05.31.10

Our church does a Memorial Day Breakfast every year and since the church building is right on the parade route, we get the benefits of breakfast and a parade without much work.  The Woodridge parade is a very short parade - a handful of veterans, a marching band, a politician, 4 or 5 fire trucks/ambulances, a couple of police cars and a hummer.  Of course the most important part for Peter was the fire trucks.  He watched them pass by and then decided he needed to follow them.  He is ALL BOY!!!  Kirsten and Peter road their bikes over to the church that morning since we don't live that far away from the church.  We also helped assemble cards for kids whose parents are serving our country.
I am grateful for the men and women who serve this country to help us live in the land of the free.  Freedom comes at a price and we honor those men and women today.

Later that evening after a torrential rain storm we had the Cameron's over for dinner.  Of course I forgot to take pictures but we had so much yummy food.  The boys got to watch the Blackhawk hockey game and Liberty and I worked on her quilt top.  All in all it was a fun filled day.

05.30.10

Okay, so today was one of those proud momma moment.  Kirsten gave a talk today in primary and she read the whole thing by herself.  I was so proud of her.  I always think she is so shy that she won't do things but all I had to do was read the first two words to her and away she went.  SHE MADE ME PROUD!!  To give credit where credit is due - Dave helped her write the talk.  I was so confused on what to help her say and he just made it simple and easy for her.  WOW!!  I am so glad he was able to make an easy talk for her that she was able to read.

05.29.10

Last night Dave promised the kids we would go over to the new fountain they built where the old swimming pool was.  I ran to the store and to get my hair cut while they went to go and get the truck washed out.  When I got back they were all packed in the car and ready to go.  I hurried and put the groceries away and went with them.  Kirsten was a bit timid at first but once she got a feel for the spraying and getting wet she was like a fish in water.  Peter on the other hand was NOT HAPPY to have his dad drag him to the fountain and get him all wet.  Eventually he started getting closer but never really getting tooooo close. . . . He has no problem picking up other kids toys and playing with them . . . .BUT to go play in the water.  That was NOT FOR HIM.

05.28.10

This is the end of the year picnic for Kirsten's preschool.  Yesterday was the official last day of school and I was glad that the sun decided to shine today so that we could go and officially thank Kirsten's Teacher and Teacher aide.  They have helped Kirsten to have a fun year and I think after a couple of weeks of summer she might start missing these two amazing ladies.  Both kids had a great time and Peter found some boys that were playing with a soccer ball and football and he "joined" in.  I'm glad they were really nice and let him kick and throw the football around and occasionally kick the soccer ball.

05.27.10

Okay, so I think he has conquered his fear of slides.  I wish I could portray in a picture the glee in his face when he hit the bottom of this slide.  PURE FUN!!!  I wish I were having that much fun!

05.26.10

I guess it is self service around here.  I was helping Kirsten out and came back upstairs to find Peter with a bowl from the dishwasher, the ice cream from the freezer and the scoop.  What does he need me for????

05.25.10

The kids are bouncing off the walls here!!!!

05.24.10

This is just the beginning.  Today was HOT, hot.  Did I say hot???  It was so hot and humid today that I let the kids play in the pool and invited the neighbor over to play with us.  Only a couple of problems happened today.  I ended up with Heat Stroke - a major bad headache that put me in bed.  And Kirsten woke up in the middle of the night with a fever - possibly caused by the heat stroke too.  We have recovered okay but it was a fair warning to this mamma to keep your kiddos hydrated and YOU TOO.

05.23.10

Okay, so I hate this picture of me, but every once in awhile I feel I should add a picture of me.  In my defense, he said "Open your eyes really big."  He was testing out the red eye on the external flash.

05.22.10

Kirsten's Spring Dance Recital.  Once again she astounds us with her amazing talent and ability to not be afraid in front of complete strangers.  We love her teacher Ms. Michelle.  She does amazing work and makes Kirsten just love Dancing.

