half a dozen Pipers

Tim the Welder

2011-10-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Timothy is aquiring a new skill...welding! Ya, I think it's a little crazy too. But I also love that my little boy is so willing and so excited to try something new. I don't think I would have had the courage to do that at his age! A big thank you to Uncle Jacob for taking the time and having the patience to teach Tim such a manly skill!

Too good not to post...

2011-10-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

I'm going to keep this forever! I have to remember how important my job is. Being a mother is the absolutely most difficult, frustrating, exasperating job, but, every once in a while, your child reminds you just why it is you wanted the job in the first place.

A visit from Uncle Ben

2011-10-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of the summer was a visit from Uncle Ben! We love Ben so much!!!

Ben loves a good burger, so we took him to In-n-Out for one of the best burgers around.

Gilroy Gardens was a blast! Ben loved the Quicksilver Express, a fun rollercoaster. Lizzy couldn't go, so Ben went with his nephews on this one. So much fun!

Uncle Ben loves a good movie, complete with popcorn and skittles! We saw the Zookeeper together and I loved listening to Ben and his niece and nephews laugh and laugh!

For family home evening we joined our cousins, the Mallette's, for a night at the bowling alley. Ben is a great bowler! Everyone had a fabulous time!

The best part of our time with Ben was the Raine Family Reunion! Ben loves spending time with his family and catching up with cousins he doesn't get to see often. Here is Ben relaxing with the fam at the beach.

And Jeffrey brought his slack line for everyone to try.

We had such a great time with you Uncle Ben...come again soon!

Tim had a birthday, shout HOORAY!

2011-10-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

My Timothy turned 8! It is fitting that he was born just 53 minutes before the 4th of July, because he is my little firecracker! Tim adds the spice to our family. He loves to dance and do all kinds of crazy tricks. He just started cub scouts and had a fantastic time at Cub Camp. It even inspired this "bull's eye" cake! He is quite the little artist and enjoys drawing people...well...super people and scary monsters with large weapons and big muscles. He loves quesadillas but hates pizza. He will still cuddle and kiss his mommy, and his mommy absolutely loves him for everything he is! Happy birthday Mr. T!

June, briefly.

2011-10-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Summer. Not one post. Just no time! So here are a few things you may have missed...Brennen's piano recital, art camp for Gabe, Tim shooting at Cub Camp, Lizzy picking Olallieberries, and a family trip to Yosemite. Whew!

Getting ready for summer!

2011-05-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

It's the home stretch...only 9 school days left 'till summer. I approach this time with equal parts of dread and anticipation. Don't get me wrong, I love summer! Well, in theory anyway. The reality of it is having 4 kids at home with 4 ideas of what to do makes for at least 3 unhappy kids and 1 very frustrated mommy! My solution? Lists, schedules, and rules. Yep. I'm that mom. So summertime will include (even if it kills me!) scripture time, jobs, and *gasp* LEARNING! And we can have some fun along the way too. So I made a list of some family activities and had the kids rank the activities. Here are the results:

Brennen
1 Giant's Game
2 Jelly Belly Factory
3 Free concert series
4 Yosemite
5 Dennis the Menace Park
6 Berry Picking
7 Beach
8 Mall
9 Monterey Bay Aquarium
10 Golden Gate Park
11 CRC-basketball
12 CRC-swim
13 CRC-workout
14 Wii Game
15 Drive-in movie
16 Pinnacles-hiking
17 Harvey Bear-hiking
18 Aquatic Center
19 Neighborhood pool
20 Campout in the backyard
21 Park
22 Picnic
23 Try a new recipe
24 Gilroy Gardens
25 Science Experiments
26 Library
27 Board Game
28 Art Project
29 Storytime @the Library

Gabe
1 Jelly Belly Factory
2 Yosemite
3 Campout in the backyard
4 Mall
5 Harvey Bear-hiking
6 Pinnacles-hiking
7 Drive-in movie
8 Dennis the Menace Park
9 Monterey Bay Aquarium
10 Golden Gate Park
11 Berry Picking
12 Aquatic Center
13 Library
14 Storytime @the Library
15 Try a new recipe
16 Beach
17 Park
18 Picnic
19 Giant's Game
21 Art Project
22 Board Game
23 Science Experiments
23 Wii Game
24 Neighborhood pool
25 CRC-basketball
26 CRC-swim
27 CRC-workout
28 Gilroy Gardens
29 Free concert series

Tim
1 Yosemite
2 Giant's Game
3 Drive-in movie
4 Campout in the backyard
5 Monterey Bay Aquarium
6 Free concert series
7 Wii Game
8 Jelly Belly Factory

Lizzy's #1 was Gilroy Gardens with Berry Picking a close 2nd.

Can we do it? Well, anything's possible, right?!

Spring Break - Highlights

2011-05-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words, no one's going to read this...seriously.
Ok, ok, I got a little bit picture happy. So sue me.

Spring break in San Diego with lots of family, lots of walking, and lots of FUN!

Tim and his daddy get ready for the flight simulator at the Air & Space Museum

Flight suit dress up time!

Yep...that's an elephant's behind. Don't know what got into me...

Tim & Lizzy atop a prehistoric lion.

Cousins!

(Is there anything better?)

Autumn was all for packing this little guy in her suitcase!

And we actually got a shot of just the two of us, thanks to our Gabe!

How surprised was I that THIS was the only thing Gabe wanted? Not very.

And the best part of our trip? Having our big crazy family all together! (And when I say crazy, I mean the extended part of our family...'cuz we're totally normal! ;o) )

The thrill of the hunt!

