The Manchan Family

Chinese Night

2012-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Just for fun, the boys and I had a "Chinese" night in January. Aunt Calee also dropped by, which added to the fun. We watched the above movies, ate chinese food, and tried to make fortune cookies (they didn't fold like they should have). It is probably the last time that I put Caden in charge of writing the fortunes for the cookies. Once we broke open the cookies, I realized why he excitedly asked me not to look at them as I put them into the cookies.

They read, "You shall let Caden play video games," and, "You shall let Dad play Monster Trucks." I love that his fortune cookie voice is so similar to Yoda's.

This was a fun activity to do with the boys, and I think we might go international again in the near future!

The Return of Me

2012-02-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Long story made short- we were pretty much sick throughout all of January. Thankfully, everyone seems to be healthy now, and I can catch up on some posts.

Jaclyn and Christie

2012-01-07T19:17:00.001-08:00

Two of my former piano students came to visit me on Friday while on break from college. They studied with me for a long time, and I was very sad when they stopped lessons, but I am so excited for them to be entering this chapter of their life.

Jaclyn and Christie, you have turned out to be such wonderful young women, and I feel blessed to have you in my life!

New Year's Day

2012-01-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

New Year's Day was on a Sunday this year, so off to church we went. Thankfully, our ward now meets during the later time slot, but we still had to be there 15 minutes early since it was my first day as the organist. I am happy to be able to use my music talent to help out in church, but I don't like not sitting with my family during Sacrament. I dressed Danica in the beautiful dress seen here that Genesis and Forrest sent her for Christmas.

As I was sitting by the organ, I watched Michaela, Tev's sister, quickly get up and leave with Danica. I didn't think much about it until about five minutes later when I saw Calee grab the diaper bag and zoom out of the chapel. I am not sure that they returned, but as I was playing the postlude music, Michaela came up to tell me about her adventure while changing Danica's diaper. To make a long story short, Danica was no longer wearing the pretty dress and was in her "back up" outfit."
We were so excited that Michaela and Jared made the last-minute trip out here from Arizona for New Year's! They came over for tacos after church, and the next day, we all went to the Bass Pro Shop in Rancho Cucamonga. This is one of my favorite stores- it makes me want to go camping right away.

Vance loves getting his picture taken with his little sister.

I love this picture- it seems that Danica and Michaela are sharing an inside-joke.

Meeting Uncle Jared.

I am excited for 2012. Hopefully, we will continue to have good health, our family and friends will find and keep good jobs, and we will make many great memories together!

Christmas

2011-12-29T18:30:00.001-08:00

Usually, Caden wakes us up way early on Christmas morning to tell us that Santa came, but this year, Vance was our alarm clock. In fact, when we sent him in to wake up Caden, Caden didn't want to get out of bed, but he eventually gave in to his excitement and curiosity.

The number one request from the boys this year, as with every year, was Legos. Thankfully, they gave Santa a nice list to choose from, since their first choice was rather large in size and price.

Christmas was on a Sunday this year, so that meant church for us at 9:00AM. It was pretty inconvenient to go at that time, but it was worth it to help center our thoughts on Christ. After all, what is Christmas all about, anyway? The two talks that were given were really great. I accompanied a friend on the piano as he sang "Mary, Did You Know?" Both of us didn't really like the song, but the bishop had requested it. The tune has since grown on me. I also played for the Primary kids they sang "Christmas Bells" and "Mary's Lullaby". Honestly, I had completely forgotten that the kids were going to sing, so I had to borrow a song book from the Primary closet.

After church, Calee and Tony came over. We made breakfast burritos (though it was more like lunch time) and Calee made Orange Julius. Then, we let the boys open the rest of their presents.

Vance has really wanted Nerf guns, so that is what we got him. I don't have a photo to show his joyful face as he opened them, because I video taped it instead, and the file is too big to fit on the blog. The little boys and the big boys took the guns downstairs in the courtyard to play, and within five minutes had lost all of the disks in the ivy.

Calee helped Danica open her presents. She really likes this little doll that Tevye's mom sent her. She plays with it all the time.

This is a beautiful dress that Genesis and Forrest sent.

Tevye asked me to not get him anything, so, for once, I listened to him. That was my gift to him- not spending money on something he would complain about anyway. I must say that it feels terrible to not be able to give him something, but I really do think that he was happy about it.

Tevye bought me the creche for our Willow Tree nativity set. Now, all I need is the wise men. Our nativity set looks so nice now that it has a "home."

The aftermath.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-26T21:23:00.000-08:00

We loved hanging out with my family at my brother's home. The cousins had a ton of fun playing together, and Tevye enjoyed playing Nerf guns with them. Kim finally had the chance to meet Danica, and so did her mom. Their home, as always, was decorated so beautifully.
Danica had fun playing with Uncle Bill and Aunt Kim.

Cole and Nolan started playing lacrosse this year. After having played baseball for many seasons, they were ready for a change and are loving it.

Vance and Caden (especially Vance) could hardly wait to break out the Nerf guns- it was war!

Kim's mom, Linda.

Presents!

Danica was so tired- but not too tired to open her presents.

Billy and I have had these stockings for as long as I can remember. Mom made them.

Tracking Santa on the NORAD site.

My brother's trick for keeping the boys from reusing the ammo. He also did this with his favorite Monopoly piece when we were little to encourage me to choose a different one.

Nolan gave us a concert on the bass guitar. He rocked those songs!

Ward Christmas Party

2011-12-17T21:53:00.001-08:00

We attended our ward Christmas party tonight. Here are some pictures from the program.

The set was so colorful!

Herod and the Wise Men.

An angel and shepherds.

The primary children getting ready to sing. I played the piano for them.

Tevye and Caden getting ready to eat the tasty ham dinner.

Caden visiting with Santa.

Winterland of Gingerbread

2011-12-13T13:22:00.001-08:00

Today, we attended the Winterland of Gingerbread event for Caden's homeschool. I was surprised by how many children were in attendance and how creative all the houses were. Last night, at 6:00, I ran to the store to buy a gingerbread kit. Originally, I had the intention of making everything from scratch, but I didn't have enough time.

Thank goodness my mom was able to come with us, because Danica wanted to eat right when we arrived, of course. We enjoyed looking at all of the gingerbread houses (my favorites were the log cabin and the Eiffel Tower), and the boys had fun making a Christmas craft and playing on the playground.

An island shack.

This one won first place. I love that the train went around the entire thing, and the log house was made of straw cookies.

A hobbit hut.

The leaning tower of Pisa was supported by a Pringle's can.

My mom and Danica.

Decorating the Tree

2011-12-12T19:24:00.000-08:00

Broken ornament count: 3

Kitchen Lessons Learned

2011-12-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

My mom always made a valiant effort to impart her cooking wisdom to me as I was growing up, but I never felt compelled to listen or pay attention. As a result, my family usually puts up with dull, simple, and sometimes inedible, meals. A comment (somewhat hurtful, but also pretty true) my husband made to me this past Thanksgiving season has inspired me to improve my cooking talents. Basically, he hinted that he wouldn't want to stay at home for Thanksgiving, because he would rather have good food (He will probably deny saying that, but I remember it clearly).
So, determined to follow a recipe without making any substitutions or changes, I decided to practice roasting a whole chicken. I had purchased the chicken with the intent of making chicken tortilla soup- I have had success in boiling a chicken. But, in the spirit of improving my kitchen skills, I ventured to learn how to roast it. Simple. Right?
First of all, I can't stand handling a raw chicken. Some of this stems back to a time in my youth when I was traumatized by seeing a headless, featherless chicken propped up in a dancing position on our kitchen counter (you had to be there). Instead of reaching my hand in to pull out the giblets (Eewww!!!), I just turned the chicken upside down and shook them out. Thankfully, they came out with ease. I was somewhat disturbed as I was handling Chicky McChickerson- yes, I named it- because it was roughly the same size and weight as Danica. The only part of the recipe I did change was out of necessity- I didn't have any string to tie the legs.
Finally, Chicky was ready to go in the oven. We patiently waited the hour and a half for it to cook, but the delectable smell made it so difficult. The timer went off and out came the beautiful bird. "Kids," I triumphantly called, for my sides had finished right at the same time, "bring me your plates." I cut into the breast, and it was so perfectly cooked. I had done it! I successfully roasted a chicken!
Then, I cut a little deeper.
Wait- is that juice pink?
Oh yeah! I forgot to let it sit for 10 minutes. That must be the problem. I'll just stick it back in for 5 more minutes.
Take two- still pink, and I notice that there is blood in the cavity.
What the heck?! I followed the directions! I quickly called Mom to see where I went wrong. "How big was the chicken," she asked.
"I don't know- about the same size as Danica, minus her head."
So, the main lessons I learned tonight are:
1) Cook 20minutes per pound, and
2) It is okay to eat all of the side dishes first, but when the main course is finally done, it is very anti climatic!

Another Favorite Moment

2011-12-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

Caden treats Danica so well. There is no doubt that he loves her and wants to be there for her. This afternoon, I captured these images of Caden reading a Sesame Street book to Danica. I think that she was more interested in her brother than the book.

