Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Fortner Family!

We did have a very Merry Christmas! On Christmas Eve we visited Grandma and Grandpa's house for snacks and gift opening. The kids got Leapster Explorers and Zoe loves hers. She says it makes her smarter. Presley got a car track that is really cool. The cars move on their own. I think the grown-ups played with it more them him.

On Christmas Eve night we came home opened our new PJ's and put them on. Then we set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids both had notes for Santa too... for being naughty. We decided that might help them get back on the nice list. :)

After we put out cookies we read Christmas books and one of them was The Night Before Christmas. Then we tucked our kiddies into bed. Zoe went right to sleep which is unusual for her because she is usually down to use the restroom, get a drink, or tell us something. Presley was a little wiggly but then he dozed off dreaming of Santa I'm sure. He was very excited for Santa to come this year.

Steve and I played Mario Brothers that my parents got him for Christmas and we couldn't stop playing. It was a lot of fun. We kept having to start over because we weren't very good. We also started finding hidden things we remember finding as kids when we played. It brought back fun childhood memories.

After we stopped playing we got to work... I mean we went to sleep so Santa could come.

Christmas morning I was sure the kids would be up by 7:00 but Zoe didn't get up until 7:20 and she had to wake up her brother. My parents, Steve's mom and sister all came to be a part of Christmas morning with us. It was a great time. And Santa thought the kids were very NICE this year! He gave the kids each a bear in exchange for their letter.

After opening presents our house was a disaster!! I spent the rest of the morning setting up the leapsters and cleaning up the mess. Steve and I also took the kids out to ride their new bikes. It was Presley's first time on a two-wheel bike (with training wheels). He did really good! Zoe was a pro riding around on her new big girl bike. I had to close my eyes a couple times when she got going so fast. She crashed once brushed herself off and said "I'm okay mom!"

For Christmas dinner Steve made a yummy prime rib. He really is an awesome cook. I am one lucky girl! My parents, Vicki and Jenn came back for dinner. After dinner we played games. It was a great end to our Christmas!

I hope you were blessed this Christmas too! Have a Happy New Year too!

Christmas Card Letter

I just remembered I like to send out a letter with my Christmas cards. I was way ahead of myself and stuffed and addressed my cards. So I wrote my blog address on the back of the cards and hope that family and friends will read my letter here. So here it is...

The Fortner Family Four Christmas Letter
Winter 2010

The past year has flown by... the older I get it seems the faster time goes. We have had a great year all around, more ups than downs. As the kids get older we are having more and more firsts with them and are able to do a lot more. We took the kids up to Mount Saint Helen's for the first time this summer. They loved the Forest Learning Center. Some family favorites include going to the Children's Museum, the zoo, the library, Great Wold Lodge, cooking, and visiting with friends and family.
(Our Family at the zoo!)

Zoe is in her 2nd year of Pre-Kindergarten with Mrs. Sally and will be going to kindergarten next year. I can hardly believe my baby is getting so big and so smart. She would be happy to sit and talk rather then play. She loves books, drawing, and crafts. She is miss independent most of the time now that she is 5 she can do anything she says. We celebrated her 5th birthday with a Halloween themed costume party. Zoe and Presley were both pumpkins. (Zoe's First day of Pre-Kindergarten)

Presley turned 3 in June. He had a Bob the Builder party. Presley is the best snuggler when he wants to be (kind of like a cat it has to be his idea.) I love when he says “Mama, I missed you” and gives me a big hug. Presley loves his sister so much they are almost inseparable. Even though they fight they would rather play together then alone. Some of Presley's interests include playing with cars, drawing, and animals.

(Presley looking at an anthill.)

Steve's passion is in his cooking. Steve bought a new BBQ this year. He enjoys trying new ways to marinate, season, brine, smoke and cook meat. My dream for Steve is that he could share his gift with others and open a BBQ restaurant. Steve's interests include cooking, driving his motorcycle, and classic cars sand hot rods.

Steve's burgers... so yummy!

Amber (I) finally finished her master's degree this year! It was a huge accomplishment not only for herself but for the family. She couldn't have done it without their love and support. Amber made jam for the first time this year and looks forward to making it again in the summer. Her interests include, trying new recipes, blogging, and taking pictures.

