MOM TAG!

1. TYPICALLY WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP? MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ITS AROUND 5. ON THE WEEKENDS ITS 7 ISH.
2. ON A GOOD NIGHT- WHAT TIME DO YOUR KIDS GO TO BED. LEXIE IS 9 AND ZACH IS BY 9.30.
3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MOM. 13 YEARS!
4. HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU BECAME A MOM? 25
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KIDS TV SHOW? CHARLIE AND LOLA
6. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE KIDS SHOW? TELETUBBIES FOR SURE- WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THAT SHOW NEEDS TO BE SHOT.. TWICE!!!! OH YEA AND I CANT STAND DRAKE AND JOSH- BAD ACTORS!!
7. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE? I LOVE TO VACCUUM- MY CARPET LOOKS AWESOME WHEN I FINISH!
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL TO COOK FOR YOUR FAMILY? LOVE TO BBQ STEAKS ON THE GRILL.
9. WHAT IS THE MEAL THAT YOU MOST FREQUENTLY MAKE FOR YOUR FAMILY? BBQ STEAKS AND CHICKEN.
10. WHAT IS YOUR KIDS FAVORITE MEAL? ZACHS IS, HANDS DOWN, TOP RAMEN,PIZZA ROLLS, AND CEREAL. ANYTHING THAT IS FAST AND EASY MAN TEENAGERS EAT LIKE CRAZY! LEXIE FAVORITE IS MAC AND CHEESE,TOP RAMEN, AND CHICKEN AND EGGS WITH SALSA.
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING YOUR HUSBAND DOES WITH YOUR KIDS? JEFF WILL PLAY POLLY POCKETS AND BARBIES WITH LEXIE. JEFF AND ZACH GO RABBIT HUNTING TOGETHER OF GO ON GUY TRIPS!
12. NAME 5 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SMILE BEING A MOM! 1. WHEN LEIXE GETS OFF THE SCHOOL BUS RUNNING TO GIVE ME A HUG! LOVE IT!! 2. WHEN LEXIE STRUGGLES WITH SOMETHING AND SHE FINALLY MASTERS IT SHE SAYS, "MOM I DID IT!" 3. WHEN ZACH WANTS TO SNUGGLE ON THE COUCH WITH ME. 4. WHEN ZACH WANTS ME TO HANG OUT WITH HIM AND HIS FRIENDS. 5. WHEN ZACH AND LEXIE HUG EACHOTHER AND ENJOY PLAYING TOGETHER . 6. ONE EXTRA- LEXIE GIVES ZACH A HUG AND TELLS HIM "ZACH YOUR THE BEST BIG BROTHER EVER" LOVE IT!
13. IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR KIDS ANYWHERE WHERE WOULD YOU GO? I WOULD SAY ON A DISNEY CRUISE.
14. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT OUT WITH YOUR HUSBAND WITHOUT YOUR KIDS? 2 NIGHTS AGO. FRIDAY WE WENT TO THE MOVIES AND SAW "DARK KNIGHT".
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS? I ENJOY GOING BOWLING. WE ALL CHEER FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE LAUGH AND HAVE FUN. ZACH AND LEXIE DONT FIGHT AND I ENJOY WATCHING LEXIE ASK ZACH FOR HELP AND HE DOES A GREAT JOB HELPING HER.
16. NAME 1 THING YOU SAID YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO DO AS A MOM? BE THE "SOFTIE" CANT HELP IT SOMETIMES!!
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUALITY THAT YOUR MOM HAS? SHE MAKE IT A POINT TO SPEND TIME WITH ALL THE GRANDKIDS. I KNOW THEY ENJOY THEIR TIME WITH HER. SHE SOMETIMES SEES THINGS ABOUT MY KIDS THAT I DONT SEE. I LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAS FOR ADVICE BECAUSE SHE HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE DONE THAT. SHE IS AN AWESOME MOM AND A GREAT GRANDMA.
18. ANY ADVICE FOR A NEW MOM? NEVER PASS JUDGEMENT ON ANOTHER MOM. EXAMPLE...YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STOR WITH YOUR KIDS A THEY DECIDE TO HAVE A MAJOR BREAKDOWN. YOUR ARE SO EMBARRASSED THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES THIS HAPPENS BUT YOU CANT GIVE IN AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.YOU HAVE TO STAND BY WHAT YOU HAVE SAID LIKE NO CANDY. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO GIVE IN BUT THEN THEY ARE LEARNING WHEN I SAY NO I MEAN NO. NOW THAT MY KIDS ARE OLDER AND I SEE A YOUNGER MOM HAVE ONE OF THESE BAD DAYS I REMEMBER I HAVE BEEN THERE AND THEY SHOULDNT BE EMBARRASSED YOU ARE BEING A GREAT MOM FOR STICKING TO YOUR GUNS.
19. WHAT WAS THE MOST HEARTBREAKING OR SCARIEST MOMENT BEING A MOM? SENDING BOTH MY KIDS TO KINDERGARTEN. THEY WERE SO SCARED AND I HAVE TO LEAVE THEM WITH A STRANGER. SO HARD TO LEAVE YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE CRYING AND YOU HAVE TO PUT ON YOUR BRAVE SMILEY FACE SAY HAVE FUN AND TURN YOUR BACK AND WALK OUT. YOU KNOW THEY WILL BE FINE BUT IT BROKE MY HEART..
20. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST JOYFUL MOMENT BEING A MOM? WHEN BOTH MY KIDS CAME HOME FROM KINDERGARTEN. THEY BOTH RAN UP TO ME WITH A HUGE SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND TOLD ME THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN AND THAT THEY MISSED ME!!!
21. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE TOLD " I LOVE YOU" BY YOUR KIDS? SATURDAY BEFORE I LEFT TO GO TO WORK AT TIMBERMINE -THEY BOTH TOLD ME!!!

