BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE....

I WONDER??

2011-06-07T16:43:00.002-06:00

If I start blogging again will I continue?? I do think I should give it a go (we shall see)...so here is to a new post FINALLY and a picture of my sweet, loud, happy, healthy and everything in between children and sweet Kassie!!! I sure love 'em............. :)

HaPPy BirTHdaY, Ellie!!!

2010-06-20T21:59:00.003-06:00

Ellie's Birthday and Father's Day......

Belle turned 5 today I can't believe it!!

Knowing her birthday was going to be the same day as fathers day we decided to go out yesterday and invite the Grandmas and Grandpas to go to dinner and come back to our house for "pink" cupcakes and ice cream...yummy! ;o)
We all had a great time Thanks Moms and Dads a.k.a. "Grandmas and Papas" for coming over!
We Love You and are glad you could come to the Belles party.....

So then today we celebrated Ellies birthday and fathers day.....
We started out this morning for breakfast with one of Belles favorites Pancakes....and then for dinner we had something Newell likes and ended the day with brownies and Newell made some homemade cherry ice-cream....again yummy! ;o)

Enjoying the ice-cream Newell made...mmmm :)

Opening gifts...she loved the "new kitty"

This is how Ellie and Newell enjoyed there day...It was actually FUN to celebrate her Birthday and Fathers day together...she adores her daddy and loves to be with him!!! She is soooo much fun I just love her to pieces even when a "tornado" hits her bedroom or even when she tells me "she hates me" because very soon after she loves on me and needs me for something (the joys of being a mom?)...!! ;o)

...And a little side note...I am so very Thankful for Newell and for all he does he still makes my heart skip a beat and the Awesome daddy that he is!!! I love ya Babe and Belle a-Boo I love you!!! HaPPy BirTHdaY, Ellie!!! HaPPy FaTHer'S DaY, Newell!!! :o)

EASTER STORY COOKIES

2010-03-31T15:10:00.004-06:00

This seemed like such a great thing to do with kids....I found this on another blog http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/ (I love this blog!) I thought it would be a great thing to do with my kids..so this year I was going to try it. I wanted to share it with those of you that may have never seen it (i hadn't) :o)

Easter Story Cookies
A good way for our family to make Easter a bit more religious and focus on the Resurrection more than the Easter Bunny. This has been around for a long time and many of you may have already seen or done this, but I decided to post it anyways just in case you may not have seen it.

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1 cup sugar

zipper baggie

heavy wooden spoon

tape

A Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don't wait until you're half done with the recipe!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

NOW GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9

RE-DO

2010-03-12T16:24:00.002-07:00

I love this desk...my mom painted it when I was
younger I still remember her outside painting
it and also that one of my "many" cats had walked
on it while it was still wet...It was near Christmas
and I remember asking her who it was for-she
said "it's for your sister" (and I love surprises
and didn't ask anymore about what she was
doing) I've always been glad that I was the one
that actually got it for Christmas ;0) I've thought
about painting it for awhile but didn't want to do
anything to the "hearts" but I did ask permission
before Newell sanded it and I painted it....I love
it in the kitchen and in my opinion it turned out
pretty good......

Jacob helping me hold a cord out of the way...

The finished desk....it's getting a lot more
use in the kitchen then it was in my bedroom!
I'm going to take the mirror and paint it a
different color I'm thinking blue.....there is a
perfect wall in my bedroom just waiting for it!

My Blog/My Mom....

2010-02-28T21:57:00.005-07:00

First I want to say "Thanks Rae for fixing my blog!!" ;o) It looks great.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

I love this picture! :o) Do you remember doing this? (hope you think it's as cute as I do!?)

MoM....I just think you're Great and I am so Thankful you are my mother...Thank You sooooo much for everything you do!!! We are truly blessed to have you in our lives! :o) Hope you had a Wonderful Birthday....Love Ya!!! XOXOX

Jacob.......

