Catching up!!

Ok, so I have been down and out for almost a week with a cold/flu. I feel like I am totally out of the loop and am now going to spend the next week catching up. We are doing great now but there are some things that I missed sharing. First of all Ashtyn got to go on her first field trip with her preschool. Her preschool is going great by the way. She loves it and loves the kids. It is working out really well to trade off weeks. I finally had my turn to teach last week. I was the last of six to teach. It was great. I did the lesson on the five senses and we had a little thing that we did with each sense and then we also learned about the letter F. We did a fun textured craft and the kids got to show off their show and tell. The kids are really good together, they do like to copy obnoxious behavior I noticed. If one kids starts something and another likes it, they are all doing it within seconds. Pretty funny!

Anyways, back to the field trip. They took their trip out to an Apple farm in Greenbluff, just twenty minutes north of Spokane. First they were taught about the trees and how they grow and that they need bees and blossums and then the apples comes. They let them try applebutter, and an apple slice. Then we got on a trailer with benches and rode out to the orchard. Then we were taught about golden and red delicious apples and then we got to pick our very own apple. Then we went to the cider house and they told them how they make the apples into cider and then they got to try some cider. And at the very end they got to pick a pumpkin out of the pumpkin patch. Ashtyn loved it as well as all the other kids and the adults too. They even had a few bonus things that you could do afterwards, feed the two goats a handfull of food and they had a little play area blocked off and their gravel/bark was dried peas instead. They had all of these digging toys and they just climbed in and played for a while. It was the perfect fieldtrip.

The next day, we headed back up to Greenbluff with Grandma and Grandpa McComas and Carson and Jess and fam. We first went to a cute little store that also sold some lunch food. We bought some hot dogs and the best slice of apple pie ala mode we have had in a while. Then we headed to the Knapp farm where we each picked out the perfect pumpkin and then we headed over to watch the pumpkin cannon. The pumpkin cannon is a huge pipe that launches a pumpkin out and up into the sky and sends it hurling towards another field with a target about 1/2 a mile away. They also had a huge stack of hay that you could watch the pumkin being launched from and then turn around and jump off the back into a big soft pile of hay. And they also had a little stray maze that you could walk through. The kids loved it. To top it off the kids got to pet a pony and we looked at all the different kinds of squash. It was another great trip to Greenbluff.

We have also been busy bees around the house. Sam has been putting plastic on the windows to keep us warmer. And making holes in the walls for me so I could hang up a few things(it has only taken us six months to do that). Plus Sam raked leaves and we had our first fire upstairs last night. I have been slow to comply but Sam has finally reassured me and made promises a million times that I finally gave in and told him to start a fire. It was really nice. I am just a poop I guess. I really love doing the fire thing outside but something about having it inside my house just made me really scared. It must be a first home owner thing!! We have also been getting to know people better in our ward this month. We have so far had a New Comers Social, an Elders Quorum activity, a stake dance, a Pack Meeting/Scout of Honor and a ward activity. Whoosh! WE loved it all. We got to know people better, carve a pumpkin, dance away the night together, eat dirt and worms(gummies and mashed oreos) and have fun seeing all the kids in cute costumes for Halloween. We are doing Great and are having fun while we are at it!!

Makes me laugh still...

Best quote from The Office thus far this season:

"His cap was de-tated, c'mon people!"

3 yr old!!

A. and I spent 1 hour last night, from about 830 to 930 simply getting her ready for bed, including only the simple tasks of brushing her teeth, and going potty. She was battling with me about every little thing. She wouldn't open her mouth for the toothbrush, she wouldn't pull down her pants so she could sit on the potty, she wouldn't wash her hands, she wouldn't put her pants back on after going potty. She wanted to prove to me that she didn't have to do it. YET, she did have to. I am in charge here, aren't I? Between time outs, screaming fits, and crying, we had a great little hour before bed. As soon as we finally got done, she wanted to read books and go right to bed, all smiles.

Ashtyn's new bed!

There is always a long to do list at the McComas house. Especially since buying our home. Well, one of the things we can finally cross off the list. We acquired a bed for Ashtyn when we moved and so far she has just been sleeping on the frame and mattresses. But we finally got her bed painted and put together and she was pretty excited. It fits in perfect with her bedroom and she loves it. She was so excited she just kept hugging Sam and I and saying Thank you over and over again. It was pretty fun to make her day!!

Our Cutie Pies!

