Two classes down- One to Go!!!

Things have been going great here in Washington. The classes have been very beneficial and not too stressful. We've found plenty of time for some nice R & R, and just a few more days to go! It's sounds like I will be arriving home in the middle of moving! If our inspections pass on Friday!!!

Washington update:
The dorm room. Thank you Shelley for bringing the T.V. and fan, and your laptop AND your cell phone! What year do I live in? We are definitely living the college life again; Marshmallow Matey's and communal showers! I was a little scared at first, but now I quite enjoy those showers. And who doesn't love cheap Lucky Charms?
The beautiful city of Seattle! From that view I saw the water, mountains, tons of trees, buildings, and cruise ships! It has been WAY too long since I've been to a big a city.
Last weekend we went to Seattle to visit Shelley's old roommate Amanda. She took us to Pike's Place, an outdoor market. And we ate at Chipotle's twice! Yum!

Vegetables, Fruit, and Cherries-EVERYWHERE!!!

It smelled pretty fishy, I didn't mind too much. I got a sample of smoked salmon, and it was tasty!
And tons of fresh flowers! They were only five or ten dollars! What a steal, if I lived in Seattle I would have fresh flowers all the time!
And we got some free entertainment. These guys were singing the Beatles. Sorry I didn't catch a picture of the nude bicyclists! I was behind a crowd so I only saw their backs and one bum!!! Apparently it's legal to be nude in Seattle as long as it's not obscene. When is it ever NOT obscene???
I have been LOVING all the fresh fruit stands; peaches, pears, apricots, and cherries!
My friend Shelley bought this 6 pound bag! I thought it was a little extreme, but now I owe her an apology because she has shared so graciously with me, which I am very grateful.

Embarking on a New Adventure

Well, after 3 years of thinking about getting a masters degree, it is actually going to happen! I am heading up to Washington for three weeks to start a program designed especially for FCS teachers. I will take 3 classes during the 3 weeks, then continue a couple more classes online during the Fall and Winter. I am soooooooo happy my good friend Shelley who graduated with me at BYUI will be my roomy and motivator. It's going to be like camp! Maybe, I really don't know what it will be like but I am very excited. I am sad to leave my family, but I know this is a great opportunity for us. Maggie will probably be walking like crazy, I might miss moving day and getting the keys to our very first home, and I might miss Benjamin saying "where's mama?" And poor Seth will be taking care of the kids, working, and working on the houses. Anyone in the area that might have a free evening, please PLEASE call Seth to see if he needs a babysitter so he can work at the houses! Oaky, that's my plea for help. Thanks a Million!!!I'll be taking a greyhound up there. You might be thinking, oh that's too bad. But don't worry, I must say that I am a greyhound Pro! While still in High school, I went from Tulsa to Orlando through the deep south with all my siblings and no parents! I became quite the mother hen as we transferred buses in the middle of the night, sat next to some very nice ex-cons, and stopped every two hours to hear the driver say over the intercom, "smok'm if you got'm." What great memories I will always cherish. Thanks Dad for letting us crash your vacation with mom.

So I'm off to become the best Family and Consumer Science teacher EVER and to hopefully someday land a job at a University to encourage many many others to become FCS teachers so these programs will stay in the schools to teach the students basic life skills, instead of being cut due to positions not being filled or budgets being cut for new emphasis on academics, darn you NCLB! Fourth of July

We spent the afternoon having a BBQ at our new house with our new neighbors. Seth got some work done at our house. They built the back steps and patio, and worked on more fences. We are still waiting for the electrician to show up! Uuurggh!

Thanks Grandma for the great 4th of July outfits!

First Steps

Maggie is about to take off! She really has taken a couple of steps on her own without holding on to anything. She is exactly the same age as Benj was when he took his first few steps, crazy!

Can anyone please tell me how to post a video that's not sideways?! I am so pathetic, I still havn't figured it out!

Patience is a Virtue

Is patience really a virtue, or do they just say that to make you feel better when things aren't going your way? The house is making progress, I can't complain, it's just the way it goes. We still don't have an exact move in date. There are still many things to do and people to wait on. Saturday was an exciting day, our fence was completed and we have sod in the front and back yard! We bought our first garden hoses which was pretty exciting, but that excitement grew thin when we thought about needing to buy sprinklers, a weed eater, and a lawn mower. The new responsibility of taking care of a yard feels a little daunting, but once when we really get to enjoy it, I think it will be all worth it!

I got to help put our sod down in the morning, then when I picked up the kids I brought them back so Benjamin could run in the sprinklers. He was so happy, I just wished I could have watched him from inside my new home. Maybe one day we will actually live there.

And, of course he finds the mud.

Benjamin and Dad riding in the Skid Steer, it moved the pallets of sod around so we didn't have to use a wheel barrel, very nice!

Here is Maggie enjoying her first crawl in the front yard. She has actually taken her first few steps this week. Maybe I'll get a video later.

Our counter tops were installed this week which was pretty exciting too. We had them do a fancy beveled edge to show the natural alder to match the cabinets. The edge will be stained later to match the cabinets.

Top Ten Reasons Why We Love Our Dad...

10. He takes me to the Splash Park, my favorite place!

9. He does all my favorite things with me; play-doh, reads stories, and teaches me how to be an elephant.

8. He lets me lay in his bed to watch Star Wars with him.

7. He takes me to the movies and lets me eat lots of popcorn. (Mom really appreciates those diapers:)

6. He wrestles with me and swings me in the air.

5. He works hard for our family and is building us a house, so we can have a backyard!

4. He takes me to McDonald's to get a Happy Meal and play in the playground until sweat drips down my face.

3. He gives Mom lots of hugs and kisses. XOXOXOXOXO

2. He rocks me to sleep and he thinks I'm the cutest baby in the whole wide world.

1. And the #1 reason why we love our Dad is because he is the BEST DAD EVER and we Love him!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Love, Benj and Maggie

1st Place- Best Looking Grandpa!

And a big Happy Father's Day to my Dad who has always put his family first in his life. Thank you for sacrificing again, digging deep in your pockets to change our flight times for the benefit of my family. I can not express how grateful I am for all you have done for me and will always do for me. You are a great Dad and Grandpa and we couldn't ask for anything more! Have a wonderful Father's Day and I can't wait to see you next month!!! Love, Rachel

The First Four

We were surprised that it has taken almost 3 1/2 years for Benjamin to get his first stitches. With as much bouncing around as he does, I'm sure they won't be his last. He fell on the edge of a window sill, cried a little, and didn't bleed for very long. We were also pretty lucky because it happened just before Seth came home so Dad got to take him to the doctor. Hopefully it wasn't too much of a traumatic experience getting strapped down and all, but he come home very happy with two suckers and ice cream. So hopefully that made it all better.

Here are some other sweet pictures I took of the kiddos today.

Benjamin loves to eat Maggie's ears and nose.

She doesn't seam to mind.

Hugs and Kisses

Peek-A-Boo!