Saying Goodbye...

Well, it finally happened. Our wonderful friend, Red, has finally with a clunk and a grind given out. From my extremely limited understanding of such things, basically the pieces keeping the frame, engine, and drive axles connected broke in the back of the car (there are only 2 points of the car where these are placed: the front and back of the axle/drive line?). We finished everything, watching as our poor old car was badly hauled up on a flat bed tow truck (literally, the tow truck driver that was loading the car had a J-hook slip the first time he tried which sent the car rolling off the back of the truck and into the road...fortunately the light behind us was red so there weren't any cars in the path of disaster; the second attempt he didn't pay attention when we told him that the car wouldn't turn properly such that the right side of the car was hanging off the bed entirely; the third time he nearly lost the car completely as the J-hook was only attached to the front axle which was the only thing keeping the car frame and such all attached and it started to slip just as he was getting the whole thing in place properly...ugh, I know who I won't call if I get stuck but want to keep the car!). The last sight of the car was as it was being "taken for a ride" to the "great scrap heap" at the west end of town.

The truth is that I'm sad to see the car go. Big surprise, I know, but considering that we've had that car outlast us for much longer than any other we've ever owned, fits us all in without fighting the kids' seats, plus allows room to move stuff almost like a van or truck...I miss my car! It was 18 years old, with all the problems that come with age and more than 200,000 miles, but it pulled us through a lot...everything from family trips over many canyons and deserts, 3 kids, 3 moves, college, and all that comes with a busy family life. We miss you, Red!

I'm baaaack!

Yep, I know. It took us awhile, but we finally had a little cash so we went down to D.I. and lucked out the first try. We are now the lucky, proud owners of a brand new, very used, humongous monitor...which works. We figured even if it conks out in 2 or 3 weeks, it was a good deal as we got it for 5 bucks. So one way or the other, for better or worse, I'm back online. Now, to actually figure out more about what I'm doing...

Yeah, wish me luck!

bad news...

So, I have to apologize. It is going to be while before I can post many updates as our monitor completely fried so I don't have regular access to a computer at the moment. Hopefully we'll be able to get a replacement soon, but as expensive as they are...wish us luck. If anyone hears of anything (like a used sale or someone selling their for $25 or so) let us know. Or just give us a call...I love phone calls! I'll post as soon as I'm able to get back online!

Yikes!

So, I walked out to the living room a couple of days ago to find that Caelen wanted to be "fancified" (his term, not mine). Apparently, he had gone in and grabbed the comb. When he came out to ask me to fix his hair, Tia was the only one around. So he asked Tia to "fix him up"...that way he was fancy enough to see Grandma and Grandpa (my parents were here in the valley for a couple of days). The crazy thing: it really worked! He actually held still while she played to her little hearts content!

First Day of School

Ok, ok, I know. I'm lousy about posting on a regular basis. But I do try and update when we have news, at least! I'll try and make it up to you!

The biggest thing we've had lately has been that 2nd grade started for Tia August 20th. She was soo excited, I deliberately waited to tell her when the actual day was coming just to keep things on a more even keel. Plus we didn't have any money to go shopping for school clothes until the weekend before anyway. So (once everyone got past the worst of illnesses and bad schedules), my sisters Brittany, Ashley, and I took Tia to the mall (heaven forgive us!) and went looking for clothes that were reasonably priced and still looked good. Of course, the clothes that I found Britt didn't like, and the ones she found I thought were cute but I liked the other ones better. But, like the greatly intelligent adults that we are, we left the ultimate decision to the 6 year old! And wouldn't you believe it...she picked the clothes I liked! I knew she was my daughter!



These are pictures that I swiped from Ashley's blog that are too fun. The "food" is actually playground equipment inside the mall for tired out moms who just need to let their kids go crazy...or go crazy with the kids. Something like that.


I had the devil of a time getting her to look at the camera at the same time as not do a "cutsey pose". So here is one cutsy, and one of what she really looked like that morning!



Since then, she has been increasingly busy with schoolwork and friends. Her teacher (the couple of times I've been able to meet her which were before and immediately after school) seems really nice, and she has a good reputation with the parents I've spoken with. Plus she doesn't have as much homework that is assigned each night, which helps. As luck would have it, 2 other kids from our ward are also in her school class. So she already knew a few kids, and now my little social butterfly is expanding her "group" daily. It sure has been fun to see her excitement as her world expands! And oh, my! All the new books that she is starting to get interested in! Can you believe that she wants to start in on the Narnia Chronicles? I didn't think she'd start trying those for another year at least!

Now I just need to find a way to occupy the boys while she is gone...they really do look to her for all the entertainment around here! I guess us boring parents are just going to have to work on that...