Just Stuff

It's been a while since I last blogged, and although nothing much has happened in the last few months, I thought it would be good to let you all know I am still out here.

I have really been enjoying the days that Paige has been in pre-school. I have found more time to get my house straightened (not cleaned), play a little more with Matt, and best of all I can do my grocery shopping with one kid!!! I don't know how all you guys do it with more than 2 kids. You are all amazing. I did get to buy 2 new dresses this past week. It has been WAY too long since I have found the time to do that. I love picking out what I am going to wear to church now.

Doug just found out they were moving his whole department down to Riverton. That just really sucks because we just moved 15 miles closer to our parents, which puts us 15 miles further away from Salt Lake now. We are crossing our fingers that they will work something out so he doesn't have a 2 1/2 hour commute both ways 5 days a week. He is also working really hard on passing the Java test. The church really wants to keep their programmers up to date on the new stuff. He also just bought himself a new ipod touch, and we all have enjoyed playing with it.

Paige and Matt got to spend the night at Aunt Angie's house the other night while Doug and I got to stay in a hotel room in Logan for a wedding. They struggled a little, but it's good for them to get away from their boring parents for a little while, and learn to live without us.

I will post pictures of Halloween costumes after Halloween, and hope to see all of your kiddies or you all dressed up.

The State Fair

So, we spent a few hours at the state fair tonight, and as I say every year... Why do people go to that thing? The crowds are horrible, and the price of everything is outrageous. But having said that, it's a family tradition, and this year for the first time we tried a funnel cake. It was pretty darn good! I wouldn't mind having another one of those.

We had to walk through the animals twice as that was the favorite part for the kids. They also wanted to ride the rides and play games, but we were able to get out without doing those things. The highlight of the night for me was when we forked over 8.00 for the kids to ride the ponies. I have never seen Paige so excited and happy. I guarantee we will be doling out the money again next year.







I guess when all is said and done, we were together as a family and neither of the kids got lost or injured. It was a good night!

After the Vacation....

So, here's the update after the big Cali Trip. We left on Sunday, and had a full day of driving. It actually turned out to be a pretty darn good day. The kids traveled really well, and we all had a lot of fun. We went to Circus Circus that night in Reno, and of course won some stuffed animals. I told Doug we had to stop after 4. We were really proud of Paige though. She won her own flower from a game. It was actually quite amazing.




When we went to lay down that night I looked at Paige's eye, and it looked swollen. I looked at Doug and said "Paige is getting Pink Eye." Doug didn't believe me, but of course the next morning her eye was gross. Luckily I have a wonderful source for emergencies such as this, and she hooked me up with some medication. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!



We made it to Solvang, CA after another long day of driving. We stopped at the Jelly Belly Factory and had a tour in the middle of the day so it kind of broke up the day. The kids again drove really well, and we thought we were through with the hard part. Sadly, this was not the case. Paige got a fever and then began throwing up. She did not get better until we got home, although the throwing up only lasted 24 hours. Needless to say, it pretty much killed our trip. Doug took Matt to the beach, we got to go out to dinner while our dear friends watched our kids, and then we all got to go to the beach on the second to the last day there. Paige also liked the toy stores in Solvang so we went there often. We pushed her in the stroller making everything she came in contact with a germ magnet. We really didn't care at this point as long as she was happy. Paige was whining the whole time, and didn't really have any fun. We just prayed that she could make the drive home and eat something. One night at 2:00 in the morning I ran to the store to try to find anything that would unclog her nose. I found myself 40 minutes away before I found a store that was open. Boy was I wishing for a Walgreens.







We left for Vegas on Saturday, and the drive was again a blessing from heaven. Don't know how they did it but the kids were champs. Paige still was whiny, but we took them for a drive on the strip to see the lights, and then found a Walmart and a sticker book (which by the way made the whole last day of driving a breeze).

When we finally pulled into our driveway we were all relieved to be home. Paige ran onto her bed and just sat there with her toys piled around her. Matt climbed in his bed to be like Paige, and Doug and I collapsed on the couch. After about an hour of that I took Paige into Wee Care to see if she had strep. None..Thank Goodness. We were glad for Labor Day to have another day to recoup.

Doug woke up the next morning with pink eye, and a bad cold, and began throwing up today. I am beginning to think someone has one of those Voodoo dolls and thinks it's pretty funny to see how we react to all of this.

If you're still reading I'm amazed.....

Wrap up: This vacation was definitely one I would not want to repeat, but it's also one I will never forget. I was good being with our family and friends, and getting out of the state for a while. You always appreciate what you come home to. I am so so so so sorry because the friends we were traveling with daughter got sick when they got home. (Her first pukes...but not her last...) We are thinking that we will have to tame down the vacation plans a bit for the next few years. Stick to camping, and quick trips to Yellowstone or somewhere where we could come home if we needed to. Maybe in 2 years we can begin to think about Disneyland with the kids. Until then, my sister said she would watch the kiddies next year while Doug and I take a vacation with just each other.....I CAN'T WAIT.

Crazy Summer!

