The mccombs

Three!!!

2011-05-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ethan turned three in April and wanted to have a Spiderman Birthday...so we did. Here is the Birthday Boy trying to figure out how to put up three fingers...hmmmmm. Blowing out his candles...

Awesome super hero presents...

Spidey even made an appearance!!!

The cake (I really liked how this one turned out...way better than the last one I did, thank you very much.)

Mom and Ethan and the "cake picture."

Happy Birthday to our Spidey!!! We love you Ethan!!!

My Annual Mother's Day Pics

2011-05-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Here are my annual Mother's Day Pictures. Once again...they were not really cooperating (besides Jenna). But I love that it really just shows their little personalities. Buddies...

The only really decent picture with Ethan...and I love it.

My sweet Jenna...

and the boys...I feel like a such a lucky mom to get to raise these kids. Today during church I was reminded how fast time goes while raising kids. It made me get teary eyed and appreciate all the little messes, snotty noses, bed time routines, dirty loads of laundry, soccer practices, baths, hugs and kisses, talks, play time, etc. even more!!! I am so lucky and blessed have these three amazing kids! And Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing Mom's out their (you know who you are) including my own Mom and Mothers in-laws!!!

Drew is FOUR!!!

2011-02-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

I Can't believe that my boy is four. We had a great day celebrating the day at Chuck e Cheese. Then a few days later we had another party with the Grandparents and cousins.

The cake I made...it did taste good...even if it looks like a total mess. Drew loved it though. Another Toy Story cake request. He was HILARIOUS to watch opening his presents. He loved everything he got and was spoiled rotten. New Buzz Lightyear, leapster games, Iron Man jammies, books, a remote control Iron Man...and more. What a haul Drew!!! Happy Birthday Bud!!! You are a pure joy and make life so fun!!!! I never know what is going to come out of your mouth but you make me laugh every........single..........day!!!

Drew's Frog Cupcakes

2011-02-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Well, this boy had a birthday back in January. Since he is a lover of all things green and slimy, I figured I would make hime frog cupcakes to take to school. He loved them and I was told they were a total hit!

Going to see the Komodos

2011-02-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

We were getting a little cabin fever here in the Inland Northwest so we decided to go on a little adventure over to Seattle and go to the zoo. Seattle was absolutely gorgeous and clear, BUT it was freezing cold. The wind was blowing hard and frigid. It didn't stop us from completeing our goal of seeing the Komodo dragons at the zoo! The kids were champs and we all had a blast! A trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete with out a visit to the African village. This is Jenna's favorite part and I get this shot of her every time we go. She is getting so big!Here is Drew having some fun in the indoor playland at the zoo. Thank goodness for this place, we were able to warm up and the kids burned some energy!!! We went to the bird house and bought a seed stick. All of these little birds were so happy to walk on your stick and have a treat. Ethan is a total freak when it comes to birds. We were once attacked by seagulls in a park once (shame on me for throwing out a fry) and he has never been the same...but I think he totally over came his fear. He did so well.Jenna loved it too! The birds were flocking to her stick...three landed at once on it until she screamed in the bird house. Ethan's favorite part of the zoo was the poision dart frogs. We had to go and buy a little momento from the souviner shop...a blue dart frog.

Here is Drew...totally loving the Komodo. I think he is saying "KOMO--DOOO!!"

This big guy loved getting his picture taken. He was a blast to watch and put on quite the show for us.

My favorite part of the trip...taking a little side trip to Red Mango to get a frozen yogurt. So worth it! Also my sweet husband drove me to Ikea to look around while he waited in the car with the kids. I told him I would be 20 minutes tops...are you kidding me??? An hour later I finally found my way out of the store. Next time we will all go inside. We all had a great time!!!

My favorite time of year...

2010-11-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Some fun times on a tractor. Drew found his pumpkin!

Jenna was happy as could be. We sent her into the maze by herself with my cell phone. I nearly had a heart attack. She didn't answer the phone and was out in 5 minutes...what the heck. Joel and I were certain she would play in there for at least a half and hour. I can't handle that stress. Forget when she starts to drive!!!!

Train rides in water buckets...sure!

Ethan finding Mom the perfect white pumpkin with his Ironman toy.

I LOVE FALL!!! LOVE IT!!! And I love Greenbluff. I always tell Joel that we could sell everything, quit his job, and move to the country and open a little orchard/farm and I would be so happy. Maybe when the kids are older. In the mean time I'll just happily visit and not do any heavy labor.

Halloween

2010-11-04T09:48:00.001-07:00

This year for Halloween I had a Buzzlightyear, Spiderman, and a Witch. We had a lot of fun carving pumpkins, going to the ward trunk or treat (and running out of tons of candy in 15 minutes because there were SO many kids there), and then letting the kids go through the neighborhood on Halloween night. They got a haul of candy and I think that I have eaten half-of it, but that is the beauty of the season, right?!

Really?

2010-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

Second grade!!! Really? Where has the time gone...Jenna was so excited for the first day of school. When I did the ritual morning routine of yelling downstairs to tell her to start to get ready, she jumps around the corner, all showered and dressed!!! What! It was only 7:10!!! That girl was the first one to the bus stop! Here she is...getting on the bus!

Bus...check.

Friends...check.

New outfit and more importantly...twinkle toes...check.

Cousin Garrett...check.

Traditional porch photo...check.

Crazy camera toting mom in sweats, boots, huge sweater and crazy hair at the bus stop...check.
READY FOR SECOND GRADE!!! I CAN NOT GET OVER HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS GIRL IS!!!

This year can go as slowly as it would like...please.

More Perfect Day Pics

2010-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here are my dirty-faced, frog-finders...Drew accidently dropped the bucket on the boat and we had 10 little frogs hopping all over...it was pure excitement.

Counting the frogs to make sure we caught them all...7,8,9,10. WE GOT THEM ALL!
Here is our captain...Rocky Balboa. What a water dog. I need to buy him a little life jacket though, he fell in on accident once and went tubing with Joel and Jenna.

My handsome hubs enjoying the water. It was so refreshing.

Phew! What a great day... Until next time Lake Roosevelt! THE END!

Perfect Day

2010-08-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Some days are good. Some days are not so good. And some are just perfect. This last week we were able to go to our most favorite lake, Lake Roosevelt. It just might have been our last day of summer...it was a gorgeous 91 degrees and the lake was G-L-A-S-S. Not to mention that the kids shown below were happy and so much fun. Ethan is a happy camper on the boat and is the best cuddle-bug on the boat too. I love this little guy!

Jenna is hilarious. She LOVES to tube. I took her and Joel and they went flying like CRAZY!!! She is fearless...Joel got off the tube and she wanted to go some more. So I took her really fast and the tube literally left the water and was flying through the air!!! She hung on and Joel and I couldn't believe our eyes. We died laughing at this little dare devil! She also took a try at wakeboarding and got up! It was awesome and I love that she tried her very best and never gave up!

The sequel to the movie "Snakes on a Plane" (I am sure you all saw that one...just kidding)..........

"Frogs on a Boat." The whole day I told Drew that we would go look for lizzards or something gross on one of the sandy and amazing beaches that Roosevelt has...and to my complete astonishment...we found frogs!!! Drew couldn't have been happier! He always tells me, "Mom, lizzards and frogs are in my heart." So of course I had to let him bring them home...but will soon be released back into the wild.

The lizzard boy himself...doesn't he look like he's in heaven. Who can say no to that little face.

As I was wakeboarding on the above mentioned glass...I just was so happy to see the ones I love most on Earth on that boat. My sweet kids and husband. I was just filled with so much gratitude for the life that I have been blessed with! I kept saying that the lake was like a little bit of heaven and so Jenna would say, "Mom, this day is just like heaven!" And I can't help but feel like it was...IT WAS A PERFECT DAY!!!

Sneak Peak for Natalie

2010-08-06T17:05:00.001-07:00

We did a quick photo shoot while my sister and her cute kids were in town from Las Vegas. I love these kids so much and they have the cutest little personalities...

Softball!!!

2010-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Jenna played her first season of fastpitch softball!!! I was so excited for her to play and an so happy to report that she LOVES it!!! She did such a great job and tried her very best. She was so cute too!!! I just wish I would have taken a picture of her in the field...what was I thinking.

Jeanna loved to cheer and sing for her team mates.

Grandma and Grandpa watching the newest generation of softball players...while Drew takes a nap.

This cute boy enjoyed running around and playing in the dirt. She was so cute and when she would hit the ball she would tell her coach, "My Mom was a softball player." She would crack me up and make me blush...what a girl.

Watch out Taylor Swift...

2010-07-17T23:19:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to catch up my blog a little...an how could I forget about Jenna's big moment in her school's talent show. She came home one day and told me that they would be having auditions for the talent show and that she wanted to sing a song. I tried to talk her into singing "Over the Rainbow" or something familiar...but she was adament that she sing her own song entitled, "Over the Hills." The funny thing is, she made this song up, but sings it the exact same every time. Well, I called her teacher and asked her if it was an audition in front of just a couple of teachers or the whole first grade. She said the whole first grade. I told her that Jenna could perform but we should probably just let her go that far...I know...I am a great mom. Trying to squish a little girls dreams. Well, long story short...her teacher was not there the day of auditions and my little star made it to the school talent show. Miss Jenna sang her rendition of "Over the Hills" in front of hundreds of kids and parents....a capella. I am so proud of how confident and poised this little girl was. I was always way to scared to do anything like that!!! She is so brave!!!She looked so cute, and did a really good job. We have a singer-song writer on our hands...watch out Taylor Swift!!!

Lyrics to "Over the Hills" by Jenna

I was waiting for you, on top of the highest hill

I was getting unpatient, so I went to find you

So I went over the hills, over the hills, over the hills

I went into the darkest forest, good thing I had a flashlight

Then I went to crocodile lake, there were crocodiles in crocodile lake

They reminded me of the tallest hills, so I went over the hills, over the hills, over the hills

Then I finally found you...so I took your hand and we went over the hills, over the hills, over the TALLEST HILL!!!

Okay...not word for word, but you get the point.

For Holly Sue

2010-07-13T23:15:00.000-07:00

I did my first family photo shoot for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's family. It was a total blast...for me anyway...here is a little sneak peak of my beautiful sis-in-law and her four adorable boys!!! I just love these guys!
What a great looking couple...no wonder their boys are so dang cute!!!

Family Pictures

2010-07-08T18:15:00.001-07:00

My mother in law hired my very talented and dear friend Marianne to take some family pictures of the McCombs Clan. Here are some favorites of my fam... Me and the Joelster.

Trying to get the kids to take a decent photo in the heat takes a lot of patience. I love Jenna's eyes in this photo.

This picture cracks me up because Joel doesn't like having his photos taken but was being a trooper...we were cracking up at the end.

And whoa-LA...my sweet family. I love them to pieces!!! Thanks Marianne!!!

THE HALF

2010-05-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Around Thanksgiving I got it in my head that I wanted to run a half marathon. I had been running to loose my baby weight and was starting to really enjoy it. I always enjoy a challenge so I though...hey, why not. Now for all of you that know me...this was not easy because I AM NOT A RUNNER. In fact I always told my sister Natalie that she was crazy when she ran cross-country in high school. I would sometimes follow her on runs on my bike and nearly die...so the thought of having to run it...well, IMPOSSIBLE!!! But I am happy to announce that I DID IT...I RAN (I NEVER STOPPED) A HALF-MARATHON!!! It was a challenge but I loved every minute of it!!! So here is a list of the top ten things I loved and learned about running a half marathon.

10. I loved the rush of running and passing and weaving around other runners.

9. I learned that there are two kinds of drinks being passed out: water and HEED (YUCK)!

8. I loved that they passed out gummy bears at mile 8 (kind of weird?).

7. I learned about the "runners runs"...self explainitory.

6. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED running along the Spokane River in the city in which I was raised and love so much.

5. I learned that it was not my new running shoes that made my toes hurt insanely bad (I have horrible feet and possibly bursa).

4. I loved running with my dear friend Cassandra and have developed a running friend for life!

3. I learned that slow and steady really does win the race AND that the winner of the full-marathon doesn't run...he freakin' sprints!!! Who was I to really think I would run next to him for a minute. Try a nano-second!!!

2. I LOVED SEEING MY AMAZING FAMILY AT THE END OF THE FINISH LINE...IT WAS HEAVEN SENT!!! ALL I COULD THINK OF THE LAST 3 MILES WAS...FINISH THE RACE SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR KIDS AND HUSBAND!!! THE REAL REWARD OF THE RACE, THEN GETTING TO RUN THE LAST 100 YARDS TO THE FINISH LINE WITH JENNA!!! THIS MIGHT SOUND WEIRD BUT IT WAS KIND OF SPIRITUAL.

1. I learned that I am a runner and ANYONE can be a runner!!! I learned so much about myself and my determination. This was a big goal of mine and was so happy and emotional that I DID IT!!!

