300th post!

Yes, here I am blogging for like 300 times- wow! Here is an update for the weekend (from Sunday back). The organ playing went fine. The talk was fine (but MAN was I nervous). My dear neighbor and friend, Bugs, also spoke, and so we reassured each other that we were AWESOME. (Which of course we were). Teaching Sunday School was fine. We had a LOVELY birthday lunch:

(We mainly got it on camcorder - including a CUTE birthday interview with Ellie). There was a LOT of birthday cake consumed by the birthday girl (probably explains why the two of them ate EIGHT scrambled eggs for dinner between the two of them). Naps, playing outside, more cake, etc. Then everyone left (including Josh - working tonight and all week). Dinner, baths, Ellie collapses into bed. Ash and I are blogging. (She of the 3 hour nap). All good.

Saturday night we went to the drive-in and stayed for BOTH movies. Yes, and my girls did manage to stay awake until the END of the intermission. Then they started snoring - cute! It only rained a bit and yes, the van needs a MAJOR session with the S.hop-vac. Heather and Jason and Emma came for the weekend and were, of course, delightful guests. They even load the dishwasher! And are so fun to talk to (sorry all you people in church that were trying to listen as we (softly) chatted even more this morning). It is AWESOME having family close - growing up our closest cousins were a 9 hour car ride away and I am so glad that Ellie, Ash and Emma are such great friends.

We made and decorated the cake:

Josh and I had a GREAT water gun fight (yes, we all got water guns for the summer - the girls too! But it was a bit cold for them.) BUT we want to start our adoption paperwork again in June (just the paperwork part) so we need lots of pictures of us being cute. So Heather was here and wanted to practice and so we got some great 'action' shots of me and Josh playing:

Our little wet spectators watched:

Friday Josh said some magic words to me "Let's go have fun today." It was like...OK, let's just have fun! We went to the aquarium in Draper. Ellie got her own pass. You can't really see her expression here, but she was SO excited to have her own card.

We got some more shorts for the girls (with the potty-accidents, four-times-a-day clothes changes, summer/water weather, we needed MORE shorts) and shoes for Josh. Ah, shopping out in the real world. Thursday I substituted - and I want to clarify they were ACADEMIC questions I knew the answers to. Before students have asked things like "where is the disk for test 7?" and "what is the password to log onto this program?" I mean, how am I suppose to know stuff like that? (but now I have a whole list of passwords and stuff, so I am getting smarter).

Anyway, this week is looking pretty good. Tomorrow we have play school and Ellie has her well-child check up. Tuesday we are getting the car fixed and I get a rental car (wow?!). Thursday is our last little dance class. I get a new driver's license next month! (nice, now I will have my braces-picture for the next six years!) And it is my birthday month! Well have a great day and leave a comment!

Yes, you are thinking "some pictures are missing" - I can't get the pics off the camera card so you will have to wait for tomorrow.

"sigh"

Hello friend, neighbors, my brothers, etc. I am typing to you today from the SLATC in Tooele. One of the regular teachers needed a bit of time off and I am here substitute teaching. I actually knew some answers today! It was a nice feeling. My most excitement is that at 8:01 p.m. I am going to walk over to that new restaurant and get a dessert to go! Yah!

The girls are at Alisha's house. Not only do Addie and Payt live there - there is a very friendly mommy dog AND her puppy. VERY exciting. Ash had an O.T. appointment this morning and I learned tons of actvities to work on skills. Then we had dance class- with RIBBONS - and everyone had a good time. Josh did have to work nights this week -but he comes home around 1 a.m. So we are glad for a short week.

Guess what!? I get to give a talk in church on Sunday AND play the organ. The topic? "Joy in the Journey" and we are singing " Joy to the World" for the rest hymn. Hehehe. I love Christmas songs! (Now if you live in my ward, you are excited to come and sing on Sunday - yes?!)

