March

Alysha had two orchestra performances this month and she did great.


Alysha on stage at the Caldwell High School.




We went to Gold Fork Hot Springs with my mom, dad, sister and her kids. Here is a photo of Owen and Mason having a snack.




Ashley loving the warm water at Gold Fork Hot Springs.




We finally made it up to Brundage to go skiing for our first time this year. The kids all did awesome skiing, I'm so proud of the them. Was a beautiful day and great weather.




Mike and Stacy at Brundage.




Mike, Owen and Grandpa Jack on the beginner run at Brundage.




Alysha, Mike and Ashley on the chair lift.





Ashley being chased by a wolf, Mike in the background.

March has only started but the end is looking very busy with family visiting, spring break, and a trip to see Steven.

Owen's 5th Birthday Party

For Owen's birthday this year we had a Monster Bash. Mike and I cut out cardboard and I painted monsters for decorations. We made foam monster party bags and masks. We found monster plates, napkins, cups, suckers and prizes. I made Owen's monster cake and squid hot dogs with spaghetti noodles coming out of the end. We played pin the eye on the monster, bingo, guess how many eye balls are in the jar, monster bean bag toss and Alysha put on a magic show. Followed by presents, cake and ice cream. I think the kids had a good time and Owen had a great birthday.

Party Monsters!

Alsyha's Magic Show.

Owen with the pin the eye on the monster.

Owen opening presents, one eyed monster penny bank. It talks and burps!

Owen with all his presents - Thank you everyone!

Happy Valentines!

We have been busy this February getting ready for Owen's birthday party and Valentine's Day. We have been making decorations, cookies, valentine's day cards, crafts, heart shape pizzas and eating way to much sugar!!

Since Owen's birthday is on Valentine's Day we celebrate Valentines on the day the kids have their school parties which was three days early. We made cookies for each of their classes, flowers for teachers, cards for most everyone. While the kids were at school I went to Mike's work and drew hearts and words all over the van windows. Then took him a cookie bouquet with balloons. I thought I'd just embarrass him in front of the other guys at work but he was giving a tour to a group of people from a bank so worked out even better. Then we made heart shape pizzas for dinner.

The following night we went to grandma Reva's and celebrated all the February birthdays. Owen shares his birthday month with Grandma Reva, cousin Delaney and Grandpa Al. Now we are getting ready for Owen's Monster Birthday Bash.



Kids with our decorated cookies.




Kids with all our Valentine stuff for their school parties.




Stacy making heart shape pizzas.




Stacy making cookie bouquets.

February birthday party.

Owen with his Walmart dinosaur cake.

It's 2010 already?

(Stacy's New Years Hair Do)

2010 has arrived and I am counting down until May when I can be done with my year of interferon injections. 2009 was a major roller coaster for us but I am happy with how well it turned out even through all the ups and downs.

January was kind of a blur. We went sledding at Stream Boat Gulch with Mike's family which was a lot of fun! Then my sister Molly, brother Cody and I threw our parents a 30th Anniversary party and took them out dancing which was a blast. Ashley turned 7 years old and we had a littlest pet shop party with animal masks, little cardboard houses, lots of games and a castle cake. We ended January by going rollerskating at the Rollerdrome, I forgot how much fun that is. We are looking forward to February's activities!



(Alysha after sledding)



(The sledding party)



(The Hardy's sledding, missing Alysha & Steven)



(My parents at their 30th Anniversary party)




(My parents with their 30th Anniversary balloons)




(Ashley with her castle birthday cake)

(Our littlest Pet Shop Bean Bag Toss)

(Our Littlest Pet Shop Dog House)

(Our large cardboard house - this was the favorite one)

(The Party Animals at Ashley's party)

(The kids at the Rollerdrome)

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Winter is a very busy season! Lots of preparing for the holidays, crafts, parades, writing to Santa, school parties and programs. We had a great Christmas and New Years with lots of family and tons of presents.



(Kids decorating our Real tree)

It was the first year we have had a real tree since before Alysha was born. I figured the kids were big enough to leave it alone but didn't think about my puppy Bella. I put presents under it then she left it alone.



Ashley picked out a pretty ballerina ornament and Owen picked out a little nutcracker then they put them on the tree. Ashley took a field trip to see the Nutcracker Ballet with her class.



Alysha had her holiday orchestra concert which was really good. We got her flowers and a little violin ornament for the tree.



Owen had his preschool Christmas program which was cute and they did a great job singing songs. Owen was the first kid to speak on the microphone to welcome everyone to the program. He was so funny during the program! He looked like he had ants in his pants, wiggling all over the place. Then he started eating his sleeve of his sweater and doing lip exercises. Most of the other kids were doing weird things be the end of the program, very entertaining!! We gave him a bigger nutcracker to crack real nuts with.




(The girls)


A week before Christmas my parents and Molly and her family all came over for dinner and we celebrated Christmas together. Molly brought this cute little mustaches so we had to take a few photos.



(The boys)

(Stacy and Mike)

(Molly, Alysha & Stacy)

Grandpa Rick and uncle Cory came for dinner a few nights before Christmas.

(Grandma Reva and Mike)

We went to Grandma Reva's house to celebrate Christmas Eve. Shelley and Sarah flew in for the holidays which added to the fun. My photos didn't turn out so no photos of Christmas eve.

Christmas morning the kids were so excited. We started by opening stocking then tried to slowly open presents. Then we cleaned up all the paper and started putting things together.

Alysha with some of her presents. Nintendo DSi and lots of games to keep her busy!

Ashley with her presents. She got her Playmobil princess castle and games.

Owen with his presents. He was so excited and said "Thanks, mom! It's just want I wanted" every time he opened a present. He got his three headed sea serpent he had been talking about for months, plus a small knights castle, a big wheel and games.

The Grinch - putting Ashley's castle together. It only took two hours. I figured I did all the planning, shopping and wrapping so this is his job. The next day he put Owen's pirate ship together but it wasn't as hard.

We went to the park to test out Owen's rocket he got from Grandma & Grandpa Wassard. He thought it was so AWESOME.

Over the break Kristey, Shelley and I took the kids sledding in Parma. There wasn't much snow but we had a great time.

All the kids (cousins) on a bridge.

New Years Eve we went to Grandma Reva's for karaoke, finger food, new hair dos, games and puzzles.

(The party girls)

Sarah, Alysha and Amanda on New Years Eve. I talked Mariah into bleaching my hair blonde so the girls used some of the bleach to put blonde streaks in their hair so they all match.

Owen tried to stay up until midnight but ended up falling a sleep on the couch.

Ashley eating cheese whiz out of the can.

Happy New years!