The New Diamond Back

Kings Island Rocks! The new Diamond Back has a big drop and is a smooth ride! I loved it after I got over the first hill - Davin informed me that I am now a screamer!

Marching band groupies on the road again

Kaid made one of the two cymbal spots for freshman this year. He's happy to be marching and enjoying the time with Bryce in the band. Many parents have asked if the boys fight because their siblings do. Luckily, my boys have developed a better relationship than they have ever had - it might have something to do with them both hanging out with all the girls every chance they get! I'm enjoying Bryce playing taxi for his little brother also!
We have started another season of marching band, but this year Bryce is a senior and boy do the parents go all out. We have so many senior dinner things going on for band - it's great. Here Bryce is with some fellow tuba players. The show theme is the "icon of Elvis" so if anyone has any good, cheap gift ideas let me know. We love watching all the shows during band season, and I'm not handling my son being a senior very well. It really does go by too fast!

Cooking with Kenzi for her 8th bday

Kenzi wanted to have a cooking party, so of course I went crazy and had a blast putting it together. I made 20 six inch cakes for the girls to decorate. I sure wish I had a double oven! They loved learning how to frost them and using bags of icing with different tips.
I made all of the girls these little cookbooks!
Kenzi LOVES being the center of attention!

They decorated their own aprons!
Making pizzas....YUM! Boyce was in charge of this and so the pizzas were a little large for the girls. He's used to boy-sized portions! They turned out great though.

Valentine's Day

I always make the kids breakfast on Valentine's Day and have a personal letter and present on the table also. When the kids were younger, I use to buy them a stuffed animal or toy, but now that they are older I do gift cards or cash. Teenagers always like cash. I keep a copy of the letters that I write them, and it has been fun to see what their interests were that year. I'm hoping that I will continue the tradition and always send them a letter every year on Valentine's Day.

bringin' in 2009

This was a big snow storm for Ohio. The problem with the snow here is not that we get a lot of it, the problem is it snows, rains, snows, rains, and creates this thick layer of ice everywhere. Kaid spent hours breaking up the ice underneath the snow (rock salt doesn't do anything for it). We were out of school a couple of days for this because of the ice. The kids have loved the snow because it has been 5 years since they've had it. I still hate the snow.....Wyoming did that to me.

Kenzi reading to the dog. She can get pretty lonely sometimes because her brothers don't play with her that much. Sometimes her dog is the only one that will pay attention to her. And you know labs - they always want attention!
Boyce had the boys cook me an incredible anniversary dinner for our 18th! We had ribeye with sauteed shrimp on top and lobster. They took my order and served me. Of course I had to have one of everything. The best part was they cleaned up the kitchen afterwards.
The boys were at a New Year's Eve party, so we had a few friends over last minute and played their Guitar Hero. It was a blast jammin' to some 80 songs. When the kids are away, the parents will play!