11 years!!

I can't believe it's been 11 years since we began our life together. Dec 20 1997, has to be one of the best days I ever had. And there have been many more since then. I can't believe how lucky I have been. I am married to such an amazing guy. Bart is unlike any other person I know. I can't even describe him fairly. He is so much fun, he makes our home life very exciting. He takes care of his family, and loves us so much. Our kids just love him. He is probably one of the happiest, upbeat, people I know. It really takes a lot to get him down, which is rare. I laugh with him like no other, he loves me even though I am extremely uncool. But he is too, so it works.
We have accomplished so much together, finishing grad school, getting accepted to Dental school, Being poor and having pretty much just ketchup and milk in our fridge. (no wonder we were so skinny!) Working odd jobs to earn money, managing apartments in the bay area, having 2 children. Buying our first home, buying a practice, buying a second home, Having another baby, and now another....
Bart I love you so much and appreciate your talents and the effort you put into making us a happy family. I really feel that you can do anything you put your mind to. We've had our struggles and up's and downs but I wouldn't trade you or our experiences together for anything. You make me so happy. I want to grown old with you (gracefully of course) and spend forever with you, I get so giddy just thinking about it.. I am so blessed to have you and am thankful you chose me.

I'm Back....

Ok so I didn't really go anywhere, but as you can see I have been busy with....life. I've kinda gotten out of the groove of blogging out of pure laziness, and being overwhelmed with household chores. I feel like these days I have to pick and choose what I'm willing to spend or waste my energy on. Today is blogging. Our family is good and I'm getting bigger and bigger according to that dumb scale that the nurses insist I step on everytime when I come in to see them, but lets not even go there, because I'm actually in quite a good mood right now. Mostly because we got rid of our dog today...Did I just say that out loud? We told our kids she is going on a little vacation, and having a long slumber party with some of her friends. Which is partly true. One of our very sweet front office girls Lois, has taken "Cozy" off our hands to keep her dog company and to relieve us at the same time. Believe me she will be much happier. As will I. And we can visit her whenever we want. Just like Hannah Montana, "it's the best of both worlds"...Do I have little girls or what?
The ginger bread house my mother in law lovingly baked and allowed us to assemble and decorate.
It was a group effort, and a fun family night! Actually, I'm quite a control freak so I didn't really let the kids help like I was instructed to do...And I won't let my kids eat it yet. And I got a nasty note left on it last week from Bartel stating "this is the dumbest gingerbread house ever.." He's still bitter...
Still working on it....
Bart reinforcing my shotty work....
Snow day in Arizona?
Annie at her Christmas Dance recital...so fun and sooo cute. She is the smallest in her class, I keep telling her to grow but she won't..
Our last minuet Gingerbread man we had to decorate. His name is "Bob" and he works at home depot, and can help you with all your house hold needs...Don't ask why I had this kind of stuff laying around to decorate with....
New hair, sorry I look so serious, but I was concentrating on getting the picture. I really am a happy person...
Coco and papa at Thanksgiving time. Aunt Kyle dressed the little girls up like big girls as you can see...
Coco and Grandma Kim Possible...
My Little Garrett, who is not so little anymore!! And his sweet wife Kellie, they are expecting a baby in July!!! Congrats guys!!!
Sweet cousins Hunter "hunny buns" and Annie.
My beautiful girls....
My fangs for "Twilight"....they were so cool. I felt very intimidating....
Dressing up as always...
A beautiful sunset...
Coco's b-day cake...
Another project that turned out to be "pimp daddy scarecrow." not on purpose....

Party like it's her Birthday!

