Directv Stinks!

Okay so all of you readers out there I want you to know if you have a choice between Directv and Dish please choose Dish network!! I am currently stuck in a contract with Directv. The only channels Mike and I like are TLC, Discovery, Food Network and Hallmark. Should I have to pay $55.00 for four channels?? Apparently! Oh and by the way you will get MTV and all sorts of crap channels that will distroy your kid's lives. But hey you can lock the channels (why pay $55 for four channels?) kids these days can't break the codes. I have been told that Dish Network will swap channels so please go with them. Plus Directv's support is seriously lacking. First I call and talk to Harrison (real names are used if you want badge numbers please email me) who tells me that his supervisior is way to busy to talk to me--WHAT? I tell him if they are too busy then your company has a problem. So I take his name and ask for his badge number and tell him I am writing down that he won't let me talk to a supervisor. Hey guess what I got to talk to his too busy supervisor Ashley (yes real name). She tells me she can help me and I am very grateful but in the end she can't she gives me this package that cancels the good channels like food network and hallmark and gives me channels like Comedy Central (dirty jokes and all) but it does have TLC and discovery. We discover this after I hang up the phone. So I call back and of course there is no possible way to talk to the same people even if you have their names and badge numbers. I get to talk to Mark who gets me to his supervisor right away (one good point), Nancy. Nancy can't help me out at all they don't do anything like that the only channel they offer alacart is some obscure channel like outdoors man. She can't give me any help all she repeats to me over and over again is "contact directv at directv.com" and leave some suggestions. Or she can send me a list of channel packages and prices--are you kidding me!! Please people go to DISH NETWORK!!!! I will be the minute my contract is up and trust me if I could afford to I would cancel today! If anyone would like to leave comments about their directv experience I will forward it on to directv.

The Honesty of 5 year olds!

Okay so Molly turned 5 this month and along with it apparently she has found the wonderful tact only a 5 year old can have. You all know it things like--"Uh, oh that lady is in big trouble she drew all over her arm!" (Tattooes) Of course she doesn't say this quietly. Then there is always the people who are smoking outside the stores, "Oh man smoking is BAD! That means he is a bad man, gross!" Of course the guy was actually nice and said, "your right smoking is bad." On our way into the store. My personal favorite---we are at Wal Mart in the cold section. The next thing I know Molly yells (and I mean yells) "Hey that guy's crack it showing!" I look up and see this guy bending over trying to choose eggs (like its a tough decision or something). I am trying not to laugh while thinking to myself "more like a half moon" lets just say I quickly turned the cart around and went the other way. Trying not to laugh the whole time. I shouldn't forget that just this evening Mike told Molly she needed to pick up the dining room. Her response "I don't want to be Cinderella---she's a cleaning lady!" Apparently asking her to clean is treating her like Cinderella. Ya gotta love this stage in childhood it brings lots of embarassing looks but also lots of laughs for later years!

Frans and his spider trap!

Okay so the other day Frans starts making a checklist. He comes and tells Mike and I that he has a "spider checklist" Of course being the awesome parents that we are we say, "uh huh," and don't think another thing about it. Then the next thing we notice is Frans gathering up all sorts of stuff. A chip, piece of pop tart, peanut butter and at this point we start asking some more questions. Frans what are you doing? "I am making a spider trap" he says. Mike and I look at each other and are like oookay. Then the next thing we know he is climbing up on a chair and picking flies off the fly strip (yes we have fly strips the only way to get the flies under control) Mike follows him and he sees Frans putting all the spider trapings together and asks Frans to explain. I didn't hear the explainations but Mike said it was pretty funny. It ended with Frans putting his spider trap in the laundry room--so spiders won't get into his bathroom. Mike took pictures and then decided to catch some spiders and put them in his spider trap...so far two spiders are stuck in the peanut butter! There is just nothing like a child's own invention. Yeah for imagination!

What was he thinking?

Okay so I guess start with the bottom picture first! Owen thought it would be funny to put all of his pencil top erasers on his face. It was kind of funny and we all had a laugh until he took them off. Oh, yeah they left like little hickey marks all over his face. The bottom picture was like 3 days ago and the top two pictures are today. Yeah, he still has the marks and they are not fading. I am glad that picture day was last week other wise he'd have picture of pock face boy. I am sure that the school will be calling me tomorrow asking what is wrong with Owen. Good grief I do not understand boys sometimes. What a goof ball!

First Day of School Picts

Here are some first day pictures of the kids. We are starting on our 3rd week of school tomorrow. Finally the kids are getting into the routine of homework, practicing guitar (owen), and riding the bus. Frans is in 1st grade and a very responsible student--always gets his homework done fast...he might get in trouble if he doesn't. Owen's in 4th grade and trying to deal with the major increase in homework load, he is also excited because he made the top reading group (which also increases the homework load). Haylee is in 6th grade, her last year in elementary school, she is much more into her looks this year. I guess this is a good thing but I am having to adjust to the mom just doesn't understand attitude. She has gotten pretty tall over the summer she is now 5'1 I only have 4 1/2 inches on her! Life keeps moving on at a fast pace for us.

