Privavcy Please!

Ok...I am not sure if we are the only family on the planet like this, but I am hoping not! There is NO such thing as PRIVACY in our home. Our bathroom doors are rarely closed and if they are it's not for long. Any door for that matter. It's like my kids have a phobia of closed doors. I think I have bathed 2 times EVER without at least one child's company. Either crying, whining, telling a story or wondering where something is. When I have it's because I have locked and barricaded the doors. There are many mornings now that I have a little boy playing trucks on the bathroom floor while I bath. So this morning while I am showering Griffyn is constantly opening the shower curtain. UHHHH! So when I take 30 seconds to the bathroom I don't even bother shutting the door, because I know if I do it will be flung open. This has become a problem when we have little friends over.I go to go and remember then hurry and shut the door and hope it doesn't open magically. Yesterday morning I was getting dressed and Rob shut our bedroom door...you would have thought we set the house on fire! I think that we have created something irreversible. My family has always been pretty open with stuff like that and I think I turned out ok. Even when we go to Rob's parents he doesn't close the bathroom door...ha! Really...I think that could at least be the few times a day that I can get a few seconds to myself, but NOPE! I guess maybe I am always going 100 mph and so I just don't even bother to change things. Fisher says to me the other day as I am hurrying to get dressed... "I hate your boobs"...really? So I say back..."I hate them too!" WHAT TO DO?

You had a BiRtHdAy...

Heston turned 6! I think I say this every birthday about all my kids, but I seriously can't believe he is 6. I am so thankful that he was born Dec. 19th! People always say how awful it must be to have his birthday so close to Christmas, but I love it! (I am not sure how he feels about that or how he will feel about that in the future) I love that he was born when he was...it made that Christmas so special! Holding a brand new tiny one is so special, but getting to at Christmas made me think about how Mary must have felt holding the Savior. Heston's birthday is a special one!
On Friday he got to have his "best pal" Kestyn over to eat at McDonald's and stay the night. Heston missed Kestyn's birthday party while we were in Colorado so they got to open gifts to each other together. Saturday we went bowling and had cake and ice cream! I hope you had a fun couple of days, Buddie! We love you!

SO BIG!

I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Over the past week Griffyn has started walking, clapping, and saying "uh oh". It's so much fun to watch these things happen, but at the same time it's a little touch of reality...that she isn't going to be my little baby for too much longer:( She puts up with so much from Fisher and likes to be right in the middle of EVERYTHING! I can't imagine our family without our Shorty McShort Short!

Thanksgiving

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We got to spend Thanksgiving in Colorado this year! We spent 6 days away and we had such an awesome time! It was a long 8 hour (but ten hour for a family of 6)drive, but it went better than I had thought:) We spent the first part of out trip at my mom and step dad's and the last couple of days with my dad. The first day our boys got right into things by falling through the ice on the back yard pond... it was the stinkiest thing I have ever smelled! They had so much fun helping farm and riding four wheelers! Fisher was in heaven for sure. He loved paling around with my brother. My grandparents came for Thanksgiving and that was nice to spend some time with them. I hadn't seen them in over 2 years. It is hard sometimes to live so far away from my family, because I was always so close to them growing up. I guess it makes trips like this more special. The last couple of days we drove to my dad's and were able to spend time with him too. My kids always love hanging out with Papa JR:) The week went by way to fast, but we had such a great trip!

I needed this...

I got this WoNdErFuL e-mail today from my aunt! It was this quote...Simple, but something that is soooooo true. I think too often I get caught up in the whole "life" thing and when I get to the end of my rope...I forget that there is someone I can count on ALL of time. I gave a talk in church on service a few weeks ago and I know that when I am serving that I am happiest! And the blessings that come from serving are many. If we are focusing on all that is crumbling apart we will never see all that is still being held together by HIM!

"For those who are discouraged by their circumstances and are therefore tempted to feel they cannot serve the Lord this day, I make you two promises. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart. Your circumstances may not be improved in all the ways which you desire. But you will have been given new strength to carry your burdens and new confidence that when your burdens become too heavy, the Lord, whom you have served, will carry what you cannot. He knows how. He prepared long ago. He suffered your infirmities and your sorrows when He was in the flesh so that He would know how to succor you."
--Henry B. Eyring, "This Day", Ensign, May 2007, 89–91

Rob's 30!

This is a few days late...Rob turned 3o! Life has been sooooo busy! He has been wishing that the day wouldn't come, but it did and guess what?...I don't think it was too bad for him:) I snuck over to 12T Monday night and decorated his office and had my friend bake 4 dozen cookies with 30's on them and she also baked him a "beer belly" cake! It was kinda funny! I hope that he had a good day. Strange to think in 10 more years it will be 40...that's not to far off. Ha! Happy Birthday, Sweed! I LOVE YOU!!!

Halloween Suprise!

