Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

 

There's a few things I've learned over the years, two of which are:  In Cleveland, Ohio between the months of October-May...if it is a bright sunny day...then you drop everything and go outside to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the wonderful weather.  In Nampa, Idaho between the months of November to March...if it snows?  Then you drop everything and go play in it because chances are...the snow will be gone within a couple of days.

 

It snowed Saturday.

 

So Addy jumped on the snowy trampoline.

And we built a snowman.  A huge ginormous snowman.

And Addy got sled rides from Rachel.

And Andy benchpressed the snowman's head.

Andy and Taylor proved their strength...

for a little while anyway...

thus the bench pressing of the head...

we learned about simple tools...using a ramp to build the body

Everybody helped in some way...

Lainah had to test out the view from way up there!

And there he is...our huge amazing snowman.  We named him "Ohuge" instead of "Olaf."  Complete with flower pot hat...plastic binoculars for eyes (my own personal touch there) and using Matthew's Army National Guard cup for a nose.  Oh, and Rachel's purple scarf.  Matthew was at a friend's birthday party so he missed out this time. 

 

It's now Sunday. 

The snowman's hat, binoculars, and nose have all fallen off...it's all hunched over and will soon fall forward onto what used to be it's face.  :)  Its a good thing we went out and played in the snow while we had it...because it will be gone soon!

I Made Your Lunch!

 

When I'm really on top of things, I have the kids make their own lunches at night before bed.  Last night, Taylor was really tired from a long day of school and then basketball practice, after school chores, and piano practice...by bedtime he was just tired.  Lainah was so sweet.  She went downstairs to where Tay was reading a book on the couch, and told him that she was going to make his lunch for him.  I asked her if she wanted help and she told me no.

 

Lainah 5 yrs:  making Tay's lunch

She got out the chunky peanut butter, the strawberry jam...the whole wheat sandwich rounds which Andy and I eat but Taylor can't stand...and the LETTUCE.  She then happily hummed a song while she made Tay his fabulous PB&J&L sandwich.  Yep, she put crunchy lettuce on it then slapped the "lid" onto the sandwich.  (She was going to get the MUSTARD out of the fridge and put some on as a finishing touch, but I suggested that maybe the sandwich was already just perfect the way it was.  She was SO proud of it and SO excited for Taylor to open his lunch the next day...I just had to document this. 

This morning as he headed off to school...and after he made himself another two sandwiches on white fluff bread, he asked me what he should do with the sandwich Lainah had made him because he didn't want to hurt her feelings.  I told him he should take it with him.  He should take the lettuce out and eat it anyway...or give it to a friend.  I wish I could be a fly on the wall in the cafeteria today to see his friends' reaction to his little sisters' offering of love. 

These kids are so awesome...I never would have thought to put lettuce on my big brother's sandwich.

You're Turning into a Granny!

I have recently taken up crocheting.  My grandmother is amazing at it...she can make just about anything with yarn and a crochet hook.  My mom can do it, and has made beautiful blankets over the years.  I'm left-handed and they are right-handed so I guess I let that get in my way.  A few weeks ago I just decided I was going to teach myself to do it so I went and bought a book, some yarn and a few hooks and away I went.  I actually really like it!  It's so relaxing to do it while I watch a movie or tv at night...and funny enough, I'm doing it right-handed. 

 

Matthew: Christmas Eve 2013

Well, trust my Matthew to notice my new skill and make a typical "Matthew comment" on it.  He took one look at the little blanket I'm working on, sighed, smiled a big huge Matthew grin and said, "uh Mom?  You're turning into a GRANNY!!!"  Now every time I pick up a crochet needle...I laugh...and then check the mirror to see if my hair is still brown.

And So it Begins...

Except that this really began nearly 5 years ago, right after we moved to Nampa.  We graduated from dental school in 2009, moved to Nampa and rented a small home while the practice was being built and until we figured out where we were going to live.  A piece of property with an old farmhouse came up for sale just a short distance up the road from the practice.  This property was NOT livable in it's "as is" condition.  However, we both saw it as a unique opportunity to eventually not have to lease our space but to own our own building.  Not having enough money to pay off student loans that total more than the average American's mortgage x2, build a brand new dental practice, buy a home for our family to live in, AND buy this property...we decided yet again to make a family sacrifice and make this small, run-down farm house livable.  We have been living in it for the past 5 years...and we frequently joke that as soon as we move out it's going to fall in...that the only thing keeping it together is a lot of faith and prayers.  (and a lot of hard work, patience and continual repair work.) 

