A Week of Hiking

We decided to do a little hiking this week to get out of the house. Our kids love to go to the Grotto, so one night after we ate dinner we went up there. It is a very easy hike. The kids always like to play in the waterfall and it is only a few minutes up the canyon. 

We had also seen another place up the canyon called Salamander pond on one of my friend's blogs, so we decided to be adventurous and try to find it even though we couldn't find out where it was from anyone.  So this morning we got our backpacks and water and decided to head out.  We got up the canyon and followed the trail and GPS for what seemed a long time.  We never found our destination.  We had a fun hike, even though our 2 youngest didn't wear hiking shoes and have blisters for not listening.  It was fun and we enjoyedour little adventure.  We think we finally know where it is at and are going to try it out again another weekend. 

Headed up the river.

Dad sitting on a rock while the kid's needed a break.

Summer T-Ball

I have been a blog slacker. I haven't posted anything since I had my surgery and realized how many things of my kids I haven't posted. So here are some things that are from awhile back but needed put on. 

Tyler played t-ball this summer and had a good time.  He goofed off a lot, but he had a lot of fun and had a coach that taught him a lot.  They got to start coach pitch after the first 2 weeks and that was good for them to get used to. 

He would get so excited when he would get a hit off of his coach. It took him quite awhile to get the confidence to hit the ball and not back away. It is so fun to watch them learn new things!

Waiting his turn, he thought it was cool to have a backwards cap.

My First Quilt

I told my sister I would post pictures of this quilt I made for my little boy. This was my first undertaking of a piece quilt.

It took a little effort getting it figured out and cutting out the squares and triangles to fit just right. He is so excited and now I need to figure out what to put on the back. He is wanting the basketballs. Got any suggestions for anyone that has done this before?

Here are a few different views:

BIG TROUBLE!

I love my 10 year old! He always cracks me up. He is always such a sweet and sensitive kid.

Last night we had put our kids to bed and were watching t.v. My husband and I hear some footsteps coming down the stairs and are wondering what excuse the kids have this time...

He comes down and tells us he has a confession. He got in BIG TROUBLE at school today. Some girl kept calling him a buttmunch and he finally got sick of it and called her a buttmunch back. She went and told the teacher so he got in trouble. The teacher made him apologize to the girl.
He couldn't go to school the next day cause he knows his teacher thinks he is a bad kid now and she hates him for doing something bad.

We told him it would be okay.

I shouldn't be laughing, but as soon as he walked off, my husband and I started laughing our guts out that he thought he was in big trouble. He is such a funny kid.

I am so grateful that I have such a sensitive kid. He is always so worried about being good and how other people will feel.

What Were You Doing...

My Sister-In-Law's had this on their blogs and it got me thinking. I decided to do it too.

TWENTY years ago I...
1. I was in 7th grade
2. My 7th grade English teacher broke her arm in class by falling off a desk
3. I started wearing makeup

TEN years ago I...
1. I was celebrating my second anniversary
2. We were submitting Pharmacy School applications for my husband
3. We were getting ready to move to Vegas

FIVE years ago I...
1. Had my last baby
2. We just built our house and moved in
3. My migraines started

THREE years ago I...
1. I started hunting with my husband and loved it
2. I started to enjoy being a mom again
3. We spent a lot of time at the cabin

ONE year ago I...
1. I was training for a bike ride and crashing a lot
2. I registered my baby for Kindergarten
3. I started blogging

So far THIS YEAR I have...
1. Paid a lot of doctor bills
2. Gone to the school every Monday and Tuesday
3. Tried to make a goal to spend more time enjoying my time with my kids

YESTERDAY I...
1. Spent my day in bed with a migraine
2. Read 39 clues with my 6 year old
3. Read scriptures at bedtime with my kids

TODAY I
1. Babysat my friend's cute baby
2. Had to buy a new phone
3. Started laundry

TOMORROW I will...
1. Go on a field trip with my Kindergartner to the Dinosaur museum
2. Finish laundry
3. Finish Sharing Time

In the NEXT YEAR I hope to...
1. Find out what is causing my migraines
2. Start using my stamping stuff (when my room is finished)
3. Spend more quality time with my kids

EVERYDAY I..
1. Try to live the Gospel
2. Love my kids and husband
3. Do a little housework

Blue & Gold Banquet

Last night was our Blue & Gold Banquet. I am glad I just had to help a little and not be in charge.
Our oldest son earned his Webelos badge. He had all of his requirements done last pack night but he hadn't met the waiting time yet. He has been so excited about scouts especially since he got into Webelos.

Pinning the Mother's pin on

We did a cake decorating contest for the dens since the theme was Happy Birthday BSA.
It was great to see what the boys did. Our Webelos had the messiest table when they were done and our Wolves had the cleanest.

