Blood Drive

Some of my favorite things to do are watch Hallmark movies, budgeting, reconciling our expenses, and giving blood. Today was my first experience giving a double or a Power Red..."Power Red is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets to you." The only downside of giving a Power Red is I have to wait 116 days to donate again. - Mom

Memorial Day Fun

 While every body else went hunting, I stayed home and played with Kennedy. When she went home me and my mom went to the store, bought pizza and a eyelash curler. We tried it but it did not work very well. - Campbell

Campbell and Kennedy Ames are two peas in a pod. I love watching them laugh and play. Ani has yet to show interest in makeup but Campbell is biting at the bit to experiment with makeup. Campbell is quite fashionable and eclectic and not interested at all in hunting. - Mom



Me ,dad, Corbin, and
Ani went hunting for Bears and common morel mushrooms. Corbin found the FIRST mushroom,then we kept looking around because normally if you find 1 mushroom you should find another in the same area.So we kept looking and i found the SECOND mushroom ,then we kept walking and ANI found FIVE more.- Brennan

Memorial Day and More...

Fire, Fire, Fire!! We had a pile of weeds, old raspberry stalks, dead hedges and tree branches, etc... that we wanted to burn. We finally had a windless day so a little gasoline and a match and voila...an instant bonfire. We bought starbursts to roast over the fire once it died down but it took longer than expected and the kids lost interest. Campbell is up in the tree breaking dead branches from the tree and throwing them down to the other kids to toss on the fire.

Burt was born May 27, 1930. He loved to eat at Jade Garden and Golden Corral so in honor of his birthday we went to Golden Corral with Valene, Michelle, and Ilene. I must say the food was scrumdiliumptious especially the chocolate caramel peanut cheese cake. The kids (with the exception of Ani who prefers savory over sweet) hit the dessert bar over a dozen times. They were lov'n it!! Happy Birthday Burt! - Mom

 Our anniversary is also on May 27. This year is our 17th anniversary. Wowzers...17 years!! For Christmas my parents gave us a gift card to Outback Steakhouse so we saved it for this very momentous day. I had a bloom'n onion burger and Jared had fillet mignon and lobster tail. The kids had a sleepover at my parents so we enjoyed the whole night and morning to ourselves. Happy Anniversary Dude!  I love you! - Kendra

 We visited the Emmett cemetery and the Bramwell cemetery (in Emmett) the Friday before Memorial Day to visit the grave sites of many of Jared's family members. When we visited Burt's grave with Valene and Ilene we had the sweet opportunity to reminisce about our memories of  Burt. He has touched all of our lives in many ways. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn and laugh by his side. We love and miss you dearly grandpa! - Mom

Valene's barberry bushes in her front yard had pretty much died so Jared and I dug up the old bushes and planted ten new ones. We all thought it looked great and headed inside but Jared did not. Apparently there was a three inch discrepancy from one end of the row to the other. He spent another 30 minutes adjusting the row to perfection although I think he is he still dissatisfied.  I must admit it does look better. - Mom

Discovery Center and MK Center Fieldtrip

I had a fun day hanging out with Brennan and her 2nd grade class (Teacher - Ms. Maggard). We spend 2 hours discovering at the Discover Center - Picture: Brennan creating a giant bubble. We spent about 15 minutes at the MK Center, but in that short time we came across this gentleman with a hawk. We also saw a six foot sturgeon. - Mom

Vallivue Middle School 8th Grade Science Fair

This year for eighth grade, we had to do a science fair project about space. I am not that interested in space so I just picked a random topic. I picked Ceres to do my project on. We had to write a two page essay on our topic. Then we had to pick a space craft to help us do research on our topic so I chose to do a rover. On our space craft we had to do a colored sketch, a blueprint, a proposal letter to NASA, and a model. We also had to do a timeline on things like events of the Space Race (first dog in space, first man on the moon, etc.) an more modern achievements. After we had done all theses things we had to put them on a poster board and present it to adults and peers as they walked around the science fair.

