Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review Dec 3-9 

• It's been a hot, hot week.  83 degrees in December is just way too hot! We listen to Christmas music and the hum of everyone's AC's running, it's crazy.
• Isaac loves to sing along to the little drummer boy.  It's so adorable to listen to him sing pa-rumpa-pum-pum. 
• We are all on the mend from being sick again.  Hopefully we'll stay well for the holidays.  
• I actually had to turn our sprinklers back on two nights ago after a month of high 70's low 80 temps and no rain, things were starting to look parched. 
• Dylan was finally able to bring a friend from school along with him to scouts, he was so excited.  The two boys get along really well (they even look like brothers) and they can't wait to go to scouts together again. 
• Alivia and I weeded out our front flower bed, it has been neglected for months now.  She is a fantastic helper.  Even though we were sweating and hot, I couldn't help but find delight in thinking it's almost mid December and all my flowers have blooms on them.  I like seeing flowers year round.  My begonias in the backyard  are like little bushes covered in hot pink flowers and they are beautiful.
• I don't know if it's dumb luck, or things just grow here like magic, but I had tomato plants spring up to life from seeds from rotten tomatoes I threw out to compost.  The pumpkin guts I threw out in the garden also sprouted a million shoots and now we have a pumpkin patch.  I have had spaghetti squash, tomatoes and pumpkins that all grew from seeds I threw out to compost and it's December, how awesome is that.  While I love the ease at which things grow here I'm still trying to get a hold on the bug situation, they destroy just about everything I have grown (accidentally or on purpose).  You win some and you lose some I guess!

365 Days Ago

The Mr. crossed all his T's and dotted all his I's and then signed our lives away in exchange for a set of keys and a home of our own. 
A year ago this very night I was shoving the last of what we owned into 3 small suitcases and was anxiously awaiting the reunion of our little family in Texas. 
Here I am now a year later sitting at my kitchen table remembering all the challenges that lead up to finding and buying this home.  I remember the absolute certainty I had that I was going to be so happy in Texas.  The anticipation of finally having our family together and in a place of our own was all I could think about.
I'm glad we are together as a family, being separated for 6 months was really was one of the hardest times of my life.  I love this house I really do.  I have so many plans and things I want to do with it. 
I'm glad we've been so blessed. 
The past two weeks Derik has been off and has been home to help me out and I have loved having him home.  How different my life was just one year ago.  How grateful I am to be on the other side of things. 
Texas is taking it's sweet time to grow on me, but with time I find myself being content with things the way they are.  Houston winters are pretty awesome (if you ask me) so it's easier for me to find joy in living here. 
All in all I'm a happy girl, happy to be a home owner, happy to be making it out here all on our own, happy we are together, happy to have a set of keys and a house of our own to make memories in.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review 

November 19-25

• Got a call from the school nurse saying Alivia had a fever of 101.  Apparently there is a bug flying around her school.  She's been lethargic all week.  She shared her germs with Isaac now I have two sick kids.
• Derik's car refused to start again.  Luckily his friend Ryan came over and they tinkered around and got it running again. 
• The kids and I put the Christmas trees up Friday afternoon.  I opted to go very simple this year.  Since most of our Christmas tree ornaments have been broken throughout the past 10 years and I refuse to buy more until I don't have toddlers, our trees are adorned with just a string or two of lights, but the kids love them just the same.  I often find Miss Alivia curled up under the front room tree.  She plugs in the lights and just lays there all day it's really sweet.

 

• I spent my weekend building a bed frame out of wood.  I'm just waiting for one more part to arrive in the mail, so that I can finish it up.  Dylan's friend came out in to the garage while I was sawing wood and asked my why I do all the hard work around the house.  It made me laugh.  I kindly tried to explain to him that I choose to do all the "hard stuff" because I think it's fun, not becasue Dylan's dad makes me! 
• Teeth are falling out all over the place here.  Alivia lost a tooth and has one that's on it's way out.  Dylan lost another tooth too. 
• The Mr. had the week off.  It's been nice to have him home, he and Isaac have had a ball playing catch, running around shooting each other with Nerf guns and getting slushies at Sonic. 
•  I had mentioned to Derik that I thought it was weird that I hadn't ever felt this baby hiccup.  Famous last words I guess, because it has been hiccuping like mad ever since. 
• I think it's to early to call it nesting, but I certainly have had the fire to get projects around the house done.  Now I need to really focus on freezing meals and actually preparing our home for another baby. 

3rd Annual Giovannoni Thanksgiving Thanks

Derik:

1. Employment
2. Family
3. Health

Michelle:

1. Family
2. Gospel
3. House

Dylan:

1. Family 
2. Legos
3. Pokemon

Alivia

1. Jesus
2. Food
3. Grandma's and Friends

Isaac:

1. Daddy
2. Hotdogs
3. Technology (the tablet)

Six Years Ago...

Somewhere around 7:30 in the morning I told Mr. Giovannoni to pack up our stuff, and that it was time to head closer to the hospital.  While I thought my labor was pretty intense at that point, I was going to be sure the hospital wasn't going to send me home like they did when I was in labor with Dylan.  So I huffed and puffed and we headed to my mothers home.  I can remember standing on my mothers doorsteps, when a whopper of a contraction hit.  I grabbed Derik's hand and I said "please please don't ever let me forget how much this hurts, and I never want to do it again! 
After a few more hours of doing my best to handle the pain, my mother convinced me to go to the hospital.  I was still somewhat certain they'd send me home, but I guess at that point I was praying I had actually made enough progress to be able to stay at the hospital.