2011-04-25T21:26:00.001-07:00

Shiny plastic eggs filled with candy scattered all over the yard means lots of FUN for everyone! Brennen and Gabe opted out of the hunt this year and graduated instead to the egg hiding crew. Lizzy was on her fourth (yes, I said fourth) hunt of the week. And Tim, being the oldest, was pulling in quite the candy load!

And as for Easter pictures with all my kids, this one was the best of the lot!

(see previous post for more interesting shots)

Lizzy and Tim with cousins, Hayden, Carter and Miles showing off their spoils.

Easter picture fail...

2011-04-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

If anyone has any tips on getting four children all looking and smiling at the same time, I'd really like to know.

So we start out with 3 out of 4...
Then add the 4th, but he's in trouble at the moment for something I can't remember, so he's a sullen kind of 4th.

And then the light is too much for B.

So we try again...

and again...

Until I just give up.

The Easter Bunny was thrilled to find those purple ties though!

Wacky Thursday!

2011-04-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking...wacky Thursday? Well, at Lizzy's preschool there just so happened to be a "Wacky Wednesday", but since she only goes on Tuesday and Thursday her class got to dress as silly as they wanted on Thursday instead. Lizzy picked her outfit all by herself and even wore it to bed the night before. And she wouldn't let me touch her hair, not even to run a brush through it. Oh, and don't forget about the boots! Now that's WaCkY!

Gabe and the Arrow of Light

2011-04-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems as if the Piper family has been in cub scouts FOREVER...maybe because we have! But tonight was a special night in cub scouts, Gabe was awarded the Arrow of Light award. This is the highest award in Cub Scouts and is the only award he can take with him to Boy Scouts and into adulthood. We are so proud of Gabe and the many accomplishments he has earned in scouting. And I know he is already having a fabulous time in Boy Scouts and planning to go on and earn his Eagle!

Soccer!

2011-04-17T20:59:00.001-07:00

I love the idea of my children having after-school activities, but usually, when it comes down to it, getting them all where they need to go at the time they need to be there is just a tad overwhelming for me. But even so, I decided to let Gabe and Tim join a soccer league. And I have been very happy so far. They both have just one practice during the week, and a game each on Saturday. There is a park for Lizzy to play at (always a huge bonus!) and they always play at the same field. I have had so much fun watching them play and develop their skills. And after practice, I have really loved how tired they are...Tim goes right to sleep! Gabe as goalie.

Gabe's team: The Red Bulls

Timothy's team: The Cobras

How many Pipers fit in a queen size bed?

2011-04-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Answer: One! Jeffrey and the two older boys were out camping with the scouts this weekend, so I, being the kind mother I am, invited my sweet 7 year old Timothy to stay in my bed for one night. Only he didn't leave any room for me!

Lizzy-isms

2011-04-06T22:04:00.001-07:00

This girl is absolutely delightful...most of the time anyway. I just love the things she says, and the words she uses. So here are a few of my current favs!

"Mom, are you going to school or not? I don't care...I'm a genius!"

"Cupfolder" = cupholder

"Ring around the rosies, hopsa copsa rosie, ash-lez, ash-lez, we all fall down!"

"Jew-li-er" = jewelry

Reading time with Tim

2011-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

To say that Tim is thrilled to spend what used to be 20 minutes, but has now been upped to 30 minutes, reading out loud every day after school, would be stretching the truth a bit. Ok, it's an outright lie! So when he accidently skips a day and ends up with double the reading to do before he can go play, it can be a bit of a struggle. Lucky for us we have a full library of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Garfield comics to make the reading a little more fun. Today Garfield was the choice. Tim even exclaimed, "I could read Garfield for TWO hours!" Did he? Nope. But it was interesting to watch my young man as he made himself comfy during his hour of booktime.

It's never too early to practice walking in heels!

2011-03-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Anytime I leave my shoes around the house it is certain to lead to this...

I love her girly pose here!

My favorite...

2011-03-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

Tulips!

'Cuz why?

(That is Lizzy's favorite phrase, meaning 'do you know why?')

Because tulips were in full bloom on the day I got married. It was beautiful. Roses had always been my favorite flower, but tulips, you stole my heart!

My first photo

2011-02-11T20:34:00.001-08:00

I am not a photographer. Let's just get that straight. But I have been more interested lately in figuring out how to make the photos I take look...well...good. My camera is old and terrible, so I have borrowed my son's camera and played around with it to see what I can do. I was very happy with how this one came out. I still have no idea what I'm doing, so I think this was maybe a fluke. But the more I practice, the better I can get, right?

Happy Birthday dear Jeffrey!

2011-02-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

This is how the day began...boys with their toys!

Then we loaded our backpacks with water and snacks and headed out for a nice family hike!

"I can't walk anymore!"

Lucky for Lizzy, Daddy's shoulders were available!

My handsome boys with a beautiful backdrop...we couldn't have asked for a better day!

The way back down...

Then back home for cake and presents.

I love having an excuse to celebrate, any excuse!

But I must say that the day this man was born was a lucky day for me!!!

Happy birthday my dear Jeffrey!

The Life and Times of Gabe Piper

2011-02-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

written by Gabe, January 2011

There is a famous saying, "No man is an island," is made of my family, the places I've visited, my special interests and things I will never forget. All these things help show who and what I am!

My family has done many things in life. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister a Mom and a Dad. My dad has 2 websites, a Thomas train one and a cufflink one. I am related to Philo T. Farnsworth the man who created T.V. My brother Brennen builds awesome Legos sets. Our family loves the sf. Giants and 49rs.

I've visited many places in my life. I've been to Disneyland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Gilroy gardens, Portland, Chinatown, AT&T Park, Sacramento, Bear Lake, Phoenix and Santana Row. I want to go to Canada, New York and Mexico.

