Back to school!

So we are back in the swing of things. My little Brookie is in Kindergarten and I am just trying to figure out were all the time went!!! She is in full day Kindergarten and loves it. We are all slowly adjusting to the early bedtime and even early mornings but we are getting there. I was so proud of myself that I didn't cry when I dropped her off. She is adjusting to all of it in stride minus the automatic flushing toilets. I forgot to take her potty one morning last week before she went to school, as soon as she was gone I realized it and was worried but figured she would go at school. Yeah, not so much. She came running in the door from school and barely made it to the bathroom. When I asked her if she had gone at school she said, "No, the toilets flush by themselves and scare me." AHHHHHH! I felt so bad, she had not gone to the bathroom since 8pm the night before, yep 19 hours of holding it. That girls got one tough bladder. After a lot of discussions and bribing (yep not below me) she came home triumphant today and informed me she used the toilet and it only got her tush a little wet. What a silly girl!!!

Riley started 3rd grade and though back to school night was a rocky start he seems to be doing great. Tom and I realized that he has finally reached the age that this move was a little harder on him. He makes friends so easily that any fears I had about him adjusting to school have disappeared. It is weird to think about Riley being in 3rd grade. I remember a lot about 3rd grade, and it is weird to think that all the parenting mistakes I make now he just might remember. Let's hope he remembers the good parts too.

Elle is adjusting to being home with Mom all by herself but she is kind of like a lost puppy. She follows me around and I hate to admit it but has watched Shrek 2, at least 4 x in the past 3 days. Yep awesome mom here. She is back to taking naps (she stopped during the summer) and that has made a world of difference. The house stays so much cleaner with 2 less kiddies but I miss like crazy and am happy that they are walking back in the door by 3:15pm. Now if I could just get use to the waking up early part!

Happy Birthday Riley.....

Ok, so we are back, kind of. We still haven't gotten our internet set back up and so that explains the lapse of almost 2 months without a post. We should be getting the internet in the next week or so so things should move along then. Lots of things have happened in the past 2 months. I ended up going home with Tom to pick up the truck and had a nice visit. We were also able to go up to Laketown for Tom's mom's surprise birthday party. It was so nice to see everyone. Well today Riley turned 7. That seems so "big" to me. Tom and I were reminessing last night about the past 7 years and how things have turned out. They are quite different than what we thought it would be but still soooo good. Riley has lost his 2 front teeth this week and looks like a late jack-o-lantern. I am so glad Riley is in our family he is the best big brother and always so helpful. One day he will make a very good husband for someone. We love him so much! We are having a little party tonight with our neighbors and then on Saturday we are going to do something fun. Until next time....

Homesick...

So I have been pretty homesick this week. I think it's the natural let down from having visitors and just talking to everyone from home and wishing we were there. Tom and I have both been extra homesick this week because Tom's parents are both having a few health issues and we wish we were close enough to run up to Bear Lake on the weekends to help out. I guess that is the hardest part is feeling like we are just far enough away that we can't run home whenever the desire or need hits. We are liking our ward and our area and I have to say the ward is very close knit I think in part to the fact that there are so many people away from there families. I swear 1/3 of our ward is from Utah and moved here for work just like Tom and I so that is comforting in a way. I helped start a babysitting swap group that has been fun and a good way to get to know other couples. I don't think I posted about our new callings. Tom got called to be the Home Teaching Coordinator, and also is the Sunday school teacher to the 12/13 year olds. About 4 weeks ago the whole primary presidency was reorganized and I was called to be the 2nd counselor. I was a little shocked considering at that point I didn't know anyone in the ward. I am really starting to enjoy it and really like the girls that I am in the presidency with. I love being in primary and often feel like it is so easy to feel the spirit in there. The only problem I am now facing is the fact that Brooke as a Sunbeam wants to talk to me and "help" me whenever I am conducting so that should be interesting but I do love being in there with them.

Anyways that's about it not much else very exciting has happened this week just the usual school stuff.

I have been sooooooooooo tired and can only figure that is the, going to bed too late and the waking up too early that is killing me. Also I wanted to give a shout out to Josh and Steffany, they are getting married Dec. 7th and we are so excited and happy for them. Josh is lucky to get a girl like Steffany and I am very excited to add her to my list of awesome sister-in-laws. I thought I would put up some pictures of the babies as they are growing up so fast.

Riley is loving school, but he always has and has adjusted good to the school thing. I am actually loving the early start early out schedule because he is home by 2:45 so we still have a lot of time together. OK, enough of the ramblings...and this was going to be a "short" post. Until I post again.....

Kindergarten Graduation...

