BIG BOY

Just within the last couple of days Luke has really discovered his independence. Naps have become tricky and bedtime, HA! He's out of his crib and at the top of the stairs practically before we get out of his room. Well, last night was a bit trying. When he went to bed he was wired and all kinds of crazy. After a lot of bribing, threatening, raising of the voice, I finally decided that if he wasn't covered with blankets he would survive and that eventually he would lay down on his own. We left the room and thought for sure he would be right behind us. He never did come out of his room, however this morning when Richard went to get him up, this is what he found...

Yep, that's Luke halfway underneath his bed with all of his important items: binky, lovey, and pillowpet. I wonder when he found himself a new spot to sleep?!
Then to top it off, today we spent a few hours at Bounce on a preschool fieldtrip. The kids had so much fun and really wore themselves out. When we got home I made them a quick lunch. At one point Luke said, "Done. Upstairs." He proceeded to take himself upstairs and shut the door behind him. I helped Sarah finish up and got her tucked in for her nap then I went to help Luke out. Well, I could barely get the door open because he was sprawled out on the floor,right behind the door, again with important items, SOUND ASLEEP!!

Little Mr. Independent. I can't get enough of him!!

OUCH

The grocery shopping didn't end up happening this morning as planned because Sarah and Luke accidentally decided to play dominoes with each other in the parking lot. Sarah lost.

This photo was taken shortly after the incident and it's looking much better already.

Thank goodness for ibu and m&ms. We might not have survived this, had it not been for them. :)

Appreciation = One Happy Mama

Last week a friend posted this statement to facebook, "Is it bad that I want to fall into a coma for the next 16 years?" I thought it was just a funny statement until the next day when I wanted to join him. Sarah woke up 3 or 4 times in one night, then proceeded to wake up much too early with stomach issues that have been bothering her off and on. She could not keep it together and was a mess all morning long. While I felt bad for her, I was feeling badly for myself as well. Later that day when she was finally feeling more like herself, out of nowhere she came up to me as I was cleaning the bathroom and said, "Mama, thanks for taking care of me. For always taking care of me!" The coma all of a sudden sounded much, much less appealing!

Luke also showed me some much needed appreciation last week. One of my favorite things are squeezies (hugs) from my kids. I must make them give me what to them must seem like a hundred a day. Well last week I gave Luke a little love and he looked at me and said, "No mama, give me a big squeezie." ANYTIME my love, ANYTIME!!

I like these kids of mine!

New Year. Great Intentions.

It's 2012. Already 5 days into it. I have really great intentions to do a better job recording the happenings at the Atchley residence this year. Sarah Jane and Luke are growing like weeds and E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. they each say or do things that I MUST remember. Since my memory is poor, very, very poor, I need to be writing them down. So while they might be short posts, with possibly fewer pictures, I look forward to recording these memories.

So to start us off...

Sarah Jane

1) At the beginning of December, Grandpa and Grandma Atchley came to visit. Richard and Sarah were talking about their visit before they came and she said, "It's your dad and mom, right?" Richard proceeded to clarify that it's his dad and his step-mom, reminding Sarah that his mom is in Heaven. Sarah got a concerned look on her face and asked, "Is she wicked?" I looked at Richard confused and he clarified that she is not. To which she replied, "But Cinderella and Snow White have wicked step-mothers!"

2) Kim to Richard: "We need to pay our property taxes."
Sarah: "We don't pay taxes."
Kim to Sarah: "You don't pay taxes but mommy and daddy do."
Sarah: "Mom, we don't live in Bethlehem!"

Luke

The kids and I spent the day at a childrens play center with some friends. They allow you to come and go all day and so tonight when Richard got home we decided to head back there for an hour before they closed. Luke and Sarah were playing in the contraption with a slide (like at McDonalds). Richard and I looked up to see Luke making friends with a little girl, obviously younger than him. We proceeded to watch him wait for her and then help her up to the slide. At every new area, he's climb up, and then reach back down attempting to help pull her up or he'd stand behind her and push her up when she began to climb. Then they'd get to the top of the slide, go down and the pattern would begin again. It was so touching for me to watch him be so kind and gentle to another little being. He's off to a good start to become the young man I intend for him to be!! He really made his mama proud.

