This has been the WORST Valentine's Day EVER!

According to Brooklyn no one loves her. When I told her that her dad and I love her very much, she said,"but Kayla doesn't. Why does she always pick on me?" I told her that it was because she is the baby. Brooklyn then asked, "Why do I have to be the baby?" I said, "Because dad and I didn't have any more babies after you." Brooklyn, "Well why can't you adopt one then? That way Kayla can pick on it."

One More Time!

Famous last words...

While we were in Casper, we took the kids sledding. We had been telling the kids how much fun this was going to be because only 3 people had died on the hill this year (not true btw). The whole way up the hill the youngest Slattery kept saying that she was going to wait until everyone had gone down once before she was going to go. That way she would know that it was safe (she ended up with a bloody nose). It was really cold and this hill was an 'old school' hill and the kids had to carry their sleds all the way to the top. Needless to say they didn't go down very many times. 

We had been there about 45 minutes and everyone decided they were ready to go back to the house and have some hot cocoa. This is when James had the brilliant idea of going down just one more time. James, Tyler, Sierra, and Brooklyn grabbed their toboggan and started the trek up the hill. They only made it half way. They lined up with the jump and were off. They hit the jump, caught some wicked air, and Tyler went one way off and James went the other way. Tyler had the air knocked out of him and thought he was going to die, James hurt his knee.

We got Tyler calmed down and breathing normally and assured him that he was NOT going to die and that he did not need to go the hospital. James on the other hand could barely walk. He complained about the pain all the way down the hill and Renae said, "at least you didn't die!" We took him to the ER where they found some metal in the bone (we have no idea how it got there) and sent him to an orthopedic surgeon. He ended with a partial tear of the MCL. He has a knee brace and some physical therapy for the next few months at least. 

Slattery House

The best "party house" in Casper. 

 Shelbylynn

 Delanie

Kayla and Courtney

 Brooklyn enjoying some yummy sloppy joes.

 Delanie and Sierra

I am at a loss for words with this one.

Happy Birthday Kayla!

We went to Casper to see James and spend some time with our AWESOME friends who live there. Since it happened to be Kayla's 14th birthday while we were there, we threw her a surprise party and she was surprised. I couldn't believe that we were actually able to pull it off without her knowing. I owe a HUGE thanks to the Slattery's for helping organize and execute. We really could not have asked for better friends if we would have designed them ourselves.

Yes, He is Spoiled...

...and yes, he knows it!

Why Are There So Many Songs About Rainbows?

This is one of the questions asked by one of my readers and you know I cannot disappoint, so I have answered it. Well I actually recruited the help of one of my favorite Muppets, KERMIT THE FROG...

Oh, and because they are PRETTY!!!

Blogger's Block

I have been suffering from a serious case of BLOGGER'S BLOCK for quite some time now. So I am leaving it up to you, my readers, to tell me what you want to read about and I will do my best to write it. Ask anything! 

Happy New Year!

I have been dreading the process of writing my first blog post of 2011. I have been tossing around whether I should post my New Year's Resolutions or write a 2010 year in review and wondering if you all really care to read what I have to write. Well, it is YOUR lucky day because I decided to just write a post and if you read it AWESOME and if you don't then may your year bring you the uneasy feeling of someone constantly watching you...

2011 Resolutions

-Start an exercise program and stick with it for more than 3 weeks.

-Finish my degree.

-Build a new kitchen table and beds for the kids with my own two hands, oh and my father-inlaws too (he doesn't know this yet, won't he be surprised).

-I also have one very personal resolution that I don't care to share here. The good news is I have already began the process of getting it finished.

2010 Review

The year began with us enjoying 90 degree weather while beginning our new journey in Australia. The journey quickly became very stressful and difficult for all of us. It was extremely expensive to live there. So much so that I had to go out and find a job to help pay for our basic living expenses. Something that I have not had to do in 13 years. Finding a job in a small country town for an American proved to be quite the task. I ended up taking a job at McDonalds. It was actually the only job offered to me. It was the WORST job I have ever had. I don't know who was more ashamed that I had to take a job there, James or myself?

In February we finally found a house that was four bedroom and in good condition that we felt we could afford, it also had a pool (bonus). We moved into it the first week of March and ended up being flooded in. This was the scariest thing I have ever lived through. It was a good thing I had unpacking to keep my mind off the constantly rising water that was flooding all of our new neighbor's homes. After the flooding missed our house and started to recede, things started to look up for us. I was offered a job with Sullivan Nicolades Pathology as a pathology specimen collector (phlebotomist). I accepted the position and began working for them in May.

At the end of April, we had the opportunity to travel to the Gold Coast and take the kids to Movie World. The beach was absolutely beautiful and we ate at the only Australian Hard Rock Cafe. We stayed at a seedy motel where we contracted head lice. We had fun nonetheless.

Finally May rolled around and I began my new job. I got to travel to Toowoomba (4 hours away) for training. I was there two weeks all by myself. It was kinda lonely and great at the same time. My new job proved to be just enough of a challenge that I looked forward to going everyday. I am hoping to continue to work in that field.

In June we went to Carnarvon Gorge, it was beautiful there and we got to see our first herd of camels, a wild pig, and an echidna. July was the coldest month and we were just busy working. In mid-July James applied for a job with GE not thinking that anything would come of it or that it would even be enough money to accept the job. The last week of July we got a call saying that they really wanted James to come to work for them and they were even willing to give  him generous salary and a sign-on bonus in order to woo him. We took the job and began the daunting task of moving yet again.

We decided that the easiest and least expensive way for us to move back would be to sell EVERYTHING. So we did. In fact, we only brought 50 boxes of things back with us. It seems like a lot until you have them packed and realize that you just fit 15 years of accumulation into 50 boxes. We had great success selling everything. At the end of August, the kids and I flew home and James and the dog followed a week later.

The kids and I moved in with the in-laws while James moved to Houston to begin his new job. The last 4 months of the year have been really difficult and I can't wait to begin our new lives as Texans. Ok, I know we won't really be Texans but we can think we are, right?

Merry Christmas!

Check Out This AWESOME Giveaway!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama (link to: http://bit.ly/tmwishlist) and GameStop (link to:http://bit.ly/gamestop10) are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

Wish List Grand Prize includes:

One XBox 360 250 GB with Kinect; One Nintendo Red Wii Bundle; Three Nintendo Red DSi XL Bundles; Plus, a ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR GameStop gift certificate so you can fill those stockings with games and accessories.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? 

To be together, safe, warm,  and happy.

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?

We wake up early, open gifts, empty stockings, and then have a big breakfast.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

Diamonds, of course.

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

We read the story of Christ's birth from the scriptures.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

Monopoly, Nintendo (the original one)

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

Making sugar cookies.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?

Nowhere, I love being home for Christmas.

8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? 

Kinect, Wii U draw platform , Zumba Fitness