Sunny St. George

We have just arrived home from our annual St. George trip. Jeremy especially enjoyed the trip this year because he was able to play this year instead of getting ready to run a marathon. Jeremy was able to play three rounds of golf with his brothers, we went swimming everyday, the boys played continuously with their cousins, we played hours of cards, watched movies, visited the Dinosaur Tracks at Johnson's Farm, did a little shopping, and had an all around good time. Here are a few photos from the trip:
Here is a picture of Connor "saving" Shaylee in the pool. I thought this picture was so cute, they had such a good time playing together.
Parker loved the swimming pool. He is a little water bug! He looks a little unsure on his Dad's shoulders in this picture, but that didn't stop him from endlessly diving into the pool. We taught him to move around the pool by sitting on a water noodle like a horse. He rode his "pink horse" all over the pool.
Grandma Valerie had little activities for the kids to do each day. On this day they were finger painting outside on the patio. They really enjoyed all of the fun activities they got to do.

Here are a few pictures from the Dinosaur Tracks at Johnson's Farm. I really found Johnson's Farm fascinating. There were all sorts of impressions of dinosaur tracks, wave patterns, bug footprints, fossils, dinosaur teeth and a few dinosaur bones. Connor really enjoyed "dinosaur tracking" by following the painted dinosaur foot prints all over the building. (I think we have 50 pictures of painted dinosaur tracks on the floor, but it kept him happy and busy.) We even got to measure our hand next to a dinosaur track.
We spent a lot of time just hanging out in the condo. In this picture Uncle Terry was keeping all of the kids entertained by playing video games. We had a very enjoyable and relaxing week!

Sometimes I Wish I Knew What They Were Thinking

This shot is good for a laugh. I have no idea why Parker thought it would be cool to get into the garbage can. Thank heavens I had just dumped it.

I must admit it. I am smitten!

How can anyone resist those puppy dog eyes. Jeremy and I have been talking about getting a dog for a few years now. We have spent quite a while investigating types of dogs and how to tell if a certain puppy has a good temperment. We have finally taken the HUGE step of getting a dog.

Our neighbors across the street got a cocker spaniel from the same litter about a week ago. We would go visit their puppy at least once every day. Last night the lady who had all the puppies brought this one over and we couldn't resist the temptation. Connor and Parker are ecstatic! Parker named the dog Mokie, but Connor likes the name Yoda better. So, we made a comprimise to name the dog Mokie-Yoda, but really it's just Mokie. So far he is playful and loveable. We are all very happy about the new addition to our family.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed. . .

because we are moving again!!! (And hopefully for real this time.) We got two offers this weekend so, if everything goes as planned (unlike last time,) we will be moving on the 13th of October. I think I will finally be ready by the 13th. I think Jeremy and I have both feel better about it this time around. So, packing boxes here we come!!!

Yeah!!!! My Title Box is Back!!!

Now I really can be excited about my new header. I have been online all morning trying to figure it out and ta-da it has returned. I don't know what exactly solved the problem, but hopefully it will stay forever now.

Check out my blog now!!! It has taken me days of frustrating research, but I finally got a personal picture up as my blog header. My excitement has been a little short lived though. Somehow, in the process, I have messed up my ability to put titles on my new posts. Any ideas?

"Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo. . ."

". . .Catch a buyer by the toe. " This is the song Connor has been singing at breakfast. Although I know he really means to say "tiger" instead of "buyer," his version seemed very fitting. Intrest rates dropped again yesterday, and Jeremy and I are dying to get our rate locked, but someone needs to put an offer on our house! If we could lock our rate to day our house payment would stay the same as it is here. I know I am being totally ridiculous, but I do not do well with the in-between stages of life. Jeremy and I are action people. This waiting around for someone else just stinks! However, let me take a minute to praise our lovely real estate agent. Rachel is wonderful!!! She is working so hard to get it sold, (not to mention dealing with our crazy impatient rantings.) Thanks Rachel!

