The Black Family

Gymnastics

2012-01-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

Jenna started taking gymnastics a few months ago. A friend of mine saw her doing cartwheels and asked if we'd ever thought about a class for her. We found a place called Wildfire and enrolled Jenna in a once a week class. Jenna has thrived. She passed the first two levels in just a couple months and she has now been moved to a prep class, twice a week, just a step below team. After her first class with her new coach, the coach asked me if this was a sport that we wanted to do. I was a little confused. She looked straight at me and said, "because she's really good." It has really helped Jenna to harness a lot of her anxiety.

Jenna's B-day

2012-01-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

Jenna chose to go to Dave & Buster's for her b-day present.

You can spin this wheel and earn a lot of tickets. (Can you see how many tickets Byron has in his hands?)

We won the jackpot on this game.

I can't believe how old they look here. What happened to my babies?

Jenna and all her loot.

The cake of choice...Angel food with choc frosting. Thanks Gma Black!

Kallie's surgery

2011-12-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

On Veterans Day, Kallie had surgery on her left ear to remove the tube and patch the hole. She has had problems with her ears since she was little. This was the last tube left from the second set of tubes. She has had sinus infections and infection in her ears for about 6 months now. The ENT Dr. wanted to remove the tube months ago, but felt we needed to wait until the infection was cleared up. Well, the infection just wouldn't go away. The decision was made to do the surgery and hope that the infection would clear after. Kallie was given hearing tests prior to the surgery and we will go back in a few months to test again. She has already had a few surgeries in her life, but having surgery with an older child is much different. She was very brave and asleep from the first meds before they even wheeled her back to surgery. It has always been hard for her to come out of anesthesia. The hardest part now is that she can't go swimming because she has to keep her ears dry. She is finally infection free, but the hole has not healed. We will go back to the ENT in a few weeks to see how to proceed.

My Birthday

2011-12-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

I have decided we need to be better at taking pictures. This is the only one from my birthday. The week before Gretchen and family came for Sunday dinner to celebrate. They made an awesome dinner for us. The next Friday night Byron took me to Chick-fil-a for yummy chicken and peppermint chocolate chips shakes. My actual b-day was a busy day but we ended with a yummy family dinner at Mimi's. (Thanks Moms and Dads)

Halloween

2011-12-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

It was brithday friday at work so there were cakes on every floor.

We started our Halloween on Fri. After school we got dressed up and headed to Blizzard to trick or treat. We had my little guy Rhett, that I tend for, join us because his mom was having her baby. We also got to have our friends Jared & Rachel & Ambrey join us. It was interesting to trick or treat with a little ones again.

After getting lots of loot at Blizzard, we headed straight to our ward Trunk or Treat. It was crowded and crazy but the kids had fun. I was not feeling well by this time so we didn't get any pictures, but Byron was sure to get pics of the candy sorting process.

Sorting, separating, and trading.

Fun with Cousins

2011-12-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

Byron's brothers Bob and Jay came in October to go to Blizzcon. I was so happy because Bob's wife Lisa and her kids came along and we got to play lots.

Fun at one of our many parks.

Relaxing after one of our three trips to the beach.

Fun at the beach.

First Day of School

2011-12-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

Going to the Zoo

2011-09-03T05:26:00.000-07:00

We finally had a day to go to the Santa Anna Zoo. We live 5 min away and were given passes by the wonderful family that I tend for.

Enjoying a snack. We really enjoy our time with our little Rhett.

We watched an animal show and then got to touch the animals.

It's always fun to sit on a lizard, right?

Kallie really wanted a picture with Rhett but he just wanted to play.

Hero Camp

2011-09-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

The day after we got back from vacation, the kids and I started Hero Camp. It's a week long camp put on by the mom's for primary age kids. Every day a scripture hero was spotlighted. Then the kids rotate through a lesson, craft, music time, awesome activity, and photo ops for the scrapbook. Each age group learned a song and choreography to preform at the show on Friday.

Corbin doing bubble art.

Kallie coloring her leather bracelet.

Jenna and her great friend Mia.

Corbin with some of the other Sergeants. (His age group.)

Kallie and Julia being cute.

We had so much fun being involved in Hero Camp. It was the first camp put on by the mom's in our stake. I was blessed enough to work with the awesome moms that put so much time and energy to make it a wonderful experience for the kids. We all made new friends. One of the moms made a power point presentation that we watched on Fri at the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fqVJdfz4EY&feature=email
Then we went and partied at the park. Can't wait until next year. We are already planning so many fun things.

Vacation-Wyoming

2011-08-31T20:48:00.000-07:00

After staying a week with Byron's family we headed to Wyoming for a week of adventures with my family. Most of the pictures were taken by someone other then me. Maybe a youngin?

That's what we call "wrastling."

Jenna the supermodel...but only when she's in the mood.

Just chillin' at grandma's.

On the way home from Bear Lake. Aww the technology age.

Griffin had a great time.

I didn't plan on getting wet...until I fell off the jet ski.

