I am thankful for. . .

When the kids were in daycare one thing they did every November was talk about the things they are thankful for; as we all do.  One of the ways Kim (our daycare provider) did this was she made a turkey with no feathers.  Every morning she would ask the children what things they were thankful for and write them on a feather and tape it to the turkey. 

Doug and I have chosen to continue this tradition and have made our own turkey.  Our permanent turkey (the colored one) still needs to be laminated that way we can use it every year.  This year our turkey is blank but already has lots of feathers as you can see.  We aren't very good at remembering to do it every day, but we do the best we can.  The kids have enjoyed this activity some of the things they have come up with are Dad's job (Masyn), Mom staying home (Ayden) for Masyn (Ryleigh), their is a definite variety.  We give the kids ideas but they ultimately decided what will be written down.  I am going to have to find a way to document each thing at the end of the month!

Happy Halloween!!

For the first time in several years Doug and I went to a Halloween party (Thank you Emily and Christian! It was a blast!).  Yes costumes were a necessary part of this party.  They were so great and even had a camera up to take pictures of all who attended.  Doug came (prepare yourself!) as a police officer and I was a prisoner.  Doug had to work later in the evening and was planning on leaving directly from the party so it worked for us.



In my family we always try to get the kids together for trick or treating.  This year with Halloween being on a Monday night Doug and I decided to stay home and take the kids around our neighborhood.  We invited others if they wanted to go.  Below is a picture of all but the babies that came.  We ended up having 13 kiddos come trick or treating (this includes babies).  Everyone had lots of fun.

From left to right: Adriana (witch), Masyn (Buzz Lightyear), Ayden (police officer), Ryleigh (witch), James (pirate) Katie Jo (pirate) Quincey (dragon fighter)

Because we had so many kids I had to become a "line leader" no kids were allowed to pass me and I assigned who rang the doorbell.  After they received their candy and said thank yous my mom would send them down to find me and line up again; Ryleigh's broom became really handy when she got tired of carrying it. 

Here is a picture of Ryleigh, Ayden and Masyn after trick or treating.  It took several tries to get this one!

The kids has a blast carving pumpkins this year also!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Happy birthday Ryleigh!!

I can't believe Ryleigh is 5 years old!!  She has been such a blessing in our lives.  Ryleigh's favorite thing to play right now is babies.  We bought her a doll swing/high chair and she has played with it all night!  She loves to go to story time at the library and even though she doesn't participate she knows exactly what is going on.  Ryleigh is also very anxious to start school next fall, it took a lot of convincing that she couldn't go to school right when she turned 5.

For her birthday she requested a princess cake, specifically sleeping beauty.  I knew I could quite make that but told her I would do my best.  Below is a picture of Ryleigh and her cousin Adriana with their cake. (Adriana is less than 24 hours older than Ry).

Worms and dirt cake

Doug and I went to a halloween party this last week and had a blast.  There was a contest for "scariest" dessert.  I made the following:

Jell-O worm dirt cake
Bloodworms
 Wax Paper
100 flexible plastic straws
1 empty, cleaned 1-quart milk or orange juice carton to hold straws (I used a popcorn box that I bought at target for $1)
1 pkg (6 oz) raspberry or grape flavor jello (I used a small box, I think that may have helped the worms look more opaque)
3 envelopes of unflavored gelatin (1 box has four envelopes)
3 cups boiling water
3/4 Cups= whipping cream
12-15 drops of green food coloring

Combine gelatins in a bowl and add boiling water; stir until gelatins are completely dissolved. Chill until lukewarm, approximately 20 minutes (mine took like 30 minutes).
While gelatin is chilling pull straws to full length and place in tall container. Wrap straws together loosely with a rubber band, so the straws stay together. Blend cream and food coloring with lukewarm gelatin (I mixed the food coloring and the cream first then added it to the gelatin). Carefully pout into container, filling straws. Chill until the gelatin is firm, at least 8 hours, or cover and chill up to 2 days (I let mine chill overnight).

