Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008 turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. We were warm, Justin and I walked around without even having to wear a sweater. (two years ago we practically got frostbite)

He was a pirate, a very nice looking pirate, if I do say so myself..... Ashton and Elyssa both designed their own costumes this year. It was painless and effortless, and they were both very original. Ashton said he wanted to be Super Glow Stick Dude. Elyssa said she wanted to be a Feathery Person (aka Justin's Parrot). Ashton said he only wanted to go to every other house because he didn't think he would eat very much candy. Elyssa tired out fairly quickly and we had a great time. The best part of the whole evening was strolling around the neighborhood with my pirate. He's quite a gentleman that swashbuckler!!!!

The Pirate

The Family portrait

Our tradition is to stop by both sets of granndma and grandpas houses and we take a photo together . This time Grandma Cheva joined in the fun and boy were the kids delighted. Elyssa loved grandmas new hair and her costume said she looked so good !

Me, I just painted a silly little butterfly on my face and called it good. P.S. The kids just handed me a bag of chocolate they didn't want!!!!! Can you believe it? I am really in heaven tonight. I got a pirate and a pile of chocolate all in the same day.
Gotta run the sugar high is wearing off.

Fire Proof The Movie

Has any one seen the movie "Fireproof" yet?

I have been told by several people that I need to go see that movie. The words were "grab all of your married friends and go see it. " or " grab your friends especially if you know anyone who is ready to get serious about their marriage"

I have heard so many people say what a wonderful profound movie it is. This movie is made by by the same people who made "Facing The Giants". It features Kirk Cameron.

I can't wait to go. Justin and I just need to go out on a date which may never happen. It just seems there are a million things to do right now. Half of which will never get done.
If you have seen this movie let me know. If you have not seen this movie you can watch a trailer for it on youtube. It really looks great.
So maybe I will plan a date for Sunday afternoon?

to be continued.......

Lions and Tigers and Beers Oh My!

Homeschooling gives me endless hours with my children. I really love being able to spend time with them. Homeschooling is also a very emotional adventure. There are times of frustration, joy, anger, and times when we just break out laughing. We try to keep it up beat and most of the time we do a great job at it. We seldom have those other times of frustration and anger but they do happen and they are usually very memorable. The most fun we have is when we make mistakes we try to laugh them off and try to correct while we are still laughing. I want my kids to know it is part of life to make mistakes, however it is what we do with those mistakes that count.
That being said, please enjoy the following sentences written by Miss Elyssa Christensen.

1. Have you sen the beers yet?
2. Come ofr her to see the beers.
3. Evry day tha feed the beers.

translation
1. Have you seen the bears yet?
2.Come over here to see the bears.
3. Every day they feed the bears.

I asked her what she knew about beers and she looked at me all confused. She said they tasted nasty and that grandpa has beers. So I ventured a new question, why would you feed beers? another look of confusion then I told her that she wrote 3 sentences about beers. She looked at her paper and we both cracked up laughing. She has a really great sense of humor. I only teased her for a few more minutes. I told her it is ok to write about bears but not beers in 3rd grade.

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party Photos

We had a really wonderful turn out at our 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party!!!!
It was a BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) I think we had 17 adults and 10 kids....WOW!
It was a tight squeeze and a little chaotic and tons of fun. My kids said it was one of the best days of the year so far, I guess they are keeping track. We had pumpkins galore and sadly I did not get a chance to carve mine.... Yet. People were carving into their own giant orange pumpkins in the livingroom, kitchen, and out side on the deck. We had Embalming Juice (apple juice with sprite complete with floating eyeballs and bones) hot dogs and chili dogs, chips, spider cake, and tons and tons of candy.... Ashton said he felt a little tingly at midnight, he was either getting ready to turn into a pumpkin or he had to much candy! I don't know if I will ever get all of the embalming juice off of my kitchen floor or the stuck on pumpkin slime. Luckily my livingroom faired remarkably well.
Here are the photos, there are a lot of them but I hope you all enjoy. Maybe you will spot someone you know.
This first photo is of miss Erin in her new black wig!!!

Sick Jack

I have to share this with all of you.....

