Life is Grand

Wow! I just put Cash down on the boys bed with a bottle and guess who's ASLEEP! That has not happened before even at night he has a hard time with going to sleep.

The boys have found a friend they play with Miles about everyday now and just keep going from one house to the other.

I have got to go and sign the boys up for T-ball and Machine pitch today it wont let me do it online. 
So now I have to go in. I am also taking the kids to the Dentist today they all love to go, which works for me.

Beautiful day outside it's warming up again hope we will have a nice weekend with Easter and all.

Snow

Yes it is snowing two days after the first day of Spring.
It has been pretty cold the last week or so, even colder since last week it got into to the 70's so I have been freezing all week I wish we still had wood for the fire I would have been sitting in front of it all day long. The wind was really bad yesterday too, I came home from taking the kids to school and saw a trampoline that had blown down a hill and was upside down on 1600 N.

Codey booked our vacation for the year last year we didn't go anywhere so this year is a must. We are going to go to Yellowstone my favorite place, we haven't been for 7 years Peyton was 11 months old when we were there last. I can't wait for July we are going to go alone which will be fun and we are going to stay in the park at Fishing Bridge. I hope we see tons of animals being in the park.

Last week Laike got lost or you could say he new where he was and we did not, it was 45 minutes befor he was found in the church with some scouts that were there. I even called Johnnie who was working that day he was about to sent up the troops when we found him.

We had our primary Artical of Faith party last week for the ward, we had a lot of people there and it all went well and was a lot of fun.

Sunday we went to my moms for dinner she made corned beef (from a can) and cabbage, we were aslo celabrating Marc and Allen's Birthdays they turned 49 this year so next year is the big 5 0

Life Happends

It has been a long time since my last update.
Cash has cut another tooth and on the night of the 28th he slept through the night.
But that was sort lived because since then he has been sick, goopy eyes runny nose and a fever. Know fun for either of us.

I decided to put Laike in  Lincoln for Kindergarten I know I should of just moved all my kids over here for next year but I just couldn't do it, I think the change is worse for me then it would be on the kids. On the 16th of Feb. the boys got to go to the Monster Truck show with Grandam Cherri (that is what they got for Christmas,) and Hailey went to the 2nd of the 3 Ballets. All the kids loved it, and Crew is still talking about the truck with the ghost on it.

On the 22nd I had the lady's that I visit teach over for breakfast to get to know them we had a ham and egg casserole and muffins and fruit, it was really fun.

On the 26th I went with Hailey's class on a field trip to SLC we went to the ESArena and then to the new Museum of Natural History. It is always fun to go with the kids and help out in their class'.
Then that night was Peyton's Blue and Gold Banquet for Scouts we had PB and J for dinner (yes that was a little strange) but I think the kids had fun.

I had visiting teachers for the first time since moving into the wand. I think it is pretty funny since my new visiting teacher is the new RS Pres. Lyra Dickson and her partner is a girl I new in high school Christy Haller. Lyra's little boy and Laike are new found friends and play together all the time now, Laike loves to go and play at Grant's house. They have 5 girls and a boy.

Lyra's sister Tracy also lives in the ward and had us over for dinner last Sunday, we had Chicken fajitas and tacos so all my kids loved it.

On Monday I forgot my kids at school it was a minimal day so they got out at 12:30 I was in the middle of making meals for our meal exchange when Hailey called from the school. So I was 45 min. late picking them up. I told her and boys to just start walking to Grandma Cherri's they were going as fast as they could to see if they could make it there before I did but they had only gotten about half way when I picked them up.

Codey has started going to the gym again he and some guys from work are having a weight loss challenge. I should be going with him but I had gyms. I did like going to the PG Rec. to there spin class but I only went 5 or 6 times before Codey was working when the class was so I had to be home. 

Februay Family Update 2013

Tana, I loooved that email!!!! Send more! And your run on sentence was awesome!! You write just like you talk.

Chris tried to go shoot the Timp/Cascade mountain range last night from Saratoga Springs. He walked down to the lake and practically had to swim through a thick stand of reeds sinking down to his thighs with each step carrying about 30 pounds of camera equipment. He came to a bog of a warm spring and got stuck for several minutes. He thought he'd have to call search and rescue. Since it turned out alright, I'm laughing as I write this.

Chris wants to start a new landscape photgraphy business, we need a name, anyone?

