#1 Birthday Present

yep, I'm moving up in the world.

Soccer!

Drew started soccer this year and has loved it. He is the only kid on his 5 kids team that doesn't wear cleats, butwe really wanted to see how much he loved it plus they don't keep score and it's only 3 on 3. He has already said that it's soccer in the spring and not baseball like last year. so I guess we'll get the kid some cleats!

found this little honey

Oh the joys of living in Vegas! Found this little guy in my garage. Oh, and found another one in my house the other day. I'm a little afraid of them since my friends little 5 year old spent 4 days in the peds ICU for a scorpion bite. He had some neuro issues, but is ok now. That scorpion just climbed up on his pillow and bit him in the middle of the night too! Scary!

smore time!

We bought a fire pit in the summer thinking we'd roast marshmellows and have a nice campout in our own backyard. Sometimes I forget how dang hot it gets here in Vegas. What the heck was I thinking? The first time we built a fire at 9p.m in July I thought I was going to die! It is finally cool enough here to put some good use into it. We even had the missionaries over one night and they came and told ghost stories around the fire.

Cleaning Lady

A couple of years ago, I discussed with Owen about how when he's done with school that I would want someone to come in and do my ddep cleaning--you know the stuff that gets ignored for weeks and then you finally get to it in utter disquest? You may not have this problem, but I do. i have 4 kids, one of whom is a 2 year old and reaks havoc on this house, a very busy husband that works 6 days a week, and the last thing he wants to do is clean, and 3 other kids that hate to clean. So, I try, but it's too much work for 1 person. So when I brought up the idea of having a cleaning lady, Owen said I would have to get a job to pay for her. What? What? So the other day I was talking to my friend Cherie and her husband. He finished his residency about 4 years ago, and the first thing he did when he graduated was hire a cleaning lady. He said through his residency, he would work 36 hours and then come home and have to spend 6 hours cleaning the house. He HATED it! He said he has more time to spend with the kids, he's happy and everyone else is happy. They gave me their ladies card and said it would be well worth it. I know it's well worth it, the problem is convincing Owen. I went home and told him about my discussion, and he immediatly agreed and said "when does she start?" Ha! I was surprised and so relieved. Yeah for me! Do you know this is a dream come true as I'm kind of a clean freak. Now, my kids are still going to have chores. There is always going to be picking up, dishes, laundry etc. But at least my toliets, floors, dusting, and all the rest of my deep cleaning will be done and then maybe I'll have time to do a craft or two like back in the olden days. Money well spent I say!

Vampire girl

Maggie is sporting double teeth on both sides of her mouth. I keep asking Owen if he thinks she should have the baby ones pulled. At first he said to give it time, they will fall out. Well, they haven't so when are we going to pull these babies out? "well, I'm just so busy, I don't think I can work her into my schedule." You think having him as their dentist is an advantage? Next week, Maggie has to go in after hours for this. She is not happy.

Labor Day goodness!

One of the benefits of living in Las Vegas-(-since there are so few of them) is that we are 4 hours from Long Beach Ca where Owens parents live. So we decided to have a weekend getaway to escape the heat here in Vegas. We always have to take a trip to the beach and collect shells, put our feet in the water, make sand castles and of course get wet! We had no intention of getting wet, so next time everyone is going in their suits even if we say "we aren't getting in the water." I'm sorry but a swim suit dries a heck of a lot faster than jeans. ALl I remember was 1. Maggie complained A LOT about being cold and wet. 2. Miles did not like the water, much too scary. 3. Audrey and Drew do not care and have no fear! Just happy to be alive and at the beach--that explains why they are my easiest children. 4. I just wanted a good family pic that noone wanted to cooperate with me on. 5. Owen is in his own world when we are there. He starts having visions of himself owning beachfront property so he can come to the beach everyday.