Friday, February 15, 2008

Ok, I give in to the update police, since I was the one begging everyone for updates a couple weeks ago. First of all, I won't go into the whole story because you'll all get that from Cali and my mom, I have to say Cali and Travis got the best Valentines day present ever!!!! I am sooooo excited for you two!



Now about my family, I have no new pictures, we don't even own a camera so sorry about that. However things are going pretty well here on the home front. In fact nothing around here has happened lately, which is a good thing, but it doesn't make for very interesting news. So if you get bored I won't be too offended.



Jason has been working up in North Carolina, about 3 1/2 hours from where we live. The particular project they have him on up there has to do with retro-fitting a hydro-electric plant at a dam from private commercial use (it used to power an aluminum plant) into public use to add electricity to the local grid. He loves the area and the work but hates the commute, although to make it a little easier he stays up there two or three nights a week. It still makes for long days when he does have to go back and forth since he has to leave by 4 am and doesn't get home until after 6pm then has to go to bed pretty early to get back up at 3:00am and do it again. That project should be finished around the beginning of March so we only have a couple more weeks of that then our schedule should be a little more normal.



I am just doing what I always do. Taking care of my children, the house, sometimes the bills, trying to fulfill my Relief Society calling, working out now and then, and occasionally checking my email and blogs. Ok lately more than occasionally. I've been trying to do anything productive (ie dishes, laundry, cleaning floors, ect.) in my house cleaning time, pretty much going for whatever looks the worst (most of you know house keeping is not my strong suit), but now we're starting a new system for cleaning. I know most of you are probably completely bored at this point so I won't go into that any further.



The kids are all doing great! Emily is growing into such a mature young girl. She helps me so much with the other kids she thinks she's the second mom (who does that remind me of?). She had her first slumber party last weekend. She had 6 girls over, next time it's limited to two. We had a good time, but there was such a difference in the girls she invited from school versus the girls from church. I couldn't believe that at 6 & 7 years old the girls were talking about having boyfriends or guys they had crushes on. Now I really want to home school my kids. Emily is doing really well in school though, she got the highest scores possible in everything on her last report card. Way to go Ems!

Jonas is also doing excellent in school. He also received all of the highest grades possible on his last report card. He is in a special reading class taught by what we used to call the "resource" person. In most grades levels they work with the kids that are struggling in reading but in kindergarten they work with the kids that are ahead and would get bored in class. I found out from this reading teacher that Jonas is the most advanced reader in the entire kindergarten (5 classes). What a proud Mama I am! He has also been begging his dad to go camping since the weather is starting to warm a little, hopefully we'll get to the beach to do that sometime this coming month.

Adrianna has become my big helper with Adam. She likes to hold him and snuggle next to him when he's laying on his blanket. She is my silly girl too. She loves to dance and play and make up silly songs and rhymes. She reminds me a lot of aunt Cami in all her cute craziness. Like the other day she was wearing swim goggles around the house claiming they kept the sun out of her eyes then put on an umbrella hat because that helps too. Now the fact that we were inside and it was a cloudy day didn't seem to matter. Oh, what fun!

Preston is just plain crazy. He is becoming a cross between uncle Jacob and uncle Cody. Just enough recklessness to scare me to death and enough caution to not get hurt (most of the time). He's a thinker and figures out how to do things the other kids wouldn't dream of. I will honestly admit I am scared of him becoming a teenager. He is so bright and has more energy and stamina than even a three year old should. But he also has the sweetest smile and hugs and kisses.

Lydia or Liddie Biddie as we call her, isn't so itty bitty any more. She is still a growly bear, but is kind of starting to talk and thinks anything the other kids do she should be able to, including jumping on the trampoline and riding bikes in the cul-de-sac. We let her on the trampoline sometimes but have to keep a close eye so she doesn't get bounced too much. She loves to snuggle and thinks wrestling with her brothers and dad is the funnest thing ever! That's when the growling really comes out.

Adam is growing so fast! He smiles so much now! Jason and I are still trying to decide who he looks like. In the other kids we can see resemblances to different family members, but so far Adam just looks like himself. And an adorable self that is! He is a very content baby which makes for a lot less frazzled mom.

Well that is an update on everyone. Just so you know I started this over a week ago and had to stop and save it half way through thinking I'd get back to it that evening, then I got sick and didn't touch it for a week. So it's been a long time coming. Sorry, I'll try to do better next time!

11 comments:

Cathy Shields said...

Loved the update on all you kiddies. So brilliant and fun! But go out and get a camera, girl, those kids will grow oh so fast!!!! Take it from an old mom like me. And I would love to hear about your cleaning system. Try www.flylady.com
and www.messies.com between the two I find a happy medium most of the time.

Darryl and Cindy Cunningham said...

Yeah!!! An update on my babies!! But I can clearly see we need to invest in a nice digital camera for you guys! Love You!

leschornmom said...

Shilo, That was a GREAT update! I COMPLETELY understand the sleep over thing. We had a ver similar thing happen with our girls.
To be quite frank, I'm not the best house keeper in the world either... I WASN'T bored with that cleaning part and was a little dissapointed when you didn't share your new system... we could SOOO talk!
Any way I am in shock because of how much alike our children are!
Jonas and Chi have so much in common and your oldest girl seems very sweet...My girls are the helpers of the family too! Even our younger ones seem tp have similar personalities!
Any way, feel free to email me any time!
PS The only reason I am on and update so much is because I am at the computer all the time with schooling so I can do a small part here and there. Before that, I was never on. :)

Cali and Travis said...

Yes, definitely time to invest in a new camera. How come Jason didn't get one for his birthday? That would have been great.

And what do you mean "cleaning system"? That confuses me. I only know how to clean. Either you do it, or you don't. Not sure how much of a "system" can actually be involved.

Brad Phillips said...

You talk big now, Cali, but wait til that baby comes ;)

leschornmom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
leschornmom said...

Okay, I just got chastized by John for posting my email in a public place. So just message me again if you didn't get it and I can email it to Cali so that I don't end up hammered with SPAM.
:)
sorry still learning all thin on line stuff!

Cali and Travis said...

Okay, it's been nearly a month. Time for an update and definitely time for some pictures. (Girl get yourself a camera!)

Darryl and Cindy Cunningham said...

I agree with Cali, it is time you updated! Here is what you do this time. Go to Wal-Mart (the Grocery or dollar store are closer I think) and get a throw away camera. Take cute pictures of your kiddos doing cute things, or michevious things. Develop the pictures then download, scan or whatever and post them on your blog.

See how easy that was? Now, the trick will be doing all of the accompanied by your six children while keeping your sanity and them out of trouble. Ha Ha!

I love you!

Darryl and Cindy Cunningham said...

How are my Babies? How was Aunt Mimi? How did Skye do on her song?
Update soon please!

leschornmom said...

Don't worry Shilo, I have a few children that won't have very many baby pics either. I was either too busy...or they were (I forget)
TTYL