HaHa Give Credit Where Due!

Ok I try not to complain when my husband is a better cook than I, or a better present wrapper, or a better, well anything and everything because he is all the time, but when it comes to giving credit to me today, I couldn't let it slide. (Humorously)

It is Christmas morning and I am up way earlier than I want to be and I am actually standing in the kitchen making homemade donuts, (although they are Pillsbury drop biscuits in oil and shake some confectionary sugar on them donuts- lets call them semi-home-made then). And beside me to my surprise is my hubby who is making himself and Kandon some eggs for breakfast. This is a rare thing since the kids have cereal almost every morning and well, Cliff isn't near the kitchen in the morning but a few times a year. Anyways, I get the first one done and here comes Kilee so hungry, she takes it to the table, bites into it, and says, "MMM.. These donuts are so good, thanks DAD!" This comment leads to the boys basically saying the same thing at various times during breakfast, and Cliff and I having a chuckle and correcting them. Explaining to them that Dad only turned one donut over and that I had made those donuts. "Well I must have had Dad's then," says Kilee. Can you believe that? I can just feel the love.

Then during the joy of opening presents later that morning, I hear, "Thanks Dad" for the gift. Hellooooooo children, mom bought you that, Mom wrapped it. Well, mom is just not a good enough wrapper, so we assume dad wrapped it the children think. Oh well, hahahaha.

Then to add to the humor of the day, at dinner, (a lovely simple dinner of pot roast in the crockpot,) I hear, "MMM thanks dad, this is so good!" Say what, Hahaha, I know I am not a good cook. I know dad set the table and brought the pot to the table, but really, giving dad credit all day for the many things mom does. Cliff and I just had to laugh again. He is a good dad, eventually correcting the kids and not taking the credit when it is moms work, (well most of the time, all in good humor). All he did was flip the roast one time when the children were actually looking and they thought he had slaved over the food, eventhough they saw mom put it in the pot that morning. That's ok, I should be grateful they are kids who remember to say thanks.

Ha Ha, the story of a lot of adventures in our life, but I am glad to have someone to share it with, even if he gets more credit than is due sometimes.

Well the kids were up by 5am and I went to bed after 2am, so I am going to crash and prepare myself for another day. Maybe tomorrow will be my day for some credit. Ohhh Nooooo, that isn't til Mother's Day, Just Kidding.

Let the good times roll, hopefully not til after 7am though (sad to say that is what I call sleeping in these days).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Christmas Picture Attempts

Christmas Picture Time!

So these are our attempts at Christmas pictures one week before Christmas, notice Kandon's red nose and the kids facial expressions of "We're cold and we don't like mom's silly picture idea, but we are here and lets get this over with," ( I know it is 99% effort and I need to love it.)

We were going over to a friends house to make Gingerbread houses and I decided to take full opportunity of their backyard and their physical presence to take our picture. To my delight they allowed us to use their nifty fancy camera, but our friend (the husband) takes our pic says its good and starts to leave with everyone falling behind. Oh no I say, that can't possibly look good we need to take like ten more. Fine lets go over by these trees and take another, not to mention the mud whole. So the camera goes click and everyone starts to leave. I'm sure they are fine says Cliff, no no no, when will men learn. The kids don't have coats, it is like 40 degrees, and I give in. Deciding to get the 3 kids pics and Kilee's school pic later that day (since we didn't like either of her school pics).

And this is the second shot. I printed it in Black and White to hide the mud hole and lesson my dislike of my almost double chin like appearance. I also printed the first picture eventhough Kandon was red in the nose and looks cold.

Fast forward a few hrs, kids don't want to participate in posing for pics, therefore no real pic to print, this one being the best.

Then exit the boys and that leaves the 20 plus pictures of Kilee making her moaning, whining, pouting face motion picture book and only salvaging this one picture that will have to do for the 4th grade and Christmas cards to Grandmas.


Oh well, I tried. Wish I had a fancy camera for Christmas, warmer weather, a beach maybe in the background, and all 5 smiling faces that look great, not just decent. LoL

Another good year, another decent picture for the blog and book! Bring On next years life and family pictures!

Here are the boys school pictures. They looked so cute I actually bought school photos for the first time. It kinda helped that we hadn't made family and summer pictures this year, so I wanted some anyways, oh well. And yes Kandon has since cut his hair, and I miss it already, just like I miss Kowen's Hawaii surfer boy look. Oh but it isn't my hair, and with in reason, they can grow or cut it as they please. For now!

