Mommy Houdini

The girls never latched on to anything as babies. Not a binky, blanky, or animal.  Then came Eli!  Meet Doggie!  Oh how he has loved his doggie.  I would watch him love on him and wish he would give me even half those lov'ns!  

After a year of weekly washing and lov'ns... Doggie "broke"  Now if I loved him as much as Eli, I may have been willing to pull out a needle and thread, but he was soo gross!!  Instead I got on line and found a similar dog that will stand up to the washer a little better. The trick was going to be making the transition.

I went into his room as he was waking up from his nap and said "Oh poor doggie is broken, lets fix him"  I put him under his covers, dropped him to the floor and pulled out "Doggie all fixed!" He was still not quite awake yet, gave me and the dog a funny look and then off he went!  Illusion successful? 

The test would be going to sleep that night....And I am a brilliant magician!!

I had to get a snap of him in his "trains" I loved his little bum in diapers, but nothing beats those little cheeks in "trains"!!

Memorial Day at Pullen Park

About a minute on the toys:

 until the direct sun became uncomfortable

The Pullen Caboose 

A ride on the C.P. Huntington miniature train, a one-third size, near-replica of the famous locomotive of the same name.

 A lovely boat ride!

(Ryile decided she was too big for this one)

Finally Eli smiling, he really Did enjoy it!

 And last but not least a ride on the Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel (1911), which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

 The park website says that Pullen Park is the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the United States and the sixteenth oldest in the world. Just a fun historical fact to throw in

Keep'n Busy

We aren't  able to put the kids into the school that they will be attending next fall and so we decided that I would home school them for the last  four weeks of the school year.

 So for four hours in the afternoon, starting when Eli goes down for a nap, the girls are doing their studies.  I have done my best to get out of the house every morning so that we don't go absolutely MAD!)

 Lucky for us there is a TON of Gorgeous parks with Lakes, toys and sand and plenty of shade for ME!

According to the locals, shade doesn't help in the months June-August.  If you aren't at a pool, you are inside.  So we are getting in what we can.

 We have also been  to the Museum of Natural Science, which is FREE to the public.  I figured with it being free it would be  mediocre.  It was AMAZING!  Six floors of exploring, and three of the floors are new with new technology and hands on learning. We went to a class they had called Meet the Animals.  They talked about how we eat and then introduced us to a turtle, alligator and guinea pig.  Great Science field trip for my homeschooling curriculum:)

This touch screen lab had a ton of screens that allowed to the kids to zoom, rotate the 

dimensional planets, the girls loved it.

Eli was ready go by the end!

I had to stick this one in, just cause he is so dang cute to me!

We were excited to make the trip to the beach!  It took us right around 2 1/2 hours to get there.

 The kids LOVED it!  

 Eli was so funny.  He would get water in his mouth from a wave and start gagging, border line throw-up.  BUT he was not about to stop, he kept going back for more!

On a side note, I wanted  to show how high our back porch is off the ground.  We knew we were on a slope, but we had NO IDEA the extent.

 They finally built the stairs this week.

 We have a decent size lot, unfortunately the only thing it is going to be good for is ice blocking!

Progress on the house is slow. We were suppose to be able to move in the end of June and now they are saying the end of July :(

Abby's 9

 We arrived in North Carolina late Friday night and Abby's birthday was Sunday.  We started her day off  opening presents.  (normally we make them wait until cake and ice cream in the evening)  I know you are impressed with the amazing wrapping paper...a blanket from the couch.

Aaron had the presents shipped to his office with his computer so that we would even have something for her to open 

We then went to Chili's for a mid-afternoon lunch, followed by the movie Mirror Mirror.

After the movie we headed back to the apartment for a yummy ice-cream cake.  This is where I felt bad.  The week before she told me she wanted a beach cake.  I had to tell her that we could buy one, but there was no way I was going to be able to make a cake after so close to the move.   

She handled it well.  She is such a GREAT kid!!  Happy Birthday kiddo!! 

North Carolina here we come!

The last time the girsl flew was four and a half years ago when we left Idaho for Colorado. We are now closing that chapter and embarking on a new adventure! 

Eli was on cloud nine!!  First a ride on the bus from the car rental to the airport, followed by the train ride to our gate.

They had fun going back and forth on the walking belts. 

 

Our home is not finished yet, so we are in corporate housing for the next two months.  We got into town around midnight Friday night.  When we got to the apartment, we couldn't get in because they left the wrong key in the lock box.  After a number of phone calls and dragging who knows how many people out of bed, we got in around 2:00 a.m

It IS beautiful here! 

 We would not be able to put the girls in the school that they will be attending next fall, so I am homeschooling the girls the last four weeks of this year. 

Even though our home in Colorado has sold, the break in from January has followed us here!  We got a phone call from our bank after we arrived to ask about a suspicious $600 check being cashed.  The man took off while they were calling us! The bank did get a copy of the mans drivers license and plates. Who knows where that will lead us! 

That puts us up to speed for now!  

We Will Miss You!!!

 We lived in Colorado 4.5 years, which sets the record for the longest time we have ever lived in the same place since Aaron and I were married 12 years ago.  We had to say goodbye to SOOO many Amazing people and GOOD friends. I have to say this is the best ward we have been in Ever, hands down!  This being said, it has the bar raised pretty high for our next destination and has me very nervous!

My friends put together a ward going away party which was held at the park with lots of fun desserts.  They set the picture mat out and had everyone sign it and then framed it with  picture of Colorado. I absolutely LOVE it and will never forget these amazing people!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this group of women!!  I honestly do not know what I am going to do without them!  I am not so good with expressing emotions with words and wish I could put to words all my feelings of admiration, respect, appreciation and love that I feel for them!

Ashley, Lyndsey, me, Rachel

Shauna and Megan (top row below)

 This is Sydney's Best Buddy from Kindergarten, they were inseparable  all year!

 We have had the best Kindergarten teachers!  Mrs. Ryan didn't disappoint, she was Fabulous!

Syds other two peeps have been buddies since we moved here when she was 2.

 Abby with her third grade teacher this year.

Rylie and Abby with their art teacher.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a recent picture of  Rylie and her teacher FAVORITE teacher of ALL time Mr. Johnson.  He was her teacher for two years in a row and we watched her grow soo much under his instruction. 

Rylie and Adi (in pink) have been BFF's since we moved here.  She and her mom threw a surprise going away  party for Ry and Abby.  I know so sweet right?

 Abby has a Huge group of great friends in our ward.  So to avoid overwhelming the host we stuck to just the girls she sees at recess. Such a sweet bunch! 

Our last week in Colorado was CRAZY to say the least.  We were fortunate to have a relocation package.  so we had everything packed, loaded and driven across country for us..... Wiiiith the exception that we found out that they have traced the forged check to one of the packers.... all went well?  We had to pack on Monday, load the truck on Tuesday so that the "professional" cleaners could clean the house Wednesday. (I recommend hiring your own cleaners, not requiring "professional" from the house owners.)  The house sold on Thursday and we flew out on Friday.  We were without our own place to stay starting Tuesday night.  My sweet generous friend Rachel opened her home to all six of  us and we stayed with her and her family three our last three nights.  My ward was so Great!  They provided meals, watched my kids, and were in constant contact offering any and all help that we might be in need of.  

Thanks so much for EVERYTHING!

We will NEVER forget you!!!

1st phase complete!

Whew, we are cutting it close with this one! We are scheduled to pick up her retainer the 26th, and we fly out on the 27th. While we are crossing our fingers that Abby will not need phase two, there is no question, Ry will go back for round two in a year or so:( But she is glad for the break and will take what she can get!!