(found this image here)

Since both kids are getting over being sick, they've been just a little cranky... Last night as we were driving home from a visit with family, Kate and Isaac both started crying. The way they were crying was so funny. Steve and I were laughing our heads off. They were crying the EXACT same way, it was like they were copying eachother. I didn't realize they had the same cry until they were doing it at the same time. Glad we could laugh about it, though. Silly kids.

What girl doesn't want a man that can sing? I love it. Steve did a solo (3 movements) during the community Messiah sing-in. I was in the orchestra so I got a front row seat. Which didn't go wasted. I definitely was proud, but you'd think I was a giddy newlywed the way I stared at him while he sang. Which, when you are supposed to be playing, is a problem. I didn't even think about the fact that I was supposed to be playing until the guy in front of me turned around and gave me a super weird look. OOPs!So proud of him, needless to say.

The jury is still out on whether to go private or not. I just am not quite ready to decide, so here is something new to look at. The past 2-3 weeks have been busy ones, like everyone else. We've had great times with family over Thanksgiving, black Friday shopping, family parties and such. A more accurate picture would be all the treats and such since my last post: 2 pies, a jello salad, 10 dozen sugar cookies, and miss muffet's birthday cake and mini cake. Let's just say I won't be able to look a gingerbread man in the eye for a while.
Here on our side of the mountain, it is snowing fairly heavily. My little man is just as excited as he can be since I told him we'd go outside and shovel during naptime. He keeps on asking if it is naptime yet.

I am always surprised to see when more than a couple people read my blog, but I was QUITE surprised to see some IP addresses that I didn't recognize or even have the slightest idea who they might belong to. (If you live in Jakarta, Kuwait or some other place and I really DO know you... let me know who you are.)
I am having the debate with myself over whether to go private with our blog or not. It can be kindof a pain to have to log-in to view it, but I am a little concerned that I know who is on here.
So, if I end up making our blog private, I would be happy to send you an invite if you would like. Just leave me a comment with your email and I'll make sure to include you.

We have had a busy couple of weeks. But what of it is really something worth reading. It is just the same routine, mostly. Haven't been doing much blogging, or anything else computer related due to a broken power cord and dead battery but here are a few things...
- Steve helped with his first pack meeting. He said he felt a little like a fish out of water, but I think he did fine. The good thing about feeling like you got a rough start is that there is easily room to improve. Which brings me to my next item...
- I finally got a calling/assignment at church. Suzy was just about right . Today was our first day and parts of it were a little crazy. I did sharing time, which was a good experience for me. The primary in this ward is about 3 times the size of our last ward, so it is like a completely different calling.
- Steve and I are involved in the community "Messiah" sing-in. Steve is doing a couple of the bass solos and I'm playing in the orchestra.
- Looking forward to the holidays this week.

I'm kindof skeptical about trying new things, or more specifically replacing things that I'm used to. Recipe ingredients especially.
So when I went to an "Enrichment" (RS Meeting) a few weeks back and it was all about how to make your own pasta, I was sure I would never do it. Yesterday I had planned to make lasagne because I had everything (or so I thought) and didn't have stuff to make anything else. As I prepared everything, I reached for the noodles... and there were none to be found. After calling a neighbor to borrow some with no luck, I decided to make some since Kate was napping and I didn't want to wake her to go to the store. To make a long story short... I made lasagne noodles. Me, the skeptic.
They weren't the noodles of my dreams, but a good start. Isaac even ate them, which is an accomplishment. When I find my camera, and if I remember I'll post pictures later.

I have been taking a class for college credit as part of renewing my teaching license. The end project was to create a webquest, or web assignment. I need some feedback on it because I have worked on it so much that I can't look at it objectively.
If you have a minute to look over it that would be great. If not, you are still great. I need to know if it makes sense, if the linked information is helpful, etc. So... if your Friday is looking a little slow feel free to check it out.

My webquest.

A little late... but I wanted to post some pictures so here they are.

As you can see, Isaac was all about the suckers (lollipops). If he was given a choice between a candy bar (brownie is what he calls them) and a sucker, he would choose a sucker. Funny kid...

Kate had fun playing with the tutu. I don't think she knew quite what to think.

BTW, I found the cute word art here.

