Helicopters in our Hair

Don't laugh so hard at these pictures! You'd look like this too if you spent all Christmas day having the boys fly Ethan's new helicopters into your head. Then you find yourself sitting there helplessly while the propeller twists itself into a nice little knot in your hair. Lovely.

Also, please don't judge us by our hairdos. Hanging out around the house on Christmas is not the time to bother with doing one's hair.

All that said, the helicopters are pretty cool toys. Everyone in the family loves them and they are relatively indistructable. Trust me, the kids have done their best. Thumbs up from the Halversen family toy testers. Thumbs down from our hair.

Crazy Laurel Ornaments

I mean, of course, that the ornaments are crazy, not Laurel. Although there might be an argument to be made there:) Each year for the past several years, Gary's sister Laurel has sent us the weirdest ornament she can find. She doesn't just want something ugly, but something with character. Apparently she searches dilligently all season long. They are quite the ornaments, so I'm sharing them with you. I myself have been shocked to discover that I actually enjoy this wacky tradition, and so does the rest of the family. The kids fight about who gets to hang up which Laurel ornament, and have even dibbed who gets which one when we die. Nice that they are already dividing up our stuff. And yes, you heard right, we faithfully hang the gosh darn things on the tree every year. Apparently, we have an Elvis ornament on it's way to our house for this year. That means that Elvis will be 'in the house.' I know, I'm funny. Thank you, thank you very much.

New Stockings

We never really liked our old family stockings. They were cute enough, but they were store bought and knitted. You couldn't get many things in or out of them without catching something on a string and messing up the design on the front. They were also small. You couldn't even get a book or a CD in them without serious effort. Being raised by Lynn, I come from the school of stockings should be made by mom, specfic for each kid, but surrounding a common theme. So this is what I've been working on for the last week while my kids run in and out of the house playing in the snow. Everyone got to pick their own design and fabrics. I think they turned out well, but mostly at this point I'm just so glad not to be behind the sewing machine anymore! And yes, the cat has a stocking. You try being married to Gary and not treating the cat like one of the family. Not at all a good plan:) Love and Merry Christmas to you all. May Santa fill your stockings well.

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful!

So the snow we have here may not compare with the snow where my sister lives, but still, for us it's been quite a week. Three and a half of the five days of school were cancelled this past week. Church was even cancelled yesterday. The kids have done pretty much nothing but play in the snow, come in and throw everything in the dryer, have hot cocoa, get dressed once the clothes are dry, and start all over again. I've done nothing but make hot cocoa and wipe melted snow water off everything in the house.

The first photos in the slideshow are from the day when the snow first started. The others are of night sledding. Yes, Gary and the kids have taken to playing in the snow in the middle of the night. He used his snow shovel to fashion them a great sledding track, and when ten or eleven at night rolls around, they all head out to go sledding. During which mom get more hot cocoa on the stove I might add. What the heck, it's not like they have school the next morning or anything! And they love the sled track. I even caught Annie yelling out her bedroom window yesterday at a neighbor kid who was walking on 'our track' and messing it up.


Footnote:

Two nights ago Annie and Audrey were in a sledding collision. Audrey managed to hit Annie squarely in the mouth with her knee. (A total accident by the way) She knocked out one of Annie's bottom teeth. The tooth was getting loose, but still weeks away from actually coming out. Annie was not thrilled at first, but is feeling better now that the tooth fairy has found her. We are just lucky she didn't swallow the thing. Gary found it under her tongue. She knew she was bleeding and in pain, but had no idea that she'd lost a tooth!


Footnote Number Two:

Tell me this kid isn't tired from all the sledding. Yes, he is actually asleep on the couch like that at 6:45pm.

My Favorite Baldies

While in Utah, we got to visit Grandpa Steve and Grandma Lynn. As an added bonus, my sister Kelly was in town. I have lots of pictures of our activities there, which I will post later. For now, I just wanted to share this pic of my two favorite bald men. One bald before his time due to genetics, the other due to chemo. With or without hair, I adore them both.

Maren's Funeral

Last week we went to Maren's funeral. It was a beautiful event. So very many people showed up to honor her life, including a few of our close friends and family. Thank you. It was wonderful to see such love. Maren's life proves you don't have to be famous or powerfully positioned to really make a difference.

Thought I'd share just a few photos from the event.



