First Day of School 2009

I know it shocking that I've posted something the same day it happened. What can I say. School is back in session and I can actually think. Today Ammon started 6th Grade. His teacher is Mr. Fontes and he is semi-excited. You know you have to be cool when you are a 6th grader. He rode his bike with a friend, took his lunch, and a backpack full of supplies. He is a great student and we look forward to a good year from little Ammon.

Nikolaus started 8th grade today. He is not excited for school to start. He wanted a few more weeks of summer. He is happy about his schedule this year. (well most of it) He gets to be an office aide and take PE and Shop. He will also be in Algebra 1-2 (least favorite subject) and all those other required - science, language, social studies.

He is playing football again this year and is pretty excited about the whole ordeal. It's probably because he acutally knows a little more what to do this year. Nikolaus is also a good student - so we expect good things this year.

I am home with Ethan doing whatever it is we do all day. All I know is I never get it done. I am President of the PTSO this year and very excited about that. I hope this year brings happiness, perspective, and sense of accomplishment.

Arrow of Light

Ammon received his Arrow of light about a month ago. We are very proud of him. He received his Webelos, Arrow of Light and a couple of activity badges that night.
They usually do a big shin dig (is that even a word?) when you receive your Arrow of Light, but there was a little confusion the month before at pack meeting. They thought Ammon was getting his Arrow of light so they called him up to stand with several boys during this cool ceremony. A few minutes later we realized he shouldn't be getting his Arrow of Light yet so he sat down. That poor kid was so darn confused he didn't know what to do. So the next month when he actually earned it they just handed him the patch and the arrow.

We don't care how the ceremony went we just think it's a good thing that Ammon has accomplished. Ammon set a goal with Darwin and just completed the Conservation Patch. Way to go Ammon!!

STOMP!

Darwin had another conference in the valley so we tagged along. We decided to take the boys to Stomp. It was so awesome. We loved, loved it. Stomp is a percussion group, but they don't use any drums. They use brooms, chairs, trash cans, paint cans, themselves, matchboxes, newspapers, etc. We were also surprised how funny it was. I could see it again tomorrow.

We stayed with Misty in the valley. Ethan loves their house. He is so happy there. It could be because that was the first place he went to after the hospital. Misty - her husband Chris and her daughter Annikka are on the left. My sister Jennie is on the right. Love those girls to death.

Easter

Yes I know this is several weeks old, but if I published on time then you would think I was really on the ball and I'm not so here we are. At our house the Easter Bunny leaves the baskets outside for the kids to find. The Easter Bunny left Ethan a lot of Thomas the Tank Engine trains. We are huge fans at our house.

The Easter Bunny needs to find much harder locations to hide their baskets. It was way to easy.

When I was out hiding the baskets I heard a knock, knock, knock. I looked around and it was my neighbor to the south. She was watching me the whole time and getting a huge kick out of it. I guess I live to entertain the neighbors.

More Easter

Coloring Eggs. The boys were refusing and then they actually enjoyed it. I just know they did.

Ethan was napping while we colored eggs so I had him put stickers on. They were Kung Fu Panda stickers. He really didn't enjoy it - let's be honest.

He did love finding eggs. Once he got the hang of it - he was going like crazy to find them.

I love this picture. I guess he thought it would be better to store the eggs in the car then his basket. One tradition I love during Easter is my dad always hides a Money Egg. This year Ammon found it.

Spring Break and New Posts

Okay - I just published 5 new posts. I know it's a lot, but now I am all caught up.

Spring break was great, but unless someone sends me some pictures I have nothing to show for it. It was a good spring break, but a strange one. My family was scattered across the U.S. Nikolaus and Ammon were with their dad in Florida. They spent the week at Disney World. They had a blast by the way. I surprised Darwin with a trip to Utah to see his boys. Well I had to tell him a couple weeks early becuase it was getting way to complicated to plan. He had a really good trip with his boys. He needed that time with them.

I was just going to hang out in the valley and then ended up in California - thus no camera and pictures. My sister and cousin were staying at a resort and informed me it was only 4 hours away and I needed to head over - so off I went. It was strange because I ended up spending part of spring break in a whole different place I had originally intended. It was a good trip for me. I was able to relax and spend time with people I love. I did feel a little out of sorts having my family spread all over the place. I was extremely relieved when everyone was back together and we were all heading home. We came home and celebrated a birthday and enjoyed a pinewood derby.

Basketball

Nikolaus had a good basketball season. Joey - my little brother was his coach and he did a great job. They ended up taking 1st in their league. I was very impressed with his team. They were all good boys - respectful, kind, and just plain fun to watch.

Ammon's Last Pinewood Derby

Ammon participated in his last Pinewood Derby tonight. Our goal was to have Ammon win at least one race. I mean come on - you don't want the kid to leave the derby as a sad little boy. Ammon actually did really well. He came in third. We were actually quite surprised becuase they just worked on the car last night. I guess that means Darwin and Ammon are quite the Derby Stallions. Our schedules have been a little hectic and everyone was out of town, so last night was it. This is the best Ammon has ever done in a race and we are very proud of him. He will go to district at the end of April. District is tought and frankly we could care less if he wins one race, but he is happy to go so we are happy for him.

