I know this post is late, but this one is for Catherine!!!

The girls from work and I went to the opening day of the Twighlight movie, and yes we are wearing t-shirts that say E. Cullen! We had a ton of fun even though I felt a little silly with the shirts since there were a row of 12 year old girls in front of us with t-shirts too! But I wouldn't change a thing! Twighlight geek I am, cause I loved the movie!

Merry Christmas

I couldn't afford to do real Christmas cards this year so this will have to do. I did send them to everyone I have email addresses for so if I missed you by email, this is for you!

Yeah! All Better!

The lump!

During the torturous IVs

Pre-surgery

Post-surgery with the dreaded drain tube!

Happy that it's all over!

I am so glad that Dallin remained happy throughout this whole ordeal. The Doctors finally determined after two CT scans that the problem was an abcess in a lymphnode in his jaw. They originally put him on IV antibiotics, but after four ER visits and too many needle pokes to count,

we still couldn't keep an IV in him so they put him on oral antibiotics the abcess worsened. This meant he needed surgery. Thankfully all went well, the abcess was drained and he was back to normal within a few days! The only slight complication we had was that he pulled the tube

out that they had inserted to help continue the draining process. We knew it wouldn't last, but I thought he'd refrain for more than a couple of hours! Little stinker! Oh well what do you expect from a one year old. He is such a sweet baby! I am so thankful to have him in our
family, he makes us smile everyday!

Oh and P.S. he's officially walking FINALLY! (December 20, 2008 @ nearly 16 months)

Thankful

I am thankful for so many things this week. It's funny how humbling experiences make you count your blessings. My sweet baby Dallin has spent this week in and out of the hospital. It's been crazy but he is okay and is scheduled for a minor surgery tomorrow that should take care of the problem. He has been so sweet and happy through this whole ordeal! I am amazed at his attitude especially at such a young age. If it were me I'd be whiny and grumpy, but he instead is smiley and cheery! I love my baby boy!
I also have had an interesting experience with scripture study. I am the newly called personal progress advisor in my ward. I challenged my girls almost two weeks ago to read the entire Book of Mormon by the end of the year. The challenge is called 40 days closer to Christ and has a specific layout for reading the book in 40 days. I guess I didn't realize just how big this challenge was until I started it myself! Wow! It's a lot of time out of each day...but wow it's amazing what it can do. I have had answers to prayers and much more come from this wonderful and difficult challenge. Anyway so the last couple of weeks have made me count my blessings and I just wanted to write them down somewhere. Here on my blog seemed as good a place as any!
So here's my list of thankfuls:

1. Priesthood blessings and a wonderful worthy priesthood holder in my home!
2. The power of scripture study, fasting and prayer
3. 40 days closer to Christ
4. Beautiful healthy children
5. A job that supports the importance of family
6. New and old friendships
7. The love and bonds of family
8. good attitudes
9. My young women that I already love after such a short time
10. Callings that help me as much or more than those I serve
11. Good advice
12. A husband who listens and loves no matter what
13. Teachings of our prophets and apostles
14. humility
15. My Savior
16. The Atonement
17. A desire to be better
18. The power the atonement gives me to become the person that I desire to be
19. Good examples to follow
20. Service and love

These are a teeny tiny few of the overwhelming blessings that my Heavenly Father poors out on me each day. I could go on and on, but I think I might bore you all. I just hope you all have the opportunity to reflect on all that you have. It really is inspiring and encouraging to see just how much our Heavenly Father loves us all!

Again to All you Moms out there!

Thank you all for commenting on my last post to moms. This time I need ideas for lunch. I am so sick of giving my kids the same old things. And I want lunch to be more healthy. So please all you moms share ideas for kids lunchtime!

My Humble Child

You gotta love the things kids say! James has been really into dancing lately. Almost daily we put on the Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack and James starts groovin! Pete tried to dance with him the other day and James said, "Dad, you're not cool."

It gets better... the other night we were watching High School Musical 2. It was a dancing part so I decided to ask James this question, " Hey James these guys are pretty good dancers, are they cool." He pauses in thought for a second and then replies, "Ya, but not as cool as me!"