Pull straws from the container, or if using a carton, simply tear it away from the filled straws. Pull straws apart. Run hot tap water for 2-3 seconds over 3-4 straws at a time. Starting at the empty end push worms out with a rolling pin or use your fingers.

Lay worms on wax paper lined baking sheet (I put mine into a bowl all grouped together). Cover and chill until read to use, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Worms hold at room temperature for about 2 hours.

Recipe from http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/09/jell-o-blood-worms.html

Dirt Cake
1/2 Cup butter (I didn’t use this and it tasted great!)
1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese
1/2 Cup of powder sugar
2 (3.5 oz) pkgs of instant vanilla pudding mix
3 1/2 Cups milk
1 (12 oz) container frozen cool whip, thawed (I whipped the rest of my whipping cream added about 3/4 Cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla)
32 oz Oreo cookies

Chop cookies very fine in a food processor, the white cream will disappear. Mix butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a bowl. In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping together. Once incorporated combine your cream mixture with your pudding mixture.

I used a casserole dish and layered my pudding mixture and then some worms then crushed cookies. I ended with the cookies and then used my hand to pull some worms to the top of the crushed cookies to appear as though they had dirt on them. Once complete I chilled the whole thing until it was time to leave, which was about 2-3 hours.

Recipe from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/dirt-cake-i/detail.aspx

Here are a couple of pictures of the treat!!

 Believe it or not they are not real worms!!

And, yes we won first place!!!

SNOW DAY!!!!

Ever have those days where you don't really want to get up and get moving for the day?  Me too!! Today was one of those for sure.  I went to bed not really believing that we were going to get the 8+ inches of snow they were predicting.  BOY was I wrong!!!  We woke up this morning to our trees being pushed down by the snow, you could only see where the bushes were because of the small lumps in the snow.  I checked weather reports at 6:15 knowing that there was no way for school to be cancelled; sure enough it wasn't!  So I get the kids up and moving so we can leave a few minutes early.  Just as we are all bundled up I get a text from a mom whose kids I drive to school saying that school had been cancelled.  As much as I wanted to believe it I went to the source, Facebook (because we all know everything is on there).  I even doubled checked the news page and sure enough school was closed due to power outages!  WAHOO!!!  Then I had the realization I didn't know what to do with the kids today, Doug had to work tonight so we had be somewhat quiet.  So here is what we ended up doing with our blessed snow day!!!

Ayden has his diorama for school that he finished in the morning with some help from Mom and Dad when needed.  While this was going on Ryleigh, Masyn and I were peeling every crayon that we had because they were all too small and we were doing our own project!



Thanks to this blog (Ashley always has great ideas!) we came up with a great activity for those crayons. We destroyed them into little bits and then melted them into new crayons. We ended up making around three dozen of these people crayons, now the kids suddenly want to use crayons again!
 

 In between the crayons melting and cooling we watched the new "Winnie the Pooh" (or nimmy poop, as Masyn says).  We went to see it in the theater with the kids and they have loved that silly movie, plus it reminds me of when I was younger watching Winnie the Pooh. 



This was where I think we had the most fun for the day!  We finally got all bundled up and went outside to play in the snow.  You can see that poor Masyn is standing in the snow and it is up to his crotch.  Snowball fights, snow angels, rolling around and taking a snow bath, what can beat that right?  Then we decided to build a snowman, which then turned into a snow dinosaur.  I don't think it quite turned out the way I thought it would, but pretty good for three kids helping out!  You can kind of see his tail and spikes on his back. 

You can see that it is taller than Masyn as well.

 To end our day we came inside drank hot apple juice and then made breakfast for dinner.  Trying to be the "cool" mom I made the first letter in each of the kid's names for pancakes, this turned into what crazy shape pancakes could Mom make that the kids liked. 

All in all I would say it was a good snow day!

The Project!