So she made it, it's official Coco is now 7 years old!! Her birhtday is today, and I swear she grew a foot over night!! We actually celebrated her big day on Monday because dad is out of town today, But we still gonna party because it is her birthday afterall!! I just dropped off the requested donuts to her class and tonight I am taking her and Annie and a friend to see Highschool Musical 3 and to Panda Express! Total Girls night out!!! I just have to figure out what to do with that boy, Bartel.... So A little about Coco: Coco is very spirited from the very beginning she was raring to go. She was born a month early and just as perfect as she is today. And secretly, she was my most beautiful baby.sshhhh. When the Dr. handed her to me I almost handed her back because she was so different looking from my son. She was way dark and had this huge dimple in her chin, which I love and kiss all the time. She was so cute!! She got her nickname "coco" early on from Bartel. They are only 14 months apart and Bartel couldn't say Chloe, so he called her "coco" and it's stuck. And she is such a Coco.
Coco, I want you to know, that I am so happy you belong to me. Your daddy and I love you so much. You are such a good girl and so sweet even when others, who shall remain nameless..(Bartel, Annie) gang up on you. You are so smart and funny, and just a joy to be around. I know I get frustarated with you and your easily distracted little mind, but if that's the worst of you, then I'm pretty lucky. You are so kind and full of love and forgiving. You have so much love in your little body, I know you can hardly contain it, because you are constantly giving out hugs and kisses like there's no tomorrow. What a blessing you are in my life, I'm so glad to be your mommy, I love that you love me so much, your always telling me how beautiful I am and how I'm the best mom ever. Even the other day when I asked what I could do to be a better mom, you had no improvements to offer. And we all know I am so flawed... But you think I am perfect and you just overlook those flaws. I love you and your tender little heart, you are sucha good sister and daughter, and sometimes I probably don't deserve you. Thank you for being mine. I love you more then I can express and I hope you know that and that I am able to show you everyday, like you do to me... Love Mom -the luckiest mom in the world.

Pictures at last!!

Coco wanted to take pictures and lucky me, I was her model...now you can all feel better about yourselves!

I call this ignorance is bliss...Bartel loves his encylopedia books. The only problem is he learns a little too much sometimes. He recently discovered the world of "bed bugs" And now this is where he has been sleeping the past 2 weeks....

Comfy Bartel? Knowledge was not power in this case...Remind me to take those dang books away!

I love Halloween. And my sweet mom was kind enough to make the girls their costumes this year. Bartel wanted to be a grim reaper (again) so i told him he could wear on old costume. Well about 2 nights before Halloween he tells me he wants to be swamp thing! As if! So I talked him into a ghost. I bought a sheet cut 2 holes (which was harder then it sounds) then bartel asked me to sew black netting inside for the dark eyes...How about no. SO I bought sunglasses and glued them inside.It seemed to work and he was happy. The girls looked so cute. Coco was a 50's diner waitress and Annie a beautiful princess. Thank you so much grandma Kimmy, your're the best!!

A birthday dress up dress for Annie! My friend Tatum helped me make this it turned out so cute! I'm making one for coco too shhh! Her's will be brown and champagne with pink flowers!

I don't know how this happened just turn your head for the full effect.

Girls day out.

Coco was being picked on by other children (her brother and sister) so she needed some TLC. And annie fell apart, when she found out she couldn't go because she wasn't nice. She said sorry and promised to be sweet and coco was more then happy to forgive and invite her along. Coco is a sweet girl.

We had lots of web for Halloween this year and creepy bats too..I haven't taken it down yet either!! My kids asked if I was going to take it down today...Fine.... party poopers!

My little Annie turned 3. I can hardly believe it. She was very specific about her cake like Bartel. She wanted a pink and orange cake. She had a good day I think. She got to pick out dinner (chicken casserole one of her fav's) and then have a family party. Then on her actual birthday she went to school and passed out treats and then mommy took her for pizza and to pick out some lip glosses then Chuck E. Cheese for dinner!! What a week! Annie we sure love you and are so glad you belong to us, you make us smile so much!!

Annie and Grandma Deb on her birthday!

Coco's Hannah Montana Do before we cut it (sob, sob). But she sure looks cute with shorter hair too! But she all of the sudden looks tall and older!!!

And the winner is.....

