Our trip

I actually wrote this last Saturday but I was waiting to get some pictures to post. But I lost my camera on the trip. So no pictures from the trip. I've cried probably 3 times since I figured out that its gone.

We got back from Arizona on Thursday night. We left Sunday afternoon, and his interview was on Monday morning. In Chase's words "it was the worst interview I've ever had". He said they would ask him a question and he just couldn't think to answer. So on Tuesday we heard back that he wasn't invited back for the 2nd interview. We hung out in Phoenix on Tuesday, going to the big Children's Museum and the Sea Life Aquarium. They were both amazing. It was really fun. After that we left to drive to Snowflake and stayed there on Wednesday. We left about 12:30 Utah time on Thursday and when we stopped for dinner in Kanab I accidental locked the keys in the car. So we had a longer stop then we planned, but we were able to call someone and get back on the road to be home by 11:00. Collin woke up on Friday morning and as I followed him upstairs he said "lets go get in the car..." I laughed and said we didn't have to go in the car anymore.

Collin is awesome

Only update about Arizona: we figured out that if Chase were to go interview for the job in Arizona he would have to quit his job here since its not likely that he could get a week off work right now. To be honest we're stuck in a hard place- does he quit his job which is not something he loves and does not make enough to go interview for a job that he may not get?

On to Collin. We've been doing some potty training here and there, but yesterday was the day. We had finished our last box of diapers and decided that he was ready. So we pulled out the underwear and did it. Yesterday he had 1 major accident and 2 little ones. Today- clean underwear all day. For real. No accidents. And by the end of the day he was running to the bathroom, I didn't even have to ask him. It was a good day for Collin. I'm sure we'll have our moments- church, store, car... but he's doing good.

Landon still isn't sleeping. Its really....fun...

Arizona

Today Chase got an e-mail from The University of Phoenix asking him to come in for a face-to-face interview. With such short notice, if he can work it out with his schedule at work then we'll be driving out there on Sunday night for his interview on Monday morning.

One good thing is we would be by Chase's family.

I'm trying to process this without thinking about it too much until I know for sure if he will get the job. So many things would change.

Sometimes I am totally lost as far as what the Lord has in mind. I wish I was better at just following and not really knowing what was going on...

Just a little list

I thought I'd just make a little list of things I'm loving about life right now:

1- Collin has decided he needs to say the blessing and his prayers by himself. So he says "Heavenly Father....(long pause).... thank you for Jesus....(long pause, at which time I usually say "thank thee for the food").... NO MOMMY. I say it. Heavenly Father....(long pause).... thank you for Jesus....(long pause, Collin: you help me Me: thank thee for the food)... NO MOMMY. I say it. Heavenly Father....(you get it. usually we either just say amen or he lets me help him)

2-Collin came in our room this morning at 7:30 and started talking with Landon. He and Landon totally get a kick out of each other now.

3-When we are driving in the car Landon and Collin just sit in the back seat and laugh and laugh at each other. Unless Landon starts crying, at which time Collin starts yelling "HE NEEDS HIS PLUG" and covers his ears.

4-Collin loves to drum, and he has several pairs of "drum sticks" (chop sticks) that are randomly strone around the house. He actually has really good rhythm and will drum and sing Once There Was a Snowman or letters or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

5-Yesterday in the car on the way home from my brothers wedding Collin started singing a song he made up. It went "I love you...I love you...I love you...I love you."

6-I could listen to Landon coo and babble to himself all day. He will let me lay him on the floor and put a few toys by him and he will just roll around and talk.

7-Landon LOVES to eat. There are very few things that will make Landon cry as hard as he will when he finishes his food and is still hungry. I'll have to video it cause its kind of funny.

:)

I've lost my wisdom...

My last two wisdom teeth were removed this morning. We waited to take the top ones out because they hadn't grown in enough and it would have been way more invasive. Truthfully, even though I'm feeling pretty gross because I can't eat very much and medicine usually makes me feel yucky and my jaw is way sore, I'm actually in a lot less pain then I have been for the last 3 weeks. Now that the tooth is not pushing on the rest of my teeth I feel a ton better. Hopefully it will heal fast and I'll be feeling good really soon.

A plus to Chase not having a job yet- he was able to go with me this morning and watch the boys all day so I could rest.

