Should the Children ask...

Today, should the children ask why I am grumpy, here are a few reasons...
* Migraine... day 2
* Being awaken at 4am by a panicked child saying, "I forgot to brush my teeth!" and yes she was awake, coherent and wanted to brush teeth NOW!
* Not being able to sleep an entire night, because my children STILL do not sleep through the night. I think it is a conspiracy. IF one sleeps through the night the other wakes up.
* Sleep deprivation... did I mention that one?
* Another day cooped up in an apartment with no yard.
* Stepping on yogurt dried to the carpet.
* Hearing someone else snoring in bed and only wishing for once it could be me.
* So tired
* Migraine day 2....
I think that about sums it up. Good Morning indeed!

I'm Back!

Well I am now officially graduated and now I have all this time on my hands. Okay... sort of, but not really. At least now I can spend time catching up on here instead of listening to Elvis lectures. If you have any questions about Elvis, I can help you with them now. I know you were just waiting to ask about his very interesting life.

Yesterday I GRADUATED! Woot Woot! It was a surreal kind of day. I started my degree in the fall of 2000. I changed my degree several times, but I finished... I did it! The actual degree I received was a Bachelors of Arts / Art Studies degree. The best way to describe my degree is a "renaissance of arts" degree. I studied history, education, and studio arts in all the art fields (visual, theatre, and music). My emphasis was in the visual arts. I have taken so many studio classes, but still want to take more. I think they will be through parks and recreation now though. It is kind of hard to do ceramics at home... without a kiln... you know?

My dream is to have my own studio some day. I'd love to have a place to go that is just FULL of art supplies and machines. I would love to have a photography studio and used to want a dark room. I think a "digital darkroom" is much more reasonable for now though. Kids and chemicals don't mix so well.

So what do I do now? Not much... I told Alexis that when I graduated she could go to school. She has been preparing for "school" for a month now. She is going to start a class through parks and rec. called "Apples to Zebras". I'm not a huge fan of preschools, but she is very excited so we'll see how it goes and if it is actually a preschool or a daycare. If that doesn't work, I think I'll put her into a tumbling class at parks and rec. She is so full of energy and so social. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

I've considered going back to school as well. I think I might go back and get a teaching certificate and get a masters in education. With the current economic situation I don't think this will be for awhile. Teachers are losing positions left and right... so for now, I'll just be teaching my own children. It doesn't pay... but the rewards are more than money can buy.

Nonetheless... I finished a goal and that is what matters most. I think is also is good for my kids to see that school is important. Never stop learning right? The ceremony was short, only about an hour. That is short for a graduation at least.

I sat right next to my mother-in-law who was graduating with a photography degree. As we waited to enter the arena we had some time to talk. She has been working on her degree for about 30 years! Talk about dedication and perseverance. That is an incredible trait. She has worked so hard and has set such a great example. She also helped me with watching the kids this past semester. I couldn't have done this last semester without her help. For that I owe her so much. Thanks!

David also helped me get through this past semester. He would watch the kids, allowing me to get papers written and other homework done. He didn't complain and was so helpful. I really got a great husband. He would do anything to help me accomplish my goals. I am so blessed to have him and other great family in my life.

Whew. Sorry for the long post...

I'm back! Hooray for goals accomplished.

Today

The other day I mentioned to my sister-in-law that I hadn't posted anything in a really long time. I mentioned that so much has happened since my last post that I didn't know where to start. She gave me a great answer, "Start with today". DUH! So I will post about past events in the next few days... but how about today.

Well here I am a week later than my original paragraph... what happened? Oye. So the day I started this post (Nov 12th) was a fun day. Alexis found a pair of scissors. She loves to cut things and has been fairly responsible with them. Then she decided to practice a new profession of hair styling.

The picture above is what Alexis did. I have to admit that she did a pretty good job with cutting her hair. Better than cutting it all the way at the top of her forehead. So we decided to take her to get the rest cut. She now has bangs and her hair is about 5 inches shorter all around. I thought this would be a good way to teach her to not cut things. She always screamed when we mentioned cutting her hair. After her hair was chopped, she couldn't get enough of it. She loves it. I hope she learned her lesson, but am worried she didn't at all. Oye!

After is all said and done, I'm getting used to the bangs and think Alexis did a better job of cutting her hair than the cost cutters people did. Oh Well. She is still cute nonetheless.

So that is my story of the day and I'm stickin to it. More to come soon. So much to write about.

Funny Alexis Sayings and Doings

I think Alexis might be a little OCD. I found her in her closet sorting all her clothes.... by the color hanger they were hanging on! She is quite the organizer and sorter.

In Sunbeams, Alexis decided to take her snack (crackers) and place them between her toes and feed herself with her toes. Did I raise a monkey? Where does she get these things!?

Alexis was riding in one of those push cars and I asked her where she was going. Her response, "I'm going to my rotations!" Such a daddy's girl!

While in the bra section at WalMart, Alexis blurted out... "WOW! That one is HUGE!" Thanks for the observations!

Alexis refers to McDonalds as "Old MacDonalds"

To Nap or Not to Nap, That is the question

Alexis will be four years old in December and she is quickly becoming more vocal about her own opinions. She has decided she does not want to take naps anymore. Our compromise has been that she at least needs quiet time even if she does not sleep. Last night we had a HUGE meltdown by the end of the day. Alexis kicked, screamed, yelled and hollered a good 45 minutes in her room. She was SO tired and every little thing set her off. I asked her to brush her teeth and she blew up at me.
Many people are surprised I was able to get Alexis to nap until recently, but I think it is still a necessity. How do you decide? Is it a daily decision based on how that day is going? But then everyone says consistency is the key. Any advice? Anyone?
I can't handle daily meltdowns...

Blog Stalking

Do you ever just sit and look at blogs of others? I think I just get depressed when I do. I see all these people going to all these exotic places (anywhere but here), doing incredible things, taking amazing pictures, and living perfect lives. Sometimes I feel like I just don't fit in as a mother. I can't control my kids half the time, I warm up leftovers for most our meals, my house looks like it was just struck by a tornado, and I don't have the perfect smile, hairdo, and figure for all these adorable pictures with my kids. What is the deal? Do people really live that way? Are all mothers really back to a size 2 the day they deliver? And where do they find the time to be good at everything? Style please? Maybe just a little? I need help...
Blah!
I so want a vacation!
Am I the only one?

