How Do You Like Your Oreo's???

A few years ago we came across this really amazing thing—it was Holiday/Seasonal Oreo’s. Not being a fan of Oreo’s growing up this would NOT have been something that exciting and for all I know, they’ve had these a lot longer than I realize. However after marrying someone who loves them and then learning the fine art of dunking and enjoying a glass of ice cold milk and a few Oreo’s myself...Oreo’s have become a staple in our house.

After having a couple kids who followed in their dad’s footsteps...the holiday and seasonal Oreo’s became a HUGE hit. I became the cool mom who brought home Oreo’s with Halloween pictures on them. Fights were narrowly avoided choosing who got the last ghost or last witch. They had this great orange cream that still tasted like the normal cream so you didn’t have to sacrifice flavor for fun.(I don’t know that we’ve actually eaten any of the “other” flavors though—I'm sure they're just as good, we've just never tried them.)

So anyway, Halloween Oreo's were the highlight of our fall. Then to our great surprise, Dad became the way cool Dad and brought home Christmas ones (actually they are "Winter," but since we celebrate Christmas and they have red filling---they are "Christmas" to us.) Well, we stocked up a little bit since we ran out of Halloween ones about the same time they stopped selling them at the store--just so we could enjoy them even longer.

Well, soon came Spring with yellow ones and Summer with blue ones...or was it the other way around...oh well, we enjoy them all spring or fall, yellow or red, ghosts or frogs...the kids' favorite part is picking which picture (or pictures) they get to eat. And the best part is, there is always one to look forward too.

[Quick side note...our kids love to dress up in all black clothes and run around being "black-man" .]

So a few days ago, we asked the kids which Oreo color they like the best and because of this new "black-man" phase they are going through (is it still a phase if it lasts more than 6 months???) we decided to take a family Oreo Picture. So we were wondering how you measure up to us...do you prefer:

Halloween Orange like our oldest?

Christmas Red like our youngest?

Springtime Yellow like Dad?

Summer Fun Blue like our Daughter?

...or do you like the good old fashion white

DOUBLE STUFFED like Mom?

Yup, you read (and saw) that right...our little cookie (there is only 1) will be joining us in just a few short weeks. We really got an ear-full when we didn't "announce" that we were expecting our last one, but when time came to announce this one, we had many friends and family who were also announcing--so we decided to wait a little bit. Throw in a few major and minor holidays, some major morning sickness (that still continues to show up) and the daily schedule we were attempting to maintain---plus trying to find some really cool awesome (and cute) way to announce and we reached present day faster than expected.

So, our next question is...any guesses on the "color" of this baby? Pink or Blue....we haven't found out yet....maybe we can talk it into coming a little early on Presidents day and the Oreo Company can make a cookie with red, white and blue striped filling , or maybe Leap Day cookies...any suggestions on what color that would be?!?!? We might have to give in and try some other flavors so we can add the mint green, milkshake pink or peanut butter brown to our family photo.

A few facts:

Due date: beginning of March

Date it will come: ha ha ha ha---our kids come when THEY want, not when we want

Feelings on gender: Dad: Girl; Mom: not sure; Oldest: Boy; Middle: Girl, Youngest: doesn't care--as long as there is room on Mom's lap afterwards

Yes, we're split on what the baby will be, but we'll love it either way and we keep reminding the kids of that---especially those that might be disappointed by the outcome (one in particular who is really really hoping for a sister).

Names: We have 2 girl names we both like and will just have to see which one fits. We have 2 boy names---lets rephrase that---MOM has 2 boy names, the first of which Dad really doesn't like (and she loves with all her heart) and the second he might be able to live with---but neither has a middle name and we don't share names so we can't ask for help in that area...but we're open to other fun/different/not too odd/grow with you type names. We've tried to name our kids something that has meaning to our family...so if you know us (which if you're reading this you probably do) let us know what you think.

The kids are excited, we're not ready--but who is really and we can't wait till our next post---maybe it will be the big news. (Of course I could get really ambitious and try to catch up on the last 18 months since I wrote prior to Christmas--but don't get your hopes up Ü.)

Love, Our Handful...that is growing.

