Sinners

If any of you have kids, and have attempted to take them to church when they are slightly sick, you will understand where I am coming from. Annie has had a slight fever this weekend, and Pete is feeling pretty crummy, so the plan was that he would stay home with Annie, and the boys and I would go to church. However I got up EIGHT TIMES last night with various kids, plus Cooper might be getting sick (I can't tell, he's just really grumpy), so we decided not to attempt church. They are probably announcing us as the new mambers of the ward right now. Oh well. Not worth fighting with two sick kids, and a sick husband at church (sometimes I think a sick, grumpy husband at church is worse than a sick, grumpy kid).

Our Day with Elmo

Today we took the kids to see a free showing of a Sesame Street Production. The company who puts it on wanted to thank the Soldiers here, so they are doing four shows this weekend. It was 30 minutes long- perfect. And the kids even got free toys, stickers, DVD's, keychains and postcards (Watch out. Some of you may be getting a postcard from the kids). Noah enjoyed the toy, because it had twirly lights, Cooper just kind of took it all in, and Annie was in love! She danced all over the place, and clapped the whole time. In fact, she bawled when we left because she wanted to see more of Elmo. It was a nice afternoon activity; a good break from a stressful week. And now, Annie has a new favorite person, or whatever Elmo is.

Waitin for the show

Old Blue Eyes watchin the show

The whole gang

Pam and Cooper havin fun

Pam and Annie doin the same

Dancing Queen

Where Do I Want My WHAT?

When the movers brought our stuff to us, they brought it all in and then asked where we wanted each box. All the boxes were labeled with the general contents of each. I had to stop directing them and laugh my head off when this box came in. The mover said "And where do you want your Jesus hat?"

Just so you know, I don't really keep Jesus in a box.

All Day Kindergarten!

Noah is now a kindergartner! Scary! And it's all day! When I picked him up after his first day, he got in the car and said, "mom, I was at school for a REALLY long time!" He's having a hard time adjusting (I know, that's a difficult thing to believe about Noah), but he is getting there. He has also told me that the class helper, Miss Shelly, is "SOOOO pretty."

The best part for Noah was getting a brand-new, Transformers lunchbox.

Married For 8 Years!

Pete and I celebrated our 8th anniversary on the 18th, and because of the move, I am just now blogging about it. We were married in the Salt Lake temple, and yes, we have been married long enough that our pictures are not digital! Wow, we are old! I haven't scanned them either, so you don't get to enjoy them at all!

Taken by Jenni, November 2006

Shortly after Cooper was born. Notice the chubby face (mine). This was taken by Chris.

Pete's Graduation, May 2008

For our anniversary this year, we opted not to go out, for a few reasons:

1. We don't know anyone here yet, so we didn't have a babysitter.
2. We were unpacking boxes.

3. We had been eating out for two weeks straight.

However, we did enjoy a small, microwave dessert, after I made a home-cooked meal for the first time in a few weeks. The dessert was a Betty-Crocker brownie. Super small, but very chocolatey.

Pete put his hand in the picture so you could see how small it really was.

I have loved these last 8 years. And while some of them have been hard, supporting Pete through dental school, I wouldn't have changed any of them. We have had so many great experiences, and have grown so much over the last almost-decade. We have built a life for ourselves, and I love the direction it is headed. Thanks, Pete, for 8 fabulous years. I love you.

Photo Story Friday: The Many Faces Of Annie

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I take way more pictures of Annie than the other kids. I need to work on that. I think it's mostly because she just makes silly faces. She is such a sweetie 50% of the time, the other 50% she is a drama queen/terror/bully. But it makes for great pictures!

Cooper Is Ten Months!

Our little peanut is ten moths old now, and so much fun. He still has no desire to lay on his belly or crawl, although he falls onto his belly a lot, and I think he's starting to realize it's not so bad. He loves the water; the bath, the pool, the sprinkler, anywhere there is water. He screams if he thinks the other kids are taking a bath and he wasn't invited. He eats anything and everything I give him, and his favorites are pickles, cheerios, crunchies (a Gerber baby food) and cookies. He loves the other kids, and lights up when he sees them. He loves when they come into his bedroom after a nap, before I come in. He is so much fun to have here, and I can't believe he is getting so big!






