Sad Aden!!

This is what happens when Daddy leaves to go hunting, without taking Aden!!  (Really, it happens whenever Daddy leaves, though not quite to this extent.)  Keep in mind, this was just the beginning.  It turned into a full scale breakdown!  Tears, yelling, screaming, shaking, near hyperventalation, etc.  He said things like, "Fine then, I QUIT!" and "I am not his best friend" and many other funny things.  

Aren't kids so fun???

If you look closely you can see the anger brewing between those brows!

Happy Thanksgiving

These are a few of the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving Season:

( in no particular order)

My wonderful (most of the time) husband!!!

3 Great Kiddos

A supportive, loving family

The Gospel

The fact that we have a roof over our heads

and food on the table

The health of loved ones

Employment

Friends

Laughter

Love

Knowledge

Health

The Faith I have

The Freedom we enjoy daily (and take for granted most days!)

Good Books

An amazing companion to walk through this life with.

And just about a million other things, great and small,

I am so very Thankful for them all!

It's your Birthday, shout Hooray!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANNY!!!!! 

To my mother, who is amazingly witty, happy, fun, outgoing, outrageous, patient, loving, kind and laid back!  She is one seriously phenominal (sp??) woman!! She has taught me pretty much everything I know and continues to teach me, everyday!! 

Here is just a short list of the reasons I love her:

1.  Her ability to turn any variety of ingredients into a meal, and it is always absolutely delicious 

2.  Her crazy hair, she is willing to do anything

3.  Her outgoing personality, she can have a conversation with ANYONE!!!

4.  Her love/paitence for my crazy kiddos, especially Aden!

5.  Her talent for throwing wonderful parties

6.  Her patience with Dad

7.  Her spunky outfits

8.  The fact that she learned how to ride a quad about 4 years ago, and has been an avid "duner" ever since

9.  Her generous gifts/help that she lends to all of our families.  I know that we have all benefitted from a few hundred meals, help with groceries, babysitting (rarely, but it's happened:),  paint supplies, paint labor, help with canning (learning and the cost), etc, etc.  I could go on forever!!

10.  The fact that she is such a strong matriarch for our family.  She makes sure that we get together, get along and love to be with eachother!!!

You are a marvelous mother, a wonderful wife, a dedicated daughter, a sweet sister, a great granny and a FANTASTIC friend!!!!

Hope you had a Beautiful Birthday!!

We love you!!

p.s. Thanks for the picture Taya!!! :)

My Twilight Experience....

So, my original plan was to go see Twilight Friday morning, when everyone should be at school/work.  But, we (Tawna, Taya, and I) decided for some crazy reason to go to the midnight showing!! We are nuts!!!!  The experience was awful, with all the crappy teenagers and tweenagers!!!  We ended up in the theater with all the crazies too.  Tawna was pretty sure that there were a few actual vampires there.  Once she mentioned that, all I could think about was that half way through the movie someone was gonna bite me.   AHHHHH!! Nonetheless, the movie was AWESOME!!! Even with the crazy, freaky, vampire teenagers!   

So, here is my critique, if anyone cares to know...

Carlisle was way too young and had way too much makeup on!  Rosalie, while a beautiful girl, was not quite the goddess she was depicted as, though she didn't disappoint on the witchiness!!! Jasper looked/acted like a weird, robotic freak!  This is the guy who is supposed to be influencing moods????  huh?  Other than that, I thought the cast was pretty good.  I was so happy that the movie stayed true to the book.  Minus a few details.   Though I do realize that if they detailed the movie that much, it would've been way too long!  So glad I got to see it!   I sure could have done with out all the psycho fanatics though!

 I can't wait to make Jeff take me again this next week! hahahaha!

The Queen of tar-TAR!!

