Re-cap of last little while

The end of the school year was a pretty busy time for us. Ashlee and Aleks both had a lot of "end of year" school activities. Ashlee did a Math Fair, earned a trip to see a special showing of the movie "Up", recieved awards and trophies at two separate awards ceremonies for both of her schools, and paticipated in a Civil War re-enactment on the last day of school. Aleks had parties, math celebrations, etc... I was also recruited to do face painting at "Super Kids Day". I made the mistake of letting one of the boys choose what he wanted me to do, instead of choosing a stamp. He asked for a fire breathing dragon. I did my best and then spent the next couple of hours with a huge line of kids all wanting the same thing. Oh well, it was still fun. After school got out we took a breather and had some fun going to the Providence 150 year celebration. We went to a movie at Zollingers Park, complete with free popcorn and glow necklaces from Stadium 8 Theater. It was great laying out under the stars having a night out with the kids. The next day we went to a little carnival with blow up slides, a climbing wall, a man who did balloon animals, a magic show, and jumping houses. After all our fun, we started in on our summer schedule of reading and math, chores, and play, play, play....... The kids aren't exactly thrilled that we are making them keep up on their studies, but they'll thank us later:) All the kids started swimming lessons last night. They start at 5:20pm, so our schedule will a little messed up for the next two weeks. Eating dinner at 4:00 is pretty interesting. But what do you do? With free-swim right after lessons we don't get home until 8:30. Ashlee and Aleks are in the same group and they both did quite well. After Caydee got water up her nose, sticking her face in the water wasn't happening. The teacher finally coaxed her back into the water, but she wouldn't put her face in. We'll see how it goes, tonight.

First Open House

Today was the first open house for our new company, Scrap Builders. I am pretty upset that I was unable to go. It was in Herriman, and to make a long story short, schedules got mixed up and I couldn't travel down there. Julie and Jennifer both told me that it went okay considering that it was our first one. It sounds like people really liked Julie's signs with the vinyl lettering. I hope that as we get our name out there and keep doing our parties, we will start getting more stuff sold. Our next open house is going to be in Logan and I am going to start advertising for it, just as soon as we decide where to hold it:).

Spring!!!!!............?????????????????????????

Yeah, we had some sunshine for a while! I can't wait until that sunshine stays. It's April 25th and it's snowing! As I type this, Caydee is putting on her coat because she is "FREEZING!" Thankfully the snow isn't sticking. We had some nice weather for Spring vacation and had a lot of fun with our Spring Celebrations. We don't do Easter baskets. Instead we celebrate Spring and new beginnings. This year we recieved gifts, went to the movies, had a "candy bag hunt" (as Caydee called it), decorated eggs, and got kites from daddy. We had a blast.

We had some problems with Aleks' class at Thomas Edison so we have changed schools. The kids now go to Providence Elementary. I hope I did the right thing. So far I am pleased with the decision.
The girls in our family are venturing to put together a business. We are starting up at the end of February. I am so excited!!! We are going to be holding scrap parties and selling scrapbook supplies. Our first vendor is CosmoCricket. We are putting a link to their site on our company blog (scrapbuilders.blogspot.com)
Okay got to go do homework with the kiddos. More later......

Playing Catch Up

Okay, so I haven't had time to breathe, let alone sit and work on my blog. But, today I am doing it anyway. After Ashlee's play we had band concerts, Singing Stars concerts, piano recitals, and lots of parties to get ready for and attend. I am so glad that our days are calming down and we can just sit and relax! Christmas was a hit! We heard from each of the kids "This was the BEST Christmas EVER!" Our house looked like a tornado hit it, but boy was it a fun mess to play in. Before Christmas, Les and I sang in a recital. We were both petrified! I was almost in tears before it began, but we both pulled through and DID IT! It was the first time that I have ever performed in front of anyone and it just might be the last, but I accomplished something that I never thought that I would do. Before the recital, Les gave me a "Willow Tree" Angel of Courage and a letter to go along with it. I bawled my eyes out, I was so touched!
We have had a ton of snow fall in the past week. On Christmas Eve day, we heard a helicopter and saw that life flight had landed in the parking lot at the church in front of our house. What a tragedy! There was an avalanche and two men were killed. Aleks was very emotional over the whole thing, and I have banned Doug from snowmobiling this year.
On a happier note, the kids are out of school until January 5 and I am loving every moment of the time I get to spend with them. Doug also gave me some money to buy some digital sscrapbooking software and I can't wait to try it out! Kids our calling, gotta go play............

Ashlee as a Pilgrim

Ashlee was in her school's Thanksgiving play. She had a few lines and danced. She did a very good job. We took pictures of her afterward because she was too far away to get a good picture during the performance.

