Elf on a Shelf

We have a new Christmas addition to our house this year. Hanna Downs gave the kids a Christopher Pop-In-Kins. He is a fun, flexible, elf that hides every morning in a new spot. Apparently Christopher's job is to report back to Santa before Christmas Eve to let him know how the kids in our house behaved this year. It is a really cute story and the kids love being the first in the morning to find him. One time Christopher stayed in the same spot to trick them otherwise he remembers to move to a new hiding place. In our small house he is running out of places up high to hide. He has to be up high so the kids don't touch him or he loses his magic.

We are looking forward to a little snow and Gordon has Thursday and Friday off so we are going to make it fun!

Halloween 2010

Lots of Halloween fun this year! Anna, a.k.a. "Lucy" the Dalmation. Megan, a.k.a. "Fluffy" the Poodle.

After the girls chose their costumes it was only natural that Jacob should chase them. Jacob, a.k.a. "The dog catcher" with a net to capture them.

We have way too much candy but we had a lot of fun getting it. We visited Gordon's work, the church had a Trunk or Treat, and then we visited our neighbors on Halloween.

Books (note the other three posts)

My husband has a memory book from when he was a child and it is called, "My First Eight Years, a Record of the LDS Child". It is a great book that includes the usual pages to record milestones and important dates. But it also includes pages for important Latter-Day Saint milestones like baptism and Primary. I wanted to recreate something like it for my own children since they don't make books like that anymore. Thanks to the help of my friend, Carrie, I finally finished them and now I just need to fill in the important stuff. I am so happy with them. Carrie is brilliant at the computer and creating things like that so I definitely couldn't have done it without her. Three cheers for Carrie!! I gave up on scrapbooking some time ago so Anna is the only one with a scrapbook of the first year of her life. I hope this a simpler way to record all the important stuff and I won't get so far behind.

There is a page for geneology.

There is also a page to record who was the prophet at the time of their birth along with the counselors and Quorum of the Twelve. I love it and hope to be a little better at recording important things in the lives of my children.

A re-do

I was able to check off a couple things from my to-do list this past week. I bought a couple of chairs off of Craigslist for $10 each. They add a few more seats in our already small living room. I did not like the outdated fabric so I decided to give slipcovers a try. With my sewing skills and a few books I thought I could figure it out. I finished them but not without a few curses of frustration along the way. I took out many of the seams out at least twice too. I cut off the original skirt of the chair and then painted the legs black. I am just glad to check them off the to-do list, they were definitely a challenge.

First haircut

Before:

After:

Such a big boy! I do miss the curls, though.

Hate that Missouri hail, AGAIN!

In September, we had a hail storm here in Missouri. The girls were fascinated by it while their parents worried about the car outside (we have a one car garage)

For the second time in 5 years, hail broke out a window on our Chevy Malibu. No one else on the street had car window busted out. After the first incident in 2006, the insurance company totaled it and so we took the money, fixed the windows, and kept the car because it had low mileage. Fast forward five years, there is no comprehensive coverage left on the car and we cringe when we hear about storms heading our way. It may just be our lot in our life or the life of this car to attract the big ones! We got the window fixed pronto and spent $3 to vacuum it out at the local car wash. It's crazy, I know.

A great time in Utah

Jacob and his cousin Eli finally got to meet each other. They are about a month apart in age.

Mirror Lake~so pretty, water was so cold

We enjoyed some fun times with the Shaw side of the family last week.

So proud

The Before:

There wasn't much space and we always felt like someone might fall off when the door was open. I spent a lot of time reading deck books and talking with Gary at Home Depot. My Dad spent a lot of time on his end talking with an engineer friend. So between the two of us, or I guess really the four of us if you include the engineer friend and Gary, we drew up the plans. We learned a lot and after three days of sweat and hard work we built this (minus the railings, which Dad added later):

AFTER:

My brother and my Dad came while we were gone to Utah and finished up the railing. It isn't completely done but I can't wait any longer to show off what we, and especially my Dad, has done. I am so proud of this and the greatest part was doing it with my Dad. All that is left is to stain the railings and put some toppers on the posts. We are still looking for just the right skirting to go around the bottom too. Isn't it great?! We are the envy of the neighborhood.

