Flashback Friday: Marjorie Pay Hinckley words of wisdom

"I know it is hard for you young mothers to believe that almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with your husband. You had better be sure you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring. Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner." ~Marjorie Pay Hinckley

(2009)

Flashback Friday: Midway March 2009

Every February or March we head out to Midway, Utah to stay in our timeshare for a long weekend. It is the perfect thing to look forward to after the Holidays are over. This particular year we took a few extra kids along. My sister Jen had just barely had her fourth baby and so we took her two oldest kids with us to help her get a little break.

Shaylen, Sawyer, Ally, Ethan, Nate, Evelyn and Ryland

A couple of Nate's siblings are owners of the same Time Share, so there is usually a few of us up there at the same time. This particular time it was us, the Franklins and Matt Mills family.
Lauralea and Ally

Ally and Shaylen

Trevin and Ethan

Cute Baby Cole! Of course now he is a rambunctious 3 year old!

Wordless Wednesday: Mom's Dirt Therapy Prep

(april 2009)

Flashback Friday: Preschool Program

This Flashback Friday is from April 2009. We were at Ryland's end of the year Preschool program.

In his class for both years of Preschool was his very best buddy and cousin, Ridge.

They had an awesome teacher, Miss Ann. She also taught Ally and Ridge's sister, Sawyer.

I can't believe how fast time goes. It seems like yesterday I was dropping Ryland off for his first day of Preschool and now he has been out of it for two years! They seriously grow up so fast. Where in heaven's name is the pause button?

Wordless Wednesday: Just Kickin' It

(february 2009)

Photo Shoot Sunday: Rocking Horsey

Today's Photo Shoot Sunday is from February 2009. Evie had received

this rocking horsey for Christmas and

LOVED, L-O-V-E-D, LoVeD it!

Riding it was an obsession.

She would drag her horsey from room to room, and she would throw a fit if any other kid even thought about touching her horsey.

She rocked so fast on it that it would move across the rug and she would get stuck by the couch. That always ticked her off.

The horsey made noises and sang a song. One button on the left ear made galloping and neighing noises, the button on the other ear sang a song. Within a few weeks the song button stopped working.

If she was on her horsey that horsey was singing to her.

If anyone had the audacity to even touch the other button she would stop rocking, squawk at you and immediately turn the song back on.

I cannot believe that I have already forgotten the words to that song. Two years ago I never would have thought that that would make me sad.
She learned really quickly not to get going too hard, otherwise horsey was bound to tip you over right on your head.

She became an expert at pushing horsey right to the edge.

She has perfected that skill with her siblings as well,

heaven help us in the teenage years!

We were super sad when the day came that we realized Evie had outgrown her horsey.

It was a sad day indeed when horsey was put out to pasture.

Flashback Friday: Wii Goodness, Christmas Morning 2009

For Flashback Friday today I thought I would share some photos of Christmas Day 2009. That was the year we finally got a Wii. Needless to say, it was on A LOT that day. Here are a few photo highlights from that morning, followed by one of my all time favorite Wii quotes from Chub.

Ryland said to me while playing Super Mario Cart "Mom, I am just passing these guys like they were cheese!"

No Jar Left Behind - 2010

This year my Canning partner-in-crime Jenn and I decided to instigate a new philosophy of No Jar Left Behind. It was our goal to fill every jar we owned with something yummy! Last year I came extremely close, this year I was on track to accomplish my goal when I hit a major speed bump. A Hysterectomy in early October is definitely something that will take you out of the canning game. Fortunately, I already had the majority of it done so it wasn't a total loss. Below is a list of all of the yummy things I was still able to make and have the pleasure of serving my family in the many, many meals to come!

• Pears
• Raspberry Syrup
• Chocolate Raspberry Sundae Topper
• Peaches
• Tomato Peach Salsa
• Peach Salsa
• Peach BBQ Sauce
• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Tomatoes
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Cherry Pie Filling
• Cherry Jelly
• Strawberry Syrup
• Carrot Cake Jam - (I actually didn't make this, my awesome friend Jenn made this for me since she knew it was on my list and I wouldn't get to it. Talk about an awesome friend!)

