For Animal Lovers ONLY!

I'm officially giving up my search for my little friend, Jack. I've been faithfully checking the shelters every day for two weeks, with no luck. We've decided that someone realized what a nice cat he is and took him home to live with them. We enjoyed the little bit of time we had with him and pray that he is happy wherever he is.

Spencer's 7!

Spencer turned 7! He chose a Star Wars theme for his little party (a welcomed changed from fishing theme we've been repeating for the last 5 years!) Grammy, Uncle Ed and Andrew came over and celebrated with us. Annie and Uncle Jim were sick, so they couldn't make it. Spencer loved the variety of new toys and games he received.

Construction is COMPLETE!

After 5 LONG months of living in a construction zone, I can finally say that our house is finally back together. (For those of you who don't know, we had a "major water event" or flood in our home in May.) Thank you Jason for all of your help! We couldn't have done it without you!

Fabulous and FOURTY!

Yep, it's finally happened. We're officially old. Then again, the view is better when you're over the hill!

A Warning...

As you all know, we had a creepy guy lurking around our blog recently. I've since talked with our 'Ward Blogging Consultant,' and was told about a tool that you can easily install on your blog to track who is looking at it, what they are looking at and for how long. I'm not sure, but I think it may even track if your pictures are copied and pasted somewhere else on the internet. This tool is most helpful for those who want to keep their blog public so more friends can find them. Just as a double precaution I'm planning on installing it even though we're private now.

Another Late-Night Washing Machine Freak Out!!

Holy leaking washing machine!! I was minding my own business, blogging away when I hear a rush of water from the laundry room end of the house...thank goodness it was just the DOG DRINKING OUT OF THE TOILET! I guess I'm a little (okay, a lot) paranoid of having another 'water event' (that's what our insurance company called it!).

Bus Stop Blues!

Okay, I have to admit. I cried. Hard. I sure wasn't expecting to feel the sense of loss that I felt when that big yellow bus drove away with ALL of my kids. There I sat in the empty minivan with no one to take care of - for two and a half whole hours!! I got over it in about two minutes and headed to Starbucks for a Venti Cream-based Double Chocolate Chip Mint Frapachino. Whew! Now I'm ready to move on to a new chapter in our lives.

Kindergarten Chaos!

Can you say "OVERCROWDED?!" Heather's class has 41 students! They are scrambling to create another class and hire a new teacher, but in the mean time it's just crazy!! We are hoping that Heather doesn't get chosen to change classes and teachers, we LOVE her teacher! Heather was so ready to start school. Her favorite thing so far is PE and riding the bus.

Flyin' High in 1st Grade!

Spencer couldn't wait to go to school all day this year. Actually, I think he was more excited at the thought of eating in the lunchroom, playing on the big kids' playground and getting to ride the bus to and from school! He thinks his teacher is great!

Thrilled for 3rd Grade!

Abby is looking forward to another great year! Her teacher is brand new to the kids school. Abby's favorite subject in school is science and she is FASCINATED with tornado's!

Excited for 8th Grade!

As you can see, Elizabeth is happy to be back to school! Her favorite thing about the eighth grade is band being first period. In case you hadn't heard, she tried out for the Symphonic Band and made it. Her schedule is full of fun - honors english, math and science. Her first assignment in english was to post an entry on her teachers blog! How cool is that?

Meet the newest Beehive 1st Counselor!

Elizabeth got her first calling on Sunday...Beehive 1st Counselor! She will do a great job, we are so proud of her!

See this Face...?

This is the face of a mother of 4 kids that are going back to school tomorrow!!

Summer Reading Club Party

Tonight was the end of summer party for the Reading Club the kids participated in. Sister Glade was in charge and did a great job organizing everything, from the kick-off party, to the mid-summer book making class to the pizza party as the finale. They all filled thier charts and as a reward got to pick a new book to keep. Sister Glade also sent a packet in the mail over the summer that had ideas for crafts to make from recycled stuff and encouraged the kids to bring their creations to the pizza party. Elizabeth worked with the kids and they created a cool castle from the Charlie Bone book series that she just finished.