Merry Christmas

What do you know...I'm finally updating our blog. It's only been 16 or so months since I did it last, so I figured it was about time. So much has happened in the past 16 month---but I guess it wasn't eventful enough for me to write about--or was it to eventful that I didn't ever get around to it---I'll go for #2. So here is our Christmas card and a "nutshell" update of our lives. I know most of you who read this actually have some idea of what is going on in our lives whether it's because you live by us, are family, or get on facebook. But for anyone else--we hope you enjoy and would love to hear how things are in your life too.

Merry 2011 Christmas Family and Friends,

We hope this letter find you well and that things in your life are going well. We are doing fine. We are still living north of Des Moines IA (Granger) and are enjoying our 3 kids.

Sterling is now 6 yrs old and is in kindergarten. He loves going to school every day and always comes home with newly learned information. He loves being a big brother and most of the time is willing to help out and be a good example. He is learning to read and helps us read his books to him. He loves to play, ride his bike (without training wheels) and can't wait till we get some measurable snow so he can go play in it.

Hannah is 4 yrs old and started Preschool this year. She loves the things she is learning and looks forward to the projects she gets to do. She loves to help out and has developed quite a love of drawing. We generally have multiple pages of artwork to hang up around our house. She is also really good at tricking us into thinking she's asleep. We have been tricked many times into carrying her in the house and to her bed only to find out she's been pretending the whole time. We've had to start tickling her to "check" if she's really asleep.

Heston is 22 months and is sad to see his siblings go to school. His favorite time of the day is when we go pick the other two up. He loves to read and pick out pictures. He also loves animals-especially dogs. He will "play fetch" with us and pretend to be a dog. He’ll “fetch” whatever toy we throw for him. When you ask him what a dog says, he sticks out his tongue and "pants" like a dog does. It is hilarious and he loves making everyone laugh. He is a happy boy and (when not being teased by the other two) is very smiley and helpful.

Spence is still working for Decision Innovation Solutions, the company he and a friend started a few years ago. They do several types of economic consulting work, primarily in agriculture. He also continues to do wood working and is currently working on a crib/toddler bed for Heston. He is super excited to be building a wood shop so he has a little more space to work and move wood around. He stays busy with his calling as Young Men Adviser and 2nd Counselor in the Young Men. He loves helping with scouts and has a great group of boys to work with. He looks forward to the weekend when he can spend time with our kids and have them help him in the shop.

Sarah enjoys staying home with the kids and watching them learn and grow. She is looking forward to March when #4 will join our family (no, we didn't find out what it is). She has been busy as the secretary in Relief Society and is having fun learning new crafts and skills. Although, her "to do" and "to try" lists seem to get longer faster than they get shorter; she is having fun and enjoys having the kids help her plan the next project and the supplies to do it.

We hope everyone is well and that you are able to enjoy the Christmas Spirit this time of year and all year through. We are grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and the blessing we receive by following His commandments.

We would love to stay in touch with you. Our contact info is:

Phone: (515) 999-2275 2311 Park Ave, Grange IA 50109 Snsparkinson@hotmail.com

Blog: http://snsparkinson.blogspot.com/ (We're not very good at updating it though)

Project Blog: http://eye-dyllicexpressions.blogspot.com/ (It's still a work in progress of our projects and maybe one day a business)

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Love,

Spence, Sarah, Sterling, Hannah, and Heston

Here comes Santa Claus...

For those who don't know, Santa left a note on our Christmas tree (in December) saying he had another present, but it didn't fit in his sleigh, he would have to bring it later.

Well on Friday the 16th, we found a mysterious note on our door...who was it from..Santa of course. He left us a note telling us what needed to happen before he could bring that one last gift. We (the kids) had to:

• Clean their room
• Keep their toys cleaned up
• Take apart their beds
• Have fun at the Primary Activity the next day
• Do 5 jumping jacks
• Obey Mom and Dad
• Leave him a special treat

