Happy Halloween

Addicted to Blog

Yes, I am a blog addict! I admit that I spend a good deal of time every day checking and reading blogs (all links to the right). Especially since moving to Tennessee, I rely on the blogs of friends and more particularly family to stay connected. I think my step-sister Nancy and friend Kristen were the first people I knew who had their own blogs and so I decided to start my own in April 2006. I am now happy to report that much of my family has since joined the blogging world from all over the country. I am so glad that we can keep in touch and see updated photos of the adorable kids! Here are the sites of my family members and their growing families: My mom, Leslie and husband Carl. My step-sister Nancy. My sister Corrine. My brother Brad. Cousins Jessa, Crystal, Allen, Jamie.

And I'd like to give a gentle nudge to the rest of my family that have not yet joined us in cyber-space. It's super easy and FREE! Yes, I'm talking to you!

Photos from Tennessee!

Okay, here are a lot more photos. The links to the right have a bunch of our adventures over the last couple of months since we moved here. I hope you enjoy them and just for fun here's one of Jack and Ben, can you guess who is who?

china meadows august 2007

To your right, you will find some pictures from our last family trip to China Meadows in the Uintah Mountains under the link titled "china meadows august 2007." Enjoy!!

Playing Tag

Nancy tagged me, so here goes:

Jobs I've had:
1. Resident Assistant of University Student Apartments (If that counts as a real job)
2. 4th Grade teacher
3. Student Secretary (several different times during college at Ricks and BYU)
4. Baskin Robbins- talk about the perfect job for an ice cream lover!
5. Mom- I just had to throw that one in- I mean I have NEVER had a harder job in my life!

Places I've lived:
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Provo, UT
3. Rexburg, ID
4. Fallon, NV (Where I grew up and went to High School)
5. Gabbs, NV (Don't ask!)
6. San Diego, CA (Where I was born)

Food I love:
1. Thai Food (Haven't found a place in Nashville yet, I really miss Sawadee in Salt Lake!)
2. Ice Cream (Dreyer's Double Fudge Brownie, Raspberry Chocolate Chunk)
3. Chocolate candy (twix, snickers, heath, kit kat, almond joy, mmm)
4. Crispy Creme Donuts (especially with frosting and sprinkles on top)
5. Pasta Alfredo (chicken, shrimp)

Websites I visit:
Friends & Family Blogs, these are some of my favorites lately (regular posters!):
1. Christiansen Clan (This is my friend Ashely and her family- we taught 4th grade together!)
2. Faith, Love, Family (This is my step-sister and very best friend and her adorable family)
3. Impressions of My Life (My cousin, her husband and adorable kids)
4. Kristen's Blog (One of my best friends growing up in Fallon, NV and her beautiful family)
5. Nelson's in Nashville (Some new friends in Nashville- we're also doing preschool with her son Brody!)

Places I'd Rather Be:
1. At home (I am a homebody)
2. Somewhere with family- Salt Lake, Nevada, California
3. In a cabin in the mountains!

Movies I love:
1. Pride & Prejudice (A&E version)
2. Mansfield Park (pretty much any Jane Austen book turned film)
3. The Holiday

Shows I Watch (I really watch channels- not too addicted to any one show):
1. HGTV- Divine Design, Whose Wedding is it anyway?, etc.
2. TLC design and baby shows when I catch 'em.

People I tag:
Heather N.
Kristen H.
Ashley C.
Crystal L.
Corrine (that's two for you- ya better get going!)

Just call me C-Van

I saw this on another blog and got some giggles...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Buffy Caravan

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cream

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
C-Van

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Green Monkey

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Marie Fallon

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Vancr

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Blue Smoothie

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Leonard Glenn

9. ex*tic dancer Name: (fav scent + fav candy)
Vanilla Twix

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Denise Alan

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Ashley Austin

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower),
Autumn Daisy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Strawberry baby tee

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Egg Aspen

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Card Rain Tour

my great skills

I've learned how to carry two babies, one in each arm, holding them facing out, my arm across their chests and between their legs so I can hold the keys, then down 36 steps (3 flights) to my van (hurrying Pete to "follow me, quick"). I open the van sliding door (yes, while still balancing the babies) and place one baby into the car seat with that arm, without banging his head on anything, and he sits there unbuckled, without wiggling of course, so that I can walk around to the other side and put the second baby in (with two hands this time) and buckle him up. Then I head back around and buckle the first baby in! Pete gets into his seat in the back by himself and I climb into the back of the car via the back hatch door and buckle him in.

Then we're off for some fun shopping! I like Kroger (which is Smith's for you Utahns) because they have little shopping carts for Pete to push (which is great since I have a double stroller to push, so I can't get a full size cart) and I can get as much stuff as I can fit into his little kid-sized cart! Sam's club is the only place in America that has carts with double kid seats in the front (Pete gets to sit in the basket). Thank you Sam's Club, and the inventor of kid-sized shopping carts!

The most exhausting part, and probably the funniest, is coming home. I unbuckle Pete first, unless he's fallen asleep in which case, I'll come back for him later. Then I unbuckle one baby, and go around to unbuckle and pick up the other in my one arm sling hold as mentioned before. I go back around and pick up the other baby, who has hopefully not wiggled out and scoop him up in my other arm, then close the sliding door trying not to bonk any heads. I then hurry Pete up the 36 steps again and unlock the front door of our apartment between one babies legs and push open the door with my shoulder and set the babies on the floor. Then it's back down for the groceries. Sometimes I can get the groceries with the kids, if it's only a bag or two and then I imagine it's really a sight to see. Me with a diaper bag on my arm, some grocery sacks, juggling two babies and scurrying a toddler up 3 flights of stairs!

It really is quite humorous, I wish I had a picture of it all! My mostly young and childless neighbors probably get a kick out my little show. I try to avoid going to the store until I really, really need to or until Wade is home and I can make a solo run (thanks sugar)!

Where a mom can be a kid!

I actually enjoy planning and holding preschool. Not only do I get a break from time to time and Pete enjoys playing with other kids and doing some fun stuff, but I really enjoy creating fun stuff for the kids to do, singing kids songs, dancing around, reading children's book, using crayons and stickers, playing with my food and basically just acting like a kid. This is a photo from Peter's new preschool (this was at our house). It has been a lot of fun so far(the whole three days we've had it!). From left to right Thomas, Pete, Brody, & Clark are going to be great friends (whether they want to or not!).