Brian...dear Brian

So with Brian encroaching on his sixteenth birthday this summer, I figured I better start stepping up my game and teaching him more "life skills"....so that has been my focus with him lately. Here are some of the "oh sh*t, he's never gonna make it on his own" incidents:
#1 Pumping gas: We pull up to the gas pump, I had Brian my debit card and show him how to swipe it and instruct him to go ahead and fill the gas guzzling tank up. He swipes the card, "Hey Mom, it's asking what's our zip code?" "Really Brian??? It's 18092..right Zack??? (age 5...knows his address)" "Hey Mom, its asking if you want a (now bear with me and read this out loud..) rahsep-t." "Brian, I don't want a receipt, but I do want to punch you in the head! " : )
#2 Dr. appointment: Brian broke his leg and had a dr. appointment scheduled for 3 something...couldn't remember if it was 3:30 or 3:15 or 3:45...so, since it was Brian's appointment, I told him, "Look up the number, call the office and tell them; Hi this is Brian Moore, I have an appointment scheduled for this afternoon. I'd like to confirm the time please." Ok...easy peasy...I'm in the other room eavesdropping as he makes his call and this is what I hear.."Uh hi, is Dr. Sedicum there? (pause) Ok, can I please talk to him? (pause) " psst, mom...he's with a patient and can't come to the phone..." OHMY!!! I've got my work cut out.

Whew!!! To close for comfort

If you read down in a previous posting, we had a propane gas leak in our house. The "gas man" came and fixed it and joked with me that it's a good thing we aren't smokers. OK, so that's fixed...in that same utility room is our hot water tank and it's been acting up and we knew we needed to get it looked at. Well, Jason came home in the middle of the day for no apparent reason, other than a gut feeling, to check on the water heater. When he opened the door, he discovered that it had been on fire. Flames all up the side. Luckily we had #1 had moved everything (storage wise) out of the room so #2 the gas man could fix our gas leak. How blessed are we that just a matter of a few days earlier...the gas leak was fixed. I shudder every time I think of how close we were to losing our home (and possibly us???) I am so thankful that Jason is a man of god (whether he admits it or not) and listened to his "gut" and we were protected!

Cathing up....

I have been such a slacker this past year with posting. What an eventful year it was. In March we decided to finish our basement. While the house was torn up, and we had construction help (thank you brother-in-law Bob!!!) we thought we would sheet rock and close off our loft and turn it into another master bedroom and bathroom, then since we were getting that done, we needed new carpeting, and then since we were getting new carpeting, we found a great deal on hardwood floor and decided to re-floor the first floor. Then all of the rooms got repainted. WHEW!!! We finished the project (well... there is still touch up to be done) the week prior to Christmas. My parents and my sister, Emily and her husband, Kallen all came to our home for Christmas. It was a wonderful to have them visit. Wonderful to have my home in order! Also this year, we move our business office out of our home and into a rental space on location of where Jason's shop is. It was so nice to have the business out of the house. I hired a babysitter and WENT to work 2 days a week. Jason hired a landscape designer and we added landscaping to the business. It was a sucessful year, but expensive growing pains! I vow to keep posting. We have so many crazy things that go on in our life and so many funny things that the kids say and do. I will keep up in 2009!

Friday

Just another eventful day at the Decker household. Today I have food poisoning, Taylor was up at 3 AM with croup cough, and we have a propane gas leak in our house. Don't light the candles!!!! KA-BOOM! Never a dull moment!

Hot Tub

Our hot tub wasn't heating properly last week. It was low on water, so we thought maybe it wasn't cycling properly (????). So for THREE hours I filled buckets in the sink and dumped them in the tub outside. It was a whopping 10 degrees that day. It had snowed the day before and because we only had Zack's little 2 foot shovel to clear the snow, I didn't do such a good job. So the steps were icy. As I was dumping a bucked of water in, I leaned over to check the water level to see if I was making progress. My feet slipped right out from under me and I fell head first into the cold-hot tub. Not a good day!

What the hell is in our Chimney?