Heidi (Gar's Sister) and grandkids

Ethan and two of Heidi's kids, Spencer and Jackson

Gary and Ethan with friends from home, Tiffany, Cort, and Ryan


Charmaine (Gary's mom, in yellow) and her sister Eileen (in blue)

A Farewell For Now

Just wanted to let all of you know that Gary's sister Maren passed away last night. We are all grateful that her suffering didn't last long. She had become confused and weak by the end, but only for the last little while. We are also grateful for the many prayers that have been offered in behalf of Gar and his family by all of you. We have the best family and friends in the world. Gary's mother and sister were with her when she left, and we are sure his father was waiting for her with open arms.

Thank you Maren for everything.
Farewell for now...


the Halversen Siblings
Maren, Heidi, Gary, Carla, Tom, Laurel

Stay at Home

Most days I like being a stay at home mom.
Not today at 9:15 however.
I'm walking out my door to go to the gym.
Phone rings.
Do I get it?
I sigh. I get it.
It is the school.
Annie has a headache.
I think to myself,
"No she doesn't.
She's fine.
She was fine when she left 45 minutes ago,
why shouldn't she still be?"

Too many years of being a mom.
Seen kids cry wolf before.
Plus, I was pretty angry at my day getting 'ruined.'
I didn't make it to the gym Mon or Tues and was really looking forward to the nice, cool water.
(I swim, can't stand the various machines)
Plus my thighs are looking chunky.
I need to go to the gym.
Oh, please, like you don't have chunky thigh days.

So at 9:15 this morning I was not thrilled
to be headed to the school instead of the gym.
Why did I answer the darn phone anyway?
If they'd called 30 seconds later I'd have been gone.
I'm going to be so ticked if she's fine.
These are the very 'good mom' sorts of things I found myself grumbling.

Then I got to the school.
Annie was flushed, hot, and crying.

On the way out of the school she had her
little hands clasped tightly around my neck.
Parents will know this hug.
It's the one that says,
"Thanks for coming to get me.
I love you.
Only you could have made me feel better.
Please don't let go."

Thanks Annie.
Only you could have reminded me how great it is to be a stay at home mommy.

Maren

We spent Thanksgiving in Utah taking care of Gary's oldest sister, Maren. She has Down's Syndrome and is 53 years old. That's really getting up there, considering. At this stage in her life, she suffering from congestive heart failure, and probably won't be with us too much longer.

She is such an amazing girl. She has done more in her life than you might imagine possible. She graduated from High School. She worked at DI for many, many years. She got herself there on the bus every day. She took art lessons and is very good. She plays the piano. She has a sense of humor that somtimes surprises you with it's depth of understanding.

Even now, she reads her scriptures every day. When I say every day, I mean every day. I don't know how much she gets out of them any more, but if there are blessings to be had just from being obedient, then they are surely pouring down on her. She is the oldest of six siblings, and holds her own with them like you can't believe. She is not about to be told what to do by them, and always let's them know where she stands. Some of her favorite expressions are, "Oh Brother," "Good Grief," and "I'm flexible."

The first time I met Maren I hadn't been dating Gary for too long. Her first words to me were that she liked me better than Renell. (His previous girlfriend) I don't know how she decided this in just minutes, but I was okay with it!

It was an interesting experience being with her for a few days now that her health is declining. Her heart is causing her all kinds of problems, poor oxygenation, small strokes, poor kidney function... the list goes on and on. Sometimes she is confused and even angry these days, very un-Maren-like. She is often tired and sometimes sad. But there are moments still when I swear she is more lucid than you or I have ever been. As Gary hugged her good-bye, she told him she might not see him again and pointed upwards. I think the veil is perhaps always thin with these choice spirits, and is seems particularly so now.

I wrote this just to express how grateful I am to be Maren's friend (although she did threaten once this weekend to kick me out of her house if we didn't eat Thanksgiving dinner at the time she wanted, never mind when the turkey was done!) She is an inspiration, and she has more bravery and grit in her than I could ever hope to. Every once in a while she'll say to me, "I'm glad you married my brother." So am I Maren. I got one of the greatest sisters-in-law ever out of the deal. Love you.

Happy Birthday Dad

My dad is the coolest, kindest, most patient, funniest guy around. And if you know him, you know I'm right. Yesterday was his birthday, and it was not his best birthday ever. My dad has Multiple Myeloma. It's a form of bone cancer. He has to start chemotherapy next week, and spent much of yesterday doing a bone biopsy. The next several months are going to be rough. I'm hoping these pictures of their recent visit to the Northwest will help cheer up my wonderful parents. Thank you for coming to visit us. I love you so much.

Jenn

NaPoleoN DynaNIGHT

Well here it is. Proof that our family is as crazy as you always suspected we were. Once a year we celebrate a holiday that is not a holiday at all. Sort of like Festivus. It's a 'Halversen Holiday' that we call Napoleon Dynanight. This is a true holiday in every sense. (Well, except that no one else recognizes it) We have traditional food, costumes, a traditional holiday dessert, decorations and all the rest. Told you we were crazy.