A string of Bad Luck

Okay so I guess lately I have been feeling like I have a rain cloud following me around! Seriously I have had a huge string of bad luck. First, I woke up in the middle of the night to get Jax a bottle and trip on my brand new laptop cord...it fell and broke out the dvd drive! I had only had it for a total of 3 weeks. I hadn't even tried to use the dvd drive yet. Then a week later I break my brand new cell phone...only had it two weeks! (I get to send the phone back though) Then I read in the newspaper that they found west nile virus on pump access road...the road I LIVE ON! Not to mention the fact we have more moisquitos in our house (Mike takes a fly swatter and kills them every night before bed)--ya think we are at risk?? I mean please what else could go wrong. I haven't dared touch the new ipod I accidently bought off ebay for fear that I will ruin it. I must say I have been obeying the speed limit and such as I am afraid I might get into an accident or something next--or maybe a ticket. Good grief! Here's to hoping I will be much more lucky in the next few weeks--I could use it!

Work, Work, Work!

Okay so today is really the only day that I have been coherent in the last week. I have been working nights for Cherry harvest. I work from 7 pm til 6 am and then on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays I work down at the library for about 3 hours a day. It hasn't really been too bad staying awake at night. It is just letting the kids go wild all day long that is kind of a problem. As I now can sleep through just about anything during the day. I am glad that it will only last two weeks. Hopefully the kids will survive and me too. I better get to sleep as I have to start work at 1:30 am Monday morning.

Vegas 10's!!

Okay here are my Vegas 10's:

Top 10 things you must do in Vegas: (Okay I actually have 11 because of a tie)
10. Go to the Buffet at the Wynn
9. Watch the Volcano errupt at the Mirage
8. Walk the Strip at night--people watch
7. See the Bathroom in Le Paris Hotel (and the Hotel is pretty awesome)
6. Walk through the Forum Shops at Ceasar's Palace
5. See the celebrities at Madam Tousouses(spelling??) they are shorter than they look on T.V.
4. Watch someone gamble at the tables--its amazing when you see someone throw down $800
3. See a Cirque Du Solie (spelling?) preformance
2. Tournament of Kings--knights fighting--pretty awesome
1. See the Las Vegas Temple/watch the Fountains at the Belligio

10 Things to Beware of:

10. Traffic on the strip--took us 2 hours to go three miles
9. Casinos are mazes on purpose--look for a map in each lobby
8. If you hear a taxi honking get out of the way or it will run you down.
7. The dealer ALWAYS wins--always! I saw lots of people just waiting for their luck to turn trust me it won't.
6. Be prepared to smell smoke...and smoke...and more smoke-from cigars to pipes to cigarettes
5. Realize that driving a moped, motorized wheelchair, or trike while drinking is a bad idea especially for the other people on the sidewalks!
4. Girls in swimsuits and stillettos--everywhere--give me a break ladies its really not that flattering--seriously (maybe if they were sober they might realize that their butt cheek is hanging out flapping around--gross!)
3. Realize that sometimes its just best not to watch the ads on all the video screens everywhere--ignore it.
2. There will be slimy guys and girls trying to pass out pictures of topless--ugly (I think didn't look so I am just guessing by the amount that was discarded on the ground) women
1. When you sit down at a table take into consideration that it has been known that at some establishments women may have been dancing on said table--therefore wiping their thong clad butt all over said table. Plus the chair you are sitting on has probably been sat on by some chick walking around in her bikini and stillettos when she ate her lunch. I am just saying--not the cleanest part of someone's body being swished around on the table or chair!

For the most part Vegas can be a lot of fun. If you want to find bad it is definitely there but there is also lots of good things to do and you can avoid the bad if you choose to do so. If you decide you would like to take a hand at Blackjack or gambling--do so realizing that you will eventually lose and it is best to try the night or day you leave and bring to the table a dollar amount you are willing to lose and nothing else that way you don't spend you entire vacation trying to get back what you lost. It is best for most of us to just enjoy watching others lose their money and keep yours in your pocket!

Jax's First B-Day!

Jax is 1! I can hardly believe a year has already gone by. It seems like yesterday that Jax was born and we were so worried he wasn't going to make it. What a miracle it was! He is not walking yet! He is too chicken. We finally got him to stand and Jerry tried hard to get him to walk at his party but no go--he just folds his legs like an accordian. Oh well in his own time. Jax loves cars and he plays like they are cars, with the sound and everything! He even tried to make my water bottle a car. He loves balls--ever since Brick tried to get him to throw him the ball at the Hokanson reunion Jax has been all about throwing and playing with balls! I can't believe this is our last winnie the pooh cake! No more first birthdays for us and I was a little sad at the thought on his birthday but I look forward to so much more fun as our family begins to change from being full of babies to full of pre-teens. What a wonderful life we have!!

$50, 23 Loads, clean laundry...priceless!

I am finally back to the land of the blog!! We had the Hokanson reunion and in our preperation for everyone to show up Mike loaded all of our dirty laundry into garbage bags and threw them in our room. Really ( I should of taken a picture but wasn't sure I really wanted that picture floating around for postarity) it was so bad that I would walk in our room and think a mouse must of died because of the smell. It was seriously bad, so I had enough! It was time for me to take control of the madness of Laudry. After a discussion with Mike (where we seriously contemplated if our junky washing machine could handle it) we decided I would take all the laundry to the laudry mat in Mattawa and do it all at once! With the help of my angelic mother I was able to complete 23 loads of laudry! All washed dried and folded! It was awesome!! The only sad thing is that when I came home I discovered another 5 to 8 loads left amongsnt the junk in the house! Still there is nothing like the smell of clean laundry!!!

