UEA WEEKEND

The kids got out of school early on Wednesday Oct. 15, and they didn't have to be back to school until Tuesday Oct 21, so we decided to go camping and hunting with daddy. The hunt didn't start until Saturday morning so we just hung out rode the 4 wheelers and the boys went bird hunting since we couldn't hunt deer till Saturday. This is the girls waiting for breakfast to be cooked while standing by the fire. It was freezing in the morning and and night but during the day it was light hoodie weather it was so nice.

Brayden is not in any pictures with the rest of the kids because every time the camera was out he was nowhere to be found. But I finally got him. He decided he was going to get up early Saturday morning and go hunting with dad. He got hiked pretty good. He was so tired when they got back. But he enjoyed his one on one time with dad.

This is Jakob, Jordan, and Andrew shooting the pellet guns at cans while they wait for their breakfast to be cooked. They had fun walking the trails looking for grouse and shooting the 20 gauge shotgun. Their favorite thing that they would not stop bugging us about was riding the 4 wheelers. They think since they know how to drive them and control them that they are allowed to do it at anytime. Their plans were squashed quickly though because they could only drive by themselves if they have taken a 4 wheeling course and gotten a license for youth. So needless to say in February Andrew, Brayden, and Lexi will all be taking the course together.

Ciarra is a big time dog lover and she would not leave my brother's dog JR alone all week. She kept making our dog Shooter cry and whine cause she would pay more attention to JR then Shooter. It was this way last hunt also. She kept hugging and babying JR like she did this year. She kept telling us he was her horse.

This is a picture of Ciarra and her Horse. Aren't they cute together. Poor JR couldn't get away from her at all no matter where he went.

Baylee and Lexi finally have gotten over their fear of being by a big dog. This is a big thing for them since we got our dog they have still been skeptical, but this is the first time since they have gone up to Jon's dog and touched and played with him. Hopefully all their fears will be gone. We had a lot of fun this week. We came back Sunday night cause daddy had to work Monday morning for a couple of hours. Then we took Brayden out for his Birthday. After we got back from the movie daddy left with Uncle Jon and went back up hunting for the rest of the week. So hopefully he won't come back empty handed this year.

Happy Birthday Brayden

Brayden turned 10 years old today. Man I am aging quick. I can't believe how fast time goes by. Why can't they just stay 3 all of the time those are the funnest years. Brayden was a very cranky baby and that hasn't changed much in the last 10 years. But he is also the most loving and caring of all of them. He makes sure he always tells me he loves me every 2 hours when he is home or he will come up and hug me out of the blue to let me know he still loves me. Isn't that sweet. For his Birthday he has asked that we go see Beverly Hills Chauhau before dad leaves town again so we are going to go around 1:00 to fulfill his wish. He is so excited and so are the rest of the kids. He especially loves the fact that he got a PSP for his birthday. Hopefully now that he is 10 he will be more responsible like Andrew is. Since Brayden hates cake, pie, or anything to do with cake I will have to come up with something else to put candles in. What a weird child who doesn't like cake or pie for their birthday? We love you Brayden and hope you have a great day!!!!

Family Craft Night

Last night at family craft night at my moms house we made the cutest magnetic boards for the girl's room's. I took Lexi and Baylee shopping on Saturday so they could pick out their scrapbook paper that they wanted on their boards. Lexi picked out the blue and brown paper and her board was 16x20. It turned out soo cute we can't wait to paint her bedroom so she can hang it in her new room. She has finally decided she wants her own room cause she is sick of Ciarra and Baylee always messing it up after she has cleaned it so bye bye mommies craft room and Hello Lexi's new bedroom. She said I can still keep a small table up in her room so we can do crafts together though. Isn't she thoughful? Baylee's and Ciarra's boards are 8x10 and Baylee picked out the pink and black paper and of course the Supergirl stickers. And Ciarra's is the green and pink board. Of course for their magnents they had to pick out sayings like Whatever, Shut Up, LOL, on the DL, etc. We put the stickers on the same paper we used and glued a clear flat marble rock on top and glued a magnent to the back. They turned out so cute. Me, my mom, grandma, sisters and sister in laws and niece's had a lot of fun making them. It will be fun to see what craft we come up with for next month. We have been doing family craft night every month for over a year now and it is so much fun. My dad even started to do crafts with the other grandkids while we are doing ours to keep them entertained. My boys had a lot of fun gluing model planes and cars together and painting them. The girls also made door knob foam signs also with grandpa. They turned out soo cute.

