Aaaggghhhhhh - the Pickle Boy is Back!!!!

So, how do you ruin a nice leather couch? Stab it to death with a pencil of course. Sean is in so much trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strange Bedfellows

I had a great laugh after checking in on my kids for bed last night. My kids all have their comfort item that they have to have to sleep with. Chad has to have his blankie (which seems to always be wrapped over his head), Halle has a stuffed bunny that she cuddles, and Sean, well Sean has something different every night. Usually he has toys or a flashlight (stolen from Chris). I've seen anything from metal cars to bionicles or books in his bed as he sleeps. But last night took the cake. On it's own pillow, and carefully wrapped up in blankets was a blown-up, uglier than heck, skeleton that is as tall as me. He and Chad have been having fun playing with the skeleton and dressing him up and hiding him around the house. But to have that ugly, scary thing in bed with you?!!!! That is just weird.

Tag of 8's

8 TV Shows That I Like

1. Dr. Who (it's that British blood I tell you!)
2. Lost
3. Heroes
4. America's Funniest Home Videos
5. The Office
6. Jon and Kate +8
7. Iron Chef
8. House Hunters


8 Things That Happened Yesterday

1. Slept in (no kids - anniversary present from Jeff and Linda)
2. Took a nap (can you tell sleep in one of my priorities?!)
3. Went to brunch at Luna's (first time going there)
4. Did some sewing - making Halle a dress
5. Went shopping with no kids
6. Sang phantom songs all day(went to the musical the night before)
7. Hung out with my best person in the whole world, Chris
8. Picked up the kids and brought them home again.


8 Favorite Places to Eat

1. Applebees
2. Chilli's
3. KFC
4. Bruchii's
5. Outback
6. Spaghetti Factory
7. Italian Garden
8. Tony Romas


Things I Am Looking Forward To

1. Finishing more sewing projects
2. Getting caught up with all my blogging
3. FHE tomorrow night
4. Getting new counter tops
5. Thanksgiving
6. Christmas
7. My mom coming for a visit
8. Book Group


Things I Wish For

1. No wars
2. No natural disasters
3. A grand piano
4. I wish our house was already payed for
5. No bad hair days
6. To loose 30 pounds (without sacrificing chocolate)
7. I wish I didn't get motion sickness so I could enjoy many more things
8. Good health for everyone

Talking About the 4th of July in October

Now that I have caught up on my June blogging, it is time to get started on July. The reason I am so behind is because our summer was just jam-packed. I thought once school started I would be able to catch my breath and get caught up on many things - but no, life just gets busier.

Every other year we go to Utah for the 4th of July since it is my Grandma's birthday and the Hansen reunion. When we are down there my dad usually gets us tickets to the Stadium of Fire. The show and fireworks are always spectacular, which means my kids are totally spoiled when it comes to celebrating the 4th of July.

This year was not the year to go down to Utah. So, we had to come up with something else exciting to do for the 4th. We decided that going to a baseball game and watching the fireworks afterwards would be totally American, plus we have never taken our kids to a game before (how did that happen?). Chris' brother, Mike, was still in town from Hoop Fest and we also joined up with his brother, Jeff, and his family. We all had a great time together - and my kids actually made it through a whole baseball game. (Didn't hurt that it was a quick game!).

4th of July baseball game. The Spokane Indians versus the Eugene Emeralds. The Indians won - wahoo!!!!

An airplane fly-by added to the entertainment.

The boys (Sean, Jackson, and Chad) get into the game.

What do the girls do during the game? Play hairdresser of course.

A handsome bunch - the Caviness Men (Chris, Mike, and Jeff).



Our patriotic crew.

Fireworks to celebrate the game and the 4th of July. Nice, but a little tame for us.

A family picture after the game.

The parking lot was a mess after the game. We decided to wait out the crowds by watching the kids invent a new game of tackle-basketball. The rules changed constantly but it mostly involved running around with a basketball, tackling your cousins (ball or no ball in hand) and screaming really, really loud.

Run Sean, run!!!!

Uncle Mike with his nieces and nephews.

Hoop Fest

I'm finally wrapping up my catch-up on June!!!!!

The last big event in June was Hoop Fest. Chris has played with his brothers the last few years, but they got a little tired of him "bailing" out on Sundays. So, Chris wasn't included to play with them this year. But we did enjoy going to watch.

Halle with her friend, Maddison, from Arizona.

The 2008 Hoop Fest team. Scott (from Jeff''s work), Jeff Timm (Mike's friend from Arizona), Jeff, and Mike.

The team and support crew.

June Birthday Boy

My little boy turned 4 years old this summer. It is so hard to believe my baby is so big now. As I have mentioned before 4 years old seems to be the magic number for my kids. I love my kids, but as soon as they turn 4 I really like them too. Sean has followed right in Chad and Halle's footsteps by all of a sudden maturing into a big kid. He can now sit still in church and primary. He listens to directions, can make his bed and clean up a room, etc. Life is good.

At 4 years old I also let them have their first friend birthday party. Sean was so excited as all he hears is Chad and Halle discussing their birthday plans all year round. He couldn't wait to come up with all the birthday ideas, make a guest list, and help me put goody bags together.

Sean went with a Blue's Clues theme. It made my life real easy as I already had a Blue cake pan. And then we planned all the games around finding Blue's Clues. And as it was summer, we also had plenty of water fun.

Although parties are a lot of work, it becomes all worth it when you see your little guy having so much fun and being embarrassed at being the center of attention.

My Blue's Clues cake. I am not a cake maker or decorator, but I do my best. After Chris laughed at my cake I reminded him that I had just saved him $20. He quickly apologized and said good job.

Adam, Jack, and Eli hung out at the pool together. There wasn't much water left when they were done! They had lots of great fun.

Sean playing with his preschool friend, "Cole." (Nicole)

Cake time! Sean blows out his candle.

Time to dig into some cake. Yum, yum!

Cake number two at his family birthday party.

Sean's favorite present - new Hulk hands.

Sean tires out his new strength on Uncle Mike.

Sean gets a card that looks just like him.

My big, little four year old.

The special red plate and his favorite breakfast (waffles) on his actual birthday.

More presents. What could it be?

It's a new baseball bat! Happy Birthday Sean.

We Did Our Part to Stimulate the Economy

In June we received our stimulus check. Chris and I were so excited. We knew just what we wanted to do with that money. Did we put it away for our children's college? Did we go out and get a whole year's worth of food storage in one shopping spree? Did we save it for babysitters so we could get out more. No, we bought a new oven and microwave. Isn't that exciting?!!!

When your microwave blows a fuse defrosting bread and your oven door doesn't quite fit right and you only have one working burner - then yes a new oven and microwave are pretty darn exciting. Now, not only do all my appliances work, they also all match again.

We hit a great sale at Sears (my husband loves Kenmore brand!). We paid for the delivery and thought also installation. But, apparently installation is extra and requires different workers from Sears. So after the delivery of our new appliances we called up our good old bishop, Chris Kunz, to come and do the labor. If I was going to have to pay someone, it might as well be some one you like!

When we looked at ovens we had to choose a slide-in because that is what we already had. We assumed that all ovens were the same standard size, but apparently 20 years ago, when our oven was installed in our house they were two inches smaller. So we had to cut away some cabinetry and some counter top to make the new oven fit. If I had known about that earlier then I would have got a way cheaper stand alone range and oven. Oh, well. The money was easy come, easy go.

I'm starting to like my kitchen and cooking again.

The before picture. Still not bad looking appliances - they just don't work. A minor inconvenience.

Yeah, my brand new microwave and oven. All in great working condition (and not to mention still clean!).