Obviously the tradition is to watch "Napoleon Dynamite," but there is more to it. We eat food for dinner inspired by the movie. Usually gristly steak, tater tots, and red gatorade. There is always a "Felicidades Pedro" cake. I have spent several years searching at thrift shops for costume pieces that resemble those worn by various characters in the movie. We own four 'Vote for Pedro' shirts. And you wondered why someone would own even one. We even have a few decorations. I'm particularly fond of the big mouth bass. Don't worry, we didn't pay full price. I got it at Goodwill. I'm not that nuts. We also have a picture of the kids in front of the actual Uncle Rico van. Yes, once on the way home from a trip to Utah we went though Preston (filming location for the movie) and got to see Preston High and the van. We could not however, locate Tina the llama or Napoleon's house. Apparently they are both there somewhere. It was a Sunday, so the place with the maps (yes there are maps) was closed.

We also each have a paper bag full of Napoleon items. We get these items out at the appropriate point during the movie and use them, wear them, eat them as the case may be. We have things like chapstick, Big League Chew, time traveling crystals, and Mexican flags for Pedro. The big finale is at the end of the movie when the kids do their best to dance with Napoleon. The slideshow covers most of the night and the videos are of the kids dancing. Don't remember why we got the dancing in two parts. Last time we did this was about a month ago and I'm too old and crazy to remember things from a month ago. At least the video is right side up! Anyway, enjoy and feel free to mock.

Veteran's Day Assembly

I know, I'm an idiot. I did it again. Once again I have recorded for you a sideways video. I have a tendency to get all caught up in the moment and I turn the camera because it seems to work better that way. I just forget that unlike with a still picture, the computer won't let me turn the video right side up. Again, sorry. I'm still posting it because the grandparents would probably still like to see it. Tanner volunteered to do this at his Jr. High Veteran's Day Assembly last week. He wrote his words himself. He's quite a kid. Hope you can hear him okay. His vocal chord nodules are as bad as they've been in years. We're headed back to the ENT in a couple of weeks.



*Photos of my parent's visit are almost here. The post is actually done with the exception of a few photos. I'll finish it soon!

Soaky...Soaky...Lights...

When Audrey was small, her favorite part of Halloween was the "Soaky, soaky, lights" We're not sure how "spooky" became "soaky," but it was cute. It was a little weird, when two months later she called Christmas lights spooky, but what can you do? Now that she is older, she has jumped on board with the rest of kid-dom and declared candy to be the best part of Halloween. Hope yours was great!

Disclaimer concerning children with multiple costumes: You know the holiday is getting out of control when kids have so many Halloween functions to attend, they feel the need to have more than one costume in a year. I confess that our having five children who have been celebrating Halloween for years now only adds to this problem. Our Halloween costume box could outfit the cast of entire play. I'll grant you it would be a weird play. Several superheroes, a few witches, two characters from LOTR, one Harry Potter, one Darth Vader, a few clowns, two pirates, two angels, a monk, Spock (the Vulcan, not the baby doctor), speaking of doctors, we have stuff for one of those, Pippi Longstocking, a cat, a mouse ... you're getting the idea.

Election Day!

It's election day everyone! Don't forget to vote!


***Halloween and Grandparent visit photos coming soon***

Swimmin' Aud

Audrey joined her High School swim team this year. She had no experience aside from swim lessons as a kid, but she did very well. She discovered that working out that hard every day makes you tired and hungry, but strong as well. Also, what a cute thing she is in her team swim gear.

Public Service Announcement #3

No, I'm not kidding. If you are thirteen years old and you and your friends want to build a fort/swing in the forest across the street, make sure your knot-tying skills are up to snuff. A few more scout jamborees might have been helpful to Tanner and his friend, Jake. While swinging on the homemade swing, the knot came loose and as the rope flipped off the branch it was tied to, the branch bounced into the air and crashed on Tanner's head. Did I mention they tied the swing to an branch that was no longer attached to the tree? That might have been a mistake.

A kid running into the house with blood streaming down his face is just not what mommies live for, now is it? Thank heavens he was wearing his John McCain hat. I think it could have been much worse. Yes, my thirteen year old has a McCain hat. Don't look at me, he bought it himself. He has a problem with wealth redistribution. Go figure. I admit, I love the fact that he and Audrey even care about politics. Take care and watch the homespun swings!

