Zoo Fun

Popular things to do with your cousins are to play Dr, to which the Tyler & Keira have gotten really good at laying still while their cousins listen to their heart and check their blood pressure.

Also Tea Parties with Grandma never get old regardless on the time of day.

Yesterday we headed down to Utah's Hogle Zoo to meet with some old roommates and good friends of mine, Tiffany and her kids Faith & Matthew and Brooke and her daughter Abby.

The animals were out and about...in their cages but very active.

The Park and Train were a big hit, although Tyler started to fuss as we boarded the train until she saw I was staying with her.

House update: We did pass the electrical inspection on Monday which was a big relief! John has been living in an "open" house-since Saturday the big bay window has been out and he do I dare say finally got the 3 windows that replaced it installed last night. (I only say "finally" because that's kind of a long time & big space to leave open). He did find that the kitchen is a little darker than he thought it was going to be so we'll be ordering and adding another window. Funny enough I think he might've cut the space open for the window and will pry only be ordering it today. I think he likes the fresh air. The dry-wall, mud, tape & texture guys are coming on Thursday so John will be getting the house ready for them over the next few days by putting in insulation & fixing vents and other odds and ends.

I'm not one who deals with death very well and usually don't even speak much about it when it happens, but I can't help but write about some very sad news I was told yesterday. Sister Leslie Wainhouse passed away yesterday morning in her sleep. She is one of the sweetest sisters I know, so kind and genuine in all she did and said. I was honored to be Leslie's visiting teacher for the last year and came to love her as I got to know her. She taught me more than I could ever teach her and it was her sweet spirit that always made me feel so welcome in her home. She was not very old and I don't know what the cause was, it seemed like her health was getting better over the last couple of months and so her death has caught everyone by surprise. For those of you who knew her and know her family and close friends, I hope that you will keep them in your prayers.

Weekend Events-Peach Days

Quick update on the house-John has reached a point where pictures aren't really too much fun. He's doing the electrical at the moment-although he did install a new carport door and has received the new kitchen windows and will install them tomorrow. The took out the current big Bay window a few days ago, so you could say the house is a little bit drafty. :)

The boys actually worked all day and even pulled an all nighter on Thursday hoping to get the electrical done for the inspection Friday morning. Alas the kitchen lights were a hinderance and so the inspector will be coming back for a visit on Monday morning. John's sweet Dad left on Saturday and it was reported he worked until an hour before they left for the airport-so that he could shower and get ready. Such a trooper! We are so thankful for him for coming out for a week and a half to work with John, who has repeatedly told me he could never have gotten so much done without him. He also said that he's never spent so much time with his Dad, when I asked him what they talked about, he said they didn't actually talk all that much. :) Such boys, so much alike the 2 of them.

John was actually "forced" to take a break on Saturday to go to the BYU vs Washington-Huskies Game with the Young Men. He's actually been looking forward to it since he heard about it-months before tickets were even on sale. It was a much deserved break and from John's description quite an exciting and good game, down to the buzzer.

The girls and I headed to Brigham City with the Stephany Klan Saturday afternoon for the Peach Days Celebration. It was a good time had by all which included walking through the car show, the famous "surf burger", kettle korn and rides on the Merry-Go-Round and a lil circus train. Last time McKenna rode the Merry-go-Round was a year or 2 ago and she was a little uncertain and scared by it. This year she couldn't get on it soon enough. As soon as she saw it she started asking for a ride and would only calm down after I promised her at least one ride. After waiting so patiently in line we finally jumped on and found a couple of empty horses and McKenna couldn't have been happier. Tyler stayed on the horse for a few minutes but was off before the ride actually began. She was a little nervous being her 1st time and clung to me for dear life. As the ride went round and round she would point and get excited every time we passed...the food vendors (That's my girl!) As the ride ended Tyler couldn't get off fast enough, but with McKenna the waterworks began as she realized she had to get off. She was even more upset when she realized that her cousins were just getting on and she didn't get to go with them. At the last minute she did get lucky when Keira decided she didn't want to ride the merry-go-round and so we did a quick kid swap and all was well.

We had just enough tickets for Maddie and McKenna to go on one more ride and so we opted to let them ride a lil circus train. The girls were very excited as Uncle Gregg took them in and got them buckled up. Tyler who was outside the fence with me had been eyeing the train with excitement and as Uncle Gregg was coming back he spotted her and helped her become a Stow-away. He sat her next to Maddie, which would've remained empty anyhow and a minute later the ride began. McKenna was having a ball! Maddie was a little uncertain and Tyler was...bawling. I wish I'd had my camera because I couldn't help but laugh as the train passed and there was Tyler with her tears coming from her big brown eyes with the saddest face I'd ever seen. Sadly enough the crying was catching and by the end of the ride she had Maddie in tears as well.

The day ended happily as we were walking back the kids caught sight of a great lil park, so we stopped all was well and happy.

