We're all in this Together

Finding a Path Again

2012-02-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

It has been so long since I wrote anything on here. not that there haven't been things going on in our lives, but for some reason I closed myself and our family life off to this venue. I am saddened to think of all the wonderful things that I did not capture on here. Such as our incredible garden that looked like the garden of Eden. My Father in law finding and marrying a wonderful woman. I finally did something that I should have done at least 11 years ago which is I got my GED! That was huge! We went through another doggy who was sweet and kind but I was allergic to.

Some of the biggest life moments were, an accident Dan and the kids were in. It totaled the burb. We did Foster Care for three kids. We really struggled, but also grew a lot too. Dan and I had some black months after that. All most all of the kids will have had a birthday and grown way to big! I have done a ton of projects around the house to make this house my home. Those are still on going. I feel someday it will get there.

Most of all through this last year I have been on my own journey. I have learned a LOT about myself, who I want to be, where I want to be going, and how I want to get there.

I have defiantly found my own two feet and use them often. This journey or path that I started on started a long time ago, long before I was married or had kids. But as some of you may know, things get a little fuzzy as you try to discover who you are with this new "thing' of being a wife and a mother. Never was it bad, but just a different path for a while. I have felt a new awaking in my life, a more Organic self! I love that change or just a remembering of what I really want in life!

As this has opened up new thoughts and dreams it has also opened up new frustrations too! How to go from one extreme to another without serious war wounds to show for it, or how to bring everyone along with me. But for the first time I have hope for doing it and having success! I guess I just needed to start somewhere, and I guess tonight it is on here! So here is to a renewed commitment of writing and sharing myself and my family! Here is to old thoughts with new feelings

Isaac

2011-06-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Not much of a post just that I miss my Isaac! He is about to head over to the Phillipines soon. I was so excited for him to go on a mission!! But I am also very surprised at just how much I miss him! Like really miss him!! That's all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

We had so many things to be Grateful for this holiday season! The three at the top of the list of course is the Gospel, our Friends and Our Family!!
So from Our Family to Yours, Happy Thanks Giving!!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2010-11-26T15:19:00.001-08:00

So the snow came just in time for the Holidays! Starting on Saturday we were pounded with our frist REALLY heavy storm of the year! We did have a smaller one before we left on a vaccation but it did melt quickly. It came down hard! Lots of winds! TONS of snow! And of course we live in Idaho so Wayyyyyy below freezing temperatures! Most of us hunkered down and listened to Holiday music! But not this man! He waits for this all year and comes up with reasons to go out!!

Look closely he has icicles on his goatee and mustache!! So handsome! ( He can't even see me holding the camera!!)

So it was a good storm! But as everyone knows its the calm after the storm and the beauty it brings that is always incredible!!
Our windows look Stunning!!

The crazy drifts!!

Our buried swingset

The snow pelting our kitchen window!

The sunset the day of the storm!!

Stay warm!!!

Potty Training! #4

2010-11-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

This face is cute!! This is the face of our baby! She knows she is the baby and yet she over all has been the easiest of all 4 of them! Which is irony because Dan and I were not wanting to be pregnant yet and her pregnancy was my hardest. And yet it delivered her to us! the sweetest cutest little girl! Ahhhhhhhhh................... ( thinking about her as a tiny baby!)

Sorry got off on the cute face! This cute girl is potty training! She is (not shocking) the easiest of all of them on that too! There is something soooooo cute about going from the big bulky diaper to the cute little panty bum! So wish us luck this week and weeks to come that MOM will stick with it and lilly will too!!

9 years flew by fast!!

2010-10-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my baby is 9 years old! I still remember all of his First's! Of course the day he was born was the most incredible and amazing experience of our lives!! He was healthy and perfect!
Then when he started to learn to walk. His first Christmas! His first trick or teating Halloween! Swimming in Arizona and jumping in! Potty training (I thought it would never happen!)!
And now here we are, 9 years later! When they tell you it goes to fast it does! I am sad that those baby years are over with him and yet sooooo excited to see him growing into a little man!! He and I have a special bond that I am so thankful for! He makes me laugh all the time! And he is always quick to help me with something!! So here is to the next 9 years, may they slow down a little more, but be filled with the same kind of joys and excitment!!

Family Pictures

2010-10-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

So I love family pictures! I love the way my walls are covered with Pictures of my family and watching them grow with each new one! I love trying different looks and ideas and I love framing them and putting them up!!
However, I hate actually trying to be in and take our family photo! someone usually doesn't want to smile or act normal or hold still! And someone is usually yelling and screaming and freaking out! And that someone is usually me!

It's one thing taking a picture of someone and asking them to do something or trying to get them to do something! it is another thing all together being on the other side of the lens and having NO control of my kids and their faces and body positions (not to mention my sweet husband!)! Oh it makes me crazy!!!!!

So even though I Have a beautiful family, family pictures are a crazy event at our house!! No matter how "Beautiful" the end result is, the memories are not so sweet and loving! Lots of bribes, cussing, yelling, begging, crying, and fake smiles goes in to them!

And if we hung up real family pics, one of these would be on my wall! Instead we have some that turned out a little less honest!!

First days of schools!

2010-10-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dallin and Emma started first! and like most kids who have done this before mom taking pictures was not what they were excited about!! But they are so cute and groing up way too fast!!

I told them to look happy! ok maybe too happy!

Aliya was next This was her first school day EVER!! She was sooo excited! We love the pre-school!! she picked out her clothes the night before and she asked for curly hair! I think we were ready an hour before we needed to go ( no that did not last long!)!

I love this picture! It captures her excitment!!

Not sure if I am ready for all of this! She had the best first day ever!!!

ANd then the littlest of them all! Some women in our subdividsion started a little pre-pre-school, and asked if Lilly would like to come! it is only 1 day a week and for 1 1/2 hrs! but she loves it!! This is her first day ! She knew exactly what was happening since she watched everyone else go before her! she could barely hold still!
Oh she is growing up too fast!!!

This is her running to the car!!

And this is her running into preschool! she was sooo happy and loved going to school! she now says, "drop me off!!" all the time!!

Meet George!

2010-10-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is George!! He is our beautiful new puppy! He is 1/2 Standard Poodle, and 1/2 St Bernard. (If you want to goodle him he is called a St Berdoodle)

After losing Buddy it was really hard to think of getting another dog, but we felt a HUGE hole in our everyday lives! So we started looking. We tried a dog from the humane society and it was not a good fit ( more like a nightmare!!). So we kept looking. After a lot of thought about what type of dog we wanted and my allergies we settled on a type of poodle ( I learned so much about them! WOW! they are a cool type of dog( not the yippy small breed but the standard poodle)!)! Than after looking for a long time we fell in love with a picture of George!

We have had him for a month now and I forgot all of the puppy things puppies do and how frustrating they are!! But we love him and are loving the dog he is becoming! he doesn't bark much, loves playing in the water, and is quick to learn ( except potty training!)!! we are not replacing Buddy but adding to our family! We still miss our Buddy and with George here it is easy to see what a special dog he was! We are very excited to have George in our family!!

Aliya

2010-05-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Wow have you ever looked at one of your kids on their birthday and thought, "Wow I can't believe how old that are! time has flown by so fast!"! Well that is not this little girl! When we looked at aliya yesterday on her birthday we were shocked she was only 4! Most days she either seems 6, 10, or most days 17! She is so much personality and girl that I am always amazed at what she says or how she acts most days! We really do love her and who she is ( most days)! We are so thankful she is a part of our family!!! So to our baby girl HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! Lets hope the next 4 years are a little less dramatic!!

skiing

2010-02-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

Well I survived! Dan took me skiing for my very first time yesterday! And I have to say, Dan is the most patient and loving husband EVER!! He literally skied backwards most of the day so I could feel more comfortable! He took so much abuse from me all morning, I yelled at him telling him his "hobby" is stupid and crazy and I hated him for making me come ( ok so obviously I chose to come) He didn't yell back or call me bad names he knew this was hard for me and that I was trying to do something so out of my comfort zone I regretted it instantly! But by the afternoon I was more confidant and I was skiing sections on my own! I never really left the bunny hill but that bunny hill was intense, so all good! I do have to say that Dan is great skier, but I knew that before we went! But I am amazed at how good our kids are!!!! Dallin and Emma are amazing and did graduate from the bunny hill and from their wedgies (things that hold the skis tips together so they don't do the splits all the time)!! They were awesome!! The graduated from their class and and ran a race and won gold medals! Emma came down and the first question she asked was, " What place am I?"! They of course said first and she went off so excited! Dallin the older and wiser brother told her later in the car that she was not first place because everyone was first place! Funny! They love skiing and didn't want to stop at the end of the day! So I guess the good news about me is that I am willing to go back and try again! Dan says it takes three times befoer you really enjoy it! And yes I am veryyyyyyy sore this morning!!! One last note I am thankfull I am married to the greatest man in the world! It does make a difference!
Dallin after he won his gold medal!!

Me waiting for Dallin to come down the race. It was a hill and Dan let me take my skis off while I waited so I wouldn't keep sliding down the hill!

Emma waiting for her class! SHe was just tired so she kept laying down on the snow! SHe was sooooooo cute! And brave!

No picture of Dan he took them all and I wasn't thinking about taking pictures of him until the end and he had the camera! He looked great though!!!!

The most beautiful 2 year old in the world!!!

2010-02-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

We feel so blessed with all of our children! And bringing Lilly into our family was no exception! She is such a joy and integral part of our family! She is already such a help and wants to learn everything she can to be the big girl in the family! She trys to be the mom to all the other kids and will "yell" at them if they get in trouble! She loves to sing and loves going potty in the toilet! Dan constanly tells me what a happy thought she is for him! Happy Birthday to our beautiful Lilly Kate!!!

Crazy new hairdo

2010-01-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

SO I came up with this fun but "different" hair do for Aliya because her hair is shorter and the normal stuff I do on Emma just doesn't work on her! But she can pull it off!!So you start off with wet or really damp hair. Then part it on the side . you can do a straight or zig zag part. After that divide each side in to 2-3 sections. Then twist each section into a small bun and secure it with a small elastic band! I do one section at a time. The after all the buns are done spray heavily with hair spray! and then add a ribbons to each bun! SOOOOOOO cute!!!

