So you think you can dance, dance, dance....

I thought she'd love it. Enchanted dance it's called, and you even get to dress up! Allison made it through the first 40 minutes of her first hour long dance class. Anyway, she was a little hesitant, but she seemed to like it. I had prepped her beforehand, telling her to do everything her teacher did, act like a mirror to her. So after 40 minutes, it was like a switch turned off. She was done. She seemed a bit tired...I mean and hour is a long time...at least I'll get my money's worth...or so I thought. Class number 2...she resisted participating the WHOLE time. I even bribed her with a McDonald's ice cream cone and after I agreed to add chicken nuggets and fries to it, she STILL didn't want to have anything to do with it. I made the mistake of saying, "If you're not going to participate, we're going home." Her response? You guessed it, "Ok." Then I decided, no, we're staying. (Usually I stick with what I say no matter how much I regret saying it but I really spoke to quick.) So she stayed and watched. She was REALLY upset when she realized we weren't going to "Old MacDonalds" and melted down the whole way home. Tired again.
Then ALL week, we talked about dance and she would tell me how she was going to do EVERYTHING Miss Kathy did and she even showed me the moves they had done the week before when she sat on the chair. The morning of, we talked about it some more and I figured we were set and things would go great. Wrong again. We came in and to the chair she went. I kept telling her she was not earning her ice cream and she didn't seem to mind. She just watched Margo and the other girls have fun.I finally figured, if SHE wasn't going to get my money's worth...someone was, so Cole gladly joined in on the action. He LOVED it. Allison loved watching him too.
Finally, to break up the hour, Miss Kathy pulled out Elefun--this toy that blows little butterflies up this tube and all the girls tried to catch them. Allison did that but as soon as it was put away, it was back to the chair. Afterwards, Miss Kathy told us Allison was still trying to be sure it was a safe place for her and asked if she came home and did all the moves... she totally does. So we walk to the car and as Allison is getting in she says, "That was fun!" I'm like..hello?! You didn't even participate!! But alas, I was going to stick with it.

So Monday last week came. I only realized late Sunday night that we had dance in the morning so I didn't say much until it was time to get ready to go. Nana stayed at our house overnight so she stayed at the house while Cole slept in. It was nice not having to worry about him or wear him on my back. Shockingly, she got right in there, with me by her side, and participated during the whole hour! I was SOO happy! And so was she because she was ready for her ice cream...and nuggets and fries she reminded me. So away we went at 10:30am to "Old MacDonalds" and grabbed the goods...and she even got to eat the ice cream first so it didn't melt on her brunch. I was sure to be clear that participation next week would only earn an ice cream--not a whole freakin' happy meal! I mean common...I've been sacrificing fast food for months and here she gets the works! She got lots of praise from Daddy and Nana and Grandma and Grandpa over the next week for her participation in dance.



This last Monday she did great too. I was sure to tell her that she could only earn an ice cream cone...no nuggets or fries. I had bought this coupon book that came with a couple coupons for a small ice cream--so I couldn't just get Allison one--Cole needed one too. I was thinking it was for those 25 cent cones...oh no...it was these HUGE cones. Man was it great though...I helped Cole with his a little every so often to get the drips, but it was a lifesaver for the next few errands we ran!


Maybe it's that child inside of me that wishes I wasn't lurpy and that I could have been a cute little dancer and that's why I'm pushing her, but I'd like to think that I push her to try new things and new experiences to have her decide what she likes...how can you decide if you don't give it a fair shot....right??

I've Got Joy!

