Jennifer on her Baptism day!

Jennifer on her Baptism day!

Jennifer's Baptism

Jennifer was baptized on Saturday May 2, 2009. It was such a very special day for her and us. She was so excited in the weeks leading up to it, and I have really seen her trying to take more responsibility for her actions. You could feel the spirit very strong during the program, and Jen was so happy to have so many family members there and participating. When she came out of the water she was just glowing and she couldn't stop smiling for hours. It was great to have the bishop share about her interview and what a valient girl she is. It also reminded me how grateful I am to have a husband who holds the priesthood and can babtize and confirm my girls!

Crazy faces!

Cute cakes!

My mushroom harvest!

Samantha being a potato person!

Kaylee doing crafts!

My mushroom kit with a thin layer of mold!

Jennifer "biting" Sam on vampire night!

Megan at pump it up!

Our "Staycation"

This spring break we had a staycation where we didn't go anywhere, but stayed and had fun. Actually we wish it had been a lot longer! Some of the things we did were go to pump it up, Todd took the girls to Omsi, a sleepover with our cousins, a vampire party, lots of cooking and crafts, and playing with Maggie and Bronco (who now lives with Kacie and Andrew and is renamed Summo) We now can't wait until Summer! We are having fun getting the yard ready for summer, and growing lots of plants inside for our garden. Also I saw my first asparagus shooting up today, and my mushroom kit is in the mold phase. Kindof gross, but I can't wait to see, and eat, the mushrooms when they grow! The kids are also all growing like the weeds in my strawberry patch, and I have had to sort through clothes because the ones in their drawers no longer fit-again. I'm thinking of not feeding them this spring-do you think that would help?

I am just too cute-Bronco!!!!

Kaylee, Jen, and Bronco!

Bronco and Todd watching March Maddness-You can tell because Todd is so serious!

Getting the new puppy!

Today we drove to Seaside, and picked up our new addition, Bronco. He is so cute, we had to share pictures with everyone! Maggie is adjusting to not being an "only dog" but they are doing better then I thought. Bronco just wants to follow Maggie around! Now Todd has his boy to watch sports with. In fact he already was today! (I'm glad I didn't have too)

Maggie meets Bronco!

Cute Puppy Bronco!

Five free things!

I am reposting this from another blog-but it sounded like fun. For the first five people that respond to this, I will make you something. Most bloggers are thinking a craft item, however if it is from me it will most likely be a special food item. The rules are you have to post this on your blog too and be willing to make five things for others. You also need to post a picture of whatever it is you get from me. I promise to make the item within a few months. Have fun!

Jen made an afternoon snack. "Plating things for presentation have become important around our house after too much food network!

Jennifer on her way to America at a pretend Elis Island.

Jen in "Detention" at an immigration simulation!

Maggies hair cut!

This was an Apple stuffed french toast that rocked!

Lots of new things this Spring!

This spring we have a lot of new and exciting things happening which I will be blogging about often. The first will be our new puppy coming sometime this next week-lots of pictures will follow when he gets here. I just planted asparagus and am eagerly awaiting it to shoot up, so I will update you on that. I also hopefully will be trying a mushroom kit which will be fun to watch as lots of mushrooms grow. (And eat too) Later this spring my CSA (Farm share) will start and I want to take pictures each week of what I get so others interested will know what to expect, and also I hope to make lots of fun new dishes so those pictures will come too. Speaking of food- you may catch a picture or two of new dishes I have tried. Me and the girls have been watching the food network alot and it has been inspiring to all of us, so If something tastes or looks really great I may post it-only recipes if you ask! And finally, my girls seem to be growing like the weeds in my garden so there will always be lots going on with them!

Sick of being Sick!!!!

