The New Year!

Hello All!

I'm am posting my resolutions in hopes of repeated looking at, I will stick to them better! :)

1. The ever and always - get in better shape and lose some weight - I am purposely leaving this very vague in the hopes that it won't scare me away with set times and dates. :) I am going to try and stick to a "for each minute I exercise I can freely allow 2 minutes reading!"

2. Set up a cleaning calendar - each week will feature one room/item of deep clean. This will of course concur with the normal daily cleaning.

3. Stick to a better budget - i.e. grocery shopping once a week (hence sticking to a menu for meals), only going across town once a week.

I am trying to not be unrealistic with resolutions this year. Short, sweet and to the point. No sense in making a lot I won't be able to stick to. I think I will try to set quarterly ones. That way, every three months I can reevaluate and determine what's working, what's not and make adjustments accordingly.

The Holidays were good here. I was scheduled to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after, all 12 hour days. So in light of this, Jas and I made the extremely hard decision of letting the boys go back to Whitehall with my parents when they came to get my sister and her family after they flew in here to Billings from Boston. I knew the boys would have so much fun with their cousins, aunts, uncles and Grandparents - it was just, of course, hard because Jas and I wouldn't be there with them having fun. But, all went well and they DID have a great time and I was able to (by the skin of my teeth) get Sunday off and head over to Whitehall myself that day. While there we ate A LOT of food, went swimming at Fairmont Hot Springs, and played some very competitive volleyball with the siblings, their husbands and some of the kids. It was so much fun and I still have bruised arms and one extremely bruised knee to show for it. I am considerably slower and less moblie than I used to be *sigh*, but I have to say, even with all the years gone by, my hands still have the "touch" and my sets are still 90% on mark! :)

We stayed home for New Year's, we had been invited to some friend's house, but I went into work that morning to cover a sick call and the boys were both sniffly so we decided to stay home.

Happy Holidays and may this new year bring you all your hearts desires! :)

Tyler's football picture this past fall.

Cody's football pic.

School pictures.

The boys goofing off while decorating the Christmas tree.

Ty helped me make his birthday cake this past year.

The best part of making cake - the beaters!!!

GO BRONCO'S!! Ty wanted a Boise State Smurf Turf cake - we did pretty good! :)

Snow

We finally got our first real snowfall last night! Yes, you heard right....finally! Fall is by far my favorite season, but Winter is a close second! These two seasons are just gorgeous! Now don't get me wrong I love my Spring and Summer flowers and my garden, but there's just something mesmerising about the changing of the leaves and trees and then the starkness of the vegetation before it all gets blanketed away by layers of snow! Getting to wear all the big loose clothing - wearing layers - not feeling the tips of your fingers when getting home from walking the kids to school (okay, I suppose I could leave that one behind:))! My only thing I would change is the roads. As everyone who has ever witnessed or had the "pleasure" of riding in a vehicle I am driving knows, I am a very aggressive driver - I should have been a cop!! - and when the roads turn to slush and ice my already present frustration mounts!!! I am NOT patient with slow or "stupid" drivers and they only increase their stupidity (and slowness) once the roads turn. Now once again, don't get me wrong, I DO slow down and use more caution, etc but people plain out forget!! how to drive in the snow! I would like to blame it on transplants into the state, but sadly most of these people hail from it - YIKES and double YIKES!! I have a few errands I need to run this afternoon before school gets out but I'm seriously debating just putting them off til Monday (I work the whole weekend). It is "Thankful Week" at school, so this past Monday I went and read with Tyler and then had lunch with him and Cody and today is Cody's class' day - so I will go in and read with Cody and then have lunch with the boys again. Cody is insisting I stay and go to recess with them and play kickback - which was fine on Monday - it was 45 and a little windy, but today is snow covered and COLD! But I will stay and I will play and I will have fun! But then I need to run the errands - hence the hesitation of doing it today! I just don't know if I could make it to the West end, get all the stuff done and then get back by the time school gets out, especially with the roads how they are. Sigh!
Ty's birthday was fun! Him and I made his cake. We did a sheet cake that has a Boise State Smurf Turf football field on it!! It was the bomb! Ty totally loved it, as did I and it tasted yummy if I do say so myself! My parents drove over after church and had dinner with us - Ty's favorite: steak, twice baked potatoes and corn! He told me that that is what he is going to have for every birthday! At-a-boy!! Jas hasn't downloaded the pictures yet for me, but when he does I'll post them!
It's been a while since posting on here so I need to update a little - the boys got report cards at the beginning of this month - my Cody got straight A's!! 4 A+, 5 A's and 1 A- I am seriously so proud of this kid!! He was the only one in his class to get all A's. At teacher conferences his teacher could not say enough good about him and was surprised to hear he had never been recommended for extended studies by any of his other teachers. So she got the ball rolling on that and Cody will start those this Spring. I get choked up and teary when ever I think about how well he's doing!
My Tyler did very well also! :) He got all S's (satisfactory/average) and G's (good/above avg) and one N (needs improvement) I want you all to try really hard to figure out what he got the N in - I know it may be really hard, especially knowing him, his brother and Dad (cause of course, he wouldn't get it from me! :)) Figured it out - YEP - Ty got an N on "takes turns and waits to speak" BAhahahaha Is he so not a Brunner! (and yes, including me) we have such a hard time keeping our knowledge to ourselves and taking turns! He too was praised by his teacher at conferences. Of course, he's a 6-year-old little boy and does what 6-year-old boys tend to do, and has had to pull his fair share of green tickets in class - in fact the other day he came home with a yellow slip explaining that he had his YELLOW ticket showing in class. SIGH!!! So, how it works is you start the day with 3 green tickets, 1 yellow ticket and 1 red ticket. Each time you are observed breaking a class rule you take a ticket. If all 3 green tickets are pulled and a yellow ticket is showing - you have 5 minutes in-class time out. If a yellow ticket is pulled and a red is left showing you have to do a 20 minute time out at a desk in the hall by the 2nd grade classrooms. If all tickets are pulled you have to go to the principal for a behavior plan - I think that's what it's called. So I asked Ty what he did to have a 5 minute time out and he said - "Well, I shouted out once (no big surprise- this is what he usually pulls tickets for), I got out of my seat without permission once and I don't remember the 3rd." Me: "Yes you do Tyler, WHAT did you do?" Ty: "Wwweeellllll, I think I accidentally punched a girl" I admit it I lost it - You WHAT!!! There is no such thing as an "accidental punch" Tyler!! He tried to make up some cockamaimee story about swinging his arms around and one accidentally hitting a girl. Seriously, I was not born yesterday kiddo! :) Anyway, I happened to volunteer the next day in his class and talked to the teacher about it - she said she caught it out of the corner of her eye and Ty looked like he had had enough of the little girl by him from the look on his face and hauled off and punched her in the leg. I guess at least it wasn't in the face, but still unacceptable!! so he was grounded and in his room for the rest of the day - what a stinker! :)
Anyway, I think that is all for now. Once Jas gets the pictures on the computer I will post them!

