Poor Fish

Well, the good news is:

The fish are alive.
I showered this morning.
Fish can live for at least two minutes out of water.
Finally put the new rug in the boy’s room.
The fish tank got cleaned out!
No school today--snow day.

The bad news:

If Jake leaves his dresser drawer open it works as great step stool for Estee to climb up to see the fish.
Jakes dresser drawer was filled with fish water for at least three minutes (until it all leaked out).
At least 20 different stuffed animals have fish water on them--not sure how I will clean them (maybe no one will notice if they disappear one at a time...shhh)
I drove to the recycle center on the very snowy roads. The roads are too snowy for kids to go to school but not for me to take the old rug with fish water on it to the recycle center.
No more showering while Estee is awake.
No school today--snow day.

Magic and Sorad still swimming (for now).

Jake's drawings

I LOVE getting drawings from my kids. Jake brought home a new one yesterday and I wanted to save it forever. Here are some of Jake's pictures from the last few months. I love the way kids sound out words and draw. I love these Jake! Thanks for making my day.

This is Jake's picture he brought home yesterday. At the bottom, it reads, "My favorite place is down stairs." It's a picture of "the downstairs," including the TV on the entertainment center, our black X-Rocker video game chair, his blue Ikea chair (I must say it looks just like it), and he is on the right with his levis and favorite orange shirt.

Jake loves hanging out down there with the family, with Andy, or with a friend watching a movie or playing a game.

This one reads, "Once I went on a hike". I love the tall yellow cat tails he is walking through and the trees (it was late fall so there are no leaves). The bird in the tree is an eagle and his nest. He had just gone hiking with Andrea and saw an eagle and its nest.

This one reads, "I went to climb" and shows him on the climbing wall. The yellow thing is his support rope and the colored things are the little climby grab things.

This pictures says, "Once me and my friend at the Nature Place." These are ducks in the water. Estee saw this picture and said "quack, quack, quack, ........., quack".

Estee really likes Jakes pictures too.

Estee pics (almost 18 months)

Estee and I had a little photo shoot this morning. I got all prepared and thought it was going to be so much fun. Well, she sat there for three pictures. The whole thing did not last more than 5 minutes. I didn't think there would be any good shots, but there are some cute ones, and some really grumpy looking ones that are still kind of cute, and some just plain sad looking ones. Anyway, here they are and I am happy to say that her 18 month pictures are done.

If you want to see all the pictures go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/EsteeSPhotoShootAlmost18Months

Sledding

We went sledding a few times with the kids over the Christmas break. For the most part it was lots of fun. With the exception of my major jump and minor injury. One of the times we went sledding was at Vets (which is a big sledding hill) it was really cold and icy that day and the snow had been there a couple of days and was really packed down. After watching the kids go down a few times and Dan go down a few times and Jake was begging me to go down with him I decided it would be safe enough to give it a try. So Jake and I hopped on the sled and started down the hill. As we were approaching the middle of the hill I thought I saw a jump up ahead, yep it was a jump ahead and we were headed straight for it. I tried to lean the sled to the left and push with my hands, but we were going sooooo fast on that icy hill before I knew it we were right to the jump and it was the biggest jump on a sledding hill I had ever seen. As we flew up the jump and were sailing through the air I could feel my legs in the air and I knew it was going to hurt. I landed flat on my stomach with a big thud and the wind knocked out of me. Luckily Jake landed three feet in front of me. Jake was saying "mom, you do that the best" and "let's do it again". I was not and will not be doing that again probably ever and I am pretty sure I never want to go back to Vets to sled. I ended up a little bruised and sore for a few days. All in all I am fine but a little freaked out by that hill and mostly that jump.

Dan said the kids all around him were saying "Wow, that was the biggest air of the year". Glad I could provide.

Jake and I just before we headed down the hill towards the big jump.

Just after the big jump.

They made it look so safe and fun.

Happy New Year! Our Year in Pictures

Christmas 2007

We had a really fun Christmas this year! Here are some pics.Jake got this cool chair and him and Estee love sitting in it together. Aren't they cute :)

Abby LOVES her new American Girl book!
These boys are getting down to business with the new video games!


