It All Starts Out As Fun and Games

It all starts out as fun and games until someone gets hurt. Luckily, today wasn't our day. The tramp is by far the best toy we have ever had. It is safely tucked in the corner of the yard, with gravel rocks below, no safety pad to cover exposed springs, a false sense of security with the trees that loosely cover the thorny blackberry bushes behind and large landscaping rocks that are, well rock hard on the other side. I figure kids have gotta be kids, scrapes, bruises, cuts and all!

Cayleb the Cute Curling Ball

Cayden the Crazy

Makenzy doesn't know what to think of this, hmmmmm

She's sticking to the slide, though she does go down unassisted at 17 months! No fear - we raise some tough cookies, she is going to have her PhD in rock jumping soon!

Max the Rat... and Mr. Banana Head

This is Despereaux... notice the big ears, small size and peach fuzz.

Now look at Max, or what's left of him after Chris cut his hair. He looks more like a mouse than a dog. Thank goodness it will grow back. And yes Chris is banned from the scissors!
Mr. Potato Head doesn't have anything on Mr. Banana Head.
(Look closely in Cougar's mouth. Teeth!)

STICKY

Makenzy has sticky, red licorice hands and is clawing at dirt for a bug - got to love 1 year olds.

Boston Runnah!

The support group!
Check out the wall of runners behind us, the lady in the lower corner is probably in her 60's, based on her bib, she is a fast runner too! This was taken at about mile 4 in the race - still all on fresh legs. Kelly, Kaylin, Me

Randy was passing off his gloves to us - it was a very cold start in the morning. He actually wore a short sleeve to the start line, but then opted to change into a long sleeve because of the cold - which was smart because it was even colder at the finish line - northeast winds.

Hurray!

Set a goal, trained for it, reached it! Thanks to Mom and Dad's gift, Randy bought the 2009 official Boston jacket as his race memento, thank you, thank you.

Bath Time in the Sink

Splish, splash I was taking a bath...

Notice how I've learned to grab everything.

The Easter Bunny Came to Our House

Baby Bunny and his Easter Treats. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa B! Mommy promises she'll let me taste all the candy.

She'll eat the rest of it and I'll drink her sweet Mama Milk.

HAPPY EASTER! We all sure miss Eve and Nic's family.
Good luck to Randy with the Boston. We are sure proud of you. Wish we could all be there. Eve take a lot of pictures and post on the blog.
We have some good family news. Sierra has competed in two dance competitions. One in St. George and the other at the Energy Solutions Center. Her team took first at both for all three of dances! She looks so cute in her costumes. If I can get my chip to up load, I'll post some pics.
Lexie is trying out for cheer this coming week. We want "cheers not tears". Syd is loving being a mother to her new little puppy that her dad got.

Hugs and chocolate Easter kisses,

Tiff and girls

Windy Days Suck

Yes, this is our $800 gazebo that blew over the block wall.

Needless to say I want my money back, but we'll see.

Mother Nature isn't much for refunds :)

Can't Get Enough of Cougar

Bath Time Rocks!

I take one everyday, dirty or not. Mom loves to see me splash around.

I love the warm water and the cool toys.Too Cool!

I'm a stud and I know it.

Birds,Trees and Willy

Did you know that one of the main reasons salt isn't used on the icy/snowy roads is to protects "Willy" and the pod that live in the Puget Sound. The salt would eventually make its way into the drainage systems and ultimately the lakes, killing off the wildlife. Now you know why schools are closed on a whim up here and why we'll be in school till almost the end of June to make up all those snow days!

In Madalyn's class they've beens studying about South America and the rain forest. Yesterday, they visited the Woodland Park Zoo to see the South America exhibit. It rained heavy on the bus ride up, it rained while they walked around to see the gorilla's, the snakes, the monkeys, it rained while she ate lunch propped up on her shoes to keep her bottom dry, it rained while they rode the bus back home - all in all I think her class got an amazing first hand look at what it is like in the RAINforest.

Some Sweet and Tweet Stuff

Thursday and Friday we had a husband/wife conference for Randy's work. It involves speakers, some activities and eating out. This is Pier 66, just outside of Anthony's Restaurant, where ate. They have pretty good seafood here, so I ordered the flanked cod and Randy got fresh salmon.

Makenzy doesn't like lemons or shrimp!

Our green St. Patrick's Day Meal.

It rains a lot up here, but we don't always get a rainbow afterward. As such, for St. Patrick's day I created our own rainbows inside these little boxes for the kids. It is kind of a metaphor, when the sky is dark and gloomy, we need to create our own color in life any way we like.

It was crazy hair day, so we started with the Princess Leigh look, but then Madalyn's hair was sticking out and I was rushed for time, as always, and I was trying to think of a better crazy do, when her buns called out "nest" to me and we created this 5 minutes later. I must admit, I thought I was a pretty "tweet" hairdo, reminds me of something Mom would come up with. She said that all day, everyone kept commenting on how cute her hair was.

Can't Get Enough of Conner

Getting some exercise.

After hours of jumping I've moved from the 90th percentile in weight to 75%. Hey, Grandpa looks like we could be buddies on "The Biggest Loser!"
Where's Waldo? I mean where's Lucy and Max?
Seeing as everything is about Conner, check out his waterfall. Won't be long before he's big and brave enough to crawl all over it.

