All my GoOfy children

2011-01-29T15:43:00.000-05:00

When it is time to feed the cats I just call and they come a runnin'. A couple weeks a ago when I called she didn't come after a while of looking she eventually came out of hiding but was the worse for wear. She wouldn't out any weight on her back leg. When we took her to the vet they found that she had a broken leg. It is very sad but are glad to have her with us. The funny part is that she sounds a looks like a pirate! AaRgHHh!!!!

New York, New York!!!!

2010-09-12T20:06:00.001-04:00

New York, I finally made it!
Ever since I can remember I have wanted to go to N.Y. I wanted to know what the biggest city in the U.S. was like. Well, first impression, it was AmAZinG! It was big and busy and just everything I thought it would be a so much better.

We arrived in New Jersey late at night and the attendant at our hotel had given away our room. So we went across the street to a motel. I realized while Kyle was checking us in that any motel that gives rates by the hour is probably a different kind of hotel, but we decided we had no other option. So, the next morning we went back to our original hotel and straightened things out!

Broadway Ave.

Kyle with Optimus Prime!

Times Square

N.Y City Sunset

The next day we hopped on a bus and took the Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan. It's a pretty neat experience in and of itself, the turnpike literally takes a hairpin turn under ground into the Lincoln tunnel under the water. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the other side. The bus terminal is deep under ground as well, and it was a little disorienting finding our way out. The metro is in the same place and we used both a lot, so by the end of the week we had it all pretty well figured out. Once we left the terminal we went straight above ground and started walking! Sad moment in my life was when we walked straight through Times Square and I didn't even know it! AArrgghh!!! When we had a couple minutes to sit and take is all in this is what we saw. It was bright like Las Vegas, with all the billboards and news ads, it smelled like the county fair, and the movement of all the people no matter the time of day was energetic.

Metorology Observatory from the mid-late 1800'

That day we also went to the central Park and ate lunch, another jewel for my crown! An absolute dream come true! Something you wouldnt know about the Central Park unless you were there is that it, like so many other things in N.Y. goes down in the ground. Not under ground but below street level. So it moves and flows unlike parks out west where there is more room for it to meander.

Central Park

Notice how happy I am?

This little guy about the size of a chicken.

So life like!

After lunch we walked over to the Natural History Museum. Any one who as seen the movies Night at the Museum would feel just like they were in the movie walking through here. The animal sets were amazing and the dinsaur exhibits had so many types that I didnt even know exshisted! When we left the Natural Hisotry we walked clear the other side of Central Park and just made the last hour of the Gougenhiem. It was interesting, I found it confusing and frustrating but Kyle, my art buff loved it.

The Gougenhiem.


Thanks Lloyd another high five for you!

Tile sign on the Subway.

On the platform, hot and stinky.

Inside The Empire Building.

The next day, we decided that because our feet hurt so bad that the subway was the way to go! It was really nice to travel around the city so much faster but the subway itself is not nice smelling. The first two levels were ok but the third level down smells like gym socks and farts, because there is no air flow, not to mention it's hot!!! I was impressed though at the attention to detail that we just dont have these days. Tile signs every where; nice looking and functional too!

On the subway train.

Skyline from the top; oohh, pretty!

Anyway, we went to the Empire State Building. When we were at the building I didnt think we were at the right place because at ground level it just looks like any other building, lol! The inside kind of reminded me of the Ministry of magic from Harry Potter. We also went to ground zero and even though I was on the other side of the U.S. and knew no one who was invovled I was equally moved that day we visited as the day it happened. The little visiters center was lovely and the memorbilia was moving being there was almost spiritual.


The Twin Towers should have been in front of those 2 buildings. That is outside of the front doors of the visiter's center.

Twisted metal supports recovered from the site,

The time piece from the lobby of one the Trade Centers recovered.

My fav. piece of art drawn by a child displayed at the visitors center.

The New York City skyline from the farey going to Ellis Island.

Eatin' lunch at the Statue of Liberty.

Later, we went to the Statue of Liberty (which is not as big as one might have imagined). We ate lunch there as well and surprised my mother in law with an impromptu call and made her guess where we were at! That was priceless! One of my favorite stops was Ellis Island, I was able to locate ancestors in the ships manifesto and learn more about her. It was awesome!!!!

Rockefeller Plaza.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (corny!)

Lastly, we went to Tiffany's, I know that it was corny but I had to have breakfast at Tiffany's. We then tried to get on the Today Show, according to sources our sign was seen. We took in a little music on the plaza. I sang along with Carol King and James Taylor.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Egyptian temple.

The remainder of our day was spent viewing some of the world's most famous art at the Metroplitan Museum of Art and the Modern Museum of Art. At the Met we took in most of the museum, it took about 8 hours. We saw statues both originals and reproduction, we saw whole Egyption Temples reassmbled inside the museum. Paintings that were so much more beautiful than any photo graph, it makes one feel silly that we buy prints of these and say that that is beauty. We ate lunch in the cafe in the Met and every bite was a taste of what our eyes took in, in art and culture. The very last place we went was the Modern Museum of Art and it was really cool, but at that point we couldn't concentrate on anything because our feet hurt so bad! So we called it a trip. The following morning we packed our little bags, wiped a tear from our eyes, blew a kiss to Manhattan from our car window and headed for home. But all corniness aside I would live in New York in a heartbeat! Maybe, someday, who knows.

THE END!!!!

2010-02-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

Kikis Birthday was January 26th. She turned eight. In our church that means she's old enough to be baptized. It has been a long awaited event and we are so excited for her. Grandma and Grandpa came for the big day. She decided to wear my baptism dress and Dad baptized her. Others who came were the Anderson's, the Dean's, the Altomon's. It was wonderful considering she had the flu. She threw up right before we left but she toughed it out and did it anyway. Her father and I couldn't have been prouder. Grandma and Grandpa got her a set of scriptures, Mom and Dad got her a CTR ring, Kasey Bassatt took the photos.

2010-02-18T13:47:00.000-05:00

Happy 1st Birthday

Maxikins!

He got a quiet book, keys, a big bouncie truck, and a walker, for his birthday. He got German chocolate cake and loved putting his pudgy little fingers into it. His brothers and sister helped him blow out the candles. He has only one tooth on the bottom. He loves doing high fives and waving, too! We love you our sweet little boy. We are so happy you are in our lives.

Friends Forever

2010-02-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

The other day Do-do kept talking about how his friend wanted something to eat and that his friend wanted a valentines card and that his friend doesn't like milk but he loves root beer. So I asked him about his friend and he said that his friends name is Cheerio and he lives at far far away mountains. It reminded me about Kiki's imaginary friend. It was a dog named Allygog. For about two months I had to put food out for the dog at every meal. The dog had to have her seat belt on any time we were in the car, too! The funniest thing was that you could hear Kiki play with her friend alone in her room all the time. She would even sing the dog to sleep at night!

No sense crying over spilt milk?

2010-01-28T19:39:00.000-05:00

I see myself as a lively, active mother willing to do whatever it takes to make my childrens lives enjoyable. Most days I find my children to be an absolute joy. However, on days like today I thank the Heavens above for anti-depressants. While helping my husband scan in images for his class, I hear my three year old Do-do from the floor above, crying and that he needs me. Absently, I said, I will be right there, hold on a minute. My daughter comes down a few moments later saying that she smells apple juice. Instantly, I know that Do-do has spilt the apple juice on the floor. If only that was all. He not only had he spilt it, but some it when into the vegetable drawer covering all the vegetables. The remainder of it that was on the floor leaked into the crevices in the floor to the folded laundry below and the table they were sitting on. When it hit the parts of the table that were bare it splattered onto everything. Little tiny sticky dots of apple juice all over the walls, the washer and dryer, ALL OVER the floor int he laundry room. Just when you think, "oh, its not that bad". It does get worse Do-do decided that his bear pajamas are water proof and walked through the big puddle on the kitchen floor and tracked it through the living room. So when someone tells you there's no use crying over spilt milk. Don't you listen, you just go ahead a cry, while you mop it up.

From: The Chronicles of One Whacked Out Frazzled Mommy.