So I thought I'd share my humble sons dance moves. He's got a wicked awesome booty shake!

 

The Leaves Have Fallen!

Our Little Angel!!!

I just had to post this! My mom got this costume on an after Halloween sale. Ragan loved it! And I'm hesitant to say... it "fits" her perfectly. She's a little devil in disquise. She will melt heart with her sweet smile, and trick people into anything and everything with the devil within. She is too cute for her own good and she knows it and uses it! All that know Ragan know this is true. We love our little devil! She makes our world fun!

I love Halloween!

I know I am a bit late on my Halloween post but I couldn't skip it! Halloween is and always will be my favorite Holiday...besides my birthday, but that's not so exciting anymore!...anyway. I love all things Halloween. I especially like dressing up. I wish I could get Pete to have the same feelings, but he's a Halloween scrooge! Oh well we love him anyway.





One of our favorite Halloween traditions is Pumpkin Carving!!!




This was a new tradition this year. I hope it sticks. My sisters, mom, aunts on my dad's side and my grandma went to Brick Oven as witches and then went on the "Halloween Cruise" on the Provo River. We had a ton of fun as you can see! I wish Amy could have made it!

For All You Moms Out There

I don't know about the rest of you but I run out of creative things to keep my kids entertained. I find myself letting them watch more movies lately than normal. I just can't think of new ideas. So I am tagging all of you to post or comment here all the things that you do with your kiddos everyday. I am talking things you do all the time too, not just crazy fun outings. Things that your kids love to do at home with or without you. I just need some inspiration. Please help me out, I am feeling like a bad mommy lately and I hate that feeling. I'm excited to read all of your ideas.

My little sister Sarah is engaged! It's a cute story... it started way back in 1968 when our dad baptized a cute little family that included the future mother and grandmother of the boy pictured above... Pedro Granjia. My dad kept in touch with this family and about six years ago Pedro came to live with my family as an exchange student. He claims to have had no feelings toward Sarah at the time. She claims no such thing!!! In fact she openly admits a crush. Who wouldn't have had one at age 14!!! So then Sarah the next year went and lived in Brazil with the Granjia's as an exchange student for a year. Four years later after emailing and writing back and forth and after Pedro served a mission, these two cute kids fell in love over the internet. So wondering how the real thing would go, Sarah took a five week trip down to Brazil to try out this "new love." Of course they didn't stay in the same house, naturally Pedro's mom kicked him out and made room for Sarah! :) Obviously the five week trial went well and will soon turn into eternal love! They will be married on January 17th in the Bountiful Temple! I'm not counting on that date to be set in stone though, they have moved it up three times now...who knows maybe the wedding will be next week. I am so happy for her! The only sad part is that she will be moving to Brazil for three years and most likely have her first baby there. That will be hard for me to miss, but thank goodness for technology, we can keep in touch so well. Congratulations Sarah I love ya, and Pedro I guess I'll have to love you soon too! :)

Testimony

For all of you who know Lindsie Luke (Kohler), or even for those who don't I'd like you to take a look at her blog. Her dad passed away this week and on her blog she has shared her thoughts and her testimony throughout the whole experience. She is a rock and I was uplifted by her words. I suggest to all of you to go and read her words and do what you will with them. I was inspired by her strength and felt the need to share it with everyone.

She also inspired me to share my testimony. I am so fearful of sharing my testimony on fast sunday in church. I have public speaking anxiety issues. But I always bare that testimony in my heart and hope for the courage to stand and share. It's a rare occasion. But here in the privacy of my home is a little less intimidating and can hopefully still touch hearts and strengthen me and those who read this. So here goes. Lindsie has reminded me how greatful I am simply to have my family and the gospel and the knowledge that it gives us of eternal families and the plan of Salvation. We talked about the plan in church today. We talked about death, and the world's fear of it. I realized I am not afraid of it. I am eager to be reunited with my whole family and to see my Savior and my Heavenly Father again and to meet all the wonderful prophets that we only now get to read about. I hope that I can help my children to have the same faith in our Father's plan for us.

