8 years going on Eternity

The 29th was my eight year mark of the best eight years of my life. Rick and I were married and sealed to each other 8 years ago in the Salt Lake Temple and I've never looked back since. He is my best friend and the best decision I have ever made. I'm not going to say that it's been easy every step of the way. We've had rough patches like any relationship but we've worked through them and focused on the positive and it's been totally worth it. Three beautiful children later and we are still happy and going strong. I love Rick more now than ever and I'm happy to be his wife.

Catching Up

Wow! I just realized it's the end of October and I haven't posted a single thing. Time is going by way too fast. I can't even remember the things that happen from week to week-it's all a blurr but I've made some memories this month that will mark time for me just a bit.
We got to be a part of my sister-in-laws surprise redneck themed 30th birthday party. My brother asked me to make signs for the party and a happy birthday banner. It turned out to be pretty fun. We dressed for the occasion and everything.

Lizzie in her daisy dukes and tank top

 Um...not sure about these

My mom played in the Senior Games again this year and her 50's team took gold in their bracket. It was a lot of fun to watch and cheer em' on.

 Grandmas best cheer squad!

I was playing in the fall finale that same day but was still able to make it to my moms final games.

Here's a shot from the fall finale

We made a quick trip to Salt Lake a couple of time this month. First, to attend a funeral of a close family friend. Judy Hansen passed away conference weekend from a battle with Cancer. She was loved and will be missed.

I went back up north with my kids and some Family, Angie Farr and three of her kids. Her mother and father, Becca, and Sherrell and grandma Beverly. We made a trip to see sites and hear stories from Grandma's life. It was a lot of fun. I only wish Rick could have gone.

Rick got his first deer! and I butchered his first deer...ok, not all of it, only half. Half was enough though...

I realize these are short explanations for the things that have happened most recently but I'm short on time. I hope to fill in more later.
Halloween post coming soon!...

September Happenings!

Lizzie has waited, for what seems like forever, to be Queen of the day at school. This was the over-joyed look on her face when it finally happened...

We have a thumb sucker ladies and gentlemen!!

It's hard for me to keep it away from her-it's just so cute

 Pretty Penny!

 Little Family Photo shoot-the kids loved it! Especially Lizzie

Penny's Blessing

Just more surviving

I upgraded my phone. I needed something to help me keep it all together. I'm not one of those that has to have the newest and greatest but upgrading my phone was the best decision ever. I looked for one that had an awesome organizer, calendar, to do list, grocery list-the momma needs!.... and what I got wasn't the newest and greatest because I can't stand the idea of holding $600+ dollars in my hand. But it was the cheaper version and still too high tech for me- I'm learning. I'm so glad to have it though, it has been a lifesaver already. It has everything I needed and more. It's amazing what's available at our fingertips these days.
It's sad.... the last couple of sentences I just wrote make me feel unbelievably old. In fact any time I mention "These Days", I feel like an old lady. Speaking of getting old, I'm getting myself some nice skin care products to help prevent wrinkles, sun spots, etc...wish me luck! Too bad they don't have some kind of natural product to prevent gray hairs..I'm sure I'll be needing that soon too.

I bought Lizzie a journal. She has been telling me stories on our rides home from school and every time, she brings a smile to my face. It's so sweet the things she feels are worth telling me. I also think it will help her learn to write, read and maybe even keep a journal regularly. The journal writing goal is one I'm still working on, many years after starting it, I still can't keep one consistently.

I ran for the first time a couple of weeks ago but my knees did not agree with it. I'm hopeful, it won't always be like that once I get back into exercising the way I want. I still have my cardio and volleyball though and that's really helped me feel better about getting physically active again.

We blessed Penny on Sunday. It was a beautiful blessing and I got a few pictures but I'll have to post them later when I figure out how to get them off my phone. Until then...

Six weeks and Surviving

Penny is Six weeks yesterday. She is beautiful and growing so very fast. She already weighs close to 13 lbs. It feels like she's been with us forever. She fits right in with the rest of us crazies.

I really haven't had a difficult time adjusting to having Penny around. I realize I have help when I need it but I've also had to take em all on myself quite often and I've managed just fine. I think I had a harder adjustment with my second to be honest. But I will admit to feeling like a complete Zombie just going through the motions of everyday life. People have been telling me how great I look and how well I seem to be doing with the changes of a new baby around but what they don't know is that I'm doing it all entirely emotionless. It's like the energizer bunny, he just goes and goes but he doesn't smile, doesn't stop to talk or see how a friend is doing, doesn't have purpose to the actions he's making, just goes and keeps going. That was me.

