August, Sepember, and October

August:
The kids were overjoyed to be asked to dog sit for our friends for a few weeks.  I thought it would be fun to have a four legged friend for a while too.  It really was a great experience.  Sydney was patient with the kids, well mannered, low maintenance and provided a lot of fun for my kids.  We were all really sad when our three weeks with her were up!

I was called to serve in our Wards Young Women's as a Laurel Advisor.  I have never been more surprised and excited about a calling in my whole life.  The Mr and I already team taught the youth for second hour so I felt like I already had a great relationship with my girls.  The only stinky part was they released me from team teaching second hour with Derik.

I took our kids and Dylan's friend Matthew on a picnic to a local park as one last hoorah before school started up again.  I am fond of this park because it's located on a road named Pleasant Grove.

September:

We spend almost every Saturday at Costco.  The kids love the free samples and usually find themselves having a great time.

Dylan started practicing his tent setting up skills for his up coming Boy Scout campout.

Since I never buy school pictures I snapped these pictures of Alivia all done up for picture day.

I repainted my front room.  While I liked the green I decided on converting the front room to a dining room and I had my heart set on gray.  So after buying another dozen samples of gray, I settled on the paint color Amazing Gray.  I'll post pictures of the room a little later.

My prayers were finally answered!.  This beauty is everything I was looking for at the right price. I'm am so thrilled to have a car once again.  I love my new van!

First time taking it out to the store and this is what I came out to find.  Somebody side swiped me.  no note of apology...Grrr makes me mad to see it scratched up.

October:

Jack made his yearly appearance.  Someday I'll get back to making him a companion or two.

The Mr. stayed home with the two young ones and let me take our oldest two to a late showing of Meet the Mormons. I am most grateful for my faith and the blessings and peace it brings into my life, It was an inspiring movie, and I'm glad we were able to see it.

While the weather is cool and I only have two kids at home I started a new family rule.  No TV at all Monday through Thursday.  I just got so tired of the influence TV was having on Isaac and fighting my other kids to do their chores and homework after school.  While I realize this isn't always going to work, it's been one of the best thing I've ever done.  There is no TV distraction after school.  The kids actually have to entertain themselves and I see them playing outside more and being creative.  Isaac actual picks up books and looks through them now instead of staring at a screen.  There have been days where I was desperate to get things done and I've allowed Isaac to watch TV or have an hour on educational games on the tablet, but those days have been very very few.  The weather has been so pleasant that outside playtime has been possible and we haven't missed TV at all.

Dylan's scout campout date finally arrived.  He was so excited to go.  He had a great time and finally got to have a sleep over with his friends.

I built this wooden clock from scraps in our backyard.

The Mr celebrated his 35th birthday!
Someday he'll get something as grand as he deserves, for now I hope he continues to be patient with us.  He did get a home cooked version of one of his favorite seafood dish from me and a bunch or his favorite treats from his children.

Halloween was a little dismal this year  We recycled costumes, Dylan spent the night at his friend and Alivia trick or treated with some neighbors.  Nobody wanted to hold still long enough for pictures, it was also pitch black by the time I pulled the camera out, but the weather was perfect!  .  I made homemade pizza, and ran the two youngest up and down the street while Derik made homemade rootbeer.  

Back to School

I would be lying if I didn't say that every one of us was looking forward to school starting again.  It's been a long (dare I say boring) summer. 

This handsome young man started Middle School this year!

He was nervous and so was I!  He's only two days into it, but so far he's comes home with a smile on his face. 
Here is his back to school  interview.

 

This beautiful girl was probably the most excited to get back to school.  It's her first year of being in elementary all by herself.  

She has come home growling at everyone so I don't think she's as happy as she thought she'd be.  She mentioned that her teacher spends most the day yelling at them.  Poor dear!
Here is her back to school interview.

Ha I didn't notice until now that she spelled her own last name wrong!