(My graduation: May 2010)

Steve and I in Greg and Anna's Wedding: May 2010)

Our family is blessed in so many ways. We hold on to the good memories from our past year and look forward to 2011! In February, we will be going to California for my brother Kevin's wedding and to Disneyland (a big first for the kiddos!)

We wish your family many blessings in the coming year. If you would like to follow the Fortner family four throughout the year follow our family blog on blogger at http://fortnerfamily4.blogspot.com/ .

Love,
The Fortner Family 4
Steve, Amber, Zoe, and Presley

SNOW in November... who would have thought!

The kids are loving that winter has arrived already. I love that I got to stay warm and cozy (most of the day). I did take the kids outside this morning to play. Zoe finished her snow girl that her Daddy built for her. I pulled them up and down the driveway on their sled. Presley lasted about ten minutes though and he was ready to come back inside. We watched Zoe play from our front window. When the kids came inside they had a "tea" (hot chocolate) party. Mommy had another cup of coffee!

The roads are very icy so I am staying put and keeping warm!

101 goals in 1001 days update

I have taken a big break from posting or even trying to accomplish my goals right now. I have been so busy being back to work. I don't know how I did everything and went to school. The man upstairs had a lot to do with that!! I started this on July 6, 2010 and my end date is April 2, 2013. I do have a few things to update though.

Here is my list in no specific order:

1. Go for a road trip
2. Identify 100 things that make me happy
3. Go on a picnic We had several this summer!
4. Find a personally inspiring quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor
5. Buy a lottery ticket
6. Have a candlelight dinner
7. Go to the Great Wolf Lodge again!
8. Do some volunteer work
9. Go to church
10. Go to Mt. St. Helens
11. Go to the beach (a warm one) We went to Long beach in September and it was warm out does that count?
12. Get Zoe in a class (gymnastics or dance). We decide to wait until she is in Kindergarten.
13. Buy Christmas presents in November I have started Christmas shopping. I actually started in October this year!
14. Go to Edgefield (booked for Nov. 20th) This weekend! I am sooo excited!! It was a really great trip... possibly a new tradition every year after conference week.
15. Sell our house
16. Pay off debt (working on it)
17. Read 10 books all the way through (1/10)* I am reading about 3 books at once... I am too ADD!
18. Bake cupcakes I made candy corn cupcakes for Zoe's birthday
19. Finish my quarter sleeve tattoo
20. Go to Disneyland (In February!!)
21. Celebrate my 30th birthday We had a party at our house it was a lot of fun! I still don't feel 30!
22. Raise $500 for the Race for the Cure (250/500)*
23. Get a gym membership and use it * I started taking Zumba classes 2 times a week and I LOVE it! I still want to get a membership though so I can run on the treadmill.
!)
24. Have Thanksgiving at our house (This coming Thursday! Steve is smoking a turkey!)
25. Write a love letter to my hubby
26. Write a haiku
27. Write 50 reasons why I like myself
28. Take a trip on a train
29. Make Mimosa So yummy!
30. Eliminate non-fitting clothing from my wardrobe
31. Put together an emergency food kit
32. Back up all digital photos
33. Spend an entire day at the beach
34. Go fishing
35. Take a Zumba class I love ZUMBA!!
36. Cook 25 new dishes (6/25) *
37. Make strawberry jam
38. Buy a new computer
39. Write to someone who inspired me
40. Go to 5 restaurants I've never been to before (4/5): Eco Park Restaurant, Blue Plate in Portland, LA CASA, Gustav's German Pub
41. Go to Seattle
42. Keep a prayer journal (started it Aug. 11th)
43. Make my own birthday cards
44. Bake all my families birthday cakes
45. Find 10 dairy free recipes that are really yummy (1/10)
46. Make a family recipe book*
47. Go to the zoo five times (1/5)
48. Go to the Children's Museum
49. Go to Las Vegas
50. Throw Zoe a BIG 5th birthday bash She loved her Halloween themed costume party. She said she wants to do it again next year.
51. Start a new hobby... Is this a hobby?
52. Go to a garden (lilac or tulip)
53. Complete my Master's Degree It's official!!
54. Sing karaoke (drinking may be involved)
55. Grow a garden (Do tomatoes count?)
56. Do 10 random acts of kindness (1/10)
57. Donate to charity
58. No Starbucks for a week (I think this one may be impossible! My closest attempt was 3 days!)
59. Keep a food journal for Presley for a month
60. Add more fruits and veggies to our diet*
61. Paint Zoe's room
62. Move Presley upstairs
63. Lose 10lbs... 5 lbs so far*
64. Set a budget and stick to it!*
65. Get Presley in pre-school
66. Go on Field Trips with Zoe's class
67. Play board games at least 20 times (7/20)
68. Read to Zoe and Presley (almost) every night)*
69. Watch 10 "classics" I haven't seen before (0/10)
70. Buy or make 10 new decorations for the holidays (3/10)
71. Go to the Pumpkin patch
72. Cut down our Christmas Tree
73. Take 26 pictures, 1 for each letter of the alphabet and make a book for my kids
74. Make a personalized photo book for Presley (like Zoe's)
75. Develop wedding photos that haven't been developed yet
76. Put pictures in albums
77. Move into a new house
78. Go out to breakfast at the fireside cafe
79. Have a big Easter Egg hunt with family and friends
80. Save for Hawaii $0
81. Write a list of things that each person in my life has taught me
82. Go to an aquarium
83. Buy bikes and use them (For the kids so far!)*
84. Get a manicure/pedicure
85. Make 5 new desserts (2/5)
86. Go on a motorcycle ride with Steve
87. Play golf
88. Try 10 new beverages (3/10)*
89. Paint the kitchen cabinets

