Living the High Life in High Country Colorado

So, it has been a long while since the last post, and if this is going to be my journal in a sense I need to keep up to date.

We have been at my parents in Colorado for the last week and are having a good time. The kids got to sled the first day we were here and had a blast. Unfortunately, the weather has been in the 50s+ everyday since we haven't been out there again. Here are the highlights so far.
*good driving conditions from Phoenix to Woodland Park on 12/26 (vern drove the whole trip in a day)
* hearing Elena giggle as she went down the hill on the sled for the first time
* watching all the kids (minus Benjamin) sledding and having fun
* no television (a few dvds though)
* going to Sunday School and Relief Society
* All of us have a bad cold - not so good
* Good is my mom is the superwomen I need so that I can rest and get better while she takes care of the kids
* Going to Target on first 75% off day and scoring good deals with my mom - I usually get there 2 days later and get nothing
* Going to Denver Zoo with Vern, the kids and my mom. That Zoo is awesome!!!!!!!!!
* Benjamin sleeping for the entire 3 1/2 hours there
* Visiting with my Grandmother Jensen for a bit
* Celebrating New YEars at 7:30pm because it is so dark around here that no one knows the difference - although we missed the Galloways

We have another 2 days of the trip and I am enjoying a true vacation! My parents rock!

Elena wins 3 on 3 Tournament

Today Elena had a soccer tournament and her team of Aleesa, Hunter and Sawyer won the championship game!!!!!!!!!! They played 4 games and won each one. Elena scored a goal. She has improved since a year ago when she began. Way to go E!!!!!!!!!!

Too Cute For Words

One of Little Vern's earlier words was "Broder"...means "Brother". He sure loves his little brother, Benjamin. I am worried for the day they start playing/terrorizing together. I don't think the girls know what is coming their way. We love our little boys!

Boys Can Sleep anywhere

I have caught little Vern falling asleep in the morningslately. Just wanted to show that Boys can sleep where ever. Note...that is chocolate on his lip...not a bloody nose.

Natalie's Kindergarten Christmas Concert

On Monday (8th) was Natalie's Christmas Concert. We headed over to her school, without Vern because he had class, but with our neighbor, Paige. We got there in time and had good seats. All was well. Then about 8 minutes before the start. Meghan came back from the bathroom and said, "My tummy hurts" and then threw up all over herself, me and little Vern. We quickly went to the back of the room. And very helpful and kind people helped clean up the mess. Luckily most of it was on me and the girls jackets. Natalie sang, "Christmas Bells" and did great. I didn't show Elena and Paige how to video record for that song, but they got the group finale of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". I can't get the video to work yet, so I will wait for Vern to get home and hopefully add it. Natalie did great!

On the way home Meghan got sick again. Upon arrival I asked Elena to go turn the shower on for Meghan and Little Vern. She did just as she was told, but forgot to take the kids clothes off or shut the shower door until it got warm. When I got inside I heard crying and this is what I saw.

Yes, two happy children fully dressed and in the shower. What a treat.

Black Friday- Shopping/Cleaning

The clean garage!


Bryant cleaning the window!



Scott cleaning the fridge!



Every black Friday, (day after Thanksgiving) I go shopping with my sisters, Kim and Kari. I got to wake up at 3am to get food for Baby Benjamin (so he could stay home with my fabulous husband, shopping without a baby is great) and leave by 3:30am to get to Mesa by 4:30am. We did some serious shopping and were done by 8:30. While the girls played the boys...worked! We got to Kim's house and as we walked in her husband, Scott was cleaning the fridge. At Kari's, Bryant was cleaning the top window over the door. And at my home, with 5 young kids in his care, Vern cleaned the dreaded garage. For those that haven't seen our garage. IT is clean. I promise you. We can park the kids bikes, Vern can use his saws and the garbage can fits inside. Yahoo. Props to you MEN AT WORK.

Thanksgiving Triatholon

Chelsea and Kindy after a great triatholon!

Finishing the bike and glad to be off the seat. It was a fabulously fast bike from my sister, Kim. Loved it!

Swimming, Swimming almost done!

My sister-in-law, Chelsea and I participated in a Triatholon on Thanksgiving morning. It was awesome. We were suppose to run 2 miles (it was less because of mud), bike 12 miles and swim 400 meters. It was great! The weather was overcast which was perfect. I did finish and wasn't in last place. Phew. Chelsea beat me, but just watch out for the next one. I may drop a minute. It was a great way to start Thanksgiving!

Deer Hunt - Big Hike

A view from the top of the mountain they climb. There campsite was in the middle of the picture. Good hiking with a rifle.


Aaron the hunter takes time to pose for the camera.


