Calvin and Hobbes is one of Dylan's favorite comics. He reads it all the time. One night (about 6 months ago) Dylan brought this comic strip down to Rick. He had done some changes to it... Rick and Dylan had some arguing that night. This strip was Dylan's interpretation of the whole situation and how he felt the world around him treated him. It was amazing to see the change in Rick's heart after reading the comic strip.

Those precious moments...

We watched the Bucket List last night...it was so good and really made you think of what's important in life. I sobbed of course...I think Rick did too, even though he would never admit it. So what is important in life...is it the big things? Like sailing the seven seas, riding a motorcycle on the wall of China, sitting on top of one of the pyramids in Egypt, visit Taj Majhal (sp?) or is it sitting next to Dylan as he read a book, Isabella asking Rick to say a prayer at night because she had a bad dream or the smile and hug Dylan and Isabella gives me when they comes home from school (most of the time). My thoughts were wandering last night of all the things I am grateful for. There is so much.

The first thing that came to my mind was Monday night. We had Family Home Evening and we talked about our road map in life. How do we find our way back to Heavenly Father. I'm always amazed how much Dylan knows. We talked about the tools we have i.e. the scriptures, prayers and so on. After we went outside and played hide and go seek in the dark. It was so much fun. Isabella and I played together (here is one of those moments I hope never to forget) She would hold on to my jacket the whole time, desperately, she knew that I would not scare her (she also knew that Pappa and Dylan would! :) When it was our turn to hide we hid on the back of the truck. I thought it was the best spot, no way that Rick could see us there. Well, he didn't need to see us...he could hear us! Isabella kept moving and "tooting" that I could not keep from laughing. We just laid there on the cold floor of the truck bed, laughing and snuggling. All you really could see was our breath. Obviously it didn't take Rick very long to find us. I love my life. I really do. There are ups and downs, but I am alive. I have two beautiful children and a husband who loves me. What more could I ask for...

This morning I was looking out the window watching the sun go up. It was beautiful, especially since we have had rain for ever it seems like (Maybe 2 weeks, which is a long time here in Wenatchee) everyone is complaining that we might as well live on the West side (Seattle area). But this morning the sun was coming up. Beautiful red and orange colors. Next to our house is a huge maple tree with millions of leaves, most have fallen off right now and are waiting on the ground to be raked. (as you can see the rakes are waiting to be used too!). When I looked out of my bedroom window I saw some glowing leaves at the tip of each branch. It looked like they were just holding on for dear life as if they didn't want let go. That's how I feel right now, I am not ready to let go of the warmth and endure the cold season.

Rick's Rock Band Party

Rick turned 37 last Friday and I decided we needed to play. We had The West, Gundersen and Hickson Family here. Lot's of kids, it was fun. I cooked as usual! I actually cooked a onion blossom, wow, it was so tasty, but oh so messy! I had grease, batter and onion pieces all over the kitchen. We also had seven layer dip (I didn't make and it was grosse!), spinich dip, chicken wings, BBQ chicken nuggets and much more. I also made an icecream cake with chocolate chip cookies, nutella, vanilla icecream and of course whip cream. It was tasty. (But how can you go wrong with nutella!)
Look at all those candles! I thought our smoke alarm would go off!


Dylan loves this game. As you can see he get's way into it!




We all had fun. I'm actually waiting for Jenn's pictures...Jenn, where are they? :) I didn't take that many. It was a blast though!

Veterans Day

Dylan's class had a Veterans Day performance and he dressed in his boyscout uniform He was part of the flag bearing ceremony. It was neat to see, except he looked like he was going to faint any moment. I guess he get's really nervous in front of people.

Isabella's Wonderful Statement

Last Friday was Rick's Birthday and we had a party. (I will blog that later when I have the pictures uploaded.) Anyway, at the end of the evening and the kids are ready to go to bed Dylan realizes that someone had taken all his Lego's (1000's) and dumped them out all over the floor (and spread them out EVERYWHERE) and taken his Bionicles apart. He was MAD and flipped out. (Understandably) Since it was about 11.30pm and he had pretty much just lived on sugar that evening there was nothing that would stop him in his hysteria. We asked Isabella if she had done it and she said no. So I asked her again (to make sure) "Are you sure? You are not lying right, because if you are lying about this, things will be much worse for you?" So she said "Mom, do you think I'm crazy? If I would do that I would be dead meat, I would be the turkey for Thanksgiving" I guess she knows her brother well.