90. Buy new frying pans Got them for a gift!!
91. Eat breakfast everyday for a week (I'm not a breakfast eater!)Yet another impossible task... Does coffee count? I don't do breakfast!
92. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day
93. Go on a date once a month with my hubby* (5/33)
94. Plant some flowers
95. Make a list of 100 reasons why I love my husband
96. Attend a festival/ concert
97. Go camping with friends
98. Throw a dinner party
99. Don't say anything negative for a week
100. Pay for a person's Starbucks behind me
101. Tell my family I love them everyday!*

I am doing pretty well!

Stike means I completed the task
numbers or * means I have started it

Winter is creeping in!

Fall has come and gone. The leaves having turned beautiful colors and withered away to early tones. We celebrated Zoe's 5th birthday with a Halloween themed party. My little pumpkins had a blast trick-or-treating this year. We should have enough candy to last us until next Halloween (and we even gave some to Grandpa Ray)! I just finished up parent teacher conferences and they went very well. I have a really great group of kids this year. Thanksgiving is next week and I look forward to spending time with family! I am thankful for many things this year... my family, my job, my health, my home to name a few.

At the pumpkin patch... Zoe and Presley's first time in the corn maze!

Pumpkins!!

Carving our pumpkins!

30 and Flirty!!

I am offically 30! I had 4 days of celebration. On Friday the 17th, a co-worker Billina made cupcakes to share with my class. The BEST chocolate cupcake I've ever had. Yummy!

On Saturday we had a big birthday celebration at our house. Steve made yummy fish tacos. My favorite! At one point we had 12 kids running around our house. They were having so much fun together. I feel so blessed to have such aweseome friends and family to celebrate with.

On Sunday the 19th (real birthday), we walked in the Race for the Cure! There were lots of people walking to support a cure for breast cancer. My birthday wish is that this could happen soon!

After the race we went to Uptown Pizza as always they have yummy food and a great atmosphere. Mom made me pink cupcakes! Thanks to everyone who came to the race!

On Monday, just when I was thinking my birthday celebrations were over, I had another surprise. On my window at work I had a huge poster that said, "Happy 30th Birthday Mrs. Fortner!" and balloons in my classroom. A parent also brought me the cutest froggy cupcakes to celebrate again with my class.

Now that the sadness of no longer being in my 20's is over (thanks to all of my celebrations), I am looking forward to my many accomplishements in my 30's!!

Rod Run 2010

On Sep. 11th, Steve and I got to stay overnight in Longbeach for the Rod Run with John and Joni. Presley and Zoe got to go stay overnight with Grandma Vicki.

Steve and I had a great time!

August has been a very busy month!!

We had Steve's Family Reuninon. The kids loved playing with their cousins that they don't get to see often enough.