Mean Mom

2010-01-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

So the question is how did she get it on her head? Was she sticking her head in the toilet or wanting to wear it ?? Either way can you say GROSSS!!!! and yes we could not stop laughing as we dipped her in bleach! Not really bleach but a really good scrub down bath!

It is Great to be Eight!!!

2010-01-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

SO this post is long over due but better late than never! Dallin turned eight in October! We had a fun family birthday party for him which he loved!! We decided to wait to have him be baptised until Jan for family rreasons! But every month would pass and Dallin would ask when it would be his turn! On Jan 2nd It was finally his turn and he could not wait!!
That morning we had a ton of snow! as we headed to the church we hoped all the family and friends would be able to make it out! They did not have dallin down to be baptised for some reason but we had done everything so he was good to go! they do it as a stake and then divided into wards. I reallly didn't like our ward and those of you who were there could see why but no more about that!
They asked who wanted to go first from our ward and dallins hand shot up! The water was ice cold because the hot had stopped working that morning! But he was still excited and you would have never noticed how cold the water was by how big his smile was! Dan too!
It was soooo amazing to have our big boy want to be baptized! He was very ready!
We loved having our family and friends there also! And having space for it all!
We are so very proud of dallin and the person he is becoming! I really want to thank his teacher from our ward in spokane! Sister she was such a huge part in preparing him for this day! Thank you!

life

2010-01-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

Dan is teaching Emma to ski by letting her practice outside. It is dark and cold so he doesn't stay with her the whole time but watches from inside! Lilly is worried enough for all of them and opens the door to "check" on Emma every few minutes. then she slams the door and yells something to Emma and Daddy!
Aliya just came in and asked if I would name her Lisa! I said yes and she ran around the whole house yelling, "LISA!!!!"! She then announced to Dan that I said she could change her name! Dallin is enjoying life and cracks us up all the time! ok so every kid cracks us up! Lilly thinks she is the mom and bosses everyone around! ALiya thinks she is 17, crazy and eccentri! Emma thinks she is 15 and wants to be a rock star!! Dallin just improved his reading so much in the 5 months we have been here, that they kicked /graduated him from the after school reading program!! YAY!!! Dan is good! traveling a ton, but it does pay the bills! And I am loving my new home!!!!!!! I tell Dan every day how much I love this new home and how grateful I am for it!!!
I will eventually post pics and catch up on all of the events this past 6 months! We are hoping to get the wifi up soon! Any way, we love you all!!!!

Broken bones!

2009-11-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

For some reason whenever Dan leaves on a trip something bad usually happens! I can't explain it but it usually does. For example his Step Father died while he was on one, Dallin went to the hospital with a concussion when he was on one, Lilly went to the hospital when he was on one, Our pipes broke twice while he was on one, my back has gone out while he has been on one. Can you see a pattern? Anyway, We had moved to Idaho and it was time for Dan to go on his first trip since moving. It wasn't bad since he left around 4pm. After he left I went over to My mom's house with the kids and buddy to hang out and have dinner. Since it was a school night I left to go home around 7:50 pm to get the kids home and in bed. Lilly was really tired and had just pooped as we were heading out the door and I thought to myself , "Oh I'll just change her when we get home" Famous last words! We live 5 min tops from their house. I herded the kids to the Burb and went to get buddy off of the chain in the front. ( They don't have a fenced yard so we call this his "outside time") I had to do it because Dallin can't push the clip part on the chain very well. SO with Lilly in one arm I knelt on one knee and tried to undo the chain and put on his leash. I couldn't quite do it so since she is 20 months I let go of Lilly on my knee and tried to undo buddy with both hands. That's when Lilly fell off my knee on to the grass. Ok, I don't know how it was possible, and how it really could of happened since my calf is only 2 feet tall tops but in that short fall she broke her arm! I knew she had broke it instantly too, the way the arm didn't move as she cried ,and they way she was crying was different too! I grabbed her carefully holding the arm straight because I didn't want her to move it and ran back in the door. I yelled "Lilly just broke her arm!!!!", And this is why I am grateful for family because in those few minutes after I yelled that my family did exactly what they needed to do. Mom was on the phone and hung up, Rachel got my car keys from me and took my kids home, Dad ran me to the Hospital and mom directed it all perfectly!It turned out as Lilly fell she some how straightened her arm for the fall and cracked her elbow! In this moment I missed Spokane because we had to drive 15 min to the hospital because the urgent care closed early that night! 15 min could have easily been 3 hours in my mind! She screamed for half and then fell asleep for the rest. I carried her in with one of the worst poopy diapers ever! Wow I regretted that one!!! The ER wasn't busy though and 2 long hours and a clean diaper later we went home with a cast and an exhausted little girl! It was difficult for her for the 3 weeks to have the cast on because it was her right arm and Lilly is a thumb sucker for her right thumb. But it has healed nicely and she is back to thumb sucking( but now sleeps in our bed (UGH))! Sarah Dan's sister also came with me for the follow up DR. appointment so I had someone to help me hold her arm while they took x-rays! Wow I needed her too! I am very grateful for family and that even though it was another "Dan is gone" experience, It was wonderful to have the support that I needed! Dan has gone out of town twice and only once did another bad thing happen! here is our beauty!! She is even cute with a cast on!!!

New Moon

2009-11-29T19:04:00.000-08:00

Yes we bought our tickets weeks inadvance, got dolled up, waited in line, and screamed like little girls when the shirts came off!! It was awesome and worth the wait! What is now a for tradition for us , Rachel, Mom, Rebbecca, and I had a great girls night out to go and see The New Twilight movie New Moon! We went to Olive Garden and then ran to the theater only to stand inline out in the cold for 1, 1/2 hours! It was freezing but so much fun! We had great seats! And loved the movie!! I should apologize to Rebbecca and the rest of the theater for talking during the whole movie and giggling like a school girl anytime Jacob took off his shirt and than laughing when Edward took off his! I was a die hard Edward fan when I went to the theater and came home a die hard Jacob fan! Anyone who has seen the movie knows why! We already have plans for June when Eclipse comes out!!!! Yes we are crazy, and we had a great time!!!

So much to say......

2009-11-29T17:30:00.000-08:00

WOW I know I have been horrible at bloging! I really don't have a great excuse either, other than I just haven't felt like it. It's not because of lack of things or events to blog about, Those have been none stop! Such as, we sold our house in Spokane and have moved to rigby Idaho (yes we are crazy!), we live in a small 3 bedroom apartment ( yes we are getting crazier!!!!), and have been in the process of buying the same house since August! Lilly has broken her arm, Dan has taken 3 business trips, Dallin was put on a school bus and then lost for two hours and the police called, our crazy dog buddy bit off the neighbor's cat's tail, we have had one round of flu but no not swine, We have had 3 birthdays and 2 holidays and a lot of yelling and laughter (most of the yelling was at the dog!(Whose Idea was it to get a dog anyway?! ))!!!

I promise there eventually will be a post for all of those things, But for now I just wanted to let you know we are suriving one day at a time and loving being close to family! We miss our friends in Spokane a ton!!! And miss everyone in the manito ward even more! (I really miss going to church there!)

I will try harder to post more and keep our friends and family informed! We love you all and hope you are all doing well or at least better!

Pity for myself

2009-09-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

I was having pity for myself and my situation! I was frustrated this morning and if I could have would have never gotten out of bed. As Stewart from mad tv said when asked who he's mad at, " The World"! If you ask me why I can't really say I am just mad! I came home from dropping the kids off at school, looking at all of the skinny moms walking there kids to school and hating them. I drive home to my house thinking on how I am tired and don't want to pack today, but am reminded I have only two weeks and Dan heads out of town on Tuesday. Instead of working I sat down on the couch to look at blogs! It's my new favorite pass time! They have such amazing ideas, crafts, and sewing patterns that I can't get enough of it! But I mad at that to because I am instantly reminded I am not moving into "my" house I am moving into a small apartment! Ugh! I'm just done today!!!
Then I see Nie Nie has posted. I click on it excited by the title of her post, My perfect life! I read her post and I cry. My life IS perfect and amazing! We are healthy and happy(ok the happy part, working on it!)! We are trying to buy a beautiful home in a place I am excited to move to! We are starting a great new adventure and though it is not all the way I would have planned it, it is working out in the end! My life is Perfect! I needed someone else to help me see that and to help me to stop having pity for this perfect life and start enjoying it! Once again Nie Nie you did it! Thanks!

The Lord's Will (click on the picture to see the full view)

2009-09-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Dan and I had a discussion a while back. I was telling him about something when I said the phrase, " Doing the Lord's will". He commented how he thought people used that phrase as a "filler" because the truth was it was really their own will they wanted and not the Lord's. I was shocked and stunned that he would say such a thing! But that started me thinking, do we really use The Lord's Will as a filler or do we sincerely want his will to be done in our lives?
I thought about my life and everything going on with it. I realized I was wanting my house to sell, to move to Rigby, and all of it in the time frame I wanted. Dan had been right! I was wanting my will and I was wanting the Lord to sign off on it! So I stopped and thought about my prayers. I sincerely wanted the Lords blessings in my life and for my family, and I realized that His Will was apart of that. I also realized that,that meant my house might not sell or Rigby might not be the place for us or it might not all happen when I want it to.