H1N1

2009-12-13T22:03:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Day was just the beginning. It started out ok, kyle and I enjoyed the morning cooking together and chatting. The food was fantastic! We made everything from scratch and I really couldn't complain that the only thing that didn't turn out was the dinner rolls! i loved setting my table with all of my Grandmothers fine china that she gave to me. And setting out my fine silver was the special touch, we even had Kyle's Great Grandmothers platters! What could possibly ruin such a wonderful day. H1N1, that's what! It is more commonly known as swine flu. (The government decided to name it something else because ignorant simpletons thought that if they killed all the pigs it would go away. It is in fact a viral infection that attacks the lungs of swine. However, it has mutated and no longer resides in swine. Humans do not have a natural immunity to it so that is how it has become a pandemic.) Katey got swine flu and it hit her late Wednesday night and got worse rapidly. At it's worse she had a 104.7 temperature but she carried a temperature for about 10 days. She was in and out of the hospital for days for dehydration. She also suffered from hallucinations that were really scary. I didn't leave her side the whole time. Kyle also got swine flu and was throwing up all night after Thanksgiving. About a week later Jack got it and then a few days later Sam did. Luckily, the boys had had the Vaccine on board for almost two weeks so they did not suffer as Katey did. I thank our Heavenly Father that no one has suffered any long term effects from it.

Funny little things.

2009-11-01T15:51:00.001-05:00

Jack had a talk in Primary and this is what he said,"I don't know why and I don't always understand, but I know God has a plan for me." (age 5)

Today at lunch just Jack and I were sitting alone, in silence for quite a while then he says,"wouldn't it be great if a caterpillar could lift a penny?" (age 5)

Max's first words and sentence: "get up" (age 12mon)
Max's first name: Ka'y (Katey)
Katey's first words: "la lu" (love you)
Katey's first sentence: "grampa stop" (age 10 mon)
Katey's first name: "Cha cha" (her cousin chase)
Jack's first word: "num"
Jack's first sentence: "wait me"
Jack's first name: "Cha cha"
Sam's first word: "cookie"
Sam's first name: "DD"
Sam's first sentence: "Jackie rue" (Jackie's rude)

We were leaving to take Kyle to school and I saw a big pile of cookies and crackers and cheese outside by the front door. I knew instantly it was Sam who did it. I was getting pretty mad because I cant break him of the habit of playing with his food. When I asked him why he did it he said,"I was leaving it out for my dragon." I was too busy giggling to be mad anymore.

There is a house that is empty next door to us, it's been repossessed by the bank. The deck in the back has a gate that is open and has paint sitting on the porch. Well, my children and all the neighbor children decided that it would be a good idea to paint the deck. Good thinking guys! They are supposed to be playing in OUR backyard!

I got a "circle yes or no" letter today. "To: Katey's Mom Can Katey come and play at my house on my swing sex (I'm sure she was trying to write a T). yes or no."

A child's interpretation of a cliche as told by my daughter Katey: I was allowed into a group today mom. My friend Kennedy and her two best friends had a conference today about wether or not to let me in their group and they thought I would be a good addition. So they sweetly accepted me in, shook my hand, and said welcome to the group. Now I have someone to play with at recess.

Sam: I love cake **SluRp** He say **slurp** for every food he likes, he's such a doll!

The other while changing the shoelaces in Katey's shoes we had a funny little conversation.
Mom: Katey we got to hurry or you'll be late for school.
Jack: Or Katey could stay home and play with me.
Mom: No she has to go because it's illegal for her to not go to school and i'll get a big fat ticket and have to pay the government alot of money.
Katey: And you know how the man loves his money.

When the Stinson's were here over for Christmas 09 Tack told me he was going to marry their daughter, Adriana. Some weeks later I asked him if he was going to marry Adriana and he said no I'm going marry Brooklyn, a girl at church. Do-bop piped in and said, " You know the fat girl that sits behind me at church, yeah, I'm going marry her. I like to hug her."

My sister Julie's daughter Emma was asked what she would like to name their new kitty, she said "air". Her mother asked why air, why not breezy or windy? She responded saying,"I like the way air feels when I go out to play."

We took Do-bop and Tack to Red Robin with us for lunch. Do-bop wanted a "Snoopy french fries" and Tack wanted "Volacoraptor burger".

When Kiki was about 3 all she ever wanted to eat was "Care Bear burritos"(bean burritos).

One Sunday at our new ward in Spokane we walked into the Chapel and the overflow was open all the way inot the gym and there was a large space behind the chairs and Do-Bop thought this was wonderful! He turns to me and says,"look Mom, I'n runnin," I said no. Doo-doo says,"I'n skippin" I said no He says,"I'n jumpin" I said no again. Finally, he gives up and came back looking so dejected.

Kiki called bananas "Malas" forever.

Tack would always say,"baby, baby, baby, baby" to Madisen. He was in love with her.

When Kiki wanted you to pick her up should would say,"I want ya, baby".

Do-bop's favorite food is bananas, candy, bubble gum. In that order!

Tack LOVES transformers and Pokemon soooooo much he can tell you all you would ever you could possibly want to know about them.

Maxi-kins has only two things in this world he wants. The first is me and the second is ice cream. This is his reaction when he doesn't get what he wants.

All Hallows Eve!

2009-11-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

This Halloween has been a small, laid back affair. We went to the church for a Trunk or Treat and the next did the classic door to door trick or treat. Here in Columbus they split the city into quadrants so they can beef up the police force in those areas on the day assigned that quadrant. Our day was Thursday, so Saturday didn't really feel like Halloween. We already had Halloween on Thursday, weird huh? But it was fun regardless and the kids got lots of candy. Tack-man was the Great Pumpkin. Kiki was a Witch Kyle calls her a techno-colored witch. Do-Bop was a ghost.

Fall colors.

2009-11-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

This Fall here in Columbus has been beautiful. I took the boys out to gather leaves to make some crafts and enjoy the fresh air

2009-11-01T14:35:00.000-05:00

Do-Bop is our most adventurous dresser. But most of all he loves his goggles! He wears them to bed, up to the table, out to run to errands. He would even wear them to bed if we let him! You are sooooo cute Doo-doo.

STrAwBErRieS!!!

2009-09-14T10:07:00.000-04:00

One of the funnest things we did this summer was strawberry picking with my sister Jessica and her family. It was a beautiful day and the kids loved it. I loved eating the strawberries, too!

Our new place!

2009-09-13T18:20:00.001-04:00

So I've had requests that I post pictures of our new place. It is wonderful, it has everything I could ever want.

This is what you see when you come up the walk. Yes, that is a pine tree in the front yard. It is the only one in the entire state and it was planted there by the previous owner.The main living space is an open floor plan. To the left right as you walk in the door is the dining room.This is two views of our living room. The top picture is from the front door. The bottom is from the kitchen doorway.The kitchen is a galley kitchen. It is very cute. I love it!
The next four pictures are all just as you come down the stairs. This is the pantry, it's tot he left, it isn't done yet. The wall that has the black board on it; I am going to put shelves from wall to wall. Then I am going to build shelves coming perpendicular from it creating a T. This is the laundry room it ain't pretty but I just love it! This is to your right, across from the pantry. It has lots of shelving for all of the linens and blankets, room for storage and the ironing board, and a huge laundry basket with a place to hang up clothes!These two pictures are of the rec. room. The pic. above is to your right when you enter its my sewing and Kyle's office and to the left we have the t.v. down here. You can see a door in the pic. Through there is two full size rooms that we use as storage.This is the back yard. It is just the right size for us. Next year I want to build a play house. Just outside the picture to the left is a nice two car garage.

2009-09-13T18:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Kyle!

2009-09-13T18:10:00.000-04:00

On September 9, 2000
We were Married for all time and Eternity
It is now 9 years Later!
(That makes it 9-9-09 for 9 years!)

Kikis first day of 2nd grade

2009-09-13T17:02:00.000-04:00

Kiki had her first day of school September 1st. She was so excited and a little bit nervous. But she felt confident in her new shoes that she got because they reminded her of Maddie and Lundie. Daddy gave her a blessing that she would have a good year. I was very proud of her because she did her best on the tests and made friends the first day. She now has friends int he neighborhood, too. She is off to a good start to the year. Way to go Kiki.

