Not that you're interested...we're Twittering! :)

Most of you probably follow our site in a blog reader, but I thought I'd let you know that I just added "Twitter" our side bar.

I'm thinking that most people won't care about the "minute by minute" action of Levett-Ventures - but I thought it would be a fun thing to play with!

Never heard about Twitter? It's a site that you can put quick little blurbs (less than 150 characters) about what you're doing right now. It's a running log of our boring (or not so boring) life. Anyway...there you go.

PS - it's kinda cool because you can twitter from your phone or mobile device - not that I have anything like that!

Some Random Pictures

Here's a collection of various pictures we've taken, but just haven't posted yet. Enjoy!

(The first few were taken at a Ward Activity at Scarborough Beach.)

Love those curls Megan!

This is pretty much what Ryan did the whole time - he ran around with all the other kids! If you look closely, you can see his tongue hanging out while he's running! (OK, maybe you can't see it, but it is!)

Be careful Mikey, she might not go to the Prom with you if you don't give the juice to her!

What a great expression! So cute!

Another cutie!

Ryan and Nathan (Mikey's big brother) at a PawSox Game.

Ryan's first official souvenir - it's hanging up in his room now!

YouTube - Ryan's latest obsession

Something I never thought I'd say: "Look Ryan, check out the cool grasshopper!"

Baby Butt Crack! Don't you just want to squish her cheeks?

LOVE this picture. Two cute kids sitting on dad's lap. Ryan is so cute with his little sis!

Mmmmmm... cookie!

My little princess! I can't get enough of that smile!

I find it amazing that my kids get cuter and cuter every day. And, equally amazing, I love these kids more and more each day. How does that happen?

When nothing goes right...

Yesterday I had some sort of yucky bug (or food) go through me. It was painful, yucky stuff all day long. (I'll spare the details, it wasn't pretty.)

I felt good enough to start my online class at about 5:45 pm, but soon after I started, I decided to only go through one chapter and record the next one today. Even then, I had to stop in the middle, turn off the microphone, ask the students to wait, while I threw up a lung in the bathroom. Then came back like nothing happened (heh)

My students knew I wasn't feeling well, and they were all too happy to have an early night rather than listen to me for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

So today, I'm MUCH better. I sit down to record the second chapter online so they could get the lecture when they have a few minutes. It's going really well, the kids are napping and I'm about 3/4 done and have to pause to check something out before continuing. As soon as I start it up again, I realize...

I RECORDED THE WHOLE FIRST PART OF THE LECTURE WITHOUT TURNING ON MY MICROPHONE! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGH! (Meaning they could see what I was doing on my screen, but couldn't hear any explanation from me!)

At which point, Megan wakes up. Then the neighbors landscapers come over - meaning that I wasn't going to get the chance to do it again any time soon. I have another class to teach tonight, then a business coaching call after that. I can either do it at 11:00 pm - or wait (and hope) that naps will be together tomorrow.

*sigh* at least I'm lucky that I have some great students in my online class! They'll just take it all in stride!

A Lose the "B" Update

Well, it's Thursday. Last night, for the first time, Ryan went to bed without asking for his "B" - YAY! BUT, he woke up this morning looking for it.

He did find a long lost one yesterday - and I didn't fight him for it as he went down for a nap. He did trade it to me for some more YouTube time later though!

Yes, we're making progress...the Tricycle has been ordered and hopefully on the way soon. The Sticker Chart is almost full - we'll keep that going until the trike is delivered.

One step at a time - I'm so proud of Ryan, even though he's reluctant and doesn't really understand what we're doing, he's doing SO WELL!

By the way, he's dressed himself (shorts and a t-shirt) two days in a row! BIG BOY! :)

WOW - the Blogging Community is AMAZING!

I just found out about this today...but it's an incredible story!

A couple in Arizona with a flight instructor were in a plane crash last Saturday night. The flight instructor died, but the couple did survive with major burns and are both in very serious condition. You can read the story here.

So I was reading a friend's blog and found out that she's doing a Japanese auction to help raise funds for Stephanie and Christian Nelson's recovery. (Since she just moved to Japan with her family - hubby is in the Air Force.) There is a website set up for them with all the info about their recovery, what happened, Stephanie's blog, how to donate, and other things: http://www.reachelandrew.com/NieRecovery/Home.html

Little did I know how BIG this is!

Over 165+ auctions/sales/etc. are starting today all over the Internet to raise money for this couple. They have 4 kids and are in for a VERY long recovery. I wish I had known about it sooner, but at least I can let you all know!

Go to Design Mom's website to see the list of everything that's up for bid or sale. It's incredible! Just more proof that we humans ARE in it together!

Just a little sibling abuse

cute dancing.
cute kids.
cute video.
how quickly things can change.