2011 Christmas Letter

What's Up With The Nowell's
2011 Christmas Letter
Another year is coming to a close, months have passed, days have come and gone, adventures have waged war and brought peace, but life goes on and we must recap in order to set new goals and plan for new encounters. This year we have undertaken lots of activities including visiting new lands across many an ocean and vast lands to forge a new home in a new frontier.

This new land we call Ohio, has brought us strange new encounters like trees changing their colors and molting their beautiful leaves. We have yet to understand why such beauty is traded for such empty and barrenness. The strange white flakes that fall from the sky erect squeals from Kilee and Kandon, but poor Kowen is struck with bewilderment as he has never seen how such soft things hit his tongue, yet when compiled together they form such a hard painful ball when hit in the face. “It hurts, It hurts,” “It’s too cold,” “Please can we move back to Hawaii,” they say. “No” says their wise mother, “There are great things here that we have yet to discover. We must forge on with a new found desire for adventure.” Oh how they complain about the strangeness of not being able to wear flip-flops and shorts. What kind of people desire to live in such a strange
land where flip-flops must be put away and where one must wear so much just to
go outside to walk to the bus or walk the dog or even get the mail or let alone
just get in the car. “I don’t want to look fat,” says little 5 year old Kowen as his mother tells him daily that not only must he wear tennis shoes and socks, but he must also wear long pants, thermals, sweaters, inner coats, outer heavy coats, mittens, hats, and his hood. These hassles surely take many a minutes from their playtime, but as it gets colder they see that it is impossible to wage war against their mother’s demands and that the winter winds are fierce and have caused them to retreat inside for the coming months.

They have had time to reflect on their year and what has brought them to where they are. Fresh on their minds is Thanksgiving and how
grateful they were to have their Aiti and Grandpa come visit and take them for
crab legs. They enjoyed spending the nights at their hotel and refreshing their abilities to swim and dive and feel the new again as they swam in the pool many a days. In recollect they talked of how they learned to skate for the first time and Kandon relished in his memory of his knees and legs covered in bruises from falling so much. Yet, they also are grateful that their father’s ankle reconstruction surgery went well and that he is now hobbling around on his bright green cast. However, they pray for the day when he is able to wrestle and run with them. Kilee remembers how mother tried to get her to be the one to touch the raw turkey and smother butter and other herbs all over its slime covered body, but she had refused such a challenge, saying it was “disgusting” and “that there was no way she was ever going to do that!” Her mother quickly explained to her that “of course it was disgusting, why do you think I was trying to get you to do it.” Oh how her mother rejoiced when it was all over and she could exclaim, “Thank goodness this holiday only comes but once a year!” The kids were sad to see their
grandparents go, but were so glad that they themselves did not have to ride in
the car for 13 hours. They had remembered how they too had gone on such a treacherous journey this last summer and Kowen had thrown up in the car, and oh how it smelled, and oh how it took so long. They had not been through such
a trial living on an island that took only 1 ½ hours to get to the other side,
a vast land where we did not take too many a trips. Our frivolous complaints had kept us away from such beauties that lied just on the other side, oh how we miss the palm trees, and beautiful beaches, oh how we long for the day when we can visit, but
knowing it is a dream, probably never to be realized again.

Kowen had much to tell as he remembered that he learned to tie his shoes while waiting to get his flu shot at the hospital. How he is now in school
because mom and dad went to the super-intendant and argued his case that he was
too good enough to start early entrance Kindergarten and that he would be great
and almost always stay on green light, not counting the time he threw food in
the cafeteria and that the principal knows him by name, but that he will and is
in the top reading group of his class and he loves his teacher. This year he has enjoyed playing indoor soccer, thank goodness says his mom because it is way too cold. He does not feel the desire to run and score,
but is more of a defender of the goal and has a little trouble differing
between what is allowed in soccer on the walls and what is allowed in
professional hockey on the walls. Many of times his mother has pleaded for him to run and score, but he says no. Many of times he has been seen ramming poor
girls into the wall as he pins them there to keep them from scoring. And many a
times he has been found smiling as he kicks while in the group of misfits who
know not what to do when piled together other than kick, kick, kick each other’s
shins. But oh how he cheers for joy and grabs and lifts his other 2 players as they continue to score goal upon goal one time up to 20 at least in one game.
He himself has brought joy to his mom with his 2 goals, one a bounce off
his foot, but it counts to her, and she is joyful in her heart, when he is
joyful in his soul. Just as she was joyful when he graduated pre-school in his
Hawaiian shirt, just as when he learned to swim all by himself in the deep end
of the pools of Hawaii and continued to impress the passing swimmers here in
Dayton, and just as he continues to impress his mom with tricks on his scooter
and bike. She loves him even when he is wild and reckless, but is so glad he is here for her to cuddle. She reminds him of how he got stitches twice
so far, once for kicking glass in flip flops and once last February for missing
a car and running his sister’s electric scooter at full speed into a basketball
pole and slicing his eyebrow open. Oh how he cried, but not for the blood, or the pain, or the craziness, but “please dad don’t stick me with the needle again” (Meaning numbing meds), and “please dad don’t take my eye.” Oh how his mom, dad, and the other doctor smiled at his remarks and were proud at how brave he was. “You continue to amaze me” his mother said. “I know, because I’m awesome,” he said.

