Boring Blog

Every time I go to our blogspot (not very often really, just to check the 2 links that are private), I think to myself, "our blog is so boring". I think that is because I rarely update. Maybe our family comes off as mysterious, because nobody ever gets to know what we are up to. No real mysteries here, just busy trying to keep up with the 'essential's - food, clothes, house ...' I already feel guilt from not keeping up with my expectations (which, honestly, seems pretty meager right now). When I take time to blog, I feel even greater guilt. Some of those 'not-so-good-at-blogging-bloggers' will understand what I am going through. Without delay, I will breifly tell you what we have been up to:

1. Our house in St. Louis has almost sold - hopefully by this time next week we will be the happy owners of just 1 mortgage.

2. We have had lots of company - 1 live-in family guests and several overnighters. Two or three of my sisters and my mom are coming this weekend. (Here's the guilt setting in again as I remember the list I have made to prepare).

3. I have been battling a sinus/chest infection since December, my doctor tells me 'less stress'.

4. Grant is now reading chapter books and loves riding his bike. He even crashes, a lot and doesn't seem to mind. He will finish the 1st grade on June 3rd. Tomorrow will be his first field trip and yesterday, he informed me 'it will be the best day of his life'. (They will be touring a creamery and eating icecream before lunch).

5. Ella is attending a preschool/playgroup put on by 5 different moms in my neighborhood. When she comes home, I always ask her what they did and the first thing she reports on (without fail) is the snacks. She is always asking to have friends over. She has a collection of 'treasures' that she found up the canyon and is going to open a museum. Children will cost 1 penny and adults will cost 2 dollars. Ella has an explanation for almost everything, it's cute to hear her tell me why something scientific happens without using any actual science. She has cut the hair off a stick horse and a string to her blinds - yes, this is in addition to cutting her hair a couple of months back.

6. Dallin is a very determined sweetheart (most of the time - lately, he's been going through a taking away phase that is not so sweet). He refuses to eat most actual food. He will always eat candy and snacks and juice. He mostly eats yogurt, provolone cheese, milk, cereal, pancakes, waffles, and peanut butter (on the spoon). He sometimes eats noodles, bread, string cheese, and granola bars. That's about it. He's not really talking much. He loves to play outside and with other people. He loves to watch movies. He loves to eat other peoples toothbrushes and put on everyone else shoes. He loves little cars and plastic animals. He loves to be tickled and danced with. And he loves his bath time.

7. Paul is getting up early every single morning (quite a feat, if you know how much he likes to sleep in) to commute for an hour to work and an hour home. He gets home at 5ish and tries to get to bed before 10. He's already been awarded 3 different bonuses for his outstanding work. He worked really hard at making a memorable mothers day for me (breakfast, presents, dinner, flowers - the works). Our kiddo's love him. We take a few minutes to cuddle with Grant and Ella each night and they always fight over who gets to cuddle with him. (Of course, he doesn't really cuddle and talk about their day - you know, calming them down just before bed - he plays keep away with their blankets or wrestle. Sometimes our time is done and they complain that they didn't actually get to cuddle with daddy.)

8. We are attempting to grow a garden, get rid of a zillion wasps and a zillion weeds. We love living a mile from the canyon and Paul has taken the kids on several bike rides. We have a horse pasture in the lot behind us. We feed them carrots and apples. Paul and I have been to the Temple more than once and we have the sweetest little babysitter who lives 2 blocks away and whom my children adore.

By the way, our family picture was taken at Christmas time by my sister Jessi. We originally planned on using them for late Christmas cards and then 'we have moved' cards. I guess, I should just post it here so it gets some viewers. Thanks Jess, if I remember right, we all froze our booties off that day - you most of all, since you were taking the pictures.