Scouts are pretty funny. We had a great time with the boys and their families.

Sharing Time and Kids

Sometimes I wonder if the kids ever learn when I do sharing time at church. Last Sunday, my sharing time was on the Atonement. My kids and I had been reading in Alma 33, about the story about Moses and the serpents when I was trying to get ready for it. It talked about how it referred to the crucifixion and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I never knew it had anything to do with it. It probably hit more home cause I was thinking about it.

I decided to let the kids act out the story and then use the water with food coloring and bleach to show them how sometimes we can make mistakes but because of the Atonement we can repent and our Spirit can become clean again.

When we got home that day, my 6 year old said to me "Mom, I never knew that Jesus died for us so that we could go back to him."

He didn't get the whole entire concept, but I guess if it is only my kids learning from my sharing time, it makes me feel better that all of the preparation is teaching someone. I realized that day that the kids really are learning something.

Honest Scrap

I guess this is like a tag, I have to list 10 honest things about myself. It has taken me a few days. I haven't been feeling very positive. Then you have to pick 4 people to do it too.

1. Today I let my son stay home from school for no good reason. I have never done that before. I am usually too anal about going to school. I realized sometimes kids just need a break too. He is just helping me around the house and it has been fun to have him home alone.

2. My oldest is starting to act like a teenager and it scares me. He has always been Mr. Obedient. It is a little weird to have him start talking back a little and not tell me about things anymore. He is so sensitive he always fixes it though.

3. I really don't like doctors telling me that feeling like crap and having a million migraines is normal. I had a test this week. It wasn't normal but it didn't find anything out either.

4. I don't know how to eat healthy. I would really like to learn how. I bought me some books to try some new healthy recipes.

5. I am thankful for a patient husband who helps me when I don't feel good. He always helps take care of my kids and my house.

6. I love riding my bike. I am hoping to get my headaches in control so I can ride in this again this year. I had so much fun and my kids loved the mini vacation.

7. I never thought being in the Primary Presidency would be such a challenging calling. It takes a lot of work. I am amazed at how many people you have to deal with.

8. I have to do sharing time this week on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have not been feeling very happy. I think that this sharing time has been a good one for me to do because it has helped me remember that Christ does know what we are all going through and how we feel know matter how bad it is.

9. I am a Nervous Nelly. I worry about everything. I need to learn to not worry about things that don't matter.

10. I hate doing laundry, it is my least favorite chore in the house. I guess I was thinking about is since today is laundry day.

I am giving this to:

Melinda Brunson
Vanessa Schmidt
Marcy Cox
Amy Guymon

Best Friends and First Crushes

I should be finishing dishes but I was watching my little girl and my neighbor play yesterday and started thinking....

Her and my little neighbor boy cannot live a day without playing together. It is so cute, everyday as soon as we walk in the door from school, she asks if she can go to his house. If she isn't at her house within 20 minutes, he is over here asking for her. I keep trying to figure out what they do together. They always play at his house. Yesterday, they actually came and played over here. It was so funny to watch them play together. They are truly best friends.

It reminded me of when I was little, I had a crush on this little boy named Mike Judi. I would ask him to come and play. Although like my little girl, I don't think he enjoyed coming to play at my house.

It has been fun to watch each one of my kids with each of their little crushes.

My oldest had a little girl we always hung out with named Hailey. He always called her Hailey Butt. Her nickname was really Hailey bug. He always told us he was going to marry her in the Salt Lake Temple. Now that he is older you can't talk to girl's anymore or people say they are your girlfriend.

My middle child has had his crush since we moved in our house. It is ongoing since they were 2. Now it is only a crush of convenience. When they were in Kindergarten another boy asked her to be his girlfriend and she told him Ty was her boyfriend. But if you ask either one they will deny it. They still play together though.

It is fun to watch your kids go through the different stages of childhood.

Frustrating Migraines

Today I had to go to a Cardiologist. It is kind of the last step to possibly finding out what could possibly causing my migraines. It was kind of a bittersweet appointment. He told me we are going to do an Echocardiogram next week. I am not even sure what that is. I was told that is a test to see if I have a hole in my heart that never healed as a child. It sometimes causes terrible migraines in people.

But if it turns up negative, it is pretty much the end of the road and I am just set to deal with these crazy migraines. I guess when you have a migraine and end up in the ER because you think you are having a stroke and they tell you that it is completely normal, it is very frustrating and it doesn't feel like it should be normal. I am hoping this isn't the end of the road but I guess if it is we will deal with the results the way we have for the last 5 years.

I am not writing this so anyone will feel bad for me. I was just feeling a little frustrated today. Has anyone else ever heard of these migraines?

Wordless Wednesday