His sister jumped in to tell of her memories of how she enjoyed riding in a discarded duct tape boat while she still lived in Hawaii. Oh the uses of duct
tape are limitless her mother said. She longs for her lost friends, but loves
her teacher and enjoys being the top reader of her class. The class in on a quest of their own to reach Kilee and her soaring AR level points as she read all Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries and many other series. She is glad to not have to wear uniforms
anymore, but is boggled with the struggles of picking out a different outfit
every day, oh the choices she must endure.
She still enjoys to sing and has rejoiced with her new found Just Dance
3 game. She longs for others to play with her and dance till their limbs are sore.
She has forged ahead and even chosen the family dentist for us, not by a
true choice, but by fault of none her own.
She came home from school, only to exclaim in pain
to her mother that she had taken poor care and bitten into a hard cookie that
had cracked her tooth in half and left in hanging and bleeding. Oh the pain was
too much to wait for it to fall out on its own, her mother must quickly find a
dentist that would ease her pain today.
And he did, through more pain than before she was healed with a comfort
that it was not her fault, but that the tooth was coming out anyways and its
replacement had shattered through the middle of the first and would have happened
anyways. Her mother rejoiced at his kindness and repaid him by signing the rest up for cleanings too. Despite all the teeth trouble, Kilee continues to love sweets and baking. Her favorite food though is Popcorn. She asks for it daily, but sadly is denied most every day but Friday. She is patiently waiting to try tennis and longs for next August when she and her brothers can perform in the Missoula Children’s Theatre again. This year she was Wolfy in the Jungle Book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I was a monkey too,” remembers her brother Kandon. He too enjoyed dancing
crazily on stage and can’t wait for next year.
Kandon proclaims that he also loved learning to dive to the bottom of
the deep pool with Kowen and Dad. But most would be breaking the trampoline
with his friend Alex. It was such a cool thing to be jumping and being all crazy and then all of a sudden we were falling to the ground. Luckily no one was hurt, but boy to I miss our trampoline that had rusted through. Oh well, one day he hopes his parents rekindle his love for jumping soon. He also shares how he enjoyed going to a monster truck show in Cincinnati and loved to see the trucks jump over hills, but better yet, burst into flames. “That was Awesome” he would proclaim often throughout the show. He was so grateful that we were in the shaded side of the arena, but oh how thirsty he still was. He wishes often that he could return and learn to surf or hike the trails to see whales again, but understands that those dreams are for a land far far away.
Kandon loves his teacher here, especially when she gives out candy, and enjoys
continuing to be the top level reader in his class like he was in Hawaii. He has pleaded for a phone and Ipad for Christmas, but sadly his requests have been denied.

His faith in Santa shattered at age 8, but
was joyful to remember how he was baptized in July and was able to visit his
cousins and grandparents for such a wonderful occasion. He also enjoyed singing in his choir performance at school, oh how his face radiated with joy as he proclaimed the
words he knew. He was sure he did better than his sister’s performance, but his
parents proclaimed that they were both delightful in their own ways.


Our many wonderful memories have filled our books of remembrances, too many to share, but if you haven’t looked lately some are printed on www.nowellfamily243.blogspot.com free for your viewing and laughter. We know that each year is an experience given to us to cherish and yet endure at times.
We hope that we are able to use our time wisely making experiences that
will form our souls into who our Father in Heaven would want us to be. We hope that his year brings your families great joy and happiness as you forge new challenges and cross new lands. May you always keep the knowledge of who you are and where you eternally are going within your hearts and minds. May next year bring good news and cheer for
you.
Love, Clifton,
Nakeysha, Kilee (10), Kandon(8), and Kowen(5) Nowell

Oh No Snow!

