.

In The Beginning

2012-02-13T20:06:00.001-08:00

People....this is what my girls looked like when I started this bloggy stuff 5 years ago. My heart is literally going squishy in my chest right now. Ugh.

Violet was 21 months and Hazel was 6 months old

Things and Stuffs 2

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another post of random things like the one I did in October....

1. Here is a list of "Truths For Mature Humans", you will sit there and laugh and say over and over "That is so true"-
A couple of my favorites:
#3 "I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger."
#14 " 'Do not machine wash or tumble dry' means I will never wash this-ever"

2. The Hunger Games comes out in theaters in less than 7 weeks!!!!
3. We get about a half a dozen eggs a day....I need to utilize this WEBSIT E a lot more.

4. This lady is GENIUS!!! Genius I tell you!

5. It has to be done.....I love this Whitney song. It's the first one I ever remember hearing of hers and the video takes me back! I loved her her poofy hair. =)

Interesting....

2012-02-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia says "It is generally believed that in northern latitudes, the north side of trees and rocks will generally have more luxuriant moss growth on average than other sides."

I've heard this information comes in handy when you are lost in the woods, and apparently if you need to know which way north is standing on my front porch just look at the stones we have in our front walk way. The ones that sit about 2-3 more inches left (North) are completely green, the other ones don't have a smidge of moss.

I don't know why I did a whole post on this, except it is just really interesting, and thought you might think so too. Happy Thursday =)

There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today

2012-02-04T13:59:00.001-08:00

The sun came out!!!

So the bikes came out!!!

There was trying of new tricks (standing up while riding, awesome!)

Remembering how to get ourselves going up an incline (frustrating, yet a great feeling of accomplishment once done)

Playing "try not to hit the dog who is just excited that he is not outside shivering by himself in the backyard"

Troy was getting rid of wood that has been piling up due to the new shed being built, and underneath the pile of wood is the wonderful deliciousness of worms. The chickens are pleased with the sun too.The swing set got played on....

The chicken chaser extraordinaire got to do what she does best...

And mommy got a really great picture of some really cute subjects.....
Thank the Lord for His sunshine!!!

Something I miss

2012-02-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

I miss seeing these feet on the chair under the dining room table.

I took this picture the day I lost her, because I knew I would miss seeing this.

I am still in debates with myself on when I should get a new cat. I check Oregon Humane Society site and Craigslist pet section daily to see if anyone just jumps into my heart. There have been a couple, but I haven't met any of them in person yet. Someday. But right now I am still kinda enjoying not having a litter box to tend to.

Looking For My Super Woman Cape

2012-01-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

You will have to forgive me. My life has recently become a little bit busier, as my money paying job has turned full time. Providence is moving and shaking and rearranging, and as a result my job has become a bigger part of my life than I would like. And since my mortgage, electricity, and water people like us to pay for the stuff we use I can't tell Providence to "take this job and....." well you know the rest. As I adjust to full time employee, try to stay an emotionally full time mom and wife, and remember to brush my teeth please bare with me and forgive me when this blog takes a back burner to crazy, busy life. I do, of course, have visions of being super woman and eventually accomplishing everything in one day, but until I find the equation that makes it work, you may have to enjoy the same blog post all week long. I love doing this blog, and I am not willing to stop doing it, I've just got to find my groove. I don't know how many people actually come to see what's going on in the land of the K's, but thank you for visiting.... and if you have any blog ideas, i.e questions, inquiries into something I haven't posted on in a while, one of those "tag" blogs, etc....let me know. It might be helpful not to have to think about what I have to blog about and fold the 14 loads of laundry in my room.

Love to all in in the blog-o-sphere........

Youtubular....

2012-01-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

Yes I made that word up. I have been finding and rewatching a lot of things on Youtube lately and I want to share them with you.

1) This first one made me get a little nervous. This lion is transfixed on this little girl and the little girl has not a clue that all the lion wants to do it eat her, not play patty cake with her.

2) If you watched The Sing Off this past season then this one probably needs no explanation. If not, you missed out and now you won't. This group Pentatonix was the winner in the end and after you watch this you will know why. If you are not a fan of contemporary acapella, you may still enjoy this.....

3) I laughed REALLY hard at this, and it made me REALLY want to go get a cat.

4)I watched this one about 4 million times. It ranks right up there with the dog that attacks it's own foot. HIL-AR-IOUS!!!!!

5) This one isn't really one to watch but listen to. It is a church in Texas, Royse City Church of Christ, that has recorded some songs and put them on Youtube. I love to listen to this one in particular. The song is Open My Heart. If you feel like listening to more, there are others listed next to it on the actual Youtube website.

New Do

2012-01-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

Not all who read this blog will care about the hair, and those who do...don't mind the goofy face. I love it, but of course am nervous to try and recreate it on my own after I have to wash it tomorrow. I figured I better get a pic on the blog while it looks the way it is supposed to. =)

Happy Monday

Another Star

2012-01-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

If you remember Violet got this award in November, and now our Hazel is the Edwards Elementary Star Student.

Edwards Elementary School,

in recognition of the efforts of this student to always display

the qualities of being responsible, respectful, and safe, presents this award to....

(this quiet, sweet, adorably wonderful child who makes me so proud to be her mother)

HAZEL KRONEWITTER

If you see a very bright light coming from the NW part of these United States, it's just her mother beaming.

These 2 girls have set the bar very high for the rest of their academic careers... I will accept nothing short of honor roll, class president, AP classes, and Valedictorian from here on out.

Psalm 95

2012-01-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Now try and get this song out of your head for the rest of the day. =)

Happiness is.....

2012-01-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

My Grandma Isenberg's chocolate turtles! I have been enjoying and loving these tasty reptile shaped morsels since I was a kid. Yes, happiness is these little guys, but happiness is even more knowing that my grandma loves me enough to continue making them every year and send some home with my mom for me. My Christmas season is complete. THANK YOU GRANDMA!! I love you!

Christmas

2012-01-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

We went to Washington for Christmas this year. It was a quick, but enjoyable trip. I did a lousy job taking pictures, but here are some I did get.

Here are the girls at Grammy's house in their new dresses from Aunt Becky. Thank you Aunt Becky! Hazel had an allergic reaction to cough medicine on Christmas day which resulted in red blotchy hives, Benadryl, and a 2 1/2 hour nap. Good times.

This is the customary Hazel with Hazel picture. I think Nana gets a kick out of having a little Hazel running around when we go up. Nana is 93 ( think) so we are thankful for every time we are able to get this picture when we go up.