Taking time

I know my last post- and maybe a little of this one- has been depressing. I promise I'm not really too depressed, just a little worried. When I get worried I tend to notice all the things that are going wrong...

I had a busy day yesterday, trying to get the house clean and do dishes and fold laundry, then put it away, and vacuum when no one is napping, and such. As I was doing all this I walked into the room and noticed Collin sitting on the floor reading to himself. Now, this is not a bad thing. Except I realized that it had been a long time since I had taken the time to read him a book. Yesterday I was reading something about babies and realized that I have probably sung to Landon 3 or 4 times in his whole life. Both of these things made me sad. I realized that Collin got so much time with me when he was little because he needed it. I sang to Collin all the time. But I don't sing to Landon because he is so much less needy. I used to read to Collin all the time but I don't as much anymore because I'm trying to get Landon in bed so that I can get Collin to bed.

I really don't feel like I am a clean freak. I go days having clean clothes in baskets or folded and waiting to be put away. But I know that I could use my time better after the kids are asleep doing a lot of this stuff so that I could spend more time with them when they are awake.

So today I sang to Landon. And read a book with Collin.

I'm a little dramatic

I'm a little dramatic, I know. I know there are people in situations worse then us. We have family who is helping us, and we are not starving. Chase has only been out of work for 2 weeks, which is not very long compared to a lot of people.

Its getting harder and harder not to give into the fear I feel every time I think about the bills that are due. I'm trying so hard to have faith, and to hold on tight to the feeling of peace I get when I pray about Chase getting a job. Chase is trying so hard to find a job. On average he applies for about 4 jobs a day. He's only heard back from one and when he found out more about the company, he found that he couldn't take the job.

I guess I'm just a little more worried tonight then I have been. I aways thought how nice it would be to have Chase around more. And it is nice. I just wish we knew when the next paycheck was coming.

2nd post

1st new post below)
We decided to do a huge day of fun yesterday. It started in the morning by going to the zoo. It was really fun. I'm not one who likes to go to public places on Saturday as I don't really like crowds and people and that is when everyone goes. But it wasn't as bad as I expected, and we got to go to the bird show so it was really fun.


This is on the train ride at the zoo.

Then after we went and picked my mom up and rode the Heber Creeper. Its a train ride that is about an hour and a half and goes by Deer Creek. Its really slow- hence the creeper part. The best part was on the ride back the train stops suddenly and we're just sitting there when all the sudden a guy walks in dressed as a cowboy. He starts yelling- "Put your hands in the air" and such and shots a cap gun. Collin looks at me and just starts screaming. The guy told him not to cry and gave him a chocolate coin. He cried the whole time until the guy left. Finally Chase helped him open the coin and he started getting excited. He won't stop talking about how scared he was and how he started crying. But all in all he seemed to really like it. I took more pictures of him by the train and will post those later.

This last video is how Collin says root beer. When he first learned the word he said it correctly, and then one day he started saying it with added syllables. We don't know why. He also says openmeal instead of oatmeal. Also, I don't know why. Its pretty funny though.

(

Busy Busy day(s)

We finally got some stuff done around the house.
Here is my mom's room- all the big stuff is finished. Now she just needs to get a few more storage units and some pictures on the wall and everything will be done. Chase took a full day and laid my mom's floor for her in her room.

My mom found this desk on KSL and painted it to match her dark brown/black color scheme.

This is her bathroom. She found this TV stand and had her contractor turn it into a vanity.

The tile she used is beautiful. This bathroom turned out really nice.

She has a rug that will go on the floor right there- its outside at the moment.

My mom was having a book group here on Wednesday last week so we tried to get a bunch of stuff done. The top two pictures is what it used to look like:

This is what it looks like now. We extended the back storage shed and painted it

We painted the whole back porch area a cream color

And we painted the covered deck white. We also got my mom a patio set, so its really nice to be able to just go and sit out there or eat dinner out there. It took a long time since there was a lot to be painted and we had to do 2 coats- primer and paint. Me, Kim, Chase, and my mom all helped with the painting.

Chase says this is a normal day at our house. Landon actually loves Collin, he smiles every time he comes into the room and he loves to watch Collin ride his bike and play outside, which is nice. It makes it so both boys are entertained at once :)

ER again anyone?