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk, Again

This is the real reason my floors get mopped everyday! Heather spills her milk at least once a day, sometimes more. I still stand by my decision to toss the sippy cups 3 years ago - at the cost of more work on my part. If nothing else it offers a little predictable comic relief at supper!

Here We Go Again!

I guess we were having withdrawals after living in a construction zone for 3 months (after the great flood of 2008) that we decided to rip out the carpet in the living room to prepare for more tile. Our friends, the Robinson's (aka RobinsonGang) are moving back to Utah in a few short weeks and they are the brains behind this home improvement operation!

It's a DRY Heat!

Well, so much for my garden. Part of my cucumber plant lived (for today) and two tomato plants are still alive. The 'thing' in the wheelbarrow are the remains of one of my zuchinni plants. It was fun (and tasty) while it lasted!

5 Wishes

(Thanks for the idea, Amber!)

1. I wish I had a mute button I could push so that I didn't have to hear "MOM...he's bugging me!" or "Mom...she's touching me!" or any sentence that starts with "MOM!..."

2. I wish Sheldon didn't have to work so much.

3. I wish money grew on trees.

4. I wish I had a robot to follow the kids around and clean up after them. I would name her Rosie.

5. I wish that the fun times with my kids would last forever. They are growing up so fast, it's crazy.

Pretty in Pink

Poor Heather! She's got a good case of pink eye. So far no one else has gotten it - thanks to diligent hand washing! She's so good with the drops that she has to have 4 times a day. I guess it beats the oozing and the itching!

Saturday in the Kitchen

I love to bake! I spent the whole day in the kitchen baking bread, pretzels, pizza and granola. The kids like to roll out thier own dough and make personal pizzas. Elizabeth's is the heart shaped one. You might say the way to her heart is pizza!

Boulder Beach Part 2

We hit the beach again this morning for another go around. Abby had Activity Day Camp, so it was just Elizabeth, Spencer, Heather and I. For the record, there were no bees and only one black fly (it was HUGE!). I have to say that I was a little more mindful of what I packed for food - making sure that it wasn't sweet stuff! The wind was blowing, but just enough to make some fun waves for us to bob around in. We had a good time and made it back just in time to pick up Abby and go out for ice cream.

Life's a BEACH!

We went to Boulder Beach this morning with our friends, Aubree and Alexa, a picnic and plans to spend the day at the lake. The water was so warm and the weather was beautiful - we had all the makings for a great time. All except for ONE thing...a small thing, really. But not to Abby and Aubree!! A BEE! This poor, thirsty creature was simply looking for a place to get a drink and rest it's wings - but instead sent the girls into absolute hysterics!! In an attempt to change the focus from our flying friends (or 'flying foes' according to the girls') I set out lunch - pb&j sandwiches and nectarines. What was I thinking?? Our sweet picnic only attracted more bees and even a few HUGE black flies. Needless to say, I packed us up amid the hysteria and we went home a little early. My only regret is that I didn't bring my video camera - it would have made for a great post on You-Tube!

Making Sweet Memories!

While we were in Utah we stopped by and stayed with my cousin Shaunna and her family. Our kids played so happily - it reminded me of days gone by when we were kids and we looked forward to playing with our Utah cousins! We also spent some time with Sarah, Michelle, Aunt Janet and all the kids. (The dark picture was taken during an afternoon rain shower - the kids had a ball playing in the rain (which they hadn't seen in...well, I can't remember when the last time we saw rain!) We spent a day in Salt Lake taking a tour of Temple Square, eating at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building Nauvoo Cafe and taking in the sites. Then we took a train to the Gateway and spent the rest of the day at the Gateway Discovery Museum. It was the coolest kids' museum I'd ever been to. That's a real Flight for Life helecopter the kids are playing in! They got to create and record thier own animated story, play in a kid-sized market and house and even record the evening news! We spent HOURS there and could have stayed longer.

I think my favorite part of the whole trip was laying in the boys' bunk beds in our jammies and talking with Shaunna. And the fresh picked, steamed crookneck squash.

