So, so sorry to keep you all waiting!

I know I'm so popular you all have been dying to know what we've been up too! (said sarcastically!)

In June, I worked hard in training for Ragnar and then ran it. I think I did well. M.C.'s cast came off which he absolutely loved! I gave a talk in sacrament meeting, went to girls camp, ran Ragnar, and camped out all in one week. Starr and Dimples started participating in a Library Mentor Reading program. They love to read and are doing very well. The three oldest started playing piano again. Love to hear them.

In July, We hiked Adams Canyon in Davis County. We had fun and I know we have pics but I'll have to post them later. I ran in the Riverdale "Old Glory Days" 5k with My S.I.L. Net. It was her first race and she was amazing! So proud of her. I ran a 6 mile trail run with my pals then went for a hike with the family up Waterfall Canyon. I must've twisted my knee or something sometime because I limped down the trail once we got out of tree cover. Ugh! I really need my knee back! I have a 10k in Sept. I'm training for! Starr got to go to Lagoon with two of my brothers and their kids. She had so much fun with them! Thanks guys! We've gone: swimming lots, to see fireworks, and to lots of bbq's and parties. The kids all have swim lessons and they are doing so well! Starr also got to attend a Babysitting class at McKay-Dee Hospital, which she enjoyed and learned a few things to help out with others.

There's more to come I'm sure, so for now, See ya!

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay2011

I ran Ragnar again this year and had a fabulously, exhausting, mentally and physically draining experience. I was really super busy in June and didn't have any time for my mind to rest. With the kids out of school, I did my best to let them have fun. I was asked to give a talk in church, which I did well. Because I have a hard time getting in front of people, I decided to paint the front room, therefore taking up my time. more on that later. I went to girls camp the monday through friday before Ragnar, so I didn't get any sleep or training done. I got home, picked up the burb from my friend, went to get it decorated, went home to pack.
We left Friday morning at 10:30 and headed to Liberty, UT. I was runner 7 in Van 2. My legs of the race weren't that hard really, BUT, when you've had as little sleep as I did, and didn't get to train as hard as the year before, well, I did my best I could possibly do with the circumstances. I enjoyed the whole thing, was tired, crazy, silly, insane, sleepy, caught my second wind at the wrong times...and so on. I love my team, and they are absolutely supportive. They don't care if I can only run a 10min45sec mile. They are just glad I can finish my legs and help others. I tried to take a lot of pics and that happened the first day but not so much the second. Oh well. Enjoy!

Random things

O.K. M.C. broke his arm while Stephen was subbing in as coach for Dimples' soccer team. Becks was getting her team pics done while Starr was "watching" M.C. Yeah, that worked out really well. Half-way through the game, Starr brings M.C. over while shaking the broken arm and telling Stephen "he says it hurts when he moves it!" Yep, she did that. Stephen finished off the game, set Becks up with Starr for her team pics and game, then went to the clinic. We have the disk with the x-rays on it, but I'm not sure how to get those pics on here yet. Poor boy! He has a "Supracondylar fracture". I haven't got a clue what the exactly means, just that he did in fact break his arm somewhere near the growth plate. Dr. Bryan wants to see him one week after putting on the green cast...lets hope his arm will heal correctly!
I was running in this race while all of the above was happening. Great Mother's day gift!! just kidding, that wasn't my Mother's day gift. I didn't get one...not until Monday anyway. I needed a new ironing board and cover, a new shower curtain rod, and puff's tissues for our noses. (our noses that seem to run non-stop!)

This pic is of my birthday that I just celebrated! Tickets to a concert coming up very soon. I wish "U 2" could go with us! but I think the best gift was my own set of scriptures. I've never had my own, I always used my mom's old set or Stephen's. Yay!!! now I have my own, can't wait to put marks in them!OK, I think I'm all caught up. minus Easter pics, hiking pics, bountiful baskets, young women's activities...y'all know what its like, impossible to put it all on here.

Finally!!

So, so sorry, he he, I've been really busy and haven't had a chance to do any of this. UGH! anyway, here are the random pics I have of M.C. for his b-day several weeks ago. Man, where the heck does the time go? He's now 4 and life just seems to get crazier and crazier! Enjoy these random pics!

