Mystery Rolls

Last night I was sitting in the kitchen helping Kennedy finish up some homework. Landon had run an errand, and Colton and Whitley were milling around doing whatever it is they do! I hear a knock at the door, and figure one of them will get it. Colton does. I hear no talking and then I hear him kind of yell out "thanks". He shuts the door and brings into the kitchen these yummy rolls and homemade jam. And this is the conversation that follows...

Me - Who brought these?

Colton - I don't know

Me - Didn't you answer the door?

Colton - Yep

Me - Well who was it?

Colton - I don't know his name.

Me (getting irritated) - So it was a man?

Colton - No, some kid

Me - Have you ever seen this kid before?

Colton - Yeah, he's in our ward I think

Me - How old was he

Colton - Maybe 6

Me - Well who is it. I need to be able to at least thank his mom for these.

Colton - I don't know

Me - Did you see the parent?

Colton - Nope. The kid just handed them to me, and ran off. So I stuck my head out the door and yelled thanks.

Me - How could you not know who it is. You don' just take something and not at least know where it came from

Colton (getting more and more defensive) - Maybe it's that Farnsworth kid (our neighbor)

Me - Well you've seen those kids. Was is one of the Farnworth boys?

Colton - I don't know!

Me- What did the car look like?

Colton - Kind of like the Hixons car (a gray excursion)

Me - Was it gray like that?

Colton - I think so

Me - Was it big like the Hixons car, or smaller?

Colton - I think it was big. I wasn't really looking

Me- Could you maybe point this kid out at church for me?

Colton - yea, probably

Heaven help me. This kid is a tard! How do you take something from someone, and not at least have the brain to figure out who it is. ( I love you Colton, but really?? ) I don't have a clue who my visiting teachers are, and I have tons of neighbors who are so freakin' nice that it could be any of them! I can't think of anyone else in my ward with a car like the Hixons. I could've just beat him! I hate stuff like that, and he couldn't figure out why I was so bugged!

So, if you brought me rolls and jam last night. THANK YOU. They are yummy. And could you please tell me who you are so I can thank you in person!

Kennedy VS. Her Vitamins

Every morning it's the same battle. Kennedy vs. her vitamins. She hates them. I make her take them anyways! She is by far my worst eater, so I figure of all my kids she needs them the most. She is ridiculous about them. She hides them behind her drink.She won't touch them so she uses her cup to move them. She will only eat yellow calcium chews, and only red multi vitamins. This is the attitude I get each and every day when I put these on the counter for her! When will she learn? She is so not winning this battle!

A Happy Day

Colton got a cell phone for his 11th birthday. BIG MISTAKE!! We had just moved to Washington, and we thought it would be a great way for him to stay connected to his best friend back home. Well, they seldom called each other and after 2 months he had lost it. He was clearly not old enough, or responsible enough for a phone. Landon vowed that he would never buy him another cell phone again! I new that would never stick.
Fast forward a couple years. Colton is coming up on 14 and much more responsible. Not to mention starting to go hang out with his buddies a lot more. There have been several times in the last year or so that I have so wished he had a phone. It was time. Now I just had to convince Landon!
As luck would have it, Landon was in need of a cell phone of his own! He has had a company issued phone for as long as I can remember. His new company doesn't do that. He doesn't travel, and he just doesn't need one for work. So we finally broke down and got new phones. Colton is thrilled! He spent most of the day messing with his phone, and texting me. He has been threatened with his life if he loses this thing.

Kennedy snapped up Landon's old phone, which is really a little piece of crap that we've had since Moses Lake that he got to replace Colton's lost phone. He wanted to keep that line for personal use, but didn't really need it. (Don't ask. These are the things I just ignore). So he got this little crapper to have, and it has been his phone for the last couple weeks. Kennedy has had it on her person solid since we got home from AT & T.

And Landon. Bless his heart. Got himself the new iPhone 4. He is in heaven. I don't know who is more excited about their phone. This thing is pretty sweet though. It makes my old 3G iPhone look like a dinosaur. This is Landon tonight in bed. It's 11pm, and he won't turn it off!

Just Hangin' Out

Noah, Colton, Dayton

This is becoming a regular scene at my house, and I love it. We're missing Chip today, I think he had homework. Not that these three don't, they're just not doing it... yet. They all ride the bus home together, and jump my back fence. They come through my back door, get a snack and drink, and then just hang. Sometimes they play XBOX, and sometimes they just hang around and harass each other. It can be any combination of boys, but there's always somebody here.

Oh Yeah!

