What We've Been Up To

I've been a blogging slacker lately. I try to get by on a few posts a month to keep my family updated but I need to be better at documenting our life. I don't keep a journal (maybe someday) and I terribly wish my mom did--so--here is my attempt (for now) to update on the happenings of the kiddos. They are growing up way too fast.

Jane attended a birthday party for her best friend Haley. They got make overs and were treated like "stars". She came home with a fabulous up-do and green sparkly eye shadow. Lately she and Aly have been looking up make-up tutorials on YouTube and then recreating them with the iPad. I need to figure out how to edit the 21 minute video so I can post it. It is darling. These girls are so creative and so passionate about fashion:)

Jane is doing really well in school. She comes home with 100% on all of her spelling tests and is even given the "harder words" test to challenge her. She needs the challenge. She's super smart.

She's been talking about becoming a dentist lately because she wants to be rich, but then watched the Firehouse Dog movie and now she wants to be a firefighter and marry a dentist. She's a smart one!!!! Too funny!!!

Here is Tobe and Aly at Tobe's genetic doctor follow up. They are watching a movie on the iPad. (Have I mentioned how much I love my iPad??). Tobe's doctor has now officially diagnosed him with PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder) which is on the Autistic spectrum, however, it is very high functioning. He also takes his Carnitine supplement every day. We are all hoping to see some improvements in this school year. I feel like we are on a good path for success.

He is doing pretty well in school. He is picking up on a lot more concepts and is a lot more aware of his surroundings. The other day he kept saying he wanted to be "exit" from school. After ignoring him for some time I finally asked what he meant. He said when his friends from school are not there the teacher marks them "exit". You mean absent?? Yep!!

He still hates wearing buttons, jeans, plain t-shirts without logos, and church shirts without sweater vests. I have been to the GoodWill a couple of times just to keep up with his obsessions--but we are working through it:) He is still such a joy to be around (when we're not doing homework:)

Dad had to get in on it too:)

Aly!! What can I say about Aly?? She is a 16 year old trapped in a 4 year old's body. She has so much personality that I can't quite keep up with her. I am so enjoying spending my days with her and soaking it all in. She makes dance parties for me (in which I have to wear make-up and a dress of her choice:), she asks "Why" after EVERYTHING!!! and I mean it when I say everything!!! I am teaching her the ABC's and so she is constantly looking for them on billboards, street signs, etc. She is super smart and likes to learn.

The other day we were making the kids pick up weeds and put them in the garbage. She was so not happy about that. She kept whinging and complaining and finally said, "This is SOOOO embarrassing. Our friends are going to laugh at us if they drive by."

She finally opted to sit in time out instead of getting her hands dirty. She is too funny!!

We took the kids to a park that was built as a kid size community. It had a bank, pharmacy, general store, jail, and pet shop. It was so cute and the kids enjoyed playing like they lived there. We've been waiting to go back but the rain, rain , rain has prevented us. Hopefully soon!!

Aly and I went to an archeology center for a field trip the other day. Here she is holding a snapping turtle's shell. She wouldn't go near the real turtle though. Yuck!!

Here's my diva digging for bones or any kind of remnant of former life:)

Brett wanted me to make his coworker a quilt. He promised to help--and here is evidence that he did. I won't show pictures of the squares he messed up on the sewing machine:)

Here is Aly last year at Tuttles Apple Orchard....

...and here she is this year. She's grown a bit. She's definitely thinning out. I realized the other day that I no longer shop in the baby/toddler section of Target for their clothes, and I no longer qualify for the Toddler Parking at Marsh. :( My kids are growing up :(

Back to the Apple Orchard. Aly and I got to take another field trip with friends from church. We had a fun time.

I've taken up running again with some friends from church. I go at 5:30 am but it's nice to get it out of the way. Last weekend we did 11.19 miles. I am glad to be back into running. I've also taken up Zumba. I am really liking that and it's a nice mix-up with the running. Now if I could just stop eating I'd be in great shape:)

Indiana is getting the "I Am A Mormon" campaign. We will have LDS commercials, billboards, and other advertising outlets so people will learn more about the church here in the area. We are so excited!! As we anticipate a temple here in the near future--many questions are starting to arise. We can now create a "profile" on Mormon.org and share our beliefs with others. You should all go on there and check it out. It is fabulous!! I am so blessed to be a part of this here in Indiana. It's exciting!!

Well that is all for now. We are busy but happy!! Life is good.

Madagascar LIVE!!