2010-02-10T22:17:00.008-07:00

Wow two posts in two days...I'm on a roll.... ;0)

Jacob turned 7 today I can't believe it....he is growing up so fast. I could go on and on about this boy about what he loves to do and how much fun he is etc....but I won't!! Instead here is a couple pictures from when he was 1!! And the last one is current!....I just Love this boy!! and I am so Thankful for him and the joy he brings our family!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "Mister" JACOB....LOVE YA!!!!!

Jacob is simply a:

J..oyful

A..mazing

C..ute

O..utstanding

B..oy!! ;0)

I'm Back...I posted can you believe it??

2010-02-09T18:49:00.009-07:00

Lets see where have I been? umm No where... :o)
My last post November 10 wow! Time flys when your having Fun!! haha
What have we been up too?
Let's see all of November I was using crutches that was a blast...just kidding it wasn't...I didn't really go anywhere! Newell did all the shopping, and instead of walking to the bus stop like I normally did Ellie and I drove Jacob to the bus stop. I had a birthday it was a wonderful day and I had Cafe Rio for my "birthday dinner" Yummy!! THANK YOU Dad and Mom! :0)
Thanksgiving was great love to be with my family and I still went shopping with crutches on "Black Friday" Thanks to Rae!! I couldn't have done it without her!
December I love the holidays of getting lights on the house, putting up a tree, all the decorations and the excitement from the kids. I love being with family and the traditions we have!! As always it was a great month we had a wonderful time with our family! I love the decorations but then again I am so excited to get them down and celebrating the New Year.
New Years....well not much comes to mind other then celebrating with family and having fondue...we had a great time!! And then we all caught the flu...enough said you know what happens :-p
January and yet another month past us! I can't believe it's over and already February is going quickly...mmmm well the month of January Newell had a birthday....and I hope he had a great day! I think he did ;0) Jacob thought we should all have the day off and wondered why he had to go to school on his dads birthday! Well that's a little about what we have been doing...nothing overly exciting just normal everyday things :0) I am just so Thankful for ALL that me and my family have!! and I do mean ALL!!
NO promises but I hope to keep this blog updated because it really is fun to post.....

....A few pictures decorating cookies for Santa (don't cha love Newells hat he made it himself! lol) Jacob loved being on top of the roof with Newell putting up the lights....and Mom(Grandma) and Jacob boxing ( and she is winning he wasn't to happy about this :0) )......

GARDNER VILLAGE...

2009-11-10T11:56:00.007-07:00

October 2009 A weekend with the girls and kids...we had such a Fun Time!!

Grandma with Jacob and Karson...

Best Buds!!!

They always have such a great time together.....it's NON-Stop FUN!!!!

JACOB & ELLIE

2009-10-21T22:36:00.003-06:00

It has been 3 months since I have posted anything...I need

to get caught up for those if any that look at our blog...we have

just been keeping busy doing normal (well I think

that they are normal) everyday things

and have been just having FUN!! Here is just

a small bit of Fun the kids have been having.....

Jacob & Ellie....Jacob always has his swords with a belt...

Belle is always dressing up and this day she decided on

this lovey outfit and then of course had to dance

around...Jacob I am sure was a warrior of some sort!!!

Jacob was so proud he made Ellie have "Chinese Hair"!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

2009-07-08T23:14:00.008-06:00

Thank you for being you...We love to be with you and love the outdoor adventures we go on...We appreciate and are Thankful for all that you do for us...and I am so Proud to say you are my dad....! Hope you had a Happy Birthday!! Love ya, Dad~~Kristina

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

My computer will not upload!! Check back later for photos..:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELISSA!!!

2009-07-03T13:05:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to make a post for my sister today because it is her birthday and I hope she is reading this....I didn't find a picture of us together...like I had planned, but I found this great poem that I wanted to share with you:

WE HAVE LAUGHED TOGETHER

You've been my sister

for many years,

We've laughed together

And shed some tears.

