We're still alive

If you've checked our blog lately, you have not seen a lot.  WOW!  Where does time go!  I FINALLY finished blogging our Christmas pictures.  YES, Christmas in February!

So--if you are interested in opening gifts and the such...

you can check my back posts of Dec. 29, 30, 31.

Now I can start basketball and other fun events!  We're going to the Hockey game Saturday so hopefully I'll have fun pictures from that too.

Don't give up on checking our blog---

I will do better 

Birthday Parties!!!

Before we had kids, Steve and I had BIRTHDAY WEEKS!!  It was SO FUN!!

We'd do something every night for a week and even one year got a gift each day of the week, I think!  It was fun.  My mother-in-law makes still talks about our "Birthday weeks" we used to have.

Well, then came kids....

And, now it seems like THEY get the birthday weeks.

So, Tyler's started a week before his birthday.  We went our for dinner at Carlos and decided to tell them it was his birthday!!  He got to wear a Sombrero and get his picture taken.  (Tyler does like to get his picture taken!!)  The staff doesn't sing to you---so we all sang to him!!

Then, a FRIEND Birthday Party

Jackson, Ethan, Tyler, and Harrison

Braden and Jacob couldn't come!!

We went to LUNAR GOLF (glow in the dark miniature golf) at the Mall.

It was FUN!!!

Of course Jaden and Paige joined us!!!

Then, a FAMILY Birthday Party

Our new addition to our Birthday Decorations!

Tyler's teacher made these blocks ( I bought them from her).

I love them!  And, the other side is GIRLY!!!!   So cute!!

It took Tyler a while to decide what his "theme" was going to be.

He picked Basketball.

He debated about Football but we decided since he didn't play football this year, we'd do Basketball and then Football next year---since he plans to play football next year! 

 We'll see if he really chooses Football next year!!

Listening to his MUSICAL Card....

Of course, birthdays are FUN because of the GIFTS!!!!!

Nurf football, Wal-mart gift-card, Kinex's, $CASH$, Disney Apples to Apples game, a new sweat-suit, Crocs (real CROCS, not the Target brand!!!, an NBA Wii basketball game---Jaden appreciated this gift and even thanked Grandma and Grandpa!! and an electric scooter!!!

As usual---he made out quite good!!!

Riding his new scooter a few days later----in his new sweat-suit!!!

We have some SERIOUS rules with this scooter---it could be dangerous!!!

The be-loved GRANDPARENTS

Tyler's cousins and siblings!

And, then TREATS TO SCHOOL

I let Paige go with me to take the treats to school because Jaden and Grandpa Roth

 ate lunch with Tyler earlier this day!!

What to take for snacks at school????

Tyler wanted M&M cookies.  So, I thought I would be a good mom and make homemade cookies!!  I don't think I have made "homemade" cookies in at least 5 years.  Why? 

When the cookie dough at the store is SO GOOD!!!  

I made a double batch so Jaden could take some to school too.

3 hours later..... I am finally done!

Tyler tries the cookies and DOES NOT LIKE THEM!!!  His exact words, "they don't taste like the other cookies we always have."  (the store bought dough).  I said, "they are homemade".  "Homemade?" he questions.... I don't think he even knew what "homemade" was!! or that there is a difference from how I normally make them!

So-- "good mom" does not mean homemade cookies at my house!

The Pillsbury dough is good enough for my kids!!   Awesome for me!!

Here's Tyler at 8 years old.

One tooth growing in and another about to fall out!!!

And, we're getting a haircut this week!  How short can I go with it??

Birthday Week is OVER!!!  Til next year!  We love you!

Happy Birthday Tyler

Well, I did not get Christmas DONE!! 

So, we'll take a break from Christmas 2010 and celebrate Tyler's 8th Birthday!!!

My friend Deb took these pictures in October!!  Isn't he handsome!!

Tyler at age 8----He LOVES football and basketball.  When the weather was nicer, Jaden and Tyler would dress up in their "football clothes" and play tackle football with each other until we made them come in.  The boys also love to play basketball together in the basement.  Tyler is starting to like to play the Wii more---probably due to the cold weather!!  He also loves to watch Basketball and Football on TV.  He is very knowledgeable about college football and basketball and he is just learning and figuring out NBA and NFL sports.  Tyler knows every player on the K-state basketball team.  In addition, he amazed my mom by naming MANY (most) of the college's mascots! 


Tyler is still a happy, funny boy!!  He likes to JOKE.  He likes to make-up knock-knock jokes.....and you have to make yourself laugh, because they are not funny!!!!  But, he cracks up!!  Tyler LOVES his brother and sister.  He plays with Jaden so well and takes good care of Paige and helps her.  