Translation:

Favorite thing to do:
Hide and go seek
Favorite food:
Burrito Casserole
Something I really like:
Sometimes Chores
Something I don't like:
Taking a nap
Something I want to do this year:
Make new friends

July 2014

The month of July was a busy one.

The kids and I were able to go visit our good friends the Gunnell's.  The Gunnell's used to be in our ward here in Houston and were one of favorite family's.  They made us feel welcome when we were new and were always inviting us over to spend the holidays with them, so we didn't have to be alone.   I was so sad when she told me they were moving!   Thankfully they are only about an hour away.   Her new home was beautiful and it was really fun to get out and see new places.  My kids loved hanging out with her kids and swimming at their pool. 

The kids and I made T-shirts for the 4th of July. 

We painted a couple of Fourth of July crafts to go outside as decoration as well.

For some reason I didn't get a picture of the rest of the decorations we made...oh well!

7.4.14
Abbie and I flew out to Utah on the fourth of July.  Derik was awesome enough to stay at home with the three oldest children so I could spend a few days with my family.  

I deprived Abbie of her nap on the way to the airport in hopes that she would sleep on the three hour flight.  Lets just say the 30 minutes we sat in the plane while it loaded was awful, she was tired and didn't want to be contained.  She fell asleep about one minute into our take off...Hallelujah.  She slept for two hours and was really well behaved the last hour of our flight so I really can't complain.
Aunt Cozette was nice enough to chase up to the airport and grab us.  We then headed to my mom and dads house to have a BBQ. After the BBQ, my sister Heidi and I headed down to my old elementary school to watch Pleasant Grove City's fireworks with our kiddos.   My parents and Emily came a little later to join us.
The sprinklers turned on about two minutes into the firework show, thankfully we didn't get wet. 
It was a nice firework show. 
Back at home in Houston Derik was awesome enough to take our three oldest to a firework show without me.
  
7.5.14
Saturday morning was a very special day and the reason I made the trip out. 
This BEAUTIFUL sister of mine went through the temple and received her endowments.

Thanks Heidi for letting me use your pictures!

It was extra special for me because for a time in my life I thought Cozette and I would never be able to overcome hurt feelings we had towards each other.  I did and said things I am not proud of.  I forgot for a while what an amazing person my sister is.  She is forgiving, kind, loving and very giving.  She is everyone's friend.  She is beautiful inside and out. I'm so grateful I got to be a part of this special day.

The icing on the cake was being able to spend some time with my extended family and family friends.

My mom and my sister Heidi worked really really hard to make beautiful decorations and a wonderful dinner for everyone afterwards. 

 

There was so much service given that day.  Many of our Aunts and cousins helped warm food and clean up afterwords.  My cousin Matt's wife Kim was even amazing enough to offer free babysitting for all our kids while we were in the temple. 

7.6.14

We all headed up to my Uncle Dean Cabin, which was a dream come true for me.  I love that place and I miss the mountains so very much!
Aunt Cozette and my Uncle Dean took Abbie for a horse ride.

Abbie had a lot of fun snuggling with Grandma Ward, playing with Uncle Bryan's goatee and crawling on the 4-wheelers.  I particularly loved the ride through the mountains that my Aunt Pat and Uncle Dean took my sisters and I on. 

All three of my children at home got sick and laid around on the sofas all day.  I don't know how Derik managed to get so lucky?  

7.7.14

I had Cozette chop my hair off... at least the hair in the back that is. I also had her add a couple of purple streaks in as well.

 

Cozette was also sweet enough to let me snag her car so I could stop by and see Derik's family. I always love spending time with them!

My brother Eric returned home from his trip to Colorado so I tried to spend some time with him as well.  We all ended up going to PF Chang's for dinner.  Abbie was a monster! But it was really fun to get out with most of my siblings.  

7.8.14

I tried to jam everything into my last day in Utah.  

Eric tried to teach me to slack line.  

We went out to dinner to my all time favorite place the Bombay House.  

I got to spend an hour or two at my brother Nyles home holding my beautiful niece and nephews and catching up with my sis-in-law.  

