Where did the month go?

And what a month it has been. Two birthdays, a new job, a move - just a tad chaotic, and Halloween.

I must confess. We have pictures from William's birthday. But not Daniel. In fact, he never even had a party. Nathan was at school that day, and Daddy worked that night, so we didn't celebrate that day. I had planned on festivities that weekend, but nobody thought to tell me that Mark's brother's birthday was that Friday. Two parties in two days didn't excite anybody. He opened his gifts on a few different days, they just sort of filtered in. He didn't get a smash cake or anything! His first birthday ever, and we didn't get it celebrated! I have been very seriously considering making him an awesome cake, now that I have all my stuff, and having a really belated party. With pictures and candles and frosting all over his highchair.... He doesn't care now, but just wait until he's 5 or 6 and asking how come we don't have pictures of his first birthday.

Our move was quite interesting too. Between forms not getting sent in from employers when we thought they'd be, and then movers showing up the day before we signed for the keys even though we called twice and left messages that we needed to reschedule our delivery.... At least we know have an apartment, and our stuff, and we're pretty much settled in. We have a few boxes still, but it's canning supplies, cake decorating stuff, and the desktop computer that we have no desk for - nor space for a desk. And that's all stuffed in the huge bedroom closets. But most of the pictures are hung and the bookshelves are filled. The living room/dining room/kitchen are put together and decorated with the crocheted leaves and pumpkin Steph made me! Just figuring out where some of the bedroom and office stuff is going to go, and fit the windows with curtains to help with heat retention.

I also have no Halloween pictures. Mark was working that day, to get in some overtime and extra experience. So I was by myself with the boys. We purchased nothing at all this year, not even candy! All our costumes came from our box we've been saving each year's selection in, and between buying larger sizes on clearance last year and having tiny ones from when the boys were younger we had what we needed. An adorable dragon, complete with spiky tail and claws; a skeleton with a top hat; a pirate and cutlass; and a mischievous vampire. Daddy made it just at the end of dinner and games, in time to help me take them home from trunk-or-treat. Then Daniel and I chilled at home, unpacking, while Daddy and the other boys "got chilled" traipsing the neighborhood for more candy. They all had a blast, and I enjoyed the break.

All in all, it's been a very busy month, with lots of fun!

A Very Late Hapy Birthday!

Well, I'm only posting this a few weeks late.... :-) In my defense, it's been crazy. Especially when the second we turn our back, this is what Daniel does.



Since William's birthday is on October 4th and my nephew's birthday is on the 3rd, Mark's sister agreed that it would be easier to have a combined little bash while everyone was over for Conference. She provided the cake, we chipped in the ice cream - and everybody had a great time! We may just do this next year too... :-)

William was in no hurry to get all formal at the table, and since his cousin was opening his gifts already, he just grabbed some and hunkered down on the floor to open them. Genius!





Mark's sister had made a larger cake for everyone else to eat, but the two birthday boys each got their own little birthday cake with their name on it, literally, and their own candles to blow out. I don't think either of them ate much of the cake, but they both thought it was pretty cool that they had a cake all to themselves.


I just love the puffy cheeks.

We got William a little tool chest, that had hammer, saw, "wood", nails.... the works. Right down to a tape measure! And now I realize that I haven't seen it in several weeks, so it is probably residing somewhere in Grandma's basement. I hope.

What do you write when you can't think of a title?

I guess life has just been busy. Somehow the days pass by and I find by the end of one that we haven't done much that I would write about. Each one has it's moments, true, but the flow is the same. Days are filled with Oren and his schoolwork. Evenings fly by trying to give my other three attention. Keeping Daniel out of the bathroom and off the piano is a full-time endeavor!

And so I rarely have the energy to gather what thoughts I'd like to write, or go through what few pictures I have taken. This is not to say that we don't do things worthy of note. For instance, Oren's school did a zoo day meet and greet. But Nathan was at school and couldn't go with us. So when the zoo did a free admission day, the boys and I loaded up and went!











Daniel was asleep in the mei tai on my back for most of it. So no cute pictures of him, unfortunately. The boys had a lot of fun in the Egg-xhibit, pretending to be chickens. And outside of there, I had my hands full making sure I knew where they were, with so many people there. So no pictures other than these.

On a seperate note, I had several compliments on the mei tai, and the moms that talked to me wanted to know where I got it. I was super proud to say that my sister had made it! And of course told them that they could find patterns for one on-line. Why spend $30 or more when you can make one yourself? (Thank you Steph!)