This is simply an entry to show off some or our most recent pictures that we think are pretty cute. Sisters-they sure are cute together. We are so glad that they have each other. They love playing together and I am so glad that they love each other so much. The other day I was driving to run an errand and all the sudden both of the girls just started laughing. I still don't know what it was that gave them the giggles but I loved it. I loved that they were making each other laugh and be so happy. These are some more of Hailey's cute faces. One night she just kept making funny face after funny face and it so happened Sam had the camera and he caught a bunch of them. We were all laughing so hard, because she just kept making silly faces. We have about ten different pictures each with her making a different face. This is our fav, she wasn't really making a face but it was all in sequence with the other funny ones. All we can say is we love our little Hailey May. This dress up picture was fun. Ashtyn was getting all dressed up in a leotard and princess shoes and gathering her purse, well Hailey didn't want to be left out so she came toddling out to me with this pink dress that's super long and notice the cute cinderella slippers on her feet she requested those too. We love it when they dress up. Isn't that the cutest hat you've ever seen. Some of you might remember a similar picture taken about twenty five years ago. The picture was of a cute little boy with a box on his head. My little Ashtyn is so creative and loves to be silly. She requested I take a picture of her, and as soon as I saw her I knew I had too. Especially since someday we can show the two pictures side by side and get a great laugh. In this one, I could hear them laughing and when I got in there they were both in this tupperware box pretending to drive a car. What big eyes and pinchable cheeks you have my dear!! We sure do love Our Cutie Pies, Ashtyn Marie and Hailey May!!

Our Special Picnic!

So the other day I was taking Ashtyn to preschool and we were driving on the same road that we take to go to the temple. Ashtyn realized this and said, "Mom, I want to go to the temple, can we go to the temple?" I told her she needed to go to school first but when I picked her up from school that we would go. So a couple of hours later, I picked her up and we went and drove past the temple. She then said, "Mom I want to go in the temple." So I explained to her that someday soon she would be able to go, but for now that we just needed to enjoy being by it. I told her we could walk around it and maybe on a nice day we could go and have a picnic by the temple. Then she said, "Mom I want to have a picnic by the temple right now." Well, we weren't ready that day and had to head home, but I was so impressed by her desire to be by the temple that the next day I planned a picnic by the temple. I packed our lunch and we headed to the temple. It was wonderful to sit there on our blanket looking at the temple and being together. We did encounter the sprinklers, which tried to ruin our picnic but instead just made it funny. It was just a neat day for us to enjoy each other and the wonderous blessings of being so close to a temple.

I love to see the temple.
I'm going there someday,
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.

For the temple
Is a House of God.
A place of love and beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young.
This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.
I'll go inside someday.
I'll covenant with my father.
I'll promise to obey.

For the temple
Is a holy place,
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God I've learned this truth,
A FAMILY IS FOREVER!

My Birthday!

My birthday was fabulous! First of all we always have the birthday persons favorite dinner for dinner. Well, I heard that Red Lobster was having their all you can eat shrimpfest going on and so I decided that was going to be my dinner this year. We went out about a week before my birthday because of Sam's work and our busy weekend before my birthday. It was SOOOOO good. We loved every delicious bite and so did the girls. I even got a little ice cream chocolate sundae with a candle. It was great. Then the saturday before my birthday my mom and brother came over and celebrated with me around our firepit in the backyard. We ended with enjoying some ice cream cake in the house. Then on my actual birthday my family treated me like royalty. First, I was sang to at 6:30 in the morning before Sam took off to work. Then after I got up I found a little bit of one gift in the bathroom and another little bit of the same gift in the kitchen. Sam got me the neatest little stones. They are called Compliment Stones, and each little stone says something positive. They came in a box and the box says, "Here's a prescription for a good day-take one of these, or maybe even two, every morning. This bag of upbeat affirmations was sent to you to let you know how wonderful you are. So go ahead and set the world on fire, because you look fabulous!" Isn't that great. It really made me feel good. I know sometimes I am hard on myself so that really gave me an upbeat feeling. So far I have received three stones and I know there are more to come. I love them, they say neat things and they feel good to hold and rub in my hands. They also come in a cozy pefect little bag. Just a very neat gift. Also, my family tradition growing up was to go in just before or just after the birthday person was awake and sing Happy Birthday. So I had early morning calls from both my sister and mom. Then the girls and I went to the library for toddler reading time and after that we went to the park. When Sam got home we ate dinner, opened presents (another one of my bestest gifts was getting an internal home vacuum system, thanks honey) and once again indulged ourselves with the ice cream blizzard cake. Yummo!! Then Sams parents came over and we had a good visit. I had a super duper birthday! Thank you family!

