My sister's keeper

I just love when my kids enjoy each other! Sadie Jane and Spencer are beginning to learn how to play together now that Abby and Lily have gone back to school, and there are no big sisters to keep the peace. Spencer and Sadie Jane's play time doesn't always go so smoothly. The big brother in Spencer just can't help the teasing and chasing, and the little sister in Sadie Jane just can't help the squealing and crying.

That is why I ran for the camera when I found them sitting on the stairs so sweetly. They really are a perfect pair. Sadie Jane loves to be read to and Spencer loves to read, but the debate is still on as to who gets to hold the book!!!!!

Our little pumpkins!

So here is a confession that won't win me the mom of the year award. I really hate carving pumpkins with young kids! I don't like the mess or that I have to help everyone with everything. Carving pumpkins doesn't seem like a family activity, it just seems like everyone is waiting for Mom or Dad to "fix" their pumpkin. I'm sure when the kids are a little older we will enjoy seeing their creativity but for now that's why we bought stick ins to decorate our pumpkins. This year we upgraded from our old wooden pieces to new Mr. Potato Head sets. Our little pumpkins loved them and were able to do most of the decorating themselves. It was a great FAMILY ACTIVITY!

Abby's Baptism

I wanted to share these pictures of Abby's baptism. Abby was baptised in Arkansas (while we were visiting her Nanna and Poppa) this summer by her Dad. It was a very special day and we were so proud of her and love that she is trying to do what is right. Abby's Great-grandfather was there and participated in her confirmation. Time has gone so fast. It seems that Shaun and I were just bringing Abby home from the hospital and asking, "So what do we do now?"

Hey good lookin'

The first day of school pictures are always fun. The girls were very excited see their new school and meet their new teachers. Abby is in 3rd grade this year and Lily's in Kindergarten. Kindergarten is a full day in Texas (opposed to the 1/2 day kindergarten program in Utah) and I wondered how Lily would do, but she has done great. She even has engry to burn when she gets home. I've been really happy with the school here. The schools are beautiful and have lots of extras. For example, the 4th graders broadcast a short news report from the Library, to all the classrooms, every morning, which the teachers receive on their laptops and project onto a screen for the kids to see. Lily loves the sign off of "Have a great wolf day!" (then a nice long wolf howl =) I'm hoping with 4 kids we will get our money's worth because property taxes are unbelievable here. The girls have made friends and love their teachers. I signed up for the PTA and I'm in charge of the Holiday Store. I had never heard of this position before but it is a very common PTA activity here. Holiday store runs the first week of December to let the kids Christmas shop for their parents. I'll let you know how that goes. It's bitter sweet to see my kids grow up and go to school. I miss them as babies but really enjoy the young women they are becoming.

Home Sweet Home

Here is a picture of the new Warren Family home. We bought a house is Sachse, TX which is a small suburb about 30 mins north of Dallas. We are almost unpacked (thanks to a lot of help from Nanna & Poppa) and we are all finding things we like about the house (we really miss our old house and all the neighbors we left in Utah, so we will try to focus on the positive :) I love the bigger kitchen and that the elementary is so close the kids can walk to and from school (a true blessing because school starts at 7:30!!!!!) Shaun loves the small yard and decreased mowing time. The picture is deceiving because the backyard is so small he can hardly turn his push mower around! Abby and Lily love the neighborhood pool. Spencer loves his new friends Garrett and Kade. Sadie can't tell us what she loves yet, but I would guess she would say that she loves the door knobs in our new house. Let me explain. We have lever handles and she can open all doors including the pantry, the bathrooms, and the doors to the garage and patio. She is like a little tornado moving from one room to another letting herself in or out and leaving only destruction in her wake! I've never had a child be able to open doors at 16 months and it is definitely adding to the chaos of a busy house. All in all, we know the most important thing about a house is that it holds our young family close and safe, and gives us a place to love and teach them. We are truely blessed by our Heavenly Father to have each other.

Moving to the Big D!

Well it all began back in December 2007 when Shaun applied for a position with the FDIC (a bank examiner position, the same work he did for the State of Utah, the only difference is the FDIC is the federal level) and after many months of doing the hurry up and wait game we found out that we had 2 months to sell our house and move to Dallas. Shaun began work on July 7th and lucky for us the FDIC provided a moving company. We can't imagine how we would have lived through the move without the help of movers!!!
The kids really loved the big truck that came to take our things to Dallas, and Grandma and Grandpa were great to keep the kids busy and out from under foot while we loaded everything up.
There where many "pull your hair out" moments and we got lots of "your out of your mind" looks as we took 2 different flights with enough luggage to last us until we bought a house, with our 4 kids under the age of 8, BUT we love our family and we made lots of fun memories!