Monday, September 28, 2009

Huckleberry Picking

Pa, Kenz, and Whit
Scotty

Sammy
Aunt Becca too
Thumbs up!
On the 4-wheelers getting ready to go!

Nana and Pa

Sam, Aunt Becca, and Kenz

Can you tell it was sooo cold the day we went? It was freezing, but we got lots of Huckleberries!! We picked about 10 cups full. We made milkshakes that night with them!! Yummy! It was a fun adventure to hunt for the little berries. We always love riding the 4-wheelers!!

Seriously-Crack me up!!


The girls love to wear our t-shirts to bed at night. We think it is pretty cute, that they are small enough to wear them as nightgowns. One night--I think it was Whitney that started it-- they were wearing them pulled up on their heads and were dancing around!! They were hilarious! They looked short, like half their bodies were missing. I couldn't stop laughing.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Hello Little One

6:30 A.M. this morning, in bed. Scott is gone playing b-ball. Laying next to me is Whitney (of course) I am listening to her slight snore, breathing in her sweet Whitney smell. The baby is jabbing and swipping inside of me. I have been feeling the baby for a few weeks now, but only inside. I place my hand flat to my stomach, right below my belly button, poke. swipe. Hello little one. The first outward expression. Baby is really here. My personal miracle. Laying there-grateful-amazed-Sweet, little one, Mommy knows you are there.

A wonderful start to a good and typical day. I did get to go to the temple this morning, (due to a friend with the great idea to swap kids so that we could each go--Thanks Emily). I would be embarrassed to tell you the last time I went . . . I loved being there. Quiet. Peaceful. I was alone with me and my thoughts. How often does that happen? I got to re-connect with Christina, just a bit. She is still there. :)

I came home and couldn't face the dishes or the dog who needs a bath (because he threw-up this morning, because Whitney shared a chocolate granola bar with him last night). Earthly life. Mortality. Needs. Needing to be met. No worries. I eventually snapped to. I just plugged in the I-pod and went for broke on my chores. But so calm inside. I think it is because I got to spend some good, reflective, personal time in the temple this morning.

I really am trying to keep things in perspective.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Dodger's Dignity and Manhood

Dodger is about 4 1/2 months old in this picture.
We got him fixed.

He came home wearing this ridiculous collar. He felt so embarrassed. I felt bad for him. He needed to wear it so that he wouldn't pull out his stitches. He did very well with his collar on, except he kept running into walls and would get it caught on the stairs while he was running up.
Getting him fixed has been such a great thing for him---he is much calmer now---less biting--less racing around. The girls love him better now. I really love him better now. He is also doing well at the house- breaking thing. He still doesn't really let us know when he needs to go out, but I try to pay attention to his efforts and I meet him more than half way . . . he knows what we are saying to him when we ask if he needs to go out and do business. He also knows what it means when I tell him, "kennel" he goes right to his crate and gets in. Good Boy.

Lewis and Clark Caverns

Daddy and Whitney
Me and Scotty

Stalagmites
The Girls
Kenz and Whit

Stalactites.
We went to the Lewis and Clark Caverns and they were so neat. It takes about 2 hours to go all the way through them. It was pretty cold inside too. We learned about stalactites and stalagmites and we got to experience total darkness. I would totally recommend this to any family wanting to experience something new!!
The girls and I making our way through the caves.

McKenzie is 6

HI Miss. McKenzie
Did you get a sister for your birthday?

Opening your presents.

Oh Miss. McKenzie. I love you tender hearted-girl. You have shown great strides of growth the past month. Starting Kindergarten has been a good thing for you. I see you being more calm and confident in your ability to solve problems. I see you doing more for yourself and trying new things. You are a wonderful friend and sister. I love your enthusiasm for life and for learning! You have been a great pal to your Daddy--going to lots of Soccer and Volleyball games this fall. Thanks for being my little friend.
Some of your favorites
What is your favorite color? Pink
What is your favorite food? Grapes
What is your favorite toy? Polly Pockets
What do you love the most about Daddy? Playing football with him and going to Volleyball games with him.
What do you love the most about Mommy? That she is pregnant.
What do you love the most about Sammy? Playing Polly's with her.
What do you love the most about Whitney? That she shares with me.
What do you love the most about Dodger? I like to play fetch with him. That he is very nice.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Nurse
What do you love the most about your self? That I was mommy's angel baby.

