Caleb's Chinese 101

Caleb is really catching onto the Chinese in his classroom. He often answers me now in Chinese which I both love and hate at the same time (since I have no idea what he is saying or if they really are even words). We also got to go meet his teachers this week at his first SEP conferences of the year. They both said that Caleb is a #1 student. He listens, follows directions and is as sweet as can be. We are really proud of our little boy and everything he has accomplished in just a few weeks back to school. Enjoy his video, he has been dying to make one for the blog.

So here's the next Chinese Lesson for you: Counting to 10 (taken from wikihow)

One = 一: yi (Yee (The tone of the word is the same all along)).
Two = 二: er (Are (The tone of the word goes down from a high to low voice)).
Three = 三: san (Sahn (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Four = 四: si (sih(Same as 二 for the tone)).
Five = 五: wu (Woo (The tone comes down, and then up)).
Six = 六: liu (lee-yu(Same as 二 for the tone)) .
Seven = 七: qi (chee (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Eight = 八: ba (baa (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Nine = 九: jiu (jee-yo (Same as 五 for the tone)).
Ten = 十: shi (shir (The tone goes up)).

Wanted: House and P. Mag Back

*Warning, adult content* So, I can't contain myself with this story any longer because it just gets better and better. And hey, everyone needs a good laugh.



Remember just recently when we painted the boys bathroom (link here). Well in the process of painting around the bathroom cabinets I removed the drawers and found buried treasure. For the last 8 years, we have managed to live in harmony with the previous owner's stashed Porn magazines! That's right, there they were. Dated back to about the time the house was built. I interrogated Mike (just to be sure) but he assured me they weren't his. After all, if they were he'd share because that's the kind of guy he is (and I believe that). Luckily, the boys were with Papa that weekend and Mike and I had had a few good chuckles and even shared the story with a few friends. Well because I have a warped sense of humor and because I thought they would someday make an awesome gag gift (with story attached of course) we kept them and we laugh about them often.



Well today I got a knock at the door. I panicked thinking it was a showing that I wasn't aware of and wasn't ready for but it turned out to be the prior owner of this very house. The one we bought it from. The ones that left the porn mags! Her and her grandson. She asked if she could come in and see the house. I thought she was just being a nosey old goat and told her that we were doing showings by appointment only and gave her the agents card. She gave me a big story about how they used to live here and she would give just anything to have it back yada yada. It was truly one of those bizarre conversations that once it's over you question yourself about if it really happened. Mike came home and I told him and watched his face curl into a confused sort of look where it has stayed for a while. He was as baffled as I was.



Turns out that nosey old goat was serious! She has already put a call into our agent and is looking into buying the place back. We aren't sure how it will turn out but I am wondering if they do end up buying it back if I should also return their long lost porn to them, gift wrapped with a bow and a note "You left this here 8 years ago, glad we could return it"? After all they left it for us, shouldn't we return the favor?What would you do?

Driveway Mario

Three day weekends really are wonderful. I don't know the last time we could ever say that we were actually bored on a weekend for some time. We have been so focused on getting this house on the market and work and Caleb's school that we haven't had time for much laid back fun. But that changed today when we officially got bored. I took myself to Joann's for a few scrapbook supplies since my normal stash has been packed away and got 2 layouts designed and Mike took the chalk to the driveway for another of his masterpieces (complete with helpers of course).

And the finished product. Mario graces our driveway. Until at least the next rainstorm anyway.

Swiss Days

Yesterday we got to go enjoy Swiss Days in Midway. Over the past years this has become somewhat of a tradition for us minus last year when we missed it. We got up there early in time for the parade and the kids loved it. Well at least the first 45 minutes of it before they got bored (the parade lasted over an hour and a half total). They got tons of candy and the twins thought it was awesome that everyone was waiving at them and they were waving back as fast as they could. Then it was time for Mom's favorite part, the shopping! There are always well over 100 vendors there with unique (mostly handmade) goods. We shopped and shopped and I scored myself a few things. I always love to get a jump start on Christmas shopping there as well but this year I only bought for me. :) I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something to do on Labor Day weekend any year. So call me next year when it comes around and we'll all go together !

