Words You Won't See In Websters

Last-er-night (noun) the night preceding this day

Example: Coleman said, "I want to play that same game we played lasternight."

Re-mem-ber-y Game (noun) a game in which players turn over two cards at a time, hoping to find a match

Example: Coleman usually gets more matches than I do when we play the Toy Story Remembery Game that Uncle Brent got him for Christmas.

I Know...

... I'm precious.

But I just wanted to tell you to look at the post below to hear all about my brother's birthday party!

Mission Complete!

Yesterday we experienced an avalanche, a meteor shower, and a flood at our house! Luckily, there were 12 Rescue Heroes here to help us out!


It was Coleman's birthday party! He wanted a Rescue Hero party, so the kids went through a training course, got their "official" Rescue Hero t-shirt and identity, then went on several missions. Brian made an awesome DVD to tell the kids what their missions would be. He included footage of the three disasters they would deal with. It was WILD! But it was a lot of fun too. I was so busy running the training course and getting everybody where they needed to be that I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted.

The birthday cake

Blowing out the candles

Coleman's team getting their mission instructions

Rocky Canyon (Matt) and Billy Blazes (Coleman) holding meteors

Nana ran the hospital where injured victims from the meteor shower were brought

This was the avalanche where they had to dig out buried animals...

...then load them into the rescue basket and pull them up to the helicopter.

Here they are using "sand bags" to build a wall and stop the raging floodwaters

Our Rescue Heroes!

Reunited!

Oh the places he's been! The things he's seen! It's not only true that penguins cannot fly, but they also do not like to go on airplanes. They freak out and hide under the seat, unintentionally getting left behind. But the good people of Salt Lake City found our lost penguin and shipped him back home. What a migration! What a happy homecoming!

7 Months Old

This little girl is sweet, smiley, and oh so lovable! She's also 7 months old today!

Mixed Up Quote of the Day

Coleman told Daddy, "Nothing scares me! Well, nothing except haunted houses. Those really freak me up!"

Birthday Presents

Coleman opened his birthday present from us last night. It was a Star Wars Clone Trooper Blaster Game. Pretty much a gun that connects to your TV and has you shoot droids and other Star Wars bad guys. He loved it!

Excited about his new Star Wars game

Daddy, Coleman, and Spence played last night. Then today as we were coming back from school, Coleman said, "I want to play my Star Wars game again today. Now that I'm 5 I think I'll be better." Daddy printed out a birthday card that showed Coleman what his other present is: going to see a real race! That will be some time next month.

Inside his card, Daddy printed pictures of the race the boys will go to next month (they will have hot dogs and Sprite while there!)

5 Years Old

January 12, 2005

January 12, 2010

Five years ago today I started the journey on the greatest adventure of my life - motherhood! I of course didn't know what I was getting into! Does any new Mom? But I love this life and these kids and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Happy birthday to my oldest! Coleman, I honestly cannot believe you are 5 years old today. Where have the years gone? You are not my baby anymore, but my amazing little boy. You are smart and funny and thoughtful and loving and so much more. You like sports, computer games, cartoons, video games, books, board games, parks, superheroes, Star Wars, your brother and sister and the rest of your family, and your stuffed animals. When we go to McDonald's, which is almost every Sunday, you say, "I want the usual!" And just in case we forgot you remind us that the usual is chicken nuggets, fries, chocolate milk, a straw, and a new toy. You also like turkey sandwiches, Sprite, chocolate chip waffles, Life cereal, string cheese, granola bars, and yogurt. One of the last things you did that truly amazed me was make up a song about Jesus and sing it in front of all our family and Grandpa and Grandma's friends in Montana. I enjoyed hearing you put into a song all the things you know about Jesus. I pray that you'll learn more and more and He will be your best friend! I could go on and on about how special I know you are, and about all of your interests, but I think this gives just a little glimpse into who you are at 5 years old. You are my favorite 5 year old in the world. I love you!

New Year, New Me?

Allie's New Year's Resolution: Get sweeter every day!

I've been going back and forth trying to decide whether to make New Year's Resolutions and share them or not. I HATE New Year's resolutions! Why? Because I never keep them! I would love to lose weight, eat healthier, get my house organized, be more environmentally friendly, and about 20 other wishful things. But if I write that list out and share it with the world, isn't that like jinxing myself? If no one knows I made them, then no one will know I failed, right?

All that said, it just seems natural that every new year I should set some goals for myself. My wonderful mother-in-law gave me a subscription to Woman's Day magazine, and I've found some great tips for making changes this year. One article suggested taking on one challenge each month. That sounds interesting. And difficult. I tend to have about 7 things going at once, and none of them getting finished! Maybe I could succeed if I focused on one change per month. Here's a site I found in WD that has given me some downloadable charts to use to plan out menus and keep a food journal: TheProjectGirl.com. (Look under Top 10 Posts on the right-hand side.)

So do I do it? Do I write out my resolutions here for all to see? I think I will! Except I'm not going to call them New Year's resolutions. That just reeks of doom. A few days ago in my quiet time I started a list called "What do I desire in this new year?" Then I thought I should add a second column to that list titled "How can I achieve this?" So here it is - my desires for 2010, with ways to make those desires happen in parenthesis:

1. To have a closer relationship with Jesus (daily quiet time, prayer, reading Bible, scripture memory)
2. To be the best wife I can be (Sometimes I focus all my energy on being a good Mommy and wife gets overlooked. Spend quality time with Brian, be an encourager to him, make my love for him characterized by the qualities of 1 Cor. 13:4-8 that I learned in my last Bible study -if anyone is interested I can write more about this later)
3. Develop friendships (pray about it, be active in inviting others to do things)
4. Get healthier (Doesn't this sound much better than lose weight? Make better food choices, exercise, keep a food journal)
5. Organize my house (Make a plan, get everyone on board with the plan, list where things go, stick with it daily)

There it is! Out there for the world to see. Luckily I know you guys would love to support me in this venture, not laugh at me if I fail. I don't expect to lose 15 pounds, become a social butterfly, and have a junk-free house by March. I think I have pretty realistic expectations. I just plan to take it one day at a time. Feel free to leave me a comment asking how I'm doing. I would love it! And I would love to hear if you have any desires for yourself in 2010. Share them in the comment section if you dare!