Tyler is a good student and the teachers all love him at school.  He is in the highest reading group at school again and continues to excel in school.  Spelling comes easy for him.  (He did not get this from his mom!!)  He loves math!!!  and does VERY WELL at it!!!


A few months ago he started taking piano lessons and really seems to enjoy it!  He is learning "real" songs that he knows now and thinks that's pretty cool.  Jaden and Paige will sing while he plays his songs.  He loves music so piano is a good fit with that!


At age 8 he is losing his baby teeth.  He currently has one big hole in the front of his mouth!  It is so funny!!!  We are waiting for his front tooth to grow in.  And he has 2 more loose!!!  


For his birthday----Tyler got to go to Michigan with me to visit Sydney (and Jeremy, Aunt Stacy, and Uncle Jason.)  He was super excited to ride on an airplane and I think he enjoyed having time alone with mom!!

I printed this for Tyler to remind him of all the things we did in Michigan!!  We had so much fun!  We surprised Jeremy with Tyler coming -- we got to Michigan a day before Jeremy's 10th b-day!  We went to clinic with Sydney and then Jeremy got to skip school one day and we went to Dick's Sporting Good store so Jeremy could spend his B-day gift card!  The boys bought matching blue sweatshirts!!   It was a great trip!!!  Way better than any silly gift we could have gotten him!!!


We love you Tyler John!!  can't wait to see what this year will bring for you!!!

Happy Birthday JESUS!!!

I am DETERMINED to get caught up on all my Christmas pictures this weekend!  (mostly because it's Tyler's b-day Monday and then I'll really be behind, if I don't!!)  

Dec. 22nd is Steve's b-day--so we always celebrate that with his family!

Dec. 24th is Christmas with the Balzer's and

Dec. 25th is Christmas at the Roth's!

SO----December 23rd has become our FAMILY NIGHT!!!!

Some years we let each kid open a small gift like new PJ"s, one year we got a new game to play, and one year they all got a movie for movie night!  

This year---we had a Birthday PARTY of Jesus!!!

First we made a HUGE Birthday sign!!!

Can you see the stable and the manger on the left.  Of course the cross.

and I think those are crowns---I can't remember!!

This is Jaden's section!

Tyler likes to WRITE!  and sing!!

YES!  This is Paige's corner of the poster!

THEN---we made cupcakes, frosted them, and SPRINKLED them!

YUMMY!!!  or YUMMY??

It was a FUN FAMILY NIGHT!

The kids asked if we could "Act out the Jesus story"  

So, we read about Jesus' birth and all took turns acting out the different parts!  

I bet we did it 5 or 6 times!  They loved it!!!  

And then a week later or so, I heard Tyler ask his friend, "Did you have a Birthday party for Jesus?"  His friend said no, with a questionable look on his face.

Tyler then looked at me and said, "we did, didn't we mom---and we're going to do that every year, right?"

SO---I guess we will do it again!!!

Next year I am going to have each kid take 3 things from their rooms to give away to other kids.  This will help get rid of toys before we get NEW toys, help them to remember to GIVE,

 and remind them that Jesus got 3 gifts at his birth!!!  

It will also remind us to GIVE as Jesus GIVES TO US!!! 

And, I think the evening took place with no major fights or anyone being sent to their rooms!

AHHHH-----Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

The Last Christmas of 2010

The Last Christmas celebration was with Aunt Barb, Uncle Jim, Terry, Brycen, and Jenny!

All the kids LOVE these folks!!  love-- love-- love!!!!

Terry does his own shopping----and we hear he loves to shop!

He is awesome with birthday gifts and Christmas gifts!!  

Terry asked MONTHS AGO if he could buy the kids Pillow Pets!

Of course!!  Well, nearly EVERY store in Wichita carries Pillow Pets.

And every time we would see them, ALL 3 kids would beg for them!

So---needless to say....

THE KIDS WERE MORE THAN THRILLED to open Pillow Pets!!

Christmas 2010 is over!!  Once again, we are  blessed beyond words with

AMAZING family!  We have so much to be THANKFUL for!  I pray our kids will 

never take for granted what they have!

Christmas Morning

Jesus' Birthday....has FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

The kids were up at 7:45am---mom and dad were SUPER happy with this time!!

Grab the camera, get the video camera, throw on a sweatshirt....

What did SANTA BRING?????

PAPER JAM guitars for EVERYONE!!

( I think this is Tyler's "rock-star"/serious face!)

They were all excited and Santa even picked out the EXACT ones they had wanted!

Santa also brought:  books, fuzzy socks (big hit), card games, lip gloss (Paige), Webkinz, and more treasures to fill the stocking!!  Santa did much better this not getting too much "little junk"!!

