Merry Christmas!

According to one very excited 6 year old, "This is the BEST Christmas EVER!"  It has been such a fun day.  Really its been a wonderful Christmas day!  There are many of you we wish we could have seen today to share in the fun and joy of this day but our long distance love and best wishes will have to do for now.  Love to you all on this most wonderful day of celebration!  We will post pictures of our festivities soon!  

The Latest

I need to make sure I post in November and here is "the latest"
Eric's latest news...he is gearing up to break 20 min in a 5K road race this month.
Lesley's latest news...she is loving coupons - 12 cents a can for Cambell's soup yesterday!
Jodi's latest news...she can now wish for 2 front teeth for Christmas and she's on the brink of reading.
Cora's latest news...she loves her home preschool group and can write almost all her letters!
Marcus' latest news...he is slowly earning back his matchbox cars as he uses the toilet when he's supposed to!
Jimmy's latest news...he coos and smiles and is just generally the best baby ever.
There you have the Haffners in a nutshell as of late.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Genious Birthday Present

The girls got invited to a neighbor boy's birthday party this past weekend.  I almost always make gifts because there are so many ideas out there but with this one I was at a loss.   I couldn't think of something he might need or even really want that was in my non-existent birthday present budget until...this.  Squeaky Clean Monster Puke.  Brilliant.  I really wish I had taken a picture but since I finished the gift 10 min after the party started we were a bit rushed. I uploaded the labels to Scribd but the font, Monster AG, did not transfer.  It's the Monster's Inc. font and it looked really cute with the eyeball letters but if you want to copy me you'll have to make your own.
We included a neon green bath sponge, and chocolate eyeballs.  Inside the bottle of "puke" we put several plastic snakes.  I wanted eyeballs but could not find them.  It got some great laughs at the birthday party.  I think I'll make this again - maybe even send some to the nephews I have who could use some scrubbing and puke.   Anyone have any great little boy birthday present ideas?

My baby is 6 years old!

Well  my 1st baby is 6 years old today!  What an excited birthday girl she was too.  She made sure everyone we talked to at church on Sunday knew it was her birthday the next day and she even made sure to tell me that if I forgot to tell her happy birthday she would forgive me.   What a generous loving little spirit she's got.  Pictures to come of her "waterlemon" cake and the silly band rings cupcakes we took to her class.  We love our Jodi bug!

Wide Awake!  He usually is from about 9-midnight and I like to blame my night owl husband for that but its most likely my fault too.  Perhaps if during pregnancy I would sit down sometime during the day my babies might think its okay to wake up.  I really can't complain though because even when he is awake he doesn't make hardly a peep.  He is such a good baby.  His siblings are quite the fans too. Cora has decided she gets to pick him up and carry him so I have to watch her closer than Marcus.  He and Cora fight over who gets to hold him and they all like helping with Jimmy.  I am lucky mom.

Welcome Home Baby Boy

Don't you just love that hat?  This was right before we got to go home from the hospital.

What a good sleeping little baby!  Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks, and the nose and just all of that little face? 

Since we did not know if the baby was a boy or girl I took some neutral clothes to the hospital and this is what Jimmy came home in.  Grandpa brought Jodi back to us (she had school to go to so she could not stay at Grandma &Grandpa's that night) and got to hold Jimmy his first night home, August 26th, 2010.  

Welcome Jimmy Stewart!

HE is here!

Baby #4 joined us this week!  Hooray!  It's a boy and we are so excited.

James (Jimmy) Stewart Haffner

He was born Wednesday August 25 at 7:02 a.m.

Stats:  9 lbs 7 oz   *   22 in        

dark hair     *    my nose    *     Eric's ears    *     too cute!

Eric has posted a bunch of pictures on facebook.  They are all on his computer so I need to get some to post but I'll send you to facebook to view some pictures if you can't wait for me to get some here.  We are home and both healthy.  Mommy is soooo happy she gets to hold him in her arms now.  Love to you all!

A New Addition

No do not get your hopes up (or mine!) this is not a living, breathing real live addition it is a...

Trampoline!

The kids are in love and so am I!!!  They want to be out there all the time and this last week I've been able to get dinner all ready without any interruptions.  How often does that happen?
Fabulous thing #2 about this awesome addition...it was FREE!!  Yes my husband loves me and my finding abilities.

Soon we should have something to post about an adorable stork style addition but for now I have to keep on being impatient and very uncomfortable.  No pressure - HURRY UP CHILD!!!  :)  Mommy loves you.

Lisa's Wedding

My sister Lisa got married this past weekend and it went wonderfully and I'm glad it's over.  For starters she was only engaged for 5 weeks which meant things have been crazy.  I know I'm obviously not the bride BUT I am the creative older sister so I was booked for flowers, centerpieces and niece/nephew attire.  It turns out I was to be the photographer for the reception and Eric took their wedding pictures.  Without us I think this wedding might have been different! :)  Needless to say this preggo is a bit tired.  (Eric is also gone to Costa Rica for 9 days so my poor kids have a tired, grouchy, "single" mom to deal with!)  I have to post some pictures of the stuff I created just because I feel like bragging for a minute.  It seems I'm always making things but never seem to get it posted to the blog and I'm never keeping it for myself so here is my chance to show off a bit I suppose.