We had breakfast one morning at a great cafe in Immigration Canyon. It was so beautiful and sooooo delicious.

Family Pictures

2011-08-31T20:14:00.000-07:00

We had family pictures taken while we were in Wyoming. It is always an adventure.

Oh yeah, and Seattle

2011-08-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, I really haven't blogged for a long time. I also went to Seattle in May to spend a weekend with my mom and my sisters. We really had a great time! It was my first time in Seattle, so of course we had to do a little sight seeing. My dumb camera lost our great pics from Pikes Market. The rest of the time we were too busy shopping.

Oops, Forgot July

2011-08-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

July went by fast for us. I didn't get many pictures but wanted to share some fun ones.

It's so fun now that all the kids like to play in the water.

We went to a new beach that had tide pools filled with fun things to see.

Yes, that's my superhero.

July 4th, before we headed out for our day of festivities.

The kids sang at the Stake flag ceremony. My camera was being lame and deleted all my other cute pictures.

Vacation- Utah

2011-08-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

We were so blessed to be able to take an extended family vacation this year. We packed up and headed out bright and early Fri morning for our drive to Idaho. Our first stop was in Weber, UT to stay with Byron's brother and family. On Sat, they gave us the choice to go swimming or go for a hike...


Who's the king of bunker's hill? Byron and all the kids.

We thought no big deal... it was a tough hike, especially for our wimpy California lungs. It was really great though. We hiked up Waterfall Canyon in Ogden. The waterfall was really amazing.

Can you see Corbin?

She's growing up too fast.

Once again, Jenna doesn't want to be in the picture.

Anthony, Alex, and Corbin enjoying snacks and the view before we headed down the mountain.

We were so thankful to have spent time with Bob and Lisa. Our kids get along great and we love spending time with them. Thanks guys!!!

First and Last of School 2010-2011

2011-06-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

First day of school.

Last Day of school. Kallie wore a shirt that all her friends could sign.

"Yes now you can make silly faces."

Yes, Corbin is still in pj's most days when the girls leave for school.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Anniversary Adventures

2011-05-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 13th will be our 12 year Anniversary. It has been an adventurous 12 years to say the least. Because Byron and I spent our last anniversary in two different states (4 long months), we decided we needed some time away. That is not an easy thing to do on a budget. Although, with the help of my wonderful sister, we had a great time with out worrying about the kids. First, we went to a seafood market in Malibu that we had fallen in love with when we first moved to CA. Then, I thought I had gotten a great deal on our hotel, but found out that it was in downtown LA in a not very good neighborhood. In fact, we drove right down skid row. It was very humbling to see people sleeping in rooms built out of cardboard boxes. The streets were lined with tents and carts and boxes.

The next day we were so blessed to go to the LA temple to be with some friends as the received their endowments and were sealed together as a family.

My heart was so touched to see such extremes in life. We are not where I thought we would be after 12 years, but we have a home, we are healthy, we have food, three beautiful children, wonderful friends, and we can be with each other for eternity.

Spring Break

2011-05-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

We went to a place called JumpStreet with our friends. We jumped on huge trampolines, and had some great games of dodge ball.

We spent the first part of our spring break in Arizona with my sister Tanya. Our first night there, the kids got to have a movie party with a sitter and my parents and I went to a play that Tanya directed the orchestra.

It's so great to catch up with good friends. Thanks Koby for an awesome day.

My poor little guy just needs a nap every day. He often lays himself down and falls asleep. I was afraid he would fall but he didn't move a muscle.

Easter Morning

2011-05-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

We spent Easter at my sister's house, which meant more kids for egg hunting. Some were quick to find, some complained about the amount of eggs they had, and some just wanted the "chocat."

Griffin only wanted the one egg he found, and when he realized there was something inside he just wanted to eat it.

The golden egg was not very easy to find.

Easter Fun

2011-05-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

We went to an egg hunt with friends from our ward. There were eggs and lots of other fun surprises spread over a large grassy area. The kids did a great job of sharing.

There were lots of eggs to be dyed. Everyone had their own technique. Corbin's was a little more messy then the rest.

Even Unca (Uncle Eric) joined in the egg coloring fun.

All the artists hard at work.

Burger

2011-04-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

Byron and I have set out to top ourselves in homemade hamburgers. This one was not completely from scratch, but now we know what our next burger needs.

Part of my Calling

2011-04-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am the Cub Scout Committee Chair for our pack that includes boys from three wards. It was a pretty steep learning curve and a bit overwhelming at first. Every time I feel like I am getting the hang of it, I learn about something else that I am in charge of. One tradition that I was "encouraged" to continue, was an Arrow of Light Cake for each boy as they earn their award. I can not take credit for the baking of said cake, but I got to try my hand at decorating. My first attempt wasn't too bad.

Kallie's B-day

2011-04-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

My little girl turned 9, three months ago. She is growing too fast. We were able to celebrate her big day two times. She asked for a cake and cookie bars. It's hard to put candles in cookies. Lots of help blowing out her candles.

