Spelling Tests

Luke's latest game is giving everyone spelling tests. He writes out a bunch of words and asks everyone in the family (except Gypsy Girl) to spell the words. He had words such as tig, he, she, jig, mom, and dad. He writes all the words down on a piece a papers, then he asks us to spell the words.

I won the very first game 1000 points (which he also wrote on the paper correctly) against 100 points. How did I win, a girl that can't spell? Well Mike cheated a bit. When Anakin's name came up, he asked Anakin how to spell the word. Additional points were lost because Mike would spell the word before Luke said the word. A big mistake.

However, I lost the second game, because I kept helping our four year old spell the words. I thought it was a hilarious game, with hilarious results. I doubt that as a five year old that I gave my family spelling tests, but maybe Mike did!

One of the benefits......

Of being a pilot's wife--layovers!

Gypsy Girl loved going up and down the ramp!

Anakin loves to fix the toy car. Here he is fixing the muffler. You can add all sorts of fluids, change the air filter, rotate tires. A fun part of the museum.

Gypsy Girl driving a bus.

Anakin working on the giant tinkertoys.

Luke made his very own ship. He did a great job!

Every once in while Mike has a layover close to home, so we pack up and go. This time he got in around 4pm, so we decided to stay the night. We got to go swimming at the hotel, eat McDonalds food (my kids favorite restaurant) The next day we went to the Children's Museum, where everyone had a blast! I think Gypsy Girl had the most fun!

I've never had dejavu, but sometimes I am taken back in time!

Luke and Gypsy Girl July 2007

Today, Gypsy Girl is 18 months! It is hard to imagine 18 months ago we welcomed our little girl into our lives. On New Years Day, she woke up in the middle of the night, and as the clock past the midnight mark, I thought there was no better way to welcome the new year, than to be snuggling my little girl. That moment, although small, makes time fly. Because I think the more we try to slow things down and enjoy the moments, those moments, the faster time goes. Yet, those moments can come back to us, in a blink of an eye, perhaps teaching us in a small way, that time has no meaning.

As we were traveling back from Nauvoo, our car was packed. Mike and my dad had the captain's chairs, my mom and I had the middle bench, and then the three kids were completely squashed on the back row. Luke had the worst seat. He sat at an angle being squished by GG girl's huge carseat. Yet he did not complain. After we dropped my parents off, he came on the bench with me, and we snuggled. It was then that a bit of eternity happened. I remembered the first moment we snuggled together in our little home. The memory of that moment flooded my mind and the feelings of love filled my heart. Time at that moment had no meaning. While I was snuggling my almost 6 year old, it felt the same as when I snuggled my newborn.

Great Food!

Black Beans (I am sure you could use whatever beans you wanted)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/3 cup tomato juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cilantro
Combine in a sauce pan and heat through
I used 3 cans of beans and only 2 cups tomato juice (I thought it was still too much tomato juice) doubled everything, but the oil. They were good. (I actually read the recipe wrong and put in coriander instead of cilantro, still very, very good!)

Pico de Gallo
3 tomatoes diced
1/2 bunch cilantro minced
1/2 sweet onion minced
3-4 cloves of garlic minced
1/4-1/3 cup of vinegar
Combine and refrigerate

Rice (This was so good and so easy!)
3 cups water
4 tsp chicken bullion
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter
1 green pepper
1/2 onion
1 1/2 cups rice
Blend cilantro, green chilies, and onion in food processor. Add all ingredients and Bring water to a boil let simmer for 30 minutes.

Enchiladas
Meat

1 can Green Enchilada Sauce
1 can diced green chilies
1 cup brown sugar

Place all ingredients in Crock Pot for 6-8 hours.

Place a portion of the meat in each tortilla (I fit 6 in my casserole dish) cover with green enchilada sauce and cheese. Cook at 350 for about 20 to 30 minutes. Yummy! Great with the above side dishes and of course guacamole!

I got all these recipes from here!

We had these Saturday and again on Sunday! I loved them all!

Happy New Year!

I started this tradition of having a kids New Years Eve party, and having the countdown, noise makers ect, happen at 8 o'clock. So here are all the kids watching the countdown on the microwave. They counted down from 1 minute 30 seconds.

It's New Years!

Our wonderful friends--hanging out and taking care of new babies!

They just loved pushing the button of attack uno and having all the cards come out!

She just loves being a big sister.

You really don't need to watch the video. It's just lots of kids making noise, and enjoying the new year!

Nauvoo

All three kids hanging out on the top bunk watching TV!

Luke and I on the carriage ride. Everyone else opted out. It is such a fun ride. Maybe next time the two others will want to go! Luke, GG girl, and I stayed home while everyone else went to Rendezvous: a very cute play put on by the senior missionaries.

The best part of the trip is staying in cabins. They are actual pioneer cabins rebuilt and refitted with electricity and kitchens. We love staying there. If anyone ever comes, please tell us, and we will meet you at Nauvoo.

My parents came with us, and they had a great time reliving old memories of their mission. We are probably the only children who want their parents to go back on their mission, so they will be closer to us! Because my parents were with us, we were able to go to the temple. We had a wonderful trip, and I would love to make it a Christmas tradition, with or without my parents!

Sapora Playworld at home

It was so cold before Christmas that I didn't want to go anywhere. I had promised the kids I would take them to Sapora Playworld, but I really didn't have the energy to bundle them all up. Then behold, our little Gypsy girl created her own slide with couch cushions, and we made our own bouncing room with more couch coushions. I am often gratful for our 9 year old used couches, because then I don't care that they are jumped on, bounced on, written on ect. We aren't getting new until the kids are much, much older!