more "firsts"

I have officially started my food storage. We had a speaker at church that was SO motivating. She has her own business and a link to her blog on my list, and she has tons of great ideas and "how to".
Chicken was on sale for $1.69/lbs and my moms friend has a pressure cooker. So now I have canned chicken. My goal is to have at least a 6 month supply by the end of the year. I'm pretty sure I'll be asking family for bulk food storage for Christmas.


Cloe's first game. She likes playing but is a bit of a perfectionist. We have to remind her it's okay to mess up and that she'll get better the more she practices. I happen to think she plays great. She loves to watch her shadow when she runs up the field.

Cloe started piano and loves it. But I decided to put it on hold until October. Too much with 2 kids in soccer. Games, practices and then piano. Wish I was the super mom type because then I'd be able to pull it all off at once.

Brody's first game. He is so fun to watch. Soccer is such an outlet for him. He can run all over, be aggressive and kick a ball around. That smile never leaves his face.

the little princess

Abbey has worn these shoes almost everyday to school. If it isn't a pearl necklace, it's glass slippers.

accident magnet

Brody will always have medical insurance. On our way to church, which is down the street like 500 yards, the kids wanted to sit in the back of the Suburban. No problem, it's close and we don't go over 15 mph. Brody was sitting in a lawn chair (random) and when we took a corner, the chair flipped back and he hit is head!! He was crying and climbing over the seats to us when we saw the blood. 2 staples later, we made it to the last hour of church.
I have a very sensitive nose and it is enhanced with pregnancy. I could smell that metal scent of blood from a mile away and it made me so sick.
Any tips on how to get blood out of clothes??? I could use them. Or is it easier to just throw them away?
after the Dr. cleaned it

after he stapled it shut.

Why is it always him? His last 2 major accidents, this and his collar bone, Cloe has been doing the same exact activity yet Brody always seems to get hurt.

New York

To say all Ryan did was paint would not be an exaggeration. In NY, all he did was paint. He was up state in Hunter, painting the Catskills and then for the last week, he drove to Palmyra and painted the Sacred Grove. It will be the only painting done accurately of the Sacred Grove. (published to buy at your local mormon store) The other paintings you see are of a forest, not the actual forest with the right foliage and what not. But that seems to be Mormon art in a nutshell. As long as it's of "Christ" or something resembling religion, Mormons love it! It was always funny when a new missionary would come to our house in Italy and ask Ryan if he liked Greg Olsen.

the bus and my little prayerful daughter

Cloe wanted so bad to ride the bus. On the second day of school, I told her she could ride the bus home. I sent her with a piece of paper in her pocket with her address and bus number. We all waited for her at the bus stop and when her bus finally arrived, she got off, with a look of relief on her face and her pink piece of paper clenched in her hand. I asked her how it was and if she liked it.
There were too many older kids.
And then I asked if she found her bus alright. She then told me
"I wasn't completely sure what bus to ride so when I got on the bus, I said a prayer in my head that this would be the right bus."
She has moments like this often, when she thinks to pray. And it makes me think, who's kids are you? I just don't think I can take credit for having such a spiritual child. They come pre programmed, ready for us to screw them up I guess. But I was proud of her for thinking of praying!

Luckily my mom drives a bus that drops off close to our house, so I had her switch busses and now riding the bus is fun. Of course, Grandma is driving it!

First day of school, First day of school! Wake up Dad!

Brody kept quoting Nemo all morning. He started on the 25th and was beyond excited to start school. It was so cute how excited he was. He is in p.m. kindergarten (thank goodness I don't have to have him there by 8:15!!) with Mrs. Welton. When I picked him up, he said he LOVED school. He came home with his folder and told me he needed to do his homework, which was a dot-to-dot. And now everyday he asks me "how many more minutes until I go to school?" I found it harder to leave Cloe at 1st grade than it was to drop Brody off at Kindergarten.

he sure is a good looking kid!!!

Brody loves tools and to work. But what little boy doesn't. My moms road was being fixed in front of her house and Brody would sit out side and watch "the workers".
"Mom, when can I be a worker? I want to be a worker so bad!!" ( in a whiny voice)
Hopefully his career choice will change when he's older.
When we were moving into our house the first time ( we didn't do the whole load while Ryan was gone), my kids went to my sisters house. Her husband has all his cabinet making tools in the garage and she used that as a bribe for Brody. Brody earned his privilege to use the power tools and loved it!




A mom's note I want to add:
Brody has become obsessed with muscles this summer. He wants to see every one's muscles and he has developed some of his own. He loves his muscles and has even changed his diet a bit. He is more concerned about his sugar intake and is always asking "is this healthy? Will this make my muscle's bigger?" The other day we had Red Vines and Brody only wanted one because of all the sugar. Wish I had the same discipline.
In July, we had a baby shower for my brother and his wife and Brody was so amazed at my Grandpa's muscles. But I have to admit, they were pretty impressive for a Great Grandpa.

First day of school!!