Moving on up the blogger list...finally...

2010-05-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

After months and months of no blogging...finally a post...and a picture just to prove that we are still alive and doing well! So here is a little McCombs family update...

This was on Mother's Day. My most favorite thing to do is go to Manito Park with my kids, so that is what we did on Mother's Day. It was beautiful and green, but not many flowers. But there were Koi fish in the Japanese Garden, thank goodness!!! Drew would have been very disappointed. It is always an adventure between trying to keep the boys out of the ponds, "off-roading" with the double stroller down a very steep, dirt hill, and feeding the ducks--that were pre-occupied, so we just fed the giant catfish!

Joel Update: A miracle happened in the McCombs household this last month. After 4 years of waking up an going to work at 4am every morning...Joel was promoted at UPS to the Business Development team at UPS!!! This happened literally two weeks after he told UPS that he was putting in his 2 week notice. His bosses' boss talked to Joel and told him that he might want to reconsider and that opportunity for promotion could be anywhere from 1 year to 3 years, but it might be worth the wait. Amazingly enough, Joel decided to stick it out a little longer, and two weeks to the day is now an Account Executive at UPS!!! His first day was yesterday and he LOVES it!!! We feel extremely blessed!!! The best part of the job is that he can now stay up with me to watch Desperate Housewifes on Sundays!!! Just kidding...he does that anyway!!! Don't tell him that I told you that.

Another tradition of mine is to take a picture with my kids on every Mother's Day. They NEVER cooperate, but someday I will look back at these pictures and remember how crazy and fun (most of the time) they were when they were little.

Amber Update: After months and months of training, I will be running my first half-marathon this Saturday. Prayers would be appreciated (and needed). I am really excited. I just hope that whatever causes that extreme pain in my toes, possible Bursa, decides not to show up during the race.

I took this picture of Jenna a couple of months ago...I love it!!! I just need to figure out the picture editing thing and post some more of this little beauty!!!Jenna Update: This little girl is loosing teeth like crazy!!! The amazing thing about it is that she has me pull (rip) them out of her mouth! She is one tough cookie. She is LOVING first grade still and is participating in a running program at school where the kids keep track of how many laps that they do at recess. When I asked her how many miles she has done already her reply was, "Like 40 miles." Maybe 40 laps...but it was cute. She is also reading soooo well! She loves to draw and write stories about unicorns and pegasus'. When we were at Manito I told the kids that they needed to touch a Japanese fountain and put a drip of water on their forehead and make a wish. I asked Jenna what she wished for...a pegasus and to be rich. Not bad. She also asks questions like crazy and when you give her an answer she says, "Why?" and questions our answer which drives her mom and dad CRAZY!!!
Drew, my little "regalon"...or whatever that Spanish word for favorite is. Joel says that Drew is my favorite...and some moments he really is...I would like to bottle him up and keep him 3 forever! He can be soooo cute and funny...I just can't get over him. But then sometimes I would like to give him away...like this last Saturday when he knocked his pop over at Costco 2 TIMES...on a SATURDAY BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY!!! CAN YOU SAY CRAZY!!! I quickly remind Joel that all of my kids are my favorites...but I am enjoying Drew right now.

Drew Update: When he is not being totally sweet and oh, so handsome...you can find Drew running around in his underwear and snowboots. And if you can't find him in the house...just look outside on the trampoline. He loves dragons (we saw "How to Train your Dragon"), preschool, and fruit. He is looking forward to his Dad taking him to see "Iron Man 2"...which Dad has promised with out telling Mom. When Dad asks Mom, "Do you want to come?" I reply, "No, thanks. I don't want everyone to look at ME and say...why then heck did that MOM bring their THREE year old child to see IRON MAN 2!!! What kind of parent is SHE!" I will leave that up to Joel.

And last but not least is Ethan...there will be another post for Ethan...he is crawling all over me and demanding attention...stay tuned.

My Girl

2010-01-28T22:39:00.001-08:00

THIS BOY LOVES THIS GIRL MAKES A MOM HAPPY JENNA'S BUS STOP IS IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. DREW RUNS OVER TO THE FRONT DOOR AS IT PULLS UP AND YELLS, "MY GIRL IS HOME, IT'S MY GIRL!" WARMS A MOTHER'S HEART.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS MORNING MY HAIR LOOKED CAPITAL CRAZY WILD...DREW GOES, "MOM, YOUR HAIR LOOKS LIKE A...BUTTERFLY." EXPECTING THE WORD MESSY. THEN I SMOOTH IT OUT AND THROW IT IN A PONYTAIL AND HE GOES, "THERE, NOW THAT LOOK LIKE MOMMY." THREE IS A FUN AGE.

DREW IS THREE!!!

2010-01-25T16:59:00.001-08:00

DREW TURNED 3 ON THE 11TH!!! HERE HE IS GETTING USED TO THE FEELING OF HOLDING UP 3 FINGERS...A LOT HARDER THAN 2... WAY TO GO BUDDY!!!

HE IS EXCITED ABOUT HIS PRESENTS..."YAHOO" HE WOULD SAY...I WONDER WHERE HE GETS THAT SORT OF ENTHUSIASM (JOEL).

BAKUGONS ARE A HIT!!!

TURNING GREEN LIKE THE HULK!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

MOM GETTING OUT HER CREATIVE JUICES ON ANOTHER CAKE...DIDN'T WORK LIKE I WANTED...BUT DREW WAS HAPPY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!!

YOU CAME INTO THIS WORLD WITH A BANG...

AND YOU ARE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY!

WE LOVE YOU AND EVERY"BIG" THING ABOUT YOU!!!

THE OTHER DAY WE WERE AT PLAY GROUP AND I TOLD ONE OF THE MOM'S THAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOISE CONTROL WITH DREW (BECAUSE HE IS SOOOOO LOUD)...DREW THEN STARTED TO TELL ME SOMETHING AND AFTERWARDS SHE GOES, "HAVE YOU HAD HIS HEARING CHECKED?" YES. WE HAVE. AND IT IS FINE.

Our 2009 Holiday in pictures

2010-01-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

DON'T BE SUCH A POOR SPORT JOEL...YOU KNOW YOU LOVE THE GIANTS DEEP DOWN. BESIDES THEY DIDN'T DO MUCH WORSE THAN YOUR BRONCOS...JUST KEEPIN' IT REAL. JOEL WAS EXCITED TO SEE A COOL NFL SHIRT FOR ETHAN UNTIL HE SAW WHAT TEAM IT WAS FOR...CLASSIC. JOEL WAS HAPPY WHEN HE GOT HIS 50 INCH PLASMA THOUGH...

ALL IS QUIET ON CHRISTMAS MORNING...

THEN THEY AWAKE AND THE RACE IS ON...DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE ONE DREW IS HAPPY WITH A WALKING, TALKING DINOSAUR...AND SLIPPERS

JENNA IS ON A ROLL WITH NEW ROLLERBLADES, SHE IS PUTTING THE SPORT COURT TO GOOD USE...ZHU ZHU PETS SOME HOW LANDED UNDER THE TREE...AND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAFE!!!

We had a wonderful post-Christmas with my parents who were in Arizona visiting my sister over Christmas. We of course were totally spoiled by all of our Grandparents-McCombs, Marks, and Shields.

Ethan got his license to drive. WATCH OUT!!!

Joel caught the holiday spirit and we (meaning both of us-but mostly Joel) put lights on the house this year. We only blew the fuse two times!!!

TOTALLY A CHRISTMAS VACATION EXPERIENCE FOR US...WE HELD A LIGHTING CEREMONY WITH THE KIDS...THEY DID LIGHT UP FOR A MINUTE...THEN GOES THE FUSE...PRETTY FUNNY.

ANYHOW...I AM TIRED OF UPLOADING PICTURES, SO THIS WILL HAVE TO DO FOR THIS PAST CHRISTMAS....HAPPY POST HOLIDAYS....ONLY LIKE A MONTH LATE, OR SO.

Holiday re-cap

2010-01-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

Well, it was a very eventful holiday season and I have to say that we had a blast but I am glad it is over. So here is a little re-cap of what kept us busy during the 2009 holiday season...

Jenna-7

Jenna, Drew, and Ethan--such a classic picture. Jenna happy, Drew picking his nose, and Ethan not cooperating. Pretty much our life.

Cute pic of Drew-2.

I started off the craziness of the holidays with My Mom and sister Natalie. We all braved the crowds and did some Black Friday shopping. We couldn't sleep the night before so we decided to go to Toys R Us since they opened at 12am. I thought for sure that there wouldn't be anyone there...man was I WRONG. We ended up pulling an all-nighter!!! We were CRAZY but not as crazy as the lines we stood in!!!!

We made a long and cold trip to the North Pole the day after Thanksgiving to make sure that Santa had put all the kid's names on the "Nice List" and sure enough...he did!!!

We went with the Marks and had a great time!

Pictured Me, Drew, Jenna, Joel, Ethan, Scott and Asher, Cassie and Pheonix.

My best friends Jeana, Adrienne, and Marianne (who lives here) all came into town so we had to go to PF's to celebrate!!!

Santa came to our house and spoiled us rotten!!! --I got an awesome new Canon Rebel xsi camera!!! I have wanted one for years and Santa surprised me with it!!! I was totally telling my Mom how Joel hadn't gone out and done any shopping--really he hadn't--but to my surprise he had after he gotten off work one morning and she totally knew about it.

We stayed home all day on Christmas (which is a first) and I made my very first Turkey. I was surprised when it turned out and was edible. That was a prayer answered seeming we got it two years ago from UPS.

We saw some some movies...Avatar and The Princess and the Frog (for the kids of course).

And really just spent it with friends and family...no better way!!!

ESCAPED!!!

2009-12-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO KEEP A 19-MONTH OLD LITTLE BOY TO STAY IN HIS CRIB??? REWARD: ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!

I SWEAR THIS IS WORSE THAT WHEN HE WAS A NEW BORN...HE GETS UP NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGH THE NIGHT...HE WILL BRING ME HIS CLOTHES, TOYS, DVDS, ETC.

I SPANK, HOLD, REPRIMAND...IT IS A GOOD THING HE IS SOOOO CUTE OR THE PUNISHMENT COULD BE WORSE!

I AM EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!

QUICK STORY

2009-11-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

THE OTHER NIGHT DREW ASKED FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF BROWNIE...

TO WHICH I REPLIED, "WHAT IS THE MAGIC WORD?" (EXPECTING PLEASE)

HE QUICKLY REPLIED, "ABRA-CADABRA!!!"

HE STILL GOT THE BROWNIE...

My top 10 list from Mouse Invasion 2009

2009-10-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

10. Getting to talk to your sister for 2 hours in the wee hours of the morning while you mouse hunt...thanks for the moral support Natalie!!!

9. Gives me something to blog about...(not that Joel's birthday bash was a total blast!!! I'll do that one next)

8. Having a conversation starter....example..."Hey Amber, how are you doing." My response, "Oh, fine. My house is just being over ran by mice...yada yada."

7. Having a good story to tell..."Do you know what happened to me last night!!! I was sitting in my recliner in the living room facebooking when mice started to pour out of my kitchen!!! I was shocked. I got a flash light and started to investigate. I left my computer on the recliner chair arm when a mouse went flying through the air and knocked it on the ground!!! The mice were everywhere!!!"

6. I use to like Ratatouille the movie...but now it just creeps me out.

5. This is the extreme that I have to go through to have my Mom come and stay at my house!!! Eat your hearts out Jennifer and Natalie!!! Jealous!!! I have a great mouse killing machine of a mother.

4. The feeling that I can eat whatever I want...including pre-mature Halloween candy because "I AM IN A CRISIS" I think I eat my way through problems my some times. Ohhhh, and Azteca Nachos yesterday.

3. My son Drew thinks that helping me "find" and pick up the mouse traps in the morning is like a great Easter Egg Hunt and says "Mom this is the coolest"--kind of weird

2. My house is cleaner than EVER!!!!

1. Getting great feed back and support from everyone of you!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have loved the phone calls, messages via blogger and facebook! Your personal stories and advice/comments made me feel like I would make it through the mice invasion of 2009 and guess what!!!! I THINK IT IS OVER!!!!

FYI: Wednesday night only one trap was set off my a mouse but he got away injured...Last night I caught a three footed mouse...making me believe that he was the last one...hopefully!!! I will continue to set traps for a while...but I think I am out of the woods!!!!! YEAH!!!!

And just because....last night I took Jenna to her soccer practice/scrimmage game. I told her that if she scored a goal that I would buy her a chocolate ice cream cone. (Bribery never hurt, right!?) Well, during half time she raised her hand in the team huddle and told her coach, "Coach, coach!!! I think I am going to pray to Heavenly Father that I score a goal!!!" It is times like these that I wished we lived in Utah. Ohhhhhh the faith of little children!!!!

