31: our home from space

It was a slow picture day so I decided to borrow one from google maps. It's the satellite picture of our neighborhood..apparently just as our home was being built. Fortunately for us, there is still nothing behind us but the mountains!

30: death to rodent

How dare this mouse take residency in our home! It had no chance with the "jaws of life" clamping down on it! May this poor little creature rest in peace and not in my walls!

29: the trampoline

Against my better judgement, we got a trampoline! Actually we've had it in our garage since November..we just finally got around to putting it up. Thanks to our friend Carl who assisted Jim with the assembly, which on the box said fast and easy, and was neither.

I'm actually liking how it attracts them all to the backyard and out of the house! Wagers on who will have the first broken body part?

28: 100th day of school

100th day of school

27: pinewood derby

Here comes another 3 years of pinewood derbys...Jayden was so excited about tonight. He kept telling us all day, "it's o.k. if I don't win", but both Jim and I knew he really wanted to win, especially considering Skyler had won 1st place with all his pinewood derby cars. I take no part in the making of the cars, that's all Jim.. it's a dad thing! And Jim, Jayden can be proud as he won ever heat he was in and took 1st place in this years pinewood derby. I've never seen a more excited little boy!  

26: life's little milestones

Last night I asked Ryder to go grab a few books to read. He came down with the "Learn To Tie Your Shoe" book. I cringed..every time we read that book and start the process of learning to tie laces, Ryder ends up in utter frustration and the book gets launched across the room. I was patient, he was not! He was so close to getting it. This morning he woke up, got the book, and got into bed with me and was determined to tie the laces. I showed him a few more times and by george, he got it!  Those little chubby fingers actually tied his shoes. I felt a great sense of accomplishment at 7:00 a.m., as I had taught him this life skill. Grandma Watkins taught Skyler, Jim taught Jayden, it was finally my turn! Maybe I have gotten more patient in my old age...Nah!

25: yw pizza night

Our intentions were good!  For mutual tonight, we had planned to use our neighbors outdoor pizza oven, but apparently it had been damaged in the rain and wasn't working correctly. So quickly we went to plan B..moving the pizza's from the wooden oven paddle to cookie sheets to cook in my oven. This one did not fair too well, but it tasted delicious. Lesson for the night: Looks can be deceiving...It's not what's on the outside that is important!

24: the garlic pass

Strange that I'm posting a picture of garlic salt? About a month ago we were eating dinner and Jayden had the great idea to grab a bottle of garlic salt for everyone to pass around and say what they are grateful for. It has become a nightly tradition, as dinner is not complete without the garlic pass!

23: champions

The one time I don't have my camera and Skyler's team wins the entire tournament! This was the best I could get with my phone!

Congratulations Hawks..what an exciting finish!

22: hawks shootout

The victory circle! 

Skyler's team won both their games today in the HAWKS Shootout tournament. We were so excited when Grandpa showed up at the games, he must have been a good luck charm! Thanks dad for driving down..it meant a lot to Skyler!

21: computer night

I am so blessed to have such great friends...even more blessed that one of those friends is a technological genius! She is my mecca for all things techy! Tonight we had a computer night. She helped me organize my sad state of affairs which was my computer files. She generously let me cut and paste all her digital scrapbook stuff from her nicely organized files via external hard drive. So now, not only am I organized, but I have so many more digital elements to play with! Thanks Theresa for being so smart!!

20: book club

Book Club

We discussed the book "Keturah and Lord Death"..a book I enjoyed, once I got the full copy!

19: the most expensive grill pan ever

I get excited about the most simplest things! Albertson's began a program last fall: for every $10 you spent, you got a sticker. Collect those stickers and you can earn a pan for a penny. I need groceries, I shop at Albertson's {occasionally}, I could always use a new pan. I collected my stickers but they were not adding up as quickly as I thought they would. The end date was nearing and I was only about 10 stickers away from the grill pan I wanted. I sent Jim to the store for last minute sticker shopping. I got them! I finally made it to 80 stickers and got my pan. The most expensive pan I own..$800.01!

18: santa rosa plateau

Today I was a chaperone for Jaydens' class field trip to Santa Rose Plateau. I got the full experience: the kids, the bus, the sack lunch. I kinda think Jayden loved having me!

17: play day at mulligans

 Thanks to Martin Luther King Jr., the kids had the day off school. We spent the day at Mulligan's with the Warren's, the Hunter's and Skyler brought his friend Jorge. It was a very warm day and I had a headache induced by obscene amounts of bumper boat and go kart fuel..the things we do for our kids enjoyment. Ryder loved that he was big enough for the go karts..his smile says it all.