SUGAR 'N' SPIKES

Camryn's "15 Minutes"

2011-02-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011

2011-02-17T02:48:00.000-08:00

I TOLD YOU SO!! 4 little words I hate.

2010-03-17T01:32:00.000-07:00

For months CAMRYN kept asking me to take the training wheels off her bike because she knew how to ride it just fine. We finally took off those wheels and away she went. Every chance she gets she hops on that bike. She has almost outgrown it and it's less than a year old. Those darn kids if they would just stop GROWING!

Finally he DID IT!!!

2010-03-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

Brayden Finally decided he would play a season of FLAG FOOTBALL!! He loves to run and we knew he could do it but I think after watching his older brothers get BLOODIED and BRUISED the last few years he was never going to play. He loved it and Jay of course approached like a business deal. For every flag he pulled he earned a DOLLAR and for every touchdown he earned FIVE DOLLARS!!
We generally try not to bribe the kids but with Brayden The ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR always kicks him into gear. Whatever works, right?
He wasn't so focused on making mistakes and becoming discouraged but looked at every player as a profit in his wallet!!

BEFORE THEY WERE REALLY COOL!

2010-03-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

Can you guess who these SASSY cowboys are??

Freezing, Fun, & Forced Smiles!!!

2009-09-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Chase is praying for protection as he enters the log ride that his muscular arms and hands will be spared from any harm that may be placed upon him.

Camryn loves rides can you tell?

Does this look too forced? I just wanted one little smile. I tried not too pull out too much hair.

Jay and I decided to take the kids to Sea World over the 4th of July, CRAZY!!! But It wouldn't be an official Curtis vacation without crazy, mad fun, right?

Jail time & Tattoos, YEAH!!!

2009-09-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

I bet I have your attention Now!! Sorry no juicy gossip from me just highlights from our trip to Magic Mountain. Jay and I went here the very first day we were married but forgot until we turned into the parking lot and recognized the roller coaster.

PINEWOOD DERBY 2009

2009-09-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

This was our families 10th Pinewood Derby. We have had equally the same amount of time at the Cub Scout Day Camp. I figured by the time I participate in my last Pinewood Derby I will also be celebrating my 50th birthday. Brayden is just a little bit competative can you tell?

I think we have made about 30 cars so far because every year the older boys made one Jay helped the little boys make one of their own. We still have all of them but I noticed the other day Jackson pulled all of the wheels off. Back to hammering new tires onto those cars.

Camp Rock!!!

2009-08-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

This summer Camryn and a friend participated in a musical theater group put on by Jenny Wright. She does this every summer with a different theme and this year it was the "School of Rock" They learned about 5 different numbers with words and dancing and then at the end of the camp they put on a really cute show.

WARD CAMPOUT

2009-08-27T00:54:00.000-07:00

We can't get far without those electronic devices. A bunch of the boys brought their nintendo ds games and hung out and played.

This is Jackson who is going through a "no clothes" phase right now. He starts out fully dressed and then becomes nature boy within a few minutes. Going to church with him has become quite a challenge because I have to bring his church clothes in the car and then stay out there convincing him that he needs to wear clothes to nursery.

Back in the day there use to be this song on Sesame Street that said "One of these things is not like the others." For some reason this picture reminds me of that song.

The Girl Gang.

Jackson finally got tired and slept in this same position the rest of the night.

We shared a cabin with 8 mice, 2 bats, 35 beetles , 72 giant spiders and The Gonzales Family.
This was at the West Camp of Camp Lomia that I never knew even existed.
Between the two families I think we ended up with 12 kids (give or take) and 4 adults.

I think by now it was around 2:00 am and we were trying to get these little ones to sleep.
I guess it didn't help that we supplied strobe lights and plenty of dance tunes to keep the youth hanging around all night. Around 5:00am I finally heard them decide they would go to bed.
I enjoyed pretending to be asleep and eaves dropping on their teenage "talkie-talk".

A rope swing provided something for the kids to fight about. Who was in line first, who swung 10 times instead of 5 times, blah, blah, blah.....

