another tag

I actually borrowed this tag from my sister in law, Bethany, not because my answers will be interesting, but because I'd like to read about anyone else who feels like sharing-I might get specific at the end...


10 years ago: I was enjoying life as a sophmore at BSU, "waiting for my missionary" but dating a friend from high school that I really liked who was getting ready to go to Rick's college and play soccer. Crazy enough, I met Barrett almost exactly 10 years ago at an Idaho Stampede basketball game. We were both on double dates, but got to talking about mutual friends. nothing happened between us, we both liked our dates...isn't it crazy how life pans out?

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. survive my first pack meeting-our blue and gold banquet, nonetheless.
2. get Anson up and at em and out the door in a fairly good mood
3. make rice and sauce for chicken haystacks for tonight's banquet
4. take Anson to ST/OT and survive yet another week of 2 hours out in the waiting area with my two other kiddos who will undoubtably need naps and numerous diaper changes-blah..
5. spend some quality time with my wonderous husband who works way too hard! (and rarely complains)

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Ice cream
2. girl scout cookies (and, hallelujah, they're nearly here!)
3. Cheese-most every kind
4. chocolate-especiall Lindt dark chocolate, the little round ones in the blue wrapping or the godiva chocolate cheesecake from the cheesecake factory-love that stuff!
5. fruit-especially with cheese or chocolate. just kidding. I like it plain too.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: Give my husband a break from all his hard work-tell him to give up one or two or all of his jobs!)... pay off Eden's hospital bills...donate to several charities...I'd love to do some updates on this 1950's house of ours (which I love dearly)...pour a basement because I never wanna move, build a treehouse in this amazing tree in our backyard-it's just begging for a great fort...go on a few trips: to kenya to visit Barrett's parents on their mission, back to switzerland for the cheese and chocolate and the mountains and to Fiji for some real relaxation. I could go on and on...

5 Places I have lived…
1. Meridian, Idaho- 4 different addresses
2. Boise, Idaho -3 different addresses
3. Radcliff, Kentucky

Jobs that I have had...My first real job I had was that of a paper girl-4 years I had that route, then I worked at TCBY for a year, I waitressed at Chicago Connection for a few year, I worked for a microfilming company copying companies info onto microfiche, I worked for the YMCA, I worked for Concrete Construction Supply delivering stuff, bending rebar, etc..and I'm currently employed by Gap working on their stock team ocassionally and enjoying the discount...

5 things people don't know about me:
1. I hate pop-won't even drink it after a long, hot day climbing up and down hole in the rock
2. I love the smell of fresh cut grass, baseball gloves, cedar/sandal wood, hot popped popcorn, cilantro (fresh salsa) and chocolate cake baking in the oven
3. I was a treasure valley clogger for 5 years and loved most every minute of it, except freestyling.
4. I still sleep with my childhood blanket every night, though it is now a layer on our bed under the duvet
5. I want to serve several missions with my husband someday, and would love to learn a new language or two


I guess I won't get specific, but if you feel like sharing, I'll read up on you...you won't go unnoticed, I promise!

tag

My first tag that I've found time to answer...

1. How long have you and your significant other been together? Married nearly 7 years and dated for 18 months before that-WOW, time flies...
2. Who eats more? Me, without a doubt
3. Who said I love you first? Me, Im pretty sure
4. Who is taller? Barrett's got me by a good6-8 inches
5. Who sings better? Barrett has a great voice
6.Who does laundry? I gather it, wash it, fold it, but have issues about putting it away for some reason...
7. Who does dishes? need I answer?
8.Who sleeps on the right side of thebed?Me
9. Who pay's the bills? Used to be Barrett until he went to Iraq and I had to learn how and somehow he never resumed responsibility
10. Who mows the lawn? I love to mow!
11. Who cooks dinner? I love to cook
12.Who drives when you are together? it's almost always me. Barrett likes to pull out the homework that needs correcting, which generally leads to a nap and I'm okay with itbecause I really enjoy driving
13. Who is more stubborn? me
15.Who's parent's do you see the most? mine, but we also really enjoyed going over to barrett's parents house until they left on their mission. we try to spread our love around the treasure valley.
16. Who kissed who first? I think it was pretty mutual
17.Who proposed? Barrett did in a way only he could pull off
18.Who is more sensitive? umm...., yah right-ME
19.Who has more friends? he's pretty darn popular
20. Who has more siblings? barrett 6-kendra 2 full, 1 half, 4 step
21. Who wears the pants? ultimately Barrett, at least concerning the important things in our life,I decide on the trivial ones...

