Mel's Fantastical Insights

Last year we were living up in Idaho, well most of us, and were able to pick apples at Mom and Dad's house and then help make applesauce. This year, by random we were up in Idaho for the weekend at the end of the picking season and were able to help. Daniel was beyond excited, he Abby and Alice all wanted to climb into the trees with Steph and Bob. Needless to say we were not that desperate for apple pickers as to throw our small children in the trees. Only a few branches were broken off so I think we can go again next year. Jason and I celebrated our anniversary, finally, the weekend of Natalie's anniversary which apparently caused a controversy since we had already booked Grandma. Anyway, so we went to Idaho twice this month. Here is my favorite picture of all of us in Idaho Falls. The kids love the water, the geese and taking pictures. These three are adorable. Running on the newly fertilized lawn in their cute Sunday clothes. They posed for some other pictures but ...

My kids are really funny. Today we started with the battle of the bathroom. In the morning I usually have one of two battles with Daniel, one is making him go potty, the other is him eating breakfast. This morning it was both. Daniel needed to go potty which he said (not me), and that meant he had to take his pajamas off which meant he immediately got cold. Thus he proclaimed he no longer had to go to the bathroom. Seriously! Long, long, long story short. Eventually he did go potty and drink his shake for breakfast and it only took twelve minutes of screaming/crying and twenty minutes of pottying and breakfast. Then we went to story time with the Ockeys and we saw an old friend which was nice. Alice actually sat for a whole story, which was awesome. Then after story time we came home and made applesauce which was so yummy. The kids only cried for about half the time so that made things go smoothly. Eventually after two sinks full of dishes I took a nap while Daniel watched...

We love summer weather and we spend a lot of time outside. To prove this, the other day, I was on the phone while we were outside and I turned around and saw Alice dressed like this. Apparently I weed enough that the kids know how to dress for it. Daniel started preschool. Knowledge Explorers Preschool has been a great place for him. He loves going and this is a picture of his first day. Some of the kids were hesitant while Daniel just ran inside and never looked back. Although he usually is the kid trying to beat the door down when it is over trying to get out. So far his favorite things are that they get to cut, he learns new songs, and he always wants to make sure that Alice and I miss him. Alice and I get an amazing amount of work done while he is gone and Alice is even starting to talk a little more, so what are the odds. Do you ever spend a lot of time telling your kids what not to do? We yell at our kids all the time to sit on their butts at the table. We kept telling ...

So our X Box broke. We got the red ring of death, and the kids cried. Jason immediately announced we were buying a new one but it will have to wait. See the problem with losing the xbox is that we don't have cable, satellite, or anything else that plays DVDS. All of our viewing entertainment comes through that machine. It was kind of sad. At first I was really grateful because most of me hates the TV. Then there is that part of me that loves the TV because my kids and husband love the TV and it makes it easy if I need to do something they will just sit there and get mushy brains. Today I thought I would absolutely go nuts without the TV. Alice and Daniel both woke up with runny noses and I needed to keep canning tomato sauce. But oddly enough we made it through the day, with no TV, fewer fits, and 11 more pints of pasta sauce ready to store in the pantry. So I guess we can survive without it, and hopefully tomorrow still goes well. Alice tried to turn on the TV, I told h...

I cannot believe that so much time has passed. Obviously we have done more than just sit around the house. We went camping with all of us Daniels in July. I am sure I have pictures of Alice and Dax looking like coal workers somewhere. We spend a lot of time outside playing in the yard and weeding. Jason started a new job and so far things are going really well. We miss him now that he doesn't work from home, but not enough to want him back everyday. He and I have amended our lifestyle (we went on a diet) and both have lost a lot of weight so that has been nice. Being healthier and having more energy is nice when having young terrorizing children. Daniel starts preschool in two weeks and I am so excited for him to have this opportunity and for him to be someone else's problem for two hours twice a week. He can be challenging. Alice is still grumpy, hates people a little less, and is really cute. She loves to wipe up her tray when she is all done eating which is awesom...

Now that it is officially July I guess I should finally post something. I am not sure why I have such a hard time updating my blog as of lately but something tells me it is the small children constantly screaming in my house that make it hard. June went by quick. We had some fun garden adventures like watching the sunflower seeds come up, and then watching Alice crush them all with her tiny size 3 shoes. We went to Hawaii which in a nut shell was fun but one always is left wondering is it worth the travel. Daniel claims yes, Jason and I claim no. If I recall that is what we also claimed last time yet we ended up there again anyway. Alice loved the beach and enjoyed dumping sand on all things. I found a sand dollar which was awesome and we saw turtles and seals so Daniel loved it. He now officially loves his aunts and calls them that as if they are just a group, no individuals. Alice is a pain, loud, messy and stuck to her routine like glue. Here is a classic meal time with Ali...

Mom sent me this dress for Alice. It is beautiful, the picture is bad but hopefully you can get the idea.   Daniel loves Alice. He kept telling me that he looked handsome and he tells Alice she is so pretty. It is really precious.   Mom also gave her these cute pjs which she loves. My mother in law gave her some pjs with Disney princesses on it which she also loves but there are no pics of those yet.   Anyone else love that snow today? Anyone else loose a garden? Daniel just sloshed through the snow and had a blast. He kept hoping that the snow would be so bad that he would have to help Dad shovel the drive way. I am kind of glad that it never happened.