So I knew July was going to be insanely busy--- but I have really fallen behind on the blog job. So I guess I will just dive right in . . . This summer has been so hectic- me and the kids have had a lot of time on our hands with dad being MIA . . so we have been going to the Park for the free lunches almost everyday. (exept this month its been crazy busy for us). I have seemed to keep all the weight I lost off and actually have lost a few more lbs. I weighed myself this morning and I hit my goal weight -- except there was a .8 added onto it. But I WILL TAKE IT! Funny thing is --- I don't feel smaller like I did before I got preggo with Canden. Probably because I was more toned and in shape then. Anyways, so that has been a positive thing for me lately. I think me going and pushing that heavy brick of a double stroller around the park everyday has helped.
The fourth this year was an absolute blast. I was SO happy to have Cory home. Holidays are always such a big deal to me and I love going out with the kids to all the events . . so it was nice to have my other half there to do all the hard lifting and wrestling kids (tho in the end I did it most the time anyways). But we got to spend some good time with Brock and his family and it was nice to visit with them and spend the fourth with the Arnolds and friends. This year we went to the parade in Rexburg and it was FREEZING. Such a bummer too--- We still had a good time though.
Araleigh is so timid in public situations -- so every year I have had to hold her hand and force her to run after candy. She did better this year as long as I was there by her. But then she found Kaden and she wasn't to interested anymore. Cory always makes fun of me because I get a little aggressive over the candy-- but Araleigh isn't so I have to help her get candy or the other kids will come snatch them away. Gotta look out for my out ya know!
The fourth this year was an absolute blast. I was SO happy to have Cory home. Holidays are always such a big deal to me and I love going out with the kids to all the events . . so it was nice to have my other half there to do all the hard lifting and wrestling kids (tho in the end I did it most the time anyways). But we got to spend some good time with Brock and his family and it was nice to visit with them and spend the fourth with the Arnolds and friends. This year we went to the parade in Rexburg and it was FREEZING. Such a bummer too--- We still had a good time though.
Araleigh is so timid in public situations -- so every year I have had to hold her hand and force her to run after candy. She did better this year as long as I was there by her. But then she found Kaden and she wasn't to interested anymore. Cory always makes fun of me because I get a little aggressive over the candy-- but Araleigh isn't so I have to help her get candy or the other kids will come snatch them away. Gotta look out for my out ya know!
Every year when we go with the Arnolds we have been going to the same spot for a few years and its the perfect place. We are right by our cars, with a bathroom, and pretty much sitting in a "bowl" of grass -- to which the kids go run and play every
where and we can see them and when they start going over the hills. It really has been the best spot and so much fun every year. This year we met up with friends and family. We ate lots of yummy food, the men played ball, the kids played with balls, I brought a bubble machine which kept the kids entertained for a while, we ate some more, Cory tried to teach a couple little ones (including Araleigh) how to be a pyro and lit some smaller fireworks. That 
man cannot le
ave fire alone.
where and we can see them and when they start going over the hills. It really has been the best spot and so much fun every year. This year we met up with friends and family. We ate lots of yummy food, the men played ball, the kids played with balls, I brought a bubble machine which kept the kids entertained for a while, we ate some more, Cory tried to teach a couple little ones (including Araleigh) how to be a pyro and lit some smaller fireworks. That 
man cannot le
ave fire alone.
Kaden (Tyson and Courtnie's) was there and Araleigh just loves to play with him. They played a lot of ball and ended up spending most of the night rolling and pushing each other down the hills. Araleigh made some new friends there and she had a lot of fun. Canden spent a lot of the night trying to figure out how to get up the hills and then once he figured that out he spent the rest of the time trying to figure out how to get down. It was really pretty funny. . . he finally decided it was easiest to turn around and go down the hill as if he was going down stairs. It was pretty funny to watch. He'd make his way down a bit, get up and realize he was still falling downhill and would turn around and start over again until he made his way to the bottom. Canden just was content the entire time as long as he had a ball in his hand. He is definately his father-- as long as a ball is in his hand he is content. The night was very entertaining and of course it just ended with a wonderful display of the Maleleuca fireworks. So much fun! 
