F Bomb Update

I just got done reading everybody's comments on my kids wonderful language these days, and I'm happy to report that Isaiah has not said the f word since that one incident. We totally ignored it, and he has not repeated. Likewise, Brooklyn has not said holy crap, let alone crap. Maybe I'm not as bad as I thought!!! I am definitely a fan of ignoring my kids bad behavior (okay, at least their bad language). If I don't make a big deal out of it, they don't say it to try to get attention. LESSON LEARNED!

Your Eyes Do Not Deceive You

Yes, this is a picture of my car! I finally have it back for good, and I couldn't be happier. The body shop only had to keep it one more day, and they said it was just the battery. They couldn't tell if it had gone bad because of the accident or not, but the insurance paid for it! How's that for a sweet deal?! She is almost like she was before. I can tell a few minor little things, like a scratch in the steering wheel, and a tiny scratch here or there, but she's as good as I could have expected, I guess. We picked her up last night and I got to drive home by myself and blast the radio like the "olden days". Oh, how I missed her. I am a happy camper. Now life can go back to "normal", right???

Bound To Happen

This is what happens when you leave a two year old alone for 2 minutes while you make an important phone call. By the way, these are NOT easy to get back on. My backspace button didn't make it through the surgery required to get the keyboard somewhat back to normal. Good thing I don't screw up...

Am I a Bad Babysitter?

This is in the van on the way to drop off my nephew after watching him for a few hours. I think he was exhausted (yes, he's sleeping). Don't you think he looks comfortable?

These Darn Cute Kids...

Cute Moment #1

Laura: Zay, do you want juice or milk to drink?
Brooklyn: He wants milk, because we can't drink too much water because we have to save it for Grammie's fish.
Laura: Oh?
Brooklyn: Ya, we can have a little bit, and then we have to save the rest for Grammie's fish.

Guess that's what she deducted from me telling her to "save some water for the fish" when she's drinking a gallon!

Cute Moment #2

We were in Isaiah's room this morning when he woke up, and Brooklyn happened to notice the little picture of Jesus on his dresser.

Brooklyn: Oh, how cuuttte! I looovve that picture. I love that Jesus. When I go to church I give him BIG hugs! But he's not there.
Laura: But he's there in Spirit, though.
Brooklyn: Ya. Oh, how I love that Jesus.

My Beautiful Car

What did you just say? Oh, you don't see the pretty pictures of my beautiful car, now that she's fixed? Just look a little closer.

Actually, the car saga continues. The short version is that I don't have my car. For those of you with time to spare, here is the long version:

I wake up on Tuesday morning and go in to work. While I'm in a meeting, I miss a call, so I decide to check my messages (I know, very strange for me!). Well, turns out I had received a call from the auto body shop saying that my car was ready last Friday. They had originally (well, not originally, but the final, final, final time)told me my car would be ready on Monday, so I expected a call on Monday, but didn't receive one, so was primed and ready for a call on Tuesday. Anyhow, I go and pick up my car, and there are nice black smudges all over the seats and door handles of my car from the workers dirty hands. So I schedule to come back in on Wednesday to have it cleaned, and head to the car rental place to return the precious minivan. When I reach the rental place, the kind gentleman tells me that the responsible party's insurance company will only pay for my rental through Friday, so I owe him $100 dollars. Not gonna happen. I immediately call said insurance company and have somewhat of a heated, um, discussion with the gal that answers the phone. After quite awhile, and some great moves on my part (threatening, mind games, etc.), the insurance company agrees to pay for the rental through Tuesday. I leave, and 5 minutes away I realize I forgot my garage door opener, and have to go back to get it. You would think the story ends there, but I go out to start my car this morning, and it barely starts. I go to a work meeting, thinking maybe it was a fluke, and it barely starts again. My horn sounds like a dying animal moaning, and my steering is very, uh, un-smooth. So, I drive back to the auto body shop, where I have to wait 30 minutes for my wonderful husband to pick me up, all the while with a stinky two year old with diarrhea. So, now my car is getting looked at and I will know by tomorrow how long it will take to fix, and how much longer I'll be in a rental. Until then, I will sit at home, since Spense is working at the fire department. Ain't life grand!