Kind of strange list...but we obeyed: Saturday after the Primary activity, we had to "run a few errands." Luckily, the kids all fell asleep in the van on our way to hang out at Target and get lunch (that took about 1 1/2 hours). Then we had to go in the store and get lunch (an hour---they had really cool straws so the kids just kept drinking.) Then we had to walk around and make sure we saw everything we could in the store (another 1 1/2 hours). Pretty soon we found out that Dad "was on his way home" so we thought we'd head home too. (For those wondering, yes the kids were still in their pj's---from the activity.) We got home and decided to make sure we had the whole list done. We took the beds apart the night before, all the toys were cleaned up, they obeyed and had fun...they just had to make a special treat. Sterling had been saving his last red vitamin for Santa for 3 months...he was very excited to add that his treat bag. After hair cuts and baths, the kids realized their treat bags were missing. We set off to find them...and lo and behold we found: So they are done. We are super excited about them. A few things:

• They are solid black walnut
• The 4 stairs have drawers in them
• There are 3 drawers underneath the full bed (bottom bunk)
• We will probably put shelves in the space under the stairs, but for now it's just open
• There are adjustable shelves in the headboards
• There are trapdoors in the headboards too...why have wasted space beneath the headboard.
• They even came with removable labels so the kids know which drawers which cloths go in.
• We will put caps on the tops of the posts, but we had to wait until we got our new tool to do that...more to come on that later. Ü (if this smile could get any bigger...it would be!)
• And most importantly....they are completely reversible. The underneath drawers can go on the other side, and the opening to climb from the stairs to the top bunk can be switched around.

How do you make something like this you might ask...a lot of cutting, sanding, and lacquering, with a lot of nails, sandpaper, and leftover sawdust...a little extra patience was helpful too. Here is the poem Santa left with the beds. We had so much writing it, we wish we knew someone who illustrated and would help us make it into a book (any takers...we'll pay you.) There are a lot of hints about how the progress of the beds are going and the time that had passed. See if you can pick up on any of them.

We had the perfect gift

Planned for you last year

But as we went to load the sleigh

We had to say “oh dear!”

Your gift was just too big

To fit inside the sleigh

We knew deep inside our hearts

We had to find another way

We made a plan to get the gift to you

as quickly as could be

And hitch a trailer behind my sleigh

Oh what a sight to see.

The Reindeer pulled and strained and stressed

And gave it all they had

But realized they couldn’t do it alone;

Oh they felt so bad.

So, we all joined in and hoped our strength

Would give the needed nudge

But try as we might that sight of ours

Just would not even budge.

We called a special meeting

of all the Legendary Figures we could find

And talked through the ideas

That popped into their mind.

“The Cold North Wind” said Mother Nature,

“could drop right down there.”

But we thought your Christmas gift

Need extra special care.

The Easter Bunny wanted to

hide its parts in Eggs ‘round town.

But that idea was quickly stopped

and unanimously shot down.

Cupids wild idea was filled with hearts

and flowers and chocolates too

but we had no idea how it would work

to get your gift to you.

The Leprechauns tried to play a trick

to keep it for themselves.

But their plan was foiled by our

quick and witty elves

We continued thinking and

We thought we had been beat.

But the reindeer soon devised a plan

Which was a welcomed treat.

They figured they could find some help

At the annual Reindeer Games

So they set a big booth inside

And took down all the names.

They held all sorts of tryouts

To find the strongest in the bunch;

Then they got right down to business

As they rehearsed their plan o'er lunch.

We all came back together

And hooked all the reindeer to the sleigh

And with the added strength they found

They were able to make it on their way.

We headed straight to you house

Thinking everything was grand

But our delay in coming,

made for warmer weather than we planned.

So, we headed back to the North pole

To trade our runners for some wheels

And quickly fixed up all their squeaks

And all their little squeals.

And once again we headed out

To your home today.

And everything was going good

We hoped it’d stay that way.

Your lights were off, the doors were locked

Our timing was just right

We got your gift unloaded

and went to work with all our might.

We finally got it placed,

In the best and most perfect way.

And decided to leave this special story

of how it got to you today.

We hope you had a Merry Christmas

And will forgive us our delay.

We hope you will enjoy your gift

on this beautiful April Day.

From: Santa and his 8 flying Reindeer.

With the help of their friends

Speedy, Tuff, Little Toot and Moe.

We hope you enjoyed our adventure as much as we did...sorry it's so long...at least I learned how to do collages so I didn't have to add every single picture on here. Ü (Thanks Crystal!)