Our 2009 End of Year Blog

What has our family been up to this year?

Here we tell it in our own words.








Dad: Texas felt a little more like home this year as I started having a better idea what to expect with work, school, holidays, and local traditions. I’ve been working at Overwatch since April 2008 and got involved in a review of company processes for CMMI and worked experienced my first “Rush” as the company called for everyone on my project to work 60 hour weeks during August, September, and part of October. I also participated in a company Habitat For Humanity volunteer day repairing an old house. Getting our house sold was a major undertaking and a huge relief. We were finally able to turn our sights towards our future and saving for our next house. I played way more than my share of Wii games, beating Star Wars Force Unleashed, Zelda Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, and Mario Kart. I also got to join Colin on a night of Scout Camp during the summer. I also went to a Dave Ramsey live event and read over 10 books this year (some we own and some from the library). As you’ll read below, it is amazing how much each of the children has grown this year. I am constantly amazed at how blessed I am with the loving wife and children that make up my family. Whether I am home early or late, or seeing my children on Saturday for the first time this week, they always shower me with love through hugs, kisses, and stories about the adventures they had that day. I live for those Homecoming celebrations.

Mom: This year I spent a lot of time working and preparing to sell our house in Colorado. We are so thankful to all those who helped us, especially my sister Allison and her husband Aaron. It was such a blessing to have it sold. As my good friend said, “We stopped the bleeding.” I got the chance to meet new friends and strengthen older friendships. It is such a blessing to have wonderful women around me.

We had the privilege of attending our friend Lyssa's missionary discussions and then baptism. We rescued a turtle from the grips of our dog and then released it into the wild. We took a local vacation to Brenham, TX where we visited The Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory, played at the park, swam at the pool, visited the local shops, ate at a local (Must Be Heaven) Sandwich/ice cream shop, and visited a Monastery where nuns raise miniature horses. My sweet husband supported me through all the new ideas and projects that I tried this year. The biggest being the many craft shows I participated in and all the prep work that went into them. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and to have the modern conveniences of email, Facebook, blogs, Skype and cell phones. It makes being away from so many of you a little easier. You are all in our hearts.
Colin: The coolest thing I did this past year was participating in the science fair. I did an awesome exhibit about mice taste buds, trying to find the best mouse bait. My mom let me have three mice to run my experiments with and my dad and I built a large track for the mice to run through. Next came the end of fifth grade and the end of my elementary school. After that I signed up for Swim Team and had the coolest time of my life. I even learned the Butterfly stroke. This fall I started sixth grade at Hudson Bend Middle School, with my two

best friends Loren Christiansen and Kassandra Pulsifer. Next came Christmas where I got two laser tag guns and the movie Arthur Spiderwick Chronicles.
Caitlyn: This year I decided I didn’t want to write anything. I didn’t want to write about my friends Amelia and Talia, who have made Texas a better place to live, or about how I learned to swim the length of the swimming pool and then even won some of my heats by the end of Swim Team or about my trip to Brenham, TX to see how BlueBell Ice Cream is made. I didn’t want to write about how annoying my mother is, but sometimes you just have to tell the truth. I got an American Girl Doll for Christmas.

Austin: This past year I was a Lake Travis Cheerleader. I learned some really cool dances and cheers and was able to perform them at Football games and a cheer competition. Caitlyn and I also discovered Zelda: Twilight Princess. We had fun dressing up as the characters and for Halloween I was Link. We went to Barton Springs for a swim with our friends Robert and Mariah Case. The water was very cold. We heard that there are some endangered Salamanders in Barton Springs. Caitlyn brought her water camera so we could find them, but we didn’t find any. For Christmas I got an American Girl Doll named Felicity.

Reagan: This year I started preschool. I’ve gotten to go on three field trips, one to the Zoo, one to the Park and one to the Pumpkin Patch. We got swim passes this year and got to go to the pool a lot. I liked the frog slide and a squishy frog I could lay on. My dad is teaching me how to ride a bike. He made it easier by putting training wheels on. I got makeup and a jewelry box for Christmas.

Hallie(in her own words): This year I turned three. I am bigger now because I am three. I get to go to Sunbeams now that I am three. I will miss my John and Julie in Nursery. I just want some crackers and some animal crackers, and some fishy crackers. No dad not cookies, WAIT yes cookies! I am a POTTY PRINCESS and I have a squishy potty. I don’t like to POOP, but I like potty candy and I get to go to treasure chest.