A very Happy 4th Birthday

We love our sweet Megan and she turned four years old in June. The birthday was highly anticipated for months before and she knew that hers was after Mommy's. So once Mommy's birthday was out of the way she kept asking how much longer for hers. A simple request of cupcakes with M&Ms on them was her one desire. Anna was happy to help Megan make a birthday list of toys she would like for her birthday. Anna was VERY helpful and became her advisor on what would be a good choice. Megan was so great at sharing with Anna once the presents were opened. Thanks to all of you who helped make it extra special for her. It is hard to believe Megan is four years old. She is so brave and willing to try so many things. She doesn't have any problem singing or giving scriptures at church. We love to see her sweet smile and her eyes light up when she is happy. She loves to snuggle in the morning when she first wakes up. Megan inherited my curly hair which can be a curse and a blessing. She is patient as I have to cut out knots that refuse to be brushed out. Dancing is one of her favorite things to do and she is very graceful. We love you Megan.

Ready for Pre-K

Megan's preschool had a fun program to highlight all of the songs they have learned throughout the year. It was fun to watch her do all the actions and participate in the program. Anna went to the same school when she was younger but had a big case of stage fright when it came to an audience so this was really our first year to see a child of ours in the program. The songs are so cute and each one has actions to go with it. "Going on a bear hunt" and the donut song were a couple of our favorites

Megan's teachers were great and will be missed. Megan never had a bad day and never shed the tears like Anna. By the end of the year they even convinced Megan to paint, which was a big thing considering she wouldn't go near the stuff at the beginning of the year. The only thing we could figure was that she didn't want to put on the paint smock and socks on her sleeves to protect her clothes. Megan is ready for Pre-K this fall.

Good-bye Kindergarten

If Anna and I had our wish, Mrs. Pierce, would be Anna's teacher for each grade throughout elementary school. It was great to see Anna develop socially and academically with her teacher's help. What a great introduction into the world of academics. She had a great year and excelled in reading and writing stories. She loved her teacher and never wanted to disappoint Mrs. Pierce. Anna never got in trouble and was always the first to volunteer to help out. What a great year.

PTA performance

Anna was part of a kindergarten performance for the PTA. They practiced a lot for it and Anna did great. She didn't even hesitate go out there with her friends and performing in front of a room full of strangers.

This was a big deal for Anna. She loves her teacher Mrs. Pierce.

YUM!

A little wet

Megan's preschool was originally scheduled to go to a farm but the roads to the farm were impassable due to all the rain and mud. Plan B was a local park which turned out to be just as messy. Luckily it was warm outside and the wetness didn't bother Jacob. He loved every minute of the ankle deep water. The pictures don't quite catch the absolute joy on his face. A little boy's dream come true.

Megan and her friends came well equipped with rain boots but we still stripped off everyone's wet clothes to get in the car. We had a van for of under-dressed kids on the way home.

He is part monkey after all!

I knew it, I knew it! He is part monkey after all!!

(I am catching up on my posts, there are three others after this one.)

Snow

I have grown up in Missouri and should be use to its tricks and changes in the weather. So my lesson learned this year is, don't put away the snow gear in March. I did put it away and then we got 11 inches of snow! It all happened on a Friday night and Saturday and then was gone by Monday morning. So crazy, but we had a blast with the perfect snowman kind of snow.

Easter

The girls enjoyed (don't let Megan's face fool you) a private Easter egg hunt with our neighbor. Victoria's older brothers hid 96 eggs for the three of them around the school playgrounds. In fact, they hid them so well that nobody could find about 15 of them. The three of them still found plenty nonetheless and some lucky kids might find the other ones someday!

What is Easter without some good, messy egg dyeing?! This year I read about using whisks instead of those flimsy wire dippers. It was a success! After dyeing the eggs we glued on googly eyes, pipe cleaners and fuzzy hair. Lots of fun for the girls while Jacob graciously took a nap!

Easter was on the weekend of General Conference this year so we dressed up in our Easter best the Sunday before Easter, when Grandma and Grandpa were visiting. I didn't make the girls dresses this year. Instead, I made them matching flowers for their hair and spent most of my sewing efforts on Jacob's outfit.

Thanks for Grandma Shaw's helped on making the hat fit right. The pants and hat were made from an old pair of Gordon's dress pants. It was fun to re-purpose them. He looked so cute in his newsboy hat.

Family Fun

We really enjoyed a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Shaw right before Easter. We played outside as much as we could but the weather didn't cooperate every day. Grandma is successfully passing on her love for collecting quarters to our girl, Anna. Anna spent a lot of time emptying her piggy bank (the only way for the money to get out is the same way it went in, unless you break it). She loved counting by fives, tens, and twenty-fives and putting her coins into rolls. Grandma sent her a book for them and now she is only missing 11 states. Anna is very proud of it and even took it to show and tell today. Thanks Grandma Shaw! Jacob showed off his walking skills while they were here too. Each day he would get better and better with a little less falling every day. Jacob is definitely our most social child of the three and he only had lots of love to give his grandparents even though he doesn't see them a lot. Grandpa Shaw helped with a few home improvement projects and I had a lucky streak in a couple games of Mexican Train. We had a great time. We look forward to spending time with all the Shaw side of the family in July.

The Little Man of the House Turns 1!

We enjoyed a full day of celebrating Jacob's first birthday. It is even better when a birthday falls on the weekend and everyone is home all day to enjoy the special person. Jacob didn't totally understand what was going on but he loved all the attention and the fun balloons. His big sisters were excited enough for everyone though. They are helping him break in the new toys too. He loved the cake but it was not his first taste of a sweet treat because he always wants what everyone else is eating.

Jacob is a fun addition to our family. We love him so much. He loves to make big, noisy, messes!! He always seems to be looking for something to tear apart or throw around. In between those messes though he enjoys a good snuggle with mommy. When we turn on the bath water he stops whatever he is doing, listens, and then crawls really fast to the bathtub. He loves to shake his head no and whenever the dishwasher is open he is ready to help by throwing the plastic plates on the floor. No trashcan is safe on the floor anymore so we have them all on top of something, out of his reach. He stands by himself and walks around the ottoman, holding onto the edge of it but he doesn't seem interested in walking solo yet. He is the first to greet Anna every day when she comes home, standing at the door with his face pushed against the door. Even at his young age he enjoys a good wrestle on the floor. He is all boy but with two older sisters I wouldn't be surprised to find him in a princess dress someday. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Chicken Gyros

I just wanted to pass on a good recipe. I made it for lunch the other day when I had some friends over but it works for dinner too. It comes from a book of recipes for rotisserie chicken that you buy at the store (yeah Costco!) but I used cut up chicken too and just cooked it in the marinade. I also buy the soft wheat flatbread in the deli section but you could probably used pitas or tortillas too.

Chicken Gyros

SAUCE:
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber (I cut out the seeds, but not necessary)
2 T light sour cream (optional)
1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
salt and pepper

MARINADE:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
pinch of salt
8 slices of rotisserie chicken or two chicken breasts, sliced

SANDWICH:
1 pkg flatbread
torn up lettuce
1 large tomato, chopped
red onion

Stir the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside
For the marinade, combine all the ingredients except for the chicken in a 12 inch non-stick skillet. Stir together. Place rotisserie chicken slices flat in skillet and spoon the marinade over the top or brown the raw chicken in the marinade until done. Remove from skillet when done and assemble your sandwich. Heat the bread and then top with chicken, sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Enjoy

Happy New Year!

It is still January so I am squeezing in a post to wish you all a Happy New Year! We have been busy and trying to stay warm. The temperature has steadily stayed above freezing for almost a week now and all that dirty snow is gone! We anxiously await spring so we can spend some quality time outside.

Anna is enjoying school and did not like the fact that the schools were closed for a whole week after Christmas vacation. (Mommy wasn't too happy about that either.) She rides the bus to and from school now and has become friends with the bus driver, Mabel. The bus even picks her and her friend up in front of our house so Mommy doesn't even have to leave the house. Anna loves to read and tested at a second grade level of reading last month. A couple months ago she even participated in a special reading of "The sky is Falling" and she played the mouse. She has been especially helpful at home too. Sometimes when a babysitter is here for the night, Anna is the only one that can comfort Jacob. She takes her role as a big sister very seriously.

Megan is a Sunbeam now in Primary. She does so good and doesn't hesitate to go into Primary and take her seat every Sunday. She loves to sing the songs and be in the same room with Anna for part of the time. She is having fun at preschool too. Last week the lesson on hibernation was especially interesting to her and she came home and told me all about the snakes, frogs, and turtles that hibernate during the winter.

Jacob is everywhere and into everything. He will be walking before too long and would spend his whole day going up and down our stairs if I let him. He is a lot of fun until he sinks his teeth into your closest body part, so watch out! His favorite pastimes include waiting for the refridgerator or dishwasher to be opened so he can play on them.

Love these kids!

Photo Shoot