FREE SNICKERDOODLE

We decided...okay actually I demanded...that we take a family get a way this weekend. So while we were soaking up some sun in a fabulous cottage in Park City...our adorable Golden Doodle, Snickerdoodle, (cute name huh...I made that one up myself) was costing us more money than we could have imagined.

We arrived home Sunday afternoon to find the dogs had dug a hole to China and escaped. We hoped they were just playing in the mountains...but they weren't. They ventured up to some homes way up the mountain from us. Evidently, they chased a poor defenseless squirrel or other cute animal into the engine of a car. They fought so hard to get that animal that they scratched...dented...chewed on and defamed the front of a new car.

We couldn't have even imagined how a dog could do all that damage until we saw it ourself. How does a dog chew up a car...beats me...all I know he is going to cost us thousands of dollars to repair it.

So that already expensive get-a-way to Park City cost us at least $2K more on the back end.

ANYONE WANT A GOLDEN DOODLE. HE MAKES A GREAT DANCE PARTNER!!

I Do Like My KIDS!!!

Well it's not exactly freedom when you only send 2 of your 5 kids off to school...but boy what a difference it makes having less kids at home. I didn't yell or fly off the handle once...and I decided I really do like my kids 1 on 1...its just the masses that overwhelm me.

I played games, blocks, puzzles and cards with Riley. I am ashamed to say that we haven't played alone together all summer. She just loved the personal attention. She is my feisty one but she is really adorable when its all about her. Avery was napping and it was perfect. But watch out...she is way too good at the memory game for a 3 year old. She was beating me and I was really trying.

After only 1 day at her new preschool (which she goes 2 FULL days a week....YAY me!!!) her teacher said that is one smart girl. She is going to an awesome preschool...nice clean facilities, actually has a curriculum, spacious clasess with small teacher ratio, check your license each day as you pick up your child. I expect great things this year with her and hope she mellows out as she now has kids to play with 2 days a week. Hey I am having to pay $300+ to buy her friends but it is worth it.

One day last winter...I called M in hysterics and said "It is either her or I...but someone has to GO." She won!!! She gets to go learn, color, create and play all day. I still get to cook, clean, and answer to a little one. But look out 2010...I need to ask if I can enroll Avery now for 2010. Hey don't want to miss getting her in.

A Year Full of Smiles and Hopes.

Reagan bounced off the 1st grade today. She was pacing the drive way for 30 minutes waiting for the other 5 of us to hurry up. I barely got my teeth brushed and lipstick on before I finished dolling up the girls for their 1st day of school. Even though only 2 started today...Riley demanded the same coiffuring and we couldn't leave Avery left undone. So while spraying hair as we jumped in the car...we headed off to what will hopefully will be an AWESOME year for Reagan.

She is so excited to have a bunch of kids in her class that she knows from church. She had the biggest toothless grin plastered on her face all morning. Her nickname that her Papa gave her came flooding back to me...SMILEY. She has always smiled with her whole face. Her eyes almost disappear as she grins. It also reminded me that my own mother and sister worried that something was wrong with her for the 1st 2 years of her life...since she smiled too much.

But off she goes to a full day of school!! Hallelujah!! Something that I should have had last year if we were still in Texas. So after enduring a terrible year of romper room like activities and half day shenanigans...we have finally graduated to a"Higher level of Learning".

I am giving it one more year...I hope this is the year she just takes off in reading.. I hope that she is given the time and attention that is she so desperately needs...I hope that all the self confidence that she has always enjoyed comes flooding back to her as she succeeds at school.

You go my beautiful blonde haired, bubbly babe. May this be your best year yet...and if not just keep smiling...it will fool everyone. HUGS <<< >>>

Signs of Things to Come.

Madison was excited to start 5th grade. I hope she has a more productive year. Moving from Texas into the Utah school system has been quite a shock. Lets just say she learned a lot of new things but obviously had too much free time on her hands while others finished their work...she came home with incredible projects she made in all of her free time...she authored and illustrated books...made a paper purse complete with wallet, drivers license, credit cards, debit card, and the all important cell phone which actually was a flip top version. I wonder how come there was no paper dollars and coins made....maybe she has seen her Mom's wallet :D

I asked the teacher to push her more...I want to see her work... It would be nice to her have homework (which she never had last year) and maybe actually study for a test (which she doesn't understand since she made A's last year without studying). She has become a little lazy and I am afraid her boredom will get the best of her. Needless to say...we are hoping and praying they all get into a Charter School next year.

Madison got a phone call this summer from a boy named Noah. AGGGG!!!
Boy: "Hello...this is Noah XXXX. May I please speak with Madison"
Mom: "Sorry she is not home" (as I stumbled for words to say to a boy calling my daughter.)
Boy: " I am sorry to bother you...but I was wondering who her teacher was for 5th grade"(...they had only gotten their letters in the mail that day. Boy he is quick.)
Mom: "Well...she got a wonderful teacher with an awesome name...MICHELLE XXX"(...I don't think he got my joke since he had no idea my name was Michelle.) (Hubby makes me put as little info on names as possible...I guess it is the CIO in him that makes him leary of everyhting)
Boy: Pause...Pause " Well that will be just terrific. I have Ms. XXX too. Please tell her I called"

We walked this more mature daughter with longer sleeker hair, glasses less (as she decided she need contacts for 5th grade), lip glossed lips, and fully fashioned attire into class...who did I see smiling in the front row as we walked in...but Noah. He quickly looked down at his desk...I think it was when he saw her Dad walking in a few steps behind us. As we left her class I whispered to hubby to turn around and look at the boy sitting front and center..."That's Noah". I fully expected him to stare him up and down as if to say...Why are you calling my daughter...But instead he just said "Hey, at least he is good looking." Where is the concerned parent in him...do I have to do all the worrying by myself.

