-Were too cool for that-

Katlyn and Treagon took choir last year and we were so proud of them! They did a fabulous job. This is their last concert when they were both reconsidering the singing thing... We told them to put their arms around each other and this is what they gave us. I guess they are too cool for that now......

These are just a few random pictures from the month of October 2010 that I wanted to make sure that I posted. Nothing is in order on this one....... I'm not sure what happened here. I can't get the darn picture to turn the right way so go ahead and get a little crick in you neck and give it a good look. Gage was obsessed with cowboys last year. He loved the boots and the hats and the guns and all that went along with it. So, naturally that is what he wanted to be for Halloween. Thankfully we have some cowboys for cousins:)

These adorable little boys convinced their softy dad to buy these HIDEOUS hats for them. They weren't cheap either! The things he'll do for these kiddos to make them smile like that......

This was a first for me. My first actual, real, legitimate run! I was unbelievably nervous and just about wanted to say "Just kidding, running is not my thing!" But, I didn't and I'm so glad about that decision now. This race was an absolute blast to run. The company I was with wasn't too shabby either! It was the beginning of me realizing that running can be fun, and that I'm old now so I'm going to become super chubbs if I don't get out there and exercise! It seriously stinks to get old. Remember the days in high school when we could eat whatever we wanted to because it never went straight to our rears? Why didn't I enjoy those days more?

First of all..... notice the cowboy hat. I told you he was obsessed. This was a wood hauling adventure Mike and I had with the two little boys while the others were at school. Mike bought a little chain saw for the kids to have fun with and Gage was so excited to try it out. He loved it. He's a real man! We also found a SuPeR De DuPeR lArGe TARANTULA!!!!! I still get chills thinking about it:/ Hauling wood is something we all enjoy doing as a family. It's so nice to get out in the forest and just spend that time with the 5 people that mean the most to me. All- by- ourselves.

I have the best memories of my dad and I hauling wood together when I was growing up. It was kind of our thing. I was the youngest of five girls and he really tried to help me love the hunting, fishing, wood cutting kind of things. The only one I caught onto was the wood cutting one. The others were a little bit too slow pace for me. We had adventures! Like the time we hauled a HUGE pickup load of wood and headed home, only to slit a tire on a broken tree branch. No big deal right? It wouldn't have been had the spare tire not have been under the load of wood! So that day we loaded twice, and my dad swore a few more times than that!

This was Carters costume last year. He was obsessed with Transformers! Optimus Prime was his fav and he wore this costume just about every day for a good solid month after Halloween.

Gavin was a cowboy too, but I can't find my pictures of him! He was a doll so I will keep searching. Katlyn was a tad too cool to dress up. I hate when they get older!

We are going to play some SERIOUS catch up!

It has been a SERIOUS little break I have taken from blogging. It hasn't been a break I have loved taking either. Life has just been entirely crazy for us. I have felt completely overwhelmed and truthfully just plain worn out for the past little while. I feel I haven't had time for the things that should be a little higher on my list than I put them. Blogging is one of those. Not for the purpose of other people reading and looking at all the events that have happened in our lives, but for the sole reason that I want my children to have these memories and thoughts in a book to cherish one day. I'm horrible at journaling...... In fact the last time I wrote in my journal Katlyn was one month old!!!!! So, this I gotta do better at. It's going to take me a while, but here it goes............

I'm still here. I promise!!!!!!

I know I know every time it feels I say that! We are really still here though. We have had some major problems with computers AND cameras in the last few months but now they all seem to be resolved and so I have a TON of catching up to do for my blog. One day, I hope my kids will love me for this! We have had a few birthdays and Christmas and a small trip to document. I have lots of pics but I'm lame and I'm not sure how to upload them on this new computer so I have to wait for Mike to get home. I will get it done tonight though! Life is very good for all of us. The kids seem to be growing by leaps and bounds and I love and hate it at the same time. We are happy (almost all the time;)) and we are excited for the spring and summer months! Mike is working hard as usual. He is 2 years into his apprenticeship and doing amazing! We are so proud of him! It seems sometimes that all he does is work and that is not much fun for him I know, but he does it without complaining. What a guy! I'm looking forward to the time when he can come home at a decent hour! I am doing the usual too. Being the chauffeur. Cooking the meals. Cleaning the house. Cleaning up the messes. That sounds so horrible! And some days it really is, but most days I don't mind at all. I always get good breaks going to volleyball and having a few fun nights here and there with friends. Mike practically shoves me out the door and says it makes me so much nicer when I go so I shouldn't feel guilty right? Tots is doing amazing at school! She has been on the superintendents list every quarter this year and has not missed a day of school all year! She just got done playing basketball and did FABULOUS, even making a game winning shot! She's growing into a beautiful young lady and that sure makes her dad nervous, but he hides it well! We are completely proud of this girl! Carter is also doing SO good in school! He is a smart little cookie, and shows it in all his work! He is going to play baseball this year and can't wait to get started. Carter still loves playing with his Lego's and makes some pretty amazing things! (I have a few pictures I will share!) Gage is chomping at the bit to go to kindergarten. He can't hardly wait for August to come. He lost his first tooth and now feels like he's a big guy like Carter. He is going to play t-ball this year and is so excited about that. Gavers is growing like crazy! He is now the big 2 and thinks he rules this roost! He really and truly thinks he's 5 already. Just ask him. He LOVES to ride his bike and play with his cars. He is our comedian and we love that. He makes each of us smile each and every day. He was meant for us! So, that's just a bit of our goings on. The rest will come tonight!

