Our week ... not in photos

I have good intentions but it seems like I don't get around to actually taking the pictures to document our activities. So here are some things we have done and didn't take a picture of.

Phil and I celebrated out 11 year anniversary. Phil was post call so he slept all day and then we dropped off our kids at the sitter and went out to a very nice, very yummy restaurant. We went to Joseph's Steakhouse. I had macadamia nut crusted halibut and Phil had a steak. SO GOOD!
We watched the movie 'What happens in Vegas' that night as well. It was a great movie, we laughed and laughed. Should have gotten a picture, should have posted 11 exciting things we have done in our marriage, but didn't.

We have been watching some major football around here since the NFL is now in season. You all know how into balls Nate is, well he loves to watch football. He watches the snap and then they throw the ball and he yells 'huh' and then runs up to the TV and grunts when they tackle. He claps when they catch it. It is so cute. After each play he comes back to the couch and does it all over again. I have got to get a video of this sometime soon.

Phil has been on call (working all night at the hospital) a lot this past month and so we have been doing a lot of mommy and kid time. We had some friends over, whose husbands weren't home that night either, and made some pizza and McKell finally made her princess fairy cookies she got from her friend for her birthday. Pink stars with pink icing and fairy dust sprinkles, they loved making them, what a fun idea for a birthday gift. (No pictures)

We went swimming one morning at an indoor pool. Alyssa and Nate loved it. It was a kiddie pool with a walk in entrance and tons of toys to play with. The best part- only $1 a kid for 2 hours.

We have spent many, many, many, many hours outside catching bugs. My girls are obsessed with bugs. They catch worms, butterflies, caterpillars, moths, crickets, daddy long leg spiders (seriously). Anything! They are so obsessed with it. I won't touch any of their finds and won't let the little crawling things come into the house which makes the girls a little upset sometimes.

So we have been keeping busy and having some fun but not taking many pictures. Hopefully next post will be filled with pictures.

Ramblings

(This is not stating the obvious, having a husband who worked 'normal' hours which would give you an opportunity to work out before kids were even awake- it's hard to even grasp that thought.)
Perfect: Have a nanny to stay with kids while I go to plush gym and workout and get ready.
Good: Have a nice gym to work out and have my kids be happy playing in the daycare.
OK: Decent gym, kids maybe a little sad but will calm down after 2-3 minutes.
My Life: Nice gym, Alyssa great, Nate freak out and scream for 20 min or until they come get me and once I am there he is fine to be there, I try to leave again- scream like someone is chopping off his arm.
All of my kids have hated gym daycare. My boy should not be the same! Some days he is fine and others he acts like former story. So what makes it or breaks it- who knows? I sure would love to, cause it makes me so mad. My kids are usually fine going to nursery at church or staying with people at their homes but gym daycare has always set them off. It takes so much effort to go and then to not be able to work-out it drives me crazy!
There has got to be a book out there to help, there is a child-help book for everything isn't there?!


Regrets! We all have them don't we? Does anyone else think about theirs? I think about losing Andrew and wonder if we had a better/different doctor, if I had noticed something earlier, on and on. These big things I have the attitude that they were suppose to happen to you for your life experiences and trials and learning. I accept that, that is why I don't dwell on these things and was able to deal with our loss.
But what about things that don't really matter in the big picture? Do you think about these regrets as well? I do. I had the great idea to make a little scrapbook for our first house and have it be like a guest book, cause I knew we would have fun visitors living so close to Nauvoo and being here at the University of Iowa. But I didn't get it done, or even started and now I really wish I would have done it and it is too late. We have had family, friends, friends of friends, parents of friends, etc, etc, all stay at our home. It would be so fun to look back at the pictures (I was planning to take) and remember everyone who has stayed here. If I would have only...

Anyway, enough of my rambling! Hope you have a great weekend!

We couldn't be happier!

We have worried about this since McKell was born, being a girl and all. Who would be the right one, would we be in a place to meet the correct type of guy. What a wonderful blessing to be doing residency close to Nauvoo, our churches beginnings. So many come to Nauvoo looking for their next or their first. We went to Nauvoo with some friends this summer and there were 3 of our girls (McKell and 2 friends) who were lucky enough to find their future.

The girls getting ready to be shown their future husbands. They are so nervous, as are we standing there watching. I am so glad we were able to get these pictures.

McKell and Amaya meeting them. I am thinking McKell got the better end of the deal, hers being so young and all. She is so happy she is #4 poor Amaya is #15.

Both guys are thinking Amaya, now. We were on pins and needles, poor McKell -would she have to wait until she was 6? What an 'old maid' she would be.

Aspen's new family was all there to welcome her with open arms. She has already met her new 'sisters'.

This was such a proud day for all of us!

(Shoot, I should probably have a private blog to show this. Oh, well...;))

Preschool, Pants, and Rock 'n Roll

Alyssa started Preschool! She loves it and is so happy she is now big like McKell and can go to school. She wasn't too happy that McKell wasn't home from school when she got home, though. My super cute, wonderful with kids, energetic friend is doing a preschool in her home. It is going to be awesome, she has so many great ideas.

Today was the first day of jeans. It is only going to be in the upper 60's today so I thought we should finally get the jeans on, the kids anyway. I have a very strong opinion of jeans, for some reason. I don't understand why people wear them in the summer. I love a good pair as much as the next guy, but you have all winter long. The worst is in 100+ degrees of hot dry St George summer and you see cute, skinny ladies in jeans. What?! Anyway, I love fall and am excited for the great clothes, wonderful colors, and great weather- not excited for the winter to follow though.

Love this picture of Nate and his silly smile he only does when he puts these glasses on. He will walk around the room and make sure everyone gets a look at him while wearing these.