Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's funny that when you start a tradition, it all of a sudden becomes a force you cannot control. The kids have been talking about their green lunch for a week now, and last night we had to stop at the store to buy the supplies. And then, they begged me to go to another store because the one did not have gold coins or brownies with green frosting. Tragedy. So, after crossing the tri-city area in search of supplies, we have an official "green lunch." Even Reed got one this year. He was super duper excited. I could tell. Thanks to Niki for ordering the bread. You are a champ. Did the leprechaun turn your toilets green too?

HaPpY BiRtHdAy JaKe!

Today is my baby's birthday. The man cub is eight years old, and as he told me yesterday, "I have to grow up now." Roughly translated that means no more sitting on my lap at church. We love him for so many reasons, but here we will share eight.

1. He is funny. He loves to mock his sisters, and tell jokes. When we were at Torey's science fair he was considering commandeering the microphone on the stage, in order to entertain the crowd while we waited. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that we were finally allowed in to see the kids. He reads joke books at reading time, and can have them locked in the vault after reading them two times. This is what he told me. He can also recall them at the perfect time. We drove past a pawn shop one day and he read the sign and said, "What do you call a pig in a pawn shop?" A ham hock. Ha, ha, ha. We have also heard that he has a small crowd at recess that he entertains with jokes and skits.

2. He is good. He has a very keen sense of right and wrong. He does not like to be yelled at or punished, so he is always very good.

3. He is cuddly and sweet. Just what a mom wants. He also uses words like "glorious" and "wonderful" to describe his friends, family, or his day. He loves life and is very optimistic and happy.

4. He loves the Lord. Ever since he was a little boy, he has called Sunday "Church Day" and "Church day is my favorite day."

5. Every girl is crazy about a sharp dressed man. Jake is a very dapper dresser. He takes suit wearing very seriously, and has even sported a pocket square on occasion. This also includes Old Spice deodorant and Axe body spray. We can't be stinky. He can be casual for school, but when the occasion calls for more effort, more effort is expended!

6. Jake loves everyone, and as a result, everyone loves Jake. He is very friendly.

7. Jake has a Yeti attack. Trust me, you do not want to be on the receiving end of the Yeti.

8. Jake is very smart and he is constantly trying to be smarter. He has a very good memory and loves math. He says he is a "math head."

This is a little about Jake at eight. I failed to mention that he loves basketball and baseball, playing with friends, and hanging out with "C shift" at the fire station. He also loves Bionicles, Transformers, and playing Wii. And last but not least, this is what he wrote on the program at church. "I am awesome. It is true." He has a lot of confidence. Will you please comment with your favorite joke. We need some new material!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner....

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present a first place winner in the annual elementary school science fair. Apparently she was the last one named and there was some hand wringing and nervousness involved. And then, when all hope was lost, she heard her name and almost cried tears of joy. I got a phone call soon after to relay the information, and the reaction was almost the same. Almost. Congratulations to Torey and the rest of the winners, some of whom read this blog. But most importantly, let's wash those hands after sneezing, we don't want those germs to spread - that's gross.

A Teenager Today...

Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday dear Taylor. Happy Birthday to YOU!

Taylor is turning 13 on the 13th. It is her golden birthday! Here is what Taylor does at thirteen:

1. She rolls her eyes.

2. Her parents are lame, but not the lamest parents she knows.

3. She plays a mean game of basketball.

4. She does extra credit in math even though she doesn't need to.

5. She works her tail off to get straight A's.

6. She wears mascara and sometimes eye shadow.

7. She is still not too big to cuddle.

8. She is the beehive class secretary.

9. She is her mom's great helper.

10. She hogs the t.v. watching sports and driving her siblings mad.

11. She is slowly letting go of her moving grudge. (Maybe!?!?)

12. She is becoming quite a young lady.

13. She is very courageous, and knows who she is.

14. She is confident most of the time, but sometimes not.

15. She is the best big sister Jake and Torey could have.

16. Jake says she is very pretty. We agree.

17. She is going to be tall, we hope. She wears an 8 1/2 and has grown three inches lately, but strangely enough she is still a midget.

18. She has spent more time in front of the mirror the past year than she has the twelve years prior.

19. She has a strong testimony.

20. As one lady in the ward put it, "She is very impressive."

Taylor we love you more than anything in the whole world. You are the best. Hug, Hug. Kiss, Kiss.

Weekday Update...

The posts have been few and far between lately. Reed took a trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland to the National Fire Academy. While he was away he got to see Gettysburg, Babe Ruth's birthplace, and Oriole Stadium - he even managed to take a class. He was the most generous traveling father in the world as he brought us all home souvenirs. The kids received awesome t-shirts, and in their excitement forgot to mourn the fact that there was no hotel soap to be had. It is traditionally their souvenir of choice. While Reed was away learning and stuff, we worked on Torey's science fair project:

and Taylor's history fair project. This has a vent associated with it. It was a pretty major project. Lot's of time spent, copies made, dollars expended. At least $50. Several trips to the store, paper to buy, things to mount. We even bound a little book. We laid awake at night debating the merits of a cardboard display board vs. a wood one. Hinges or duct tape? Thumb tacks or tape. Color or black and white. And then.... the teacher says, "I don't actually want you to bring the board in. Just take pictures of it and email them to me." What? WHAT? WHAT?!?! That was my reaction. Whatever. It looks awesome. We scored 200/200. So, I got an A. I mean Taylor got an A.
Here is a 2 week old picture of our house. We pulled up to see it while Reed was gone and Jake says right off the bat, "Is that our brick. It is ugly." Great times.
This is the family room. More specifically the floor. I really like it. I am sure it will show the dust like the dickens. I don't care now because I don't live there. One day I will care. The prettiness kind of softens the blow a little.
Moving day is getting closer and I have learned two things about myself. I don't like change, and I am not capable of making adult decisions. That's what Dad's are for. I keep thinking I should call him...

A Helpful Tip...

Jake told me to tell every boy I knew to NEVER pee on an electric fence. I thought this advice was worth passing on. In other news.... Did you know they made clear duct tape? They do. We used it for Taylor's history fair board. Worked like a charm. The girls are both busy with basketball. Taylor is starting softball. Jake has RSV. Torey has the science fair. The house is still not sold. Our other house is coming along too fast, and Reed has been in Maryland all week. Does anyone have any gift ideas for a thirteen year old girl? We can't think of a thing.

Goodbye 2009....

We said a fond farewell to 2009 with an apple cider toast and the annual banging of pots and pans.

Earlier in the day we took advantage of the fresh snow and went sledding at Grandpa Mark's.
It was our last New Year's Eve in our home so we are a bit sad. The house is officially for sale now, and we are looking forward to what our new home will bring. Translation: We have decided to pull up our big kid pants and deal. It was a painful realization.

Welcome 2010 - We can't wait to see what you have in store for us.