What's going on

Let's start oldest to youngest. Save the best (all three of them) for last.

Mark started his new job yesterday.  Things are looking good, and he thinks it will be a good experience.  Not so good: it took him an hour to drive home yesterday in the rain.  But, he should be working more reasonable hours than his last job, so we're thinking he'll be home about the same amount and still in time for dinner most of the time.  We have been awed at how the Lord has guided us in our lives and how we can look back over the years and see His hand and how he's led us to where we are.  When Mark told me he was getting laid off I told him I was looking forward to seeing what happens.  Those big life changes are when we've seen the Lord's hand in a big way and it's awesome to get those experiences from time to time.

Mark had three days off work last week between jobs.  It was also spring break and he got paid for all the vacation days he never took from his last job.  I was really wanting to use that money to go to Disneyland.  Something materialistic in me has been yearning to go.  But, long ago we already had mapped out our plan for what to do with our money including savings and paying off debt and after those things are done, then Disneyland is on the list.  Instead we were practical and only used $200 to "vacation" for those three days.  We went camping at Lost Dutchman State Park one night and took a road trip to Tucson to go to Old Tucson Studios for another day.  We had a good time, though the kids were pretty whiny, especially at Old Tucson, but I still kinda wish we'd done Disneyland.  Sometimes I get tired of being patient.  I've been patient long enough. :)

Here are a few pictures of Old Tucson.  My newer camera got dropped by a kid with the lens out.  A 1-foot drop to the counter right on the lens can ruin a camera for good.  So now I am glad I never got rid of my old camera, but I don't tend to pull it out very often because I'm not happy with the pictures.  Any suggestions for a good point-and-shoot?  Anyway...













I am trying to get us more organized around here, both in creating some schedules and in physically organizing our space.  I've had some successes but most my efforts are still at the beginning stages.  One thing that has been a success is getting the boys on a morning and evening routine.  They have this chart that shows them the things they need to do in the morning and the things they need to do at bedtime.  They can do these in whatever order they want so that gives them a little freedom to do it their way.  At bedtime we usually read scriptures and pray as a family first, then we decide with the kids how much time they need to get their bedtime routines done.  We set a timer (10-15 minutes) and when it beeps it's storytime.  Mark reads or tells a story to whoever is ready for bed, or he just reads a book to himself some nights when neither Dallin nor Adam are ready.  After storytime is over, whether the kids are ready for bed or not, they go into their rooms.  If they are ready for bed they get a song and a backscratch from Mom and then good night.  If they're not ready for bed, no song from mom.  This has worked out great for us because we don't nag at bedtime anymore.  We still have some nights where kids don't cooperated and they cry and cry because they miss stories or songs.  I want to sing to my kids every night and have that time with them, but I know overall we'll have more quality time if I stick to my guns and don't nag and yell at them to get dressed, brush their teeth, etc. 

Dallin is loving kindergarten.  He has some great friends and loves to play board games.  His favorite games are Stratego and Chess.  I don't play chess with him, I don't know if I've ever played a full game, but he'll try to get the older neighbor boys to play or he'll play with Mark, and when we're at Grandma's house for Sunday dinner he'll play with Uncle Ryan or maybe Grandpa.  He loves to read and is always telling us about the things he's learned about bugs or animals or outer space from his books and magazines. 

We're kind of goofy around here.  Last night at dinner Adam wasn't wearing a shirt.  Mark asked Adam why he wasn't wearing a shirt.  Then Mark and I must have been looking in the other direction because the next thing we knew Dallin's shirt was gone too.  One of the things Dallin likes to do is put a blanket over your head and breath into your face.  It's really weird and a little gross, so he thinks it's hilarious.

Adam has the best smile ever.  He is very interested in writing these days and will ask how to spell things so he can write words.  I've learned a trick I've used on him--when he gets tired and grumpy I get him involved in singing songs and he cheers up.  I've used this lately when we've gone hiking and after so long he's gotten tired, so we sing songs and he forgets he's tired.  He is a great helper and is always eager to bring the groceries in the house or help me cook.  He also loves juicing citrus.  I love to hear Adam talk because he has the cutest voice.  He'll explain things that happened, "a long time ago,"  or "a really, really, really, really long time ago" which means last month, or earlier today, or yesterday.  The boys love wrestling with Mark, and even Owen gets in on it, though he's learned to be cautious.

Owen is 20 months. I'm kinda not liking the fact that 20 months makes me think of 24 months which is 2 years old. He is the sunshine in our home. He is hilarious, and makes everyone laugh and smile all day. When he is mad at me he growls like an angry dog, when he is happy he does a little happy trot, when he is sad his sad face is so darn cute it even makes me smile.  He is not super talkative, but he is saying more all the time.  He says, "baboop" for book, "ada" for Adam, "Dada" for Dallin, "shzzz" for shoes.  His curly hair is awesome.  When he sees a dog or a picture of a dog he sticks his tongue out and pants.  Dallin trained him this way:  You ask, "Who tempted Adam and Eve?" and Owen raises his hand and yells, "ME!"

That is all for now.  Now I feel a little better getting some blogging done.