Soap Dish

The girls got a crown shaped soap dish from gma Crabtree tonight. After putting the girls to bed I glanced in the bathroom and saw this....

I guess that works, right? :)

Miss Alli turns 3

I can't believe my baby is three. I guess she isn't a baby anymore!

It was a busy day for the Crabtree's. We had our Primary Program at church, which went great. Both Kimber and Sam memorized their parts and both did a great job singing.

After church we had the family over (Gma and Gpa Riding and Crabtree, the Kenyon's, and the Dance's) for dinner, cake, and ice cream. Alli kept saying all day "I'm so excited for my birthday" (meaning her birthday party). She also told many people around her in Sacrament Meeting that she was 3. Luckily she has figured out the whispering thing so it wasn't too disruptive.

She got lots of fun presents including 1 pair of real shoes and 5 pair of dress up shoes! Is she a girl or what? Thanks to everyone for coming and helping make her day special!

opening presents

her "pink Dora cake" that she requested...I had to be creative :) (it's supposed to be a pretty princess dress)

the happy birthday girlall the Riding cousins (Alli, Kimber, Natalie, Jack, Kenna, Sam, and Jordan)
Alli also got a new glow in the dark Halloween pillow case (as did Kimber and Sam) from gma and gpa Crabtree. Tonight when we were putting her to bed Konrad was waving it around. I asked Alli what she saw and she said in a whispery/scared voice "the Holy Ghost". :)

Sugar-A Tip that must be passed on

My sister Michelle is in town this weekend and her and her two daughters came over today. Makenna, her 2 year old got hit in the mouth by the teeter totter and was bleeding pretty bad. Michelle grabbed her and I reached for some paper towels. Michelle then asked if I had any sugar. Sugar, I thought? Well it turns out that if you have a mouth wound, placing sugar on it stops the bleeding.
Sounds crazy, but I witnessed it. It worked.
So next time their mouth is bleeding (she's never tried it on any other body part) head for the sugar!

Fall Soccer

We're back into soccer again. We've been going for almost a month. Here are a couple pictures of the girls at their practices.

Konrad and I haven't been that great at attending their games this year (we missed the first two due to the BYU football game and a weekend in Seattle) but we finally made it last Saturday. Of course it rained that day. 2 hours in the rain. The girls had a great time though. It's fun to watch them play and see that the improvement they've made since last year. Kimber's group now plays with a real ref on the field, where as Sam's age group still just use the coaches. I was never a huge soccer fan (probably just from lack of exposure), but each season as they get older and play better it gets more exciting. It's a sport I wouldn't mind watching through high school.

Another One Bites the Dust

Kimber has now lost 8 teeth. She's pulled out the last 6 by herself. The first two Grandpa, then Dad used pliers to get them out.

Luckily she finally decided to grow more so that she can still eat!

Do you see that little bit of curl in her hair? Her perm DID NOT hold at all. That hair is only curly b/c she has just gotten out of the bath, once it dries it is pretty much straight. There is a tiny wave but nothing we can turn into curls. $40 bucks down the drain!

I haven't heard this one before....

Kimber came home a little grumpy today and a minor situation evolved into a MAJOR problem. She got so worked up..screaming, stomping, crying, pulling out hair things and throwing them. Trust me, it was bad...although I couldn't help but laugh.

She is now in her room cleaning up 50 items...the number kept going up everytime she screamed at me. She says there aren't 50 things to clean up...I did mention that the hair things she threw on the ground added to the number, bringing it closer to 50. :) Okay, not so nice, but still...she was killing me.

She had a couple good lines during her fit:

"Why do you have to TORTURE me like this all the time?????"

"I want to move because of YOU!!!!!"

but my favorite was:

"Even if you say you're sorry, I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!"

Wish us luck on surviving this battle. She hasn't had a fit like this in a LONG time, I thought we were done with them (until she's 13, 14, and 15 of course!).

****Just so everyone knows...she cleaned her room, came out happy, and acted like nothing had happened.****

Converstation on the way to church...

Kimber: "Can we go to Grandma Leanne's after church?"

Me: "I'm not sure, we'll see."

Alli: "We should go to Applebees with Grandma, that would make her VERY happy!"