Up not Down: Day 8

And so it begins, the wall are going up instead of coming down which is really exciting to see as things start to come together. Enjoy:

The kitchen & dining room-see the boarded up window & door

Wall of kitchen cabinets, sm bathroom behind

Just a different view of kitchen

Who said it was just for hauling kids around?

What the picture doesn't show you is the 4 doors and other lumbar that's stacked in the back.

The guy at Lowe's said it hauled more than his truck.

John Couldn't be more proud!

Princess Party

We had a belated Princess Birthday Party for McKenna. I had big plans for a big party, but I think the plans got bigger than me and I kind of let them go (Blaming the pregnancy and my lack of energy these days-lame I know). ...so Shelly saved the day when her and Maddie surprised McKenna with gifts for the makings of a fabulous party. McKenna was so excited-there were Princess party hats, cups & Plates, Princess wands, Princess ring suckers, pads of paper & cute lil rulers and of course cake. Not just any cake but Pumpkin Spice individual cakes with chocolate chips and Sprinkles, which were a big hit!


While the cakes were cooking and cooling the girls all went down and played on the trampoline and then raced around on the sport court on the bikes. I tell you what Keira may be small but holy cow she's quick and precise on the lil racer bikes. It was a good time had by all. Thanks Shelly and Grandma for throwing a party today, we all had a good time!

enjoying what was left of the shade

a hitch-hiker

Remodeling-Day 7

I talked with John last night and it was fun to hear the excitement in his voice about all the changes and progress that have been made. There have been a lot of good friends who have showed up to help him which has made it possible for things to be going so smoothly. They started framing the kitchen and the closets, removed windows and doors and cut and framed the new kitchen door in.

Scary wiring that was found...and will be replaced.

The sliding glass door and window to the left will be/have been removed.

place for a new kitchen door-burning the midnight oil

Where the old purple bathroom used to be-new kitchen wall

Pete riding his horse into the sunset

Labor Day

Hope everyone had a great Labor day! We had the Harris' Klan over for burgers and fun in the yard. We were a little nervous with the weather report that we'd be playing indoors but the sun came out right before the party began it was perfect! Had a great time, although didn't get to really chat with too many people, not nearly as many as I'd have liked but you know how it is with kids running around; feeding them, changing them and keeping an eye on them. It was good to see everyone's faces and their kids. Can't believe how much everyone changes and grows up so quickly.

I've mentioned a time or two the sleeping arrangements my girls go through with their beds. Well last night McKenna wanted to sleep in the crib and so I tried putting Tyler in the Toddler bed. It was a no-go with Tyler, she does really well at home and stays in bed but here...the only way to get McKenna out of the crib at that point was to allow her to fall asleep in my bed (we're all in the same room which has worked so far). Today at nap time Tyler asked to sleep on my bed and I let her lay on it for a few minutes but then put her in the crib and that was that. Tonight was a different story: Tyler wanted NOTHING to do with the crib. She cried and begged to sleep in my bed. I was so confused since she has NEVER slept with me, John or McKenna, always in a bed of her own. She tosses and turns all over the place and the the few times I have tried to get her to fall back to sleep with me she thinks it's a game and pokes at my eyes and giggles. Anyway this evening I've never seen her so adamant and mad. She's been getting a little more defiant and independent these days, but this was outrageous. She screamed, begged, pointed, cried trying to climb out of the crib, I couldn't believe she remembered McKenna slept there and what a fit she had. I did check in on her a few times and found she'd pooped. Twice in 10 minutes? Surprisingly McKenna was a champ and fell right asleep, sleeping through it all. She finally fell asleep after 30 minutes of all this...we'll have to see how things go tomorrow but I know I've learned a lesson through all this.

Here are a few fun pictures from the trip:

Peek-a-boo! The bride & the bridesmaid?

We Brought a lil Washington Weather with us!

Love the Rain & more so the puddles!

Progress

Power and order has been restored to the demolition sight so I got a fresh new batch of pictures tonight. For those who know what the house looked like before maybe these will blow your mind like it continues to do to mine.

The foreman

my pretty purple bathroom meets the kitchen

That's where the chimney used to be...that's what they found in it's place

Chimney patch job, not bad!

heard the house was a lil drafty, now I know why

I am happy to report that the boys did take the day off. It was a little torturous with all the things John wants to get done, instead he tended to the sick and afflicted...his poor Dad and his ailing back. The report being after John was done with him he was feeling 25 years old again.

Demolition & Dinosaurs

Talking to John it sounds like the boys are having a great time, nothing but destruction and fast food. What more could a guy ask for? There are a couple of kids from the ward who come and help each day just because he's "learning a lot and likes doing it." I was very impressed and have to say my opinion of teenage boys went up. The main floor is now down to the wood, with the exception of the island holding the kitchen sink. I've heard about some of the things they have been finding in the walls and ceiling and am relieved to find that rats wasn't listed. They found an old Nalley's Chili bottle, which solidified John's belief that this house was destined for him. Pry the most interesting thing they found in the ceiling was an old English Text book from 1928. Craziness!