Kindergarten crushes

My Tyler is loving Kindergarten! Two days ago after school I was asking him about how his day went and he tells me "Good, and mom, today I got a crush on a girl and she got a crush on me and I made a new friend." Really? A crush? Wondering if he knew what this word meant, I proceed to ask him. "So Tyler, what does "crush" mean?" Should I really have been surprised that he actually knew what this word meant? No, he does have an older brother in 4th grade who has been talking about crushes for a couple years now. This was Tuesday, the day after the most awesome Boise State Broncos beat the Virginia Tech Hokies in a very very fantastic football game if I do say so myself (Kellen Moore kicks some serious QB butt!!). And the boys always like to talk golf and football to Coach (grandpa Don). So Ty was on the phone with him telling him later that night about his day and also proceeds to tell him about the crushes and new friend. Jason in the meantime meanders on into the bedroom where I'm lying down and asks if he just heard Tyler right? "Did he just say that he got a crush today?" "And a new friend." I replied. We giggle a little and I do a little forehead slap, cause seriously KINDERGARTEN!!! Anyway, the next morning we get to school, Cody goes to the back of the school to walk (that's where the BIG kids get to walk) and I'm walking with Ty. It is just too dang cute, every single person he knows, or suspects he knows, he'll say their name or tap them on the arm and say "Hey", sometimes with a little wave sometimes not. He'll look at me and say "I know him/her." I just love it. Anyway, after a couple laps we come up to this girl and he tells me her name is Celeste and she's the one he got a crush on and she gets this shy little smile on her face and nods. And they continue the rest of the laps holding hands until the bell rings. And I must say, she was adorable, Ty has good taste! :)

Tonight is open house at the school. We get to go in and see what they've been doing in class so far. I am just thrilled with the teachers my boys got this year! Cody has the most fantastic 4th grade teacher anyone could ask for. She had two boys of her own and just really relates to her students like no other!

You'd think with having both the boys in school that I would get myself on more of a schedule for workouts..... :) I keep telling myself.....tomorrow or next week......well today was yesterdays tomorrow, so I should get to work! .......sigh........ off I go........maybe :)

My camera was being very obstinate on the first day of school, so the picture of Ty was the only one I was able to take on that camera. I got more with Cody, but they are on Jason's camera, so I will post more once I get them on the computer.

Early morning pellet...........

When does pooping in the shower end? Or is this a rhetorical question when you have boys?

So.......this morning was shower day (another thing with having boys, to get them to bathe takes an act of God (and yet once they're in, it's nearly impossible to get them out:)), so we have set up shower days to be every other morning.....) Cody hops in first and after about 10 minutes I tell Ty to get ready and go get in when Cody's getting out. Well Ty goes in gets in the shower before Cody is out. No big deal, they do this often. But then I hear Cody come streaking out, running to my bathroom, where I am brushing hair, teeth, sleep from the eyes, etc....saying "Ty pooped in the shower." I stop mid brush and say "Whhuuutt?" (and mind you, Ty had been having some pretty serious gas that morning, so I shouldn't have been surprised). And Cody repeats, "Ty pooped a little pellet in the shower." GROSS!! So I go in the bathroom and ask Ty what's up and did he really poop in the shower. I didn't have my contacts in yet and hadn't put my glasses back on to go into their bathroom, so I'm having a hard time seeing the drain in the shower with the water still running. Ty is huddled at the far end of the shower and confirms what Cody had stated. Meanwhile Cody's standing in the doorway gagging....I really can't see anything, so I grab a Kleenex and fish around the drain and sure enough come away with a little green "pellet". Cody goes running to his room trying to not barf, Ty surprisingly isn't barfing or gagging........me, well, I'm trying to keep it together. I don't really want to laugh, cause it wasn't funny, I just had to fish a piece of turd out of the shower. So I ask Ty, why he pooped in the shower and Cody of course pipes up (because Cody always answers for everyone when asked a question......something we are working on correcting) "He got in the shower and farted at me and the pellet came out." OH MY GOSH!!!! Are you kidding me? I lost it! While trying to not let Tyler think this is okay, I laugh hysterically. But, EEEWWWW GROSS!!! At least it was in the shower though and not his pants!! :) May they never learn that you can light your farts on fire or our poor dogs will never be safe!!! :)

Snow and Ice cream

Billings is experiencing an unusual event......lots and lots and lots of snow. Now, we are not strangers to snow mind you, but the shear amount is, yes, quite shocking in it's rarity. We have almost tied the record for number of days in a row with snow on the ground. We have had 68 consecutive days of snow on the ground and counting. And as I sit here at work, on the forth floor looking out a patient room window, I see, yes, you guessed it, snow coming down. Big ol' fat flakes of it. So pretty, so prestine and so SLICK!!! :) And with how deep it already is, I really don't see it going away any time soon.