I would have been pleasantly surprised (if that's even possible during labor) when they said I was 5 centimeters dilated and moving fast, but I was most definitely relieved to know I was nearing the end.  Just a few moments after lying in the hospital bed my water broke and I was told that if I wanted an epidural I'd need to get it now or else it would be to late.   Just a few moments after the epidural did it's magic I quietly fell asleep.  I remember being woke up and being told it was time to push.  I was totally elated to have slept through to the end and a couple of pushes later, the Mr. and I welcomed our daughter into the world. 

It's funny how in those first few moments of holding and looking at her I was mystified and in denial that she was my daughter.  She was totally not what I expected.
She was fair skinned, and no matter how many times I was told she looked like me, I just couldn't find anything in her face that I recognized as my own.  She was a screamer and I was totally unprepared for that.  I think the only thing I got right about her in the beginning was that I observed little kinks in her hair and I said look "she's going to have curls".
I can look back now six years later and smile at how she revealed herself to me back then, she is still that little girl who mystifies me, who challenges me and who has taught me that expectations and dreams you hold aren't always what's best for you or the person you hold those dreams for. 

Alivia is determined and stubborn.
She is passionate.
She has a very healthy sense of self and a great appreciation for who she is.  She believes she is beautiful and the center of the world.  She is indeed a princess in her mind and expects others to see that about her too. 
She can be your dearest kindest friend, but she also knows how to push every little button a person has if they do something that doesn't jive with her plans.
She has a mothering nature about her.
She is eager to please and works very hard.
She is affectionate and really enjoys hand holding and hugs and kisses.
She loves her daddy, (I think he just gets her on so many levels that I don't) and it makes my heart happy to see the bond they have.
She loves to color.
She's so girly...She loves nail polish and lip gloss and jewelry and purses.  She likes to coordinate and look her best. 

Happy Birthday Miss Alivia, we all love you.  You are such an important part of our family.  Thanks for coming here and showing me who's boss! 

 

Halloween 2012

We managed to squeeze in a lot of activities this Halloween.
Our friends had us over for Family Home Evening on Sunday night.  It was a lot of fun for every one!  The kids got to eat homemade donuts off a string, bob for apples and play Halloween Pictionary.  I'm so glad they had us over!  It helped transforms Derik's 33rd birthday from a dismal day to a evening of fun memories.
Our ward held it's Trunk-or-Treat Monday night.  The kids had a fun time running wild and getting their buckets full of candy.
Halloween morning I started out the day at my Dr's office.  I failed my first glucose test the week before so I was scheduled to take my 3 hour test.  I went in thinking it was going to be a long horrible experience, but it really wasn't so bad, (although, I'm grateful I'll never have to do it again).
My numbers were good enough that they only needed the first three blood tests instead of the usual four.  I couldn't think of anything sweeter for Halloween then being able to say I don't have Gestational Diabetes and luckily that was just the case!
When the kids got home from school we did homework and then carved a pumpkin.  Alivia was really excited for this activity.  Next year we'll have to plan a little better and give ourselves some more time, so that every one can carve their own pumpkin with their own designs.  This year Dylan and I talked Alivia into letting me carve Oogie Boogie into the only pumpkin we had because it was simple, even though she had her heart set on me carving a Disney Princess.

 

 I really wanted to do lots of special Halloween stuff this year, since last year our family was separated, but I ran out of time to do all the things I wanted to do.  I planned on doing soup, bread bowls and homemade root beer for supper, but I settled for making the kids their own personal pan pizzas and a 2 liter of A & W.  Dylan and Alivia got jack-o-lantern pizzas and Isaac's had a ghost.

After supper I ran Dylan to our library for a special "Spooky Spiders" event.  I was a little mad that they scheduled the event for Halloween night at 6:30, but since Dylan wanted nothing to do with Halloween itself, I wanted to do something he thought was fun.  Mr. Giovannoni stayed home and passed out candy with Alivia and Isaac while we were gone.
Dylan really had a great time and I'm glad I took him.  He got to share all of his spider knowledge with everyone.  The women in charge of the event kept saying how impressed she was with how smart and scientific Dylan was.  He glowed all night.  They got to observe a scorpion, touch a few dead scorpions, and pet a real life Tarantula.

 

We rushed home afterwards just in time to take Isaac and Alivia around the neighborhood to do a little trick-or-treating.  Dylan had no desire to dress up or go trick or treating, so he stayed home and passed out candy.  Alivia is wired just like her dad and she's been giddy for Halloween all month.  She picked out her witch costume this year.  Apparently all her school friends were being witches so that is what she wanted too.  I tried to convince her to be strawberry shortcake but she has a will of her own.  She was especially excited because her dress had lights sewn in it and she demanded that I put RED lipstick on her.

 

I originally wanted to dress Isaac up as Agent P, aka Perry the Platypus, since he loves him to pieces, but that didn't pan out either.  He looked as cute as could be in Dylan's old Buzz Lightyear costume.  