Jeremy visited from New York!!


We went to the zoo with Jeremy and Grandma Betsy. It was a perfect day for the zoo!

The kids loved the train ride!





Grandpa and Grandma took the kids and I to Longbeach for the Kite Festival. It was a fun time!



The kids loved playing in the sand and flying their kits. Presley was even doing tricks with his kite.

Cowlitz County Fair

One tradition that I will continue with my kids is going to the fair. It is fun to see the animals, especially the babies. This year we saw baby pigs and goats. Zoe and Presley got to pet the goat. This year the kids also put a painting into the kids crafts exhibit. We went to see if they got a ribbon. Zoe was so excited she got two ribbons (a blue and purple one!) Presley got a green ribbon. Zoe is already talking about what she wants to put in the fair next year.



We also ate fair food and got kettle corn to go. I'm such a bad mom though, I told Zoe she couldn't go on the rides because you had to be eight. Those things are sooo darn expensive, it is ridiculous!! We found other ways to have fun. :)

The kids even made it into the local paper for being the first to enter the craft tent at the fair on Thursday. :) They decorated potatoes.


"Presley Fortner, 3, peered through his mop of red hair, concentrating as he pushed a button into one of the globs of glue on his potato.

Beside him, his sister Zoe, 4, spelled her name in bright letters across her tuber.

The Fortner kids, of Kelso, were the first to stop by the kids' craft tent noon Thursday at the Cowlitz County Fair, which opened its four-day run under sunny skies and moderate temperatures after the annual kids parade."
Presley was all about the glue!!

I made Strawberry Jam!!

I have been wanting to make jam for a very long time. It reminds me of my Grandma Myrtle, she was the best jam maker. I finally made myself do it (with Steve's help). Now I want to make more!!

Our 6th Anniversary!

Steve and I celebrated out 6th Anniversary on July 31st! I can hardly believe six years went by so quickly. Lots has changed in six years but Steve and I have made it through. The movies make it look so easy.

To celebrate Steve took me to a cabin by Mt. St. Helens called Eco Park. It was so much fun minus the critter that decided it wanted in our cabin at 2 in the morning and the hornets nest in the cabin when we first arrived. I can laugh now... but not at the time.

We did lots in a short time... we went horse back riding and I had a beautiful horse. We played board games and took lots of walks too. We also drove up to the mountain. I hadn't done that since I was in high school. Steve almost had me talked into a helicopter ride (I am really scared of heights) if it didn't cost so much (maybe next time!)

I feel so blessed to have met and married such an awesome person!

Karaoke With Joni!

We went out for Jenn's 23rd Birthday and I get to mark off sing karaoke from my list. Joni and I use to sing Karaoke together when we were in high school. We sang "Landslide" by the Dixie Chicks and "What's Up" by Four Non-Blondes. It was a lot of fun. We also got to visit with some of Steve's good friends that we don't get to visit nearly enough.

Crossing off my list!

I was able to cross off paint kitchen cabinets off my list. I was so embarrassed of my cabinets because they were so dirty looking. The old paint was a dirt magnet. So I decided I am going to paint. Once I got started I thought what did I get myself into. There were so many nooks and crannies. But I did it and they look really good! The new paint is so much cleaner and much easier to wipe down if something gets spilt on it.

I also marked off another new recipe. I made pasta salad for my Grad Party. I got the recipe from Steve's family friend Anisa. It was really easy! I forgot to take a picture though. :(

Also for my grad party I made jello shots ( I marked this off as a beverage but I guess it could be considered a dessert too. They were raspberry lemonade jello shot and it was hard to take just one. :) They were a hit at the party!

I'm having fun marking off things on my 101 list!!

Hair cuts

Zoe and Presley both got their hair cut yesterday. Zoe wanted to go as short as mommy. It is pretty short. I tried to convence her to keep her hair long because it was so pretty. The short hair will be much easier to manage. She even told me, "Mom, I won't get food in my hair anymore with short hair." She won the argument. :)

Presley got his hair cut too. It was so long and beautiful but everywhere we went no matter what he was wearing people would call him a she. One person even told him to smile like a princess. Grr! It makes me so mad. So I broke down and got his hair cut. It is still longer. He looks like a surfer dude now! :)


Zoe Getting her hair cut!