Here is our "Home sweet Home"

Back to School

2009-08-18T02:05:00.001-07:00

Chase is a senior this year and Austin is a Sophomore. Chase drives them to school every morning about 6:15am. They have O hour together. Austin is the teacher's assistant in Chase's class, we think it is pretty funny. I'm not sure who bugs who the most.

Austin and Chase love waking up every morning at 5:30. Especially when they go to bed around 1:ooam. They still haven't switched their clocks yet.

Camryn just started kindergarten this year. She is more prepared and ready than the others have been yet we are really struggling with being away everyday. She only goes half day but she thinks it is too long. She asked me what she needs to do to get the nurse to send her home.

Brayden is in the 4th grade. He likes his teacher and loves his class. He has always enjoyed school. I have been told that he is the class comedian.

Hayden is a cool 6th grader this year. He knows a lot of the kids in his class and also gets to have his cousin Maddison in there with him. This is the last year that Hayden and Brayden will be in school together until the eleventh grade. Brayden really loves to be with Hayden and thinks he is so cool.

AMERICAN IDOL!!!

2009-08-12T01:36:00.000-07:00

The only TV show I have really watched in the last ten years consistently is American Idol. I guess it's because I have no singing talent and so it's easy for me to judge people based on my lack of ability to make myself feel better momentarily. Anyhow I loved to watch ADAM LAMBERT each week so as soon as I could I purchased tickets to go and then dragged Jay and Austin along with me. They both felt really out of place as you can tell by the mug shot.

DO NOT MESS WITH MY "NIGHT NIGHT"!!!!

2009-08-12T01:15:00.000-07:00

Jackson has a favorite thing and can you guess what it is? Out of six children I have never had a "BINKIE" baby but I'v had 3 "BLANKIE" babies. He loves this blanket from Wally World and I have a back up just in case. He likes to stick his finger through the silk tag and rub it on his nose and gets really mad if he can't find the tag.

Field Day at the School

2009-08-12T00:56:00.000-07:00

Every year on the last day of school the kids get to have a water day.
The kids always look forward to the chance they can get to soak their teachers.

DANCE RECITAL TIME!!

2009-08-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

In May Camryn had her first Dance recital which was Disney themed. She of course thought the rest of the class were her back-up dancers.

2009-08-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

We're Back!!!
I am finally updating my blog after several months of procrastinating. Enjoy the MJ Tribute while I update my photos.

2009-02-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

Can you have the "blogger blues?" I think I have what some might consider blogging anxiety. I have been in a constant "catch up" mode since the day after Thanksgiving. I unburied my Christmas cards and pictures last night and thought maybe a Valentine's Card or perhaps a President's Day card If you didn't get a Christmas Card from us they are still in a paper bag in the corner of my kitchen.

When we take our annual Christmas picture it is SOOOOoooo exhausting because it's impossible to have 8 people looking and smiling at the camera all at once. So we always have picture bloopers and I thought I would share a few of them.

2008-12-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

The other day while taking our family picture I managed to get the kids to pose for a couple.
Everybody cooperated except for Austin. He claims he doesn't know how to smile. I'll have to work on him.

2008-12-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

2008-12-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Temple Lights 2008

Brayden enjoying his doughnut.

I'm pretty sure my older boys have made a deal with one another and that is to see who can look the most tortured in our family pictures. Just wait for our Christmas card.
I've been told that it is not cool to act happy.

Hayden also enjoying his doughnut

Every year we go see the lights at the Temple. In the past it has been hard to go as a family
because the boys were going with the Young Men's group and I was with the Young Women's group so we never could coordinate when we could all go together. Well Monday night we went and I brought Krispy Kreme and hot chocolate so afterwards we could have a little snack before we went home. The younger kids enjoy it so much more than the older ones do. It's so much fun to experience the holidays through the eyes of a child.

2008-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Our little "MR. CLEAN"

Jackson has already defined the meaning of serving our fellow man.
He insisted on licking the bleachers clean at our last football game.
He is such a good helper. He didn't even leave anything for the birds.
Maybe this is what the birds left for him.

2008-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

CHASE HAS HIS DRIVER"S LICENSE!!