So on Thursday around 3:00 we gave Collin a few cashews not thinking much of it because he was tested for tree nuts and did show any reaction. By 7:3o his face was purple and swollen but he wasn't having a hard time breathing. So we gave him some benadryl and waited. By 8:30 it was getting worse so I called the after hours clinic who told me there was nothing they could do. So we brought him to the ER, where they gave him some medicine and said we needed to keep him on benadryl for the next 4 days since the nuts were still in his system. No more cashews I guess. Which is sad cause he really liked them.

Other then that we have been really struggling to get Collin to stay in bed. I thought we had that problem taken care of since he has been in a toddler bed for almost 5 months now. His bed time has gotten later and later (went from 7:30 to after 9:00 now) and doesn't take a nap during the day. I have tried everything, but nothing has worked so far. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. I've tried bribing him with food, laying down with him, locking him in, and taking away his pillow, dog and teddy unless he stayed in bed. The food only lasts so long, Landon cries every time I lay down with him, the lock didn't fit on the door, and he decided if it was between his stuff and going to bed, I could have his pillow, teddy and dog. I am so tired of trying to keep him in there, and I can't get anything done anymore since the evening was my time to clean, work on the house, and do the dishes. Now I don't get into bed until after 11:30 every night and I am still waking up 2 or 3 times a night with Landon.

Anyway, I'd love to hear any suggestions that people have.

Yesterday for the 24th our ward had a parade. Collin rode his little trike, and my brother walked with him. He told me later he had a really hard time getting Collin to go out into the road to go with the parade, I guess we've taught him well. :) They had a police car lead the parade, and Collin just freaked out when he saw it. I have some other pictures and a few videos that I'm going to post on here sometime...

Busy busy

We've been pretty busy around here just trying to get things done :) I feel like that is the story of my life. I took the color code test on Tuesday and came out a yellow/red. My mom said if I took it again I would be only red. My sister said I used to be yellow. Then I had kids...

Chase is still looking for jobs. Hope something turns up soon.

Collin is crazy. He loved loved the parade. Everytime a fire truck came by he would freak out. He also loves the marching bands and dances to them practicing when he hears them in the morning so the parade was his chance to show all his good dance moves. He goes to the doctor to get his cast off on Monday. I asked him the other day if he loves his cast. He said yes and tells me all the time "I love my cast" I almost feel bad taking it away. Almost.

Landon is a total goof ball. He and Collin are getting along really well. Chase will help Landon play cars and catch with Collin, and they all love it. I feel a little left out being the only girl and all, but I'll get over it :) Landon has reached his "shrieking" stage. Its been... loud. He has his 4 month appointment on Monday so I'll update his growing then.

Our new closet shower

Thursday night I went into our bedroom about 10 minutes after hearing a small crash upstairs to find a shower in our closet. A cap on a pipe upstairs had blown off and a full pressure pipe was flooding our room. We grabbed some towels and things and figured out how to turn the water off. We used a shop vac to get most of the water out and have been using fans for the last two days. The floor is still too wet for us to move our stuff back in.

Mostly I'm just pretty tired of doing laundry. Probably 90% of Chase's clothes got wet and our sheets, and blankets. And then all our towels we used to pick up water. So I've got at least another 15 loads to do if you include our normal laundry. Yea.

The good ol' days

I found a bunch of pictures from high school, a few from junior high, and like 3 from 6th grade. I posted them on facebook if you want to take a look. They are pretty entertaining. Here are a few just to give you an idea...

Sayings

Collin often says really funny things, most of the time I don't have any idea where he picked it up. My two favorite things he says right now are:
1- when he wants me to pick him up he says "I hold you?"
2- a few days ago he drew on the walls (darn those bath crayons...) so I put him in time out. When I went back to get him a minute later he gave me a hug and said "I'm sorry for drawing on the wall mom." For real? It was so cute. Then when we walked past the wall on the way to our room he said it again. He is growing up so fast and learning so much. Its crazy.

Pictures

Red and blue for the 4th
















Here are the pictures. The two of the boys in their matching pj's I took about 2 weeks ago. They are SOOO stinkin cute. I am one lucky mom :)