picnic

we had a picnic in the living room for the last two days because something was on the table


maybe i need a hobby room!

a pretty good big sister

Christmas day i was talking to my baby sister. she asked me what my favorite Christmas memory was. i was a little taken back, because though my life is amazing now it wasn't always this great.
as a child holidays were especially difficult. in fact i have blocked out a lot of my childhood memories not by choice but out of necessity.
so i asked my baby sister to share her favorite Christmas first while i collected my thoughts. she said her favorite was the year that we couldn't get up in the morning because Santa hadn't came. but then we heard something in the front yard it was Santa himself. He brought me a shelf a really pretty one, my sister got an easel, and my brothers brother got a crate full of wood blocks. I was eight the year that Santa came to my house. it was pretty cool and the pictures all show a healthy happy group of kids.
as i listened to her story i thought she was talking about the Christmas when i was 10 or 11 when Santa didn't come at all. the year i laid wide awake all night long listening to yelling and fighting and crying. i don't know how my sister and two brothers slept though that but they did. When they did wake up to open presents we were told to stay in our bed (all four of us shared a bed at the time) we talked and played, i worried and they wondered when Santa would come. we opened presents about noon when the blood and tears had dried.
good or bad this is my memory of Christmas as a child, how thrilled i was that my baby sister doesn't even remember that happening. i guess i am a pretty good big sister

christmas letter 2009

i did it!!!! i'm so proud of myself which doesn't happen often because i'm so humble. hehehe anyway i wasn't able to send it to everyone so here it is so ya'll could see what we've been up to this year!
We are starting a new family tradition this year, Christmas Cards!! Denice & the Presidents made them two days this fall when school was out. Here are a few things that have happened in our little family this past year.

*Neil & Denice both received new callings twice this year at church Neil started out teaching the adults and Denice was teaching the Youth when we moved into our new house we swapped job descriptions

*Celebrated Presidents Day with cake and ice cream

*Bought a house, talk about stress and the relief of stress all at the same time. We love having our own home! It’s beautiful with a yellow kitchen, very green carpet, a basement, a fireplace, a fun yard full of pretty trees

*Denice, Kennedy and Lincoln painted kid room and refinished their hardwood floor (Neil helped too)

*Neil received a “Top 5 performance award” in his department at Dell

*We attended Denice’s 10 year class reunion

*Kennedy and Lincoln took swimming lessons for the first time this summer, Lincoln showed us that he has no fear; Kennedy was pretty apprehensive about the diving board for the first week but was a pro by the end of lessons

* We harvested MILLIONS of cherries from our tree in the front yard

*Kennedy started Kindergarten and Lincoln started preschool. They both LOVE school and are both reading already.

* “Coolidge” the kitty joined our family

* Neil’s place of Employment made an announcement this fall that they would be closing so we’re now in the job market which is an adventure all by itself

* Hunted for a Christmas tree in the middle of a snow storm!

* We laughed a lot this year as Kennedy and Lincoln are truly developing their personalities and finding their funny bones.

Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

where's mine

the other day we were coming home from a trip to grandma & grandpas as we went though each county little brother asked where we were when we entered Lincoln County big sister asked "What about Kennedy County?"

my own demon

i don't know a better way to describe it. i don't know why or when it's going to rear it's ugly head but it's been around lately even though i'd like to push it out in the snow. sad , tired, worthlessness, lonely, confused, frustrated, easily irritated, overwhelmed, undervalued, friendless, overworked, lazy, ugly, whiny, prideful, useless, sorry, mad.... it's a ugly i know i know!!!! and who do i talk to about this. i think i freak out my friends when i start to say these things and i'm sure that the love of my life has enough to worry about right now.
and even as i'm typing this i'm talking myself out of posting it.
i'm fine i really am! just give me a day or two and i'll be back to my happy self at least for a while.

santa letters

big questions

Yesterday Big Sister said,

Dad when are you going to get a job??

though it's not fun to be without a job it was pretty funny to hear her ask this question

needs to blog

Boa Constrictor
by Shel Silverstein (one of my many heros)

Oh, I'm being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it--one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It's nibblin' my toe.
Oh, gee,
It's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It's up to my middle.
Oh, heck,
It's up to my neck.
Oh, dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff . . .


Anyone else ever feel like this????

medicine cabinet

addictions

because i've had some free time

oh wait i haven't had time and yet i still have this problem

I just can't get enough


10-indexing
9-talking on the phone
8-sleeping
7-eating
6-a good book
5- facebook
4- rubix cube
3-bejeweled
2-baking
1-photo editing

mr. mom

I came home today after a super hard day at work to a clean house and then the love of my life made dinner. when i commented on how great it was he said he was just trying to get use to being unemployed (because in two week the place where he works is closing).
i said i think i could get use to this.
he said, "well we'll need to buy more hot dogs and buns if you want me to make dinner every night"
and i asked how many job applications he filled out today.

bubble bath

this morning i told little brother he had to take a bath and wash his hair,
because he was starting to smell like a dog.
he said "No, no i don't"
the love of my life said "It could be a bubble bath"
to which little brother replied "Ooooooo, or a bubble shower"

not too much?

so i think my funniness has been on vacation. i mean i'm still laughing at myself everyday but i just don't feel like my normal freak'n hilarious self. now don't feel bad or even worried. i'm sure it's just a phase.

so i'm trying to think of what could be causing my lack of humor and i've pretty much narrowed it down to this small list...



never mind i don't like that list i think i'll write a list of the things that might help ease my mind and help me relax

1. a trip to the spa (i will probably settle for a self-pedicure by satin hands, thank you marykaye)
   
2. a visit to the hot springs (a bubble bath would work i guess)
   
3. a nanny , really just to fold laundry and pick up toys, i can handle the playing, story time, giggles, tickles, and games
4. a chef, nothing fancy just someone to cook for me every night so i have more time to play with the presidents
   
5. a maid, this would be so the nanny wouldn't have to do dishes
6. a little elf to visit my classroom every night and put things away that i didn't quite get to, which is pretty much everything.
   
7. a little elf whose good at organizing to visit my classroom regularly, so that when i need something in my classroom it's in a nice, neat, easy to find spot.
   
8. a personal jet, this is not personal at all, completely selfless, i just want it so that when anyone is having a bad day i can hop in my jet fly to where they are give a hug, have some ice cream, chat for a few hours and still be home at a decent hour. -i told you it was selfless.
   
9. a personal trainer (not really then i'd actually have to be accountable)
10. a big bowl of ice cream which i would eat after my personal trainer walked out the door (hehe- accountable)

i'm not asking too much to bring a little more joy to the my readers

what do you think?

crazy kids vx. crazy cat

tuesday night we had the sister missionaries over for dinner. we had put the cat in the basement while we ate because he thinks he's a dog. he'll beg for food at the table but unlike a dog. he'll do that while he's on the table. anyhow we didn't want to deal with this, so to the basement. in the middle of dinner one of the presidents let the cat out, by accident i'm sure.
so that cat comes to the table and big sister grabs him and holds him in her very loving way that makes me glad i'm not a cat. she says she's just loving it, i tell her she's going to love him to death. she reminds me of Elmyra from the tiny toons.
so then she says "when i bite the cat he bites me back. when i hit the cat he bits me too."
of course little brother agrees that that is a true statement.

the whole time i 'm thinking poor poor kitty

poor little monkey

One little monkey jumping on the bed, he fell off and bumped his head

day one

day three

day seven


day ten

monday nights

some people watch football

i watch two handsome guys give a lesson about the ten commandments

for fun

just in case you ever wonder what i might be doing that keeps me from up dating my blog ...
this is the last 4 or 5 weeks


he really is an awesome goalie

grandma's visit

my mom and baby brother came to visit here are a few fun picsi
guess he's not a baby anymore!

county fair

yes these pictures are from august but fun never the less

my handsome men playing on the rocks behind the Jacob's home

a train ride

I love this face

Class of '99

10 year reunion picture



a super way to end a great weekend home

schools out due to sickness

Monday afternoon our schools crisis team met to discuss wither or not to close the school for due to the sickness that is flying throughout the school. the decision was yes for 3 days, so students do now have school till Monday which mean kindergarten report cards, already one of my least favorite times of the year have been cut down to 2 days for testing one night for filling in the millions of little squares and then the next two nights are parent teacher conference! gotta love it

let's just be honest

for weeks now this whole swine flu talk has been flying around town, a nephew had it a few weeks ago then it spread to his whole family, people are stressed, so worried, upset... then friends kids are being diagnosed. they are stressed, worried...

i tried (not very well i'm sure) to be sensitive, to reassure them it's just the flu no matter what it's called-lots of fluids and rest. please don't send them to school with a fever.

i've been sanitizing, washing, and sanitizing some more in my classroom. regardless i've been missing a handful of students all week. parents are shouting to close down school and i'm saying it wouldn't do any good. The flu is the flu it has to run it's course.

all that being said....

friday morning both of my children woke up with a funky, croup-like cough, No fever, i've been taking their temperatures 3 times a day... just to be sure. i've set up alternate plans for the week just in case

honestly it scares me... i believe everything that i've been telling family, friends, and parents but now that this silly germ is hanging outside my door i'm trying my best to not FREAK out

nessisary post

a blessing came and left this day. so as a mother I need to say...
Happy Birthday my little Quincy!
mommy and daddy love you

my little architect

Little brother drew this picture of our home! i just had to share

strange questions

Mom where do you live?
in a house
I live in a tent
Mom do you have a bathroom?
yes
I have a tree
Mom do you eat pizza?
yes
i eat grass

