Final score- Girls 1, Boys 3!

We found out our little bean is a boy bean! He's so darn cute and it still amazes me that in a couple of months, he went from this----->

To this! ----->

Look at his cute little face! His nose looks like Dillon's did. The bottom left photo is of his two little feet. Can't wait to meet the little guy. The kids have already got a nickname for the baby. A couple of months ago, we were getting ready to leave somewhere. The kids were all in the car and apparently discussing what they'd like to name the baby. I got into the car and realized- just after they'd asked me what my opinion on the matter was- that I'd forgotten to grab the keys. When I said, "Crap! My keys!" They thought that I was suggesting that as the baby's name! Poor baby. I guess we'd better come up with a real name for him! Regardless, knowing these guys, "Crap-my-keys" will probably be a nickname of his for a long time if not forever!

When we were in the ultrasound room, the tech said, "Ok, will Annabelle be the only princess?...... YES! Its a boy!" and Annabelle shouted, "NO IT ISN'T! ITS A GIRL!" She was so mad. I can't blame her, but I'm sure once she realizes that she'll get much more attention this way, she'll get over it. ;0)

Speaking of Annabelle- last week was her first week of preschool! Does she look excited?!?



It was really one of the toughest decisions I've had to make- whether to send her to preschool this early or not. But I knew she needed something and I couldn't come up with a better solution. The school is really close to us and the days and time were perfect! She has friends from church in her class and it just seemed to be the right decision. Now, its only been a week, but James and I both have repeatedly commented on how much happier and more content she seems to be. We can see that she really just needed something that reinforced her need for a little independence. Like before she would fight us during every meal and end up not eating much, if anything, and then constantly ask for snacks afterward. Now she eats most of her meal and, though she still loves her snacks, doesn't fight us when we only offer her the healthy stuff. I know its weird that these two things - starting preschool and our "food issues"- would be that closely related, but it does seem that way, and that's just one example of many! I guess it was a good move.

Charlie-bo-barlie turned 6 last week!

I visited his classroom to deliver cupcakes and balloons. It was a lot of fun! Wouldn't you know it though, I was ONE cupcake short! Cute Charlie said he would give up his cupcake so his teacher could have one. I was so proud of him, and of course she insisted she was much to full to eat a cupcake, so he ended up getting to eat it. :)

Later that day Charlie opened his first present (legos of course) and then we all headed to Toys R Us where he got the "birthday treatment" and got to pick out another (yes, legos). He also got to pick where we went out to eat. James and I were fully expecting him to choose McDonalds, or Chuck-E-Cheese, but he said, "I want the place with the pancakes that have chocolate chip eyes!" He even got a free piece of pie! At home it was cake and ice cream (yes we all had tummy aches) and off to bed. It was super simple, but he's such a great kid. He never expects or demands anything. As long as he gets to spend time with his family and has plenty of time for his legos, he's good. :)

Here's a plane that the boys made from their legos. Its not a "set" with instructions, they just put it together themselves using pieces they had. Its a "1947 bomber." You can't see it in the photo, but underneath there are bombs that can be dropped on the enemy and a tail-gun in the back. I love my creative little guys!

This is a drawing of Charlie's that I've been meaning to scan and post.

I guess the reason why I love it so much, is because Charlie doesn't really like to draw or color. He usually only does it when he has to for school. So one day, just after we moved here, he brought this to me (kind of out of nowhere) and I just cherish it. As you can see, he's drawn the whole family - including "crap-my-keys!" SO cute.

Adventures on land and at Sea

Our recent adventures on land:

This Summer, the kids and I decided to do a series of Lemonade Stands to benefit our local animal shelter. Our friends Brynn and Aubrey helped out as well. They were able to raise $40! The nice people at the shelter gave the kids stickers and took them on a tour of the facility. They showed them where their money would go and how it would help the animals. They loved visiting all the animals and felt great about helping them out. It was a very memorable experience.



As a kind of "Last hurrah" before school started, we visited the New Children's Museum in San Diego. I had been there once before a couple of years ago and wanted to take the kids back again since. We were so pleasantly surprised at how much it had changed and improved. What a fun place for kids to get a little crazy and creative! The boys' favorite part was, of course, the bouncy tunnel!



Dillon has had trouble with climbing walls in the past, so making it to the top was a big deal for him!



They had an enormous "Trojan Horse" that the kids could climb inside.



Way more fun than at gym class!



I think this was Annie's favorite. It was a giant metal whale that you could paint. Just paint. By the end of it, they had embraced their creative freedom, ditched the brushes and were finger painting all over the whale!




Daddy is tall, so he wrote their names where no little kiddos could paint over them. ;0) tee hee



Only a child could look at their reflection with such adoration....



As you can see, coloring on the PAPER is merely a suggestion! ;0)



Alas, school had to begin sometime, and we were excited to see Charlie attend his first day of Kindergarten!




The public school system is such a mess. Casualties of the latest budget cuts are: every school funded extra-curricular program, lunch and recess aids, speech therapy, and BUSES! No buses! It has made drop-off and pick-up a nightmare. The only thing I could see to do about it was join the PTO and I am currently the secretary. I am also spending one morning a week in Charlie's class which is 32 kindergarteners, one teacher and NO AIDS! Incidentally, there is also currently no air-conditioning. It makes me somewhat excited to move on in a few months.



