alive and kicking

we are still alive and have been so busy. Working overnights on the weekends has killed my free time because my free days are filled with appts., etc. We are in the process of getting ready to move to Evanston as soon as Duane is realsed to go back to work. Life is busy with five kids and a husband at home. Life is good, just busy...swine flu is playing around our house, so more fun.

Happy Birthday Buggy!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

las Vegas

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Had a great time, so many pictures, but here is a few

end of the school year..

As the end of the school year draws to end I have mixed feelings..Joy that we get to sleep in and no fights to get up and sad- for my quiet time to myself but most of all PRIDE. Over the course of the last two weeks of school we go to many award ceremonies and performances. Megan lettered in Colored Guard, made captain for next year and is the Historian for FCCLA and passed all her classes this quarter.. Ak recieved high honors, Presidential award, Student council, spanish and science, National Junior honor society. Bryan got top 10% national Iowa testing in reading, scored 91 on science testing(End of level) and earned honors..tomorrow is Casey and Carson's turn there will be a couples of award. I am proud of all of them, they are doing great in all they do. That is the best part of being a parent is seeing your child's accomplishment knowing that they did it..I love them so much..Oh and Duane has an appointment with a potential new client ( he is very excited)

Ak and her braces

So here are the before and after shots, yes, she has purple and green bands. I can't wait for the final effect.

I'm still here..

It seems like life has gone by so fast. I have been using my Facebook website, it seems quicker and easier. I plan on focusing more on my blogspot. Most people that I know are on Facebook and it is easier to keep in touch with them through that. I feel like life has been flying by, between work and sleeping and all the things the kids need to do. Summer is coming fast, I haven't decided wether I am excited or not. We start doing phonebooks the end of June until the end of July-Summer goes way to fast then in Aug. we slow down and have fun.

Happy 29th Birthday LeGrand

Make a Smilebox greeting

vacation

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy, busy, fun

Well, here we are on vacation, I will update with pictures when we get back. But so far we have been to Moab, to Arches National Park, To THE 4 CORNERS, Mesa Verda, To Pagosa Springs, to Raton to visit dear friends, to Philmont, now there is a whole story on that visit, Red river, and next to Taos, to the Rio Grande Gorge bridge, wow, and finally back at home base in Pagosa Springs, there is still more to come, but tomorrow is low keyed homework, swimming and then a movie. I promise a detailed visit list later. Good-night

A step into the new age..

Yes, my two teenage daughters are very impressed with me, I have taken a major step in the present. Not only did I get a new phone, but I actually am learning to text. They were very excited over this step. Yes, it is very important to be hip with teenage daughters.

new twist

so after much thought I decided that life with five kids can be very entertaining and it can have a lot of challenges. I've decided I am going to focus on the many lessons that I am learning and the many things I have been taught by my kids and yes, even my husband. I hear a lot of "How do you do it with 5 kids?" I believe 5 is no different then 2 or three. I will try and focus on my insights in my life because I believe that I have a lot with raising 5 kids. Stay tuned, more excitement on our vacation as we get going...

3 days and counting

Vacation is coming--Yeah

sorry

It seems that life has been so busy. Overnights puts a kink in my daily life. We just purchased a lap top from my father-in-law. We had a few upgrades added and I really like it. With 5 kids time to use the computer is rare. D. and I still have real estate to do.D. and I are going to Cameo Beauty school for heavenly massages this week as our valentine gifts. It is great place to go for great massages at a great price. I love to be pampered. It seems that our life is never ending. We have vacation in 2 weeks. I am count down as are the kids. I hurt my shoulder at work so now life is full of physical therapy. Meg got her drivers license last week. Now there is one more thing in her life that we can't control outside factors that can cause an accident. We had a great surprise when my sis and family surprised us with a short visit. Well, hopefully I will get more consistent with my blog again. But for now life is calling.....

order of the arrow dancers

This brought back lots of memories of Philmont. It was a great surprise to have them come. They came just for Bryan honoring him in receiving the Arrow of Light badge. It seemed the whole evening was focused on him. He went to the doctore early that day for his well check. He is 5' 6" and 165 lbs. Natalie(the nurse) wrote on his chart the percentage of his height and weight is 100+++, He has his own growth chart going. And he still has plenty of growth in him.

Proud parents

Bryan Received the Arrow of Light Award and Webelos Badge. He also received other awards including the Religous Knot. This is his last week in Cub Scouts. He begins the Boy Scouts next week.

At last carpet is on the way..

Tuesday we will get the carpet for the basement, but in the mean time I have to empty the basement and paint it. We got the paint, now the hard work. I have been busy just catching my breath from the holidays. I have so much to do, but I feel so drained. The thought of the basement fills me with not much excitement. I know it will be great when it is done, but I hate getting there. The kids are out until tuesday. I had a friend from Philmont contact me after 15 years. It was great to hear from him and he is living in Utah. I always love it when you get in contact with people you haven't heard from in a long time. We are getting very excited about our upcoming vacation.

happy New Year

Well, it seems at times that we become attatched to certain things in our lives, for example your wedding ring. A couple of weeks ago I lost my diamond while at work, yes, I found it but it the prongs were broken. I took it off and for my Christmas present D. took it to the jeweler, okay not just any jeweler the one that got robbed on Christmas day. Only the items in the front were stolen. So yesterday he picked it up and put it on my hand again, but the crown were the daimond goes is higher then the original. I was a lot bummed. For 15 years you look at that ring on your finger and you have it memorized and then it is different. I got it back on, because your fingers grow after 4 kids, but it is on and I am very happy. So I made a few New Year resolutions, first is to finish Real estate school, we have until Feb. next I plan on getting more financial stable and organized, and also I want to pursue my Memory Quilt business. We are in the process of cleaning out the basement to get the carpet in in a couple of weeks. I have plans for organizing and making it more of a central place to hang out. My goals are simple, but I also want to have fun with my family. We have our big vacation in March to Colorado and New Mexico. We are making a pit stop at Arches NAtional Park. I hope everyone has a happy New Year.