Thursday, August 30, 2007

Off to SCHOOL!

On the 28th of this month, Gabe attended his first day of preschool. We were all so excited. Even though we live only a mile or two from the Iron County Preschool where he is going, we signed him up to take the bus. He has watched kids getting off and on buses across the street for three years now, and he was anxious for his turn! But when it came down to actually getting onto the bus, he balked a little. It was the first time I had ever seen Gabe scared. So, of course, I snapped a picture and continued to shoo him further into the bus. What a mom! He was nervous but he didn't cry. As the bus rumbled down the street through, I started to tear up, which turned to full on tears as I noticed Hiett clinging to the screen door, wailing as he watched his buddy leave. But Hiett got over his sadness quickly when he realized that he had mom all to himself. When Gabe got home he was full of sharing and jabbering about Q and 1, so I figured those were the things that they had started out with in class that day. He has never shared so well before! What do they do in that school that I can't? Anyway, school is a huge hit at our house!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

SO MUCH FUN!

We had a great time camping. We traveled a good three hours to Barker's Campground NW of Escalante. It was well worth the drive, it was the most beautiful place I had ever been camping. The fishing was only mediocre, but we sure had a fun time together catching weeds and sticks. Gabe even snagged a pop can with the new fishing net that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for his birthday. Even though we had a lot of enpty casts, we still managed to fry a few trout. Bobby's boy Jacob had the most luck the first day with two fish. Bobby himself is quite the fisherman and he caught a few, as did Dad. I caught one ten incher the second day in our lovely borrowed float tube. Hans finally caught a fish after several hours of determined casting- and he still hates fishing I think.
The scenery was beautiful; Quakies and a few pine trees. It was so green you could barely see the dirt. We saw several deer who would walk right into our campsite along with some pine hens and heard a supposed bear that we never actaully saw. As usual with a Downs' family camping trip, it rained off and on with a few really great storms that drenched us. But with Dad's handy tarp coverings, the boys called it the "circus", we managed to keep mostly dry. We slept, we cooked, we ate too much, and we talked while we played a few games. Once again, we brought enough food to sustain us for at least two weeks, even if it would have been ding dongs and crackers, we would have lived. And I must admit, if I wouldn't have had help, seven year old Jacob would have beat me in Chess- I stink at strategy!
The only thing missing from the trip was half of our family, and we sure did miss them. We would have had double the laughter, twice the sugar high and even sweeter memories.

WELCOME to our new home

We got moved in settled a few weeks ago, but it has taken me longer than I thought to get back into my groove. I hadn't realized that I HAD a groove, maybe it was more like a rut, but anyway, I am comfortably back into it and that is that. So, I am sure that you are all curious to see what exactly we moved into. You have to promise to not be jealous!!! Really.... everybody seems to think that I mind terribly our new home, but I don't mind it that much. I am with Hans, the boys have their dad and unlimited roaming space and so much more family close by, I would make the trade again anyday. Not to mention the projects that I am planning that will keep me busy for quite some time. Ready?
Well, the power plant pays for all of their employees to move within 40 miles of the plant so they packed us up and shipped us off. This is the truck arriving. It was huge! Our stuff only took up about 1/3 of the truck!


Hans and I are still in debate about what is happening with the exterior of the house. I want to get some paint and paint it, then get a good color match and do the shutters differently. The porch will be fixed- it sags in the middle and threatens to collapse whenever you step on it. I want to put a little roof over it, a simple little peak that stretches back to the trailer, that would hopefully break up the ugliness a little bit. we will probably be here for 21/2 to 3 years so I want to make it look like a home for us.

OK- let me explain that roof looking thing. Nevermind- can't explain it. But I am going to try to put little support strut things off from it to support a new piece of wood that will make it look like a beam instead of a chintzy shingled roof inside of a house. And that is faux brick paneling. he he he. I have never seen it before. I giggle when I see it. The next pic is the kitchen dining combo. The floor is newish lineolium, so that is good to stay. But the wallpaper is falling off and so I am going to practice my tiling and do a medium dark greyish tile and then strip the cupboards and paint them a white. The door knobs will be replaced too. Hopefully this will work with the mustard yellow stove- this trailer is 30 years old, so it is very 70's with the wood paneling EVERYWHERE!!


UNGH. The paneling is sooo dark! This hallway could use a coat of paint. Hans' grandma is skeptical of us painting the paneling, truthfully I am too, but this is so drab I have got to do something! The light fixture is going to be replaced so my dad doesn't hit his head everytime he comes over. Well, for that matter, most of the light fixtures will get to be replaced soon.


I saved the best for last!!! Our bathroom is horrid! Seriously- I don't mind it, it just makes me laugh it is that ugly. The floral nasty green print coordinates with the yellos tub, toilet and sink. The linoleum is the same shades and that crazy design you could sit and stare at for hours trying to figure out the pattern. A new sink is already in the works. A new shower curtain already bought, and so many plans floating in my head. Wall paper off, new linoleum, tiling another backspash, paint the walls, build a frame around the mirror to make it the focal point. So much to do. Will I get it done in my 3 year time limit?? Oh and the kicker, the washer and dryer are in the bathroom! Convienent!!!


We had such a fun Halloween! It got kicked off with an adult( that sounds naughty!) Halloween Party which was fun as it always is to get together with all of everybody. I love seeing all the costumes and wish I knew which file Hans put them uner so I could post them. Beau and Bonnie won my prize for best dressed- Beau looked hot in that eyeliner and black nail polish. Anyway, then on Halloween we had a bunch of the kids over for a little party and had a great time- I did anyway, I hope the kids did too. We went trick or treating in the "old ward" just to say hi to some folks we hadn't seen in a while. The boys had a great time. Tait slept through it all in his comfy bear outfit and Hiett only fell down two sets of stairs with his AWESOME hoomemade batman mask. I don't know how much longer I will get away with homemade costumes but until then- $6 always beats out $20-40 in my opinion, and I think the kids have more fun being "creative". HA ha. We had a great time and the candy is almost gone already- I swear I haven't helped too much!

My happy boy

My happy boy
How can you not smile when you see that!? Tait hung out on this blanket while we were fishing on Monday- he loves to be outside- and it's a good thing since that's where we are most of the time!

Our hike

Our hike
Yes, that is the road down there. We found this trail off the road up the Five MIle Canyon. We have loved the red rock scenery that is so prevelant in the Parowan area

Birthday Boy riding his new bike

Birthday Boy riding his new bike
He loves riding with Gabe on their"motorbikes"

The swinging of the pinata

The swinging of the pinata
Gabe is the only one who inflicted any damage at all

Argh MAtey!

Argh  MAtey!
Me and my pirate buddies- we had so much fun. Sometimes I really wich I were still a kid ro everyday was a birthday so I had a reason to be all creative and fun

Hiett

Hiett
The birthday crown for the king of the day