FUN TIMES TODAY

Jen and I took our kids to the museum today. They are celebrating heritage days there so the kids got to do some extra neat stuff. They got to pan for "gold", make a key chain, weave, go to "school" (with slates and chalk)and investigate all the pioneer houses. They all had a lot of fun. And actually, so did I. After we were done with the Heritage village, we went and checked out the rest of the museum. Josh was absolutely entranced with the morse code telegraph. He played on it forever!! At one point, Merynn said to me,"I am learning so much mom. Thanks for bringing me here." It really was fun. Of course we had to top it off with an ice cream. Yummmmm, bubble gum ice cream. I did take some pictures with my new camera......I will post them later.

Then I had an extra excellent treat....I went to safeway to pick up some ice, and guess who was there? My Whipples!!! Oh how I adore Leslie, Hannah and Marin. If my two girls grow up to be even half the girls Hannah and Marin are, life will be bliss. I love to just sit and chat with them.

We got to go out to the farm for supper. Auntie Kayla is visiting. She is an amazing auntie and sister. (in-law)We went for an extra long quad ride and had a great time.

Today was a good day.

3 MORE SLEEPS!!!

JUST PLAIN WEIRD

As I was pulling into our driveway this afternoon, I realized that my next door neighbor was vacuuming her lawn. Yes,vacuuming. No, I did not have a hallucination. No, I am not joking. She was full out vacuuming her lawn. With a shop vac. Does this seem strange to anyone else? Or is there a new gardening technique that I missed? Even my kids were confused. I wish I was brave enough to ask her just why exactly she was doing that.

Also so weird.......my momzy AND my brother both called me today. A rare occurrence if there ever was one. I LOVED it. I can never get enough of my bro., but he is usually M.I.A., so it is a special day when he calls. So awesome to talk to my momzy too. Love, love, love her.

4 more sleeps till we leave!!!!

NOTHING NEW

I have totally been slacking on the blog updates......but here's the problem......I have NOTHING to write about. Everyday is the same old, same old . Get up, get the kids breakfast, work out, hang out at the park, hang out at home, go to bed. I feel like summer is passing by so quickly and we are wasting it. The weather should really co-operate.

The weekend was good. Nate was actually home on Saturday for a change, and it was almost weird to have him around. We got some yard work done and I cleaned the van out (yes, AGAIN) to get ready for our trip. And then.......it was GIRLS NIGHT!!!! Oh how I love these nights. Out for supper and then to a movie. It was STUPENDOUS!! My cheeks were actually a little sore from all the laughing. I love my friends, yes I do. After church we had a couple of families over for supper and again, much fun, much laughter.

I had to teach the lesson in Relief Society today and it was on the priesthood. I really am grateful for the priesthood and that my husband is worthy to use this gift. The priesthood has blessed my life, and the lives of my family so many, many times. I hope that I can teach and guide my sons on the right path so that they too can have the power of the priesthood and bless others. I am also proud of my kids for their eagerness to invite friends to church and to share what knowledge they have of the gospel to others. Merynn brought a friend to church today and even gave her a Book of Mormon. Her boldness is an example to me.

I have so much to do this week to get ready to leave and I don't want to do ANY of it. How to get motivated? Anyone want to come to my laundry? Anyone?

Also, thanks Linds for always anwsering your phone and my silly questions. And FYI - the piano playing went so ridiculous even my Josh commented on my mistakes!(no go with the book in the library). But it is over.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH GANDER!!! We love you.

Here is this weeks list:

1. I learned what "parging" is.

2. There is an animal called a Nutria.

3. Kids will get RIDICULOUS when they know the are being filmed.

4. I no longer can function on 6 hours of sleep.

5. Girls night is WAY better than headache medicine.

6. I miss Leslie, Hannah, Marin and Kori. COME HOME!!!!!!

7. Apparently, one can be Elder's Quorum President and Young Men's President at the same time. Huh.

TOONEY TUESDAY

For the last two days the weather has been cold and gross and the kids have been extremely good considering they can't go play outside. So, to thank them for their good behavior, I took all the kids to go see the new movie Despicable Me tonight. I LOVE CHEAP TUESDAY!!!!! It was a really cute show. Josh fell off his chair once or twice from laughing so hard. (what 9 yr. old boy wouldn't laugh at a fart gun?) We had a really fun night out.
I did witness something odd tonight while at the movie. A lady walked up to the garbage can took out a large empty pop and went and got a refill!! How gross is that!! The things people will do. Sick.

Hoping the weather warms up.

SPOILED

I absolutely LOVE the present Nathan got me for my b-day. It's a sony dual camera and camcorder. It is going to be perfect for our trip. And everyday life too. I am really excited to use it. It is so small. I think it's awesome. I wasn't expecting him to get me anything because I don't really NEED anything and I told him to just save the money so we would have more for our trip. He spoiled me anyways. Thanks Nathan. Love You.

THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK

Here's this weeks list:

1. You can sunburn ANY part of your body.

2. My new favorite smelling soap is Dial brands Pomegranate & Tangerine. Yum it smells good. Makes me want to lick my hands.

3. 32 feels the same as 31.

4. I am very, very, very out of shape.

5. Not only can Josh and Merynn get along......they can get along almost too well.

6. The simplest acts of kindness mean the absolute most.

THE BEACH

Yeah, yeah I know, I've missed a couple of days. Here's the situation......when it is hot here in G.P., we are outside. All day because hot weather doesn't happen frequently, so we take what we can get. So what happens is, when we finally do come inside, and the layers of sunscreen have been scrubbed of the kids, and they have watched a movie and are in bed,the house is a disaster cause I have been out side all day. Which means, instead of blogging, I am catching up on cleaning. By the time the cleaning is done, I am done too. And into bed I go. So there. End of that explanation.

The last few days have been insanely beautiful and the kids and I have been loving it. They finished their swimming lessons and they all did fantastic. Yesterday we went to Musreau Lake with the Keslers and had a blast playing at the beach. I am not sure if there is any sand left there though because somehow it ALL managed to end up in my bathtub! Ahh good times.

Nathan and the two older kids left about 2 hours ago to go to Edmonton to go canoeing for the day tomorrow with Kayla/Curtis and Sarah/Shawn and Andy and Grandpa Brent. They were all really excited to go. I hope they have a fabulous time. So I think I am going to take the younger two and go see a movie. Alysha wants to go see "The Karate Kid" so that's probably what we'll do.

Life is good.

WE'LL MISS YOU

Sadly, it's official. We have no more pet rabbit. After looking for 3 days with no success, we have come to the conclusion that Freckles is not coming back. It is heart breaking to see the girls go through the loss. I am pretty sure we won't be doing the "pet" thing again any time soon. Thanks for the memories Frecks. You were a most wonderful pet rabbit.

On a lighter note, the 3 older kids started swimming lessons this week at the outdoor pool. Notice that I did NOT register Trentan......They all had a great time and did really well. 9:00 in the morning is a tough time but we got there on time today. We'll see if we can keep it up.

For F.H.E. we went to a place called Kleskun Hills. We were supposed to go with some friends but I didn't get my act together fast enough and they were leaving when we were arriving. SORRY FRIENDS!!! It was so much fun. Nathan had told the kids that fossils had been found there and so they would climb one of the hills and look for "footprints" or any other sign of a dinosaur. Oh man it was hilarious. At the end of it all I think the tally was 9 t-rex footprints, 7 "long neck" foot prints, a "long neck" head/neck/body, and my personal fav., a pterodactyl wing. (Trentman "found" that one) Because it had rained last night, the hills were muddy and we had to strip the kids down to their undies and t-shirts before letting them back in the van. They were filthy! What a fabulous, fun time.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK

Things I learned this week:

1. I not only dislike the wind, I LOATHE the wind.

2. One of my most favorite things to do is to talk on the phone (or in person) with my sisters. (that includes sis.-in-laws) Sorry bro.

3. Trentan loves to make up songs. About anything.

4. Nathan is a softie. When it comes to Alysha. (I kinda knew this already, just reiterating)

5. I can use big words in a sentence!!! (see point 4 - last word)

6. Those individuals who have callings as nursery leaders, without a doubt, have THE most patience of all.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

What do you say to your daughters when their pet rabbit has escaped AGAIN and this time we can't find him? Anywhere? For two days?

What do you say to all your kids when, while you are eating breakfast, a sparrow runs into the kitchen window and lands on your deck and dies?

What do you say to your youngest son when he tells you, "Mom, please don't sing in my room. If you want to sing, go find a stage."?

What do you say to your friend and her two amazing daughters when they put up with you WAAAAYYYY longer than necessary?

What do you say when, after trying for two summers, your now 6 year old can FINALLY ride her two wheeler, and she wants to know why you are crying?

What do you say to your sister who, was in the hospital for three days getting an organ removed, phones to apologize for not calling your daughter on her birthday?.......ummmmm.....you were a little busy Sarah!!

Oy! The last 48 hours have been ridiculous.

AHHHH THE CLEANLINESS

The last two days we have been busy steam-cleaning the heck out of everything. 3 bedrooms, 8 couches, 3 area rugs, and two vehicles later, our house smells fabulous, and our furniture looks amazing. I am now on a cleaning frenzy. I now need to convince Nathan that I need the ladder in the house so I can dust the lights that are waaaayyy up high in the kitchen. (I would actually like to just replace them with something new and more updated, but I won't push my luck.)
The first few days of summer haven't been too memorable but we are enjoying each other's company. Hopefully the sun will come out, and the wind will stop. We are keeping are fingers crossed.
Looking forward to some "girl" time with my friends tomorrow.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

p.s. adding some pictures of the kids courtesy of my friend Leslie!! Thank You!!