This is Violet with her Our Generation Doll. I had taken the girls to Target a few weeks before Christmas to just to peruse the aisles and see what jumped out at them, because I am getting tired of buying toys that they play with for 20minutes and then kick under the bed. This doll, which similar to the American Girl Doll only 1/3 the price, is something that Violet saw and proceeded to ask me if she got for the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas. On our way up to Washington she saw the Generation Girl doll shaped box with her name on it and said she knew that it was her doll. Well...this bugged me. I was as excited to give her that doll as she was to open it, and I had wanted to make it a surprise, and now that surprise was blown. So, being the devious, heartless mom I am I decided that I would NOT put that gift for the girls under the Christmas tree for Christmas morning, but take it over to Grammys and tell them that Santa must have gotten confused on where to bring these particular gifts, and make the girls sweat. Hahaha, evil! So, Christmas morning all the presents were opened, the girls loved everything, there was happiness all around. However, as were cleaning up the mess Violet sidled up next to me, and it the sweetest, non whiny, matter of fact voice said " I guess I will just wait until next Christmas for my Generation Girl doll". Ugh...wind removed from sail. Needless to say, I went out to the car and got the Generation Girl sized box with Violets name on it. And even more needless to say, Violet has a new favorite toy, that gets dressed in a different out fit every day, goes to church with us, and sits the dinner table. Far far away from under the bed.

And here are the (as Katie puts it) the loot pictures.

Hazels favorite toy is the little pink dog in the front. It hooks up to my Ipod and lights up,dances, and howls with the music.

One of the presents I was also excited to give Violet was her Prescious Moments Bible. I got it for her last Christmas, but I am glad I waited to give it to her this year.

From Us to You

2011-12-23T15:31:00.001-08:00

21 in Dog Years

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of Tuckers 3rd birthday (today) I thought I'd put on his latest run in with the girls and their fashion sense. These are a couple of pairs of gloves I recently bought for them, and being the nice sisters that they are they wanted to share with their fur-brother. As you can tell, he was thrilled. He's hoping when he opens his eyes the madness will all be gone.

We sure love this cute boy and are so glad we found him. There really are very few dogs like this in the world. Happy birthday dear Tucker.

Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Christmas festivities are in full swing. This weekend started with the girls going with Oma to make gingerbread houses. It is most fun to eat!!

I love the roof line of candy corn and the green wreath over the door.....

The girls and my sweet tooth thank you Oma....my thighs do not. =)

A Few Of My Favorite Things....

2011-12-07T15:50:00.001-08:00

For holiday decoration. The first few years after Troy and I got married I went a little crazy with the Christmas decor. Over the past couple of years I have realized less is more, and I have slowly been downsizing the decoration process, and I think that it still looks warm, festive, and fun.

Here is our fabulous REAL tree! Troy surprised us by picking out and bringing it home a couple of nights ago. I think he made a very good choice. It is the largest tree we have had in a couple of years.

This little glass tree and bear set was something my mom had for decorating when I was growing up. I always got so excited when she started putting up Christmas decorations as a kid, and loved it when she put this out. I hope it is a good memory for my girls too.

Just a few of my favorite ornaments. We have a gazillion, but I tried to narrow it down to just a few.... you're welcome.

Obviously this is a special one. I don't have any from Hazel yet, but I am excited to start loading up the tree with years of these!

This is my angle tree topper. I bought this before I was married, when I worked for a toy store in BransonThese next 3 pictures are of my Mary's Angels ornaments. I would love to start collecting more of these, but these are just the 4 I have collected over the past 10 years. I put them at the top of the tree next to my angel tree topper. It's my only little personal Christmas tradition. They make me smile.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful Holiday Season so far.....

The No Drama Way To Lose A Tooth....

2011-12-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

Let Hazel Lose it!

Happy Thanksgiving---

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is George Washington's original Thanksgiving Decree, establishing Thanksgiving as a holiday. It is a fasciniating and motivating read and a wonderful reminder of why we celebrate Thanksgiving and Who we are truly to thank on this day.

It's interesting to think what our nation would be like today if it was still run by men who still thought like this.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who I get to spend it

with and those who are far away. I love you and thank God for you all.

Fall Friday....on Tuesday

2011-11-22T09:18:00.001-08:00

I had this all planned out for Friday, with no follow through. Oops.

So....I have made a list of 40 things I am thankful for. It is in no way a complete list, but I thought if I put things like Tylenol, chocolate, and Scrabble this list would have been way too long. I stopped at 40 because it is a biblical number. Just kidding. It just seemed like a good place to stop. My intention, and please don't hang me if I falter occasionally, is to do a blog a week on one of these things. This will actually be more than 40 weeks, because there are certain ones of these that will require a blog or 2 of their own. I am not going to go in the order that is here today and I am hoping to make this last until next November, which is why I am naming this

"Thankfulness 365"

1. God’s forgiveness
2. Christ dying for me
3. Troy
4. Violet
5. Hazel
6. My Mom
7. My Dad
8. Carrie
9. Ryan
10. Cameron, George, Nolan, Alice, Olivia ( and baby Thomas on the way, I am sure I will be thankful for him too)
11. Grandparents
12. My In Laws ( ALL of them, I lucked out and got some amazing people to call family)
13. Church Family
14. Cousins
15. Aunts and Uncles
16. Friends
17. Leann (yes she's a friend, but she's a sister friend)
18. House
19. Tucker
20. The Bible
21. My health
22. Facebook (don't judge me....I like to keep up with people I never see)
23. Rain
24. Laughter
25. Camp Yamhill
26. Nature
27. Those I had the opportunity to love before they left
28. Christmas
29. My job
30. Singing
31. The beach
32. The seasons
33. Airplanes
34. Periwinkle sky (as in cloudless, mid day summer sky)
35. Cameras
36. Books/reading
37. My cat (I know she’s gone, but she hasn’t been gone long enough for me to not be thankful for her)
38. Vera Wang perfume
39. My car
40. Good memories

Fall Friday

2011-11-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

On this day 11-11-11 I am going to give you the top 11 reasons why I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall....

1) I get to wear sweatshirts.

2) Fresh homemade hot apple cider with cinnamon- Ah- may- zing!!!

3) Foggy mornings. They are just so mystical and haunting

4) I don't feel like I have to go outside, or send the girls outside. Yes, this sounds lazy and boring, but sometimes I just like to stay inside....and wear sweatshirts.

5) Space heaters, next to sweatshirts a space heater is my favorite way to stay warm!

6) Trees that look like they are on fire they are so orange.

7) Pumpkin, apple, and vanilla candles

8) Daylight savings time ends. I love it when it gets dark early. It makes me want to get cozy and light a pumpkin candle.

9) Football

10) Eggnog lattes

11) When I get to wear a sweatshirt, next to a space heater and a pumpkin candle, on a foggy cold day, with The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and an Eggnog Latte. (Hasn't happened yet, but I have a few more weeks of fall to get it done)

Star Student and Halloween

2011-11-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

This week Violet received the Super Star Award. One person is chosen from each class in the school to receive this award that reads:

Edwards Elementary School,

in recognition of the efforts of this student to always display
the qualities of being responsible, respectful, and safe, presents this award to....

(this adorable child who is a blessing to her family and makes her parents sooooo proud)

VIOLET KRONEWITTER

And before it gets too far out to post Halloween pictures here are our trick or treaters.....

Fall Friday

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm cheating, I promise next week to post a Fall Friday that has to do with Autumn.

Here is the cool purple cast Violet gets to wear for the next 2 weeks. Just long enough to be cool without being annoying! She also has broken glasses and one less tooth (which NOT a result of the monkey bars accident). She's been busy this week.

