Some Peoples Kids.....

On Saturday night (12:00a.m.) while Alan was looking up movies and actors (as he does after every movie) he heard a terrible noise and couldn't think of what could possibly make that kind of noise. He shortly realized after the noise continued that it was our MAILBOX!! He rushed out side, grabbed a large stick, and went running after the kid or kids who were beating our mailbox. He never saw the kid or kids who did it, but heard running footsteps and then a front door slam. We live on a dead end street toward the end and there are maybe 8 houses past ours. Most of our neighbors are also retired and there aren't many with teenagers...

He knocked on the door (12:15a.m.) and a kid around age 17 answered the door. He had a heavy coat on. The tempeture outside was in the high 20's or low 30's. Alan asked him some grueling questions. He denied them all, including is there anyone else home? (Alan could hear people talking in the background, he also saw a car pull up before he decided to go to the door.) We had the cops (1:00a.m.) come and dust the mailbox just in case they actually touched it. It didn't seem very hopeful that anything would happen, even with Alan pointing at which house the perpetrator lives at. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.


We found out that they also got two others on our street. Which was actually comforting, because then we knew it wasn't aimed at us. It was just some punk kids, who had nothing better to do. And call it premonition or inspiration but both Alan and I separately thought about kids bashing in mailboxes and we both concluded our thoughts by being glad that it would never happen to us because we always have cars parked out in front and somewhat close to the mail box as you can see in the pictures. So much for the false sense of security!!

First Laugh

Snowy day

We got our first real snow today!! It's always fun to get all dressed up in your snow gear and go trekking outside, in a magical white world. I took Eden out and put her in the snow so that I could get some pictures. My neighbor, Grandpa Dan, came out and asked if that was a form child abuse?! It was a fun time had by all!

Happy Happy Birthday Joseph Dear...

The Power of a 4 year old!

The day and a life of a newbie 4 year old

Wake up: Mom says, "Happy Birthday!" Joseph says with a huge grin, "Happy Birthday!"

Go get pictures taken: Photographer asks "When's your Birthday?" Joseph answers with his arms stretched out, palms up, neck flexed, "TODAY!"

Another store: The cashier said, "How are you today?" Joseph responds quite loudly and enthusiastically, "Good, and today's my Birthday and I am in primary!!" Cashier looks at me for confirmation also with the question of what is primary.

Sleep Over #2

On Monday Hannah brought home a paper that said she was one of the top 20 readers over the Winter Holiday! I was shocked to say the least. Pleased, but shocked. Hannah loves to read and is very good at reading. I guess in this aspect she takes after her Mom.

The prize for being one of the top 20 is that you and a friend get to spend the night over at the school with the principal!! Sounds thrilling doesn't it!?! Well to a third grader it couldn't get any better. The only catch is that they strongly encouraged parents to come. I knew Alan wasn't going to go, so that left me.

It actually wasn't that bad, I was dreading it. They played games, watched "Night at the Museum" and had a bedtime story by Mr. Fitzgerald (the principal). He read his favorite book, The Giving Tree. At 10:30 they told everyone that they could stay up and read but they had to stay on their sleeping bags. We were in the gym / cafeteria. Do you know how well sleeping bags slide on a floor like that? The kids were off the wall, they were so hyper even without sugar!! (No snacks or treats were allowed). In my opinion they should have loaded them up with sugar upon arrival and then not given them any more so that they would have their sugar high and then crash. There was one of those emergency lights that made it so it wasn't dark whatsoever, so at about midnight they moved all of the kids into the Library to sleep. At about 1:30 one of the 6th grade girls asked me, "Are you ever going to go to sleep?" I look at her smiled and said, "Nope!" I did eventually sleep, with only 3 kids left awake. I just hope it was a memorable experience for Hannah!

ME

Have I ever mentioned before that I love ME?
Have I ever mentioned that I think I am HILARIOUS?
I find myself giggling all the time at how clever I am!

Slumber Party with the Ladies!!

One of the ladies, Gwyn Nichol, from our ward is moving within the month. We decided to create one last memory for her. We told her that we were going to take her out to eat for her going away party. We went to The Cheesecake Factory and had some yummy food!! We had a great time and could have called it a night and been happy, but what could be better then having a never-ending night with 5 fabulous ladies (+2 well behaved babes). Lynette Loveridge (+Brinley), Michelle Dean, Debi Perkes, Gwyn Nichol, and Me (+Eden), all went to a hotel in town. I have not laughed so hard nor stayed up so late in a long time, and everyone discovered that I get really giggly at 3:30 a.m. We ate lots of goodies, drank Diet Coke with lime and played the game Loaded Questions. At about 3:40 we got a knock at the door...I opened the door to a cop telling us to keep the noise down. The crazy part is that at the time he came it was very quiet, everyone was in the bathroom brushing their teeth, and the babies were sleeping so all he could see was me in my pj's and a couple of car seats. He said "The walls must be really thin so if you can keep the noise down that would be appreciated." I think he felt really dumb, and of course I acted as though I had no clue what he could be talking about! We got a kick out of it, 5 Mormon women getting the cops called on them! We did end up getting a couple hours of sleep. It was so much fun that it was worth the sleepiness the next day.
I will miss you Gwyn, you are so awesome and I wish I had your vocabulary, even if it would make me a "nerd"!! Thanks for always being wonderful and for all of the times that you were there for me. I appreciate it, you are a wonderful friend. I can't wait for your blog!! Watch out Oregon, Tiny Fists of Fury is coming your way!!