Super Busy

Working...here.

More to come.

Family

Just trying to catch up.

I have been meaning to take new photos of the kids...but between photo shoots and life...I just never seem to have the time.

So...finally got some taken.








I know Troy is going to ask...so I better preempt -- yes I have a shot of Katie like the other kids...I just like this one for the blog. shhh.

Happy Turkey Day

Ours was a blast! We had quite the crowd.

But...the saying is true...many hands make light work.

The adult table.



Kid Table 1



Kid Table 2




Kid Table 3



You always need to worry a little when the kids outnumber you 4 to 1.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

Happy turkey day!!!

Becky is walking around the house saying boggle, boggle, boggle.

And I am so happy that my family is home and as we are busy making preparations for a festive thanksgiving, I am even happy to be hosting dinner.

I have so much to be thankful for today, not the least of which is all of my family and friends.

We are so far from most of you, but we think of you often and miss the opportunities that we have to be close by and enjoy your company.

But, we are also grateful for our friends who do live close by, who have become our family here, and we know that we are doubly blessed to have you all in our lives.

I hope that each of you is happy, healthy, and warm today, wherever you are.

Know that we love you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Good Times...All Seven Years

Can I just tell you how much I love this boy?



Truly.

Josh is seven today and I can hardly believe it.

This honestly feels like just yesterday.



Josh was born seven years ago today around one in the afternoon.

All 10 pounds 5 ounces of him.

I know.

He was so stinkin' cute...and I fell instantly in love.

And as I look back on all these years...I can tell you honestly that Josh has been a great joy.

I know I talk about how crazy he is...and believe me...he IS crazy.

And I talk about how much work it is to keep up with him...it IS a lot of work.

But...he is also sweet and funny and happy all the time.

And I am so grateful to have him in our family.

So...my little man.

I hope the last seven years have been as good for you as they have been for me.

I love you.

Happy Birthday.

On His Honor

Today was a big night....Joe earned his Webelos Badge as well as his Arrow of Light.

Now...for those of you who have never done scouts...this might not sound impressive. But let me tell you...It IS impressive!

And I am so proud of him.

Some of you may know, I'm not a huge fan of scouts. I would just as soon the boys focus on faith in God awards and do what they can to make sure they earn it.

But...having said that, this is what Joe wanted, so it was my goal to help him accomplish it. And Joe worked really hard -- REALLY hard.

Look at the awards he won tonight:



And...even with that huge pile...he had 3 more they had to fix.
To put it in context, Joe completed over 100 different tasks to earn these awards...from a service project, to a campout, to making his own rocket.

It's amazing and I could not be prouder.

Hurry Up and Slow Down

Today really kicked my butt.

Joe, Emma and Josh all had chess club this morning...then Mikayla had piano lessons and a try out for the all county orchestra. Oh I love dragging all the kids to middle school activities at what should be their bed time!

I feel like I have been running all day.

Seriously.

I thought when the kids were little that I could not wait for them to be older so life could slow down and I could get more things done.

Ha!

I get less than ever done...and we are busier than I could have imagined possible. What am I going to do when Joe and Emma start middle school next year?

ack.

So...if you are struggling at home with a toddler right now...let me just say...enjoy it. It's a blessing.

: )

Like it's 1986

So...i'm coming downstairs this morning...and I hear one of my kids singing.

Loudly.

"Whoa...ooo...we're half way there...whoa....oooo....Living on a Prayer....take my hand....we'll make it I swear....whooaa...ooooo...Living on a Prayer."

Seriously.

Bon Jovi.

1986.

But what really blew my mind...was that it was BECKY doing the singing.

Yeah.

You know what this means.

Too much guitar hero and hanging out with the Kunz family.

Andrea...I always knew you'd pass on your rocker ways to one of the kids...I just didn't know it would be mine!

: )

Unplugged

Well...I did it.

I went on vacation and I totally unplugged from my life.

No e-mail.

No blogging.

No phone calls.

And I survived.

We had a really great time in Massanutten...it's a little resort a couple of hours from here with an indoor water park. Just perfect for a frosty fall day!

I have a ton of photos...so I will work on getting up some photos to go with the fun we had.

It was super nice to get away!

And I am super glad to be back.

Halloween 09

Oh man. Halloween was a bust this year...and I have put off posting until I had some photos to share...but of course I still don't have any.

It rained on Halloween and with sick kids to boot, we just didn't get any photos taken.

I have kept the costumes out, and since the kids are home from school tomorrow we are going to try and get a few shots.

I just have to say...this was a most interesting Halloween for me.

Because some of the kids were sick I did many things this year I have never done.

For one, I missed our ward Fall Festival...which I have actually NEVER done since we have lived out here.

How strange was that!

And then...I stayed home and passed out candy while Troy took the kids trick or treating.

I have never stayed home to pass out candy and it was strange.

Can I share a little of what I observed?

Most kids are very polite.

They mostly said thank you and were very pleasant.

Having said that...there were a few interesting moments too.

There were the kids who actually had the nerve to request a specific kind of candy, with one child actually expressing his frustration at the type of candy we were giving away -- he wanted M&Ms and we didn't have any. What were we thinking?

There were many who did not say thank you, and even when out with their parents were not reminded to be polite. Oh. We said "you're welcome" regardless.

There were many children who did not even both to wear a costume...they just showed up in their school clothes with a sack asking for candy.

And seriously...how many children came to my door wearing a ski mask as their costume? Yeah. Like 10 of them. People! A ski mask is not a Halloween costume.

Sheesh.

And...I am not a officially a firm believer that there is such a thing as being too old to trick or treat. I don't know what that age is...but I know it when I see it.

And seriously...when the porch light is off it means we have run out of candy.

We passed out over seven pounds of candy.

But, even with all the craziness...we had a good time at home.

Katie thought Halloween was a blast and thoroughly enjoyed passing out candy to all the children...okay, all the ones not wearing ski masks!

And every time a child would walk up to our door she would smile and say, "Trick or Treat." eek. It was cute.