Happiness Is Trying to Catch You!

Aliza loves to go outside. Anytime she thinks that someone is going to go outside, she is ready to go. She usually goes toddling out the door, and then starts to run in the opposite direction of you. So, she takes off, and we follow trying to catch her.

Well, the other night we went out for Chinese food because we had a coupon (probably the last time we will take Aliza out to eat for a while!!). I started to laugh when I opened her fortune cookie for her and it read: "Look around, happiness is trying to catch you." And yes, while I was reading it, Jason was chasing after her...

Hide and sleep

Ah, the days when you could hide from the world and of course fall asleep.

AAHH, mud and water

Not much else to say when it comes to to water and mud. Oh, Aliza did say as she first stepped into the water " OHHH". It was very cute.

Whatever

So I have not put in my two cents for awhile. Not much is going on other than life sometimes it is hard to write about nothing. We did move down the street to a three bedroom apt. Taeya's mother has joined the the crew. To others this may seem like a lot but we have been planning on this now for some time so it not new to us.
I am still working and not enjoying it much. I don't like telling people what to do. I just expect that people will do their job. I am sure that my boss probably feels the same way.
Amelia has been going to school. Before she went I thought that I would miss my side kick. Well the verdict is in. To see how much she loves school and other kids it makes me happy. So I put my sad feelings aside and enjoy with her. I hope that she will look back as fondly as I have to be at home with my children.

First Day of School

Today was AMELIA's FIRST day of school!!!! She is starting pre-k this year. Yes, there were some tears...when I came to pick her up and had to explain to her that (a) she had to leave, and (b) should could not take the school supplies with her. She cried most of the way home. Her teacher came for a home visit today, and her primary question...what's the best way to handle Amelia when she throws a fit. Oh, wouldn't life be so much easier if I actually knew the answer to that question!!!

I think that Amelia is going to have a great time in pre-K. She has a great teacher, and she definitely wants to be there. She has been asking me for a year when she would get to start school, and I told her that it would be after my birthday. It worked pretty well until the day of my birthday, and then she took the statement very literally and thought that she would go to school on my birthday. It has been a long week waiting!

It was harder than I thought it would be to leave our eldest at school, but I know that it is for the best and that she will have a great year!

Aliza Kneewalker

We have a young jedi in training, we call her Aliza Kneewalker. She can't quite handle a light saber yet, but she walks on her knees with great speed. She even has a hyper-drive speed (which includes a giggle).

She also has amazing jedi skills when taking whip cream shots from a can.

I guess those jedi mind tricks really do work ("You will let me have whip cream straight from the can...").

Today was the first day where she seemed to prefer walking on her feet to walking on her knees, but her knees definitely have callouses from her "kneewalking".

Friday

After taking the new job at UPS it has been very stressful. It is as if you could touch it. Anyway, today in my excitement I came home and told Amelia joyfully "yeah it is Friday".
"Yeah daddy, uummm I don't know what Friday means". I love that kid, so I told her it means I don't have to work for a couple of days and most of all I get to sleep in, YYYYEEEEESSSSS.

unicorn

From time to time Taeya has read a book to Amelia. This book is about, well where babies come from. It is very vague but gets the job done. In this book it talks about the Uterus that keeps the baby safe while growing.

Well the other day Amelia was telling our friends that she has a special unicorn for baby's after some time and asking her what she meant. " Daddy unicorns is where babies come from". If that doesn't make you laugh I'm not sure what will.

Beat the heat

Nothing like fun in the Sun with a little water. It has been nice to have water parks, pools, and features to play in. We do literally have a pool at the end of our parking lot. It is a public pool that is very nice for kids I do not have any pictures yet of that pool. It is a naturally fed pool from under ground water. It is about 70 degrees I'd say, not sure though. That helps when it is hoovering around 100 degrees. So here is some pictures of a park with a water feature not to for from home.

Company man

So it is official I have taken on the role of part-time Supervisor at UPS. It has is benefits and draw backs but I've decided to go for it. I have already gotten less sleep. So hopefully it goes good. Sorry no pictures besides I probably wouldn't be smiling any way.

Longhorn Cavern

One of our outings. A few miles from home. This cavern was formed by a plate shifting and then water rushing in and doing it's thing. It was pretty cool.I can't remember what this room is called, but it was fairly large. This picture doesn't do it justice. I'd say 100 ft from left to right and maybe 40-50 ft high. Back in the day people had dances on a hardwood floor, and it was a place to consume some fire juice when It was illegal.
There is some cool gems in the cavern but I had a passenger that was rockin the boat. So it was hard to get a steady shot.
Also a final note there was some low ceilings maybe 5 ft or so. What we do for our kids and I would like to say not a bump or a scratch, nor screaming(that was saved for the car). There was some hands and knees action. I distinctly remember her breathing on the back of my neck and in my head I thought I heard her say please don't drop me. The next picture is because I think it is cute.

Me

My very first Oreo!

Happy Birthday

Need I say more. I think we can all guess what is going to happen.

checking the water.

Realizing she can dig in. We did not get a picture of her trying to vault it of her tray but I would say she was very involved.

The end result.

