The Essary Family

They Be Jammin'!

2009-07-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

I supported a friend's daughter who was selling buckets of (delicious) cleaned and pre-cut strawberries as a fundraiser. Well...the bucket held a lot more strawberries than I had bargained for. I could have fed a small army angel food cake with strawberries but...my mom thought it would be a great idea to let the girls make freezer jam.

The girls each made their own brand. They are pretty sure "theirs" tastes better...even though all jars came from the same batch.

This jam making is a serious business!

Don't spill!

Lauryn and her yummy final product. Nummy!

Jen and her delicious jam! Mmmm....

Hip Hip Hooray It's Family Vacation!

2009-07-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

We LOVE Lincoln City!!

We go every summer to relax.

Lauryn had a tummy bug the day before we left but felt okay on departure day. Well...she woke up on the first morning there throwing up again. Poor kid didn't feel too hot for the first few days. This is how she spent her first day of vacation.

Here is Papa keeping Lauryn company as she hangs out near the toilet with an upset tummy.

The girls are doing the annual "picture on a log".

Lauryn bought a two-handle kite and had a blast with it.

Oohh..look how far Blake got his kite off the ground. ;)

Jen taking a stroll along the shore.

Jen and Lauryn enjoying the hot tub on our deck.

The past two years Lauryn has blown a glass float. She gets to choose her colors and work through the whole process. This year my dad told jokingly said she was the state glass blowing champ and some people thought he was serious. They sat and watched her in awe. It was pretty funny!

Jen chose to just watch the glass blowing. She wants to make a starfish paperweight next year though.

We woke up one morning to this "RV for Rent" stuck in the sand on the beach below us. It was pretty comical watching them try to get it out. I wonder if he got his damage deposit back?

It's a good thing Blake convinced me it was a great idea to take the pickup instead of the Tahoe. We tend to do a little...okay a lot...of shopping at the outlet mall. It may have been a cozy ride home.

Summer "Do"

2009-06-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

The girls lYve haircut days with Kelli! Lauryn woke up with a tummy bug so there was no fighting about who got to go first.

Jen lYves, lYves, lYves, her new "do" (and so do I)! Yesterday she asked if I thought she should cut it short, followed by "it doesn't really matter because I'm cutting it...I just want to know what you think". I always let the girls make their own hair decisions since they take care of it.

This is a perfect summer cut for Jen. She can still do fun stuff with it but it will be nice and cool.

(Strawberry) Harvest Party!

2009-05-26T22:00:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning Lauryn and I were walking around...checking out all our plants. This year she has four pots that she planted and is responsible for--two pots of strawberries, one of tomatoes, and one with flowers. We discovered that her first strawberry was ready to be picked. Those of you that know Lauryn know she likes to throw parties for any reason. She said, "Mom...we can't pick it without having a celebration." She went inside and brought out a box of decorations and some paper to write her speech. She kept herself quite busy while I worked on trimming up some plants. Lauryn would make a great event planner.

My parents came out and we all sat around "the plant". Lauryn prepared a cute speech, cut the strawberry into 8 (very small) pieces to share, and we ate strawberry fruit bars. It was a pretty quick little ceremony but oh-so-special.

Here she is getting the bench decorated for the celebration.

Lauryn reading her "speech".

The first strawberry. Isn't it a beauty?

Picking the berry.

Brace Yourself!

2009-05-25T21:33:00.001-07:00

Jen has been wanting braces for years. Well this past Friday she got her wish! I drove her to Richland for her 8:00 appointment. The orthodontist is starting with her top braces because she has some goofy stuff going on with the bottom teeth. One of her baby teeth doesn't have a permanent one underneath and is attaching to the bone. She will have to have it removed and a temporary tooth put in until she turns 17 and can have an implant. Needless to say...we will be funding some great vacations for the orthodontist.

The braces haven't bothered her too much. The Herbst Appliance - the "hydraulics" used to move her jaw- have been a bugger though. She really has to think about what she is eating and the size because her back teeth don't touch now.

Jen is such a trooper. She isn't in love with the whole experience so far(like she thought) but she doesn't complain.

Taylor Swift Rocks!

2009-05-24T23:25:00.001-07:00

Months ago, it was rumored that Taylor Swift was coming to Yakima. I quickly added her concert tour page to my favorites...waiting for the day that the ticket sale date would change from "Coming Soon". Well one day I was shocked to go on and find that Yakima was replaced with Nampa, ID. I was just as excited as the girls and I was determined to take them to see her. I ended up getting tickets for the Spokane concert!!

We bought the girls glowsticks before the concert started. They had them in the air the entire time!!

After a costume change, Taylor (I say it like we're friends) came out and played in the section directly across from us. After the song she (along with about six large men) walked down the aisle to the floor. She hugged fans and signed autographs on the way down. She is just precious!

Taylor Swift played on a small stage directly in front of our seats. The girls were grins from ear to ear!

Here is the "fake" ending with Kellie Pickler and Gloriana.

Taylor came back out for an amazing finale! It was a very energetic ending. The "rain" had to feel sooo good because she worked her tail off.

The Hand-Me-Down Bed

2009-04-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

Jenna has been patiently waiting for our new bed to arrive. We ordered it from an Amish Company and it was "supposed" to arrive in mid-June. Well...apparently the Amish have been hit by the down economy and had plenty of time to build our bed and nightstands because they were delivered yesterday. We are all tickled with our new bedrooms. I hope to order a dresser soon but am still recovering from this round.

Jen was tickled to get rid of the twin size bed and move up to the Queen!

Blake and I are absolutely thrilled with our purchase. The quality is phenominal...and made with no electricity. We are anxious to get some more pieces.

Easter Weekend!!

2009-04-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was full of family and food. We started the preparations Thursday afternoon and didn't stop until Sunday night. We had a memorial service in town for an aunt and uncle so were fortunate to spend time with a lot of our dear family.

The girls dyed eggs on Thursday night since we knew that Friday and Saturday were going to be busy with other family activities. It is so fun to watch them focus on their work.

Ta-da...some of the finished product!

Lauryn starting the hunt.

Every year the girls get a picture taken in front of this tree on Easter Sunday!

Jen in her cool "bunny" glasses! I think Largent has his eye on an egg. ;)

Jen doing her homework on Easter Sunday.

Every year my uncle is picked on by the Easter bunny. His egg can't be colored and hidden like everyone elses. It has been hung high in trees(with leaves glued on), had dog food glued all over it and placed in the dog dish, etc. This year it was covered in dryer lint (I know...gross) and set under the dryer vent outside.

Crafty Sunday at Grandma's!

2009-03-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Jen and Lauryn love to craft with my mom (a.k.a. grandma). She found this really cool idea for magnetic boards. The girls had a blast and are ready to make more!

Jenna and Lauryn painting the bases.

Jen made this zebra print board. Pretty sassy huh!?!

Jen made the polka-dot one to match her new bedding. Pretty fun!

Here are Lauryn's magnetic boards. So, so cute!

Grandma's masterpiece!

The finished products!

Hangin' Around

2009-03-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Stacy had this "Essary" wall window made for me as a gift. I love-love-love it! I had been trying to decide what to do with the wall in our main room and her gift was the perfect choice. The wall has been a blank space since we moved in. I had purchased some hangers to use "somewhere" and they were perfect together. We have a couple more to hang but you can get the idea. I love the hangers because I can change the pictures in a snap and they are cheaper than frames. :)

Splishin' and a Splashin'

2009-03-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

My parents were Largent-sitting this afternoon while Rich went to the girls game. Lauryn decided it was a great day for Largent's first bath. I ran over to Rich's and grabbed the puppy shampoo. As soon as I returned, it was bathtime.

Tear-free Puppy Shampoo.

We weren't sure what to expect but Largent was great in the tub! Other than a few unexpected shakes (which showered anyone in the room) the bath went off without a hitch.

He loved to try and drink the water.

Boy...was he thirsty!!

Ahhh...this feels good!

Lauryn taking over the hose.

All fresh and clean!

Chewing on the towel while Lauryn finishes drying him off.

See why we like this little fella?

Who needs a needle and thread when...

2009-02-19T22:31:00.001-08:00

....you have electrical tape?

Blake came home from work Tuesday and I asked him if he would rather finish up making dinner or run in and get Jen from practice. He said he would go get Jen if he didn't have to get out. I asked why and he stepped around the counter with this little "sewing job" done to his britches. He ripped his pants, wound the electrical tape around his leg, and carried on with his day. It was hilarious! He claims electrical tape works better than band-aids too. I guess he's got to be resourceful with what's in his toolbelt.

S'More Family Fun!

2009-02-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we were fortunate to be able to spend the time in the mountains. It was so nice to just relax. Boy did the time fly!!

We bought my dad this s'more maker and campfire cookbook for Christmas. It worked pretty slick. We had ooey-gooey s'mores in a flash. Nummy!!!

Here we are trying to keep as much chocolate off of us as possible. Lauryn wasn't all that successful in her attempt.

It snowed all weekend but didn't stick. This is what we woke to on Saturday morning. It was gorgeous. I love snow!!!!

My dad is a big softie. Rich was snowmobiling with some friends so we were puppy sitting. Largent was getting a little comfortable and curious when we were by the fire so we brought out the portable pen. My dad felt bad so decided to join Largent. He is definitely a spoiled little guy!

Papa and Jenna enjoying the warmth of the fire. Notice that Jen is wearing my coat. She didn't want hers to smell like smoke.

Lauryn keeping a close eye on Largent.

Isn't he sweet? I'm glad Rich is a busy guy and we get to help puppy sit a lot. Largent is quite the character.

Puppy Love!

2009-01-28T21:50:00.003-08:00

Not much can melt your heart like a sweet little puppy!

Rich bought this little fella tonight. I'm afraid this cute puppy is going to be spoiled rotten. We all fell in love with him right away. He hasn't been officially named yet but Rich was sort of leaning toward "Largent".

Jenna and Lauryn couldn't get enough of him!

Rich was getting a little nervous because the puppy was enjoying his naps. It might be a long night.

Isn't he sweet?!!

His first piddle in Prosser.

He's going to have Rich wrapped around his paw in no time. In fact...I think he already does. ;)

Our Little Artist

2009-01-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

Lauryn decided to enter the Reflections art contest which is sponsored by the Prosser PTA. This year the theme was "Wow"! The students had to create a piece of art that reflected what "wow" meant to them. Lauryn chose to draw a volcano as her entry in the contest. She received 2nd place in her age group for her work. She just kept saying, "I can't believe I got 2nd place. I'm so excited!"

