I Love this tree!

We have owned our home for a year now. One of the things I have loved about this home is this tree in the front yard. It is the ONLY tree we own in the front yard. There was some debate this summer about the pine trees on our right being ours or the neighbors to which we finally threw in the towel and call them his. Looking from the inside out through the front window the limbs hang down to make the perfect frame. It is a nice shade tree in the afternoon but there are some hazards to sitting under it. We were pooped on several times one afternoon. It is one of the simple things I love to look at that adds character to our home. It was fun to watch the leaves fall from the branches all at once in one morning. It has been to rake the leaves, hide pumpkins in the leaves, and track them in the house for Cooper to eat. I am now sick of having the leaves on the carpet everyday. But I LOVE this tree!

Firestation Field Trip

Another Firestation Field Trip that was a success. This an annual event we look forward to every year as part of our October Activities. It felt rushed this year because it took place our first week back from potato harvest and I didn't get to talk to the kids much about the subject myself. I need to follow up and complete the fire drills now with my own family. We did decide our family fire tree would be across the street at Phil and Nancy Mecham's house since the tree in our yard are really close to the house.

Happy Birthday Drew !

Today is a Birthday Day! There is nothing more fun in a child's life than to have a birthday.
It is a bit weird to celebrate or feel the spirit of spoiling someone when they leave before you wake up and come home when the kids need to go to bed. Last night I wrapped up Drew's presents so we could begin the celebration while I worked on the birthday cakes. The guys at work requested a German Chocolate Cake (but I don't think they knew it was a Birthday cake). I know Drew didn't tell them. They just heard cake. I decided I would make one he could take to work. We tried a new cake recipe, made the frosting from scratch (so much better than the store brands), made a huge mess, cleaned the huge mess, and when I woke up the cake was still sitting on the table. AHHHH! Oh well! I ate a piece for breakfast.

Drew was very difficult to shop for this year. I couldn't think of anything to give him and when I would go to town the whole family goes to town. So I didn't get to be very sneaky about anything except for the LIVE WIRE I asked for. Mike and Joan went to Boise this last weekend so I made sure I got the phone call in for the LIVE WIRE Mountain Dew surprise.

Since it is his birthday, I wanted to share some of his quirks that make me laugh. He can be found EVERY single week with a thrifty nickel for every room in our house. Thursday evenings when we are re-watching Grey's because it's bedtime the first airing , he will sit on the bed with a pen circling everything under the sun. Sometimes it scares because I don't know the pricetag of the items. But he reassures me that it's o.k. to let him dream.

I found this quote that fits him.

"All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers."

Orson Swett Marden

Camber and David have a year to be within ten miles of the Blackfoot Fire Station. A few Saturday's ago I tagged along with Camber to look at a couple of houses that Drew had found looking in the INL Trading Post. When at one of the homes the Man selling the home asked who their realtor was. Camber looked at me and looked back at the Man, and told him her brother in law. If you need it, Drew can find it!

His boys act just like him. Drew as part of his morning routine has to have 2 Q-Tips to get the water out of his ears. Always!!!! The other day I chose to bathe the kids and Drew took to doing the dishes. Burton got out of the tub, got wrapped up in his towel, and went to the drawer with the Q-tips in them. I asked him what his was doing and duH! getting the water out of his ears.

Drew Loves : ME :), his kids, LIVE WIRE, Big N Rich ( 2nd fan pack came out last Tuesday & I didn't know until I was given the clue), Spaghetti, A cold PEPSI, ............

Worst Day Ever !

I was reading through a blog of Travis's Aunt Kristine the other day and it made me laugh until I cried. The picture added so much to her entry. It's good to hear other people have those days too. Thanks for the laugh Kristine.



March 17, 2008
Worst Week EVER!
This is how I've felt for about a week now:

Wee Wee hours of the Night

This week I've been thinking of great things to write about as I still get up in the middle of the night to feed babies. I wish I were a better writer and could really write how I felt. But for now I am going to make myself feel a little because at least something is being written. In the rush of everyday life I don't think I take the chance to just sit and hold my babies or even Liberty and Burton. Too often I am more concerned about the list of things getting done each day so my week flows more smoothly. As I sat down one morning to feed Cooper a feeling came over me that told me to just feed and sit there and hold him a little longer because this opportunity will pass all too soon. So in the wee hours of the morning I took my time to feed Cooper and then rest him up on my shoulder and cuddle him for a few extra minutes. Then turned around to do the same for Mack even though he wasn't screaming yet. I am so grateful for that moment even though I loose an hour of sleep. Now, Drew will know why I can't even hardly finish a prayer or lift my head off my pillow when he is saying good bye in the morning.

Burton's First Day of Preschool

It was my mistake to buy the school shoes in July. From that day (which was an adventure) on He couldn't wait for a school day to wear his new shoes. He is just like his dad. That guy can't have to many shoes or jackets. There were days he was just trying on his shoes and somehow he slipped away wearing them. Every time he did I would cringe because shoes have to be brand new the first day of school. His Aunt Camber also commented about him wearing them when she saw him too. Burton couldn't wait for the kids to come to our house for school. Part of the reason he was so excited is that three of his cousins are apart of my class. Sam, Nathan, & Briggs all come to school this year. The first day of preschool is always exciting. I get nervous about how things will run even though this is my sixth year, my house being clean enough, the activities, the mothers, my yard looking together, the back to school decorations for the door, the pictures,THE list is endless. This year I worried about Elda and having TWO babies. Hoping it wouldn't make her crazy as I feel some days.
Burton's first day was a Blast and the two hours slipped away way too fast for him.
But for the record my year began a little differently. It is a different layout than I am used to for the first day because my house is different. I love it though because I have a room set aside just for preschool. My hang up is I can't see the front door.

On the first day I had parents walk in and leave, others stayed and looked around, and the part that I am used to is the kids dive right into playing and don't care where their parents are.
This was the situation, until one of my new moms stood up and left and her child realized she was gone. Before I even could look up the little girl was gone. I ran up the stairs to grab her and she was already out the screen door. I took her hand and walked back in. As I took two steps in her weight dropped and she was not coming in any farther. No sweet talking was going to get her back down the stairs. Her Mom was watching I'm sure and came to the rescue when things weren't getting any easier. For the remainder of the morning I was focused on this girl as I instructed all the others, she gets away too fast. After an hour her mom was able to sneak out but to this day Mom still comes in and sits on the couch until I am working downstairs with her and we are playing. It was just a rough first day.

The things I love about school are:

• Being forced to be up and ready - I get so much more accomplished when everyone is dressed and fed before 8:00a.m.
• I love having my kids in bed the same time each night and that gives time to read scriptures.
• The earlier mornings gives us a more quiet afternoon. I love the quiet from 1-3:00 p.m. I can have some time to work without extra hands.
• I love Thursday nights because I get help Friday morning. This new school routine is really exhausting.
• I am enjoying the learning books for preschool and the format I am setting up with them. I hope it encourages them to write and practice their alphabet more with the writing paper grid lines. I love the learning book I take their work from. I hope I am sending out ideas that will help families work together.

I love preschool! What an opportunity it gives me. I get to be at home, design learning activities for my children, meet great families and be connected to those in our community.