That is about it. Our FABULOUS neighbors (remember we have 6 year old twin girls AND 4 year old twin girls right in our neighborhood - and let me just say, we TOTALLY benefit!) gave us two small bikes (pink, of course) with training wheels. Ellie loves her. The other one needs some tightening up, but will be good to go once Daddy is home to fix it. Ash likes to sit on it and push with her feet. She also really loves riding the trike down the sidewalk (coming back up the hill is another matter).

We got our tickets to Florida. Yah! Man, it's PRICY having to buy TWO extra tickets. This is definately going to be our 'big vaction' for the year. Exactly 33 minutes left before dessert time. There is a triathlon (just a little one) here on Saturday - should I be in it? The bike ride is only 5 miles! (in an Ironman Tri the bike ride is 112 miles - FYI). OK, I will get some pics of the biker-riders and post them.

Sunday

The girls and neighbors have enjoyed immensely the new climb-y thing. Josh played with the pipe-cleaners this week while I was grading. Here you go.....

I got all my grading done for my three classes this month. I figured I had three classes next month (I usually have two). But then the new online director called and ask if I wanted another one (same class, so I already have it all prepared). Sure -but hello??

There has been job stress this week. The new online 'team' has come up with tons of new rules, ideas, things we have to set up, etc. Some of it is great - easier, less stress, good stuff. Others (like we are suppose to email each student EVERY week (AND their campus) if they are flunking - even the first week?!!)!) Anyway. They had an online conference and everything was pretty well resolved.

Our neighbors got sod for their yard (yah!) and my strong honey unloaded and wheeled around almost NINE pallets of sod while we layed it down and got it organized. I hope your yard looks GREAT! We are looking forward to a nice week when Josh gets to come home every night! Yah!

A long update

So here are some updates. Ash's cough - finally I took her to the doctor last week:

She was totally fine. No ears, no throat, nada. Just a cough. So we are trying some allergy drugs and she is doing LOTS better. No cough, no runny nose - yah drugs!

The other day we had mac and cheese WITH hot dogs. Guess who ate what?

Ellie LOVED the dogs and Ash LOVED the mac and cheese - together it's perfect!

Josh has been gone lots so we went to spent the night at Aunt Heather's (and Emma and Uncle Jason) house. A great time was had by all. A good bubble bath was enjoyed:

We went swinging this morning:

Big news - I got my hairs cut and professionally dyed (I am VERY gray) and I feel I am back, more, to my 'real' hair color. I was never meant to be a blonde or red-head. So dark it is. Bad part of that is when like 1/8 of an inch of gray root grows out - you have to fix it - VERY obvious. Ugh. Anyway, I am hot! (of course this is right after the salon, so don't ever expect to see it so organized again).

We have not been totally bored - the girls have kept up on their crafties (drawing - she likes to make a drawing for a certain person "Uncle David" or "Grandpa" (sorry I do not mail you all of these!) ).
Also - we got a new climbing thing for the yard!! Here our wonderful neighbor Ben helps Josh get the final safety stuff on. It looks fun and I climbed up on it to make sure it was safe. Come by in the morning and try it out (it holds 10 kids or 1200 pounds - those are pretty big kids)! Better pictures tomorrow.

The massacure

Do not be alarmed - it was a weed-massacure - no persons were harmed (well I did get some weeds smacked into my face, but I am ok). Josh bought me a GREAT weed-wacker on Friday - and if you have some weeds- I would LOVE to come and wack them for you. (Josh told me to put on long pants - and I am GLAD I did!)

I had to much fun! (Later on, Josh brought me a clear, face protector so I didn't get my face so beat up. AND he brought me some ear plugs - so I am all safety orientated.

The girls LOVE playing 'car doctor' this week - they turn the car over and then they 'fix' it

Ashley has taken to putting on her jammies (long shirt and leggings) when she feels like it -so sometimes she wears it OVER her outfit of the day - nice look!

This looks like one of those 'model' shots when someone famous is walking along and gets their photo taken.


