A Quiet Moment

I've finally found a minute in which to sit!! That hasn't happened for a while!
The nursery leader called me yesterday and told me that she was very sick, and would I please help in nursery. I was reluctant, but can never tell anyone no. So Canton, Oran and I all went to nursery today.
The lady who usually helps is in the hospital, and the other "helpers" were a new couple in our ward. I knew all the kids and had been in the nursery a lot, so things went very smoothly for the first hour. Then Canton got grouchy and mean and started throwing things and hitting people. Including me. I tried again and again to redirect him, but he was just having a bad day.
By the time all of the parents came everyone was crying and ready to leave!!
So I am exhausted and ready for my Sunday nap. But I thought I'd better let you all know that I am still around (it's been more than a week!)
And I'll try to come up with something oh so cleaver to say later.

BUNCO Time!

Last night was our first Bunco night of the year! A bunch of girls get together the third Thursday of every month and play Bunco from 7-9pm. The last two years I've been on the "sub list" so I only got called when someone else couldn't make it, but this years I'm a permanent member of the Bunco gang! I'm so excited! We always have SO much fun and laugh until our tummy muscles hurt (it's a great work out ;)
Ryan had to work last night so my FANTASTIC cousin came to watch the kids, so they had a blast and so did I.

Fall Fun

Here are some pictures from our excursion to the East Idaho State Fair, in Blackfoot last week.Caranna forever - a kaleidoscope of me, mirrors are fun!
My baby doesn't talk so very much, but he likes to sign. I thought this was so cute!! He sat by this goat and was patting him and hugging him; every once in a while he'd stop to show this sign, his sign for "Love."
Canton loved the petting zoo! Most of the picture I got of him were running from one animal to the next with him barely in the frame. These were the only two he stood in one place long enough for.

Tate got tired of walking and we only had two strollers. Isn't it nice to have a big strong Daddy around?

Mr. Smarty Pants

Tate is learning so much at preschool! I am just shocked and amazed at how much he's learning and how quickly he's progressing! He's my little sponge. Part of what Ms. Kris does is focus on whatever the child is interested in. So he's learning about things he is curious about.
After the first day of preschool he told me all about the life cycle of a butterfly. "They start out like a tiny egg, and then they turn into a caterpillar, and eat all the leaves, and when they're big they build a special house called a cocoon or a chrysalis. They stay in there and sleep for a long time and when they come out they have wings!" I thought Ok, that's neat.
The next preschool day he learned about his skeleton. "Did you know everybody has bones!? Not just dead people and pirates... You have to have bones, they're what holds you up. See this, right here? (pointing to his chin) This isn't just my jaw bone, it's a Mandible! And here, you said it was a collar bone, but it's my Clavicle bone. And here (pointing to his knee joint) is a Patella, I have to have one of those or my knee wouldn't bend! And here, in my thigh is a Femur, it's the biggest bone! And did you know that, there aren't any bones in your nose or in your ears? They're made of cartilage! Oh, and fingers, (wiggling his fingers) have bones called Philangies!! That's funny!!"
I was in shock! I couldn't believe that I heard all of those things come out of my 4 year old's mouth! My son knows more that I do! And he remembers everything!
Yesterday it was all about planets. "Mom, there are 9 planets in our solar system... We live on Earth... All of the planets go around the sun which is a great big ball of fire in space! But it doesn't burn everything up because there's no oxygen in space... Mercury and Pluto are the smallest planets and Jupiter is the biggest... Saturn has rings made out of rocks! Venus is yellow because it has lots of acid in the air and Mars is red because it has lots of iron in it's dirt..." He went on and on and spent the rest of the day drawing planets, stars and rocket ships.
He likes to sit and read books in the morning, it takes him a long time to sound out the words, but he's really reading. I don't hardly know what to think! I guess I'd better start reading a lot of books or something just so I can keep up with him!

Pre-school

My kids started pre-school this past week. Canton is going to "Jen's Preschool" taught by our good friend Jenny Higgins. He is new at this whole school thing. I'm not completely sure he's ready, but he loves Jenny to pieces and really wants to be there; maybe we'll just see how it goes.
Tate is going to "Busy Bee Preschool" taught by Kris Olsen, she is my Aunt's friend. We are all really excited about Tate's preschool experience this year. "Ms. Kris" used to substitute for the Montessori school here in Pocatello, she was impressed by the program, (created my Mariah Montessori) so she learned all about it and that is what she teaches in her class room.
It's so fun to have Tate come home and be so excited about all of the new things he's learned that day, and all the fun things he'd done.
Tuesday was their first day. Jenny had a very open "open house" type format. We all came and played. Tate and Canton made Fruit Loop bracelets and thought those were great fun!When we were done at Canton's preschool we made a stop at the store and then it was Tate's turn! He was so excited to meet new friends! I think things are going to work out well for him this year.
I'm a little worried about my schedule, and am hoping I can hold out the full nine months! I tried two different approaches to working nap time around the preschool schedules, without much success at either. So this week we'll try to keep fine tuning that one... hmmm...
Kids are so much fun! It's neat to watch them grow and learn new things. I'm so glad that they are able to have these fun new experiences.

