Look at ME, look at ME, look at ME now!

"Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,

I upholster,

I scrub and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms!

I sew all they wear!

Idrive them to practice!

I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano!

I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle!

My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

but that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;

our t-shirts are ironed!

My toe nails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

the lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do geneology faithfully, too.

It's easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in our stake!

I read to my children!

I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

my visiting teaching is done the first day!

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each "lost lamb" on my primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.

I write in my journal!

I sing in the choir!

Each day I write "thank you's" to those I admire.

My sons were all eagle scouts when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the templeat least once a week;

I change the car's tires!

I fix the sink's leak!

I grind my own what and bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-year's supply;

my shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;

you can if you try!

Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you do them all too!

It' easy!", she said.

And then she dropped dead.

I got this poem a while back and I just keep thinking about lately. It seems no matter how hard I try I just can't get everything done. I don't even have enough time for the things that need to be done let alone the things that I want to do. There is just not enough hours in the day! As long as the kids are being fed and we work on homework some, the house doesn't have to be cleaned. I guess there will always be tomorrow to finish "today's to-do list"! And that means we have to keep on truckin'.

Duck Creek

This last weekend we headed up to Duck Creek for a little family camping trip. Our original plan was to tent it for a night somewhere in Utah, we had a couple of spots in mind, when a friend offered us their cabin for the weekend instead. It didn't take much convincing, I wasn't really looking forward to trying to keep my 3 month old warm all night.
So Saturday morning we took off for Utah. We stopped at Pizza Factory in Cedar City for lunch, one of our favorites, and then headed up to Duck Creek. I am not sure if I just ate too much pizza or was a little car sick (maybe both) because I wasn't feeling well, but even that couldn't take away from how beautiful the ride was! All the trees were looking so FALL! I wish I would have taken some pictures.
Anyways, we found the cabin and settled in. The kids set off exploring and playing outside while Chris and I relaxed for a bit.
Then it was time for some dutch oven. Nick was being Chris' helper and learned how to use the lighter. Chris made some BBQ chicken and a dutch oven potato concoction that he made up himself that was quite deli sh!

The weather was wonderful! It was so nice to be able to just hang out on the patio as a family while Daddy made us some dinner. Chris really took care of everything while we were gone, it was so nice!

We just sat around the campfire for a long time. The kids had fun roasting their own marshmallows for some smores.

The next morning Chris took the kids for a ride while Aubrey and I slept in. They loved riding in the ranger!

When they got back we spent the rest of the morning playing hide-and-seek. The kids thought that was awesome. Chris probably won for having the best hiding spot, even though it was my spot first.

After lunch we packed up and headed to the pond/creek. Nick and Alex wanted to cross on the rocks like Chris did. Alex barely even stepped off the edge and fell pretty much all the way in, so he was a muddy mess. Nick was doing really good, jumping and landing on all the rocks until his way back when he missed and soaked himself.

It was a quick trip, but so much fun to be able to get away with just our little family and enjoy some quality time together without any distractions.

3 months!!

I can't believe that 3 months have already come and gone. My baby girl is getting too big too fast. When she woke up this morning I told her , "Happy Birthday!!" , so all day long the kids would tell her. It was really cute and Cooper even asked if we get to have cake since it is her birthday. For her "3 month Birthday" we went and got her ears pierced yesterday with her cousin Makaylin.

She is such a happy baby, smiling all the time!

This is what she can be seen doing as of late. Examining that hand, trying so hard to figure out how it works.

She just started doing a little pouty face every now and then. Most of the time she doesn't cry, just isn't quite sure if she is really sad.

She still loves to watch television, especially if someone is holding her.

And still so loved!

Baseball is back!

Yesterday was Nick's first game of the season. So once again we are busy running to baseball practices and games! Uncle Jeremy is coaching his team this year with his cousin Ben. He had the choice to stay another year in coach pitch, but chose to move up with Ben to kid pitch. Yesterday's game was pretty rough...the kids are still learning to pitch and the extra half hour time limit makes for a very long and slow game. I was so happy though, Nick was one of the two kids that got a hit for our team. It was pretty awesome!! Besides for Nick and Ben none of the kids have ever played together and for some it is their first time ever playing baseball, so hopefully they can learn to play together. Here's to another season!!

2 + Months

Aubrey is 2 and 1/2 months already!

She has changed so much! Her hair is getting lighter and she is losing it. If you look in her car seat you would think we had a dog that slept in there with all the hair in it. I love the way her hair just sticks up in the back. We call her our little "Terk" from Tarzan. It is sad that she is losing it. She is getting some chubbies and she has become such a smile-y girl, I love it!

She went to the doctor yesterday for her 2 month check up and shots. She is staying pretty consistent in her growth.

1 month (6 weeks):

weight: 10 lbs 9 oz - 85-90%

length: 22.5 inches- 90%

head circ: 15inches- 75-90%

2 month (10 weeks):

weight: 13 lbs- 90%

length: 23.5 inches- 85%

head circ: 15.75 inches- 75%

• She loves to watch T.V. (we took her to a movie rather late and she sat there and watched the whole thing, glued)
• She likes bath time
• She sleeps through the night and has been for at least the last month or so. She sleeps at least 9- 14 hours!
• She is a good eater
• Her nicknames are "Obby"& "Baby Girl"
• She is starting to talk a little more

  I love that she is getting bigger and do more things, but I just want her to stay my baby forever!!

Back to School

Nick- 2nd grade
Chloe- 1st grade
Alex- Kindergarten

Cooper- preschool

Hence the late post, school has really worn me out!

We are slowly adjusting to to having all 4 kids go to school in the morning this year.

The first day was hard, mostly for me! I wasn't sad at all that Alex was in Kindergarten. He has been in preschool for the last 2 years that it seems pretty much the same. It was Chloe that I was sad for. She is now in school all day and she just seems too little to do all day, eating her lunch at school and everything. So it was rough leaving her in the back of the school with her big brother while I took Alex and Cooper to their classes. I have never wished that my kids weren't so close together until that moment. They were totally fine and all excited for school and couldn't wait for me to leave, but it was hard for me, wanting to be with each of them on their first day.

Nonetheless, they all had a great first day. Cooper has the same teacher as Alex did last year and she said he had a super first day, pretty much typical peer. So we can hope it stays that way. Now it is back to routines and homework! I am liking half of that, so here is to the start of another school year!!

After I picked Alex up, I was talking to him, asking him how his day was. He gets all serious and says, " I didn't even get to play and she (the teacher) kept telling me what to do!". And that is school for you!

Aubrey and I have been enjoying our one on one time. It is so quiet in the mornings!!