Christmas Checklist.

Things I had planned to do before Thanksgiving:

Buy all Christmas gifts for extended family...........................................done

Wrap and send out all Christmas gifts to extended family.....................done

Design Christmas card............................................................................done

Print out and address all Christmas cards.............................................

Buy and wrap all gifts for our little family .............................................

Buy stocking stuffers.............................................................................

Design boxes for gifts to friends.............................................................done

Finish boxes for gifts for friends.............................................................

Martha Stewart would not be happy with me.

But then again, Martha has never had one of these...............

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(This happens to be chocolate and not poop- although we have had those messes too.)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Extra, Extra!!!

Carli's shining moment on our local news. (Too bad she is the only one not smiling- not sure what that is about) Click Here to see the story (Sometimes it doesn't play right away- it is the story about Livingston school- if you need to click on it)

Thank You!

Happy Veteran's Day

To celebrate this year, Carli's school had a very nice program to remember Veterans. (Past and Present). Carli asked her grandparents for pictures and info and this is what we got back.

John Paul Jacobs (Jon's grandpa- the one he was named after)

Paul Jacobs (Jon's dad-and my new fav hottie- hubba hubba-lol)

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(I know that I have family who has served also- but I don't have pictures and I don' know their stories- I really wish I did)

Carli's class was chosen to give a special presentation. It was a sweet poem about veterans, in which each child said a line or 2. I think it was after the poem that the principal was talking about giving thanks this month and how 'Veterans' should be at the top of our list.

I think I was touched by seeing all the men an women who have served our country walk in. There were a couple of women, one had a sweet baby in her arms. There was a very old man in a wheelchair. There were the young men with beaming smiles on their faces and the old ones that had something behind their eyes that I couldn't quite figure out. I think it was humble pride.

The whole presentation made me think about what we have in this country and how beautiful it is.

Here is a story that I recently got in an email- although I have read it before, I am always touched by it.

Little Rock teacher Martha Cothren uses some unorthodox teaching methods in her social studies classroom at Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. But she gets her message across.
On the first day of school in September 2005, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal, and the building supervisor, she had all of the desks taken out of the classroom.
When the kids walked in for first period, there were no desks. They looked around and asked, "Where are our desks?"
The teacher said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them."
They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."
"No," she said.
"Maybe it's our behavior?"
She told them, "No, it's not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period. Still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period, same.
By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in the class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom. The last period of the day, the instructor gathered her class.
They were sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. She said, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily. Now I'm going to show you how and why you have the right to sit in this class."
She went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk.
They placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. By the time they had finished placing the desks, those kids, perhaps for the first time in their lives, understood how they got the right to sit at those desks. FREEDOM!
Their teacher said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly, to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk. Don't ever forget it."

The Silver Lining

(It really does happen to be silver) This car is really growing on me. Not that I didn't like it before- it was just really new and has sooooo many gizmos on it that I couldn't even figure out how to preset my stations. (Until just today). My fav part is that it has automatic doors that open with the punch of a button. It also has seats that heat up by themselves. I feel as though I am out of the stone age and away from cars that you have to open by yourself and heat with your own butt. (The horror!-lol)

It also has a sunroof. Why on earth does anyone need a sunroof in a minivan? The minivan is not sleek and "cool" like sporty little cars with sunroofs. The only reason that I would think it would have one is to open it up and say, Why me?? Why do I have all these kids."-lol At least now when I say it I have a better view than the felted roof.

The kiddos love it and Jon says it is fancier than his truck. I am a pretty lucky girl, I guess!!!

But my Fav, Fav, Favorite part is that it is NOT white. Growing up in Vegas, we always had white vehicles because white is the coolest (I mean temp wise) that you can get. As I got older- I realized that they are a LOT of white minivans out there. A LOT.

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You wanna hear a funny story... (I am sure you do.)

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Last spring I went to Costco. I had the little boys with me and had to hurry pick the other ones up from school. I ran to the van, threw open the door and went to toss in one of the boys when I took a look.

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Wait.... a.... minute............

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NOT my minivan.

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Embarrassed and not wanting to get caught opening someone else's minivan, I quickly shut the door.

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This set off the alarm.

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The mini van that was NOT mine was LOUD. I booked it over to our van (next isle over) and tossed the boys and everything I bought inside. I was returning the cart when I noticed that gobs of people were looking at the now ear-piercing screams coming from the OTHER WHITE MINIVAN.

(I think I acted just as confused as they were- "Yeah who's the dummy that set that thing off, cuz it sure is annoying!!?!? -Geez!")

