The Sickies

We've been hit with the sickness this week.  Our sickness?  3 strep and 1 almost bronchitis.  Let's just say not much around the house has gotten done.  Kids were feeling great & I thought I was too yesterday so we went to the fair.  Today is a different story.  I'm exhausted and I've got a ton of homework to do.

Campus Observations

#1 - Most people are rather polite.  People hold doors open for one another all the time.  And I haven't heard all that much profanity.  In fact I've heard more at Sportsman's in 1 day than I have the entire time I've been on campus so far.

#2 - Not everyone is as excited about their schooling as I am. LOL I'm sure that will wear off, but I kind of hope it doesn't.

#3 - As the day goes on the hill on campus gets steeper. LOL

4 Years Ago

Can you believe that 4 years ago this beautiful girl was born?  I can't.  She's amazing!!  Funny, charming, caring, a bit rebellious, and cute to boot. We celebrated tonight with Grandma & Grandpa McKinnon and the aunts & uncles.  Boy did she have fun!

Birthday Dinner Menu:

HM Chicken Nuggets

Fried Red Potatoes

Carrot Sticks

Olives

Grape-Cherry 7up Jello

Milk

Cake & Ice Cream, duh!!

 Happy Birthday Myelle!! 

 I love you!!

Thanks Christine for the awesome cake!! You did a great job
& Myelle loved it!

Oh Boy Birthday Dinner with the special birthday plate!

First Week

Classes started this week at ISU.  I go on Tuesdays & Thursdays this semester.  I'm loving it.  Loving being on campus & learning in my classes.  I feel like I'm no longer stagnant; that I'm headed in some kind of direction and that makes me happy.  It's also motivated me to work harder at home since I have less time at home. 

Favorite things:  Marching Band, watching my kids' excitement to ride the bus, class discussion & lecture(I hate textbook reading :P) and of course my awesome hubby and all his support through this

The kids started school this week too. :D  While I'm in class they get to be in ISU's Early Learning Center.  They are loving it & had a good first week also.  They seem so grown up as they grin when I pick them up & they want to tell me about their days.  Even Ben just chatters away telling me about his day. LOL Wish I had a translator.

I sure wish I had my camera to take our picture on the First Day of School.

Like A Refreshing Rain

If you live in Southeast Idaho you couldn't miss the smoke covering the valley.  Hazy, dirty, smoky.  Then in the afternoon the clouds opened & it downpoured.  The rain cleared away all that filthiness.  The air was fresh, crisp, & clean.  Everything was brighter and bolder.  The grass was greener, the sky was bluer,  the grain fields were more golden. Life was good & beautiful.  It was a fitting scene for a Sunday and I couldn't help but think of how going to church & taking the sacrament is like a refreshing rain.  The grit and garbage that we're exposed to everyday is washed away.  I haven't been able to make it to church very often lately because I've been working so much on Sundays.  I'll be so glad when I'll be able to quit working Sundays & go to church for that weekly refresher.  Life will be bolder, brighter, & more beautiful and that feeling of all that will carry me through the week.  Until then I'll try to make the best of it and remember my prayers & scriptures and soon my life will be refreshed like after a good rainstorm.

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

After an awesome week at Grandma Wood's house Myelle is glad to be home...I think. :)  A week filled with fishing, cows, rabbits, the fair, & the rodeo I don't think she wanted to come home. LOL  She did miss her little brother though & he missed her.  I wish I had the camera to take a picture of her trying to hug & kiss him when we met them at the mall.

I will miss the peace & quiet.  Myelle's already mothering him & bossing him around which makes him mad. Ben can't talk a lot & when he's mad or wants something he just screeches. He gets mad at Myelle a lot and he always wants whatever Myelle has.  Thus lots of screeching ensues.  And they both get a big kick out of teasing the other. Oh those kids might be the death of me! 

It's Been Such a Long Time...........

I think I should start bloggin' again!

Quick update for all of us:

Bentley- will be 18months next month.  He's a chunker & learning to talk.  Favorite words right now: football, touchdown, clock, momma, dadda.

