Treasure Hunting

Dave bought our gps about 6 years ago and seriously it has been one of our best investments. We have spent hours "treasure hunting" or formally known as geocaching. Our kids love going hiking and finding the cache. We even created our own cache that was a children's book cache a few years ago. We've taken travel bugs and exchanged numerous treasures throughout Columbia, Kansas City, Utah, Nauvoo, Iowa, and more. (It is worldwide). We've done the multi-caches, micro-cache (tiny one you have to find on the MU bridge), themed caches, virtual, etc (We even did one where you had to "fish it out" with a rope and magnet). It is so fun. We have found so many beautiful places and bushwacked a few others:)we would have never known about. So this weekend we got to go exploring with some of our friends. If you're looking for something fun to do---give us a call or check out at geocaching.com.

Track and Field

This year we are participating in a track and field program the city offers at a local high school. The kids go twice a week and will be introduced to the different areas in the sport such as long jump, hurdles, sprints, shot put, and he even said the javelin (should be interesting!). The kids are very excited---especially Haley as this is her first time trying a sport. It is even nice for me because I got to walk 2 miles while they were running. I know that is not a lot and it definitely wasn't speed walking with Megan:) but it is better than nothing! As I walked around it brought back so many memories. I don't love running but I loved running the 4x100and the hurdles. So it is fun watching my kids and thinking about the future and what may be in store. This is definetly a win-win situation!

Jordan doing the "mini" hurdles

Haley doing the "sand jump" a.k.a long jump:)

School Projects

 

Jordan has been taking a World War II class. He was able to go to the museum in Fulton where Winston Churchill gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech. This is his report he did for the class on Pearl Harbor. It was humbling for Dave and I to listen to him talk about everything he has learned. He knows a lot more than I do about it! He also took a class called Team Think. It sounded really cool and Jordan liked it a lot too. Each time they would work in teams,rotating so they were a different team each week, and they would have to work together to solve problems. One example was that they were given an egg and materials like two straws, toothpicks, nametags, a baggie, a little bit of model magic and they would have to get it down an area (like a mini football field) without it breaking from a billard ball . He has had some really great opportunities. Teachers do not get paid nearly enough for what they are doing!

Memorial Day Parade

Today we went to the Memorial Day Parade. I am so glad we went. It was so great honoring those that have served our country. We also got to see Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, the 2nd man to walk on the moon. I was always interested in WWII after I read Corrie ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place". I have since read several books about events that happened and am just amazed at what people had to go through on both sides of the war. So I was touched as I watched the cars go by with veterens and as I thought of many of our friends and family right now who are sacrificing their time and living far from family to serve our country but really my own little family. How grateful I am for them and their wives/children who are giving so much for me.

Lil' Preacher

 While the rest of us were eating (refer to previous blogs about this girl's eating habits) Megan was playing around. I turned and looked at her and this is what she was doing (of course we missed the first moment so I had to coach her to repeat it but it was too funny to not get it on tape!)

Practical vs. Greedy

 
I saw this thing one time about how things are viewed differently before and after marriage. For example, before the wedding he is "very frugal with his money" but afterwards he is "cheap".:) I have to laugh at myself because when Dave and I got married I told him that he shouldn't buy me flowers because they just die anyway. So if he wanted to get me something, it should be something other than flowers because they don't last. When I first think about it I think I am just practical and want to get my money's worth, but now maybe I'm thinking I'm just greedy:).

So today when my husband came home he had his hands behind his back and of course this is what he had----the first flowers he ever bought me:) and he even started to say "I know you said...." and of course I just had to laugh and smile. And while I know they won't last forever I have to admit that it was a wonderful gift. You might think you know yourself and your loved one's love language---but then again you might be surprised. Try this quiz and see. It's fun and you might find yourself learing something about you or your loved one that you didn't know---no matter how long you have been together: http://edified.org/myspace/lovelanguage

5 things I would NOT recommend

I love hearing about sales, products, recipes, books, dentists, etc that people have "tried" and feel confident in recommending. I'd like to share with you 5 things that I have recently experienced that I would NOT recommend:)

NOT RECOMMEND:

1. When you are oh, 7 or 8 months pregnant wearing ugly clothes (because you can't fit into anything else) going to the gym and participating in the body step class when the instructor says "oh I'm just video taping myself because I'm getting certified". You might want to notice that the front wall is lined with MIRRORS and YOU WILL be in the video tape after all even though you think you are far away from the video camera and your friend will somehow manage to get a copy and blackmail you with it!

