Prepared

We ordered our 9 month food storage a few weeks ago and we finally got the delivery...a palet. It's crazy how much we spent but the feeling of being prepared definitely out weighs the amount of money we spent.
All of this food comes from The Ready Project and I love it, it actually tastes good...you only add water...and it has a 20 year shelf life. Love it!

Better late than never

This feels like a constant line I am putting up here in my family blog...but it's true.

I wanted to put some Halloween photos on here.
Let's start with the youngest of them all little Issac. If you don't see this boy on a daily basis you would not be surprised to see that he was Spiderman. He has this costume on daily.
I tried to hide it from him yesterday because I want to see him in normal everyday clothes. Greg asked "Why?" It's not very often that you can get away with wearing a costume everyday... so why not let him...so, I pulled it out to say the least he had a HUGE smile on his face.
He has learned that Peter Parker wears a tie and a shirt and pants...this was to help so that he would wear his church clothes. It has worked so far.





Here is Elyse as Miss Daphne (well we had 2 Daphne's) Bryn was too but she wasn't anywhere to be found...plus, she refuses to have her photo taken.



our Spy Guy. I think this idea of his was good...it got him some new toys instead of a dumb ol' costume.



Here are a couple other costume shots I got (only 2 others)
I just thought this was so cute.


Here is one of the winners for the night Jeff as "chewy" and Jared won too he was of course Bateman.



a view of some of the others.

The Leaves

...we have a ton of them. I haven't done any of the racking yet this fall season and we took advantage of that the other day. I just love to watch them play and smile enjoying the little things in life.

A little of me

I have been dieting (well lets say eating healthy) and so far I have lost 6lbs of FAT yes, I have a fat measurer thingy and I have lost 3% body fat and after we do the calculations it has totaled 6 lbs. of body fat. I don't usually like to tell people I am on a diet because everyone asks how its going and sometimes its not. But I am feeling so good I want to share.
I am now lifting weights (I can already see results) and I have also been playing soccer again. It was a rocky start but I can actually run more than 2 minutes now...you have to give me some credit...it is indoor (much more intense). Greg signed us up a few months ago and I dreaded doing the whole thing because the games are late at night (even as late as 11:30 to start) and we both play so our kids are running around the bleachers cheering us on and having a lot of freedom to do as they please. I have come to enjoy it again...I would have to say my competitive side has come out a little but not too much...he he. I love this form of excersize but I did not realize it made every part of my body soar including the love handles (soon to be gone). I don't actually have any pictures for this one but will get them soon.

Busy Weekend

....filled with Bryn's Baptism, & a service project and a photoshoot. This kind of a schedule makes me a crazy woman but for Greg it brings challenge...but it all worked out just fine.

Lets start out with the beautiful Bryn. She has been waiting for this moment for some time and I think it was scary yet exciting for her. We had many friends and family to support her...which made her feel very special. She loves to have people over and have a reason to have a party. She helped me plan the food and the setting up.
The baptism was at 10:00...we probably waited 45 min before it was our wards turn (we are the manilla 11th ward) and we were the last ones to go. Getting baptized with Bryn was Blake and Megan...and the thing that Bryn remembers most was the water was "Cold".





And now for the service project. Every year we as a large family plan a service project and we were in charge of it this year. My sweet friend Kelly decided to make a service project to give to the church in Kenya and sent around and email asking if there was anyone willing to give...so Greg and I decided to make this our family project this year. The best way that we were able to serve was by making the flannel boards that is needed for some teaching materials for the primary class.
We made it into an FHE night and was able to pull out 64 flannel boards and many pictures colored by the children and toys that they brought to give to the kids. We have done this for 4 years now and I think the kids are starting to catch on to the giving spirit and I love it. We are truely blessed and I hope that I will always be guided to serve were I am needed.









and then I had to try to get a photo of all the grandkids minus 3...ummmm that was funny!

Isaac at School

I took pictures on another time but deleted the files so this is a repeat.

When we first get there we make a craft/project and there is always a theme,
then move on to story time (Isaac doesn't sit long for this)
then snack time.

He loves to go to school and has been lately asking me everyday if he goes to school.

Hee Haws

Both Elyse and Isaac had a field trip to Hee Haws but I only remembered to bring my camera to Elyse's but they both loved it.

Elyse's favorite part was the slide. I think Isaac's was just running around to everything.









They are being scarecrows in the cornfield

My Love Note

Dear Mom,
I realy want to have our quiet time together (with siblings). I don't want to make you mad, but I would love it if you would let us. Thank you for being so nise to us and for loving us and takeing care of. We all love you and you love us. iexpecily love you and so does dad. Bryn and elyse love you also. You try your hardest to make us happy and feel comfirted. So I promise that I will do the same. I don't know about the girls but I think that they promis too. We are verry thankful that you are our mother. I am so verry happy that you didn't do what youre dad and brothers did!

Thank you!

Gabe (in his exact words and spelling)

Let me prefrence this a little after church the kids have a quiet time, not only for my sanity and time to reflect but for them to reflect too. I don't know how much they think about what they learned at church but it's always good to give it a try. Gabe was asking to have it together and as much as I want them to be on their own and be quiet its cute that they all "WANT" to be together.

As for the reference to my dad and brothers. They all have spent some time in Jail for DUI or drugs or whatever else they do. I love them all to pieces and hope for them to have it together some day. But as I watch them battle addictions it breaks my heart to see how much it runs your life. The saying always comes to me "Once an addict always and addict" Now, I have really never desired this in my life and in fact I have always wanted better for me and for my children. It does get a little hard at times when I don't know exactly what I am doing as a mom but I do my best. But I have to say I never thought that I would get the thanks at such a young tender age of 9. So, Gabe thanks for being so tender and bringing happy tears to my eyes. Love your guts!

