The Park Adventures

Winner! Winner!

2012-01-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

He is the WINNER of Potelco Credit Union's Christmas coloring contest. He colored a cute little package green and I added some glitter...... and we have a WINNER! The lady who selected him said it reminded her of the GRINCH. Mr. Mack's spoils of Winning included a coloring kit. I should add that these cool crayon things with a plastic shell made by CRAYOLA looked cool but that was it..... soo messy. Oh, and don't forget Chapstick. Kinda a crazy combo but He loved it!

I don't want to be a Sunbean!

2012-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

I think I realize in November that these two would be Sunbeams. Cooper was way excited! Mack not so much. In the car or doing work around the house we would burst into song, " Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam....." Almost immediately Mack would Yell " I don't want to be a Sunbean!" I would try to talk him into it and usually he would cry. My game plan was to keep singing it and see if I could break him. A couple of days before the big day I began singing and Immediately I was stopped again. Mack then said to me " Is Jesus going to be there (meaning at church on Sunday)" I couldn't help but to laugh and turns out Jesus was on my side because He went and LOVED it. Their primary teachers couldn't be better and already have won the love of me and my sons.

I will be forever Grateful to these two sisters. A great marker to me of a genuine teacher is the excitement the child brings back home or to the parent after class. These two Sisters rise above and A couple Sunday's ago when they came to find me in the Relief Society room .... The excitement from their little bodies with the treasures they acquired that day made my heart sing. It was the excitement I thought we had lost in the other ward..... BUT it was there .....Right there in our New Ward it was never lost we just had to find it.

Do We Have A Birthday Here?

2012-01-24T18:56:00.000-08:00

These two have had the best weekend. Spoiled and Rotten to no end! We enjoyed a great winter evening with family swimming at Heise. Our families played and enjoyed each others company. I was so grateful for their efforts to make the trip and share the evening with us. The kids played so hard in the pool that not to far on the road home I called back to the kids to see who had a neighbor already asleep. The car was sound. So Sound that we brought them into the house and not one wiggle stirred them awake.
The Twins picked out a BOISE STEAK aka: Boise State basketball jersey set that goes perfectly with the season of JAZZ basketball we are in.
It is hard to believe how quickly time passes and how hard life seemed when they were new is a distant memory and even fading and oft times fear the future of teenagers already.
I will never forget the tremendous support and help with our parents in visiting those little guys in the NICU and making sure someone was there each day. Last night as I visited with the Twins about their BIRTH day they asked something about them coming home to ours house (as they both would say) and it was then that I remembered again how hard it was to leave them in the hospital and again how hard it was to leave Mr. Mack behind when Cooper came home.
So grateful for these little guys. They have quirks that bring joy into our home that we would miss if they hadn't come together. They pretend to be twins, they often remind each other that they are best friends, Mack is struggling with eating vegetables right now, Cooper denies the fact that he only 4, They both have girlfriends way beyond their years Miss Emily and Miss Celeste, They love to wrestle and can dribble a basketball pretty dang good for a 4 year old, They wave huge waves each morning to the bus driver, and Love to take baths.

{to you and yours.....}

2011-12-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

{The Best Day Evero}

2011-11-29T13:37:00.000-08:00

Charles Francis Adams, the grandson of the second president of the United States, was a successful lawyer, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U. S. Ambassador to Brittain. Amid his responsibilities, he had little time to spare. He did, however, keep a diary. One day he wrote, "Went fishing with my son today------- a day wasted!"
On that same date, Charles's son, Brooks Adams, had printed in his own diary, "Went fishing with my father today ------- the most wonderful day of my life!"

We decided to take the kids to town on Friday and walk at their pace through the toy stores to see what was out there this year for Christmas. I have no clue what they would want and thought this would be a fun day to do something they die to do everytime we walk into a store or go to town. So off to town we went. First stop.... TARGET . We did o.k. and got a few things off of our have to list and moved onto our second store TOYS R US. Well, our enthusiasm started dying and our patience as the kids pushed every button on every toy known to man and our third stop was..... to get GROCERIES.
Now this stop was pure fun ! Everyone started treating everyone else a little jerky.... I even swore ;) (Surprise!) and screamed at the kids as they were getting into the car ( the whole parking lot heard) ..... We then took the kids to Dairy Queen of all places. The commercials are so enticing at night time and I had to try it. The ride home came with warnings and timeouts to be done upon our arrival at home AFTER the groceries were unloaded of course. So, we get home we are all grabbing bags from the car and even Mack and Cooper are trying to find a bag that suits their size. In one of my several trips for more I pass Cooper and with the same skip of enthusiasm he had at DisneyLand He Says "This was the Best Day Eveo" ..... He doesn't really pronounce his R's that well...... That comment right there slapped me right in the face. I quickly thought of this story given in our Relief Society lesson the week before. Never do I want to be the parent that thinks of the day WASTED!