2. I would highly NOT recommend being pregnant, having a baby (and 3 other children), and putting your house on the market while you husband is working in another city. Enough said.

3. I would not stay up a little bit later (this is funny because what I now call late, used to be called "early"---this can be explained by #2) because you have not read a book in a long time and you feel the need to "treat" yourself and you've already had to renew the book and you're moving and are not sure the new library will have the book and you already started it like 5 weeks ago. I know you are considering the treat because you have finally cleaned the house for the 700th time and the finances are caught up and the laundry is drying and you finally feel like you can relax in between feedings, but you know that what will happen---- your 2 year old will wake up only 1/2 hour later crying and then again a couple hours after that and then get up around 5:30ish to stay up and continue the crying. In between that time your newborn will wake up wanting to eat. Just put the book down....and go to bed.

4. I would not attempt to take 4 beautiful children to an end of the year picnic by yourself. Of course you would want to go because you don't have to cook dinner, or clean up for that matter. This is a big bonus when you are trying to sell your house and you are trying to keep it spotless (I have definitely learned the difference between a clean house and a show house). You also want to go because your son has been in this program for 4 years now and you're moving and this is your last time to go and you want your son to feel like you care about what is going on in his life because things have been a little different when you have a brand new baby and you have all these changes and you are trying to stay on top of all the kids needs/feelings and so you think we should go. Certainly the older kids will help and the little ones can be in a stroller and car seat. What you don't know--

that of course, it will be colder than expected, that you get your food at one shelter but then have to walk to the shelter on the other side of the playground because they painted those tables that morning--so of course someone is kind enough to help you because obviously I am going to need help carrying 3 plates, a stroller, and a car seat, ( I can imagine what thoughts were going through people's heads but I am choosing to ignore them) which is really nice but then once you get there you don't count on walking under a bird's nest and getting POOPED on by the flying bird overhead:( Your kids eat great (minus toddler age 2 --see #5) and you start to think---we're good, we're doing alright---and you get everyone to the playground for some run-get-tired time and then one of them has to go to the bathroom. Four vs. one What were you thinking?? Of course the bathrooms are back up where you were eating and toddler #2 just got freedom from the stroller and doesn't want to get back in just to take her sister to the bathroom....Next time--follow the instinct to hire someone to come along with you.

5. Following doctor's orders:) So Megan was a little chubby bub about 4 or 5 months old but has since then fallen off the chart for her age and weight. Her doctor told me several months ago I could try that pediasure to help her sleep longer (she was waking up at like 5 a.m. so tired but hungry because she wasn't eating very much) and to boost her up. She also said that at that time she wouldn't recommend a strict diet of only eating at 3 meal times but that if she was hungry to go ahead and give her something to eat. Now I'm sure I didn't do it exactly right but seriously--I have created a monster. It is amazing to me how she can stay alive with hardly eating. Instead of eating more or better, she tells me she is "hungy" about every hour and then sits at the table to only take a mini bite of all the yummy stuff I've put in front of her that she told me she would eat....right. It is mind boggling to me how one day she will eat something like it is going out of style and I think "finally I know something I can give her so she will eat". For example she would eat string cheese at 6 a.m. However then the next time you offer it to her, she acts like you are trying to get her to eat mashed up garbage or something. Then this week---it is 4:20 A.M. and you might think "she is up with her newborn" Nope...Megan has woke me up yelling "Mommy, I need my chocy" (aka chocolate milk---no I am not joking) And yes, I am crazy and give it to her---why? I am only feeding into making the monster. I know this. I also know it is 4:20. She sleeps for 3 more hours...Sometimes I want to get all the "experts" I've tried reading and applying their "techniques" on my children and have them at my house at 4:20 a.m.

