Crazy Life

Well life had been nothing short of eventful.
Our computer kinda crashed about three weeks ago. We are in the process of having it fixed (thanks Mike). And thanks again to Mike he is letting us borrow a lap top. So I have a little more access to the internet. So my blog is a little behind and a lot boring. I am going to try and update you a little. But no cute pictures of my kids to help with the blah, blah, blah that I write.

We have experienced a lot this past month. The Monday before Thanksgiving I had my breast reduction completed. Wow, I still cant believe I had it done. I have been talking for along time about doing this. I still look down and cant believe they are actually smaller. And it feels great. I have had a little harder time recovering than I thought. It has been hard to have someone (mainly Adam) completely take care of me. I am so grateful for Adam, my mother in law, Cindy, Bliss, family. I know I cant name everyone and the amazing things they did for me, but I had to have help with my kids, with my hair, with just getting up and comfortable. But it has roughly been three weeks and I am feeling great. I can lift my arms now, pick up Sophie, do my hair, take a shower, fix dinner, sweep the floor, push a stroller, put my kids to bed, pick up my house, do the dishes, help with laundry, put on my shoes, ( I could go on and on, but then I would just bore you). It is amazing how many things I took for granted. I do have a little infection, but with antibiotics and TLC I am doing great and they are looking better and better each day. I am so glad I finally did this. I will look great for the summer, YEAH!!!!!!!!

We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family, grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, parents, and brothers & sisters. It was a nice to see everyone and feel of love and concern. What a great day to have good food, good company and a relaxing time. I was not much help, I could not do anything. But just being around people I love was awesome.

Adam has been thinking of going back to school. So this past week he has been attending some information seminars for his MBA. I know that he needs to do this, I knew that he needed to do this sooner than later, I know it will be worth it, but I am not ready. At least he would not be starting until next fall. He has to take a test, apply, get accepted, and prepare (or convince me) that it is time. How crazy life will be. I thought it was bad now. At least he will be the program with his brother. (Emily and I can keep each other company.) Adam also promised before he starts that he will take us on a family vacation (so get ready Katy and Tammy, I think we are actually going to make it to visit.)

The kids are the same old. Sophie is teething and getting better since mom is doing better. Jessica is loving having friends to play with. Hailey is a social butterfly. And Curtis is always bored, but loves playing with friends.

We are getting ready for Christmas, if course we need to do more shopping. I am so grateful for my sister (Brenda & her girls) and my mom for coming last week and setting up my Christmas tree and decorations. They helped clean my house and do my laundry too. It looks and felt amazing. This helped me get ready for book club. Yes, I agreed to do the book club Christmas party at my house. Adam was great at getting things ready and we had a great time.

Thanks for all the prayers and happy thoughts. Thanks for all the amazing offers of kindness and thank you for all the service offered in our behalf.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas season.

Halloween Treats

"Scarecrow" Sophie
Isn't she a doll? She loved to go out and show herself off. She was so amazed by what was happening all around her. She was such a good girl all day.


"Princess" JJ
Jessica can be our sweet little princess every once in awhile. She loved borrowing Aunt Brenda's dress. (We got lots of comments on how cute is was, Thanks Brenda. You are amazing. What would I do with out you? Oh, yeah I would have to make my own costumes, YUCK!!)


"Vampire" Curtis
When Curtis said what he was going to be for Halloween he always thrust out his front teeth to show his own vampire teeth.


"Mummy" Hailey
Here is the costume that took me(& Adam) until 1 in the morning to finish.


Here is our Pumpkin Carving Party
(so it wasn't much of a party when it was just our family.)

Our Halloween Day

First we started at the school. We had parties for Hailey and Curtis then a parade to see all the costumes.

Our neighborhood gathers together for a quick pic then off to Trick Or Treat.


Hailey, Curtis, Jessica, & Sophie
Plus this year Hailey's friend Emma joined in our festivities.
We had fun Trick or Treating. We even let them do some at grandma's house.

EEK Halloween...

I can not say this enough....I really dislike Halloween. I am such a procrastinator that I will be up until midnight finishing Hailey's costume. (And hers is the only one I had to make this year.) I hope not to be too much of a grouch in the morning. But I really do like how cute my kids are on Halloween. The Good vs. The Bad.