I TAG KYLEE, CRYSTAL, ALAINA, SHAWNA AND ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO PLAY ALONG!!!

LUNCH AT THE DAM

SATURDAY WE HEAED UP TO THE DAM TO HANG OUT WITH THE SPINDENS, WAHLSTROMS, AND NEUMEYERS.THE DAY WAS BEAUTIFUL. LEXIE HAD FUN PLAYING WITH SIENNA IN THE SAND AND GOING FOR A BOAT RIDE WITH THE GIRLS.ZACH HAD FUN AS WELL. HE WENT ON A BOAT RIDE WITH JUST THE GUYS AND WERE GONE FOR QUITE A WHILE.WHEN THE BOYS GOT BACK WE HAD LUNCH ON THE BEACH. GRANDPA DAVE COOKED HOTDOGS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HOTDOGS COULD TASTE SO GOOD!
RUSTY BROUGHT HIS JET SKIS UP AND EVERYONE HAD FUN RIDING ON THOSE. HE JUST BOUGHT A STAND UP ONE. JEFF TOOK IT OUT AND AFTER A COUPLE TRIES HE WAS UP AND HAVING A GREAT TIME!WE HAD SUCH A FUN TIME HANGING OUT IN THE SUN WITH GOOD FRIENDS!!!!!

TRIBUTE TO VINNIE

THIS IS MY CAT "VINNIE". I HAD TO SEND HIM UP TO HEAVEN ON FRIDAY. WHAT A TOUGH DAY! I HAVE HAD VINNIE IN MY LIFE FOR 17 TO 18 YEARS. HE HAS BEEN THE ONE I CRY TO AND KNOWS ALL MY SECRETS. HE HAS NEVER JUDGED ME AND ALWAYS LOVED ME UNCONDITIONALLY. I NAMED HIM "VINCENT NEAL" FOR THE LEAD SINGER OF MOTLEY CRUE WAY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS 20. HE WILL FOREVER BE IN MY HEART AND I MISS HIM TERRIBLY. HE WAS TRULY THE BEST CAT EVER AND MY BESTEST F FRIEND AS WELL. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM, MY "MURMAN". WOW-THIS IS A HARD POST!

