{school}

Yesterday I volunteered at the school during lunch time:

(Parker's class)

Thursday is Ice Cream Day! It was my turn to man the ice cream cart.

Here are some other school updates:
Aliza's class participated in a "Living Museum." They dressed up like their character and when you pushed their "button" they came to life and told you a bit about thier character. It was adorable! Aliza did a great job.

Aliza was Betsy Ross.

My mom was here when they did it, so it was fun to show Grandma the school and meet the kids' teachers.

Art Class projects:

Tyler's 3rd place ribbons from his first track meet. He placed in both of his events: the 1200 and the high jump. Nice shorts, T.

I'm trying not to be too exciting all at once!! I thought since it's been so long since I've blogged regularly that we should start off slow and build up to more excitement! Get ready!

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Just Breathe....

You Are The Lungs

You tend to be a laid back, passive person. You don't cause a fuss. You go with the flow and get along well with whoever is around you. You seem tough, but you're actually quite fragile and delicate. You are easily effected by the world around you. You don't respond well to toxic elements.

What Internal Organ Are You?

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I {heart} Sarah.

Sarah is having a giveaway on "My Favorite Things."

You should go there.

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I'm baaaaaack!

...at least maybe.

It all started when my laptop began having issues with photos. Every time I downloaded pictures or opened Picasa, my computer shut down. I was afraid of the big mama crash in which I lose everything, so I stopped putting photos on my laptop. Now they are upstairs on the family computer, and I just don't get up here that often. But I am going to make an effort to blog more regularly. More for me than you. I have lots of memories that deserve a home. And clearly I am not scrap booking. So.

Last night our youth had a Sunday Evening Discussion (back in the day we called them "firesides.") Our bishop asked the leaders to bring a picture of us on our wedding days. I brought this one:

And no one could figure out who it was.

I know it's been almost 15 years, but it's only been 15 years!! Yes, I was 25, yes I am now almost 40.

Then I realized that it is probably the *ahem* weight I have put on in the last 15 years. OK, the last 2 years. Before that it went up and down. Now it is just going up. Dang metabolism. Dang food. Dang humidity that strangles the breath out of me when I want to exercise outside. Dang me. So today is a new day. More blogging, more self-control, more baseball. (Only becasue today is the first day of our season, and Tyler has a game tonight...Parker has one tomorrow.)

I am going to lose some weight.

So, now what do I do with these?

I ususally let them get like this so I can make banana bread...but then I eat it...

If you live close to me, watch for a treat.

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{nine years old}

Aliza with Julie, the historic American Girl doll from 1974.

Nine years ago today, the most beautiful baby girl ever was born.

She was so pretty, with her beautiful red hair and her flawless skin. We were so excited to have her finally here. It had been a long, emotional pregnancy, but we made it. I was so excited to have a purple stone to add to my Mother's necklace, she was due February 27th. And it was leap year, so even if she was late it gave us an extra day in February. Proving stubborn right from the beginning, she arrived bright and early on the 1st of March.

It was so fun to have a little girly girl to play with after the rough and tumble of the boys. And she loved to dress up and put sparkles in her hair and dance...

But it wasn't too long before she proved that she could hold her own with her brothers and keep up with them too!

She's always been our little princess, and she's had daddy wrapped around her finger from the start. And Papa.

(Click on the picture above to see it better...)

We named her Aliza because it means "great joy or happiness." And she has brought us so much joy!! She is brave and strong, she is tough and tender. She is such a great little athlete, we can't wait to see her develop her talents!

Aliza likes to read, play with her friends, swim, ride her bike, play softball and basketball and be outside. She misses soft grass and snow. She loves to ride horses. She is a great traveler and loves to go on road trips. She loves a good adventure. She loves her teacher. She loves four wheeling and sledding. She is such a great little helper, she vacuums and sweeps and organizes without me even asking.

She likes Zach Efron and High School Musical. And when she grows up she is going to marry Joe Jonas. He's the cutest one.

I have loved to watch her grow up, the older she gets the more fun she is. She is fiercely independent and is so responsible.

For her birthday, she wants to go with mommy to get our nails done together. I can't wait!

We are so grateful that Aliza is a part of our family. We love her!

Happy Birthday, Lucy!!

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Happy Birthday, Aliza!!!

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Give and Get

(Click on the picture for an awesome deal...)

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So as not to overwhelm you...

