still alive

Since the 4th of July vacation it seems like we have just been recovering. Nothing real exciting is going on plus I haven't found time to post. Daren has now officially been through or is just finishing "busy time" at work. It is very manageable. He has worked the last 2 Saturdays and worked longer hours but nothing compared to Deloitte. Maybe it helps to know it isn't going to last 3 1/2 months too. But because of the working we haven't really been doing much. So for this blog I thought I would add some pictures of what we have been doing to "take care of ourselves". I started doing this 3 years ago after my sister in law gave me the idea and we have had fun with it. We take care of our bodies, space, minds, and spirit. So for bodies we have been doing ballet class (at home taught by me:) Max seems to be partial to tap. If he sees these shoes lying around and there is no ball around to distract him he wants them on. We have been making obstacle courses in the back yard, kick ball, tennis (again very informal taught by me on the patio) to name a few. Next taking care of our space is when we do our chores for the day. Spirit: We sing a song and have family prayer. Then we have been working on the articles of faith for the summer. Meg has the first 2 down, Lizza is working on #4, and Abby #6. To do that we sing the song that goes with each one and repeat the words a few times. I am trying to memorize the proclamation on the family. My hope is that by hearing me repeat it to them a couple of times each morning they will remember parts too. Mind: For this we are focusing on Geography, math, reading, science. For geography we are trying to learn the song fifty nifty United states http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivpUBvOeD1s we have worked on north/south/east/west, where the equator is and drew maps to "treasures". We have been picking random countries to study about which everyone has liked. We first did China and they were fascinated with it all until we watched a clip from National Geographic about using bee stingers to help cure certain things and make them look younger. ( I didn't click on it Abby did) Now none of them want to visit. For math we have done simple equations with different objects, problem solves(puzzlers paradise.com) thanks Nicole, we read a book about fractions and used a Hershey candy bar to make the fractions, things like that. For reading it's individualized to each child and I do one on one time with each. For science we have been talking about Weather lately. We learned about rain, how clouds are formed, the different kinds of clouds, how lightening is created, and thunder. Then about Hurricanes and tornado's. Our different kinds of clouds. Before Weather we talked about the solar system. We learned about the order of the planets (my very excellent mother just served up noodles)(mars, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.) Then they picked planets and made reports on them. After we did a couple of reports we made the solar system out of Styrofoam balls. It was fun and they still won't let me throw it away so it just sits on my dresser in our room. Meg is trying to show that she painted the sun. It has really been fun and keeps us busy so I don't have to hear or deal with I'm board very much. Other than that Max has picked up a new favorite past time besides the outside. He says basketball, which almost sounds like Grandpa but you can hear the b sound mixed in there and you know he means ball. But he likes to play basketball with a football. If you will appease him you with have to throw him the ball, he'll pass is back to you, then you pass it back he runs away then makes a basketball. I downloaded my latest pictures and I have 16 pictures of him playing this. So obviously it is all he does these days. The good thing is it keeps him occupied I guess. This past Sunday Daren was released as the Elders Quorum president after 3 years and I was released from primary after almost 6 years. Daren was called in the young men's as the priest advisor and me as the enrichment leader. I am terrified. I have loved primary and am very comfortable there. The leader before me is incredible! She does everything so nicely and just really adds the finishing touches on everything to make is nice. I on the other hand don't even think about the finishing touches, usually I forget to put on a clean shirt let alone flowers for the tables! So I am a little freaked out. This is out of my area. Daren on the other hand is ecstatic! I think he has wanted to be in young men's for a long time and now he will probably be there a long time too. Totally random but I think these post are more for me than anyone else so I am just purging all the info I have been storing in my brain until I could record it somewhere. Megan told me about a week ago she is going to be a doctor. I asked her what kind and she said a surgeon. I said oh you have to have a steady hand to do that I could never be a surgeon. She asked what that meant and since I explained it she holds out her hands every once in a while and says "look mom I'm steady still so I can cut people open." She also has been making me come in and dry her hands after she washes them (no hepatitis thank goodness). she holds them up so the water drips down her arm and off her elbows to the floor. She informs me doctors don't dry their own hands and I have to pretend to put gloves on her when I'm done! My life has come to this, I am Megs "pretend assistant" and I love it. She cracks me up.

the car ride

How could I forget the car ride! So picture this if you can. We drove from Boise to Idaho Falls to Driggs then to Idaho Falls back to Boise. Max didn't sleep a wink! It was long. Oh and our Dvd player didn't work for most of the drive. Great experience.

We went back to Grandma and Grandpa Wallace's and they took care of us. She showed Lizza her spoons she collects, which Liz loves to look at. She gave all 3 girls pedicures. They loved it.

