We went bowling on Friday night for Hannah's birthday. I didn't bowl of course. All of the kids LOVE going so we might start trying to go once a month or so. Hey wait! I already posted about Hannah's birthday party! Were you wanting to know about Monday, her real birthday?? We didn't do anything special. I was going to make her waffles with strawberries for breakfast but didn't have time to get to the store beforehand. She got her birthday present from Aunt Rikki and a Target giftcard from Grandpa and Michelle in the mail. She's biting at the bit to go spend her giftcard, I'm taking her on Saturday-just us girls.

We had AWANA last night. We (me and hubby) are so ready for it to be over already! There's just not the same enthusiasm that everyone had last year. This year seems sortof forced. We'll keep going for the kids though. We've had 3 new kids join in the last 2 weeks, as well as some returning that haven't been since the beginning of the year for various reasons. For some of the kids, it's the only "church" they do get and their home lives are not very great so we try to connect with them in some way. I know we're doing good but still we're growing weary of it.

I've been able to keep eating healty (read no junkfood). Well, I did split a small piece of cake with Matty on Sunday night. It was our Pastor's 50th birthday so they threw him a surprise fellowship after evening service. I've not gained any weight since my last appt and my next one is next week, so I'm optimistic that I'll *only* have a 1 or 2 lb gain for the month. I've also noticed a huge difference in water retention by cutting out most sugar. I'm still eating fruit, bread, noodles, and such (in moderation!) but trying to severly limit table sugar-NO SODA! Still haven't started excercising and really I don't see myself starting something formal right now. I'm a weeble wobble who is short of breath from a baby squishing me from the inside out and with a very small bladder. Would you want to excercise???

Matthew is doing FANTASTIC with potty training! I am so excited!!!! We took him this weekend and let him pick out his big boy undies and he's only had one accident since then. Last night at AWANA he was in nursery and was holding it since he didn't want the ladies taking him, so he "leaked" a little. I took him as soon as I picked him up and he went. I guess he's a little shy still:)

That's all the interesting news from me. I've been incredibly tired and BORED. I've got a ton of stuff to do but no motivation to do any of it. I really should start getting the house in order for the new baby but it's still a little early yet. We've got to get the backyard fixed and I'm seriously contemplating finding a new home for Penny. The kids understand, I've already talked with them about it. I'd like to actually get the backyard fixed up for them so they can go out and play. We need to plant grass as most of it has died. Then we'd like to get them a swingset. We've also got to fix the irrigation lines that Penny's torn up, and is continuing to dig up. We've got lots of holes to fill and rock to lay down....stuff we've got to do before we move out anyways and I don't want her tearing things up again after we've fixed them. Plus, when we were facing a move to SD, we realized that it was going to be hard to find a place to rent with a dog her size and we aren't in a position to buy something right away. I feel really horrible, but at the same time I think it's the responsible thing to do right now.

Ok, off to find something more constructive to do...
Jen

After Knott's we went to the Medieval dinner theater. Tons of fun and probably the highlight of our whole trip.

The kids with the King and Queen.

The kids with the "Blue Knight".

(Notice Hannah's *smitten* look....)

Everyone at Knott's Berry Farm.

This day stunk so I won't post anymore...

Here are some pics from Disneyland. Hannah, Brandon, and Jake with Goofy's son.
Gram, Brandon, and Hannah on the teacups.
Me, Michael, Jake, and Matt on the teacups.

The kids in front of Minnie's house.

Matt trying on hats at the Madhatter store.

I think I've figured out my computer problem. Let's see if I can post anymore photos...These are from Christmas.

My "Incredible" children.

These are the family pictures that we got done 3 weeks ago at church. There is also one of the family together but I'm having trouble uploading.

My diet yesterday:

Breakfast: White chili, celery sticks with dip
Lunch: White chili and a piece of toast
Snack: Small apple
Dinner: 1/2 of a Chef salad
Dessert: "Sinless" ice cream w/raspberries and almonds from Coldstone, oh and *only* ate 1/2 of the "like it" size. It was *ok* but really ice cream was just not meant to be "diet"!

Last night we went bowling for Hannah's birthday. The kids all had a blast. Michael's got the "itch" to join a league again. Right now is not the right time for that though! Money-wise or time-wise. I wish we could have gotten pictures of the kids last night but they wouldn't let us take any. Anyways, I think Hannah had a good birthday.

We got a box from my sister today. She sent all of our Christmas presents as well as a couple of things for the baby. She also sent Hannah the whole Laura Ingalls Wilder box set (I think that's what it's called?).

Well, that's it. Michael's gone today teaching an OSHA class at work. Usually we head out and do something on Saturday....

Another thing I forgot, my hubby's boss here just had his baby this week. He was out of town for a convention so his wife did it solo.

Here are the stats:
Charles Finn (first and middle names)
8 lbs. 13 oz. (OUCH!)
20 inches long

Not sure if she had a c-section or any other details but she was two weeks early and the baby was THAT big! My biggest was Jake who weighed in at 8 lbs even and was only 19", I affectionately called him my sausage baby. He was nicknamed at church "Big Jake". Awww, the memories!

Oh, I forgot! Matthew made it all day yesterday without an accident! "Potty trained" is looking less and less like a fantasy and more like reality, could it really be?!?

Jen
(Who's in a silly mood today)

Ok, my diet yesterday.

Breakfast: Cheerios and skim milk
Lunch: Asparagus and chicken fingers
Snack: 1/8 cup peanuts, couldn't hardly get those down
Dinner: Grilled chicken, asparagus, and noodles
Snack: Cheerios and skim milk

Hubby had a deacon's meeting last night and didn't get home until midnight. Crazy huh? There is a house that was left to the church by a church member that passed away last summer and satan's not making such a donation easy for us. Poor hubby has got to be dragging today though!

As I was eating lunch I turned on the t.v., sometimes I try to catch Martha Stewart, anyways they were broadcasting the funeral of that police officer that was killed. I started crying of course, but when the Pastor got up to speak, he gave a very clear salvation message, stating that there was only one way to Heaven-through Jesus Christ. Wow, was the first thing I thought of. It's such a rarity now a days to hear that at a funeral, much less a televised one. Everyone wants to hear about how being a "good person" will get you into Heaven and that as long as you believe in "god" you're fine. That is not what the Bible says or what was preached today! God has used this man, who's motto "Live, Love, Serve, Die" (Air Force motto, I think) with his life and now his death, to reach millions of people with the message of (true) salvation today.

On another note, tonight we're celebrating Hannah's 8th birthday by going bowling and she wants to go to Coldstone. Will be a late night as the lanes aren't even open for "open bowling" until 9:30pm. It's like that every day this weekend so we have no other choice.

Penny's been grounded for the last week. She's decided that she likes to dig and has dug up some irrigation lines in the back yard and chewed them off. I'm not sure what to do about her at this point. We can't afford to have her tear up the backyard.

I better go. I've got laundry to do and possibly buzz the boys today. They are looking pretty shaggy again.

Jen