Just the Six of Us

S D.A.R.E. Graduation

2012-01-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

Every year the 5th graders get a chance to participate in the D.A.R.E. program. It lasts several weeks. They learn about saying no to drugs, alcohol, and violence. They learn songs to help remind them what to do and they each have to write a report. S did a great job on his report. After their class was over, they got to perform the songs for the parents and then had a graduation. S really enjoyed this program and it was fun for us to watch him be excited about what he was learning.

New Years Eve 2011

2012-01-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

We celebrated New Years Eve at my MIL's. T spent the evening with a friend and then we picked him up right after we rang in the New Year. We spent the night playing games, eating, laughing, eating, and enjoying our time together. I can't believe how quickly 2011 went by. Here's to another year!

Christmas Night 2011

2012-01-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

We went to Grandma and Papas for dinner on Christmas. Dani and I had fun playing around with scarves trying to figure out cute ways to wear them in our hair.

I like the idea of a quick "do", especially for summer!

Ange, Yoho, and Reggie were on their way out as we were coming, so I got a quick pic of Reggie with his new toy!

Baby Jakob is getting SO big. Love his round cheeks:)

Tate enjoying her dinner.

Present time!

Christmas Afternoon 2011

2012-01-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

We made our way over to Grandma D.'s for lunch.

We spent a little time there, talking with cousins, exchanging gifts, and eating.

DH took a little snooze.

Nice face M:}

Enjoying the Day

2012-01-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

After church on Christmas we came home and enjoyed some fun family time.

The girls had a blast together.

M doing her nails.

J got right to work on her Fancy Nancy puzzle.

The boys building Hogwarts castle.

Christmas Morning 2011

2012-01-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

We told the kids that they couldn't wake us up before 6am. They did pretty well, but didn't quite make it until 6. They came in at 5:45, so we decided that since they slept so well, we would get up. Plus I think DH and I get almost as excited for Christmas morning as the kids do.

Everyone was thrilled with their Christmas!

S got a scooter, 2 Harry Potter lego sets, and some other fun stuff!

He's been waiting and wanting a Razor for quite a while.

M really, really, really wanted a leather jacket. She got that and some $$ to go shopping with. I think she was pretty excited about that!

J also got a scooter, a Fancy Nancy doll, and lot of other girlie things. She also got a penguin hat, which she LOVES!!

T loves fish. He has a smallish tank, maybe 15 or 20 gallons. He's been wanting a bigger one, so we decided that that was what we would get him. We got him a 55 gallon tank and gave him some money to go buy some fish! He was thrilled.

Everyone was happy with their morning and spent the next few hours playing with their new stuff. We went to sacrament where M got to speak. She did a great job; the whole meeting was very nice. I thought it was nice to go to church on Sunday and to get a reminder of what the real meaning of Christmas is. It was a great day all around.

Christmas Eve 2011

2012-01-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

We went to my moms for lunch on Christmas Eve. The kids played, we made cookies, and Grandma had some ornaments for them to paint. It was a fun afternoon.

Afterwards, we went over to my mother-in-laws for our Christmas Eve tradition.

We had dinner, which was delish and then opened our new jammies!

These 3 girls were all over T. They love him and he is so good with them.

Everyone anxiously waiting to open their jammies.

The kids love this tradition.

S and Wyatt

Grandma read the Christmas story from the scriptures, then we had a Christmas sing-a-long. The girls led the music. It was a fun evening.

A Concert

2011-12-31T21:46:00.001-08:00

J & M put on a concert for us. J was the flutist and M was the conductor, ticket taker, treat bringer, and MC. I love when they come up with cute games.

WARNING: Not For The Weak

2011-12-28T07:54:00.000-08:00

While we were in Idaho for Thanksgiving, M had a mole removed. A few days later my brother texted me and let me know that the pathology report came back abnormal. I kind of had a freak out moment because I wasn't sure what that meant and I didn't want anything to be wrong with M. It's a scary thing to think that something could be wrong with your child. I wished over and over that it was me who had something wrong, not my daughter. Alec reassured me that everything would be fine. So, M and I hitched a ride with Mom and Dad and headed back to Idaho 2 weeks later. When we got there Alec explained that when moles are removed they rate them on a scale from normal to melanoma. Midline on that scale is atypia. Then, atypia is rated from mild, moderate, and severe. M's mole was severe. So, I was very relieved that we caught it when we did and that we were getting it taken care of.

I watched the procedure and it was very interesting. He numbed the area and then removed the remaining mole and some of the skin around it. This picture is after everything was removed and he is stopping bleeders, and cleaning it up, getting it ready to be stitched.

Here is the piece that was removed. A little gross, I know.

Here she is all stitched up. She did great. DH gave her a blessing before we left and then I got a blessing from my Dad when we were in Idaho. I know that helped calm me down and gave me peace of mind that things would work out.

Afterwards her Aunt Kelly took her to get a shake and bought her a few books. What a nice Aunt. She was pretty sore for the first couple days and then off and on for the next 2 weeks. The day after Christmas I removed her stitches. She still has to take it easy for the next week or so, but things are healing well. Her pathology report came back clear. Yeah! I'm so grateful that we caught it. I'm also grateful for a wonderful brother who does amazing work and was able to help us out. Now we have to be careful and keep an eye on her moles.

