December

 Wow its been a busy couple of months glad the hustle and bustle is over (I think).  Rachel was baptized on her birthday.  It was a special day for her, but it over shadowed her birthday a bit.  We didn't have birthday pie until a week later.  Oh well we celebrated two days instead of one.  Just a few pictures from her day.  I didn't get any of the dinner, I forgot with all the craziness of getting other pictures and stuff. 

Little Miss Rachel on her baptism day.

 

We had pumpkin pie for Rachel's birthday a week after her birthday.  

Jonathan was in the school play.  Holy cow I think he was at play practice more than he was home in October and for sure in November.  Between school and practice he only came home to sleep.  It was fun to watch and they did really good.   This is a picture of  the "bandits"  in the play.  They did  A Christmas Story.   Most of the kids had more than one part that's why Santa is in this picture.

 Jared and his friend in the snow cave they made.  They would work on this everyday after school until dark for a couple of days.  They were glad to finally have some snow to play in.  We still don't have very much but at least we have some.  I hate it when its just cold and no snow, doesn't seem like winter that way.

 I have gotten so lazy with taking pictures.  I need to be better the kids had their Christmas programs this month too.  Jonathan had his on  Monday with band and choir.  It was good.  But no pictures what is up with me?  Do you think he would put his choir robes on and  let me take pictures?  Yeah me either.  The girls had their program on Thursday and once again no pictures, Jared had his on Friday and again no pictures.  Its hard to take good ones with my little point and shoot camera I need a new one, someday maybe.  They were all the week before Christmas and all at the high school auditorium  I swear I have lived there this past month with the play and programs.   We had our ward Christmas party and no pictures either.   I didn't take many on Christmas day either, and none when the kids were opening gifts.  

 Jared and Rachel with there Christmas PJ's they get to open on Christmas Eve.

 Sara with her doll Christmas day

Jonathan with some of his Christmas stuff.

Its been a long year for us.  Wow I sure hope we have learned what we needed to and hope for a better year this coming one.  Its been hard for me to just keep it together some days.  So here's to a new start and a better year for us, no matter what comes our way.  Oh and more picture taking for sure.  Just what my kids want too.  

Update

Its about time I updated this.  What the use of having a blog if its never updated?  (not that anyone reads its)  But anyway the kids stared school the end of August it was a good day they all survived including me.  WOW big changes for this mom this year.  But I started watching a sweet little baby so its not too bad.  Poor Jared was so hot he didn't feel good after school his room was way to hot for him, that's why his smile is missing.  Just glad he would be in the picture now the trick is to remember where their signs are so we can do a last day of school picture and see how they changed during the school year.

Yes I did it!  I got a new family picture.  It was a HUGE deal NO one wants to do pictures anymore!  I only ask for a few.  We were able to get a few.  I want to do another one in the winter we shall see.

We celebrated Jared's 10th birthday in October. Has it really been 10 years?  He is our spice in the family and keeps us on our toes.  He is such a sweet boy.  I took him and 4 of his friends to Fat Cats, for his birthday party, sorry can't share those pictures but it was fun.  I sure got an earful on the way home.  Boys are so much fun!

A few days later we celebrated Jonathan's 15th birthday.  I can't believe how he has changed this past year.  He is taller than me now, and is growing up to be a very nice young man, sometimes I still can't believe he is mine.  He changed our lives forever and we would never change anything.  I remember how small he was when he was placed into my arms and the joy and peace I felt knowing he is truly our son.  He has been very busy with school actives this fall, but more on that next post.

Halloween came way to quick for me this year.  I didn't get a picture with all the pumpkins together.  Jared and his pumpkin

Trick or Treat time!

Little miss cowgirl, the grim reaper and a witch.

I do believe Jonathan is getting too old to trick or treat besides he was sick that day.  It was so warm that day that the kids didn't even need a jacket.  So not like the other Halloween's we have had.  It was fun but they were glad to come home when we did not so much into trick or treating I guess.

Jared had an Idaho History project to do.  He had to make a map of Idaho and add mountain ranges, rivers, lakes,  city's, etc.  It was a fun project.  I LOVE school projects!

 

Finally they had a contest at the orthodontist and Jared won.  It was write what you are thankful for and why and you could win a pie.  He wrote he was thankful for pie and teeth cause if he didn't have teeth he couldn't eat pie.  Too funny!  He won a $5 dollar gift card so he could get a pie.  What a funny kid!

I have more to update Rachel's birthday and baptism as well as other things but that will have to wait. 