Litttle League Tourament

Okay so I am not sure how to rotate this picture so look sideways. Notice his dirty face.

Here is Owen's team they took fourth. They did a great job and they were the youngest team there.

Owen did a great job at catcher--I wish I had a picture of him diving for the ball, he did it a couple of times today. I think it must be in his blood! This is why he had such a dirty face in the above picture--a true ball player!

Here is Owen batting and running to first, he had a few good hits today. I think next year we need to work on getting him to relax more at the plate. When he is relaxed he does awesome! He is a very fast runner and a great slider. He gets his toes pointed and was called safe. Todays tournament went smoothly and I thought it was a great day. There were a few things that came up but nothing unmanagable. I really enjoyed the ball today--I love BALL! If I could go back and do it again I would make straighter foul lines. (Ha!) I don't think I will be volunteering to run the tournament next year. I want to coach Frans and Molly in T ball. Ball for the Hokanson's is over for the year. If you want to see more picts check it out on facebook I will put them all there.

Toilet Surprises!!

Everyday is a new adventure. In fact each time I go into the bathroom its a new adventure...what kind of surprises will be waiting there for me today? Yes, the bathroom the place of choice to play for Jax, Molly and Mikaydi. Of course it might not be so bad if it were in their bathroom but no it has to be the master bath. After all Mom, "its got carpet and its soft!" as Molly tells me many times. The plants are apparently like a jungle for their barbies--oooh what fun. Whats the big deal you say? Well, Jax likes to grab everything and anything and put it into the toilet...its really bad when you really have to go to the bathroom you run in there look down and oh, gee there's a candle, toothbrush (mike's--I hope), candle holder, lego and something that looks like it could of been a card but is now starting to fall apart its really hard to tell. Before you can do your business you have to get everything out of the toilet-which is gross in itself. By the time you get done getting everything out your not only about to pee your pants you also feel like vomiting! Oh, I can't wait for tommorrows toilet surprise! Next time I will take pictures for those of you who don't believe me!

Little League Disclaimer

Okay, so my blog is intended for family and when I blog a lot of the time I vent out frustrations. Mostly these frustrations are about my kids and the many different troubles they get into. Occationally I get frustrated with other things as well. I am not out to get anyone or make people mad. The little league tournament has made me a bit frustrated but thanks to my writing it is gone over- done -with. Next time I will be more careful what I write or I will make my blog private.

Little League

Okay so I understand competition, I mean PLEASE, I am a Yorgesen after all. Our family lives for competition so I understand it. But even I don't get some of the crap that goes on in our small town. So heres whats going on...I volunteered ( I know crazy) to organize the L. L. tournaments this year. No problem right, well apparently not. First let me tell you that last year I coached and my team made it to the tournament and we took 3rd. While we were there my team was playing by different rules than all other 3 teams (hard to explain but it has to do with infield balls and "stations") so I get upset everyone tells me 'oh, well you should of known.' Thus this is why I volunteered to run these tournaments as I felt everyone should be told up front.
Back to my story, supposidly I am in charge. I guess that means that everyone that is a coach can call me and tell me who I need to get to ump, because they "know people that know the rules". What the H is that supposed to mean? Like I don't? The problem is that this particular coach had a problem with me umping one of the games her team played. Apparently all she has to do is call the President of the L.L. and that means it all goes her way. What am I doing wasting all my time for? I just have a problem when people start calling me out of the blue and telling me they were told I needed umps that know the rules. I personally thought it would be best to get umps from another town so that there were no favorites being played. Come on...people I coached last year, got all the memos from this years meetings, and I have been ump for a whole bunch of games this year...I think I know what I am doing. Good grief...I guess this is what I get for living in such a small competitive place.

Good Grief--not again

Okay here we go again...(I tried to publish this and it keeps getting erased!) SO remember when I first started blogging. Molly and Mikaydi and their toilet episodes...well I guess its Jax's turn. He pulls himself up to the toilet and then likes to play in the water--yuck! It is so gross I want to vomit!! I mean it is a miracle that kids don't get diseases with this kind of stuff they do. Jax still isn't standing on his own--he is way to chicken...but he is a crawling machine. He has finally gotten some more teeth up top. Only now he grinds his bottom and top teeth--annoying! It is like someone running their nails down a chalkboard--ugh! But then he gives you this amazing smile and it just melts your heart--how can you possibly get mad at that! I think this little boy has me wrapped around his fingers.

Easter

Here is Haylee cleaning her room...the kids had to get their rooms cleaned before they could dye easter eggs. (She got to do a few) Owen, Frans, Molly, Mikaydi all had a blast dying eggs.

Owen was consentrating so hard, to get the eggs to look just right--it was pretty funny. Molly and Mikaydi just loved putting the eggs in all the colors. It was a fun day. Later on we had the cousins come out from Mattawa and we all got to run around and play. The kids all got to go and find easter eggs. It is fun to see the older boys, Tyler, Jens, Brayden helping the youngers and then finding their own eggs.