Christmas FHE

2011-12-21T16:40:00.001-08:00

On Monday, Papa and Grandma, Ange, Yoho, and Reggie, and Dani, Greg, and Tate came over for FHE. For some reason this is the only picture I got. We had treats, listened to a Christmas story, and had a small lesson. It was nice and relaxing evening spent with family!

Games

2011-12-21T16:39:00.001-08:00

J wanted to play games with me today. She made hot chocolate, put out some treats, and set the game up. We enjoyed Fancy Nancy, Jenga, and Monopoly Deal. The boys joined us for a few of the games. We had Christmas music playing in the background. It was very nice and peaceful!

Christmas is Here

2011-12-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas is well under way in our house!

We started the month off with our ward Christmas party on the 1st.

On the 2nd we went to our annual friend Christmas party.

On the 3rd we went to Jaxon's baptism and then came home and decorated the tree.

After church on the 4th we went to my parents for dinner.

We spent FHE on the 5th reading a Christmas story.

The 6th was a fairly mild day, but M went to a YW activity.

I had my work Christmas party on the 7th.

And, today the 8th I went to a jewelry party while DH went to his work party.

Phew, that's a lot of stuff.

We have a lot more fun activities look forward to.

December promises to be wonderful and Merry!

November Family Party

2011-12-08T22:17:00.000-08:00

Jaxon is our November birthday. I can't remember everything he got, but I know he got:

jigsaw puzzle

Juju Bees

Jr. Mints (I think)

...and several other "J" things.

As always we had a great time with great food!

Discovery Center & Golf

2011-12-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

T went golfing for the first time with DH and Alec. I was told he did a really awesome job. He had a blast and now wants his own set of clubs.

While they were golfing, the rest of us went to the Discovery Center in Idaho.

J laying on a bed of nails!

The girls making a movie with a green screen.

S making giant bubbles.

Another fun day!

Boise Zoo

2011-12-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving we loaded up in the car and headed over to the Boise Zoo. It was a little chilly, but there were no crowds so it was perfect. We had a lot of fun. I decided that if I ever got a pet, I would want a finger monkey.

Aren't they so cute?! I think so!

J loved the play things. She thought the giraffe slide was super fun.

Kelly liked the slide too:)

The kids had fun "trying on" these giant ears.

T's turn!

Even Alec got a turn!

My cute J, love her!

Katie was a good sport and spent a lot of time with the kids. The girls loved it!

We also "tried on" the giant tortoise shell.

Everyone really had a great time.

DH was a good sport and played along with everyone else.

Doing a little safari driving.

Love my bubba!

Fun cousins!

We had a great visit. I always love going to spend time with family!

(For some reason some of my text is underlined and I have no idea how to fix it. Help?)

Tal and I

2011-12-04T17:18:00.001-08:00

Found this cute picture on my phone.

I sure love this girl!

Christmas Devotional

2011-12-04T17:05:00.001-08:00

We went to Mom and Dads last night for dinner.

Afterwards we gathered around the t.v. to watch the Christmas Devotional.

It was a fun night!

$16.91

2011-11-21T15:04:00.001-08:00

I went to Old Navy today to do some exchanges and to get a few things for Christmas. They were having a sale and I had a coupon for $30 off of at least a $60 purchase. So, I went in search of some good deals. I ended up with:

pajama bottoms for DH

3 t-shirts for DH

3 shirts for me

3 pairs of socks

After all the discounts, my grand total was $16.91!!

That was a savings of about $109, I think I did pretty good;)

Witches Weekend Craft

2011-11-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

We made these cute "Give Thanks" blocks during our Witches Weekend.

I love them!!

Its a good reminder of everything we have, and all the things we need to be grateful for!

YW in Excellence, Pack Night, & Recognition Night

2011-11-19T07:02:00.001-08:00

We've been busy with the kids events lately.

M had her first YW in Excellence night. Their theme this year has been the 13th Article of Faith, and they've really focused on being "seekers". M gave a little talk on her Virtue project. When she went to MD, she had the opportunity to finish her Virtue project, which is to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. They did this in 2 days. She told about her experience doing it and how much she really enjoyed it. She is excited about YW and really wants to start working on some more of her Personal Progress goals. It will be fun watching her learn and grow.

M and her friend Shae.

S received his Traveler pin and a couple belt loops at his Pack Night. He really has some great leaders who help the boys set and accomplish goals. He's close to getting his Webelos badge!

J had recognition night for activity days. They each got to display some things that they like. J put her table together all by herself. I think it turned out super cute!

Each girl got to display a talent that they have. J did a dance with her friend Morgan. They did a really good job. The dance was super cute.

I love being able to go to these nights with my kids and to celebrate the wonderful things they are learning and doing!

I Have My Ticket!

2011-11-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

I got my ticket for Thursday at 8:45 p.m., I can't wait!!

Such Nice Girls

2011-11-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend being sick, YUCK! I hate that. I felt really bad because we weren't able to do anything on Saturday. DH was working and then went to the BYU football game and I was sick all day, so the kids just had to keep themselves busy. They were pretty good for the most part. M and J were super cute little helpers. They brought me Pero to drink and warmed up my heating bags. They sure made being sick a lot easier. They even cleaned the living room and did the dishes while I was taking a nap. Such nice girls!

A Surprise 40th Birthday

2011-11-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

My BIL turned 40 this year. We threw a Mexican themed surprise birthday party. It was a blast. We had it set up like a restaurant, made menus, and served the guests. The food was delicious of course and we all had a great time.