Josh was home all weekend- VERY nice. He and Ellie sorted some tools:

This afternoon the girls painted. Now we are going for a walk. Josh's workweek started at 3 p.m. We'd love to play this week!

Happy sounds

So today we went to dance class with our friends Lola and Addie. (sorry, no picture- Josh has been gone all week and my cell phone is on the blitz). Well having four little girls in your backseat is pretty fun. First of all they are just dang cute. Second, once one gets the giggles -they all start giggling. That is a pretty happy sound. So just close your eyes and imagine lots of happy giggles. Wonderful!

We really like 'play school.' (The enrichment pre/play school group Ashley gets to go to). We went to our first class on Monday and Ellie also loved it. So we pay a 'tuition' fee for her and they both go 1.5 hours, M and W mornings. And I DO NOT GO! So on Wednesday, I went swimming. Maybe on Monday I will jog (on my treadmill, of course, NOT outside with the pollens - oh yah, I knew there were multiple reasons I wanted a treadmill). VERY nice.

My shoulder has been really ouchy lately. So finally I went to the doctor. Apparently it is my bisep tendon- there is nada they can really do. Physical therapy doesn't really help, surgery doesn't sound appealing. Cordizon? shot can help. So I will do ice and small drugs for a bit and see if that helps.

Ashley apparently also has some allergies. I finally took her to the doctor - for the lingering cough. No sickness. So I started giving her some small drugs and her nose has been hardly runny for days! Nice!

I am off to mow the lawn. Josh had a good employee evaluation this week. He turned in a list of his potential overtime hours, to get approved, and his big boss was looking it over and said, "Looks like you aren't planning on sleeping this summer." AH! We are just excited to spent time with him in Florida!

Mother's Day update

*Well there was no breakfast in bed. But we did have a lovely Sabbath day together, including a nice long foot rub! I am holding out for dinner in bed.

Saturday Josh aired out our tent and of course the girls LOVED it. Unfortunately, the only pictures we got were...well here you go. (diaper changes - it was quite exciting to get your bum changed outside).

Today the girls are 'playing markers' and eating chocolate chips (ok, I finally broke down and bought TEN pounds of chips at C.ostco - so come over and eat chips with us!)

As we celebrate our first 'parent holiday' with our two beautiful daughters it still seems strange at times, well a LOT of times, to be called 'mother.' I feel very conflicted.

First of all I LOVE, APPRECIATE and will ADORE FOREVER our daughter's birthmothers. Women who gave them a great start in life and loved them enough to give them even more - a mom and a dad; security; a forever family. We may not say it enough, but it doens't meant we don't thank the Lord for you - THANK YOU!

Second, I still feel strongly toward my fellow sisters - who are waiting for some blessings in their lives: a perfect husband, a precious child to cuddle. Having spent many years NOT married and also a number of years "childless" I still ache for those who are waiting for their dreams to come true. I love you and pray for your happiness.

Yes, I am complete spoiled

Here is my Mother's Day present:

You may ask yourself: why have two monitors? Well I will tell you a story. I grade a LOT of stuff and it takes a long time to open each assignment, then read it, close it, write comments/a grade, post it and then open the next one. My sweetie heard me complaining and suggested this. I thought it was stupid - who needs two monitors?

Well , as it turns out... I DO! He ordered me one for Momma's Day and installed it and everything. It is AWESOME! I can have two big screens open and be grading TWO different assignments at the same time - WAY less wasted time and WAY WAY WAY faster. Also - I can have even MORE screens opened at the same time when I am playing. An EXCELLENT present - thanks sweetie! Could I also maybe have breakfast in bed tomorrow?

We sent flowers to Ashley's and Ellie's birthmoms. We hope they know how much we love them.

"This is why we don't sew angry"

Yep, I tried to sew my finger last night. OUCH! Josh came up to apply ointment and bandage and said the classic line, "This is why we don't sew angry." I was mad the plunkos weren't going to bed very well. Don't worry - the point is still attached to the needle - not in my finger. Do I need a tetnus shot?