Jenna's lost tooth

2011-03-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Jenna lost her first front tooth. It took a long couple of days for it to finally come out. It was literally hanging by a thread, I know gross. She went to bed and Byron told her to be careful not to swallow it. Luckily, she woke up with it on her tongue. She's one lucky kid.

Baking

2011-02-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

I have found that I love to bake. I don't normally take pics of what I bake but it looked so good and got such raves that I had to share. Byron made yummy hamburgers on the grill and I made hamburger and hot dog buns. Is your mouth watering yet?

Family Fun

2011-02-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

Jenna got a new game for Christmas. We have loved playing it. You have to ask questions to the other players to try and guess what you are on your headband.

The Boys' Birthday's

2011-02-06T12:55:00.000-08:00

The boys have their bday's within 4 days of each other. We celebrated lots. Byron wanted his mom's angel food cake with chocolate frosting on it. Now, I've tried hard to recreate the great things that she makes. Some times I do pretty good, other times...not so much. The cake tasted good, but it kind of fell. Not sure if it was the oven or the way I mixed it. It's fun that my boys like to do the same things. We went to Dave & Busters to celebrate. It's basically a really, really cool Chuck E Cheese; except they have really great food. Some of the games give tickets to earn for prizes from the big D & B store. Jenna taking a turn at Whack a something. The Birthday Boys got a yummy brownie with ice cream and tons of whip cream. We had to practically yell to sing happy birthday because it is so loud there. Corbin got a ton of tickets on one of the first games he played. Kallie would only play the games that gave tickets. She actually got the jackpot on one game which gave 1000 tickets. They shared the tickets (because we made them) and all three kids were able to get some fun prizes. Corbin decided since we had had cake just a few days before for Byron's birthday, he wanted birthday ice cream. He was so excited to go to the store and pick out his own flavor. It's hard to put candles in ice cream.

Christmas

2011-01-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderfully relaxing holiday. I didn't take very many pictures...we were too busy watching Discpicable Me. We didn't even end up making what we had planned for Christmas dinner. We had grilled cheese sammies and stayed in our jammies all day. The kids loved it. My parents were here to enjoy the festivities with us. I hope we didn't bore them.

Snow in CA

2011-01-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

Some friends in the ward invited us over Christmas Eve to play in their snow. Every year they have snow in their front yard. I guess there is a company that you can rent from. They bring a big truck with ice blocks and use a wood chipper to blow out snow. My kids thought it was fun until the older kids started a snowball fight. It was not very soft snow.

Pre Christmas fun

2011-01-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

We were so happy to put up our tree this year. With all that happened last year we just weren't able to do it. The kids are big enough now that they were able to help put the tree together. It went really fast. Not sure why, but I only got one picture of the process. The kids love the countdown to Christmas. On Christmas Eve we made gingerbread cookies for Santa. Our art abilities leave much to be desired, but we all had fun decorating them. Even Grandma Sandra joined in the fun. They were really good cookies. I think Santa had 4 of them.

School Awards

2011-01-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Both girls received awards at school in Dec. Kallie got her award for Outstanding AR Reading points. The higher the reading level, the more points you receive. The principal said that Kallie had a lot of points for a fifth grader...she's in third grade. She really loves to read. Jenna got her award for excellence in reading also. She is reading and writing better every day. Her teacher sends home extra books almost every day. We are so happy that they have found a joy in reading.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

We spent the week of Thanksgiving in AZ at my sister Tanya's house. We played with friends, relaxed and had lots of time with family. Jenna and Corbin helped me make the rolls. We enjoyed...football/movie watching, kids playing in the tent, crafts, cooking, and keeping Griffin busy. It was crazy but so fun and so yummy.

Using the Sun

2010-12-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

It's silly, I know, but this brings me joy. Byron hung a clothes line for me in our patio area. I love that, most of the time, I can hang the laundry out to dry. I kind of get a little giddy each time I pay for 4 washes and only have to pay for one dry. It's the simple things in life, right?

Jenna turns 6

2010-12-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

The week before Thanksgiving Jenna turned 6. We had such a fun day. At school they had a Thanksgiving feast. It was crazy with all the kindergartners and their families. After school we enjoyed a yummy bouquet of fruit and a fun whoopie cushion b-day card. Jenna was so excited to open presents. She is learning to read and so we had to read the book she got right away. Thanks for all the love that was sent our way for her special day!

Aaarrrggg...

2010-12-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

Corbin went to a friend's pirate birthday party. The kids did pirate crafts, searched for treasure, ate a pirate ship cake, and came home with lots of booty.

May I introduce...

2010-12-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

So I went into the kids room one morning to wake them up, glanced around, and this is what I saw on the shelf. I looked for a few minutes, a little confused, and then Kallie says to me..."Darth Vader is introducing Yoda to the Storm Trooper." Yep, thought of it all on her own. I laughed soo hard.