Some of the kids playing around.

We even had a pinata for him.

I think he really had a great time and I know the rest of us did too!

Halloween Night

2011-11-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tanner was Jimmer this year.

My beautiful fairy.

The nerd.

Dead Bride

M and T went with their friends' for a little bit and then we stopped by Grandmas. The kids got enough candy to last for months. I'm already tired of having little wrappers all over the house, but oh well. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time.

Family Halloween Dinner

2011-11-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday night we went to Mom and Dad's for a yummy Halloween themed dinner.

J and Sierra decorated this super yummy Graveyard dessert!

Grandma told all the little kiddos a very cute Chocolate Chip Ghost story.

Cute little cuddly kids.

Getting ready to eat.

Power Outage

2011-11-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the power went out while I was at work for about 2 hours. As we were trying to figure out what happened we found out that it was very widespread and the power was out for the entire city and many surrounding cities. No one knew when it would be restored and there was a lot of talk about food being ruined or homes being too cold. As time went on I got to thinking about how lucky we are, and it made me very grateful for modern day conveniences that we enjoy daily. Things that we often take for granted. We are pretty lucky to live in the homes we have and to stay warm there, to have food to feed our children, to have t.v.'s, microwaves, blow dryers, washing machines, and the list goes on. We sure were glad when the lights came back on. Who knew that a power outage would make me think about all that?

Halloween Family Fun Run

2011-11-02T21:39:00.001-07:00

Andrea and Yoho invited us to go do a 5k with them. It was a pretty cold morning. J, Reggie and I only lasted a mile before J's foot was hurting SOO bad she couldn't finish. So, we walked back to Mom and Dad's and started making breakfast. When all the rest of the runners came home we enjoyed delicious pumpkin pancakes with apple cider syrup!

Trunk or Treat 2011

2011-11-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

Our ward Trunk-or-Treat was last Saturday.

We had soup, rolls, and cookies and then went outside for some trunk-or-treating!

DH was a pretty good sport. He doesn't love Halloween and doesn't love dressing up,

but he did it for me. He looked great too. I thought we were a super cute 50's couple!

Ange the Ladybug and Reggie the little ducky!

My "nerdy" son and his buddy.

My "Pink Lady" sister Em!

Jose with Jakob.

Jakob was a little dragon, he was super cute!

3 cute girls!

Sierra and her "Dead Bride" cousin.

I sure love these girls.

DH and I hung out in the back of the car handing out candy.

It was a successful night and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves!

New Decos This Year

2011-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween decorations. They are so cute. I saw some cute Halloween trees on various blogs and websites and decided that I needed to have one too. My friend and I got together and made some. I thought they turned out super cute! I love it! Now, how do I store it?

Made these cute "Witchy" blocks with my cute SIL's.

Another fun project with the fam!

SYTYCD Tour

2011-10-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

My friend April and I bought tickets to go see the SYTYCD 2011 Tour!

It was a blast! The girls were so excited to be there. We watched the season together, so we were all familiar with the dancers and the dances. The show was great! I really enjoyed it, and I think everyone else did as well. I wouldn't mind if we made a tradition out of the night!

Junie B., Boo and I Mean It

2011-10-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

For J's book report we had to create a shield to represent different parts of the book she read. Then on the back she had to write a summary. She had fun doing the front, but when it came to the summary she was seriously stressing out. However once she got started, she got the hang of it and ended up doing a really good job. She was excited to take it to school!

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

We carved pumpkins the other night for FHE.

I thought they all turned out pretty cute!

Wait a second, what happened to my cute kiddos from the picture above?

Colorful Pasta

2011-10-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

The other day M and S wanted to cook some pasta. They started cooking and then a few minutes later S came to ask me if they could die the noodles with food coloring. I said yes and they ended up with purple noodles. Then of course the alfredo sauce needed to be colored too. So, the sauce ended up a pinkish color. They were pretty excited about it. Cute kids!

Cross Country

2011-10-25T17:54:00.000-07:00

T ran cross country this year. I'm not sure how he does it. I hate running, but good for him!

I don't know who took these pictures, but I'm glad I have them.

Check out that studly boy of mine!

T is in a weight training class and is apparently pretty proud of his muscles:0

Candy Corn Cookies

2011-10-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

M and I made these yummy cookies the other night.

I thought they were super cute and festive! They tasted good too!

October Family Birthday

2011-10-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

In October we celebrate my MIL's birthday and my BIL Brad's birthday.

Since there are only adult birthdays in October we always go out to eat and leave the kiddos at home. A lovely tradition if you ask me! This year we went to the Mayan.

The guys were making cheesy grins because we wanted to take their picture. I'm pretty sure they were making fun of us. RUDE!

They added some new acts to the show, which was pretty fun to see.

It was a fun night for all!

Springville Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we met up with Ange, Yoho, Reggie, Mom, Dad,

and Yoho's family at a fun pumpkin patch in Springville.

DH and Papa with the pumpkin for we will use for dinner.

Me and cute little Reggie.
I can't believe how big he is getting.

I realized that I don't have very many pix of DH and I. So, even though I HATE being in pictures I thought I better post one of us.

The kids all loved this corn box.

I think it's way better than a sand box.

The kiddos on top of the hay maze.

After we left the pumpkin patch we went to the park for a picnic.

