Puppet Show

Nathan and Zachary informed Eric and I that they were going to put on a puppet show for us. The puppet show was written and performed by Nate and Zach.  Notice how Nathan's has a happier ending!  lol  

Thanks to Eric for making it into an imovie for me.  He's a whiz at this computer stuff.  Sorry, I didn't use my good video camera  so the quality is terrible.  

Twins

Twins are so much fun.  I just enjoy watching them interact with each other.  I bet there will come a day when my twins wish they were identical.  I have always heard about identical twins switching classes in high school and the teacher never knows.

What should I do with my boys?  When one doesn't want to do his homework, the other will occasionally help out.  Zachary loves to draw so when Nathan doesn't know how to draw something for his book report, Zach offers to draw it for him.  Today, one didn't want to write his book report, so the other offered to write it for him.  My first inclination was to stop them, but I just had to walk away and chuckle.   I wish I had a twin that would pick up the slack for me sometimes.

I thought, it sure would be nice to always have my best friend with me. But then I realized, now that I am married, I guess I always do.

Cheese and Mac

I realize that some of you are probably totally bored by my blog entries. But my blogs are more for me to remember funny things (at least funny to me) that my kids have done.  I get a laugh from them when I read through them months later. 

It is a known fact in our home that Zach doesn't like mac and cheese.  But my other three kids love it and ask for it often.  Well, I forgot today and I served it to the four kids.  Zach immediately said, "I don't like mac and cheese."  Eric quickly responded, "This isn't mac and cheese, it is cheese and mac."  Zach looked at me with that serious face and asked me if this was true.  I said "yes, it is cheese and mac."  Well, turns out Zach likes cheese and mac.  Imagine that.

Mario and I couldn't hardly stop laughing during our lunch prayer.  We were thinking maybe he is not as smart as we thought!

On the Move

Mario came home yesterday and said the Air Force has denied his request to extend here in California for a couple more months. I wasn't too surprised when he told me because I know that is how things work in the AF, besides, what would he do for 2 months after graduation. It seems like a complete waste of money to let him stay here and do "research" for one of the professors.

Anyway, instead of moving towards the end of May, looks like we will be moving early April. Wow, that sure changes plans. I had to start telling the teachers that I won't be able to tutor anymore. I am so sad because I have really grown attached to these students.

Thank goodness I started early and found a good program for Eric and Erin for the next school year. But what do I do now that they have to check out of class early here. When I contacted the school in Tucson, they said that the kids could start this school year. What a relief! Now I guess I will have to homeschool the twins for a couple months because they are not too happy about changing schools in the middle of the year.

We have decided to rent instead of buying. Tucson is a declining market and so we think it will be in our best interest to wait awhile. So now I have to find a rental. I haven't found too many that will accomodate our family. This may be harder than finding a house to buy. There's lots of those on the market. Anyway, wish me luck.

Poppie

I got a call a week ago from my mom.  It was pretty late so that was not a good sign.  She called to tell me that my grandfather, Poppie, had passed away from a heart attack.  He was 89 and had just left a birthday party for a great grandchild.  He was driving home with my grandmother and complained of chest pains.  Fortunately he was able to pull over the car before he died.  My grandmother was safe.

So my mom flew up to Connecticut first thing Sunday morning and my siblings flew up Monday.  I decided to take Zach with me.  I figured this would make it easier on Mario.  Plus we like to separate the twins occasionally because they are different kids when they are alone one on one with us.  

I always saw Poppie as kind of grumpy.  That is unfortunate.  But when I had children, I saw a different side of him.  He seemed to really enjoy Eric and Erin.   I think maybe he mellowed in his old age.   We didn't see Nonnie and Poppie much.  We only lived in CT for about a year as kids.  But he and Nonnie would come to FL every winter.   So we did see them occasionally in the winter.

Nonnie and Poppie had a good life together.  They raised four very hard working children.  They were able to live together in their same house until Poppie's death.  They were both in good health especially for being so old.  I think Nonnie will live until 100.  She is amazing and never likes to sit still (just like my mom.) 

It was interesting to be in CT and see different family members.  I could see traits in them that reminded me of myself.  It was like a big family reunion.  Unfortunately it took a death in the family to get us all together.   

I will always be grateful the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Death is just another necessary step in the Plan of Salvation.   We will one day be reunited with our Heavenly Father and with our families.  This knowledge brings me great comfort.

My new job

If you are wondering why I haven't blogged lately, it is because I have a new full time job. Unfortunately it doesn't pay anything!  Well, I did get a new Mac computer, so I guess that is something. 

My new job is house hunting.  It is much more difficult than I would have ever imagined.  First, where to live?  Where to send the kids to school?  Which ward would be the best for our four children, especially the older two since they will be entering the Youth program shortly.  

All this is complicated by a husband who is tired of living in a 1300 square foot house with four kids.  Maybe he is just tired of hearing all my complaining about living in a 1300 square foot house with four kids!  Have you ever had to listen to two children practice the piano for 40 minutes each while doing reading lessons with twins in a tiny home?  It isn't easy.  

So anyway, he wants me to find him a 3000 square foot home, with five bedrooms, an office, a pool, 3 car garage, great schools, large ward, not to mention a short commute to work.  And he wants all this on a Major's salary!

Now, do you see why this has become my full time job and now I have no time to blog.   I have been given an impossible task!

He may have to settle for a 4 bedroom home that is closer to 2000 square feet with a community pool.  Hey, compared to what we have now, that will be a mansion!

Snow!

As we were landing in Salt Lake City, Eric looked out the window and saw all the snow.  He immediately asked if we could move there.  I hate cold weather, so my reply was "No!"  It only took a few minutes for Eric to understand my response.   He became cold very quickly.   He agreed that it is nice to visit snow, but maybe not live in it.  

We spent the first morning in Provo.  We found a great park that was perfect for sledding.  We called my YW's leader from 20 years ago, and she outfitted the kids with good sleds, boots, hats, and gloves.  They loved sledding.

After sledding we attended the Draper Open House.  I had never gone to an Open House before and  I  wondered what it would be like to attend a Temple that wasn't in operation yet.  It was amazing that they were able to maintain the same level of reverence inside the Temple even though it was open to the general public.  The kids enjoyed their tour.  Our purpose in taking Eric and Erin to this open house was to hopefully help them develop a strong desire to live worthily to one day be sealed there.  

After the open house, we went and bought a sled since we had to return the stuff we borrowed earlier.  Now the kids had to share a small disc sled.  They only had a coat, mittens, and tennis shoes.   But we found a great golf course that converts to a great sledding area in the winter.  It was icy so the kids had no traction in their tennis shoes but they had fun slipping around everywhere. 

The next day we went to Temple Square and visited the sights there.  We had lunch at the Nauvoo Cafe and then went to see a movie, Bedtime Stories.  I asked the kids if they wanted to go sledding again.  I guess they had enough from the first day.  Eric was a little sore from the day before.

We had a great visit. It was so much easier traveling with the big kids and not having Nathan and Zachary with us.  But we missed them and were anxious to get home and see them.  Mario missed us but had a great time with the twins.  He is a big believer that you bond with those you serve.  So he had a great week of bonding with the twins as he attended to every need and desire of 2 five year olds.  Believe me, those two are always  needy!

As always, I came back to a house much cleaner than I left it.  Thank you Mario!