What is today's date?

WOW... I guess I should update this thing they call a blog. With adding school for me to the list of things to do, I've been pretty busy. My classes are not difficult by any means, but they sure do consume time... lots of time. I successfully passed my first test for my online class, so if all goes well, I'll be graduating in December. Did I mention how excited I am to finally finish! It is still super hot outside so biking has been miserable. I feel sorry for the people that sit next to me. I think I stink daily in class. Maybe I can actually show up presentable to class when/if it cools down.
Alexis has been doing some fun things too. She decided a few weeks ago that she was a big girl. She was to big in fact for her favorite blanket. She neatly folded it up and placed it in her closet. Her decision was finalized by the fact that her toes stuck out from the end. She now sleeps with her BIG pink blanket that I made for her. I originally made the pink blanket to replace her favorite blanket when I found out buying a duplicate of her favorite blanket was not going to happen. She is going to be a high maintenance child I can tell. Only she would choose the $80 blanket to be her favorite. Had I known someone spent that much on a blanket I think I would have returned it when I got it. Since she decided she was to big for it, she also decided that she could still use it... but over the big blanket. Oye.
We are still in our apartment and will be until about June next year. Our upstairs neighbors never quiet down. They constantly stomp, run, jump and scream. Alexis is always yelling at the ceiling for the kids to quiet down. I try to tell her that they can't hear her. She did get the chance to tell them face to face the other day though. They came to the front door to ask if we had jumper cables for the car. My SIL Kathy was at the door talking when Alexis pipes up and says,"You are really noisy. It hurts my ears!" We tried so hard not to laugh out loud. The neighbors response was, "well that's what you get when you have four kids upstairs!" No wonder the pounding and noise never ends. Just think happy thoughts about June I guess... Or maybe they'll move out before then. Hmmmm...
Alexis never runs out of funny things to say. Awhile ago she was bouncing around in her chair and when I asked what she was doing she exclaimed, "When my bum goes up and down I look like a cricket!" Where does she get these things. Oh... but wait... there is more. I teach Sunbeams (3-4year old) at church and our lesson was on being thankful for food and clothes. We talked about how fruit and veggies come from seeds planted in the ground. I had the kids pretend to be seeds and then grow into a plant. I then asked each of them what kind of plant they grew into. Alexis didn't miss a beat... "I'm a Grill Cheese Sandwich plant". Of course... Why didn't I think of that...
And who can forget about Timothy? He is now sleeping in his big boy bed for about a month now. He transitioned so well that I was truly amazed. He actually stays in his bed and sleeps pretty good. He is growing up so fast. His vocabulary is growing too. He tries so hard to repeat some of the words we say and is finally starting to get some of them. I think the fact that Alexis answers all his questions for him and does all his talking doesn't help. For a week strait he constantly said NO... I think it was the week he started nursery... interesting. He also folds his arms for prayers and does a pretty good job of feeding himself. He still makes a BIG mess but is getting better every day.
A few weeks ago we also went as a family to the children's museum in downtown Phx. Every first Friday it is free so we went for a "family date". The kids had so much fun. They LOVED the noodle forest. There are thousands of pool noodles suspended from the ceiling that they walk through. I actually got a little claustrophobic. They had so many fun exhibits, but there were also a TON of people there so we will have to go back at a better time and play longer.
David moves into the new pharmacy this week. The new pharmacy at Cardin's Children's Hospital was meant to be open last month, but due to construction delays they are just now moving. He is excited to be a part of the grand opening. He loves his job but I know it was a rough day when he comes home and just wants to snuggle with the kids. That is one of the hard parts about working in a hospital, especially a children's hospital. As he puts it... some of the kids never get to go home. Another reminder how precious life is. I try to remind him of the miracles he gets to witness too. Like the babies that are born at 23 weeks and survive and do get to go home. That is truly a miracle.
Long post, I know. But that is our life in a nutshell for the past month. I will try and post recent pictures and be better about posting.
Muah to all.

Mixed Emotions

I feel like as of late I've been surrounded by sad stories and tragedy. Most recently David's cousins wife died from complications during childbirth. They were able to save the baby and she is a miracle and just precious. During these times I feel mixed emotions of joy and sorrow. I am so happy that they were able to save one life, but why not both? I guess I feel a bit of anger too. Why should bringing life to this world have to be so risky? Why does such tragedy hit in the moments that are supposed to be the most beautiful moments in life? My heart hurts.
On the other hand I feel joy. A new life is just beginning. She is an angel and miracle. I know that challenges lie ahead, especially for their dad. He now has to raise two beautiful children alone. It just doesn't seem fair. I know all the "Sunday School answers", but at the same time it still hurts. I know that they will one day all be reunited as a family. It just seems that no child should have to lose a mother they will never know in this life. And a mother should not be taken from a child she will not be able to raise. I keep putting myself in the shoes of these situations and I just cry. I know that I could never handle losing my precious ones... and I always want to be there for them. I guess it makes it a little easier to not do dishes and laundry if it means spending just a few more moments with them.
Sorry for the depressing blogs lately. I've just had lots on my mind.
I am grateful for eternal families and the atonement so we can all be reunited someday.

Two days down...