That was a sobering moment for me to realize the Lord's will is not always our will. ( I know some of you had realized this before, but I can be a slower learner some days!) But then it made me think some more about how far are we willing to go or do to do the Lord's will? If He said to drop everything and head back to Missouri would you go? Or what if He asked you to get a two years supply of food storage, or give up tobacco, coffee, or Alcohol? Easy some of you are probably saying, well what if it was more like asking you to give up your job and your home to move in with Family to take care of them, or have them move in with you? Or what if it was to give up the thing your love doing to make a better life for your family by doing something you didn't enjoy? Could you do it? Or moving to the place you hated the most because it was best for your family ( and no I am not meaning us)? Or having 2 babies instead of 10 or 10 instead of 2? or giving up the life or your child or spouse?
I realized that sometimes it is easy to say, " The Lord's will be done", as long as it is my will also, but if it goes against what I want than not such a good thing anymore! It is hard to give up things we love and things we want in order to do what the Lord wants. But I know that the blessings we can reap are more than we can comprehend or imagine!
These changes in our life the last few months have put me on a spiritual journey I never expected but am extremely grateful for! I know I have changed and all of it for the better! You might say well what i wanted happened. But I don't know if that is true or not. I do know that my prayers have become very personal and my desires for my life and my families have become much more Christ Centered!
One more thought. I recently read the book, the Shack by W.P. young! It helped me in this journey! It is not by an LDS author though. But I know it is an amazing eye opening journey! I loved it! I recommend you read it! Your won't regret it! I also hope that each of you will think about the Lord's Will in your own lives and what that means! Thanks for Listening!

Don't mess with Papa Bear or his cubs!!

2009-09-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

Dan and I ran to look at a rocking chair off of craigslist tonight. We decided not to get it. Since we had all the kids with us, He said why don't we get a treat at McDonald's and let the kids play at the playland. We were out at Post Falls so we went to that McD's. We unloaded everyone and went in to order and let the kids head into the play land. We quickly placed our order and than headed back to the playland. We were shocked to hear some boys screaming at the top of there lungs and parents not doing anything. We checked on our kids and Dan asked if I just wanted to leave. I said no, because we had just got there. 2 seconds later I here yelling and then Emma crying! I started calling to her and sent Dallin to help her come down! She came down sobbing that a boy had pinned/wrestled her down and had hurt her! Dan was up out of his seat! He was furious!
A little girl said it was her brother who had hurt Emma. The other Dad came over and I called all of our kids to our table. Our food came up so I ran to get it thinking I would just take our kids and our food and leave the playland. But that was not good enough for Dan! Someone had just hurt his baby! Within the first 5 minutes of being there! He asked Emma who hurt her and Emma pointed to this boy while she sat sobbing! Dan saw the Dad of the boy ( 7-8 years old) not react, Dan stood up and said it was not ok for his son to go around hurting kids! The man responded with, "they were just being kids"! Dan said "My kids don't act like that! They don't run around hurting people!" The other Dad said Emma had hurt his son. Dan pointed out she had been defending herself! The other parent's kept saying it wasn't a big deal. Dan walked back over to me and said we we're done ,we're leaving!
I was stunned and did not saying anything except to the kids to hurry and get there shoes and we were going! Dan said because of everything we would head to a park close by! We did, and had a great time! We talked to the kids about what happened. Emma said she was trying to help her friend from the boy when he hurt her. We told her next time she needed to yell STOP! and get an adult to help! Dan and I also talked. He said he just wanted to see the parent reprimand their child. But the Dad and the Mom acted like it was nothing and he wanted them to know it wasn't nothing, it was wrong! I was soooo proud of him! There has never been a doubt in my mind if Dan would protect or Defend us. But I have now seen it in person how he will stand up for his family! I think it was a good thing for his kids to see! Their Dad really could kick another dad's butt!!!

First day of school (Washington version)

2009-08-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

Yay!!! First day of school arrived! I would say that I am Sad to see them go but they are excited and I am so happy they are going to get out and have friends at school to play with while they crazy life of moving is going on at home! Emma woke up at 6:45 and got dressed and then woke up aliya and Lilly ( who was not ready to get up). Dallin woke up around 7:15 a little less excited about the day and got in the shower! the were both dressed with their back packs on by 7:30. I told them to calm down and lets do hair and eat breakfast first! They rushed through it and then were ready to go ( Emma even asked to say the prayer so it could be short and they could go to school faster!) We got shoes on Emma then headed outside for pictures! Can you tell Emma is excited??
Kindergarten here I come!!
I'm to cool for 2nd grade

Was the wind strong this morning? nope just them!

Daddy and his big kids!!
We have a tradition in our house that Dad takes the kids to school andwalks them in while mom stays home with the others. It might sound weird to some, but I love it! Dan is not always able to be around for all the first but He has always made the first day of school an important thing! I get them ready and snuggle them at home and then kiss them goodbye as Dad drives them to school and reminds them where to go and then watches them grow up in an instant! He gets teary eyed as he watches them run to their new class, and watches them get settled in! It is a special moment for Him! I love it!! So Dan is the great Photog for all these next pics!!

Dallin meeting his new 2nd grade teacher for the first time ( He asked me if in 2nd grade they get more recess, I sadi probably not! Bummer!)

His new desk!

Already working hard!

Emma in line outside the school! Isn't she soooooo cute!!

With a friend from church! "Oh a familiar face!!"

Oh Our beautiful big girl!!!! Don't ya think She is stunning! And so ready for this day!

We are done!!!!

2009-08-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

We are done! We accepted the fixes they requested, and we have sold our house! Dan at first was a little unsure if we had made the right choice but as we look around and see all the little things that still could be fixed or changed or improved upon we are excited that we don't need to do it!!! It is a wonderful feeling! We only have three weeks to get out so we are needing to hurry and pack! We do have a lot already done because we staged the house, but we realize we have sooooo much to do! But I am excited about all of it! We have a beautiful home we are in the process of buying. It is a foreclosure, so we are waiting on the bank. They have already said they would respond next week, which is a big deal for a bank! Keep your fingers crossed!! We will let you know what happens!

Do you love the sign?? Brian was awesome if you need a realtor call him!!!!! He is great to work with!!!

Excited, but, Not!

2009-08-23T19:34:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we find out! The home inspection was on Friday and tomorrow we find out what they want or that they walk! I am excited about all of this and not at the same time. I have done so much praying and thinking and wanting and hoping in the last month! Now that we are this close I am still hopeful that the house will sell but sad if it does and happy if it doesn't! Make sense? No? OK let me explain, We have lived here in Spokane for 5 + years! We have lived in this house 5 years in October. We have loved this house (and hated it ) for all of the work we have put into it! We made this house our home! It was our very first home that was ours! we ripped down walls and built new ones changed plumbing and stairs and doorways! we painted every room at least once and some twice! we have watched things grow and change before our very eyes! we have added two babies in our family and brought them home to this house! we have had so many firsts! dallins first day of school and emma's also! first broken arm, first pet, first lost teeth! it has been amazing here! and tomorrow we find out if it's over! ( daniel is reading this blog post and hoping they back out or wishing he could!)
But the truth is we have outgrown this house! it is a beautiful home but we have been trying to make it bigger for the last three years! And we are (very hesitantly) ready to move on and let someone else make memories here!
It is not a perfect house and we know that and as we look around at the future projects realize we are ready to not have them to do on the weekend. I am also ready to make more memories with family close by! I am already thinking about family dinners and game nights and going out trick or treating with cousins! I am excited for what the next chapter holds and yet at the same time not!

It's official we are for sale!

2009-07-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

We are officaially for sale! We have scrubbed and cleaned and painted and finally we are showing! We have a great realtor Brian Smith. We have the sign in the yard and the lockbox on the door! We are keeping th ehouse clean and ready to show. The kids have given up most of the toys and are excited to move. Especially ALiya who talks about moving to Idaco (Idaho) every day! Dan and I have prayed hard and have done lots of soul searching and thought long and hard about what we want and need for our now and our future! We have put everything into the Lords hands! We feel great about it but don't know what the future holds which is always scarey! This is a link to the house http://www.windermere.com/lid66208224 If you know any one who would like to buy a house in a great neighborhood in spokane let us know!!

My sick Emma

2009-07-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

I went to bed last night knowing I had a ton of stuff to do today. Emma was the first one to come into my bed last night. Since Dan was out of town I told her to go to the bathroom and then get in. She did and snuggled down and we went back to sleep. Much later Aliya came into bed snuggled in and went to sleep. Around 6:30am Emma woke up telling me her tummy hurt. I started to rub it and she said it was hurting all night. I told her to try and go to the bathroom and see if that would help. She came back saying she felt much better. And we went back to sleep for a little while. Dallin woke up around 7:30 and came and woke emma and aliya up to come and watch tv with him. I rolled over not wanting to get up yet. Next emma came to me telling me she still didn't feel good and was going to take a shower. Surprised that she didn't want help I once again layed back down, only to have emma come back in and say she changed her mind she wanted a bath. Emma and Dallin both know how to start a bath so I slowly got up and went to the bathroom. Dallin ran up the stairs and said Emma was throwing up in the bathtub. I ran down and she was standing up saying she still didin't feel good. I started the shower for her and then ran and got her a towel and also picked up Lilly who was awake now (with a nasty diaper). Emma got out feeling better. Dallin and aliya where yelling at the tv because diego was asking them to repeat what he said. I had to laugh. Lilly inspite of the nasty diaper was excited about life! Emma decided food didn't sound good and went to lay on the couch. Dallin and Aliya and lilly had banana's and cereal for breakfast. I thought it would be easy on the stomach.

Since then Emma has thrown up 3 more times. She knows her body so before she would even say something she was in the bathroom hugging the toilet. she would come out and lay back down. She is very independant though. she went and got herself a throw up bowl and then came and sat back down on the couch. all I could help with was holding her hair while she threw up. She is soooo beautiful evenwhile she is sick. I am amazed as she gets older how she goes from this crazy little baby to my amzingly helpful big girl! She can not tell a lie either! The minute she does something wrong she has to come and tell you! Yesterday she got into my makeup and before she came down the stairs she was saying ," Mom don't be mad!". She is compassionate, loving and works to help others. And She is a talker like no other! She is very stubborn though. But I try and remember that we want that! We want her to not follow the crowd and to be willing to be different and stand up for herself!

She is feeling a little better! Hopefully she can stop throwing up and feel great! I love my Emma and am very thankful I have her!!!!

I love lettuce!!