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When we went to pick out a new van, we told the dealers what our needs were and then they asked if I had a color preference. I said , "Yeah- not white"

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Silver isn't my first choice, But hey, it's NOT white!!!

The Harley, My In-laws and Saying goodbye to Ol' White-y!

This weekend was like no other the Jacobs-6 have ever had. There was a lot of laughing and some crying. (okay- I think I was the only one that did the crying)

Where do I even start???

Last Sunday, Jon got a phone call from his family. His Uncle finds crashed Harleys and fixes them up. I guess there was an auction in Pasco that he bought a wrecked Harley at. Jon was asked to pick it up and hang onto it for a couple days. Jon's parents decided to come and get it to bring back to his uncle. The kids' primary program was also this Sunday so they decided to stay long enough to see the kids say their parts in the program.

I had it planned for quite awhile that I was gonna go to Portland on fri and do some tax-free Christmas shopping there. (And I had some personal business there also) My in-laws weren't due to arrive until later that afternoon.

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It was about 12pm when I started my shopping and after hitting Anthropologie (and feeling pretty swell about the sooooo cute $30 dress I got there)-decided to hit my fav. Goodwill (in the ritzy side of town).

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I had just pulled onto the highway when some strange light on the dashboard came on. I also noticed that our old white mini-van was not shifting gears like it should. (Oh! $#%&@!!!)

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I pulled over at a Schucks thinking that maybe I could have someone help me install......something.... if I had to and looked up what the heck the light on the dashboard meant in the manual).

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(Uh- Oh! ...Engine Trouble. Nooooot good.)

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Luckily there was a Firestone accross the street. I cruised over there and was told it would take about 2+ hours to fix. I was on the same street as my favorite Goodwill- so not a big prob.

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Called Jon and told him the 411.

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2+hours later I called Jon back to tell him that it would take 3-4 days and upteen dollars to fix the car. (And they aren't sure if the engine trouble is also causing the worsening electrical problems we are having lately- but probably not. (which would mean- more time and $ would have put into repairing it)

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When I told the guy at the repair shop that I lived in Pasco and needed to get home that day, he replied, (in his happiest voice) "Oh- I have been to Pasco. ("Nice bud, but it doesn't help me that YOU have been there.")

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Jon's parents walked in the front door just as I finished telling him the bad news. Jon hopped in his truck and sped on over to Oregon.

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I declared Jon my Knight-in-shining-armour who always rescues his princess. (Okay- you can stop gagging now-I don't care what you say- he is still my hero!)

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Long story short, we ditched our beloved old family mini-van that gave us soooo many memories. (Just left it right there)

We bought a new mini van the next day that has more dang 'bells and whistles' on it than a Vegas showgirl. (But that is a whole other post!)

My Love and many thanks to my in-laws who really saved the day. Thanks for watching the kiddos for us. You are amazing. (Next time you visit, I can promise you there won't be as much drama- Okay- maybe I can't promise that- after all- you have seen Jack-lol)

The Black Halloween

On Halloween Night 2009....

Nolan joined the S.W.A.T. team.

Carli was slick like a Ninja. Bridger moved through the fall night like a bat.Jack was all arms (in the candy) like a spider.Why they all chose black - we will ever know!

"We will do whatever it takes to get the candy!"

(Bwahahahaha!)

Kreative Kids!

What were you doing when you were 10? What were you into? Did you ever think about T-cells? Did you even know what they were? Do you even know now? (I didn't). My 10 year old has been into biology lately. He wants to know everything about the microisms that live in and make up your body.

One day he approached me with an idea for a card for his Dad. Although I thought it was cute- I didn't realize the deep meaning of his card. Without any help, he made one for Jon. Jon was so impressed by it. After he had explained to me what it meant, I realized that Nolan isn't only creative, but so, so, so smart!

It says, "You are the t-cell of my life" Jon explained it to me that t-cells belong to a group of white blood cells that protect your body. And that Nolan's meaning was that it was like his dad was protecting him.

I DO think it will be all the rage of greeting card companies by Valentine's Day.

In other news,

on Sunday before church, Carli made a Newspaper about the happenings of the Jacobs 6, entitled, "Family News."

(I will type out what she wrote in case you can't read it)

Nolan and Dad

Nolan asks dad to go home with him (from church) and he says No like he really means it.

Bridger

Bridger's first time eating a blaney (bologna) sandwich. The sandwich get's closer and closer and ......a bite.

(Carli's picture says, "Do you like it?"