Allison started Joyschool this year. We bravely gathered a few moms together and started a little preschool group. It's not your average preschool though. Instead of a primary focus of academics, it focuses on specific "joys" and values. I actually went to Joyschool when I was 4 and the same curriculum has made it all this time for me to now teach Joyschool to a daughter of my own! I got chills when I was reading some of the first unit and new that this was the path for us. Information on Joyschool and many other really great resources can be found on valuesparenting.com/joyschool. I know a lot of moms get together to forms groups like this and each take a week to teach, but man was it easy to just download the lessons and have everything laid out for you and not have to create it all ourselves!
I took on the challenge of teaching the first week---which really was just an introduction. (Sadly because I was in charge that first day, I didn't even think to take a picture of Allison on her first day of preschool...so here are some candids my mother-in-law took of her-she was ready for book and craft time a little prematurely.) It was a bit challenging getting 5 kids--some barely even 3 years old---to sit on their mats and pay attention. It helped that we moved around from one activity to the next, and time just flew by! Of course my mind was completely consumed with preparing for my week and knowing what the heck I was doing but it really turned out well.
All the kids will have gone to each person's house once so I'm excited to take on the challenge once again to teach next week and see how far they've come since 5 weeks ago.
We also received the CD's of music that go with the lessons and they are the same recordings from the tapes--yes tapes-- I used to listen to (and still have) from when I was in Joyschool. They have also added a new rendition to each song with this terribly obnoxious girls singing...I usually skip when she sings.
It's been great to see and hear the new things Allison learns. She's really done well and it's been nice to have that extra time and to spend a little time individually with Cole. Check back later to see a video of Allison singing "I've Got Joy!"

Anyway, here's some of Allison's work this month! --The Joy of the Body...
This is the first ever little person she's ever drawn! And her sweet auntie happened to be teacher that week! Thanks Shannon!

Summer's Over??

Awe yes...with gas prices and our current employment situation, trips to San Diego and the beach were few and far between this summer. I'm sad to report that we only made it to the beach like twice this summer. Depressing I know. But with the realization of summer ending and the hot days coming to an end, we decided to pack in some jaunts to visit friends and family and the beach! Here's what we've been up to.

Stop 1:Teddy's house
Teddy was Dan's first partner at his job selling homes in Escondido when we first got married. She is a firecracker. We've missed seeing her and have only been able to get together on rare occasions- the last being Cole's baby blessing. So she invited us and the fam (including the Dixons and Dan's mom--**side note**Teddy was one of Dan's mom's bridesmaids at her wedding---) to her home for a fun day at the pool and what else--eating. Audrey was in heaven--not only did they have a dog AND a pool but the dog went swimming with her IN the pool! Next stop---a night at the beach for mutual. (Yay! My second time this summer at the beach!)I really love my calling as Beehive adviser. I remember clapping my hands--literally--when I was asked to serve in that calling. I was pregnant with Cole at the time. I'll be so sad to leave when the time comes to get released...I'm trying to stay under the radar so they leave me there a while! I drove a car load of girls there (and when I say carload I mean 8 girls besides me) and I happened to have my monster cable in the car and of course they had their iPods so we listened to their music all the way there and back. I'll have to admit the Jonas Brothers were surprisingly a refreshing change from Old MacDonald Had a Farm and Give Said the Little Stream. We watched that movie Camp Rock with Madison a few weeks ago and I think deep down Dan and I really liked it--- I know what you're thinking--but it's kinda like Saved By the Bell--no matter how old you are, you are still entertained by the flirtation between Zach and Kelly even though the acting is so cheesy. So we did a little beach clean up and then indulged in hot dogs and s'mores. Our youth are really a great, fun group of kids and it was fun to be around them.


Next stop, a baby blessing in Oceanside. We might as well have stayed down that way all week! We love being able to be a part of these important days of our friends' lives. While sitting in the pew at church that day, Cole decided to literally DIVE over the back of ours into the lap of our friend Matt. We're lucky he had quick reflexes. We also got to see some of our friends that are visiting home from their current residence in Hong Kong! These boys have been friends for many many years and we new we couldn't just see each other once while everyone was in town so.....

Off to the beach again the next day for some "family night" fun. Dan and his buddies have a tradition of playing sand volleyball which started when his mom lived in this posh condo complex with a tennis court, sand volleyball court, BBQ and pool in Del mar. But since Dan's mom doesn't live there anymore, we decided to hit 15th street in Del Mar instead. I think it was better because I didn't have to worry about the kids by the pool and they LOVE the beach! The water was sooo warm and me and Cole got right in it at 6pm! After some pizza, gourmet salad by who else but Brittany, and some too rich brownies made by yours truly, we headed home.


