Why My Power Bill is Ridiculous

Because when she tells me that she misses "Mommy's most delicious chocolate chip cookies," I comply.

Even when it's noon.

And 107 degrees out.

The look of joy on this cute face is worth it.


To me, anyways.

Mike may feel differently when he sees the electric bill.

Learning Time

Each afternoon, when Josh goes down for a nap, the kids and I have learning time.

We do a half an hour of "learning" and a half an hour of reading.

I had a friend ask me why in the world I did it... that kids need a break.

I agree that kids need a break. However, I think kids love learning. Especially when it's fun. And they need some structured time in the summer, so why not learn during it. Adam and Grace beg me for learning time all day.

I work with Adam and Grace before they enter kindergarten (I don't do preschool outside of the home), and then gather things throughout the year for the summer.

This is the shelf I keep all of our learning stuff on:


On Tuesdays we do math, Wednesdays science, Thursdays language arts, and Fridays social studies.



There are SO many fun resources on the web for stuff to teach your kids... for free! These are my favorite sites:

Super Teacher Worksheets
Kids Learning Station
KidsSpell
FunBrain

So all you smart moms and teachers... any other fun resources/sites you like for teaching your kids that I should know about?

Coloring the Water

For several days now, Grace has taken her markers and covered her hands completely in color. Luckily I've caught her each time before she touched anything. Each time I've said, "Go wash your hands." And she cheers as she runs for the bathroom.

Today I finally asked her why she was doing it when she knows she can only color on paper.

She told me, "I'm just coloring the water, Mommy."

And then she showed me.

When she washes her hands, the sink fills up with colored bubbles and water.

It does look pretty cool.

I am glad that she keeps it to her hands only. Don't want another one of these incidents:

Hit-and-Run

Mike was on his way to his before-church meetings, when an ambulance appeared.

He pulled over and stopped.

Unfortunately, the person behind him wasn't paying attention and slammed into the back of our car.

And then the driver in the other car drove around our car and took off.

Not only is the driver a not-so-nice person for being involved in a hit-and-run, he's apparently not the brightest bulb, because he did it in front of an ambulance and a street full of witnesses. And not only that, but a minute later a police officer showed up (on the way to the same accident that the ambulance was gong to), and was able to get the whole story from the witnesses and ambulance driver (who stopped to see if Mike was okay).

Everyone wrote down his licence plate number and the police are pursuing it.

The amazing thing (to me) is that Mike is completely fine, not even sore AND our car is good. A few scratches, but nothing major. The other driver's car, on the other hand, was totaled. All of the witnesses were amazed that their car was driveable, because it looked so bad.


This car is tough! It's already been through some hard times, and it's added another one to the list. I'm so thankful that we were blessed that Mike was protected and wasn't injured and that our car was kept safe, too.

Adam's Little Brother Keeper

About 3 years ago (September 2007), we got a big package in the mail. Adam immediately claimed it, took it to his room, and furiously worked on it.

The next day, his creation was complete. An invention that he called, "Adam's Little Sister Keeper," designed to keep Grace away from turning off Curious George and away from his toys.


Josh and Adam are very best friends. These boys adore each other. However, Josh's mobility has started to create some problems. Josh has messed up more than one Transformers battle and Hot Wheels race.


We received another box in the mail recently. And again, Adam cut and colored away. Making another "Sibling Keeper." This time he called it "Adam's Little Brother Dog House."


The first time he tried to use it he realized his design flaw: that there was nothing preventing Josh from crawling out of the front door.


And Josh was happy to crawl out after every time Adam drug hm in it.

So, it's back to the drawing board.

;)

Movie on the Green

On Friday and Saturday nights The District at Green Valley (home of the carousel) does a free family outdoor picture show. Complete with free popcorn.

We've always wanted to go, but it's been one of those things we never got around to... so at the beginning of the summer we printed out the list of summer movies, agreed on one, and planned it.

Tonight was the night! We went and saw, Curious George 2.

We had a blast!!!

