My expressions

Some say that I look unhappy sometimes. That I don't smile enough. I can't imagine why anyone would ever think that.

For the record. I am HAPPY!!!! And since this has been brought to my attention, I'm working on smiling more, to prove that I am very happy.

Speaking of happy, do you know what day it is today? It's FRIDAY!!! or in other words, date night. Best night of the week if you ask me. So my dearie, I'm going to get my self ready, put on some lipstick, curl my hair maybe, shave my legs, and wear something that will make it very hard for you to take your eyes off me. (wink!wink!)

Ah....now that is more like it. This is a true reflection of how I really feel.

A mighty change

Hmm....why do I blog? At first it was a place for me to put lots of pictures of us for all of our family that live far away. You see, I felt a tad bit guilty leaving all of Aaron's family in California, taking the only grandkids away. A blog was such a great way for them to still see the kiddos growing up. I think they like the blog. I hope it makes them feel connected to us. We do lots of things here on our end to make sure they are connected with their family in California as well.

However, my reason for blogging now has changed some. I blog because I love the 3 munchkins who call me mama. I blog because I want to capture some of the crazy mishaps that happen daily around here. I blog because I love my Aaron and am amazed at the man I married. I blog to remember what kind of person I am at this point in my life. And sometimes I blog just to brag about the good things in my life! A mighty change is occuring in my life it seems. I have this desire to live simply *speak kindly*love genorously. It's true. I have that saying right above my front door and I read it a bazillion times a day. Oh life is good.

What does your house look like at 3:00 in the afternoon on any given day?

Pictures on my camera that I have no idea where they came from.

Okay, actually I'm pretty sure that Aaron took these one day. I think it's Heber. It's gorgeous! That's all I know. FALL IS HERE!

This is my heaven on earth.

P is for.......

a Pirate Party!  Arrr!!!!And many other things too. I got to host Nathan's joy school at our house this week. I chose the letter P. Oh what fun there is with the letter P. Tuesday we ate Popcorn, Pumpkin cookies, Painted Pumpkins, Played with Puzzles and Playdoh, and read "If you give a Pig a Pancake". Phew! I forgot to break out the camera for those fun activities.

Today, we had our Pirate Party, made homemade Pizzas, colored the letter P and a picture of a pirate. Other P things we do, is open preschool with a Prayer and say the Pledge of a alligance.

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 2

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia

I believe in Life. I believe in struggles. I believe in God.

Date Night

A horribly rotten, no good last few days

Wed. Sept 15, Nathan wasn't being his charming sweet self...oh wait, that's normal...but he really wasn't behaving "normally". He'd been waking up a lot during the nights. I thought he might be having nightmares. We had to nip this in the bud, so Wednesday night, we did not go into him. It was a horrible night. Enough said. Thursday morning....we had our little joy school field trip. Nathan was clingy, I knew he would be, so I held him most of the time. He was exhausted. He did not feel well, I could tell. When we got home I put Abigail down for a nap, Hannah went to a friends, and I attempted to put Nathan down for a nap. I really did not think he would fight it. But oh was I wrong! He screamed, cried, complained about his tummy hurting and had been complaining about his tummy for two days! I called the doctor, got an appointment and took him right in. Of course, the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him. "There is something wrong!" I protested, but their answer was to "try" him on a prescription for acid reflex. No thanks! This was something more. I just knew it. So I went home and started journaling everything Nathan was eating to see if it could be diet related. Made much more sense to me than acid reflex. Night #2....still not sleeping. This time we went into him everytime he cried. Which was on the hour every hour throughout the night. He was doubled over in pain, screaming. We tried to calm him down as best we knew how. I went to the store and bought him anti-gas medicine and laxatives realizing that he wasn't have his regular bowel movements.....and he is one regular kid if you know what I mean. So, we noticed a little relief, but he still was complaining of his tummy hurting. This went on for 2 more days until Sunday night we couldn't take the screaming any more. I thought I was going to lose my mind. Aaron said he was taking him into the ER. We. Needed. Answers!
Poor kid was exhausted after 4+ days of no sleep.  You can see in his little arm a small IV. He zonked out in his daddy's armpit. Must have been tired! (just kidding babe)

We are happy to report that the x-rays showed that Nathan is constipated. What!?! Do you know how much fiber we eat in this house? Really, I was very surprised, but grateful that it wasn't anything more serious. Now, almost a week later he's back to his mischievious, (dare I say it) naughty little self. :o) And I couldn't be happier! We are still watching his diet for anything that may trigger this to happen again. Ugh! pray that it doesn't please.