Halloween

Colin, friend G, Caitlyn, Austin, Hallie

Reagan "The Witch"

Hallie as "Tigger"

Austin as "Link"

Princesses Daisy and Caitlyn

Preschool Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Preschool Hay ride

Hallie's Special Day

On the 8th of this month Hallie turned three. She has officially left her babyhood behind. She is all grown up or at least she thinks so. She and I had a wonderful day. We dropped Reagan off at pre-school and went to the mall where we made an appointment to have her picture taken. We were then off to Pottery Barn Kids (a favorite place to play) until the time of our appointment. We found lots that we liked, but nothing that we needed, so we returned to the photographers happy and with enough money in our pockets to go to Build a Bear after Hallie's photo session.

She chose a cute little horse that neighs and then we proceeded to buy it a ballet outfit, complete with shoes and bows for it's ears. Hallie's favorite part was the box that it came home in. (She calls it her horse's home.) After our adventure in the mall we went to pick up Reagan from preschool and then were off to lunch at chick-fil-la (they have the cleanest play area). We played and played until all three of us were tired, then it was time to go home for what I hoped would be a short nap, Hallie had other ideas.

Instead we headed to the store to buy wrapping paper and a big balloon in the shape of a piece of cake. (Hallie still has the balloon 9 days later.) We had a dinner of Tacos and then Hallie helped me make cupcakes. The pink frosting and sprinkles was Hallie's favorite part. She loved all of her presents and cards, but her favorite gift was a pink and blue ride in car. Mark spent all night putting it together. It was the perfect combination of girly pink and it allowed her to be a true princess. You see she gets pushed all around in it, making her feel like the princess she is.

I love this picture. It shows Hallie really concentrating. Mark uses his tongue the same way when he is using all his brain power to think. So cute!

Cheering for Austin

Today Austin had the chance to participate in a regional cheerleading competition (She's in the second row, second from the right). It was her first all day event. I was so proud of her and her team. Only half of the girls' parents were able to drive the hour + to bring their children so the coaches recruited girls from the younger team to join ours. You'll notice the little girls sit out for the parts they don't know, but our original 6 really shined. Just for the record Austin can do a cartwheel. She was just nervous at the end.Ü

For all those who wonder what we stay at home moms do with our time

One day in the life of me…
October 13, 2009
6:15 AM alarm goes off (Say Prayers)
6:17 AM Wake up Caitlyn and Austin
6:20 AM Fix the girls breakfast
6:40 AM wake up Colin/ send him to the shower
6:45 AM brush girls hair
6:55 AM check backpacks send girls to bus
6:57 AM Hallie’s up (change diaper, get her dressed, set her at the table)
7:15 AM Check Colin’s hair take him to the sink rinse/ blow dry hair
7:30 AM Wake up Reagan, take her to the potty, get her dressed, brush hair, set her at the table
7:45 AM Collect Colin and all his stuff (lunch, bag, Hawaii shirt, instrument, PE clothes)
7:55 AM Leave for Middle school
8:10 AM pick up Friend on the way to school
8:25 AM Drop off boys
8:45 AM pick up Reagan and Hallie from home (check on Mark, who is home sick. Fever 99.9 Down from last night)
9:00 AM Drop off Reagan at Preschool
9:10 Am Eat breakfast in the car
9:30 AM Arrive at Wal-mart drop off Mark’s car for an oil change.
9:45 AM Walk to a bank Fax a form to doctor’s office
10:00 AM Back at Wal-mart start grocery shopping
10:45 AM pick up car
11:10 AM Stop by Goodwill drop off donation
11:11 AM Realize I bought Mark sherbet and it’s going to melt
11:20 AM Stop by Walgreens to buy a cooler bag (They don’t have one.) Find a box to send package.
11:28 AM Stop at Randall’s buy cooler bag / hit the bank on the way out (make a deposit)
11:35 AM Enter Costco place order for Mark’s tire replacement
11:44 AM Call Mark make sure he is still able to pick up Reagan
11:50 AM Take Hallie on a walk
11:56 AM Check out furniture store (Hallie finds perfect bed only $1600)
12:20 PM Visit Stein Mart look at the early Christmas decorations (Hallie and I are excited)
12:47 PM walk to Staples (love this store they have chairs, Hallie and I relax) Call Mark, Reagan is watching a movie he is back in bed
1:09 PM Return to Costco buy Hallie a hot dog for lunch
1:40 PM Explore Costco
1:52 PM Pick up car / drive home / Hallie falls asleep
2:21 PM Arrive home unpack car, put away groceries, lay Hallie down for a nap, start boiling chicken, take Mark temperature.
2:40 PM Leave house drive to dentist office get letter stating Colin had an appt. day before (apparently this is required by state law)
2: 58 PM Drive to the post office mail package and thank you notes
3:23 PM Travel to two different locations to get Mark’s state emissions and safety tests done
3:59 PM Leave Jiffy Lube head to dry cleaners drop off sweaters
4:21 PM Arrive home remove boiled chicken, cut up carrots, potatoes, celery and onion, debone chicken
5:07 PM Start cooking chicken noodle soup, set timer, leave Colin in charge. Make Sandwiches for Caitlyn and Austin (they have to leave before dinner will be done.
5:19 PM Hurry to car (we are late)
5:21 PM Pick up Caitlyn’s friend
5:38 PM Drop off Austin at Cheer practice.
5:45 PM Stop by store for craft ideas
6:04 PM Drop off Caitlyn and friend at the church for Activity days
Drive home
Eat dinner
Start dishes
6:45 PM Grab Colin head out
7:00 PM Pick up Austin at the Cheerleading practice
7:06 PM Pick up Caitlyn, friend, and drop off Colin
7:28 PM drop off friend
7:35 PM Come home do dishes, pick up house, feed Caitlyn and Austin a little more
9:00 PM Still wrestling with Husband and kids no one is in bed
9:10 PM Post Blog
9:15 PM run away from home… Ü