Saturday, after the morning session, Mom W. took us to Mesa Falls. This little trip involved some misunderstandings about food, and a not very happy me... but the falls were beautiful and the scenery was amazing. We solved the food problem with a VERY late lunch and Mark and I resolving to insist on the welfare of the boys not matter how anxious others are to get going. And to not assume that others will bring what they implied they would.

Of course, I brought my good camera hoping to get some gorgeous shots of the falls. Maybe some with trees in the background that were turning colors. What happened? I took about 6 shots, and then the batteries died! With no backups because I took them for the little camera and forgot to put new ones in the case! So here is the best of the ones I got. The falls look small, but they were really quite tall. It was the angle from the viewpoint.



There was also William's birthday, which is in the above post. Or will be when I get it posted!

Life as a civilian

is taking some getting used to.

No more showing my ID to get home. No more music going off a 7:30 am to wake you, or at 5 pm when the anthem starts playing and everybody stops driving or walking during the whole song, or at 10:00 pm when apparently we are supposed to be in bed. The clothes people wear have some variety in their colors, and there are shaggy haircuts all over.

There is also a lot of uncertainty over where we'll be living, what sort of job Mark will find and when, what to do if someone gets sick. A lot of things are still scaring me. But I'm trying to find the peace in our situation that I know is there.

Oren is homeschooling this year, which is an adventure. We're still stumbling around, getting used to the new relationship of teacher and student. I can't just sit there all day being depressed though, which is good. I have to get up and teach, be positive, be organized.

And Nathan is going to school here. He rides a bus there and back everyday! My little guy! They sort of lost him the first day though. The school wasn't told which route he was supposed to be on, and then when they got him on the right bus, the bus driver didn't drop him off at his stop. We don't really know why, maybe he was being small and quiet at the back, or what. So we chased the bus to the next stop but didn't make it there fast enough. In the end I called the busing company and said "I'm trying to locate my 6 year old, in first grade, who didn't get off the bus like he was supposed to!" The lady was super nice and radioed the driver, who swung back and dropped him off. Nathan was a little scared, but seems just fine now. The other kids at his stop are really nice and helped him find his classroom the first time he rode to school and helped him the next couple days remember which stop to get off at. So many nice people over here!

We've been busy rearranging our allotted bedrooms to fit all of us, and make it our own space so we feel more at home. Okay, by we I mean me. Cleaning off dressers with conference talk notes from 2004 - that sort of thing. Expired cough syrups in the bathroom.... popsicle sticks on the bookshelf... Mom W is busy working full time and doesn't have energy for de-junking, so she doesn't mind me tossing things like that. (I love his mother!) And even though we're hoping to only be here a short while, it does make me feel more at home, and like we're contributing something to the household. I cook meals too, and help with laundry. Are they going to let us move out? Ooops..... :-)

I guess the bottom line is that even though this is a huge shift in how we thought our lives were going to go, we're doing okay. I don't think life is ever going to be easy, but I am definitely appreciating the blessings of family and church.

Catch-Up Pioneer Day

More playing catch-up. We went down to see Mark's family for pioneer day, and joined in their big stake celebration. Nice and early pancake breakfast, some fun runs that we were too tired for, and a bunch of kids activities that included .......



BUBBLES!


Daniel spent his time crawling over Daddy's legs.



William thought he'd blow bubbles to any monsters living in the drain grate.



Oren spun in dizzy circles, thoroughly enjoying the large rings and equally big bubbles.



And Nathan was fascinated by the possibilities all these holes presented.


I just love my boys and bubbles!

Catch - Up, Nathan's Birthday

These posted backwards for some weird reason.


Nathan turned 6 last month. 6! Has it really been 6 years since he was born? 6 years since his little chubby-cheekedness?



Poor thing. He was out playing in Grandma's back yard, and got about 1/2 dozen wasp stings. Right before his cake and ice cream too. From his toe to his head! The white gunk is baking soda with a little water to make a paste. Draws out the poison, eases swelling, and takes away the red. Helps with the burn too. He was quite a trouper though, just sort of cried a bit while I put the paste on. Nothing like you'd expect from a little guy getting stung so many times.





Of course, the cake sort of took his mind off the ouch. Apperantly I am a professional whose own children get the saddest cakes possible. This car was supposed to be legos. Don't ask.

The important part is that when he saw his "race car cake!" his eyes lit up and his jaw dropped. We just had to eat it really fast before the back end slid off any farther and the frosting dripped completely down the side. He he.


Reminder, never use a clearance boxed carrot cake for anything other than a stay-in-the-pan treat. And don't use real butter in the cream cheese frosting in August.

I promise...

that I do still exist.

that I have taken lots of pictures.

that I do intend to post them at some point.

that I have lots to write about.

that I will try to find the time to write about them.