LEMA-LADE STAND

LAST WEEK LEXIE AND TESS,NEIGHBOR FRIEND, DECIDED TO HAVE A LEMONADE STAND. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. I WAS LAUGHING MOST OF THE TIME AT THOSE 2 CUTE GIRLS. EVERY TIME A CAR WAS COMMING THEY WOULD START YELLING, "LEMA-LADE FOR SALE 25 CENTS, COME AND GET YOUR LEMA-LADE!!!IT WAS SOOO CUTE. THE NERIGHBOR GIRLS ON THE OTHER CORNER DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO HELP OUT SALES. SHAUNA MADE UP SIGNS THAT STATED LEMONADE 25 CENTS AND ARROWS POINTING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STAND. LET ME TELL YOU HOW CUTE THIS WAS. WHEN CARS WOULD DRIVE BY THOSE GIRLS WOULD HOLD THE POSTERS OVER THEIR HEADS AND SHAKE THEIR BUMS. IT WAS 95 DEGREES THAT DAY AND THE GIRLS SAT OUT FOR 90 MIN.THEY SOLD $15 DOLLARS OF LEMONADE. NOT TO BAD FOR A DAYS WORK!!!!
A LITTLE INSIGHT ON THE "LEMA-LADE". LEXIE CANNOT SAY LEMONADE TO SAVE HER LIFE. SHE SAYS LEMA-LADE. I CAUGHT JEFF TRYING TO CORRECT HER AND I TOLD HIM TO JUST LET IT BE. THIS IS THE ONLY WORD THAT LEXIE MISPRONOUNCES. I FIND IT SO CUTE!

2ND GRADE!!

LEXIE IS JUST SO CUTE! SHE IS GROWING UP SO FAST. SHE WAS SOO EXCITED FOR SCHOOL THIS MORNING. SHE DOESNT HAVE TO GO FAR TO CATCH THE BUS ,SEEMS THAT THE BUS STOP IS IN OUR DRIVEWAY!!!
I HAD TO FOLLOW LEX TO SCHOOL CAUSE WE FORGOT TO FINDOUT WHERE HER CLASSROOM DOOR IS COMING FROM THE BUS. SHE HAD FUN RIDING THE BUS - GIGGLING AND LAUGHING WITH ALL HER FRIENDS. THEN IT CAME TIME FOR US TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM. LEXIE WAS VERY NERVOUS AND UPSET. SHE WAS ON THE VERGE OF CRYING SO I HURRIED AND GOT OUT OF THERE. I AM SURE SHE WILL END UP HAVING A TERRIFIC DAY!!

8TH GRADE !!!

ZACH IS READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. HE MISSES HIS FRIENDS AND THE SOCIAL PART OF IT ALL. THIS YEAR HIS BEST FRIEND DANI IS GOING TO HIS SCHOOL. I TOOK HIM OVER TO HER HOUSE SO HE COULD RIDE THE BUS WITH HER.THEY HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. DANIS MOM WAS ZACHS 3RD GRADE TEACHER. THEY JUST MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO SHE WILL BE GOING TO WAHLQUIST JR. HIGH WITH ZACH.
ZACH IS SUCH A SWEETIE, HE IS GOING TO RIDE THE BUS WITH DANI UNTIL SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE AND MAKES SOME NEW FRIENDS. HE CATCHES A BUS OVER BY OUR HOUSE. ZACH AND DANI ARE GREAT FRIENDS AND I KNOW ZACH IS GLAD SHE MOVED BY US. THEY NOW HANG OUT ALL THE TIME..