I feel like I spend the bulk of my time trying to keep my house like Lisa Carlson does. It's not working. Here it is almost noon and my bed isn't even made.

Morgan and Madison are enjoying Snow and enjoying living with Kari and Ladd (although I think they can count on one hand the amount of conversations they've really had with Ladd :).

Bridger is busy working and dancing, learning sign language and Russian and every other spare moment is spent watching dance videos on line.

Landon does "school" three hours each morning faithfully. He wouldn't start a movie last night at nine since he wants to be up by seven. He has a growing list of books he's read since he starte this a few months ago.

Cade and Sarah play a lot together, a lot of the time with Isaac since they are all home during the day. The spent yesterday, one of the coldest days we've had for a while, building a fort in the back yard.

Our baby Liam Jack is sitting up, has two teeth and is the center of attention at every moment. I need to read up on not spoiling the youngest. He also loves french onion soup and sweet potatoes. He's not sure about avacados though.

Kirsten

So I want in on the sharing although I have know real news. Codey is back
> > to 40 hours a week well since the start of the year. But has worked a
> > couple of Saturdays. It is strange to have him home on Sat. and I feel as
> > if I have to entertain him or give his jobs with the kids just to keep
> > everyone busy. I am still struggling with giving sharing time in Primary
> > but the last time I did it went over pretty well. I spend a lot of time
> > in the car as I go back and forth to PG to take the kids to school and
> > back. I need to get some books on CD or something. And I think the
> > laundry will never end. I don't believe it when anyone says that I will
> > miss it some day as I am very sure I will not. Colton Is pretty existed
> > that Soccer starts soon, and is loving taking guitar at school (thanks
> > to Johnnie letting him borrow his guitar) He also spends a lot of time
> > playing basketball, reading and playing on his IPod. Hailey is always
> > helping me and has been doing a lot of pre-school for Laike and Crew,
> > she is teaching Laike his letters and he can finely count to 10 and say
> > the ABC"s She also spends lots of time playing with a couple of girls in
> > the ward and can't wait for spring. Peyton is hoping to play spring
> > soccer and if not then machine pitch it will be. He is doing awesome in
> > school and is missing his PG friends. Laike is getting to know some of
> > the little boys hid age and loves to be outside. He still asks when we
> > can go back to our little house and go play with his fun friends. Crew
> > is just as cute as can be and I love having him around me all day. He
> > says the cutest things and is becoming quite the story teller, mostly
> > about all the deer we have around our house. Cash is still the
> > complainer he has always been. And still whines most of the day, he has
> > never been a good sleeper either I thought if I stopped nursing him he
> > would sleep through the night since all the other kids did, but NO, now
> > we wakes up crying and I end up holding him all night. So Tana was way
> > more fun to here about and Kirsten to but life goes on. Love ya all.
> > Gretchen From:

Christopher Barksdale: Landscape Photography

I know. I'm always glad when I make the bed first thing.

What is Landon reading, mainly? Or is he omnivorous? Let me know if he needs any suggestions, although I'm sure he's finding stuff that he really enjoys. I remember having my "study list" during my wholly homeschooled year. I finished the big book of activities the first week and then started riding my bike to the library and/or the REC center a couple of times a week (that year we had the REC pass). One of the ladies who remembered me from that year still worked at the library when I started, but retired a year or so later.

Phia's been building a fort in the front yard, but it's pretty much dead now from the melting and freezing.

I don't think you guys are capable of spoiling a child.

Yeah, Gretchen, I'm still not used to having John around. It's been 2 1/2 years now that he's not working dawn to dusk, M-F, so it's weird. And with the sequester, he might be around more.

I love listening to books on CD. Although I'm usually too lazy and just listen to the radio. Is Colton doing chords, strings, or both? He and Gabe can jam next summer.

Ha, ha. You should see me in Primary. I speak terrible German and Sophia has this pained expression on her face the whole time. It is so funny, but not to her. Hailey is such a doll. Smart and kind. Is Peyton not at the PG school? Or is he just missing his after-school friends? Cute, cute kids. Thanks for the update. So fun. I wish I could help out.

First: Kirsten --will forward this to family. Snow College has now been put on the black list by hotmail, so I'm not getting everything to all family members...

What sequester, Tana?

