Our Family Pictures

We really needed family pictures taken since it's been a few years.(we did snap a few quick pictures last fall but only a few ...mostly for our Christmas card) In the last year Macie, Kelsi and Jordyn joined our family so it was time.  I wanted to wait until Jordyn was born.  We finally made it happen.  Finding a day that works for everyone is hard to do and so we just decided to take our pictures on a Sunday when we were all together.  Julie's sister Jen came and snapped our shots.  I loved how all the pictures turned out.  I had a few ideas in mind and they turned out good.  The light was perfect too and the pictures all looked bright and great.  We were also very fast.  It only took us 1/2 an hour to get all these done.  Fast is best for this family.

A few of the girls asked me what colors we were doing.  I hadn't thought about it and just said whatever.  Kelsi suggested navy and white.  I liked that idea but Braxton remembered we had done that once already.  I thought a little more color with the navy and white would be good and so we decided on turquoise and salmon or coral.  I am happy with the splash of color in our pictures.  I am just happy with our pictures.  I had the pictures narrowed down Sunday night and ordered them Monday and picked them up and have them hanging in my house just two days later.  YeeHaw!

I think we are a cute family and obviously easy to work with.  I appreciate Jen for running over and taking our pictures for us.  We do the same for the Dunkley family when they get their's taken.  I love pictures and the memories they hold with them.

Weekly Tidbits

*Jared asked Maddi to the Homecoming Dance. He put the poster on her porch early Monday Morning.  His poster said: "I'd be a Ding Dong if I didn't ask YOU to Homecoming"  the letters of his name were on the bottom of the ding dongs..he used a big box. Maddi is one of Jared's best friends....he goes to Maddi when he needs to talk.
* Maddi replied the next Morning.  Her poster said something like: "Since this is both of our first dance we should "wing" it together."  She put Hot Wings with it.  I think these two will have fun since they are such good friends...no pressure...just fun.
*We had our Opening Social for SNAP....it was fun and great seeing the participants again.

*I went to see how my dad was and it seriously breaks my heart.  I expected much more than what I saw.  He is so weak and can hardly move his feet.  My sister and I had to help him out of his chair...he couldn't lift himself.  Then when he laid on the couch I had to help move his legs up for him.  It made me realize how important exercise of some kind is so that our bodies stay strong.  I can't see my dad being around long if he continues like this.
*My vacuums are both broke so my house is extra dirty...good thing my carpet is the color of dirt.
*Jared had a few friends over for a little celebration for turning 16.  The boys had a great time!

 *I love Sundays and being surrounded by my kids and grands.  My grands have so much fun together.  They make this gramma's heart smile!

Camping with Book Club

Susan has a cabin up by Monte Cristo and so our Book Club went up to it for the night.  We left early Tuesday morning and started making memories right away.  We were getting a picture and I accidentally hit the stick that was holding the back window up and the lock came down and hit Susan hard in the forehead.  We laughed but it really did hurt her.  We were just glad it didn't make her bleed. (it made us talk about another time when Susan and I were having fun in California together with gramps and Tammy G and Susan feel forward in the Motor home when gramps slammed on the brakes.  We had to turn around and take her to a hospital where she needed a bunch of stitches.)

The drive to her cabin was nice and we enjoyed chatting all the way there.  I was loving the leaves because they are starting to change colors and are so pretty.  Before we knew it we were there and loving the view we had from the cabin.  It was marvelous.  That is why the cabin is where it is....Susan's mother in law loved the view and so they built on top of the mountain.

 We got unpacked a little and watched a movie.  We watched three movies while we were away...."Rat Race, The Ultimate Gift and The Proposal."  We had more but that was good for the time we were there.  That is one of the things we wanted to do together since we never get the chance when we are home.  Susan, Kathy and I went for a walk after the movie.  It was pretty and the temperature was great.  It just felt good to get out and move around in the beautiful out doors.  (Shanna stayed at the cabin and had a little rest)

We played lots of games.  Susan is the Game Queen.  She knows so many fun card games and we had a blast laughing and playing both days.  We played a game similar to "Five Crowns" and "Flip It" and a funny dice game.  The dice game is similar to the M&M game but instead of sucking M&M's you write numbers to 100.  We tried playing "Murder in the Dark" but it isn't much fun with just 4 people.  Susan and Shanna had never played it before so we tried it a few times....it was more funny than fun.  We laughed our guts out until we cried when Shanna told us "she needed a smoke" after a round of cards.  It was so uncharacteristic of her that it made us all burst out in laughter.  (she doesn't smoke)

We went driving around in the evening looking for animals. It had rained pretty good before we left and so we weren't sure if we would see any.  It took a little while but then we saw two deer just ahead of us.  Not long after those two deer we saw a Cow Moose.  The picture is crappy of all the animals but they are there.  Just after seeing the Moose a guy drove by and told us that there were 7 Bucks just down the road playing in a field.  We found them easily and loved watching them. They were all at least 4 points.  We saw a few Does with them....at least one right by them and a few more just down the road.  The Sunset was pretty....the whole mountains were pretty and smelled so wonderful.