Children Teach Parents

What have I learned from my kids? I've learned that you're never too old to laugh so hard stuff comes out your nose. I learned that pink is in and beige is out, and that playing video games on the Wii can be counted as exercise. But most recently I learned that a favorite song of mine from the 4th grade (that's 1986-1987) I've been singing wrong. The Bangles still ROCK, but it turns out they never did sing about a man obcessed with Mondays. Even knowing the name of the song (Manic Monday) I still sang "man at Monday." It took my 9 year old singing "Just another Manic Monday" at the top of her lungs, before I stopped, thought, and laughed at myself.

Ginger Walmart

Every year my children come home from school with papers describing some time consuming project that is requiring my constant help. Rarely (I won't say never though I can't remember it ever being stated) has a purpose or learning principle been explained. I spent a great deal of time pondering these tasks, complaining, and threatening not to complete them, but in the end I sit down with my children and begin the craft.



This year is no different. Austin came home two weeks ago, announcing that the entire second grade class would be building a three dimensional model of our town. She had volunteered to build Walmart (Have I mentioned that we don't have a Walmart? The closest one is 25 min. away.) Our only instructions were that it needed to be freestanding and we weren't allowed to use Lego's. Austin came home so excited. She was sure her idea was the best. She wanted to build a Walmart out of gingerbread! After all, the closest Walmart to us is brown. I told her that sounded like a fun idea, but that I wasn't sure that was what her teacher was looking for. (Note the loving response and the deflective maneuver.) Austin, never being one to be deterred, talked to her teacher the very next day and proudly came home and announced that Ms. Strickland said gingerbread would be fine. (Have I mention how much I appreciate Austin teacher? Ü) So I was stuck. Who could say no to this face?

Our Fourth is Five

Reagan’s Birthday makes her FIVE! After a morning of Texas sized French toast, a surprise showed up for Reagan. It was her dad coming back home to claim her for a date of bike riding in the park. What fun they had learning to ride and playing at the park until lunch time. Then they came home to claim Hallie and I for a lunch at Red Robin. After lunch it was time to pick up the girls from school and we were lucky enough to have our friend Coco come over too. Reagan chose macaroni and cheese with hotdogs for dinner, so I made my five cheese macaroni, which was a big hit, and a strawberry pie and ice cream for dessert. Yum! Reagan's presents included three Littlest Pet Shops, three new horses, a new backpack and a new Webkinz hedgehog. She also received lots of cards and phone calls from all of you. Thank you all for sharing in our girl’s special day.

A lazy Sunday Evening

So sorry that I have been neglectful with my blogging. Enjoy this video of Mark and Hallie for now.

