Play Date

I had a play date with the little boys today, courtesy of my work. They even threw in lunch, slushies & a $50 gift card, my prize in the drawings contest. (Sorry Josh. I tried for the 47 inch TV, but no luck.) We are all exhausted & sunburned. It was a really fun day. Jake says that I am still "the best mom in the world". We'll see how long that lasts...maybe until chore time? Here are some highlights of our day:

Hole in One

I couldn't make any putts except hole 14, my hole in one. Yeah baby!

Monticello Temple

Dustin & Angie were sealed together with their children, Brennden & baby Charity, in the Monticello Temple last weekend. Here are a few snapshots of Dustin & Angie's special day:

Jake took this family portait

(L-R: Cedric, Kelsey, Amanda, Nalene, Mike, Angie, Dustin, Lane-in-hiding, Keri, Randy-in-hiding, Dixie, Josh, Grant. Kids in front: Jenna & Sydney. Not pictured: Lander, Jake, Brennden & Charity) Jake hugging JosherLander mauling Uncle Cedric

Lander still claims he is going to marry his cousin Sydney

Another Jake portrait--Dixie & Lane

Scotch Creek 4WD Trail

The research for my book continues. This time it took us on the Scotch Creek Trail that goes from Rico, Colorado to Hermosa Creek, Colorado. Cedric, Kelsey & Dustin tagged along, squished in the back seat. I love research, especially when it is fun!

Go #2

Here is a conversation I had with Jake while packing for our recent NM trip:

Dixie: showing a box of coveted Cookie Crisp cereal to the boys sings out, "Jake, you have the b-e-s-t (imagine the Nalene-like vibrato, folks) in the w-o-r-l-d (again use the imagination)!"

Jake: looking serious responds, "Close" as he gives a peace sign and continues, "Not number one. You are the second best mom."

Dixie: no longer singing asks, "Second, huh? Who's number one?"

Jake: stating emphatically, "Tiffany is!"

New Sofa

The DI couches are gone. Alan & Heather delivered our new sofa this weekend after telling us "Everyone is so glad you got rid of the old ones." I know they were quirky, but come on, everyone?

Kindergarten

Do you remember being so excited for something that you would later dread? I hope that isn't the case with Lander! He could barely contain himself as he waited for school to start. He even insisted that we wait an extra 45 minutes outside for the bus so he wouldn't miss it.

2nd Grader

"Mom, I can't believe I am in second grade now!" -Jake, age 7

I had to beg this picture from a neighbor. It was taken on his I phone, so it's a little small, but I am glad to have it. Jake insisted "stay inside mom!" It would be too embarrassing to have your mom take your picture, but a neighbor's dad? No problem! Jake's bus stop: Hayden, Preston, Austin, Justin, Brady, Jake

News Clip

I couldn't upload the news clip. So here is a link:
http://depository.shadowtv.net/media/267/2008/232/20/17126_267_20080819_201319_147.wmv

Jake's 30 seconds of fame

Jake being interviewed by the Nate Eaton of the local CBS news station before he smokes him in the obstacle course. Go Jakey!

Tank

Didn't I say it? It takes a miracle for Lander to keep a straight face for a photo.

Check out Jake's lack of teeth. He just lost his 5th tooth.

Blackhawk

Lander told us that he is going to fly one of these some day. I told him we need good boys like him to do so. I am so thankful to the men & woman who risk everything to keep us safe.

Celebrate Youth

We had a lot of fun yesterday attending the Celebrate Youth party at the park. The National Guard brought a Blackhawk helicopter, tanks, etc. The kids played on the huge blow up slides & climbed rock walls. Everyone was given piles of cotton candy, popsicles & suckers. Jake even got to race a guy from the news & was on TV. It was a lot of fun & something that they beg to do each year...and it is free!

News Flash

Have you heard?

Twilight's release date has been moved up to

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11-21-08

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Check out the new(ish) trailer: http://twilightthemovie.com/

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Ohhh yeah!

Bush Berry Farm

We spent the morning picking raspberries.

...three hours later... "Mom are we done yet?"

Another Lander pose...just for the camera

It's pretty sad when even I start asking myself "are we done yet?"

Welcome to Lander

Lander is always doing goofy things. Here he is with snowpants on (it's in the 90's outside) & posing for the camera. I can't ever get him to make a straight face!

Little Green & friends

The boys have a new hobby--catching things, mostly grasshoppers, frogs and bees mixed in with the occasional garden snake. As I sit at the computer, I am looking at two different jars filled with bees. So far no one has been stung, yet, although we have had quite a few insect casualties and one close call when Lander tripped on the stairs last night, shattering a jar that happened to contain one very mad bumblebee.

