CHRISTMAS AT THE LAKE

Our little family did the Coeur d'Alene Resort's Christmas Lights Lake Tour last night. It was SO FUN!  The boat tour was so neat! The lights were amazing!!!!  Once we got to the opposite side of the lake, Santa lit up his "workshop" and we stood on the front of the boat and listened to him read names of kids off the nice list (ahead of time, you wrote your kids' names on a list and they radio-ed them to Santa).  Kimball & Noah LOVED hearing Santa read their names! Sloan didn't really know what was going on, but I'm sure deep down inside she liked knowing she was on the nice list.  Very cool.  This will be a new Waddell tradition (at least as long as we are living up in the boonies).

the boys posing with Frosty

Santa's workshop at the North Pole (on a dock)...the fog on top is their snow machine.  Santa read the names of the kids while the 3 boats of passengers watched from the lake.

Heading back towards the resort. The light displays were great!

Kimball posing with a moose.  I especially love the weird lady to the far left poking her head in. ???

The tree at the "North Pole" across the lake (at Hagadone's house...which looks as big as a large hotel...).  It holds the World Record for the largest living Christmas tree.

Ho-Ho-Ho!!!!!!

A SECOND HOME

We built our second home. It is beautiful with nice landscaping, lots of windows, and a cute dormer over the front door.  It is adorned with bright colorful Christmas decorations and sparkling with lots of snow and icicles.

(front)

Meet our builders/designers:

We got this Gingerbread House kit at a gift exchange at a Christmas party we went to.  We constructed it on Sunday night with some friends.  These kits come with SEVERAL bags of little candies to decorate your house with, along with bags of icing.  We have made these "kit homes" in the past, and usually end up with quite a bit of candy left over.  As you can tell from the pictures, the boys used E-V-E-R-Y piece of candy.  You almost can't see the gingerbread.  Atleast that meant that the candy didn't end up in their mouths.

(back)

Nice work boys!  Merry Christmas!

Barber Shop Talk

I took the boys to Great Clips this morning for a haircut and was audience to some totally random priceless kid type "conversations" between the boys & their cutters.  I just had to share a few of my favorites.




Haircutter to Noah: "What do you want for Christmas?"
Noah: silence
Haircutter: "Do you want some cars."
Noah: "No!!! We have lots of cars.  I want a watch."
(this is the FIRST "Santa" has heard of wanting a watch...sadly, he won't be getting one.)






Kimball: "WOW!!! That comb is HUGE!!!"  (it actually was quite large)






Haircutter to Noah: "You are being so good.  Are you always this good when you get a haircut?"
Noah: "My mom said she'd buy me an icee."




I love listening to totally unscripted and unprompted conversations of kids.  You never know what they'll say, and usually it isn't all that fantastic, but it feels good to my ears.  I love them so much!

ONE DOWN....NINETEEN TO GO.

Last night Kimball lost his first tooth!  It has been really loose for a week or 2, and it finally came out!  Kimball was feeling REALLY nervous about the whole tooth coming out and mouth bleeding business, so it took some convincing.  Brian finally talked Kimball into it by warning him about possibly choking on it if it fell out while he slept (not to mention the dangling carrot deciding factor for Kimball- the toothfairy bringing him $$).  He gave in.  Dad wiggled (the tooth), Kimball worried, Dad calmed, Dad tugged, tooth popped!  Kimball was so brave.  I love his new holey smile.
Mom & dad are sure proud of you, dude! Love you Kimball!

THAT'S SOME PIG...tail.

We experienced another FIRST in our home this morning.  Sloan is modeling her first BIG GIRL hair-do.  Mullets aren't all bad we discovered, they make great pigtails!

I was so excited to show off her new do at our book club brunch this morning, but my excitement was quickly snuffed.  Her little friend Kelsi's long flowing curly ponytail (seriously - her hair resembles that of the twenty-something-looking teenagers on the Garnier shampoo commercials) put Sloan's little nubbs to shame. :)  Someday, little Sloan, you too will have flowing locks.  Until then, you can proudly hold up your little nubby-tails and know that you are, in fact, the CUTEST little girl in the world.