We got there early (per our friend's suggestions) and threw down a picnic blanket on the grass and had a picnic dinner that the kids and I had packed earlier. I thought it would be miserable in the heat, but there were misters everywhere, so it actually felt nice.


The kids had fun running around, getting popcorn, making friends, getting popcorn, looking at the carousel, and getting popcorn before the movie started.

It's a good thing the popcorn was free.

These kids eat a lot of popcorn.

;)

At 8:00 the movie started.

And as the opening credit started going, Grace decided she had to go to the restroom. Now!

After Mike and Grace stepped over/around/on all of the families sprawled out on their own picnic blankets, and got back from the restroom, we watched the movie together.

Cuddling with my kiddos under the stars in the cool grass and watching a silly movie about our favorite monkey on a big screen beats the movie theatre ANY day!


We definitely want to go again! They do the films April through October, so we will probably make our way down their again one of these weekends.

Big Boy

He's taking baths sitting up.

He's climbing on EVERYTHING.


He's pulling himself up.


I was prepared for many things: clothes, crib, diaper changes.

One thing that I was NOT prepared for was how fast the third one grows up. How quickly he has learned to do things in order to catch up to his older brother and sister.

He's going to be walking soon. I can just tell.

The baby that I NEEDED to be a baby as long as possible seems to be determined to grow up so quickly.

He's such a big boy.

And that makes me so happy and so sad at the same time.

Desk Re-Do

A few weeks ago Grace climbed on our computer desk to get some forbidden treat off the kitchen counter, and a big chunk of it broke off.

With Josh crawling and pulling himself up (sniff!) I knew we needed a new desk. I didn't want to do the cheap-o computer desk route again and wanted something nice that would last some climbing kids, so I checked out Knock Off Wood.

I found a desk that I loved. Loved. Loved it so much and was so excited and filled with pride at the thought of making my own desk, that I woke Mike up to tell him my grand idea.

It went something like this:

Me: I want to make my own desk.
Mike: Huh?
Me: All I need is a saw and it's going to be so great. After I finish the desk, I can make the kids' new beds and dressers and everything! It will save us a ton of money!
Mike: Yeah. Sure. *Snore...*

I took that as a "Go for it, honey! You can do anything you set your mind to!"

The next day I went down to Sears and purchased a saw, sure that I was going to save our family so much money, that I could justify a little credit card interest.

And then I went to Home Depot to check out the wood.

And then I came to the realization that:

a) I know nothing about wood. Cedar, pine or plywood... all the same to me.
b) That while making your own desk IS a LOT less expensive than buying one at Pottery Barn, it's by no means a cheap project.

I called my dad.

We talked about wood.

We talked about carpentry.

I thought a lot about where I was in my life.

You know the whole I-don't-have-enough-time-to-shower-right-now-so-when-am-I-going-to-find-the-time-to-build-a-desk stage in my life.

And then I returned the saw.

Someday, 'knock-off-Pottery-Barn-desk,' someday.

My dad called a few days later and told me about a desk that my Great-Grandpa Ethan had built. It was old and needed paint, but in great condition.

When they came up for the fourth of July they brought it to us. We realized then that it was way too small for a computer desk. BUT perfect for a homework desk for Adam/sewing desk for me.

I spent the week painting it, putting on new handles, and lining the drawers with some flowered fabric I had leftover from a long time ago.


Ask Adam how he feels about having to put his school pencils in flowered drawers.

Or don't.

It's not pretty.

Anyways, here is the before:


And the after:


I LOVE it! I've never been able to leave my sewing machine out before! Whenever I worked on a project, I had to haul it out to the kitchen table, furiously work on my project all day, while bribing/threatening the punks to stay away from it, and then run it back to my closet in time for dinner.


Being able to leave it out is so fabulous! I've been able to get some projects done in snatches of time (I'll post pics soon). I'm hoping to get a few more done before having to turn it over to Adam when school starts.