Wagons Ho and Quicksand

 Mom was watering the raspberries but she forgot to turn the water off so the water was on for about an hour. Brennan reminded her that she didn't turn the water off. so we all went out to look at the flooded back yard, When we went outside the water was running but there was only a little puddle. Corbin stepped near it and ground sunk a little bit under his feet. This struck my interest so I stepped near it too but I sank in to my shin. It freaked out both my mom and I so she hurried and pulled me out. I told mom that we should take a picture so she ran inside and grabbed her phone. When she came back out we decided to see how far I sink in. My whole leg was was in the ground when I hit solid ground. We think that the water sank all the way down like that because that is where we had dug that huge ditch so the ground must have not been compact. It was tricky though getting out ~Ani

In 4th grade students learn about Idaho History. At the end of the year Mr. and Mrs. C come to Lakevue and direct a Wagons Ho program. Students go through 12 stations that teach students about the life of the Native Americans and Early Settlers. In my station students created button spinners (an early pioneer toy). Corbin had fun with his buddies Asher, Carson, and Chance. In tug-of-war the girls beat the boys.

Keeping it Exciting

                         

See if you can find all four kids. On the
weekend the kids are exempt from a bed
 time and get to sleep in the living room.
I love to see them snuggle up
with each other. - Mom

Ani had the Director's Cup
Soccer   tournament this weekend. They had 3 games in which they tied one (4-4), lost one (0-5), and won one (1-0). This wasn't Ani's favorite season. She is grateful to finish up with Coach Garza and move on the high school ball. Campbell is zonked out in the shade. Watching soccer from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. is exhausting. - Mom                                  

 Father and Sons Outing... We went to a private pond and fished for sturgeon. It was a lot of fun. Corbin caught several. Including one about three feet. We had to leave early Saturday morning for Corbin's basketball game and he was pretty upset and disappointed about leaving early. He was having fun fishing with his friend Luke. - Dad




My dad helped me build my pinewood derby car. It was awesome! I didn't think I would get 1st place like last year, but I did. - Corbin
Despite someone knocking his car out of his hands and breaking a wheel completely off Corbin's car still managed to have the fastest average times. Thank goodness for duct tape. - Dad
Pack 435: Br. Youngberg, Corbin, Luke, Jacob, Jared, ?, Mitchel, Br. Herzog, Ethan, Cedar, Shawn, and Britton.

 I checked out a few books from the A to Z Mysteries series from the Caldwell Public Library for Brennan. She loves them and read all the books in a few days. She kept begging me to take her to the library to check out more. She set up this comfy reading station on the hide-a-bed and spent hours reading. - Mom

 I had the opportunity to work at the election polls again this year. This time I was able to work at the receiving table and audibly state "____________ has vote". I am grateful to be a part of our countries democracy. It rained and poured buckets all day long. The roof of the building was metal so it resonated through the room. I loved it and now I want a rain ringtone. - Mom

 Today was the last orchestra concert of the school year and Ani's last concert as a middle schooler. My girls work hard at developing their musical talents. I am so proud of them! Grandpa and Grandpa Hogg, Grandma Fluckiger, and Aunt Ilene came to enjoy the music.

On a side note Ani is only one inch taller than me. This picture is deceiving. - Mom

Happy Mother's Day 2017

I got up to use the ladies room and when I came out my bedroom door had been shut. Knowing that it was Mother's Days I assumed that breakfast was on its way. I jumped back into bed...literally...and snuggled under the covers awaiting my surprise breakfast. Twenty minutes later I heard whispering voices at the door and then some of the cutest kids came into the room bearing scrumptious food: sunny side up egg with cheese on a rice cake, oranges, fruit cocktail with a yogurt dollop, and a strawberry blueberry smoothie.

