We love Bushka!

My mom, Bushka, came for a visit a few weeks ago. The children are always excited for visitors. Zach could hardly wait for Bushka to arrive and when she did I don't think he stop smiling for the first half an hour, at least. He just kept giving her hugs and smiles, hugs and smiles, he would just look at her and beam.
When Katie got home from school of course Bushka had to do homework with her.
Morgan, as normal, took a little while to warm up to her - but no worries she did.

While my mom was here we were able to get the curtains made for the girls room and started the curtains for my room. Of course the normal Bushka stuff was accomplished, things such as a bed time story each night, read books, watch them jump and/or ride bikes and Bushka even got to volunteer in Katie's class with me. She even took my curtains home to finish them as well as the fabric for my bedspread. I love my mom and love her visits. They are never long enough or to frequent. Come any time you want mom - AND

THANK YOU for all you did and do for us!

I am one of the luckiest girls because my mom is my mom.

Date Night Fun!

Trevor and I finally had a date night last Friday.

It was so much fun to be able to go out and not have to worry about school work. We were able to go for the whole evening. A trip to Twin - the Temple, shopping, an Italian restaurant. It was so nice to start the evening off with the Temple.

One of the highlights was that my Aunt Joyce was working that night and I got to see her and visit with her. I got a little caught up on their happenings, their temple schedule and got a perspective of the here after.(family filled)

We then ran to three stores, which is a lot considering our options in Burley. :) A bite of Italian food followed, Trevor's favorite. I love to spend time with Trevor and we don't get this chance very often.(school and house seem to always take the time)

Now because of the Temple we will get it at least once a month.

Temples bless our lives in so many ways!

Sorry NASA!

Sorry NASA if there were any complications with your satellites on Sunday. Trevor thought Morgan's Bows might have been messing up their reception because she was getting it all.

I just thought she was adorable.

Tagged by Jill -

Here are the rules:

Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Okay I have thought about this for a few days now and think I have narrowed it down to six that don't make me seem like a total freak or absolutely horrible.

1. I have mouthal noise issues. I can not stand to be in an area where there is noise coming from a mouth that isn't words. Chopping, chewing with the mouth open, swallowing, talking with food in your mouth, anything that like that just makes my skin crawl and my irritation level explode. Nose noises are included in this section.

2. I do not thrive to clean but I do a better job if I have someone to talk to or am upset. Later at night seems to help too. I think Trevor uses the upset for his advantage some times.

3. I am still afraid of unknown dogs, the big ones. I am not a dog lover anyway, they are really bad with the mouth noise thing - gross! Plus they drawel, slobber, lick, bark, poop, bite, growl, etc.......(sorry all dog lovers)

4. I laugh at people when they get hurt. So this is a warning to all that if I am around you and some one gets hurts I just automatically start to laugh. Most of the time I want to stop and just can't. It is a natural reaction, which is funny because for everything else - I cry. Whis leads to Number 5.

5. I cry over everything. It can be happy, sad, joyful, funny just about anything, but getting hurt, and I will cry. I cry if someone else cries, if someone might cry, or if I think they are going to cry - I cry. I should get a job being a professional morner or crier, I would definately successed at that.

6. I like that people stare at my white hair. It cracks me up to catch people staring at my white hair. I always have and probably always will. I enjoy seeing their reaction, faces say it all. One of my favorites is the double take and the whisper to the friend and then they all look together. Cracks me up every time. I just smile or give them and eye brows up look with a smile. I don't mind answering the questions if they are brave enough to ask> :):):) hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

Unpacking a room!

When you pack up a room you have to unpack it.

What a mess, at least for me. Plus,we are trying not to put anything in the room that doesn't have a spot. So when unpacking the boxes I get little piles of things to go here or there. Some are just waiting for a bin or basket but there is a pile. Here is my living room a few days ago, so it is in a better place now.

CAUTION This may make some of you not want to remodel!

Zach is taking you through the tour of danger.

Notice piles of food storage, our bed leaning on our dressers and piles everywhere. Some are hidden from his angel but wait...

Here they are. Boxes for the girl's room and all of the piles.