2009-09-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

Do-bop is now 3 years old! We went Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. It was really fun to let the kids run around and play. I made a Pokemon cake that turned out so so cute. When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said that he wanted a yellow birthday. So I got him a pair of yellow boots. It was so nice of everyone to send Do-bop cards and presents. He loved his yellow birthday.

And we're off like a herd of turtles!

2009-09-04T00:35:00.000-04:00

So, that little adventure that we went on, to Ohio. What an interesting trip it was. So to tell a story we have to start at the beginning. We got up late (that is how every good trip starts you know) and then had to stop by Jess and Ty's to get stuff that we were too exhausted to get the night before. But, eventually, we began the first lag. It was mostly uneventful. We quickly discovered that the trip was going to take a lot longer based on the fact that a majority of our party have extraordinarily small bladders, so we have to stop every 2 hours for potty breaks and the kids then want out to walk around. So, ever so slowly we made our way down to billings. This where my Grandpa Joe Peaslee was raised until he left home at 14, there are many Peaslee's still living in the area. It is beautiful country around there. My Mom mentioned 50 or more times how she could totally live there.

The next day we went to Parshall, North Dakota where we stayed at the most wonderful little bed and breakfast called Deep Water Bay, "Where they butter their bread right to the edges". The nicest folks you'll ever meet, we just loved staying with them, good cooks too! We stayed there for two days because we have a family connections just north of there in Plaza. My Great Great Grandmother and Grandfather Arthur and Hattie Edwards built a homestead just outside of Plaza in North Dakota. The home place is off in the distance.Our cousins live there now, they call it the home-place. They were a ton of fun and very hospitable. Our cousins Olaf and Penny Edwards hosted lovely impromptu get together for us and we ate slush boogers (sloppy joes). Their accents were really fun to hear, as well. The scenery was amazing! Gently rolling hills, blue sky uninterrupted from horizon to horizon. We even saw some oil fields, beans, barley, peas, and even sun flowers are just some of the crops that people farm. Of course, there was also a lot of wheat, and when the wind blows it rolls just like waves on the ocean. We did Get to see the home that hattie and Arthur built. It was really big and much more modern in layout and design than I would have thought. It was neat to hear that some of the family had lived in this house that was about a hundred years old up until last year. Before, my great cousin Auntie Jo had passed away (she was the baby of Hattie and Arthur) she told my Mom that Hattie's trunk that held her wedding dress was in the attic. So with the help of our two little cousins, Jacob and Perry. I was able to get into the attic and was able to recover a few items that had been lost ages ago. However, the trunk (the kids all called it the treasure trunk) was not up there. Later, while at the grave yard, I was reading one of the books I found in the attic and, in the notebook there was a lot of sketches of plants that she was studying at the time. A years worth of journal entries, and the most priceless of all the finds was family tree of her family as far back as she could remember. This discovering was so exciting because my Mother had hit a road block in her family history and could go no further. We really felt like she had led us there, personally. It was a very awesome and spiritual experience! Later, we went to dinner with all of our cousins and shared this exciting new find, and I think that they were very happy!

The next day we were off on our exodus and it went without a hitch, it was very uneventful. We stopped in St. Paul, Minnesota. The next day we realized quickly that this was the death march portion of the trip. We were very tired and decided go straight for Columbus. We started early and drove straight to Chicago, Illinios. We were convinced that we were better off to go around Chicago and avoid the traffic and all of those pesky toll booths. Boy! Were we smart! We saw right away that there is no such thing as going "around" toll booths. So this is all we saw of Chicago, toll booths and traffic! Three hours and $20.00 later we were well on our way to Columbus. But we did cross the Mississippi!Lesson learned: pay the tolls, and enjoy the West's FREEways. We saw Indiana from the window of the moving van. But just from the window you could tell we had entered into entirely new territory. There were no more pine trees, lots and lots of fields, and everything was very green and lush. I felt like I had stepped into Huckleberry Finns world. About halfway through Indiana it occurred to me that we were just passing the town of Argos, that the Gilpatricks, one of Kyle's ancestors had founded. So I called Papa to tell him all about it. Then just as soon as it began we drove into the state of Ohio, the end. It was all so surreal to be in the car for five days, it went by so fast and yet seemed take eternity. It was night time when we drove into the state. When your tired and you've been driving for days things start to take on a new shape. We got into our hotel at about 9pm. The kids and I went right to sleep. Mom stayed up till Kyle and Sherri drove into town and when they called she went to get them and have them follow her to the hotel room. That sounds easy enough right? Well, it wasn't. They called and Mom went to get them and they just kept missing each other. I woke up just after 3 am when Kyle came in. It took my mom and Kyle 3 hours to find each other and make it back to the hotel! It was very sad. The day after Mom and Sherri left we found our new home!

*All of the pictures are not my own.

2009-08-03T16:45:00.000-04:00

In memory of
Joseph B. Peaslee
Died July 8, 2009
Age 80

2009-07-15T09:23:00.001-04:00

Dear Mr. Kemble:

I am pleased to learn that you have accepted our offer of admission to the graduate program of the Department of History of Art at The Ohio State University. The Graduate Studies Committee was impressed with your application and is pleased to offer you financial support in the form of a Graduate Associateship (GTA or GAA) for the 2009-2010 academic year. The GTA appointments include teaching, grading, and other instructional and administrative assignments related to the History of Art. GAA appointees are typically assigned to either the Visual Resources Library or the History of Art Department office. All Graduate Associates are expected to work an average of 20 hours per week, and they receive a fee authorization, covering full tuition and instructional fees, as well as a monthly stipend for each quarter on appointment. The monthly stipend for beginning TAs next year will be at least $1300.00.

Providing that you make adequate progress toward your degree, we will continue to fund you for a minimum of five years.

The Graduate Studies Committee and the department are very pleased to be able to offer this financial support to you, and look forward very much to seeing you in Columbus in the fall. Please let me know if you have any questions.

With all best wishes.

Sincerely,

Julia F. Andrews
Chair, Graduate Studies Committee
Professor
History of Art
Ohio State University

2009-07-07T03:55:00.001-04:00

As a family we all participated in putting together Do-bops train. It was AWESOME! The train took up the whole room. Katey put the zoo together. Sammy was in charge of the train. Tack man did the construction scene. And lets not forget that we couldn't have done without Dad! He put the tracks together.

2009-07-07T03:48:00.000-04:00

Kiki and I made this little or rather big doll armoire together. It took forever but it was totally fun. This is actually all made out of fabric covered cardboard. Kiki picked the fabric from out of her Nana's fabric stash. I loved doing this soooo much
I wanted to make another!

2009-07-07T03:40:00.000-04:00

We are so lucky to have such a loving and thoughtful mother-in-law. She bought this beautiful

boiler and thought we might enjoy having. So the first thing we did was melt chocolate. The kids were allowed to dip their own strawberries. We all enjoyed eating these yummy chocolatey morsels.

I can't take you people any where!

2009-07-07T03:33:00.000-04:00

So the other day my niece Madisen and I were at the store with the kids and they have this nifty machine that grinds your peanuts or almonds in this case, into peanut butter. So I bought just a little bit of it to give it a try. While it is being ground and squeezed into my container DD and I both comment on the fact that it looks a little like doggy fecal matter. I turn to the kids and ask them if they would like a taste and proceed to offer some to Kiki and Tack man first. Do-bop starts to cry and says,"I want to try dog poop!" We are stunned and of course start to giggle like 6th grade girls. Do-bop then says all through the store,"I like dog poop."

2009-07-07T03:29:00.000-04:00

Emma's first hair cut. She has never ever had her hair cut and I had the pleasure of cutting her hair for the first time! This is before....

....and this is after. She was a very good girl and the hair cut ain't too bad either!

2009-07-07T03:27:00.000-04:00

My reluctant Super Hero!

Some pics of Max

2009-06-09T03:24:00.000-04:00

Our Baby Maxy-kins @ 4 months!

2009-06-07T17:09:00.000-04:00

Note: For those of you who have been there and those of you who are yet to be there but especially to those of you who are there right now, this is for you.

Confessions of a frazzled whacked out Mommy.