Here's a better view The backyard turned out nice. The sound of running water is so nice to hear throughout the day.

LunchTime.

Can't let any food go to waste. Mommy says we're in a recession and some kids don't have any food at all. So eat up!

Music Man

CD's go on sale next week. Pre-order yours today!

Feeling blue? Try some blueberries from Costco - a five pound bag is just under $11 - making the superfood that is very heart healthy about $2. 09 a pound and so yummy. Makenzy loves eating them - though messy - they stain her hands and about everything else they get on. We like to make our own fruit smoothies - a layer of fat free vanilla yogurt, a handful of granola cereal and blueberries on top! You know us - economical and yumma!

February - The Month Marked by the Heart

I wore red earlier in the month to support heart awareness. For those, in the family that didn't, you probably didn't miss out on much, I think we all became a little more heart aware in the last week. We love you dad. We know you know. We know you love us. We want you to eat fish, walk the dog, watch the sunset, hire the guys to cut your grass, drive past Astro Burger, kiss and hold Mom a little more, for fun write your name in the fog on your car window and leave it there, maybe add in a little more Danny Kaye to your war repertoire, if you still have those old, faded blue jeans, splurge and get yourself a new pair and throw in a pack of black combs, head North in the summer and South in the Winter, write down your jokes, go to a car show, eat breakfast, start a journal, buy tickets to BYU ballroom dance, take a dance class, relax in your tub, eat baked chicken, listen to the Kingston Trio and Elvis, refuse Scout callings, keep up with your reading, volunteer at the temple, throw a rock at the barking dog behind the house, order a tool to painlessly remove facial hair before Nikki removes it on her next visit, refuse all rides that require a helmet with Nate and don't drive with Ang, get a haircut regularly from you know who would love to do it, and ask Yve to get you more information from the Populist Party and write the Clintons a thank you note, pray and always remember we love you and never trust a shark!

Do what Dutchmen do and push back and build up the walls - in your case, push back timeand build up your artery walls because you've always pushed aside your needs for ours to build us up in so many ways, now it is your turn. You owe us. You owe us, YOU!

Breaking Out during Winter Break

The Wing Luke Museum just expanded in Chinatown/International District in Seattle a short while ago. The New York Times had an article about the museum as it is the only Pan-Asian museum in America. So we thought - let's go. We went when they had a class on Vietamanese calligraphy. Here the kids were painting on rice paper.
This was the artist that taught the class. Afterwards, we did a reverse on lunch, we had treats first from the Mon Hai Chineese Bakery. Would you believe it, Madalyn picked out the traditional chocolate chip cookies when there was such a variety. Later, we ate at Pho in the University District, a Vietnamese Soup restaurant and after 3 big bowls, some fresh cilantro and limes we decided we it was o.k., but preferred Ichiro's across the street better.

We got a kick out of the peacock at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.

Glad none of my baby birds have flown the nest yet! However, Makenzy was like the bird in P.D. Eastman's book, "Are you my Mother?", she wanted out of that nest to be with her mama, and yes, sometimes, I am like the snort.

We Heart You!

Cayleb and Madalyn with their Valentine boxes. Cayden's class didn't do Valentine's this year, kind of a bummer. Cayleb was sooo excited to get some Star Wars the Clone Wars cards that he hooped it up big time.

Some Valentine breakfast. I got creative with my cookie cutter and made heart pbj sandwiches, heart cookies for lunch and heart shaped eggs for breakfast with a heart ketchup in the middle.

Chocolate Affair

Over the weekend I took the girls to the Chocolate and Wine Tasting Expo. We gave up our free wine tasting card, and wine glass, and headed for the chocolates. All my kids prefer milk chocolate, but when Makayla had the real, good stuff, Belgian dark chocolate she actually preferred that over the milk.
Madalyn, as you already know is our sweet tooth. However, she didn't particularly care for the eggnog chocolate, but liked everything else we tried.

It goes breast milk, one grain cereals and chocolate or is it milk then chocolate. Either way, you can't go wrong! "Real Dutch Girls eat chocolate young and raw!" Do you still have that license plate holder?

Inspired by the show the kids and I made these petite fours on Sunday. They are chocolate fudge, raspberry filled. So easy! The kids took them in their lunches to show their friends our little specialities. We'll teach you all how to do it!

More Cougar

Cougar's Waterfall... I'll keep the photos coming.
These toys are great. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa B. I liked to play with my toes before, but now I love it.

Tiger Rug! Bet you're jealous. His head makes for a perfect pillow.

Jungle Jumperoo. Mommy had to buy me this new toy because my doorways are too high and my Johnny Jumper is a Johnny Swing.

Pretty in Pink

Each girl took a turn sharing a talent. Madalyn sang, "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". Though I wasn't there, Randy recorded it and many people caught me later in the week and told me how cute and confident she was. I already knew that, but third party verification is always an added bonus. Way to go Madalyn.

Madalyn, Randy and Makayla at Daddy Daughter Picnic together.

Nic and Mom saw this cute little outfit for Makenzy. Nothing says little girl like this. I need to get her to look up at the camera and smile but she liked playing with her new "baby".

Life in Arizona

The Koester Family (Conner 3 months)

I'm a Child of God. "What a little stud!!!"

"Tummy Time" It won't be long before I'm able to crawl.

Max better watch out. I might think he's one of my toys.