Family Campout

We spent the weekend camping with my family.  It was a lot of work but we had a ball.  The girls were in heaven getting dirty and playing with cousins.  Jared and the guys had a great time bugling for elk, killing innocent little squirrels,

 and doing guy stuff like piling into the Ranger and disappearing for hours.

Speaking of the Ranger the kids couldn't get enough of it!  They begged and begged for rides non-stop. 

After everyone was packed up and gone we decided to spend a little extra time in the woods enjoying the break.  We headed out on the Ranger and stopped for a picnic. Lucy is a mooch.  She had her own sandwich but wanted a bite of Jared's.

What a great way to end a great weekend.

Between 8 and 10

I was out of the shower by 8:15 this morning and as soon as I stepped foot on the tile I heard Lucy crying from the kitchen.  I just knew she had climbed onto the table or counter.  Sure enough, I was right.  She was on the counter but this time she left me a little surprise.

 Just a bottle of homemade syrup I made the other day. 

It didn't take long and she found the beads.  She dumped them on the couch and carpet.  I'm just grateful it was the small case of beads.

Then she started in on the toilet paper.  Again.  Unrolling it is like her hobby or something.  Then it was the bathroom cupboards.  What would a day be like if she didn't try to completely empty them?  Then I found her on the counter again.  She had found the sugar bowl.  A little bit later my mom called.  I answered the phone and turned to see Lucy carrying a bottle of shampoo into the living room.  Thankfully I caught her before she could do too much damage.  Then it was the climbing game.  Climbing onto the table, climbing onto the counter, onto the coffee table.
And by 10:00 she was trying to escape-

This is just two hours of my day and just the things I can remember.  This is one busy kid.
I'm just thankful she isn't this busy-

The Bath Picture

Every parent takes one.   I think it's just part of growing up.  I have no idea how many bathtub pictures I have but here's one more to add to the collection.

She's strange

Sometimes I question my child's taste in clothes.  Addie pranced around in this little number recently and I just had to snap a picture.  Someday when this picture is added to her wedding video she'll be thanking me.  Or not.

Back to school

Addie is so lucky.  I'm even jealous of her.  She has the best teacher ever.  Ms. Ellsworth is actually a family friend but has been recognized as Navajo County teacher of the year and is the teacher parents will fight for.  She's awesome.  Ms. E pulled a few strings and made sure Addie was in her class.  She and Addie were great friends anyway but this is the icing on the cake. 

On the first day of school Ms. E pulled her aside and told her that if the phone rang she gets to be the one to answer it.  You might as well handed Addie an annual pass to Disneyland.


I remember when Addie was a baby I asked Jean if she would still be teaching because it was very important to be that Addie is in her class.  She assured me that she would be.  Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of my kids.

Reflecting on September 11th

I can't help but think back to ten years ago to where I was that morning.  I had slept in a little since I didn't have class and didn't have to be to work until later.  I had also just flown in from Salt Lake the night before after attending a reunion with my BYU Nauvoo classmates.

My alarm clock went off and instead of the usual music and morning banter between the DJ's it was all talk.  I hit snooze a few times each time I woke up I was confused and knew something strange was going on.  I went into my mom's room where she exercised and asked what was going on.  She had the news on told me that two planes had just flew into the World Trade Centers.  Want to know how ignorant I was?  I didn't even know what they were.  Sure, I had heard of them but didn't know of their significance.   This was similar to the first image I saw-

I got to work at noon and things at the Anasazi office were somber.  The other secretary, Stephanie, was gave me the run down on the day and  told me the mood was calm and people were sort of staying to themselves.

I also remember the flags.  They were flying from houses, businesses,  they were stuck inside car windows, they were everywhere.  People were suddenly showing their patriotism and American Pride.  There was a feeling that I had never felt before.  People were united.  

The images were played over and over again and it didn't take long for me to learn the actual significance of the twin towers.  These images are ingrained in our  minds-

This picture always strikes me to the core.  The look on the President's face is so deathly serious and he's caught off guard, like we all were.

Jared remembers being a missionary in Spokane during that time.  His Mission President had scheduled a Book of Mormon, meaning all the missionaries in the mission were reading the Book of Mormon in three days.  His mission president had instructed them to stay in their apartment and read, not to leave except for dinner appointments.

