Band Nerd!

 The whole gang in Victoria i think for one of the trips we took

 The gang again in our true form

 Heather Chalmers,  Her and I were best friends in school and once i got pregnant we went our separate ways.  I just found out the other day that she has passed away about 3 years ago.  So sad, words don't even express how sadden i am for a life that was cut short. 

MR. SWENSON!!

When i was in high school i was in the band, and we all know that when you are in the band you are known as a band nerd.  I played the clarinet and loved it.  I first started in Forks in elementary school and then when we moved to Seattle i joined there.  My mom made me continue band and i was so nervous and knew i was going to be so bored.  Boy am i glad that i did.  My Freshman year in school my teacher was Mr. Swenson and you have those teachers that stick out and is a part of your life for ever.  That would be Mr. Swenson, he planned so many trips for us to take as a group and we became great friends though the years.  Our first year Mr. Swenson wanted us to go to California for a parade and sort so we had a rock a thon.  (you rock in a rocking chair for 24 hours) we brought our rocking chairs to the school and in very close corters we watched movies, played games, threw balls around for a full 24 hours with breaks for a very small time.  It was good fun! we did this every year while he was our teacher.  we went to Vancouver, he composed his own music for us to play.
Yesterday as a group and spurr of the moment and thanks to facebook some of us we got together at the old pizza place that we would go to as a group after a band function.  Even Mr. Swenson was able to join us and it was like the past 20 years didn't happen.  We just finished were we left off at.  I am so grateful to have a teacher that can impact my life in so many ways, with trips that i would have never gotten to take, friends that have been there for me through thick and thin,  a teacher that taught me how to play an instrument better, and stories that i can tell my kids about. 

Here is to an end of a year and on to a new one!!

This year has had its adventures like any other year but through it all we as a family have survived.  As I reflect on what has happened this year I am happy and sad at the same time.  Things that have happened!!

1.  All of my kids have turned a year older
2.  I have turned a year older
3.  Tim has had 4 surgeries, 2 shoulder and both wrists
4.  BreAnna graduated High School
5.  I still have a job in the mortgage industry
6.  Tim still has a job at Boeing
7.  All of my kids are doing great in school with good grades
8.  BreAnna moved out not only out of the house but out of state
9.  We got a new dog Katie
10. Rekindled with good old friends

That is just the first top 10 that I can think of.  Now for 2011 what do i want to accomplish this year?  I don't know what 2011 will have in store for me personally or as a family and i am not one to make new years resolutions because its too much pressure.  I am going to enjoy my year with my kids, husband and love that i have a job.  I am going to be the best person i can be to everyone i come in contact with. 

Out weekend before Christmas!!

Here is the cookies so far. I have never done this before but a friend of mine helped make the batter and HaiLee and I baked them.  Now i am afraid to give them away,  we had fun doing them.

HaiLee and i on the horse and carriage. 

 Visiting Santa this was a statue that i made the kids pose in front of.  My brothers kids met up with us, i think we have a new tradition! 

 The kids posing with horse Lance.  Treavor has no fear!!!

 This reindeer was so cute, Hailee was so thrilled to be posing again. TJ thought it was cool and Treavor was like come on mom enough :)

 Visiting with Santa.  He spent alot of time talking with the kids. It was a great time. 

 TJ and Treavor on the carriage ride

 the picture is dark but here we all are on the carriage ride. 

 TJ, William and Joseph on the train ride.

Treavor and Ben on the train ride. 
All in all it was a great day and so glad that they got a chance to visit with Santa and spend time with the nephews.  This will be a new tradition for us that is for sure!!

BAHUMBUG!!!

As of today I have not had the time to do anything for Christmas.  This year has been so different that i just cant seem to be in the spirit.  The traditions that i normally do i haven't.  The stuff that i want to do are not getting done.  I don't know what is wrong with me.  I think that it could me many things to blame it on.  The first is that BreAnna is not here to be part of them and it is with her that i started them 19 years ago.  The other kids have not been behaving at all.  Plus they are in basketball so that takes up 3 of my nights.  I know they are all excuses and i need to kick my self in the butt to get them done.  Were do i start at this late in the game?  What do the kid really deserve as far as Christmas goes?  I normally sponsor a family and candy cane their house and this year i didn't even do that.  Again a tradition that didn't get fulfilled and a family that i could have made the difference on didn't get done.  This week i am slammed everyday as well so getting the tree up in the near future is out of the question.  How do i get my self out of this funk???

Christmas Time is here!!!

The Chipmunks were a huge hit!!!! 

This is Darth Vador or something that was also in the parade

This was a Lama that was in the parade.  TJ didn't want to be touch the Lama but he was a good sport and stood there for a picture. All of my kids didn't bring warm jackets so Treavor and TJ had a blanket and Hailee has my jacket on.  UGH the things we do for our kids :)

Kent had a Christmas tree lighting celebration so i took the kids and it had status of the Chipmunks.  They were so cute, then they had a parade with Santa.  We went with my sister in law and my nephews.  It was a lot of fun and Treavor loved to see Santa this year.  It was very cold but worth the time to spend with the nephews and see Santa for the first time this year. 

GIRLS DAY!!

 The wind is in our faces, we are on the ferry boat!! 

Tim had a guys day so HaiLee and i got to have a girl day!  first of all we got our toes done.  and then i surprised her and and went to Vashon Island for lunch.  It was her first Ferry ride and it was so good to spend some one on one time with the only girl left in the house :)  we will have to do it again that is for sure!!

TJ"s Brithday 11

TJ finally turns 11!!!  I am a little late in Blogging but TJ just couldnt decide on what he wanted to do so we finaly went to Chuck E Cheese for dinner and had a cake for him.  I gues with getting older theme parites and party hats are just not the in thing to do!!!  Happy Birthday!!!

Snow Days 2010

Here are the kids playing in the snow.  TJ doesn't like to lay down and make snow angels so he opt out of it.  But the day it snowed I was at work and left Tacoma at about 3:20 I don't drive in the snow at all and my anxiety kicks in when i just think about having too.  There was a break in the weather in Tacoma so i started to head home.  BIG MISTAKE!!  on I5 and the snow started coming down hard.  I was so scared i cried about 5 times just attempting to get home.  With living on a hill no matter what direction i  decided to go i had a hill that i had to go up.  Finally getting to my neck of the woods and attempting to go up the first hill i had to turn back around and put the chains on the van.  once i did that it was a matter of what hill i was going to attempt,  traffic was a a grinding halt basically so going up a hill that was closed and saying many prayers as i attempted to get up the hill and home and many tears later i walked in at 8:53 pm.  I was never so happy to be at home in my life.  with that i didn't go into work for 2 days and then it was Thanksgiving so i got an extended weekend weather i wanted it or not.