Happy 1st birthday Aliza!

late

So I get really tired from working and and not getting enough sleep so it seems that I have one day that I usually sleep alot. This morning is it. I also husbandly forgot to tell Taeya that I have a meeting in forty five minutes and nobody is ready. Taeya did a normal wife thing and got a little bent out of shape. Which is understandable, our four year old kept bugging her mom, mom, mom, any parent can understand. WHAT DO YOU WANT. "I love you" Amelia says. Then I proceed to tell Taeya that it is okay we will be allright. To take it down a notch "NO". Why can't you I asked, Amelia: "Because she is a MOM". Nothing like smiling while mad.

Ode to Monkey

Oh Monkey, how I loved you when I first saw you.
I was only 2, and Aunt Laura knew just what to do.
She sent me monkey, with wrap around arms and legs
that could velcro around my neck and my waist.



And then we moved, and I thought that I had lost you forever!
I cried and cried, and Nana and Aunt Laura tried to find another.
No other could compare! Even when they made jungle sounds...

Then I found that you were just hiding,

Waiting under my bed in Dad's sleeping bag.

Oh, how I jumped for Joy! I hope that we never part.

Writing, always Writing...

I only have a few weeks left in the Semester, which means that I have three 20 page papers to write in the next few weeks and two presentations to give!
I feel like I am writing, always writing...except for when I am reading blogs, checking my e-mail, looking at facebook, looking something up on wikipedia, calling Jason, texting, or looking at pictures of Amelia and Aliza on my phone...I noticed the other day that my internet pop-up adds are now asking if I have adult ADHD...do you think that's a bad sign????

umm

Nothing neat just the grind. Taeya is winding down at school but with a up swing of stress. She has been staying later at school. We are still tag teaming at the door when I get home from work it makes for long days. Lets see I am looking at Aliza eating Fruit loops for probably the first time and loving it. Taeya is doing the dishes were I should have done them earlier but can't seem to get up and stop her. She is also very cute. What do I say about Amelia, oh I know while at the store a few minutes ago. She likes getting the small carts for kids. As we picked up stuff to buy I put them in her cart. I put paper plates in it. She informed me that she did not want them in her cart. In her own words "plates are not cool dad".

It is very green and all the native flowers are out. I am sure that will change here shortly. Well I guess that's about it.

Weight loss

So for the first time in more than decade I weigh less then when I got married. Even before I even went on my mission. I have lost 30+ pounds. I still fell over weight, and I am still working on it. I don't fell much different the idea is good. I think I still have 20 to go, so here we go. I all so have to put the word in for working hard. Thanks again to the UPS diet, and I get paid for it. They have also asked me to be a supervisor so I am in the process of that. It pays more and that is about it. I am not excited about the extra commitment. With no growth where do I stand? So that is about it. Jason

blue bonnets

Last Saturday when Taeya needed to study, I took the girls to Fredericksburg, TX. I visited family there. The native flowers in Texas are in bloom. The most popular is the Blue Bonnet.

As you all know it is difficult to get more than one child to look at the camera at the same time. I am currently not feeling well so if this doesn't make sense don't kill the messenger. Other than normal life there is not much going on.

Amelia--Age 4

Last Sunday was Amelia's Fourth Birthday!!! We celebrated with a little cake and some balloons. She had a great time. She wore her new birthday dress from Gigi to Church, and made sure to tell everyone it was her birthday.

Nana Paulla sent a new monkey to replace the extra special monkey lost on our move to Austin. The next morning, Amelia had figured out a way to carry the monkey and the balloons, leaving her hands free to do whatever else she needs to do.

Amelia continues to be the center of attention of our family. In Primary, anytime they sing "I am a child of God", Amelia jumps up and has to help the chorister lead the song. Her latest thing has been whispering in your ear. She loves to tell you all kinds of things. She is starting to like her role as a big sister, and she makes sure to tell Aliza what to do. In fact, she will tell anyone what to do. She is growing up way too fast!

We sure love having Amelia as part of our family. She makes us smile every day!!!

Spring!

For the last couple of years, spring has been a season lasting a couple of weeks...sometime in June. The passing of the actual first day of spring only meant that it was less likely (but still highly probable) that it would snow.

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that spring is an actual season, and that it does happen in March!!! The weather this week has been absolutely beautiful. It was 70 today. Tomorrow, we are going to take the girls to a baseball game. I think that Amelia is already getting a tan! A couple of weeks ago, Aliza actually got a little pink herself.

I have been on Spring "Break" this week, and I can't believe that it is already almost over. I had big intentions of getting all kinds of things done this week...now I am wondering where all that time went.

update

There is so little going on I could not think of a good title. Life has been moving on, there is nothing really to report.
Ummm lets think, Aliza is almost pulled herself up. Amelia well she is three, excited to be four. Wondering when her first hair cut is going to be. We have been working on her habit of biting off her finger nails. We are almost there she is finally letting them go.(Cough,cough toys cough). Yes the old, toys for something the parents want ploy.
The girls and I (Jason) are going to Sandpoint for the weekend. I am going to check of the house and getting some new windows ordered to keep our renters happy. I guess they would like to open some windows, phep! overrated. They are fantastic renters I couldn't ask for better. I can't lose them.
Oh and I am going to the dunes with the boys. This should be alot of fun. This is going to be a good man-richment.
What else, Taeya is studying and working alot I am very proud of her. She is for sure the fish out of the water. She seems to be understanding the schooling better or finder her place, it just seem better.
I am still at UPS and doing good. I am looking forward to spring which is upon us. Mostly the spring flower of Texas. I love the blue bonnets, yes I said love. That is about it, I need a nap so I am signing off.