The weather was great, the food was good, and the company was wonderful!

The Red Barn & Other Stuff

2011-10-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Friday, early evening we went to The Red Barn. They have a fun hay ride that drops you off in a pumpkin patch where you can pick out your "perfect" pumpkin!

The boys getting all loaded up for the ride.

Out in the pumpkin patch there is also a maze made out of giant crates and a few fun places to stop and take pictures.

Grandma and the grandkids minus S and Wyatt who went MIA.

Right before we went to the Red Barn, I dropped T off at the church to go to a Scout overnighter. He has a really fun scout troop that goes on a lot of campouts and does a lot of fun things. Saturday morning they woke up and went on a 20 mile hike as part of their hiking merit badge. Everyone was exhausted, but they all made it and I'm sure feel very proud of their accomplishment.

When we left the pumpkin patch the kids and I met up with some friends and grabbed a bite to eat. Then, we all came back to our house with some more friends and we let the kids play while we sat around and talked. At 10:00 the kids and I loaded up in the car and went to the airport to pick DH up. He was in Ohio all week at a training for work. I was SO glad to have him home. Our home just feels incomplete when he is not there. We were so happy to have him back!

Sierra's Science Project

2011-10-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

My cute niece Sierra needed some help with a science project, so we all went over to my SIL's house to help out. She made macaroni and cheese using 4 different kinds of milk and then had all the cousins be the taste testers. She used skim milk, canned milk, goat's milk, and powdered milk. The favorite was the skim milk and the rest of the results were kind of mixed. S loved all of them. I thought it was a great idea, and she did such a good job!

Hikes

2011-10-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

We went on our annual Grotto Trail hike this summer. The kids always enjoy this one because it's easy and they get to play in the waterfall at the end. We love going!

On Labor Day we hiked up to the Timpanogos Caves. This one was much harder (at least for me it was). But, we all made it to the top. It was a beautiful hike.

We went on a tour of the caves. It was quite a bit cooler inside the caves, about 40 degrees.

There were a lot of cool formations to see and everyone really enjoyed it.

A view from the top of the mountain. That small line going across the bottom of the picture is the road. I'm not sure how high up we were, but it was pretty high. We had a great time!

Pueblo Indians

2011-10-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

S had to do a project on the Pueblo Indians. He had to do some research and then create a pyramid that told about and displayed some of the things he learned. In one section he talked about hunting and made a little hunting scene. Then next section was about food that the Pueblo Indians ate. He made squash out of clay and put them in a clay pot, and glued some corn to show what the Indians ate. In the other two sections he talked about the clothing they wore and the type of homes they lived in. He did a great job on it, and was very proud of his work!

Harvest Moon Hurrah 2011

2011-10-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

Once again we had fun at this years' Harvest Moon Hurrah! There were lots of activities for kids to do. M & Morgan, and J had fun taking Tal around to all the different booths.

Dani, Tate, and Sierra met up with us also. The kids played, we took some pictures, ate some yummy food, watched the performers, and got balloon animals. Fun times were had by all!

August/September Family Party (and some July)

2011-10-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

We had our family party in September and celebrated birthdays from August, September, and a few from July. There were a lot of birthdays and we had a lot of fun celebrating! I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. We love getting together and spending time together!

Nightly Reading

2011-10-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is J's new favorite spot to read to me. What a crazy girl! It actually works well because she is away from all other distractions and she can read to me while I am cooking or cleaning the kitchen or what have you. Whatever works to get her to read:)

Monopoly Deal

2011-10-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Our friends introduced us to this game and it is a blast!

We've had a lot of fun playing it with them.

Fashionista Parade

2011-10-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

Last night we were playing games with some friends, when these 3 cuties announced that they were going to give us a "fashionista parade"!

Then, of course they had to pose for pictures.

Lots of poses, giggles, smiles, and good times!

Halloween Candy Jars

2011-10-03T16:50:00.001-07:00

I made these cute Halloween candy jars with two of my cute SIL's.

We always have so much fun together and make the cutest things! I love it!

My Little Chef

2011-09-19T14:13:00.001-07:00

My cute J LOVES to cook!

Family Party

2011-09-16T22:49:00.000-07:00

We had a little party to celebrate the birthdays of J, Michael, and Dani.

What a good looking family, don't you think?

Sierra and Tate

I feel so blessed to live by so many family members. And even though I don't see them all the time, it is so nice when we are all together. It's always so much fun! I just love them!

Jakob Asher

2011-09-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

S and baby Jakob Asher!

T has always loved babies!

We all love him!

M with Jakob and Tal!

We were so excited that Jakob Asher was born and that all went well. He is such a cute guy and we are so glad that he is part of our family:)

Flag Burning Ceremony (from July)

2011-09-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Scouts were invited to participate in a Flag Burning Ceremony.

It was a pretty neat experience. They each got to carry a flag and give it to a soldier to be thrown into the fire.

T & his friend carrying their flags.

The flag S carried was huge.

There were hundreds of flags burned that day. Very cool.

First Day of Scool

2011-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

4th Grade

My baby is in 4th grade. CRAZY! She is definitely full of life, she is a little chatterbox. She loves to play with friends. She is growing up too fast, she thinks we should treat her like a teenager, we are in trouble with that one! We are excited about this year and think she will grow and learn a lot. She's dancing 4 hours a week and also keeps busy with activity days. She loves to play with babies and is always excited when her little cousins come over. She's got a spunky little attitude and I love everything about her!

