Happy Halloween

We had a great Halloween. What wonderful weather. Lots of candy and friends and I love having Halloween on a Saturday. I think we should officially make Halloween the last Saturday of the month. (My pictures are a little blury. Our camera started on the fritz a couple of weeks before Jeff lost his job so we have to hold very still and make do with our struggling camera. The picture of all four kids was a complete blur--oh well.)

Cowgirl Jessica


Scarecrow Ellie


Bugs Bunny Mason


Jonah as a Hobo handing out Money.

St. George Camping Trip

We spent UEA weekend camping at Snow Canyon, just outside of St. George. We were one of five families from our ward camping together. There were 17 kids total ranging in age from 9 months - 16 yrs old. Two of the men in our group ran the St. George marathon that Saturday.
We had great weather until high winds hit Sunday. We had fun hiking, biking, eating S'mores, boating and playing. A good lesson was learned when one of the boys became lost on our hike, he was found quickly thank goodness. The kids found a small tarantula on the 9months old high chair, while she was in it, and this led to screaming and high emotions until Jonah stepped on the spider. Thanks to my parents who loaned us their camper so we had quite a comfortable time.

Ellie and Jessica with friends we were camping with.

Jessica, Jonah and Ellie in the red rocks.

Mason on Bear-Claw Poppy Trail.

Jonah riding Bear-Claw Poppy Trail.

Jonah and Mason mountain biking.

Cousin Joci

Ellie holding Joci. Look at all those blue eyes.

Mason feeding Joci.

My sister and her husband came to Salt Lake the last week of Sept. so we could go see The Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale Theater. We had a fun busy weekend of a Primary breakfast, soccer games, girlie boutiques then a play and dinner. (The last two activities were with out children, so fun!!) It was a fun break for me. I've been working so many weekends it was nice to have one off.

Mason enjoyed feeding Joci. Ellie and Jessica pounce on their new baby girl cousins and the boys never get a chance. The boys act like they don't care but when the baby becomes available one boys asks if they can have a turn. She is such a cutie, we all enjoy her.

First day of school

Jonah, Ellie and Mason

Jessica, now in kindergarten. She started school a week after the older kids.

Ellie---starting 2nd grade.

Jonah---flying into 4th grade.

Mason---starting 4th grade.

Quick up date

Busy, Busy, Busy all of the time. Sometimes hard work, sometimes fun. Always on the go: Sailing with friends at Jordanelle, Father and sons camping trip for the boys, a Yard sale for the kids to earn money and to help clean out the house. Steph's family visiting in August, sooo much chaotic fun. We love cousins. The kids have done a couple of 5K races with Jeff, Steph does the one mile with Jessica. Pony rides on labor day, dinners in the canyon, swimming and water fun, bubbles and side walk paint.

The kids are all in school, the boys in 4th grade, they are learning to study hard and get used to new teachers, Ellie in 2nd grade whips through her homework and spelling tests, loves her friends; Jessica started Kindergarten in the AM, she loves everything about it, especially the 20 - 30 minute recap she gives me of school each day. (She talked to me about Obama's speach yesterday for at least 15 minutes.)

Jeff still job hunting; going stir crazy, wanting to be working. Helping around the house, frequent bike rides, helping at the kids school and with cub scouts.

Steph working, working, then playing with kids and hubby. I spent 6 hours helping the PTA pres. with a school fundraiser today. (Jeff spent 5 hours helping with bike safety training at the school today too. I think we have most of our volunteer hours in for the year.

House is off the market for now. We'll try again next spring.
In the meantime, I love the beautiful weather, I love a morning without children and enjoy when the children come home. I love cleaning out corners of the house after the yard sale.

Life is good, life is busy, life is fun.

(Pictures to follow)

Boys Birthday Party

Jeff as a Secret Agent, Shiloh, the dog, as his assistant, Jonah and Mason



The Mystery Birthday cupcakes



The spread of snacks.