Oh, and he's also very flexible...

No More Boxes!

I am so tired of unpacking, and I only have a few boxes left. There are so many other things I would rather be doing. I want to go find the gym, because two weeks of eating out is starting to show. That's what we get for not having a kitchen for two weeks. I want to decide how to decorate my house, but then I think, since I am only going to be here for one year, is it worth it? I want to go play outside, but it's uber-humid out there, and I just straightened my hair. I really want to go take a nap, but how will that happen with two little kids here? I want to go to school and have lunch with Noah, but I am resisting that urge for a few more weeks. I don't want him to be the kid whose mom comes to lunch all the time. I want to set up our desk top, so I don't have to keep stealing Pete's laptop, plus all my pictures for blogging are on the other computer. I could actually do that today, I guess.

However, if I don't unpack the last boxes, they will stay packed until we move next August, although that might no be such a bad thing.

Here We Go Again...

I guess this comes with summer time, and being a boy, but Noah has outdone himself this time. I am scared to send hin to school, for fear that his teacher is going to call me to find out what happened to him.

Let me set the scene for you...

We moved to a new house in a brand new neighborhood; there are still houses being built. Noah had been riding his scooter with his helmet and pads on, and decided to play a game of horse shoes with our neighbor. He took his helmet off, which Pete (who was watching the kids) was ok with. But before Pete could grab him, Noah was off on his scooter again without his helmet. He turned a corner to the other side of the neighborhood, and wouldn't have been able to hear Pete, had he yelled to him. Pete didn't worry much because Noah was with another boy. After about three minutes, a car pulled into our driveway, with a screaming Noah in the back.

A very nice woman had watched Noah turf it in front of her house, put him in the car and brought him home. He had found the hill, or the "mountain" as he describes it, and started going down it before he realized it. Now, this isn't just any hill. To paint a picture for you, Pete went down it on his bike, and with his brake ON, he was going about 30 mph. I can't imagine how fast Noah's little body hit that pavement.

Along with the face, there are bruises on his head, shoulder, a massive scrape on his hip, his hands got beat up (which later in life he will think is cool, because they will match his dad's scars), and there is a small scrape on his ankle. Of course, we were worried about his teeth as well, but they were fine.

Pete and I both got a small taste of what our parents have gone through raising the two of us. Pete was a in a similar accident as a kid; although his was worse, he said he can imagine what his parents went through. I wasn't home at the time, which was probably a good thing. I just saw his sleeping face when I got home, and had to hold and kiss him, while I cried just a little.

Poor kid, but I am sure this is not the last of these wounds. He rides his scooter so well for a five year old, already attempting small tricks. Pete and I both think he will want a skateboard, which we will have to think about really hard. However I think he will remember to put his helmet on from now on.

Somebody Feed Me!

We set Cooper on the counter for a moment (yes I know, I am the unsafe mom) so that I could quickly make him a bottle. I put the nipple down next to him, and filled the bottle. When I turned back around to grab the nipple, this is what I saw:

Do you think he was hungry?

While I Was Away

During my Aunt's funeral, my awesome sister-in-law, Sharon, watched the kids. I was so glad the kids got to play with their cousin's again, since when we are in Utah, that's all they talk about. Sharon took a few pictures of the kids that I really liked, so I thought I would share them with you, There are a few more on Sharon's blog, if you are interested.

Check Out These Winning Pictures

My ten-year old niece, jordan, took these pictures of Cooper, Annie and I last Christmas. Her dad (my awesome photo-taking brother-in-law, Chris) urged her to enter these pictures into the Davis County fair this year, and this was the result.

Second Place, portraiture

Third Place, Human Interest

I Swear, I am Still Here!

Due to unpacking boxes, trying to figure out a new life, and lack of internet until now, I haven't posted anything lately! Sorry! But I am still here! Hopefully in the next couple of days I can get a few pictures up, and soon I will show off my new house (sorry to my MKE friends, I have to show it!) Keep checking, I promise I will post soon! Don't forget me!

