A Little of Everything

It has been quite sometime since I have posted any pictures of the kids so...get ready, get set, go!

This year lance and the boys went all out with their pinewood derby cars. Brycen's car was a blue whale and Zac's was a tank with a movable gun. Both cars did well, but were not final winners. But boy did they look good!

Playing with Pappa in his train room

My friend is taking a photography class and needed some practice with family photos, so my parents let her have a photo shoot at their home. We didn't take pictures (we're waiting for baby Kambridge!), but we did help with crowd control. Thank Heavens for TV!

On Saturday, Brycen and Lance became part of History by riding their bikes across the new bridge on opening day. For those of who who do not know, we have lots of bridges in our town, a foot bridge, "the old bridge", "the new bridge", we also have a dam road, but it was closed by homeland security in 2003. The bridge that just opened is meant to replace the dam road. I kept telling the boys how many days until the new bridge was going to open, finally last Sunday as we were driving over "the new bridge" to get home from church Brycen asked why we were able to drive over the new bridge when it wasn't opened yet. Oops! I explained that they are building a "new new bridge" and that that was the one that would be opening soon. I think we will have to come up with some new names for all our bridges, because it really is confusing.

Today it was very windy so we went kite flying. Sadly it was almost too windy for our kites, but it was still fun.

Scottie discovered staying low and napping was a good way to avoid the wind.

Scott and Daddy trying to get the kite up.

Lastly, I love Brycen's school! This past week his class room stuffed animal Rex came to live with us. We took Rex to see Pappa's trains, he joined us for family night along with our friends the Smiths (yes, The Jones and the Smiths and the Smith mom is also named Kim!) He even went kite flying with us.

This is Brycen's entry in Rex's journal.

Last week every class at Brycen's school was transformed into different Biomes. Brycen's class did the Artic. Byrcen told everyone that came to visit the class about Arctic Winters. My friends were surprised at how much of a ham our well mannered boy can be. He decided it would be best to have his blue whale puppet do all the speaking for him. The teachers cranked up the AC and the place really felt like the Arctic too. He was disappointed to find out he did not get his picture in the paper like two of his classmates the next day though. I am so impressed at the vastness of knowledge he is gaining in kindergarten. They learn so much that is not part of standard curriculum. One day Brycen came home and told me that his teacher was a little sad on that particular day because it was her mom's birthday and even though her mom has been dead for a long time, she still thinks about her a lot on her birthday and misses her very much. I am so grateful for teachers who truly share their lives with Brycen and open up such a large world for him to enjoy and learn.

Brycen's Beluga whale. His Yak was very cute too, but it did not photograph as well.

Very last note: Zac lost another 2 teeth this week. I think that makes 10 now!

Ensign Article

In the February issue of the Ensign magazine there is a wonderful article about the experience of a birth mother and a birth father. I cried as these two unselfish individuals explained the depth of their love for their unborn children and shared how difficult it was to let their precious babies be adopted. They also explained how the experience blessed the lives in many ways. In the story about the birth father he describes a very open adoption plan. He has even been able to have his wife meet is birth daughter and her parents. I think it is wonderful that adoptions are becoming more open. I think it gives more comfort to the birth families to know that their baby is happy, loved, and cared for. I also think an adoptive child that grows up experiencing the love of his/her birth parents will be fortunate to never have to wonder if his/her birth families loved him/her.

I just can't wait until we get to meet a wonderful birth family and work out an adoption plan that meets every one's needs.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=45169d9ff732f110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Chess Anyone

Yesterday, it rained all day so Lance kept the kids busy by teaching them to play chess. I was surprised at how much they enjoyed it and how much the understood. Lance let them win and they were very proud of themselves. Later in the day they started playing "chess" using themselves and the kitchen tiles. Lance joined in and asked Brycen what piece he should be to which Brycen responded "the puddle guy." Lance and I just looked at each other and then I figured it out. Brycen thought the Pawn was a Pond and then he forgot the name, but remember it had something to do with water and came up with puddle. It was too funny!

Last week I taught the kids about Michelangelo. We learned about how it took four years to paint the Sistine Chapel. Then I taped paper to the underside of our table and the kids practiced "painting on the ceiling." They thought it was very cool. When Lance got home, the boys had him search for the new artwork, which was still under the table. Finally, after a lot of clues he found the artwork.

Scott's personal workout program!

Scottie loves to do sit-ups! He can do at least 50 of these rolling sit-ups and the whole time he is doing them he laughs. It is just a riot to watch him go. He has always had Abs of Steel.

Fun Day with Daddy

Recently I took Zac & Brycen to an Aviation Museum.

There were small Airplanes

And Large Airplanes.

There were Old Airplanes

And New Airplanes

There were Helicopters

And Aircraft with Folding Wings

Breaker Breaker, Anyone got their ears on?

Not Me :(

There were lots of Airplanes

And a simulator too.

Daddy sure knows how to have fun.

This Mystery is History!

On Valentines day Lance and I hosted a Murder Mystery Party for twelve couples. We laughed so hard all night long Everyone did a great job with their costumes and the personalities and acting skills were just priceless.

On Valentine's day Lance and I had a How to Host a Murder Mystery party. We had a total of twelve couples and it was a blast. The costumes were hilarious and the acting was outrageous!

I was an Art Dealer and Lance was a Big Game Hunter.

She was a Ventriloquist and he was her Dummy, Mr mike.

The Senator and the Reverend were having an affair. They both played there parts very well.

Our sleazy lawyer was hilarious he must have given out a 100 business cards. I wish you could see the white shoes he had on.

Once our victim met her demise, her real life husband could not resit giving her mouth to mouth.

I think this might have to become a Valentines Day tradition.

Way Out of My Comfort Zone!

On Thursday morning the secretary from Brcyen's school called and asked if I would be able to come in and teach the 5Th graders for the day, because their teacher was feeling sick. I was grateful that I was watching little Alex that day and therefore was unable to sub. See I am not a teacher! I love kids, but teaching other peoples children is just not my thing. My degree is in business. I purposely avoided the education building at BYU. However, when I explained that I couldn't come in that day I made the mistake of sounding as if I would have loved to help out. Thursday evening the secretary called to see if I would sub for Friday. I have never acquired the skill to just say no, so off I went Friday morning to face 14 private school 5Th graders. As Brycen and I drove to school I told him I was very nervous because I had never been a teacher. Brycen thoughtfully and honestly replied, "But, Mommy you've been teaching me for a long time. You taught me to talk and to walk." His sweet words comforted me slightly although I really doubted that any of these kids would need help walking or talking.

The day went okay. I don't think that I will be getting the teacher of the year award, but at the end of the day everyone was present and accounted for, I wasn't tied to a chair, and we accomplished everything on the teacher's lesson plan. I think the kids liked me. The hardest thing was that the owner/director of the school came by twice to observe me. I really wasn't nervous once the day got started, except of course when Ms Merrill was standing in the doorway. I feel proud of myself for making it through the day and.

Yesterday I attended a class on pruning roses. Along with not being a teacher; I am not a gardener. I love flowers and admire other peoples yards and gardens, but I am clueless when it comes to tilling the earth! Still I came home and got straight to work. I think my roses bushes look like I pruned them right, now I will just have to see how they do this Spring.

I think the kids may have more of a green thumb than I do. I took this picture of Zac, Brycen, and Alex playing in the garden dirt the other day. They had a great time and came out very dirty.