Palm Springs...

Last weekend Kurt and I were able to go to Palm Springs with my parents and all of my siblings and their spouses. One last trip for us before we head off into the real world. It was fabulous!!! It was warm, relaxing, fun and just what we needed. I hadn't seen some of my family in over a year and others just under a year, so it was so great to catch up. I really do love each and every one of my family members, spouses included!! I guess I just got really lucky in that department. We went out to dinner every night at delicious restaurants...Mikados, LG's and Arnold Palmer's place. We hung out at the pool everyday for a few hours and played tennis a few times...a little doubles round robin, which I am sad to report that John (my brother) and I did not win...VICTORY goes to Bev and Michael! That being said, Michael also won in Settler's of Catan two nights in a row!! Apparently I wasn't able to put my best foot forward this weekend :) The boys also went golfing a few times, which is not documented...boys and cameras, I guess, don't mix so well. Everything else, however, was documented nicely...I think we got some really great pics of everyone. The girls also, played a mean game of shuffle board one morning before we went and got an amazing lunch to take to the pool (pesto chicken sandwich and a turkey/brie/blue cheese panini-which I am still craving). It was so fun to see Kirsten 6 months pregnant...cute as can be!!
One of the best stories from the weekend was at Mikados....this is where they cook the food in front of you and at one point during the meal the guy throws shrimp at you and you are suppose to catch it in your mouth. Well, my brother in law, Steve, was challenged by the guy to move back from the table to catch his and did a decent job...well, his wife, my sister, Rebecca was next and she thought she was all cool and told the guy, I want a challenge too. So, she moves away from the table and went 0 for 4...they kept bouncing off her face and tongue..finally the guys said to her, keep your tongue in...it was hilarious!
So, a huge thanks to my parents for putting this all together and making it happen and another huge thanks to my wonderful friends, Holly, Jordan and Jen for keeping my girls, so we could go kidless for a few days!!!

Quick Update

I haven't fallen off the planet yet, but I am sure I am about to. I just feel like I've been a little preoccupied with the up and coming changes in our lives....no, I am not pregnant, though I wish I were. Colorado here we come. Kurt and I went out there a few weeks back to do some business stuff and to look for a rental home. All went really well. We found a house about 8 minutes from Kurt's office that I think we are really going to like. It's a little of a funky layout (lots of levels), but should be great! The community has a pool and tennis courts and I think we've found a gym to work out in already too. Maybe I'll actually use this one, as opposed to my rec membership here, which is rarely used!
The girls are doing well and seem to be excited about the move. They are really looking forward to living close to their cousins and so am I! Unfortunately we will be about 25 minutes away, but I guess I can't complain too much...it's better than states away!
I haven't started packing yet, although I have the boxes and bubble wrap to do so...it's a daunting task and I feel like I'm not really sure where to begin.
We are finally listing our house with a realtor, since it hasn't sold! And we will only be having to come up with a mere $7,000...from where? not sure!! But I guess it will all work itself out.
I am trying to get Annie enrolled in school when we get there and then get both girls enrolled for the fall. In CO, they do a choice enrollment if you don't want to be in the school your zoned for and I don't want to be at that school where the rental home is...so that's been fun too!
I am trying to see my friends as much as possible before I leave, which means I don't get a whole lot of anything else done.
Kurt is as busy as ever in his residency, in fact, I think I see him less now than I did last year, but he is working on finishing up most of his patients and his research. He is also trying to get everything done for the practice in Littleton. I have to say I have been beyond impressed with him through this whole process. It has been fun to see him take on such a professional role and to be so on the ball. He has everything lined up and taken care of. And to listen to him talk to his soon-to-be staff was great and so much fun! It's crazy to think we are finally to this spot in our lives.
I just love my girls and continue to try and be a better mom to them each day...mostly by being more patient, which seems to be hard thing, esp. when they don't like to listen or are running around like wild Indians! However, Annie so doing so well in school...it's amazing what a great reader she is becoming! Alyse is doing so well in school too! She broke her arm right before Christmas (another post) and has adapted so well to using her left hand! She's writing her name and knows letters and numbers I didn't know she knew. She still has her fits, but they seem to be few and far between these days (except when it comes to playing with Madelyn)! Madelyn tells me we are best friends! I love it...we have so much time together while the girls are at school. She usually tells me we should go to the store, but we mostly end up having lunch out lots! She's very expressive when she talks and just loves her sisters!
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now...I'll post some recent pictures of our happenings!

Thankful Tree

Mom-food to eat, family, flowers, church, temple, Joseph Smith
Dad-3 beautiful daughters and wife, brothers & sisters, healthy daughters, my parents, prophet, scriptures
Annie-Dad, Madelyn & Alyse, home, mommy, cozy bed, family
Alyse-Doritoes, Jesus, Bratwurst-my favorite food to eat, family, mommy, daddy
Madelyn-grandmas, Daddy, temple, mommy, prophet, Jesus

We started our thankful tree the beginning of November in the hopes of doing a thankful hand each night, but apparently that didn't happened...instead we did 6 nights :) The girls loved it though and it has definitely become a family tradition

New Moon...

