The Answering Machine Captures it All

Yesterday we were finishing up some chores before heading out for some errands. The phone rang and seeing that it was a friend of E and knowing that she couldn't play I chose to ignore it. I heard the answering machine come on, but didn't hear the message. Right after that the friend showed up at the door. She doesn't live close, so her mom would have to drop her off. The kids filled her in on what what was going on and let her know that E couldn't play. Luckily her mom was still out there and took her home.

I later listened to the answering machine. It went something like this:
"Hi is E there. Hi E can you play? You can?"
Her mom in the background, "Have her ask her mom."
"Ask your mom. She said yes? Okay I'll be right over"

A little 5 year old had this whole conversation on the answering machine. She hasn't figured out yet that the answering machine records everything you say to it.

The Key is...

A few year ago M was playing with our keys. They suddenly disappeared and he couldn't remember for the life of him where it could be. We scoured the house and found things like the channel changer, some loose coins, my brothers keys which had been lost at least 5 years earlier (all in the couch), but no keys.

A few weeks later, while going through the pantry, I decided I should check the wheat to make sure it wasn't infested with anything discusting (obviously it isn't used enough). There in the wheat bag was the keys. I questioned M about this to find that he was playing a game. Drop them in and then put your hand in and grab and see if you get them. He didn't get them...and they ended up being left there.

When the keys dissapeared this time I remembered distinctly E offering them to me as I was leaving with R. I told her I didn't need them and asked her to put them back. Only they weren't back...and it was time to take the carpool. After searching everywhere I could think of I called the school to ask her. She informed me she had put them back.

We borrowed Grandma's car and ran the carpool to school then went and got and the extra key from R.

Later that day Hadley is so excited. She pulls the keys out of her purse. (One of several purses). She had put them in there the night before, but had forgotten.

I think we were lucky to have had her find them so soon.

Tree Hunt

One of our favorite traditions is going up into the mountains, finding a tree, and cutting it down for our Christmas tree.

This tradition started the first year we were married. We went up with Stan and Andrea and another friend. A few years later we had kids and they started coming. We have hiked in the snow. We have rented snowshoes. We have snowmobilled and fourwheeled. We finally bought our own snow shoes.

Each year the trees get better...or we get better at finding them.

This year was no exception.

A few years back we started spending the night a house my parents owned in Daniels. When the babies were young we stayed back with them and prepared a warm meal for the others to come home to. The home in Daniels has been sold so this year we stayed at a cabin my parents rented. We have slowly pulled them into this tradition. They don't get the tree, but they come and have fun with us (as well as making things more adventurous with fourwheelers and snowmobilles.)

This year we had everyone but Jo up there.

Again, another wonderful memory to share.

A new found blog

I love the simplicity of this girls projects.
I really want to try the white layered cutouts for my more whimisical Christmas room.
I'll take a pic if I do.
Photo is from her site www.alittlehut.blogspot.com

Poetry

A few years back Grandma made J a three ringed binder. Inside were the words to The Night Before Christmas. A few phrases were included on the bottom of each page and J then made the illustrations.
We love that book and pull it out each Christmas.

This year J is memorizing the poem for school.
So fun to have some meaning behind it.


Choose a favorite poem or story and type it up leaving room for illustrations. Then let your kids go to work. It's a great way to keep them busy while they are getting so excited about the upcoming events.

Here's another advent

This is one girls interpretation of Martha.

Makes me want to try it!

http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/ is where I got the picture. She also is sharing a downloadable pdf of ideas to do during advent.

Time To Start Planning For The Holidays

This is from Target. $29.99
I saw something similar to this last year and have wished I had purchased it.
My sister in law did purchase it and then planned out 25 activities for December...from hot chocolate to skip school and go the big city.
I am starting to plan. I would love to hear your ideas.

Here is another advent calendar. I like the simplicity of it.
This is from Martha's site.

That time of year

My friend Erin posted about how Halloween is the holiday that lets your kids know you love them. You spend hours getting their costumes just right...just the way they ordered. So true.
I love these little goblins. And making their costumes (not J's) was lots of fun. I'm glad they ended up liking them :)

theyhaveababyit'saboy

I think that commercial is so funny.
Probably because I can imagine Reed doing it to save money.
(I hope you've seen it and can relate)

Well this time it's Mark and Kattie.
They have been on list waiting to adopt for awhile.
Within the last week they found out someone had chosen them
and that the baby would be coming soon.

Well he's here.
Born on Sept 21st
7lbs 8 oz.

We're so excited for them.
And so excited for a new little cousin/nephew.

So a shout out to those who may not be able to
raise their birth children on their own, and allow
someone else the opportunity!
Because of you....
my dad has brothers
my husband has an older brother
two of my good friends could enlarge their families
two of my good friends were raised by good families
i have a new nephew
my brother and his wife can have children.

GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

Soccer season is almost over.
It's a bit stressful to get everyone to all the practices and games. But the games are so exciting to watch.
It seams ironic as all the parents sit on the side lines and tell their kids to run faster.
But the energy at the games has been high and the kids are amazing!
Soccer is such a quick moving sport, full of action.
So far it is my favorite to watch my kids in.
Wait....swimming was fun too.
Hmmmmm.

Butterfly Kisses

The other day I was driving with H when the song "Butterfly Kisses" came on.
She mentioned the butterfly kisses and thought they sounded funny.
When I got her out of her car seat I showed her how to
give a butterfly kiss with her eyelashes.
She then showed me how to give a butterfly kiss.
I like her way best!
(Notice the butterfly she made with her hands.)

Oh the responsibility...

I can't write during this part of my life without recording the craziness of it.

Three kids in three schools.
Carpools are saving me!
But this is my schedule:
7:00 Family Scripture study
7:15-7:40 Breakfast/lunches/hair/backpacks
7:45 J, R and E out the door to school and work (R drives J's carpool 2 to 3 days a week, a neighbor takes E)
7:45-8:30 get dressed/get H dressed, homework with M, M ready (backpack/lunch/teeth/hair)
8:30 - take M's carpool across town
9-10 walk with my sis
10:20 get home and try to make myself smell good before I go pick up the kindergarten carpool
10:45 pick up the kindergarten carpool
11:00 lunch/homework with E, reading
12:00 go to school to count $ (I am told this will end....I'm wondering)...part of the whole pta treasurer thing
12:30 deposit counted $
12:45 home for a brief hello to R who is home for lunch
1:00 naps...hopefully for all of us
the rest of the day is interspersed with children coming home from school, going to and coming home from lessons, practices, and friends houses, trying to do jobs somewhere in there

The evening is full of homework and dinner and cleaning up from dinner and soccer games.


I'm tired!
But life is good.

Congraduations

E graduated from preschool in the spring. So the next big step was kindergarten. She was absolutely excited for this new step. And actually I'm okay with it. 1st grade will be hard for me with her. Having her gone all day will be lonely. But we will deal with that when it happens. Right now we get her home at 10:45 and we have her for the rest of the day. And we love it!

Big Celebration

M turned 30 and graduated from college. What a great reason for celebrating!

We had fun decorating. (turn your head, it's faster then me turning the picture).

Of course we had lots of yummy foods.

Then we had this sinfully delicious cake with 30 candles.

And homemade icecream! (Do the turn thing again.)

And she has a job to boot. Way to go M!

The good stuff

While in New York we wanted to find a yummy place to eat dinner in the Italian district. We asked a passer by (a college age young man) where he would suggest. He looked as a little strange and put it to us straight...the Italian district is pretty much show...not that tasty. He directed us a little pizza joint up the street and around the corner. We took his advice and had some of the most tasty pizza's. My favorite was the one with pears and walnuts on it and I think it was gargonzola cheese.

I recently found a web site showcasing fun Utah things, mostly in Salt Lake Valley.
I found a link suggesting their favorite pizza place. This place abides strictly to the Verace Pizza Napoletana. The only other place I have ever heard those words was at the little joint in New York. The place is Settebello Pizzaria Napoletana and it's located at 260 S. 200 W. Salt Lake City.

I think we'll have to come with an excuse for a trip up there.

Harvesting

We weeded.
We tilled.

We planted (pregrown plants).
R covered the dirt with black stuff.
He covered the black stuff with lots and lots of grass.

He gathered the grass with the kids
From the Jr. High
With a four wheeler.

It was lots of work.

And now we harvest.

Harvest is good.

I just can't help it.

I know it's a bit blurry...but the lighting is perfect :)

A change in scenery

The original view.
While this is a gorgeous huge tree that produces the most amazingly huge leaves, it also produces the most annoying amounts of cotton. This results in seeding all over the place, large piles of cottons in every corner of anything open, and amazing amounts of allergies.


They set out the cones. (One car drove right through them without realizing what was going on...luckily no one injured)


This is exciting stuff. Everyone comes out to watch and cheer them on.


The sawing begins.


The scouts start hauling off the branches.


Now they are serious. Climbing up in the tree.


The bigger ones are starting to fall.


H pulled out the binoculars so she could see a little better.


They tied up the big branch to the big truck so they could pull it away from the cars parked out in the street.


They pulled that huge branch down like experienced woodsmen.


Sometimes it was a little boring to watch.


That's quite the thinning job.


One of the big scouts climbed high. So Dangerous. He tied up the rope so they could pull the branch away from the houses as it tumbled down.


It started to rain.


They all stood around. Lots of heads are better then one.


They didn't know what to do. The saw was stuck in the tree. (maybe not really, but it sounds funny)


Then out of a phone booth comes Mr. Savetheday. A real professional. This guy just zooped branches off left and right, up and down.


Thar she blows. A real action shot...the top is about to tip off...good shot huh?


Cut down top of tree...check.


E laughing as she comments, "the tree is naked."


Mr. Savetheday is done here.


This is what was left...the scouts cut this down too.