School started on Monday and I am both excited and exhausted at the same time. I have two classes on campus and one online. My "free time" if I ever had any, is now going to be consumed with homework and reading. I've already turned in one assignment and have two more to finish by Friday. Whew! I forgot about all the crazy papers that classes require. They will be fun classes though.
My first class is "music in education" and I will have to learn to play the recorder in it. I am scared to death about that because I am the only person in the class who has never read music or played an instrument. During our introduction it was like brag time for all these super talented musicians all trying to one-up each other. When it got to me it was like crickets... I can't sing, I can't dance...and to be honest sometimes I have a hard time walking. Should be interesting.
My second class is "impromptu in education" and is pretty fun. So far all we have done is played games. I can't handle some of the drama people though. One girl who dresses like the notorious ASU student won't shut up. Today she said the funniest thing. She was saying that she was super creative and inventive. She proceeded to say how she created a pair of shorts from a pair of.... drum roll please....jeans that were ripped. Super inventive... I know... Why didn't I ever think of that? She then proceeded to tell us the whole process of cutting the legs off the pants to create shorts. Ohhhh.... Ahh... The intelligence that surrounds me is incredible. I had to really try hard to not bust out laughing at her. WOW. What more can I say.
To attend my on campus classes I am parking at David's grandparents house and riding my bike to campus. It is actually closer than paying to park on campus. I haven't ridden a bike in a LONG time. My booty is KILLING me. I think I bruised my bum. When I went to ride today I could hardly sit on the seat. Solutions anyone? Or will time heal all things? :)
Before school started I was hinting to David that I wanted a cruiser bike. Bigger and more comfortable seat. I'm kind of glad I didn't get a new bike. I now remember why my bike is so beat up. Bike parking is even hard to find. I've already had someones pedals stuck in my spokes... literally. Their pedal was broken and enclosed several spokes. I may have broken a spoke or other persons pedal to free my bike. I think I'll get a new bike when it won't be abused by 10,000 other bikes piled on it.
So that is my first few days back to school in a nut shell. Off we go! Woo Hoo!

Sympathy and Sorrow

Yesterday one of my friends had her baby. He is a beautiful angel weighing barely over a pound. He had a big heart and has touched many lives that he never even knew. He is back with his loving Father in Heaven. I find myself sitting here sobbing. It is one of those situations where you always say, "not me..." but in reality life is so delicate and precious. It is a reminder to me how blessed I am to have an eternal family. Every life has meaning and purpose, no matter how long or short that life is. My deepest love and support goes to all those who have lost a child.
Through this situation I have also learned of a beautiful service that photographers provide to families whose precious babies are taken back to heaven. It is a foundation called, "Now I lay Me Down to Sleep" http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/about_us/ These souls are so precious and I think this service to these families is incredible. I wish I was strong enough to provide some of this service, so instead I think I will donate to those who share this compassionate service for no fee. I know it is a sensitive subject, but I think more people deal with this than we pay attention to. I am grateful for those who reach out and support with love to those around them.
May the arms of our Father in Heaven surround your families with the love and peace that only a Father can give.

Moving Forward

After David graduated I thought about going back to school to finish my degree. When David and I got married he decided to become a pharmacist and so I stopped school to support us while he crammed in some intense classes. He was taking up to 21 credit hours a semester with classes like organic chemistry and other science intensive classes. Then we moved to Tucson for him to attend pharmacy school.
Now we are back in the Phoenix valley, with two kids and David having a real job. I thought... why not try and go back to school now? So I went to talk to an advisor after being re-admitted to ASU. I thought that figuring out child care was going to be a nightmare, but I knew it couldn't hurt to investigate. I don't care what my degree is in... I just want to be done. It might make paying those student loan payments a little easier at least knowing I had a degree to show for it.
Before I left ASU I was studying photography. When I looked at finishing up in that degree it showed some major hurdles to be overcome. In the past 5 years the program has changed dramatically and I'd have to do lots of hoop jumping to even take a class.
My advisor then looked at some other degrees that I might be close to finishing and there is a new degree being offered that I am SUPER close to getting. I now only have three upper division classes to take and then I GRADUATE! WooHoo! That means that if all goes well I will graduate THIS December. How awesome is that. The new degree is "Art Studies" but I could care less what it is in... I just want a degree, especially with being so close... I have to finish.... right.
So come August 24th I'll be hopping on my bike and high tailing it to class to finish school. I'll be taking two classes on campus and one online. My mother in law is going to help with the kids... so that all worked out beautifully. What a blessing it is to get this goal accomplished. I thought it would be a much longer road so I am ecstatic! Hooray!
So I guess our house will now be "divided".... A graduate from ASU and a graduate from UofA...
Oh well... I still love him. :)

House for Rent!

So we are at our wits end with this market and have decided to rent out our house. If anyone is interested in renting it or know of someone who may be interested please let us know. We will give a great deal to someone if we know we can trust them. It is move in ready!
Finding good renters really scares me. We've been landlords in the past and have had renters tear our house apart and pay late all the time. It is not something I look forward to, but necessary at this time. Good times ahead... I can feel it! :)

Look at these beauties!

Little clip is "normal" sized clip... for your comparison.

Anyone who knows me, know that I have REALLY thick hair. Not just sort of thick, but super thick. When I make appointments for my hair, I try and warn the stylist of my hair. It isn't until they actually see it that they believe me.
I have always attempted to use hair clips, but when ten of them still don't get the job done, it gets ridiculous. I had given up hope on hair clips until I found these beauties at the store the other day. They are enormous and wonderful. Happy Day!

Tumbleweed Park

Yesterday we went and played at a new park. David had the day off so he was able to join in the fun. This park called Tumbleweed Park is awesome. They have a sand pit where you can dig for fossils. Alexis thought that was the best. She is all into dinosaurs and fossils lately. Timothy is also a HUGE fan of sand so he had a good time too. They also have a "mini city" with the sidewalks painted like roads. The kids can ride their bikes on the roads and follow the traffic signs on the roads just like the real cars do. The main play area is covered by a huge awning (like the ones farmers use to cover the hay) and is farm themed. The kids had a great time other than the awful heat. We went early in the morning, but it never cools down. We all lasted about an hour before we were dripping in sweat. I can't wait for cooler weather. I know we'll be spending some quality time at this park. And did I mention there is grass.... and NO graffiti on any of the play equipment. What a concept! Hooray! Enjoy some pictures from our day.

Alexis riding the dinosaur

Timothy on the "big kid swing".

Timothy playing in the dirt... tossing it in the air, and catching it with his head.

Alexis digging for fossils.

Starting Over, Again...