Cloe started 1st grade on the 20th and Abbey started Pre-school. We were all really excited and over documented. So far, Cloe says school is kind of boring and Abbey says her school is fun. After we dropped off Cloe, Brody said "I'm going to miss Cloe today." But I think he enjoyed having those 2 hours, watching Indiana Jones by himself.

30 weeks

and living large! I'm feeling good. Still walking 3 times a week but it seems the bottom of my shirt barely reaches the top of my pants. Am I already out growing my maternity clothes!? One thing I dislike is buying maternity clothes in the third trimester. The end is in sight so it seems like a waste of money. I'm out of breathe after walking upstairs which makes me feel pathetic to have to take a breather. And I don't recommend moving in your third trimester. My belly gets tired after sitting and going through boxes for too long. My belly isn't actually going through the boxes, but you know what I mean ;) I found a Doctor and I'm getting excited for the delivery and having a newborn. For me, the hospital is always a fun experience. There is so much unknown. When will the baby come? What will she look like?

And with this pregnancy, C-h-i-r-o-p-r-a-c-t-o-r is how I spell relief. What a difference an adjustment can make!

Last Day of Summer

$2 Tuesday at Thanksgiving Point! We took the kids up to the Dinosaur Museum and saved $34! We weren't the only ones with idea but the crowd wasn't too bad. The kids loved it. And Abbey looked fabulous in her pearls.




About 7 years ago when the museum was built, Ryan was paid $6.50 an hour to paint murals on the walls. He and the kids are in front of the under sea mural and then he also painted about 3 more rooms that follow.

That afternoon, Cloe had her first soccer practice. When she was done she kept saying "mom, that was soooo fun! I. love. soccer!" And I thought she was cute with her red cheeks.

That evening was Back to School. Cloe met her teacher and saw her class and desk. Brody's teacher wasn't there and the class wasn't set up yet. Cloe was nervous to start school and I had to remind her that last year she went to a new school and barely spoke the language, this will be nothing.

I'm so glad when daddy comes home!

Ryan came home a week early! Hurray! We were all so excited to pick him up at the airport.

His welcome home gift? He got to load a trailer, drive to our house and then unload it. And then, he got to do it again on Monday! Lucky guy, no wonder he hurried home. I thought of taking a picture of our house now that were back in it. But I would hate for a picture to stress you out. I feel so unorganized right now. I can't stand not being able to straighten up the house. Mark my word, we will never move again. A 3 bedroom and 4 kids is no problem :) I find it harder to move after everything has been in storage for over a year and a half. You forget what you have and you have no clue where certain things are. We are still missing our sheets, screws for the kids bunk bed and our silverware.

I thought Ryan would be waiting on the curb for us because we had a little drama before we left. Cloe lost her first tooth! That isn't dramatic, but the fact that she swallowed it made her very concerned. All of a sudden she had a tummy ache, and what not. She is very excited about it and wants to show everyone. One more milestone that proves how fast they grow up.


I couldn't get her to give me a smile because she was so concerned that she had swallowed it.

summer time, and the livings E Z

I love love Summer. I've enjoyed it even more this year because I know our life is about to change. I feel like I'm about to start a new phase in my life now that the kids are starting school and sports. They went to school in Italy but it never quite felt like the real thing. Homework, activities, helping at school, practice and games will now consume my life for the next 19 years. I have really enjoyed this "age" that the 3 kids are at. The are independent, but still dependent and their schedules are wide open.

Ryan is still out of town and has about 2 more weeks. Less if I'm lucky. I really don't know when he is coming home. We are half way moved back into our house. We emptied our storage unit and I've loaded the Suburban twice with boxes and what not. None of this would've been possible with out the help of Ryan's parents! But there is still a ways to go. Every time we move, I'm amazed at how big of a pack rat Ryan is. And I try to compensate by getting rid of my stuff. We have a bin with all of his memorabilia t-shirts! Another bin full of every single pair of Michael Jordan shoes he ever owned. Completely worn out by the way. So maybe if I hold his hand this time as he goes through boxes, I can help cure him. At least it isn't cats.

I can't believe I'm into the double digits of my due date countdown. I'll post pictures at 30 weeks. I told my step Dad, "Sometimes I wonder if I think I'm cute pregnant but will look back on pictures and wonder what I was thinking!" Mainly the bikini wearing. I think my belly is cute in a bikini. Stretch marks look so much more attractive when they are stretched to their limit rather than non pregnant and raisin like. agree?

One last thing, I turned 28 this month. Not much of a celebration but I plan on making up for it when Ryan gets home. On my b-day, I happened to not be eating sweets that week, so no cake. I had to clean our house after the renters moved out. But I did take the kids for a swim and my sister and I grabbed a bite to eat for dinner together.

I have been so bad at photo taking but these are from a day at the Salem pond, feeding the ducks. I was so happy when we pulled up to the park and saw all the big shady trees!


And tonight we had a church party that was a BBQ and swimming. My kids love this pool so it was a great bribe all day when they were misbehaving. I did resist wearing my bikini and wore a too small tankini instead.

Cloe figured out how to dive

Brody thinks he did too

Abbey just being cute. They swam for 2 1/2 hours and I loved it because I knew they would sleep like a rock!