 As many of you know Ayden started a new school this year.  He is attending a brand new charter school named Loveland Classical School.  This school has a difficult curriculum; he is learning things in second grade that I am needing to learn now as an adult so that I can help with homework.  The school utilizes Singapore math (I still don't know what this is and am learning it as he goes through it) also they use the Riggs system with English.  With Riggs the kids aren't necessarily taught how to spell by rote and memorization, they are learning by phonograms and the rules of English.  These I am most definitely learning with him.  While the course work is challenging it can be a lot of fun.  Ayden has his first diorama project for his History class.  Here are the specifics straight from his assignment sheet:

A shoe box diorama, using clay, cardboard, figurines etc must include but is not limited to the following:

- A River

-Choose an animal that represents life (food, clothing, shelter, tools)

-Places/Shelters where the people live (has to fit the time period so no mansions)

-Demonstrate people working together

-An area where crops can be grown

-Come up with at least one "thing" that your civilization specializes in.  For example, the Indus people made jewelry; you cannot use jewelry in your project.

Ayden and I talked about what he wanted the day he came home.  Ayden was convinced that his house had to have a kitchen, bedroom and so on; it didn't matter how much we discussed about what things were really like he was not changing his mind, that's when I knew it was Dad's job to help. 

Below is a picture of his diorama.  He is pretty happy with it, he came up with what he wanted and we help give ideas on how to execute it and assisted when needed.  Doug built the house in the back and I built the ladder.  His people and rice bowls we purchased and he decorated, the cow was from the toy box.  It was fun to watch him put it together.

We only hope that he has met the criteria for the project!

Life in the fast lane gets pulled over!

For a long time Doug has been talking about wanting a career change from band teacher to police officer.  I wasn't too keen on it and frankly often though "why leave the job you have right now, jobs are hard to find and the economy sucks."  Doug and I have conversations after conversation about ways to make the switch.  The conclusion we came to every time was reality; we needed the paycheck to pay the bills.

It was March of last year that Doug called me at work to let me know how his meeting with his principals went.  In the conversation he informed me that the school district was not renewing his contract, due to revamping of the teaching position.  I was devastated . . .my mind started racing with how are we going to pay the bills, are we going to be able to provide for the kids like we should.  After hanging up the phone with Doug I went to the back room at the bank and cried.  The entire day I struggled with how we were going to make ends meet.

When I got home that night I remember Doug saying that everything was going to be okay.  He immediately started looking for jobs.  The next day he found out because he was "laid off" he would qualify for unemployment.  The was a HUGE blessing; after discovering this Doug decided it was time to make the change.  We took the leap of faith and Doug applied to a couple of different police academies in hopes to get into one.  He had immediate success with Red Rocks Community College.

It was a difficult decision to make, as we knew out schedules would be crazy - I worked full time and often hit 50 hours a week or more, and Doug consistently would have 12 hour days or longer plus his homework when he finally got home.  Some days started as early as 6am, and occasionally keep him there as late as 10:30.  On the really late days, he would stay at my grandparent's house in Lakewood and get up the next day and go to school from there.  What a blessing it was that my Grandma and Grandpa Hess were there, ready and willing to take Doug in for those nights. 

Our daycare provider, Kim was also seemingly sent here just for us.  She moved to Loveland and into our church ward about the same time as we did.  She opened an in home daycare shortly after.  We quickly became good friends.  She watched the kids while Doug was still teaching and I managed the bank.  If it seemed our kids lived at her house before the academy, it was even more so once Doug started there.  During this time, our home was scarcely more than the place the ate a late dinner, took the occasional bath, and slept.  Kim and her husband Tyson proved to be true friends and a blessing to us, just as I'd like to think we were to them.  Tyson's business was faltering and was in the process of closing down.  Just as much as Kim and Tyson needed the money from our kids attending their daycare, we needed them and their patience with the long hours our kids stayed there, sometimes up to eleven or twelve hours a day. 

Ayden patiently waited in the after school care program at Linton Elementary where he attended each day until I could pick him up after I got off from work.  usually he was one of the last kids to be picked up.  My sister helped me several times a week by letting him eat breakfast at her house and taking him to school, and them picking him up and taking him to the bank for me.  Thank goodness for the help and love of family members!