I went and worked out for the first time, in a long time yesterday. The burn felt good in my legs. Now that I have 24 hour access to a "gym" my goal is to become more active and get back into shape. I am looking forward to feeling better about myself and being able to keep up better with the kiddos. If any of you see me I want you to make sure I am working out... keep me in my place. I am not as brave as my SIL to post my measurements but I'll be taking current measurements in order to keep track of progress. Yeah for new beginnings.

Great Grapes

I love grapes, and so do the kids. Two years ago I decided to plant a grapevine. The first year I had no fruit, but upon talking to my mom, I found out that it is normal to not get fruit the first year. Apparently grapes have to mature a year before giving fruit. So this was my lucky year. I got three good bunches of grapes. They didn't get huge, but I think that is the type of plant it is. They were tasty though.

I miss having my little yard now. It wasn't huge, but it was nice nonetheless. Just before we moved David even made me a little arch for the vines to grow on. He's assured me that when we get another house he'll build me another one. Being patient is the hard part. I sure am a sucker for green things so it has been hard seeing my few potted plants get baked on the apartment patio. They miss the yard too I guess. All in due time, right?

Discovering Grapes (4/22/09) So Tiny!

Grapes a month later (5/27/09)Another month of waiting and finally Grapes! (7/2/09)

Birthday Extravaganza

So I entered the late late 20's last weekend. With all the things going on in our life, I didn't think we'd do anything crazy to celebrate. David was taking his board exams and I didn't want to distract from his studies. Last Saturday morning David was studying before his final exam. I was trying to keep the kids from bothering him so I thought I would put together a train table for them. We've had this table in a box for awhile and Alexis was begging me to put it together.
I began my handy work and soon became frustrated. Timothy was climbing all over it trying to "help". He was on the verge of breaking pieces off with his monkey legs. I became beyond frustrated and raised my voice at the kids. I soon felt at my wits end and all the stresses of the past few weeks had taken its toll. David came to the room to reassure me that everything would be okay. He then had to leave for his final exam.
About an hour later my sister in law called to say she was on her way. I was expecting her to come over to help me unpack and hang out. She also said to take a look under my pillow. ??? What was she talking about. I went, looked, and saw an envelope with my name on it. I opened it to find a "Birthday Extravaganza" schedule (all of which was surprises). I immediately started bawling! My sweet, loving, husband, had planned a day just for me even with all he had on his plate. He knew just what I needed... some "me" time.
A few minutes later my doorbell rang and David's sisters and mom were standing there. My mother and law and sister in law were going to watch the kids while I went with my other SIL Kathy to the first destination.
I got dressed and we left. Then I was allowed to open "envelope 1". It was a certificate to get my hair cut and colored! WOOHOO! My hair was in great need for some color repair. For the next three hours I chatted with Kathy and was pampered at the hair salon. My hair looked great and I was super excited for the new look. Then we were off to destination 2... the mall. My next surprise was a trip to the mall to find a new outfit, shoes, purse or something like that. I didn't have much luck but found a nice necklace to wear with a clearance dress I had found earlier that week.
After the mall we rushed back to the apartment for surprise #3. I was treated to a makeup session with Kathy. She did an amazing job. I really have lots to learn about makeup. Then I got all dressed up and David took me on the final surprise. He had planned a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Kathy watched the kids for us while we were out. It was a quiet dinner and David was such a gentleman, as always.
It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise. I have an amazing husband whom I love so much. I am such a lucky gal. Now I have to figure out something for his birthday.... Hmmmmm... At least I have a few months to plan...

PS. Thank you to Kathy, the secretive helper who did so much to help David plan this. You are an incredible person. Thanks also to the best babysitters Marsha and Mom Mower. I couldn't have asked to marry into a better family.

Remember, we eat fish!

Alexis has been really becoming quite a character as of late. She has her moments, don't get me wrong. Like just now she is trying to do a "projec" on her magnadoodle and she suddenly yells out, "Are you kidding me!" I wonder where she gets that from... oops...note to self.

She loves to talk on the phone. I used to think she did a good job of communicating on the phone until I was on the receiver end. She talks so fast and about such random things that it is difficult to understand her. She also talks with her hands, which does not translate over the phone so well. Fun to watch on my end though. Kisses get blown and hugs given over the phone all the time. The most recent addition to her phone conversations is the phrase, "Remember, we eat fish!" This is how she ends every conversation she has on the phone... not with "I love you" or "see you later".

We have no idea where it came from. We even Googled the phrase to see if it was from a movie or something she saw. No results. Anyone heard this phrase before? Sesame Street? A Disney movie? Or is our kid really just that weird? I guess so... She did just come up to me to show me her drawing of an "inch-e-wawa". I guess a mixture of enchiladas and a chihuahua. Nice.

Well I'll post more later, and remember, we eat fish!

Slide Burns

Nope... that is not a typo... it really does say slide burns. Yesterday at the park we had a nice time. The weather was cooler and it was cloudy out. The playground was also covered and it was about 9am, so the play equipment was cool as well.
Timothy has NO fears and that is a good and bad thing. He climbed up to the top of the play structure which ended in a big twirl slide. I thought for sure he would be to scared to go down, especially on his own. Even Alexis won't go down. But... there he went. He went feet first on his tummy. About half way down I heard the unmistakable sound of skin on slide. Timothy's shirt rode up on him and when he got down he had a nice slide burn. Kinda like a rug burn. So did that stop him from going again... nope!
I sure do love my kid who by the end of the day looks like a "rag-a-muffin". Thanks for the laughs Timothy!

Filling the void

So it has been a "few" days since I last posted. Lots has taken place. Where to start.

