Oh, What do you do in the summertime

This summer has been busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Here is a list of all the fun things we did this summer:

BYU Basketball Camp
T-ball
Soccer
BYU Golf Camp
Activity Day Girls day camp
Swimming lessons
BYU summer preschool
Soccer Camp
Bright Ideas Camp
Eva's baby blessing
Family Reunion in Park City/Jordanelle Lake
Trip to San Diego
Disneyland

I think we are ready for school to start on Monday.

Eva Gail Fellars

Eva Gail Fellars was born Sunday, May 15th 2011 at 8:00 PM.  She was 6 pounds 11 ounces, so a big baby for me.  Even though she is only one month old, it has hard to imagine our family without her.

She was induced like Andrew, but I had an epidural so Danny didn't have any pain induced scars from me this time.  She was extremely sleepy in the hospital (it was a nightmare trying to wake her up to eat) so they were a little concerned about her.  I think she was just drugged from my epidural and needed to get it out of her system.

They kids absolutely adore her.  Anna is thrilled to have a sister.  Andrew loves to hold her.  Nathan loves to sing her twinkle, twinkle little star.

Happy Birthday Danny!

Here are 34 facts about Danny:

1)   He was born on Easter
2)   He is number 6 out of 8 kids
3)   He grew up in Vista, California
4)   His high school basketball team won the CIF San Diego Championships
5)   He received an academic scholarship to BYU
6)   He served a 2 year mission in southern Chile for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
7)   He graduated in 3 academic years from BYU with a BA in Economics and a minor in Spanish
8)   He received a MS in Computer Science from Cal State San Marcos
9)   He worked as a software engineer programming games you could play on your TV or cell phone
10) He received his MBA from BYU
11) He was a CEO of a healthcare company that provided information and education for medical coders
12) His favorite food is chimichangas
13) His freshman year of college he made Police Beat in the Daily Universe
14)  He has visited the following countries: Mexico, Canada, Chile, India, Phillipines, Aruba, South Korea
15)  He has never broken bone, had a surgery, or even received stitches
16)  He has really little feet (size 10.5) and hands for his height
17)  His favorite band is U2
18)  He is left handed
19)  He does not like tomatoes
20)  His favorite movie is the Shawshank Redemption
21)  His favorite book is Inside the Tornado
22)  His favorite TV show is Sports Center
23)  His favorite NBA team is the San Antonio Spurs
24)  His favorite animal is a turtle
25)  He thinks he is color blind
26)  He has the following nicknames:  weight room, lurpy, felldogg
27)  He is an Eagle Scout
28)  His favorite candy is swedish fish
29)  His dream vacation is to go to the NCAA final four
30)  His favorite pro athlete is David Robinson
31)  His favorite color is green
32)  He once missed 7 Tuesday's in a row in the the 7th grade from migraine headaches
33)  He can touch an 8 foot ceiling flat footed
34)  His wife and kids think he is the best husband and dad in the world

Accountable Kids

I have been doing the accountable kids program with my kids for a little over a month.  Basically, the program teaches kids to be responsible in a fun way.  It gives kids control in a system where they learn to balance their choices and consequences. 

The program is introduced over the course of four weeks implementing steps each week so it is not too overwhelming.  In Step One, kids learn to take care of personal responsibilities without constant direction. The first peg on their board holds their 'core' chores- the chores that they are responsible for every day.  As soon as their chores for a time period are done they receives a ticket. Each ticket can be redeemed for something they like to do like watching television or playing on the computer.

 

In Step Two we introduced the Privilege Pass. This is to eliminate certain negative behavior. It helps kids predict consequences and follow rules.   We also introduced the Special Date Card.  This Card allows children to work for future rewards while also enhancing parent/child relationships.

 

In Step Three we introduced Extra Chores. These are chores that are not their responsibility every day but are things they can do to earn money. We give them a bonus buck for each chore and then at the end of the week we give them 50 cents in exchange for each bonus buck. 

