1st day of School

Following in the tradition of everyone else, I must post pictures of the girls on their first day of school. They both go to Catheryn Gates Elementary which is great because it's behind our house and we can walk there in 5 minutes. This morning they woke up after a little nudging by Spencer and they ran out of their room soooo excited! They got a father's blessing and then got ready. Oatmeal for breakfast- you know- stick to your ribs. They had their clothes laid out last night and we did permy hair for today.

Ashley is in 1st grade and in Ms. Bess's class. I don't know anything about her. She seemed a little nervous- the teacher, not Ashley. Ooh, I had to pack her a lunch. I'm so stressed about that part! Seriously, what in the world do I pack every single day?!? And I was really sad about her being gone all day. I mean, as much as I looked forward to my kids being in school all day, I felt like our family was missing a piece until 3:00. It was weird and I teared up a bit. But she had a great time.

Ainslee is in Kindergarten and in Ms. Jordan's class. Ms. Jordan is this really stern 6 foot tall fashion model teacher. Really, that's an accurate description, too! She has 3 other little girls in her class from last year's preschool so she was set to go. She was not even worried about school. She was just concerned about if any boys would chase her at recess time. She wanted them to chase her! What a crazy kid. I know, we're in trouble.

All in all, it was a great day and I think we'll do it again tomorrow!

Farm Vacay

Well, we've been back from our farm trip for over a week or two. We had a great time! I'll just highlight a few fun things.

We celebrated Andi's 3rd Birthday. She and her cousin who also had a birthday shared a pinata. Of course, it's a cowboy boot full of yummy goodies!



While we were there, we went boating on the Columbia River twice. No water skiing for me- Next summer, though, I'll be going for it! The kids really enjoyed tubing. They each took a turn riding with daddy and even the 2 big girls went together without daddy. They all really liked just jumping off the back of the boat into the river. Ainslee decided she would do no-handed cartwheels off the back. Here she is in action. I tell you, she is a fish! Ashley and Andi tentatively jumped in- I think they're whimps like me. Icky cold water! But little Spencer boy would stand on the back of the boat and just slowly slide right down in. Without a care in the world! No crying, no fear! We'd just turn around and there he was- in the water!


We took a really fun hay ride into the 'back forty' which is the land that is not farmed. Everyone was in the hay trailer except for Grandpa Rice and Uncle Chad who were driving. We sang farm songs and went exploring, finding old-OLD-farm treasures. There was a car (20's, 30's, 40's?), farm equipment, a bathtub, wood, etc.


When we go every year, we go during the time of the county fair that has a rodea. I mean, like a real one where real bull riders ride! The girls loved it this year, especially the women doing the barrel rides. Here is Cory with his newly acquired cowboy hat. Yes, he grew chops just for the farm. He also bought cowboy boots and cowboy jeans. He looks pretty authentic. Just needs a belt buckle now!


The second night we were there, they had a parade and the kids had a blast gathering candy. Only one marching band, but lots of HUGE farm equipment. This is the smaller of the large tractors!


We did a million other things and we had a wonderfully fun time seeing Cory's family again. It'll be fun when my family gets together for a reunion in 2009. We'll have 2 more members by then- maybe more (Scott? Tiffany?).

Put down the chocolate and nobody gets hurt!

I have a confession- I love chocolate. Okay, who really doesn't? You know how everyone has an addiction to something? Alcohol, drugs, food, TV, sugar-or whatever it is. And you know addiction has been researched and they've found that to a point addiction is hereditary. I now know it is! I have proof!!! Today we were at the mall and I don't usually do this but we stopped at See's. Well I don't normally do it but the past 3 times I've been to the mall, I've gotten a little piece of chocolate (plus the free sample). Blame it on the baby! I let each of the kids pick a piece of their choice today, too. Ashley picked a yummy key lime piece. She ate it-well, more like sucked on it. When she was done she said to me, "Mom, I just love chocolate. It makes me want to do this:" And she took her arms and wrapped them around her head and shoulders, almost like caressing them. I asked her, "How does it make you feel?" And she said, "Like so comfortable and soft." What a funny way to describe to chocolate. But isn't it true!!!!! Then maybe 10 minutes later, the other kids needed a drink of water. Ashley said to me, "I'm not going to drink water. I want to save the chocolate flavor in my mouth for as long as I can." I guess she's got an addictive personality!!!! Way to go, girl!!!!

Scary Chuck E.