RIVER RAFTING

THIS WEEKEND WE WENT UP TO ONEIDA, IDAHO TO FLOAT THE RIVER WITH SOME OF JEFFS FAMILY. THE WEATHER WAS GREAT AND THE WATER WAS PERFECT. WE ENJOYED HANGING OUT ON THE BEACH WATCHING THE KIDS PLAY AND ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. LEXIE FOUND A COOL ROPE SWING THAT THE KIDS WERE CONSTANTLY SWINGING ON. SHE ALSO FOUND A DEAD CRAWDAD THAT SHE NAMED "ED". WE PLAYED CARDS AND HUNG OUT BY THE FIRE AND TALKED ABOUT THE PAST. WE SPENT SATURDAY FLOATING THE RIVER. THE RIVER WAS BEAUTIFUL AND THE RIDE DOWN TOOK ABOUT 1 HR. 30 MIN. LEXIE WAS VERY SCARED AT FIRST BUT AFTER WE GOT GOING SHE HAD FUN. THE KIDS JUST RODE DOWN ONE TIME . THE ADULTS HAD SO MUCH FUN THE FIRST TIME WE ALL WENT DOWN AGAIN WITHOUT THE KIDS. IT WAS SUCH A FUN WEEKEND!!

CUT AND COLOR!!

OH MAN!!!TEENAGERS AND THEIR HAIRCUTS...ZACH GOT A NEW HAIRCUT AND COLOR TUESDAY.. HE WENT SHORTER IN THE BACK AND KEPT THE LENGTH IN THE FRONT.YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW BUT HE DOES HAVE BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES. HE ALSO GOT HIS HAIR COLORED - WE ADDED BROWN. IT IS WHAT HE WANTED SO I WILL GRIN AND BEAR IT. HE STILL IS ONE HANDSOME YOUNG MAN.!

TOOTHLESS! ! !

FINALLY!!!! LEXIE AND I WENT TO THE DENTIST TODAY AND DR. MARK PULLED OUT HER FRONT TOP TOOTH. IT HAS BEEN LOOSE FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS BUT JUST WONT FALL OUT. THE REPLACEMENT TOOTH IS ALREADY COMING IN SO DR. MARK JUST HELPED OUT.SHE LOOKS SO DIFFERENT AND SHE IS SO PROUD. WHEN WE CAME OUT OF THE OFFICE SHE TELLS ME " MOM, I AM SO HAPPY!!" SHE MAKES ME SMILE....

LAGOON

MONDAY I TOOK THE KIDS TO LAGOON. ZACH TOOK HIS GIRLFRIEND AND I NEVER SAW HIM TILL IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE. I HUNG OUT WITH LEXIE FOR MOST OF THE TIME. WE HOOKED UP WITH THE WHITNEYS AND LET THE KIDS RIDE ON SOME RIDES TOGETHER. LEX AND I HAD SOOO MUCH FUN... WE WENT ON THE FERRIS WHEEL, FLYING ACES, MERRY-GO-ROUND, SKY COASTER, AND THE TRAIN TOGETHER AND THAT WAS ALL MY STOMACH COULD HANDLE... ITS GREAT GETTING OLD.!NEXT TIME I WONT FORGET THE DRAMAMINE!!! ANYWAYS LEX HAD A GREAT TIME ON ALL THE KID RIDES AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT ZACH WON HER A PARROT. I THINK THAT WAS THE HIGH LIGHT OF HER NIGHT. WE STAYED TILL LAGOON CLOSED AND HAD AN AWESOME TIME.!!!

CAN SHE DO IT ??!!

WE WENT OVER TO ALAINAS ON SUNDAY FOR KAMBRIAS BIRTHDAY. LEXIE WAS SO NERVOUS ABOUT GOING ON THE WATERSLIDE.SHE WATCHED FOR A WHILE, SHE THEN GOT HER SWIMSUIT ON AND WATCHED SOME MORE. FINALLY SHE DECIDED TO CLIMB TO THE TOP AND CHECK IT OUT.SHE WAS SO FUNNY ABOUT IT! BUT IN THE END SHE WENT FOR IT AND HAD A BLAST!

NO....ITS MINE!!!!

