How high can I go?

What can I say? THIS is Cooper. The dare devil. The feisty one. The one who is going to end up with his head cracked open one day.

All because he wanted a toy that was on top of the fridge. Really kid? Couldn't you have just asked me to get it for you? Nope. He's got to get it himself!

I pulled him off the microwave at least 5 times today and I probably pull him off the counter AT LEAST 20 times a day. All because he wants food that is either in the cupboards or on the counter. And we wonder why he's such a chunk.

Tonight he stuck three fingers inside an empty can, the lid was still on the can, but pushed down a bit. So he couldn't get his fingers out. I literally looked away from him for two seconds, but was standing right next to him, and he grabbed the can and stuck his fingers in. I was able to get two of the three fingers out, but the third did not come out without getting a good size cut on it first.

Life

Jeff has been down in Kennewick for work since early last Thursday morning. He is training a new employee the "Respiratory" side of the business. Luckily, DeAnne and Justin (my sister and bro-in-law) live in Kennewick, so Jeff has been able to stay with them instead in a boring old hotel.

I took the boys down to Kennewick on Sunday to spend the day with Jeff, and also to be there for the blessing of DeAnne and Justin's newest, Alaina. I was really worried about driving down by myself. I knew I could physically do it, but I didn't know if I could mentally handle it. What if Cooper SCREAMS the whole time? What if Mason SCREAMS at Cooper the whole time for SCREAMING the whole time? What if the boys want a snack and I can't assist them with that? What if...what if... what if...

As all these what ifs kept bombarding my brain, I would try to come up with a way to deal with the what if. I made sure I was as prepared for the what ifs as I could be.

We made it to Kennewick in one piece, and with ear drums intact. What a relief.

One funny thing, on the way down I asked the boys if they knew where we were going. Cooper shouted, DADDY'S HOUSE! This was his answer every time I asked. I guess he thought Daddy had moved out. Thankfully this is not the case.

We had a great time visiting Jeff and the rest of our family who came down for the blessing.

On the way home, both boys fell asleep, and so I had time to ponder. I came to a few conclusions about life.

1) I realized that I can do WAY more than I thought I could... I have been a "single mommy" for almost a week now and have not lost my mind once. That's a miracle. AND I have not had anxiety about staying alone at night. That is HUGE for me. Before we moved to our new house, I would get so anxious when Jeff was gone at night, it didn't matter if we were living in our apartment or our other house, I always got anxious thinking of all the worst possibilities of things that could happen to me while Jeff was gone, and so I would sit, crying, until either I fell asleep, or Jeff came home. Sad. I know.

2) I also realized that I can do difficult things, like raising our boys, without the help of Jeff. I would never choose to do these things alone, but if I ever had to, I could. Why would I ever choose to do this alone? that's crazy! My mind drifted to wondering how husbands and wives choose to separate, when the marrital issues they have are resolvable. I am not talking here about infidelity, abuse, or other serious issues, but rather "growing apart", or "falling out of love" type issues. Why do couples choose to separate? Why would you choose to raise your kids alone? Why? Why? Why? Yes, having a healthy, stable marriage takes effort, isn't it worth the effort? I would say so.

Then I asked myself this same question with regards to life. Why do people choose to go through this life alone? without their Savior, Jesus Christ? Life is hard. We all have trials in our lives. Why do people choose to go through those trials without the help and companionship of Christ? Having Jeff gone for a week has been a trial for me. I know that without the help and companionship of Christ, this trial would have been much harder on me. Yes, living the Gospel of Jesus Christ takes effort, but isn't it worth the effort? I would say so.

Can I come too?

Jeff left this morning for the Tri-Cities to train a new employee, he will be gone until next Wednesday night. As he was packing last night, Cooper laid down in the suitcase with his blanket and said it was his bed. I'm thinking he thought he was going with his Daddy. Aren't I cute? Who wouldn't want to take me with them?

Mason Robot

My cute boys

Just a few cute pictures of the boys. Cooper with the one thing he thinks he can't live with out.

Otter pops.

Or Aww pops as he says.

Mason with possibly his favorite thing. Can you spot it? It's his bear he is siting on. I asked him why he was sitting on bear (as that is the bears name, fitting huh?). He said he was keeping bear comfortable. Not exactly my idea of comfortable, but whatever makes you happy kid.

