Adventurous Days

I have been trying to be creative and fun with the kids. We went to the movies after it was raining all day Saturday. However, this week has been lovely. We played in the pool and a park that had fountains you could run around in. We also went to the zoo. This Saturday I think we'll go to the Children's Museum in downtown Austin.


I love this picture. Mia and Cole really look like they are having fun! The kids loved running around the fountains. But we were only there about 30 minutes when the water was turned off because it had to be dried. The stage was going to be used for a music concert that night. Needless to say, the kids were bummed.


Olivia was just cold the whole time :)


But luckily, Benson and Heidi have an awesome pool in their backyard :)


We went to the zoo one day. The Austin Zoo is pretty small but it's only $5 and 25 minutes away so it was a great few hour activity. Here is Livi in a duck. This is the only picture I could get of her smiling. Most of them were her and Cole looking at the animals and Mia would smile.

Like this :)


We got to see lions and tigers and bears, but no zebras or penguins or giraffes :)



Mia: "I wish there was a VIP pass to the zoo where I could have a ride on a turtle"

We have got to talk to Heidi and Benson on the phone twice. They are having a great time and will be home Sunday!!

The 5 things tag :)

I've been tagged by my friend Charlotte

5 Things I was doing 5 years ago - Let's see I was 16
Driving my Infinity G20 stick shift
First kiss
Volleyball and Softball
State Choir
Dating lots!

5 Things on my To-Do List for [tomorrow] (See post below, I did not randomly have three kids behind, I'm not THAT behind in posting :)

Go to the grocery store (with only 1 kid - not 3!)
Finish laundry
Help Mia clean her closet
Go to park with fountain and let kids play with swimsuits on
Call Pocatello Neighborhood Housing Society

5 Things I would do with a million dollars
TRAVEL!!!
Shopping Spree with our family
Buy a really nice car for Derek and I could have his
Set up bank accounts for kids
Save it - I'm lame but that's really what I would do :)

5 places I have lived
Anaheim, California
Salem, Oregon
Provo, Utah
Pocatello, Idaho
Austin, Texas
...not bad - five states :)

5 Jobs I have held
Summer Nanny
Worked at Saturday Market (was there before 5:00am!)
Sterilization Technician at Dental Office
Administrative Assistant for LINX Satellite
Student Assistant at ISU library

5 Things I want to be doing in 5 years - I'll be 26
I will be a registered and practicing Dental Hygienist (or will have practiced)
Have a little kid
Supporting Derek at his graduation from a Master's Degree in Business
Deciding where we'll live for a while once Derek is DONE with school
...umm learning a new talent - like sewing or something

5 people I tag
Mom
Kayti O.
Laura P.
Melissa K.
Katie W.

Back in Texas baby!

My uncle Benson (who is my mom's brother) and aunt Heidi are in Israel. They decided to go with Heidi's family kind of last minute. They recently moved from Southern California to Austin, Texas. Because they have only been here four weeks they asked if I could come out to watch their kids. 12 DAYS away from Derek. That is the longest we have been apart since we were married. However we were away from each other for months at a time when dating. They were willing to pay well and for my airfare etc. I had just finished school (with 4 A's, one A- and one B+ by the way) and my job hadn't started yet (I am going to work at Butterburrs, a restaurant that has that "homecooked meals" feeling). So I decided to come. It's cool because this is where I was last summer so I am familar with the city and the crazy toll roads. But don't worry, I'm driving the Denali and the GPS system :) It's been quite a ride. I knew this would, as Heidi said, be good birth control :) Zero to three is a lot, but it's fun. And it's teaching me a lot. Today is Monday and I got here Thursday. I leave next Monday. Here's a recap of our first adventures :)



All three kids feeding the ducks.



Olivia, or Livi, on the swings. Higher, higher!!!



Cole



And Amelia, or Mia.



Livi loves to dress up. And Cole loves to be silly.



