A few new things around the house

About a month or so ago we finally unpacked our last boxes! I realize we have lived here 2 years, so this is a little pathetic, but it was only books. Our bookcase did not fit on our moving truck when we left NY, so we left it with intentions of buying a new one when we got here. We didn't want the $20 Wal-mart special again, and we just were not getting around to buying one. Finally Chris's parents got us one for our anniversary this year! It is much bigger than our old one, and we don't even have enough books to fill it yet.

Our other new thing is from Chris's deceased Grandmother, Nani. Chris's parents took it and had it refinished for us and it looks so good! It is a sliding desk- very cool. It is nice to finally have something in our entryway. The mirror was also hers, the lamp we bought, and the runner I found (well my mom found) at a garage sale for 25cents!

Trying to get a 2 year old to cooperate

Sunday afternoon, after church, we found ourselves all sitting on the couch reading. So Chris got the camera to take a picture with the timer. We told Caitlin and Ashlee to read their books, and to not look at the camera. Ashlee would look down, but then look up at the camera when the picture was taken.

We tried again................

and again.............

(it was getting hard to keep a straight face)

and again..............

...............but no such luck. She just wanted to peek her eyes out over her book and look at the camera.

Pre-School!!!

Caitlin started her 4 year old pre-school today. She was so excited. She seemed to really like her class, and can't wait to go back. She told me today they learned "mmmmmmmmmmm" and they got 2 m&m's when they wrote a beautiful "m", and she wrote 2 beautiful ones.

She said her picture would look cool with her feet crossed, which it would have if I hadn't have had them stand in such a terrible place.

Ashlee wanted her backpack on as well.

I thought Ashlee would be okay because she said all morning that she was staying "home wiss Mama", but she cried and cried when Caitlin left. However, when I picked up Caitlin I think she was more excited to she Ashlee than vice versa.

An Over-nighter

My Mom was in Logan Utah last week, so we went up friday night thru saturday evening to see her and my Grandma and Grandpa Garrett.

Happy early Birthday to Grandma!

My Mom made this cute purse! I love how Grandma and Caitlin are looking at each other.

The girls loving their Grandma Berta.

The girls with Grandpa Garrett, and the 5th straight picture that Ashlee is not looking at the camera :)


We didn't take any pictures until the last 10 minutes, but we did have a great time. Here were some highlights:

• Chris and I got to go to the Logan Temple!
• garage sales with experts (my Mom, Aunt, and Grandma)
• $5 golf clubs from a garage sale (they are old, but Chris doesn't mind)
• Ashlee throwing her new shoe in the river (not a highlight, but very humorous)
• new dress-ups!!!
• a little shopping with my Mom
• a driving range
• spending time with family!
• a little hike
• jamba juice

We were glad we were able to make the trip, it is always good to see my Grandparents.

Volleyball

We attended a WWCC volleyball game today- the girls first volleyball game ever.
I think I must have taken this phone picture of about the only time the girls were actually sitting watching the game. They mostly liked to just climb around. But they had fun; Caitlin kept saying "this is so cool that we came to this."

Our goal last year was to support the athletics at the school more and try to attend at least 3 things. We didn't make it to a single thing. But this year I think we just might be more supportive.

Making Jam

We discovered this year that one of our trees in the backyard is actually a plum tree! This summer it had fruit on it for the first time.

So, I picked all the fruit (which wasn't a ton because they are pretty small) bought a few more from the store, and made plum jam.

It was my first time ever canning jam, and it didn't turn out too bad. It even set up pretty well.

crunching away

This video is Chris making his point that some bagels I bought were on the stale side. Point taken, the bagels went in the garbage.
I thought it was a great deal in the "quick sell" section. A dozen bagels for about a dollar. I won't be getting them anymore.

crunchie from Beth Will on Vimeo.

(I do have to say that Chris toasted the bagels which made them even harder than they already were)

On hot days...

....nothing is better than a Popsicle in the shade.

I glanced over at Ashlee during dinner last night and saw her neatly stacking her bananas. Then they would fall over and she would say "Tie again".

To the Zoo

With Chris's time at home quickly coming to an end, we decided to head to Utah on Monday to go to the zoo among other things.
We saw lots of animals............




and the CUTEST little baby elephant............

it was sooooo hot that we needed a giant snow cone to cool us off...........

Caitlin didn't even care to see any of the animals, she just wanted to ride the carousel........

this elephant made noises and squirted water out of it's trunk, and Ashlee hated it! 1 second after this picture she was in tears.



We only have pictures of the zoo, but we also went to the Salt Lake Temple, the Lion House Pantry for lunch, Costco, and we got to spend some time with our friends and their sweet little boy in the hospital on one of his tender last days on earth- we love you guys.

Back to Normal

I finished floor orientation early Monday morning, and I survived. (Even the 3 night shifts at the end). Now we will be back to our normal life, except the 2 shifts I will work a month- hooray.

And Chris went back to work this morning. A week of meetings, and then he will start his classes next week. He is just as excited as always.

Here are glimpses into our busy life lately. Hopefully we can start to do normal blogging again.

watching morning cartoons on PBS

The weekly kids movie at the theater (the dark theater and flash made our eyes all weird)

more park time with friends

cutest pig tails ever!

cheap entertainment!

and, of course, dress-ups.

What's going on?

There are a few things that have contributed to a lack of blogs lately.

1. It's summer, and we are enjoying it!
2. I strapped on my work shoes. I have been doing full-time orientation for the past 4 weeks, but I only have 1 more week and then I will start working "casual part-time", or only 2 shifts a month. It will be great to still be a full time mom, but be able to keep my skills fresh.


3. I had girls camp for 5 days, which was awesome! Probably my spiritual highlight of the year so far.
4. Chris and the girls went to Colorado while I was at girls camp. He has been great at being the "mom" for that whole week, plus 3 times a week while I am working. Thanks Chris.(one of the only pictures from Colorado. Cooling off in Lake Loveland)

That pretty much sums up our life for the past month. We have had a fun weekend with playing, visitors, and Ashlee's birthday. We are glad to still have a couple more weeks of summer before Chris heads back to work.

A few more random pictures:

(the girls hanging out in Grandma and Grandpa Will's car when they arrived on Friday.)

(Caitlin got a new dress for herself and her doll, Gigi, from Grandpa Bishop and Grandma Berta)

(this is called standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was helping Ashlee collect some water in her cup at the splash park, not realizing that I was standing right were water would be spraying up. I can see why Ashlee doesn't like the splash park, it was freezing.)

Hauppie Bir-day to me!

This is what Ashlee has been saying all day, and why not? It is her birthday after all.

Today she is 2 years old, although she says "free", I guess she is just practising for next year.

She had a great day. She LOVED opening her presents, and she did them all by herself.
We played, went on walks, went on a picnic, to the Green River, to the splash park, ate cake and ice cream. And she got to do it all with her Grandma and Grandpa Will celebrating with her!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

We love our little Ashlee. She really brings so much joy and laughter into our lives.