Ciarra turns 3

Yesterday was Ciarra's 3rd birthday. I can't believe that it has been 3 years since she came into our lives. As you all know we only wanted 4 kids and Jeff didn't get fixed so along came Ciarra. I was so in denial because I was sure I was only going to have 4 and that's all that was coming to us. But when I finally accepted being pregnant with her and when I saw her for the first time my heart just melted. I am so greatful she is part of our family!! She has a one track mind and know's what she wants and how to get it. Last year when we had that big scare with her and she was in Primary Children's Hospital for almost 2 weeks I felt so guilty for ever feeling the way I did when I got pregnant with her, and I felt it was god's way of punishing me for my thoughts. But after everything that happened last summer with her I found the real reason was to be taught a lesson in Service and accepting help from others. It is because of all of our family and friend's blessings and prayers that Ciarra is celebrating with us today. Up above Ciarra wanted a Dora Cake and while I was decorating it she kept licking the frosting off of the sides "cause it was her's and she could do whatever she wanted cause it was her Birthday" is what she kept telling us all day long. Jeff's mom and dad and Joyce and Larry came by and she was so excited to get her bear and books. She slept with all of them. And today when she took her nap she took her bear and sticker book with her. Ciarra is so excited because today when daddy gets home he is going to take her shopping for her brand new bike that she gets to pick out all by herself. Happy Birthday Sweetie we love you.

They are finally Home

Jeff and Ciarra are finally home after being gone for 10 days in California at his sisters house. She had so much fun!!! She is still talking about as she calls her, her friend Jaquelyn. She keeps telling me she wants to go back to Jaquelyn's house.

They took Ciarra to Newport Beach while they were there and Jeff said she had so much fun digging in the sand and collecting sea shells. He said she was in the water and got scared once the waves started to get higher and higher on her. Then she found some crabs in the sand and started to freak out when they started to move by her. To the left is Jeff and CC collecting sea shells on the beach.

Here is Ciarra digging in the sand and filling up her bucket. Aunt Jill is on her phone in the background and grandpa Jensen in the back on the left. While daddy was hard at work the whole time he was there Ciarra was playing with her cousins and getting spoiled with all the attention she so greatly is in need of. (ha ha) I have to now spend this week trying to get her back on her normal schedule and try to deBRATitize her. They were only gone 10 days but she has changed soo much in that time. I can't believe in 4 more days she is going to be 3 years old. I am very greatful however to finally have my husband home to share in the nightly responsibilities of putting the kids to bed. They listen to him 10X's better than they do me.

Brayden Advances in Scouts

Brayden at Pack Meeting last night got his Bear. He finished it 1 month before his Birthday which is an accomplishment for him because he usually waits until the last minute. Congratulations Brayden we are sooo proud of you. In 20 more days you are going to be 10 and on your road to being a Webelos Scout. Keep up the good work little buddy. WE LOVE YOU and are PROUD to be your parents.

Very Lonely!!!

Jeff left town Sunday for a week and I am bored already. I thought getting a break away from him would make me bounce off the walls but I am so bored and lonely. He took Ciarra with him so I am by myself for 2 1/2 hours while all the kids are at school and I hate to say this but I can't stand it. I have always had a kid around since Andrew was born and it makes me feel a little useless as a wife and mother not to have to look after someone at all times of the day. My goal while he is gone and after I get Baylee off to Kindergarten is to get one room a day deep cleaned. So far one room down and 4 more to go. And surprise surprise the kids didn't mess it up after they got home yesterday. I can't believe how many toys Ciarra brings down a day. It is kind of nice not to be tripping on anything. I do however miss her constant talking and laughing and I think even the dog Shooter is missing her greatly. She is the only one that really pays attention to him even though she forces him to constantly sit and lay with her I think he misses it. He has been mopeing since she left. I am getting the hang of being a single mother but I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis that's for sure. Even though the kids are older and can do things for themselves they still are very demanding and I honestly don't know what they would do without me which gives me purpose when I am feeling depressed. This week has just made me realize how much I love and appreciate Jeff especially when it comes to putting the kids to bed!!!!

Family Update

It has been 3 whole weeks since the kids have started school and they are still loving it thank goodness!!! Andrew keeps getting told how cute and little he is by all the girls at school. Brayden is doing great with his school work wich is an improvement for him because he has been keeping up in class and has not had hardly any homework yet this year. Lexi loves her teacher and thinks she is the coolest teacher ever!!! Baylee is loving kindergarten and bugs me all morning until it is time for her to go to school. She sings us her songs that she has learned at school at night while we are tucking her in. Last but not least Ciarra is having a hard time adjusting to all of the kids being in school. We have a melt down every day after we drive Baylee to school. She cries all the way home because she doesn't understand why she can't stay there with her. Hopefully that will soon subside. Jeff is finally starting to get a little busier with work wich is a great thing for us meaning I might be able to hold off a little bit longer on finding a full time job.