A funny little story....

On Friday night, we had lots of fun at our annual "Not So Newlywed Party". We have been getting together with long time friends for about 7 years to do this party, and it is always a blast. We have lots of good food, and everyone brings a basket of fun stuff. The winner of the game gets to pick the first basket. It seems to me that every year we spend more time talking and less time playing the game, but it is so fun!

Anyway, these nights always run into the wee hours, and so it was not unusual for us to be leaving at 1am.

What greeted us on a very cold early morning hour was, however, unusual.

Unusual, frustrating, irritating, you get the idea.

We had a very flat tire. It was like 12 degrees, we were in a quiet neighborhood, and it was 1am.

Yeah.

Jason and I proceeded to try to change the tire. After some looking, it was determined that we had a jack, but no arm for the jack. We had a tire iron, but it proved to be very flimsy. We had a spare, but coudn't get it on.

I walked back to our friends house (luckily we hadn't got very far before I noticed the van felt funny) and asked for some help and a more hefty tire iron and an arm for our jack.

Our friend, bless his heart, couldn't find his tire changing items right away either, which made me grateful for two things.

One: We are not the only ones who are unprepared.

Two: Next time they have a flat, they will know where all there stuff is due to our unpreparedness.

Anyway, after about 20 minutes of looking, he found his things and we walked back up to the van.

Brian, our dear friend, and I were met with an interesting sight. Two police cars surrounding our van and Jason handing over his liscense and registration.

It seemed that a thoughtful neighbor saw Jason standing outside the van, with all the doors open, holding a (wimpy) tire iron and me running away from him down the street.

I was running because it was cold, but it looked to the neighbor like a domestic dispute.

I can see that.

We were probably also making a lot of noise, which didn't help things. So we get there, and the police are very nice, and try to help us. They did give me a very close look to determine probably a couple of things: was I drunk, and did I need help. No, and no, thank you.

Well, after trying with our tire iron, Brian's tire iron, and the police's tire iron, that last lug nut just wasn't coming off. Someone really put that one on good.

So, our van just sat there until today, when Commercial Tire could come help us. We are getting 4 brand new shiny tires to make sure this doesn't happen again any time soon.

The best part of the story? As Brian and I walk up the the scene, I notice that Jason has on the red shiny plastic heart necklace that was part of our evening, and it is clearly showing because his coat isn't done up. I start laughing and point this out to him, and the police officer said "Yeah, I enjoyed that when I walked up to him". I can't imagine what that police officer must have thought. He handed me Jason's ID and I put it in my back pocket.

We got home at 2am, and had to get up at 7 because the girls had dance pictures at 9. Joy.

Oh, and also, I forgot Jason's ID card was in my back pocket. Our washer doesn't like ID's. It eats them up pretty good.

I am still thankful that we found out our tires were shot this way, and not in an accident on the interstate. Find the silver lining, people.

Valentines Day

We celebrated Valentines day on Saturday, because the real deal was on Sunday this year. I woke the girls up with raspberry pancakes in my traditional message:

They got to eat their breakfast and open their little gifts. Each girl got some socks, candy, cd and book.

Jason and I went to dinner at Buddy's, which was really yummy. That was only our third attempt at a restaurant that didn't have a 45-90 minute wait! We also went to Ross and bought new pillows for each other. Awwwwe, how romantic!

Sledding Fun!

On Monday, the girls didn't have school due to President's day, so we decided to do something fun for FHE. It had been snowing off and on all day, so we hoped there would be more snow. There wasn't, it was slushy and the the snow ran out at the bottom of the hill, but we had fun anyway!

Payden going down on her bum!

Thats me!



Michaela took Ava down for a few runs.

Jason went clear out into the grass!

Why are babies in snow pants so darn cute?

Ava didn't even need a sled. She made a track in the snow, and because it was so slushy, it got slick quick. She then just slid down on her bum, and she really flew!

I wish I wouldn't have put my camera away so soon, and that I had brought a video camera. Ava was so cute doing this, and the baby was hilarious. She always wants to do just what Ava is doing, so she would start at the top of the hill and inch her was down on her bottom. It would take her a good 5 minutes to get to the bottom, and the whole way she was saying "Wheeeeee"! So adorable. We ended the night with Craigos with Grandma. A great FHE. We just need more snow!

Oh, how cute!

This is Corrine and Allison, the Merrell's little baby girl. Corrine is so cute with her; offers her sippy to her, tries to give her the binky, and oh so carefully covers her up with a blankie. I am so touched with how gentle and sweet she is with her; the mothering gene surfaces so early!

Chocolate pudding, anyone?

Pudding is apparently as much fun to play with as it is to eat. Right in to the bath with this one.

Michaela is 12!

Ok, so it is a month later and I am just blogging Michaela's birthday. I have been sooooo busy lately, but here it is at last!

For Michaela's 12th birthday, I picked her up from school early. We went to lunch, then shopping at the mall. I bought her a few things, and we had lots of fun girl time. Then later that night, she had her party for her friends. They came over and ate pizza, then we took them to Outer Limits to play black light mini golf. We had 8 12 year olds. NOISY!!!!!!!! After we came home, they hung out, had ice cream sundaes, and gave each other make overs.

Michaela has great friends, they are sweet girls.


The ice cream sundaes were a hit.

After the sundaes, they went downstairs and Jason and I watched the clock for 10:30 to come! The girls were soooo loud, and stinky! It smelled like a high school wrestling room in there after they went home. To many girls jumping around in a hot room. And too little deoderant.



The next day, we had her family party. Michaela picked soup for the menu, so we had soup and ham and turkey sandwhiches.

Then came presents. Michaela's big present this year was a new pair of skis.

She got lots of other good stuff, including ski assecories.

I can not believe she is 12. My sweet little girl is growing up so fast. We love having Michaela for a daughter. She is wonderful to have around.

I made her this dress, at her request. I love how much she loves it!

Happy Birthday, Michaela. Here's to a great year of being 12! Jason and I are buckeling up for the teenage ride!

Top Heavy

At Corrine's last doctors appointment, we discovered the reason for constant bruises, bumps and cuts on her face and head. She is off the charts for weight, as in waaaay under. She is also off the charts for height, under as well.

But her head is in the 45 percentile.

Her noggin is just huge compared to the rest of her, which must make her extremely top heavy.

Which explains why she falls so often, why she so often looks unbalanced when she walks, and why her cute little face is frequently sporting a boo boo of some sort.

She is always falling; off of things, into things, on top of things, you get the idea.

Poor Corrine.

You will grow into your head soon.