Update

 WOW!  Its been a long time but here is a little bit of what we have done this summer.  I have gotten really bad about taking pictures, not sure why.  We finally went camping YAHOO!  It was a weekend trip but it was fun.  I didn't get many pictures of "camping" and none of us floating the river didn't want to risk the camera getting wet.  I know how the kids are and I was right there wasn't a dry spot on me and I was in a boat figure that out.  It was fun even smelling like river water for the rest of the day.   Saturday we went to West Yellowstone for a car show,  it was fun and very interesting  some of the kids were not too happy but they made it. Just a couple of pics.

 Dennie by a truck that was a couple of years older that the one he had in high school, he sure wishes he still had it.

 Jared and Grandpa checking out an old time car

Jared was fascinated with this little trailer, he loved it he said he was going to have one when he grows up, the sad thing is there is only 2 still around.  It was really cool.

On the way home we stopped at Warm River and saw the big fish, we took Miss Emma with us, Jared went with Audrey and Evan, and Jonathan went with Clingers for the week.  They had so much fun.  Thanks so much for taking the boys.

Dennie made beds Abby and Belle I went down and helped Audrey get their room ready.  We moved her scrapbook room and painted the twins room and then the next day painted Emma's room.  Dennie brought the beds down and took the boys home and I stayed another night and put the last coat of stuff on the beds and helped do little paint touch ups.  It was a fun week but busy.  Two kids got sick that was a joy NOT its hard enough being sick but its worse when your not at your own home.  All in all it was a good week and we got lots done.

When we got home we had only a week left until school started.  We really didn't do much just played and relaxed.  We wanted to start getting up early, but of course that didn't happen for one reason or another. 

This week school started.  AHHH!  What a week.  Its been busy, but good.  Monday I had a meeting at 1pm, at 3 I got extra kids and had them until 5pm, it was meet your teacher night for the girls from 4-6pm  we went at 5ish got home took Jared to his back to school BBQ at 5:30 didn't get home until close to 6:30 had dinner.  Thankfully I had FHE done and planned.  We all went on a little bike-ride came home had FHE and then Dennie gave each of the kids a father's blessing for the start of school.  What a choice experience that was to hear each of the kids blessings.  They are all so different and have different needs, reassures me that our Heavenly Father knows each one of us and the things that we need.  So thankful for a husband that is so willing and able to do this for our kids.  Jonathan went to school on Tuesday for Freshman orientation.  Then Wednesday morning was the big day.  It was great.  I also started watching a baby which is good for me, and he is such a good baby.  (Hope it lasts).  It was a good day for everyone.  I took this picture after school, poor Jared had a tummy ache after school so he looks a little unhappy but all in all it was a good day!

Now the plan is to take another picture like this but on the last day of school.  Just need to put the signs someplace that I can remember and be able to find them on the last day of school.  Hope we won't have to move between now and then, they have had a ton of people looking at this house.  UGH!!!  Its such a pain.  

What a Difference a Year Makes

 Last year I wanted to trim Sara's hair and it well lets just say it ended up shorter than I had planned and then she took the scissors to and Jared cut it a couple of days later.  Needless to say I was not happy, and she wasn't either.   Her bangs were maybe a 1/2 inch long.  UGH!  Poor girl we had to be very creative when we did her hair and pull what little bangs she had to the side and spray them and put them in a barrette.  

    

We let it grow and a year later this is how long it is.  I think its close to where it was before I cut it, just think how long it would have been now if I hadn't cut it.  She doesn't want it cut again either.  Lesson Learned!

 

Time for an Update

 WOW this summer has gone by fast even though we haven't been anywhere or done anything out of the Valley.  Its been hard with Jonathan and his job.  He has done super.  There was only 1 time he didn't want to go and Dennie told him he made a commitment to be there and thats all it took.  He has been very dependable.  Its been a learning experience for him and us a parents but we are super proud of him.  We have had lot of fun doing things here in the Valley.  We went to the Huntsman's Springs Celebrate America Day the end of June it was fun but way to HOT for this mom.  The kids had fun doing the bounce houses, face painting and things like that, later that night we had a BBQ with friends and watched the fireworks which I must say were awesome. We went to some friends house on the 4th and had a BBQ and did fireworks that night the kids got lots of glow sticks too which I think they enjoyed over the fireworks.  I put them in the freezer when we got home and pull them out later and yes they still work (just a little FYI).  The 3 oldest kids were able to take part in the young Eagle's program at the airport last weekend.  Which means they got an airplane ride for FREE!  That was fun for them, we had unexpected visitors that weekend too.  Jill and the girls came up with her Dad to fix their truck (it had broke down earlier that week when Kevin came up to see his parents at Darby so he left it here) and we invited them to go with us.  They all couldn't go in the same plane so they went with their siblings.  I love the picture I took of my 3 walking out to the plane.  They had so much fun (as Rachel and Jared said), the boys did it a couple of years ago and have been wanting to do it again but I hadn't found out about it again until this year.  Lucky for Rachel they made a mistake on the poster that said for ages 7-17 years but really it was 8-17 but since they made the sign they left it that's how she was able to go too.  It was a LONG wait at the airport with LOTS of people but it was worth it in the end just need to figure out how next time I can go.  Well maybe not.