SO I know I promised pictures (jenna) but I can't find my card now!! So I thought I'd reveal the winning vote on my latest poll.....We had our ultra sound on Monday night and we had bets going on at our house, the winner was to pick dessert for the family. The only problem was we all agreed we were having a boy nobody had any different thoughts except Opa who swears he is always right at guessing the babies' sex, except for his most recent grandson, Connor, whom he thought was a girl. So ....sorry Opa no girl... We are having a boy! We are thrilled to even things up around here. The kids were so excited especially Bartel who threatened to pull his hair out and run away if it was another girl...I'm glad he's going to be staying with us and keeping his hair too. And Andrea, you should be glad, I did this for you guys I know Bremen wants a boy next and that you guys seem to follow our lead with kids so,...your welcome. I did my best.

Good intentions...

I had every intention of posting some recent pics of the family, but I cannot find them on my computer! This has never happened before. I feel so computer illiterate... So I'll have to down load agin and post them tomorrow. In the meantime, I was taggged to post 6 unspectacular quirks about myself. So here we go....

1. I hate Math, but yet I count things...I can't help it. Steps, cracks on the street, parked cars, letters in words etc...Are you scared yet?

2. Anytime we are driving and pass a cemetary or mortuary, (especially in AZ) I am quick to let BArt know if it's an acceptable place to bury me or not...It usually isn't. The only one I've found so far to suit my liking is in Sacramento...Hope everyone can deal with that, if you love me you will come.

3. I hate the cotton that comes in the bottles of medicine..I just got goosebunps typing about it.. I either have to get tweezers to get it out so I don't touch it, or I have to get Bart to get it out, but then he tries to touch me with it...so tweezers usually work best.

4. I say sorry alot. I know this because I have people tell me not to be sorry. And now, my girls say it like it's "Please" or "thankyou"...What have I done to them? ...Sorry.

5. I have to make good food.. It kills me to "cheat" and not give 110% when I am cooking. I have to pull every bit of fat off my meat, if someone were to find a piece of fat or gristle on my food, it would be as bad as them finding a severed finger....

6.I hate being barefoot. Especially in the house. It makes me feel dirty and shorter then i already feel. Also, I hate lumpy jam or jelly on my bread it has to be smoothed out, same with mayo and tooth paste on my tooth brush....

I tag.. DeAnn, Andrea, Sherece, Rachel, and Lisa - if you all are still my friends, you may think me too weird now.

Funny Kids....

School Lunch:

Bartel: I finally found out what a sloppy joe was, I had it today and it was disgusting.

Coco: I like them..their sooo good.

Bartel: OH, their so gross!

Coco: Well, everybody has different taste bugs!

Sympathy:

Bartel: Mom, are you exhausted?...Don't worry I'll confort you. ( he rubs my back)

Mystery Spaghetti Sauce:

Coco: (whispering) Bartel, mom just put ketchup in the shaghetti sauce- gross.

Bartel: Chloe, mom is a professional, she knows what she's doing....

Worst day ever!!

Our dog cozy was in the front yard with us as we were cleaning the garage on Saturday when she decided to poo-poo on the driveway. So Dad appointed Bartel to be the official cleaner upper. Well, that did not go well. After many layers of napkins the job was done, and a tearful scarred for life BArtel ran up the stairs. A few minuets later we were given a letter:

"DON'T COME IN MY ROOM BECAUSE, THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER!!!!"

I found three more notes like these placed randomly around the house....

More Letters:

After  much knocking and not being allowed to enter our room because we were dressing, we were met with a new form of communication....and tattling.

The first note from Coco read:

Mom, Bartel is outside by the pool all by his self.....

Second note from Bartel:

Mom, is it time for school yet?

Third note from Annie, this one is taped up:

Just scribbled pictures.

Are my kids neglected?

Bartel and Coco also have a "special black box" in their room that they communicate thru. Apparently Bartel checks the "mail" every 2 days for any notes that Coco might leave for him. He has allowed me to participate as well. I'm just trying to think of a really good note to leave for him. 

