Theft of Power

About noon I looked out the kitchen window and saw this...

The fence was missing some slats. As I looked closer I saw an extension cord running through the fence and plugged into our house. Excuse me. There was nothing on the other side that I could see, but with my boot there was no way I was going to trapse through the muddy yard to check it out. I called Nate who told me to unplug it and see if anyone came to find out why they lost power. Kayla unplugged it for me, and we locked the doors to wait. Nate called back saying he'd just gotten off the phone with Tooele county dispatch. They were sending somebody over. The police officer said there was a really nice Ryobi (?spelling?)table saw plugged in and sitting on the sidewalk. He took the cord and saw with him saying the situation was very suspicious. The girls didn't know what to think of a policeman being at the house. Under his breath he said if we'd put them in our garage and just waited or even then called the police, they would have been ours to keep. But I didn't hear that from him...

What kind of person feels the need to take apart someone's fence, plug in a table saw, and leave the area?
Do you think anyone will ever come looking for it?

Our Two Little Princesses

The girls love to play outside. Since we have no grass they play in their castle. At first they would just play on the patio and come in nice and clean. Now they have ventured into sidewalk chalk and digging in the dirt. We have jackets that don't get hung up with the rest because they are so dirty, and shoes that are forever engrained with dirt and mud. And it is definately worth it because the girls have sooooo much fun!!!

Water Softener

I must say I am so grateful to have a Mr. Fix-it husband. Nathan installed a new water softener this weekend after first plumbing the house for it. It is so nice that he can and is willing to do things around the house. (Picture is courtesy of Makayla.)

Easter Dresses

When I broke my foot and came to spend a few days in Pocatello, I had planned on going home Saturday. Nate ended up working, and we decided I'd better stay until I could get a cast or boot put on. We ended up being in Poky thru Sunday. My mom spent Saturday searching for Easter dresses and shoes (even though it was winter outside I didn't want to invest in anything except easter clothes). After a few trips back to the store for different sizes, she got these cute dresses and matching shoes. The girls felt like princesses. The Easter Bunny even got in on the action bringing matching flowers for their hair. It was so cute to see them holding up their dresses while they walked. You'd have thought they were going to the prom, not church.

Easter Morning

The easter bunny found us even in Idaho. The girls loved hunting for eggs and baskets.

Baker Nate

I was in charge of dessert for Sunday. After much deliberation we decided fruit pizza's sounded delicious with all the fruit coming into season. At 10pm Saturday I started making the cookies. My foot was sore from a day of playing so I was trying to stay sitting down. Nate started laughing and told me he'd take over rolling the cookies out. First he rolled GF and then regular cookies. He finished at 11:59. Thank you Nate!!!

Decorating Easter Eggs

I got great video of the easter egg hunt on Saturday, but I was relying on everybody elses pictures-so please make me a copy. I did however get pictures of dying the eggs. The kids loved coloring on the eggs and making fun designs.


What do you get when you combine a 2 year old and hard boiled eggs?

Thankfully much less mess than combining a 2 year old and raw eggs.

What a day!

So we come back from a crazy but fun weekend in Pocatello to a freezing house-apparently it's a little early in the year to completely turn the heat off. A few extra sweatshirts and blankets and we were able to go to sleep. No problem.
Today the girls were playing in their castle on the back patio and drawing with chalk. I took a load to easter stuff to the bedrooms to put away, and then I decided I needed to pay a visit to the little girl's room. When I came out I found a waterfall in my brand new kitchen. Allison had come inside, pushed a kitchen chair up to the fridge, and was trying out the water on the fridge door. Problem was she didn't have a cup. She thought it was pretty cool to see it splash to the floor. After almost falling, I grabbed her which ended the waterfall. Then Makayla and I got to spend a good 30-45 minutes soaking up the floor. I asked Kayla why she didn't come get me. Her reply, "She was having fun." Help!!!