I went to see the doctor today. He said YES!!!! We just have to wait for the authorization from the insurance. If all goes as planned, it will be by Thanksgiving. I will be a new woman for Christmas!!!!

UEA Weekend

We had a busy weekend and very fun. On Thursday I had to move some mulch for my flower beds so the kids played at my sisters house (Brenda). They had a great time playing with cousins.

On Friday we took a drive to Cove Fort in southern Utah. We went with my cousins, siblings, and my grandparents. Adam and I have been teaching our kids about family history in Family Home Evening the past few weeks. This was a perfect time to teach them about an ancestor of ours who helped build the fort. It was so fun to find out some history of our family and about the purpose of the fort. We had a great time as a family. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a fun day. I will remember this day and I plan on sharing this with my children as they grow. I look forward to many more times at Cove Fort. It carries a special spirit.

On Friday night we surprised the kids with a hotel night stay (thanks Uncle Ben). We took them just have a fun couple of nights away (without going too far). They went to sit in the hot tub Friday night and went swimming twice on Saturday. We took them to see WALL E at the dollar show on Sat.

(and of course I forgot the camera when we went to the pool)

On Monday, I packed the kids up and went to Gardner Village to see the witches. The had a good time with our nieghbor friends. Then we went off to pick our pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. We had a fun (and yes very exhausting) weekend.

My little Baby Doll!!

Canning Season

This is were I get to do a little bragging and not feel guilty. I don't expect any one to read or care, but I feel good about what I have accomplished. Plus I use this as my little journal, since I don't take the time to write in my "Real" journal.

My neighbor and good friend got me more into canning a couple of years ago. So this year I have canned a little on my own. This year I have canned some pears, apple pie filling, applesauce and I hope to get some tomatoes done later this week. I love to see the finished product (so therefore the picture.) I leave the jars out for a day or two to make myself feel good for what I have accomplished.

I feel Like a NEW woman

I got a much needed haircut today. It feels great and I love it.

(Yes I took the picture myself.)

New Scooter!!!

Well I guess we have had it for a few months now. (Yes I know I am really slow at getting things on my blog.) Our neighbor was looking to get a scooter and I had told her that if she found a good deal to let us know. We were down to one car and we thought that a scooter was a good, cheap way of adding another vehicle (okay it's not really a vehicle) to our family. She was able to talk the dealer into a discount because she had two other buyers to buy with her. The dealer sold them to us at a great discount and we love it. Adam was able to pick it out. He picked the most MANLY one they had. He drives it to work every day. We are saving a ton on gas. Plus Jessica listens for her dad to come home so she can go for a ride. The other kids love it too. Woohoo!!

Jessica's New Hair

The other day I thought it was time to get Jessica a haircut. The back was looking a little scraggly. Well this morning I just decided to do it. So with Adam and Hailey's help we set forth to "Just Do It". And we did. Here is the after shot. Not bad for my first "girl" hair cut. She sat in Sophie's "Bumbo" chair and colored on the mirror while Mom cut her hair. I think I did pretty good, but I am a little biased.

First Day of School

We arose early this morning to get ready for the first day of school. Okay, Hailey bounced out of bed, but Curtis whined "It's too early, I'm still tired, I don't want to get up." But after a few minutes we were back to our schedule. They were so excited (okay Mom was excited) to see them off on their first day.

Jessica was so cute. She wanted in on the picture. She really wanted to go to school to. (note the lunch box for her backpack.)
Curtis is in First Grade with Ms. Powell.
Hailey is in Fifth Grade with Ms. Jensen.
Yeah for the first day!!

They are excited to go back tomorrow.

Happy 10th Hailey

I can't believe that I am old enough to have a ten year old. Hailey is so loving, friendly, happy, and helpful. We have loved watching her grow each and every day. Hailey is growing so fast that it amazes me how smart, beautiful, and wonderful she is becoming. She is turning into a young lady. As I took a few minutes to look through pictures for this blog I had forgotten how little she used to be. I miss my little lady, but I also love the lady she is becoming. Happy Birthday Hailey.

Mom and Dad love you

Adam's Work Party

This year Adam's work party was held in Park City. We were able to do the Alpine Slide & Coaster. We did all the amusement park things too. They gave us unlimited passes to do what we wanted. They kids had a blast. Hailey and Curtis rode the slide by themselves. Jessica even did the slide and coaster. We had an amazing dinner which all the kids enjoyed (that is a shock if you know my kids). We played right up till dark, then it was too cold, so we went back to our family cabin for the weekend. We gave it two thumbs up and would love to do it again.

