Merry Christmas!!!

Garage Sale

Penni manning the store. Funny story a truck load of hummmmmm undocumented females pulled up and were like locust to honey. The granny of the group jumpped on Nichole's old bike and I said to myself easy granny you are no spring chicken. Two minutes later, you guessed it, granny was lying on her rump in our driveway after falling off the bike. We dusted granny off and sent her on her way. They all walked away with there hands full of stuff so when they left and after we stopped laughing I asked Penni how much we made and she said $3. WOW!! I saw about $100 in cake decorating crap get carried off. Any thought - people would come up and immediately go for what was in the garage and we had to keep telling them nothing in the garage is for sale. I guess that while I was gone a truckload of men pulled up and they all ran into the garage and Penni and to escort them out of the garage and point them towards the crap.

Girls look at the camera not at the boys riding by on their bikes. Good girl Zoe!!

For those of you that live far away let me give you a little background – since I got my new job we have been forced to be on a budget. What has made it hard has been that I have never been on a budget. Penni can’t believe that I am an accountant, but it is what it is. I keep explaining to her that just because I like numbers, doesn’t mean that I don’t like to spend money. Some of the best spenders I know are accountants. One quick story – the first day we are on the budget and Penni commits me to stick to it – I am rolling around in bed and I rip the sheets. So now I have a big hole in my side of the bed. Currently we only have one set of sheets because (as Penni reminded me I ripped the other set of sheets a couple of months ago). Normally I would just go get some sheets but now we have to pay for things in cash and have the money before we go get them so I am stuck with the holy sheets. So a couple of nights ago I slide (ok jump) into bed and I am quickly reminded of the lack of sheets in our house. I say to Penni that for the last number of years Christmas has come around and I have a real hard time coming up with things that I want for Christmas. I told her not this year. Penni says oh you want some gift certificates to some of our favorite restaurants and I said no but I know what you want for Christmas. I want some stinking sheets and we had a good laugh.

Anyway we should have been on a budget a long time ago and I guess it is good that we are getting more financially responsible. We have been trying to teach the kids to be more grateful and I didn’t realize that I needed to learn that lesson. So this weekend we had a community garage sale. I have never done a garage sale because –again - I have never been on a budget and needed the extra cash. So we cleaned out all our crap and woke up at 6 on a Saturday morning to sell it people who wanted to buy our crap (and yes those people do exist). The night before Penni came up with the idea for the girls to sale cinnamon rolls to make some money – again we all need extra cash. Kristine was all over that so she made some signs and we got everything ready for the next morning.

So Saturday morning rolls around and we get up to setup. We get our signs up and set up a stand on the main street in our subdivision. $2.00 for a cinnamon roll and a glass of milk. I felt that it was going to be great or a dud. So all three girls are sitting at the table and I bring over the rolls and then head back to the house to get something and I look back and there is Zoe and Kristine just looking at the warm rolls and I yell to them not to eat them. Every time I came back to check on them they asked if they could eat one. I finally gave in. In the end we had two pity purchases (a lady stopped and bought one because Kristine had a great smile and a lady in our ward bought one) and two neighbor girls came over to buy a couple but they only had 25 cents so Nichole said sorry its two dollars. Kristine just wanted to give them to them anyway but Nichole said no. So Kristine came home to get $3.50 of her own money to get the girls two rolls.

Later as I was cleaning up with Nichole I thought that this would be a great business lesson. Nichole said that she made $8 and I said no you didn’t. I explained you had $8 in revenue, your cost of goods sold was $10 ($2 for the milk and $8 for the rolls), then you have to pay rent on the table and chairs to me at $2, marketing expense for the signs $3, the paper plates and cups were not free they were $3. So in the end I told her that you probably have a net income loss of about $10. That the bank is going to want it’s money because you probably had to personally guarantee it. First they will call you and ask when you can make payment and then they will send you certified letters. Finally Nichole said “whatever dad”. Then my friend pulled up and we were picking up and we had four rolls left. I told Nichole that I was not done yet. She hadn’t learned about comps. She said what is that and I said that is when you give stuff away for free. Needless to say she is not big fan of comps.