Love you Aaahh.

Trimming the Tree

We commenced our Christmas decorating last night with the trimming of our little tree.  I love the randomness of our hodge-podge ornament collection.  It makes me smile to see all the popscicle stick constructed, gluey, clay formed, and obscure trinkets we have collected over the last 10 years (and even a few of my favorites as a kid).  My favorites this year are the tree, angel, Santa, and snowman clay ornaments that my dad painted when he was young.

Merry Christmas!

ROAD TRIP

We enjoyed an awesome mini-vacation to Seattle for Thanksgiving.  We drove, which was much less horrible than I was anticipating (the 4 1/2 hour drive actually went rather quickly and the 3 kiddos were perfect little passenger angels).  Seattle is such a beautiful city - one of my fav's for sure!  We did lots of "tourist-y" things and had a blast!  Here is the play-by-play of our little get away.

Thursday: left the house at about 10:30...arrived in Seattle late afternoon.  Super nice hotel room (thanks priceline).  Ate dinner at ridiculously overpriced and unimpressive restaurant (not much open that night).  Bed.  Exciting 3:30 am trip to the ER for Noah (I couldn't ignore all the sad wimpering of a little Nar Nar complaining of his ear hurting all night.  I am a sucker). 5:00 am...back to bed.

(He loved EVERY minute of the entire ER staff doting on him hand and foot.  Included in the ER amenities: stickers, cartoons, maze toy, and last popscicle in the whole hospital.  He looks "miserable", doesn't he?)

Friday: After searching for over an hour for the cute quaint little Seattle bagel shop we wanted to eat at - and finally finding it CLOSED, we ate breakfast at...McD's. Ugh.  Caught a peek at the Macy's After Thanksgiving Parade downtown...too cold.  Wandered through Pike's Market.  Got back to parking garage & payed $14 instead of  $6 because we were 3 MINUTES past the 2 hour mark!!!! Ugh!!! Went to REI (so cool). Drove to IKEA, ate lunch there & meandered while the boys enjoyed Smalland (I love free babysitting).  Drove to the Space Needle.  Went to the top.  Tried to get boys to pose with the COOL Spacey-Santa in his spaceship - Noah wouldn't have any part of it.  Kids decorated a Christmas cookie.  Space Needle meltdown.  Went back to hotel and ordered in pizza from super-yummy downtown pizzeria.  By this point...Kimball was complaining of not feeling well (sore throat, ear ache...what the heck!!???), so we took it easy in the hotel room for the rest of the night.

Posing at the top of the Needle.

Self-family portrait in front of Pike's Market.  (Sorry Sloan...she got jipped on this picture).

Saturday:  ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant...SOOOO yummy (expensive, but yummy).  (Sidenote: by Friday night, we were tired of trying to find and paying for overpriced parking downtown, so we caved and payed for the hotel parking - $36 per 24 hours....yikes, but it was safe and locked and off the streets, and it ended up being cheaper than paying for parking spot after parking spot.  Average parking rates downtown: $6-10 per hour.  So we hoofed it and used public transit all day Saturday).  Took Monorail to the Seattle Center where they had a HUGE train village set up. The boys each got to be the conductor for a few minutes and drive the little train.  Went downstairs and enjoyed the Seattle Children's Museum.  Really fun!  Took Monorail back to the Westlake mall & had lunch there.  Had to fill prescription for Kimball for his ear & throat (luckily, the hospital DR gave us a "just incase" prescription for Noah's ears to fill if they were still hurting the next day.  Filled it and gave it to Kimball instead).  After naps, took taxi to Seattle Aquarium.  SO FUN! Watched them feed the octopus and sea otters. Went to Steamers on the pier for dinner.  Back to hotel.   ZZzzzzZZz.

Sloan & me @ the Seattle Center

The boys on the Monorail

Winterfest Train Village @ the Seattle Center (it was HUGE!!!)

