Uh-oh!

Pinterest strikes again!

This time, for the idea of the Uh-oh jar.
The Uh-oh jar is a jar full of jobs, that can be used in any way you need as a mom/parent (whining, leaving backpack out, tattle-telling, general naughtiness). Ours has most recently been used to pay for "maid services", when the kid's rooms were cleaned by me.


The jobs in the jar are ones that are fairly simple and can usually be done within 10-15 minutes. They are also things that aren't a part of our every day/weekly cleaning. I think I want to add a few more things to the jar. I like the idea of adding things like; writing an encouraging note to a family member/teacher/friend, helping someone with homework, doing a chore for someone, making someone's bed, making someone's lunch, etc. Things that encourage kindness and friendship.

I need help coming up with more ideas. Do you have any good ones for me? :)

Just Because

What is this?... you might ask.

This is a product of Taylee's creative brain.

Taylee made this for Abree... just because.

If you can't tell this apple face has; a carrot nose, cereal eyes, chocolate chip lashes, a lunch meat hair, a tortilla bow and an apple peel tongue.

Taylee's creative juices are ALWAYS flowing!

Dinner with Grandma Ison

Grandma Ison's care worker was out-of-town for the week, so we took turns bringing dinner over to her.

Our family signed up for Monday evening. Candice and Dean's family joined us.

When we got there, it took several minutes for her to answer the door. I called on the phone, we banged on the door, we rang the door bell multiple times and Dean tapped on her bedroom window. When she FINALLY answered the door, she was excited and pleased to see the big crowd that awaited her.

We caught her without her wig on. The kids had a few questions, but mostly couldn't believe that she usually wore a wig. :)

She said, "Oooo, it's nice to see all of you. I was just about to go to bed."

It was just a little after 5:00pm.

We put ALL the extension leaves into the dining table and combined our dinner efforts; chili, baked potatoes (w/toppings) and cornbread muffins.
Dean, Levi & Candice
Abree & Lizzy
Jackson & Treyson

Micaela & Taylee

Rylee & Grandma

See any resemblance?

Grandma & Me

As we were eating, Grandma kept asking the kids their names/ages. Eventually we asked if she would like for them to be written down.

"Yes!"

"Grandma, do you want them in table order or family order?"

"Family order."

Candice wrote them down for her. She looked over the list and kind of said the names to herself. "Grandma, you say a name and we'll raise our hand."

So she would say a name and we would raise our hand. She would look surprised and make a cute comment and then move on to the next name. It became a game. She continued to call names over and over and we would raise our hands. She was surprised every time. :)

For some reason, she would skip over Taylee every time..and would call Treyson's name instead. Maybe it was confusing to know how to pronounce it???

Even Levi got the game. When she would call his name he started to say, "MEEEE!"

We finished dinner, loaded the dishwasher and then visited for just a few minutes. Because it was a school night, we needed to be on our way. It was hard to leave. We could tell she would have loved for us to stay longer. She verbalized her gratitude over and over..so glad that we came to visit.

Love you Grandma Ison!

Happy Anniversary!

On February 17th, Jason and I celebrated our 16th anniversary.

We took a little weekend trip to Twin Falls. We left Friday, after Jason got off work and stayed at the AmericInn. That night, we took advantage of the hot tub and just hung out.

The next morning, we enjoyed the continental breakfast and then headed to the temple.

After the temple, we changed and decided to "tour" TwinFalls... re-visiting places we remember from living there.
Rylee's old elementary school, the Harrison Huskies.

The first house we rented.

The other one.

Our old church.

Then we decided to go thrift store shopping.. one of our favorite past-times. The D.I. had lots of great finds that day.

We went to dinner at the Golden Corral... high class, ain't we. :)

In the morning, we attended a ward in our old church building... seeing a few familiar faces.

It was a nice little get-away.

Happy 16 years Jason... and many more!

PS- Thank you Grandma for staying with our kids and running them around.

Happy Valentine's Day!

As Valentine's Day approached, I asked my kids if they wanted to make or buy valentines for their classmates/friends. They said they wanted to make them.

I pinned my heart out on Pinterest and found several I thought would be fun. But of course we didn't actually sit down to make them until.... the night before!

"I'm WILD about you Valentine!"

The original idea used little plastic animals, but I couldn't find any at the Dollar Store, so we went with iced animal cookies instead.

"STUCK on you Valentine!"

What kid doesn't like Band-aids? We bought some super hero band-aids for the boys and rainbow colored ones for the girls.

"Valentine you are the BOMB!"

