Just a few more

For some reason these pictures ended up on top but after the cookie decorating, we had our traditional family formal dinner. It was yummy and pretty.

On Valentines day, according to tradition we had tons of fun decorating and then delivering cookies to our neighbors and our tummies.

Emmm. That's a yummy cookie!

I'm all worn out

It's been another ridiculously busy week. I'm tired of all these busy weeks. I want a peaceful one some day. I'm told, however, that it's only going to get crazier for the next several years and then all of a sudden there will be no one left to run to this that or the other and we will be alone. I imagine they know what they're talking about because "they've" been right so far about how fast they grow and all that jazz but right now I'm just worn out with all we have going on.

Michael is my lunch fixin' guy and on Monday, Daniel was his helper. Aren't they cute?!

I'll just run through it all chronologically sort of. Monday there was no school so being the mean mom that I am, I made my kids do a little but they really did mostly have the day off. We spent the majority of the day texturing walls. We got all the texturing done and then decided we needed to give it a few hours to dry without little fingers etc getting too close so for FHE we headed up to the base and went bowling. It was great fun. We then went to CiCi's pizza for dinner and while it was the same old place we used to go many years ago, it was way more expensive so we won't be doing that again.

Tuesday, Brittany headed off to school at her normal hour and then went straight from school to the church where the youth met for a temple trip. We didn't see her again until after 9:00 that night. Mike went back to work for the first time (officially) since his return from Germany. He said there was a lot of catching up to do and it's crazy busy there too but good to be back. The rest of us had school here and then played and had a fun afternoon. We fixed some dinner and then took it with up to the Home School Academy's potluck dinner and program. It was fun to be there with the rest of the families and then the kids did a down right adorable program. We hustled out of there after the program and came home to divide and conquer. Mike and Michael headed to the church for EQ pres. training and scouts, I went to our annual neighborhood HOA mtg. and Allison stayed home with the little ones to babysit. It was a busy evening but lots of good things happened.

Wednesday, Brittany's Battle of the Books team (who had won on a school level) went to another school to compete for the area. They did pretty good (didn't win) and had a really fun time which is why they do it anyway. We had our counter tops measured so those should be here in about a week! I'm so excited to get the kitchen done. It is going to look awesome! We had piano lessons early by half an hour and then Mike took the older kids to a piano fireside thing put on by Marvin Goldstein. Brittany, Allison, and Michael enjoyed it. Aunnika and Catherine thought it was terribly boring. I stayed home with the little boys and they had a marvelous time in the tub playing with their wild animals and then I got them to bed and went and ran on my treadmill oooo I hate doing that.

Thursday was all hustle and bustle getting the kids off to HSA and then Hans Daniel and I got to come home and make our shopping list. We had to pause to watch a few wild animal videos on YouTube. They expect that now, and then we went grocery shopping. We only had to go to one store since Mike is back and will do the non-Sams shopping up at the Commissary now. YAY! Thursday evening, Michael had basketball, the big girls had dance, the home teachers came after that and then the day was over. It's so funny when Michael gets home from basketball he always wants to go shoot out in the driveway for a while and when the girls get home from dance they are tapping and jazzing all over the house for several hours after. I'm glad they all enjoy what they're doing.

Friday we had our abbreviated school as usual and then headed to the library. We always enjoy that. Friday afternoon was the usual dance classes for most of the evening and them Mike and I were going to go up to Denver and go to the Temple but decided it would be nice to go nowhere and do nothing. So that's what we did. Well except that he went and gave someone a blessing. But oh it was nice to have an evening at home with nothing to run and do.

Saturday morning Michael had a basketball game and Brittany had dance and then all but Brittany and Daniel had a Primary activity. Mike and Daniel and I went and picked out a faucet to go on our new sink and got stuff taped and prepped for taping. We had a minor run in with our nutty neighbor and had the police here for a little while taking a report from us this time. Once we got the kids to bed we started painting the primer in the kitchen. With all the taping and covering of stuff it took up until midnight to get it about half done but we should be able to finish that after the kids go to bed on Monday and then paint the next few nights and have the painting done before the counter tops come on Friday. We will get those on, put the sink together and then (I think) the kitchen will be basically done. I still want to do some lighting changes but we haven't figured out what or how yet so that's just going to count as a separate project.

Oh a little funny for you all. Daniel loves to say that he's going to grow-up and get married. He'll just come up to us out of the blue and say, "I'm going to grow-up, and then get married" Some times he reverses the order which makes it funny but anyway, on Saturday I was changing his diaper and asked him if he wanted to go potty in the toilet. He said, "No, not yet" I asked if he'd try it later and he said, "yep, I'm going to grow up, and get married, and then go potty in the toilet" I had a good laugh over that.

