Halloween

Fairy & Pirate 2008

Prepared...

for what? Does it matter? I just want to be prepared. I am a beginner at food storage/emergency disaster. This is under my bathroom sink.













This is under our bed? We have our 72 hour kits downstairs. So this is...our week...month... supply? It doesn't look like much, but the cans are double stacked. Plus, there are more you can't see on the other side of the water. That's enough, right?

Since we don't have the resources to get all the fancy smancy things like water barrels, a wheat grinder and other what-nots (that I have no idea about). This is what we have. If there is an emergency at least we can trade: soup, green beans, canned chicken and of course plenty of soap for all those dirty dishes (I mean cans:)). Am I a nut case, or is this what you do? I should have asked for advice before posting. Whether I'm right or wrong, it does feel good to be a little prepared.

Zoo words

We laughed at our kids who said:

• David:" What happened?" When he saw all the wires in the front of the van. David shoved pennies in the tape player and Paul was trying to fish them out with a magnetic.
  

(he is now starting to ask questions and talk in little conversations..so fun)

• Mom: "Do you smell those stinky bird? Let's hurry so we don't have to smell it."
• Eden: "Yeah, we got to change their diapers."
• Eden also said: "shut up" (which we didn't laugh at). We spent a few minutes trying to figure out where she learned that from. Then we realized it didn't matter because now she knows it. (I blame Aladdin)

Cotton

Basket bed

I came home from work tonight and Paul suggested I check on the kids. I saw Eden sprawled out on her bed but no David. Then I hit the basket and it didn't move. He was curled up snoring lighty.


Paul reported that one moment they were laughing & giggling and the next it was quiet. After a few minutes he checked on them and found this. I'm so glad he didn't move him so I could see his cuteness.

So sad to see you go

As a Mormon, the first thing you do when moving (even before locating a Wal-Mart) is to locate the church and other mormons! When we were deciding between the Razorbacks and the Rebels the first name Paul was given was: Marianne Yamnik. She worked in the financial aid office. I remember Paul laying on his stomach, feet perched towards the ceiling bobbing them up and down just like a junior high school girl would while talking to her best friend. I questioned: "Who are you talking to?" He replied "Marianne, we're talking about gardening." I couldn't believe he would talk for so long with a stranger. A few days later I called Marianne and mimicked Paul actions. She was my fast friend. During our visit to Oxford, we stayed with the Yamniks. We knew we had to live by them & the Blaus...not close, but right by. So we started knocking on doors, leaving notes and praying someone would be renting in their small street of town homes. I am here to tell you MIRACLES HAPPEN. We saw a man doing some yardwork and stopped to ask if he owned the property. Turns out he was preparing to sell it. We practically begged him to rent to us, bragging about ourselves and how awesome we are...that afternoon we went to his office and signed the lease. Done deal!

That MIRACLE has forever changed our lives...seriously. Now that the Yamniks have moved we are all alone on our little street, which was once Mormonville.



With all the craziness of moving (believe me they had craziness moving in two weeks) Marianne brought this over for Eden. She cleaned and washed her empty spices for Eden to play kitchen with. What thought, what tenderness and what love. Just as much as they will miss Eden waving at them in the window, Eden will miss them.

I won't spill my guts about how much we love and miss them (been there...done that). You people in Kansas better keep an eye out for them. Please take care of them and love them as we do. It will be your pleasure, your gain and your privilege to be in their presences.

Paul speaking:
P.S. Patrick, you are a rockstar. Your great example helped me handle the drama when your wife and Cyndi ganged up on me. Thanks for always being my friend. I will miss you.

34 months

If you have met me, you know I can be a little shy. Once that passes you will see that I am a dreamer. I take my time when walking. I like to look and touch everything. I like to tease mama (as I call her) by saying I'm a monster and going to eat her shirt. She screams and I laugh. I am good at making up songs and singing in different tones. Sometimes my singing and dancing carry me away from my mama at the store, she doesn't like that. I tell her "I'm a big girl, I can walk". I usually end up in the cart because I don't keep up and David is screaming because he wants out. I get caught up in the tiniest things and then feel overwhelmed. Instead of just doing something, I would rather roll around on the floor and whine about it. I don't really like combing my hair. If I have to then I always chose "just one tiny ponytail". I like my hair to be down. Hey, I am 2! I have hard days, my mama saids they will pass. I hope so because everyone seems to like it when I am happy. Just like I forgive easy, my family always forgives me for being grumpy and loves me all the same.