Just within this last week I have felt like my body is adjusting to the little sleep I get, which is nice. I have been able to put a smile on my face again and understand and respond to a comment made to me. It's coming slowly and I understand it doesn't happen all at once, but really wished it did. With things progressively getting better, I still have my days... I dropped Lizzie off for school the other day and when I got home, I looked down and realized my shirt was inside out. Then, my absent-minded brain decided to be late picking Lizzie up because it chose to think I was supposed to be picking her up at 11:55 instead of 11:45. I obviously got my times mixed up because I drop her off at 8:55. I forget the wipes or put my laundry in the fridge but aside from all that, I'm doing great. Okay, I'm exaggerating greatly when I speak of putting laundry in the fridge, but that's how my day felt yesterday. I felt awful seeing my Lizzie being the last one picked up from school. I thought to myself I can laugh about this or I can cry about all of this, so I chose to do a bit of both. But honestly, most days, I get to several places just fine and in good time as well as the dishes done, the laundry folded and put away, Lizzie's homework, Lincolns playtime, food on the table and anything else that decides to fall in my lap.

This week has been exceptionally busy and I have about a million things running through my head and so during this time when I should be doing dishes, I decided to blog for my own sanity. I'm feeling better already having shared with all of you my imperfections and dumb founded mistakes that come when you've officially become one of those moms that doesn't have time to change out of the puke-stained shirt or curl the now pulled-back every day pony tail...and forget about the mascara you once swiped on your eyelashes for that little extra whatever. I'm not complaining just fascinated with the changes in my life and laughing every step of the way along with some shedding of tears from time to time-- Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.
because with all the crazy hustle and bustle, I feel rewarded, blessed to have the children that I do, the husband that still loves and supports me,(even though he's been put on the back burner more often, unfortunately) and my life in all it's chaotic bliss.

Lizzie's 1st day of Kindergarten

I'm a bit beside myself...I really haven't had much time for anything, so I'll try to fit in all I wanted to share with you guys but we'll see...
Lizzie went to school today...My big girl's first day of school! I'm still not sure it's real. She's been counting down the days, asking me every night if she gets to go and today she got to go. She was so excited and it was darling to see her in her backpack and new school clothes.

Lincoln tried to walk in to school with Lizzie and then the moment we got back to the house he said, "where's izzie? want izzie!" Poor guy was so bummed, we decided to take a trip to see dad at work and then drove around town after finding tractors and BIG construction trucks- what can I say, the kid loves em!

And to add to big events- Rick finally ditched the beard and mustache today-Something I was beginning to think would never happen. Yay! for having my Rick back. I might actually enjoy kissing him now-I don't like the nush nash(mustache)! Give me rugged and scruffy but not a mustache....

LIZZIE
I have some funnies from my kids...they make me laugh all the time...
Lizzie and Lincoln love playing their Pet Shops together and Lizzie pulled a kangaroo out for me and said, here's a Tangaroo for you mom.

On Sundays, the kids aren't allowed to play nintendo games so Lizzie says, lets play cardboards! meaning board games

Lizzie was looking at baby pictures in grandma's room and was realizing the babies were all her aunts and uncles and her mom and she turned to grandma and said, "You born A LOT of babies!"

Lizzie wrote her own primary talk the other day. It was on her favorite subject-Prayer. She loves to pray so she had a lot to say about it. It was pretty cute

LINCOLN
At Penny's doctors appointment, she had to have some blood taken and she was pretty upset when they polked her and was crying pretty loudly. Lincoln anxiously says to me, "Give Penny Beeboo!" (Give penny your boob, mom) He was so concerned for her and he knew what to do but couldn't figure out why mom wasn't doing it.

I love to listen in on my kids playing from time to time and the other day, I overheard Lincoln exclaiming "Run Robot, Run....here, over here!!"

Lincoln learned to ride his tricycle the other day as well as climb his bunk bed. He gets so proud of himself and likes to tell me, "All myself, mom. All myself!"

Lincoln's aunt was warning Lincoln to be nice the other day and she said, Linc, stop doing that or else your going to get your sputt banked. He paused, looked at her and questioningly asked, "Sputt Banked??" she laughed when she realized what she said and corrected herself and then Lincoln understood.

BOTH
I heard lizzie yell at Linc-Don't squirt me with that! (while she's sitting on the toilet) followed by If you squirt...Ahhhhh! I'm gonna eat your brains!! I'm gonna eat your brains and then a terrified scream from Lincoln as he runs out of the bathroom....MY kids, ladies and gentlemen!

The End