Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The next Great Adventure

I guess it’s time to make this more public… We have some very exciting, life changing news and for once I’m NOT pregnant. Yea! It’s time for Kiel to have the big news. He was offered the assistance manager position at the Super Walmart up in the one and only……… Kenai, Alaska! Alaska? What??

yes Kiel has signed us up on a big adventure. Kiel has always talked about moving to Oregon or Washington, Utah or even Nevada and of course Alaska.  I have always told him I would follow him to the ends of the earth except Alaska. When Kiel had the over the phone interview for this job I personally didn’t think it would amount up to anything much… I mean why would they hire someone from Arizona with a bread route and all those strings attached. But one week later the HR rep kept trying to call Kiel so we thought something must be up. After a job offer and then a counter on salary they came back and offered the job at Kiel’s counter and the papers were signed and faxed back. Not only with the job offer. They are paying for us to move, which is absolute bananas to me but it’s a great opportunity. I don’t think we would or could shell out 30 grand just to move our family. After digesting all this new information I am very……….. excited. The idea of moving somewhere new and this great new career move for Kiel is very exciting. He is so smart and will do well in any position but this will allow him to grow and show his real talents. The only part that worries me/us are the things we need to do to get out Arizona. But things have just been falling into place so far. For example. When Kiel was hired they told him that he would be doing through an 8 week training in Chino, California. He would be able to fly home a couple of weekends, and they would pay for everything but then a week ago we were informed that his training was here in Arizona. Like 15 minutes away! I was dreading the idea of Kiel being away that long. Such a blessing. There have been a lot of confirmations to us that this is what we need to be doing and it’s the next step for our family. I am very excited about it. Don’t get me wrong. I will be heartbroken to leave Gilbert. I haven't really allowed myself to think about that part of it yet… I know when I do I will slip into a depression. I have loved, loved, loved Arizona and all the friendships that I have, the ward family we have and Kiel’s family will all be so hard to leave… like I said I can’t emotionally get to deep into it or I’ll be hanging out my Kleenex box all day. But we are very excited but there are a lot of hurdles to over come before getting there so my only hope and prayer is that we can get through them without too many scratches and make it to Kenai with a peaceful heart. Here are some pictures of Kenai!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Summer has started!

So to catch up a little… I don’t understand why it takes me so long to sit down and type this up… but here it is..

The last week of school was bitter sweet. Connor had such an amazing teacher and she was so patient with us. Connor was sad to leave her but on the other hand he is stoked about going to 1st grade… me… not so much… but it’s time for him to grow up… He did really great! His report card was very impressive. Great grades.. just a little silly but Great Grades!! He has grown so much this year. We are so proud of him. He is really great at math and is reading like a champ!

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Notice the “Happy Happy Happy” shirt…

 

 

 

 

 

 

After school was over we had our last soccer practice and game of the season… Coach Fred handed out awards to each of the kids as usual and he’s so kind and patient with all these 5/6year olds it’s amazing. Connor really loves soccer and has improved so much as well!

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Summer has now officially started as well as all of our summer activities. We have something fun to do almost every day which is Really nice!! Our ward Moms are really great at putting together a rotating schedule for the summer. Monday is story time, Wednesdays is Summer Movies, Thursdays the kids play at the church’s gym, and Fridays are swim days! I bought a deal on livingsocial.com for a summer’s pass to the Arizona Science center so we can go there all summer. Everyday there is something fun to do and beat the heat! It’s starting to warm up around here… which is nice and annoying… The kids LOVE going to the pool, almost every day! Either to our community pool or we blow up pools in the backyard but regardless the kids are running around in their suits most of the day. We are all developing a great tan!

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The summer is fun and we are really enjoying it so far. Next year will be hectic with Connor in all day 1st grade and then Chloe starting preschool. It will be a lot so I am enjoying them all home and no major morning schedules!!

Another great thing about Summer is the kids have more time to spend with their cousins. They have been seeing them at least once a week. They have come with us to the movies twice now and it makes things more fun.

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I have been so proud of our little garden.. I am impressed at the delicious vegetables we’ve gotten. I’m sure things will start to shrivel up soon enough but we’ve had much success and we are already starting to think about expanding it. It’s been a great learning experience and very relaxing for me to take care of it.

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As for Kiel and I things are well. We have been trying to eat better and drop a few lbs. I don’t think Kiel is enjoying it much but he’s had great success…I’m proud of us. We work out together in the backyard (in the shade of course) while the kids splash in the pools. Having Kiel as a workout partner has been really motivating. He is very supportive and I don’t think I could do any of this without him.

There are times when I honestly don’t know how I used to do certain things. I used to craft more, sew, projects, SCRAPBOOK (something I’m desperately trying to catch up on), all those silly things… lately it’s cleaning… grocery shopping… laundry…kids activities… cleaning… primary…. budgeting… cleaning more… and then just literally dying at the end of the day. But I guess life is just one big give and take. I now am on a fun diet.. working out and trying to keep up with my little ones. Curtis is in a fun, crazy silly stage but Into or ON everything!!! He is still the love of my life.. but honestly..he is so brave and adventurous it’s tough keeping up.