Visiting Santa at Disneyland

2011-12-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

I love Disneyland at Christmas time- it is even more magical than usual.

Vance wanted to go on Splash Mountain first, even though it was very chilly that morning. Tevye, Calee, Caden, and Vance rode Splash (I stayed off to watch the baby, take their picture, and stay dry) twice in a row.

Everyone knows that the real Santa takes time out of his very busy schedule to greet children at Disneyland. We try to pay him a visit every year, and thanks to Tevye's very generous mom, we have been able to do that again this year. As always, Caden and Vance lived up to our expectations of cuteness. Caden asked for a Lego Republic Frigate, and Vance, after practicing how to pronounce it for several weeks with Caden, asked for the Lego AT-TE Walker with the Drop Ship.

Danica had woken up right before they opened the Santa line, and I knew that she would be expecting to eat. If you know her at all, you know that she is a calm baby- calm unless she is hungry. She seemed to still be happy, so Tevye and I decided to get the Santa visit over first and feed her after since we were first in line. Pluto led Vance by the hand all the way up to Santa. The boys went first, then Danica. At first she looked at him and had no problem. But, the longer she sat there, the more aware she became that Santa had no intention of giving her a bottle. That is when she lost it. So, to the random observer of Danica's Santa photo, it appears that she was scared of Santa. No- she was just mad at him for starving her.

At lunch time, Caden came up to Tevye and said, "Dad, my tooth is making it hard to eat." So, he asked Tevye to pull out his loose tooth (he lost the other one the week prior). I am pretty sure the other diners were thrilled to watch as Caden's mouth started bleeding.

After a long time of not riding roller coasters due to pregnancy, I was so happy to finally be able to do so again. Space Mountain is still my favorite!

Danica really enjoyed the Ariel (Little Mermaid) ride in Californa Adventures. Her eyes were taking in all of the brilliant colors, and I think that she enjoyed the music. We were happy that Aunt Calee was able to share that ride with her.

Finally, I have found the excersice program that I would happily follow- walking around Disneyland all day. That was the most excercise I have had since my early pregnancy, and my body was screaming at me by the end of the day. Unfortunately, Disneyland is a gym that is way too expensive for me to join!

We were so happy that Tevye had the day off to come with us! The boys fought over who would ride with him on each ride. I didn't mind being left in the dust (because the other one would choose Aunt Calee over me), because I have had plenty of opportunities to go with them while Tevye has not. I am also grateful that Kree was able to help with Danica.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T19:12:00.001-08:00

This Thanksgiving vacation, the kids and I spent a few days prior to the big day playing at my parents' home in Murrieta. Even though they live on 6 acres of land, the boys enjoy staying inside and playing video games all day- city kids! We did manage to get them to set the games down from time to time in order to play board games and draw these cute pictures of pilgrims. Caden's is the one on top, and it was actually a homeschool art assignment teaching him about how to draw profiles. Vance drew his all on his own-wow!

The boys enjoyed taking a bath in the jacuzzi tub. We put a little bit too much bubble bath in the water. They thought that was really cool.

Here is Mom getting the dinner table ready.

My handsome dad.

The table all ready with the traditional football game on the t.v. in the background.

Tevye joined us on Thanksgiving morning. Danica was happy to sit with Dad and watch football.

My sister and I. I would have put up a picture of her boyfriend, but he didn't want to look at the camera, so I'll try again at Christmas to get his picture.

The boys in their "natural state."

The turkey came out of the oven looking beautiful. The thermometer told us it was all ready.

Imagine Mom's surprise when Dad cut into a vary rare turkey leg! Our best guess is that the legs didn't thaw. Mom was pretty upset.

The meal turned out to be delicious- just a little later than we thought. I had fun visiting with my family, but missed my brother and his family who had other plans this year.

End of Soccer Season

2011-11-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

The soccer season seems to have ended way too soon this year. Yesterday, the boys played their final games. They are sad that it is over. Vance is very excited that he got a trophy. He has been asking me for about a year to buy him a trophy, but I explained to him that trophies are earned, not purchased. Caden's team had a pizza party after their game, and then one of his teammates came over to our home to play for a little while. Thankfully, the rain that was supposed to be here yesterday waited until today.

Tevye's Birthday

2011-11-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband celebrated his 35th birthday on the 18th of this month. He is not big on celebrations, and he didn't want to go out to do anything. I was intent on showing him that we love and want to celebrate him, however, so the boys and I made a sign, blew up some balloons, and baked him a cake. Caden made him some drawings. He was so tired from work that he went to bed without eating any cake, and he passed on having me make one of his favorite dinners- enchiladas. Tevye even bought his own birthday present weeks ago (a Lego set). It is really hard to celebrate with an unwilling participant! Hopefully, he appreciated that we tried. Happy birthday, Tevye! We love you!

A Riddle

2011-11-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

What is round, fat, and orange?

Give up?

It's ME- after eating many delicious pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies that my visiting teacher made for me and a piece of pumpkin pie all in one afternoon. I love desserts, and I like pumpkin. What more can I say?

Eventful Weekend

2011-11-07T18:47:00.000-08:00

This was a very busy weekend for us. First of all, our oldest son was baptized by his dad. Caden was really excited. Kree, David, and Talicee came down from Utah to celebrate with Caden, and also with Danica (mentioned below). Calee and Tony were there, as well as my parents, Mari and Roger. Kree's cousin, Jenny, and her husband Patrick Dumas showed up with two of their kids, Stone and Skylar, which was really nice, because we haven't seen them in a very long time. We also got to see our good friends, Kandi and Giovanni Scattolon, and their two daughters, Claire and Aurora. Our Primary president, Janeen Redd, and Stake Primary counselor, Katrina Fritter, and Bishop Roland Fritter were also in attendance. I was sad that the rest of my family didn't come.
I was so scatter-brained that day that I forgot to bring an extra pair of underwear for Caden and some towels. Thankfully, Brother Hattori was able to call his wife to bring a pair of their son's underwear for Caden to borrow. Thanks Bro. Hattori! All went well with the baptism. David and Tony were the witnesses, and Tevye baptized Caden, who chose not to plug his nose when he went under the water (but it didn't seem to bother him). It took Tevye and Caden a little longer to rejoin the group since they had to drip-dry, which unfortunately meant that we had to listen to the pianist play the same three hymns over and over again- the only songs she practice. Even though it was killing me to not go over to the piano and take over, I felt empathetic towards her, because I have been in that position before when I first started playing piano in church. It takes a lot of courage to perform in front of other people when you are not comfortable with playing. After the baptism, we visited with our friends and family in the Relief Society room for a while, and then some of us headed over to McDonald's- Caden's choice.

Talicee, David, Kree, Calee, me, Tevye, Danica, Mari, Roger, Ryan, and Amanda (Ryan's wife)

Caden, Vance

On Sunday, we blessed Danica. Tevye gave the blessing, and David, Ryan Wilson, and the bishop stood in the circle. Thankfully, Danica did not cry during the prayer, which she should have, because it was time for her to eat.

Her outfit was made up of a dress that Kree bought for her in Greece, even before we knew we were going to have a girl; a sweater and hat set that my mom bought a long time ago in hopes of having a granddaughter; and a little pearl bracelet that Kree gave her. The dress was too big, so I busted out my sewing skills and made it work.

I am so grateful that Tevye is a worthy priesthood holder. My heart was filled with joy to see my oldest son be happy to follow Christ's example and my husband be able to baptize him. I am also appreciative of having Danica as part of our family. She is so sweet, and I know that she will teach me many things, as Caden and Vance do. Thank you to our family and friends who showed their support and love this weekend. And thank you to those whose thoughts were with us, even if the distance kept us apart.

Halloween

2011-11-07T18:32:00.001-08:00

Caden, Danica, and I surprised Vance at school on Halloween by showing up in time to see him march in their parade. He was really excited to see us. Even though we could only stay for a few minutes, it was important to me to make sure that I was there to support him. Vance seemed to have a good time.

That night, I stayed home with Danica while Tevye took the boys to find a neighborhood to trick-or-treat in. Caden didn't even want to go, but we made him. Our kids really haven't done the traditional trick-or-treating before, because we just did the trunk-or-treats in the church parking lots. They were only gone for about an hour or so, but they managed to get a lot of candy in that short amount of time. Vance and Caden had fun.

Tevye and I have lived in our condo for about ten years now, and during those ten years, we have never had a trick-or-treater- not one! Maybe they are too lazy to climb the stairs. I used to buy candy just in case someone would come, but Tevye made me stop that a few years ago. I think that we just threw out some candy from three years ago.

Danica's First Day at Church

2011-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our ward had their Primary program in Sacrament today, so in order for Tevye to be able to see the boys sing and give their talks, we decided that it was time to bring Danica to church. I had to play the piano and organ, so Danica couldn't stay home with me. The boys did a great job, as did the rest of the children. After sacrament, Aunt Calee and Uncle Tony took the baby and the diaper bag, and I didn't see her again until after church was over. Every time someone asked me where Danica was, I just told them where to find Calee, and there the baby would be, also. I was mostly excited to put Danica in a dress. When I saw this cute dress at Target, I couldn't resist buying it. She looks so cute!

