We're Moving!!

I know I haven't posted forever, but tomorrow we will be in our own place. And then... someday ..... I will post again.

The Funny Man

At our last family get together we really wanted a picture of the cousins together. It was hard. We recruited Justin to get the kids attention and make them laugh.

The picture's not bad.... but my favorite part is that when you look closely at the reflection in the window you can see the funny man himself doing some entertaining. The kids look more confused than entertained, but we take what we can get. Thanks Justin.

First's for Lizzy

I'm really proud of my little girl. Lizzy (who usually shies away from trying new things) has boldly and bravely tried a few new things this summer. I have to record some of her courageous adventures.

#1 Sewing. After watching me sew (or attempt to sew) one afternoon, Lizzy decided that she wanted to try. I think it may turn out nicely with a few more lessons.



#2 Soccer. Despite clothing at least a few sizes too big Lizzy got out there on the field and played her best. As it turned out I think that her uniform may have fit better than any of the other kids.

#3 Four wheeling.

#4 Digging for dinosaur bones. Okay... you are thinking... all kids love that. It doesn't count for anything special. But I'm telling you that Lizzy was terrified of dinosaurs... even their bones. She started crying while we were waiting in the line to go inside the museum and I felt like the worst Mom in the world FORCING her to go inside (and kind of embarrassed because her 2-year old brother kept chiming in... I wanna see dinosaurs. I not scared.) But eventually she calmed down and realized that they wouldn't EAT her. After that she decided it was pretty okay and playing in sand can never be a bad thing.

#5 And of course.... the biggest change for our growing girl...... Lizzy started pre-school. Aaron took her the first day and tells me that she was a little nervous to go in, but by the time I took her (on the 2nd day) she rushed right in, pulling me along while saying "Follow me, Mom... I'll show you my class."


A secret, hidden, never-spoken-of part of me hoped that she would need me so much that she would cry for me to stay with her. But the wiser, better, and besides I-don't want-to-hang-out-at-preschool-all-day part of me is so glad that she is adjusting to all of these changes. I hope that she keeps loving it everyday and keeps trying out new things.

Do's and Don'ts of the State Fair

IF YOU DECIDE TO GO TO THE STATE FAIR:

DON'T BUY ANY ONION RINGS.

And if you do order onion rings.... make sure that they make them fresh instead of grabbing some from under the heating lamp and dipping them back in the grease to warm them up.

DO: LET YOUR KIDS DO THE HANDS ON FARMING THING because it is cool and also may instill in your children a deep appreciation for all of those who labor to produce the food we eat.

DON'T PUT YOUR 4 YEAR OLD IN CHARGE OF TAKING THE PICTURES.

BUT DO GO SEE THE ART WORK done by local artists and especially the artwork by the 4-11 yr. age group.

DON'T GET ROPED INTO MAKING AN EXPENSIVE IMPULSE PURCHASE like a boat or a hot tub.

BUT DO SPLURGE ON A SNOW CONE since it's the cheapest thing around and kids think that blue tongues are the COOLEST!

And lastly DO GO SEE THE ANIMALS.... but

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE..... because sometimes they sneeze and blow snot all over you.

Good Manners or..... a Horse?!?

I'm trying to get Andrew to say "please" when he asks for something. Sometimes it feels like I'm beating my head against a wall.

Andrew: I wanna cookie.

Me: (smiling sweetly) What?

Andrew: (a little louder) I wanna cookie.

Me: What?

Andrew: (very loudly) I wanna cookie.

Me: What?

Andrew: I wanna cccc-uuu-kkkk-eeee. (slowly emphasizing each sound.)

Me: What are you forgetting?

Andrew: (Begins to frantically look around.) Oh....... my horse.

Me: (Loud sigh and a hidden grin:))

Andrew: (After retrieving the missing horse and quickly running back.)
I wanna cookie.

Today's Favorite Quote

"Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement.... get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed."

Abraham Joshua Heschel

Roommate Reunion

Last week we had a fantastically fun Roommate Reunion of the girls of Mapleview Apartment Number 4 (or was it 6? I can't remember). At any rate it was so fun to get together. We lived together in different groups and different apartments (San Juan, Old Farm) but in the end everyone else got sick of us and so it was just the 4 of us the last 6 months before I got married. Here's a few secrets that you learn about people when you live with them.

From left to right:

Tawni: She makes an enormous mess when she brushes her teeth. She also likes to organize things .... like her files. Can I see your files? I've always wanted to.

Kim: She talks in her sleep and also she makes up LIES LIES LIES about other people. (i.e. I did NOT hold your foot with my hand while I was sleeping.)

Rachelle: Perfectly normal in every way.

Kristin: Loves to give people "prizes". Makes really wierd faces and is responsible for an awesome compilation of 101 Memories from Mapleview girls. I need to find that list. I need a good laugh.

I love these girls.
This is our attempt at getting the kids all in one picture. As you can see my statistics for getting the kids to smile/ look at the camera is 0 for 6. I'll have to work on that.