Just for kicks and giggles I decided to add a list of the nummy things I canned last year as well. Since I didn't really document it anywhere back then. It was the first year that I really got into canning as an adult. What was I waiting for! Next year I plan to also list how many quarts/pints/ jelly jars etc. I make as well. That info is more for my benefit than anything. Anyhow, on to the list!

2009 Canning List

• Spiced Peach Syrup
• Peach Syrup
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Peaches
• Pears
• Tomatoes
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Tomato Salsa
• Applesauce
• Apple Pie Filling
• Strawberry Jam
• Raspberry Jam
• Strawberry Peach Jam
• Pear Butter
• Apple Butter
• Apricot Pineapple Jam
• Pomegranate Syrup
• Pumpkin Pie Pear Syrup

Photo Shoot Sunday: November 2009

I have been just so out of blogging mode for about 7 weeks, actually maybe longer. Once the new school year began I really hit a speed bump, talk about having more time to myself to get things done! Yea right. Anyhow, I am back, I hope. So fasten your seat belt because I have some serious catching up to do. It's not even funny. So, to start us off I thought I would pull out a Photo Shoot Sunday from last November 2009.

Glasses Club

October 17th, 2007. The day the Glasses Club was officially formed.

(december 2008)

(march 2009)

Wordless Wednesday:Trying To Keep Up

(july 2009)

23 Days til Spring

Really feeling the spring fever. I am wanting to get in some good Dirt Therapy. I guess I will have to make due with my Paint Therapy for now. Of course my secret hush-hush project is keeping me busy as well. Gotta hurry and get those things wrapped up before the big thaw!
Tick tock, tick tock.

52 Days til Spring......

Just in case you were wondering

Vanity

All my life I have had terrible teeth. I have always been self conscious of them. I was one of the unfortunate few in my family that didn't have all of my permanent teeth come in, because of that I have always had too much space on top and too little space on the bottom. While in the sixth grade I got braces on the top just to pull my top teeth together. They then put a permanent brace behind my front teeth to keep them from seperating again.

Fast forward about 9 years, Nate and I were dating when we got into a a pretty bad accident.
Long story short, while the car was rolling our heads made contact with each other and I sustained major dental damage. Once the car stopped rolling I could feel the permanent brace they had put in almost ten years earlier lying on my tongue. I was taken to the dentist later that day where they cemented my top row of teeth together for the next ten days. Due to the trauma they sustained a couple of my front teeth died. They eventually turned dark and I had veneers placed over the top of them. Even with the veneers they still look darker than the rest of my teeth. I have always hated that. Nate and I looked into getting me braces years ago but the prospect of having to wear braces for 4 years and the cost just didn't work at the time.

Then last year I got serious about getting braces. I was finally so beyond sick of my teeth I looked into getting them again. I was liking what I had to hear, not 4 years but around 2 instead. Although I wasn't terribly excited about being a thirtysomething with four kids while wearing braces I was ready to finally feel good about my smile. Some of my treatment was a little hard to swallow but I knew it would be worth it in the end. So in January 2009 I bit the bullet and had THREE teeth extracted.......ouch! Two molars on the bottom and the little tooth on the top right side next to my front tooth. The top one was the most difficult to part with. I will admit I am vain enough to not want to be missing one of my top front teeth. Luckily they were able to create a false tooth that connected to my braces. Every time I go in for an adjustment they just shave it down a bit while they close up the space. We are getting to where the tooth is getting too tiny to hold a bracket, and while the space is considerably smaller it is still quite noticible when my tooth is off. My days are numbered with it and fairly soon I will actually be a toothless hillbilly. NOT looking forward to it but it is a necessary evil. No turning back now though.

