The Office

No, not the TV show... Scott's office.

Here it is, and here he is hard at work. He leaves at 7am for a 50 min. commute through some beautiful reservation country (no, I am not being sarcastic. It really is beautiful!). Here's a picture on the rez.

He has recently started listening to books on his ipod to pass the time. He is done by about 3, then drives home.

The chair

His wonderful assistant, Ora, and her niece, Vivi (who is the runner and gets kids out of class).

A down pour. It just dumps rain here. It's beautiful.

Jake is so excited for snow. He asks me every day when it's going to snow. He busted into the winter clothes one evening when it was pouring.

At a Glance about Jake:

*He LOVES preschool and Miss Jana. There are 8 kids total.

*He started making up stories. The other day at the park he told a little boy that his sister, Olivia, was in the hospital because she couldn't get enough air. (huh?) He also told Scott that he and Cash (a cousin) took a bath together and did cannon balls and swam all afternoon. I don't know where he comes up with these stories. He has quite the imagination!

*He is a ball of energy (ahem... trying to be positive here) and sometimes unleashes that energy on his sister, which doesn't make her or me very happy.

*We are starting to write a bit again (letters) and he is so proud for every letter he writes and traces.

Alisa is the faithful accomplice to all of Jake's schemes.

At a Glance about Alisa:

*Favorite thing: Disney Princesses, or any princess, or any girl wearing a skirt or dress.

*Favorite song: A Whole New World. She can sing all the words. It is THE only song we listen to in the car some days.

*Potty training. She is ok, but has occasional pee-pee accidents. Poop is on the potty. Always. Yea. I do not love this parenting job.

*She is very polite. Please and thank you all the time.

*Independent. She refuses to take off the princess nightgown, or insists on wearing my flip flops to the store (which always gives others a chance to laugh and me a chance to roll my eyes). She has her opinions and is stickin' to 'em.

Finally Brooklyn is liking this chair. She has tortecolis (sp?) so her neck is a bit off and hurts her some. She is doing better now, but the stretches are sad.

Here are some pictures Jake took of the house. Or maybe Scott did.

This skull was named affectionately "reindeer skeleton" by Jake.

Princess Alisa and the blue potty

Jake posing in his "fly" hat

Ew. This is real. In our tupperware. Scott found it by his office. I wouldn't let it in the house. Ew. Just looking at it gives me the willies. I am averting my eyes. It's HUGE.

Jake sharing his doggie, blanket, and grinch with Brookie.

For your viewing pleasure, Jake is saying the Pledge of Allegiance for you. They say it every day at school. He learned it pretty quickly!

FHE quote

Tonight at FHE: Lesson on Prayer from Nursery Manual (great resource)

Scott: And kids, Heavenly Father always wants to hear our prayers.

Kids: yeah.

Scott: And what happens if we don't say our prayers?

Jake (dead serious): We will be destroyed.

Scott: uh ... yes ... and Heavenly Father will miss hearing our prayers ...

We have been reading at nights out of the Old Testament Children's Picture Book. Can you tell?

A First

I guess I have just lucked out, but I have never had to be up all night with a throwing up kid... until last night.

We went to my beautiful sister's wedding over the weekend. It was in Mesa and was super hot. I don't know if I could live down there. It was 9:45 am in September and I was dripping bullets. HOT. My brother was really sick the night before and threw up so much he popped some blood vessels in his eyes. The next night, his wife got it. We were all feeling fine, but on the drive home last night my niece got it pretty bad and was vomiting the whole way home.

On a side note, my mom and dad held the reception in their yard (where ours was, too) and it was such a beautiful and fun party. They did a fantastic job. I am so happy for Shelly and Darin--congratulations, you two!

We made it home just before bed time. At 3 am I heard Alisa screaming. I went in, thinking she had a bad dream, and gave her a big hug. I was covered in vomit and realized she had thrown up. After stripping her bed down, changing her and cleaning her up, she went back to bed. I was still awake 30 minutes later when she requested water. About ten minutes later, more vomit. Poor girl! I eventually made Jake sleep with Scott (who actually woke up and was very helpful, too!) and I slept with her so I could be by her when she was sick. She threw up the rest of the night. The baby woke up at 5:30, and although I've been trying to get her to sleep until at least 6, I gave in and fed her. I slept for 20 more minutes, and baby was up again with gas. I finally fell asleep again at 6:45 for another hour. What a night! Up from 3-6=no fun. I forget how much I love sleep.

Now my kids are watching movies. Jake and I have colds and Alisa threw up again this morning. At least it's only a 24 hour bug. Hopefully she'll get better soon!

A stroke of good luck this week is that Scott is going to the Head Start schools on the rez, which are only open from 9-1. So he gets a little more time in the morning and will hopefully come home early and relieve me!

P.S. I just found out that my mom and sister Lisa got the flu, too. Yuck!

Seaman Lake Powell Trip

We were so spoiled this year to go to Lake Powell twice. It is one of my favorite vacations, although it is much less of a vacation with kids. Hm. Jake and Alisa had rubbed-raw chins and armpits by the end, because I made them wear their life jackets the whole time... better safe than sorry. We had a great time with the Seaman's. The kids loved fishing with their new fishing poles, jumping off the back of the houseboat, tubing, swimming, and knee boarding. Alisa feels the need for speed already and I think she'll be our soft spoken daredevil. Jake was pretty brave, too. We had a great time wakeboarding, slolom (sp?) skiing, tubing (Jenni did a good job trying to throw Scott and I off the tubes), swimming, and watching movies on the projector on the top of the houseboat. Oh, and eating... wish I would've held back a little there.