Colin's 11

Once again Colin’s birthday was just as school was starting again for the new year. Last year it started on him actual birthday this year it started the day before, but that is all okay because he is in middle school now. We woke him up singing Happy Birthday and invited him to join us for crepes with all his favorite fixings. We even let him open his presents that morning, before school. Before leaving for school, I taped a sign to his back which read, “It’s my birthday. Congratulate me!” He did receive many well wishes until a teacher told him to remove it. (Teacher’s can be no fun. Ü) He returned home to have dinner of homemade pizza with the family and then it was off to scouts. By the time he made it home I had made a chocolate cake that was divine. It was a simple day, but a good one.

Our Caitlyn is NINE!

How does a beautiful nine year old girl want to spend her birthday? With friends, at the local amusement park, a slumber party, a day at the water slide park? Nope. She’d rather be with her mom and dad. We started off the day making Caitlyn’s cake. I offered to buy her one (ice cream cakes were mentioned), but she wanted to make her own. It was an orange flavored cake with cream cheese frosting.

We then left the house for a lunch date at BJ’s. We started with Caesar salads and the most divine pizza (Caitlyn: sausage and black olive and Mom: pepperoni and tomato).

For dessert we were brought out their famous “pizookie.” (It’s a cookie baked in a deep dish pizza pan, served right from the oven with ice cream on top). Can you say yummy? To Caitlyn the best part was the lit candle on top. I thought it was the perfect addition to the orange cream soda Caitlyn was already drinking. What fun.

After filling our tummies we had just enough time to do a little shopping and then it was off to meet Mark at the movies. We saw “UP” which made me cry over and over. Mark said “Pixar found a way to wrap an amazing story around the line, 'it’s just a house'.” Caitlyn liked the movie, but liked getting to sit between Mom and Dad even more. She had all of our attention. After the movie Mark walked the mall a little with us and then was back off to work. Now it was time for some serious shopping. Caitlyn and I hit the stores and especially all the sales. We kept adding shopping bags which Caitlyn carried around proudly. We ended our day out with a trip to Costco, where we picked up dinner.

We sat around the table as a family talking about the day and all the fun we had. After the dishes were done it was time for cake and ice

cream. We wrapped up our amazing day with present opening. I don’t think there could be a more perfect day.

We love you KIT KAT!

Not So Fast... It's Back to the Kiddie Pool For You

After my last post I have been feeling pretty good about myself. Too good it seems. I was informed yesterday that I hadn't been swimming a mile. That I was actually one lap short, due to the size of our pool. I was very sad and even more disappointed, but I got up today and tried again. Today I swam a mile and I shaved 5 minutes off my original time. Persistence pays off.

Our Next Olympian

Today I made my children and husband proud and myself a little too. After two weeks of morning swimming I have finally swam a full mile. I may have taken me 48 minutes to do it (a time I plan on improving), but it was a mile still the same and I just can't quit smiling.

One Amazing Pooch

I know it' s been a while since I last posted and there really is a ton to catch up on, but I couldn't not blog about our wonder dog's birthday. That's right yesterday was Ms. Daisy Diggs birthday. She is officially four years old and has been with our family for three of those years. She is the perfect addition to our family and a wonderful friend. She is so patient and kind to the kids. They test this theory a little too often and she always stays faithful.

Our Daisy loves to be the center of attention and if you say her name or call her to you she is always up for a belly rub or an ear scratch, but she is also just as content to lay near by and take a little nap. She doesn't bark when people come to the door, but if she is outside she barks hello to all the other dogs, squirrels, birds or sometimes people she sees. Daisy loves the water. She is the only dog I know that enjoys a bath. If you leave the bath tub full and unattended you will find her in it. She never jumps on people, but she has been known to jump on the trampoline with the kids. When she first came to be with us she was scared to death of the car and would shake and whine anytime we took her for a ride, now she runs to the van, finds her spot and waits patiently for her trip. She loves walks and gets excited at the sight of my tennis shoes or her lease, but she would prefer to go running. She never poops on our walks or runs, so there is no need for me to carry a baggie. Daisy is a beautiful dog and she loves us, which she shows us everyday. Not even Mark can deny her charms. Though she does equal extra work she is worth it. WE LOVE YOU DAISY!




The following picture are from our trip to Red Bud Isle Dog Park. We made a special trip for our special dog. Happy Birthday Daisy!















Reagan getting in a hug, while Hallie runs away.




















Reagan found a stick for Daisy.

Austin didn't mind Daisy being wet.














The tree roots grow into the river.

Mud is good for the face.















Colin wading into the water.

















Swimming with Daisy.

Caitlyn after helping her sister with a mud mask.