Family Fun

Do you ever feel like home is just not the same? Well, when I took the boys to school this morning it was 25 degrees and snow was on the ground. It was a new experience for us all. The kids loved it. We pushed the stroller over the ice/snow and had a little four wheel fun. The playgrounds and fields are stilled covered in snow and it has been a couple of days since it fell. This global warming is sure making it cold:)

We had the primary program practice yesterday. Because of it Andrew was trying to get his homework done before we left. Bryson and Catherine had been running around screaming and chasing each other and when they had just started to quiet down I turned on the practice CD of primary songs. Andrew asked me to turn it off because it would be even more distracting. He then looked at me and said, "It would be hell for my homework." It took me a second to register what he had said and then I looked at him and asked where he had learned how to say that. "The scriptures," was his reply. How could I argue. He had been reading them almost every day and Levi and I had just talked about how great it was that he was so into reading his scriptures. I started to talk to him about it not being a very good thing to say and he replied with, "Then why does Nephi say it?" Well that went into a whole diferent conversation about the place compared to using the word as an expression. Levi and I had a great laugh about it.

A few days ago Catherine and I went for a walk with a friend. On the way home she was getting a little tired and grumpy and didn't want to go anywhere. After a moment in the car she said, "We need to get my boys." She was referring of course to Andrew and Bryson. I love how she calls them her boys.


P.S. The fly is gone. He must have died on his own or flown out the door.

I realized today that I have a new pet. It came into my home a couple of days ago and just wont go away. It must of know the storm was coming. What is it you ask. A little house fly. I wouldn't have ever thought this, but when I was rocking Catherine this afternoon I realized that when I am downstairs this fly follows me. While making lunches this morning it was on the kitchen counter "watching". At nap time in the family room it was continually landing on me and flying around my head. I was holding Catherine a little later and it came and sat on my knee. I then thought about the last few days and the pesky little thing had been doing the same thing. Strange.

Now my dilemma. Is it OK to kill a pet? I figure it may just become one more thing for Andrew to look at under his microscope:)

It is official. I have my own business. It was much easier than I ever thought it would be. $32 later and a trip to Power Inn Rd. and I have a business license and a sellers permit. Watch craft fairs here I come! Of course now I have to do the hard part of actually making and selling things. We will see how it goes.

About a month ago Catherine had done her daily duty in her diaper and the boys were being a little rowdy about it. They had run up stairs to escape the smell. Bryson was sent down to check and see if she had been changed yet. Instead of just asking, he ran over and smelt her bottom. Catherine looked at him and said in a very stern 2 year old voice, "That's mine poopie. Don't smell mine poopie, it's mine!" That got all of us laughing.

Last week while we were picking the boys up from school Catherine and I were following the boys across the cross walk. As we walked across the street Catherine kept an eye on the car stopped at the stop sign. When we got to the curb she looked at me with a smile and said," the car didn't run me over." I just smiled back and said, "no honey it didn't." It's amazing what is going through her head sometimes.

We had success. Today was our first day of homework. I knew that trouble could come and so I thought I should try a preemptive strike. A few homework charts with rewards at the end, and all was well. We will see how it goes on days 2,3,4,23, and so on. The boys did such a great job and worked so hard.

On Saturday we had a great time in Nana and Papa's pool. It doubled as a summer birthday party which makes it twice the fun for Bryson and Levi. The kids are really enjoying the pool this year!

I will get back to blogging again. I promise! I am getting back into the routine of things after a very fun filled and exhausting summer. We know I 5 south very well now. To prove to myself that I am back in the swing of things I cooked my hair bow ribbons (yes, I was supposed to) that Marcy gave me ummm I don't know when. The laundry is almost all clean, folded and put away and I am seriously trying to figure out how to continue fitting everything I own neatly on my side of the room.

For those who haven't asked in the last week or so, our house has been moved to the "accelerated" sales pile at the bank. Like it is so hard to go faster than nothing. It is progress anyway and we continue to look for another perfect house while we wait.

Pictures should be coming soon as I think I have now gotten at least one night of reasonable sleep. I imagine that if I get a whole weeks worth I could be quite productive.

Unless we have a breakout in 10 to 14 days, I am changing Andrew's diagnosis to Impetigo. It is in the same family as Chicken Pox, but not a big deal and not as contagious.

We are back from our vacation/ work trip to Disneyland. What a fun time. Bryson dared himself to go on all the scary rides he could and he loved it. His vote for the scariest ride was Tower of Terror. Andrew was not feeling nearly as adventurous and was quite upset after I took him on Space Mountain. Granted if I had remembered what it was like I wouldn't have taken him. Live and learn. We all loved the gigantic ferris wheel, Soaring Over California and the newer Toy Story ride. I would have liked to go on those a few more times. Catherine was a little slow to warm up to the rides. I think her favorite in the end was the Carousel. When we would pass Levi as we went around she would squeal and wave at him.

On Thursday the Jazz Band did a great job performing at California Adventure. That of course was the reason we were there.

I would love to share all of the great pictures from our trip, but our camera stayed home where it was safe and sound. Fully charged and ready to go with a ridiculous amount of memory. I did get one of our friends/band moms to take a couple of pictures.

Andrew in his true theme park form wasn't feeling well our whole trip. He had a fever on and off and I believe we may have a case of chicken pox. While many of you groan, we are actually having a little celebration of a sort. We really wanted the kids to get them before they were too old. He is a little miserable, but not too bad.

