with all my posts about my sister BUT these next few months for me were the most memorable. And remembering helps me to feel close to her again. But today is a good memory...
When Chelise was doing her Chemo she was doing good but in January she started her radiation. That was so hard!!!! She got so sick! It got so bad that she couldn't even swallow her own saliva. So they hooked her up to an IV to get nourishment down her but she said that she craved the taste of foods. Isn't that interesting? She talked about this one meal that she wanted so BAD! She talked about it constantly. She really wanted Shake and Bake chicken, my mom's spinach salad and her famous poppyseed dressing, Martinelle's sparkling apple juice, and for desseret; confetti white cake with the colored chips frosting. It got kind of humorous because she talked about it all time. I think that it helped her to get through her treatments. I told her that when she came home I would make her the most awesome dinner she had ever had. So one weekend my parents brought her home because they all needed a break. We had a great dinner all together! She was able to eat a little and she just loved the little bites that she got down. I am so glad for the moments that we spend together...

Missing the Sun!

Just a random picture of us in Hawaii to help remind me that the sun will come out again!

The sun will come out tomorrow...

We want to go to Hawaii!!

10 Things That No One Knows About Me....

(Well, some of you might....but probably not!) This post is the result of being "tagged" almost a month ago. Sorry, (I've been busy!)So here we go...

1- I have a quirk about showering. I shower every morning! I know.. I know - you do too but I shower even if I am going to work out or work in the yard or anything. I really hate the smell of myself. What... you've never noticed my B.O.? Well that is because I always shower in the morning!! I think I got it from my Dad, who always showered in the morning even though he is a farmer and would come home covered in dirt. He always showered twice a day!
2- I LOVE to be home. I love not having to go anywhere and just be home. I would rather stay home then go even on a vacation. Which drives A crazy! My favorite thing to do is sit on the couch in front of a fire and talk to A.

3- I really have a hard time socializing. I think I am a introvert, who was trained to be social. I value the rewards but I always come home from "get-togethers" exhausted. I don't know why. I LOVE people but it is hard to think of something to say and keep conversations going because I am very uncomfortable sitting in SILENCE!! Even with my hubby!

4- I love music and wish to be a songwriter someday! I do have to learn to play the piano and read music but yes. . .SOMEDAY!! PS I have written (and my sister T recorded) one song. If you are interested the song is linked to my blog. The link is Melon Music and it is called "Chelsie's Song". I can't take full credit because it was totally inspired by Chelsie.! And a lady in my ward wrote the accompaniment.

5- I wear sweats and a T shirt every day unless I am going out of the house. I am such an effcient person that I just don't see the point in wearing my good clothes if I am just staying home. (Okay maybe some of you knew that) :)

6- I don't really think about what I look like. I try to be interested but I just don't think anyone really cares either. After I get to know people I don't really think about what they are wearing) I guess that is why I don't hardly wear makeup unless I am "supposed to". Either that or I just am too efficient to waste makeup and makeup remover.:)

7- I am (not to brag) a professional organizer. Well, I don't really get paid but I could! I love to organize ANYTHING!! It is very fulfilling to me and I love having everything in it's place. I have "systems" for everything! And I have figured out how to keep everything in it's place and have 5 kids. (I am still working on the cleaning part though.) you may come to my house and everything will be put away but my toilets will be disgusting and my house won't be dusted. PS I do have a playroom that is not always clean.

8- I don't like to answer the phone. (Okay, most of you know this one) I hate it when you are in the middle of something and the phone rings. I just let the answering machine get it or caller ID. BUT I do call people back. When it is convenient for me. Yeah ... that is selfish but there are so many people who need me ALL the time that I have to pick and choose. I love that the phone doesn't control me when I am reading a book to my children or doing homework or helping with a piano lesson. So if you call me and it's URGENT let a message and tell me and I will call you right back!

9- I am teaching my kids piano. I know I told you that I don't play the piano but I am learning again with my kids. It is so fun. The books pretty much teach it for you and I am getting better too. PLUS it saved $90 a month!

10- Lastly, I am really addicted to blogging and facebook. I love that I can keep in touch with people that I love and still do it with the limited time that I have. I am sure that all of you knew this one!!!

Well there you have it! I am sure you all loved knowing these details SO now I tagged you!!!! Write a comment and tell me where you put your 10 things that no one knows about you! Tag you are IT!!!cc

Just a few last memories...

Just a few more Christmas memories before I close the chapter on 2008! This year as a family we made 300+ sugar cookies for our neighbors. It was quite the undertaking and I'm not sure what the neighbors thought of our "kid quality" cookies. BUT they were delicious!!! (Thanks for the recipe JEN!) We had such a good time and made such a mess ! I will probably be cleaning dried up cookie dough until next year when we do it again!(thanks again JEN :)) Here is a picture of us in the process!



This is a symbol of what we all did all Christmas break! Some might call it being lazy but I call it rejuvenating!!!!!!!



This is what we did most of December. We ALL learned how to embroider! (Another great idea from Jen) It was so fun and I hope the teachers appreciated the effort of my kids. It was amazing to see how much ownership and pride the kids took in making something all by themselves for their teachers.

AND... Just one more memory. This is my favorite gift I got for Christmas this year. J gave it to me. Even after the entire month of sewing she decided to make me a homemade, hand sewed, cell phone holder. Isn't it adorable? On the back she glued a clip (her brother's future missionary tag)He only got a little mad when he saw it! It was Christmas!! I definitely get alot of comments when I wear it. I've tried to explain to J that I don't want to wear it out by wearing too much, but she just said she will make me a new one!! She is so great! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!