This was an adventure. It was Saturday and I needed to go to the grocery store - it couldn't wait until Monday when the kids were at school because we were out of fruit snacks, blueberry Nutri Grain bars and milk :) So I thought I'd just make a quick run Saturday morning. It was hectic, but fine. But we were all in shorts and t-shirts (the humidty tricked me) and we got out of the grocery store and it was POURING!!!! So I grabbed the car and was so wet! I brushed my hair before this picture and it was drying but my shirt shows how wet I got :)



Benson and Heidi's backyard. Their pool is really cool with the oak trees around it.



This is Livi and I at the park.



Cole and Livi in the tub. We have bath time every night at 6:30 before they go to bed at 7:00 - genious Heidi and Benson. And they sleep til 7:00 the next morning so they need it.

Today we're thinking about the zoo. I'll be sure to check the weather :)

Mother's Day Weekend

My family got to stay for Mother's Day weekend. We went bowling Saturday night after graduation and then to Senor Iguanas. On Sunday we all went to church (and Bentley (9), Lexus (12) and Tiffany (18) all went to our Sunday School Marriage and Family Relations class :) and had dinner. We opened Mother's Day gifts and went to the burial sites of my mother's grandmothers. They were both in the cemetery in Pocatello which is pretty neat. Monday morning, after a little shopping at the ISU Bookstore my family left. Thanks so much for coming!!



My shoes said Rental - I thought that was so funny.




What cute kids. They play great together!



The graduate and I



Beautiful Mom and Tiffany. Tiff just colored her hair for the first time and now has bangs. She is going to cosmetology school now and loving it.



This was mom's mother's day gift to me. A cute plate decoration! We got here some cute stationary and a framed picture of our family at graduation.



This is the site of my mom's father's parents.



And this is my mom's mother's parents. How neat that they lived here in Pocatello and now I am here.



Derek and Bentley stayed occupied by playing with the squirrels :)

My husband the Graduate

We have so many pictures from graduation (I'm so proud). It was a beautiful and we had lots of support. All of Derek's family including Kandice and Jarrad from Logan, Nana and Grandpa and my immediate family (minus Lincoln) from Oregon, and my aunt and uncle Linda and Shane. Megan also came for our barbecue. Thanks to Julie and Scott for sharing the park with us!!



What a great looking graduate!



I caught him waving and smiling!



Walking in







One side of the group



The cuter side of the group :)



The set out a lunch for the graduates. I thought the display was nice.



A full shot of the whole event



Derek going to shake the President's hand



And about to receive his diploma (or empty folder :)



Derek and Bentley on the field



I know it's silly but I love this picture of me helping Derek with his tassel.



My side of the family :)



The Moss side of the family :)




The whole group (minus Shane and Linda who were taking pictures, thank you!)



Derek and I were invited to the President of the University's house. Dr. Valis lives just a few blocks from campus.



They have a great yard and put up a big tent and had music and food etc.



It was pretty and fun to be there, but it was great to come to our family at the park with great burgers and salads prepared by Steve and Lois (Grandma Moss). Thank you!!




Some of the gifts :) Everyone was so generous. With the money Derek recieved he ordered luggage which he will be using next week on his first business trip for Premier to Washington State.



Derek feigning surprise at my gift - a bluetooth earpiece (that he picked out and had been using for the last couple days but I rewrapped it, that was the deal :)



Some of the Moss family hanging out



What a beautiful day!

College of Business Banquet

Derek was also chosen as the Marketing Student of the Year and was awarded for that, as well as the Outstanding Student, in a banquet the day before graduation. Both of our parents were able to make it!



My parents drove all day and then were looking great for the banquet that night! :) Also, thanks for coming Steve and Daralyn, you guys are such great support!




This is Sandra Speck, head of the Marketing Department and she nominated Derek for the Outstanding Student Award.



I didn't get many pictures of Derek accepting his award because we have a friend who was taking close up picture. Maybe I'll get those up, but this is Derek in line :)



Derek and his hot wife :) Have I mentioned I'm proud of him? ;)