The adventures of Maxson and Chloe // Fall in Nebraska

Chloe is our next door neighbor. Her and Max are attached at the hip. They both love each other so stinking much. If one spots the other they run to each other yelling the other's name and embrace for a big hug, it's pretty much adorable. Chloe was sick recently for awhile and Max was devastated he couldn't play with her, he just kept asking and asking and asking if she could come play outside. I'm so happy we get such amazing friends to live right around us!

They helped me carve this pumpkin to cook dinner in it, neither one was willing to touch the guts inside, I was so surprised they're both usually oh so brave!

Our dinner in a pumpkin recipe via Mel's kitchen cafe.

Preschool shenanigans

 The campus near us had this tree celebrations thing we went to. Max only cared about being around Chloe most of the time. Katie taught us all about the true story of Smokey the Bear, that girl knows so much random information, it's amazing. The kids thought touching the bear was pretty cool. They made bug hats and collected lots of swag.

 Max and Chloe helped plant a tree!

 Halloween cookie decorating.

 Max poured at least half a bottle of sprinkles on his cookie, ha that boy.

 Max and Chloe helped me make the babies birthday cakes! They were super eager and excited to help.

 Ventured to the library story time for their special fire fighter day. Glories I did not take the babies because Max had 2 melt downs whilst there, ooy. But he LOVED the fire truck and their fire gear.

 Getting ready for Halloween!

 More leaf playing, the videos I have of them on this are super cute.

 Christy invented a new activity the kids kicking leaves off branches that had fallen from the tree, the kids loved  it, and now hope of it every time

Max is hilariously naughty at times. Sometimes extremely frustratingly naughty but sometimes hilarious. Boy has got a determined mind of his own. His speaking is getting better and better, he still has a hard time enunciating perfectly but I understand nearly everything he says as well as other parents, I think he'll get better with time. He has so much passion energy and excitement for life. He's the boy in the group running, going, doing, leading, I just need to learn how to harness his energy and love for all things life a little better. I'm already cursing winter in my mind for forcing us to stay cooped up inside! The extended warm days of fall have SAVED us immensely. This boy LIVES to go play outside. I hope so badly we get to move to a fenced in backyard that is fun for the kids to play in.

An unsuccessful excursion to story time.

Thank goodness Maxson has stopped fighting us on naps! He's back to being awesome at going to sleep 90% of the time and now that he's back in his bed he doesn't wake up during the night and cry for us. ROUTINE people, routine. So here we are, nap time and I'm blogging!

Today I tried going to story time at the library today with the kiddos by myself. I'd say I felt 35% successful.

Things that were successful
1. We got there
2. Max participated and listened maybe 40% of the time
3. There were no huge tantrums
4. Max was obedient on the way into the library and helped push in the stroller
5. Babies didn't cry cry during story time much

Things that were unsuccessful
1. I planned for the babies to be asleep the whole time, they woke up as soon as I got them out of the car
2. Max suddenly turned all shy and was standing by the wall far away from everyone else and wouldn't participate near others, even his friends. I was kinda surprised.
3. As soon as story time ended Max bolted for the door out into the ginormous library. Max runs really fast, the third time he did it we went home. And he still managed to escape 2 1/2 more times while I tried getting us ready to go
4. Max played with the name tag table for 20% of story time and made a huge mess pulling a bunch onto the ground
5. We couldn't check out the book Max wanted because I left the library card in the car and since it's under Casey's name she wouldn't let me (other branches have!)
6. During said check out time, Max ran almost far away 3 times
7. Yelling/tears ensued when we couldn't leave with the book
8. I had to carry him yelling and push the stroller out of the library and maneuver through small doors
9. I let him down to push the handicap button on the last door out. He then ran outside as fast as he could bolting to the street. I in turn chased after him before a car could hit him and right when I turned around the stroller was right behind me racing towards the street
10. Once to the car Max wouldn't stay in the car while I was getting the babies in and ran 2 car aisles away before I could catch him.

Fun, huh?

Overall he did just fine during story time, I will give him credit for that, it was the whole post story time that was awful. Maybe next time we will just bolt out the door as soon as story time is over…that is if there's another story time in the future. Honestly Max just isn't quite old enough/obedient enough for me to take all 3 kids by myself somewhere. The babies are both kinda demanding with needing bottles or being held and Max, from what you read, just runs away.

Any suggestions on toddlers running away? Other than a leash?

And a picture because we love pictures. After our trip we rearranged the car again. We brought the 8th seat back in so all the kids could be in the front row. It's working out super well actually! I love looking back there and seeing Maxson holding their hands!

Funny, thus far when I've asked him "is that baby asleep or awake?" he'll look at them and yell AWAKE! From what I've learned thus far, if the baby is awake he yells awake in excitement. If the baby is sleeping he yells awake to wake them up. We're working on the proper actions and responses to the question.