We are officially moved now. Going from a house with a yard to an apartment with no yard has been an adjustment. There are "elephants" that live upstairs and I don't think they ever sleep. I will hear running around upstairs at 3am. It is annoying but hopefully temporary.
Boxes still overwhelm most of our space. I don't know if I'll ever get it all unpacked and really don't want to either. I just feel like the day I finish unpacking will be the day I have to start repacking. Tis' the story of our life. We actually moved boxes that were never opened when we originally moved to Tucson. I ask myself... WHY? Time to toss and simplify.
The move went pretty smooth. Only a few pieces of furniture were broken in the process. Luckily most of our stuff is particle board or I'd be a little more upset. David said he'd "Jerry rig" the broken furniture to make it last until we move again.
Our Tucson house is still on the market with not much action at all. We will probably post it as a rental in the next few weeks if nothing happens. The market in our area is just not conducive to selling at this point in time. I really didn't want to rent... but I want to pay two mortgages even less. Money can become a great motivator. Maybe in a year or two things will change...and hopefully for the better.
The kids are starting to make adjustments to our new life. Timothy still follows me around to make sure he doesn't get left behind. When I close a door (specifically the bathroom) he sits outside the door crying and hollering until he sees me again. I guess it is safe to say his is a bit insecure. Alexis has just been ornery to make sure she gets all the attention she wants. My mom says that is pretty normal. They do miss their friends too. Alexis keeps mentioning going over to friends houses and doesn't understand that it is a two hour drive to those friends now. She sure does miss them. I miss friends and familiar faces too. We went to the park by ourselves this morning and it sure would have been more fun to meet friends there.
David is enjoying his new job. He also took and passed his board exams last weekend. He is so funny. The day he took his first exam he apparently developed test anxiety for the first time in his life. What a time to develop that. I think it finally hit him how important the test was. Many of his co-workers gave him a hard time about how worried he should be about the test. I think it made him anxious. But he passed... so that is the last time he'll have to take a test for his career. WooHoo! He is happy about that too.
I'll have to post some more later with pictures. Lots has happened in the past month. SO much to catch up on. This will have to do for now.
Whew....

Breathe in, Breathe out...

The past few days that is what I've had to focus on... just breathing. Do you ever feel just a tad bit overwhelmed and then wonder how much more you can handle? I have found myself needing "time outs" more than my kids the past few days. What do you do to get through these kinds of days?
Today's list of chores seemed to increase with every minute. I got up nice and early (6am) with my "Timothy alarm clock" and started the day. After kids were fed I opened the patio door to a beautiful, overcast day. I decided it would be a great day to get some of my outside chores done.
I've been contemplating re-painting the kids little table with the "chalkboard paint" and decided to go for it this morning. Bad idea. It looks horrible now and the paint is chipping off already (with a little help from Timothy and a shovel). Now I am at the verge of tossing the table and chairs all together... anyone want it? Then I had black paint on the grass from the spray can... so I had to mow the lawn. It was on my chore list anyway.
Our yard isn't huge, but it is a task to edge and mow a lawn with two kids who want to help. Lots of sweat and energy later... I was finished. Timothy was a wreck though. I went to start the sprinkler and he ran right into it, and it swiveled around and followed him making him even more wet and angry. Nap time!
While Timothy napped I showered and got ready for the day (10am). As I went to turn on the vent... it didn't start... Anther project to fix, another chore to the growing list of "things to do".
I thought I should pick up the house a bit and attempt to do dishes. Before I knew it the time was 1:00pm and then... the doorbell rang. Could it be? Perhaps? Of course when every toy in the house was in the living room there was a realtor at the door. I asked for 5 min to toss every misplaced thing in the house into a bin. Whew! We made it out to go for a walk. They apparently had left a message on David's phone about the visit... but he doesn't get any calls in the hospital due to poor reception. Nice.
Then a call for work to do more designing...off to pick up more boxes... then dinner time... then dishes and bedtime... and the day is gone with work still to be done! Breathe.... breathe.... whew!
Only two more weeks left to pack the house... and did I mention we still have to find a buyer for our house! ARGH! I have a few choice words for the entire situation... but I'll keep those to myself. Breathe in ... breathe out... breathe in... Balance anyone? Any ideas on how to find/achieve balance?

When Mom Ain't Happy...

Today this phrase was so very true. It has been a LONG and rough day. I started the day by calling the realtor to find out when the house inspection was being scheduled. Come to find out the buyer is not responding to any realtor... even his own. They are worried that he is not going to go through with the purchase. Apparently someone at a weekend BBQ heard about the area he purchase and freaked him out about buying... so it looks like we may be back on the market. What a way to start the day.

I think it put me into a pretty foul mood. If you look at this picture it may give you an idea of what Alexis thought. I am the figure with the "angry" face. I started out grumpy and the day just kept throwing me punches. Timothy gagged himself by placing to much food in his mouth, which resulted with him throwing up ALL his food. Lovely! Now I had to clean up puke and re-feed him lunch. Then he was messing around and dug his two front teeth into his lower lip resulting in lots of blood and screaming. And the best part is that this was AFTER his only nap for the day... so I couldn't even look forward to him going back to sleep anytime for the afternoon.

Alexis is also more whiny than ever. Every little thing was a blubbering fest for her. She would cry because her cup was empty, her hair clip fell out, the cereal box was in her view of the TV.... You name it and she'd throw a fit about it. I am sure it is because David is far away. We are all suffering from the affects. We are all moody, sad, and downright grumpy. But then again it could be my fault because when Mama ain't happy... ain't nobody happy. BLah!

Answers to Prayers

I keep meaning to write this recent situation down. So here we go. For Christmas David got a shotgun. Until last month he had yet to even go shooting. He has been trying to coordinate going out several times, but finally was able to set a time with a friend to go target shooting. For transportation to this outing David took our trusty, rusty old white car. We don't drive it much anymore, because it has no A/C and it is getting hot. David was kind, though and left me the van with AC while he drove the hot little car.
On his way to the designated shooting spot David stopped to fill the car with gas. He ended up going inside to also purchase some water. David NEVER stops in the gas station to buy anything as it costs ten times more than anywhere else, but this time he did. He went in to buy some drinking water. He looked at the price of the little water compared to the gallon water and ended up spending the extra money to get the gallon. On the way to the shooting area (in the desert) the car overheated. But guess what David had just purchased at the gas station... water... and it just so happened that the car was a gallon low on water. David poured the water in and the car cooled right off. Then he was off without any further problems.
What a blessing! I am so grateful that we are looked after in all things big and small. Some may say coincidence... but I say otherwise. The crazier thought is this: We always say God is "all knowing", but have you ever thought that it includes understanding how a car works, and just what it'll need to get you to your destinations safely... Just a thought.

