The grass is always greener...

...when you actually have grass!  When we found out we were moving to Santa Fe, we joyously got rid of our lawn mower.  Lawncare is definitely on the bottom of our list of how we want to spend our time.  Now we have a gravel yard, front and back.  Easy peasy to take care of.  On Friday Kyle and I wanted to go to the temple, so we took our kids to our friend's home in Albuquerque.  They have a grass yard, front and back.  The kids squealed with joy and went straight to the back yard to play, with one word escaping their lips: GRASS!!!

My poor kids.

(Albuquerque isn't very green by any means, but I think they have less restrictions on planting grass and they are allowed the real deal if they want it...lush and green and soft on the toes.  Lots more grass than you see here in Santa Fe.)

One more amazing video...

This is from Britains got Talent (or something like that).  It won't let you embed the video, but here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Amazing talent.  Just amazing.  And Simon is nice, too!

Fun at the train station

This is just so fun to watch. Made me cry, don't know why. Enjoy!

Here's another that is hilarious:

My kiddos are growing up...

A couple Genereal Conferences ago we started a tradition.  After reading about King Benjamin and the tents facing the temple, we decided the kids could build their tent facing the computer screen for conference.  It's amazing how well it worked...Courtney and Ben stayed and listened for at least 80% of the 8 hours of talks!  When it was all over, Ben said, "That was a very spiritual conference, wasn't it?"  Well, that's what happens when you stop to listen, kiddo!  Courtney said, "I wish we could watch conference every day!"  Johnny actually listened off and on and he said, repeating what one speaker said, "He needs ME???  Oh....He needs me and Daddy and Mommy and my brother and my sister!"

The cute things Courtney has said this week...

I asked the kids if they wanted to stop at the store with me or wait til I could go by myself.  Courtney voted to go shopping...because it is one of her "hobbies."  SHE'S ONLY 7!   Aaagh!

We were at the children's museum playing at the bubble table.  There is a sink next to it to wash you hands.  Courtney washed her hands and came over to me complaining that she couldn't figure out how to get the paper towels to come out. 

Umm, you pull, silly.  (Johnny asks me this all the time in various public restrooms.  Since he is recently potty trained (yea!), public restrooms are much more interesting to him now.  All the time I'll find him waving his hand or looking for something to turn to get the paper out.)

There was a  missing cat poster in the grocery store parking lot.  "It's a good thing we didn't find their cat...they want $100 for it!"  :)

It's the little things...

My kids are best friends...best friends who like to bicker.  A lot.  Yesterday, however, they were the picture of cuteness.  We were sitting in church and Courtney, as usual, had her drawing supplies to keep her occupied.  She made a very simple note that said, "Ben, I love you."  When she handed it over, he looked at it and I looked at him.  He was starting to cry! I leaned over to Courtney to ask her what she did to him, as if this were an apology note.  She said she did nothing, just wanted to write him a note.  Ben wrote her a note back with a heart that said "You fill me with joy."  Then they hugged and I cried.  He is so cute when he lets himself feel the spirit and show love.  I love my kiddos!

San Francisco!

So, the trip was a blast.  My BFF Bettie blogged all about it, complete with pictures, so I'll just let her tell the tales:

San Francisco by Bettie