East Coast Bound

Hello Everyone

OK, the tickets are booked and the babies and I are coming back east this summer...I can't wait. We will be there from June 4-June 23. The best part is that not only will I have time to see everyone when I am there but I will be able to attend Jared's wedding and Aimee's baby shower!!! Plus, my parents are thrilled about seeing the babies for such a long period of time. Ian and his family will also be up for part of our trip too. It'll be the first time in a while that all my sibs are together in the same place.

I hope spring fever has hit everyone and that you are enjoying the beautiful weather. I know we are. I am just waiting until it gets too hot to tolerate. Luckily this summer, I'll get to spend a lot of that time "home" on the Cape.

I promise to get some pics up here soon. Gotta get Lauren back to bed and get ready for tomorrow (work).

Working Girl

It is now the end of the first real week of my part time work experience. It feels good to get back to work even if only temporarily. I am missing my girls on the days I am not with them and I hope that I get used to that part. The babysitter who is watching the girls is a gem. She is super sweet and has three kids of her own. Her oldest is a big second grader but the other two are 2 and 4. Lauren is having a good time over there and hasn't objected to going once. I am helping to collect data for a research study at ASU and that takes me to three different schools at the moment. My days are filled with video taping teachers and doing a range of assessments with some children and traveling from school to school. It's busy but that is a good thing. Time goes by fast that way.

I am having a difficult time getting everyone ready and out of the house in the mornings though. I know I have to set up routines and I have at least managed to pack lunches the night before to avoid that headache in the morning. It's a whole new ballgame getting myself ready and then get two babies ready at the same time. Not to mention reminding a teenager to brush teeth and get in the shower. It seems like I am literally running around in the morning and don't stop until everyone is dropped off...I have a few moments to zen in the car.

I know that women do this everyday all over the world so it's not like I am reinventing the wheel here but it's still a little tough to get used to. Thank goodness I am still home 4 days...until the new school year rolls around when I will most likely be full time again...will I even have time to blog about it???

Have a great weekend everyone!

April is here

Can we just take a moment to acknowledge that it is April already. How exactly did that happen?

Well, the weekend is done and I survived a dune trip with the two babies. To be honest, it's not the best place to go with two little ones. Taylor spent a lot of time inside or being held outside then when it began to get windy on Saturday, we all retreated inside the trailer. Our friend Fred let us hang out in his trailer and enjoy the AC during the warmest part of the day. Thanks to him!! The dune trips will get easier as the babies get older but it's still good to go and see how much fun Jessi, Kyle and Wayne have going on rides. Rob loves it as well and loves to take everyone out in his buggy. Lauren got her first quad ride in with Papa on Sunday too. They took a few laps around camp and Lauren seemed to enjoy the ride. OH, I can't forget to let you all know that the bathroom and shower were a big hit...Loving it!!

Wayne and Kyle got the news that they had gotten drawn for an elk hunt this October. Hopefully we'll have lots of yummy meat in our freezer after that hunt. This also means that this summer we'll be camping in the area of the hunt and it's just north of Payson so it's not as long of a ride as the White Mountains. Now that we have the two backpacks for the babies we'll be able to do some good hikes up there. Speaking of hunting, I thought you'd enjoy this picture of Lauren from when we got Jessi's hide back from when she got her elk. It's really soft and Lauren felt the need to wrap herself up in it.

I have also recently gotten back to work and so far it's going very well. It's just a part time gig, 2-3 days/week but I am helping with some testing and data collection for a preschool grant through the speech and language department at ASU. I am able to learn some new tests and meet some great folks and who knows, maybe even find a job for next year as well. It's that time where I am doing applications and getting prepped for interviews in hopes to find a good job for me.

Taylor's 5th tooth popped through yesterday and today Wayne went to get her from her crib and she was standing...yikes...She'll probably be walking by the time we are in Mexico for her first birthday at the end of May! I can't wait. Lauren is going to have a blast with her once she is a walking machine.

We are trying to brainwash Lauren into thinking that potty training is the best thing ever...she'll sit but hasn't really bought on to the whole idea of the potty. We tried bribing with M & M's but that hasn't really done anything for us. We'll keep trying but I'll listen to any ideas to make this whole process easier.

I hope everyone back east is enjoying the crocuses and daffodils...I just love the daffodils...Spring time here we come.

Lots of love from us out here...