Ready and Rearin' to go at Half a Year

My little boy turned 6 months Friday. I came to this realization at 7:30 when we were getting ready to put the girls to bed. Instead we decided to through an improptu party in his behalf. I threw a batch of brownies in the oven and we called Mima and Pop-Pop to come over. I walked into the Living Room to see Jacob by himself sitting in front of his toys. But he wasn't paying any attention to the toys. Instead he was intently watching the Basketball game his father had left on. Later that night Jacob managed to reach the clipboard Jared had everyone's brackets on. Jared quickly took the clipboard from him and moved it beyond his reach. I had to laugh as I sat there watching Jacob stretch and reach until he inched himself forward enough to reach the clipboard once again. Watch out everyone, Jacob is ready and rearin' to make his picks! That is, as soon as he can talk. Here is a walk back through the last six months. They went WAY too fast!

Friends in the News

Check out April's edition of The Friend. There is a picture of the Westlake Primary right before they split our ward last November. Unfortunately for Alexandra the picture was taken right before she entered Primary from Nursery. The girls think it is great fun to see people they know in the picture. Katy is in a brown jumper in the front row far left. Tonya, Mom, and I were all in Primary so we are on the right side.

Lesson Learned

I have decided that on the Christmas Sunday this year my children will wear cute sundresses and sandals. I have come to this decision after two frustrating Holiday years in a row. I'm not a bing fan of snow BUT I do get cranky if there is a shortage of snow in December. Face it, its hard to get in the Chirtmas spirit when your in shortsleeves playing at a park. Yet, for the last two years it was been warm and balmy Christmas week. Likewise, it is even harder to feel the Easter vibe when you are digging out of the snow and huddling together to stay warm. (Yes, I know that the weather is not what Christmas and Easter are really about but lets face it it doesn't help our moods when the weather is uncooperative with Holiday plans!!!) For the second year in a row the cute Easter dresses were accessorized with shirts underneath. I did learn one lesson from last year, and I bought pink jackets to go over the dresses -the snow jackets looked stunning with the dresses last year :).. and forget about sandals. Our Easter footwear for the past few years has been a debate between snowboots or normal dress shoes and the accompanying cold feet. So, I have decided to work with the weather. On the Sunday before Christmas this year don't be surprised to see my children in pastel spring dresses (or vest for Jacob). Likewise, on Easter Sunday we will be sporting green and red velvet dresses and Christmas ties. If you can't beat it, join it.
Easter morning and a trip to the Rainforest on Good Friday:

Through the eyes of a 3 year old

Ever since I can remember, my family has picked brackets for March madness. Last night, Jared and I sat down with the girls to write down their picks. This is always an amusing event. If only life could be so simple. Usually their favorites are OSU (a given), BYU (to appease their Dad), UNLV (where Grandma & Grandpa Reed live), Tenessee (where Dustin is from), and Pittsburgh (where Pop-Pop works). It seems someone always picks some random team to go far (like the year George Mason surprised everyone after we laughed at Alexandra for picking them through several rounds).

I got the privilege of working with Bella last night. In her eyes Temple should go pretty far (and why not? she's learned all about them in nursery and knows they are special houses of God). Austin just moved to Tenessee which gave them a big plus in her eyes. The strange one was San Diego. We couldn't figure out why she kept picking them. But, when she asked me "When do I get to choose Dora?" San DIEGO suddenly made perfect sense. I was looking forward to seeing who would win Temple or San Diego, but was a little disappointed when, in the end Diego took the edge. Austin can be happy that he has such a big place in her heart. If things work out the way Bella would like Tennessee will win it all. Come to think of it, all the girls picked Tenessee to win it all. Go Austin!! Maybe I should use her mentality to pick next year. It would at least be more fun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

No, my calendar is not off a day, I know the 17th was yesterday but I didn't have a chance to post anything. Mostly because I spent a large portion of the day in the kitchen. I love St. Patrick's day. Two of my great great grandparents were born in "the old country". I've always been proud of my Irish heritage and love to celebrate. The Lepruchauns visited out house during the early morning hours. When I went to pour milk on the lucky charms for the girls it was green (not moldy, just tinted with the help of food coloring). Then when we went to play with friends and made egg salad sandwiches to share, the egg salad was green too! It was funny when Abby wanted to know if there was lettuce in her sandwich. When the answer was "no" she wanted to know why it was green. When we got home I made the cornbeef, cabbage and potatoes, Belfast biscuits, Shannon cakes, shamrock jigglers, green lemonade, and pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate and covered with shamrock sprinkles. I really hope that green food coloring is not harmful in large quantities!!! We all wore our green yesterday. (Even Jared!!!) Here is a picture of the kids in green and a few more cute pictures from the last few days:

Doesn't he look like a little leprechaun?

In his tribe PJ's

Sleeping Beauty

Xandra and Jacob reading

It"s the Most Wonderful Time of the year....

No, I'm not singing Christmas songs today. I'm singing about Spring. I Love Spring!!!!Spring has always been my favorite season. I love the feeling of hope and rebirth that accompanies the season after a long, cold, "dead" winter. I love the tulips, daffodils, lilacs, and hyacinths. I love watching the trees fill with buds and then magically burst open. I love the smell of spring and the feel of the warm breeze blowing into the area. I love hearing the sound of the birds. I love that I can start running outside again without freezing my lungs, ears, fingers, and toes off. My favorite primary song is "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" and it seems to perfectly sum up my feelings. I don't think it is a coincidence that this season pairs up with Easter. Easter also brings the message of re-birth and hope. Today I am feeling springy. Who cares that outside my window is still a blanket of snow several inches thick. Today I feel the hope of spring. I can hear birds. The 6 day forecast includes a 60 degree day. Easter is quickly approaching. The magnolia tree out my back window is laden with buds that will soon burst into beautiful white flowers. Last, but certainly not least, I'm going to hit the "publish post button", and then go for a run OUTSIDE!!!! (that's only possible cause Jared threw out his back really bad and is home recuperating- but everything good comes at a price. JUST JOKING!!)