I got to sneak away from work for about a half hour this morning to catch a couple quarters of Cody's b-ball game. And of course, he had scored 6 points before I got there! Oh well! :) Go Cody!! He is doing really good, he again had a little of a fouling problem, but hey, who doesn't??? :)

After school on Friday, we went to Target and got ice cream. I love it, only in a select few states do you go for ice cream when it's freezing temps outside!! And keep your snow gear on while eating it!!

Tyler likes to wear his ice cream. Makes him feel closer to it I guess! :)

Emma (via Kietra) sent me a picture of her and Claire on my phone with the most adorable little "Hi Amber" message yesterday. So this is the pic I took of the boys and sent back to her with them saying "Hi Emma". It was fun.

The boys didn't sit very well at Jas' game last Monday, so they've lost video game priviledges for 2 weeks, it's been interesting watching them go without! They of course fight more, too much time on their hands!(and hence, get in trouble more), but I think this has been good for them!

I got the boys a snow castle building set yesterday at Target. It's pretty cool, there are 2 rectangular forms, one tall, one long, each having turets on the top and a little shovel for scooping and packing. Cody's been big into making a fort outside in the snow this year. And with our massive snow fall this year, the fort's stuck around pretty long. A few weeks ago when he had pretty much used up all the snow in our yard, he talked me into letting him, Ty and his friend take a sled to the school playground to try and bring back one of the big snowballs from there back. It was comical to watch! Too cute! They made it about half way before I had to go pick them up to take the friend home. So we had to leave the snowball. Cody was devistated. He thought for sure the kids would destroy it on the way to school the next day. But it was still there the next day and I think they went and got it after school. Last night Cody and Ty took the new snow fort building gear out and were working on their fort. Well, Jas was out also, knocking snow from the gutters and roof and decided to let the dogs out front. A few minutes later Cody came in and huffed himself down in a chair to pout. So I ask the first questions that came to mind "Did you get in trouble?" "No." "Did you and Ty fight?" "No." "Well, what's the matter then?" "Dad knew that we were working on the fort and he purposely let the dogs out front and Sumo ran right through my fort destroying what I built! Dad did it on PURPOSE!" Now, this may be true, cause Jas is very onery like that, but I decided to give Jas the benefit of the doubt and just believe that he didn't do it on purpose. So, I had to talk Cody down from that, cause he was pretty worked up. And once he settled down he was able to go back out and have fun with the dogs in the snow.

Anyway, it's been a cold, snowy, fun week. Wonder what next will have in store for us!

Hodgepodge

Today is my parents' 36th wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! It's nice to know in this day and age of quicky weddings and even quickier :) divorces that there are still people out there willing to make it work. Because as we all know, it is difficult at times to make it work or even to want to make it work. It would be much easier to just turn your back and be done with it. So, Thank You Mom and Dad for making it work! Love you!

I think the boys secretly (and even sometimes not so secretly) like it when I work on the weekend. They always beg their dad to sleep downstairs. It used to be they would make a bed on the floor in the living room and Jas would sleep on the couch and they would watch something fun on TV, usually stuff that mom doesn't like to watch.....ie wrestling, NBA, etc. But now, since we've moved the biggest TV, downstairs they like to make the bed on the floor down there and sleep. I have to admit, I highly encourage this setup. For multiple reasons, some being: I can get up at 4:30am to get ready for work and turn lights on, shower, etc without worrying about waking anyone. I also like this cause I get to watch what I want to watch in Jas and I's room as I'm going to sleep. Also I don't usually end up getting a 5-year-old crawling in bed with me in the middle of the night (sneaky little stinker!). Sadly, I don't usually sleep as good (weird, I know) but as I've often stated sleep is highly over-rated and I do just fine with minimal sleep, to which I am eternally grateful. Especially after being around/with people who need a certain amount and don't get it! :)

Sooo, wonder who's going to win the games today. The boys are hoping to see the Colts vs Vikings at the Super Bowl. Favre and Peterson are going to have their hands full trying to beat the Saints, but I have faith in the old man! :) We have all decided that we would cheer for a good game if it ends up being those two teams. The boys and I like both teams pretty equally. Jas would cheer for Favre, I think.

I already got the paper work on Friday to register Tyler for kindergarten. Crazy, I know. He was pretty excited when he realized what I was getting at the office. Though, he wouldn't show it, tried to do a Kailee half smile. It was cute.

Cody had basketball skills day at the Y yesterday. From just what I saw, he's pretty good for his age. But how could he not be? He and Don(aka Coach) love to go out and play against each other. And most of the time, when Cody can stop giggling long enough, he does okay. And Coach is so patient and informative for Cody! Cody's a little bit of a fouler though............not sure where he got that??? :) Watching him do drills yesterday sure made me want to get out there again myself. I sure my body would seriously PROTEST though!!! :) Jas' city league team is doing good so far. I've had to work each night he's had a game so far, but I finally convinced him that the boys are old enough to take with him. I told him to just sit them behind the bench and take their DS's to play. So he has, and so far they have done great! Cody even told me the other day, that he had a hard time playing his DS because he was watching the game too much! :)

Cody's roller coaster he got from my parents for Christmas is almost done. When I'm home sometime, I'll have to post pictures of the different stages. There were a few parts missing, and I had to call the manufacturer to order them, so that's why it's taken us so long to get it finished, besides the fact that it's pretty extensive!!