I can just see Phia with her pained expression. Are you still studying German 3 hours a day? She would have the same pained expression with me trying to speak Spanish in my branch. I understood someone's entire story the other day: their sister stopped on Manti Main street to check out a cat on the side of the road. She sort of toed it (yes, I understood that) to see if it was dead and it moved, so then she tried to pick it up and it bit her on the fleshy part of her hand between her thumb and first finger (there was a bit of a demonstration there so I understood that part, too) and then it ran off. So then she went home and called her sister to tell her what happened, the sister then told her to go to the hospital cuz animal bites can be dangerous, but it was late and she washed it and decided to see what it was like in the morning. When she woke up it was very swollen and red so she waited till the clinic opened and went in to see the doctor who sent her immediately to the hospital and said her life was in danger. At the hospital it was touch and go for several days as to if they could save her hand, her arm and even her life. Her lesson learned: no matter how much she loves cats she's not going to try to pick up any unknown cats or any other strange animal ever again. See? I understood all of that in English--oops it was really Spanish, though.

I'll bring the girls home this weekend, but we can't leave till 6 tomorrow night.

any plans up there for anything that I would care to participate in? Need to see Ladd's new paint job and tile job in their kitchen and I've not seen Sam/Alex's house yet, you know...

any movies? let's do that again... any GOOD movies?

Ladd did most of our snow shoveling this winter, but we didn't begin to have as much as Tana

our menus this week

Monday: fried rice

Tuesday: meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn, parslied carrots, brussel sprouts in a butter sauce by Jolly Green Giant, then I went and joined the 3rd ward for Relief Society. They invited our Spanish for tortilla making and zumba. Only me and one other gringa went, no latinas, and I'm really bad at zumba, but the tortillas were great.

Wednesday: Hot dogs and nachos--Morgan went flying to Walmart to get some veggies dogs, then I only had a few nachos with them and then went to an adult ward dinner where we had dutch oven beef, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots and a really good salad a lot like Dad's salad and rolls with butter. It was a school lunchroom setting so they lunch trays from the elementary school --I heard some of our folks saying they were glad of the little compartments cuz now the gravy didn't run into the salad-- and the serving ladies had on hair nets and big aprons as lunch ladies and walked around with trays giving us vanilla or chocolate cake. That was about 10% of the party. Tell you the rest later.

Thursday: I don't know, I'll check the fridge and see what we have for leftovers or maybe make some tomato dumplings.

love you all, kari

kari

Okay... I'll chime in. I heard my baby's heartbeat today! What a relief. I'm 13 weeks and it had a strong little heartbeat. I'm starting to maybe feel a little better. Thank you so much to Marilee. She does so much to help us. And Johnnie has been really amazing too. That spoiled little boy... My mom is here right now and that's so nice. She does a lot too. We are so blessed. I love my Arnoldsen family so much and we're really enjoying being in Orem so close to everyone.

Abby and Elizabeth are doing well in school. They go to Cascade. Abby's in first grade, and Elizabeth is in kindergarten. It's so funny because the principal at Cascade, Mr. Campbell, and I went to Ricks College together. We lived in the same apartment complex and were in the same ward. We also sang in choir together. So when I went to register the girls and saw him there, I screamed and we gave each other a big hug. It was hilarious. And then I used to be in the singles ward with Abby's teacher, Ms. Bailey. And she's taught many of the Arnoldsens.

Vance and Mary are little playmates. They're both so busy, and so cute. Gretchen, Mary is nearly 2 and she's still up in the night. I hope I can fix that problem before the new baby comes.They love being at Grandma's house. They want to go upstairs every chance they can.

Johnnie is doing well. He still loves his job. I hope the sequester doesn't affect us. He's such a good daddy. Whenever he comes home all the kids scream and run to him and jump on him. He loves tickling them and playing with them.

That's all I got.

Sarah

That is so hilarious that you already knew the principal and Abbie's teacher, Sarah. Awesome. People would ask me how I could stand living in my parents basement and I'd say that it wasn't me who had to stand somebody, and that we loved it and the kids especially loved it. I'm so glad you heard the baby's heartbeat. That is a relief. I hope you're starting to feel better.

I think the sequester won't affect Orem security. It's pretty much a federal thing. I don't know how much it will trickle down.

Don't worry, Kirsten. It would be nice to make more, since now we'll probably get too old to ever adopt, but it's OK. I think it's odd that Congress said, "OK, we can't fix the budget, so instead of axing programs or parts of programs that need to go, we'll do this across the board thing, except that it won't affect Congress, just you guys. And the air traffic controllers? They're not really important, so the sequester affects them just as much as the new, super expensive soccer field for the detainees at Guantanamo."