Our neighborhood was really quiet and most people gave the kids handfuls and handfuls of candy, so even though we didn't go to very many homes their buckets were really full.
It was weird to be out on Halloween evening in 79 degree weather.  Isaac was so sweaty when we pulled his costume off, it was nice to be out and not freezing though.

As we were carving our pumpkin earlier I shared with Alivia the story of how 11 years earlier her daddy put a big shiny diamond in a pumpkin just for me.  She thought that was the best story ever.  11 years later I cannot help but smile at where our lives have taken us since then. 
Happy Halloween!

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review Oct 15-21

• Monday Evening I returned home from Utah.  My trip was full of highs and lows and there are a lot of things I wished went differently, but memories were made and I'm glad I had the opportunity to go.  The Timeout for Women's Conference was a really great experience and I hope I'll be able to attend it again in the coming years.  I was super excited to be able to attend my cousin Kristy's baby blessing.  I got to see almost every one of my cousins and I sure do miss having them in my life.  Her new son is beautiful (as is her other 4 boys).  
• I had a hard time getting back in to the swing of things once I was back in Texas.  I really enjoyed not having any responsibilities while in Utah.  
• Derik did a fantastic job of taking care of the kids.  He's a great husband and father!  The house was clean and while the kids were excited to see me they talked a lot about how much fun they had while I was gone. 
• Isaac shared his boogery croupy germs with me.  I lucked out the last time my family got sick and somehow stayed healthy.  This time I got the bug and I got it bad.  I know it could be worse, but I had one night where I was convinced I was going to suffocate to death because I couldn't breath.   Not a pleasant experience.
• It was our Primary Program this Sunday.  Alivia and Dylan did their parts beautifully the whole program was beautiful and as the children all sang the final song the spirit touched me in such a way that the scripture that teaches us that we need to become like little children, took on so much more meaning to me. I found myself rather emotional too, since I knew this was going to be my last Sunday as the CTR 5 teacher.  I really loved my kids in there and it's the first time I haven't wished to have a change in callings.   
• Derik and I were called to be Sunday school teachers for the 16 and 17 year old youth of our ward.  Derik had the privilege of teaching them last week all buy himself while I was in Utah.  So like a champ I told him I'd cover this weeks lesson.  I did my best to prepare the best I could, but there was little I could do to calm my nervous anxieties of  having the honor and great responsibility of teaching these teenagers.  I have had lots of callings throughout my life, but I never in a million years saw myself doing this one.  I can teach small children, they are simple and pure and full of life and energy.  I can relate to my relief society sisters.  I remembered vividly my teenage years and I think on some small level I'd be comfortable with teaching young women.  I guess it's the teenage boys that terrify me, my experiences in life have never been very pleasant with them.  
• The lesson I taught centered around Jesus introducing the Higher Law to the Nephites.  We ran through the Law of Moses and then proceeded to study the Higher Law.  It spoke of adultery, fornication and divorcement and I found myself stumbling quite a bit to explain the scriptures to them.  One sweet and innocent young man interrupted me by asking what exactly "fornication" was.  It was then and there I knew I was in no way ready to be these kids teacher! Thankfully another young man came to my rescue by saying it's the same thing as adultery.  Bless his heart I know my face was scarlet and my mind was racing all over the place!  If I had to describe my first attempt at teaching these youth I would have to label it as brutal.   I will need every ounce of help my Savior is willing to give me to be a good teacher to these kids.  I am not an entertaining person and I worry a lot about being able to connect to these kids in a meaningful way.  I really don't want to be the teacher they dread going to every Sunday.   

For the Few Who Don't Know

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New addition coming February 4, 2013

 

 I wanted to surprise my family with the news in person and I already had a planned trip in October. So at 24 weeks (6 months along) I finally shared the news with my family. 

The baby is VERY active.  It's very responsive to music.  It has cute, but what appear to be huge feet.  I feel those feet and they are powerful, I don't remember my other children making such a racket in there.  I can literally watch my entire belly shake and move when  this baby wiggles and its been that way for weeks. 

My placenta and my cervix are fine this time and we've both been given a clean bill of health.  

Alivia prays every night it's a sister.

Dylan thinks it's a boy.

Isaac has insisted it's a sister from the day I told him there was a baby in my tummy.  He's known from almost the beginning, since I didn't think he was going to spill the beans.  He calls it Via, which is how he says Alivia's name.

I specifically asked our ultrasound tech to NOT tell me the gender.  

Some part of me thought it would be fun to keep the gender of our last child a secret.

Derik insisted that he had to know.

I think having a fourth child has completely wiped me of any sense and the outcome of my choices of keeping things a secret have not panned out how I hoped they would. 

I think I've learned my lesson about trying to keep things a Secret/Surprise.

Despite the highs and lows of it all, I'm grateful to be blessed with the opportunity to be a mother again.  I longed for this baby and when times get hard, I have to remember that this is what I wanted, that the sickness, the extra emotions, the aches and the pains are just a small part of one of the greatest miracle and blessing there is. 

