A Relaxing Weekend at the Cabin

We took the kids up to my family's cabin in Smith's Ferry for the weekend to have one last little get-away before the baby comes. On the drive up, Kate was getting a little apprehensive about the whole thing and started asking if we could go home. But after the weeked was over and we were driving down the hill to the highway, she started wimpering and saying she wanted to stay at the cabin. So needless to say, they really enjoyed it and it was nice to spend some relaxing time together.

Joe's sister, CoraLyn, and her family came up for a night too but I didn't get any pictures of them. (oops) It was fun hiking, swimming, hanging out, watching movies, playing games and of course snacking and eating!

We took the kids on a little walk (for me it was more like a hike because I'm so huge). Sam was all about just going ahead and tromping down the road without looking back. Kate really loved seeing the flowers.

Joe with the kids on the deck before our walk.

Sammy hiking up the hill like a champion.

Kate with a cute pose during the walk.

Huge Mommy trying to keep Sam reigned in.

Daddy and Sam about to go on their "boys hike."

Kate up on the deck.

Daddy and Sam on the walk.

Here's a funny little video of the kids playing with Joe. They love to do this at home so why would the cabin be any different?

Another great drawing by Kate

Kate loves to draw on the white board in Daddy's office. This is just another one of her great masterpieces. She told me that it's "Mommy in a boat that's floating on the water." Brilliant.

Painting Projects

I finally talked Joe into painting the kids' rooms. The kids were very excited. Kate got to help with the painting in her room and had a good time with daddy. We're still in the process of airing out so the paint smell to go away but the finished products are right around the corner.

Kate and Sam getting ready to paint.

Kate and Sammy excited to get started.

Daddy and Kate having a great time painting pink together.

Kate hard at work painting pink with only a few drips on the carpet and a few splotches on the trim. Pretty good for a 3-year-old.

The newly finished pink wall. (Airing out the room.)

While the rooms are having the paint smell aired out of them, the kids are sleeping on Kate's mattress in our room. We put the baby crib mattress next to Sammy's side just in case he rolls off the bed in the night but he soon found out it actually made for a great trampoline.

Kate...The Next American Idol Super Star

So this is a funny video we recorded last Sunday afternoon. She says, "I'm the next performer on American Idol. And I'm gonna sing Super Star!"

After we watched this video, Kate said, "Did you see my cool moves?" Really, how could you miss them?

Congratulations Phil and Angie!

Molly Fae Chandler

Born: May 30, 2008

19 1/2 inches, 7 lbs. 8 oz.,

Joe's brother, Phil, and his family just welcomed the 10th person in the family to the world last Friday. Mommy and baby are doing just great. I think Angie is the all-time super star for doing everything all-naturale and going home in just 24 hours of delivery.

Molly is so beautiful and tiny and sweet. Holding her just made us that much more excited for when our own baby girl arrives (in 6 weeks...but who's counting).

Memorial Day

We had a great day together yesterday. First we went to our annual ward breakfast at 8am. I have to admit, it wasn't easy to try to look like I was actually awake that early but I think I pretty much pulled it off.

Then we took the kids to Zoo Boise. They really loved the giraffe slide...especially Sam. It was actually Kate's brave idea to go down it (only with Daddy, of course). But when we actually got there to do it, she said, "Uhh, I'm not so sure about this." She went down once and then we watched Daddy take Sammy a couple of times. Sam would have kept going all day if we'd let him. He even said, "weeeeee!" when he watched other kids go down.

Joe and Sammy on the giraffe slide at the zoo. (and after)

Enjoying Zoo Boise.

Then we walked over to Julia Davis Park and had a picnic. The weather was perfect and the kids really enjoyed eating outside. Kate was really into the idea of having a picnic and said, "You know, Dad. It's a great day to be at the park." and "I wish I would have brought my basket so I could pick berries." She always says the cutest things.

Kate and Sammy also had lots of fun having races with Daddy. We gave out lots of pretend gold medals.

Sam, Mommy and Kate at our picnic in Julia Davis Park.

Then we drove over to the MK Nature Center near Municipal Park and walked around to see all the fish. We even got to see one of the 3-foot sturgeon they just added a few days earlier.

Joe and the kids looking at the fish and the MK Nature Center.

All in all, it was a really fun and pretty relaxing day. It was nice to just hang out with just our little family and have a good time.

I only pretend to be organized

So anyone who knows me knows that I am a chart person. It's more like I'm a chart maker and hopefully a chart follower after I've made one. Anyway, I've brainwashed, I mean taught Kate to be the same way. Here are the latest ones Kate we've made together. (Sorry if they don't make sense. You know, if they're as clear as mud...or, as Joe would say, "clear as Lake Lowell."

THE CHOOSE THE RIGHT GAME

This an idea I got from a girl in my ward that I visit teach and she said it works great with her kids. She called hers the "Make Good Choices Game" I think but I couldn't remember that when I made mine. The concept is that when the child makes a good choice by obeying, being kind, sharing, being helpful or whatever then they get to move ahead one square. There are fun squares along the way ("Game," "Lollipop" and "Art Project") to kind of tide them over until they reach a big prize at the end ("$ for their Piggy Bank" and "A Special Treat"). But if the child chooses to disobey or not do what's right, they could move back a square. Of course you could change any part of it to fit the needs of the children. But I thought it was a pretty good idea. We haven't actually started using it yet at our house but hopefully it will help my kids want to make good choices.

BEDTIME ROUTINE CHART

My kids have a hard time going to bed at night so I thought that making a set, easy-to-follow bedtime routine would help them out -- even if Daddy or someone else is in charge of putting them to bed. The rest is self explanatory if you just read the chart so there's need to clarify.