New Happenings

Disclaimer (I don't normally write this much, but it was quite the experience.) It's been so long since I posted, but it has been a very busy month. We just moved to Idaho. Yes, in the middle of the freezing weather. Byron was offered a really great job that we just couldn't pass up. It happened really fast and has been full of ups and a lot of downs. We made the decision and with in a week and a half, Byron left to drive to Idaho. It was snowing and his car broke down in Beaver, UT. He had to stay the night because the roads were closed ahead of him. A very nice couple from SLC took him as far as there the next day, and his Dad met him to take him the rest of the way. Ok, so I thought, crisis experienced, hopefully smooth sailing. Ha Ha! My original plan was to stay with the kids in CA until Christmas, then we would move during the holidays. But after looking at all our options, we decided Thanksgiving was a better time, but only a week and a half away. We were able to have a moving company do all the packing, which I thought would be great. So, the day before Thanksgiving they show up, 2 days early mind you, and pack up our tiny apartment of stuff. More stuff then we had planned, so of course, more money then we had estimated. Ok, I'll take it, I didn't have to try and do it on my own. Byron's company flew him back to CA and we had a nice drive back to Idaho. I started to work the next day looking at houses to rent. We figured with the difference in cost of living between ID and CA we could upgrade. I was discouraged by the first places I looked at though. In the end, we were lucky and found a really great place about 4 times the space we had in CA. We snatched it up. Then we just had to wait for our stuff to arrive. Not a big problem, except that the moving company kept telling us a time and then it didn't happen. But on top of that, I had to stand up to a really rude man to solve some payment issues. Finally, we have a sure appointment for delivery, 8:00 am and the temp is -17 degrees. I was so cold standing there directing where everything was to be put. It went pretty fast, but there were broken items, and as I unpacked I found even more broken things. So, the big truck pulls away and I go into the house and Byron is yelling for me to find towels. The toilet overflows and then backs up into the other toilet and two bathtubs. Luckily, the rental agency had someone there to look at it within 10 min. A bright spot, finally. But he has to bring in his big auger and send it down the pipes. Then we find water pouring out of a heat vent in the family room downstairs. Yeah, I know. Come to find out there was an unusually big blockage. Ice? We don't know. Hopefully from here it will be a little less exciting. Kallie had a few days in her new school and Byron is enjoying his job, especially the flexibility with time that it has given him. I don't have my cords unpacked so I will post pics when I can find them, but my mother in law took some great pics of the kids in the snow yesterday. ( http://bonkersycarax.blogspot.com/) I have one week to get a little settled and then the kids and I are off; back to CA for Christmas vacation. Crazy I know. Byron will join us for part of it. I roped my parents into a road trip with us. Hopefully we'll have enough electronic devices to keep the kids happy. Three legs of a 14 hour drive in one month, what was I thinking?

Halloween

We sort of had a halloween week this year. Our ward had a huge fall festival last week, trunk or treating included. We dressed up and had soo much fun. Of course I forgot the camera. Jenna trick or treated at preschool and Kallie went to a carnival with a friend. Then on Fri, we went to Blizzard and trick or treated. We hit the mother load of chocolate candy there. By Sat, we were done with Halloween. We had dinner early, got into pj's, and watched a movie together. Maybe now that this month is over, my kids will sleep well again. The girls, especailly Kallie, are afraid of most Halloween things. They don't like going anywhere near the Halloween aisles at the store. Last year while trick or treating, there was a guy that had a scary mask and chainsaw and was chasing people. Yeah, not sure when we'll trick or treat to houses again.

Pumpkin Patch

So, October brings pumpkin patches. We went to a huge ranch with Gretchen and her family. There were so many things to do there. We saw animals, Byron pulled on the little pigs tails (which the kids thought was too funny), posed for pictures, climbed on the huge hay stack, and of course, picked pumpkins. The kids wanted to ride the ponies and take a hay ride but it was 90 degrees and the adults just wanted to stay in the shade. Good memories though, right?

Woops!

This is what happens when mom puts the cookies out of site so she'll stop picking at them and then starts dinner with out remembering to remove the hidden treats.

