Car Maintenance

I am grateful that Jeremy is so good at car maintenance. He loves working on cars and we have certainly reaped the benefits. Today he changed the transmission fluid on the toyota. Thank you Jeremy for keeping our cars running strong.

Hula Hoop

Today I am grateful that I can still work a hula hoop.

Veterans

Today I am most grateful for Veterans and what they have done to keep our country free. But, one veteran is more important to me than all others. My father served as a Sea Bee in the United States Navy, and served two tours in Vietnam. He was an iron worker and built communication towers and bridges. He doesn't talk about it very often, but it is a big part of who he is.


He loves his family.
Will take any back road in the mountains for a new adventure.

Loves a good campout.

Is an engineer at heart and is always building and creating something.

And has a passion for music and learning.

We love you Grandpa. Thank you for doing your part to protect our country.

Miss Pickle

Elizabeth raided the pickle jar while I was out of the room. I am grateful for her passion and love of life.

Growing

I am grateful that my children are growing. I took the children to Michael's craft store today and it was an absolute nightmare. They wanted to touch everything. I was looking at an item to buy and turned around and both children had their hands on glass vases. Last Friday, Andrew picked up a piggy bank in Target and it slipped out of his hands and shattered on the floor. I am hoping that in another 3 years they won't want to touch everything and shopping will be easier. Here's to hoping.

Dancing With The Stars

Elizabeth loves to dance. This summer she found a set of tap shoes for 25 cents at a rummage sale, and has worn them every day since. She will only wear dresses and skirts that twirl. Monday night is a favorite for her because the "dancing" show is on. She puts on her pajamas with a skirt over top, and ties up her dancing shoes. Each time a couple comes on to dance, she dances with them using her chair as a partner. Occasionally, she will glance at herself in the glass of the sliding door to see what she looks like dancing. It is one of the highlights of my week to watch how happy she is. Look out Grandma Ross, we have another ballroom dancer on our hands.

Jeremy

Today I am grateful for my husband Jeremy. There are not enough words to describe what he does for me, and as father to our children. I am grateful for his faith and devotion to the gospel. I am grateful for his friendship and love.

He has such a loving heart and wants to help the kids discover the world and all it has to offer.
During a Saturday outing, they went to Home Depot during craft time and built things out of wood. The kids were so proud of their projects.

Or he's content to play with them at home. He is full of integrity and a worthy Priesthood holder.

He loves spending genuine time with the children, no matter what they are doing.

Thank you for being such a great dad.

And husband.

Pepperoni

I love that Elizabeth calls pepperoni , pepper-macaroni.

Unexpected Smiles

Today I am grateful for small moments that make you laugh. Last night Andrew was a bit too curious while Elizabeth was in the bathroom. The potty seat was stuck on there pretty good. Daddy really had to work to get it off. It's a good thing that Elizabeth doesn't use it anymore, and that I had just cleaned it yesterday morning.

Exercise

Exercise is the topic that I am most grateful for today. I have been working harder on my diet and exercise this week. I have seen a big improvement in both my mental attitude and physical strength. I feel good. (I think that it isn't so blasted hot, and we can be outside to exercise helps too.) Exercise is so important. My kids are happier when they are able to release energy. I hope my children are learning that we need to exercise to keep our bodies healthy.

Friends

Today I am grateful for friends. I have been lucky enough to gain a handful of really genuine friends who I am so blessed to have in my life. My mother is probably my best supporter and friend. She and I cannot go a day without talking. I miss her when her telephone is out of range. She understands me and life. I hope to have just as good of a relationship with Andrew and Elizabeth when they are grown as I do with my mother.

Andrew and Elizabeth have their friend Noah over this morning. Noah is so good for them. They play with the toys they aren't normally interested in, and get along so well. Andrew loves Noah because he is a boy. Elizabeth and Noah are pretty much inseparable when they are together. Noah tells everyone he is going to marry Elizabeth. At church, they hold hands on the way to Nursery, and have to sit by each other during snack time.

I wish I had a better picture of them together, but this will have to do. Elizabeth and Noah were Trick or Treating together on Halloween night. Noah was a cowboy.

Sight-One of the Five Amazing Sense

Elizabeth did a great job at the eye doctor this morning. We asked her at breakfast who she would like to take her....she picked Daddy. They always have a great time together. E did really well picking out both big and small shapes for the doctor. They also dilated her eyes and said her eyes were healthy and growing properly. At this time, he reduced her prescription to +6 in both eyes. It was at +7. She will have to wear glasses until she is at least 15 and then the doctor will begin to discuss possible surgeries to give her long term solutions for her eyes.