School Days

I just wanted to share some pictures of Ashtyn's first days of school. She had her first day of school on Sept. 14. I am in a group with six moms and six kids. We have school every thursday from 9:15-11:15. And we rotate which house and who teaches every week. It is great. There are three boys and three girls.(First Day-just before we left to go to school) So it works out pretty good. And I love all of the moms in the group. We all go out once a month together and have a "Girls Nite Out" which usually consists of going out to dinner so we can all just sit there and talk. So one of the moms dedided she wanted to do it and so she started talking around and asking other moms that had three year old kids, that weren't already in a group, if they wanted to form a group. I was just going to work with Ashtyn on my own but she asked me if I wanted to do it so I said I would think about it and I decided why not. So it ended up that there were six moms in our group that weren't already in a group and so we now have a preschool group. Two of the kids are two but will be three shortly. Ashtyn has loved every second of it. I knew that she would. Before this she was already talking about when she would be big enough to go to school and ride the bus and all that fun stuff. The schedule is set up so that they have an hour of playing, twenty minutes of lesson time, fifteen minutes for a snack, fifteen minutes for a craft, and then whatever time is left we can do show and tell, singing time, and reading time. Then we made up a schedule so that they are learning a new letter or number each time and also another little subject: bugs, music, colors, shapes, birthdays, holidays, etc. We even have five field trips on the schedule: fire station, Krispy Kremes, Greenbluff, Bowling, and Manito Park. I think it will really be a great start for Ashtyn. There are going to be some really fun things that we are doing. And I am excited for her to be with good people too.

The Fair!

We went to the Spokane fair this year. It was lots of fun. We love to walk around and show the girls all the fun animals and tractors. They loved it, especially Hailey. Her little expressions everytime she saw a different animal she would just get so excited. We saw pigs, horses, cows, llamas, sheep, rabbits, ducks, geese, snakes, chickens, little baby chics (SO CUTE), bees, and goats. Of course almost all of those there were mamas and babies. Then we watched a lumberjack show which was fun to see. They had four men that competed against each other. Dressed to play the part, they chopped logs, sawed logs (with old two handed saw and electric chainsaw), they also log rolled for real in a big pool, they threw axes at targets, and climbed a tree and cut down a chunk off the top. We really all enjoyed watching it. They also had a little part where one of the men (just for fun) took a chainsaw and cut out of a big chunk of log a chair. He only used a chainsaw and he knew just where to cut to make four legs and then a tall back. It was cool. One of the best parts of a fair is the food. We had the best corndogs ever. Hot, crunchy, delicious. We were glad we could go and enjoy it this year!!

Sewer Fun!

All of the houses in our neighborhood are all currently on sceptic tank and now the city is busy putting in sewer lines that we will eventually have to pay to hook up to. Sounds like great fun right. Everybody loves unexpected money withdrawal, and it doesn't always go to what you would really like the most. Our road has been a dirt road for about a month now. And so far we are enjoying watching the tractors, especially the girls. First some big trucks came in and tore out the pavement. It is amazing how fast they can crunch it all up. Then they were in here measuring things and putting sticks in our yards to mark all the gas lines and such. Then they came in with humongous tractors and dug a big hole to put the pipes and concrete tubes down the center of the road. Then they covered that all up and then a couple of days later they came back and rolled up grass in a big square in our front yard and came and re-dug another big hole that went from the middle of our front yard to the pipe in the middle of the road. Then they covered that all up and rolled the grass back down. They have to do tests and make sure all the pipes are working correctly and that it all passes inspection. And now we are waiting for them to put a new concrete curb and fix up the rest of the edge of our lawn. Then they will pave our road and then in a little while we will have to pay to come have someone dig up our yard again and hook our house up to the sewer and get rid of the sceptic issue. Great fun!! It truly has been fun to watch the process even though it has also been a pain. The girls have been fascinated with each and everylittle truck. I think the most annoying was the roller that comes and flattens all the dirt back out. It vibrates and jiggles our house so much I tought I was going to loose my mind from trembling. I guess it will probably be a better system when we are all said and done, just need money right!!

Our Camping Trip!