There were 2 in the bed and the little one said..... ROLLOVER

2011-11-29T13:34:00.000-08:00

For the second night in a row a little man has come crawling to my bed to wiggle himself either right in the middle or have me roll to the middle so that he can occupy the outside spaces of the bed. In either situation it is UNCOMFORTABLE! Last night I wrote a better blog post about it though, as I was either getting kick up and down and startling myself that it was me falling out of bed, ..... realizing that this little man is quickly approaching 4! and I can't remember my other children getting the luxury of sleeping this way. Our family dynamics changed when the older two felt small. Their Momma huge with twins and having even dad in the bed felt like there were to many occupants;) . After that our feeding routine for the twins had us up every three hours, so sleeping in that room was next to impossible. They have however, crawled in and slept on the floor but really they have only done that when they are sick and it is more for me than them.
I Love watching them sleep. When I have a decent computer once again.... I 'd like to show evidence of just how they either look identical to their DAD or how crazy all over their bed they are.
**Mack is my only stomach sleeper.....(Just like his MOM).

{Mack's Broken Wing}

2011-10-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

So in another attempt to get this posted..... Here he is all cute and broken. The cast looking all cute for that one day. I had the best of intentions to keep it clean and nice, covered with tube socks to keep the sand and grit out but with the randomness of a child that theory was laid to rest. I even made a couple of the tube socks sneaky snakes but with the warm weather, a hot cast, and a hot sock over the hand wasn't the answer either.
So, How did the little guy buckle fracture his arm and end up wearing a cast until November? We were invited to a Family Home Evening with the Peterson's. It was so fun to be in their company again and feeling of their spirit and watching them model a Family Home Evening lesson that captivated the kids. I was in awe of the great hold simple everyday objects gave to the lesson. It was fun, and it was filled with the excitement of the children in trying to answer the questions in order complete a Field Goal. To top it off was a challenge to complete a temple structure out of sugar cubes. Each sugar cube could be laid for a service given or /and missionary experience had.
After the lesson the kids had a moment to play outside and spend time laughing on the fun outside toys. But for some reason when in the swing Mack decided to experiment and let go of the swing mid air and land with a buckle fracture to the arm. The X-Ray showed a possible fracture through the ulna too but we will x-ray it again in November. Brother Peterson brought Mack inside and we tried serving treats to end the night but Mack would not quit crying. Not even for a root beer float and he loves RootBeer. He cried for another hour as we got the kids in bed and then woke up around midnight.
When I went to his room and saw him raise his arm, I knew it was broken. This was how the rest of the night went. Everytime his arm moved so began the crying. With a sleepless night, Drew stayed home to help figure out what we were going to do with him.
He was put in a soft cast for the first couple of days and then changed to a hard cast. He would never removed the soft cast for ice. He liked it all snug and close to his body. Once he got the hard cast he was good most of the time. Soaking in the moments of sympathy and signatures got us past the moments when he cried because it hurt. Cooper was shocked for a while by the attention and grabbed onto the soft cast with tape wrapped around it but just like any other band-aid was shortly ripped off because it hurt. Burton made me laugh because he said if he were to break his arm it would have to be his left arm because he writes and does everything with his right arm. Hmmm! if only we got a choice.

Yesterday, the boys and I went to visit Terry Bolinder and Jeter. Jeter is the dog, and Terry and I get a kick out of how the boys pronounce Jeter. If I could spell how they say it it is like JETEO. Anyway, Terry laughs at it everytime. They love to throw balls at Jeter. Jeter retrieves them and brings them all back very slimy. But yesterday before we left Terry asked if he could sign Macks cast. I thought it was so cute. Mack's blue cast was very dirty so I went to cal - stores to buy some wrap, hoping to find his favorite color orange, but when I asked the sales girl to help me locate it she asked the size of animal it needed to fit. With a short pause I said, a little 3-year old boy but bigger than a cat. Luckily, the small horse size was a match:)

{Harvest Snowman}

2011-10-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

We snuck away from good old Firth the first week of Harvest vacation and returned to hear that the weather would be changing on us into the second week of the vacation. I LOVE harvest break . I LOVE the beauty of fall. I love for that two weeks you can have a little freedom to enjoy the freedom of a routine and see how the things around us transform into another shade of beautiful. I love the sites and smells of fresh dirt. Seeing the harvest in full swing up and down the roads. I love capturing it all even though I am technically not a farm girl I LOVE being around it.
I have used as a time to prep our home and yard for winter and celebrating with the making of spudnuts but with the playing we did week 1 very little work got done.
I did get my crew together and wash the inside and out of my windows on Monday. When the colder weather rolled in, so did we. I took to sewing Halloween cosutmes and putting on the pot of comfort stew while Drew and the boys played outside. They worked a bit, played a bit, and worked..... they went back and forth all day. I tossed in a good harvest smell in the scentsy and enjoyed the day.
Burton got the random snow clothes out (that were never buried that deep..... what does that tell you) to go make a cute snowman with the twins.
With that today is alittle warmer .... at least we don't have snow but I would like to enjoy an indian summer. I am not ready for the freezing cold. I took the kids to town on the really wet and snowy day. I found church shoes for the boys for Christmas. Anyway, I had Cooper take off his shoe to try on the new shoe and his socks were completly dripping wet. Not ready to face that. Keeping them dry and inside. Here's to a LONG winter ;)

