So Far Behind . . .

I don't know about you but I am tired of looking at the 'stache pictures so you think I would have updated before now - obviously not. So much has happened in the last month and a bit where do we begin.

Tylissa . . . is 15 - can you believe it? She can start dating in a year, starting driving in a few short months (if she would ever practice - she has already passed driver's ed), and she is just growing up (well not really up but maturing) way to fast. Does anyone out there remember my little 4 lb baby that I had to take the clothes off the dolls so she had something to wear? I don't even have the pictures of her birthday off the camera yet so you will just have to wait.

New Job - I have been fortunate in this failing economy to get a promotion at work. The fancy title is Executive Assistant for the Chief Human Resources Officer. I have high hopes and I'm very excited. We (meaning not me) are training my replacement and she if fabulous. I've had to tell her to not be so good and show me up in her first couple of weeks at work. I am slowly working towards just doing one job at it is hard - at times I am disappointed that they are phasing me out but Tiff reminds me that I would be complaining about the paperwork if I was still doing it (I hate it when she's right). It will be hard to move from a very busy office to the second floor at the end of a very quiet hallway. They are building our offices because it is in the old towers that used to be patient rooms and it has been kind of fun and intimidating picking colors and counter tops and thank heavens they painted over the pink door. I keep asking for a mural of Johnny Depp but they tell me it is not in the budget. So in just a few short weeks things are going to change. The great things is Deb has never had an assistant before and I've never been an assistant of this caliber before so we are learning a lot together. The hard thing is it is full time (36 hours per week) and it will really be hard this summer. In the past I have been able to change my schedule and be home by 2:00 in the summer but not anymore. This is why I really need Tylissa to start driving. Summers are never great for us anyway so we'll see how it goes.

YW New Beginnings - was fabulous cause I didn't have to plan it. We did a court and sentenced all the YW to a year of "Being Strong and of a Good Courage". We didn't tell the girls that they had parts so when we called them to testify in court they did just that and their testimonies are very amazing. I am starting to think I just might be able to handle this calling. Maybe.

Track - Keston is not doing baseball this year - I was shocked when he told me. He wants to try track. They have time trials tomorrow and the next 5 weeks are his meets. He is competing in 100 m, long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how he does.

Spring Break - Tylissa had a great and busy spring break. For her birthday she got her own luggage and a trip to Arizona to stay with Aunt Sherylee. It was her first time flying by herself and she was only 2 the last time she actually flew. She had a great time just hanging out by the pool reading in the sun with the smell of the citrus trees. Kayden took her out for shaved ice and she had lunches with the girls (Aunt Sherylee, Aunt Shelley, Kiera, Kate, Courtney, and Landon) so I guess it would be the girls and Landon. She also had lunch with our friend Jessica - and as soon as we can figure out how to get the pictures off her camera you will get to see them too.

Easter - the day after Tylissa came home we headed north of the border. Granny kept telling Chad that the Easter bunny can't come to Canada because he doesn't have a passport - why do you think all his cousins went to the states for the holidays. He was worried but not to worry he made it anyway. While it was sad that we didn't get to see everyone it was nice to have Granny and Grandpa to ourselves for a little bit. They went bowling in Lethbridge (Tylissa got sick so we stayed in town), we watched movies, and just had a great time. We got to see the Great Grandparents and Brett and Malori even came on over for dinner. Granny even let us bring Maggie and she did great expect it is very hard for a little dog to do her business when the wind is pushing you around. I really hate the wind! And the curse of the camera lives on . . . we forgot the camera so Grandpa better hurry and post some pictures so we can see them.

Conference - was fabulous this time around - I loved that the focus was on the youth for a lot of it. And it is always nice to watch it in your jammies.

Tallest - Keston is now taller than Tylissa. I told her she better like where she is because her dear, sweet mother hasn't grown since I was 14. Tylissa is 15 and only 4'9". I really hope she gets a bit taller my goal has always been 5'. We'll see.

Val - well this starts the busy time of year for Val. We won't see him until November. He has been working late trying to get his soccer program all figured out with teams and schedules and then it starts in a little bit so he will be gone every Wed and Fri night. He has had basketball and soccer on Saturdays but that should almost be over. He is back in charge of day camps for the summer which he is not to tickled about but we'll get through it like we do every summer.

Parisi - the boys have been doing a Parisi program at the gym. They love it and they are getting faster and stronger. Their favorite coaches are DaShaun and Cindy - DaShaun played football for the Stampeders and the BC Lions so Chad loves him. Cindy works them hard and really knows her stuff too. Plus it gets me to the gym a couple of times a week as well.

So what is coming up - we have Tylissa's music festival tomorrow and Saturday. Track meets every Friday for Keston. Soccer for Chad. Time out for Women for me (yippee). We are still planning Disneyland in October. Wicked is coming to Spokane in May 2011 and the girls will be going. Girls camp, tristake youth conference, STAND camp, boy scout camp, Chad to Canada, Tylissa trek in Wyoming, Keston becoming a teenager and just about 6 more weeks of school - only to start it all over again in the fall. AHHHHHHHHHH. Where does it all go. So thanks for your patience - pictures will hopefully be coming soon. Love to everyone!

