Washington's Winter Wonderland

Here are a few pictures taken yesterday. It couldn't have happened at a more perfect time. The kids are now out for Christmas break and they get to enjoy the snow. The one thing that our camera cannot capture is the glistening of the snow. It looks like there are diamonds all over the snow. It is so beautiful.

1st Annual Thanksgiving Trot

This morning Allie, Katelynn and I participated in our High School Cross County Thanksgiving Run/Walk. You could walk or run 2 or 3 miles. Unfortunately, when we woke up the ground was white with snow and very cold, but that did not stop us. Katelynn found a friend from school to walk with so Allie and I walked together. We decided to do 2 miles and when we got back to the school we waited and waited for Katelynn to show up and come to find out they decided to walk the 3 miles. We had a fun time and now have shirts to prove it. We just might make this a tradition for Thanksgiving morning and get the whole family to join us.

Daniel the Cook

Daniel wanted to make his eggs by himself. He did pretty good.

Halloween Costumes

Allison is a mummy with pony tails.

Daniel is a dinosaur.

Here are Allie and Daniel in their costumes this year. Matt helped pass out candy but didn't want to dress up and Katelynn got to spend the weekend with Grandma Nona working on some family history together in Pasco.

While the Mama Is Away...

The kids(and Daddy) drink...

WHOLE MILK!!!

I took a short trip. Flew to Salt Lake City, caravaned with some of my family to Denver for my Grandmother's Memorial. All of my siblings and parents were able to be there, which hasn't happened since a wedding many years ago. It was great to be together. A very short trip but worth all the driving and flying required.

Ben was able to keep the fort down just fine and was able to keep all the kids going where they needed to be. He is a great man and was able to handle getting the house ready for a showing 2 people, getting Allie off to a party(including buying the present), having a vacuum blow up just before the realtor was coming, getting kids to and from school and all the other things to take care of the house. He is amazing, but I am sure he is not letting me leave anytime soon.

Home for Sale...Do you want it...Anyone?

Recent pictures of the outside of the house. Enjoy and then come buy the house. Thanks

I Love to Rollerskate!

We went rollerskating. I haven't been in many years. I love to rollerskate. At first I was a bit shaky but very shortly it all came back to me. We all had so much fun. You have to imagine me gracefully skating around the rink but I have no proof. I had the camera but our batteries only lasted a short while.

Daniel in motion

Katie and Allie

Matt, Daniel, and Ben taking a break

Our Home Has a Monster!!

Daniel found the cookie package on the counter and snatched quite a few before I found out, but he wasn't being our "Cookie Monster"...he is our "Frosting Monster". He leaves lots of evidence.

Family Update

Our house has not sold. It has been on the market for a month or so. I know that in this market that is a short time. It wouldn't be so hard if Ben didn't have to have a home office in our family room where our computer and TV are. The kids have been real troppers this summer. They have done a lot of reading because that is all there is to do when it is soo hot outside. I will be so glad when we sell this house but things are going really slow. We are anxiously waiting for school to start. It will be nice when the house is quiet during the day for Ben to work.

We had a great time taking a break fromselling our house, cleaning the house and waiting for someone to come and see it with a trip to Utah. We had Nona with us(well actually, we wouldn't have even gone if not for her). We spent 8 days in Utah and Idaho. I should have lots of pictures but unfortunately, my camera was safe and sound in my purse. Sorry. We visited with friends, my family, and Ben's family. We stayed up way too late watching the Olympics and we loved every minute of it. Ben was home keeping the clean house clean and ready, watering the lawn and working hard. We missed him.

Kids with their cousins in Utah

Grandma Nona and the kids eating snow cones(our trip to Utah)

Life is full of changes. I have been the Relief Society President(women organization in our church) for over 2 years now and I was released from those responsibilities last sunday. It was bitter sweet. I have learned so much by serving the women of our ward. I have learned of the love of Jesus Christ. I have felt his love that he has for the sisters in our ward. That is what I will miss. But change is good. I am now a primary teacher for the 7 year olds and I am so excited. I already have my lesson planned and just love the idea of going to church and am responsible for only 5 little children.

Ben's work is going good. He is learning so much and will feel like he can really get his feet wet when he can set up his office and spread out a bit. Since we are selling the house lots of our things are packed already and we are living on the basics. I actually like the house as empty as it is. I always love to keep things simple, so I am enjoying that there is nothing on my kitchen counters but a cookie jar, no toothpaste, toothbrushes on the bathroom sink, no dirty laundry piling up in the corner, etc. But I am looking forward to having pictures of my family on the walls again. That will just have to wait for our move.