Spelling

I had to put this in. (Jason) Last night I was cleaning off the table and found a For Sale sign. Amelia wanted to know what it was and then wanted to spell the words. We got to the word "price".
Dad:Lets spell it out
Amelia:Okay daddy
Dad :what is the first letter
Amelia: P R I escalator it spells escalator.
Dad: Ummm, sure why not.
Love you Amelia

Quote of the week

I must start with conversation that leads up to the quote. While at Wal-Mart at the check out stand with the girls.

Amelia: Ummm dad?

dad: Yes Amelia.

Ameila: Are we buying chocolate today?

dad: Nooo I don't think so, why?

Amelia: I think we should because chocolate is good for you a little bit each day.

Dad: You got me there.
Love you Amelia you make me laugh everyday.

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

So, the last few days of school have not been too great. I was working with a professor on a project, and I gave up most of my weekend to get data together only to have pretty much nothing of what I did actually used. Needless to say, I was pretty frustrated. This frustration led me to question why I am here and to enter in to the realm of self-pitty. Why couldn't I have an easier job to do than to leave my family, our friends, our dog, our house (really our dog's house now), and a good paying job to go back to school and feel stupid pretty much every single day. I spend most of my time studying, missing out on time with my family, and I am not really sure that the studying is getting me any further along. And my thoughts go on and on.
Then, I read this talk by Elder Perry tonight, and I realized that I really have things pretty easy. I have my husband and my girls. We have a good place to live and food to eat. We still have family and friends that support us. And, even though I feel pretty stupid, I have hope that if I keep working hard, I will be smarter tomorrow than I am today (maybe, if I could remember anything that I am reading).

Aliza

Not much going on, but little Aliza has turned 9 months. Thanks for being apart of our family.

She has finally decided to crawl too.

This picture came out funny, she is still cute.

Do as I say, not as I do

Jason here, lately Amelia has been playing with the kids in the complex. Experiencing the true nature of kids of being so mean. She doesn't understand and gets sad. So I proceed to tell her that kids for the most part are mean, and don't know how to be polite enough to get along.
So I tell her just to do you best and don't listen to the kids. No need to cry I tell her, go and play with them.

Lately at work which is going just fine, I enjoy the work and getting paid. Every day a co-worker is a real jerk, and all I want to do is bust his teeth in. I try to tell myself don't cry, and go and play. Well I don't tell myself that. But I can not bring myself to his level. Even though it sure would be nice. How will I ever be able to teach my kids if I can't control myself. Another one is when I was mowing the lawn as a kid, and ran over a brick. Getting mad at the brick and my dad being in the distance. Thinking he was going to be mad at me for not looking out for stuff. He walked over and told me "you can't let things upset you like that, are you going to take it out on your kids when you get older". Obviously that has stuck with me all these years. Anyway just some things I was thinking about. Jason

1/22/2010

It is 75 and sunny need I say more. What a beautiful day.

Here We Go Again...

The new semester has started, and I think that I am more nervous about this semester than I was about the last. The difference this time around is that I know what I am in for. I should take the fact that I made it through last semester as support for the idea that I can do it again. But, thinking about last semester reminds me of trying to learn how to swim and keep my head above water. I feel like I earned my goggles last semester.

I can see things much more clearly now, but I am not sure that seeing things more clearly will help me keep my head above water any better.

This semester, I am working on earning my fins...maybe then I can swim through these readings more quickly!

GaGa, This One's for You!

Before Amelia started talking, my dad was intent on her learning to say "Grandpa". We would work with her in the car on our way down to Spokane. "GaGa", Amelia's version of Grandpa, was one her first words. Amelia loved going to Grandpa Sam's house.

And Grandpa Sam sure loved Amelia!

Ever since I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do with my dad on weekend mornings was to go to Cinnabon. When my brother and I were younger, we would go to Cinnabon and watch them make the Cinnabons. After I married Jason, we almost always grabbed a Cinnabon with my dad when we visited my dad in Spokane. So, to commemorate him this morning, we picked up Cinnabons. They were tasty, but definitely lacking...maybe we needed some yogurt butter on top.

While 2 years have passed since my dad passed away, I still miss him terribly. I am very grateful that we were able to live in Sandpoint for four years before my dad died. It was during that time that I was really able to get to know my dad and to enjoy him. My dad always did his best to support me, and I knew that I could count on him. I distinctly remember the day when he told me that I could do whatever I wanted to do.

He was such a great grandpa, and he loved his grandkids so very much. I hope that Amelia remembers him just a little bit as she grows up. We love you GaGa Sam!!!!!!!!

A few of my favorite things

Need I say More.