We recently finished our basement!!!! Woooo-hooooo!!!! Jason has a little tool storage room. He went in it and when he opened the door, he heard rustling...he looked around and then WHHOOSH! Something flew up and went into our chimney hole (an extra outlet we built for someday adding a fireplace in the basement)!!! We had the hole just duct taped shut, but this sucker chewed or clawed a big hole and was hiding out. YIKES!!! Jay didn't know what it was he just screamed like a girl "It's big, it's big, it's big!!!" He was the only one that saw it...and couldn't tell what it was other than it was big and flew. We didn't know what to do, I was absolutely paniced and freaked out!!! We duct taped (an entire roll) a plate over the hole and then wedged a 2 x 4 over that. We could hear this sucker clawing at the plate trying to get us. He was mad. It was soo scarry! My dad wanted to uncover the hole and hold a pillowcase over it and catch the critter. OH-NOOOO!!!! Can you picture that image...my dad carrying a pillowcase with this wild mad critter in it, through the house and letting it go out in the woods???? No way Dad!!! I felt like moving I was so freaked by the whole thing.

February 2nd

Those of you that know Zack, know that he is VERY excitable...we have affectionately nicknamed him "Billy Maise" ....ya know, the crazy loud guy on all the info-mercials. So Zack came home from preschool VERY excited that the "brown" hog saw his shadow.

Date Night

Jason and I and our BFF'S (Jim and Jen) went out on a date. It was SOOO nice to eat dinner at a grown up, white table cloth restaurant that didn't give you a prize at the end of your meal. We even went to a non-animated movie!!!! We figured that we hadn't been out to dinner together without the children since our trip to Hawaii in 2005!!!! Too long!!! It was sad that we were all snug in our "dress up clothes". Even Jason's shoes were too small...how do you get fat in your feet???? Anyway, the next morning I asked Zack if he was a good boy, he replied "VERY!" I asked if sister was a good girl, he just held up his hands in front of him (like "talk to the hand") and said, "BEAST!" He cracks me up!!!

Mom is always good

We were driving home from preschool when I heard sirens behind me. I said, "Aaaahhh! Oh no!" as I looked in my rear view mirror and started to pull over. Whew...the police whizzed by me. Zack asked what was wrong, and I explained that I thought that the police were pulling me over to talk to me. Zack said, "No mommy! You are ALWAYS a good girl!" :) Glad to think someone thinks so!!!

Zack "restrains" himself

I was in the car with the kids coming home from the store. Zack was acting up (I know...hard to believe) so I told him when we got home he was going to take a nap. He was MAD at that! He got an angry look on his face and told me, "MOM! I AM SO ANGRY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW!!! I'M NOT GONNA SAY A NAUGHTY WORD. I'M NOT GONNA CALL YOU A SH*T, BUT I AM MAD!" Is this progress??? I can usually keep up the mom poker face, but not this time. I almost had to pull over I was laughing so hard at him. Oh, and he still got soap (and a nap) when we got home.

You know a diaper is bad when...

I was changing Taylor's diaper and it was a BAAADDDD one, so stinky that Taylor, herself, was gagging!

Don't EVER pray for patience!

I've been really short on patience lately. So this past Sunday I decided I would fast and pray for some patience with my children. In the middle of our church services, it was a quiet moment and Zack yells, yes..YELLS out, "WE ARE...PENN STATE!"

WHY? Why does he do these things?
Do you think God was laughing at me as I struggled to keep my patience?

Bossy Zack

I feel like this blog should actually be titled "Never a Dull Moment with Zack Decker" since most of the posts are about Zack. He IS undeniably the entertainment of our family. Here is the latest "Zacky story"...

This weekend we got a small snow storm. Jason was out plowing and called and told me to bring out Brian and Zack to help. Zack loves to ride with Jason on the skid steer. When I dropped the boys off, Jason and I were talking Zack came up to Jason and said, "DADDY! Get back to work! You are on the job site now! No talking! Chop-chop! LETS GO!!!"

Bossy story #2:
I was very busy in the office this week. Zack and Taylor were entertaining themselves and thought it would be great fun to dump out ALL their bins of nice, neat, organized toys. SIGH!!! So needless to say the play room was a horrible mess! One of those messes that you just stand there looking, not knowing where to start but feel like sitting in the middle of it with your head in your hands and crying mess. So, after the boys came home from plowing, Zack came into the playroom and yelled at me, "MOM! You need to get in here and clean up this sh*t house!" I think I might have called him an "asphalt" under my breath :) LOL

ASPHALT

Brian and Zack were arguing the other day. You would think that with a TEN year age gap there wouldn't be fights...OH NO!!!! They fight like a couple of two year olds. Anyway, Zack was very frustrated, he stamped his foot, crossed his arms and had the dirtiest scoul on his face and then yelled, "BRIAN! WHY ARE YOU SUCH AN ASPHALT TO ME???"