Yep it snowed before December. Well a day or so is close enought I guess. We knew it would probably snow that night and melt by morning, so we were kinda thrilled that it snowed before the kids went to bed. We called them down and opened the door, and they wanted out before they even got dressed. So on went the socks, jackets, gloves, hats, and boots. What a hassle. Outside to play, inside to whine because Kilee hit Kandon in the face with a snowball and it hurt, outside to play, inside to get dad dressed and out the door, outside to play, inside to get a blanket because I do not own a decent jacket other that my black leather from years ago that I hope still fits, but not used to play in the snow. Cold noses, cold toes, cold fingers, cold faces.

Yes that is a blanket. Yes I was aware of how silly I looked, but I was aware how more cold I was and how much I wanted to watch them for the 20 - 30 minutes we let them stay outside. I know short, but it was cold, they had bed, and were already getting colds. Party pooper mom.

Kowen had fun, but it took him a while to get use to it and although it was exciting, he was rather mellow.

Kilee and Kandon however had at it from the beginning. Snow ball fights right away. Mini piles of snow thrown on the ground, but no snowman yet. Probably if we had let the stay longer, but Kandon and Kilee had already taken several trips down the slides in jeans, so they were wet and cold and mom made them come in. I know take the extra time to put on the snow pants and that wouldn't happen. Uhh next time really, it was so cold. Luckily I have stocked up on hot chocolate. Yum!

Snow from the car is so much easier to make a snow ball with, See mom how I place it down your sweater. Run mom Run!

Christmas cookies already!

Well we got into the Christmas spirit before Dec. 1st. The base was having a cookie drop off for single and over seas military personel. So we decided to have a Family Home Evening about service. Kandon read some stories and talked about why we need to do service, and then we made several dozen cookies and wrote letters and made snowflake cards. Unfortunately mom, left the cards at home as she rushed about. Oh well we can give them later to another or send them to family for Christmas. It was a good activity and the pumpkin spice cookies turned out pretty good, better with icing. The kids struggled with donating so many sugar cookies, but had plenty to eat. Nobody liked the oatmeal Chocolate chip but mom, but that was only bc it had oatmeal in it, not bc of my cooking, so they say. Well I'm sure there will be lots more baking this holiday season, which means lots more weight and more plans to work out. May this year end with lots of joy and blessings abounding.

Yummy, I think I will have to make more pumkin spice with icing. They look tempting. Certainly easy since they were Betty Crocker mix from the bags.

Tis the season for some Baking!

Aiti + Granpa + Visit = Crab Legs

Alright, yeah Grandpa and Aiti are here! They came for a quick Thanksgiving visit. We are so glad they came, since we just saw them this summer. While in Hawaii we would only visit once a year, so this is very nice to see them. They came to help watch the kids while Cliff had his Ankle surgery the Wednesday before Thursday Thanksgiving. Lots of fun that was, but having them here was really great. Grandpa wasn't feeling too well, but he made time to horse around with the boys.



Aiti was all smiles as she enjoyed taking in all the exciting things the kids had to share with her. She made sure to play games with them, watch them for long nights and days at their hotel pool. Give them treats and hugs and lots of loving. She took them to see the movie Puss and Boots, bought slushies and popcorn and they got to eat out a lot with Grandpa too.

We enjoyed going to the skating rink with Aiti. For the boys it was their first time, and Kilee's second visit to the rink. They were so excited. Their first few minutes, hour for Kowen was hectic whining as they learned that they were not going to be automatic expert skaters, but Kandon was determined and got the hang of it as well as countless bruises as he hit the floor several times every time he did a lap. Eventually he was able to make it around without falling, but boy did his body hurt that evening and days after, but he is ready to go again.

Kowen was such a sad little boy as he wanted to go home, but mostly he wanted inline skates like the other kids. He was a big boy and didn't want these skates that were too hard to use. He most certainly did not like falling down. Mom walked in shoes around the rink with him. Yes I was the only one with tennis shoes, all the other moms and dads had skates, but I can not remember the last time skating other that a brief ice skate in Hawaii. I was not about to break anything, since Cliff is on crutches, we would be in a mess. His sad face changed as we got his skates tightened twice and he learned how to use the roller pipe brace gate on wheels. I don't know how to explain it. But it was a great skate buddy that helped him learn quicker and gain his confidence. He didn't skate without it, but he zoomed around the rink without mom for more than an hour. He still needs to learn patience and watch his way around without causing others to change their course. In all they did well, broke a sweat, had fun, and were begging for more.

The favorite game of Aiti's visit was the Toy Story rocket game. It is like Kerplunk with a Toy Story theme. We even got Gpa to play a game where poor Aiti lost and scored almost all the little aliens.