Bridger says, "No, ewwwwwww!"

Jack

Jack's addicted to t.v. He is hypnotized and says goofy words like, "whooooooo, haaaaa"

Jack pushed the table (up to the tv) just to watch tv.

Mom

Mom, the hair mummy. The hair mummy is going crazy with Carli's hair. Carli tries to escape but the hair mummy wants to finish.

(I am using a hair straightener in the picture in case you couldn't figure that out- lol)

I didn't think we did that much on Sunday mornings. Apparently I was wrong!

For the Love of Decorating.

(It is now moved onto another little princess!)

My (only) Daughter decided that she didn't like her room. The sweet little girl room that I decorated and put some much thought, time and energy into decorating.When it was all said and done- it was probably a room more for me rather than my tomboy daughter. But I enjoyed it for 4 years and it was time to move on. She wanted a cool room- but the "unveiling" of that will be in another post. (There are a few details that I am still working on.)

So this brings me to you. If you are interested in all of this super girly and sweet bedroom decor, then be the first to call me or email me and I will sell it to you at a verrrrrrry gooooood price (in fact I won't let you walk away until we reach a price that YOU like). I know Christmas is coming up and this WON'T break the bank. What a better Christmas gift than to see your little girl in her french/ somewhat country inspired sweet room. (Please Don't comment on this post if you are interested) I would like to make this special offer to friends and family first.

I don't have any room for it all and would like to see another sweet pea enjoy her little room. If I gave it away to good will- I would get nothing. And if I put it one craig's list then I would have to sell each piece by itself ( if I even could sell all the pieces) which would break my heart as it goes all together so nicely.

(I will post a notice when it is gone. You still have time to call!)

Headboard

Cute linens and a curtain/ long valance thing

Assorted knick -nacks and wall decorations.


Wait a minute- I know what you are thinkin'. You are thinkin' that I could eventally have another little girl to keep it all for. My son has been feeling pretty bad lately and I also have been a little nausous too (other wise not too bad) My hubby said, Maybe your are preg-o. You know you are done having kids when you find yourself hoping that you have the swine flu and instead of being knocked up. (By the way- I'm NOT preg-o)

Wow!

I was conversng with my MOF girls (my online friends that I talked about before), when I saw this new thread posted with this song on it. It made me tear up. I wanted to share it with you to let you have the same chance at feeling the spirit while reading and hearing the words and looking into the faces of those faithful young men singing it. It is truly touching. I wonder how on earth I am gonna raise all my boys to be good and strong in such a bad world- It really is right there in the scriptures. I want my boys to follow the example left by the Lord's servants and I hope that they can learn how to be like them.

How can I be like my brother Nephi?and My father Lehi of old?How can I be like Captain MoroniIn the wars that were told?

How can I see foreverLike the promise to the three Nephites?I wanna be Samuel the LamaniteI wanna be Benjamin the WiseI wanna be like Abinidi Oh tell me how can I be like them?

How can I be like Alma the Younger,Strong servant of the Lord?How can I be like Mighty Ammon,Whose heart was his sword?

How can I be a stripling warrior,And learn to fight by faith?I wanna be Samuel the LamaniteI wanna be Benjamin the WiseI wanna be like Abinidi Oh tell me how can I be like them?

How can I be like my brother Joseph,When he prayed in the grove of trees?How can I have the strength that he hadAnd the love he had for God?

How can I be courageousAnd strive to choose the right? I wanna be Samuel the LamaniteI wanna be Benjamin the Wise. I wanna be like Abinidi I wanna be like Jesus Christ

Oh tell me how can I be like Him? Oh tell me how can I be like Him?

Double Book Recommendation!

Since I haven't had a book review in awhile- I thought I would post two of my current read favorites. The Hollow reminded me of Twilight with the intense love story- but as far as I know- there are no vamps in it. I didn't like the way it just ended- I didn't feel it was a very complete first book- but hopefully when the others come out they will flow well together. Certainly a good book to read this time of year! And the Maze Runner was soooo good. I think I will put it up there with Hunger Games. Maybe not as much action- but close and all the while you are trying to figure out the big puzzle of solving the maze. It is a very good first book in a trilogy.

If anyone wants to borrow my copies just let me know.

WARNING!! Guest Blogger: Alaska Trip

Hello everyone,

I have been given a RARE opportunity to be a guest blogger on our family site here. Will see how it goes and see if I am given this chance again. Hopefully this will be up to snuff and pass committee inspection.