Jason, Taylor and I went on a "business trip" to Las Vegas the end of January. Jason has been dreaming of attending the WORLD OF CONCRETE show for years and years. Well this year dreams came true. He took brought along two of his star employees and they attended seminars and the show and got educated on the latest trends of stamped concrete.

While Jason attended his seminars, Taylor and I got to play with my family. Emily and Kallen live in Vegas, Mom and Dad flew in to visit for the week and Chris, Amy and their boys drove up for the week. We had a blast together!

Is Taylor making a debut in Vegas???

GG (Grandma Gerene) getting some lovin. Mmmm...those baby's smell so yummy after a bath! You could just eat them up!!!!

Papa Paul getting some lovin from Brandon



Crazy Chris, Amy, Ethan and Brandon







Beautiful Emily and Kallen the business man with the red power tie. Not only are the good lookin..they were the best tour guides!

Ethan and Taylor

Melissa and creepy metalic guy. I had to get a pic because Jason didn't believe that he was "real."

The Little Gym

Zack just finished his first session at "The Little Gym". He took a Sport Skills class for the past 20 weeks every Thursday. He loved it! His class consisted of 14 very rowdy four year old boys!!!! WHEW!

GO BRIAN!

Brian played basketball for the Upper Perk High School 9th grade team. He had so much fun. Although his team had a disappointing losing season all the guys enjoyed their playing time. Everytime I'd bring my camera to the game to snap some shots, it wouldn't work. It's such a temperamental camera...it won't work if it hasn't been charged or if the memory card isn't in it....SIGH! So anyway, here's a shot of Bri in uniform AFTER on of the games. He's getting SO big. He is as tall as I am now and outgrows his shoes every 6 months and as you know, you can't wear anything other than the coolest "kicks" in High School. He's getting to be quite expensive :) He has a fun sense of humor and is a big help to our family.

It taste's salty!

I was having a meeting in my home the other morning. Jason was home and was "helping" out with the kids. I hear Zack and Taylor playing in the living room...I hear crinkling paper...I hear Zack say, "What kind of candy is this!?!"...I hear him say, "YUCK, it tastes salty!" By now Jason checks on them...I hear him laugh and gag at the same time. He comes into my meeting with the kids trailing behind him, holding a tampon (and the pretty green "candy" wrapper). Apparently they had discovered the "secret compartment" in my diaper bag were I hide my "special candy". LOL!!! At least it wasn't used ---GAG!!!

Good advice for New Years Resolutions

"I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them."
--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I like it!

On Christmas morning the kids came running into the living room to see if Santa had visited us. Sure enough, Santa came. He left Zack a bicycle video game that hooks up to the TV that you actually get on and peddle and steer to work the game. Anyway, Zack stopped dead in his tracks, looks at the bicycle and says,

"HEY! I did NOT ask Santa for this...but I LIKE it!"

He was even a good brother and shared with Baby Sister.

Remember?

After we had opened all our presents on Christmas morning, we were sitting back looking at the overwhelming piles of toys. I said, " Wow! Zack, you must have been a really good boy...look at ALL the presents Santa brought you!!!" He looked at me with astonishment and said,
"NO!!! I WASN'T...REMEMBER???"
(Oh man, do I EVER remember!!!) HA-HA!

"How is Christmas regarded today? The legend of Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, the decorations of tinsel and mistletoe, and the giving of gifts all express to us the spirit of the day we celebrate; but the true spirit of Christmas lies much deeper than these. It is found in the life of the Savior, in the principles He taught, in His atoning sacrifice--which become our great heritage."
--Howard W. Hunter

Holy Crap, it's a heart

I made the kids pancakes for breakfast this morning. I surprise them and either add something special to the batter (banana's, choc. chips..) or make shapes. Today I made heart shaped pancakes and had them set on the table. I called Zack to come eat. He came in and sat down, looked at his plate and exclaimed, "HOLY CRAP! IT'S A HEART!!!"
At least he didn't comb Taylors hair with his syrupy fork today :)

HILARIOUS!!! Zack and cousin Jack's box fight

Video of Box Fight! - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Zack knows a funny word!