My special interests make life more exciting. I love "Weird al" Yankovic, the A-team, legos and football. I like video games like all boys. Traveling is fun for me.

These are several things in life I will never forget like the time my dad dropped me out of school to see a Giants game or when I had a sleepover with my best friend.

"The Life and times of Gabe" have been great so far! I know that my family will do great things to come. The special interests I have continue, to make my life awesome. Most of all, I will never forget some the thing that have made my life better. Yes, this has been "the Life and times of Gabe"

Pomagramits

2011-02-03T16:53:00.001-08:00

Do you ever have to bribe, er... do you ever have to offer a reward to your kids to ensure good behavior in the grocery store? Well, I do. Luckily, I am getting to the point where I no longer have multiple children with me while I run my errands. (Ahhhh, the glorious benefits of preschool!) But today I thought I'd just take miss Lizzy with me for a quick trip to Trader Joe's. And hoping for a cooperative three year old, I told her she could pick some fruit to go with lunch. What was her greatest wish? Pomagramits! (aka--pomegranate seeds) I love that she loves this somewhat gourmet treat and I love even more that she mispronounces it! I am dreading the day this girl, already articulate enough, abandons her Lizzy-isms for correct English grammar. Oh, and a big thank you to Trader Joe's for making this delicious treat available without having to seed the bugger myself...totally worth the $3.49!

Timism of today...

2011-02-03T14:27:00.000-08:00

Tim told me today, "I have an iPod, I'm not a little kid anymore!"

Gabe goes to Science Camp!

2011-01-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Gabe waits anxiously in the cafeteria for the buses to arrive. It's almost time to leave for SCIENCE CAMP! (I'll let Gabe tell the rest of the story...) This is my bed in my cabin.
This is my cabin, the Pelican Cabin.

What I learned in field class about the "FBI"--fungus, bacteria, invertebrates.
This is a picture of the fungus.

This is the "campfire" program on the first night, with our 6th grade teacher, Mr. Winchell, on the bass.

The beautiful, big campus of Walden West.

The Garbage Gator, trying to eat Chunky the No Waste Monkey...
he's been chewing on Funky the No Waste Monkey's tail for the past 11 years!

Chunky the No Waste Monkey teaching us not to waste food, so that he doesn't get eaten by the Garbage Gator. This was a cool program during the week in the dining hall. We were careful, and Chunky was safe!

The food I had in this dining hall was AWESOME! I even wrote home to brag that the food I was eating at camp was WAY better than Mom's cooking. I am lucky that Mom loves me, otherwise, I would be going hungry today.
My favorite dinner was tacos!!!

This is the outdoor amphitheater. We met here after every activity to see if everyone was "with the program".

This was my last day in camp. I was sad to leave camp, but I was happy to be going home. I came home very dirty, because I had become a member of the "dirty butt" club, and had also crossed a creek in knee deep water, and so I had used up all my extra pants. All I had to come home in was my pajamas.

It was a great experience!

-Gabe Piper a.k.a Viper

(all the kids chose a "nature" name and Viper was what Gabe chose. He even told all the kids that they had to say it in a cool whisper voice...what a kid!)

Lizzy and the Firestation Field Trip

2011-01-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today Lizzy's preschool had a "field trip" to the local firestation. For the last week she has been learning all about fire safety and what to do in an emergency. I totally forgot the camera, so I don't have any pictures to share, but I had to write some of the funny things she said!

Fire Captain: If there is a fire, do you save yourselves, or your toys?

Lizzy: My toys!

Fire Captain: (trying not to laugh) Tell you what, you save yourself, and I'll buy you a new toy.

Lizzy: But I have a bathtub Dora toy. (as if that explained it all!)

Lizzy also was lifted up to test the smoke detector by a big fireman without a shred of fear. But when that same fireman put on his fire gear, including his mask, she was afraid. She was very afraid! One of the other firefighters asked the kids, "So when you see someone dressed like this, do you run to them, or do you run and hide?" Lizzy's reply, "run and hide!"

Lizzy got to sit inside the fire engine as the grand finale of her trip, and all in all, it was a fun outing, even if she stuck to me like glue after the man in the fire gear appeared.

Lizzy-isms

2011-01-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Lizzy had been turning the fireplace on and off all day. In the afternoon, I heard a cry from downstairs. Yep, you guessed it, she had touched the fireplace! OUCH! It didn't look too bad, but it was hard to tell. I told her it may become a blister.
Today she came to me in a panic saying "there's a hole in my finger!" Two of her fingers had indeed blistered, and one of the blisters popped, leaving what looks like, for all intents and purposes, a hole. Poor girl!

Lizzy: Will the Tooth Fairy be mad if I don't wash my hands?

(I hope this is what Lizzy was picturing when she asked the question...)

Me: Ummmm....yeah.

(...but I'm pretty sure THIS was what she was picturing when she asked the question...I'd be afraid too!)

Happiness is...

2011-01-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

...a new pair of shoes!

(shallow, I know...)

A conversation with Miss Lizzy...

2011-01-06T12:32:00.001-08:00

Lizzy: "I'm angry!"
Mom: "Why are you angry?"
Lizzy: "I'm the mom!"

Once there was a snowman...

2011-01-05T17:06:00.001-08:00

Snow here in California is, well, not anywhere near where we live. So we have to be creative to make snowmen of our own. This was what I came up with...Ice Cream Snowmen!

I used a regular sized ice cream scoop for the bottom and the small scoop that I use for cookie dough for the top. I had cute snowman muffin papers to scoop the ice cream into. Then I popped it all into the freezer until it was time to decorate!