Vern and his dad and brother, Aaron went hunting the weekend of November14th. They were down near the Arizona/Mexico border. With new guns, binaculars, camo, etc. They were ready to get a big deer. Well, they got a big hike, but no deer. They saw female deer, but no males. Better luck next year, as they always say.

Tagged

My sister Karen tagged me over a month ago. I finally have time to sit and answer the tag. Kinda fun to think about myself, and kinda hard.

8 Favorite TV Shows
Eli Stone
The Biggest Loser
What Not to Wear
Top Chef
Malcom In the Middle
According to Jim
How Its Made
The Office

8 Favorite Restaurants
Black Angus
Pizza&Wings and Stuff
Macayos
little resturant in Milano that makes an incredible type of calzone
Riazzis - in Tempe
Chik-Fil-A
Mama Andersons kitchen (it has been a long time-cheesy potatoes, I still can't make them right)
Cafe Rio

8 Things that happened yesterday
Road Kim's road bike for the first time about 12 miles
Lifted weights at gym
Got mad at the scale
Got all the dishes done - with newly working dishwasher
Babysat Roestenberg kids
Laundry washed and folded and put away (in same day)
Went out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse with entire family and it went great
Watched our families addiction "Biggest Loser" - because we need to be on it and "Eli Stone"

8 Things to look forward to
Vern getting a deer on Friday morning (11/14)
Benjamin to not spit up
Elena and Natalie playing soccer
Tanna and Drew's dance festival on Saturday (11/15)
Triathlon with Chelsea (11/27)
Benjamin turning 3 months so he can go to the YMCA child care
A nice number on the scale
Spending time with family with the upcoming Holidays!

8 Things I love about fall
Leaves that change color
The good smell outside
Leaving the windows open in the house
Reminiscing about HS soccer
Colder weather
Playing outside for the first time in months
College football - I still cheer for Penn State and still hate Ohio State and always hope for Arizona State
Sweatshirts

8 Obsessions
No one eats my cookie dough - it is for cookies to be baked
Lindt Chocolate - red wrapper
Chapstick
Bed made in the morning
No Barbies or Polly Pockets allowed in the water
Reading the comics every morning at breakfast - my kids want to do it too
High School Musical
My family

8 Things on my wish list
No laundry for a week
The house stays clean for 2 days after it is cleaned
No debt
Vern to do well on his Masters program
Happy Children that don't tease each other on purpose
Get in contact with old friends from home/college
To beat Ammon in the Triathlon - if he does it
To create and stick to a good budget

8 People I am tagging
Anna, Chelsea, Joyce, Karin, Jen, Sara, Cherylann, Katie
(don't feel you have to)

I'm 33 1/3rd

Thanks to my family I got to celebrate my 33 1/3rd birthday last Friday. My sister Kris learned three years ago that I like surprises and thought that I should have a surprise birthday party for my 33 1/3 birthday! It was a great surprise and I loved it.

Vern told me that he wanted to go out for dinner on Saturday night with the entire family. (That should have given me warning signs because last May we did that and we haven't since because it was so crazy) We left the house , but turned the wrong direction for the restaurant. I tried to tell him he was going the wrong way, but he thought a new one was open. So, instead of trusting my husband I called my two sisters in Mesa to ask them to get the address from the Internet. Neither are at home. Then I call my sister, Karen, in Vegas and she checks things out for me. At this time Vern starts to pull into Goodyear park and says "I'm just turning around." I assume he has realized that I was right and he was wrong. But he parks the car and gets out of the car. As we get out, my sister-in-law is in the parking lot and asks if I know why I was there. I say "no" and she says."oh" . So after a stop at the restroom for the child that was told to go before we left the house. We walk over to a pavilion filled with friends and family to celebrate my 33 1/3rd birthday. It was so wonderful! Thank you to all that were able to come. It was so fun to see everyone. I just wish I could have spent more time with each of you.

On the invitation it said if you want to bring a gift it needs to be a 3rd of something. Here are some of the fun treats I received.
- 1/3 cup of dark chocolate cranberries
- a necklace from a jewelry set that was missing the earrings
- 1/3rd of a bag of candy corn
- 3 bags of candy corn
- 1/3rd of a price of dinner at Macaroni Grill
- 1/3rd part of a date night - 1 movie ticket + babysitting
- 1/3rd of a pack of Orange Crush in bottles (the best way to drink orange pop)
- 1/3rd of a package of rolls for me and the rest for my family
- $33.33
- gift card to Barnes and Noble
- Book Titled "The Book Thief" - it was 30% off the cover price
- 3 bottles of Spa items - lotion, bath salts, body wash
- Gift certificate at Olive Garden to carb up for the triathlon
- movie "Get Smart"
I believe those were them all, Thank you all so much! It was such a fun night and a fun idea! Throw one for someone you love!