We've had harsh words,

And pulled some hair

But against the world

We are a terrific pair.

Our times together are

very few,

I just want to say I LOVE
YOU!!

Happy Birthday Melissa I hope you are having a great one, I'll be thinking of you on this day as I do on many others!! Love ya, Kristina

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELLIE!!!

2009-06-20T22:59:00.002-06:00

Ellie turned 4 (her and Jacob both are convinced that she grew in the night) We went and

ate at Pirate Island Pizza it was FUN!!

Thanks Grandmas and Papas for coming to Lunch! :)

The BIG pizza we ate!

Jacob and Belle....best buds!!

Ellie and her cake she loved it when we were

singing "Happy Birthday" she was just

grinning the whole time!

Blowing them out...Make a Wish!!

Jacob and I went to the store the other day so he could pick out some new

earrings for Ellie...as we were waiting in line to pay for

are things....he said "I have my wallet" so I said "you do"...and I said "you keep your

money I will pay for it and you can just give her the stuff"...he didn't like my idea so

to make my story short.....Jacob had a ten dollar bill and wanted to buy Ellie

the earrings we had picked out I even told him that it would take all his money but one dollar he still wanted to buy them...so he did and was so proud and excited

to have bought Ellie a present...I just thought that was so sweet of him!

Thank you for everyone that came over for cake and ice cream....it means a lot!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAE!!!

2009-06-13T08:27:00.002-06:00

Rae....Just wanted to post about you today...although I couldn't find recent pictures of you(wait I did have a cute one of you and a bird...lol)...I was going to post that one picture of you and I in our santa hats, but didn't. I have lots of cute pictures of your sweet kids, but I need to start getting you in there with them... :-) I just want you to know how much I love you and I am so thankful for are relationship as sisters!! You're just the greatest.... I LOVE YOU!!! XOXO (and also I just love how Ellie just adores you and looks at you...must be the Gemini you'll probably understand her better then me!)
For you a poem that I found fitting:

The Woman I Call Sister

The woman I call sister
Is someone who is there
The woman I call sister
Is someone who always cares.

The woman I call sister
Can make me smile when times are blue
The woman I call sister
Is someone very true.

The woman I call sister
By choice, is my best of friend
The woman I call sister
Will be there till the end.

The woman I call sister
Is the blessing from God above
The woman I call sister
Is the sister that I'll always love.

By: Marissa Gertmenian

2009-06-06T23:53:00.002-06:00

Happy Anniversary!!

Still a cute couple 39 years later...!!!

LOVE YA!!

Mother's Day......!

2009-05-10T22:20:00.005-06:00

A relaxing day with a personal chef and then watching the Red Sox play that's what I call for a Fun day!! and that's what I got....it was a great day Newell and Jacob fixed me my favorite breakfast...French toast yum and then later for dinner again Newell made me dinner-steak, green salad and potato wedges..Yummy! Thanks babe for a relaxing and great day...Love you!! I took a photo of the potato wedges because they are so good I wanted to share the recipe....

1/3 c. Flour

1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. paprika

3 large potatoes, cleaned and cut in 8 wedges

1/3 c. milk

1/4 c. butter

combine flour, paprika and Parmesan cheese and mix well. Dip potato wedges in milk, coat with flour mixture. Place on a cookie sheet and drizzle with butter. (I don't use the butter-instead I just use the cooking spray or else the I can't believe it's not butter no calorie spray and it works great) Bake 40-50 min. @ 400 degrees.

And if you are a mother and you are reading this then I hope you had a Wonderful Day and Happy Mother's Day!!!

A Mom Poem:

A halo that reflects a life of

wisdom, kindness, and caring.

Eyes that sparkle with pride

and show how much she believes in you.

Shoulders that have been slept on

and wept on and

carried a world or two.

Arms that never run out of hugs.

Hands that know

just when to hold on

and when to let go.

