Like, totally . . .

I have got to learn to choose better spots to take pictures!  Love the mini-Molly Ringwald.  Hate the morning mess near the door.  

Emma and her BFF's at the dance.  Well, outside of the dance.  They were pretty cute.  I was pleased they did not wear make-up like most of the other girls.  They are naturally adorable!!  Well, you can't really call those colors natural, can you!  It looked like many cans of neon paint had exploded in the school gymnasium.  Luckily, the noise and bright colors did not dampen their enthusiasm.  The girls had a great time . . . like, totally!

Springing forward . . .

Yes, the residents of the Brick House are alive and nearly well!  Emma has come down with a cold.  Poor girl--it is spirit week at school and she is looking forward to the 80's Dance this Friday.  We have already purchased a bright neon outfit for the occasion and she has located an online tutorial on how to replicate Madonna's hairstyle from the early 80's.  I'll be sure to take pictures!  

Emma found my high school yearbooks and was giggling while looking at all the photos.  She especially liked all of the big hair.  Mtn. Home was not known for being too fashion forward.  We were still wearing the prairie blouses, 501 Shrink-to-Fits, and Sperry Top-Siders.  The Madonna look didn't really surface in my area until I went to college in '85.  My first roommate LOVED Madonna.  She was my polar opposite.  I was poor preppy and she was farm girl Madonna.  She drove a black Trans-Am and I walked.  She managed to use every hair product available on her peroxide-dyed tresses and I still feathered my hair.   She taped our phone number to the window, which faced the eight floor boys dormitory, while I spent hours answering the phone, emphatically explaining that I was not the blonde one they met at the party last night!  By October, she had quit going to class and spent her days sleeping off the night before.  The morning I woke up to find a guy passed out on our floor was the last day I saw her that semester.  It was clear from the start that her mom had filled out the roommate interest form!  I clearly remember the "very-pleased-to-meet-you" look I received from her mom when we all met at freshman orientation. We were quite the pair.  To be fair, she never stole anything of mine or borrowed any clothes (hard to believe, I know!)  I saw her several years later when she stopped by my apartment and asked me for $10.  It was weird.  I gave it to her, wished her well and that was the last time I ever saw her.  Whenever I hear an old Madonna song, I think of those crazy days!

Well, I have digressed . . .

So glad to have a spring break in my sights.  I am now working a full day at the elementary school I started with last September.  One of the afternoon tutors left to have a baby.  She has decided not to return, so I am filling in until the end of this academic year.  I am thankful to have the extra hours and it has not disrupted the routine too much.  Katy is the one to "suffer".  She has been spoiled this year, as I have been picking her up from school since almost day one.  Can't swing that now, so she takes the iPod with her and tunes out the world on the bus ride home.  I think she'll live . . .

Emma had a choir and a solo clarinet performance this month.  Both went well.  She will continue with band next fall, but will likely miss choir as she has been selected to take an advanced math class at the junior high during her 6th grade year.  Both choir and advanced math are only offered before regular school hours, so choir will be the one that gives.  I'll tell you more about the class when we have the parent meeting next month.  It is a great opportunity, though, as she is managing the 7th-grade level math she takes now.  Very proud of her math skills.  Eric and I assume she gets them from one or more of the grandparents, as I am constantly befuddled by it all and Eric is only slightly better than I am in this area!

Katy has several Jazz band performances this week and next.  They are preparing for a competition in Pasco, Washington on April 12 & 13.  We plan to drive up behind the bus and make it a weekend.  We had hoped to see some of our Washington family, but I think they are otherwise occupied on those dates.  We have convinced Emma that it will be a fabulous place to spend her "almost" birthday and I think she actually believes us!  The Tri-Cities area really is quite beautiful.  We will just have to steer clear of the Hanford Nuclear Site and the actual town of Pasco!  The owner of Table Rock was in the Tri-Cities area a few weeks ago when his SUV broke down.  He was told he was lucky he was not in Pasco, as they would have had to wait until morning to be picked up.  I booked a hotel in Richland.  Doesn't that sound like a nice place . . . Rich. . . land.  I sure hope it is!  

Here are a few pictures of Emma and Linus.  We had a warm Sunday a few weeks ago and they took advantage.  Emma is trying to train the little beast.  Linus does love the bubbles, so she had a great time making him jump. 

He can really catch some air . . .

Amazing . . .

Great form!

Reward time . . .

   

Happy Valentine's Day

Hard to believe it has been so many weeks since my last post!  Chalk it up to laziness, I suppose.  

