Grandma's House

Yesterday we went to visit my parents. My grandma was there too so it was fun to get to visit with her. While we were there grandpa got out a slide ( a big outdoor play slide) and positioned it on the stairs so the boys could slide down, they got to go on a walk to the park, jump on a trampoline, play tinker toys, eat cookies, and have TONS of fun. When we got in the car to go home we'd made it about a mile and KC says "Mom? I love it at grandmas house". The cutest part was he seemed so nostalgic about it, like we might not be going back for awhile and he was already missing it so much. I love how my parents take so much time to play with the kids when we are there. It's not just a quick hug and kiss hello and goodbye, but they stop what they are doing and really play. The kids LOVE it, and its so fun to watch them together.

When we were growing up we lived a days drive away from our closest grandparents. But every year it seemed, at least once or twice we would load up and make the drive to grandmas house. I remember the drive seemed like it took forever, but when we got there it was so exciting. They used to have this big tree in the backyard with a swing that you could spend hours on, and when I was really little I remember my grandpa holding me upside down and putting my feet up to the ceiling and tickling me. There was just no feeling in the world like being at Grandma and Grandpas. I remember crying as we would drive away to go home, it was always so sad to have to leave. It's not quite as relaxing to go now that I have kids to chase around, but I still love the feeling I get when I'm there. So thanks Grandma and Grandpa for helping me have such fun memories of visiting you, and I love that I can bring my kids there now and share some of those memories with them. And thanks Mom and Dad for making my kids Grandma and Grandpa's house just as magical a place.

Evicted

The cats have been kicked out. I feel sad. I feel like it's animal cruelty making them live outdoors. I know, they're just animals right, but I still feel sad. But when it comes to cat pee on my carpet in my still new house, or no cat to snuggle with at night I pick no snuggling.
Pumpkin has recently decided that he needs to "mark" the whole house as his territory again. Maybe he's feeling threatened by the new baby coming? I don't know, but when you can go in the room and the cat will stop right in front of you and proceed to leave his mark on your nice clean pile of laundry, then it's time for the cat to go. I've found several of such spots this last week and he's peed in front of me twice! Luckily its always just a very small amount and usually on something other than just right on the floor. So it isn't impossible to clean up. But still, gross.
I'm still letting them in the laundry room where we keep their food. I even bought a nice soft pet bed to put in there for them to sleep in so I wouldn't feel so bad. They have a kitty door there that leads into the garage so they can get outside.
I have to say it's nice not being pounced on in the middle of the night. Pumpkin likes to sleep right on top of you and that can get a little uncomfortable. And its nice not having big clumps of Butters hair to clean up. Why can't pets be as fun when you're the grownup as they are when you're the kid? Oh well.

So to start fresh we had the carpets cleaned this morning, and it feels SOO nice. The house smells nice and clean again and even the place upstairs where KC spilled a bunch of lotion is clean once more. And it always feels good to have everything so clean right before a baby comes. There's still a lot to do to satisfy my nesting, but we're getting there! The best part is my boys are great little helpers and love to help me clean things. Parker especially loves cleaning his bathroom. Give the kid some lysol wipes or a spray bottle and rag and he goes to town. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever. Just don't ask him to help do the laundry lol. Ask him about it and you'll know why.

So the house is a little lonely with out the kitties following me around all day and climbing on my lap every chance they get, but its much cleaner, and will be a lot less allergic for our friends and family that haven't been able to come over much :) And there's more room for cute little boys on my lap now.

Too cute

Ginna took this picture when she was out visiting a few weeks ago. This boy LOVES his grandpa.

The tulips are coming up!!!

Yay for the coming of Spring!!! Today we woke up to the most beautiful day. Lots of sunshine and warm weather. A little bit windy, but even that feels nice. So since it is so nice I decided to take advantage of the weather to get the windows washed so the sun can actually come in the house. While out front cleaning that window I noticed some little green buds forcing their way through the ground. The bulbs I planted are starting to come up!!! I'm so excited! Soon we will have flowers! And I can even see a little bee buzzing around outside the back door right now.
There is something about winter that makes me want to curl up on the couch and stay there most everyday, but when the sun comes back I just can't wait to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. I can't wait to be able to go on walks and bike rides and play at the park.
But the best part about the coming of spring is that it means that Baby Clayton is on his way also!!! Only 6.5 weeks left!! I can't believe it is getting so close! I'm so excited to see him and hold him, and mostly to have him out of my belly, it's getting kinda cramped in there :)
So come quickly spring so our little boy can be here soon!

Monday morning with nothing to do :) Aaron's still asleep, kids are watching cartoons, so here you go.... now maybe I'll get something important done

99 things I have or haven't done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (just the school band haha, does that count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (both)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (no, but I've given one for adoption, I think that should count)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (me run? seriously)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (on the wii I have)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (depends on how far back your talking here)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (I had my silhouette cut out of paper once when we were in Europe, that was kinda cool)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I'd say yes, although I'm not officially licensed or anything, but one day I hope to be :))
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma ( I know I should, but it makes me feel sick just thinking about it.)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I stood outside it :) that should totally count)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (Again I count this for Maren too, I could have very easily made a different choice and she wouldn't be here today)
90. Sat on a jury (I've never even had a call for jury duty)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I'd like too, I'm still wondering if Pee Wee's bike is in the basement)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (for the first time ever last summer!! Only it was a wasp and even more awful and scary than I had even imagined it to be, I'm already starting to feel afraid of the backyard and spring isn't even here)