Power and Camping

We had a massive storm race through our town on Saturday. We also had visitors over--they were from the Utah Valley Children's Choir. Really cool awesome strangers we were hosting because they were singing for our stake. Lots of fun. We put the Friendly Hero to bed--he also had just come down with a fever--and were eating dinner and getting ready to play games when *CRASH* the power goes out about 7:30pm. So we stay up and watch lightening and thunder and enjoy the storm and the guests.

All through the night we wake up a few times with the Friendly Hero and the penguin keeps me up a lot too. Strange having no AC and a heater in your belly makes for an uncomfortable, hot night.

Sunday Morning--still no power, but also the fever is gone. We all take really short showers, and go to church. Friendly Hero and I leave after the sacrament so we can take naps. Still no power, so we're starting to get worried that we will have sandwiches and chips for lunch and dinner. Everyone comes home and the Friendly Hero and I play with our guests. He is much happier to be healthy and rested. (Odd, I know) and at 3:30ish pm our power returns! YIPPEE!

We love having power. Our guests didn't mind camping out in an apartment with tons of boxes around. We are moving on Wednesday and so have been slowly packing our apartment. I felt a little bit bad that I had planned for a great dinner, but had it canceled because we had no power. But Pancakes are an acceptable substitute.

We went to the fireside the choir put on and it was AWESOME! The spirit was strong and the choir was amazing. I am really glad we were able to go. During the last song--the power went out. Flickered at Church and returned within two minutes. Not at our house. We were without power for three or four hours, but we now have power again and are grateful for AC and for friends willing to laugh at their experience.

Our guests are gone, and we move on Wednesday! Bring on this week!

Favorite Color

The Friendly Hero has a favorite color. It's Red. We have a few books that go through the colors, and he loves the red pages and cries if we turn the page. I'll try to get a video of it, because it's really funny. We read the red pages of the books and nothing else.

In a typical Cutler Fashion

Wednesday, at the Hero Home is vacuuming day. This is our mid week chore for the day. The Friendly Hero has always had a great love for our vacuum. We would turn it on, and he'd stop screaming and fall asleep. Now he has already graduated to working, in typical Cutler fashion.He was my BIG helper today! Previous to today, being the big helper meant having control of the power, but today he helped vacuum the entry hall, kitchen and bathroom! Probably will never happen again, but Boy oh Boy! He's a BIG helper!

Perks of Nursery

The Bug Hero and I are called as Nursery workers. (Ages: 18 months-3 year olds) We love it, and have found many perks to our calling.

• You get to play with toys
• The Friendly Hero has been attending with us since he started walking with assistance. (13 months)
  
• Snack time
  
• Shoes are optional
• You get to color with the kids
  
• Lessons last a total of 5 minutes, and have yes or no answers. (Does Jesus Love You? Do you like your toes?)
  
• Music time is better with drumming on the table and shakers
• Kids like to snuggle or sit on laps--any big person will work.
• Kids share everything including germs.

We got this last perk this week. We are one of 6 different families of Nursery kids or workers who have had a vicious flu bug. Since we are all in the Nursery, we all got sick. Our blessing for being faithful workers: We got sick on different days. There is nothing worse than being sick with no one to nurse you back to full health.

A Letter from the Penguin

Dear Mom, Dad and Big Brother:

I know that you guys are all super heroes. I really look forward to becoming a super hero myself. Mom, I know that you tell me you want me to be a Sleeping Hero, and I'll consider it. You guys are Math, Bug and Friendly Heroes. You talked to a Realtor and I want you to realize what they said. It's not very likely to find a home and close on it in less than 45 days. To think that you can move into a house in 30 days, before I get too big in your tummy Mom is just not very likely.

Now, you can still press ahead and try and get a home, but you all will have to be Moving Heroes. Especially you Mom, because you'll be carrying around a big baby who will kick you if you try to squash him with a box and kick you if you try to lift too heavy of a box.

The other option is to wait until I'm about 3 months old, in January to start looking for a house. You have time to look around and see if this is what you really want. You'll get to live in a neighborhood with lots of friends for the Friendly Hero, my big brother. And if I come before Grandma gets here, there are lots of people to help out with both of us. I personally like that option, and I know it's growing on you Mom.

So continue in being the Heroic people I know you are, who are Math, Bug and Friendly Heroes, not Moving Heroes.

All my love,
Penguin

P.S. Yes, Dad, I do hear you telling me not to stay in late to make Mom uncomfortable. I'll keep that in mind, but I really like lurking in Mom's tummy. If in October the outside world is more appealing than lurking I'll make an appearance.

P.P.S. Big Brother, Friendly Hero, I don't really like it when you give me hugs. It's already pretty tight in Mom's tummy, without you squishing in and trying to show me how big you are.

June

June has been a month of many things. First off, we had two friends come over and play lots. One friend we tended for a little bit and I got practice being the mom of 2, and my conclusion is I think I can handle it most days...yes...you're welcome to laugh, but I'm not as worried about being a mom of 2, because there was a half hour where one was asleep that I felt in control. While the boys were playing, Baby Hero ended up taking his own picture. Not terribly horrible for his first self-portrait.

Also in June I finished a project that has taken me 2 years and 2 months to do. My second counted cross-stitch. I'm happy to report that it's done and I'm on to other projects that move a lot faster than this one is.

We didn't have internet at our place for almost a whole week. It was hard, but after spending a lot of time with a company V on the phone, getting a new modem and trying very hard to contact said company again. We finally managed this morning to get a hold of them and now our internet is working again!

Our other development, as of this week, is that the Bug Hero's Professor is seriously offering him to stay here for his PhD as well. We are considering it, and we may be purchasing a house here. We have another apartment to move into in a month, but if we decide to stay soon, we may manage to buy a house before our current lease ends and then only have to move once! We'll see what happens. There is a cute house three houses away from my best friend here for sale. It seems like a dream come true, but we'll see if it's right for us and if the timing is right too.

Penguin Here

One of the first things we saw this morning was the Penguin waving to us! It was adorable! I'm beginning to fall in love with this baby! He's active and moved around a ton for the ultrasound.
Yes, he's a BOY! We get two lovely little boys to play around with. He also "talked" a lot during the ultrasound. Whenever we saw his mouth, it was moving.