New Game with New Rules

Brad and I have most recently entered into the world of teenagers. In two days, we have learned all about transferring school credits. We have invented new ways of waking Maddy up in the mornings. We have been taught about the weed problem and the location of "stoner hall" at Idaho Falls High School - thanks student tour guide. We have reviewed curfews, chores, and Algebra homework. Most of all, we have had some major excitement and chaos trying to figure out how our new family can all work together so that Maddy and Casey (my cousins, 15 and 16) can have a good time here, despite the bummer of having to leave their home. Casey is living with my uncle down the road and we are hoping that we will get to spend a lot of time with him. I may not be any good with change, but I don't think I will be getting as bored this winter as I was last year. I hope that our friends get to know these kids. They are pretty amazing and they need more reasons of why living in I.F. doesn't suck!

Pics of Logan's first hockey lesson

A quick update....

Where is the time going? Holy smokes, Christmas is around the bend, and Halloween just passed. We are going to have weather in the 50's all week! Thanks, Idaho for cutting us a break before the wrath of winter sets in. Life in our home has felt crazy and chaotic! I want to remember later, what is it that we have been up to.

Brad just moved into an office in the Kingston building downtown. He also just started Hockey season. He came home today and told me he wanted to beat an old man up that he plays against. Now that would be a sight. He is totally swamped with getting Landspin in motion, but I can tell that he is liking the work despite the all the stress and late nights. Boy never sleeps.

I have been feeling better and better with my hips/butt/legs scenario this last month. I hope that no one ever takes their health and ability to move for granted. Health is a daily gift. Once in a while, I get discouraged about not having a baby on the way, but I just feel an overwhelming need to trust the man in charge and know that the baby plan is going to unfold. I need atleast a little patience. I swear that time stops when you are waiting for something to happen immediately. I want another babe so bad, I can hardly bear the idea of ten months gestation. We have so many good things going on around our neighborhood and family, that the excitement is a great consolation in the meantime. The missionaries in our ward have been really wonderful with teaching some of my cousins, and it''s been fun to be part of the process. Two of my other cousins, Madeline and Casey will be coming to Idaho Falls to live with us next week. Brad and I will have Maddy, and Casey will live with my uncle. We get both of the kids on sundays for church. Maddy is 16 years old and will likely be here until she graduates high school. I hope that she will be able to tell me how to raise a teenager, because we have NO CLUE what to do or how to do it Good thing they are such fun teenagers to be with. This will be an adventure for all of us.

Logan and his friends NEVER stop playing. I never cease to be amazed with the ideas that they come up with. Logan just came in SOAKING WET from head to toe. The boys had decided that they would pretend to be cars going through a car wash. Brilliant. Logan is a very scrupulous colorer lately, and loves his preschool teacher. He pretends to speak in spanish, LOVES to rhyme, and is getting pretty good at making his own food. Brad took him for his first skating/hockey lesson this week. I felt like wrapping him up like bubble boy before he hit the ice, but he was ready to get out there without his mom. He still can't make it through a single day without a nap. And he thinks that after I have bought him each of his Christmas presents, that I just mail them off to Santa, and that he will only bring them back on the big day if he obeys. The concept is working well so far.

Happy Halloween! We have all been so lucky around here to finally have a trick-or-treat night that was nice and warm.... okay, atleast didn't call for winter coats. This fall has been so dang nice. It may be winter this next week, but atleast we got some beautiful days. The Holm and Harwood families joined up with us for dinner and then a route with the neighbors through the neighborhood. We went to both great grandparents' houses and ended up at the Harwood's house for the usual invasion. Logan loved every second. I made him sell me half of his Halloween candy yesterday. It is slowly going to the trash can so that grandpa Orin won't be filling cavities this Christmas.