22 months

I am practical. When my mom saids I can go outside if I put my shoes on, I do it! I like wearing my shoes, especially when it's hot outside and the cement burns my feet. I LOVE to see trucks and fire engines. Let's face it, anything big on wheels I point and say "truck, truck, truck" so my mom knows I see one. Since I've come back from Utah I am saying "candy" a lot. I sure like that stuff. One of my favorite things to do is throw water balloons outside. When my mom fills them up in the sink I shout "me me" to make sure I get the first one. Sometimes she makes them really small so they bounce and I chase after them. I knock on the doors when I want out. I am also starting to say my words together, for example, "don't want that". I am getting used to my mom leaving me places. At the gym sometimes I cry and sometimes I don't. I like nursery, I have no problem going in there. Actually, mom never takes me there. It is usually dad or some big kid at church, maybe that's why I don't cry? For some reason my mom brings out all the softness in me. I am practically perfect...well I do have a few bad habits that I just can't seem to help. I am STILL always climbing on top of the kitchen counter, turning on the faucet, dumping water and getting into the cabinets. My dad puts me in the counter and actually my mom does too...but I keep doing it. I am so good at climbing, basically nothing can stop me. In fact right now I am banging cupboards looking for more water balloons...mom needs to go get me before I break something.

Shocking!

Does my 2 year old have her own i pod? Heavens no! However, half the space is filled with children's music for the car...umm...maybe it is hers. I am going crazy thinking about ALL the electronics kids have these days. I think the Amish have it going on, maybe our next move will be to Pennsylvania.

Why not...

only eat the middle and toss the chocolate wafers aside?

sleep under a crib, where it is nice and cozy?

pick out all the marshmellow goodness...from the whole box?

have two pools & two slides?

because I want to see THESE everyday.

It's true...I am a push-over. I think it is getting worse. Lazy? or just plain in love with my children? I can't decide.

A boy

Before entering the ultrasound room I had a feeling come in my mind that it was going to be a boy and it was ok. Sure enough the tec confirmed it was a boy. I was thankful for the spirit who comforted and prepared me. I so wanted another girl. Do I feel the same way now?

No way!

David and I have a special connection. When I come and pick him up from the nursery he drops whatever he is playing with and runs in my arms. Today at the gym he put on a brave face, gave me a kiss goodbye and went to play with the trucks. He is such a big boy. He knows I will come back for him. Later this morning he climbed on my lap, laid his face on my shoulder and feel asleep. I sat there for several minutes holding my little guy and thanked Heavenly Father for him.

There are a few times...

when Paul can give me flowers and I don't think things like "umm...you really shouldn't have", or "I really wanted a new shirt instead" or "Crap...I guess I'm not getting those pair of earrings."

After giving birth, he always comes in the hospital room with an overflowing bouquet and a big smile, our anniversary (unless I plead with him not to) and of course any airport greetings when we've been away from each other.

I just haven't been able to change certain behavior in him. :) He can't help it. However, I am learning. I have come to love flowers because he loves giving them. I know I need to be less practical and more romantic. Whose the girl here?

Having a small kitchen has SOME advantages. For one thing, we have NO extra room to store excess. When it comes to a blender or a vase you better believe that blender is staying. I will not give up any room for a vase...silly I know. So, when these special occasions arrive we turn to the blender.

Tacky? Yes

Ugly? Yes

Effective? Sure. Plus I don't have to worry about David breaking it into a million pieces.

One day I will make room for a beautiful vase...promise.

Dear Black Widow spiders,

Apparently you have been misinformed. My house is not YOUR home. I have found and killed 5 of you in the past three months. (2) in front of my door, (1) by the water heater , (1) behind the computer, (1) on the trash can lid. Your creepy red spot sends chills down my spine. Let this be a warning to you. Please move somewhere else.

Paul attends the first presidential debate!

Last Friday, Paul was lucky enough to get a ticket to go to the first presidential debate here in Oxford. He left Friday around 4:00 in the afternoon for the 8:00 p.m. event. He had to go through background checks and other security. The first thing he noticed upon entering the hall was that it was freezing. The candidate's chose to set the temperature to 62 degrees, because they did want to come across sweating or nervous. Paul had the greatest seat. He sat on the mezzanine on the second row, right above the NBC and CBS news crew. He said that Katie Couric really looks that good in real life but Brian Williams perfect hair really isn't that perfect, he's got a very noticeable bald spot! After some instructions from the moderator and others, the real action began. The candidates wives first entered. They both sat in the third seat front the aisle on the third row on different sides of the hall. McCain and Obama then entered and the debate began. One impression he had when they spoke was that these two people were normal people. You see them everyday on TV and they seem so perfect and godly, but in real life you realize that they put their pants on one leg at a time just like you do. The only difference is they are vying to be the ruler of the free world. The debate flew by and after the debate Paul left the hall to a line of reporters ready to interview the guests in the hall. Paul shied away from the spotlight and got back on the shuttle to go back to the parking lot. What he isn't telling you is that he had a cold and had lost his voice. All in all, it was a once in a lifetime experience for Paul.

Paul will be...

HERE tonight. An actual seat inside! He won a raffle ticket. Look for a tall, dark and handsome man.