Happy Birthday!

Happy "SWEET" 16!!

IN LOVING MEMORY.....

While on vacation in Oregon, Mark lost his grandmother, Eleanor Jean Mendenhall, age 87, on March 19, 2008. This was a sudden death and a shock to everyone. We had just moved her from Cambria, California, to Bakersfield so that she could spend the rest of her life enjoying friends and family. The Lord had other plans for her. We are thankful that she did not suffer and that she is at peace.

EASTER BREAK

The week of March 17th - March 22nd was Easter break for our kids. We decided it was time for a road trip to Oregon to celebrate Easter with Mark's parents and grandparents. Mark's parents and grandparents both have 10 acres in Bend, Oregon, which is in Central Oregon. The kids couldn't wait to get there and run around. While there we experienced rain, snow, freezing rain, sunshine. It was a mix of all types of weather. The kids spent time walking between the two houses, exploring the outdoors. Mark and I enjoyed visiting with family and friends. We celebrated Easter with an Easter egg hunt of 400+ hidden Easter eggs and a wonderful dinner. Mark and I decided to take the long way home and traveled across Oregon through Crater Lake and ended up on the coast of Oregon. We stayed one night in Crescent City, California, right near the Redwoods and shared that experience with the kids. They couldn't get over how HUGE those trees are......Andrew commented that this was "kinda cool!".....couldn't expect more than that from a 16-year old! As we traveled farther down the coast, we decided to stop off in San Francisco. We showed the kids the Golden Gate Bridge. They couldn't get over the size of the bridge. It is amazing when you see it in person.

We drove over the bridge in the city and spent the night there. Mark took the family to a wonderful Italian dinner in town and the kids enjoyed that very much. I enjoyed a nice glass of wine and a fantastic dinner. It was a nice ending to a great vacation. But, it was time to come home!!

Fun Video

Have any of you seen the video on the side here.
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My husband, Mark is very talented....whether writing funny stories, writing poems, making videos, etc. This is his hobby and all of us enjoying seeing each other in the video. Take the time and check it out.....it will make you smile.

One down....three to go....

*·*·-.,.-·*·*·*·-.,.-·*·*

As of yesterday, I turned in my final for one of my classes, three weeks early! :) I wanted to get this class done, can you tell? You won't believe this class when I tell you, actually it makes me a little sad. This course is requirement of Taft College but I feel it is a reflection of our education system. This class is a Bibliography course. Do you remember learning about Bibliographies? Mark and I discussed this topic and recall learning about them in late Elementary School and definetely in Jr High/High School. You HAD to know how to write one by the time you went to a university or jr. college. It was a requirement back then to write a term/researcch paper. Well, anyway, they now TEACH it in college. That blows my mind. I keep finding all sorts of things that give us clues that our education system has been DUMBED DOWN so that more kids pass high school instead of having them strife for their accomplishment. We keep handing our kids the easy route. What's going to happen to these kids when they get out in the world? Oh, Yea, they will learn it in college IF they even go. Well, let's get back on track.....(stepping off my soap box - I will write about how I feel about our education system a little later). I will give credit where credit is due. I did learn something in this class - I learned to cite a webpage on a Bibliography. That is something we did not have while in school....the internet! So, if all else fails and I look back, I have learned something from the class. My final grade for the class was an "A". Like I said....one down, three more to go for the semester.

Thought of the Day.....

A smile is a light in the window of your face, that shows that your heart is at home.

Today begins Spring Break...

Well, in just about 3 minutes the first two kids are going to come through my front door, screaming and yelling and loving the fact that they don't have school for the next week. I can't believe it is Spring Break already. It's too soon. I don't like it in March, do you? We just finished Christmas - at least it seems like it. This past week has been quite busy for me. I was struggling to find time to do MY homework before MY spring break. :) LOL - I'm ahead in my classes but you never know what is going to happen in my house. I am going to have another busy week next week with all the kids home. I will let you in on the events of the next week when they happen......ENJOY SPRING!

