1996 and 2008

I found these pictures of John and I on John's 25th birthday. This is a week before I turned 21 and 6 months before we got engaged. My hair is bleached, but that is an entire story all on it's own. I am not sure what John thought about me at this point. But the day we met he thought I was 18 and too wild (if that is the right word. Maybe not serious about important things is more right.) I thought that John was old and fat. But, I look at the pictures now and think "Wow!!! We were both a lot thinner! I also think John was/is a total nerd, and I loved those jeans and that sweater!! Ruth and Kate said, "I can't believe you died your hair," and "Dad looks so much more handsome, no wonder you fell in love with him."

Here we are in 2008. Look at those wrinkles around my eyes, and those fat arms!! And Should I change my hair color again? But with all those wrinkles, stretch marks and many more pounds we have gained in the past twelve years, we sure are a whole lot happier. It has been the best 12 years, and John is the BEST husband and father. I am so thankful he chose me.

Halloween Costumes

We didn't do our regular photo shoot this year because John's photo lights all need new bulbs. Kate said that made Halloween not as fun this year. Oh Well. These are some pictures we took Wednesday at our ward's trunk or treat party.

Ruth is the White Witch from Narnia. Kate is a Japanese Princess, and Johnny is a Japanese Ninja. Adam is Spiderman, and Rachel is a Renaissance Princess. Little Anya is the cutest little Tigger.

I just love her smile in this picture above, and I thought Rachel looked pretty precious in this picture below.

Spider Man and Witches

Yesterday as everyone knows was Halloween. The school kids all had Halloween parties and I promised Kate that I would attend her Halloween party. I thought Kate would like it if I surprised her and dressed up. So I put on a black skirt and a black shirt and got Kate's old witches hat. Adam came into my bathroom while I was trying on the hat and said, "What are you doing , Mom?"
I answered, "Dressing up as a witch because I think it would make Kate happy." Adam very solemnly said, "Spiderman does not like witches." I looked down at Adam and he was all dressed in his Spiderman costume ready for the party. I asked, "Is Spiderman afraid of witches?" Adam said, "Yes, he is. Spiderman has to fight the witch." So I said, in a witchy voice, "heeheehee, I'm going to get you, Spiderman." Then Spiderman ran and screamed and got tickled and was no longer afriad of the witch.

Silver Bells and Taco Shells

Little Rachel can be very contrary at times. This morning when she refused to come to family prayer and screamed when Johnny picked her up to bring her to family prayer, I laughed and said, "She can be so contrary." John laughed and said, "I guess we should have named her Mary." Then Ruth and Kate started chanting, "Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow." John and I were like no, be quiet for family prayer. But Ruth kept going, "with silver bells and taco shells." I said, "Taco shells?" Ruth said, "Yeah, " in a well duh, mom, tone of voice, "everyone says taco shells." Then I really had to laugh, and explain that it is cockle shells. However, is it cockle shells? I am not sure, I will have to look that up. After laughing, Kate said, "It should be Taco bells, and yummy shells." We did eventually get to family prayer and Rachel did attend.

note: John wants everyone to know that he was not referring to his sister Mary. He was only referring to the nursery rhyme.

Bragging About Grades

I have to brag about Kate right now. I actually don't like it when other mothers do this, but I am not actually talking to anyone so maybe it is okay. At least I am not telling everyone how many words my one year old (I actually don't have a one year old right now) can say or how early so and so started walking, or how my two year old knows the alphabet (she does not). So here goes--Kate got all A's her first quarter of fourth grade, and I am just so proud!!!!! Anyone who knows my family really well knows that Kate had a really hard time in first and second grade. She started first grade as a non reader and had a really hard time learning to read. Every day after school I sat down with Kate and had her read to me and we worked really hard and long for her to learn her weeks sight words. It was a lot of work!!! We did the same thing all through second grade, and at the end of second grade Kate was finally reading at grade level. Even now, Kate has to work a lot harder to learn her spelling and vocabulary words than either Ruth or Johnny. Because of this Kate has less free time than her siblings. I am so pleased that Kate is willing to work hard and her efforts have paid off.

So Funny!

Rachel just came up to me and asked for juice. I said no because she has already had two glasses of chocolate milk. So then she asked for hot cocoa. Again, I said no and gave her the same reason. I offered her a glass of water instead. Rachel whined and shouted no and then said, "Don't treat me like a baby!" I just about died laughing. Kids are awesome.

Kate's News Article

Last night Kate wrote a fake news article about alien cows. She titled it "Alien Cows, by Kate J. Robertson" I thought that the Kate J. Robertson was pretty funny because Kate is her nickname. She is really Kathryn, but she does not like the name Kathryn. (I think that has to do with a few Kathryn's she has met.)

In her article she stated that Alien cows are amphibians from Mars. I asked her if they were like frogs and she said no, they are like newts. She wrote: alien cows put out a very powerful bad gas. Ruth said that she should have said deadly gas. Kate agreed. (I thought, "What cute kids I have.") Kate wrote in her article, "They look this this." Then she drew a line to a picture she had drawn. Kate read her article to all of us at dinner time. She was so excited about her silly joke. Kate is a really fun kid to have around. She has a great sense of humor and jokes well with all of us.