Lizzy used butterscotch chips, marshmallows, and mini chocolate chips to decorate with, and a mini peanut butter cup for the hat.Yummmmmm! And for a more healthy version we used bananas, pretzel arms, and an apple/grape hat all on a bamboo skewer. We did add some mini chocolate chips, just for decoration. ;)

The Thirteenth Tale

2011-01-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing. Well written. Enthralling. And slightly disturbing. Great story!

View all my reviews

Another year gone...another to look forward to!

2011-01-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

Highlights of 2010!

Brennen: Receiving the priesthood.

"The priesthood is not really so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and opportunity to bless the lives of others." -President Thomas S. Monson

Gabe: Making a great friend who lives just down the street. We spend every afternoon together as soon as homework is done.

Tim: Going to Disneyland. I was finally tall enough for California Screamin'!

Lizzy: Going to Disneyland with Grandpa, Auntie Autumn, Amelia and Uncle Gabe.

Jeffrey: 2010...that's tough since I barely remember last week...

Tami: Getting to play a mean old witch in SVCT's Into the Woods. (This is a picture of after the witch becomes beautiful...but I still got to be mean!)

Looking forward to in 2011!

Brennen: Turning 13, so I can use all that teenager attitude legitimately (and see PG-13 movies...if mom and dad will really let me!)

Gabe: Getting an iPod touch (mom and dad won't let me get one until I turn 11. I only have $40 more to earn!)

Tim: Turning 8, so I can be baptized.

Lizzy: Going back to preschool with Miss Cindy!

Jeffrey: Planning a really great family vacation!

Tami: Getting the house organized, and maybe spending a little more time with my sewing machine.

And more singing!

2010-12-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

Gabe's 5th grade also put together a Christmas show this year, giving us a glimpse into what Christmas was like as our nation began. It was wonderful to see...well, I couldn't always see (our cafeteria doesn't have stadium seating ;) ), but it was beautiful to hear. Gabe danced the waltz, sang a rap, gave a line full of personality, and sang, and sang, and sang! I love to see the funny expressions on his face as he sings. He is quite a kid that Gabe! The 5th graders closed out the night with my personal favorite, "Silent Night". It was even more special as the children used sign language as well as words to sing the song. Great work Gabe!

Ah...the singing!

2010-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

Timothy's 2nd grade class was part of a Christmas Program this year at his school. The kids sang songs from around the world. Some of my favorites were "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth", "Feliz Navidad", "Mele Kelikimaka", and my all time favorite, "Silent Night".

The hit of the night was watching the kids dance with partners to

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"!

Timothy and his many faces...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Let the games BEGIN!

2010-12-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Day 8 of the Piper's Countdown to Christmas...GaMe NiGhT!!!
Yatzee was the game of choice. Brennen and Mommy led off with YATZEE'S, but the winner is still undetermined, due to Brennen's scout activity.

Devour!

2010-12-08T19:45:00.001-08:00

Our Gingerbread Village...

...has now been devoured!

The Piper Gingerbread Village

2010-12-07T21:26:00.000-08:00

For the second year running, we Pipers countdown to Christmas by drawing a piece of paper out of a jar. Each paper is labeled with a number and has something fun to do on it. Some are very exciting for the kids, and a few are more exciting for mom and dad (the Community Christmas Concert earned one or two groans this year). Day 7 was a delight, GINGERBREAD HOUSES! Brennen helped me pick out a kit that contained five small houses and after Family Home Evening, we got to decorate!

Jeffrey helps Lizzy with her A-Frame house, while she concentrates on the candy.

I was happy to pipe the frosting wherever Tim needed it (mostly to avoid the mess that I knew would come if a 7 year old wielded a pastry bag!).

And here are the finished products...

I was so glad to have one all to myself to decorate :)

And there they sit...at least until tomorrow when I've promised the kids that they can devour their creations!

Trimming the Tree

2010-12-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

Some of my best memories are of Christmastime in Utah as a child. The snow. The music. The pretty lights twinkling on our tree. The staying up all night long with my sister waiting for Santa to bring us a present. Ahhh....memories. One of the things that I loved about Christmas was decorating the tree. My mom let us kids do it all! From the assembly of our fine fake evergreen, to the last touch of tinsel. Many of our ornaments were homemade, so it didn't look much like the trees you would find in ZCMI, but we LOVED our tree!

So, this year when the tree was standing nice and tall in the corner of our living room, I began to reflect on the joy I had as a child decorating that old tree. And I realized that I have worried more as an adult about what my tree looked like, than about how much fun it would be for my kids to make the tree their own. I stepped back this year and let the children have at it...well...within reason. I still can't abide a clump of the same glass balls in one spot, so I may have moved a thing or two around. What can I say? I'm still a work in progress.

The lovely face of Gabe.

Timothy trimming the tree with care. You know, he actually thanked me a number of times for letting him decorate. He had such a good time!

Lizzy and her very favorite ornament, courtesy of Grandpa Piper. Thank you sooooo much Grandpa! I did have to insist, because of the sheer size of the thing, that Snow White find a home toward the rear. And Lizzy keeps it down low for better access.

Lovely my little princess...

Brennen was feeling icky, so he missed out this year. He didn't even complain, so he must not have been faking it.

The Annual Christmas Tree Hunt!

2010-12-05T20:34:00.001-08:00

It's a Piper family tradition. Every year we, along with family and friends, make a trek up into the mountains to find that perfect Christmas tree. It is something the whole family looks forward to...but not for the reasons you might think... Lizzy loves to run around the hill...
Timothy is hiding from his brothers in the annual Piper Boy game of Hide and Go Seek (the real reason the Piper Boys like to go on a Christmas Tree Hunt!)

And spending time with family makes this day so special!

Oh, and of course I actually like looking for a Christmas Tree. Jeff does too. Although after about 10 minutes, the trees look pretty much the same...

