Hello Tomorrow!

I wanted to get one more post up before school starts again tomorrow and I will feel guilty for time spent on other things besides homework and attention to children or home. I had a pretty good break. I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted so I will be posting none. Saturday night I went to the symphony in Salt Lake City with my sister. I realized that the symphony is something I really enjoy that I have forgotten about. I plan to go more often in the future. I am sure BYU has some terrific events I should look into. I think Isaac would like them too. I substituded in Relief Society and it was a humbling experience. I always invision not being tongue-tied and refraining from losing all ablity to complete a thought but somehow the second I stand up I forget everything and want to cry. Pratice makes perfect, right? I really like my new ward and everyone is very kind. Sunday afternoon Allison, Justin, Wendy (Justin's friend) and my friend, Drea ate dinner with us. It was cozy and I need to refocus my attention on Grace and Isaac's dinner behavior but it was nice to be with everyone. Sam has been sick with a runny nose. I can't imagine the torture of being unable to blow your nose. Luckily he will be unable to recall this uncomfortable events in his young life when he grows up. I did some cleaning on the house today and then when Grace and Isaac went to bed early I didn't continue cleaning. I read the bookclub book, Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons. I really enjoyed it and read it in about 4 hours. Yes folks it made me cry, but not too much. It was my big self indulgence before school starts and now I am feeling guilty for being up late because I need to be ready for tomorrow and the start of a new race to the finish of the semester. This summer is sure to hold many wonderful adventures. For instance, Jake's brother just found out he is having a boy! I am so excited for them. They will be wonderful parents, and Isaac and Sam will love having a playmate. Jake takes his finals tomorrow and Thursday and then he will take a break for the Summer. A break meaning a break from school, not an actual break as he will be the primary caretaker of the kidos. Sleep is calling me so... Bring on tomorrow!

Tub Time Tribute

I finally did it. It only took me four hours to edit out Isaac standing up in the tub. I know the quality isn't great, but I couldn't get it to work right. It is my first try. Now I must go and finish my "everything but the kitchen sink meatballs" (carrots, oatmeal, flax seed... don't tell Jake, he actually likes them). Thank you Isaac for taking a four hour nap. Love you all!

We LOVE Melmo and rocks and Saturdays!

It is so fun to have a Saturday! Jake has always worked on Saturdays so it is such a blessing to spend Saturday together. We planted peas as a family and then put anchors in the swing set. Isaac held the drill for Jake while Jake getting the anchors ready. Isaac was thrilled to be helping and holding an amazing tool! Everyone helped a little with the garden and I am excited to have a garden for the first time. The peas are in the ground and while I am sceptical about them actually growing I am enjoying the experience. (I usually find a way to kill all plants.) Sam sat outside in the Bumbo chair and cheered us on. He has decided to switch himself to formula this last week and while it is bitter sweet, he has slept through the night the last three days.

The weather has been fabulous and we have enjoyed being outside the majority of everyday. The first batch of otter pops is gone as Grace has learned how to climb over the gate. She has been sharing them with the kids that live behind us so I haven't been that upset. Despite that, she will be sitting in the time-out chair if she climbs over the gate again! The swing set is still a big hit and I am so grateful to the grandparents for the wonderful birthday present.

Here is our sweet boy who is currently Melmo. He can't say Elmo so he says Melmo. He weres this outfit, given to us by Jake's sister, every time it is clean and won't take it off until he and it is completely dirty so I sneak it in the wash during bath time. IJ has always been sweet and it is so fun to see his little personality coming out.
This is Grace in Rock Canyon. She went with Jake and his geology class on a hike last Saturday. She scaled higer than any of the other kids, if you can believe it. Jake said his teacher mentioned the hike in class and said there had been two geologist there, meaning her and Grace. Apparently Grace picked up ALL of the available rocks under ten pounds for the teacher to analyze. I am glad Grace loves to learn so much. As for me I am enjoying my time not at school. It starts again next Tuesday so I have been trying to get a few things done. I made stawberry freezer jam last night and today I am making meatballs and hope to have time to do some serious bedroom cleaning. The garage also needs my help and there is a book club book I need to read before I have to feel guilty about it. I better get back to my meatballs but I want to post a video soon, if I can figure it out!

Happy Late Easter Every-Bunny!