Abby is helping Estee pick a present to open with there cute new pajamas on.

Estee was really excited for this new toy. It's for a one-year-old mp3 player equipped with classical music and kid proof. She sat on the stairs playing with it for a long time, we had to get a picture, it was adorable.

Dan loves his new tie!

We had a great day relaxing, opening presents (with a break while Dan went into work), visiting friends and playing with all the toys! What fun!

Tagged!

I was tagged--here goes!

Here are the rules:

A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

B. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and lets them know they have been tagged, They go to your blog to read the rules.


1. I love watching football. I think moving to Michigan and having a good team to cheer for really brought it out in me, but I love it. Every fall I love listening to sports radio and I even watched the world series this year!

2. I like action films more than dramas. My husband thinks this and number one are really cool.

3. I love baking. Staying home all day and baking cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, whatever is my dream come true!

4. I love the mountains. I know it's something you hear a lot of "Utah people" say, but I really do. I use to hike and run and look at the mountains daily and it was great. I can't wait to get back to them someday!

5. I am kind of out of it lately, but I love running. Nothing better than waking up bright and early and going for a run before everyone else wakes up!

6. I love Mexican food. It's really hard to find here in the Midwest, but I keep trying. I often have to settle for a plate of homemade nachos. It's good , but nothing like some good Tex-Mex.


I am tagging Andrea, Becky, Abbi, Suzanne, Natalie, and Jill

Sister's Trip to Chicago

My sisters and I were able to spend four days in Chicago. We had so much fun shopping, eating, talking, walking and seeing lots of fun things. We saw Phantom of the Opera and afterwards stopped at Macy's and ate at the Walnut room. Here we are by the big tree in the Walnut room. Martha Stewart designed the tree this year and was there the day before us to light it!

Josie and me with the Chicago Theatre, Macy's clock and one of the "corn cob" buildings behind us.This was our amazing view as we ate lunch at the top of the Hancock Tower.

My great sister's Josie, Julie, and Jill--thanks for a great trip!

Here is a link for more and better pictures that my sister's took!
http://www.shutterfly.com/view/pictures.jsp

If it doesn't work, sorry, it is shutterfly's fault.

Dallas for two

Dan and I were able to go on a fun trip to Dallas all by ourselves (no kids). We felt like such grown-ups getting to make decisions all by ourselves about where we wanted to eat and what we wanted to do. First off we headed to the Utah (go Utes) VS. TCU football game.

We stayed at the same hotel as the team and were able to see lots of players and lots of coaching staff. We also bummed a ride on the faculty bus over to the game and sat right by Coach Whittingham's wife. The bus even got a police escort to the game! We had great seats right by all the parents of players and after the game they were nice enough to introduce us to lots of the team and even give us a ride back to our hotel. We love the Utes!

Janie, Jamie Whittingham, Dan

Dan, Louis Sakoda (the Utah kicker), Janie

Janie, Brian Johnson (Utah Quarterback), Dan

After the fun game, which the Utes won, we headed into downtown Dallas. We saw Texas School Book Depository where JFK was shot.

Whoa! I'm in the car with JFK and Jackie!

Here is Dan in front of the Grassy Knoll.

We also had tons and tons of yummy Tex-Mex. We really miss yummy Mexican food and it was so great to eat real Tex-Mex almost every meal while we were there.

A BIG thanks to Mandy and Eddie for watching our kids for four days while we were gone! We owe you big time thank you so much we had so much fun and our kids had so much fun with you.

Halloween!

Jake was a mummy

Abby was an 80's girl

Estee was a U of M football player

Andy decided last minute to dress up as a crazy Michigan fan. Dude, you don't look so good.

Abby and Jake at the school party. Lots of fun on Halloween!

After working hard all night to get gobs and gobs of candy we were very lucky today to be visited by the Happy Halloween Witch. She comes and takes all your candy for needy boys and girls. And in exchange she leaves you books and pencils and all sorts of non-candy items. We are so glad she came and visited us this year!