We chained up bear (the dog) and the kids were out there getting him riled up. Mikaydi got caught in the cross fire and bear knocked her into the pond outside...very funny. She didn't think it was too funny until we took her picture. We had a fun day.

Wal-Mart Mayhem!!

Today Haylee had theropy in Tri-Cities (she has this twice a week) so we are running late, as usual, and Mikaydi would not stay in her car seat (yes, she has learned the hudini tricks). For about 5--okay more like 15-miles I thought of all the possible excuses I could give a police officer. Not feeling like any sounded good or would even work I pulled over and gave her a spanken and told her to stay in her seat. Things got progressively worse throughout the day. A few miles into Tri-Cities Molly starts barfing all the while wailing that she is not sick its the seat belt that did it--"see I shouldn't have to wear it, it squishes my tummy!" I get Haylee to her appointment and tell her to go up on her own while I clean Molly and find the dirty spare shorts that are in the car. I was supposed to do my monthly shopping today but decided against it because of Molly--we will just make a quick stop at Wal Mart for the essentials. From the moment we walked into Wal Mart to well after we left Mikaydi cried, and cried and cried! IT WAS TERRIBLE! I tried to ask her what was wrong and she was crying so hard I could never understand her. This may have been barable or even tolarable except for all the people that kept asking me if these were all my children! I wanted to tell them no I had two more that were in school, but I kept my mouth shut. Of course I was trying to be patient because after all between Molly running down the aisle and Mikaydi crying people were acting as if we were lepers or somehting...I mean woman would squish up against product to avoid us as we walked by--seriously. Haylee whom normally is a big help and her own issues today. No matter where we were she kept running into me--once I even triped over her nearly falling. I kept telling her--you know in a perfectly controlled voice--"stand back away from me!" I tripped over her at least four times while trying to put the groceries into the cart. Then once again-"Are all these your children?" UGH!!! Finally we get to the parking lot and I think 'a last home free!' Until of course Mikaydi, who is still crying, refuses to get into the car. I tell you I think I showed great restraint--I simply said, "okay, stay here then." Walked around got into the car...I knew she had a high pitched scream but I tell you she reached new octives right then, the dogs were howling in the neighborhood--if that gives you any indications. Needless to say she decided to get into the car. I thought for sure she'd go to sleep on the way home--no such luck. She just sulked--but at least it was silent!! Next time I think I will wear a t-shirt that says, "yes, they are all mine and yes I know how to prevent it". People are noisy. One of these days I'll probably be reported to CPS--good grief!

Granny vs the Billy Goat

Okay this has got to be the funniest thing ever! Peter and ShaRee have this goat...a big goat. In fact it is so big had I seen it before I came into their house I wouldn't have left the car. Its got horns and will charge you. As we were talking about this monstrous goat, my mom (granny) tells us her confrontation with this goat. When the goat came up to her and tried to ram her she just reached out and grabbed the horns! The whole time she's thinking, 'okay, now what do I do?' Then the goat goes up on its hind legs! Its front hooves swinging and yet she is still holding on to its horns! Okay, just close your eyes and imagine this--too bad we don't have video. So back to the situation, not knowing what else to do she kicks the goat in the nards (you know what I mean)! The goat runs away...I can hardly stop laughing as I write this...I can just picture Granny out there doing this...it is way too funny. Way to go Granny!!

"Spring" Break?

Okay so this is how our spring break is going...cold weather, wind lots of wind and SNOW! If we were in Idaho it wouldn't be that big a deal but we're not! Notice all the junk in the back yard, well we were supposed to be cleaning all that up and doing yard work this week--yeah right! So it looks like we'll have to wait some more before tackling the yard....I bet you can hear my children crying because they wanted to do it so bad (more like cheering)! I could barely get Owen to stay out there long enough for the picture--he was freezing...Mikaydi wouldn't stay outside. I guess this is further evidence of Global Warming...you know the temperature is supposed to actually increase not decrease, right?

Jax

Here is Jax...yes our sixth child...do you think he likes attention? He loves everyone and anyone who will pay attention to him. Jax has Haylee wrapped around his little finger. All he has to do is wimper and she is right there ready to pick him up. She rocks him and he falls asleep in her arms, she changes his diaper, she feeds him baby food, makes bottles, and makes sure that he doesn't choke on whatever he vacuums up off the floor.
Yes, his wish is Haylee's command. I am not sure what we would all do with out her. Jax is in this stage of eating anything and everything thats on the floor (if you need example look at Mike's blog a few times ago). This wouldn't be a bad thing except no one seems to want to clean the floor so there is lots to choose from for Jax.

He is crawling everwhere...luckily he hasn't discovered the toilet yet. That is definitely a blessing! He loves to rip apart our old VHS tapes...no kidding the other day he had one completely torn apart with tape everywhere! He must get his inginuity from his dad. He definitely looks a lot like Mike, even more so than Frans. It has been fun to watch his personality develop and it is awesome that he is doing much better these days (happy wise). He reminds us of Owen as Owen was a pain in the rump until he could crawl and get around then he was the happiest of kids--seems to be the same with Jax. He is even sleeping in his own bed instead of the swing! On the 30th of this month he will be 9 months old--crazy how time flies.