We had a fun filled Easter weekend and it has taken some time to recover. Actually, the semster is almost over and I have been busy with school so the blog has been neglected. Jake's whole family was here Easter weekend and it was non-stop fun. On Saturday morning Jake, G and IJ, Jake's sister and brother and a few of their children went to the Easter egg hunt at UVU and met the Easter bunny. IJ was interested in the gigantic bunny and Jake said he kept saying bunny and pointing. G let me put sponge curlers in her hair the night before so she has curls piled up in the top of her head. This was the only Easter egg hunt we did this year. Sadly, Easter snuck up on me. We had a fabulous baby shower on Saturday afternoon for Jake's brother and his wife. We are so excited for a new baby boy cousin. It was really fun and of course we ate alot of really good food. I also made my first diaper cake. It was a fun learning experience. I enjoyed trying to be a little creative. I think I am better at making actual cakes. Speaking of making food, I received a calling in my new ward. I was called as food coordinator for relief society. I am not sure what the offical name is. I think the food part is right, I love to eat. We took pictures before the baby shower and then on Sunday after church. I think I will have to recreate the Easter pictures because I really didn't get the kids as well I wanted. G has been obsessed with worms and everywhere we go she is digging in the dirt. There are a handful of worms in her cup in the picture above. After church on Easter Sunday it was difficult to keep her clean for the pictures and we didn't get as many as I wanted. My sister in law is a great with pictures so I hope a few of hers turned out better. Thanks Marmee for the cute Easter and spring clothes! In my humble opinion, the kids looked adorable. I am sure there is more I should share but I can't remember. Finals end on Wednesday for me and Jake starts finals in a few weeks. Spring is here and we planted two rows of peas yesterday. The black-eyed susans are actually growing and should be ready to be transplanted in another week or so.

Time flies when you are having fun!

We have has some exciting times over the last few weeks. Between birthdays and Jake's spring break, we have had almost non-stop fun. A picture says 1,000 words so lets begin. This is Grace after my dad sent her and Isaac teddy bears from Kuwait. Grace is dressed to meet the tooth fairy with her bears Stacy and Rainbow(the new gray one). Isaac loves to have his picture taken and even though he can't say much, he does know how to say cheese. Last Thursday was Isaac's birthday and he was so cute. When he woke up we all went in and sang him Happy Birthday and he clapped after we sang it. Then we got him out of bed (I can't believe he hasn't learned to climb out of his crib.) and I pulled out some special birthday clothes. Isaac knew it was a special day so he went to the closet and wanted to wear Grace's Christmas dress! Finally I convinced him to where a shirt with a soccer ball on it. Then he opened a few presents. After that Grandma took him to Krispy Kreme for his birthday breakfast and then took him to Walmart and bought him a present. He loves doughnuts and had a wonderful time by himself with Grandma. For lunch Isaac and I went to UVU and ate lunch with Daddy which was also a special treat. He had a nap and then I went to class and Jake took them to Mc Donalds to play and have dinner. As the night ended, we did cupcakes as fast as we cound because it takes alot of energy to enjoy such a fun day and melt downs were fast approaching. Then Isaac got to sit with Grandpa for a moment before his special birthday ended. I think he had a good day. Since then Isaac has developed a pimple of sorts on his lower eyelid. Poor guy! We took him to the doctors on Friday and at first the doctor said it need to be cut open to drain and that we need to hurry to the optimologist. So we ran over there to sit and wait. We finally got into a room and the nurse came to show him some pictures to check his vision. Since he can't talk, I tryed to ask him questions that he could answer and indicate he could see the picture clearly. One picture was a birthday cake and he pretended to blow out the candles. He said car for the car picture, but the funniest was the chicken picture. Earlier in the week we ate dinner with our friends in Payson and after dinner Jake took Grace and Isaac to see their chickens. Isaac got his finger pecked and after then event came back and showed me his finger and said, "Owww." So at the eye doctor's I said what does this animal say and Isaac shows me his finger and says "Owww." The nurse and I laughed. It turns out after five hours and two doctors, there is nothing to be done about the eye pimple. If it doesn't go away in two months then it will have to be lanced in the OR. Back to more exciting things, Jake has had spring break this week and on Tuesday night, Grace, Jake and Isaac camped in the backyard. Isaac only lasted until 12:45 am and then Jake brought him back in. They even roasted marshmellows over the grill. Isaac wanted to eat them on the stick but not roasted. I was the only one who ate them roasted. I love camping! Then on Thursday Jake and Grandma took Grace and Isaac to the golden spike in Ogden. I was sad I couldn't go because of school work. Isaac loved it! Trains are one of his favorite things. Jake and Isaac started on one side of the tracks and Grace on the other and they reinacted the meeting of the trains at the golden spike. It has been a fun week for all. Except for Sam who is sick and has lost his voice. Sam and I had about 4 non-consectutive hours of sleep last night. I hope he doesn't get RSV. I hate to have to go back to the doctors, but if things don't improve we will have to. I guess I should be glad we have made it till March without getting sick. Officially only a month left in the semester and I hope I have enough steam to pull through. I am glad for things to be back to "normal" for a few weeks. I am party-ed out! Last few pictures, Jake , Grace, Isaac and I did the Rex Lee Run. I did it years ago, the first time I was at BYU and so it was fun to try it again. It was not fun to realize how out of shape I am and so I am now motivated to put down some of the chocolate. Last picture is Isaac "walking Grace." No animals were harmed in making this picture. Grace wanted to be a dog so she put on her dog mask and walked her around the block on a leash. We are still waiting for Child Services which I am sure our neighbors called. This Blog is already too long so wait for the next installment to hear about Grace and the scarves at the ward auction. I can't believe it is almost April. Sam is calling me so I'll say Good bye for now!