I am so grateful for eyesight. The first day we put glasses on Elizabeth a whole new world was opened to her. She could finally see the leaves on the trees, the school bus driving down the street, and the birds flying in the sky. Our loving Father in Heaven has given us a beautiful world to enjoy. I am thankful for the ability to see all that we've been given.

Giving Thanks

This month I want to concentrate on being thankful for the many things my family is blessed with. My goal is to post something that I am grateful for each day of the month.

Today I am grateful for the start of November. Arizona is beautiful in November. My roses bloom again, and the weather is comfortable. Each year in June, July and August, I always wish it were November.

Happy Halloween

Halloween seemed to last all month this year. Elizabeth requested a princess dress in September. She had full confidence that I could make her a beautiful dress. Lucky for me, I found one at a thrift store for $5. I wouldn't of been able to buy the material for that price. She wore her princess dress the full month of October.

Andrew, on the other hand, did not want to dress up at all. He's two, and is as stubborn as they come. I made him a reversible batman/superman cape. I am very happy with the results, but sad that Andrew won't wear it. Maybe he will be more agreeable when he is three.

Bites out of the Cheese

Sometimes I feel like I am raising monkeys. They seem to behave like monkeys more often than not. Elizabeth didn't have the patience to wait for a slice of cheese, so she took matters into her own hands. Those are big bites! I wasn't mad....more grateful that it was Elizabeth rather than Andrew who did it. We would of had big problems on our hands then.

Funny Conversations

We had a really funny conversation with Elizabeth last night. Before I get to it, I have to tell you the background. Andrew has always struggled going into the Nursery at church. We try to talk to him about it on Friday and Saturday before church, to make sure he knows what is expected of him.
Last night we were in the car when the following exchange occurred.
Daddy: Andrew, do you know what day it is?
Elizabeth: Is it church day Daddy?
Mommy: Yes, Elizabeth. Andrew, do you think you can be a good boy and go to class?
Elizabeth: Andrew you don't cry in class. You need to be happy.
**Silence**
Elizabeth: Andrew are you listening?
**Silence**
Elizabeth (frustrated): Mommy, he's not listening to me.

:-)

I had another laughing moment earlier in the day. When we don't want the children to know what we are talking about....like cookies, or the park etc. we spell them out.
Yesterday I found a swimming suit on clearance for $1. I was so excited to tell Jeremy, but I didn't want Elizabeth to know about it. So I said: "I found a s-w-i-m-m-i-n-g s-u-i-t for Elizabeth." Elizabeth immediately looks at me and says with bright eyes, "you found a new swimming suit for me. Oh thank you Mommy." When did she learn how to spell?

Elizabeth and Rosie

This is Rosie. Grandma Olsen gave Rosie to Elizabeth for her birthday. They have been best friends ever since. Last weekend Grandma took Elizabeth shopping to get a new outfit for Rosie. Rosie came home with an outfit and sunglasses. I found some sunglasses at the dollar store that look like Rosie's. Don't they look cute together?

Mom

Elizabeth has been calling me Mom all week. It used to be Mommy. She's growing up I guess. **sigh**

Music and Craft Time

It is so hot outside. My kids live outdoors. Since we can't go outside and play, we have been doing other activities to mix things up. Elizabeth and Andrew love playing the keyboard. They get the rhythms going and play songs. Many, many songs. Mommy usually gets tired of the songs before the kids do.

In the mornings we do crafts. Elizabeth loves to cut and glue. I can't count the number of hearts I have cut out for her. We usually cut out different shapes and she glues them to the paper. Andrew loves to paint with water colors. But usually he gets bored rather quickly and is off fixing something with his tools. Today he decided a tune up was needed on his bicycle.

Next week we are headed to Idaho for a while....back to playing outside and digging in the dirt. We can't wait!

Bisbee Chapter Closed.

Jeremy starts a new job with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday. Daddy is home for good!


Goodbye Bisbee. We have some great memories in unit 28 at the Hillcrest Apartments. The accommodations were mediocre at best, but the little one bedroom apartment served it's purpose.

Now we can finally say.......CHAPTER CLOSED!

Bisbee Sites (Toddler Version)

We spent a good 5 months living with Jeremy down in Bisbee. Because we were in a one bedroom apartment there wasn't much space for our kids to use up their energy. Every day after work Daddy would take the kids on a long walk in the stroller around the streets of Warren. (Bisbee is broken up into several different areas by hills. The area he lived in was called Warren.) This is the Vista. It always seemed to have some type of activity. On Saturday mornings people would set up for a farmer's market. They also practiced little league football here.During their walk each day they would visit 3 goats an 4 chickens at a house on powell street.