Lazy.......

I have been extremely lazy the last couple days. Minus work, I have really accomplished nil! I just am NOT motivated. Each day or evening on my way to work I urge myself to be more productive the next day, once again feeling all guilty over my days productivity. And THEN, well the next day comes and my book or computer just call my name until I finally give in and devote all of my attention/time to them! :) So.......TOMORROW I am going to be better and do my goals for the day. I started making daily goal(s). Just one or two things, so that I don't feel overwhelmed with the enormity of the stuff I'd like to accomplish. But seeings how I've been so lazy the last few days, I need to make up a couple of "goals" that got left behind.

My entryways are dump sites. People (people being all 3 boys!) walk into the house either through the garage or front door and take off all their extra gear, i.e. coats, snow pants, gloves, backpacks, shoes, the list goes on and on, and proceed to leave it in a heap on the floor. Even if said items are soaking wet, muddy, or whatever, it just gets left. Even after numerous attempts by yours truly to remind them, that the floor is not the items home. SO....my goal for tomorrow is to get my coat racks on the wall by the garage door. With luck, I will be able to post a picture tomorrow evening or the following day. I'm crossing my fingers I am motivated! :)

Here's a picture from Christmas. While at the Mullendore's we tried to get a nice family picture. And after countless attempts we found that the best picture ended up being the one where we all were being "silly". Ty wanted to do "D Generation"X"", so that's why the bottom 4 of us have our arms in an "X". I personally like Geri's antlers and the fact that Don is smiling in the "silly" picture.

Good Morning!

I really should have given myself more time to edit my last post before I posted it. Unfortunately, I type like I speak and it doesn't always come out how I want it to (minus all the grammatical errors to boot).
I finally made the time to take down the Christmas decorations yesterday. I always put this task off for as long as I can because it always makes me a little sad to see the season end. (and it's a pain in the rear to re-tote all those decorations:)) We took the tree downstairs when Jas got home too. Now we are trying to figure out how to arrange the living room best with the new furniture. The room is just too narrow.......
Tyler and I played a new game yesterday that he had gotten for Christmas. It's Boggle Jr., a game for preschoolers to help them with letter recognition and site work spelling. This is an area I worry about with Tyler. He, like the rest of us, does fantastically with numbers and the number concepts. But he is struggling a little with letter recognition and sound. A lot of this is my own fault, because I have not been a good teacher with working with him. (one of my numerous resolutions for the year) I am hopeful that this will be rectified soon though. One of the resolutions I made for the boys (much to their dismay) is they must EARN gaming time. By jobs/chores, homework, etc. Not an unreasonable task, if you ask me. I keep reminding Cody that he has been lucky so far in that he has got to do fun stuff (i.e. play with friends, play outside, play games) without having to do jobs/chores around the house and that this was not the case for either his dad or I growing up. Oh....I always make chore charts for the boys, but haven't been the best at reinforcing them (another resolution:)). Cody is such a good student though, that he rarely has homework! :) He actually gets to have a lot of computer time at school while he waits for the other kids to finish with their work. He really likes to play on the computer, which makes me a little nervous (go figure). There are a few websites that I let him go to, but the other day I found him and Tyler hooting it up over some YouTube videos.......I went berserk. I had to try and explain to them just how dangerous that can be, without completely corrupting them with what's out there to stumble upon!! YIKES!

Wednesday that feels like Monday!!

Once again the amazing BOISE STATE BRONCOS won the Fiesta Bowl!! What a game! The boys and I went to Whitehall Saturday the 2nd to meet Claire (my new niece....Kietra's baby) and to visit with fam. And of course to watch the Fiesta Bowl at Bree's house Monday evening!! We had a big taco dinner and then watched the game. ALL of us were experiencing heart palpitations and upset tummies towards the end of the game!! WOW! But they managed to pull it out and all I can say is BRONCO NATION LIVES ON!!! Bree put BSU tatoos on the kids the next day when we went over to Bozeman to do a quick tour of The Museum of the Rockies. Of course, they all wanted them to be smack dab in the middle of their foreheads. So, Cody went to school today with BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY spanning across his forehead. Wonder what the teachers thought of that. Actually, the teachers probably weren't surprised at all, but I bet the Principal would have said something had she seen it.....she a barrel of fun...NOT!! Oh well.
We got about 6-10 inches of snow yesterday. Thankfully most of it after we got home from Whitehall. It was crazy deep walking to school this morning in. Tyler was NOT happy. It was not easy to maneuver in with his little legs and he let me know the WHOLE way to school! :) Love that one, he holds nothing back when not pleased. So he happied up once I gave him a piggyback ride most of the way home. I asked if I could put him down once we got to Dogwood and he replied "I guess". Once I set him down, I said how "that was hard work for mom" and he told me it would just make me tougher...............
Tyler's been wearing size 4 snowpants so far this year and they've worked okay, but today when I was giving him a piggyback the bottoms of his legs were showing (and it was negative weather) so we braved the crappy roads to go to Target. And we found his some black and orange plaide size 5 snowpants on clearance for $9!! Whoo hoo! He was so excited (as of course I was too). Cody was bummed they didn't have his size of those colors! I was bummed for him too.
Well, it's time for me to go home from work (yes I am typing this at work....NAUGHTY!!) so I will say goodnight for now and will write more later!

Wow has it really been that long?