First and foremost I have a testimony of MY Savior. I love him and I know that he loves me personally. I know that he suffered for me in Gethsemane. I know that he has felt my sorrows and my joys, and that he is eager for me to succeed. I am so thankful for His atonement and for the changes that it has helped me to make in my life. I know it sounds weird in a testimony but I also know that Satan is real and that he will do all in his power to make us miserable with him. So we need to do all in our power to push him away. We need to recognize our weak spots and strengthen them so that he has no way in. We also need to recognize the difference between his influence and the influence of the spirit in our thoughts. I am greatful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am glad for the promptings and revelation that come to me in my life when I need it most. I am greatful for a Husband who honors his priesthood and brings the spirit into our home. I couldn't have asked for a more kind or selfless man. He is my inspiration to be better and I love him with all my heart. I have a testimony of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the prophet Joseph Smith. I am so greatful for him and am eager to meet him and thank him for his strength. I am greatful for the strength and courage of the Pioneers, for all that they did so that we can have the religious freedoms that we have. I have a testimony of tithing and the blessings that it brings when we are honest and diligent in paying it. I have literally seen small miracles in my life from paying tithing. I am greatful for the gospel in many aspects of my life, but one of the simple things that might often get overlooked is the friendships that come from the gospel. I am thankful that no matter where I move ( which we have done a lot) I will always make friends within my ward. Friends that have the same beliefs and values. I have a hard time initiating friendships so I am greatful that everywhere I go I can count on going to a new ward and being welcomed and loved instantly by the people that are there. I love the gospel for that. I am so glad that I know that I will have my wonderful Husband and my sweet little babies with me forever. I don't know how people live with the thought of losing the ones they love. I am greatful for temples and the blessings that are there for us to partake of. I have a testimony of motherhood. This is probably one of the biggest challenges in my life, but it has definitely brought more joy to me than anything else that I have ever done. I love my kids and as much as I try to teach them the things that I know everyday, they teach me so much more! They amaze and frustrate me daily and I couldn't ask for a better challenge! This is my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that in sharing it I have helped someone or just given someone else a motivation to share. I don't have many opportunities to be a misssionary but we are told that baring testimony is the best way to start. I encourage all to read this to share your testimonies too, it feels so good!

Family Night Fun

So this was the ultimate family night!

My kids were curious about my body markings for my triathlon. I told them I had to have a number to race. So they said they wanted to race too. So for family night this week we talked about taking care of our bodies. Exercise was one of the categories in the lesson. So we had our own mini triathlon, body marking and all. The kids picked out their "racing clothes" and we headed to the park for our triathlon. The race included running, hopping on one leg and summersaults. We had so much fun!

It's a long story why, but I did the swim leg of the Ogden Valley Tri up at pineview on Saturday for a friend of a friend Wendy Noel. The water was FREEZING! Okay so it was 65 degrees, but after the 78 degree water at powell it took my breath away. I trained during my week at Powell, but I still didn't know what to expect. I had never done an open water swim before, let alone 1000 meters! It was harder than I expected but I did okay with a time of 20 minutes. I'll be better prepared for my next triathlon. I plan to do an open water one next time!!!

Lake Powell!!!

My camera battery died soon after we reached Lake Powell. I got a few pictures, but I am awaiting a CD with more from our friend Lacey. So here's what I have, I'll share more later!

REAL VACATION HERE WE COME!

PETE & I ARE GOING TO LAKE POWELL TOMORROW FOR 8 DAYS WITH NO KIDS AND I CAN'T WAIT! JUST THOUGHT I'D RUB IT IN!

Happy Birthday Dal Dal!

THE CAKE , ANTICIPATION & THE DIVE....TASTY!


