Wow it has been a long time!

I clicked on this because I told Anna I used to write down the funny things she said as a little kid.  I see that I tried to restart this two years ago and make it a basic journal.  Well, it didn't last, as most of my journaling efforts don't.  However, I loved looking at/reading the things I had posted here.  So, it never hurts to try.  Anna is 12 almost 13, in 7th grade at McLoughlin Middle School and an incredible child.  She is kind, works hard at school, helps around the house.  Henasie is 7 and in the 2nd grade at McClintock Elementary School   She has her struggles with ADHD, but she is learning, and I'm learning how to appreciate her way of thinking.  She is beautiful, inquisitive, active and passionate.  She is musical.  Max is 5 and in Kindergarten at McClintock Elementary.  Like the older two he is in the Two Way Dual Language program.  He, unlike the other two is not enjoying it.  Most days he tells me he doesn't want to go to school.  I have super big hopes that he will eventually love it :)  He loves playing roblox and Minecraft.  He likes to play with Henasie when they get along.  He loves to play with Anna when she isn't busy with homework and piano.  He is sweet, sensitive, usually follows the rules.  Worries about Henasie when she doesn't.  I want him to be little forever!  We have a 6 month old Golden Retriever puppy named Nala.  She is crazy, which makes her fit in just fine.  David is working at the area, and I'm teaching at the community college part time.  Life, like always is crazy, busy, difficult and blessed.  I will try and update more often.  No promises.

Third day of real summer vacation (I'm not working and we are not on family vacation) and I am exhausted.  They are going to wear me out.  Raising little children was meant to be done in your 20's maybe early 30's, not your 40's!  I've gotta take better care of my health, or I'm not going to make it!

The Sabbath at Our House

Lovely Sabbath day yesterday.  I'm loving teaching gospel doctrine.  I feel like I'm getting so much out of preparing the lesson.  Sacrament meeting was like worshiping inside a tornado as usual.  In the evening we watched our friends kids while the parents attended seminary graduation.  Their oldest is 9.  Henasie was crushing on him, and I think she tried to kiss him!  He came running out of the toy room like he was shot out of a gun and Henasie came behind him yelling, I wasn't goin to kiss you!  Poor boy.  I think she scared him.  What am I going to do with that girl? :)

Inspired by Relief Society

I went to a RS meeting last night about treasures and keepsakes, and recording our lives.  It has been over 3 years since I posted to my blog.  I'm going to try and get back to it, but in a different way.  These will be short and brief and about today,

Today Anna went to school, She has three more days left of 4th grade after today.  She is working on a wax museum project where she is going to be Eleanor Roosevelt.  I've got to get her costume worked out!  She is reading the fifth Percy Jackson book.  She has been blazing through them.  It is the first time of really seen her get totally absorbed in a book and read whenever she had a spare minute.  Warms my heart!

Today Henasie stayed home with Elisabeth, our babysitter in the morning while I worked.  They went yardsaleing.  She found a statue of a little angel kneeling before a cross.  It is sparkly and fluffy, and she thinks it is perfect.  In the afternoon we babysat Rina and Alex Pettey.  The got on swimsuits and ran through the sprinklers.  They filled up the yard cart with water and played in it for hours.  A poor man's swimming pool.  :-)

Today Max had so much fun running around with Alex.  He needs a little boy to rough and tumble with.  He loved playing in the water with Henasie.  They actually got a long well for quite awhile

Today David saw the orthopedist about his knee that has been bothering him, paid for the paint job on our house (which I love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and got the DVD player reinstalled in the car.  The kids were so surprised when we took them for a ride to surprise them.  You would have thought they won the lottery they were so excited.  Super huge daddy points

Today, I saw the dietitian.  I really want to get my diabetes under control.  I didn't get any grading done on my classes, which is making me anxious.  I got mad at Henasie and spanked her :-(  She was so tired, and melting down.  I loved watching the kids play in the sun in the backyard.  Anna and I started reading Little Women together at night.

Science Fair 2012

Anna was so excited to do the Science Fair this year.  I feel like I have gone through a rite of passage as a mother of a school aged child.  I stressed quite a bit.  She was really obsessed with winning a prize, so we talked about how we were doing this for fun, and learning - yada, yada, yada.  It seemed to go in one ear and out the other.  Then we got there and she won first prize for the first grade.  I was very proud of her, but somehow worried that we had learned the wrong lesson :)  She was over the moon excited.  Here is some pics:

The experiment-notice the use of my new cricut?

certificate of participation

First Prize ribbon

One tired little family

We Finally Got Snow!

All ready for school!

Check out that snow.

"Outside!  Outside!"

"Now I'm comfy"

We got snow on Wednesday, but only had a two hour delay. So the first pictures are Anna already to go to school. Then I got H. all dressed up for "outside". She kept taking off her gloves and then crying when she touched the snow. She didn't last too long, and then we came in and chilled on the couch with the blankie, the cup, and don't forget the thumb.

Today we had an actual snow day, but it was kinda freezing rain/ice pellets all day. We did go outside and pull the two of them around the neighborhood for a bit, but it was cold! So, we have played games, made cookies, and hung out in our jammies and sweats. A nice day all around. :)

There is a New Baby at Our House!

They called us around 3:30 pm on Thursday the 17th to see if we wanted to take a brand new baby boy to foster.  I said, "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."  as visions of midnight feedings flashed through my mind.  Then I told her I would have to call my husband.  I called David's cell phone and told him, and he said, "uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," while I laughed at our matching responses.  When he got home he asked what I thought, and I told him that it just felt right.  I also felt like I wouldn't have said yes had David not been home the last month, so there are truly blessings in trials that you don't expect to find :)  So, we never expected to have an 18 month old and a newborn, but we have begun the adventure, and so far so good.

Baby H and Baby I's first meeting.  She is trying to give him back his binky.  She is fascinated by him and gives him kisses and soft pats on the head.

Baby H. wanted Daddy to hold her after I gave him Baby I. to hold.

Baby H. wanted to sit in the car carrier and be rocked.

Baby I. is checking Daddy out.  Isn't he cute?

Baby H. really has been happy with Baby I, she just wants Daddy to give her the camera.

Baby I. needed a new jammie in the night and all I had was pink :)  we now have blue jammies thanks to many friends!

Family fun!

Baby I. mostly hangs out in his bouncer.  He is a very mellow baby.  He lets you know if he is hungry, or that he doesn't like that diaper change.  Other wise he is hanging out like this.