2009-07-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

I never thought this day would come! My girl loves Salad!! Dallin would scream at anything green when he was this age. I would try and make healthy things but hated when it came time to eat because he would always scream! Thankfuly we have gotten over that with much patience and enduring he now eats lots of veggies and fruit and is willing to try almost anything once ( we have realized that after him throwing up every time he tried to eat green beans that they are not worth it!)! But lettuce has never been something he likes. So I never put it on their plates ( I know shame on me). Then one day dan and I had Salad for lunch. Dan went back for more and Aliya saw him eating some and asked if she could have some of it. He said yes and gave her a bowl of lettuce with a little ranch on it. She gobbled down the whole bowl and than asked for MORE!!! I was so happy! Of course I had to take pictures! It turns out she and Emma love lettuce (with ranch) and eat it all the time! I am a veggie lover so watching my kids eat healthy veggies makes a momma proud!!

I sometimes forget.....

2009-06-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

It has been a rough month for me. I have been very emotional and no I am not pregnant! For no major reasons I have just felt frustrated with my life and my family!

Daniel, when I feel like this will remind me that I am very blessed! That I am lucky to have what I have. But it is hard to remember that each of these little souls is a blessing, when I haven't slept in a couple of weeks and they are kicking me and telling me that want another popcicle. Or when they are screaming at each other because non of them like what I made for dinner! Or when I have put them to bed nine times and it is now 10:30pm and I hear them again! Or when I have spent all day folding laundry and they want to help by unfolding everything!
I sit down and think why did I want this and why would I want more???!!!!
But they all do finally fall asleep!! And at times they look at me with those trusting eyes! And whenever they are hurt they want me to fix it, whether it is emotional or physical! They go missing for five minutes and my heart races and I fear the worst! Or I hear them cry at a neighbors house and all of a sudden I run like I am in a race!
I do realize I am blessed! Sometimes it takes more than Dan saying it to me though! But I do thank the Lord every night for my four little miracles and my wonderful husband!! I am blessed! and sometimes all it takes is a quiet moment for me to be reminded of it! And I am thankful for all of it!! Even those frustrating moments or those tiring nights! Because without it all I would have nothing!!

Friends, Food, and Floats

2009-06-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the parade this year! We had great seats thanks to our friend Jessica who saved them all day! They were right next to the honey buckets which was great with 20 little bladders! We had pizza and friends!! Aliya could not get enough of all of the princesses and cheer leaders! She thought everyone was waving just to her!! Emma had a great time but was worried about when we would see a her "friends" that were in the parade! Lilly did great guarding the strollers and then loved waving once daddy got her out so she could see better! it was a great time and a ton of fun!

Old church

2009-06-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Dan and I saw this old church online for a great price and thought for a couple of days it would be fun to convert to a house. We went out and looked at the church and realized that it was not a job for us but that it was a beautiful old church! As we took some pictures to go back over later one of us took this picture. I really don't know who because we both had the camera and were both taking pictures! But this picture is amazing!! so this one is from the portfolio of US!!

tutu cute!!

2009-06-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Aliya decided to have fun playing dress up!! I have to say she is sooooo cute as a princess ballerina! And I am loving the new hair cut!!!

Thought this was interesting!!!

2009-06-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

(The video on the right!!)Take away the fact that it was reagan and put in Obama and really it says the same thing!! The only thing is it is worse now than then!! Interesting that they (the goverment) has not improved enough to save us from another huge massive debt!!!

I think it's important!

2009-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was watching Oprah today while folding laundry! At 4 pm it is usually the best thing on! Today was about child predators and the Internet. I watched as I always do with these kinds of shows with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness on how to truly protect my kids! They talked about Adam Walsh. If you do not know his story or who his father John Walsh is than you should learn about them!!
As I watched the show I listened to Oprah talk about these "monsters" and how she wanted people to know that they are not monsters as in your imagination that cannot hurt you, They are real! And can even be the neighbor next door! As I listened to them realized I wanted or really Needed to do something to help get these "Monsters" out of the dark and in to the open so we can see who they are and better protect our children from them!
So I've decided two things, One is we need to get money from our government to help the police and detectives and others fight these predators! As John said we ( whether we wanted to or not) paid for the bailout for the automotive industry so why not pay for what is more important!!
And the second is to tell my family's story about these "Monsters" and how real they are!!

So here is our story:
Daniel and I moved here almost 5 years ago. We did our research about where to live and even looked up where the sex offenders lived. We loved our neighbor hood and we loved our neighbors!! Even though we live in a "big" city we felt good about where we lived!
we heard stories from friends about predators, read stories in emails about protecting your children! But we felt we were ok!
I was even over protective!! I rarely let the kids out in the front and if I did I was with them! If they were in the back yard I would check on them every five minutes and keep the door open to hear anything even though we have a fully fenced back yard that is pretty private from anyone except our neighbors! Like I said we "felt" safe!
We had lived here over a year when our next door neighbor, Pete, came and said he and "Michelle" were getting a divorced! Dan was at work so we talked on the porch about how sad it was and how we should get together sometime! (Pete had always seemed nice to me! and had even helped me when I threw out my back trying to move a rock! ) He said we was going to be living with his mother a few blocks away for a while so we should have dinner sometime!
I told Dan how sad it was and said that maybe "Michelle" was having problems because Pete was a nice guy so it had to be her! Dan and I talked and then that was it! We still saw "Michelle" and talked to her! But nothing much!
Than one night, three months later, we were laying in bed watching TV when a commercial came on for the news that night. I yelled and hit Dan who was lying next to me! Up on the screen was a mug shot of our next door neighbor Pete! He had been arrested for child pornography! I sat anxious as I waited for the news that night! We watched in stunned, shocked, and overwhelmed silence as the newscaster told about Pete and how computers were seized and how he had been one of 22 predators busted in a nationwide effort to catch and put predators away! how he had pictures and videos of child porn!
I cried!!! I yelled and screamed at Dan!! How was this possible???? We had done everything we were supposed to!! and here was the monster living NEXT DOOR!!!!
Dan and I talked about it and thought about it and realized not once had there ever been a time that he could have touched our children! But we realized that we did not know if he could have taken pictures! We talked and argued even more about what to do! Do we call do we not! after a couple of days we realized we couldn't know! We realized that for sanity sake we needed to not know! Call us crazy but we made the choice to not call and ask! I mean how do you ask a question like that? And how would we be sure it was our child? Do we look at pictures?
We knew the police confiscated whatever he had! And it would cause us more harm to know than to not know!
Pete was sentenced to ONLY 6 YEARS!!!! I sit here and realized maybe I could have testified against him and possibly made that longer but I was trying to protect my self and my family from becoming a part of the "story"!
The reason I share this story is to let you know that you can do everything to protect your family but that doesn't mean it won't come and find you!! We all need to do whatever we can to stop this!!!! Oprah and John Walsh are asking us to send a letter to our senators and state representatives and demand that the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act gets funding and re-authorization by the July 2009 deadline! I feel strongly that we can all make a difference if we at least send an email or letter or call and make this happen! Little by little we can make it happen! This is the link to Oprah's web site to find a letter to email or print off! I have done it to both of mine and it takes 5min!!!!! Please do it!! thanks for listening!!!! Lets stop these monsters!!!
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090220-tows-adam-walsh-act

Warning!!! This post may contain gross poopy pics!!!

2009-06-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

One Saturday afternoon we had been out and about just running errands and doing yard work! We came in the door and I tossed diaper and wipes to Dan as I asked him to change Lilly's diaper, knowing she probably needed one since we had been out for a couple of hours! Dan grabbed Lilly to do it! Then I hear him say "Oh No!!!!"! She had had a major blow up and out! ( which she rarely had as an infant)! Dan is a Super dad and took her to the bath tub to start the strip down!! I could not stop laughing!! Dan and Aliya were surrounding the bath tub "Oh"ing and "agh"ing And of course "GROSS"ing!! It was so funny!! Lilly had no idea what was going on but I am sure was wondering why she was in the bathtub with no water and with all of her clothes on, all good!!
I took some pictures and then came to help finish the job ( He didn't know what to do with all the poop once he got her naked!!! YUCK!!!)! It was a good one!!

Day at the park

2009-06-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

Dallin has Piano lessons up in Eagle Ridge subdivision! his lesson is only 30 min so we usually stay up there and wait for him! There is a great park up there so the girls are always begging to go and play while Dallin is practicing! This was a great Day and I happened to have my camera with us! I loved it and the girls and Dan didn't mind the outside time, even if they had to put up with me and my camera! Can my family be more photogenic!!!

After much waiting.......

2009-06-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

I know I have been awful at writing and posting!! So as one of mannnnnnnnnny posts to come I thought it would be fun to show the girls new hair cuts!!! They turned out better than I could have
hoped!! And they fit their personalities sooooo much!!! They held still and listened so well!!
These were the before pictures!! Aliya was excited!! She had been begging for this hair cut since I mentioned it a month ago!

Emma was just nervous! But excited!

They were excited to do it at the same time as the other!!

They held still and did what the stylist's asked! I was so proud of them!! I t made me remember how awful dallin was trying to get a hair cut!! Lots of screaming and crying! From both of us!!

can you say cute!!!!

Emma looks so much older!!

I promised the girls if they did a good job they could get a sundae from Mcdonalds! Here they are showing off the great hair cuts and fantastic sundaes!!

Frustrated!

2009-05-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched the new season of Jon and Kate +8!! I, like everyone else wanted to see if the would address the rumors and issues they are having, on the show! And boy did they!! I watched a completely different couple ( than the other seasons) talking about what "they" were doing for the kids and the show! I was surprised and shocked to listen to them talk about how they didn't see this coming or they want what is best for the kids. I was also surprised about what the tabloids didn't talk about! How Kate is traveling around the country promoting her books and show and Jon is at home watching the kids! He has said that he did not plan to be ( a stay at home Dad). And then there was Kate saying how Jon has changed and all of a sudden they are two different people wanting two different things!
I have been married almost as long as they have and we are the exact same ages as they are! Obviously I have not been through everything they have been through nor do I have 8 kids I have 4! But what I want to say to them has nothing to do with ages or #of kids you have or even how long you have been married! the thing that has stayed with me and haunted me about what they said last night on the show was, when Kate sat next to Jon ( as far away as she could on a love seat) and talked about "the kids"! She said how "the kids" are everything to her! she wakes up for them and does everything she can for them! She said they are what keep her going!
UGH!!!! That is my problem with her! Where is she placing her relationship with Jon? Second? She has put the relationship that produced those children below them! I think women everywhere are taught to put their children first in everything! Above their husbands, religion, and of course above themselves! What we are left with are women who don't know why their divorced! They don't know who they are! And they don't know where they belong!
I think there is a balance in life as mothers! But I don't think we should be putting our children above everything else, especially not our marriages!!!!
It is hard as a couple to find time to be together or time to even talk without kids around. But it is important! My children I pray will leave my home and find their own spouses and have there own children! I will be "left" with Dan! I want that to be an exciting and Happy time in our life! Not me wondering " who is that stranger over there?"!!
Daniel and I say that the best advice we can give to any couple is to marry your best friend! I would also like to add keep them your best friend! Include them in your life! Spoil them! Surprise them! Find happiness in their joys! Celebrate things together (And not just holidays! )! I dont mean just wives do this or jsut mean but both!! Grow with each other Not apart! Take those moments to remember that, that is your person you want to spend the rest of your life with and all of Eternity with!!!!

