Monday's Meandering Thoughts

I really debated about doing this today because I had posted something earlier, but hey it is still Monday and hopefully, you'll still care to check out the previous post...

MONDAY'S MEANDERING THOUGHTS FOR AUGUST 24, 2009....

THOUGHT #1: THIS PHOTO: Yes, I am aware that it's the picture of the baby's backside and that it isn't even centered...The reason it is such a big thing for me at the moment is this: Last Friday night we were at my parents for a campout/sleepover and while waiting for my nephew who had to be taken to Instacare (he had an infected bite) to return, my kids decided to play "No Bears Are Out Tonight" and "Colored Eggs". If you don't know what either of those games are, I am sorry. You had a deprived childhood. Anyway, as the kids were chasing each other in one of the games, Nathaniel was trying to keep up - that is what this picture is of. It reminds me of just how quickly my little one is growing up...


THOUGHT #2: QUOTE OF THE WEEK: " There are lots of limitations in all of us that we hope our sweethearts will overlook. I suppose no one is as handsome or as beautiful as he or she wishes, or as brilliant in school or as witty in speech or as wealthy as we would like, but in a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can't always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we can command - such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us nothing, and they can mean everything to the one who receives them." - Jeffrey R. Holland

THOUGHT #3: SCRAPBOOKED: Nothing....It's been a bad/crazy/hectic week...

THOUGHT #4: RANDOM THOUGHT: So many times there are things that we hope and wish for only to be brought right back down to humility....And then we turn around and find ourselves thankful that said wish wasn't granted...I'm feeling that way now.

THOUGHT #5: ON MY MIND: Not looking forward to Eric getting home tonight (well, I am looking forward to ERIC getting home, just not what is coming with him)...He is bringing home a surprise for the kids...Not sure I am going to enjoy it (and yes, I know what the surprise is). More on that later...

What Happens Next...

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

As everyone already knows or has gathered school has officially begun again. Our kids went back on Thursday the 20th. I am still confused as to why they didn't just wait 2 days and start the kids today, but whatever!

Anyway on Wednesday we were able to go find out who Tanis & Shaylyn had for teachers. They both ended up with teachers new to the school, but both teachers look great and the kids say they like them. (Geez, I even think Lex's teacher is new...)

Shaylyn's teacher is a young girl and when we first walked into the classroom, I was looking for a teacher...It took me a moment to realize the teacher was the young girl with the camera. Shaylyn got her picture taken and was able to choose her own seat. She doesn't have any of her good friends in her class this year, but there are some kids that she knows, so she is okay.

Tanis was very shy to meet his teacher and didn't say a whole lot. He was lucky to find an open seat next to the name "Shay." We took a chance that this was his good friend from last year and he chose to sit next to her. Luckily, it is his good friend from last year and he has now been able to relax a bit.

I feel bad for Lex as he still has to wait until Thursday to start Kindergarten, but I am so glad that he is looking forward to it!

And now, without further ado...the classic 1st day of school pics!

Baby Brother thought he needed a turn too!

Yeah, don't let them fool you...They don't always get along so nicely.

We let Grandma buy the backpacks this year and we didn't quite get them in time for the 1st day of school, but I still had to get a picture of the kids with their NEW backpacks!

What Happens Next...

Monday's Meandering Thoughts!!!

So, for a long while, I've wanted to do some sort of weekly something...I just never came up with the right kind of something. Then yesterday, I happened upon this blog and knew what I would do.

Yes, it's totally "stealing" her idea, but I hope to tweak it a bit. I am just not that creative all on my own!!!

I now introduce: Monday's Meandering Thoughts (Hey, I did "draw the little "banner", that should count as something, right?)



MONDAY'S MEANDERING THOUGHTS FOR AUGUST 17, 2009....

THOUGHT #1: These Photos: Taken without my knowledge (or at least I don't remember knowing they were being taken, either way - thanks, Heather!), but loving it because the love of my life was helping me out without me even asking for the help. He does stuff like that occasionally.

THOUGHT #2: Quote of the Week: " Only as we accept the atonement in our lives and strive to live the gospel can we meet the challenges of life and find peace, joy and happiness. Coming to understand this great gift is an individual pursuit for each child of God...If we could truly understand the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we sould realize how precious is one son or daughter of God." - M. Russell Ballard

THOUGHT #3: Scrapbooked: Did a bunch of little ones like this for Mother In Laws birthday. It actually went over quite well. To see ALL of the layouts go to my blog dedicated to my scrappin'.