A mind filled with amazing things,

from fairy tales to family tails

and long-ago stories of you.

A smile that can jump right into your heart

and warm you faster than hot chocolate.

A heart of gold

that holds more love

than you can possibly imagine.

-Author Unknown

MOM

We only have One Mom, One Mommy,

One Mother in this World, One life.

Don't wait for the Tomorrow's

to tell Mom, you love her!

-Author Unknown

Ellie's Shelf....

2009-05-06T13:46:00.002-06:00

Helping Dad make Belle's New Shelf...They are
such Great Helpers! They both thought it was great fun
using the nail gun! Newell as some of you know is a perfectionist when it comes to building things he makes them look super Great! I will have to post the completed project after I get it painted! Along with some of the other projects that are in the making or in the painting process.... :)

Adorable Princess.....?

2009-05-02T23:17:00.003-06:00

I bet nobody knew that I have "2 Princesses" I really needed to update so here is a photo that I love...!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM....!!!

2009-02-28T07:18:00.002-07:00

How could you not love this woman...she is sooo great!! Havin' fun with Ellie at Karson's b-day party....And what a wonderful Grannie she is!!! she is definitely loved by my kids as you can see.

Mom I know you are looking at this...So I LOVE you and think you are VERY special and a WONDERFUL mom and grannie....!! :)

SNOW......!!!

2009-02-27T13:06:00.005-07:00

Last weekend we went four-wheeling again...and everytime it is FUN FUN...I took lots of pics. and so here are some....As you can see to the left Newell is happy that he hit his dad with a snowball as he was coming up the snow hill which was not easy to walk up!

Every one enjoyed going down the hill on the tubes, but getting a ride behind the 4-wheeler was super Fun...and we all tried that except Ellie....Jacob and Newell could've done this ALL day...I had to put a picture of Newell falling off..and poor Jacob fell of the tube right on his face...but it was funny... :)

Jacob got pretty good at walking up the hill and bringing the tube back also..it took him a few turns! And Newell posing with his tube...he always always adds to the entertainment...Below is poor Papa Berg gettin' hit with snowballs from Newell and Yes Papa Bradshaw also!!!

We love going out with the 4-wheelers and having fun with who ever comes along....this time we had FUN with both Papas and we missed the Grandmas! Above you can see that Ellie loved going down the hill, but of course who wouldn't if they were able to get a ride back up that big hill!! What a nice daddy to bring her back up and that wasn't the only time he did it....We all had a super GREAT time.....!!!

Jacob's "6"

2009-02-10T21:19:00.003-07:00

Wow...I can't believe he's already six...Jacob's Birthday was today and this morning he told me "see mom I am taller..!" Here's a few random pictures of him...We sure love this boy!!

Ohh...and Jacob has decided that when it is your birthday you are the one in charge of everything...so today he figured he was the boss and could do what he wanted!!

2009-01-27T16:44:00.003-07:00

HAPPY, HAPPY

BIRTHDAY!! (Babe, Daddy)

We Love you....!! And think you're GRRREAT!!!

How could we not love you look at one of your many

talents!! ;)

i love u -jacob

2009-01-21T21:28:00.004-07:00

Time flys!!....It's been a long time but after my last post being messed up and then I posted one of Jacob's first day of school...well then that one I deleted somehow....lets just say I ain't so good at blogging---Anyways here is a few pics. and I'll try and stay updated, but I won't make any promises.... ;)

Jacob loves to fix Ellie's hair...here is his latest creation...he does such a great job :)
(You can usually hear them in the other room saying "let's go show Mom")

Jacob is always wearing this cowboy hat....

2008-09-26T23:36:00.002-06:00

Oh Hell..So I thought I was doing my posts right with the start of our vacation to the end...and it turns out I didn't get them in the order like I had planned...Guess I still don't know what I am doing..Oh well!!

Multnomah Falls

2008-09-26T17:39:00.006-06:00

The first waterfall...We are standing in the middle of the bridge with Grandpa..

