Happy Belated Birthday

Saturday was Jason's birthday. He had been traveling with work the week prior so it was very nice to have him home. I thought we had a great day and spent most of it just being with each other. The kids loved having him home.....and so did I of course. We tried to get as much dad time as possible since he had to leave Monday morning for another week of travel.

We started the day with a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and strawberries. Opened presents he got some new clothes, and we played lots of wii, and went on a bike ride with Tanner riding without training wheels! Went to the park, and made yummy fish tacos for dinner. I had the hardest time trying to get him to tell me what he wanted me to fix....so I just decided to choose something and if he didn't like it too bad. But they turned out so good and we finished the night with some angel food cake and strawberries.

Happy Birthday J! Love you!!

We had a visitor!

I went to take Tanner to preschool Monday and when I went to get Paige out of the car I found this....

and this......

As I started looking around my van a little closer I found a lot more evidence that I had a little visitor in my car and started stressing out. I immediatley called Jason for some advice, and he told me to put some traps in the car. And I took out the mats and bleached them, took all the carseats apart and they were washed in the sanitizing cycle, and washed all the surfaces down with clorox wipes.....which wasn't smart due to the fact I still had a little critter running around. So Monday night I put about 8 traps in and around the car and then went to bed. This morning I went out hesitantly to the car and thought I would find a mouse or some type of rodent in the trap. But all I found was a trap with the corner chewed off. Little stinker.....so he wanted to play with me huh. Well I wasn't in the mood so a quick vaccum and strict instructions to the kids not to touch anything in the car we headed to Target to find some real traps. Mission accomplished we got home I removed the seats from the car (didn't want anymore mouse excrement on them). And let the car sit in the garage.

Tonight I decided to be brave and check on the car......mind you I had a tennis racket with me and low and behold I found this......

I couldn't kill this poor creature so I had a friend do it. Now I just hope he didn't have any friends! And it looks as if my schedule will be full tomorrow as I will be sanitizing my car once more.

Zoo

Yesterday we went to the Wildlife Zoo with Tanner's preschool class. We had a really good time, I brought Kylie and Paige with us and they really enjoyed themselves. We had fun looking at all the animals we especially enjoyed the bird feeding, with birds landing on my head, and looking at the giraffes and the fish. I even talked Tanner into touching a star fish. We had a great day and I loved being able to spend it with the kids.

We got home and put Paige down for a nap and we played Wii until Kylie was almost asleep on the couch I couldn't have that otherwise she wouldn't go to bed so we headed to the park. It was so nice the kids had a great time playing and it was fun to go out in the fresh air.

We had a great day.....just glad we are all clean now!

Big Girl

Paige's hair is now long enough to put in piggies!

Beware of the Cactus

We have gotten back to Arizona and have settled back into our normal routine. Last week I was able to hike or run 4 out of the 5 days it had been awhile since I excercised and it felt great. Speaking of hiking I went hiking with Erin and Rachel Thursday morning and when we go it is still dark. We were hiking and talking not a good combination for me when I happened to run into one of these...

I know it doesn't look to bad but without the leaves....I will spare you the photo but lets just say I have a nice (ugly) bruise on my upper thigh and some scratches on my hand and leg. It might be a good idea if I watched where I was walking from here on out! Now my only problem is these next 2 weeks I have to be motivated myself because I won't be able to work out with my friends. So far not so good...still have a week and a half to redeem myself.

I have now decided that the weather is really nice and instead of being angry decided to enjoy it. I love being able to have the kids play outside and have the windows open and not have the heater or air conditioner on for a while. I will enjoy it while it lasts.

We had a great weekend on Friday night Jason and I actually went on a date. It was fun to get out of my mommy clothes and look decent and we met some friends and went and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was a long movie and not one of my favorites afterward we went to Texas Roadhouse and had a nice dinner. Saturday we had dance, and let the kids play with friends while we did some yardwork, and then had a barbeque. It was a relaxing perfect day. Sunday we made it to church at 8:30, and then had a nice relaxing day. We watched the Cardinals win, and then went for a walk. Then we had another bbq, what a great weekend!

I love snow

I never thought that living in Arizona would make me so homesick for Utah. Don't get me wrong I love my friends, and love the life that we have there but I miss my seasons. It is the worst starting in the fall when the weather is still in the 100's or high 90's. There is something about the fall the crispness in the air the changing leaves. That is when I really start missing Utah. Then Thanksgiving comes around and it is still warm enough to swim it just doesn't seem right. After Thanksgiving as we all know is Christmas. I can put up my decorations, bake, buy gifts, listen to lots of music....but it just isn't Christmas without some cold weather and snow. We didn't have any snow for Christmas...as we were in California with Jason's parents. We had rain and that is better than weather in the 60's, but then after Christmas we headed to Utah for my sister's wedding and we had 2 days of just snow. I loved it the kids loved it Jason wasn't there he was in Maryland (hence our 2 week trip to Utah). I even got Paige to walk around in it for a bit. It did take some convincing, she wasn't so sure what the white stuff getting on her coat was but eventually decided that it was okay.

I am ready to go home just because we have been away for 3 weeks. But I am already dreading the weather since it is in the 70's. Let me explain I know what is coming...yes the 70's are nice now for those who are freezing, but I will have months and months of hot hot hot weather. That is why I am dreading the 70's and why I am in absolute heaven in the snow!

Kylie

The other night I went to check on the kids and couldn't find Kylie. I didn't panick too much becuase we are upstairs and I didn't think she could sneak by me....so I started looking around the room and found her here......

I have found her asleep in many wierd places but under the bed!? How uncomfortable is that? I tried to get a better picture but she moved and smacked her head so I got her out and put her on her air mattress. She stayed there for a while then decided to join me in my bed. (that only happens when Jason is gone....we wished anyway!)