Back To School

Here we are again, time to start another year of school. We had such a great summer, there was never a dull moment. This year will be Megan's last year in elementary school,that is crazy to me. The kids are all excited about their teachers this year. It always helps when the kids are excited about the new year. I have to say that I was sad to see them go back to school this year. As Jake and I were walking home from dropping the kids off at school I was getting a little emotional thinking about how old they are getting. I as alSo thinking that I Still have 4 more years before Jake goes to School. I don't know if I should be happy or sad. Here We go again With another School year, I hope it's a good one!

My Two Little Athletes

It is crazy how long it has been since I have been able to get to my blog. I have a lot of things to blog about, I just didn't have time. I am going to get all caught up, but it is going to take awhile.


Here are my two little athletes Parker and Hailey. This past week Hailey had her summer gymnastics recital. She has been in level 3 this past year. She has had fun and she did a great job. This next year she will be on a team. The gym where she is going is starting a new type of team called Team Gym. She will be competing with other teams that have this new program. She will be competing around the state with one meet being at Disneyland. I am excited for her to have this opportunity this year. It is going to be a good experience for her and I think she will learn a lot. I love that she will be training and competing as a team. The only down side is that there is no car pool, oh well the sacrifices we make for our kids.



Parker has started playing football this year. His coach from basketball is also the coach of the football team. Last year at the end of basketball he asked Parker to be on his football team. Parker was very nervous because he didn't really understand how to play the game. He started practices a few weeks ago and has loved every minute of it. I think that the boys look so cute in their team uniforms. Parker is trying to decide if he loves football as much as basket ball. Parker had his first game today. I was amazed at how people get into football, it is pretty crazy. The little 4Th and 5Th grade cheer leaders were there, I always wonder Where the little girls cheered now I know. I guess I have a lot to learn about being a football mom. It is going to be an exciting year with my little athletes.

Cherry Picking

When Bill and I were dating one of his professors that he worked with told him that we could pick cherries off the trees that he had at his house. We had a blast picking cherries and we always remember that date with fond memories. For years we have talked about taking our kids to pick cherries and finally this summer we did it!! It was so fun to pick a cherry then eat a cherry then pick a cherry. Even Jake loved the cherries, of course he would find some great ones on the ground and he would want to eat them. We all had a really great time and I think that the cherries taste the best when you pick them yourself. I think that we need to make this activity a family tradition.

My New Hobby

I have been wanting to get a SLR for about a year and in March I finally was able to get one. I had taken a photography workshops last month, but tonight my SIL and I went to a workshop in Draper. It was a lot of fun and I was able to bring some of my kids to practice on. The kids did great and I learned a lot about my camera, amongst other things. I am going to share some of my favs because I think they look really cute. I was worried about Jake because he is at that crazy age, but Emilie, the teacher, did a great job of getting him to smile and look cute. Check out my side bar for a couple more cute pics.

This one of Parks cracks me up, I have never seen him look so serious in his whole life.

There were way too many cute Jake pics, but I liked this one because he is looking right into the camera.

The cute photogenic cousins had a bunch of cute ones. I love their pout looks. Abbie is such a ham she cracked me up.

Swimming Lessons

It has been a few years since my kids have had swimming lessons. Luckily I have a great neighbor who puts activities together for us and she set up swimming lessons for us this year, thanks Robyn, I don't know what I would do without you. The kids had a blast!! I was worried with Jake being the walker boy that he is that I would be chasing him around and that I wouldn't be able to watch the kids swim. Jake was actually very cooperative. Since we went to lessons and a private home pool Jake was able to walk around playing with balls and chasing the cat. It was a really great experience for all of the kids and I think next year we will have to start swim team. Way to go kids you did great, I am very proud of all of you.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

How Do You Say Goodbye?!!!!

How do you say goodbye to your mother and grandmother? My sweet mother-in-law was called home May 31, 2009 at 5:30 AM. It has been a whirlwind of a month starting with the devastating news that she had stage 4 liver cancer. Then they bought the house in Utah, then we cleaned up the house in IF and moved them to Utah. The visit to Huntsman was supposed to be the first of many but it ended up to be the only one. Sylvia started to go down hill very fast last Saturday and on Sunday morning with her family surrounding her she finished her mission her on earth.

I have been so blessed to have a great love and admiration for this wonderful woman. I know that she was one of the most valiant woman I have ever had the privilege of knowing and loving. It was hard for me when we were first married to let her help me with whatever needed to be done. It was hard for me to let her help us when we had babies because I didn't want to seem weak. I was such a fool. When our little Rylee was born I was humbled and was at the lowest I have ever been in my life. Sylvia was so kind and she helped us while Rylee was in the hospital. It was so nice to know that my kids were being taken care of and loved while we were dealing with things in the hospital. I had to just let go of feeling strong and I let her help me in any way she wanted and I was so blessed for doing so. After Rylee came home from the hospital she would come every month or so and watch Rylee so Bill and I could take our kids and do something with them or watch all of the kids so Bill and I could just go on a date. During these times she and Rylee developed a special connection and love for each other. Many times she would take care of Rylee so we could go to church together as a family. We learned to have a great system when she was here, she would do whatever she wanted to help us and I willing let her and appreciated every second of the help she gave us. She would stay with my kids when I would go to girls camp or if we went on a vacation. She took care of my kids in February when I went to Australia. I am so glad that they got to spend that time with her.

It was so hard for her to let people help her. I was so grateful for every second I was able to help and take care of her this past month while she was sick. That was the greatest thing we could do for her was to serve her with all our hearts.

My kids loved to have her come to visit. She always brought a fun little toy or treat for the kids. They loved to do puzzles together, and Hailey became very good at doing them. She always knew what the kids would like. She also made cookies every time she came and of course she would let the kids help her. She loved to knit and sew and she always made the cutest baby blankets for the grand kids. She also made cute little knitted sweaters for each grandchild.

This is going to be a hard year as we all adjust to living life without Grandma because we love her so much. I am grateful for the lessons that she taught me and for the way she raised her children and for how much she loved my children. We will miss you grandma but we are glad that you and Rylee can be together and can talk and laugh together until we can be with you again. We love you!!!!!