Here is a funny picture of Annie to keep you happy in the meantime.

PhotoStory Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I'M BACK!!!

After a few weeks of not playing I am finally back! So, here it is:

As I was at the cemetary for my aunt's funeral on Monday, I decided to visit the grave of my grandparents. This picture is the connection my two oldest children have with my grandpa, and I just thought the picture was cool.

Noah was born on June 9, 2006. Exactly 96 years after my grandpa. His middle name is also Keith, my dad's name.

Annie's full name is Annika Love. Grandpa's name is Elmo Love.

Kinda Cool.

One More Year Closer to 30

Ok, so I am only 28 today, but man I am old. 28 with three kids, and in exactly one week I will have been married for 8 years. Yep, I think I officially fit in the Old Lady category. Hmmpphh. So this morning before I woke up I had two messages wishing me happy birthday from old friends. I got three more the next hour, and two more the next. Three or four more later in the afternoon. I feel loved. I recieved more birthday greetings today than I have on any other birthday. I was with family and friends today, but it was not so they could wish me a good day. We gathered today to lay my dear, sweet aunt Diane to rest.

I will post later about this wonderful woman, and what a wonderful service we had, but I just want to make something clear. People today wished me a happy birthday, and in the same sentance said that I shouldn't have to spend it like this. I am absolutley grateful that we all said our good-bye's to Diane today. I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday than to celebrate the life of someone dear to me. I can celebrate my birthday any time I want; today was Diane's day.

No, I am not AWOL

So I realize that I have not written in about a week, which for me is strange, but I have many good reasons, which will become apparent in upcoming posts. For anyone paying attention, you might have noticed that I never did any posts titled "June or July in a nutshell" following the trend. Again, good reasons. I probably won't do "August in a nutshell." Instead it will be a longer post titled "Summer in A Nutshell." Watch for that. I promise to do better at posting in the upcoming weeks, but I promise I am not AWOL.

Puff the Magic Dragon

I have video of this, but of course, it is on my other computer. So you will just have to imagine Annie's cute little voice singing it. She sings it all the time now.

In Annie's Words:

Puff the wittle dragon
lived by the sink
and frocked in the water mist
in a laaaand caaaaawwwed Honaweeeef!

"Pete, Did You Grab The Swimsuits?"

"Nope."

"Neither did I."

We did so good not to forget anything when we left our home in Milwaukee, however when we got the the first hotel on our trip, we both realized that we had left the kids wet swimming suits hanging in the bathroom. Luckily I packed Noah's extra suit with us, but it was Annie's brand new suit that got left behind. So if anyone in good old MKE is reading this, and can somehow get into our apartment, I will send you a treat if you send me the suits!

Metropolis Is Real!

I always thought that Metropolis was a made up city, just for Superman. Turns out that it's a real city in Illinois. We found it on the drive to Tennessee. We saw a sign on the freeway that said "Giant Superman Statue Next Exit." We thought Noah might like it so we headed in that direction. The city is very small and quiet, probably a city that I would live in. But everything around was Superman themed. The statue really was giant, and there was a gift shop full of Superman stuff, and if we'd had more time, we would have shopped. But it was fun to say that we visited Metropolis, even if I did the miss the sign that said 'Daily Planet'.

Here's Where We Are Living...

...Well, for the next two weeks.

Our house is not ready for us to move into yet, and won't be until about the 15th of August. So for two weeks, the five of us will be living on base in Guest Housing. I am not complaining at all. It's a very nice place, there is a playground right outside our window, we have free laundry and the laundry room is right by us, and we get free breakfast every morning. But, it's a hotel room. We have a kitchen and a table, but it's still a hotel room.

Last night was an adventure, with Annie falling off the bed twice. We finally decided it would be smarter to put Noah and Annie in sleeping bags. They both liked that idea, so hopefully tonight is a little better.

This is where we are living. All. Five. People.

This is our kitchen... sort of.

This is how Noah sleeps in his sleeping bag.

Annie loves her "pink fweepeen bag."