Presley getting his hair cut!



Happy Kiddos!!

Great Wolf Lodge

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge for a night and had so much fun! We played in the water a lot!!

Cooking up a Storm

I have been taking over the role of cooking again now that I am on summer break and now that Steve has been working so much overtime. I am really enjoying it too! Two of the new recipes I tried are Greens and Beans and the other was Steak Stir Fry. They were both very yummy! Presley loved the stir fry he kept yelling more, more! A chef like to hear stuff like that. Lol! It's really nice to not be eating the same stuff over and over... like we usually do when we are on a strick schedule for time, but I found that both recipes were very quick and easy and I will be adding them into my food rotation. I'm on the search for more quick, easy, and yummy recipes!

Greens and Beans



Steak Stir Fry

50 Reasons I Like Myself

1. I have the best kids (even when they're naughty)
2. I have the best husband (we are a perfect match)
3. I have great parents that taught me right from wrong. :)
4 and 5. My grandmother Myrtle gave me some great qualities (especially the love to entertain and make people happy
6. I'm honest
7. I'm silly
8. I'm punctual
9. I'm a great teacher
10. I am outgoing most of the time
11 and 12. But I am also cautious and reserved
13 and 14. I'm safe but I also like to take risks
15. I am organized
16. I am strict as far as my parenting but I do it out of love. (Love and Logic)
17 and 18. I am a goal setter and I strive to achieve my goals.
19. I have lots of love to give
20. I am good at writing (but not spelling) Lol!
21 and 22. I have inner strength as well as outer strength
23. I may be small but I will stand up for what I believe is right!
24 and 25. I am a pretty good cook and I like to cook when I'm not too busy!
26. I am good at taking pictures of my kids and documenting their childhood. (I want them to be able to look back at their childhood.)
27. I'm great at multitasking... give me a couple of jobs I'll get them done and by the deadline too!
28. I'm creative
29. I throw a pretty good party. (my kiddos like them anyways)
30. I like my deep blue eyes (Thanks mom and dad!)
31. I like my tattoos. They tell a story about me and my life. :)
32. I can tolerate pain (read number 31)
33. I like my handwriting
34. I am independent (I don't depend on anyone else.)
35 and 36. I am a good leader but can also be a great follower
37. I am good a listening to others
38. I am good at giving advice
39. I am great at arguing my case too. (Sorry babe!)
40. I am a hard worker
41. I make yummy minestrone soup!
42. I make the best guacamole!
43. I am getting better at doing my own hair ( I have more then just two hairdos now.)
44. I love the group of people that I call friends!
45. I love my job... I get to be paid to explore and discover new and exciting things.
46. I look out for my kiddos
47. I am great at reading stories to my kids
48. I can make my own coffee now. :) (Funny huh... but it's true)
49. I am proud of myself for completing my Master's Degree
50. I like myself and who I have become!

101 Goals in 1001 days

So I have come across this life challenge. (Thanks Erin!) Since I am done with my Master's I need something to work towards. So I am taking on the 101 goals in 1001 days (which is 2.75 years. Some of these goals may take that long to accomplish. My start date is July 6, 2010 and my end date is April 2, 2013. I encourage others to take the challenge too! Go to http://dayzeroproject.com/ for more information.

Here is my list in no specific order:

