Trip to Utah and Idaho!

We're Just missing Katie!

Welcome Home! Time out for Austin on the side of the road!

This is what happens when you smack your sister!
Sunflower field close to our house. The picture doesn't do it justice!

Uncle James on the Waterslide!

Cousins! Lizzy and Kaitlynn

Lindsay, who took care of Amanda and I in UT!

One of my Young Women and Amanda's very first babysitter!

More Cousins! Amanda, Maya, and Hayley

Amanda's trip to Sundance

Amanda and I just got back from Utah and Idaho about a week ago. Amanda was there for a Dance Camp at BYU, and I went out to see my Siblings, a much needed visit. It had been over a year and a half. Way to long to go without seeing your Sisters and Brother. I got to see Kayleen before she and James have their baby. SO FUN!!! And Ezra's so stinkin' cute. After flying in, I spent the day driving up and down the Wasatch front visiting with some dear friends. Some long overdue. Friends we knew from our days in UT, The Willey's. Brother Willey showed me his semiautomatic rifle. WOW! IMPRESSIVE! :/ The Chuggs who used to live in Jersey and survived. And then a long overdue visit with one of my most favorite YW leaders, Sister Eckerdt and her daughters. Why I didn't get a picture of that I don't know. I knew I forgot something. I guess I'll just have to go back and get one some time.;) It was so neet to meet some of her grandbabies. SO PRICELESS! Then after watching Amanda's performance in Provo we shot up to Pocotello. Crawled is more like it. I felt like I was back in Jersey in the construction traffic from Brigham city all the way to Tremonton, and I had to pump my own gas! Gosh!... but After a great weekend visit with John, Amy, Kayleen and James, and all the kiddos, it was back down to UT to see Katie Alex, Maya, and Hayley. We all spent the day at Cherry Hill water park and had a blast. Fun to have all 4 of us together again. Now I'm homesick for UT, the mountains, James, Amy, and Katie again, but it's also good to be home.

Amanda and Ashley just had their Dance Recital over the weekend. One more year of dance at an end. I don't know why I get sad. All those costumes now have to put away, maybe to never be used again. I guess it's also a milestone for my girls. They are getting older. They are getting so tall and so beautiful. I guess you start to realize that this is such a temporary stage. Friends of mine who had kids my kids age just yesterday are now watching their children get married, go on missions, and to college. That's surreal to me. But it's just part of life. They tell us that this life is like a blink in all eternity. I wish I could just bottle those special moments. Like the joy you feel when your daughter smiles from ear to ear on stage and knowing that she's feeling complete joy as the audience cheers her on. Like watching a sleeping 3 year old snuggled in the crook of your arm so peacefully. (I don't care what the supernanny say's~parents who don't sleep with their kids are so missing out.) It's such a short time that they're with you, why not enjoy every second. Or, Like watching two little boys chasing each other throwing sand and listening to their infectious laughter. I'll miss it when they grow up and move away. I wish I could remember that during the moments of frustration when I'm picking up everyone's crap! lol

I had a Fight with a Tick and the Tick Won!

A couple of weeks ago Dustin and I decided that it would be super fun to plant our Vegi garden for FHE. We had the whole family out there clearing it and getting it ready, and planting it. Evan did AWESOME. What a hard little worker...when he wants to be. I send Ashley in to clean up Austin who is just dirt from head to toe. Did someone try to plant him? I go check and Austin has no pants on, just a shirt, and he's sitting on the counter with his feet in the sink????(Yes, I know we have strange bathing rituals) She says to me all worried, Mom what is on Austin? I look and sure enough there are 4 little bugs smaller than the size of a pin tip attached in places to make any man cringe. I immediately call Dustin because, well...OH...MY...GOLSH! He comes in from outside just to say, "You're going to have to get them off." WIMP. Glad there's one of us that doesn't pass out at the sight of blood.lol. So I take care of the business and send everyone upstairs to the bathroom to check the rest of us. This is true meaning of family togetherness. Evan has 2 bites, and Dustin and Ashley have them crawling on them. Me? I find two biting but there were probably a dozen crawling on me...Shiver...I don't like bugs.