The girl's room before I moved any furniture in.

Here is the girl's room with furniture.

Behind Katie's bed is where the three pictures she painted are going to go. We have white curtains to put up that my mom and I made too.

Morgan's Words-

What Morgan is communicating = what she says

Kitty = "zsy zsy"

but not quite that clear, this is a hard one not quite sure how to capture it correctly

Dad = "dadadada"

Mom = "mamamama"

Katie = "aie aie aie"

Zach = "ah"

really loud, like she is yelling it.

outside = "sss, sss"

hi, goodby, night night = I

they all sound about the same

She signs all done, drink and on rare occasions please.

She squeals, haulers and grunts to get most anything else she wants. She know what she wants

and makes sure we figure it out.

Jennifer's Top ten happies with household projects-

!TOP TEN HAPPIES !
1. I can now open Zach's door all of the way!
2. The girl's room and our closet have carpet!
3. We get to put Zach's room back together!
4. The girl's room is all but put together!
5. The living room is on it's way back to normal!
6. There is no clutter in the girl's room-yet!
7. We got to get rid of two boxes out of the living room!
8. The entry way is almost all painted!
9. I finally decided how to position the furniture in the girl's room.

10. We are that much closer to being done!!!!!

(Now if I can just get Trevor to finish these projects all of the way before beginning another project, living room floor)

Teacher's Helper

Every Wednesday I have started to volunteer in Katie's class. I get to help with reading and part of their skill shots reading program. I absolutely love it. It helps me get involved with the classmates of Katie and I get to be involved. I just love to be involved. I admire those who home school and do it well but I just don't think I could pull it off, well not will everyone happy at night. So this is how I get my fix of that, I am involved. I go while Trevor is home for lunch and he even said next week I could stay longer to help out more -

YEAH for me!

We LOVE Cats!

Morgan loves the cat almost as much as Katie does. When ever we are outside our cat is there somewhere and if Morgan spots the cat she crawls right over there to pet him. He, like this picture, will even come up to her and walk in front of her so she can pet him and then rubs his side on her back. He does this a few times before he goes and lays down in the yard somewhere. He even lets Katie love on him and he doesn't run away. He is the best dog too. He will chase other animals(even dogs), chases sticks when Zach thrown them and even walks with us to the bus stop in the morning and the afternoon. He has been known to even go on a family walk with us around the block.

Morgan even says her form of the word Kitty when she spies him.

We love our cat Sprinkles and yes he is a boy... Katie named him

JuMPiN FuN

On Saturday we had fun on the tramp. while Trevor mowed the lawn. Morgan, Katie and Zach just love to jump. It has to be one of the best things for the children ever could have invested in, especially ones with the nets. So here is a few shots of the fun we had...

-Morgan is a jumping Queen-

Between the little bit bed head and a whole bunch of static Morgan was awarded:

BEST HAIR!

Katie has now learned about "Bunny Ears" !

Here are some fun pictures. Every time I tried to get a picture of Katie, Zach would jump in and do something funny and just smile and chuckle. We finally got one so she was happy. I had to put another one of the beauty Queen on just for the beauty of the hair.

Surviving the Construction

Here is a Construction update:(as requested by Julee)

This is what all the rooms look like. First they got tape, mud, and then texture. Then the walls received new crown modeling(except our closet) and new floor boards. We have primed all of the walls and painted all of the ceilings white.

This is the wall color for our room, a warm brown. It is called ice tea but the ice tea I've seen isn't this nice of a color-

Here is Katie's room and the art ready for the walls. We are going to go look and hopefully get the carpet today, it will be nice and brown with flecks of other shades of brown. It is easier on the stuff that gets on the floor. Her room is all done but priming and painting the crown molding and the carpet. By next week she and Morgan should be moved back in! YEAH YEAH YEAH - That means one dresser out of the living room and all of her stuff boxes.

So a list of what has been accomplished thus far:

ripped out walls, took down lath and plaster, moved walls, put up insulation, put up walls, new windows in both bedrooms, new drywall, new texture on all surfaces but the floors, new light fixtures(we have bought since living here), all textured areas primed, Katie's room painted and screws in the floor to get rid of the squeaks, new crown molding, new base boards, a new large master closet and any think else you can think of we probably have done it.

