blog space

I started this blogging back in April 2007 with this blog http://howegirls.blogspot.com/ but I am cheap and started another one becasue I didnt want to spend the $5 a year to get 20GB. I got over 1200 blog entries with the first one but the cameras keep getting better and using more space so this time I only got 617 entries and now I am paying the five bucks because it's more of a pain to make a new account! Plus 20GB should keep me going for at least 5 years if not more. I just wish there was a way to make the pictures a smaller size when uploading. My camera will do it but I like having big pictures in case I make a poster or something which the girls like. This blog is for my kids, it's like an electronic baby book!

Christmas!

Christmas morning was a little sad in our house. The twins got a note from Santa saying they were on the naughty list for being so bad and not listening to their parents. The note also said that they had to the end of the day to start changing their behavior and that he might come back at the end of the day if he thinks they are trying their best to be good.

Courtney was so excited when she opened up her paint your own bird house from the California Smith family!

Sydney wanted a puzzle

I got Jon a chart map of the San Juan islands. he is always pointing out an island and asking me which island it is. he thinks since I grew up here I should know, makes sense but I don't know!

Papa and his little girls!

a nightly tradition at dinner time is for Jon to ask the girls random questions. He was having a hard time coming up with different questions so they got him a couple of books!

daddy love!

Samantha asked Santa for books so that's what he got her!

papa working on the oysters at Uncle Lex and Aunt Leah's house!

the girls got some fun toys, a blanket and a pillow too!



Sydney loves her Sydney Pillow!

The elf!

Bernt in his forever Lazy, Max and Alexa!

the fancy eating table, Lucky was a little scared of Max and Nicoles little Chiuaua Quinn!



the jello salad rocked!

the silly girls!

yummy dinner and drinks!

When we got home Santa had magically appeared. The twins cleaned their room and picked up the play room before we headed to Lex and Leah's for the afternoon. I really think that Santa not coming helped in their thinking. They have been on pretty good behavior ever since that day.

Sydney and her Santa Dolly

Courtney got her purple hippo and a hippo baby from Santa!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Uncle Tom and Aunt Cindy's. Their yard is all lit up and beautiful which the girls just love!. The girls were on their best behavior and a joy to be around. (Christmas Eve day was a whole other story which I wont go into!) Jon took the girls home while dad and I went to the candle light service at church with Lex and Sarah. The one thing I realized at that service is I don't like organ music. We did a lot of singing to some wonderful Christmas songs but only with that dang organ!Beautiful service though. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Mom, my Angel

"Today there is an angel among you and she will be here for all of you to conjure up in your mind a meaning that will bring you comfort. Angels watch over all of us each and every day and night. The angel you will see in the Narthex today was designed and built by Cindy Roberson with the help of her husband Tom. The angel was built in memory of Kay Ludtke. An angel cannot and should not be exclusive to one person and it is our wish that you consider her your angel and look to her for comfort in your own way." Lloyd Ludtke at the dedication of the stained glass window at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bellingham, WA

Lucky

I have been wanting a dog for a few months now. Jon finally said he was too. I have been looking online at shelter dogs throughout. On Saturday we went to the humane society and they only had 4 dogs 2 were tiny chihuahua type dogs (not gonna happen) and 2 werent for a household with young kids. So we went home and checked out petfinders.com and there was Snoopy. She fit the criteria that we were looking for. She was all the way down in Issaquah at 11th Hour Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. We drove down there Tuesday afternoon. She was inside but they had a bunch outside and all these puppies. Jon was adament that he didnt want to to the puppy thing but there was one that we both really thought was cute...Thankfully the twins really wanted Snoopy when she finally came out or we would have came home with a puppy! I even suggested we get the puppy along with Snoopy but that was a no. So we got Snoopy and changed her name to Lucky, the girls wanted to name her Princess but Jon said no that right away. He really doesnt like Lucky but he is just glad they all agreed on a namw. I keep wanting to call her Lucy so the girls said that's her middle name.

Lucky Lucy Howe

Our first walk with her. She made Sam run a lot and when it was Sydneys turn she went so fast that she lost the leash and fell on her face. So Courtney didnt even want a turn! The twinks brought a scooter and a bike. The end of the walk was disaster not because of the dogs but because Courtney took off on the Scooter and wouldnt stop then Sam ran after her thinking she was doing good by helping me get Courtney to stop but I was so far behind with Sydney and she wouldnt go very fast. She was upset because she wanted her scooter back and didnt want to ride Courtney's bike.  But I am looking forward to our daily walks! Hopefully the kids will settle down a bit or maybe Courtney will get her own scooter for Christmas!!

The nights have been a little tricky. She has really taken to me and wants to sleep in our bed. Jon doesnt want that so I have slept downstairs on the couch with her. I emailed 11th hour where she got her  to see if a cage would be better for her and she pretty much said just let her sleep with you. She is look for security and she has found it with me. We bought her a bed but she won't sleep on it even next to me next to the bed. It's funny though she just wants to sleep at my level. On the couch she is curled up like a ball down by my feet. I am hoping eventually she will get secure enough to sleep on her bed or with one of the girls.

We took her to the vets this morning to get spayed. She only ways 21.4 lbs. I think she going to be just perfect for our family!

Happy birthday from red robin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjKtIOBM6Mo

It's a beautiful day....don't let it get away!

5 fingers on the hand!

The Twinks are 5 can you believe it...FIVE

Last Spring at a Library story time the reader asked the kids if any of them had been to Hawaii. Courtney jumped up and said that she was going for her birthday. It was news to me but she was certain of it! She talked about it a lot. A couple of months we had to tell her that we weren't going to be able to go this yea for her birthday and would she be alright with a Hawaiian themed birthday. Thankfully she was...thanks Oriental Trading Company for making reasonable party supplies! We had it out at the Birch Bay condo. They have a nice party room and a pool so it was perfect. all the girls seemed to have a blast!

 The leis and the the hairclips were big hits!

We made grass skirts out of streamers!

 The 5 year olds!

 Friends!

 the pinata!

 pool time!

 a few of the parents enjoying themselves in the warmth of the pool room...it really feels like a sauna in there!

we had Amber the swim teacher from this summer as the lifeguard and Sydney was the only one to get in trouble...she wanted to jump!!

 the "family" room!

 pulled pork sandos, fruit kabobs, veggies, chips...it was all so yummy!

 and of course the costco chocolate cake and ice cream!

Hula Dancing

 

 Pinata time

   

Happy Birthday to the twinks

Gingerbread houses

The girls made gingerbread houses (well graham cracker houses!) I came to both classes and helped out.Sam made hers last Friday and the twinks did theirs today. Always fun to eat them!

"Santa Stuck in the 50's"

Everson Elementary had their big Winter program at Nooksack Valley High School. About a month ago I got a phone call from Mr. Devere, the principal, telling me that Samantha was chosen to be in the play,

"Santa Stuck in the 50's." She had 3 lines and practiced really hard for it.When all the kids got on stage they let them all wave to their parents Can you find Sam?

Trinity's Childrens Christmas Program

The girls were in the annual children's Christmas program tonight. It's all of the preschool and elementary aged kids. The twinks were little brown bunnies and Sam was an angel. They didn't have any speaking parts but lot's of singing! They were excited to be apart of it all!

front

back

I just thought this was a funny picture of Samantha. I told her wear her undershirt backwards so we couldnt read the words but she didnt want to...

The first video is the "bunnies" decorating the little tree
The second one is the last song of the show!


It's always so much fun to watch the kids do their performance becasue you just dont know what is going to happen!