We had zucchini quiche last night, chili the night before, crockpot lasagne the night before.

I love the bed-making routine, Kirsten. Mom told me about the geneology fan-chart activity. Sounds like she enjoyed it.

I'm being lazy with German study lately. I need to get back on it.

I read an article on the internet, Kirsten, about naming a landscape photography business, and the guy wrote a really funny bit of advice. Here it is: (although you can name your business whatever you want, and it'll be fine with me) "You may well be looking for a name that describes what a picture captures or portrays.

But that's not necessarily what your clients are looking for.

Think about this for a moment: if your clients are looking for sports, portraits, landscape, and wildlife photography—are they necessarily looking for poetic descriptions of how the sun majestically paints the mountain tops with astral splendor as it sinks behind the greying horizon in a swirl of brilliant umber fire?

Probably not.

So, just tell people who you are and what you do and make sure that specific audiences receive specific details about what you can do for them, as follows:

Nicola Ferreira: Sports Photography

Nicola Ferreira: Portrait Photography

Nicola Ferreira: Landscape Photography

Nicola Ferreira: Wildlife Photography

and so on. Might this mean having multiple business cards and web pages? Yup. But the expense and hassle of doing this will pay off and allow you to define which market or markets you spend most of your time serving, thereby giving you vital feedback on where to invest future marketing money and time.

This way, there is NO confusion about what you do and your name remains yours, it's not buried under some other business title.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you."

So I totally cribbed the idea from him because I thought it was good, no nonsense advice. Until somebody else convinces me otherwise

Going through the motions.

Wow another week has flown by. Last Saturday started out with Crew being sick again, he slept throughout most of the day and had a pretty high fever. The rest of the week has gone better though.

Sunday I left Hailey home from church with Crew and Cash Crew still wasn't 100% and it is easer to get through church with out Cash crawling all over me and crying. We ended up staying home from Cherri's and having dinner at home since others who were going had sick kids and I didn't want what they have so we just opted to stay here as they don't stay home when they have sick little ones.

Monday, I finely finished folding and putting away all the laundry, just to have it start piling up again for the week ahead.

Tuesday, is our busy day with the boys having scouts and I have Pres. Meeting but my meeting was canceled which is always nice. So we worked on getting Haileys Valentine box done and the kids valentines finished. I had made rice crispies for us and white chocolate covered spoons for the kids teachers with a bag of hot cocoa, the kids did popcorn for their treat this year instead of candy Hailey said she would rather have that then a sucker.

Wednesday, is my shopping day so on the way home from taking the kids to school I stopped at Maceys and then we come home and put that away and get ready to go to Costco I like to go right when it opens so we can get in and out fast. Codey had me get new porch lights they are LED and just stay on from dusk to dawn they are really pretty, they look like lanterns.

Thursday, Happy Valentines day! I had gotten some cute little mail boxes at Target last month that I didn't know what I was going to do with, so I used them for the kids Valentines I decorated the fronts for each of the kids and then put their candy inside and put up the flag. They turned out really cute and kids love them. Then I got a balloon for each of them with a note inside and tied it to the mailbox when they popped their balloons they got to see what their paper said. Colton got a friend movie night, Hailey got a date night with mom and dad, Peyton got a family weekend date, Laike got a no job weekend and Crew got a dessert night. They all thought it was pretty fun. I also went to the school to help in Peyton's class for his Valentines party they played minute to win it games and then I took cake and strawberries and they also made a flower sucker.

Hearts desire, that is what we call our Valentines dinner because we all get to choose what we want for dinner. Codey, Colton and Hailey all chose stake and baked potato's Laike, Crew and I had Cafe Rio salads and Peyton had Tia curry it was all so good after dinner we had strawberry shortcake. Hailey had set the table and put out candy it was really cute. I got Codey a big thing of almond cherry chocolates, and he gave me a a gift card for a couples massage, I can't wait to go and get it. Then it
was off to bed for the kids, and some snuggle time for me and the hubby.

Thursday, Friday and tomorrow Codey is working  ten hour days, so he gets home at five. Tomorrow I will be home with just Cash as all the kids have fun plans, the boys are going to the monster truck show with grandma Cherri and Hailey goes to the ballet. And Codey is working maybe ill get my primary things done.

