Updates

Funny story:
We had a garage sale a few weeks ago and it was hot and exhausting. At the end, Chad threw all the boys in the car and took them down to get a pizza. When they got home, Chad looked a little exasperated as he was carrying a sleeping Kade into the house. Blake came up to me and said "Mom, I have to talk to you in letters." I said "OK". He started in, "T-r-e-v-o-r p-i-s-t
K-a-d-e o-f-f." That is exactly how he spelled it too. I guess he figured that if he spelled the swear word he couldn't get in trouble! As it was, I was laughing too hard to even think about punishing him. It is so cool that he is becoming a little man, spelling swear words and reading street signs! Yesterday we had a conversation in the car about when it is ok for him to get married...I told him after his mission, he tried to compromise by saying during his mission...I told him no, that is against the rules. It was a funny conversation, but much better in person!

So we are getting ready to list our house. We sign the paperwork on Friday and the painters are coming next week. I must say it is not so bad having a latex allergy now because I don't have to do all that painting myself! Chad was going to do it but he got overwhelmed after one wall, so we called in the professionals. I am excited to have my home "model home ready" after living here for almost two years with patches on the walls! It would be great if we knew what was happening after that, I am sure ya'll (trying out my southern) will be among the first to know!

In other news, it is a beautiful day outside, seventy five degrees and sunny. I love this weather, not too hot, and not cold.

Fort Jackson, S. Carolina

Last Wednesday I picked my mother in law up at the airport and then we took off for Columbia, South Carolina. I drove to Chattanooga (about an hour and a half) and she drove the rest (about five hours). We got there at 4:00 in the morning (3:00 our time)! Then we got up at 7, got ready and went to Fort Jackson for Family Day with my bro in law Derek, who was graduating from basic training. We had a blast, it was an awesome experience. We even got to attend the baptism of Derek's bunk mate (whom he taught the discussions to). Derek said that he taught more discussions in the nine weeks of basic than he did his whole two years on a mission in S. Korea!

Blake and Trevor loved it, they got to hold M16s, try on helmets and flak jackets, and sit in a real HumV. Needless to say, they both now want to be soldiers like Uncle Derek when they grow up.

I couldn't believe how much Derek has changed, he walks with confidence now, he knows what he wants, and he is ready to serve his country. He is now in AZ learning to become an interrogator. He is very valuable because he speaks and writes fluent Korean. The whole time we were there I just kept getting flashbacks of putting eyeliner and lipstick on this goofy little fourteen year old kid for Troupe shows! I am really proud of him and the man he has become.

So much going on!

It is awesome living in Tennessee mostly because we are so close to so many other states and there are tons of things to do. Trevor and Kade and I got to go to Knoxville with my parents the week before last and while we were there we did a day trip to Asheville, North Carolina to see the Biltmore Estate. As you can see in the pictures, it was almost like going to a whole new world! We had a blast.

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09 Apr 2008

Favorite Things
Current mood: amused

As I was mowing the lawn today I was thinking about how much I like the smell of freshly cut grass (note: I like the smell, my allergies don’t). This led me to think about some of my other favorite things, and since I have decided to turn over a new leaf and blog more, I am going to mention a few here.
Favorite smells: Vanilla, roast beef, cupcakes, clean floors, the air after it rains, the air in Autumn when it gets all smoky and crisp outside, oranges, clean babies, my boys after they come in from playing outside and they smell like dirt (that will probably change once they hit puberty!), clean laundry, apple crisp, freshly cut grass, Chad when he wears cologne...or just shaves (doesn’t happen very often!)
Favorite moments: Cuddling with Kade after he’s just fallen asleep, reading to my boys and having their full attention for once, joking with Chad about anything, making it through a green light before it turns yellow, sitting in a bath with a candle going and NOT being interrupted, winning a game on Webkinz and having Blake shout "Now, that’s what I’m talking about!", Trevor yelling from the bathroom "Who does number 2 work for?" when he wants me to come and wipe his bottom (I know, TMI), Kade’s face when he learned to clap, going for a drive with my family, when my kids finish their dinner without Chad or I nagging them, watching my boys play outside at their grandparents house, hiking with my boys at the park, watching my boys share or help each other

It is funny that I could come up with all these things in just a few minutes, and when I think about it, I know that it is because all these things have happened in the last few days. Life is good...hey they should make that into a bumper sticker!

Time in a Bottle

To my supreme delight we have taught Kade how to wave "bye bye". At the same time I am thinking how sad it is that he is not going to be a baby forever! He is so busy and everyday he learns something new. Then I look at Blake and see him reading (yes, READING!) and I think, "Where did all that time go?" Just yesterday Blake was learning to crawl and doing awesome 360s and then along came Trevor and his big green eyes that could melt your soul (or burn a hole through it!)...and now they are both playing t-ball and (dare I say it?) wiping themselves! It makes me sad, but I am so excited to see the little men they are becoming. Trevor loves to be a "gentleman" and hold the door for me. Today in primary they made me Mother's Day cards...a little early, but still appreciated. They did such a cute job, I wish I could scan them and put them on here. Blake wrote his himself, it said something like "I love you so much Mom"...with the so and the you switched. I wish I had some kind of memory card that I could plug into my brain for when they say something awesome so that anytime I need a shot in the arm I can pull it out and remember the good times!

I'm a Blogger!

I have joined the world of the bloggers! In an effort to waste more time on the computer, under the guise of keeping friends and family "up to date", I have begun my own blog. Now all I have to do is get people to read it, and figure out how it works!