My little artist

Every night before we go to bed I go around the house gathering up DOZENS of pictures like this one. Tate likes to draw and he does it A LOT! I think he's very talented and quite creative but I sure wish he'd quit using all of the paper!!
I've tried to tell him "This is scratch paper, you can use this." To which he replies, "That has words on it!! I don't want that!" SO it continues. Every night, gathering up stacks and stacks of drawings that I don't know what to do with!
I'm putting this one up because I thought Superman had an extra interesting expression.

Sunday

I's SO excited!! Today at church I counted SIX new families!! SIX! All at once! They're all younger families who came here to attend ISU, but our ward is finally gaining members instead of loosing them!
About a year and a half ago our stake realigned all the boundaries for the wards and actually created two new wards. Leaving the bare minimum of required members within each of the ward boundaries. The church requires so many elders, high priests, young men, young women, primary aged children, etc. and we had just enough to make a ward. (including all of those who were inactive, which IS a lot!) Shortly after than everyone started moving! We had 3 or 4 families moving every weekend for about 4 months, and we weren't getting any new people! It was kind of scary! Sundays have been pretty sparse, and it's been almost impossible to fill all of the callings.
SO that is why today was SO exciting for me!
Plus all of the new sisters are about my age and in similar situations. So that's a great opportunity for new friends! What fun!!

Busy, Busy

I'm so excited about our latest Relief Society project! Tuesday night we had a humanitarian night. It was SO well attended! FOURTEEN people! I hardly knew what to do!
The humanitarian center in Salt Lake gave us materials to put quilts together. We were able to tie two quilts on Tuesday and have more to do next month!
I was so very happy to see so many people there, it's probably the best turn out we've had for ANY activity in the two years I've been on the enrichment board.
We even had two sisters come that are new in the ward. They heard the announcement from the pulpit on Sunday and came. I was impressed because we didn't even have Relief Society last Sunday because of the Twin Falls Temple dedication. BUT I'm feeling VERY encouraged. Two successful activities in a row! Somebody pinch me!

Ryan has been SO busy building his business with IDA, we don't mind so much. It is hard to have him on the phone whenever he's home, but I am glad that he's being so successful! We're excited about the prospect of being debt free and having our Daddy home more often!
There is a launch party planned for October 11, 2008 at the Embassy Suite Hotel in Portland, Oregon. We are trying to make arrangements so we can be there for the big event! It's just all so exciting!!
If you want to hear more about what he's doing, listen to the conference calls, or learn about how the company is evolving the web site is http://www.idaleader.com/ or http://www.idaleaders.net

What a Week!

Thursday was Canton's 3rd birthday! Ryan got off work at 4:00 so we had plans to watch a movie at the Reel Theatre, and then have a special birthday dinner at Winger's. At 5:00, as we were heading out the door we got a phone call.
My little nephew was in the emergency room. He had awoken his parents early that morning. He was in their bed and had a seizure! His seizures continued through out the day about every 20 minutes. It was a very scary time for their family. Ryan was able to go to the hospital and help give the baby and my sister-in-law blessings. While Ry was in the hospital for nearly 2 hours the boys and I walked around the campus and ended up at the park. That's where we were when Ryan called us and told us to come back.
They got the seizures stopped, but the next 4 days were pretty rough ones for the little guy. Baby Arvil is only 5 months old and had to undergo MRIs, EEGs, Spinal taps, and blood tests. The doctors were able to rule out several things, but have yet to discover the cause of his seizures. He was discharged from the hospital this afternoon, with some anti-seizure medication in hand. So I guess now we just wait and see.
SO, Canton's birthday celebration was put off because of those family troubles. BUT we were able to have a party on Saturday.
Grandma and Grandpa White came with the rest of Gavin and Callie's kids (they were watching them so Gavin and Callie could focus all their attention on getting Arvil well.) My Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Tom came with their two youngest, Matt and Amy, and Grandma Green surprised us all by showing up on her way to Powell. She was in the process of moving this weekend, and stopped on her way through to attend our little party. We were so surprised and pleased!
After our party we all took naps, even Ryan and I, then we went to a movie. We saw "The Kung-Fu Panda" at the Carmike 7. It was not so very fun, our kids wouldn't sit still, they were extra wiggly, wanted to talk, and were more interested in the projector booth and lighted Exit signs than the movie. But we tried. Maybe we'll wait until they're a bit older before trying that again.
Our next stop was far more successful. We went to see the new McDonald's. I had never been in there and neither had our kids. It was great fun. Canton was so excited!! He was singing a "McDonald's song" that was pretty cute. He told the lady behind the counter that it was his birthday and she treated him all special. Tate and Canton each ordered their own food and felt so big and grown up. They got Star Wars toys in their Happy Meals that they were way excited about, and then they got to play on the great big, awesome play equipment. There was even a special area just for babies! We had lots of fun!
It was a very good day. Good to see family, and celebrate our special little 3 year old. He's such a funny kid!

I made a "Shrek Cake" just like he asked for.

Blowing Out Candles

Mmm, everybody loves Cake!

Oran loves chocolate, yum, yum.

Buzz Lightyear, to the Rescue! Thanks Bakes'!

WOW, a Space Chimp!

The Olympics are Awesome

I can't believe that it's almost over! The closing ceremonies are Sunday. I actually got teary today as I watched the Today show. Saying goodbye to Bejing and all that.



Once every 2 years just isn't enough!