So I've been a bit behind, again. I don't think there has been much exciting going on, I guess.

Work has been very stressful and busy. We had one doctor leave and a new one come in and now I run the office for both doctors, where before the other doc had his own office manager.

Randy is staying busy and will start his months of traveling here soon. He'll be gone for a week or two here and there. Luckily he's not gone for too long.

The best thing that I am looking forward to is going up to see my sister again. We are planning a trip to Spokane! I think this will be our first road trip with just our family. The kids are so excited to see Jayda and Jaycee. I don't think they realize it will take awhile to get there. Jaylynn and Jeremy will be moving back to Salt Lake soon and I wanted Randy and the kids to see Spokane before that happens.

Regan likes school. They did a contest between all the grades to see who could read the most minutes and Regan was the top reader in her class!! She loves books, music, art, and is pretty good at math. I can'y believe ho much she has grown up.

Spencer is a typical boy! He loves to wrestle with and tease his sister. I was noticing in the car the other day that when we are listening to my iPod, if Regan says she doesn't like a song and wants me to skip it, Spencer will say "I love this song." I think he does it just to make her mad. They make me laugh!

Pumpkins

So Sunday we carved our pumpkins. It was nothing real spectacular since we were missing our carving buddies (Jaylynn and her family). We thought, a little too late, that we should have done it over the web cam. Oh well, maybe next time.

Randy's puppy


Spencer's Jack-o-Lantern (Regan actually cut it out)


Regan's horse (I think Randy did all of the cutting on this one)


Melanie's polar bears (it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked)
We even saved a bunch of the seeds and toasted them. Mmmmm

Today we woke up to snow and the power out. It went off around 6:15 this morning so I got up and showered and got the kids up with a flashlight. The kids thought that was pretty cool. But one of our dumb dogs thinks it's fun to chase the light so everywhere I went there he was also. Then at breakfast I decided that since our pumpkins are sitting on the table that we would have a jack-o-lantern lit breakfast. It was kind of fun. As I went to leave to take Regan to school I realized that I couldn't get the garage open so I had to get Randy out of bed to help us. When I got back from dropping Regan off the power was still out. It finally came back on at 9:15. I used to love it when the power would go out growing up. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever out grow the thrill of of a power outage.

Figured it Out!!

I bet you thought I was out of the loop forever. I couldn't figure out how to update my blog for the longest time, but I'VE FIGURED IT OUT!!! Now hopefully I can find the time to post the happenings of our family more often. Here is just a quick update.

A lot has happened since my last post in APRIL! Regan has started school at a charter school called Hawthorn Academy. She loves it and is always excited to go.



Spencer turned 3 in August and is quite the "little man." He loves to play the Wii and is actually pretty good at it.

Lost Tooth & Spokane

Regan lost her first tooth on April 16Th! It was feeling really loose so I told her to eat an apple. Then she came in and said "Mom, look at my loose tooth." And it was gone. I thought she had swallowed it. But after a hands and knees search I found it. She was so excited. I was glad she lost it before I left on my trip so I could be a part of that step in her life.


So my mom and I were able to go to Spokane to visit my sister. It was GREAT!! I don't fly very well, so when we got there on Thurs. I was a little nauseous, but we were able to go to Fairchild Air Force Base and see where Jeremy is working. It brought back some memories of when Randy was active duty. We went to the mall that night and had dinner. Jeremy suggested a place called Sawtooth where he was adventurous and got a Philly Cheese steak sandwich made with buffalo meat. I stayed with something more normal and ordered a chicken wrap (I'm not one for trying new things, especially when it comes to food).



The next day we went to story time with Jay and the girls before we ventured out to see the sights. We went to Riverside Park and saw the carousel, the GIANT "Radio Flyer" wagon slide, and had the best fresh made mini doughnuts. We saw the Falls and took the gondola ride that takes you down to see the lower falls. It's a very pretty city, but the streets are hard to follow. I understand why Jay always takes the same roads. The drivers there are also afraid to go over the speed limit. If the speed limit's 35, they go 35 or LESS. Where I come from, if you're not going at least 5 over you get honked at and passed. Friday night we had a "girl's night out" with Jaylynn's friend Jenny and no kids. We went to dinner and to see the Spokane temple. Then for ice-cream at Maggie Moos.



Saturday we went on a souvenir hunt and came back empty handed.



Sunday was nice and relaxing. We went on a drive and saw Long Lake and the Long Lake Dam where we saw a bald eagle way out on a tree. I couldn't get a picture of it because it was too far away. We also saw where Jaylynn and Jeremy are storing their trailer and there's a big Off Road Vehicle park on the way.
We had a great time, but it was hard to leave. I miss having Jay around and I know my kids miss hers. We'll have to take them up there sometime. I know they would enjoy it.

A Great Week and a Half

So, my sister has been in town since last Friday and it has been a blast. She's kept us all busy with everything from Jayda's birthday party to shopping for Easter clothes. We've been to this place and that, here and there. It's been a great time!! It makes me realize how much I depended on her when she was living here and how much I'll miss her when she's gone again. She's the decision maker in our family. What's for dinner? I don't know, ask Jay. What do you want to do today? I don't know, ask Jay. Jaycee has been a blast to see how much she's grown. She's walking and gets more and more brave every day at Grandma's. She was so shy to see everyone at first, and would make the cutest face as she tried not to let you see her looking at you. And boy can she roll her eyes! Jay, you're in trouble when she's a teenager, "Whatever Mom" and that roll of the eyes. Jayda and Regan seem to have picked up where they left off. Playing together and having a great time. Spencer tries to join in, but Kung Fu and wrestling and dolls and "cooking" don't really go together.

It's been fun having Jay here and I'll miss her when she leaves, but my pocket book will be happier (j/k Jay). Love ya!!

Life Goes On

Well, I've been told several times that I need to update my blog. This one's for you, Jay.

Christmas was fun. I think everyone got what they wanted. The only thing Regan asked for was a robotic dog named "Tumbles." All it does is roll over when you pet it and make noise when you rub it's tummy. Spencer wanted "Thomas the Chank Engine." He got some other trains called Geo Trax, but likes them just the same. Randy had ordered a bunch of parts that he wanted for the Jeep, so that was his Christmas. I got a gift certificate for a spa and the 3rd season of "Criminal Minds."

For New Years we went to my mom and dad's and played games with Greg's family. We had a blast!!! We went home early and went to bed just before midnight. You know you're getting old, or you have young kids, when you can't stay up past 11.

Now we're getting back into the routine of work and school. Just in time for a few days off. My boss is going out of town for the weekend so I get Friday and Saturday off. And with Martin Luther King Day, Regan gets Friday and Monday off.

I've been really stressed out lately. Regan has tried to run away and find a new family. She is really pushing her limits. And my babysitter is having her gallbladder out in a couple weeks and won't be able to watch my kids for most of February. I don't know who to ask to cover for her. My "back up" babysitter has moved to Spokane.

We're still here living one day at a time. Hope all is well with all of you.