CRAZY kids!!!

Since we're living at Grandma's, there's a pool. The kids decided it was hot enough on Saturday - low 90s. Yes, it may be hot enough, but not long enough in a row to warm the pool, yet!!! They're CRAZY!!!

House Update

We now have textured wall, a staircase (yeah, Talin can now go upstairs safely), and brick on the outside!!! How exciting!!!

Happy Birthday, Talin!!!

Talin turned 2 on Sunday!!! Happy Birthday!!! He had a great birthday, even the day after moving. He totally "got it" this year - opening presents, blowing out candles - it was cute! He's my sweet big boy - although, he has decided to act "2" occasionally.

We're outta here!

O.k., almost. But, we're moving out tomorrow, and I have to pack up the computer until we get into the new house, so I thought I'd post one last time. I'll really try to post again from another computer and let you know how it's coming. In the mean time, enjoy my silly kids.

Cute Talin

Talin has decided that coloring is pretty fun - I got him a Wall-E coloring book and he thinks it's great! I also found an old Curious George one that he likes. He's learning his colors - he knows PINK and YELLOW - funny, huh? That's what happens when you have older sisters (Ethan's favorite color was pink for a while).

He's also helping us pack -I don't know how much he enjoys this whole process, but he seems to be making the best of it! Oh, that's a ring-pop in his mouth that he found in our cleaned-out pantry - lucky boy!

Drive-in

Last night we decided we needed a break from moving, etc. and something fun for the kids' Spring Break, so we went to the Drive-in! We saw "Race to Witch Mountain" and we really liked it! I was surprised - but, sometimes that happens when I'm not expecting much. We all got a Sonic drink and ate Licorice Nibs and Whoppers. It didn't even get too cold - so nice!

Packing......

And so it begins.......
or continues....... since we packed up half the house last August to try and sell the house. Talin loved crawling all over the food storage - and I was so glad I could let him since other boxes he can't. I am so glad the cannery sells just the boxes so all my #10 cans would fit nicely and not be too heavy! And, I'm off to do some more - wish me luck!

Science Model

Erin had to do a model of a living thing this year for the 7th grade Science Fair and she chose Bread Mold - it was actually pretty cool to do.

This is from the side -

And, this is from the top - Don't you love the neon spores? And the green mold (train set moss)? I thought she did a great job!

SOLD!!!

I've been reluctant to put this on, but a week and a half ago someone put an offer on our house, which we accepted, but we've been cautious until the 10 days and inspection period was over. But, that was yesterday and it sounds like they're going through with it - so WE SOLD THE HOUSE!!! Such a blessing! Last Fast Sunday, we fasted as a family that someone would find our house - and it wasn't immediate, but we've been very blessed and I'm so grateful. So, we're moving out in 3 weeks to Lafe's parents' basement until our new house is done - hopefully not too long. YEAH!!!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Today is my birthday!!! I'm not telling how old I am, but I'm sure most of you know anyways. Besides Talin's little present to me (see below), I'm going to get my hair done and then going to "The King and I" tonight at a wonderful little theater here - we're so excited!

Oh no!!!!!

Did you know.....

that windex works REALLY good on taking finger nail polish out of carpet????? I would rather NOT know this little interesting fact, but........ now I do. This mornig Talin got into some dark red finger nail polish ( I think he was actually trying to paint his toenails because it was ALL OVER his foot) and spilled it ALL OVER the carpet in Erin and Jamie's room - I'm not talking just spilled in one spot, I mean two places spilled several times and splattered!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was so worried I was almost SHAKING - did I mention we're selling our house??????? After some research - thanks MOM! - we used polish remover and then Windex - it's wonderful stuff! You can't even tell it was there except for a few tiny dried splatters that I'll go back and get after it dries. SIGH.....................

Moving right along.....

Today the dry-wallers started - Yippeee!!! We went to see and were so surprised they had already gotten so far! I guess putting it up is probably the fast part - it's the taping and filling that will take a while. It's fun to see walls, though - makes it feel more real. They also finished out porch today - we love it! It's just what we pictured.

Viola!

I just had to post my little viola player, too! She had another Orchestra Concert last night - it's so fun to see the improvements. They even played a fiddling number with all the orchestras (beg., int., and J.H.) where the elementary played regular time and the J.H. played behind them double time - it was so fun.