Boys being Train conductors

My 3 sweets posing on the Sesame Street steps @ the Seattle Children's Museum (they had a really cool Sesame Street exhibit all about bodies.)

At the aquarium

Amazing octopus @ the aquarium...I've seen octopus' before, but not one that moved so much. Freaking awesome!

Sunday: breakfast @ Pike's Market Bagels.  Drove home.

What a fun time! Thanks for making it through my lengthy trip monologue.  I love Seattle.  Despite the fact that 2 of our 3 kiddos were sick during our stay, and despite the INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE parking, we had an amazing time.  As much as we hate spending the $$, family vacations and trips are worth every penny.  You can't put a price on the fun and memories.

Thanks to my sweet, wonderful family.

Counting blessings....

I am not a big "Thanksgiving Celebrater".  We aren't having a big Turkey dinner, or watching any football, or even participating in Black Friday this year, but for the first time, even without all the traditions, I think I am truly thankful.

Business in the front...PARTY IN THE BACK!!

My sweet little toddler is, as of recent, sporting a rather attractive & wispy SHE-MULLET.

business in the front....

PARTY in the back!!

Her hair is getting quite long in the back.  In the bath last night, when I poured water over her head, it was almost an inch or so down her back...but is still the same length on top as 6 months ago.  Don't get me wrong - if any girl could look good with a mullet, it's Sloan.  You go girl!

Next we know, she will want a T-Top Trans-Am toy car for her dolls to drive.

(GROW, hair, GROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Sweet girl.

A picture is worth...

I am really missing my dad.  Yesterday and today have been especially hard for me (and my family).  Today would have been mom & dad's 35th wedding anniversary.  Here are my favorite pictures I have of my dad.  I miss seeing his face in person, but I am so thankful for pictures that help me remember all the wonderful times I had with him.  (These really aren't in any particular order...you'll notice by the dates jumping back & forth.  I like to keep you guessing!)

Dad holding Sloan at Oscar's birthday party/Family 4th of July BBQ.  I love the look on his face. :)

July 2009

Trapping Kimball in a Pretzel hold.  Kimball says the thing he misses most about his Pops is wrestling with him.

Thanksgiving 2008

Holding baby Kimball.

December 2003

Holding Noah during the ever-dangerous pinata bashing at Kimball's 4th birthday party.

October 2007

Looking very GQ at Bryan & Helen's wedding.

August 2003

Meeting new grandbaby Kimball at the hospital.

October 2003

Posing in Jackson with some of the grandkids.  That was a really fun trip to Eastern Idaho.

July 2006

Post-styling session with Angie and me.  We used to do this ALL the time while we'd watch He-Haw and the Muppet Show on Saturday nights.

(1984-ish)

Meeting new grandbaby Oscar.  July 2006

On the beach of Cascade Lake during a fun family trip to Robison's Cabin in Donnely.

September 2008

Touring a Mine near Stanley during the Burlingame Reunion Camping trip.

Summer 2007

Dad helping on our family room addition.  He helped during almost every stage of that project from pouring the concrete foundation, to painting the almost finished room.  He always wanted to be helping on of his kids with their numerous house projects.  I am so thankful for generously giving of his time & talents to helping us.

August 2008

I hope you enjoyed reminicing with me.  What a wonderful man.  I miss him so much.  I want to wish he and my mom a Happy Anniversary.

Love you dad.

Splish - Splosh!

I hate the sound of sloshing water....

I know EXACTLY what it means....

(It means that I have ANOTHER little shirt to change and YET ANOTHER little hand to disinfect).

Ugh - the joys of toddlerhood, the 3rd (AND FINAL) installment (sigh).

HOME, SWEET PERSONALITY, HOME

I have the decorating itch.

My list of projects is LONG.  So long, that it's intimidating even thinking about starting one of those projects.  I have only painted ONE room (which if you know me at all, is very unusual) - the boys' room, which I painted ELEPHANT SKIN (it's even cooler in person).