Don't worry I reminded her it was Sunday and we couldn't do that...but I had to laugh that she knows her grandma so well. :)

My Day

It was a busy day today...just thought I'd share:

7:00 - alarm goes off
7:08 - finally get up (why do I remember the exact time I got up???)
Into the shower
7:30ish - read scriptures
7:50 - checked email, blogs, and face book (why oh why did I join that???)
8:00 - got girls up and dressed, teeth brushed, hair done
8:30ish - breakfast, make Kimber's lunch, preschool prep (we made cookies today so I had to pre-measure all ingredients)
9:00 - bus stop
9-9:30 - rush to get everything ready for preschool
9:30-12 - preschool
12:00 - vacuum preschool room
12:15 - get Sam from bus
12:30- lunch
12:50 - run to Safeway
1:40 - start making freezer meals for my frozen dinner exchange (of course I ended up one short...I'm so bad at guessing how many I can get out of a recipe (recipe calls for a 9x13, but I'm just using a 8x8)...it just means I don't get one of my own meals)
1:50 - Kimber and Aleigha get home (early dismissal)
2:45 - finish making freezer meals
3:00 - make cookies for the girls and 3 extra friends
clean up all dishes used for meals and cookies
4:30 - visit with Aleigha's mom about neighborhood drama - we've got a restraining order happening on our street
5:00 go on a 45 minute run/walk with the girls riding their bikes
5:45 - make dinner
6:30 - head to the library...where we checked out 34 books, at least 20 of them to support Kimber's reading habit (she read 22 books in the last week and a half) (we're talking big kid chapter books here...with little words and everything....)
7:15 - jammies and bed for Alli (she was not listening at the library---running like a crazy woman---so had to go to bed right when we got home)
7:20 - scriptures and prayer with Kimber and Sam
7:30 - bedtime story and bed for Sam
7:40 - and here we are...ending the day doing what I was doing exactly 12 hours ago

I still have to get Kimber to bed, but all that entails is telling her to go to bed. Then I'm checking the TV to see what's on. I'm hoping there isn't anything b/c I really want to finish my book I've been reading. It's taken me like 5 days and I'm still not done. I'm typically a 2 day book reader. Like when I read Breaking Dawn in a total of 7 1/2 hours. This 5 day thing is killing me.

Anyways...this is what my days have been like. CRAZY! But I'm happy...I'm not complaining!

Oh good, Konrad just got home. He was in Texas the last few days. First in Dallas, then in Houston. He said it was crazy in Houston. His hotel ended up not having power (which he didn't check before hand b/c the hospital right next door had it, so he just assumed the hotel would) but they found him somewhere else to stay. Only a handful of fast food restaurants were open and everything closed early (I'm assuming b/c there is a city wide curfew and it must have been getting dark). Luckily he was able to get something before everything closed down. He was also glad he was driving a big suburban with a ton of gas in it (he drove it from Dallas to Houston) b/c there weren't any gas stations open. So sad! I have family that live in Houston, luckily they came out okay!

Okay, I've rambled enough...can you tell I didn't get a ton of adult conversation today???? :)

Tag...Konrad's It

List 5 Joys, 5 Fears, 5 obsessions/collections, and 5 surprising facts, and tag 5 people
I thought this sounded like fun and since I was tagged here it goes:

Joys
1. Spending time with my wife - especially on vacation
2. Playing basketball, volleyball, or other sports
3. Watching my kids learn something new
4. Watching movies and reading books
5. Finding new music that I really like

Fears
1. Death of Ashlee or one of the girls, or them having to deal with my death
2. That I'm in over my head, people will figure out that I really don't know what I'm doing, and the financial house of cards that I've built will all come crashing down
3. Disappointing parents, grandparents, and others that have sacrificed to give me opportunities
4. Getting too caught up in myself at the expense of those that I love
5. Getting an injury that would end my ability to play sports

Obsessions/Collections
1. volleyball
2. basketball
3. Ashlee
4. Being out in the sun when it is sunny. I get very anxious and almost feel guilty if I'm inside when its sunny
5. Having obsessions - I have had many phases in my life where I get completely obsessed with one thing, only to have it replaced by the next phase after 6 months to a year. These phases have included: cycling, architecture/drafting, investing in stocks, investing in real estate, jet skiing, volleyball (still in that one), basketball (kind of constant throughout my life), tennis, piano (it was a long time ago and NO, I can't play at church meetings).

Surprising Facts- this one is HARD :)
1. I don't mind watching chick flicks and love musicals (more than my wife)
2. I have four nipples
3. I don't really have favorites - I'm not too picky and like most things so its hard to pick favorites (color, food, dessert, child, etc.)
4. I have never been to Hawaii (but that will change next month) or NYC or Europe
5. I listen to NPR 90% of the time I'm in the car - unless Ashlee is in the car also and makes me change the station

I tag my brothers three. Guess that leaves me two short, oh well...

Last Day on the Lake????