We have another licensed driver among us. Chase got his license on "BLACK FRIDAY". It makes me a little sick but I know it's part of the growing up process. It is right up there with the first day of kindergarten. I feel like I have thrown him to the wolves. He is so excited and has already washed his truck and is now trying to figure out how to put bigger tires and a better sound system in.

2008-12-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

DIG DUG!!!!

Chase and Taylor Dahl polishing their gaming skills

What is "DIG DUG?" I too was confused about my son obsessed with eating at Ned's Krazy Sub until I found out that he wants to beat the high score on an old arcade game.

2008-12-03T08:32:00.000-08:00

BIRTHDAY BOYS

my teenagers are not into birthday parties so
Chase just wanted a card full of money.

Jackson got a motorcycle for his birthday and loves to wear
this big helmet even though it weighs more than he does

I know you are completely blown away by my incredible
three tiered cake. I too was impressed by my incredible
sense of creativity. Maybe someone will discover my
amazing cake decorating talent. Cupcakes courtesy of Sam's Club.

Jackson is a frosting lover just like his mom

Chase wanted rolls of quarters for his B-day so he could go to
Ned's Krazy sub and play DIG DUG.

My first born and my last born celebrate their 17th & 2nd B-day.

Chase and Jackson are 1 day apart. Jackson was suppose to be born on Chase's b-day but I changed it so they could have their own day of celebration. Those scheduled c-sections have their advantages. Besides Chase was not very happy that his "old" mom was going to have a baby and was disgusted by the whole idea. As it turns out Chase adores his little brother and it all worked out just fine.

2008-12-02T23:58:00.000-08:00

I gave way to the TWILIGHT frenzy!!
Being the social rebel that I am I did not read the Twilight books mainly because I can't read anything that is of equal thickness as the scriptures. Also, I usually can't sit for more than five minutes. So some of my friends had tickets to the midnight showing and I went. I loved it!!I saw it three times in one week. I even talked my older boys into going and they thought it was "COOL". The only other movie I have seen more than once in the theaters is Titanic. I guess it's the whole forbidden love story that sucks us write into its trap.

2008-11-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Carving pumpkins is always a fun tradition in our family. We keep it very simple. Camryn insisted that I carve the three disney princesses in her pumpkin but after a lot of convincing that I was not blessed with the "carving pumpkin" talent she settled for a traditional Jack-o-lantern face.

2008-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

The hat with the magical powers.

The "Magical Powers" hat!!
A few days ago Jackson came across the lid to my air-popper for popcorn and when he puts it on his head he climbs up on my coffee table and starts lecturing everyone in this real loud stern voice.
It 's funny to us because normally he is this super quiet baby with this little high pitched voice.

Schnepf Farm Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Every year we go to Schnepf Farm for the Pumpkin festival. We always have a great time and the kids look forward to it every year.

I Hate Monkey Jammies!!!

2008-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

The other day I bought Jackson some "Feetie" jammies and he liked them for about one minute and then wanted them off and now insists that I put them on

Is blogging for old people?

2008-10-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

One of my darling children who will remain unidentified but he is over the age of twelve, saw me working on my blog and asked why I did this and what is the purpose.
I said it was a fun way to journal things that happen in our family.
His reply was, "Blogging is an older person's way of creating a "Myspace" account and
trying to be a wanna a be myspacer. And I thought I was a COOL mom.

2008-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats Mesquite Freshman Football on another victory (7-0)!
Here are some pictures of Austin #43

Scary Family Pictures- these are real children not actors and no one to my knowledge was harmed while taking pictures.

2008-10-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

Is this illegal? We obviously don't have a swimming pool but hey that didn't stop these future Olympic swimmers. I'm not sure if there is a law about putting your children in an ice chest full of water.

2008-10-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

This is Austin in a really good mood. He just graduated from 8th grade. Doesn't he look so excited. His football coaches have nicknamed him "HAPPY" because this is how he looks most of the time. He really is a happy person.

2008-10-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

Someone gave this baby a 1 pound chocolate bar. Really!