Oh the joys of fixing up a house!

We will Survive and enjoy the results!

Potatoes---

We love Potatoes!

Our friends got some fresh potatoes from a friends farm and shared some with us. They are the best baked potatoes - they are just fluffier than the ones bought at the store. This one is shaped like a heart so I had to share it with everyone!

Happy Grandpartents Day!!!

Yes, there is a day dedicated to Grandparents. There is, of course, even cards for it. It is always the first Sunday following Labor day. So call you grandparents and have your children call them and send them a wish of love! Alright but that is not what I am blogging to say ----

Here is what I want to say about GRANDPARENTS DAY!
I just love that they have a day to celebrate Grandparents. They often teach and inspire Grandchildren in different ways than parents can. I have three sets of Grandparents and love them all dearly. In fact I think that having three sets of Grandparents always made me more special, yes and more spoiled on birthdays and holidays.:) Growing up, although never really living as close as I would have liked, I loved all of them. I think of those who have passed already, which is all but one, and miss them. I miss the fun, the strength, the counsel that they offered me. One taught me how to always laugh, play jokes and enjoy what you are given in life and yet there is a place for that and a place for spiritual things too. I learned from a Grandma that modesty is more flattering to the body and the visit are never long enough. Another Grandmother taught me to be healthy, to always find ways to serve, and normally my idea is probably the best way things should be done:). My third grandma taught me that when you make a commitment you stick with it and that her past can influence my future. All three of my Grandma's taught me that you need to be you and that being stubborn, bull headed, strong willed... is all just part of being in the family. :) Trevor's grandparents influenced his life too. His Grandfather always taught him to laugh, enjoy life, and that the outdoors were suppose to be loved and experienced. He always loved his stories of the great outdoors and he now shares that love. His Grandmother always told him to be good and he has always wanted to be good so he wouldn't disappoint her. (When ever they talk even makes a point to tell her he is doing good.)Don't get us wrong our parents have taught these things to us too but the memory of learning them comes first comes with our Grandparents.

My Grandparents have helped me become me, well they have influenced the good parts of me and for that I am forever grateful!

as Katie say,"

GRANDPARENTS ARE AWESOME!

I love the Grandparents my children have. They are special too and get to have three sets which I know they all love, miss and wish they would come visit weekly. When ever we talk about any of them Zach just asks,"Are they going to come to my house?" I am excited for my children to learn and be molded by their grandparents like I was. So no pressure Grandparents but I will need you to help me teach these kid-os the important things in life. Even if we are not physically close, and visits are never long enough, they will learn from you by the life that you live. I know, because I learned that way from my Grandparents.

!Families are Everything and Everyone get a piece of the teaching action!

I am glad that Heavenly Father knows what he is doing and gave us families to help get all of the principles taught. So that we can make informed choices and make it back to him in the end.

As a mother who feels this responsibility I am grateful for the help and say...

THANK YOU - THANK YOU-THANK YOU

Dance Party!

Sunday night the children were in Katie's room having a dance party. They were having so much fun that the family had to all join in. (Katie's room is perfect right now because there is a her twin mattress and a wooden floor in it. Notice that Trevor has gotten a lot of wear out of Katie's cat ears. She always has him put them on when they play --- what a DAD!

Oh what do you do When school is cancelled?

Katie's school has been cancelled for two days now due to some electrical issues. She is missing school. I have heard several times, " I am Bored!!!" I list off a long list of things to do but of course non of them are the desired thing to do. Yesterday we got 3 canvas boards for her to paint to hang up in her room, made the dough for sugar cookies, watched a movies together, had three meals, snacks, played games and a little computer time. Today we rolled out the cookies, watched a movie, had two meals and a few snacks, played games, read books, are going to frost the cookies later and they are playing play dough right now. In all of this she has found time to be bored! I wish I had that energy. Just typing it out makes me feel tired that we did all of that. I am glad she loves school so much that she misses it.