One of my New Year's resolutions is to journal more. So I will attempt to do that with the blog. I really do need to keep better records of the boys' daily lives. It's always fun to look back on things and remember the time, place, mood, etc. surrounding that event.
I have many more resolutions and may post them later, but for now I will just start anew with this thing and go from here.

So it's only been 3 months......right?!!!

I truly enjoy reading other people's blogs and they all sound like they lead such exciting lives. So many things happening to them and their families. Plus, they all seem to be able to put their lives into writing that sounds coherant, funny and fascinating. I do NOT have this talent. Unfortunately, I write like I speak, but I don't know how to put the right inflections in the right places to actually make you read it like I would have said it........................(obviously, just from reading what I just wrote, you might get a little of what I mean :) This is not an excuse for not keeping this more updated, but, well, maybe it is a little bit. :)
Our lives right now actually are very full, but where to start. Let's start with football, that's always a good subject. Cody and I are doing a Fantacy Football team this year. Our League is of course Bronco Fanz (NOT Denver, mind you..............that was for any WI folks who might not know the Mabbott's Boise State Obsession, we LOVE our Broncos!!!!). Cody and I named our team the Tiger Sharks. Our defesive group is of course the Packers (although they've done pretty crappy for me the last couple weeks, minus the interception). Anyway, our team isn't doing too bad. It's kinda fun each week to watch the numbers. On another football note, Cody is playing on a flag-football team. It is so much fun, he has practices Mon and Fri evenings and then games every Sat. morning. This goes clear through to the second Sat. of Nov. I'm sure by then it will be freezing and we will be glad it's done for the year. He already had one game two weeks ago and then had to miss last week because we were in Glendive to see Jason's parents and his grandparents who were over from WI. At Cody's first game he played offense and did a great job blocking for his little friend (who scored 3 touchdowns for us). When Cod came to the sideline I said "Nice blocking Babe!!!" and his comment was "Yeah, I was holding on one of them though, good thing I didn't get a penalty!" We all laughed pretty hard (I'm pretty sure the highschool ref isn't going to call ANY penalties in flag football, too cute though).
Tyler is currently in the living room watching Tom & Jerry, lying on the couch yelling for me to get him some "moo-juice" (aka milk for the rest of us)........just got off the phone with Geri, I of course forgot a jacket in Glendive, I'm a little surprised that's all that was left so far. But they'll be coming out sometime soon to watch one of Cody's games, so anything we left will be able to be brought with them! :) I think my parents are coming not this weekend but next to watch a game. I am actually impressed with the boys, they're running plays and learning the rules, etc. We had such a joke of a coach for soccer that I was a little worried about football (not that I stepped up to coach, so I better not complain too loud). Cody and his friends are a little upset it isn't "full-contact", but us parents are of course glad that little-guy football is still a couple years down the road. :)
I've started working more hours again. Not really what we wanted, but these stinky gas/grocery prices are really not giving us much of a choice. I'm also taking a little more of a back-burner approach to PTA this year. I think I give more of my time directly to Cody's teacher and also my kids this year. I still go to meetings and end up being on committee's, but just not as many (I think :).
I need to download my camera pictures and then I will post some. The new picture on the header was the first day of school this year. Neither of them would give me a good smile, so that is what I got, I guess.......stinkers, just like their dad................. :)

Last Day of School Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Cody's last day of school, it's a half day. Yesterday the school had their "Awards Assembly". Cody was given his Student of the Month certificate and then he also got the "Citizens Certificate" for his class. Each teacher picked a boy and a girl from their class that showed enthusiasm for learning, good friendship and overall good citizenship. We're very proud of him! Tonight we're going to go to Home Depot or Lowe's and pick out either a plant or some flowers for Cody's teacher. Cody's comment at the beginning of the week was "remember the good-ol-days when it was the beginning of the school year?" Most kids can't wait for summer, not Cody, he's like me, he really enjoys school and wouldn't mind if it was all year round with breaks every once in a while. Although, I'm sure once the heat hits, he'll be glad to be out of school and outside playing. Cody's class also did "Frog and Toad" plays yesterday. Here are some pictures:

Where does the time go?

