Hurray!

My little guy tinkled on the toilet tonight. :) I thought that was blog worthy! We are no where close to being done with diapers, but I was very proud of him for telling me he needed to go, and then going like he'd done it for months.. (besides aiming... we'll have to work on that. ;)


***sidenote.. is anyone going to Twilight? I kinda wanna go, but am doubting Josh will want to accompany me.

As Halloween approaches.. :)

Where were you?

I wish I had a better memory! My dear friend Tara tagged me, and I thought it was a fun one, so here it goes.

20 years ago
1. This would make me 7 years old. I honestly can't remember a whole lot about this time in my life except that I'm sure I was anxious to be baptized. I was lucky enough to be able to be baptized on the same day as my cousin.
2. My older brother was always a trooper to let me hang out with he and his friends.(He is the closest to my age in our family, even though he's 6 years older than me.) I remember many summer nights sleeping out under the stars when I was young. We were really close and I have fond memories of all the fun time he and I had together. I was very lucky to have such a loving big brother.
3. I used to go stay with my Grandparents up in ID for a week or two during the summer. I loved going on walks to 'down town' with them, and visiting all the little shops. We used to stop at a little hot dog stand on the corner and get lunch. I'm thankful for being able to remember these special times.

10 years ago.
1. I was a senior in high school, and honestly couldn't wait to be outta there! I chose to graduate a semester early, and filled the first semester of the year with completely fun, and non-thinking classes. AP Art, Social Dance, Choir, Sign Language, Seminary, (probably somewhere in there was math and english..)
2. Ha, I was 'waiting' for a missionary. He went on a mission to Italy. Looking back, and knowing how it all turned out, it was silly of myself to make myself so miserable, but I'm sure it helped mold and shape me into who I am today. (I have no idea where he is today... and that's ok. )
3. I was so excited and anxious to be heading up to Ricks college. It was one of the best things I've ever done! I've never been very academically smart, but I learned many of life's lessons there and wouldn't trade that time in my life for anything. I made some very good friends in college, and I am greatful to know them.

5 years ago.
1. My daughter was only a month old. It was a challenging time(being a clueless new mommy), but we were and are still very in love with our little girl. We lived in a little two bedroom apartment, and had a really wonderful ward. We met some of our closest friends at this point in our lives and life just wouldn't be the same without knowing these wonderful people!
2.Josh was super busy with work and school. I remember being lonely a lot, even though I had my daughter at home with me.
3.We almost bought a house. Hindsight is 50/50.. It probably would have been a GREAT decision at the time, but backed out because we were sure we couldn't afford it. We never would have guessed what the economy would have done to the value of the home. Oops.

3 years ago.
1. Ha, I had just had my first son. He had horrible thrush and it still makes me cringe thinking of the pain that it cause me while nursing him. We still lived in the same apartments and still loved the ward. I think we actually were 'managing' the apartments at this time. They got sold out, and management changed. This is when we decided to move on as well. ;)
2.It was around this time that we took a trip to OR, for my FIL wedding. It was beautiful! It made me aware of what traveling up there in cold weather can be like. SCARY. The day after the wedding we drove up to Seaside, OR with my newly married in laws and stayed at a hotel on the beach. It was breathtaking to see the ocean out our hotel window. The beach was COLD!!!
3.The most lovely relationship started between our two kids. I've loved watching them grow and learn over the years. I'm glad they are so good to each other..

1 year ago.
1.We had just moved into our way too expensive town home in Daybreak. It was lovely to have so much space! As fall/winter settled in we learned how inefficiently our(energystar) town home had been built. It was a huge expense to try and keep our home warm.
2.Josh worked at the Hospital, way too many hours, for way too little pay. A very very hard time for our family. Glad it is in the past.
3. We got our dog Brutus. The kids and I loved this dog... he always made Josh nervous though, and Josh just never loved him like we did. The kids still talk about how much they miss him, but I'm sure he's in a home where the whole family loves him now.

This year so far.
1. We got out of our town home, moved into my parents basement and are working on getting out of debt. We wish the process was moving faster, but it's a GREAT feeling! Josh has worked a full and part time job the whole year, and I've been working jobs that I can do while I have my kids with me. We've been insanely busy, but we're doing our best to enjoy the journey.
2.We have learned all about allergies and eczema. Yuck.
3. Our middle son potty trained, our daughter started her second year of preschool, and our youngest has learned how to be a chatter box.. he makes us all smile and we can't get enough of his laugh. It's very contagious.

Yesterday.
1.We had birthday dinner for Justin and Kaitlyn and Josh's parents house. Yum. :)
2.We got to walk to church in the nice warm weather... it was colder at 2 when we left than it was at 11 when we got there. We made it all the way through church without too many melt downs. This is always an accomplishment for our family.
3.We had the kids in bed a little before 8. Unusual, but Sundays are big days for us, and church is during nap time. We are all ready for bed early on Sunday nights.

Today.
1. I made dentist appt's for the kids. I really need to be better about getting them to the dentist. Hopefully next Wednesday will go smoothly!
2.We're going to go and see the witches at Gardner Village... (hopefully... Josh works late on Mondays, so it may have to wait for another day depending on how the kids are doing. ;)
3.I need to work 3 hours for ACS(my data entry job). Yep, going to be a long night.