Pinkalicious Portland

2011-11-01T20:10:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday Grandma treated us to Pinkalicious the Musical on stage in Portland. If you have little girls and have not heard of these books ( there's Pinkalicious, Purplicious, Goldalicious, and Silverlicious), I highly recommend them. They are super cute. The musical was cute, fun, and perfectly short! THANK YOU GRANDMA!!!!

Here are the girls are sporting their new Perfectly Pinkalicious t-shirts grandma bought them!

To make an even fun day MORE fun we went a little bit early and spent some time in downtown Portland.

We went to Pioneer Courthouse Square..........

Walked along the busy city streets smelling all the wonderful food smells, watching MAX go by, and visiting the bronze woodland creatures.

We also went to the best book store around.

We had a wonderful time. Thank you again Grandma (WE LOVE YOU!). The girls are still asking for pink cupcakes so they can turn pink too!

Parler

2011-10-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

July 23, 2000- October 31, 2011

A little over a week ago I picked Parler up and noticed she was verrry skinny. After a couple of days of noticing she wasn't eating and that I hadn't cleaned out the litter box I took her to the vet. He felt a lump in her stomach and did an xray to confirm that there was in fact something blocking her intestine. In order to determine what it was he could do exploratory surgery, but if it was inoperable they would just close her up and put her to sleep, or if it was operable it wasn't a gaurenteed she would survive the surgery to remove what ever it was, and it would be very expensive. I decided to take her home and spend a little more time with her.

This morning, a week and 4 days later, she was no longer eating and was having labored breathing. I have been a nervous wreck all week, watching her, waiting to see what happens, wondering what I should do. The labored wheezy breathing was my answer.

I lost my fat cat today at 11:55 am. I held her and told her thank you for being with me for these past 11 years. She has been my friend and comfort through many things and I will miss her purr, her kisses, her middle of the night playfullness. She was such a great cat. She didn't require a lot of attention, and didn't like to be cuddled, but when she would crawl up on my lap or lay on my feet I knew she loved me as only she could.

Fall Friday

2011-10-28T15:40:00.001-07:00

But not the kind of fall I have been doing. Poor Violet had a fall on the play ground after trying to skip 3 rungs on the monkey bars today. I have to admit, as much as this girl plays the drama card when she is sick, in pain, or losing teeth, she is proving to be quite the trooper! Jury is still out on if it is broken, we are waiting for a call from the doctor, but for now it is in a sling, and unfortunately this is probably the end of her Magical Unicorn soccer season.

I will keep you posted.....

****UPDATE****

She has a nondisplaced radial head fracture- aka- a break at the top of her radius by her elbow but it's not an all the way through break. Here comes the cast.....

Separation Anxiety

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning the girls room the other day and came across this in one of Violets notebooks.....

(I love you George. I hope you love me to. by Violet)

I think it has been a little too long since the cousins have seen each other.

Outtakes

2011-10-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes to get the pictures YOU want, you have to take pictures that THEY want....

Fall Friday

2011-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

You don't get much more Autumn than the pumpkin patch. Today I went with Hazel and her class on a field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was very fun and I want to go back when I am not in charge of keeping track of other peoples children.

Everybody got to pick out a pumpkin at the end of our pumpkin patch excursion. Hazel wanted a big one, but the free ones all seem to get about as big as the one she is holding.

You can see in the background of this picture a few of the hay masterpieces they built. There were a couple of huge hay slides, a huge hay maze, a corn maze, pig races. We were on a hay ride in this picture.

It was a fun little outing and by the smile on this adorable face I think she agrees.

Things and Stuffs

2011-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed Dooce's "Stuff I found while looking around" post, so I decided to do one too. I am always finding things or thinking of things I would like to blog about, but I don't because it is just to random and doesn't warrant an entire blog of it's own. Well, here a compilation of those random things in one post......

~ This really cool house for sale in New Bedford, MA. It was built in 1846, almost 7000 sq ft, 13 bedrooms and 9 baths, it could be yours for "only" $135,000!!! The kicker is it needs a lot of TLC, but oh the potential!!!

~ Back on September 17th members of my family walked, in honor of my grandpa who has ALS, the Salem Walk to Defeat ALS. At this time Team GB has now raised $1225! Wonderful!! To those of you have given already THANK YOU!!! If you would like to make a donation you can go to Team GB's homepage ===> HERE to do so. Funds raised go to help families in need of medical assistance as a result of ALS and also to research to find a cure.

~ 1 MONTH until Breaking Dawn Part 1 comes out!!! =)

~ I made homemade tomato soup and salsa yesterday. I used 16 tomatoes, and still have around15 left. Anybody have any good tomato recipes. =)

~ I am redecorating our dining/kitchen area with a chicken theme. I have been trying to find "that" something that I can build the them around and I think that this picture is it. I think that I am going to try and move in a old farmhouse/chicken/vintage/rustic theme...Can anyone picture that with me. =)

~ONLY 3 MORE SOCCER GAMES, and I get my Saturday mornings back. Yay! I think Violet is going to renew her contract for next year, but I think Hazel has decided to become a free agent and try a new, less competitive activity.

Pictures-2011 #2

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is round 2. Some of them are similar to the other ones, but the faces are different.

Next up.....Outtakes! =)

Fall Friday

2011-10-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

Aside from finally getting to wear sweatshirts everyday, the fall foliage is probably my favorite part about Fall! The colors the trees change are breathtaking and amazing. I was driving down the street the other day and saw a tree soooo red/orange I literally took a double take. It was gorgeous. For being a very evergreen state Oregon has some good places where you can take in the beauty, but there are a couple of places that I think out rank us in the Northwest.

This is a place I miss in the Fall, the Ozark Mountains. Rolling hills that look like they are on fire there is so much orange and red.

Some day I would LOVE to go to New England during the fall to see more sights like these in person. I honestly don't think you can get too much of these pictures. So here are some of my favorites I have found. Hope you enjoy them and feel like you're taking a walk on a cool crisp afternoon in God's majestic canvas of all foliage.....

Liberty, NY

Portland, CT (Potentially my dream house!!! Wouldn't that be a great place to wake up every morning!)

Pocono Mountains, PA

The Birkshires, MA

Pretty Princess

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you don't get a vote on your Halloween costume.

Pictures- 2011

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is my amateur attempt at taking pictures of the girls again. In the area of taking the pictures I do not excel, but I do have pretty cute subjects to take pictures of, so hopefully that out weighs my lack of talent. =) Not sure which ones I will be sending to people this year. So if you have a preference let me know. I will put more up in a couple of days.

Fall Friday

2011-10-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Rice Krispy Treat Pumpkins

Yes I made them. The girls had fun making them with me. I would have taken pictures during the making of them, but it is super hard to take pictures with sticky fingers. Happy Friday! Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

Oh Autumn...How Do I Love Thee

2011-10-06T16:21:00.001-07:00

I think I have mentioned every year how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall. It is in fact my favorite season. I can burn pumpkin candles, where sweatshirts, watch the amazing color change of the trees, not feel guilty for not sending my children outside to play. There is something about the crisp cool mornings that puts me in a really good mood. I am going to try and do something fall-ish every week, and then share it with you fine bloggy people.... I think I will call it Fall Friday. Come back tomorrow for Fall Friday...Volume 1.