Love it that they are  holding hands walking out to the plane.



The kids before the ride.

 Jared learned how to use a pogo stick unfortunately it was one that someone gave him and it didn't last very long.  I think I know what he is getting for his Birthday!!  He sure had fun while it lasted and he even let Rachel learn how I think I took 50 pictures trying to get a "good" one of each of them.

I  know that Jonathan wasn't too excited for me to follow them out while they were working, but I had to get some pictures.  I wish I would have taken some when they  first started, it would have been neat to see the difference in the grain at the beginning and then now.  He has really done a good job and is thinking about doing it next summer but working for someone else. 

My pipe moving boy!



Jonathan and his friend Sid hard at work.

Saturday was the Tin-Cup Challenge.  Jared had some friends that were doing the 5K and he wanted to really bad, so I found out the info and ended up signing up him, the girls and I.  It was fun the girls did great and walked all the way.  Its a good thing I have been walking a mile or so every night for the last couple of weeks I didn't plan on doing this until the day before, but glad we did it was fun.  We did it in an hour, which was pretty good.  I had to ask cause I didn't know but a 5K is 3.1 miles.   It was good weather not to hot not cold (could have been cooler)  just comfy. Next year we are all going to do it.(they don't know it yet but they will ha ha)  After the walk/run they have lots of booths set up in the park from free breakfast to Rock climbing which the kids end joyed it was a fun morning and a start to a VERY long day.  Which made for 3 very tired kids that night!  Jonathan had to work that morning and he had a nap while we were doing the 5K.



Jared running in the 5K.  He passed us on the way back.



The kids Rock Climbing.

After we did the 5K and the stuff at the park, we went up to Darby.  Dennie's sister and kids were over visiting for the weekend and they wanted to do dinner with all the family.  So we headed up early cause Dennie was the cook and he ended up clean up man too.  It was fun seeing everyone and enjoying the yummy food, but it ended up being a very long day for us. 

JUNE

WOW I thought I was going to do a June update and well most of my pictures are of May, oh well.  I had to put my mothers day picture on LOVE LOVE LOVE my kids. They are such good kids, can't believe how big they are getting.

 Rachel wanted her picture taken after she had blown a bubble, its her new trick and she was very excited to be able to finally blow a bubble.

 Little Miss Sara learned how to ride a bike without training wheels.  She was more than excited.  That is all she wanted to do in June.  Its how to hot to take much of a bike ride now until later in the evening.

 Jared played baseball again this year and Dennie coached.  It started out with LOTS of stress which was cause mostly by some poor sports, both parents and coaches, but ended up being fun.  Which was good, so not like basketball which I don't think he will ever play again.  Jared was the pitcher for our team and he did pretty dang good for his first year.  Cant wait until next year.

 Jonathan started his summer job in June.  He is an official pipe mover.  I am not sure if he will do it again next year, but he is doing awesome and is growing up and maturing, some of the things he has been saying and doing I think who are you and what have you done with my son?  I am so proud of him and the way he has handled this new responsibility.  He comes home SO muddy.
 
Well that's a little bit of what we have done in June, and the end of May.  Summer goes by so fast.  I have such great ideas of what we need to do and some fun ideas for summer and it just never happens.  I don't know if I should just give it up or keep on trying to get it together.  We have had a TON of people look at the house we are renting and let me tell you I hate it.  I know we don't want to stay here but still, it is really such a big pain. So we are starting to look for something else that isn't for sale that we can just rent.  I don't want to move again, but know that it is going to happen, its just a matter of when. 

June update to follow

WOW! I can't believe that June is almost over and I have NO post!  So the goal is to get some pics on what little I have and update everything its been busy and crazy and on and on. Gotta LOVE summer.  Thats all for now more to follow!

April and May

Here's April and May calendars.  Love these, its been so fun to make.  June and July's are done as well.  I can't wait to put them up June is a camping theme and July is patriotic.   I am working on a chore chart that will be magnetic too.  Just need to get it in gear and get it done before school is out.  That's when the BIG push for chores is going to start.  I love it when the creative juices are flowing!

