To my sister, Karin. Also known as "Kiki"

As you are about to witness, I have an incredibly talented sister, Karin. My other sister and brothers also have talents, but today I am showcasing Karin. We affectionately call her "Kiki". One of the older grandkids dubbed her Aunt Kiki and it just kinda stuck. Somehow in the midst of all of her own holiday madness, working, fulfilling church assignments and packing her family up to visit the in-laws in Florida (why can't mine live somewhere warm?), my sweet sister made my kids some gifts. She had drawn Jacob and Anna, but she still found a way to include Rachel. How lucky are we? And to think that she just made up the pattern on her own and added a few things here and there.

Seriously nuts.

First up, she made the hat Rachel is wearing, she then made Anna a freaking cute purse that I may be borrowing, and she sent Jacob his much adored Bakugans. (have you seen them? they freak me out a little). Without further ado, the talents of my amazing sister, who I admire for more than a million little reasons.

We love you, Aunt Kiki.
Thanks for everything! We can't wait to see you next week!

The aforementioned Bakugans (creepy little buggers)

A little closer look at the purse she made Anna. Complete with a $1.00 bill and a hot pink notebook. Can you say heaven?

Rachel's best attempt at "cheese".
The hat matches her winter coat, of course.
Don't you love that big flower?

Again, we haven't mastered cheese with our eyes open quite yet.

A bit closer look before she takes off.

A side view, I am in LOVE with the hat! (and the girl,too)

Merry Christmas, Kiki. We love you!
Love,
Mindy, Bart, Jacob, Anna, and Rachel

Paradise

This backyard has been a long time coming....and so has this post! Bart is such a hard worker and had the genius idea of getting a bunch of rock for free. We talked some people into delivering it for a very small fee and we set to work. I did help, but Bart did most of the work. For weeks and weeks we spent every available minute in the backyard. I mowed down the weeds that were literally as tall as me while Bart moved rock. We had to mine the rock from huge dirt piles (a small price if you get free rock) and it took forever. Once we mined it, then we prepped and moved it into place. This rock is what now makes up the border of our yard. Our landscaper drew us what I call my "30 year plan" for adding trees, shrubs, flowers, a real patio, a basketball area and so forth. For now, we have the bare minimum required, but it sure feels good. Definitely a long way to go. However, we were really lucky to have good friends and ward members who were willing to come REALLY early on a very busy Saturday in October to get the sod down. My Mom was also in town to help out with kids and such. My father-in-law helped by cutting the sod and ensuring we had done it correctly. Having done it now, I realize how funny the delivery guy was. I asked him for any tips and all he said was "Green side up, mam" It was that easy. Without further ado, our new backyard!

Standing on the left side of our house, looking back. Note the ornamental tree (Eastern Red Bud) and then further back is the new pine tree.

Standing on the opposite side of the yard. This has lots of tools in it, but you get a better idea for just how much rock we laid. And you can kinda see the new stairs Bart has so craftily built us.

Also on the right side of my house, this other spruce tree-Bakari Spruce. LOVE it!

After MANY long weeks of looking at our grass, waiting for the snow to melt and the muddy spots to firm up, we FINALLY got to go out and play. This is what we did:
A boy and his football now have a place to roam

We were all excited to try out the new slide and laughed pretty hard.
Note, Anna's eyes are not injuries, just her own eye makeup job.

More sliding

Anna practiced her spinning

Rachel finally ruled her own slide

It was a most FANTASTIC fall day to enjoy our backyard.

Anna's Spooky School Party

Before fall break we were treated to a few songs and some treats at Anna's pre-school. Since it was a costume party, it was only appropriate that Rachel show up in her little outfit too. Rachel was more than excited to get dressed as the cutest little black cat ever. I didn't paint her face until the real Halloween, but you can get the idea. We loved being sung to by Anna's class.

Rachel posing on the stairs before we left

Zack, Anna, and kids lining up to sing

Anna and Claire enjoying cookies after the big performance--it's hard work to be that cute!

Meet Zack. I think he and Anna have a thing for each other. But with his cute little face, how could any woman resist those charms?