35 years

2011-10-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad at their 30th Anniversary Party

HAPPY 35TH ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

I love you both and I thank you for the wonderful example of an enduring Christian marriage.

School, Soccer, School, Soccer.......

2011-09-30T06:16:00.001-07:00

Don't worry.... I am as annoyed as you are that there hasn't been an updated blog in 2 week! Here are some pictures to explain my delay....

School......... Hazel is in morning kindergarten. Here she is at Open House last week by her work cubby. She is really enjoying school, her teacher says she is trying reallllly hard to learn, and that she has a tendency to get frustrated with herself when she doesn't know how to spell something.

Soccer.......... We have soccer practice every Tues and Thurs. Violet is at 5pm and Hazel is at 6pm. It makes for very busy days, and doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging fun.

School........ Violet with her "Violet" drawing. All the kids had themselves at their desks and parents had to figure out from the pictures which desk was their childs. I think Violet did an amazing job!! It is the 3rd week of school and we are already having recess drama with little girls saying "you aren't my friend" or "I have a new best friend". It makes me sad. I just pray I can teach Violet to rise above and be kind and friendly to everybody on the play ground. I very much remember going through this when I was younger. Girls can be so mean. Argh.

Soccer.......At last Saturdays game Violet made a goal and got MVP of the game, which means she gets to take home the pink Magical Unicorn stuffed animal until the next time the team gets together. Oh the joy that abounds with having the unicorn under our roof......

Where Magical Unicorns and Grasshoppers Play

2011-09-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

Soccer season has begun.

On the right we have Magical Unicorns #2 Violet aka Miss Giggles.

On the left we have The Grasshoppers #5 Hazel K

Bountiful

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is our most recent harvest. Look at the size of that zuchhini! I can't wait until we start getting lots more tomatoes! Salsa, pizza sauce, tomato soup! Yummy! I think I have officially used too many exclamation points.

1st Day of School 2011

2011-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

The last 3 weeks or so have been busy, fun, emotional, and productive. Let's kick off my return to blogging with some adorable girls who started their first week of school this week.

From the look on Violets face you can tell that the first day of 1st grade was a success! So far a whole day of school is right up her alley. You may also notice that she is missing a couple of teeth. This was a fantastically frustrating and traumatic episode, which I feel is going to be the ongoing story until she has lost all of her teeth.

Hazel was a smidgen more nervous about her first day. But did wonderful. I think the poofy pink skirt helped ease things a little bit. =)

I'm taking a break.....

2011-08-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Which means if you come here often, you will be greatly disappointed for the next 3 weeks. Because this is all you will see. I realized yesterday that I have 3 weeks until school starts and the crazy sets in. So I am going to take these next 3 weeks to not worry about updating the blog or checking Facebook, and I am going to focus on my sweet wonderful girls and prepare them for the school year. Please check back in 3 weeks or so. Until then. Love you all. Have a wonderful last few weeks of summer.

Ciao.

Dancing in the Park

2011-08-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

The girls got to do a week long dance camp at the end of July and then got to perform a routine they learned during the camp on stage at the Newberg Old Fashioned Festival. For only having 4 days to learn and remember a dance routine they did very well, it was precious and priceless. I was so proud of them for getting up on the stage in front of a hundred of complete strangers.

9 Years

2011-08-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate 9 years of living, loving, learning, and growing.

Troy & Laura

August 10th, 2002

Book Reviews

2011-07-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

This was a good ole fashioned cheesie romance. Predicable but enjoyable. I wasn't really able to take away anything deep and meaningful, sometimes you just need a little cheese. Laura's scale 1-10 (1 bad-10 good) - 6

I had heard good things about this book, so when I found out the movie is going to be out next month I decided to read it for myself. Loved it. I loved Scooter, she is what I would like to think I would have been back in 1960's Southern USA. Strong, determined, brave, and persistent. Sad at times, made even sadder by the fact that the things that took place in the book probably actually happened time and time again. Highly recommend. Laura's Scale- 10

This I borrowed from my Aunt Dawn (aka The Woman To Go To For Book Recommendations). I really didn't know what to expect when I started this one. The story is creative and thought provoking. David Wroblewski does a wonderful job of letting us into the mind of a boy who is mute from birth. It took me a bit to get into it, about 3-4 chapters. But once I was in I couldn't put it down until the last page, my poor laundry just kept piling up. I really did like it, however it did leave me a little sad and wishing for an optional alternate ending with a little happier outcome. Laura's Scale- 8

I just finished this one this weekend. This one is haunting and leaves you thinking about it for days after you finish it, I am still thinking about it. The characters are all so wonderful and different. It is told from the very different points of view of the wife and 4 daughters of a Baptist preacher who takes them all to the Congo as a missionary in the 1960's. Each woman has a different reaction and life experience due to tragedy and war as a result of their time spent in Africa. I want to actually go back and read it again with a yellow highlighter and highlight all of the things that made me go "wow, yeah". LOVED IT! Laura's Scale -11

Words To Live By

2011-07-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

Reunion

2011-07-20T16:35:00.001-07:00

You can see more reunion pictures at Carrie's and Katie's blogs. I don't have a lot of pictures from the 2011 Butcher Reunion, but I know that mom will still want to see them. =) So here goes.

First is our day at Camp Yamhill.

At the girls swimming hole.

Our trek to the pond

Rock throwing. Classic camp activity. David is no doubt looking for the perfect skipper.

My brave water hikers, it runs in the family. =)

Next is awards night at Grandparents Butcher's house.

And here are some more mustache pictures. (see Katies blog from today for a couple more)

We're Still Growing

2011-07-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

Here is The K's Green Acres 2011

Here are our peas growing up the fence and corn. On the right is the new green house and the compost bin.

Here are the crazy abundant raspberries along the back fence, potatoes (in the buckets on the left), spinach, and lots and lots of lettuce. Violet is in the corner with a cute little gray rabbit.

Troy added a 3rd water barrel this year, which has been good since we have had SO MUCH RAIN this year. All 3 of them are full!

Here is the view looking west ( the green house is behind me). Along the far fence are MORE raspberries. Along top of the raspberries on this fence are blackberries. When we moved in 9 years ago the blackberries were all over our back yard. It took a couple of years to finally get rid of them, now we are trying to get some of them back. In front of those on the ground are all the gourd family vegetables, squash and cucumber. You can tell this was take a few weeks after the above pictures because the lettuce is much bigger!

Including Violet's pumpkin she planted last year at school. The blossom opens in the morning and closes up later in the day.

R . I. R

2011-07-15T15:20:00.001-07:00

Rest In Raccoon Sparkles

Sparkles was a victim of neighborhood violence last night. The chickens have taken to sleeping outside their coop at night and apparently word got around the neighborhood and a raccoon (or some kind of nocturnal carnivore) decided to feast. So to help Hazel get over her poor chickens demise, and because we like getting a lot of eggs a day, we are replacing Sparkles with 2 new chickens. And the other chickens are going to start getting locked in their coop at night, because we don't have enough room to replace chickens 2 for 1.