Caden's First Pinewood Derby

2011-10-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Now that Caden is in Cub Scouts, he participated in his first pinewood derby race. Tevye helped him build the car. Caden picked out the design, sanded, and painted it. I think that Tevye was happy to have an excuse to buy new tools to construct the car. After a week of having all of the supplies and saw dust sitting on our kitchen table, I realized that we really need a garage for the boys to have a work space. Maybe someday.

The race was fun. Caden had a good time and was awarded the certificate for "Most battlefield ready" car. We look forward to many more races in the future.

Trunk-or-Treat

2011-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

After changing their minds several times, Caden and Vance finally decided on a Halloween costume. Here are my ninjas:

Our ward decided to have the Trunk-or-Treat on the 21st, so, once again, we have nothing to do on Halloween. Maybe we will find someone's neighborhood to trick-or-treat in. The ward party was good-like a big family home evening. A long table was loaded up with several trays of sweet treats, the young women set up cute decorations, and the children ran circles around each other in the cultural hall for the first hour. A few people signed up to participate in the talent show, and then we headed to the parking lot for the trunk-or-treating. Tevye had stayed home with Danica, so I took the boys. I really enjoyed visiting with our ward family.

Introducing...

2011-10-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Danica Jane Manchan
Born: October 10, 2011
7lbs. 9oz.
20 1/4"

She was nine days late, but well worth the wait. We are so happy to have Danica with us. Labor and delivery went quickly- we arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight, and she was born at 2:42AM. I think that she was born so fast because I was motivated by the pain and terrible heartburn to push her out as soon as possible. I am a strong advocate for drug-free deliveries, but they HURT A LOT! It is worth it, though. I was ready to come home later that day, but the pediatrician wanted her to stay until she ate a little more and pooped in her diaper. Apparently, Danica had a lot of amniotic fluid in her stomach, which kept her from wanting to eat. By the next morning, she was ready to come home.
She is a very sweet baby and cries only when hungry or getting her diaper changed. Smiles come easily to her. Caden and Vance are so good to her. Caden helps feed and burp her, and Vance brings over toys to "make her relax." I can't get them to change her diaper, though...ha ha! Tevye has been so helpful, and Danica adores him. I love sitting and snuggling with her. She is a lot tinier than I expected, but she has a healthy appetite.
I have recovered very quickly, which is good since Tevye was out of town last week. It feels so good to be able to move around and do things again. I was such a lump on the couch by the end of the pregnancy! Also, it is nice not to feel sick every day- not that I felt very sick, but I didn't feel 100%.
We want to say a big THANK YOU to Calee and my mom for helping with the boys when I was too big to do anything and when Danica was born!

A Favorite Moment

2011-10-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

I love my husband! He is such a fantastic father. Every now and then, he helps the boys make brownies, and I thought I would grad a few photos of that today. He is so patient with them and understands exactly what they can or cannot handle. These are great memories for the boys to have.

Mom's Birthday/ Baby Showers

2011-10-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Mom didn't eat that big dessert by herself.
On September 23rd, my mom celebrated her birthday. We were supposed to gather for a birthday lunch the next day with my sister and sis-in-law, but they changed it to a surprise baby shower instead. Some of you know that I have been avoiding having a shower, simply because we have no room for any more things. So, I am grateful that they kept it to just us. The four of us had a really nice lunch, and I enjoyed spending time with Emilia and Kim, which I don't get to do often. I made sure that we sang "Happy Birthday" to Mom, since it was supposed to be all about her.

Kim supplied our daughter with a good amount of animal print.

Emilia also spoiled her with adorable outfits, including this purple corduroy dress- I wish they made them in my size.

Mom was finally able to break out the "for my granddaughter" box. She also gave us a portable bassinet, which was a relief to have something for the baby to sleep in.
The other day, my sweet friend, Katrina, called me up and told me that she wanted to throw me a shower. She is so kind. I requested that we make it a party without gifts, and she readily obliged me by making a note of it on the invitations. Well, my wonderful ward sisters wouldn't have any of that, and they so generously delivered. Thank you to everyone for your kindness!

Rayanne, in the pink shirt, provided the cute and delicious baby cake.

I am so sad that I didn't get a picture of me with Katrina!

Soccer

2011-10-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

The boys started the soccer season last month. This is Caden's third year of playing and Vance's first. We are so lucky to have Aunt Calee help coach Vance this year. He loves playing soccer with her! At his age, there are no teams. Caden's team is called the "Dark Knights," and though they haven't been very successful at the games, each of them seems to enjoy playing.

Vance working with Aunt Calee

I love the determined look on Caden's face.

Our Cute Cub

2011-09-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that Caden is old enough to be a Cub Scout already! Look how cute he is in the slightly over-sized uniform! Tevye is loving this. He took Caden to register and buy his uniform at the scout shop last week. I only drew my own blood twice while trying to sew on his patches (I wish that Tevye would let me iron them on, but it makes more sense to sew them). Today, Tevye took Caden out to sell popcorn in order to raise money for scout camp, etc.. Before they left, Caden practiced selling popcorn to me and did a great job. By the way, if anyone who reads this wants to help Caden by purchasing popcorn, just let me know.

Caden selling to the neighbor. He has way more courage than I ever did at his age. In fact, it is a good thing that Tevye is taking him out, because I still don't feel comfortable doing stuff like that.

Unfortunately, not many people were home today, but he did sell to three people, and two others said to come back later. Tevye said that Caden did "really good."

New Smile

2011-09-10T12:27:00.001-07:00

Before

After

Father and Sons Camping

2011-09-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit late (from last May). Every year, our church has a Father and Sons camp out. The boys really enjoy attending with Tevye. I, however, dislike being left alone. I guess that it is a good thing that I will have a daughter at home with me next year! The camp out lasts just one night, but they come home covered in about a week's worth of dirt. Judging from the pictures, the boys got to run through an obstacle course.

Here comes Vance's friend, Jacob!

Wrestling fun!

Yum- burnt marshmallows.

Vance's 1st Day of Kindergarten

2011-09-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Vance has been protesting against going to school for quite some time now. Usually, he simply and calmly has stated, "I'm not going to kindergarten," or, "I'm still not excited for kindergarten." Tevye and I have been confident that once he got into school he would love it, but still, Vance had me a little bit worried for that first day.

Well, the day finally arrived, and not only did he refrain from protesting, but he also was very excited. It helped that I told him I would take him to Wendy's for a frosty and lunch right before school- to celebrate, not to bribe (that's my story, and I'm sticking to it). My mom came out that day to take Caden to soccer practice after school (I had a doctor's appointment), so Vance was excited to have her and Caden accompany us.

Unfortunately, Caden wasn't feeling well that morning and ended up puking right before we got into the car. Thankfully, Mom was able to stay home with Caden while I took Vance out. Vance was very bummed that they couldn't go, but in the end, he and I had a really nice time together (and I brought some Wendy's back for Mom and Caden after dropping off Vance).

Since we were in a hurry, I let Vance eat his frosty first- he thought that was awesome!

While we stood in line waiting for the teachers to let the kids into the cafeteria, I could tell Vance was a little bit apprehensive, but he was courageous and didn't let on to that fact. He walked right up to the teacher and told her his name, gave me a hug and kiss, and took off without looking back. When I picked him up at the end of the day, he was as happy as could be and very talkative. His only complaint was that he didn't get to play with the play dough and had to settle for the bears and blocks instead. Also, he figured out who the two trouble-maker kids were in class ("naughty" as he called them) and said that they didn't get a pretzel or m&m's like the rest of the class. Vance really like that he got to eat the pretzel and m&m's.

I am so proud of my Vance-man! Their is something about his personality that captures my heart. He will do great this year!

Silverwood

2011-09-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, our good friend Ryan invited us to go to the lake on his nice boat. I opted to stay home, but Tevye took the boys and Calee. As you will tell from the following pictures, it was an enjoyable day, and they all had big grins on their faces when they returned home. Thank you to Aunt Calee for trying to keep them covered in sunblock- the burns were minimal.

Captain Ryan in his natural environment.

Tevye catching air on the wakeboard. He hasn't had a chance to do that in a very long time.

Calee showing off her moves.

The boys loved, loved, loved riding on the tube!

If it weren't for Tevye's grip, Caden would have gone flying for 20 feet or so. Thank goodness for life vests!

Vance held on really well to the handles.

Splish, Splash

2011-09-03T12:12:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, my mom brought my nephews, Nolan and Cole out to visit us. I was so excited to have them over! Since it was so hot, we took the boys to the pool in order to cool off. Coincidently, Tev's sister, Calee, showed up right before we walked to the pool, so we were able to invite her to swim, too. She is always fun to play with!
They had a great time. Thanks to the Scouting program, Nolan is CPR certified, which was a relief to me, since I am not (I really should look into doing that, though).
The boys played with the kick boards and diving stick, and then, Vance came up with the idea of "group jump." He kept trying to get all of them to jump into the pool together. "Come on guys," he would announce, "group jump!" He kept calling for the group jump until everyone kindly obliged him.