Insulation

We now have a multi-colored house! It's fun to see the insulation go in - it's really a LOT quieter in there now!!! This show all three kinds:

And, this is the foam underneath some of it - cool, huh?

They also finished the siding on the front - all the other parts will be veneer brick, and the rest of the house will be stucco. We used concrete siding because wood doesn't weather well in Arizona and the vinyl will melt ( funny, huh?).

Happy Valentine's Day

Somebody loves me!!! :)

Madagascar Monkeys (Lemurs)

My little Madagascar Monkeys - well, Lemurs, but monkeys sounded better! We watched Madagascar 2 tonight and the kids started dancing with the music at the end and Talin joined in - it was hillarious!!!

Students of the Month

Today they recognized the Students of the Month for January - for the value of Courage. Jamie received Student of the Month for her class because her teacher saw how much courage it has taken Jamie to change schools and adapt to new friends and stuff - it was really nice. And, Erin got Student of the Month for her history class - 4th time this year! Great job you guys!!! We really appreciate all your hard work and niceness ( is that a word?)!

Valentine Decorations

This is how Talin decorates for Valentine's Day..... He found one of Laura's crafts and proceeded to tear it apart and stick them onto Dixie. She's so good to him! I thought it was pretty funny.

Tagged, twice, and lazy!

I've been tagged twice and finally am getting around to doing it.


1st Tag: I'm supposed to post the 6th picture from my 6th folder and then blog about it.

This is Ethan last summer in his diving class. He has a pretty good fear of heights, and it took him a while to get up the nerve to go off the high dive. I was so proud of him when he did and so happy he worked through it and conquered his fear! He loved diving and worked hard at it, but I was also pleased with how he knew his limits and wasn't willing to stray from what he'd decided to do. I love getting to know my kids better through the things they do - and just loving them for it!

2nd Tag: 7 Things You Probably Don't Wish to Know About Me:

1. I've only ever kissed my husband. I kind of only wanted to kiss a guy I might marry, and I figured if I felt like I knew him well enough to kiss, then there was a possibility we might get engaged. I wasn't hard-fast on this, but I did reserve my kiss until it was REALLY SPECIAL - and it turns out it was REALLY SPECIAL and I married him 3 years later.

2. I'm addicted to chocolate - seriously. I'm really glad I never tried alcohol or drugs because trying to stop eating so much chocolate and trying to lose weight - I can see why people struggle and think it's just not possible to quit. (on a much smaller scale, of course.)

3. I'm probably the biggest supporter of breastfeeding who can't do it herself. One of my children was breastfed - and I loved it. After I got it down, it was fast, easy and wonderful - he gave me up before I was ready. But, my others just wouldn't work - I know La Leche says that anyone can breastfeed, but, trust me - I've tried, and I'm just built wrong! I'm SO grateful for good formula and I went through a lot of feeling guilty and all that until I finally came to terms with it and realized other people have trouble, too. It's actually been good for Lafe so that he can see both sides for his patients and be understanding.

4. I was supposed to graduate in Math Education (secondary) with a minor in History, but Erin was on her way, so I switched it to graduate in History with a minor in Math.

5. I love home improvement projects - much to the dismay of my husband. I grew up helping my parents remodel, garden, landscape, build, etc., so I get excited about it. Lafe starts to have panic attacks if I watch HGTV.

6. I love to plan and organize! I love leaving a room knowing I've made it more functional, and going someplace knowing I've planned and I'm ready for most things that could be thrown at us. You can imagine this is fun getting ready to move into a new house!!!

7. I'm a little OCD - especially about germs. I went through a major time in my childhood where I had to decide to not let it take over my life. I still take clorox wipes to wash off the carts and I take hand sanitizer for the kids to wash their hands after school ( we don't come right home and they want a snack) because I got tired of sick kids ALL the time, but I have a much healthier outlook on it all.

You probably really didn't care to know all that about me! Now I tag anyone who wants to do either one! I love to read them, so try it.

My Scout

Ethan had an overnight campout this last Friday. It was kind-of funny, though, because the "hike" was a mile from the leader's house to the baseball park by the Stake Center. Then, they "camped" under the stars - brrrrrrrr! The next day was the Stake Day Camp at the Stake Center so they were there and ready to go! He had a great time!