The Loot

2010-11-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

After Trick or Treating at Blizzard the kids came home and seperated the candy. They love this part as much as all the rest. Kallie trades what she can't have and then they like to seperate them into each kind. Jenna picked tons of peanut butter cups and Corbin picked tons of skittles. I take 2/3 of the candy and put it in a bag and put it away where it can't be reached easily. We'll pull that out a few months down the road.

Trick or Treating

2010-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

We went Trick or Treating at Blizzard. The kids love to go to Byron's work. There are 4 buildings that the kids can go through. One decorates a little scary but they were really brave this year. They get sooo much candy from Blizzard. Their bags were so heavy that they had Byron carry them for awhile. We also had a Trunk or Treat with our ward. I was really sick but Byron helped me make a pot of chili for the party. We were co-winners of the chili cook off.

Halloween

2010-11-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread Haunted House

2010-11-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

We put together a gingerbread haunted house. The kids loved it but wished they could have eaten more of the candy. We had some trouble getting the roof to stay on. We held it in place, we added more frosting, we even tried to prop up the side roof panels with knives and supports. In the end the roof just fell off, but we sure had fun doing it. Kallie was pretty sly at sneaking the candy and frosting off through the next week. Jenna and Corbin however couldn't do it with out getting black frosting leftovers on their lips.

Fun Times

2010-11-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Jenna lost her first tooth. She was sooo excited when it was first loose. She has been asking when it would be her turn to lose a tooth for months now.

Jenna loves to help out with little ones. When ever we are with her cousin Griffin she wants to help him. He is really starting to like her. They are so cute together.

Corbin has asked to wear his costume almost every day for weeks now. He was sad and went to cry on the bed, I found him a few minutes later asleep. I guess even Batman needs a nap.

Angels Baseball

2010-10-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

We love the annual Blizzard tickets to an Angels game. We had an awesome catered bbq before the game and enjoyed great seats just off right field. Corbin watched part of the game but the girls just ate cotton candy and goofed around. The Angels have lost every year that we have gone to a game, maybe next year we can see them win.

Brew and Stash party

2010-10-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

We went to a "Brew and Stash Bash" at church. It was a rootbeer tasting and musthache contest. We tasted so many different kinds of rootbear. Some were really great, and some were not so great...at all. Man did we let some great burps fly that night. And luckily no wet beds in the morning. (I was a bit worried.)

Kindergarten

2010-09-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Jenna is in Kindergarten. She is doing so well at school. The first day she needed a few extra hugs, but then she went right to her class. I on the other hand, yes, I teared up. She really has come so far. Her teacher says she is great. We are having a few issues at home, but she loves school.

First Day of School

2010-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

The girls were so excited to go to school. At their new school there is a uniform dress policy. They love that they can be twins some days. We are close enough to school to walk, which is great on cool days. Luckily, with Byron's help, we were able to get enough unpacked that we could have first day of school cookies. Both girls are really enjoying school.

Blizzard Picnic

2010-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

A few days after we got here was the Blizzard Picnic. (We love the perks of Byron's job.) It was such nice weather this time so we stayed the entire time. We ate tons of food, rode rides, had a hoola hoop contest, fished, and tried our hand at the water balloon toss.

Finally Moving

2010-09-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, we finally moved, all of us, to California. We were so excited to be back together as a family. It was a long few days. Byron and I took one day to drive to Idaho and pack up our stuff. We are so thankful to family for an awesome meal to get us going and for helping us load the truck. Of course, there are always unforseen events...but we handled it pretty quickly. The next two days we drove to CA. The kids fought over turns in the "big truck," ate lots of snacks, and loved knowing right where Daddy was. The hotel wasn't the greatest but we enjoyed the pool. We arrived to wonderful family and friends there to help us unload. I was a bit overwhelmed by everything that evening, but I think we are adjusting nicely.

Evanston Railroad Days

2010-08-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Evanston celebrated it's Railroad Days. It's a pretty historic part of town. Evanston has the only standing roundhouse in the country. They have started a restoration project which includes the buildings surrounding it. We saw all kinds of model train sets, rode on a mini train, and enjoyed popsicles. The kids really enjoyed it. We even got to take a ride on the train turntable.

Day trip to Provo River Falls, Utah

2010-08-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

As part of our fun weekend, we drove to the Uinta Mountains and stopped at Provo River Falls. It was so beautiful. The kids climbed all over the rocks and down the river and ended up in the water at a calm spot.

Unca and Aunt Stacy

2010-08-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

My brother and his girlfriend came for the weekend to go to the reunion. This was our fist time to meet Stacy and my kids were so excited. It was a really nice break for me. They (especially Corbin), wanted them (especially Stacy), to do everything together. Sorry Unca, we still love you though.

At the Boehme Farm

2010-08-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

We went to Geneva, Idaho for Boehme reunion. The kids had so much fun running free. Kallie was out and about most of the day, until she had an allergic reaction to something. Her eyes swelled almost shut and were covered with hives. She recovered just in time to help milk cows and feed the calves. Then she got a motorcycle ride and got a burn on her leg. (City kids, I know) Thanks to my cousins for being so great and letting them help. Corbin also got a ride on a motorcycle, he was sooo gidy. One of his first words was motorcycle.

