Name that tune...

Troy and I were talking the other day about songs. He said he heard some DJs talking about songs that have had an impact on their lives. I know that songs can definitely stir up memories. Sometimes songs take me back to times in my life.

Troy and I have songs that take us back to certain trips. Every year, we make our trek to Yellowstone. There is usually a favorite album we keep listening to, over and over, as we travel through the park. One year it was Anna Nalick. The next it was Unwritten Law. Everytime we hear those songs we picture the park.

One song that always reminds me of a certain time: Indigo Girls 'Closer to Fine'.

Before Troy and I even started dating we took a trip to Lake Powell with a big group of UofU/Institute friends. The 'tape' cassette that was in the boat was Howard Jones, but we put the Indigo Girls in. All the girls would sing Closer to Fine. You all know the song, there is a part of the song where they whistle. Troy would always pretend to do the whistling part. That is what I always think of when I hear that song.

I have a million songs that remind me of things. I want to know at least ONE of your songs. Tell me what song and what it reminds you of.

A REAL PIRATE!

As you all know, it was Eli's birthday. All he talks about are pirates, so Nunn and Aunt Meggie took care of that. He got a pirate cake and a whole bunch of pirate loot. Included in this was a pirate ship and a pirate dress up set. He had so much fun. The bike we gave him didn't even compare.

At pre-school he got to take a poster that was all about him. On it they asked "If you had a dream, what would it be?" His answer: To be a REAL PIRATE! Not just a dress up pirate but a REAL PIRATE. I thought that was so funny.



Here he is with his pirate cake.


Eli as Captain Jack Spaaaarow.




His new bike fits him a lot better.



For his actual birthday day he chose to go to Chuck-E-Cheese. Troy was soooo excited to go (Ha! Ha!). Eli didn't like it as much as he thought he would. He was afraid of Chuck-E and the big monster truck. However, he did like that Aunt Meggie was there. He kept grabbing her hand, it was so cute. Thanks Meg!




Get Me Out!!!


Eli and Meg getting the alligators! Snap, Snap!!!

Happy Birthday Eli!

I can't believe Eli is already 4 years old. Here's to Eli and the fun times we have had over the past couple of years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELI, WE LOVE YOU!!!

Another crazy weekend!

Sorry, it has been a few days since I posted. We had kind of a crazy weekend and never had a spare minute.

Friday: I was supposed to have achievement days here, but I cancelled it. Then that evening it was date night here. That means I had my nieces and nephews here (eight kids total). We made homemade pizza. The kids asked if I would make it for them, so of course I did. They were here from about 5:30 pm until 10:00 pm. I don't know how kids can play so hard. They rode bikes, played in the sand, played on the swingset and trampoline. Even watched movies and played games. All crammed into 4 1/2 hours.

Saturday: Troy picked up some trees and plants for our back yard. We planned on going for a road ride and planting trees. We had 50 to 60 mph wind gusts. So instead of a road ride we went for a mountain bike ride. Heidi came out with her kids and we got a babysitter for the six kids and headed off. We got up to the canyon and it was windy there too. However, we felt really fast going up hill because the wind blew us all the way up. On the way down we were pelted with sand and almost blown over. It was pretty exciting. Troy and Jason finished planting the trees, even with the wind as strong as it was. I don't know how they did it. The kids continued to play outside until about 9:00.

So for two days, the kids went strong until way past their bedtimes. By the time Sunday came, the kids were drained. On Sunday, we even celebrated Eli's birthday at Nunn's house (pictures to come later). He scored a whole bunch of pirate stuff and his bike.

Sorry, this is kind of scattered but that is how the whole weekend was. One thing to the next.

Is it spring?

The last few years we have had very mild winters. This year it seems to never end. So, I am wondering if it is ever going to feel like spring for longer than 2 days.

Is this what spring is supposed to be like:

• snow on the ground
• decrease in temperature by 30 to 40 degrees in a 24 hr. period
• arctic wind gusts
• frozen daffodils and tulips (they look so sad)
• kids getting dressed in capris and flip flops expecting it to be warm because it was yesterday

I have a feeling we are going to skip spring and go straight to summer.

Eli the Great

I need to apologize to Eli, he isn't always terrible. He is the cutest kid when he wants to be. He just doesn't sleep well at night time.

Eli gave Troy a proud dad moment on Saturday. He learned to ride his bike without training wheels. Remember, he is still three. Troy was so proud. Troy took his training wheels and pedals off so he could just sit on the seat and push it with his feet. He looked like he had great balance so I told Troy to put the pedals back on. About 1 minute later, Eli was riding down the driveway with no help. Troy just started yelling, he was sooo excited!!!

Troy thinks this must be a record. Madison was six when she learned and Gabe was 5 when he learned. I told Troy I am sure it is not a record but we are sure proud.

He turns 4 next week, guess it's time for a new bike.

Last Day of Swimming

We are finally getting ready to go back to school on monday after 3 1/2 weeks off. Yeah!!! The kids are so ready to get back to their regular schedules. However, they have loved swimming as usual. Each of the kids has really learned a lot this time.