Happy weekend!

Thursday, I went to breakfast with some friends I lived by in PG but have since moved to AF and Orem Jaimie and Luisa, we got together because they both had Birthdays last month. It was fun to catch up with them and talk. It has been heard to leave the friends I had and move here and have know one really go out of there way to talk to you or get to know you at all. I've had a heard time here so far, even getting involved with different things in the ward I don't yet have anyone I could call if I needed anything and just someone to get together with. But, I also need to go out of my way to get to know people to and that is sometimes heard for me.

Friday, I went with Haileys class on a field trip to Midway we first went to the Crader at the  homestead then we went to the Wasatch state part and learned about rocks and minerals and then went snowshoeing it was a beautiful day to be out on the snow, I loved the day espeasaily because I was able to spend the day with Hailey and have some fun too. On our way home coming around Deer Creek it was beautiful then we hit the Damn and were welcomed to winter again  the wind was unbelievable and the snow was almost like a white out. It took a little longer to get through the canyon because of the snow but we got back to the school just in time to pick up the boys and head home.

Friday night Codey and Colton had a scout caving camp out planned they went up AF canyon. When they got home today they said it was fun, cold, wet, cold and wet Codey brought in Colton's clothes that he had warn to build the snow cave and they were completely frozen. Colton said it was fun, he slept in the cave with a boy in the ward named Sam he said he was really warm, Codey ended up sleeping in his tent. They said the had lots of good food and tons of fun.

I had planned on just hanging out with the kids after dinner and watch a movie and for the most part that is what we did. Kirsten called and asked if they could come hang out because Chris had someone coming over to go through and edit pictures. So we had some burritos that mom had made and then I made fries they were so good. Then we went downstairs and watched Tresure Planet they left around 8:30 and we went to bed. I had Hailey sleep in Colton's room with Laike and Crew so that they wouldn't here Cash cry during the night because I was not going to nurse him through the night. He did pretty good he cried quite a bit but would go back to sleep after not to long. I am hoping to have him sleeping through the night and weened I the next week or so.

Saturday, well today I made sweet and sour chicken for our meal exchange next week, and got it delivered. I also took laundry down to mom and Kirstens house two loads each so that the kids have some clothes for next week. With the washer door broken for a week the laundry was really piling up I think I had eight loads today so to get a few done was better then none. When I got home from the store I found that the new washer door had come so I had Codey put it on and I got the laundry started I am so glad to have it up and going again.  Love Codey for fixing it.

HapPy BirthDay CASH!

A year ago today I had my little angel baby boy Cash! That was an awesome day, labor was short and he arrived 7 minutes after arriving at the hospital. What an amazing thing to bring a beautiful child into the world and know that I am responsible to take care of, teach and love while he is here, and with our family. I have some amazing kids Hailey reads and remembers things and mesmerizes thing like you cannot believe, Peyton loves to do math and it really good at it. Colton has this issue with his temper, but then can be so loving and helpful, Laike is getting to smart for his our good and started to tell the kids that they will live with the snakes if they lie or do something wrong. Crew is well he is my baby, and yet he is growing way to fast, and getting so unbelievably smart. And is a smartalec and knows it. Cash he is a complainer and yet I love to sit and hold him and cuddle but he thinks he is so big and is getting to busy to just sit on my lap. He love to through the diapers away, he wants to feed himself, he loves music, loves to play with his dad in bed when he should be going to sleep, he loves Hailey, loves to go up and down the stairs, and loves to drink from a sippy cup just so he can spit it out all over. And he loves his Mom! I can't wait so spent the rest of my life with my beautifully wonderful kiddos. Happy Birthday baby Cash!

Laundry day has come and gone and no laundry got done. I went to do the laundry yesterday and the washer door that was already broken but worked was completely broken I don't know when that happened but the door lock was completely Brocken so there was no closing the door, so I got online and found the door parts I needed and got them ordered. So as the laundry piles up with the 8 of us I am hoping I get the parts by Monday.

Our stake here in Orem has an exercise class at the stake center every morning at 9:15 so since my friend Luisa is in the stake she invited me to go yesterday so I did I am a little sore today but not to bad. The class is step arobics I didn't keep up very well but I kept moving.

Cash got a toy waggon and a singing bear for his birthday he loves them, we'll at least today he did.

Love you baby boy hope you had a wonderful day.