And more Fishing

2010-06-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Kallie really loved fishing. She was content to sit and wait. She reeled in quite a few fish. At first she didn't want to touch the fish, but when she knew it wasn't going to wiggle any more she did it.

More Fishing

2010-06-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Jenna didn't really want to fish. She just liked to play in the water, poke the dead fish and play with the worms. Corbin caught a few. He was so excited. He would play unitl a fish pulled on the line then he would run over and reel it in.

Fishing

2010-06-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Uncle Jay took the kids to fish at the poopy ponds (really the nature park). It was finally a nice afternoon and we loaded up the poles and worms. The kids were hesitant at first but we caught quite a few. It was just catch and release but Grandpa has to start them young to pass on the love of fishing.

Boys

2010-06-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

This boy...having a boy is sure an adventure. He loves anything that he can swing; baseball bats, lightsabers, vaccuum attachments, golf clubs, hammers. He loves superheros, cars, motorcycles...but he is also such a tender heart. He loves his blankets and loves to snuggle, which is great these days. And he is grooving to "Single Ladies" as he sits here on my lap. Sorry Babe:)

Sad Munchkins

2010-06-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Well this is how we have spent much of the last 4 days. Jenna got strep throat and Corbin started out just being sad because Jenna was, but then he hurt his foot. I'm not sure how it happened...Jenna says he jumped off the tv, but he says that he jumped off the bed. At first I thought he just needed attention too, but then he was still limping the next day. Lots of snuggles, tv and computer time has been had around here.

More Leo's Place

2010-05-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Leo's Place

2010-05-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

The kids got to play at Leo's Place. Jenna was able to earn her big prize for staying dry and Leo's is what she choose. The kids had so much fun and got so hot and sweaty. I think they played for almost 2 hours. I thought they would sleep great that night...but maybe we over did it:)

Silly Munchkins

2010-05-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

What silly kids I have. Corbin said "mom take my picuture" and that's what we got. I found Corbin and Jenna watching a movie like that. They love the "arcave," as Corbin says, at the store, especially now that it has a motorcycle to sit on.

Jenna Doo

2010-05-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jenna has come so far in the last few months. Our most exciting news...she has had an entire dry week. We think we have found the right combination: finally getting completly rid of bladder infections and a medication for spasms. I am so pleased with her and her determination to get this under control. She is so happy with herself also. She also graduated from preschool; although she was too shy to sing in the program. Maybe I can get her to do it for us later. This is Jenna with her teacher Miss Valerie. Preschool has been such a confidence booster for her. Jenna also decided that she wanted to get her hair cut short. We love the new do:)

Kallie's paper

2010-05-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Kallie wrote a paper for a school project called Rachel's Challenge. It was a school wide program to promote kindness. Kallie was selected to read a portion of her paper at a school assembly. She memorized it and was so excited to be in front of everyone. The picture I took of her didn't turn out but here is her essay. She is such a great student!

Missing Daddy

2010-05-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

It's been over a month now. We don't know how to stay in one place:) Byron left for CA to go back to work for Blizzard Ent. He is loving his job, which we are very thankful for. We decided that the kids and I would stay in Idaho until school was over. We have been able to do this thanks to wonderful family and friends (you know who you are). This is the last week of school. We plan to fly by the seat of our pants for the summer. Some time here in Idaho, some time in UT, some time in WY with my parents. Disclaimer: it gets mushy from here, so feel free to stop reading, I just need to put some thoughts into words. It's not been easy being apart, but we are looking towards the future. I am so thankful to be married to such a wonderful man. We passed our eleven year mark (didn't really get to celebrate) a few weeks ago. It's crazy how our life has turned out, but I am thankful to have spent it with him. I never could have imagined the love that I feel for him now. Yes, we were young and didn't know anything, heck, we probably still are, but I am excited for the future.

Make shift T-ball

2010-05-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

Corbin and Uncle Jay play ball. We are excited about the nice weather so that we can enjoy G&G Black's big yard. The kids love the big tire swing. They also love hanging out with Uncle Jay.

Moving Out

2010-05-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is the fun that the kids had when we packed up to move out. They thought the picnic breakfast was pretty cool. It's been quite the adventure. They got to stay in a hotel and swim at the pool, watch lots of movies, and enjoy lots of time with Grandpa Brent.

Munchkins

2010-04-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

So much to do...so little time!

Art

2010-04-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

We spent an afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Black. The kids love spending time with their grandparents and I love it because they get to do things that I don't always enjoy doing with them. Yes...I said it...I don't really care to do messy things. Grandma Black is an artist and has awesome art supplies. It's great to see each one in their own style.