I could summarize the week with a plethora (yes, I did say a plethora) of words beginning with f. This week was fabulously fun!!! (Steve jokingly(?) tells his students that fun is the F word in his classes.)
Monday- flowers (hairbows for the stake humanitarian drive for orphanages in Africa.)
Wednesday- friends and food -(I think F was the letter of the day at library storytime,too) I talked over the phone for 2.5 hours to my companion/roommate Shawntel - we lost track of eachother, but I found her blog and looked her up. It was wonderful to catch up on the 2 moves and 3 kids that we've had since our last visit. My dear sweet friend Adrienne took me out for dessert at Cheesecake Factory for my birthday. I enjoyed the food almost as much as the company.
Thursday - Fall (the theme for Isaac's preschool today)
Friday - Family, Fun, Freedom, Food - Got to getaway with Steve overnight to Little America. Steve's fabulous parents watched the kids (even with a finnicky baby). We had a fabulous dinner and spent time together.
Saturday - Food, Family, Fun, Festivities - Breakfast at Little America!! Eggs Benedict, fresh fruit, bacon. MMMM! We picked up the kids then went to my parents for our halloween get together. The kids were SO cute! I loved their costumes - especially how much they both seemed to like them.

This is how Kate tries to keep up with big bro...

I woke up to these lovelies this morning. What else needs to be said?

Warning: This post uses language like poop, potty, and diaper.

I've mentioned before that we've been potty training. Isaac's hardest thing has been pooping in the potty. While at TJMax in Park City he found a Thomas toy that he really wanted so we let him earn it as a potty prize (specifically for pooping in the potty.) Today, Isaac earned his train. "I'm so pround!" was Isaac's reaction. Mine is more one of relief. We have really gotten a pretty good handle on things. I'm not going to go as far as to say that he is trained since he still wears diapers at night, but he hasn't had a daytime accident all week.

It is days like today, when in social settings, that I realize Isaac and I are more alike than I sometimes think. We went to our co-op preschool today and had a blast. It was comments that Isaac and I made that struck me as similiar.

As we were chatting beforehand we were talking about this and that and there was a lull in the conversation and I was thinking how much I am looking forward to conference this weekend. What came out was(rather awkwardly, I must add): I am so excited for conference! It's been 9 months since I had a challenging calling and 5 since I had one at all and I feel like I am spiritually starving. I am someone who replays things over in my head too many times so I have thought how it must have seem that I blurted that out, out of the blue. I guess you can tell what is on my mind. So anyway... I don't think I am usually that awkward or forward, but the censor switch must be broken today.
As was Isaac's. As they were dressing the weather bear Isaac blurts out "I'm a handsome boy!" He was wearing a new sweater and I cut his hair yesterday so he must have felt that way. Later when discussing bats the question was asked, "When do bats come out? (at night)" his reply was "in 4 weeks." Which, I guess if they are a symbol of halloween is true.
So there you have it. No censor-switch for either of us.

... since I need to be somewhere in a few minutes. Fall is settling in in the valley and I love it. I decided I am falling in love with this beautiful valley and the surrounding mountains.
The kids are getting into a better routine these days. The little neighborhood "preschool" is fun, even though it is a little wild and woolly to try to be the teacher. We had it at our house this past 2 times.
Steve got called as Cubmaster. Yes, I am smiling about this. It will be good for him :)
Unprompted, Isaac informed me the other day that I am his best friend. What else can top that?

Paul and Marja and girls came up here today for a "photo shoot" of our little families. We went to a place up above Soldier Hollow called Cascade Springs and it was beautiful. Despite some interesting face pulling from all of us, Marja got some great shots and we are so pleased. I may post some of them, but here's one for starters.

On an unrelated note, Happy Speak Like a Pirate Day! Arrr! For a good laugh pop on over to cakewrecks for a some pretty funny pirate cakes.

I've gotta hand it to the pioneers. They did lots of things I never want to do, but admire nonetheless. Enter this guy. (And five thousand billion of his friends.)

Which makes me cranky and a lot creepy-crawly feeling. So this morning I am prepared for battle.

Isaac is, too. His weapon of choice is a tumbleweed.

Steve got us off to a good start by spraying a bug spray around the perimeter of the house and garage. So these guys in the garage are a result of his efforts. These are just a few of the ones from the garage ( a 5x5 spot).

Lots of bugs, but it is worth it. Look at this view from our porch. Depending on which side of timp you are from this is either the front or the back, both sides claim they live on the front. I don't know that you can tell, but the leaves are turning and there was a slight mist in the air. Very pretty.

Wish us luck in our fight against the crickets. It's only 10 am and I've already killed at least 5 inside our house and more in the garage...

Friday evening dinners are hardly ever gourmet here. We either go out (which I love) or have leftovers from this past week. Tonight was leftover night. As I stared down day three of chicken and rice (apparently NOT a family favorite) I was struck by the differences in our choices and what it might mean about us. Steve's dinner of choice was actually not dinner - it was leftover Arby's Roast beef sandwiches from his 5 for $5 lunch splurge. (I can hardly even think about eating one of those.) Then there was Isaac, eating leftover pizza and drinking milk. That boy is always wanting to drink milk; if he were ever to need a blood transfusion we could probably save some money and just hook him up to a gallon of milk. Kate's munchings have amounted to cereal and anything but veggie baby food. Not sure what all of this means... just thought it was funny.
Dinner conversation was funny, too. Isaac started it off by asking us what our favorite color (not flavor) of popsicle is. His favorite is gray. What flavor would that even be? I shudder to think.