Anyway, I'm excited for Lisa and Coulter.  They look great together and this is a fun time for them.  They have a bright future ahead because it started in the right place.  Congratulations you two!

These are the centerpieces I did.  There was a 4th - goldfish in a bowl but that wasn't my idea so I won't take credit.  

  My mom made all the orange skirts for all the cute sisters but they are holding my bouquets. :)  Cora is holding Lisa's bouquet as well as modeling the skirts and clips I made.

So the kids are not all necessarily happy to be getting their picture taken but it has all the nieces and nephews (that were there) and the skirts, headbands, hair clips and bow ties I got to make.  Aren't they so cute!?  It was a bit hot in the sunshine and these guys had been waiting outside the temple during the wedding so I think I'd be about done myself as well!

Here is the happy couple.  I'm trying to do this quick so there are lots more great pictures of them but here we see the bride & groom and what am I trying to show off?  Their flowers! :)

Lightning Bugs = Summer

I just looked out my front door window as I was headed down to the basement to grab a load of laundry and what did I see...my first lightning bug!  No not my 1st one ever (I grew up catching them and smearing them on my fingers as glowing jewelry.  Poor bugs!) but the first one for this summer.  I was not excited enough to wake up the kids but I almost cried out in excitement.  I LOVE lightning bugs, fireflies, whatever your name preference is.  Now summer is officially here I have seen a firefly!  I guess I'll have to keep humidity if I'm going to keep fireflies.  Oh well, me and my pregnant self will survive the swollen ankles and heat of summer if only I get to catch a few lightning bugs in the twilight with my kids!

Look Out Below!

This one will be hard to repeat but I say if a duck does happen to find me again I know which fowl will be joining us for dinner!  I don't know how I am so lucky but tonight while on a walk with my little family I got pooped on by a duck.  It was dive bombing at about 20 feet and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Not only that, Marcus got hit too because he needed his mommy to carry him so... guilty by association.  Poor kid, he got hit on the curly mop top.  I just got hit on the shirt and pants.  Too funny.  Anyone else been pooped on by a feathered friend?  I'm curious!

Exhausted!

We are back from spring break and I'm still tuckered out.  I think trying to put in my garden is helping me still be exhausted but a 3 day car trip, 4 1/2 days in Disneyland, and a 3 day car trip home was what started it all (being 4 1/2 months pregnant makes tired become an exponential equation!)  So I'm sitting here very ready to go read a book in bed and fall asleep.  The Book Thief by the way is quite interesting.  It's style is very different and there are quite a few expletives in German (I understand German) but the story has captivated me.  Anyway this post is all over the place but I wanted to say we're back and I hope to add some fun pictures soon.  I also owe you all a travel ideas post.  On the 3 day trek out I only heard complaints a handful of times and not once did we pull out the DVD player!  Superkids - I'm proud of them they were great!  We'll talk about the trip back later. :)

Can I say FURIOUS?!!

I am so furious with my government right now - well actually I'm furious that I don't have a government right now.  The arrogance is out of control - I live in a republic and yet my voice meant nothing.  I took my kids to a protest rally and we held signs in front of Joe Donnelly's office.  What does he do?  Votes Yes on health care even though the majority of his constituents detested the idea of government health care.  I wrote emails, I called, I sent faxes and still these congressmen and women leave their backbones at home and spit in the face of those they represent and the Constitution of the United States.  I am quite an opinionated person (gasp!) and I let my opinion be heard.  Just wait until November people because I will do all I can to make you go down.  I'm just glad Indiana plans to sue the government over this ridiculous bill.  I'll keep my guns, I'll keep my money, You keep the change!  Happy Tuesday everyone. :)
p.s. Patrick Henry gave a pretty famous speech on this day in 1775.  Read the whole thing.  It is quite a speech and quite ironic that ObamaCare was signed today.

Non Media Travel Ideas

My sister-in-law Kristin called me today and asked for some travel ides.  They are moving cross country in a month and have a 2 yr old  and a 5 month old.  I had some ideas for her from our last summer trek out to WA but I'm always up for new ideas.  So ladies I know there are plenty of you out there who have to travel cross country to visit family and I want your little travel gems.  I want ideas that are non-tech as much as possible.  Maybe you have a good sing-a-long CD that doesn't drive parents crazy or something like that but plug in the DVD player isn't quite what I'm looking for.  I know it has it uses but I prefer it as a last resort or at least for the trip home when all other mental mom powers are exhausted.  I'll compile your ideas in another post and we'll see how much fun we can have keeping our children (and ourselves) happy while we hit the road.  Thanks for your help!