"Starr's" Birthday is today!!!

So I actually posted this today April 17th, 3 weeks late! Ugh where did my time go???

Starr's birthday is today, I remember her birth so well-I could have had her at home-but that's for another year. I can't believe she's nine!!! Where does the time go? I will show you, hopefully, in different pics where that time went. I've decided she's the nature loving, hiking, soccer playing, climbing, artistic, girlie girl who loves to learn. There's more I could say to describe her, I just can't think at the moment. Hopefully, you'll be able to see it all in the pics. Okay, here it is a little late, but I finally made up some groups of random pics of "Starr" and a lot of different things she enjoys!

Our Valentine's weekend

*Warning: Be prepared to read for a bit*

Valentines Day is a Monday. That means the kids are in school and Stephen has to work. So the last couple days have been our Valentine's weekend. Saturday, the girls got to have a, or go to a, sleepover. They all had fun and enjoyed their time with their friends. I had an early morning meeting-it was at 9 which is early for a Saturday! So Stephen made breakfast for the boys and girls and played referee. When I got back he and his sister went hiking and I waited for Brake-Time Bobs to call about the car, I wrote about that earlier. We finally got the car back and Bob said the engine's real good, he was impressed with it and knows we plan on keeping that car for a long time. (That car will be the one that Becks gets to drive in about 3 years.) Later, much later, that night, Stephen took me to Outback steakhouse for dinner. Problem for me was, it was too late. Eating at 9 p.m. and my lovely stomach acid issues don't combine. I brought home my delicious sandwich and Stephen enjoyed his rack of lamb. We had fun either way, I got to talk with him while he ate-guess who did most of the talking. We came home and helped Becks get the kids to bed.
Let's move on to Sunday.
My wonderful friends were blessing their cute son yesterday. We were invited to a brunch and then to their sacrament meeting. They were just sealed on Saturday to the cute little guy, making their family a family of four. They are amazing people, so filled with the spirit and so excited for life that you can't help but want to be their friends and friends with their friends. Anyway, after we visited with them and others we went home. Stephen and his sister sue planned on hiking again. He begged me to come with them all-cuz the kids weren't going to pass this up again. He said "It would mean the world to me" if I went with them. How can a wife say no, I hate hiking, after that card has been pulled? I went with them and actually kinda enjoyed it. We hiked up to the "BL", then to some silver square thing (which I thought was our destination-Wrong!), and then a little bit further up. I did okay. I filled my hiking quota, anything else will have to involve money I think. On the way up, M.C. found the cactus, with his knee and finger tips. Thanks to aunt Susie, the prickly hairs didn't stay long in his fingers and thanks to his pants they didn't stick to his knee. The next thing M.C. said was- he didn't want to see anymore cactus. While continuing our hike, M.C. said- Cactus are mean! It was pretty funny, poor kid. We made it up the rest of the way without any further contact with Cactus or falling down in the dirt. The way down was great, Stephen found a herd of deer, we got pics of it and other things that I will post differently. I know why it's faster to come down a mountain hike, but I still think going up to be easier for some reason. I didn't complain too much about the hike this time, so most likely I'll go on another one.
We ate dinner with Stephen's parents and sister. We played Zombie dice and worked on a puzzle of New York City. We came home and eventually went to bed.
This morning, the girls got up and made themselves pretty for school since it was Valentines day and all that. Dimples wore a shirt and tie to school because they are having a dance with all the 1st graders. (I'm so excited to see this!) It's kinda just a regular day for me, nothing special til later when the hubby gets home.

So yes, I've been missing...

Yeah, yeah. I've been missing from the blog for a while.

In January, we went go-karting at Speed Street in Layton. We took Becks and two of her friends, Megs and Court. It was totally awesome! I loved it. Stephen and I tried so hard to beat each other, he cheats by the way-he bumps you out of the way. I had so much fun and I know that Becks and her friends did too. They were fabulous girls and we all got to race twice. Becks and Court went with Courts Dad the next Monday and they all had an awesome time. Good times, good times, love them. I hope Becks had a great time with her friends, it was sort of a birthday party and not all the friends showed up. Man, we should plan better. Anyway, here are some pics of the girls and fun we had. Enjoy!