Kids do the darnest things

Mark is in the process of draining our above ground pool to get it cleaned and ready for our hot summer months that seem to start in late April/early May for us. So, it is being drained out to the front of the house. The drain comes out on the side yard between our house and our neighbors then runs into the street. My darling 2 year old boy, Briggor, wanted to go and play out front with his big brother Andrew. Two things happened.....first of all, Briggor noticed all the water and how it was running into the street. He didn't like that!! He decided he was going to SAVE THE WATER. Briggor began taking rocks and making a dam to stop the water from going into the street. SMART KID!! The only way we figured this out....that it was Briggor was because at dinner tonight...Mark asked each one of the kids who put the rocks on the grass to stop the water and all 7 kids said "BRIGGOR!" Briggor just looked up at Mark and gave him a grin...like 'who me??'....all we could do was laugh.

The second thing that happened was while Briggor was making his dam - He fell right into the cold water....it had collected into a little/big puddle on the side lawn. Briggor just ran to the front door completely soaked from head to toe. We shared another laugh at Briggor's expense. Such a boy, that Briggor.

DATE NIGHT (sort of?)

Mark and I went to the Bakersfield Symphony last Saturday night. It was sort of a date? Well, not quite it was more like a homework assignment for me. For my Music Appreciation class, I am suppose to attend 3 concerts by the end of May. You get more points if it is a classical concert. Sooooo, I talked Mark into going to the symphony with me:( I know how to kick, scream and show off a pouty face.......(right, dad??? - my dad knows that face) anyways, we headed to the symphony. We had second row seats which were very nice. We actually enjoyed the first 3 songs but the last part which was titled The Planets was NOT what we expected. Mark and I grew up in the San Fernando Valley with the Griffith Observatory practically in our backyard. While growing up, the observatory showed the planets with music in their Planetarium. Picture this....reclining seats that recline all the way into a lying down postion. You looked up at the ceiling and watched the planets/stars fly around and it was all done to music. We did not get this on Saturday night. We were dissappointed. :( The Bakersfield Symphony played the music but the visual was like a slide show instead of a full movie. Mark and I survived and made it til the end. I wrote down some notes for my class and we headed out the door. On our way home, we saved the day with a stop at a fast food restaurant for a late night snack. No matter what we do...it's always wonderful to be out with your best friend...no matter what you are doing together.

Update....

Anyone wondering how my school is going??? Well, I'm going to tell you anyways. I am well on my way into the semester and I have added another class to my schedule: Music Appreciation. I now have 12 units....carrying a full load. Taking my classes online has sure been great. It fits nicely into my crazy schedule. I am able to jump ahead when I can. I just have to remember to send in the information ON TIME! LOL So my schedule looks like this: Math, Music Appreciation, Bibliography class (required course) and Geography. Mark keeps telling everyone he is married to a college girl. He is getting a kick out of it. As of this writing, I am pulling "A"s in all my classes. I will just keep plugging along....

BIBLE VERSE

Phillipians 4:13

Paul wrote this to all the Christians in Phillipi:

....for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

NOTE: It is something I truly believe we should seek God for strength and power!!

Just a thought...

Mark and I on many occassions stop and ask ourselves....."what's going to happen to our family when they find out that we are in charge?" LOL We laugh every time we say that. We keep wondering who put us in charge of 8 children and THOUGHT we were going to do a good job? LOL We both know the answer to that question and we can't wait to get to heaven and ask God....."What were you thinking?" Enjoy your day!

Briggor's New Toy

I bought Briggor a new toy the other day. It is a bubble blowing machine. It is the best $10 I have spent in a long time. He loves turning it on and off and watching the bubbles fly all around. The dog even gets into the act by jumping up and trying to catch the bubbles in her mouth. What great entertainment on a beautful day outside! Little kids and bubbles you can't go wrong!

Ryan's New Hobby

Ryan is currently taking guitar lessons from Mark's cousin, Rick. We catch him practicing every night in his room. He is really enjoying it! It is great to watch him play!

Happy 16th Birthday!!

Happy 16th Birthday, Andrew!

Yesterday, March 2nd, Andrew celebrated his 16th birthday. Andrew was gone all weekend but Mark and I surprised him with balloons all over his bedroom floor and ceiling. He opened his bedroom door and couldn't believe that his bedroom was full of balloons. His gifts were spread out all over his bed - gifts included polo shirts from American Eagle and Aeropostle, a big tub of Double Bubble Bubble Gum, a new Xbox 360 video game, a brand new NBA Labron James jersey and a new Ipod Nano. Not too shabby for a 16th birthday. He really enjoyed coming home to a wonderful birthday surprise.

Monday evening, March 3rd, we are celebrating with the family with pizza and video games. Topping off the evening with homemade chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream.