Long Overdue Update!

Sorry folks.  Here is an update.  I know it's long overdue and I could list all my excuses, but how about I just get to the update.

Aaron - He is sure glad to be with his family in Alaska.  Being deployed was a good experience for him for his career, but he enjoys his job here more!  He is slowly getting back to where he needs to be and feeling more a part of things.  He has a few business trips planned next month, both to San Antonio.  While there, he will interview for the fellowship he is applying to and if accepted (we find out in Dec.) then we would be moving in May.  Extra prayers would be appreciated that we get this spot.

He recently returned from a canyoning trip at Lake Powell with his dad that he really enjoyed.  He spent 5 days in the canyons and then got to catch up with his family. 

Sassy - What is there to say?  She hasn't scrapbooked in months, she spends her time teaching Kennie & Justin, cleaning the house, making dinner and trying to keep Maggie out of trouble.  Sounds really pathetic and only takes up 2 sentences, but it really takes all day.  UG!!!

Kennie - He is sure growing and learning at such a fast pace.  Kennie was baptized July 3rd surrounded by family & friends.  (We missed you Mark & Carli).  He was super excited for that milestone in his life.  He likes to read his scriptures and will also read anything he can get his hands on.  He LOVES dinosaurs and can tell you all sorts of crazy things about a whole lot of different dinosaurs.  Not just the ones we learned about when I was in school.  He can tell you more dinosaurs than there are letters in the alphabet.  He still says he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up.

Justin - He has really turned into his own person.  He is still very interested in Sharks.  Will read everything he can get his hands on about them, but to get him to read a chapter book or ANYTHING else is like pulling teeth, until recently.  He started reading the Weird School series and is liking it and doing well.  Here's hoping!  He loves to torment his sister and also really enjoys driving his mother crazy!  Which he does very well.  He can still see the unspoken need in others and will offer to help or just help before they can ask.  One of my favorite qualities about him. 

Nate - Nate is loving being a big Kindergartner.  Today was his day to take snack for the whole class and he was over the moon!!  He basically bounced to school this morning.  He loves bringing home his green apples everyday (A way to communicate to parents their behavior for the day) and checking out books from the library.  He is making incredible progress there and everyone that works with him loves him.  They don't believe me when I tell them he is a holy terror at home.  He's just too cute.  Which is what everyone said about his Uncle Josh.

Maggie - Maggie recently decided she wanted to be a boy.  Okay, not really, but she cut her hair.  And not something that we could fix, she cut it to the scalp.  She is not sporting a short pixie cut.  She thinks she is beautiful and that's all that matters.  She (hopefully) understands that she is NEVER to do it again.  She is still the total princess and loves anything pink and glittery.  She dresses up constantly and loves to play house with her brothers where she is always the kitty.  Super funny girl.  She still has Aaron wrapped around her finger and uses that every chance she gets!!  We are very thankful she potty trained (easily) and is now a big girl!  No more diapers for us!! 

We are enjoying fall this year, not necessarily the cold, but the colors are amazing!  Snickers Hot Chocolate and cuddle time with a blanket on the couch are definitely the best!!  Slow cooker soups, White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheese cake and all kinds of pumpkin treats are the best!!  We are looking forward to our last winter in Alaska (Hopefully) and they boys are excited for the ski team.  Sorry for pulling the disappearing act.  Hopefully it won't happen again, although I can't promise.

Vincent van Gogh

So, for art this year, we are learning about 8 of the major artists in history.  We are just finishing our lesson on van Gogh.  So, tonight, we did a painting project.  Kennie and Justin had to pick one of the van Gogh pictures we learned about and try and paint it.  Easy, right?  They thought so!  Nate & Maggie just got to play with finger paints.

Justin decided he was done right after I took this picture.  He choose to do Starry Night.

 Kennie choose Starry Night as well.  He's my little perfectionist and so he only got half done by the time we needed to head to bed, so he is going to finish tomorrow.

 So, now I am wishing that I would have put a shirt on Maggie.  All I could think about was that I didn't want her pj's getting dirty.  Sorry!

Nate had the time of his life!!!

Sometimes I feel guilty because I probably learn more than the boys do.  That would be the case with Vincent van Gogh.  Kennie knew quite a bit.  I knew none of it.  Can't wait for Picasso.  We are also getting to the states.  Just have to finish up the pre states lessons!!!