OK! I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND SILLY TO MOST OF YOU BUT THIS IS THE STORY OF JEFFS WATER BOTTLE.HE GOT THIS WATER BOTTLE LAST SUMMER AND JUST REFUSES TO SHARE.IF HE CATCHES ANYONE DRINKING OUT OF IT HE COMES UNGLUED..."THATS MY WATER BOTTLE- GET YOUR OWN!" "I AM SICK OF YOU GUYS DRINKING OUT OF MY WATER BOTTLE!"....YOU GET THE PICTURE RIGHT!!???WELL, THIS MORNING ZACH, LEXIE, AND I GOT OUR OWN WATER BOTTLES!!!YOU KNOW THE FIRST THING JEFF SAYS IS "GOOD YOU GUYS CAN QUIT USING MINE AND I DONT HAVE TO SHARE ANYMORE!" KNEW THAT WAS COMING...SO ZACH SAID THIS IS A "BLOGGING" MOMENT A FAMILY ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!

BLOWING BUBBLES!

LEXIE HAS PRACTICED HER BUBBLE BLOWING SKILLS - SHE IS ALWAYS WANTING TO BUY GUM AND HAVE YOU WATCH AS SHE BLOWS THESE GIANT BUBBLES...I AM WAITING FOR THE DAY SHE TELLS ME THAT THE BUBBLE HAS POPPED AND THE GUM IS STUCK IN HER HAIR!!!!

FOOD FIGHT !!!

WE WENT OVER TO SHELLYS ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOR A BBQ AND THIS IS WHAT THE NIGHT TURNED INTO - ZACH, TYLER, SHELESE, KELSIE, AND ANGELEE HAD A HUGE FOOD FIGHT WITH THE REMAINING FRUIT SALAD!!!!!!NEED I SAY ANYTHING MORE....LET ME TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU GO TO A SPINDEN GET TOGETHER THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOME KIND OF FOOD FIGHT, USUALLY WITH THE ADULTS, BUT THIS TIME THE KIDS TOOK OVER!!!!

CELEBRATION

THIS WEEK JEFFS BEST FRIEND , JASON AND HIS FAMILY, SINCE ELEMENTARY CAME INTO TOWN FROM WASHINGTON TO VISIT FAMILY AND CELEBRATE HIS SONS 2ND BIRTHDAY. WE WENT TO RYAN AND ALAINAS FOR A YUMMY BBQ AND HAD CAKE. THE KIDS ENJOYED PLAYING ON THE TRAMP AND SWINGSET.THE KIDS ALWAYS HAVE SUCH A FUN TIME GETTING TOGETHER. ZACH JUST HUNG OUT WITH SHALESE AND KELSIE ALL NIGHT. THEY HAVE BECOME SUCH GOOD FRIENDS. THEY TEXT EACHOTHER QUITE A BIT!
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JEFF, RYAN, RUSTY , JASON AND TYLER JUST ENJOYED CATCHING UP AND TALKING ABOUT THE OLD TIMES. THE STORIES BRING BACK SO MANY MEMORIES. MAKES US REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME HAS PAST BUT IN THE SAME SENSE IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY. JASON SON ,WILL, TURNED 2 LAST NIGHT. HE JUST LOVES TRAINS SO THE THEME OF THE PARTY WAS THOMAS THE TRAIN. HE HAD FUN OPENING ALL HIS GIFTS. ALTHOUGH I THINK THE OTHER KIDS ENJOYED WATCHING AND SEEING WHAT HE GOT JUST AS MUCH AS WILL.IT WAS CUTE WHEN WILL FINISHED OPENING HIS GIFTS HE JUST WALKED OFF WENT TO THE DOOR AND WANTED TO GO BACK OUTSIDE. I GUESS HE WAS FINISHED WITH HIS PARTY!!! IT WAS GREAT HAING OUT WITH MY FRIEND ALAINA LAST NIGHT. SHE IS SUCH A GREAT PERSON, TERRIFIC, MOST AWESOME FRIEND ANYONE COULD HAVE. I HAD SUCH A FUN TIME HANGING OUT WITH HER! THANKS FOR HAVING US OVER FOR THE YUMMY FOOD AND AN EVENING FULL OF FUN AND GREAT MEMORIES!!!!!