Fun Friends: Anna, Claire and Vivian

Anna and her crafty little witch

Anna and her "witchy" teacher, Miss Jen. Actually she is the BEST teacher in the whole world.

I think these are the highlights of being a Mom. When you see your kids growing and learning and singing songs with their friends, you realize how changing all those diapers, outfits, and burpcloths led you here. All my kids have changed my life for the better. I seriously live for these little moments at school. It is fun to see how they actually retain some of what you try and teach them. I love my cuties!

This Fall

We have had a SUPER busy Fall! It has been full of cheering on football games, working on our yard (post to come with FINISHED pictures), playing beauty shop, having Grandma visit, and much, much more. I have loved most of it, although at times the yard brought me to tears, but alas, Phase I and II are done. I have also had the chance to be in Jacob's classroom each week and have loved getting to know the kids and to watch how he interacts at school. It has been a busy time, but I have always loved Autumn and would want to be nowhere else but outside. However, recent snowstorms have reminded me of why I am inside for all of the winter.

Rachel cheering on Jacob at flag football

The Huddle with Coach Williams

Jake wanted to be #7 for John Elway and play QB all season. He got a couple of chances and loved every minute. It is only "QB" at our house, not quarterback.
Mom was a nervous wreck on the sidelines.

A successful snap (harder than it looks, folks)

I believe it was supposed to be a hand off that became a QB sneak.

And then there was Anna. She spent her time perfecting her beauty skills. We had fun playing beauty shop and curling her hair. It took me about 45 minutes to convince her it wouldn't hurt. We have also painted nails in every color and tried a few other styles. She just wants to get in front of the camera. I have more recent ones with friends coming in a post too, I promise. I couldn't resist these photos though. I love that face. I swear, she is a natural.

Ahh, I LOVE Fall!

The curse of the bean bag....

I know, I know, what could be a curse when you see these cute pictures? But man, I curse my cute sister for passing this on to us. I should have known. This is quite possibly the only time they have all shared it and loved each other......even here I want to curl up with them and hold them and love them, but now...
.....the curse is upon us. This stinkin bean bag has caused more injuries than any other toy in our home. Maybe because they like to pile toys on it as high as they can and bounce on it to see how many fall off (good for counting I guess). Or they like to play "Wipeout" and have invented a number of "stunts" or "obstacles" that end up with them wiping out on the bean bag. Unfortunately, a lot of wipeouts miss the bean bag. Or lastly, my sweet Jake decided (against my knowledge) to move it from time out on top of the washer down to the basement for me. He was wise when he chose to put Anna on the bottom end of it, but Anna had no idea what was coming. Jake couldn't have lifted that thing for more than a second and then it started to fall, completely flattening Anna. Jake wisely decided to "surf" down the stairs on top of it since it was already falling. Poor, poor Anna, she became the surf and scraped her back all the way down the wood stairs. That blasted bean bag. And now it has somehow made it's way to my bedroom. It won't stay for long because I feel certain that they will be jumping from my bed to the bean bag. I should have known it was cursed when my sister so willingly gave it to us. If they survive the bean bag, I have a feeling they can survive anything in life!

Back to School (Back in August!)

BACK TO SCHOOL BASICS

The first thing any good Mom does, is to make sure that her kids all have new shoes for school! We found these on sale earlier in the summer and were excited to get them out and make sure they fit. They were only pristine for a few hours. Now they are completely disgusting!The next step was to choose a first day outfit, but Jake wanted to do it himself. Love the orange shirt big guy! And he did his own hair. Better than when he woke up. Note his cool new backpack--thanks Nana! He loves having wheels since that thing weighs nearly more than he does! He was also too cool to pose for any other pictures or to let me bring the camera to the bus stop, so this is all we have of starting 2nd grade.Fortunately, Anna knows the importance of posing and was more than eager to have her special day on camera. It was a bit windy, but we had fun taking pictures.She even had to wear a necklace! And the famous backpack shot! She was so excited. The only disappointment was that she doesn't get to ride the bus to Miss Jen's preschool. But man, she loves it and is such a good learner! We are proud of her. I thought I would be better on the 2nd kid, but as she so nonchalantly jumped out and said, "See ya, Mom!" I totally teared up and had to drive away quickly. My big girl doesn't need me as much anymore! Sigh.