It was definitely a "Wow" experience for me because I vaguely remember signing a piece of paper giving her permission to participate and next thing you know we are invited to the program and awards ceremony. She took it upon herself to pursue the project during her lunch-time at school.

Wow:
- interjection
(an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, or the like): Wow! Look at that!

We are so proud of our little artist. She already has plans on entering next year.

Way to go Lauryn!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-01-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

Super Mom

Mom, you're a wonderful mother,

So gentle, yet so strong.

The many ways you show you care

Always make me feel I belong.

You're patient when I'm foolish;

You give guidance when I ask;

It seems you can do most anything;

You're the master of every task.

You're a dependable source of comfort;

You're my cushion when I fall.

You help me in times of trouble;

You support me whenever I call.

I love you more than I can express;

You have my total respect.

If I had my choice of mothers,

You'd be the one I'd select!

By Joanna Fuchs

My mom is 58 years young today!

The girls each made grandma a cake.

Jenna made this ice-cream(sandwich) and Whopper cake. We love this quick and delicious treat!!

Lauryn made cupcakes and decorated them. Nummy!

My mom is so patient with the girls and has taught my girls how to enjoy a recipe. Here she is proudly displaying the desserts made by Jenna and Lauryn.

The camera was not cooperating with Jenna as she tried to take a picture of grandma blowing out her candles. We had to "take-two" to get this little task accomplished but we made it.

I hope you had a super duper birthday mom! You deserved it!

Mom...I'm not tired!

2009-01-15T21:42:00.001-08:00

Tonight Lauryn was Little Miss Cranky Pants. She would get so mad when I asked if she was tired. (I usually know that when she gets a little out of sorts that she is either tired or hungry.) Well we ran to the grocery store and when we came home she laid down next to Lucie on the "Kitty Couch". (I'll explain later.) The next thing we knew she was fast asleep.

I'll have to remind her in the morning how really "not-tired" she was.

You know she's tired when she falls fast asleep on the floor right inside the door. Looks comfy huh?

2009-01-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight we honored our grandma's birthday!

On this day, eighty-six years ago, this gracious, wise, and well-loved lady was born.

January 12, 1923

For us she is a voice of the past and a role model of the present.

We celebrated Gram's birthday with a dinner of tacos (one of her favorites) and tamales. It was followed by homemade German chocolate cake (another favorite), brownies, and ice-cream.

Our grandma makes the world...a little softer, a little kinder, a little warmer!

She really does put the GRAND in GRANDma!

Happy 86th Birthday (Great)-Gram!

I was tagged!

2009-01-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

I was photo tagged by my dear friend Amy.

Here are the rules for picture tag:

1. Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2. Select the 4th picture in the folder
3. Explain the picture
4. Tag 4 people to do the same

This picture was of Lauryn and Cruella De Vil.

It was taken in Disneyland in Ocotober of 2007.

I was probably teaching a lesson on fractions when this was taken since I had to stay back for work. ;) (I know...quit whining Lolli!)

I'm tagging:

You're It!

The Only One Saying Yum is...Me!

2009-01-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

While I was a student at E.W.U. (Go Eagles!) my roommate and good friend introduced me to this simple and yummy recipe. I brought it home and shared it with my parents, who also find it quite tasty. Unfortunately though, Blake and the girls don't find it near as appetizing as I do.

I love that it has only three ingredients: sausage (or keilbasa), cabbage, and onion

I never in a million years thought I would ever take pictures of sausage and cabbage but I just felt compelled to. Now you get to look at them. This blogging makes us do some wild and crazy things! ;)

Here are the directions for this extremely easy recipe:

1. Clean and chop cabbage and onion

2. Slice keilbasa (this time I used Hot Link Sausage from Costco for a little kick).
3. Brown the keilbasa.

4. Put the cabbage and onion in the pan with the keilbasa and stir.

5. Cover and let cook until the cabbage is tender crisp.

Here is my plate! It was a lonely lunch.

Oprah once said that a healthy eater doesn't clean her plate. (She didn't say how much to start with though;) Does this count as healthy? (Can you tell I don't totally dig onions but love the flavor/!)

Thanks Karen for this yummy recipe. I lost my recipe for Cabbage Patch soup so if you still have it could you send it my way (pretty please)? That sounds really good too! Why am I craving all the foods we ate in college? Maybe I'm just dreaming of being the size I was back then.

Girls' Club!

2009-01-09T20:31:00.000-08:00

GEMS=(Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior)

Jenna and Lauryn were invited by their best friends to join GEMS! It is a club for girls in 1st-8th grade which meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. It's purpose is to bring the girls into a living dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.

The girls:

participate in team building
engage in singing, creative movement, and dance
learn life skills and earn badges
learn to apply the bible to their lives
participate in service projects
complete creative craft projects
find answers to challenges that girls today face

Jen and Lauryn decided that the Children's Bibles they were using just weren't cutting it anymore. I did a little shopping and found two perfect ones for Christmas. They were so thankful for the gift and were thrilled to pack their GEMS bags this week.

Thank you Ashley and Brandi for being such great friends to Jenna and Lauryn!

Lucie Loo!

2009-01-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

Lauryn loves animals! Last winter she wrote up a contract for us to sign so she could get a cat. Blake and Jenna are both allergic to cats so it was a big deal. Blake didn't sign Lauryn's contract for a really long time. When he finally caved, Lauryn was nothing less than ecstatic!

Needless to say, Lucie Loo is now a part of our family. She was strictly an outside cat and had a snuggly basket in the corner of our patio.

We had been struggling with some neighbor cats who seemed to think that whenever we filled Lucie's food dish it was for them. They also started to take over her warm bed because the temperatures at the time were frigid.

Well on the night of December 16th, Blake (out of the clear blue) said, "Lucie can come in as long as she stays on the rug." Lauryn stopped and stared at him in disbelief. She then said, "Who are you and what have you done with my dad?". It was sooo funny!

Lucie Loo has (for the most part) done really well with staying on the rug right inside the door. If she tries to wander, she gets to go back outside. She really has been easy to train. She still spends the majority of her day outside and goes out at night. If we are home though, she's usually in.

Here is Lucie during one of the first times inside. She went from this to....

...this!

Lauryn used some of her Christmas money to buy this cat condo. You can probably imagine what Blake was thinking when she pulled this out of the shopping bag. ;) It's quite a lovely addition to our home. Lucie absolutely loves to snuggle in the bottom with the heart-shaped pillow that Lauryn bought for her. It's kind of a bugger to get her out of at night though.

Lauryn and Lucie Loo are best buds. We love watching the two of them play and "visit". Lucie has definitely been a healthy addition to our family!

Back in the Swing of Things!

2009-01-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

It didn't take long to get back into our normal routine. It actually felt kind of good! (I probably wouldn't have said the same thing at 5:30 this morning though. ;) We all had a great day back to school! The girls came home and put their new desks to the test...and they passed!

Jenna is diligently completing an entry in her writing journal.

Lauryn is finishing up her homework for the night.

To Do List in a Day!!

2009-01-03T21:01:00.001-08:00

Yep, it's the end of Christmas vacation and we're just getting to that to-do list. Blake and I decided that today is the day. I'm always a smidge cranky on the day before we go back to school so we figured today would be a little more pleasant than tomorrow.

I apologize in advance for the photography. I don't know how, but I even changed our paint colors in some pictures.

#1: Hang up wall decor

We haved had a pile of things to hang up since last spring. We have lived in our house for over three years and still don't like to nail in the walls. Today we nailed with a vengence. It kind of felt good. We had tried those no-nail Command hangers and they worked for a bit but a few things have came crashing down. We decided to just go for it. Hanging things on the walls is always an interesting adventure for Blake and I. He uses a lot more tools than I would need. I'm an eye-baller and he measures down to the nearest gnat's eyelash and whips out his level more than most home builders. I'm always thankful when we're done because you can tell he takes his time and it always looks nice.

Blake's doing one of his measurements to hang the "Grow Old with Me" sign between our bedroom closet and bathroom door. I think I was laying on the bed working on a Sudoku during this one.

Jenna made this sign last year. She's been patiently waiting for it to be put up in her room.

Lauryn painted these blocks three years ago. She has been on her dad to hang these for...three years.

Lauryn bought this sign for Jenna when we were in Leavenworth this summer. It says "Sisters From The Start, Friends From The Heart". We hung it above the door in their bathroom so they could both enjoy it.

In October of 2007, Blake and the girls went to Disneyland with some family. I had to stay back because of work. Blake's mom had this framed for me last year as a Christmas gift. It's pretty cute. We hung this in the den so I can get a good giggle when I'm working at the computer.

This doily and bonnet were made by my great grandma. The bonnet was actually made for my grandma when she was born. These are hanging on each side of the fireplace. (They are actually the same size but my trick photography makes them look like different sizes.)

This was part of my Mother's Day last year. I found this at Yellow Rose and Blake picked up on the hint during one of our trips out to buy plants. What a guy!!

My grandma took an oil painting class after my grandpa lost his life in an automobile accident. This is one of the paintings she created of the barn on her childhood ranch. My brother has a similar painting at his house.

My aunt Carrie gave this to us as a Christmas gift. I love what it says: "Your life may be the only bible some people read."

#2: Seal all the counters

I've been very good about sealing all the counters in the summer and over Christmas vacation. Last summer I somehow avoided the little chore. It usually takes me a good chunk of time because I've always done it by myself. Blake and I worked together tonight and we were quite a team. He was the main sealer and I would go behind and do the wipe/buff step. We did both coats in a fraction of the time it takes me by myself. It feels so good to have this done.

#3: Homework (correct 150 tests, correct late work, enter grades in computer, update Edline)

My homework has been consuming the kitchen table for a few days. I do a little each day. I'm still not done but hope to make a bigger dent tomorrow. I really could say some unkind words to those who make comments about teachers and the hours they work. I'd like to let them shadow me for a time and they might change their tune.

I have had a fantastic Christmas Vacation! The snow along with the good food and fun times with family were absolutely perfect!

Pretty in Pink!!!

2009-01-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, Blake and Rich started a tradition of buying each other something pink for Christmas. I don't even remember how it was started. The gift is usually some ridiculous or entirely useless little item. This year Blake was the lucky recipient of a lovely ribbon embellished...hat. We always get a kick out of seeing what they come up with.

You can tell by the picture that Blake is Yin loveY with his new hat. What guy wouldn't be?

