Thank goodness for Miracles . . .

And good friends! A huge thank you to Dan S. for helping us retrieve our documents! We're still hoping we can salvage our computer, but as of now all our documents are safely tucked away in our external hard drive. Hopefully everything will be squared away with our computer soon, but until then, what a blessing!

Crash!

Well, it happened to us. Our computer bit the dust. Kaput. Just today in fact. This means no more blogging for a while. (I'm on Brian's computer right now, it's 12:19am--awe, the life of a student . . . and his wife!) We have a friend who is going to see if he can open it one last time to retrieve some unsaved data for us (mostly journal and pictures that are so precious to us), so pray that it turns on one last time! That's not too big of a miracle is it? I mean, HE is the creator of all technology after all . . . right!? You know, the miracle maker . . . Anyway, I guess I'll "see" you all around sometime in the near future! :)

32 Weeks Pregnant

I didn't crop this one . . . oh well.
(I'm 33 weeks today 4/21/08, just so you know.)

Sweet Friends During a Thunderstorm

They had just finished their bath when we started to hear thunder. Didn't bother them one bit to be in just their underwear!

4/11/08

Museum of Science

We just bought a national membership to Science and Children's Museums around the U.S. Lots of fun, entertaining and educational times ahead.
(First week of April 08)

When you chance to meet a frown . . .

or a tantrum . . . or a fight . . . or just a grumpy day!

Many thanks to the Stake Relief Society!

(First week of April 08)

P.S. I just barely showed this picture to Spencer (4-24-08) and I said, "who's this?" He responded, "Spencer! Nose red." And then pointing to the mustache he scrunched up his nose and said, "Snot! Hairy!" And he started laughing hysterically. He's so hilarious. :)

Muddy puddles

I'm sure this was in early March. As you can see, it was warm enough to be out without winter clothes. However, not warm enough to play in the mud puddles. What kind of mother am I! A mother of young, active boys, that's what kind.



I nearly forgot about Spencer's flowing locks. Oh the days....
(March 08)

Silly Putty

This is what happened when we let Spencer go to bed with his silly putty.

(Just so you know, it stains. March 08)

Finally, pictures of our apartment

I know, we're moving in a month and a half and I'm just getting these pictures up. Although not exciting, for those of you to whom I've promised these photos, enjoy.

Walking into the apartment. Kitchen. Family Room.

Bathroom. Looking out of the bathroom to entry.

Boys Room

"Master Room"

And this one's just for perspective.

Looking out of my room you see this. To the left is the boys room. To the right is the bathroom. Small place, only 600 sq. ft., but we've loved it here. It is by far, our most favorite apartment we've lived in. The park--and most importantly the community--make living here a blast.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

(April 08)

Painting on a Rainy Day

So, I'm a control freak. I have a hard time letting my kids mix colors and splatter paint all over the place. I found these old poster/foam boards last night and told myself "tomorrow will be the day that I let the boys do what they want." I stayed true to my words, but it was really hard for me to let them run around, dump out the paint, mix the colors to a pukey purple shade, etc. But, I did it . . . for about 20 minutes . . . and then we were done. I was way too stressed. Aaaaah! When am I going to be able to let go?!

All in all it was a good time. I did enjoy seeing them have so much fun. I loved watching them use their bodies and imaginations in creative ways. I'm really trying hard to hand over the reigns and let them do what they want for their projects. This is a start at least.

This is right after I caught Spencer running on the carpet with painted feet. Poor guy, he was having so much fun. Seems the weather had nothing to do with our "rainy" day. I'm afraid

I'm the damper.

One day I'm going to be able to say, "It doesn't matter what happens . . . this is so fun!"

One day . . .

my brother my friend

i love this picture. thanks allegra

My Handsome Lance

What more can I say?

So, what's up with that Mullet?

Brian likes the trimmed look.

I like the curls.

So, we compromised.

