Like a Band of Gypsies...

Day 1 - Denton, TX to Amarillo, TX. Once we finished saying good bye - we hit the road.

I think this chicken is at a Stuckey's in Decatur, Tx?



Day 2 -Amarillo, TX to Farmington, NM. There isn't much grass in New Mexico.


I might not have noticed too much,
except I have this dog who likes to do her business on the grass.


It is beautiful in the distance, I just don't want to live there.


One of the kids caught this lady picking her nose, while her son watches us pass
(look real close in the back seat).


Every time we pulled out the camera, ClaireBelles was already "all done".



Everyone cheered up when we made it to the pool...




Great idea, Daddy :)



Day 3 - Farmville, FB... I mean, Farmington, NM to Provo, UT

Who's ready for another day of driving?
We had to stop for a few essentials: mom's medicine, lunchmeat and more DS games.


We went to Arches National Park , but you'll have to go check out those pictures over here (We took so many pictures, I'll put up another post in a few days)...



Day 4 - Provo, UT to Boise, ID. I don't even remember driving this day.... I'm sure there were hills, trees, maybe grass, sunshine, clouds, cars, gas stations and miles and miles of road.


So I'll give you a few more pictures the kids took...



self portrait by Emily


air guitar by Becca


dirty mirror by Katy


faces by Jacob









I do remember that the pool was ICE COLD!!!
Amanda, Claire and I got as far as the first step.
Katy did the big dive, without even testing the water first...bbbrrrr.
Jacob wanted to stay longer,
but he was a bit sick (pneumonia as a matter of fact).


Nana took them next door to Denny's for dessert :)

Layla did great. We were able to find grass for her in Idaho. She slept in Nana's room, with Katy, Jacob and Amanda. We had Claire (in the pack n play) and Emily and Becca in our room.


Day 5 - Fairview, OR

We stopped at a gas station inside a Native American Reservation
and found a little critter next to the pump.
It was like a souvenir but different.



We finally made it to the Columbia River George...


There were so many windmills. A few were really close to the highway.
It's surprising how BIG they are.


As we got ready to fill up for the last time, we thought they must have changed the laws, since we had pumped our own on the other side of Pendleton. So Darren tried to pump his own gas... well, it's self-serve on the reservations, where we found the little critter... but it's not allowed in the rest of the state! Earl looked at us like we had 2 heads.
Trying to pump our own gas - stupid tourists.



We passed beautiful waterfalls for the last 30 minutes before we got to Darren's folks house. But some of us needed to go potty so bad, the last thing we wanted was to stop and look at waterfalls. So here's the best we got.
Multnomah Falls out the back of a dirty window.



For those of you who remember the U-Haul fiasco of '01, we did not attempt that trick again. However, on our last day, I noticed some other poor soul giving it a try. Just had to get a picture....
to remind me how far we've come.



This time, Cool Whip and Blueberry ( our walkie talkie call signs... ) did a great job.


10-4 good buddy. Over.

Getting out of the house

Between end of school parties, last minute doctor appointments, oil changes and goodbyes...


we packed the truck with all our most precious possessions and sent it on it's way last Tuesday. That meant we were without washing machine, high chair, beds and tv for about a week (which felt more like a month!).

"if not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Jennifer would be lost."



Thank you to all my helpers who cleaned my laundry room, packed my kitchen, scrubbed my floors, lent us air mattresses, took stuff away, watched my kids, washed my laundry, brought us food (on their birthday), prayed for us , prophesied over us, or sang us out of Denton.

So with one last group hug, we headed out on a new adventure...


and we are so thankful for all of you who rode out this last one with us.

13th Anniversary

Yesterday was our anniversary.
Iron Man 2 and Sweet Basil.

(And I really, really, really enjoyed the movie. I laughed out loud more than once. Even though the theater smelled like a cat had sprayed the entire thing... how does a cat get into a theater... I thought there were rules about only working dogs... They did come spray something and the guy said he can't smell it, but people complain about it often. My theory is if he can't smell it, it's probably him.... or he's lying! But I digress....)

Let's reminisce about that day 13 years ago. I had just graduated from TWU, Darren was flying in from Boston. A lovely outside wedding in Texas. At the end of May. SUNNY. HOT. MEMORABLE.

The sprinklers had made our first choice a nice muddy bog. The second choice put my LOVELY bridesmaids (one pregnant, one ready to kill me) in the sun while the groomsmen took it like a man, in the shade. So many of you remember it well, I'm sure.

The stolen car and the handcuffs, the missing petticoat in front of a glass window, the broken a/c at the reception ... ahhhh , how the memories go on and on.

Of course there were the parts that went right as well: the bride and groom both showed up on time, the friends and family were all present (mostly), I even have a prophetic picture of Darren and I on the little stage at Joshua House with 5 little girls around us (Hannah and Haley Pierce, Leigh Ann Couch , Lydia Taylor and Noelle - I think).

And then we left. I left them all behind and headed off to Portland with the man of my dreams.