Divide and conquer

2009-10-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

I consider last night a success. After putting the kids to bed, Joel, my Mom, and myself took ourselves downstairs to watch The Biggest Loser. I had set 20 traps in the kitchen, laundry room, and pantry. Within about 20 minutes we had a mouse caught. Within another 20 minutes another!!! It looked like this was going to be a good night.

Anyways, after TBL Joel went to bed and my Mom and I waited in the living room to see if we could spot some action. I mean, after last night how could we not!!! Sure enough two mice jetted their way across from the island to the fridge. But to tell you the truth it was really slow (that is sooooo good). Especially since I fixed a hole in the wall in the laudry room that some of the mice might have been living in. While we were sleeping we caught two more total making our total for the night: 4 mice.

That is exactly half the number caught last night, meaning we are dividing and conquering!!!

FYI: I feel soooooo much better today. I got a whole nights sleep. My mom helped sooo much and bagged all the mice. What a Mom, huh!!! I just know that the problem is almost fixed!!! I am happy!

Because you are probably dying to know...

2009-10-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

final count of dead mice last night: 8

total since mouse invastion: 10

total hours of sleep last night for me: 3

number of exterminators met: 1

number of mouse traps set: 20

my sanity: zero

fyi: my mom is staying the night to be my moral support since last night was so horrible. the exterminator came out today and basically said I am doing everything that they would do and that major concerns are black widows and hobo spiders...whatever. The hole is the side of house in closed...hole in laundry room fixed...let's hope they come out tonight and see the presents I bought them today...nothing like handing the grocery store cashier and arm full of mouse traps and saying "it is as bad as it looks."

Mice invasion 2009 update

2009-10-19T22:10:00.000-07:00

Well, we spent all of today cleaning and cleaning some more. You know the fun stuff like under the washer and dryer, behind the refridgerator, etc. We found quite a bit of mouse poop and our house is spick and span clean. Now we can trace the mice so we can sucessfully set traps.

Just a note: I am sitting down in my living room facing the kitchen. I have just witnessed three mice run across my kitchen under the refidgerator. I have noooo idea what to do. They gross me out like nothing I have ever experienced before. My stomach is in knots. One is peaking around the corner like they know that I am here. It is sooooooooooooo sick. Joel says to just let the traps do their work. I feel helpless and totally intruded upon. I think that one is stuck on a trap. One just made the corner to the laundry room. I feel like the old lady in Ratatuoille. You know what I mean????

Anywho, I just woke up Joel and set four more traps. I just hope the kids don't get up in the middle of the night. Poor Joel, he has to get up soooo early to go to work and I am keeping him up with these mice!!!

We found the hole that the mice came in out side and filled it with steel wool. Steel wool. Sounds like a good rock band. Hope, hope, hope that it works. Then we filled it with insulation spray. I am loosing it. Because to tell you the truth...day is good, night is horrible. From Dark until Dawn...dark until dawn baby. Thanks for the support though.

A trap just went off...got to go!!

Hickory, Dickory, Dock...

2009-10-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

and you know the rest...let's just say that I have a new perspective on this guy. It started around 11 o'clock on Joel's birthday when we had our good friends Mike and Marianne over. We were sitting in our living room when Mike spotted a mouse in our kitchen. I could not believe it. But sure enough out he came again. We was running through a hole by our dishwasher and coming thorough a hole under our sink (where the garbage is). Anyways...my Mom was keeping our kids for the night at her house for Joel's birthday so Joel and I ran down to Wal-mart and bought one trap because that is all that we had...one stray, random mouse. SOOOO WRONG!!!!

Last night, Sunday evening Joel and I were enjoying Desperate Housewives when I heard a sqweak. Then there was scratching. I thought I was just being paranoid...because I now am. I investigated more closely to find a mouse behind our refridgerator, a mouse under the sink, and a mouse in the laundry room (all surrounding one major wall). This wall was also scratching--that is right MICE IN THE WALLS!!!! Joel and I were soooo creeped out!!! Joel went to Wal-mart again and bought multiple traps. He came home, set traps, and we got back to our show. I was googling mice invasions, of course, and Joel looked over at me to see a mouse run right behind me!!!! FREAKING OUT!!!! We got out a broom and tried to kill it but it was jumping and sooo fast! We tipped all the couches over in the living room and it looked like a war zone...worse yet...we scared it down stairs!!!! I watched it jump all the way down stairs and chased it but it was too late. So now we have one downstairs and a bunch in the laundry room wall.

To make matters worse...Drew is allergic to cats and peanut butter. Peanut butter is the most effective way to set a trap and cats, well, you know. We tried to have Rocky chase the mouse...but no luck!

So it really is the happiest place on Earth...

2009-09-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

Disneyland...the main reason for our Southern California trip. We did save the best for last. We had the best time in Disneyland. It was extremely hot...I mean like 105 degrees but thankfully most of Disneyland's rides are air conditioned. Apparently we went on a great week too because it was a black out week...so there weren't that many people there...for Disneyland standards of course. But we were able to get onto rides easily and quickly...besides waiting in line for 2 hours to meet three very important Princesses. But we met lots of famous people and animals and gave lots of hugs... Drew loved Tigger and it seemed that Tigger loved Drew too!!! Really cute.

Drew's wave just cracked me up...Can you see me Pooh bear????

Here is tigger again...sorry so random and I don't have that many pictures on the iphone because I bought a couple of disposable cameras and used them most of the time.

Here is Princess Jenna with her Tinkerbell doll that she used her "piggy-horse" money to buy. Here is a story that makes me so proud...we asked Jenna what she wanted to spend her 27 dollars on and this is her reply, "I don't know...maybe I can buy Drew a Buzz Lightyear toy." I just about cried. This girl is so thoughtful and sweet. We love you Jenna!!! But this is Jenna after waiting in line for 2 hours in extreme heat to meet Aurora, Snow White (who we loved), and Jasmine. It was sooo cute how they were all in character!!! We also met Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow and it was soooo cute. Loved that!!! Then when we were at California Adventure we met Cinderella!!! What LUCK we had!!! It was sooo great. She was so pretty and nice and she told Jenna that her eyes reminded her of her own and that she looked like Cinderella...they really did look alike. Jenna was in HEAVEN!!!!

Drew of course met "manly" characters like Woody and Buzz. Another great story is that on our first day at Disneyland we ran into Buzz. Drew was so excited and ran up to him and gave him a hug and a high five. Then later we were a little lost and Joel and Drew ran into Buzz again. Joel asked Buzz and his helper where Buzz's Astroblaster ride was...Buzz took Drew by the hand and walked him to the ride. Drew was soooo proud!!! He had his little chest out and the biggest grin on his face. It was the cutest thing in the world.

Here is Drew and Mom at the ride. Joel taught Drew how to salute Buzz and he would say "I'll do it Buzz." It was so funny. People standing in all the lines got the biggest kick out of this kid and his wild and fun personality.

He wasn't always sooo lively...he did a little of this and a ton of playing... but it cracks me up how he sleeps with his arms behind his head like Joel.

Miss Jenna at the Princess castle...the best was the fire work show that they put on at night...soooooo amazing!!! They choreograph the fireworks to Disney music around the castle and even have a real life Tinkerbell on a zip cord twirl around the castle!!! Too amazing...they have a Dumbo too. Really cool.

Jenna with Jasmine...all my other pictures are on actual film...

The castle at night... Joel and I have agreed that next year we go on a cruise--just the two of us--less walking, packing, sweating. I am sooo exhausted but we really had the time of our lives!!! I was afraid that maybe the kids wouldn't necessarily remember Disneyland but when I went on It's a Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean my childhood totally flashed back at me from when I was 8 and I totally felt like I had been there before. I hope that my kids will feel that too when they are older and experience the magic that really is Disney!!! It was great!!!

Some other highlights of our trip...

EATING AT THE BLUE BAYOU RESTURAUNT--TOTALLY WORTH THE CASH FOR THE MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH

SPACE MOUNTAIN AND THE TEA CUPS AND FINDING NEMO...OF COURSE

WATCHING JENNA AND DREW EXPERIENCE ALL THE RIDES

PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN

GOING ON BUZZ LIGHTYEAR'S ASTRO BLASTERS 15 TIMES...REALLY

PRETENDING THAT I WAS AFFRAID OF THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDES AND HAVING JENNA TELL ME..."IT'S OKAY MOM, I AM RIGHT BESIDE YOU"

MEETING THE DISNEY CHARACTERS

PINKBERRY...DID I MENTION THAT BEFORE

LAUGHING AT OUR KIDS WHEN THEY DANCED AT THE STREET PARTY PARADE...ESPECIALLY JENNA WHO HAS TOTALLY "RAD" BREAK DANCE MOVES

GETTING OUT OF CALIFORNIA BEFORE THE FIRES GOT REALLY BAD...DID I MENTION THAT WE HAD REALLY GOOD LUCK ON OUR TRIP!!!

COMING HOME AND SEEING ETHAN...OH HOW WE MISSED YOU...IT WAS LIKE A LONG LOST REUNION WITH THAT LITTLE GUY AND HIS SIBLINGS...HILLARIOUS

Seaworld and a day at Coronodo Beach

2009-09-02T15:57:00.001-07:00

These are in no particular order because I am still using Joel's laptop and it drives me crazy...anyway. Here is my mermaid. She thought it was pretty fun to be buried in the sand, and I thought it was pretty fun to make her into a mermaid with mermaid "seashells" and a tail. Joel didn't like the shells...but come on!!! You can't really see the awesome craftsmanship...I am just joking here. Joel was so proud of his sand castle...I think it might even be his first...I don't know. The sand was great...it was like light brown sugar.

Day three was Seaworld. I was sooo excited for Seaworld and while we all loved it...it wasn't quite what I remembered. We did get to feed some sting rays...that was interesting...they are like vacuum cleaners. The Shamu shows were neat and the dolphin show was pretty funny. They introduced a family...a mom, dad, and little girl. Well they staged it so the "mom" fell in the tank with the dolphins. I WAS DYING!!!! I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD I WAS CRYING! Unfortunately it was just staged. I am weird like that...I think it is the funniest thing when people fall or get hurt (nothing really harmful). The trainer was a really good actress...but new it was staged when she was balancing on the dolphin's nose :)

Don't judge...it was soooooooooo stinkin' hot.

Another nice San Diegoian offered to take our picture...I didn't want to but she was just too NICE!!!

Shamu was really amazing...they do a night show that really was the best called Shamu Rocks...really worth seeing. Joel and I were a little disappointed in the shark aquarium...but oh well--the kids loved it. Again we were there at opening til close...another long day.

The next day was the beach day. We then drove up the pacific highway to Anaheim. We checked into our hotel and then went out to dinner with our friends the Smiths. After dinner we hit up Pinkberry...this might have been the highlight of my trip and I am trying to talk Joel into opening one here in Spokane!!! Ohhhhh how I love you Pinkberry...too bad I didn't get a picture of you...original with coconut, mangoes, and sweet, sweet strawberries...I am drooling now.

Day two...the zoo

2009-09-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Of course we had to visit the world famous San Diego Zoo and it really did not disappoint!!! Here is Drew being his monkey-self. One funny story...they had this street performer who was painted green and covered in ivy. She was on stilts and walked very "viney." Well, she started walking toward us and Drew was in the stroller freaking out...and she wouldn't stop coming at us!!! Finally we got out of her way. The rest of the trip Drew wouldn't stop taking about the scary green monster. I told him it was just a girl dressed up...then it was the scary green "gwal." The best part is that I asked Drew how she walked...he did it perfectly...Joel and I cried we were laughing so hard. Drew is soooo funny.Me with my kiddos. They were sooo great durning the trip. Jenna and Drew were buddies the whole time...it was great!

Jenna the monkey girl. I loved the gorillas, and monkey exhibits. It was really an amazing zoo with Polar bears, pandas, you name it...they have it. We were there from 9am to 7pm...it was a long day!!!

Southern California Fun

2009-09-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived our annual vacation. This year we went to Southern California and did all the things a family with a 6 year old girl and a two year old boy would do...(my Mom kept Ethan the entire time we were gone so really she made this vacation possible...thanks Mom.)

and we did a few things that a 30 year old man and a 27 year old gal wanted to do too!

First off...we made it to the airport, clothes...check, underwear...check, toothbrush...check, camera....are you kidding!!!!!! WE FORGOT THE CAMERA...I REMEMBERED THE CHARGER FOR THE CAMERA...BUT NOT THE CAMERA. So many of these picture are thanks to Joel's iphone.

We arrived in San Diego and can I just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!

That night we went to a Padres game and had awesome seats. We were not going to see the Padres but the Carninals!!! It was AWESOME. We had great seats...thanks to my parents for Joel's graduation present--tickets to the game. Joel and I can now check Petco Park off of our fields to visit. It was such a nice park...not too big and really family friendly. Actually I felt that San Diego was family friendly...everyone was soooo nice!!! I told Joel now I know where we are going to retire...and one of the first people we saw at the San Diego airport was Brett Boone...a blast from Mariner's past.

