Trip to Wisconsin, the ER, and Gabe's graduation

I have not been so good about blogging since we moved here. But I am trying to keep going so I can print it off into a book at the end of the year like I did last year. It's the closest thing to a journal I am doing right now! So... first I have to talk about our trip to Wisconsin.

The first week of May, me and the boys flew to Wisconsin for a little visit. I was a little nervous about the two boys on the airplane, but they did great. Our layover in Minneapolis was so tight though. We flagged down a little golf cart guy as soon as we got off the plane and zoomed through the airport dodging pedestrians the whole way and STILL barely made it! They were announcing the last call for boarding to Milwaukee as we were zooming down the last little hallway and I was like, "Step on it buddy! That's us!!" But we just made it. The boys thought it was fun. :)

When we were in Wisconsin we did a lot of their favorite Wisconsin things - including playing at McDonalds (yes, we have one in Rexburg but I guess the Fond du lac one is cooler), playing with their cousin Jasmine, playing at Lakeside Park and climbing to the top of the lighthouse, going to the Children's Museum, and of course Culver's. If I could choose four things to build in Rexburg,they would be: 1) A really cool Children's Museum (the flood museum does not count) 2)An indoor waterpark 3) Culver's and 4) Menard's. I miss Menard's. I also wish people in Rexburg did more Rummage sales (or I guess they are called garage sales here.) There's got to be a lot of quality baby clothes just going to DI out here (that's like their Goodwill store.) People are too nice out here and they just give stuff away. In Wisconsin, we're like, "No way! I'm gonna make $400 off this stuff!" I need to go through my baby stuff bad. Do you think if I just throw away all my baby boy stuff it will guarantee I have a girl next? I wish. :)

Anyways, we stayed in Wisconsin for a week and left on Mother's Day. We all brought colds back home with us. We are finally now just getting over them I think.

Once we got back to Idaho, Gabe had only 3 weeks left of preschool. He was really busy with his last field trips and activities. He also had his last speech class until Fall. He loves his speech teacher. He went twice a week since we moved here and she helped him tons. I hope he can work with her again in the Fall. Then Gabe also had a field trip to the Idaho Falls zoo. We all tagged along with him. :) It was actually a pretty nice zoo. I think they had some kind of fun park outside of it too, but it was raining by the end and we left just in time. Gabe's favorite part of the zoo was the otters. He had to get this stuffed otter before we left. Then this last week was the end of preschool for him. H had his official graduation on Thursday night. Then he had a bowling trip on Friday for their last day party. He's going to miss all his little buddies, especially Hudson.

So one more quick story: the night of Gabe's graduation at about 5:00, Gabe and Caleb were playing out in the clubhouse while I was talking to two girls in my office. Caleb suddenly started to scream and I ran out only to find his head gushing blood. The gash on his forehead was pretty deep and I ran into the office carrying him and said to the girls, "Do you think he needs stitches?" (I've never had them) and they were like, "Oh yeah, definitely!" So one girl drove us to the ER while one stayed with Gabe. On the way there Caleb told us he had been riding his bike (his little bike with training wheels) near the game room and "Gabe pushed me over!!!!" as he rounded the corner. Then we think he fell and bumped his head just right on the base of the heavy bar stools that go around these high tables. So we got to the ER and he was freaking out more after I said, "We have to go see the Doctor" than just from the initial pain. Josh came over too (in his police uniform) and helped old him while they stitched him up. He got five stitches in the corner of his forehead. It was so sad! But he was fine as soon as we left the hospital. He's playing like normal right now.

So! That's been the news here! We're just still waiting for Summer it feels like. There's still lots of sweatshirt days and rainy days going on here. It gets so cold and windy at nights too it seems like. Gabe keeps asking, "When will it be Summer?" I'm like, "I wish I knew!" They are building this water park here but it doesn't even look close to being done and even if it were it'd still be too cold anyways. They probably should've made it an indoor one. Oh well! We'll look forward to our Wisconsin trip in August and the waterpark there! That's all for now!

Grandmas visit, Montana, and Happy Birthday, Gabe!

So much has happened in this past month! I went to visit Wisconsin for my grandpa Dahlke's funeral. It was a sad time, but also happy because he didn't have to spend his last few years in a nursing home, which was something he had always feared. While I was home, about five days after he had passed away, we received an offer on our house! (I think he was up there working some magic for us...) We closed on the Wisconsin house officially on March 11th. It is such a relief, but it was also a little sad walking through it last month for what I knew would be the last time. :( It's not that I'll miss the house really, it's just thinking of all the great memories we had there with the little boys! Hopefully our next house will be our last house.

