Are you kidding me???

So yesterday at church the kids and Joe came to the young women's room to get me after my lesson and I notice that three of the four kids were carrying a curious looking object in their little hands. I inquired what they had and Jenna told me that their primary teacher had given them each a POMEGRANATE!!!! for being good in primary that day. Now I know that being a primary teacher is not an easy job and I too have been guilty of bribing children with a special treat in order to get their cooperation, but seriously a pomegranate!!! I haven't seen one in years. My dad used to bring them home every once in a while and my mom would then stop talking to him for the rest of the day and depending on how big the stain we ALWAY placed somewhere was, the silent treatment could last several days. I remember having red fingers for days after eating the inside and always thinking that for all of the effort and mess that went a long with the pomegranate you would have thought it would taste a whole lot better. I now have three of the cursed things sitting on my kitchen counter. I asked the kids where their primary teacher lives because I am contemplating egging her house tonight!!

Joseph's 9th Birthday

September 28 was Joseph's 9th birthday and we have so much fun. We decorated the house with a sports theme(especially football because that is his favorite sport). The kids were up at six thirty (this really was the worst part of the day because Joe and I stayed up until two the night before playing Guitar Hero that I got for my birthday) and they were ready to start the fun. We let Joseph open one present (a monster truck poster--are we rednecks? I thought not but then we go and buy a monster truck poster and I start to question it)and had breakfast. We got ready for church and had a very nice time at church. Joseph's class sang happy birthday and they had treats. He loved all of the attention. After church we had a quick lunch and then let Joseph open the rest of his presents. He got two "agent" lego sets, three bionicles, Moby Dick and Call of the Wild, and clothes. He loved all of his gifts.

We then took the kids bowling. This was so much fun!! I must admit that I am not a very good bowler. Those of you that have bowled with my throughout the years can attest to this. Joseph was so excited. We asked them to put the bumpers on (I was secretly very grateful for this) and we started bowling. We learned several this with this family outing. 1. Joseph is a great bowler!! He came in second just a few points less than his dad. 2. I STILL suck at bowling. 3. Jenna bowls just like her mother. Not once, but twice she threw her bowl into the lane next to ours. It was so funny.

After bowling we went home and had cake (a sweet football cake--No I did not attempt to make this cake either)and ice cream. The kids were all pooped and went to sleep immediately. We are so glad to have Joseph in our home. He is such a sweet kids and really looks after his younger brothers and sister. We love him very much!!

Jacob's 7th Birthday!!!

Jacob turned seven on September 21. We were so excited to have him at our house for his birthday!! We planned a little party with all of the family. He was so funny when he got to the house on sunday morning. Everything he saw he would just freak out about!! We bought a cake and then added a skateboard theme and he absolutely loved it!! After church we ate a quick lunch and then took the kids to Scandia for a round of mini golf. All of the kids were thrilled. We learned that Jenna is not a golfer, Jacob and Joseph did fairly well, and Ryan is going to be pro!! What a swing that kid has. Joe and I decided that we wouldn't keep score for the kids but that we wanted to have a friendly little competition between the two of us. We played two rounds of mini golf, Ryan peed his pants (. . .but only a little bit mom, its okay right?? he said. Agh!!), Jenna got hit in the finger when Ryan hit a wayward ball at his sister, and Joe cheated at mini golf for the win. (I can say that because it is my blog--he can blog his own story!!) We went home and opened presents. Jacob received several Bionicles, a Football, and Lego set, some clothes, Operation the game, and a Transformers poster. He loved everything and we had a great time watching him open everything. After we opened presents we had pizza and then we had Jacob's Cupcake Skateboard cake. Jacob had such a happy birthday. He is such a sweet, energetic kids and we feel so lucky to have him. He never fails to entertain us and melt our hearts. We love him so much!!

What a funny kid!

So the other day, Joe and Ryan brought me lunch while I was at work. We decided to eat in the break room at my clinic. As we were sitting there eating Ryan says, "Hey mom, you didn't tell me that you have genies at your work." I didn't know what he was talking about so I just explained that I work at a medical clinic and that I work with doctors and nurses. He said ok and carried on eating his lunch. A few minutes later I noticed one of the doctors in our medical group walking down the hall. He is East Indian and was wearing a turban. At that same moment Ryan notices the doctor as well and reaches across the table and hits my arm and says, "See I told you that you have Genies at your work!!!!" I about died. I had to explain that the doctor was not a genie and that his turban was just part of his clothing and that it wasn't nice to stare. He just shrugged his shoulders and went on eating. Joe and I nearly fell apart trying to hold in our amusement. What a funny kid!!!

Are these kids nuts or what?

These kids are so crazy. Every sunday after church at our house, all 4 of the kids have been playing dress up with Jenna's silly dress up outfits. Joseph and Ryan generally put on the ninja or samuri outfits, but Jenna and Jacob are constantly putting on the craziest things. This sunday Jenna was a ballerina (not that unusal) but Jacob kept coming out in these teeny tiny leotards and dresses. He would laugh his little head off with every outfit and we were getting such a kick out of him being so tickled with himself. This is what my life has turned into. A constant three ring circus. I love it!!!

Jenna and Ryan's first day of school.

Ryan started pre-school this year and was so so excited. He picked out his back pack and could hardly wait for the first day. He had to wait a few days because he got sick so the day it finally came he told me I could just leave him at the front door because he was big like Jenna and the boys. He was pretty mad that I made him wait for me. He loved all of his teachers and can't wait to go back next week.



I can hardly believe that Jenna is in Second grade this year. She goes to the Endeavor School of Exploration and her teacher is Mrs. Shuebing. Jenna really likes her new school and is getting used to not having Grandma Toni in the next room.

San Diego Zoo 2008