 We were nearly confined to our homes for several days in January following blizzard conditions and one major ice storm (We woke up to a quarter of an inch of ice covering the entire valley . . . I-84 from Boise to Glenns Ferry was closed for 80 miles!!).  Then the temperatures dropped below 20 degrees for what seemed like two weeks.  The kids at school were unable to go out for recess for that amount of time due to district policy that keeps students indoors if the temperature drops below 18.  That all happened to coincide with a large number of flu-related illnesses being reported at all of the local schools, mine included.  There was not a day that went by without the janitor being called to random spots throughout the school to clean up after some child who could not quite make it to the bathroom before losing their breakfast/lunch.  It was pure madness!!  The good news--no one in our house has been touched by the "bug."  Thank goodness for flu shots! 

 Also, a shout out to the sunshine we are experiencing.  Boise hit 51 for the high yesterday.  It is like summer is around the corner!  I can hardly wait . . .

In the meantime, here are a few cold weather pics of the girls. 

The first big snowstorm of the year.  Gained a couple of inches that night!  We took the girls sledding at the school after dinner.  It was dark, yet beautiful.  They had "snow" much fun!  

See all of that white stuff . . . several inches remained on the ground and streets for weeks!  Not your typical snow year for Boise.  Usually we receive about a quarter inch of snow in the morning and it melts before sundown.  Definitely not the case this January!  

Close up of what Eric built at 2:30 in the morning.  He couldn't sleep, so he went out to shovel the walk and ended up making this awesome snowman.  Unfortunately, that snowstorm was typical and the snowman crashed to the ground by the time we cooked dinner!  

Out tree looked so lovely, I was almost sorry to have cursed the snowfall . . .  almost . . !

Happy New Year!

Ringing in the New Year!  After a few failed attempts at getting a decent picture,  Eric suggested we try to look surprised.  Only he and Emma took that advice . . .  

As with each year, so many things happened that I doubt I have been able to keep very good track of it all, but I will give it a try . . .  

Our trips included-

Zion National Park; Las Vegas; Logan, UT/Bear Lake; McCall/Payette Lake; Seattle/Index, and for Eric, Hawaii!  

In June, Paul and MaryBeth visited us before they embarked on a tour of some of the national parks located near Idaho.  We love visitors.  Hint, hint . . . 

The girls turned 13 (yes, we have teenager in the house) and 10!  I turned 46 and Eric hit the big 50!  Our anniversary was #17.  Holy cow!  Time is flying fast!!!   

Emma is learning to play the clarinet at school and Katy is in year four of playing the flute.  Emma is also involved in the school choir.  Both have had wonderful performances this year--holiday concerts, a Veteran's Day assembly(Emma) and parade(Katy) with various other opportunities for us to be "wowed" by their talents.  The summer intensive that Katy attended in Seattle was truly amazing!  Even Emma thought it was cool to hear something other than the classics being played in band/orchestra form.  Hoping to get both of the girls involved in a summer music camp again this year. 

Also, Katy had the time this year to try out for Jazz band. It is separate from the concert band class she takes during the school day.  She had to audition against the more experienced ninth graders.  Piece of cake . . . she made it in and is really enjoying playing a different style of music.  

Emma's love of sewing has grown, so much so that she asked for a new machine this year.  Lucky for her, we got one.  (Thanks Uncle Ryan and Aunt Starla!)  And thanks to Grammy, for teaching Emma how to sew pillowcases.  They have it down to a science, making one case in less than 30 minutes!  Sewing club and camp are in her future, I am sure.

Katy no longer wears braces.  They were removed during the Thanksgiving break--talk about thankful!  She now has a really cute retainer she has to wear, 24/7.  How can a retainer be cute, you ask?  My old one was kind of a pinkish, flesh colored thing.  Katy's is red with black spots, like a ladybug.  It is cute and gross at the same time!!  Really.  She looks marvelous with her straight pearly whites.  Emma-well she is working towards her brace wearing days.  She has several more baby teeth to loose before we start it all up again.

Eric changed restaurants and I started working for the school district again.  I was already substituting, but I needed something more steady.  I would like a full-time position, but state funding is getting worse every year, so we'll see.  I do love working at the elementary school level.  I help with 6th, 4th and kindergarten.  The kinders keep me on my toes and the sixth graders are just trying so hard to be cool.  It is fun to see students as they enter the school system and then the others as they prepare to leave for junior high!
Eric still loves his job.  It is challenging and he never has a dull moment.  He has a lot of work to do, but it all seems to be coming together.  From my perspective, the best part is that the owners insist he only work days and that he take weekends off.  Hard to believe, I know.

Katy continues to ride at the barn.  Her horse is finally getting the hang of the English style of riding, which is helping Katy as she improves her own hunter/jumper skills.  Katy thinks she and the other barn girls should do a "Gangnam Style" video, English riding version!  Anything is better than the original . . .

While I know I did not cover every little thing, suffice it say we had a great year!  Thanks for calling, visiting, entertaining, sending your love and support to us, and keeping up with our family antics.  We love you all and are thankful to be a part of your lives.
We wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year!  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

Oh wait, that was a few days ago.  It must be the snow that is FINALLY falling here in the valley that has me thinking about Christmas . . . I love watching it come down when I am in our warm house and have no plans to leave for several hours.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow I say!

