"Sweet" Sixteen

Gavin turned 16 today, it's very scary that I am old enough to have a 16 year old. We had a party at the house last night, with all three sides of his family, it was great. Tonight he had his first date planned and we were going to drop them off, because he doesn't have his license yet, and go on our own date,(we had gotten rid of all of our kids. Thanks Grandmas and Aunt Andrea). He decided he wanted to go on a double date with us, which really surprised me. I think he was really nervous about how to pay and tip at the restaraunt. We had fun and it was cute to see him opening the doors for her and being a gentleman. We had them sing to him at the restaraunt, I don't think he loved that. We finished the evening off with the new Sherlock Holmes movie. (Sorry there is a duplicate picture, I didn't want to take the time to figure out how to remove it)

Christmas in the dark

Christmas turned out great, even though we lost power until about 3:30 in the morning on Christmas Eve. We cut back on Christmas this year because we are taking the kids on vacation in January, but they still made out like fat cats, between us and their Grandma's and Grandpa's. Is there a way un un-spoil children??

Piano Recital

Gracie and Gage had their Holiday Piano Recital this month. They both did great, it is so fun to see them improving and "enjoying it."

Gingerbread Trees

We tried gingerbread trees this year instead of houses, and I think the mess was bigger. Grandma Shelley, Kay and Makaila were here and we had a lot of fun. Steve still had a hard time letting the kids help, though, we are going to have to work on him.

Finally Posting-Halloween

I feel like I have to post the Halloween pictures before I can move on to Christmas, so here you are.

Cleaning and cleaning and cleaning

Since the kids have gone back to school, I have been trying to get my major projects done, that I didn't get done all summer. I keep getting interrupted, though, and it is taking me forever. I got the basement cleaned, ick. I got my salsa made, 69 pints. I am not sure whose bright idea it was to get 2 bushels of tomatoes, and I can't get the smell of peppers and onions out of my house. I have had to try to fit 12hours of CE for real estate in, so that I can re-activate my license and go into the office a couple of days a week. And this week I have been working on the play room. It was sooo bad. We couldn't even get the closets shut any more. So, I have before and after pictures. All I have to do now is organize my scrapbook stuff, and the bonus room is done. Yay! What next? Oh, ya, zucchini bread, I like to make a bunch and freeze it for winter.

You are the best teacher, Gage!

Berek has insisted on keeping his training wheels on his bike. And we thought that Gracie was cautious. But yesterday one of them got bent and threw his whole ride out of wack and the only fix for that was to take off his training wheels and force him to learn to ride. The kids were all down riding on the road, and Gage was holding Berek up while he ran with him, and then he would let go. It was so cute to see him helping him. Gage was red faced from working so hard, so I went to help. After I helped him for a few minutes, Berek wanted Gage to help instead, Ahh. While we were eating dinner he was talking about Gage helping him and turned to him with such admiration and said, "You are the best teacher, Gage!" It was so sweet. Gage just beamed, he was so proud.

Permit, yikes!

Am I really old enough to have a teenager driving? Gavin got his driving permit last week. He is so excited and has been bugging me to death to drive. Everyday after school he wants to go drive, errands, hauling garbage, whatever, just to get behind the wheel. So if you are headed to church or to the store and one my vehicles is driving really slow around the lake, that's Gavin behind the wheel, not me (not that I don't drive the speed limit:)). We seem to have a train of cars behind us until the road straightens out. I will be very excited when he has his license and can run over to town by himself and run errands for me.

Back to School

Does it make me a bad Mom to be so glad my kids are going back to school? I loved having them home, we did so many fun things this summer. But, I love that they are going back to school, so I can get something done. It will be nice to have a few moments of peace and quiet without all of the fighting.

Gracie was by far the most excited for school, but the boys were excited too, and a little nervous, even Gavin. They all had a hard time falling asleep. Except for Gavin, each one of them woke up at some point in the night and couldn't go back to sleep for over an hour. They are going to be dragging, as is Mom. I should go back to bed instead of uploading pictures to my blog and Facebook.

Gavin is in 10th grade this year, a Sophomore. Am I really that old?? He has a tougher schedule this year, we'll see how we do. Gracie is in 4th grade and got the teacher she has been hoping for since the first of 3rd grade, Mrs. Baker. Gage is in 2nd grade and got the teacher I had been hoping for, Mrs. Feldmann. The twins are in 1st grade, all day this year!!! (You should see my cartwheels, they are really not that good) They didn't put them in the same class, which I wanted to try, but that's okay, I guess. Berek got Gage's teacher from last year, Mrs. Gladney, and we love her. Bridger got Ms. Nash and I think we will really like her, too.

