My "new"s . . .

I got a new camera and decided to play with it one night. I usually do not take pictures of myself, but this one turned out really cute and I LOVE it.


I decided to try to sell my old mini van. Despite it's ugliness it only took a couple weeks to get rid of it!


I bought this to replace the mini van, a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am! I am loving my new car!


I told Brian I needed to get some family stickers for my car. I have wanted some for so long and finally ordered them when I got my new car.

The one other thing I want to brag about is my ipod. Brian bought it for me because I was complaining about my palm pilot dying and having to carry around a big, bulky day planner. I said an ipod would be ideal because I could put all my contacts in it plus it has the calendar. He didn't think I would use it that much, but I have definitely proven him wrong. I don't go anywhere without it; it has become my brain! I even put the scriptures and hymn book on it!!

Easter weekend 2010

I have greatly enjoyed my General Conference weekend. We spent Saturday in Burley where we watched conference with Brian's parents. I had printed out some activity pages from the internet for the kids to color while they watched, but the only one who really paid attention was Briton. Between sessions Brian helped his dad cut down a tree in the backyard while the boys supervised and Kaelee, grandma, and I decorated some paper mache eggs with foam stickers. After the second session the boys and I colored hard-boiled eggs. Thank goodness I had the table covered with newspaper and aprons covering the boys' clothes because they made a mess, but they had fun! Then Brian went to the priesthood session with his dad while the kids, grandma, and I went to Aunt Jenny's house to play, visit, and have ice cream. We got home late, but still beat the Easter Bunny home.
Today we woke to the noise of the boys playing with the dart guns the Easter Bunny brought them and Kaelee got a new Princess Barbie doll. She was thrilled! Each of the kids also got some new church clothes (they were in dire need of them). After breakfast we watched the first session of conference at home before heading to Burley again to have a ham dinner with my family.
I will post pictures of the kids in their new clothes next week after I get their picture before church.

Have you missed us . . . ?

Okay, so my idea of using my blog as a type of journal has not been going very well. I get busy, and blogging is the last thing on my mind.
Where to begin? What to report?
Brian is doing very well in school and his grades are excellent. He has really been enjoying everything he has been learning. He is getting anxious to be done with school and getting back out in "real world" making money and supporting his family. He has taken on another project this semester and upon its completion, the school will give him a scholarship that will cover his tuition for his remaining summer semester. He has been super busy with his everyday homework and the project yet he still manages to be a wonderful father and a terific husband.
Briton has been doing very well in school. He has been getting 100%'s on his math and spelling tests every week. He loves to read and has started reading some small chapter books, I think his favorites are the Flat Stanley books. He is getting ready to take the IRI tests where the kids have to read so many words per minute, but I don't think Briton is going to have a problem with that. The kids have to read 53 words per minute and when we time him at home he is reading upwards of 80 words per minute. His teacher sent a note home the other day that she didn't need to meet with us for parent teacher conferences because he is doing so well and she was just going to send the papers home with him. I am so very proud of my boy!
Parker, oh what to say about Parker. He has learned to write his name and is writing it on every piece of paper he can find. He tried to play soccer, but get a little nervous with the crowd of parents watching and the crowd of kids chasing the ball around the field so he decided he was done. I am proud of the little guy for trying and maybe he'll grow out of this "phobia" or whatever it is he has with crowds. He can be so funny sometimes and loves to play with his big brother.
Kaelee is a true princess! She loves to dress up in her princess costumes and has even worn them to daycare a few times. (I have learned to pick my battles.) She loves to follow mommy around the house and watch me put on my makeup and do my hair. She is even a good little mommy to her many baby dolls. I love my boys with all my heart, but there is just something about my little girl that I just cannot explain. I love her to death!
I, on the other hand, have been struggling. I feel that something is "off" within me. I am in the process of getting some blood tests run to check my thyroid. The doctor is also checking for some vitamin deficiencies. I hope that something turns up and we can figure out what is going on. My kids need their mommy back and Brian needs his wife back. I will post the results when I know.
That about covers the past month and a half of the goings on in the Blauer household. I am looking forward to Easter and the Easter Bunny hiding all the plastic eggs around the house for the kids to find Easter morning.

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Friday evening Brian and I were able to get out of the house and enjoy each other's company for a few hours. I called a neighbor to babysit so Brian and I could go to the Valentine dinner and dance that the stake put on. The dinner was delicious and was catered by an Italian restaurant in Twin Falls (I think it was Tomatoes). After dinner we had a short lesson on how to waltz before the dancing got underway. Neither Brian nor I are very good dancers, but I enjoy wiggling around to a catchy beat. Let's just say my knees are not 16 years old anymore and there is a lot more of me bouncing around on that dance floor.
We had a great time and enjoyed getting to know a few other couples from the ward better: Scott and Jami, Collin and Elizabeth, Derek and Julianne, and Bernie and Janet. I will post a picture of all of us shortly.
Happy Valentine's Day Brian - I love you!

What was I thinking!?!

So, a couple weeks ago Briton and Parker were sliding down the stairs again only this time instead of using their quilts from their beds they had a sleeping bag. They were lying on the slick side and trying to slide down on the flannel side, so me, being the helpful mom that I am suggested to them that if they turn the sleeping over they could slide down the stairs better! After making this suggestion I looked at Brian with total surprise and asked him if I just said what I thought I said. Briton has only had his cast off for a couple weeks and here I am suggesting another way for him to break another bone or to break one of Parker's bones!