So, I got back home, got back to work filling this apartment complex for Spring, and Josh decided to sell his car (the Camry). I posted it on craigslist, and just mentioned in paranethese "husband wants a truck so we're selling our Camry..." and we had lots of people offering up trades! Well, so he found a truck he liked, a Blue Dodge Dakota, and the guy even paid a little to make the trade even. So Josh finally has his truck. It's an Idaho guy thing, but he's happy. He also has a police car that he drives to and from work.

Next news - my mom and grandma Dahlke came out to visit! They came up on March 17th and left yesterday. While they were here I showed them all around Rexburg - and after that hour was over - we went to Montana to visit my brother's family. We had a little joint birthday party for Gabe and Milana. It was a lot of fun.

Then TODAY was Gabe's BIG party with all of his preschool friends. First he celebrated at preschool from 9 am - 11:15 am. Then we had a party here right after that! I decided to invite all 18 of the kids in his class, thinking for sure half wouldn't come. Oh no. I was wrong. They all came but 2 I think! I had about 16 little kids running around here in the clubhouse movie theater from 11:30 to 1:30 today!!! I think I was a little crazy for doing that but it went pretty well. It was a pirate themed party. We had a pizza lunch first, then did a ship pinata, pin the flag on the treasure map, a treasure hunt that ended in them getting little candy-filled treasure chests, and we watched a little episode of Gabe's favorite show, "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" on the big movie screen. He got lots of little presents too. I think he had a lot of fun. We got him a new bike for his birthday, but unfortunately with the Idaho Pony Express, it has still not arrived. Hopefully by his 6th birthday it might be here... Then tonight, Josh's family came over for some cake and ice cream. It was a very eventful past couple of weeks!

I am really hoping for a little relaxation this next week, but with the upcoming semester Check-outs and check-ins going on between April 9th and April 15th, I am sure the relaxation won't last long!! This life sure is getting crazy!!! Pictures to come soon! Too tired tonight!!

Is it Spring yet?

So, I haven't posted since January! I am so behind! It has been busy, but I'm definitely not as stressed as was back when I wrote that last post. We are about, 95% full for the upcoming Spring semester, which starts in mid-April, so I'll hopefully have a good month to do what I did last semester in about 1 week. That was not a fun week!

I had a little trip to Wisconsin about two weeks ago. Sadly, it was for my grandpa's funeral, but it was a nice opportunity to get a little break and see my family. It was also a kid-free trip - so it was actually relaxing! Also, I don't want to jinx it, but I think we might've sold our house while I was there! We got a really low offer but then we countered back, they countered back again, we countered back again and finally we settled on a price. So now it's in that waiting phase. We hopefully close on March 18th if everything goes as planned. It'll be really nice to start paying ourselves that money every month!

We also took a little trip to Montana last month to visit my brother's family. They live in the woods in a log cabin - it was kind of scary at night. But they love it out there. Gabe's favorite part was shooting this potato gun that Aaron made.

Josh has been took the boys up to Ashton to see his dad's horses one day recently. Then Caleb got kicked in the head by one! That is a true story. I swear. Yeah, I was pretty upset. Josh tried to tell me the bruise was from running into something but when I asked Caleb what happened he said, "A horse kicked me. It not feel good." I looked at Josh like, "WHAT!?!" I still don't know what exacty happened that day but I'm not sure I'll let him go up there again.

Oh, and they also went to this dog sled race thing while I was in Wisconsin. They let Gabe take a turn driving one of the sleds.

Gabe is liking preschool. He got to bring home this stuffed puppy for the weekend and we're supposed to write in a journal about what we did. However, is it OCD of me that all I keep thinking about is, "How many other little kids' germs are all over this thing? Is this sanitary?" I just had a campus meeting about bed bugs.... I think it's got me a little freaked out. I could go into details but you'll be scratching nervously for the next week if I do...

What else... Josh is loving his new police job. It is in Rexburg (where we live) so he only drives 5 minutes (in a police car he brings home) to get to work. He is working 4 tens then has 3 days off. He likes this much better than the 6 on, 3 off with Winnebago county.

