Success!!

We have been hard at work over here trying to learn the names of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  Last year during general conference, every time a new speaker started talking Savannah would say, "Who's that guy?"  It really bugged me because "those guys" are important people in our church!  So I bought their pictures and during Family Home Evenings we would concentrate on one at a time, reading the information about them on the back and then I would pin it on the wall in the dining room so we would see them often.

We finished learning them just before General Conference.  During conference was test time and my girls did great!!  Savannah would hardly pause before saying the entire name of the person.  Mission accomplished!!

Wretched Wind!

I really don't like the wind.

It is the thing that I don't like the most about living here in Washington.

It messes up my hair,  blows tumbleweeds everywhere, makes our sliding door hard to close, gets dirt in my eyes, and makes it colder outside.

But the #1 reason why I don't like the wind is because it blows away the things that we leave on Austin's grave.

Usually we find them somewhere nearby, but this time all Austin's presents are gone, save one.  We looked everywhere possible, but the wind has taken them away this time.  Three of his stuffed animals that had been left to keep him company have been blown away.  The remaining one, which fortunately is the most precious, has been stuffed into the flower vase where it can't go anywhere.

I have tried taping them to the headstone before, but it gets wet and then doesn't stick anymore.  So if anyone has any brilliant ideas about how to keep things from blowing away, I would greatly appreciate if you would share them with me.

She'll Laugh About It Someday

I hate it when our morning is going great, only to be disrupted by the dog.  Harsh to blame the dog?  Well, just wait until you read what she did...........

I've gotten into the habit of taking Cuddles with us to drop the kids off at school because it's easier than getting her into her carrier.  (She's not allowed to be free at home alone because of peeing reasons.)  So this morning she ran outside to the car with us.  When we got to school, I pulled up to the sidewalk for Savannah to get out and Cuddles escaped.  Here's where pandemonium broke out.  I didn't want to get out because I was in workout clothes and slippers.  I yelled at Savannah to run across the street and grab Cuddles.  As soon as Cuddles saw Savannah coming she zoomed down the street.  (Remember that a ton of cars are driving down this road to the school.)  Savannah would get close and Cuddles would take off again.   Finally Savannah came back to the car sobbing because she couldn't get Cuddles.  She may have been a little embarrassed at all the kids watching her try to catch this little wiener dog!  So I told her to go on to school and I would try to get Cuddles.  But things had gone too far for Savannah.  She climbed back into the van and cried that she didn't want to go to school.  (All the while, Cuddles is having a free for all on the neighbors lawns.)  So I was trying to keep an eye on Cuddles' location and trying not to lose it with Savannah.  Finally Cuddles nonchalantly came back across the road and I got her in the van.  Then I finally convinced Savannah to get out of the van and try to have a good day.   Rotten dog!


Side note: it is very difficult to exercise using the Wii Fit when Colby is trying to use it too.  I don't do very well with his body in the way.

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

Dear Grandmas,

             We had another piano recital the other day!  We did so awesome!  All Mom's students memorized their songs.  Please watch the videos of us.  Savannah's video is at home because the one at the recital was too big to put on here.Oh, and the video of Dakotah is a little wiggly because Dad was trying to film and hold Colby at the same time.

We have also started playing soccer again.  This year we are on different teams so right now Saturdays are called Soccer Days. On each of our first games, Dakotah and Savannah both scored a goal!  It was exciting.  Colby loves soccer, too, and wishes he could play with us.  It makes Dad tired trying to keep Colby off the court.  Here is a video of Colby at our practice.  Mom will put more videos of soccer up when she remembers to take the camera again.  

Something else that happened is Dakotah is now a toothless wonder!!  She thinks it's fun having a lot of missing teeth. 

We love to read books to Colby.  He loves to read with us.  We are becoming really good readers.  Aren't we cute??

Love,  Savannah, Dakotah, and Colby

Double Time

You know how sometimes something so unbelievable happens that you can't help but laugh at the circumstances?

This is not one of those times.  Please look carefully at the photo below.

No, you are not seeing double.  We found my lost watch.  (Read here for the story.)

Crazy!!  We deemed it gone forever, thrown out with the trash, so Clay bought me an identical one for Christmas again.  (The first watch was my Christmas present last year.)  Not a month later, Dakotah found it under our loveseat in the living room.  It's a rocker so we have it set away from the wall a bit.  The kids like to play behind it and when Dakotah went behind it, there on the floor was my watch.  We think that Colby put it in the loveseat and it eventually was jiggled out.  We looked in, under, and around that thing 5 times!

So, what am I going to do with two watches?  Clay said I should keep one as a backup.  Very funny.  Someone said I could wear one watch on each arm.  Not exactly my style.  I keep thinking about how much the dang thing cost.  It's not a Walmart watch, folks.  Not over the top but a little more than should be spent on a watch twice.  The store won't take it back because I wore it.  I'm feeling a little guilty about begging Clay to buy me a new one.

So I guess what I'm asking is, does anybody want to buy my Christmas present?  We'll give you a good deal.  It even comes with a warranty!  Really, any takers?

Christmas, Christmas Time Was Here

Now I'd better post about it before it's next year....

Colby got a battery powered four-wheeler.  The coolest gift ever.

Our nativity scene.  Colby actually left his headpiece on for the entire story.

Funny sidestory: we have a motion sensor snowman that talks and plays music when you walk by.  I turned it around so the kids wouldn't set it off when they walked by for the navitity.  Nicole stood behind it to take pictures and every time her camera flashed the snowman would go off.

 What good is a big present?  To eat breakfast on, of course!

Dresses I made for my girls.  This was the easiest fabric I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

 Now Clay has Ticket To Ride USA, Europe, and Germany.

And what did I get for Christmas?  Well, it's the exact same watch I got last year.  Only this one won't get lost.  I promise.

Your Attention Please!!

Hello.  My name is Andrea Hayes and I am known as unapproachable.

I had a great talk with a friend a while back and she revealed this about me.  Okay, I thought. Something to improve on.

Last night I went to a great party and at the end I was talking with a great group of gals and I mentioned what my friend had said and  apparently everyone still thinks this about me.  "I always think you are mad at me."  "You look like you don't want to be talked to."  Well, no wonder I don't have many friends!  Of course losing a child and going through the mourning process for two years will put a damper on my face.  Of course I haven't been smiling!  I was sad, people!!!

But that I still look like this bugs me.  Because I am not mourning anymore. I am finding happiness in life again.  Too bad my face doesn't show it.  So this is something to work on.

So, for the record, I AM approachable!!  I consider myself a friendly person and once I get to know you and feel comfortable around you, my funny personality will show.  Please give me a chance!  Please talk to me and say hello to me.  Really, I am a nice person.

(Disclaimer:  I am also shy and hate to be rejected so may not always approach you first.   Also, I may be in a bad mood depending on what events occurred on any given day, but usually get over it with friendly conversation.)