break

Pine cone wars in the front yard. Neighbors gotta love us.

Mama got a new toy.
It is so great, once I figure out how to use it.

Um... industrious?

This is where our spring break 2011 was supposed to take us.
Well, something like it anyway. The warm sun of Arizona. 

And he we are instead, the streets of Nampa.
The family will get away for Easter to Seattle instead, the big move in June,
& hopefully we will sneak Arizona in before year's end.
It was hard for us to let go of the family trip for spring break.
Arizona has a special place in our story. It is where we became a family.
But the move demanded it & that is our next chapter,
so we are trying to be good characters.

craft-tastic!

To kick off Spring Break, I joined up with Andrea for a craft day.
I made a banner of paper using security envelope liners, first.

I wanted a draft stopper for our old front door.
Andrea came up with an idea to make it look like a  dinosaur, she is rad like that.

We baked banana chocolate mini muffin loaves.

Then, on to cupcakes!

Orange cake with orange filling & chocolate cream cheese icing,
they tasted to me like those chocolate covered orange jelly sticks.

home

via

Collin is 4!

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Roald Dahl

awe, you guys are the best

Last night, Matt & I went to parent-teacher conferences. All the boys are doing quite well, a conference was not necessary for any of them. It is just good for a parent to hear anyway. We laughed & joked with the boy's teachers, because they are our friends first. At home we reveled in a good day of parenting battles then Matt went off to bed. I snuck out for a late night out with a friend from out of town. We chatted & joked, celebrating girl-ness & encouraging one another about the parenting battles we are losing. I was so inspired about the Seattle Experiment, a good friend will do that for you. Thanks, Jen! And thanks for your extra love you have all shared in comments. You guys are the best!

Oldies but Goodies, that time again

These 3 pictures are from June 2007. Kaleb was all dressed up for his 
Preschool graduation. Those flushed cheeks, oh, I love 'em!

Baby love. Collin was the sweetest baby that ever has lived. 
He cooed & slept, that's all.

Aden was most at home with staying at home 
with me during the day. We are both home-bodies. 
He loved to play dress up & have dance parties in the kitchen with me. 
This day he was dressed up as a pirate & he had a child-sized 
shopping cart he was pushing around. Hey, pirates need groceries too.


I WANT MY BABIES BACK.

last call

I love this boy & all the new things he is learning. He is so funny, he makes my days bright. I delight in how he pieces life together in his own way. Last week, he helped me pick a winner for the giveaway from a hat. When I said he had drawn Hannah, he shouted, "Yay! Now we get doughnuts!" ? What? Okay. When I told him we were going to visit his friend, Mary, he was super elated about playing with an orange tuba. ? What? I don't know what he is thinking & I don't care, he makes life fun. He is a joy, when he grabs my hand & says, "Come with me, show ya." I never know what he has come up with. Sometimes he needs a "chip" (guitar pick) to play on his guitar that "Bump-pa" Ken made him. Sometimes he says he needs me to clip his "snails." (fingernails) He calls salt "salsa" & Nerf bullets "bullies." Ninja Turtles are his obsession of late, especially Leonardo & the color blue.
We love you, baby boy! Happy last day of 3 years old!

this says it best

“I haven’t a clue how my story will end, but that’s all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that’s when you discover the stars.” -Nancy Willard

panic attack

That is what the big move is amounting to, a panic attack. (Matt has a more fitting term he uses at work, cluster****, but I am trying to keep this family friendly.) I know that when we prayed about the idea we were kind of invoking the jitters & anxiety that plague humanity in general, but they specifically turbo-breed when you are committing comfort suicide.

I mean, our life here is pretty sweet. We have a community that adores my husband & all the amazing programs he has been a part of, almost all the extended family within reach,  2 date nights every week, the boy's teachers are our genuine friends, money left after the bills are paid, weekends that can be devoted to fun instead of endless house projects, & so much more that goes unnoticed.

But not for long. We are hoping that God will blow our mind with the next chapter of our story. So far, the expectations are really high. As are the worries. Did we hear right? Will there be a better job? Will there be a job at all? The church has been the source of our greatest hurts, is this going to be different? Do we really trust Him?

I have decided it is like the rookie mistake of praying for patience. If you have done this, you know what I mean. The universe upchucks all it's calamity on you & you get patience, along with some wisdom to never ask for it again. There are all these desires that swarm in our hearts, now, we are stepping out with our family to see if any take flight.

In the meantime. For my peeps who need deets, this is what we know: we are moving to the Seattle area from June 1- August 20ish for sure. We are committing at least this summer to checking it out. My sister, Lindsay is embarking on this adventure as well. We will rent at least a 4 bedroom place to give her a room in the Achuleta casa. Pray for her. Just kidding, she loves the wild boys & we even left her alone with them for a few days to make sure. We will be moving Memorial Day weekend after, hopefully, securing a place to live over Easter weekend. All of us, Lindsay , & some grandparents will be heading to Seattle for Easter services at the church we are going to be a part of. Maybe there is a frat house by the U of W for rent? Haha, I am not joking. We do not have any job lined up, just some programs & the church that we want to check out. That is really freaky, & that is all we know.

Thanks for all your encouragement & prayers, it has meant so much to me in the last week. And, yes! Seattle will not change the blog! It will in fact, get better, in quantity anyway. It may just be a lot more posts on panic attacks :/

date night

Matt & I whisked our older boys away for a date last Saturday.

First stop was dinner at the Green Chile on State St.

Then to some pretty sweet seats at the Idaho Stampede game.

Parker got a black eye from running into a pole earlier in the week.
Wow, aren't we a graceful bunch?

Kaleb caught a wristband but his mama got juked for a t-shirt. I wouldn't want the boys to see me beat down an elderly woman for something that would surely end up at the Goodwill, anyhow.

The Governor & first lady were in attendance.

Where's Waldo Kaleb? He went to boogie down at half-time.

This? No words.

just keep swimming

Finding Nemo, anyone? I was processing with a good friend the other day & made a confession. I think we are gypsies. I am really scared that we will never put down roots. I mean, it is not all bad to be a loaded truck away from the next chapter of our lives, we are getting pretty mobile over the years. I think it usually works the other way though, you know, grow up, settle down. But with the big move on the horizon I am holding out for more. That we would find "home" & community, & the dreams I am dreaming for our family.

In the meantime, amidst fear & panic & seriously, moving again? The boys are steadfast in their silliness, a breath of fresh air for this frazzled Mama.

when I'm freaked

The Seattle Experiment

This is my billionth time trying to post about out Seattle move in June. No, we don't have a job lined up there. Yes, housing is RIDICULOUS expensive. Yes, it rains 90% of the year. But, we think we are supposed to take the leap. When I can put words to it, I will.

pay it forward

 *****UPDATE!*****

Congratulations to Hannah! She wins some iTunes lovin'. Thanks for letting me & this family blog put some good stuff out there, especially in the wake of recent events. Your gift card is on it's way, Hannah.


A sweet blog friend just gave me a free blog makeover. I love it! I thought the only appropriate response would be to pass on the generosity. So, not quite as cool as knowing all those HTML codes & whatnot, but I am often told that readers are loving my play list. I have a $15 itunes gift card so you can make some of those songs your own. All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Funny Farm post. Easy enough, right? I will randomly select a winner sometime next week.

weekend

Airplane runs, scooter rides, & backyard BUMP duels.

Chalkboard wall initiation.

Cascade with the Cardillos!

"Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family." 
— Henri J.M. Nouwen