At about 9:30 in the morning the phone rang and it was Jared's dad.  It's not typical to get a phone call like this from family for missionaries.  They generally only to to family on the phone on Mother's Day and Christmas.

"Jared Boy, this is your Dad.  Just calling to make sure your alright."  He had already heard from the landlord.   It wasn't long before he got another phone call, this time from his mom. 

I think it's ironic that the words "never forget" are associated with that day.  How can we forget?  You probably don't remember where you where on September 10th of 2001 let alone September 11th of any other year since but that day left an impression in all of us.  It's hard to forget but painful to remember.

SIngle Pony Baby

I love Lucy's hair!  Not only is she a toe-head but she's always had a good amount and it's just the right thickness.  She's even graduated from pig tails to a single ponytail.

She may hate getting it done but just like my other girls, I tell them that one day she'll thank me.  She will be able to look back on pictures and not be embarrassed by her hair.

As a side note, there is a man in my ward, Lee Timiney, who is older with grandkids of his own, but for some reason he really likes my little family.  He is the kindest guy and always pays me the highest compliments.  Recently he told me that I was probably pretty happy that I could finally "decorate Lucy's hair".

I've never heard of getting your hair done referred to as decorated but it still makes me laugh when I think about it.

If the shoe fits

I always think the girls who can pull off a rockin' pair of heals without looking like a well, stripper, look so classy.  It's  just never been my style.  I'm so plain and don't like to stand out too much.

Then I spotted these pink heels at Dillard's yesterday and mentally paired them with a super cute black dress I bought recently.  I even pictures the accessories, my turquoise beads and earrings and my big silver bracelet.

Then I tried them on.  Addie and Kimber loved them!  "Mom if you buy those I would wear them everyday."  "Mom please get them.  I love them."

Little devils.

I fought hard. 

They are only $21.  And the girls would wear them everyday so I would get my money out of them.   And that dress.  Oh, how cute would they be together.

So I did it.  I bought an actual pair of high heels.

And I was given strict instructions by Addie.  "Mom, you BETTER be wearing those when you pick me up from school tomorrow!"

Here's to making a statement.

Where does the time go?

Am I the only one who feels like somedays nothing gets done? That was pretty much my summer. Then one day I thought that if I made a list and put down everything that I did that day it would actually be quite lengthy and I would see that the important tinge do get done. Yeah, summer wreaked havoc on my house but my kids had fun and we stayed busy.

So I read this article on a friends blog and stole it from her. It's a great reminder that on top of all of the things that every woman, with or without kids, must do we have added responsibility and it shouldn't be suprising that somedays it feels like nothing gets done.

It makes him happy

It's no secret that Jared loves vehicles, mostly trucks. He tells me things about this car or that truck all the time and although I try to listen and understand it's just not my thing. I give that nice wife nod, "yeah, uh huh. Interesting".

Then he found Top Gear on History Channel. And while he watched I did other things and tuned it out completely. But one night I actually paid attention and watched. And loved it. It's a show about cars I can actually stand to watch. I even look forward to the new episodes. And not only is it interesting but it's hilarious.

Three guys get an allotted amount of money to each buy a certain type of car according to the theme of the show. It's been exotic cars, trucks, jalopies, etc. Then they have to put the cars through rigorous tests and who ever makes it to the end wins.

I thinks he loves that I love it and I'm just happy that I have finally found a way to understand his number one hobby.

Nine Years and Vegas

I admire those of you who take the time to post on your blog frequently.  It's obviously been a while but I am finally taking a minute to write about our summer.  It's scattered and out of order but it's getting documented so I'm calling it good.

In June, Jared and I were able to get away alone to Las Vegas for a few days to celebrate our ninth anniversary.

 We scored a room at the Trump on Priceline for a smokin' deal and it made the whole trip worth our while.  I've decided five stars is the only way to go.   Go luxurious or go home. 

We did some sealings at the Temple

 Hit the Coke and M&M factories, mostly to snap a few pictures for the girls.

Went to the Titanic exhibit

Attempted to go to the Carol Shelby Mustang museum

And since that was closed we sat back and watched exotic cars race

Went to Pawn Stars

Walked our tails off, ate lots of yummy food (including a few places from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives), and most of all had a wonderful time together.