A Snapshot of Anna right now.

I wanted to just catch a moment in life and freeze it. This picture describes Anna today. We were off to preschool and she insisted that she wanted to wear her green dress that spins, the same dress she wears to church every Sunday, the same dress that says 18 months on the tag, the same dress that is getting quite tight on her and feels very hot in the Arizona summer; yet she loves this dress because it spins and princesses only wear dresses that spin. She begged me to let her wear her tiara to preschool today so that she would “look so pretty.” I figure she is only three once and every other girl in the preschool is about three too so they probably would not think it odd, so I said “OK.” Her favorite shoes are her sparkly shoes because they are princess shoes. They really are her Sunday shoes but every once an a while I let her wear them to preschool. If it was her choice they would be all she wears. And she must wear them with lacey socks that she puts on herself and folds down just like I taught her. Today was “show and tell” in preschool. I asked her what she wanted to bring and she said, “my Tangled doll!” It is her favorite doll. She sleeps with it at night and dances with it when we play Tangled music. She is a little shy at preschool and around people she does not know but loves other girls and loves to have fun. This is my snapshot of Anna girl this morning the 28th of August 2013.

Lying on the Warm Cement

As a kid I did not have a pool, so on those hot summer days my siblings and I would run through the sprinklers.  Then we would often go lay down on the warm sidewalk to dry off and get warm again. I remember the smell of the hot cement as a kid, and the feel of it’s warmth against my skin and lying looking at the little holes and rocks that made up the cement and watching little ants walk by.

So when my girls ran though the sprinklers the other day and then went to soak in the warmth of the the cement, memories of childhood came flooding back to me.

Kent’s New Job

After three interviews, Kent received a job offer as an Instructional Designer at the University of Advancing Technology, here in Tempe, AZ. Yeah! It was probably the sharp looking shirt and tie I picked out for him for his interviews. :) He started right away, this past Monday in fact. He is excited about this new job and the career and learning opportunity it presents. But for me, I have some mixed feelings. I love that he got a job here in Arizona, which I was praying for. So, I was excited too, yet at the same time this is a great change for me and I am trying to get used to it.
Ever since we have been married, for the last 4 years, Kent has been in school and has had the most flexible schedule. He could work from home and be home anytime I wanted him to. He would watch the girls every time I worked, it was lovely.  He also used to do all the grocery shopping the days I worked.  Maybe I was super spoiled, but I loved it. So my husband having to go to work Mon-Fri is quite the change I am trying to get used to. I even went grocery shopping for the first time in over a year; blah!

This semester shall be a very busy one too. I sometimes don't know how we will do it.  Kent will be working full time while finishing his doctoral dissertation. He also will continue to go on camp-outs and outings and weekly Wednesday night scout meetings, etc, etc, with the young men. I will be working part time until mid October when our new baby is due to be born. My wonderful mom will help us out watching the girls when we both have to work. I will also try to balance along with work and new baby, being the primary president in our ward, attending to primary needs, planning the upcoming primary program, trying to attend work meetings and renew my certifications, and being a mother to a three and two year old, etc. Just say'in, that is why the laundry is not folded yet. :)

Preschool Begins

Anna started preschool on Monday. I can’t believe my oldest baby girl is big enough to go to preschool. I remember when she was just little, we would take walks down our street past the preschool, she would always watch the kids playing and ask when she got to go to preschool. I told her, “oh, when you a 3 years old and a little bigger you can go to preschool too.” Lo and behold she turned 3 and got a little bigger!

She was so excited to go on her first day and went right it. She really likes it and I am glad she gets to go.

It is good to have some one on one time with Elise too, before the baby comes, and just focus on her. It is strangely quite in the car after I drop off Anna, I guess Anna is the one always talking. Elise asked a few times when we were going to pick up Anna from preschool.

Uncle Chris Came to Town

The group of Boy Scouts that Kent works with decided to do a backpacking high adventure trip this year to Fossil Springs. We decided to invite Uncle Chris to come down and spend some time with us as well as go on the backpacking trip.

After a little confusion regarding plane flights, Chris came down and we had a great time! The backpacking trip was great, and the other scouts ended up calling Chris “the Terminator” because nothing could slow him down of stop him.

For those who don’t know, Fossil Springs is a beautiful oasis in the bottom of a high desert canyon. Below, Chris shows some of the awesomeness that is Fossil Springs. Chillin’ in the mini waterfall! And boy do we mean chillin’. The water was freezing cold, but it felt nice after the 4 mile hike in with full packs. Though the water was cold, it was a beautiful paradise complete with ripe blackberries, swimming holes, rope swings, and lots of waterfalls.

The girls had so much fun with Uncle Chris. Chris flew in after the girls had gone to bed, so when they woke up he was there waiting for them. At first, they didn’t know what to think of this strange guy in their living room. Kent left for 5 minutes to drop Dayna off at work, and by the time he got home, Chris had won the hearts of the girls. They had so much fun playing with Chris, teasing him, etc…they did not want him to leave.