And this was our pick for 2010!
(Can't you hear the Hallelujah Chorus singing in the background?)

We needed Brennen's approval before the final "cut". His face says it all...this one is a winner!

The tree is cut. Jeffrey and his dad carry it back to the van to load it on the roof...
...but not without Lizzy's help!

And now it is wrapped up nice and snug for the journey to the Piper living room!

The Pipers at Game 1...well, almost!

2010-10-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers for the 2010 World Series~A big deal in the Piper house! On Saturday I came home from dropping Gabe off to find the rest of the family glued to the TV, awaiting the outcome of the division playoffs. I was greeted by Lizzy (who is 3) with a high 5 and the phrase "Good Defense!" So when the Giants won the division, Jeffrey and I wanted to do something special for the World Series...but at $400 a pop for standing room only tickets, getting inside the park was a tad out of our reach.

Instead we headed up to the city to be a part of the game, without actually going to the game. We had a blast!

The boys and I outside AT&T Park

Notice the sign above Jeffrey and the kids
"Watch out for all flying objects not limited to baseballs and bats"

This is the flag used on the field for the national anthem...HUGE! We also got to see the jets flying overhead signaling the start of the game. I say jets because when I asked Tim if he saw the airplanes, he said, "NO mom! They're JETS!" Awesome.

Lizzy and her daddy

Tim

Gabe

Brennen

We walked around a bit, got each of the kids a souvenier, and then looked for someplace to eat. On our walk, we found a Blush frozen yogurt with a big screen TV. People were camped out inside at the tables and pulled up chairs to watch the game outside as well. The Giants were up to bat, so we stopped to watch. We were not quite 1/2 a mile from the stadium. Jeff had mentioned that there was a delay when the games were broadcast. Well he was definitely right about that! We could hear cheering at the stadium before we could see why. It was super cool! During our stop here the Giants tied the game 2-2!

Jeffrey and Lizzy on the way back to the car. We left around the 4th inning. I think it was a perfect time to go, before the true craziness began. We started for home, stopped off in Redwood City, and had dinner at Applebee's where we watched most of the rest of the game. Oh, and the Giants won 11-7...Go Giants!!!

I love an adventure!

Picking Pumpkins!

2010-10-26T20:53:00.001-07:00

Traditions. Aren't they swell?! Well every year we try to find some time to pick out a pumpkin or two for Jack-O-Lantern carving. This year we tried a different farm with fantastic results! The whole family

My cutie pie kids

Tim, Gabe Brennen and Lizzy

Every kid's dream~a tractor to play on!

Brennen and his pumpkin choice

(this is the one of the only hoodless shots I got!)

Timothy drivin' the tractor

"Scarrrryyyyy!"

And yet Lizzy is fascinated with the scarecrows...go figure!

Jeffrey hauling our pumpkin picks~10 in all!

(and I have to add, you see that load of pumpkins...$10!)

Preschool...day 2

2010-09-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Life is full of choices. Sometimes we adults take those choices for granted. For instance, when was the last time someone else chose my outfit for the day? So for day 2 of preschool, I let Lizzy choose her outfit all by herself. This was the result...

Through the years there have been many times that I want to hang a sign on my children saying, "He/She picked out her clothes today". And this time was no different.

Everyone's 1st day!

2010-09-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I used to love the crisp smell in the air that signalled the end of summer. The smell that meant backpacks, sharpened pencils, new stiff jeans and cuddly sweaters. That smell that is unfortunately absent when my kids go back to school in the middle of AUGUST! Instead of jeans and sweaters, my kids are in tees and shorts, braving the triple digits to walk home in the heat of the afternoon. Ugh!

I also used to love posing for my mom's camera on our sidewalk as I walked out the door that first day of school to catch the bus. My kids, well they tolerate (just barely) their mom's camera before walking out the door...

My Timothy, still smiling in 2nd grade...let's hope the smile lasts!

Gabe is a big 5th grader now, and gets up extra early to be part of the safety patrol in the morning.

Brennen is too cool for smiling as he gets ready for his first day of middle school.

This is Lizzy avoiding the camera as she enters preschool for the very first time!

Chinatown

2010-08-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Every summer starts with big plans, chore charts, reward systems, vacation and day trips planned...but come mid-July after more than a month of breakdowns, tantrums, and fights, the summer becomes more about survival than family fun. Anyone with me on this, or is it just me? (Please say it's not just me!) But one thing I wanted to do this summer was to take a trip to the great city of San Francisco. And even though survival mode was already in full swing, I gathered the troops (and Grandpa for backup) and we boarded the train to enjoy a day in Chinatown!Here is Brennen enjoying the park, while I enjoyed the view!
My kids take a moment to pose with Grandpa at the spot where the first American flag was raised in San Francisco. (Does anyone else find it ironic that the spot is in the middle of Chinatown?)

Grandpa and Lizzy in the alleyway where we found the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie factory.

The boys watching the fortune cookie machine and hoping for a taste or two!

Posing at the gateway to Chinatown.

Timothy's Photo Shoot

2010-07-07T16:35:00.001-07:00

Timothy loves the camera. And the camera loves Timothy.
You just gotta love this kid!

Oooo, la, la...Olallieberries!

2010-07-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Every year in the month of June something special grows just over the hill...Olallieberries! Some say oh-la-lee, I say oh-la-la. What is that you say? I can never remember so I typed in my handy dandy google window "What is an Olallieberry?" And our trusty wikipedia said this, "...a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry, each of which is itself a cross between blackberry and another berry (raspberry and dewberry, respectively)". Also defined as scrumptious, delicious, bursting with summery goodness...you get the picture. Growing season is nearly gone, so I enlisted my four helping hands (which would actually be a total of eight hands) to pick some berries.

Lizzy and Tim were busy picking...