Dancing Pickles!

Ryan is officially obsessed with YouTube. It's all he wants to see on the computer (in addition to PBS Kids and Noggin of course!) YouTube will keep him occupied for a good amount of time, which is great for me at times!

He usually starts with Mana Mana or Willy Was a Whale, and then starts clicking on related videos. Sometimes he finds the funniest things! This one...he calls the "Dancing Pickles!"



(This song reminds me of my senior year at Utah State - and my bestest friend ShellyBean! Ahhhhh...the memories! hehe)

Who Knew?!

That I'd be the one crying myself to sleep tonight.

It just breaks my heart to see how much Ryan wants his "B" - he's being such a big boy, but it still hurts me to see him hurting and so sad like this. We were fine all afternoon, and it wasn't until just before bed that he started asking. When he woke up from his nap this afternoon, he just looked so lost! It just hurts my heart.

What a boob I am! (OK...what a MOM I am!)

If we can make it through this first night, I think we'll be on the road to "recovery!"

COLD TURKEY!

After one last all out tantrum because we couldn't find the "purple B", they are GONE!

I had HAD it! Yes, I know that the binky is like crack cocaine to this kid, but he's now in REHAB!

So here's my strategy. First, neither Dad or Mom are going to mention the "B" anymore. If he happens to find one that had previously been lost. (Believe me, there are quite a few around here!) We'll just wait until he puts it down and then "lose" it permanently.

Second, when he asks for one, we'll suggest he find a book to read or his favorite toy. Distract him with something else, right?

He did have his nap today without one - the babysitter put him down with a stuffed "Bob the Builder" and though he whimpered a little, he did fall asleep.

WHEN he makes it to Friday...he can have a Tricycle!

Wish us luck! :)

PS - as of just a few days ago, Megan doesn't want anything to do with her binkies, so this is the PERFECT time!

CLEARLY Someone is in Charge!

Remember back a few months ago when we were trying to refinance our mortgage? Remember how our appraisal came back so low that even Lending Tree couldn't do it for us?

Well, we just got our notice today of how our mortgage payment is going to change. Are you ready for this? (drum roll...)

The interest rate went from 5.25% to 5.5%.

The index was 4.37188% and it went DOWN to 3.23313%.

The change to our payment? An additional SIX DOLLARS AND EIGHTY SEVEN CENTS a MONTH!!

WOW!!!

We definitely dodged a bullet there! The payment we were looking at to refinance (because of the 2nd mortgage) was at least $400 more! Clearly SOMEONE is in charge here and we have been blessed!

Will You Be Ready?

In a news release last week from LDS Church HQ, they asked members to share their experiences with food storage and preparedness on Internet sites like Facebook, You Tube, and personal blogs.

I'm thinking that if it's important enough to put out a news story, that's saying something about how important it is to be prepared.

I was talking with some girls from Church last week about this very thing. We were talking about the possible disasters that might affect our area with a hurricane being the highest possibility. (We live WAY too close to the water in that case!) But I also mentioned that preparing for emergencies don't always mean natural disasters. What about losing a job? What about the rising fuel prices, which also affect the cost of food? (Here's a food storage perk - if you're "shopping" in your food storage, the prices don't go up - at all!)

We were also talking about patterns in the Scriptures about how people had been asked of God or Prophets to pick up and leave. (The early Saints? Lehi and his family? and on and on...) Then I mentioned this: What if we were asked today by our Prophet to do just that? Pick up and leave? Would you be ready to go?

The answer of one person surprised and saddened me. She said that if that was the case, we'd be told with plenty of time to prepare.

*WHOA!*

We've already been told to prepare! From the time I was little, I remember being told that food storage and preparedness is a necessity, if not a commandment! Even if we were told from just the time I was born, that's ALMOST 40 years! I would think that's PLENTY of time to prepare as she put it.

It made me really sad, and it still disturbs me - she doesn't get it.

Even though she is a strong member of the Ward, with a very strong testimony, she didn't understand that preparing for "whatever" is what we should be doing right now and what we should have been doing for years! We won't be given any notice if we are called to leave. I say "if" because who knows what will happen, but I for one want to be ready.

It's my gut feeling/opinion/testimony that time is short.

Will you be ready?

I QUIT!!!!

That's it - I quit. Nothing more to say.

Hmmm....just noticed...

...that the last 3 of 4 posts show my kids with stuff all over their faces! I think I need a life! (Or maybe a nanny! HA!)

Note to DCYF - I promise, they don't look like that all the time, only when I have a camera handy!

Distressed? Maybe a little!

I guess that this little crafty ink pad of mine doesn't mix very well with an inquisitive 14-month old! What do you think?