Look how fast our garden grew! I figured we would invest in already-grown plants in order to make it more obvious to our younger gardeners WHERE the garden was and WHERE the plants were. So hopefully there will be FEWER 'garden fatalities' with bigger plants.

Josh also got the sprinkler system fixed up in that part of the yard (we didn't turn it on or attach any sprayers because of the pit). And we planted lots and lots of grass seed. It is suppose to be 80 degrees on Tuesday, so those little grasses can just grow, grow, grow. My sweetie got to be home this WHOLE weekend (Fri-Sun) after working lots and lots the past three weekends. We are puttering around. Very nice. Off I go to grade - ugh.

Being legal

Many, many years ago, I decided I would NOT photocopy any more piano music - and instead actually buy it. (But I did keep all the music I ALREADY had). So I decided to go legit and just buy the music I have had for many years. Also I am trying to buy some of my favorite songs to be legal. It is HARD. Very confusing, I just bought a CD of gunfighter music (Marty Robbins - go ahead and mock it like Josh did) - ugh! Anyone have a favorite, payment-orientated, music downloading site?

Here is what we did today. Hosted two kids for several hours, cut Lola's hair (you look FABULOUS darling!), fed seven kids lunch, got two kids naps, weeded and cleaned out all the flower beds, mowed the lawn, put in my garden barriers, spread peat moss, rototilled, watered, mulched everything, added sand to the sandbox. Oh yah, did wash, cleaned the kitchen, picked up the house, vaccummed, washed the kitchen floor. Graded, answered emails, tried to download music.

Check out my CUTE new garden spot!

We ate out for dinner - K.FC and the plunkos didn't even appreciate it (oh well - more leftovers for me!) Now my shoulder hurts when I move it. OUCH!

Tomorrow we are going to visit Auntie Heather and Emma and everyone is quite excited!

Sunday

Man, I love typing vs scrapbooking/journaling. Though I do acknowledge there is great theraputic value in journaling, I like to keep my personal thoughts, ideas, struggles, comments, goals, etc. there and write about the to-do stuff here. (also - this has PICTURES!).

Today was church. I played the organ - and even pedaled WITHOUT looking at my feet on the last song (that is big - but it was a familiar hymn - so I am glad I am definately getting a little better on the organ).

Then we all had LOVELY naps. Josh and I were maybe napping a bit and Ellie wakes up and comes in. I assure her that she can go and do a craftie. She comes back and is talking and Josh says "you told her to go do that an hour ago!' - oops! Guess nap time got drawn out a bit.

We flew kites after our walk. It was very windy. Then the girls showed daddy their new tricks on the swing set (trying to get their knees on the bar to swing around - they can't quite do it yet).

My poor sweetie worked all day Saturday and is headed off for a 70+ hour work week this week. I hope he can come home at least two nights this week. Maybe it will rain on Tuesday night (they cancel the test for rain). I told him he can always read the blog for updates on how we are doing!

Sore arms

OK, I thought a winter season of weight-lifting, swimming and running would keep me a little toned. Nope, my arms are STILL sore from the weed-raking-marathon. Ugh. I am getting old.

My dear sweetie had to work on Friday AND today - to get the new laser/trailer ready for testing, which starts Monday. Then he has to work from noon to midnight, Monday through Saturday for the next three weeks. So, I am forming a 'temporarily merry widows club' - if your honey is gone - then call me and we will play!

Thursday we had a wonderful dance class. Here is a picture from last week. This week we played with ribbons - VERY popular. Ash and Ellie were GREAT little dancers.

Friday we played at home and went to dinner with our cousins - very fun. Josh fixed their computer to we went to dinner and chatted and returned the fixed (and de-dusted) machine. Very yummy and the girls were very good.

I just finished grading like, let's see, I have about 132 students, times 3 assignments each this week, plus grading attendance and discussion posts - let's just say my elbow is tired and so is my brain. Going to go jog a bit. Happy weekend!