I'm still in need of a good computer desk, but I've been checking D.I. for something that I can fix up. I'm pretty confident in going that route now.

Re-doing furniture is so fun!

Not as fun as making it yourself, you know, but it's good for now. ;)

You Never Forget

The last time that I rode a bicycle was in January 2004. The day before I began my first college class at NAU.

I was nervous about my first class at an actual university. So on Sunday, the day before I was to begin, I printed out my schedule and mapped out where my classes were.

I realized that I had 4 minutes to get from the Social and Behavioral Science building on the south end of campus to the temporary Communication builing on the north end of campus.

I knew I couldn't make it there in time by campus transit or by walking. So, Mike suggested I bike there. At 11:00 that night, I decided to give it a try. I hadn't ridden a bike since 10th grade... the year before my friends got cars, but thought that I could do it.

I did fine until I got to a huge mountain hill. I started to ride up and fell down. It was freezing cold. It was icy. It was snowy. I was homesick, sleep-deprived with a 6-month-old, and feeling entirely too old to be going back to school with the 18-year-olds that I would soon call friends.

Being the determined soul that I am, I sat down on the icy sidewalk and cried.

Mike offered to take me to my class every day via our car. And he did.

I spent the next 2 1/2 years walking, taking the bus, or being driven to classes.

And I haven't been on a bike since.

***

The kids and I have had a lot of fun going on bike rides every late afternoon... they ride and I chase them in the stroller. My parents thought it would be fun if I had my own bike to ride along with them, though, so this weekend they suprised me with a bike that they had fixed up for me!

I was so surprised and excited!

***

This morning we got the tires pumped up, and I hopped on. The crowd (Adam and Grace) had their doubts that I could do it.

Charming children, aren't they?

However, you never forget how to ride a bike.

And Las Vegas is free from coldy, icy, snowy streets.

And our apartment complex is free from tall mountains hills.

So, off I rode.

And this time I didn't fall off.

Or cry on the sidewalk.

***

I am so excited to have my own bike. We're going to find a little trailer to pull Josh in, and then our afternoon bike ride possibilities are endless!

We are already having lots of fun with it! Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!

PS-In two years, our ward is planning on biking from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. I'm so in!

PPS-I need to master tall mountains (for reals) first.

Happy Fourth!

The fun started last night with the annual 51s post-baseball game fireworks. It's always on the 3rd of July, and they put on a great show.

Today the kids woke up to some all-American treats (Cracker Jax, red and blue Pop Rocks, sparklers, and miniature flags) and a decorated house to celebrate my mom's AND our nation's birthday!

I convinced them not to eat Pop Rocks for breakfast.

Then we went and had a wonderful church meeting.

When we got home from church, my parents and brother, Nathan, were pulling into our apartment!

Together we ate yummy food.


Celebrated my Mom's birthday.


Watched Mike put on an AWESOME fireworks show.




(The legality of fireworks is something I must add to the things that I love about Las Vegas).

Laughed at Adam, Grace, and Josh.

And had a wonderful day!

I'm so thankful to live in this country!

Yummy

This boy is so stinkin' cute.

I could seriously eat those cheeks.

And those eyes.

They are SO big and blue and yummy.

And do not even get me started on his knees or thighs.

He's just one delicious baby all around!

7 Months

He's officially crawling (first time 6/30).


He almost has a tooth (it's so close to popping through!).

He is into everything.

He is starting to pull himself up to standing.

He climbs on the fireplace, stools, his carseat, etc.

He isn't really babbling, but when he wants to make noise, he squeals and talks in his own way.

He gets SO mad if we are eating and he is not... he knows the difference between our food and baby food, too.

He LOVES feeding himself!

His favorite thing to eat is a mixture of applesauce, acorn squash, and brown rice .

He has lost all of his brown hair, and his new hair is so blond it's hard to see it.

He. Is. Wonderful.


I just can't wrap my head around the fact that he is 7 months old. I feel like I was just pregnant with him, going to doctor's appointments, and counting down the days to his arrival! It just goes so fast!