The kids enjoyed putting on several shows for Aiti on Sunday since mom wouldn't let them watch tv or play wii on the Sabbath. There were train station pick ups, hula dancing, princesses, and ninjas who saved the day.

If you ask Kilee, the best part was Red Lobster. Grandpa had been promising Kilee some Crab legs for years. It seems we would forget or the restaurant was out when we would visit before. So, the first thing she said when she found out they were coming was, yipee, Crab Legs. She was not so thrilled with the idea that mom made her share her pound of crab with her brother, but it sure was tasty. We made sure we went on Monday before Cliff had surgery, so he could help crack the o so many legs. They had fun. Kowen even cleaned his plate of macaroni, yep, of all the things to order he got macaroni. That is ok, mom and Grandpa got potato soup. I don't like fish. By the way, the potato soup is not so good, unless you like chowder I guess. I prefer plain old potatoes, salt, pepper, milk, and butter, with maybe some Mrs. Dash. Yummy. Which I had had a few days before.

We love visits and can't wait to see them again. We are so thankful for their long safe drives and their love and support they give. It continues to keep the thought "Sweet home Alabama" in mind. Love ya lots!

Soccer, Surgery, and a glowing surprise!

Ok so it is updating time, especially since I am trying to cram everything into the blog book before I print it at the end of the year. Alot has happened, maybe not as exciting as I had hoped, but definately memorable.

Things like

So Kowen started indoor soccer. He is having a great time. Although mom loves the indoor part, it is a little crazy trying not to yell so much and tell him to get in there and kick the ball constantly. He loves the game, but he loves to be a defender and talk to the goalie, or pretend like he is playing hockey and slam a poor unsuspecting girl with the ball into the wall and hold her there. He also likes to get into the pile on the wall and kick, kick, kick, no matter if the ball is there or a persons shin. Oh well, he just needs to stop picking his lip and watching the ball go by and get in the game more. He does love to watch his two other players score almost 20 goals last week. His favorite part was running up to them and picking them up and squeezing them tight. Well at least he is having fun mom. Aiti and Grandpa E. got to see him play last week and he enjoyed smiling everytime he heart GPA's voice yell at him from the sidelines. He likes to be goalie and had one assist/goal. To explain, he kicked the ball at a defender and it either bounced off or the defender kicked it in on accident, but i'm going to count it as a goal for Kowen, yippee. He said he didn't want to play basketball like Kandon this winter, but is holding out for baseball in the spring. T-ball here we come!

-- I found four Book of Mormons on the shelf at the Thrift Store. It was just an interesting find. I wonder how long they have been there and if anyone has every bought one. Yet, I thought of buying them and giving them out, I did not give in to the thought, since I can get them for free from the missionaries, I will leave them in hopes that someone would find them a treasure on the shelf. Hopefully they won't collect too much dust.

Kilee showed off light up boobs while playing with bouncy balls given to them from G-Grandma Nancy. I did tell her that although they would come in soon in a few years, they don't normally glow in the dark without special paint.

Kowen learned to tie his shoes while waiting for their flu shots at the base hospital. He continues to surprise me at how fast he learns things. We really didn't practice much before and he wasn't getting it. I assume it was the angle or what, but he just started looping his bow/tree the opposite way and voila, the first time he tied and retied and tied a gain. He was so proud to show dad when he got home and call Aiti and Gpa. Way to go Kowen. My baby is growing up so fast. Half a decade old.

--Kilee had a UTI and tried to take a pill that stained her teeth, tongue and the table and floor where she spit it out, yellow for several hours. It was hilarious for mom. She can not take pills, so earlier I had said if you can't swallow it, quickly crunch it and wash it down and swallow it. Well she crunched it and then the nasty taste overcame her brains and out it came all over the table and floor. I had to use magic eraser several times to get it off the table and floor. As for her teeth, well several brushes later it was still there. It was a med she didn't really have to take, it just helped to not hurt when peeing and so she didn't try that again. Yep, still funny weeks later. Well at least to mom that is. I am posting this for documentation in our blog book, not to embarrass her or anything, pure documentation. Love ya Kilee!

I emptied my purse a few weeks ago to find this. It was a most needed things since earlier I had found a bag of McDonalds apples (not so fresh in there), and a two or three day old half a subway sandwich my hubby wanted to bring home. Yummy. It is a large pinkish/purple purse I got for 7 dollars at Target one day. I thought it added color to my wardrobe, but it is adding alot to how much I carry, and just plain housing too much junk. Does this look familiar or do your purses reflect a very organized lifestyle!

