little helper

Jared was setting up the tv and Heidi got right in there and helped. It was so cute!

Our First Pool Party

We invited some neighbors and friends over for a pool party for labor day and it was SO fun! We cooked hotdogs, sausages, and brats and everyone brought sides to go with it! The kids had a great time and the adults, too. I think this will be the first of many parties to come.

*I only had my camera out for about 5 seconds and I didn't get pictures of everyone. I am sad about that. I was a little busy though :D

Jumpin' in the pool


Jared the grill master and Alli and Claire (future babsitters!)


My boys and neighbor Chad.


Old friends and new friends...


Megan and some cute new friends she met on our street!


People diggin' in the awesome eats...


Jumping on the trampoline.


What a great time! I am so glad to have so many great friends and neighbors!

Proof Megan is a Brat Sometimes....

Rescue 911

We have only one set of keys for our van. That's all we got when we bought it. I have always been really paranoid about locking my keys in the car so I am VERY careful about making sure it doesn't happen. Until last night...

When we came inside from an errand, the door on Heidi's side didn't close. Jared locked the car and we went in the house. We didn't know the door was open. When I went to get in the car to pick Megan up from gym, the door was open so I walked right up and put Heidi inside. Usually I have to push a button on my key that opens the door for me and also unlocks the car. I didn't have to do this since the door was already open. My usual habit is to drop the keys in the driver's seat before I buckle her in. I did this and shut her door. I went to open my door and it was LOCKED!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!! My worst fear, locking my baby in the car, happened. I just kept trying to open the door, all the doors, circling the car and praying for some weird reason a door was unlocked. No such luck. Heidi was crying for me. That is the worst feeling, not being able to help your child when they need you. I called to Jared who was in the pool with the boys and he came to help me. He told me to get a hanger. Ha ha. Our house is in such disarray how will I find one. Well, I did. And it was PINK. I wondered if Jared would say something about it. He tried to use a screwdriver to pry the door open and I tried to slip the mangled pink hanger in the door. We couldn't get it in. We kept trying for a couple minutes and I was worried he was going to break the door. At least Heidi would be out, but I really didn't want to deal with that. I made Jared call the police station. They said they would send someone right away. Meanwhile, Jared kept trying to get in while I played peek-a-boo with Heidi. She didn't like it. Everytime I hid for half a second she screamed louder. I decided that wasn't going to help. Poor baby. Then Jared stabbed me in the eye with the pink hanger. That freakin hurt! Finally a cop showed up. Did I mention he was kind of cute? He came up and looked in at Heidi who was still upset and then he walked around the car. I wonder if he noticed our inspection just expired. He told us that the fire department had to come to get her out. Hmmm, weird. I wonder why he couldn't do it. He said they should be here soon and then said, "Oh, I think I hear them now." Sure enough I heard SIRENS off in the distance. Are you freaking kidding me???? We just moved on this street a week ago and already we have the cops and fire dept at our house. I was so embarassed! Thankfully they turned off the lights and sirens when they got in the neighborhood. Phew! The boys got out of the pool and we so excited to see the fire truck pull up. That was kind of fun. They got out and walked up, made me sign soemthing saying they weren't liable if they scratched the car or had to take the door off, and then popped up the lock and I got Heidi out. Then the thought entered my mind while I was thanking them profusely... I have to blog about this! I really like to have pictures with my blogs so I asked them to hold Heidi and pose for a picture. They thought that was so funny and they were great sports. Ethan made it in the picture, too. Christian was inside changing into dry clothes and was too slow to get outside. And poor Megan was stuck at gymnastics until the fiasco was over. I don't think she minded much.

Heidi and her heroes... I love firemen and cops!


I might as well add the first day of school pics... I have been slow to get on the computer.

The kids in the hotel the morning of the first day of school.


Ethan in his first grade class. His teacher is Mrs. Smith and she is awesome!


Megan in her fourth grade class. Her teacher is Mrs. Dunn and she is SO nice!


And my little boy is growing up and FINALLY lost his first tooth!!! He is SOOOO cute! He was proud. He pulled it out at school and the nurse gave him a cute little treasure chest to put the tooth in. The tooth fairy let him keep the treasure chest and also gave him a dollar! He said he would never spend it. I believe it!

Did that really just happen? Really?

Jared came to get us to go out for lunch today. He wanted to go somewhere fast and cheap. He chose Schlotzsky's. I love that place. I don't love going to fast food places for lunch, during lunch hour, with 4 kids. I just don't like it. There isn't ever a place to fit all my family. There might be 6 chairs open in the restaurant, but none near each other. I really hate trying to figure it all out with all the drinks, the food, the kids running around, and all the people staring at us. OK, maybe no one really stares. Today they did.