Tomorrow I will try to remember to post a letter that I got from Bartel a few weeks ago...It's a good one, you'll want to read it....

pumkin soup!

This is one of my favorites! We have a tradition with our good friends every October as it gets closer to Halloween, we have a pumpkin night. We make this soup and carve our pumpkins together. I think we are even going to have some pumpkin pasta this year too! I taught a quick and easy meals class the other night at my house and, I made this soup, it literally takes minuets to make but it tastes so fancy! Try it don't be scared, let me know what you think!


Pumpkin Soup

1 Tbs. oil
2 Tbs. minced onion
1 ½ c. chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground ginger
1 c. canned pumpkin pie filling (with seasonings)
1 c. heavy cream

Heat oil sauté onion and ginger till soft. Combine all ingredients. Heat and serve.

Breezy.....

Today is just beautiful outside. I haven't said those words in relation to Arizona in a long time. I was actually a little nippy, in my house today. I made breakfast for the family, and then as I was cleaning the kitchen up, i noticed the trees swaying in the breeze, so I open my kitchen window and the most wonderful cool breeze, graced my kitchen and it made me so happy. I didn't even mind that I had to clean up a big mess. I love the fall, it's my favorite season, I just wish we had those pretty fall colors here, because that would complete my happiness today....that and new kitchen cabinets and countertops, and ovens...ok, I'm done. But I am grateful to not run the AC today, and I can't wait to use my fireplaces!!

What is your favorite season?

Tagged....

I guess this is how it works: My friend Rachelle tagged me and I had to post the fouth picture in my fourth photo folder and then tell about the picture and then tag others! So this picture is Annie licking the beaters after I made something yummy I guess, can't remember what, but she was a mess! But still cute.... I tag.....Andrea, Sherece, De Ann, and Coleen!

Lemon Bars

This recipe did turn out good. And for some reason I did have left over filling so, I filled a dish and cooked it and we ate it hot....So good. So hot. Be careful. So by request of Kara, who I'm not sure who you are but am glad you stopped by, The Lemon bar recipe. Nothing special just lemony goodness....I'm posting it here because I have no pics of them.

Lemon Bars

Crust: 

2c. flour

1c. butter

1/2c. powdered sugar

combine until crumbly, press into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 min. 

filling:

4 eggs

2c. sugar

1/2c. fresh lemon juice

1/4c. flour

1/2tsp. baking powder

optional grated lemon

combine lemon filling ingrediants until frothy. pour into pan and bake additional 20-25 mins. When cooled sprinkle with powdered sugar.

When I made this I doubled the recipe, and I used a large jellyroll pan, and not all the filling would fit there fore I baked it in a separate crock. So I'm not sure if you'll have extra using the 9x13 dish. Just in case you were looking forward to having a little extra to snack on hot.

More Drama with Annie...

Taking Coco to gymnastics....

Annie: "Mom, I go to mastics?"

Mom: "No honey, just Coco"

Annie: " Mom, this is so sad."
" I wanna play in mastics, I'm sad now."
" Now I broke my nail, it's so sad."
" I wanna play in mastics"
"This is so sad."
" I want Daddy, this is so sad"
Did I mention Annie just learned about feelings in School the previous week? Who knew she actually paid attention? I think it's safe to say that she has sadness down. She also lets me know quite frequently " I happy now" , especially after she's been sad. Like as soon as we got home from gymnastics, she stopped crying and said. you guessed it "I happy now" I don't know what changed but at least she gets out of a slump fast...She also has to do a happy face to prove she's not faking it, she smiles with her mouth wide open like she's going to eat you, and then she raises her eyebrows up and down several times...It's quite scary actually.....But, she's happy. I love this kid. I'll try to get a picture of the "happy face" I'm not doing it justice.

Oh, Dear....