5th Grade

This guy was not super excited to start school this year, but after a few days decided that it won't be that bad. He has an awesome teacher who S is really enjoying. He's been staying after school a few days a week to help clean up. They recently went on a field trip and he was in charge of finding parent volunteers to go with the class. I think it made him feel very important to have that responsibility. He is really enjoying scouts and has just earned several scout pins. He made a personal goal to run more to stay in shape, and has done a really good job at trying to do this every day. He is always full of energy, and I love him SO much!

7th Grade!

This was M's first year of Jr. High. She was so excited to start. T was very helpful with walking her around the school and showing her where all of her classes were. The first couple days were an adjustment for her, but she is doing great now. She likes most of her classes. She is super dependable and always gets her work done without being asked. She loves to babysit and has gotten quite a few babysitting jobs lately. She is dancing A LOT. She practices 11 hours a week. . But, it's her love. And she's super good at it. I love watching her learn and grow. I love watching her dance. I just love her!

8th Grade

T thinks he's big bad stuff now that he's in 8th grade. He thinks he should get to stay up later than everyone. Only problem is that he doesn't want to get up in the mornings. He keeps busy with homework, scouts, and cross country. The other day they ran 4 1/2 miles for practice. I don't know how he does it. He is super athletic. He is the Deacon's Quorum President and the Sr. Patrol Leader for Scouts. He's a good kid when he wants to be, and I love him:)

I can't believe school has already been in for 4 weeks. CRAZY! I wasn't sure I was ready for it to even start, but we are getting the hang of things. The switch from carefree summer days-late nights-sleeping in to homework-bed times-schedules has been a big adjustment for us this year. But, we are making it all work.

Court of Honor

2011-09-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

(Horrible picture quality, I know.)

T was elected Sr. Patrol Leader for his troop.

At the court of honor last month T earned several awards.

First, he earned his First Class! He's worked very hard for this advancement, and I'm so proud of him. He also earned the Camping merit badge, some kind of patch for the camp out they went on, and a few others. He's really enjoying scouting and has some great leaders. He's one step closer to getting to his Eagle!

Braces

2011-09-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

Before

After

Welcome to the world of braces. They go their braces on almost a month ago and we've already been to the orthodontist 5 times. Such fun!

J Turned 9!

2011-09-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Now that we have a power cord, I can actually use my computer. My little baby turned 9 on the 27th of August. I can hardly believe she is all grown up. She had some very specific things in mind that she wanted to do for her birthday. First on the list was Trafalga.

First she wanted everyone to ride the "Frog Hopper".

Next on the agenda was rock climbing.

They all took turns.

The girls finished and then we were off to do Laser Tag.

The girls, DH and I rode the merry-go-round and...

...the boys rode the go-carts.

They also did the bumper boats. DH and I opted not to do that activity. We wanted to stay dry.

J wanted to go to Grandmas for dinner, presents, and cake. So when we were all done at Trafalga, we made our way over there to enjoy the rest of her birthday.

This cute little girl is always so much fun to be around.

J with her chocolate cake and pink frosting made to order.

I hope she had a wonderful party. I love this girl so much and am so glad she is part of our family. How lucky I am to be her mom!

Wishing

2011-09-09T11:28:00.001-07:00

Totally wishing that we were still playing in the water and enjoying careless summer days!

Scout Pins

2011-09-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

S got 3 scout pins at the last pack night. He's on his way to getting his Webelos badge!

Computer Woes

2011-09-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

I hate not having a computer. Our power cord broke and so we've been without the use of a computer for several weeks now. I hate it. We really need to get a new one so the kiddos can use it for school AND so I can blog. I might be able to sneak a few posts while I'm at school. We'll see!

Sharing

2011-08-20T22:53:00.001-07:00

M & Tal sharing a yummy root beer float!

Target Practice

2011-08-12T15:29:00.003-07:00

T built this guy the other day to use as target practice. He filled the jug with red juice so it looked like blood when he shot it. I'm not sure how I feel about that. but he had fun.

My Beautiful M

2011-08-12T15:29:00.001-07:00

My beautiful M went to 7th grade day yesterday and LOVED it!

I hope she has a great year.

Boys in the Kitchen

2011-08-12T15:28:00.003-07:00

T and his best friend Riley were hanging out and were trying to figure out something to do. They finally decided to make cookies. They made Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies, and they were delicious!!

July Family Birthday Party

2011-08-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

We had our July family party a few weeks ago. (My computer cord broke, so I haven't been able to post. Luckily I'm using my sisters computer for a minute.) M was the only birthday we celebrated in July. There are more birthdays, but not everyone was able to make it.

M got: a mirror, make-up, M&M's, Milky Way, and Mentos.

We had a great time as always!!

T & J at the Campout

2011-08-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

T & J at the ward campout.

Proof that they actually do like each other!!

Splash Pad at North Park

2011-08-12T15:06:00.001-07:00

Fun times at the splash pad!!

Stuff

2011-08-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

M had her 7th grade shots this week. She is in the 49% for her height and weight. Everything went well at her checkup, now she is ready to start school. Speaking of school, it starts in 2 weeks. I can't believe it. Not sure if I'm ready.

T got home from Scout Camp and had a great time. They went rafting, hiking, swimming, slept outside, ate dehydrated food, explored, cooked, and had tons of fun. Now he is pooped.