I love Nolan and Cole so much! Nolan is a teenager now, but he still takes the time to play with his younger cousins and is so patient with them. Cole is a sweetheart, and he has a way of making us feel so loved when we are with him. I am so grateful that Caden and Vance have them as role models in their life!

Caden's First Day of 3rd Grade

2011-08-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how early Caden's home school is starting this year! We are just now finishing up his first week of school. The third grade curriculum seems to be a lot more involved than last year's. Caden seems to be most excited about learning French this year. For science, he has to keep a weather journal in which he records his observations from morning, midday, and evening each day for a few weeks. My favorite school moment from this week has to be when Caden and Vance worked side-by-side making Beaufort Wind Scales. Caden was so patient while teaching Vance what to do, and Vance was loving doing a big-boy school project. I appreciate Caden so much for just hopping back to work without complaints. Caden, you are an awesome boy and a super student!

Horton Hears a BBQ

2011-08-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

Our friends (and Tev's co-worker) Dave and Paula invited us to their annual BBQ cook off this year. We had a great time, and the food was wonderful! The boys spent the entire time in the pool. I found a nice shady spot in which I set up "camp." It was nice to spend a relaxing afternoon with Tevye and the boys, and we enjoyed talking with friends. Thanks Dave and Paula!

Swim Class

2011-08-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

This year, Vance was old enough to take swim lessons, so I put him in the same class as Caden. In the days leading up to swim lessons, all Vance would say about it was that he didn't want to go. He later told me that he was nervous about jumping off of the diving board like Caden did last summer. Once his first class was over, however, he did not complain one bit, but rather looked forward to going each day.I love Caden's happy face when he is in the pool.

Vance has mastered the art of using the pool noodles as a floatation device.

Last year, we made friends with the boy on the left, Matthew. He is right in between Caden and Vance's ages. It was so neat to see him again this year!

Pioneer Day

2011-08-05T10:13:00.001-07:00

This year, we actually went to the ward party for Pioneer Day. Our day was a very busy one, packed full with running errands, so relaxing at the park that afternoon was refreshing.

The boys loved that watermelon was on the menu. Vance was very good at the sack race.

Even Tevye participated in the shoe-kick competition. I think he came in 2nd.

Then, it was time for the watermelon eating contest. Originally, the contest was meant to be for the adults, but nobody wanted to do it. So, they opened it up to the kids. Almost all of them wanted to participate. Caden was especially eager to do it, but Vance was off playing with his friend on the rocks. You can tell that Caden meant business by taking off his shirt to avoid the inevitable juice stains. At first,he started out with little nibbles. After about a minute of that, he switched to smashing-mode and just shoved it into his mouth. That technique proved to be a winner!

Caden with the first place ribbon!

It is nice that we can celebrate our pioneer heritage these days with friends, food, and games. I am so grateful for those who sacrificed physical and emotional comfort to pave the way for those who want to live the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Robinson Family Reunion

2011-07-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Dad (back left), Mom (front right) and cousins
Dad talking to Uncle BJ and Aunt Glenna
Every couple of years, my mom's side of the family has a reunion, usually in La Verne, California. I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous to go. Even though I am related to all of them, most are still like strangers to me. But, I figure if we make it a point to go each time, faces will become more familiar. We had a great time. I really enjoyed watching my mom interacting with her cousins, and it was nice to see where my sense of humor comes from. Tevye probably thought we were all crazy, but at least he had fun wrestling with Caden and Vance. I also found it interesting that many of my relatives live less than 30 minutes away from us, yet we still never see each other. Dad, being the avid genealogist that he is, printed up two very long pedigree charts, and everyone worked to fill in the missing information.
Tevye, Caden, and Vance having fun.
Great-Uncle B.J. and three of his sons and granddaughter.

4th of July

2011-07-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

I love celebrating the 4th of July! America is the best country, and I am so blessed to be here (legally)! This year, our friends, the Chitwood's and the Casida's, invited us to their annual ice cream/fireworks party. They live right next to the local high school, so we were able to see the city fireworks show from their driveway. The boys had fun playing Foosball and ping pong. They also played boccie ball on the very sloped front yard- it added a new dimension to the game.

Vista Tractor Show

2011-07-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

Back in June, Tevye took the boys to the tractor show in Vista. I opted to avoid the walking around in the heat and stayed home instead. They came home tired, yet happy. Here are some pictures that Tev took.

Caden's job was to stab the potatoes as the tractor drove by. Vance's job was to put Caden's potatoes in the bucket. Caden got three potatoes all together.

One of the drawbacks of living in a second story condo is limited bike riding exposure. This must have been fun for the boys.

Vance loved the blacksmith shop. Tevye said that he couldn't get him to leave.

Here, the boys are wearing a viking helmet that the blacksmith made. Tevye said it weighed about fifteen pounds!

Camping at Grandma and Papa's

2011-07-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, Caden and Vance stayed over at my parents' house in Murrieta. My brother, Bill, also brought his two sons, Nolan and Cole, and Cole's friend Kyle. I didn't show up until late the next day, but from what I've been told and the pictures I've received, the boys had a great time together. Billy is a wonderful cook, and he barbequed their meals. Apparently, the growing boys ate a ton of food! Vance was fascinated with Kyle (who he now calls "Carl"). They spent the night in the trailer. According to the boys, they only got 2 hours of sleep.

Nolan, Kyle, Vance, Caden, and Cole

Dad and Bill with the boys

Vacation Part 5

2011-07-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

Our next stop was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. We drove north through Idaho, then east through Montana. Let me just say that I think Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places in North America that I have been to. On our way to the Old Faithful Inn, we searched for as many different types of animals and birds that we could find. There were lots of bison, elk, and canada geese. On a couple of occasions, we had to stop the car and share the road with the bison that just walk up and down it like a sidewalk. One walked right next to our car, and we could see all of the details of its matted fur. Our hotel was nice and right next to Old Faithful. I have to confess that I never made plans in my life to visit the geyser, but I am so glad that we did. It wasn't different from how I imagined it to be, but it was still impressive. What confounds me is how accurately they can predict when it will erupt. Yellowstone is full of geothermic wonders. The visitors' center is state of the art, and Caden and Vance had fun going on an informational scavenger hunt. Caden even did enough work to earn a Junior Park Ranger badge! Vance lost interest before he earned his. How sad that we only stayed there one night (it was expensive, so one was all we could afford)! We would love to go back and explore all of the trails, etc. On our way out of the park, we stopped for about half an hour so that the boys could play in the snow. They loved doing that! The snow was so deep that Tevye sunk down to his knees, but we didn't know that, because Caden and Vance were so light that they didn't sink down. Tevye would have to pick them up and throw them rather forcefully into the snow in order for them to sink. At the end, they were so wet that the boys were only in shirt and underwear as we drove out of the park.

My mountain men

Old Faithful

"Skunky Skunk" was clearly a highlight of the trip for Vance.

My little scientist.

Caden's self portrait

Snowball fight

Tevye throwing Caden into the snow

Snow angel #1

Snow angel #2

Koepler (sp?) Falls- one of my favorite sites

We stopped in Jackson, Wyoming to explore and eat dinner. Though the restaurant we ate at did not know how to properly cook a well-done stake (everyone probably likes it rare in Jackson), we had fun walking through the shops and a labyrinth. My favorite part was the archways of the central park area. They were made of shed antlers collected by the local Boy Scout troop.

The labyrinth

Howling with the wolves

Jackson has a lot of "stuffed" animals.

Vacation Part 4

2011-07-02T06:08:00.000-07:00

Tevye with the boys on the Wind Caves Trail.

After visiting Hoover Dam, we headed north to Utah. Unfortunately, we had to skip going to the caves at Mt. Timpanogos (sp?) since they were closed. Poor Tevye- this was the second time he tried to go there but was unable to. We decided to continue on to his parents' home in Logan, Utah. The main reason for our trip was to celebrate Tevye's brother's wedding.Asa and Theresa were married in Greece just a couple weeks earlier. We were excited to see them and some of the other family members (not everyone could make it). Most of the time was spent playing board games around the kitchen table. Caden loved playing the games and is quite the strategist. Grammy helped the boys find walking sticks.We also took a short walk along the Logan River trail that runs through the golf course. I guess that one of the differences between Tev's family and mine is that his family went out of their way to catch a bunch of snakes and mine would go out of their way to avoid them. At one point, Caden was holding a snake, but the snake wriggled free and clamped onto his finger with its fangs. Luckily, Grammy was there to save the day! Michaela and Jared

Tevye had brought his RC truck, so he had fun driving it around with his siblings. Tev's mom made a great chicken dinner for the reception. We made a quick field trip up to Pocatello, Idaho to see Micah and Kolissa's cute new house. On our last day in Logan, Tevye and his mom took the boys hiking up to Wind Cave. I think they had a great time.

Goofy Vance

Some extra pictures:

Talicee and Logan

Vance, Caden, and Logan- the cousins had fun playing "Star Wars" in the front yard.