Livin' on a Prayer

2009-08-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Jenna's turn to say the bedtime prayer...

this is part of it...

"please bless that I will get a baby sister (pause) and I am serious."

Way to keep the faith Jenna...but that prayer is not going to be answered anytime soon!!!

Summer Lovin'

2009-07-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than summer time! I love it...

boating, long days, bike rides, baseball, swimming, Popsicles, yard work (I admit it, I like it), BBQ, the South Hill Water park, playing with my kiddos! I love summer! And we are counting down till Disneyland!!! Yeah!

Tonight was a great summer night. I made delicious steak and chicken kabobs...soooo good...here is the recipe...you will love it, promise!!! BBQ makes all the difference too...

1 1/2 c. saturated oil

3/4 c. soy sauce

1/4 c. worchester sauce

1 1/2 Tablespoons parsley

2 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon pepper

1/2 c. white wine vinegar

1/3 c. Lemon juice

1 teaspoon Garlic powder

Add veggies and meat to the marinade...it is delicious...my favorite is chicken, steak, and pork. Don't forget veggies...sweet onion, green and red peppers are to die for!!! Let me know if anyone tries and likey!!! Joel and I could eat this every night!

Then we went for a leisurely bike ride around the neighborhood...Jenna complained a lot...boys loved the bike trailer. Then I finished off the gorgeous night weeding the front yard and Jenna and Drew ate Popsicles and made a rocket ship out of an old cardboard box. Why do I even spend money on toys...really???!!!

These are the dog days of summer!!! So tell me...how is your summer going??? What are you lovin'???

You don't see that everyday...

2009-07-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

A hot air balloon literally flew across our backyard on Monday. The kids jumped up and down on the trampoline waving and the people in the basket waved back and yelled "hello." It was pretty funny. This picture was when it had already passed by...I missed it buy a couple of minutes. Speaking of air balloons...we took the kids to see the movie "UP" in 3-D and totally recommend it!!! These two crack me up. Meet Joel's chair. It is the most comfortable thing in our house...probably. He falls asleep in it all the time and so does Drew. These two crack me up...oh...speaking of cracks--check out the cool new cast on Drew's wrist. Thanks to a swivel office chair and a dare devil son...we now have a broken wrist. Isn't that a perfect equation. It was quite the ordeal getting the cast on but he really got excited when we told him it was a laser wrist band like Buzz Lightyear (Drew's hero). Now he runs around pretending to shoot people with it. I just don't get boys sometimes.

Other happenings in the McCombs' lives....

*Joel and I are playing slow pitch softball (that would be an amusing post)

*Time on the boat

*New church callings

*Trip to Seattle--didn't even get to that!!!

*Running, chasing, cleaning, sprinting, feeding, did I say cleaning--after kids.

And that is about it!!! Now I think we are pretty much all caught up!

It is official...

2009-07-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

he is finally done with college!!! We had a big BBQ party with friends and family to celebrate!!!Yeah!!! Congrats Joel on all of your hard work(and completed basketball courses)! We are soooo proud of you! (Although we have yet to receive his diploma in the mail) I am sure it is on it's way!!! wink wink It was sooooooooooooooooo bloody hot!!! But totally worth it!!! His major was one of the first to be announced so we made him rebel and ditch the rest of the ceremony.

His proud parents...

his proud wifey...

Now the hard part...finding a job!!!

Just because they are cute...

2009-07-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some un-sequenced picture...Ethan enjoying the first part of the summer on the trampoline with a mo hawk. I just think he is the cutest.

Jenna lost her first tooth!!!! She was such a trooper and let me pull it out and didn't even flinch! You know you have a cool bus driver when the first thing you say after loosing a tooth is "I can't wait to tell my bus driver!" And sure enough she did! The second tooth came out shortly after the second. And the permanent teeth are on their way. Let's just say we are thankful that Uncle Brandon is going to be a Dentist. Can we urge you to continue on to Orthodontics?????

On Mother's Day I had the brilliant (sarcastic) idea of heading out before our 1pm church and get some shots of my kids...after all that is all I wanted for Mother's Day...a nice photo of my children together. Let's just say...not a Sunday activity. We were lucky we even made it to church. But they are still cute even if they don't hold still or cooperate.

My boys...

What the.......................just one picture please!!!!!! I need to hit up kiddie kandids or something.

The beauty...isn't she gorgeous!!!

Drew the super hero!!!

2009-07-02T00:02:00.000-07:00

So what if he perfers to wear his underwear on his head!!!!
Drew...you are one of a kind!!!!

This little man turned 1...

2009-07-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

Ethan turned 1 on April 18th...I can't believe that my little guy is one already. We had a theme of a carnival/carousel for his party. Here is the cake I made him. The birthday boy and his candle...My sweet little man the day before...we went to Riverfront park for a play day. He loved it!

His first time down the famous Red Wagon slide!!!

His first carousel ride with Daddy. We love you E-man!!!!

Jenna the 1st grader

2009-07-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

This little lady graduated Kindergarten!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU JENNA!!!!

Here she is with her teacher Mrs. McNeice...we loved her so much...what a great teacher!!!! Jenna is so excited to be a first grader and go to school all day!!!! And you have to love her pose...she is such a performer and wants to be like "Hannah Montana" when she grows up. She totally rocked the kindergarten graduation program and knew all the words and would even cover her classmates mouths if they were singing when it wasn't their turn. You can tell she is a big sister!!!

HAPPY DAY!!!

2009-07-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well, after months and months a new update. I know you have all been dying to know what the McCombs have been up to lately...(totally joking)...that is the thing with this computer thing you can never sense sarcasam, dang it. Anyway...it is a happy day. I figured out how to download pictures on Joel's laptop since my PC is still sick, therefore I can now produce a decent and worth while post...maybe.

Hold onto your hats because here we goooooooooooooooooooo......................

It is always a good time when this gal (Adrienne) comes home from Chi-town...Marianne, Adrienne, and I had a great time eating at PF's, Ben and Jerry's, and people watching--not to mention the sticker RV...what the heck Spokane???

Two of my bestest friends...I love you girls!!!

Come back sooooon A.J.!!!

Trip Advice

2009-04-30T22:36:00.000-07:00

I need some trip advice...we are headed to Disneyland this summer and I am wondering if anyone knows a good place to stay in San Diego??? Any other advice is also appreciated!

On a quick note Jenna today said to me...

"Mom, you know that in England they have Princesses, Princes, and Queens."

I said, "Yes, I know."

She replied, "We don't have those in Spokane city...we only have Principals and food we like."

How true.

My top 10 things...

2009-04-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

of what we have been up to.

10. Drew is off the binki...we couldn't find it one day and the rest is history...finally. I was soooo tired of hearing other people tell my child, "Get that plug out of your mouth."--one of my biggest annoyances

9. Jenna is playing soccer and loving it...she even scored a goal last week!!!

8. Ethan just turned one and has been walking for the past 2 months...I will post later but my desktop computer is down...so I am using Joel's laptop.

7. I have been running and running and running...but am taking a little break at the present moment. I have lost most of the baby weight.

6. We got our master bathroom tiled and it looks great...good bye carpet...who puts carpet in a bathroom???? REALLY!!!

5. We discovered a leak from the shower and now we have to rip out the shower and try to fix the leak and the moldy sub-floor...by we, I mean the builder...thank goodness.

4. Joel is in his last quarter of college...YEAH!!!!

3. I am going to be playing on a women's slow pitch softball team this summer...wish me luck. I am really excited to tell you the truth!!!

2. The sun is starting to shine around here and is feeling a little like spring, even though it snowed a couple of days ago...

1. Still want a vacation...to go here again please with this guy...

Tahiti --Circa 2006 Honeymoon...ahhhhhhhhhhh...I need warm weather STAT...........

REALLY good news

2009-03-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Doctor just called...the C-Diff is gone!!!! Hip hip HOORAY!!!! The blood work is normal!!!

Now we can't blame his crankiness on the Diff anymore...good luck with that Drew.

March in Summary

2009-03-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

March has been an interesting month. It always seems to be.

On the 11th my Sister Natalie went into labor at 31 weeks and had a emergency c-section. She gave birth to my newest nephew Kellen. He was 3lbs. 13oz.--very big and healthy for a 31 weeker! He is now in the NICU and she is dealing day by day with having a 2 year old at home and her now 33 week old baby at the hospital. I want to go to Seattle so bad to help her and see him!

On the 17th we celebrated St. Patty's Day. I traveled all over the entire valley and numerous shopping centers looking for gold chocolate coins to hide around the house. With no such luck...I compromised with gold wrapped Rolos and did a scavenger hunt for Jenna. She lovvvvved it! The morning started out with clover shaped pancakes and green eggs, of course.

I turned the ripe age of 27 on the 23rd of March. The day was spent with little work and much play. Just the way I like it. I spent the day working out, surfing the web, and eating. My favorite couple of things as of lately. Yes, I did say working out. Joel and I went to P.F. Changs for dinner-so good- and my Mom baby sat the kids for us. It was an enjoyable day.

I can't wait for April to come already with hope of warmer weather and sunshine. I don't know about you but I have been battling the winter blues and need some Vitamin-D!

Question: "Has any one's husband ever called you from his cell phone in the basement to talk to you because he was too lazy to walk up the stairs???" Well, mine does. What a funny man.

A good day, bad day

2009-03-27T15:43:00.001-07:00

Well yesterday was one of those days...a whole lot of good and some bad. Don't worry...nothing too bad.

First the day started off on good note...I went and got my hair cut and highlighted. Yeah! It was only like 6 months past due. Thank you Heather! If anyone needs a great hair dresser I have one for you!

Next, I took this little monster to go get his blood drawn. BAD!!! As some of you may know he has a bacterial infection called C-Diff and it is not going away, so we needed to do some tests to figure this thing out and re-test for all of his allergies. Cross your fingers for some good news!!!--Anyway, Drew did such a good job and the pheblotemist did a great job too! That ended on a good!!!! After we were done I told him we could go get a treat and he chose to get an "apple." He loves apples!!!! If only an apple a day would keep the doctor away...

Then as we were going home Joel must have been lovin' the sunshine and was going a little too fast down our road and got a speeding ticked. BAD!!! This is his second one in like two months. All I said was, "You are going to driving school." Here in WA state you can attend a weekend driving class for 115 dollars and the ticket will not be sent to your insurance.

We finished off the day watching American Idol (I totally want Adam to win by the way)--good and doing laundry BAD. I guess we all have these types of days once in awhile.

A new post

2009-02-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I think it is about time for a new post. Really I just want to stop seeing the word Christmas since I am soooo done with winter. So here is what we have been up to...Jenna has just reached 100 days of kindergarten. She got off the bus sporting these adorable things.An awesome pair of "100" glasses made out of pipe cleaners. She is also now enrolled in gymnastics and totally loves it!

We had to go buy a leotard the night of her 1st gymnastics class of course. It is really fun to watch. Jenna also taught me that when playing "I spy" in the car "imagination" is one thing you can spy--example: think of something and try to figure it out--what is a long thing with orange stripes??? Doesn't make sense...I didn't think so.

Drew is just being Drew. Although after battling diarrhea for the past year or so ( and I mean BATTLING) he was just diagnoised with having a dangerous bacteria in his stomach called C Diff. Anyways, he has been put on a serious dose of antibiotic and is doing soooooo well. I can't even describe how well we are all doing now!!! He is such a spunky little kid who loves kung fu.

Ethan is also doing great. He is so easy going and a real blessing. He loves his Mom and Dad and being held. We love him so much.

This is Ethan making his "bitter beer" face.

Other than that the McCombs are doing great. We enjoyed a fun trip to Seattle last week to go and see my Sister and her family but I forgot the camera so no fun pictures. We had a great time eating at the Cheesecake Factory for Valentine's Day(thanks Mom for watching all 4 kids), shopping, swimming, and playing at the Children's Museum. Joel is going to start his last quarter at Eastern soon and we are all so excited for him to be done with school. Yeah!!!

Christmas

2009-01-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Last post today...promise.

Christmas was great this year. We spent it with our families. We ate lots of delicious food and opened way too many gifts. We feel spoiled, blessed, and oh so happy to have the greatest gift in the whole world...

ROCK BAND.

What...did you think I was going to say! FAMILY or something. Well... I was. But we did get Rock Band too! Hence the reason for the lack of posting. This mom has been off on tour with our family band "Return of the Mac."

Enough already...here are the picture...

Drew got a killer train table. (Killer as in cool, not like deadly killer lead paint toys or anything harmful.)