We went to the ward camp out last night. It's always a lot of fun. The kids love it. Only thing bad was that I froze during the night. I barely slept. Our mattress was not at all comfortable, and did I mention it was freezing? Other than that we had a great time. DH and I decided we really need to invest in some good camping gear. We really enjoy going, but we REALLY need some better stuff. Maybe that will be part of our Christmas this year. A tent heater will definitely be on the list!

We are having shelves built upstairs. I've wanted them built for a long time. They are looking great and will hold a ton of stuff! Pictures to come. I can't wait until they're done!

That's all for now!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 25

2011-08-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

Day 25- Your most peaceful place to be.

I love to go to the temple. It's so peaceful there. Nothing you need to worry about when you're there. I love it, I need to go there more!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 24

2011-08-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Day 24- Your favorite summer activity.

Swimming. Hands down, swimming. LOVE it!

Date

2011-08-03T17:59:00.001-07:00

J has been dying to go on a date, so since everyone else is gone we decided to go out to dinner. She chose the restaurant and was super excited. After dinner we'll go home and watch SYTYCD!!

Scout Camp

2011-08-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

This morning we got up bright and early at 5:30, so we could get T to the church. He's off for a week long scout campout. They will be hiking, exploring, swimming, rafting, fishing, and much more. Hope he learns a lot, and has tons of fun!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 23

2011-08-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Day 23- Your most exciting sports experience to date.

I've been to many a sporting event being the mother of 2 athletic boys, 2 dancing girls, and 1 sports-hungry husband. On top of that I've been to several pro- baseball and basketball games. But, probably the most exciting has been watching my kids love what they are doing. And win or lose it doesn't matter (of course winning is always fun;)!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 22

2011-07-30T20:46:00.001-07:00

Day 22- The vacation of your dreams.

I have many dreams of vacations. Probably my top two would be:

1- A Disney World vacation with the family. I love Disneyland and have always wanted to go to Disney World. The kids would love it, DH would love it, and I would love it. It is the happiest place on earth after all.

2- A cruise. I've always wanted to go on a cruise with my hubby. A time for us to be alone, to relax, and to enjoy. I've heard they have great food and tons of activities. There is just something about a cruise that sounds enticing, relaxing, and completely enjoyable!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 21

2011-07-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Day 21- Your idea of the perfect retirement.

The perfect retirement for me would be spending some good quality time with my hubby. Going on some vacations, being out of debt, enjoying our grandkids. Sounds peaceful and relaxing!

Hairspray & Some Moving

2011-07-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I went with 2 of my SIL's and my MIL to go see "Hairspray". It was SO cute. I

loved it. The entire cast did a great job. It was tons of fun. The only part I didn't like was

the lady next to us that brought her 2 little boys and let them run up and down the isle,

talking, laughing, and screaming. It was very annoying and rude. But, other than that the

night was very delightful!

It was nice to have a break. We've been spending the entire week cleaning and rearranging our house. Our boys have been little stinkers lately; fighting, yelling, punching, etc. People have been pretty grumpy around these parts. So, we decided that separating the boys would be a good idea. DH has been wanting to do it for a long time, but I've been very reluctant because I didn't want the t.v. in our living room downstairs. I love having that space, it's always clean, it's usually quiet. It's quite nice. But, I think for the happiness of our family I finally had to give in. Which meant the t.v. and entertainment center went downstairs, we moved S into the girls room, and moved the girls upstairs. It's been a long week of cleaning, moving, throwing things away, cleaning, moving, and cleaning, and moving. The kids are tired of it, I'm tired of it. Hopefully we can finish soon! The big moving is done, now we have the little stuff to do. Like S needs a dresser, the girls room still needs to be organized and clean. But, for now we are taking a break. T is making cookies with his friend. The girls (5 of them) are all upstairs playing. S and his friend are outside jumping on the trampoline with the sprinklers on. DH is at work, and I'm on the computer enjoying a break. Everyone is happy!

So Glad She's Home

2011-07-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

(M & Hannah at Harry Potter. Cute girls. I still need to see that!)

I am SOOOOOOO SOOOOO glad to have this cute girl home. We missed her so much. I'm glad she had such a wonderful time, but I'm so glad she's home. They didn't get home until like

2:30 or 3:00 in the morning. Their flight got delayed, so it turned into a super late night and they were exhausted. Now we have everyone home, it's so nice!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 20

2011-07-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Day 20- Music you never get tired of no matter how much it's played.

Not sure. There are certain songs I love, that I don't think I'll ever get sick of. Like Josh Grobans' "Drummer Boy". I love that song at Christmas. Actually I like most Christmas songs. I never get tired of hearing our wedding song or most primary songs. For some reason I love the song "Baby Got Back", I know I'm crazy. Hmmm, I like "Wind Beneath My Wings", "Always", "Just the Way You Are", "Making Love Out of Nothing at All", and I'm sure there are more my brain just isn't working right now.

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 19

2011-07-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

Day 19 - Your top 10 bucket list items.

1- Go on a cruise and swim with dolphins.

2- Go to Europe.

3- Lose weight (not very exciting, but a necessity).

4- Go on a church history tour.

5- Send all my kids to college.

6- Go to the temple with all my kids at the same time.

(This is hard, I guess I'm not that adventurous.)

7- Get my nursing degree.