Snow, a birthday, adventures, and MORE snow!

Happy Birthday Bella! Little Bella turned 3 this past week. She has been anxiously awaiting her B-day for several months now. We had promised her a party and she couldn't wait. Going to her friend's party the week-end before only fueled her excitement. I spent Friday in the kitchen preparing food... Candy lollipops for the gift bags, purple candied popcorn (specially requested by the B-day girl), a Dora cake - would that serve her friends, parents, and all the extended family?- better make some cupcakes too!

All day she kept coming and asking if it was time yet. "Tommorrow" I'd reply, all the while praying for her sake that the snowstorm sweeping through the country and headed straight for us, would magically miss us. No such luck! By Saturday morning there was about a foot of snow and several parts of the state were prohibiting people from driving. We didn't technically have driving restrictions but the snow was still falling and there were no signs that the plows would be able to hit residential areas anytime soon. (For the record the plow didn't come down our street until 3:30 and only because my mom needed to visit a quadrapelgic patient to help feed him so she called the city to plow the street so she could leave) Bella bounded out of bed thrilled that her friends would soon be on the way. Jared and I exchanged glances unsure of how we would break the news that her friends might not be coming. I half-heartedly finished the preparations feeling sorry for the little girl. Fortunately, the family and two of her friends were able to dig out and come ( A HUGE THANKYOU FOR EVEN ATTEMPTING IT AND MAKING HER DAY!!!).


Swiper stole the presents while we were making partyhats, but Map saved the day and told us were to go to find them. After crawling through a cave, and jungle, we arrived at the waterfall. We could see the presents but first had to use the fishing poles in Dora's packback to safely move the fish before we could go through the water to retrieve the presents. Even though our numbers were smaller than orginally planned, we had a blast. Although, we missed those who had drifts 4 feet up their garage doors and understandably couldn't make it.

Making party hats and Dora bracelets:

Walking like a crab:

The waterfall:

This week-end was also stake conference which was cancelled. On Sunday, instead of staying at home and keeping warm like most people, we helped Tonya load her U-Haul. I know, you're thinking who moves in the middle of a blizzard??? But thats the crazy Buchkovich family for you. Tonya had picked up the truck but was unable to load it Saturday. Hmmm, wonder why? Since Dustin was unable to catch his connecting flight into Cleveland until Tuesday, he flew back to Tennessee and drove up to get her, but she had to load the truck without him. Since he had to be back at work tomorrow we had to help her load even though it was Sunday.


Jared and Jacob drove to the house to help her load up. The girls and I thought it would be a fun adventure to walk through the snowy woods to Mima's. It was actually Katy's idea. IF she was a little older I'd be suspicious that she tried to kill me off for the insurance. Let's just say it was quite the work-out to pull Xandy and Bella on a sled through snow that was over knee deep is some places. Total snowfall was about 17 inches but that definately does NOT take into consideration the snow drifts. We made it though and had a fun adventure doing so.


Hope everyone else here had a warm, and relaxing week-end. You can be grateful you don't belong to the crazy Buchkovich gang.

Sledding Fun!

Fun in the Sun

Friday and Saturday we played in the snow. I didn't want Austin to move back south without having ever gone sledding so we went to a nearby park to have some fun Saturday afternoon. He absolutely enjoyed it. The girls thought it was fun that Mima and Dad went sledding since they're usually at work when we go. By Monday we were playing at a park without coats and kicking soccer balls around the backyard.




Tuesday evening we got a bad icestorm and schools were closed Wednesday. Today it is in the mid 40s but supposedly another storm is baring down on us. Hey, at least we can finally see the sun after months without it!! I'm going to post the sledding pictures as a slideshow since there are a lot.

Wide eyed and innocent

I do not allow our girls to have gum except on special occasions. Yet, somehow Bella and Xandra kept walking around chewing gum. I was not sure where they were getting it and kept scolding them. Today, Xandra turned on her sister and told me when Bella got some. Exasperated, I asked where she kept finding gum. Katy got very animated and replied "I know, I'll get it for you. The other day Bella asked me if I wanted some and I said 'sure', but then I saw she was getting into yours and I said 'NO WAY!' "(at this point Katy's eyes get real big and she makes a hand motion similar to an umpire signaling the runner was safe). It was really funny. Then Bella realizing she better do some damage control walks into the room and with a sorrowful look says "I'm so sorry mom, I'm so so sorry". It was hard not to laugh at the whole exchange.

Quick, Mom's not looking!

Tonya and her boys came over this afternoon. I had the munchies so I made some popcorn loaded with butter for a snack. Mason has severe dairy allergies and was not allowed any of the popcorn. I was concentrating on keeping Mason away from everyone's popcorn so he wouldn't get sick and was not paying attention to little Jacob sitting on my lap. When I finally turned and looked at him he had grabbed a fistful of popcorn and was trying to shove it in his mouth. He was not happy when I took it from him!! So, tonight Jared stopped at a store on the way home to buy him some of those Gerber Fruit Puffs that dissolve in the mouth. Jacob ate a few banana ones and loved them. Those will just have to do until he's old enough for the good stuff.