Dimples' birthday

Dimples turned 7 on the 13Th. He is so friggin' cute. I love this kid. We woke up a bit late and had to rush the pancakes for breakfast thing, but they made it to school on time. I went to the school for lunch with Dimples. Of course I forgot my camera, but we had fun. He would look up at me and just smile when I looked back, melt my heart. When he was done with his lunch, he looked at me and asked "Hey mom, you done yet? Can't you eat any faster?" Love this kid. He is such a nice, kind, sweet boy who loves to tease his siblings and friends, and especially his mom and dad. I can't believe my oldest boy is getting older. Where on earth is the time going? Oh, man! I know it won't slow down, I just hope to be able to remember where the time is spent and what we're doing. I also hope to be able to just let things slide a little and enjoy my time with the family. In fact, on Dimple's b-day night, we went to the bowling alley, not realizing it's league night. Oops! guess that's not happening. So Stephen drove us to Toads to play some Laser Tag! You will not believe who did the best. Yep, yours truly. I had the most kills and least hits. Stephen however, was shadowed by Starr and kept dying, poor guy. Dimples had so much fun chasing me and his sisters around, even if he got shot more times by doing that. He got me a couple times, little sneak. He's short enough that you can't see him coming around the corner of the half walls. Funny guy! and of course the camera was left at home again. We had a blast and I can't wait to go again with the family. M.C. even played. He stayed at my side most of the time so I had to perch somewhere. He would shoot me when he was bored and I would shoot him just for the heck of it.

Good times I tell ya, Good Times!

Happy Birthday my cute little Dimples!!! Mom and Pops love you so much!

Days 6, 7 and 8!

Yes, I'm behind again.
Day 6 11-06-2010: I'm thankful for going up to Stephen's Grandpa's land in Idaho. We went up with the kids to initially work, but to play if there wasn't any work. Yep, we worked. A lot! The trees decided shed, so, we picked up after them. We made a fun-filled day of it by stopping at Gossners, Pepperidge Farms, and La Tienda on the way up. (I Love going to two of the three places.) We got there and Stephen cleaned out the shed while I worked on my Primary music stuffs. The kids all had to start raking up the leaves into piles. They did an okay job for being kids who normally don't have to do this. When I was finished, I joined them. Then Stephen joined us, he had two of the younger ones grab some huge buckets from the shed and they started filling them up with leaves. I had the best rake so I raked up more leaves in 45 mins than the kids did in an hour. It was good times I'm tellin' ya, Good. Times. Girl #1 had a friend with her and they both worked hard. By the time we were done, we needed to head home. We stopped at McD's for some burgers and saw a Momma dear with her baby. It was kinda cool. We then hit 7-eleven for slurpee's! It was a great day!!!!

Day 7 11-07-2010: Babies! My brother blessed his baby girl yesterday. It was so fun to see them and the other families. The blessing he gave was so nice and I'm sure little A-girl will be able to become what Heavenly Father wants her to be. But this isn't just about her, it's about babies in general. Saturday I was at a baptism and one of the Stake Presidency members was there. He is older, his kids are mostly grown and on their own, but there was a cute little baby that sat at his feet during the talks. The Stake Pres. member watched him for a bit, then picked him up just smiling the whole time he held the baby. It was interesting to me the way babies can turn the hardest of men and women into softies. It happens everywhere and all the time. I know how much they can change a persons life and a families. My good friends Amanda and Jared were able to adopt children and I have seen the wonderful changes in their lives. Stephen's cousin's adopted a baby girl and it has been world of difference for them. Babies are amazing! No matter how they enter your life!