The boys wanted a murder mystery for their birthday party. Due to busy schedules, we held their party in May, a month after their birthday. This was one of the first parties that Jeff took charge, I loved it!!!
Jeff dressed as a secret agent and all of the kids coming to the party were secret agents in training. Our neighbor, who is a detective, had some crime scene tape Jeff used around the whole front yard. Many of the guests were friends from the kids school who I had met before but their parents had never met us. Those parents sat in front of our house for up to 10 minutes unsure if they should let their child out of the car. Jeff stood on the front porch, not moving with Shiloh at his side. As some of the neighbor kids came in, the leary parents then let their child out of the car to come up to the house. Jeff took each child as they came, one at a time, gave them a secret bag with special equipment, handcuffs, magnifying glass etc. (purchased at the dollar store). Each bag had a secret agent name on it and the child got a corresponding name tag ie. Agent Smart, Detective Scooby, Agent Blart, Detective McGruff, Agent Flatulent (that was Jeff's idea), Inspector Gadget etc.
Jeff had Shiloh sniff each present the child brought and then taught the child a secret knock. The child in turn had to do the secret knock in which Jonah and Mason would answer the door and let them in. It was so funny, the kids were talking at the end of the party how scared they were of Jeff and how they were nervous they would mess up the secret knock. (Every time a kid came, Jeff changed the knock.)

The kids came in and trained in three things: Fingerprinting, where they all did their own finger prints. Target practice, they shot dart guns at targets drawn on our sliding glass door. Lastly the physical test was an obstacle coarse in the backyard they were timed on.

After those activities the kids stopped to have snacks. While the kids were snacking and laughing I let out a blood curdling scream. I held up an envelope with red bloody fingerprints on it. That was the first clue of the murder mystery. There were 10 clues, the kids had to figure out the rhyme and find the next clue. They loved it. I loved that the kids were old enough to read and logically think of each clue. All I had to do was sit back and watch them. Our dog Jenna ended up being the victim and Ellie was the murder. It's a kids party, we couldn't make it too gory.

Then came presents and cupcakes. The boys played and had such a great time. This was one of the funnest parties I have done. I think it was due to the age and ability of the kids. It is nice to have two kids done in one party too.

One year older and wiser too...

My birthday was this monday, 7/13. I had worked 6 days straight the previous week and I turned down many shifts so I could have my birthday off, I needed the break.

Jessica woke me at 7:45 with breakfast in bed, a bowl of cereal, yogurt and a bottle of water. She tried to wake the other kids to help but she ended up fixing the cereal all by herself. About 45 minutes later, Jeff came home from his morning at the gym and served me breakfast in bed also, fajita omelet, hash browns, pancakes, fruit and juice. (He came up with this genius idea last year and stops by a restaurant, buys the breakfast, puts in on plates from home and serves it in bed. Genius right??) Everyone grabbed a fork and there was plenty of food to fill us all.

I went for a morning massage, compliments of my mother's day gift certificates. The massage was wonderful, I finally felt full relief in my hip and leg from a pinched nerve I've been dealing with for 2 weeks.

I came home, opened presents, cute clothes, Mama Mia DVD, lotion and gummy bears. Jeff made a cake, we ordered pizza and took it all up to his grandma's and went swimming. We were there for 4 hours, swimming, eating, enjoying the sunshine and the lazy afternoon. Below are pictures of swimming, the kids and the dogs. So much fun!!!!

So many dogs and children. Two of these dogs are Jeff's cousin and grandma's.


Jessica resting on the deck.


Jeff had fun getting the dogs to jump off the diving board.

Obon Festival

Our wonderful neighbors have invited us to go to the Buddhist Obon Festival the last couple of years. This year they invited our girls to dance in the festival with them. We have really enjoyed celebrating in the festivals, good food, fun, good food, and we enjoy the decorations and being part of a cultural event. The festival this year was Saturday July 11th.


Jessica and Ellie with the cute little neighbor twins Josh and Max.