The crazy lady got a dock for her i-pod as well as a sweet new "boyfriend style" fossil watch--not to be confused with a sweet new boyfriend...that would be bad.
Jenna got her barbie dream house, barbie corvette (of course Dad had to get her this...I mean Santa), barbie gear, etc. and etc.

Our favorite thing in the whole world is waking up Jenna and see her run (half way asleep still, mind you) down the hall and up the stairs on Christmas morning. It is a sight to see for sure!

Our little elf-man --E-man--Ethan...what a sleepy baby.

And Daddy got a new pair of Jordan 23 basketball shoes...the Bulls collection. Only thing is that UPS was so snowed in that they didn't arrive until New Years. Ohhh well...Joel works for the company too...funny stuff. That is why UPS is in the word UPSet I guess. Till next year my friends. Merry, merry Christmas!!!! Three weeks late...but I have been busy. Man, I didn't even blog about our anniversary that was on the 7th!!!!

"Moms do not let moms teach kids to ski..."

2009-01-13T17:42:00.001-08:00

Why didn't anyone tell me this earlier..."Moms do not let moms teach kids to ski."

We (Jenna and I) came full circle on New Year's Eve...I took Jenna skiing for her first time.

We started off happy, enthusiastic, excited, fresh!

We practiced lots of "Pizza Pie" (snow plowing) and "french fries" (going straight down the mountain)...thankfully more "Pizza Pie" than "french fry"

We (meaning Jenna) spent time on the ground pouting and crying...

We (meaning Me) spent time learning patience and loosing it a couple of times- like twice.

We (meaning we) spent time making funny faces and eating yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the truck which helped us unwind, become happy again, get excited, get fresh!
(why do ski lunches always taste the best even if just pb and j???)

We (meaning we) conquered the pizza pie.

We were happy.
We were enthused that Jenna is now officially a ski bunny.
We were excited!
We were exhausted--but became refreshed as we headed down the mountain eating our candy bar treats!

What a full circle day...one to remember!

Dr. McCombs

2009-01-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Jenna!!! --December 15th

Happy late posting your birthday my dear. Thank you for being such a sweet heart and making me feel like I am doing something right as a mom.

For example:

She was unable to watch the rest of Calliou on PBSkids today because she needed to go to school so I said, "here let me record it for you."

Today she came home from school and asked if she could watch some TV (which we are cutting down on for our family new year resolution...but today I have a headache so I said sure.)

I turned on the rest of Calliou for her and she replies, "Thanks mom. You are the best mom ever."

Really, is that all it takes with this one. Pushing the DVR button! Really???

I love you Jenna!

Here she is with the robe that she has been asking for forever!!! She wears it every night and morning!

Being bashful as she gets sang to...we also went to bowling and Red Robin for her birthday and she got sang to there as well. She kept telling everyone that it was her birthday...waitress, bus boy, table cleaners, you name it!

Her ballerina cake I made. It turned out pretty and pink.

The beautiful 6 year old...WOW!!!

Some of the loot...a new church dress from Grandma Gretchen!!! Thank you everyone for all the gifts! What a day for a sweet girl!

Chuck E Cheeses: "Where a kid can be a kid, and moms can relax."

2009-01-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

When Jenna grows up she wants to be a "child doctor" or otherwise known as a pediatrician. Needless to say I am so proud (already). But really, I could see her in marketing or advertising. Here is why.

Jenna: "Mom, we need to go to Chuck E Cheeses. I never been there before."

Me: "Oh really, that is too bad. Maybe we will go there someday or when the one in the valley is finished being built."

Jenna: "Come on Mom. We can go to Chuck E Cheeses because that is where a kid can be a kid and you can sit back and relax."

We went two days later...

*note to self...try going on a weekday afternoon next time...Saturdays are crazier than a day after Thanksgiving Wal-mart (with some weird looking people as well)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!!!

Drew's birthday was on January 11th...he came into this world demanding attention (he was in the NICU for about 8 days after and emergency c-section) and is still running the show and demanding attention today. What a boy.

The Lightning McQueen cake I made for him...Cars is his favorite movie.

Blowing out the candles...we only had to do it a couple of times. "More candles!"

One of the many cool gifts that was recieved...an automatic baseball tee...really cool. Hopefully it will pay off someday with a big MLB contract. Thank you all three sets of terrific grandparents for all the candy, books, balloon, cars stuff, and sooooo much more!

Let's not forget the future "child doctor" who also had a birthday.....which leads to another post.

Starting off the new year with a bang...or a whole lot of posts

2009-01-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

Well it is about time...right?! I have been dragging my feet to keep up on my blog and have considered even quitting. But then I talked to my wonderful sis-in-law, who decided to up and leave the wonderful 4 feet of snow here in Spokane for the warm-all-year round Texas...by the way, and I realized that in order to keep in touch with my close friends and family who keep moving from Spokompton I need to continue the quest of the blogging world...but I am not promising much...just to try. So hold on to your seats because here we go!(warning this is the mother load of all posts and I already have a headache)...

for all of you who haven't heard we were hit real hard this year by Mother Nature...

this is proof--view outside on my grill and back deck (pre-icicles)...i bet you are wondering where rocky went potty...let's not even go there.

There were also crazy icicles that were hanging off of our house...then comes story

we got a leak in our house because we had ice dams form on our roof because the ice was so thick and the icicles were so big...so I googled what causes these icicles and this popped up...

BAD INSULATION

so I had my trusty handy-man Joel climb in the attic to find that we had

NO INSULATION.

Stupid dam icicles...(doesn't this remind you of the time we went on our Summiteer hike --AJ and Marianne??? Jeana too if you are out there.) I am not cursing because they really are dam icicles.--Besides that is another new year resolution.

Next step...call the builder. So we did this and thankfully he had the insulation company come out the next week and insulate our house...apparently it was missed. But my question is...how did the housing inspector miss that one???? And another question was answered as to why we pay out the nose for our heating bills. It is just amazing how different our house feels and sounds with proper insulation like when it gets windy at night we do not hear the high pitched howling of the wind ripping through our attic...(things just seem to make sense now).

Well the outcome is okay because our builder is fixing everything and is even putting in tile in our master bathroom and has offered us tickets to Gonzaga basketball games... but we couldn't go because we were going to off the Chuck e cheeses for Drew's birthday. Which leads me to post numero dos.

From the mouth of Jenna...

2008-12-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

I just need to write down these little things before I forget...I sometimes just love ease-dropping on my kids and hearing what they have to say...

for instance...

Drew is crying and Jenna shouts out, "Drew, you need to get a grip!"

or the other night at my Mom's...

"Grandma, pigs are made out of ham and hotdogs."

Ohhhh, the list could go on and on...

This is not candy...

2008-12-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sorry, not a quality image...but this is not candy!!!

I have been having to beat Drew off with a stick because he has been literally craving and crying over these delicious gummy vitamins.

Not that I can blame him...when I was preggo with Drew I ate (literally) a half a bottle of gummy flinstone vitamins one late night...don't ask...please. Lets just say I really did overdose and felt sick for a day or two.

Maybe I should start giving him the disgusting chalk flinstone vitamins that I ate when I was little...I bet he would run the other direction when I said it was time for vitamins.

What a mixed up message though...gummy bears are good, candy. Car gummies...bad, vitamins.

Summary

2008-11-17T22:35:00.001-08:00

Well, it has been a while and this is a summary of what we have been up to...

Joel has been busy working his crazy schedule and is finishing up school. He recently shaved his head bald...it was a Halloween costume idea that went horribly, horribly wrong....I don't have an exact picture but I tried to find one that represented him the best I could...

Doesn't really do him justice. (Yes, Joel this is what you get for shaving off your hair--and you had hair--some people are not as lucky as you were). He doesn't know I am writing this...he is in the living room watching my taped episode of the Hills. Anyways...

I am staying busy volunteering at Jenna's school, trying to potty train and "manage" Drew, and changing and occasional diaper and fixing a bottle or two for this little man...

This explains how easy going of a kid he is...he falls asleep in my Mom's Johnny Jumper...what a sweetheart.

Jenna is great as usual. We are excited to go to High School Musical on ice on Friday night with Grandma Netter. This has become a little tradition and we have a really good time.

Like I mentioned before Drew is starting to use the toilet. He also sleeps in his own big bed and room now--although he still needs a bottle and binki. Who cares if you do things in order right? We pick our battles one at a time. Last night he was caught red-handed using a ball point pen to color Joel's big screen T.V. That was an ordeal. Like I said, we are trying to "manage" this little boy who is extremely cute and intelligent.

Lastly, is Ethan...the picture above says it all and really I am too tired to write anything else--

This is a BIG deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

Drew went number 2 on the toilet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is the first time he has ever done anything on the potty...

more to post later....

I want candy!!!

2008-11-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

Well, another Halloween has come and gone. This year was another success. Mounds and mounds of candy was collected and passed out. Hundreds and hundreds of extra calories consumed. And the possibility of cavities has increased. What a sweet success! Here are some highlights of the night. First I started out the day taking Ethan to the doctor to get some shots...I know...not very nice on Halloween, but it's not Christmas people. Next, I was the only mom (besides the moms that were running the party) to attend Jenna's kindergarten Halloween party. I thought more mom's or dad's would have showed...oh well, I had fun. Plus it gave me a chance to get some ideas for the Valentines party that I am in charge of. Next I stopped by my good friend Marianne's house to say "hi". Then I went home to see what was going on and I found my husband had shaved his hair off(yes, he did have hair before the "incident").........more to come in another post. We then ran down to my Mom's house to trick-or-treat. Next we flew back home where we had our annual Halloween gathering with my sister-in-laws, family, and friends. We ate pizza, talked, and most importantly....made our way around the block to trick-or-treat.

Here is Jenna with her "vampire" pumpkin she helped design and carve. We had a fun night carving pumpkins and watching Charlie Brown's Halloween special on Wedensday.

This is Jenna's kindergarten class...Mrs. McNeice is the bee...what a cool teacher.The kids on their way to Grandma Netter's. Trick-or-Treat! Drew loved trick-or-treating...he would walk as fast as his little legs would go and he looked so funny in his "fat" dragon suit. I joked that he ate so much candy that I would take the costume off and he would really be that big...he ate so much candy he puked before bed...whoops.Presenting Cleopatra or as Jenna says, "An Egyptian princess!" Jenna was the only kindergartner with make-up on too...I can see how those pageant moms can get out of hand. It was fun for one day!

Here is the gang...it was funny because when we started taking these kids trick-or-treating together four years ago we would only make it to a couple of houses and they would be exhausted and cold. Now we were the ones exhausted trying to keep up...they really have perfected the art of trick-or-treating!Joel and Ethan."Mom, why do you make me wear this weird looking hat!?"My camera was soooo fuzzy, darn it! After the night was over Drew kept pushing me toward our front door, his pumpkin pail in hand, saying "Walk, walk." He wanted to go out again he loved it so much.Happy Ethan with his little pumpkin. Aunt Holly and I agreed that he would make a good Charlie Brown for Halloween with that round head of his.

A very tired 6 month old...yes, he fell asleep as the clock struck 8.A very happy almost two-year old. "Candy, candy peeeess!"----NO MORE CANDY!!!!

Not you too Nick Jr.--

2008-10-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

So this morning while I was filling the last bowl of Cheerios at breakfast and the kids were watching Go Diego Go on Nick, Jr. (by the way--one of the only networks that you can go pretty much all day with out seeing a political ad) I was surprised to see this face....Apparently he won the Presidential "Nickelodeon" Race. It is great to know that 5 and 2 year olds can make very important and informed decisions, right? Congrats President Barak Obama. I just hope he doesn't choose Mickey or Rooney from the Doodlebops to be part of his cabinet. But that is okay...he can be the President of Nick Jr. just as long he is not the President of this...
This is the Presidential Race that I am most concerned with......................so come on and vote on November 4th (educated and responsibly please).

Happy Belated

2008-10-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Joel is officially 30 years young. We had a great birthday day on the 17th which consisted of shooting guns, breakfast with the kids at our favorite Old European, P.F. Chizzie Changs (as we like to call it), going to two movies--count them--two! movies!, and a stress-free, kid-free night. I wish he was turning 30 everyday (except we would probably go shopping instead of shooting guns-a little scary for me). We finished up the weekend with an Azteca platter, game night with friends, and cake. Happy birthday honey!

Literally...

2008-10-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

This week has been a week of "literallies" and no I don't think that is a word.

First, I took the kids to McDonalds one night where Jenna got another toy to add to our gazillions of McDonald toys. It is a small barbie doll. She looks at me and goes, "You think she is hot?"

I am like...where did you hear the word "hot"? I mean I am sure I have used it around her but it sounds just soooo grown up coming out of the mouth of a five year old. So I asked her, "What do you think hot means?"

She replies, "It means you love her."

I reply, "Yes, Jenna. She is smokin' hot!"

Jenna then puts her barbie to her nose and sniffs her........................................so literal.