This Week's Quotes from My Two Crazy Kids

Connor: "Mom, how much time do we have before I go to school?"
Me: "Connor, it is Saturday. You don't go to school on Saturday's."
Connor: "Awe Shucks! Does that mean that the first graders go to school today?"
(Connor really misses all of his good buddies that are in first grade this year. It seems like it takes them forever to finish their school day.)

Me: "When we move to our new house you and Connor will get your own rooms. I thought we could decorate your room with race cars, and Connor's room with airplanes."
Parker: "No. We both need race car rooms. Connor can sleep in the loser room. The winner room can be mine."

I'm Stuck. . .on purpose

I took this picture the other day at Grandma Valerie's house. She is doing some major remodeling which includes her whole backyard. The chain link fence that separates Grandma Valerie's house from the neighbors was taken down in preparation for a new vinyl fence that gets installed this next week. The removal of the old fence left these small, deep holes where the old fence posts were cemented into the ground. Despite my constant nagging about keeping their shoes on, and watching out for the holes, I found this. Parker, totally enjoying climbing down into each deep post hole. Totally boy!

House For Sale. . .AGAIN!

Well, it really was too good to be true. The sale of our house fell through. Late Saturday evening our Buyer's buyer's backed out. Since the sale of our house was contingent upon their house selling and since that isn't going to happen, we aren't moving yet either. The people buying our house are heartsick (as are we) and still really want to move to our new house. Now we have two options: 1. We still have a valid contract with them whenever they sell their house. 2. Someone else could come buy my house. Any takers?

The Bionicle Craze

Connor was so excited to get a birthday invitation this week from one of his little buddies. He was even more excited when he realized he had saved up enough money to buy himself something at the toy store when we went to pick out the birthday gift. Connor settled on a Bionicle (thank you Caden and Broden for introducing him to the joy of Bionicle's) and decided that Branson would enjoy one too. Connor tried his best to keep what he got Branson a secret, but he really wanted Branson to see his Bionicle after it was all built. Branson was very impressed, and even suggested that Connor could get him one for his birthday. Connor turned to him and said "Just one minute, I need to talk to my Mom. Privately." Connor dragged me upstairs in an excited fit of hystarics and was ecstatic that Branson really would like what we got him. It was such a cute moment. We spent the rest of the afternoon trying to throw Branson off track by telling him we got him an Elmo toy, or a motorcycle. Everytime we would try to trick him Connor would glance over at me with a big smile and a huge thumbs up. It was one of those moments as a parent that is so funny and touching all at the same time. I am so lucky to have Connor. I love you buddy!

Conditions Upon Going to Bed

Before I had kids I don't think I realized what a war bedtime can be. I remember my pre-children days where I just assumed that children get tired and put themselves to bed without a fight. Is that how it works at your house? It is definitely not the case at ours. For years now, we have battled bedtime. I am pleased to say that the last month or so, our bedtime routine has gone quite smoothly. Here is what it entails. Around 7:45 - 8:00 p.m. we give our kids a five minute warning. After the five minutes (that sometimes stretches to 10 while I build up enough stamina for the ensuing war) we herd the kids upstairs to put on p.j.'s and brush teeth. Then we pick out a few books to read, (insert another fight over what to read here) and then it is off to tuck them in. At this point, Connor gathers all of his bedding and makes a bed for himself on the floor in the bathroom. (I am hoping this is just a phase.) While Parker gathers up all of his trucks and heads straight for our room. After carefully placing every truck he owns on our bed, we tuck Parker (and all of the trucks) in for the night. After winding my music box we can kiss him goodnight with confidence that they are down for the night. We couldn't resist this picture of the trucks all tucked in for bed.

