july in review

calendar quotes:

when asked to leave his home and settle a new area..."i pledge to you this day that we have every intention of living first by covenant and then, and only then, by comfort and convenience." -pioneer in "Undaunted"

"are there no rocky roads to travel, no rugged mountains to climb, no trails to blaze, no rivers to ford? or is there a very real need today for that pioneer spirit to guide us away from the dangers that threaten our society?" -President Monson
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july was a bunch of fun...we headed (that is me and the kids) to washington for a week of fun at our anderson reunion. i barely made the drive there( me and christy traveled together with our 9 kids together)-i did real well until the last 1/2 hour but of course they all welcomed us in with a bunch of fireworks...we all laughed that washington must not be going through the recession because everyone had huge expensive fireworks. crazy! my brother in law blake made this contraption while we were there out of my dads lumber in the yard-

the kids would catapult water balloons and balls(no kids) across the fence into the school yard, kent would have loved this. and then for family home evening we headed to a park by my sisters house for a game of relieval bear...my kids had so much fun-we would play this hide and seek game with some good friends of ours growing up, here is brooke and her cousin hiding in the brush-
we played two rounds of boys against girls (i think the boys won both times). i got caught and released from jail and thought i got hidden before anyone got me but koy snuck up behind me and said, "i found you mom!" he's hauling me back to jail and he just couldn't of been prouder of himself-
here's most of the group in our camo.
the next day we all headed to the lake, where my dad had 2 boats with drivers waiting to entertain us all day long. the kids loved boating. i don't think the tubes were ever empty...all thumbs up!
i snuck a picture of our triplets...kelsi, brent and tyrel on shore. i have tons of baby pictures of these three but it's been a while. i'm glad they are still good buddies and the boys put up with kelsi:) you would never guess kelsi is the oldest compared to these big football boys-
the next day we headed to the beach, i just loved this picture of kaden and brenden sleeping with their nerf guns. kaden was so obsessed with nerf while we were there and brenden had some pretty cool guns-
our beach experience was about as perfect as it could get, we all could never remember a warmer day than our first. here's my brooke doing a cartwheel, anytime there is open space...i love it! and notice my dad back there, he immediately draws his circle for his fort that we all build and watch the tide destroy: i love that some things never change!
the kids loved the water...not me, it was still like make me want to cry cold-i ran out one time to get pictures and then i was the beach bum for the next couple of days. i was glad i had sisters who would take my kids out swimming. kelsi loves the ocean-(ahhhh, just look at that joyful face)
we had a friend come visit our campfire at nights...he loved marshmellows!
our second day we woke up to find that our cars had been broken into, those of us that left them unlocked anyways. purses, cameras, gps, all gone...but everyone seemed to not let it get them down. we spent the whole day playing at the beach again, it was colder but everyone just put on their wetsuits-
we built castles and caves and tunnels...and told pirate treasure hunting stories!
we even got to search for some treasure that jack black the one-eyed, one-armed, and one-legged pirate had left for us, my dad is telling all the kids the story here-
we came back to my parents home to celebrate some july birthdays, kaden was so excited to get a nerf sword from my mom-
and then saturday morning all the girls got up and went garage selling, we had a blast! and then we took the kids to chuck e cheese...it kind of made me sad when we got home from this super awesome washington week that when people asked my little kids what there favorite part was, they said "chuck e cheese"- (seriously!)
we came home to rexburg on an all nighter leaving at about 6pm and arriving at 6 am. but we arrived to find warm weather at last...we made it to rigby lake a few times this month-
and we were able to have brenden come and stay with us for 2 weeks, we loved having him here. he and kaden are a lot alike, huh?
kaden had his birthday, he turned 11...he wanted a 39 clues (the book series he's reading) party treasure hunt, it was pretty tricky and made him think! he found a set of golf clubs for his treasure-
such a sweet boy! the kids invented their own personal swimming pools this year, they have had so much fun in these rusty old barrels...i love my goofy kids-
kaden graduated from cub scouts to boy scouts and also earned his arrow of light-
then we headed to swim camp at green canyon for the last week of the month, my kids look forward to swim camp all year. they all did well in their classes, kaden passed the last level(6) and brooke and koy will actually both be in the same level next year(3). kelsi and kaden did a diving class and they both did so well, i think i might actually take it next year. kelsi won the competition this year-
while we were in washington we started calling koy and his little cousin tyree, thing 1 and thing 2, because they can both be a little trouble together...it stuck and they were called that all through swim camp week, even by their teacher-
we of course had to go on a few hikes, these started out because you can't get reception unless you climb to the tallest hill but the kids all like them so much we plan them now! this year i had the great idea to hike to this abandoned cabin that i could see from the road on one of my bike rides, well to make a long story short: we got lost! we did find the abandoned house on the way back down from our hike, it was right by our pick-up...we were too busy talking to notice on the way up (woops)! here's a pick-up full...
we always find all kinds of natural treasures on our hikes, this is kadens wild cheetoh plant-
oh what fun july brings and i can't wait for more in august!