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review (Oct 1-7 2012)

• It's been a quiet last few weeks for the most part.
• The Mr. and I received new callings at church.  I'm a little apprehensive  because it is new territory (for both of us), but it gives us both some freedom which we didn't  have before, since we were both in separate primary callings.  Since it was General Conference this weekend, we haven't officially been released from our old callings or set apart for the new one.  When we are, I'll share the new calling. 
• Speaking of General Conference, I adore being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, It is such a privilege to sit with my family and hear the word of God from a true and living prophet and apostles.  
• I leave for Utah this next week, I'm so excited.  Mr. Giovannoni is taking on all three kids, so I can enjoy a little get away, isn't that wonderful? 
•  We've actually had cool weather this week.  It's been LOVELY, I park myself out in my front yard every evening with the kids and just sit outside enjoying every minute of the crisp and chilly air.  It will be back up to the 90's this next weekend.  Meanwhile I'll be in Utah probably freezing to death since I'm so accustomed to 90 degree weather.  
• The kids are plugging along with school, Alivia still absolutely adores it, she asks every weekend if it's time to go back to school yet.  Isaac has finally hit the I'm bored-without-my-siblings stage and he's getting into quiet a bit of mischief lately while the other two are gone.  He still refuses to wear a diaper or clothing for the most part.  And even though I dread the idea of attempting to potty train a two and a half year old, I'm going to do just that when I get home from Utah.  He destroys (since he shreds them as he tears them off) somewhere around 10 to 12 diapers a day and buying that many size four diapers to just throw them away unsoiled is more than I can stomach. 

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review.

• Sickness invaded our home this week.  We all dropped like flies.  First it was Isaac and then Alivia, then Dylan, and now the Mr. is laid up in bed with a high fever and an achy body.  I'm on the verge of coming down with it too, but I keep crossing my fingers that I can continue to keep fighting it off. 
• Alivia loves school so much she was devastated to have to miss it on Friday.  All weekend long she kept asking when do I get to go back to school?
• I got a few of our fall decorations out and put them up.
• I pulled out my sewing machine and have been working on a project I started over a year or two ago.  It's getting close to being finished, I'm excited to share pictures of the finished product.  
•  The Mr. and I have exciting plans for this next Friday (if we can both be healthy).  It will be interesting to see who gets their way, I'll share more info of that later too.  

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

What a week it was and I'm so glad it's over with.

• Tuesday I took my friend to the airport to fly back home to Utah.  It was an emotional experience that made me just ache for home.  
• Wednesday morning Alivia decided to have a complete and total psychotic breakdown over her socks before school.  She would rip them off her feet screaming about how they made her feet sweaty and then she would throw them in the garbage.  I would then dig them out of the garbage and put them back on her feet and try to talk some sense into her.  We had a good half hour before the bus came so I wasn't panicking yet I figured she could get it all out of her system in plenty of time to catch the bus.  I was wrong! Nothing I said or did was snapping her out of it...She just kept screaming "no socks, stupid sweaty socks".  I threatened her with every grounding in the book and even told her if she didn't quit I'd make her miss school.  I sent Dylan off to the school bus without her and that's what finally motivated her to put on her "sweaty socks" and get to school.  As I pushed her out the door Dylan was walking back from the bus stop saying they'd missed the bus.  This really upset Alivia and she ran the neighborhood crying and carrying on like a crazy person.  As I was trying to catch her and drag her back home Isaac got loose and started running away as well.   I sent Dylan after Isaac and I continued to chase Alivia, but that was a mistake too!  Dylan was laughing and chasing after Isaac like it was a really funny game so when Isaac got brave and ran out into the road I knew I had to give up on Alivia for a minute and get Isaac safely contained.  Much to my relief a neighbor girl grabbed Alivia's hand and told her it was okay and they hadn't missed the bus and walked her to the bus stop.  What a circus!  I must have looked like an idiot mother with three really out of control kids.  I can only imagine what every neighbor was thinking as they watched everything unfold. 
• After having myself a good cry over Wednesdays mornings events I decide to get to work on cleaning my house.  I started with a load of laundry.  About an hour later I noticed this really bad smell and ran as fast as I could to our washing room.  I opened the door to find the room filled with black smoke.  My washer was billowing smoke!  I quickly shut it off and thanked  Heavenly Father that it didn't catch my house on fire.  I called the Mr. and told him that our washer was a goner!  I spent the rest of the day trying to de-smoke our house.  Yet another appliance that has bit the dust in the last three months.
• We had a lot of rain towards the end of the week.  Friday afternoon it really started to rain.  I kept watching the clock so that I could have enough time to hop in the van and drive to the bus stop so I could be there to get Dylan and Alivia since it was raining buckets of water.  Apparently the bus was early and before I knew it Dylan was pounding on the door.  When I opened the front door he was hysterical and bawling and telling me he couldn't believe what kind of mother I was for making them walk home in the rain.  As I tried to explain myself to him I noticed a neighbors truck pull out of our driveway.  Dylan kept crying and saying at least we had nice neighbors who would drive them home.  How many times in one week can I make myself look like an incompetent mother? 
• Saturday was just icing on the cake of a week well worth puttting behind me.  I was helping a friend from our ward by watching her 8 year old son.  The kids were having a good time and were wrapped up in a movie so I took Isaac outside to pull some weeds since the weather was a little cooler thanks to all the rain.  After a few minutes Isaac scurried around the corner and I heard a car door shut.  I got up to see where he had gone  and found him in the garage inside his daddy's car.  Unfortunately for me he found the lock button and had locked himself in.  It wasn't until I went in to the house to retrieve my keys that I remembered that I had left my key to that particular car back in Utah and that the Mr. was the only one who had a key.   The problem I now had was Mr. Giovannoni had taken his set of keys with him to run some errands but he had taken my vehicle. His cellphone bit the dust a month or so ago and we decide it was just one more thing we'd put off replacing so we could focus on getting things around the house fixed up, so I had no way of contacting him either.  I tried to teach Isaac how to unlock the door by himself, but he just couldn't figure it out.  I tried unpicking the lock, that didn't work either! I noticed that Isaac was starting to sweat so I knew I had to get him out.  I decided I would call the non-emergency number and see if I could get a police officer to my house to unlock the car doors.  Turns out they consider it an emergency down here and they had to send the fire department! By now the other kids had caught wind something was up, so they kept running in and out yelling about how the cops were coming to our house.   The fire department arrived and they couldn't get the equipment they had to work and they told me they were going to have to break the car window.  Thankfully (and in answer to my most fervent prayers) Isaac pushed the lock the right way and the door unlocked.  Finally he was safe and nobody had to bust up the car window.    Not even one minute after the fire department left then the Mr. drove home.  Even though I wanted to die from embarrassment and shame over the big scene we made I'm just so glad everyone was okay.  And my friends little boy had an exciting story to share about the time he spent at the Giovannoni's.....right? 
• Here's to a better week next week, I could sure use a break!