After much hesitation, Blake agreed to put the little gem on so we could snap a picture.

I can't wait to see what next year brings!!

Rich will be receiving his "pink" when we celebrate January birthdays. We forgot to take it to town on Christmas morning.

Brrrr Santa!

2008-12-31T22:00:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning, Jenna and Lauryn awoke to find two chairs and a strange note in front of the Christmas tree. We are pretty sure Santa used our computer but he left not even the slightest trace or indication that he was in our den. This isn't the exact letter but it said something like this:

Dear Jenna and Lauryn:

The two of you are incredible young ladies. I was able to bring your chairs in the house but the rest of your gift is in the garage. My back has been bothering me and since Prosser was toward the end of my route, it was really hurting. I knew I could count on the two of you to not be upset. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Thanks for your understanding,
Santa Claus

The girls sat on their new chairs and read the letter from Santa. It directed them to the garage.

Of course the jolly man didn't leave them in the garage that is attached to the house. He put them at the far end of the big garage so we all had to venture out in the super duper freezing cold to see what he left. Thank heavens for cozy bathrobes and slippers! The girls love their new desks and have them set up and ready for homework. ;)

Merry Christmas to...?

2008-12-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

To: Jenna, Lauryn, & Rich

From: Rich

Snowmobiling is a passion of Rich's. While he was Christmas shopping he ran across a Snowmobiling game for the Wii. Of course he had to pick it up. He wrapped it in is signature aluminum foil and set it under the tree.

These games always make me crazy. The girls will play and make it look easy. I decide to give it a whirl and end up embarrassing myself. Where are Space Invaders and Pac Man? I could probably show them a thing or two.

Go Bananas!

2008-12-28T21:47:00.001-08:00

The Sunday before Christmas I forgot to prepare for the countdown to Christmas mitten so I grabbed a gift that I hadn't wrapped yet. It was the game "Banagrams". I know...it is one of the token educational Christmas gifts. I heard Kathy Lee Gifford talk about it on The Today Show and was tickled when I found it at Barnes and Noble. It has been a blast playing this game. Tonight I think Lauryn spent more time running back and forth to the computer trying to see if some of the words she created were "really words". This is what she was left with and yes...they really are words. Unfortunately she didn't win (I did for the first time) but she made a good effort. My mom, Jenna, and I had already put our game pieces away before we thought to snap some pics.

When the weather is more ice-creamish, I think I'll have the girls invite some friends over for a Banagrams bash with banana splits.

Lauryn is displaying the Banagrams game. It is great because it is very compact.

Here are Lauryn's words.

It's always fun to have a friendly competition and learn a little something at the same time!

Where did Christmas go?

2008-12-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

Are you as puzzled as I am? Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I was decorating for Christmas and now it's time to put the decorations away. Every year seems to go faster than the last.

Christmas Eve is Blake's birthday. He usually unwraps his birthday presents as soon as he gets out of bed in the morning. This year was a little different. Lauryn kept a countdown until midnight and he opened all his Christmas gifts. (Except for the ones that he got early because he carried them in from my car. Blake is always very helpful. As soon as I pulled into the garage the week before after a Costco trip he was there waiting to help unload the car. He decided to go ahead and hook up his present early to "save me time wrapping". Isn't that thoughtful of him? ;) Blake is worse than a kid when it comes to Christmas and birthdays. He still shakes and "tries" to peek. Christmas Eve night is spent with Blake's family and then it's home for us to open presents.

We always spend Christmas morning at my grandma's. We open our stockings and the gifts from gram and aunt Vick. We then sit down for a yummy breakfast. We look forward to it every year because that is the only time we get the delicious homemade breakfast sausage made by my great uncle. It is a recipe that has been in the family for generations. We decided to have my grandma call him for the recipe so we can keep it going. We usually stuff ourselves with ham, sausage, potatoes, eggs, and a variety of homemade sweet rolls.

After breakfast we all go up to my mom and dad's for gift opening. I was having so much fun just enjoying the moment that I forgot to take many pictures (even though I did get a new camera and my mom already had the battery charged for me). Here are a few times I actually remembered.

Jenna and Lauryn each got a lap desk. They love them. The desks are pretty cool because the lid flips up and there is storage inside. They will be great for traveling or homework on the couch. (There probably won't be much of this though because Santa brought them each a new desk and chair.)

Rich, Steve, and I each got a framed picture of my dad and his family when he was just a little guy. He is the one in the front and center. Rich is trying to figure out who everyone is. My dad is one of eighteen children so get-togethers are always big.

Rich has a signature wrap. For as far back as I can remember, he has wrapped in aluminum foil and writes the recipients name with a Sharpie. He never has to write who it's from because we all know. Mom picked this up and said "Hmmm...I wonder what this is?" One of her gifts from him was the "green pan" that she's wanted. We all love his way of wrapping and wouldn't know what to do if he ever pulled out a roll of wrapping paper.

We munched and played games until it was time for dinner.

Our Christmas dinner was out of this world!! Rich cooked the prime rib on his Traeger and it was absolutely incredible!! We had baked potatoes, corn, German sweet & sour green beans, rolls, deviled eggs,...and much more to go along with it. Needless to say...we were stuffed after dinner.

The Gift of Time with Friends!

2008-12-23T22:33:00.001-08:00

Jenna and Lauryn are both blessed with great friends!

This year for Christmas Jenna decided to have "girl time" at Starbucks with her friends. We put together gift bags for each of the girls. Each gift bag had a packet of rules for some good old fashioned card games (Crazy Eights, Speed, War, Slap Jack, etc.), a deck of playing cards, a notebook for keeping score, and a Starbucks card.

The girls met at Starbucks on Monday afternoon. I ordered them all their favorite drinks and then it was time for the games to begin!

I took out several decks of cards, Sorry, Blokus, and Bananagrams. It was absolutely a wonderful afternoon! They had a blast playing games, talking, laughing, and simply enjoying the company of good friends.

Here are the bags of fun!

Lauryn brought her friend Brandi so she had someone to play and visit with. I joined them in the game playing. I really planned on taking pictures of all the girls but...I was distracted by trying to win at least one game against the third graders. I was unsuccessful in my quest for success. It's slightly embarrassing but it was sooo much fun!

As the front of the game packet says:

"If you had fun playing the game,

you're a winner even if you lose."

Thank you Jenna, Lauryn, Ellie, Zoe, Haley, Ashley, and Brandi for a super fun afternoon!

The One, The Only, The Elusive....

2008-12-14T14:40:00.001-08:00

Blake!

Okay...a dear friend sent us an email late last week. At one point she wrote, "I've got one question Blake. WHY are you not in any of the photos???? Mister - get your rear in one!!!!"

Well the reason Blake is not in many photos is because he is faster than lightening, a speeding bullet, a cheetah, a man running to the bathroom after eating jalapeno chili and cheese nachos followed by a Dr. Pepper. Anyhow...you get the idea. It's not that I don't try to get his picture, I'm just not fast enough.

See what I mean? That is Blake behind the pillow. I don't know how he covers his face so fast - but he does. The guy seriously could break some world speed records.

This is about the only way I can get him in a picture. Yep...after he falls asleep and doesn't know I have the camera out. Maybe next time we'll put a little make-up on him before snapping the picture. What do ya think?

My Goofy Girls!

2008-12-09T21:34:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday (as everyone is probably well aware), the Prosser Mustangs played for the state championship in the Tacoma Dome. Unfortunately, after a hard fought game, they lost by one point in double overtime. I could clearly see from where we sat that the boys gave it their all on the field. We are so proud of them and thankful to have had the opportunity to watch such a neat group of young men play a sport they love. It was a great season.

The girls decided to show their Mustang spirit by wearing Mustang capes that my mom made. (Lauryn's was actually a cape from a Little Red Riding Hood costume from a past Halloween.) Several years back a group of spirited high school gals started wearing them. It's kind of fun to see that is has spread to a larger -- less exclusive group. Lauryn even thought a little red and white face paint was necessary to finish off her ensemble. We quickly applied it in the ladies restroom before the game.

The girls kept the Mustang spirit going all night. They even wore the capes (and face paint) to the LaCrosse game at 7:30 that night. I could hardly wait to see Stacy, Leonard, Ashtyn, Gunnar, Abree, and Gage! I could only see Ash from a distance because she was down front cheering with the big kids. LaCrosse ended up winning their championship game by two points.

I bought the girls some "BillyBob" teeth for their daily mitten. I'm not really sure what I was thinking because the things totally make me gag. I can't stand the idea of having them in my mouth, or theirs for that matter. When Lauryn packed for Tacoma she must have thought it was imperative that she pack some extra teeth. (I often wonder what goes through her mind because she also whipped out a harmonica in the motel room.)

Here are a couple pictures of the girls wearing their new teeth.

I'm so lucky that these two sweet girls keep me in giggles.

Love you tons Jen and Lauryn!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2008-12-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Well...here's the ol' Essary Christmas tree. I wish I could show pictures of the decorating in progress but....yep, my camera battery was dead (again). Blake totally gets into the tree decorating. He always puts "his" ornaments (tool boxes, cars, motorcycles, lawn mower, tools, etc.) front and center. They never stay there though. Whenever he isn't looking the girls move them to a less visible spot. The three of them battle it out every year. It's pretty darn funny!

Every year on December 1st we start the countdown to Christmas. Each morning the girls have a surprise waiting for them. The little mittens are attached with numbered clothes pins. Once the girls get their surprise, they turn the clothes pin for that day over. Today they each got a pack of bubble gum and tomorrow they each get a dollar (shhh...they don't know yet). They don't always get "things". There may be a note that reads "watch a Christmas movie and eat popcorn", "dance to Christmas music in your underwear" (I haven't used this one the past couple years since they are getting a little old for that.), "make and decorate cookies", "make hot cocoa and play board games", "eat a candy cane while mom reads a Christmas story", "dinner at McDonalds", etc.. I found the mitten garland online but I started with 12 pair of kids Christmas socks hung on twine. I usually hang the garland on the mantle but this bench needed a little holiday lovin' too! It's a fun tradition for the girls. (I stole the idea from the Family Fun magazine several years ago.)

I spared you the misery of looking at every single Christmas decoration in my house but I am going to share a few. I made a trip to Real Deals a couple weeks ago to do some Christmas shopping. Guess what? The only person I ended up buying for was...(drum roll please)...me. I know it's pretty shocking. I had so much fun! I need to go back because I ditched a bunch of my Christmas decorations this year. I'm ready for some new "stuff". I told Michele about my "Christmas" shopping so she said "Hey...post them on your blog!" So here goes:

I love the rusty bells on this wreath! The J-O-Y blocks matched so I had to buy them.