june in review

calendar quotes:
"courage isn't always grandiose. sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, i'll try again tomorrow." -President Monson

"the democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." -Thomas Jefferson
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the first weekend in june my dad and sister kara came and ran the teton dam marathon...their second for the year. they did awesome even in the wind and freezing cold. it was so cool to watch them run in together-wow.
my dad took second place in his age group, so we stayed for the awards: these pictures crack me up because it is just like my dad to walk up to the mayor of rexburg and whoever else is there just like they are his long lost best friends...
i forgot to ask what he said was so funny, but my dad is like this with everyone-he just loves people.
kaden had his piano recital and did wonderful...he memorized both of his pieces and i have to say i have just enjoyed listening to him play and improve so much.
june was a big softball and baseball month...kaden played softball twice a week and brooke & koy played on a knothole baseball team two games each saturday. they all had fun!
kelsi loves to sleep outside and she tries to get everyone to join her...she won this night but kaden and koy eventually came in before they were asleep. i love summer fun!!!
the last weekend of the month we had our big relay for life, my friend lisa marie was chairperson over the teams and i was on her committee---it was very neat to be a little more involved and meet some amazing people. brooke loved being able to be with her friend sirri and i am happy that my kids are becoming aware of such a good cause...they would see signs for relay around town or logos on peoples shirts and they would say "mom, they're fighting cancer just like us!"
this was koy and his friend connors favorite thing...to smash cancer-they were a crack up: so serious as they pounded the car.
i can't wait for next year all ready...and i always always always will be thankful that brooke still has her best friend!
this next picture was taken at the end of a long but very enjoyable day---we had weeded the garden, went to rigby lake, and we were sitting watching my nephews baseball game: we had spent pretty much the whole day outside and i was telling the kids that they got a little pink from all of the sun and koy said "yeah mom look even the clouds got sunburned today."

LIFE IS GOOD!

dr sena's boogers

a long time ago...in a galaxy far far away-just kidding:) but it was a long time ago, we went to the doctor to get brooke's wart looked at. because of her dislike for anything that looks like it might hurt-dr. sena was so nice as to not freeze it off and just give us some samples of some lotion to see if it would take her wart away. well the little packets of lotion were stuck to the advertising cards with that sticky tacky tape stuff and the first time i pulled it off i said, "ewww gross...dr. sena stuck his boogers on it!" well since then everytime we get anything in the mail or at the store with the tacky stuff on it we still call it dr. sena boogers. i guess koy didn't know we were just kidding because the other day he takes a big glob off of a gift card and says...
"mom, why does dr. sena put his boogers on everything?!" and i told him "just so you can have something to play with." hee-hee;)

may in review

calenedar quotes:
"smart people learn from their mistakes. but the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others!" -fablehaven(a very fun series to read)