CLEAN UP & PRESENTS

Dallin turned one on Saturday. I can't believe he's a year old. I don't remember it being so weird with the other two, but it just doesn't seem like it's been a year. He's my baby. He just doesn't seem big enough to be one, even though I hear otherwise. I guess is pretty chunky. Maybe it's just his cute little baby face. I don't know...but he is one and there's nothin I can do about it! Dallin's favorite present was the tag on the dragon grandma gave him! He played with it all night. I don't know why we bother with gifts at a one year old's party. They always go for the box or the tag!

WELL WELL WELL WE REALLY ARE ALIVE!

Hey everybody, sorry it's been an eternity almost since my last post! Wow how time flies when your busier than ... well let's just say busy!

My last post was pre Women of Steel triathlon. So I thought I'd report Yes I am a woman of Steel! (totally joking) I did finish and I'm proud to say I finished slightly better than the girls that I taught to swim. That was my goal. I would hate for one of them to have beaten me, how embarassing would that be. I know I know the pride. I'll work

on that. I guess you could say that

I am just a little competitive.

I'm actually doing the swim portion of The Ogden Valley Tri on the 13th of September. So wish me luck!

So here's my excuse for no new posts in forever. We bought a new house. Well new to us, but not so new. The not so new part explains me insanity and lack of blogging. We have been remodeling for two months now, and I'm sad to say, we still have a long way to go. BUT the progress is great. It's turning out pretty good considering we're new at this. In our last house we only had to do paint and carpet. This one is a little more in depth. Here are some pictures. I wish I had taken more before pics... oh well

These are just a few of the projects that we've done. We had new

carpet put in. We painted the whole basement, walls, ceilings, trim and all. We tiled the floor, we rebuilt the fire place, cut and painted new baseboards for the whole basement, we painted bedrooms, painted and antiqued the kitchen cabinets, put in track lighting in the kitchen and we're currently working on gutting the upstairs bathroom. The projects done/to be done ratio is about 50/50. So we're getting there. Our goal is to be done before Christmas. We'll see if we make it. The beautiful custom fireplace is designed and built by Tim Zabriskie. We just need to paint the bead board and bookshelves and finish the rusted metal fireplace pieces. It's a masterpiece in the making. He's awesome! It sure beats the 1960's sparkle rock you see me destroying in the first picture.

Kitchen cabinets before & whole kitchen after, it's still in the works but getting there

James loved to help me paint his room two shades of blue, a dinosoar mural is yet to come!Ragan's room was my very first finished project, although it wasn't the first one started!

This is me during my first attempt at tile. I have to say I learned a lot from my mistakes so I'm sure that our kitchen and bathroom will be masterpieces compared to our dining area, but hey you learn by doing right?

Okay so I have few more excuses for not posting that aren't so exausting. We did have some fun this summer here is the proof:

We went to visit Pete's brother Bart's house for the 4th of July. The boys (Pete and his brothers and Dad) went fishin ALL DAY while the girls stayed home with the kids. Really Pete deserved it. He's always way to willing to be the one to stay home. I'm glad he got some time with his brothers. They had lots of fun. Poor Bart he was the only one without a fish for the whole day!

We took our annual trip to Monroe Mountain. Pete's family has a cabin that's been in the family for three generations. The last couple of years they've added on A LOT to make it big enough for everyone. It is a lot of fun, not to mention breathtaking. I love to ride fourwheelers to the peak & look out over the whole valley, you can see forever.
My kids love this trip because they can get as dirty as they want and not have to take a bath unless they want one. I do bath my babies though because they look so darn cute in the tin tub!

Last but definitely not least, we went to Bear Lake. We went with the Terry's the Zabriskies and the Tanners. We had a blast. We borrowed my bro-in-law's boat for the day and then we camped in their backyard because all the good camping spots were taken. We had so much fun that hopefully we've started a tradition, an annual trip. I didn't get too many pictures, I was so excited about boating that I forgot about a lot of things...pictures, sunscreen... yes I'm still paying for that mistake. My poor Ragan got blisters on her face and my legs are still peeling more than two weeks later!!! But it was sooooo worth it.

I think I'm the winner for the longest catch up post in the history of blogging! So there it is. Enjoy.