Proof and a cutie pa-tootie!

I have the proof that Hannah and Nathan love eachother...or at least they like eachother.

Sometimes I really do wonder, but from the looks of it they really do care for one another. What a relief!

And our little miss cutie pa-tootie had to have a silly nose.

Seriously folks, is she not ADORABLE!?!

Field Trip

We went to a fruit orchard for Nathan's Joy School yesterday. I'm a farm girl at heart. Fruit farm, animal farm, doesn't matter to me. I just love the simplicity of that lifestyle. However, to run a farm, anytype, is not that simple I've learned. We learned a lot about harvesting the fruit and sorting it, and containing it in huge refrigerators. It was impressive and awesome. We all had a great time and got to pick an apple to boot. Yum!

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

I love good music! Sometimes I will turn it up so loud until you can feel the music. I love to sing and dance to it with the kids. I don't get crazy often, so my kids love when I do this. This is one of my favorites to sing and pretend that my voice is just like hers. Ha! if only!!!

1st day of Joy School

Nathan is doing joy-school with some of his friends. The four of them belong to the "monster truck joy school". He was just as excited to start his first day as Hannah was to start hers. We will rotate homes for joy school, so I will get the opportunity to teach the kids as well. It's going to be a great year!

Brett, Nathan, Kamaren, & Judd

Jon Schmidt Concert

So, I kinda like Jon Schmidt. Okay, I just love him! He is such an inspiring pianist. He had a concert at the waterfalls at Thanksgiving Point. Wow! He really is good.

Hannah has been taking piano lessons for a few months now. We took her to this concert so she could see what fun she can have playing the piano. It was a bit much for a 4 year old, but she was impressed when she watched Jon play laying down, or backwards, or riding his seat like a horse, or when he hit the note with his head. I mean, who wouldn't be right? So, thanks Jon for inspiring us all, and hopefully, most of all, our little Hannah.

Pre-School: 1st day

One happy girl gets to go to pre-school. One happy girl looked adorable. One happy girl calls her teacher, Miss Tecia. One happy girl is already learning great things and making new friends.

One Last Hoorah!

We got the slip 'n slide out one last time before school started. Oh we will miss summer. But I won't miss the solicitors or the mosquitos, but everything else.

Just what I needed

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

Stay-Cation

What a fun few days we've had. A little trip up to Idaho, dutch oven cooking in the mountains, camping, and a trip to Utah's Hogle Zoo. Aaron had a couple days off so we took advantage of our precious family time.

This is the fast and furious version.

Thursday. Drive to Burley, Idaho with my sister Susan and the kiddos. Stay with some of our Ragnar teammates. Reconnect with old roommates. Go to their fair. See a lot of very very very stinky pigs. (are there any other kind?) Eat the famous maple bars. Run into my college dorm mom of more than 12 years ago, and she's the one who recognized me! Couldn't believe it!!! Sleep out in the country. Look at the amazing stars and envy, the simple life of a small town. Wake up, drive back to Utah to hang out with Aaron. Pack up the kids again and head for the mountains for a delicious dutch oven dinner. Go for a beautiful walk and be thankful beyond measure to live right where I do. Get home, sleep in my own bed and sleep in in the morning. Heaven! Work all day on "projects" around the house. Put the kids to bed early. Wake up early. Go to my nephews homecoming. Try not to cry too much, but can't help all the amazing feelings that rush back while hearing him talk about the last two years of his life. Incredible! Have a wonderful lunch with my family. Rush home, put the kids down for a nap. Pack up the car to head for the mountains yet again for a campout. Find the perfect spot. Pray it doesn't rain. It does. A lot. Have some family come up for a dutch oven dessert. Lick the pan clean. So yummy! Breathe in the fresh air after the down pour. Say goodbye to the family. Clean the van out completely and watch a fun movie with the kids. Movie over. Kids in pajamas. Say prayers. Pray especially that no bears will come into our camp. (I was worried). Nervous about our first "real" campout with the kids. They sleep perfectly. Wake up. Build fire, make breakfast, and go for another beautiful walk. Clean up camp. Head home. Change clothes and go the zoo smelling like camp fire. Take our sweet little time looking at all the animals. Pack the kids up yet again. They are out in no time. Enjoy the quiet with my husband. End the night with an ice-cream cone from Thanksgiving Point. In my opinion, the perfect stay-cation!

Me, Jen, and Brooke. My first college roommates. Love these Idaho girls!

The campout begins










Hannah called these "fruit snacks"



Hogle Zoo