What a haul!

September 2007- We love September & March caselot sales galore. it is during these times each year that we replenish our food storage. And better yet what great sales there are! I love a good deal, don't you? I always feel so great after a great shopping day. Too see my shelves full of food again it just makes us happy. A few weeks ago at church our Relief society president gave the lesson on food storage. One of the sisters made a comment that hit me really hard. "I have a new couch but I don't have a years supply of food, how will I feel if I need food and all I have to show for it is a nice couch to sit on, how will I tell my kids I can't feed you today because I took the money that I could have spent on food storage and spent it instead on my couch." For years I have wanted new couches, but I am much happier to say now that we are so close to having the more important things in life. Ever since that comment I don't care about my couches, first I want to get my food supply then I will worry about the other material things in life. Thanks for your comment you helped me realize that what I was doing is most important. We also bought 2 new shelves to put everything on and this is only the first load I had one more just as full. And this week I am picking up 5 50 lb bags of wheat. You know every time I think we are closer to having the food we need in storage we have another baby and it seems like we are starting over with another years supply we need to get for that child. But we know it's the thing to do so here we go again. I am so humbled by others and the things they teach me and help me realize. Otherwise in this society we live in about always keeping up with the Joneses so to speak it would be easy to forget the important things in life like my husband and 3 beautiful children, how horrible I would feel if we couldn't provide for them the basic things in life, like a meal. Line upon line is how it must happen and we still have more to go to reach our goal but we are trying and that is what is important. Next month we hope to get more water storage and I will be bottling like crazy. I'll keep you posted with pictures when it happens. Sorry about going on and on but sometimes I get something in my head and for some reason until I share it I can't stop thinking about it. Maybe someone else needs to hear it too or maybe I do. Anyway I will keep trying to help my storage grow and someday I hope I will come out ahead.

Giddy Up!!

September 2007

Giddy Up Daddy, Justin & Katie love getting their horsey rides to bed at night. I think Rob loves it too.

Riverton City

september 2007- Today I took the kids to the Riverton city awareness day. The kids had fun doing all kinds of activities &getting free stuff. Here is Justin dressed in Fireman gear in front of the firetruck. He thought this was so cool!





Justin & Katie by the big "digger truck" as they called it.


Katie giving the Mcgruff dog a hug. She thought he was so cool.
The kids got to get their fingerprints and photos taken from the police station and thought this was so great.

Justin's 5- Happy Birthday!

September 21, 2007

Today is Justin's 5th birthday, We decided to go to Liberty Park today and meet Rob for lunch and open all of Justin's presents.

Megan, Katie, & Justin eagerly waiting to see Justin open his presents!

A little surprised about this book he got!

I let Justin help me make his cake, then Daddy frosted it and Justin and Katie put Reeces Pieces on it together. Then Justin put his candles on. You look so cute and grown up. I can't believe you are 5 allready it seems like yesterday that you waved to the Dr., daddy and I in the hospital. Make a wish!

Justin blowing out his candles with his sisters watching so closely. Katie was so excited to have her turn to blow out the candles (In Robs family growing up they had the greatest tradition, all of the kids and parents had a turn to blow out the candles, since that way the candles get used to their full extent and everyone has fun blowing the candles out. Of course the birthday person get's to blow them out twice, I liked this so we do it too) and of course eat the cake. Happy Birthday buddy we love you.

"Gracious George"

September 2007, So This is Gracious George. We had one of the best Family Home Evenings about 4 weeks ago and I thought I would share it with anyone who may want to try it. Basically I read a story about Gracious George the Gingerbread man (very similar to the actual story but there is a small twist, George in this story does nice things for people as he runs away from them. Like weeding the garden for the man, doing the dishes for the woman, helping the little girl put a bandaid on her knee from falling, helping the boy by filling the tub for his bath, etc etc. As he runs away from each one he says run run as fast as you can you can't catch me I'm Gracious George the Gingerbread man. Anyway when the story is over you all decorate a little gracious george of your own (unless you have one which I did) then you tell your family that Gracious George will be in our house until next weeks FHE then choose someone to start. Then George goes around from family member to family member with all of you doing secret service things for one another only leaving George next to whatever they did. My kids LOVED it. Beds were made, shoes polished, shirts ironed, dishes done, windows cleaned, rooms & toyrooms cleaned, basically all kinds of things. And we also put a paper on the fridge that said Gracious George on it. Each time you were served you got to put a happy face on the paper. By the next weeks FHE we all loved doing G George so much we decided to keep him out and going and now almost 4 weeks later little G George is still appearing and reappearing places. It has been such a success for us, and all of us have become so much more charitable. Justin especially has loved it and even gets upset when someone catches him in the middle of doing his "George service" as he calls it, and then can't wait for the person to find it. (He is usually peeking his head around the corner giggling). Even Katie has found ways to serve even as small as she is. Anyway just a thought for anyone who wants a fun and great way to teach your kids or spouces how to serve one another more in a fun way. And best of all after you can make homemade gingerbread men for desert also just as fun. (I didn't have time for the gingerbread men so we had brownies but next time I will for sure).

