For Tarah...

Tarah has been on me about updating my blog. So here I go.
How do some of you do it? Work, parent and blog? Am I a total slacker? Or are you all just saints?
I wish that I could call myself a slacker but I am not. I have been working 30-40 hour work weeks these past couple months. For those blogerville friends who I don't know in real life, I am a dog trainer and own my own business. At first I thought that training dogs would be a good part time job to have while starting a family. I traveled 2000 miles away from home and spent almost 3 months of my life mentoring. It rocked, it sucked. It was the first time that Scott and I had been apart and I hated my life. In the end I came back and started my own business and started planning a family. Where was I going with this.. Oh yeah, working. So kiddos come, I work and find myself working full time. I actually have a wait list of clients. Its nuts and sometimes very overwhelming but I am blessed. The kiddos have been in daycare while I work which is something that I never wanted to do but they seemed to love it. Until the other day ( I swear, I am getting at something )
I found out that my kiddos have been being spanked!! We are a non spanking family for reasons that I will blog about some other time. This is the second time this has happened at this daycare and needless to say the last. I pulled my kiddos, changed my work schedule, and have cut my schedule down to part time. So, what would you do if someone spanked your kids? Honestly, I am red zone mad and have not said anything to the lady about this yet. When I talk about the incident I still cannot think straight. I need your advise and prayers for clarity in this situation. Am I over/under reacting? How does your family feel about spanking?

Good morning and good life

I love it when I wake up before the boys/alarm/dogs. It gives me time to grab a cup of coffee and really reflect on my blessings and how great my life really is. Of course there are ups and downs but I really think that life is what you make of it. We go into the only Pediatric ENT this morning to schedule surgery for Alex's ears. I am praying that the only needs tubes and not tonsils removed like poor Jack did.
Off to now!! Hope that everyone has a wonderful day.
On a side note, what are your kiddos going to be for Halloween?

Sum sum summertime

This really has been the best summer ever!! I don't know how is happens but I swear my summers keep getting better and better every year. A few highlights...

Our first family trip of 4. We were blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends as we shared a week long vacation to the Oregon coast. You would think that 4 families with a total of 10 kiddos crammed into a tiny house would be a nightmare but it wasn't, it was perfect.

This has been the first time in a very long time that Jack has been breathing normally and is off of added steroids. As this fall approaches I pray that his lungs will continue to be healthy.

Alex is making leaps and bounds with his development and we have officially been kicked out of the infant toddler program!! Even though he is a boy of few words, he is where he should be! When I started this blog the doctors were very concerned with how far behind he was and we tossing out very scary medical terms. Now we can say that he is an average happy healthy toddler!!

Scott is doing great with his job. The company he works for has laid off many people that past few months and we have been blessed knowing that his job is safe for now!! He is an amazing man and I we are still as in love as the day we married.

My baby sister Allison is pregnant!! I am so excited to be an auntie. The beginning of her pregnancy was touch and go but now in her 14 week things are looking perfect for baby Puddin Shae. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a baby girl as we really need some pink in the family.

One of my dearest friends moved back to Boise and has taken a job at the local University. She has an amazing family that consists of a husband who makes amazing meals and 2 perfect little boys. The best part of her move here is that she lives right down the street and we have already spent a ton of time together.

I am doing well and my business has taken off. I am saving our town of naughty dogs and I love it! I am able to set my own hours and it gives me the freedom to not work a traditional 40 hour a week job. I love being able spending time with our boys and watching them grow. The time is going by so fast!!!

I lied ;)

I have been gathering emails from friends and loved ones mthe past few weeks collecting email addresses to send blog invites too. It appears that some of my dear family is, how do I say this, technologically stupid!! They cannot figure out how to accept a blogger invite. So, I have lied. I am keeping my blog open to the public. Hopefully our family does not end up on Dateline...

Going private

For many reasons I am going private. Please email me if you would like to still read our blog at scottandandrea@gmail(dotcom).
Look forward to more pictures and open and honest posts!!
Andrea

To leash, or not to leash.

So how do you all feel about those toddler backpack leash thingys? On one hand I think that they don't teach your child anything and may actually be causing more of a problem in the long run and on the other hand they look like a gift from God. What do you think bloggerville peeps?

Sew fun!

Look Bloggerville, look what I made! My very first quilt!! Wahoo. My friend Michelle came over on Sunday and set me up with a sewing machine, went over the basics and off I went. It was so much fun!! I can't wait to make the next one.

Next step, cloth diapers!!!

Bittersweet Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day Bloggerville! My first day off in 2 weeks was wonderful and spent entirely with family. Scott was so wonderful in making the day perfect for me! As perfect as the day was I have to remember that I am a mother because someone made the hardest decision in the world to allow someone else to raise her baby. This day will always be shared with someone else who I will always love so much!
I am so blessed!!

Just pictures!

Fitness

I am off to start another fitness challenge today. This on is only 8 weeks long but the trainer promises to whip us into shape. Its a bootcamp fitness challenge, I know that I am going to die!!
My goal is to lose 60 pounds this year, be able to run a 5k all of the way in a good time, complete a half marathon, wear a pair of skinny jeans in my closet, be able to do pushups ( really, i have never been able to do them, not even one!!!) and just improve my overall health. I want to grow old with my family!
Off to get before pictures and all of my measurements. Wish me luck!!