Surprise!

Mr. Giovannoni surprised me by flying my dear friend Stacie down to see me this past weekend.

This picture is the only one I grabbed of us as she was leaving at the airport. 

My kids answered the door when she knocked and they nearly died from excitement.
I had been scrubbing carpets and washing beds so I was only half dressed and I was sweaty and gross, so I wanted to die when she caught me this way, but then I laughed at myself and remembered she saw me that way all the time in Utah (except the sweaty part) and she wouldn't be surprised at all to catch me this way now.  At least she came when the house was clean right?
Mr. Giovannoni rushed us out the door to grab lunch and do some errands, and allowed me so much needed time with my friend.  
Sunday morning we went to sacrament meeting, snuck home for lunch and then headed down to Galveston for a walk along the beach.  The weather was gorgeous and the humidity was low.

  

The kids really wanted to jump in the ocean and go for a swim, they were so disappointed that I outlawed the idea since it was Sunday and we were just there to look.  

The Mr. then drove us to the port at Galveston and we hopped on the ferry to Port Bolivar.  We had never done this before and didn't know what to expect, it turned out to be a short and fun little ride and we were all had a great time watching the dolphins jump in and out of the water.

 The ferry we rode on.

Monday morning Stacie gave me a much needed haircut (it's been over a year since I've had one) and then we hit the premium outlet malls to look around.  We came home and sat in lawn chairs in the front yard, and I talked her ear off all evening long.  

Tuesday came too fast and before I knew it I was driving Miss Stacie to the airport.  I'm not sure who was more devastated to see her go me or my kids.

It was hard to say good bye and I cried most of the way home from the airport, I miss my old life and my old friends!  

It was so good to see you Stacie!  Thanks for coming and brightening our lives, I know it wasn't easy to leave your own family for a while.  My kids adored having you back around.   The Mr and I had a great opportunity to play hostess and we learned a lot about how we need professional help when it comes to hosting guests.  Thanks for the haircut and the smiles and the listening ear.  

I hope you had a little fun here in Houston with us. 

I can't end without a big thanks to the Mr. for the surprise,  It tickled me pink.  I love you!

First Day of School 2012-2013

Dylan (4th Grade)

I can hardly believe how grown up and handsome my first born is.

Alivia (Kindergarten)

What a beautiful little princess we have.  I'm so excited for you to start school, what a great thing for you. 

It's comforting to know they will have each other at school, even if Dylan pretends to be mortified by her when he's with his friends.  They might have their share of brother-sister spats, but when push comes to shove they are each others protectors and defenders. 

 Isaac wanted in on the action.

One last wave and they are off to school.

Mr. Giovannoni gave each of our children a beautiful Fathers Blessing Sunday night before bed.  Alivia was very excited about the idea of having a special blessing.  Afterwards she kept saying she felt different inside.  I hope she will grow to recognize that it was the spirit making her feel different and what a blessing it is to have the Gospel in her life and a daddy who worthily holds the priesthood.  

It's just me and Isaac at home now and I'm excited/terrified for this next step in our lives.  I have not had the chance to have much one on one time with him, so I look forward to the opportunity.  He is going to miss his siblings so very much though, and I'm quite apprehensive of the mischief he'll get into since they are not here to keep him busy and out of trouble.  

Let the adventures begin...

Huntsville State Park

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Our friends from church invited us to come out to Huntsville with them.  I was more than happy to make one last fun memory to end our summer on.  I'm always so grateful that the Pearson's invite us along on all of their adventures, it makes my life so much more exciting and it gives our family a chance to experience the different areas and aspects of Texas.  
Today couldn't have been more perfect either.  The temperatures weren't scorching and were in fact LOVELY the scenery down there was beautiful.  The kids had a blast and I couldn't get enough of the wooded/foresty vibe this place gave off.  It reminded me of fond memories of hanging out in the canyons in Utah with friends and family. Everything reminded me of home except this of course.

