My new project

As soon as I get the fabric, I'm going to start working on one of these baby "hot slings." They are so great. They're the newest baby carrier and range in price from about $25-75! I felt this was a little pricey for something I could make for much cheaper. My friend, Amanda, gave me the pattern. (Thank you!!) I also need to make some new bumpers for the crib, since Luke was a little rough on the last set! If anyone has any good tips on bumper patterns let me know!

Swimming with the Meldrums

Cassidy and Abi playing "horses"

Boys eating lunch

We had a great time this week swimming with Gretchen and the kids. It's a bit of a jaunt for them to drive 30-40 minutes to see us, but we were really glad they did. The kids have done nothing but beg to have them swimming again since they've left. They were our friends a few years ago in Merced, it's so fun to have followed them out here! Thanks for coming, guys!

I hate the DMV!!!!

I am so frustrated today! I have to register the Honda (the old one) before the month is out and I cannot find the DMV! I've called and they have given me 2 faulty addresses now. So I've spent 2 hours driving around aimlessly around the city. I think the DMV is the most disorganized, inefficient government agency out there. Ugh!

Elder Ballard

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a6246a008952b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0
I love this talk by Elder Ballard, entitled "Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet", that talks about how we can be a powerful force for good through our use of our blogs (or other wonderful inventions) and new means of communication. With the world full of so much filth now a days- it's up to us to fill it with light and goodness!

"Gobbles"

Daddy got a treat for the kids! Those clearance summer fun sales are hard to resist!
I love it that Luke wanted to wear his even while eating snacks and watching TV

More commonly known as "goggles". Cade was cracking me up at the pool- in search of his "gobbles."

Coming along QUICKLY!!!

If you look close you can see a worker on the roof
Pic from the back
View from the front
View from the side

We were hoping the process would drag on a bit to make sure we know what we are doing- but these workers are really cruising! It's fun to see it coming together.

More House

Front of house
Gameroom (and a view of our van)

Stairs going down from game room

We're still trying to figure out how to make it all work with the house. Time will tell....since we are still indecisive as to how it will go!

Job Incentives

Cade helping make fruit smoothies for dinner
Ta Daaa!!
Luke helping to eat the bananas (before they make it to the blender)
Cassidy emptying the dishwasher. She is such a great helper. She would do her chores without rewards- she is so good about it. I'm lucky to have her!

We needed some chore motivation at our house and we finally found it. For 5 days now it has worked! Pokemon Cards! I'm not a Pokemon fan, but the kids are sure into it. Cade's been begging for the cards, so I decided to use them as bribery/rewards. The kids get one card each if they finish their jobs for the day. The big kids have about 10 jobs to do each day. Here they are in action!

Framed!!!

They sure frame fast! Yesterday it was nothing but a driveway!
Standing at the front door
Cade and Luke in their room
Cassidy in her room
A view of the game room upstairs

The kids and I went over to the house after the swimming pool with wishful thinking today- and lo and behold the workers were slaving away on the house! It was 6pm and they were STILL at it! So, we went back around 7pm or so (with our jammies on) to take some pics. I'm still not sure if it will be done in September or October- hopefully they'll get a little behind so we have some time to let the baby grow up a little bit before the move! My induction date is set for Sept. 3rd- so we have 6 weeks left unless he comes on his own earilier.

How I'm feeling ALL the time now!

I could take 3 naps a day if I was allowed! Cade begged me for an hour to read him his library books we got today. I made him do some of his chores before we sat down. I wasn't even done reading the 2nd one and I looked over and he was completely OUT! Guess we'll have to finish that Spiderman book later.

Still have a place for Gilmore Girls in my heart!

Is it a little scary that I am as equally scored with Sookie as I am with Luke?

Who are you in Stars Hollow, CT? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Sookie Sookie 90% Luke 90% Jess 60% Rory 60% Dean 55% Lane 55% Michele 45% Miss Patty 40% Kirk 40% Lorelai 30%

Staying cool at the pool

At least he's drinking bottled water this time and not the chlorinated stuff spraying out of the spouts like he's normally trying to do!
Cass is turning into a great little swimmer. We're really working on her "big arms" stroke this summer. She can jump in and swim to the wall by herself now! Woo hoo!!
I can't believe Cade is thirsty still- I think he drinks half the pool when we go. He's quite the fish this summer as well. He's so much more confident than last summer.

We just can't get enough of the pool this summer. We're glad we have easy access in our first summer in the Dallas heat. Today poor Cassidy fell in one of the pool filters and scraped up her heel and toes pretty bad. Hopefully we can watch where we're going a little better in the future! Poor girl has her mother's clumsiness!

Homemade Playdough

Kids having fun with the playdough
Cade proud of himself
Yoda, being kept out of Warren's hair- always runs over and poses when he sees me with the camera. Silly dog!
Luke- still rosey cheeked from helping Daddy out in the backyard.

