Awesome video!!!

I've been told in an email that NBC refused to air this during the Superbowl - whether or not that's true, I still think it's very powerful. Do you ever wonder why people can't see things the way you do? I'm sure they think the same thing.

Book Sale

This is where I went this morning!!!
I had so much fun!!! I got most of my books in the damaged and deeply discounted area for $1, $3, and $5 - but all the others were 50% off, too! Then, they gave us 20% off in the non-sale part of the warehouse where I got a couple for fun. So, I have a box of books, but I won't let the kids have them until they finish what they've already got - maybe for prizes, summer reading, or I don't know. In case you're in PHX and interested, it goes through Saturday and I can send you the email.

What to post about???

So, I was trying to think of something to post about.......and I was thinking, and thinking, and thinking- what have I been doing lately. Hmmmmmmm.........

So, this is what I've been doing today. Luckily, I kind-of enjoy laundry. I love the feeling of organizing the clothes and getting them all put away. And, it feels like the kids all got new clothes each week. And, for what I feel like ALL I'VE BEEN DOING for the last couple of weeks..........

AHHHHHHHHH!!! I'm really tired of feeling like I live in a glass box. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!!!! or I have to clean it up! Now, don't mistake me - I want to do this because I want it to sell, but it's ALL I DO! Try to keep the house clean - or at least within 1/2 hour of clean - in case a realtor calls. But, I'm super grateful that they're calling! Hopefully soon.

Picnics

Kelcie was talking about a picnic and eating outside, and so I told her she could do it today if she wanted. She got excited and immediately started planning. She found a basket and picked out some cheese, chips, and I made them a sandwich. Then, she got Talin and set it all up. She did the whole thing - she even cleaned up! And, Talin loved it, too! I love when they get to do what they want every once in a while :)

100 days of school!

Today was the 100th day of school, and they honored all the kids would had no absenses or tardies the first 100 days of school - Ethan was one of them! It was pretty fun - they gave each one of the kids a certificate, a candy bar, and a balloon that they all let off at the same time to celebrate the 100th day of school.

Ethan with his balloon.

Lift off!!!

There they go - there were 105 kids that hadn't missed any days.

Ethan with his certificate.

Leaves

I know most of you will laugh, but we are finally having "Fall". The leaves on our tree all dropped and we finally got around to raking them up, so, of course, we had to have some traditional fun! Talin wasn't sure at first when they sat him in them, but once he figured out they crunch when you walk through them, he was in! Then the jumping and throwing began, and for living in Arizona, we had a fun "Fall"!

Things I love today!

2 things I love today:

1. Sam's Club Extended Warranties!!! - Our printer went out and I'd tried everything they said on the website and finally decided to find the receipt and warranty info. Luckily, I found it, and we had gotten the 3 yr. extended warranty on it at Sam's Club. We bought it 3 1/2 years ago, so I called last night to see if it was still active - hooray, it was! And, not only that, but they are going to reimburse me and I can do whatever I want with the old one! YEAH!!!!! I got a new printer!!! It's already bought and hooked up, so that check better come!

2. Wii Fit - I love it! There's something about having to make it to the end of that activity that keeps me going. And, I love how they started out SO SLOW, so I don't feel stupid and so I don't do too much and give up (previous experience - lots of previous experiences!).

So, that's my 2 cents for today - enjoy!

WAIT - 2 more:

3. Target - especially their clearance racks!
4. Kohls - especailly their clearance racks!
Can you tell where I scored recently on clearance and cute clothes? Yipee!

House Update, again!

They're working on the house, again! After Christmas and New Year's 2 week slow down, we're excited to get it moving again. Yesterday, they put tar paper on the roof, and today they started on the stucco - Yeah!We got our fireplace Christmas Eve - can you believe they put it in on Christmas Eve? It's really cool, though! There will be a hearth in front of it and brick around it and all the way up.Can you believe all these wires??? They all go from our closet under the front stairs to the TV, mostly, and also for the modem for the whole house. Funny, huh?

We picked out our cabinets, cultured marble, and countertops today - that was fun! I hope it all turns out looking nice - it's kind of hard to tell from a little piece! But, I'm really excited about what we picked - even though EVERYONE keeps telling us to do granite everywhere!!! I love granite, but we chose to insulate better (2 story, Arizona) instead. It's moving - so fun!!!

Pets

When we show our house we try to take our dog, Dixie, with us so they can see everything and not worry about a dog. So, today we took her with us to get the kids from school, and as we left with the window open she decided that was fun. We were laughing at her because it made her face look so funny!










Jamie and Laura came home with two little chicks last Saturday (with permission :) ), and so I thought I better put them on the blog. We wanted to do chickens after we moved, so I guess this will give us a jumpstart! They've named them Frieda and Freddy ( they think the black one is a boy). Once we got them to stay in the cage they've been pretty fun. Dixie really likes them, too :( - she ate some of Lafe's brother's chickens.
O.k., this one is NOT ours!!! But, Lafe's dad does Rocky Mountain Horses, and one of them just had a colt a couple weeks ago - isn't he beautiful??? He looks like his mother who is just beautiful! Lafe enjoyed them this afternoon.

And, these pictures don't include the cat, hamster, butterflies.....

Butterfly

SOOoooooooo............ about a month ago (I think?) the kids came running in with these two caterpillars that were on our lemon tree and looked just like bird poop (sorry for the crudeness :) ). Well, we've kept caterpillars before and let them build their cacoon and then they turned into moths - cool, but a little boring. Jamie brought one home from school in 1st grade that turned into a butterfly, but it was ordered. So, we were excited when we found this one this afternoon and it had turned into a beautiful butterfly!!! The thing in the foreground above is the second one - it still has a few days. Isn't it pretty? Below is it's new container because the other one was too small, and some cottonball nectar for it to drink. Fun little science project - you never know what you'll get!