Birthday photo shoot

Every year I have the kids birthday pictures taken in August - right between their birthdays. So, this is Samantha's 5 year pictures and Alex's 4 year pictures. My sister Richele took these pictures in Santaquin and I am very happy with how they turned out! I think I have the cutest kids in the world!!! Thanks Richele for all your hard work with these pictures. You are getting very good at this!!!

Saving the world

Samantha told me today, "Mom, I'm glad that we recycle.". How cute is that?? It really has cut our trash in HALF by recycling newspaper, cans, plastic, and bottles. We have a recycling dumpster right in our cul-de-sac which makes it so easy to help save the world!! And since my husband is a tree hugger from California, he feels much better now that we can recycle. It has been weighing on his mind since we stopped recycling in Jersey City.

I just got an order for 6 dozen cookies for tomorrow! AND, 3 dozen for next week to ship to New York City! My house is going to smell cookielicious.

Happy Birthday Alex!

You turn 4 years old today Alex!!! It is really hard for me to believe! I feels like yesterday we moved back to Utah, you had just turned 1 and loved exploring our new house. The stairs were all new and after one tumble down them you quickly learned to go down backwards instead of stepping straight down. Now we are close to selling this home and it makes me sad to think that our "first home" will belong to someone else. To me, this is the home that you really grew up in. You were a tiny baby in New Jersey, but you became a toddler, and now a preschooler, in this home. I will always love this home for those memories.

Four years ago we were staying at Grammy and Grampy's house waiting for the phone call that you were born. I answered the telephone and heard you crying in the background!! What a glorious sound that was! It also made me want to throw up a little bit (bad memories of your sister as a newborn!). I was so excited to have a little boy and I felt like your mother from the moment I laid eyes on you! It took a little while to feel like Samantha's mommy since being a mom and adoption were so new to me, but having been through it once I instantly felt like YOUR mom when I saw you. You also kind of startled me!! For some reason I thought you were going to be the darkest of the bunch. I expected dark brown hair and brown eyes. Instead, this heavenly little face with blue eyes and blonde hair stared up at me!! WHAT??? Over the years your hair has gotten darker, but your eyes are still as blue and, truth be told, they MELT me! There is something special about the mommy/son relationship and ours is no exception. I know without a doubt that you adore me and I am quite certain you know how much I adore you! We are best friends! I always ask you if you are going to love me and be my best friend even when you are older and you always reply YES with a big hug around my neck! I pray that is true!

You are also a pretty stubborn little stink sometimes! You like to be dramatic (shocker, I know) and throw yourself on the ground when you don't get what you want, but once you've settled down and ask me to sit on the couch with you, I forget all about the tantrum as you snuggle into my arm and I kiss the top of your head. I like to call you Dennis the Menace sometimes because you just CAN NOT resist touching things you shouldn't and tearing things apart!! Just this morning I spent about 30 minutes putting together your Hot Wheels Shark Park toy only to have you tear it all apart after about an hour. I'm hoping that your fascination with tearing things apart will lead you to wondering how they get put back together and you have a successful, great career as an engineer or something!!! A mother's dream I suppose! I think you are such a smart little fella and I know that you will do well in whatever interests you. You are not a quitter and that will take you a long way in this life!!!

I just love you to pieces, Alex!!! I am so proud of you and so happy that we are blessed to be your parents! You have challenged us in so many ways and yet brought us so much happiness. Happy Birthday Baby!

Busted!

Andy just caught Samantha laying flat on her back in the bathtub swishing her body back and forth singing, "I am a mermaid, I am a mermaid, I am a mermaid!". She had her eyes closed so she didn't see him there for a while until he kicked the tub and she opened her eyes and screamed. Love that kid!

Thank ya Brooke!

My very first shout out for krandy's sweet co. occurred right HERE!! Thank you Brooke for trying the cookies and posting about them. Let's hope it drums up a bit of business!

I miss these little faces SO badly some days.

Samantha - 18 months, Alex - 4 months

Attempting smooth speech

Alex started a new speech class today at Samantha's elementary school. He has been in a different speech class for about 5 months now, but now that it is the start of the school year he is beginning class through the school district. I like this one because it is free, but it is also only 20 minutes instead of 30. I think I am going to double up for a while and see how it goes. I think the poor guy is always going to struggle with some stuttering, but he really does a good job of controlling it when he thinks about it. He's just so dang cute and so willing to try and he never gives up! I ADORE him for that. We also are working on his th sounds and his s sounds, but he is still a little young for those so I think they will come to him later. He really is a champ and has improved greatly in the past few months so I am not too worried.

