The Wii

As I was downloading the pictures to the computer I saw some from my company picnic last month. I had been meaning to share this story but had forgotten too. When we got home from the picnic Josh even said, "man you need to blog about this!" So here goes.

I work for Stillwate Mining Company, it is great company that does a lot for it's employees and the community. They are a big part of Zoo Montana and so the Company picnic was held there. I had never been to our zoo before and Josh kept telling me how lame it was but I figured it couldn't be that bad. Well it was! It looks like the zoo has been abandoned for years. The place was covered in dead leaves. The animal habitats were a mess, some animals had watering holes in their areas and the watering holes were halfway dried up and full of mud and nastyness. It was not what I had even thought a zoo could possibly look like.

There was a lot for the kids to do, slides and bounce houses and of course food. They had a treasure hunt set up for the kids to hunt through straw for quarters and gold dollars. We had finished doing some activies and they were giving away prizes. There were all kinds of prizes from TV's to flashlights. They got through about a third of the prizes and said that they were going to do more in about an hour. I wanted to walk through the zoo since I hadn't done that yet and I was hoping that Preston would go to sleep in his stroller. It was super hot and miserable out and the zoo wasn't much to look at. Preston did fall asleep and I was more than ready to get back and it was almost time for more prizes. When we finally headed back Josh heard them calling numbers. Very distantly he heard them call HIS number. We were still far away but he kicked off his flip flops and started running down the trail and yelling that was his number. I love my husband very much, but sometimes I will say he is just a tad bit embarassing out in public. I didn't want all 600 of those people knowing that it was my crazy husband running and yelling through the zoo with no shoes on. So I took my time making it back to the crowd.

Apparently when he finally made it they had just called another number and they had gotten the phone. The guy that was drawing the tickets could tell that Josh had ran and that his face was all red. He made a deal with him, the next prize that didn't get claimed he could have. I was still wary of associating with him after his little stunt so I took Kendra to the bathroom and to get a sno-cone. On our way back they were giving away the final prize of the group, the Wii. They called out the number and all that was heard was groans. They called the number for what seemed like forever. The guy reminded everyone of the deal that he had made with Josh and gave it the final going once, twice, gone! They handed us the Wii! Josh was so excited and everyone else in the crowd was....not so excited. I could just see everyone watching us, I told Josh that it was time to get out of there. So Josh ran and put the Wii in the car and we headed over to the climbing wall for one last activity.

Kendra had been asking to do the climbing wall while we were at the fair so this was perfect, hardly any line and FREE! She was doing really well and got about halfway up when she started to hesitate. She went a little further and then she was in tears! She wouldn't let go of the wall so that we could get her down and she was just out of our reach. I had to explain what all of the ropes were for and finally convinced that she could just let go and they would slowly pull her down. So the company picnic was VERY eventful, Kendra ended it in tears of fear and Josh ended it in tears of joy, well not really but pretty close. Ethan loves the Wii and Kendra could care less. I really enjoy it and after the first weekend my arms were pretty sore. So if anyone ever wants to come on over and play, let us know, we are now the proud owners of a Wii.

I Just Can't Seem to Pull it Together

Every night as I head home from work I tell myself that I am going to blog! Then I get the kids, get home, go to soccer, get dinner, try and get caught up on laundry or dishes, bathe the kids and get them in bed. (Josh is almost always at work) By then I seem to be finding myself completely exhausted! I have even gone to bed as early as 8:30 once this week. I am feeling better and last night I even cleaned the entire kitchen, something I hadn't done in far too long. :) So I am going to recap and hopefully add pictures at some point.

Kendra and Ethan have both started school, HORRAY!!! Last week Ethan's teacher told Josh how smart Ethan is and how great he is doing. I wondered how long it would take before she said something, Ethan was overly prepared for School by his wonderful older sister. That same day Kendra's teacher pulled Josh aside and told him that she had been caught starting her math before the teacher said go. So we had to have the cheating talk with her that night. I will say that I am suprised that Ethan doesn't crash when he gets home at night since they go to school all day every day even in kindergarden, but he is like the energizer bunny, as soon as he gets home he is out the door to play with his friends.

Over labor day we went to Boise Idaho for a visit. We went to the Zoo, the Discovery Center, visited my cousin Rhonda and her family, and saw some friends of ours. Amy and her family also came up from Utah so we got to see them so that was awesome. I also did a bit of shopping. Ok a lot of shopping! We had a really good time and enjoyed the trip. Josh and I each celebrated a birthday while we were on vacation. Man we seem to be getting old, ok not really, but time really does fly by.

Josh started his first full semester back as a college student! It has been a wee bit stressful, but seems to be going good. Josh is still trying to fall into a routine. I told him that probably won't happen until he has finished the first test in each of his classes. I know that is about how long it took for me each semester and after that test you kind of know what to expect and how to best prepare. We are very excited to be starting this part of our lives, even if we are doing it completely backwards from most people.

Kendra and Ethan are both in soccer and have had their first games. Kendra scored a goal in the very beginning of the game and ended the game in tears. I warned the coach that she is a very emotional little girl and that we try to ignore it. Ethan did well and was so fun to watch, at one point he was throwing the ball in from the sidelines and his teamate caught it, TOO FUNNY!

So that is what we have been up to these days. Hope everyone is enjoying the start of their fall as much as we are. Let's just say that my life right now is like a new adventure every day! I guess I should get back to work, my lunch time is over. And maybe tonight will be the night and I can actually post some picutres.