Later that week...BACK down to San Diego to celebrate my Dad's 63rd birthday. And he treated us to steak! We even sat around their new portable fire pit.It's sad that we live so close and yet I feel like we don't see each other as much as we should. And now my mom's in school so

Next day? Dan and I drove to Palm Desert while Shannon watched the kids...but this wasn't any retreat, Dan was working out the AC issues we had at the models we were cleaning last month while I went to clean the air conditioned models--kid free! When I came back to the models he was at, there was no progress on the AC so I sweat off 5 pounds once again cleaning in 110 degree heat and inhaling fumes. I compare it to giving birth...and then getting pregnant again. It's like while you're going through labor you're thinking...I'm never doing this again, but then you get pregnant and then you go through labor again and you say, I'm never doing this again. Last time I vowed not to come back unless there was air. We figured it would only take an hour to fix the issue so I cleaned the other models first....coming back only to realize that it wasn't fixed which meant cleaning in sweat again. It was really nice however to have a few hours to ourselves to chat and talk about anything without having squealing kids in the car. Oh, but the fun wasn't over yet. After I got home Shannon picked me up to go to the temple.... The boys went earlier in the month so we made it a girl's night and met up with Shannon's mom and then Shannon's best friend from high school, Karina, and her mom (who is also friends with Shannon's mom). Little did Karina know but her mom had planned a surprise birthday dinner for her after the temple at the Macaroni grill at North County so we ate a nice dinner and home-made cake, and then headed home so full.

But that wasn't enough I guess because then we decided to hit the beach again yesterday with the kids. They LOVED it. And now I can't say I've never have been stung by a bee because while I was standing watching Dan with the kids in the waves, I brushed my arms against the side of my suit, I felt this sting and it almost tingled down my whole arm. I lifted up my arm and there was this red dot which over then next ten minutes got all swollen right around it. I realized later when we were leaving, that there were a ton of dead bees--and some alive, along the sand only like 20 feet from where our stuff was. Dang those bees.

Allison kept asking us to built a sand castle so while I proceeded to built a mote first to protect the sand castle I would build next, Dan began digging this huge hole and then a more shallow mote around that, with a bridge to let the water under. I wasn't sure how he thought that was a sand castle since it seemed to be missing the whole castle part but he had fun barking like Tim the tool man Taylor and bragging about the structural soundness of his "water retention basin"--when suddenly, a huge wave came which washed out his bridge and only perfectly filled my mote. He would argue that my mote was dug ten inches further back than his so his was closer to the brunt of the wave, but the fact stands, mine withstood the blow and his didn't. I then strategically filled the bucket with wet sand, then poured a thin layer of water on that, than another layer of wet sand, and then after turning it over and giving the bucket a tap tap tap....perfection. Dan decided his cast...uh, water basin needed a castle too, but after filling it with damp sand and dumping it over, it looked like a sad little mound of sand....no resemblance of a castle. We'll let you be the judge.
Mine
Dan's
This cold didn't stop Cole....don't worry we'll keep him out of nursery tomorrow.

But in all seriousness, it was fun to get on our hands and knees and create some memories with our kids. We had fun doing it too. And to top it off, the kids conked on the way home so we didn't have to hear Cole's high-pitched squeals.

I'm pretty sure we drove over 500 miles in the last few weeks. So much for saving on gas right? But really, I realized, why let gas prices get in the way of our family having a good time and making memories...plus, I think we were all going a little stir crazy and needed out! We're gonna milk this good weather as long as we can...The nice thing about summer being "over" is our next stop...Disneyland!

By the sweat of your brow....

Shannon and I are back at it again....just like the good old days--plus 4 more kids. Shannon and I used to clean model homes in Utah and her two little kids would come with us. Audrey would just sit in the car seat and watch us clean for like 2 hours without a peep. Well, those days are gone.Now we have 6 kids total...and they don't just sit without a peep. Now, Shannon and I got a new little job cleaning model homes in Palm Dessert. A friend of hers had invited her to visit them at the Marriott there with this cool little water slide so instead of leaving the kids behind, we decided to take them along and do some cleaning and swimming...so after a VERY long, winding drive, and squealing coming from Cole the whole way (what's new), making Madison's head hurt in addition to the car sickness... we arrived. But the gates were closed and there was no power for them to open. So we went through this side gate and entered the first model only to discover that there was no air--no power--no electricity. We proceeded to clean--inhaling 409, Windex, and Pledge fumes in the densely humid, HOT air and just dripped with sweat. The kids ran rampant all about as we struggled to figure things out with the air. We brought a portable movie player and a fan for the kids--neither of which would work with no working plugs, and neither would our vacuum. So, after dying from fumes, and dripping with sweat through 4 of 8 units. We decided that for the children's sake--Gavin was as red as a tomato and about as sweaty as it gets....Drew looked like someone had dumped a bucket of water on his head he was so wet and sweaty...we needed to leave. And the text picture we took of us in the car after trying to cool our sweaty bodies just didn't do it justice. So we left and got some lunch and headed over to the pool to cool off!
We had a great time over there and the kids loved running in the spraying water. It was nice to cool down but we still had another set of 3 models left to clean--and we weren't sure if there was air in those or not.