WOW! It's been a long time!

All I can say is that our life has been super crazy for the last few months. I kind of felt like we were spinning out of control there for a while, but we are back to our comfortable, normal again.

The three older kids have been playing soccer the last few months and have all loved it. It's fun to watch them play but busy, busy getting everyone to practice and games.

I coached Gage's team this year and that was fun for me to get to spend that time with him. Sometimes I know he feels like he gets lost in the shuffle. Mike jokes and says he has too much testosterone running through his body. I have to agree sometimes. He's all boy! No kisses, hugs, loves...... nothing! Every once in a while he will surprise me and give me a super good bear hug and I cherish those because they do not come often. He is his daddy's clone.

Carter had a lot of fun playing this year. He is not our most aggressive child, but he gets out there and does his best! He's growing into an amazing boy. Smart as a whip and kind as ever! (Most of the time! Sometimes, "Gage makes him be mean!")

Gavin is doing amazing. He just potty trained himself last week. I LOVE IT! He talking up a storm and right now his favorites are, "But why mom why?" and "k mom k?" All day long:) I can't believe he is already almost two. It has gone by entirely too fast for this mother!

Katlyn did great at soccer this year. She had a fun team with a few friends and her cousin to play with. She says she wants to play volleyball when she gets older but soccer may win out in the end. She is an aggressive little thing. I think she might get a little of that from me....... She is much sweeter than I ever was though. I LOVE this girl to pieces and am having a hard time with the fact that she is becoming a young lady!

So, I have made myself feel too busy to sit down for a few minutes and put my thoughts down for my children to read later and that makes me a little ashamed of myself. I loved President Uchdorf's talk in conference and have thought a lot about how I spend my time in life. Do I put my Heavenly Father first? Not always. Do I put my husband and children after that? Not always. Am I spending my time doing too many of the things that really don't matter? I'm afraid so.
It is hard to balance things in the world that we live in, but I know that I can do better. I want my family to know that I love my Father in Heaven. I want them to know that as long as they follow Him they will be just fine. I want them to KNOW that. I want them to feel love the most when they are at home. Home is where they should want to be. Where they will feel safe and comfortable. Where they can be themselves. I want my husband to feel like I have time for him, and just him. I don't want him to fee like he has to compete for a time slot. Lately, I'm sure that's how he has felt.
So, we are done with overscheduling. Done with always having somewhere to go and something to do. It's time for our family to be at home together, and for that to be important again. Now, I will have something to blog about again.......:)

Roosavelt

Tyler and Melinda were kind enough to invite us to go to Roosavelt with them for the day. Mike got this grand idea to get this old, old, old (you get the picture) boat from his dad that his dad traded for a car without a motor. (That tells you how much it was worth!) Mike wanted to try it out on the water and see if it would work. It was a perfect opportunity for him because Tyler would be there to tow him in if he broke down.
That would have all been fine and good if he had even gotten away from the dock.......... The boat would start but would die as soon as he put it in gear to go. Except once...... when he forgot to take the boat out of gear. He was in the back of the boat holding the charges to the battery ( I know it sounds crazy but if you knew Mike it wouldn't surprise you) and Katlyn was in the front turning the key to start it. So, he held the charges, she turned the key and due to the fact that he forgot to take the boat out of gear it shot off across the water. Not slowly I might add. Kate's face was priceless and Mike's reaction time was pretty good. We were just lucky we were the only boats at the dock!
Needless to say we parked the old boat and enjoyed the rest of the day on Tyler and Melinda's boat.
Thanks for the fun guys! We had a blast! I didn't get many pictures......

1st Day of Preschool!

Gage was so sad not to be able to go to kindergarten this year, but he was super happy to go to his 1st day of preschool! He's got an amazing teacher and the cutest kids in his class. He is learning a ton and is a much happier boy now!