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It wasn't until we were almost half way there that  I realized I forgot my camera, but I did grab a few blurry photos with my cell phone camera they just don't do the place any justice though. 
There are lots of hiking trails, a big lake with a swimming hole and a pier for the kids to jump from.  The trees offered lots of shade and there were a gazillion picnic tables. 
I most definitely will be going back there again (even in spite of the alligator warnings).  Hopefully the next time around I'll take the Mr. along and pack a great picnic lunch and maybe we can explore some of the hiking trails. 
Sister Pearson was kind enough to bring her canoe and her kayak along with her and her neighbor and friend Dan who came along rented a paddle boat for an hour so the kids kept themselves really busy. 

Alivia and Isaac out on a canoe ride

 Dylan on the Pier

 

I think jumping from the pier was probably the favorite activity though, even Isaac got in on the action.  The kids had so much fun, it made my heart happy!  I wish everyday could be like today was.  

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• Miss Alivia is finally registered for Kindergarten.  I have all her school supplies bought, but I am struggling to find her school clothes.   I have one week to get that problem solved!
• I did a lot of scrubbing this week.  One night Isaac decided to travel through bedrooms and throw-up in each one,  bless his little heart.   Thankfully it was only on the bedding so a dozen loads of laundry later everyone had a clean bed to sleep in. 
• Isaac refuses to keep clothing and diapers on.  I made the mistake of taking a nap while Dylan and Isaac were watching a TV show and when I awoke I found the WORST mess I have ever had to clean up.  There was poop EVERYWHERE!  The walls, the carpet, the blinds, the windowsills, and a poop trail that led me all the way through the first floor right into my master bedroom where I found a tub full of poop water where Isaac was trying to bathe himself.  Oh the horror!  I did a lot of crying (and cleaning) that day.  Can I just say I'm rather grateful for owning a carpet scrubber.
•  I decided to start a painting project.  It was quite a mess but I finished it none-the-less. 
• At the beginning of the week I decided I needed to be more positive about my life and my circumstances.  And then this week happened and all the positivity was sucked right out of me.  Maybe I'll start by being more positive this next week.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• Miss Alivia had five different immunizations this week so she could get registered for school.  I had to haul all three kids to the Dr's. office.  Between Alivia's dramatic screaming and her hysteria rubbing off on Isaac I hope and pray I never have to take all three kids to a Dr. appointment again.  We were like a circus act!!
•  It's HOT down here folks this 106 degree "feels like" 112 degree temperatures are awful!  Even the pool water is hot and offers no relief.  August can't come to a close fast enough for me.  
• The two week count down to school starting has begun.  Pretty soon it will just be me and Mr. Isaac hanging around the house.  He's very attached to Alivia so it's going to be a tough transition for him I think.
• I'm headed out to Utah in October for 4 days!  It's what I live for these days.  I can't wait to breath in the cold and crisp October air.  I can't wait to see the mountains again.  I can't wait to meet my little nephew Kru.  I can't wait to spend time with my friends and family.  I have all 4 days packed with things to do I'm afraid it's going to be the fastest 4 days of my life.  Now I have to figure out how I can get the next 9 weeks to just fly by.

Potty Training Whisperer

This morning as I lay in bed, in a half awake, half comatose state, I could hear Dylan talking to Isaac.
The words scoot back and point it down roused enough suspicion in me that I started to intently listen.
"Isaac, scoot all the way back and point it down...No point it down." kept being repeated.
Then Dylan burst through my bedroom door and says, "Mom, has Isaac ever peed in the toilet before"?  "Because he just did"!
That's right my 9 year old son sat our 2 year old on the toilet and said the magical words and Isaac actually peed in the toilet for him.
I have not tried to potty train Isaac yet, but the day I decide to, I know who gets to potty train him, and it's not going to be me!
Who'd have thought... Dylan the Potty Training Whisperer.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• I had lots of big dreams about how I was going to be a super mom this summer and that I was going to do so many fun things with my kids...Boy I really blew that one!  So one day after being sick and tired of being in the house staring at the TV I had the brilliant idea of getting a puzzle out to do with the older kids.  Turns out the puzzle was a little more complicated than they could handle, so I ended up sitting up at the table doing it all by myself.  I was just about 2/3 of the way done when Isaac decided to pour a glass of water on all the puzzle pieces.  All the pressed cardboard pieces separated and each piece became five layers of soggy cardboard.  So I gave up on finishing it, snapped this picture and learned a valuable lesson about how 2 year-olds, water and puzzles don't mix. 