Caden's Last Day of 2nd Grade

2011-06-17T09:23:00.001-07:00

On June 14th, we celebrated Caden's last day of 2nd grade and the first complete year of homeschooling! He did a great job this year, and when I asked him if he wanted to continue homeschool or go back to public school next year, he quickly chose homeschool. That helps me feel better about our decision. I can't believe how advanced some of the curriculum was this year, but he handled it like a pro. Vance helped me make this banner for Caden. It says, "Congratulations Caden!" The banner ended up being so long that I couldn't fit it in the photo. Tevye and I hung it up where Caden could see it right when he walked into the living room first thing in the morning. He was so excited upon seeing it that his face just beamed with joy!

My mom came over to celebrate with us. I made these cupcakes that looked like apples. Caden liked them a lot.

For his last day, his assignment was to construct a working drawbridge and ramp out of Legos (I wish that I had taken a picture of it) and we read several pages in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. That night, we ate Caden's favorite dinner- spaghetti. Overall, I think that he felt like he was celebrated for the great job he did this year. I hope he remembers this day for a long time.

Vacation Part 3

2011-06-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Tevye took this picture of the Hoover Dam from the new walking bridge across the way.

Our next stop on the family vacation was Hoover Dam. Caden was most excited to see this, because we had studied about it in preparation for the trip. This was our first visit to the dam, except for Tevye, who had been there a long time ago. We took the power plant tour. It was so difficult for me to wrap my head around the concept that we were actually 540 feet under ground! Some of the pieces of pipe they used while building the dam were so large that they had to be built on site, because they were to big to transport from a factory. I highly recommend the tour- it was fascinating. After the tour, we walked on top of the dam. The view was beautiful, and it was fun to cross back and forth between two states (NV and AZ). The boys had a great time.

Walking through the tunnels that were over 5oo feet underground!

The boys infront of the water turbines.

Caden took this picture of us, which is why you can't see the dam down below. Despite his height, Caden is a pretty good photographer. Vance, when given the chance, cuts the person's head out of the picture on purpose.

Caden in Nevada- Vance in Arizona.

Vacation Part 2

2011-05-31T19:49:00.001-07:00

After visiting the Grand Canyon, we traveled west to Las Vegas. Tevye really wanted to go there, so I put aside my distaste for this location and let him have his way. Arriving very late at night, and after waiting an hour or more in line, Tevye had finally checked us in at Circus Circus. The room was nice, the bed was very comfortable, and the air conditioning worked well. The next morning, we ate breakfast at the buffet, and then I stayed in the hotel room, trying to feel better from my cold, while Tevye took Caden and Vance downstairs to the rides and games they have in the hotel.As you can see, the boys had a great time and returned to the hotel room with two large plastic bags full of stuffed animals they won as prizes. Later that afternoon, we all went to Mandalay Bay to visit their aquarium. It was small but impressive. All of us enjoyed it. Finally, after eating an over-priced meal at the Red, White, and Blue Cafe inside Mandalay Bay, we headed over to the theater to watch "The Lion King." This was the first time we had taken the boys to see a musical on stage, and I was worried that they would get antsy or fall asleep. To our delight, they loved it! The sets and performances were great, and as always, I got emotional at the beginning and the end scenes.

Thanks, Tevye, for taking us to see "The Lion King"!

Our Big Vacation Part 1

2011-05-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Since we had a family wedding reception to go to this month, we took advantage of the opportunity to take a two-week vacation. As Tevye started planning the trip, we realized that we could fit a lot of stuff into this trip, figuring that we won't be having another vacation for a very long time. We had a great time and were able to visit or drive through seven states.

Our first stop was Williams, Arizona to ride the Grand Canyon Railway 65 miles north to the Grand Canyon. It was cold, and it actually snowed on us while at the canyon! Luckily, we were a little bit prepared for the cold weather since we new our travels would be taking us up to Wyoming where it is still cold this time of year. We had a great time in Williams that included a comfortable hotel, a great buffet dinner (breakfast not so great), a funny Wild West show, and an entertaining train ride.

Our time at the Grand Canyon was limited to about 3 1/2 hours, but really, once you look at it for about ten minutes you have a really good idea about what it will look like in another ten minutes. We ate lunch at a restaurant there and looked around in the gift shop. That's when it started to snow large flakes. The weather wasn't cold enough for any of it to stick to the ground, so the boys walked around trying to catch enough in their mittened hands to make a snowball.

On the train ride back to Williams, Tevye decided he wanted to take the boys to the cafe car for a little treat. When Vance asked him where he was taking them, Tev replied that they were going to jump off the train. I didn't expect Vance to believe that his dad would have him jump off the train, nevertheless, the fear washed over Vance's face, and he refused to go. After a couple of minutes, Tevye managed to get the boys to come with him. A while later, back they came, happily carrying their icecream treats. "Mom," Vance excitedly proclaimed, "we got icecream and didn't even have to jump off the train! What do you know?!"

About halfway back to Williams, the "train robbers" borded the train. Caden was sitting by me when it happened. Even though he was trying to act brave, I knew he was scared because his body was pressing so tightly against my arm. "Don't worry," I assured him, "it's just pretend." Immediately, I felt his body relax, and he said, "I know."

Breakfast Chat with Vance

2011-05-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

The other day, while Vance and I were waiting for Caden to finish his state testing, I took Vance to a nearby McDonald's for breakfast. He ordered the pancakes, which I proceeded to cut up and pour syrup on.

Suddenly, he exclaims, "Damn!"

Surprised, I held in my breath and began to frantically search my brain to figure out where he would have picked up such language. Being the overprotective mom that I am, I quickly devised a plan to alter our media habits, etc.

"What," I asked him. Very pleased with himself, he looked up at me and said, "The pancake made a dam. It stopped the syrup!" Dam- not damn- BIG difference.

We have been talking about our upcoming trip to the Hoover Dam, and he was proud of himself for making his own dam. I love that guy!

Fishing Class Part 2

2011-04-07T19:43:00.001-07:00

So, we actually fished during our fishing class this week. Even though I had no problems dissecting various animals and animal parts in my anatomy and physiology class in college, I just couldn't bring myself to put the worms on the hooks (probably because they are still alive, and I don't want to be the one killing them). Thankfully, Ernie and Amanda, our teachers, did all the baiting for us. Vance was the first to cast, and within the first two minutes, BAM!, he caught the first fish. He was very excited, and I was left thinking that I hope he doesn't think fishing always happens so successfully and quickly.

After a little while longer, Vance's friend Jacob caught a fish. Caden was still being patient and not complaining.

Then, Caden decided to switch things up a little and move to the other side of the pond. This proved to be a very good idea.

Caden with fish number 1.

Caden with fish number 2.

Caden with fish number 3.

Caden with fish number 4 -the biggest of the day.

All the fish they caught were Blue Gills. There are other types of fish in the pond, but we never saw them.

When we got home, I asked Caden why he thought that he caught so many fish. "Because the smart fish were swimming by Vance and Jacob. The dumb fish were swimming by me." I love his perspective on things.

Fishing Class

2011-03-31T10:27:00.001-07:00

This year, we signed the boys up to take a fishing class that a nearby city offers. Vance's best friend was going to take the class, too, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for the boys to hang out. Yesterday was the first of two classes, and even though we didn't do any actual fishing, we had a lot of fun. They started the class off with a painting activity to introduce the boys to the type of fish that are in the lake we will be fishing in. Caden and Vance love arts and crafts, so this was a great way to start.

Then, the boys took turns at learning how to cast the line. Vance picked this up right away. Caden got it after a couple of tries.

After that, it was time to look at our bait options. Both of the boys liked the night crawlers and the meal worms. I didn't. But, one of the teachers told me that she has better luck with little pieces of hotdog than worms, so that sounds like a good idea to me.

Finally, we walked over to the lake to see if we could see any fish, but by that time it was too hot.

After the class, I took Vance over to pick out his own fishing pole at Wal-Mart (Caden already had his). He picked out a Spider Man pole just like Caden's. Yesterday afternoon, while I was teaching piano, Tevye got out Caden's pole and had the boys show him what they learned. For the rest of the evening, Vance walked around our TINY place casting his line everywhere. He got in trouble a couple of times for trying to catch Caden. Thank goodness actual hooks were not on their lines!

Math Problem

2011-03-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I owe Best Buy an appology. It turns out that the disc reader was defective, so they are off the hook. Either way, I still cannot post pictures.

Yesterday, Caden was taking a practice math test for the state testing that is coming up. He got to a word problem that showed an amount of money and said that the person wanted to buy a toy that cost 95 cents. How much change would the person get back?

Caden calls to me and says, "I can't do this one."
Me: "Why not?"
Caden: "I don't know how much the tax will be."

Yes, he has been trained well in the art of shopping.

Ice Skating

2011-03-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Okay- Best Buy didn't hook up our usb drive correctly, which is why I haven't been able to get new pictures online. However, my fantastic husband just fixed my phone, so I was finally able to get some pictures off of it. Around December, we found out that the ice skating place near us has a special deal once a month for homeschooling families- $5 per person includes over two hours of skate time, skate rentals, and a 30 minute lesson. So, we took advantage of that! Here are some pictures of our first time.
Caden had a great time despite the fact that he fell MANY times. Vance did not like being cold, and he complained most of the time, asking to go home. But, after a couple more trips to the rink, he likes it now!