November 10th

Today was the Southwest Invitational Barbeque cook off. I found out about it a couple of weeks ago and asked Penni if we could use our entertainment budget money to buy some tickets, but I did get a real warm response. So the day came and Penni worked and we had a fundraiser to go to that night so it just wasn’t working. So I decided to go work instead. To my surprise Penni showed up at my work around lunch time and wanted to know if I still wanted to go to the bbq cook-off. So off we went. She was concerned that it was not going to meet my high expectations. We got there and walked around, I could immediately tell that I was not going to get Penni to another cook-off so I had to make the most of it. We bought some taster tickets and went around tasting some of the different bbq’s that were in the competition. Basically it is a bunch of different groups of people that get together, drink beer and cook pork. I got a cook off t-shirt to remember the experience and we were off. I threatened to wear my new t-shirt to the ward fundraiser by both Nichole and Penni told me no. I forgot to take any pictures until we were walking out, so to represent all the redneckers out there I took a picture next to the DeWalt Hummer H2.

Halloween

We started out the week going to our friend's Halloween party. We had to get dressed up and I had a hard time thinking of something to do so I ended up going as Dracula and Penni wore Nichole’s china girl costume from last year. After the fact, I came up with a great idea of shaving my head and going as an overweight, out of shape Britney Spears, but I was a day late and there is always next year. On Saturday night we went trunker treating. There were suppose to be two wards but it was a real weak turnout. After 30 minutes you start seeing kids coming around for the 5th time, something not right? But someone made homemade root-beer so the night was not a total loss.

Halloween night got a lot better. We were invited to go over to our friends for dinner and then go trick or treating. So I ran home from work, got dressed in the camo and broke out the rhino to follow the kids. I went as a pile of leaves (the rhino is camo and I was camo). The girls did real good and got a ton of candy.

This Friday night we went to the ward campout that was supposed to be 15 minutes from our house. But it took us an hour to get there because we took are wrong turn. That is what I get from reading the driving instructions.

Zoe has a boy in the ward that really likes her. You have probably heard me tell some stories about it, the boy’s mother doesn’t do anything to discourage it. Anyway after the campfire songs they had some games to play, Zoe went and played INO with this boy’s family (he has two twin sisters that are a year older and they like Zoe too). Well it was time to go and of course Zoe wanted to stay and play, she had a good time. As we are going through that we didn’t bring stuff to stay the night and we need to go home so she can go to sleep. The boy pipes up and says “Zoe can sleep with me” Penni and I look at each other and I said you have to love the innocence of it. Then we had a good laugh. He just didn’t want to see his buddy go.

Penni's Going Back to Jr. HIgh

I can’t believe how long it has been since I have blogged. It is amazing how quick I got out of the habit. It has probably lasted longer because nothing has happened to write about.

Until this morning, today is shadow your student at the junior high today. So Penni is going back to Jr. High. I told her to look smoke’n hot for all the teenage boys. Of course she told me I was sick, which I take as a compliment. Then I told her I never had a girlfriend in Jr. High, now I can check that off my list of things to do before I died list. I told her that she can tell the other girls that she dating an older man that has a truck and a cell phone. Oooooooooooo ahahahahah.

I wasn’t done – I told Penni and Nichole that they needed to ride their bikes. Penni won’t let Nichole ride her bike because of safety concerns so today sounded like a great day to ride. Nichole had so much stuff that I had to drive to school and meet them to give Nichole all of her “stuff”. But I did manage to take some pics.

Our two jr. high students biking to school.

Penni calling the cameraman a "dork". Sounded just like a jr. high student.

Nichole told me last night that Penni needed to bring some socks to school to participate in PE. Then she said that there will probably not be as many kids making out in the courtyard with all the moms at school. I told Penni this morning that she might get lucky and see a chick fight at lunch or better yet - two moms going at it. I should’ve sent her with my camera.

Anyway that was the funny story for the week. As some of you know I put my notice in to Bret and started looking for a job. I got a job offer from a building supply company as an assistant controller. It is for less money but it should be good experience. But I have been bombarded with inquires so I am going to keep the feelers out there to see if something better comes a long. In fact, I interviewed with another company yesterday that I am excited about, so we will see what happened.

School Started - Yeah!!!!