We have not blogged at all this month because much of it has been spent with someone in the house sick. First we got hit with a round of the stomach flu which everyone got over the course of a week-wait before that it was a cold, then the stomach flu, and as I write this Jennifer and Samantha are downstairs sick-we think with the real flu!! So much for the girls getting perfect attendance this semester. Well other then that there have been a few things that have happened of note this Feb. First of all is that Todd decided to not continue on his path to becoming a Sergent in the police department. He realized that politics was not his thing, and so he is back to doing what he loves which is being a police officer. This of course means more changes of schedule, but whats new in the life of a cops family right? On the major plus side he gets to go back to church which had been really hard on him. (And me) Also he gets to see all the girls weekend activities like games and such. I'm back to being a single mom four nights a week, but at least as the girls are getting older that is getting a lot easier! The other thing to note is what is going on in the world around us right now. Obama has spent his first month as president trying to fix the economy-remember according to everyone Obama can fix everything! I sure hope "they" are right because right now this country is a mess. I am very grateful for Todd's very stable job-because many are not so lucky right now, with job loss starting to hit home around our circle of friends. We have seen the affects as we looked at our retirement account that is now almost half of what it was 7 months ago. Yikes. We also refinanced our house this week and were shocked at what our house is really worth. It appraised at 320,000, but would probably only sell for around 310,000. When we bought this house four years ago for 285,000 it was under priced. We then put in 10, 000 work on it (which would have cost more had we not done most of it ourselves) by adding almost 300 sq feet of space and a computer nook. I tell you they said prices may fall to a three year ago price, but they are already down about four years when I look at it. Moving is not in our future that is for sure! I find thinking about the economy so depressing that this week Todd and I have spent way to much time debating the outcome of the reality t.v. series The Bachelor. Somehow it is so much easier to wrap our minds around. With that being said Oregon of course is leading the nation in not putting education first, but cutting more from the states already small education budget. What worries me the most is how this will affect the girls school. It is already running on such a small budget that if more gets cut in the years to come, I don't know if it will be able to operate. They are doing so well there that I would really hate that. Well, I am rambling now and hope to have less sickness this month and more positive posts!

And another one down!

The start of 2009 has started and we've said goodbye to 2008. The girls are all growing up so much, its hard to believe. Samantha started Kindergarten this year and she loves it. She gets to stay full day two days a week, but she wishes it were all week. I'm afraid its a little boring around here without her sisters. She did soccer in the fall, and although she was pretty good, and made several goals, she spent most of her time dancing on the field....So we put her back in dance where she belongs. Now she prances around the house all the time. Sam is growing into her tall body, and has found her own sense of humor. The other day she asked why her name wasn't spelled Samanthe with an e at the end because she knows how to spell THE, and it sounds the same. Funny girl! She is taking more responsiblity around the house, now if we could only teach her not to hide her sisters stuff all over the house!
Jennifer is in first grade and thrilled to have her teacher Ms. Jensen. In fact she wants to be like her so much that she got a guitar for Christmas. Jennifer has given up soccer and is taking a singing/acting class and hip hop. She finally gets to put all that drama to good use! She is also really looking forward to turning 8 and getting babtized. Jen is trying hard to make better choices, but boy sometimes its soooo hard! It's a good thing she so cute, or she might be spending a lot more time in her room!
Kaylee has finally grown taller then Megan, which she might consider her greatest accoplishment yet! She is in third grade, and following closely in her mothers footsteps, doing as little as possible to still get a good grade! Ooops. She is a great soccer player, and has enjoyed trying goalie and defender. She also has reached new heights climbing to the top of the first two rock climbing walls, and taking a swimming class at the YMCA. She is very funny, and loves to find the answer to abstract problems. If she would sleep a little more, she would be close to an angelic child.
Megan is on the verge of officially becoming a pre-teen. Even though she hasn't gotten much taller, she is really growing up, and her mood swings prove it!!! She is a great student, and trys hard at everything she does. This fall her soccer team went undefeated, and even won several tornaments. We were even more proud that she chose to not play the Sunday games, even though it was really hard not to. She is looking forward to 6th grade, and going into young womens. She is lots of fun to be around (when she isn't having a mood swing), but her sisters think she reads too much! (just like her mom) She is a big help to me around the house, and I call her my alarm clock. We would never get anywhere on time if it wasn't for her. She has also started babysitting and is enjoying some extra spending money and freedom!
Todd has been promoted to sergeant, and is in his year of training. He has had some bumps in the road, but things are going great now as he has found his groove! He is enjoying seeing the girls more with his new schedule, and is a big help to me running them around! He is also enjoying his big screen TV, and new Ipod touch. WE love having him home at night (when we can pull him away from mob-wars!) He is the assistant scout leader for the 10 year old boys, and is clearly going to learn alot from that!
Jenelle is having a taste of the empty nest syndrome, and loving it. With all the girls at school, she is keeping up with things at home better, able to volunteer at the school, go to the temple, and enjoy time with girls when they get home!