Canopy (zip-line) and ATV Jungle tour

As promised, here are a couple photos from our zip line experience. It was a blast. We bought the DVD that they make during your whole tour and the crew was really funny and friendly. My boys were so funny when they watched it because they are so protective of me and didn't think these guys should be that close to their Mom. There was one zip line that they sent me down without holding the line and it made me spin backwards and it was a really fast line. One of the crew, the one I am on the 4-wheeler with, zipped a long behind me and caught me. As he was watching, Berek said, "Mom, does he like you, why did he do that." Then Gage said I shouldn't be hugging other guys when Steve took a picture of me with the whole crew. And Bridger didn't like me on the 4-wheeler with the guy doing the wheelies (he had all of the girls on the tour get on to scare us to death). Too funny.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

We had a blast in Puerto Vallarta this last week. After a summer home with the kids, I needed a break, I know you all did too, you should have come with. Steve and I were alone until Wednesday night when my Dad met up with us there. We went diving, where we got to hold a small octopus, my kids are so jealous. We took a catamaran tour to a bay that was lit with only torches and candles for a show and dinner. We took a city tour and ate fresh seafood in a fisherman's village in the jungle. We played in the ocean and layed out and relaxed by the pool and on the beach. I got sick from the water??? maybe, but Pepto kept me going. We went on a canopy zip line and ATV jungle tour that was awesome, those pictures are to come. I really only wanted to do the ATV part (because I am a big chicken) but ended up sailing above the jungle on 12 different zip lines and luuuuved it!!!

My Babies are Six

I haven't blogged all summer, our life has been so crazy. So it takes a birthday to get me back in the groove by putting together a "birthday slide show". I had so much fun going back through the pictures. I had forgotten how little Gage was when they were born, he was just a baby himself.

The twins have been so excited for their birthday. They got to have their first friend birthday party and we had, including my kids, 19 or 20 kids at the party. A little crazy, but a lot of fun. The pinata didn't break all over the place and I had to throw the candy at them, but that's okay. They played in the water and on the playground.

Later that night (this was all on Wednesday, the 12th) we had the family party. Their main gift from Mom and Dad were their much needed new bikes. Bridger had to learn to ride a bike on his friend's bike, because his old one was too small. They love them, and Bridger had his first crash. Berek still has the training wheels on his because he is a big chicken, but a cute chicken.

Happy Birthday, Boys (not babies anymore, I guess, but always my babies(sniffle)).

Taylor Swift

Tuesday night was the Taylor Swift concert that the girls have been looking forward to for months. Shannon took her three girls, Mrs. H (incase she doesn't want her name on the blog) took her three girls, and I took Gracie. We went out to eat, first (Cafe Rio, my favorite) and then off to the Delta Center (I know that is not what it is called anymore, but that is what I still call it. I can never remember its real name). A band named Gloriana opened. Kellie Pickler was supposed to sing, but she was sick. Taylor Swift puts on a great show. It isn't just music. She adds a lot of props and special effects, like when the rain falls with the words "No", "Me" and "Why" in it (that was really cool). The girls loved all of the extras she added to each of her songs. For instance, the background changed to look like a library and she sang, sitting at a table with a boy, for the song "Drew". It was great, except for the cable that hung down from the ceiling right infront of center stage from where I sat. What is up with that. You'd think they would have the technology not to have to block view to get to their equipment.

Sorry About the Music

I don't know what is up with the music on my blog. I haven't changed anything, but apparently there is a glitch. So, until I get a chance to play with it and figure it out, Sorry.

Memorial Weekend

For the weekend we had the best camping spot. We wanted to go camping, but didn't want to be around all of the other campers, so we decided to go to my grandparents'. They have a grass field between two rows of trees and a pond. It was so nice. The kids had a ball playing in and around the pond. We had a great camp fire. The kids could ride around on the ranger and 4-wheelers without having to worry about them getting in other peoples way. We did get some rain, but that was okay. Along for the weekend were Steve's Mom and husband, his sister, Andrea and her kids, our friends, the Harvey's, my sister and her girlfriend, and my Mom. We had a great time.

Finally Get to Mow

This is kind of a late post, but we finally got to mow our grass about a week ago. We planted early fall of last year, but it just never got long enough to mow, until last week. It is starting to fill in more and actually look like a real lawn. It is so nice not to have dirt out my back patio. Front Yard? Probably not this year, real estate needs to pick up!

Happy Mother's Day

We got the kids out on the porch for a picture on Mother's day. They were pretty easy, this time, as far as taking pictures go. We usually have atleast one that won't cooperate. My Mom's dog had to get in the picture too.

Tuckered Out

This is my very cute little niece, Makaila. I watched her and her 6 month old sister for a few days a week or so ago. Makaila loves my boys and would wait, so impatiently for them to come home from school each day. When they got home they would play and play. She passed out on the couch after a hard day, with one of the many pairs of shoes that she had on that day. She loves shoes, I finally had to lock my closet to keep my shoes from littering the house, so she just went after the boys.

Piano Recital

You'll have to bear with me, I am finally getting to my blog, so there is going to be a few new entries.

Gage and Gracie had their annual Spring Piano Recital on the 2nd. They both did really well. Gage did the cutest bow after he played his pieces and it was so cute. The girl before him bowed and I think he just wasn't quite sure if he was supposed to, also. He has almost been playing for a year and Gracie for 2 years. They were less nervous this time, so I it must be true that the more you perform the easier it gets.