05.21.10

Our friends, Eric and Mirinda Chatfield, and one of Kirsten's best friends, Ashlie Chatfield, are moving to Peoria Illinois.  Eric has finished his Medical program and is on to the wide world of internships/residencies.  We are so sad that they are leaving.  We have become great friends and we will truly miss them.  We had a going away party at the church this evening to honor them.  We were glad that many of their friends were able to come and say goodbye.  Seems like just yesterday we were both starting out as some of the newbies in the ward and now they are moving on like so many do in this ward that go to the medical school here in the area.  We wish them luck and hope that all goes well with their move.

05.20.10

It is amazing how Kirsten loves this Garage sale find.  It is a pink frog and she sleeps with it almost every night.

05.19.10

Kirsten could hardly stand it today.  She was so excited to go to her dance class.  She started talking about it after she got up in the morning.  Today was the day they got costumes.  She was so excited for this beautiful blue fringed outfit with the darling feathers.  Now she just has to wait until Saturday to wear it and dance in it.

05.18.10

We spent the morning over at my neighbor's house getting some baby items that she wanted to give away.  I am so excited - we got a whole bed ensemble and even possibly the bed from her.  I feel like I should pay her but she will have none of that.  It is so nice to have generous friends that are willing to help us out.  I also love that it is kind of a gender neutral pattern and color scheme.  We also got some toys and a mobile (that Kirsten has confiscated.)  It is funny how kids always want to play with the baby toys and things.  Kirsten is so excited for this baby. . . she just wants to hold it.  She pats my tummy all the time and says "there's a baby in there."  It is kind of embarassing in public but I love that she is in love with the baby already.  She, of course, is voting for a girl.  I have to side with her - how much fun would it be to dress two girls up in matching outfits?  Although I would love a boy just as much.  I wish I could know soon, but like Kirsten we have to wait. . . waiting is SSOOOOO HARD.

05.17.10

For family home evening we had our once a month lesson on Jesus feeding the 5000.  The kids love to "catch" the fish and so it gets repeated almost monthly.  This time Peter and Kirsten were able to "share" the fishing pole and not fight to many times over it.  I guess we are improving???

05.16.10

Being lazy I threw the last of the pancake mix on the griddle.  I had made plenty up to that point and so I didn't want to make any more.  Kirsten thought it was the coolest thing she had ever saw.  It fit her whole plate.  She wanted it.  Then she wanted to wait until Dad came down for breakfast to "show" him the pancake.  We were running out of time to get to church on time and I wanted her to hurry and eat it.  Finally I convinced her to put peanut butter on it and finally dad came down to eat so she could eat.

05.15.10

This morning while the boys were at the campout, Kirsten and I went garage sale shopping.  Kirsten is pretty funny.  I let her buy little things here and there for 10 cents or a quarter.  She was happy and I was happy.  I found this place with all this lace and so I bought up some of it.  I think I spent less then $2 for all of this.  It is all in small pieces but it will be fun to use on bags or dresses or just to look at.  I also found a baby gate for really cheap and it is in really good condition.  I found a handful of other things and had a nice time with Kirsten garage sale hopping.

05.14.10

Peter and Dave went to our ward's father and son outing.  I asked Dave if he had the camera . . . ummm, no . . . then I saw him pack it up.  Then he took 0 (that's zero) pictures.  Thank goodness for my friend's husband Jason that took pictures of Peter at the campout.

Dave said they had a great time.  Peter LOVED it.  He so enjoyed all the fun they had and stayed up waaaay to late.  He ate over 3 hotdogs and any one's snacks he could find {he is not afraid to beg.}  I guess he also takes drinks that don't belong to him and wanders around sipping on some one's soda.

05.13.10

One of the "advantages" of having a couple of days of rain . . . EARTHWORMS.  They were everywhere on our way to school today.  Peter put one in the back of his tricycle and it got a ride all around the neighborhood.  When we got home I told him we had to return it back to the grass.  He was very gentle and walked it over to the grass . . . THEN THREW IT.  {Again boys will be will boys.}

05.12.10

Don't ask where he got this broom but this is a demonstration of his techniques for sweeping. . . Not sure what it needs to be in the air for.  He was doing this at home too and knocked a glass off the counter . . . . thank goodness it didn't break. . . . Boys will be boys. . . . this kid is really wearing me out.  I need a nap just watching him run around . . .  YAWN!!