What was that you said Toria (about Asher's hair)? Business up front, all party in the back! Yeah, we finally made it! Hahahaha

We cut hair Sunday morning and I thought it would be hilarious to have him wear a mullet to church. People didn't find it as humorous as we did--I think they thought we were serious! No matter, no how! We got a laugh out of it!

Want to know something even more funny? We still haven't cut his hair yet! And it's already Tuesday :D hehehe

I had my heart set on San Jose

But, we're going to Florida! I've been to Florida only once before, and it was stifling hot. Yes, it was summer, and the hot weather made it a dream to be on the beach. :) I am definitely excited about experiencing a temperate winter, I've never done that before!

San Jose would have been really nice. Brian's widowed grandmother lives just a couple hours away, and we just found out his oldest brother and family are moving to Monterrey. We would have been in the middle--easy access to older brother's family and grandma! Oh well, we have a different experience in store.

We'll see what Florida (Honeywell really...) has to offer. I know we'll like it and have a great time. We definitely want to go to Disney World with our kids and Lance is longing to spend his days on the beach! And to top it all off, we'll be picking strawberries while all the other Bostonian suckers are freezing their tails off! (in the winter anyway) hahahaha

The more I look at pictures the more excited I get. We'll be staying in Clearwater, FL, which is like a little peninsula off the western side of the state. We'll totally be beachside! O.K., maybe not living on the beach like I think we will, be we'll be close, that's for sure! :)

So, come June (after the baby's born of course), Florida here we come!

Tagged for 10 random facts . . .

. . . but here's fifteen . . .
1. I freeze up in group discussions. I do think. I promise I do think about things. But when I make a comment I get so embarrassed that I start blushing. This is not just a blush. I can feel the blood nearly bursting out of my face, the heat is intense, my eyes practically pulse out of my head. And then the tears. I don't normally get emotional when I talk about things. It's the darn heat. I guess it's the only way my face knows how to cool down--tears. Most of the time I have to cover my face, fan it wildly and tell people to stop looking at me. It's really embarrassing and oft times it keeps me quiet in large groups.

2. I love people. You'd never know it since I don't talk much to people I don't know well. But I do. I love watching them, listening to them, learning from them, just quietly observing. I used to be pretty outgoing in highschool, but since then I'm a lot more timid. This leads into the next fact about me.

3. I only invite people over if I know them really well. Or if I know Brian will be there. Or if I invite a group of people over together. Every time I meet someone I tell Brian, "man, I really like _______, we have to have them over for dinner." But if I don't know them, I have to invite someone else too, that way the conversation stays alive. Nothing worse than having nothing to say. And sometimes I just don't know what to ask. Like I said, I like to listen, unless I know you really well and then you probably can't get a word in....

4. I like to sew, but I'm super impatient. The only thing I'll sew now are quilts. Rag quilts, because I don't have to be careful. Sloppy is acceptable in a rag quilt. I'm totally sloppy.

5. I love warm weather and I dream of living in a place where I can have a garden year round. Oh the comfort of a garden. The flavor of home grown, delicious, healthy food. And a place where my kids can run around outside every single day of the year! One day . . .

6. I'm all about community. I don't do a lot for my community, but it's nice to know I can be a part of it if I choose to. It's important to feel connected to people. I believe my prayers are answered through other people. I know we can feel answers in our hearts and minds, but Heavenly Father answers my prayers through other people. Whenever I need anything, someone is always there to help me. He has given me so many wonderful people to make this journey with. I'm really thankful for that. He really cares.

7. I used to have mushroom hair in 6th grade. It was horrible. My dad really wanted me to have the haircut of the blonde girl in Wilson Phyllips. My mom cut it, but who were they kidding? Aside from having totally flat, fine hair, I had no idea how to style my hair. I was just out of 5th grade when I ratted and sprayed my bangs 6 inches high. So, I got a perm. No need to say more. If I had a scanner I'd scan in a picture. But I don't. hehehe

8. I love to read, but I never do. :) For some reason I just can't get myself to pick up a book. I'd rather surf the net. I don't know why. On the rare occasions I do pick up a book, I can hardly put it down. Those times are rare though. Maybe this is why I have nothing to talk about and why I blush so much in large groups. hmmmm. I'm seeing a trend here.