I guess you could also say I had quite literally a "crappy" week. I mean the week went okay. We just had a lot of pooh issues. My friend and I were talking and she told me how her daughter went number two in the bath tub. I said, "Oh, thank goodness that has never happened to me." Well, it has now. So I took Jenna and Drew out of the polluted bath tub and ran them to the shower. Not even minutes later I hear Jenna screaming. Drew did it again...in the shower no less. Then the next day I put him in his crib to take a nap. Unfortunately I couldn't find a binki anywhere. So I thought all the crying was because of his missing "security binki." Wrong!...he really took off his diaper for the first time ever--pants as well and smeared pooh everywhere. Just like a monkey. So it was a "crappy" week.....................................................literally.

I need a vacation...............................literally.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2008-10-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

FALL! I absolutely love this time of the year. One might say that this is even my most favorite time of the year. Here is my reasoning in no apparent order...

10. The air is crisp and clean...I love the feel of fall in the air.

9. We fall back an hour in the fall...meaning once a year I get to sleep for one EXTRA hour--all you Mom's out there know what I am talking about.

8. The fall colors are goregous. Besides orange is one of my very favorite colors which would explain my pumpkin colored backpack in high school--which I used all the way through college--and Joel made fun of it :(

7.HALLoWEEn!!!! What a fun holiday to dress up and be whatever your heart desires. This year I will be a mother to a pumpkin, bear, and Cleopatra the "Egyptian Princess" as Jenna would say...I am going to be a Mummy (I might even wrap myself in Charmin????) Joel wants to be the Incredibles family but I told him that NO one needs to see us in spandex. That would be horrifying.

6. Candy. For one night a year you can eat all you want and really not feel that guilty about--well at least until the morning.

5. This is a new one to my list this year but...Kids going back to school. I love it and Jenna loves it. Kindergarten is awesome. Besides if you time naps just right--you might find yourself with an hour or so of free time to do whatever your heart desires while the kids are away.

4. Baseball playoffs...need I say more...love it!

3. Soup!!! Nothing is better than eating soup on a chilly day. In my family it was a tradition to eat corn bread and homemade clam chowder on Halloween night. I have tried but Jenna thinks she is allergic meaning "she hates it." I guess we will stick to Campbell's chicken noodle for a while.

2. Sweaters! They are my favorite and really forgiving--you know--for mom's who are still trying to get off that 20 lbs. or so off after having two babies back-to-back.

1. Greenbluff!!! I love this little part of the place we live. It is a little farming community that has a Harvest Festival every year. You can get the best apple pie, cider, carmel apples, cute pumpkins, go on hay rides, and just love this most wonderful time of the year!

Here are some recent pictures of us at Greenbluff (we already went!!!) I love this picture of Drew.

He just did this pose naturally. Silly.

Jenna and a scarecrow.Dad and the E-man.I love this picture of Ethan...he is my little buddy.
Me and the little man. Don't mind the spit up all over the E-man...he has reflux :(The kids trying to find the perfect pumpkin!And my most favorite part of the FALL is having three amazing kids to share this season with!

Now I know...

2008-09-24T09:41:00.001-07:00

"oh what a beautiful morning"...girls camp anyone???

So this past weekend was ValleyFest (a carnival type affair for the area we live). Jenna brought a flyer home from school and it showed a hot air balloon event at 6:45am on Saturday morning. I thought "Gee, that would be fun." Anyone who knows me...knows...I am NOT a morning person. So this was really big for me--to wake up before 8am on a weekend!!! (I actually do this a lot with three kids and all, but I can lounge on my couch in my robe or just lay in my bed.) Anyway...Saturday morning comes and we all roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, and rush out the door to see the amazing hot air balloons. We cruise over to the park only to see a couple (meaning two or three) hot air balloons off in the distance (meaning about a half a mile or farther). Shoot! Not to spoil this rare occasion of being up so early, we decided to take a little stroll on the Centennial Trail. It was rejuvenating and really fun to be with the people I love most out in the crisp of the early morning. But now I know...maybe I'll sleep in next year.

Jenna and one of the few hot air balloons off in the distance...can you see it????I think that Ethan even thought it was a little too early...

Did you know...

2008-09-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

{Cooties}...pronounced (coo.tees)...

Cooties is a slang word in North American English, used by children, referring to a fictitious disease or condition, often 'carried' by members of the opposite sex. One supposedly catches cooties through any form of bodily contact, close proximity, contact with an "infected" person's possessions, or third-party transmission.

this definition is from an acutual encyclopedia...

this morning Jenna was telling me about two boys in her kindergarten class...both of which go to our same church as well.

she says, "Josh is in my class and Ben is his friend."

I say, "Oh, that is nice. Are you friends with Ben too?"

Jenna replies, "No, Ben don't wanna be my friend."

Since we go to the same church and have even had Ben in primary before I know that he is a shy little guy and a man's man, you know the kind of kid that thinks that girls have cooties and such...

so I reply, "Well sometimes boys don't like to play with girls because they think they have cooties."

Jenna then pipes up, "I DON'T have cooties! I collect seashells!"

I tag...Ethan!?

2008-09-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

It is never to early to learn your ABC's...

A-Adovocate for: little people and stay at home moms...thanks mom

B-Best feature: has to be my legs...all those rolls and chub...

C-Couldn't do without: my mom and bottles

D-Dreams and desires: start eating "real" food like ice cream and such...oh yeah, and become the President of the United States

E-Essential item: my pacifier

F-Favorite past time: sleeping, or maybe that is my mom's

G-Good at: Filling a diaper or two!

H-Have never tried: uhhhh...didn't you read "D"...ice cream!!!! and every other food!!!--or going to the bathroom on the toilet.

I-If I had a million dollars: If I only had one dollar!

J-Junkie for: Soymilk

K-Kindred spirit: Mom, Dad, you know...family.

L-Little known fact: Dude, I just like found these things at the bottom of my legs like 20 minutes ago, there are ten all combined and mom calls them "little piggies"...I just wish I was more flexible to get them in my mouth.

M-Memorable moment: everything right now is new and memorable, besides I have only been on this Earth for like 4 months...give me a few years--but maybe meeting my family.

N-Never again will I: not know that I have "little piggies" or toes as I just found out.

O-Occasional indulgence: some times I will have an extra ounce or two of my formula...I should really be watching my boyish figure but who cares...

P-Poop or pee (mom made that one up): both

Q-Quote: "What am I... chopped liver!?"--I am the youngest

R-Reason to smile: gas and sometimes my brother and sister can be rather silly

S-Sorry about: throwing up all over Dad's new shirt--especially after it took him 30 minutes to find one he wanted to wear...oops

T-Tag some friends: uhhhhhh...

U-Uninterested in: politics----and taking naps

V-Very scared of: sneezes and other loud sounds

W-Worst habit: wetting my pants, especially in public...oh, and I burp a lot

X-x marks my ideal vacation spot: how about just being held in someones arms and anywhere far away from my car seat...

Y-Yesteryear of choice: I don't really have a choice...I was just born...

Z-Zodiac sign: Aries or Taurus...or maybe a good mix

And she is off...

2008-09-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

to Kindergarten, that is... what a stylin' little girl...I figure there is only one time I can get away with such an over-the-top school girl outfit and this is it...hopefully she wont hate me for the bows in her hair when she is 20 or something...
my sisters can appreciate this picture...you have to have a picture in front of the sun...all my sisters and I went to the same elementary school that Jenna is now attending...very cool.
Can I just say that she was the most stylish, happiest, cutest girl in kindergarten today!!! And no I am not partial! Well, sort of...

i want

2008-08-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

this....

after getting more than tired with

my crap of a suction device supposedly called

a vaccum cleaner...

i want this.

a dyson.

yesterday my vaccum got plugged again.

i said, "i am loosing it."

jenna said, "what you loosin'?"

i said, "my temper!"

she looked all around and on the ground...

and said,

"i don't see your temper anywhere?!"--

apparently trying to help me find it.

Jenna's new haircut...

2008-08-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

*Hyrum and Garrett are Jenna's cousins

After getting Jenna's haircut she asks Joel, "Hyrum and Garrett still going to think I cool with my new haircut?"................answer.................................................................................................yes!

then she asks Ethan, "You like my new haircut?"...............answer..........................drool, but yes!

only 10 more days until kindergarten!!!!!

Mt. Kilimanjaro

2008-08-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

During our walk yesterday around the block Jenna saw a pretty big pile of rocks outside one of our neighbor's houses...she says,

"Wow, that looks like Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa."

We don't know where she comes up with it...but we think she is pretty dang funny.

The other day I went outside to put the sprinkler under the trampoline so she could jump on it. In order to do so I had to move the heavy thing and Jenna goes,

"Wow Mom, you strong like Dad." I started to laugh and she replied, "You think I funny at tellin' jokes?" For some reason I just thought it was hilarious.

Jenna throws her first party! (behind her parent's backs)

2008-08-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Does this sweet little 5-year-old look like she would throw a unsupervised party behind her parents backs...I mean she is ONLY five...right?!

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday we all went for a walk around our neighborhood and while we were out Jenna's little friend down the street came running out and asked if she could play. We said yes and told Jenna that we had to walk up to Grandma's house (right up the street from us) to take back some chairs we borrowed so she needed to play at Lizzie's house until we came back. About a half an hour later we see Jenna in her swimsuit running up the street towards us at Grandma's. We knew there was probably trouble because we have the trampoline and little swimming pool set up in our backyard and the kids love to play at our house. Anyways, we start to walk home and can already hear the chants of little kids coming from our house. The front door is wide open and I find about 7 little kids (some of which I have never seen before) on our deck eating our popsicles two at a time and having a party!...wrappers and shoes everywhere. Seeming it was 8:00pm I ushered them out of our house and told Jenna that she can't have friends over when we are not home!!!

My little chubs

2008-07-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here is my little E-man at three months old...

He is really getting a cute personality...totally a happy little guy. He loves to talk, laugh and smile lots...this is a picture of him smiling--bad quality with out the flash but the flash makes him look
like this............a little too bright.
And we can't forget about the Tasmanian devil in our lives...DREW! He is really craZy!!!!! Here he is just taking in some rays at Silverwood last week...

KID Cribs

2008-07-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I got ambitious and decided to finally repaint Jenna's room from that awful green I had painted it about two years ago...let's just say it is now really, really pink. But I love it...way better than before and it is complete--decorated and everything...here take a peek at Jenna's Crib.

We had a good time filming this...Jenna loves the camera! Anyways here are some more pics...

The night stand that I turned into a vanity...I recovered the little chair ( a good find at TJ Maxx) and I also made the photo board, painted the mirror I have had forever and ta-da!

We moved the bed and I painted an old frame and put fabric in it...looks cute.Got a new lamp and gave her my old stereo...now she can have some dance parties in her room...oh yeah...it is fun being a girl.One happy five year old...what a cutie! Now I need to finish painting the guest bathroom that I started oh...one year ago...oh my.

Did someone say snakes!!!!

2008-07-14T13:07:00.001-07:00

For the 4th of July we decided to go camping at Lake Roosevelt. Maybe that was my first mistake--camping with a 5 year old, a 18 month old, and a 2 and a half month newborn!!! Call me crazy. So Joel and I, kids, and my parents loaded up our boat and set sail to beach camp for two nights. Joel and my Dad went a little earlier than my Mom and I to set up some tents...the weather was so so so hot. After we were set up some campers from down the beach walked over to us to tell us that they have had a problem with these...

RATTLESNAKES!!!! Okay this is not cool! I am petrified of these things. The funny thing is that about two years ago I read an article from the Ensign about one of the quorum of the seventy who rented a house boat on Roosevelt. A really bad storm hit and they had to beach their boat. Unfortunately the beach that they were forced to stay at was infested with rattlesnakes and he told of the power of faith and prayer, anyways. This story has always been in the back of my mind since Joel and I love to go boating at Roosevelt. I guess the camper had killed two in just that day. The camp around the corner from us actually had one swim across the lake and land straight in their camp! I was dying, especially since Drew and Jenna were running all around the place and our dog Rocky was too. The funny thing is that Rocky usually runs crazy all over the hills and through the forest above us...and he did just once...right when we got to the beach. But after that he stayed in camp with his ears back the rest of the time. Well, my Sister Natalie and her little family came out to meet us for the weekend. We told them of the snake problem and late that night we were sitting around talking when Brandon needed to venture down the beach to go take a whiz...anyways, he was NOT going to take a flashlight and it was the darkest night! I made him take my flashlight (thank goodness) and he was only about 15 yards away when we see him come running back to camp saying "SNAKE!!!" Sure enough there was a 3 foot rattler about 15 yards from where we were...gross!!! I think Brando wet himself and I immediately went to bed--not to get a wink of sleep the whole night!!! Needless to say we left the next day. It was a quick camping trip but one to remember for sure. It is just funny that this is the one time we go camping as a family and run into snakes...yuck!