Prior to getting my braces on Nate was feeling bad about all that I would have to go thru and he graciously agreed to getting braces on himself to support me. I fell in love with him all over again for being so self sacrificing. Although once they were on he told me that if he had had any idea what he was going to go thru with them he would have told me "Sorry, dear, you're on your own." What a trooper. Imagine my surprise when 6 months into the deal Tiny Man got braces on his top front teeth as well. I now had my own braces support group! I loved it! It was much easier running around with half the family in braces than being the only one, and a grown up at that, with braces. Although I will admit there are a HUGE amount of adults that are sporting braces lately! LOVE IT!

Well, the Monday after Christmas Tiny Man got his braces off! He is only done with phase one and in a couple of years he will be wearing a full set. Two days later on Wednesday, after only 13 months of wearing braces Nate was able to get his off too! While I am very excited for them it is difficult losing my support group, especially with the knowledge that my hillbilly days are coming soon. I am so grateful for the men in my life and the support they have given to me this last year, even if it is just to ease my vanity burden. My continuing mantra for the next year will be "It will be worth it, it will be worth it, it will be worth it....." Wish me luck!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to go over to Nate's parents home in Layton. We eat good food, read the Night Before Christmas, read the account of Christs birth in the scriptures, exchange gifts, sing carols and have a good time. We have spent every Christmas Eve there for the last 12 years. It is always a fun time.

I took about 8 pictures trying to get a decent shot of Nate with his brothers. This wasn't the best one (once I finally got them to behave) but I figured it showed the best why he is the way he is. You can't tell very well but Janet is actually mid-slap with Daniel.
(Janet, Larry, Daniel, Mya, Nate and Matt)

Years ago Janet and LaVere started putting up a stocking for each member of the family. She then hangs them up by family all around her living room. The family is actually so big that it atually goes around the entire room almost. She always leaves out tiny stockings and safety pins for those of us who are expecting to pin it onto our stocking. We have enjoyed that tradition twice, although those days are long since over for us. So I thought now that we have a complete stocking set I would document the traditon once again.

Christmas Morning This is the older kids anxiously waiting for us to let them down the hall into the great room Christmas Morning. I always love these shots...they are always so full of anticipation and emotion. I especially love Tiny Mans face in this one....what a moment!

Tiny Man loves his new MP3 player

Ladybug loves her new Super Secret Spy Gear


Chub loves his new Star Wars Lego Star Cruiser

(note Cincess in the background with bag of gummy frogs, more on that later)


For the main family gift we had each of the kids open a present that related to it so they would all figure it out together. When they opened up Wii games they were confused and wondered if they were opening up presents meant for other extended family members.
Once they figured out that it was a Wii meant for them..........

the hunt was on! Too fun!

Tiny Man declared "WE opened the Wii", it was too cute! See the return of the crazed Christmas look in his eyes? Needless to say it was a hit!

Cincess woke up and warmed up to the idea of opening presents after she had her morning cup of milk and rock with "MY DADDY!" She LOVES her Ariel barbie doll. Actually love is not a strong enough word. I have about 35 pictures of her holding her while she tries to do other things. However, all of that changed once she dug into her stocking and found....

HER VERY OWN BAG OF GUMMY FROGS! Notice Ariel forgotten on the floor!

If you remember her in the previous photo with Chub this photo is just further proof of how high on the list gummy frogs are over Ariel . She was hilarious. She was quite possesive of them and she sat there a loooong time eating and protecting her stash!

This year for Christmas we decided to try giving Cincess a strategic present. For months she has shown that she is basically ready to be potty trained except for one major problem. She is AFRAID of the toilet. So we figured a Betsy Wetsy and a small princess potty that sings a song when you tinkle on it would do the job! She has enjoyed playing with it but it is mostly used by Ariel as a spa. So, so far no dice!

This year was also the first year Ladybug has not had a doll under the tree. I didn't even notice until Christmas morning. I felt a little sad about it but figured her days with those must be truly over since she didn't even mention a doll of any sort this year. It all seemed okay until Cincess opened up Ariel AND Betsy Wetsy. That's when I noticed my "Big Girl" commandeer them the moment Cincess forgot them. I was secretly thrilled that beneath the "Big Girl" facade my "little girl" was alive and well.