Smells Like Narvasa

Bigfoot Fun Run 2010

2010-08-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

This is my first run. I am a VERY slow runner. Seriously I walk faster! But I did it, and other than the first quarter mile, I ran! Yay me! It was fun to go with my little sister-in-law Kelsey and my bff April. If you sign up for these races and go and complete them they give you a commemorative T-shirt sometimes you can get a medal! Notice Kelsey in the middle is not wearing a T-shirt or a medal.....she did not sign up on line before the race. However she is very fast and came in 2nd place!!!! Yay Kelsey! Poor April forgot her music so she ran with me I should say she pranced along side me cheering me on so I wouldn't quit! It is good to have good friends.

Racing

2010-08-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

This was June 12, 2010. My very first race. I walked it and it was awesome. I am now constantly looking for another race to walk or run. I really love the feeling of accomplishment I get from completing a race. This is my new "baby" to help me lose the weight from 6 pregnancies. So far I am loving every minute of it!

Garage sale sheets

2010-04-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

I saw these 2 sheets at a garage sale for $1.00 and thought oooohhh I can make a dress with those!

The most twirly dress I have made for the girls and it is a HIT!!!

The tie is supposed to be in front but we both like it better in the back.

She is having so much fun twirling! She totally fell over after this shot!

You can't really see the pattern it is a large floral print, but check out that twirl! Are you jealous that your mom doesn't sew for you?

Opossum

2010-03-04T16:28:00.001-08:00

These creatures are very vicious. It wasn't even afraid of me!! It is hissing at me and getting ready to attack. Nonetheless it was very exciting to the kids! They built it a house and want to know if they can have it for a pet!

How our baby does grow and grow!

2010-03-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

8 months old and yes he lets go sometimes!

About 6 months old.

Reed about 7 months old, yes he is standing!

Reed about 6 months old.

6 months again, rockin the fireman hat.

Baptism

2010-03-04T16:09:00.001-08:00

Having fun trying on hair pretties after the baptism.Erin, Violet, Owen, Hudson, Kaden, TJ, Rebekah, Reed

TJ and dad with Gma and pa Narvasa after the baptism.

Daddy and TJ before the baptism.

Trevor, TJ, Annika, adn Rob Hamilton. One of the little girls TJ shared a baptism with.

How do you LEGO?

2010-03-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

The favorite spot for the little kids is IN the lego bin. I just don't see how it can be very comfortable.

The more the merrier! This tends to drive TJ crazy as it is harder to find the legos you need when they are burried under siblings!

What did your corn produce this year?

2009-10-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Well this year our corn grew taller than the shop. Even though it got ignored quite a bit! Notice the lovely gap in the front row...perfect for a family photo!

Erin took a picture of our beautiful and might I add deliciouso! corn.

The kids....Erin, Bekah and Violet, TJ and Reed, Owen. Surprisingly this was the first photo and the only one that turned out with everyone looking at the camera. We had a friend take about 15 photos of the entire family and again the first shot turned out to be the best. Sorry kids for making you stay there so long!

Alternative ways of recycling those plastic bags.

2009-10-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

TJ asked me if he could use one of our plastic bags. I said yes if he used it where I could watch him, to make sure everyone was safe. This is what he came up with.
Erin's "swim suit" is a little small I think! This picture reminds me of the movie Tommy Boy when Chris Farley does the Fat guy in a little suit and wrips the jacket!

So proud of her home made swim suit!

TJ made one for Violet too.

Bekah wanted a two piece but settled for a tank top!

After they finished making themselves new swim suits they proceded to jump off the table you see in the photos and "dive" into the pool. It was some fabulous entertainment while I was nursing!

Those are NOT pajamas!

2009-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Ha Ha Ha mom! How do you like my pajamas? Bekah's turn in the poodle skirt.
Buzz Light year to the bedroom!

Even with his eyes closed he is such a sweet little duck.

Welcome home Bekah!

