Isabelle's Birthday

We had a great time for Isabelle's birthday.  Robert was in Minnesota (he even went to a Twins/Red Sox game) for work, so we had 2 birthday parties:  one with friends, and one for family.  Although, only one other person (besides Beverly with Kirsten and Alana) came to the party at the park, we had a fun time.  We had cupcakes, kool aide, and a pineta. It was fun, but very WINDY.  She got new Barbie Dolls, and very sparkly dresses and dress ups.

For the Family party we re-did the pineta, and had some great food.  Isabelle got a new bike, and Aunt Beverly and family got her some more beautiful princess dress ups and fun pictures.  I also got her a bunch of new shoes, as she had grown out of everything she owns.  DeAnna got her a camera, Andrea sent her some jewlery and fancy fingernail paint, and her grandma Verna sent her a beautiful new jewelry box.  WOW, it was like christmas.

Hello Spring

Spring is here, summer is comming fast, and it's time to plant something.  I'm starting with some small window herb gardens.  It was alot more intense getting them correctly placed on my house than it should have been.  Isabelle, James and I had a great time planting herbs and a strawberry plant in them.  I have made some spaghette sauce with my herbs since I put them up.  Isabelle waters them all the time.  It's her job.  She even got to eat a strawberry the other day (which was a mirracle because James already picked the little green strawberries before we got to him-- he said he was hungry).  Great times had by all!!!

New haircut

Today was a plain, uneventful day.  We went to dance class, and did some laundry.  The best part was a new haircut!!!

Olander Night

The school that Isabelle is going to attend next year held an event and invited the incoming kindergarteners.  They had booths set up in for a "road trip" through the United States.  It was incredible.  We played games, tried to clean out the "Great Salt Lake", took canoeing trip in Florida, saw (and made our own) hot balloons, fished in the great lakes, and even stepped on some twisters in the mid-west.  It was a carnival of fun.  It would have taken us another hours or more to visit all the booths and games.  James and Isabelle had a wonderful time.  The 5th graders did a fabulous job.  LOVED IT.

I have been cleaning all day today.  I hope to get through all this and catch up on my life.

Idaho Vacation

our stop at Little America!! 

Half way there.

Dancing and a live Band.  Best entertainment

Eli and James

Eli and James

They had a blast, and no broken bones

Dancing with the stars

swinging from a rope.

We went to Firth, Idaho on vacation last week.  We spent some WONDERFUL time with Jana and her family, and Jessica and her family.  We climbed trees, and played with "Brownie", the neighbor's dog; I don't think it's real name is Brownie.  I got to watch Jana play basketball in her city league; she was great. We also went to watch her coach some softball, but the kids got bored with softball, and James was upset because he thought he would be playing soccer ball.

Isabelle and Kasen played themselves tired everyday, and James LOVED playing with Eli.  My favorite was that Mom was there too.  I miss my mom.  She flew a kite for the kids, and I don't know how Jana survives without her.

It was great to have lunch with Aunt Claudia.  I especially enjoyed hanging out with Jessica.  It was wonderful to just spend time with those I love so much.

Green Smoothies

I have decided to start making "green" smoothies for me and my family.  I have only begun this adventure, but we really like it.  The smoothies have passed the kid test, and both of them ask me for more every morning.  Now, I do put in 1/4 a teaspoon powdered sugar, and 2 TBLS frozen orange juice in my smoothies to help with the "kid" factor.

Yummy

Here my recipe:1/4-1/2 tsp. powdered sugar
2-3 TBLS frozen orange juice concentrate
1 to 1 1/2 cups water
one large handful spinach *I don't know how much that is, but you can see the picture*
one large handful Kale
Any variety of fruits and vegetable you'd like to try.
4-7 cubes of ice

I've tried: grapes, bananas, apples, oranges

we didn't really like the apples as much as we thought we would.  Isabelle said she would rather eat the apple by itself, not waste it like that.  She loves apples!!!!!  I buy them every time I go grocery shopping.

Things we want to try:  tomatoes, carrots, mango, kiwi

Fun times had by all.

Chucky Cheese

We had a family outing to Chucky Cheese.  It was lots of fun, except for the noise, and all the chaos.  The kids LOVE to play the games, and run around.  James love pizza, and Isabelle likes to show the appearance of pizza, but eat the celery.  I'm glad they have a salad bar.  Bobby did a great job running around with the kids, and generally being Dad of the Year.  I got to sit down and meet a wonderful woman from Egypt.  Her name is Lyla, and she is really, a sweet, wonderful person.  When I get back from my trip to Idaho to visit Jana and Jessica, I'm going to call her.  I had a great time, and the kids won tickets enough to get a beautiful pink extra large ring for isabelle and vampire teeth for James.  Isabelle now has pink vampire teeth, and James green.

cleaning

Let it begin.  I made a 2 week schedule for my Spring Cleaning adventures.  And, I am taking a break in-between, that's why it's a 2 week schedule.  I got my house "almost" finished this week.  I had these nasty brownish stains in my bathtub that I couldn't get out == no matter what I tried.  So, I was researching the internet about it (again) and made a list of everything I could find that people suggested.  I had a list of 20 things, and got down to the last 5 when I happened upon Hydrogen peroxide.  The post on the internet said that the stains should "instantly" disappear, and when they didn't I was again disappointed, but I had to make a rush into the other room to save my children from themselves.  They don't have as much fun when Mom is cleaning, and get into some messy messes that I then have to clean up - another reason for the 2 week schedule.  When I finally go back to the bathroom I saw, to my delight, that the stains were lighter.  I decided to try the peroxide again with part of the bathtub, and go on with some nail polish remover on a few spots.  I let them sit for awhile, and low and behold, the peroxided worked.  YEA!!!  I had to treat it 3 times, and go to the store for more peroxide, but I'm sold on the peroxide for stains.