Living Room by Entry

Wallpaper under the nice paint job in the spare bedroom.

Spare bedroom-stairwell leading into the "scary basement"
John bought the appliances yesterday and found a great deal on a granite countertop. :) Today they started tearing down the chimney which is a lil nerve racking to me. We'll just hope it doesn't rain until they get the roof all patched up. Overall John was very pleased with the progress and how well things were "working out." He mentioned a few coincidence's that kind of struck him as very convenient. The biggest being that the places where the support walls are going to be just happen to have support beams in the right places in the basement. The 2nd is quite funny to me, but we have a couch John was planning on putting on the curb to give away. (It's actually one he took from someone who was throwing it away a few years ago.) Anyway he brought a saw in and set it next to the couch and what do you know, he found it to be the exact height level making it a great support and buying that ugly old couch a little more time before it's tossed out. For more than one reason I do believe someone is watching out for him.

As for the girls and I we are having a great time. The girls for the most part are getting along really quite well. This evening Maddie and McKenna played very cooperatively and nonviolently for a good 20 minutes I was both impressed and very proud. McKenna spent most of that time as Maddie's pet dog, or as Maddie's patient, but hey it works!

Earlier Today we ventured up to Ogden with Gregg, Shelly and their girls to the Dinosaur park. If it hadn't been for Susan's postings about her little boy and his love of dinosaurs I wouldn't have even remembered there were 3 different periods, not to mention ALL the Different Dinosaurs. There are a lot of different dinosaurs that look just like the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Brontosaurus that are very different and found in different places in the world. As you can tell I learned a lot and wished I could've spent the time reading about them all but I was mostly chasing after kids. I was really excited to see the Dinosaur Bones, something nostalgic about Dinosaur Museums, although I remembered the skeletons being a lot taller. (I know I was a lot smaller back then) We walked in and McKenna looked up and immediately declared it "too scary". Tyler required me to carry her through the museum...not an easy task while pushing a 4 yr old in a stroller, but as soon as we got outside she was off and running. Towards the dinosaurs growling, roaring and holding her hands out in front of her in the Offensive position. She'd do it every time she saw a dinosaur I'd start laughing. I think the highlight was the park they had with Dinosaur slides and small statues to climb onto. For my girls they still ran to the swings and spent a good 5 minutes on those, always a favorite anytime, anywhere. Thanks for inviting us to go along Shelly and great idea Gregg!

This might be the last update with demo pictures for a while since I was told they cut wires that carried power to most of the house. Pictures on the rest will come...just need to figure out how to Download them.

Payne D-Day 8.27.08-House Renovations

I forgot I hadn't really mentioned the house projects we have going on and so in response to the many inquiries(Is that even the right word or spelling?)...It seems everytime I get pregnant reality sets in and we realize what we've been living in and my husband gets busy with house projects. My house really isn't that bad but with the idea of adding another child the space in our house is getting smaller and smaller. Or maybe that is because my other 2 are getting bigger and so are their toys. Regardless house projects become bigger as we try to provide a better way of living for each kid.

After we finished our front porch John decided to tackle the residing of our home. He's got about 1/2 of it done and it's looking really nice. It wasn't his choice of the type of siding but I think it looks pretty good, now all we need to do is pick a color for the house. When we first moved into the house 4-1/2 years ago we had grand plans of remodeling and getting things done in a year or two. Well one of the last things on our list is our main floor. Kitchen, main room, guest bedroom it all needs to be done. This last week when my Parents came out my Mom stayed with me a few extra days as we tried to quickly pack up my kitchen, all the toys and everything on the main floor so that demolition can begin. Once the furniture disappeared the kids were thrilled with the wide open space and had a ball with the scooter and running around. The TV on the floor was also a big hit. We got the almost the last of it boxed yesterday afternoon and then my Mom, the kids and I headed off to the airport to escape the impending disaster.

According to McKenna we didn't get to the airport fast enough, all day she would ask if it was time to go to the airport, she even asked to take her nap early in hopes of making the day go by faster. When the plane took off and up in the air she cheered at the top of her lungs with a lot of "woo-hoo's" for about 2-3 minutes. It was hilarious!

Here I am in Kaysville Utah for the next 2-4 weeks. The girls have gotten along with their cousins beautifully, although they are ages 3-4 so there are a few squabbles but today was a fun day full of lots of love. As soon as everyone woke up there were hugs for everyone. I talked to John today and heard a few of the teenage boys from the Young Men's were over for demolition. There was one injury when one of the boys jumped to kick a door in, he hit his head on the low ceiling...go figure. John's Dad is flying in late this evening to spend a week with John trying to get things done. Here's a few pictures from Today.
I do have the task of designing or figureing out where my drawers and stuff go on my island so if anyone has any suggestions, pictures, websites please let me know!