Claustrophobia and Milestones...

Lately it seems like I often find Elliot in the dryer, with the door shut.  I would be so beyond claustrophobic in there it isn't even funny.  But he really seems to like it!!  (Kind of scary, I know)

Grace reached another milestone in her little life...she learned to tie her shoes!!  We got a book, which didn't help a whole lot, but the one thing that did help was the shoelaces in the book that were different colors on each end.  That really did it for her.  So I took some extra shoelaces that came with her shoes, cut them in half, tied them together and put them in her shoes.  Now she is a pro!!  She was so excited that she called dad, grandma and grandpa.  She said, "Did you know that I can tie my shoes all by myself now?".  She was very proud of herself.

I just put this pic of Maggie in here because she is so cute!!

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

My mom and dad came to visit this last weekend.  We had so much fun!!  We kept it a secret from the kids and they were so beyond excited when they woke up on Saturday morning!  We went to a really fun pumpkin patch/apple orchard.  It was such a nice day, we didn't even need coats.  Then we went went to Cat Tales, which is a zoo for big cats that have been rescued.  Grandma and Grandpa got to see Grace in her primary program at church on Sunday, where she sang a little solo and had a line to recite.  She also gave a talk in primary that they got to see.  We were so sad to see them go on Sunday :(  But the good thing about moving back to the west is that we get to see them a lot more and we can't wait for Thanksgiving!!

I'm not sure what Elliot was doing in this picture...

We got some really yummy apples that Maggie immediately got in to.

Elliot and Grace got to ride on the ponies.  They loved it!

The big cats...

The finished product from our trip to the pumpkin patch.  I think Grace was trying to channel the jack-o-lantern!

Remember all those missing brain cells?

I TOTALLY forgot that today was snazzy shoe day at school.  I felt so bad...we got to the bus stop and saw all the other kid's decorated shoes and Grace was so sad.  I actually even thought about it yesterday when I was at the grocery store, but obviously the thought didn't stick in my mind.  I feel like such a bad mom, making my daughter so sad!!!

Nothing to Eat...

This is a picture of my fridge today...probably the emptiest it has ever been.  But we have milk and diet Dr. Pepper so we are good!  I do have ingredients for dinner tonight, old standby chicken and rice, and believe it or not we rarely go out to eat.  I just haven't been to the store in a while...I'll probably go tomorrow.  

Monday Thoughts...

Monday is laundry day, need I say more?

Elliot went potty by himself today, without me asking.  It is probably because he wanted to play on the computer and I always make him go potty first, but I didn't ask him to go!

Is it November 5th yet?

I am really amazed by all the people who stare at my belly at the gym.  Yes I know my t-shirt is tight in that area and believe it or not pregnant women do exercise!!  I may just be getting a little self-conscious about how huge my belly has gotten in the last couple of weeks...but people really do stare!!  (No, I don't wear those little tank tops to the gym, I'm actually about to switch to Ray's t-shirts :)

ANOTHER stimulus package?!?!  Are you freaking kidding me?!  Uncle Sam must be in good with the Monopoly banker...

Forgetful...

I have been so forgetful lately, especially when it comes to remembering to bring my camera with me on outings.  I have done that so many times in the last month and a half or so.  I think that it all correlates to when I started getting up at 5 during the week to go to the gym.  It is really the only time that works, and I feel so much better when I am going consistently.  I could take Maggie and Elliot to the daycare there, but it is really expensive and Maggie screams bloody murder when I leave her.  Plus, I'm pretty sure that is where Maggie picked up her latest stomach bug.  Anyway, I think all available brain cells are going to my uterus at this point (84 days and counting-yea!!).  But I feel so bad that I haven't been able to document so many things.  I thought that I should journal about them, just so I can remember some day.  

At the beginning of September we went to the Spokane County Fair.  We went on free-fair day, which happened to be a Monday and I finally planned a family night :), and I thought it would be totally crazy, but the the kid ride area was really not that bad.  We didn't have to wait in line much at all.  I was totally kicking myself for forgetting the camera because Grace and Elliot had such a blast on the rides!!  It was so cute.  They were seriously in little kid heaven.  We bought a bunch of tickets and they got to go on just about every ride.  Elliot was so cute because he was wearing this hat of Rays that was way too big for him, but he refused to take off.  We just tightened it up and he ran around in it.  We ended the night by buying some cotton candy and eating it on our way back to the car.  It was such a fun night, that I was sure was going to be kind of a nightmare.  The kids had so much fun-even Maggie got to go on the train ride!

Next we went to Pocatello to see my parents for a long weekend.  We actually went because one of Ray's best friends was getting married in Logan that weekend.  And, yes, I forgot the camera.  We had such a good time and Ray and I got to go to Logan alone for the day of the wedding-gotta love grandma and grandpa!!  It was fun going to Logan and it was really enlightening for Ray, seeing all his old friends and where their lives have taken them.  Grandma and grandpa's house is so much fun, Max even loves it there, and Grace and Elliot were crying when we had to leave :(

There have been numerous activities since then for which I forgot my camera.  We went to a Pasta Feed fund raiser for Grace's school, which was seriously exorbitantly priced for what we got!!  There were a bunch of activities for the kids.  I think the favorite was the dance group that performed.  Grace, Elliot and Maggie loved it.  The were all clapping enthusiastically at the end of every number (much to Ray's chagrin on Elliot's part!).  Then Ray took Maggie and Grace to the children's museum last weekend.  Grandma bought us a family pass for christmas-thanks mom!!  I was at home working on potty training with Elliot, but Grace and Maggie had a blast!! (Okay, Ray forgot the camera on that one-but I forgot to have him take it!!)  And just yesterday evening we went on a little hike perfect for kids.  All of the kids were having such a great time climbing up on the big rocks and running around.  At one point Grace was running around yelling "the wilderness is so fun!", and Elliot was so insistent that we follow the trail.  Maggie was so cute marching along behind the kids.  There were so many photo ops, it was so beautiful with all the changing leaves among the pine trees, but again I forgot the camera!  Anyway, here are a few pics that I have managed to take in the last couple of months.