Today, I went to the store to buy the last few items for a dinner party that we are having at my house this evening. While holding the baby in my arms and helping my seven year old guide the cart through the store the other two boys help by putting things in the cart. Things started out well but quickly turned hostile in a matter of seconds. It went south when the baby began to fuss because he's hungry and I am desperately trying to keep the kids near my while I am unloading the cart. Next thing I know I hear an alarming sounding everyone at the front of the store including myself looks around trying figure out what the sound is, at that moment I realize at the center of the noise is my son Sammy pushing buttons like a fiend on the cash machine. Who knew that of you push enough or a certain sequence of buttons on a cash machine it sets off an alarm! Who Knew? I run over to snatch Sam away from the cash machine and he's screams like a woman being murdered for his puppy that has been left on the cash machine and look away from him only to see Jack laughing maniacally as he's running towards the other side of the store. I turn to Katey to ask her to hold Sams' hand while I go grab Jack and she can't respond to my frantic request because she is busily walking around like a blind man because she's got her dress over her HEAD!!! All while holding a baby who is now so hungery and he's crying so loud he's purple! My God, has everyone lost there minds!!! And if that wasn't bad enough we get home and I immediatly put Katey in her room and she begins to wail "we haven't eatin in years, I am so hungery" her bottom lip is flapping like a flag in a rough wind. Jack is saying repeatatively I want to watch Mickey Mouse Club House. I say no so he's throwing a tantrum and marching around like whirling dervish. Sam comes up to me and says "I peed, I peed". On what I ask and he points to his bed and all the dress up clothes on the floor. Sure enough he did. So I send him up to the bathroom to go pee in the toilet. I attempt to get Katey to help clean that up and she's saying I can't breath, I can't breath through her muffeled cries. So I take all the soiled clothes up stairs to the laundry and see Sam come out of the bathroom and his hair is all wet and he announces,"see Mom my hair is wet!" "How did your hair get wet?" I ask feeling dread in my little heart, I already knowing how. "In there" He pionts to the toilet. Lucky he didn't drown himself, I think to myself with a resigned sigh and a roll of the eye as he's screaming while rinse his head off in the sink. The baby still hasn't eatin but he's baby out with pure exhaustion from crying so much and now Katey is singing the blues because she still hasn't gotten lunch, not even a crumb and she is grounded to her room, I mean jail. Jack is sniffeling whilst playing the harmonica in harmony with the blues, counting all the things he can't eat in his room. I can only think of the song by Janis Joplin, Whaaaooooaa, cry baby, cry........

Chance Rocks!

2009-05-28T18:41:00.000-04:00

My nephew Chance has a fabulous sense of humor. He just recently watched a video on you-tube of a guy that stands on the sidewalk holding up a sign that says "free hugs". He looks homeless but wants nothing more than to make the world a better place. Good video you should watch it. Well, Chance loves this video and he decided that he is going to do his own version of this video. So he made his sign and stood on the corner by his house holding it. He is giving away "bear hugs". I love you so much Chance. Miss you.

Another Chance story:

One day while visiting Chance gave me a piece of paper that he had detailed the itinerary of his day. It went something like this:

11:00 am - Wake up.
11:05 am - Eat cereal.
11:30 am - Go to the bathroom.
12:00 pm - Play video games until mom says stop.
1:00 pm - Clean my room because I have to.
2:00 pm - Take a nap.
3:00 pm - Solve world hunger.
3:15 pm - Go play with my friends.
5:00 pm - Eat dinner.
8:00 pm - Go to bed.

2009-05-28T13:42:00.001-04:00

Congrats to John and Jeannette on their wedding. Good Luck on everything you do together!

Katey Party

2009-05-28T13:32:00.000-04:00

Katey and I were talking about her day at school and she began a conversation about her report by telling me that she is behind on it. So I asked her how she felt about that and she said that she was a little concerned due to the fact that everyone that gets it done on time gets to go the first grade party. She tells me how the teacher is going to turn off all of the lights and put up a disco ball. There is also going to be cookies and punch and music. It is going to be so much fun mom, she says. She drew me this picture in an attempt to show me all of the fun she is going to have.Let me tell you a little about the picture. At the top you can see the disco ball, all the tear drop shapes all over are the spots of light from the disco ball. Katey is the main figure holding her cookie and punch. The six little figures at the bottom are all the kids who didn't get the reports done in time, so they are sad. To the left of the six figures is the table with the cookies and punch. Notice that she is the only person who got her report done. I love that kid!

Little Kid Logic

2009-05-28T13:24:00.000-04:00

Sammy-do was watching while cutting bananas into the kids' cereal. He then says,"I like bananas."
"I know" I say, in return.
"Bad guys don't like bananas." he says in return.
"Really, I didn't know that." I say.
Then he surprises me with "Bad guys like guns. They don't like bananas."

2009-04-28T11:47:00.000-04:00

Happy Mothers Day

2009-04-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

Our Little Hike

Last Saturday the kids and I went for a little nature hike. We went down to what used to be the Walk In the Wild Zoo. First, we went to the water fall and the kids loved that and then they were done hiking. Of course, I told them no, and we continued on. Katey wanted to see the water fall up close and scaled 50 feet up the side of the mountain! She's my little mountain goat. Then we started on the trail where Jack had to answer the call of the wild and assert his manliness by peeing into a bush. As we walked further we had a lesson in looking at the beautiful flowers not picking them. We stopped to have lunch in a park where Sam thought it would be a good idea to squash a bug that then bit him and his hand swelled up. So we ended a wonderful hike in the woods by going to the urgent care. AAAHHHH what an eventful day.

2009-04-26T16:50:00.001-04:00

Three Peaslee mom's & their babies. As you all know my sisters' Jessica and Julie and I all had our babies with in weeks of each other. The first of the babies to be born was Madison, Julie and Steven's baby. Two weeks later was mine and Kyle's baby, Maddox, then two weeks later was Jess and Ty's Baby, Joshua. Aren't the three of them so cute together?

2009-04-26T16:28:00.000-04:00

Today as I am getting the kids ready, I look at Jack and he's crying. I ask him why he is crying and he says,
"Mom I can't wear this sweater". "Why," I ask.
"Because it's not good." I ask him why again and he replies by saying,
"Because it makes me look guilty."
"How does it make you look guilty Jack?"
"The kids in my class will know that my sweater is stupid."
So I ask, does the sweater make Jack look silly, is he guilty of a toddler fashion faux pas? Take the poll, if the majority says yes I told Jack I will never make him wear it again.

(Note:He made his best "guilty" face, too!)

2009-04-17T21:53:00.000-04:00

Our 1st New Car!

This is by far the nicest car we have ever owned. It is also the first car we have ever had to make payments on and we hope not for long. Anyway, so from the beginning; it was the first car we looked at that day. We ended up coming back to because the price is right and I really like the small size of it and the customer reviews are really good. So the marked price was 11,999 but I had a wheels deals that said 8,997. The dealer said that he would sell it to me for that but it was non-negotiable. That was fine but I had to have my dad take a look at it. He test drove it with me and he said that it was a good deal but we needed to look it up in Blue book, Nada, and lastly Craig's list. We were looked through the first two and the price was fair. Next, we looked through Craig's list and found my exact car from the same dealership! The add said," For Sale: 6,994 mention this ad for the sale price." We couldn't believe our eyes! It seemed to good to be true. But sure enough he sold us the car for the Craig's list ad price. Doing you homework is worth it.

Mazda Mpv 2003
4 doors
power windows, power doors
7 seater
rear climate control
back seat stow-n-go
middle seat bucket seats
passenger middle seat moves to be bucket seat or bench seat
radio controls on steering wheelI LOVE THIS CAR!!!
(and so does Max)

2009-04-17T21:17:00.000-04:00

Ohio,
Here We Come!
Congrats, Kyle! You worked hard to get there. Wish us luck, this is a huge move.

2009-03-13T14:37:00.000-04:00

Joshua Henley Scott, a beautiful name for a beautiful baby!We love you!
Congrats Rennekar family.

2009-03-13T13:36:00.000-04:00

Maddison, you're here!
Congrats Julie, Steven, Abby, and Emma!