Don't put it last put it first!!!

wanting more......

2009-05-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

I am a selfish selfless person! I know you’re thinking that that is a contradiction in terms, but.....
I want a lot in my life and no I do not mean healthy kids and great spiritulality though I do want those things too! I want material things! I want a large house! With beautiful things in it! With large sectionals and newer counter tops and nice appliances and fireplaces! I want a jetted tub and double sinks! I want a separate living room and family room and a craft room and a huge garage! I want land!! I want beautiful yard and garden and enough space to drive a four wheeler around on! I want lots of things!! That is the VERY selfish me!!!!
The other me wants to be close to family! To help out my brother and sisters! To give what we have to help others succeed! That is the selfless me!
Daniel often asks if I will ever be happy with what I have and content! I am constantly wanting things, and wanting for things to change! a dog, another baby, a project, a new house, to paint my house, to sell something to get rid of things, to start a diet, to be thinner to accept me, be more spiritual, to cut my hair to get another dog! I don't stop! For all those worried that I am out of control, don't worry! Dan when I get into my "wants" is there to remind me to be thankful and grateful for what I have! Dan has these moments of wants to! But his is my blog so my thoughts!
I realize that it is not about what we do have but how we take care of what we have! If we don't take care of our 500sq ft than we won't take care of 5000sqft! If our old "junkie" car is dirty and messy and wrecked the newer one will become like that also!
SO that is my goal right now! To not stop wanting things, but while I want be grateful for what I have and take care of those things as if they were what I was wanting!! (I hope that made sense!!)

Sorry!!

2009-05-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

I know I have been awful at writing these last few weeks ( thanks sarah for reminding me everyday!!!)! Here are a few and I will try to catch up!! we are all good and healthy and safe!!!

Finally a sunny day!!

2009-04-06T17:25:00.003-07:00

This was one of the nicest days of April! Lilly looked so cute I had to grab my camera!! It's easy to take beautiful photo's when your subject is this cute!! Emma and Aliya came out and wanted to be a part of the shoot! I love moments like this! I am thankful during these moments that I have three beautiful healthy little girls!

Too Tired

2009-04-06T17:25:00.001-07:00

Lilly was to tired ! I was running around trying to get things done! When I finally came back to put her into bed this was what I found! Could she be any cuter?? Our little thumb sucker!!

hippie girl

2009-04-06T17:24:00.002-07:00

I laughed when I saw Emma! She dressed herself! And then she added the headband! I loved it!!! when I got the camera out she posed herself! this is our Emma!

Easter

2009-04-06T17:24:00.001-07:00

Easter this year was a little more quiet! We had family things that month so dan had been gone a lot more! We decided it would be nice to be just us and not try and do a big party! So this is the kids Easter morning! It was a little to early for Emma when it came to the easter egg hunt but Dallin loved it and Aliya loved to help him! Lilly just loved her candy and basket!!! I think it is always our favorite to watch the baby of the family "open" their baskets!!

Than there was the Easter picture after church! I was excited to get them all before they change or dirty their clothes! So I put them all on the bench and started to take pictures hoping to get them all smiling or at least looking at me!! Before I knew it Aliya in typical girl fashion strats throwing a fit and saying she was done! ( I promise nothing had changed except I was talking to them!)

That was her saying she was done!! As she left! But I did get a great picture of them just not all of them!! Oh the joys of having girls!!!

Stuck!

2009-04-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

So this is really Sara's blog but this time it is Dan writing. I thought I would contribute to at least one good post. I know many of our readers are family and come from ranching backgrounds but I thought I would write this more directed to those of you who don't.

We live in the city and I have a "city job" and can hob knob with the best of them but behind it all I am country and enjoy getting back to my roots anytime I can. This might explain my love for gardening, yardwork, remodeling, fishing, and anything that gets we out and working. Sara knew what she was getting into. Our first official date involved us riding ATV's up to a mountin lake with follow up dates riding horses, waterskiing and other fun adventures. While we dated I worked at a dairy and came home from college on weekends to help with our Christmas Tree business. I tend to always have good stories to share which are usually ranch related. It is an exciting way to live. For the past couple weeks I have been helping my father out with lambing as he continues to recover from his surgery.

So on to the stories........My sister and I went to get a load of straw on Saturday about 5 miles from the house and our old blue truck died. We needed to jump start it. To make a long story short, we walked down the remote country road and asked the first person we ran into if he had jumper cables. He was a nice Hutterite man. He tossed me his keys and said he was busy but that we could just take his truck and use it. Only in Montana. He did not even ask our name or anything!!

Story number 2 involves the pictures below....We helped Tom with getting some hay and got the rig barried in the soft spring mud. My sister snapped these pictures while we were pulling it out with 2 tractors. Never a dull moment on the farm.

On this trip I also experienced the worst roads I have ever been on. Last Sunday I waited in Lincoln a few hours for the pass to open. I did leave Lincoln at 10:30 PM when they opened it back up. It was a total whiteout blizzard and the other side of the pass was unplowed and drifted pretty high. I finally saw another vehicle at Simms and talked to the trooper at a wreck scene who informed me that the road I had just gone over was still closed. The trip home was eventfull as well with trailer issues. (we'll save that story for another time) Never a dull moment on Western Montana highways.

Sisters!!!

2009-04-01T21:43:00.002-07:00

Sisters! I had one and loved and hated her! My girls have at least two and so far the same goes for them! Having a sister is wonderful and difficult! You love having a best friend but hate it that she is always doing what your doing! You love sharing a closet but hate it when she borrows your clothes! You love being a part of her fun things but hate it when she is apart of yours!
I love my sister now! And appreciate her now more than I ever did growing up! I think about her everyday when I watch my girls together! Their ups and down and struggles with each other and making their own identities! But I am thankful that they have each other and that like it or not they are sisters!
Emma decided to "make" headbands out of stickers I had on their walls! I couldn't be mad when she put so much effort and care into each one! And she made one for every girl in the house! I guess that is how it is being a big sister!

being young and stupid!

2009-04-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

So Daniel and Mandi ( my brother and sister in-law) are due to have their first baby on the 13th! It was fun talking to them and hearing them say that their excited and ready! I was thinking back to when I thought that! Do you remember? The time in your life when you thought you were "ready" to have kids and be a mom! To make dinner AND be able to eat it! Or to take a shower and not have to yell or open your door before you need to get out! To take your time getting dressed and doing your hair and makeup! To fool around whenever because no one is crying, calling you or about to walk in!
I remember doing a load of baby clothes and loving it! of course I did it 3 months in advance! I thought " this is how it will be to be a mom!"! yeah right! Add six pooped on onesies and a crying baby in the background! Don't forget none of your clothes fit and your burning dinner! that was how I felt the week after "becoming" a mom!

These pictures were of Dan and I at 6 months prego! I remember being so excited and feeling ready for birth and babies! 7 years later i realize You are never fully "ready" for motherhood! how can you really be? I mean to be a full time mom you are there for your kids 24/7 there are no breaks (mom, no I am not insinuating that you have not come and help relive me!! You have many times! As so did you Ed!!) or sick days! you are THE MOM! your children do not decided you re tired so they won't have colic or how your sick so they won't get sick! laundry does not rest when you washer goes out and kids bellies are never full ( especially little boys)! I was not ready but is the greatest thing on earth! Some of the other things you are not really ready for is how much you can love a little baby! Or how much your heart aches the first time someone hurts your child! oh how you really don't want them to ever grow up! So here is to being young and stupid! Because if we really new how much work it would be or how much your heart would ache we would never sign up to be one!

Anniversary! A few months late!

2009-03-31T22:20:00.000-07:00

I realized I never really did an anniversary post in December, and with Dan being gone and me missing him, I thought I would do one now! Here goes!

Dan and I have been married 8 years (December 19)! I knew the first time I met him there was something about him! I guess you could say love at first sight but it was more than that! It was a peace in my spirit! Like coming home after a long trip

My family moved to Montana while Dan was on a mission to the Philippines. We moved into the same branch as his Grandparents. I remember hearing about Dan because his grandparents would talk about him. But I don't remember thinking anything special about it! A couple of days before he came home I remember his grandparents talking about him and feeling a leap in my heart!
I ended up going to a singles conference by his Mom's house invited by his step brother and showed up with his cousin (I was friends with his step brother and his grandparents asked his cousin if I could get a ride! See!!)! I remember pulling into the parking lot at the church and his cousin introducing me to Dan and seeing this thin, tan, young man, with huge glasses! And thinking here he is! I didn't know why I thought this! I didn't know him!
I was planning on staying at his house that weekend. Dan had been home from his misson 2-3 days! He didn't have any of his non-mission clothes and his suitcases were still packed!
I sat listening to him tell about his necklaces he brought back for his mom and sisters and his future wife! I did not say, "oh I'm her!"! I did not think that! I just remember enjoying listening to him! We danced once that weekend and he seemed nice but not interested in girls ( I mean he had been home 3 days!)!
Things happened and I needed a ride back home! Dan set somethings up and his friends who were heading that way! He said he could come and drive me the rest the next day and see his grandparents ( Thanks grandma!!)!
I remember on the way home pulling into the garage to get his pre-mission stuff and him going off on how fantastic his car was! I just listened and smiled as he talked about his family and friends and his mission! I loved listening to him! He dropped me off at my parents house with a, "I'll see you later."!
I remember saying to some friends that there was something different about him! Something special about him!
Many dates later, long talks, phone calls, and visits I knew with out a doubt that I loved this man! And there was something special and different about him! I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him!