That is all I can think of for right now! Hope you're all doing well!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe the year is already 2011. When I take girls' contracts and I put their birth years in as 1992 I still can not believe that is possible. I feel like I am their age but I SO am not! :(

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. We relaxed most of the day at home and the boys got lots of toys and clothes. Then I rung in the new year by assembling welcome packets for 225 girls until 5:30 am.... I really am hoping this gets less crazy soon or I'm not sure how long I'm going to last... Tommorow is the big check-in day and I do not think I could possibly be MORE prepared. I feel like I have spent the past three days going over every single girl's balance, room mate requests, and more and I feel like I'm working like a mad woman. I just really want it all to go smoothly. I feel like if I can be orgaized right from the start for the Spring semester my job will just be that much less stressful at the next move-in time.

Here are some pictures of the boys on Christmas. We hung our stockings out by the big fireplace in the lounge (I wish that was my house - as some have thought....) It feels like my house sometimes! I clean it daily as if it was my house! Our apartment is just through the office though. Gabe and Caleb like playing the Mario cart Wii in the game room and watching movies in the theater. Now that the girls are moving in tey'll have to learn to share, but during the mornings when the boys are around are when the clubhouse is the quietest anyway.

Miss you all in Wisconsin!

My favorite Christmas moment

Merry Christmas!

I hope to post pictures soon too, but here's a sweet story:

So, my mom bought the boys these advent calendars to have for the month of December - you know - where you open a little door everyday and there's a candy inside? So, about a week ago, I had the boys both taking their daily candy out and I had to run into the office (right next to our kitchen) and help a student. When I returned five minutes later, Caleb was sitting on the floor next to an empty calendar with a chocolately face and a smile. I was like, "Caleb! You ate them all?!" Gabe was shaking his head and said, "Now Caleb's not going to have any more candy!" And I was like, "Nope, that's too bad for him. He ate it all and now it's gone!"

So, this past week every time Gabe has opened a little window on his calendar, Caleb has come to me and been like, "My candy?" and usually I've scounged up a piece of chocolate somewhere for him. But on Christmas Eve Day, I was fresh out of everything chocolate. And Gabe was so excited to open his very last door of chocolate. But when he opened it, Caleb was kneeling down next to him watching (as usual), and Caleb looked at me and asked, "My candy too?" And I said, "Sorry Caleb. Yours is all gone because you ate it and I don't have any for you today." And do you know what Gabe did? He looked at Caleb and looked at his last piece of candy and said, "Here Caleb. You can have my piece if you want." And he gave him his very last piece! It was soooo sweet! I was like, "Gabe, I can not believe you did that! That was so nice!" (Caleb of course didn't really grasp how nice it was, he just took it and ate it - he may have said a quick thank you, I'm not sure...) But then Gabe's like, "That would make Jesus happy right?" It was so cute because we've talked about how Christmas is really Jesus' birthday and for his present he just wants us to be nice to eachother. It was soooo cute! Merry Christmas everyone!

"It look like Disney World!"

Quick funny story....

Last night when we were driving home from the store, we went past the corner on the hill where the temple sits (yes, we live down the street from a temple - crazy!) and it was so beautiful all lit up that we said to Gabe, "Isn't that pretty Gabe? Look at the temple!" And Gabe said, "It looks just like Disney World!" We had a good laugh. I guess I can see how it would look similar to a four-year old. That's all I have time for now! Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Getting Moved In

Wow, time flies! We spent about a month living with Josh's parents and it is nice to be moved into our own place. However, I am still getting adjusted to this crazy manager lifestyle I've signed up for! My friend, Tiffany (who has managed with her husband for a few years now at other apartments and now manages the "brother complex" to ours) keeps telling me it will slow down.... I hope, I hope!