This was the following note from Gabe after I gave him a hug and said thank you (with tears in my eyes).

Dear Mom,
Your welcome because I love you so much thank you for being so kind and excepting the letter and making me happy too. I have never ment to make you sad in my life. You make me so happy just by loking at you. This morning when I gave you that hug it made me feel very comfertible.

Thanks mom

Gabe

Elyse has a Boy Friend

Elyse "Mom, there is a boy in my class that likes me."

Mom "Your too young to have a boyfriend."

Pause nothing being said.

Elyse "He likes to stare at me in class"

Mom "Do you know his name."

Elyse "No"


That was extent of our conversation. I just had to write it down before I forget.

Happy Birthday Bryn

Yesterday was the big day! Bryn turned 8 she is so excited to get baptised. We went shopping for the right dress for the perfect day. She seriously feels like a princess and can't wait to get married and choose her wedding dress.

She got a Nintedo DS, a game, a journal, a stuffed animal dog, how to apply make-up, and went to build-a-bear with grannie annie. Oh, and she even finished her PJ's bottoms that she has been sewing.

What a fun day! I love ya!





her PJ's she made






I love those shy looks.


make WHISH!

Only one for now

because the ones I had planned on using I deleted (well gotta do it over again).

It's pretty rare that I am in front of the camera but I have been working on it. This paticular time I was cleaning the house (no bra on but you can't tell) Elyse and Isaac were playing and I thought...picture moment. I grabbed the camera set it up on a foot stool and set the timer and we waited this was the best one out of 10 but it was a fun game because the camera was taking a picture all by itself.

Worker Boys

My boys workin on the house. Greg teases me about only taking pictures whne his brothers are here helping...it's proof that's not true.

Super Hero in the house

I have never had any off my children obsessed about a character as much as Isaac is and you know me I have got to get the photos and he is still willing for about 5 min max.

He is shooting me with his web...sound effects and all.


The pj's I was dying to buy him when I saw them and now I can't get them off of him.


I've gotta get that cute baby face.

Journal entry

Today's schedule
8:30 get the kids off to school
2 hours of editing while the kids play or watch a show
get dressed
make lunch
12:08 take Elyse to the bus stop
12:30 go to school with Isaac (of which I completely enjoyed)
1:30 school's done
go to the store Karma with Jamie and buy a cute hat
come home put Isaac to bed for his nap
sit down and have a salad and watch a little t.v.
shows over cause now it's 3:45 the kids just got home from school
run around doing about everything at this point
6:00 Gabe has soccer practice and so does Elyse
6:30 I have a photoshoot
8:00 done with photoshoot go to Cafe Rio
8:30 run to the store and get some brownies for Greg's students tomorrow
9:00 get home and see the kids off to bed
rest....ahhhh....ahhhh!
10:30 edit some photos
12:05 Feelin' guilty for everything is so rushed I want it to slow down sometimes. i want it all but feel like it's too much to manage home life and my love for photography. i don't want any regrets but have a hard time managing it all. I hope that it all works out.

Bryn's Sunflower

Bryn started this sunflower at the end of the school year. We fed it and gave it all the sun we could but this is how big it got. I say good job girl lets keep at our garden eventually we will get a tall one.

Tidbits of Info

The other day Gabe and Bryn got up @ 3:00 am to watch Phantom of the Opera. What? 3:00 in the morning...they wanted to make sure that they got to watch it before they went to school. Basically Gabe stayed awake and Bryn fell right back to sleep.

What 2 year will put themselves to bed? Mine will. All I do is ask him to go to bed and he will do it and stay there...no less. I will come in later we sing I love to see the temple, read him a story, and say his prayers and that's it...he stays.

Elyse cried the other day that I had a photoshoot. So unlike her. She has been very clingy lately she has to make sure that everyone has a kiss and a hug before we leave. Even at my soccer game before I go to play and while I am on the sidelines every 2 min she is saying HI. I love it all sometimes it feels to much but someone told me enjoy while you still get it...so, I will.

It's was Labor day weekend and we worked on the house no play time for us. But we now have wood floor all the way to my kitchen sink...there is about a 12 in gap. We are so close. I know its not completely done but it makes happy inside.

First time

...playing soccer for Elyse and a little for Bryn. I got shots of both of them but we missed Bryn's first game. She was a sad but her attitude was well what can I do about it. She was over it pretty quick. Elyse did such a good job at her first game she played so hard she was sweating she needed to go home and put her swimming suit on to cool down in the pool.

We'll get you next time Bryn.





The best time is snack time

Picture Tag

I was tagged by my sister-in-law. This one is actually kind of funny, at least it was to me as I was reading hers and making mine. Here's how it works: For each question, look up the answer on Google image search. Then choose your favorite image from the FIRST PAGE OF RESULTS ONLY. So-- Enjoy getting to know me better...ha ha Julie I did it. Now I should tag Ronelle, Angie, Andrea, Steph, & Kim get workin'.

Name:
Favorite Food:
First JOb:
Nickname:
Where you were born:
Favorite Color:
College:
Bad Habit:
Where you want to go:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Animal:
Past Love:
What am I doing right now?
Where I live:
Favorite object:
Grandmother's name
How old am I?





I was tagged by my sister-in-law. This one is actually kind of funny, at least it was to me as I was reading hers and making mine. Here's how it works: For each question, look up the answer on Google image search. Then choose your favorite image from the FIRST PAGE OF RESULTS ONLY. So-- Enjoy getting to know me better...ha ha Julie I did it. Now I should tag Ronelle, Angie, Andrea, Steph, & Kim get workin'.