--My parents visited for Thanksgiving (Which meant I actually had to touch the nasty raw turkey, should have gotten a picture, but I didn't, but thank goodness I don't have to touch another for a whole year.) But since I have so many pictures to post, I will make that its own post.

--Cliff had ankle surgery and is hobbling around

--The first snowfall of the year came (Oh I am not ready, pics later)

--Then the first colds of the year came for all three kids

--Kilee and Kandon both had school programs where they sang songs and dance. We were so excited to finally have programs again. Their last school didn't do them and I surely missed it. Wish we had plays, but maybe soon. I can always count their Missoula performances. Can't wait to see what it is next summer.

Next on our list are a few things like: Kilee's 10th B-day, 12th Anniversary, Christmas, Cliff's B-day, and buy a car....etc. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed my post of pictures of the recent past adventures and their outcomes. Enjoy! On to more in the life of the Nowell clan.

Print your Blog Book! Yipee

Ok, so am I the only one who didn't know this. After posting 4 long bits, I decided that I should probably try to get my background back to a white simple one since I planned to print off all 120 posts to put into a journal since I am so bad at keeping my real journal and well pictures are so much better at telling stories than just words. I am also bad at keeping up with scrapbooking and end up spending a week catching up on a year or two.

Anyways as I was looking on cutestestblogontheblock.blogspot.com for my background, I noticed the book option. Really I can just print it for 25-25 dollars for 20pgs, plus 40cents a page after that, yes for 120 posts that adds up to $57. Sweet. I know what I am putting on my Christmas list. That way I can have from 2008-2011 in one book and say goodbye to scrapbooking for a little bit. No it isn't the same, but at least I won't feel bad for missing a year or two in the scrapbook because I have most or some of the important moments documented here on the blog. YIPEE! If you are like me and want to print it, but don't want to ruin your own printer, Check it out! I'm so excited! Can ya tell?

And yes I have been at the computer most of the day. But I have all three kids in school and I justify it by saying that I take breaks to do things. Things like 2 loads of laundry, vaccum the whole house,, tape countless home videos to dvd, dishes, walk the dog, empty my purse and shake out the loads of cookie crumbs and trash, and actually get dressed with make-up and deoderant (to justify that I do do it daily, but I'm adding it as something to make my list look longer). Since Kowen has started school, I should of had several chapters written in any kind of book, or learned a song on the piano, reviewed sign language or spanish, or well something productive, but not. I spend most of the time cleaning, searching internet for the hope of a wonderful house for sale so we won't have to build one, or coupon and shop. Oh well, one day.

But today I found this blog book idea and am so glad, it will save me so much time and look a lot better than my printed, hole punched, plastic sheet binder idea. I am so glad. Well, I'm off to add to my list of do's so I can justify the long list of not done things. May you find something today that makes you smile too!!!!

Puzzles and TOFW

So Dad decided to do a 500 piece puzzle, maybe more one night and Kilee was going to help. She got to help with the border and gave up. Cliff stayed up til who knows when and had half done.

Then he got off early from school and worked on it some in the afternoon and was done. I on the other hand wouldn't have undertaken such a hard puzzle with mostly gray or white pieces. He definately has more patience with some things than I do. More power to ya!

I was able to attend my first Time Out for Women even. It was fun. Even though I really knew no one and all the ladies kept calling me the youngin and talking about menopause, it was fun. Was glad it was only an hour away in Cinncinnati, technically south in Kentucky but oh well. Not sure I will travel any far distance like others who came from Michigan and Phoenix, and Florida, but glad to have gone and gotten a break. Not counting the time in the hospital with one while others at home with Grandparents and Cliff, or the two days or so Cliff took them to his folks while I threw up at mine pregnant with Kowen, or the 2 days Cliff and I got away last summer after Kilee's baptism, this was my only retreat in almost 12 yrs of marriage and the few days to myself. Wow, I should get out more. But I missed them and Daddy had a cake waiting for me and I got lots of hugs and kisses when I returned. Gosh, less than 24 hrs gone and they act like it was a long time. Oh well. It's good to know I'm loved.

Kowen 5th Birthday!

My Baby is 5 years old. Boy does time really fly by. His hair has grown back some and he is just so cute for a 5 year old, don't ya think. I had his birthday all planned. Seeing Jeni's Mario party ideas, I was all set and ready to do the Mario party. But Kowen didn't want a Mario party, he wanted a Lego party. So it was back to the internet for mom, searching for more invitations, games and ideas. He is a stickler for what he wants.