We were riding in the car the other day and Zack announces that he knows a funny word. "OH NO, and I cringe inside". "What's the funny word Zack?" "POKA-DOT!" "That is a silly word! (whew!!!!!)" So we are riding along, and he is repeating poka-dot and repeating and repeating it. Then he announces he knows ANOTHER funny word. Not worried this time, I smile in the rear view mirror at him and ask what his other funny word is. "SH*TNUT!!!" Ya, have to admit it really IS a funny word! :)

My New Ride

We got a "new to us" SUV. It's a 07 Yukon Denali. It was used with only 3,000 miles and a super deal. I LOVE this car!!! It is loaded to the max...I don't know what to do with all the buttons and gadgets. My favorite features are the heated steering wheel (because I can never find my gloves), and the rear back-up camera (so I don't backup over any children or dogs..well, let me rethink the dog). The retractable running boards are pretty cool too.

Get Funny Pictures at pYzam.com

GRATITUDE

"Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives."

--Thomas S. Monson

The Boys

Top 10 things Jason and I are thankful for:

10.) To live in America
9.) Church
8.) Frindships
7.) Good relationships with our parents and siblings
6.) Both sets of parents are living and in good health
5.) We are in good health--physical and mental
4.) Brian is a good teenager
3.) Happy-beautiful-healthy children
2.) Good marriage
1.) Being each others best friend

Funny Pics at pYzam.com

Jason's website

http://www.finishing-edge.com/

I'm so proud of Jason! His work is absolutely beautiful. We send surveys to all our customers upon job completion and they just rave about the staff and finished product. He is such a suave business man. He has such integrity and is meticulous with every detail of what he does. Plus he has great employees. It took many years (and still some) of blood, sweat, tears and a few phone calls to divorce lawyers :) But after 8 years in business we think that we're gonna make it...whew! Jason figured out how many hours he averages in a week..guesses anyone??? (110+ yes, thats right many, many hours). We are all looking forward to a few weeks of down time over the winter so we can spend time together and get re-aquinted...haha!

New to blogging

I have been trying to get our blog out of the constructions phase for weeks now. Either I can't find the time or when I'm sitting trying to figure this out I get overwhelmed and feel very computer challenged. I must admit my biggest obstacle is my own obsessive compulsive disorder. I felt like I needed to have everything perfect and write something poetic or eloquent. I've decided to overcome that and just get 'er done! Besides when have I ever been eloquent?

Melissa and the little ones

Zack cuts his hair

I asked Zackery to find something quite to do while I tucked Taylor in for a nap. He was sitting at his desk coloring a picture, and then he discovered his scissors. OH-NO! Well, he was right...cutting hair IS quite!

After cancelling our family "photo shoot" for Christmas, we tried to get Zack to wear a hat to cover his ridiculous head, but he wouldn't. So, the only solution was to shave it all much to Daddy's dismay (yeah-right!).

Look it's MINI-ME!

New and improved picture wall. And yes, Amy, there is even a picture of you. :) It makes me so happy to look at these pictures of the ones I love most. hint-hint...keep sending me updated photos!

I repainted my "happy bathroom". I can't believe we've lived in our home for almost 10 years. I'm starting to see that it's time to start doing some updating. So it was goodbye yellow, and now everytime I go into this bathroom, I hear the theme song "Under the Sea" in my head. I used a metalic blue-green RL paint. I like how it turned out.

November 18th...we got about 4 inches of snow! I can't remember the last time we got snow before Thanksgiving. It was SO beautiful this morning...snow covered bare trees but then there were many snow covered trees with bright red, orange and yellow leaves peeking out underneath the snow. Lots of broken branches by the afternoon. The snow on the leaves were too heavy. We weren't expecting snow this early in the season so we hadn't put away our patio furniture yet, the weight of the snow snapped our patio umbrella. Jason is feeling very positive about his first ever snow plowing contract that he picked up for a large condominium sub-division.

Taylor (AKA "Baby Sister"), Brian, Zack

Pretty little Taylor