I, like a lot of people get very anxious when my plate is too full. I tend to stress out when I don’t have control over certain things. It just seems so overwhelming sometimes. With all the housework, raising 3 children, not just keeping them alive… but working with them individually on the things they need to be working on. for example…

I love my Chloe. She will grab her papers and markers and tell me “Mom!! I want my lesson!!” She is so eager to learn. So when she does this it’s hard for me to resist. So I stop whatever I am doing… usually and sit down with her. I gave her the challenge this summer to learn not only the alphabet (which she already knows to my surprise) but all the sounds each letter makes. The way Connor’s school teaches… now that I know.. so I thought it would be a little bit of a challenge.. Nope. Chloe hears it, she writes the letter Capital and lower case and its down. She already knows half of the alphabet and I’m so proud of her. She is a little bit of a Diva but honestly a smart quick cookie. If only I had (or took) a little more time with her I’m sure she would be reading in the next year. She is so Eager to do all the things Connor is doing. It’s amazing.

Two weeks ago Connor noticed he had a wiggly tooth, he was so excited!! I think we were at CafĂ© Zupas and I can remember being a little embarrassed at the hoopla he was making but he was so excited, he wanted me to get on the phone and tell Everyone! It still hasn’t come out yet.. but it’s wiggly as well as the one next to it. So in the next month or so (I don’t know how long it takes for these things to actually come out… ) Connor will have a couple of holes in his mouth. Chloe is Sooo Soo Jealous. boo hoo…

In the end I am so grateful for my little family. Especially Kiel. When I get tense or start to feel that anxiety he is there with whatever I need to hear to relax and breathe. Life goes on. Our life isn’t perfect but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I look forward to another scorching hot summer (with a new AC unitSmile) filled with fun adventures and activities. We love watching our 3 little monsters grow up and growing together as a family. 

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Gardening and Soccer

Every morning I go out to our garden and feel such success because everything is still green and alive : ) I am really proud of our little garden and how much it’s producing. We haven’t picked anything yet but very soon!! Here are some pictures… It’s nothing compared to the Pedersen’s Garden but maybe someday!!

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Our potted Pepper plants, 4 Bell peppers and then one Banana Pepper!

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Our Cucumber Plant, It has attached itself to each of the pepper plants, the onions and the zucchini plants… It’s a very friendly plant! We have at least 5 cucumbers on their way.

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All together we have at least 12 Bell peppers (My Favorite) coming and 3 banana peppers growing.

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We have 2 tomato plants chugging along, this one is our Heirloom tomato plant.. very fragrant and huge, there are at least 20 tomatoes on this baby!! Very exciting!!

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Then we have our onions, and celery (hidden under our ever growing zucchini plant)

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Here are Zucchini’s (we’ll have at least 6) and then our Roma Tomato plant which some are already turning red.. there are at least 30 on that little guy!! It gets a lot of shade due to the Zucchini plant…

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We love our garden… The kids love going out and seeing all the changes and watching things grow. we have tons of lizards that come and protect our garden from to many bugs.

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And in other exciting news after 3 years our Lemon Tree is finally producing!!! We had 2 but one had a very short life… so we literally have all our eggs in one basket… This will be the MOST delicious Lemon Ever!!! well… it better : )

 

The SpongeBob's!!!

This season Connor has really grown and really enjoyed the game more. He has had the same Amazing Coach for 3 seasons now and he really has helped Connor improve. This season They are 5-1 so far. Connor scored this 2nd goal 2 games ago. He likes to play goalie and defense. I’m so proud of our little guy!!

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Happy Easter 2013!!

Easter Started off with a bang with our annual Neely Ward Easter Egg Hunt! I didn’t even try to keep up with Connor and Chloe.. They were off with a bang. I focused on teaching Curtis the ropes. It took him a couple of tries but with much clapping after each egg he got the hang of it. It was a fun morning.

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I had to get to church early to set up things for my sharing time so with a little extra time we took some family shots. Kinda cute right… Love those kids… I have to say they make Kiel and I a little better looking!! Thanks Guys!

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  Instead of trying to do it ourselves I handed the camera over to Connor and he took our photo… did pretty good… Thanks Luvbug!

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All week I had the chance to prepare for sharing time. I was a bit overwhelmed with the idea of teaching the Easter Lesson… that’s a tough one for kids.. especially Junior Primary. But Kiel and I found these great videos on LDS.Org and I knew instantly that the kids had to watch this video. Words can’t describe this sacred act of kindness from our Savior. If you want to see go here…

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/he-is-risen?lang=eng

It went over so well. The kids really enjoyed the video and after I bore my testimony. In Jr. primary a little girl watched me as I started to cry and then she looked so nervous and scared or worried or…. something and she started to cry… a little 4 year old.. so I had to turn it off real quick. But I loved the fact that the spirit was so strong in the room. That’s a hard task with primary sometimes. But the movie was wonderful and it was a great day!!

After church with the 2 hours we had to prep I gave the kids their little Easter baskets… such silliness but they loved it.

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A little while later the rest of the Wendelschafer Clan came to celebrate with us. We started off with an Easter Egg hunt… it’s such craziness but the kids just love it! Here’s everybody…..

I don’t know why but I didn’t catch Taylor alone.. but here’s a shot of all the Bunny Girls… Such good looking girls!

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Easter is a fun holiday and I am always happy to be with family on such a special day. Happy Easter and I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!