2008-10-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Help! I've been kidnapped in a passenger van full of kids. We went on a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico with Jay's sisters and their families. The kids had tons of fun with their cousins. This photo was a shore excursion in San Diego. Nothing clears a ship's jacuzzi full of adults out better than letting 13 little kids dive in!

2008-10-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

I hate this scrapbook stuff!

2008-10-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

Chase driving for the first time

2008-10-12T13:01:00.001-07:00

Don't tell me I can't be a pirate.

2008-10-12T12:46:00.001-07:00

I said NO MORE PICTURES! This guy is for real.

Camping made easy

2008-10-12T00:39:00.001-07:00

With all these boys in the house and tons of camping equipment we just never find the time to go camping so last spring break we had a camp out in the backyard. We even roasted marshmallows in our portable fire pit. But a camp out isn't complete without the TV hook-ups in the tent. The only requirement was camp themed movies. Very fun and cheap. The kids keep asking to do it again. I even managed to sleep out in the tent.

Yummy Food I Love!!!

2008-10-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the go so therefore I'm always trying to figure out quick and easy meals for my family that are somewhat healthy. The other day I heard some friends talking about "COCA COLA PORK ROAST", I had never heard of it before nor have I ever bought any kind of pork what so ever since I got married 20 years ago. When I was younger my mom was a big meat eater and we always had pork, roast beef, beef stew, even liver and onions,YUK!!!. I hated meat except hot dogs(not sure it is really a meat) and hamburgers and that is it. So my poor growing teenage boys can't live anymore on pasta and salad or as they call it "BIRD FOOD" anyway here is a yummy recipe for sweet shredded pork.

1 boneless pork roast 3-4 pounds
1 can of coca cola(the caffeine evaporates when cooked-no not really)
1 jar of Herdez salsa
2 cups of brown sugar

Put roast in slow cooker and cover half of the roast with water. Cook on low about 4 hours. Drain most of water and shred the meat then add everything else and cook for another 2 or 3 hours on low. Serve with flour tortillas for some yummy pork tacos. I had enough the next day and made shredded pork enchiladas. very yummy!!!

The many faces of Brayden

2008-10-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Brayden was baptized last May and I wanted to take some pictures of him with my new camera. We went out back and I draped a black sheet over my fence. It was around 5:00 so the sun was just starting to set. This is what we got.

Mesquite High School "Haka"

2008-10-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

This is a chant that Chase's football team did at their Homecoming pep assembly.
If you look real close you can see Chase in the huddle at the end.

Father & son's weekend

2008-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend Jay had a seminar in Flagstaff and usually we all go but because this weekend was Chase's homecoming game I stayed behind and Jay took Hayden and Brayden to the "penguin hotel" in Flagstaff. They had a lot of fun at the Observatory.

A future football player

2008-10-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jackson loves football so much that he loves to put on old helmets that we have lying around. The helmet weighs more than him. Usually it is on wrong and he doesn'tlike you to fix it. I've learned not to mess with a two year old.

Easy Halloween Craft

2008-10-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from overthetipsytopdesign.blogspot.com. Get some paper letters from your local craft store Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. paint them black and then spread mod podge on the front and glitter with the martha stewart glitters. This was fun and the kids got to help as well. Of course if you come to my house and sit on the couch I will warn you that you will have a sparkly bottom!!! Glitter everywhere!!! Since I have been on a glitter craze I found the "FAMILY" sign at Hobby Lobby and glittered the words.

Who's watching the kids???

2008-10-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

This blogging thing is consuming my every thought. Whenever I have a lot of things I need to do I will do anything but what I should be doing. Why is that??? Sunday I made pumpkin bars because I LOVE cream cheese frosting and I needed a reason to frost something with cream cheese. So Monday as I was looking on the computer something TERRIBLE happened to my beautiful pumpkin bars.

2008-09-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Camryn and the Gonzales girls went to a cheer clinic that the high school put on and then last week they got to cheer at the high school game.

2008-09-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is a yard sign that we put out front on game days. So far it hasn't been stolen. Yeah!

2008-09-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Austin with another bloody nose. For this reason I think we have officially scared Hayden and Brayden away from contact sports.

2008-09-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is Chase getting ready to tackle this poor guy.