Our second blessing was David receiving a job. The job is out of town though, so came the dilemma of selling our house in a market that is horrible. We were blessed not to be "upside down" in our house so we were able to price it pretty competitively. Even having said this, many houses in our area are bank owned and selling for dirt cheap. We decided to do our part in making the house as presentable and gussied up as possible and we'd have to leave the rest to prayer. And pray we did! For three weeks not a soul called about the house or looked at it. We were getting pretty frustrated and were looking at having to do the long haul on this house and even were trying to figure out how to drop the price further. However, every time we left the house we'd leave it ready to go. You know... "faith without works"... So this weekend we had a call and someone went through the house... and then asked to come back an hour later. Within an hour of that we had an offer. BOOYA! And the best part is that it was an offer that we could accept without having to write a check to someone to buy our house. What an amazing blessing. They want to close by the end of June. This is wonderful news. Now I don't have to be away from David for an unknown amount of time. I feel very blessed and am so grateful for answered prayers. Thanks to those who offered a few in our direction... I know they were heard, and we much appreciate them. Now we are packing and rearing to go. I can't wait for the next big adventure!

Drug Addicts Pay My Mortgage...

It is official. David is now officially Dr. Mower PharmD. HOORAY! What a big, fun, wonderful, long awaited day. It started at 5:30am with a rush of people trying to get dressed, cleaned up and ready for a 9:00am graduation. David's sister and two brothers stayed overnight as well as my sister, so it was a full house. Amazingly we all made it out of the house on time with a somewhat decent house. (The house is for sale so technically anyone could walk through at any time.)

David's parents and sister met us at the college and even got there early enough to get us some sweet seats. As soon as the ceremony started Alexis did her famous, "I have to go to the bathroom!" Thankfully my sister volunteered to take her and of course once arriving to the restroom she did her next famous phrase, "I'll try again later." Oh, my child! Then Timothy became VERY restless and things were just getting started. Luckily there was space in the auditorium for him to roam but still see the graduation. Once again my sister helped with him. Thanks Katelynn. I was able to sit and watch until David crossed the stage.

David's graduating class was only about 80 people so each person wrote a thank you "speech" that was read while they were being "hooded". This made for a long ceremony but it was nice to be able to give a last hurrah.

When David crossed the stage I suddenly became very emotional and I felt the past six years flash through my mind of all the struggles, long nights of studying, financial worries, and trials we've been through. Some days I thought it would never happen, but there we were. Graduating! DONE! Ready to start the next phase of our life. Could this be real!? It was! HOORAY! Alexis and I "rushed the stage"... okay... we quietly snuck forward to get a better look at daddy get his diploma. When David's thank you was read he mentioned Alexis and Timothy and all Alexis could talk about was how they said her name over the microphone. She was so excited they were talking about her.

I spent the rest of graduation wandering the halls with Timothy, but I was grateful to have seen David graduate. Afterwards there was a reception across the street. I got a phone call from a realtor who wanted to see the house... right then. My mind was sent rushing to think about all the things I hadn't gotten cleaned in the rush to get out the door. This would be the first person to see the house... of course on a day when I was a mess. Oh well. We just crossed our fingers...

It was a great event with lots of family and friends. Thanks to everyone who drove a long distance to celebrate with us. After graduation we had a barbecue and sent everyone off to David's brother, Aaron's graduation who was graduating from ASU with an engineering degree. A long day of festivities.

Congratulations David! We are all so proud of you for all you have accomplished. Now lets go make some money! :)

David getting his medallion.

David getting "hooded"Where David got to stand for the next hour and a half!Alexis excited to see Daddy's big day. She kept saying, "Now daddy can make money and get a truck!"

Post Graduation Pictures.David and his parents.Timothy fell asleep minutes before graduation was over. Typical.

Family photo op.Alexis the fashionista.Off to spend daddy's first pay check with aunt Kathy.The next drama queen. How old is she? Oye!Next she'll be looking for my keys! Eeeek!

David getting "hooded" by his brother.Alexis at the "After party" soaking but happy.Pinata time! You can't say pharmacist without "Aaaarrr!"

Timothy on the run.Our little water baby. He would live in the water if he could. He LOVES it.Timothy ate mango. Random but he seemed to like it.

Signs

Do you ever pay attention to just how many signs are along the side of the road? I didn't used to until Alexis noticed them. From the rear seat of the car I hear a little voice saying, "P"... "P"... "P".... I ask Alexis what in the world she is saying, and she explains to me that there are lots of "P" signs. Sure enough there are LOTS. She is referring to the no parking sing with a large letter P with the "no circle" around it. Now she has added to the signs she reads off while we drive. Now I hear, "turn arrow," "no turn," "bikes" and many more. So I challenge you to pay attention to ALL the signs you pass as you drive and imagine someone reading them all off to you as you go. Quite entertaining.

March '09 San Diego Vacation... Part 1

So I am finally getting around to our March vacation to San Diego. We went from Friday March 27th through Tuesday March 31st. It was a nice little vacation and probably one of the last we'll take for awhile. Once David starts working vacations will be harder to get until he gains some PTO. So here is the run down... with pictures of our wonderful time off.

Friday March 27th

It seems like it takes us an entire day just to pack the van to get out of town. We were still in Yuma and would be leaving Yuma upon return from San Diego, so we were packing for a long weekend... and packing from a three month stay. We finally got on the road early Friday afternoon. I love it when we can start a movie in the car and ride in a bit of peace. The kids seem to enjoy it more too. We only supply movies when we are on long trips so it is more a treat. The drive was uneventful except for the truck we saw drive off the freeway into a field (all were okay) and a long wait at the border checkpoint in the mountain pass.

When we arrived in San Diego it was just about rush hour, but we avoided most of the traffic. My grandma lives in La Mesa which is about three miles east of SDSU. It is the perfect location to about everything. When we arrived we enjoyed dinner with my grandma and then went to SeaPort Village for a sunset stroll. Alexis was so excited to see the boats and water. The weather was nice and a wonderful change from the dry Arizona sun. I love the ocean air, the fog, and the cool breeze from the water. I guess it is because I grew up in California. It was a nice time and the kids even got little toys. You have to pay for parking EVERYWHERE in San Diego, but if we purchased anything we were able to validate our parking. Lucky for the kids. Here are a few pics from Sea Port Village.