Easter

2010-04-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how it happened, but this is the only picture of our Easter activities. This is an Easter Tree, a german tradition that I remember fondly from my childhood. Jenna really loved it and stayed for the whole thing. Kallie was too busy playing with her cousins, and Corbin only lasted for a few ornaments. We colored eggs, did lots of baking, ate candy, watched some conference and had a laid back yummy Easter dinner.

Sort of "Spring" Break

2010-04-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

For our spring break we went to my parents house in WY. The weather was not spring. It snowed the entire time we were there. We did have a great time though. My kids have the best grandparents. We watched movies, went out to eat, played with all of "Grandma's cool toys" and oh yeah, some of us got sick too.

Big Man

2010-04-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Corbin is getting so big. He loves to be with his daddy (he is still a bit of a mama's boy though). I guess this is a right of passage. Although I remember doing this with my dad...Corbin thought he was quite the man afterwards. He also likes to use the "man soap" when he has a bath. He is a snuggler and sweet boy, but he sure has gotten rough and tumble. He is really taking to this potty thing. He loves the potty treats...and they are actually working. Maybe this will help Jenna a bit?

Where does the time go?

2010-03-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well it's been way too long I know. Lots has happened but I've been awful about taking pictures. We had great holidays, we are getting into the swing of things, Kallie turned 8, Jenna is in preschool, Corbin is starting to be interested in going to the bathroom, Byron is trying to keep up with his job, and I'm just trying to keep up with it all.

New Happenings

2009-12-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer (I don't normally write this much, but it was quite the experience.) It's been so long since I posted, but it has been a very busy month. We just moved to Idaho. Yes, in the middle of the freezing weather. Byron was offered a really great job that we just couldn't pass up. It happened really fast and has been full of ups and a lot of downs. We made the decision and with in a week and a half, Byron left to drive to Idaho. It was snowing and his car broke down in Beaver, UT. He had to stay the night because the roads were closed ahead of him. A very nice couple from SLC took him as far as there the next day, and his Dad met him to take him the rest of the way. Ok, so I thought, crisis experienced, hopefully smooth sailing. Ha Ha! My original plan was to stay with the kids in CA until Christmas, then we would move during the holidays. But after looking at all our options, we decided Thanksgiving was a better time, but only a week and a half away. We were able to have a moving company do all the packing, which I thought would be great. So, the day before Thanksgiving they show up, 2 days early mind you, and pack up our tiny apartment of stuff. More stuff then we had planned, so of course, more money then we had estimated. Ok, I'll take it, I didn't have to try and do it on my own. Byron's company flew him back to CA and we had a nice drive back to Idaho. I started to work the next day looking at houses to rent. We figured with the difference in cost of living between ID and CA we could upgrade. I was discouraged by the first places I looked at though. In the end, we were lucky and found a really great place about 4 times the space we had in CA. We snatched it up. Then we just had to wait for our stuff to arrive. Not a big problem, except that the moving company kept telling us a time and then it didn't happen. But on top of that, I had to stand up to a really rude man to solve some payment issues. Finally, we have a sure appointment for delivery, 8:00 am and the temp is -17 degrees. I was so cold standing there directing where everything was to be put. It went pretty fast, but there were broken items, and as I unpacked I found even more broken things. So, the big truck pulls away and I go into the house and Byron is yelling for me to find towels. The toilet overflows and then backs up into the other toilet and two bathtubs. Luckily, the rental agency had someone there to look at it within 10 min. A bright spot, finally. But he has to bring in his big auger and send it down the pipes. Then we find water pouring out of a heat vent in the family room downstairs. Yeah, I know. Come to find out there was an unusually big blockage. Ice? We don't know. Hopefully from here it will be a little less exciting. Kallie had a few days in her new school and Byron is enjoying his job, especially the flexibility with time that it has given him. I don't have my cords unpacked so I will post pics when I can find them, but my mother in law took some great pics of the kids in the snow yesterday. ( http://bonkersycarax.blogspot.com/) I have one week to get a little settled and then the kids and I are off; back to CA for Christmas vacation. Crazy I know. Byron will join us for part of it. I roped my parents into a road trip with us. Hopefully we'll have enough electronic devices to keep the kids happy. Three legs of a 14 hour drive in one month, what was I thinking?

Halloween

2009-11-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

We sort of had a halloween week this year. Our ward had a huge fall festival last week, trunk or treating included. We dressed up and had soo much fun. Of course I forgot the camera. Jenna trick or treated at preschool and Kallie went to a carnival with a friend. Then on Fri, we went to Blizzard and trick or treated. We hit the mother load of chocolate candy there. By Sat, we were done with Halloween. We had dinner early, got into pj's, and watched a movie together. Maybe now that this month is over, my kids will sleep well again. The girls, especailly Kallie, are afraid of most Halloween things. They don't like going anywhere near the Halloween aisles at the store. Last year while trick or treating, there was a guy that had a scary mask and chainsaw and was chasing people. Yeah, not sure when we'll trick or treat to houses again.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

So, October brings pumpkin patches. We went to a huge ranch with Gretchen and her family. There were so many things to do there. We saw animals, Byron pulled on the little pigs tails (which the kids thought was too funny), posed for pictures, climbed on the huge hay stack, and of course, picked pumpkins. The kids wanted to ride the ponies and take a hay ride but it was 90 degrees and the adults just wanted to stay in the shade. Good memories though, right?