My dad treated us all to snow cones with ice cream. 

I ran wildly through the isles of Walmart trying to find snacks for our flight home. 

7.9.14

I signed up to give my seat up on my flight home in exchange for a free flight voucher,and a later flight home, but the hitch was I wouldn't find out anything about my arrangements until I had checked into the airport.  My flight was an early one, so I was worried I'd be stuck at the airport all day with a one year old.  When I was checking in before boarding my nine o'clock flight I asked them whether or not they needed my seat. The lady told me they would give me a 400 dollar voucher and first class seats on the next flight out if I'd give up my seat.  I was all for a free flight so I took the deal.  Thankfully it was only about a four hour wait, and Abbie did pretty good all things considered.  

We were the first to board the next flight out and Abrielle had had it with being contained so I was desperately trying to keep her from freaking out.  The man next to us actually paid for his first class seat and I didn't want him bothered the whole flight.  I kept trying to get her to look out the window.  Imagine how I just about died when she touched the window and the dang thing fell out of the plane!  Our entire flight was delayed (although not terribly long) while they "fixed it" .  The maintenance guy said not to freak out and that it was just the inside of the window and not the outside. I was to busy being embarrassed to actually wonder what kind of shape our plane was in to have windows falling out.   A little duck tape later and we were good to go.  Thankfully the rest of our flight home was uneventful and Abrielle napped almost the entire flight. 

I joined the instagram bandwagon.  I just felt like I was missing out on so much being away from my family and friends.  It's been really fun so far to see everyone's pictures.  Most of what I'll post here next, I posted there so it might be a bunch of stuff everyone's already seen. 

The kids got a nasty case of the throw ups, and not a single one of them made it to a toilet either!  Second weekend in a row they were sick.  

7.13.14

The Mr and I pulled out the pasta maker he bought for me years back and made some homemade noodles for chicken noodle soup since everyone was still recovering from tossing their cookies.  We figured since we had it out we'd play around with the different noodle cutters.  It was fun and almost romantic to make noodles together!

7.19.14

I finally got this picture my brother took of Mt. Timp up in my faux window frame.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Isaac got the throw ups again and Alivia didn't move off the couch for the third weekend in a row.

I personally hope we get like a three year break from the throw-ups!

We've put our neighborhood pool to good use.

Night swimming is becoming a new favorite. 

When the rain ruined our pool plans the kids had a great time out playing in the puddles with their friends from across the street.

We are dog sitting for three weeks, which might help explain where the dog in these pictures comes from.  Her name is Sidney and she is such a good dog.  She is patient with my kids, she is well behaved and we've loved having her.  I almost don't want to give her back! 

I caught a photo of this fantastic sunset.  It was breath taking, the picture just doesn't do it justice.

I let Isaac's hair get so scraggly.  I almost didn't recognize him after I gave him a haircut.

Sherwin Williams ran their paint sale and I went a little crazy  I grabbed enough paint samples to open up my own paint shop.  I also grabbed enough paint to paint our master bedroom and master bath, the girls room, and the boys room.
I've only painted my bedroom and bathroom so far, but that took me almost an entire week.  So I'm giving myself a little break. 
For the sake of wrapping things up I'll save the before and after photos of my painted rooms for another post.  

June

6.2.14
Dylan received several awards from school, I guess down here they do award ceremonies instead of fifth grade graduation. He received an honor for participation in choir and having high grades in math, science, and reading.

6.4-6.14
Our kids got to spend some time with their second cousin (I think that's what he is) Cameron. He spent a couple of nights at our home while his mom made a trip to Arkansas.

6.6.14
Summer officially began for the Giovannoni's.

6.7.14
The Mr. and Dylan flew out to spend 10 days in Utah.

6.8.14
A first since living in Texas...We made it to church on time. It's amazing how much quicker things went with 2 less people.  We even had time for a picture!