I have finally added some items to my GIGANTIC soffit (sp?) which seperates my living room & kitchen.  I brought some plants home from my dad's funeral and re-potted them to put up there.  I do not have a green thumb...let's hope I don't kill all of them.  (IGNORE THE LOVELY PINK SPONGE PAINT...again...I have only painted one room...this one is VERY high on my to-do list).

(What were they thinking with that pink paint....it's just bad.)

Today I am attacking Sloan's room.  Wish me luck!  Lucky for me, the previous owners didn't spread their painting talents all over the house - that gift was only used in the kitchen and family room...all of the other rooms are a very drab vanilla color - easy to paint over.

I will slowly be scratching this itch for a while...I HATE not being able to do everything at once (a time issue, as well as a $$ issue).  It feels like I am living in someone else's poorly decorated house - but I have to be patient...it will get there.  When it does, you are all welcome to come stay for a visit. :)

BoOOoo!!

Happy Halloween from Boise!  Take a gander at this scary bunch!

from left:

Creepy Oscar Spider

Sketchy-looking Farmer Bryan

High-flying Aviator Angus

Little Devillish Sloan

Heroic and extremely muscular Red Power Ranger Kimball

Equally heroic and muscular Black Power Ranger Noah

My little spunky girl seemed awfully comfortable in this get-up.  She makes a rather convincing little devil. It is quite fitting (which I say in the most endearing way possible).

Heroes unmasked.

Glad we were able to spend our spooky holiday with our family.  We trick or treated our favorite Waddell Halloween spot, Harrison Boulevard with Grammie and the Rich clan!  Pops would've loved to be there.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

IT'S UNCANNY!

I have been noticing more and more over the last week that my kids do and say so many things just like my dad did.

Like last night, for example, Kimball was saying how excited he is about starting basketball on Saturday.  He then got a very worried-insecure look on his face and said he doesn't know how to catch the ball.  That look on his face I have seen a hundred times before, just on a different mug.

I don't know if my mind is playing tricks on me and I am creating ways to remember all the little things about my dad that I miss, or if I just wasn't paying attention before, but I like it.  Those quirky, comical and even slightly irritating things that I find myself missing terribly, I am enjoying once again.

uPSIDE dOWN and HEAVY hearted

    I miss my dad.
    I woke up on October 20th to find my life had turned upside down.  My wonderful dad, Max Rich, passed away from a heart attack the night before.  I am so full of mixed emotions about it;  sorrow, anger, guilt, regret, confusion, and disbelief.  The morning of the 20th replays in my head over and over like a broken record.  I seriously thought it was a really bad nightmare.  Even as I was packing our things to drive to Boise, I felt like I was in a really strange, bad nightmare and that I must be sleepwalking.  Even now, 2 weeks later, it doesn't feel real.  I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that he is no longer around.  It just doesn't make sense.
    Although I am having all of these feelings, I do believe that my dad has moved on and has important work to do.  I would have loved to see his face as he reunited with his mom & dad.  I believe that it was his time to go, even though I don't necessarily agree with it.  I believe that Heavenly Father needs him to do a great work on the other side, and that makes me want to work hard and be more purposeful here on earth so I can be with him again.  I think that my dad never realized how many lives he touched, he wasn't the most confident fellow.  I enjoyed being able to give his life sketch at the funeral, even though it was incredibly difficult.  I loved being able to remind people about why they loved him.  He was so awesome!!!  What a cool guy. I really miss him.
     As I find myself in this new discombobulated state, I have to try to accept my new reality.  It is a very strange place to find yourself.  I am so thankful for a husband who is so empathetic and compassionate.  He unfortunately understands what this feels like, and I feel badly that I wasn't more understanding towards him before. I had no idea the depth of emotions that follow such a life changing experience.  I am thankful for my sweet mom.  She is so sad.  I know that she has a testimony of Heavenly Father's plan of salvation, as do I, which gives her strength, but I know that sometimes, it's hard to rely on faith alone.  She was able to enjoy nearly 35 years of marriage to her funny sweetheart.  I worry about her and I am so sad about not living near her right now, but I know that she is well watched over and has lots of love and support surrounding her.  I am so proud of her and I know that dad is too.  I am so thankful for my siblings and miss them and their families terribly.  I am homesick for Boise and still have not figured out why we were meant to move north, but I have faith that because we did what we felt was right, we will be blessed.  I am thankful for the amazing time mom & dad were able to spend together over the last 2 months, and rediscover each other.  What a gift.
    The two things I have taken away from this experience so far are, first, to be more compassionate and kind to others. I had no idea what such a tragedy felt like, and I regret not being more compassionate to what others may have been feeling.  I will be more compassionate, kind, less sarcastic, more loving.  The second thing I have learned is to really make the most of my time here.  This has really put my life in perspective. I will focus more inward, on my family, and less outward - on trying to impress people and please people and take on too much.  I want to spend every minute of my life with my sweet family.  I know that there are other responsibilities, but I just want to be with them.  To not waste any precious time with any of them.
     Thanks for all the love and support and kindness.  I can't wait to see my dad again.