Changes

2011-03-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Our computer crashed, so we had to rebuild a new one, and I almost know how to work it now. So, I should have new pictures up soon.

Re-Purposed Magazine

2011-01-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

When going to wrap my nephew's birthday present today, I decided that I was tired of our wrapping paper. So, I ripped out some pages from an old issue of "Family Fun" magazine, and Vance and I taped together the colorful pages to create new wrapping paper. We had fun, I felt good about re-purposing something, and the paper turned out to be more whimsical than anything I could buy. Caden had fun making the card all by himself. Caden's drawing of an excavator is impressive since he wasn't looking at a picture of one as he drew it.

The paper lined up perfectly so that the sign saying, "For you," was on the top of the present. Also, we really like that doll (the picture that we taped to the center of the present) called a "Sing-a-ma-jig." The boys and I had fun listening to them at the store the other day.

RC Truck

2011-01-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

I love January in southern CA! A few days ago, Tevye took his new rc truck to the field across the street from our house, and the boys and I tagged along. It's the best of both worlds to be surrounded by a green landscape yet still be able to view the snow-covered mountains off in the distance. The weather was comfortable, and Tevye's truck had not yet broken, so we were able to capture some photos of the afternoon.

Homeschool Art

2011-01-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

I love homeschooling Caden! He likes it, too. We are studying animals in art and abstract sculptures. A while ago, he was given an assignment to find a real photograph of an animal to use as a model for a realistic drawing. My goofy boy (and I say "goofy" with much love and admiration) chose the photograph of a naked mole rat. They are not particularly attractive creatures, but they have buck teeth and wrinkley skin, which I imagine will be what I will look like in about twenty to thirty years from now. Anyway, here are the pictures of his realistic and abstract sculptures of this odd animal. This realistic sculpture actually has the two teeth on it, but it is hard to see them.

Caden proudly showing off his abstract work of art.

The materials: one hot dog bun, part of a necco waffer, four broken crayons, two nerds candies, and a rootbeer jellybean. It reminds me of an animal that might be featured on "Twilight."

Christmas Celebrations

2010-12-26T16:11:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Kree, we had an opportunity to take my mom to Disneyland. It had been a very long time since she had been there, and this was her first time to see all of the Christmas decorations.

We had a great time! Outside of the haunted mansion.

Our decorations and tree were minimal this year. Tevye was spending most of his time in northern California for work, so our usual decorations remained in the attic. He finally broke it to me that he had no intention of getting our big Christmas tree down when he got home, so I took the boys to Wal-Mart where we very cheerfully picked out our 20", pre-lit, artificial tree and trimmings, including a mini tree skirt. The cord for the lights turned out to be pretty short, so I taped the tree to the top of a stool and plugged it in by our fish tank. It must have been cool to be one of the fish in that tank. I forgot to plug in the tree when I took this picture, though.

We gave my nephew, Cole, a gift card to buy new fish for his tank this year, but I didn't want to just hand over an envelope. So, this is our whimsical gift wrapping.

Mom and my sister at Bill and Kim's on Christmas Eve.

The siblings. Billy thought it was pretty funny to pinch my back fat during the photo shoot. It hurt, but I kept smiling.

My awesome nephews, Cole and Nolan.

Vance giving Nolan a thank you hug. Or, is he trying to throw Nolan to the ground?

Vance had his heart set on getting a guitar this year. I think that he enjoyed watching me try to play mine. Today, when we got home from church, I asked Vance if he would like to eat lunch. "No tanks. I'm going to practice my guitar," was his reply.

Thanks, Grandma! This is the perfect game for Vance (and Caden).
Caden REALLY want Super Mario Bros. for Wii.

Calee spent Christmas Day with us. I tried to carry on the tradition of Christmas morning breakfast burritos, but they definitely weren't as good as my mom-in-law's.

Tevye made the biggest burrito. He was full after eating it- what a surprise! That evening, Tevye set up the Kinect (his birthday present), and we had a lot of fun playing video games. Later, we were joined by Calee's husband, Tony, after he finished working.

It was a comfortable day, and I am so happy that we were able to share it together.

Karate Graduation

2010-12-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

Vance received his fifth karate belt last Saturday. He is progressing so much! I really like his jumping kicks. He still seems to enjoy the class once we get him there, but getting him to leave the house for lessons is super tough. Vance feels a great sense of accomplishment having earned the white belt with a green stripe. Great job, Vance!

End of Soccer Season

2010-12-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Caden had his last soccer game this past Saturday. Aunt Calee, Uncle Tony, Aunt Talicee, and Grandpa were all able to come and cheer him on. He only got to play in two quarters, but that was fine by him. He spent the rest of the time playing with the other team members on the sideline and Vance. After the game, he told me, "I am going to play next year, too." I am glad that he enjoys it. We were very blessed this season to be on such a great team- great because all the boys were nice and playing for fun, and the coach was patient and kind. I am going to miss this team a lot.

Nutcrackers

2010-12-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

This year, the boys painted their own nutcrackers. They really enjoyed it. I can't believe how well Vance did without any help! Caden's looks good, too.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving had the potential to be fabulous this year. Caden had the entire week off of school, so we (the boys and I) packed up and headed to my parents' house. Unfortunately, my brother and his family weren't able to join us this year, but I was looking forward to seeing Mom, Dad, my sister and her boyfriend, and of course, Tevye (he joined us on Thanksgiving Day). This was the year that I was in charge of baking the pumpkin pies. I am so glad that I did that a day early, because I ended up getting very sick with a cold (I was hoping it was just allergies) the night before Thanksgiving. It was almost torture sitting down with a plate of scrumptious looking food and not being able to taste any of it. The only compliment I was qualified to give out was, "It has good texture/consistency."

I did have a lot of fun talking with my family, and we brought Dance Dance Revolution to work off the calories. After dinner, Emilia, Cody, and I went for a very short walk outside. It was very cold, so the neighbors' horses were bundled up in their horse blankets. Two of the horses weren't sure what to think of Cody, and they tried to charge him, but the fence was in their way. Emilia is so fun, and I am thankful for the few moments I get to spend with her.

Scott's dog, Cody. This is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever known.

Emilia really gets into the spirit of the party!

Tevye playing DDR.

Emilia and Scott.
The next day, Dad asked Tevye to go with him to explore some back road through the Cleavland Nat'l Forest. When they came back with a truck this muddy, I knew that my husband had a very pleasant experience. I can't remember the last time his truck looked so good!

Happy Birthday, Tevye!

2010-12-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

He is so cute! This year, we celebrated Tev's birthday a day late, because he was out of town for work on his birthday. Caden and Vance picked this cake out for him at the Wal-Mart bakery. We love you, Tevye!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-11-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

We have been too busy to blog, so here is a little glimpse into our adventures:

Birthdays- The boys' and mine. Kree and David came down at the same time for Kree's knee surgery, so she was able to take us to Disneyland on Vance's birthday.Caden is finally tall enough to ride Indiana Jones at Disney.

Halloween- Caden made a perfect Harry Potter! Vance was a courageous knight.

We went to San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park for a CAVA (homeschool) field trip. This was an interesting bird day. A pigeon pecked Caden's leg, a bird swooped down and stole Vance's chicken strip off of his plate, and the lorakeets landed all over my mom to get the nectar in the little cups. The leg-pecking culprit.The chicken strip thief.The bird lady of Escondido (Mom)

Last Saturday, we went to see Thomas the Tank Engine at the Orange Empire Railway. This was a surprise for the boys, and they were very happy. Tevye and I enjoyed watching them have fun.

We have also been busy with soccer and Lego club!

Lego Club

2010-10-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

Caden wanted to start a Lego club, so today was our first meeting. It was a great success. Our theme for this week was "Castle," though we had kids building submarines, trains, and playgrounds, as well. The kids built a dungeon inside their castle which held a prisoner. The castle also included a pirate with a treasure chest, a working drawbridge, and a kracken gaurding the moat.

All of the kids played well together. It is so fun to watch their imagination go to work!

Homeschool Fun

2010-09-20T20:55:00.001-07:00

This year, we are going on a grand homeschooling adventure. Though I was apprehensive at first, we have had a great time so far. Caden is really happy, and Vance is learning so much from his brother. Even though we have only been at it for a few weeks, I have already noticed that the boys seem a lot closer to each other and fight a lot less.

This is a picture of Caden on the day of his first school outing. Also, a picture of Vance on his first day of "preschool." He is a crazy little man!

Here is Caden's Lego reenactment of Horatius at the Bridge. He was teaching Vance about the famous Roman (Horatius) who defended the city of Rome from the Etruscan army. I love teaching history to boys who love Star Wars. Caden says, 'Hey, Mom. If you take away the "e"and the "r" and replace "army" with "raiders," then you have "Tuskan Raiders."' Also, Star Wars came in handy when trying to explain the concept of senators (i.e. Palpatine and Amidala).
I tried to explain to Caden that I don't think the Roman soldiers had guns or blasters. He replied, "I know, Mom...but, I don't have any more weapons!"

