It's done.........DONE!

This week has been CRAZY BUSY! And it's OVER.......YEAY!

We are finally moved in with Rob's parents. It has been a long and drawn out process since I have been going back up the hill every day to take Gabe to school and clean the house we moved out of, keep up with my duties at the homestead, try to fit in a workout and still get my aero classes put together for the week. Yesterday I even had to drive up twice since I taught at the gym last night too (did I mention it's a 25 minute drive each way?).

Exhausting to say the least.

But......it's DONE (well, at least the cleaning part). Today is Gabe's last day at his old school. That means I will have 2 1/2 hours to go to the gym. That may be a bit too long.....even for me. Oh well. On Monday Gabe will start at a school down here just 3 blocks from where we are. What a relief.

Things are going better than we imagined. Especially with the boys. We were REALLY worried about the three of them sleeping in the same room together but it has been just fine so far. A tender mercy of the Lord for sure.

We are so grateful to Mom and Dad G. for housing us so our savings, account could stay in tact while we continue to look for a job.

Speaking of which, Rob had another interview this week and one scheduled for the week of the 9th in Irvine, California.

We still have faith that things are going to work out just fine. We are just waiting for the RIGHT job to come along. Rob is a good interviewer and has a good resume. It just hasn't been RIGHT yet. Someday.......Someday................sooner than later we hope.

On another note........here are some cute pics of the boys......

What's a little shared spit among brothers? Can't let all that "Fun Dip" go to waste (after DADDY spilled it all over the table......and Gabe)!

"Mom, Is my tongue green?" (Yeah, and your forehead, hair and cheek too. Again, thanks DADDY!)


Isaac art. A contemporary sculpture of sorts.


A tornado hit the house before we moved.....or at least it looked that way! All in the name of fun, right? (okay, so this picture is not that bad but believe me......it was BAD!)


We celebrated Grandma G's birthday with her on Wednesday. Good Times. I made pumpkin cheesecake for desert (that is a whole other long and frustrating story.....I would rather not talk about it right now........It's still a little tender....sniff, sniff). Isaac REALLY wanted some of that cheesecake.......just look at him. He loves his food.


"Cheesecake.......I'm SO happy......can't you tell?"

So........this is life...at least for now. It could be worse, much worse...........still.........Chuck E Cheese is sounding REALLY good right now. REALLY good. (if you have NO idea what I am talking about, read this).

Until next time.............

A round of applause for Rob!

3/4 of the way through the packing of our 4th move in 2 1/2 years, Rob has finally chipped in and packed his first box.

Way to go on getting your XBOX 360 all snug and packed away, dear. Priorities.....we all have our priorities.

He even said he might pack a box of his clothes today too.

I know that Rob is a busy man, being that he is unemployed and home 24/7, but I do appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule to help just a little bit with the move. (Oh, did I mention that he DID call and reserve a moving van for Saturday?)

Give him a hand everybody.......he truly deserves it.



I love you honey.......It's just so much fun to tease you sometimes, too.

"Mom's are not that smart"

Gabe is always asking me, "how did you know I ____________ or didn't do _________ etc."

I always tell him it is because I am smart or Mom's are smart or something along those lines.

Well, tonight he asked, "How did you know those were MY wet underwear and pajamas this morning?"

Me......ever sick of the constant questions (especially when the answers are obvious, as in......because you are the only child that wears underwear in this house and they were your pajamas....duh!) said, "Because mom's are smart, that's why."

He thinks about it for a second and says, "Not all mom's are that smart.........the other day when I asked you how many people were in the world, you didn't know.......see, you are not that smart."

Then under his breath......"I told you so."

An array of emotions passed through me.

At first I was surprised (How did he remember that?), then mad (little smart alack......I'll show him whose not smart), then humored (That is quite funny........he's still a smart alack but at least he's funny).

So, I replied......"Well, not all mom's are book smart but some of us are pretty 'street smart.'"

(By the way, according to Rob there are 6 billion people in the world. And in my defense, I didn't know that little tidbit of information and will probably have forgotten it again in a week because I DON'T RIGHTLY CARE.........AND THAT'S THAT!).