2009-10-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

TJ having fun with pipe cleaners and a towel he was told to put in the laundry room. This is the bottom of Bekah's feet on the 4th of July. The flip flops she was wearing were brand new and white! This is what happens when you walk around somewhat shoeless apparently!
Bekah and her new baby brother! She is totally in love with him!

Welcome baby Reed!

2009-10-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

TJ and his new brother! We have now evened out the score with 3 of each!
Owen, no longer the baby and his new baby!

Big sisters loving the new baby! Bekah was up north with grandma and pa Hoffman while we had the baby.

Missing Bekah who is in Tacoma. The kids were happy to come to the hospital. Grandma Narvasa watched them for us while I was busy having the baby. She braved the outing all by herself. It was nice to see the other kids! I missed them.

Reed Christian Narvasa

July 2, 2009

2:24am

10lbs 6oz!!!!!!! 22 inches

Flour fiasco!

2009-10-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

Violet and Owen love to play in the laudry room, it is kind of their club house. One morning while cleaning up after breakfast I heard too much giggling and decided to check it out. This is the face I saw when I opened the door. Now you just can't get mad at that face even if you have already told him at least 20 times to stop stabbing the bag of flour with skewers and plastic forks! I just got out the camera and documented it instead. When I vacuumed him off I wish I recorded that!

My little cookie dough monster.

2009-04-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Owen has actually started "hamming" it up for me when I take his picture. If you notice he has his head tilted to the side a little he is actually making a squealy sound as well.

His hand just came out of the mixer bowl from grabbing more dough. He figured out that he can get more that way the little sneak!

Violet was just standing on the chair in front of him so he decided to take a load off while he snacked on the mixer paddle.

He is trying to get into the sink to get the spatula.

Oh what a sweet face! I love this boy!

Style Gurus

2009-04-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

The first debut of this skirt I made for Bekah with fabric my mom found at a garage sale. And yes, she picked out her own outfit. This was taken about 2 years ago. Then Erin got the skirt...

Erin was told to go get dressed so she could play outside and this is how she very proudly came back into the kitchen to show me she was ready for the day. Not a single item of clothing (even her panties) was purchased for her they are all hand me downs. I made sure to praise her for her very colorful style and ask her to get me the camera so I could document this moment.

I am jsut so greatful that they are comfortable enough to express themselves through their fashion modestly. Allowing your kids to dress themselves is one of the best things we as parents can do. Plus we get free entertainment on occasion. Everybody wins!

The beach fort

2009-04-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Bye! Bye! Post. Check out the grass thatching happening here! Those boys really worked hard on this thing! It made for a very fun place to play in the sand away from the waves.

Grandpa with the axe chopping down the view blocking post. We all had a turn whacking at it!

Full view of fort before we removed the tall post that was interupting the view from the beach house. The pit in front was originaly about 6 feet deep!!! When asked why the young man simply replied, "I like to dig." I am not sure who filled it back in, but the next morning it was only half as deep. Then my kids got it filled in quite a bit more with all their running around the sides. We put the tall post across the pit for a bridge and, Violet (2) could climb on it from inside.

Inside seating.

Inside the boys drug or carried logs for sitting.

Spring Break - 2009- Surfside Washington

2009-04-12T00:23:00.000-07:00

Bekah "fishing" Erin out of the pit.

Owen grooving on the sand.

Erin found a feather mom!

Violet and the marshmallow gun.

Grandma and TJ standing in the fort the neighbor boys built.

"No, mom I didn't take your camera and use it without asking..."

2009-04-12T00:14:00.001-07:00

Camera fun while mom is at school volunteering.

The bridge over hot lava the kids made and just had to capture on film.

Self photo by Erin.

Block train by TJ and photo by TJ also.

Hey Bekah take a picture of my butt! Hahahahahaha!

The duck pond.

2009-04-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood ducks.

Owen picking up some fallen bread to re-throw for the ducks.

TJ getting ready to charge the ducks, Owen eyeing the bread crumbs.

Owen feeding the ducks.

Seriously I could just kiss that kids face off! He is so deliciouse!