Yes, not Chucky that horror movie doll thing, but Chuck E. as in Chuck E. Cheese. Today me and the kids went to Churck E. Cheese's to kill a little time for the afternoon. As I was trying to pay for the pizza Andi started clawing at my leg trying to get up on the counter. She was really whiny, too. I told her she had to stay down because I had my hands full of money, cards, tokens, numbers, kids, diaper bags- you know, the usual. Then maybe 10 seconds go by and she is really clawing at me, like hurting me. "Mommy, Mommy, hold me hold me" she says and she totally trembling. It was a pure panic kind of thing. I turned down and asked her what the heck was going on. She just kept trying to climb up my body, shaking. I turned the other way to get out of line and I saw the devil- I mean Chuck E. Cheese walking towards us. Andi was totally freaked out by Chuck E. I had no idea!!!! She's never done that before or either has any other kid. So weird. So after the pizza got to the table, I told her Chuck E. Cheese would take her home if she didn't eat her lunch. It worked. So this is what I learned from Andi today:

=

Happy 4th!

So we went to Utah for a week's vacation. We really enjoyed our time there. Especially because we got a lung full of fresh air. Hello, I didn't know we moved to hell! All of CA is on fire- our sky is orange and it's 113 outside today. No, really, I'm not kidding (much) when I say hell. It's naughty, I know.


So, grab a bowl of popcorn and a "naughty pop" (that's what we call caffeinated soada/pop that we love oh so much) and enjoy the tons of pics from our vacation.

The kids at Kangaroo Zoo- a jump playhouse






We went swimming twice- once at a cousin's house and once at the city rec center


Ashley in mid slide


Ainslee and my dad- Grampa Jo



Spencer and my dad. Okay, Spencer just kept jumping off the edge of the pool because he wanted to go swimming so bad. The boy has no fear.


Spencer and Andi shared the downstairs couch/bed. I swear they started off vertical and this is how they ended up. This is why we don't do the "shared bed" thing with the kids.


We went to the Thanksgiving Point Farm and the kids loved it. They did pony rides. Ashley and Ainslee were like pros- probably bored of it- but Andi was so scared at first she was shaking. But by the time we went around like 5 times she was laughing. And Spencer didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was just very serious about it.


Here we are at the Cabela's "museum." I hate seeing myself on camera. I swear it adds a good 20 pounds. Oh wait, I'm preggers.


One of the highlights of the trip was roller skating. Okay, my dad, in the 70's was a roller skating king. No really, skating backwards, and with one leg out while in the squatting position, and with bell bottoms, and a perm. No, really, a perm.








We went to the Provo Parade on July 4th. Very cute, very cute.


I don't have any pictures but later in the afternoon, we went to Cory's uncle's house. A bunch of Cory's cousins and their families were there. It was really neat because we haven't seen some of them in a few years. We didn't stay long because we had other plans for a BBQ later that night. Spencer and Ainslee loved the sparklers.




Cory thinking he's oh-so-funny.


Andi decided she didn't love sparklers and was pretty freaked out.


Ashley wanted nothing to do with fireworks at all. She decided the trampoline was the place to be.

To brighten your day

All of California has a new law that starts on July 1. Absolutely no talking on cell phones while driving- you must have a hands free device. Cory got this funny little thing as an email from a friend today:

Cell phones - New Law
According to a proposed new law that would go into effect July 1, 2008 you will no longer be able to use a cell phone while driving unless you have a 'hands free' adapter. I went to Circuit City and they wanted $50 for a headset with a microphone for my cell phone. Having a friend in the cell phone business, I talked with him and was able to come up with an alternative, working through Office Depot.
These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly. A photo is attached so scroll down & take a look and let me know if you want one. Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!

Don't know what to say

I know, I know, it's been a while since I last posted. I've had terrible writer's block. It's weird. So much goes on everyday that I could probably write about- yet I feel like I have nothing to write about. You know what I mean. So I'll just run down what's been going on since June 5. Cory went out of town for a M-F stretch and then came home Friday night. Then he left again on Sunday, Father's Day, and was gone again until Friday. So 2 full, straight work weeks he was gone with about 48 hours in between. Cory's mom, Denise, came from UT to help me. More like to lend me her arms, feet, and eyes. That's all I needed- just reinforcements for the daily stuff. Even with her here, sometimes we were not enough! My kids are crazy! Spencer learned how to crawl out of his crib one of those nights, so that was fun. Oh, and Ashley dropped 1 whole entire gallon of milk in the van- spilled the whole thing. My question to you is- what's grosser than gross? Answer-1 gallon of spoiled, rotten milk soaked into the carpet of your 2 year old van during 100 degree temperatures. That's really fun. But we did have a little fun this weekend, after we picked up Cory from the airport in our rotten milk van, we went up to the mountains to a berry farm and picked all sorts of blackberries, boysenberries, and raspberries. And right now I'm eating a delicous bowl of fresh berry cobbler. So good. I'll just post some pictures of what's been going on now:

The 3 girls at the berry patch with their buckets

Spencer had just woken up from a nap and took his first bite of a fresh, tart berry. He loved it.

We couldn't keep Spencer from eating them off the vine. Ashley was the winner of the berry picking contest.

Here is a few from the car as we drove around the hillside leaving the berry patch.

I couldn't resist putting this one in. Andi got into her sisters Hannah Montana-super cheap and it stays on forever- makeup. What a cutie.