Fun With Edit

2011-07-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is a picture I took with my cell phone camera today out on my walk at work. I thought it was pretty just like this, but then I used Picasa to make it prettier....

And this is how it turned out. Just lovely. I love Picasa!

I have pictures of the Butcher Family Reunion, the garden, and a few other interesting things lately. But I have to sort it all out.

The Pedi

2011-07-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from our pedicure on Hazel's birthday.....

The cute bunny chairs that draw the girls over to them like bees on a picnic.

The poor girls had a hard time communicating with the nice Korean lady. The nail lady would say something and they would look at me with a look that said "Help with the translation mother"

Hazel caught on really quick to the relaxation part of the pedicure.

What you don't see in the picture is Hazel giggling. Her feet are VERY ticklish, she giggled pretty much anytime the lady touched her feet.

While waiting for the toes to dry it is good to have a sucker.....

A Nap........

..............And a sister to keep you occupied

Cute toes and the final product.

Definitely something we will be doing again!!!

The Birthday

2011-06-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

We had a very fun and busy day yesterday celebrating Hazel.

Here is the morning picture....... wouldn't you love to wake up looking this cute.

After VBS we met the grandparents and daddy at Taco Time where we were treated to lunch by Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.

Then the girls, mom, and I headed out for our pedicure/manicures. I couldn't talk mom into a pedicure, so she got a manicure instead. I think there was good times had by all, especially these 2. I may have created a monster, because now they want to do it again AND get manicures too. Uh oh.

The finished product. I love the flowers on their little toes. So cute.

Finally we topped the day off with a request by the birthday girl to go to Shari's Restaurant for smiley face pancakes. I think the face says it all.

These birthdays are getting more and more fun as they get older.

Happy Birthday Hazel

2011-06-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

About a week old. Look at those toes! Aaaah!

Almost 7 mos old. The cheeks, oh the cheeks.

14 mos old. Oy. That face.

2 1/2 years old. Smiles really DO NOT get much cuter than this.

3rd birthday. That sun kissed skin. I really am getting a little teary here.

4 years old. The most amazing lashes and beautiful long hair. My pretty girly girl.

4 years old. She really is the most laid back, easy going, funny child I have ever met, and I am not just saying that because I gave birth to her. It's a fact! =)

Happy 5th Birthday!!!
We LOVE you sweet girl!

Why They Make Me Smile.........

2011-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Because they are weird.........

Cute.......

Messy..........

And Precious...........
And all around wonderful!!!

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

To this special guy...........

This special guy............

And this special guy.............
WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!

A Beth Moore Study

2011-06-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

I have heard good things about Beth Moore Bible studies, but have never had the opportunity to do one. Recently I have been feeling the need to be in a Bible study so I googled "Beth Moore" and found a gazillion different ones. I kind of just picked one that sounded good for someone doing it by themself. So, I am putting this out into my blog-o-sphere of friends to get some advice and suggestions on what Beth Moore study or any other personal Bible study books you might know. Bring on the info.....

Field Trip

2011-06-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Violet went on a field trip this past week to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. When I was growing up this was actually a cow pasture with lots of cows that smelled when we drove by and in the fall/winter it flooded. But now it is a Wildlife Refuge, go figure. Below you will see some of the things we saw, or tried to see. I am fairly certain that you can see a lot more wildlife if you weren't going with 40 6 year olds.

Here Violet is appearing oh so studios looking at tadpoles in a plastic tub.

This is 2 bald eagles that live at the refuge. This next little story will only be appreciated by a select few people, you will know who you are......
After we had been walking through the refuge a while the kids started getting excited because there was a big bird circling over us and they thought it was one of the eagles. Even our trail guide got a little excited, until she realized and announced "Oh, that's not an eagle, that's an osprey". I had to laugh a little, gotta love the osprey.

Our poor guide, Diana, apparently hadn't been the tour guide for kindergarteners before because it took her quite a while to realize you can only talk about habitats and fungus so long before you lose your audience. She eventually gave up on the lengthy explanations and started seeing who could find the most mushrooms, without stepping off the path. DO NOT STEP OFF THE PATH!

The refuge is a place where even ants, worms, and slugs are safe. I think I might inform all the ants attacking my kitchen that. "Attention ants! There is a place you can go where people step around you and your homes and don't trick you with powdered sugar mixed with Borax."

This is a banana slug.

Here we have a blue crane, up at the top of the pic. and that thing moving along in the water is the ever elusive nutria. I honestly thought for the longest that nutria were made up creatures, like snipes and big foot.

Long Beautiful Hair

2011-06-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

The hair was unmanageable, the bangs were 5 different lengths..........

It was long, and tangly, and a cryfest every morning during the brushing

Something HAD to be done!

So we did it! Now there is much happiness. And somewhere in the future there will be a person who needs a wig and they just might get some of Violets lovely hair, because we donated it to Locks of Love.

New Favorite Thing

2011-06-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's the Downy Fabric Softner Ball! Why did it take me so long to find this wonderful invention. Whoever came up with this little guy deserves every penny of his/her millions! It makes the laundry smell SOOOO wonderful. Thank you Carrie for the suggestion! I love that my towels still smell good days after I put them away.

Kindergarten Here We Come!

2011-05-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

Hazel with Mrs. Rice (R) and Mrs. Kester (L)
(She is wearing my dress that Grandma Butcher made for me when I was about her age)

I can't believe we are done with preschool! Our sweet Hazel grew leaps and bounds this past year in preschool! She found her more social side, dazzled her teachers, and had her first admirer who said he "would wait until she was 5" before they got married. She is such a sweet heart and a gentle spirit and I am so proud of her. She is going to take Kindergarten by storm.

Adding To My Collection

2011-05-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you remember, I collect figurines/knickknacks of landmarks/famous places, from the landmark location. My dear friend Lindsey just went to Philadelphia and brought me back my newest addition the Liberty Bell. Yeah! Thank you Lindsey!

It looks wonderful sitting next to my Statue of Liberty!

Joy Ride

2011-05-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Troy got his dirt bike started the other day and gave the girls a ride around the backyard. As you can tell from their faces it was a good time!

Anchors Aweigh My Boy

2011-05-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

When I was in Branson last month for Grandpa's memorial I got to go through and scan some pretty wonderful pictures. I love seeing pictures like this in general, black and white, capturing someones moments in history. But then to know that my grandpa took these pictures and that he is in some of them just makes me giddy with historical excitement!

He did not take this one, but this is the ship that all of the next pictures are related to. Grandpa was in the Navy, and spent his time in the Navy on this ship, the USS Crane (DD 109).

These next pictures were taken by or with Grandpa in them....

Here he is a very handsome sailor in his uniform.

Here he is with some of his shipmates on board the USS Crane. Grandpa is the one on the very right.If I understand the story correctly, (correct me if I'm wrong father) this is part of the initiation when you cross the international date line for the first time. Either that or you have way too much time on your hands after being stuck on a boat with a bunch of guys for months and months.