A small update

Kennie is just about finished 2nd grade.  He is enjoying his ignite program (the high IQ class he's in) and is looking forward to playing outside this summer.  He enjoyed soccer and is looking forward to coach pitch baseball starting soon.  Kennie is rebelling in his responsibilites of being the oldest and the most common phrase out of his mouth is "Why am I the only one?"  My response, because I love you!  :)

 Justin continues to be my biggest helper and is at the top of the list of trouble makers.  It seems he is always grounded from something or in his room for something.  We have gotten to the point in his allergy shots that we only have to go 1 time a month.  Holy cow.  GREAT day.  

Classic picture - right?  So Nate!  He continues to rebel against potty training and I am sick of trying to encourage him.  So, he wears pull-ups.  He enjoys the time at home with his mom.  He wants to go to school but doesn't seem to grasp that if he potty trains - he will be able to go to school.  Meanwhile, he continues to destroy things in my house and cause trouble.  He would be at the top of the list in the trouble maker department.

Maggie - as much as we don't want to admit it, she runs the house.  She enjoys it and loves being the center of attention.  Her vocabulary is amazing.  She does what Nate does which isn't ever good.  She really enjoys reading time and especially her "printces!"  She is obsessed with bling and anything pink.  Such the girl.  Thank Heaven we only have 1!!

Aaron leaves Saturday morning for 2 weeks.  He will be traveling from village to village in Alaska treating patients.  He will be the acting Endocrinologist for the group.  He is looking forward to this adventure and hopefully he will learn a lot.  He continues to work crazy hours.  I am almost looking forward to another residency so we will at least know how crazy his hours will be and there will be some down time.  Now, there is no down time.  He spends a lot of his time tired.  

Sassy continues to do anything in her power to survive from day to day.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  She has gotten pretty good at keeping the house maintained, but hasn't figured out how to throw the rest of it in.  It's a slow process and those of you that know her know that she doesn't work in slow.  She is learning patience slowly and is trying to learn from every challenge.  She is looking forward to starting up scrapbooking classes and that will help to calm her.  She is her calmest when she is scrapbooking.  

Alaska has been difficult for us, but we are excited about this summer and all the fun things we will be able to do.  We have lots of visitors planning to come up and Sassy is looking forward to her trip in July to Washington D.C.  That's us right now.  Enjoy your spring and summer!!

Spring Break

If you are looking for the Princess and the Frog coupon, scroll down to the next post.

I am sorry for the lack of pictures lately.  I finally found my camera just in time for spring break.  So, I will post some pictures.  Spring break was pretty crappy.  Aaron started nights in the middle of it, so it made for some REALLY long days.  The highlight of the week was Chuck-e-Cheese on Friday.  So lame that the one thing that we loved was that place, but it really was the best - for all of us.  I got some "peace and quiet" and the kids got to play. 

 Brooklyn & Kara 

I LOVE this shot.  Closest is Justin (love this face), Colton and Kennie playing Ski--Ball.  Stacie is the one in the black shirt walking by with her mouth open.  Love the action in this shot!!  HA!

Maggie in her glory.  She's been into posing lately.

Kennie, Ryan and Savannah playing Air Hockey.  They had a blast!

The mama's that made it happen.  Stacie, Sassy (I know you were wondering!) and Crystal!!

 
In other news, I bought a new camera.  It's the Cannon Rebel. I am SO excited.  It should be here tomorrow.  I am sick of doing laundry and my house never stays clean!

Yesterday, I gave myself a concussion.  Funny, right?  Right.  I would laugh if it wasn't me.  Long story made very short, I hit above my left eye with my trunk.  Creating a very large, blue and blood red bump in my eyebrow.  I spent the night dizzy, falling over and throwing up.  Sound fun yet?  Ya.  Not good when your husband is on the night shift.  Anyway, that's our boring life. 

Olympics

Kids were supposed to be getting ready for bed.  Instead, this is what I found:

They are watching the pair figure skating.  They were amazed at how high they can jump and how far they can throw.  Nate asked me if I could do that to him.  Ha!

**Disclaimer - Maggie has been having an awful runny nose and that is why her finger is up her nose.  And, she was supposed to be picking out PJ's which is why she doesn't have any pants on.

Class Project

Last night was our 3rd class. We learned clowns and decorative designs. I knew the boys would love the clowns. However, I only had pink frosting. They were a little mad to have pink clowns, but the did enjoy!!

Even though it was pink icing, they enjoyed every bite!

Easter Picture

Sorry it has taken me so long to post these. It's been a crazy week. Here is my way cute kids!!