Gettin our groove on!

Corbin loves his Thomas PJ's. He would wear them day and night, to church and to the park. The only threat that has worked is to tell him if he wears his Jammies and it is light outside that means he has to go to bed. It works. As soon as dinner is over he runs to the window "Is it dark outside?" If it is, we HAVE to get out his Jamies. The following video is just barely dark outside, so the Jammies and the music is on and he is really feeling the groove!



Other notes of interest, Tanner's invention convention in Boise, he took 3rd place! The only 2nd grader to receive a ribbon. He loved going and staying in a hotel with his Dad. (Nathan had just returned home from a week of travel, so I am sure he loved staying in another hotel, but he made it lots of fun for Tanner)















Tanner in the hotel room playing marbles.
They also went swimming and watched some TV. Fun!















Tanner's invention all set up for the Regional Competition.



















Savannah was the lucky duck and got to have a sleepover in Corbin's room and she even got to sleep on the top bunk! She loved it!
So, everyone had a wonderful party.

Speaking of which, I am due in 2 weeks and the false contractions are just about putting me over the edge. Any tips and ideas to get this baby here? I am ready and willing. Still no name for the little man. Just a lot of stares and then fingers pointing at each kid as they count, 1, 2, 3 then at my belly 4. Then at my face, with a look of wow!
Fun.
If I do not post for a while there is only congratulations in store, we are in the hospital! Dream on for us!

Savannah's first story

Savannah has realized she has enough knowledge to write stories. So, she has been at it!
Here is her story. I will write down her actual words underneath so you can keep up. She worked and thought it out so well.


























"See how my baby brother
fell off the chair!
He did? Yes he did!
She then went on to begin her story. It says Page number 1 on the right side.
"I had a dog with a collar
and he had to go away for a day
my pup had to go to my neighbor's house





















Page number 2
"The dog had a lot of fun today
My dog is coming back today
My dog is going to have more fun today"





















page number 3
"when my dog catches the ball
he barks a lot
My dog has had a lot of fun"
Savannah







She is using her kindergarten 5 year old knowledge every day! Yesterday she informed Nathan and I that she is the youngest, but smartest in her class. We teach our kids to be humble!

Tanner's Invention

Tanner had the option to invent something for a school Invention Convention they do every year. He has been waiting until finally this year he can participate. He has been so excited! He invented a Baseboard Cleaner. He claimed it was on behalf of his pregnant mom. Ohhh sweet.
He worked hard on it and we were all so glad when it was done!!
Tanner put it in the competition and he received a yellow ribbon. That means he is going to Boise!
Which means we are going to Boise to see a ton of other kids inventions.
But, we reconfigured and decided just Daddy and Tanner gets to go.
Here is a picture of his final Baseboard Cleaner Presentation. If you click on the picture you will see the individual pictures. Sweet one right by his head eh?


Tanner is so excited to go to Boise just he and Daddy and sleep in an actual HOTEL!

I will be here with Corbs and Savannah and an extremely pregnant belly.
Nathan is gone all week this week and next. Then we will have a baby. So, if anyone receives a phone call come help me, I am delivering a baby alone.




I thought all would enjoy a picture of our family all 4 kids!! Don't I look lovely?

refinished table

The story behind our kitchen table.
We received this table from our neighbor in Kerman, Ca. She had used this table from about the 70's (complete with the Formica type greenish hue top) to 2003 where she then stored it in her garage. We took it off her hands complete with the original 70's chairs.













We liked the leaves that came with the table and it made this table very big.
We sanded this thing and repainted it 3 times with black paint trying to make it just right. It worked for about a year.



Then the paint began to chip. Tanner helped to chip it as he would eat dinner. I am sitting on the original 70's chair, barely holding me up.




We thought our chairs were extremely mismatching and it was time to upgrade. We checked into new table sets and then Nathan thought lets see what is underneath the last Formica layer. He went at it and found it was cherry!





