An icy Adventure:)

Since Shawn has been dubbed the Fun Czar in the Rolph Family, we thought we'd share a fun outing our family had this weekend.
Cost? None.
Level of difficulty? Low.
Potential for serious injury that could result in death? High.
But we made some great memories.

It has been so cold here that we took the kids to play on the frozen Stillaguamish River. It's a fun childhood memory of Shawn's. The kids were in HEAVEN!



The ice was very thick so we felt pretty safe. The girls had a great time slipping and sliding around.



Dad and girls chillin' on the ice.
So we all thought we'd take a nap:



Brrrrrrrrr!!!!

Of course you can't be on the ice and NOT perform your own ice dance routine:
Here is Rachel doing a lovely spin:



Brooke's arabesque is exquisite:




She landed a perfect triple lutz:



Every good figure skating routine has to end laying on the ice:


And the final bow:



I convinced Shawn to join me in the pairs competition:




He hates me right now for that. We had a great time. Now I'm off to bed-I don't know why I've stayed up so late-Nighty night!!

I've been humoring myself by reading back on some of our earlier posts. I'm so glad I've written about certain things the kids have done or said because I've already forgotten. So here is another funny tidbit to remember. We were in Costco the other day, in the self-checkout, and this worker came to help move my stuff along. He was a little on the short side, which made Brooke ask rather loudly, "Mom, why is he so short?" I don't think he heard, and I gave Brooke a look and said, "I'm not sure, and please keep your voice down."
So, her intelligent, kindergarten self decided to rephrase the question:

BROOKE(in a loud voice)Mom, what's a midget?

MOM:Brooke, sshh!

BROOKE: Moooooom, what's a MIDget?

MOM: Brooke-quiet! We'll talk about it in the car.

BROOKE: MOM! What. is. a. MID. GET??

MOM: Brooke, you're in charge of holding my card and when it's time to swipe it I'll let you do it, okay?

BROOKE: Cool. Thanks Mom.

I'll be really sad when she is no longer distracted so easily.

Have your kids ever said anything embarrassing in public? Please share:)

A very Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Who doesn't love a celebration that's all about food with no pressure to shop for gifts? I do. And what a better way to spend it then with all of my family. Yes, ALL of us. Not one of us was missing. A true miracle, I tell you, made entirely possible by our gracious hosts, Josh and Kristina. I don't know what was more exciting for our kids: seeing their grandparents or staying in a hotel with a pool and a "free" breakfast. It was a toss-up(sorry Grandma and Papaw). We had such a great time. I had to sit in the backseat for most of the ride home to hide my tears from Shawn. I wish each one of my siblings could be my neighbors. I love them all enormously. And the fact that they all married(and will marry)some of the greatest people on earth, makes it even more difficult to say goodbye. sniff sniff...until we meet again:)

Enjoy the photo gallery:



The beginning of our 13 hour journey-every one is smiling..but not for long.



When are we going to get there?




I'm bored.




Finally-we made it to the hotel with the pool and FREE breakfast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




I forgot my suit(shucks!)so Dad was the fun one...I was really okay being the photographer.




Brooke would not let me leave until I took a picture of her next to the hot tub and this is how she posed. Be scared for us.




We took a day trip to San Francisco. It was a gorgeous day. This may be our Christmas card picture so act surprised when you get it.




We stopped at the beach to play, but with all the little kids running around, someone was bound to bite it. Poor Kristina was the first to take the plunge.



Way to go Aunt Kristina for cooking the best turkey I've ever had. And stuffing, and potatoes, and salads, and pies.....truly amazing!!

Kate like it, too!



Our attempt at getting all the grandkids to cooperate in a picture with their grandparents. What a group of cuties!



Thanks to Josh and Kristina for opening their home to all of us and providing a truly memorable Thanksgiving!!

Happy Times

Today I want to remind myself of happy times. And when I've had a day when the baby is crying, the toddler is about to take off her poopy diaper, the kindergartner is asking me how to spell something, and the second grader is threatening utter destruction if she can't watch t.v., all at the same time, I will look at this post and remind myself that I would lay myself in front of a train for these little ones. But, please, let me have an hour of quiet first, ok?






We blessed Kate in our home in September. She was wearing a dress made by her Grandma Colleen. It is so beautiful, inside and out, just like Grandma said she is. It was a special day because cousin Florence was blessed also. I marvel at the birth of every baby. They are true miracles sent from heaven.