Brace Face

Look at my cute boy with braces. This was taken on the day they were put on. Can't you see the pain in his face? He's feeling better now. So, if we can get through the wax and the floss threaders, the three-step-brushing and the endless appointments we'll be good to go!

Ten Kids!

No, this is not my way of announcing that we are expecting quintuplets. (Can you even imagine?) For four days last week, we watched the kids of some of our best friends while they went out of town for a wedding. They have five, we have five, viola! That's ten. Can't even believe we survived. It was actually not too bad. Our kids love their kids and so they didn't fight and generally enjoyed being around each other. Still, getting ten kids ready for church is interesting. Getting them all ready for school also interesting. Feeding them also. Their kids all fit in the same age range as ours, so all ten are between 15 and 5.

Their littlest kids are twin girls (Annie's best friends in the world) and the funniest part of the whole experience was dealing with the fact that those two are quite afraid of Gary. We figured out why a few months ago when one of them finally confessed, "He doesn't have any hairs on his head." Too funny. His baldness is a littel scary I guess, but I never realized the full extent:) He finally gave up and ate meals in the study so they weren't traumatized during dinner.

While the kids were here Gary got to have the experience of taking the oldest five plus two friends (I know, we invited more, what is wrong with us?) to a movie and dinner all by himself. And I gained newfound respect for my friend Christa after taking care of her twins' hair for a few days. I don't think it's ever been cut, and it comes down almost to the back of their knees. I've included a couple of pics of kids frosting cookies so you can see how long it is. I just want to mention that I really did do better than this with their hair most days. This was Saturday and I hadn't taken them anywhere all day! And I don't know what is up with Annie's hair. I think the girls did her hair, so that's what you get!


Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was fun- I know. I'm sure someone is on their way right now to haul me off to the funny farm.

Conference Weekend

Yes, I know Conference Weekend was a while ago now, but I wanted to share some thoughts. I know, you are shocked that I have something to say. I love Conference Weekend. I remember once upon a time thinking it was long. Not anymore. I suppose I should tell you that my main reason for loving Conference is the speakers and feeling the Spirit and all of that. And, it is certainly ONE of the reasons I love it. But if I'm being honest, there are other reasons too. I love staying in my pajamas all Sunday long. I love that someone says to me that not only CAN I sit on the couch for four hours a day and do nothing, but that I SHOULD. I love playing Conference Bingo with the kids. I know they will always remember the family debates over whether someone mentioning missionaries in a prayer is enough to cover up the missionary square or not. I love watching the kids try to balance M&M's on their Bingo card while remaining cosily snuggled on the couch. I love hearing Gary call everyone downstairs while the organ music is starting. I love that this year on Conference Sunday every single family member stayed home all day, and no one called our house. Not one call. Awesome. Also this year, Gary broke out the Legos and he and the kids played all Sunday morning session. The talks were great, but I hope it's okay that I love Conference for the Legos too. It isn't often daddy has two hours to spend building the coolest Lego fort ever. Can't believe I have to wait another six months for Conference weekend. Maybe we should consider making it a once-a-month deal? Any takers?

Public Service Announcement #2

So, if you are thinking it sounds like fun to toss your child around as an integral part of rough-and-tumble-daddy-play, here's a tip: You might want to make sure that both child and parent agree upon and are aware of the method of landing. Is the parent going to catch the child or is the child going to land on their own? Confusion on this matter seems to lead to, well, broken arms. We sincerely hope this is our last public service announcement for a very, very long time.

Holbrook, Idaho

I can hear you asking now, where? Where the heck is Holbrook, Idaho? It's a tiny little town not too far from Malad. If you still have no idea where I'm talking about, it's a tiny little town in Southern Idaho where my mom grew up. We were there recently to lay to rest my Grandma Smith. The small cemetery was wonderful. Is that weird for a cemetery to be wonderful? There were many headstones of my ancestors. It was intruiging. While we were there we drove through the town. It is pretty rundown now, but there is much history there for my mom's family. Small towns like these seem few and far between these days, but there is just something about them. Thought I'd share. And if you want to see wonderful pictures of the funeral day, check out my sister's blog.

Holbrook from the cemetery up on the hill.

The house my mom grew up in.

My Great-Grandparent's house.

The Smith Garage. (I'm pretty sure it's the garage anyway, if not, I'm sure my mom or uncle will correct me.)

The Smith Store. (Again, I think I've got this right. If it is the store, then this is the reason my mom likes old, hard licorice, and it's the place she had loose teeth pulled by her grandpa.)

The LDS church. Just about the only building in town still being well maintained.

I think this is a grainery. I know it's something of a landmark in the town. My sister painted it for my Uncle Reed.

My great-grandparents.

My great-great grandparents.