This is the kind of thing that Landon brings home from work on occasion. We've had this forever and I've never tried to do it. That golf ball has been off it's tee for years. Many a people have given it a go, with no success. Until tonight. I casually picked it up, and started messing with it. Landon was explaining to me how impossible it was to get it on there when I landed it on the tee with ease. Then I freaked out. Colton was screaming, and trying to get it from me. I slowly got off the couch, and placed it on the book shelf for all to admire! About an hour later Whitley came walking by. She forgot that I had gotten on there, and mindlessly grabbed it and started to shake it around. Just playing with it. Then in a complete panic, remembered what I had done! Bless her heart. She went to pieces. I assured her it was just fine, and that it was easy for me to get it back on there. I then spent the next hour trying to recreate the magic. It's still not on there!

Giddy Up

Tonight was the girls activity day daddy daughter date. Wow say that 5 times fast! It was a cowboy/cowgirl themed night. This is the best we could come up withThey took Landon's truck of course!

I told the girls to share their dad nicely, and he says they did. Lucky girls.

They had some pie, played some games and had a little lesson. They all had a good time, and I know the girls were so happy to have their dad there with them.

Whit's Real Party

Whitley and 13 of her closest friends celebrated her birthday at the Freestone Rec Center tonight. They rock climbed, played wally ball, ping pong, pool, foosball, and basketball. Mostly they climbed!

Then we headed in for cake and ice cream, and of course presents.

The only thing she really wanted this year, besides gift cards, was an ASU soccer jersey. Unfortunately they don't sell the ASU soccer jersey, so we settled for a women's football jersey. She loves it!
Colton and Mason spent most of their time getting schooled by a couple of random strangers in basketball. At least they had fun.

Whitley turns 11

We celebrated Whit's 11 birthday today. It was nice to have more family around. Whitley wanted Korean Beef and Potstickers for dinner. And she requested a Texas sheet cake for dessert!

After dinner we were getting ready to open presents, and Bumpa taught Whitley how to whistle with her hands. She spent the rest of the night showing off her new talent!

She is at the age where all she wants is gift cards. She wants to shop for her own presents. That makes life easy for me! Plus I get to be in on the shopping trip.

Happy Birthday Whit. We sure love ya!

Heidi and Jimmy

Heidi, Jimmy and their boys are here visiting this week. My kids are having a blast with their cousins. They have been over swimming a couple times, we've been out to dinner, and have played games late after the kids went to bed. Rowdy
Whiterbug

Jimmy and Brady

Landon chucking Rowdy in the pool. I don't think he's too happy about it

We've had so much fun spending time with my sister and her family. We love you guys and can't wait to see you all again.

1st Day of School

The first day of school is always exciting. By the end of the summer, I am ready for them to go back. But then a couple days before school starts, I get sad because the easy summer livin' is over. Back to life. Back to a schedule, and homework, and practice, and rushing around! It's exhausting. Plus, that's less time to hang with my kids. And they're old enough now that when they're not fighting, they pretty awesome. We've spent the last several days getting last minute shoes, clothes and supplies. We're ready to roll! Kennedy - 3rd Grade - Mrs. Melki
Whitley - 6th Grade - Mrs. Williams
Colton - 8th Grade - 1 year away from High School

He's Comin' Home

Landon has been interviewing with a company for several months now. We were suppose to hear whether or not he got the job on Friday before we went to California. Friday came and went, and still no answer. So we left for vacation with a bit of a knot in our stomachs. Tuesday, July 20th, we finally got the call we've been waiting for for a year. Landon got a job. And not just any job, but a great job. He gives his 2 weeks notice tomorrow, and then starts on August 16th.

We have lived in different states for 1 year now. 1 year! That's a long time. It's been a long road. But through it all we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives. And we knew all along, and continued to have confirmed to us along the way, that we were doing the right thing. Even though it didn't always feel that way, it was. We both knew that this is where we want to finish raising our kids. These are the people and friends we want our kids to go through Jr. High and High School with. This is the ward that we want to be a part of. It's interesting when you look back on a trial. Would I have made this choice a year ago had I known it was going to be this long? Don't know. Would I have made it the same way? Prayer, fasting, temple, absolutely. I know that the Lord wanted us in Washington when he did, and I know that he wanted us back in Arizona when he did. Believe me, we didn't do this the easy way, but we sure are stronger because of it. So hopefully, now that my life is "back to normal" I can get back to normal. Blogging more regular, cooking dinner more often (maybe) having Landon home to split the running around after school. I can't wait. Let's see what the next curve ball is going to be! 'Cause I know it's comin'.