Busy Bee!

Zach has been very successful in bees this year. His school sent two representatives to the county Spelling Bee. He was one of them. He went out in this one spelling the word sitzmark. He still gets to be the alternate for the regional bee. Zach is so positive. He said at least he would now know what the mark is he leaves in the snow when he goes skiing in Canada.

Chruch Dances

Sunday afternoons are a little long. So I am looking through pictures and seeing things that I didn't have time to blog. This is a really blurry picture taken with Cole's phone but I have to post it because it is so funny. At Tyra's first mutual activity (Valentine's Dance) she danced with Cole's friend Kale who is 6'6" (I think, maybe he is taller). Tyra is only 4'10".

Zach got to go to his first multi stake dance last night. He looked very sharp and smelled really good too! He had a fun time.

Good Bye Ephrata

I went over to help Eric get the last of his stuff out of his Ephrata office. At first I was just packing up his personal stuff like family pictures, diplomas and such. When I finished, I looked around for other things. I found a case of toothbrushes with his name on them. I was excited. I know it is weird, but I still buy toothbrushes and toothpaste rather than taking them from his office. Because I am really frugal by nature, I thought I had totally scored. However, everywhere I looked I found more toothbrushes. It got to the point that I had to ask him why he had bought so many. So now we have a lifetime supply of toothbrushes in our garage. Eric is the opposite of frugal, he would have probably just left them for the next dentist even with his name on them.

We also moved his furniture and big screen TV back to our house. I helped him with the first load, but Elder Swenson and Elder Jones did the second load. I was so happy not to have to lift the TV. Thanks Elders!!!

Proof!

For the longest time Eric has not believed me that he snores. Today he fell asleep on the couch. I was in the other room and Slade came running in to tell me that Eric was snoring. We quickly got the camera to tape it. The video may be a little bouncy, I was laughing so hard and trying to hold it in so as not to wake him.

Great School Week

Way to go Slade, Tyra and Zach!!!!

Be My Valentine

My Favorite Valentine

Eric took me on a quick getaway to Vegas for Valentines. We had so much fun! He spoiled me and had called ahead to a salon to get an appointment to have my hair cut. We shopped and shopped, ate and saw three shows. We saw Phantom the first night. It was much better this time than when we saw it in Spokane. The set was amazing and the guy who played Phantom had a wonderful voice. Saturday afternoon we went to a show called Gameshow Spectacular. It was so much fun. Jamie Farr was the host. They did little spoofs on a lot of old gameshows. When they did the Gong Show, Eric and two other guys were called up to dance. They put funny wigs on them. Both of the other guys actually got gonged, but it went to the audience to see who won. One guy had a huge cheering section, so he won the first prize of $300. Eric used his dance moves he learned at Today's Generation. I thought I was going to die laughing. I took a little video, but he told me it was not for my blog. Maybe if I get enough requests. :) Eric still ended up winning a $50 dollar bill and a voucher for two tickets to a headliner at the Hilton. We went to see who would be there when we go back for dance competition in June and it is Barry Manilow. We got tickets on the 6th row that are worth $192 each. The last game they play, they call up about ten people. I got to go up then. Luckily I didn't have to dance! We played a game where we had to predict if the card turned would be red or black. I went out in the first round, but still won a $50 gift certificate and a voucher for two tickets to a show called The Scintas. For not even gambling, I think we did pretty good winning in Vegas! That night we had front row tickets to Mamma Mia! I really love Abba music! The best part of our trip, I have to brag about my 5 wonderful kids! They stayed alone and did awesome! I think Cole is a way better Mom than I will ever be. He even got them all up for church. Brett gave them some trouble on that, so Zach stayed home with him and Cole took Tyra and Slade to all three meeetings. Brett didn't really even miss me. He just followed Cole around and talked to him nonstop like he does to me. Eric says he is just like that book "Are You My Mother?" If one mom leaves, just find a good replacement!

He needs some dental work!

The Disco King!

Happy 12th Birthday!

Tyra has been so excited to turn 12 and today's the day! The main reason she has been so anxious is to go to Young Women. Now she gets to go tonight for the first time and it is a Valentine Dance! I remember when Tyra was born one of my friends had the same birthday. She came to see us and said that Tyra would love having February 13th for a birthday because it seems like the whole world is celebrating with you. So to our beautiful Valentine girl, I hope you have a wonderful birthday, a great experience in Young Women and a year in which all your hopes and dreams come true. We love you!