Not much different than this year. I mean, no police or missing petticoats yet, but friends and family present to send Darren, Jenn and 5 little girls (and a boy) off to Portland.

I'm excited to go on a new adventure with the man of my reality (he's much better than the one I dreamed of as a girl . I actually love him more now - better with age and all that.)

I'll let you know how the next 13 go.

P.S. Let me say thank you again to all of those who made that wedding possible :) I think I'm going to have Katy interview the family and take notes about what was really the most important part of their weddings and what part ended up not mattering at all.... we will have a "few" weddings in our future.

Katy in Wonderland

My firstborn turned 12 this week.


She is such a wonderful blessing to our family.

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To mark this momentous occasion,
I took a bunch of 6th grade girls to see Alice in Wonderland.


Here they were watching all the 3-D previews...
I'd never take a flash picture during the movies!


Wait a second, how did this boy sneak in?


We had a little pizza and ice cream cake.
I think Claire really enjoyed hers.


Thankfully all the girls brought their cameras,
I mean cell phones so we could get pictures up on Facebook, ASAP!



Then on Wednesday night we went to Phantom of the Opera with some kids from her drama class...


Ivy and Katy


Did I mention she got an ipod nano...
she was so surprised and excited!



Til next year - Happy Birthday Katybug!

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In other news :
This picture is the wallpaper on the laptop.
Whenever ClaireBelles walks by and sees it...
she stops and makes the face again.

Purim 2010

his year, Zion Kidz celebrated the story of Esther with a Purim Art Show.

Emily's work is on the left, Jacob's in the middle and Becca on the right.

Jacob with his Mordecai (YEAH!!!) sash, and kings crown and goblet.

Jacob's drawing of Haman. Boo!

The girls made annointing oils, like Esther would have used.

Jacob's royal decree to let the Jews fight back and his signet ring.

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On the other side of the parking lot, Ignited was getting ready for

Star Wars 4e : The Esther Saga

Which you can watch at:

www.gozignited.com/ignitedarchive.html

you will have to sign in.

Our very own thespian, Katybug, put in a wonderful performance as C-3PO.

Jacob made a cameo appearance in the alien band - playing guitar.

Daniel and alien Jacob

We all love John Dickson!

And Lee and Ben in the background,

trying to hurry up and put the sanctuary back togther.

First Birthday of the Season

It started out as any other birthday...

But a brief run-in with Daddy's car door - and Emily was off to a sad start.


At least she had the party to look forward to.

The big brother was setting a good example for us.


We did load everyone into the van and head to the park for 30 mintues...
"Mom, they've never ridden in our van before."

Then we returned home for the pinata.
I've never done a pinata at a party before and now I know why.


Maybe it was because I let them pick this one,
the authentic donkey pinata that requires a stick....

maybe it was because after I bought it and the stick,
I had to buy the candy to fill it up....

maybe it was trying to find somewhere to hang it ...

maybe it was because children don't listen so well
when unknown candy riches are close at hand...

maybe it was the mad rush for a few pieces of candy
and all the arguing that ensued...

maybe it was because I got tired of yelling,
"move back or you are going to get hit"...

or maybe it was because the pinatas neck broke on the second hitter
and the body fell to the ground releasing absolutely no candy.

Really - none! At least everyone got a turn to hit a 4 legged, headless pastel creature before Mom had to pick it up and pull the aft end off so the candy would come out...

Note to self: No more pinatas.


But I think everyone had a great time anyway!


Here's the leftover cake and cupcakes.
Emily and Becca made them the night before.
We had birthday dinner and heart shaped cake with Daddy and Katy.

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Now we have two new birthday traditions :

-Make your own cake the night before.
- New outfit for your birthday

to add to the others:
- Streamers in the morning
(which they are now required to help with the night before)
- Birthday party on your birthday
- Make your own cake/ cupcakes
- Wear a birthday button or pin on your shirt


If you want to see some pics and video of little Emily and little Becca
look back at my posts from January 2009 .

Fan Etiquette

Imagine you are at the gym doing aerobics or Jazzercise.

Person A positions herself right in front of the fan, because she likes the fan blowing on her while she works out and gets all sweaty.

Person B walks in late, wearing sweatpants and sweatshirt. Proceeds to positions herself in front of Person A.

Person B quickly moves the fan around so it is pointing directly at her.... and then turns the fan off!

What?

This is the warm up song and I'm not sweating yet, but I... I mean, Person A wanted the fan.

I give Person B the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she's just wants if off for the first song.

Wrong.

Person B takes off the sweatpants during the next song. Then the sweatshirt on the next... but never did she make any motion or inkling about turning the fan back on.

So I did. I turned on the fan that I am now only receiving 20% of. Down from my previous 62%.

Then she leaves early. We had 3...maybe 4 songs to go.

Did I miss something?

Did she ever mean to turn it on... and maybe she forgot?

Was I in her spot?

Anyone? Anyone?

I'm sure there is proper fan etiquette... I just don't think Person B knows what it is!