When I Get Big...

Riley has goals. Even at age three.

She told me the other day, out of the blue, "When I get big I go to cawage." I was delighted to hear that she realizes the importance of higher education.

Upon further reflection I realize trade school might be an option as well.

Things I Have Done Or Not

Copy the list and highlight the ones that are true about you.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band – I was the inspiration for a song for my brother’s neighborhood band. Does that count? Wait, I also played the percussion egg for some guys in college. I think they just liked to introduce me by saying. “Ing on the egg!”
4. Visited Hawaii-Just the airport on the way to the Philippines, but one of our group was from there so her family brought us a luau feast to eat at the airport. I would like to go stay there sometime.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland--but not with my kids, yet
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris-studied French for six years and went to the Philippines on my mission.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning-more times than I care to count
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked--In the Philippines during a Category 5 Hurricane!
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill -To go to a 2002 Olympic event. My boss gave me the tickets.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse--of the moon
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance-Riley swallowed a dime when she was eight months old and I took her to the ER. They had us transported to Primary Children’s where they removed it. We now have a $3,000 dime.
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie-Pump Up The Volume with Christian Slater. It is a dumb movie that was filmed at my high school so I got out of Trig to be an extra. You can see me a couple of times in my cool glasses. It is rated R though.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-Pampered Chef
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy—Riley plays with the doll now
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car-I have a 2007 Nissan Quest
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating -fish
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Talked your way out of a ticket

The Big Move

Well, we are 99% moved out of Emmett Dr. We had some awesome friends who helped us pack, move and clean. Their help was invaluable and we could not have done this without them.

I have come to the conclusion that I have way too much stuff. It is genetic and a curse. I come from a long line of hoarders or pack rats, whatever you like to call them. I fear that I may need something later even if I don't need it now. Hence, we moved a lot of stuff over to the new house. An awful lot. I have decided that as I unpack if I can't find a home for it or I have not used it in a while it will go bye bye. Fortunately, my husband does not have this gene and I am relying on him to remind me that I do not need to keep everything,

I do love the layout of this new house and I think that we will really enjoy it. However, with the chaos of a gazillion boxes still needing to be unpacked, we are missing out on the Christmas Spirit. Right now I am of the opinion of stacking the boxes into a tree shape, wrapping it in lights and waiting until Christmas to open. That way the kids could have Santa bring them the toys from the old house instead of getting new ones. What do you think?

I think it is time to unpack another box or two.

Yikes!!!

It is official.

We are moving.

Next weekend...

Yikes!

What am I thinking?

That it is time to pack.

How did this come about, you ask. Let me tell you. Our landlord called last Monday and told us that she was going to sell the house and asked us if we wanted to buy it. After politely declining we then went into search mode. We realized that it would not be practical for us to stay in the house while it it on the market. With Andy working nights it would be too much to deal with staging for open houses and the like.

After much thought, prayer and searching we found a place. Unfortunately, we must leave our awesome ward and Riley will have to change schools but there are some definite pluses. The house is in Gilbert, about six miles away from us now, at Higley and Germann, right around the corner from Sonic! This house is on a cul de sac with parks nearby. It is a three bedroom, two bath one story with a formal living and dining room. I have wanted a house where the first thing you see is NOT toys for a long time. However, since I have no furniture for a living room and we will be short one bedroom, I believe it may just become the play room. Ironic, I know. There is a great room area and eat in kitchen and even a doggie door. The best feature is the backyard, a grass area and a pool!!!! This means that I can teach swim lessons from home next summer. Yahoo!!!! Riley will switch schools and school districts. However, the Higley School District's preschool is a four day a week program which should be great for her. It is also a little over a mile away from my sister, we will be in the same stake. We are excited about the house and the opportunities for us there.

In the meantime, boxes, boxes everywhere and still so much to pack.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! It is a good thing we celebrated early, when my parents were in town last weekend. A packing we will be.

Block Party

The day after Halloween we had a little block party with our neighbors on our court of eight houses. Turn out was small, it was a bad weekend for a lot of neighbors. However, there was plenty of food and a good time was had by all.

Caleb really liked the chocolate pumpkin cake Riley chose for dessert.

Riley and neighbor Sabrina showing off their grills.
Bling! Bling!
Big grills are hard to fit in small mouths, but not for a lack of trying.

Children of the Corn

My kids like corn. What were you thinking? Good Eats.

I love that my son loves to feed himself. Not bad for three teeth, huh?