At the end of our Halloween night...there was one last "ding-dong" at the door. I was changing into my pj's so I told Heston to answer the door. He then walks into my bedroom with a box from Maurices. I looked at him confused and said, "What is that?"...he told me it was on the front steps. I was a little nervous. Thinking the worst...like some teenagers had left something crazy for us. I was sooooo confused...until I opened it! Rob had bought me a purple coat that I told him I wanted earlier in the week:)!!! He wrote me a silly Halloween poem confessing his love...ha! I don't give him enough credit most of the time. Thanks dear, you are WONDERFUL! I love my new coat!

Halloween

Last week was a BuSy one for sure! Although it was full of FUN, I am glad it ended:) Halloween was a success as usual. Friday was Halloween at school and 12T's annual Halloween party...where Rob and I earned 100$ for taking 1st place in the costume contest! YEAH US!!! The kids had fun eating doughnuts off a string, sticking their hands in some scary spaghetti, and cake walking! Then on Saturday we went to the Jenson family Halloween party. It is always soooo much fun to see all the kids in their costumes and the adults too! We ate yummy treats, played fun games, and got some great pictures! After the Jenson party we made out way back home for the neighborhood trick-or-treating! It ended up being a great Halloween!

Crazy Hair Day!

This week is Red Ribbon week at school. And today was Crazy Hair day. Here are my 2 CrAzY haired kids!

Pumpkin Dinner

We have made it a tradition to make dinner in a pumpkin once a year for Halloween. This year the boys helped me! Heston wasn't to fond of sticking his hand down inside the pumpkin, so he became the photographer! It is always fun to do something different for a meal! It soooo simple too. I just got a Bear Creek soup mix added cooked ground beef and rice and put it the oven for about an hour. Here are some pictures of our dinner last night!

Poor Little Griff Jane

My sweet baby girl is always going none stop. She has to try to keep up with all these crazy kids and she succeeds pretty dang well. So, she has been crawling for a while now and has figured out how to crawl up the stairs. This morning while Rob was ironing...he left Griffyn downstairs with Heston. Nobody really saw what happened to her, but this is what we came up with. She must have crawled up the stairs and instead of making it up and staying...she "did front flips down"...that was the eye wittiness account of what Heston saw. When Rob found her Heston had picked her up. I was not present at the time of the catastrophe, but when I got home Rob was trying to get her calmed down. She wasn't screaming or acting like she was in a lot of pain and we didn't know what we should do. She was not herself for sure! She wouldn't crawl and would not let me put her down. We tried moving her legs and decided that something just wasn't right. So, 2 hours later I took her to the ER. YEP...a fractured femur (Parent of the year right here):( and the Dr. says to me, "Are you sure that is ALL that happened?" As if I didn't already feel like kicking my own butt, now he wanted to! So, we are supposed to go to Primary Children's this week and have her checked out better. What I really can't believe is that she is the first kiddo to break something. I have 2 OUT OF CONTROL boys that are still in one piece and and sweet little baby girl with the great big owie!

Wedding

Rob's youngest sister got married last Friday! She is the youngest so...no more weddings for a long time. It was a great day and it is always fun to see two people so excited to start their lives together. Here are just a few pictures from the day! Congrats Steve and Kami!

Preschool

Fisher is officially a school goer! He is so funny...he acts so big and has no problem with being just like the older kids. His only complaint is that he doesn't go to school more. He is only going one day a week and he hates that! Every morning when he wakes up he asks if it is a school day. I love that he loves it! He comes home so excited to sing me songs and show me his projects! Certainly a big step for both of us:)

Great Value

I find this extremely funny. Those of you who shop at Wal*Mart will know what I am talking about. I am all about saving a buck so YES I buy generic! Most of it tastes just the same as the name brand and I am not TOO proud:)...anyway...Great Value has decided to change the look of their packaging. All of it is white and looks very generic now. I didn't mind the change, BUT my dear husband has had a bit of a struggle. It drives him absolutely crazy that everything looks the same.

Example: There about 10 boxes of stuff lined up in our pantry; fruit snacks, pop tarts, granola bars, etc. ( You know the real healthy stuff) When they are lined up and you are looking at them from the side, you can't really tell what is there. He was like, "We have granola bars? How am I suppose to know that, when all of this damn stuff looks the same?" I love it (a little) that it is torturing him...I kind of think it looks organized!

8 YeArS!

"Don't marry that person you can live with. Marry that person you can't live without!"

8 Years ago today, Rob and I got married! It's weird to think that it has been 8...wow! I can't believe how much has happened and how fast the time has gone. I said to Rob today, "Does it feel like 8 years?" and he said, "It feels like 16!"...but it really has been almost 16 years since we decided we liked each other. That's an even bigger...WOW!! And to think we still like each other:) Happy Anniversary to us! I sure do LOVE you!!!