ROAD TRIP!

We (Abby, Spencer, Heather and I) drove to Mt. Pleasant, Utah for the 24th of July celebration. We had such a good time getting away from it all. (The best part was getting away from the 115 degree heat!) We stayed with my friend Amy's family - the Ericksen's. It was so beautiful and green. We spent most of the time outside - ate outside in the backyard almost every meal! Spencer caught his first trout - boy was he proud! (Thanks again, Brother Ericksen!) The kids climbed trees, swam, jumped on the trampoline, barbequed, got a ride on a 4 wheeler and saw their first parade. Good times!

Heather's 5!!

Can you believe it? Heather turned 5 on July 21st. She loves
Barbies AND the Ariel - so she requested an Ariel cake for her birthday. I learned my lesson with Elizabeth's barbie cake when she was 4 - DON'T put the candles on the dress part of the cake - barbie's hair is extremely flamable! We had a fun family party (the kids get a 'friend' party every other year). Grammy and Annie came over for cake and ice cream and of course, present time!

Sheldon's Testimony - Coming Soon

Sheldon has been working so hard that he hasn't had the chance to add his testimony to our blog.

Emily's Testimony

"I want to share with you the knowledge that my Heavenly Father lives. He loves us so much and wants nothing more than to see us happy and successful. I believe that true success is not measured by the amount of money you have, the kind of car you drive, the neighborhood you live in or what brand of clothing you wear. True success comes from the growing knowledge and understanding that returning to live with our Father in Heaven is the greatest gift. I will be eternally grateful for the sacrifice my brother, Jesus Christ, made for me. Success is the tiny mustard seed size faith that will be nurtured and tended throughout eternity. I am so thankful for the wonderful life He has given me. It's not always been such a smooth road, which makes me that much more appreciative of all that I have. I know that the small and simple choices we make from day to day determine our eternal course. I am thankful for the gift of repentance. I am seeing more and more each day that there is wisdom and order in everything the Lord does. Line upon line, precept upon precept. "

Elizabeth's Testimony

"My testimony, in other words, what I know and believe. It's hard to know where to begin when you think about what you really believe in. You ask yourself if it is possible that a 14 year old boy can see the Father and the Son in a vision. You ask yourself if the prophet today really receives messages from God. Finally you ask yourself when you say 'I know this church is true' that you really mean it. I remember wondering about the crazy thing we call faith when I was 8 years old. A quick prayer and a full heart was all I needed to know that Joseph Smith really did see God and Jesus in the woods near his home. From that day until now I still ponder the amazing happenings that go on in our everyday lives. The small miracles that happen around us. I pray daily for the missionaries and my family and friends. I pray for the prophet, and for health and strength. What I think is very amazing is that God has always lived and that He always will. We had a purpose up in heaven and we do down here on earth. I believe that even the hardest times will pass and families can be together forever if sealed in the temple. I know that we have to love our brothers and sisters even if they're always getting into your stuff. What I've learned is that your family, especially your parents, are always there for you. I know that what I say is what I believe. I really do believe that our church is true. I belive that President Monson gets real messages from God. And I belive that what God wants to happen, will surely happen."

Abby's Testimony

"I know my church is true. I love my mom and dad and my cats and my brother and sisters. I love Heavenly Father, too."

Spencer's Testimony

"I know that our church is true. Heavenly Father makes me feel happy and warm inside. I loved President Hinckley (still do) and love the new guy...S. Monson (He remembers the S. part because it stands for Spencer). I love my family. I'm glad that Heavenly Father made fish."

Heather's Testimony

"I know that our church is true. I know that I love my Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus died for me because He loves me. I love my family, even the dog and cats."

Fun Little "Remember When" Game

Here is a fun little game...Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.On your mark...get set...blog your memories!!

My Garden

I am so excited that I actually have a garden this year! Sheldon built a retaining wall around the parimiter of our backyard and I have filled it with all kinds of goodies. We are already enjoying a couple varieties of tomatos, tons of zuchini, bell pepper, cucumbers and hopefully some pumpkins this fall! Even our little peach tree is covered with fruit!