Ryan and Stacey's Sealing.....September 25, 2010

Today was a really special day for Sam sister, Stacey, and her family. Stacey and Ryan were sealed to each other in the Provo Temple. Kagen and Grady, their two youngest sons were sealed to them as well. It was a wonderful experience to witness this family make eternal covenants with each other.

I thought it was very appropriate they were sealed in the Provo Temple. Bobbi and Jerry, Sam's parents, were sealed there almost 11 years ago also.

When Kagen and Grady came into the sealing room they were glowing with excitement. The spirit was very strong. It was hard to hold back the tears. They are dynamic little boys.

Lewis got to come in to witness the sealing as well. I kept looking at him, it seemed like yesterday he was younger than Grady. Today, to see him dressed in white with his family, I could only imagine him in a few more years going through the temple for himself in preparation for his mission. Time flies and I am sure it will before he attends again. He is such a great kid.

I was grateful Sam and I could be there. It really makes you reflect on your life, your family, and your responsibilities here upon this earth. I am grateful for eternal families. I am grateful for my four beautiful children and my sweet husband. I love them all so very much! I feel very blest to have and be part of a wonderful family.

Congratulations Ryan and Stacey. We are proud of you and excited this day came for you! We love you very much. We are grateful for everything you do for us. Thank you for being great examples to us. You're family is beautiful!

Jordunn, Lewis, Stacey, Ryan, Grady, and Kagen.

The BoYs!

Kacey and Jordunn.

Sam and me.

Tim, Kayla, Maezlie, and Finley.

Eli, Andrea, and Emma.

Alisha, Tyson, and Ayden.

Sam and his mom, Bobbi.

(I loved this picture.)

Sam and his dad, Jerry.

(Loved this one too.)

Bobbi and her two sisters, Vicki and Colleen.

Everyone who attended.

*Funny tidbit of information: Sam and I were late getting to the Provo Temple because we thought they were being sealed at the Mt. Timp. Temple. We were sitting in the Mt. Timp. Temple for 40 mins until we finally noticed no one was showing up. Turns out, we weren't showing up. We were at the wrong Temple....hello? Though, in our defense, Stacey and Ryan were originally going to go to the Mt. Timp. Temple to be sealed, then they changed their plans. We had just forgotten that SMALL detail. lol:)

Baby + Cake = CUTE!.....September 24, 2010

Paizlie was at my friends house being watched while I was at school with Hadlie. When I went to pick her up she was eating a cupcake, LOVING every minute of it. She was so cute! She made a big mess for Abbey to clean up but honestly, who wouldn't want to clean up that cute face?

Haunted Housing.....September 24, 2010

Every year at Hadlie's school the fourth grade make haunted houses and display them before Halloween. This year Hadlie got to make her haunted house. Some parents and I went to help glue and spray paint the houses. We had SO much fun. The kids had their houses already cut out and partially assembled. We, mom's, brought our hot glue guns and helped the kids by gluing all the big pieces together. Once we were done doing that, they took their houses outside for another mom and dad to spray painted their houses black. Then, the kids brought their haunted houses inside to decorate them. After, we, mom's, helped the kids put on their finishing touches by gluing on their cute doodad's onto their houses .

The haunted houses turned out darling. I loved to see each child's creation. They each put their own person touch into them. I really enjoyed helping them. I love doing crafts, so this was right up my alley. Me and Hadlie enjoyed spending the morning together.

Hadlie almost finishing up with the assembly of her haunted house.

Me and Hadlie.

(This was my gluing post.)

Hadlie's teacher giving instructions for the next step to build the houses.

All done gluing, now it's time for painting. Hadlie waiting her turn to paint her house.

"Super" dad spray painting the kids' houses.

(I call this dad the "super"dad because he is so awesome; he is always at the functions helping out.)

Hadlie finishing up with the decorating.

Hadlie and her classmate getting their pictures taken by their teacher.

TA DA!

Finished Project! It looks GREAT and scary....ooohhh :)

Thanks for inviting me Hadlie. I had a wonderful time. Your haunted house looks amazing. You're so creative and I love doing projects with you. I love you so much!

GoOd ByE GRanDPa....September 22, 2010

Grandpa saying good-bye to Paizlie before he sets off to Texas tomorrow to start his new job!

Grandpa and Princess P!

Me, Dad, and P

It's time to get real.....

I have to say that I have really done well at being excited for my parents up till now. I am sitting here looking at these pictures, it's raining outside, and inside I feel like crying.

I am very happy my dad has found a job. He has really been patient in finding one. I know it's the best decision for them to move. It will be a great new adventure for the two of them. It is just going to be really hard for me. I feel like I am loosing a big part of my support system.

My parents have ALWAYS been there for us. Whenever we need them, they are there. They always support us in our good times and bad times. They support our kids in all their activities as well. When Sam and I have need a sitter for our kiddos, they come, even though they live and hour and 1/2 away. We can always count on them.

This is going to be a BIG adjustment for me because I am close to my family. I remember how hard it was for me when my brother, Mike, and his sweet family moved back East. They currently live in California. Now my mom and dad are moving to Texas, which feels equally as hard or harder.