An update

Frans had his surgery yesterday. He is doing very good. The doctor said that the fluid he sucked out of his ears was like a thick glue. (No wonder he couldn't hear anything!) He is now bouncing off the walls. Haylee, Molly and Mikaydi had a blast at granny's house. Molly cried and cried because she didn't want to come home (gee I feel great about that). After all the time I spent trying to convince Mike we needed to go on a cruise, and he actually agreed to it, I decided not to do that this year. I know- what a woman I am always changing my mind. There are a few problems with Mike getting time off and us not being able to find the cruise we want, and we decided to do something else with the money. If we want to be able to go to Thanksgiving in Idaho (for the Yorgesen reunion and stay long enough to see the Hokansons) then Mike really can't afford to take a week for a cruise. I am not sad though as we decided I should finally do a program to lose weight and get healthier. So thats what is going on with us and hopefully I will blog soon with picts of Jax.

Strange Visitor

Okay so we had a strange visitor this morning. First let me say that last night Jax was awake a lot. This morning I was resting on the couch (and talking to Trish) when my little girls woke up came into the family room and start crying. Crying in the morning is not an unusual thing for Molly and Mikaydi as they generally wake up grumpy. Then Molly yells at me, "Mom, LOOK!" I turn around and see a TURTLE! I give a little yelp as I wasn't sure what it was at first. Mikaydi is just crying because she is scared and Molly can't decide if she should be scared or just go pick it up like she really wants to do.

I walk over to the turtle, not wanting to touch it (I guess I'm a weenie, too), and when I look back at the girls they all look like this peering over the couch! Molly kept saying, "Mom, don't let it poop on the floor!" Then she'd say, "MOM, it's POOPING!" anytime the turtles tail and head popped out. Mikaydi cried the whole time.

The turtle was moving pretty quickly. I finally decided to wake Mike up (who'd been sleeping because he'd worked all night) and he came and got the turtle and put it into the tub. How did a turtle get into our house? Well, apparently Mike brought it home when he worked all night and put it in a box in the laundry room. It got out and had crawled, who knows how long, around the house.

Date Night?

Last night Mike and I had a little bit of a date night before going to our stake meetings. We went to the Red Lobster (for those of you who know me--they do have steak). We get there in plenty of time for us to make our meetings (Mikes priesthood meeting a little earlier than the combined adult session). However, after the waitress brought our salads she seemed to forget about us. I am not sure how she could have as Jax was completely bouncing off the walls, being nosy and talking and eating all the cheese rolls. It took like 45 minutes from the time we got our salads before we got our meal! At this point we know that we are definitley going to miss Mike's meeting. We get our meal and I bit into my steak...and it is like RARE (I guess the sawing through the hide and hearing the "moo" should of gave me a warning). I finish my potatoe all the while looking for our waitress to let her know that my steak is not done. By the time she showed back up I'd decided that if we wanted to make our next meeting then we'd better just go. She boxed it up for Mike (as he likes his steak rare). Then we get to the stake center-early we thought the meeting started at 7 but it didn't start til 7:30. As we are waiting for the meeting to start I start to feel really really sick. I excuse myself and spend the next 15 minutes in the bathroom trying to decide if I should sit or kneel before the toilet. It was terrible! Finally, I get enough courage to go back out and get Mike. I tell him that we have to go home now--I feel way too sick to stay. On the way to the car I heaved several times. With a quick stop for some sprite at Wal-Mart we went home and I spent the rest of the night moaning and in the bathroom, in between Jax being awake as well and Mike being frustrated because he is not sleeping.

Is Santa Coming Tomorrow?

Okay so what month is it? Oh, yeah MARCH...and yet Molly seems to think Santa is coming. I wonder why she might have this strange idea when we are so close to spring and summer? Perhaps it is the christmas tree still up in our family room? Mike has decided to leave it up all year--"you could decorate it seasonally, you know like with Easter eggs or something." The problem with this is that he is entirely too serious about this. Has anyone ever seen "Everybody Loves Raymond"? For those of you who have, remember the episode with the cheese in the suit case? I'll explain for those who haven't or don't remember this episode...because it has become a symbol of my life. In this episode Ray gets home from a trip for work and refuses to put away his suitcase. Debra thinks he should put it away. So for like two months the suit case stays on the stairs in their house. Each time one or the other passes it they are upset their spouse doesn't put it away. Finally Ray thinking he's going to teach Debra a lesson puts cheese in the suitcase. About a week or so goes by and it starts to smell really really bad. Debra notices and opens the suit case then get mad because there is cheese in the suit case and realizes what Ray is up to. Ray asks Debra if she smells that smell and she says she doesn't and so on so it goes on for quite sometime and is very funny. So apparently the Christmas Tree is our 'cheese in the suitcase' at our house. Mean while Molly keeps asking when Santa's comming with her presents.

Cruise or Hawaii Results...

Okay so after a long pow wow with Mike we (thanks to you guys) have decided on an Alaskan Cruise if we can get it for the right price. Yes, Mike has relented (after much proof that we can afford it from me) and has given consent to go somewhere...preferably a cruise to Alaska. YEA!!! Can I say it again--YEA!!!! Thanks for your imput and very fun comments. It is always nice to know that someone is reading my blog. Oh, yeah you guys should check out Mike's blog--his latest writings about Jax is pretty funny. YEA! I get to go somewhere with my husband!!! YEA! (Now watch some sort of finacial tragedy will pop up!)