We have gone to the playground, played in the rain, played dress-up, and much much more.

Mommy daughter Date

Isabelle and I love our Mommy daughter dates.  This time she asked if we could go to Red Lobster.  Isabelle loves to go out to eat at restaurants.  Her favorite are Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Vern's.  Isabelle ordered the rainbow trout (you notice that there is no kid menu ordering if she can get away with it), and she LOVED it!!!  I couldn't believe how she downed that fish, and wanted more.  I only ordered a 1/2 order, thinking she wouldn't like it, but I was wrong.  She has ordered fish before, but it was the fish and chips (halibut) but didn't like it at all.  Come to find out she loves rainbow trout, and she ate my salmon too.

We had a great time shopping for new flip-flops, and laughing, laughing, laughing together.  I enjoy every minute with my little girl.  She is a sweet blessing in my life.

Spring

It's been pretty spring like weather lately.  Our trees are in full bloom.  Bobby really likes them and wanted me to take pictures so his mom could see them.  We have a few trees by the house, and they are really beautiful.

Reeve Family Visit

DeAnna and her kids are here, and it's so much fun!!!  The kids play outside all day long, and really enjoy each other's company.  DeAnna, Bev, and I get to hang out and just be together.  Bobby tended all the kids (10 of them) so the three of us could go out to dinner at Bev's favorite place - Autsins.  It has been good times had by all here in Fort Collins with DeAnna and her family.  I hope they come back soon.  DeAnna is a kind and wonderful person, she makes my life better just by being with me.  Her kids are soooo cute.  That little Rosi Lin just takes my heart.

Rosi Lin in the water

Rugar and Joslyn with a chicken

rugar, kimber, joslyn

My back isn't doing well, and I have to tell you that DeAnna and Beverly were great about taking Isabelle and letting her play with the cousins while I rested my back.  James stayed with me.  I hope to be doing better soon.

Easter

Easter is one of my favorite days.  We have had a Family home evening about the events leading to the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The link above is a good site.  This wasn't the one we did, but it is close.  There are many out there.
1. Matthew 26:26-27,39 (sacrament cup or small cracker or chex cereal)

2. Matthew 26: 48-49 (chocolate kiss)

3. Matthew 26: 14-15 (3 dimes) [This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-14.]

4. Matthew 27:1-2 (knotted twine)

5. Matthew 27:15, 17, 21, 24-26 (chunk of hand soap)

6. Matthew 27:28-30  or Mark 15:16-17 (square of red or purple fabric)

7. Matthew 27:31-32 (small nail or toothpick cross)

8. Matthew 27:50-51, 54 (crushed rocks)

9. Matthew 27:57-60 (strip of white cloth)

10. Matthew 27:60, 62-66 (a small, flat stone)

11. Mark 16:1, 2-6 (bay leaf or other herb)

12. Matthew 28:5-6 (empty)

We have had a great time playing at Beverly and Scott's.  We colored eggs, rolled them at the park, had a ginormous egg hunt over the property (210 eggs), a treasure hunt, a fire side w/ hotdogs, and even a mystery game.  It was a great time had by all.  The kids were so tired that Jimmy Joe didn't make it out of Beverly's driveway before he was asleep.  After the kids were to bed, DeAnna and I went back to the Thomason home and played Zion Check with Mom and Dad.  It was a fabulous day.

Aunt Beverly had lots of colors

These are their "best friends forever: shirts

Joslyn with her favorite Chicken

James wanted all his eggs  blue, but when all the blue was being used, he decided to do some yellow.  they were beautiful all yellow and blue.

Scott and Dad making Rootbeer

Beverly blowing bubbles

Grandma was blowing bubbles for the little girls

James was so cute with his blue and yellow eggs.

Isabelle did hers all soft pastel like colors.

This one was Ruger's, it had a train on it.  He did a great artistic job on his.

Grandpa Glover

All the eggs together

Rolling the eggs down the hill at the park.

Rosi Lin and DeAnn looking for eggs.  

Here they are:  Ethan, Ruger, Joslyn, Kimber, Isabelle, Kirsten, James Colt, Rosi Lin, and Alana

Ethan rolling easter eggs at the park, look at that smile

Kirsten found an egg. There were over 210 eggs for the hunt.

Isabelle and her cute basket she won at the 4H carnival

Scott helping Alana look for eggs.  They were so cute.