GO TIGERS!!!

September 25, 2007

Justin is loving playing soccer and I'll even brag a little for him. He is awesome! He really is a natural. His first game ever he made a goal! (Good job buddy), and every game since he has done just as well tonight in his game he made 2 goals, blocked 2 from the other team and had an assist for one of his teamates. We are so proud of you. And Rob told him that for every goal he makes he gets and ice cream and boy does he love that. Last week in his game he even let one of the kids on the other team score a goal. After when I asked him; Justin why didn't you block the ball he said "I know how fun it is to get a goal and I wanted that kid to know what that fealt like." Cute hugh, he is a great sport and wants everyone to just have fun and that is what makes it the most fun to watch. Then I had a little talk to him about the team with the most points wins and how usually we don't just let the other team score and he understood, he just wanted to do it that time. He is on the Tigers team (orange). Today he told me "mom I love soccer but I like t-ball too. I like them both for different reasons, but I'm having fun. Thanks for signing me up." I told him as long as he was having fun I didn't mind.

Ouch!

September 2007, Today Justin was out in the yard weeding and a bee stung him. The first bee sting ever so I was a little afraid for him, but luckily no allergic reaction or rushing to the emergency room. Just a sad moment. I was actually very proud of him he hardly cried.

Sweet Megan!

September 2007, Little Megan you are so darn cute! I love this picture of you. You are so innocent and precious. I love those cute cheeks and that beautiful smile. Your eyes just light up. Thanks for being such a great baby I love you cutie!

COLORS!!!

September 15, 2007 Tonight Rob and I had our date night. We went to the COLORS reunion. We both really like there music. Check them out if you have never heard them they are great. It was so fun to sing along and remember the good old days. Besides it was a night out without the kids. Although they probubly would have loved the concert also.

Peaches!

September 2007, The family all helped me pick peaches today. I saw some peach trees while driving around and made Rob pull over, I asked them if they wanted them and they said to take as many as I liked. Since they were all ready to eat and there was no way we could eat them all I put up peaches all day. I don't mind they were free, and Megan will love all the baby food.

All peeled and ready to cut up, my least favorite part is over.

Here I am with all the jars after. Yeah success.

sleeping angels

September 2007, I love to see my kids sleeping I don't know if it's because after a long day it's nice to have a little break or because they are just so darn cute. Maybe a little of both. I love this picture of Justin he was asleep on his Book of Mormon. He insists on having his flashlight each night and reading his scriptures. And Katie is just adorable. Peace at last.

You've earned it!!

September 14, 2007

Justin and Katie have been working so hard all summer. Doing their chores, being obedient, helping mom, dad, or siblings. Basically anything mom or dad asked for them to do would earn them gumballs (stickers) for their gumball machines, and negative behavior would take them away. It worked so well and when it was full they were promised a fun outing with the family. Well they did it and so tomorrow we are taking them to the Children's museum at the Gateway. They really wanted to go there and are so excited. Last year they filled their jar to go to Disneyland. I'll have to come up with another idea for next years outing (feel free to send me ideas). Anyway we all had a great time and below are some photos of us at the museum. I'm not in any of the pictures since I am taking all of them.

Justin and Katie love to ride the train. So we decided to take the train to the museum for extra fun. Here they are waving to all the people while riding. They were so funny, they would sit and wave and say "hi people, we're riding the train."


Katie paddling the boat. While singing "row row boat, down stream."

I think this is one of Justin's favorite parts of the museum. They have all these building blocks and they can stack them haul them in wheelbarrows, slide them down the slide, raise them up with conveyor belts, etc. He was having so much fun and would spend hours in here.

Here is Justin and Rob in the little play store they have Justin is ringing up dads groceries. He looked and felt so big. He loved pushing all the buttons and hearing the sounds of a real store like; "Cleanup on isle 2, price check, & sale on all dairy today." Rob is having a good time too, anything to be a kid again!

Justin climbing the rock wall, he made it all the way across. I was really impressed with him, it was actually a lot harder than it looked.

Look mom we're on TV, and doing the weather. (Justin, Dad, & Katie). Rob has the disappearing cloth in his hand, it was pretty cool.

Rob with the three kids in the helicopter. This was by far the favorite part of the museum. They played and pretended and let their imaginations go wild. It was so fun to watch all of them.

This is air traffic control, come in.... there is an emergency situation at the park and I need immediate assistance there. Can you please go pick up a child that is hurt...please respond...(Rob was playing with all the kids in the helicopter and they were having so much fun).

Here are Justin and Katie building on the giant magnetic wall. Justin just kept wanting it to get bigger and bigger. And what satisfaction he felt when the ball made it all the way down his creation.

Last of all here they are in the theater acting out the 3 billy goats gruff. They were so funny. Justin was playing most of the parts since Katie didn't remember the story very well. She didn't seem to mind as long as she was having fun. I think she just loved the spotlight.