Thankfully Doug qualified for the unemployment which helped to put our minds at ease about paying bills and staying afloat, but we still were unsure of how we were going to pay for the academy.  now, I would be lying if I said I was completely faithful through this major trail in our lives, in fact I was as far from it as anyone could be.  Another blessing was that with Doug's contract with the Army National Guard he can receive free in state tuition at state colleges and universities.  With this benefit and grants that he received we only had to pay about $1700 to the school, plus his supplies.  As Doug often says, "God bless the Army."

Once again, I learned that good things come to those who are faithful (I was not fully convinced yet that this was the right way to go.)  Just days before starting the academy and Doug making the expensive drive to Lakewood 5 days a week, he received a call from his unemployment case manager informing him that because he was going to school to become a police officer that he was eligible for a 50% increase in his benefits.  This was another blessing because we were gonna be putting a lot of money towards gas for his commute. (You would think I would get the picture, right?)

After being accepted to RRCC Doug started looking for agencies to apply for.  He had already been through one process for Fort Collins PD (let me tell you that they call it a process because it is a loooooong process, like MONTHS!) He had applies for Loveland PD just before school started.  About a week or so before school started Doug received a call saying that they wanted him to come in for a physical fitness test, this so happened to coincide with is first day of class.  After long deliberation with his coordinator at school he attended the PT test.  Eventually he was placed on the eligibility list, and that was the last we heard from them for a long time.

Throughout the semester Doug was continually looking for jobs; he applied with Colorado State Patrol, Arvada PD, Colorado Springs PD, Fort Collins OD, the list can go on I am sure.  I had many times where I was frustrated and felt like we were not doing the right thing; Doug was confident.  I put my faith in him and hoped that he was correct.

Finally towards the end of the semester Arvada PD wanted to interview him.  He went and conducted the interview which ended in a conditional job offer.  we were so excited, finally I felt like I had received the confirmation that I was looking for.  A very short time after this Doug was contacted by Loveland to come in for an interview, we bother were very excited for this one (it meant no moving.) Shortly after this Doug was provided another conditional job offer and then a short time later Arvada's conditional offer turned into a full job offer, in which they wanted him to start before the New Year!  To add to the decisions Colorado Springs had also thrown in a conditional job offer as well.  So then we were torn - what do we do?  Do we take Arvada because it is for sure, or do we turn it down and stay with Loveland, hoping the conditional offer would turn into a full offer that wouldn't start until mid to late February.  Needless to say we were ecstatic about three job offers, but anxious at the same time!

We found it easy to pass on Colorado Springs, which was not a move we really wanted to make but would have if needed.  Plus it involved Doug going through a second police academy.  SO it was between Arvada and Loveland.  The struggle was that Arvada was a sure thing and he would have started within days of completing the academy and Loveland was still completing background, interviews, and his polygraph test; we were looking at a start date of the end of February.  After lots of praying we decided to pass on Arvada and have faith that Loveland would work out.  It was a decision filled with angst as Doug called Arvada to thank them for the offer, but turn it down with no firm offer of employment from another agency.  It was a time filled with prayers -- lots of them!

Finally, after weeks of waiting, a psych interview here, a polygraph there, out faith was rewarded with an official job offer from Loveland PD - just as his unemployment insurance money ran out.  It was a sweet sigh of relief for all of us.  Doug started in house training with them in late February, and just three short weeks later, I quit my job.  On a side note Kim closed the daycare and moved to Denver and then Montana for a better job for her husband just weeks after I came home to stay with the kids.

On October 4th Doug was officially sworn in as a police officer for the city of Loveland.  We recognize that this small test of faith for us is now rewarded with what we needed.  List doesn't always turn out the what you think it should; sometimes it turn out better that you ever hoped it would!  Here are a few pictures from the swearing in ceremony.

Doug taking his oath to serve and protect.

Signing the post certification contract

This is hard to see, but these are the badges each of the kids received to remember that their Daddy has an important job.



Police Chief Hecker "pinning" badges on the kids.

Everyone showing off their badges.

Happy Birthday Ayden!

It is hard to believe that Ayden is seven years old.  It seems like yesterday that I was headed to the hospital to be induced.  What happened to the time? 