Konrad has been trying to jet ski as much as possible these last couple of weeks, before the sun is gone. He didn't make it out as much this summer, hopefully he'll do better next summer.

He wanted to take Kimber out so all of us headed over to Lake Meridian last Wednesday and she went for a ride with him. Sam, Alli, and I hung out at the park while they rode, then Kimber came over while Konrad went on his own ride around lake.

They had fun. I couldn't imagine getting in the water, I was cold unless I was sitting in direct sun light....it didn't seem to phase them.



Sam's adventure that day...riding in the front seat, without a seat belt, and hanging out the window!

Maybe next year I'll actually ride on that thing. We've had it for 3 years but I've yet to ride it yet. I'm such a chicken!

Puyallup Fair Pictures

So I finally got around to down loading my pictures from our evening at the fair.

Kimber on the big swings (far left of picture..2nd one in)

Sam and Alli watching Kimber on the swings

Alli and Sam on the dragon

On the Alligator Sam driving and Alli shooting
Kimber waiting for Sam and Alli to ride their ride
Using a saw to cut a stick...it took them awhile but they each cut off a piece
The Crabtrees stop the fair...notice Konrad trying to get Sam on the slide. Notice Alli screaming on Kimber's lap b/c she wants to go down with Konrad. They wouldn't allow Konrad to go down until Samantha was on the ground so we had to wait for someone to go up and get her and bring her back down. Alli came down with Konrad but screamed and cried the whole way down. At least Kimber enjoyed it!
Everyone on the Carousel - Sam would only go IF Konrad went with and sat in the sleigh
Sam and Alli on their favorite ride of the night they'd go really slow and then whip around the corners...they laughed the entire time. It was a great way to end the night.
We love the fair! Especially on $1 ride night...we'll be going that night again next year!

Out of the mouth of Sam

"Mom, what does the moon eat?"

"Um, Sam the moon doesn't eat anything."

"Then how does it get full?"

Tag....I'm it!

List 5 Joys, 5 Fears, 5 obsessions/collections, and 5 suprising facts, and tag 5 people
I thought this sounded like fun and since I was tagged here it goes:

Joys
1. Date Nights
2. Girls night out
3. Visiting Family
4. Vacations
5. Reading a good book

Fears
1. walking over grates in sidewalks
2. Konrad and I will die while on vacation, abandoning the girls or Konrad getting in a serious accident when I am following behind him in my own car...I don't think I'd ever want to witness that
3. people seeing my house a mess (the missionaries showed up unannounced a week or so ago...not only was the house a MESS but Alli came streaking out of the bathroom naked and Kimber and Sam came home from a friends with bright red lipstick on...it was great!)
4. cooking meat...I'm always afraid it won't be cooked all the way and we'll all get sick
5. break in while Konrad is out of town

Obsessions/Collections
1. I am super cheap and have to find the best deal or I won't buy it
2. I collect too many storage containers, but not the "right" kind that would make things look nice...remember I'm cheap
3. Computer - reading blogs, emailing, posting on my blog, craigslist
4. white chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, brownies, homemade vanilla ice cream, better than anything cake, Peggy's Perfect Pan cookies, and many many more! :)
5. Showering EVERY single day. I can't stand to go a day without a shower. I used to not be able to leave my house without showering either (even to the bus stop) but once I started doing areobics that changed. I can now even go to the store if needed between aerobics and home. But AS SOON as I walk in the door I get in the shower.

Suprising Facts- this one is HARD :)
1. I have no desire to go anywhere outside of the U.S. except for the Carribean
2. I still bite my fingernails...especially when nervous or stressed (maybe that should be an obsession not a suprising fact...)
3. I didn't realize this was different from most people, but my children have never seen me without clothes on....bet you all wanted to know that. I have found that many people are really suprised by that though, so thought I'd share.
4. I don't like tomatoes but LOVE salsa...especially the chunky kind (pico da galo (sp))
5. I love bananas...my new favorite lunch is a wheat wrap with peanut butter (suprise suprise) and a banana in it. I also love to snack on banana chips and eat banana colada snowcones.

I tag Ashley S., Melanie B., Jen O., my sisters and sisters-in-law, and Konrad (that is if he can figure out how to post :) )

The First Day and the Fair

So today went really well. Better than I planned on it going. There weren't any tears and all the kids seemed happy to be here. I had a few who had a hard time sitting still, but other than that there weren't any problems.