What Kind of Dance is that?

Little Vern came into the Living Room that I was cleaning doing this dance. It was so silly I had to tape it. We love this crazy boy! Sorry it is on it side. I'm still learning.

Sleeping Slippers

Last Friday morning (11/7) it was a chilly Arizona morning...56 degrees and so out came the slippers for the freezing feet in our home. While taking Natalie to school Meghan told me that her kitty's were sleeping. Hence the cute video. Sorry it is on its side!

Thumbs are good

On Sunday, the 2nd of November, I learned how important thumbs are. I was slicing apples to make apple crisp for dinner. We were having a new family to our ward over for dinner. As I was slicing the apple on a mandolin (not the instrument) I put my thumb down too far and sliced a chunk out of my knuckle on my right thumb. It hurt. Vern was a great knight in shinning armor and got me to the ER (because it was Sunday and no Urgent Cares are open). They looked at my thumb and said no stiches, but you have to wear a splint for three days and cover it until it starts to cover over. Life is very hard without the use of my right thumb. Just getting the kids ready this morning took longer than normal.

So it looks like my goal as being a hand model has been "sliced" away! Vern took a picture but we thought it wouldn't be good to post it. Ask him if you want to see the divot.

It happened to me

Last Saturday night Vern and I attended our adult session of Stake Conference. We actually paid for a babysitter (although she refused payment...I'll get her one day to accept it). I haven't been to one in 6 years due to children. I was prepared and feed Benjamin before the meeting, but halfway through the meeting he was starving again. Darn boys eat too much! So, I left and feed him. When he finished I headed back to the chapel and as I walked through the door I heard our Stake President say, "We would invite Sister Kindy Wolfley forward to bear her testimony for us on that topic." What! I was frozen in the doorway as everyone stared at me with aha looks and glad its not me looks. I shakingly gave Vern the baby and asked him what I was suppose to talk about, and luckily he knew. I couldn't stop shaking the rest of the meeting. It was nice to bear my testimony and luckily the members of the stake were very kind and smiled at me. This was a first for me and it still makes my heart beat faster when I think about it.

The conference was really good, aside from my testimony. Yesterday we had a broadcast conference for all of Arizona and I really enjoyed it! The talks were great! I just love going to my church meetings and feeling the Spirit of the Lord that reenergizes me to do good!

Athlete of the Month

A little time to brag about my child. Sorry. Elena was named Student Athlete of the month at her school, Corte Sierra Elementary. We are excited for her because they only choose 1 boy and 1 girl a month. As Karen pointed out to me, it means she is a good PE student. We like to think she is the next Mia Hamm.

Ward Trunk or Treat - 2nd Halloween Party

Natalie the flapper with friend Abby.

Elena, Meghan and Hailey

The kids dig into their candy before we leave the parking lot.

We had a ton of fun at our ward trunk or treat. We ate very tasty chili and the kids got lots of candy.

Pumpkin Carving Time

Last night we had our annual carving the pumpkin night with our friends Jeremy & Cambria Thompson. We had lots of fun. Elena did a good job digging out the guts and little Vern did not like the feeling at all.

The Thompsons brought their juicer and we made homemade apple juice. It was tasty. I prefered the granny smith apples.

Little Vern stores his pancakes

Last Sunday the 26th, we were at the table eating Brinner (breakfast for dinner) when we looked over at little Vern stuffing his pancake into his shirt. It was so funny. I guess we have a squirrel in the family.

Hula Hooping all Night Long

Last night we had told the kids we would go to a city Halloween party, but it got later than planned (as it always does on Saturday evening) and we convinced them it would be great at home. Elena brought out the hula hoop and we had a blast. Hula Hooping, jumping through the hoop, in the hoop and even through a moving hoop (much to Meghan's frustration). We thouroughly enjoyed it was Dad Vern showed us his skills. Looked great until it hit the belly. Gotta work on it. It was a fun night for us. Even Little Vern got it to hula, with a little help.

Dad Vern has the kids trapped!

High School Musical 3

The girls and I were there opening night for the long awaited High School Musical 3. The boys of the family opted to stay at home. We sure enjoyed the film. I got a kick out of listening to the girls scream when Troy appeared on screen at the beginning. It was fun to be at the theater as everyone cheered together and clapped for good things. Downside was Meghan dropping the cup of pop twice! popcorn being spilled twice! water being spilled on Natalie so she and half asleep Meghan could fight over my lap for the last 30 minutes of the movie. We still enjoyed it and were happy about the entire movie.

