When mommy is gone....

Andy always comes up with lots of fun games to play with the kids when I am out for an evening. He likes to play hide and seek with the kids a lot but on this night he introduced the flour game to the kids and they were highly entertained!! Thank goodness for a fun dad!!

All Grown Up!!

For Lucy's Birthday we surprised her and let her get her ears pierced! She had been wanting this for a while now but when it came down to it she found herself asking lots of questions trying to reassure herself that it would be OK to pierce her ears! But, she did it and did a great job!!!

Story Teller

Andy has always told me when he was a kid he would make up crazy stories and tell them to his mom or whoever as though they really happened. After hearing some of Lucas' stories I am starting to have a clear picture of what Andy probably did as a kid. I wrote down a few stories Lucas has told me that I find so funny. He tells me them as though it is really true and when I ask questions about what he is telling me he comes up with quick answers and funny details. I think he is in his own little world sometimes.

Several weeks ago Lucas happened to find a random truck he hadn't used for a VERY long time. it was missing 3 of the 4 wheels.
He said "Yeh, I saw them (the wheels) in your purse. You had them and they fell in a pond."
He said it so matter of factly it took me by surprise.
I said "Well if you saw them fall in a pond why didn't you get them?"
"Because there was a tall gate to protect the ducks so I couldn't get them."

And that was it. He had nothing more to say about the wheels, pond, or ducks and never cracked a smile when talking about it. I really think he thinks they fell in a pond.
hmmmmm.......

In October he said "Owen's dad is going to be Jesus for Halloween"
Owen is Lucas'cousin who isn't even two yet and can't talk.
"I don't think so."I said
"Yes, mom. Owen told me his dad had a Jesus costume"

Random......

Another day while eating lunch (most of the crazy stories come out during lunch time!!) he said,
"Did you know a shark almost bit me?"
"It did?" I questioned.
"Yes and I swam over and said miss me miss me now you've got to kiss me. Then the shark almost bit me and it was the kind of shark that can walk on land."

These are all so funny to me! So random but so real to him! He comes up with stories like this all the time!

Today Lucas was making a robot out of paper
"Oh, a robot," I said. "That's really cool"
"yeah, he comes in peace," said lucas.
"Oh, in peace?" I questioned
"Yeah mom, that means he's good"
"Who taught you that?" I asked.
"Ethan" he answered and then followed with "Ethan teaches me everything I know."

Well, isn't that great! He thinks ethan teaches him EVERYTHING. I guess my job is over!! ha! ha!

A few Lucas and Jane funnies!

Lucas says funny things all day long but I don't always remember to write them down. Yesterday he was thinking really hard about what candy to choose from his Halloween loot and he said,
"Do you think I should eat the light sabers (life savers) or whoopers (whoppers)?" It was so funny to hear what he thinks the candies are called.
For the record he went with the "light sabers"

Today he said, "mom who is our prophet?
I said, "President Monson"
"No mom that's not who I am talking about. I'm talking about our new leader."
I said, "Oh do you mean the president of our country?
"Who is that?" he asked
"President Obama" I said
"No mom. I'm talking about the new one. The one who lives in .....(long pause as his face is scrunched up and he is thinking really really hard) ummmm.....oh Jer....Jericho."
"Oh, Joshua"I said remembering he just learned the story of Jericho in pre school yesterday.
"Yes, he said with great relief. Isn't he our leader right now?"

I thought it was really cute. I explained he isn't alive and I could tell he was a bit disappointed to hear that.


Oh and one funny thing from jane today - she was talking when suddenly a strange sounding burp came bursting out of her mouth. It was so loud that Lucas and I stopped and looked at her and I was smiling "what was that Jane?" I said
She didn't miss a beat and said so matter of factly "oh no that was a bear!"

And by the way I have told a few people because I think it so funny but Jane loves to sing Super Woman and Justin Beiber. She gets in teh car and puts in her requests "mom baby song" or "i want to sing super woman" and the funny thing is she knows most of the words. It's so funny. She's becoming our little singer.

So funny!

Yesterday while in the store Lucas was singing something
"What did you just sing?"I asked Lucas
He began singing with a big smile on his face:
"Boys go to college to get more knowledge,
Girls go to Jupiter to get more Jupiter"

OK, so he didn't quite learn all the words right which isn't so bad.
He told me Ethan taught it to him (no surprise there!)

He is obviously a little confused by this new jingle as he said to me several hours later, "I think Jupiter is like poop. "

Loved it - Hated it!

Owen was my biggest fan!! (I think that is just because I gave him my orange slices and granola cookies!)