So I know it's been forever, but summer has just flown by. We haven't even done much. We have done a few family activities, childrens museum, dinosaur park, and camping, but nothing that should wear us out like we have been. I think it's mainly because of the nights. The kiddies won't go to sleep until it is dark so we have had many a late night. Thankfully it is now getting dark again so hopefully we will be on a better schedule soon.

We are still loving the new house and yard. It's so nice to have somewhere to play. Doug and the kids have set up a hummingbird feeder, and we watch our buddy Max come and eat every morning and night. It's actually more fun than I thought it would be.

Yesterday my sister and her brood came down and we played hard for two days straight. Boy, if I ever thought I could live with six children (no matter how good they are) this is the way to change my mind. The thing I really love about having them come (besides the sister time) is that Angie always leaves my house cleaner than when she came. Doug loves that too, and I work while I talk so we get a whole lot done. Also the kids are so good to play together and it's so good for our sweet Paige to play with Jess.








The family camping trip was a great time. We were the smart ones of the bunch coming to camp then going down in the night after campfire to a hotel. There is no other way to enjoy a camping trip with a 4 and 2 year old. We had a great nights sleep, cleaned up in the shower, then headed back up for some more fun! Next year we may try to do it the REAL way. We'll see.










We are getting ready for our big family trip in two weeks. We are DRIVING to Solvang, CA, and staying there for a week. Doug gets more and more excited as I get more and more ready to freak out at the thought of driving my kids to Cali. We are stopping in Reno for the night so at least it will be broken up a little. I'll let you know how it goes. At the very least, I will have Doug with me for 10 days 24/7 (except for golf time). That in itself is vacation enough for me!

Long Time

It's been a long time since I've sat down and taken the time to write about life in the Ensign home. Nothing much exciting happened this past few months.

Easter was fun. We always head up to Beaver Dam on Saturday and have the annual Bowcutt family easter egg hunt. My nephew went up to my mom and said, "Thanks Grandma that was fun but it didn't last very long." No one tells the truth like a 7 year old. We all ate until we were "sick". That's pretty much the Easter holiday. The next day the Easter Bunny came. He had no idea that it didn't take much candy to fill up 2 baskets. We had a huge bowl left over.

For Easter Dinner we had Doug's parents over. It was good to see them, and watch the kiddies show off to people they don't see every day. It was actually fun to cook dinner.

The kids have spent everyday rain or shine outside. We are fighting colds, and the only way I can keep them inside is to put big things in front of the door so they can't get out. I will be very happy when we have grass and the rest of the fence. Hopefully in less than a month. We also have been lucky enough to take care of the neighbors dogs the past few days. The kids have been in heaven. We bought some doggie snacks at the store, and the kids just have a riot playing with them.

I've Been Tagged!

I am not going to pass this along, because I just don't know that many people that haven't been tagged, but it looked like fun to do, so here goes.

Ten years ago......hmmm think back. I was a Junior at Weber State University. Working at the Bookstore. Dating a guy I thought I would marry, but in hindsight was just crazy to stick with for soooo long.

Five things on my to do list.....
1. Find a landscaper
2. Put away laundry yuck
3. clean my kitchen
4. go to sleep
5. excericse

Jobs I've had..

Taco Time in High school. WSU Bookstore in college, 5 years as a foster care worker for the State, 1 year as a ICPC specialist for the state, and now a mom. I think MOM is the hardest job I've had, can't wait to get back out into the workforce when the kiddies are in school.

If I was suddenly a billionaire..

I would pay off my house and finish my basement, pay off all my siblings houses, make a huge old mountain with a waterfall in my parents back yard to cover up the power substation that they just put in the field behind the house. Also a playland fit for a king in their back yard as well. I would probably take Doug on one of those 6 month cruises or just travel whenever we wanted to. Shower my dear friends with things they always wanted but could never afford. Do fun little acts of service for people quietly. Hire a maid and a cook, and buy new cars. OO and have a personal sylist come shopping with my or better yet pay someone to make my clothes for me so they would fit perfectly. I', sure I could think of more, but this will suffice.

I enjoy.

Being with my family. Laughing, being with friends, not worrying. Curling up with a good book or a mindless TV show.

Things you might not know about me.

Hmmm, I'm pretty open about my life in general. I share anything. I easily get my feeling hurt by people I love, but if I don't know you, don't try to make me care if I offend. I know rude. I enjoy my kids very most while I watch them sleep or play without them seeing me. I am scared of trying to make friends, but once I make them I tend to keep them. My sister and I talk on the phone at least 2 times a day.

Time

I have actually had some time this weekend to just be. It has felt really nice, but now (Sunday Night) I am feeling like I have neglected my kiddies. Doug played hard with them today after church, but I just made dinner and then relaxed. Also, for the first time in probably 6 months Doug and I pulled out our little portable DVD player and watched a movie in bed. Can I tell you that I felt like I was on a date?? Crazy. It's amazing the time you feel you have when your littlest one starts sleeping through the night on a regular basis.

I have started getting bids for landscaping on our yard. I have already had my first mud tracked in experience in this house, and don't want another. I don't even know how it happened as our mud is still covered in snow. Oh well, just glad I got dirt colored carpet.