Finally we were off. (Picture it-feeding sweaty kids, (6 of them) getting them out of the car--swimsuits on, lotion on, go swim, swimsuits off, clothes on, drive more....more cleaning.) They were sure troopers but Shannon and I looked at each other and were like--never again are we bringing the kids!
At the other set of models there was air! PHEW! And the plugs worked--well some of them--so we set up the movie. But of course it couldn't be that easy--"I can't see it"--"you're head's in the way." It was nap time. Great. So we ran around the house, cleaning, attending the kids, cleaning some more. Thankfully the houses were already VERY clean so it didn't take too much effort. Audrey had to use the bathroom at one point and we said we'd just be in the next model over. When we hadn't seen her in a little while, Madison went to go find out what she was doing. She came back with a blotchy-eyed Audrey. She got confused on which model we went into and was lost so she crouched down crying and told us she said a little prayer that someone would come find her. Then came Madison looking for her. So cute-- and sad! Phew, ok, got all the kids, keep cleaning. A little later, after moving to the next model, we set up the movie again and told everyone to just lay on the bed and watch. That didn't work either and when I came back in the room a little later, Allison had the strangest look on her face. It almost looked like she was pooping! Of course that was my first frantic question---"Are you pooping??????" Of course she wasn't--she knows better than that. Well, the most I could gather from her was that she fell off the bed. And it was a big drop too. I think she got the wind knocked out of her which I've never had happen to me, but she looked pretty frightened which frightened me. I kept checking her back to see if she was ok. No marks, no nothing. But that was it for me. I looked at Shannon and pretty much said. I'm done, I'll come back another day and finish--WITHOUT the kids. I think by the look on my face she didn't question me one bit and we got the kids gathered up--but while we were doing that, we were taking turns storming though the last house to clean it before we left. We FINALLY headed out with some EXHAUSTED children...and moms!!! We got dinner...Cole conked on the way there, we took a quick potty break, and Cole woke up--and stayed up the rest of the trip home! The rest of them pretty much crashed and we made the dark winding drive home. Hey, at least we got paid-right?

I'm a bridesmaid!

I've only been a bridesmaid once and that was for my sister's wedding. I was the maid of honor (her only sister) and there were no other bridesmaids. Dan's brother Nick who was recently engaged, is getting married next July and his sweet bride-to-be, Kendra, invited me, Shannon, and Kari (Shannon's mom), to lunch with her and her mom. When we arrived to the most tasty restaurant we might have ever been to, there were envelopes on the plates with our names on them. Shannon and I opened them to find a personal invitation to be Kendra's bridesmaids! So sweet! It was completely unexpected but such a cool surprise. I feel so so lucky to have such amazing sisters-in-law and Kendra is no exception to that. We're actually only a couple weeks apart in age. I just wish we were a little closer to hang out more.

After lunch we took a walk in these surrounding gardens and then drove over the the place where Nick and Kendra will have their wedding and reception. It was so sweet for her to include us in the excitement of her wedding plans!

Hey ya'll

My brother, Chad, and his wife, Tricia, just had number 3! I had the opportunity to go visit them in Austin, Texas and meet up with the rest of my family (minus Kacy's husband Doug and Dan and Allison) It was such a great visit and all the kids did amazing! I was only able to bring Cole with me since he was free as a lap child on the plane and Dan stayed behind to work and stay with Alli. Cole did surprisingly well on the flights...I say flights not only because I flew there and back but I had two flights each day with a 2+ hour layover in SLC on the way there. Luckily, Cole fell asleep during my layover (not for very long but long enough) and my sister, Kacy met up with me and rode with us on the flight to Austin! It was nice to have the girls keeping Cole entertained.
Plus I had a mini me sitting next to me. Seriously, she kida looked like me when I was her age (19) she was from Logan, UT and she brought her journal (totally something I would have done) and she brought a book by Steven Covey-- She was even visiting her sister in Austin. Cole had a crush on her too.

