What a Weekend!

Last weekend was a fun filled busy weekend! Andy works out of town during the week which alone creates a busy weekend of laundry, grocery shopping, and packing for the next week of work. This weekend we set aside some of our responsibilities to indulge in family time. We are learning just how precious our valuable time is with our kids at this age. They grow so stinkin' fast! Saturday we had lunch at Jalapenos Mexican Food in Nampa which kick started our weekend of over eating. We took the kids to a park in Nampa to feed the ducks. The weather could not have been any better. In fact, we were roasting and here it is the end of October.

After feeding the ducks we added to our day of over eating by taking a trip to U-Swirl in Nampa. They had 18 flavors to choose from and the flavor was dead on! We sampled close to all 18 flavors making it even harder to decide which flavor to choose. U-Swirl is a self serve frozen yogurt bar with every topping you can think of for your frozen yogurt concoction. We sampled Girl Scout Thin Mints to Pumpkin Cheesecake to Pomegranate Raspberry. It was all amazing!

Our next stop was to Fred Meyers for their game sale. All board games were Buy 2 get 1 Free.We are big on game nights and had one planned for Saturday night as it was. We found a new game that I just have to share about! It is called Quelf.

My first thought when I took a look at the game board was that it was going to be some weird hobbit game. The game board is colorful and busy. But the game made us do some pretty silly things. To sum it up, Steve had to snort like a pig anytime something made him laugh, we had to jump up and scream "Pizza Party" whenever someone's phone went off (or pay the penalty to move back 2 spaces) and players had to hold hands whenever their game pieces shared the same space on the board. Different action cards forced other silly rules like a player having to keep her hand down on the floor the rest of the game unless it was her turn. Or all players being forced to say "Izzle" after each sentence (or pay the penalty to move back 1 space each time). There are 5 or 6 category cards that randomly enforce rules or encourage poem writing, quiz taking, and charade like stunts. I highly recommend this game for outgoing, extroverted, and fun people who like to play games and do things out of the ordinary. We also bought Battle of the Sexes and 5 Second Rule. Both are fun games as well!

We stayed up til 3 AM Saturday night but that didn't stop us from going to church Sunday. After church was over Andy rushed us out the door to drop the kids off to his parents for the afternoon. He was planning on taking me to a "Halloween Party" that some friends were having but somehow we ended up at the Blimpie at Idaho Iceworld waiting for friends before heading to the Halloween Party. Then I saw Nick Schalder sitting by the front door with a Cheesecake Factory bag and a big smile on his face. I knew something was up but wasn't for sure. We ordered blimpie while waiting for our other friends (Jeff and Jocelyn) to get there when my friend Tanja came walking up with Ice skates on. Andy shouted "Surprise!" since his efforts to gather all our friends and have them surprise me failed. Don't get me wrong, I was still surprised! We had the BEST tasting cheesecake I have ever had. It was called Coconut Chocolate Cream something but it tasted just like the Somoas Girl Scout cookie. Worth every calorie! That sums up the majority of our BUSY weekend excluding some other errands and we ran and of course laundry we folded. Hope you had a good weekend too!

Time

Time. It never fails to slip away. All day long I try to "manage" my time. I try to get as much done in the time I have. Sometimes I want to go back in time for just a moment to re-live a memory or an emotion. Time gets the best of me sometimes. Other times I am really grateful that time goes by quickly, especially if I anxiously waiting for something. Anyways, you get the point. What I am getting at is that it has been 8 months since I have posted a blog. That's just crazy. I looked over my last blog titled "Change"  and I realize just how much has changed in those 8 little months.

First, I don't babysit anymore. I occasionally will help friends out and sometimes I get to see Lexi and Jayden when their regular babysitter can't watch them. I enjoy those moments because I grew to love these two precious children. Through trial and error I have learned a lot about myself. Some things were worth changing but without being tested I would have never known what it was that needed to be changed.

Second, McKenna has hair. How come no one ever told me she had a slight mullet? Looking back I see how much she has grown and changed. It has been a joy watching her personality blossom.

And lastly, we have made some big changes here in the Davis household. Andy no longer installs hardwood floors for Nampa Floors as he is now working construction for Earth Energy and working on getting his business Moose Creek Construction up and going with his brother Steve. Andy works out of town every week and comes home on the weekends so Steve has been left dealing with all the work. I am going to school at College of Western Idaho taking English and Algebra. I am working on my prerequisites for the Nursing program, but I have been praying about this decision to make sure it is what God has planned for me. Ethan started Pre-School in September when he turned FOUR! He loves going to school and goes on Tuesday and Thursday's. I have enjoyed going through this stage even though I predicted that I would be sad. It's actually one of my favorite stages seeing him learn new things and get excited about school. McKenna is our dashing 2 1/2 year old that keeps us on our toes all the time. She can talk sentence after sentence and even asks questions. Mostly when she is talking on her play phone. She is stubborn, strong willed, and difficult at times but every minute of it is worth it.