1. Go for a road trip
2. Identify 100 things that make me happy
3. Go on a picnic
4. Find a personally inspiring quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor
5. Buy a lottery ticket
6. Have a candlelight dinner
7. Go camping
8. Do some volunteer work
9. Go to church
10. Go to Mt. St. Helens
11. Go to the beach (a warm one)
12. Get Zoe in a class (gymnastics or dance)~ Oct. 2nd :)
13. Buy Christmas presents in November
14. Go to Edgefield (booked for Nov. 20th)
15. Sell our house
16. Pay off debt
17. Read 10 books all the way through (0/10)*
18. Bake cupcakes
19. Finish my quarter sleeve tattoo
20. Go to Disneyland
21. Celebrate my 30th birthday
22. Raise $500 for the Race for the Cure (15/500)*
23. Get a gym membership and use it
24. Have Thanksgiving at our house
25. Write a love letter to my hubby
26. Write a haiku
27. Write 50 reasons why I like myself
28. Take a trip on a train
29. Make mamosa So yummy!
30. Eliminate non-fitting clothing from my wardrobe
31. Put together an emergency food kit
32. Back up all digital photos
33. Spend an entire day at the beach
34. Go fishing
35. Take a Zumba class (September 2nd!!)
36. Cook 25 new dishes (4/25) *
37. Make strawberry jam
38. Buy a new computer
39. Write to someone who inspired me
40. Go to 5 restaurants I've never been to before (2/5): Eco Park Resteraunt, Blue Plate in Portland,
41. Go to Seattle
42. Keep a prayer journal (started it Aug. 11th)
43. Make my own birthday cards
44. Bake all my families birthday cakes
45. Find 10 dairy free recipes that are really yummy (0/10)
46. Make a family recipe book*
47. Go to the zoo five times (0/5)
48. Go to the Children's Museum
49. Go to Las Vegas
50. Throw Zoe a BIG 5th birthday bash
51. Start a new hobby
52. Go to a garden (lilac or tulip)
53. Complete my Master's Degree (waiting on transcripts)*
54. Sing karaoke (drinking may be involved)
55. Grow a garden
56. Do 10 random acts of kindness (0/10)
57. Donate to charity
58. No Starbucks for a week
59. Keep a food journal for Presley for a month
60. Add more fruits and veggies to our diet*
61. Paint Zoe's room
62. Move Presley upstairs
63. Lose 10lbs
64. Set a budget and stick to it!*
65. Get Presley in pre-school
66. Go on Field Trips with Zoe's class
67. Play board games at least 20 times (2/20)
68. Read to Zoe and Presley (almost) every night)*
69. Watch 10 "classics" I haven't seen before (0/10)
70. Buy or make 10 new decorations for the holidays (0/10)
71. Go to the Pumpkin patch
72. Cut down our Christmas Tree
73. Take 26 pictures, 1 for each letter of the alphabet and make a book for my kids
74. Make a personalized photo book for Presley (like Zoe's)
75. Develop wedding photos that haven't been developed yet
76. Put pictures in albums
77. Move into a new house
78. Go out to breakfast at the fireside cafe
79. Have a big Easter Egg hunt with family and friends
80. Save for Hawaii $0
81. Write a list of things that each person in my life has taught me
82. Go to an aquarium
83. Buy bikes and use them
84. Get a manicure/pedicure
85. Make 5 new desserts (0/5)
86. Go on a motorcycle ride with Steve
87. Play golf
88. Try 10 new beverages (2/10)*
89. Paint the kitchen cabinets
90. Buy new frying pans
91. Eat breakfast everyday for a week (I'm not a breakfast eater!)
92. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day
93. Go on a date once a month with my hubby* (2/33)
94. Plant some flowers
95. Make a list of 100 reasons why I love my husband
96. Attend a festival/ concert
97. Go camping with friends
98. Throw a dinner party
99. Don't say anything negative for a week
100. Pay for a person's Starbucks behind me
101. Tell my family I love them everyday!*

Wish me luck! I already tried a new recipe today so I got to add to my goal already.

Stike means I completed the task
numbers or * means I have started it

Summer is Finally Here!

We had a great July 4th! We went to Josh and Katie's house in Castle Rock. We had dinner, the kids played in their beautiful backyard, and we watched fireworks. This was Zoe and Presley's first year watching them. Presley fell asleep 15 minutes into the show. Zoe liked them but thought some of them were scary.

So far this summer the kids and I have stayed busy playing outside a lot. We have been going to the library once a week for the summer reading program. Zoe went to VBS last week for the first time and loved it. She was such a BIG girl. Presley and I got to have some just the two of us time. He liked spending time with mom, but he also missed his sissy a lot.

Steve is so busy with work. He has been working a lot of overtime which is great but we really miss him on the nights he has to work late. I am praying he can get a new job soon this one is wearing him out.

Well I'll write again soon the sun is calling my name... time to go enjoy it now that it is finally here.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! My kids are so blessed to have such a great daddy and I am so lucky to have scored such a wonderful hubby!! He really is great!



And he is a good cook too!! Yummy!!


I also was blessed with a super Dad myself! I love you!! Thanks for all you do!