Anyway, after renting a car and getting lost even while using our navigation system--totally not user error---ok maybe.... we arrived late at night. Cole was WIRED. He gets super hyper before bedtime..and it was LATE. We had the BEST accommodations....Cole got a crib to sleep in and I slept in the bottom bunk of my nephew's bed. Cole slept in GREAT that first morning...with the time change he didn't wake up until nearly 11am! Tricia--even with a nursing baby and no sleep---whipped up some fantastic breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

We headed out to a play place for the kids called Raddy Jazz--yes it was one of those germ infested, don't think too hard about it the kids are having so much fun places. I usually just don't let myself think about it so I don't will myself to get sick....the REST of the family on the other hand...got sick by the last day of the trip! Bummer. At least we remained unscathed. Then we met at a Texas BBQ restaurant....very tasty--spicy food. I especially liked the atmosphere with the Texan accents surrounding us. Then it was on the the bats....they live under these bridges and at dusk they come out in thousands! Cole loved it.
We weren't sure we'd be back much before bedtime so I bought Cole some PJs at this second hand store...he LOVED them and he looked so darn cute--turns out his cousin, William, had superman Pjs too! Here they are pretending to fly like Superman!

On Sunday was Asher's blessing day. My mom made him his blessing outfit--same pattern I used for Drew's and Gavin's. He looked so handsome in white. He's such a big boy it's fun to see him all filled out with obvious facial features.
Cole gave me a run for my money all during sacrament meeting...we were sitting next to Kacy---Savannah had fallen asleep on the bench, and behind us, Lynnzie fell asleep on her bench. Holly was trying to out do Cole...I think she maybe succeeded. I actually got to go to Relief Society (usually I'm with the young women that hour) and Cole stayed entertained in nursery with grandpa and aunt Leah, and then Uncle James--yay!
When we got home...the little kids were POOOOPED and crashed for a while. We then had a delicious dinner with tasty salad, Rhodes rolls--Texas has them in abundance-- and Roast. And to top it of--we dipped the most beautifully perfect strawberries I've ever seen, along with creme puffs and marshmallows into the chocolate fountain. It was messy and delicious! You'd think the parents could have gotten away without a drip but I'm pretty sure my brother Chad was the messiest of them all.

We had a good time hanging out together...the boys got after it in a game of light sabers---Cole thought he was such a big boy.


That night, me, Tricia, and Kacy stayed up LATE --3am Texas time-- chat chat chatting. That was probably my favorite part of the whole trip--I love my sisters!

Next morning, we headed out to the pool only to realize they didn't open until 12noon--What?! so we came home, ate lunch, did naps and THEN went back to the pool. I took a ride on the three water slides they had there--Cole wasn't allowed on them--so I let the kid in me come out and I screamed the whole way down each of them. I got lots of stares and some smiles on my way out. Who cares? I'll never see them again right?
Chad brought dinner home that night and then we started getting worried. Holly came down with a cold that day and then started tugging at her ear and was NOT happy to say the least. But after a priesthood blessing by my brother and some distant cousin (go figure--I didn't even know who he was) Holly gave in and conked out sleeping all night until Kacy had to get her up the next morning to fly home.

Tricia was a zombie that morning from Asher getting up EVERY hour that night (makes me relieved I'm not pregnant and not going to have to go through that again for a while)so I took Asher and let her sleep for a couple hours.
I watched Enchanted before I had to leave for my flight--such a cute movie! The flight went well....but we were ready to be home!!!!

The trip couldn't have been any better. It makes me sad that my brother and his family aren't closer to us so we can see them more but I was really grateful that my parents and siblings could come be together for a few days.

It actually happened!

Ok, ok, so we really thought we should have each gotten a hundred dollars because Jordan was allowed to get his license before getting his Eagle--against previous stipulation, but he did get his Eagle nonetheless! It was a great achievement and there were some really stalwart young men receiving the honor with Jordan that night--5 altogether in one night! And soon he'll be off to college!! It's hard to believe that Jordan was only 10 or 11 when I met him...he has really grown up! Congratulations Jordan!