4th of July

Next to Christmas this is my favorite holiday and this year didn't disappoint. I am so grateful to live in this free country. We try to impress this on our children how lucky they are but I am pretty sure they don't quite get it, even I don't fully comprehend what we have here. But never the less I am grateful. The National anthem always makes me fight back tears yet I love hearing it and singing along with all the other patriotic music.

This year we went to Driggs Idaho to visit our good friends the Bennetts. It was so fun to just visit but that is not all. We hit the Driggs parade which gave out a whole sack of candy, collected by Abby. Lizza and Meg got to be in the parade because Hal was driving a golf cart in it. So they got to throw suckers. Lizza told me afterwards "now I know whats it's like to be in a parade, I have always always always wanted to be in a parade and now I have. And you know what mom, It's GREAT!" So thanks Hal for fulfilling on of Lizza's many dreams. We went to Jackson for the afternoon and hiked from Jenny's Lake to inspirational point. I think it was 2 miles round trip. Maybe a little more. We had to catch a ferry to take us across the lake to start our hike. It was so beautiful and cool. The kids were troopers. I use that word because on the hike meg asked me what that meant. After I explained it she was giving me examples. Like I am a trooper because I change max's diapers and they stink. Grandma Wallace is a trooper because her leg hurts her and she stills walks. Dads a trooper because he makes money for us to spend. So she's got the meaning of the word down. At one point we were ready to turn around because Max was getting sick of the backpack and the last part was pretty rocky and steep. But Abby convinced us otherwise (sorry Bennetts) and we pressed on. It was fun. We then went back to Driggs for fireworks. They were actually not to bad. It was a good 20 minutes of fire in the sky. Lizza has decided they are scary so she watched from the car. I failed to mention that in Driggs they are so organized that they set the fireworks off at the drive-in and had everyone park in this field of hay behind it. So they were right overhead but you were buried in hay. Fantastic.

Daren got in 2 mountain bike rides, which he loved, to top it off. That part of Idaho is so beautiful. It always takes Daren a few weeks to recover and come to terms with the fact that we can't move there.

the parade

only

half

way

up

the top

of our

hike!

I can't

figure

our what

part of don't

touch the animals

they can't understand.

Meg caught

red handed!

hepatitis?

Okay really quick because I am supposed to be packing and cleaning so we can leave this afternoon. So we have a problem in our house. Unfortunately it has been going on for quite a while. It is that Abby and Lizza rarely flush the toilet. Meg flushes all the time, she is quick to remind us every time we have a discussion about it. So a few days ago Daren took it on as a cause again. He told the the top 2 reasons the they should flush. 1st it's disgusting and rude etc. 2nd "Hepatitis, and that is not cool." I had to turn around so no one saw me laughing. Your right hepatitis not cool. So he had them discuss it and come up with a suitable punishment since none of the the ones we dished out seem to be an incentive. So the argued about it for awhile and decided that if they don't flush they can't play with the neighborhood friends for the day. If it is after 4:00 in the afternoon then it counts for tomorrow. We'll see. For any of you who want to come visit don't be afraid. Visitor stay downstairs and they don't use that toilet while we have visitors. And hopefully we won't pass on hepatitis.

Lagoon and Science Camp

Okay before I go any further I need to clear something up. Daren is a fantastic Dad. I cannot think of a better Dad around. He is helpful and involved and always looking for ways to make memories (good memories) for our children. To start things off: Lizza got a haircut! It looks so cute and I cannot believe I let it grow out. She looks really good with hair like this.

We have had a fun couple of weeks. The Wallace clan (minus the Souza part - we missed you guys!) Went to Salt Lake City for a long weekend. We went to Lagoon all day Friday and had a great time. Daren and I hadn't been there since we were dating and we both agreed things have improved. Our kids had a blast running around with cousins, grandparents, and us. Each of them had a favorite ride. Abby liked the sky coaster ride. She rode it 4 times! The first time she almost fell off as they were getting on and I thought, "This is the end. She will freak out the rest of way, but she pulled it together." I think Grandma and Brynne helped. Lizza liked the great white roller coaster and Mousetrap and Puff! She just couldn't decide which was the best. Meg liked Puff the roller coaster and then the sky-ride is her next favorite one.

Max loved the water fountains. He got soaking wet every time. The last time we went to them for the day he went in the middle. You can see the middle behind this water picture. He got shot by water and loved it. He's a crazy man!!

Herb and Vicki (Daren's parents)are so good about just making a fun vacation.

The next day we hiked Ensign peak. It was almost a mile round trip, and very steep. It was hot but our girls did so well. Meg even raced me to the top and "she beat."