Angels Game

Once a year Blizzard sends their employees to an Angels Game. They have a huge picnic before the game and then we get really great seats. The kids were so excited to go. Once we got to our seats all they wanted was cotton candy. This year Uncle Brian was in town that weekend and he joined us for the heat and fun. It was an ok game. A few home runs and fireworks, which Jenna and Corbin did not like!!

Aquarium

Some good friends of ours gave us tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium. It was so cool. The kids loved all the hands on stuff. Byron and the kids got to pet the rays. And we also fed the Laurakeet birds. Jenna was not to sure of it but Kallie really enjoyed it. Kallie and I even got one of the birds to climb on our hands.

Jenna's first day of school

Jenna gets to go to a really neat preschool this year. It is a pre school that is part of a High school program. So there are two adult teachers and the the high school students. There is a lot of one on one attention which is really great for Jenna. I am a little worried about her lack of interacting with the kids but the teachers say that will come with time. She goes to preschool M-Thur for a few hours in the afternoon. It is really helping her confidence and helping her to have control in situations with out mom. I was really worried for Jenna. I want so badly for her to be successful. She is doing really well though. Now if she could just realize that she doesn't need to grow up too fast.

First Day of School

Kallie's first Day of 2nd grade. It was not exactly as I wanted it to be. We were a little rushed and I stepped in dog poo while taking the picture, but didn't realize it until I had tracked it into the house. (Thanks responsible dog owners.) We did get to school on time though. It was a little tough seeing Kallie in class with big 3rd graders. She is in a 2-3 split class. She's such a big girl; wanting to do everything her own way. A funny note...I try to be particular about the way my kids look. It's a reflection of me isn't it? Well, Kallie has been wanting to do her own hair. I'm all for independence when it looks ok:) Ok, that's not very nice but sometimes it looks... Anyway, I do her hair in the morning, but she has started redoing it at school. So she'll come home with her pony tails in a different place or a crease in her hair where she put a half pony tail in, then took it out on the way from school. I guess that's better then sneaking inappropriate clothes to change into.

California Camping

For some reason I got a camping bug. I really wanted to go camping this summer. We found out it's not really something you can plan last minute here. We were lucky and did get a first come spot that had just barely opened up. Byron's comment was "This isn't camping, you can see other people." Yes, there really is no personal space in California. The kids loved it though and wanted to roast hot dogs the minute we got there ; 9 am. We played in the lake, roasted hot dogs, collected rocks, got dirty, and ended up going to a car show in the little town that we drove through. The sleeping was not great. We put the tent on a bit of an incline because it was the only spot that was a little further away from other people. We left earlier then planned but the kids had a great time. I don't think I'll let that bug bite me again until we are potty trained and have our own washer and dryer.

Harry Potter

I would like to be the last one to buy into any type of hype, but here it is. My neice Avery is a huge Harry Potter fan and I did enjoy the books. When the new movie came out she asked if I would be the one to go with her. (Her parents are muggles and don't want any part of it, so of course I agreed.) Avery really wanted to see the midnight showing. For those of you who know me well, I am not a night owl. So we planned it for the next day. Avery, Grandma Sandra, and I headed to the show around 3 pm. It was about 100 dergrees, but we were lucky the line was not very long. The first pic is Avery reading Harry Potter while in line and then the two of us after. It was pretty cool!

Blizzard Family Picnic

In July we went to a picnic put on by Byron's work. It was hot but we had a lot of fun. There were carnival rides, free popcorn and drinks, fun contests, and even a pond to fish and boat ride in. Yes the family picture is missing one person, Jenna marches to the beat of her own drum. She couldn't be bothered to be in the picture.

Summer Fun

The kids love the water Kallie loves to read. Especially to our little neighbor who doesn't talk back to her.

July 3rd

Daddy had to work 3rd of July but had a 2 hour lunch. We went to his work to have a picnic, look at the Blizzard Museum and play video games. There was hardly anyone there that day. Notice the brand new statue behind the girls. The kids think dad's work is soooo cool.