Goodbye Car

Well after sitting in our drive way for a year, we got rid of our first family car. It would not pass inspection, so we let it sit while deciding on what to do. We decided many, many, many months ago that it was time to get rid of it. Thanks to Ken (Adam's brother) it is now gone.

The kids were very sad about losing the car. Hailey is the only one who even remembered the car but they all CRIED when it left. Curtis was so little when he quit ridding in the car and I don't think JJ was ever in the car. But it was a sad day for the kids and a joyful day for mom and dad.

I have to admit that some heart strings were pulled watching it go away. But the efficient side of me took over. It was past time to lose the car. It is sitting in a junk yard to be sold off by pieces for some other more needing person.

Goodbye!!!

Gateway

All summer long I have wanted to take the kids down to Gateway and have lunch with dad. But busy schedules and naps needed it took until last week to make it. We stopped at Cafe Rio to pick up lunch and met dad at Gateway for lunch and a little playing in the water.
Hailey loved it and jumped right in, Curtis took a little prodding and time before he finallyl went in, Jessica was taken in kicking and screaming and never went back. They loved it when the Olympic music played for the big time water. It was fun to watch and have some time with Dad.

Bear Lake

Our big family vacation this year was Bear Lake. We went with Adam's family. All were able to make it for some of the time. It was fun to go somewhere we had not been before. We left on Tuesday to check in and get settled. On Weds. we spent time on the beach playing games and digging in the sand. Of course the kids loved to go in the water. It was really over cast that day so I spent most of the time on the beach holding Sophie. After lunch the kids wanted to go to the pool and play, they had fun diving and playing with there dad. We played some volleyball that night and played games after the kids were in bed.

On Thursday the guys (& some of the gals) went golfing. Rob was able to make it from Ogden (where he was at EFY). We took the kids to miniature golfing, it was a lot of fun to be together. Even Jessica had fun hitting a ball. We then went to Aunt Cherie's condo (only 5 miles away) to have dinner. On the way we stopped to get shakes. (I ate mine to fast and got really sick.) The kids went swimming with all the family and I stayed and slept on the couch. They all had dinner, I slept. I woke up in time to be taken back to our condo. More games.

On Friday we spent time with Cherie and her family. They came down to our beach to play and go boating. Spencer (Cherie's son) has a boat and was kind enough to play with us all day. The kids loved the tube and the water. Hailey has loved to go out with Spencer from the time she was 5 or 6. She challenges him to dump her off the tube. She has been pretty successful at staying on. Curtis loved the ride and never wanted to get off.


Adam, Curtis and Hailey on the tube.


The kids building sand castles.


Jessica would have stayed here all day.


Jessica's first time on a boat. It was making her very sleepy.

Jordan, Hailey with Jessica, and Lacey on the tube.
Jessica loved it and didn't want off.

We also rented jet skis for the after noon. Adam, Ken, and Ben really loved it. The girls also got a turn. It was fun to have some time on the water with just Adam.

We had loads of fun and were exhausted by bed time. The kids slept so well that night.
Then on Sat. time to come home. We packed up to leave and had a little snag. While we were at Bear Lake we had had some trouble with our car starting. We would have to jump start it three or four times. We borrowed Britt and James (Cherie's daughter & hubby) jumper cables several times. (Of course we left ours at home) Well we decided to try and return them before we left and when Adam put the car in reverse the car died. We then had to decide what to do. We finally got it started again, and taken down to the shop in town. They tested a few things and decided it was the battery, they replaced it and after two hours we were back on the road. Not a fun ending to a great week.

I am so grateful for The Parry Family. They are so good to us and we enjoy spending so much time with them. Thanks for making it such a great week.

Haiey's Hair Cut

Well as you can see Hailey's hair is long, thick and beautiful. She has been growing it out for almost 2 years. She (and mostly mom) wanted it cut. We took the opportuntiy to have it cut because we were doing family pictures the next day.

Hailey decided to donate her hair to Lock of Love. This is the second time she has done this. She loves to help other children who need hair and she is so proud of it. Mom loves to have the A-line cut on her. Thank Goodness so does she. Here are the after shots. Doesn't she look Fab!