Sunday we went to church at the Joseph Memorial building, which is our normal place to go when we go down there. The kids love the building and the time is really convenient. Here's all of us after church. It was a wonderful weekend.

After Salt Lake, Abby and Lizza, along with cousins Tanner, Anika, and Brynne, went home with Grandma and Grandpa for science camp in Idaho Falls. We missed them here at home, but Meg kept me busy playing all day with her. It was fun to just have 2 kids: It felt liberating! Two was a hard number for me in terms of kids. But Four is killing me! I felt like we could do anything with only Meg and Max this week. We didn't, of course, do anything, but we could have. There wasn't any fighting because Meg and Max have nothing to argue about. The house didn't get very dirty because Meg enlisted me in pretty much everything she played, so I was right there to clean up one mess before we went on to the next. But I missed my older girls. I didn't get to talk to them Tuesday night because I was at craft group and I was really sad about it. I was pumping Daren for information as to what they said, what they did, etc. He was making fun of me. But they came home with so much to tell us about and show us. I am grateful they get to go and have willing Grandparents to take them. It is a great experience. They made digestive systems, grew clear spheres, made solar ovens, experimented with absorption, made dancing beads in a test tube, dissected sheep's eyes, and looked at intestines and a sheep heart.

Along with science camp Vicki takes them to do things everyday. The women is amazing and never rests. So Lizza liked making an edible aquifer at camp and going to the zoo the most. Abby liked dissecting the eye and looking at the other body parts-but not touching them. Her favorite extra curricular activity was going to the movies 2 times and shopping at the dollar store. Megan's favorite part of the girls being at science camp "was just playing princesses with me, Dad, and Max". And we did - a lot. She also started swimming lessons while they were gone. She loves it and has one of her "best friends" Madison in her class.

After everyone was home and settled we went on a family hike yesterday and it was really fun. We stayed in Boise and went up Bogus Basin (which is a ski hill) and there was a hike that was only a mile. It was a fun trail that went in and out of the trees. We saw lots of bugs, rocks, and sticks which all seemed to be a big hit with the girls. We have a few more short family hikes up our sleeves for the summer that we are all excited to go on.

Daddy time

So I told Daren he needed to write this on here but he is watching basketball and I don't care for the NBA that much. So I will try to give it justice. In my head I am sure it is a lot funnier than it will be on paper.

Earlier this week I had a baby shower to go to. So Daren took everyone to run some errands with him. I personally think he is crazy to venture out after dinner and after Max's bedtime for sure and coming close to the girls bedtime but who am I to stop him. I don't have to be there. I do warn him every now and then about it but he does fine. This might change things though. Anyway So they were at Sportsman's Warehouse. Meg has to go to the bathroom. You knew that was coming right? Really can you ever go anywhere without having to visit at least one public restroom. Usually for me it is 3 separate times because they "don't have to go" until the last one just went 5 minutes ago and we just made it back to our spot in the store. Anyway I 'm not bitter just stating the facts of shopping with kids. So They take her to the bathroom. (I'm already laughing). Meg refuses to go. Again a very common thing. She is terrified of the automatic toilets one of her many many frights. One time one flushed on her and it's never been the same. Usually I have to hold her on the toilet and she cries but pees. I am talking soothingly and reassuringly the whole time she just won't do it on her own, usually. So I am told Daren is trying to talk her into it, threatening her and nothing works. So they leave the bathroom -I'm sure disgusted. They go to buy their stuff and meg pees right there at the check out place. I can just see it all in my mind. He tells the guy my daughter just had an accident right here. They are kind and say sir don't worry we'll clean this up. Daren yells "girls go get some paper towels now hurry!"(this part is being told by Lizza) So Abby and Lizza go to get towels and he starts wiping up. The guy says don't worry about it we will just clean it up with a mop. So they leave. Daren is FURIOUS! (Still being told by Lizza) he is reviewing with meg where to go to the bathroom. Once in the car Lizza tells him to stop being loud. He is just going to hurt her feelings. She knows and yelling doesn't make it better. Yep she is lucky to have older sisters! I can just picture the whole scene and all I can say is Happy Fathers Day!

We love you Daren. You are the best Dad around.

On a lighter note we had a great weekend of just being home. It was finally warm (mid 80's) so Lizza (on her own) set up the blow up kiddie pool in the back yard. They pretty much lived in it Friday afternoon and Saturday. Abby had a birthday party Saturday afternoon, which she was so excited about, because she has been invited to 5 this school year and all have been on Sundays so she didn't go. Anyway she got her first sunburn. I feel bad. I sent sunblock with her but didn't pre-apply because we were coming from a morning ward activity. So she didn't put any on and now her shoulders are red. Not bright red but red.