He absolutely LOVED feeding the ducks!

New Sunday Dresses

2009-04-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

We went to Joann's fabric store and Violet got to pick out her own fabrics for mom to make her some new Sunday dresses as she had only one that fit! These are 2 of the 4 that I made for her.

Kids and boxes....why do we buy toys again?

2009-02-14T01:43:00.000-08:00

Violet jumping in the box.

Bekah's turn in the box.

Ok Owen I want my turn back now you get out.

Look at me I am so cute in the box!

Violet can I have a turn in the box again please?

Snow Days

2009-01-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

TJ really wanted me to carve his face out of the snowman so it would look like him...this was my attempt.

Mom! Mom! Mom! Come look and bring the camera....the 10 commandments! (TJ speaking)

TJ and our snow people. He is standing by "himself", which I had to have Trevor come out nad lift for me as I cannot lift a 100 pound snowball while pregnant. Thanks honey.

TJ's snow bird. This was the beginning of the snowman building adventures he and I had.

TJ proudly standing by our biggest snowman. Which happens to be a snowman of himself.

Mess Maker Mess Maker Make Me a Mess......

2008-12-19T07:02:00.000-08:00

Owen loves it when I get the washcloth all wet to clean him off and then toss it over his face. He then pulls if off and swings it around or starts sucking on it!

Look at me I can clean my head!

You know I can't even remember what he ate to make this mess.

This is my kids' favorite treat. A frozen cookie dough ball. I usually make a double batch and only bake a dozen or so, then I scoop the rest on a cookie sheet and put them in the fridge for a few hours then in the freezer for a later date. The kids love eating the frozen dough.

Can you tell what variety of cookie this was?

Violet's Birthday

2008-12-19T06:54:00.000-08:00

Enjoying birthday cake! MMMMM chocolate.

Bekah, Violet, TJ

Happy Birthday Violet we love you. Look at Erin gazing up at them so adoringly. How sweet.

Suzie...the hair pretties are here!

2008-10-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

The big order board that Trevor has been taking to work for the gals to order from.

Playing with some teal and brown ribbons.

Special order for aunt Naria's baby, Kirsi.

Special order for Bekah's teacher. I loved this one so much I made 15 or 20 more!

Special order for Bekah's teacher. Great for private school kids who have to wear uniforms.

More Camping Adventures

2008-10-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

The kids had tons of fun climbing this old tree, especially the boys.
Bekah climbing up the retaining wall. What is it about climbing all over everything but the path? Erin found some HUGE screws sticking up. She tried so hard to get up there.
Violet finally made it up in hte climbing tree. Yeah Violet!
Owen staying nice and warm in the moby wrap. It was so cold this trip. I am glad I packed emergency clothes!

Wildlife and group photo

2008-10-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

I (wendy) totally caught this snake all by myself! I was so proud and then of course I had to share it with the group. The kids loved it.
While the rest of us (without the stroller) were upstairs exploring, Trevor and the babies (Owen and Violet) found this nest on the floor in one of the rooms of the fort! What a find! If you look closely you will notice this nest is on the ground.
Here is the mama bird coming in to feed her babies.
Everyone except for Heather , who is taking the photo. Thanks Heather!
Logan, TJ, Nathan, Rachel, Erin, Kymee, Bekah. They so did not want to pose for this shot.

Our family camp out.

2008-10-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

TJ and our friend Nathan "sharing" the sand toys that I bought for the little girls.
"Mom, sand doesn't really taste as good as I thought it would."
Erin is out hunting for bears. After our last family camp out we now have to scope out all camping areas to make sure there are no bears. Thanks for the great story daddy!
Violet's favorite place to be while we were at the camp ground! After eating all that sand those diapers were totally a blast to change.
Owen just chillin out with daddy by the fire pit.

Spaghettios: human food or dog food?