Now that I am mostly caught up, I will try to stay on top of things. It's great to be back in the world of blogging. Boy have I missed it!

Our Family. August 2011

Changes

I always thought I would be a regular "blogger" and keep things up to date. That all changed when the Davis house went from two kids to four. Through prayer and God opening new doors I have started babysitting 2 kids four days a week about three weeks ago. Hence why I have not updated anything. It has been such a blessing having this opportunity and I feel great that it's a "God thing" not a "Jill thing". I watch a 2 year old (Lexi) and a 7 month old (Jayden) who are both fun and easy kids to watch. We enjoy crafts, reading, playing, singing, and naps. Yes, naps are a must at the Davis house! I have watched my kids change and grow through this new adjustment in their lives and enjoy seeing them interact with other kids. Ethan is quiet protective of his sister and McKenna likes to copy everything Miss Lexi does.

 

Jayden & Lexi

Other changes happen daily when McKenna sneaks off into her bedroom and comes back with mismatched shoes and a coat or hat on. She loves to dress up and change her clothes. I could see dress up clothes being her favorite birthday present this year when we celebrate her 2nd birthday. She also has a knack for trying on other people's shoes when we have guests over. They are typically way too big and result in a frustrated toddler when the shoes just don't cooperate. Bless her heart!

Yes she planned this on her own

Mommy's boots are almost as big as her!

Left behind cowboy boots

Had to have her hat on!

Barely awake before 7 am and has Lexi's boots on!

Tiffany was over for 5 mins dropping Sophia off and Kenna stole her shoes

And then she stole Sophia's!

Found Mommy's high heels and walked gracefully out of the room

Classsic pic

Jabbers Of Fun

Today the kids got a month pass to Jabbers. I am looking forward to taking them regularly to burn some energy. It's the perfect remedy for our winter restlessness. The kids and I were driving each other nuts being trapped inside all day. So we are venturing out across town this month to hit the most fun place in a kid's world.

Ready, Set, Go!!!

Ethan takes the lead!

 

This is the "I lost" face "But, it won't happen again"

In Kid Paradise!

"My OWN shopping cart!?"

 

Baby in tow and off they go! 

Not a bit surprised Ethan found the train table

 

Ethan's favorite part-The Slide

He can play for several hours solid

 

Playing in the tree house

True happiness!

Oh to be a kid again!

Cute Little Lady

Her favorite toy to plow down on!

In the kitchen, just like mommy

 

She'll take this please.... :)

We had such a great time today, we will be back again tomorrow...and the next day and the next day. As Ethan likes to call it "Grabbers" here we come!

Celebrate!

This weekend I had the luxury of celebrating my four year wedding anniversary with my hubby. We went up to beautiful McCall, ID. When we got married (Jan 12, 2007) we started the tradition of going skiing to celebrate our wedding day. On our 1 year wedding anniversary we went to Bogus Basin to ski but have not been skiing since. But for great reason. On our second anniversary I was pregnant with McKenna and we signed the papers for our first house! So it was still really special! On our three year anniversary we were not able to go because I was nursing McKenna who refused to take a bottle and be left with anyone besides her dad or I. So I felt we were DUE for a little weekend getaway.

Once we got checked into our hotel at Shore Lodge, we went to lunch at Subway and then headed to Brundage to hit the slopes.

This is the man who makes my life complete

He gives me that cheesy dimply smile :)

On the lift, ready for some action!

God's beauty being captured

Love this! See our little shadow in the upper left corner?

Jill & Andy (2011)

 

 

Amazing view (PLUS the trail sign looks like a cross)

Andy waiting on me to head down the steep hill

After a great time skiing, we went back to our hotel room and got ready for dinner. We went to My Father's Place and had amazing burgers, fries, and hot chocolate. It's another tradition of ours to go there to eat when we're up in McCall. 

Just happy!

 

 After we ate we drove down to Donnelly and went to Gold Fork Hot Springs. It was a bit crowded for us love birds, but it was incredibly relaxing and warm! The water that it. It was so cold outside my hair froze walking back to the car!

The view from our hotel room

Taking it all in before we head home

XOXO

We had an amazing time getting away for the weekend. It's not always easy to find sitters and leave our kids. But I know the importance of setting aside time for our relationship. I benefited a lot from the alone time I got with Andy. And I think that we both felt refreshed heading back home to see our kids. I'm still crazy in love with the man I married 4 years ago and look forward to MANY MANY MORE years together, happily married.