2009-03-13T13:13:00.000-04:00

Max had his first bath, last night. At first he liked it but once his head got wet the fun was over. I think the kids liked the baby bath tub more than helping wash Max though.

2009-03-13T13:10:00.000-04:00

CONGRATS!!!
Welcome to the world little Ben.
Congrats to you both, Jon and Jeanette!

LEGOS!

2009-03-13T12:55:00.000-04:00

The boys have revved up the created juices and have made a myriad of things. It all started with dinosaurs and now they have upgraded them to dragons and puppies. I can't help but be impressed that the boys have made these all on their own. So talented :)

Exploding shoe laces?

2009-03-13T12:45:00.000-04:00

Katey got home from school and showed me her shoe. What the heck happened?! She said that she and her friends were playing on the playground at recess and one of her friends noticed her shoe and screamed,"Katey there's a mouse on your shoe!" This was all very startling, and they all started screaming and Katey said she tried to kick it off! Then another who had their wits about them said," Katey I think that's your shoe lace. But the question still remains, What in the world made Katey's shoelace explode?!

2009-03-13T12:36:00.000-04:00

A while back Katey came home all excited because she had a part in the school play. She had her lines memorized the first day! Well after weeks of practice the kids finally got to perform and show us their stuff. The play was called "It's a Jungle Out There". It was a very cute place with spoken lines and alot of singing. I was very impressed at how well they all did and how grown up they all were. I was so proud of my girl, she spoke loud and clear and was very funny. Good job Kiki!!!

Katey's Leprechaun trap

2009-03-12T22:53:00.000-04:00

For an assignment at school Katey was asked to make a Leprechaun Trap. She and her Dad put their heads together and this is what they came up with. They cut up the small end of a cone and then placed it cut end in the opening of a bottle. To entice the Leprechaun in to the trap they placed a silver round. She was told that Leprechauns like shiney things and like to break the rules. So she placed a sign that read's Special Treasure Keep out, where the Leprechaun can see it clearly.

Happy St. Patty's Day

2009-03-11T11:56:00.001-04:00

Katey is such a great little artist. She drew this picture as a blue print for her Leprechaun trap that is supposed to be turned in on Friday. Her and her dad are going to make it together.

2009-02-19T21:24:00.000-05:00

Maddox Zephyr Kemble
February 17, 2009
6lbs 15oz
19 inches

We decided to be induced on Tuesday and the labor and delivery was nearly effortless. It took 8 hours, he was born at 4:43pm. He is a very good baby. The kids just love him. At first the boys were unsure of what was going on and seemed nervous of him, but now life is just a usual for them. We are all feeling the lack of sleep though! Kyle and I have agonized over him name. We always put a lot of pressure on ourselves, silly I know but I want everything to be perfect for this little guy, especially for his beginning. We chose Maddox because it has both Welsh and oddly enough, Pottawatomie backgrounds. Kyle is being a lovely husband and letting me have my eccentric middle name of Zephyr. I think its meaning is so beautiful, A mild gentle breeze. As I wrap this up though I want to thank Madonna, Jessica, and Ty for watching the other of our kids. My mom for taking me to the hospital and supporting me and her encouragement. Lastly, Kyle I love you my kind, dear, and long suffering husband, I love you. May we enjoy the next chapter of parenthood!

2009-02-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

It's a Zoo!

The kids have these little outfits in their dress up bin and this was the first time they all three had them on at the same time. They ran around "getting" each other and pretending they were zoo animals. On a side note for Halloween Jack this was the alligator suite he had to wear for halloween with a gun. He was a gun packin alligator.

2009-01-08T00:27:00.000-05:00

Making Memories

One of the main reasons we moved up here was to be closer to family and to spend more time with them. Well, this Christmas we decided to go out to his parents and cut down a tree. In the past we have had a fake Christmas tree so this is a truly new experience all together. We went up to the property that his Dad owns up at Buck Creek and searched for probably and hour. Kyle and his Dad found a tree that we perfect. It was down a small ravine so Kyle had to hike down and cut down our perfect little tree and he and his dad pulled it up with a rope. It was so much fun. Sam loved the snow he just couldn't stop eating it. Jack loved being out with the guys, he says he going to be just like his Dad when he grows up. Katey had a good time till she got to cold, then she started to cry. Poor thing. We took it home and decorated it. To be honest it was a little Charlie Brown tree , like but we loved it and the memories.

2009-01-08T00:08:00.000-05:00

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

(In this pic. this is just the first time it snowed 15"
overnight, now the snow is 1/2 way up the window!)

This winter has been a long one already. Had anyone told me how much it was going to snow up here in the boonies, I don't know that I would've moved! Just kidding! But really it has been a record breaking snow fall for the inland northwest. According to records it hasn't snowed this much since 1963. As of recently we have gotten 65.5 inches of snowfall. When the kids go out to play in is up to their waists. The snow plows can't keep up with all of the streets and the mayor of Spokane declared a state of emergency, and snow burms as tall as me and so wide that many of the streets have lost a lane on either side. The kids have been out of school for 7 days on top of Christmas vacation. Not to make matters worse but now that the snow has stopped the rain has continued. Well, that makes the snow heavy and now roofs are caving in all over town. It is literally a skating rink now! Driving is like off roading it is so bumpy and potholes in the ice 6 inches deep, easy! Now the kids have been having snow days just because it is unsafe to walk to school, being that there is snowy icey burms covering sidewalks and all of the ice. What a crazy winter.(Just for a visual the snow burms from the snow
blower are upp to about my dad's shoulder, he's 5'10)

2009-01-08T00:04:00.000-05:00

You always see pictures of other peoples kids that fall asleep in the funniest ways and places. Now we finally have one too! We were all getting ready to go some where and Sam was kinda whiney and wanted Daddy to hold him. But as we were all busseling around he got ignored. Next thing I know as we all started for the door I look over and Sam has fallen asleep on a bin, standing up! He is so darn cute!

2009-01-01T01:18:00.000-05:00

On Christmas Eve Sam wore a Santa hat to dinner at my Mom's and ever since loves to wear this hat every where. Well, today in the car Katey told Sam that she liked his Santa hat and how cute he was. In his little broken baby words he said," Not Santa hat, My hat! Sam's hat!" In the picture here he didn't want Dad to take a picture of his hat.

2008-12-25T22:45:00.000-05:00

Katey drew this picture for Granny the other day. It is a picture of the Nativity. The people in the picture are from left to right. Mary, Heavenly Father, Baby Jesus, Wise Man, and a girl Shepard. Note the star in the sky, too! It is so very precious, isn't it? And I bet no one thought that maybe Heavenly Father would be present, too! Merry Christmas from all of us. Thank you for the the beautiful picture Katey. (The lines across the pictures are because she drew it on lined paper.)

2008-12-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

Katey's Take on Families and Forever

The other day while helping Katey take a shower she was telling me all her woes of being an older sister. How hard it is and how her little brothers are soooo mean. I respond by saying,"Some people believe that we choose our families while in the pre-exsistance and perhaps even our birth order." She thinks for a minute then replies,"um, mom, I don't think so. I think that we just get what we get and we're stuck with it. Not only that but God says think about what you want, cause that's NOT what your gonna get!" I am always so stunned when she says stuff like that all I could come up with was," Katey maybe your partly right but God is not that sarcastic and does not torment us."

2008-11-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my husband and I took the kids up to the hopsital to see Grandma Sylvia. She had a stroke on Thanksgiving. While we were there Katey said that she had a penny for Grandma. She went to Grandmas bedside and said," Grandma, I found a lucky penny for you outside and I thought you might want to have it. It might help to get better faster." I just about cried, she was so sincere, so beautiful. Grandma took the penny and smiled, it was a very tender moment.

2008-11-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

We have had a good Thanksgiving, yet again. The food was fantastic and the company even better. My mom, myself, and Jessica, and Julie all divided up the Thanksgiving menu and that made the load so much more manageable. There was The Peaslee's, The Kemble's, The O'Driscoll's, The Rennakers, and Kyle's parents Paul and Cordelia. There was so much food it was fantastic , there was sweet potatoes, two different kinds of turkey, ham, and 8 different kinds of pie! Jessica had her turkey smoked and Kyle made a cider and spice brine. He even caught the oven of fire with it! I got to use my Grandmothers fine china that she gave to me and that was fun. Really it could not be more perfect. Except that Grandma Sylvia had a stroke and is now in the hospital. So, naturally, we were deprived of my mom and dad's company. We are all very concerned for Grandma and quick recovery. We ask at this time to keep her in your prayers for her to return to good health and spirits.

