Tree Tag! Your IT!

Almost every morning before the bus comes, our kids play tree tag. There are three trees that make a triangle that serve as the bases. The kids have learned to take and place their backpacks in a line (because of course that saves your place) and then go and play. As more kids come they just join right in. There is never a fight that so and so can't play, or that someone is playing unfairly. In fact it is just the opposite. When one of the little girls gets tagged and is it for a long time, one of the older boys will the little ones get them. Bridger will even say, "just touch me and you will not have to be it any more." The kids don't ask if they can play because every one can. It is wonderful. As I was watching this go on this morning I was think about how as adults we should try to be a little more like the kids and just play tree tag. We don't have to know each other, but by interacting they are getting to know each other better. They are much more Christ-like then most adults I know. They are sharing kindness and love even though they don't realize it. I am sure that none of these children are even of the same religion, but none of that matters at this age. It is wonderful.
On a side note... I have noticed that as the kids get older (like the 8-9 year old kids) they tend to start to be a little more sly at getting something they think is better. I am not sure why getting on the bus first is such a big deal because I think my kids sit in the same seat everyday no matter when they get in line, but I think that it is the idea of being first. Well, today I noticed that one of those older boys was bringing his backpack to put in line and he looked around to see if the other kids were watching (which they were all to busy playing tree tag) and he realized that they weren't and so he nonchalantly took and dropped his bag at the beginning of the line. Does it really matter?! No, but that is what happens when we get past that age when we are held accountable for our actions. Has he witnessed his parents get ahead that way, or maybe a brother or sister. Who knows, but he learned that behavior.
I guess that means that I really need to make sure that I am being a better teacher especially in those time when I think no one is looking.

We Made It!

Ok, we made it to Pennsylvania and I finally have internet. I have tons of fun pictures and events to post about, but not tonight. But I will tell you of some events that have happened.

This is how you know that you are not in Utah anymore:

Event 1: I have been looking for an electric wheat grinder and I didn't buy one before we left Utah. So, Matt has been wanting wheat bread and is tired of grinding it with our small hand grinder and so I went to a kitchen store out here and this is what happened....
I asked them if they had a wheat grinder and the lady got a puzzled look on her face and said "does it do anything else?" I said "Well, it grinds all sorts of grains." She asked, "WHY?" So, I so politely said, "So I can make wheat bread." She looked at me like I was the strangest person ever. She then took us over to the part of the store that had spoons, spatulas, and egg cuters. She said, "If we have anything like that I am sure you will find it here." Now I am looking puzzled and I said, "Well it is more like the size of a coffee maker." She quickly replied, "Oh it is that big, we for sure don't have anything like that. But maybe you could just go buy wheat flour." HMMM

Event 2: Matt was given at work a thermos and he said, "Do you have hot chocolate outside the mines?" Apparently he was laughed at and then they said, "No it is for your coffee." Well, the Utah mines have both hot chocolate and coffee.

Event 3: Hanging on lines by the city parks are what look to be kegs. Since Matt nor I knew why someone would hang a keg up, he asked a co-worker. They laughed and said that it is a game. Two teams have fire hoses and they spray them at the container to see who can get it to the other side. They said that they are usually drunk or have been drinking when they do it. They couldn't believe that it wasn't normal to see that. We couldn't believe that it might be normal out here.

Event 4: Fireflies....They are wonderful and our kids love to catch them. They are actually a really slow bug. Kind of easy to catch. Still cool.

Event 5: People keep giving me directions and they always say go up the hill. Really have they not looked around. Everywhere is a hill. AND which way is UP???

Event 6: The garbage collectors are a little behind the times. They still hand pick up all of the garbage. They don't have the automatic truck that reaches out and grabs the can. On the same note we have to have our own cans and I hate taking out the garbage because we have a group of wild cats that knock it over and scatter it everywhere. UGH.

Event 7: Matt met himself a real hillbilly. Matt had to deal with him everyday for two weeks. I told him not to feed him because we didn't need him following him home. This guy would follow Matt to the bathroom, outside, and would stay right by him. Matt (who ususally can deal with anyone) was ready to scream and pull out the last of his hair.

During this training Matt was told that Pennsylvania had the best "mountains" to ride motorcycles on because they had such steep inclines. He was then told that they are better than Utah since there is only hills out there and too much catus???!! Ya some people are a little out there.

Even though we are not in Utah anymore we are still enjoying our time. Things are just different and that is just how it is. We have to drive just over 20 minutes to get to our wardhouse. We have just over 100 people in our ward. By moving in we added almost 5% to the ward. Isn't that funny?! Our temple is the Washington DC Temple. It is somewhere around four hours away. Not sure yet. It will be a lot tougher to go to the temple, but we will still make it. (hopefully fingers crossed;)

We have met some wonderful people. We have had a few get togethers with great friends, seen BIG fireworks over the Monogahela River, went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant, and a few other things. We are staying busy and still unpacking. The boxes here are multiplying like rabbits, and when you open one the stuff inside multiplies too. We are glad we made it and will have pictures and stories to come.

Update and some Silence.....

This is an update and then I am not sure when the next post will be. I may have time to make some quick updates to let everyone know what is going on but more regular ones won't be coming until sometime in June..:(

YEAH Matt has until THIS Thursday and then he is done....super excited and he is definitely done....unfortunately he wishes it was today. Sorry Honey you are close but you need to kick some Butt this week. It is kind of like an outer body experience with all that is going on. I can't believe that it is here and at the same time that we have been wishing for this day to come it is super crazy. I cry just typing this...I know weird huh.

Jacoy is coming to the end of her school year and is excited for summer. She will be missing school a little bit soon but with all that is going to be happening it is understandable. I can't believe that when we moved here she was just a little over 2 and now look at her!