I wasn't ready to leave and I don't think Susan was either but Kathy had things she needed to get back for.  We decided this would be a yearly event and we would plan it sooner so we could stay a day or two longer.

I really enjoy getting away with girl friends.  The fun is so different than getting away with family.  Both are good but girl time is greatly needed to refresh the soul and to just relax.  It's so nice not having responsibilities for the time gone.  As soon as I walked in the door my phone went off and I was reminded that I was home again and needed to step into my wife and mother roles.  I started the laundry that was piled in the laundry room. I put on my Taxi hat and took Kimi to work and then picked Jared up from school....and so it is.....life continues on.

Cute Babies

I got to play with Macie today while Parker went for testing for his speak.  Parker is really good at communicating but forgets to pronounce the first part of his words.  Macie was so much fun.  I got her to laugh because I kissed on her neck.  I tickled her and even got down on the ground so we were eye to eye.  Macie is at a fun stage.  She is moving all around and grabs things and is interested in everything.  She is a happy little girl and I really enjoyed having her over so we could play.

Parker was so cute when he got back and told me about his testing.  He is a happy, energetic little soul that makes me smile.  I thought it would be fun to go to lunch and Parker was excited about it too.  We went to Arctic Circle because it's close and they have a play area.  When the lady came around asking who wanted a courtesy cone Parker said it didn't.  So Natalie and I got one and we ended up sharing with the kids.  I ate the chocolate shell off of mine and gave the rest to Macie.  Macie was loving her ice cream.  It was so funny to watch her devour it.  Natalie had a cookie shell and she got a little of it before Parker finished hers off.

It was fun spending a little time with Natalie and her cute littles.  I really enjoy visiting with Natalie and I'm so glad she is the mommy of my grands.

Weekly Tidbits

 ***Thursday Carla brought our team soap and lotion because she is so nice.  She said it was for our Birthdays. Oh and I bowled very consistent this week...156, 154, and 155 ☺

***For our Opening Social for SNAP we went to the Ogden Temple Open House as a group.  It was fun going through again and I'm happy to say that I am glad that the Special Needs Activity Program is starting again.  I miss these wonderful souls during the summer.

 ***We took dinner to this cute family since their ward doesn't even know they are there.  That and the fact that we love them.

***This happened on Thursday.  I was having a frustrating day and this put everything in perspective again.
***I wish my tears were pounds because I have shed a few this week.
***I taught Braxton's Primary Class about Tithing and enjoyed being around the cute kids this week. I got a text from one of the moms later saying: "While we ate dinner we asked the boys what they learned in primary today.  Billy (from the class I taught) declared, "President Monson and his wife taught us..."  Larry and I laughed so hard and had to share that with our kids when they came for dinner. ☺ From the mouths of babes! So cute and funny!

Having Grands is Pretty Wonderful

It's such a joy to have little's around.  I love that every now and then I get to tend my cute grands and spend time with them.  Speaking about time....Kamryn kept asking me how long she got to stay at my house and was always excited when I told her we still had hours. I love that my grands like to come to my house.  I got to watch these cute girls today for most of the day until the day was almost over.

My grands are all very good and well behaved.  They are all easy to have.  Larry was concerned about leaving me to go help at the Temple but I reassured him that I would be just fine.  I really felt that Larry needed to go serve at the Temple when he had four people call and tell him that they couldn't show up.  We both felt that he needed to go serve since we are so blessed in spite of the trials we get.

Jaydan took Jared with him to Weber States game and then to a movie.  (I love when my kids include each other in their activities)  Kimi was upstairs at first and so I got to enjoy these cuties pretty much by myself for a few hours.  Kamryn was excited to watch a few movies.  I told her she could play while the movies were going but she just wanted to sit by me and watch them.  Then after she watched two movies she pulled out the doll house and played.  She has a cute imagination and cleaned everything up really good when she was finished playing. (I didn't even ask her)  She went on and on and didn't wear down until it was after 10:00.  She was getting tired and so I pulled out some blankets and got her situated on the coach...Larry came home and got cozy behind her and that pretty much took the tired right out of her.  She was up and going again and fell asleep just before her parents showed up.  Kam likes to tease and when she gets an opportunity she takes it. (Grandpa was that opportunity)

Baby Jordyn is such an easy baby.  She is so alert and makes eye contact and will then smile.  She coo'd for a few of us too.  I can't get over how alert and responsive she is for being so young.  What a joy to have her in our family.  I loved watching Kamryn kiss Jordyn all over again and again.  Kamryn loves her little sister so much.  I am glad that I wasn't able to sign up to help at the Temple since our night was tonight.  I'm glad that all the spots were filled and that my calendar was open when I was asked to watch my cute grand babies.  I was where I was suppose to be doing the best thing I could possibly be doing.

today there was a long moment of yuck

This morning when everything was awesome when everything was cool I posted this quote on FB. It's the one that stood out to me today. Later in the day I realized why I posted it....because I needed it. That happens quite a bit....my post is for me whether I realize it at the time or not.