This is what he got. A lego man, with mario and luigi legos. Those are candles in the lego mans hand if you were wondering. I don't know why Cliff put them there, but I guess he was avoiding stabbing him in the head. I frosted this cake as the guests were arriving. Literally. I froze the cake and didn't bother taking it out before going fishing for 4 hrs and then home. So I was able to avoid too many crumbs mixing with the frosting, but was secretly praying it wouldn't be frozen when it came time to eat it an hour later.

This was his actual bday picture morning. His party was a week or so early bc of conference and other things.

We were able to take rainbow cupcakes and goodie bags to his class and donate a Dora chutes and ladders game that they can use for counting and some books they can read in class. It sure was interesting to watch the kids have to put their hands on their heads when they were ready and quiet. Kowen is doing well and in the group that is already reading small books. Go Kowen. And they said you should wait a yr before Kindergarten. You showed those psychiatrists that they didn't know what you could really do if given the chance.

I was so glad that the cucakes turned out well. However it took so long to do the 6 or 7 different layers of colors, I don't think I will do so many again, they will have to settle for a 2 or 3 color tye dye cupcake instead. Happy 5th Kowen!

Beards and Fireworks

So the housing office threw a kids fishing tournament. We ran out and bought 2 of the cheapest fishing poles that come with all the necessary equipment we could get away with and got up early and set out for a wonderful day of fishing. Too bad it didn't turn out that way. One of the reasons you don't buy cheap poles is bc with kids who don't know how to throw a fishing pole and release it, sure tangle it up alot when it never worked right in the first place, but you couldn't exchange it in time before tournament, but gladly did after all the hassle. Another reason it wasn't so good was bc we didn't catch a single thing, but it wasn't just us, most everyone didn't catch anything. One family caught 2 in the 4hrs of time and they of course won both age groups for largest fish. There were two other fish caught during that time and one tree branch. Yes I said branch. We hear screaming and yelling from the girls and their mom just beyond Kilee and wanted a big fish too. However as they continued to walk backwards and backwards up the hill, instead of realing it in, we all soon laughed as a tree brach of good size emerged. They were lucky enough to win a prize too, just bc there were no other fish caught. And everyone needed that one laugh. Well we ended the morning on a bad note, but then ran off to Kowen's bday party and I frosted the cake as the guests arrived, but I'll post that next.

All pretend smiles, but at least we weren't putting worms on the hooks, just hot dogs and cheese. She had more fun playing with the stray dog that came around and ate her hot dog. She was sad after the owners finally came after about an hour later. Oh well. Momma wasn't keeping it anyways.

Kandon got initiated into scouts and I send dad up with him so I could capture a picture of his beard. Not many times in an Air Force career can you sneek in not shaving for a while. Oh well, of all the people to get on to him, it was the AF Dentist who told him to shave. Oh well, another dream shattered. He claims he was going for the mullet look, ha not likely.

Wanna Kiss mom, I promise not to smear it all over you. No thanks, but I'll snap a pic bc you are so cute.

My hairy boys at a Lonestar Concert at the AF ?(Airplane show). It was fun, not the part where I lost Kowen after he left the bathroom area instead of waiting for mom and mom had to run around and finally ask an AF man if upon his high tower chair could he see a long haired boy in a red shirt. Of course he knew just the right one to look for and told me his partner had just taken him over to the lost and found station. So I chased him down before he was able to put his name and pic all over the big screen and I feel like a worse parent. Oh well, at least he was safe. We enjoyed lots of expensive not so good food and loved the fireworks and hearing dad sing songs along with the band. We danced, despite everyone looking at us as we looked crazy and were among the few dancing. Then walked all the way across the street, and down back home with kids whining their feet hurt, carry me.. but no mom took off running and we ducked behind other homes and around corners and Kilee and I won. Yep we beat the boys home. It kinda helped that they didn't see us coming for most of the run, which means we were far behind to start with, but we squeezed the win in anyways.

And here is another pic of Dad with a beard. One of the few he will ever have. Just when I was getting use to the look. Its like a different man. But I like the smoother feeling man too.

Catching Up!

Okay so I haven't posted much and I have time, so here it goes. I actually tried posting last week and typed it all up then tried to add pics without saving and it froze. Of course, I should have saved first and remembered to add pics first but I didn't. Anyways.

Catching up! Over the summer we moved to Ohio and the kids enjoyed the pool, alot, but not as much as Hawaii bc of the oceans, diving boards, and slides at the pool.