Here are a few pictures of the week:

No week complete without a picture in his favorite towel.

Scott on the slolom ski... yep, still got it! It was harder to get up than I remember, but it all came back to me. You go pretty darn fast and while I was skiing I remembered all the cartwheels across the water when crashing.

Scott was catching some pretty sweet air, and I even caught a little myself. I am such a scaredy-cat.

Exploring/Swimming trip to the little islands.

Isn't Kelsi beautiful? Sweet sixteen!

Thanks, Seaman's! It was an awesome trip.

Night swim with our little fam minus babe

Jenni and her man, Josh. He was a ton of fun.

Alisa LOVED the tube again. She never wanted to get off!

Tubing got a little wild...

Grandma bravin' it with two strong wills... i don't think this ride lasted long.

Alisa practicing on the beach... someday. Jake was obsessed with this activity, but wouldn't brave the skis behind the boat. Maybe when he's 12.

Brookie the duckie. Somehow, she seemed to scream a lot this trip. Sigh!

Jake and Alisa

My Hubby's Finally Catching Up! Happy Birthday!

Scott is finally 29!!! I am happy when his birthday rolls around because it means he is now only 1 year younger than me instead of 2. Ha, ha. I am also happy to celebrate what an amazing best friend he is. I love you, Scott! Thanks for always making me laugh. Here he is in the mobile dental clinic with his easiest patient.

Sentimental? ME? (and more Lake Powell)

                                  

Tonight I am missing my California friends, ward, beach, Disneyland... It's the first time I have really felt sad about leaving. I am normally not at all sentimental or nostalgic, but tonight I just miss everyone. We had such a fun time with all the other students and everything. Thinking about you guys tonight.

So, here are the rest of the Lake Powell pictures. Most of them, anyway. We had so much fun! Then three weeks later we went again with the Seaman's. We are spoiled. I am missing family tonight, too. I am a mess! I must need some sleep.

Alisa was so good both weeks to go poop on the potty, especially the second week. Somehow, though, traveling so much made her digress in her potty training (ya think?!). She's getting back into it... slowly. 

Have I mentioned that she RARELY if EVER takes off this princess nightgown? She is in LOVE with the princesses and insists on wearing this all day, most days. I peel it off every week to give it a good wash. Good pick, Grandma Seaman!

                                         

Olivia and Jake disappeared into the "hole" of the houseboat and came out looking great.

                                                    

What a doll. Scott just captured her beautiful blue eyes.

     

Jake and Alisa hit the tubes big time. They loved it! Alisa feels the need for speed. Quote of the week: Need faster! This applied to the tube, the wave runner, the boat, the knee board. She didn't want to quit.

There were these great islands that we swam around and climbed on. Here's Grammy and Ash.

Grammy, Ash, Jake, Shell, and Eth. Woot!

                                       

Alisa caught this huge, nasty fish with her princess fishing pole. The kids LOVED fishing and they were not at all freaked out to touch and play with this fish. Ew.

                                                    

Here I am with Alisa saying faster! My arms got so tired! It's much easier to ride inside.
 

Ash and Jake

                                      

Ash and Liv loved the knee board. Jake and Alisa rode it, too. 

                                    

Alisa trying it out.

Thanks, Crane's, for a great trip! I am trying to catch up on the pictures, so more to come of my beautiful sister getting married (in two weeks!), her showers, more Lake, and in between...

p.s. anyone tried the newer version of this blogger thingy? I am not loving it. It's the reason all my pictures are messed up. Bug!

Don't Neglect Us Just 'Cuz We're Private!!!

Okay, so I find myself neglecting everyone, but especially private blogs. So don't return the favor! Keep checking. We are actually back in town after a month away (we've been here one Sunday out of five) so I will get better at posting. Here's the start of Lake Powell with the Crane's. Somehow, with my family's promise of full support, my sister and I took our kids (7 total) to the Lake sans husbands on Monday. Jeff came Wednesday, Scott came Thursday. We were really glad to see them and have their help. So here are some pictures from the Lake... one of my favorite family vacations.

Alisa with cousin Wa-yai-ya (Eliza--that's how she says it). They had fun and have opposite personalities. Alisa dove in head first, Eliza watched.

My kids were so cute sleeping together. Aw...

Li celebrated her birthday and graduation from Paul Mitchell in style (in the coveted Batman towel).

The U tube was revived! For a very short run, but hey! All four kids loved it. Thanks, dad!

My sister Lisa was a HUGE help with all of my kids... the whole time. Thanks, Flea. Alisa finally crashed after lots of playing.

Olivia and Jake chillin' on the trampoline.

Tarah and chunky Treston--we love them!

Brookie lived in the bouncy chair--night and day.

Smiley little baby

Alisa's first poop on the potty. We celebrated with suckers!

Jake at the fishing pond where we live

So you think YOU can dance? Check this action out!