School Days

I'm sure I am talking from a past teacher's perspective, but this time of year makes me miss being a teacher (in a real school). I miss going back to work and seeing all my colleagues and talking about our summer. I miss setting up my classroom, and putting up new names of all the students I will have. I even miss lesson plans because I knew what I will accomplish each week. Even on a rare occasion I miss those district wide meetings where the superintendent babbles on forever, but you have a great time because you get to see all the people from the district that you know (and of course eat the fabulous food provided by the district lunch ladies). Yes, it might sound crazy to all of you, but I miss all of these things, even with preschool starting, it isn't the same. I only have myself to discuss ideas with (Chad isn't very helpful), and I get to be the teacher, principal and administrator all in one (not always so bad!). So, to all you parents sending your kids off to school (I can't wait!), just know that most teachers are happy to be there, at least for the first few weeks until the personalities in their classroom shine through!

Things I Will Miss

With only two weeks to go until the baby is due, I can honestly say that I am uncomfortable, so I am going to be positive and give you my list of things I will miss once the baby comes.

1. Food - yes I have had my fair share and soon after this one comes I am right back on my diet. Not a fun prospect, but very necessary

2. Extra concern - I guess I mean I am constantly being asked by people how I am doing, and how everything is going - even people I don't know that well. It's kinda nice even though I know they are doing it just because I am pregnant.

3. Getting anything I want (not really, but I like to think so). I'm not kidding, but people tend to be a little more generous when you are pregnant.

4. The excitement from my kids - they just love to talk about the baby coming and Claire is always ready to mention how big my tummy is getting.

5. Excuses - I can use lots of excuses right now, and not have to do as much when Chad is home, but I fear that too will go away soon.

6. Did I mention food??

Fevers, Fevers, Fevers.

I have been really behind on my blogging, but I have a good excuse. My kids have been sick!!!! Lets just say that I finally had a breakdown because they had been so sick for so long. Last Tuesday I took them swimming with a friend of ours. Claire had a lot of fun, but Owen just sat in the water by me with his head in my lap. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. The next morning he work with a 100+ fever, and then Claire woke up with the same thing. We wrestled with the fevers for 5 days!!!!!!!!!!! They wouldn't eat anything, and Claire couldn't keep anything down, so we had a lot of fun. It was a battle after the first few days just to get them to take medicine because I had been shoving it down their throats every 2 hours.

Today Claire woke up and told me her ear hurt, so I finally took them to the doctor. Claire had a double ear infection, and then I asked him to just check Owen's ears, and sure enough an ear infection was starting. Thankfully he just gave me medicine for both of them so I wouldn't have to come back when Owen's ear infection got worse. So hopefully we can get everything back to normal. It will be hard to wean them off the T.V. since that is all they have been doing for the last few days.

Kid moments to Remember

The other day Chad put the crib up for me, and I put all the bedding on. Claire came in the room and saw all of this done, looks at my stomach, rubs it and says "you can come out now baby!" So sweet!!

At dinner one night we were having sour cream with something and Owen asked for some. I put a little on his plate, he tried it, and then said, "I don't like that cow." Referring to the picture of the cow on the carton.

Cabinets Phase One and Two

I know that it can't just be me, but when I am pregnant I get these urgent feelings that I need to get things done. With Owen it wasn't to bad because we were remodeling the bedrooms and working on the kitchen at the time. I remember the day I went into labor with him I picked up our new kitchen floor, and fully expected Chad to get it in before the baby came (lets just say that didn't happen!). This time I have decided that we need to get our cabinets repainted. Let me explain: The people who owned the house before us tried their best to fix a few things but well, they didn't do a good job. They actually painted the cabinets white without taking them down therefore they painted over contact paper, hinges (you get the picture). Well, I have never really been able to clean them because the paint was cheap and the job was less than steller. It has really bothered me lately, so I went to the store, bought some paint stripper and started my job. I'm sure Chad just loves that because he gets dragged into them somehow.

So, now we have to get these cabinets done because I have no cabinet doors, 2 drawers left, and some very ugly wood showing underneath the paint (I know why they attempted to paint them). Our goal is to paint them this weekend, and hopefully get the new hardware on them so I can get the kitchen all cleaned and organized before the baby comes. Yes, I am crazy, but at least in my craziness I get something productive done!!
Phase one - stripping off all the nasty paint.
Phase two requires a lot of sanding which has become Chad's job.