{Homework with Burton}

2011-09-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just now reading over Burton's homework and listening to him read, I run across this paper. Check out the answer written in response to the question: AFUWILR. Thinking to myself "What" and then looking again for my brain to process. What are things trucks or vans carry? A Four Wheeler ..... of course that is what it is! He is constantly sounding things out and on every random paper he draws on is our own version of MAD GAB. Gotta LOVE 1st Grade. Looking forward to more mystery puzzles from this kid.

{We owned the night...}

2011-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

{What a day.... Our family didn't fall short of blessings from Memorial Day weekend to the 4th of July weekend to pull of an event Melody has dreamed about forever. It was the kind of day you never want to end and one that you wished everyone you loved could be there. The celebration was one where friends and family united and you got to see just how small the world really is. (Bryan has relatives just outside of Idaho Falls who are related to people here. ) Mel found her dress in the first store, it was the first dress she tried on, and she bought it thinking " if this doesn't work out Bryan can pay me back half ;)" . I know Melody knew he was the ONE and everyone of us knew that when she found Mr. Right the process would move fast, and did it ever. We hustled ourselves through June finding everything we needed to complete a million little details. Bryan was able to be in Firth and devote himself to those details to. From sun up to sun down everyone was busy in one way or another, building stands for cotton candy, popcorn, buying food, prepping food, making cakes, decorating cakes, sewing tableclothes, remodeling Mom and Dad's kitchen, clean up the remodeling mess (in fact one day after cleaning up the dust and wood, Burton told the carpenter's to try to keep it clean), sewing dresses, taking pictures, editing the wedding mailing list, addressing, and the list goes on. A couple of Sundays ago, we were reflecting on the things we were able to accomplish and the items placed in our path to do it. Mel's dress was a sleeveless bodice. My mom was able to find a beautiful Lace top that matched the colors exact to sew in and from the extra on the bottom make a cap sleeve. From there she found another fabric to compliment the dress and make a 3/4 lenth bowlero jacket to go over the top. The dress was gorgeous with both. Being able to do that was nothing short of a miracle. I loved the vintage cars, the handmade canoes, and I bascially saw this picture and it made me smile. I loved this day!

Heaven is a little closer than I think..........

2011-08-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've come to blogland several times with the thoughts of the last couple days on my mind but skip over them and check to see who I know who has updated their blog, and every time I check it doesn't change and neither does the writing down on my part.
How I have enjoyed moments the last couple of days. Getting some time with my grown up twins and listening to them converse, play, and form their wonderings into questions. Yesterday, I placed them right up on top of my portable dishwasher and let them be right there as I was doing some dishes. How much fun it was to live in that moment. Listening to the banter of the two of them together and then with me. My heart was full.
Then today, I decided to mow the lawn. How I LOVE the look of fresh cut grass and this time of year when my flower beds (the one in my backyard) makes me feel how beautiful the world really can be. While mowing the lawn the twins played together, laughing, and not hurting each other for once with sticks but chose a piece of my ornamental grass to use as a harmless sword instead. They helped me water flower beds, and load up some old bikes to give to DI and then we played with their Toy Story potato heads. It was a good day!

Hearing my sister say the other day that she was missing our grandparents made me think that maybe they are helping me with patience, helping me organize my day better so that I can catch those simple moments that matter the most. Sometimes we only think of those we love when we are saved from an instance that involves danger. During those times my mom will say "Her guardian angel has alot of bumps and bruises". But maybe in a day like today it is them helping me get in those moments that they would love to be doing with us here, Seeing what really matters most.

Back 2 School .....

2011-08-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here we are. Tossed the freedom of summer to the side and are gearing ourselves up for the LOVE of a routine. I must add with the beginning of preschool came the desire for a stricter routine for the MOM and I must admit {It feels GOOD!} It is like the beginning of January - New Year's Resolutions kinda thing for me. Back to School traditions in our home are 1. NO wearing new school shoes or clothes until the magical first day. 2. I make the entering kindergarten child their farewell breakfast ;) I have two that are already school goers so they both got a little of their favorite. Burton's request was scrambled eggs and Liberty's was cinnamon rolls { I jazzed the frosting up with a little color and sprinkles to make them look like apples}. As exciting as those two sound, that it with the traditions ;). I did make cupcakes to look like apples for their return from school so we could eat snacks and visit about their day. The magic word in that conversation was GOOD!