Okay so we finally got to go camping again and it was great. We made up a gift certificate for my mom for her birthday back in July that said we would take her on a trip with us. So we decided it would be camping. And we went to North Idaho. Wow it is beautiful up there. We went to Round Lake. And it was perfect. The weather was perfect, the place was perfect, the fire was perfect, the quiet was perfect, the people were perfect. Everything was just PERFECT. So first we picked a spot that we liked and then we set up camp. We had fresh water close by and the hike to the lake was pretty close too. After we got all set up we headed down to the lake and boy was it fun. The lake cannot have any motorized boats on it and so it was so quiet. Just people in canoes and little blown up rafts, or just people sitting on the dock fishing. Right by the water they have made the perfect little beach for kids. It is sandy and soft and tons of fun. We took the kids down there and they played and played and just loved it. Hailey didn't say anything for like three hours she just sat there and dug and splashed in the water and just loved it. Then we enjoyed the wond just sit and watch the fire. We even had someerful campfire. It is so fascinating to wildlife experiences including a squirrel that wasn't affraid of us. He knew what he wanted and it was OUR food. He came up to our picnic table and was eating RUNTS of all things runts it was hilarious. This picture is of our little MISS ATTITUDE, who was in full force the first night we were there. She did this and I grabbed the camera as fast as I could. She'll laugh about it someday. And of course our cute little dirty chub chub. We slept good and then the next morning once again enjoyed the fire. Then we cleaned up camp and headed down to the lake for a quick dip before we headed for home. It was the best 24 hours we have had in a while.

The Look!

"The Look" is by Hailey May.
This is her thing. I have never had a kid do this to me like she does. She has certain times she does it. For example when I say her name because she is getting into something she shouldn't or about to do something she shouldn't then she looks at me like this. And usually I just laugh because it is so cute and so funny. So now she will do it when we do it to her or if I laugh she will do it more. It is adorable and we love it. It is one of the things that makes her her. So these pictures don't do it justice to seeing it in person but they are pretty good.

Being Home!

Well, now that we have been home for two weeks we are finally settling back in. The day after getting back, poor little Ashtyn was sick for almost a week. Fevers, achy body, tired, ear infection. Here she is passed out on the couch, she fell asleep at like 7:30 and we carried her into bed and she didn't wake until nine the next morning.
Poor girl. She was finally on the mend and then Sam came down with a nasty cold with a sore throat and the gunk that is usually associated with being sick. In the midst of all of that we have worked on some home improvement. Our gutters for one. Since we moved in we basically felt like we didn't have gutters because everytime it rains, the rain comes pouring down in a little stream that covers the length of the house. Pretty hard not to get wet. So we had some family over and they took them down. Sam took a look and talked to a roofer and figured out what we needed to do. We had two options (1)Tear off half of the roof and reroof it so that the shingles overhang enough for the water to go into the gutters or(2)"the cheaper red neck fix" of just getting starter shingles and tucking them under the very bottom edge of the roof leaving only 1" hanging out. So of course we chose option #2, wouldn't you. Cheaper and quicker, plus our roof is fairly new so what a waste of money. We'll do it right in five(or however long a newer roof lasts?) when we need a new one. So with the help of myself Sam climbed up the ladder and put in some shingles in the front and the back of the house, stuck them down with nasty black glue tar stuff. And then we scrubbed the facia board and repainted it because water has been running down it for two years or so and so it was just gross with water lines. Now it is a beautiful white. It is great how paint can change something so fast. Then we had another pow wow with fam and put the gutters back on. If you look close in the next picture (I know the picture is dark), but that is me crouched at the edge of our roof trying to help tuck the edge of the gutter up under another little piece of metal. It wasn't too bad. Getting up there was the scariest part but once I was up there I was fine. It was actually pretty fun to be up there HELPING the men! I was quickly relieved of my duties by Carson who was worried I was going to slice a finger. What a sweetie! Hee, Hee!It feels good to have it done now, the right way. Maybe I can make it to the car now without getting drenched on the way.

Our other project was putting a firepit in our backyard.
We like to go camping and our favorite part of camping is having a fire. So since we don't get to camp very often we decided to put a firepit out back. Sam went to Spaulding Auto Parts and found a huge tire rim from a big truck.

Only $10 not a $80 like you would pay for a nice one from Walmart. Well, we got it in the perfect corner of our backyard so it feels like we are out away from life and we just sit and watch the fire. Of course there is also the delicious smores and hot dogs and other misc food items that are an occasional must with a fire. We love it. So if you are ever near our home, come on over and we'll start a little fire and relax as we sit in a trance watching the fire lick the logs. You'll love it too!