It's Still Warm...And We Are Not Complaining

The first time I ever visited Rock Springs, Wyoming was on September 11, 2008. There was a huge rainstorm, but not normal rain, blowing freezing rain. I was totally unprepared for the grayish sky and the crazy wind. I must have just caught RS on a bad day, but first impressions are hard to let go of.

If I would have visited Rock Springs, Wyoming for the first time on any day in September 2011, I would have fallen in love with the lovely fall weather. We have had a mild fall with days in the 70's and nights cool enough to leave the windows open. We've had plenty of days in the park and beautiful clear skies.

Of course, nothing gold can stay {Thank you Robert Frost}, but if it could I would choose right now.

Hurrry!

Besides the word "no", and the phrase "please stop", Caleb hears the word "HURRY" a lot. He is not at all motivated by the word, but I persist in saying, yelling, and screaming it constantly.

So, one day I stopped. Literally. Stopped saying it and stopped doing it. We ended up here. On the island between the rec center parking lot and the sidewalk playing Buzz and Buzz {Woody} for about 20 minutes. He was totally satisfied, and after his break from hurrying, he happily got in the car.

Now if I could just find a way to be 20-30 minutes early to EVERYTHING we could do this all the time. Instead, I think we'll just take a few more hurry breaks.

Cali and My Phone

Cali has a small obsession with my phone. Well, any cell phone, really. She is pretty sure that she really really really {a lot more really's} needs one of her own. I see the benefits of her having one, but I also know that a person can make it through grade school, jr. high, high school, college, and childbirth without one. So, currently it's a back-burner issue for me.

However, my stalling out the cell phone issue doesn't stop her from getting her grubby little mitts on mine any chance she gets. A recent conversation went something like this:

Me: Cali can you sit in the car while I run into the store?
Cali: Yes, but you have to leave me your phone.
Me: Ok, but don't call anyone...please.
Cali: What if someone comes to steal me?
Me: Ok, in that case call 911.

Upon returning from a 8.53 minute sprint in and out of the store.

Cali: No one tried to steal me, and I didn't call anyone.
Me: That's a relief {on both accounts}.

Days later while trying to take a couple pictures with my phone I found at least 20 of these beauties...





Maybe it's not a phone she needs, maybe it's a camera?

Where Have I Been? Where Have You Been?

So, it's not very often that my blog goes nearly 2 weeks without an update. I know that with Facebook and other socially-networky things that blogging is becoming retro. Not as retro as actually getting out a pen and paper and your fancy scrapbook scissors, but retro in technology terms. Speaking of retro technology, I had to explain to my hairstylist what a floppy disk was at my last appointment.

Technology moves almost as fast as my kids and our life. In two weeks there were a couple flag football games, a lot of swimming lessons, some husband/dad-less nights while Christian worked in Casper, WY {which btw, he really liked the area}, my knocked up sister and her 14ish week old fetus visited us {I cannot get enough of either!}, we attended several Stake Conference meetings where Elder Richard G. Scott was the speaker, the Schwan Man came, we hit up some parks with our friends, Christian went to Laramie for some football, we survived another primary program, I completed at least ten school assignments, and the house may or may not have been vacuumed. All in two weeks...

Also, I just have to say, whoever thought that cramming 16 weeks of course material into an 8 week course was either a tyrant or a saint. I will let you know which one in about two weeks.

Which Side?

I am not a huge Star Wars fan, in fact I've never seen any of them without falling asleep {gasp}. I know. I know. I'm missing out. I've heard it all, from Christian and the kids. Cali and Carter know all of the characters and all the intricate plot point, all of which are totally lost on me.

However, when I saw this shirt on sale at Herbergers for $1.99, I knew Caleb had to have it. I'm pretty sure it's a lego Luke Skywalker {see, I'm getting better}, and I know he's a Jedi {double points for me}. However, I think that Caleb's use of the Lightsabers {Booyah! I know what the weapons are called} leans more toward the dark side...

So Far, So Good

We made it through our first full week of school! Cali loves her class, her teacher, her friends, and her new routine. She has a lot of homework, but is getting really good at working on it and managing her time better.

The earlier bedtimes and the crazy evenings haven't quite caught on yet, but I'm sure with a little practice, they will.

Carter had a few moments of hesitation the days before school started, but he's doing much better now. He loves school lunch and riding the bus. He refuses to wear any of the "handsome" school clothes we bought for school, and insists on wearing a barage of Mario, Luigi, and Mater shirts.

After a few hundred pictures, they were ready to get away from me and on to their new adventures. I tried to give Carter a hug {it was even a subtle side hug} to which he responded, "Mom, please don't ever squeeze me like that at school ever again." That's when I knew it was time to exit the premises.

Got Grass?

We finally do, and some trees too! It's been a long time coming and a lot of hard work, but our yard is finally in the completion stages.

A New School Year

Cali and Carter had a great time at their elementary open house. Carter loved this cute puppy marking his bookbag hanger and cubby. He also really liked the goldfish and this puppet stage in the classroom.

Cali liked her very sophisticated classroom, she is in 3rd grade afterall, complete with a cursive writing guide. She's been trying to write in cursive for years now!

We are all looking forward to a very fun school year. Here's a picture of Cali and Carter NOT fighting!

Mad Lilly Pad Skills

Mouse on the House

One crazy day while I was trying to load the car, get Caleb down for a nap, and blow dry my hair; Cali and Carter discovered a mouse crawling up the screen on the outside of the window. After much screaming {Carter}, crying {Cali}, and running in excited circles {Caleb}. I was able to rid our house of this menace.

I grabbed a shovel, and flipped it off the window high into the hair....hoping that upon landing it would, well...die. But it didn't, and it ran straight back to the window well. I had no choice. I smashed it with the shovel. It was a strange experience. Although I have killed bugs and spiders, this marked the first time I've ever killed a mammal.

I tried to explain the oddity of watching an animal die at your own hand to my brother in law, Tyler {avid hunter}, to which he replied; "it felt good, right!" I wouldn't go that far, but you know what they say. Mother's will kill other animals to protect their babies, even mice...I guess!

The Pity/Kindness of Strangers

During an exceptionally gruelling trip to the the Walmart {with three kids} on Friday morning to pick up the rest of our school supplies, a very kind stranger gave me these roses. She was paying for her items in front of me, and could see my obvious state of disarray. She asked me a few small-talk questions, and after her purchase she turned around and handed me these flowers saying, "These are for you, I hope you have a much better day."

I was touched by her kindness and thoughtfulness. She obviously bought the flowers for someone else, but gave them to me instead. I was also slightly embarrassed that my lack of control and level of stress was so obvious it warranted a gift.

One Hundred Fourty Four Thousand Two Hundred Minutes. How do You Measure, Measure a Summer?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in otter pops? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in sunburns?

Thanks to the musical Rent for inspiring my blog tonight. Seasons of Love is my favorite song from the musical, you can see/listen to it here, then the title and intro of this post will make much more sense! Plus you will have a great song to add to your playlist!

We had a wonderful season of love; we saw people we haven't seen in ages, went places we'd never been before, and did a lot of getting to know the people we love. Without getting too sentimental about our wonderful summer I think I will sum it up with these pictures.

Our summer went this fast... {literally a blur}

Our summer was this fantastic... {Carter approves}

Our summer was this silly...{laughed everyday}

Our summer was this relaxing...{I will look fondly upon the warm days for months to come}