Thank you & happy Holidays!

2008-11-14T14:33:00.000-05:00

So all of you have been asking what we are going to name the baby, so here it goes. I like options so there are a lot. I also like to hear everyone's opinion so feel free to mix and match, leave comments, and I'll also have a poll of names we've put together as well.

However, we don't name the baby, officially until after he is born. So it'll be a surprise for everyone!

(Find a happy place...)

First Names (The reason the first name is really centered around Max is because Katey said she would like to name the baby Max. I would really like to do that for her, I also think the name is super cute.)
Maxx - Latin; the greatest
Maxamillion - Latin; the most, extreme, the greatest
Maddox - welsh; good, generous, good fortune, champion
Mattox
Maxten - indepent, ambitious
Maxton
Maxentius - creative generous
Maximian - spontaneous, happy
Maxfield - Latin; the greatest, responsible, kind
Maxwell - English ; capable, expressive

Middle Names
Jay - German; swift
Apollo - Greek; Sunshine, warmth, manly beauty
Atticus - Greek; Handsome boy. father like
Dane - Scandinavian; God is my judge
Charles - German; free man, strong, courageous
Merrill - English ; Falcon; German, Famous of the sea
Harley- English; the hare clearing, clever, serious
Zephyr - Greek; mild gentle breeze
Ezekiel - God will strengthen
Nozoh - Choctaw; bless
Mishen - Choctaw; happy
Mendozet - Choctaw; holy
Indet - Choctaw; heart
Metea - Pottawatomie Indian chief - Greek; gentle

Middle names my kids came up with
Everette
Tanker
Lane
Kamin
Isaiah
Tate
Mathrin (cause it rhymes with Kathryn)
Blake

2008-11-05T19:50:00.001-05:00

My first surprise!

2008-11-03T01:11:00.000-05:00

The last couple weeks after having moved have been good considering all the changes this family has gone through, but we still have to go through all the normal emotional turmoil. The boys have especially worked the turmoil angle, as they are both going through the terrible twos. Sammy is also a very messy baby. So this evening he found some Halloween candy and opened, picked apart, and smashed about 30 pieces of candy. I of course, yell and carry on about how they all have nothing better to do then to seek out and destroy, blah, blah, blah. So I swept it all up into a pile but had yet to throw it in the garbage. Then after brushing the kids' teeth I washed my face. While I was busy with that, the kids apparently agreed to sweep up the mess and throw it in the garbage. So when I came down it was all gone. Jack immediately told me all about it and Katey said,"I just wanted to do something cause it looked like you were having a hard time, mom." Well, I just about cried, it was my kids' first real surprise, just for me.

2008-10-22T22:49:00.000-04:00

Katey LOVES Reuben sandwiches

Tonight we had Reuben sandwiches for dinner. I thought about cooking something else for the kids because it is so obviously NOT kid food. For those of you who don't already know, a Reuben is made up of corned beef, swiss, thousand island dressing, sauerkraut , all on dark rye bread. But I made mini sandwiches to see how'd they take it. They were all so good about it and just ate around the stuff they didn't like. But Katey LOVED it and even ate a whole big sandwich!!!

Katey says: and I looked at a picture of a Reuben sandwich it looked yummier than the ones we made for dinner. I really wanted to have it. It was 10 thumbs up!

2008-10-20T20:28:00.000-04:00

Happy 29th Birthday to me

For my Birthday this year we played it low key. Kyle and I took the kids up to Manito Park for a picinic lunch in the park and looked at the Japanese gardens, which the kids loved. They liked the Koi fish alot. the we walked up to Duncan gardens. Katey wants to have her wedding there, how cute. Then we went to the Rose gardens. The kids got some clippings of the Roses while the gardener was out. After we dropped the kids off at the sitters Kyle took me to the movies, we watched Appaloosa (that's a western). So I had the best Birthday I've had a in a long long time. Thanks Katey, Jack, and Sam. And you too Kyle!

2008-10-20T20:25:00.000-04:00

Happy 30th Birthday!!!

2008-10-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween

Halloween is viewed as the most popular holiday in America now. But c'mon, with stuff like this how could it not! This table setting is sooooo cool!!! We found this really fun stuff at Pottery Barn. The vampire teeth are placement card holders and the little silver skull is hors d'ourve skewers.

2008-10-20T19:57:00.000-04:00

Having fun at the County Fair!

It has been years since either Kyle nor I have been to the fair. It was sooo fun! We went with Grandma and Grandpa, the O'Driscoll's, and the Rennaker's. We walked through the floral stuff, the sewing, photography (lots of cool pics), the art (that was sad). Then we had some really great food, the elephant ears were awesome! Then we pet all the animals! We saw calves, a horse, chickens with crazy feathers. The people of Spokane are breeding rabbits like crazy. There were a lot of really cute goats. We even got to see a girl milking a goats. Lastly, we got to go on some rides, thanks you Grandma!!! The kids went down the big huge slide. Then they got to go on the cup and saucer, the swing and even the boats! When it got to cold to stay it was finally time to go home.

2008-10-20T19:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday

Sammy's 2nd Birthday

We arrived in Spokane on the second of September and the very
next weekend we celebrated Sammy's birthday! We had it at
the park we invited everyone. Sammy picked out his own cake,
it was a Wall - E cake. He loved blowing out the candle, opening his presents, but most of all he loved all of the attention. Thank
you to the Wiltse's, Grandma Jan and Grandpa Jack, the Rennaker's, the ODriscoll's, Nana and Papa. The toys are great and he has hardly put them down. I love the clothes more though. But from our family to your thank you for making it a great birthday! Happy Birthday to you Sam!!!

2008-10-15T17:47:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!
Especially, to all the kids that are going out!
Have fun and be safe.

2008-10-15T17:41:00.001-04:00

Celebrating 8 years!
And hasn't this roller coaster been great?!

ooohhh pretty

2008-09-30T17:58:00.000-04:00

At grandpa Joe's house in the basement there is a really big, flat screen, high definition TV. Jack has formed a somewhat unhealthy attachment to this TV. Kyle was feeling generous and put in Jack's favorite movie, Transformers. Immediately, Jack was impressed with the beauty of his movie on the really big TV. He ooed and awed a lot. Then at the part where air borne rangers are fighting the scorpion alien robot Jack got all excited and turned to Kyle and says,"Dad look at that! whoa'o'ooo! I would get my really big gun and boom that thing!"

BOOM that bear!!!

2008-09-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

Jack is currently obsessed with bears and guns. The other day while talking to Lundie on the phone he told her a little story. He says," Last night there was bear in my room and Dad boomed him with a gun and put the bear the trash when he was done. Then the dump truck carried it away!"

terrific twos

2008-09-30T17:37:00.000-04:00

Our little Jack is quite the little character. I always say that he is a 50 year old caught in a three year olds body! I just love this little guy and all the funny things he says. The other day I made egg salad sandwhiches for lunch and potatoe chips. He took a bite of the sandwich and wrinkled his nose but took another bite then set the sandwich down and asked,"what is this sandwich?" I said," It's egg salad sandwich."He then replies I can't this thing, it is a'scusting, I just like chips." He ate the rest of the chips and went down stairs to watch tv. He came about ten minutes later and wanted to try the sandwich again. He ate another bite then says,"Mom, do we have cheese, or mustard...maybe you can scrape this stuff off. I just can't eat this."

Welcome Baby Gregory

2008-09-30T12:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome ...
Gregory Isaac Valencic
7 lbs 10 oz
20.5 in.

2008-08-28T14:48:00.001-04:00

KEMBLE Baby #4

When we arrived at the Dr.'s office for the ultrasound the kids were all very excited but very intimidated by the dark room and the bed that mommy had to lay down on. But as the tech. started taking pictures the computar would make a noise that sounded very fimiliar to all little boys. It sounded like a laser gun, like "pew, pew". Jack got very serious and he says very shocked and amazed,"You killed the baby!" We could not stop laughing.

