Spokane, Washington Temple

This has not been one of my better Sundays. Really wasn't diggin' being here today....especially being here and being pregnant.

So when dinner was over and we still had an hour and 1/2 till bed time, I was glad John came up with the idea to go see the temple.

It is about a 20 minute drive(not the close 3 minute drive we were used to in Portland), and it is a small temple, but still very much a comforting place.

The Westover's told us that President Hinckley once went to visit the DC temple and said,(something to this effect) "How can the people here have a temple three times as big as the Spokane, WA temple and have half the attendence?"

The temple may be small, but the people here are serious about their temple work. It is often very busy. At most little temples you REALLY have to call to make an appointment to go to the temple, but usually here, they are so busy that they can squeeze you in, unless they are too busy.

We feel blessed to have gotten to live so close to a temple both places we have lived outside of Utah. John and I haven't got to go yet(no babysitters---I am working on the socializing), but I am sure it is as beautiful inside as it is out.

The Humphery's

Their dad is a resident with John. We met them at the "Get To Know" you party for residents. People with kids tend to bond fast. Especially when you are both chasing them around the dinner tables. Nicole(the Oldest child, and the cutie in the middle with braids) bonded fast with Noah. They like each other A LOT and sometimes I feel like I have to make sure Micah still feels included. This is actually a rare moment of the night where they were all holding still for two seconds. They had a great time togther.

So here's to me, trying to be social and hoping we meet lots of other nice families like The Humphery's!

Just For Fun!

Being at home with three little kids, leads to tons of questions. The ones that have been the most frustrating lately are when I am driving to new places and Noah is asking, "Why are we turning around? We just went that way." I hate it when my kids point out how stupid I am.

I saw this while looking at an old friends blog, and thought I HAVE GOT TO pass this along. Read it! You will laugh!

A 3-year-old tells all from his mother's restroom stall

By Shannon Popkin

My little guy, Cade, is quite a talker. He loves to communicate and does it quite well. He talks to people constantly, whether we're in the library,the grocery store or at a drive-thru window. People often comment on how clearly he speaks for just-turned-3-year-old. And you never have to ask him to turn up the volume. It's always fully cranked.There've been several embarrassing times that I've wished the meaning of his words would have been masked by a not-so-audible voice, but never have I wished this more than last week at Costco. Halfway, through our shopping trip, nature called, so I took Cade with me into the restroom. If you'd been one of the ladies in the restroom that evening, this is what you would have heard coming from the second to the last stall: "Mommy, are you gonna go potty? Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the potty, Mommy? Oh! You gonna sit down on DA toiwet paper now? Mommy, what are you doing? Mommy, are you gonna go stinkies on the potty?" At this point I started mentally counting how many women had been in the bathroom when I walked in. Several stalls were full .. 4? 5? Maybe we could wait until they all left before I had to make my debut out of this stall and reveal my identity. Cade continued, "Mommy, you ARE going stinkies aren't you? Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy! Are you gonna get some candy for going stinkies on the potty? Let me see doze stinkies, Mommy! Oh ... Mommy! I'm trying to see in dere. Oh! I see dem. Dat is a very good girl, Mommy. You are gonna get some candy!" I heard a few faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me. Where is a screaming newborn when you need her? Good grief. This was really getting embarrassing. I was definitely waiting a long time before exiting. Trying to divert him, I said, "Why don't you lookin Mommy's purse and see if you can find some candyWe'll both have some!" "No, I'm trying to see doze more stinkies. Oh! Mommy!" He started to gag at this point. "Uh oh, Mommy. I fink I'm gonna frow up. Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!! Dat is so gross!!" As the gags became louder, so did the chuckles outside my stall. I quickly flushed the toilet in hopes of changing the subject. I began to reason with myself: OK. There are four other toilets. If I count four flushes, I can be reasonably assured that those who overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone. "Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now? I want you to be done going stinkies! Get up! Get up!" He grunted as he tried to pull me off. Now I could hear full-blown laughter. I bent down to count thefeet outside my door. "Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy? You wooking under DA door? What were you wooking at, Mommy? You wooking at the wady's feet?" More laughter. I stood inside the locked door and tried to assess the situation. "Mommy, it's time to wash our hands, now. We have to go out now,Mommy." He started pounding on the door. "Mommy, don't you want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!" I saw that my "wait 'em out" plan was unraveling I sheepishly opened the door, and found standing outside my stall, twenty to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all smiling and starting to applaud. My first thought was complete embarrassment, then I thought, "Where's the fine print on the 'motherhoodcontract' where I signed away every bit of my dignity and privacy?" But as my little boy gave me a big, cheeky grin while he rubbed bubbly soap between his chubby little hands, I thought, I'd sign it all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this little fellow.