Just a quick "I've been up way too long today, and last night with a teething baby but I really should post" post. Or maybe that should be it.

-We had pics taken of Kate and Isaac on Monday and I can't wait to get them and post them.
-I took away Isaac's diapers today. No going back. (As I write that I have all sorts of worries and fears that he'll never actually be potty-trained...)
- Steve came home for lunch today, which makes me smile and makes all of our anxiety and worries and the settling in process all worth it.

With Steve back at school, it is now up to us to get back into a routine. This summer has been full of lots of things so we never got into a really great routine. I am finding that with more space to clean, I feel like it is never really clean. Looking for ideas on what works for anybody else. I think I need to change things up a bit.
I'm planning a bit to keep Isaac and I entertained as well.A few neighbors and I are pulling together some ideas for kindof a neighborhood preschool co-op. I hope it flies- I think it would be good for both of us. There is also a story group at the libraray, so I'll see how that is. I hope to be able to do a little substituting up here, but haven't been able to sign up yet because nobody returns phone-calls ;(
Saturday was the open house for Steve's new high school. It is pretty cool! There are some really nice things about it. It is interesting to hear the public reaction to the cost. I think it shows alot about where people get their information and who verifies what they read. Regardlessm we're excited about it...

This isn't exactly Kate's current age, but I liked the pictures and just finished the layout today.
Since our last post:
- My dear other half returned to New Jersey. We had a great time. I am always so grateful for visits with my twin because I love her laugh and how she makes us all laugh.
- My other other half (Steve) conducted the hymn at the BYU Education Week devotional. He makes me proud.
- We have all been over at the new high school building. It is fabulous!! Lots of cool things.

Master's Degree. Check!
I am so proud of this guy...

Oquirhh Mountain Temple Open House(spell that ten times fast... not even sure if I spelled it correctly)

Wasatch County Fair - interesting place to people watch. Isaac's favorite thing was definitely the games, not the kiddie rides. We were wise to hold off on going to Disneyland this year.


Isaac was playing with magnets and said (unprompted) "Look, it's my name." Pretty close. I was totally shocked. His second attempt was I S _ H C because we figured the H looked like an A.



We've been a busy family this last little bit.

... or the absence of it. I am trying to think of anything clever to say, but it eludes me. Cleverness and I are not often found keeping company when I am tired. Stayed up too late last night with my twin discussing the finer points of Montessori, ice-cream, college memories and the like. I have many fond memories of staying up late with visiting relatives laughing and talking until none of us could form coherent thoughts. I love inadvertent family traditions. Do you have any like that?

Our 24th of July was really fun. (Actually, the whole weekend was.) We did things with the Reynolds side of the family. We shopped. We ate. We goofed around.
Isaac asked me to put one of Kate's flowers in his hair, so I did all of them. We laughed a lot. I think Steve died a little.

"Let me 'splain. No. There is too much. Let me sum up." (Inigo, from Princess Bride if you don't remember). As I mentioned in my last post, my twin is coming here for a visit, now just one week away. She was planning on spending about two weeks here, but now she is able to stay a little longer. What great timing for her job to go defunct at this point, not that we haven't been expecting it to happen.
I am ecstatic. She isn't too bummed about this either.

Our little girl is growing like a weed. She is starting to have a little mind of her own and pretends to be shy around some people, but will give them the sweetest little 2-toothed smile. My favorite feature currently is the untamable fuzz on top of her head. Not sure if you can see it well in this picture. She makes my heart melt.
Time is going by fast. I can't believe we have been here over a month now and still I can't consistently find what I think we've unpacked. We're not really intending on doing much with our yard this summer, just trying to keep the weeds from growing out of control. They resist. Especially the thistles. Pretty interesting flowers, but they win in a fight.

Our week in review:
- Steve made final copies of his Master's project to have bound (or whatever they do with them). He has something like 4 class sessions left until graduation. HOORAY!
- Isaac slept overnight at his grandparents for the annual sleepout. He had a blast!
- We went swimming with Brian and Tammy. Kate was just squealing and splashing. It was the cutest thing.
- I have been trying to "run" or exercise more regularly and am feeling good about doing so. I've been told that the term for my kind of running is "slogging" - slow jogging. I'm not sure I even qualify for that term.
- Less than two weeks until my better half, my twin, visits from New Jersey. (Random interesting thing: In talking with a girl in our ward who is a twin, she labeled the separation from your twin as "the divorce" because of the splitting up of shared items between you. For example, after our "divorce" I got the car. Kinda funny, huh.)