Dad entertained them with diving lessons and even little Kowen could impress the bigger kids bc he could swim all the way to the bottom and touch the grate, many times. Of course mom was not liking it bc of her crazy notion that his little fingers might get stuck and he would drown, but I had to just let it go. As for mom diving in and touching it, only once, bc her ears hurt really bad afterwards, yes that was my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Moving In day was fun for the boys bc they got to make a fort with the paper that was used to wrap the outside of some items. Yes I said some, this is only one of many piles. Can you say wasteful packing by movers. Oh well, at least almost nothing got ruined in the move. And as far as we know everything made it, but we have alot of junk and half is in storage right now. So how do we know. Anyways the boys enjoyed running and jumping off the couch that was positioned to the left of the above pic and landing in the pile of paper. Thank goodness it was alot. Short lived bc movers took it for room to unload more stuff. That was 14 wood crates. Yep that was a lot of crates, but in our defense, the surfboard counted as one and a long table as another, so technically we only had 12, oh and a motorcycle as one, so 11. But bc most was toys, it seems like a whole lot, and it is. Oh well, I tried to purge, but not so well I guess.They even crawled in some and hid, mom decided to stay outside and watch them just in case the movers forgot they were there. They were very nice men who actually kinda played a little by talking to them and pretending to give them missions and bullets. How kind of them.Fall has set in and the kids were able to see the leaves fall off the trees. For Kandon's good deed for scouts, he raked the neighbors yard that was covered in leaves. Oh fun. Not. But glad he did it cheerfully. He also took this pic for one of his scout photography lessons.

Here is Kandon's I, Freddy book report mobile. It is hard to see, but if you look back at other photos, you will see long hair to his shoulders and over his eyes. We finally gave in and realized we weren't in Hawaii anymore and he needed to get a hair cut. This is the outcome. I like it since it has grown out some lately, but that is just me.

Kowen got a haircut months ago and boy am I glad it grew in. It is a crazy story. Cliff took Kowen for a haircut. I sent a picture, yes a picture so he could show the lady that I didn't want all his long beautiful blonde hair cut off. I love the surfer look on him. Oh it was a sad day for all. I mean Cliff showed the lady the picture and said just trim up his eyes and around the ears, keep it long. He didn't want me mad at him. hahaha So the lady says she can do it and Cliff sits down. He watches her cut his bangs, alright. Everything is going well, then she pulls out the shears and starts using them. Cliff is now thinking ok, she knows what she is doing I guess and watches as alot of hair falls to the floor. And all of a sudden she is shaving it around his ears high and tight. What the heck. He gets up and talks to her about how in the heck is that anything like the picture. Whatever, we can't glue it back on, so just fix the uneven mess of a haircut so we can go. She then proceeds to hack away at his already perfectly cut long bangs and this is the result. Cliff then is so upset with her bc not only is this not anything like the picture, but it isn't even a presentable haircut, and not I'm not talking about this picture above. He says he isn't going to pay for this haircut bc it isn't something you can wear in public. It really wasn't folks. So she says she is done and won't cut anymore to fix it bc she can't please him. Well if you can't do a haircut like a picture. Tell the person you can't and they need to wait for another stylist. duhhhhh. Finally Cliff walked over to a man stylist who was being quiet, showed the picture, asked if that looked anything like the cut he got (of course not, he has no hair left), then asked if that was a haircut anyone should have to go out in public with, (of course not), Then the man kindly said he could make it better, presentable I guess you should say, and this is how it turned out after the man saved the day. Of course I was shocked and horrified, but I held it together bc I could see Cliff was upset, Kowen liked it, and I couldn't glue it back on of course. Oh well. I knew he couldn't come back like the pic anyways bc after he left I realized he was headed to the military barber shop. What 1 haircut do they know how to do? High and tight. Oh well. Hopefully I will remember this when a year passes and we finally give in to another haircut.

Yes, we played, Pretty, Pretty, Princess game and I think Kandon won. And yes I sure do miss their long hair. I don't know what it is. Love me that long hair. I hate it when Cliff cuts it high and tight. Oh well If they are happy, I can endure it til it grows out again..hahha

This is the stray dog we found and kept for one day and then took to the baseball park and gave it away. We sent emails to people in subdivision and looked online. Then despite the begging, pleading, negotiating, crying, and whining. We gave her away to someone who said she would maybe help out at a nursing home. Adios Dog. Although you were more behaved than our own dog.

Celebrated Kandon's 8th bday with a cookie. That is what you do when you don't have another party since you had one in Hawaii and you have no pans to cook one. Oh well. There was so much sugar on that thing, they each had one, but only took a few bites and I threw them away after being in the fridge a few days. It was the thought that counted.