Lately I've been irritable ... Things that shouldn't bug me are bugging me. I'm frustrated with Visiting Teaching . When I asked to have Kelsi as my partner a few months ago so I could have a change I was told no. I just found out that Kelsi was recently changed but here I am stuck in a rut with sisters who could care less if I visit them or not. I'm burned out! I have always loved visiting teaching but right now I don't like it at all. I get a stomach ache thinking of it which I have done a lot lately. I have gone by one sisters house 3 times in the last week to no avail. She won't answer her phone and sometimes she is home and chooses not to answer the door....it frustrates me. So I think I'm on edge because of visiting teaching. I feel like I'm being controlled...like my agency has been taken from me.

Larry's dad had me stop at the store yesterday to pick him up some stuff that was on sale. I was going that way so it wasn't a problem but today he came over again and decided he wanted more. I wasn't going to leave today. I had a primary lesson to plan that Braxton had just asked me to teach for him. I also had a dinner to prepare for a cute couple in another ward where the members don't even know this family exists let alone that they just had another baby. Larry volunteered me for that...it was his idea. So I did what I could and looked at the lesson and printed off a few things for it then I went to the store for dad. (Because I love him)  my anxiety and blood pressure where rising. I'm not sure why but things aren't right inside of me.

I made the dessert and started cooking the chicken so I could shred it later. I was making chicken roll ups. Kimi had stayed home but was feeling better and needed to go to work where she is trainng for a few days. I was fine with her using my car...I didn't need it. That is I didn't need it until Jared text me saying he missed the bus! I don't think he realizes the time and gas it takes to go to that school. I'm pretty sure steam was coming out of my ears. I was not happy and things were no longer awesome or cool.  Kimi decided she would go get him then go to work since it wouldn't matter if she got there later since she is training. Larry called to see how my day was going and heard more than he probably expected...a customer came in though and so we said good bye....that also happens a lot. (doesn't put that lovin feeling in me at all)

About 10 min later Kimi called in tears. She had just got hit.  The inner child in me came out...literally. I slapped the counter with a big "Dang It"! I wanted to pull my hair out but decided one bald parent was enough. I told Kimi I was not mad at her...I was just frustrated and that just made it worse but that I wasn't mad at her. (I didn't even ask about my car because I seriously didn't care and was just glad Kimi was ok) I called Larry back and told him the news and he went to the school....oh yes...it happened at the school on private property so the cop couldn't say or do anything....Bonus....NOT! The lady (yes grown up) tried blaming Kimi. The lady was pulled over by the curb talking to some people through the passenger window so Kimi was just going around her when she decided to pull out without looking. She told  Larry she shouldn't have to look. What? She's lucky it was my car and not my child or any other person.  Kimi did what I would have done and the lady simply wasn't paying attention. (I think our insurance just went up...yipee...another chalk mark)

My fender is crunched but like Kimi said...at least it's the same side as the scratched up bumper. Ummm....good point, let's keep the damage on the passenger side. Seriously I didn't even care about the car....I really didn't! (I did appreciate Kimi looking for the positive side of things...that made me feel better...she's catching on)

Larry reacted and said something he regretted. He told Jared it was his fault for missing the bus. Oh goody....make our kid feel guilty....our very sensitive kid. Another reason to get the chalk out...add to our list. When the kids got home I tried talking to them and Jared left. Kimi decided she would go to work and before she left we hugged and she said "we can't let Satan get to us" . She is right....the negative, angry, frustrated feelings were not coming from a good source. I text Jared a few times telling him it was NOT his fault and to please come talk to me and help me with the dinner. He came in awhile later and we sat on his bed and cried together. I explained the frustrations dad has had with finances lately...medical, and now both our cars, and so that is why he let that slip.  I told Jared that Larry had called me and was sorry.  I think it sunk in because Jared got up and we went downstairs and finished making the dinner together.

I thought about the quote a few times after the hit. The car isn't important...my kids and family are. They were ok and so I was ok. I'm not going to lie...I was exhausted...physically and mentally.

Larry and I took the dinner to our cute friends then we came home and ate with our cute kids. Larry took Jared to the football game with Kevin and I watched "The Help" with Kimi. The day ended with the right perspective....so all is well!

I saw this quote the next morning and felt that it should be posted here too.  Opposition in all things so that we can appreciate what we do have.