Bruce is a stuffed dog we got Rachel for Christmas when she was a year and a half old. I've never seen a child be so excited for something in my life. That was the best Christmas for us as new parents because we actually got a good reaction from her. When we asked her what his name was she said "Bruce", without a flinch or a pause. It was like she knew all along: "If I ever get a stuffed St. Bernard I will name him 'Bruce'." Bruce is her buddy, her pal, and he's as close to a real dog I think we'll ever get. We always get a picture of the new baby with him to capture his enormity and their smallness(i think I made that word up). This is Kate at a few weeks old. Love this dog.






I love this. Heart's a-flutter.





Doesn't it satisfy you when your husband gets a small taste of what you go through caring for infants? Unfortunately, Shawn got a much bigger taste than he bargained for.






I don't know why I've always liked this picture. It's not the best quality, but they both look so cute. This is Rachel when she was 2 years old. She was so brave to get in the water with Dad, and he was so proud to have a brave water baby. I love when I can tell Shawn is at his happiest. It's usually when he can get one of his kids to join him in fun activity. The other day he went on a jog with Rachel riding her bike beside him. He was in Daddy heaven.






I was in Mommy heaven in this picture. I was in the good stage of pregnancy, it was a sunny day(but not too hot), and we were at the park with Dad. We weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. It was a good day.

All I Want for Christmas......

....is my two front teeth!

Busy doing what?

I was shocked to see how long it has been since posting something and I vowed a while ago to be better for the sake of our family who is so far away, but I've been busy. Busy doing what, pray tell? Here is a sampling:




Kristina's room





Kristina's bookshelf after major sorting and cleaning of books.

I take 5 minutes to go to the bathroom and change the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

This is Kristina's room when I return:




And so the cycle continues. I usually give up and leave it for a few days, but I was getting tired of tripping over books and toys. This is what I've been busy doing.

But on to more exciting tidbits.





Kate is almost 3 months old!



Kate is by far the happiest baby we've had. Smiling babies are the best therapy.

Here's our other little cutie-all messy and ready for a big kiss!


Oh yes. I'm also busy cleaning up children. I used to pride myself as a new mother that Rachel's clothes were NEVER dirty. She could wear the same outfit three days in a row if I let her because she never spilled a drop of food on them. The reason? I fed her. I spoon fed her and wiped her mouth clean after every bite. And then she turned two, and then three, and then four and we were still spoon feeding her. Yeah-not gonna make that mistake again. We have a "dive- in-as-soon-as-you-can-sit-up-alone" policy now, and I've decided that there's nothing better than watching your child lather up in some good chocolate ice cream. (Within the confines of a high-chair, of course:)

Mother of 4....3 weeks in and surviving!

Kate is three weeks old today, and it is hard to believe that we ever got along without her. I'm amazed at how that seems to be so after each child. She has stolen our hearts, even Kristina's, who wants to hug and kiss her all the time. Surprisingly she's very gentle with her.

Kristina is no longer the baby anymore....sniff, sniff. She seems so big now. Here she is playing dress up outside....








Kristina reminds us of Grandma Colleen. We think she looks like her-what do you think Grandma? And she's developing a personality to match-always cheerful and everyone's friend.

Kate is the most smiley baby we've had, but I have yet to capture it on camera! Sad! She smiles ALL the time: when she's finished eating(of course), when she hears one of the girls' voices, or when she's just "hangin' out". I don't believe in the "it's just gas" business. Do you smile when you have gas? I don't think so. My babies smile because they're happy. What a love bug she is. Here are some pictures we've captured-for the Grandmas and Grandpas. We give lots of extra smooches on these kids just for you.



Just like our Magelsen girls....only minus the enormous head. One of our good friends came by the other day to see her and commented on the fact that when I told her on the phone that Kate looks just like the other girls, she envisioned a big head, but was pleasantly surprised at the fact that Kate's head isn't that big. 35th percentile, baby! All the others were 90th. But she does carry on the crazy hair tradition:



Kate's first official bath:



More pictures:





I can't stand the belly button thingy-any one with me on that? It gives me the willies when I have to clean it. I'm always glad when it falls off.



Rachel and Brooke have been little fishies this summer:






Playing at Kayak Point with Grandma Rolph:



Catching a fish with some random guy:



Just kidding, Delvin.....thanks for entertaining the girls.

Thank you to everyone for your gifts, phone calls and visits. I have a stack of thank-you cards to send, so don't think I've forgotten you all. We are blessed to be surrounded by such great friends and family. Now I'm off to assess the damage that was done while I posted this. Wish me luck!

Kate @ 2 days old