IT was a little too quiet and I found Annie behind the couch which always leads me to suspicion...
Our eyes met...

Mom: Annie what are you doing?
Annie: Mom, don't look at me.
Mom: Annie why do you have toilet paper in your shirt? Are you making Boobies?
(she has one finished so far)
Annie: Mom I want big ones like you...
Mom: Annie no more toilet paper, no more ok?
Annie: I know I'm a big girl.
2 mins later....She has finished the job and is sporting teeny tiny tissue boobies..
Why me?

Our weekend...

What a crazy busy weekend we had. Did I mention fun? and emotional? Oy.. So my brother inlaw Keith, had his mission farewell this past Sunday. So we had family galore come into town which was so fun. Bart's Aunt Chris and Uncle Larry came to stay with us along with their daughter in law and my friend, Rachel and her two sweet kids Eli and Brynn. It was so fun to have them here. And I think i found a new boyfriend in Eli. He kinda clung to me like saran wrap which of course, I loved. He is such a munch. I can't believe I didn't take one picture the entire time they were here!! Rachels kids are so cute, and I don't even have proof. Your just going to have to take my word for it. Anyhow, it was fun to have them here. We stayed up way too late visiting the heck out of each other, and eating left over hot lemon bar filling (Rachel how is your mouth?) from the lemon bars I made for the farewell party. Keith's talk was full of emotion, and testimony. What a guy that Keith is. He sure has grown up so much in the past few years. I know he will give his best in the mission field. We had to say good-bye today at the airport and I was a wreck. But he was too so I didn't feel so bad. Watching KEith say good-bye to Debbie, was probably the hardest thing. It made me realize just how fast time goes. I was just a Keiths baptism, it seems like and now he's serving a mission. Bartel just got baptized, and before I know it he's going to be gone too. I"m thankful for good examples like Keith and Bart and Michael, and my brothers. I know I am going to have a hard time letting go when my time comes but, I'm fortunate enough to have a testimony of the gospel to know that serving a mission is what Heavenly Father wants his sons to do. It was so sweet to see the little nieces and nephews of Keith crying when he was set apart as a missionary and then at the airport. They really love their Uncle Keith.
So I've been puffy,stuffy, and headachey all day from tears, I'm quite a sight actually. Hopefully I will de-puff by tomorrow......Good Luck in Brazil Keith, we love you!!

Oh Man!!

So Saturday afternoon, was a rough one. Bart was at a youth activity at the lake, I was trying to clean house and rally the troops to help by offering payment for their hard work. Bartel complied and was more then happy to do his share for money. Coco was motivated for about 5 mins until she realized she had to actually finish a chore to get credit for it. So she became "ill" and was confined to her bed the rest of the day. So Bartel did her chores for her money. And I ended up cleaning her room with a trash bag. She was not happy. I didn't throw anything away, but it's she has a serious time out from toys for awhile. then there was Annie. She had no desire to help in any way, not surprising. She pretty much whirled and twirled and pulled out more stuff while I cleaned. As the day progressed, I was getting frustrated with Coco, who miraculously  was healed from her ailment but still wouldn't help out. So I'm cleaning the kitchen and Annie is on the counter and we're chatting, and I notice that a big hunk of hair is cut very blunt on the side. I am staring in disbelief, and I'm almost afraid to ask what i'm sure I already know. "Annie did you cut your hair" she is a little hesitant. And in her broken english tells me more or less "yes, with scissors" . I'm sick. I was just bragging to friends a few weeks ago that I have never had hair cutting issues with my girls!! This can't be happening. But I am grateful that it isn;t right in front like a punk rocker cut. Coco has just been talking nonstop about cutting her hair so Annie was just showing her how to get it done i guess. So I'm upset and take her into my room and she's aware that I'm upset, and I start crying (pregnancy) and I'm cuddling her and I'm crying her and asking her "why did you cut your hair Annie?" She replies " I want to be beautiful" I cry harder. I worry my almost 3 yr. old has self esteem issues..." You are beautiful" I say between sobs. She's crying now too.  So when Bart gets home I give him the run down on all he missed. I get to Annie's hair and my lip quivers again, and Annie says "don't cry anymore mom" So I suck it up for her sake. "It's not that bad" Bart says. "Just leave it". As if. So Sunday Morning I'm telling Annie we're going to make her hair beautiful and cut it. She's not happy. "Don't cut my hair mom" is repeated more then once. I have no choice. I can't let her go to church like this. Now she's crying. I reassure her it will be beautiful like a princess. She's not buying it. I finish and get her into the bath for a quick shampoo, we blow dry, and then the final result...She loves it. And she points out that we have "same, same hair" Oh joy, just like Katie Holmes and Suri.... I'm still sick....and throwing away all my scissors. "Annie, we never, never, never, cut our hair right?"   "Nope, never, never, never." Then she see's Bart trimming around his ears. "Daddy cuts his hair"....great.

