It's A Girl!

After a long time of waiting and debating, we finally decided to go forward and adopt!

She's about 5 months old and very sweet natured. She came to us as Caprice, was briefly Penny (short for Money Penny, because she cost us a pretty penny), and is now Zima. Russian for "winter".

Isn't she beautiful?

She's a rescue dog, so the jury's still out on what her exact breed combination is, how old she really is, and (most importantly) how big she'll get.

She mostly looks like a lab and a Rottweiler. We didn't see the rotti part until we brought her home and someone else pointed it out. At the shelter they said she was a Shepard mix. We don't see much Shepard in her, but think her ears look kind of like a cocker spaniel.

Regardless, she's ours! And we lover her. She's very patient and sweet with the kids. They can't get enough of her.

It's fun to watch them play

She's also very quiet. We've only heard her make noise the first night when we put her in her kennel to sleep. But after telling her 'no' twice, she stopped.

She is full of love

" When I kiss her, she wicks me!"

Oh, yay...

Where Grandpa Goes When Grandma's On Vacation

We were at the play place at the mall today and Kayli was the ring leader. She got a bunch of the other kids to follow her on all of her whims. They started out as a small group of pythons. I overheard this funny conversation from them.

Kayli to the newcomer (Boy 2): Who are you going to be? I'm the mommy, he's the daddy (pointing to Boy 1), and he's the baby (pointing to Bryce).

Boy 2, looking a little distraught and near tears: This family has two daddies. I'll be a daddy.

Kayli: No, you be the grandpa.

Boy 2: Then who's the grandma?

Kayli (without missing a beat): She's on vacation. You came to visit us instead.

They all seemed satisfied by this and continued pretending in peace.

I love the way kids think, play, and talk to each other. It's entertaining and impressive all at once.

Cilantro Bananas

Bryce made up that tasty invention at lunch today. Suddenly, the kids are really into cilantro. That's great because I can never finish off a bunch before it goes bad. But on bananas? I can't believe he thinks that is yummy with that picky palate of his.

Anyway, life has been busy, so my second post was a little delayed. Without further ado, I give you the rest of our adventures with Grandma and Grandpa.

Blake's parents are into cycling, so they brought their bikes out to try out our bike trails. We didn't ride as much as we'd planned, but we did a little. It was fun. They enjoyed the trails and I think they were surprised by the beauty, just as we had been when we first came out.

And then I fell. And got the biggest baddest bruise ever. Seriously. Blake is still amazed every time he catches sight of it. It's on the side of my knee and kind of takes up a huge portion of my thigh. I should have taken a picture. But then you would have all had to appreciate my white skin, just like my pedicurist. So, I spared you. Although the bruise is everything but white--green, bright red, purple, yellow, brown. It's fun. It's not quite as big as the bruise I received on my ego when I fell. Because I was fully stopped when I fell over on my bike.

It takes a rare kind of special to be like me.

Anyway, on Monday we headed down to Missurra. That's how they say it, you know.

There's a lot of history for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Missouri. We stopped at the Visitor's Center in Independence first.
They had a fun play place for the kids

With a little cabin full of toys from that period

Grandpa joined in on the fun, making it that much more fun

A little chicken coop

The bonnet was all his idea

Hiding out in the cabin

I love this statue. This is the first time my kids have seen a replica of it. This picture makes me want to cry.

This temple is kiddie corner to the temple site dedicated by Joseph Smith for the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't remember now if this one is owned by the Church of Christ or the Community of Christ. I think the spiral shape is really cool.

Then we headed over to Liberty Jail, where Joseph Smith and four other men were unjustly imprisoned for several months in horrible conditions.

Thanks to some very meticulous historians from way back when, they've been able to replicate the prison very well on its original foundation.

That is a portrayal of Joseph Smith as he received many beautiful and amazing revelations during this time. For more on this, please read here. It's a wonderful article about Liberty Jail actually being like a temple.

I am personally very grateful for the records he kept of his communication with the Lord during this time as it has brought me comfort during some of the most difficult times of my life. My favorite part is when the Lord responds to his prayer saying,

"My son, peace be unto thy soul. Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-8

What a great reminder in patience and perspective and our waiting reward for being faithful!

This is the top part of the jail. I'm not really sure about the kids faces here. Kayli was actually pretty impressive at this stop. She got to "help" the sister missionary quite a bit and then paid attention really well. She asked several really good questions. Another rewarding moment in parenthood.

Then we headed over to Far West

This is the site dedicated for a temple there. The kids were getting a little tired at this point, so we had to be creative to get smiles.