I love the barn stars with a little bling. The picture doesn't show it too well but they are a sparkly pearl. The sign matched so of course I had to buy it too!

These little trees are kind of hard to see but they are sooooo cute. They are wire with little bells hanging from the ends. It was absolutely necessary that I didn't buy just one...but four.

Four Down....

2008-11-30T21:43:00.001-08:00

one to go!

eee

I love to decorate for Christmas! It always takes longer than I think though. Friday night (after black Friday shopping and leftovers) I put up this tree next to my tub. After a looooong time...Blake came back and said "you are still decorating that tree?". Yep...I turned on Josh Groban's Christmas CD, sat on the bathroom floor, and decorated a tree. Isn't that what everybody does on Friday nights?

Tonight we decorated three more trees.

Here is Lauryn decorating the tree in her room.

Here is the finished product.

Jenna is getting her tree all "prettied up".

Jen's tree is done!

I'm working on a little ribbon garland for the tree in the living room.

All done (until tomorrow night)!

We have one tree left but it will have to wait until tomorrow night. We always decorate it as a family. This year we bought a smaller tree so it should be a quick decorating extvaganza.

Tacoma...Here Come The Mustangs!

2008-11-29T22:27:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we picked up my friend Kristal and headed to Moses Lake. Kristal's husband, Kevin, is one of the dedicated Mustang coaches. She rode up with me so she could have a few more hours at home. I'm so thankful that she was willing to ride with me since Blake had to stay home. She was an awesome co-pilot and new exactly how to get to the field. We had lots of fun gabbing on the way!

Moses Lake is home to a flight school. We were entertained by the many "practice runs" that flew overhead. Could you imagine being the "flyers ed" instructor? Kristal and I decided that is a job we are thankful we don't have!!

Some of the coaches watching the end of the contest between Royal City & Cashmere, which preceded the Mustang game.

Here come the Mustangs from the locker room before the game. I bet there were a few nervous tummies in the bunch!;)

Warming up before the game.

(You may notice a certain coach shows up in my pictures quite often.)

Here comes the mass of Mustangs prepared to play a tough game.

Rich is heading to his coaching position during the game. He and another coach are in the booth communicating with the coaches on the field.

Yeah...the boys won the semi-final game by a score of 41 to 28. They will play for the state title next weekend in the Tacoma Dome! Hopefully they will all be healthy and have a great week of preparation.

The teams shaking hands after the game.

Both teams played their hearts out. The Mustangs thankfully had the edge and were prepared for a victory!

See ya all in the Tacoma Dome next Saturday.

Go Mustangs!

So Thankful For...

2008-11-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

this day to reflect on all my blessings!

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite day of the year! I love my family, good food, and a day to focus on all I have to be thankful for.

My brother is first-rate at barbequeing! This year he decided to barbeque the turkey on his Traeger. Last night the bird took a brine bath in a super tall bucket. This morning he got up and started smoking the turkey on his bbq. He had to turn the temp down while he was at football practice and then turned it back up when he returned. The bird was ready in perfect time for our 4:00 meal. I can honestly say this was one of the tastiest turkeys ever!

Jen must be hungry! We are still setting the food on the table and she's ready to go.

Hah Blake...I caught you sneeking an olive!

Jen's really eyeing those potatoes. They are her favorite!

Our Thanksgiving meal consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yams, corn, broccoli, marinated carrots, rolls, orange jell-o salad, olives, stuffed celery, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate pie, and coconut cream pie. We found the cranberry sauce when we finished dishes and were putting leftovers away. I don't think anyone probably missed it except for my grandma. She'll just have more to enjoy tomorrow night;)

After dinner the girls put on a little show. They took turns "hiding" behind each other with their arms showing. They performed several chairs and lip syncs to some favorite Christmas music. They are pretty funny. Jen even (sort of) picked Lauryn's nose. She was trying to pretend and came a little closer than she anticipated.

We always end the day by watching "Christmas Vacation". I think it gets funnier every time we watch it.

Bakin' Bread

2008-11-25T22:49:00.001-08:00

I'm so glad Jen and Lauryn have my mom to help them in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that is one area that I haven't been able to teach them much about. I'm not so skilled at the cooking. I have to follow recipes exactly or it drives me nuts. All I can think about while I'm cooking is the mess and the dishes so...I don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

This past Sunday mom and the girls whipped up homemade cinnamon rolls. They were the real ones...not like the ones in a tube that I will make in the morning.

The real fun in the bread making extravaganza came when it came time for a bread braid. The girls had a blast and could hardly wait to see the finished product.

We enjoyed this tasty loaf with dinner.

Nummy in the tummy is all I can say!!!

Please Don't Curse That Boy Down There!

2008-11-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

It's probably obvious that I am a Mustang fan. While I was sitting at the football game on Saturday, unfortunately this poem came to mind. My mom has carried it in her wallet since my brother was in his early years as a high school quarterback.

It was then that we learned how many "great coaches" are sitting in the stands. I know we can all get a little excited from time to time. It's upsetting though when some negative "fans" incessantly spout off at the players. Luckily most Mustang fans are spirited and supportive!

The poem I am going to share is a gentle reminder for all of us.

These pics are from last year's state championship game in the Tacoma Dome.

Please Don't Curse The Boy Down There

Please don't curse the boy down there.

He is my son, you see.

He's only a boy, you know and he means the world to me.

I did not raise my son, Sports Fan,

For you to call him names.

He may not be a superstar,

It's just a high school game.

Please don't curse the boys down there.

They do the best they can.

They never tried to lose a game.

They're boys - and you're a man.

The game belongs to them, you see,

And you are just a guest.

They do not need a fan like you,

They need the very best.

If you have nothing nice to say,

Please leave the boys alone.

And if you can't enjoy the game,

Then why don't you stay home?

So please don't curse the boys down there,

Each one's his parent's son.

And win or lose, or tie, you see

To us they're NUMBER ONE!!

I take it for granted!

2008-11-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

I often take for granted how "normal" feels. I so appreciate it on days like today. I caught a nasty little bug that left me with a little squeak instead of a voice, a cough that could propel an organ, and simply made me feel wiped out. I should have kept my mouth shut because just last week I mentioned how I haven't been sick as much the last couple of years.

The really bad part about being sick today is that I had to miss Bunco. I was so looking forward to a night with my bunko friends. We were going to take a month or two off after tonight because of the busy holidays so I'm really bummed about having to miss it. I'm sure they are having a blast. It's hard not to with that group. I'm so thankful to have such neat people in my life. (Is bun_o spelled with a "c" or a "k"? I never know so I spelled it both ways.)

Tomorrow Lauryn has a basketball game at 9:00 in Prosser. We were then going to travel to Ellensburg because Jen had a 2:00 game scheduled. Several of the girls were not going to be at the game so it was cancelled. I don't think the forfeit will hurt us much this session;)

Since Jen's game was cancelled, we can now go to the Prosser Mustang football game against Othello. The players and coaches put so much into preparing for each game. Until Rich started coaching, I had no idea how much time the coaches put into to the program--film on Saturdays, meetings on Sundays, practice, more meetings, and games during the week. There are coaches on the west side tonight scouting games and then will drive back to be ready for the game tomorrow. I admire their passion for the game of football.

I will feel better tomorrow so I can cheer on the Mustangs!

Go Big Red!

Veteran's Day 2008!

2008-11-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

Mommy, What is a Veteran?

by Linda Ellis

"Mommy, what is a veteran?" my child asked in an innocent way "and could you please explain to me why we have a Veteran's Day?"

My mind searched for the adjectives that might help me clarify those people, who

for their country have looked death in the eye.

I quickly grabbed the dictionary to see what Webster may have used but "one who served in the armed forces" were not the words that I would choose.

But, how do you describe a veteran -- soldiers you have never met, those you'll never know the names of and yet...never will forget?

How do you describe a veteran? How do you convey a definition for those who brought this country's dreams to their ultimate fruition?

How do you describe a veteran -- strangers who fought for you, men and women who risked their lives for people they never knew?

How do you describe a veteran -- and the sacrifices they made so that you and your children's children could live free...and unafraid?

How do you describe a veteran -- for a child's sake? You say "a veteran is a person to whom we owe every breath we take."

Prosser held it's annual Veteran's Day Parade today. My dad, a U.S. Army (Vietnam) Veteran, decided to join the parade this year. The girls were going to ride along with Papa and a fellow veteran friend. They decided to walk in front of Papa so he could have another veteran ride with him. They had a great time even though it was a damp and chilly day!

Jenna and Lauryn are awfully proud of their Papa!

Dad pulling the cart out of the garage for the parade.

Papa and the girls on the way to the parade.

Papa's longtime friend and fellow veteran with his patriotic granddaughters before the parade.

Jenna, Papa, and Lauryn before the parade.

The parade is here!

Showing support of veteran's!

The cart looks pretty snazzy! Good job mom and dad!

It was a little cold for many veteran's today. Some were driven by proud family members.

Brrr...

Lauryn, Brandi, and Kendra waving their flags.

Dad and his buddies.

Down the home-stretch.

Still smiling after a chilly walk in the parade to honor our Veteran's!

Nico and Lauryn after the parade.

Papa and the girls on their way to lunch after the parade.

America...

Home of the Free because of the Brave!

This is why....

2008-11-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

you shouldn't spray paint in the wind!!!!

Yep...I want to say a cuss word right now. I have done a little procrastinating and now I'm paying.

We saw this great idea at a math conference. They showed us how to use tile spacers as a tool to teach integers. Well I cut 400 tile spacers to turn them from a "+" to a "-" and then was ready to paint. That was three weeks ago. I need the little buggers tomorrow so I had to get them painted today.

The wind had been blowing but it calmed WAY down so I decided to get this simple project done. Little did I know...it was the calm before the storm. I sprayed one side of the "-" red and had started on the black "+" when all of a sudden a hurricane strength gust of wind came up and sent the little red tile spacers flying all over the driveway.

At first I thought it was kind of funny so I ran and grabbed the camera. The humor didn't last long. I grabbed a couple of bowls from the house and started plucking sticky red spacers out of the gravel. I had about 200 picked up when I set the bowl down so I could use both hands and really get this job done. Well...a gust of wind blew the bowl over and I had to start over. That was about the time when the neighbor came to the fence and said "Don't you know you shouldn't spray paint in the wind?" It's a good thing I like my neighbors!