If you asked the boys after looking at Santa's gifts---I think they might have been a bit disappointed.  They REALLY wanted iPod Touches and we told them they were "WAY TO MUCH MONEY" soSanta would have to buy those.  And, they both TOLD Santa that is what they wanted!   Well, Santa didn't get them!!

But, thanks to Craig's List---

THEY BOYS GOT iPod Touches!!!

Jaden's first words were, "how much did these cost mom???!!!!!!!"  

They were, of course, SO EXCITED!!!

So---what did Paige get???

A Nintendo DS!!!!!!!!!!

WOW---she thinks she is BIG STUFF.  

More bargain shopping on mom and dad's part----we bought Tyler's DS from him for Paige.

**She got a NEW Dora case and NEW Dora game!!  She was thrilled!**

And, because Paige is 4, SHE HAS NO CLUE!!!  And, Tyler still has not told our secret!!  

(At this point, I don't care if she finds out----I just didn't want her to know Christmas morning!)

The other BIG hit of Christmas morning was---

Fleece blankets for each of them!

The boys got K-State.  Paige got zebra print and butterflies!

Steve and I made the 3 for our kids and then Taylor and Mason each one. 

 Good quality bonding time for us!!  

When Mason opened his K-State blanket ....this was my conversation with Jaden.

Jaden---I want a blanket like that

mom--Well, it's too late buddy, Christmas is tomorrow.

Jadne--WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS AN OPTION!!!!!!! 

mom--maybe I can make you one sometime

He was still talking about the blanket on the way home from Grandma and Grandpas.

So---Jaden was QUITE EXCITED to open his OWN blanket!!!  

The kids also each got a pair of shoes! 

 The boys got matching blue tennis shoes and Paige got pink boots!!!

We are blessed beyond words!  We purposely cut back on Christmas gifts this year. 

 We did 3 gifts each----just like Jesus got 3 gifts form the Wise Men!  

We decided there is no need to just "buy gifts", to buy gifts.  They kids get SO MUCH from their grandparents and aunts and uncles!!  They are spoiled!! 

I will admit though----it is fun being spoiled at Christmas!!!

We are BLESSED!!! and THANKFUL for what we have!!

Christmas in Newton

Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Balzer's always starts at Druber's Donut Shop!

Then, home for Brunch at Grandma's, crafts, playing, acting out the Christmas story, a short nap, eating chili, church, and home for presents!!!  A fun-filled, event-filled Christmas EVE Day!

Yikes!!  Aren't they cute!!  

A Shepard, A Wise Man, and Mary

The cousins!

Jeremy and Sydney couldn't join us this year for Christmas----it was weird without them!

We did talk with them through SKYPE and Sydney did participate in acting out the Christmas story via computer.  It just wasn't the same!

Mason was an ANGEL---don't all angels wear purple tutu's!!  Paige was an angel too, in her tutu.  These costumes were my dance recital costumes, years ago.  At least my mom is still getting good use out of all that money she spent on dance and recitals!!!

CRAFTS!!

Grandma Balzer always has some craft for the kids to do and they LOVE IT!!

This year we made ball ornaments using quilt squares of MY Grandma Clifton's. 

They were fun and pretty easy to do and I love that the material has meaning!!!

These will be so cute on our new FAMILY tree next year!

We are going to have a tree in the basement next year with all the kids' ornaments they have made, etc...  The basement is where we hang out as a FAMILY so this is where we are going to put all our ornaments that are MEANINGFUL!!!  I am pretty excited for this!

After church----we have to HURRY and take family pictures before anyone changes clothes, opens gifts, eats or does anything.

PICTURES FIRST!!!!

And, it's always an easy, no crying, "no problem mom" situation!

OK, OR NOT!!!!  

There might be a little yelling...."hurry up", "smile right", threatening, and the such!

This year was actually pretty quick, with less threats than normal!!

AND, THEN YOU CAN OPEN PRESENTS!!!!!

Tyler made this candy-cane at church and took it with us to each Christmas gathering.  

It was completely his idea to read the poem that went with the candy-cane...

explaining that Jesus was the reason for the season.

He was SO EXCITED to read his poem at Christmas!  

Legos, Marshmallow shooter, Wimpy Kid book, games, K-State b-ball jersey, I-Tunes gift card...

Football, K-State b-ball jersey, marshmallow shooter, lots of crafts supplies, games, I-Tunes gift card...

Bouncing Baby, stamps, crafts, games, matching PJ's for her baby, Easy Bake oven, leggings,...

This picture explains how Christmas was....

Paige was THRILLED for her bouncing baby, but everyone 

loved all their gifts!  We love hanging out with family for an entire day!  We are blessed beyond words!