Next up, Adam ondi Ahman. It was as beautiful as you'd expect such a sacred place to be.

It just seemed fitting to see this mama deer with her fawn in such a peaceful place

Overlooking the valley

Am I really biased, or is everything about him adorable?

This doesn't even come close to how beautiful the sunset really was that night. It might be time for a new camera. Just imagine the colors a billion times more vivid and brilliant.

One of the unexpected blessings of that crazy long trip the kids and I took during the summer--Bryce is now a happy traveler, for the most part. He used to scream during any drive that lasted longer than five minutes.

We drove a lot longer than five minutes on Monday.

We finished the day off at Ma and Pa's Kettle. It's probably exactly like you're imagining. Except the chocolate milk. That exceeded expectations in a big way. It was served in a glass jar and was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. Some people tried the strawberry milk and said it was even better. I had a really bad incident involving strawberry milk that had been sitting in the sun for several hours as a child, so that will never taste good to me. No, not ever.


After dinner I checked my messages and received an urgent one from my brother. I called him back and learned that my grandma had taken a horrible turn for the worse and would probably not make it through the night. They were saying even if she did make it, she would have significant brain damage from a long period without oxygen.

I'm so glad Blake was right there when I got this call because I cried on his shoulder for a long time. Then we talked about the different possibilities and what they would mean. At one point, I told him that I know my grandma. She is the strongest person I have ever known in my entire life. She has been through unbelievable things and come out of them brilliantly. And so I told him that I knew that if she wanted it bad enough, she could pull through this without any brain damage.

But a part of me was happy for her to be reunited with my grandpa. She has been missing him so much ever since he passed away last December.

Tuesday morning was a little rough. I couldn't get any word on what had happened. Finally, I heard from my brother a little after 10 AM. My grandma had made it through the night and showed no signs of brain damage.

She's amazing and so strong and selfless. I am so grateful for the blessing and example she is in my life.

Blake and his dad spent the rest of the day doing some projects around the house. His mom and I shopped and hung out.

We went to Panera for dinner. I just love Panera. I think I could eat there every day. If you've never eaten at a Panera, you owe it to yourself to go there. Even if it means traveling clear out here to try it.

Wednesday morning we woke up early to take another awesome tour, from a really good looking tour guide.

This tour was of Blake's plant. Can you guess who our guide was?

It was also the smelliest tour. Who knew corn and ethanol could be so stinky?

Blake actually climbed up those giant silos in the background one morning. In his dress shoes.

I also got to meet all of his co-workers and the CEO finally. It's good to be able to put faces to the names, you know? And everyone seemed very nice. It's so great knowing that he enjoys the people he works with.

And then came time for the sad good byes.

This one hates good byes and just cries and cries

This one just gets grumpy

She did this most of the drive home

So, I did what any good mom would do. I took them to the zoo. Actually, we met our playgroup there. But it was really good timing.

They were doing a special "Sensory Safari", so the kids got to touch all sorts of animals. Like this tortoise.

And this one.

She touched a live fish, too. Yuck!

And all kind of other things, but that was the ickiest. Well, no. I take that back. The hissing cockroach wins that prize. She thinks it's so great, she can't understand why I don't share her enthusiasm for touching nasty bugs.

We've been trying to settle back into normal life and not be bored by it. It's just too fun having Grandma and Grandpa come visit. Thanks again! We loved it and hope you had a good time, too!

Busy With Grandparents

I can't believe I spaced this part of the Saturday of Labor Day weekend--My first EVER pedicure!
Since it was the first in 27 years, I decided to go for broke and get an embellishment. She said it was a flower. The kids think it's a butterfly.

Maybe, if I ever read the book that came with my camera, I could have taken a picture that was close enough to allow you to decide for yourself.

Because I know that's exactly what you wanted to do with your day today.

Sorry, to disappoint.

Quick explanation to the pedi--my friend found out that I'd never had one, so she got me one for my birthday. And I finally had a chance to cash in on it on Saturday. So nice.

My favorite part was probably when the girl said, "I like your skin! It's very white!"

I could tell she was sincere, so I just thanked her and blinked back my tears. I can't help it that I'm as pale as a white sheet bleached even whiter by the sun as it dries on the line. At least someone appreciates it.

Anyway, moving on. Blake's parents came out to visit us last week.

Good times!

We took them to the farmer's market Saturday morning.
What good is a farmer's market without balloon figures? Kayli had a ghost hat and Bryce had a Zombie. Oh, the copious amounts of tears when those babies popped!