 

In Step Four we introduced a Family Forum and Quiet Time.  This is a time to discuss any problems in the family and also focus on personal time with the quiet time.

 

I have seen many benefits from using this program.  My kids love the structure of it and I love the flexibility  of it.  I can easily adapt it to meet our families needs.  It is also fun to see my kids realize that they have responsibilities and that they are not entitled to everything.

 

I would give this program 4 out 5 stars.  It is a great program that I think can work for any family.  I also like that everything is provided for you.

 

If you want to learn more about their program you can visit their website at http://www.accountablekids.com/

 

Anna's Newbery Books

Anna's school does a fun program to get the kids to read Newbery books.  If they read 5 books they get a bronze medal, 10 books is a silver, 15 is a gold, and 25 they become a member of the Newbery club.  Anna decided she wanted to read the 25 books and pretty much did nothing else from November through January.

Here are the 25 books she read:

1)  Princess Academy
2)  Show Way
3)  The Tale of Despereaux
4)  26 Fairmount Avenue
5)  Missing May
6)  Shiloh
7)  Joyful Noise:  Poems for Two Voices
8)  Sarah, Plain and Tall
9)  Doctor DeSoto
10) Frog and Toad Together
11) Belling the Tiger
12) The Courage of Sarah Noble
13) The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
14) My Father's Dragon
15) The Hundred Dresses
16) ABC Bunny
17) Millions of Cats
18) The Whipping Boy
19) Rules
20) A Visit to William Blake's Inn
21) The Matchlock Gun
22) Mr. Popper's Penguins
23) The Apple and the Arrow
24) Charlotte's Web
25) Honk the Moose

Christmas 2010

Since we are getting close to Valentines Day, I should probably write about Christmas.  We decided to go to my parents house in Casper.  Of course, we were hit with a big snow storm the day we wanted to leave and instead of taking the usual 6 1/2 hours to get there, it took 9 hours.  Luckily, the kids were great as they just watched movie after movie and Uncle Jason came with us, so there was another adult to entertain if needed.


My sister and her husband also came to Casper to spend the holidays.  We helped them put together a 1000 piece puzzle they are using as part of adopting a boy from Russia.  You can read about their adoption journey at their blog http://www.bowenfamilycentral.com/

Christmas Eve we participated in the usual activities:  easy dinner (this year homemade pizza), acting out the nativity, playing Christmas songs with chimes, and the $10 gift exchange. 

Christmas morning was of course the highlight of the whole trip.  The kids were spoiled and I always love seeing the joy and excitement on their faces Christmas morning. 

Overall it was a fantastic trip.  I am so grateful for my family and the opportunity to spend time with them.

Nathan turns 2!

Way back on November 14th, Nathan turned 2.  We had a low key birthday party at home with family.  Nathan looks a lot like Andrew, just a fairer version with his blonde hair and blue eyes.  He loves to get into everything in the kitchen.  I wonder if we have a future chef in our midst.  He also loves Mickey Mouse, trains, and going to the library for story time.

Andrew's reflection photo

Each year the elementary school participates in the PTA reflections program.  Anna always wants to participate and enter something in the different categories.  Her enthusiasm rubbed off on Andrew and he entered several categories as well.  They both entered 3 categories and 2 of their pieces were chosen by their school to move on to the district competition.   We found out on Friday that Andrew's photo he took was chosen by the school district to move on to the regional competition.  The theme for this year was together we can and Andrew's photo is titled, Together we can fight evil.

How to make homemade candy canes

Anna is doing an extra project for school on candy canes.  She thought it would be fun to make homemade candy canes and make a poster about it to be apart of her presentation.  I have never made candy canes before, but the recipe seemed easy enough.  By far the hardest part was shaping the candy canes.  As a result, the candy canes are not pretty but they sure taste good.