We have been very excited to have another, and our last baby. Intially, we had hoped that it would be twins, but as you can see it is not twins. Katey and I have had our fingers crossed that it would be a girl. But we were wrong again. Katey cried a little and I think I got a little misty eyed as well. But you know it didn't take long for us to get past that and start thinking of names and talking about what he would look like.

2008-08-21T01:45:00.000-04:00

I want to thank everyone who came to the party for Kyle. It was a hit! I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. I want to tell everyone though both near and far how very much it means to us that you have supported us through all this schooling. It has not been easy but it has been so much more enjoyable having everyone that I care about to shore us up along the way. To our parents (Grandma and Grandpa, too), our foundation, our corner stone. There is no way we could've done this without you. To all of our brothers and sisters in Washington, Oregon, Idaho. We thank our Heavenly Father for you. To our friends here in Utah. The Cloyd's, The Lanegan's, The Weber's, The Morris's. The holidays, the bbq's, and the times in between, have made this time here in Utah memorable. Till we meet again. A Shout out to our dear and wonderful friends in St Louis. We miss you!!!

2008-08-21T01:27:00.000-04:00

GRADUATION!!!

When the time came for us to decide wether Kyle was going to walk or not for his graduation it was a no brainer for me. YES!!! I needed closure on this. To know that there was something to show for all this craziness. It was a very early morning convocation, but not any less emtional for me. It was so gratifying to see him dressed to the nines in his cloak and hood. Thank you for humoring me, Eight years of school, marriage, and children; i.e. alot of hard work all in this one picture. Funny that it seems so complex but this picture is so simple. I love you, Kyle. You are not just a Master of Art History but the master of this family and of my heart. Thank you for all that you do. Good Job!

Thank you Mom and Sherry for coming all the way from Washington to support us.

2008-08-21T01:06:00.000-04:00

****FIREWORKS*****

This year we did our fireworks on the 24th of July which is actually pioneer day here in Utah. We decided to do our little family shindig at Kyle's work the MPS. So the kids and I spent sometime at the bridge. Throwing sticks over the railing and watching them float under the bridge and eventually over the waterfall. Then we had a little car wash, just wasting for the sun to set. The kids love to work together. Dad set off all of our fireworks. The kids had ones that they called their own. That was fun. Then we did sparklers, and boy that was a treat. When those ran out the kids were just beginning! Isn't that all too true. But would you believe it! They all fell asleep in the car on the way home!

We are pregnant...again!!!

2008-08-21T00:54:00.001-04:00

The Due date is February 26th, 2009

Yes, it true we are pregnant, again! We are so excited !)
Well, that was until the morning sickness hit. But we seem to be getting through it. The kids are doing so well with it, I couldn't be more pleased. Katey keeps wanting to see the little one, we are trying to convince her that she has to wait or the baby will be sick. Also, she wants twins, we'll see Katey. Jack will talk about it but he keeps asking, it's a boy, huh, mom? Right? The only things Sammy seems to be taking from all this is that it is so fun to pretend to barf like mom, ewww, Sam. We are looking forward to seeing the new one.

I can't take you ANYWHERE!

2008-07-10T01:10:00.000-04:00

As many of you already know, I have the goofiest group of children in the world. There is never a dull moment when we about. It is most surprising when it comes from Jack, though. He is the least assuming, low key of the bunch, so when he breaks out with funny things to say it just bulls me over. So, at the pool today we were lying on the pool side waiting for the life gaurds to finish their chlorine check and Katey looks over at me horrified and says,"Make Jack stop, he's too embaressing." So I look for Jack and spot him running from person to person, some people I know and some I have never laid eyes on, pointing at their bums and yelling, "those are your cheecky bunnies, then running to the next, those are your cheecky bunnies!" it didn't matter if it was a man, women, or child, age or stature! I just about died, the only thing to stop him was a cookie. I swear why do I even bothher taking these nutballs out into public!

Hmm, tastes gooood!

2008-07-10T01:00:00.000-04:00

In our little neighborhood everyone is pretty tight and we like to come out in the eveings to let the kids play and to chat. One of our neighbors babysits her sister little baby a couple times a week. The babys' name is Baily, she's about 5 months old, and she is very pudgy and just as sweet as can be. I know it seems inconsequencial but the baby is african american. Several of the kids (all of them being 4 and under) call her brown baby. One day I was wanting to play with Baily so I snagged her for a few and took her over to my house. The boys were playing her, Jack was holding her hand and talking baby talk and Sam was playing peek-a-boo with her. Next thing I know Jack was licking her hand, I said why are you licking Baily Jack and he said,"HMMM, she tastes like chocolate, mom!"

Is Bush our President?

2008-07-07T01:35:00.000-04:00

So at dinner tonight Katey wanted to be quized on her knowledge of our countries Presidents. We asked her who the first president was and she confidently replied, "George Washington!" Who's the President during the civil war asked dad,"Abraham Lincoln!" she says more excitedly. Then we ask who is the President right now? "Umm, George Bush?" She's not sure. Then Jack pipes up and says,"George isn't a President he's a monkey!"

WHAT DO I TASTE LIKE?

2008-07-06T00:17:00.000-04:00

On the 4th the kids and Jo went to a barb-Q with some friends, as Kyle had to work at the Stadium of Fire in Provo. During the festivities, Jack got stung by a bee and ran to tell Jo what happened. He was followed by an older child explaining that he did not know if Jack had been bitten or stung. The idea that he had been bitten was a quite shocking to Jack, who had not considered that to be a possibility. Upon questioning from Jo, Jack provided the reasoning, "he must have liked the way I tasted." He was a bit hesitant on the follow up inquiries into just exactly what he tasted like. Not cinnamon toast crunch, not macaroni and cheese, and definitely not offering any possibilities in his own. However, thanks to the arrival of Katey -and as we all know, older sisters always have the answers- it was revealed that Jack tasted like both Transformers and Spiderman. So if you are a cybernetic extraterrestrial life form, or have been bitten by a radioactive spider watch out, not only death or the military may be an issue, but bees certainly will.........they can't resist.

Chinese Zodiac

2008-07-02T20:28:00.000-04:00

Today was a great and monumental day at the Kemble house. Kyle defended his thesis and it was a positve meeting and he is a go, not without revisions of course, but he WILL be graduating in August. So as a reawrd/celebration we went to a resturaunt that is a family favorite. It is a little whole in the wall joint named Great China. YEAH!!! For Kyle! Well, while we were there we all exmained the place mats that told you which and about your chinese zodiac. For instance I was born in 1979 so according to the chart on the place mat I am a sheep. It tells about the personality traits according to that and what other zodiacs your are and are not compatible with. Katey was very fascinated with this whole thing and wanted to know all about her zodiac, and every body in the whole family. She is a horse and wanted to be compatible with the rabbit. We went over it and over it and she was not compatible with the rabbit. So she says,"Ohhh, I really like them, I just dont know why I wouldn't like bunnies!'

Growing is a wonderus thing!!!

2008-07-02T20:22:00.000-04:00

The other day the kids and I were sitting outside enjoy the evening as it was cooling down and it was starting to get dark and I see Jack just standing and stareing down at the grass and Katey runs up and I ask her what Jack is doing and she says, oh, he's peeing in the grass." Beofre I can react Jack has finished his business and is running towards me shouting excitedly,"Oh, MY GOSH!!! I did it, I peed outside, in the grass!!!

From our favorite book, Junie B. Jones

2008-06-08T11:37:00.000-04:00

Katey and I like to read Junie B. Jones together. Junie B. is a kindergartener that is very mischievous and full of personality. I like the books because I feel like I can totally relate to Junie B. So here is an excerpt from one of the books. This one's for you mom! xoxo

Q: what is a nutball? Junie B. and her friends like a new boy at school named Warren. They are all trying to impress Warren with their wit and style. Junie B. told a joke to "that guy" and she thought it was soooo funny she felt on the ground laughing. Warren called her a "nutball". Now Junie B. is upset and wants to know what is a nutball.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren by: Barbara Park

"So that's how nutballs act,"said that Grace. And I should know. Cause' I have a nutball right in my own personal family.