This year our school district opted for a four day school week with longer days in school for the kids. I've heard it's hard on the elementary students for the first month...... but so far in our house NO Problemo. The kids LOVE their teachers, Liberty gets a locker, Burton wants to play football, Cooper is already six with a girlfriend, and Mack's latest saying when asked to do something is " I can't .... I have a fat butt." Ahh! There they are all grown up.

Silly Little Man......

2011-08-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

{This weekend Cooper turned 6.... Not Really but that is what he has told everyone. Kind of funny because his twin brother is 3. Today Cooper slide up to me while I was looking at family pictures on the computer and tells me, " IF I HAD A GIRLFRIEND {MOTHER PERKS UP HERE!} I WOULD HANG OUT WITH HER." O.K. MR.Big Pants who is now 6 and knows the word Girlfriend. SLOW DOWN! I still LOVE to cuddle you.}

There's Nothin better than home grown.......

2011-08-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

{ I've watching this lonely orange tomato turning to the brightest color. Then all the sudden it was picked and placed in the window sill in the kitchen. I knew Drew must have been the "Picker" simply by where it was placed. I waited as long as I could and ate it without him :0. I meant only to eat a couple of slices BUT homegrown tomatos are so different..... They are simply delicious! Hopefully, another one will ripen soon and this time Drew will be home to share the goodness.}

{As I was dreaming of the tomato post it made me think of my kids and being "HOME GROWN". Back to school is in our lives and so are all the traditions I've tried to create in saying goodbye to summer but also embrace the goodness of the school year. I simply hate tearing off that so called band-aid in sending them back to school because when I get them back next summer they've grown and aren't my little babies anymore. With each passing year, somehow they each get bigger and I can't remember where my little kids have gone. So many fun personality traits in each child, so many times we've had fun together, so many times I wish I had been a more understanding mother, and so many times I want to just bottle this time in our lives never letting it slip away. With that came my desire to capture my Family NOW. The joke in our Anthony Family is we have Family pictures every other month.... wink!wink! It's true! I think I feel the same as my mom in saying we LOVE right now and thankfully, depending on how you look at it, right now is quit often {the blessing of living near family }and we never want to forget it. Drew and I have had the opportunity to speak in church recently about building a Christ Centered Home. Try as I may, I fail alot and seems that this topic couldn't be more needed in our family right now, as well as my opportunity to teach a Sunday School class which focuses on the Prophets of our church. Each one having different life experiences to add to their time of Service.
Just wanted to remember a couple Quotes and never forget this time in my life.

"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

President David O. McKay

"One of our most precious possessions is our Families"

President David O. McKay

"It's possible to make home a bit of heaven. Indeed, I picture heaven as a

continuation of the ideal home"

President David O. McKay

"What'er Thou Art,

Act Well They Part."

President David O. McKay

All in a Week........{or more}

2011-07-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

{ FRIENDS..... couldn't go to bed without this post.... I feel blessed with Friends.... Grateful for the bond of Drew and His FRIENDS (from childhood to high school) not all are here and though they look dorky....... This captures them........ the long Josh stories......phone calls and dinners for us when Drew was down with his back..... Thick and Thin ..... Blood Brothers are some..... FRIENDS}

{ A FUN day at Ross Park with our kids ...... MY FRIENDS}

{He didn't stop smiling...... LOVED everything the kid play center and Lazy River}

{I LOVED watching Him, Liberty and Drew off together down the BIG slide or the leap pads}

{My pollywogs..... He and Coop would stand up and then just fall into the water.....stand up catch a breathe and do it all over}

{Basalt Ward's Pioneer Pet Promanede... OUR favorite}

{My cute pioneer cowboy}

What do you in the summertime?

2011-07-18T14:52:00.002-07:00

My Mom and sisters just survived a 8 day long trip with students and parents to Anaheim, CA {you know the home of DISNEYLAND!} Being that jealousy comes out every time my mom goes to Disneyland and the kids can't go, she soothes it over with a packet she creates a of things for them to do until she comes home. This year we completed Disney coloring pages, read stories from the FRIEND, checked on Grandpa, help clean up her Construction site aka. Kitchen, and planted in her garden.

When the day of their return came the kids wanted to be at the airport and see them. We made some cute little hats with their own personalized writing across the front and made the trek to the airport and to make sure we didn't miss them we went an hour early. In the time we could roll all over the airport floor, go to the bathroom a gazillion times, keep them off the display 4-wheeler, and keep asking them to move back from the doors that would pinch their fingers off ;).