 

Our new land...looking towards back of lot

 Throughout the past 5 years, we have been searching for the right place for our family to live.  Andy and I have literally walked through every single existing home on the market that met our search criteria.  We've looked in Meridian, Middleton, Eagle, Star, Caldwell, Nampa, Kuna, and done the rounds on these areas again, and again, and again.  Nothing felt right.  Until about a year ago when we fell in love with a short sale on the bench above Middleton.  That felt right until the sellers (who had 3 lenders) wanted us to pay off one of the lenders outside the deal under the table.  It was one of the hardest things I've done in my life.  I wanted that house with all my heart.  It was like someone had built it just for me...but I couldn't reconcile the fact that I no longer felt good about it.  Neither did Andy, so we took another leap of faith and walked away from the deal. 


where the house will sit, looking out front door

 The search now continued, but not one single house was even tempting.  People would call and tell us about a new home on the market and we'd look into it and it just felt flat.  No excitement, no interest whatsoever.  This has gone on for over a year now.  We've been praying continually to help us find a good place for our family, and fasting, and attending the temple trying to figure out where to go.


looking south...potentially where the walkout will be

 Over the Christmas break we decided to "fire" our realtor because he didn't have any interest in showing us land and lots.  He just wanted to convince us to buy something we didn't love.  We made an appointment to meet with a builder whose homes we have noticed over the past few years and have really loved his work.  That was the first thing that felt right in a long time.  As we sat down with him, we both just knew that this was the man who would build our home for us.  Funny enough...as we chatted with him, we figured out that he is the builder who had built the short sale house that we both loved and didn't get.  After that meeting, he assigned us to "go find some dirt."  And so we did.

 Ironically, I first drove through this subdivision right after we moved to Nampa, and I loved it then.  None of the middle lots with the great views were for sale at that point.  They were already sold.  I had kind of forgotten about this place until just a month ago, and as I was driving around out by the lake...there it was!  Two of the view lots were now available!

 We ended up putting an offer down on this view lot and closing a cash deal the following week.  It could not have gone more smoothly or effortlessly.  So we are now the proud owners of 4 1/2 acres of prime view dirt above Lake Lowell in the Deer Sky Subdivision.


first semi-clear day after a 2 week inversion...we were excited to go walk it!

Our new address will be 12587 Deer Ridge Trail.  We like it.  It has a great sound to it.  It feels like us.

 The lot is surrounded by 3 rail vinyl on 3 sides (we were super excited about that) and the lot is perfect for a walkout basement so we can take in all the great South and Western facing views.  We were still dealing with an inversion in these pictures...but you can see the Owyhees to the West, the Lake is to the North, more Owyhees to the South, and the Boise foothills to the East. 

 The kids' favorite part so far?  "IT'S HUGE!!!"  They are super excited to run and play as much as they'd like, to eventually have horses...room for a basketball court, swimming pool, etc.  Taylor is super excited to live close enough to the lake that he can ride his bike to go fishing. Andy and I are excited to plant our orchard and garden, and to build Andy's shop that he's wanted forever.  My favorite part?  When you stand where the house will sit...you can see in every direction...and the noise?  Well there isn't any.  Peace.  I can finally have peace and quiet when I'm at home.  I'm so excited to get off of Greenhurst.


along the back fence

This has been a long, difficult process...no one really knows or even begins to understand what we've been through these past 5 years...this has been our trial...and it feels so amazing to realize that we're finally coming out of it.  I'm so thankful to my 6 children for being patient with us...for enduring living in a tiny 1800 sf home with only 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom...for going without so many things so that we could pay off loans faster and save up the money we needed to start this new project.  I plan to write a post with more full detail of the trials we've endured over the past few years because I want my children to know what it took to get to where we are, and so that we can always remember the lessons we have learned from these trials we've come through.  I want to point out how others made it easier, and, unfortunately, how many others who should have helped to make it easier made it harder...I want my children to learn from others' mistakes so that they never treat people the way that some have treated us.  Nothing was given to us, nothing was easy, no help was offered.  This was 100% our family and our Heavenly Father...and I want them to remember that we came through this together.

And so the first step of the build begins...we now have dirt.  Next is to design house plans...I think we'll put in a few more bathrooms...

Our Thankful Tree 2013

We started a new Thanksgiving tradition a few years ago while we lived in Cleveland,  and its one that our whole family seems to look forward to.  Each year, at the beginning of November, I put up a bare tree, and set out a bowl of paper leaves on the bookshelf closeby.  Then, throughout the month, family members can write things that they are thankful for on the leaves and tape them up.  I love watching the tree fill up.  This year, I decided that in addition to taking a picture of it, I would write down what we had put on it.  Here is our 2013 Thankful Tree.  

 

Lainah with our Thankful Tree

poetry & good books
feelings
the beach with my family & shells
the peace I feel when inside the Temple
eyes
money
church
grandma
roof
pens & pencils
prayer & personal revelation
warm socks
ancestors
babies
air conditioning
batteries
sunrise
quiet mornings
priesthood blessings
family
school
happy
planes
good books
decorations
washer & dryer
hugs & kisses
Lainah
babies
kites
Lainah
dishwasher
good friends that we've gained from ISU to Iona to Cleveland to Boise
family members who show love, concern, & interest in our children
music
vacations as a family:  McCall, Oregon, & California!
geneology work
temple work
My children:  Taylor, Rachel, Brooklynn, Matthew, Lainah, & Addyson
animals--our pets past & present
trampoline
Yukon XL
vacations
speaking @ firesides
sunsets & long walks
Clearwater Dental & Andy for providing for our family
games
computers:  keeping in touch with family & friends, learning new things, geneology, & entertainment
technology
modern medicine
money
atonement
science
my nose
Lainah
shoes
school
piano
house
good teachers
kittens
Wii Just Dance for exercise!
corn
"Book it!" certificates
good health
camping
tents
my talents & how I've been able to use them
temples
testimony
little baby voices & words
health
fingers & feet
words to read
science
good grades
postum & warm blankets
crisp fall weather
fun
pets
clothes
treats
teachers
horses
Lainah
time
grandpa
my house
scriptures
Andrew Aaron Thuernagle
Sherrie Lorraine Belnap
tires
water for drinking
journals & pictures
books
yo-yo's
ears
my mouth
food
my room
Santa
Lainah
cars
Mexican restaurants & Super Nachos
family traditions
anniversaries
family game nights