Buzzed and Lit Up

The twins are getting big enough now that they are wanting to be with big brother all the time and want to do what big brother does and have what big brother has. For example, when I went to cut Caleb's hair the day before school started in his requested buzz, Zaric climbed right up in the chair after him and proudly declared "me too." How could I resist? It was sad for me, being the Mom that I am, but I obliged. Afterwards it was a little more reluctant Zaden's turn, but I have to say they do look adorable.

Example #2. When I took Caleb shopping for some new school shoes, the twins were so taken and excited by the light up Sketchers he picked out that I tried some on them. I almost didn't make it out of the store when I had to take them back off. They were so upset. But I searched high and low and found a deal for them on the Internet and viola, they all 3 now have matching Sketchers.When they noticed Caleb had his on this morning, they were pretty fit to be tied until Mom got theirs out too and they have been happily lighting up the house all day long. They even napped in them.

Aren't they adorable?

For Sale

So here's the big news! 8 years and 3 kids later we have decided that it's time for a new chapter in the Ouren Household. The Ouren Household as in a new house! After lots of talking and looking around we have decided that we are outgrowing this house with every day that the kids get bigger. We started by contacting a Realtor and have been scouring the valley looking at homes for almost 4 months as well as doing updates and repairs to this house. We haven't officially found one to move into yet, but have found a couple with potential. However, this one has to be sold to make it all happen.

We loved this house and it was a great starter home for us and we hope it will be for someone else as well. If you know of any young families looking for that perfect starter home, send them our way. And we'll keep everyone updated on this process as we go through it.

Officially a First Grader!

It's official, we have a first grader today who will go to school all day! Caleb was excited this morning to start the day and picked out his new glow in the dark Star Wars shirt and his light up Sketchers for his first day outfit. He got a little nervous once we got there and Mom had to stay with him until his line went into the classroom. Here he is at home and in his desk in the classroom.

He had already gotten to meet his teachers when he attended a summer camp 2 weeks ago for his Chinese Dual Immersion program. He has a great time at camp and is already spurting out words and working on drawing symbols. Here's the work he brought home from camp.

I thought it might be fun to help some of you learn along as we do. So here's Chinese lesson #1.

Hello- 'Nǐ hǎo (knee how)

Good Bye- zài jiàn (sy gen)

More words and possibly video tutorials from Caleb as we learn more. Stay tuned.

West Valley, Wyoming?

In the 8 years we have lived here, I can only recall the wind blowing in West Valley one time as hard as it did yesterday. If I wanted damage like this, I would move us to Wyoming. We sat in the kitchen and watched as the wind picked up the trampoline and crushed it into the back of the garage. Mike went out later and tipped it back down and untangled it from the swing set. Good News: no damage to the house that we have seen. Bad news: the saftey net and poles to hold it up are most likey toast. We'll see when we have some help trying to bend them back if they are salvageable or not. But wow, what a storm.

Schade Reunion 2010

Every year the Schade side (my side) of the family gets together for a camping trip and family reunion. Some years we have tons of people, other years not as many but no matter what the year, it's always a good time. This year the boys got to go down with Papa a couple days early and play in the dirt to their hearts content. Mike and I got there on Saturday morning for the big festivities. We played Bingo, ate great food, won some goodies at the auction and had a good time visiting. The kids got to do even more, they played Bingo on their own, had a fishpond, got cotton candy, and animal balloons as well as hit a pinata, have water fights and play in the water and mud, and climb the mountain. They had a great time. We had to leave Saturday night before the talent show which was a little disappointing. But next year we will be able to stay for sure. Enjoy the pics.

A Camping Adventure

This weekend was camping trip #3 for us this summer and lets just say that whoever put the camping curse on me this year better quit. It seemed like everything was going wrong again this trip. Here's some of the Good, the bad and the Ugly.

The Good: Spending time with family, playing games and laughing a lot, great food, a good morning hike through the red ledges, watching Eagles soar above while on the ledges, finally finding the hot springs, and kids playing and running off pent up energy.

The Bad: Papa forgot several things. They herded a bunch of cows through camp. A hike that was only supposed to take a few minutes turned out to be over 4 miles and an hour of hiking both ways. Zaden crashed off a trike and skinned up his face pretty bad and Zaric crashed off a bench and got a knot on his head.

The Ugly: 3 of our trailers (or parts in them) broke. Caleb crashed on his scooter and we ended up running him to the ER for him to get 3 stitches in his chin and a random naked guy in the river during the above 4 mile hike.

That being said, enjoy the slide show mostly of the good. :)