Alexis found a store full of hammocks and different swings. Her favorite was the tire swing made to look like an elephant. She also had to toss a penny in every fountain she saw. I think we paid the city of San Diego at least $20 in pennies during our stay. Oh... and just to give you an idea of how many pictures we took in our 4 days... it was roughly 1700! NICE! I don't think I can load them all... but stay tuned for more from San Diego!

Living on the Edge

So it has been a week since we placed our house on the market. We have kept the house immaculate and the kids have even helped. I keep waiting for something to happen. Maybe the phone to ring, the doorbell to ring...heck... anything to ring. There has been nothing. This is a VERY different experience than our last house we sold. By now it was under contract and off our hands. The market is much different than a few years ago. It doesn't help that every other house is a foreclosure or short sale. A bit frustrating for those of us who played by the rules and are now feeling a bit punished by it. Not only is our equity far gone, but even breaking even looks impossible at this point. I know it has only been a week, but I am super frustrated already. David starts work in 4 weeks and I don't want to be stuck down here with the kids by myself... and we can't rent up in PHX until David gets an actual paycheck.
I feel like we have done all we can on our part to sell the house. I planted new pretty, blooming flowers. We painted any "extreme" colors neutral. We cleaned the heck out of this house. We staged half the house to look like a "model home". What more can we do? Oh yeah.... drop the house price another $30k... oh wait... we've already gone as far as we can. We are still cheaper than the new builds in our development by about $15k, but still NOTHING! Have I mentioned that I am a bit frustrated! ARGH!!!!!!
I guess this will be another lesson for me in patience. Have I mentioned that I lack in patience?

ANYWHO! In other things.... Alexis has a new love for baseball. She is actually pretty good at it too. She hits at least 1/2 of the pitches I toss to her. She also loves to play catch. What is even better is that with all her energy, she'll run ALL over the yard. Good thing too, because she doesn't have the greatest aim. She is also finding new independence with the refrigerator and water dispenser. She can operate both now and it makes bedtime fun. We never know exactly how much she has had to drink before going to sleep. No issues yet. She always comes and wakes me up.
Alexis has also developed some fears. She is so worked up lately about monsters. To protect her from the monsters she requires sleeping with 6+ stuffed animals. The other night she had so many animals on her bed, that there was nowhere for her to sleep. David put a limit to 2 animals and placed the rest in a box. That night she woke me up at 3AM to look for the rest of her stuffed animals. 3Am.... are you serious! Then because she was up walking around, she had to go to the bathroom. While in the bathroom she was "small chatting" with me. She was asking where we got a certain movie, and how much it cost. All I could think was, "I can't seriously be having this conversation at 3 AM!".... did I mention it was 3AM! After much reassurance I was able to get her back to bed and convince her that 2 stuffed animals could protect her from monsters just as well as 10 stuffed animals could. OYE!

As Alexis is developing fears, we find that Timothy is more fearless every day. I have found him on top of the table just playing, and he continues to climb on EVERYTHING. He can even climb into the bathtub. We have since locked the bathroom and placed child gates up... because he can also start the water. He is pretty smart.
He can open our doors, and we have found new use for the alarm system. The doors all chime when they open. This has been helpful in knowing if Timothy is trying to escape. This past week he was halfway into the garage. Time to start dead bolting everything, all the time. He also pulled over our nice lamp this week, which then shattered into thousands of tiny glass shards... on the carpet. He spent some quality time in timeout for that one. All these things happen in slow motion... just can't get there in time to catch him. He is a quick one!

As for us old folks... we are just tired, frustrated, and so ready to move on to other things. David is getting bored at home. The other day he never even changed out of pajamas. I asked if it felt wonderful to not get dressed for an entire day. He just shrugged... I think he'd rather be working. He is ready for a challenge. I think the computer games are starting to get to his brain and shrink it a little every day. He better get studying for his licensing exam. Time seems to sit still some days... and other days it just flies by... I hope it just flies by in the near future...

Growing Up

I think today David feels like he is officially growing up. Lots of people ask, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" and now David is going to be something. He got the job and is going to be a pediatric pharmacist. Yeah David! You have worked so hard and have accomplished so much. You are such a smartie pants and sometimes drive me crazy with your hour long answers to medical questions... but you amaze me. I know you will be great and really impact peoples lives for the better. Congratulations... now when do you get that first pay check? :) Muah!

A day at a time

Since David has been home, every day seems SOOooooo.... long. I don't know why it is that way. It is nice having extra help around the house but every day is like a Saturday, full of chores. Today I painted the bathroom a more "neutral" color and it looks much better. David said he didn't like the puke green it was before anyway. He then proceeded to say that my sister picks out some weird colors. I then had to tell him that it was one that I had chosen. Oh well... now it is a nice beige... like the rest of the house. Now all I have to do is re-paint the trim in the rest of the bathroom, then clean it and that room will be ready to go.
In other news... David had an interview today. He applied for some hospitals in the Phoenix area and got a call back for a phone interview with Desert Samaritan today. Now he has a second interview that we will actually go up to Phoenix for. Keep your fingers crossed that he gets it. It sounds like a nice job of adult/pediatric pharmacy. The hours aren't the greatest, but we'll take what we can get. New grads never get the best pickin's for hours at the hospitals. I guess you have to put the time in before you get the good shifts.
Timothy did a new trick today. While sitting at the dinner table he was covering his eyes (with his messy hands) and then yelling boo and uncovering his eyes. Alexis was laughing and of course had to join in on the fun. She gets very jealous for attention. If Timothy makes us laugh she will do something to "one-up" him to get laughs. The competition begins. We have some fun kids that are growing up fast. I guess I best just enjoy the boogerie noses and slobbery kisses while I can. One day at a time...