Ellie, Jessica, Josh and Max getting ready to start dancing.


Ellie dancing. Isn't she cute dressed in her Japanese clothing??


Jessica, so cute in her Kimono, getting ready to dance.

Catching up

I am trying to do a little back blogging to get caught up, so check the back dated blogs. I don't like them out of order and since I can change the date to keep them in order you may miss some former posts.

Father's Day

I've been blessed in my life to have many wonderful men in my life from the time I was little. I know everyone isn't that lucky. I have a great dad and wonderful brothers. I have grandfather's whose example was always visible. I have had wonderful bishops, seminary teachers, mission president, missionary's in the mission field etc. I am grateful to all of them for setting such a great example of manhood. This also helped me to know what kind of man I wanted to marry. Jeff is such a fabulous companion for me and a wonderful Dad to the kids.

We had a fun father's day despite my horrible case of strep throat the day before. Jeff needed new bike tires so that was his main gift from Mason and me. Ellie got Jeff tickets to the movie "Up". Jessica wanted to get Jeff Honey roasted peanuts because those are some of his favorite. Jonah gave him a box cliff bars for bike rides. The kids made a candy gram card for Jeff, they were thrilled, it was the first time the kids had seen a candy gram. It went like this:

Dear Dad,

We sure SKOR'D with you as our dad. You are MOUNDS above the rest when you TAKE 5 and play baseball with us or play WATCHAMACALLIT games. you stick with through life's TWIX and turns, through crunch times and even when we are BUTTERFINGER'S or AIRHEADS.

Everyday is REESES with you whether we are at a SYMPHONY or on 5TH AVE spending 100 GRAND. You are KISSABLE and we know you love KITKAT.

Love always your JUNIOR MINTS

We made baked french toast with apple syrup and sausage on strawberries ont he side for father's day breakfast. I stayed home from church and rested since I was still contagious with Strep. That evening Jeff's family came over for dinner. It was a really nice day and I was grateful to be recovering form strep and not Swine flu.

Triple Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday to Jonah, Mason and Jessica. It always feels like a second Christmas to have all three birthdays on one day. Jessica took treats to both of her pre-schools, she goes with her cousin one day a week in Riverton. The boys had a fun day at their school. No treats for the boys class, this school asks that treats are not brought in for their birthdays. I rather like that rule, it saves me time and $$. They did however get to be student of the day. They made a poster of themselves with pictures and some of their favorite things. When they came home from school we opened presents. We had prepped the boys that it would be a simple birthday and their big gift would be swimsuits. They all opened their few presents. Jessica's big gift was scooter, she loved it. The boys tried to be excited about their swimsuits and new bike helmets but we could see they were a little disappointed that Jess got a fun summer toy and they didn't. We then got serious and told the kids they needed to clean up the boxes and wrapping paper in our downstairs bedroom. The were very obedient even though the look on their faces were shocked that we were making them clean immediately after opening presents. As they cleaned I asked them to fold some blankets that were laying in the room. When they lifted the blankets they found their new mountain bikes. They were sooooo excited. We went out side where all the kids could ride and play with their new toys. That night we ordered pizza and had grasshopper brownies for their birthday cake. (The brownies are a new favorite of ours.) The girls went to a movie while the boys went to the Jazz game, so fun!!

Opening presents


Birthday Brownies


Jessica's new scooter.


Jessica's new birthday nails and new bracelet.


These are the cupcakes Jess took to pre-school for a birthday treat.

April Fools!!!

Since I have not been feeling well, I didn't have the energy to come up with creative April fools jokes like last year (toothpaste for the cream in the oreos, sewing my kids clothes closed etc).

The best thing I could come up with was to tell the kids that we sold the house. In the morning on the way to school I told the kids we had received a call late last night. Someone wanted to buy our house and we said yes, but we had to me moved out in 2 weeks. The kids had all different kind of reactions. Jonah in his emotional voice said, "Mom I just don't want to be the kid who has to change schools in the middle of the year." I assured him he wouldn't. I was worried if it was too traumatic of a joke the kids would be crying at school.