Activity Day Italy Presentation

 
 

Caydee's Birthday Party

We had a Princess Tea Party for Caydee's Birthday. It was so fun! Caydee asked for all of her friends to dress up like princesses and then wouldn't put hers on or let me do her hair, but I figured I wouldn't make a big fuss. All of her friends looked great and she had a fun time even without her costume. We had pink cinnamon rolls with purple frosting and set up a tea party with my china in the dining room. After we ate the cinnamon rolls, we played princess "freeze dance", "pin the crown on the princess", and "pass the pup" (a game like hot potatoe). Then we opened presents and all of the girls played with Caydee's new toys until it was time to go home. We cleaned up and then went out as a family to dinner to celebrate. The next day, Sunday, was her actuall birthday. We gave her all of her presents from us and Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter came over to visit and give her their presents. It was like Christmas! She was definately spoiled this year!!!

Halloween Princess

Caydee was a princess for Halloween. I am afraid I didn't get pictures of the other 2. I was going to have Les take pictures of them in their costumes, but I just haven't gotten around to it, yet. Ashlee was a cat and Aleks was Harry Potter.

Touching bases

I thought I better change from Halloween and get with the times. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! I'll try to find some time to download Caydee's B-day and Ashlee's school play. We had a blast! More to come..........

 
 
 
 

After asking Doug for a week if I could take him out to lunch, we finally found some time that we both had a minute to breathe. I called my visiting teacher spur of the moment to watch Caydee and dragged Doug to The Iron Gate Grill for lunch. It was great to go out without any kids in tow and just talk. When we got back, I went to pick up Caydee and ended out talking for hours with my new neighbor and my visiting teacher. It was so fun to talk to adults today. I love my children, but sometimes I love to have some adult conversation and fun. I went to Junior High and High School with the girl that just moved in. It will be nice to get to know her better than I did when we were younger. She's very social and is already talking about planning some girls' nights and some nieghborhood get-togethers.
Doug is starting to finish our basement. I was very impressed with his work. I can't wait until it's done. Doug says that it will take a while, but I'm just excited that at least it's started. Doug framed in most of the basement in only 2 days! He's amazing! Now he's having to deal with the ventilation system. What a nightmare! I don't think the people who built this house did much of anything right. I'm just grateful that Doug knows how to fix it all, and if he doesn't he figures it out.
Jennifer came over with her boys for a vistit, today. The kids had a lot of fun and I think Jenn did, too. Ashlee made a volcano for school and it became "their" project. It turned out awsome!

Just Venting........

It seems that our family is destined to be sick forever. It seems every two weeks one of the kids is puking their guts out. Doug got sick, then me, then Ashlee, then Aleks, then Caydee, and then it started all over again. Then there's the coughing, coughing, and more coughing. I cracked a rib, I coughed so hard. Doug is freaking out. With his germ phobia, he's in a living nightmare. Help!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, enough venting.

digital scrapbooking pics

Changes in Bishopric

Today in Sacrament Meeting our Bishopric was changed. I was a little surprised at the new councelors. They released Brother Moore and Brother Jorgenson and put in Brother Nixon and Brother Daines. Brother Daines I could see. Brother Nixon, I was a little surprised at. He came into Primary and gave a message in opening exercises. It was then that I knew that he is up to the calling. He has a gentle and loving spirit about him and I can honestly say that I can sustain both of the new bishopric members. We will all be blessed to have them. Today was also a wonderful day for my spirit as well. I came away from church today with a peace that I haven't felt for a long time. God really does live and he listens to and answers our humble prayers.

Aleks' Birthday!!!!!

Yesterday, Oct. 11, was Aleks' 9th Birthday! We had a blast! It was a little chaotic, but we had fun. We played Win, Lose, or Sculpt, Whoopie Cushion Relays, and Fill up your Tank. Then we opened presents and had cake and ice cream. Ashlee helped me decorated the cake. We made a skateboard out of two loaf pans and some chocolate doughnuts for wheels. I think it turned out pretty cute! I was so grateful to Ashlee for being my party helper. I think I would have gone a little nuts without her! After the party Aleks had fun on the computer with two of his friends while I cleaned up after the nine little tornadoes that whent through the house! After things were all cleaned up, I called Doug out of hiding (he had escaped the tornadoes and went to his friend's house to play video games), Aleks opened all his presents from us, and we went out to dinner. It was a great day! Oh, I can't forget to write about the beginning of my day. I went to an American Mother's Mini-Conference with my mom and got to see my very dear friend Amy. She sang some songs from her new C.D. with her sisters. I am so glad I got to see her. I can't wait until I can see her under circumstances that we can actually hang out and talk. I miss her tons.