(Brennen, Gabe and I were busy too, but sadly, no photos)

and eating!

Here are our four buckets...(it would have been five if Lizzy wouldn't have dumped her pickin's on the ground every time she had any amount in the bucket!).

After rinsing and picking through the berries to weed out the foliage, I scattered some on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet...

...and placed them in the freezer. Once the individual berries are frozen, I will put them in a freezer ziplock bag and store them in the freezer, from which I can pull any amount that I wish.

The rest went straight into ziplock bags in the amounts that I need for specific recipes, i.e. jam, pie, and cobbler.

And the grand total for today was (drumroll please) I can make 2 batches of jam, 2 cobblers, 3 pies, 2 batches of pancakes, and still I have 4 cookie sheets worth left over for any of the above or anything else I can think of!

Olallieberries...yum!!!

Fore!

2010-05-17T21:50:00.001-07:00

For the last five weeks Gabe has been taking golf lessons. He has learned putting, chipping, and spent the last three weeks on his full swing. Golf peaked his interest when his cousin Kaleigh took him to the driving range....he was pretty sure he could go straight to 18 holes from there, but I thought he could benefit from a lesson or two. What I really wanted was to take the "mom and me" lessons that our rec center offered, but alas, Gabe wanted to try it on his own. Now he really thinks that he's ready for a round or two. And with a little more practice, who knows? Watch out Mr. Woods, here comes my "tiger"!

The Final Curtain...

2010-05-16T21:25:00.001-07:00

There is a door that reads "Performers Only". Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be able to walk through that door. And happily, dreams do come true...

For the last 5 months I have spent spare time, time that I never realized was "spare", learning notes and lines and movement, cackling, crouching, poking, and yelling, and loving every minute, as I prepared my "witch" for the musical "Into the Woods". What a marvelous experience, one that I can now cross off my bucket list.

Last night, closing night, was filled with excitement, and lined with sorrow. As each song was sung, my heart cheered and broke in the same moment. Into the Woods, our Into the Woods has been called one of the finest shows that SVCT (our local community theater company) has ever done. It was a privelege to be a part of...and I will miss not only the stage, but the fine friends I made there.

Me as the "ugly" witch, singing to my stolen daughter, Rapunzel

After the witch regains her beauty, but loses her powers, and then loses her Rapunzel as well, she sings the Witch's Lament.

Shhhhh....It's the last midnight...the witch is fed up with the people around her and begs her mother to take her back (to where I don't know!)

The finale where the witch sings a beautiful song..."Careful the things you say, children will listen..."

As I read through this post I see how sappy I sound, so forgive my sentimentality. There will be another show, another year...and in the meantime it is nice to rediscover the time that I didn't know I had before!

Body Art

2010-05-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

As I was looking through "my pictures" on my computer, looking for some kind of blogging inspiration, I happened upon this:Does every mother have one of these? I must admit when I happened upon this marker mayhem, I had to stifle my motherly frustration in order to capture it on film. I don't know what it is about this girl, but whether it is markers, chalk, or paint, she just has to see how the color looks on her skin! It is in complete opposition to her oldest brother, Brennen, who, when I gave him the opportunity to finger paint at the same age, would dip just one finger into the paint, wipe it on the paper, then hold up that finger until I cleaned off the remaining paint!

I don't even know how she managed this one...

Gotta love this girl!

Aggies all the WAY!

2010-03-19T15:34:00.001-07:00

I am an Aggie, I am not ashamed. I know that USU is not the most popular or most notable of the schools in Utah, but what can I say? I was born within sight of the campus. I went to preschool on campus. I attended more football and basketball games there than I can count. And that was all before my too short college career began. (I still have dreams of returning to finish my degree.) So every year as March Madness begins, I have high hopes that my underdog school will stand up and be counted as a tournament contender. So here I sit, toggling between my blog and the USU - Texas A&M game, wishing that the 13 point spread was in favor of my team. In 6 minutes, who knows? Anything can happen, right? But win or lose, I will be loyal to my school, whatever mocking may come my way. Go Aggies, go aggies, hey, hey, hey!

2010-02-19T19:35:00.000-08:00

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't know what exactly it was about this book that I loved...the storyline was a bit hokey to me, but the characters were so interesting that I was sucked in before I knew what was happening. And I got a whole 60 pages in before being hit with the first bit of swearing! Ok, honestly that is the thing that I don't like about Sophie Kinsella, she uses the F word pretty liberally. I wouldn't say this is a life changing book, it is more in the "light, fun read" category. But it was exactly what I was in the mood for!

View all my reviews >>

To feel better?...a dose of Jane Austen.

2010-02-18T15:09:00.000-08:00

It has been weeks and weeks of fevers, headaches, sore throats, and coughs. As germs come and go and come again, I have been the unlucky recipient of most of these symptoms. And as good and helpful as Jeff is with household chores and caring for kids, I still have found that I, (as one of my facebook friends exclaimed) I NEED A WIFE! ;o)

But last night and today I have been enjoying a special treat, courtesy of the delightful Jane Austen and the BBC--Sense & Sensibility! I recorded this nearly two years ago, and have not had the heart to delete it. I know I could buy it, but can't seem to justify the expense when it is always available to watch right there on my beloved DVR. Today as my Lizzy sleeps and the boys are all away, I am lounging on the couch smiling, laughing, aching and wondering with the Dashwood girls. One of the things that I love about the dear Miss Austen is that her stories all end well. Not everyone always gets what they deserve, but the heroine is guaranteed a happy ending. This version is cast perfectly, remains true to the story, and gives voice to characters that the Emma Thompson version (which is also very good!) left out. I love it, I love it, I love it! Jane Austen, you give me hope, you heal my soul, and fill my day with humor and wit!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-02-04T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was in the "can't put it down to fold the laundry" category...luckily I had a hardback copy and it stayed open while I folded. The story unfolds through a collection of letters, post WWII. Delightful characters and a moving story!