Its my party!

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Grace and Isaac. I normally am in some stage of planning for a few months. This year Grace said she wanted to go bowling. This would have been so easy. Two weeks ago she changed her mind and decided on a pinata party. With school and everything, I put off planning and so it was a little jumbled, but I think everyone had fun. I am still baffled on the correct way to stuff a pinata. I have done it wrong two years in a row! I know that it seems easy but it is harder than it looks. It broke on the second swing! I had planned on playing a few other games but it just didn't happen. Anyway, this is the first party I actually sat down and ate. Normally, I am chasing after Grace or Isaac or doing some party stuff. Jake made some awesome hamburgers and Grace loved the veggie tray. Speaking of things Jake made... We decided that Isaac would love a cornhole game so at about 11 on Friday night, Jake started making it. It was very well recieved. It did require everyone to pitch in to make things happen. Ruth painted on the boards and helped me with the bean bags and Jesses and Kebly made the fruit dip for me because I was so behind and ran out of time to get everything done. (Does that sound like me?) I owe them big time. The only really sad thing was that it was really too cold to be outside. James sent a package that arrived just in time for the party and our friends from Payson were able to make it even with their new baby. Thanks to all who came and made Grace and Isaac's day more special. After the party, Allison, Isaac, and I went to the last BYU home basketball game for the season. It was sold out, but do to some fabulous hats we were wearing (so we think) we were let in the game. Isaac was such a big boy. He sat next to my brother, Justin, and watched the game, ate popcorn, and cheered. It has been a fun weekend and it went by too quickly. I didn't get a good picture of the corn hole game. I'll have to take some more on Isaac's actual birthday! Side note on the picture of Grace holding ALL of her presents from James, she dressed herself in her "party dress" and wanted to be barefoot playing outside on the swingset in the cold. Isaac had to be brought inside against his will occasionally and Sam slept the whole time. Once again thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us. We had a crazy fun time.

Happy Birthday Grace!

Today Grace turned four years old! At times, it seems like a feat that we have actually made it another year, but mostly it just reminds me to enjoy every moment of the rollercoaster ride because before I know it the chaos will be a little more orderly. Grace LOVES a party so Jake and I decorated the living room and kitchen with streamers and balloons. She woke to the happy birthday song and Jake would spontaneously break out into song all day. Grace loved it and was just beaming. Being four, Grace took off her pajamas and got dressed in her new birthday shoes and birthday sweater curtesy of Marmee and then Grandma took her to breakfast for doughnuts. Grace came home with not only doughnuts but a Barbie tea set and a Beta fish. She was so happy! I told her I was sorry that I had to go to school on her birthday and she told me not to worry, she wouldn't have her birthday without me. It was very sweet. We did have a sad event today. Isaac stepped on something and Jake had to take him to the health center where he recieved ten stitches. Poor Isaac! I got home from school and I just felt so bad for him. He was numbed up untill this evening and now he is starting to limp. It didn't even break Grace's birthday stride. When I came home from school I wanted to make sure that Grace still wanted to go bowling for dinner, but she had changed her mind. I could almost quote it; she wanted to go to Ikea and get a hotdog, but first go to Walmart and get a cake. Not Chuckie Cheese, McDonald's playland, or bowling. So we went to Ikea and Grace played in the play place and had hotdogs. She told me all of her birthday dreams came true! It was a good day aside from the trip to the hospital. School is going well. One of my classmates actually stopped me in the hall to help explain something from class, and it felt really good. It has been busy and hard to leave my kids, but school is really fun (for the most part). Tis the birthday season, one kid's dreams came true, now it is time to plan Isaac's birthday!