When Jeff came home from work he asked the kids how they felt about moving in two weeks. Ellie was excited, Jessica was indifferent, Jonah was leary and Mason kept saying, "I wish this was just an April fools joke." Jeff proceeded to tell the kids we found a house in Draper far away from their school and we wouldn't be able to commute to school and also the new neighborhood we would live in didn't allow dogs.

I couldn't keep a straight face. The kids were becoming more distraught, I place my head in my hands to hide my laughter. Jeff was good not to draw it out to long and he told them April Fools.
The kids that he was just joking about the school and dog thing so they asked when we needed to start packing. They were all quite relieved when they found out the house has not sold yet.

Now they will have to tell all their friends at school today that they are not moving (yet) and their parents just played a great April Fools joke on them.

"Please help us to find Mommy's voice."

Friday evening I started losing my voice, no big deal, I felt fine. By the time I went to bed, my throat was starting to feel raw. When I woke up Saturday morning, I felt like I had been swallowing razor blades. I took a few Ibuprofen and was able to go to work, wearing a mask all day of course. By the time I came home from work, my voice was completely gone, that evening the aches started coming on and it was an effort to swallow my saliva. More Ibuprofen and off to bed. I slept in Sunday, I went to the last hour of Primary. My second counselor did it all and at the last minute as my first counselor's little girl had been at the hospital and I was going to take over her duties on Sunday.

After church, I put on my jammies and crawled into bed. I stayed there all day, reading, sleeping etc. At one point I woke up and found a bowl of cookie dough in the kitchen, Jeff informed me they were eating it for dinner. Then Jeff took the kids to a neighbors for an Elder's Quorum social, "Sundaes on Sunday". The kids had root beer floats and cookies. They probably love the freedom when mom is sick.

That night Jessica said the family prayer. I thought she would pray for mommy to feel better, instead she prayed, "Please help us to find Mommy's voice." So cute, I don't think she realizes how horrible my throat feel though.

I found some Lortab from my surgery last summer. One pill and I slept great. I woke up still with no voice, and I don't know why I keep swallowing razor blades in my sleep.
I have been taking, Ibuprofen, honey and lemon tea, throat spray, cold things; ice cream and yogurt and of course the one Lortab.

Any other suggestions. I can't take this much longer. Not only do I not have a voice but it hurts to whisper and I have a very demanding 4 yr old home today who is constantly talking and asking questions. Does any one know of a magic cure???? I don't have the aches or a fever so I don't think it is strep. I'm up for suggestions.

Spring?????

A child at my children's elementary school was overheard saying:

"Spring is just a war between winter and summer."

This week is feels like winter is winning. Brrrr--I'm ready for some sun!!

Bathroom Duties

Since this is my personal journal, I have to jot down the little things that are going on even though they become public on the blog.

Jessica still likes me to do the wiping after #2 on the toilet. Lately she has been calling me to "come squish her". At first I thought she wanted to be wiped but she said "no, squish my belly so more will come out". So I squish her belly and leave and then when she is ready to be done she calls me back to wipe her. I still haven't figured out how that child thinks--logically I guess.

Only on Thursdays

Jessica is a most vivacious child. She is full of energy, giggles and life. The other day I was cooking in the kitchen. She likes to be in there with me and usually on top of the counter. I am constantly telling sit on a chair not the counter. She moved off the counter on to a chair, back on the counter and all around, only as she does. Trying to be sweet and patient I asked, "Jessica do you ever settle down?". Her reply, " Yes, on Thursdays."

Jeweled Jello

This is a fun Jello recipe I found on another blog site (Gourmet mom on the go). We made it to take to our Super Bowl party tonight.