As I'm typing out all of the things we've been thankful for this year...I noticed that "Lainah" comes up pretty frequently.  I should point out that although I know that we are ALL so very thankful that she's a part of our family, and that she has such a wonderfully vibrant and fun personality...that the reason why its up there so much is because she learned to write her own name this year and kept writing her own name and taping it up on the tree.  Too cute. 
 

Explode the Code!

I have been working with Lainah since the beginning of the kids' school year on a preschool book series called "Explode the Code" by Nancy Hall.  I love these books, they are the same ones that Taylor's preschool teacher used, and the same that Matthew's preschool teacher used.  I haven't found any that prepare a child for reading faster or better!  Lainah just completed the first of a 3-book series, and she is amazing!  She knows a handful of letters by sight, she knows their sounds, and she can write each one.  You can say a word and she can tell you which letter it starts with and write if for you.  It's amazing how quickly and efficiently this series can teach letter recognition, sound, and writing skills.

Addyson 17 months Lainah 4 years

I love teaching Lainah, she is so bright, imaginative and fun!  She learns so quickly that she keeps me on my toes, constantly thinking of new things to teach her!  She enjoys doing her schoolwork and is excited for Kindergarten next year.  I will miss her.  Addy will too...Addy has had so much fun throwing colored pencils around, climbing all over the place, and doing anything she can think of to be a part of the preschool fun!



Lainah with her completed preschool book and certificate!

I made this certificate for Lainah when she finished the book.  I told her that when she finished, that Andy and I would take her out to a special dinner.  She was SO excited about that and said, "you mean at a RESTAURANT!?!"  Her eyes got huge and she was all smiles.  I'm excited to take this little one out to dinner, she is a gem.


Lainah's certificate and dinner date with Mom & Dad

You're Just a Grandma

Yesterday night right before bed, I found these two boys in my room yo-yoing.  When I came in, Taylor stopped what he was doing, stood behind me and started pulling a wrestling move on me.  I said, "Hey!  You can't do that to me, it will hurt me!"  Immediately, Matthew said, "Ya Tay, Mom's just a grandma."  Boys.  Tay and I laughed pretty good over that one.  I do love these two so much, they bring such great light-hearted laughter and goofiness into the home that I would miss so much if it wasn't there. 

Matthew 6 years 1st grade



Taylor 13 years 8th grade

Lainah's Preschool Art

I have had the privilege this year to teach my little Lainah in preschool.  Instead of paying a private preschool a lot of money each month, a small group of my friends decided to get together and form our own preschool group.  So we four moms trade off teaching two week segments, twice a week for 2 hours.  We have several field trips scheduled for the school year, including the pumpkin patch (which we did in October), a trip to Clearwater Dental, to the Boise Aquarium, and to the Boise Zoo.  Lainah has thoroughly enjoyed having school with her three friends, Mersadies, Aftyn, and MiKayla.  Lainah is so bright and smart, and creative...she is just amazing!  She is very independent in her work at such a young age, and I'm just so excited for her and am so proud of her.  I know that she'll love Kindergarten next year, she is SO ready for it right now...and I am going to miss having her home with me every day...she has been such a joy to have with me all the time.  She is a bright, bubbly, imaginative, sweet and fun little girl.

Lainah 4 years old with her Indian Corn preschool craft.

Brooklynn as J.K. Rowling

Brooklynn at the Living Museum Project, 4th grade, Reagan Elementary School

Brooklynn dressed up as J.K. Rowling last week in order to participate in her school's "Living Museum" project.  Each student had to choose a famous person from the present or past, dress up like them, and then present some interesting facts about their life.  It was really great.  Each student took a pose and stayed still until someone pushed their button "which was a white sticker on their shoulder."  So we parents went around pushing buttons and listening to these famous people come to life and tell us their stories.  Brooklynn did a wonderful job, she looked beautiful, and I was so proud of her!

Tom the Turkey goes Royal

Today Matthew turns in his "Disguise the Turkey Project."  Taylor helped him design the disguise for Tom the Turkey.  They decided to make him a member of the Royal Guard.  These two boys crack me up!  Their own personal impressions of members of the Guard were even better...but I didn't get pictures of that.  Happy Monday!!!  Who couldn't have a great week, starting out with a project like this?

Matthew's Disguise the Turkey project 1st Grade