THOUGHT #4: Random Thought: So not ready for school to start. It seems the summer didn't last anywhere near long enough! The kids probably need to go back though as they are fighting more and more with each other. It will be interesting to only have Nathaniel with me for 3 hours everyday, but I have some opportunities to babysit the cutest girls ever once in awhile, so I should be fulfilled.

THOUGHT #5: On My Mind: Love is easy, marriage is tough!


That's it for today....Hopefully I can keep this up and it may change as time goes on. Thanks for reading!

What Happens Next...

90 Years Young!!!

On Saturday we had the opportunity to celebrate my grandma's 90th birthday with her. True, we didn't get much face time with Grandma as it was a big to-do and she had lots and lots of visitors on her big day, but we had lots of fun with family. (Sidenote: My header has pictures of my grandma as a baby and when she was about 18 on it)

I also got the priviledge of creating a slideshow of her life to show. Well we had a few bumps getting everything to work, but we eventually did (MUCH THANKS TO ERIC & CODY FOR THAT) and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed gathering the pictures of her and putting it all together. While doing so I found a few pictures that I just loved! I will share a few...

I like this picture because Grandma (left) looks like she is having lots of fun with her friends.

This one I like because I see a family resemblance. Mostly I see my older brother, but I can see me a bit as well. Grandma is on the bottom right.

I just love the way Grandma is looking at Grandpa. Grandpa is holding child #1.

Grandma telling some kind of story about Grandpa. My Grandpa was Bishop for a number of years and I guess the ward put on a "This Is Your Life" type thing for him.

My Grandpa wasn't a real touchy, feely kind of guy, so I love that this picture exists.

Mission Photo! When I grow up I want to be just like Grandma & Grandpa. ;)
They were released and came home the same year I was born.

At some point after their mission, but before they came home. They served somewhere in California.

After the party we headed to my mom & dad's to play games with my little bro who lives in Wyoming. Any time he comes up - it's game time!

We had a long day, but it was so worth it!

I will leave this post with pictures taken at Grandma's Birthday Party! Oh, and in case you start to wonder - yes, my mommy's family all had to wear red (Each of Grandma's children's families had a certain color to wear) and the numbers we have on represent the # we are in Grandma's descendents. She ended up have 90 descendents on her 90th birthday, cool huh?

You better believe I got a picture with my Grandma. I wish I had more from when I was little.

I'm a sucker for pictures with Eric & his kids.

Towards the end of the night, Nate was getting restless, but as soon as he got a balloon he was in HEAVEN!

Baby Boy & Baby Brother

My Mommy & Her Wild Grandboys


Shaylyn loves Uncle Devin! He is the ONLY one allowed to call her, "Shaylie"!


Sisters

Sisters with Mommy's Boys

Siblings

The Fam with Grandma

What Happens Next...

What A Chicken!

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to go to the Bees game with Eric's parents and his brother. This was the day that the San Diego Chicken came. Luckily for us it was his 2nd appearance as we weren't able to go to the 1st game that he came to.

We've been to games before where the Chicken came, but we weren't ever close enough or had a good enough camera to get very good pics. So I was glad I was able to get some that actually look somewhat decent.

We took Nathaniel with us as all our babysitters (a.k.a. my family members) had just gotten back from camping and we weren't sure they'd want to take care of a 1 year old, especially if he had a bad day.

Nathaniel did okay for the most part, but towards the end he was getting tired and just didn't want to sit still any longer. Eric and I were getting stressed as the older kids were also getting whiny (note to self: no sleepovers the night before a Bees game) so we left just a little bit early.

All in all it was still a fun night and the kids had a blast watching the Chicken, if nothing else.

Nate sports the California Angels Wig that has been at Grandma & Grandpa's for a few years...It is reminiscent of the picture below when Lex was about the same age sporting the wig with his Uncle Greg! (And no Nate doesn't have a dirty face, he has war wounds from a few escapades with the cement. Lex also has a sore under his eye as he had tried to glue his eye shut a few days prior)

Nate watching his first ever Bees Game!

Toothless Shaylynnie. She lost 3 of the 4 all within a couple weeks time.

Lex was excited to see the Chicken.

The San Diego Chicken

Voodoo on the opposing team

Beating up the opposing team!

Should I be concerned that these two got such a kick out of violence???

What Happens Next...

A Tale of a Lake, A Hidden Fort, 8 Kids, A Boat and A Missing Key

Now if the title didn't get enough attention - keep reading...

Last Friday, July 31 around 6:00 our family headed out with our friends (yup, the same family friends we went to Lagoon with) to go camping.