Eric is in Hawaii, visiting family, so the girls and I are holding down the fort. We have been keeping it pretty low-key, though.    We've gone shopping several times (Target, the Mall, Wal-mart), because if Emma has money, it is definitely burning a hole in her pocket.  I finished packing up Christmas last night and Katy helped me take the tree down this morning.  Taking the tree out of the stand was a major accomplishment.  Here is a picture of our tree.  

See how it is up on a table?  I made Eric put it there because I did not want to be taller than our tree.  You see, I fell for a cute, fat, yet very short tree this year.  I failed to notice how short it was when the girls and I were fawning over it on the lot . . .

It took a few minutes to figure out how to get it down, but we managed!  I stood on a kitchen chair while Katy sat, almost under the table/tree, and waited for me to drop the stand in her lap.  Once out of the stand and safely on the floor, we wrapped the tree in a sheet and pushed it out the front door.  My plan for next year is to buy a taller, skinnier tree and make sure Eric is home to remove it when all is said and done!

As for the afternoon, we joined my mom at the movie theater to enjoy a showing of "Les Mis"(Katy and Grammy) and "Wreck-it Ralph"(Emma and I).  Good movies all around.  We sent Grammy on her way, in order to beat the storm to Mtn. Home.  Once we were at our house, the girls and I ate dinner and then cleared the table for a few mini-manicures!  Both girls received nail polish for Christmas, so we had plenty to choose from.  In fact, I found Katy a nail polish countdown calendar, so she had 25 colors to work with!  (It was from Sephora and they called it a "Mini Mani Month"--so cool!)  They are both asleep in my room as I type.  They have been taking turns sleeping in my bed with me, although the first night, they were both in the bed, making the term "three's a crowd" a very apt description of the situation!!  Now, one is on the floor, sleeping on top of several blankets and pillows while the other is in the bed, hopefully warming it up for me . . .

Here are a few more pictures from Christmas.  We had a lovely day.  Thanks to Mom for joining us and to all who sent gifts, cards, and called or texted us to wish us a Merry Christmas.  We love and miss you all, especially this time of year.  We hope you have enjoyed the season!

Opening the new fancy sewing machine from Uncle Ryan and Aunt Starla.  Emma is just a little bit excited.  I am looking forward to figuring out to sew on such a high-tech piece of equipment.  It has a USB cord, for goodness sake!  It sews without using the pedal!  It embroiders!  It scares me!  No really, I see a few more pillowcases and quilts in Emma's future . . .

Cookies for Santa, or as Emma puts it, "Cookies for Daaad!"   

Christmas morning stocking unstuffing.  Check out the yule log on the fire in the background.  One of the local TV stations had that running from Christmas Eve until the evening news on Christmas Day.  It was great!  

Never a bad thing when your teenager wants to learn to cook!  Katy and Eric made a fabulous deep-dish apple pie for us all to enjoy.  It was awesome!!  

Katy must be standing on her toes, because she is NOT taller than me . . . yet!!

   

Burning down the house . . .

Yesterday (Okay---I am a little behind in posting this one!!!) was Eric's 50th birthday!!  He did not want a big party so we had a little party instead.  A few decorations, a few extra family members (Etta, Kem, Troup, and my mom), and a few eyes filled with the smoke that lingered from a birthday cake lit with 50 candles.  Those cheesy number candles were not going to do for this  momentous occasion.  I wanted to see a great cake of fire!  I was not disappointed!! 

Kem and Troup getting the party started!!!
(I tried a new twist on the Texas chocolate cake . . . coconut-pecan frosting!!  I was a little worried about how the frosting would taste with drips of wax scattered about the cake . . .)

More hands were needed to get the job done quickly. . .

. . . 47, 48, 49, 50!!!!

Behold, the great cake of fire!!

Happy 50th Eric!  
As Brennan so kindly mentioned, you don't look a day over 47!!!  No really, you make 50 look fabulous!  Looking forward to many more birthdays with you . . .

It was a real "hit" today!

Presenting our new Thanksgiving tradition . . . the Turkey Pinata!  (Katy and I named him Albuquerque upon purchase)  We introduced him as half-time entertainment between the main course and the pie!  

Hanging out in the backyard!

Emma takes a crack at it!

So did Grandpa . . . 

then Katy . . . 

I knocked the head off . . . poor thing!

Losing it at the end!
We had a lot of fun working off our dinner on the pinata.  Emma was so excited to break it open!  Once Albuquerque fell apart, though, she figured out we had stuffed it with her Halloween candy.  Bad mom!!!  

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  We are thankful to all of our family for the love and support that you send our way!  We love you and hope you enjoyed your day.