I have always been one that has scoffed at the idea of a kindergarten graduation, but that was before we had a kindergartner. Tom, Brookie, Elle and I woke up bright and early to go to Rileys Kindergarten graduation. It was so cute and he was so excited. They sang quite a few songs and I laughed when Riley sang with a small group "Tiny Tim" rather fitting if I may say so myself. Brookie and Elle were less than thrilled to be there and Brookie kept trying to convince me to get her a cookie that was for the refreshments. Never mind that we had just ate breakfast...crap...now that I think of it, I think in the hustle and bustle of the morning I forgot to get her breakfast, poor girl. No wonder she wanted a cookie, just another merit in the "horrible mom" book. I did get her a cookie and not long after we did get her some snacks. Tomorrow is Rileys field day at school, he keeps thinking it is field trip day and keeps asking me where they are going. I can't believe he is already done with kindergarten. He is such a smart boy, he can read, and write, and count by 1, 2, 5, and 10's all the way to 100. He can also tell time, count change, add and subtract. They learn so much more than I did when I was in kindergarten. He is so excited about first grade and keeps thinking he is going to first grade next week. I guess we should be glad he is so excited about school as that probably won't last...

I am sooooo annoyed....not unlike this ground hog...

Well I woke up bright and early..OK 7:45am...so bright but not so early...and loaded up all 3 babies to take Riley to school. We dropped him off and then ran up to home depot to get a special "paint glove" to help paint the rails of our deck. Of course they didn't have it so it was a waste of a trip, though we did stop by the hostess store to stock up on some snacks for the camping trip so I guess it wasn't a complete wash. I decided I was going to load Elle up in the back pack and let Brookie help paint and get started on the deck so Tom could sleep longer..a miracle I know. I guess I should back track, we found out last Thursday (the night before we left to Denver) that the deck had to be painted before the appraisal because the loan is going to be HUD. This was fine as we were already planning on painting it...the problem arouse when they told me the appraiser wanted to come today. I was like OK, that's fine we can paint it in the morning before Tom goes to work but the appraiser needs to wait until the afternoon to come. The buyers realtor said that should be fine. So that is why I was so gung-ho this morning. Tom and I were able to work our tushes of and get the deck painted, the lawn mowed (Yes, it looks wonderful hunny!!) and the house cleaned. I called the buyers realtor around noon to find out when the appraiser would be coming by and she said she wasn't sure but would call the appraiser and call me back. Well she never did and here it is 9:45 at night and the appraiser never showed up!!!! It is sooooo frustrating to be waiting around all day trying to keep 3 little ones from destroying your clean house thinking the appraiser is going to be here any minute. Oh well I guess these are the little joys that come from selling your house. On a lighter note tomorrow is Riley's Kindergarten Graduation, this year has gone so fast and I can't believe he is already done with Kindergarten. He is growing up so fast and I am so proud of him. He has changed so much this past year. So expect pictures tomorrow...

P.S. Mindy I didn't forget about you...the day and night just got away from me...I'll call you tomorrow...promise

Going on a field trip....

Today was Rileys last kindergarten field trip. Lucky for Riley (and me) Tom was able to go with us and we had a fun time. It was at Cold Springs Fish Farm (I think that is the name). All the kids were able to catch a tiny little trout and we had a picnic. We let Brookie catch a fish, she was a little nervous but was so excited. I have to admit, I kind of had a hard time with it all. I am all for fishing and even keeping/killing (how ever you want to look at it) but as I watched 90+ 5 heralds torturing these little trout I was a little edgy. The kids were just flopping those poor fish everywhere, one little boy kept holding his little trout out of the water and saying "look it's talking." I don't know I just have a hard time watching them suffer. But what ya gonna do, I don't want to be the psycho mom anymore than I already am...hehehe... That being said I was in charge of putting our two little fish in the buckets and taking them to get whacked...as I sit here I wondering how Tom lucked out of that? Oh well, we had a picnic lunch with all the kids and then played on the grass and in a big volleyball pit. It was so nice to have some time together with my hubby...even if it is with a gaggle of kindergartners. I am once again nominated as the worse mom ever, poor Elle got sunburned today, just on her right arm...honestly what is my problem? I feel horrible about it , and if she has skin cancer later on we all know who to blame...

P.S. I have two dead 6 inch trout in my freezer if anyone is interested....food storage anyone?

Bed time stories...Lillywhite style...

Bedtime in our house is always interesting. With Tom's schedule at least 5 nights out of the week I go it alone. I have to say we have worked out a pretty good schedule and most of the time the kids are in bed and asleep by 9pm. We usually sing a song, read a book, and say prayers. Last night the kids decided they wanted to tell stories and this is what transpired. I especailly like how in Brookies version of Goldilocks and the 3 bears Goldilocks gets ran over. I realize how embarrased Riley gets when he is in front of the camera. I guess he is like his Daddy. Riley has been growing up so fast. I try and remember to slow down and enjoy these minutes because all too often I am just rushing to the next thing. What cute kids I have, I hope they know how glad I am that they are mine.