Sleepy Girl

Tuesday night we were eating dinner when Allison's head started to droop. She knew she was falling asleep but couldn't stop giggling. Nate grabbed the camera and started rolling. Every time I try to upload videos it freezes my computer, but I'm gonna try.

St. Patrick's Day!

Green! Green! Green! That was the theme for dinner on St. Patrick's Day! We had green muffins and green scrambled eggs. The girls thought it was great. We even used green cups. The GF muffins turned out a nice pretty spring green, but Nate's apple muffins green resembled something that shall remain nameless...

Talk about Spoiled

The main side of the basement is a giant open room. Since outside there's a lot of mud and big construction vehicles around, the girls get to ride their bike, scooter, and car in the basement. How many kids will ever get to do that?
Until we get a backyard, the little tikes house is also down there. They love it!

Our New House!

We are in our beautiful new home. I know I said I wasn't going to post pictures and that you had to come see the house yourself, but I couldn't resist posting moving in. We signed Wednesday March 12th at 8am. Afterwards we hurried to the rental to load Nate's work truck while the cleaning crew finished up at the house. We unloaded-I mean Nate unloaded the truck and van while I sat in my computer chair and wheeled around unloading what I could in the kitchen. Bert and Darla showed up at the rental as Nate was just finishing taking apart the beds. They loaded the truck, van, and car for another trip. At the house everything was unloaded, blinds finished hanging, beds put together, quick dinner, run to Home Depot for one more blind, and off to bed. Nate arranged to go into work late so that he and his dad could make another run in the morning for the dressers.
Then Thursday night my parents came to help. We spent Friday putting my dad to work hanging curtains, and hauling stuff around while Mom and I worked on the kitchen and bedrooms. Friday night the ward was supposed to be there to help at 6pm. By 6:45 I was on the phone with a member of the bishopric pleading for help. Within minutes we had a total of 8 people hauling including Dad and Nate. It made the job go much more smoothly. A few volunteered to come back Saturday to help gather the remaining stuff.
Saturday only one guy showed up from the new ward, but he quickly got on the phone-while hauling-and got some more help. You know, moving is definately easier with help.
Monday poor Nathan went back to the rental to clean it quickly. He knew I'd been on my foot way too much and was in a lot of pain. He refused to let me go and even took the girls to play. I was left in a quiet house with orders not to move from my chair. I tried to listen... A few boxes just unpacked themselves:)


This is a picture of our first lunch in the new home. Makayla and Allison enjoyed eating like this, I think they'd rather the table never showed up.

Bert helped put a few things on the plant shelf in the front room.

Super Makayla!!! Kayla has been such a helper. She loves to try and carry whatever she can. The girls have been playing together so well. I really appreciate having such good girls-most of the time.

Hauling my scrapbook cupboard down to await a finished room in the basement.

Here's Dad hauling and one of the guys from the new ward. Thanks for all the help everyone!!!

By Saturday I had really overdone things and was stuck in a chair new the front door to direct traffic. Might I suggest not breaking any bones when you're about to move-or anytime really. It is really inconvenient, not to mention painful.

Closing Date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The number of exclamations may clue you in to the excitement we are feeling at finally having an actual closing date, Wednesday, March 12th at 8am. Anybody who feels a desire to help, come on down. We'll be here or there all week. Nate will be hauling. I'll be loading and unloading boxes. Two little girls will be running and playing and getting into everything trying to help. It will be a blast.