So here we are, eight years, four kids, six moves, a mortgage, 1 dog, 7 cars, and a BS & MBA later! And the one thing that is different from then than now is I know who I am, I know what it means to be a mother and a wife and to be an adult! But I also know I love him more now than I did then and I really did marry the man that is so much more than the man of my dreams!
I am grateful to have him as my best friend and my husband! To know that we are together forever! And that this is so much more than till death do we part! It is through the Eternities! Every day is not perfect! I am not perfect! But I am glad that he continues to over look my flaws and many imperfections and loves me anyway!
Here is to the next 80 years! Whatever they hold we can handle it together!!

cousins

2009-03-31T22:19:00.001-07:00

We were lucky that when Papa Ed got "sick" that family was there! Sarah and Drue and their girls had been planning to come and visit him that week! They instead came to take over with the sheep and chores! They showed up the night before they were planning and got strait to work! It was nice to have a lot of hands doing everything!! The extra perk was the cousins had friends to play with now! They all had a good time! With scavenger hunts and games like duck duck goose, not to mention anything they came up with in their imaginations! They had so much fun! As we packed up to go home Emma kept asking when we could see them again! The love their cousins! One of our favorite things has to be the friendship between Dallin and Aubrey! They are a year+ apart but just get along so well together! Whenever we all get together those two always end up with each other! There is usually a "happy thought" to a bad situation and this was one of those!!

The Family Farm

2009-03-31T10:31:00.001-07:00

We love heading to Papa Ed's farm during Lambing season! It is nice to get back to our roots of farm work and livestock, and to able to teach and show the kids how a farm works! It was a great experience for all of us except papa Ed! The day after we got there he went to the hospital with pain on his side. Sure enough it was his appendix! They rushed him to a bigger hospital an hour away for surgery.He had surgery and He is doing better now!
We were glad we were able to play that first day with him! Especially ALiya! She is Papa Ed's girl! we missed him but we are all thankful he is ok! We did love taking over the farm for a week. We loved "trading" our life in the city for a life in the country. It was also a lot of fun for the kids to see their cousins. Sarah, Drue and their girls were also coming up for lambing season! We weren't going to get to see them but ended up playing with them for 2 days! The kids were sad to go home and leave everyone! (I will do another post about the cousins!) I am glad I went camera crazy that first day! We got some great photo's of Papa ED!!!
This one is my favorite of Aliya and her Papa ED!

what a handsome farmer!

feeding time!

Some cute kids!

Papa Ed tells some of the best stories! since he watched the kids in Dec. Aliya has to have one of "His" stories everynight! My favorite has to be Herman!! But in the pick it is the craziest version of the three bears! ALIYA'S FAVORITE!!

I love this face!!!!

you can hear him say "Herrrrrman"!!

Papa Ed and his babies!!

do they look comfy??

the master teaching the student! ( Wasn't a student for long! But he had a great teacher!!)

Shyra came down with grandma Jan from Canada! The kids loved it! Especially Dallin! ( a little crush maybe???) If you looks closely you can hear him trying to impress her!

My hard little worker!

Emma looking at a New baby lamb seconds old!

Missed picture!

2009-03-09T23:20:00.001-07:00

This picture was too cute! I some how missed it though!

If you can't change it Enjoy it!!

2009-03-09T21:34:00.001-07:00

I was having a miserable day with the snow! I was stir crazy! We finished eating Dinner and Dan came up with the idea of making a snow man with the 3 inches of new snow! We all realized that he was right! We had this opportunity to enjoy the snow! So we all got our snow gear on and headed out! Dan realized a snow man would not work because the snow was too fluffy!
So plan B, lets go sledding! We hadn't taken the kids last year so we knew this was our chance!!
We headed to a huge Park with a great sledding hill! In the first 5 min Dan slid down the hill with Lilly in his arms and no sled! Can you say slick! Lilly was fine and Dan is sore but ok! We then headed up the hill! Dallin, Dan and Emma did the first run! Next Emma and ALiya and I went down and rolled! Aliya was tainted after that and kept saying she hated the sleds! Dallin and I went down and FLEW through the air! (I cannot steer those things!!!) He cried because it was crazy! All in all it was a ton of fun!! No one was there when we got there and then only a small family showed up! It was great!! So here's to making lemonade out of lemons!

Can you say done!

Lilly is in the corner! Someone was nice and took the pic for us! SHe was sitting in a sled by herself so he kinda cut her out! oops!

Cold wet and tired!
Question? How many girls can pee in their snow suits? Three! Luckily one of them had a diaper on! FUN!!!

We turned on our christmas lights! We had not taken them off yet because the weather has been so miserable! Lucky for us they look great!!!!!

Tired, sore, and wet! What a great Dad!!

Here's to fifty's in the forecast!!!!

Ugh!!! this weather is killing me!!!!

2009-03-09T17:18:00.002-07:00

For anyone wondering it is March! No these pictures are not from December they are from today! Ugh!! I thought we would have spring soon! But I guess not! Any more of this and I think I am going to move back to Arizona! !!

Last day of Pre-School!

2009-03-09T17:18:00.001-07:00

Dan and I decided to take Emma out of Pre-school. We decide that after all the time she has been in pre-school it would be best if we brought her home and taught her myself ! She was excited to do Home school ! Tis was her last day with her friends and teachers! As you can tell she wasn't sad but excited!
Today was her first day at home! We had a great time! Her print with her name was even better after one day! Yeah!!

50's Daddy Daughter Dance

2009-03-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

It was our wards Daddy daughters dance! It was 50's themed. SO of course My OCD took over and I made Emma a Aliya matching poodle skirts!! Emma picked the color's! They could not have looked any cuter!!! They had a great time!! Corn dogs and french fries! Hula hoops , and Limbo's and of course a sundae for desert!! The girls danced with Daddy and there friends! Too cute!!

Sorry!!

2009-03-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

SO for all of you who actually read my blog I am SOOO SORRY!!!! I tried reading my blog the other day to dan and was miserable trying to dodge all of the stupid green shamrocks! I love the way it looked though! But realize the whole point is for it to be read! SO here is the new blo background! I hate the look but don't have very long before I will change it! Hope it is easier to read!!! Thanks for looking!

A little hair!!

2009-03-06T10:47:00.001-08:00

I know, pathetic!! I just can't help it! I want her hair to be long and beautiful!! Emma and Aliya both had long hair by the time they were two! I know she will too! But the two years waiting for that hair is crazy! I go through trends with my babies! Emma it was head bands and bows! Aliya was a few bows and ribbons! Lilly it was a few ribbons! And then nothing! I just thought it was to much! So I have been waiting for her hair to be long/thick enough for baretts or pig tales!
It helps with the boy comments too!! If she has bows in her hair people know no matter what she is wearing she is a girl! So this was my lame attempt at her hair! She did really good!! Here is to when she has more!!

2009-03-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

I love these photos! I think they are hilarious!! This is lilly! And she HATES her nose ebing wiped! Can you tell?? she doesn't even need to use words! I think you know exactly how she feels!! Can she be cuter!

Thinking Foster

2009-03-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about doing foster care and foster to adopt! I know your thinking I'm crazy! I have been thinking about this on and off for two years! I have never done it because it is a little scary and because I have always been pregnant or with a new baby. I have a lot of people around me that are doing , or have done foster care/foster to adopt! They are not all perfect stories! I know there is a lot of heartache and frustrations involved with it!

But I also know I feel like we have so mush to give! My children are not perfect or do we have a perfect life, but I know there are children out there who don't have anything!

When I was a little girl I would watch those tv shows/commercials with the children in orphanges! I would lay in my moms lap and sob to her how that wasn't fair! "why can't we help them!"! I even get emotional thinking about kids who live or have lives like that now! I want to help!!!

Also, I have a family member who when we told ( a year ago, right after Lilly was born)that we need a break because we didn't think we could handle any more kids, said back to us that if they could do it again they would have as many as the Lord would give them!

I thought about that for a long time! My last pregnancy was really hard on me and our family! Dan and I fought like crazy! I needed My mom around 7 months because I hurt so bad and had trouble moving! So After Lilly came we knew My body needed a break and that I mentally couldn't handle being pregnant for a few years! We just figured no babies!

And then it happened as it always does. (This may not make sense for some of you) I felt like something is missing! Like were not big enough or that were not all here! (Ok the last one is what I feel!) Like all my kids are sitting around me and I think " We're missing someone!"! I know that sounds crazy, but I do!

For all of those freaking out right now that I have lost my mind, I have promised Dan ( who no, is not ready for this adventure yet!) that I would wait a least 9 months before we "talk" about it! I figure it takes 9 months to have a baby so I can at least do that!

That being said, I eat it, think it, breath it right now! I read about foster care in the newspaper and hear someone talk about it! I read it through friends blogs and want to know more! I just can't help but think about bringing in a child or children that I could help!

So to finish this; I know it is not always easy! There are a lot of vairable to each child and there conditions! But I also know My family has enough to give to a child that needs it! One last thing is I also know my limits! We would take in 1 child or 2 siblings at a time and no one over the age of 3!

So there you have it! Any advice or thoughts would be great!! Thanks for listening!!

Lilly is doing great!!

2009-03-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

With all of the chaos lately with sick kids and chicken pox we thought we would let everyone know Lilly is great!! She came dwn with a severe case of chicken pox and was hospitlized for 2 1/2 days and 2 nights! ( one more day than needed! The doctor forgot to come to our room to check on her so the nurses couldn't let us out!) We realize now that she also had a cold on top of the hard case of chicken pox! Her chicken pox are healing great!!! And she is almost over her cold! She is back to being our happy little girl!! Over all we are better! all the girls still have runny noses and coughs but other than that fantastic!! We are all desperately want spring to come so we can have doors and windows open again! Right now it is snowing and it has been raining all week! Oh well, it will come!! Here are some pics of our latest chicken pox girl! These were the day befre she got really bad!!

these are in the hospital!

before and after school

2009-02-20T16:43:00.003-08:00

Emma came home today from school covered in orange marker!! I had to laugh because this is so her! She loves to feel pretty and cute and all dressed up! But at the same time she loves to have fun and nothing gets in her way!! So here is my hard work to send her off to school all perfect......

