Hey all- just a quick update on us all... this is Grandma Jan's new puppy, Katie in the pic above...she is very tiny and the girls LOVE her!

So, not a whole lot going on... Alyx is doing pretty good, she has not been in trouble this week! So that's a start! She is doing well in school and has lots of friends, very popular girl...

Calli-bug is trying to pick her favorite friend to spend the night this weekend.... such a tough decision. She had a great time last Friday at her gymnastics place- they had a big sleepover in the gym and had pizza, karaoke, bouncy castles, etc.... the first thing she said in the morning when I picked her up was- we stayed up until midnight (with crazy, sleepy eyes)! She is doing great on homework and being a good big sister.

Teags is keeping me in very good company during the weekdays.. she watches lots of cartoons, reads tons of books, colors, plays with Playdoh, chases the dogs in the backyard, picks flowers and tomatoes, still, in the backyard, etc, etc, etc.... she is a very busy tigger! Today we are going to buy Daddy's birthday present- it is a couple weeks away- can't tell ya what I'm getting him, since he sometimes reads this.... i will let you know!

Oh yeah, Chris and I are doing great too- we are busy with work and trying to get ready for fall and winter and holidays, etc. We love you all!

TAG... I'M IT.....

I was reading Amy's blog this morning, and decided I am it... so here goes. By the way- Amy beat me to the punch on Meg's birthday blog- I was going to do the same thing, so I will just say that I love my middle sister soooooo much- and I hope she had a wonderful birthday! She is the most loving, generous, compassionate person I know- I love you Megs!!!

10 years ago:

1. I was living in a van down by the river, haha... seriously.
2. I thought about being a music teacher.
3. I met lots of interesting, worldly people (hippies).
4. I was not really working, but did some potato truck driving, and worked at the Dry Cleaners when I was in town.
5. I loved to visit my family and friends in Twin.

Present day:

1. I now live in a lovely house in a culdesac.
2. I am not a music teacher, but would still love to be...
3. I know lots of interesting people still, but not very many hippies, my husband makes fun of them!
4. I am a career woman/stay at home mom doing medical transcription.
5. I still love to visit my family, but most of my friends are gone from Twin.

Today's to do list:

1. Work, not very much today, which is nice. I have been super busy.
2. Of course, go to the grocery store- we go every day, I think.
3. Make a fabulous dinner :)
4. Do Calli's homework with her.
5. Play with Teags.

Favorite foods:

1. Pasta, bread, all the things I should not eat.
2. Potatoes, prepared any way.
3. Green salad, Caesar salad.
4. Tomatoes, cucumbers.
5. Anything with hot fudge on it.....

I have lived in:

1. A van down by the river....
2. Twin Falls, ID.
3. Eugene, OR
4. Coeur d'Alene, ID
5. Salem, OR

Anyhoo- that gives a little taste of my life for ya.... things have changed a bit in ten years, huh? Have a great day, everybody!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!

My wonderful husband, Chris and I's anniversary was on September 12... we have been married four whole years now! Wow- how time flies....

We had a great time playing a round of golf together at our little 9-hole course, Ponderosa.... and then we had a small get together with friends the next night. All in all, a great anniversary. We are actually really celebrating it this Friday because a really hilarious comedian, Josh Blue, is coming to Spokane and we are going to go. He won the show Last Comic Standing a year ago, and he has cerebral palsy- google him, he is so funny!

So, that is about all we have planned, probably a nice dinner somewhere, and the kids are staying with their beloved Auntie Karen- thanks Karen!

Anyhoo- life is moving right along around here.. Calli is doing great in gymnastics- she is learning the vault and the parallel bars mostly for now... Alyx is enjoying 10th grade, and Teags is being crazy and funny as always. So, let us know about anything going on in your lives! C-ya.....

My favorite things.....

Yes, Ames, I am totally copying this idea from you- but it's a great idea!

So- first of all, I love the color green. This is probably the biggest reason I miss Oregon so much- everything is just sooooo green! It's a wonderful place to live or visit.... secondly, I love plants, trees, and grass... these are things that make me feel whole and healthy. I also really love green salad, and lots of green veggies, and guess what? My kids do too!!! Ain't I lucky? The pic above is of Eugene, where I used to live.

Next, I sure do love my kids, and my nieces and nephews, and my friend's kids, and kids of all shapes, sizes, and colors.... kids are the greatest! They get so excited about the smallest things, and they make me remember to love the little things in life- for example, bubbles! sidewalk chalk! a new buddy! fingerpainting and playdoh! bubbles again! (my kids really like bubbles!)

I definitely love my family... my mom and dad are the most loyal, generous, honest, and loving people you could ever hope to meet.... when i worked here at the CDA Resort, anyone, literally anyone who came in from Twin Falls knew them and always had great things to say about them. I love you guys sooooo much, I hope you know that.. We are super excited to go and see them for Thanksgiving. I am not leaving out my sisters, Amy and Megs.. they are the best sisters I could ask for! Hilarious, good moms, great wives, PTA volunteers, etc.. you name it, they do it... plus, they are both going to make Martha Stewart jealous in her old age... tell ya what. I love you both sis'! I also cannot leave out my husband's family-- they are so fun to be with and celebrate things with.... his grandpa that cracks the dirtiest jokes, but the funniest, and his grandma (grape grandma) is the sweetest person ever.. Lastly, but definitely not least is Jan, his mom and my mom, and a wonderful grandma! She is a great person and the kids love her to death....

I guess my next thing would be music.... ALL kinds... of course I love to play my violin, but I also really like rocking out to some good metal, hard rock, alternative, punk, you name it... and then there's other great stuff like the oldies, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Elton John.... the list goes on and on...... My husband is a great guitar player and can really belt out a song.... so our kids love music as much as we do.... some day i will teach them to play violin, I swear.... really!

Well.. as I said, this list could go on for days, but I think I will drag it out a little and add some more to it as time goes on... I make new favorites every day! I love you all..... have a great day!

So, this is Calli's new 4-wheeler! Her dad has a friend who has a friend who has a brother that wanted to get rid of them, so he snagged a great deal on it! She got some hand me down riding pants and helmet, and was quite excited..... maybe we will have to quit the gymnastics and get her going on Motocross-haha....

Anyway, life is just dandy here... school is going well so far- the girls like their teachers and Mom and Teags have been very productive at home- yesterday we cleaned the garage out together, and we also mowed the lawn, cleaned the house, etc....

Well, everyone have a great day on me!

SCHOOL DAZE....

This is some of the beautiful country we are so blessed to live in.... Chris took this picture from the top of a mountain he was camping at a couple of weeks ago....

So, school started today... I have a small quote to share with you... Raising teenagers is like trying to hang jello with a nail to a tree! It has been a rough time for us lately, and all your support would be greatly appreciated. I have to talk about it because sometimes you just need to vent. We did have a great Labor Day weekend camping as a family.... and we got some good quality time in together. We did a little rock picking in the river, some fishing (with a plastic cup!), and ate a lot of hot dogs... mmmmmmm! Anyway- with school starting, we are really hoping that Alyx can find her way this year and get some good friends and a new outlook, so here's hoping.... any advice anyone has for her, let us know... Calli had a super day- she was very brave and did not shed a tear for the first time, so I cried on the way out to the car for both of us :) Teagyn is very sad that both of her sisters are not home to hang out with her, but she is coping. I personally am very much enjoying the quiet time and free time for running around town, as well as doing my work a lot quicker!

Well, for now, that is all I have to write... keep me posted on all your goings on, everyone that is reading, and we all love you very much!