Katelynn starts high school. I am terrified for her, but she is just excited. Matt will be in middle school and is there right now for a 6th grade preveiw. They get to have their schedules, lockers and combinations, and see where their classes are when no one else is in the school. So on Tuesday when he goes, he won't get lost. Allie got a letter this morning to let her know which teacher she was getting. She is very happy because she got the teacher she wanted. And my poor Daniel just keeps asking when his school starts. I will try to do some preschool things for him so he isn't so bored with just me. But there is one very important thing he will be learning on Sep 2. Potty training. On sep 2 we will be diaper free(at least during the day). I have been waiting until school starts and the kids are all at school, so I have the time to focus on him. So I am all prepared with lots of juice boxes, watermelon, and extra underwear. Yah for me!!!!

We love you all and would love to blog soon with a new address and a moving date, but I am not holding my breath. Talk to you later.

FOOTBALL!!!

Football season has begun in our home. Matthew is playing on a YMCA Grid Kids team. They have been practicing 3 to 4 days a week for the past couple weeks. These boys are being coached by the elementary school principal and one of the high school football coaches. They practice on the high school football field and use their equipment. They even have a couple high school kids helping the boys. I am hoping that once school starts that the practices will be less. His first game is in a week. He likes playing, but I am a bit worried for all the blocking and hitting. I really don't want any injuries.

Once Matt decided to play football, that is all Daniel talks about. "when is MY team, where is MY football helmet, I need to go to MY football practice" He now has a uniform with helmet. Practice is right across the street from our home, so Daniel and Dad go out there each day and watch.

Taking A Break!!

Daniel took this picture. He is 3 years old!!! Amazing little guy!

I needed a break from all the work at getting the house ready to be put on the market. Ben's boss' wife came to town with her husband, so we spent the day with her and had a great time with her. We decided to have a picnic at the park. We decided to take some bread and feed the ducks. Daniel was so excited. As we drove into the parking lot we noticed a sign that said "DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!" I was so disappointed. Daniel kept asking, "When do we feed the ducks?" But we played and had a great time. Here are some pictures.

More Fun Home Pictures

Here are some more pictures of our home that is now FOR SALE!

I love this part...our bedroom. She made a plain old bedroom into a beautiful place that I love to be in.
Our kitchen wil nothing in the sink and on the counters. Crazy to think that I have to keep the house looking like this.

This is our kitchen. Who would have thought to put a lamp in the kitchen and a statue of an angel. But it feels great.

We removed dark brown paneling in our family room and put this wood up and it looks so beautiful.

Home Transformation

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE


AFTER

We are selling our home. With Ben's new job, he is now working at home. I think it will be great as soon as we find a home that has an actual office. Right now he is using our family room or our bedroom depending on the day. Very crazy and we are feeling even more squished.

We have been doing lots and lots of sprucing up on our home. We had a stager(interior decorator to help our home look better to potential buyers) come in and help us a lot. I promised my mom I would get the before and after pictures...so here they are.

The Janes Are Still Alive!

Hello everyone. We have not fallen off the face of the earth, but boy have we been busy with Ben's new job, Ben's 5 week training in Bothell, WA, deciding to sell the house, going to a family reunion, Ben and Matt going to boys scout camp, fixing the house up, looking at new homes, trying to decide where to move to, and celebrating Ben and Daniel's birthday. Can you see why we have been missing in action? I will get to all the details of these things at a later date(when things slow down a bit...hopefully), but for now I will share with you a picture of cute Daniel and a video clip made by Katelynn. Hope you are all well and happy.Here is the new "Alfalfa"(from the Little Rascals)

Daniel's movie

Matt bought a cap gun and let Daniel try it. Funny boy!

Mother's Day 2008

For the past few Mother's Days, Ben has made crepes for breakfast. But not just any crepes...they have strawberries and ice cream and whip cream. They are delicious. He did it again and it was so yummy. The kids shared their gifts with me and I was touched by their cuteness. After dinner we decided to use a gift we got for our anniversary...a chocolate fountain. Unfortunately, I did not eat much because I had already been showered with chocolate at church. And I knew I would be really sick if I indulged. But the rest of the family enjoyed and here is the proof.

Katelynn and Matt
Allison

The kids

Daniel

Ice Skating Night!!

Allison and Mom

Daniel and Dad watching on the sidelines.

Allison and Matthew in their ice skates.


Eastern Washington University just had their grand opening of the University Recreation Center. The building is huge. There is an ice skating rink, indoor climbing wall, basketball courts, running track, a large kitchen, and excercise areas. All the activites for were free for this grand opening. We decided to take the kids and go ice skating last night. Unfortunately, they didn't have skates small enough for Daniel, so he had to stay on the sidelines with Dad. He did not like it at all. Matt, Allie and I skated. I was fun. This was Allie and Matt's first time on ice skates. Matt was amazing. He was skating circles around Allie and I. Allie did finish the night with a skate by herself all the way around the rink.