I still don't know how she came up with this but it was funny at the time
p.x. this is a joke she doesn't eat grass

big words from a little mouth

I don't know what i said this morning but i remember that big sister said,
Mom that's fun,
that's really funny
that's really really funny
Mom you are EXTREMELY funny!

lost child

so big sister was great last year after school about asking if she could go somewhere so very rarely did i "lose" her at school while i was working.
little brother however is very slowly learning that I need to know where he is. so again today i was telling him why he needs to tell me where he's going, threatening to make him stay in my room if he doesn't tell me where he's going etc etc...
to which he told me
"mom you should just get me a few packets of that sticky paper (post-it notes) and i'll leave you a trail to follow so you can find me"

Student of the day

For the first few weeks of kindergarten, we spotlight a student each day. we ask them questions today the student of the day was asked what he was afraid of, at first he said nothing then he thought for a minute
then said "actually I'm afraid of outer space, because there are black holes in outer space and if you get sucked into one of those you can't get out. "

endless cycle

what to do! the presidents are grouchy all day, so early bed time right that should do the trick but NO it doesn't then big sister gets up earlier in the morning and is grouchy all day so what let them stay up so that they sleep in. how do you force a 5 year old to sleep in, or to be happy, YOU CAN'T they are five. if anyone knows the secret let me know!

first day of school pictures

exciting times it's fun to have both of the presidents at school. they are loving it already!

daddy daughter date

Dad can we go on a date tomorrow night?
what do you want to do?
spend my money
oh you're buying me dinner?
NO DAD it's not a HOT date is just a regular date
so are you taking me to a movie?
you pay for the movie and i'll buy the popcorn.

read sign and return

The love of my life is reading the student hand book
Elementary philosophy...
Blah blah blah...
Separate the individual’s worth from his or her performance ...
Attendance you can miss 10% of every day and still get credit...
this is soooooooo boring...
are bicycles private property? What about cars?...
all desks are property of the school and will be searched ...
bus riding privileges...
Breakfast is free but you must pay full price no charging...
clothing must match and be clean...
no hats or makeup...
"dad what's a gangster?
"this is going to take all night"
Emergency closure...
wait do we have someone to pick up our kids in case of an emergency?...
the police maybe called in if your children fight at school...
"common since when it comes to the play ground, there is no such thing...
no, no there isn't
walk in the school at all times...
no running waddling, crab walking...
only normal walking...
I’m going to walk like this *waddle waddle waddle*...
don't play by building in case of earthquake...
no gangster signs...
*he's modeling* ...
"what does appropriate mean??...
Can I do this?...
no soccer?...
It’s too much a contact sport...
no bad language including sign language ...
'this is bad sign language...
Snow rules...
Snow man, snow forts, etc, are okay ...
what’s a snow fort without snow balls...
We can throw snow balls at a target...
What if you make a phallic symbol out of snow?...
Does that fall under etc?...
Can we make snow angels dad?...
Do not do drugs just say no...
NO...
yeah...
NO NO NO...
I don’t even know what any of this means...
Leave all toys at home, except for show and tell...
Dangerous toys are prohibited including swords, guns, bows and arrows...
School is not responsible for lost or stolen toys...
Vandalism we are not proud of our school .... oh I mean we ARE proud of our school...
No drawing on the wall,...
What?
Oh I couldn't hear you but I know that...
Vandalism could end up in jail time!...
Go Shoshone pride ...
So write on the wall and see what happens...
Shoshone pride is contagious...
Quiet things are only reading...
Is that all ...
No...
AHHHHHH...
We may refuse to have student information in school directory if you inform the right people must be written with in 10 days of this notice which is expired as of three years and 20 days ago
Now in Spanish...
“dad please say it in ENGLISH, please please please...
This is awful Spanish… oh man this is awful so bad so bad...
I don’t know if I can sign this document it’s too ambiguous

Lincoln county fair

here are a few pictures from the fair this summer... i think the tractors were definitely the highlight

after party

while cousins were in town we went to roaring springs. we had a lot of fun on the slides and in the wave pool. little brother needs to grow another inch and 1/2 before next time it was pretty sad when they didn't let him go down the slide

after our swimming adventure we went to Ice Cream. A child sitting behind us said to their mom "that kid in the flag shirt, is really messy" she was of course talking about little brother. once that happened then Crazy Cousin C decided he should be a little messy-er as well. though it was sticky it was fun. Big sister managed to stay clean through it all

Grandma fairychild

a few weeks ago we were in Boise to celebrate the life of an amazing woman know to many grandchildren, great grand children, and great great grandchildren as Grandma Fairchild. though her passing was difficult for everyone there were many wonderful blessings that come to the Fairchild and Christiansen Families. One of the Greatest blessings was that the family came together, though for a sad reason we were able to see cousins, aunts, uncles and friends that haven't seen in a very long time if ever.