05.11.10

My extra big helpers tonight as we put Kirsten's bed back together after washing all the sheets.  Both kids have had runny noses and coughs and I thought it wouldn't hurt to wash their beds and hopefully get the sickness out of our house.

05.10.10

I went to the doctor's today and got another ultrasound.  This is one of the worst ultrasound pictures I have seen.  I can barely make out the baby's profile and I was there at the appointment.  But about my appointment.  The reason I got another ultrasound is that the baby was hiding from the doctor when she was trying to listen to it's heartbeat and so she said let's go do an ultrasound.  Of course I'm all for that - thanks baby for being to shy to let us listen to your heart beat.  Instead I got to see it doing flips and moving all around.  The pics aren't that great but it was sure fun to see the baby.  I'm about 15 weeks along and in the next month or so we are hoping to find out what sex it is.

05.09.10

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
So while I was galavanting yesterday, Dave and the kids put my garden together.  They dug out the grass and put up my edging and loaded it with topsoil.  It was an amazing mother's day present.  I have been trying to figure out what I was going to do to get everything ready for the next couple of weeks when I can finally plant the items I have outside.  NOW I can just dig holes and plant the plants.
Dave spoke in church today and it was a lovely tribute to his mother but it wasn't one of those "oh, I feel guilty" after it talks. He does a good job at expressing and honoring mothers and more so his mother. I love to hear him speak. He is an amazing man and he opens my eyes to new ideas and thoughts. I loved how he spoke to mothers but also included the fathers in talking about the responsibility of raising children. It was wonderful to hear him talk about her and be grateful for the fact that because of her choice to join the church many years ago that hundreds if not thousands of people have been blessed because of that choice. I was glad that I got to reread through her journal and life history that Paula put together. It helped me to bring her back into my life again and make her real. I am grateful that she raised such amazing children. They are not perfect but they are thoughtful and caring and loving just like her. I always hope that I can be like her in thought and deed.

05.08.10

Today I spent the morning at a wonderful, amazing women's conference put on by our stake.  We had a beautiful speaker who spoke about the might wonders of the Saviors love.  It touched my heart.  She spoke on how sometimes like the sun breaking through the clouds, we have moments where we feel the Saviors love.  It was amazing also that as she spoke the sun broke through the cloudy morning we were having.  We also had wonderful food and 3 more workshops on various subjects.  I walked away wanting to be better and do better.  I loved it.
Afterwards, thanks to a wonderful husband, I got to spend the afternoon at a thrift store with Liberty.  I was hoping to find a couple of shirts and mainly pants for pregnancy.  I found 2 great pregnancy pants and a couple I think I will be able to adapt.  I also found a couple of shirts that will work for awhile and some that will be nice to wear later.  I shopped the whole time for only me.  It was kind of fun but unusual for me.  I usually find so many things for the kids, but I knew they needed nothing.
BUT - after 3 days of pushing myself beyond where I should I came home and we had leftovers for dinner and  I promptly went to bed after putting the kids to bed.  It's been a fun couple of days but I think I will slow down for a couple of days to recover.

05.07.10

Day 2 of the sewing class.  We got smarter and brought a DVD for the kids and more snacks.  The kids were okay until it began to run past lunch time.  I have to admit I was really exhausted and a bit frustrated by the end, probably because I am pregnant and it is exhausting to have to move all my stuff out to the truck and into the church and then reverse when we are done.  I'm sure I have been nicer to people but I was tired and wanted to go home.

05.06.10

Day one of our pajama sewing class.  Mostly today was spent cutting out the pajamas.  I have many patterns from different times that I have made pajamas and so I have every size from 2T to 2XL.  I think we had about 7 people cutting and a couple of people sewing.  After many had gone home we stayed on until close to 3:30 pm.  It was a long day, but we did go and get McDonalds for lunch.  But Peter was done and so was I when we finally cleaned up and went home.