New Camera

Our camera got broken about two months ago, by Mason, who thought he was helping me put the memory card back in the camera, but he put the memory card in wrong, and in doing so, bent the little prongs inside the camera. We have put off buying a new camera because we have hade Julia and Bill staying with us for those two months and so when we needed a camera we just borrowed theres. Well since Julia and Bill moved back into their house today, we went out and bought this new camera.

Fire Station Field Trip

Today Mason's preschool had a field trip to fire station 92. Mason said his favorite part was getting out of the fire. I'm not sure what he was talking about, there was no fire, but that's OK. Here is Mason with his classmates and teacher, Ms. Jolinda.

Kindergarten MADNESS

*sigh* Oh the things we do for our kids! As most of you know Mason just turned four in July, one thing I never thought I would be doing this early in his life was registering him for Kindergarten. Yes, you heard right. No, he is not some genius kid being allowed to go to school a year early. Prairie View Elementary begins Kindergarten registration for the next school year on October 1st at 8:00am. I'm sure you are asking yourself, why does that school begin Kindergarten registration so early? Right.

Well, the area that we live in is booming! There are new houses being built by the day! Just to give you an idea, the block we live on, we were the first to move in last September, since then there have been 7 more families move in, with 5 more houses under construction and all but one of those is sold (but I'm sure it won't be long before that last one is sold as well). Out of all 13 households, all but two are/will be occupied by younger couples either with little kids or hoping to some day start a family. Crazy right? And that's just on ONE block. Now imagine an entire area of the city, with blocks identical to ours, and just one elementary in that area for all those kids. That is what we have.

Prairie View has room for 80 Kindergartners and for the 2009-2010 school year, they had about 110 kids register for Kindergarten. So the other 30 or so kids have to be bussed to other elementary schools in the district and loose any where from 30-60 mins of school every day, due to being on the bus.

One awesome person in our ward (Alicia) told me that in order to get your child into the school you have to be one of the first 80 people in the doors on registration day, kids with older siblings already at the school are not grandfathered in, so it truly is a first come, first serve basis.

So yesterday morning, Alicia and I got up at 3:20am and went down to the school and waited in line. By the time we got there, there were already 25 people in line! We sat in the bitter cold until about 5:30am, when the janitor let us all inside, where we waited until 7:00 when we were given a number. Then we had until 3:30pm to get all our required documents and paperwork filled out and back to the school, if we didn't get it all in that day, we forfeited our spot. By 8:15am all 80 numbers were handed out.

All thee news stations came out to get a piece of the madness. I, proudly, did not get suckered into talking to the news, but there are a few clips of me sitting in line wrapped in my pink blanket. Watch the videos and see if you can spot me.

KHQ coverage

KREM coverage

KXLY coverage

So unless the school begins giving kids with older siblings an automatic buy into the school, I'll be back in front of the school at 3:30am (or earlier) on October 1, 2011 for Cooper.

A new calling

Yesterday I was called to be the 2nd Counselor in Young Womens. I LOVE working with the YW! I worked with the YW for almost 3 1/2 years in our previous ward, it was a great experience for me. When I was a YW, I didn't have a strong testimony of the YW program, but as I served in YW as an adult, that is when I gained a strong testimony of the program. I love serving the Lord, in any capacity. I always find my testimony strengthened in one area or another, and I also form great friendship with those I serve with.

This time around is already starting out very different from the last. Let me explain a bit... about a month ago our ward boundaries were changed a bit. Our ward boundary to the North of us was extended a few blocks, so with that, we gained four new families. One of those families became our new Bishop. AND then from one of the other families our new YW President was called yesterday. So I don't know the President I will be serving with. And she did not know me as she prayed about who to call as her counselors and secretary, but she did tell me that she felt a very strong impression that I was suppose to serve with her.

I do know this, personal prayer and revelation are real, and can and do help guide us in our lives. As our Bishop set me apart for this new calling, I could feel the power of the Spirit testify to me that this is where my Heavenly Father wants me to serve at this time. Then as we were all leaving the Bishop's office, he told me that he knew I was suppose to be in this calling that I was going to have a great impact on the girls I will be serving. I am grateful to our Bishop for sharing his impressions with me, as it reaffirms the feelings I was having.

So cheers to a new calling, a new adventure, new friendships, and building and strengthening my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Happy 27th Birthday Jeffery!