View all my reviews >>

Little Braids!

2010-01-27T22:00:00.001-08:00

I must admit, though I was never the real "girly" type girl, I have always loved to play with hair. Curling, braiding, french braiding, straightening, twisting, pony tails, barrettes, bows and bobby pins...I love them all! So on the rare day when Lizzy will sit still for long enough, I start to play! Aren't these just the sweetest little braids?!

Lime Meringue Cupcakes

2010-01-27T21:31:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe that I tried today. They turned out pretty good. I loved the lime curd and the meringue, but the actual cake wasn't my favorite...it wasn't bad, just not my favorite. The recipe came from the cookbook Cupcakes from Williams Sonoma. I had a great time trying out my cooking torch to toast the meringue! My sweet husband gave me the torch as a gift a number of years ago, but I had never actually taken out of the box. (I was pleasantly surprised to find it in a cupboard in my kitchen, rather than stored away in a box in the garage.) I love trying new recipes and having family to share the recipe with! Timothy said he didn't like it, then proceeded to eat the whole cupcake.

It's official...

2010-01-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

I am a witch. Or at least, I will be playing one in the upcoming SVCT production of Into the Woods. I am very excited for this part! I can be mean and nasty and sarcastic without any of the guilt. After playing the nice girl for so many years this part will be a refreshing change. I get to sing, "I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right!" That just about sums it up for how I feel as a mother most days. ;o)

Dining Room Measuring Spoons - Anthropologie.com

2010-01-20T16:57:00.000-08:00

Dining Room Measuring Spoons - Anthropologie.com

I love these measuring spoons! I used them today to make some yummy oatmeal cookies, and everytime I bring them out of the drawer, they make me smile!

Audition!

2010-01-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

I love the theatre...but as the demands of motherhood are, well, demanding, I don't often have time to put in an appearance on stage. Every so often though, a show comes along that I am just dying to be a part of. That happens to be the case in SVCT's newest production "Into the Woods".

This is a fabulous show, full of fairy tale stories, witty lines, and tongue twisting songs. And I love it!

So, I picked a song, packed my dancing shoes, and headed to the SVCT warehouse on Friday to audition. It was so nice to see some familiar faces, but I have rarely been so nervous! I'm still waiting to hear the results...keep your fingers crossed!

To laugh or to gag?

2010-01-10T21:23:00.000-08:00

Timothy came out of the bathroom the other day and went straight to the fridge. I asked, "Did you wash your hands?" He said dejectedly, "I never get away with it!" So I tried to explain that if he didn't wash his hands he would be eating the bathroom germs along with his food. On the way back to the bathroom he muttered, "I've eated my boogers before, and those are germs..."

Spring Cleaning...Day 4

2010-01-10T21:00:00.001-08:00

Day 4's assignment was to start cleaning and organizing the kitchen. The article suggested starting in the pantry, emptying everything, and then putting it back. So that is what I did. I didn't realize how much my pantry could hold until this little exercise! I didn't think the pantry was terribly unorganized, but this was a great opportunity to check expiration dates (I threw away three tall garbage bags full of expired food) and to sweep and mop the floor of the pantry.

Before

The kitchen was overflowing with pantry items. This was difficult for me because I had worked so hard all week to keep my counters and tabletops clear all week long. But it was great motivation to get everything put away.

After

I don't want to post these things in an effort to toot my own horn. It is rather a way to measure the progress I am making in our home in a more tangible way. So much of my life as a mother is working on tasks that don't stay done. But here I can look at my photos and know that I completed a project. I find great satisfaction in that!

Our first trip to the ER...

2010-01-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

All I wanted was to take a quick shower by myself...was that really too much to ask? I put one of Lizzy's shows on and ran upstairs to shower quickly. When I came back down, wrapped in a towel to check on her, she had moved a chair over to the cupboard where I keep the medicine in the kitchen and emptied an entire bottle of Claritin on the counter! She had also poured olive oil all over the top of the pills. And if that wasn't enough, she had the sunscreen out and was putting lotion on her legs. Did I mention that she wasn't wearing any pants? That was because she had peed all over the bathroom floor and left her pants and underpants there by the toilet. I asked her if she had eaten any of the pills, and she said she had, so while she sat in time out, I cleaned up the bathroom and kitchen while talking on the phone to the doctor and poison control. Poison control advised a trip to the emergency room, so that is where we went. I was torn between being angry (with Lizzy and with myself) and being worried. All went well

at the hospital (which Lizzy pronounced "hosmiddle"). Lizzy was given this lovely charcoal drink and then we waited to see if there would be any effect from the Claritin. Lucky for us, there were no side effects and the doctor remarked that she doubted Lizzy had swallowed even one pill. So four hours and one or two gray hairs later, Lizzy was released and I was able to take her home. And the most amazing part, after almost 12 years and three boys, it was my sweet little girl that was the first of my children that I had to take to the emergency room!

Spring Cleaning...Day 3

2010-01-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

Today I was back in the living room. Everything was sparkling from the cleaning yesterday, except for one little corner. The corner I never showed in the photos. The corner that still housed the boxes of Christmas decorations and the bookcase that I have never been able to get looking quite right. So while Lizzy played at a friend's house, I carted the boxes out to the garage and got to work on the bookcase. After de-shelving the books, wiping down the shelves, and re-stocking the shelves, it was time to go get Lizzy, but it still didn't look right. So after another try, I was able to get the books arranged in a passable manner. I'm still not happy with it, but it will do for now.