I really should try and make it a point to post on here more often. I really enjoy reading others, but usually by the time I'm done reading other's I either am tired of being in front of the computer, I need to go pick up Cody from school, or I realized my life just isn't as interesting as the rest of ya'lls. :)
It is 1:40 in the morning right now and I am at work sitting in a 1:1 trying to stay awake by surfing the web. I was scheduled to work until 11p last night and then come back in the morning at 6:30a for a 12 hour shift. So, rather than go home and sleep for only a few hours, I decided to stay and make money instead. Most times, it is much easier for me to just not sleep at all then get a small amount of sleep. Anyway...
The boys are doing great! Cody is growing like a weed, both physically and otherwise. It's fun seeing how his personality has developed over this past school year. He's made some great friendships. Today was "crazy hair day" at school. This is the one time (so far) it would have been easier to have a girl (or not to have cut Cody's hair the previous week). All the girls at school just did funky/lots of pony tails, some had colored their had, but not a lot. Boy's really only have a few options. Spray color it, or wear a wig. Cody wanted spray color. He chose blue and white (school colors). So before school this morning we sprayed his head, half blue, half white. He really looked quite cute with his hair colored. With his blonde hair it really showed up well too! We got to school and his teacher was the one who was out walking with the kids and she had on this "wig" that was a black spiked mohawk with red tips and bald sides. It was a riot, and what a good sport! Have I mentioned before just how fabulous she is, I can't even tell you how much I'm going to miss her next year!!!!!! I just realized I didn't get a picture of Cody with his colored hair. I'll just have to do it again! He'll love that!!
Tyler is, well, a three-year-old. That boy is into EVERYTHING!!!! He can't keep his hands off of stuff. And he wanders, twice now my neighbor has had to bring him back to the house while I am frantically looking for him, now I know just to look there first (and both times she had been taking a nap, she's in her second tri-mester with her 3rd baby, she just found out yeserday she's having a boy, she currently has two girls!! :)) Whenever I hear a crash (which is often) I yell out "Tyler, what are you doing?" and he ALWAYS replies "Nothing Mama" (he's recently started calling me "mama"?) and when I go to investigate it certainly isn't "nothing"!!! He definately keeps me on my toes and my eggs safely tucked away in their hiding places.
Jason has started another project. The boy doesn't know how to do things on a small scale. He decided we needed a "shed" and a new steel roof. So we decided to refinance (which we needed to do anyway) and use the difference on the new roof. Very exciting, kinda....... so I go get all the paperwork started on that, of course. The "shed" he designed and maped out is 16'x16', complete with a garage door, another regular door and a doggy door leading to another doghouse (enclosed within the "shed"). The cements been pored, the walls are all built, the materials are all bought (except for siding), the trusses delivered and tomorrow is the big barn raising party and yes, I work. That is also one of the reasons I decided to work through the night, then hopefully I won't have to stay for the full 12 hour shift tomorrow. Anyway, I really think he's building a "man-fort". I give it less than two years before he has a big screen, a lazy boy and a small frigde out there!!! :) More power to 'im. I just expect the same in return! Yeah right, he'd tell me to build my own. And me being the industrious type that I am, I'd go down to Home Depot and buy a kit! :)
I decided to pull my app. for PTA Pres. Some things during Teacher Appreciation Week that happened opened my eyes as to what I could possibly be facing and having to put up with the following year and I just wasn't willing to put me nor my family through that, so I'm looking for some online courses to take instead!
Since I'm at work I don't have access to my pictures, so no posts of them this early a.m., but soon, I promise!

Seriously....

So, after having two kids I know I've mentioned on here before that I am definately a cold weather gal anymore. That being said, I am anxious for Spring and my garden and all the projects Jas and I have planned for our yard and house this Spring/Summer. And low and behold today it is snowing. Quite heavily in fact. That big, huge, wet flakey variety. Which will green up the lawn nicely (and I'm sure Jas was wishing he'd a fertilized the lawn yesterday), but seriously......... I have to go pick up Cody in an hour and I do NOT feel like walking in snow. We live less than two blocks from the school and I am sadly debating driving to go get him. I'll walk, of course, but I'm going to grumble about it all the same! This is a picture out the window of the game room.






















I'm not sure why I can't turn this picture, so you'll just have to turn your head sideways in order to look at it right...... Tyler's being a monkey in the picture on the left.
Well, Tyler wants chicken noodle soup before we have to go pick up Cody. Ostah

Easter Egg Hunts, Skiing and Pink Eye

So we all know that pink eye is highly contagious. Not really that harmful, just very contagious and needs antibiotic eyedrops to clear it up (which I truly and honestly think should now be an over-the-counter medication!!!!!!!!). So this being the case, how does Cody end up being the only kid in his class to get it and better yet, where the hell did he get it?!!! So of course we didn't know about it before he plays with the neighbor gal (Gabby) and of course this said playing is wrestle soccer. After we took Cody to the doc and got a prescription he starts on the drops and is a very good patient when it comes to eyedrops (and after the gianormous (not a real word, but I really like it) struggle with getting him to take his oral/liquid antibiotics for his ear infection, this was a nice change), in fact he giggled each time I did the drops. So the last day of his drops, the neighbor stops by on her way to the doctor to let us know she would be a little late for egg dying because she had to take Gabby in to get drops for HER pink eye now. I told her not to bother that she could have the drops after Cody's last dose that day. I give Cody the drops a little later and then had him run them over to the neighbors. As soon as I do this I notice Tyler's eyes, ARGH! Of course, green-gooppy crap in his eye! So, I call the doc up and ask for a refill, brother has it now. After a little struggle with the pharm. we get a new dropper of eyedrops........Tyler is NOT such the good patient that Cody is. Understandable, he is 4 years younger, but.............what a pain! Tyler gets his last set of drops tonight and we are pink eye free for the time being! Since this past weekend was Easter and the Mullendore's were up, I have an envelope ready to ship the drops to Glendive if needed :) I think Jenna was checking her eyes in the mirror every half hour :) Until we told her the more she touched her eyes, the more likely she'd get it. Good handwashing is all that is needed, but trying to get young children to practice good handwashing is not an easy task.

As already stated, the Mullendore's came up for Easter weekend. It was super fun! Filled with egg-dying, egg-hunting, skiing, good basketball watching and shopping. Geri has most of the pictures from the egg-dying and hunting, but I'll post the pictures I have of skiing and Easter baskets.

Jenna and Cody had an instructor to themselves (we made it for half a day skiing and the afternoon lessons didn't have as many people). The instructor said Cody and Jenna basically got three lessons in the hour and a half lesson. Both did fantastic and are athletic enough to have caught on quickly. Neither of them are even sore today! The gal in the red coat by Cody was their instructor. Jenna had to go on the lift by herself and never fell once getting off. After their lesson was done Don took them on "Miami Beach" two more times and I guess one of the times was a train wreck from the start. Cody lost a ski immediately after getting on the lift, so they had to stop it and get the ski back on and then he fell while getting off and lost the same ski. I suppose that wasn't a "train wreck" per say, but Don said he could tell that Cody was getting tired, he fell a lot while coming down the run, he didn't want to lean forward anymore and hence fell a lot. But they all had a lot of fun. Tyler and I hung out around the lodge, we got french fries and I had a "hot toddie"(sp) for an afternoon pick-me-up it was very potent!! Wow. Cody really wants me to take him skiing again before Red Lodge closes, but he'd have to talk his Dad into going because I just don't ski, I'm terrible at it.