I personally want to take heed of the message in this post.

There are severe consequences for some of our actions.

To much debauchery may lead to the following.....

A shout out to my little brother Caleb for providing me with a moment of hilarity!!!!

You crack me up brother!!!!

Exhausted but well worth it

I am exhausted....

Last night I had a few of my girl friends over for dinner. We had a really great time. What is really amazing to me is that time really does fly when we are having fun. I was shocked to think that we sat at my kitchen table last night for 6 1/2 hours! Where did the time go? It definitely did not feel like over 6 hours had passed although we were all very tired by the time we called it a night. We ate, we talked, we laughed, but mostly we really enjoyed each others company.

I used to shun a girl's night out in order to hang out with my husband and my kids which I did every day of my life. One day a friend drug me out, I went very reluctantly. I did not want to leave my family. I guess, I somehow felt like I was betraying them or putting them on the back burner for a night. But you know what, I felt like a better mother and wife when I returned. I felt like I had a renewed energy to keep going about my life and routine. I had so much fun on that girl's night out that I decided it had to become part of my life on a regular basis. I realized that I needed my time to just let loose and not have to play mommy or wife. I needed to have fun and enjoy moments with my friends. The most incredible thing I learned was that it was not all about having fun and going out with the girls. It was about building a network of true friends, sisters, and confidants. Women who were going through the same things I was or had already gone through these things, some are older, some are younger, some are married, and some are single but we all had insight and encouragement for each other.

Girl friend if you are reading this and you devote yourself 100% to your family, Good for you, but it is time that you take a break and go out to dinner with the girls! Find a group of friends to share your life with. I encourage you to build relationships outside of your home, find some one you trust and enjoy the company..... If you need a night out call me and let me know. I will drag you out reluctantly or not, my gift to you!

To all my sister friends, THANKS for a great evening, I Love you and I can't wait for the next GNO!!!

The Trouble With NOUNS.....

Yesterday was a typical school day in our house...... However we are having trouble with nouns.

Here is a peek into a conversation Elyssa and I had yesterday.

ME: " Elyssa please read the first sentence and then tell me what the nouns are."

Elyssa: "Ok, Do I have to do all of the sentences?"

Me: " Elyssa, Yes, now no more complaining."

Elyssa: "Fine. One day a fox was walking along in the forest when he spotted a bunch of grapes hanging on a vine." (actual sentence) " now what do you want me to do?"

Me: " tell me what the nouns are."

Elyssa: "Fox" "Forest" "grapes" "Vine"

Me: "Great now tell me if they are singular or plural. What is Fox a person, place, or thing?"

Elyssa: " Mom, fox is a single fox." " it is a person!"

I proceeded to explain to her that a fox was not a person, She just said that to her a fox was a person.... This is the animal lover in her, she is one with the animals hence animals are persons too......

Rumpus Room green, yellow and brown.....

A few weeks ago, I told Justin I was going to paint the living room and kitchen.

In return he looked at me and asked "what color?"

I said "I have no clue, but I know it has to have color."

He was very concerned and asked if he had a say in the matter? I told him as long as he did not pick white we could compromise. He told me he was sure I was going to make it look like a "Rumpus Room".

So when he left hunting I pulled out the paint that I had purchased the day before.

Rumpus room green (BASIL), Rumpus room brown (AMERICAN BRONZE) and Rumpus room yellow (OVATION). He has not seen them yet!!! I had my good friend Erin help me pick out the rumpus room colors and I think we did a great job. I have been painting for the last 2 days and I am finally finished, with the exception of a few touch ups here and there. Take a look at the progress.

I have included a larger image of this photo at the end my mom bought the plates for me a couple of weeks ago.

I am going for a Farmer's Market theme and I wanted to pick colors that were evocative of natural foods, fresh herbs, Artisan breads, chocolate, coffee, Honey.......

I took some darker walnut color paint to this red door it just looked like fruit punch after I painted the rest of the kitchen. It now has a dark tone and looks older, more used. I love this window I call it the "funky little window" I am going to find an ornate old frame to put around it. I realize that these colors may look a little shocking. But in person they look alot better.
I will get around to cleaning as soon as I am rested from my adventure in painting.