I noticed the whole time there this "very put together older couple". I could tell several times they were watching my children. I have to admit I watched her as she walked to the restroom and noticed the clothes she was wearing and wondered where she was traveling from. Well, We gave our welcome home hugs and rushed to get the luggage and in the meantime in this tiny airport, I was standing next to this "older lady" again. This time she spoke. She commented on her watching me and my children interact and how we must have been missing who we were waiting for for a long time. When I told her it was only a week she was rather surprised. Her kids were flying in to stay with her for a week in her summer home in Jackson Hole. A week was plenty. I left feeling good about the interactions I had in that stay with my children and that I was able to make this event which is rather small something a little bigger to celebrate with my children.

After the airport we took them to try the Orange Leaf in Idaho Falls. It turned out to be one of the best summer nights in their books.

In a blog post soon, I want to post Mel's wedding. It was on this day that the summer meant so much more to me. I was given a glimpse of my ETERNAL Family. Drew and I are so blessed to live by both our parents. To have our moms in one day join us for the last day of swimming lessons, a picnic in the park, and a movie in town. We couldn't be luckier!

2011-07-18T14:52:00.001-07:00

A simple List......

2011-07-18T14:34:00.001-07:00

Can set the tone for the summer....... When at the beginning of the summer Burton wrote this list with determination and packed an adventure bag I was completely taken back with the simpleness of what can make a person HAPPY. I especially LOVED the adventure of seeing how LONG HE COULD HOLD HIS BREATHE. I am on a mission to complete ALL of these little adventures for him. June was a month busy with celebrations I cannot wait to organize my pictures to post about But with the beginning of July Our Little family set out to complete a few fun simple requests.

We slept out on the trampoline..... Well, some of us slept while others tossed and turned. Then we had our Park family over to watch tangled on the side of our house. Just a fun way to end the day. This last Saturday we took advantage of our Blackfoot pride and set out to watch the snowmachines race across Jensen's Grove. Another day that was noted to be fun.

I wanted to smile ;)

2011-07-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

{Burton has had a Loose tooth forever (so he says) I believed him when I noticed blood at the base before he realized it. He knew he could be brave and I knew I couldn't stand making the tooth cracking sound so we took him to Grandpa Anthony's. Larry Kohler offered to pull it out and give him ten dollars but Burton was hesitant. He did think it would be cool if the tooth fairy gave him $50 bucks so he could buy some golf clubs. (We are looking for some ;)) We slipped the tooth in a cute little container, then I let Mack hold it so ..... we had to write the tooth fairy a note instead.}

{Mack Makin' his hair.... Love his feet and the Alvin and the chipmunks do he insists on !}

{My silly little swimmer.... I not only have 1 but 4. Cooper is into BACK flips ... I threatened him with his life to listen to his swimming teachers and not teach them. He said, " oh yeah, well can they do flips!" Yes... they are the teachers. So far one week down and only one time out for Cooper on the side of the pool. }

They make me want to smile..... silly little people I LOVE!

A Little Piece of Heaven........

2011-07-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

{People who have meant alot to Liberty this year..... Mrs. Lisa Nelson, Mr. Dave Mecham, STAR tutor Kaylee, and so many more..... We are always to Lucky to have people cross our paths and become friends. Liberty is a very sensitive little girl and attaches very easily to teachers and STAR tutors. It is always nice to have people in our lives to stop and say Hi to her at school ( She can struggle a little during the school year.... She thinks we are party animals at home ... boy, do I have her fooled;)) Examples from church, older cousins, Aunts are all a glimmer in her day. Liberty's sensitive spirit is always ready to serve. She carries around her little brother Mack either playing or when he is sad, loves holidng baby cousins, and is ready to help the neighbors whenever. Our family was getting in the car to go to Idaho Falls this summer and she saw our neighbor out trimming trees and as I was walking out, she and Burton we coming back in for gloves. I asked why they weren't in the car and they bothed replied, "That Phil needed help."

We shared a very special day in June. The day Miss Liberty has waited for for a LONG time. I've been to alot of baptisms of nieces and nephews and they are all very special but being the mother had a very special feeling for me. Bring on Activity Days. She got to attend one before they took a month off and she was all smiles :).

I can’t wait until I’m eight for then I’ll be baptized you see......
Liberty Grace Park
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Firth Stake Center
Bishop Clair Christensen, Conducting
Opening Song......... I Like My Birthdays
Pianist ...... Krissy Park
Chorister........ Camber Lewis
Opening Prayer........Jordyn Park
Talk on Baptism..........Jamie Kidman
Special Musical Number..........I’m Trying to be Like Jesus
Liberty Park
Baptism
{Witnesses - Grandpa Bruce Anthony & Grandpa Michael Park}
Talk on Holy Ghost.........Janae Evans
Confirmation
Remarks...........Bishop Clair Christensen
Closing Song........ I Lived in Heaven
Closing Prayer.......Burton Park
Please join us for treats at our home

