Exciting News #3

As they say... a picture is worth a thousand words!

(Can you see the little tiny hole she's pointing at? Boy her teeth are little, lol!) This is the third one on the bottom. None from the top yet. The two middle ones she lost this summer, so this will be the first one she can go to school and talk about! She was eating macaroni for goodness sakes! I never thought macaroni would be tough enough to take out a tooth! She's very excited about the tooth fairy coming tonight!

TAG - again!

I've been tagged again... this one's about Travis not me, so I thought "why not!"

Where we met: at his house, one of his friends invited me over

How long we dated before we got hitched: three weeks to engagement - then eight months later we got married (backwards we know)

How long we have been married: 9 years this last Wednesday (Happy Anniversary to Us)

What's my fav feature about him: His eyebrows!

What's my fav quality about him: his ability to say the right thing at the right time

His nickname for me: Nat

His fav color: I don't know and I don't think he does either

His fav food: Pizza

His fav sport: Nascar

Who said the L word first: I don't remember, I asked neither did he

First kiss: in his truck when he dropped me off one night

Fav couple thing to do: go for drives

How many kids: 1 a daughter - we're registered to adopt through LDSFS and through CASI - Tell all your friends

His hidden talent: running and jumping onto fences like a monkey

His fav pasttime: World of Warcraft

Will he read this: only if I tell him too

I tag... Bree, Heidi and Michelle

TAG

you have to type the first thing that comes to your mind to make it fun:

I am: Natalie

I know: that I don't know a lot of things

I want: a baby

I have: great fingernails

I hate: being without a book!

I miss: my mom

I feel: calm

I hear: Travis playing games on the computer

I smell: red roses (from Travis!)

I crave: salsa

I search: Google

I love: Travis

I care: how others feel

I always: go to ballet on Wednesday

I believe: in the Articles of Faith

I sing: Primary songs

I write: at school

I lose: at cards

I win: when I cheat at cards!

I never: go anywhere without a book

I listen: when you're not whining

I am scared: when it's dark

I need: constant affirmation

I am happy about: lots of things

I tag... you!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken... here's a couple of our favorites!

Funny!

So, this morning as Travis and I were trying to sleep in, we heard a shout from somewhere else in the house. "Mom, I need you, right now!" It was repeated over and over again until I finally kicked Travis out of bed. He headed towards the screams and found Malia perched on the kitchen cabinet with the peanut butter, but she had not moved a chair over before she climbed up, so she was stuck. It was a pretty ridiculous picture!

On a not so funny note, I didn't get to sleep in yesterday either. I'm (well Travis to, but he hasn't helped much) the Emergency Preparedness block captain, in charge of about 8 families, and at 7:30 yesterday morning we had a "mock" earthquake. He said I was supposed to take notes to each house and wake up the families in about 20 minutes, but being half asleep, I heard that it had to be done in the next 20 mins. Then everyone was supposed to grab their 72 hour kits and meet at the church. So, by 8:00 I had everyone up and Malia and I were at the church (Travis was on the freeway on the way to work - long story) where we were told that we weren't supposed to be there yet! I retorted that they better just be grateful I was there and that was the last I heard of that. Anyway, only one family "died" from my group (I think I won!) most of the other groups had several families that "died"! That's only because they were up with their brand new baby all night and slept right through the earthquake. We had the fire department there and they talked about what would happen in an emergency and we passed out tons of information and then we watched a funny video some families in the ward had made. They showed three families, one that had absolutely nothing prepared, one that had 72 hour kits but hadn't looked at them in 5 years so they now had more children then 72 hour kits and one that was so prepared they sang primary songs on the way to the church! It was really funny, but it proved the point. Overall, other than the sleep deprivation, it was a good experience. So, Travis and I are going to spend the next couple family home evenings on the subject!

Children's Garden

My friend "C" just came over and brought her camera, so I could download some pictures from the Children's Garden we visited together in July. So, it's out of order but too adorable not to share.

There was a cave you could walk through that you could hear bear growls echoing around the walls. Then tunnels for the kids to play in! Not to mention the big bear at the entrance to the cave.

Malia with C and her son B.

Malia is getting attacked by the big bug on the wall! Run!

There was also a big Noah's Ark with water squirting all over out of it. So we got soaking wet. Then there were some big hedge mazes, pretty simple, but the kids thought it was a blast.

First Day of Kindergarten

Malia's First Day of Kindergarten - Yup, that kitty shirt is fuzzy!

Malia's cool new backpack - she picked it out herself!

Daddy and Malia


Mommy and Malia

Cool Malia in front of Miss Debi's door.