I love my sister, Tawna, so very much and for a lot of reasons.  But, probably one of the best reasons is her uncanny ability to make me laugh!!  A couple of weeks ago, during our canning fiasco, she was looking in the spice cupboard for cloves (to make the syrup for the pie apples).  The spice cupboard is in the "mud room" (the room between the garage and the rest of the house, where one takes their shoes off before entering into the main house).  So she is in the mud room looking for cloves and I hear her say this...  (you have to imagine tar  TAR being said like 2 words)

"Oh, you have tar-TAR!!  (at this point I start laughing uncontrollably) I should borrow this tar-TAR from you  so I can make snickerdoodles! (as my laughter becomes even more uncontrollable, she continues) ...Nathan loves snickerdoodles, they are his favorite cookies and about twice a year I think, 'Oh I should be a nice wife and make Nathan some snickerdoodles', (at this point my laughter is becoming controllable)... she continues... so I open up my cook book and realize that I never make them because I have no cream of tar-TAR. (hearing it again, makes my somewhat controllable laughter, turn again into uncontrollable laughter)... she continues... Blasted cream of tar-TAR!!   (now, I am absolutely in pain from laughing so hard) ... Who has cream of tar-TAR in their cupboard???"  

She could hear me laughing (I am pretty sure she thought that I was having a mental break down from all of the canning and the late hour).  But when she rounded the corner, tar-TAR in hand, I told her that from then on I would be calling her the "Queen of tar-TAR"!!!!  I then told her it was cream of tartar, you know like tartar sauce.  She started laughing and we laughed off and on about it for the rest of the night!!!  It was a great time and I love that I have at least one thing I can tease my amazing sister about.  She is such a dang superwoman, a lot of times I just think there's no way I could hold a candle to her.  But at least I know it's called cream of TARTAR!!!! lol!!!

Last weekend we went to Gecko Grill with Jamie, Summer, Mom and our kiddos.  Aden found these glasses in the Tahoe and was so very excited.  He was sure that they were there just for him.  He wouldn't take them off the entire time we were there.  Jamie took these pictures of Aden and emailed them to me.  They truly capture this little freaks crazy/spaztic personality!! Thanks Jamie for the pictures.  

Later that night we went to Quantum of Solace with Tawna & Nate, Mom & Dad & Summer & Jamie.  RB & Stacie had other plans already as did Taya & Kevin.  They were all missed!  We will have to catch you guys next time.  

Canning Craziness!!

Here are finally some pictures of our canning frenzy!   Thanks to Mom and Tawna staying up until the wee hours of morning, we ended up with 55 jars of pie apples!!  We had already finished 34 jars of applesause.  Both are delicious!!!  I am loving learning how to can food.  I know that it will be of great value to my family.    Plus, the time I get to spend with my mom and sisters is priceless.

Family Fun Night!!!

Family Fun Night!!! Monday night, we took the kids out for Family night.  We went and saw Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa and then went to Chick-fil-A for dinner!! Our kids absolutely love movies.  They are convinced that they are made just for them.  And Chick-fil-A is Heaven on Earth as far as they are concerned.  All in all the evening was a success.  They laughed a lot at the movie and truly seemed to enjoy each other and us!! We had a great time.  I love that we enjoy spending time together as a familiy!!

Famiy night out....at Chili's!!

Jaxon is such an awesome kiddo!! He is an amazing brother!

Aden is pretty much always happy/super cheesy!!

Ryker loves, loves, loves "white noodles and white sauce" (aka - alfredo)!!!

If you ask him where he wants to eat, or even mention that we're thinking about going out to eat, he will yell, " I WANT CHILI'S "!!!!

4th file, 4th photo!

So, Taya and Tawna both tagged me with this last week.  I wasn't gonna do it because, I have all of about maybe 20 pics on this computer.  But, I thought I would pull them up and see what that 4th file, 4th photo would be.  I only have 1 file, so I just took the 4th picture out of that file.  I love this picture.  I made mom pull it off of her blog and put it in my folder because I planned on using it one day on my blog.  I haven't gotten around to using it yet.  But, this little tag made it happen today.  I tag Kasey, Jamie, Marlo, Rushelle and Sarah.  Since all of my family members have been tagged, I will not re-tag you!