"we have but one chance at this life. for maximum happiness, peace and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude" -President Monson
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i must of been busy because i didn't take very many pictures this month but i love that on mothers day i took a whole bunch and so here is what my wonderful family did for me on mothers day this year...
kent paid our bills. i love this about kent-he is such a hard worker: he has always made things work out, he has sometimes worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time and has done work he has not enjoyed at all and i so appreciate this. somebody recently said it must be hard having him gone all the time and i said yeah, but i know he does that for me- so i can stay home...so in that way it's actually such a blessing.
brooke washed my dishes for me...she had to put on her apron like i wear at school-brooke is a busy body, she reminds me of myself alot in this way, always needing something to do.
kelsi paid her tithing...what a good example and kelsi is in so many ways-it makes me crazy happy that at this point in her life she does so many good things on her own. also notice that cute little red phone...that is her new favorite accessory!
koy was coming back from sister campbells...the kids go over and get gum from her. when he got to me he gave me half of his gum and said "happy mothers day". koy always walks around with a big smile---he brings me joy!
kaden read a book...his favorite sunday activity. i love to see kadens complete love for reading and that he shares all his favorite books with me. his favorite book at the moment is "candy shop war".
i also got a ninja smoothie maker...we actually had to buy another one since then so kent can bring his own to work and not steal mine. kent makes the best smoothies-mmm mmm good!
what a totally fantastic mothers day...i really do love love love to be a mom-thanks everyone!
kelsi was inducted into the national junior honor society, this is her best friend mikyla...a funny little story when kelsi received the letter of invitation: she said "if it means more homework- i don't want to do it"
we were able to go to our cousin ashleys birthday party at their pool house-the kids had so much fun, they love to swim. this is how brooke plugs her nose as she swims...it is so funny and actually not too many people can do it-silly!
and at the end of the month brooke celebrated her 7th birthday...we went to the nature park for lunch-it totally rained but our friends stayed and we enjoyed listening to the rain hit the picnic shelter and the kids still played until they were soaked-
koy and connor were cracking us all up as they shot water from the water fountain at each other and blocked it with the umbrella-
brooke probably got the best present that she could ever hope for this year--- she learned how to do her backhand spring by herself. she did them all day long until her arms gave out-
and this is her super cute gymnastics cake that my wonderful friend lisa marie helped kelsi make-
brooke couldn't have asked for a better day and i couldn't ask for a better kid:) love you snap!

working mom :(

i started a job as a lunch lady with the school and i thought i would write a few of my likes and dislikes about the job.

i love all the kids!!!!! my own especially, but really all of them, there is such a positive energy that i find so energizing. when i work the serving line, the kids will shake their heads yes if they want what you are serving and no if they don't and i sort of just love to see their faces when they don't want what you have...they look terrified of what you will put on their tray-it cracks me up. (brooke did not want the attention of having her picture taken)
i also like the smell of the mop cleaner-it smells like orange tic tacs...however, i do not like mops or mop buckets: they actually totally disgust me, i don't get how you can have a clean floor if you put the dirty mop back in the bucket and keep mopping with the same water? yuck...
i also love this cleaner we use, i asked them what it was and it's some heavy duty oven cleaner...it cleans everything-we call it "chuck norris" because it totally gives anything the kung-POW!
i also love getting the salad bar ready (my daily job)...all those fresh fruits and vegtables: the colors, the smells, the textures...they uplift me:)
whenever i have to use the big pots to make something, i am reminded of the 'stir the soup' dance move and i just giggle.
every utensil you use in the kitchen is like giant ogre size...i love to show the kids when i'm washing them, they always think it's so cool and i remind them to be thankful they only have to wash little dishes.
my favorite food at the school is their grapes...they are so yummy and they come in these cute crates that say lunch bunch on them...they come all ready in serving size little clusters and i always wonder who has spent the time snipping all these grapes in perfect portion size groups. (thank you to whoever it is!)
3 days out of the week i am in the wash room and most people don't like dish duty but i don't mind: i like when the kids drop their trays off...they love to say hi and tell me cute details of their lives, it also gives me time to think as i spray off trays. the giant dish washer has trays at the bottom that you have to take out and clean every once in awhile- when i stick my head in to reach them i always think of hansel and gretel, when they push the mean witch in the oven.
for the most part it's such a nice job to have. i only work 3 hours a day, i get out on the same days as my kids, it's a great environment, brooke comes and visits me, it is a no stress job...i can totally leave my work at work- i really shouldn't complain but like the title or not i still am a working mom. i cringe when my kids tell people my mom works: i tend to feel the need to justify that it's only a short time and i still am with them most of the time...i haven't quite figured out how to embrace working--- i feel selfish when someone asks me to help them and i can't because i am working. i have a hard time finding time for myself also, i didn't work out the whole time i was working because i felt like i couldn't leave koy anymore than i already was. i worry if it is okay with my kids that i work...like when i opened brooke's backpack and this is the book she checked out at the library...
or when koy breaks out in tears and says "you work everyday!" it has made me really appreciate that all this time i have been able to be home with my kids, i have been soooooo blessed. i am looking forward to summer and all that time to be home again...maybe catch up on all the church news and crossword puzzles that are piling up-