Zoe making her lunch the first day of school. I just noticed this as I uploaded the pictures. Do you see the pink belt that Zoe is wearing? When I first saw this outfit my thought was Zoe is not going to like having that belt around her waist all day. Well once again I was wrong - Every morning I have to tell Zoe to take off the pink belt because she is wearing it with everything she owns.

Zoe on the first day of school.
Krisitne on the first day of school.
Kristine and Zoe
Our 7th grader. All ready for junior high.

Well everyone is back in school so life is back to normal. I wanted to share this story before I forgot it. Hopefully you will find it as funny as I did. On mornings that Penni works I have to take Nichole to school at 7 and then go back home and take Kristine and Zoe to school at 8. While I am gone taking Nichole to school Kristine and Zoe are suppose to get ready for school. Well this morning Zoe and Kristine start fighting while I was gone taking Nichole. So Kristine goes to call me on my cell phone. The problem is that I left my phone at home in my room. So Kristine calls my cell phone and it is answered, Kristine starts saying “Dad, Zoe is bugging me and not doing what I tell her to do” and voice on the other end of the phone says “No she is not” Kristine says “who is this?” the voice on the other end says “it’s Dad”. Then Kristine realizes that it is Zoe on the other end of the phone and gets more upset. Anyway I had a good laugh when I got home.

I have to share this about Kristine. Kristine is a very unique little girl – we love her to death. She can also be a handful for her parents. She has had a couple of hard days where she has been caught doing some things that she shouldn’t. She is just like most kids her age. Anyway, Kristine lost a tooth this week and when the tooth fairy found her tooth she also found a note from Kristine, It said “Dear Tooth Fairy, if you have any magic powers could you help me to be a good girl? Thanks Kristine” Another reason why we love having Kristine as a daughter. I am sure this had a lot to do with being able to go to a High School Musical party on Friday. She needs to be a good girl this whole week.

Weekend by the Water

I liked this picture of Nichole in the wave pool.

Here is one of Kristine in the wave pool.

Kristine and Zoe with their tube.

The girls on the lazy river.

Hitting the rapids.

Zoe couldn't fit in the tube so she spent most of the time hanging on.

Penni, relaxing and reading a book. Notice the nice shade she is able to enjoy.

This weekend we took the family to the South Mountain Resort in Phoenix. We left on Friday night and spent the night, we swam Friday and all day Saturday. At the resort they have a really nice pool, a lazy river and some slides. Friday we went swimming, then had some pizza for dinner and went to a small pool by our hotel room. The pool got a little crazy about 9 so I took the girls back to the room to get ready for bed, leaving Penni at the pool asleep on a pool chair. Penni made it back to the room about an hour later just as I got the girls bathed and in bed. Sometimes she has good timing. So Penni and I sat down to watch some TV and we watched a story about the bridge collapsing in Minnesota. I can’t even imagine how it would feel to be caught in something like that. Anyway Penni had nightmares all night about being on the bridge and falling into the water and then being eaten by a water monster.

The next morning we went to IHOP for breakfast and then hurried back to the resort to go swimming. In order to get in the Oasis (where all the really nice pools and slides are you have to have a wrist band). So I take the girls over while Penni went to a bookstore to get some reading material. We all have our wrist bands and all of our contraband is in the swim bag because they don’t allow outside food and water. As we got to the entrance I was asked if I would be drinking today and I immediately say no and walk into pool. Of course Kristine and Zoe are wondering why they asked me if I would be drinking. I wanted to tell them that they saw me coming in with three kids and they probably thought that I needed some adult beverage. But instead I told them the truth.

