Ten Things I Love About My Husband Carl

1. He encourages me to go to Ikea for breakfast with my friends because he wants me to be happy and social.

2. He has this amazing smile and giggle when I manage to reach his tickle spot when we're being silly.

3. He is knowledgeable about almost everything and keeps me up to date on all the latest news and happenings since I can't really watch the news anymore.

4. He has the BEST plans for the future, any you can think of.

5. I can tell Carl about anything and he will still love me and think I am awesome.

6. His eyes crinkle up when he smiles and he gets a crease across his forehead when he is frustrated.

7. He volunteers his Tuesday nights to work with the Webelos.

8. He doesn't think like an "American" and rants about those that do.

9. He is always willing to throw down with a good board game.

10. He still chooses to share all his awesomeness with me.

Already slipped up!

When I said I would blog everyday, I was serious! Suprised me that it only took 4 days to slip up! So to make up for it I am doing two posts today, the one I should have done yesterday, and the one from today. So, here is the first:

Chicken Enchiladas!

Yum, yum, yum! Carl has to work late every Wednesday night and so the boys and I try to have something that he doesn't particularly enjoy or won't miss eating. So tonight we made enchiladas. I wish there was a recipe to share, but it's really just a combo of a few different things. I add diced, cooked chicken, any kind of salsa you like and green peppers sauteed in butter. Roll those up in tortillas and top with enchilada sauce and cheese :) You'll just have to figure out the proportions yourself if you are interested in making it up for your family. You can even omit the enchilada sauce. Enjoy :)

Bram Stokers Dracula

Since I was a teenager I have been interested in reading all of the classics. My latest jump into classical fiction is Dracula by Bram Stoker. I was able to download it for free on to the iPad, so I thought I would give it a try. All I can say, is wow! If you haven't read this, I would highly suggest you do it, but in a well lit room, with company! You may think that because it is old, it is boring, but that is not the case! I have found myself many times looking over my shoulder as I stand in a room alone. :) I have only seen a few movie versions of Dracula, but what I find most amusing is that the closest version I have seen happens to be Mel Brooks Dracula Dead and Loving It. Ha ha

Babysitting, and why it reminds me I am already too old for another baby...

I had my friends son today for about eight hours. I've done this a few times now and I am grateful for each new time because it makes me feel just a little less bad about not having more kids! Let me tell you, going from having and eleven and eight year old in the morning, then moving onto an almost one year old is a vast difference! The highest form of communication is pointing and crying, the walking is unstable at best and he makes a terrible mess and I can't even force him clean up after himself! Ha Really though, he is a super cutie, and I really enjoy having him. Even though I don't think I would be able to handle one of my own so well, it is nice to have a loaner every so often. So thanks Jen :)

P.S. Tried to upload a picture of the two of us from this afternoon, but it just won't work on the iPad, so if you feel the need, it is on my Facebook page, in the folder mobile uploads. Enjoy!

This time last year!

Found these shots in the computer files and I thought I would share them. Not sure that they ever got on here before. My how the kids grow!

Happy New Year!

A very happy new year from us to you! One of my resolutions for this year is to do a blog a day. That will include humorous stories from the kids, news on our daily lives, photos and just general complaining I am sure. :)

I thought I would use this first day to wrap up our 2010 and our goals/plans for 2011.

Carl

Carl hit his 5 year anniversary for the Hope Depot this last year. He is team captain for several groups at the Depot. He also switched positions and is not the Opening Freight Team Department Head, but Department Head of the paint department. Yay Carl! This means he doesn't have to go in at 4 am each work day, but he does have a rotating schedule and that has been hard to get used to again.  Every Tuesday night, Carl is the Webelos Den leader for our ward. He has found a lot of enjoyment working with the boys on camping skills, athletics and communication.  He was sad to see Jake move up in November, but he still has a lot of great boys to work with.  Carl's goal for the new year is to go back to school to get his associates degree finished up. Good luck Carl, we know you can do it!

Christina

Christina was released from her Secretary of the Young Women calling at the end of 2010. Starting tomorrow she is the latest 12/13 year old Sunday School teacher. This is a great calling because it will allow her to still interact with the vast majority of her YW. In fact, there are no boys in this class till July, so it will be more like her own personal YW! :) Christina has also been working on Carl's family history and has made some huge finds. We are now back 4 to 5 generations, and believe us, that is huge! She is going to continue 2011 being a stay-at-home mom to Jacob and Alex. Her goals for this year also include going back to school for her bachelors in...well..something!

Jacob

Jake entered 6th grade this 2010 at Burger School for Children with Autism. He has made new friends and has even met some cute girls! He is currently 5'4" which makes his mother wish he was still a dirty-faced tiny boy carrying around a fistful of pencils. Jacob has discovered that he really likes building and has taken a great interest in legos, previously only his brothers domain. He is also a budding author, writing his first short story, The Avatar Wars. He was on his schools basketball and soccer teams in 2010 and starting next week he will be heading back into basketball season. Jake has officially moved up in scouting and is now an 11 year old scout in Boy Scouts. No more cubs for him! Jake's goal for 2011 is to use his new video camera he got for Christmas to become a major film producer/director before the age of 12. Good luck Jake!

Alexander

Alex (or Al or Bert, whichever you choose) became a 3rd grader this 2010. He also moved schools when his was closed due to budget issues. He has done well at Hoover and really enjoys going there. It has been difficult at times making new friends, but Alex is so friendly that he is winning them over one by one. Alex has spent the majority of his year obsessing over Pokemon. He has memorized all their evolves and attacks...I wish times tables were so interesting!  He has strengthened his love of reading and his favorites are Charlie Brown and the Magic Tree House series. He also loves Video games and can often be found trying to sneak a bit more time in on his DS or the 360. Alex's goals for the year are the same as every year...become a scientist and invent a machine that can take him into video games, cartoons, books and movies. (Imagine a holodeck on steroids) We know you can do it Al!

New ipad

I am being a total dork and writing this entire blog posting from our new ipad that Carl won at his holiday party at the depot last night! It is pretty sweet but a right huge pain to get online for the first time. I ended up shutting our entire Internet down this afternoon trying to change security settings! I am learning a lot on this though and am having a blast. The calendar on here alone is worth it to me! I am really grateful though that we were able to win this since I know that we would have never set aside the $500 to buy one ourselves. This also solves our kindle decision, since this works just as well if not better in that area :) Carl is not taking to it to well which makes me wonder if it is just cause it has been causing so much hullabaloo Internet wise or if he is just not a mac person. Personally I am loving this setup. Just seems to make more sense to me! So I guess it is all mac for me from now on! Plus I am loving typing without having to actually push down any keys. Makes me twice as fast and amusingly more accurate, ha ha