Tomorrow.
1. We only have Crossing Guard and ACS obligations. I should set up a play date to get us out of the house. :) (This is not something I'm good at)
2. Would like to accomplish everything on my to do list.
3. I Need to spend less time on the computer. ;)

Next Year.
1. Would like to be living our own again. Not sure when exactly this will happen, but we can always hope.
2.Our daughter will begin Kindergarten. Still not sure how I feel about this. :)
3.Last night we planned a camping trip to Zions National Park. If we can stick to budget this will happen next year. I'm already excited... we haven't had a family trip in WAY too long.

I tag. Rachael, BECCA, Lynda, Sarah, and Karli.. and anyone else who wants to.

Winter worries.

This cute kid has been looking so good! His cheeks have been pretty clear from his eczema, in fact I have had tons of comments about how good he looks. His body definatly hasn't cleared yet, but as this COLD weather has settled on us, I've noticed his cheeks starting to get a little more rough. I haven't changed what I've been doing, but I'm afraid we may be in for a long winter with his sensitive skin. Hopefully we'll figure something out to protect it, and at least I have a heads up this winter about how terrible his skin can get. I'll cross my fingers that perhaps the rougher skin on his cheeks is just my imagination, and part of the healing process!

Build it workshops...

Last month we took part in our first Lowes build it workshop! The first week they made these cute little fire engine toys, but this past saturday, we got to make these cute skeleton guys. Our baby had taken a few arms off by the time we got home, butit's a really fun activity for the kids. It's all about hammering and them actually getting to build thier toy! The best part is that it's FREE. No limit on how many classes you can attend or anything. When you complete your project you recieve a patch to sew on to your apron. I'm pretty sure most Lowes locations do this, so if you're low on moola you should look into it!

Autumn

I love love love this time of year. I'm greatful that I've been forced to be outside as much as I am to enjoy all the wonderful things about fall. From my crosswalk, I have the perfect view of the Wasatch mountains. They currently have this beautiful blend of yellow, dark greeen, rocks, and then the newly white snowy peaks. I get to walk a lot, and enjoy the crunch of newly fallen leaves beneath my feet. The kids were just loving the leaves that were falling right into the van through the window while I was working the other day.

We haven't had a whole lot new going on, and honestly it's REALLY nice. We are staying busy, and having fun! We enjoyed General Conference over the weekend, and are really trying to focus more on the here and now, rather than the future. We'd be missing out on so many of life's little pleasures if we only keep dreaming about how lovely things will be in the future. We got our pass to go to the Rec Center(I get a HUGE discount through the city I work for.) and have enjoyed being able to run and go swimming with the kids, even if we're only in the pool for half an hour. Josh and I would like to make some time to go and actually work out, but we haven't been successful so far. Our bodies could definatly use it though!

Sorry for such a no news blog. I hope you're enjoying your sweaters!

Honk your horn...

if you think Jenni is a bad Mom day. It seems an accurate title for my day, I apologize up front for doing two posts in one day, and one of them being a vent more than anything.

Crossing guard today was not a great day....I went into the Elementary school office to get a school schedule to know when I didn't need to show up for school holidays, and the lady at the front desk continues to tell me.. "Oh, no wonder we're getting lots of complaints about where you park your car... no one can turn right onto (a certain road) after they pick thier kids up from school. We actually contacted police you said you could park there, but are passing on the complaints since you're here." First off, I park approx 4 car lengths away from the intersection... which I'd actually prefer to have my kids closer to me, seeing as they stay in the car. I thought I was being curteous to the drivers. I continued to explain that that side of the street is the ONLY shaded part of any of the roads. (kids in the car)... to which she replied. "Oh, your kids come with you.. (with one of those condescending looks)" (Seemed like she was saying, I can't believe you would do that to your kids.) Then I had a few questions about the school schedule, which she completely blew off, told me she didn't know and to come back later in the year when testing came closer... She kind of walked away at that point, so I took my 3 kiddo's and we went home. Weird. I called the police officer that I report to, to make sure I was good where I parked, and he confirmed I was okay to park where ever was the easiest for me.

This afternoon, I thought about attempting to park somewhere else because it was an overcast day. But I really wasn't comfortable leaving it parked on a corner that isn't as logical for me to stand on...and I guess the defiant part of me came out and I wanted to park where I had been parking all week. Well before I know it, I have a lady shaking her hand at me shocked and appauld yelling frustrated that I park my car there, AND leave my kids in the car.

Do crossing guards really bother people to the degree they feel good about yelling at them? I don't get why people are so quick to judge and belittle others. I guess I better just suck it up, and try and not let people get to me. But for now, I'll feel completely little, and dumb-think of some things I could do that people would deserve to complain about(that I would never really do). And hope tomorrow is a better day.

Virtual Academy, and Charter Schools, and Public Schools... oh my.

I'm sure this is a topic I should have posted about a while ago, but it's really been on my mind the past few weeks. Our daughter will finally be old enough to attend Kindergarten next year. I've never thought of myself the home-school type of Mom, but I've heard so many good things about the "k12" program. I haven't heard a ton about Charter schools lately, but I know they have many good things about them, and then there is the public school route. I know I don't want my kids to have social skill problems because they've been so isolated at home, and not in a class with 25-30 other kids. But I'm not sure I really want her in a public school, with all the issues that come with that(yes, I'm probably just having cold feet due to listening to the news too much!) What do you guys think? All I know is that I want to raise children who are well educated, socially adjusted, and able to be successful in life. Help!