This is one of the 3 goats. The others were MIA on picture day.

This is the Greenway Elementary school. The kids explored every nook and cranny of the school grounds.

They had a fun play structure for them to play. Sometimes we would bring the buckets and shovels so they could play in the sand.

This is the ramp the kids would run up and down at least 10 times on every visit.

Look at all that space the kids had to run. There is another play structure and swings which are hard to see in this picture. I think after spending each day playing at the park in Bisbee, it has really become a tradition for Daddy to take the kids to the park on Saturday mornings. They all enjoy it.

After getting wiggles out, Daddy had the pleasure of pushing the kids back up the hill to the apartment. It is a workout to push 50 lbs of kids plus the stroller up the hill.

Thanks for taking the Bisbee Toddler Tour. Even seeing these pictures now, the kids look at them with fondness. There was a good feeling about Bisbee. Good people live there. It also helped tremendously that the climate was much better in the summer and allowed us ample time to play outside, which is a big part of our family dynamic.

Red Truck

Jeremy borrowed this beautiful red truck from a coworker so he could move a few things home from Bisbee. Andrew LOVED riding back to Sierra Vista in the red truck.

Swimming Lessons

I signed the kids up for two weeks worth of swimming lessons. It has been fun spending time in the water. This is the first class Elizabeth has been signed up for where she goes by herself. She didn't like having a boy teacher at first, but would go if I bribed her with chocolate each day. (That girl will do anything for chocolate.)

Andrew and I did a Mommy and Me class. He has zero fear of the water. He loved jumping off the side of the pool into my arms and blowing bubbles. He didn't like swimming like a motorboat or kicking.

Today, Grandma Olsen came to watch the kids swim. Thanks for taking the pictures Grandma.

Five Years

Today is our five year wedding anniversary.












Jeremy forgot.

Pickles

When I take a picture of Andrew he will say cheese and squint his eyes.

Today I had him say pickles and got a much better result.

Naptime Happenings

Elizabeth is growing up. We have quiet time in our rooms while Andrew is sleeping in the afternoon. I love this time of day. The house is quiet and I have some time to myself. Elizabeth will take a nap 4-5 times a week during this time. On the days she doesn't, it can be pretty interesting to see what she does with her time.

Yesterday she came out of her room dressed like this. Notice the two different shoes, a handbag for a hat, and her swimming suit is backwards. Silly girl!

Today she decided to have a tea party. She was pretty creative with the food; a birthday cake, bells representing grapes and probably some type of cheese disguised as a lego. She even used the lid of one of her toy containers as a tray.

I love seeing her little mind at work.

Like her Daddy

Elizabeth snores, just like her Daddy.

Curtain for Elizabeth's Room

Elizabeth has been asking me to make a curtain for her bedroom. I decided today would be a good day for a project. This is what I came up with.I love how it turned out. All the colored squares of fabric are left over from a quilt Grandma Olsen made Elizabeth when she was born, and I had a white sheet in the linen closet that I used for the rest. It is amazing at how a simple curtain makes the room look finished.

Never Forget

There are some things that my children are saying and doing that I never want to forget.

When Andrew says Elizabeth, it sounds like Bi Biff. Or he will say sister.
When Elizabeth says her name, it comes out Isabeff
Andrew says his name pretty clear. He can count to ten, sing twinkle twinkle by himself, and has a good start at the alphabet.
Elizabeth can count to 20, and sings most of the letters of the alphabet. Her favorite song is popcorn popping.

Andrew is a Mommy's boy. Nighttime is still a big struggle for us. He has been waking up a 1 am and 5. He comes to bed with me at 5 and snuggles himself close to me. I know he won't do it forever, so I am trying to enjoy it.

Elizabeth is still taking an afternoon nap most days. It is wonderful. Andrew is sleeping about 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon.

New Adventure

I found a Dora bicycle at a garage sale for $3. This is Elizabeth's first try at riding her bike. She loved peddling.


A couple of weeks ago the people across the street moved and gave us the bike Andrew is sitting on. It is so nice to have a bike for each child. Andrew isn't quite tall enough to ride his yet.

When we got Elizabeth's bike home, it needed a little TLC. Andrew was more than happy to help Daddy with the repairs.
We love bikes!