9. I used to run hurdles in highschool track when I was a freshman. O.K., so I didn't run hurdles. I jumped them. I was soooo great at jumping hurdles that my coach video taped me during practice one day and played the tape for everyone at a track dinner party. "This is how NOT to run hurdles..." Yeah, I felt great after that party! LOL. Pretty much he didn't have enough people to compete in hurdles, and I wasn't good at anything, so that's what he made me do. The next meet rolled around and I dreaded being called to the line, but it was time. 300 meter hurdles. 200 meters into it and I totally biffed it. I was in last place already, but I got back up and finished the race. I placed 3rd (only 3 people racing...all from our team) and I was so embarrassed I wouldn't talk to my coach for a week. He told me one day I would thank him for making me do that. Still not there . . . I wonder if he knows how NOT thankful I am for having to do that sport! Hahahaha

10. I can spit. I'm pretty good at it. I spit better than Brian, in fact he doesn't spit b/c he doesn't really know how. So, when we were first married Brian and I went to a dinner party with some of my Snowflake friends and my friend's brother was there. He was a senior when I was a freshman. Anyway, I was walking across campus and spit a loogy in the bushes about 10 feet away, didn't think about it ever again. Until he told me at this dinner party, that he was walking right behind me and saw the whole thing. He totally gagged and apparently it's the only thing he remembers about me. Don't quite know why he felt like he had to tell Brian about that, except that it must have been an image he just couldn't get out of his head every time he saw me! hahaha. Sicko!

11. I was adopted when I was 6 with 2 of my birth-sisters (ages 7 & 3 at the time). We were taken away by the state. We were in the system for 2 months before we were adopted and were able to experience how corrupt the system can be. Mean people out there. It's just too bad. But, we have a wonderful family now, we're so blessed. So lucky to be adopted by such great people who care so much.

12. I ran a half-marathon 3 months after Spencer (my second) was born. O.K., I didn't run. It's more like I trot-walked the darn thing. But, I finished and that's what matters. :)

13. I rode in the Little Red Ridinghood Century Bike Ride a year after Spencer was born. That's 100 miles folks! I was stoked. The good thing (other than finishing)? My new bike arrived via UPS the night before the ride. The bad thing? I was so concerned about how nice my new bike looked that I didn't want to use my old, junky, comfy seat I had trained on. I paid for it for about a month and a half after the ride. 14. I was in massage school just before we moved out here. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish the program. It's definitely one thing I know I'm really good at. I was top in my class before I left. I've forgotten most of what I learned, though, I don't practice anymore. I sold back my table since I didn't get my lisence. But, I know when I do go back to school and finish, people will be knocking at my door!

15. In highschool I went on a double date to 5-mile canyon. I think I was a junior. We decided to jump into the red, mucky water, fully clothed--it's all about the good times. Anyone from AZ knows that red dirt is impossible to get out of clothes. We got back to my friends house (I was staying the night there), and borrowed her stuff while we washed our clothes. My clothes were pretty much ruined and her mom, the sweety-pie she is, just couldn't let me take my clothes home stained, so she kept them, determined to make them "like-new" once again. It wasn't until about a week later that I went back to my friends house and upon arrival I noticed something hanging on the clothes line. my underwear!! What!? I asked my friend why they were there and she said her mom was "sun-bleaching" them. You can't even see underwear under pants! What you have to realize is this house was a central gathering place for all of our friends. Right across from the highschool. Everyone saw my underwear hanging from the line, and believe me, they weren't from Victorias Secret! My lone pair of underwear, hanging on the line right in the middle of the yard. I can't imagine no one asking who's underwear had been hanging on the line for a week. So embarrassing!