Conversations and the Bus Stop

We have had some interesting conversations this week. Here are just a few of them. I needed to hurry and blog about them before I forgot.

Conversation #1
Me: What did you do at school?
Heston: Went to recess.
Me: What else did you do?
Heston: Went to recess.
Me: Did you do anything else?
Heston: Played on the playground.


Conversation #2
Rob: How was school?
Heston: Good
Rob: Good
Heston: Brayton got kicked in the balls.
Rob: What? (holding his laugh in)
Heston: Yeah TJ kicked Brayton in the balls at the bus stop. Brayton was being SO mean.

Conversation #3
This took place right before bed last night.
Heston: TJ was late to school today.
Gillyin: Yeah, we made TJ late for school.
Me: What? What happened?
Gillyin: Well, Heston and TJ were having a dance off...
Heston: And then Gillyin bumped into TJ and messed his glasses up...
Gillyin: I didn't mean to...
Heston: Well, you did and he had to go home so his mom could fix them.
Me: So he missed the bus?
Heston: Yes...he never came back.
Rob: Did you break his glasses?
Me: You were having a dance off?
Gillyin: Yeah, mom they were break dancing.
Rob:Were did you learn to break dance?
Heston: I just know, dad!
Gillyin: I DIDN'T MEAN TO....

*I am thinking the bus stop is a pretty eventful place at 7:30 AM

School Days!

Gillyin started school on the 19th...2nd grade and I cannot believe it! Heston started kindergarten yesterday. He was so excited! That sure makes it easier to send them when they are excited about going! Gilly was excited to help Heston with getting to school too! They both love the bus. We will see how much they love it in a few years. :) I can't wait to see what this school year will bring!

BEFORE

AFTER

We have a giant willow tree in our front yard. The last time we had it trimmed was about 3 years ago. Well, like any good tree...it grew and it grew and it grew! When it started hanging over the street and sweeping it's branches on the roofs of every vehicle that drove by we thought maybe it was time to take care of the tree! Rob decided that he would do the job. Of course I was nervous because...a man with a chain saw standing on a ladder with his two little side kicks to help...was asking for a trip to the ER! So my bright husband decides to go get the forklift! Brilliant right? Ruston (bro in law) drives the fork lift to our house from 12T. They put a pallet on the fork lift as a platform to stand on and Ruston lifts Rob up and down so he can rid the tree of it's massive over growth! I was a bit impressed by their team work.

MiLe StOnEs!!!

So much has been happening with my kiddos lately. I seriously can see a light at the end of the very long mommy tunnel. Now...I know that the mom thing is forever...which I am grateful for, and I LOVE my children, but I am excited to be making my way to the next stages of mommy hood! A year ago I would have thought this day would never come. Gilly is so responsible and has actually started to help with cleaning the house. She is becoming such a big help. Heston is going into kindergarten and so that makes 2 kids in school and I pray that the kindergarten experience will help him to mature. Fisher is riding a 2 wheeler, is potty trained and will be going to pre-school. Griffyn is almost 7 months, is crawling, and eating food. I know life will ALWAYS be crazy and busy, but I will NEVER have 2 kids in diapers again:)...in 5 months I will NEVER have to buy another can of formula and both of those things are hard to believe. I am so thankful for my kids and that I am their mother. I learn so much about life everyday because of them. Hipp Hip Horay for MiLe StOnEs!!!!

Girls Trip!

Gillyin and I took a girls trip to Orem this past weekend! She was having a "feel sorry for myself" thing going on. Her complaint was that I never spend anytime with her and that Griffyn gets ALL the attention. I needed to run up to get some last school things and some salon supplies so I thought that we would just make a little trip out of it. Friday night we got pedicures at the mall! Who doesn't L O V E that? and then went to the California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. It's kind of "our" place to eat. Then of course it was ice cream from Cold Stone! Getting to stay in a hotel without the boys was nice too :)! Saturday Gillyin got brave and decided she wanted her ears pierced! She did so good and looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL with a little *bling*! We got all of our stuff done and had a F U N time! I found the best store in the mall too! It is called Bohme....do not ask me how to pronounce that:)...but I found theeeeee cutest jeans EVER! I hope that Gilly feels better about life after getting to spend some one on one time with me! It was good for me too!

P.S. don't you just love her toothless look! she has just about broke the tooth fairy this summer!

Sevier County Fair

Just a few pictures from the BIG fair. This year was kind of exciting because our fair grounds just got redone (it needed to be BADLY). With new buildings, arena, and stage so many people will benefit from all that has been done. Fisher was so stinkin' excited to go! It was fun to watch him. As for the 2 older kids, well, we should have left them home. Heston and Gillyin just complained the WHOLE time. Griffyn was chill with just getting packed around:) So can't remember who it was that made the coffin, but I had to take a picture. Who would have thought? And that cabbage was HUGE!