We are all moving so far apart from each other. Though I do have to say, with all that has happened over these past two years, with Sam and I, and with Mike and Jamie, we all have grown closer, which has been a blessing. We have really been each others support systems. It's just hard to not see the ones you love on a regular basis.

I am THANKFUL Dave and Meagan are still here and will be somewhat close to us. I PRAY that they will move closer to us soon, hint, hint. (Don't move out of state Dave!) I am THANKFUL Sam's family is still here and somewhat close to us. I know they won't move closer, dang it! Also, I am THANKFUL I have Rachel, Jamie's sister, 20 minutes away. So, I know there are some positives but having 80% isn't cutting it for me right now! Though, I guess it will have to do :)

So all of that being said, I am sad today! I will miss my parents SO MUCH! My kids will miss their grandparents SO MUCH TOO!

Good bye Dad. I do wish the best of luck to you. I know you will find happiness in this new adventure you're about to embark on. I also know you'll be very successful at your new job. Good Luck! You're in our prayers!

Love,

JEN

Grandperson Day at Lakeside....September 22, 2010

Every year the kids' elementary school has "Grand Person Day". The kids get to invite their grandparents or grand person to school for breakfast and reading before school starts. In years past either Grandma Bobbi or Nanny has come to support the kids. This year my parents came up, Sam's mom couldn't because she is taking care of Sam's grandpa. They got to spend an hour together sharing doughnuts and juice while they read books together. They had a great time.

I was happy my parents could come up and spend this time with the kids because they are moving to Texas. My dad leaves tomorrow and my mom is leaving after their home sells. So sad :( We are going to miss them!

Thanks for coming Grandpa and Nanny! We love you!

Grandpa, Nanny, and Hadlie

Grandpa and Daxton reading together, so cute!

Hadlie and Nanny

Nanny and Tage

Feed The Ducks Field Trip.....September 16, 2010

Tage's Preschool had their first field trip today. We went to feed the ducks. The kids had a lot of fun. Each of them brought their own bag of bread. So you can imagine, there was PLENTY of bread to go around for the ducks.

Tage was cracking me up at first because instead of breaking the bread off into pieces to give to the ducks, he was throwing whole pieces of bread. They were hungry, I guess? He caught on after I explained that the ducks couldn't eat it like that. Silly kid!

After we fed the ducks, the kids had a snack, then they played on the playground. It was a fun morning. I love watching the kids get so excited over the simple things in life, like feeding ducks!

Tage and Lucy

Tage and Lucy feeding the ducks

Paizlie feeding herself the bread too

Lucys mom, Cory, feeding a goose, be careful...

Cory almost getting her fingers bitten off, check it out!

(Cory was my Best Friend when I was Lucy and Tage's age. She has recently moved up here, she and her family lives literally right across a field just down from our house. It's been fun to reunite and have our kids in pre-school together.)

Lucy and Tage
Me and my buddy

Paizlie swinging while the kids were playing at the park

HaPpY BiRtHDaY GRaNdPa!.....September 15, 2010

Happy Birthday, it's Your Birthday! We love you grandpa and we hope you have a really happy birthday! Getting older is lots of fun, even if you go gray, you're still number one! We just want you to know how grateful we are for you. You mean so much to us. We don't know what we'd do without you. We SURE are going to MISS you and grandma when you leave for Texas. We know it's the best thing for you both but we wish you could stay! We LoVe You so so so much! Come see us often and we'll do the same!

Needed A Good Laugh.....September 13, 2010

I was watching t.v. tonight and a new Burger King breakfast commerical aired. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Corny? Yes! But it was well worth the wait for funny commerical and a good laugh. Watch it and let me know what you think. Sometimes we all just need a good laugh! Thank you BK breakfast!

Go to their website... www.bk.com / then click on Breakfast menu and the commerical will start.

Soccer Game with Nanny.....September 11, 2010

My mom, Nanny, came up to watch Hadlie play soccer. Hadlie was so excited her grandma came to support her. We had a fun time. She scored three goals and did great!"Yeah Had....", cheers Paiz.
"Way to Go", cheers Nanny.
Hadlie and Nanny.
We love you Hadlie!
Three cute girls! Whose is that soccer super star among them?

Lakeside Back to School Party.....September 10, 2010

The kids school had a really fun Back to School Party this year. They had all kinds of bounce houses and games for the kids. The kids had a fun time running around playing with their friends....

Hadlie won a round of "Minute to win it"

Daxton on the playground.
Tage won a smiley face finger puppet.
Paizlie and Jen hanging out.
Paizlie and Sam, she was getting tired and ready to go.

AbStRaCt ArT......September 7, 2010

Paizlie is getting into that fun stage I like to call "the dumping/throwing stage". Kids have so much fun dumping their food off their plates onto their highchair tray, then they love to throw the food onto the floor creating a mess everywhere. It's so amusing to them to watch things fall and hit the ground. They love to look below and see a new picture they've created by throwing food around. I guess it's the artist in them beginning to show. Most babies start with abstract art. It's just hard as a mom to see the beauty in their abstract art sometimes, right?

On that note, I do have to say I am getting more relaxed as I have more kids. I actually can walk into the room and start to laugh.

This is just a small example of abstract art Paizlie has created recently. This is not as extreme as some of her projects but it made me smile. I sat there watching her and snapping shots while she enjoyed herself. She was in HoG hEaVeN!