8- Get out of debt.

9- Go to Disney World with the family.

10- Always live my life worthily to return to live with Heavenly Father.

M at the D.C. Temple

2011-07-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

Luckily my sis is super good at posting and she doesn't mind if I steal (borrow) pictures. Yesterday they went to the D.C. Temple, which is something M really wanted to do. They went on this fun nature walk and of course M started dancing (something she does daily).

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it sure looks like Tate was copying H & M.

How cute is she?

M doing a leap. Not bad if you ask me!

Another fun move from M!

Inside the visitor center.
I'm so glad M was able to go and spend time with my sister and her family. She was thrilled to go and has called me every night telling me what a great time she's been having. I know she will always remember this trip and will have fun memories to look back on.

Cute little cousins. I think they are really going to miss each other, but I'm excited to have M home. Tomorrow night, I can't wait!!!

T is Home!!!

2011-07-17T20:57:00.001-07:00

T got home last night!!

I'm glad my kids had the chance to go do some fun things with family, but I sure started to miss them. T had a great time in Oregon with his cousins. He got a ride home with a friend who was bringing his son and two other boys to Utah to go to Jimmer Camp. They were nice enough to let T hitch a ride. This is a picture of them at the Salt Flats. So glad he's home!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 18

2011-07-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

Day 18- Your favorite part of the Christmas holiday.

I love Christmas! Love the decorating, the baking, the parties, the family time, the traditions, the music, the feeling, and mostly the focus that we put on our Savior. Christmas is probably my favorite holiday for all the reasons above. I love the fun traditions we have with our family and all the special family time we have together. I love decorating the house and baking (and eating) all the yummy treats. And I love all the stories about Christ. About his birth and his sacrifice for us. I know we always try to remember Christ and all he's done for us, but at Christmas there is an extra special feeling. I LOVE it!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 17

2011-07-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

Day 17- The best quality your mom passed on to you.

I'm very lucky that I have such wonderful parents. I learned many things from them and they raised us in a loving home. One of the best qualities I think I got from my mom was her love for children. She loves to be around babies, to hold them, rock them, and kiss them. I too am a baby person. There is just something about a baby that can't be explained. I learned how to be a good mom and care for my children the way my mom cared for us. I'm thankful every day for being blessed with such great parents.

Movie Day

2011-07-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

Today was movie day. We went to the dollar movie twice, which is odd for us. We hardly ever go to the movies. S, J, and I went to see "Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer" this afternoon. It was cute-ish. The kids liked it so that's what counts.

After dinner we were supposed to go to the planetarium at BYU, but it is closed for maintenance. Darn. So we decided to go see "Hanna". Bad decision. First of all it is definitly not a movie for kids. Poor S & J were totally bored. Secondly it was just kind of blah. I kept waiting for something great to happen, but it never did. I'm not a big movie critic. Usually I go just to
be entertained, but this one wasn't entertaining. Oh well, better luck next time.

We recently saw "African Cats". Dad loved it. I liked the first 30 minutes, but then I had watched enough of cats roaming around. We also saw (Wow, for people who don't go to the movies, we've sure seen a lot lately. Yeah for the dollar theatre!) "Soul Surfer". I really like this movie. The kids loved it. I was close to tears almost the entire time because I kept imagining what it would be like if that were my child. She is an amazing girl and is an inspiration to many young athletes. It was a good movie!

Lions at the Owlz Game

2011-07-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

J's softball team celebrated the end of the season by going to the Orem Owlz baseball game. They got their trophies that night, signed shirts, and even got some of the players to sign their jerseys. They ran around, giggled, ate snacks, and had a really great time together!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 16

2011-07-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Day 16- Your most prized material possession.

I'm not really attached to my things. I guess if my house were to burn down I would be really sad to lose my pictures/scrapbooks. I love going back and looking at pictures and remembering the things we've done and the memories we've made.

M went D.C.

2011-07-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

My went to D. C. with her cousins the other day. I've always wanted to go there and see all the sights. Here she is holding the monument (pretty cute, don't you think?).

M, Ethan, and Lu at the Lincoln Memorial. I'm so glad she is having such a fun time. What a great experience for her. I know she'll never forget it and will always be grateful to her aunt and uncle for giving her this opportunity. Now if DH and I can get there some time!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 15

2011-07-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Day 15- A pet peeve you could kill over.

Not sure I have one. I think I'm pretty easy-going and I try not to let things bother me too much.

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 14

2011-07-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Day 14- A favorite amusement park you've been to.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Disneyland!! Happiest place on earth. Which makes me think, I really need to go there again. SOON!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 13

2011-07-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

13- Your favorite outfit that makes you feel good.

I don't know if I have a particular outfit that I feel especially great in. I'm having self-esteem issues right now and don't think anything really looks that great on me. If I had to choose something, I would say probably a skirt with a flowy top (to hide all the fluff I have) is what I'm most comfortable in.

Coconut Lime Banana Bread

2011-07-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

One word: YUM!!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?, Day 12

2011-07-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Day 12- A simple pleasure in life you could never live without.

I love a nice nap, although I don't get those very often. But every once in a while they are so nice!!

"Can I Stay?"

2011-07-10T21:27:00.001-07:00

T is having a blast in OR. He called Saturday when they got back from Trek and told me all about it. It sounds like he loved it. He told me that it was hard work and that he was glad he didn't have to walk from Missouri to Utah. He even bore his testimony. I wish I could've heard him. He doesn't do that too often. I'm so proud of him for having the courage to do that. I really hope his testimony has been strengthened and that he will always remember the feelings he had and the things he learned while on the trek.