So after taking a quick picture (couldn't let this one pass me by!) Wiping off her face, hands, and sippy cup. I turned over the ink pad to see, much to my relief, "Non Toxic" - WHEW!

Unfortunately, I wasn't the one who noticed! I was checking my email and Ryan happened to say, very calm-like, "What's Megan got on her face? Megan's got brown stuff on her face." (Way to know your colors Ryan! hehe)

Note to Self...

...frost cake BEFORE you give the kids baths! What was I thinking? *sigh*

Megan had a BALL with the little beater I used to fluff up the frosting in a can! :)

(Didn't know that trick? If you want your frosting to REALLY frost a 2 layer cake, whip it up first! You'll have some left over! You'll thank me later. hehe)

By the way, I'm LOVING my new offset spreader from Pampered Chef! Martha really is right, it's MUCH easier to frost a cake, or cupcakes with them!

There's the cake! It looks a little"waxy" - I promise it really isn't!

An Artist in the Making

I have to say... I think my child is an artistic genius! :)

Maybe not, but when I asked Ryan to draw a picture of Daddy for his birthday, this was his result!

I can definitely make out eyes, a nose, a mouth, and feet. (But that's because he told me they were feet.)

Everything else...I dunno! What do you think?

Happy Birthday Daddy! (a.k.a. Dead Elvis Day!)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

(Disclaimer: No children were harmed in the making of the official chocolate birthday cake! Oh...and the cake survived too!)

First "Pew" Boo Boo

Poor Megan. We aren't even sure what happened.

While the Sacrament was being passed yesterday, either Ryan pushed her (most likely cause) or she fell into the bench in front of us. Not just the bench though, it was into the only pointed part of the hymnal holder!

Of course, she wanted me, so I snuck down from the organ, scooped her up (after some blood curdling screams and sobbing), and took her out.

She looks much better in this picture, but her whole eye was red and swollen. :( A little "mommy" cuddles later, she was sniffling, and eventually just fine. (Mommy on the other hand...)

Play date!

Last week we had the chance to get together with some friends. You've already seen these cute little girls before!

Maddie and Ellie are almost exactly Ryan and Megan's ages, so we've taken pictures together as they've been getting older.

Ryan finds that going to their house is a new adventure - because they have ALL GIRL TOYS! So he spent his time having "tea", curling his hair, and eating monkeys from the "barrel."

Megan was just happy if she was playing with a doll, dishes, or their little piano.

It's so much fun to see how the kids play together as they get older! Thanks for inviting us to visit! (Lunch was great too!)

It IS all about me...

...because I'M the MOM!

Overheard...just a few minutes ago. Ryan was "I wanting" over and over again...

Mom: Ryan, it's not all about you right now, you can't have it.

Ryan: It's not about YOU either!

Mom: (speechless for just a second) It IS all about me, because I'm the MOM!

(Oh boy....the little stinker!)

You know you have kids when...

...the top rack of your dishwasher looks like this!

Twenty Minutes Later - Woo Hoo!

A SMOOTH ROAD - Yipppeeeee!

Nothing brings out the neighborhood like a good old fashioned asphalt laying! :)

It's actually pretty amazing how fast they are able to do it. The dump truck backs up to the asphalt layer and starts to dump.

It looked like the dump truck was in neutral and the asphalt layer pushed it along as the black stuff was put down.

One guy in the truck, one on top of the asphalt layer, and two in the back making sure it's going down on the right place.

Then there's the "Rolley's" as Ryan called them. He said that he could roll them - maybe it's a future career in the making?

(Warwick's Finest! What a GIG! hehe)

Hmmm...I "wonder" which kid is going to take his chalk and draw on the new "canvas" that was put down JUST FOR HIM?!? :)

A couple of updates...

...a week had flown by with NOTHING from us! We're WAY too busy!

Anyway, Megan's WORD is "Cheese" - Rachael was the winner! :) Note cards on the way for you!

After many false alarms, we're getting our streets paved TODAY! I can hear them, the trucks, etc have driven by and all that jazz. Unfortunately, I have to teach today, hopefully our babysitter can get in and I can get out! eeek!

Yes, I do have video of Megan walking - a pretty funny one in fact - it just has to be converted. Hoping to do it TODAY!

That's it for now! :)

Keep Your Prayers SHORT!

Picture this...

We're sitting in Sacrament Meeting. We've just finished the opening hymn. I'm sitting at the Organ, Ric is in our usual pew (the one with the crushed goldfish, etc.) with Ryan and Megan. The opening prayer is being said. It's quiet.

All of a sudden, FROM OUR PEW, we hear "Amen!" Apparently, Ryan has decided (for all of us) that the prayer was going on WAY too long! (Sorry Scott!)

After the REAL Amen was heard, everyone giggled. I shook my head. Ric wouldn't even look at me! It was pretty funny!