Myelle- will be 4 next week.  She's a little teenager sometimes. LOL  Her favorite things are helping around the house, being the mom to her dollies, and bossing Bentley around.  She says the funniest things sometimes.  Still to come are many Myelle quotes.

Erick-still working at Walgreen's as a Pharmacy Technician.  School plans are in the works for him next fall working towards being a "Certified Drug Dealer" AKA Pharmacist.  He's been doing some beautiful woodworking for his mom.  Pictures to come when it's all finished.

Me- I've been working FT at Sportsman's Warehouse all summer & now in 5 days I'll start classes at ISU again.  Pretty excited about that!!  I think I've finally figured out what I want to do. Now I just need to meet with my advisor to see if they'll let me do it.

That's us in a nutshell....more to come.

Things I Didn't Expect as a Mom

1. I am a human kleenex.

2. My kids would love baths so much I'd let them have one almost everyday to play.

3. How important having a doctor that is good with kids is.

4. Suckers can make anything better.

Settling In

Well folks we're all moved in to our new apartment. I have to say that we absolutely L.O.V.E. it!! Still haven't found my camera in the mess of things, but I will soon. I've gotten a lot unpacked already.

The kids are still adjusting, but rather quickly I might add. Myelle keeps telling me "I like our new apartment."

Tomorrow's the Day!

We'll be moving. Yay!! We're finishing up the packing today. (In fact I should be packing right now rather than blogging, but here I am.)

Thanks to Rachel H. for coming & helping me pack for so long yesterday! I wouldn't be this close to being ready without you.

Pics of our new apartment coming soon.

Giveaway at A Few Good Things

My friend Jessica is having a giveaway on her blog. Check it out & enter here. I'm a bit jealous of the craftiness. Good luck to you all, but secretly I hope I win. ;)

You Know You're a Band Geek...

When a great song comes on & instead of singing along with the words you sing the part you played in your marching band show. :D

Blaring trumpet solo to ensue. Wah wah wah wah.......

6 Days & Counting

Only six more days until we move. I'll be packing like crazy this week. We sign our lease on Wednesday & can start moving in. I'm going to move a few boxes before, but the big move is on Saturday. I want to thank in advance all the family & friends that are helping us move. You guys are the best!

Just as We Were Getting Caught Up

We got another medical bill. It seems like that happens every time. It's depressing. At first I was mad that Erick had to go into the ER & be admitted to the hospital. But after a bit I realized it was the best thing for him & it wasn't his fault. (Sorry Honey I can be so wraunchy sometimes...I know I'm working on it.)

Now I'm just stressed. And so I eat. More than should be humanly possible. When it hurts...I stop & sleep. Things will look better in the morning.

This too shall pass.

*****

And I love my mom. She is the greatest. Today she came & picked up my kids at the drop of a hat so I could go to the hospital with Erick. And when I got home I found she had done my dishes, vacuumed & cleaned out my fridge. Thanks Mom!! (If I knew how to do the heart symbol I'd insert one here) You are the greatest!

Yahoo!....Goals

I got the player off my blog. :) My internet must have been having issues when I tried before. Yippee!

******

One of my goals this year is to be a better housekeeper. I don't mind tidying up or vacuuming or even doing laundry. However, I absolutely hate doing dishes. Hooray for the dishwasher we are going to have in our new apartment! I now set a goal to unload the dishwasher as soon as it's done & load my dirty dishes right into it.

What's your least favorite chore?

Help!

I keep trying to remove my music player off my blog & it won't let me. Any tips, suggestions, how to's? Thanks in advance!

Back Up & Running

We have a fully functional keyboard & fully functional screen again! Hooray!!

As a quick update:

We are moving. Erick got a job as a Pharmacy Tech at Walgreen's in Blackfoot. We were going to try to stay in Idaho Falls because it wasn't that far of a commute (30-45min depending on the weather) & we love our ward. But we found much cheaper housing in Blackfoot. 7 days & counting until we sign the lease.