I am always terrified of the first 2 weeks, but if they can be the same as today we won't have any problems! Normally it takes at least that long for the rules and all that to sink in, but all the kids did so great today, it was awesome. Don't worry I'm knocking on wood right now! :)

We went to the fair this evening and didn't get home until 10:00, what were we thinking? I know what we were thinking...all rides were $1! The girls had a blast riding rides and eating cotton candy. We did have to rescue Sam off the big huge slide (Alli cried the whole way down, but Sam wouldn't even try so a worker had to climb all the way up to get her) and then right after the slide they had to stop the dragon roller coaster b/c Sam was in tears...Alli opted off at that time as well. Just a tad embarrassing! Right before the slide they had gone on a very similar roller coaster but b/c of the whole slide episode they were a little upset and sensitive. But we ended on a happy note with two little rides for Sam and Alli. Kimber went on a big roller coaster and the Sinbad with Konrad. It's weird that she's actually big enough to go on the big rides.

It was a good/busy day. I'm too tired to down load our fair pictures tonight...maybe tomorrow.

Miss Ashlee's is Open and Ready for Business

So I finally got everything (well all but one magnetic board) up and ready to go.

Preschool starts tomorrow and Alli and I are very excited. Here is what the room looks like:

work and snack tables

Large group (circle time) area
dramatic play area
block area

cubbies

The kids all came in last week for an hour and everyone seemed happy to be here (well one little guy did answer "no" to my question "Are you excited about preschool?", but I'm pretty sure that was just b/c he wanted to be playing, not writing his name on my question of the day paper). Hopefully they'll feel the same way tomorrow. It will be fun to be called Miss Ashlee again, a little weird but a good weird. It will get tricky at church...do we call her Sister Crabtree or Miss Ashlee??? Either way, it doesn't bother me. :)

Wish me luck tomorrow!

The Best Day of Konrad's Life

Konrad claimed yesterday was the best day ever...

His day started with 2 hours of volleyball playing. Always fun.

Next we dropped off the kids and headed to the BYU/Husky game. It was so much fun. I really felt like I was back at BYU, reliving my college days. We were surrounded by 1,000's of BYU fans. Other than the gorgeous view, we could have been back in Provo. To top it off BYU won. Neither team had a great defense, so each team scored 4 times...luckily BYU blocked UW's last kick, so they won by 1 point! It was so exciting. I totally want season tickets to UW football, I couldn't get enough!

After the game we jumped back on the bus (the only way to get to UW games b/c traffic/parking is horrendous) and had dinner at Q'doba.

We then picked up the girls from Steph and Doug's (thanks guys!) and headed to the church to play volleyball with Konrad's cousins. Steph and Doug joined us, as well as Tami, for a second...poor girl sprained her ankle :( So sad!!!! The girls watched movies while we played, and we got to play for a couple hours, it was great.

We finished off our day by eating all the left over homemade ice cream (I really don't think there is anything better than homemade vanilla ice cream) and watching Air Force One on TV.

It was a great day...the best one ever? I'm not sure. But it was GREAT!

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller, I wish I .....

Anyone else LOVE that song?

Anyways. Last night we had volleyball practice. We had like 14-15 ladies from church show up to play. It was sooo much fun. I'm starting to think, the heck with scrapbooking nights...let's play volleyball!

I do have to add in my one statistic from the night -- I blocked Erin Moore!!!! (this is for journal keeping records...that was an important moment in my life) I won't mention the fact that she got me back by spiking the ball at the side of my head and knocking me to the ground...that's beside the point. The point is, I actually blocked a ball...and she's good, I mean played-at-a-junior-college-good! I'm sure it was all luck, but I'll take it! All I know is that the ball ended up on her side of the court, not mine!

I HEART VOLLEYBALL!

1st Day of School

One day late, but here are the pictures:


Both girls had a great day. They've both got good friends in their classes and both like their teachers. It should be a great year!

Labor Day Fun

We had a fun labor day. I went thrifting in the morning and then we headed over to the Crabtree's (Konrad's parents) for a BBQ. My sister, Stephanie, and her family came as well (they are in Konrads parents' ward...Jackson actually calls them Grandma and Grandpa, it's fun).

Before heading over we stopped at the blackberry park to pick some more berries b/c I had to have some more blackberry cobbler. The stuff is SOOO good. I also made homemade vanilla icecream, for the first time (in my icecream maker that I got for our wedding) to go with it. I think I've discovered a new favorite dessert.

Here are some pictures of our day:

Alli cooking in the preschool kitchen:

The girls frosting Grandma Crabtree's b-day cake (or maybe just frosting their tongues?)

My sweet Sam

Doug, Konrad, Jack, Alli, and Sam jumping

Jordan

Grandma and Alli getting ready to blow out candles

Sam on the swing