Max doesn't like to get into the pool but he likes to throw anything he can into the pool (i.e. shoes, balls, shovels, what ever.)

I love this age. They all want to hlep and Max is no differnt. Everytime I bring out my sweep/vac Max is right there trying to take it away from me. So we pulled out the toy vacume. Lizza got this from christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Wallace when she was almost 2. It has served us well. He goes for it everytime I pull out mine. He won't use it unless the noise is on. But what a guy hopefully the desire will stick.

I went to a local garden/pet store place this weekend to get propane actually and asked about feeding turtles. Our turtle has only eaten tuna and sometimes the dry food if it is soaked in tuna juice and sandwiched between serving of tuna. The guy was like yeah I would stay away from tuna it has a very high mercury count. So instead we get to feed it mill worms! I bought 20 brought them home and it ate 8. It was so disgusting. You just drop one in and it snaps it and chomps. I know this is random and you don't want details on the turtle but this is my vent today, sorry. So now every 2-3 days we have to feed it as many worms as it can eat in 3 minutes. The first time I just turned the baggie upside down and one fell out. But they are stored in a Tupperware container so I don't know who will do this the next feeding. I'm not touching those things. Maybe this will be when Daren gets in on the care of the turtle.

I remembered on more eventful thing for us. We finally got a back splash! we have lived here almost 2 years (end of July) and never got around to it. I couldn't have picked it with out my mom's help. The options are endless and I was totally overwhelmed but It looks really good and I cannot believe we waited so long.

the birthday girl

Meg has been asking me to get her pink tulips from costco for months now. Every time we went there (which is unfortunately to often) she would ask. So Aunt Mandy asked me to get some for her. So we went and they didn't have tulips. So these were her 2nd favorite.

It's official Meg is getting big. She turned 4 this week and reminded us repeatedly that she could do things now that she was 4 that she couldn't do before when she was 3. Such as, buckle herself in the car, say the prayer by herself, open the garage door. The girl is growing up. She has also started riding a bike, with training wheels of course (we are Wallace's and you've read in earlier post how successful we are at riding bikes).

*Funny thing about the cake picture. It was from Costco and had a princess and frog on it. She was so excited. she was standing on her chair trying to reach the cake she wanted and hand out pieces. Daren and I were both starting to say Sit down when she fell on her cake! she squashed the frog and a part at the top. She started bawling. She couldn't pull her self together until Daren started joking that most princesses don't drop and elbow on their frog prince. She started laughing and retold the story about how she karate dropped on the frog on her cake.

I think I did finally learn my lesson about birthdays though. It seems that birthdays sneak up on me. I don't really start thinking about them until a week before and I don't take action until just a few days before. Which is how it went this time. So I had no clue what to get her. So I went to target to just look and find something. I'm lame I know. It took 1 1/2 hours to pick something and when she unwrapped everything I was remained how easy she is to please. She would have been happy with this little fur-real dog that growls and barks when you play tug a war with it. I got that at target in April on clearance for $6. I let Abby buy it from me to give to her and she loved it. I didn't need to by the $25 barbie and horse that I also got her. She likes it and plays with it but she loves that dog. So I am vowing right now (and this is written down so I can't go back on it) that I will look ahead for birthdays and be prepared from now on. No more impulse birthday gifts!

Anyway, here is our tribute to Meg. She can be so sweet and unselfish. Usually if someone wants something she has she gives it to them. She has done this since she was a baby. So sweet. She has always been my laid back girl, she has a stubborn streak in her but if those flags aren't flying she is just happy to be alive. She loves to "play" with me. Which consists of telling me exactly what to say and where to be with my Polly pocket/my little pony/barbie. She is also very smart. I will ask Abby and Lizza a question and she will answer it. You don't even think she is paying attention because she's in her own world of make believe but she is there. She wears a dress at least 5 days out of 7 regardless of the weather. Best of all she loves us and tells us all so frequently.

Here are some random pictures of Meg what would we do without her?

So after the birthday bash, which is still going on we have one more with Grandma and Grandpa Wallace, we also celebrated the last day of school. YAHOOO!!

We had a good year but I am excited to have my children back. We started our summer program of "taking care of ourselves" today and I am excited.

We have had an action pack week full of birthday parties lots of cake and ice cream, Grandma's cousins, and not enough sleep. So tonight they were in bed by 7:50 reading in their beds. But working up to that point we were doing baths and clean up. It never goes well and tonight here was the result.

Yep Lizza got whipped by a fake pearl necklace that promptly got thrown away. If you use it as a weapon it's gone. You can see the round marks from each pearl across her cheek. We were exhausted and out of control! So on that note I am sure this post is jumping all over the place and spellcheck is picking up some words it doesn't even have suggestions for, which all means I need to go to bed.