I wonder where Gabe get's his sassyness from?.........Surely not me!

Happy V-day to my men (big and little)!

Happy Valentines Day to my men!

I am a firm believer that expressions of love should be something done all year.....not just on V-day, but having said that, V-day is one of those special days that I don't mind being "romantic." Other days of the year I am just too practical for that and it makes me want to gag! Bleh! (although I LOVE a good romance book........not a lusty and busty "romance" book......but one of those great ones where they FINALLY kiss at the end).

So....in light of this romantic day, Rob and I had a nice candlelight dinner last night after the boys had gone to bed (using any random candle I could find since most of them are already packed). I'll admit.......it was fun and not too mushy. We just had a good time being friends, enjoying good food and being without our children. Rob got me some really yummy smelling lotion from Bath and Body Works. It's called Japanese Cherry Blossom. I love it!

I put together a "love" themed class at they gym for today. All of the songs revolved around love (some for it and some not-so-for it). It was a blast. They "loved" the squats and lunges.....(even more so when we were done)....... and I'm sure they are going to "LOVE" me tomorrow when all that lactic acid settles into their muscles and they can't sit down. Good Times! I "LOVE" my job!



A VALENTINES DAY SHOUT OUT TO MY BOYS!

First to Rob.........I love you more that I know how to express sometimes. A girl could not have a better husband/friend/cheering section. You love and support me, even if you don't agree with me all of the time. Like the song says, "You are my sunshine....my only sunshine....You make me happy (or at least less grumpy) when skies are gray." I'm eternally yours and a lucky girl for it!

To my boys........I've loved you all since before I could feel you moving inside me. You make me smile, laugh, and want to become a better mommy. I'm so glad I have each of you. I love you!



Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Great multi-taskers

My boys are great at multi-tasking.

They can put away laundry, wrestle, and, read, and play hide and go seek all at the same time.

And since I am trying to enjoy life a little more I chose to take pictures instead of getting upset at them for their lack of ability to focus on one thing for a single second.

I must be living proof that and old dog can learn new tricks.....at least for tonight! :)

Yes, those are Cael's feet by Gabe's face.....and Isaac is off to the side wrestling (giving loves) to a stuffed panther.

Okay.....he's just so cute (and naughty)!

You can't put a price on a night out.......

(well, actually you can!)

Dinner: $24 (and we even shared a plate)
Parking: $5
Movie: $9.50 (we used a $10 gift certificate I won at BUNCO)
Babysitter: $25
Five hours away from the cares of parenthood and the fact that we are unemployed, the ability to converse without being interrupted every five seconds (unless you count the waiter), and an opportunity to rekindle a stress/tension filled relationship in need of SERIOUS nurturing: PRICELESS!

I had a girls night planned for last night but canceled when Rob suggested we go out together instead. Things have been TAD BIT stressful around here and life has been taken way too seriously. We needed time away! So we found a sitter (already having filled our grandparent quota for the month) and headed out for the night. We tried to forget the fact that we are unemployed, are moving in with Rob's parents in two weeks, and really should not be spending any money and just enjoyed ourselves. We had such a good time. Just like the good old days!

We learned a few things..............#1 Sometimes money can be well spent even if it is on frivolous things, #2 We ARE still friends and love being together, and #3 Our lives are NOT coming to an end (even if it feels like it)..........we've just hit a rough patch, but we'll make in through as long as we do it TOGETHER!

Deep......I know.

Eventually we had to come back to the real world...........

Le Sigh.....

but at least the kids were already in bed.......fast asleep! :)

Can't get better than that!

Being a working mother is hard...........

and I only work 2 hours a week (Okay, that is not entirely true. I do put in a few hours of prep time as well, but only get PAID for 2 hours).

I don't know how all y'all do it! More power to those of you that HAVE to work a 40 hr and actually make it work. I have a hard enough time not neglecting my kids as it is.

I do love my job though. Especially now that MY classes are MY classes and I can do with them WHATEVER I want. It is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. Literally! I get three times the workout, I get to listen to a lot of awesome music, and hang out with some really fun girls while I am at it.