Woops!

2009-11-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when mom puts the cookies out of site so she'll stop picking at them and then starts dinner with out remembering to remove the hidden treats.

Angels Game

2009-11-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Once a year Blizzard sends their employees to an Angels Game. They have a huge picnic before the game and then we get really great seats. The kids were so excited to go. Once we got to our seats all they wanted was cotton candy. This year Uncle Brian was in town that weekend and he joined us for the heat and fun. It was an ok game. A few home runs and fireworks, which Jenna and Corbin did not like!!

Aquarium

2009-11-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

Some good friends of ours gave us tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium. It was so cool. The kids loved all the hands on stuff. Byron and the kids got to pet the rays. And we also fed the Laurakeet birds. Jenna was not to sure of it but Kallie really enjoyed it. Kallie and I even got one of the birds to climb on our hands.

Jenna's first day of school

2009-10-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Jenna gets to go to a really neat preschool this year. It is a pre school that is part of a High school program. So there are two adult teachers and the the high school students. There is a lot of one on one attention which is really great for Jenna. I am a little worried about her lack of interacting with the kids but the teachers say that will come with time. She goes to preschool M-Thur for a few hours in the afternoon. It is really helping her confidence and helping her to have control in situations with out mom. I was really worried for Jenna. I want so badly for her to be successful. She is doing really well though. Now if she could just realize that she doesn't need to grow up too fast.

First Day of School

2009-10-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Kallie's first Day of 2nd grade. It was not exactly as I wanted it to be. We were a little rushed and I stepped in dog poo while taking the picture, but didn't realize it until I had tracked it into the house. (Thanks responsible dog owners.) We did get to school on time though. It was a little tough seeing Kallie in class with big 3rd graders. She is in a 2-3 split class. She's such a big girl; wanting to do everything her own way. A funny note...I try to be particular about the way my kids look. It's a reflection of me isn't it? Well, Kallie has been wanting to do her own hair. I'm all for independence when it looks ok:) Ok, that's not very nice but sometimes it looks... Anyway, I do her hair in the morning, but she has started redoing it at school. So she'll come home with her pony tails in a different place or a crease in her hair where she put a half pony tail in, then took it out on the way from school. I guess that's better then sneaking inappropriate clothes to change into.

California Camping

2009-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

For some reason I got a camping bug. I really wanted to go camping this summer. We found out it's not really something you can plan last minute here. We were lucky and did get a first come spot that had just barely opened up. Byron's comment was "This isn't camping, you can see other people." Yes, there really is no personal space in California. The kids loved it though and wanted to roast hot dogs the minute we got there ; 9 am. We played in the lake, roasted hot dogs, collected rocks, got dirty, and ended up going to a car show in the little town that we drove through. The sleeping was not great. We put the tent on a bit of an incline because it was the only spot that was a little further away from other people. We left earlier then planned but the kids had a great time. I don't think I'll let that bug bite me again until we are potty trained and have our own washer and dryer.

Harry Potter

2009-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to be the last one to buy into any type of hype, but here it is. My neice Avery is a huge Harry Potter fan and I did enjoy the books. When the new movie came out she asked if I would be the one to go with her. (Her parents are muggles and don't want any part of it, so of course I agreed.) Avery really wanted to see the midnight showing. For those of you who know me well, I am not a night owl. So we planned it for the next day. Avery, Grandma Sandra, and I headed to the show around 3 pm. It was about 100 dergrees, but we were lucky the line was not very long. The first pic is Avery reading Harry Potter while in line and then the two of us after. It was pretty cool!

2009-08-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

Blizzard Family Picnic

2009-08-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

In July we went to a picnic put on by Byron's work. It was hot but we had a lot of fun. There were carnival rides, free popcorn and drinks, fun contests, and even a pond to fish and boat ride in. Yes the family picture is missing one person, Jenna marches to the beat of her own drum. She couldn't be bothered to be in the picture.

Summer Fun

2009-07-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

The kids love the water Kallie loves to read. Especially to our little neighbor who doesn't talk back to her.

July 3rd

2009-07-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Daddy had to work 3rd of July but had a 2 hour lunch. We went to his work to have a picnic, look at the Blizzard Museum and play video games. There was hardly anyone there that day. Notice the brand new statue behind the girls. The kids think dad's work is soooo cool.

YO!

2009-05-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

"What up!? We just chillin' and doin' some shakin'. Yo!" My kids love to dance. Today we got a cd at the library with Disney Radio music on it. They thought it was the coolest thing. Their favorite song was the Hampster Dance.

Corbin

2009-05-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Corbin trying to give himself a breathing treatment. Grandma Black would be proud of his art skills.:) Corbin loves to hide and be silly.