{It's Silly ,Really...}

2011-05-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

This confession at best is Silly... Really! I have taken to Dancing with the Stars this SEASON and both Drew and I {YES, Drew is as involved as I am} have a choice to who should win the mirror ball trophy. Can you guess mine? Can you guess Drew's? I absolutely LOVE all of the final four and hate to see any of them go BUT I really really LOVE Mr. Hines Ward. I blame this little obsession on my Grandma Anthony. This little old lady LOVED Dancing with the Stars. She especially loved the dancers who have roots in Southeast Idaho and of course the Osmond's. She sat faithfully in her little green rocking chair and anticipated it coming on all week. I don't know how she watched it that well she always complained of her poor eye sight but when this show came on she caught the smallest details.
At the end of it's airing each night if she was moved by a performance the phone would ring and it would be her on the other end and I would have to pretend I was interested in that particular season and agree and ask questions that would make her let me in on what she liked so well. We rarely watched T.V. Monday nights there are to many things to do for the next day so while bathing kids or mopping the floor we would have it on as background noise just to listen to the show anticipating Grandma's phone call. I was so into last night's show on Hines and Kim's first dance and the tears, the fall, and how cute he is when he dances ;) I wish I could of called her. I kept asking Drew who he thought Grandma would want to win...... probably Chelsea {She is a Disney star... my children LOVE Disney... so that is how Grandma would pick her choice}. That's o.k. She can side with Drew on this one. He is known for being on her good side. He would always sit down with her to watch the Game show channel and drink one of her ensure drinks.
T.V. is really a fun thing sometimes. Not only did we get caught up in Dancing with the Stars last night but CASTLE. Holy moses.. now I have to wait three months until I can see if Kate heard Richard tell her he loved her. AHHH! I Loved how not only us were into to it but Jamie and Ryan. It is not the only time we've called each other mid show to share insight to what is going on. It's silly, Really.......
**I might just watching football....Pittsburgh Steeler fan ;)

{A Message for me}

2011-04-04T20:46:00.001-07:00

As I have prepared for my Ward's upcoming Relief Society I have tried to envision the lives of the pioneer sisters who paved the way for me. I have tried to envision their daily interactions with one another, the way the spent their time, how they worked to bless their family, and with so many trials about them how they shared of what they had physically to the talents they possessed to bless the lives of all those around them. As Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf spoke in conference yesterday I was so struck with his statement "Some would rather pull a handcart across the prairie than bring up the subject of faith and religion to their friends and co-workers. It doesn't need to be that way because we have a glad message to share, and we have a message of joy." In my pondering I was really impressed at how once they heard of the gospel the fire burned within them of its truthfulness and how committed they were to it. They weren't afraid to share it and how having the gospel changed the course of many of their lives. Since I originally heard this talk my life has taken a new turn. Our family has been asked to attend a different ward. The news was shocking to say the least. I was REALLY comfortable where I was. I LOVE my ward, my calling (although exhausting), I LOVED Sunday School(being taught the gospel by my father - in - law), ILOVED Relief Society(I watched the many trips they made up and down my road, I LOVED their support with Relief Society Night, I LOVED the spirit of each and every meeting, I LOVED that my children LOVED primary with all their heart and were being taught my angels, I LOVED the nursery leaders who exhausted all their efforts to make two hours on Sunday a worryless time for me. I walked in on Nursery one Sunday to find the children all seated for lesson and Bro. Elkington singing with them a song and it seriously was a gift for me to witness that moment. I LOVED having family and friends in the ward, sharing a Grandma and Grandpa for Sacrament meeting , Learning from my Sisters-in- law and Mother- in -law in Relief Society. My list could go on and on.
We are excited for this change. It will take a couple of Sunday's for the homesick feeling to fade and tears to stop rolling when I pass those familiar things that I am not apart of anymore. How grateful I am for examples. The Gospel is the same in this new ward and I hope I can find the opportunities to share this message of Joy!

{Seriously So Blessed}

2011-04-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

I could not walk away from this weekend without being able to say how touched my life is. The feeling of urgency to turn on the radio as we worked on a project Saturday morning and to have been blessed with the technology to record it and go back and watch it later that day and even this morning for a minute. I AM GRATEFUL!

Has your child ever?

2011-03-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Has your child EVER pulled a fire alarm and sent everyone in a gym out the door in a panic?
MINE has..... writing this to recover from the drama. My children all run for the outside and I am left inside trying to grab all our crap {really shouldn't have been in a REAL fire}, as a MOM who witnessed my son is telling me in actions from clear across the gym with a smile on her face that it was my son. I hear the wrestling coach telling everyone to get outside as I in a bewildered mess can't find all of my children. Embarassed, I embarass myself once more as I kick him in the butt and haul him outside to put his shoes on. I finally simmer down a tad as in the car I ask him to tell me the truth {Can't figure out how he could reach}. He stood on the tv's to reach it. All the old computer monitors junking up the hallway. I am glad we can't trash those so we can reach the fire alarm. Meanwhile, My brother -in- law David is calmly calling off ALL response units from the harm we just caused.
p.s. I really have enjoyed the social part of wrestling this winter. Have LOVED the visits.

