Rain Rain Go Away

Ever since we got here I've been meaning to post about the rain. Everyone we meet keep "warning" us about the rain. To me it is the equivalent to the heat in AZ. Like when you meet someone that has just moved there, you almost pitty them that they have no idea what the heat is "really" gonna be like. Plus, you know how to live in it, and how to avoid it-more or less. Well, it seems to be the same here with the rain. People keep saying, "ya know it's gonna rain", or "you probably won't see the sun until June".

There's been rain off and on since we got here, but for the most part it's been nice. In fact, a lot of the time, the rain is more like a mist. It comes and goes off and on all throughout the day, when it's rainy.

( I took this picture with my cell in my car)

UNTIL TODAY! It's been pouring rain all day long. I don't mean a little mist, or even a drizzle, I'm talking major rain storm mixed with a little hail! I just got back from taking Colton to his new ortho, and as I took him back to school he was asking if I thought they'd still be outside for recess? I didn't think in a million years that they would sent the kids outside in this storm. Boy was I wrong. As we got to the school, there were all the kids, most of them in their rain jackets, playing outside like the sun was shining. They didn't even seem to notice that they were sopping wet. Can you imagine what their classrooms will smell like when they all get back inside. Can you say WET DOG-

Well, I guess we chalk this one up to another new EXPERIENCE, and be darn grateful that we have raincoats

Corn Maze Field trip

I went with Whitley's class today on a field trip. We went to a farm where they had this huge corn maze in the shape of WA state. They handed each of us a map of WA and several points that we were suppose to find along our way. All of the trails were "freeways" that are in WA. We actually got lost a couple of times, but ended up figuring it out. The trails were all muddy and slippery from the rain, and Whit actually wiped out at one point, and covered herself pretty good in mud.

After we ate lunch, they had a little pig show, and gave the kids dream sickles (which I though was strange considering it was cold and rainy). We got back on the bus and headed back to the school. It was a great farm, and an awesome hands-on learning field trip!

Too much hair

After enjoying conference today, it was time for some haircuts. I realized that Colton hadn't had his haircut since I buzzed it in June-YIKES. And Kennedy has been asking me to cut hers short for a long time. Whit just needed a trim, so I lined 'em up at cut it all off.

I ended up taking about 5 inches off from Kenendy's hair, and it turned out really cute. She pulled some weirdo face for the picture, but lets remember it is Kennedy. I only trimmed Whit's hair, so she said she didn't need a picture of hers.

So there you have it. Way too much hair. 1 untrained barber. 3 much better looking kiddos.

Conference Day 1

This year I decided to try a few of the ideas I've heard and read about to keep my kids entertained and quiet, and most importantly maybe even listening to conference! I printed off a big packet of age appropriate activites for them to do. Everything from Book of Mormon books word searches, to coloring pages. They love it. They got right to work, and I had to have them stop in between sessions so that they'd have something to do during the second session.
Now, don't get me wrong. They weren't quiet, perfect little angels, but it certainly helped. One of the acitivites that Colton and Whitley had was to write down what each of the 1 presidency and quorum of the 12 spoke about, and then what they would do to try to be better at it. They were both pretty into it. Sometimes they weren't sure what the talk was about, and spent the whole time asking us "what is this about?" But hey at least they were listening!

The other thing I did were these candy bars. I bought a huge pack of mini candy bars from Costo for Halloween the other day, and then printed these wrappers off of the 1st presidency and quorum of the 12. When that particular person was speaking they found that candy bar, and got to eat it while they spoke. Clearly this was the highlight. At one point in the second session, President Eyring announced who would be speaking next, and the next two were both apostles, and Colton yelled "sweet, 2 candy bars in a row!" But again I say, at least they were listening.

After reading my friend Rachels blog, I think I'm headed to Wal Mart for pipe cleaners and modeling clay. A whole new bag of tricks to add to the things from today. They might actually enjoy conference this year. I know I sure am.

Courage Assembly

Every Friday morning at the kids school they have a "courage" assembly. It is completely put on by their principal. He recognized a few kids for things they've done to make their school better, and always a few teachers as well. It's awesome. Today, Kennedy's class was asked to sing a cute little song at the assembly. She's been wound up all week about her performance. She did great.

Sunshine in Redmond

(headed to the park to meet more friends)
This is what we are all LOVING about living in Redmond! When the sun is shining, there are kids everywhere.

TV is NOT real

Every once in a while, a tv show comes along that you really connect with. When I say connect, I mean it starts to consume your brain. Seinfeld was just that kind of show for Landon. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy Seinfeld, but Landon still watches every episode that he ever finds on tv, and has all of the seasons on DVD. He can integrate a Seinfeld moment into almost every situation. Having said that, today's adventure makes more sense.

Landon has a 5-6 mile commute to work. He never drives to lunch, so he really only drives his car 11-12 miles per day. Saturday night, he noticed that his gas light had just come on. Now most sane people would go get gas for the upcoming week. Landon decided to pull a Kramer. There's a Seinfeld episode where Kramer goes to test drive a car and talks to salesman to drive around all day to see how far they can go without getting gas. Landon tells me that he's going to try to go until Friday without gas. I say he's nuts, and not to call me for help when he runs out of gas.

This morning around 9:30 I am just leaving Target, and my phone rings. It's Landon and he says that he was leaving a meeting at one of the buildings at Genie, and that his car had just stopped. He wasn't sure what was wrong, and was wondering if I could come and help him. The first thing I said was, "What do you mean you don't know what's wrong. You're outta gas ya moron!" I tell him that I will come and get him, but only because I'm at Target and it's about 2 minutes from his work.

I pick him up and take him to the gas station where he buys yet another gas can. We take it back to his truck and fill it up. He starts the engine, and acts almost surprised that that's what was wrong. Like he was expecting something different? All he could say was that the gas needle was not past E and that his gage must be reading wrong. All I'm saying is that the next time you think you might try to reenact a scene from Seinfeld, you better call Jerry for help!