Princess for Real

This little girl just doesn't mess around. She really is convinced she is a princess. To prove my point:

Last week my parents were in town and my mother was trying to coax P to catch up with the rest of us:

Gma: P run up there with the rest of them.

P: Graaandmaa, Princesses DON'T run, they walk like this!

She then very precisely and slowly put one foot in front of the other with her hands grasped in front of her, her head held high and her shoulders back. Just like a princess would.

Then, this week while Amanda was helping me with the kids one morning, she was reading them "Skippyjon Jones". P wanted to know about this cat.

P: Why is Skippyjon Jones a cat pretending to be a dog?

Amanda: Haven't you ever pretended to be something that you aren't, like a princess?

P: Well, yes, but I really am a Princess!

The New Crush

P: Mom, I want to give T a picture tomorrow.

Mom: I think you have a new crush on T.

P: Mom, how do you know, yes, I DO! I need a new dress to wear to church tomorrow so T will notice me.

Mom: Excuse me, you need a what? You are only FOUR! You should not be thinking that way.

P: Maybe I will wear my new polka dot dress. T will think it is so cute.

Next day,

Mom: Did T like your dress today at church.

P: Yes, mom. He said he thought my polka dots were cute!

I can't believe that my four year old already knows how to work the system. It SCARES me.

Oh, and School Started

School for the kidlets officially started. I guess you can say I am somewhat relieved. I love having a long summer break, but by the end, I find it harder and harder to entertain the kids. I can't believe how excited little T-man was to get back to school but what can I say, this kid loves to learn. He truly eats it up. He hasn't complained much about having to go a full day and is even at times excited about his homework.

We also sent little Miss off to preschool. This has been such a blessing for me because now on the nights that I work, I can actually get a nap in while she is at school with my baby. It helps so much to get a little sleep before work. She loves school as well but more than anything she loves a chance to play with all of her little girlfriends.

Unfortunately, with the start of all this other school stuff, Brett also started school, in Washington. The morning he left, I thought about throwing myself in front of the moving van and telling him he couldn't go, but instead curled myself into a little ball with the kids all around me and covered my head with a pillow. I have come to grips with the fact this a decision we made and as hard as it may be at times, I am going to make the most of it. We are on week #4 and he has already come home twice. I can and will handle this. By the time it is time for him to come home, I am waiting with open arms, droopy eyelids and 3 very eager kids to see their daddy. Then for some reason, I have some sort of exhaustive collapse where I am in a stupor the rest of the weekend catching up on some zzzz's, among other things. Brett is working hard, studying, reading, watching football. I am sure he is bored to come home to an empty apartment every night, but luckily he has just a little homework to keep him busy. Oh, and talking to us on the webcam. I am sure it must be agonizing for him to watch the kids wrestle and fight over the mouse because they can't wait to send dad one more wink....

The work thing is going ok. I must admit it isn't as horrible as I thought it might be. It is bearable. I do feel bad leaving the kids and at times have to pry my crying, sobbing two year old away from her death grip she has on me. But I must say I think the kids are faring well. And as for me, let's just say I am hanging on, strong.

Cherry Hill

This summer we went camping at Cherry Hill with my family. It was so much fun and a great way to hang out with so many kids! We went to Lagoon, Cherry Hill and then the Hill Air Force Museum. There are a ton of pictures, this isn't even all of them. I am only a few months late, but finally....I can start to get caught up.

Summer's Almost Over

This summer has been one where I am not exactly sure what I have done, but I can't remember being home much, so I know it was a busy one! Things have been crazy around here. I am back to work at Primary part-time, nights. I used to hate nights but it makes the most sense to work them now. I can actually see my kids this way, I get paid more, and it is usually a slower paced shift.

Brett is off to school in Washington. It was difficult to say good-bye to say the least. The weird thing is I knew I was going to see him in just a couple of weeks and it turned out he came home yesterday for a surprise visit. Yay! I know this will all work out. I just worry about me being a walking zombie from lack of sleep. I guess I will have to start going to sleep when I put the kids down.

The kids are doing well. School starts Monday. I can't believe I am going to have a first grader. Gone ALL day. I really think having him gone and having the other one off to pre-school a couple of times a week will help me keep my sanity.

We had a great summer playing, and swimming and trying new things out. We have now almost officially completed our basement. We finished it so my bro and sister in law could move in to keep an eye on the kiddos while I work and Brett is away at school. Dan and Amanda had to put up with bringing a brand new baby home to a place not quite put together down in our basement, but they are being troopers. Their baby is darling and I hope I don't drive them crazy running down to hold her so I can have my baby fix. That, and the kids being up in her face!

This is just a quick update. I really need to get some pictures to show some of the things we have done. Until then, this will have to work.

Relay for Life

The Southwest Valley Relay for Life is this weekend. This is a great opportunity to Fight Back and help recognize surivors. If anyone is interested in making a donation for this event vist www.relayforlife.org/relay and search for team Happy Feet Nelson. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan was our last port of call on our cruise, although it wasn't supposed to be! was originally settled as a fishing camp. It has a little river that runs right through it, and I didn't see a single salmon. It is a beautiful city though. The houses along the creek are built on wooden pilings, completely over water. We even got to see "Hello, Dolly's" house! I guess there were a lot of brothel's in this town, and "Dolly" had one of the originals. We didn't have an excursion here but just walked the town and did some shopping. The sunset out the night before was absolutely amazing. The colors shifted so quickly that I couldn't stop taking pictures because each one was so different.