Elena set the table/Chicken Update

Elena set the table on Sunday for dinner and was very pleased with her work, so she wanted to share it with everyone. You can't see, but she wrapped the silverware in white napkins so it would look extra fancy.

On a side note, my chicken canning was successful. My friend looked at it this morning and she said is was good. I just don't understand the laws of canning.

Doctor visits for the Boys

How crazy that I can say boys, plural, now. Yesterday Vern IV had his 18 month visit and Benjamin had his 2 month visit. Both are growing well, that means they are like the rest of their siblings, at 30% for everything. Someday they might get their dad genes and get taller. They both had to get shots and did well. It made me laugh because about 5 years ago I had to take Elena and Natalie to the Fire Department to get their shots and I took my brother Greg with me so he could hold one, and I the other. Greg said he wouldn't do that again because he became the mean uncle that made nieces get shots. Now fast forward 5 years and I took both plus Meghan all by myself. I guess I am growing up.

Canning Chicken

I am attempting to be homemakey! I canned chicken on Friday. Here is the result. I don't think my first attempt was very successful though. I only heard on lid pop. It was fun to feel like I was doing something good to help my family prepare.

Saturday at Soccer

Saturday morning means 2 soccer games for Elena and Natalie. Unfortunatley, I did not read the schedule correct and Elena was very late to her game and only got to play for a quater. Natalie had a much improved game from last week. She was challenged to at least touch the ball 6 times, enstead of playing with her pony tail, hug team mates and in general be about 10 steps behind the crowd. She ran after the ball well and on her 6th kick, late in the game, she SCORED!!!!!! Yahoo! She has come a long way from our first practice a month ago, when she didn't want to leave my side. Way to go Natalie. Elena continues the Sherwood tradition of playing defense. To quote her, "I like to play defense so that I can be lazy." What is she saying about all of her Sherwood uncles and aunts. Go Soccer! VPG

Fit Start, started Monday

Baby Benjamin is now 8 weeks old so I can exercise again!!!!!!!!! On Monday I began a program at our YMCA called Fit Start. They get me going on Cardio machines (treadmill/bike) for 2 weeks, then they add weights and continue to monitor me and push me to do more. This is great becasue I was still doing all my exercise based on what I learned in High School. I don't think I have that body anymore, sadly. It also gives me motivation. I have been good and gone everyday so far. Lets hope I can continue. The hard part is that I now lose my morning cleaning time to working out time. Hopefully I will get the desired outcome at the gym and I can manage the home still.

My sister-in-law, Chelsea and I are going to be participating in a Tri-atholon on Thanksgiving Morning (while our husbands go shooting). It is a great motivator to get me going. Hopefully it will be a good post that day.

Where are the Brachs Candy Corn?

Every October I enjoy the wonderful taste of pure sugar in the form of Candy Corn, specifically Brachs. I have searched many stores and can not find them. Thanks to a good friend, Heidi, she found me a bag and left it on my doorstep. Yesterday, I was at my nighborhood ALbertsons looking for the tasty treat and found the manager in the same isle. I asked "Where are your Brachs..." he added "Candy Corn" before I could. Obviously there are many of us out there searching for this treat. He said that the manufacturer didn't make enough this year. How sad is that. Only once a year to eat this treat and they didn't produce enough. I guess this is the way to cut some sugar from the diet. So if you find those tasty Brachs Candy Corn. Enjoy a few for me and eat them color by color for me as well.

1st Halloween Night

Our children are what you might call Trick or Treat hoppers. They attend different ward Halloween parties to get the most amount of candy in one month. On October 11th they went to Aunt Anna's ward party in Buckeye. We had two cute flappers, a darling Sleeping Beauty, a Powerful Superman and a fidgety pumpkin. They met up with their adorable fairy cousins, Olivia and Abigail Elledge. Fun was had and is still had each time the candy is brought out to eat. Only 2 or 3 more parties to go.

Camping in Autumn

On October 9th-11th we went camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park with my two sisters and their familes, the Rapiers and Rockwoods. We sure had fun, and sure saw/felt a lot of wind. The kids rode bikes all day and ran around. A much needed change from being trapped inside home all summer long. They all sleep well each night after a hard day of play. It was good that they slept well because on the night of the 10th we had so strong winds all night long. Check out our tent. It was a good trip. The kids got to play with cousins. Tanna spent half the time holding Baby Benjamin. We ate well. It was good, oh except for Natalie's burn on her hand from a hot coal. She's fine now.

Blogging World Here We Come

We did it. We have a blog. Hopefully, you will not be bored with it as we try to keep a better record of our family happenings. Obviously, we think we are so exciting and soon you too can bask in that knowledge.