Motherhood has stretched me in ways I did not know possible but I wouldn't change it for the world. I love my four babies to the moon and back times eternity. - Mom

Fun Fun Fun

😄Annual Lakevue
Carnival to raise money
for the 2017-2018
school year. I helped create themed baskets filled with donated items for a silent auction. We donated Bath and Body Works foam soap. We are so generous! We gave each kid $5 to spend. If they wanted more they had to bring their own money. Instead of buying the expensive snacks at the carnival the kids opted to go to Winco afterwards. Cam bought jellybeans, Corbin Doritos and root beer, Brennan doughnuts, and I bought jalapeño artichoke dip with Doritos. I have raised my kids well!! - Mom


Brennan's last U8 game. Next year she will venture into U10. Crossfire gave the girls medals and the coach made giant snicker doodle cookie medals. Such a creative idea! Brennan loved her coach and team. "Unicorn" Teammates: Carleigh, Brennan, Coach Melissa Ricks, Arianna (Ari), Katie, Elle, Jaelyn, Sophie, and McKayla. - Mom

Lakevue Basketball Team: Bradley, ?, Corbin, Coach Shawn Herman, Wyatt Roam, David Gumersall, Cory Herman.

BEFORE AND AFTER

The only time I expect my kids to clean their room is on Friday if they want to participate in Fun Friday and have screen time on Saturday. I encourage them to put things away throughout the week so they don't have an overwhelming mess come Friday, but what do I know?

After a week's worth of activity you can barely see their floor. Then like magic...Abracadabra, and Bippity Boppity Boo a room arises. It is amazing the things they find that somehow mysteriously disappeared earlier in the week.
 - Mom

The girls generally blame each other for taking their mysteriously missing items. It is particularly funny when they find it stuffed under their own bed or similar place. - Dad

Lakevue Awards Night. Five students from each class are awarded 5 different awards. Brennan earned the Golden Eagle Award for grades and leadership. Her second grade teacher is Sarah Maggard and her best friend is Gisele Mayes (Eli Mayes and Aubrey Zaugg's oldest child). -Mom

Corbin earned the physical education award from Mrs. Elordi (the P.E. teacher I had in elementary school. He received a cool squishy ball that two girls ripped apart the next day at school.  - Mom

At this time we were doing block periods at school. That day I had 5, 6, 7, and 1 period.  My 5th period class is the period I TA so it wasn't a big deal if I missed it. So instead of going to 5th period I decided to go to Gus's doctor appointment. He has a bald spot on his back and several others. We learned that it probably is an allergic reaction. It didn't think it was a flea bite but if it was it needed to be treated. The vet couldn't find any but it only takes one bite to cause a reaction. They gave us medicine for both Gus and Martin. I think Gus is getting better. It was totally more enjoyable than school. ~Ani

A few more details...Gus started loosing hair around his right eye then on his back and rump. He was also thinning in all his leg pits. His skin was flaky (dandruff), had little raised bumps, his eyes were goopy, and Gus itched and bit himself frequently. Apparently it is common for labs to have skin issues. The vet predicts that it is allergies, but like Ani said it is also common for dogs to have reactions to flea bites. So just in case he treated Gus for fleas (and Martin so he doesn't pass them back to Gus). And he put Gus on 3 weeks of anti-itch medicine. We'll see if he improves. - Mom

We had a 72-hour kit drill this week. I woke everyone up with a tornado siren and told them they had 5-minutes to get what they needed before we had to leave. They failed the test! They started to panic. Campbell was worried about missing festival and couldn't focus. Ani grabbed everything off her bed. Corbin refused to get out of bed. Haha...it was entertaining and informative. Eventually Ani went out to get her 72-hourkit backpack. Goal: Have this drill more often!! The exposed abdomens show that it has been a while since we updated our packs. Awesome!! - Mom

District III Festival at the College of Idaho. For our festival we played three songs: Leaving the Homeland, Across the Wind, and Soldiers Hymn. We did pretty good. Before we went on stage during rehearsal everyone psyched themselves out. Even though we told ourselves that we were going to fail we got a Superior. Everyone was surprised. Mrs. Cameron bet against her mom that we would get a Superior. It was pretty cool. - Ani

The beginning orchestra for the festival got an excellent. Also I go to be first chair for the violins. We played Day Night and Day and String Royal. - Campbell




 

Vallivue 4th Grade District Track Meet. Corbin being silly with his friends Giovanni, Carson Mooso, and Asher Adamson.. Loud fast paced music brings the crazy out of everyone. Corbin earned 1st in the hammer throw, 3rd in the 400 m dash, 5th in the 200 m dash, and 1st in the 50 m hurdles. - Mom