Madison's teacher told her that she is better than some of the other kids in level 5 and she is in level 4. He said she is definitely ready to move on to level 5.

Here is her teacher talking really loud to her (she can't wear her hearing aids in the pool) and her doing the butterfly.

Gabe has also done really well. He only has a couple more things to work on to move to level 3. His teacher said his backstroke is awesome. He has made a lot of progress this session.

Gabe with his teacher and Gabe doing his awesome backstroke.

Eli, he has also done well. He will finally put his head all the way under the water. Which is a big deal for him. Eli's biggest issue is that he always has to go potty during the class. Even if I take him before, he can't make it just a 1/2 hour in the pool. So, sorry to his teacher for having to deal with that.

Eli blowing bubbles with his teacher and showing me how he can go under water.

Eli the Terrible

Now, for quite a while (like months and months), Eli hasn't slept well. He won't go to sleep at night time. And then when he finally does sleep, he wakes up in the middle of the night. He will want me to stand by his bed until he falls back to sleep.

There have been a few nights that were extra long. He will wake up and be awake crying and screaming for two or three hours. Troy and I both threatened him.

Nothing worked, until...Last week Troy told Eli we would get him a goldfish if he would sleep good for one week. He did really well. He would go to sleep and sleep all night. He did this for 5 days. Until last night, he woke up again and wouldn't go back to sleep. Again, Troy and I had to threaten him.

So, Eli won't get a goldfish. At least not this week. We will be starting another week tonight. Hopefully we can make it so Eli can get a goldfish and we can get at least 7 nights of good sleep.



Here is Eli, last year, sleeping in our bed on one of those terrible nights. He's a crazy sleeper.



This is where he sleeps now. On our hardwood floor. Hopefully, he is learning to appreciate the comfort of his own bed.

THIS WEEKS PET PEEVE

So I have a pet peeve, and I am wondering if this drives anybody else crazy besides me. I signed my kids up for swimming while they are off track. The classes were full so I had to sign them up at different times.

Here's my pet peeve: I take Gabe in the morning and there is this mom with a boy in his class. She also has a boy in the class after his. She comes and talks really loud to people that are there watching their kids. Sometimes it is nice to talk to people, but she only talks about herself and what a great life she has. She let me know that she lives in Daybreak, and they are getting a pool this summer. Last time she brought flashcards to practice with her boy, while he was waiting for his class. And again, it was loud. She wants everybody to know what a great mother she is.

I noticed that she talks to different people everyday. Does she drive the other people crazy like me? Now I just take a book to read and don't make eye contact. Is that bad?

Don't we teach our kids not to talk to strangers? Do I have to talk to this stranger? I don't think so...

Spring has sprung!

I think we can finally say that spring is here. People are finally starting to emerge from the confines of their houses. Hopefully we won't get anymore snow. We got some a few days ago and I hope that was the end of it. Since it is spring, rather than running on the treadmill I have been trying to do things outside.
So last night I went for a quick bikeride. I have a twelve mile loop which isn't very far but there are 3 or 4 decent climbs on it. So I was feeling really good, I felt like I was going pretty fast. I am usually pulling the two monsters behind, I wasn't last night, so that might be why I felt fast. I got out about 7 miles and turned to head back home. All of a sudden it hit me...(the wind that is). I had to battle the wind the whole way home. I haven't been riding since october so I am totally out of shape and the wind killed me. I found out why I felt so good going the other direction.
Even though spring has the tendency to be a little bit windy, I am still so excited to finally be able to get out and enjoy the outdoors. My kids have been loving it too.

Bored Kids

Since my kids have been off track for the past 2 weeks we have been trying to find things to do. We have gone to the childrens museum and the zoo. I also have them signed up for swim lessons three times a week. They still get bored. So yesterday we went to my moms and had a cooking day. (My kids used to spend a couple days a week with grandma when I was at work. They don't see her much anymore so they miss her.) Grandma let them cook two kinds of cookies. She is so patient with them. There were different sizes and shapes of cookies but she doesn't care. That would drive me totally insane. Then we also made homemade bread, wheat and white. Yum!!! I still have 1 1/2 weeks before they go back to school and I am running out of ideas. Maybe I can keep them busy by doing yardwork!!! Ha, Ha, Ha!

Since the main reason for the blog is to keep in contact with the FAR DISTANT relatives, heres a few pictures of the kids on Easter.

I can never get Eli to take a decent picture.

Ready for the Easter egg hunt at Grandma Dowdle's

After the very profitable Easter egg hunt at Nunn's. Notice all the loot behind, that is all Madison's.

April Fools!

Ok, yes it is April fools. And sorry to disappoint some of you, we didn't actually buy a minivan. I am proud of almost everybody for knowing that buying a minivan, for us, was a total joke. Could you really see Troy driving one. Troy and the kids had more fun with the joke than I ever imagined. The kids purposely got dressed in their pj's to go get their picture in the 'Kinney Van.' The best part of this April Fools joke was that Nunn believed that Keli would be pregnant before we would ever buy a minivan. Here's a couple more pictures of the kids having fun...