We moved in last Thursday and had to decorate the just barely finished clubhouse for Christmas. Then they had an open house on Fridy and Saturday. This week it's helping Tiffany at Southgate with her check-outs and lots of girls moving their stuff into storage here for the winter break who are moving in in January. In between all that I have about 300 girls to assign apartments to who all have many requests, "room with Mary, same ward as Scott Hart, building by the clubhouse, and oh yeah, near Julie..." the list goes on. I really hope I can make all these girls happy! I've been so busy, it's like, "When do I do my laundry? Go grocery shopping?" I kind of miss just hanging out with my boys all day! :( I'm trying to get them to let me hire an office assistant a couple of afternoons per week. Hopefully it works out. When we signed up for this, the hours were going to be 9 am - 1:00 pm M-F but right after we got here the owner said he wanted 9 am - 6 pm M-F and we were like, "Uh, well, we can't really back out now...we're here!" So, I really hope he let's me hire this assistant that I want to cover at least Tues, and Thurs. afternoons. They did double the salary, which is nice, but at some point I just say, "I don't care, I still want more time with my kids," you know? So, that's where we're at right now. It is a beautiful place to live. Every girl I show an apartment to just loves it. I can confidently say it is the nicest apartment complex in the city. So, I'm grateful for the situation we're in, (especially since our house STILL hasn't sold!) it's just sad somedays, especially when Gabe says, "I miss spending time with you, Mom..." awww! Tear! He is in preschool here, but I still miss Hope in Wisconsin. I talked to his old teacher today and she said the kids still talk about Gabe and how, "He's never coming back." (Aww! Tear again!) I think maybe we should come home for a visit in Spring and let him go visit Hope again for a couple days just for fun. I'm thinking May would be a good time for a visit to Wisconsin. :)

Well, that's all for now! Here's some pics of all the snow and the boys sledding, kitties at grandma's house, and more.

Life in Idaho...

No pictures this post, sorry. If I were to post pictures they would be of snow, snow, everywhere! It is always snowy here where Josh's parents live I think. But then 30 miles south it is usually melted. So, we made it here safely.

Jeni - if you are reading this - I tried to post a comment back to you on your blog but it wouldn't let me for some reason. I miss you too! Tell the girls I said hi.

We are living here in the thriving metropolis of Chester, Idaho. Population: 4. No, I don't know but it feels like 4. Our apartments are coming along. They had the paint done when we were there and we installing cabinets in the kitchen this week. I'm really excited for them. They are so nice. I really think the sqare footage of our apartment may be the same as if not bigger than our house. I had people telling me, "Oh, it'll be hard for you to go back to an apartment after living in a house," but they haven't seen this apartment... I think I'll survive. :) I am starting to train now with my friend, Tiffany (yes, it's awesome we have the same name) and so far it's going well. I am only overwhelmed a few times per session. :) Right now it's all about learning the computer system for contracts.

Gabe started preschool on Monday. My initial response was, "Oh, this is a step down from his old preschool..." but he says he likes it and seems like he's having fun so I guess that's what matters. Plus it's close to our apartments and coincides with my office schedule so it'll be good.

Caleb is the little moody man. Sometimes he's so sweet then when he's lacking sleep he gets feisty and him and Grandpa Rhodes go at it. We try to tell Grandpa Rhodes not to sink to the maturity level of the two-year-old... :) It's a test of his patience I think. They'll probably throw a party when we move out.

What else? Josh is working for Teton. He likes it but says it is way more relaxed than Winnebago - for good and bad. I like that he works 4 days on, 4 days off and the pay is I think the best in southeastern Idaho for Sheriff's departents so that's good.

The best part of being back here is that we've already gotten to hang out with lots of our friends - Tiff, Scott, Charm, Devin, (briefly), Abbie, Jordan, and more! That's more than we hung out with all year in Wisconsin! Plus Gabe has gotten to see all his cousins now I think. (All 16!)

We miss Wisconsin and Gabe and Caleb both have their, "I want to go home moments..." (as do I, especially when my mom tells me I got a 30 percent off coupon in the mail this time for Kohl's, which now is an hour away instead of 5 minutes - thanks mom!)
but we are slowly adjusting. Wish you all well!

Halloween and now Moving Day!

Only one more full day left in Wisconsin! Josh's boy posse is arriving in Wisconsin tommorow sometime to help us pack up the truck. I have found out today that it is not just Devin. The posse consists of his two cousins, but on different sides, Devin and Steve, and his buddy, who is also somehow related, Scott. I would call the relationship they all have a bro-mance but then it would be a somewhat incestial bromance. Whatever it is, I am glad it exists because they are doing us a huge favor. What good friends/bromances he has that are willing to drive across the country to help us move! I can't believe it. They must really love Josh. Is it even necessary for me to be describing all this since the only ones who read my blog are the boy posse's wives? I don't know. But I am sure they will get a kick out of it and totally agree with me about it. I love you girls! I am so excited to see you again! Thanks for sharing your men for a week.