Not Much

Not much has been going on.  Just the normal everyday stuff work and school. 

Baseball has started and this year Jared is playing minors, and Dennie is his coach.  So much fun.  His first game is next Wednesday.   School is almost out YEAH!  Oh the joys of summer.  I have lots of things I need to get ready for summer.  With the move we made in October, we really didn't want to stay here long, but as we looked at our options, we didn't have many so we have decided to stay here.  Not real happy about it but for now it will have to do.  Just thankful we haven't had to go back to the apartments and hope and pray that we don't have too.  So that brings other things we get to do.  We can have a garden and plan to have one just hope we can grow the things we want to with the short growing season.  We now have a lawn that we can and get to take care of, which will be good for the boys this summer.   Thank goodness the house comes with a riding lawn mower.  Makes it a little easier for them.  We spent a Saturday getting that up and running and mowing.  That was fun.  I now have a clothes line again, that's something I am looking forward to.  I know weird, but I like to hang things outside.  More work but still love the smell for fresh sheets dried outside.

There are somethings that are a real BIG bummer about the house we moved to,  it only has 1 bathroom, that has been a challenge, it has NO dishwasher, which is worse that just the 1 bathroom.  We have no extra room for people to come and visit (not that we had many visitors).   The kitchen is small oh I could go on and on, but like I tell the kids when they say "I wish we could move to another house"  we need to be thankful we have a house to stay in.   It won't be to bad this summer (I hope).

March in Review

WOW!! March went fast.   We took the boys to a Jazz game towards the end of March.  The girls stayed with Grandma & Grandpa Hardin.   It was a fun trip quick but fun, even with the construction at the hotel (wish we had know before hand, we would have found other arrangements) the van blowing a radiator hose, and the crazy traffic.    We got to our hotel and checked in and then went to dinner, on the way there the van over heated and that's when we found out about the radiator hose I should have taken a picture.  The place we ate at has a deal if you buy so much you can leave your car there for free while you are at the game.  Which lots of people do which is nice cause then you are in a big group as you walk from the game to your car at night.  Just a few pictures from the game.  We of course were in the nose bleed seats, but then what do you expect when you get your tickets through the Jr. Jazz program, but that's OK the kids still had fun.  

  

                                         Dennie and the boys out front.

                                                  Jared and Dennie

                                                    Me and my boys

 The view of the floor from our seats its not as bad as the picture shows, but still we were almost at the top!

 It was a fun game, the boys really got into the game and thankfully the Jazz won!  It was REALLY late by the time we got out and back to the hotel, we had to wait until the traffic was down cause of the van and the radiator hose, didn't want it to over heat on the way back to the hotel.  THANK GOODNESS for family.  Dennie's Uncle got the hose for us while we were at the game and came the next day with tools so Dennie  could fix it.  It made a longer stay at the hotel, but the boys got to swim so they were fine with the delay.  After we got the van done we went to Temple Square, the kids have never been there so I wanted to take the time and see it.  We first stopped at the I believe it was the Church History museum.  That was fun, they have a part with stuff from all the Latter day Prophet's of the church which was neat to see.  Then they have a children's hands on part about the Book of Mormon.   It was more for Jared's age and younger, but I think they both enjoyed it (at least Jonathan was a good sport about it).

                                                       Jared             

                                                 Jonathan and Jared.

After the Museum we went over to the visitor center on Temple Square.  They have a section on the prophets from the Bible and the Book of Mormon.   We enjoyed walking around that, it was really neat too.

Jared

                                                 Jonathan and Dennie

We didn't stay in Salt Lake very long, it was getting late and time to hit the road.  We did however stop at the Air Force Museum on the way home. The boys REALLY enjoyed that too. 

Dennie and Jonathan by a B-52 Bomber I think

 Jared holding up the plane.

On Monday the official first day of spring break Jonathan had his wisdom teeth out, I would say pulled, but he had to have them all cut out.  Poor kid,  he did really well, but he was pretty swollen even after the medicine that they gave him to help with the swelling he was glad he had it so he wasn't HUGE.  He did let me take a picture of him but I promised him that it would only be in his scrapbook.  So our spring break wasn't much fun, but then the weather wasn't really good either until later in the week.  Saturday was a good warm day, the kids played outside all day.  We went to the park,  rode bikes (the kids did) and they even got the baseballs out and started practicing.  We live so close to the park now they just go over there to practice.

 What a difference a month makes!  WOW we have no snow!  The top picture was taken March 3, the bottom was taken April 4.