The good thing is I have one side of 800 tile spacers done! Now I just have to find a calm moment to do the other side. Hopefully they won't all be stuck together (since they were sticky when I picked them up) when I find the perfect conditions;)

Fall Chores

2008-11-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

Blake loves to work! If he has nothing to do, he goes bonkers. When we went through counseling before getting married, we discussed what filled our tanks. Blake's tank is full when he's working. I don't think the "w" word was even mentioned on my list.

Today is the annual "blowing out the sprinkler lines" day. Doesn't that sound like fun? It's one of those projects that isn't difficult, but takes time.

Here is Blake doing something. He's probably told me 100 times but I still don't get it...so I just pretend I know.

This could have been a darn funny picture but my camera is too slow. He was checking the drip lines and the water was spurting out. I tried to get a picture because it looked like he was relieving himself from behind. I know, I find humor in strange places.

Yep...this is my garden. Isn't it sad? Last week Blake cut everything down and cleaned out enough to fill our dumpster. Today the rest of this is going. He kindly asked me not to plant so many tomatoes next year because it was a yucky mess under all of the plants. I am such a "just in case" planter. I always plant a few extra "just in case" some don't survive. Hopefully by next spring during planting he'll forget how gross the clean-up was;)

I snapped a pic of our "Burning Bush" as I was walking around the house...looking at how much work I have to do. Eeks!

I went outside to assess the work I have ahead of me. Last year I took a picture of every plant I have around my house. Each picture is placed in a journaling photo album. I took the album out to Yellow Rose and Brandi told me what to do with each plant. (The year before I wiped out a few...oops!) Some are chopped to the ground now, some I have to leave until spring, and some I have to cut after the first hard freeze. I really appreciate that I live in a small town where the buisness owners and employees really take care of us.

Trick or Treat...My Girls Are Neat!

2008-10-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

The girls had a great Halloween! My mom makes their costumes every year. They are pretty lucky girls! Lauryn was a hippie chick and Jen was Little Miss Mustang.

We don't really trick-or-treat. By the time we stop at the grandmas' houses and a few friends, they have enough Halloween treats to last until next year. They were quite tickled because they were given several gift certificates to McDonalds and bunches of delicious goodies.

Great grandma's house is one of our regular stops. The girls are so lucky to have a spunky great grandma!!

This is our favorite Strawberry Fairy! Miss Rowyn is cute as a button. We get a kick out of her. She is a lucky little girl to have a sweet,sweet mommy that gives her lots of love!!

My mom makes yummy caramel corn and popcorn balls for Halloween. She has regulars that come every year just for her treats. The girls would rather hang out at grandma and papa's than trick-or-treat because we get to see so many friends and family.

7 Random/Weird Facts About Me

2008-10-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ali "tagged" me and wants me to share 7 random/weird facts about myself.

1. I have a huge fear of birds! I can't stand the sound of their wings flapping and I'm pretty sure they will peck my eyeballs out if I make eye contact.

2. I was the captain of the Prosser High School Drill Team. Yep...I wore the knee high white boots, short white polyester dress with a variety of overlays (corduroy, sequins, fringe, etc.). The thought of putting our dance leotards on now makes me just about vomit. It's a good thing I was a size nothing back then.

3. I still jump up on the bed at night. I don't know what I think is under the bed but I fear that it is going to reach out and grab my ankles.

4. Once, early in my teaching career, I was shopping at "The Bon Marche" and needed to take a little potty break. I placed a seat cover on the seat and pulled my britches down. I started to sit and noticed that the seat cover had fallen off. I turned around to get another seat cover and bent over to place it on the seat. Little did I know, the door had swung open and my bare behind was smiling at the two girls waiting in line. The really embarrassing part was that they just happen to be students at Housel, where I teach. Poor kids!

5. I love lemons! When I was a kid I would hop on my bike and go to the store. Instead of getting candy, I would buy lemons. After racing home I'd slice them up or peel them and douse em' with salt. Nummers! My dentist made me stop though. Not so good for the teeth. I still sneek one from time to time though. (Shhh...don't tell.)

6. I can say the alphabet backwards really fast!

7. My daughters are better at doing hair than I am. It's not quite how I imagined things. I always wanted girls so I could do their hair so cute. Well, once I had them (and their hair finally grew), I quickly learned that I'm not so skilled in that area. In fact, they will "do" my hair from time to time and I always receive compliments when they do it.

That's about all the useless information I can come up with right now. Sorry if it was painfully boring. I'll try to think of more and enlighten you at a later date. It's always nice to have something to look forward to;)

So now I am tagging: LynnnAmynKaranStacynMichelenKarinKaren

You're It!

Tag!

2008-10-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Karen!

Name: Lauryn Christine Essary

Age: 9

Nicknames: Bugs, Little One, Peanut, Bugaboo

Favorite Activities: Soccer, Basketball, Cooking, Playing Webkinz, Tetherball, Volleyball, Riding Bikes, Driving the Golf Cart, Camping

Favorite Foods: Rice-a-Roni, Caesar Salad, Pizza, Tacos, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs with Cheese in the middle, Cucumbers & Lime, Crushed Ice with Lime and Salt

Least Favorite Foods: Blueberries, Bacon Sandwiches, Biscuits & Gravy

Favorite Music: In the Ayer (Flo Rida), C'est La Vie (Bewitched), Days of Elijah (Twila Paris), Fly on the Wall (Miley Cyrus), Eye of the Tiger (Survivor), Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne)

Toys: iPod (games & music), Nintendo DS, Computer (Webkinz), Wii (Wii Fit & Guitar Hero)

Books: Ivy & Bean series, Wizard of Oz, Ghost Hunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost

What Makes me Happy: When dad's happy (not grouchy), Sofie, Brandi, Asia, hanging out with Papa

What Makes me Sad: When dad's grouchy, when mom burns cookies, when the batteries in my Nintendo DS die, when Papa's gone

Tag: Kara (Kourtney), Lynn (Kampbell), Stacy (Ashtyn)

Happy 12th Birthday Jenna!

2008-10-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Jenna is 12!

Yikes!

That means she is 2/3 of the way to 18(adult).

How does this happen?

It seems like just yesterday that this beautiful 8lb 12oz sweet baby girl was born. I can remember every single moment of the very long...but worthwhile adventure. I had a C-Section after 26 hours of labor because she was being a touch stubborn and wasn't turning. A respiratory team was in the operating room because Jen had taken a little poopy (meconium) in the womb. They wanted to be able to suck it out before her first cry so she didn't inhale the "stuff" since it would block her airways. Well...Jen came out screamin' so the team worked on her and then she was off to the NICU. She was naughty in there because she was fully developed and had a set of lungs on her. The preemies didn't care for her too much because she was soooo loud. They kept her in a "sound proof" bubble so she didn't bother the other babies so much. I wasn't able to make too many trips over but Blake spent a lot of time with her. She was released from the NICU on Halloween and we came home shortly after.

Now this little girl is 12. I can't even begin to describe what a true gift she is! There are very few people with hearts as big as Jenna's. I'm so lucky to be her mom!

Jen celebrated her birthday for three days. I know...a little crazy (but tons of fun)! Saturday she had her "friend" party, Sunday was the "family" party, and Monday she had her "real" birthday.

Jen and Uncle Rich apparently have the same taste in clothing.

Lauryn inspecting Jen's lighting skills.

They're almost lit.

Uncle Rich always wraps with his signature tinfoil and writes his "greeting" with a Sharpie.

(I had to change the color because I couldn't get the red eye off Jen and it looked really creepy.)

Jen received moolah and gift cards that she wanted to keep secure. She taped them all inside one envelope so no one could get them. I wonder if she considered how hard it will be to get her loot out when she needs it?!

The secured package

This morning Jen opened her presents from us. She got an iPod touch and a pair of cozy jammies with a bunch of girly magazines. I had the camera ready this morning to capture her expressions and guess what? Yep...my batteries were dead again. Tonight after basketball practice and a bath, she put on those cozy jammies to read her new magazines. She wanted to listen to her new "toy" but it wasn't ready yet.

Happy Birthday Jenna Marie Essary!

Papa Created a Monster!

2008-10-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Lauryn and my dad ran up to Uncle Rich's for a bit. While they were there, Joe asked Lauryn if she had ever driven the cart. Well it doesn't take much to get my dad thinking. He and Lauryn are kind of a scary duo. They are always up to something. Well...within minutes the cart ended up with Lauryn behind the wheel. She had a blast!

After a little cruising they ended up back at grandma and papa's house. The rest of the afternoon Lauryn was begging to go drive again. When I mentioned that I needed to run to the store to buy ice cream, Lauryn's eyes lit up. She thought it would be a great time to show me that she can "drive". So...off we went.

I hopped out of the cart so I could get a picture. (Actually I was a little frightened to ride with her and wanted to see if she could really do it.)

I wish I had a video of this. She thought she was being pretty funny and was giggling up a storm. She came up to me and pretended to stop and then took off. I was thinking to myself, "please don't tell me I am going to have to run around the cemetary after this little joker".

Yep...I'm still trying to catch her.

Is she having fun or what?

She's starting to get a little comfortable so I decided to hop in. That's the look of "I'm gonna put the pedal to the metal".

Lauryn actually did really well with her "driving". I was a little nervous because before we left my dad quietly told me I might want to keep my hand on the emergency brake.

More Birthday Baking!

2008-10-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

Once Jen's birthday orange rolls were finished, it was time to start her cupcakes. Lauryn is a machine in the kitchen so she jumped at the chance to help.

Mixing the batter.

Everyone knows that all great bakers lick the beaters...right!?!

The real chef took a break so I had to step in to relieve her.

She's back! Now she can really make some tasty cupcakes because she found her hat.

Oh yeah...those are going to be some yummy cupcakes!

Making sure to drop just the right amount to make the perfect cupcake!

A little more batter licking. Yummy!

Here they are with the birthday girl!

We had Jen's family party tonight at my mom and dad's. Birthdays sort of take a few days around here. We kind of like it that way! Tomorrow is the big day so...more to come;)

Mmmmm....Orange Rolls!

2008-10-26T22:33:00.001-07:00

Jenna LOVES orange rolls. My mom has a super yummy recipe that she was given from a nice lady in town. The rolls are a real treat. We only get to enjoy them twice a year....on Jen's birthday and Christmas morning.