Celebrate the family!

2010-09-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

This month, we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." I was in my second year of college when this proclamation was released by the prophet, President Hinckley, and to be quite honest, I did not come close to fully understanding the significance of its contents. Now, we see throughout our society blatant attacks against marriage and family. The words of this proclamation mean so much more to me now that I am raising a family of my own. Check out some wonderful ideas and blog entries that help us celebrate families at one of my favorite sites, Chocolate on My Cranium.

"...marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God..."

I love my husband! He has great integrity, a wonderful work ethic, and a marvelous talent for being organized and getting things done. He's my go to guy for dealing with pushy people, conflict resolution, and discipline issues with the boys. I am often admiring how he can just plow through and get things done.

It is so comforting to know that we have God in our marriage. That knowledge helps us get through the difficult and stressful times. As long as we are striving to keep our covenants, we will be okay. As we strengthen our relationship with each other, we become a strong companionship that can accomplish many important works, including raising our two wonderful boys. "...the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

Not to brag, but I have wonderful qualities, too. I firmly believe in the whole "honey catches more flies than vinegar" theory. I find it easy to see the beauty in those around me and hand out compliments accordingly. I long to nurture others and teach gospel principles.

Despite the fact that Tevye and I have totally different strengths from each other (which differences come not only from our personalities, but also from our gender differences), we work well together in raising our family. Our children benefit from both of our strengths to receive a well-rounded upbringing.

It is in our family that we learn important skills, such as working and playing well with others, serving one another, loving unconditionally, obedience, leadership, and effective communication. I love knowing the many quirks of my family members, and I work hard to let them feel safe to be who they truly are around me. After all, I have many quirks of my own, and they let me be me!

Enjoy this month of familiy celebration! I hope that this post inspires you to strive to strengthen family relationships and stand up for this divine institution known as "family."

Flooring Woes

2010-07-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Long story made short:

Ordered flooring from Home Depot about three weeks ago with a supposed 3-5 business day delivery.
Home Depot took way longer than 3-5 days.
Home Depot or UPS lost our floor.
Last Thursday, UPS brings flooring to our condo complex but says the truck doesn't have a lift gate, so they can't get the flooring off the truck.
Today, brings the flooring in the right type of truck but won't carry it upstairs.
Only option- put it in our carport where I am almost positive that it will be stolen.
Despite my great efforts, I break down and cry as I sign the delivery slip infront of the lazy UPS guy (he wasn't one of the guys that has delivered to our door before- they would have done their job right).

This brief account ommits all of the stupid calls that Tevye and I had with the two companies (mostly Tevye).

Moral of the story: Next time- Lowe's and Fed Ex

Fun in the Hidden Sun

2010-06-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

The boys, Calee, and I made a quick trip to the beach this morning. I wanted to make the trip there (our first of the summer) this week since we have been learning about sharks and shells at home. As we were getting closer to our destination, the marine layer got thicker and thicker, and it looked very cold. Fortunately for us, it was a wonderfully mild day, and the water wasn't that bad, either. For some reason unknown to us, thousands of sand crabs and little clams covered the sand where the waves lapped onto the shore. We probably would have spent more time in the water, but it was creepy standing on them. Most of our time was spent making sandcastles. I quickly discovered that sand architecture is not my forte, so I switched it up a little by making a sand fish. Calee still has to email the picture to us, and then I will post it. I am so thankful to Calee for going with us, because I probably would have been afraid to take the boys by myself. Thanks Calee!

2010-06-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

This summer, to avoid all-day video game sessions, I have been trying to keep the boys busy by doing an unofficial "summer school." We are using a program called the Itty-Bitty Bookworm, which uses literature-based lessons for pre-schoolers. I try to add in related activities that are more difficult so that Caden has something to be entertained with. This week, we have been doing an ocean/beach unit based on the book Five Little Sharks Swimming in the Sea. So far, we have finger-painted, made playdough (well, sort of- it did not turn out right), and painted with sand. I am hoping to make a trip to the beach soon. To add in a gospel element, we have also been studying the account of the prophet Jonah being swallowed by a big fish. Our memory verse is Jonah 2:1.

Swim Class

2010-06-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

We signed Caden up for swim lessons this summer. Even though he gets very cold, he loves it! The teachers had all of the kids jump off the lowest diving board on the third day of class. Caden jumped twice, but he later informed us that he did not like it at all. My mom told him that he would like it after trying it a couple more times. They jumped again the next day, and after the second jump, Caden tells me, "Mom, I'm not scared anymore!" Way to go, Caden! His class started out with about seven kids, but now it is down to four, which is nice because he gets more one on one time.

Talicee Graduates

2010-06-18T22:23:00.000-07:00

Our family's "smarty pants" has graduated from high school. Talicee was also chosen as the school's valedictorian. The wonderfully brief, yet meaningful, ceremony was at the San Bernardino Valley College. Since the graduation for the homeschoolers covered all of southern California, only about 100 students of those who graduated this year were in attendance. We are so proud of you, Talicee- you are an excellent student! Good luck in college!

Good Company

2010-06-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

So far, we have had some very wonderful people visit our little abode. First, Genesis (Tev's sister) and Forrest (her fiancee) dropped by for a quick visit. It was fun catching up with them and looking through their photo albums. Caden and Vance loved the presents they brought for them! Vance wears the green sunglasses a lot, and Jurassic Attack has accompanied us to the park. Caden plays with the Lego race car often. Thanks guys!
Last night, we expected a visit from my friend Noelle and her children. They surprised us with one more guest- Giampiero! He is normally serving in Afghanistan, but he was granted a short leave to see his family. We had a great time visiting with them. The kids played Star Wars most of the night. America (the baby) and I became good friends- it was our first time meeting her. Every time I see Noelle, I am reminded of how much I really miss her when she is back at her home in Utah, but I am grateful for any time we have to hang out together!

Caden's New Smile

2010-05-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

The tooth fell right out.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2010-05-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Seeing how today was such a windy day, Tevye pulled out the kite we bought last year (and never used) and took the boys to the field right across the street for their first kite flying experience. Tevye took the pictures- I think that he has a real talent for photography. The boys had a lot of fun.

Play Ball!

2010-05-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last week, we went to the ANAHEIM Angels v. Tampa Bay Rays game. It was nice evening. The guys that Tevye works with were there with their families, and they are a lot of fun to hang out with. The game lasted well past 10pm, and since it was a school night, we left at the end of the 10th inning to get the boys to bed. The Angels won!!

Cotton candy courtesy of Doug Reilly- Thanks Doug!

Vance didn't know what to do with his sticky hands.

Vance's Karate Advancement

2010-05-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Instructor Hannah is very good with the three and four-year-olds.

Last week, Vance participated in his first karate graduation. It was so fun to watch the little kids breaking boards and showing off their skills! Vance earned his white belt with the yellow stripe. Good job, Vance!

He really enjoys karate lessons. I like how they are teaching him how to show respect- the kids have to reply, "Yes, Maam," or, "Yes, Sir!" The other day, Tevye asked Vance to do something, and he replied, "Yes, Sir." It was funny. We have a lot of fun watching him do jumping-jacks- he jumps with so much enthusiasm!

Flower Fields

2010-05-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

The boys, my parents, and I made our annual trip to the flower fields in Carlsbad last weekend. We had so much fun! The weather was perfect. I love California! Anyway, here are some pictures from our day.

Dad and Mom

The view at the top of the hill was gorgeous!

Vance loves to stop and smell the roses.

Mining for rocks

Identifying the rocks

Cousin Cole's Big Day

2010-04-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

We went to Cole's first communion last Saturday. He looked so adorable in his new suit! After the lengthy service, all the boys ran around outside to get their energy out. We love you, Cole! Thanks for inviting us to share your special day with you!

Thanks Grammy!

2010-04-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Tevye's mom sent the boys a package with a bunch of goodies for Easter. When they opened it up, the first thing they yelled was, "Hats!!" To make things even better, they were hats (and outfits) from the new movie "How to Train Your Dragon." We haven't seen the movie yet, but it just so happens that we have been reading the book for the last week or so. It is a very funny book, by the way, and Caden does an awesome job when it is his turn to read aloud. Thank you Grammy and Auntie Talicee for the fun Easter surprise!

Primary Easter Activity

2010-04-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, we went to the Easter activity that our ward's Primary hosted. The boys and I had so much fun! The park was very nice, the weather was great, and the games and egg hunt were fun.
Decorating cookies

Vance dumped the entire container of sprinkles on his cookies. Go big, or go home!

Egg spoon race

I love that Caden had his tongue sticking out the entire time!

Fun on the merry-go-round

Croatian Bread Dolls

2010-03-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

I found a really cool Easter celebration book online (www.bookofmormondiscovery.com) that the boys and I are using to choose an activity each day to help us get excited for Easter. Yesterday, we made Croatian bread dolls in honor of my sister, Emilia. Caden and Vance really enjoyed dying the eggs and rolling the dough. They tasted so good, thanks, in large part, to the frozen bread dough (yes-I cheated).