10 Year Anniversary. And that's alot.

O.k. So it is not Hawaii. We really wanted to go to Hawaii for our 10 year, but I was like 3 months pregnant and sooo did not want to experience Hawaii while slightly fat and in the yucky stage of pregnancy. We decided to camp in Jackson and hike Jenny's Lake, instead. Still a trip, but close to home and no bathing suit required. This is us at inspiration point. After you hike around Jenny's Lake, you can hike up another mile to this point. I didn't want to make the climb up there. I wish I could tell you it was soo worth it and that I am glad that I did it. BUT I am NOT, the view was lame. I did it for Scott, who really wanted us to, I love you babe.
Hidden Falls. At the end of Hiking around Jenny's Lake. I LOVED our hike around the lake, it was so beautiful and no bugs!! I love to hike and I hardly ever get the chance. IT was a prefect way to spent the day, in nature, talking and remembering with Scotty as we hiked along. With 10 years of marriage, there are a lot of memories--some good, some bad, some difficult, some wonderful, some exciting. All of them adding up to who we are today. Scott is my best friend and knows me better than anyone in this world. I always feel like he is my other half. We have always been able to talk for hours about everything and nothing, just laughing and talking. Scott can always make me laugh. I get him.

OUR tent. That we pitched in the dark. After going to the BAR-J that night. We also love to camp and never get to. This was our first time camping together, just the 2 of us. It was exciting. An adventure. More GREAT memories.
We got to go to the BAR-J. We got there like 10 min before they were starting and I know that the seats are first come first serve, so I was expecting to sit on the back row. I was fine with that. I have been several times and knew it would still be great ever if I couldn't see that well. But we got a great surprise when they put us on the front row on the left side. Since we we were only a party of 2 we filled in the table nicely. Best seats we ever had.
Us at the BAR-J. This cute little couple asked us to take their picture, so we got them to take ours. They asked us if we were on our honeymoon!! We had to laugh. We told them it was our anniversary. They asked which one and nearly died when we told them it was our 10th. (They were on their honeymoon). Scott and I laughed about it all night.
I love you, Scott. I am looking forward to 10 more years together. The ups, the downs, the joy, the pain, the passion, the friendship. The Love. Thanks for being the man in my life.

Whitney is 3

Whitney eating her b-day cake and ice-cream.


She wanted ice-cream cone shaped cakes. So I made them.


Whitney, holding her favorite gift she got for her birthday--A boy Barbie
Whitney, Babe!! I just love and adore you! I am so glad that you turned 3. You have the greatest sense of humor and you are always cracking us up! I love that you still want me to rock you with your "night night" and that you tell me, " I love my night night, it's so cozy. You and Nana made it for me." I get a kick out of you and your "Hot Baba." Which is really just a sippy with warm milk in it. Right now you are "in love" with Shawn (Nick's brother, that you danced with at Becca's wedding) you talk about him everyday. You say, " I am going to marry Shawn and have manty (many) kids. So funny. You love Dogger and call him a cutie pie- you lay on him and read books to him. I am glad you have him to play with while sisters are at school. You have had a rough journey to potty training. You are doing very well right now, but still have a few accidents. You have great control, when you want to. I enjoy being around you and hearing your little voice say, " I love you Mama". Thanks for being a wonderful girl.
Some of your Favorites
What is your favorite color? Purple
What is your favorite food? Grapes
What is your favorite toy? My boy Barbie
What is your favorite thing to play? Polly Pockets
What is your favorite movie? Barbie Movies

The Day it Rained Hearts




The past year and a half I have served as Young Women's President and I was recently released. The next Tuesday, my sweet Y.W. "Heart Attacked" our front yard! It was fairly late at night and I was so shocked to see them and all these hearts all over!! They had written messages on them and signed them! I miss those wonderful girls! I gave them all hugs and got teary. It was a great surprise.