I dont know if I would have had the same grateful feeling as this mom did. That might have had to come later....much, much later!

Big Boy Undies

I'm A Big Kid Now!I was folding some laundry today, and knew that I had put two pairs of Noah's underwear on a pile and could only find one, but I just decided to go on folding. A few minutes later I found Deeken Like this. I asked Noah if he had done it, but he hadn't. It would have been so fun to actually see him putting them on himself.

So it is so cute, and yet so frustrating. I don't know how hard to push him to potty train. He used to be so good at pooping in the potty, and now it is a struggle. Such a struggle it is agood thing he is so cute!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Happy Fourth of July!We started our 4th of July celebration at a multi-ward breakfast. I felt a lot like Micah looks here, shy and like I wanted to hide. Sometimes meeting new people can feel so overwhelming.

By the time we left we all felt a little more like Deeken looks here; open and ready to try.

I like this picture, It reminds me of an old time picture from my childhood.

My cute kids, I thought I had taught them to pose a little better than this. Luckily they always look cute.

We got the great oppurtunity to go to Grand Coulee Dam and spend sometime with my Sister-In-Laws Family. It was a ton of fun, the only thing that would have made it better is if my brother and his family could have been there.

The Westovers provided us with a place to stay, food, and tons of fun. This was my kids first time getting to ride water-rec vehicles. There was the jet skis, boating, and tubing. My kids had a great time! The pregnancy thing put a damper on it a bit for me, but I still had a great time.

Just thought this was cute...who holds their sucker like that?

Someday I hope to be able to do this to Micah's hair. She looks so beautiful! Thank you Jen!

This is the last pic you will see of me before I have this baby. I am getting sick of the fat pics. This is us waiting for the fireworks to start. Deeken didn't make it. No nap=No fireworks. He was so zonked. The fireworks over the dam were great and the kids had a good time staying up so late eating fudge bars and Chips Ahoy cookies.

Here is just a small portion of the Westover clan. The westover parents celebrated their 40th anniversary this year, they had 40 posterity there to celebrate it with them. Their whole family is completely wonderful and wanted us to feel as much at home with their family as possible. Thank you Westover's for a wonderful time! You are GREAT!

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July everyone!

Out of this World

Here is the playground at Noah's new school. I am trying to get the kids to a park at least once a day. We walk to this one, it is about six blocks. 3 kids ons bikes+the hot sun, makes for a tired mom when we get home.

I like this succession of pics. Deeken was being shy to a little girl who really wanted to play with him.

Noah is getting used to his new bike. It doesn't seem so HUGE to him anymore.

We are trying to keep busy by exploring our new city and meeting some new friends. Staying busy is also helping me not focus on my ever growing belly, and the monkey rolling around in it...sort of.

Noah Turns SIX!

Happy Birthday Noah!Breakfast in bed was Noah's one big request for his b-day.

I don't think he really wanted to be woken up to receive it though!

He didn't want to stay in bed long, and the breakfast ended up being a picnic on the floor.

Later he discovered a present not only for him but the rest of our family too. It just happend to get set up in time for his birthday.

Grandma provided some fun with squirt guns for the kids and a super soaker for Noah's birthday.

After you get a tramp, and it is summer, the next step is a sprinkler to go under it, of course.

John got home early and made it a super fun day for the kids.

Noah, you are a wonderful boy, full of so much energy. You are smart, handsome, and a great big brother. WE LOVE YOU! We hope you had a wonderful day with many more wonderful ones to come!