Pieces

2011-03-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

Blogging seems really overwhelming to me sometimes.... Although I LOVE to look back and remember the few things I have written but the task seems hard. I have once again been reminded of how important keeping a journal is and LONG to have that in my life. I feel the desire but there is no action?! I've seen as of late a blog where a picture a day and a short blurb seems to be the answer BUT again there needs to be action on my part. Why I have.... I don't know, I've been reflecting all day on the last week and come up with PIECES. We bought the material to make Liberty's baptism dress (to resemble Baby Aniston's blessing). **NOTE that Liberty is not 8 until June BUT this dress may look like this until JUNE 1. I hope not, I intend to get it done and move onto other details. I LOVED sneaking in every minute I could to sew. I love to sew but hate it too. At this point I need HELP!

{Tangled......In LOVE}

2011-02-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Our Family Festivities for Valentine's Day. I LOVED thinking of all the little things I LOVE about the people in my family. I wrote a couple of things for each person on the candy bars wrapped in paper.

Liberty: I LOVE having a little girl. I LOVE to watch her play dolls.

Burton: I LOVE how hard he plays basketball, baseball, and wrestles with his whole heart. I LOVE reading with you.

Mack: I LOVE watching you draw... even if it is with spit :) Drive by the front window ... all of our car windows to see his work at its finest.

I LOVE holding you and watching you sleep and wake up and LOVE your mom.

Cooper: I LOVE my BIG little boy! I LOVE how you watch everything Burton does! I LOVE when you LOVE me... your hugs and passionate silly kisses .

{Spring!????}

2011-02-17T14:14:00.001-08:00

{Mack holding baby Brighton McCall Lewis..... I LOVE how he is holding Camber's hand too.}

{I LOVE Burton with babies..... He looks so much bigger now than the winter we brought the twins home BUT He LOVES this baby just the same. He is a Great BIG Brother!}

{Our silly front yard...... I dread this time of year. The front yard is either a pond or an ice skating ring ( use either free of charge). After one of my preschool children took a dive and smacked her elbow really hard Tuesday I started ice melting the whole yard. This morning when I was out throwing ice melt around the bus driver asked if I was planting grass ;) I WISH thats my next problem to solve. }

I caught a little of this poking through the snow just after nap time...... LONGING for warm weather. I did here the groundhog predicted an early spring. My Grandma Anthony's birthday is on ground hog day. Her biggest birthday wish every year was just that ..... AN EARLY SPRING! She hated winter and cold. She maybe pulled some strings for us here who are struggling a little with winter this year. Crazy thing is she NEVER wore socks. How can you not wear socks in the winter. Golly Gee..... This year I opted for wool socks to keep warm. Gotta love it!

*** Just to note..... I was just watching Liberty get off the bus and with her rain boots just jumped both feet with a spring in her step into a puddle ;)

We also took advantage of the semi warm temps this week and took a little walk around town. Good to get some fresh air!

{I MIss this Ol' Gal}

2011-01-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2011

2011-01-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

I started this tradition a few years back when an important person in our life was tragically taken from this earth and left all that loved her here to be with her Father in Heaven. I drew a heart on the date of her death with a reminder to always remember her and her family on this day. It is a day that later I've come to learn the family doesn't really want to remember the day the state patrolmen came to their door to tell them of the news BUT that is why we have friends, so that on days like those we can do something nice, out of our ordinary routine to show our love to them in remembering someone so dear to them. I can't imagine losing a parent/parent in-laws right now in my life. How much we need them in helping shaping our adult lives and keeping us strong while being entrusted with little ones who are so demanding as we mould their lives.
Since the passing of Jackie, my drawing a heart on my calendar has continued with my Grandpa Anthony, Grandma Scott, Grandma Park, and a neice Rachel .
So, What makes January 25 such a day to remember. It was five years ago today my Grandpa Anthony passed away and it is once again a day that may need another heart.
Waiting for the phone to ring to announce the passing of his wife my Grandma Anthony kept me from sleeping last night, and makes my heart race at every ring. Seeing her in so much pain yesterday, I pray the end will be soon and not lengthen its stay and this day will be one filled with joy as the two meet together once again in heaven.