Wrestling Time Again...

Okay to this first picture is of Frans in his second match in Mattawa last Saturday. His first match he pretty much just rolled over and laid on his back. Before his second match I told him I would give him a dollar if he stayed off his back. He went out there and totally went after it! He got his first pin! Yeah Frans! In his third match he lost on points but he stayed off his back for his second dollar. I guess he needed some motivation besides just winning (whats the fun in that)apparently the right kind of motivation is money for Frans.




This is Owen in his first match, same tournament as Frans, and he did a really good job. It was a tough match up and he won by one point. He went on to lose his second and third matches. He did really well at the begining of both matches but then something happens and he gets frustrated then its all down hill from there. He got pinned the second time and the third match he lost by one point. At the end of the day he had a huge scratch down his face and his eyes hurt from not being able to breath (he got a little choked on the last match). I keep trying to help him learn how to shake it off and move on but its hard to teach that I guess. I am really pleased with both boys and how hard they worked all day. After the second match Owen wanted to quit wrestling, "never do it again!" After a little pow wow with me he deceided that he could go ahead and keep wrestling. I told Owen that if it wasn't fun he shouldn't do it...he still thinks its fun and in fact asked if we could go to the tournament this next weekend. Unfortunately we can't because I have to work and these tournaments are way too much stress for Mike.

Hawaii vs Alaska Cruise

Okay I am putting this out there so everyone can vote! Which would you prefer an Alaska Cruise or Hawaii, both for 7 days? I am in now desperate attempts to convince Mike of one or the other. If he still won't budge--I think I will just go with my friend Shelly and my Mom! Here's your chance to chime in on which you think would be best!

Blue and White Day

So here are the boys on Blue and White day! They both wanted to have their faces painted like Bobcats--our school mascott. I think I did a pretty good job considering I used the school T-shirt to do it from and I did it all in about 10 min each kid. I took me longer on the first than the second.

Frans is probably too little to get his face painted like this because he is so wiggly.

We have purposefully not cut their hair because we wanted it to stick up for today. I think its funny that Owen's hair is actually quite curly--and yet all the girls are pretty straight. We hardly ever let his hair get so long so normally Owen's hair appears straight. I personally think his hair looks cool. We had fun!

Spirit Week

Owen and Frans are participating in their elementary school's spirit week. Today was costume day and they each came up with their own get-ups! I love their imagination. They could of gone as like spiderman or batman but no they came up with this stuff out of our costume bag. I thought they did a great job. These two boys always make me laugh. They love spirit week! I will have to post pictures of them on Friday too as they have some impressive plans for wacky blue and white day. I sure have to be on my toes these days.

Mikaydi's Birthday!

Yesterday we celebrated Mikaydi's Birthday, she is 3! It seems like just a few days ago that we were so scared that she wasn't going to make it. I am so glad and blessed that Mikaydi is here and part of our family today...we love her! She is always so happy and smiling. She has the sweetest personality ever--always wants to play with everyone and pleasant to be around. She is very imaginitive and loves to get "into things" with Molly. Those two are best friends or not talking to each other. One of her aunts says, "she reminds me of the sun, she is so sunny and bright all the time." It has been fun to watch kaydi grow and her personality develop...she is an important part of our family! Happy Birthday Mikaydi we love you!

Too Tired!

Okay so I have been recovering from my death cold...at least I hope I am on the recovering end of things. The problem is I am still so tired that I keep making little mistakes through out the day. Like I left a comment on Pearls blog and spelled stuff wrong, forgot where I put my cell phones, forgot where I put Jax's diapers (I just bought) so I had to buy some more, I think I forgot to add something to Mikaydi's cake because it is flat--oops! I can't remember which bills I paid on line and which I haven't...oh and don't forget to put sugar in the juice--it tastes bad I know from experience. I have apparently forgot how to do math--can't seem to help Haylee today--its pretty bad when you stare at 7x8 for twenty minutes trying to figure out what the answer is. I only hope that my cold is gone sooner than later--for the sake of my family....I hope I don't food poison anyone!

Tag Your It!

8 TV Shows I enjoy watching:
1. Biggest Loser
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Gilmore Girls Reruns
4. Man V Food
5. Amazing Race
6. The mentalist
7. Man vs Wild
8. Private Practice

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. Came home early from work because I was sick.
2. Slept--took a nap
3. Read a book
4. Watched my kids completely destroy my house.
5. Tried to figure out the "challenge" for primary kids
6. Went to Wal-Mart to get medicine for Jax and I
7. Laughed
8. Tried to calm Mike's worries (scout pies, messy outside, reunion...etc.)

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Mikaydi's Birthday on Tuesday
2. Reunion this summer--seeing the Hokanson's
3. Starting a new book
4. Jax feeling better and sleeping through the night
5. me feeling better and sleeping through the night
6. Summer
7. Going to Jens' play next week with Mike (ooh a date)!
8. Thanksgiving in the Fall---getting together with the Yorgesen Fam.