Rub a dub dub...

Well after 2 Dr's appointments and a week of thinking I was going insane I finally found out that I was sick, in fact that I had strep. Mind you this is after I spent the day out and about at the movies and etc. and then went to church the next day and taught a room full of 5 year olds. And we all wonder how we keep getting sick....Sorry. Needless to say our with all the runny noses and sore throats there have been a lot of baths and showers in our house. Elle has been on a serious antibiotic and in return has gotten some serious diaper rash. We have been giving her baths and showers at least twice a day to help keep it clean. She loves the bath and has actually recently fell in love with the shower. She just completely relaxes. It is so cute, the moment she gets in the shower she rests her head on your shoulder. Last week she almost fell asleep in the shower and when I did finally pull her out she fell asleep wrapped in a towel. It was so funny but of course I didn't take any pictures...duh. I have also been wondering if any other moms use the bath for pure entertainment purposes. Often I will just throw Riley and Brooke in the bath and let them play for 30+ minutes. Sadly by the time I pull them out they look like human raisons but I have been able to get some things done and they ahve been entertained! Anyways I hope you enjoy the pictures and as for the ones of Tom and Elle in the shower; for all you know he is wearing a bathing suit...hehehe.

3 year old with golf club + 6 year old Sheriff = ouch!

Today was a good day. I finally made it back to the gym after a long hiatus. It was good to finally get my butt moving again and it gave me a chance to visit with Candi so that is always good for the soul. Candi took Brooke home with her today and so after Riley got home from school we went to pick her up. Well we were hanging out for awhile when the kids went outside. No longer than 10 minutes pass when Riley comes in holding his head and crying. At first I though he had fallen off the trampoline. In between sobs it became clear that he had actually been hit in the head by Eriks golf club and had a huge goose egg with a little cut on it. Luckily it hit the side of his head and Riley is in need of a serious hair cut so it helped cushion the hit. I felt so bad. Riley was injured while trying to be the sheriff. He was worried that Erik was holding the golf club too high so he went in to tell him and in the process managed to get whacked. Poor Erik was like, what happened? I never cease to be amazed by kids’ resilience. Within an hour or so Riley was doing somersaults and jumping around. I can only imagine if I got hit in the golf club what I would be like. It would most likely involve a bed, a icepack, some ibuprofen, and a pint of ben and jerrys.

Our Weekend...

This has been a whirlwind of a weekend. It started with Marianne and Becky coming into town Friday afternoon. It was soooooo nice to see Becky, (we haven't seen each other since Nov.) Candi watched the kids for me and we all went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was so nice to get away and reconnect with Becky. It's funny because after that long it was like we never missed a beat. I guess that just how it is with true friends.
The next morning we drove to Laketown for Ruths funeral. It was beautiful and so nice to see everyone and hear all the fun stories and memories of Ruth's life. She was such a amazing girl and such a blessing to our family. I am so glad my kids were able to get to know here and I am sad that we won't have her around anymore. I love that she was able to teach them about people with disablites and "normalize" it. Now when Riley and Brooke see someone with downsyndrome they aren't scared they just say "hey, they are like Ruth." I think that was such a blessing and I just hope they remember her.
We then made the trip back to Honeyville for the burial. I drove Logan Canyon for the first time and was so nervous. It didn't help that it was a little rainy and snowy but I did it and was so proud. I felt bad for Frank and Amy because we were following them and the probably thought I was driving like a grandma...sorry.
At the cemetery we pulled up and Riley said "I know what we are doing here, we are going to plant Ruth." I laughed so hard, and I guess it's kind of true. We put them in the ground and they will be raised again into something beautiful and new. I think this is especially true for Ruth since she will be resurected with a perfect body. I guess it bring new meaning to the phrase "Bloom were your planted." After the burial we all went to Ted and Jens. It was so nice to just let the kids play after a long day and visit. We then came home and crashed. Church was good today and since Becky was here Tom went to priesthood. He was so glad to go and I am glad to have a husband who actually wants to go to priesthood. We are in charge of sharing time on Easter so I attempted to start to plan it with our class but with 5 year olds this should be interesting. Tonight we went to dinner at Candi and Kelly's it was so nice to not have to cook. Gotta love that. Anyways Suz is coming to visit me tomorrow since her boys are out of school so I am going to let Riley stay home, I know horrible mom seeing as he had missed so much time being sick but I think we deserve a fun day.

P.S. This picture was taken thursday. Elle has found a new true love Fruit Cheerios...I love them too because they keep her occupied...