• The Mr. and I sure wish our kids school was year round.  Three months of the summer heat is no way to have a summer what so ever.  Next year I am contemplating spending our entire summer in Utah.
• I miss Utah summers so very much, not because they don't get hot or boring at times too, but there was always somewhere to go and something to do.  I miss hanging out with my family, my kids miss their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, The Mr. misses having places to run and races to sign up for.  I miss camping trips, good friends and family gatherings.  We are trying to make the most of where we are now but we all miss home.  
• The Mr and I went to see the Dark Knight Rises on Friday.  We went with our friends the Highs, they were generous enough to offer their (older) children as our babysitters, it was a great little outing without the kids.  
• We had planned on taking our kids out to Hempstead early Saturday morning to the Watermelon Festival.  There was a parade as well as cook-offs and craft booths, a car show and a carnival.  It seemed like something we could enjoy ourselves at.  Unfortunately we didn't get out the door soon enough to make the parade.  We did however get to roam around the food and craft booths and take a look at the cars from the car show.  And even though the Mr. insisted it was "not that hot"  the kids and I were convinced we were going to cook alive.  Dylan kept saying, "I have to go home right now, I can't take one more second of being out here".   We wondered around the quilt show, took some pictures and then decided we all wanted to go home.  

The Watermelon cut-outs were so high nobody could get their little heads in them for a decent picture...oh well. 

Dylan took his turn containing "I".

  

They were watching kids get zipped into giant plastic bubbles and then tossed into a pool of water.  Alivia had a screaming fit when I told her we weren't going to let her get in a bubble, honestly I don't know how those kids didn't suffocate or sweat to death inside those plastic traps! 

Frankie Lewis

With all the rain we've received in the last couple of weeks, our backyard started to resemble a jungle.  I took my chances between rain storms and decided to mow and weed whack.  I almost weed whacked this little guy who was taking refuge in my plants.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when he moved.  I guess I'll take turtles over snakes and other creepy crawlies.
Dylan was super excited to "play" with him and named him Frankie Lewis.  But I got all motherly on him and threatened his life if he handled the turtle.  We kept Frankie in our kiddie pool for the day until we could walk him to our lake and put him back where I assume he belongs. The kids all loved watching him crawl about, it's as close to a pet as this family has ever gotten.

Bless Dylan's sweet heart he cried for a good half hour after we released Frankie back into the wild.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

Isaac getting his cowboy on!

• Fire ants invaded my garden boxes and killed off quite a bit of stuff.  I got lots of Romas and Eggplants, so I'm not that devastated.  It's hot enough that most everything has stopped producing fruit anyhow.   I'll just mulch up what's left and in about a month I get to plant again for our second growing season.  
• I am quickly gaining a phobia of microwaves.  The last couple we've owned have had spectacular zapping and exploding episodes.  Our back-up microwave decided to sketch out, so we are officially microwave less here.  That's two microwaves that's blown on us in the last three months.  I swear I don't use them for any thing but reheating food...The Mr. has been asking me to make a decision about a new microwave and I just want to cry, I'm sick of them blowing up and malfunctioning, and the last thing I wanna do is spend more money to have another microwave sketch out on us.
• I made the kids Texas style Koloches for their fourth of July breakfast. They turned out really good!  A new 4th of July traditions for sure. 

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• We had our friends the Highs over for Pizza later that evening and headed across the road to Towne Lake and enjoyed some Fourth of July Fireworks.

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We made the mistake of driving to the event (when we should have walked) simply because we didn't know what to expect.  Traffic getting out of the event parking was something out of a night mare and I feared we'd have to just give up on driving out and walk home and walk back in the morning and retrieve our vehicle.  Thankfully that was not the case.  Next year we will most definitely walk to it.

• Saturday evening the Highs invited us to join them at the Miller Outdoor Theater to see Street Beat! 

 
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"Street Beat!" is a kinetic, maximum energy explosion of urban rhythm and dance utilizing junk and found objects for percussion, and featuring the pinnacle of modern street choreography. 
Surprisingly we all enjoyed ourselves.  There was a little something for everyone to enjoy.   

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• I signed the kids up for VBS (Vacation Bible School) at the West Houston Church of Christ. Alivia had a riot praising Jesus and clapping and singing, and while Dylan had a great time he was a little uncomfortable with their style of worship and praise. 
• We had some friends from our ward over to our neighborhood pool.  It was fun to have some one to visit with and the kids enjoyed having some company. 
• I do not handle the power outages down here very well.  When it gets rainy down here and we lose power the house starts to feel like a sauna, it's AWFUL!  I actually spent about an hour and a half soaking in a tub of cold water just so I wouldn't go ballistic with no AC or ceiling fans to bring some relief from the heat and the humidity. 
• Alivia really loved her time at Vacation Bible School, she keeps lamenting about how much she misses it already.   At the end of the week Dylan even asked me if we could go to "their" church sometime, while I somewhat expected Alivia to ask something along those lines I was really quite surprised to have Dylan ask. 
•  I almost got into a wreck this weekend.  I don't know how the people didn't end up smashing  me from behind, because I couldn't see any other outcome, but thankfully they didn't.  It probably took about 5 minutes for my heart to settle back into my chest.  I am convinced I was being watched over and blessed.
• The Mr. bought an ice cream maker, so we've been trying it out all week long. So far we've only made prepacked mixes, but it's been fun and interesting. 
• We've officially survived one month of summer vacation just two more to go.
•  My garden is still pluggin along, I've made one batch of fresh garden salsa (which I didn't share with anyone at all) and two batches of tomato sauce for our spaghetti dinners.  We also got to enjoy some fresh zucchini.  I have about ten huge eggplants I need to use and I have 4 spaghetti squash just getting ripe.  I love my garden and I love the gift of being able to enjoy the fruits from it. 