Day 8 11-08-2010: Monday is Laundry Day! I know, it's the bane of some people's existence, and probably mine, but! I'm grateful to have clean clothes, bedding, towels, and whatever else you can wash and dry. My washer and dryer have gone on the fritz a few times lately and I'm glad for the handyman in my life, maybe even more so because I don't have to go to the laundromat! I know I will always have work in my home, because of laundry. I will never get bored here. Because I can watch a show or take care of other little things here at home while I'm getting the laundry done, then my house is clean for a bit. It's also a sign that I am always needed. I'm not so sure my hubby could get it done or that the kids wouldn't put in a brand new red shirt with the whites. I'm sure they could figure it out, but I'll only teach them about it and I'll still be the one to do. In fact I have taught the girls how to do this. They conveniently forget or don't have the time to help me out. Whatever, I know I have job security. I do like that they have to put their clothes away. That is prolly one of the best parts about it. Either I will seperate the loads once they are done or all of us will. Then, they have to put their stuff away. and I don't mean, thrown into the closet or drawers. Folded and/or hung up. Matched socks. folded underwear.
It feels so good once it's all done, I love the feeling.

Pumpkins and Halloween fun!!!

So what if it's a week late, I'm doing this anyway. The kids carved their pumpkins on Thursday and they had a fun time doing it. I ended up carving more than my fair share, but they had to clean all the guts out. Ha ha!

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday night by having a birthday party for my Grandma. She turned 83 on Halloween so we were a day early. It was a lot of fun to do this and the costumes were so much fun to see. We then visited with two other sets of Grandparents that day as is tradition in our little family. We went home and slept well that night. Since we didn't participate in the ward trunk or treat, and the kids didn't get very much candy when they did go out on my parents street, Stephen and I went to the grocery store and bought up 6 bags of candy and split it up evenly among the kids. Hopefully they have eaten it all by now and I can finish putting the Halloween stuff away! We hope everyone had a great Halloween and were able to enjoy themselves.

Haunted Dinosaur Park

On Friday night, we took the kiddo's to the Haunted Dinosaur Park. It was so much fun! The kids had a blast getting their costumes ready the entire day and they looked fabulous in them. We got to the park, waited in line for a bit, then off to view it at night. It was totally cool, and sometimes even scary if there were spiders. There were about 16 local companies who donated treats for the kids to trick-or-treat in different areas of the park. It was pretty amazing how it all worked out and looked great. There was a costume contest and I'm pretty sure the girls could have won if there weren't any younger, handsome firefighters in the line-up. (Yep, a cute little curly, blond-haired firefighter. He got our votes!) It was a fabulous time for our family. We have been wanting to do something together with just us. I loved it. We took pics of everything we could, some videos. All in all, it was a fabulous night ending with scones and hot chocolate later. I really love Halloween, the next best holiday there is next to Christmas!

I was truly surprised at how cute they all were, I mean that in the I-had-to-make-some-part-of-every-costume-way. (except for boy #2)
Girl #1 was Alice from Alice in Wonderland wearing the dress the Queen of Heart/Red Queen had made. I made this dress using an older costume as my base. I made 4 different tutu's-2 long and 2 short- with black tulle and red tulle. I found some white shear with black roses on it. Some rope for a belt. It worked out really well. It took me all day on Friday, but I believe it was all worth it.
Girl #2 wanted to be the White Queen from Alice in Wonderland. I was able to find a Heavenly Angel dress at a spook store and used the lace from the halo to make the choker. I purchased a cheap pearl necklace, cut 2 pieces and hot glued them to the lace and added some velcro. Some black eyebrows and super dark red lipstick and nail polish and some powder in her hair and she was almost ready. Stephen made the crown for her and they both hot glued some gems to it. It was amazing, I'm so glad I have him for a hubby!
Boy #1 wanted to be a ninja! Easy enough. Borrowed the basic stuff from a friend, wrapped black fabric to make it tight on his calves and made a belt for it. We used a head sock for helmets as his face covering. He looked so cool! Don't want to mess with this guy!
Boy #2 wanted to be a pumpkin. His was the easiest costume of all. I found it at the D.I. for $4. Easy peasy, nice and squeezy. I loved it. Put on a black turtleneck and some jeans and he was ready to go! Now they are ready for all sorts of parties and everything. And Halloween is still 2 weeks away! Oh life is good.