The boys really wanted to go to the big game, but it just wasn't feasible for a variety of reasons.

So, we got them the next best thing: A Husker Apple

There is nothing that you can't get "Husker-ized" out here. It's beyond amazing.

Then we took them to a very beautiful garden near here.

With a koi pond

And lush beautiful colorful flowers.

I almost forgot we moved to the Great Plains and not Hawaii.

And for once, I won't overwhelm you with massive amounts of pictures and stories. I broke their visit into two posts.

You're welcome.

In Remembrance

Click here for a story about some positive coming from 9/11. My mom alerted me to this, since she and my dad know the family in it.

I can't believe it's been eight years.

It Was a LONG Weekend

We started it off with another trip to the zoo with friends. I don't take pictures or blog about every visit, but this time we discovered new cut outs.

The Caterpillar

The Frog Tongue?

Butterflies

This was an independent little butterfly.

Saturday was so fun that I can't even remember what we did.

But I do remember BYU's awesome win over Oklahoma! Go Cougars!

We had our family pictures taken by a photographer friend

So, the kids practiced their smiles beforehand

Monday we went for a family bike ride and then we did work around the house. Amazing how that is never-ending!

I came outside after Blake finished mowing the lawn and saw him playing with the kids' sidewalk chalk

Making this

Isn't he the sweetest and cutest ever? I absolutely love things like this. I'm all about PDA in any form. And I'm impressed with his handwriting.

Sadly, it rained this morning and washed my love note away. I guess he'll have to make me a new one!

Monday afternoon we joined several friends at the pool for a fun swim. The kids finally got a chance to show off their swim lesson skills to their dad. But Bryce cried the whole time I tried to work with him on it. Finally, he yelled, "No swim lessons!" So, I gave up and just let him play.

It was a great weekend. It's always nice to have Blake home. He takes such good care of us and everything is just more fun when he's around. Too bad the weekend passed by so quickly!

Rain, Rain...?

What do you do on a day that's raining buckets? Especially, when playing outside is your favorite thing to do?

Play outside

That's our little workshop/playhouse. We were excited about it coming with the house. We haven't even unlocked it since moving in.

They filled up buckets with wet sand the "sand box" and marched around the workshop

I love how creative this one is. She's always coming up with ideas to entertain the two of them.

And he has to add his boy-inspired ideas to hers.

That's our "sand box". I got the idea from a friend back in New England. I can handle that much sand. Plus it has a lid, so we can contain it and keep it covered when it rains, so it doesn't get wet...

That was my idea, anyway

They were pretty pleased with it wet, though

And both soaked completely through before long. So, I lured them inside with the promise of a warm bath and some hot cocoa.

Amazing how well hot cocoa motivates. They seem to have inherited the addiction, passed down from my mom.

Which is why I was devastated when I discovered that most brands have trans fats in them. I thought I was going to have to give up my addiction, but then I discovered yesterday that Target's "gourmet" store brand is made sans the bad fats. Phew! If Target makes it, I'm sure others do to. I'm just going to have to be more diligent. Sneaky Trans Fats!

I Know I'm Supposed To Be Sad

But she's been ready for this for forever and she was so excited, I couldn't help but just be excited for her.

Ready for her first day of preschool yesterday

These two get closer every day it seems.

I couldn't convince him that he wasn't going to be starting school with her yesterday.

(See the grab bar on the side of the house? An elderly couple used to live here. We even have traction strips on the sidewalk! I guess we'll appreciate it once we hit the cold and windy winter. But the grab bars have to go. And then maybe I'll show you a picture of the front of the house.)

They love that their backpacks roll, too. Bryce had to have one just like Kayli.

Standing in front of the school with one of her little friends/classmates.

She's that much taller than pretty much everyone in the class. Poor girl.

Waiting for the door to open with a couple friends

I think they were all getting tired of the pictures by this time.

Sitting on her special spot on the rug. Right next to her little buddy who is so excited, he can hardly stand it.

Actually, he's just really good at posing for pictures.

Must be nice.

And that's what she was doing when I left.

I've heard that some kids are sad and cling to their parent's leg. I wonder what that's like? But really, I'm happy she didn't have any problems. It's what I expected. She's been independent since the day she was born.

I expected Bryce to have a really hard time without her. I was kind of banking on it, really. That's what I was going to use to motivate him to start potty training again. You know, because you can't start preschool if you still wear diapers.

But he handled her departure like a champ.

Sigh.