And this is how she came home!!! LOL

Snow day

2009-02-20T16:43:00.001-08:00

Dan took Dallin out of school a couple of fridays ago to take him sking! He LOVED it!! They had gone last year and had a great time! They planned a little better this time though and Dallin had a sking lesson which was great! It ended up being one on one, so Dan even got some adult sking in! Dallin and Dad had a great time and can't wait till next time! Emma even wants to come next time because Dallin had sooo much fun!!!

wacky hair day!

2009-02-20T16:42:00.000-08:00

Dallin had wacky hair day at school! He was excited to do his hair in crazy spikes! He is in desperate need for a hiar cut! and I just haven't taken the time to do it! But we could easily do wacky hair day!! We came up with this fo-hawk and he loved it! Which is funny because any time you do his hair he has to "fix" it because it has to be certian way! Emma was just a bonus!!

guitar lessons

2009-02-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

Dan decided to start teaching the kids guitar lessons after they started strumming his one day! Emma decided to go first! He started with the basics! strumming and the G chord! She loved it!!! Dan decided not to quite his day job!!!

teeth!

2009-02-20T16:40:00.002-08:00

I forgot to post about Lilly's teeth! She has had them for about 3 months now but they are the cutest teeth!! Her smile shows them off! We love to see them! They are adorable!!! I love the two teeth grin!!

Exercise

2009-02-20T16:40:00.001-08:00

Dallin has decided that he needs to beat this kid that is the fastest in his class! It is his determination to be the fastest! Dan and I could not stop laughing when he got on the eliptical and then did jumping jacks, then jogging in place, then sit ups, and our favorite had to have been when he did his push ups! We had to cover our mouths because it was hysterical!!
I thought this was a one time thing but he got on the next night and did the same thing! So here is to wanting things and working hard to achieve them!! GO DALLIN!!!

We'll let you know how he does!!

If your interested....

2009-02-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

I am starting a blog about my weight struggles! It is not about my family or kids or house or anything like that! It is just my weight and how I am trying to loose some of it and my ups and downs of trying to do that! If your interested it is at spencersinspokane.blogspot.com . It is all girly and personal. if that is not your thing don't read!! this is the only time I think i will mention the other website on here! thanks

Rachel visit!

2009-02-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

We loved having Aunt Rachel come and visit! The kids ( well Dallin!) loved playing the wii with her! Aliya and Emma fought over who would sleep with her downstairs and who she would snuggle with! She was awesome in taking our pictures which turned out great!! I know I take advantage of her because she is constantly helping the kids and They love to be with her! We decided on her last night here we would do something fun! So the whole family went to PF Changs! It is not a kid friendly resturant but we have been teaching the kids about etiquette! We thought it would be a great challenge for them and great food for us! I have to say the kids did great!!! The tried one bite of at least everything! the only problem was they had to go the the bathroom A LOT! After we left the resturant we all felt great so we decided to walk around the mall and look at the great stores! Mom's favorite pottery barn!! But I think the one that we all loved was the kids book store! we sat down and loved the books! It reminded us that we need to go to the library!! we were sad to see her go but glad she came to visit!!!

Valintines pics

2009-02-18T16:37:00.000-08:00

Rachel came to visit us for the weekend! We loved having her here! The kids can't get enough of their aunt rachel!! One of my favorite parts was her taking our family phot's for us I had been dying to have!!! The last family photo was when lilly was 1 week old and My mom was still here!
They turned out fantastic!!!! Happy valintines day to us!!!!

Cute "chickenspots"!

2009-02-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

Aliya has had chickenpox for almost 14 days. If you didn't know your are contagious for 7-14 days! And also any child will breakout if exposed from 7-14days after exposer! She felt "sick" and itchy for the first 3 days after that she has been great!! I am frustrated because Lilly has yet to break out with them! Dallin and Emma had them when they were Aliya and Lilly's ages! I was hoping Lilly would get a good dose and we could be done! But no! Oh well!
Aliya always asks me to check her chickenspots! She only had three on her face and two of them were on her forhead! She did get a great amount on her torso and a lot on her head and elsewhere! she was a great trooper and scratched very little! Can she be any cuter!!

Valintines day hair

2009-02-18T15:53:00.003-08:00

Of course what kind of hair would we do for valintines day??? Heart hair! Emma is a good sport and puts up with almost anything when it comes to hair! Oh just in case you were wondering I checked and she does have hair growing back in!!! Gotta love hair!

funny story!!

2009-02-10T18:14:00.001-08:00

I was working on a computer one night when Emma came and sat down next to me. She picked up a few small cards that had pictures of Christ with children on them. She picked up this one and asked who the child was in the picture? Ithought a second and responded it was her! Her face quickly changed to one of shock and confusion! She looked at me and then back at the picture and asked, "When did Jesus come and take this picture with me? I don't remember him coming here! Did I just forget, or was this when we were in heaven?"! I had to stop myself from lying more to her so I said I didn't know (ok so that was a lie too)! She quickly left with the picture to go show Dallin! She came back a few minutes later saying Dallin had said I was "tricking" her and it wasn't her in the picture! Oh well. It made me feel like I picked the right picture! I wanted one where she could see her self as the little girl with christ! I think it is the right one!

These are the After photo's.....

2009-02-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

I know you have been dying to see these photos and here they are!!! We would like to thank our sponsors, Coca Cola for the constant sugar highs! pottery barn for there over priced ideas! Hitachi, Ryobi, and the many other non namebrand tools that helped us get through the mess! Most of all we would like to thank Landon for his hard work, and constant ideas! Dan for his determination and singing! And Sara for her wacky color pallet! To our friends and family thanks for always for listening to our constant stories about remodeling and us acting like we never do it! We hope you enjoy these pics as much as we our enjoying our new basement!!

My awesome fabric wall!!!!

Now, on to the garage..........

This is the before.......

2009-02-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

This is our basement before! We live in a 1907 farm house! We have remodeled almost every square inch in the whole house! We have been so happy and proud of the results!! This round however we knew we were waaayyyyyy in over our heads when it came to plumbing and the electric box or circuit board! Dan has a good friend Landon who has a 1905 0r 1912 ( sorry I can't remember) house that they are working on! SO he and Dan started in on the windows and then Dan decided to hire Landon to do the whole basement! It was worth it! Landon was fast and very good at what he knew! it is a small basement still but it has opened our house up so much and the whole family LOVEes it!! The kids hang out down there all day long!!!
So these are the before pics! They started the windows around Oct-Nov. And then Landon finished the whole thing by Jan. We had carpet layed and finished and all the doors done byFeb!

Old laundry room /stairs ( future family room

old storage room and paint room ( future playroom/bedroom)

paint/storage room

laundry room

Maybe Daddy is dangerous! I'm kidding!!

2009-02-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Dan took Lilly up to put her to bed. He was snuggling her on our bed while feeding her a bottle and also watching TV! Dan told me later that he had been feeding her and she was bored with the bottle so she started to crawl all over on the bed and him! After saying to her ( of course jokingly!!) "Lilly, don't fall off the bed!" he looked back up at the TV and then BOOM! SHe fell off the bed and hit her head on the corner of the nightstand! He came downstairs to the top of the basment stairs and yelled " Sara! Sara! Something bad happened! I hurt Lilly!!!"Of course I ran up the stairs with a million things running through my head ( broken arm, broken leg, she's not breathing, something fell on her, etc.). SHe looked fine other than crying until Dan turned her head to the side! She had a HUGE goose egg and a black line in the middle of it! If she had had the goose egg with ou the line I don't think I would have freaked out but I was thinking she is bleeding on the inside!! We have lots of friends who are doctors or are interns, so it was just a matter of figuring out which one to call! We called a friend who is interning at the ER and Ped's right now! He came over and she was perfectly fine by then! when she finally went to sleep she woke up an hour later to play so we knew she was fine! This is the picture about 4 hours later. The swelling was completly gone! As you can see she's all good! This happened about a week ago so if you look at her now it is a tiny little pink dot on her head!

Emma's hair today!

2009-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

SO read the second post first and then you can understand this one!
I guess the best part of having a mother that is OCD about hair is when half of it gets ripped out she can still make it look fantastic!! Here she is getting ready to go to school! SHe picked out the dress it is one from our costume box! Dad told her she looked great and she loved it! SHe asked if she could wear it and after everything yesterday Of course I said yes!!

Making cookies is very dangerous! No I'm serious!!

