Octob-where?

Where did October go? I am pretty sure I've been living it, it's just gone by so fast.
After our trip to AZ, my mom came back to Utah with us and stayed for a few days. We loved every minute of having her here. We had a very early snow and on Sunday the 12th we built our first Frosty of the season.

The girls and I started swimming lessons again (Emily level 2, Ash and I in a mommy & me). When Emily got chicken pox we missed our summer session so they rescheduled us. After getting into the water, I know why no one else signs up for fall- it's freezing! Emily is like a fish and loves every minute of class and for the first time Ashley is kind of liking it. So we will keep going until mid November.

Joyschool is in full swing and going great. Their Halloween parade with songs was cute. From left to right- Cami, Nathan, Sarah, Brooke, and Emily (holding a broom). We did a field trip to the pumpkin patch and we all picked out pumpkins- very fun.

I've been keeping up with running 3 times a week and although I hate running, early mornings, and the cold- the regular friends therapy and the exercise payoffs keep me going. Both Bryan and I have chosen not to run the half marathon.

My 28th birthday was on the 22nd. Happy Birthday to Maegan! It was a nice day with a lunch date with my sweetie and lots of nice phone calls, cards, and some fun presents. The girls picked out their presents for me: a care bear washcloth, a 1" plastic birthday cake, and party hats. They also helped make me a cake and loved helping with candles. Bryan built me an arts & crafts table for the basement. He worked really hard and the result is so beautiful. Bryan is totally a carpenter. My b-day party in Provo was at aunt Stephanie's house and my girls absolutely adore their bird.

Arizona Adventure

My sister, brother and six other people drove up from AZ to watch Conference in downtown Salt Lake City. I took advantage of the multiple co-pilots and drove back with them to Arizona. I thought it we would spread out the trip over 2 days, but my girls did so well in the car that we made the 14 hour trip in one day.
While we were here Emily went to school with Grammy in second grade. She loved it! She got her own desk, talked about our bodies and learned how to spell whoooooooo (who). She raised her hand and asked questions, got to eat snack, go out for recess, line up, draw on the white board and play with math blocks. Ashley also loved going to school and sitting in her desk.
We also went to the Arizona Desert Museum and saw some really cool stuff. The girls loved riding around the little strollers, looking at all the animals, climbing through rock and cave tunnels, and getting shoulder rides from their uncles Wes and Garrett. My favorites were the otter, beaver and butterflies.
We will see how we do with the drive home on Thurs/Friday. Luckily we'll have Grammy along and so it should be good times.

In other news- Bryan's sister Stephanie Lee had a healthy baby girl on Tuesday October 7th and named her Melody Kate. The Hanks grandchildren now total 7 girls and 2 boys .

Autumn Time

September 21st was the first day of autumn and we have been celebrating. The girls understand autumn and they love it! Emily collects fall colored leaves and so we made a leaf wreath and have it hanging on our front door. For Joyschool we are learning about the Joy of the Earth and we went on a field trip to a state park on Thursday. The kids collected a bag full of treasures and it was a good time.

We moved Ashley into the room with Emily and into her new toddler bed. She was waking up frequently crying in her crib and so we thought we'd try it out. There were a couple nights when the girls would wake each other up and play from 3-5 a.m., but once that got under control it's been great. And no more Ashley crying in the night and she doesn't get out of bed either- yippee! I was hugging Ashley and saying she was my sweet baby. "No mom, I am a toddler!" she informed me.


Bryan and I have decided on a half marathon race. Saturday January 17th in St. George, Utah we will be there running 13.2 miles. Anyone interested, please come and join us. This week is our first week of training.

I tried canning peaches by myself for the first time. Thanks to Grandma Judy for the equipment, aunt Amy for the peaches, and my friend Julie for watching my kids and helping cut peaches. I think all 7 jars turned out. I haven't actually tried them yet but they all sealed and they look beautiful! I also did peach freezer jam this year. 'Millions of peaches, peaches for me.'



The last news for our family just happened this afternoon- Ashley peed on the potty! We tried potty training in May- didn't work. Before today she wanted to wear panties but has refused to sit on the toilet. Today she woke up an hour early and was crying to put on panties. This morning we had 4 accidents within a couple hours and I was ready to give up, but she kept wanting to try. And then it worked! She got candy, stickers, hugs, cheers, etc and was feeling pretty good. Unfortunately we are headed on a road trip on Sunday to AZ and so maybe it's not the best timing, but the girl was obviously ready to do it. Yeah Ashley!