Spring Cleaning...Day 2

2010-01-05T20:37:00.001-08:00

Day 2: The Living Room

The job for today was to organize the living room. I get to spend two days in this area, and since my living room was pretty well organized, I got down to the business of cleaning. I moved the Christmas tree (cast iron stand and all, since I couldn't get the base unscrewed) to the backyard for Jeffrey to take care of at his convenience. I dusted, vacuumed (carpet, tile, and even the blinds!), washed outside windows, and mopped the floor. I let go of a family home evening chart, made of wood, that I had never really liked the look of, but it had been serving a purpose. I decided that it was more important to enjoy looking at my mantle than to hold onto something that I didn't like, even though it was useful.

In this process, I am learning things about myself and about my home. This house was not my first choice to live in, and I have used that so often as an excuse to stay away from it. I have learned that I like being home, even in a home I don't love, when it is clean and tidy. It was the mess and the clutter that I avoided.

The lesson that I still need to learn is that no matter what I do, my home (and life) will still get messy. The website I am using said this:

"Quite honestly, I don't have solutions for this problem, because the problem is, we live with imperfect people. Some personalities and temperaments endure disorganization more than others. And certain ages tolerate--even enjoy--messes more than others."

With everything nice and clean, I found myself following a two year old around picking up dropped popcorn crumbs. And I really, really tried not to yell at the eleven year old peeling a cutie over my clean floor. But I do have great satisfaction in knowing that the floor is clean, at least for today.

Spring Cleaning: Day 1

2010-01-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

After two weeks with everyone home, decorations filling the house, and treats scattered over the counters. Two weeks in which presents were taken out of hiding, wrapped, then placed carefully under the tree until that fateful morning when the wrappings were torn, tossed and discarded, only to leave new toys, books, games, and clothing which would need a place to rest in our little abode. After all of this, I needed a rest. A rest from the clutter. A new year. A new beginning. In short, I had a dream...a dream in which there is a place for everything, and everything has it's place. A good friend shared a website with me which you will find here. I tried this once before, but didn't get past day 2 or 3. But, as I am always an optimist on January 4--or whichever day is the day where the kids go back to school after a looooonnngggg winter break--I thought I would give this Spring Cleaning thing another try. So this is what I have accomplished today. There are still a few things that I haven't tried to unclutter upstairs, but I am proud of what I have accomplished today!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before (and this is my WORST spot in the house!)

After

Ahhhhh....much better.

Ornament Tradition

2010-01-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

Jeff's great-grandmother made ornaments like this each Christmas, one for each grandchild and great-grandchild. After she passed away, Jeff's grandma carried on the tradition. This year she decided that she could no longer keep up with making the ornaments, so instead, she taught a couple of her daughters, granddaughters, and me how to make them for ourselves! This is my first attempt, but I look forward to making many more in the future.

One of the reasons I wanted a little girl...

2009-12-20T21:53:00.000-08:00

This morning my little Lizzy sat at her vanity table, looking through all of her "pretties" to put in her hair, while I brushed and styled her hair in a lovely little ponytail, complete with a white bow. I thought about how lucky I am to have her, and how long I waited to have a daughter, longing for these moments. She loves going to church, and I know it is all about the dress!

Teacup Birdfeeders

2009-12-20T21:32:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey and I saw these teacup birdfeeders in a magazine about 10 years ago. Jeffrey made a few that year and now we have brought the idea back for this year. I am ever so grateful for his talent, knowhow, and artistic eye.

movie stars...

2009-12-18T22:05:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it is the blue eyes, the dry wit, or maybe it's the accent, but this I know, I just love Hugh Grant! I ask you, how can I resist any man who can play the leading man in a Jane Austen movie (and yes, I know how pathetic that makes me sound!)?

Earlier this week I was at the gym and the handsome Mr. Grant was a guest on Regis & Kelly, which resulted in a terrible workout effort on my part as I hung on every word coming out of that British mouth.

Tonight, for the sake of Hugh, Jeff and I went to "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" I don't pretend to be a movie critic, and find that I often disagree with those who do the reviews. Honestly, I haven't even checked to see what the reviews said about this particular movie, but I found myself somewhat disappointed in the movie as a whole. It did get better as it progressed, but there wasn't much of a spark between the leading couple. Sarah Jessica Parker is not a favorite of mine. I thought that the leads' assistants had more chemistry. But when it all comes down to it, I can't complain, because watching the charming Hugh Grant is always a treat!

Run, run, as fast as you can...

2009-12-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

You can't catch me, I'm the GINGERBREAD MAN!

For the last year, I have hosted a "Kid's Cafe" where preschool aged children come to my home, eat lunch, do crafts, play games, and have fun with food. This last week we made gingerbread men...well, I made some gingerbread cookies ahead of time and the kids got to decorate them.

I had so much fun sharing the story of the Gingerbread Man with my Kid's Cafe kids. I went to the oven to get out the cookies, but to my surprise the gingerbread men had run away! Luckily they left us clues that sent us running all over the house in search of our precious cookies. Once found, it was time to decorate!

I made plenty so that I could decorate some too...

countdown to Christmas: day 8

2009-12-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to forego the Trader Joe's chocolate advent calendar. Instead I created a list of treats and activities for our family to do each day as we countdown to the big day. Day 8: hot apple cider and family game night

With Brennen at scouts at Lizzy in bed, Tim and I teamed up against Gabe and Jeff in a rousing game of Sequence while we sipped our cider...yummmmmm!

My First Blog

2009-12-07T22:33:00.001-08:00

I have resisited blogging, thinking it was too time consuming and too difficult to learn. But as I see the blogs of friends and family, how each reflects an individual taste and style, a desire to find a new avenue of self expression was awakened within me. So here I go...