An Amendment...

I must amend my last post about the dunes.  I said that no one was injured when in fact there was one that someone brought to my attention.  My brother-in-law, Nathan, has forgotten how to keep his rear end on the seat of his quad and/or dirt bike.  Therefore, on one of the "boy rides", he somehow managed to slip off or something and ended up leg wrestling with the tire while the thing was running.  He says that "the ligament that is supposed to be up at his knee is hanging out around his ankle" (or something like that).  If you know Nate, you could picture him saying this and you would laugh as hysterically as I did.  He really was hurt though, his knee is still in a lot of pain.  I hope he is feeling better very soon especially since they are returning to the dunes very soon.  Good Luck Nate!!  

Randomness!!

So, last weekend we went to the Imperial Sand Dunes with most of the family. Granny, Grumpy, Tawna, Nathan, and their kiddos, Richard, Stacie, and their kiddos, and Jeff and I with our kiddos. Richard and Stacie were so very kind as to let us bunk with them in their toy hauler. It was such a great time. My camera broke, so I have no pics but check out my mom's blog, she got great pictures (she is "granny and grumpy's grand central" on my side bar). We had a blast. I love the family trips to the dunes. It is a TON of work and all for the adults, but I can only imagine what wonderful memories it is making for our kids. Totally worth it. Points of note for this trip...

1. We need to take more goodies next trip

2. You are never to old to learn a new trick. (I know this because my dad learned to ride a dirt bike! That was a frightening sight, but I am so happy for him.)

3. Learning new tricks, makes you feel young again. Dad was on cloud 9 the whole trip. :)

4. Cousins are the best friends.

5. Kid quads that they have to shift, sit out the whole trip. They all want the "hop on and push the gas to go" kind.

6. No matter how many times dad gets the truck stuck, someone is willing to help dig it out. (I hope Richard, Jeff, Nate and Dad all get enough rest to fix their backs after all that digging out.)

7. Megan is a great leader/babysitter.

8. Kids who have great parents are just the slightest bit spoiled!

9. I love my entire family.

10. I have the best family in the world.

So, no major injuries. No trips to the hospital. Just one trip to DQ and 4 times of digging the truck out of the sand. A few little boy collisions into the trailers, into eachother, etc. And a whole heap-o-fun!! The only improvements would be:

1. Taya and Kevin and the kiddos being able to come

2. Summer and Jamie and kiddos being able to come

3. More time

4. My own quad

5. a little cooler weather

Other than that, we have been making applesauce, canning applesauce, making pie apples and canning pie apples ALL week. We are crazy. I finally went to bed at 2:45 this morning. Tawna didn't even leave to go home 'till almost 5 this morning. And Bob said that Mom was still up at 7 am. We just couldn't stand to see any apples/money go to waste. Thanks Mom and Tawna for finishing up. Next time we plan an all nighter, I will make sure to be in bed before 1 am the 2 or 3 days prior to it!!

Yesterday, I learned to make bread. And if I do say so myself, my first loaves of bread were beautiful and delicious. We'll see how I do when Mom isn't holding my hand through the whole thing. I also made a batch of cookies with Aden. We made chocolate chip and heath pieces. They were delicious. Other items on the agenda for now:

Cleaning/organizing Mom's pantry/kitchen; catching up on the laundry I have neglected ALL week; cooking a wonderful meal or two; painting the bathroom; clean house; schedule a day to hang out with old friends; plan a date for this weekend; and other randomness that is my life.

That's about all. I will try to buy a camera soon. Until then, I will hi-jack some pics off of my mom's camera.

Funny story & Mushy thankfulness!!

So, yesterday my kids walk in from school and announce that they voted for the president at their school. I asked them each who they voted for. Jaxon said, "McCain", and Ryker said, "Obama". (Urgh.....he is the most contrary, antagonist child ever.) So, as I try to keep myself from being angered with my 5 year old, who understands absolutely none of this, I ask him why he voted for Obama. This is what he says...

