Super Fun Give Away!

Go to THIS awesome site and from there you can enter to win a photo shoot from Studio Lush! They do AmAzInG photos!! Go enter!!

(and I know I havent been here forever, I have TONS to share, so hopefully soon!

What a difference a year makes!

I am sure I have put this first one here before, but I really want to show it to "Ben's Mom" and I also thought it would be fun to see what a difference a year makes! This first video is a year old, and just a quick interview I did with Sage. Then I will post a recent one from today.

We have been very busy lately!! The beginning of December, my sister flew in from Texas for a weekend and we had a wonderful visit. We had our annual family Christmas party, and the kids have been skiing. This was Sage's first year and she loved it! We also have been baking a TON and the kids love helping me in the kitchen (though Kyson needs to remember that when he cracks his egg to open it OVER the bowl, not over the dishwasher!)

We are excited for Christmas and all the joy that comes with that.

Happy Holidays!

A Heartbreaking Story

This awesome family has kids that go to our school. Please read their story, post a comment on their blog, and take whatever steps you feel is appropriate. I can't imagine being charged and convicted of exposing minor children to a dangerous cult for taking them to the LDS Church. If you have a blog, I ask that you please post their story and ask others to do the same. No one deserves to be forced back to a country where, because of unique circumstances, they can not freely embrace their chosen religion, and fear persecution from those who should help them most. Their family.

http://www.keepourfamilytogether.blogspot.com/

A Love Hate Relationship

I have a Love-Hate relationship with laundry. I Hate doing it, but I LOVE what it represents.

I hate the endless cycle. I always have a ton to do. If it is all washed, I still have to fold, iron, and hang. It never ends. Tonight I was sticking yet another load in and suddenly started singing. (Yes, I do that sometimes, just burst into song like my life is a musical. Kyson's teacher's wife caught me singing to my nephew as we were grocery shopping. An embarrassing habit to say the least, especially since I can't sing worth a darn)

Anyways, I started singing "The Song That Never Ends" from Lambchops. I don't know why that one popped into my head, but, if you think about it; Laundry is the song that never ends. Those are the things I hate about laundry. The endless cycle. It isn't like cleaning a room. You can shut the door and keep people out so it stays clean. You can't keep people naked so you don't accumulate more laundry.

But, there are things that I love about laundry. I love what it symbolizes. It shows the growth of our family. I remember the very short period when Farren and I were first married, and I had two piles of laundry. One for me and one for him. It was so simple, maybe one load a week and we were good.

Then Kyson came along and our pile grew. Soon (very soon) afterward, Aspen came and once again our pile grew. Our piles stayed that way for almost 2 years before Sage added another pile of laundry. Now we are 5. 5 stacks of laundry. I love to see how much we have come since the days of two meager piles of laundry. Hopefully within the next year or so we will have 6 piles of laundry.

Running With Angels

So this post has been slow coming. Every year since we had Savannah, we attend the Annual Walk To Remember. It is a wonderful way to remember and honor our Savannah Grace. My Mom attended, getting there just in the nick of time. She went to the Larkin where Savannah is buried, in Sandy, instead of the one where the walk was, in Salt Lake. She got there just as the speaker was finishing up.

The speaker wasn't particularly good this year. The first year was the best speaker so far, and last year they had the man who designed the Christmas Box Angel Statue. This years speaker wasn't very interesting, but it has played a role in my life lately, which I will get back to.

After the speaker, they did a musical number. A man sang "Glory Baby" which happens to be the song that we played at Savannah's service. Of course that brought on the tears. This is the one day a year I let myself be sad. Her Birthday we always do something fun and happy, go to the cemetery and sing her Happy Birthday, and this is my sad day I get each year.

We did the walk and I was honored to be able to release a balloon for my dear friend Jenn and her son Coco Paul. We also released Savannah's balloons. It was really nice.

I saw a woman who I had met once at a SHARE meeting and we figured out that our babies are buried right by one another. Her son Maddox died shortly after birth. It was so nice to see her, and I was THRILLED to see they have another baby boy who is the picture of health. I'm so happy for them.

Now back to the speaker. This woman spoke about needing to DO something with her grief, and get it out in a positive way. So, she started running. Through this she started a 5K that is held each year at Thanksgiving Point called Running With Angels. I knew as soon as she mentioned it, that THIS is something I want to do. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a runner. I struggle with my weight and I am just not a runner. At all. But I AM going to do this. I know I can and I have a darn good reason.

So I started by Googling the race. It will be in May next year, so I have a good chunk of time. Yea! Then I wasn't sure how to get started. I had tried to start jogging a gazillion times, but nothing has stuck, the motivation just wasn't there. So, next I Googled Training for a 5K, and I came across a site called Couch to 5K and it breaks down the running into 9 weeks, and it says that in 9 weeks you should be able to do a 5K, running the whole thing.

I downloaded some pod casts, but the music that went with the timing you need for the program just wasn't my style. Minus some 2pac, I can't stand rap for the most part, but I pushed through it, but couldn't finish the program. I was walking through runs and it was killing me. The next time I made it a bit further and a bit further. I did week one for two weeks. At the middle of the second week (so my 5th time) I could make it through the whole program. I was so proud of myself. Yea!!! Then this last week was busy busy and I havent ran in over a week, so I will start again tonight.

I WILL do this. I know I will. And I would love you guys who are local to run it right there with me.

A whole bunch of stuff.....

Because sometimes it can be a hassle to upload new pics from my CF to the computer, I don't do it very often!! So, I have quite a few things to tell about!