September Stuff

We went to the zoo last Saturday for my cousin Tiffany's birthday. We watched a bird show, rode the merry-go-round, and looked at lots of animals. The new carousel and the train ride were by far their favorites. And so I wonder again why I go to the zoo when all they seem to want is the rides and I could just go to the fun center in Wal-mart or a park.

We are loving having Bryan work at home! The kids come and bother him at least once a day to give rocket rides in the laundry basket, open a sealed jar, push on the swings, take them on a bike ride, or sit on the whoopee cushion and he does. He only complains about the noise every so often. He took Ashley on a lunch date today and Emily will get her turn tomorrow.

I am still running twice a week for 3 miles. The hope is that the calories I burn will somehow compensate for the treats I find myself eating. Bryan found a cure for his sore knee (IT band) and he has started running again. We are looking for a race to run and we'll invite all when we find it.

Bryan is playing flag football with the church. The girls really look forward to his weekly games. Last time they dressed-up some cheerleader outfits with pom-poms and were ready to go cheer for dad only to find out his game was too late for them to go.

Football & Preschool

Emily got to go to her first college football game last Saturday with her daddy. They drove down to Provo with Bryan's friend Jono and his 4 year old Cami to watch the BYU Cougars. We prepped Emily beforehand by teaching her about the fight song with the band, telling her about wearing blue at which she promptly changed her clothes to be all blue and got her a backpack full of snacks, a tambourine and coloring books. The cougars got 41 points and so she had lots of chances to sing and cheer. For the first half of the game she would stand and proudly beat her tambourine along with the marching band to the fight song. Then she got to see Cosmo on the field and fell in love. Dad- a REAL cougar! She really wanted to go down to meet him and she gave him the credit for the 'roar' she kept hearing. She also got to eat a slurpee and a hot dog. She had the best time ever!


Emily's first day of Joyschool Preschool was on Tuesday September 2nd. www.valuesparenting.com is where we get the curriculum and the list of the values that we teach. The first joy is about the body followed by joy of the earth. Each mom teaches two days in a week and then it switches to a new house. There are 5 kids: three 4 year old girls and a 3 year old girl and boy.
Ashley was pretty happy while Emily was gone because she got all of mom's attention. I tried to make it really fun for her so she and I played playdough together and she helped me fold socks in the laundry. My favorite Ashleyisms lately: "Cordi-boy" for Corduroy the bear, "magazines" for magnets, and when I ask her a question about where is something elicits "I just don't know!"

My Race

I was up early and pumped about our run. The big hill was one I had done before and was a little scared of but I made it almost all the way to the top without stopping. I think I placed 38th overall in a 5K this last Saturday!
There may have been 70 people running the race. It was a fund-raiser race for 3 boys for their college. My friend Jenny found out about it and she was excited and nervous to run her first race so I ran it with her. We ran 3.1 miles in 35 minutes and had a great time. I loved the yummy fruit and pancake breakfast afterwards and the two hours without kids crying or fighting.

Quarantined

We have been quarantined this week due to the chickenpox. After the Dr appt on Wednesday we've tried to be careful and only taken Emily to a few places (okay 4). I've gone out by myself a couple of times without her as well. And yet today I am starting to feel trapped in my house. This is a wake-up call to me of how accustomed I am to taking my kids places. Or maybe now I feel a loss of the option to leave whenever. Whatever the reason, I am appreciating I live in a time where I have transportation easily accessible, the money to own and maintain my transportation, and usually have the health and strength to go out of my house. Count my many blessings....

After thoroughly inspecting all 20 of her non-itchy spots, I am saying Emily is now safe to go in public again. The Dr said when they all have scabbed over she is no longer contagious and that is what it looks like. So far no signs of spots on Ashley but we will continue to watch her this week. I am thinking that if/when she does, I will do potty training at the same time since we'll be home already.

This week I have found myself playing so much more with my kids. I have been in Barbie and Polly Pocket worlds all week. One day they also were Tarzan (Em) and Jane (Ash). I got to be mommy monkey and dad was the lion that chased them. This was the day they repeatedly jumped off couches. Today Emily announced she is officially getting married to our neighbor Jonathan tomorrow (age 4, lives next door, the only boy in her preschool last year). I kindly reminded her that we don't play with friends on Sunday and so she said they could move it to Monday. The wedding party will be in our front yard. Emily said both families could come, but then changed her mind and said it was only for her and Jonathan. Ashley loves the idea and has also picked her fiancee, Jonathan's little brother David (age 2). So maybe we'll have a double wedding. Emily has also loved playing school this week and has learned how to write most of her last name and some of her numbers. Bryan got Emily's 2 wheeler bike today fixed with a new seat and training wheels and they had a blast today biking around the block. So all-in-all we've had a great week!