This Amazing Boy

KKS

Exciting

I saw these on Steve Spangler, whom I was introduced to by my sister. Because you know....she knows all of the coolest sites and has all of the cool ideas. I don't know where she gets the time to research all of this stuff, but happy to be the benefactor.

Anyway, I had been intending to buy these, we thought they would be so much fun. And then, it happened. We were in the dollar store, I was looking through the craft section and I saw them....right before my eyes. Liquid marbles for $1.00!!!!!!! Can you appreciate how excited I was? I bought 5, a bottle for everyone. Can't wait to play with them.

I attended a town meeting last night. A few of the locals have started a neighborhood association. No, it's not your typical H.O.A. They're not going to tell us not to hang clothes on the line, or any other rules that make a neighborhood seem more like a communist country (hate those). The two main issues hat the association has agreed to address are speeding and what to do with the old Primary School.

We went to Augusta yesterday because Mike had an interview for a job. It's very strange, I must tell you, to think of my husband as an analyst. I just can't imagine him wearing anything but scrubs. Nursing just fits him so well and he genuinely loves his job. The blood transfusions, the saving of lives, the insertion of i.v.'s, the wacky overdose people, the frequent flyers, the heart attacks, the dog bites....all of it. He thrives on the adrenalin that comes from saving a life and he loves direct patient care. We've discussed, at length, whether or not he will be happy doing this other job. He said that he would like it as long as he could still do per diem (two Saturdays a month) in the E.R. There are pro's and cons to this job. The pro's: he'll be home every night for dinner and other evening activities, he can work at least half of the time from home, he will never work weekends (except when he's on call, which will be once every six weeks, but even then he can work from home), the schedule is totally predictable, he will be combining his computer and medical experience, and there is a significant difference (+) in pay. The cons: he'll be working five days a week instead of three (which is normal for most people, I know, but it will be a big adjustment for us), he will have less direct patient care (which, like I said, he loves) and...........(????) I'll add more cons when I think of them. Although the interview went really well, we won't know for sure until he gets an actual offer. They're going to be making a decision in the next couple of weeks. On vera bien!!

Mike took the kids to Sunday River for a day of skiing. This is a whole new world for them. They have never ridden a gondola before. Our local ski mountain is so small in comparison. We love it because it is so friendly, but they have never seen trails like the ones at Sunday River. Mike called me right after they got there and said: "What should I do if Harrison forgot his ski pants after I told him repeatedly to put them in the van?" I said to just check him periodically for frost bite. Natural consequences are the best teachers. Nor would it be fair to make everyone else spend two hours to come back home to get them. The cold doesn't usually bother him, anyway.

The rest of us are having a very lazy day.

KKS

Random Goodness

I love these exposed beams. I will never paint them.

(See that tongue again?)

Afternoon trot

Cuteness

KKS

Baker

Lundi made the treat (brownies) for Family Home Evening tonight.....all by herself. Deeeeeeelicious!!

KKS

Is This Not???

One of the greatest parts of childhood?

KKS

My Favorite Scouts

They're on their way to Eagle.

(goofy or not)

KKS

Guilt

Please tell me that I am not the only Mother in the world that has yet to celebrate her child's first birthday. And how late is too late? I mean...it's only been two months.

I hate procrastination.

Sorry, Audrey.

KKS

Bright

KKS

Love

KKS

Scuttlebutt & Surmise

The tires that have been on our van since we bought it (a year ago) were worn out at the beginning of winter. They are still on the van----it's February. That can only mean one thing: We have had a very mild winter. I guess now we can wait until they are flat or the inspection sticker runs out.

Sometimes even when you have money for the necessities, you don't make them a priority. (tsk, tsk)

Mike's job status: employed, still at the ER. Why the interviews? The best time to look for a job is when you have a job. Nursing is so very versatile and the salaries vary greatly from one institution to the next. He will have an interview on Tuesday in another department (I.T.) at the hospital where he currently works. If it is offered to him, and if he decides to take the job it will be a dramatic pay increase...about 25%. This job will not include direct patient care, which he loves. It is a M-F, 8-5 job. If all of the other ifs work out, he will stay on per diem at the ER. That is, if he thinks he will be happy doing (primarily) I.T. stuff and (secondarily) nursing.

Our tax return is taking way too long to come back. We couldn't file like we normally do (TaxAct) because of the home buyers tax credit. We certainly are anxious to get started on the house projects (painting, installing a dishwasher) and to buy our new washer and dryer, fixing the windshield on the Subaru so that it will pass inspection, paying off a few bills, going on a (mini) family vacation to Boston and buying the kids some (much needed) new clothes....among other things that we plan to buy. I'm still waiting for the price of tickets to come down so I can book my flight to Utah for Women's Conference.

We attended a baptism this evening. I was asked to give the talk on Baptism. It surely was an honor. I was able to accompany the missionaries a few times during lessons to teach her the gospel. I still love doing missionary work. It works. The Lord's purposes are being fulfilled, one child of god at a time.

It's Sunday tomorrow. Mike is on this weekend. Which means I am flying solo for attending church with the six littles. I really hope that Liam is good during sacrament. He has been giving us a hard time lately and one of us has spent most of the time in the foyer, trying to convince him that he really does want to be reverent. So on the Sundays when Mike isn't there, this makes it really hard to sit through the meeting, or even keep all the kids in the chapel.

We all need dentist appointments.

I am so thankful to Mr. and Mrs B. for the beautiful work they did on this house. They lived here for thirty-five years. He is a retired surgeon. He was just as meticulous in all of the work he did on the house, as he was in his profession. I really feel like Heavenly Father saved this house for us. It is so perfect. Tonight Lundi was sitting on the hearth, getting warm by the fire and she said: "Mommy, it's like this house is a dream come true. It's everything I ever imagined." It's good to know that she appreciates it as much as we do. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. B. for the fine house you have maintained for us. I hope we can keep it beautiful. We try.

KKS

Wet.My.Pants

Seriously, this is so funny. Scroll down to the video and have a good laugh. Read the comments, and laugh some more. Add the blog to your reader and laugh every day.

KKS

A Few From The Archives

KKS

This Was A Hit

Wow!! I have The Crafty Crow on my "top sites" page. Every day there is something new, and most of the time something there that we want to try. Moreover, we usually have the stuff on hand. Today it was this. But we had to (of course) paint ours, because my kids are very paint-y people. So ours took a little longer. But not much, because lately the hair dryer is used more as a paint dryer, and so it was today.

Under construction:

The tongue: It's a tall tale sign that Liam is in deep concentration!! (Shhhh! It's a serious thing, the development of those fine motor skills.)

Focus, focus.

And of course, the pinball game inspired the kids to get out the geo boards.

Set up:

And the race is on!!!!

And this boy finally has enough confidence in his steady hand to clean out the wood stove while it is still hot. He did great and didn't spill any coals on the hearth!!!

And our little Lauren can read one hundred percent, independently, on her own. I love to see her read on her own (even though she doesn't ask me to read to her as much). She feels so empowered!!!!

Move over Match Box. You've been replaced by a bigger, better, bolder, broader bed buddy. The Mini Cooper!!!!

And last but not least. There was a whole lot of love between these two today. Every day she picks her favorite person to cling to. Today was Calebs lucky day!!!

KKS