List of things that tick me off......

1. The idiotic mothers and all their giant Mormon Assault Vehicles attempting to drop their kids off at Kindergarten. You just open the door, shove the kid out, and drive off!! It's that simple ladies!!!!

2. How difficult is it to wipe off the gym equipment when you use it?? No one wants their sweat mingling with your sweat! Grab a paper towel, spray it with disinfectant, and wipe!!

3. Why do I have such wonderfully wide child baring hips when I can't even bare children??? What a waste!

4. Bad breath

5. Children who have to be told 10 times to do something.

6. People trying to get me to play Mafia Wars on Facebook. STOP!!!!

7. Pizza with hardly any cheese.

8. Pizza with too much red sauce.

9. The wind ruining a perfectly good hair day.

10. Food commercials when you are trying NOT to think about food. OR, food commercials when you are deathly ill and want to puke.

Randomness

I just haven't been able to think of anything good or interesting to blog about lately! Not that my usual posts are super stimulating, but there just hasn't been a lot going on. I take that back.....there HAS been a lot going on, in fact, I've never been busier!! It's all been mundane stuff, but I'm going to blog about it anyways!

Andy and I are in a weight loss challenge with each other for the month of September. Whoever has the highest percentage of weight loss will be the winner and receive a FREE Saturday to do whatever they choose!! It could be time alone, spa appointment, out to lunch, time with family, whatever!! And I'm quite certain I am going to win, so I see a massage in my future!!

Samantha and Alex are doing fantastic at school. They both love their teachers but don't talk too much about friends.....not sure why since they are usually first at making friends, but I'm not worried. They probably just don't know the kids' names!!

I am about at my midterm for my independent study course and I extended the class for another 3 months which should give Andy and I plenty of time to finish. That's right, I said Andy and I. I am doing most of the work, he is just here to make sure I do it correctly! I can't wait to have this class over with!!!

We have had 2 people come and look at the house, but no one seems to be serious about it. We aren't in any rush so it really isn't a big deal. We still have no idea what direction we are going to take for our future, so we are just living day by day for now.

The novelty of Andy being out of school STILL hasn't worn off!! Woo hoo!!

Fall shows are starting this week and I am SO happy about that!!!

This Saturday I am supposed to go boating with Richele and Greg for the last time this summer (sniff, sniff). Next Saturday the whole fam damily is going to the State Fair for Alex's birthday. I can't wait to scarf down a deep fried PB&J!! I'll have to exercise super long to burn that one off! On Alex's birthday (the 22nd) we are going to see the movie "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs". I think it looks super cute!

The kids only have 2 more soccer games and I am fairly happy about that. Mostly because I love the last game where they get their medals. I teared up last year when Samantha got hers! I'm a wuss, I know!!

Andy and I already have plans for our anniversary in October......we are dropping the kids off at Grammy's for the day and then coming back home to eat horribly, watch really loud movies and chill at home all day!!! It should be very relaxing and cheap! I am looking forward to it!

Are you all sufficiently bored yet????

Sweet baby and Stinky Animals

Last night I was able to enjoy the weather and peaceful night holding my sweet baby Caleb at the Red Barn in Santaquin, and I realized I haven't posted a picture of him lately!! (We were at the Red Barn having Richele take birthday pictures of my kids and eating ice cream.) Not that most of you care about my adorable nephew, but I do and I enjoy looking at his pictures!!


We took these pictures one day when Richele and I braved Thanksgiving Point with the kids. We have never done the petting zoo there and I think the kids liked it. Alex loved feeding the animals and we even got scaredy cat Nicole to feed some and pet some. It was a fun morning.

Alex's first day of Preschool

He wasn't too pleased at first that I was taking pictures.

Then he sort of got into it with his devil look!

Of course, Samantha needed a picture of herself because we don't have NEAR enough.

And the little dude with is backpack!

Alex had his first day of preschool today and it was a piece of cake! He is attending the same preschool Samantha went to so he is very comfortable with the teacher and the surroundings. He did look slightly nervous as we were saying goodbye, but Teacher Nicole brought out some orange playdoh and Alex was pleased as punch! He was so casual about the whole thing even when I picked him up. What's the big deal, mom? It's just school!! Which, he has corrected me a couple of times....it is school, not preschool!!! Got it? He is such a handsome little man and I can't wait to see how much he grows and what he learns!