Pancakes anybody?

After Anson's speech and occupational therapies on Tuesday afternoon we went home and I was thinking about what to fix for dinner (it was around 3:30pm). This is the conversation that took place between Anson and myself around the dining table:

Anson: I want snack please! (he's so polite)

Me: What would you like?

Anson: I want pancakes please

Me: Sorry, sunshine, the pancakes are all gone (we had them for breakfast on Sunday)

Anson: The mommy makes pancakes?

Me: Not tonight, how about tomorrow morning

Anson: The boy(this is how he refers to himself these days) cooks the pancakes?

Was he serious? could he possibly want to come into the kitchen and do this? I have been waiting for one of my children to want to help in the meal prep. Possible dream come true?

Me: Okay, Anson, let's make some pancakes.

His eyes lit up and he came in and wanted to sit on the counter. I measured and he poured (all 3) ingredients-we used bisquick. He stirred, he scooped the batter, poured the batter onto the griddle-reminding me numerous times that it was hot. He even flipped the hot cakes. Needless to say, I was in awe. I was so happy and proud I was practically bawling. He put the pancakes on a plate, jumped down off the counter got a bowl and fork, waited patiently for the syrup and then he devoured them. He ate 5 and left 1 each for Bo and Eden. It was one of my very favorite experiences ever as a mom. I was so engrossed in the whole episode that I didn't get any pictures taken, but lucky for me (and you) he wanted to do it again the next day, and the next day and even this morning. I did manage to get some pictures the second time around, they aren't the best, but you get the drift. His IBI therapist, Amanda, is in the background watching. She told me what I had already assumed-this is so not typical of children with autism. Anson is my hero-I love you little man!

p.s. maybe Anson and Evan can open up their own restaurant some day?

Our President's Day weekend

So, we kicked off the weekend with a trip to the local fish store. Unfortunately a couple of our previous tank occupants have moved on to bigger and better places, so we had some space to fill. The kids all loved the store, especially the fish resembling the characters on Finding Nemo. no clown fish for us, but we got a couple other cuties. Saturday we spent some time on our bikes and at the park, out enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Sunday was nice and reverent (ha!) and we really enjoyed feeding the missionaries. The two elder's we have right now are pretty funnny and the kids had lots of fun with them. And then came Monday...So, Barrett mentioned a while ago that a coworker at UPS rabbit had babies-fun for them. Well then Barrett mentioned that he thought our kids might enjoy one. Maybe, but what do we know about raising a bunny?(nothing). fast forward to Monday. I needed to go to Costco and Barrett casually mentions that he'll just drop me off and then take the kids to pick out a bunny. okay, have fun. I figured he would chicken out, but he didn't and now we have an adorable little bundle of white fluff that we've christened Lulu bunny. We hope it turns out to be a girl, too early to tell yet. anyway, the kids absolutely adore her (Eden might love her a bit too much some times, but I keep telling myself that the bunny will be okay)...We've read that they can live for 7-10 years, aunt Stacie said she gives it 2 years, max. hopefully we'll prove her wrong. Right now she lives in a cage in our family room, but when it warms up we'll move her out to the shop. Rest assured there will be updated posts concerning our life as bunny owners, whether you wanna read em or not is up to you...For now enjoy some pics of the kiddos as proud Lulu family members!

I have a problem...

I have a slight love/hate relationship with suckers, lollipops, whatever you wanna call em. My kids all adore them, and I adore my kids while they're eating them. But then comes the cleanup. Anson and Eden aren't so bad anymore, as long as they remember to throw away their little sticks when they're done, but baby Bo is a whole other story. Why must he insert the sucker into his mouth from every angle, meanwhile manhandling the sticky, bulbous portion? Does he purposely roll it between his hands and fingers, the rungs of his highchair, his whole section of the dinner table and finally through his hair to gross me out and make me crazy? I think so, and yet I have no one to blame but myself. That whole experience just bought me a few minutes to clear the dishes or fold some clothes or some other activity that would've been just a little bit more complicated with his help. So I'll bite my tongue and probably put myself through the whole ordeal again in a few days. And I will love every minute of it because it is so darn cute!

Don't you wanna take a nap?