A couple of weeks ago, I took Sister Hokanson down to Dallas and traded her for the new missionary for our area. I love Sister Hokanson, she is such a cute girl...Sister Borg, the new girl, is also awesome, I just don't have apicture to share.

Class Valentine's Parties:
Look how festively dressed my kids are...
Parker loves to dress monochromatically and will use any excuse to do so.

Liza's class got Ice Cream Sundays...

Her "Math about Me" poster is in the hall...

The last two weeks the weather has been TO DIE FOR. I am longing for the opening of the pool, but that won't happen until at least April. For now, we just go to the park by it and enjoy the warmth.

Tonight Parker had baseball practice...the fields are looking so pretty. Basketball season is almost over and we can move on...

I took this with my phone while driving down 1461...who says you should never look back??

And it MUST be spring...the trees in my front yard are blooming!!

Don't forget to take your Claritan!

The cardinals are out in full force, too!

Someday soon I will have a real post that is interesting to read. By then, no one will be checking my blog because it is so boring. But I am going through a severe blogging slump and really have nothing interesting to say. Sorry.

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That's my girl.

Last Tuesday morning as she was getting dressed, Aliza came into my bedroom and said, "Mom, did you use another laundry detergent? My clothes smell different. But I like it. What kind is it?"

Yes, my dear, I did. Gain Island Fresh.

It's like a vacation in a bottle.

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A rose by any other name...

Some of the best things about Texas:

friends.

sunsets.

clouds.

green in february.

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Complimentary...

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This is definitely me.

Your Valentine's Day Personality is Practical

As far as you're concerned, Valentine's Day is simply a commercial holiday. You don't place any real meaning on it. You don't think it deserves too much celebration. For you, Valentine's Day is just the day you avoid restaurants and candy stores. If you love someone, you already show it. You don't need to go all out for a silly holiday to prove your love.

What's Your Valentine's Day Personality?

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Trying to get in the mood to blog again.

A few pictures that are accumulating on the SD card...

Aliza at the 9 weeks ceremony being commended for making the "A" honor roll...

...and for getting the class Eagle Award for Extra Effort.
Tyler being "coached" by Coach Falbo at a basketball game.
Both Tyler and Parker had some sick days and stayed home with Mom.

Parker at basketball listening to last minute instructions from Coach Quinlan.

Liza and her friends Gabby and Kaylin at Parker's game. She plays softball with these two cute girlies and Kaylin is in her class at school.

Parker at the UIL assembly getting his participation ribbons for Dictionary Skills...
...and Oral Reading.

It has been so long since I posted anything that I almost really don't know where to start. I really can't believe that we are already into the second week of February. Where does time go?

I guess I have been really busy, I just haven't felt like blah blah blogging. We have been busy with basketball games, each of the kids plays a game a week, Tyler practices every day before school, Parker has 2 practices a week and Aliza has a practice. Baseball practice has started for Tyler and Parker, of course Parker's team is practicing on Sundays...he is a little bummed about that. His basketball team has a third practice each week on Sundays, also. Bummer.

Saturday was warm, but windy and cloudy, so it felt kinda chilly. I don't really want to complain when it is 70 degrees, but it felt cold! I watched Tyler's first baseball practice and they did some batting. He hasn't had a bat in his hands since last June, I think he picked up on it again pretty good. He wore his dad's size 12 cleats 'cuz they fit him and his ones from last year didn't. Crazy. Buying shoes for the kids is gonna require me to get a job soon if they don't stop growing!

He shoots, he scores!

Here's a snippet of Parker's game yesterday, starting off with a couple of free throws that went in. Yay! Poor kids, gotta be nervous with everyone watching!

In other news, we are planning to spend time up north this summer, where it is a little cooler than July here!! The Oquirrh Mountain Temple's open house will be during June and July, so we are very excited to be there and for the kids to be able to see it. Our June is filling right up, I have Girl's Camp and Tyler has Scout Camp and EFY. He is going to Denton, about 30 minutes down University, so it will be a good place for him to go his first year. He's shooting for San Antonio next year! He is excited to be rooming with his buddy Austin. He also went to his first school dance Friday night, wow, I can't believe it.

I have been taking a Family History Sunday School class, and learned a few things and have been able to do a lot of genealogy on the Maris and Jonkman side of the family...it has been fun to find the birth, death and marriage records of Maris' ancestors!

K, if you made it all the way through this post, you are a true friend. Leave me a comment and let me know!

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technology rocks

Mobile Blogging from here.

Blogging from my phone...what will they think of next?

:)

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

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