When I talked to him yesterday he asked if he could stay longer. He was supposed to come home on Tuesday, but now wants to stay until the end of the month. He wants to go to Scout Camp with Josh next week. I think that will be another great experience for him, so while I'm sad and I miss him, I guess I'll let him stay. What a weird summer for us.

Falcon League State Champs

2011-07-10T21:22:00.001-07:00

After 6 games last week, some in the heat, some in the rain, J's team won the state tournament. They were so excited. They had a good little team and it was fun to watch them play. Their pitcher was amazing! She's got quite an arm on her. The whole team was pretty cute and they had a great season!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 11

2011-07-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Day 11- Something you feel you've improved on yourself and something you're proud of.

I've always enjoyed cooking, but I feel that over the years I've gotten much better at it. I love cooking and baking. I love being able to make a good meal for my family and know that they are enjoying it.

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 10

2011-07-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Day 10- Your favorite winter activity.

Well, I'm not a big fan of super cold weather. However, I do love watching the snowfall and waking up to the quiet, beautiful fresh fallen snow. I love having a white Christmas. My favorite winter activity would probably be curling up on the couch with some hot chocolate watching the kids play outside. They are having a blast, and I'm staying warm. Something we both like!!

Happy 12th Birthday M!

2011-07-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet M (and nephew Reg)! M was so happy when Reggie was born on the same day as she was, now they get to share a birthday. So fun that they got to spend a little time together yesterday! I love this picture of M, Reggie, and Hannah!

It's weird not spending time with M on her birthday, but I know she's in good hands. Twelve years ago this sweet little blondie joined our family. We were so happy to have a little girl! M has always been such a sweet heart! She is the peacemaker in our family. She is always writing cute little notes to everyone to say hi, or I love you, or I'm sorry, or just because. I could think of a million reasons why I love her, but today I will list my top 12!

~She is smart and determined to get good grades.

~She has a desire to read the scriptures and strengthen her testimony.

~She loves her family.

~She has a lot of friends and gets along with everyone.

~She is an amazing dancer, I love watching her.

~She is a good helper at home and always gets her chores done.

~She has a sweet smile.

~She gives great hugs.

~She is tender-hearted.

~She loves the Lord.

~She is not embarassed to hug her mom in public:)

~She is a very pretty girl, inside and out!

Love you M, hope you have a wonderful day!!

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 9

2011-07-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

9- Your biggest fear.

Not sure? I don't know if I could jump out of an airplane. I'm not really scared of spiders or the dark. My biggest fear might be something bad happening to one of my kids or my husband. That would be horrible, I don't know what I would do. Let's just hope that never happens.

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 8

2011-07-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

Day 8 - The best advice your dad ever gave you.

I've come to decide that these are some hard things to come up with. My dad is amazing. He has given me much advice, and all of it has been good. I've always looked up to him. One thing he always told me was to marry a returned missionary. That it would bring many great blessings into my life and to my family. Boy was he right! I'm so glad I listened and followed his advice. Our family has been blessed countless times for having the priesthood in our home. Dad also taught me to always have faith, even when times get hard. He's always told me that I can do it. Sometimes this isn't always the easiest thing to remember. But, in the back of my mind I can hear his encouraging voice and it makes it easier for me to carry on. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful dad (and mom), who always support me, love me, and are always there for me giving me advice along the way.

June Birthday Party

2011-07-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

We rented the Peteetneet slide for our June party. It is a giant slip 'n slide that is down the side of a huge hill. It was a blast. Everyone loved it, including the adults.

Madalyn was our June birthday. I don't remember everything she got, but I do remember:

mirror

M&M's

Mambas

Milky Way

Mars

Mr. Goodbar

Mike 'n Ike
It's been very fun to see what everyone comes up with it!

We each brought a picnic and enjoyed it at the park.

30 Day Blog:" Why, Oh Why?", Day 7

2011-07-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

7- A deceased person you admire.

I have a really good friend that passed away almost a year ago. She was one of the most positive people I have ever met. You would always see with a smile on her face. She was beautiful. She always had something nice to say. I don't think I ever heard her complain or have a bad attitude. Even with all her suffering and everything she went through, she was still happy. I feel so blessed to have known her and to have been able to learn from her example. She was an amazing person!

4th of July

2011-07-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

We had a fun 4th of July!

We went to the Freedom Festival in Provo and walked around. J picked out a fan and S got a bracelet with his name on it. Afterwards we went to Sizzler for lunch with mom, dad, Em, Jose, and Tal. Then we headed to the dollar movies. We saw African Cats. The kids got a little bored. It wasn't horrible, sort of national geographic like. I'm probably good with watching cats for a while now. Dad loved it. Then we went home to start cooking, and ate a yummy BBQ!

I made a delicious red, white, and blue fruit pizza for dessert.

We all had lots of fun with the sparklers.

After our BBQ, DH's family came over so we could do our fireworks. Everyone had a great time. Even the neighbors came out to watch our show!

These cuties enjoyed the fireworks on the beach, how fun!

I didn't get a picture from T but I do know that they went swimming, ate, went to a party, and watched some fireworks with friends.

Sounds like fun was had by all!