Sunny Days

2009-05-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Fun times with our friends at a park in Fullerton. Sara is determined to school me in all the great things there is to do in this town. She can't believe that we have managed to live here more then 6 months and not experience much.

Buds

2009-05-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Corbin loves his new boy cousin!!! He wanted to share his pillow with Griffin.

Easter

2009-05-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Easter and spring break was wonderful! (I didn't get very many pics though) I decorated cupcakes for an Enrichment activity. The kids loved the candy from the Easter Bunny. We went to Church with Gretchen's kids while our new little nephew, GriffinClay was born.

Our little tough Guy!

2009-05-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

No, I do not beat my child. Corbin is such a crazy boy and here are just a few examples. Thankfully not all at the same time. He got the bruises on his head from falling on the pavement. We went for a walk after a rainstorm and he fell twice in the same spot. It took over a month before the bruises in his eye sockets went away. And the hand...2 cuts and 7 stitches on his little ring finger. He was trying to be a big boy and use the folding step stool.

Corbin was so excited when daddy brought home an old helmet. He wanted to wear it for days!

What a Helper

2009-02-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

I wish my girls would do their chores as willingly as my 2 year old does. A mommy can wish, can't she?!

Kallie's B-day

2009-02-15T17:36:00.001-08:00

Kallie turned 7 this month. She really is a great kid. She loves school, reading, playing with her sister (most days), and relishes in her computer time. Kallie wanted green eggs and ham for her b-day breakfast. Then we had a b-day party with Aunt Grethchen, Uncle Matt, Phoebe, and Avery. Kallie asked for Spring Rolls for dinner, and then we enjoyed a Wall-E cake from Aunt Jen and Uncle Rahul. We played x-box, then we went to our hot tub and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. What a great day!!

Rockstar

2009-02-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

This is my little rockstar. He asks to play Rockband almost every day. You would have thought the world was over when the xbox broke. Oh well, life goes on!

Relaxing?

2009-01-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is what happens often when I try to take some time out and relax. I think this was a Sunday evening and the kids wanted to watch "funny movies." (AFV) Corbin only lasted a few min. He will only sit for one movie, a kids show about motorcycles made in the 90's. We checked it out at the library a few weeks ago and I may have to try and purchase it. That kid loves motorcycles. Our neighbor parks his motorcycle right next to our parking spot and Corbin can't get enough of it.

Fun at the Beach

2009-01-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a day at the beach with my sister's family and my brother Eric. The water was really cold but a few brave souls ventured in. Jenna actually went to the water's edge for the first time. We enjoyed awesome fish and chips at a little fish shack just off the road in Malibu. I guess this is a perk of living in CA.

Corbin's B-day

2009-01-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Baby boy! My little man is 2 years old. We celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese with cousins and friends from AZ. Corbin loves Chuck E. and talks about it all the time; especially the Bob the Builder ride. We had only been there once, but he cried for Chuck E. at least once every few days. Corbin is such a sweet boy. He does have a lot of trouble in him too. He talks about as much as his sisters do and he gets into things twice as fast. He loves to make you laugh and it is nice to finally have a little one that likes to snuggle.

Christmas Day

2009-01-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas morning. Well... once we got the kids to sleep Christmas Eve that is. Kallie was so excited she couldn't go to sleep and then she was up at 3:30 am and wanted to open her presents. She was really mad that I made her go back to sleep until 6. After opening presents and getting ready we headed to my sisters for the rest of the Holiday. We had 4 out of 5 kids sick on Christmas night but luckily it was only one night. We were sad that Daddy had to work most of the time but he came up on the days he had off.

Merry Thankfulness

2008-12-27T11:18:00.001-08:00

I don't normally post something without a picture, but I have to share my thanks. Thanks to wonderful family, friends, and unknown elves, we have had a wonderful Christmas holiday. We knew that we would have to make a lot of sacrifices when Byron took his dream job. What we didn't know, was that we would be so well taken care of. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of such great people. Words never really will express what I feel, but thank you still the same. The Lord does bless us and we are truly grateful.

Blizzard Christmas Party

2008-12-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

Byron and I had a night out (which is rare) for his work Christmas party. It was held at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom. It was lots of fun to get dressed up and have great food. There was karaoke, gambling, Guitar Hero, and dancing. We watched people do some really great karaoke and others that were really bad. There were awards given out and lots of good things happening for his company. We have had to make a lot of sacrifices, but have been really blessed for him to have gotten this job and enjoy it so much.

Christmas Tree

2008-12-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

Decorating the tree is always an adventure with little ones. Most of the ornaments end up in one spot, but Byron says it doesn't matter because I'll just rearrange it anyway. That's only partly true. I don't move all the ornaments... just the ones that need to be moved. The hardest thing is teaching Corbin that he can't touch the ornaments anymore. We've had 3 broken ones already. I hope we can make it the rest of the month with out any others being put to an early grave.