Dec 13, 2013

Sledding


Wed. was the kids last snow day away from school.  It finally had warmed up a bit so the roads weren't terrible icy anymore.  Craig came home on his lunch break and let us drop him back off so we could have the car.  We borrowed some sleds from the Christensens, picked up Brady and headed for some hills for sledding.  This spot was really close to us.  The big boys were way too daring.  Someone had built a ramp at the bottom of the steepest slope and the boys both got lots air.  Jace probably did 50 runs or more.  He couldn't get enough of it.  Brooke stayed on the smaller hills.  Jace took Ty down one small hill too.  Mostly it was too steep for little guys.  Jace had the time of his life.  It made such a difference being able to get out of the house and release some pent up energy.  I'm so glad we are no longer snowed in.  Mom was losing her sanity a bit.  Jace and Brooke fight WAY too much when cooped up together for long amounts of time.  













Dec 8, 2013

Snowed In

We are officially on day 7 of being snowed in.  They canceled school on Thursday because of freezing rain/ ice which turned into a blizzard.  We woke up on Friday to a winter wonderland with no school or work.  Sunday church was canceled, and I just got a call that our snow days will yet continue ... school is canceled Mon, Tues, and Wed. as well. There is not a ton of snow but because there is a layer of ice underneath it the roads aren't safe .. especially for buses carrying children.  They don't have salt trucks here so even though they have tried plowing over and over it doesn't get rid of the ice.

 My kids have had a ball.  Jace is my little snow boy.  He LOVES snow and has played in it everyday.  It's not good packing snow so every time we tried to build a snowman it just crumbled but he did build a cool snow/ ice wall with daddies help from shoveling the sidewalk and driveway.  Ty got to experience snow for the very first time.  He wasn't too sure about it.  He loved playing outside with Jace but got cold quickly.  I haven't let him go out much because he just got over a cold.  Brooke and Jace have had numerous snow ball fights with each other and the neighbor kids.  Usually Brooke comes in crying.  We've put up the Christmas decorations, baked cookies, turned our thankful tree into a service snowflake tree, and have enjoyed Christmas movies and hot chocolate/ herbal tea.

  I for one and ready for the 'snow days' to be over with.  I have cabin fever for sure.  In part due to the fact that we just barely got everyone healthy after a 3 week bout with having at least one person sick.  When Craig left for D.C. Ty and I came down with a terrible cold that turned into ear infections that lasted 2 weeks and as soon as Craig got home he brought the stomach flu with him which in turn went through the entire family one person at a time, then Ty just barely got over a 2 day mystery fever just before we got snowed in.  We're finally better and I am SO ready to get out of this house.  I was looking forward to the Christmas parades, shopping at a real store (not online), and a visit to the mall to see Santa.  I guess it will have to wait until next weekend.  Until then we will continue to have some family fun inside.  Bring on the board games.





The snow is just getting started...


We walked to the pond in a blizzard.  I don't know if it feels colder here than Utah snow because we've lived in AZ for the last 3 years or that it's more humid here so it bites right through your coat.



My sweet snow boy.



Friday morning Winter Wonderland.








Jace's snow wall.


Ty liked laying under the Christmas tree and staring at the lights.  We moved it onto a small table soon after because he kept removing most of the decorations.  I'll have to take pictures of our other decorating soon.  We actually have a fireplace to hang stockings from this year ... although I can't get it to work.  I'm very thankful we haven't lost power.  We would freeze otherwise.