First, Sage started Kindergarten. She loves it, and we are in so much trouble with her. She always tells us what boys chased her that day, and there is one little boy in there who often tells her that if he walks past her just one more time he might have to hold her hand and that would make Sage his girlfriend. Oh boy she is 5. Here are some pictures of her that day with her best friend Jesi.

My sister Kristine planned a "family reunion" to plan future ones. She and her husband Joe brought up their rock climbing gear, and both girls climbed up the mountain in their harnesses. They did such a great job. Aspen wanted to go much higher, but we were worried since she doesn't weigh much that she wouldn't be able to repel back down. Kyson was too busy playing with Jaden so he didn't climb, but my cousin's kids climbed also. It was lots of fun, and I think we settled on Jackson Hole next August for a big family trip.

Kyson and Jaden

Aspen

Sage

Jasmine

Tri and Sage

Saturday night is usually "Family Movie Night" at our house (today is an exception) Sometimes we switch it to game night, but lately it has been movies. 2 weeks ago we decided to watch Pirates of the Caribbean. So I surprised the kids and for dinner I made pasta that was shaped like shells and homemade cheesey garlic bread. I cut the bread into slices and turned each slice into a sail boat. They were really cute. We drank Matey Milk, all on a bright blue tablecloth so we could be in the ocean. After dinner I gave Aspen a clue, and off they went on a treasure hunt. They were SO excited to figure out where the next clue would be hidden, that when they got to the treasure (snacks for the movie) they grabbed the paper out of the treasure and ran off to read it. No one even noticed the treats. It was hilarious, however, as Farren reminded me, now the kids want fun creative family nights each week, and watching bedtime Stories in jammies isnt going to cut it anymore. So, I will have to get creative and see what I can some up with!

The next morning I got up bright and early and started making applesauce again. We went to the Farmer's Market and bought 66 pounds of apples. This time I had an attachment for my Kitchenaid and it made it SO much easier!! Aspen was a trooper and stayed in there the whole time, feeding the apples into the machine, while I cut and cooked them, prepping them for Aspen to do. We have a LOT of applesauce. Even though it was easier, it was still a lot of work and very time consuming. However, with how fast we go through applesauce, it was well worth it. I also love the feeling of accomplishment that I get when I know I made something. Silly I know, but I still feel like I accomplished something.

Kyson cutting apples

Aspen feeding the machine

Sage feeding the machine

Cooking apples. See all that dark around my burner?

Well, that is all over now from the big pot you do the canning bath.

I have tried bleach, Mr Clean erasers, everything and I can't get it off.

HELP!!!!!!

All done! Red apples make for pink applesauce!

Today was the Walk To Remember, and I will post more about that later. Hope this catches us up a bit!

Catching Up

So I realize that I have been slacking on updating our family blog. Things have been SO busy, I guess it took a very small accident on my part to slow me down. I dont have any pictures because my camera is up in my closet and I just can't climb the stairs one more time today. However, we have been very busy and had lots to do.

Kyson is doing very well in school and LOVES catching all sorts of bugs to bring to his teacher. Tonight they found a snake, but when he came back from getting a jar to catch it, he was gone. Im sure Farren is VERY grateful that they didn't find the snake. He isn't too fond of them! Kyson had a sleepover with his cousin Jaden, and they had a blast.

Aspen is such a great helper and I just adore her. She excels at all she does, and always wants to try more things. At our Family reunion a few weeks ago, she rock climbed up the side of the mountain in a harness with her Aunt Kristine and her Uncle Joe. She has such a crush on Joe, it is adorable, and he is so sweet with her. I think it started at DisneyLand when she decided she wanted to hold his hand, ride things with him, and have him carry her when she was worn out. I just love this picture.

Sage is doing very well in Kindergarten and is beginning to read more words. She loves to help with the babies I have during the day and have tea parties. Her tea set is the best thing the Easter Bunny ever brought!!! On Thursday I took her and a lil guy I watch to the pool, and they had so much fun! She was so very proud of herself that she has grown enough to walk all around the pool (they have a separate lap pool) without her head going under. She loves the monkey bars, and her hands are torn to bits to prove it!

Farren is still looking for a job, and we hope the interview he has this coming week goes well. However, we are well aware that he is competing with over 6,000 other applicants.

I am doing well also. PTA and kids keep me busy. Thursday I had a small fall and badly sprained my ankle, but I can finally walk again. Kind of. It finally made me sit and do nothing for 3 1/2 days, though I read a good book and cleaned out my DVR. Thursday night my dear friend Tiffani kept the kids while we were at the doctor and also made us dinner. It was SO yummy, and as soon as I get a recipe from her I will share it. She says it is SUPER easy. All the kids were begging us for our portions. The kids also had peas, which I have never made because I don't like them. I need to be better about serving my children foods even if I don't like them. Sage apparently loves peas. She says Tiffani makes the BEST peas ever because she adds a little bit of salt. She also said she ate them with her hands because Britton (tif's adorable toddler) was. Tiff, I promise she has table manners!!!

I am starting to prepare for the Holidays, and they will be like no other we have ever had. Something tells me that will be a GOOD thing though!

I have also been more "domestic" lately. I made and canned strawberry jam (which is SO yummy a jar only lasts a couple days) and I also made and canned Applesauce with my Mom. She has all the pictures of that though. We had SO many apples, but they sure didn't make very much applesauce. We are going to pick more apples and make more sauce hopefully this week. It always seemed like so much work, and it is a lot of work, but the feeling of accomplishment when you hear your jars pop is so worth it!! I also am anxious to try a few other types of jams, and possibly canning my own spaghetti sauce. We shall see how adventurous I get!!