These are the really cool plates my mom got for me. I saw them and just fell in love.

I am also framing several Farmer's Market posters and flyers from around the nation to use as decor. I really hope Justin likes it and doesn't think it looks like a rumpus room (what ever that is).

UPDATE: I also painted my front door Check it out.......

What makes my kids, great kids?

I decided that I wanted to post an email that I sent to our teacher.

We home school, and we are on a really great curriculum. It is called K12. K12 is a private curriculum that is being used by many public schools around the world in an online setting. They provide 100% of our materials at no cost to us. We are currently enrolled in the Alpine School District in their Online Academy. Because of our enrollment we have a teacher assigned to us. She is strictly there to keep us informed of any field trips, testing dates, etc... and she keeps track of our progress and attendance. However she is also there to help me if I need it. If I find that one of the kids are struggling she can give me ideas and help. I really love this curriculum, and I have the accountability that I need.

Any way our teacher sent out a weekly contact email and in it she gave us an assignment. I had to answer 3 questions about the kids so she could get to know us better.

Here is my email response:

So here are the questions you asked with the answers...I am combining #1 and #3

1.What are your kids favorite activities outside of school? 3. What makes them great kids?

Ashton is a techie and he loves anything electronic, ie... video games, ipods, computers, he likes to make movies of our home videos. He is currently checking into some software that will allow him to make movies the way he wants to. He regularly checks out the nintendo power magazine from the library and he keeps us informed of all the latest gadgets etc... It is so funny when an adult starts talking to us about the newest thing or technology for the Wii system and he knows exactly what they are talking about, he ends up being the one in the conversation not us. lol He loves all things games, whether they are video games or board games, or imaginary games. He is a regular participant in the spy games with the other kids he hangs out with at church. They just pretend to be spies but they really get into it. His favorite tv shows are The Office and Chuck. Ashton has a great sense of humor. He is extremely lovable and so self motivated. He has a collection of house plants in his room he named them Vern, Zeke, Willow, Snype. I just love my little plant people.

Elyssa is a music lover and an artist she is constantly drawing something and she has a portfolio of art that is bursting at the seams.She is learning to play the guitar, and she is picking it up really fast. Her dad is teaching her and I have to say I am very surprised at the discipline she has. I will find her in the livingroom on a regular basis practicing. All on her own with out any prompting. I have never had to tell her to practice she just does it. She is an animal lover, and she is constantly with some kind of plastic or stuffed animal. She lays them on their side and traces their outline and then she makes fantastical monsters out of them. She loves dinosaurs, she hates dolls and barbies but she loves to dress up and put on her make up. She is the toughest girly girl I know. And all the boys know it too!She loves to cook with me. She loves to snuggle her daddy and she gives the worlds best back massage. Her favorite tv shows are Sponge Bob, Unwrapped and Ace of Cakes (on food network), She also likes Animal Cops HOUSTON. Elyssa is our comedian she is constantly making us laugh, her sense of humor is very well developed. such a lovey dovey she is. She is a little nurturer, if any one is in need she always is the first to help out. Elyssa has a feew plants of her own as well. Palmyra, pearl, crimson, Marvy. she has 2 frogs she has taken care of for over a year (Franklin and Dolly), a fish (Sobe), and a dog that clearly is hers, by the dogs choice (skye).

2. What do they struggle with the most?

Ashton seems to have a hard time slowing down but it is not really detrimental. He just gets his work done as fast as he can so he can be done for the day. If I had to say he had a struggle it would be with his handwriting, and maybe the fact that he really dislikes writing papers etc. But he does it with out complaint.

Elyssa seems to struggle with her reading. She can read and she does quite well when she has a good attitude about it. I always tell her "it is in the attitude." She has a hard time staying motivated. I am constantly telling her to focus and stay busy. Distractions abound in our household. The dog walks by and suddenly she must be let out or she really needs a treat.... there is a noise out side that just must be checked out.... She has a teeny tiny hunger pang that must be attended to. We live in a relatively quiet home with a lot of calm. It is just that she lets her mind wander.