Elliot was so funny this day.  He wanted to play on the computer, but I told him no because we needed to get dressed for the day.  A few minutes later he came out of his room in this outfit.  His pants, I'm not sure where he found them, are way too small and on backwards!  We are still struggling with potty training-the one day method wasn't all that effective.  But we will struggle on!
This picture was taken this morning, Grace and Maggie got new church dresses yesterday and wanted pictures of them.  She is actually smiling!!  I think I just caught her at the right time saying "cheese"!
Grace being silly.  She is so funny, she has been asking me some really thought provoking questions.  I have been talking a lot to her about modesty and respecting our bodies that Jesus made for us.  We were watching something on Discovery channel about some aboriginal tribes in Africa, they people basically wear loin cloths and that is about it.  Grace says, "mom, they are NOT dressed very modestly".  I had to try to explain to her about different cultures, etc.  She is still brining it up.  The other day she asked me if the Bratz dolls (hate them, by the way!) want to live in Africa.  She also asked me how the baby was going to get out of my tummy.  I explained it to her the best I could and she seemed to understand.  I just hope she doesn't try to repeat it to her class during show and tell or something!  She is a smart one!
I could not get a good picture of Maggie's new little sweater dress.  I really wanted to because it is so darn cute!!
Here is a full pic of the dress, but you can't see it very well with all the light in the background.  Maggie is suddenly saying a bunch of new words.  It is so cute and funny.  Her new favorite is "no".  She says it to me all the time, but it is like a long, drawn out noooo.  It is really cute, sometimes.  She is a serious ham.  She is always trying to make everyone laugh!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy Birthday Mom!! This picture was taken on my 1st birthday. How our family has changed since then! We have such an amazing family and it is all to you and dad's credit. You are such an amazing example to all of your children, friends, grandchildren-pretty much anyone you meet.  I also know that if I ever want to tell someone something and have them be really excited, you are the one to call!  You always give the wanted response!!  I hope your birthday is wonderful, spent with your newest little grandson. I love you.

Politics, Schmolitics

I am officially declaring that I am DONE with politics for the remainder of the presidential election.  No more debates for me.  The debates are so frustrating because both sides lie and spin and stretch the truth, and I am left feeling manipulated, frustrated and utterly helpless to do anything about it.  I have a tendency to be overly passionate about politics but I don't feel good when I am in the thick of it.  I am so sick of all the negative adds coming from both sides and the ENDLESS discussion by all the talking heads about things that don't really matter all that much.  I know who I am voting for, and I know that won't change, so why subject myself to that?!  I am voting for John McCain.  I say that with some trepidation because I'm not completely confident that he is the right person for the job.  I am nervous about Sarah Palin, mainly because of her lack of experience.  But I feel like I am choosing the "lesser of two evils" (even though I really don't think Obama or McCain are evil).  I seriously considered voting for Ron Paul, but a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Barack Obama, and I truly believe that Obama would not be good for what I believe America should be.  

This weekend was general conference for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Every 6 months the leadership of my church meets and has a worldwide broadcast where the leaders speak to the members for the purpose of giving guidance and direction.  Elder Boyd K. Packer gave a talk yesterday afternoon that really touched me.  He began by discussing the early saints of the church, and the persecution they suffered.  This persecution was greatly intensified when they were living in Nauvoo, IL in the 1840's.  They suffered mobbings and cruel persecution for their beliefs.  They sought redress from the governor of Illinois, Governor Boggs.  In response to this Gov. Boggs issued a proclamation that all mormons should be treated as enemies and should be exterminated from the state.  The situation became considerably worse after this extermination order was issued and finally the saints decided to leave and go west to no-man's land, where they could live and worship in peace.   These saints had turned Nauvoo from a swamp into a beautiful, thriving city where they had to leave literally all of their earthly possessions.  They had to leave behind the land and homes that they owned and walk across the country in the most deplorable of conditions to escape what had become state sponsored terrorism against them.  Eventually they attempted to appeal to the federal government for redress.  This was attempted several times.  On the last attempt Pres. Martin Van Buren told them that "their cause is just, but there is nothing I can do for you".  So their country, America-the land of the free, had turned her back on them.  Looked the other way.  Despite all of this, on July 24, 1849, when the saints had been in the Salt Lake Valley for 2 years, they had a celebration of America.  They all wore red, white and blue, waved American flags and celebrated the country that had allowed them to be "exterminated".  Despite all they had been through they still loved the idea of America, because that idea was divinely inspired.  The people running the country had made mistakes, but the idea of America still existed and offered them a chance of worshiping God how they wanted and offered them the chance of doing this peacefully.  And eventually this did happen.  

I love America.  I love the divinely inspired idea of America.  I love that I can live where I want, become whoever I want to be, and worship as I please.   I think that government has become so corrupt that most in power don't remember what America means.  The system of getting elected to congress or as president in this country has gotten so far off track that you can't possibly do it without getting your hands dirty.  I don't know that anyone can fix it.  So, I will support the candidate who I think will do the least harm.  But I will not rely on the government for anything.  I will rely on God, my family, and my faith.  I guess Barack would call me bitter for that, seeing how he is so much more enlightened and progressive than I.  But I call it smart, because the more you rely on government, the less freedom you have.  And I love America because I am free.