Today is Jeff's 27th Birthday! Happy Birthday you old fart. (I only say this because Jeff keeps saying that he is getting old, and I just roll my eyes when he says this)

Jeff is pretty easy to shop for, because he always gives me good ideas. But actually buying and keeping what I buy a secret is horrible! Here are the reason why he is horrible to buy for:

1.) There have been a few years that I have planned on buying Jeff' something really cool (like a paintball gun), and Jeff has gone out and bought the item, just days (or weeks) before his birthday, not knowing of course that I was going to buy it for him. This is something I tease him about all the time, and will never forget, or stop teasing him about.

2.) He HATES waiting until his birthday to open his presents, he whines and begs, like a two year old, so I usually give in and let him open his presents a day or two early.

3.) He always guesses what his presents are and gets his guesses right. Is it always that obvious what I get him? No. Jeff will say it's because he's good. I would beg to differ. Whatever it is I HATE IT! I wish he would not guess at all, because the moment he gets it right, he can read on my face that he is right. I am a horrible liar. Grrrrr.

This year my plan was to not let any of those things happen. So here is what I did.

I bought his present about a week and a half early and wrapped it. I didn't just wrap it, I WRAPPED IT! I put towels in with the present and wrapped the box in this super, heavy duty masking tape, then I put that box in a bigger box, put more towels in with it, and duck taped that box. Then I let Mason and Cooper color on the box.

THEN, just to tease Jeff a little I sent him a picture of his present while he was at work. I then set his present on our dresser, just so he could see it every day for the next week and a half, and let it bother him.

Here is the final product.

This morning he opened his present. Opening the first box.

Oh look, another box.

This one wasn't so easy to get open. The knife he was using, would not cut through the super, heavy duty masking tape, so he had to undo it by hand.

unrolling....

and unrolling.....

and unrolling....

Finally! He was able to get the box open and see what was inside.

So I'm sure you are all wondering if my plan worked. It did! There was only one little issue. Jeff did guess it was a watch before even seeing his present in person, but he was in another room when he guessed, so he did not see my face with the dead give away look it had upon it.

This morning Mason, Cooper, and I took brownies into Jeff at work and met most of his new co-workers and got to see his new office.

Tonight we will be leaving the boys at home to enjoy dinner together at Outback Steakhouse.

Canning Applesauce

The Saturday before last, Jeff and I took the boys to greenbluff and picked about 33 lbs. of apples. The next day I made chunky applesauce and canned it. I was able to get 12 quarts of applesauce, and it is yummy.

Prayers

Lately Cooper has been really into praying. He will fold his arms and bow his head, and when who ever is saying the prayer, he will repeat every couple words. Mason has caught on to this, and so now when Mason is saying the prayer, and Cooper begins to copy Mason, Mason leans over to Cooper and helps Cooper finish the prayer, giving Cooper time to repeat what Mason says before going on to the next part of his prayer.

It is really wonderful to see, as a mom, my children growing in the gospel, and being a good example to me and to each other.

Fair 2009

We went to the fair with Jared, Michelle, and Ethan last Friday night. I stole these wonderful pictures from Jared and Michelle's blog because we still have not bought a new camera. So thanks guys for letting me be a thief. Walking though the animal exhibits. Cooper does not like dogs at all, and we found out that night that he doesn't like cows, sheep, pigs, or any other big loud animals. The whole time Cooper had to be held and he had his hands over his ears and his eyes closed.
All three boys petting a really soft bunny.

Michelle and Cooper

Mason and I rode on the Ferris Wheel. When the wheel first went up, Mason grabbed my legs, but by the end he was enjoying himself.

We took the boys on a roller coaster. This was Mason's second time on a roller coaster, and Cooper's first. Mason sat with Jeff and Cooper sat with me.

If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see us on the left side.

Pre-School

Mason started Pre-School today. So sad. My baby is growing up! Next thing I know he will be graduating high school and leaving me forever.

He was so excited to start Pre-School! Mason told me that I didn't have to stay with him at school. It made me sad to think that he doesn't need me as much anymore, but I guess I'd rather have that, then have him holding onto my leg for dear life, screaming and crying. Here he is at Pre-School, standing in front of his back pack, which is on his hook that says, (according to Mason) "M-A-S-O-N, hey that says Mason!"
Then Cooper needed a picture with his big brother.
Mason with his cousin, Zachary, making funny faces.


When I picked Mason up, he said he had a great time and can't wait to go back!

First canning experience!

Tuesday myself and two friends for mine canned spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes. It was quite the project! I guess spaghetti sauce is one of the most time consuming things you can can. So not exactly the best thing I could have chosen to can for my first canning experience. In all I canned 11 quarts of spaghetti sauce and 5 quarts of diced tomatoes.