Oh, and by the way, my 2 hours of freedom were FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!!! I am LOVING my life right now!!!!

Serious fun on a Sunday

Andy found this little tomato in my garden and I thought he looked like a little man with a tie or something. Yes, it's true, the two tomatoes are stuck together. All I did was add the little tepanyaki hat, Ginsu knife, and of course his winning smile!! THIS is the fun we have on Sundays in the Higham home. Now if he could just make me some sushi, we'd be in business!

Samantha's first day of Kindergarten!

She's a model, I know!

And a goofball.

Isn't that the most beautiful face you've ever seen???

Walking into class with her friend Karlee in front.

Today was Samantha's first day of Kindergarten and she was both excited and nervous! She was excited until we got there and she had to line up for class.......she wasn't quite sure where to go or what to do. Thank goodness I got to be right there and her dear teacher was also telling the kids what to do and where to go. I didn't cry when dropping her off because I knew she would have a great time and I was excited for the time with just Alex. We went swimming!! I could tell he was very much enjoying time with just mommy and, man, it was a lot easier with just one kid!!! I was excited to go pick her up from school though and hear how her day went. She had a lovely time and was excited to be a member of the "green table". Her friend Karlee is in the same class and I think that really helped with her first-day jitters. As soon as she saw Karlee she grabbed her hand and held it until it was time to go into class. Sweet little girls!!! I am so proud of Samantha and I know that she will be the queen of that class in no time!!!! Just remember to learn along with your socializing please, Samantha!!!

So artistic!

Samantha took these 2 pictures (Hello Kitty and Spiderman) and I actually really like them!! I am going to have them printed out and frame them for the kids rooms. I know they are a little blurry, but I'll just print them small and so you hopefully won't be able to notice. Talented little mite!

I'm so proud of my master of MBAs! He mastered that MBA....kicked it to the curb!

As you may well know (since it's all I have been able to talk about for some time) Andy graduated this weekend from Thunderbird with his MBA. I flew down to Arizona Thursday afternoon to meet him there and to PAR-TAY! We had a cocktail reception at the school.....which we ditched, and then a party with his 26 other EMBA classmates at a clubhouse nearby. It was good to meet all of the people he has been working with the past 18 months. They have all gotten very close and it was apparent they really enjoy each others company. Someone had a great idea to present the student's family members with a Diploma of Appreciation for supporting them during these past 18 months. So, I am now the proud owner of a degree in Master of Supporting Arts! It was very cute and well done and nice to know they appreciated the hard work WE have had to go through as well.

Friday morning we slept in, went to breakfast (Coco's!! Nummy!), came back to the hotel and went for a swim. It was nice and relaxing and we enjoyed just lazing about and talking. After our swim we went back to our room and watched TV for a bit and I took a little snooze while Andy got ready for graduation. He had to be downstairs early to get help with his robes and hat and get pictures taken. When I finally dragged my butt out of bed I got ready and met his parents downstairs. We were able to take some pictures before the ceremony started and just chat before finding our seats. The ceremony was actually quite well done and all the speakers were enjoyable. Andy's classmate that lives in Salt Lake was the best speaker and I really enjoyed what he had to say. They presented the names for gradution and each student got their name read and diploma handed and about 20 pictures taken and then it was over! After a few more pictures we went back up to the room to get changed and then left to go explore and enjoy our evening. We did a little shopping and met Andy's parents for dinner in Scottsdale before heading back to the hotel.

Unfortunately, we had to wake up and head home this morning. Andy was anxious to see his kids so we were happy about that part, but an extra day of relaxing at the pool would have been nice. Oh well!!! A big thank you to Kami, Richele, and my parents for watching the kids while I was away. I was so glad to be there and to be able to focus on Andy and his big day and I couldn't have done that with the kids there, so thank you!!

Congratulations Andy!! You are done with school now!!! Get ready for a huge Honey-Do list!!! I love you! Also, if you want to add your thoughts for our family journal, please just add on to this post. Or start a new one, whichever. You ARE the MBA graduate now so you probably know better than I do!! ;-)

Ahhhhhhh, little brothers!!!

So, here is the story behind this video: We were eating dinner and the kids decided they wanted to tell stories. If you can't understand Alex here is the gist of his story.......
There once was a little boy named Joseph Smith. When he was a little boy he had a gun shooter and he shot the bad Lamenites. Then there was a creepy spider at some point who killed either the Lamenites or Joseph Smith or someone. The End.
Next, it was Samantha's turn. But Alex translated that as it being his turn to be a pesky little brother. I have to say....the camera shaking was me laughing. I thought it was hysterical!!! At first I thought Alex's story was going to be the funniest part, but it turns out the ensuing battle for attention was the best part!!!
Enjoy a glimpse into my life!!!

Elephants

I have no right to be so excited about the birth of the baby elephant at our zoo, but I am. A new elephant!!! A baby!! At a mere 250 pounds she is the newest addition to the Hogle Zoo and I can not wait for them to put her on display! The day after she was born they had her picture in the paper and since the kids and I have been waiting for over a year and a half for her to be born, I rushed into the living room to tell the kids the baby elephant was born!! You would have thought I just told the kids that their rooms were now made of chocolate and that they never needed to sleep ever again for all the excitement that came from them!! There was screaming, there was jumping, and the kids were pretty excited too!!!
I proceeded to tell them all the facts the paper had and show them the pictures. One of the pictures had a picture with the momma elephant as well. Samantha found it HILARIOUS that the momma elephants name is Christie. Her mom and the baby elephant's mom have the same name!! What are the chances?? The kids started asking questions about the mommy and the daddy elephant and when I explained that the daddy elephant lives at a zoo far away (which brings up the question about elephant artificial insemenation.........nevermind.....ew) the kids thought that was very curious. I explained that the mommy and baby girl were going to stay together and the daddy is going to stay at his zoo far away. My dear, sweet Samantha then exclaimed, "Well that doesn't make for a very happy family!!!!". You are EXACTLY right Samantha, which is why your daddy and mommy are going to stay together forever!!! Unless, of course, daddy finds a new, hot, young thing that doesn't walk like a cripple and leaves mommy. Then you can visit daddy at the cemetary.

I KID!!!!

House

It's been a wicked busy summer in the Higham house! I am so excited that Samantha starts school 2 weeks from today and Alex follows the next Tuesday. I think they are ready and I am DEFINITELY ready. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up on blogging once things settle down. But really, is it ever going to settle down??? Probably not.

We decided to get a little more serious about selling the house and so we got a realtor on board. He finally got it listed on www.utahrealestate.com today. Here is the link. I think the pictures look great and I am excited to see if we get any hits on it!

Oh.....and also.....Andy graduates in 1 week!!!!!!!!

Wherein I use the word "ninny"

Being a wife and mother and a few pounds heavier than I was at 20 (I use the word "few" very loosely) tends to do wonderful things to the confidence you have in yourself. And by wonderful I mean TOTALLY CRUSH YOUR CONFIDENCE!!!! That being said, I noticed at the swimming pool in our hotel today that the cute teenage lifeguard was possibly checking me out!!! What??? That doesn't happen anymore! Especially in a swimming suit! So, I went on feeling a bit confident in myself for a while.......I may have even strutted a bit (of course, I WAS holding my 3 year-olds hand and heading to the kiddie pool, but logistics don't matter when you are strutting.). Then, it dawned on me!! Just a few moments earlier I had rocketed down the water-slide in such a stunning torpedo-like fashion that my swimming suit slipped.......and showed some boob. Just a bit of nip. I knew this because, a. I could feel it, and b. Andy was watching and told me he saw my ninny (then he giggled like a 10 year-old boy!)!!! Mr. Lifeguard was sitting RIGHT THERE with full view of the water-slide passengers as they exited. So I realized: cute teenage lifeguard wasn't checking me out cuz I looked good.....he was just hoping for another peep show!!!!

Farewell confidence......I barely knew thee!

FINALLY - pictures of Samantha's birthday party

Happy children eating cake and ice cream.

Beautiful birthday girl - and Clark looking confused.

Singing happy birthday.

Kids getting ready for cake.

Andy did A LOT of water balloon filling.

Water balloon fight.

Tried to play with a "hot potato" type water balloon toy...kids didn't like it.

Chillin'.

Rainbow cake.

Kids First Soccer Game

Best buddies

Reassuring sister

Samantha got to kick-off the game.

Kids in the mix of it all.

Gotta love Alex's running stance.

Probably discussing their next play.

Alex and his corner kick.

Samantha was a goofy, but very amazing goalie.

Goofy, like I said.

Alex the goalie.