30 is the new 20 right?

That is what Eric is hoping!  Today is his birthday!  Happy Birthday deary.  I made him his cake but it was a crazy hectic day and so I never made the frosting (German chocolate for his German chocolate cake which is what he wants every year) and cake without frosting is like not wearing clothes - Don't do it!  We'll be singing and blowing out candles tomorrow.  Sorry!  The kids were excited to give Daddy his presents and Mommy's present was a stay at a bed and breakfast.  AWESOME!  I've never stayed in one before and man am I hooked now.  Who wants to sponsor us to check out all the ones in our area?  Here is their website.  Super cute place and such nice owners!  http://mckenziehousebnb.com/  Anyway, Eric I'm so glad I get to be around as you get older 'cuz I think you are pretty great and pretty much my bestest friend.  Sure love ya!  Happy 30th!

Bye Bye Marley

I am sadly lacking a picture of Marley, our 1992 Ford Aerostar.  She is black and cost us $800 2 years ago.  I really am proud of that van, it never needed any major repairs either, a patched tire here and an oil change there and by golly she got us where we needed to go.  Granted she had some problems and more than once I had people give me looks when I fired her up wondering if I'd make it home.  She had one duct tape window, a front passenger door only opened from the outside, not much in the way of AC, some trouble purring (vaahvoom, vaahvoom, vaahvoom, die, start her again, much better) and she didn't like to shift into gear all the time.  (Did I miss anything?)  It usually happened when I was backing out of the driveway putting it into drive and nothin' doin'.  Well despite all these little set backs I was admittedly prideful of my ugly van.  My dad (of all people) also told Eric once he was impressed I put up with the van for so long.  Well when we bought it the goal was for it to last a mission, or 2 years, and it has done just that.  I'm sure there was help from heaven to keep her going.
Her name is Marley and that came from Jodi.  Jodi pulls names out of her hat for anything and everything (hence 2 previous cats were Snugly and Boofer).  One day we were driving down the road and the girls yell out "Go Marley!"  "Mom Marley is a super van, she can beat all the other cars.  Go Marley!"  Well the girls were right, she is a super van who has been donated to the local homeless shelter.  She went away today and we only shed a partial tear.  She is being replaced (hurray!) but not forgotten.  So long and thanks a bundle Marley.

Tabernacle Soup

What is "tabernacle soup" you might be asking yourself?  I found out just what that concoction is this afternoon.  I was in my little get dinner done bubble, very focused on the task at hand, when Cora came down and got a fork out of the drawer.  "What are you doing Cora?"  "I'm making tabernacle soup and I need to mix it up."  A quizzical look from Mother is all she got until...Later that same afternoon (10 min tops) Jodi comes running in the kitchen, "Mom Cora is in trouble she is making a mess and you need to come right now!"  My mom sense must be turned off today because I was still thinking Okay Okay I'm coming.  Here's Jodi's response, "Mom run I'm right behind you."  Okay I'll move a bit faster.  Here is what I find: 2 little people and an orange mass taking over the bathroom floor.  Its bubbling out over the cottage cheese container and spreading towards the carpet.  Come to find out "tabernacle soup" is an entire box of baking soda, an entire container of Tang, vinegar and water -all mixed thoroughly with a fork.  No wonder it was bubbling and expanding over the floor.  Its a recipe using all the cleaning supplies Mom keeps under the bathroom sink and at least it didn't smell bad.  To Cora's benefit she had no idea what that mixture would do.  I started smiling after the mess was mostly cleaned up.  I called Eric from our room, "Where were you on this one pal?"  He was doing homework.  Okay I'll give it to him.  Then I had to fess up that Cora just came down to get a fork for creating her concoction.  He said, "Haven't you ever read Calvin and Hobbes?  You just let her go back upstairs?"  The laughter started.  Hope it has for you too.  Happy parenting!

End of Advent

The last of the nativities.  I kind of fell off the blogger planet that last part of December - sitting at the computer was not one of those luxuries I allowed myself I suppose.  Anyway here is a list of some of the last few advent things we did.  This is more of a family journal entry than anything else so if you're interested flag this entry fro next year.
 -  Over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house we go (we really did go to the house Grandma grew up in)
 - Game night at Grandma's
- Wrapping secret Santa presents
- Secret Santa deliveries
-Act out the Nativity
-Give Jesus his birthday presents (he has a stocking and we write down his gifts and put them in the stocking Christmas morning)
- Play in the snow day
- Early morning special surprise - we took the kids at 7 a.m. to pick up the newest family member Zoey, (that's how Jodi spelled it) a two year old beagle.  The kids were excited!  Jodi had been asking Santa for a puppy so Mom and Dad delivered.  So far mostly good.

Well we had a great Christmas holiday.  We got to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and even Both sets of Grandparents.  It was great!  The kids were used to having Daddy home every day so they are asking where he is and saying they want him home right now.  It was really nice to have so much family time together - that is one of the best things about Christmas.