Last, but certainly not least, my eldest sister Bree (not that she is qualified as an "elder" hehe) got a hole-in-one while golfing in Boise this past Easter weekend!!! What a stud! Seriously, how many people can boast about that?! She got a hat that said "Hole In One Club" and her name in the paper with my cousin, sister and bro-in-law as wittnesses! She sent me a picture on my phone with the song "Ode to Joy" playing!

So, what's new......

Cody's finally off the antibiotics. The last dose of oral augmentin was Friday night and his last eardrops were last night. He is greatly releived!!! He didn't mind the ear drops but the liquid oral stuff was excrutiating! Every single time he took it he gagged and choked, but he only once didn't manage to get it down. He didn't throw up he just spit it back out in his cereal bowl and since Tyler was sitting there watching Tyler decided that he would throw up for him.....all over Mom, the table and floor. And of course, this was two minutes before the neighbor's usually show up to walk to school with. ARGH!!! Of course, I was not happy with either of them, Cody for not taking his medicine and Tyler for having a weak stomach.....I am seriously the most ogerish mom ever!!! Tyler kept saying "my apologize mom." I was finally able to see the funniness in the whole situation a little while later.
It must be baby season again. There are so many people around me either pregnant or just having had a baby. My neighbor just found out she is pregnant, another mom we walk with at school is due any minute, my cousin and his wife just had a baby, Jas' cousin is pregnant, a gal I work with just had twins and there is more but I won't bore you with the details. I was pretty sure two was plenty for me, but now I'm thinking maybe one more. And then Tyler starts being his beautiful threesome self and I wonder what wire isn't connected up there in my brain to make me think of another one!! :) I actually am looking into this new program our College of Technology just started. It is a 2 year RN program (with pre-reqs of course) and I have all the pre-reqs. Because it is new, there is a pretty good sized waiting list, but the earliest I would want to start would be the fall of 2009 anyway. That way I'd only be putting Tyler in one year of preschool and not having to do daycare, in fact, I wouldn't do it if I had to put Tyler in daycare, it wouldn't be worth it to either of us. Anyway, my only dilemma is how old my credits are. After 2009 they will be 10 years old, which some places make you redo them after 10 years. (man I'm getting old...:) Which I think is a bunch of crap, Jason's degree is over 10 years old, does that mean he needs to go back and get it again....NO, so why should my credits expire? I could see if they were over 20-30 years old maybe that could be a factor, but..... I just don't want to have to take over what I've already taken, so I'm just griping! Oh well, we'll see. I emailed them to get more info and an appt with an advisor to see where I stand. So if I ended up doing this program, maybe we'd think of another one after I was done. I'd be able to work the same hours I do now, I'd just make more money. There'd be a big age difference between the kids, but that's not a big deal. Although, by then the boys will be old enough to start taking on fun vacations, do I really want to start all over with another new one.......oh the dilemma :)

Is Spring Almost Here?

The past couple of weeks have been busy, as always! I love busy though, that means there's things to do, people to see.
Who ever said "terrible twos" was off by a year. I will take a 2-year-old any day of the week over a 3-year-old. WOW, Tyler has been trying me lately!!! I very much remember telling people that 3's were way worse than 2's when Cody was that age, but I think Tyler may win a prize for the oneriest 3-year-old!! I worry about him: "Don't touch that pan, it's hot." Immediately he touches the pan. "Do you liked to be spanked?" "No." "Then stop doing that to your brother." or "Then stop hitting the TV." or "Then stop hitting mom." or "Then stop calling people names." (his favorite being "weirdo") or "Then quit stepping on things." (like toys that will break, his brother, his mom, food he spilled on the carpet, etc.) seriously, I could make a chapter book with just this theme. But I will not bore you with the details. Suffice it to say, I think the kid really does like to be spanked or has no feeling in his butt. So I am currently looking into different methods of punishment. Even though I am a firm believer in spanking and fervantly wish more people would do this to their kids, there would be a hell of a lot more respect from the current generation and the coming ones for authority. (but that is my soap box and I will step off of it for a bit)
Cody, as most of you know, is doing a "Read-a-Thon" (thank you to those who sponsored him) through school this month. The first week, he (me) collected sponors/pledges, then starting last Sunday he has two weeks to read as much as he can. The goal being 300 minutes or 5 hours. The kid has a competitive streak (of which I'm not sure where he got it........ :)), he has already read 310 minutes and still has over a week left. I am very proud of him, he's really doing good. His favorite books are sea creature books: sharks, dolphins, polar animals, etc. Speaking of Cody, I need to sign off and go get him from school. He stayed home this morning sick, he has a cough that he can't shake, but by lunch time he couldn't handle not being there, so I rubbed Vapor rub on his feet game him a cough lasange(sp) and took him to school. So I'm off, sorry about spelling and grammer, I don't have time to check it! :)

A Good Day to Fly to Texas!