I didn't think this one through, unit AFTER I had sent them to school. I wondered if I would be receiving a phone call from the principal letting me know that our valentines were inappropriate because of the NO tolerance (of weapons) policy at school. --Oops. No phone calls. Whew.

The kids picked what kind they wanted to give to each one of their classmates/friends. Rylee and Taylee even joined us and gave some to their friends too.

I wanted to do something special for Jason, so I came up with the idea to make his Valentine's gift last ALL DAY long. On the hour, he got to open a bag. In the bag were treats and a quality/thing I love about him.

Our kids are quite independent when it comes to getting ready for school and making their own lunches, but I wanted to do something special for them for Valentine's Day. So I made each one of them a lunch, including a treat and note from me wishing them a Happy Valentine's Day.

PS- Abree and Treyson reported that the Band-aid valentines were possibly confusing to their classmates.

Treyson reported that one of the kids said, "Seriously...a Band-aid???"

Abree reported that a girl in her class, wrote in her daily journal, that the worst valentine she got was a Band-aid.

Abree said, "Don't you get it? It says 'I'm STUCK on you Valentine'."

"Ohhhh, I see."

Then the girl quickly took it out of the package and put in on...even though she wasn't hurt.

See? She really did love it... she just didn't know it.

Happy Birthday Jason!

"One year older and wiser too...

Happy Birthday..to you!"

This year for Jason's birthday, I asked the kids what they thought we should get him for a gift. Among other things they said, "Just Dance 3". I thought that sounded like a great gift, so we began our search. We went to several places that didn't have it, but finally found it. I haven't been upstairs while it's being played yet, but I've been assured it's fun.
Jason requested pumpkin pie for his birthday "cake" and we had tater tot casserole for his birthday dinner.

Happy Birthday Jason!!!

Annual Post Falls Trip

Southwest Airlines seems to have a steal-of-a-deal on tickets, each year in the Fall. There are restrictions on dates and times to fly, but that doesn't stop Krissi and I from snatching them up each year. She comes here and I go there within 2 months of one another. My turn came early February this year.

I typed up a schedule, letter and surprise list to keep things running smoothly at home, while I would be gone.
Leaving little daily prizes for the kids to open (after tasks or chores are finished) is becoming a tradition. I think they like it, because they say things like, "Mom, when are you leaving? I can't wait!" --Thanks a lot. :)

This is who greeted me, as I stepped inside the door of Krissi's mom and dad's house ....Amber the crazy dog. Don't let her cuteness fool you, she is a WILD puppy!!! She jumped up on me, chewed on my hands and tried to bite off the decoration buckles on my shoes. She wouldn't leave me alone. She thought I was her instant best friend.

Krissi and Steve sold their house, as she was visiting me in December. They moved in with her mom and dad until they could figure out their next move. Living together started to seem like a good idea. They started talking about it and eventually decided that they would build a house for all to live together. Her mom and dad put their house on the market, had a showing the first day I was there and then SOLD it the next day! ---I'm claiming to be their house-selling-good-luck-charm. :)

Jessica and Ila LOVE this crazy dog!

Jessica bought this HUGE moose while I was there.

Her school mascot was a moose.

She thought I should love it as much as her.

And her mom too.

Daniel came to me Sunday evening and asked if I would help him make a house for his Zhu-Zhu pet, Sarge. He had drawn all the walls, pathway and bushes. I helped him cut them out and tape them all together. --Creative kid!

I think Sarge and his cars are quite cozy in their house, don't you?

Krissi and Anna Laura made treats almost every day I was there. It was torture being on my NO SWEETS challenge!

We went about the week doing nothing in particular, but having a good time being with one another. I helped out at the elementary school, did Activity Days with Krissi and the girls, went shopping, etc.

The last night, before I went home, we had dinner with these ladies; Kathy Pollock and Lisa Zane. It was fun to talk and catch up with them.

It's so nice to do this twice a year. I'm so grateful for our families and for Jason and Steve who support us in our "girl time". Thanks guys!

WALKING TO CHURCH IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL!

The kids and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful, gorgeous, almost spring-like, Boise weather and walk to church.

We dont live very far, so it is a reasonable walk. It only takes us about 15 minutes, but probably closer to 20, taking little short, cute, Abree legs into consideration.

So everyone got on their sunday best, a warm coat, a happy attitude, and a smile, and we were off.

So enjoyable to spend that time together, the occasional shoving, and "Stop That" blurts aside.

We spent most of the walk quoting from the three muppet movies we watched the night before, we LOVE to quote movie. Well at least, the kids and I do. Alisha is a great sport about it :)

A nice sunday morning, spent the way it should be.

Posted by Jason