Tried this recipe out yesterday on the family. Let me know what you think of it... It was a surprising hit for us, but could use some tweaking.

Watermelon-Yogurt-Ice
4 cups watermelon, cubed
1 c vanilla yogurt
1 T lime juice
1/2 c simple syrup ( we did 1 part water to 2 parts sugar, 'cause Steve loves his sugar)

Make syrup and let cool. In 2 batches, puree the watermelon until liquid. Over a bowl, strain the watermelon liquid through cheesecloth to remove any pulp. To the strained liquid add the other three ingredients. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to directions.

Sarah requested some pictures of our place so here they are. We sure feel lucky-blessed- to find this bank-owned deal.

That's not really a question that I need to answer any more. I have been debating about it since a lot of my friends are on there. Last night 3 of Steve's former students visited him (along with a container of fudge brownie ice cream). They insisted that Steve needs to be on facebook. There you go... question answered.

I thought I would share one of my more embarrassing moments. I was reminded of it while watching Isaac and his cousin, Claire, swimming and playing in the water here at my parent's house.
Isaac is very definitely my boy. We are both not adventuresome when it comes to swimming. We are both happy if we can avoid getting our faces wet.
On to the story. During my first semester at Utah State I took a swimming class, beginning swimming. I took a beginner class just because I am not a skilled swimmer and wanted to be in something I'd be comfortable in. The first day of class it turned out that there were 9 people in the class, of which 5 of them had taught swimming lessons or lifeguarded. The average skill of the class was definitely above mine.
One particularly unswimming-like day, I made my way to class only to discover that we were working on diving. (groan...) I managed to put off my turn until all but a few people were in the pool. I managed to pull off an impressive skin slapping, water splashing, belly-flopping type of dive. I managed to surface and swam to the side where two guys from the class were waiting to congratulate me. I was going to say something to them, but then one of them indicated that I had "something coming out of" my nose so that ended that.
I made my way to the dressing rooms. Quickly showered, skipped putting in my contacts or glasses and left. I found a door and left, or so I thought. I found myself in an enclosed terrarium of sorts and the door locked behind me. I realized where I was, and what a mistake it was not to wear anything to help me see, and banged on the door until someone rescued me.
So there you go.

If you are like me, and I know you are, a good laugh from a bad situation is always welcome. We've had a couple of those this last little while. (The "irony" of Steve getting a job offer that he's been hoping for for a long time right after - 30 minutes after- getting the final go ahead for closing on our home. That is another post in and of itself that I'm not sure I have the words or time for. Long story short, he didn't take it.)
What I'm really referring to is this, a post on my twin's blog about one of her friend's dogsitting experiences. I'm not usually one who will follow links from blog to blog, but this is well worth it. I have laughed and laughed. Enjoy.
PS: Still not closed on the home yet, but it looks like 7-10 days from now it will probably happen.

Deep breath.

We have run into a snag on our way to buying our home. Before I give a detail or two, let me add that we're still intending on following through with things. Due to appraisal issues and the resulting hardball with the bank, we haven't closed yet. We are still waiting to hear on a review of the appraisal and hope to move in within the next 2-3 weeks.

Steve is finishing the school year (3 days left) and in PG. The kids and I are chillin with Grandma and Grandpa in FH. And we wait...

i am typing one-handed since kate is being clingy. pardon the errors.

did our home inspection today. looks good.

the best part? watching isaac run and hop around the lot yelling "i'm playing outside!" (it's not like we don't try to go outside to play...) i think all this craziness will be worth it.

...Is fun to do. (Fun to do, fun to do. Sing it with me all you primary teachers) It's been a little bit since we posted about our prospects of finding a home. We have been really trying to look at anything that might possibly work for us. We've seen lots of really nice houses - read "expensive." We've also seen ones that we could definitely afford, but didn't like. To date we have made 6 offers. 3 of those are a definite no. Of the 3 remaining homes, one is a short sale so we don't necessarily expect to hear something for months, but we thought we'd throw our hat in. Another was listed for far more than anything comparable around it so we offered what the houses comparable to it are selling for. (Not really sure if that will go anywhere.) Last of all, there is a bank-owned property that we are hoping will work out. Of the ones we've looked at, I think we like this one the most. Right now we are just hoping for "the planets to align" and see if it will work out. We've had some great things come about that may help us get it, but the bank has to accept our offer. We have just under 3 weeks until we move out of our place so we're keeping our fingers crossed.