april in review

calendar quotes:
have courage..."do not be content to fit in-you must stand out!"
-yw conference 2010

"we make our own happily ever after" -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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i am going to do my best at remembering what i did more than 3 months ago...sigh! our salem easter hunt had to be brought inside because of the hurricane like winds-the church floor has never looked so colorful.

we always look forward to signs of spring...when my kids see the first grass show through the snow, they are always so excited-like they've never seen grass before. (just a side note it is july 17 and koy the other day said "i miss the snow") on this particular day i had come home from work and picked koy up and as we were driving down our road he saw the neighbor boys outside and he yelled out the window "i'm home now-meet me on my trampoline!" they were all down in a jiffy...
koy loves to play with friends...any friend old, new, young, girl, boy...but he especially loves to play with friends outside-hurray for spring.
kaden competed in the scholastic bowl again this year in spelling, he got first place for his grade...he had to spell the word the other person missed: which was mosquitoes and then he spelled millionaire. i love that kaden is such a good speller, i am not and i frequently ask him-is that right?
i had to go to the mall to get something and the kids saw this hurricane simulator and wanted to go in it-i told them that's a waste of $2...we get hurricane winds here all the time! but i let them try. it was kinda funny watching their hair fly all over, the winds got up to 80mph and i know that we have had 60-70mph.
kent went to the co-op to get chicken food and they were giving free chicks away with every bag of food you bought, so we have 10 new chicks...the kids aren't as young as they were with our first batch and haven't held these ones as much so they are a little skiddish. kelsi's afraid to get pooped on now...the one perched on her is named: pirate-it is always on someones shoulder or arm just like a pirate's parrot.
for family home evening we were invited to go on a helicopter ride with brother larsen from our ward...
koy could not stop smiling, he was cracking me up-he was so excited, he got to sit right up front with the pilot-this smile never left his face, it was so cute! i got a little sick but it was so neat to see where we lived up high, we flew to the temple to egin lakes...everything looked so organized way up high.
my sister christy came for a volleyball tournament in st. anthony and we met up with her...we had to stop by the sand dunes to get some buckets of sand for her sandbox-the kids had so much fun playing on the hills, they played for about an hour: it wasn't even warm and it was windy. i sat in the car and took these pictures and i got to thinking how much i enjoy my kids...they love to play and it doesn't take much to entertain them.
give them a sand hill to dig in and they are content----i hope they will always be so easy to please:)
kelsi finished up her volleyball tournaments by the end of this month...every saturday she had double tournaments, it was quite the commitment. she was on the B team and she was such a good sport about playing her best and not complaining about being on the A team which had most of her friends, i was so proud of her.
she also improved so much, she got very consistent in her serving and once won a game with the last 5 serves in a row. i love watching her play! what a fun month...