PLAYTOPIA

Chandler's Tumbleweed Park has, quite possibly, the world's cutest playground. They call it Playtopia. Playtopia has three distinct areas for the kids to play. All of the areas are near one another and they have ramadas interspersed, so you can have a nice little picnic if you want.  They have "City Land" which has a little city street for the kids to ride their bikes on and pretend they are in cars. They have "Critter land" which is a nice sized sand lot, covered by a sun shade. They have fake Woolly Mammoth bones sticking out of the sand box and the kids can pretend they are digging for fossils. Then they have "Farm Land" which is a gigantic playground that is totally farm themed. It is so adorable. The best part is that is completely covered by a huge tin roof, it looks like we are under a barn roof. This is so important to me because Alyssa is so fair, and it is so hot here. The shade provided by this structure is way better than what a typical playground shade thingy provides. We had a blast and I can't wait to go there again. It is on Germann Road, just west of McQueen, if you are interested in going.

                                                My cute little farmer...
                                                   Farm Land...

                                                   Critter Land...Katherine was ready to go home, 

                                   we had been there for almost three hours and didn't realize it!

I Have an Announcement!

And no, I am not pregnant!

I have been reading and re-reading Elder Ballard's talk from General Conference.  I was really touched by it, particularly when he encouraged us to find one or two things to learn and do to "fill our well".  I have been thinking about this a lot, even before Conference, and this is most likely why his talk hit so close to home.  So, with a lot of thought and prayer, I have decided that one of the things I am going to do is start running again.  Last spring I trained for two races and having a goal in sight brought a lot of fun and challenge to my running.  So, my announcement is....I am going to run the PF Chang's Marathon in 2009.  I figure if I announce this so publicly I will more apt to follow through, of course that didn't work with my Diet Coke habit, but I really like running!  So, I think I will be ok.

I have also started to do a lot more to fill that well of mine and be a better wife and mother.  If I can get a spare moment - and when I am not dog tired- I will actually post some pictures of these things.  

So, what do you do to fill your well and be the great mothers and wives that you all are?

Autism Family Day

This Saturday, while the "boys" were at Priesthood session, my Mom and I took the kids to Mesquite High School's 2nd Annual Autism Family Day. We went because it is a fundraiser for Autism Awareness and my Mom is a counselor for Mesquite High School (and was working one of the booths!). This was so much fun. They had all of these inflatable toys for the kids: a bounce house, a huge slide, a maze, and one where you are tied to a bungee cord and you run and then get snapped back. They also had booths where the kids could fingerpaint, play hoola hoops, do a dunk tank, get "tattoos" etc. A good time was had by all. The weather was perfect too. An added bonus for me was adult conversation with my Mom and some of her co-workers. After that we met up with all the "boys" and my parents treated us to dinner at Tia Rosa's. A night like this was just what I needed.

Conference was wonderful too. Didn't you all just love Elder Ballard's talk? I can't wait until Thursday, when lds.org puts the talks up on their site, to print it out and read it over and over again!

Hong Kong Night Night

Todd's parents sent these darling silk pajamas to our kids, from their mission in Hong Kong. It is pretty much a "Mission Impossible" to get a decent picture of both kids together!

"Freckleface Strawberry"

My parents gave Lyssa the cutest book for Valentine's Day, "Freckleface Strawberry" by the lovely and beautiful Julianne Moore. I think the book is semi-autobiographical as it chronicles the life of a 7 year old girl, referred to as Freckleface Strawberry, who has, yep you guessed it, red hair and freckles! Alyssa, and the whole family for that matter, love this book. We read it to her all the time.

I think Lyssa knows that little Freckleface Strawberry looks a lot like her, minus the freckles (although I am sure she will get them sometime). In fact, we now catch ourselves calling little Lyssa "Freckleface Strawberry"!!

One day this week, after reading the book for about the millionth time, Harrison asked me if I had any freckles. I said, "Yes! Everywhere...on my face, arms, legs...You know you could call me Freckleface...(I thought for a moment) Blackberry. You know, because I have black hair instead of red hair." Harrison looked at me for a moment and then said, "Or Freckleface Greyberry".

WHAT??? I think I have found like 2 or 3 greys over the years. Thanks a lot Harrison. With him for a child I should have an entire head of greys in no time.

I have an appointment for a cut and color next week....I am thinking of going red. It would be nice to look more like my own little Freckleface Strawberry.

T-Ball!

Harrison's first T-Ball game of the season was last night. It is surreal to me that we have a kid old enough to be doing things like T-Ball, school, and so forth. Anyways, the game was a lot of fun. I love that there is no score and it is all about the kids learning and having a good time. I really love that the game was only two innings long! I think if we let them go a whole 9 innings we would still be there!

Harrison's Team aka The Cardinals

Harrison, #11, and his teammates waiting to bat!

Harrison up to bat.

Harrison was the "pitcher" for one inning. That is Todd in the yellow, helping in the outfield.

Alyssa did pretty well. She only ran out into the field once! I think she wanted to play with her brother.

Our little All Star!

"All American Girl"

"Since the day they got married

He'd been praying for a little baby boy

Someone he could take fishin'

Throw the football And be his pride and joy

He could already see him

Holding that trophy taking his team to State

But when the nurse came in with a little pink blanket

All those big dreams changed...and

Now he's wrapped around her finger

She's the center of his whole world

And his heart belongs to that sweet little

Beautiful Wonderful Perfect

All American Girl"

from Carrie Underwood's "All American Girl"

We love listening to music over here and whenever this song comes on, we dance, sing along, and laugh. This perfectly describes Todd's feelings towards little Lyssa George!