(I love this picture of Canden- this is his classic "kissy" face. He pulls it all the time and I think its hilarious!)
This month Araleigh has been REALLY into makeup. I found her in mine a few weeks ago and remembered for her birthday last year she got some play makeup and I immediately stored it away cuz I knew she was too young and would paint the walls. Well, I got it down and she has been in love ever since. She is contantly orange, pink, or sparkling. She just sits in front of her vanity and puts on her pretty makeup. Oh to be little and obsessed with the simple things in life.
I signed her up for swimming lessons this year. She was SO excited . . it lasted for two weeks and we just ended on Thursday. She did very well. I was SHOCKED. She absolutely HATES getting her hair wet, her eyes wet . . and pretty much anything wet. I hate bathing her cuz of this factor. But she LOVED it. She loved her teacher and just had a blast. I was relieved at how well she listened and just made me think about how fast she is growing up. She has been such an emotional little thing since her dad has been gone. That has been the hardest thing. It's hard on me not having him here to help and to have my best friend here to lean on for support when things aren't right . . but most of all it has been hard on her. It hurts me because I am the law in this family --- and she gets in trouble a lot it seems . . . so in return she is constantly screaming and crying that she wants her daddy home. This has 
made me realize that the sooner we get up there and are together again --- it will be better. My kids are more important to me than my feelings at this point. This picture seems to be what we do a lot lately . . she is pretty sad about her dad not living with us-- so I do a lot of holding and explaining. Not easy to talk to a 3 year old about hard situations that doesn't make sense to them. But soon it should be over and we can be "normal" again hopefully.
As for Canden -- well he used to be such a cute little thing . . and I went to Spokane for a few days to look for a place to live and came back to an absolute terror. At least he has an amazing cute -- squeeze his cheeks off smile or else t
his kid would be in big trouble! He is now running everywhere (not walking), getting on TOP of everything, and has an attitude just as bad as his sister. He lets me know what he wants and makes sure I know he wants it NOW. 
He is so much fun and is constantly keeping me laughing--- even when he does push his chair to the ottoman and get on top of it jumping -- waiting for me to freak out and get him down. He is a busy little body that will not hold still. The one thing I do love about him though is he absolutely loves to give hugs and kisses. He is a cuddle bug . . . he is constantly giving Araleigh loves --- he attacks her all the time and just mawls her. It is the cutest thing seeing them bond and hug on each other constantly. His current obsession is wearing Araleigh's flip flops. He tries so hard to walk around in them. He is lovi
ng shoes right now-- which is funny to me. Canden's hair is growing like weeds. I cut it last week (which is like his 10th hair cut) and I now need to cut it again cuz its getting so long. It is crazy! Wish my hair would grow like theirs! Canden's current obsession is also -- being Naked. Yes, as soon as this kid has his clothes off --- he is a new little man. He runs around like a mad man, laughing and screaming and in the end -- pees on the floor. I tolerate it because of how cute he is w
hen he does it. The other day he was running around like a little crazy man screaming and hollering and then all the sudden he stops -- puts Araleighs shoe on -- gets up and grabs his puppy and starts to walk and pull the dog around the living room. He was one proud little dude. It was too funny. We laugh with him constantly. His new thing now is he thinks everything is a phone and he picks everything up and puts it to his ear and saids "hi, hi, hi" its cute how they pick up on things. He also is a huge tease. . . yesterday he was throwing a tantrum and I couldn't figure out what he wanted. . well I was sitting on the floor and suddenly he started walking backwards toward me-- backed himself up and sat on my lap. Then he started his tantrum again-- then he handed me Araleigh's shoe and stuck his foot in my face. So I took the shoe, put it on his tiny foot and watched him laugh, stand up and walk away completely satisfied. Little turd. He definately makes it known what he wants and when he wants it. We love him.As for me: Well I spent last week in Spokane. It was a lot harder than I thought being away from the kids-- as I drove away from my house after saying by I was just sick and emotional for some reason as I got going. All I could think about was if something were to happen to me on this 8 hour drive if I kissed them enough and gave them as much hugs as I wanted. Of course it made me sick to think about (I've never been away from them for more than a night). Well, it was a pretty good drive. Went by fast, although it was a bit hard the last stretch because all I could see was trees for hours and there was construction that drove me nuts. I got a little emotional about an hour away thinking that this might