Fathers Day 2012

Kendall:
1. What is something dad always says to you?
I don't know
2. What makes dad happy?
When I work out with him
3. What makes dad sad?
When I am rude
4. How does dad make you laugh?
Saying weird jokes
5. What was dad like as a child?
ME!
6. How tall is dad?
5 feet
7. What is dads favorite thing to do?
workout
8. How old is dad?
36
9. What is dad really good at?
Working out and working
10. What is something dad is not good at?
Monkey bars and flips
11. What does dad do for a job?
Iron and metal
12. What is dads favorite food?
Chicken
13. If dad was a cartoon character, who would he be?
the man in the yellow hat (from Curious George) because they both have black hair.( we were watching that when I asked her)
14. What do you and dad like to do together?
workout
15. How are you and dad alike?
Brown eyes
16. How are you and dad different?
Hair
17. How do you know dad loves you?
He works out with me
18.What is something dad loves about mommy?
working out with her and writing her workout stuff

Fathers Day 2012 questionaire

See June 2010 to compare answers

Andon:
1. What is something dad always says to you?
I don't know
2. What makes dad happy?
You(mom-me)
3. What makes dad sad?
Don't know
4. How does dad make you laugh?
Talking funny
5. What was dad like as a child?
ME!
6. How tall is dad?
6foot 1 inch
7. What is his favorite thing to do?
Bike ride
8. How old is dad?
36
9. What is dad really good at?
bike riding
10.What is something dad is not so good at?
ultimate wheel
11. What does dad do for a job?
works with metal
12. What is his favorite food?
ice cream
13. If dad was a cartoon character, who would he be?
a Tiki guy
14.What do you and dad like to do together?
thats easy...bike ride
15. How are you and dad alike?
we like bike riding
16. How are you and dad different?
he is bossy and I am not
17. How do you know dad loves you?
He hugs me
18. What is something dad loves about mom?
everything

Week in review

These creatures called Skylanders have taken over my living room...

I have bins that I like to "hide" items like the remotes, wii accessories, and a separate skylanders bin, but all the creatures are ending up on the TV shelves...agh-clutter!

At least the boys are having fun playing and it won't last forever-I just have to put on my blinders and not let it bug me :)

Bead camp at My Favorite Bead Store located just around the corner from me!

Kendall and Colin went last Tuesday and made a bracelet and necklace, made cookies, and this up cycled CD flower Mobil with tissue paper.  I hung it in her room with the name pendent I made from her birthday party last year.

Boys making a floating raft with 2 -5 gallon buckets and some wood, sadly the pool died because they poked a hole in it :(

Eating War Heads super sour Popsicles in the boys only club house

Kendall entered the town Dog Show...we had to help set up with Girl Scouts at 7:00 on Saturday and she wanted to get Dixie and enter her in the Dog Show.

 Dixie had her own agenda that morning and wanted nothing to do with being in the arena.  She kept getting out of her collar, the ring master had to step in and help.  I was laughing so much I had tears.  Kendall got 2nd place out of 2 dogs ;)  She said it was not fun and wants to get a little dog so she can enter it next year and control it better...she cracks me up!  However, Dixie was the most famous dog...the announcer kept mentioning Dixie throughout the day.

 Father's Day was SMOKEY, we had several days of relief from the smoke-NOT yesterday.  It was the worst it has been in a while. I was out and about in FTC even the east side of town was covered by a giant smoke cloud and falling ash.  It smelt terrible.  All I could do is think about all the dads out there fighting the fire and how their children were at home praying dad is safe.  My dad is a fire fighter and I remember those nights he would get called out and be gone for a while as I waited at home for him to return safely. 