Last month I ran a half marathon here in the twin cities with my brother in law, Ryan. I'm glad he made it happen. I was busy unpacking boxes when he sent me the info on it. He told me where to sign up and I did. I don't think either of us realized what a hard race we got ourselves into. Let's just say within a few short miles of starting the race it became VERY clear that my time did not matter- I would be happy to just finish the race. Yes, the Kansas City Marathon did flash into my head a few times during this torturous race! This half marathon was a trail marathon. I felt like I was back in the good old high school cross country days. At first I thought it was cool running on trails in the woods but then I realized that trails are fun for a 5K but not so fun for 13 miles. The entire race was either up or down. There were many times the trail was only as wide as my feet. I might have fallen 2.5 times! Let's just say I didn't look pretty when I fell. The entire race was long, hard, and hot but I did feel so so happy when I finished the race. I felt like I accomplished something really hard. I was so happy I was able to finish because when I saw my sister around mile 6 I really didn't think I'd be able to finish!
Even though it was really hard I am really glad I did it. Congrats to Ryan on finishing his first (but not last) half marathon! And thanks to my husband who took all the kids around town to 3 different soccer games and then let me come home and sleep for several hours!!

For the Record

For all those (me included) who figured we'd be in snow boots and winter coats by now I would like you to know that last night we sat outside at 7:30 pm eating ice cream and wearing shorts! Can you believe it?!?!? We have had 80 degree weather the last several days and in the 70's the last couple of week. Keep in mind it is October! I'm starting to feel optimistic about this place!!!

Happy Birthday Lucy!

Lucy turned 9 today! It's hard to believe that 9 years has come and gone since she was born! She had a nice weekend. Her cousin Lydia got to come spend the night on Saturday night and spend all day today with us. We were also happy to have Lydia's family join us for dinner Sunday night. Lucy had fun opening presents and loved everything and was surprised when she found out she gets to go get her ears pierced.
Lucy is such a sweet girl - always has been and still is! She is such a blessing in our home! Happy Birthday Lucy! I love you!

Lucy is a bit obsessed with the weather so she decided to have weather cupcakes. She and Lydia had fun decorating them.

Ethan, Clayton, Wyatt, Lucy, Lydia, Lucas

First Day of School

This year we welcomed the start of school!! The kids were ready to meet new friends and feel like they belong here. Lucas also started his first year of "real" preschool and he loves it! And Jane, well she has a need to do what everyone else is doing so she got her picture taken too but no school for her yet. Each day she asks when she can get on the bus and sometimes she wears her backpack to the bus stop - i think in hopes of getting on the bus!

Lucy - 3rd Grade

Ethan Grade 2

Lucas - Preschool
Jane - 2 years old

A GREAT trip home......because we got to see friends on the way back!!

We stayed at John and Amber's house on our way back home. They were nice enough to let us stay in their new home (which is beautiful by the way). Lucas was especially happy to see Makenna again. It was so nice to be with friends again. Ahhhh we sure miss our IU friends!!

One more week in Utah

While Andy went on a couple of business trips I got to hang around Utah for another week. We enjoyed going to the canyon, going down to Salt Lake City to see my dad in action at work with Elder Oaks, saw (and cried through) 17 miracles, ate lots of popsicles, went swimming, watched Meghan and Adam open wedding gifts, ran lots of miles in the mountains, and enjoyed relaxing with Katie (for a couple of days), Liz, and Alisa.
Jane discovered she likes pickles. Oh and by the way she didn't get hurt. She has NO need for this band-aid but apparently needed it that day and got very upset if we tried to take it off!!
My dad is doing a leadership training series over the course of a couple of years and I happened to be there and got tickets to go on the day he was doing a lecture with Elder Oaks. Our seats were all the way up front and it was fun to see my dad in a work setting.

Wedding Day!

The day after our reunion ended Adam and Meghan were married in the Bountiful Temple. It was a wonderful day and we are so happy to have Meghan in our family!

The kids had fun at the wedding reception. Here are Lydia and Lucy during dinner

You can dress them up but you can't take them out!! Ha! Ha! I have to say all the kids did a great job but the boys were found wrestling at one point in the evening!! Oh my! oops! Why can't people control their kids?!?!? ha! ha!

Look at how darling my grandparents are! I was so happy to see them and grateful they were able to make the trip given traveling can be kind of hard on my grandma.

And they're off.....

Congrats Meghan and Adam!!!

Shopping

We made a stop at Tai Pan Trading on the way home from the reunion. Andy dropped me off and I went shopping with Matt, Camie, Liz, and Keri. We had fun helping Camie make arrangements for her house.

Parties for the Bride and Groom to be!!

We had a bridal shower for Meghan one afternoon during the reunion. All the dads took the kids and we all enjoyed our time "off duty"! We had a great time and it was fun to realize that our family is now complete. We have all the sister and brother in laws!




It is also tradition to have a groom family party. The tradition started when Andy joined the family. My brothers threw a silly party with games such as "Andy belt" or the microwave game.....Well all the original games were there with and added car pull given this was the last wedding! There was lots of music throughout the evening and at some point each of the brothers ended up in their spandex. Sounds weird and it is but we thought it was so funny.

Let the Party Begin! Guess who turned 60?!??!

Dad turned 60 a couple of days before the reunion. We surprised him with a party and had lots of fun all evening long with dancing, games, tributes/skits from each family, and cake! Happy Birthday Dad!!

Adam challenged my dad to do 60 push ups between the two of them. He got to 30 and Adam did the other 30! Then Jane felt a need to try and top them both!

Jane joining in on one of the relay races