2009-02-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

SO yesterday, Sunday, had been a great Day! We had 3 extra kids at our house because there mom was at the hospital having a baby! They were perfect kids and we really enjoyed having them with us! We all went to church, which went great! Then we came home, got two babies to take naps, the other kids played, and Dan and I talked and made a very yummy late lunch! After that we watched Madagascar 2! We laughed and really enjoyed it! After that Dan usually makes cookies on Sunday so he of course offered to make them and of course as usual Emma helped! The rest of us scattered around the house playing, reading, emailing, and just relaxing! All of a sudden I hear Dan yell, Emma scream, and a loud thud from the Kitchen aid mixer (the big counter top mixer)! I jumped up and ran into the kitchen to find Dan holding Emma who is screaming! I all of a sudden look over at the mixer to see a HUGE amount of hair wrapped around the stem part of the mixer!!!! I screamed and yelled at Dan asking what happened (as I am grabbing Emma and running her upstairs so the other kids in the house don't see)! I sat her on my bed and started searching her head I was looking for a big open wound; you know blood pouring out, something graphic! Instead of that, I found a large section of her head where she had a few wisps of hair and the rest was completely gone!! I yelled for Dan to come and see what had happened! I forgot to mention that her head other than having a large bald spot was fine! A little tender I am sure, but no bleeding not even redness!! (See the Lords blesses even with hair!)Dan came up holding the hair from the mixer (it was a HUGE mass of hair!). He saw Emma and instantly started to cry! He had felt sick up until he saw her then He felt sick and horrified and completely responsible for his daughter being bald! He just held her while they both cried! After about 3 min. She had calmed down (not Dad!). I gave her some Tylenol for pain and an Ice pack which gave her a headache because it was "too cold"! After 10min she was laughing! Dad still wasn't even smiling!! They stayed upstairs to snuggle and watch TV while I went down stairs to explain to the other kids what had happened! SO what happened you ask? Dan and Emma were making cookies. Emma was sitting on the counter next to the mixer while Dad was telling her why we don't put our fingers in the mixing bowl (because it's dangerous!)! The mixer started to move a little (Rock) from the cookie dough (they were almost done!), when Emma thought she would lean on the top so it would stop moving (the very top of the mixer). When she leaned in her long hair went into the bowl and wrapped around the stem of the beater before dad could even say stop. In the first second he thought Emma was tipping the bowl over because it was falling towards her. Then he realized her hair was stuck! He pulled the cord from the wall and by then (a total of 5 seconds tops) her hair had been ripped off! He instant grabbed her in his arms to comfort her! That is when I rushed in! WOW! I should have prefaced all of this with Emma's favorite shows are cooking shows! Her favorite are Paula dean and Rachel ray! She will sit down for hours to watch them! She tells everyone she wants to be a chef when she grows up! So anytime you cook Emma (since she was 2) is right there to help! You have to beat her to get her to go away! And yes you constantly have to tell her to be careful or not touch when you are cooking! So her being there and that close is normal! The Funny part is she said she now hates the mixer and never wants to go near it again! Can you blame her?? After we all calmed down Dan and I agreed we would leave her hair long until the other stuff grew out! Emma and Aliya will get cute bobs this summer!! I asked if I could take pictures and she said as long as I showed them to her! So this is our beautiful little girl! Inside and out!

Our handsome boy!!

2009-01-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

Our little man is growing up! Dallin is 7 and some days seems to grow up right before our eyes!!

Too much snow is not good for tree's!

2009-01-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

Dan and I woke up to a loud crashing noise at 7am one morning! Our first thought was one of our neighbors roofs had fallen in. We jumped up and ran to our windows. Dan was the one who discovered that it wasn't a roof it was our next door neighbors large maple tree! It had just toppled over from the weight of the snow! Our neighbor cheryl had hated that tree from the minute we moved in! We loved that tree though! We had taken family pictures in front of it in April and thought it was a beautiful tree!
Dan ran outside and talked to cheryl! Her Son tyler had been inspired ( no they are not LDS Or for that matter religious!)! He had gone out two hours before and decided to move cheryl's car 3 ft towards the garage! Then he shoveled some snow and went inside! When the tree fell it missed the car by 2ft!!
So after the phone company and power company have been called what does a boy from everett and a boy from Montana do when a tree falls down?? They grab chainsaw's of course!! Dan called our friend Landon over and they sawed the tree down for the wood for Landons stove. Of course they will let the wood dry so it will be ready for next year! Go country boys!!

Daniel and Landon sawing away

The front of cheryl's house

The tree made it all the way to the street!!

From our window you can see how close it came to Cheryl's car!!

CHUBBY BUNNY

2009-01-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

After church snack of marshmallows!! Lilly loved them!!! Can you say chubby bunny??

Snow Play!!!

2009-01-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

Spokane hit record snow fall in December! The kids loved the snow and begged to go outside every day!!! I think the total before it started to melt was 61in! You can say white christmas!!! We loved it! Snow much fun!!!

Ward christmas party

2009-01-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at the ward christmas party this year! I already posted the santa pics but I had to post Emma as an angel in the nativity scene! isn't she beautiful!!! Dallin and Aliya singing! and daddy snuggling Lilly!! Oh happy holidays!!!

The best Papa Ed Ever!!!!

2009-01-20T17:32:00.001-08:00

Dan and I had the opportunity to go to Vegas in Dec. I had been begging him to go to visit a friend down there. Work finally presented an opportunity to use when it scheduled a business trip for Dan down there. All we had to do was find someone to watch the kids! Ed had said he would love to come and help us if we needed someone so when we called him up, we thought he would back out with such a huge responsibility of all four kids for four days! But when Dan asked him he instantly said yes! As the trip got closer the weather got worse! We thought for sure he wouldn't be able to make it, but he did! Daniel and I flew out on the 15th of December! I was so excited to go! (My friend ended up moving very suddenly! I was sad I didn't get to see her, but we enjoyed the time that was just the two of us! I have never been to the strip before so it was crazy to see everything! When we booked the tickets to go it was 85 degrees and when we arrived it was 35 degrees! For those of you, who are thinking that’s miserable, don't! We left 12 degrees so 35 was a heat wave! We had a great time down there! We saw Chris angel (BOOOO!) and Blue man group (AWESOME!!!!!! when they come to Spokane we are planning on taking the kids!!)!!! Dan and I also went to Twilight (Dan thought it was stupid! I think if you like it the first time then don't go back for a second!) Dan showed me the Bellagio! The water fountain is awesome!! We stayed at the Wynn and LOVED our room! The view was incredible and the room its self was unbelievable!! We had a great time! The Fantastic weather followed us from Washington!! It snowed for the first time in 10 years in Las Vegas! Because of this a lot of flights out of Vegas were canceled. Most of Daniels co-workers had to spend 1-3 extra days in Las Vegas. Daniel and I headed to the airport early on Thursday to make sure we made our flight. We actually were able to get on an earlier flight! Awesome!! We flew out of Las Vegas feeling relived we were headed home! We landed in Seattle still thinking we were good to go. When we saw the first departure board we realized we had a problem! All the flights to and from Spokane were cancelled! Ed had called and told us that we had the worst snow storm in Spokane and it had dumped more than 31in in 1 day! The problem wasn't that the airport was closed, it was open! But no one could make it to the airport to make it run! So we stood in line for new tickets for either later that day or the next. After waiting for 2 hours we got the great news, we would not be able to fly out until SATURDAY!!! We tried everything to get some good news. After spending most of Thursday at the airport with no good news Daniel made some calls and found us a hotel in down town Seattle (every airport hotel was sold out! And some taxis wouldn't go to the "hilly" parts of Seattle!). We left the airport with horrible weather and everything icy! Seattle was worse than Vegas!! Ed was a trooper!! We were supposed to come home 4pm on Thursday. The only news we had to give him was that we had tickets for Saturday! (AT Ed’s house it was 40 below! He had about 92 sheep that he needed to get back to take care of! Besides being alone with 4 kids for 4 days and 3 feet of snow outside isn’t enough!) We crashed at a beautiful hotel, Sorrento!! We crashed, extremely tired! I forgot to mention that when we picked up our bags to go to the hotel I recognized mine by the swimsuit hanging out! So the next morning (Our 8th wedding anniversary!!), Daniel duck taped my bag closed for the trip home! And we headed to the airport by 9am (We had planned on earlier but we wanted to make sure planes were flying out of Spokane before we stood in lines at the airport!)! We got to the airport and the lines for everything were crazy! As much traveling as Dan does he said he had never seen it so chaotic! We went from one line to another and our miracle happened and we got on a flight for later that day at 6pm. She got us stand by tickets for a flight at 2pm! Yeah!! So we ran back and ate a good lunch!! Ran to put our names on standby and they already had 192 people on standby! And so the day of hanging out began! We found really comfy seat, watched a movie, played games, talked to everyone, argued, and slept! By 4pm we realized how truly lucky we were to have tickets at all! We bumped into friends of Dan’s who had been in Seattle since wed. And didn't have a flight out until sun. And the weather reported another storm on Sat. Yuck! After all of that we made it home!!! Our plane landed in Spokane around 7:30pm on Friday night!! We all cheered when it did land!! We dug our truck out of the snow and headed home! I don't think there was anyone happier that we were home than Papa Ed (ok maybe Emma!)! All in all it was a great trip! We had a great time! But I can honestly say we were soooooo happy to be home!!!

trying on "looks"

the bellagio christmas decorations

great food!

can you say food!

happy to be together!

bellagio water show!

you can't tell but it is snowing hard! we are soaked!

trying to win big at penny slots! lost $11! Learned gambling sucks big!!! yes we learn fast!

Daniel trying out for blue man group!

you should see the blue hand print on my bum!

It's hard to tell but dan is on the left!

Once again! never roam alone!!

we LOVE TRAVELOCITY!!!

Dan tring to figure out flights!

Seattle snowed in!!

the reader lied on the last flight! It was cancelled also!

Lines, lines, lines!

my busted suite case!

Daniel duck taping my busted suite case! How lucky were we it was black duck tape!

spokane from the plane!!

our truck ! It was worse than it looks!

I hate when he goes!!

2009-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Dan travels for part of his job! I know this! He knows this! But that being said neither of us like it when those days come up! He is leaving again for a business trip for 4days. It is not that long, and I have been waiting for him to go on a trip to get a handle on things again( I clean better when he is gone!)! But I don't like him leaving! There is something about having your best friend right there to talk to, bounce ideas off of, complain to, and more than anything just laugh and have fun with! I know I laugh less when dan is gone! So even though somedays we see wayyyyyyy to much of eachother(!!!!) I really do hate it when he has to go! I start counting down to the day he gets back long before he leaves! so here's to Saturday!!!

A Cowboy by birthright

2008-12-22T23:24:00.000-08:00

On the way home from thanksgiving we stopped in Drummond MT to pick up some Christmas trees! We noticed some of Tom's cattle were wandering down the road! Dan called Tom and asked him what to do. He told him to just get them in the arena and He could take care of it when he came back home! Dallin just happened to have his cowboy boots on! So Dad enlisted his help with Dallin's first round up! As a mom I wondered if Dallin would be scared of the large animals with horns! But alas he is a Spencer! So with no fear or hesitation he helped Dan herd the bulls back into the arena! I guess he is a cowboy by birthright!!!