Jenna spent the day with a friend in the Tri-Cities so Lauryn offered to help grandma with Jenna's birthday orange rolls.

Roll

Spread

Sprinkle

Cut

Roll up

Place in pan

Ta da...the finished product!

Jen came home after another fun day to find the orange rolls ready. She always eagerly hops out of bed on the morning of her birthday because she is anxious for the yummy treat. Just a few more hours and we will help celebrate her "real" birthday with orange rolls for breakfast. Happy almost birthday Jen!!

It's a Girl (Party) Thing!

2008-10-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

Jenna celebrated her 12th birthday today with some darling friends. I have to admit I was a little anxious leading up to the party because we had a lot of time...with little planned. This is hard for me because as a teacher, every minute of my day is planned. I did plan a couple of goofy games and kept my fingers crossed that they turned out okay.

Jen didn't really have a theme this year so decorating was sort of an afterthought. Since her invitations had polka dots on them, we cut out a bunch of circles this morning and slapped them all over the patio. We also threw some gourds in my pots and tucked some balloons in the middle. I always have something "fall" in Jen's birthday. This is my favorite time of year and it is so easy. At least this year we didn't do something with pumpkins. We have carved pumpkins, decorated pumpkins, played musical pumpkins....and this year Jen requested no pumpkins.

Once the first awkward moments of the party passed, the girls migrated into the house garage for a little ping pong, foos ball, and air hockey.

Snacks and drinks were set out in Blake's garage. The girls munched on junk until it was time for pizza.

Breaking into teams for volleyball.

The girls had a blast playing (or trying anyway) volleyball. It was fun to watch the girls help each other out.

Here are the party girls!

This is one of the games that I did plan. Each girl had a small balloon tied to her ankle with a piece of yarn. They had to try to pop each other's balloon without getting their own popped. Their were a few squished toes and lots of laughs and giggles.

This is the winner of the balloon pop. Doesn't she look smashing in her glasses? The "teeth" were in her prize bag. As soon as she saw them in the bag she ran behind the garage and came back looking like this. She is a nut!!

That's not lipstick...it's a Flamin' Hot Funyon. What a character this gal is!! She was the winner of the "other" game I planned. I read a "Left/Right" story. Sounds corny...but they loved it!

The girls came running when we hollered "cake time".

Checking out one of the great gifts Jen received from her friends.

The girls all had a great time! It was so gratifying to sit back and watch them "be girls". I couldn't have asked for a better party for Jen. She deserved every single minute of fun with her friends and she got it!

The night ended with a little lesson in helium sucking from a fun-loving friend of mine who came to pick up her daughter. It took a little training but the girls got the hang of it. It was dang funny too!

I am so thankful for the friends that Jenna is blessed to have!

Homecoming 2008

2008-10-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

October 24, 2008

Prosser 33 vs Selah 13

Homecoming is always a special time for Mustang fans. Mustang spirit was running rampant this year. All of the schools had red & white day to celebrate the event. The town was a sea of red. I loved that everyone had the same focus...to cheer on and show support for the hardworking football players.

Rich is one of the Junior class advisors. The Junior class was in charge of concessions and the barbeque tonight. Since he was coaching, Rich asked me and mom to cut the onions, tomato and lettuce for the 300 hamburgers they were hoping to sell. It was a great night for concessions because the burgers were gone by half-time. I am always willing and happy to help Rich whenever he needs it.

Slicing tomatoes before the game.

Jenna proudly wearing Mustang red!

Mustang spirit!

Lauryn in Uncle Rich's jersey and with her cool football shades.

It's always fun to enjoy a game with friends!

Final Score: Mustangs 33 Selah 13

She's big...B-I-G!

2008-10-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

We didn't have a lot going on tonight so after dinner and clean-up, the girls just relaxed and did whatever they felt like.

Lauryn has a sweet friend named Sofie. Sofie's parents, who are obviously a lot nicer than Lauryn's, let her be a grid kids cheerleader. Well lucky for us, Sofie taught cheerleading at every recess so we really didn't miss out; She must be a great teacher because Lauryn now knows about 750 cheers. I find it quite cute but she kind of likes to annoy her big sister and dad with her enthusiastic cheers.

She's big...B-I-G!

She's bad...B-A-D!

(I think she forgot she was supposed to look "BAD". We'll work on that!)

She's boss...B-O-S....B-O-S-S....boss!
(She's got this one down!)

Lauryn also spent a chunk of her evening setting up a new Webkinz account. It was quite the dinner conversation trying to come up with a new username. (I can't tell you what it is because it's a secret;-)

Jenna put on her comfy clothes and cuddled up on her bed with a good book. Doesn't that sound heavenly? I'm so thankful that she is such a wonderfully responsible young lady. I never have to tell her to do her homework or read. She just does what is right. Just a second...I need to go find some wood to knock on.

Jen & Woof Woof

See that flat stuffed animal-like "thing" that Jen is leaning on? Well that "thing" is a dog that Jenna received as a 1st birthday present from her grandma and papa. It's name is "Woof Woof". I know...quite original. When Jen was one all animals were known by their sound. Of course this isn't a dog, it's a woof woof. Needless to say, Woof Woof is part of the family. She can live without him but chooses not to. They are pretty tight.

I'm enjoying this lazy night too. Blake isn't feeling too hot so he's relaxing on the couch. I am off to search the net to find some birthday party activity ideas for Saturday. Wish me luck!

Yes... It's Ladies Night!

2008-10-18T00:26:00.000-07:00

Amy was our lovely bunko host this month. She made delicious taco soup for dinner and had the yummiest snacks everywhere we turned. It is always a blast when us gals get together for a stress-free night of bunko. I sure don't take my friends for granted. I am so thankful for this group of ladies. We have as much fun visiting and laughing as we do playing bunko.

I have been so lucky at rolling the dice! As much as I'd like to think I have "bunko skills"...I don't. It's purely a game of chance. I was tearing it up during the last two rounds. I won for the "most wins" and could have won for the "most babies". Yep...I had 10 babies tonight and I'm feeling pretty good! I kind of feel guilty for winning a prize again. Of course it was tough to pick. I chose another of Amy's crafty handmade items. It is a darling frame and clipboard set.

Man...round two rocked!

Some of my "Bunko Buds".

Bunko Royalty

Big Hugs!

Don't ask.

Ha Ha Julaine...I got your picture!

Cedar and Michelle just hanging out between rounds.

Ange pointing out the spider she ran across the room from. Someone please tell her she's bigger than the spider.

Will and Cedar giving happy high fives!

Doesn't she look sweet?

And the Winners Are....

You're not fast enough Julaine...I got your picture again!

Marcie doesn't like having her picture taken. Can you tell?

Jodi with some of her Halloween goodies.

Thanks for a fun evening ladies! I'm looking forward to November!

It's "Carrie Night" but...

2008-10-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Every other Friday my awesome "Aunt Carrie" (who is really my cousin) cleans our house. I know, I'm extra lucky. Well...every other Thursday night we have "Carrie Night". It's when we run around the house like chickens with our heads chopped off and pick up in preparation for cleaning day. I know, I know...we shouldn't be cleaning before she comes. It only makes sense though because then it's not only easier for her but I get a chance to go through the mail that's been piling up for the past two weeks;)

Well tonight I planned on printing Jenna's birthday invitations while I was doing some tidying. Sounds easy huh? I thought so too. I had a gigantuous mess because I couldn't get the printer to format correctly. I finally just said poop on it, I'm just going to write them out. It sounded like a great idea until I got started and realized how blasted long it was going to take me. I only have four done (two more are sitting in front of me ready to have the ribbon put on). I was hoping to get them delivered tomorrow but now I'm not so sure that will be happening. Maybe she'll just be able to invite however many I get done tonight. I guess I better get writing.

Four down...a bunch more to go!

Retail Therapy

2008-10-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

Mama Got New Shoes!

I love shoes! It's been a while since I've had a new pair. Well I was at a Math Conference in Portland for a few days and you'll never guess what I did?! I shopped a little. I know...it's hard to believe. I used to buy shoes because of the look but now I buy based on comfort. (Does that mean I'm getting old?) You don't have to answer that. We made a quick trip to Nordstrom and I found two pair of shoes that I loved! I couldn't decide which pair to buy. Lucky me...I had Connie and Kristal to help with the decision. They both agreed that I "needed" both. I'm a little shocked that I bought the red ones because I am pretty conservative and usually only buy brown or black. I guess I'm getting a little sassy!!

I love the cute little bow on this pair.

Not only did I get red...but red patent leather.

One evening after dinner we ran into Target. It is obvious that we don't get out much;) We were all totally mystified by the escalator. We had no need for a cart but we grabbed one anyway. Kristal put her purse in it so it wasn't a total waste.

Nope...it doesn't take much to entertain math teachers!

Please Pray!

2008-10-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

Please pray for:

=Kara to have a safe flight back to Missouri to comfort her children.

=Eric, Kara, Karsen, Cooper, and Kourtney to heal through this incredibly unexpected turn of events in their family.

=Grandma Carrie, Papa Donn and the rest of the family who so dearly love the Lucas's.

=Kalahan to live a safe and healthy life.

Kara,

My heart aches for you and the family. I am so sorry that you had to go through this! You truly are an incredible mother and I often admire your natural parenting abilities and the way you handle life with such faith. You have such a positive outlook on life and often teach me things you don't even realize. Eric is lucky to have you as a wife and your kids are blessed to have you as their mom. Give them all a hug from me.

Love You,

Lolli

Happy Birthday To You!

2008-10-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday!

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Amy (October 9th)

Dora (October 3rd)

We made plans with Amy to celebrate her birthday on Friday night. She thought she was going out to dinner with me, Tammy, and Wendy. Well...we thought we'd surprise her instead. A group of us pulled up to pick her up in a "limo-bus"! She had a grin from ear to ear as she looked at the bus windows and saw the silhouettes of a bunch of her friends. Boy did we think we were tricky!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Here is the bus. We had a blast! It was so fun to have a birthday party on the road. We rode to the Tri-Cities for dinner and we all could relax in comfort. I think everyone would agree that it was a fantastic night!

We were able to celebrate Dora's birthday too! Her family decided to wait until Saturday to celebrate her birthday because it was the only time all of her kids were able to all get together. We are so glad that it worked out the way it did! This way Dora gets to celebrate her birthday for two days! Who wouldn't like that?!!

Aren't the birthday girls cute?