P.S. Wasn't I the one who said if anyone runs into a snake or gets bit it would be Brandon ( I guess you would have to know him)...and yes he did throw rocks at it so it coiled up and started to rattle it's tail.........SO sick!

Vacations, vacations, vacations!!!

2008-07-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Drew loved throwing rocks into the tide pools...what a boy. And by the way, pictures are in no particular order--anyone who knows me should not be surprised...right Jen and Nat.
How did Jenna get in the fish tank??? We always new she was a fish!
Dad, Jenna, and Drew
Dad, Jenna, and Drew in a giant shark's mouth
Getting ready to set sail on our whale watching cruise...more to come on the subject...

After a long trip in the car we were finally at the ocean!!! Yeah!!! What good travelers the kids were...thanks to gummy worms and movies!!!

Me and the kids at the Tillamook cheese factory....say "WE LOVE CHEESE!!!" (except for Drew is allergic, poor kid)
Jenna on a giant turtle saying, "McCombs first family vacation!"

Joel and Drew man at the lighthouse in Newport, OR.

Well it has been a while since the last post and the reason is that we have been busy playing and going on some vacations. We went on our first official family vacation to the Oregon Coast. We had a blast and it was really laid back. The reason it was probably so laid back was because my wonderful mom watched Ethan for us for the entire week!!! We are sooooo lucky that she is always so willing to watch kids and help whenever we ask...but the cool part is that she asks to watch them too! Our kids love their grandparents. Anyway we visited a lighthouse, went on a whale watching trip (but unfortunatley didn't see any whales), we went to our favorite Tillamook cheese factory and ate ice cream, looked for sea shells and played in the sand at Cannon Beach, swam a lot in the hotel pools, went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, flew kites, went on the bumper cars in Seaside and we finished off the trip by visiting my Sister Natalie, bro-in-law Brandon, and cute niece Madison in Seattle. There we swent swimming, shopping, and went to eat at the delicious Keg Resturant and Nat took us to the cutest cupcake shop too. What a time...I think I also gained about 5 pounds. While on our whale watching adventure I got sick...so sick I needed to use the porta-potty type restroom...what a nightmare. I went into this tiny little cube to take care of business and I looked down at the toilet bowl and though, "you have to be kidding me..." The bowl was so small and had no seat, or so I thought. After I was done I stood up to notice that I had not put the seat down and there was a seat! Let's just say that cruise felt more like 20 hours rather than 2 and I was soooo happy to set foot on land again!!! Other than that we had a great time. Drew is officially hooked to watching movies in the car now and any time we get in he points to the movie screen and says "oooovie." I guess he is just taking after his big sis. Jenna, after counting down days to the vacation for the past two months, is now asking..."When we go to Disneyland?" I can't keep up.

Ethan's Blessing Day!

2008-06-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

We blessed Ethan this past Sunday, June 1st. Unknown to us that it was stake conference weekend when we set the date and since all Joel's buddies were coming in to town...we decided to bless Ethan at home. It was a really sweet blessing.

Ethan looked so handsome in his little white blessing outfit. He also wore a pair of booties that his late Great-Grandma Palmer crocheted (she passed away on March 30th) along with a blessing blanket. Here are picture of Ethan and his grandparents...too bad I forgot to take a picture of him with his parents!!!

Grandma and Grandpa McCombs

Grandma and Grandpa Shields (Amber's folks)

Grandma and Grandpa Mark

What a lucky kid to have three sets of wonderful Grandparents who often ask to babysit for free!!! I guess Joel and I are the lucky ones!!!

Like Father like Son

2008-06-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

Need I say more???

Our little slugger

2008-05-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

Jenna just wrapped up her first season of t-ball and she did great! I am so proud of her and very excited that she likes to play baseball so much. Fast-pitch softball here we come! She is a natural little athlete and loves to play first base. I think because that is the only position that gets constant action with 5 and under t-ball. She was one of two girls on the team and had a great time playing with her two cousins Garrett and Hyrum. Not only did she play well but she looked so dang cute doing so. Great job Jenna! And I can't forget that Jenna also graduated pre-school this last Saturday. She is dressed like a pirate because the graduation was pirate themed. She wore the hand-made (by my mom) pirate costume that I wore for Halloween when I was 7. I told her that it was a "serious pirate costume" and she kept telling people later that day that it was "serious." I just wish I had remembered the camera at the graduation.....

Which child sleeps through the night?

2008-05-21T13:17:00.001-07:00

Tell me what you think...which child sleeps through the night...

BABY D:

He is 16 and a half months old...OR

BABY E:

He is 5 weeks old...................

And the answer is.....................BABY E!!!!

That is right...Ethan has slept three full nights in a row!!! Unfortunately his brother has not and needs to learn a thing or two from his baby brother. Anyways, I am so happy that Ethan is such an even tempered little guy who likes to sleep, a lot! Drew is rowdy and sooooo hyper some times so I feel blessed to have such a great baby. Of course I feel blessed to have such a little entertainer as well with Drew...he is very funny and keeps me running. I was going to say "on my toes" but running is more accurate. Here are some pics that my sisters have been nagging me for of Ethan and Drew wanted to get in on the action too. I have never seen a toddler actually pose for pictures but Drew does.

Notice how he has a little "beauty mark/freckle" above his lip...the exact side and spot of his mom's...it is pretty funny.

Welcome baby Ethan!

2008-04-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

The time finally arrived and Ethan Campbell McCombs joined our family on April 18th at 7:35am. He weighed in at 7lbs. 14oz. and was 19 inches long. He is a happy and healthy little boy who loves to sleep...thank goodness. We are so happy that he is here and a part of our family!

Ethan's first bottle...thanks Daddy!

My sweet little kids...I love them to pieces!Drew ready to go home from the hospital.Our happy little family...Drew kept pointing at Ethan and saying "Babeee"

More random pics...

2008-03-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when Daddy feeds the kids breakfast and Mommy goes to the doctors appt.--Oreos anyone???
Did I ever mention that Jenna is the best big sister ever...well...she really is! Drew just adores her as well.
One a semi-warm day ( I believe this might be our only one since Jan.)--feeding the ducks at Manito Park--did I mention ducks...there were millions of those little pooping machines!!!
Jenna really did have fun finding Easter eggs...just the only picture I took seeming she was on the go all day long!
Easter morning...again not a good picture because she was sooo excited to get a pony movie and a Barbie from the Easter bunny!!!!

More pictures I love...

2008-03-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Say cheese...or cake!!! Yumm!
Drew loved all his presents especially all the balls...this is his fascination...or OCD...balls.
Daddy and Jenna made the cutest snowman!
Drew liked the snow for a little bit...but like Mom prefers warmer climates...Hawaii anyone???

Put a fork in me...I'm done

2008-03-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

That is right...I am done with a couple of things in my life. The first is pregnancy. I only have 24 more days but who is counting. 24 days exactly because I have a scheduled c-section at 7:15am on Friday the 18th of April. I guess you know that you are done being pregnant when you start thinking that you need whiskers...please...let me explain. The other day Jenna was asking Joel and I why cats have whiskers. Joel replied, "So they know what kind of spaces that they can go through with out getting stuck." He then told her how if you cut a cat's whiskers off they could get their head stuck in small places. Well, much later that night (during sleep) I was woken up by the urge to use the restroom which is soooo annoying and another reason I am done being prego...but anyways...I roll out of bed (literally) and start to head into the bathroom which has a pocket door that was slightly closed. Before pregnancy...I could clear it no problem...but for some reason I didn't think to open it some more and boom...stuck! Just like a cat with short whiskers...me and my big prego belly--stuck. Needless to say I opened the door all the way for future visits that evening. Another thing that I am done with and I mean DONE!!!---SNOW!!! What the heck! It is coming down so hard as we speak...not to mention the 3-5 inches we had last week. Plus I can't take another day of Jenna asking me..."Mom, it summa yet?" NOOOO! I thought I was going to have a spring baby...not another winter baby. Anyways...I know it has been a while since I last posted and I don't want to bombard you with a crazy long blog so I will try to highlight some of my favs over the past month. Well, Easter Sunday was my 26th birthday and we didn't even get to go to church because Drew is on a nebulizer for wheezing and has been under the weather. It was a nice lazy day and Joel and the kids bought me the cute new green apple ipod...I am so excited to get some tunes on it that I can listen to during the c-section and for working out post c-section! Very exciting for me! Anyway...we went to my parents that evening for Easter dinner and my mom made me a birthday cake. I blew out the candles and then Jenna of course got a turn. Earlier in the day we told her about the story of Jesus Christ being ressurected, etc. After she blew out the candles without being asked what she wished for she said in a small, soft little voice, "I wish, I wish that Jesus alive." It was so cute and funny...she says some of the silliest things. Earlier at dinner she told my dad, "Gandpa, you smell funny...like stink." Grandpa didn't really smell, or atleast I don't think he did but it was pretty hilarious at the randomness that comes from her mouth. Drew is doing pretty well but has been ultra-crabby since being so sick...which is another thing I am done with...being sick. I believe I have been sick constantly for the last 2 months and I am not exaggerating ( which I am sometimes known to do--also called the "Amber-factor"). Anyways, Drew is so cute and funny when feeling well and he loves!!!! to dance. It really is the funniest thing ever. He loves the thriller vitamin water commercial with the dancing lizards too. He is a great dancer but not so great at Easter egg hunts. We went to Grandma Sue's house on Saturday for a hunt and he would barley walk to an egg and when he got within about a foot he would just grunt and make either Joel or I put the egg right in front of him so he could bend down and pick it up...what a lazy diva. Anyways...we had a really good time. Here are some more picks from Drew's first birthday--way back on January 11th along with some more pictures that I have failed to post. Oh, we are also thinking about naming this baby Ethan???? I am not 100% sold, but desperatley would enjoy suggestions if you would like...Jenna thinks it should be Zack or Diego (all names from Nickelodeon shows if you didn't notice). If I don't get anything good Joel is going to name him some sort of crazy Scottish name...he watched King Arthur the other night...and Joel is from Scottish decent (who isn't) anyway....help!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is...another Valentine's Day. I have decided to tell a little love story...not about Joel and I but about our five year old daughter. Jenna is in love. She met this little red-headed boy named Cooper, Jenna pronounces it Coo-pa, at preschool and apparently it was love at first sight because they are going to get married...or were going to get married. This is how it went down.

Jenna enters the room...

"Mom, I just have to marry Coo-pa right now!"

I am a little surprised by the sudden random outburst and ask why.

"Because, I just have to!," was her seemingly desperate reply.

I ask, "Well, where are you going to get married at?"

Her reply, "The temple."

My proud reply, "Well, that is a good place to get married." But then realize once again that I am having this very adult conversation with a five year old.

Jenna's response, "Yeah, and we can decorate it!" (With the cutest, sly smile on her face)

My motherly reply, "But Jenna, if you get married to Cooper where are you two going to live?"

Non-chaluntley she replys, "I live with you and Coo-pa live with his family."

I am thinking in my head on how to end this 'I want to marry Coo-pa conversation that has taken place more that a dozen times in our house once and for all' and reply..."Well, if you and Cooper get married you have to live with your husband and leave home. Drew, Daddy, and I would miss you so much."

Jenna's reply after a second of thought, "I want to live with you forever...I don't want to marry Coo-pa anymore."

And just like that it was over...no more "I have to marry Coo-pa!" fits in this household. We already told her that she can't get married until she is atleast 25 and she seems to be taking the news well--and so is Joel. Lets just say that I can wait until she hits puberty! And I also want to say on this the day of LOVE that I am so in LOVE with my husband and kids and am so glad that we can be together as a family forever. Happy Valentine's to you and your Coo-pas!!!

P.S. Jenna still has a crush on that little red-headed boy.

And how could I forget...

2008-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

Today is Joel and mines 2nd Anniversary...Happy Anniversary. We spent the night at Hotel Lusso downtown and had dinner at Fuggazi restaurant. We had a great time and also went and saw the movie Juno--really a good movie. Anyways, how could I forget to mention my handsome, wonderful, amazing best friend and husband Joel!

It's been a while...

2008-01-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything. This has a lot to do with that I misplaced my memory card adaptor to my camera--okay I lost it but then found it when cleaning out my diaper bag. Many of you moms out there probably know what I am talking about--the diaper bag that seems to swallow up many small important things and are never to be found only until you find the right time to clean and organize it. This happens for me about twice a year so I was happy to find the adapter so I could post some holiday photos. Besides, December was a whirlwind of a month. Jenna's 5th birthday was on the 15th and we had a fun little tea party with two of her friends Ava and Marie. We invited a friend down the street but she didn't show up. We had a big Dora fiesta party last year so this year I wanted something much smaller. It was really cute and the girls had a blast. The only down fall is that when it came time for Jenna to make a wish and blow out her candles she goes, " I wish, I wish with all my heart...that Lizzie come to my tea party." Lizzie is the little girl that didn't make it...oh well...some wishes can't come true I guess.

