Austin

Mom and Dad Cooper and Hannah were WAY nice and watched the three boys for three days while I went with Tyson to his conference.  I love my kids, but sometimes it is SOOO nice to get time away from them.  It is sad that all day I was alone, but since I was uber sick it was nice to just get to sleep.  I left to go to Jamba Juice and then went right back to our cave on the top floor.  The last day there we stopped by the capital building on the way back to San Antonio.  It was fun to get out and explore and it is always cute to see Tyson read every single plaque.  :)

 This drinking fountain was really cool.  We found it right after I thought a bee flew up my shirt and in front of all the tourists Tyson was trying to help me get it out.  Hilarious and really awkward.  But oh well.  :)  So this drinking fountain was from a long time ago and the water comes from the top of the structure.  I don't really know how things work, but it was good water and it was fun.  Here is my handsome hubby getting a drink.

 Our view from the top floor.

 I LOVED this couch/chaise lounge thing.  I seriously was there all the time.  So fun.

 One evening we went on a walk and found these crazy cool cow statues and a cute duck pond as the sun set.  It was really neat and a fun adventure.  I LOVE spending time with Tys.

 The inside view from our floor.

 Someone left this in the hallway for room service to take away.  I thought it was so cute I had to take a picture.  38 years, I can't wait to be married that long.  We haven't even been married 7 years.  So weird to imagine even living 38 years.  :)  So I told Tyson when we have been married 38 years, I want room service too.  I don't know why, but I have always wanted room service, weird I know.  It is just so exciting.  So you will know we have made it when we get room service.  :)  I will order: chocolate milkshakes and chocolate covered strawberries.  Yup, I have it all planned out.

San Antonio Zoo

A few weeks ago we went (drove, yes drove, 22 hours) to San Antonio, partly because Tyson had a conference he was presenting at in Austin, and because Cooper grandparents really wanted to see the little boys.  So we trecked the treck and we had a great time.  It may take a few days, but I'm going to try to put the pics from the trip up.  Here are the ones we took from the Zoo.  Josh told me to write that it was really hot, that is why they have sunglasses and are squinting.  :)  And I agree, as a prego chick, Texas really is way too intense in the heat area.

 We finally got a picture of Tyson and Hannah.  :)  Oldest and youngest siblings.  Crazy how old she is now, and she is awesome with the boys.  They adore her.  They have pretty awesome aunts and uncles.

 Caleb was in a super crabby mood pretty much the whole time, except for when we saw the hippos, he loved that part.  :)  This is him protecting himself from the sun and keeping out of photos, hilarious.

Tyson was obsessed with taking pictures of me the whole trip.  So I am including this so everyone knows I was actually there.  :)

Camera

Just in case you wonder what I do all day, this is some of the entertaining moments.  I really love some of the features on my new laptop.  :)  And the boys are hilarious.  The last picture is so you can see what Caleb's face looks like when he talks or when he asks questions.  Hilarious.

What should I be??

Conversation I overheard while driving:

Josh: I think I am going to be...a doctor?  Caleb, what should I be when I grow up?
Caleb: a whale
Josh: Caleb, people can't change into animals!  We stay human.  *Sigh 
Caleb: Oh, then, a boat?
Josh: (shaking his head) Oh Caleb, no what should I be when I am a dad?
Caleb: Oh, when you is a dad, you should put your kids in the car and drive.  (I could tell by his tone of voice that he was very proud of his response)
Josh: Caleb!  I can't do that when I need to be at work.  What should I do like for a job?  What should I BE?
Caleb: Oh!  Um, an airplane....driver?
Josh: Yes!  That's it!  I love airplanes.  I will fly them in the sky.  Now I just need to find an airport where I can work.  Mom, is there an airport in Texas?
Me: Yeah, there are lots of airports in Texas.
Josh: Perfect. (pause)  Except, then I will be flying lots and be gone and won't be home for dinner.  Then my wife will be taking care of the kids by herself.  Hm, I can't do that...

 
And that is all I heard before I pulled up at the city building to pay the water bill.  Isn't that precious though?  What five year old thinks about coming home for dinner every day and helping his wife?  So cute.  I think I have my adorable husband to thank for that.  :)

Knowledge

I think I am finally learning that my kids will always continue to amaze me.  They just think so much and ask so many questions.  And not like "what time is it?" (they ask that too), but like "why is the sky blue," and "why does Daddy have to work?," and "why do we need money?"  For little boys, I think they are pretty deep and think way more about life than I ever do.  I take so much for granted and rarely ask questions.  I have been studying knowledge in the scriptures during the last few days and I realized that since I have graduated from college, I still wanted to learn things, but that need has just been dwindling.  It hasn't been my main focus.  And I can feel a huge gap in my progress often because I haven't been taking the time to learn new things.  Thankfully I have great kids that make me think on a daily basis.  I get really worried because there are so many questions I don't know the answers to.  I came across this scripture and this really helps:

"78 Teach ye diligently and my ^agrace shall attend you, that you may be ^binstructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

 79 Of things both in ^aheaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must ^bshortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the ^cnations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a ^dknowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

 80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to ^amagnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the ^bmission with which I have commissioned you." 

Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-80 

So I just need to be more diligent in learning and my teaching and I know the Lord will help me learn what I need to and remember it at the right time so I can teach my little ones what they need to know when they need to know it.  Not just spiritual things, but things in the heaven and on the earth and under the earth.  What a neat promise.

Oh and this scripture was really awesome too: "^aWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get ^bunderstanding."  Proverbs 4:7

I have been also wanting to develop a new talent (I have been working on doing Personal Progress with the Young Women), and I can't think of one that I want to develop.  Any ideas??

By the Yard?

I can just hear Tyson asking me, "how was your afternoon?"

Well...let's see...
I created a menu for the next week or two and a grocery list (which takes me forever since not much sounds good that is easy to make and isn't like you know, rocky road brownies or something.  :)

I set up the boy's tent and got them snacks and changed poopy diapers and wiped poopy bums.

And oh yeah, spent FOREVER extricating and rewinding 70 (yes, SEVENTY) yards of purple ribbon from little kid toys.  Just what every mother aspires to do during a Tuesday afternoon.  Honestly, it was kind of fun and nice to have something different to do.  I mean, it wasn't scrubbing play dough out of the carpet like I did this morning. 

Oh, and on a different note, I have been feeling the "little girl" kicking during the last week.  I forgot how stinking cute it is when they are this little.  It almost tickles.  How quickly they grow from the size of a lemon to much bigger and stronger.  I'm glad "her" punches are so soft for now.

So that has been my afternoon.  And no, I didn't make dinner.  If only I could make ribbon turn into food...

I can't sweep

I don't know what it is about these little conversations my kids have had lately, but they are HILARIOUS!  So, here is another:

Bedtime, Matthew has been asleep for awhile, Josh just barely passed out and this is what Caleb says:

Caleb: "I can't sweep (sleep)"
Me: "why not?"
Caleb: "My tummy telled me you don't need to go to the bafroom (bathroom), but you need to sweep.  So then I say 'Don't talk to me! I don't want to sweep!' And then my tummy says 'you need to sweep!' And I say 'Don't talk to me!'  Isn't my tummy silly?"
Me: Yes your tummy is very silly.

Then I quickly had to leave the room so I could laugh uncontrollably without him knowing.  I have heard of people having split personalities, but a mind in your tummy, that I actually understand.  :)