be a normal drive for me in the near future. I arrived in Spokane about 4 or 5 and went straight to Cory's office. It was a little weird being there-- I must say. But he took me out and I met the people he works with and saw the turbine up close. That night we ended up going over to his co-workers house for them to practice their presentation for a big seminar they were putting on the next day. As I sat there watching and learning the things they were presenting-- I was absolutely in awe with how comfortable Cory was. His part of the presentation was amazing. It came so natural to him and his knowledge is so immense. It amazes me how much he has learned and absorbed in such a short time. That night I completely realized that this was the real deal. He was working with some amazing men, he loves his job, and he is good at it. One of the men -- for whom Cory actually is doing the job he was supposed to-- he kept coming and telling me over and over at how good Cory is at this job. How amazing of a salesman he is and how its all just natural to him. He was so floored by Cory and I could tell. It was a true compliment because this man is a salesman himself and up til then we thought he considered Cory as a big threat . . but I could tell that this man was truly impressed and he kept making sure I was aware of how much he thought of him. I truly was proud of Cory seeing him in his work enviorment. It's not often when I have seen him in action. That night we spent the night in the "romantic" setting of his bosses motorhome up in the mountains. Yes, we were serenaded all night by the coyotes. Very interesting. The next day I just tagged along and tried to help when necessary. The seminar went smooth as well as the turbine open house up at the site. I loved s
itting back and watching Cory do his job . . . he truly sold me. I almost signed up for a turbine with how well they did-- too bad I have no money and no land! haha I wish I could say the rest of the weekend went well-- but it didn't. The next day we spent trying to find a home. No luck. We only saw a total of 3 houses and it was frustrating. We spent the rest of the day driving around trying to find places to look at. Nothing. I ended up really emotional and just wanting to go home to my kids. We ended up going to the movie and dinner. At Outback I pretty much had a melt down and spent 15 minutes trying to get my crap together in the bathroom. I have been so torn. This is the job Cory has been waiting for . . . he loves it and he is good at it. In the past 5 weeks he has sold 7 big turbines --- something that they have been trying to do for 6 months. He is good at it and I am struggling with the move. It was fine when I was in the work setting and seeing him in action . . but when it came down to reality of us trying to find a home and trying to figure out where we needed to look it was too overwhelming. All the good areas are out of our price range and those that are anywhere near what we are spending now are in the ghetto scary areas. So I am just praying for change of heart and a way to figure out where to be happy. This is a battle for me . . . and I am not sure I can go there without kicking and screaming quite yet. I wasn't too impressed with the town . . nothing amazing there ... though the mall was huge. Its going to be a long road and many decisions in the next month but I do know that I am sick of this ackward in between stage. We just need to move on . . . and start living our lives again where ever it will be.
itting back and watching Cory do his job . . . he truly sold me. I almost signed up for a turbine with how well they did-- too bad I have no money and no land! haha I wish I could say the rest of the weekend went well-- but it didn't. The next day we spent trying to find a home. No luck. We only saw a total of 3 houses and it was frustrating. We spent the rest of the day driving around trying to find places to look at. Nothing. I ended up really emotional and just wanting to go home to my kids. We ended up going to the movie and dinner. At Outback I pretty much had a melt down and spent 15 minutes trying to get my crap together in the bathroom. I have been so torn. This is the job Cory has been waiting for . . . he loves it and he is good at it. In the past 5 weeks he has sold 7 big turbines --- something that they have been trying to do for 6 months. He is good at it and I am struggling with the move. It was fine when I was in the work setting and seeing him in action . . but when it came down to reality of us trying to find a home and trying to figure out where we needed to look it was too overwhelming. All the good areas are out of our price range and those that are anywhere near what we are spending now are in the ghetto scary areas. So I am just praying for change of heart and a way to figure out where to be happy. This is a battle for me . . . and I am not sure I can go there without kicking and screaming quite yet. I wasn't too impressed with the town . . nothing amazing there ... though the mall was huge. Its going to be a long road and many decisions in the next month but I do know that I am sick of this ackward in between stage. We just need to move on . . . and start living our lives again where ever it will be.