We get to the restaurant and walk in. I immediately scan for a table to fit us all. There is a table for 4 empty and a few scattered 2-person tables. Crap. Well, ok, Jared is with me so I don't have to do this alone. We order our food and get the cups and I suggest we go try to figure out our sitting arrangement before we get drinks. We head to the 4 person table and there are no other tables near it to spread us all out. Jared grabbed a high chair for Heidi and we CRAM ourselves around this tiny table. I knew this would happen. The nice lady at the table next to us offered up an empty chair so two kids wouldn't be sharing a chair. Six of us crowded around a little square table. Not fun. The people in a 4 person table next to us left. THANK HEAVEN! We started moving the kids to the other table and I left to get them drinks. While I was at the fountain, our number was called. I look at Jared and he is on the phone not paying attention. So I went to get what I could carry and a guy helped me carry the rest. Upon getting to the table we set out the food and I gave the kids their stuff and went to get lids for the kids drinks (the ones who got their own drinks). I came back to my sandwich laying on the floor. I asked WHAT HAPPENED!!! Jared answered... Your daughter. Thanks Heidi. Thanks. Jared picked it up off the floor and left to get me another. He made sure his sandwich was out of reach. I was begging Christian to give me some of his pizza to give to Heidi when I saw another sandwich meet the floor out of the corner of my eye. Jared's sandwich bit the dust. I just buried my face in my hands in disbelief as I heard both gasps and laughter from the crowd around us. Crap. I got up and walked over to Jared who was getting his drink and I told him about his sandwich. He was flabbergasted. He had put his sandwich out of her reach! She is just too good. The onlookers were having a great time watching our lunch time freak show. The nice lady who gave us a chair loved the entertainment. She told me so. I was crying and laughing at the same time and a nice grandma told me not to worry about it, that it would be easier in 40 years. Thanks. Jared had to go tell the cashier that yet another sandwich was thrown to the floor by his baby and needed another one. I wish I could have seen her face! When she brought his new sandwich, she said, "Here you go baby" like she was going to give it to Heidi. Jared said to Heidi that it was a good thing she was so young or she would have been in trouble. I heard the older couple next to us giggle when they heard this. I was a bright shade of red for almost the entire lunch. How embarassing! I told you people stare. I guess it doesn't help we give people reason to. In the end, we all got to eat, everyone was happy, and no more sandwiches hit the floor.

I learned a lot from lunch today...

I think I am officially done having kids.

And going to fast food restaurants during lunch hour.

And I probably won't ever go into that Schlotzsky's ever again.

Heidi... 9 months!

I went to get pics done with my friend, Josie, and her baby Mason. I was doubtful Heidi would do well taking pictures because she was kind of fussy and tired, but when the camera came out she really hammed it up!!!

My favorite!


Glamour Girl!


Don't let her angelic face fool you...


Sassy pants!


I love this one!


To see all the pictures click here.

Our new home...

Here are some pictures of the house we are going to buy. I took these during the inspection. We can't wait to move in! I am ready to get out of this hotel...

The front.


Close-up of the front.


Kitchen, stolen from the mls page online. (looks a lot like my old kitchen!)


Kitchen and dining.



Kitchen and you can see into the 2nd living area.


Entry and 2nd living with doors closed.


Living room with built in entertainment center. you can see to the master there...


Living room windows to backyard. Don't you love the stain glass stickers? ha ha ha!


View of bathroom from master bedroom.


Big shower with 2 shower heads and a seat to sit on! No tub though.


Master bedroom.


Laundry room. There is space on the right with a bar to hang clothes on. It is pretty decent.


Ethan and Christian's room.


Megan and Heidi's room. I hope they can be good little roommates!



Back of the house.


Backyard. Love it! Beyond the iron fence is our property, too. It is a dry creek. The kids will love going in there. I on the other hand don't like it much because there are tons of big bugs!!!


Stairs going down to the wooded area.


Looking down into the dry creek.


Cabana with outdoor kitchen.



The pool. It is awesome!


I love the waterfall!


I am glad it has a hot tub. We can use it all year!


Stairs and tanning ledge.


Better pic of ourdoor kitchen. I would call it more of a built in grill with a countertop and little fridge LOL! I love it!


We'll be having lots of backyard BBQs so everyone be ready to come over for swimming and food and FUN!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to paint and decorate and post those pictures. We hope to move in soon!