Enchanted by "Enchanted"

I had wanted to take the kids, especially Eden, to this movie while it was in the theaters, but we never got there in time. We bought the DVD just knowing Eden would LOVE it!

She has watched it so many times already. FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY!!!

Spring Break Extravaganza!

MONDAY - St. Patrick's Day GREEN Dinner (see previous blog).









TUESDAY - Lunch at Chuck E. Cheese with Brenda, Nathan, Nick & McKenzie. They had a new machine that took your picture and scanned it onto a card. Mine was a "Diva" card. Ollie had a "Firefighter" card. Eden had five different cards, including a "Hip Hop Dancer" card! I even got one of Jaren. His was a "Rock Concert Backstage Pass" card.

VIDEO: "How Eden Got Her Groove Back"

WEDNESDAY - Rollerskating and a visit to TILT, our local arcade featuring Black Light Mini Golf. The kids went skating and were even better this time! We wanted to do something with Ed during break so later in the evening we went to the arcade. Oliver and I played the Black Light Mini Golf. It was done up like we were playing under the sea. Really great artwork! Ed played some games with Ollie and I took her to Claire's, a girly store. She got some lip gloss and a pair of pink rhinestone slip on shoes that look like crocs. She still doesn't want to get her ears pierced. I figure that she'll let us know if she ever wants to go through with it!

Oliver and Eden at the Roller Rink

Entrance to the Black Light Mini Golf. Eden and Ollie.

Oliver concentrating so intently!

Ed and I had some Pirate Target Practice!

THURSDAY - A Night at the movies! My mom watched Jaren so we could take the kids to see "Horton Hears A Who". I thought it was a really cute movie! I just can't get over how much it is to take two kids to a movie and get popcorn and drinks... INSANE! We all just love seeing movies together!




FRIDAY - My mom and I took the kids to La Chapala, a mexican restaurant. We just love everything about it. I guess a cook from Las Margaritas started his own restaurant and so the food is exactly the same. Oooooohhh so good!

Irish for the Day

Monday, March 17th, 2008

I thought it would be fun (since we never celebrate St. Paddy's Day) to have some friends over for a GREEN dinner!!! The kids and I had fun buying the decorations and accessories for all of our guests! We had hats, headbands with shamrocks, buttons, beaded necklaces and a fancy green boa. They were all encouraged to come dressed in green, Ed came in an orange shirt of course! Each guest brought something green to share for dinner.

GREEN DINNER MENU

Green Fettucine Alfredo
Green Mashed Potatoes with Green Gravy
Broccoli, green of course

Green Garlic Bread

Green Marshmallow Salad

Green Rice Krispie Treats

Green Jello Jigglers
Green Kool-Aid

After dinner we hid some foam shamrocks and the kids had to go on a Shamrock Hunt. Meghan and I set up a little photo op area in our hallway for some pictures of the kids!

Ed and Myself

The Green Girls

Easter Egg Fun!

Today we went to Mike and Mandy's to color some Easter Eggs. The kids had a lot of fun! We met Chris, who works with Mike, and his two boys, Aidan and Tyler or is it Taylor... Anywho... we had fun dying the eggs.

I think the funniest part of the day was when the kids put some boxes on their heads and ran around the house. It was so hilarious to watch Isaac stumbling through the house! Mandy and I were laughing so hard! Evidentally when Isaac smashed into the wall, he didn't fall, but Eden was right there to finish the job... that turd. I hope it was all in fun and that we don't have a blossoming bully on our hands. That's all I need!

Rollerskating... A First for the Kiddies!

MARCH 11, 2008 - First time on roller skates!

Tonight the kids had their very first school rollerskating party! I remember coming here when I was in elementary school! I remember having some rollerskating birthday parties and inviting some boys... OOH LA LA!!! I think that was in sixth grade... ah... memories! The kids had so much fun, but boy... did they get some NASTY bruises from falling down!

