Eavesdropping

Setting: Jake and Nate's room. Jake is reading "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" to Nate in his bed.

Conversation overheard between Jake and Nate:

Jake: What do you think paranoid means?
Nate: Well, I'm not sure, but I think it means to annoy your parents. I'm not sure though.

Great logic! :)

Help?

Hi guys -

I am so sorry that I such a neglectful blogger. Maybe if I occasionally took a picture, I might have something to post.

We are all doing well - staying busy just like all of you. I have a favor to ask of those aunties who attended Jacob's baptism. He is under the impression that one of you said you were sending him something in the mail for his baptism. He checks the mailbox every day for his baptism gift, and is beginning to despair that it is ever coming.

I have no knowledge of who might have said something to him, and if perhaps he misconstrued said conversation in a manner that is was not meant. Regardless, if you could all think back to something you maybe said, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, maybe we could come up with a scenario where I send you a gift that you in turn mail to him, etc, etc.

Thank you so much for your help! I have avoided asking thinking that he would just forget, but no such luck.

Love to you all-
Connie

Sanity

We are on the countdown! Friday is the day we depart Nevada for our annual summer trek to Idaho. We have kept very busy the past few months with spring sports and trying to wrap things up here while preparing for the summer.

Paige and Jake did an awesome job playing softball/coach pitch. Paige is learning how to pitch, and has worked very hard this year to learn new skills. As always, her attitude is outstanding, and she is having a great time. Jake is a natural athlete. (I still can't believe he is my offspring.) :) He is a lefty and usually plays first base. He hit several triples throughout the season, and got countless outs. He really is a joy to watch - I am one proud mama. (He even pointed to the outfield a few times when he was up to bat before his dad gave him the knock it off signal.) Steve helped coach Jake's team, and they got to spend lots of quality time together.

Jake has the mind of an engineer or maybe an architect. I have been remiss in taking pictures, but we have a section of a flowerbed in our backyard that has enough clear space that Jake has taken to building dams, islands, etc. I am so impressed with his ability to picture something in his mind and then bring it to reality with such ease. He will create something, and then add water for special effects. Most recently, he shaped an island into the shape of the United States, and it looked just like it! What a kid.

Nathan is so easygoing, and enjoys being wherever I am. His preschool graduation ceremony for his Cuddlebug 3 year old class is tomorrow. He is learning to ride a scooter, and can't wait to go to Idaho. He has been waiting for months for the weather to be warm enough to visit the water park in Boise. Over the weekend, we went for a family walk, and stopped by the park to play for a bit. There were several trees there full of birds, and I made a comment to the children that the birds were singing so beautifully. Nathan listened for a moment, and then said, "Mom, I think they forgot the words!"

Here's to a sane and exciting summer with lots of fun memories.

Connie and Fam

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

I really, really needed this today.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Higher Road

How can I sum up what life is like for me lately? I guess I need to report that my training wheels are still on, as I am still learning how to accept my life's circumstances with patience and grace instead of complaining and questioning. Nope, I still don't know how to take the higher road, and the Lord continues to guide me through gentle force. Painful? Yes. Worth it? Maybe someday I'll get the hang of it. Until then, it's like a "funniest home video" with lots of hiiiillllaarrioouss crashes (somehow it's not quite as funny without the music and sound effects). Steve has been asked to coach girls basketball this next year as a new coach has just been hired. He has decided to give it a shot (yes, I know we're crazy). He is such a talented man, and truly has a gift working with youth. I am looking forward to watching a football coach try and tone it down just a smidge for a bunch of hormonal girls. We just got back from Boise, where we had a booth at the annual Sportman's Outdoor Show. Can I share how much I do not enjoy this experience of trying to tell people about our business in 2 seconds or less, juggling the ever hyper children, and traveling back and forth? DO NOT BUY YOUR OWN BUSINESS! The kids had a great time fishing in the pond set up at the show, shooting BB guns, and throwing balls at the Les Shwabb booth for speed. Paige bounced her ball off of the perimeter a few times and had everyone waiting in line ducking for cover. Cabellas booth was right next to ours, and they had a wheel you could spin to win little prizes like postcards, lanyards, a hat, etc. Jake was bound and determined to win a hat, and went back to spin the wheel over and over again and did not have any luck. FINALLY, his mother went over with 10 different prizes he had collected, and struck a trade for the coveted hat! Here is a picture of Jake with his prize. While in Boise at the show, I also conducted interviews for staff in Boise this next summer, and met some great people! I also have been working on setting up internships for our Riggins location with USU, U of U, and U of I. Life marches on. Everyone pray for a hot summer! A few other pictures for you: Oh man - does this sum up their relationship? :) We recently had to find a new home for our dogs because Jake and I are allergic. Here is a last picture of Nathan with his buddy. This little darling really got me in the grocery store last week. Picture Nate and I in the makeup/feminine products aisle which was packed with people. I was browsing a little way away from him, when, much to my dismay, he shouted out to me, "Hey mommy - do you need any mommy diapers?" Nice. No, I did not teach him that, I swear. Well, at least he will be a well-rounded husband someday, right? Lastly, Paige wanted me to post a few videos of what she has been working on in dance class (hip-hop). She has been working on learning how to do "the worm", and is so proud that she has learned how to do it.
Here she is doing her entire dance.


This epistle is finally concluded!

Update

We just received notification that the Child Center has officially been approved for National Accreditation through NAEYC through 2015. This has been a long 2 year process with many, many hours of work by all 42 employees!

We were assessed on 10 content areas, and scored 100%+ in 3 areas, 100% in 6 areas, and 96% in the remaining category.

Man, am I glad that's over! Just thought I would share with you what I've been up to... :)

Connie

Successful morning?

Soooo....

I got up this morning at 5:30 to work out, put gas in the very empty gas tank of the truck, came home and did the dishes, switched the laundry, got dinner in the oven with timer set, fed two little boys breakfast and got them ready for school, showered and got ready for work, and headed out the door within 2 hours from start to finish.

I was feeling pretty great about a productive morning until I realized, somehow in my rush, I forgot to brush my teeth.

Successful morning? You be the judge. :)