And lastly, for our back to school tradition, they each got to have a special dinner since they started on different days. Jake had breakfast for dinner and Anna had enchiladas and Spanish Rice. Thankfully, Nana and Papa could join us 2 nights in a row to make it even more special. And they each have a sign that says way to go back to school!

School is such a strange experience for me: I want them to go and yet I want them to stay. I need some space from them, and I miss them. It is so fun to watch them grow and learn and adjust every day. This year has been a great one so far. Let's hope it continues that way!

Reality check, thanks to Jacob

As we were tucking the kids in for bed on Saturday night they were so cute. They are always cute when you are tucking them in and knowing you will have some quiet time. We had just bathed them and done all rituals and I said to Anna how unfair it was that she was so much prettier than me. And Bart said, "Yeah, I just told Anna that she is as pretty as you are, but she is a little bit cuter because she has some of my cuteness too." I thought what a loving, wonderful family we have.
REALITY CHECK from JACOB:
"Yeah Mom, you don't have any of Dad in you, so you got the BAD SKIN. You know since you can't get tan and you have the skin that just turns red. I mean, look at my arm and how tan it is. I have the Fuhriman blood and you don't."
Thanks pal. I had almost forgotten.

This morning we were getting ready to go to the pool. I found an old suit I had forgotten about and asked Bart what he thought. He said to wait a little longer and it would be better. A very nice, married to me for 11.5 years type of response. I thought, what a loving and smart man I married. I'll just put on my other suit. In comes Anna, with Mom, you are pretty in any suit you wear. Love her. Seriously. I think she already gets how much we need to hear that.

REALITY CHECK from JACOB:
"I don't know which one you should wear. I mean, it looks like you have a baby anyway. You don't have one do you?"
Um no pal. Don't have another baby in the oven. Note to self: step up those runs. Thanks Jake.

I LOVE the water!

Not a lot more needs to be said than that Rachel is a fish. She loves the pool and will flip out when she sees you bring out any of her numerous swimsuits. I am normally handling the kids by myself so the camera is never with me, but Bart came with us to the pool on the 4th of July and I insisted on a photo shoot for this sweet girl. I love the pure joy on her face in the water!

Just playing with her cups

(every kid steals these from her!)

Check out her wrinkly nose as she stands up.

She enjoys the splash park almost as much as the pool now that she can walk and figure out where she wants to go. It is still a bit of a mystery to her when they turn off, but she knows where to go to attempt to get them back on! Smart girl.She runs in circles chasing the waterShe finally caught up to itAnd is apparently thirsty. My favorite picture for sure!
Now how do I get to look as cute in a bathing suit is the only question!

SUMMER IS.....

Fourth of July festivities

Pony Rides

Going to the gorgeous Rocky Mountains...

...and looking cool while doing it.

Sharing ice-cream with Dad while waiting for the rain to stop
Taking family pictures in National Parks
(Flaming Gorge Dam)

Spending time with cute cousins (Kate)

and cousin Taylor

SUMMER IS ALSO...
Spending time with Grandparents
(with Grandma Nelson in Estes Park)

Seeing HUGE moose in Estes Park (2 of the 3 below)

Hanging out in Steamboat Springs waiting for dinner on top of a roof!

Going to the candy store with Grandpa

Attempting family pictures without falling into the waterfall
(Hoping another camera got a real good version)

Taking pictures when you see silly signs

Just swingin

Conquering your fear of heights with Dad

or with Mom

and enjoying the ride down after

SUMMER IS...
loving these sweet kids and having time with them
(even if you are ready for school to start on some days)

and then having pedicures with Grandma to rest those tired feet

and most importantly,
teaching Grandpa to wear his 'sandals' WITHOUT white socks!

Hope everyone is having as much fun as we are this summer. I think most of all, SUMMER IS having so much fun that you are completely exhausted!