One good use for nylons

Yep those are really nylons----loaded with legos:) I'm not a fan of nylons and thought they were only good for hiding those ugly "aging signs" aka spider veins, etc. However, I have found a new use for them. Thanks to my mom's brillant suggestion I now have a way of disinfecting the legos without losing the tiny itty bitty pieces. wha la!

The Last Three Weeks

Wow--it is so easy to get behind so quickly. I'd like to say that I haven't posted because I've been laying in bed drinking smoothies:)ha but life is not really like that is it? And even though we hate to admit it, it probably is a good thing too.
So what have we been doing? A little bit of everything I'd say. Here's a little recap because unfortunately we didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked and don't want to forget anything. I really haven't posted obviously but for my record keeping attempt I am going to post date some entries (cheat:)). It's nothing super exciting either but it is real life for the Spriggs right now.
Dave was here the first week after the baby. He was pretty tired (ha--I think it was good for him. I told him he should try it being 37 weeks pregnant) The day after we got home from the hospital he had biked Haley to a park when a realtor called and said "we'd like to see your house in about 15 minutes"...remember I had been in the hospital until the night before? Let's just say it wasn't my standard of "show ready". It's amazing how many places you can find to hide things in 10 minutes! Megan was asleep and I was attempting a nap...ahhh....Dave also painted the front door, fixed the van door, and enjoyed some much needed daddy time.

My parents came Saturday night and stayed for the 2nd week. Dave was here until Wednesday as he did interviews with graduating Seniors at University of MU for the Geography Dept. and ESRI. He got a guys' night out with my brothers and dad in Kansas City so he did get to play a little bit after all his hard work:). Of course I like to tease him but he really is the best dad and I'm so grateful that my husband loves to spend time with his great kids. And yet it is a really good thing there are moms too because he does not hear Addie cry at all. She would be starving if it was left just up to him. I always have to smile when I hear him describe to people how "easy" or "fast" the labor went or how "well" the baby is sleeping:)
Anyway we visited the Amish store, drove by the Pinnacles (Dave's favorite place, Angela's greatest anxiety), went shopping (several times for different reasons), painted an old dresser (still trying to find cute knobs--anybody know of a good place?), painted the baseboards --ANGELA-- oh yes I did!, attempted to pack a few boxes, make a few extra meals, Jordan had a grandpa date to the movies, played at Going Bonkers, went to the temple and then spent the afternoon house shopping, went to church and had a couple picnics at nearby parks, along with the normal feed, bathe, laundry and take care of kids, say goodbye to "pungee" (sniff, sniff) and travel home. phew
This last week I have attempted to do just one thing on my to do list each day. And as that could be depressing it is really just reality. It is amazing how you forget about what you can and can not do. At the same time when I think about a few of the things I have accomplished, I haven't done too bad (thanks to great help from friends and family)I even made freezer jam--oh how I LOVE homemade jam. For the most part I am trying to be realistic and just take it one day (or moment:) at a time. When I hold Addie and think about how fast they grow up it has given me a stronger desire to try harder to just sit and enjoy the moments with my amazing "little friends" that have been sent to me. My friend gave me a wall deco that has the saying "we are so blessed" and I couldn't think of a more true statement.

Pungee and kids

Meg and Pungee

For some reason Meg has named my parents "pungee" It works for either one. She has really started talking and for the most part I can understand a lot of the words she is saying. This one leaves me baffled. It is hilarious though because even now that they are gone if I say grandma or grandpa she says pungee. Like today Haley told her grandma and grampa were here so she runs toward the door yelling "pungee pungee";)
Now this picture is of when they were actually here. She had fallen asleep and I went to run a few errands and she woke up while I was gone. Even though she was friends with Pungee, Megan would not let my parents do anything for her. So here she had been given M&M's even on the table and instead of eating them she just laid down and went back to sleep!