6.11.14
Aunt Cozette gave Dylan a haircut at her school. I thought growing his hair out might help give me the ability to actually style it, but I was wrong it just got bushier and bushier.  Thanks Cozette for making him look like a handsome young man again.

 6.14.14
Derik ran the Utah Valley Marathon.  It was the first marathon he's attempted since hurting and then having surgery on his ankle.   He messaged me early the morning of the marathon and told me he wasn't running it, BUT I KNEW BETTER....  Several hours later I received an email showing me his race medal and race time.  Mr Giovannoni I'm so proud and happy for you!  You are an example to me of always pushing through difficult things.

6.15.14
I got out of doing anything for Fathers Day this year (since the only father I'm near enough to do anything for happened to be far far away), but the kids missed having a dad to shower their Sunday School treats on. 

6.17.14
The Mr and Dylan came back home.  Have I ever mentioned that driving in Houston traffic at 6:00 pm gives me unbearable anxiety.  I made Derik drive us all home from the airport because I couldn't stop shaking from having to drive there. 

6.22.14
Alivia and I made a large batch of cinnamon rolls. We experimented around and made them with Coconut Oil and Coconut Sugar and they turned out heavenly...So good that we wanted to share them with every neighbor we had.  I was even brave enough to run some over to the new couple who moved in two doors down.
 
The rest of the month was pretty quiet.  Having all four kids home all day everyday is a challenge for me.
With few friends, no family, hot SWEATY weather, no place to go, and limited electronic time, we all get crazy and grouchy and irritated with each other.

I found this little gem on the floor of our car after church one Sunday.
I laughed so hard when I read Isaac's answer to the question at the bottom that my neighbor came out of her garage and said, "I don't think I've ever heard you laugh, that must be really funny"!
First off I was amazed that Isaac's Sunbeam teachers understood him, and secondly it was an answer right from his heart, and just one of the many reasons I love having Isaac around.

He likes to eat dinner...Yes that is totally my Isaac! 

May

Dylan celebrated his Eleventh birthday.
He chose to have Ribs and Homemade Pizza for his birthday dinner.
His dear friend Matthew and his dad took him to a movie.
He got the Harry Potter book series and a brand new bike.

 

He also earned his Arrow of Light in Scouts.

He graduated Cub Scouts and is now a Boy Scout

In just three days he will graduate from Elementary.  He was awarded and recognized for his academic and choral preformances.

The Mr. helped me out the other day so I could surprise Alivia at her end of school party.  

 She has loved the first grade and most especially her teacher this year Mrs. T.

Isaac gave his first talk in primary!
Nobody understood a single word, but he did great!
Other that that he's managed to frustrate his mother and annoy the neighbors with his stealth ability to sneak out of the house.

Abrielle finds great joy in teasing and tickling, saying hello and waving to anyone and every one.  She's definitely shaping up to be another tried and true Giovannoni  and her big personality shines through more and more each day.  She's discovered that she loves to climb, so all of my kitchen chairs now reside on top of the table, because she refuses to stay off them.  I thought she was getting so tall until she had her Dr's appointment and I learned she's only in the 44th percentile for her height. 

Mothers Day and my birthday brought a flood of lovely cards and a lot of laughs from my children.  There's a lot of them.

 One of my favorites "V" if for don't know, "U" is for unmean".

And it's nice that she reminded me that God loves me :)

 Alivia:  My mom makes the best play dough...Couldn't stop laughing!

Derik bought me a beautiful new garden swing for my birthday since my last one was way past gone. Abrielle thinks the swing is for her she loves it.

The garden is doing well.  My tomato plants are so big and heavy they have all ripped or tipped over their cages.  Isaac loves raiding the cherry tomato plant every day.  My squash plants suddenly up and died yesterday but other than that, everything is still thriving.

I have done a little building here and there.
I made these matching nightstands.

I painted our front living room a gray green color called Cliveden Gray Morning .

Just today I finished these crown moulding shelves for a friend.  I made her two so they are stacked on top of each other so they stay safe until she can come get them.