Thank you for being great friends and letting me help you celebrate another healthy year!

Monday Madness!

2008-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Phew-ee! Where did this day go? I needed a few more hours to accomplish everything on my "list". I ran the after school math program after school today. When that was over I thought I better organize some of my piles so I worked in my room until Jen was done with practice at 5:00. We raced home and whipped up some dinner. I made macaroni and cheese with tuna fish in it. I think it sort of counts as a casserole...don't you? Blake whipped up some nachos to complete the meal. (Don't tell any dietician you may know what we served for dinner at our house.) While the macaroni was cooking I started a load of laundry and folded the load I did before school this morning.

After dinner I went out to plant my pots on the front porch. I went to Yellow Rose yesterday, bought the plants, and cleaned the pots out for some fresh foliage. I think I broke some world horticulture records tonight when I planted. I was a planting maniac. I probably should have slowed down a bit because when Blake moved them back to the porch, I noticed the trees were a little crooked. Oh well, just one good wind storm and they'll be vertical.

After cleaning up the planting mess I ran to Safeway because we were running low on some necessities. Blake can't function without his yogurt so we were in near crisis mode. I put the groceries away and thought I better sit for a second and plop my pictures on this blog before I start something new. I have some school work to do before morning. I have a meeting before school, have to teach band during my plan period, and then have a faculty meeting after school. (Amy...I know you don't miss this a bit;) My Gold Canyon order arrived today (thanks Stacy!!) so I am going to go sort through the boxes. I love to do that! The yummy scents make me feel happy! If I get a free minute tonight I might even play a little "Smoothie Moves" on Webkinz. (Yes I admit it...I love to play on the Webkinz site.)

Here's to a restful Tuesday!

Crafty Mustang Mom (& Dad)!

2008-09-27T23:34:00.000-07:00

Mustang Pride!

My mom is very talented when it comes to crafty projects!

A few years ago she made this flag to show some Mustang spirit on game nights.

Last year mom and dad made these yard displays together. They made a set for Rich and one for us too! I used them at our class reunion this summer. They looked pretty cool along the river at the 4-Seasons River Inn.

Thanks for being awesome Mustang Parents!

Pizza Chef

2008-09-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

This quarter Jenna is taking Family & Consumer Science as her elective. Last week they learned how to make pizza so she asked if she could make it for us at home. Of course I said yes! She made her shopping list and we went to the grocery store last night. Today (Friday, September 26th) I picked her up from volleyball and went to mom and dad's. She immediately started to work in the kitchen preparing dinner for us all. Jen made individual pizzas on flattened biscuits because the pizza dough mix we found was made in a "peanut place". We could have made the dough from scratch, but the biscuits were so much faster.

The pizzas were the yummiest ever! The best part was how proud Jen felt about preparing dinner for all of us "all by herself". We might have to make it a Friday night tradition.

Fruit Salad (Yummy, Yummy!)

2008-09-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

Okay...a couple of you asked me to post my "recipe" for Lauryn's soccer snacks. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that there really isn't one.

Lauryn made a list of fruit she wanted in the mix, I made a quick run to Safeway, and started cutting. Here is what was in the cups this time. (We tend to make them a little differently each time.) So here is my attempt at a recipe.

Combine the following fruit in a large bowl:
Grapes
Cantaloupe
Strawberries
Pineapple
Mandarin Oranges
Raspberries

Layer with whipped topping or yogurt in a cup. (I used 16oz cups
with lids.)

There isn't much to these yummy treats and they are always a hit!

Time Flies When You're Havin' Fun!

2008-09-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Holy macaroni I'm pooped! Weekends seem to fly by because they are so busy. I sometimes wake up for work on Monday and seriously wonder where the time went. This weekend was packed full of fun...and it's not over yet!Friday we had a great night of bunko! Here is my score card after the first round. (The "L" stands for loss in case you're wonderin'.) I ended up winning the most bunkos and had a super duper hard time picking my prize because I wanted them all! That doesn't sound selfish does it? Amy was in charge of the prizes and they were awesome!

I picked the tin and magnets which were made by Amy and the lighted star that is on my mantle. The pictures don't do them any justice. They are so darn cute!
Lauryn had a game in the pouring rain today! I was dancing inside when the ref tooted his whistle and said the game was over. The girls weren't phased a bit. I am just not a big fan of the rain with my glasses on. I sure could have used some wipers today!!
Today was our day for snacks. I asked Lauryn what she wanted to bring and she said "the fruit cups we make and something to go with them." Well...let's just say I spent a fortune on out of season fruit and a bunch of time cutting it. I got up at 6:30 on a Saturday to cut pineapple. Man...what we do for our kids. It's a good thing I love them!!!!

Saturday after soccer was a day to celebrate birthdays! Jenna had a birthday party for her friend, Sabrina, at 2:00. I picked her up from that party and both girls went to a birthday party for our neighbor girl Denise. We ended our day celebrating Rowyn's 1st birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday Rowyn!!!!

Miss Rowyn's mommy bought her a beautiful dress to wear for her party! Doesn't she look adorable?

William loved "driving" Rowyn's new car!

Grandma Carrie with Will and Papa Donn with Josiah.

Bailee, Harley, Jenna, and Lauryn taking a little break from the birthday bash!

Yum...It's Time For Cake!

Thanks for letting us help you celebrate your first birthday Rowyn! Tell your mommy, Grandma Carrie, and Papa Donn that they know how to throw a great 1st birthday bash!

A Sunny Sunday in Seattle!

2008-09-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

We stayed at a great hotel (Hilton Garden Inn) in Issaquah on Saturday night. I kind of get grossed out at hotels because I'm just never quite sure if the housekeepers really clean the sheets, vaccuum, etc.. This place had white duvet covers (unlike the multi-color floral or patterned stain hiding comforters at most hotels) that are washed for each new guest. The rooms had a flat screen TV and the most comfortable office chair. I actually worked on homework until 11:30 and didn't have any back or neck pain. That is totally amazing for those of you that know the struggle I've been having with that. There is a card in the room that gives a website to purchase the chairs. We all made bets on how much the chair is.

Lauryn: $30.00-$50.00

Jenna: $150.00

Lolli: $199.99

Blake: $349.00

Well unfortunately Blake was the closest. The chair was regular $920 but was offered to Hilton customers for $704.89. (Good deal huh?) Here it is! It's a beauty! I love to shop on the internet so now I'm on a mission. I will find this chair for a much lower price. (Positive thinking works...right?)

The girls had a great time in the hotel's pool. It was small but just right for them. Blake and I sat and visited while the girls made up a synchronized swimming routine. I don't think they made it all the way through once (and we watched it over and over and over) without stopping to laugh.

Another fine synchronized swimming maneuver.

Ta Da!

Careful Lauryn...a train's coming!
I hear the train a comin'...it's rollin' 'round the bend.

I just realized what a slow learner I am. I kept thinking "Why do they have a pig in front of Qwest Field? How stupid is that? They should have a Seahawk out here...not a pig." Well duh Lolli. The whole pigskin thing is just coming. I'm feeling pretty bright right now. At least I understood the 12.

"Hi. My name is Blake and I'm a Rockstar-aholic"

Blake loves his Diet Rockstar! We had to run to get a picture of him drinking his Rockstar next to the RedBull car before the light turned green. Wouldn't that little car be fun to cruise around in? Well...maybe not.

Jen and Lauryn outside of Qwest Field. It's too bad their mom isn't a better photographer!

We had the best time even though it was a quick trip. It's amazing how refreshing it was!

Family Fun...Mariners Style!

2008-09-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we headed over the mountains after soccer. We had the opportunity to hit a Mariners game on Sunday and jumped at the chance. Jen and Willie Bloomquist.

I've always liked Willie and he is a favorite of my dad's. He looks so much like my cousin Heath that it's almost creepy.

Lauryn & Ichiro

Lauryn decided to smile next to Ichiro before the game. We took bunches of pictures before we entered the stadium.

We were so lucky to be able to watch the Mariners beat the Yankees on a beautiful sunny day. It is so hard to explain the atmosphere to those that have only watched a game on T.V.. It's a blast! If you go just make sure to plan on things being a tad more expensive than you expect. We are so spoiled over here. It blows my mind that we have to pay $35 to park our vehicle in a super narrow parking space. Blake and Lauryn ran up to get 2 fries and 4 pops and came back with $35 less dollars. It's all worth it though...part of the Safeco experience.
All smiles...yep we're having fun! That girl behind us drove us nuts though. Her boyfriend was one of the cotton candy vendors and she was soooo annoying. Every time I looked back she was taking a picture of herself with her phone and trying to look sexy. I wanted to let her know that no matter how hard she tried...it wasn't happenin'. Every time A-Rod came up to bat the crowd booed. She would scream a shrieky "A-Rod, A-Rod" just to be a rebel.
We had great seats! They were 13 rows up from the field between 1st base and Ichiro...I mean right field. It seemed like a bazillion balls were hit into the crowd around us but none right in our section. It's a good thing because a lot of the time I was spacing off people watching.

Poor Jen! She woke up with a sore throat and I told her it was probably allergies. We stopped at a grocery store in Issaquah and bought some allergy medicine. Well Dr. Mom mis-diagnosed because it did absolutely nothing for her. As the day progressed so did the bug that attacked her. She felt like a big pile of @#$% by the end of the game. She is such a trooper though. Here she is with her 1st pack of tissues.

Soccer Saturdays!

2008-09-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Well...our Saturdays are officially filled until we take a break from basketball in December. Lauryn is in 3rd grade so her games have moved from Thursdays to Saturdays. Jen decided to give soccer another try (hasn't played since 1st grade) and her games are on Saturdays too. Most weekends we'll be able to watch both girls.

This past Saturday the Lower Valley Youth Soccer league had their fall jamboree. Jenna and Lauryn each had two games. Phew...it was rough sitting in a lawn chair all day;

During the first game (at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday) the snack mom brought orange slices for half-time and donuts for after the game. Yummers!Notice how many girls were listening to the coach during his half-time pep talk. Everyone knows that you can't eat orange wedges and listen...hello!!
This is a peppy group of girls. They have a team cheer that they must do before the start of each half. I'm sure the other teams are absolutely terrified of our soccer pep squad. They are so darn cute and were having a blast!
Here's Lauryn after her 1st game. They won...yippee!