8 Things on my wish list:
1. to find my missing shoe (perhaps Mikaydi or Molly did something with it?)
2. to find my missing cord for my phone (two girls I predict hid it)
3. Finding time to scrapbook
4. an Alaskan Cruise with Mike
5. a family vacation to disneyland
6. maid service (I'm with Sally on this one)!
7. a scrapbooking weekend with my friends
8. my laundry to be all done at the same time--I don't think this is possible

8 Things Mike did yesterday:
1. watched TV
2. fixed washer machine
3. fixed girls light
4. tried to get the tractor going
5. fixed the a/c heater unit
6. cleaned the utility room
7. watched a movie with me
8. made the kids lunch!

8 People I Tag:
1. Kattie
2. Trish
3. Mike
4. ShaRee
5. Debbie
6. Stacy
7. Karlee
8. Pearl

Molly's Question

So today for Sunday dinner we were sitting at the table and talking about just everything. Suddenly Molly asks, "is this the cow's butt?" (she was holding up a piece of roast). Everyone gets quiet, except Owen who is trying hard not to laugh. We tried to get her to tell us where she heard that from but she did tell us. She kept asking over and over and finally Mike told her, "its the cows rump, yes." Molly takes a big bite and says "yumm." Who's crazy kid is she?

Valentine's Tag

♥ How long have you been together? 12 years in April
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? A few months
♥ Who asked who out? He asked me.
♥ How old are each of you? He is 37 and I am 32.
♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine just because of location.
♥ Do you have any children together? Six
♥ What about pets? We have had several...cats...cows...dogs...fish.
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Colors of walls
♥ Did you go to the same school? Yes College
♥ Are you from the same home town? No
♥ Who is the smartest? I am...sometimes
♥ Who is the most sensitive? I don't know
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Chinese
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Hawaii
♥ Who has the craziest exes? He definitely does...I only dated sane people.
♥ Who has the worst temper? Me
♥ Who does the cooking? Me
♥ Who is more social? Definitely me...he gets anxious
♥ Who is the neat freak? He is inside but doesn't complain because he doesn't want to do it himself.
♥ Who is the more stubborn? He is.
♥ Who hogs the bed? He does.
♥ Who wakes up earlier? He does when he has to work...I do when he doesn't.
♥ Where was your first date? Watching movies in the cold shed at the land...he wanted to warm me up.
♥ Who has the bigger family? He does 8 siblings tons and tons of cousins
♥ Do you get flowers often? Very rarely...he thinks there a waste
♥ Who is more jealous? If I have to pick someone probably me...but neither really.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? A couple of weeks...we knew it was different right from the start but I was in denial as I was kind of dating someone else.
♥ Who eats more? Him.
♥ Who does/did the laundry? I do--he tries and shrinks clothes.
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Me
♥ Who drives when you are together? He does the control freak.
Tag! You're it!

Spa Day

Today I took Haylee to the spa for her birthday--which is tomorrow. She got a facial and her eyebrows waxed. She also got her ears pierced! She was so cute all day long--a bit nervous and excitement mixed together I think. I have to say I thought there would be more dramatics when she got her ears pierced but she handled it really well. She just squeezed granny's hand and there was a little teary eyed but no crying or anything. After she got her eyebrows waxed we asked her what hurt the worst and she said "getting my ears pierced". I was glad to here that because she is going to have to go back and get her eyebrows waxed again someday and I don't want her to remember it as the worst thing of the day. We also went and got a pedicure and manicure...it was a fun girl day! I can't believe how much Haylee is growing up and how well she handled everything.

Cheerleading

Here is a picture of Haylee's last time to go to cheer camp for Connell. She loves it and would like to take a cheer/dance class so we will see about that later. Haylee turns 11 on Saturday...I can't believe how big she is getting. She is such a sweet girl...beautiful on the outside and the inside too. We always have such a good time going to the basketball games--I think next year we may have to get a family pass. I love to watch the football too. Go Connell!

LUCKY YOU!

Lucky you!The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.It may be a story. It may be poetry, shoes, bags, or a little invention of my own! I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. Believe me... it may blow your mind!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Grandma's Gift

So Grandma Hokanson is visiting. She does this point reward system that when you earn enough points you get a prize. Owen's prize was a screw driver. Mike said, "Just don't take anything apart." Next thing we know Owen has unscrewed the sheet rock in Haylee's room (we are just building it). I caught him in the act when I realized they weren't going to bed...I open the door and there Owen is with an incredibly guilty look. I am just glad he didn't get enough unscrewed that it fell down and broke...that would of been bad. The thing is Owen a few months ago got a pocket knife from Granny and Papa Yorgesen and the next thing we knew the strings on the bales of hay were cut...did he learn anything at all? Is this just a boy thing? Thank you Grandma for the gift....I think...or maybe not...I am a little concerned about sitting in any chairs-just in case Owen got them first.