The idea once we got to the pool was to snag some pool chairs in the shade because we were going to be there for the day. I had staked out the situation the day before so I knew where I wanted to go. You know as the sun moves I want to be in the shade the whole day not part of it. I get there and there are two chairs in some nice shade real estate. I grab a small table to put by the chairs so that we have some place to put our stuff. The way to “save” your spot is to put towels on the chair that you are “claiming” and something on the table so it doesn’t walk away. So I have everything “claimed” and I am standing there putting sun screen on the girls when this old couple walks up and I can tell they have the chairs next to us. As I am standing there the lady says whose towels are these and I promptly reply those are mine. She says that she put her stuff on the table to save the two chairs. Now I have my first dilemma of the day. Do I give up the chairs? Do I give her a taste of common sense? Luckily, I remember that I have three girls standing there looking at me as an example so I do the best thing and say nothing. I was thinking that she probably wanted me to give up the chair but I also feel that how are people that do stupid things ever going to learn if they don’t suffer from their bad discussions. Probably not a thought that is going to get me very far in the next life but I am working on it. The other factor was she had some horrible looking bumps all over her body and I was not excited about looking at it all day. There were already far too many women in bikini’s that shouldn't’t be. I told Penni when she got there that along with the alcohol police at front entrance they should also post bikini police. The motto should be “If it don’t fit then you must not admit”. I was going to take some pictures of some of the violators but I am not sure that would have gone over real well with the wife and kids. I am trying to be a better example and spending part of my family time taking pics of other women in their bikini’s would be hard to explain. But I am sure you get the idea. Plus I told Penni that I know that I am a big guy but you don’ see me walking around in a speedo, do you?

Anyway back to the bumping old lady. She moved down a few chairs which happened to be next to her grand kids so it all worked out. Later Kristine came out of the pool with two big tubes that they use on the lazy river and wave pool. She wanted to save them because they were full of air. But there was no room for them. So while I was trying to fix Zoe’s goggles I was facing the people sitting next to us (the old ladies family) and looking away from the girls and Penni. I said (which was meant for Kristine) you can’t save those (meaning the tubes but facing this other family standing by their pool chairs) they are for everyone to use. Then I looked up and these two guys with they families are looking at me and before I say anything they say if you need us to move down we will. Then I realize that they thought that I was talking to them and I apologize saying that I should look at my daughter when I talk to her. That could have been a problem but the two guys were both 150 lbs. soaking wet, I said to Penni later that when you are as big as I am people rarely want to get physical. Yes, I got the eye roll.


On Sunday we went to Jason and Shondelle’s ward for church because their new baby (Addison) was blessed. Their church started at 8:00am and then we were going to go over and eat at Jason and Shondelle’s at 11:00 for brunch. Kristine was really having trouble with the whole brunch concept. She couldn't understand why we were having breakfast at 11. She asked "When were we going to have lunch, then dinner and what about our tradition of being together for dessert?" Were we going to spend the day over at Jason and Shondelle’s, all of these things were very confusing to her.

One more story from the pool – Kristine and I went to get lunch for everyone while Nichole and Zoe saved a table. There was a lady with two fists-full of beer that was standing behind Kristine. Then as I was talking to Kristine she cut in front of Kristine. I let it slide because of the chair situation early. Then the lady gets to the window and asked the cashier if the chili cheese dog have cheese on it. I thought that I didn’t hear her correct but she said it again. Kristine picked up on it the second time and I told her that is what alcohol with do to you. So now the joke with Kristine and myself is - does the pepperoni pizza have pepperoni on it? You get the idea.

This is why I Blog - to rememeber stuff like this

Zoe came up to me last night and said that she loved me. Which I don't doubt but it was a little strange. So I inquired why she was so expressive. I noticed that she had my phone in her hand and was scrolling thru my contact list. Which brought up another question - how does she know my password to activate my phone? Then I remembered that I gave it to Nichole once to look up a phone number. Which then I thought how funny it is that when I ask the girls to do work or a job it takes three or four times of asking or for me to get upset before they do it. Then stuff like passwords or stating we may do something fun is burned into their brain. Anyway I digress. Zoe sat down next to me on the couch and said do you know that you have Santa Claus's phone number on your phone. After a hearty laugh I reminder her that I talk to Santa every year and we have had him come to our house a couple of times. She looked at me like I was the coolest Dad.

Needless I forget that an hour later I asked her to go up stairs to take a bath and she said I took one this afternoon. I said mom asked you to take a shower in the middle of the day and she said yes and added while Kristine and Nichole weren't home. So I said Mom will be home in a minute and I will ask her if you are telling the truth. Zoe thought about that for a minute and then said OK I will go take a bath. I just love being a parent.

WNBA Game

July 30, 2007

It looks like the summer is wrapping up. This past week the girls spent it going school shopping and they got some really nice clothes. It looks like we are just about finished and ready to go back to school. Nichole goes to get her books on Tuesday or Wednesday and then it is back to school night for Kristine and Zoe next Monday night. Then school starts on the 8th of August.

