Sand Dunes '09

ROB
TRENTEN
TRENTEN, STEVE , ROB AND DOMINIK

A cup and a seed.....

I love little things like this so I thought I'd post it... For fathers day this year Austin wrote Rob a poem.

"A cup and a seed"

There is so many points to life,
all you need is a cup and a seed
and it will grow to a loving family
that's why we have a loving daddy.

A little late but I'm posting it anyway.....

Trenten, Matt, and Taylor

Trenten turned 13 on Friday March 13th this year, and he is simply loving life, as you can tell in these photos. He has spent almost every weekend up at the resort snowboarding. Thanks goodness for cheep resorts with very inexpensive season passes. He is sad however that they are now closed for the season and has taken up skate boarding with his little brother. I can't believe that I actually have a teenager. He informed me yesterday that in less than two years he would be able to get his driving permit. Honestly I can't even think about that right now without getting nauseous!

Happy birthday Austin!

Breakfast in bed
Eat'n shrimps with Mom, Grammy and Great Grandpa Dexter for lunch.
Grammy and Great Grandpa at the Red Lobster for Austin's birthday lunch.

I know it's about time!!!.....

This pic is of Kate in her Pocahontas costume for the school play. Thank goodness for Pam and her marvelous teaching abilities, she was able to help me make this for her performance. Doesn't she look so cute!

Kaytlin turned 11 on March 10th. She had lunch with her Grammy, Great Grandpa, Rob, Trenten, and myself at her favorite place, the Olive Garden. She was less than enthusiastic about getting back to school because it was the MATURATION PARTY.... need I say more?

My Valentines

While I don't love this Holiday to much (mainly because I think we should spend time telling others that we love them as much as possible intsead of having a designated day for it) I do love that my kids have gone out of their way to be nice to me and each other. This morning I was greeted by Austin at 5:30 am ; ) with yogurt and grapenuts. Kaytlin came in shortly after with a treat from her valentine box with a note that said "I am proud that your my mom" and when trent finally made it out of bed at around 9 he gave me a green heart that said "Mom, I love you with all of my heart" in French. So while I gripe about it every year, I am once again reminded that I need to quit being so grown up and see life through the eyes of my children.

Two things Rob forgot about working out....

Yes, Rob got up and went to the gym with me this morning. I know, pick your jaw up off the floor, it is pretty amazing and I have to say that I loved having him there! As we were walking into the house Rob informed me that he had forgotten two things about the gym. Other people's bad B.O. and in his own words, the FARTING. Apparently someone had a tummy ache and was breaking wind right next to him which in return made him want to vomit, so..... he then went to wash his hands and his eyes were assaulted by old naked men walking around inside the men's locker room. He had to count the ceiling tiles as he left the restroom. Sounds fun huh!? I hope he'll come back tomorrow....

Queen of the Castle

Kate had foot surgery on Monday and is doing very well. She said to me this morning, "having surgery stinks! but I sure do love all the nice things Trent and Austin keep doing for me."

This is Rob's Grandpa Dexter, we had the privilege of helping him out the last time that Rob's mom went to Missouri. Isn't he so adorable!
Kaytlin and I on Christmas Eve just before decorating ginger bread men which I think was more fun to do than the usual houses.
I LOVE this picture of Trent and I because it just goes to show that he's gotten over the too cool attitude that he had not so long ago. It's OK to look dorky on occasion. : )
Austin trying to look like Arthur. One of my New Year's resolutions is to teach all of my children how to do their own laundry. A few days ago we were all sitting in the t.v. room watching a movie together and as I reached around to the side of the couch to grab a blanket, I saw a pile of something shoved behind the couch. I took a closer look and realized that it was a pile of Austin's clean folded clothes. I have to admit I was ticked! I can't tell you how many times I see clean clothes end up back in the dirty laundry basket just because someone (not always Austin) was too lazy to put them away. So because I was extremely irritated I wanted to inflict the worst punishment possible which I thought was to make him start doing his own laundry. In the beginning it was actually more painful for me but I'm sticking to my guns because he is putting them away on his own, and they actually make it to his dresser not behind the couch because HE doesn't want to have to re-wash and put anything away more than once anymore than I do.