SMILE!

Yeah for pictures of happy babies!


I am excited for school to start for my children, and yet I feel a little bittersweet to see them go. I love having Kate and Ashley so little, and now I can see why some people want to always have a baby in their home.

I was recently released from Nursery, which allowed me to attend Relief Society and Sunday School. I loved learning about Joseph Smith. I loved being at church today to be enriched. I feel like I was reminded of my promise to Heavenly Father to be a better person, to work a little harder and to purify my life. I am grateful for that reminder.





These pictures were taken in St. George. one of those amazing moments. I am not always "ready for a picture" and neither are my children. I find that to be too exausting to me. Also I don't need every picture to be framed, just a simple reminder of a wonderful time of life being a kid, and I think this captures that great!

Taylor and Kate love each other so much. They are such great buddies. They can play and fight with the best of them, and usually do. Although lately they have been so great to play together. I love hearing them getting ready to trek off to grandma and grandpa's house. Kate loves to follow Taylor everywhere! It is so fun.





Gotta love these smiles! I fed her baby-food today, she didn't smile at all during that experience.

Coming to an End.

As summer is winding down, I am coming to terms with being an adult. I am married! Ryan and I are living in our 5th place; our second house. I really am an adult. I have 4 children who can do so much.

My whole family got together for a reunion a couple weeks ago, and my brother Alan said, you know you are an adult when you have all the soda pop choices in the world, and you still choose water! Wow, I never got soda pop the whole time I was there!

I have had so much fun with nieces and nephews and of course my children this summer, that I don't know that I have come to terms with really being the adult. The bubble blowing day, water games and other fun activities have really made me feel like a kid. I don't say kid again because I didn't realize that I never left it, now I am.

Although I love being an adult. I can balance a checkbook, not without mistakes, but mostly I can pay the bills in my household and keep it going! I have taken my children all over this summer, from swimming pools, slides, mountains, grandparents and all sorts of things! I make them breakfast and try to calm their fears. They come to me when they're sad in the night time. I love being a mommy, but I am just now realizing that I can't be one without being the other.

I sat in Relief Society last Sunday with my niece who was bored out of her mind, and I loved the lesson! I guess that makes me an adult...

So although I know I am not a child, and that is ending, just like this summer. I am excited to have children in grade school, eating hot lunch at school and riding the bus. I love that I have a baby and toddler. And a husband who goes to work every day to make money that we spend... he works really hard. He amazes me. Then he comes home to defend me, helps me with the dishes, helps put the children to bed and cleans up the house in what seems like a matter of minutes. If it weren't for him I am sure I would have faced adulthood much earlier. Thanks, Ryan.

Airplanes

Dane and Bridget, my little sister and her husband were nice enough to take Jordan with them up to Hill Air Force Base to an air show which only happens every 2 years. Dane is in the pilot school at UVU and has always loved planes. He even flew to LAX one time just to watch planes come in. HE LOVES PLANES. I was happy to have Jordan go with him because Jordan gets excited about that kind of thing too. And he also adores his uncles.

Ryan heard reports that more than 400,000 people attended! Jordan had so much fun with Dane, Bridget and Dane's parents. Of course, I am partial to my son and think he is great, but it was really fun to hear a report that Dane's parents thought so as well.

Jordan came home with a couple of souvenirs which seem to be his greatest treasures now. Thanks Smith Family! Those are the memories I am so grateful that my children get to build with their family!

Abie thinks the snake is freaky, Taylor said it was "so cute!" It has visited many yards and eats the rodents! Thought you may want to see it!

A little bit of Glycerin went a long way today. We did home made bubbles and had a great time. Some of them were very big and others were giant! Kate tried to eat them and rub them in her hair. She is always a mess! Too bad we missed the pictures of the giant ones. After about an hour, the sun went away and we really got the hang of making big bubbles.

1/4 cup glycerin
1 cup dish soap (We used dawn)
8 cups water

It is now 9:00 and we have had rain off and on... Taylor and Jordan are out there right now playing with the remnants of the bubble solution, which is actually quite a bit. Who knew a little soap could be so much fun!

Smile

Why I keep my dog

More hiking, this time with aunt bridgie

I took Jordan, Taylor and Kate back to the Bell Canyon Trail today. We made it to the resorvoir! I am so proud of us. We moved a little faster because Kate was on my back, but my legs are SO TIRED! It also got kind of windy if you can' t tell by the picture, and we slipped a few times. All in all, we decided I liked the hike. Jordan and Taylor had fun too even if they didn't think so, and of course, Kate did because she was on my back singing Dora the whole time.

Rattle Snakes are going to Eat Me!

Ashley's First Ice Cream... DAD!
Just kidding, He didn't do it! Just wanted to fake me out!

Temple Quarry Trail... Kate and Taylor fell in love with this place.
It was a .33 mile "Hike" they felt very tough.

They felt like real mountain climbers!

Taylor held onto the backpack for us which held our lunch and water. She was so strong. I like getting out with the girls, even though our trip had to be cut short because taylor came running out of the bushes screaming about a rattle snake. Of course because she said it was black and white, I told her it wasn't, but then Kate in her tired state said we had to leave because snakes were trying to eat her! I was so cute.