2 weeks later, after feeling a little crappy and achy in the strangest of places., (The end of my ring finger? My wrists? Thigh? Shoulder? ok thats normal for carrying kids around. Head, Neck, Back, naseated...for about 2 min. I thought I might be pregnant again...FRIGHT!!!... and my face keeps going numb?!?!?!that better go away!!!!) Then woke up sunday morning with the tell tale sign of the Bullseye rash on the back of my leg. CRAP!!!! That means, Dr...Blood test...Medication...YUCK!!!! They won't know for sure it's Lymes disease until after a blood test I can't take for 6 weeks, but heavy antibiotics will be on the menu for a while. Yay!!!!!

Ashley had it last year...I don't think I was as sympathetic as I should have been. Wierd stuff. Thank Heaven for the miracle of modern medicine.

It's crazy that something so tiny could clobber us like that...makes you wonder what the purpose of a tick is anyway... Just a nasty little parasite...but if something so small and insignificant can make you that sick, I will be so happy to be pain free again when I've gotten rid of it, that I will appreciate the laundry and neverending dishes and I will want to clean my house spotless?!?!?! ...hmmmm....one can always hope, right? :)

Cuteness!

You should have seen Evan yesterday! He did awesome as pitcher. He hustled, then he chucked that ball like I've never seen him throw before. When things got boring he jumped and leaped around the mound like a little frog. His coach said "Evan, this isn't Dancing with the Stars" Evan said, "I hate that show!" and then got down on his haunches and focused on the game. SO STINKIN' CUTE!

Happiness isn't happiness without a boy and a stick!

I don't know why I'm on the computer. I think I'm trying to escape the idea of making Spaghetti sauce for 120 people. How did I get roped into this one? Oh yeah...cause I'm a succer! HA! I think I have it written across my forhead. Just kidding. I'm sure once I'm done I'll be glad I did it. This weekend is a busy one. The girls have a competition. It's the Spaghetti dinner fundraiser for camp. Brother Wyssling, who I slugged in the arm for giving me a guilt trip, was trying to get Dustin and I to go to the Temple Friday night ( which I know I should do of course but worry I won't be able to get everything done if I add one more thing ) But I should probably make time for it. Then maybe the Lord will help me in my ability to wrap my mind around all the things I need to do and places I need to be. Maybe he will magically clone me. ;)

Some people have the ability to organize their time and accomplish everything without forgetting the details in the middle. Me...not so much...! In fact the more I have to do, the more scatterbrained I get, and the more I procrastinate things. It's quite sad. lol. But at least I can laugh at myself. Besides...I have some good excuses for distraction...

I can't forget how blessed I am. I have these awesome cute little kids that are so fun to play with and snuggle with. They make me smile. It's very distracting...

Then my handsome husband with those blue eyes that melt my heart. That's how I know I'm a succer. :o But he's so kind to me. This week he just blew through most of his airline points so I can go see my sisters and brother out in UT and ID in July. Yay! I need a UT fix and he just says, no problem...let's make it happen. I know! I'm totally spoiled!

So I'm posting a few pictures and getting off the computer and making Spaghetti Sauce ALL DAY! Woohoo! NOT!

And this is just random, but what is the deal with silly bands? I put some in some goody bags yesterday, and I thought the girls were going to jump out of their seats. Holy Smokes! And all morning Austin has been whining "Mom, you didn't get me a Silly Band!" They are a hit!

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

There were three really great videos that I found this month that just spoke to me. I'm so greatful for a living Prophet that gives us direction and guidance. I love Elder Holland. He speaks in the background of these 3 videos. Each of them bear a stong witness of the Savior, and what he has done for us.

My New Life

Another touching video that brings peace!

Broken, Christ Heals (Kenneth Cope)

I just love the voice of Elder Holland! Just hearing it brings rest to my soul!