"The Berg cousins"

All three of them
The kids had had enough pictures!!

Mt. Hood

2008-09-26T17:33:00.005-06:00

She'll be comin' round the moutain...

All aboard!!

The pit stop..then we get back on and go back down the hill...with a load of lumber

Mt. Hood

Jacob and Newell in the upper deck of the caboose...

Jacob in deep thought....

The Zoo!!

2008-09-26T17:23:00.003-06:00

Drivin' the tractor....
The zoo had a dinosaur exhibit so of course Jacob wanted to check it out...The T-Rex was huge and scared the kids...So we got a pic. next to the long neck...The dinosaurs really did look real!!
Yeehaw!!
Ellie's dinosaur mask....
Dad wishes he got one!!

Another Game....

2008-09-26T17:10:00.004-06:00

Yahoo...!! They won again...
Our name in lights....

It was our anniversary (9 years) so we had it put on the marque

The glove outside the stadium.....

2008-09-26T16:52:00.002-06:00

A few more pictures down by the port in Seattle...

Before the game

Don't you just love the flowers Newell bought me for our anniversary....He really would have bought me some if we would have been home!!
The diner from "Sleepless in Seattle"

inside Pikes Market

GO SOX!!

2008-09-26T16:43:00.002-06:00

Night game...just a few pics.....and one of Manny before he was traded!!

Seattle....

2008-09-26T16:22:00.005-06:00

We were just takin' some pictures....

Doug and Jacob

(I love this pic.)

A group from Canada entertained us while we ate are lunch....

(Ellie of course loved it.... )

Standin' on the big round balls at the Space Needle....

2008-09-26T15:46:00.010-06:00

The end of July we drove to Portland, OR and Seattle, WA....for a week of fun with family....It has only takin' me 2 months to get pictures on my blog...I am the worlds worst procrastinater! Okay..let me rephrase that I just get things done on my time...Have fun lookin' at the pics..there are a lot ;)

JULY 08...OREGON FUN!!

2008-09-26T15:04:00.014-06:00

Sand in the City....

We went downtown Portland....
They were making sculptures from sand...

They were pretty cool!

Then we went over and ate lunch at this yummy place....and the kids got these cool hats!!

On the way home we stopped at this water fountain..we had a great time running through and gettin' wet!!
We all had a turn!!....Even though this red sign on the bench says "NO RUNNING"

2008-07-01T22:36:00.005-06:00

Couple more pics. from the sands...

(6/28/08)

So Happy.....

Dad and Mom...We love going
to the sands with them! We always
have such a great time...Perfect company..
and of course the kids get to be with "Papa and Gramas"
and they love it and so do Newell and I...

ANOTHER FUN DAY AT THE SANDS!!!

2008-07-01T22:03:00.002-06:00

Say Cheese...

(date wrong...6/28/08)

Making "Fancy" SpongeBob cupcakes...

2008-06-20T23:53:00.005-06:00

Jacob mixin' up the cake mix....
Ellie puttin' in the sprinkles....

The end result...

MAKE A WISH.....!!
Forget the cupcake!!....Yep..she ate the

icing instead...

That is why we made these "Fancy" cupcakes....
Happy Birthday, Belle!!

BIG "3"

2008-06-20T23:37:00.003-06:00

Ellie Belle turned three today...

Her first present of the day was this crown..

and she wore it most of the day

every where we went(including the store)....She tells

me shes a "princess" or "cinderella" often so of

course the crown was perfect!

2008-06-18T22:13:00.002-06:00

Here's my Princess!!

Jacob took this pic. and I just love it...

2008-06-18T22:00:00.003-06:00

Here's my Rockstar!!

2008-06-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

I finally got a blog after months and months of my sister telling me i needed too....and well I finally did back in February...and Wow its already June...and well lets just say it'll probably be a few more months before I get any pics....thats just how I roll! ;)