So the weather here is similar to the game conditions at Lambeau field yesterday, suffice it to say it is cold and we have lots of snow, not the snowman making kind, but deep dry snow. And now that I mentioned Lambeau, I need to say that the game yesterday was majorly upsetting! I was really looking forward to watching the Packers play in another Superbowl and stop those cocky Patriots! (although the Patriots have reason to be cocky) Unfortunately, Tyne had to go redeem himself in overtime, what's that all about anyway!!!? Greenbay just couldn't get it together yesterday, or more to the point, Greenbay's defense couldn't get it together yesterday and seriously those refs could have tried to not be so biased against the packers!!! the only flags thrown were against them! But, my complaining will not change the outcome, so back to the point of my first sentence:
It's really cold here, which in all honesty, I really don't mind the cold. I used to be a warm weather girl, then I had kids and it's all about the cold weather & big clothes! It's probably a body image thing....sigh! :) Jas has been having to go out-of-town more for work so far this year. Last week he went to Denver for a couple days (which I thought he had gone to Minneapolis, and when he called I had asked him if he'd called his cousins and he asked why he would do that and I said, "cause your in the same town as them" and he then told me he was in Denver, much to my surprise, and then proceeds to say something to the effect of, way to pay attention to where I am, yadda yadda yadda....:)) and then this week he leaves for Dallas today thru Thurs. He'll be gone for the duration of the really cold days. I had asked him if I could go and he said "You'll never see me." and I just had to say it, couldn't help myself, "Point?" He didn't think I was so funny. :) He goes to MN for a couple days in the first week of Feb. He's racking up the frequent flier miles! :)
The boys bundled up and headed outside this morning for a little while. Cody wanted to play football in the snow. Unfortunately he didn't put his football away before the snow came, so he was out there with the snow shovel trying to find it. By the time he did find it, Tyler was cold and came inside. Poor Cody. It actually took longer to bundle Tyler up, than how long he lasted outside! :) If they head back out later, I'll have to take pictures and post them.
For now though, tata!

"Hosted Parties"

So I have a really hard time passing up a good deal. Back in Oct. I ended up going to a couple "Lia Sophia" parties (it's a jewelry line) and at the first one I went to, she gave me $25 off to host my own party. I couldn't pass it up. Besides, as we all know (whoever has had to go to one of these type parties, or hosted one of your own) the only way to really get a lot of stuff for a decent price is to host a party of your own. So anyway, I am going to be having one of these parties on the first of Feb. Which when I reminded Jason about it, he proceeded to go into "Why would I agree to have one of these?" etc, etc. So I reminded him that I have Christmas money I can use AND it's only a few days (12 to be exact :)) before my birthday, so if he was still wondering about what he was going to get me (seeings how he didn't do anything the previous year, I reminded him (and it was even my 30th!!!! what a stinker)) that I would be able to pick some stuff out for him! Very thoughtful of me, I thought!!! So, anyway she gave me a website to give to people if they want to go and take a look or even get any. It's pretty good jewelry and they really stand behind it and will replace/refund any damaged or broken whatever at no cost. Unfortunately it can be a little pricey! The promotion for this month(s) is buy two items, get 2 items at 1/2 off (half off the most expensive items). So anyway the website is: www.liasophia.com/blingo
The boys are onery as ever, as I sit here on the couch typing, Tyler is on the other end watching "A Pup Named Scooby Doo" laying down kicking my legs. It's not even a concious act, he is just always doing something to be a stinker! It's too fun, cause then I get to be a stinker back!
Well, Tyler and I need to go get Cody from school. So bye for now.
(p.s. yes Kelly my hair is darker. I went brunette(sp) at the end of spring last year and I chopped a lot off too. Thought I'd see how the other half lives........so far, not that differently:), but I do like the color change, it's fun. And yes Jason likes it, in fact it was his idea, he's been trying to get me to darken it for years!!?)

A month and a half later........

Wow, the past month (+) has been busy. Not an excuse for not posting news, but busy non-the-less.

We all had a fabulous Christmas. The boys were excited about everything they got (which can always be embarasing(sp) if they receive something they don't want and state that fact in front of the giver....I try to teach them to be polite about all gifts and then wine to me later if they are truly unhappy about it, but sometimes they just can't contain themselves!!! :))

We read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve to the kids while they drank hot cocoa and wore their new pajamas (the jama pants the boys are wearing are ones I made, they have little christmas fish in each of the squares).

After we read the story Kailee and Cody were composing a letter to Santa, when we heard a boisterous "HO HO HO" from outside the window. The look on Cody's face was commical!! He dropped his crayon and with a deer-in-the-headlights look ran to the window and very "Elf the movie like" yelled "Did you hear that?" So Bree says "I'm sure Santa's waiting at the top of the mountain for you guys to go to sleep so he can come leave the presents." Immediately Kailee yells "To our beds." At which point the babies (Kyra and Tyler) sprint to the bedroom and pull the covers over their heads. Cody is still peering out the window and notices a red light in the sky and is sure it is Rudolph's nose. Dave (my bro-in-law) then puts his face up to the window from the outside gazing in at Cody. It was too funny, Cody doesn't see Dave at first, he thinks it is his own reflection in the glass (Jas was standing right by him asking if he saw him, Cody thought he was asking him if he was seeing Santa.) So Dave turns his head a quarter turn and that's when Cody gave off a shrill little cry and jumps about a foot back. It scared him pretty bad, he laughed at first but then all the emotions kinda kicked in a he needed a little hugging (to hide the crying, poor kid!!) We then looked around and realized the babies were still gone and Bree went and checked, they were still under the covers in the bedroom (wide awake of course). It was seriously too funny. So when Dave came in the house, Cody asked him if he was the one that said "HO HO HO" and Dave almost verbatum(sp) of what Bree said, said "No, I think Santa was up on the mountain just waiting to be able to come in."

We went to my parents house Christmas morning after opening the presents from Santa and opened more presents there and had a very yummy brunch! It was a wonderful holiday, it's so nice to be with family and see at least some of them.

To the WI/MN/OR folks out there, we really wish we could have seen ya over the holidays, it sounds like you all had a really good time. We're hopefully shooting for a trip back there sometime this coming summer! Anyway....Happy New Year everyone (or as Cody and Great-Grandpa Brunner like to say have a Crappy New Year.)