Step One:
Get your ingredients - 3 cups sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, red food coloring

 
Step Two:
Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in saucepan.  Put on stove over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

Step Three:
Once sugar dissolves, stop stirring and let mixture boil to soft crack stage.

Step Four:
Once soft crack stage is reached, remove pan from stove and stir in peppermint extract.

Step Five:
Pour half of mixture into a greased jelly roll pan.  Add couple drops of red food coloring to to the rest of the mixture, pour red mixture into a greased jelly roll pan.

Step Six:
Use a spatula and move the mixture around from the edges as it cools.

Step Seven:
Pull the candy until it is glossy.

Step Eight:
Pull/roll each mixture into 2 inch diameter ropes.

Step Nine:
Twist clear and read ropes together.  Cut to desired size and shape with a hook.

Step Ten:
Let candy canes harden at room temperature.

Step Eleven:
Enjoy your handmade candy canes!

Notes:
Like I said these did not turn out pretty.  I think I would need to practice more with the recipe.  If you do not have extra help with the pulling/shaping, you can put one of the pans in  a 200 degree oven as you work with one of the mixtures.  This will help so the candy doesn't harden.

Halloween 2010

We had an interesting week before Halloween.  First, we had some plumbing problems and in order to get things fixed it was needed to dig a 13 foot hole in our front yard.   As a result, we had a big hole in our front yard the night of trick or treating.  Luckily, a few trick or treaters managed to get to our front door and I was able to get rid of some of our candy.

Second, Andrew got a concussion at school a couple of days before Halloween.  We are still trying to figure out what happened as no adults saw it  and Andrew is fuzzy about the details.  At lunch recess, he somehow fell down on the basketball court and hit his head pretty hard.  A nice 6th grader took him to the office where they bandaged him up.  They called me at home to tell me he hit his head, but that he was doing good and just had a bad scrape and bruise.   Well, an hour later I got a call that he was not doing as good.  He was really pale and not feeling good.  I went and picked him up and when we got home he threw up.  I gave my doctor a call as I know it is not good to throw up after you hit your head and they said bring him in so they could observe him.   You could tell the poor guy was in pain and not feeling good.   Half way through the doctor's examine he gets all the color back and starts talking up a storm (which is a clear indicator he is feeling like his old self).  He had no more bad symptoms and was able to have a great Halloween.

Nathan the dinosaur

Andrew, I mean Spiderman

Anna - the witch

Andrew with his loot

Anna with her loot

Anna turns 8 and is baptized!

This year was a monumental year for Anna since she turned 8.   In our church when you turn 8 you have the opportunity to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.  We love Anna so much!   She is very responsible and such a good helper.  She loves sports, dance, art, music, reading, writing, photography, and of course playing with friends.

She had a great birthday party.  She wanted a pizza party with games and a juggling show (good thing she has an uncle who knows how to juggle fire).

Next was Anna's baptism day on September 4th.  Her Grandma Mary made the gown she was baptized in and her Grandma Janet altered a dress for her to be her baptism dress.

Last, Anna was able to go on a special trip with me to Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate turning 8.  My sister Ashley is a great hostess and we had a wonderful time.  We went to the Georgia Aquarium, Coke museum, Atlanta Zoo, Natural History Museum, and of course the American Girl store.

The last 4 months

 This is what we have been up to the last 4 months.

Sitting on the Y

The kids on the Y with their good friends.

In August we headed down to San Diego to see family, have fun, and see the dentist.

Nathan on one of the 2 rides he could ride at Legoland.  He loved it!

 

 

Anna and Andrew working together - think they will make it to the top?

The new Mormon Battalion Center is a must see for anyone visiting San Diego.

Anna got to enjoy an early birthday dinner at Ruby's on the pier in Oceanside.

Anna with her sponge curlers and Nathan not wanting to be left out wanted one in his hair too.

I ran in Utah's first mud run.  It was so much fun and a little dirty.

Anna on the first day of school.  I cannot find the picture of Andrew or them together that I knew I took.  I will keep on looking.