A LITTLE PRAYER

If you're reading this please say a little PRAYER...

Cameron's sister MARCENE is having her first CHEMO treatment today. She was diagnosed with stage three Lymphoma two weeks ago.

Marcene, this must be the hardest thing you've ever been through. We are praying for you to have STRENGTH, COMFORT, and PEACE.

Your good attitude is an inspiration. We are thinking of you. We love you.

Corn Dogs for Breakfast and Other Ways of Coping

Yes... I said Corn Dogs for BREAKFAST!!! The kids are adjusting well to the "Springs" and I'm really starting to as well. But just to make the change a little easier here's some things we've been doing...

* Corn Dogs for Breakfast just to make life a little more fun - I personally, could NEVER eat a corn dog in the morning but the kids loved it!
*Unpacking boxes - STILL



*Making cookies
*Chasing the squirrels in our backyard - although I recently found out they are burrying Peanut shells in our lawn... who knew? Some neighbor must be feeding them peanuts. Austin is NOT allowed to touch them and Landon is on peanut lookout duty. What a pain to be worried about your kid touching peanut shells.
*The Library's Summer Reading Program
*Swimming - the pools are all indoor here because of the crazy weather changes so... we got our own mini-pool that the kids LOVE

*Making Friends - this neighborhood has a ton of kids for Landon and Austin to play with; they are over here all the time. Our ward has 3 families in it with three boys our kids exact age so it's pretty cool. The kids are in heaven and I'm really having fun getting to know the moms.

*Garage-Saleing - A friend that lives down the street took me out to teach me the art of shopping garage sales. I found some fun things. I got 4 barstools for my kitchen and a LAZY BOY couch and chair. Yes they're blue but they're hardly used and really comfy. Great for our family room.

* Playing outside - there are some awesome parks here. An Alice in Wonderland park has themed play equipment that makes you feel like you're in the movie. The Charolette Web's park has a spider's web and barn. There are tons of walking trails and lots of places to ride bikes.

*And this kid is staying quite busy learning to crawl and clap. When you shout "YEAH" he starts clapping and he also claps to tell you he's happy about something. The crawling is still manageable - I'm not chasing him around quite yet. He really only crawls to get to someone or something.

* And last but not least I am within 5 minutes of the mall, Target, Costco, church, Walmart, Bank, Prairie Hills Elementary (Landon's School), grocery store and LOTS of other places I usually go - all of which were 10-15 minutes away when we lived in Iowa. FINALLY, I don't have to LIVE in my car!!! And an added BONUS there are people from my ward in my neighborhood. Hallelujiah!

We Made It

Through 4 years of Dental School:

Out of Iowa before the floods hit:
(this is the Coralville strip. The bridge is right in front of the storage shed we rented when we put our house up for sale. The yellow building is El Dorodo, where Cameron and I met for lunch all the time. It's just so weird - I just shopped at that Walgreens! It brings tears to my eyes to see my home like this. Even though we have moved it still feels like home. I am praying for all of you in Iowa. I wish I was there to sand bag and try to help. I just can't believe that I drove down this street just last week.)

(this is the road we took to get to Cameron's graduation - less than ten minutes from our house. This area is under 10 feet of water)


Through Saying Goodbye to Our Friends:
(I love you all and we will all miss you. Landon wants to marry Morgan so Connor will be his brother in law. Austin wants Collin back in his primary class. Thank you so much for being my friends. Thanks for watching my kids on Tuesday. I love my "Super Mom" Playgroup friends too. You girls got me through the tough years!!!)


To Colorado With the Help of My Dad:
(thank you, Dad for your help - You will never know how much your support means to me. I can always depend on you and Mom. Happy Father's Day, by the way; oh and thanks for putting up with all the stops we had to make along the way - you really helped me more than you know)


To the Top of Helen Hunt Falls:
(we took the day off from unpacking to go on a little hike. It turns out that the altitude really does make a difference. Talk about being out of breath. The kids loved it. We really like being here. I forgot my camera. It wouldn't matter anyway because I can't find the USB cord to download my pictures. Hopefully, I will find it soon so I can post some more pictures.)

The Year of the Lego

Landon is 6! He had a great birthday party with his friends. We went to the Iowa City Gym-Nest. The kids loved it. They went crazy in the gym and I didn't have to lift a finger! Landon wanted to invite his whole Kindergarten class but with his church friends and neighborhood friends that was too many kids. So we decided on an all boy party. It turned out great.
Landon made a Lego dune buggy for his Lego cake. He's into Lego's lately so we tried to make a Lego cake. Not the prettiest cake but I did my best. Landon loved it and that's all that matters, I guess.

Thanks to our friends for all the great presents, and for driving all the way to "town"! You guys are the best. Cameron had as much fun as the kids - throwing them into the foam pit and playing dodge ball with them.

Grandma and Grandpa Perigo sent a pakage that all the kids loved opening. Thanks for the V-tech games and Legos. Landon has already set up a galactic battle with his Star Wars Legos.