Eden is at a crucial (for me) stage in her life right now. She is growing out of her afternoon naps-most days. Ocassionally she will still lay down, but not too often. If she is tired I try my darndest to get Bo to nap at the same time in order to feel like I might be able to get something accomplished during the day...Well, the other day she was being just a little bit crabby and I said to her,"Don't you just wanna take a nap"? And she glared at me and walked off and not five minutes later I went in her room to check on her and she was snuggled with her favorite blanket under her bed amidst her stuffed animals. Too sweet! I debated taking pictures or not for fear of her waking up, but I couldn't resist. Sleeping kids are the BEST!

way to go, Anson!

Here I am doing a little catch up again. At the beginning of the month Anson's elem. school had a little end of the semester awards ceremony. Each class in the school got to nominate 5 kids in 5 different areas of improvement. Anson was awarded in the linguistic word-intelligence category in his specialized learning class. All I can think is that his vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds- I am so extremely proud of him. He came home with a medal(that Eden likes to wear around) and a nice certificate. Unfortunately I couldn't get to the ceremony because Eden got the barfs just as we were getting ready, but this is the picture his teacher sent me. She is putting the medal around his neck and the principal is looking on-both terrific ladies. Way to go, Anson!!

I am just realizing that this is all going to be posted in the opposite order in which I meant for it to go, but oh well. My last little bit will be sans photos, just my meager thoughts. I was blessed to give a talk a couple weeks ago,( in fact, the day that he passed away), in church which I focused on a couple of talks given from Pres. Hinckley. My topic was Light of a New Day. One thing you shoud know is that I am not a good speaker, but it was (and generally is) such a learning experience, one where I really felt that I learned the most about myself and in this case, recieved yet another confirmation that President Hinckley truly was a prophet for our Church. I too am grateful for his service and love yet am so glad that he is united with his dear wife. I look forward to the great things that are in store concerning our new first presidency and the church worldwide. What a beautiful Faith!




Granted, I don't love this picture of me, or any picture of me, really. But Eden wanted me to take our picture so badly the other day I couldn't say no. She is something else, I tell ya. What a ham, a cute one, but a ham nontheless. I love you, Eden.

I dedicate this next small section of my entry to Sabrina Z. I honestly believe that we baked and fed our nearly one year olds chocolate chip cookies on the same day. Bo doesn't look quite as happy as Cohen, but he truly was until I got the camera out. He is suddenly wary of the thing, maybe it's the flash? Who knows. All I know is that I don't feel too bad about feeding Bo the cookie. Is it because #1-he's my third and #2-I was just trying to keep him out from under my feet? Sure thing.

This is a small sampling of Barrett's German Club members at a Raclette(traditional Swiss meal) dinner in January. This club, through the high school, gets together every other month for fun, food and festivities! Unfortunately Barrett was the one taking these pictures so he's not in there, but it really was a good time. These parties are generally at a student's house, sometimes at our house and they really are fun and funny! You get all types in the foreign language classes, you know. I know that Barrett is a fantastic teacher, and the kids really appreciate him. He spends a lot of time preparing lessons and parties and he has helped liven up the German program at ol' Centennial.

Yes, it's true. I've fallen behind in my entries (no real suprise to anyone who knows me and my lack of computer prowess). I've taken a few pictures but I get on to update and start looking at everyone else's blogs and lose track of time, and blah, blah...So I will now do a condensed entry for the past month. Since the big Botkin date night: Tucker and Michelle and Beck moved down to American Fork. Sad for us, happy for them (for the most part, I think). It was a good excuse to get together at the Spencer's to play Wii-Anson loves the game where you ride the cow and hit the scarecrows-crazy kid. Anson and Eden love Uncle Tucker and Aunt Michelle and ask about them on a weekly basis. It was good to see them one last time. Hope they don't stay away too long...

One of Anson's long time favorite things to do is watch (admire) himself in the mirror,window, doorknob, faucet wherever he can see his reflection. I've been told numerous times this is a trait picked up from his father, definately not me. So I walked into the bathroom to check on him the other morning and there he was squatting on the counter in nothing but his underpants reciting word for word Dr Seuss' ABC book. One of his favorites. I wish I would've taken some video footage. He is so great!!!

How 'bout them Giants!

Sunday night's Super Bowl was a dream come true for Barrett. Having been a Giants fan for years and years his loyalty finally paid off. I asked him on the way to my dad's house what he wanted to see out of the game. He politely replied he wanted a good, close game. Of course, if the Giants win, that would be great too. I guess it was his lucky year. Here he is modeling a new hat courtesy of a coworker from UPS, his coat, gloves and blankets from high school, and wallet that I gave him for a 5th wedding anniversary gift! Go Giants!!!