Here is the recipe:

Jeweled Jell-o
Ingredients:
4 small boxes of jello, different colors
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
water

Directions:
Dissolve each box of jello separately, into one cup of hot water. Pour into individual containers (small tupperware works well) and chill overnight.
Ready a 9×13 pan.
Cut flavors of jello into small blocks.
Mix together carefully in pan.
In a separate bowl, dissolve 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Add dissolved gelatin to 1 3/4 cup hot water and condensed milk. Cool.
Pour cooled milk mixture over jello and chill overnight. Cut into 1" pieces and serve. This is a fun dish to serve at a party. You can color theme it for a holiday or a party. Have fun.

My brother Brad and his four kids were staying the weekend with us. I had worked all day and needed to get some things done for primary the next day. Brad and Jeff realized they needed to get the eight kids out of the house so they didn't go stir crazy. All the kids opted to go to the church house and play basketball in the gym. They were only gone for about 45 minutes when Jeff came home and had me come over and apply my nursing skills to my cute niece Madison who was hurt. When I asked Jeff what happened, he explained that he and Brad were playing a little one on one, they were both running full force down the court when Maddie jumped in front of Jeff trying to steal the ball. Jeff hit her full force and fell to the ground. She told me she heard a crack in her shoulder when Jeff hit her. We packed up the kids went home and Brad took Maddie to an Urgent Care. Sure enough a broken clavicle. She stayed the rest of the weekend and did great. She was such a trooper. She said running into Jeff was like running into a brick wall. Sorry Maddie.
Here is how we entertained all seven kids while Brad had Maddie at the doctor. Jeff was playing a new game on the computer and all seven kids gathered around him watching him play for over 30 minutes. What easy kids to babysit.

Temple Open house

This evening we went to the open house of the new LDS Draper temple. I has such a simple elegance in it's decor. I am grateful for opportunities like this for my kids to see the temple and hopefully begin to gain a testimony of the temple and the blessings it brings.

This temple is in an incredible location. What an awesome sight when we came out of the temple to the Salt Lake Valley at night. The city lights are magnificent from this view.

We went to dinner after at Sweet Tomatoes. The kids loved the macaroni and ice cream the best. I loved not cooking dinner. Ha, ha.

Have You...

My friend had this on her blog. She and I did some of these things together, like the Eiffel tower. I thought is was fun to look at the things I have done, things I would like to do and things I am greatful I have not had to do. This is fun because there are many things I have done that my husband hasn't and vice versa. I like seeing that everyone has unique and inividualized opportunities in life.

Have You...
PUT THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE IN BOLD.

1. Started your own blog--with the help of my sister Julie.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (only if "Rock Band" counts)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping--Only about four years ago.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing/repelling
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant--I bought vegies I didn't need nor could identify from a needy man.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted/sketched
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud-and very stuck in the mud with my friend Heidi at age 6.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen--I have cleaned one though.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood item
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle--it was only speeding due to my lack of experience.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper--I was quoted when I said Pres. Carters favorite cartoon was Grape Ape.
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating--I think I've helped my brother with this.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day.
101. Fallen in Love
102. Lived outside the United States of America
103. Seen a performance on Broadway
104. Swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
105. Competed on a team
This year for the first time I had a real surgery, I don't always count my c-section since I was awake and never felt pain. I also saw a live bear up close, it was behind a fence in Yellowstone though.

The idea now is to choose a couple of items on this list or make a couple of new goals of your own to accomplish this year. Life is about constantly learning and having new experiences. This year I think I will try and run a half marathon, maybe a full one next year, and read the Doctrine and Covenants with my family.

We're back-blogging that is.

We have had a wonderful holiday season. I had taken a break from keeping up the blog in order to keep up with all of the holiday festivities. This is just a short entry to you know we are alive and well. I will start catching up, check our blog for back dated entries, (yet to come). We had Ellie's birthday the middle of November. Followed by a great Thanksgiving in Eureka (Utah). We have been to Idaho and St. George in the last few weeks and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and New Years. I will be posting pictures of all of our activities. Happy New Year to all. HAPPY 32ND BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER JORDAN.