Two Little Tornados

Okay so Molly and Mikaydi--WOW! Who knew they could be so tornado like...all the time. Any of you having kids out there do not I repeat do not have two girls a year apart. I mean yesterday it was puzzles being knocked down from the closet then picked up and put into the same box. Do you know how long it takes to seperate 400 pieces of like 3 different puzzles? I'll tell you it took forever. Molly is the "boss" and Mikaydi hates it. After about an hour or two Mikaydi finally cracks and it is like WWF wrestling mania--except girl style. Then Molly always comes back to me and tells me, "Mikaydi doesn't like me!" I try to explain that maybe she shouldn't be so bossy but apparently that is just to hard for her little 4 year old mind to grasp. I feel like I bounce from mess to mess to mess! It is twice as bad when they seem to be getting along and their quiet...wait a minute they are quiet right now...Oh they are just playing with knives and matches (ha). Yesterday they decided to take all of the cans off the pantry shelf and make towers...like with blocks. Molly has also decided that if she takes someone's shoes outside with her she can throw it to the dog and make a run for it. Then he doesn't chase her...no wonder no one has matching shoes anymore.

Husband

Okay so this is Mike's profile picture on his facebook...should I be embarrassed. I mean its a good thing I know his sense of humor and most of you do as well. The thing you all don't realize about those teeth he has is that the front tooth was loose and everytime he would talk or breath it would fling out. Just so you know this is how he dressed up for a host a murder game we had a while back. He was an english pilot. What a goof ball!

Mom, are you like a snake?

The other night I was in my room enjoying me time. I put on a grape seed face peel you know it makes your skin really shinny and tight. Well there was some crisis with the kids and I come out and tried to deal with it...forgetting that I had this stuff on my face. All kids stop the moment I step out of my room. "Mom what is that?!" So I begin to start peeling it off my face...Frans sits and stares at me and stares at me. Finally he says, "So do you do that a lot?"
"Well, when I have time."
"Oh, well so are you like a snake?" I thinking WHAT? But I say, "What do you mean?"
"If you skin peels off like that then your like a snake...will that happen to me?" Needless to say I laughed and laughed. There he is my paranoid child.

Face Book Vs Blog

Okay so I gave in and signed up for facebook. I am trying to figure out which is better facebook or blog? Any opinions out there...let me know what you think. I am leaning towards blog just because I know how to use it better. Oh, yeah we got internet so I will be blogging and such more often as time allows me to get to the computer.

Homeschool?!

I guess the latest news is that I am home-schooling Haylee now. I was talking to the Special Ed teacher and I just had this feeling that Haylee was not getting what she needed at the school. She is so sweet and its easy to forget about her...I am sure that is what was happening at the school...so I called and IEP meeting and told them that I would be taking her out of school the very next day. Thank goodness for Ronda and her help with answering all my questions--or else I would be completely lost. She has been home for a week and a half and we are figuring it all out. I think she thought it would be easy at home and its not...Mom's are a lot tougher than teachers. She starts school at 8 and we finish about 1:30 everyday. Mike is taking care of her science on Fridays. Haylee is a little miffed that she still has to do school on Saturday too but until she gets caught up thats the way it will be. I have to say that this new development is forcing me to be much more organized and stuck to a schedule everyday...I guess that is a good thing. Molly and Mikaydi are a little bit more wild these days but I am working on that. I just feel this has added a whole new level of being busy.

Really Really Bad Week!

So the WA Hokanson's have started the new year off with a bang! Do you remember in high school when you played sports and the first week (heck week) when they condition and push you to build up your endurance? Well this last week and half has been our own personal heck week. Where do I start...oh yeah. First on Monday (before new years) Mike got into a work truck and wrenched his back and then we went to Tri-Cities...his back getting worse and worse. We stop to get a perscription for Haylee and our Suburban dies...bad like we have to call Mom and Dad to come save us (and Jeff). Mike can't help us get the burb on the trailer so I have to help Dad...let me tell you it was like I was a teenager again...I smashed my thumb in between the chain and the trailer and comes over grabs my thumb, shakes it and says "its not broken," as I am howling in pain. We then take mom's car home and they haul the burb to Mattawa. Mike is laid up until Wednesday (new years eve) and then decided he's well enough to change the tires on the little car...HA! Next thing I know he is crawling into the house in great pain. So he's laid up in bed and I am now in charge of feeding the cows. On the 1st I am making my way to feed the cows and I realize that it is really slippery...I tell Frans and Owen "be careful its slippery." As soon as the words left my mouth I twisted my ankle and fell. I sat in the snow and laughed because I thought it was funny...until I tried to get up and walk. I soon realized I had hurt my ankle really bad as I couldn't walk on it. I had Owen run in and get Mike's walking stick and I still couldn't walk inside so I crawled on my hands and knees across the yard in the snow to get inside. When our home teacher got there Mike hunched over his stick me laying on the floor with a rapidly bruising ankle...we just started laughing...it was either that or crying. We must of looked insane! Okay long story short...I sprained my ankle really bad--Frans (big F) took me to the Doctor--I barely have started walking on it today with assistance from crutches still. The next night we were up at 3 in the morning getting Jax a bottle and Mike hobbled to the sink and turn on the water--no water! Our water froze...the next two night Jax didn't sleep and started having a hard time breathing...turns he has broncitis ( I am sure the spelling is wrong). Things are looking up a bit though. We are thankful for all the awesome ward members bringing us meals and helping us clean...how can anyone live with out the RS and hometeachers?

Family Slide Show

Okay so the family slide show money and distribution of DVD's is being made by Patty (mom). She is the one that collected the money and is mailing the DVD's so if anyone thinks they need one--call Aunt Patty. I do know that she did give Ann 3 DVD's so (Debbie) maybe you can talk to her about one. Thanks! Jenny