"Because I like his brown skin. And he is very handsome. I like his suit. And he has the same shape head as me!"

At this point I am rolling on the floor laughing, Tawna got a pretty big kick out of it also. He didn't think much of the fact that we were laughing at him so he walked out to ride his scooter. Then, Jaxon asked, "Do you want to know why I voted for McCain?" I said, "Sure." And he says...

"Because I want a little president, I think that would be cool."

Skip ahead to this morning. I asked them on the way to school if they wanted to know who won the election. Of course they said yes. So, I said, "Obama." Jaxon freaks out at this point and says "WHAT??!! How?" I told him that more people voted for Obama than McCain. He responds by saying (or should I say shouting), "But, how could he win, Mom? He is not a good man. He kills babies! How can he be president if he is not a good man?" I was immediately shocked by the whole, 'he kills babies' remark, as I do not get into that much detail with my explanations to the kids about who I was voting for, and why, etc. So, I ask him, "where did you hear that?" He said, "Rylee told me last night! She just found out yesterday!" Ryker chimed in at this point and said, "I dont' want to vote for Obama anymore!" I can't help but wonder how many people who voted for this man will feel the same 2 months/2 years down the road. hmmmm?

It was amazing to me how completely outraged he was at the fact that a man, who kills babies, is voted to be president. And that he understood, that these things should bother him. Children are sooooo very impressive. Everyday they do or say something that totally blows you out of the water. They are absolutely amazing and I feel so very blessed to have three of Heavenly Father's sweetest spirits in my home! I just hope that I can be the mother/nurturer they need. I have many good role models to look to as I have also been blessed to have amazing sisters, mother, grandmas, aunts, etc. These are some glimpses at the inspirations in my life...

Nana - always teaching us how to do something, cooking, baking, anything we wanted to learn
Gramma - always taught us manners and how to behave
Mom - taught me almost everything else I know from painting to decorating to how to throw a party and cook for 200 people
Tawna - she does more in 2 hours than I can in a whole day, she is superwoman
Taya - manages 5 children and balances her entire house hold, amazing, she too is superwoman
Summer - is very gifted/talented, I love to hear her play the piano, she has many, many wonderful talents
Stacie - is steadfast, not only in the church, but life in general. She never wavers and she is very kind.
Tracy - is a great friend to my mom. They've always been close as sisters and have inspired my sisters and I to be close and enjoy each other. 

And all of my wonderful friends!  Marlo, Steph, Kanani, Shila, Shanna, Kasey, Jamie, Stacey, Tara, and many more of you!  I can't even begin to list your wonderful qualities.  You all inspire me and make me want to be a better person, wife, mother, teacher, etc.  I love you !

Again, these are just glimpses.  All of these women have many more admirable qualities.  I am so glad that I get to have them in my life.

Halloween, and yes I realize it is the 3rd of November!

We had such a fun night on Halloween. Richard and Stacie brought all their yahoos over and we went trick-or-treating together. The kids had a blast! Rylan was the first one to every door and Aden and Carson brought up the rear. Jaxon, Ryker, Megan and Austin all hung out in the middle. They seemed to have such a good time. It brought back wonderful memories of eating spaghetti and then rushing to do hair and make up to be ready for trick or treating with the cousins. Fun times. It was so nice to see them enjoy hanging with their cousins. Growing up that way, I always wanted the same for my children. A close friendship with their cousins. That makes one more of my life long dreams that I can see be realized!! I love it!

Thanks, Mom!!

I would like to send a big Thank you to my ever-so-talented mother. My blog background is beautiful. As do all the family's backgrounds. I am truly grateful for the hours upon hours you spend glued to your computer so that your family can have "cute " blog backgrounds. I absolutely love the one-of-a-kind thing!!! You are the best!