I love this one. It just captures the 1940's era of young sailors in the Navy for me. The sepia tone of the picture, with the ships, tatoos, cigarettes, and sailor hats. And my grandpa was probably behind the camera looking the exact same way. LOVE IT!

Bear With Me

2011-05-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

For the next few weeks I am going to be trying out different backgrounds and new titles for my blog until I find one that I REALLY like. So if you come back and it doesn't look like my blog, be assured it is.........

If you have an opinion on one, feel free to share. =)

Odd Egg

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Notice anything interesting about one of these eggs?

Since we got the chickens I have been waiting for the egg that will make me go "huh". And I finally got one.

Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here are my Mothers Day presents this year....

I forsee myself pulling these out of a box 15 years from now and having a good cry.

Happy Mothers Day! Love you all!

Fun Times

2011-05-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

After church last sunday the girls and I went to Camp Yamhill with Aunt Denise, Wendy, and her 3 kiddos. We had a picnic by the river, played in the river, and went for a walk. It was a GORGEOUS day and we had a wonderful time being outside, finally!

Nothing more fun than playing in REALLY cold water looking for crawdads and chasing butterflies.
Trekking through the forrest

When you have 5 little performers you cannot pass up a stage!

Birds Of A Feather

2011-05-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Sure are weird looking....

The following birds are champions at The Grand National Pigeon Show. Yes, you read correctly, The National Pigeon Show, put together by National Pigeon Association. I don't know about you, but when I think of pigeons I think of the gray and white birds that poop and beg all over Central Par, but we, my friends, have had it all wrong. Check out these, apparently, superb specimens......

The Bokhara Trumpeter
Are you as confused on where the face is on this guy as I am. I have looked and looked, but it just looks like a black feathery pineapple.

The Saint-
I love it's built in high collar. So fashionable.

The Snow King-
I thought that this cute one looked like it belonged in a cartoon.

The Pigmy Pouter-
I think he's hoping if he puffs his chest out far enough we won't notice that he forgot to put his pants on.

The Jacobin-
This is what I like to call the Tina Turner Pigeon. But again with the no face, so confused.

The Maltese-
I thought this one was pretty. Looks like it should be a statue.

The Frillback-
Have you ever seen a bird with curly feathers? Neither have I.

Easter

2011-04-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

We went to Troys moms house for the day before Easter so the girls could have an Easter egg hunt with their cousin Cameron.

I thought this was a pretty funny picture. They were trying so hard to smile and not squint. Obviously didn't work

Cameron liked wearing his basket on his head....

And the trend caught on...

Comparing.....

This is the ONLY picture I got on Easter Sunday. Oops.

RIP Pollyanna

2011-04-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Apparently the injuries sustained in the attempted escape last week were more extensive that originally thought. She had a good week enjoying all of the extra attention, but was found dead yesterday morning in her hutch. Poor Pollyanna.

Hassepfeffer...And Another Rabbit Tale

2011-04-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ever since "we" (aka Troy) decided to start raising rabbits, I have to admit I had much apprehension about what I was going to do when it came time to actually cook it. On Saturday I finally had to come to terms with this and be a good steward of what my husband has diligently raised. So I got online and Googled "Rabbit Recipes", and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a website called BackwoodsBound.com and recipes that called for " 2 rabbits/or squirrels". I felt the immediate need to go buy a camo trucker cap and overalls. After my initial shock I started looking at more familiar recipe websites, like Allrecipes.com. I finally found a simple rabbit stew that I put in the crock pot, not called Hassenpfeffer, but I am assuming it is the same basic idea. This was my final project.....

I think I was a little nervous for how it would turn out, seeing as how you can apparently substitute rabbit meat for squirrel meat, so I over compensated on the spices and added way too much rosemary. But over all it tasted good, and the task of cooking with rabbit is not so daunting. Tonight we are having tacos....with beef.

This next story is called " How To Get A Name If You Are A Rabbit Fryer"

Sunday morning we woke up and noticed 3 cute little bunnies bouncing around our yard. The chickens have free reign of the yard, but the rabbits do not, as we have to draw the line somewhere of how much poo you can have in one backyard, also the rabbits dig and eat gardens. So Troy put on his rabbit wrangling hat (he does not actually have one, but it is a funny thought), and put them back in their hutch. What he found was that there was one little black bunny that apparently was a little bit too big to fit completely through the escape opening and got stuck. We are not sure how long it was stuck there, but it was long enough that it caused the poor little bunny to lose mobility in it's back legs.

Troy brought the bunny in and laid it on the kitchen floor and with its legs splayed out behind it, it started army crawling across the slick floor. Well, you don't bring a little black bunny with floppy ears and wounded legs into a house full of girls and not get a gushing of sympathy and "please spare this poor wee bunnies life from the skillet".

For the rest of the day the bunny lived a life of leisure by laying around the back yard having food and water brought to it, getting pet and played with, making new friends, and ultimately recieving the one thing that rabbit fryers at The K's Green Acres don't get...... A NAME. Her name is Pollyanna, named after the Disney movie that has Haley Mills, as Pollyanna, falling out of a tree at the end of the movie and becoming paralyzed which causes her mean aunt turn nice and a whole town change their debby downer ways. If this bunny knows what's good for it, it will stay paralyzed the rest of it's days. Because the mean aunts name in this story is Troy and he knows how to change a rabbits name to Hassenpfeffer.

Oh Tucker

2011-04-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

If this isn't a picture of a sad dejected dog I don't know what is. You can't tell from the picture but it is crazy rainy and cold. I am pretty sure he is regretting all the begging and whining he did to go outside.

Country Girl at Heart

2011-04-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Violet LOVES to be outside! If this Oregon weather would cooperate with her she would be outside every day! Until then, thank goodness for rain boots.

Grandpa

2011-04-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

Things I love, admire, and remember about my Grandpa, Ray Isenberg:

He was not a highly school educated man, but he was BRILLIANT! He knew everything about everything when it came to machines of all sorts, tools, and cars. If he didn't know how to fix it, he would read about it. If he didn't have the tool, he would make the tool he needed. He taught my dad almost everything he knows, including how to fill up a garage with nuts, bolts, and things that you might need some day, you just never know.

He was not an emotional, lovey dovey, squishy feelings guy, but I loved hearing him call my Grandma, Nannie Bell. He was the only one who got away with calling her that.

Growing up Grandma and Grandpas car smelled like cigarette smoke and leather, and I loved the smell. It was a familiar smell. He quit smoking a few years ago so the car doesn't smell like that now. But when I got to Branson this past weekend I got in their car and sniffed as hard as I could to try and capture the remotest whiff of that smell.

If I sit here quietly I can hear his gravely voice exclaim "Good Lord!" That was his expression of choice.

Carrie and I had to be careful when expressing any interest in any boy that was around in front of Grandpa. He would make sure that we were introduced to that said boy, and if there was a camera around we would get our picture taken.

He loved to give waitresses a bad time, and they loved it. He could be ornery and charming all at the same time.