The spot that was chosen was Aspen Grove which is located around Strawberry Reservoir. We got to the campground around 8:00 and had just enough sunlight to get the tents put up and a fire going.

Nothing of note happened that night as we were all pretty worn out, so we all just headed to bed around 9:00. Eric and I didn't sleep real well that night. Nathaniel had a hard time sleeping (he has to roll around) and so Eric had to keep getting out of the tent to fill bottles. I was just cold, so even when Nate was sleeping, I couldn't.

The next morning we woke up and decided we would go to the lake and let the kids wade around. We head to the lake and after about 1/2 hour, I decided that I was really tired and Nate needed a nap, so we had Eric take us back to the tent. He went back with the kids and apparently they had fun fishing and wading around.

When they got back to camp - Eric decided he needed a nap and the moms took the 8 kids on a "hike." We let our friends daughter lead the way and we happened upon a small "fort" that had been previously built at some point. The kids had a blast playing in the fort and trying to build it up even more, while discussing stories. On one of the trees someone had carved their initials and the number 110. So the kids decided that whoever this was had lived in the fort for 110 years and died. And the last thing they ate was a popsicle or something like that. (There was a popsicle stick on the ground) It was quite the story that these kids came up with.

We headed back to camp and the kids wanted to go the lake, yet again. This time the moms dared get into the lake and it felt nice. After that short time at the lake we headed back for dinner. It was a yummy dinner that our friends made and something I could eat at any point in time.

Once again, everyone was ready for bed, so we headed to bed somewhat early. We all slept much better that night. Eric had fixed the blankets & sleeping bags so that everyone was warmer. We also had brought a few filled bottles into the tent with us, and that helped.

The next morning we woke up, packed up camp and headed down to the lake again, where we rented a boat. I was a bit worried about how some of my kids would handle it, but it went over well.

We took turns in the boat and it was a matter of who would like to go on this trip, who doesn't. We took short rides and everyone had their fill. While our friend was taking the boat back with a few of the kids, we cleaned up the beach and headed for the cars. Eric noticed that he didn't have the key as he had given it to Tanis earlier so that Tanis could get a snack...I should back up and say that earlier in the day Eric had handed the keys to our friend while he drove the boat at one point. Well, she had them with her when Eric needed them again, so they drove the boat by and she threw his keys out to him - they landed on a rock and the car key handle broke. So we had just a lone key, and of course I left my keys at home.

Eric assumed Tanis had the key, so we just waited in the car (it was unlocked, thankfully) with Nathaniel for the other kids to get back. During this time, Eric asked if I was going to change Nathaniel - I said, I wanted to wait until we got somewhere for lunch because it would be easier and Nate was really tired anyway.

Well, when Tanis gets back he says that he doesn't have the key and that he put it on a rock. We all head down to the beach looking for the key on the rock bed of a beach...We couldn't find it. Then my friend and I decided to go check the boat, just in case. No key. We head back to the beach and search for a good hour or so.

Just when we've decided that Eric would hang out with the car while the rest of us pile in our friends van, drive home and send the husband of our friends back up to Eric (a trip that would've taken 3 or 4 hours total) - Eric tells me that Nathaniel is really upset. I go to pick up Nate and he tenses up (this is what he does when he is poopy and so uncomfy), so I decide to finally change his diaper.
I pull his jeans off and on the car seat, I find THE KEY! I'm still unsure how the key got lodged in his pants (not his diaper, thankfully) and stayed there with all his running around and jumping around.

So an 1 1/2 later than it should have been (should've changed the baby right away) we were on the road heading home. We had an awesome time and loved the time we were able to spend with our friends. The kids all had a ball and I am thankful that we all have some great friends.

And I couldn't leave this post without sharing our pictures! Enjoy! Well that is if you actually take time to look at them all! :D

What Happens Next...

It's What Fun IS!!!

Last Wednesday Eric took the day off of work and we headed to Lagoon with our good friends. They have 4 kids as well as we do, all of which are the same age (with the exception of the babies who are about 1 year apart).

We left Nathaniel with my sister in law, Adri (thanks again) and around 4, my little sister, Kaeloni took him (thanks to you as well).

Anyway, we spent the whole day there and had quite the day. Lex didn't want to go on almost anything (which surprised me) and Shaylyn went on EVERYTHING she could go on!

I wish I would've taken more pictures, but when we went out to the car to get lunch I left the camera there because I was sick of lugging it around!

It was the very first time any of our kids had been to Lagoon and Eric and I hadn't been there for 3 years or so, so that was fun.

It was a good day, spent with good friends. Who could ask for more?

What Happens Next...