I raised my eyebrows.

" You do?' I said.

" Yes, " she said. My two-year-old brother Jeffie is a nutball. Everytime we go to the mall, we have to put him on a leash. Or else he tackles people. And then he hides in the clothes and Security has to come."

She looked at me very suspicious.

"Did you ever do that Junie B. Jones?" Hmmmm? Did you ever tackle people? And hide in the clothes and Security had to come?"

I quick looked away from her.
'Cause that was my own personal beeswax.

" Jeffie's not allowed to eat sugar cereal anymore, either," said that Grace. "My mother thinks that sugar cereal gets him all jazzied up."

She raised one eyebrow very curious.

"do you eat sugar cereal for breakfast, Junie B.? Hmmm? Do you? she asked.

I looked away again.
'Cause guess what?
More of my own personal beeswax.
That's what.

Brucey, a loss in the family

2008-06-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

A few years back we got a lizard, a bearded dragon to be specific. We named that lizard Melodie and short time later we got another one and named that one Bruce. Over the past three years we have enjoyed watching them grow and even lay eggs. But the other day I went to feed them and realized that Bruce was under a rock. This really isn't unusual
considering he was hibernating. I nudged him and he didn't move, it was then that I realized that the rock had shifted and smothered him. We are all very sad that he is gone. We'll miss you Brcuey.

2008-05-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

Congrats to you Brooke! You are so beautiful! We hope that you day is a special one. Can't wait to see you, soon.

all dresed up with no place to go

2008-05-24T15:01:00.000-04:00

While I was cleaning the house this morning I could hear Katey constantly telling Jack to, "hold still, I'm almost done." Then they came down stairs after a few minutes of that and this it was I saw...I asked Jack where he was going all dressed up and he said,"Mooom, um, nowhere!" Katey yells over him,"to a wedding, I'm a genius!". Where do you think he's going?

hidey pockets, ughh

2008-05-24T14:51:00.000-04:00

Our little Tagger

Sammy-Do has by far been our most mischievous and most naughty (endearing term) baby. Lately, he has been getting into our markers. Just when we think we've got the situation under control we'll realize that he has had one hidden in his diaper. He uses his diaper as a hidey pocket. Well, the other day he started drawing all over the walls, all over the house. This is not cute or funny but this particular wall art actually looked like he had tagged it, like he put some real thought into this. SIDE NOTE: In this picture you can tell the stitches look much better but his eyeball has a big bruise on it. That's why it looks kind of bloody.

I know, I know

2008-05-24T14:35:00.000-04:00

The other while at Costco I got to a new bathing suit. The bathing suits come on these funny looking body forms, to help you visualize the the look of the suit. I got home and tried it on and left the form on the floor. While I was in the bathroom looking in the mirror Kyle was lying on the bed; Katey came in and held the form up to herself, looked down contemplating the new look, then said,"I know, I know, I'm growing up"!

2008-05-20T14:09:00.000-04:00

Congrats Natalie! Your the Best!

2008-05-20T11:42:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, as a family, we were all out drawing pictures with chalk on the sidewalk. Having fun, playing, and enjoy eachother and the nice weather. I was watching out for Sam calling him back to me when he wondered too far periodically. As we were going back inside we called to him and he started to run. He tripped and fell to his elbows, he started to cry and I said, "Sam you ok, c'mon." Kyle then looked over and said,"Jo, I don't think he's ok." I then noticed that there was blood blood coming out of his eye and I ran over to him and swept him up it wasn't until then that I saw two little sticks on the ground. He was running with a stick in each hand when he tripped. I ran inside Kyle was washing his hands(so as not to infect Sammy's wound) and just then when I looked at his eye it looked like it was deflated. Later when he had cried all of the blood out you could see it was still there. We rushed him to the emergency room were they sedated him and Sam got three stitches in the corner of his eyelid. These pictures look really good, very clean. Now, two days later he has a black eye and a hematoma that covers the whole top half of the eye. Poor Sam. Jack was so worried about Sam that he waited up until we came home at 10:30pm. He was just laying in bed awake, waiting. Jack really loves Sam.

Thank you also, DD and Chris for waiting with the kids.

2008-05-15T01:56:00.000-04:00

So I just have to share this because I can be so silly. Today I went to a friends house and had her put some color in my hair. I always have this hope that I can do blond and am always surprised when it doesn't turn out. Well, I thought maybe it would be prettier if I added some red this time. In all my careful thought i actually picked out a color very similar, too similar to my own color. to add insult to injury the bleach pulled a lot of orange, so on further thought I looked a little like a calico kitty. Not to different from the kitty in this picture! When I saw my hair after my husband nearly fainted away i had the green eyes too! So I'm thinkin I probably can't do blond.

2008-05-15T00:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to All!
I hope that all you mom's reading this had a great Mother's Day. I for one had the best. My loving and ever attentive husband spoiled me rotten this Mother's Day, it was one of the best days ever. I got to sleep in, he took me to breakfast, my favorite meal of the day, and gave me the day to do what ever I wished. To my surprise, I also got some dresses. We went to the Springville Art Ball again this year and I was frustrated trying to find something to wear and so he took me to Dilliard's to find a formal. He knew they were having a sale going on, so for about 75.00 he bought four formals for me. I will obviously make some pretty undershirts to go under some of these by the way, mom. : > I couldn't find the exact pictures but until I get a camera these will suffice. Katey got me a beautiful poem/picture that really did make me cry and an absolutely hilarious cookbook that the was comprised of all the kids' recipes. I think Katey's recipe made the most sense. She even asked me my favorite food, it is a sandwich recipe.. It was t he best thanks you guys! I love you, too!

2008-05-15T00:30:00.000-04:00

Madisen Paige Cloyd
Graduating 2008!
Payson High School

Yeah! DD we are so proud of you!

GOOD LUCK!

*We love you*

2008-05-15T00:06:00.000-04:00

Thank You!

Grandma and Grandpa, Thank you for the Necklace. Plus, the "B" on your shirt (in the picture) Grandpa doesn't mean anything I just like the letter "B" Grandma is holding flowers. Love, Katey.

2008-05-14T23:13:00.000-04:00

These are katey's Journal Writing's

Katey wants to travel very badly so she has drawn some pictures of herself in the places she wants to go the most. This one of of her in Japan. She couldn't decide if it snowed there or rained.

This other picture is of her in Paris. I asked why the Eiffel "Towel", that's what she calls it, is so small and she says rolling her eyes," I am standing in front
to get my picture taken, Mom."

art meets fashion

2008-05-09T17:23:00.000-04:00

This is the unholy child of anime/art meets fashion. The artist Murakami was commissioned by Louis Vuitton to design the print for his new line. This is a result of the add campaign that we have posted, you should watch the video it is sweet. Kyle and I love it!

2008-04-29T17:17:00.001-04:00

Abigail McKenzie O'Driscoll
November 21,2007

Tristen Leroy Renekar
December 18, 2007

Hyrum Douglas Stinson
Feburary 27,2008

Kathryn Cordelia

2008-04-29T15:18:00.000-04:00

When it came to choosing a name for Katey we did not have a name chosen for her until a couple days after she was born, actually! It seemed a huge monumental undertaking for me at the time. She was born on Nana's birthday as luck would have it. Nana said she did not want a child named after her because at the time she said that she didn't like her name. But she said that she liked her confirmation name of Kathryn, so we named our first baby, our baby girl, Kathryn Cordelia Kemble. Some people have said that her name is too big for someone so petite, but I think the name is much to small and simple for someone with such a big personality.

Samuel Morgen Kemble

2008-04-29T15:02:00.000-04:00

I took me a long time come up with a name for Sammy because we were never sure of when he was going to be born. Some of the names I was thinking of were Paul, Atticus, and oddly enough, Barake. I wanted to do an Indian middle name after the Pottowanamie Indians Kyle descends from; Metea, Mishen, Nozoh. But nothing seemed right. But when my Mom and Dad cmae for the babies birth he was born on my Moms birthday, our anniversary too! When Grandma Sylvia was pregnant with my Mom she had a boy and a girl named picked. If my mother had been a boy her name would have been Morgen. It was very clear to me at that moment to name him Samuel Morgen.