Ethan's 2nd Birthday!!!

Ethan turned 2 on March 27th. We didn't actually celebrate on that day because we were all out of town in different states. So we waited until the following Monday to celebrate.


Here is a picture of Ethan when he was born. He came five weeks early. My water broke and then I was flown to the valley for the birth. Ethan's lungs just weren't ready so he stayed in the NICU for a couple of weeks. He was 6 lbs. when he was born so needless to say he was a giant in the NICU. It was a scary start, but now I can barely keep up with the little guy. He is on the go constantly. What a blessing.





Ethan was really into his birthday. I got on the internet and let him pick out his own cake and of course he picked a train. He is a train lover.













He has grown so much in the last two years. He has also been a huge blessing to to our family. He loves all his brothers so much and doesn't care where they came from. He just knows they are here to play with him and love him. He can also be quite bossy with them and they actually take it. The big boys will laugh and laugh at this little guy and Ethan will perform like crazy for them.

We decided to get Ethan his very own scooter because he used the boys EVERY day. He doesn't ride their scooters - he just pushes them around. So we thought we would get him this kind so he could actually ride it. Well he just did the same thing - pushed it around the house.

Fun Run

A couple weeks ago we participated in the SHS fun Run/Walk. The band and orchestra did a fundraiser to earn money for their Disneyland trip. Dana - my sister - was in charged so I signed the whole family up. Even Ethan participated and had a number. It was actually pretty fun. We just did the 3K. Afterward we had a pancake breakfast and sampled yummy smoothies. There was also a raffle and Nikolaus won a tire rotation from the Taylor tire store. AWESOME!!!

Zach, Ammon, and my mom.

A Little Cake Pop Fun

A couple weeks ago our ward celebrated the Relief Society's Birthday. I thought it would be fun to make these cake pops so for some crazy reason I volunteered to do it. Sometimes I wonder about myself, but I have to admit I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these. We ended up making about 130 cake pops. We did it in three different steps. Barbara and Sabrina helped put these together. Thanks so much ladies. I couldn't have done it without you.

I make these cake pops a lot for my family, but I usually don't make it this complicated. I will just roll them into a ball and cover them in cholocate . They gobble them up. If you want to know how to make them they are on Bakerella.

Nikolaus' 13th Birthday!!

March 13, 2009

Nikolaus turned 13 on the 13th on March. I am not dealing well with the fact that I have a
toddler and a teenager. Wow - where does the time go. Nikolaus just wanted to have a few friends over for his birthday. They played the WII, watched a movie, and played basketball. Oh - and they ate a lot of food.

Usually for birthdays I go all out, with some themed party. Well - I guess those days are over. 

Now they just 

want to hang out. Am I the only mom who feels a little let down by this?Nikolaus is a great kid and we are blessed to have him as part of our family. He is kind, athletic, smart, quiet and loud, thoughtful, hard working, a fantastic older brother - especially to Ethan, imaginative, a great student, a lover of Legos and transformers, a basketball enthusiast, an honorable deacon, and an all around pleasure to have in our family.

Nikolaus has had a lot to deal with in terms of a divorce and a blended family. He has had to take on a lot being the older brother of Ammon and

 the other boys. Over the years we have seen him grow and develop into a young man of integrity and happiness. No one laughs harder at Ammon and Ethan than Nikolaus.

Happy Birthday Boo!! May you continue to grow into a young man of honor and courage.

Weekend in Phoenix ****Feb 22, 2009

Okay - I'm using another collage becuase I'm lazy. Actually, I think they are so darn cool. I just figured out how to do them and it is so much faster then trying to down load several pictures. This weekend we stayed with Misty and Chris while Darwin was at his conference in Phoenix. I love these pictures. You will notice Ethan in the middle picture with Misty's dog Chowder. There is somewhat of a love hate relationship with Ethan and Chowder.
The rest of the pictures are at the park next to Misty and Chris' house. Chris and Nikolaus has a serious(HEE HEE) game of b-ball. There was a lot of smack talk and a lot of yelling from the bastketball court. Misty and I would be sitting on a park bench visiting and we would hear this yelling from across the park. Oh My Gosh!!! it was a crack up. It was always Chris yelling - not Nikolaus. I think Uncle Chris realized it's a bit of work to keep up with a teenager. The rest of us just enjoyed the beautiful day at the park. Ethan did make a 5 year old cry because he wouldn't let him up the stairs. Ho hum. What to do. We are always so grateful to Misty and Chris for letting us stay with them.

Phoenix Zoo

February 21, 2009 ***** Phoenix Zoo

Darwin had a conference in the valley so we all tagged along and stayed with my Sister Misty in Queen Creek. It was such a good weekend. One of the things I really wanted to do was visit the zoo. Ethan is really into animals right now and Ammon needed to visit the zoo to pass off a requirement for scouts. My sister Misty and her daughter Annikka came with us. It was a beautiful day and we LOVED it. We were sad Darwin couldn't come with us. Of course, we bought kettle corn and stuffed our faces and we walked around.