He has grown into an energetic and spunky boy.  Ayden has been such a blessing in our lives.  He has a comedic relief in times of stress.  Ayden also loves to learn, I remember being impressed with how he wanted to soak up everything he came in contact with.  This passion has continued on through school and at church, I hope this passion continues throughout his life. 

 For his birthday Ayden requested a dinosaur cake.  Here is the final product.  When we sang happy birthday and lit the candles, we had to find a way to block Masyn because he kept blowing out the candles.  Ayden eventually was successful in blowing them out after three tries of blocking Masyn! 

Ayden was super excited to have gotten a skateboard from Grandma and Grandpa Kile.  He has attempted to ride it a few times and has loved it every time. 

I love this kid and can't imagine what my life would be without him.  He has taught me many things in the time that he has been on earth. 

Happy Birthday Ayden!!!

I love my kiddos!!!

I love watching the kids grow and see their imagination grow. I captured this picture through the doors (that is why there is a weird glare) during Ryleigh's quiet time one day. I got busted taking picture of her and she wasn't happy about it. I asked her what she was doing and she said "What was I supposed to do Mom they were all crying at the same time!" So cute!!

Rencently we switched rooms around that the boys share a room.  I went in to check on them one night just before I went to bed and found this.  I am not really sure how Masyn slept through that!

Masyn came into my bed one morning while I was showering.  Clearly his babies in their bed needed to come too!

Second grade already!!!!

The first day of second grade at yet another new school (it should be the last, hopefully)!!!!!

Family Pictures

Okay so I am really bad about taking pictures in general, but definitely family pictures.  These are the most recent pictures we had taken.  As you can tell one we are missing a child and the other Masyn is a newborn.

This was taken on the day we blessed Masyn he was only a couple of months old.

After being teased about it by my mom and my sister we finally got them done. Here is just one, if you want to see the others visit my wonderful sister's website. The password is ARM; and is case sensitive.

Camping

We went camping this last weekend and what a blast!! Unfortunately Doug has not had the chance to go yet this year (crazy work schedule). We had my parents, my older brother and one son, and my younger sister's family.

All of the kids loved to play with the dirt. As you can tell looking at Ayden. He was playing with a rock in the dirt. After rubbing it in the dirt he put it up to his mouth, of course mom got after him for that. Now look what happened!!!

My beautiful niece Aly! She is a cutie with her teeth. I couldn't get over her li'l hillbilly smile! 

Masyn thoroughly enjoyed "marmellow samwiches"  You can even see the dirt he still had on him.  I swear all of my kids tried to eat dirt at least once during the trip.  Poor Masyn had a runny nose so anytime the wind blew junk it stuck to his face. 

It was really warm on Saturday so we decided to let the kids play in the river a little.  The kids loved it and it served a dual purpose getting most of the dirt off while cooling down. 

This is my wonderful mother who apparently felt the need to rinse her hair out in the river.  Ryliegh decided that was a great idea and joined her!  Later on Ryleigh complained of a cold head.

Ayden showing how wet he got.

Everyone feeling cooled off and done playing in the water.

Like it my hat, Mommy!

Masyn has discovered his potty seat. . . . if he only knew what it was really used for.
(Good thing it hadnt been used yet!)

Tee Ball 2011

Tee Ball was a blast this summer.  With me being home now getting to practice was much easier.  Doug worked on some nights and stopped by when he could.  The kids loved showing off their Daddy in his police uniform to their tee ball friends.  This is a picture of their team (I am not really sure what Ryleigh is doing).  Ayden was one of the oldest on his team and Ryleigh was was on the younger side. 

I was too cheap to buy the big photo packages from the company doing the photos so I cheated! I wish Ryleigh would give a better expression.
 

Ryleigh kept saying she wanted to play but it took a couple of practices and promises of sitting on the sidelines for her to decide it was fun.  She had times where she didn't care about getting the ball and times when she tried the hardest.  It was cute to watch!

 

Ryleigh, Ayden and Adriana at their last game.