"It feels just like I'm FALLING for the FIRST TIME!"

Eden and McKenzie

Ollie didn't like the roller skates...

...so we got him some roller blades. ("I believe I can fly...")

Haylie, Eden and McKenzie

JAZZ HANDS... as I drag Eden behind me...

Spectator Jaren and his big bro, Ollie

I LOVE this picture of him holding my hand!

Eden picked out this door prize for having her name called. I think I'll call her... SASSAFRAS...

Flashback Friday - Our Engagement

FEBRUARY 29, 2000

So... I was working at Diamond Vogel in the paint and stain department and the subject of Ed and I came up. Specifically about when we were going to get married. (Remember we had our first date at the beginning of that month - we met on December 26, 1999 - so we didn't know each other too long.) So... after a lengthy courtship... har har... I just knew that we were going to get married. So... I was talking to a fellow coworker of mine and he said that day just happened to be "Sadie Hawkin's Day". A day where the girls ask the guys to marry them. I was like, "YES!" and the planning began. After work I went and bought a new outfit and got all gussied up. I called Ed's mom and told her to tell Ed not to eat because I was picking him up. I drove to his house and proceeded to blindfold him. I led him to my periwinkle Dodge Shadow and off we went. I played him a song by Reba McEntire "Read My Mind" which goes a little something like this:

"Read my mind... It will tell you that I love you and... you're all I ever wanted in a man..."

Okay... you get the picture. I drove him to The Brown Bottle, a local Italian restaurant, and pulled the car up onto the curb. (I was nervous... OKAY!) Okay... back off the curb and resituated my car. I took off his blindfold and proceeded to tell him why I loved him... yes I was crying. At the end of my lovefest, I got out my $0.44 ring pop and asked him to marry me. Of course he said, "Yes"... and the rest is history.

So... we met December 26th, 1999... had our first date on February 4th , 2000... got engaged on February 29th, 2000... got married on May 5th, 2000 and have been happily married for almost 8 years now!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Learning and Growing

Jaren has been growing and learning little by little each day. I had introduced him to a sippy cup at around six months old, but he still really shows no interest in it. This was one of the first times that he held it and pretty much just slobbered all over it, tipped it over and rolled it off his tray and onto the floor. Oh well, we'll keep trying!

I guess video games are among Jaren's favorites! He is very grabby when it comes to stuff the kids are playing with. It's fun to see him try and get involved. He is really content to sit near them even if he can't participate in what Ollie and Eden are doing. He loves to people watch. It's hilarious to watch his face when the rest of us are eating. He moves his mouth like he's chewing his food right along with the rest of us! He's still pretty gaggy when we try and introduce chunkier foods to him.

He's got six teeth now, four on top and two (working on three) on the bottom. I know he's just miserable when he's teething. Captain drooly red-cheeks! On top of that he's still dealing with his horribly itchy eczema and respiratory problems. Poor little man. Lately he's even been sporting a Simon Cowell boxed buzz cut. I really need to address that soon... :)

He also has just learned to clap. He gives me a five and he also claps as well. We sing songs and do finger rhymes as well and he just loves it! He really pays attention whenever I'm trying to teach him something, but he usually doesn't try things on his own until we've done it a few times. I LOVE hearing him laugh. He laughs when we blow raspberries on his tummy and whenever we startle him. You'd think he'd freak out, but he LOVES it! This video shows him laughing each time Ed flings his earplugs in front of him... I LOVE IT!!!

Let's Hear it for Leap Year!!!

For all of you who didn't know that I proposed to Ed on Leap Year day 2000... well... now you know!

So, tonight Ed and I celebrated our Engagement Anniversary which only comes around once every four years.

We went to dinner at Mama Nick's Circle Pizzaria and I had the grossest Chicken Alfredo I've ever eaten. (I actually had it in a box to bring home and throw it away... I felt bad, but totally forgot it on the table when we left!