Besides, how many people get to work out at work instead of complaining about not having time to "fit in" a workout because of work.

I'm sure with a few lesson's of "life balancing" I will be able to do a bit better.

I am working on it though......I find that the less time I spend on the computer.....the more I get done that NEEDS to be done.

Hhhmmmm...........thought provoking.............I guess I should go now................

Praying for Chuck E Cheese

Our kids are really quite funny (be sure to check out the last post as well).

Our kids have been DYING to go to Chuck E Cheese for a LOOOOONG time.

We've had to tell them over and over again that we can't go because "Daddy doesn't have a job" but have promised that as soon as Rob secures employment that is first on our "to do" list.

So....Cael (insisting on praying by himself) has included Chuck E Cheese in his prayers.

They go something like this:

"Heavenly Father, thank you day, pray Daddy get job, thank you for day, we go Chuck Cheese, Heavenly Father, we go Chuck Cheese, have no bad dreams, we go Chuck Cheese, Daddy get job, have no bad dreams, go Chuck Cheese, Daddy get job".............sometimes he eventually ends it. And sometimes......

.....he starts all over again. It can be a very long process.

The other day Rob brought up a good point. He said, "When I FINALLY do get a job and we FINALLY get to take the boys to Chuck E Cheese, I don't think Cael will have anything more to pray about. What will he say?"

Good point, Rob. What WILL he say?

I guess we will have to find a new focus for him. I have a few brainwashing techniques I'd like to try.

Maybe........"Bless me that I can be nicer to my brothers, and obedient to my mommy and daddy, and not scream like a banshee for any and every little thing that may or may not happen to me at each and every moment of the day."

Hey.....one can hope. Maybe it will work.

On the "job search" note,

Rob is still searching.

Thanks for everyone who fasted with us today. We felt your support and prayerst and whole heartedly appreciate it.

Rob does have two job interviews this week and 4-5 more in the wake (3 or 4 of which are government jobs which means what?...........................a long wait and a lot of patience).

He is going to try to find a temp job or any job for that matter (Albertson's here we come) in the mean time.

Rob's parents have graciously offered their home to us in the event that we have not found a "enough money to support your family" kind of job in the next three weeks. They are willing to give up their own bedroom to make us more comfortable. We could not be more grateful for their willingness to take us in for a short time.

Either way we will be moving out of our rented house by the end of the month. We hope by then Rob will have secured employment and we will be able to find another house in our ward to rent. We like our callings and would hate to uproot the kids more than we have to (including removing Gabe from his school/teacher/friends).

I guess only the Lord knows what lies ahead. We know whatever happens will be for our good (whether or not it almost kills us) and we will be able to get through it and be stronger for it.

Wish us luck and if you remember to, throw a prayer heavenward for us. We could really use it.

Kids.....such concrete thinkers!

Several months ago (in fact, over a year....I think) we were attending Stake Conference out in Spokane Valley. As we were getting out of the car, Gabe asked "what that tall thing [was] (pointing to a large water tower (which Spokane Valley is covered with))? Before Rob or I could answer, one of Rob's favorite young men's leaders, who is known for his teasing, told Gabe that it was full of hot chocolate. Gabe protested, saying that there couldn't be hot chocolate in there but with 2 hours of persistent reassuring from said young men's leader, Gabe was convinced.

So.....today as we were driving out to the "valley" to watch the Super Bowl with Rob's parents, Cael spots one of these water towers (a big silver one with red and blue stripes around the middle) and says, "Look Gabe, It's a space ship." He repeated it several times while Gabe persisted with a "no, no, no, no, no," until Gabe finally said, "NO CAEL, IT'S NOT A SPACE SHIP........THERE'S HOT CHOCOLATE IN THERE."

Seriously......after all this time he STILL believes that they store hot chocolate in those things.

Funny, funny kid.

Gabe is SO concrete in his thinking and will believe ANYTHING he is told (as long as it doesn't come from Rob or I).

I can just see him 10 years from now dragging his high school buddies up the ladder, on a cold winters night with a promise of "the worlds best hot chocolate."

Hopefully he figures it out before then.

Otherwise he, and they, will be SORELY disappointed.