So after the museum we went to Costa Vidas for lunch and then took the train back to the car. Then we had fun driving around downtown showing the kids the temple, our old apartment, the U of U campus where we graduated and met, the church we went to and where Justin was blessed, where daddy works now and where he used to work. It was just fun driving around reminiscing about good times and remembering some wonderful places. The kids liked it too, they kept telling us they wanted to see something else and didn't want to go home yet. It was a pleasant day and a great way to celebrate all the kids hard work.

This weeks funniest sayings

September 2007

So this week Katie said the cutest thing. I was outside sweeping the dirt off the sidewalk after we had just weeded. While sweeping Katie said "mom don't sweep my legs off, I need them to walk on" I informed her that I would not sweep off her legs and she was much relieved.

Fun in the sand

September 2007 This last week has been really great, Rob took a week off of work and we had so much fun playing with him. The kids loved dad being home and couldn't understand it when this morning he had to go back to work. We played and played. Here are the kids and Rob playing in the sandbox together. They built some really cool things.






Rob and Katie digging tunnels. They built a really cool road.

Like father like son

September 2007

My boys being silly. They took my camera when I wasn't looking and took these pictures. You two are so funny! Ha Ha Ha.

This one is my favorite. Aren't they cute. You are so much alike. What a lucky mommy, I have the two greatest guys in my life.

Pears

September 2007- I love this time of year, I get to put up all kinds of fruits and watch the storage room grow. These are some pears my mom found for me and we are just waiting patiently for them to ripen so we can bottle them. (Thanks Mom). I'll keep you posted.

Rug, Blanket, & Pillow

September 2007

Rob has so much fun playing with his kids , this is one of his favorite things to do with them. They just laugh and giggle, but keep coming back for more. (Do it to ME, they'll say)!

Here is dad playing rug with Megan. Basically he puts his foot on the kids tummy and tells them he has a new rug on the floor, they just can't stop laughing.

Here Katie is being his blanket....(she loves this).

Here Justin is being his pillow, he's a very wiggly pillow too. Not the most comfortable, we prefer the ones that hold still the best. He's a little boney too.

Happy Mommy

September 2007

It is always a great day when you get up in the morning and your kids are dressed, beds made, and room clean. I have the greatest little workers and it's a great success to see your kids doing what you have worked so hard to get them to do. Thanks for being so obedient each morning and doing your chores. I love to see them get so excited to surprise me and sneak around giggling trying not to let me see them, then jump out with a loud SURPRISE!!! I love you guys!

Ahhhh Success......

Sep 3 2007 There is such a great feeling about having a garden. To go outside and pick your veggies, to bottle and freeze what you grow. I just love having a garden and though not as large as I would like there is just a sweet gratification about seeing your garden grow, and become all you hoped that it would. My kids love it too. They are often seen outside eating tomatoes, carrotts, and peas right from the garden. Justin loves to help me thin the beets, and Katie is so excited to see another "big cucumber or squash". It took a few green tomatoes being picked before Katie realized they were much better when they were red.

This is a photo of our family eating our reward last sunday dinner, I just had to document it because we are all so proud and happy to eat the yummy things we all work so hard to grow. "Even with all the weeding" Justin said it's worth it.

Wham!

Sep. 4 2007 Today after the kids were outside riding their bikes, they came in and were playing. They kept bonking their heads together and laughing. I thought it was so funny watching them. They would bonk the walls, each other, the floor, doors, anything.

I love real food!

Hi Everyone. Megan is loving solid foods. She just can't get enough of it. She is especially impressed with fruits. I still keep trying the veggies and some are coming along better than others. But she just watches us eat real people food and we know she wants some. Soon little one soon, yum, yum!

Hi Brooklyn

So today I found cute little Katie calling her best friend Brooklyn on the phone. She was asking her if she wanted to come and play and informed her that we don't drink coffee. (I have no idea why she said that). Katie loves Brooklyn, every monday night when we go over what we have coming up that week Katie says "Brooklyn Sunday". It's so fun to watch her have friends and playdates.

Kings Peak!

So Rob is just so awesome. He has had a lifelong goal to hike to the top of the highest peak in Utah...Kings Peak. Last year he tried but due to rain and storms they were unable to reach the top. They sure came close though. So in July 2007 they tried again. I was so proud of him because he did it even though he was having major asthma attacks and feeling horrible, but wouldn't turn back until they reached the top first. This is a picture of Scott (his brother), Rob, and his dad on the top!

Newspaper!

1. Justin & Katie walking accross the street.

2- Picking up the paper to deliver.

3- Our candy reward!

September 2007- So if you have kids you are probably familiar with Clifford the Big Red dog. Well Justin and Katie were watching Clifford one day about 3 months ago and in the show the dogs discover that if they take all the peoples papers from the street to their porches the people would give them doggy treats. Well my creative kids decided to try this task out for themselves. And so they began to deliver all the papers to our neighbors. One of our neighbors accross the street would give them candy whenever they came. So my children can't wait every day to get out and take the paper to my neighbor for a treat. It is so cute & I have Clifford to thank for it! The only hard part is making my kids wait until 9:00 to go, otherwise our neighbors would have two kids in their jammies ringing the doorbell at 6:30 in the morning.