So Nathan went after it big time. Mask and scraper and many hours in the garage. I did not help a bit, he was awesome! (the pregnant excuse was used)
We junked the chairs (by throwing them on our driveway to break them up and trashed them-they were beyond hope) I loved seeing them hit the curb!


Our final product,




Which I am extremely happy with! We purchased the chairs from Target.com and we have our new dining set for an extremely cheaper amount of money then if buying a new set!
(to get the full effect, click on the picture to get the WOW view!)









The more expanded view.
Nathan receives the credit for it. The end result a very happy wife!

Little Buds

Corbin literally copies everything the other two say. If Savannah is telling me a story then Corbin copies her every sentence. If Tanner says lets go play, Corbin literally jumps at the chance!
He loves his big Brother and Sister. He asks about them all day long "Is Tanner is school?" "Is Savannah sleeping?" (Savannah sleeps until about 9 everyday).
For FHE we went swimming (yes, the beached whale joined in amongst the many stares). When we announced we were going, the older two took off to grab their suits (this swimming stuff does not happen all that often). Corbie waited until they were gone and with his head tilted looked at me with a soft voice and asked "Do I get to go to?"-usually it is for swimming lessons, Corbs and I watch from the side. Then he asked in a puppy voice "Do I get to get IN the water and swim too?"


Tanner and Corbin disappeared into their room and came out dressed as look-a-likes. (Corbin says he needs to show his belly cause Tanner does when he goes to bed). Check out the awesome BVD's poking out. Corbin is potty trained, celebrate!









Corbin sitting on his potty. The book he has opened is about Joshua going to the "Potty Potty". We have read that book countless times.







Sidenote: Remember the boxes? We 'forced' her to get rid of all but her most favorite. She has it decorated and I am a much happier mom. The other 5 made it to the recycling bin! Happy Days!

Our wood projects

There have been some requests to see how the Lincoln Logs are made. I will give a glimpse. Plus, some other wood projects we have done.


Nathan using the table saw to cut the grooves in the L.L.


Hard to vision the final outcome, but after he cuts the grooves, he then goes back and cuts each section of wood vertically the size of a regular L.L.

Like so. They lack the rounded edges. But, that will come.


Had to add this picture in. Corbin loves to help Daddy. He is sitting watching with the regular size ear protectors on. Nathan is cutting each L.L and pushes them off the table saw into the red tote. So, then I get to do the next step.
Routing the edges. Of course, please don't look at this picture and take it to heart. I look real real sweet.



I am routing the edges to give the rounded finish. I take them from the red tote and then kick them off to another tote. They are complete.
This next picture is of Corbin strutting his stuff, but also showing the L.L.'s and the train table that Nathan and his Dad made for Christmas 2 years ago. By far, one of our best and most used toys we have! They made the containers underneath, complete with Chalkboard paint labels and they roll on wheels. I LOVE them! (The dark L.L.'s are the originals that he copied).

Some other projects.
The frames for our world maps. He surprised me with these for Christmas 2 years ago.


A few other projects:

Savannah's white cubby holder and message board.
The black shelf and table that Nathan refinished.
There are others, but this is a taste of the not too long ago projects.

Holiday Happenings

A little look at some of the things we did with our looong school break.
We joined with our friends Adam and Mandy to build Gingerbread houses. The great part is it is a kit, icing included, from Costco. Worth it!

Tanner and Nathan built a cool snow fort using our Recycling Bin. Only doing our share to save the earth.

After it was built, they of course needed to have a snow ball fight, Nathan's terms.

We also went to the awesome lights out in the South Hills. This homeowner totally decks out his property for the public as well as dresses up as Santa Clause wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with a candy cane. It was awesome! The kids were in heaven.

Tanner did plenty of Snow Shoveling for the neighbors

Corbin found the snow this year and loved it!

And of course the 4 wheeler had to make an appearance. We were glad there was enough snow! Nathan and Corbin gave all the kids rides. (Nathan appears a little big for the small 4-wheeler. We are just glad it runs!


After all was said and done there was also some of this

Too tired and tuckered out!