Boys Vs. Girls

Boys and girls are different. There is no arguing that... but wow... are they different. Timothy is a climber. He has to climb anything and everything. With recent tasks around the house we've needed the ladder. We have it in our bedroom folded up and leaned against the wall. David turned around for literally 8 seconds and Timothy was halfway up the ladder (about 5 feet up). This kid is ridiculous. He also loves to climb up the slide and has no fear of whisking down. Alexis didn't really master that slide until she was much older. Very different kids.
On another funny note...
David is still looking for a job, and also looking at what car he would like once he has a job. Our old white car is not reliable so it is going away. David is looking at getting a small truck for his future car. When driving around the other day, Alexis asked if we were going to get David his truck. We explained to her that a job comes first... and then a truck. Tonight during Alexis' bedtime prayer, she prayed that "Daddy can get a job so he could get a truck". David and I had to keep from laughing but it was a sincere thought and prayer from her. Adorable.
Just painting, cleaning, pulling weeds, and more cleaning going on. We are trying to de-clutter and minimize things in preparation for selling the house. Hopefully we'll be ready for the market by next weekend. Wish us luck. Lots of work to go... UGH!

A little behind... understatement of the day!

So I haven't posted in awhile because I feel like I have so much to catch up on first... that I keep pushing off current happenings. I guess I'll just have to go back and post about our mini San Diego vacation and such.
We are currently back in Tucson. It is so nice to have our own space again. Timothy has had a hay day with all the "new" toys and things to get into. He climbs on everything and has tons of bumps and bruises to prove it. Walking and falling have brutal consequences. Today I found him turning on the water in the bathroom sink. We have a bench to the sink so Alexis can wash her hands by herself... and apparently so can Timothy. He also found he could open our doors. We have the lever door handles so they are easier to open for little grabby fingers. Nothing is safe now. He also found the trash can. We don't have to worry about downsizing because he is taking care of that for us. We find ourselves scrounging for cups, toys, and bottles out of the trash. He is like a little puppy...
Music is also a favorite of Timothy. Whenever he hears music his hips start swaying and his arms waving. He LOVES to dance, and we love to watch it. He is such a funny little kid. So funny, in fact, that it gets him in trouble. While I water the garden he chases me around because he wants the water. He can't get enough of water. He will walk right into the sprinkler and just laugh as he gets drenched. He also does this weird thing where he tries to lap up water like a dog. I don't know where he gets these things.
Alexis is doing so much better with sharing and being kind to Timothy. We always tell her that he follows her around because he loves her so much and wants to be like her. So the other day she was following me into my room and when I asked her for privacy, she responded, "I only follow you around because I love you!" How do you respond to that one? Her vocabulary continues to grow and her attitude too. When sent to time out by David, she said she couldn't go because she was watching a movie. Needless to say, the movie was turned off and time out was a bit longer that time. Oh the joys ahead.
David is home ALL day now as he is looking for a job and "studying" for his licencing exam. Most of the time I catch him "unwinding" on the computer playing games. He has been a big help around the house though. Today we cleaned out our front room (being used as a storage unit) to get it ready to be painted. It is currently a DARK green and we thought it should be lightened up and made more neutral for selling the house. We are going to move our office up there and then make the office the "play room". This room will hold all the toys in the house and hopefully solve the problem of toys littering the rest of the house.
The job search has become an enlightening experience on the state of the economy. Everywhere we look for jobs there are hiring freezes and no growth. Tucson is tapped out of jobs so we are looking north to Phoenix area. It has more hospitals and opportunity. We'll see how it goes, but David has realized that he can't just apply for anything and get it. The market sure has changed.
We were in Phoenix last weekend so that I could do some scrapbooking with my sister-in-law and I got 4 pages done. WOOHOO! I had a great time. While we were in town we decided to look at some houses and are pretty excited about some potential homes... but first we have to sell our current home and get a job. Pray for us! The market just gets better every day. Oye!
Easter was uneventful. We had a mini Easter egg hunt at David's grandparents house on Saturday. That evening we returned to Tucson and had church first thing in the morning so we didn't do the whole basket full of goodies thing. Alexis didn't ask, so we figured we are okay... at least for this year. In her sunbeam class they talked about Christ being nailed to the cross and that is all she talked about for the rest of the day. We have a movie on the resurrection so we watched it. She was so concerned about the nails. It was sweet to see such a compassionate and loving little girl so worried about her Savior. I sometimes think she has a much deeper and fuller understanding of such things than I do. I strive to see Easter through her eyes.
Life is good. Uncertain... but good.

Read Below

I am adding new posts... but changing the dates to when they happened... so the posts below are technically new... and there are TONS more to come. Lots of fun to update on...

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Today was the Yuma Air show. It was a huge event and everyone had lots of fun. David left at 7:30am with my dad to help him set things up. My dad is in radio so he has to attend every big event in town. Anywho... I kept getting text messages from David about a super cool sonic boom, and other things. We finally decided to go around 11:30am. Timothy stayed with Grandma since we didn't foresee him handling the sun and heat for too long. Good thing too, because it was HOT.

The airshow was pretty cool. They had several jets do tricks as well as some acrobatic planes. We were able to take Alexis into an old bomber plane. She was so scared at first but very proud of herself having made it through. I can't imagine how it must have been to actually be fighting in one of those planes. The bombs set inside the plane and a small catwalk went down the middle of the plane between the bombs. If you weren't careful you could have fallen out of the plane mid-air. It was super tight in there. Some of the gunners had to sit indian style in a little pod and just shoot. That was their entire job. I can only imagine signing up for that job... David said you'd get that job if you had good aim. Guess that makes sense. Picture of the plane is below:

Towards the end of the air show they broke a world record for the worlds longest continuous firewall. It was 10,000 feet long. The movie clip says 8,000 but they corrected it. The fire wall was part of a reenactment of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They dropped bombs, narrated the story and had the air raid siren blaring. It was a little to real for me and brought out some interesting emotions. I can't imagine the fear and terror of that day. I guess that means they did a good job.

The fire wall was amazing. Before you even saw the flames you felt a wave of heat. The flames reached about 150 feet into the air and it was so massive that you couldn't even see all of it at once. Pretty incredible.

All in all, it was a pretty cool day, and Alexis had a blast. Mission complete!

PS. Tora! Tora! Tora! means Attack in Japanese...