Anyhoo.... so my house is in total disarray right now. Hopefully it will be ready by tommorow when they get here. Then Friday morning we pull out for IDAHO! Right now Gabe is being pretty optimistic about the whole move. Today though he did ask, as I was packing up his toys, "Why do you want to move anyway?" I wasn't sure what to say. I think I said, "Because we knew we wanted you boys to grow up there there and decided to move now instead of later." He says he will miss his preschool friends and Jasmine, but "he is going to make new friends too." We'll see how it goes...

Here are the Halloween pictures of the boys, my little Buzz and Woody! So cute! My friend actually MADE that Buzz costume! It was amazing! Thanks Jeni!

Good bye Wisconsin...

Well, the time has come to say goodbye again to Wisconsin. When I was graduating from high school I was practically running to the stage to get my diploma so I could leave. I really never thought I would live here again. But, it just happened that we ended up moving back, thinking it would be for a year or two, and then we bought a house, had another kid, got a little more settled, and Josh started having a meltdown. "Are we really going to live here FOREVER!?!" So, when our friends called us and told us about a good housing/manager opportunity, he started looking for jobs. We really didn't know if it would happen very fast but it did! So we are officially moving back to the land of potatoes. I do have to say I prefer cheese to potatoes. But there are other good things about Idaho (and Wisconsin). So, here is my ode to Wisconsin.

Top Ten Things I will miss about Wisconsin:
10 - Seeing all the many trees change color in the fall and the grass turning green in the Spring (very green).
9 - The entertainment value that my small LDS branch provides with some of it's crazier members. I will of course miss all the young women I've been serving as well.
8 - The Cheesecake Factory only 1 our away
7 - Knowing that when a Packer game is on, I can open my windows at home and hear every single person in their own living rooms cheer (or cuss) depending on the play.
6 - My OBGYN (seriously. She is awesome. She got me a full-term baby!)
5 - The preschool that Gabe goes to here (yes it is Lutheran so it's a little weird we take him to it, but it is still awesome and I think they may know the Bible stories better than me in all honesty.)
4 - The fun things to do here with kids like the waterpark, the children's museum, and Lakeside Park that are all within minutes and hardly ever that crowded.
3 - my fenced in backyard and good neighbors with little kids
2 - my family (mom will say, "This is not number one?!")
1 - the shopping (Can I survive in a city without a Target? Time will tell...)

Now, before I talk myself out of moving, I will make a list of the things I look forward to in Idaho:

10 - While the beauty of Rexburg kind of starts and ends with the temple (in my opinion) I know there is at least some beautiful scenery only a little ways away. Josh was at a hospital call the other day with one of his fellow deputies and there was a picture of the Tetons on the wall of the hospital and Josh said, "Hey look. That it where I am going to be working," to which his friend replied, "I hate you."
9 - Being in a ward where everybody is so talented that there are not enough "big callings" to even go around. I will also only have 2 people to visit teach, 5 less than I have now.
8 - Johnny Carinos: 30 minutes away. New Fongs: 2 minutes. Oh New Fongs, I've missed you!
7 - Well, I really got nothing to parallel the Packers to in Idaho. I guess the plus side is that Josh won't have all those domestic distubances to deal with when the Packers lose.
6 - Will somebody please recommend a good OBGYN? I got nothing here either. I'm thinking of trying that Rosemark place next time around.
5 - I already have Gabe enrolled in what I think will be a good preschool. It isn't free like it is here (boo) but I think he'll make friends fast.
4 - There may be a Rexburg waterpark in the works (?) from what I hear. Hopefully it won't be so overcrowded that all the kids get diarrea again. At least I know I have lots of friends with kids that stay home that we can have play dates with.
3 - A free place to live with a movie theater and fitness center. Maybe I'll even start to work out now that it's only 10 steps away..... um, if we're being honest.... no probably not.
2 - Lots of cool friends and Josh's family
1 - What is there in Idaho that can parallel good shopping? Hm... well at least there's always online shopping.

Fall Fun

Here's a few pictures of how we've been spending our unseasonably warm October. (Of course today it is super windy and probably about 45 degrees...) but up until today it's been pretty nice! We've been to the Little Farmer a couple times, Josh took the boys camping at my grandma and grandpa's farm, and they've had lots of fun playing outside with their neighborhood friends.