2008-09-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

We were looking in the grocery adds and saw that Albertson's was having a super deal on Cambells soups and labels for education. Since there is a contest at the kids' school we decided to go get some. We don't actually use cream of chicken or mushroom anymore so I figured we could get a couple cans of spaghettios and the kids might like it. This was their very first time eating them. We had it for lunch. Bekah's response, "this is yucky I'm not eating it.", Erin's, "can I go play now.", and Violet didn't even touch hers.

Well we have a rule at our house. If mom puts it in front of you to eat you eat it or it will be there for the next meal and the next until it is gone. This rule usually works.

At dinner the girls are VERY hungery and a little upset that they get the same bowl of spaghettios but relieved they get a new piece of bread to go with it. TJ having missed out at the lunch scene said he would trade with Bekah. Mind you he had a bowl full of fresh picked creamy potato and basil soup. He took 2 bites of Bekah's spaghettios and almost threw up. He then pushed her bowl back and said, "I can't eat that it makes me choke."

Needless to say spaghettios has officially been banned from our house. How great are kids!?

Blue Eyes

2008-09-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

Owen is such a good natured and happy baby, not to mention totally beautiful if I do say so myself.

Hide and Seek

2008-09-14T02:57:00.000-07:00

Ready or not hear we come dad!
Hey wait for me guys!

A day at the park.

2008-09-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

All the kids after eating their lunch.
Who kne his mouth was that big. Tj enjoying a chocolate zucchini muffin.
Violet eating a dandelion head .....again.
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..........27, 28, 29, 30. Ready or not hear I come!"
The kids in their hiding place.

YEAH SCHOOL!!!

2008-09-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

First day of kindergarten. Bekah was soo excited! She loves school.

Tj, Rebekah, Erin, Violet, Owen at the bus stop.

Bekah's first day comes to an end.

Who new mud could be this fun!?

2008-09-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not but the pool was up in the front yard and totally full of water. I am not sure who started the mud hole this time but it sure was fun to introduce mud bathing to our cousins Asher, Ella, and Brogan. The twins loved it and didn't want to get out even though everyone was shaking with cold and their lips were turning blue!

Violet kept dunking her hands and pulling them up full of soupy mud and saying "gick!"

The mud pit has always been a great "babysitter" for me so that I can weed the garden and know that the kids will stay close. TJ and Bekah have been sure to teach their little siblings how to make a good mud pit, thanks kids.

I'll help you mom!

2008-09-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Any chance to be close to the mixer, Violet is there! She will even stop anything she is doing if she can hear the mixer going and come a runnin to the kitchen to see what the "holy grail" of treats is mixing up today!

Dimpples

2008-09-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

Hello dimpples. Owen is the happiest baby around!

A typical day at our house.

2008-09-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

Rebekah and Erin enjoying some homemade cookies.

TJ and Violet watching pbs kids.

My 3 ballerinas, yes boys can be ballerinas just look at TJ!

Brothers! At last another boy in the house.

If you look closely you will notice that Violet had an important purpose for climbing into the wood stove. Polly pocket is in her hand safe and sound.

ps the wood stove hadn't been used for fires in a long time!

Hair don't.

2008-09-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

A hair don't by dad!

gone buggy!

2008-09-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the praying mantis I found in Suzie's garden! Well my sunglasses are pretty cool too. Suzie showed me her squash bugs and so I had fun killing them for her and then I found this cool bug, so I had to go show it to the kids and Trevor. Trevor had to play with the camera and try to get a close up of the bug.

2008-09-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

The kids' favorite ride on our Utah trip was uncle Eddie. He sure is a good sport and sooooo much fun to have around. We love our uncle Eddie!

At the Logan zoo with the Rushtons. We had so much fun even though it was-I am sure-just as hot as Haitis.

2008-09-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

Uncle Timmy with TJ, Rebekah, Erin, Violet, and Owen.

Uncle Joey with TJ, Rebekah, Erin, Violet, and Owen.

The Narvasas and the Stouts at the Conference Center in Salt Lake.

2008-09-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

At the top of Multnohma falls with uncle Timmy. That was a hot, hot, hot day!