Deon took Devin out mountain biking in the 100 degree heat and smoke then we all enjoyed dinner together, a walk with Dixie to the BMX field(in which Devin fell in a catius patch and got needles in his hand. I had to run home and get the car), then we had dessert-I made Lavender Truffle -Yum

Father's Day Dinner

And here is the recipe for the Lavender Truffles

1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp lavender(used some from the garden-the purple flowers)

Dutch coco powder for dusting

Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl.  In a sauce pan over high heat bring heavy cream to a boil . Remove from heat and add the lavender. Return to a boil then stain the cream/lavender mixture over the bowl with the chocolate and butter. Let set for 2-3 minutes until the chocolate and butter have melted then stir until the ingredients are well combined and smooth. Place mixture in fridge for 1/2 an hour until firm. Create truffles by scooping 1 tsp mixture and forming into 1" balls.  Roll in Cocoa powder and serve room temp.

scout camp

June 4, 5, & 6th Boys had cub scout day camp.  I had off Monday because I was summoned to Jury Duty-I did not have to go so I took these 4 boys to camp

 Let me tell you...driving 8-10 year old boys around town is quite amusing the things they talk about. Evan discovered you can sit on your bucket without the lid and look what happens...

After camp I had an extra boy to bring home and a few groceries...lets just say the car was packed and I kinda (just for 30 seconds) missed the van.  The boys had to hold their buckets on their lap while we went to Sonic since I felt bad for them being out in the heat all day.

Andon shooting a wrist rocket and Devin watching something with the light blue hat

 Rope tying

 Soap carving

 BB gun shooting

 Quite time coloring and cutting out animals

 Scouts watching a native American performance

Boys were exhausted after camp everyday-thanks to Candice for the last 6 pictures!

Monday while I was off, I took Kendall to Liza's house (she was my backup plan in case I had jury duty)...well I took her there even tho I had the day OFF...Yes, I did feel guilty-But I enjoyed my morning grocery shopping, doing some chores around the house, lunch with Deon at Nordy's and back to Sunflower market for produce and meats, then Starbucks for coffees for Liza and myself.  When I pulled up to get my daughter...this is what I saw...

I thought 'where is my daughter, she must be inside watching a movie by herself or with Andrew'. It was strange since Liza and boys were outside playing in the sprinkler.  She was outside with the boys too... playing!  Kendall is a 100% girlie girl-dance, American Girl dolls, gymnastics, pink barbie bike, painted nails, tutus, dresses, skirts, even "workout" skirts for softball and PE instead of shorts. She only owns 1 pair of jeans and 3 pairs of shorts. Anyway...she can hang with the boys...it just so happens that most of my friends have boys about the same ages as my children. She fits right in and can hold her own-she is a girlie girl but not afraid to get dirty and keep up with Da-boys!

Fires!

I have not been so good about getting pictures from the fire

Here is a phone shot I took while walking yesterday/Tuesday with Dixie.  It did not smell like a campfire outside like it did on Saturday and Sunday BUT I did get a head ache and my eyes were burning while I was outside. Monday the boys baseball games were canceled as well as other outside activities that were thru the school disrtict (summer school, basecamp, running clubs).  Tuesday Kendall still had her tee-ball game, but it was parent choice to bring your children when going out. As of today and yesterday, the smoke has shifted directions...thank goodness for some relief. 

{Kendall running to 1st in the blue & Deon helping out Coach at home plate}

This was found in my backyard on Sunday morning, the little pool had LOTS of ashes floating around I even found some burnt pine needles out back.

I saw the fire start {from a distance} Saturday while out and about...it looked like an upside down funnel cloud that kept expanding. I will post a pic from my phone later...I need to take the kids to the park for a little bit of running around and change of sencery ;)

I am back with the pics

View from Sheilds and Mulburry(Saturday) on our way to Sonic for happy hour after hours of Fort Fun-go carting, bumper boats, laser tag and games with Janesa!

 View from front yard (Saturday)

Good bye chore charts...

Hello chore sticks!