What I love most, and what helps me be at peace with the fact that I have lost one of the most important men in my life, is that he had a faith in God. It was his own faith, he wasn't raised in the church, he made the choice in his 20's to be baptized. And he proceeded to help Grandma raise his family in the Lord. For me there is no greater peace than the knowledge that all of his physical suffering over the past 5 years is over and that he is now seeing the other side of this life. He fought the good fight, he ran the race. I do and will miss him terribly. And I am so proud to able to say that I am Ray Isenberg's Granddaughter.

If you were a tree......

2011-03-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Against All Odds

2011-03-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

I was telling my mom about this the other day so I thought I would put on the blog.

You will find your self actually routing for the poor baby buffalo and cheering on his family. It is good stuff!

Points of interest:
*Around 2:00 1st attack by lions
*Around 3:30 2nd attack by Alligator
*Around 4:30 The Take Back Begins

Happy Birthday to Violet!

2011-03-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

6 YEARS OLD!!!!

This is the "smile" of the moment. She is trying to show off her missing teeth, but it just turns out to look like she is in pain. The theme of the year is Barbie, I think we are up to 15ish.

Violet and her friend Sonia getting ready to hand out cupcakes to celebrate.

Happiness Is....

2011-03-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

A new burlap catnip mouse!

This is the "thank you" face

This is the "It almost makes up for making me live with those children and that dog" face

300

2011-03-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Besides being a really cool Gerard Butler movie about the Spartan army, this happens to be my 300th post.

1. Six year olds laugh an average of 300 times a day

2. You're born with 300 bones, but when you get to be an adult, you only have 206, because some fuse together naturally.

3. 300 BC- Seleucus founds the city of Antioch, some 20 miles up the Orontes River, naming it after his father.

4. 300 AD-The magnetic compass for navigation is invented in China (approximate date)

5. The Roman Numeral for 300 is CCC

6. 300 m/s is the speed of the sound in the air.

7. 300 is the largest possible score in bowling

8. There were 300 celery glasses on the Titanic. A celery glass??

9. 300 steel workers built the Eiffel Tower and it stands 300 meters tall

10. A hedgehogs heart beats 300 times per minute

I's got tagged

2011-03-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

1. Four Places I Go

-church

-work

-the grocery store

-my moms

2. Four Favorite Smells

-Daphne bushes

-roast beef cooking

-when it's about to rain

-my new perfume- Vera Wang- I got for Christmas!

3. Four Favorite Shows or Movies

-The Holiday

-Pushing Daisies

-Ghost Whisperer

-The Office

4. Four Recommendations

-Quit drinking sodey pop

-Work less

-Read a book

-Get a cat

5. Four People I tag

-Leann
-Trista
-Kim
-Carrie

-and anyone else who wants to do this!

Short, but OH SO SWEET

2011-03-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Camera Phone Pictures

2011-03-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

I was going through my phone camera today and found some more cute pictures that have never escaped my phone.......

March 2011- They crack me up! Absolutely crack me up!!!! This is Claires at the mall

November 2009-This is from Hazels 2nd ear tube surgery, when she also had her adenoids removed. This was right before they rolled her back into surgery.

August 2010-This is from one of our many trips to the local pet shop, the Critter Cabana. Yes that is a bird on her head, no it did not poop on her.

April 2010- This was while we waiting for our plane in Portland last year. This was the girls first plane ride.

Regret

2011-02-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

Now that the girls know he is so accommodating to their fashionista tendencies this is starting to become a regular scene around our house. Doesn't he look thrilled! I think he is wishing he would have put up more of a fight the first time they tried to dress him up.....

Profound

2011-02-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

Can I get an Amen!

I caught myself smiling at the ALL laundry detergent box after I read this

Happy Birthday Brother!!!

2011-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today is my little brothers birthday, so I thought I would share a few more pictures from the archives for the special event. You can check out the ones I put on 2 years ago HERE......

Christmas Dinner 1990 -

Being used as a pillow by KC.
KC was 2 and Ryan was 15

It was so wonderful that he got along with our friends. Here is Ryan with my best friend ever, Leann.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again....I LOVE MY BROTHER! He really is a great guy. I love seeing him as a husband and now as a father. I actually do very briefly remember a little bit about what life was like with out him, I was 4 1/2 when he was born. But I really can't imagine life with out him now. Happy Birthday Ryan! Hope you have a great day!

Our Valentine's Dinner Instructions

2011-02-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

"Please Dress up Fancy"

The Furry Ones

2011-02-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

A boring ole bed.....

But is it.....

She's trying very hard not to be seen, by being very still and not making eye contact! But it didn't work....

Exposed!
I love this cat. Even if she is does lay right on my feet at night, walks around at 3 am crying because her food bowl is empty, and leaves poo sized hair balls in the middle of the floor for me to find with my bare feet. Her elusive, adorable, furriness makes up for all of it!

This guy is pretty cute too..................

Round 3

2011-02-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

Hazel had a 3rd set of ear tubes put in this morning. We were up and at the hospital at 6 am this morning and out of there by 9:15, a quick and relatively simple procedure that will (and already is) making life easier and clearer. She was sooooo brave, sweet, and only a little bit pathetic.

When you first get there they butter you up with toys.......

Then they put you in a lovely pale green backless dress, which can only look this good on someone this cute......
Next they put a heart monitor on your finger and squeeze the life out of your arm.......

Then they wheel you away for about 30 minutes, where they knock you out and put little bitty tubes in your ears and bring you back sleepy and weepy, which makes the nurses fuss over you and bring you......

GRAPE POPSICLES

CHERRY JELLO

APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS AND CARTOONS
All of this counteracts the minor discomfort in your ears. So when mommy says "Are you ready to go home" you say "Not yet, can I have some grape juice"

Straight S's

2011-02-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hopefully the first of many good grade ice cream sundaes.....

S= Strongly in Place-Needs little to no support, displays confidence........

( the other side is just as impressive) =)

For Your Weekend Enjoyment

2011-01-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

Reflecting

2011-01-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

If I sit and look at this picture too long I start to get a little verklempt. Violet was 15 months old and Hazel was 1 week old, and at that time I was knee deep in dirty diapers and post partum sleep deprived delirium and all that implies, and I know I thought this picture was a sweet picture, and may have even teared up a little bit. But now, almost 5 years later, when I look at it a physical lump gathers in my chest and and my eyes start to sting.
I heard, as many parents of small children hear, "this time goes by so fast", "cherish this time when they're young, you'll miss it", "write it down, you will forget", " You'll turn around and they are in kindgergarten, or college, or getting married". So you try to breath it all in, soak it all up, and log it all into a memory bank by writing it all down and recording it on video. But somewhere in the middle of nursing, potty training, and doctors visits they grow up and you weren't paying attention, at least not as much as those people who warned you said you should. So now I have a 4 and almost 6 year old, and I am already reminiscing about the "olden days" when I had soft, sweet, poopy, lap size babies who didn't have opinions.
Don't get me wrong, I love this age. The brain is exploding with new information and the conversations are getting more interesting. We are on the brink of readinig, and all day school, and swimming lessons, it's exciting and unknown. But right now I am looking at this picture wondering how I could have preserved my memories better and how in the world am I going to handle high school graduation with out melting into a pile of mush.