Just three days ago, I found six jars in random places around the house; back of the toilet, kitchen counter, on Lander's bed, on my bed...they were everywhere! Each jar was filled with as many grasshoppers as the boys could fit inside before they jumped out. I can still hear the clinks & clicks as they maneuvered in the jars. Talk about gross, but I have been learning. Do you know that we have grasshoppers that are grey, brown, yellow, green, and even striped with orange? Who knew? Here is a picture with Lander and the smallest grasshopper he found, named "Little Green". Jake didn't want his frog to die (the usual occurrence for frogs at our house), so he let this one go in the yard after he spent a full day mauling the thing. It is still probably hyperventilating (or maybe it went into an early hibernation) from the post traumatic stress imposed by excited boys trying to see how far a frog will jump.

Going Private

Yep, its true. We're going private. Send me your email so I can add it to our list. Thanks!

It's in the blood

I dug in my heals...Vampires? I'm not really in to reading about vampires... And I put it off for over a year. My friends asked if I had read the book... Um, no thank you... My young women started pestering me... Are you serious? I really don't want to read about bloodsuckers... My family even started in on the tirade. I couldn't escape the comments or the sighs from devoted fans.

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The ice was wearing thin, dangerously thin. Everywhere I looked it was Twilight this or Twilight that. I wanted to gag. Dayna was the final straw, you know, the one that broke the camel's back? She said how much she liked Twilight. So I gave in. I succumbed...I cracked. And now, I am hooked.

*

In the Mormondom drug-free world that I live, the Twilight series quickly became my narcotic. But at least it is legal. Of course, I may have to report to the bishop that once I start into the books I kind of ignore my children, my house doesn't get cleaned, and (gulp) I procrastinate preparing my Young Women's lesson until Sunday morning... Yeah, I know, I can already feel the fiery inferno.

*

But oh is it worth it!

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I would love to hear your comments on the series & it's ending. Be forewarned, the comments may reveal too much for anyone who hasn't read Breaking Dawn yet or has somehow put off the inevitable...Keri, you know you want to!....Now talk away ladies!

Another one bites the dust

Much to Josh's glee, our old TV finally decided to give up the ghost. Let the funeral dirge begin!

Cove Fort

The squirrels, whoops, I mean boys, wanted me to post these pictures from Cove Fort. It's a little pioneer fort just outside of Beaver, Utah. It's a great pit-stop when you need one.

Reasons I'm Voting Democrat

I'm sure that I will offend someone (Can you imagine the debate Grandma & I could have?)...well, sorry! Enter this blog at your own risk!!

Reasons I'm voting Democrat
*I'm voting Democratic because an inexperienced US Senator gives great speeches that make me feel good.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe three or four elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution through judicial fiat every few days to suit some idealists who would otherwise NEVER get their agendas past the voters.
*I'm voting Democratic because I don't want a stimulus check to spend. Let the government spend it for me.
*I'm voting Democratic because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the employees (after taxes).
*I'm voting Democratic because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe that churches should only be allowed for political speeches.
*I'm voting Democratic because I don't want Doctors who were at the top of their classes to operate on me. I want a government employee who makes $50k a year and couldn't hack it as a contractor or an engineer doing my surgery.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe that paying $4.00 a gallon or more is no reason to drill for the mountain of oil we are sitting on in THIS country. We wouldn't want to have to move a couple of polar bears now would we?
*I'm voting Democratic because when we pull out of Iraq , I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe that when the terrorists don't have to hide from us over there, when they come over here I don't want to have any guns in the house to fight them off with.
*I'm voting Democratic because I don't want to eat poison food and drink infected water. We all know Republicans love that stuff. (Ever wonder why the most left wing country in the world ( China ) is the most polluted?)
*I'm voting Democratic because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.
*I'm voting Democratic because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want.
*I'm going to marry my TV. I'm voting Democratic because I REALLY believe there is no bias in the media.

the DREAM comes true

After 2 years of waiting, Josh's dream finally came true! Josh informed me that I could bring his dinner & pillow to the FJ, since it doesn't fit inside.
Checking out the supercharger. I never understood the hype...but let's just say that I now stand corrected. This baby has giddy-up!

Fun in the Sun

We had a lot of fun staying with Devin & Brianna: playtime at Jumping Jacks ("It was borrrring" according to Jake), hours spent in the pool ("Uncle Chad, throw us again!"), a mid afternoon visit to Hidden Valley Park when it was only 107 outside ("It's hot as Hades here!... Mom? What is Hades?"-Jake). It was stormy & Lander was sick so we had to pass up a trip to Lake Powell. Oh well. Maybe next time!

so blessed...seriously!

Check out my latest inspiration!

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

Help!

Missing: 1 brown and grey snake named "Snakey"

Last Seen: Thursday evening, in a box in the garage

Reward: A reward of 2 happy boys will be awarded to any who have information leading to Snakey's whereabouts.

Contact Info: Jake & Lander

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Okay, okay! We confess! Lander caught the snake. Jake put it in a plastic box with a little water. He even left the lid cracked so that it wouldn't suffocate. But, when Josh was leaving for work the next morning, the snake had just climbed out of the box & was slithering on the garage floor. What is any decent man to do? Oh, the delimma! Josh took pity on the snake & set it out in the lawn. Maybe Snakey will come visit us??? We can only hope!