I'm really not a bad mom but I only have one picture of Jen. Her age group moves faster than my old camera. It was only like 175 degrees out too! Her team had two games back-to-back in the heat of the day. I felt so bad for her after the second game. She came and sat down and started crying. Jen isn't a cryer so I was a little concerned. I asked her what was wrong and she said she had a blister. We took off her shoes and she was wrong. She didn't have a blister, she had many blisters. I felt so bad for her! Luckily Julaine had a first-aid kit in her car and she came to the rescue. She cut all the hanging skin (I am a gagger and couldn't do it) off and put some healing ointment on it. Thank You Julaine!!!!

The Alley Weanie Roasts are Back!

2008-09-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

Every fall we have enjoy weanie roasts in the alley behind my mom and dad's house. The weather was cool and fall-like today so we thought we'd get a roastin'. The girls needed a little break from riding at the carnival so we trucked up the hill and started roasting. We didn't go all out though. No s'mores tonight. Lauryn is making sure her hot dog is cooked to perfection.
Blake and Lauryn fixing up their dogs.

No...you can't have her glasses! Jen was being silly. She can't stand to have smoke in her eyes so she put on these protective glasses. Jen finishing up her dinner. It looks like she has a little hot dog to go with her ketchup. (Oh yeah...the skunks in the background are fake.)
Mmmmm! I've never taken a picture of hot dogs before. These guys look yummy!

I am looking forward to more alley weanie roasts in the coming months.

A Fairly Great Day!

2008-08-31T23:03:00.000-07:00

Every year the girls get to spend the Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the carnival. The Prosser Chamber of Commerce sells all-you-can-ride wristbands for a discounted price if purchased in advance. They always have a great time riding the rides. I do my best not to think about all the people that have puked on the very seats they are sitting in. While we were there today someone threw up on three of the rides. They do a great job of cleaning up though. (wink-wink) They use a hose if one is handy or a bucket of water. I'm pretty sure that gets rid of all the germs. (wink-wink again)

Lauryn and her cousin Nico are having a water gun race. Nico won a little stuffed animal for his little sister, Ryli. Thankfully the carnival wasn't loaded with games that interested her. She loves to play and could spend a fortune to win a bulk stuffed animal. We've come home with some interesting "prizes" in the past. Today we came home empty handed except for the bag of cotton candy she conned her dad into buying.This is one of the pukey rides. You can barely see Jen behind her cousin Steve. She went on this bugger 5 times today.
Here is Jen upside down. I know she's in there somewhere!
Whew...they landed safely!
After early evening the girls tried to avoid #4 on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Yep...you guessed it. Someone blew chunks. Lauryn was really mad because "#4 is the fastest one"! It's clean though because the worker rinsed it out with a bucket of water. This isn't funny but...well, yes it's funny (now)! While my girls were riding the umbrella ride there was an employee welding on it. I didn't get a good photo but there were welding sparks flying all over. Boy...what they do to keep our kids safe;)
Jen was so happy to be able to spend the day with Ellie! She looks forward to riding with her every year. Lauryn and Nico finishing a ride. Lauryn had to sit on her flip flops so she didn't lose em'. Christopher and Lauryn taking a ride together.
Lauryn totally loves the bumper cars. I could sit and watch this ride all day. I know this doesn't sound right but it makes me giggle whenever I see kids smack into each other and their heads jerk.

The annual carnival day is over. We'll be marking it on the calendar for next year though.

Happy Plants!

2008-08-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this time of year...and so do the plants! I just wish I was home a little more to enjoy them. See that overgrown garden way in the back? Well Blake and I planted a bazillion (a.k.a. 180) bulbs last spring from Costco. Our plan was to hide the tomato plants because they aren't the most lovely to look at. Well...when green "things" started popping through the dirt, we had a hard time figuring out what was a weed and what was a plant. I think we actually pulled up a lot of flowers that we thought were weeds. (Oops!) We had one plant that looked awesome but we couldn't remember planting that many of one type in a certain area. My grandma came out for a birthday party in May so we asked her if she could tell if it was a weed or a plant. Guess what she did?! She tasted it! Yep...she took a bite and determined that it was a weed. We weren't so sure about her "technique" so my uncle Bill took a sample to the experiement station had had a weed doctor friend verify that - yes, it is a weed. I went out this morning to pick some tomatoes and discovered that not only are the plants happy, but the weeds are having the time of their life. It couldn't be that we have ideal conditions for growing right now and Blake loves to water(too much). I took a few bowls out and here is what I brought back.
I guess I need to work on my photo skills because this doesn't look like much but I have enough tomatoes picked to supply a small country. I still have more on the vine but I sort of got tired of picking. I'm sure I'll get motivated again sometime soon;
Mornings this time of the year are the best. Everything outside just makes me smile. I went out front to peek at my flower pots. I'm trying to decide what I want to plant in them for fall. I'm sure Teresa will have some great idea for me. Last year when I went out to Yellow Rose to buy my fall plants, her ideas were much better than mine. She is amazing! Blake and I have really come to enjoy working in the yard with our plants. We owe a lot of that to Teresa and her excitement. We spent a lot of time with her when we started our landscaping and she was so helpful. It totally cracks me up that our last house had like three different plants alternated around it. This one...I can't even count.

School Daze

2008-08-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Whew...what a day! I always forget how absolutely exhausting the 1st day of school is. Sleep is an event that rarely occurs the night before as our nerves won't let us rest. Lauryn and Jenna were still awake at 11:00! They tried counting sheep, counting leaves on trees, putting on sleep masks, turning on a fan, and who knows what else. Our morning getting ready went great until it was time to go out front to snap our yearly pictures. Jen promptly went to the front porch flower pots and waited for me so she could "get it over with". As soon as she was ready I turned my camera on and guess what? Yep...my battery was dead. Mom always tells me I need a back-up. I guess I should listen to her wise advice. I quickly had the girls get in the car and called mom on the way to town to see if one of her cameras were available. Phew...she saved the day. My mom not only has extra batteries but she has several memory cards and extra cameras. I grabbed the first one I could find, snapped a couple pics in mom and dad's front yard and dashed off to school. Nothing like adding a little stress to the morning of the first day of school.

The girls had a lot of fun shopping this year. Other than a few online purchases, we did all of our school shopping in one marathon day. It is so much fun having girls! They are slowly learning that sometimes when we pull into the garage we have to run in and hide some bags before Blake comes in. He sometimes just doesn't appreciate the value of a good shopping day!!

Jen and Lauryn's favorite back-to-school shopping spots: The Gap, Old Navy, Limited Too, Urban Outfitter, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Target, FootAction, Lady Footlocker,...

Jen started the 6th grade. I can't even believe that she is in middle school! It seems like just yesterday that she was starting 3rd grade at Heights. I was afraid that having me at school would totally embarrass her but I was happily surprised. She came up to me in the hall before school to give me a hug and tell me she loves me. She popped by with a friend between classes just to say hi. I am so lucky to have such a genuinely sweet daughter like Jenna! I'm still trying to figure out where she gets it?!

Lauryn made the big move up to Heights Elementary this year. She didn't even want anyone to take her. Usually Blake follows the bus from my school and walks her to class. They had back to school night last night so some of her fears were eased. She was able to find her room, meet her teacher (Mrs. Larson), and take all of her supplies. This morning she was tickled to be able to walk to Heights from the Middle School. There are a few of us middle school teachers that have Heights children so they will be able to walk together. (Except when it's really cold and Ellen lets them hop on the bus.:) Lauryn is always making us laugh. She totally has my dad's sense of humor. I am so excited for her to have another successful year at school!

Rah! Rah! Rah!

2008-08-08T23:16:00.001-07:00

Lauryn had her cousin Kourtney (who is here visiting from Missouri) spend the night this week. They always have a blast together. I went to my room to do a little reading while they were playing. Kourtney found an old cheer uniform so they thought they better do some cheers. (What else do you do in a cheer uniform...right?) Well, they were having so much fun that Jen decided to take the camera in and snap a few pictures. All I could hear was a bunch of giggling! It is so fun to sit back and listen to kids. They totally crack me up!Lauryn and Kourtney grinnin' for the camera.

Kourtney making a goofy face.

Yabba Dabba Doo!

2008-08-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

My dad like's to spoil my girls just a tad. He has been talking about buying a street legal golf cart for a few months...and the girls have really been encouraging him. Well last Tuesday he went to purchase one. He wanted to surprise the girls so he left about twenty minutes before me. I pretended that I was looking for an office supply store. I told the girls I must have passed it so I am going to turn around here (in the parking lot of the golf cart store). Lauryn then said, "This is the place where me and Papa looked at the golf cart. It looks just like that one right there. (pointing to the red dream machine). I had pulled up right next to my dad's pickup and trailer. I told the girls that it looked like Papa's pick-up. They both yelled "Pull forward so we can see the license plate!" They then realized it was his and were so excited they could hardly stand it. I had barely stopped the Tahoe and the girls were out ready to run to find Papa (who was still inside.) It was absolutely priceless. I will post more pictures soon but I keep forgetting to pull out my
camera.

These pictures are of Jenna and Papa returning from a trip to the grocery store for some bleach . They had to stop by Burger Ranch for an ice cream cone too!

Shhh...it's a beauty secret!

2008-08-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

Some time back Jen and Lauryn decided to have a spa night. The green stuff smeared on their face and the cucumber circles on their eyes help give them a youthful look. They had a great time until it was time to wipe the guacamole type paste off of their faces! I should have just given them some tortilla chips...it would have been easier.

Basketball Camp

2008-07-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

Jenna spent a week in Coeur d'Alene at an NBC Basketball camp. I have to say that I didn't enjoy having her away for that long. I didn't go anywhere without a phone in hand. I can't even imagine what it will be like when the girls leave for college. Blake was even worse than I was. Jen had a great time. She met some fascinating people and learned lots too!

Finger Lickin' Good!

2008-07-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist posting these pictures of Miss Lauryn. She was whining and complaining about the pork ribs I barbequed for dinner because "they don't have enough meat on em'". Well...everyone was finished with their meal except for Lauryn and all we heard was "mmmmm....these are so yummy". We finally left her eating by herself so we could get the dishes done (before tomorrow). When she finally dismissed herself from the table, she had half a bottle of barbeque sauce smeared on her face and hands. I don't think she'll complain about ribs the next time we throw some on the barby!

2008-07-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

Maiden Voyage!

2008-07-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Okay...I am so shaking right now! I'm hopping on the blogging bandwagon. I don't have a clue what I am doing so forgive me if my page looks a little goofy. I may have to call on the kiddos to get me going, but not until I really mess it up. Wish me luck!