Saturday afternoon we had a major monsoon. A monsoon is a big storm that we get in Arizona during the end of July and in August. The storm dumps a lot of rain and blows a lot of wind/dust in a short amount of time. Usually there are a couple of trees that get blown down in our neighborhood. We got through the storm with minor damage - one of the big branches of one of our big trees in the front snapped It can really suck if you are out in your car and get stuck in it. Penni’s visiting teachers planned on picking her up at 4 to go get smoothies and that is right when the storm hit. But that didn’t stop them from making the smoothie run. Kristine was over at a friend’s house and called Penni before she left to let Roscoe in the house because of the storm. I heard Penni getting frustrated because Roscoe was already muddy when he came into the house. I saw Penni crouched down whipping up the mess as Roscoe stood their wagging his muddy tail and banging against the wall. We have tried to contain Roscoe when he is in the house to only having about a couple of feet in front of the back door but it still can be a mess.

Nichole went to her first fireside last night. All of these firsts really are making me feel old. I would love to go back to first word, first steps and so forth.

Last week I did something that I never thought that I would ever do. I attended a WNBA game. The girls got free tickets for reading books this summer at the county library. When Penni fist mentioned it to me I thought there is no way you are getting me to a WNBA game. But the joys of parenthood is that you do things for your kids not for you. Nichole was really exciting about going, Zoe will go anywhere/anytime. Once Kristine found out that it was at the same place that the suns play she was looking forward to the nachos at the arena. So I took the girls and Penni stayed home. The game was everything that I thought that it would be. It was just bad basketball – compared to the NBA. I am sure that a boy’s high school team could win the WNBA championship without any problem. The reason I am saying this is because it one of the best games I have been to because I was sitting there with Nichole who was really interested in the game. Zoe was paying attention to the game and having a good time. Kristine was enjoyable. No one was fighting, it was just a great time with the girls. At one point Zoe asked me “are we for the white people”. My immediate response was to say “no we love all people” then I realized that she was asking are we for the white team or the orange team. Any way I will cherish that great night that I had with the girls.

This week was Nichole’s 12th birthday. She has been really excited about her birthday on multiple levels. First, she gets her ears pierced and second she gets to go to young women's (no more primary). For her birthday Penni planned a spa day, enjoy the pictures.

Penni didn't tell Nichole they were doing she got to open up one gift bag at a time.

Nichole getting a pedicure.

Nichole get her nails done.

Got to have the eyebrows waxed.

NO more uni brow.

Penni said that Nichole was really nervous about getting her ears pierced.

Getting the ears pierced.

Get'in made-up

Showing all the damage.

Finished the day off with a happy birthday ice cream sundae.

One of the activities that we did in Idaho was have a picnic at Tautphaus Park. We plyed some football and then went on some of the rides.

Cory (Penni's brother) playing football with the kids.

Drew (Troy's daughter) Zoe, and Carson (Jodi's sons) take a ride.

R to L Troy (Penni's Bro), Ben (married to Jodi), Jodi (Penni's sis) and Penni.

Bubbles

One of the nights that we were in Idaho the adults went to play paintball while Penni and her mom watched the kids. Penni's mom brought out the bubbles and the kids had a blast. The next night the kids wanted to do it again. Some of the bubbles got huge and the kids had a great time.

We were always being watched by the black ninja and a Star Wars character. They loved popping the bubbles the girls made.

Camping next to the Tracks

Kristine helping Zoe get on the horse.

Kristine in her element. She loves spending time with the horses.

Ben & Jodi (Penni's sister) and myself on the river.

Nichole floating the river.

Nichole and Zoe and thier cousins.

Krisitne and Grandma Hansen playing darts.

Dart war with the grandkids.

Well we continued our family vacation by heading up to Idaho to visit Penni’s family for a week. Of course we were trying to escape the heat in Arizona and hit a heat wave in Idaho with temperatures over 100. Penni’ family decided to go camping for three days at Lava Hot Springs. We had a camp spot right next to the river the runs through Lava. The first night I got 1 ½ hours of sleep thanks to the train the runs right next to Lave. I think the last train went through every hour except the last on came through at 2 am and the next one started at 5 am. The next night I got some ear plugs and had a much better night.