Cutler Clan

LOSER!!

2009-10-29T22:28:00.002-06:00

If I wasn't so exhausted I would find the music that plays on The Price Is Right when someone loses their game. That would suffice in letting you know I didn't get my creative project completed. Yes, I still have 90 minutes left, but this girl is DONE! In my defense I have spent the entire day working on a Sith Lord robe so Eli can be Darth Maul for Halloween. I'd enter the robe, but I bought everything for it Saturday-so I can't really count it as supplies sitting around my house. :( I will still be posting pictures however of my little ghouls costumes this year! The whole fam is dressing up so stay tuned for pics.

Courtney, thank you for the motivation and inspiration to create. Even though I didn't complete the project I have it all ready, and look forward to completing it. Moving those stagnant creative juices around in my brain has done wonders for my state of mind! I look forward to future challenges you will post and accomplishing a goal I've been working on for myself.

Check this out!

2009-10-28T11:30:00.004-06:00

I'm taking a part in a challenge posted by my cousin, Courtney Price. Check it out!!

Our little wrestler!

2009-03-23T19:15:00.002-06:00

This is Eli's second year wrestling. He loves it! He is a great wrestler, of course I'm prejudice!! So far this year his record is 7-1. He has one last tournament this Saturday, they wrestle four matches per tournament.

He was SO close to pinning his opponent in this match!

Poor kid looks exhausted. He was, he worked his opponent over really good. We had lots of family at this one, so he was excited to win all four of his matches and get a medal.

Fun and competition while cleaning - a PERFECT combo! Part 1

2009-02-24T23:58:00.004-07:00

Saturday morning I let the kids play video games and watch cartoons until about 1 or so (if you do the math based on the time they got up, they got a good 5 1/2 hours in). Yes, I know I'm a terrible mother who is polluting my children's minds. I don't buy it, even though Jake and I tell them their brains are going to start oozing out of their ears. They look at us like "how could our parents be so dumb to believe that." ANYWAY, I enlisted them in full on slavery, which included mopping the kitchen and entry way. So, they decided to turn it into a game of hockey. I don't think there was a puck involved (but what do I know). All I knew was that when Eli strapped on his football helmet, I ran for my camera.

Kya was working on serious fun here, I need to buy a new lens that captures "action" shots better. She has that cute grin that always spreads on her face when she and Eli are competing and she is giggling the whole way through.

What a cute picture, all I can say is - Hey Mom! Learn how to focus!!!

Yes, this is a staged photo. Kya loves the camera and loves to pose. She's acting shocked at the filth picked up by the rag. The snow is really starting to melt, which means mud and more mud drug into the house. Thank goodness for tile and kids who like to play Hockey-Mop.

One more lovely pose for the camera, she's having loads of fun!

So this picture was a set-up on Eli with the previous picture. He was hiding behind Kya, so I couldn't see him, which also meant he couldn't see me. After taking several shots of Kya posing I motioned for her to move over so I could catch Eli. We got him, and that is the little competition he and I have going.

Fun and competition while cleaning - a PERFECT combo! Part 2

2009-02-24T23:28:00.005-07:00

Eli took the hockey-competitive-fun approach more so than his sister. He put on some serious moves here, mostly trying to avoid any decent pictures of him.

He kept on mopping though - way to go son, way to go!

I know this was a race of some sort, but I can't tell you the rules or who won.

Here you can see Kya's dedication to cleaning, she kept telling me "Mom, we're gonna make this floor shine!" Gotta love her, she takes the responsibility of helping Mom very seriously, which I love because she helps me so much. It is also is a bit heartbreaking, because she does it out of concern for my health issues.

Kya's Basketball Games

2009-02-10T18:38:00.006-07:00

Yes, even out in the boondocks we manage to have a few sports leagues, and Kya thought she try out basketball this year. She has had a blast with her friends, made new ones (how is that possible in such a small town?) We (Jake, Eli and I) have enjoyed watching her games. Eli is of course the first to inform her whether they won or not. Sometimes I think I taught my children a little to much honesty . . .
Here are a few fun pictures of Kya in "action"!!

These next ones I took in order. Can you see how big and tall these 3 girls are? They are 5th graders playing against 3rd and 4th graders. I guess this particular town/school doesn't allow 3rd and 4th graders to play. HUH?! For just a moment Kya had a open shot, but once those big girls caught up she couldn't even see the basket. They are HUGE! Then you see them completely engulf her and next thing you know there is a 10 girl mosh pit going for the ball.

