taking the summer off...

So, you all know at the end of June Chad was laid off work. Although this was very hard, let me tell you the positives.

~hubby to snuggle with in the morning.

~hubby to get up with kids while I sleep in.

~hubby takes kids to the park so I can get my work done in peace :)

~I have been able to double my work load because I can take jobs in the morning and evening.

~We have been able to spend a lot of time as a family.

~ We've been on lots of hikes, and family outings.

~I can run to the store by myself to buy a gallon of milk that I forgot to get the night before, without taking the whole gang with me!

~I have been woken up with hot breakfast made for me and brought to my bedside after sleeping in!

~ I have a late night workout buddy

~Projects around the house are getting done!

~kids get more daddy playtime

the list really goes on and on... However, I love my Chaddy dearly, BUT he has had a job since he was 14 years old when he worked at Bellvue Elementary cleaning the building after school. He saved up all summer to buy a stereo system. And now with all this spare time he doesn't know quite what to do with himself. He had to drop his summer school class because of a computer glitch that wasn't allowing him to receive assignments. So he really had nothing to do. So although, I love having him gaze upon me, admiring my EVERY move, at about week 4, I started getting a little irritated. So here are some cons...

~hubby asking plans for the day, on the hour, I love you Chad!

~hubby asking what the menu is for the day, on the hour, I love you Chad!

~hubby looking bored and me feeling bad that he is bored and feeling like I need to entertain him, I love you Chad!

~ hubby wanting me to be able to be as free as bird as he is and go camping and hiking and on outings whenever the idea strikes him, I love you Chad!

~ me feeling guilty because I can't do all the things he wants to do because I now am the only one with a job, that requires a lot of time on the computer and can't be in the wilderness, I love you Chad!

Definitely more pros than cons!!! I love you Chad!!!

However he did have two interviews last week. One at EBAY, he left having already gone on a second interview, they were talking to him like he had already gotten the job then a few days later a thanks but no thanks letter...seriously???

Second interview is for a phlebotomy training program through IHC. It would be a huge, huge, HUGE pay cut, BUT it would get Chad in the doors at IHC and in December they are having a Nursing program training class that would start May 2010, but you have to be a current IHC employee. If he could get in to that, it would cut his waiting time down by 3 years. There are only 12 positions for the phlebotomy thing, and 534 people applied, well guess who got an interview??? CHAD!!! Guess who got called back for a SECOND interview???? CHAD!!!! That is next week, so say your prayers!!!!

Chad we love you so much and so glad we have been able to spend the summer together as a family. love you, love you, LOVE YOU!!!

promises, promises

Okay I know I have been a bad blogger lately. My sister told me she used to love to read my blog but now it's boring. US, BORING???? Couldn't be!! So here is my vow, to update my blog with all of the happenings from the summer and stay up to date!!! Can I do this??? YES!!! I will start now, so hold on tight, because your about to be knocked out of your seats with this overload of information!!!!

Kids are unpredictable!!

Our kids did awesome in the Harry Potter movie, Alyssa slept through some of the show snuggled up on my lap, and Austin did awesome as well! There was really only one scene that I had them look away or covered their eyes, to avoid bad dreams! It was a great movie, we can’t wait for the next two movies to come out, but we will have to since they aren’t scheduled until November 2010 and May 2011.

I think Austin might be coming down with that darn stomach bug that Alyssa and I had. He didn’t hardly eat a thing all day, including popcorn, and his treat bag at the movie. He told me his stomach hurt and then has just been really mellow laying down. So I feel bad for him!!! Throwing up isn’t fun for anyone, crossing my fingers it doesn't turn into this!!!

Okay anyway, on the way to the movie Alyssa brings up out of no where , getting her ears pierced, asking what kind and color of earrings she could choose from. Well, Chad for some reason is all over getting her ears pierced, I on the other hand, am a little more nervous about it. Hurting her, infection, caring for her earrings etc.
On the way home from the movie Chad said let’s just stop by claire’s at The District (yes, there is a Claire’s there now) and let her look and see. Well, when we were there Alyssa said she wants her ears pierced today. I asked a couple times to make sure, and then ran out to the car to grab my camera. I came in, the lady had her gloves on all ready to go, when Alyssa said, “Actually, I changed my mind.” And hopped out of the chair and walked over picked up a necklace and asked if we thought it was beautiful, to divert our attention. (smart fart) We made sure she didn’t want to. We asked her why she changed her mind and she just said, “Maybe when I am a little older like Austin, when I am ready.” (she sounds so grown up!) I am kind of glad she changed her mind, I had butterflies in my stomach , and was sad that my baby girl was growing up.
So for now, we will wait, hopefully a few more years ☺
I did manage to get TWO horribly lighted pictures of the almost ear piercing…

Harry Potter, here we come!!

No we didn't see the midnight showing of Harry Potter. Surprising, I know! Chad, really wanted to bring Austin and Alyssa this time, and we are too smart to bring them to the midnight showing!!( I can feel the glares of the other movie-goers now ) I really hope I am not jinxing us, BUT our kids do really well in movies!! I think it is my magic multi-treat treat bags that I make, and also the fact that I have snuggly kids. Alyssa AND Austin will snuggle up and will stay forever, no matter what I am doing. So at the theater, it's the same, they bring their blankies and have their treat bags and snuggle in for the show!!! I just hope it's not too scary for them. Don't laugh but I got a little scared on the last Harry Potter. Okay, I told you not to laugh. I don't watch scary movies and if a scary movie preview comes on a commercial I change the channel if possible or turn my head. I get way too scared, and it messes me up with bad dreams and paranoia, so I just avoid the whole subject! So I just hope it's not scary!! My awesome Brother in Law, Casey and his wife D, bought the tickets in June!!! So we are very excited. Chad is a little too excited, I am making him keep his Harry costume, wand and broom in the closet, I don't want to be pointed and laughed at :) totally kidding about the costume, or am I?????