That being said, Charlie was adorable. I laughed so hard when I compared his "first day of school" photo with Dillon's from 3 years ago:


Adventures at sea:

On August 6th, James left for his first "underway" with the Navy aboard the USS Nimitz. He has been home only a handful of days since and won't return for a few more weeks. It has been hard. Especially when 2 days after his first departure I ended up in the hospital with a serious infection in my kidneys that turned septic. However, we've grown a lot already from this experience. We don't take things for granted as much as we used to - that's for sure.

Here are some awesome photos from aboard the ship:



The view from the flight deck of San Diego just before they left the harbor:







The ship is incredible. Its like the Empire State building (or as Charlie like to call it - the Empire Strike building) on it's side in the water. Its HUGE and just amazing to observe. If you are curious about life aboard an air craft carrier, check out this PBS show:

CARRIER



Its actually filmed on the Nimitz about 5 years ago during a deployment to Iraq. James has watched a few episodes with me and confirms that it fairly depicts what its like out there - good and bad. I watch it when I miss him. Somehow it makes me feel connected to him. ( I know.... booo hooo) ;0) You should check it out!!

BTW - speaking of James, I am so proud of you for passing your boards babe!! CONGRATULATIONS Lieutenant James D. Mathews, D.O. Its official! We're finally 100% done with all your training. No more tests for at least 7 years :) You made it. I never doubted you would. I love you! I hope you can get internet long enough to see this out there! XOXOXOX

Oh Sweet Routine

As hard as it was to let go of the freedom of those lazy Summer days, I have finally embraced the beauty of our new routine.

First day of school:



First day of Cub Scouts:

Example of a typical week:

Monday

Breakfast/ scripture study, take boys to school, work out, get ready, run errands, pick up Charlie, eat lunch, put Annabelle down for nap, do housework, catch up on emails/ orders, pick Dillon up at bus stop, fix snack, help him with homework, boys do jobs then play video games while I fix dinner, eat dinner, clean up, have FHE, bedtime/ bathtime, watch TV for a bit, then hit the sack.

Tuesday

Breakfast/ scripture study, take Dillon to school, work out, get ready, housework/ errands, eat lunch, put Annabelle down for nap, do housework, catch up on emails/ orders, pick Dillon up at bus stop, fix snack, piano lessons, homework, boys do jobs then play video games while I fix dinner, eat dinner, clean up, bedtime/ bathtime, watch TV for a bit, then hit the sack.

Wednesday crazy Wednesday

Breakfast/ scripture study, take boys to school, work out, get ready, make picnic lunches and pack up car for playgroup/ skatepark day, pick up Charlie, eat lunch, pick Dillon up at bus stop on our way to the park, playgroup/ skate time, do primary work/ catch up on emails, homework, jobs, video games, fix dinner, eat dinner, clean up, take Dillon to scouts, pick Dillon up from scouts, bedtime/ bathtime, watch TV for a bit, then hit the sack.

Thursday

Breakfast/ scripture study, take Dillon to school, work out, get ready, housework/ errands, eat lunch, (soon take Charlie to Karate), put Annabelle down for nap, do housework, catch up on emails/ orders, pick Dillon up at bus stop, fix snack, homework, boys do jobs then play video games while I fix dinner, eat dinner, clean up, bedtime/ bathtime, watch TV for a bit, then hit the sack.

Friday

Breakfast/ scripture study, take boys to school, work out, get ready, run errands, pick up Charlie, eat lunch, put Annabelle down for nap, do housework, catch up on emails/ orders, pick Dillon up at bus stop, fix snack, help him with homework, boys do jobs then play video games while I fix dinner, eat dinner, clean up, Friday night fun???

Saturday

Pancakes or waffles and eggs breakfast, errands or whatever, get things ready for church the next day and whatever else, maybe something fun??

Sunday

Breakfast, get everyone ready for church, go to church, get home, fix lunch/dinner, meetings/ naps for the lucky ones, family together time, evening walk, get things ready for it to start aallllll over again.....

Notice I didn't include the slightest hint of what James' part is in all this.  That is because I never know for sure... poor guy.

FALL TRIP TO JACKSON HOLE:  I thought it would be fun to use Dillon's journal as this post. (click on the pictures to see them full-size)

Here are some more photos of our trip:

Hiking above Teton Village with the boys and their cousins.


Looking up to the Teton Village Tram (and the moon)!

Jenny Lake hike/ waterfall
Elk arches in downtown Jackson

After a yummy lunch at Bubba's with Grandma and Grandpa

"Moo Moo" at Haagen Daz.  MMMmmmm
10,000 feet up!
Can you see the rainbow in this photo?? ---->
There is a lovely scenic drive just off I-15 south of Cedar City that gives you a breathtaking glimpse into Zion's National Park and Bryce Canyon.  


I zoomed in on this photo so you could see just above Dillon's left eyebrow he has 7 stitches. THAT was a major highlight of the trip- for sure! We spent Saturday night in the Jackson Hole emergency room after Dillon slipped on the wet floor near the hot tub and split his poor little head wide open!




As luck would have it, my (sort of adopted) older Tongan brother Siale was visiting SLC that week! It had been 8 years since we last saw him. He has since been blessed with his beautiful wife, Lisa and their 2.5 beautiful children! Seeing him again and meeting his family was a HUGE bonus to our trip.