Just a tad slow starting my new year

2009-02-02T18:39:00.003-07:00

Well, all the excitement, fun and festivities of the holidays put me fully out of commission until this week. So, I'll start with a few Christmas pictures. We had a wonderful Christmas with my family: my Mom, Bryson, and Kirk and Kaija were able to arrive prior to our major snowstorm, thank goodness. Sadly, Dusty, Rachel and our gorgeous new niece Ellie didn't make it because of the snowstorm.

Bryson and Eli chillin in the recliner.

Kya convinced Grandma that she needed to have her hair done. Poor Grandma fell asleep, and when she woke up - wala! a new do!!

Uncle Kirk performing the ritualistic tickle torture on Eli. Eli loves to scream "no" "stop" while being tortured and then when he is set free, jumps right back in for more.

Eli was actually trying to hide from the camera on this one, but I got him! Ha, ha

Aunt Kaija was also a willing participant in having her hair done up by Kya.

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!

2008-12-25T11:58:00.002-07:00

Last night (Christmas Eve) it started snowing here around 5. When we woke up this morning (Christmas Morning) this is what it looked like. By 10 when Jake went out to start snow blowing we measured the accumulation at 17 inches. Its still snowing heavily here. As you can see my mom's car has all but disappeared in the snow. When they arrived yesterday the car was completely free of any snow. We may never see another White Christmas quite like this one, and we are enjoying every bit of it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Camera Shy

2008-12-22T11:38:00.001-07:00

Eli has decided that he doesn't like me to take pictures of him, when I try the end result looks like this.

Letters from Santa

2008-12-22T11:32:00.004-07:00

Our town post office has a special box for letters to Santa. The really cool thing is that they get a letter back from Santa.

Good Morning SNOW!

2008-12-22T11:15:00.001-07:00

Here's what we woke up to this morning! There's more on the way too. Although it makes traveling anywhere extremely difficult, it is one of the things we love most about living in the mountains.

Ahhh....Memories :)

2008-12-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

I stole this off my cousin, Kate's blog. Its a fun way to share memories of each other... Here's how you play

1. As you comment on my blog, leave one (or 2 or 3 or 10) memories that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.
2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty fun to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave a memory about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you do not have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. Have fun!!

SNOW ANGELS!!

2008-12-17T09:22:00.002-07:00

It finally snowed!! Technically we got a little in October, but it was gone in a day or two, and we weren't home to enjoy it. The kids were so excited! They were out playing in it by 8:30 Saturday morning. Brrrrrrrrr!

Barbara Morgan, NASA Astronaut

2008-12-17T09:03:00.002-07:00

We got meet Barbara Morgan, from the Boise, Idaho area. She is the school teacher who made the trip to the International Space Station last summer. Jake's mom is a gifted and talented teacher and last year her students decided on a project to install a wind turbine at their school. Jake was the electrician when the turbine was put up. We were able to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, meet Barbara Morgan. Kya and Eli were fortunate enough to have some one on one time with her prior to the ceremony. Despite Eli's lack of enthusiasm in the picture they were thrilled to meet someone who had been in space. So was I, really-how often do you get to meet and converse with an astronaut.

COUSINS R COOL!

2008-12-16T10:24:00.002-07:00

Seriously! What would we do without cousins? More appropriately, what would I do without cousins? Kya and Eli are blessed to have awesome cousins, and even after spending weeks together they still get along. This is the bonus for me and their aunt, as any mother knows that having other kids who entertain yours is PRICELESS.

Eli's 7th Birthday!

2008-12-16T10:06:00.004-07:00

It really wouldn't be Eli's birthday or Sunday afternoon for that matter without a football game on the TV.

I am rediscovering all the wonders that come with boys, and depending on who you are they take on a variety of meanings-I briefly mention odors and noises as they seem to be most prevalent when Eli and his buddies are around. Here they were all SO hot from playing football outside before cake, ice cream and presents they just had to take their shirts off.

Kya turns 9

2008-12-16T09:56:00.004-07:00

Kya turned 9 in October! I had to put a cute picture of her on her birthday - I didn't want to be the totally mean mom who just puts embarrassing pictures up

...AND this would be the not so cool picture for a 9 year old. Blowing out candles while her papa holds up her pig tails. :)

My FAVORITE Monsters!

2008-12-16T09:50:00.001-07:00