Last Big Fling of the Summer

Last Saturday, we headed down to Chad's parents house to visit his sister Stacey and have a family BBQ. It was so nice to see everyone and especially for the kids to all get to play together. They are always so tired when we leave. Since the weather was nice I think they might have been inside for an hour max all day. We left right after breakfast so Stacy could do my hair (thank you Stacey, I feel much better!!!). Then after lunch Chad and I left the kids with his mom and dad and went to the temple for a session. I figure there isn't much time with the baby coming to get another one in, and who knows how long it will be till we go again. Then I dragged Chad all around IF looking for a new baby carseat. Apparently I am very picky because I didn't find one I liked unless it had a stroller attached and I don't need another stroller, so I am still looking.

We went back to his parents house and just hung out with everyone and had a good time. We had a BBQ/hot dog roast outside, and as always had a ton of food. Before we left we gave the kids baths (they were so dirty!!), and then headed home. It was a fun day, and as always great to see everyone!
I'm not sure why, but they decided to have a saltine eating contest. I think you have to eat 6 saltines in a minute. Here is Chad and Brad giving it a try.
Morgan, Annie, Claire, Kate, Colton, and Owen waiting for dinner. The babies, Brecklyn and McKell were inside resting.
Owen getting a little help from his dad so that he could have an edible hot dog.
The kids were ready to eat, and loved that grandma brought their favorite table outside for them.
Owen being the boy that he is, loves to hit things. He absolutely loves to play crocquet and couldn't wait to hit any ball.
Claire and Colton watching an intense game of volleyball

The Tree Stump

I think we cut our tree down in April, and here it is August, and we still had the tree stump in our front yard. We got a few bids to take it out, but the landscapers were always really concerned about our retaining walls. Chad was so sick of people asking him at church when he was going to take the stump out, or if he needed help. His friend Dave rented a backhoe to do some work at his house, so Chad borrowed the tractor for a few minutes and pulled out the stump. The kids thought it was great, but we were left with a big mess!!!!

After Chad broke up the huge slab on concrete in our front yard, Claire and Owen decided they would be Thomas and James (trains). They had a lot of fun using their imaginations.
Owen and Claire loved having a tractor in our front yard - however they just like to watch it, not ride on it!
This is what we were left with - a huge hole in our front yard - yipee!!

Bannock County What???

Some of our good friends are very active in 4-H (at least Jolie and Kylie their daughter). She had her horse at the fair, so we decided to go and see her participate in a few events. I was kind of excited because I love to go to fairs. They are so much fun - well, at least most of them, but not the one in Bannock county. There was nothing there - we actually wondered if the fair had started. There was a cotton candy booth, and a few other booths (luckily they had a snow cone booth - yummy!). There were barely any animals, and no other type of entertainment. Anyways, the whole thing wasn't organized well, and I couldn't sit on those stands for very long, so we didn't stay long enough to actually see Kylie, but she did awesome. She is going to the Eastern Idaho Fair and this is her first year of competition. I'm sad because I just don't think I will make it to the fair this year. I don't think I could stand all the people, heat and walking. I told Chad he could take the kids by himself, but he didn't like that idea, so we will see what happens.
Owen discovered cotton candy - he had to have blue and Claire had pink. It was the only thing we had to pay for the whole fair experience.
Claire and her dad waiting for something to start!!!!

Ward Party

On Saturday our ward had a water skiing party. Chad was so excited to go because he just loves water skiing. I wasn't so thrilled about the idea, but I went anyways. I brought a chair and sat under the awning reading my book. It was actually a nice afternoon because the kids had lots of their friends to play with. They had a blast and I finished my book (no thanks to our friend Dave who kept bugging me. It took me 2 hours to read 50 pages because he wouldn't leave me alone!!) Everyone was ready for a nice long bath and nap by the time we went home.
Claire was in sandcastle heaven!! She loves to play in the dirt especially when it sticks together so well. She even got brave enough to go into the water by the end of the afternoon.
Owen preferred playing in the dirt and making sand castles. I had asked them if they wanted to ride in the boat before we left, and Claire was all for it, but Owen told me that he just wanted to watch daddy. He meant it because he would not get into that boat.
Claire with her friend Cosette
Claire absolutely loved riding in the boat. She tells everyone about her ride and wearing a life jacket. She wasn't brave enough to go on the tube with her dad, but someday she will. The funniest part is that yesterday while I was getting her dressed there was a car driving by the house that was loud and she ran to the window and told me that the boat was here. I tried to explain to her that it needed water, but I don't think she cared that much about my explanation!
Chad was the designated tube rider. He would ride the tube with a few kids whose parents didn't want to go out. I don't think he minded much!