Karate

2010-03-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

Just trying to teach him to use his powers for good. He has loved both of his lessons, but I had to bribe him with gum to put on the shirt (you can tell that he is holding gum inside the puffed-out cheek).

Patriotic Show

2010-03-17T11:20:00.001-07:00

At the end of February, Caden participated in the 1st Grade Patriotic show. It was so cute! The kids sang a bunch of my favorites, like the Marine Corps song and "You're a Grand Ol' Flag." Caden didn't smile during the program too much, but afterwards, he told us that he had fun.

More Monster Trucks

2010-02-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

On the last day of Monster Trucks, Tevye took the boys early so they could go see the trucks up close. I had so many cute pictures to chose from, but these are my favorites. They had a great time, and after the event, they got to meet some of the drivers.

Monster Trucks

2010-01-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from our annual Monster Truck outing. The course was stupid this year, so it wasn't as exciting as usual. The boys had a lot of fun. Vance is always playing with his trucks at home, and he knows almost all of the drivers from watching the races on television with his dad. Scarlet Bandit's driver was there driving a different truck (Iron Outlaw), and Vance recognized who she was. He spent most of the night asking where the Scarlet Bandit truck was.

Calee and an overwhelmed Vance

My handsome dad

"Crazy Eyes" Micah and Kolissa

My adorable nephew, Nolan

A Visit from the Phillips

2010-01-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

Rick and Eden came for a very quick visit a couple of Sundays ago. Caden and Vance were very excited to see their cousins. Vance kept introducing everyone to his "new cousin," Logan. We enjoyed visiting with them. Too bad there is so much distance between us, because I know the boys would have so much fun playing together. Lincoln has the sweetest little voice (I love listening to him count to ten). Logan was asleep most of the time, but we did manage to capture this really cute photo of him smiling. Our cousins, the Dumas's were there as well. It was a fun evening!

"Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam"

2010-01-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

It's official- Vance is now a Sunbeam! At first, he didn't want to go to big primary, but he seemed to have a great time. Caden did his brotherly duty by walking Vance to primary and watching out for him. I love these boys so much!

2010-01-01T16:58:00.001-08:00

Nolan, Cole, Vance, and Caden

My dad and sister

Calee and Tony

Tevye with his new shirt

Happy 2010! We wish you all a less-stressful year than last. I am finally getting around to posting some Christmas pictures. We had a great time hanging out with family and over-eating. Christmas Eve at Billy and Kim's house was so much fun for the boys and their cousins. Nolan is such a great helper, and Cole is so funny. I am so proud of my nephews- smart, sweet, and just a hint of mischievousness! On Christmas morning, after opening gifts from Santa at our home, we headed over to Tev's family's house. We opened gifts (as always, my mom-in-law spoiled me- Thank you for the Jim Shore collection and more!), ate constantly, put together a puzzle, and went to the movies. The boys saw "Avitar," and the ladies and my two little guys went to see "The Princess and the Frog". I really like the movie. I hope that whatever you ended up doing on Christmas brought you many great holiday memories!

I Have Been Good, Santa

2009-12-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, our family went to see Santa at Disneyland. What a fun trip! We were second in line to see the big guy, and the boys were so excited! Caden wanted to keep what he was going to ask for a secret from us, so when he talked to Santa, I tried my best to hear his request. Vance wants a firetruck, and Caden...well, he wants a robot. Not just any old robot. He wants a robot that "can control Mom and Dad." Who knew?

Vance really wanted to be in the Jedi show, and Caden did not, but they picked Caden to be in it! Vance was very sad. We were so happy for Caden! He fought Darth Vader, and he got to use the force on two stormtroopers.

Vance was so excited to see Tigger. "Tigger! Tigger," he shouted. Auntie Talicee spent the entire day with us, and Uncle Micah also hung out for a little bit. Then, we got to see him in the Christmas parade and Fantasmic.

We also saw Grammy at work leading the marching band and training a new guy. I love Disneyland at Christmas time. The castle is gorgeous with all its lights. Disneyland truly is magical at this time of year.

October Birthdays

2009-11-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

Our birthdays this year were a lot of fun. Caden requested an ocean party. I thought he meant an ocean-themed party, so Aunt Calee made an awesome shark cake, and Grammy and Aunt Talicee put up fish decorations and planned fun ocean-themed games (my favorite was "Get the Tail Off the Seahorse"). As we were driving to Grammy's house, Caden started crying, because he thought we were having a party at the ocean- not about the ocean. Fortunately, he still had a great time!

Vance wanted to celebrate his birthday with his best friend, Jacob, at Pretend City, which is a big children's museum in Irvine. Those two boys had so much fun riding around in the pedal cars!
Calee did a fantastic job on Caden's cake! He (and I) appreciated it so much!

Vance and his new tool set.

.I thought Grammy was going to pull Caden's arms out of their sockets. I don't think that they ever popped that balloon.

Halloween

2009-11-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

I made the boys' costumes this year. Caden wanted to be Obi-Wan Kenobi and Vance wanted to be a pirate. The fabric store didn't have a pattern for any Star Wars costumes, so I had to figure it out on my own. Vance wanted a fancy pirate jacket. Thankfully, I was able to get all of the fabric from the remnants bin or the sale rack. It cost the same as it would of if I were to buy it, but I had more fun. Also, for their boots, I just covered their rainboots with the appropriate fabric- cheap and easy!

We actually carved the pumpkins this year! Last year, we got so busy that they remained uncarved. Caden designed his own.

Archery

2009-10-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

At Mom's birthday, Caden had his first archery lesson from my brother Billy and Tevye. He hit the center of the target on his first try!

Our Soccer Star

2009-10-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Caden made the first goal at his first game. We later found out that he had no idea that he had scored a goal. He was just happy to have a chance to kick the ball. Doesn't he look cute in his uniform?

Caden in the First Grade

2009-10-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

First day of school.

He is still enjoying it.

Un Templo en Concepcion!!!!

2009-10-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to hear President Monson announce that a temple will be built in Concepcion, Chile! This is great news! Right now, there is only one temple in Chile (Santiago), and the members from our mission area had to travel very far to get there. I know that they are grateful for this blessing.

Eventful August

2009-08-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

August turned out to be very busy for us- two weddings and two weeks of vacation. Tev's sister, Michaela, was married on the 8th, and his brother, Micah, got married on the 22nd. Sandwiched in between those two events was a trip to the American River in Sacramento, one and a half weeks in Utah, and a drive up to Idaho. Tevye was only able to join us for the first week (of course, he wouldn't miss the river rafting) and the two weddings. My mom-in-law and sis-in-law (Talicee) stayed with Caden, Vance, and I for the entire vacation. We went to Education Week at BYU, did some sight-seeing in Salt Lake, and got to visit with some good friends. I loved that the boys did so well on the trip- Caden was such a trooper and so helpful! Vance tested my patience, but he was a good boy. I really enjoyed the pioneer town at the "This Is the Place" monument. The boys got to ride a train, dip candles, and make clay marbles. I got to test out our new camera. Education Week was also fun. Thanks to Kree and Talicee for sacraficing class time to watch the boys so I could go to some classes!!!!

My Three Electricians

2009-07-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today was one of the rare occasions when Tevye could bring the boys to work with him, so we dug out their Reilly shirts, and off they went! They came back happy, and I was happy to have a little break.

Do You See What I See?

2009-07-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

We usually don't eat eggplant, but when I saw this one at the store, I had to get it! Do you see the face? It has kind of a Bob Hope nose. Any ideas on how to cook it? I will be sad when I have to say goodbye to Mr. Eggplant.

8 Years of Wedded Bliss

2009-07-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Happy 8th anniversary to Tevye and me!
Tevye, you are a great example to me, and I still thank Heavenly Father for allowing us to be companions! I love you!

Update on Caden

2009-06-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have been sick throughout most of June, so this post is a bit overdue. On June 12, Caden finished kindergarten. I can't believe how fast the school year flew by! We will really miss his teacher. She is such a great teacher and terrific person! Next year, she will be teaching sixth grade, and even though that will be a very different experience from kindergarten, I know that she will excel at it. Caden did a wonderful job in kindergarten- he is so smart, and he always got awards in math and reading. I loved helping out once a week in his class, and I quickly developed an affection for his classmates. One of my favorite memories is of Caden and some other friends playing Rock, Paper, Scissors at the lunch tables every day.

Now, here is some exciting news- Caden doesn't have to wear his eye patch any more! His left eye is no longer lazy, and he sees perfectly with his glasses on! He never complained about wearing the patch, even when it would leave raw patches on his skin when he pulled it off. We love Caden so much, and we are so proud of him!!!!

Vance Strikes Again

2009-05-19T09:24:00.001-07:00

He found the permanent marker- need I say more?

I love this!

2009-05-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of Jon Schmidt (piano) and Steven Sharp Nelson (cello) doing an arrangement of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and Coldplay's "Viva la Vida."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys&feature=player_embedded