Well we hope all is well for you. Love the Stone Gang

last week #3

Mike's a funny guy. He also forgot another special event. I know he mentioned Brittanys Renaisance fair that we went to her school to see her project,

but he neglected to mention that she had a band concert on Thursday as well. I was an interesting evening. We got home from picking up the kids at school and Mike and Michael quickly headed off to basketball practice while Brittany and I fixed dinner quick. We got dinner on the table and then I ran Brittany up to the school and came back home. While I was gone, Alli fed the rest of the kids. When I got back Mike was just pulling in from basketball practice and so ran Allison to her dance class and then Mike, myself, and the remaining children got in the van and went to Brittany's band concert.

It was a really nice concert. No really! It was! I was so surprised but we all enjoyed it and the coolest thing was that it was a total of 35 min long. The music was all fun and Brittany had a great time.

Well we got home, ran and got Alli from dance, got the kids in bed and then headed up to play some raquet ball. Now THAT was fun! It was way cold and stormy outside so on the way home we stoped at Starbucks and got some yummy hot cocoa and then came home and read together while we sipped hot cocoa. What a glorious evening

last week #2

Well I started that post and then Mike took over with Wednesday through to the end and I can't believe he forgot the most important event of last week. Hans had his 4th birthday. Now I'd say that's a pretty big deal. On Wednesday morning he woke up to balloons, streamers, and Thomas the Tank Engine decor. We did have a pretty normal day of school but Dad took some special time out to play animals and trains with Hans while I was having school with the other kids. The moment Brittany got home from school we started our party. We open gifts and sang and of course that was lots of fun. I think Hans's favorite "gift" was the card from Opa and Oma with a picture of a great big Rhino on it. He is really into wild animals lately and every day dresses according to what animal he is going to pretend to be. In fact today, he wanted to be a bear that stands up all the time. I told him that there aren't any and so we just invented one. So today Hans is a Cran Bear. We found a picture of Sasquatch and then put the head of a Grizzly bear on it and he is very pleased with the new kind of bear we have imagined up.

Notice that on his cake I wrote exactly what he requested. I think he is pretty excited to FINALLY be four. He's waited an awful long time for this day.

So anyway, that was one of the most special events of the week and I wanted to share.

last week #1

I didn't blog on Sunday cuz I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that went on last week. So now I'll take it in phases. On Monday we had 2 Orthodontist appointments and 4 dentist appointments. Needless to say we didn't get much school done. We did, however, have a great FHE that night.

Tuesday we had to go to court again for another pre-trial meeting and once again we got set up for yet another pre-trial court date but probably this will be that last one. We really do have to go to trial now. We have started lining up wittnesses and planning our defense. I really want an attorney but alas they are way too expensive so my Dad is talking me through how to defend myself. I am praying for Gods help and guidence. Every time I even think about this whole issue I get sick to my stomach so... moving on...Tuesday night was YW and scouts. Mike had to go to a mtg at the church too so I got to stay home and watch Biggest Looser with most of the kids. We were also supposed to go to a Neighborhood Watch mtg. that night but we "forgot" about it so now we'll just have to go some other time to be trained in our Block Captain duties.
Wednesday was piano lessons and more prep work for the painting in the kitchen. Otherwise it was a pretty normal day of school and such around the house.

Thursday we took the kids to school and then headed to Lowes to buy our counter tops, look at faucets and head over to Brittany's school project fair. We then squeezed in a shopping trip and came home for a quick lunch and cat nap before heading back to Lowes to pay for the counter tops and over to the school to pick up the kids. Then just to round it all out we went up to the AF Academy (Mike and I) to play racket ball - much of our exercise originating from laughter.
Friday we had a full day of school and house work followed by a fun trip to the Ward Valentines Day party amidst our normal slew of dance lessons. We even found some time in there somewhere to eat some pizza and watch a movie after the kids went to bed. We watched Rescue Dawn.

Saturday we had a very relaxed Valentine's Day with a sleep in morning, decorating and delivering sugar cookies to the neighborhood and then our traditional fine china dinner of spaghetti topped off with red jello parfaits.
Sunday we went to church and listened to Brittany speak in Sacrament meeting and Michael and Catherine in Primary.

Then to round out the whole weekend on Monday we rented an air compressor and textured the walls upstairs and in the kitchen. Now we have to paint. Today we had a super whirl wind day with Mike's first day back at work and school dinner/plays followed by scouts, Elder's Quorum Presidency and HOA meetings all at the same time. Brittany was at the temple with the youth all of that time and came home just as we wrapped up devotional.

Well maybe we can squeeze in more next time huh! God bless you all!

Sunday 8 Februrary - Gathering No Moss...

Well here we are again at the end of another fun filled week. For the most part it was pretty normal but here are a few of the highlights.

On Monday night we had a good FHE discussion about the Stone Family Mission Plan. We titled it "Come and see". This is patterned after the response of the Saviour in John 1:39 and the idea that all we can really do to be successfull missionaries is extend invitations for people to partake of the Gospel. We then set goals to be examples of Christ by not fighting when outside of our house, to extend at least 2 invitations for others to participate in church activities or family activities each month and to be sure to hold family scripture study and prayer each day. It has been going great so far. We will far exceed the two invitations as we have 7 little people who are excited about inviting friends to come to church. It is great to witness such pure faith.