Then Christmas came and went and we had a wonderful time. The kids were soooooooo much fun on Christmas morning! Jenna said she got everything she ever wanted and is already counting down til next Christmas...this is going to be a long year. My parent came over to help on Christmas morning and it was a good thing or else I think my small family would have been swallowed up by out of control wrapping paper and cardboard boxes. We had a nice breakfast and later that evening Al and Gretchen, my parents, and my grandma came to our house for turkey dinner (my Mom cleaned and prepared the turkey--I don't do well with raw meat-thanks Mom) and a competitive game of Monopoly. Since Christmas I have been trying to control all of the million little pieces of toys that came with all of Jenna's presents so Drew wont choke on them--this has been driving me crazy!!! Christmas was a success and not even one word was mentioned about the lame Butterscotch Pony--see previous blog if you are confused!!!

After Christmas we were pretty lazy and just enjoyed the season. On New Years Eve we decided to have a family fun day and we went bowling and on a cruise ride to the "North Pole" at the Courdalene Resort. We had a blast and the kids were great. We found out that Jenna is quite the little bowler as well. She scored a 97--Joel barely beat her in the 10th frame with a strike and an extra bowl at 122--and I came in first with 129!!! No one helped Jenna at all--she just took her 6 pound ball and let it rip. She did great! The cruise was really fun and you go across the lake to a house were there is a real Santa and Mrs. Claus. You put your kids names on a list so when you arrive and go out on the balcony to see Santa he talks to you and mentions all the kids on the boat. Jenna thought that was spectacular and Drew just loved the lights and the motor on the boat--I guess he is a real McCombs. We ended the night by putting the kids down for bed and Joel fell asleep on the couch--only to wake up 2 minutes before midnight. I on the other hand stayed up the whole time to watch Dick Clark's rockin new years eve--but after a short New Year's kiss we were off to bed by 12:02. Well, that was our holiday fun. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Joel and Amber plus...

2007-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

I have been extremely busy this past couple of weeks and a little slow on my blog...what's new. Anyway, I went to the doctor a week or so ago and got an ultrasound of the baby and we found out much to my surprise and Joel's that we are having another baby boy!!! We were a little shocked especially since Jenna was so sure that we were having a girl and told us we were prego about three weeks before we knew or suspected. Anywho--now Drew and this baby can be the best of friends and share a room, get bunk beds, play on the same sports teams, etc. We are really excited. I think I am especially because I was a little overwhelmed thinking about even having another baby right now let alone get all new clothes and changing the nursery. But now everything is pretty much taken care of...for right now anyway. I'll post a picture of the new baby when I find the ultrasound pics...they are in a pile of papers somewhere that I need to organize...oops. Well, I just wanted to share one last Jenna"ism"...this morning she told me that Drew speaks spanish because he says, "Goo, gaga, ba-ll." I guess it does sound a little foreign. I just thought it was silly and cute.

Naughty and Nice

2007-11-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well, this last week we took a trip with Grandma Gretchen, Scott, Cassie, and cousin Asher to the Silverlake Mall to get Santa pictures. It was quite the ordeal as you can tell by Drews reaction to the jolly old fellow. The funny thing is that Drew looks exactly like I did when I was that age when I saw Santa...just put a red polka dot dress and a blonde curly wig on him and--twins. Jenna on the other hand was so excited to see Santa. She ran up to him and gave him a big hug and when he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she replied, "Everything." Well, let me clarify what everything is...Butterscotch the pony. This is the lamest toy I have ever seen. It is a three foot robotic horse that doesn't even give pony rides! You can pet it and it will move it's head and even nay--oh, and you can feed it a fake carrot--but that is all. Not to mention that it is three hundred dollars. I think I could probably buy a real horse for that amount! Needless to say, Santa will not be bringing Jenna Butterscotch this year. But no fear, I have spoiled her rotten with many other fun plastic toys and a Barbie with a horse and horse stall. The Barbie horse will actually move it's legs and at a fraction of the price. We are getting really excited for the holidays and I even have most of all my Christmas shopping done...so exciting. Anyways, we hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a great Christmas season!

Tag! Your it!

2007-11-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay. This is the second time in a week that my sister Natalie has tagged me so I guess I will make her happy and finally reply I guess. It is either that or she knows my password to blogspot and she threatened to do it herself for me. Who knows, she knows me really well and probably could...but here it goes...probably way boring but...

1-The best thing you cooked this week: Cook!? What kind of a question is that...anyone who knows me well, knows that the closest thing I cook is when I watch the food network--BUT--I did make some delicious potato soup--from scratch!!! this week--and it is only Wedensday!

2-If money and time were no object, where would you go and with whom?: I would travel to Europe with my hubby Joel--we would backpack around Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany--everywhere!!! Then on the way home we would stop for a relaxing week somewhere very warm--like Tahiti.

3-Last time you cried?: Honestly can't really remember--but my eyes did get a little weepy with happiness as I watched my cute 4 year old bear her testimony in the primary program this last Sunday...so sweet.

4-Things you were doing 10 years ago: Well that would make me 16 so....learning how to drive my Dad's crappy '78 Datsun pick-up truck (it was also a stick shift) and playing a ton of fast pitch softball.

5-5 things you did today: Well it is only 2 in the afternoon but...we went to Jump and Bounce with Marianne and the Evergreen ward, changed some poopy diapers, watched Take Home Chef on TLC, grabbed lunch at McDonald's, and I am now updating my blog!!! So impressive--I am kidding.

6-5 favorite snacks: Gummy peach-o's, pringles spicy guacamole chips, cucumbers w/ vinegar, asparagas, and apples w/ caramel--This was hard...I am pregnant!!!

7- 5 bad habits: Some times I curse (I really shouldn't let out my dark secrets), I sleep in, our family eats out way too much, I have road rage (stole that from my sister but I guess it runs in the family), and I watch too much television

8- 5 Favorite foods: mexican, anything from Olive Garden, chinese, McDonald's Big Macs (should have been one of my bad habits), and chicken--everything I make has chicken in it or so it seems

9- 5 places I have been: Rexburg, ID, Tahiti, Hawaii, Banff, Canada, and the Cayman Islands--I love to travel!!!!!

10- Favorite memory: SOOOOOOOOO many...like I could talk about giving birth, my wedding day, my honeymoon, past holidays......but this is a shout out to you Nat--Natalie is my best friend and my sister. I love her to death. When we were young I would play lots of practical jokes on her like rigging up the computer with my dear friend Marianne when Natalie was on the computer and made her think she had a stalker and so on. Well, when we were very, very young we use to share a room. We had a bunk bed and being the older sister I got to sleep on the top bunk and she on the bottom. Well, every night I would hang over the side and say, "Hey Nat, look at me!" She being so innocent and sweet would peep her head out and I would let a spit ball fall out of my mouth onto her forehead. This happened for a little while until she became skeptical of me. I would then promise, "Nat, I just want to say goodnight!" Well, I being very persistent leaned so far over my bed one night to spit on her that I flipped out of it and landed spread eagle between two bars on a clothes horse--I hurt myself so bad I just fell off and quietly crawled up into my bed and needless to say--no more spit balls. I guess I got what I deserved.

Thanks Nat for all the special memories...I love ya!!!!

Burnin' buns

2007-11-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

Poor Drew. For the last two days he has had skin eating, acid poops. Sorry, this post is a little gross--actually that is the most I will describe of the tummy issue--I do want people to enjoy my blog. Anyways, this morning he was in a total fit because his bum is completely raw and sore, the poor baby. So the only thing that made him happy was putting him in the kitchen sink with warm water and baking soda. I was bored while sitting there so I grabbed my camera that was right by and decided to take some pics of my little guy. Most people find dirty dishes in the sink at their home, at mine a little man trying to cool his burnin' buns.

What doesn't kill them will make them stronger, right!?

2007-10-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so after my sister Natalie has nagged and nagged...I am finally adding some pictures and updating my blog. I've just been either pretty lazy or busy--or maybe just sick. That is the latest news to the McCombs family--we are now going to be a party of five. That is right, we are expecting another baby sometime in April. This was a surprise--to say the least. Jenna although seemed to know the whole time. She told me that I was expecting three weeks before I even took the test. She insists that we are having a baby girl and that her name is Kodee. We'll see...anyways. The title of my post is pretty appropriate for this morning. I was running around with my head cut off and trying to get Jenna ready for her Halloween party today at pre-school and so on. Meanwhile I am puppy sitting my parents two dogs because my Mom is out of town helping my sister Jennifer who just had her third baby--a girl--Addy last week. Anyways, I was in my bathroom and brushing my teeth when a thought came into my mind that the dogs food was on the ground in the kitchen. I know Drew is totally attracted to these tasty little treats so I immediately ran to the kitchen to find him with his hands and mouth full of dog food!!! Yuck! It was paper yesterday and dog food today--I swear I am raising a goat. I guess the saying is true what doesn't kill will make them stronger! Here are some old/new pictures of my cute kids. Jenna is so excited for Halloween--I mean we have been counting down since August!!! She is going to be a cowgirl and runs around yelling "Yee HAW!!! Ride 'em cowgirl!!!" It is really funny besides all the silly thing that girl comes up with. She makes me laugh so much. Last night for instance Joel and I were watching the Broncos Greenbay game and I was rooting for GB and Joel of course his beloved Broncos. Any who...after the game I was gloating because my team won and Joel was very upset that he had lost. Jenna tells Joel, "Don't worry Dad, you da man." Where does she come up with this stuff. It was really cute. Speaking of football, Joel and I was ever sooooooo lucky to get away two weeks ago on a little romantic getaway to Seattle--thanks to Grandma Netter and Grandma and Grandpa Gretchen. While we were over there we went to amazing restaurants, the pier, shopping, and the Seahawks and Saints game. I love Reggie Bush and Drew Brees--anyways, I am happy to report that the Saints finally got their first win (probably because we were there rooting for them). Anyways, those are the pics of Joel and I. Other than that the McCombs family is growing (my belly that is) and doing great.

Jenna is an adrenaline junkie!

2007-08-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am still figuring this blog thing out. I guess I am really slow when it comes to computers and technology--heck, it took me literally 30 minutes to log onto my account ( I am not kidding). Well here I am finally and want to update you all with news about my 4 and a half year old adrenaline junkie! We went to Silverwood yesterday and had a complete ball. Once upon arrival we went straight to the roller coaster Timber Terror, we didn't waste our time on those kiddie rides that the other 4, 6, and 8 year olds were riding. No, we went straight to the big kahuna. After waiting in line for nearly an hour we finally got on the roller coaster. Jenna sat with Joel and I was peeing my pants with fear for not only my own life but of my sweet 4 year old. Anyways, we approached the top of the roller coaster and dropped who knows how many feet and the rest was history...Jenna was hooked. What an amazing little girl--I told her that I don't think Aunt Natalie has still ever went on that big of a ride...ha ha. We went on that twice and it made the tilt-o-whirl look like a walk in the park, except for Joel who gets sick with the spinning. Later that day we went on to Boulder Beach and decided to go on the new family attraction where you sit in a large raft and glide down the large water tubes. Well, it was Jenna, Joel, and I while my mom watched baby Drew. Normally, you can put 6 people in a raft and since having a party of 3 the eager lifeguard asked us, the non-suspecting family, if we would mind adding two to our party. "Of course not......" was our reply as I looked back and saw (okay, I am really not trying to be rude here but I have to tell the truth) two of the largest people I had ever seen coming to join our raft. Well, this husband and wife team got on the raft and we all barely fit. Joel asked Jenna if we wanted to be spun around--the adrenaline junkie of course said yes!--but the short, most pleasantly plump man said "NO!" Well, the lifeguard could not resist the beautiful blue eyed little girl and started spinning. Well ladies and gentlemen, I believe that the McCombs family and that couple made a Boulder Beach record (or tsunami) as we flew down the tube!!! We literally went vertical--okay the large man was completely vertical to my husband and Jenna. I was completely fearful!!!!!! I though, if somehow gravity gives out my little girl is going to be crushed and Joel will be seriously hurt by this huge man falling on top of them. It was insane and soon we made it to the bottom where we completely sunk the raft upon arrival. Joel was laughing soooo hard and I was just glad it was over. The large couple---let's just say, I don't think that they will do it again. Anyways, we had a total blast. We can't wait to go back and spend even more time in the water park. Drew was an angel and Grandma Netter was a great sport for watching him so Jenna, Joel, and I could play so much. I think she enjoyed herself as well--heck, she got to show off her cute grandson to all the on lookers and admirers. It was a great day!

My first blog

2007-07-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I heard about this blogging thing and I thought I might give it a try. Hopefully it will encourage me to take more pictures of my growing kids and jot down some important memories. It sounds like fun so I'll give it a shot.