God's Country

I was visiting my old stomping grounds in Austin and I was chatting on the phone to Sally, the worlds biggest Longhorn fan, and the first thing she asked me was "HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK IN GOD'S COUNTRY?" You couldn't wipe the smile off my face at that thought. It is the best state in the nation.

It's not the humidity, big hair, or mosquitos that makes it great. What makes it so great are the people that live there. Friendly, proud, and true southern hospitality. I miss that the most people who smile at you when you make eye contact, men that hold the door for you as you are pushing a double stroller while trying to balance 4 drinks and a kid on your hip, small waves as you drive by whether you know them or not. And I don't mean the one finger wave that most people like to give you when you cut them off.

Thankfully my baby sister needed help decorating her first college apartment. So I was to the rescue. Wow what a set up she has. She sure is living a different life from me and my other 4 siblings who went there. No poor kids there. All the students were getting everything new...they even have a 42" flat screen. I don't even have that. I only got asked TWICE if I was her MOTHER. What..okay its time for a make over. I thought I was looking like her older hip sister...but I guess I need to look in the mirror more and see that I am approaching my late 30's. So I could technically be her MOM. YIKES!!!

Good luck LB on your year and follow your heart on what major to choose.

The lovely Bayou city, Houston was next. I packed 30 friends into 24 hours. I had great dinners with precious friends, sleepy sleepovers (thanks to Ambien). Walking into my old ward (church) was like coming home. These are the people I grew to love and helped me with my crazy life and kids. Lunch with dear neighbors... I miss having them near me every day to encourage me and help me get through life. They don't make better people than I had in Kingwood.

As I drove down Kingwood Drive to the airport...I had to wipe away my steady tears so I could see the road. I gave up so much...and it wasn't the big house,shopping, convenience and top notch schools that I missed the most...it was my relationships. I know they will always be there but it still hurts.

You can take a girl out of Texas but you can't take Texas out of the girl. I felt the need to buy some obnoxious Longhorn t-shirts and I wear them LOUD and PROUD.

Adorable AVERY

The weather cooled off alot the last few days..We barely make it to 80 degrees...That means we can go outside durning the middle of the day. Avery just loved playing in the grass that day and was laughing at Reagan who was making her giggle.

NO her eyes are not crossed. I took her to a pediatric opthamologist. She just has wide set eyes and they give the appearance of being crossed. They will look better as she gets older.

I earn a GOLD MEDAL

I have been glued to the Olympic coverage of the gymnastics like most people. I was mowing my lawn last night...okay stop laughing at that thought....and I thought I should earn a gold medal for lawn mowing. Here is a pic of the side of the mountain which is my yard. And yes I mow that all by myself. This is the front side view of our house. If you look out our front door you see nothing but mountain.
Here is another view from the top but looking down 3 stories. Our house is carved into the mountain so it is 3 levels with the enterance being on the top floor and 2 floors below. Our back door actually is on the 3rd floor.

It isn't a pretty sight while I struggle to push a mower up the 5 hills but I can do it. I may not have the speed of Michael Phelps or the grace of Nastia Liukin but I get the job done.No need to go walking tonight...I am huffing and puffing while I do it.



This is the back of our house looking up. If you look closely you can see Reagan standing at the bottom. She is barely taller than one of those rocks.


Don't laugh...I know I would have never mowed my own yard in Texas...but I am a new woman...trying to help hubby out. Well actually...I just am trying to get away from 4 whining kids. No one can bother me while I mow. No one hanging on my leg...no one screaming at me for a solid hour. So YAY ME! I get the gold medal for the hardest lawn to mow. I will have to down load the National Anthem so I can listen to it on my IPOD while I mow.

Lots of Hellos and Goodbyes

We have had a fun summer with lots of visitors from Texas. Madison has gotten to see every one of her dear friends from home.

The summer started with a visit from the
Sommer girls, Ashten and Taylor. They flew in all by themselves from Houston. The girls played, swam, hiked, did Lagoon (amusement park), saw movies and just hung out. See you again at Thanksgiving.







Next the Davis family flew in. They were recently transferred to Omman from Kingwood. But they stayed here for the summer. What a treat for Madison to hang out with Rachel many times this summer. Sleepover, Lagoon, waterparks, Hannah Montana...They

even did a hardcore gymnastics camp at BYU for 20 hours in 1 week. See you next summer.

Grandma and Pappa Hill and Lauren came in next. They got to hang with us for 5 days. I loved having my family here and realize how much I miss them back in Texas. We went to the Osmond concert, Lagoon, shopping and just had fun catching up.


Then our dear friends the Nogales came in. It was just like old times. Ryan and Madison hanging out doing crazy stuff. And Reagan and Tess playing with all the girly stuff they could find. Madison and Ryan thought it would be a good idea to race on scooters...only they forgot we live on the side of a mountain and its all downhill. Poor Ryan couldn't stop and took a hard fall as he body surfed down the asphalt. No more scooter races for us.


But along with the excited hellos are the sad goodbyes. We miss our dear Texas friends and family. Who wants to come next???