Cade and I had a fun project while Cassidy and Luke were helping Daddy mow the lawn and weed the backyard on Saturday. We made homemade playdough. Cade loved picking out the colors and has been playing with it everyday since.

Progress on our house

The builder tells us it will be framed shortly- so we're excited. The brick has already arrived and the foundation/driveway was poured this week.

Brothers

Cade and Luke singing "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" songs.

Luke wants to be just like Cade- it is so cute. I love watching them play together!

New Callings

Warren and I were called today as primary teachers for Cade's primary class (the CTR 5's). It's really exciting to be doing a calling with Warren! This is his first time with a primary calling, i think he'll enjoy it. Really if Cassidy was in the class too, it would be a family activity. Luke has issues with Nursery, so he comes in the class with Cade, Warren and me. We have about 11 kids, and they are really sweet. Hopefully we will be able to tackle Cade's reverence issues by sitting with him every week. With the new baby coming, it's nice to be team teaching as well- so we don't have to find subs, etc.

"Swimming" in the Rain

Setting off for the pool
Loading up
Rained out!

It's been a roaster today. The kids were running through the sprinklers at 8:30am, if that gives you a hint. So, when Cade asked to go swimming this afternoon- I thought that was a great idea. So, we load up and head over to the pool. Just minutes after we arrive at the pool it starts POURING rain. The security guy said we could stay in until we heard thunder. So, we played for a few more minutes. But being the nervous mom I am- and seeing more thunder and lightning here in the 3 months we've lived here than I have my whole life- I pulled everyone out to come home. Naturally the rain was over by the time we got home (Which is less than 5 minutes), so they are back at it with the hose in the backyard. They say here, "if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait 5 minutes, and it will change for you." I can now attest to that!! :)

A Van Family

We've said goodbye to our Durango- since it was totaled in Warren's accident- and spent nearly 5 hours at the Honda dealership on Satuday haggling over price. The kids were troopers. I was ready to give up and go home, myself!! Warren has been great- he is NOT a van guy. But my need for trunk space, over the masculine look of the Honda Pilot, won out. So here it is, the new Odyssey. (Cassidy and Cade are not thrilled to be standing in the blinding sun for a photo shoot!)

The Posting Fanatic

Okay, so I've posted SO many new posts, I'm sure you'll have to click on the "Older Posts" section to see everything. I won't be offended if you fall asleep half way through. It's been a busy month!!

The Gak is Back

Cassidy's masterpiece
Gak disclaimer! If you are lying down with your 2 year old- trying to get him down for a nap- make sure you instruct your 4 year old (prior to leaving the vicinity) to NOT put the FRESHLY MADE gak on his head! It makes for quite the scrubbing in the tub, including fine picked combs (but it does wash out eventually!). Thank goodness Cade has a buzz haircut!!!

This is a great activity for our kids. We posted about it several months ago- but with glue being 22 cents a bottle, I decided this is the time of year to make more gak!! I got the recipe from my friend, Stefani Bellows. The kids have spent hours doing it this afternoon!

Here is the recipe if you are interested:

GakMaterials
Mix: 2 cups of white glue with
1 1/2 c. water. Stir thoroughly.
In another bowl, mix 1/3 c water , any color food coloring you want, and 2 tsp Borax soap.
Pour the Borax mixture into the glue mixture and stir. Pull out the Glurch as it coagulates.
Mix another solution of water and Borax and pour into the remaining glue mixture. Stir and pull out. Continue until the glue mixture is gone. Do not put on paper towels. Store in a plastic bag.
This is much more fun than playdough. You and squeeze it, roll it, cut it with scissors, plastic knives, Stick plastic beads in it, color on it with markers, drape it over anything and it will take that shape (fun with plastic animals). Just put it away for another fun day when you are done. Be sure and seal the bag or it will slither out and cover your floor. It comes out of hair and off carpets. The older it gets, the harder it becomes. (IT'S SO EASY TO MAKE!!!)

To train or not to train...

That is the question! Luke has been so excited to potty train. Monday we had a fairly successful day- at least he had a lot of fun! Tuesday not so good. He cried most of the day and was scared to death of his #2. Today he was back in diapers. Hopefully we can pick it up again later on today or even tomorrow.

Luke turned 2!!

Grandmother Jardine was really sweet to get him a birthday cake. Unfortunately he cried again when he was supposed to blow out the candles...
Spending his birthday party eating peas
Cousin Dan and Uncle James. Dan- it was great to see you! Good luck with everything!
Luke got a new BYU hat and BYU shirt from Daddy. He sleeps with the hat next to him every night. Look at this guy- still cleaning, even on his birthday!
Tackling the big kids, instead of going to bed...

Luke with his new fire engine

Happy Birthday, LUKE! We celebrated in Utah- since his birthday was July 7th. But we had a couple things to open up when we got home as well. His favorite has been this fire engine. He and Cade have had numerous fights over already. Luke screams anytime anyone goes near it. He loves this thing! You can see the bumps and bruises haven't quite gone away....