Ed got chicken strips and shared a couple with me. One even looked like a rhinosaurus! It even had the two horns on it's nose! Yes... I HAD to get a picture of it. I felt bad to have eaten him, but that remorse didn't last for too long! I think the second picture shows it better!

Then we were going to see the movie "Juno" again, which was a really good movie I thought, but Ed really wanted me to see "No Country for Old Men", which won best picture at the Academy Awards I do believe. I would have to say for me it was too bloody, but it was a film that made you think. Ed really likes the Cohen brothers so he really enjoyed it. He had gone to it with my brother, Chad, a few weeks ago and they both liked it. Ed said that he understood it alot better the second time around.

It was so nice to go out and spend time together. I was going to send Ed flowers at work today with a note that said, "I'm glad you said yes!", but I thought that might embarrass him, so I spared him the awkward comments for the day!

Also, thanks Mike and Mandy for watching the kids for us! I'm glad they were good for you guys! And don't worry about the pizza episode!!! Hehehe

Student of the Week - Oliver

Oliver was Student of the Week last week and we got to eat with him on Wednesday during his lunch.

Oliver reminds me of Nacho in this picture.

He wanted us to bring him McDonalds and so I got some food for Ed and I as well. We saw Oliver sitting at the lunchtable waiting for us and so we sat down beside him. It wasn't too long after that when I saw a young girl sitting about three seats down from me, crying. I scooted over next to her and rubbed her back and asked her if someone was coming to eat lunch with her and she said, "No. My mom can't come." The school counselor came over to us and asked if she wanted to wait until next week to eat with her mom then. She said that her mom can't ever come. I offered her some of our food and so she scooted next to us and I introduced her to everyone at the table. She immediately perked up a bit and even smiled. I asked her what her name was and what grade she was in. She really liked Jaren and said that she had a baby brother at home who was 5 months old. We even let her hold him for a while after she was done eating.

This was taken with our camera. The one with Cambren in it was taken with the school camera. I'll have to get a copy of it.

After that we went into the hallway for our pictures to be taken. The counselor said that Cambren must have her picture taken with us! I was glad we could help her out. She was a sweet girl. Then a few days later I got such a nice Thank You card in the mail from the school's counselor. It was really nice.

A Weekend of Celebrations

This past weekend my mom, Willie (the dog) and I traveled to Clinton to celebrate my Grandparent's 60th Wedding Anniversary (Feb. 14) and my Grandmother's 80th Birthday (Feb. 28).

This photo is of her at 18 years old. Doesn't she look like a movie star!?

Her party was on Saturday, February 23rd and we celebrated with family and a potluck. Their anniversary party was the next day after church and several of their church friends were in attendance.

This is a love note to Grandma from Mookie. Many years ago, my brothers found this little guy on the floor of her church and since then, he shows up everywhere. My brother would hide it somewhere in my Grandparent's house and then when they found him, they would bring him to our house and hide him there. He's been to California and several parties including my brother's graduation party. He just couldn't stay away from the delicious cake! He's taken upon himself the duties of a thimble!

Grandma looking at the picture board that I made for them. She still didn't see Mookie hiding in the corner, until Mom pointed him out!

I had made a trifold with photos of Grandma and Grandpa as well as information about the years of birth and their anniversary in 1948.

We also had music from the 40's and 50's playing in the background. Here Grandma is telling her sister in law about some of the pictures.

My Uncle Mike put this "Girlz gone Wild" photo together with a picture of Grandma during a girls weekend. She's so beautiful!

Here is Mookie laying down in a bed of roses! Peek-a-boo... Mookie sees you!

We found some nice pictures of their wedding day as well as when they were dating. I love the black and white photos!

Another magazine cover... "Playbox" I just love that picture of her! She said it was a pale green dress with black print.

Willie trying to get his head in between our arms. He did a pretty good job on the ride down and back.

Here is a HUGE snowdrift that the plows have pushed to the side. I hate all of this snow!

***MORE PICTURES COMING***