The Big 1-0.

Heidi is ten.  I've been a mom for ten years, and quite possible could be a grandma in another 10 years which is odd since I just graduated high school a lithe while ago.  Or so it seems.  I don't feel nearly old enough to be half way between motherhood and grandma hood but here we are.

This year we decided to do homemade gifts for birthdays.  I always have grand ideas like this after the spending spree called 'Christmas'.  I do get them a clothing thing each year and this time is was her cool green skinny jeans!!  Believe me when I say that was a huge thing for me to buy them simply because I have no fashion sense and usually only buy things that are so boring and neutral that they can go with any situation in life.  But instead I bought her colored jeans!  I'm impressed and she is quite happy.  As for my homemade gift is it that table you see behind her on the kitchen table.  I made a doll table for their dolls they got at Christmas.  I even made a table cloth for it.  Super hard, I know, but they love it.  Unfortunately it is something I made and therefore is a little off.  The dolls are too short to sit by it so now I will be expanding my vast expertise in doll-furniture-making and get some chairs done for another birthday gift for another special birthday girl next month. 

According to the age book we made the kids get a friend party when they turn 10.  They don't get a friend party often so I try to make it be whatever they want.  Heidi began planning this well in advance.  She picked a glow in the dark party.  PARENTS BE ADVISED-THIS WAS THE EASIEST PARTY EVER.  The only prep work involved was opening glow in the dark bracelet, necklaces and sticks.  They made glow in the dark bracelets with rubber bands, played ring toss, then glow in the dark sardines (they loved that), had cake and ice cream, gifts, and then danced with a black light on.  We even ran out of time they were so involved in each of the games.  The pictures came out pretty cool, too.

(Katie this picture is on just for you.  Yep, that's your daughter :)

ANOTHER NOTE TO PARENTS:

When your kids hit 10 it is like a switch is flip and they from liking boy to boy CRAZY.  She has come home everyday from school with what she calls 'the daily boy report' and tells me all that has happened between her and her crush. Before she wouldn't even hint who she liked and now it is all she talks about.  I have heard her schemes for telling him she likes him, his asking her if she likes him, what he did after she gave a report, what happened during recess, whenever he flips her hair, or says hi, or doesn't say hi, and theories about what he must think.  Don't get me wrong, I like hearing it.  It's fun and I'm glad she is telling me rather than not but it is getting pretty intense over here.  She hoping tonight he will be at the school movie night so I can see what he looks like.  I'm just worried about what this means when she actually can start dating.  Holy, moly we are in for it.  

I love little boys

We got a wagon for the boys for Christmas (thank you craigslist).  Mainly I wanted it because we have to pick up Daisy each day from kindergarten and Dodge is heavy to after a while and I thought a wagon would be fun for them.  Dodge is SUPER cute in it.  Boy do I love having kids and especially babies.  Look how cute he is!!

Blake's favorite part is pulling Dodge.  It sort of negates my intention of throwing them in the wagon and getting there quickly.  It now takes as twice as long with Blake pulling it.

Boys are just fun though.  I love being a mom.

Christmas

I just love my house and when we were looking into buying it I wanted it specifically for Christmas morning.  There is a big room with windows that I knew would be so pretty with a Christmas tree in it.  I have not been disappointed.  It is so pretty Christmas morning.  It's cozy, there is a fire going, and plenty of room to enjoy opening presents.  

This was my big project for the year.  We got the girls dolls and I made doll beds.  The idea came to me about10 days before Christmas so it was a last minute thing but I love how they turned out.  The girls thought they were awesome and it has led to hours and hours of playing with dolls and also hours and hours of me making more doll furniture.  More about that later.  

Blake got a few halloween costumes that were 90% off at Target and turned out to be a big success with him.

Ben order and designed this apron for me.  He is a cute husband.

Dodge missed most of the early morning stuff but he was so cute opening his gifts.  He is a good baby.  Not our best but not our worst.  He is just right.  He is pretty happy though.  I love when they hit 6 months and smile whenever you talk to them.  It makes you feel good as person and as a mom who has four other kids who no longer think everything you say or do it awesome.  This is why people keep having babies. :)

And Ben took his customary role of putting things together.  He and Blake spent the morning shooting nerf guns at each other.  We take our time opening the gifts.  I love it.  But it also prolongs the mess in the house and takes me ALL day to get it cleaned.  

This year we went to California the day after Christmas for the Hancock Christmas.  My mom does a good job making Christmas fun.  The highlight of our mini vacation was this:

My family has all been working towards a healthier lifestyle.  My sister Becca is a rockstar when it comes to diet and exercise but she had never run a whole mile.  Than, of course, said she could and right then we all changed into our workout clothes and headed to the Dam.  It's a mile across so we ran it.  And then we had to run back.  By that time Than had convinced Becca to keep going and complete a 5K.  She did it!  We went up there to run a mile and ended up running 3.1!!  Becca did the whole thing without stopping and is now training for a half marathon!  I love my family.  Almost all of us are signing up for a half on March 1st in Chico.  I can't wait.