This idea puts more responsibility on the kids and LESS on me! I never did well with the chore chart idea-never worked for us.  So I collected a few different ideas and came up with something that I think will work for me and the kids... My neighbor used the photos on a jar idea-lather the photo with modge podge and rubber band til dry.  I saw the stick idea on pinterest. I just bought the jumbo craft sticks, painted them my kids favorite colors and wrote chores on them. When they do a chore, they put that chore stick in the jar with their photo on it.  When pay day comes, and sticks are not all in the photo jar...Sorry NO $. This is our first week and it is working good! I keep the jars on the book shelf between the dining room and living room.

Look how we have grown!

50 inches in August 2011

He grew about 2 inches during 3rd grade, he enjoys skylanders, being with friends, soccer, horses, & playing games on his ipod.  Devin is good at writing stories and his least favorite is math.  He likes to read Bone series and listen to country music.
52 inches May 2012

50 inches August 2011

Andon grew about an inch during 2nd grade-he enjoys hockey, skylanders, making mazes(for his mouse, marbles with a pool noodle, money sorter out of cardboard ect.) and is good at every sport he tries. Andon excelled in math, spelling, writing and reading this year(above grade level in all).   He likes to read Bone series also
51 inches May 2012

42 inches August 2011

Kendall grew about an inch and a half(I took off a half inch because she was wearing "high heals") She enjoys reading, coloring, mom, dancing, working out with dad or mom. She likes reading and did not have a least favorite in school.
44 inches with heals May 2012

Each year that my kids graduate Kindergarten I made these graduation hats: I bought little paper mache' round boxes (hobby lobby), paint them (spray paint is faster as I learned this year at 9:00 p.m. the night before the graduation-thanks Deon for helping me!), cut black craft foam into squares and hot glue on top of box, glue on a ribbon for the tassel and fill the inside with a note and candy!! 

 Devin received the most improved boy writer award in his 3rd grade class! He wrote an 8 page story this year with Franklin characters and the forth of July.

Daddy took off Friday so he could be at Kendalls graduation

Kendall and Andrew

Best Buds! I love that my boys share friends, but also have their own. Evan is Devin's Best friend but also gets along with Andon.  Andon has a friend Austin, but Austin gets along with Devin too...same with Cannon and Michael!

Since school ended at 11:00, we went to Chocolate Rose for Lunch-Yum! After lunch we went down the street to 3seven12 for an after school party (ended up being a middle school party)

Andon found a friend from school and played pool with him while Devin and Kendall ate sno cones

Afterwards we went to the library got some books to start reading this summer break and went to the pool with some friends.

Saturday morning Austin came over the boys played skylanders, soccer, football rode bikes and sent the next 56 hours together!! yes... 56 hours!  Austin sent the night Sat. Devin went to Evan's for a sleepover so it worked out. I went grocery shopping after drinks with Liza-

Yes... I spent my Saturday night having a drink and grocery shopping with a friend.  Yes...I feel old when I look forward to grocery shopping on a Saturday night.  Yes...I do have fun!

Sunday we relaxed at home-Devin was still at Evan's-Austin was here with Andon and Kendall had Faith over to play!

Deon took Andon and Austin on their 1st mountain bike trail just west of Horsetooth.

Austin slept over Sunday because I was carpooling Monday for scout camp! 

Horsetooth Falls

Our hiking crew:Kendall, Cailyn, Cannon, Devin, Andon, Janesa, me and Baby C

 The boys hiked together ahead of us girls-they played "pretend we are in a jungle and the other hikers are kangaroos".  They explored, talked and left off from the last time we saw Cannon(too long ago :(  At the Falls was a cave- I just love these boys!

The girls getting their feet wet

 Me lovin on Baby C

Me and my babies

 After the hike we took advantage of our day pass at Horsetooth park and parked by the lake to eat lunch. We ate in the car because it was too windy to enjoy the playground.  My boys brought Apples to Apples and they played a game after lunch while I chatted with Janesa :)

It was SO good to get out and hike even better to be with some of our our best friends.  I thank God for all the friendships I have been blessed with, the kids and I have some wonderful groups of friends and I am so blessed to be surrounded with such good people!