Happy Birthday Jacob!

WOW!! We officially have a teenager. Can you believe Jacob is now 13? As with everything else, when Ivan and I married we discussed different family traditions we had both grown up with. I really liked one his family did and so we also do it. The birthday child (in this case Jacob) is woken up at the crack of dawn with everyone singing "Happy Birthday" in English and Spanish. Last night Jacob slept on the couch in the basement since it was Saturday. Birthdays are one of the only days where it is not difficult to wake up the other kids. They seem eager to share in the excitement of the birthday child. So Jacob opened his "family" presents and than we all went and had birthday breakfast (Ivan cooked bacon and french toast). Tonight some friends came over for Jacob's favorite dinner (BBQ Chicken Pizza) and Strawberry Shortcake. Jacob is waiting until next week when the new Star Trek comes out to celebrate his birthday with his friends. All in all it was a great day for Jacob and another milestone for Ivan and myself. Just think, in 3 years he will be driving...aghh!!

So I didn't get a picture of the haircuts I gave the boys yesterday. But you get the idea with Jacob's, not so bad right?

Sammi's SHOCK!

This week entailed weeds and cookies. The weather is getting warmer, so every spare minute is spent picking weeds. Ivan is consumed with trying to make the grass grow and the weeds die.

On Wednesday Joseph had his space derby with the cup scouts. He didn't when but "silver bullet" looked cool! My friend Lara and I decorated 72 rocket sugar cookies for the event. Joseph also earned his Wolf that night, we are so proud of him.

We have a Standard Poodle named Sammi and a toy poodle named Emmi. Despite Sammi only being one year old, she is huge. Well she escapes out front every chance she gets and I get to play a fun game of chase. Somehow she always wins. Our neighbors Dave and Amber took pity on us after seeing me chase that dog what seemed like 20 times on Wednesday. By Thursday Sammi was sporting a fancy new "SHOCK" collar (borrowed from the neighbors). I was hesitant to use it, but it has changed everything. Only twice has she been shocked by me and she is like a new dog. Sammi actually comes in the front yard and plays without a leash on and comes when we call her. I do not think she will even need the collar by the end of the week. If only our kids could learn so quick!!!

We have been trying to find ways to cut back on expenses, so Ivan taught me how to cut the boys hair. Every one seemed a little skeptical except for my very trusting five year old, Jonathan. Together we actually did a pretty good job. Ivan was a little nervous when I told him I would be cutting his all by myself. It looks pretty good despite a few places (good thing his hair grows fast). I will post pictures of the new cuts tomorrow.

Abby's Haircut

Abigail was thrilled to model her new "self inflicted" haircut. Hopefully the attention doesn't encourage another. It definately will not be as easy to fix.
I have decided I actually really like the new cut!

Living Each Day To The Fullest

I finally caved and decided it is time to join all of you bloggers. I am excited to use my blog as a way of capturing some of the unbelievable and beleivable things that happen daily in our home. Many of you will be able to relate and many of you will be grateful for the calm lives you live. Enjoy the journey we call "Living Each Day To The Fullest".

Let me paint a picture for you. Friday was the last day of spring brake and so I decided to clean the house so we could go play in the afternoon. All of the kids were busy doing little things throughout the house while I finished cleaning in the kitchen. Jacob walked in and said, "Mom, I think Abigail is cutting her hair in the bathroom". Sure enough my sweet, independant 3 1/2 year old decided she wanted a "bob" style haircut. She had managed to cut the hair on both sides of her head to about the bottom of her ear before she was caught. Suprisingly enough it was fairly even. Unfortunalely the "mullet" haircut went out of style years ago. I bit my tounge and asked her why she cut her hair. She replied with her little giggle, "I want to look like Jessie!" At least she didn't cut it to short. We finally ended up with a very cute little"bob" haircut (after two professional haircuts).

Soon after this event I Had to take Ivan to the Dr. for a knee he hurt the previous week in a soccer game. We dropped him off at the Dr.'s office and headed to Alpine to feed our horse. I did not realize Jordan had the door open as I was driving slowly thru the gate to the corral. Once I realized it I slammed on the brakes a little to hard. He bit right thru his tounge and blood was going everywhere. Jessica fed the horses quickly and we headed to the Dr. where Ivan was already (how convenient for Jordan). Luckily for Jordan you can't get stitches in the tounge. The popsicles they gave him seemed to do the trick. Ivan however was not so lucky. He gets to see an orthopedic surgeon next week to see if his knee requires surgery to get heal. The Dr. says it might be time for him to retire soccer, but I have a feeling he would like a second opinion.

Needless to say the afternoon we planned to spend playing was delayed until Saturday. Despite everything, it ended up being a very memorable day.