The grandchildren and great grandchildren had an opportunity to sing " I am a Child of God" at the funeral. it was beautiful and Grandpa told me after how much he appreciated it and was certain that Grandma loved it as well
We will greatly miss Grandma and hope that we can continue to please her in all that we do.

split second

this butterfly decided to join our cherry picking adventure. i grabbed my camera to take a picture and but unfortunately the batteries were dead so i didn't get a picture or so i thought till i looked at my pictures again to discover this one very exciting

names have been changed to protect the innocent

"We would like to excuse Sister Orange today, her family is home sick"

side conversation

"what's the matter with her family?"

"Her husband cooked last night"

"Oh"

strange dream

warning this is strange, sad but really strange!
okay we are in our present home but someone else is here with us. a mom figure, though i'm not sure it's my mom or the love of my life's mom but a mom never the less.
we get a big package on the front step with no return address
inside the box we find lost of things : a DVD, a box of Cheese-it's, a telephone not a cell phone a telephone cord and all, a letter, a blanket, and ...
this is the weird sad part
...
...
A BABY yeah a baby probably a few months old in this box
...
well naturally we take him out change his diaper, feed him, love him, play with him find him a crib.

after the initial shock of having a baby in a box on our door step sinks in we start to examine the context of the box
the letter though it doesn't have a signature expresses the desire for this baby to be taken care of he came from a home that was not loving, his parents were neglectful and selfish. the person who wrote the letter sent him to us to protect him and raise him with love.
we were thrilled with this concept at least I was but as a mother my heart went out to the true mother of this baby but we had no way of contacting them or knowing who this baby was
after a few days we found a phone number written on the inside of the telephone that was in the box, something about the number suggested it was from a neighbor of the home where the baby come from. i recognized the necessity to call but my own selfish desire didn't want to give this baby to the family that we had seen portrayed on the DVD that was in the box never the less i made a determination to call
...
i woke up before i called the number

cherries

summer '98 my best friend and I made a trip to Idaho for EFY! along the way we stopped in Utah and stayed at her grandparents house before we left in the morning for the final leg of our trip we went across the street and picked cherries we probably ate more then we picked which is half the fun. we pack our cherries in Cool Whip container and headed out! when we got to Rexburg we put our cherries in the fridge.
When our roommates looked in the fridge they were baffled, " who brought Cool Whip to EFY?"
we just laughed
and
most likely will be the only ones laughing
i guess you had to be there

Room Pictures!!

here they are finally!

big sisters corner


LIBRARY

Little brothers corner!

little brothers primary talk

gross i know

big sister says "Mom sometimes when i'm sleeping spit comes out of the side of my mouth and gets on my pillow"

"sis that's called drool"

"oh"

swimming lessons

we had swimming lessons the last two weeks it has been a blast! here is the final accomplishment

finished

the presidents room is finished well mostly but unfortunately i can't get my computer to get the pics off hopefully tomorrow!

little brother is getting old!!

happy birthday to little brother!!


gotta love that smile


he loved his cake

todays mission

okay so i'm not sure were to start but todays missions is to obtain all the material necessary for the presidents room. I decided in stead of buying comforters i'm going to make them so first task to obtain sheets for their blankets, easy right! then to find paint, rugs, curtains oh and wood stain and varnish!
i can do it i've just got to stay focused!! pictures will be coming hopefully i remember to take a before picture

feels like home!!

it's raining it's pouring!!! I truly love the rain! it's been raining at least once a day for a week and the last three days it's been pretty much all day!! i love the rain it makes me happy! if the rain continues for days however i'm putting in a request that it stops for at least and hour everyday for swimming lessons!

first day of summer

(this is my new house)

yesterday was officially my first day of summer vacation! and what a day. the love of my life said i over did it for the first day now what will i do the rest of vacation but i'm sure i'll find things to fill my days. i'm taking inspiration from "Phineas and Ferb" and making everyday a good day.

so what did i do i'm first day? we woke up early turned on some tunes and DANCED yep DANCED!! if i was in charge of the world i'd DANCE for at least and hour everyday! after that the presidents and i got ready for the day and went to visit grandma bebbi! we visited for a while borrowed the truck come home and loaded it full of branches from the trees in the back yard that i've been religiously tending to. we made 2 trips to the dump then took the truck back. we came home put on our swimming suits and went to the pool. talk about fun. big sister can touch in the three feet now so that relieves a little stress and little brother has no fear so that adds a little stress but it's fun! after a little swim time we came home de-cluttered a few spots in the house, moved some furniture and made dinner. about this time i was getting a little soar. my day had been at least 10 times more active then even a few weeks ago. we ate dinner then went for an evening walk!



what a great day! I just hope to continue to have great days all summer!



i'm so excited to be home!