Things I've learned about myself lately

-I do not like being alone even the tiniest bit anymore. Not at all.
-No matter how much I try bacon, mushrooms, olives, and pickles, I cannot like them for the life of me. I want to, I really do, but I just can't.
-When I don't have meals planned in advance, cooking is a burden. When I have it planned cooking is enjoyable and then Casey can do it with me.
-Routines are good.
It's not worth saving money buying text books online if they're only going to show up a month after school starts and you've missed all that reading
-Our job truly rocks.
-I love milk (2%). I love love love love love it. Not nearly as obsessed about it like Annalee, but I love it when I get my milk. I'd literally drink it with every meal.
-I love Sunday walks :)
-I do not pick up after myself...and I don't even realize it! Casey is helping me remember to put something away that i literally just used!! I'm so dumb- I don't know what has gotten into me lately.


In other news, today's weather was heavenly. We woke up to thunder but no rain came until about 2 in the afternoon so it was beautifully overcast with a little breeze and barely dropped temperatures, so nice.

So for daily praying, Casey and I decided that instead of consistently asking each other "Who prayed last, is it your turn or my turn?" that instead, we'd just take odd vs even days. So that's what we do. I'm even bc I like even numbers. Casey is odd bc that is what was left over :) So yesterday in the morning we said, hmm what day is it?...It's Sept 21! Happy 10 months to us :) We had a quick little kiss and then went on to prayers. It was nothing special except that it was fun acknowledging the fact that it was.

The other day, this woman got mad at me at the library bc the sign above our Library Security office says "University Police" (bc we are a department of them)...she was mad bc the sign was "misleading" bc it wasn't the University Police headquarters...lady, it doesn't say headquarters. Unnecessary attitude was given.

That's it for now from this side of the fence :)

so remember how we're  both security guards at the HBLL now?

remember how when casey became a security guard he had to go through pepper spray training?

guess who else had to do pepper spray trainng yesterday?

me.

 ha, when e get the time i'll upload pics and the story!

did you hear about the Cutlers?

yep.

anyone can visit us at the library Mon and Tue nights together, and Thur afternoons!
 

oh what's in a name

A LOT

a lot is in a little name!- even if it's only 3 letters (i.e. Bob:)

you know that book "how to win friends and influence people" by Carnegie?

he says that's a big step: knowing people's name!

everyone loves their name

everyone wants to hear their name

and it feels good when someone unexpected remembers your name (i.e.- our bishop from last semester?! amazing!)

i try.

but so many times i fail miserably.

but casey is good. i seriosuly don't know how he does it!

with our job we see a lot of people all the time,

let's be honest, pretty much everyone goes into the library at some point, and casey and i sit there and watch them (btw- please do not bring jamba juices or pizza etc- you cannot eat it. AND you can only eat in the snack zone, por favor y gracias :)

there's people i see and kinda know, sometimes i know their name, sometimes not.

there's even people i see and LOVE, most the time i know their name, but sometimes i don't!

i hate it!

why can't you remember their darn name kimber?

 

on another note, it's the 2nd day of school!

i am so glad i've reached the point where i literally am excited for my classes.

i love my major and want to learn more, the stuff is seriously so amazing!

casey on the other hand...organic chemistry and other mean/boring classes,

you can do it babe!

but we did get lucky enough to have our religion class together!

church history 1800-1830 from the infamous susan e black herself.

legend has it she wanted to retire a few years ago, an apostle called her up and said "the lord wants you to keep teaching" talk about pressure on not getting to retire, ha

but she's incredible! 

we are so fortunate to have LDS religion classes required in our education and have such amazing professors!

they are undoubtedly some of my most life changing classes

on 1 more note, casey and i did our first legit coupon shopping experience yesterday! so fun!

i'm so glad he does it with me b/c it's so much more fun together! it's like a treasure hunt!

should've spent $60, only spent $23 :)

got a few freebies, a few cheapies, and few just good prices on things we needed.

we were happy and pleased with ourselves!

my affair with the library and english class.

I calculated it out, and 16 of the last 24 hours,

i spent in the library working on ONE retarded English project.

Yeah, I pretty much wanted to cry

Yesterday I was in the library from 8-5 straight working on it

note to self: stop procrastinating

blah

Yesterday I was fed up with school.

So as Casey and I were walking into the library I said,

"Casey, let's quit school. It's hard and I don't want to do it anymore

Let's become hippies and live on our love!

People have done it before! Why can't we?"

Then the girl in front of us, turned around, made eye contact, and started laughing.

Haha, ok so maybe school isn't all that horrible

but it sure feels like it a the moment!