P.S. I'm crabby.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (& the Funny)

Good - Spense ranked 12th on North Ada County Fire's hiring list. That's good.

Bad - Although he ranked 12th, he won't be starting a job with them right away, as they're only hiring 2-5 for now, but he'll be on the hiring list for the next two years. We're trying to be patient!!!

Ugly - On the way home from celebrating Uncle Eddie's birthday, Isaiah decided to say the "f word". I have NO idea where he heard it. Although it is very distinctly the "f word", it may have been his way to say "frog", although he already knows how to say "frog". So I'm not really sure. We'll ignore it, and it will go away.

Funny - While Grammie & Grampie were watching Brooklyn & Zay a few weeks ago, they watched Jurassic Park for a little bit while flipping through channels. So, the other night, Brooklyn & Zay were telling stories about me getting hurt (like they remember my childhood), and out of nowhere, Brooklyn pipes up with, "And the holy crap dinosaur was eating the tire!". Probably much more funny when you hear it for yourself, but it cracks me up still. But I have to try not to let her know, because first of all, I'm embarassed that I taught my daughter to say crap, and secondly, I have no idea where she heard holy crap. For the record, I never provided the holy. Just the crap.

Tablerock

Last night we decided to go watch the sunset at Tablerock. To our surprise, Grammie and Grampie were up there when we got there. How's that for ironic? So we had them take a few pictures of us. It was freezing, but of course it was beautiful.





The kids and me with Grammie & Grampie

Another Family Reunion

This last weekend we spent at Spenser's parents for the Fowles family reunion. The kids again enjoyed the water (Brooklyn especially likes playing in Grandma and Papa's pond), and we loved spending time with family that we rarely see or have never met! Here are a few pics.

Brooklyn playing in the pond with Hailey


The men in the kitchen!


Spenser's Bronco artwork on the tablecloth


Daddy and Zay enjoying fresh peaches and shortcake


I do exist!

Last Trip to Roaring Springs

We definitely got good use out of our season passes, and I'm so glad we got them! I took the kids and my nephew, Caleb, for our last time on Friday. I was so glad that it was warm, and am already missing summer. Here are my water babies...





I wish I could have zoomed in better on this one, because Isaiah and Brooklyn were both giggling tons when my friend Jaymie took them down the slide with her son, Jonas. I had my hand on Caleb - he got in trouble on a different slide for going down halfway and the standing up and walking back to the top two times. The lifeguard at the bottom finally had to walk up the slide and bring him down. I was surprised we didn't get kicked out!

Better Late Than Never - Reunion Pictures

We had a family reunion in Dietrich on August 9th. Here are some photos:

The kids LOVED the tire swing. Isaiah was giggling so much I thought he was going to yak on himself.



The homemade Slip 'n' Slide. Isaiah loved it.



Stitches - farm style.



Smores time.

So, you decided to come early today, huh?

Let me start out by saying that my family eats a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. Spenser takes nectarines, grapes, oranges and bananas to work for lunch. And my kids eat lots of fruit for breakfast and lunch. And they also eat a lot of yogurt and stuff that doesn't keep for very long. So yesterday when I went to the grocery store while the kids were napping (Spense had the day off), I got my fruit and other items and went to the self check-out, where I ALWAYS go. The gentleman working the counter said, "So, you decided to come early today, huh?" What?! Do I seriously come that regularly that the kid at the counter knows my schedule? I was embarassed. I think I'm going to have to change my schedule...

9/3 Update: I went to the grocery store BEFORE putting the kids down for their nap in attempt to change my routine and get away from the "regular" kid at Fred Meyer. Well, to my surprise, he was working. So I steered my kids to the back of the store to get our milk, and then checked out in a REGULAR checkstand, and scurried to the door at the opposite end of the store, forcing me to push that heavy cart all the way across the parking lot to our lovely van. What am I going to do now? I absolutely have to go to the store about every other day for milk and fruit. Besides, it's like a getaway for my kids - they love riding in and steering the cars around Fred Meyer. My routine is all screwed up. Advice???