Excited!!!

I woke up this morning to a sweet little 5 year old voice. His face about an inch away from mine, saying "I was just going to ask you if I can open my presents now?" Seriously how could I say no?!?! Chad has been wanting to give him his gift since we bought it!! Chad was so excited he even wrapped it himself and he is not a gift wrapper!! I usually wrap every Christmas and Birthday gift, so I was very surprised to see his gift wrapped and ready to go!

All of us, still in our jammies, made our way into the family room, and Austin got to open his present from Me, Chad and Alyssa.



Austin has been wanting a Nintendo DS since, as long as he has been able to know what one is. All of his cousins have one and he usually props himself up behind them so he can peek over their shoulder and watch them play. So as much as I am against video games, we decided we would get him one, and just have rules on time limits and such!!! He made my day when I got to see his face and how thrilled he was to have his very own DS!! Afterward he said "mom and dad I love you, and I love my new DS, thank you!!!" all of that said in his new baby voice that he has been talking in lately :)


Austin got a couple cards in the mail yesterday from his Grandma and Grandpa who are in Holland until September, and His Great Grandma Roundy in Escalante, and his Great Aunt Marilyn, so he pooled the money together and deposited most of it into his savings account, and then Chad took him to target and he picked out The Ghostbusters Game, which he bought with his own money, he was so happy!!
I can't believe our little baby boy is 5 years old!! We are getting excited for his birthday party on Saturday!! He just can't decide if he wants me to make him a ghostbusters cake or a batman cake...I am thinking to myself, that it doesn't matter which one he chooses, I am by no means a cake decorator and people are going to need to use their imagination when looking at my decorated cake!!

Austin is 5 years old!!!

I cannot believe he is 5 years old already!!! Where does the time go!!! I remember people telling me when he was an infant saying, take it all in and enjoy this stage while it lasts, it goes by fast!! Well, at the time I was doing the midnight feeding, the endless diaper changes, etc. So it felt like it was going very slow! But now he will be starting kindergarten next month!!! I am so not ready!!! Austin gets to open his presents from mom, dad, and Alyssa and then his birthday party will be on Saturday, with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends!!! Austin, our dear sweet angel, we love you so much and are so happy that we get to be your mom and dad, what a special gift you gave us!!! We love you and hope you have a very HAPPY birthday!!!

p.s. thank you for choosing to have your birthday party at Bouncin’ off the Walls!! We are going to have so much fun!!!

My favorite 'F' words...

Get your heads out of the gutter I don't use those kind of words...

Food, Fun, Fireworks and FAMILY

Occupational hazard of being a mamarazzi....my kids HATE having their picture taken, therefore look like they are in pain, in photographs!!!

Cavity FUN!!!

Those two words are never said together, AND for good reason!!! A cavity is never fun!!!! Austin had a cavity filled last year, and the little bugger fell out, we went back in and the dentist fixed it, he said that in baby teeth fillings tend to fall out because blah, blah blah I don't remember, so when it fell out a second time, I didn't think anything of it, except the fact that he had a horrible tooth ache with it. So we called the dentist yet again, but now our insurance has switched so we have to go to another dentist, YAY this is always so much fun to take your kids to a new dentist. Luckily my fabulous sister in law used to work for a pediatric dentist which she loved so we thought we would give him a try!!!

This is where it gets "fun"! We take Austin in for his appointment he cried most of the way to the Dentist Office, then cried when they tried to take x-rays then cried when they asked him to sit in the chair, then cried when they just looked in his mouth!! And because of all of this...

We get to go to Primary Childrens on 06/25 and he gets to be completely put out, sedated, asleep, knocked out, however you want to put it, so that he can have a baby tooth fixed!!!!

Tip to all parents out there Brush AND Floss your kids teeth morning noon and night, and no sugar EVER!!! And don't let your kids inherit your super thin enamel and let them get cavities easily like you.

However I am so thankful that there is such thing as sedation dentistry otherwise, we would have to strap him to the chair kicking and screaming through the whole procedure!!! 

YA RIGHT!!!!  This poor kid is going to HATE the dentist when all is said and done!!!

Wish us luck!!! 

C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E.

Austin had his last day of pre school and to celebrate they had a circus day at school. Everyone got to dress up in any costume they wanted, and Austin chose Peter Pan!!! Austin has loved his teachers and school and has learned so much!!! He is all set and ready for kindergarten at his new school!!! I can't believe I am old enough to have a child in elementary school!! and when did that happen anyway, it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital...Austin we love you and we are so proud of the sweet little boy you have become!!

*Austin on his first day of school*















*Austin on his last day of school*

We are changing her name to DRAMA QUEEN

it's much more fitting!!! Alyssa has always been quite the DIVA but she is only 3 and she already has me and Chad worried and asking each other how we are going to handle the teen years!!!

Please tell me this is normal for girls her age... (notice what she likes to pretend she has)

Heaven help us!!!

Luckily I have been busy with pictures!!!

So thank you all for your referrals I really do appreciate them especially in a time like this!!! I absolutely love what I do, I just wish I could add more hours to the day, so I can fit more session and editing into my day, so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
And keep sending all you know my way!!!