Sunday was Landon's actual birthday and he wanted brats for dinner. We braved the humidity and took off to Bluestem to roast brats over the fire and make dutch oven peach cobbler for his birthday cake. Despite the nats and humidity it was really fun just being together. We sang camp songs, played in the water, watched the kids climb trees, and tried to steer clear of the smoke that kept blowing in our faces.
Once again Landon got more Legos. I bought him Technic Legos (a snowmobile and jeep)from the Lego Store in Chicago. He's been working on putting them together a little each day. Cameron thinks they're awesome because you put them together and it shows how a real engine, steering shaft, etc. works. The two of them working on the snowmobile together is pretty cute. Landon keeps telling me thanks for his Legos. I'm just glad he's happy with his birthday.

We love you Landon:
*You're always smiling
*Your favorite foods are Brats, bacon sandwiches (BLT's), Macaroni and Cheese (processed much?!)

*Your favorite things to do at school are recess - the sandbox; and reading - you love that you can read chapter books
*You love playing T-Ball and Hockey
*You like watching Scooby Doo
*Your favorite football team is the Cowboys, even though you really don't watch football
*You are always helpful around the house. You unload the dishwasher often. You make your bed and clean your room everyday. You get yourself ready for school in the morning. You are obedient. Your polite and respectful. You LOVE to help Dad with anything. You'll play with Isaac if I ask you to but now that he can grad things away from you you'd rather play out of his reach. You really love riding your bike. You are good at teaching Austin things like his letters and how to play games. You still love to snuggle with me. You are a great kid. Happy Birthday.

My 3-year old the GROWN UP

This morning, after a late night, Cameron let me sleep in and got Landon ready for school and took him to the bus stop. So at 8:30 when Austin came into my room and climbed in bed with me I was really surprised that he had slept in so late. Apparently, though, he had been awake for quite a while. He got out the step stool and got the cereal and a bowl down and poured his cereal and milk. Then he "just walked around the house quiet so I didn't wake you up". He came in my room and told me all about his morning and said, "I was really careful Mom. I told myself, 'be careful and don't spill 'cause Moms not here'." And he didn't spill a drop. As soon as I got out of bed, though, he was pouring himself another bowl and spilled it all over the floor - guess he's not growing up too fast!

The Happiest Kid on the Block

I used to read a book to my kids called "The Happiest Kid on the Block". Well I think that Austin now deserves the title. Last week Cameron took Austin's training wheels off his bike. This kid is a dare devil to the core and the training wheels were becoming more dangerous than helpful. It took Austin (no exaggeration) exactly two minutes to ride on his own.
The pictures say it all - he is the happiest boy on the block. That night he checked on his bike twice before bed to make sure the training wheels were still off, and at 6:30 the next morning the garage door opened so he could check on his bike again. Seriously, this kid's bike is his prized possession. I think we may be in for some trips to the ER soon. Watch the video and see what I mean. If you listen closely you can even hear him PANTING because he's riding so fast. Crazy kid!

I know you can't help but notice his purple soccer socks, khakis, and crocs - well that's his own creation. Austin loves to mis-match his clothes and he really likes to find the oddest things to wear. Our deal is that I get to help him choose his clothes before we go somewhere but he can wear whatever he wants while we're at home. Who am I to stand in the way of happiness by purple socks?

A little of this and that

Well I've been spending my days running my kids around, working out, playing outside, running errands, and being a soccer mom - literally - the kids have sports four nights a week so by the time we make dinner rush through eating it, go to t-ball, hockey, or soccer, and then come home, clean up, get the kids in bed, I am exhausted. So blogging has been put on the back burner lately. Here's a few things we've been doing:

I went to Colorado last weekend and leased this:

The picture is one off the internet - I wish you could see it closer but by the time I had made my decision for sure on this house I ran out of time to take my own pictures. But it shows the yard which is really pretty too. The house is just over 2900 square feet with five bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Anyone that wants to come visit can have their own bathroom, bedroom and family room! It has a fenced backyard which I'm happy about - "go play outside, while I make dinner". I'm really excited about the house - FINALLY, we'll have SPACE and a place for everything, say good bye to clutter!!!

Austin gave me a butterfly magnent for Mother's Day and in true Austin fashion took it back from me when I told him how much I loved it. "Actually, Mom it's mine because I want to fly it and it's going to bite you!"


Austin also had his preschool end of the year celebration. We had to go straight from his soccer game and he wouldn't change his clothes. All the kids were dressed up and Austin was in his soccer gear. Gotta love the kid - he's one of a kind and if he wants to show off his soccer uniform then he's going to do it. (I actually could have MADE him change his clothes but why? It made him SO happy to show everyone his shin guards and soccer shirt). This is Austin with his teacher Miss Sabrina.


Landon had his last hockey game yesterday. He loves it. He's made me promise to find out if I can sign him up in Colorado.

Austin and Zac and I went to Landon's "all sports" day. Landon was muddy, wet, and having a blast. He has absolutely loved Kindergarten and I love seeing him there. It's fun to watch him with the kids in his class. He says the funniest things sometimes. Last night he told me I was a "special woman because womans with brown hair and blue eyes are hard to find"!

And here's little Zac. He is just starting to try to crawl. As soon as I sit him on the floor he plops himself onto his tummy and "swims". That's what it looks like he's doing. I'm sure he'll be crawling within the next weeks. He is getting funner and funner all the time. When he doesn't have an ear infection or bronchitis he is the happiest kid I know.
His new favorite food is tomatoes but he only likes them when they're sliced in circles. He holds them like a cracker and sucks out all the insides. He gives me skin only if I give him another tomato slice. It's pretty funny.