The 'stache

We are having so much fun with Keston - he is at THAT age where his voice is cracking, especially when he gets frustrated or angry and you can help but laugh because it sounds ridiculous. And if you look at his profile when the lighting is right you can see the beginnings of The 'Stache . . . so for kicks and giggles (we were really bored) we put mascara on the stache to make it show up more and here is the result. Quite comical I think with a bit of wanna be tough guy.

Whose stache is better? That is the question!

The Other Video

Okay so my tomorrow is not actually tomorrow, but here is the next video of Keston doing his stunt man bit.

Why We Love Montana Winters

Oh let me count the ways.
1. Everything looks amazing covered in snow
2. I love to hear the snow crunch when you walk on it.
3. Out in the woods it's quiet and calm.
4. It can be very soft and fluffy - great to fall into.
5. It's our down time around here. It's crazy in the spring, summer, and fall.
6. Spring is too slushy and muddy.
7. Fall is ok but not as great as winter.

We love to go snowshoeing but we don't get to go very often. The kids have a great time and for the most part everyone gets along great. It's quiet and beautiful and we have a fabulous time just walking around. If I can get the videos to work it's the kids after our snowshoe trek throwing themselves down the hill. Tylissa had a little more finess than the boys - in fact her comment was "they could be stunt men". It ends with hot chocolate and singing along to Taylor Swift in the car . . . in all honesty Val doesn't sing along but I have a feeling you all knew that.

I could only get one video to upload and it's late, I'm tired so I'll try for round two tomorrow. Love to everyone!

The Love of Siblings

To save on postage my siblings ship everything (and I really mean everything) to my house rather than cross the border. It does save money and time. So Sherylee calls because they need to ship Brett and Malori's gift here and Ken will pick it up. So the first day we miss the UPS delivery and the next day we miss the UPS delivery so I leave a note of the door tell the delivery man to please the the PACKAGE just inside the door and to be careful there is a small dog. So the kids get home from school and call asking me what came and I nonchalantly tell them that Aunt Sherylee ordered a package. They were a little confused and I was in the middle of something.

Well this is what greeted me when I came home . . .

Sherylee's package is in there somewhere and I think the UPS guy got a kick out of my note and the one package.

Now this is only round one - Ken did come pick up all his packages but before the long we started receiving packages for Rob and Becky. They are lucky because Granny and Grandpa Paul had them packed up before I could get a picture.

Most kids get excited about seeing a package on the doorstep - not the Hemsleys because it is never for us. So options . . .

1. Start a shipping company for the Canadians

2. Buy a whole bunch of stuff from Canada and ship it to the family

3. Tell the family - seriously - no more

4. Be grateful they ship it here otherwise no one would ever come visit us.

Hmmmmm!

The Birthday Boy is 10

Can you believe my cute little baby is 10? It has been a whole decade since he came into our family. Where did the time go? Well because his dad had to work we did his birthday in steps. He opened his presents when dad came home for lunch.

Another Transformer (actually 3 in one package) Keston had to get in there and check it out.

The Bottle Tops - you know how kids get something in their head and won't let it go. Hence the Bottle Tops - they snap on pop cans and it then works like a sports bottle. His giving heart started working because the package came with 12 he let each of us pick a color. The kids have already decided that they will work great at Wasa.

Maggie hanging out watching Chad open his presents.

And the snow board - now if only the snow will stick around for him to try it out.

That night we went to Bajio for dinner - it is a great little Mexican restaurant and he first went there two days ago with "the boys" after dad took them to see the new Avatar movie but he loved it so much that he wanted to go back for his birthday.

We ate so much and he had a friend spend the night that we almost forgot about the cake - it was nearly 10 p.m. when we lit the candles.

One big breath was all it took and I so wanted to count for girlfriends. Chad wanted an angel cake and the other cake his friends made and brought over for him.

What a great kid - soon we will have a party with his friends from school but we wanted to wait until everyone was back in school so wish me luck.

Happy Birthday Chad - we love you!

Christmas 2009

Here is all the loot under the tree. Looks like a great morning is about to begin.

The stockings just waiting for some attention.

Go Griz - currently Chad's favorite team - but who knows now that Coach Hauck left.

Tylissa wanted more jammies - yep the bow as got to go.

Dad's new movie - that should keep him busy for a while.

One of Keston's favorite series - the Percy Jackson and Last Olympian - the movie comes out in February!

Tylissa loves these movies - because she loves everything Egypt. She'll be in front of the tv for a wee bit.

Be careful when you come downstairs a nerf bullet may go whizzing by your face or suddenly be attached to your hiney!

Culprit number 2 of the whizzing nerf bullets

Playing Band Hero - we had a lot of fun all morning long.

Chad made monkey bread for breakfast but it was hard to get the kids to slow down and eat. We had a great day just being together and having fun.