Do It Rockapella!!

2011-01-20T16:03:00.001-08:00

12 years ago I got the opportunity to drive to New York City on a whirlwind semi spontaneous trip with my cousin and 2 guys I didn't know from Adam to see a group I had never really heard of before at a club I wasn't quite old enough to really go in. Now doesn't that sound like a fun trip. The cousin was Wendy, the guys were Jon and Joe, the venue was The Bottom Line nightclub in Greenwich Village NYC, and the group was Rockapella. And thus started my love affair with Acapella music as more than just a way to sing at church.

Besides seeing them in November 1998, I also got to see them in 2005, and then again LAST NIGHT!!! My husband got me the tickets for Christmas, after a little hint dropping and gentle reminding.

With every intention of going with me, he got sick yesterday, which had me scrambling for a date with only hours to spare. I asked cousin Wendy, I was thinking we could pretend we were carefree 20 somethings again, and reminisce about when were able to take off on a moments notice, drive 28 hours 1 way from OKC, OK to NYC, NY, stay less than 24 hours to see a singing group we hadn't heard of before, and not to mention travel with guys of which she only knew 1 and I knew none. Ah, good times. But alas, she was unable to go, because the 30 something unspontateous part of life took effect and her 2 year old came down with a fever, proving that we are in fact not as carefree as we were. I did find a wonderful friend to go with me, my coworker Lindsey. And though I am very sad that Troy wasn't able to enjoy the concert with me as planned, Lindsey and I had a fabulous time.

There are actually only 2 original members from the the first time I saw them perform, Scott Leonard and Jeff Thatcher. Both INCREDIBLY talented guys with INCREDIBLE talent, and the 3 "new guys" are wonderful as well. If you haven't heard of this group, you should listen. Google them, Youtube them, ITunes them. You won't regret it. I will most definitely be seeing them again next time they come to the West Coast, or who knows, maybe someday, after the kids are a little bit older I'll be able to road trip again to some crazy far away destination like some middle age groupie.

The group. Sorry the picture is a little blurry, I couldn't use flash.

Me and the One and Only Scott Leonard. I am so excited I got this picture. I know, I'm a dork.

Me and Jeff Thatcher. This guy is the MOST AMAZING vocal percussionist. He can make sounds his mouth and throat you didn't know were possible. Seriously, youtube him.

Here is Linds with Steven Dorian and John K Brown. Steven Dorian used to work in Branson at the Lost in the 50's show.

And here is the 2 of us with George Baldi, the bass singer. I hate to say it, but he is better than the original bass, Barry. Good thing Barry will never read this. =)

The Name Has Been Changed......

2011-01-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

To protect the embarrassed.

This is Tuckerina. Isn't he.....uh..... she pretty.

Christmas 2010 II

2011-01-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

Here is Christmas at Oma and Opa's house.

Here the girls are with Cameron. I don't know that it is much better than Becky's, but at least you can see all of their faces and they are all looking the same direction. =)
My girls are so blessed to have wonderful cousins on both sides of the family. I foresee many fun family get togethers with this cousin crew. They spent a good portion of the afternoon wrestling. Good times had by all!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

First, here is my new camera....

Now I just have to figure out all of it's little quirks and special features. I love it!

There are 3 different blogs, including mine, that you can check if you want to see all of the Christmas fun we had....Becky, Carrie,and Katie. Here are a few of my pictures...

Grandma and Grandpa's house Christmas morning, with the WHOLE FAMILY! That was my favorite part, that the whole family was in the same place. I am blessed to have wonderful parents, who gave me wonderful siblings, who married wonderful people, and produced wonderful and ADORABLE children. (Not to mention my wonderful husband and children, but I figured they were a given) =)

Next was the Great Grandparents house, where there was more wonderful family.....

And where the boys played with toys.....

And we wrote thank you letters......

This is the hat that the girls gave Great Grandpa.

And here it the hat that Katie wore. Ryan is impressed and Kelsey is not. =)

More pictures coming...didn't want to overwhelm you too much.

Here's To Slowing Down!!!!

2011-01-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

I think this is my busiest Christmas Season to date. Thus, the lack of posting. To give a generalization of the past month.... We went to 3 Christmas Parties,had breakfast with Santa (making a total of 4 Santa sightings), saw The Nutcracker with Grandma, 2 birthday parties, Christmas Eve at moms, Christmas day at home, moms, and the Butcher Grandparents, day after Christmas at Oma and Opas, our family Christmas dinner, a fun filled day in Portland with Aunt Dawn, Carrie, Kelsey, and Katie, and 2 new years parties. This was all interspersed with Christmas shopping, still having to go to work, lot's of visiting with out of town family, and sick kids (whom are now taking antibiotics for rattly breathing and and an ear infection, super!). I am a little relieved that the holidays are past. The good news to all the fore mentioned craziness.... I will have a lot to blog about. Yeah. So as soon as I figure out how to get pictures off of my new camera (Santa Husband got me) I will start sharing.

My New Trick for 2011

2010-12-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

I think this is going to be the year for videos on the 'ole blog. This may be fluke that I figured this out, but I'm glad I did. This is a video that has been on my digital camera for almost 4 years.

Violet had just turned 2 and Hazel was 10 months old.

This video makes my heart go squishy, they were just soooooooo cute!!!!!

The Best Things Come...

2010-12-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

To those who wait for the craziness to stop! I apologize to those who read this blog, all 12 of you. Christmas this year has been a tad busy. There is family in town, my house has not recovered from Christmas morning, and I have to work somewhere in there too. Excuses, excuses I know.....sorry. Check back the first week of 2011 for new blogness.

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and have a wonderful New Years celebration. Love you all!

Santa Babies

2010-12-16T15:07:00.000-08:00

Amazingly....this is the FIRST picture ever of the girls with Santa Claus. Violet has never wanted to go near the guy, and Hazel never knew she had the option. So this year we took the girls to "Breakfast With Santa" (which coincidentally should have been called "Little Round Doughnuts and Apple Juice boxes With Santa", they used the word "Breakfast" a little too loosely), and I had to give Violet a little pep talk which went something like....

"It's just a guy in a suit, stand next to him, smile, and don't make a scene, or all you'll get for Christmas is swiss cheese and a coloring book that's already been colored".

Ok, so maybe that wasn't exactly how it went, but she got the point. And this is the picture we got.

The Sing Off

2010-12-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

I love acapella music. Not just church acapella, but non instrumental music of all kinds. Which is why I love the new show The Sing Off. If you haven't seen or heard of it...you need to. It is a music competition featuring acapella music. Just to add a kicker, I know one of the guys, Jon McLemore, in the group Streetcorner Symphony that is competing. Here is a preview. Watch it and love it!

This is Streetcorner Symphony, Jon does the bridge. Enjoy....

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

We are off to Washington for the weekend. Hope you all have a fabulous turkey day. I love you all and am thankful for you!

And because no post is complete with out a picture of the cutest girls ever......