Summer, Oh How We LovED You... (recap of months long gone.)

We have been (I have been trying to get this post done for months.) living it up this spring/summer. With Richard home from school and not working yet, we just play and play and play! However that all came to an end this past week when Richard started his internship (July 5th); which is the greatest blessing. Maybe we will be able to get out of school with a few dollars left in our savings accounts afterall. :)

We've have had lots of fun. Everything's better when he's with us!

Here's what we've been up to...

Richard built the kids a sandbox. In Santa Monica every park had sand and the kids loved building sandcastles and such. Here the parks are full of bark, so our sand toys were getting lonely. Daddy fixed that but not without the help of Bubba. When Sarah saw the sandbox, she very emotionally said, "Oh, it's so beautiful!" They spend hours in it everyday.

We went bowling one afternoon. Sarah had been before but it was Luke's first time and he loved it. Of course he would, it involves balls. Obviously we need to keep our day jobs. Doesn't look like any of the Atchleys will be going pro anytime soon. :)

Richard's mom's side of the family are fierce at their family history. He has some cousins that have put together 3 huge volumes of family history. While Richard was reading our latest version, we discovered that his Great Grandfather, James Johnson was both in the House and Senate here in Idaho. How cool. I worked as a capital tour guide while in college and knew that they had pictures of all of the previous House and Senate members hanging around the chambers. We headed to the capital for a fieldtrip.

One morning we decided to drive 2 hours east of us to Twin Falls to see Shoshone Falls. We received a lot of snow this year and had heard that the falls were running very high. Shoshone Falls is larger than Niagara Falls and let me just tell you, I have never seen it so full. It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! As you can see we got very, very wet. Drenched really. I was wringing my hair out as if I had just showered.

We really had a fun few months. The kids and I have begun to adjust to the new work schedule and I guess it makes us look forward to having dad home even more than before!

We miss you love!!!

My Ballerina Girl

In July Sarah attended a dance camp for the week. I'm not sure who loved it more...her mom or her! :) After it finished we quickly signed her up for a class in the fall. She took her dance class from Dance Unlimited; the same dance studio I attended a hundred years ago. Actually one of her teachers I danced with when I was in high school. Crazy how things go full circle. My ballet girl was so cute and does pirouettes and plies all over the house now.

RELAY FOR LIFE 2011

Relay for Life has come and gone. Cindy and I drove to Rexburg for the grand event held on June 25th. Team Sister's For Sirri had a WONDERFUL time. We raised $828.25 for the American Cancer Society. The event however, raised $45,902.35.

The theme for the event was Relay Like a Rockstar. Lisa and kiddos all looked fabulous, green hair and all. Cindy and I made costumes the night before, however only parts of our costumes ended up on, as we arrived shortly before the festivities began. Bummer, but now I have something for the kid's dress-up box.

We sold homemade rainbow kettle corn, caramel corn, and purple berry popcorn for our on-site fundraiser. Sirri and her friends sold it like we were at a baseball game. It was a big hit, but we're already dreaming up some "real" food to sell next year. You can only eat so many treats and hot dogs in one night, even when you are walking all night long.

The luminaria ceremony was amazing and the track was lined with luminaries in honor/support of those who have and are battling cancer. Lisa-Marie did a great job decorating the luminaries that were purchased for our team.

Sirri and her friends stayed up until 4:30 in the morning and consequently missed her baseball games the next morning as she chose sleep instead.

Cindy and I made a quick trip of it, arriving Friday evening and heading back Saturday morning after catching a few hours of sleep, but we will do it again!!!