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• It's pretty hot these days.  We mostly sit around the house.  Sometimes I get so stir crazy that I find the energy to take the kids to the pool in the evenings, but that's about it.
• Isaac is starting to talk more.  He learned how to say his own name this week. 
• Miss Alivia and I made caramel stuffed apple cider cookies, they were really tasty.
• Dylan lost another tooth.  
• I've started getting up at 6:30am to go walking without the kids.  It's been nice. 
• The Mr. fixed up his bicycle and has been going out for rides since his ankle is still swollen and stiff.  I'm trying to get him to fix my bike up too.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• Dylan went to his first 4 day scout camp.  I think he really had a great time!

Day One:  BB Gun Range, learning about their flag, archery, met with fire fighters and had a tour of a fire truck.
Day Two:  Made first aid kits, played games, played marbles.
Day Three:  Singing and dancing, learning square knots and how to tie ties, more archery practice, and rock wall climbing (Dylan was the only boy his age to make it all the way up to the top!).
Day Four:  Made leather pouches, obstacle courses and closing ceremonies.

• We went with several of our friends from our ward and completed two more Texas Nature challenges.   The first challenge we completed was a nature hike around Hermann Park.  

We discovered all sorts of wildlife, including lots of ducks, turtles and fish.  

• The second Nature challenge we completed, just happened to be about 100 feet away at the Houston Zoo.  So we meandered on over and enjoyed ourselves there.  We got to see quite a few exhibits that we missed the first time around. 

 

No trip to the zoo would be complete without a picture with Smog!

• After our morning of Nature Challenges, we headed home to shower up and get ready for another Houston first...Date night without the kids!  My good friend Melissa offered to take the kids for three hours so the Mr. and I could go on a date.  It's been over a year since the Mr. and I have got to go out just the two of us so I was so excited!  As I was getting ready Derik mentioned he was going to go for a run.  It wasn't until I bumped back into him in the garage as I was loading the kids in the van that I realized the crazy man actually went for a run in the afternoon heat.  I figured he'd get in the shower and we'd leave for our date when I got back from running the kids to the sitters.  When I got home he was still lying on the floor in the front room.  I was shall we say "ANGRY" so I decided to pout and crawl into bed and be mad at him.  A few minutes later he hobbled in and asked me to take him to an Insta-care.  Apparently while walking home from his run, he fell in a hole in someones grass and tore all his ligaments (in his already injured ankle).  So we spent our date night at the Insta-care.  It was nice not having the kids at the Insta-care with us though I will admit that, we were there almost the entire three hours.  So we did our best to salvage the rest of the evening by sending the kids to bed and eating Indian takeout.  Here's to a better date night next month!

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review

• The Mr. and I spent memorial day hanging gladiator tracks in our garage.  We got most every thing hung and organized and for the first time since we moved in, both cars can be parked in the garage.  We really know how party for the holidays.
• Our neighborhood pool finally opened this week and we have gone to it every evening.  So glad we have something to cool off in. 
• It's getting so HOT.  I might hate Utah winters but this Houston heat is unbearable at times.  I made the mistake of going grocery shopping in the middle of the afternoon.  By the time we were done shopping it was somewhere around 1:00pm.  Just loading the groceries from the cart to the car was making me curse and sweat like a mad woman.  Once I was in my car I cranked up the AC only to discover it was blowing even hotter air that was suffocating.  It took 3 or so minutes before the AC went from hot to warm and then it took it about another 3 minutes to become slightly cool.  In the meanwhile I prayed we wouldn't suffocate or sweat to death from the HEAT, it was awful.  Poor Isaac was such a slimy sweaty mess, when I got him out of his car seat, that I wanted to cry for him.  
• I joined a bunch of ladies from my ward who are doing a biggest losers competition.  The challenge lasts 12 weeks.  Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.
• The kids and I joined some friends on a Texas Nature Challenge.  We drove out to Brenham Texas and took a tour of the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory.  It was a short and interesting tour, but the best part of it all was the pretty decent sized scoop of ice cream everyone received at the end of the tour.  I had red velvet cake, Dylan had sherbet, Livie asked for cotton candy, and Isaac got cookie dough.  The red velvet was delicious (and not much help when your trying to be the biggest loser, but I really wanted to try it.)

 

• As part of the Nature Challenge, the kids and I were supposed to do some research on pollinators (which we didn't do, we are still learning about the Texas Nature Challenges) .  After the ice cream tour we went to visit a garden and butterfly park just down the road, to see pollinators in action and connect how pollinators are important to the ice cream factory.  Mother nature had other plans in mind for us because when we pulled into the garden it started to rain.  We ran to a pavilion and had lunch and did our best to look around the gardens but the rain was pretty persistent.  Although we didn't see many pollinators in the rain, I was ever so grateful that we weren't baking in the sun.  So for me it was a great experience.  The group of kids really enjoyed each others company and everyone got along really well, so it made everything that much better.  I loved the drive out to Brenham, and back as well, it was so pretty.  I've heard when the blue bonnets and the blue bells are blooming that it's breathtaking out there.

•  Dylan had his last day of third grade this week.  Summer has finally begun here at the Giovannoni household.  So far so good, thanks to the neighborhood pool, we spend a lot of time there.
• Saturday night I went grocery shopping at 8:30pm and the outside temperature was 91 degrees.