Hiding Out

Emma loves to do projects - crafts, paint, cut, glue, etc. But I don't always like the younger kids getting into everything that she uses. Earlier this morning I told her and Paul about this really cool painting technique, resist painting (you color a picture with a white crayon and then paint over it. The wax repels the paint and shows through) that I found on this blog. When she got home I wasn't feeling as energetic about Benjamin and Claire joining in. They were playing really well with Paul so I put Emma in the back storage room and told her to be as quiet as she could. It worked until the very end. But I did avoid a big mess. (If you don't count the times that Benjamin climbed up onto the counter in the bathroom where the paints were drying to paint the mirror.) It was fun to see the painting turn out - the kids thought it was cool.

Camping Out

Paul got this sleeping bag for his birthday and wanted to camp out on his bedroom floor. Sure, why not?!

A ride along and a birthday

After we did Paul's birthday, my mom went on a ride-along with Jason for an hour or so. They both had a lot of fun.

Paul's Birthday

He got some games and a lightning McQueen sleeping bag. The cake was supposed to be Sir Topem Hat from Thomas, but the chocolate chip face makes me think snowman. He had fun though!

A Day Out

Tomorrow is Paul's 4th birthday. Just last night I realized that we didn't have anything for him in the way of presents. Oh Dear!

I was so grateful to Jason's parents (Thanks Mom and Dad Erickson) that they were willing to watch Paul, Benjamin, and Claire so that I could run to Target and then to Costco and Winco for some groceries. It was nice to be out shopping and have some time to myself.

I was in a time crunch as well because I needed to race back to pick up Emma and the neighbor kids from school at 2:30. Well I didn't get done as quickly as I wanted and so had to call my neighbor and ask her to get the kids. I just needed 15 extra minutes, but you can't make the kids wait that long. So I was very grateful to my neighbor for getting the kids. I was in and out of Target and Costco in record time, it was Winco that killed me. So many people were out shopping and I was just thrilled to find products at regular price again. (Things tend to be at least a dollar to two dollars more here in Othello.) I even came in under my budget for Paul's birthday by $.37. That put a smile on my face for the rest of the trip.

Sign Language Laundry

I was folding laundry and this little glove was sending me a message-Love you! So cute!

Nap Time Delinquent

This little guy thought he would have a little fun during nap time in this precarious position.

Hidden Treasure

I heard some knocking and happened to look over where Benjamin and Claire were playing. Claire was inside the dress up box and Ben was masterminding the lock. Not a good thing! We hurriedly popped the lid and got her out.

Takin' a Cruise

I had to add this one in. Later that night she got into the Barbie cruise ship. So silly!

cookie dough pyramid

After making sugar cookies with the kids this holiday season, I told myself that I would be making cookies on my own for awhile. But I wanted some cookies and the kids needed something to keep them busy. It actually went well this time because I worked really hard to give them jobs so I wouldn't get frustrated when they took a job upon themselves resulting in disaster. We made a brown sugar pyramid and then took turns pounding it as you can see Benjamin starting off.

Playing Dress Up

Strutting her stuff

Claire is getting into the dress up phase and it has been so much fun for Emma to have someone to play with. You should see their room when they get everything out. Sheesh!

A photo a day for a year

Happy New Year! I can say that I was up to welcome in the new year, but I was in bed reading. When I finally looked at the clock it was 1:00 am. Jason gets off at 3:00 am so I decided to just shoot through the next two hours and welcome him home as well. He just laughed at me when he saw that I was still awake. The book I was reading you want to know? Forest Born by Shannon Hale (fourth in the series, very good).

Last year, I can say that because it's January 1st :), I came across this blog with a really cute idea for journal-ing the year with photos. (Now I can't seem to find the blog to give the person credit, but I am looking.) The idea was to take a photo each day and write just a short caption. Not a lot of work, but the end result is 365 pictures (or more) from the past year. I thought that would be so fun. This year we're going to try it. It might be a big undertaking, but we'll see.

White Christmas: We did not get a white Christmas, but a white Christmas break. Emma and Paul love to stay out and play in the snow for hours. I think that is partly due to their snow pants. Benjamin and Claire get too cold and they come in quickly after going out. And chances are, if you send your kids out to play in the snow they're going to want hot chocolate when they come back in.

Letters from Mom: I started this last year for the kids. I want to write a letter each year to each of my children telling them the fun things they learned and how they grew and how much we love them. I will keep them until they're 18 years old or so and then they'll have a bundle of letters to read when they graduate. Then hopefully I won't hear so much from my kids that I can't remember the little things they did when they were little. My mom is always saying that she can't remember what we did when we were little. I know January has dawned, but I'll get them done and sealed up here before January takes off and 2010 with it.
New Year's Resolutions: This year I want to really follow through with my New Year's Resolutions. One that I'm really excited about is to Keep Christmas all year long. My inspiration comes from the warmth and glow I felt this past Christmas, the desire to have that feeling continue, and this statement by Charles Dickens, I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I am excited for this. During Christmas we're more prone to be forgiving, caring, serving, and loving. I want to remember to be that way all year. I also want to look for random ways to spread cheer and brighten people's lives all year. January 1st has arrived, let's get started.

Paul opening his Lightning McQueen car. He knew what it was beforehand because it makes noise.

He doesn't like Sophie

We found out about two weeks ago that we are having a girl. Yeah! She is growing and everything is well. I am not sick any more-yes! I'm not too uncomfortable yet at nights-yes! And the back pain hasn't started yet-yes! I just have the hardest time convincing Jason that my want for Subway subs and take out pizza are indeed cravings. It doesn't work too often though.

I love to figure out baby names. Needless to say when I first went down some random list and came across the name Sophie, I remembered that I had thought of it before and considered that name searching was finished. He even told me it was OK. Well, that OK translated to "Yes we can name our baby that." When I started telling people that we liked Sophie he wasn't too thrilled. So Sophie is out. Bummer! I thought Miley would be cute because Jason's middle name is Miles and he always wanted to use it - I was the reluctant one. Only, everyone would think we named our kid for Miley Cyrus. No Way! We like Leah and Lanie, but we're still undecided.

Christmas excitement

We have been so excited for Christmas around here. Can you believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve already?

Jason has to work 7pm-3am both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So the window that we'll be able to spend with family during the day is quite short since he gets off work and then needs to sleep in - a little! :) He took three days off and added that to his normal two for five days off that end today. It was so nice. We went a couple of times to Tri-Cities to be with Jason's parents and stay the night. It was nice to lounge and visit. We also made a trip to Mattawa to see my family. So even though the actual holiDAYS will be a little rushed for us, we still got to spend some good time on these days off. We took the kids to see the Princess and the Frog and then to lunch at McDonald's. Fun, Fun!

Emma and I had a good discussion about the creation that led into why we need a Savior and that led to Christmas. It all began with one of her questions that let you know they really are thinking. It was so fun. She said, "I want to do this for Family Home Evening." Unfortunately, we don't have many of those discussions for FHE because we try to keep it short so that the kids that are already jumping off the couch and running around the kitchen can be released. It was fun just talking with her.

I'm off to make some sugar cookies to leave out for Santa.