All ABout Ty



Ty loves cars, trucks, trains, planes, and anything else that has wheels.  He especially loves Disney's Cars and Lightning Mcqueen.  We watch it almost every day and he gets excited every single time.  Daddy brought him a box car size Lightning Mcqueen car when he came home from his Washington D.C. trip and it rarely leaves his hands.  He brings it with him to eat, sleep, and bathe.  The other morning he woke up at 5am screaming for his "Mckeen" and we had to search the house trying to find where he dropped it or was playing with it last. We may have to make an investment of a backup.  He's usually pretty sweet.  He has been trying to go on a nap strike lately though and wakes up grouchy from afternoon nap.  When the other kids are at school and while I'm doing my chores or exercising he likes to play with his collection of cars in the play area in the front room.  He'll play by himself for an hour or more.  He started eating at the big table and is so proud of himself that he doesn't use the highchair anymore. He likes drinking milk, and green smoothies, and he likes eating spaghetti/ pasta, celery, almonds, gluten free crackers, treats, and he LOVES candy.  He doesn't like eating any kind of bread or rolls unless it's banana bread and full of chocolate chips.  I'm wondering if it's a texture thing or a possible gluten intolerance.  He had a milk allergy when he was younger but grew out of it.  He loves baths and I wonder if he makes a huge mess at meal times just so he can have one.  He's talking more and more everyday.  Some of the things he says: "mommy, daddy, jace, grandpa, nani, mckeen, car, bus, cookie, candy,yesh, no, whoa, what's that?, i want, go,  more, please, mine, puppy, stories, eyes, nose, toes,  etc..."  He loves playing with Jace and Brooke when they get home and always runs to daddy with open arms as soon as he hears the garage door open in the evening.  He likes snuggling mommy and daddy and discovering new things. He likes having stories read to him and his favorite 'book' to look at is the Mazda magazine we got in the mail that just has pictures of cars.  He LOVES cars. His middle name is Johnson and I think he takes after Grandpa Johnson and his love of cars.  Especially red ones. He's in heaven in a parking lot.   We are so excited to help him celebrate turning 2 in a 1 1/2 weeks.  He holds such a special place in our family.  The little peace maker.  I'm not ready for him to not be my sweet, little baby.  I hope he handles being a big brother okay.


Playing with cars.

Getting ready to watch his favorite movie: Cars!!





More car play time.  It's his favorite thing to do.


Playing boats with big sisters.  Boxes are the best toys.


Ty and Mcqueen getting into trouble.


Nap strikes gone bad:  He refused to take a nap in his crib then fell asleep while watching a movie with a cookie and Mcqueen in his hands.  A few days later he again refused to take a nap then fell asleep in the middle of dinner.  That little stinker.




Just catching up on some reading.  He loves to look at the cars in the Mazda magazine.  I usually hear things like "Whoa!!, Oooh, zoom, Cars!!"

All About Brooke



My name is ... Brooke
I am 6 years old. 
I live ... in a house.
My house is ... in Arkansas.
I live with ... my family.
My pets are ... I don't have a pet.

My mom’s name is ... mom.
She is 29 years old. 
She weighs 85 pounds. 
Her favorite thing to do is ... color.
She does not like to ... be mean.
She likes to eat ... pasta.
She likes to drink ... water and milk.
I like it when she ... colors with me.

My dad’s name is ... Craig.
He is 32 years old.
He weighs 180 pounds.
His favorite thing to do is ... give me hugs.
He does not like to ... eat peanut butter.
He likes to eat ...  any type of candy.
He likes to drink ... pop.
I like it when he ... practices soccer with me.
After I go to sleep my mom and dad ...  watch tv and talk.
I love it when Mom or Dad cooks ... any kind of pasta.  I LOVE pasta.
My siblings names are ... Jace and Ty.

They like to ... Jace likes to watch Star Wars and Minecraft Videos. Ty likes to play.
I don't like it when ... Jace attacks me.

My favorite food to eat is ... pasta and candy.
I don’t like to eat ... that stuff that looked like a pancake that is actually not a pancake that we had for dinner. (Frittata)
My favorite place to eat is ... Smokin' Joes Barbeque
I like to order ... chicken strips.
My favorite color is ... white and rainbow.
What makes me happy?  When someone plays with me or says something funny.
What makes me sad?  When someone isn't being nice to me.
What I’m afraid of is ... Monsters in my room.
What is my favorite thing to do?  Everything I like doing.
What I wish for is ... For me to have a real working wand.
If I could go anywhere, I’d go ... to my friend Krynn's house.  She lives in Arizona and she has a pool and it's warm.
My favorite holiday is... Christmas and Valentines day Because you gets lots of presents and on Valentines day you can care for others.
My favorite toy is ... Brynlee's little baby pony.
My favorite animal is ... a cat.
My favorite book is ... The Littlest Mermaid and Junie B. Jones.
My favorite song is ... I'm a little Goblin green and Cute.
My favorite game is ... Princess Friends Forever.
My favorite movie is ... I wish I had Mermaid Barbie 3.
My favorite cartoon/ tv show is ... Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Cat in the Hat.
My favorite thing to do at school is ... Go to specials like music and P.E. and Art.
What I know about Jesus is ... He died for our sins.
When I grow up I want to ... be a singer, a mom, and a teacher.
I love ... Everything in the Universe.