P.s Coco is bugged that Annie's hair got cut before hers....I can't make anyone happy.

Her locks of love i had to cut...sniff, sniff.

Back side...sniff,sniff

Final product....don't look to close Jenna

Photo updates

So much going on lately. This past weekend was busy and crazy and fun! Friday my brother in-law Keith went thru the temple for the first time and that was so great to be there with him. We love Keith. He is so much fun and such a neat guy. My kids just adore him as do I. We went camping a few weeks ago and he came up to help Bart in his off-road race, he was such a big help. we are going to miss him when he leaves for his mission, but we are so proud of him. He's setting such a good example for my kids. His farewell is the 28th this month and then he leaves I believe the following week straight to Brazil MTC.

  So then Saturday the 13th was Bartels Baptism. My parents and Carly, Kyle bug, and Dakota came down to support Bartel in this big step. My dad gave a wonderful talk on baptism. I love hearing my dad talk he's so sweet and sincere. He loves Bartel so much and vice versa. It was really neat for my parents to see their first grandchild baptized. thanks for being there guys! And of course Bart's family was all in attendance, which we so appreciate, I know everyone has busy lives, but we appreciate everyone being there. My parents left Monday morning and we were sad to see them go, especially Annie, she really wanted to go with them..stinker I guess I'm not fun enough for her. Any how, that's all for now,  

Kyle Bug and Coco 

Making and playing with play dough after school

Bartel and Bart on the big day. No, Bartel isn't overcome with emotion, he slipped in water in the bathroom and fell and hurt his arm....figures.

Annie and Coco before church. Annie is channeling Cindy Lauper with her outfitt. Girls do just want to have fun though!

Papa and the kids cuddling.

At Bartel's b-day bash!

First day of school at Spuhler Sprouts! You can check out Annie in action at school at spuhlersprouts.blogspot.com Isn't she so munchie!! I love this kid...

First day of Ballet!! she loves it, I asked her yesterday what she learned and without hesitation, she pointed her toes out and slid it across the floor. It was so cute. Sh e goes to class with her friend Brielle, there are so cute together.

My only picture of florida...and yes I know this is not Bart and I, it's our dear friends the Perkins, and the beautiful white sands beach in Clearwater....Bart was in class and meetings the whole time!! So I was the third wheel, i tried not to walk to closely behind these two love birds on the beach, I didn't want to wreck the romanticness of the moment but leave it to me, I did anyways when I announced that I had to find a bathroom ASAP.... 

Bartel and his requested "Maple Cake" funny kid, he was so specific on his birthday list : Exact titles of books, bible with his name on it, an old fashioned silver stop watch with a cover? And the best one....a diamond. What the? I don't even ask for diamonds!

Grandma Deb and Bartel

Bart changing out his traveling tires for some big honkin' ones before the race that he by the way, took 3rd place in!! That's my boy! Cute buns too!

Coco got in touch with nature up in Snowflake and was hunting frogs and lizards and snakes the entire time!!

A quick snack before dinner!