Sunday.....

One of my new favorite things to do is check out other peoples' blogs. Ive sortof become obssesed about it really. I click on links to my friends-friends/family blogs and then keep on going. It is fun to see other blog designs and Ive found some really cool websites from those blogs. The only downside to doing this, is realizing that I am boring! People are so creative and exciting and involved in all kinds of stuff. Then there's me......I struggle with stuff to write about each week and travel???? Forget about it. Im lucky to take a 20 minute drive to the other side of town let alone leave the state. Oh well, Im happy, realtively.....so I suppose that is all that should matter. I have decided however that I am going to try and incorporate something new and exciting into my life so that I have something more interesting to write about.

Anyway, it cooled off tonight and what we thought was going to be a great storm blew in and right back out. Got a little thunder and lightening but no rain. Still it made for a nice evening. We sat out on the lawn and the boys played catch. I took a few pictures.... Im looking forward to Fall....my favorite time of year. Evan starts Kindgergarten next week and I just cant believe how quickly all this time has passed. Addison is just 16 months but I know it really is just around the corner for her too.....

We finally got the van back....not without problems though. The window isnt working right and they left screws off of the inner door panel. So much for trusting the dealership. It is so frustrating! Denver set off to fix his brakes yesterday since the part he ordered FINALLY came in.....only to discover they had sent the wrong one. Now we have to send it back and wait for another. So now we still only have one vehicle. What a pain! Well, I guess that is about it. I will have a better post next week as we are actually leaving the state and going to Las Vegas for the holiday weekend. Until then....................

Sick Sick Sick

Well, I havent posted for a little bit because everyone has been sick off and on for the past week and a half. First Ian, then Addie, now Denver. Gotta love the first week of school. Everyone picks up everyone elses germs and it seems like you stay sick for 3 months. Anyway, Denver was up all night throwing up and everything else....Im actually feeling a little clamy myself right now and am praying that I dont get sick too.


So, nothing to report really.... I just started weight watchers yesterday. Now that I am working full time, I dont feel quite as guilty spending the money and it seems to be the only thing that works for me. That is my main focus right now is losing all this extra weight. Not only for vanity purposes but for health reasons too. My short term goal is to lose 10 pounds per month which definitely doable considering I have to lose about 90 pounds altogether. Anyway, my main goal for the year is to lose 35 pounds by Christmas which is a little less than 10 pounds per month but I am considering the holidays..... If I accomplish this goal, be prepared to see a new me! I have a plan that I wont reveal for now but I am excited about the prospect of carrying it out.


Evan got a letter in the mail from his new Kindergarten teacher. He was VERY excited. His school starts Sept 4th and he can hardly wait. Her name is Mrs. Spiegel and I really hope she is kind and patient. Teachers make such a difference in the success or failure of students...getting a bad teacher in the first few years can be devastating to a child. So, we get to meet her on the 27th and I will get a feel for who she is. Ian is progressing in school as expected. He is reading 'The Boxcar Children" which was one of my most favorite books when I was young. Im excited to be reading it with him as it brings back a lot of memories. He has had more homework than I like to see but that just goes along with the program he is in. Lots of math, spelling tests, reading with excerises afterward. Its enough to make me nuts. I guess the teacher doesnt realize that all moms dont have the luxury of spending 3 hours a night on homework. Oh well. Addison continues to be a joy! She is such a dancer! Any music at all, and she is moving. I LOVE IT!!! I hope she continues down that road and loves it like I did. I plan on putting her in ballet as soon as she is 2 or 3. I have signed the boys up for piano lessons and those start the day after Labor Day. Also, we have signed them up for soccer as well. It is going to be a busy year!


Well, we are getting excited for our trip to Las Vegas. We are going over Labor Day weekend. The kids cant wait to see Gma and Gpa Ries and swim in the pool. I cant wait just to get away for a little bit. Its alway nice to be away from your own house for a couple of days.......

Well, I guess thats it for now. Maybe we will have more to write about next week.....

MMMM....Chef Boyardee!!!

First Day of School...for Ian anyway.

Well, August 1st brought the first day of school for Ian. It was also the day that Alec went home to Phoenix. Needless to say it was a busy morning. I took the day off of work so that I could be there for Ian. It kills me not to be able to get the boys ready each morning for school. I have to rely on Denver to make sure they brush their teeth, eat breakfast, wear matching clothes, and comb their hair. That's a lot to ask from him considering he comes home from work at 1am..... Anyway, so I took the day off and got Ian ready for his first day of First Grade. He is very excited. Because of the program he is in, he moves to each grade with pretty much the same kids each year. He is going to forge some pretty strong friendships because of it and I think that is so great. I know he probably misses out a little on meeting new people but he gets to do that through Chess Club and other activities. His new teacher is Mrs. Flowers and she seems like a really nice lady. I hope that he likes her as much as his Kindergarten teacher. Evan was pretty bummed out that day because he lost both of his big brothers.....one to school, and one to his "real" home.....ha ha. To make him feel better, we went and bought his school backpack. He wanted a Transformer but had to settle with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Obviously every other kids in Salt Lake City wanted Transformer back packs and that is why we couldnt find a single one and I tried to explain that he should be different and get the TMNT.....it helped a little but I think he was still a little disappointed. He was happy after we bought a Transformer notebook though......

We are still trying to find someone to watch Addie during the 9 hours a week that Denver is in school. It is hard because I dont want to pay as much as people are asking and I dont want her with total strangers. We only have 3 weeks to find someone so I am getting a little nervous. I am trying to get an "In Home" position with my job. It might take me a couple of months to actually get it but it will solve our problem big time. I will be able to work while the boys are at school and Denver can watch Addie while Im working. I can also work a little after everyone is in bed. It wont make quite as much as I am making now but without paying for gas and babysitting, it will end up putting us ahead.

Well, a little about Addison: I think she is vying for a spot on American Idol. She sings ALL the time. Mostly the Harry Potter theme and the theme from Star Wars....thanks to her brothers. Sometimes she just starts singing in the car to the radio. It is so cute. Im going to try and caputre it on video and see if I can post it here....we'll see if it works! Anyway, she is such a little girl. Anything that is in the shape of a ring becomes a bracelet. Evan has a little doctor bag with a handle and yesterday Addison put on her "bracelets" and was carrying the bag around like a purse. I have no idea where she gets it from considering that I very rarely wear jewelry especially not bracelets and I only carry a purse once in a while. Either way it is so cute! She is a show off and apparantly is an aspiring pageant queen considering the way she waves....like she is a parade! I just love her. I cant wait to put her in dance class. She dances to any beat she hears including me banging rythmically on a box. She is definitely musically inclined.

Well, Im off to get Ian's homework finished with him. We have put it off until the last minute which is horrible. Im teaching him how to be a procrastinator and Ive got to quit! I'll get right on it....next week.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Vanessa