Miss Debi and Malia

Getting off the school bus, the principal is by the doors and the vice-principal is next to him.

Malia and her kindergarten teacher

Heading into the classroom!

The first day is all done, boy we're glad that's over!

Malia had a really great day!

I Made It!

Well the first week of school is done! I survived, it's amazing. I actually  have a great group of kids this year and I have the smallest class out of all 5 fourth grade teachers. Which is great, but it also means that I get the next couple of new kids. And now that the first week is over I only have 175 days of school left, haha...

Other good news, Malia is officially starting kindergarten on Monday. Nerve wracking for mom, but very exciting nonetheless. She's got a great teacher and did really well on her pre-kindergarten testing they did this week. She'll continue going to Miss Debi's in the mornings then she'll get on the bus that stops just two houses away and go to school. Then she'll come home with me after school. I hope it all works out the way I've planned it! We'll see!

Memory Game

So we got this idea from our friends Spencer and Sarah and thought it sounded like fun.

Here's how you play:

1. As a comment on our blog, leave one memory that you had with either Travis or Natalie, it doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot - - anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. it's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about one of us, we'll assume you're playing the game and we'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, we'll leave a memory of you in our comments.

Let the memories begin!

Late Father's Day

On Father's Day I gave Travis "permission" hahaha.. to buy a bike. So he finally bought it this last weekend. Ever since then he and Malia have been going out every night for rides. Then last night he went out on one by himself, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Now, I'm getting pressure from both of them to get a new bike myself. I guess I'm going to have too, either that or I'm going to have to start running faster!

Family Home Evening

Travis got home late on Monday so we rescheduled Family Home Evening for Wednesday. Travis read a story to Malia out of the Friend the other day about temples and Malia asked "What's a temple?" I was mortified! What kind of Mormon mom was I if my 5 year old didn't know about temples, lol. So, we went to the temple!

First we had a picnic in the park that's across the street from the Mt. Timpanogoos temple. Then we walked back across the street and took pictures of the temple, while talking about the differences between temples and chapels.

We drove by the American Fork tabernacle on the way home, so tabernacles even become part of the conversation! Overall, it was a fun evening for all of us!

Yellowstone

Over the 4th of July weekend I was able to go to West Yellowstone on a canoe/fishing trip. The canoes didn't really fit in the truck but we made it in one piece.

Here's a picture of me with proof I really can fish!

Here's a picture of the sunset from our campsite on the last night we were there. Pretty incredible view.

Dancing and the Fourth of July

Michelle and I were in a hip hop class together this year and performed late in June. One of Michelle's co-workers just happened to have a child at the studio and recognized her in the dance. He video taped and then posted our dance on you-tube then claimed ignorance on where it came from. So, Michelle thought she had a stalker out there somewhere! Pretty funny joke!

Here's the link check us out...

youtube.com/watch?v=EFvyowxv5Sw

As soon as I figure out how I'll post the videos Travis took!

It was so much fun, having never danced as a kid I really enjoyed having the experience of learning hip hop and modern dances and performing them. Although I have to admit I definitely looked the least polished out of everybody! But, I am so grateful for the opportunity and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

So, while I'm at it. The fourth of July was a lot of fun this year. Travis took off with the guys to go camping up in Yellowstone park. So I thought the fourth would be a real bummer this year, but I ended up picking up Sydney (Malia's friend) on Tuesday night and she spent the night until Friday, which kept me really busy. Then we headed to Sydney's house in Salt Lake on the fourth and hung out with them and their relatives all day. We barbecued in the back yard - the ribs were yummy! Then we headed to Sugar House park for the fireworks. We managed to entertain 6 kids under the age of 8 for 3 hours before the fireworks started at 10 o'clock. Then all of them but Malia laid back and oohed and aahed. But, I think Malia was fighting sleep because she could not sit still long enough to look! She kept jumping in and out of the wagon, climbing all over me like I was a jungle gym and running around. I definitely think she had fun but it wasn't watching the fireworks that was fun for her! We made it out of there and back to the house amazingly fast and the kids crashed pretty hard. Malia and Sydney slept downstairs and I curled up on the couch. So, then we just spent a nice lazy day on Saturday playing and hanging out! On Saturday I also perused KSL.com and found an adorable Moses basket, which we met up the seller and purchased that afternoon. So, now when we get a baby it has someplace to sleep right away, the crib is still in storage. As soon as I find the right bedding I'll pull it out and set it up. But, it's depressing to have it out when I don't have cute bedding to go on it!

Happy Fourth of July!