We missed our family on this trip. It was the first time that my kids had gone without having Arron and Marcy with us. We did have a great time, but is was not the same without cousins and aunts and uncles. Besides, I know the Desert Inn Suites holds a special place in Marcy's heart:) Anyway, we are back even though Bryson, Catherine and I wanted to stay a bit longer. At least I get to sleep in my own bed as a trade off for not being in Disneyland today.

Does this fit the description?

Perfect for first time home buyers or investors, priced well under market. Charming home with bright, open floor plan

My friend, the mother of little miss on my links posted about what descriptions for houses mean. By this house description you know it is cheep, small, and you wouldn't really want to live in it unless you couldn't afford any thing else.

She is not much of a baby anymore, but she is still my little one. The only baby parts left are the diapers and the teeth. We partied as much as girls can. In the morning we had a group of girls and their mommies over and had muffins, fruit, and juice. In the evening Nana and Papa came with Christie and Jonathan joining us towards the end of the night. Unfortunately I am to tired to go into all the detail of the day, but here are a few pictures.

We love Nana and Papa. They drove in a lot of rain and traffic to be with us and we are so glad they did.

Marcy is a woman who knows how to throw a party. She treated us so well and we all had a fantastic time. It was great to be worry free with just the girls. Instead of trying to recreate it, check it out on Marcy's blog here http://greenmarcy.blogspot.com. It is certainly worth looking at. We all feel a little pressure about our 30th birthday party. Marcy did it up right.

If you ever need a little laugh just ask your todler to wash her elbows. Catherine was a little perplexed until I told her to use her other arm.

To give you an idea of how big Nugget is, here is Andrew with him. We really had a good time with him outside today.

The boys have this week off of school and so in my mommy craziness from this past weekend I declared this week TV and candy free. My neighbor Jenifer and I had it on Saturday with all of the candy that our children had accumulated from friends and birthday parties. The boys were a bit of a challenge that day and so I came up with a way to make this week a little more pleasant while Levi was at work and the boys home. Day one went very well. We will see what the future holds. If you are up to it, join us and let me know how it goes. It was very nice today to not have anyone ask me if they could watch TV.

These are the classic before baptism pictures. Levi and Andrew up above and with the rest of the family below.

There were four generations of Cambridge men, and so I had to take the chance to get a picture of them. We were so excited to see Great Grandma/pa Cambridge pull up.

Presents make every day such a fun day. We had ice cream and cookies afterward and a few presents for Andrew. His good friend Gabriel is behind him.

Uncle Josh holding William and the surprise guest, Andrew's Great Uncle. He was out to see Grandma this weekend and so he was able to come. It was so good to see him.

Our good friends the Daley family. It was so much fun to have them. We miss having them next door.

I have a ton of catching up to do. We have had birthdays, an anniversary, a baptism, and all sorts of other fun events. Unfortunately I'm not posting the pictures now, but they will come.

I will say that I am one of the luckiest girls ever. My sister Marcy is just about the funnest person ever. I wont steal her thunder, so you'll have to wait until she posts about her birthday celebration. A tip for you though... If Marcy invites you to a party she has been planning for a very long time, GO!

My friend Yannette is doing this and I thought it would be fun. Who will join me?

Come on, you big chicken. Buck, buck, buck-awe. That's a chicken sound typed out. I think. And that is me calling you out. Bring your A-game baby, because we're going to have some crafting fun!ARE YOU GAME?The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!Who's in?

Did you know that an Elmer's glue stick can double as chap stick. The jumbo ones are best. Catherine thought it worked great. I looked over at her while I was in the kitchen right as she was getting on the second coat. She was all smiles and even added in a "yum". Levi was happy to let her glue her lips together. When I put the glue away she went for the tape and put that on her mouth. It at least took most of the glue off. She is something else!

I got hot yesterday! It happens every Feb. around here. I was pushing little ones on the swings at the park and the sun was making me hot. Mind you I was only in jeans and a t-shirt. Later in the day my van put the temp at 70. The rain is on its way again, but I sure do love the breaks we get from the "cold". Summer (the person) we also wish you were here to enjoy it with us. Maybe someday.

Catherine's tip for the day is: no matter how much you want to chew on something, gold dial soap it a bad choice for teething. Tonight while we were getting ready for bed Catherine was pulling a few odds and ends off of the dryer. I walked out of my room in time to see the bar of gold dial soap sticking out of her mouth. I told her to take it out of her mouth and offered her water. It took a minute for the taste to kick in. The best part is that Bryson went and found the bar of soap to taste it and see how bad it really tasted. There is nothing like teeth marks in a bar of soap.

Catherine ends up in out bed on a nightly basis. The other morning at 5:00am Catherine's head was close to Levi's ear and in her sleep she belted out E-I-E-I-O. Thanks Yannette for reminding us of that song. Catherine seems to be enjoying it.

I took the kids to the park after school yesterday to enjoy the sunshine. The park is Catherine's favorite place. I was pushing Bryson and his friends on the tire swing and watching Andrew push Catherine on the swings. It was one of those moments that are like a pay day for the mom. I watched the two of them together and thought, "We must be doing something right." Andrew and Bryson have been doing great playing with Catherine as she has been getting bigger. And although we may never get our tax return from the state we still love sunny California. It is January and we have been enjoying sunny days at the park!