I DID IT!

I did it. I started a couponing blog. I will use it to keep up the PURSE STRINGS SAGA and let you know of my amazing and astounding deal making abilities (ha).  No password or invitation required - I want all to bask in the joy that is dealing.  So, my family blog will be soley dedicated to family stuff, and this new blog will be where my ravaging deal making personality can flourish.

THE PURSE STRINGS SAGA BLOG

Enjoy!!!
xoxo

PURSE STRINGS SAGA

So, I am trying to save $$ and tighten my purse strings, and am super intrigued by the entire idea of spending a fraction of retail on groceries...but am still trying to figure out how it's done.  Like when people brag that they spent $4.83 at the store and saved $287.35.   HOW????????????  If you know, let me in on the secret.  For now, I will share what sales & deals I come across and hope some of you might do the same.  My focus: I want to be able to save on things I actually use and buy regularly.  On REAL food.  Let us commence with THE PURSE STRINGS SAGA (maybe I'll make this into an entirely different blog so those who aren't interested in my deal-making skills won't be bored to tears....we'll see....for now...on with the show).

PURSE STRINGS SAGA, Week 1:

Week 1, couponing experiment 1: Albertsons HUGE sale: (sorry, it's over now)...got Whole Wheat Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta for $.20 a box, 2 free packages Keebler Chips Deluxe cookies, and 2 packages of them for $.69 each.  Pretty good, huh?  I got a few other things too...cereal, yogurts, toothpaste. Spent: $59, savings: $143. Not bad. :)

Week 1, experiment 2:  I need Peanut Butter.  I tested this couponing thing out on this one item I actually needed, and here is the story: Walgreens advertised Skippy for 3 for $5...I use the Skippy Natural so I headed that direction. Negative on the Natural. Not included on the sale. :(  Waste of a drive.  Next stop: Target.  They didn't have it on sale, but their regular price was $2.04 which is cheaper than most.  I printed a Target Online Coupon @ home (just incase the Walgreens thing didn't pan out...good thing I thought ahead) for $1 off.  At the checkout, I also asked the cashier if they take Catalina coupons from other stores (the coupons that print @ Albies & Freddy's at the checkout with your receipt) and they DO!! (as long as it says Manufacturer coupon @ the top).  Sweet! I had a Freddy's Catalina for $1 off of 2 PBs.  Regular price: $2.04, with the $1 off Target coupon and the Catalina, I paid $2.08 for two!!! :) Yay.

After the Target Peanut Butter experience, I realize that I can save on lots of things I use all the time, I just have to be really good about making lists, spending the time @ the computer to find the coupons, and watching for sales.  Let me know what crazy deals you stumble upon, and we'll save together!  I also added to my blog a list of blogs I follow; many of them are great "Deal Finding" type couponing-crazy-lady blogs, so check those too.

Good luck!