Tuesday was scouts and young women. Mylinda took her final test for her associates degree that afternoon and the kids went with dad to the school for Michael to finish his testing from last week. The kids had a great time on the playground and checking out a huge sun dial that is on the school grounds - big enough to see from space even.

Wednesday we had a pretty regular day full of projects around the house and Mylinda had a Dr. appointment so dad was home with the kids for a while. It was pretty warm so the kids got to spend some time outside. We also then prepped the house for a carpet cleaning appointment on Thursday - all of the main floor and second floor rooms were getting cleaned.

Thursday, Mike spent the morning with the little fellas and the carpet cleaner while Mylinda took the home schoolers to school and Allison to the Dr. She found out that she had strep throat and is now on antibiodics for that. Once they got home, Mylinda and Mike went shopping for the groceries and some other fun items at local stores. Then it was home for Michael to go to basketball and the girls to dance.

Friday was a busy day of putting the house back together after the carpet cleaning and working on projects around the house. We also went to the library with the home schoolers. Mylinda and Mike went on a fun date to enjoy hotwings and some shopping time together. We then came home and watched the movie Traitor. It was a fun day.

Saturday morning went fairly leisurly until we remembered Michael's basketball game was at 9 am - we remembered at 8:50. After the game Mylinda and Mike went shopping for paint ideas for the kitchen. Then we worked on mudding the kitchen and taking down a few of the cabinets so we can paint behind and around them easier in areas where walls had been patched and such. We ended the day with baths and a daddy daughter date for icecream for Allison.

Today was a good one of watching Grammy on Music and the Spoken Word - we will be lobbying for more air time for her though! - and then off to church followed by some naps, games and Primary meetings for Mylinda while Mike and little Michael did some hometeaching.

Now we are sitting down to take a deep breath before the next plunge. We are so greatful for the time that Mike has to stay home from work for these two weeks and are working hard to get caught up around the house. It is another whirl-wind week on the horizon though so look out cause here we come - we love you all - God's Speed - The Stones

Sunday February 1

This week has been terrific. We had a few relapses of illness but overall it was good. We had regular school most days. Mike had to go to work a couple days since they were having an inspection. It was not much but they counted it as work days and so his two weeks off are still ahead of us!

On Monday night, we had a nice FHE with our whole family together again finally. Mike also did some home repair tasks that he will continue working on over the next two weeks and probably well beyond.

Tuesday we had school and then Allison and Michael got to go take some tests. In Colorado, home schoolers are required to take tests in all of the odd numbered years of school to prove that they are being educated. I think they did great. We will get the scores in a few weeks. Tuesday night we got to go to the church. Aunnika on down went into the nursery and played with toys and watched a movie. Aunnika thought it was pretty cool that she was the babysitter. Michael had cub scouts, Allison had activity days, and Brittany had New Beginnings for YW so Mike and I went to that. She was one of the speakers and as a young beehive she out shined all the other speakers there. I was so proud of my little girl. She has grown into such a lovely young lady.

Wednesday night after (well really during) piano lessons, Mike and I went on a date. We went to dinner and planed to go play racket ball after but Mike got sick during dinner so we went and got a movie instead. We'll have to do the racket ball date this week.

Thursday, Michael had basketball and Mike got to take him to that. I think they had a good time. Allison and Brittany had dance and I know they had a good time. They always come home from dance class giggling and dancing around the house. I'm glad they enjoy it so well. The kids all had their home school academy that day so Mike and I went and looked at counter top options for the kitchen and then he went into work while I started getting things ready for the big party on Friday.

And that's what we did on Friday, we made food and more food and even more food and then we ran out of time and space so we stopped making food and started our Christmas Eve party. It was great fun. Most of the girls had to leave the party for a while for dance classes but they didn't mind terribly. We have been eating the leftovers for the last two days but it's super yummy and most of us are trying several of the items for the first time since there was so much there we couldn't possibly have some of everything on the first go round.

OK well on Saturday, we had our Christmas fun morning and then Brittany went to dance class and the rest of us spent a bit of time out in the yard doing a little cleaning up and a lot of play. It was just really beautiful weather so we took advantage of it. We then got the kids bathed and in bed and then Mike and I read a book together. It is a pretty cool one and when we finish it I'll let you all know if we recommend it.

Today at church, Mike got a new calling. He's now the second counselor in the Elders Quorum. That means I'm still alone in nursery but at least he'll be here to enjoy sacrament meeting with us all. I LOVE having him back.

Christmas II

Well we had a wonderful Christmas II celebration. We had our traditional smorgasbord feast on "Christmas Eve" with neighbors the Leonards and Freys, and the Ammon Redds and the Sperry Redds. We were thrilled that Sperry was here. He had just returned from a 9 month deployment the previous day.

We ate way way too much and loved it all and then most of the party went home (or to bed in the case of our little ones) and then we played games for a while. We finally went to bed only to be awakened too few hours later by an excited bunch of kids wanting to open presents. It was great fun.

Of course, the best part about this Christmas was that Mike was here. We missed our Daddy so much and LOVE having him back.