Katelynn missed the skating. She was practicing her hip hop dancing routine. She is performing at our cities mayfest this weekend. Hopefully I will get pictures and video's for you.

Spirit Week Pictures

I got back from Utah - for Women's Conference - and now have pictures of Katelynn to post to finish out the spirit week for her. Apparently, on Thursday her outfit wasn't all that great (that's what she said), so no one took a picture. But Friday was CRAZY DAY!! I think she took more time picking out the crazy accessories that didn't match than the outfit. Her eye shadow is even different colors. Cute girl!!!

Sports Day!

Wednesday - Sports Day! GO Seahawks!!

Tuesday - Hawaiian Day

Today, Katelynn is dressed to visit Hawaii, but our weather outside does not match, but that did not deter her from wearing her flip flops to school even if it is only 45 degrees. I think the closeup picture is really pretty of her and you can see her with makeup on. She does a really good job. Have a great day!

Spirit Week for Katelynn!

MONDAY - PAJAMA DAY!!

This week is Spirit Week for the middle school. They have a different theme each day. Katelynn has planned out each day what she is going to wear. I thought I would let you see her each day. Today is pajama day. I will take pictures each morning and post them for you. I will try to get Ben to take pictures and post for Thursday and Friday because I am going to Utah for 4 days and go to Women's Conference at BYU with my Mom, sister in law and our good family friend and to visit my sisters and brother and their families. I am so excited for a break from the normal activities of the day.

Stay tuned each day for pictures of Katelynn.

Mother and Daughter Picnic

Allison invited me to a mother/daughter picnic yesterday. We were to bring a picnic lunch, a blanket and a flashlight. We walked to the church and found lots of fun there. I got to hear Allie tell about her first day at activity days in February. We got to meet all the other girls and their mothers. I learned that Allie's favorite colors are pink and blue and she loves to do cartwheels. She learned that I don't have a favorite color and that I love to read. Then we played beach volleyball, tag in the dark with a flashlight and then frisbee. We then went outside to have a picnic lunch together. After all was done we walked home. I enjoyed my time with Allie to be with her and act like a kid(sometimes it is difficult for me) and play fun games.

Katelynn turns 14!

Katelynn and Daniel being "cool" in sunglasses.

I wish I could post lots of cute pictures of Katelynn on her birthday, but my kids seem to love taking videos with my camera and often use up all the juice in the battery and also the spare battery. That is what happened on Katelynn's birthday...so no pictures. Hopefully I can find a recent picture of her. In our house, the girls can wear makeup when they turn 14. So as you can imagine, Katelynn has been counting down the days until she could wear makeup. She does pretty good but you must know our secret.

My mother-in-law Nona, gave me a piece of advice 2 years ago that at first I was resistant too, but was able to see the great wisdom in her advice. She suggested I let Katelynn have makeup of her own and practice, because when she is 12 she will listen to you about applying makeup, but when she is 14 she won't want to hear your suggestions. Well, she couldn't have been more right. Katelynn was allowed to put makeup on whenever she wanted as long as she took it off right afterwards. She would come out afterwards and show me and so I could suggest that something should be lighter and more blended in. She even took pictures of herself to see what it looked like.

But on April 15, my advice and counsel was no longer needed just like Nona had said. Katelynn doesn't want any help with putting her makeup on so I am so thankful for the past 2 years of practicing. She is such a beautiful girl without makeup but I know how it feels when you are a teenager. You feel like you need the makeup.

Unfortunately, Katelynn's birthday landed on a crazy day in our house. School, work, gymnastics, hip hop were all squeezed in there. But to really make us feel busy our favorite TV show "The Biggest Loser" was having their 2 hour finale and none of us wanted to miss it. I gave Katelynn the option of celebrating her birthday one day early and she said NO! So I let her decide when we opened presents and had her cake(which she chose cherry cheesecake). Her solution to this was to open a present during each of the commercial breaks and then during one of the longer breaks we sat around eating cheesecake. Not real normal, but a memory nonetheless.

I would like to say that I am totally enjoying these teenage years so far, but I would be lying. But I can say that there are moments when I do enjoy having a 14 year old at my house. She attended her first church dance a week ago. I got to pick up some of the kids afterwards and hear about it. That was one of those moments. It was fun to hear about her night. She was asked by a few boys which really make a mom happy. But what was really cute was by the time we got home(dance was in Spokane...about 25 minutes away) she was looking like she was asleep. It was about 11:00pm. She is still little inside sometimes and I love that.

16th Wedding Anniversary

Our Wedding Day!

Here we are now!

Friday April 18th, Ben and I spent our 16th wedding anniversary by going out to dinner with a little window shopping. What an amazing thing to look back at all that has gone on in just 16 years. I love Ben more than I ever could on the day we were married. I am grateful for all that these years have taught me and am looking forward to the many more years we have to enjoy, learn, love and grow together.