Green thumb?!?

So, I started a garden. I have actually never had a garden so this should be interesting!! I started seeds inside on St. Patricks day and today was the big day to move the broccoli, mixed hot peppers and lettuce outside. I took pictures and even though there is really nothing to show, I will post them soon. My goal is to produce enough to be able to donate, freeze and can some veggis. Wish me luck!!
What does that mean to have a green thumb? All I know is that I had a brown soil/compost thumb today.
We had all been sick in the Williams household and I am praying that we all feel better soon. Alex and I have a cold and poor Jack is having a rough time with his asthma. I think that everything blooming is driving his allergies crazy!!

Easter Bunny at the Zoo

Jack was not so sure but Alex loved the bunny!!

i am baaccckkk!!

Dearest bloggerville peeps, I have been a bad blogger!! I have not even had a chance to update my blog in months!! MONTHS!! That's way too long. So what has been going on you ask?? I had surgery, Alex was in the hospital, Jack is ever changing into a silly big boy and Scott has been working a ton.
So there, that is what is going on!!
Good news! Alex had his 1 year review in the Infants Toddler Program today and he is officially "caught up" developmentally and physically!! I am so happy and relieved. All of the hard work has paid off! Look out world! He he comes!!!

Tagged

I was tagged! This is an easy one so I will do it! Highlight the things that you have done...

Started your own blog

Slept under the stars many times

Played in a band

Visited Hawaii

Watched a meteor shower

Given more than you can afford to charity

Been to Disneyland/worldboth!

Climbed a mountain

Held a praying mantis

Sang a solo not well but yes many times!

Bungee jumped

Visited Paris ~sigh, i wish

Watched a lightning storm at sea

Taught yourself an art from scratch does cake decorating count??? oh wait mosaics

Adopted a child

Had food poisoning from Subaway and I was out of town at a concert.

Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

Seen the Mona Lisa in France

Slept on an overnight train to Vencie. Well the port and then to Venice. It was the worst night of my life!!

Had a pillow fight

Hitchhiked

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Built a snow fort

Held a lamb

Gone skinny dipping

Been to a Broadway show in NY ~ I will in May when I visit Eden!

Ran a Marathon ~ No but I will soon!

Been in three states at once

Ridden in a gondola in Venice we did not do that while we were there. It was something that I wished that we would of done.

Seen a total eclipse

Watched a sunrise or sunset

Hit a home run

Been on a Cruise

Seen Niagra Falls in Person

Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors

Seen an Amish community

Taught yourself a new language

Had enough money to be truly satisfied

Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Gone rock climbing

Seen Michelangelo’s David

Sung karaoke while I was in Japan and it was really bad

Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

Visited Africa~ someday

Walked on a beach by moonlight first night in the Caribbean

Been transported in an ambulance

Had your portrait painted

Gone deep sea fishing and I wanted to jump off of the boat. I really wanted to die

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person On eof the single most amazing days of my life. Actually the Sistine Chapel is my "happy place " when I am stressed. True stuff!

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Gone scuba diving or snorkeling one of my favorite things to do

Kissed in the rain

Played in the mud

Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco

Gone to a drive-in theater (Been in a movie

Visited the Great Wall of China

Started a business

Taken a martial arts class

Swam in the Mediterranean Sea Ok I didn't really swim butr I got in just to say I did

Visited Russia

Served at a soup kitchen

Sold Girl Scout cookies

Gone whale watching

Gotten flowers for no reason would sure be nice to get them aqain. Hint Hint

Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Gone sky diving

Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

Bounced a check

Saved a favorite childhood toy

Visited the Lincoln Memorial

Eaten Caviar

Pieced a quilt

Stood in Times Square

Toured the Everglades

Been fired from a job

Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Broken a bone twice once at work and the other time in Sicily

Been on a speeding motorcycle

Seen the Grand Canyon in person

Published a book

Visited the Vatican

Bought a brand new car

Walked in Jerusalem~i wish!

Had your picture in the newspaper

Read the entire Bible i honesltly do not think that I have read every page

Visited the White House

Killed and prepared my own meat~ hell no not a chance

Had chickenpox 2 times!

Saved someone’s life

Sat on a jury

Met someone famous

Joined a book club

Lost a loved one

Had a baby

Seen the Alamo in person

Swam in the Great Salt Lake as a kid, no way i would get in there now

Been involved in a law suit on the good end

Owned a cell phone

Been stung by a bee

I will now tag...
Zandra, Tarah, Angela, Becky, Megan, Alison, Carrie, Lori and Rachel

My dream

Every single night I dream about a little girl ~3 who has big brown eyes. I wonder what this means???

New Year Pictures

I have been a bad blogger, again. 2009 has proved to be a very busy year not only do I have my plate full with running my own business and raising 2 perfect boys, I have started a part time job as a Veterinary Technician (something I have done for 12 years). The job is only one day a week for about 10 hours so hopefully I do not get too overwhelmed. Here are some pictures of the phone things that we have been doing this year!