Makayla is finally discovering food

As most of you know Makayla has always been a difficult child to feed. She was diagnosed with a severe sensory feeding disorder when she was only 11 months old. Well, we've been following our instincts and the therapists ideas and we've been moving along at a snail's pace. Recently though I think Makayla has gotten sick of her standbys. She's been more willing to try new foods although she seldom takes more than one bite, even one often results in severe gagging. We've also been reading Bread and Jam for Francis- an excellent book for picky eaters. Saturday she was given the normal choice of which of the new foods was she going to try. She chose tomato and barely kept from throwing up on me. Then once she saw all of us eating refried beans she wanted some. She actually ate a spoonful by dipping chips in them.
Yesterday I made a roast for dinner in the crock-pot. As the yummy smells filled the house I bragged it up quite a bit. When Nate was cutting it she asked for a piece before we'd even sat down. "Delicious. Can I have more?" His jaw dropped as he fumbled to get her more before she changed her mind. She ate every bite on her plate at dinner.
Today I was making a white sauce for creamed tuna fish for dinner when Kayla came running down the stairs. She saw the tuna can sitting on the counter. "I want some," stuck her hand in and grabbed a pinch. Then said, "Yum," and grabbed some more. I was still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor when she decided it was kind of...strong. I explained I was going to add it to the milk I was cooking to make it taste not so strong. She ate two pieces of toast with the creamed tuna over top. Hallelujah! The peas she thought might kill her, but hey what a week.

My Birthday

"Happy Day Mommy! Happy Day Mommy!" That's been the cute song going around our house lately. I had a fun birthday on Sunday. I received lots of birthday wishes-with the exception of a certain sister who shall remain nameless... Nathan and the girls made a cake all by themselves. Imagine the setting. Me stuck in my chair but within easy hearing distance of the kitchen. Nate who is not used to cooking, let alone baking a gluten free cake. Two little girls anxious to help and trying to add ingredients before Daddy is ready. I was laughing. Nate was trying not to use his angry voice. The cake turned out delicious. Instead of getting the mixer out again and attempting frosting, they sprinkled powdered sugar on top. It was YUMMY!
I got a bouquet of balloons from the girls (Makayla saw the big flower when they walked into Walmart and she knew what they were buying.) I also got a new camera bag to replace the one Allie puked all over (FYI It wouldn't even come out in the washing machine.) It was filled with some chocolates the girls opened in the grocery store and Daddy had to go back and get some more. Nate later said he figured I could get some stuff for the new house but I had to pick it out myself. Can you imagine he didn't want to?

Everybody Blow

Balloons

It's a new camera bag.

If you look closely at this card Makayla drew-it's a picture of me with my crutches.

My Boot

The girls thought it would be fun to try on my beloved boot. Well, at least they liked it...

Update March 5, 2008

Is anyone else as sick of my foot as I am? I guess maybe Nate since he is now a maid/cook/bottlewasher for three girls. He has been WONDERFUl!!! We've also had some much appreciated help from friends. Thanks especially to Allie and Kim. Anyway, I'm now able to start putting my foot down when I walk, very gently mind you. I don't know if it's too soon, but I'm sick of hopping. Nate also put together a barstool we bought for the new house. It has made it possible for me to be able to sit in the kitchen and cook some. I also have a computer chair in the kitchen that I use for rolling around. The girls think it's pretty funny. Makayla has been especially helpful in carrying things and being my gofer. Of course, I have to be careful and ask Allie to help too or else we end up with fights over who is going to get it or do it. It's great to be loved. Both have been enjoying their new freedom with Mom not able to constantly chase them around the house. Allie has had her hand in the cookie jar a few times. And the upstairs looks like a disaster zone every night when Daddy comes home. We've boxed up most the books and toys, but they manage to make a mess with simple things like socks and underwear (which I'm thinking we can't box up yet) or crackers (that they sneak out of the pantry) or hair things scattered like seeds on our green carpet. Whoever said kids need toys to have fun?
In case you haven't heard our moving has been postponed. We now don't get to close until sometime next week. We've got the uhaul and both Elder's quorem's scheduled for loading Friday night and unloading Saturday morning. We're hoping to use the time between getting the keys and Friday to hang blinds and curtains, and take as much stuff over as possible-preferably the fragile stuff. We're also hoping to get the beds over sometime during the week at which point we'll start sleeping there. (It won't be very fun if they are stuck in the truck with all of our stuff Friday night.) Our walk through is tomorrow-wish us luck on having no major problems.