I am way behind on my real life, but this is a quick and easy post, so I can do it!! Last night my friend held a New Moon party. The same one who did the Twilight party last year and again, it was amazing and so much fun. She had a drawing for all kinds of prizes....CD, poster, Edward doll, trading cards, etc. She also had a candy table to we could all have treats for the show. Hot candies with "Are you Red Hot for Jacob?" on it....Jelly beans with, "Will Alice know which flavor you eat?" and star sour candy with, "Are you starry eyed for Edward?" So cute!! She also had those life size cut out of Jacob and Edward...so fun!
Then we headed to the movie. We saw Twilight at 9, which was better this time than the first time in the theater. Then New Moon started at 12ish or more like 12:30 after all the previews. It was so much fun to be there with all my friends and to hear the screaming when Edward and Jacob came on screen. It's all part of the experience that I LOVED....here's my thoughts on the movie...way better "movie" as far as the director, special effects, acting, etc...however, I think the story line was a little too slow for me. But it could be that I was REALLY tired too. I think I'm going to see it again with Kurt and maybe I'll have a different opinion about it. Don't get me wrong it was good, just slow....I'd love to know what everyone else who sees it thinks!!! and Bella still totally bugs me...I cant handle her stammering and inability to speak half the time! Jacob is way HOT!! man oh man....he has his shirt off for most of the movie and WOW!! very nice....

Halloween

This year was a lot of fun. I was in charge of helping with the ward Trunk or Treat party and it turned out really well, beside being a little dark. The girls decided a long time ago what they wanted to be...Annie a witch, Alyse Rapunzel, and Madelyn a black cat to coordinate with Annie. At the last minute, I found a wig for $5 and decide to be a witch with Annie and then I spotted one for Kurt and coaxed him into dressing up also. What a good man!! So, we decided our theme was witches and would pretend that Alyse was the good with of the West instead of Rapunzel(only she didn't know that). And Kurt was to be called a Wizard, not a manwitch :) We had a hay ride, mummy wrap, needle in a haystack, cupcake walk and face painting...everyone brought chili to share and it was an amazing night!








An interesting fact about that night...Annie got herself ready in the bathroom. The next day, after she had left for school, I found hair in the trash can. I asked Alyse and Madelyn if they had cut their hair and they said no. And I really couldn't find any evidence of it either, so we came to the conclusion that Annie had done it. When she got home, Kurt spotted it first and then I started laughing. Annie had cut herself some "bangs." However, not on purpose. She explained to me that while she was getting ready, she put her wig/hat on and there was still some hair sticking out of it. She didn't want it to show, so she decided to cut it off. I could see the logic in it, so she didn't get in trouble. I did tell her if it happened again, she would be busted!!

Then, on Saturday we took the girls trick or treating and it turned out to be quite chilly. Since Kurt is always thinking, he had brought gloves for the girls and it was a good thing or we may have been home after just 15 minutes of being out. Alyse was the best trick or treating...each house she would go to she would come down saying, "I don't like this kind, mom (or dad), you can have it." Unfortunately is was also loud enough for the people who had given her the candy to hear. Or she would come down from the doors saying, "Look another KitKat." That has become her new favorite candy and every house that had them she was thrilled. At the end of the night we counted how many she had...30 KitKats! Annie was in the front of the pack with our good friends' boy, Derek...they couldn't get to the houses fast enough. Needless to say, we still have Halloween candy around the house the is headed to Kurt's office this week!









After Trick or treating we had a get together with our neighbors and friends. It was great! We had chili, snacks, dessert and smores. Jason and Jennifer had a fire pit, which was perfect since it was so cold outside. Eventually I took the kids a few doors down to get to bed and once they were asleep snuck back out to talk some more. I LOVE our neighborhood and the people here. I am going to be so sad when we leave them. Everyone is so friendly and considerate. I don't know how to really explain it, except that we just fit here and are so grateful for the time we had here. We've really felt a part of the community, which we never did in Richmond during dental school. None of our neighbors are members of our church and it's been great to know first hand wonderful people outside of the church and to have them be an example of kindness and charity and service. I was talking to my mom about this and we were saying that as members of the church I think we sometimes feel like we have a "corner on the market" in this category and that we are really good about serving, etc. However, it's been interesting to see my friends here and how willing they are to do anything for anyone and I mean anything. To realize that we are not the only ones helping out. I know I could ask anyone of them to help me and I would not be turned down...they are all so generous. I can only hope I've been that same example to them.