Brooke is a happy soul.  Don't get me wrong she can throw a temper tantrum, complains about cleaning, and tattles like crazy but 95% of the time she is happy about life.  If life throws her a foggy day she goes on an on about how foggy days are cool and mysterious.  Jace chimes in about how much he hates foggy days and wishes Brooke would get lost in the fog.  Oh the joys of having an older brother that loves to push your buttons and tease.  lol  I don't think I've ever seen 2 kids more opposite. She loves coloring, crafting, school, playing with friends, being mommies cooking helper (she's my best taster), having books read to her, writing notes to everyone in the family, singing, and talking.  She still loves mermaids and want to be one.  For Christmas she was going to ask Santa for either a real live Mermaid or a 'real' working wand.  Then she wasn't for sure if those things are 100% real.  She believes in them but just to be sure she then decided to ask for ice skates.  I talked her into asking for an ice skating trip instead plus tickets to go see Disney's Frozen.  She's beyond excited for Christmas and she's been a sweetheart this year so I don't think she has anything to worry about.  As I'm writing this she is singing and dancing in the wash room waiting for her underwear to dry. lol
My sweet little mermaid.


All About Jace



My name is ... Jace
I am 8 years old. 
I live ... in Arkansas.
My house is ... on Harvest Street.
I live with ... my Mom, dad, sister, and brother.
My pets are ... I don't have any.


My mom’s name is ... Heather
She is 27 years old. 
She weighs 120 pounds. 
Her favorite thing to do is ... snuggle Ty.
She does not like to... clean the house.
She likes to eat ... healthy food.
She likes to drink ... water.
I like it when she ... makes me food.

My dad’s name is ... Craig.
He is 33 years old.
He weighs 250 pounds.
His favorite thing to do is ... cook steak.
He does not like to ... clean the house and cook other food.
He likes to eat ... meat.
He likes to drink ... soda.
I like it when he ... plays soccer with me.
I love it when Mom or Dad cooks ... chicken.
After I go to bed Mom and Dad ... watch tv.

My siblings are ... Brooke and Ty.
I don't like it when ... Brooke punches me I'll beat her up for it.

My favorite food to eat is ... ice cream.
I don’t like to eat ...beets.
My favorite place to eat is ... TGI Fridays
I like to order ... French Fries and Hamburgers.
My favorite color is ... blue, white, and green.
What makes me happy?  When Ty plays with me.
What makes me sad?  When Ty bites and pinches me.
What I’m afraid of is... nothing.
What is my favorite thing to do? Watch Minecraft videos and play LEGOs.
What I wish for is ... all 3 Minecraft Lego sets.
If I could go anywhere, I’d go ... to Hawaii.
My favorite holiday is.. Christmas and my Birthday.
My favorite toy is... my Star Wars Light Saber.
My favorite animal is ... a bird.
My favorite book is... Star Wars from the library.
My favorite movie is ... Star Wars: Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith.
My favorite cartoon/tv show ... Star Wars: The Clone wars.
My favorite song is... Praise to the Man.
My favorite game is ... playing LEGOs.
My favorite thing to do at school is ... Computers, recess, and P.E.
What I know about Jesus is ... he died for us.
When I grow up I want to ... make my own rules.
I love ... my family.

As you can tell ... Jace loves Star Wars, Minecraft, and LEGOs!!  He has tons of fun with his best friend Brady too.  He does a pretty good job keeping his room clean so he can use the computer to play games after he gets home from school.  He likes scouts most of the time and I can tell he enjoys school this year, although if you ask him he says he hates it.  He loves day off of school but if there is too many he gets bored being stuck at home.  One day after school he threw the biggest tantrum about doing his homework because he had to read 5 chapters of this book that according to him was all about love and kissing and it was horrible and he hated it and he wouldn't read it.  We ended up taking turns reading chapters.  It was funny.  He acted like he was going to throw up if it talked about one of the boys liking a girl.  He likes playing and fighting with Brooke and playing with Ty.  He also LOVES the snow.  He is my snow boy.  He would play in it all day if I let him.  He has a responsibility chart but needs to put a little more effort into accomplishing his goals.  He still loses that fiery temper of his often and ends up in time out every other day but he is gradually learning to compromise and watch what he says. He likes showing me his LEGO creations and telling me all about his Minecraft games.  He has a big heart and I love his hugs.