Happy Halloween

Halloween was a fun day at our house. Riley revived her Elmo from last year and wanted Caleb to be Cookie Monster. So after sojourning to Joann's after Scout Round Table last month with my awesome visiting teacher and fellow Scout Leader, we left with a remnant of the perfect blue fuzzy fabric for only four bucks, a one dollar pattern and a package of foam balls for the eyes and I was ready to become domestic. Flash forward to last Wednesday. No costume yet and Halloween is Friday. Time to get booking. However, I can't find the pattern.... I put it in a safe place so Riley wouldn't play with it and you all know about safe places.

Anyway, I decide to wing it and freestyle it after Riley's Elmo costume (bought at Saver's last year for $2.50, so we are now at $1.25 per year!!!) Starting around 10 p.m . once the kids were finally down, I sewed until 1:30 a.m. (I kind of lost track of time, I was on a roll) As you can see, my efforts were not to bad. And it is big enough to be used next year!

The hood/hat was only on for the pictures. We will take what we can get.

Riley and her friend Sadie as Cindy Loo Whoo.
Caleb and his little buddy Dax.

Riley turning her best bud Spencer into Elmo. She took custody of his Fireman hat.Caleb is helping himself to the good stuff. He is no dummy.

Utah Trip Part Deux, Busy with the Burwells and the Warners

We visited lots of family while we were in Utah. Sunday afternoon was spent at Gram's house and a good time was had by all. There was food and lots of fun as there were seven cousins to play with.

Reading Dora with Grams and cousin Ryan.Hanging with Bumpa.Dress up with the Indy and Cassie. "Let's Dance"

Who Do You Love???

I have the smartest baby in the world. Caleb Andrew Burwell, eight months old.

What can I say, he's brilliant!!!

Kids in Utah

The kids and I went to Utah for my 10 year reunion of my graduate program. I got a Masters of Public Administration from BYU's Romney Institute of Public Management. It was a great trip, we got to visit family and friends and show Riley Momma's School. Here are a few pics from our adventures.

Feeding the ducks at BYU.

The source of the bread for feeding the ducks.

Riley in the fight cage at my cousin Adam's Gym Throwdown in Orem (or Provo, I am not sure which). Hopefully, this will be the only time I see my daughter in a fight cage. She thought it was a big trampoline and ran around and did somersaults.

The kids with my cousin Adam on the custom Throwdown chopper.

Riley wanted to drive it but her arms couldn't reach. For now.

Enjoying icecream in the Wilk. Riley is, Caleb is eyeing it and wanting some.
Yes, it is BYU creamery ice cream.
Riley had a blast at BYU or "Momma's kool" as she called it. She burst into song when she discovered an open mic in the Wilk.



Visiting Temple Square in the cold.

Mugging for the camera with Olivia Westenskow, my roommate Jen's daughter. Olivia, Caleb and I share a birthday the day after Jen's and nine days before Riley's. They had a great time together. We spent the night with them and had lunch at Gateway the next day.

Riley threw such a fit when Jen and Olivia left that I had to put her in Time Out for a minute to settle her down. Yes, this is a kiosk at Gateway. You got to take a corner where you can find it.

Teething

Caleb is teething. On anything he can sink his gums/two teeth into. This day it was Kilo, the dog.

Stylin' Riley

Riley is developing a keen fashion sense. I thought I would share some recent looks.

Purple fleece pullover in August!!! In Arizona. Yes!

Shorts are optional.

Mom's slippers are now my slippers. Possession is 9/10's of the law.

Everything looks better with pink shades.

Fashion comeback. Legwarmers are in!?!

No, they are just dad's socks... Already worn by dad.

Caleb is fun to accessorize as well.
When will I be able to dress my self?

Riley and "Mama"

Riley loves my mom. She is one of her most favorite people. Since she is unable to say Grammy, Riley calls her "Mama" which makes complete sense. I call her mom, so why shouldn't she? Unfortunately, mom lives in California and Riley is not able to see her as often as she would like. This weekend we had a surprise visit from her, (she drove down with a friend who came to visit her granddaughter) and Riley was in seventh heaven. They snuggled, read stories, colored and just hung out. It broke her heart when we took her to my sister's house in Gilbert so Grammy could visit other grandkids. The whole way home she cried, "I want mama, I want mama." Monday night was joyous as we went to my sisters for a FHE pool party. It was the best of everything, "Mama," swimming, and cousins. She had a blast. And then it was time to go. Again on the way home the mantra, "I want mama, I want mama." She will be a very happy camper next month when Grammy and Papa come for a longer visit. Life is good.

Mama is the best!

Giving kisses.Riley is in to styling her hair, hence the cool bangs.Pics with Caleb.Trying to look at the same thing.
Getting to Caleb to look at the camera.

Cheese!

Looking serious, for one second.

I DID IT!

The pictures tell the story.



Six inches or more gone. She likes it. It broke my heart to do it.

It is alot easier to brush. We are keeping the ponytail.