Moving Update - 14 Days to Go

As of today, we will be moving in 14 days. I don't think the reality of this has totally sunk in yet, but Jeremy and I are beginning to realize this is really going to happen! (Everything has happened so fast that we have kind of been holding our breath.) Since it is still a bit too early to start packing, I have started planning out what color I am going to paint the walls, and where (and how) the furniture will get set up in the new house. I know I am kind of a color freak, and my unwritten "No wall left behind" rule is kind of silly, but it is fun to plan and dream anyway. I think my love of color, and my Color Theory class at Weber State (one of my best classes ever!) has left me a little bit of a color snob, and a little overly analytical about choosing colors. So, my husband will probably claim that this blog entry is a whole bunch of artist b-s, but here are the color palates I have chosen and a short reasoning on how I came to these colors. (I did run all of the colors in this blog past my husband and I am under the impression that we are in agreement that these colors would be suitable options for us.)

For the Main Living Areas I have chosen a cream, gold, dark reddish-brown, and an grey based olive green color. Each different space will have one of the colors as the main color and then will be accented in the remaining colors. I tried to pick colors that I thought all looked good together so that there is a nice flow from one space to another. The floor plan is fairly open and I wanted the colors to be complementary enough to create a good sense of continuity throughout the space. This should create a warm, peaceful atmosphere. (I admit, that was a little artist b-s.) The bedrooms each have their own individual color palates because they are not open to the rest of the living areas of the house. I found new bedding for each of the boys rooms in these colors and loved them instantly. So, the color choices for thier rooms was relatively easy. The color choices for the Master Bedroom are the same as in our current house because we just barely finished decorating our current bedroom and really love the color palate in there. (Jeremy actually picked out the colors for our room. He did a great job, I absolutely love the cool calming effect that these colors have.) Anyway, that is my moving update. I am excited to get past the moving in part, and on to the "making the house my own part." Thanks for indulging a somewhat psycotic color freak! I'll keep you updated.

Albertsons Box Tops for Education Sale

It's that time again! The Albertsons Box Tops for Education sale started today. Not only is it a great way to earn a little extra money for our local elementary school, it also means there are great deals on lots on stuff! Here is a little run-down on my purchases at the "big sale:" 2 Cans Enchillada Sauce, 6 cans Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, 8 boxes of Betty Crocker Cake mix, 1 tub of Betty Crocker Frosting, 12 boxes of Betty Crocker muffin mixes, 3 Betty Crocker Cookie mixes, 7 boxes of Batman Fruit Roll Ups, 1 box of Reese's Puff Cereal, 3 boxes Curves Granola bars, 8 boxes Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks, 4 boxes of Gogurt (we love to eat these frozen like popsicles), and 6 chubs of Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookie Dough. That is a total of 61 items for $74.80. (after the box top sales price and a few coupons I found on pinchingyourpennies.com) Each item averages out to be around $1.23. Not to shabby considering that many of the items are regularly prices between $3-3.50. Isn't it fun to find a deal?

First Day of Kindergarten

We've made it! Connor started Kindergarten yesterday. I know it has only been two days, but I am loving it! Running errands with one child goes a little smoother than running errands with two. I think Connor prefers this arrangement too. He has plenty of friends in his class from the ward and from Miss Tami's Preschool. Connor is excited about his teacher, Mrs. Standord. When she introduced herself to the class she told them that she has 10 grandkids. Connor was so excited he told me "Mom, she is a grandma! I like Grandma's!!!" He sits at the "blue" table, absolutely loves recess, and would be totally excited if we walked to school an hour early so that he could play on the "big toy" for longer before the morning school bell rang. It is so fun to see him excited about school and all of the experiences he will have this year. He is getting so grown up!

My Sweet Kitty

My poor cat. It was my baby up until the time I had Connor. Now, I fear it is emotionally neglected. By the time I am ready to relax after the kids have gone to bed the last thing I want is something else demanding my attention and affection. I woke up the other day and found it asleep in the basket on my dresser. It looked so sweet and fluffly! It was a good reminder to what a great cat Stormy really is. Who wouldn't love this ball of fur?!