Every so often Brett gets tickets from Comcast to events around the city. A few weeks ago he got tickets to Madagascar LIVE!! I took Jane and then invited my good friend Lyndee. She has twin girls and we only had 2 extra tickets. I felt bad making her choose between both of her girls but it didn't seem to be a problem. After all, ALL kids need a little one on one time with Mom. I know Jane loved every minute of that:)

Look at those smiles. They had such a great time.

Thanks for going with us Lyndee and Brynley!! We had a great time:)

(pictures taken by Lyndee)

The Indianapolis Half Marathon

So I began training for the Indianapolis Marathon in the awful humid days of summer. It was hard!! But because our good friend Lyndee (who helped us train for our last 1/2 and then was out of town for the actual race) wanted to do it, Nedra and I jumped on board. My motivation for this race failed me many times. Without great running partners (Nedra, Kelsey, Katrina, Lyndee, and Kelly to name a few:) and a $45 dollar registration fee, I couldn't have accomplished such a task. I definitely didn't rely on my own strength.

The course was beautiful but HILLY!! People had warned me of all the hills, but c'mon, we're in Indiana. How big can the hills really be? Well, I am eating my words. They were constant. There were many. They were long. The downhills didn't help because an uphill followed. It was HARD!! But I am now convinced that I can do hard things!!!

My kids came this time to cheer me on. Just when I thought I couldn't go any further, there was my family. My husband and my 3 little kiddos cheering for me, telling me I could do it, and I did it!!

Nedra-Me-Lyndee-Kelly

and I did it faster than my last time. I finished in 2:24 at the Geist 1/2 and I finished in 2:16 at the Indianapolis 1/2. Wow!!

Here is the sign they made for me. So cute!!

I really do love to run. I love my running partners and their friendship. I love having a goal and accomplishing it. I love being an example to my kids of never giving up. And I love that it's over.......for now:)!!

Exciting News...and such!!

Well before I begin, I just have to say how excited the Indiana members of the church are to be getting a temple here in Indiana!!!! Over the weekend we had our General Conference for our church, which is where we get to watch church (8 hours of it to be exact) in our jammies and hear our prophet, Thomas S. Monson speak the words of our Heavenly Father.

Back to the temple. The nearest temple is in Louisville Kentucky. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to get there and while I know there are some who travel even longer, being from Utah (where there are 15 temples alone), it seems like a trek. It will be so nice to have one close.

This weekend we also got to attend the baptism of a convert to the church. His name is Paul Hodge and he became interested in the church when the missionaries knocked on his door. He's been learning, reading, and praying ever since and after many long months, finally entered the waters of baptism. The missionaries cried and embraced as did many of us ward members. It was cool!!!

Before conference on Sunday we went on a little nature walk with the kids. (boy do I miss the mountains) The kids collected all sorts of stuff and we came home and made crafts with our loot.

We gathered these sticks and made this spooky Halloween tree.

Yesterday was Tobe's last day of soccer. He really enjoyed the idea of soccer. He never argued to go to soccer. He loved his soccer coach and his soccer coach loved him. But he never did get into the game. You could usually find him staring at the ceiling, waddling around, and moving his arms as if he were running. It was fun to watch and I think it was good for him. We plan to sign him up again in January.

Coach Stuart

Today I had sewing group and these are my new additions to my Halloween decorations:)

banner

table runner

So there a little of what we've been up to lately. We are excited to take a break from extra curricular activities for a while. Jane's almost finished with soccer. We are going to continue piano and come January we'll get back into the madness. But for now, we will be a lot less busy which will be nice.

Sewing Projects

My mom was in a "quilting club" for 30+ years. Once a month she would get together to quilt and have lunch with some of her best friends. In fact, when she passed away, the "quilting club" made a little quilt to put in her casket. So sweet!!

Well I guess you could say I got her desire to sew (I would have said talent or skill but I'm not quite there yet).

I have a few friends that I get together with about once a week to sew. I love it!!! I've learned to sew a bunch of different things all while hanging out with some great friends.

Here are some of my latest projects:

Zip Lining

Yesterday Brett and I got to go Zip Lining with a bunch of our good friends. It was so fun!! I didn't know what to expect with the lack of mountains out here in the midwest but there certainly is not a shortage of trees. We were suspended in a forest of trees for 4 hours. We traveled by a suspended bridge from tree to tree and zip lined from tree to tree. It was super cool!!

Totally worth wearing a helmet:), a harness which was probably worse for the men:), and leaving my kids with a sitter ALL day.

Morgen, Me, Ana, Beth--gearing up!!

Alan and Beth

Thumbs Up!!

Thanks for the adventure!!