Anyways.... to begin.... at the beginning of Sept, I, Jon (husband of the blog site master and father of the Jacobs 6), my brother Aaron and my father all took a trip to Alaska. The main goal was to shoot a moose (and maybe a bear) as well as have an enjoyable trip since neither of us had ever been to Alaska but had heard of all wonderous stories about the place. Needless to say the trip lived up to all our expectations, we had a great time, I managed to "catch" a moose as they say up there, Aaron really never got a chance to snag the bear he wanted but we all got back safe and sound however not without some added adventure. I have attached a series of pictures and text that somewhat describe our trip. Please enjoy.

To begin we took a flight into Fairbanks, then had this plane drop us off at a nice little village called Huslia. Nice ride.

View from the airplane ride. Notice all the WATER..... Good thing we have boats waiting for us in Huslia to take us to camp...

This is the boat dock at Huslia where we loaded up and went up river about 2 hours to get to camp or as I would like to say "The Hilton Suites". Notice the head nets on me and Dad. This is where we realized that the best preparation we made was to buy these nets to keep the gnats from driving us crazy.

Our Hilton Suite... Dinners included but the bathroom is down the hall...

Riverside view from our suite...

The first few days we saw a lot of neat country and a few moose. The leaves were just starting to change so it was really stunning views but it was still fairly warm. We would take the boat around the major river and then get out and hike around these open meadows looking for moose.


Another moose. Was still early in the trip so didn't really want to shoot one yet. Saw this guy swimming the river so we went and got a closer look in our boat. Pretty fair swimmers.That's me at camp. Good view of the small bug problem... Mainly just during the middle of the day. Insect repellent did nothing... I think the gnats and mosquitos actually liked it.
Picture of Dad next to the Koyokuk river. Just a little smaller than the Columbia.

BIG wolf track. Saw a couple along the river but never got too close to them.
This is Bullwinkle when we were calling him in. Saw him on Day 5 and decided he was the one. He walked up fairly close to us before he stopped here.This is Bullwinkle about 2 minutes later. After the shot he took off into the river for a swim but didn't make it to the other side. Took all four of us to get him out of the water. Oh Joy..
Finally on dry ground. Now all the work began. They take every piece of meat up there, which is alot.... Most all of it was donated to the locals and I had about 50 lbs shipped back to the states for us. Moose tastes pretty darn good. One of the better game meats we have eaten.


After the hunting was over we took a short trip up a small tributary "The Dokli" to do some fishing for huge arctic grayling. This is our lunch break. Fishing was unreal. That's our guide, Edgar, keeping the fire going. Great guide.
That's Aaron and me as we make our way back down the river. Notice the rifles still. Mainly for bear protection. Ended up we didn't see any big bears (grizzly, etc..) but did see a couple of black bears. Aaron wanted to bring one home but never got a good chance to take one.

Turns out that if a rock gets stuck up into the jet boat motor intake, it will strip the drive shaft and leave you stranded up the creek (so we made some homemade paddles to help speed our trip back down).
Also turns out that 35 miles of paddling takes longer than one day so we had to spend the night along the way back... but we had a tarp and a chain saw (hence gasoline thanks to our awesome guide who was prepared) so we were able to get a big fire going all night to stay warm/dry and keep the big bears away. Dinner consisted of what we didn't eat for lunch which for me was a smashed PBJ and good old SPAM... Yum Yum. I can't say that I sleep all that well on the bumpy wet ground but at least one side of me was warm for a few minutes at a time until I had to roll over. That's me and Dad working on the fire.
Next day got into some northern pike, so took a break from rowing and caught a few.

That's Dad happily rowing. Got back down to the main river the middle of the next day after about 14 total hours of rowing, 35 miles at roughly 2-3 mph per GPS. We were picked up on the main river after we shot three times in the air to signal. Needless to say there is no cell phone service up there and we had the only boat the would make it up the creek so everyone at camp pretty much just had to wait for us to get back. They were a bit worried about us being gone over night but realized stuff happens sometime. They said if we didn't show up by the next day they were going to send in a rescue party. There was one satellite phone at the main camp for the only communcation to town. We were glad to see the camp.. and our cots.
Once we made it all the way back into Huslia we were so excited to take a shower but as you can read, the local facilities were out of gas... The only way in or out was by small plane or by barge which is a 700 miles trip up from Fairbanks. Turns out the barge came the next day (there are only 2-3 barges per year).

We flew out the next day, spent a day in Fairbanks getting acclimated to civilization, then came back home.

That's it.... Hope it wasn't too long.