Bridger is quite the kid. He asked me if I would consider moving their bedtime. He said he would like it to be 12 and I said how about 7. After that we agreed that it will stay the same at 9. He also said something that wasn't the best and I told him not to say that and he said well it is not my fault I can't see my mouth talk. What was I thinking. Then he was supposed to be eating and when I looked at him and said you need to have food in your mouth to be eating he said "I do" and then rubbed his tongue in his cheek to make it look like something is in there. Bridger saw a high chair and told me that we needed to get one of those so that Taft doesn't have to eat my belly any more. Ours happens to be currently in storage. YES, we have some long years ahead of us.

Taft is turning 6 months in a couple of days and I am sad. I cannot believe that he has been here that long. When you tickle him he growls, but he laughs the most at Jacoy. He loves when either kid will play with him. He LOVES his toes and LOVES to eat his hands. He has for quite awhile. He reaches for me all of the time...could be because I am his food. He smiles a lot and then gives you the most serious looks. He can sit up for the most part but gets excited and tips over. He LOVES toys. He scoots everywhere. Give him five minutes and you don't know what he will be doing.

Me, well I am hanging in there with all of the changes happening. I am Stressed. I wished that our house would sell......now that the 8000.o0 incentive is gone, I am a little weary. We are finally getting the correct information on our relocation package. That is stressful. Matt says that this HR is as bad as dealing with an insurance claim agent. UGH! We have a start date in June and have to be there before then. The moving company should be calling us this next week to make all of the arrangements for pick up and packing. Yes, they will be packing for us since we live more than 800 miles away. Both cars are being shipped now instead of only one. YEAH.

This month we Taft will turn 6 months and have his final appointment here in Utah, Matt graduates, my sister Graduates high school, watching Jamee Rodeo, we will be packing and shipping our life over 1800 miles away, we have to still find a place to live, and we WILL be visiting family as well as just wrapping up all of the loose ends around here. I do not believe that there will be a day that there isn't something going on. Yikes.

So, when I am able to post more updates I will, and for all of our families...the posts will be better soon. Being so far away this will be the means to keep everyone up to date.

Good Night and pictures will come soon....I promise. I am sure that I will have a lot of catching up to do.

BY the way DAD HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Bridger's Parties

When we got back from our trip it was time to celebrate Bridger's Birthday. The day before his birthday we drove down to Beaver to pick him and Coy up. In their travels they had ended up at Grandma LeeAnn's. Well, Grandma decided to get him a Lightning McQueen cake and it was CUTE. So we celebrated that night down there and then drove home after. The next day was his REAL birthday and we went out to lunch as a family. Then two days later he had his first friend party. We were planning an outside party but things changed that day due to weather.

There was one trick candle that they got at the candle factory.

This is him showing "crack" which for some reason he just doesn't care. Maybe that is a boy thing. I don't know.

Cup cakes, ice cream, cheese pizza, strawberry punch, and dorritos. Those were his choices and yes the cupcakes were multi colored.

They painted rockets and played game in the house. I think he really liked it especially when he found out one of his friends really does know how to talk. It was just funny. At church this little boy doesn't say much, but at our house watch out.

Just chilin' at the motel

While at the motel this was Taft just chillin' holding his toes...which he LOVES!

While on this trip Taft decided that while he was on his belly he could rotate 180 degrees. Silly boy. He is getting too big.

Cabella's in WV

Okay, so we stopped at the Cabella's out there to see what kind of stuffed animals they have. Well, their blows Utah's out the park. (Sorry Utah) I mean come on a stuffed Elephant, Alligator, Rhino, HUGE Bear, and Zebra's being attacked by Lions. It was pretty cool...I must say. We will take the older kids there soon. Taft could have cared less...maybe when he is a little older.

Trip to Pennsylvania

Matt, Taft, and I flew out to Pennsylvania for four days. He had to go and meet with Consol and we needed to see what it was like out there. Here are a few of the pictures. These are actually between West Virginia and Ohio. We traveled to them all. We had a nice time. We are want to thank ALL of our family that helped out with the older kids. We wished we could have taken them too, but we know that we were able to accomplish much more having them back here in Utah.

Here is the funny story with this picture. This is what is out by their gas pumps in West Virginia. Can you tell what it is? Well it is a place you can order FOOD. Yes, while gasing up place your order here and then pick it up inside. I just find this funny.

Taft 4 months old

Here is Taft 4 months old. He is growing so fast. He weighed 16.1 pounds and was 26 inches at his 4 month check up. He smiles and laughs and loves his brother and sister. He doesn't like the camera so much....we need to work at that:0) He rolls from belly to back and has for awhile but found out that he would rather be on his belly so he doesn't do it as much any more. We just love this kid and are so thankful to be his parents.

Jacoy's Concert

The First Grade held a concert during school where they sang every American song you could imagine. She did awesome! They sang for 45 minutes...non stop. She can sing you all of the US states in alphabetical order. She of course was the first in the class to memorize it. She loved it. On a different date they walked from their school to the senior center that is by our house to sing it for them. Again she did awesome. We walked over to watch her since it was literally across the street. Matt got to see it that day. I am so PROUD of her.

Cupcakes!

We love Cupcakes and so we thought that we would try something a little different. So, we made a regular plain batch of cake and then we separated it into cups and died each cup with different food colors. We then took a teaspoon of each color and put them into each cupcake holder. The kids thought that when it baked that all of the colors would mix together and make brown, but to their surprise the colors stayed separate. And this is what we had....(Bridger thought each color tasted different even though they were all the same flavor...so funny) We did top them with chocolate frosting. YUMMY! Note: some pictures are kind of blurry...so sorry!