IF Zoo and Lots of Kids

Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I watched my friend Shanna's kids while she went to a scout training and her husband was at work. They would come about 7:30 and leave at about 4:30 each day, so I tried to fill our days with activities. On Wednesday I had a doctors appointment, so one of my wonderful young women came and watched all the kids while I was gone. Then I took the kids to the park for lunch. Sadly it is the last week of free lunch at the park - which I am missing already!!

Thursday we went to the library for story time, and then played at the park for awhile. There is only so much that you can do at a persons house before you get bored.

On Friday I decided to take them to the IF zoo, which I have to say is way better than our zoo. The kids loved it, but Claire was ready to go once she got hot. I had packed a picnic lunch so we ate that, then loaded back up into the car and headed home. It was a nice break for everyone, and they were all quiet on the way home. The 2 two year olds actually fell asleep - yeah!! We had a great time, but were very glad when their dad showed up Friday afternoon. I was ready for a break!!
Owen, Anna Jo, Kylan, Alex and Claire

Bunk Beds Here We Come!

With the baby a month away, we decided it was time to move Claire and Owen into the same room. Chad's parents had some bunk beds stored from when they had kids at home, so they were nice enough to let us borrow them. We had to make a few modifications, like putting a railing up on the top bunk so Claire wouldn't fall out, but they have worked out great!!! Owen was very mad the first night that he couldn't sleep on the top, but they are working through it. Claire tells everyone about their new bed and Owen tells everyone that the baby is going to sleep in his old room. I am so grateful that they are so willing to accomodate this baby. Claire also started telling everyone at church that she is thankful for her new baby sister. I guess we will have to see what happens! So for now, Owen is sleeping in a purple room (which Chad asked me if I was going to boy it up - no way!) What is the point. He has a perfectly good boy room down the hall. Depending on the baby, one of them will share eventually, so I'm not painting anything right now!
Owen and Chad beginning the process.
Funny story - We went to the DI to get the kids their matresses for their new bad - they sell new matresses for cheap, so we figured why not. Owen found this toys which is a jackhammer and instantly decided that he could fix anything. He helped Chad with each bar, but would just use his jackhammer after Chad used the drill. He thought he was being a very big helper!
Let's just say that it is going to take them awhile before they can go straight to bed. We put them in bed and they laugh and throw stuff at each other, and have a great time. It is definetly testing my patience at 8:00 each night!

Girls Camp 2008 - Island Park

I had a lot of fun at Girl's Camp last week. It is always refreshing to spend a lot of time with the girls and really get to know them. We have a small Young Women's so there were only 8 girls there. We went to a cabin in Island Park, which is the only reason why I went. I got to have my own bed and a bathroom right by it. The only problem was the floor upstairs was so creaky I was afraid that I would wake everyone up anytime I went to the bathroom. We did a lot of camp things, but some of the highlights was our mac and cheese cookoff where we made things like pizza, and mac and cheese grilled cheese sandwiches (which were actually really good!). We went swimming in the lake, and headed to West Yellowstone for some pizza, shopping and a play at the Playmill - we saw Hello Dolly, and it was so great! The girls also went on a hike, fed fish, and swam in the river (COLD!!). It was a nice break from my kids, but by Friday I was ready to come home. It took me all day Saturday to recover with a very long nap. Thanks mom, Emma and Heather for helping out with the kids. They didn't seem to miss me at all!!
We didn't tell our girls the camp theme until we presented it to them at camp. Our theme was "We are Family," so of course we had to lip sing the song to them. It was a lot of fun, and luckily none of the leaders had an accident.
Yes, this is me singing in all my glory! That wig was so hot!!!

Their skits were so funny. The first group were Jamaican penguins, and in the second group we had the snobs versus the nerds. We discovered some inner nerds in our group.
Let me just say that these girls are crazy!! The day we went swimming at the lake was very windy and the water was cold. They all jumped in, and after they got over the initial shock, swam for a long time. I don't think that I could have done that.
Kendle, Harmony and Katheryn pretending to be models.
All the girls outside the pizza parlor in West Yellowstone where we ate dinner.