Long Winter Days for Brett

Brett is really into the weather right now, but I think he is tired of Winter. Today he told me that he wished we lived someplace where it is always Summer. He puts his cute little face up to the window and gives me updates on the melting status of our yard. At the end of last week, we had a huge puddle in front of our house. I stepped outside to take a picture because it was so big it had ripples that looked like tiny waves. While I was doing this, Brett looked at it and said "it's a lake, will I drown?"

We have tried to find new things to keep Brett happy when he is cooped up inside. He wanted to blow bubbles so bad the other day and it was just way too cold outside, so we compromised and blew them in the shower.

Another day he wanted to make play dough. He sat on the counter and helped me mix it. I told him he could put the food coloring in. I turned my back for a second and he had put all the blue and green in. He told me he was making Apollo Green. I guess he has seen that on a crayon.

Tyra danced too!

I thought it was so funny to get Eric's dance video on my blog that I forgot to put Tyra's video on. She is the true dancer in out family. Her dance team made their debut this year with a jazz number called "Seven Little Girls." Tyra is not really fond of the dance and really dislikes the costume. I personally think it is a really cute number and the costume is perfect for the number. But what do I know, I am only the mom. Anyway, just so she doesn't get upset with me, I am posting her part of the Father/Daughter number instead of the one she doesn't like.

Superior!

Last minute instruction from Mr. Gish

Last Saturday I took Zach to Wenatchee for the Band Festival. We had to get up at 5 and be out the door at 6! That was a struggle, but we had a fun day. Zach made up names for our family in the car. I am Captain Bartschi, Eric is Leut. Lee, Zach is Private James, Tyra is Medic Ghlyn, Cole is Sargeant Eric, Slade is Tank Slade and Brett is Commander Vaty. We didn't know if a Captain or Leut. ranked higher, so we called Eric. He didn't find it very funny that Zach had ranked me higher. Zach was part of a percussion ensemble called CornSkillet. They received a 2+ for their rating. Zach also had a snare drum solo. He did so good and was awarded a 1! Here it is.

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I've been tagged!

Just for you Colleen!

10 years ago: Weird, but I was pretty much doing the same things. Staying at home doing mounds of laundry and wondering what to feed my family, driving kids to activities. Now I am driving a different preschooler to school in a different car and we live in a different house.

5 things on my to do list: 1. fix Tyra's dance costume 2. clean house and decorate for Tyra's party 3. finish Primary lesson 4. go to Safeway 5. Keep up with this blog and put it into a book at blurb.com so I feel like I am doing family history, not just messing around on the computer.


Snacks I enjoy: I like all snacks! Right now I am really liking Tostitos Creamy Spinach Dip. Yum!!! One of my all time favorites is licorice ice cream!



Things I would do if I was suddenly a Billionaire: Okay since this is all pretend, I can be as selfishly honest as I want to be. I would buy a mansion on the beach in San Diego and retire early!! I just read that to Eric and he said maybe I should start playing the lottery!



3 of my bad habits: 1. It takes me forever to get going in the morning. 2. Tyra says I worry too much. 3. Eric says I steal the covers, but really I don't!



5 places I have lived: Montpelier, Idaho, Provo, Utah, Interlaken, Switzerland, Beaverton, Oregon, Kalispell, Montana



Jobs I have had: clothing store, teacher's aid, office assistant, apartment manager, but most importantly MOM!!!



Things people don't know about me: I can't sleep without Carmex on my lips. That is pretty boring, but I really can't think of anything. I guess I am an open book!



I'm tagging: I will tag my family and friends who read this, but think they don't have time for a blog. Just start one with this tag. I will love reading about your lives!

Superbowl XLII and a Dancing Dad

Superbowl Sunday is always an exciting day for the football fans at our house. We had lots of chips and dips and warm chocolate chip cookies. After the yummy snacks some of us who aren't really football fans found other things to do. Brett played on the computer, Tyra watched TV in my bedroom and I watched TV in my craft room. I had to sit on the Ab Lounger with a blanket as there is no heat in that room. When I came back into my bedroom, I am certain that I found the key to skinniness. You'd think I would find that on the Ab Lounger, but no, I just lounged. Anyway, instead of going out for the high calorie snacks, Tyra ate a whole pile of cough drops and left the wrappers on my nightstand. Maybe I'll try that next time I feel like snacking.

Anyway, back to the Superbowl... Eric and all the boys were rooting for the New York Giants, but Eric told me they were total underdogs and would no way win. At the end of the game, I heard them all yelling and had to go in and watch the end. The Giants beat the Patriots 17 -14.

But even more exciting than the Superbowl, Eric had his dance debut this weekend. Tyra's dance team is performing a number where they include the dads. Here's a little video.