{Anxiously Waiting}

2011-01-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

{My kids are pouring on the pressure for another little baby ...... We will enjoy loving everyone else's bundles..... They watch Aniston's every move}

{Welcome Home Baby Aniston}

{ At this point I thought her name would be Tenley}

{We were so anxious to meet Baby Aniston we killed some time with haircuts....}

{The Things that Matter Most}

2011-01-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

{ Cooper's Christmas wish..... HOT Dog set - He is in charge of the tail gate parties for everything Ball team that Mack does!}

{ Mack's ball team Christmas full of ball team jackets, clothes, shirt, pants, ball and of course a HELMET!}

{ Liberty was torn this year as to what should be on her list...... She LOVES baby dolls BUT shoe does have plenty. So, instead she put a teenager doll with the addition of it having a little sister because she LOVES the car seat covers the real babies have and she wanted a baby with a carseat and a cover..... Lucky for her, Grandma Anthony LOVES to sew and she got an armoire FILLED to the max with outfits complete for a Teenager doll}

{ Burton had several different Christmas wishes leading up to the holiday but as we sat to write our letter to Santa Christmas Eve it touched my heart to hear him say that he wanted whatever Santa thought a five year old boy would need ...... He needed a remote control RAZOR and guys to fill it up !}

{ I want to remember the excited hugs of thanks I got after opening each present that filled the desire of their little heart. Those hugs are priceless and that is the feeling I wish would have stayed in my heart all day ....... (sigh.... so much for daughter/ mother of the year)}

{THE Park Grandchildren in their fleece pullovers from Grandpa & Grandma Park }

only missing 4

{ I need to put more moments like this on my list..... Having lost my Grandma Scott a couple of days after Christmas I wish I could remember times like this..... Her health ailing her for a long time I only remember asking her shortly after Grandpa died what she would like to be doing in five years ...... Her response "Dead" o.k. She did live with our families for a couple of years from October to January so that gave our children a little chance to know her but they were funny things like a constant watch on What time it was? She needed a Pepsi..... Don't forget the ice, What time is it? I need a pepsi! Can I go to bed ? but I did realize how many of their GREAT Grandparents they got to know and I only vaguely remember one of mine.}
{The twins were sent home from Nursery with this Nativity sticker set. I thought they were really cute but we came home rushing to change clothes and get on with dinner and visiting family. What I didn't realize was how important they were to the boys until Mack lost his baby Jesus and Joseph trying to transfer the stickers to the paper they were given. I am glad for this one moment that I truly did pause to help arrange and focus on something that was so important to them.}

{Gingerbread Houses with the Mecham's }

{ Sugar Cookie Day}

{Gifts to Neighbors and Friends & Primary Teachers}

The Sunday after Christmas our Relief Society lesson was a talk given by Address: Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most" October 2010 General Conference. After a major meltdown coming down on Christmas day, and bawling through Sunday morning because the holiday could not be saved and what could I have done differently, I realized that I couldn't eliminate any of these traditions. This is what I seek. I seek to make regular seemingly unimportant events HUGE events that is what is important to me. I seek inspiriation from friends and family and through blogging and try to do what I can to let my children know how important lifes little events are to me because of them.

'Tis the Season

2010-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

For BABIES...... { NOT MINE} But my sisters and sister in law. Not to mention surgeries around this place. My Sister in Law Jamie had a cute little girl a day after Drew's Back surgery. Not able to leave Drew I didn't get to visit them in the hospital {kinda made me feel like when I missed their first day in the hospital with Brooke....I was at home in the middle of a miscarriage.... Bittersweet day }. When I loaded the kids up in the beginning of our snowstorm and with my sore hubby in tow I forgot my camera. So I am needing to get a picture of precious Madison Paige. Since then we've had Thanksgiving, watched our neighbor's move into their new home {another bittersweet day}, My Mom had surgery last Wednesday, Janae is in the hospital RIGHT NOW and their is more excitement in the air.... so much so that with my kids and my sister Camber's kids naptime was a bust, My dad is having surgery on Wednesday and so we are excited to have this baby come today! Today is BAby day! The next baby to arrive in a month and a half when Camber has her's in February.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Am I completely Crazy?.......

2010-11-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

Last Night we broke out the Christmas movies and watched Santa Claus 3. It has been awhile since we've seen that one. We watched it religiously the year I couldn't do much pregnant with the twins. It was the movie that was always on. Now that the time changed and the snow fell peacefully a couple of times this week it is hard to think of anything but CHRISTMAS! I can't wait for the holidays. I am in the mood for creating some personalized gifts and Christmas shopping is well under way at our home.
This morning I've even got the kids cleaning a little deeper and more thorough because you know who is coming........{Santa:0} While I am in another room and each child is assigned to their own room and mind you it is in the 7:00 a.m. hour because who can sleep with such excitement now, Liberty followed by her 2 year old brothers comes in to ask me just how Santa can meet everyone's needs and be everywhere with such a great fun energy about him. What do I do ..... relate him to the Prophet?! Absurd I know but I back it up with how we have Bishops, Stake Presidents, High Council, and yah! What was I thinking! to get the work done. Anyway..... we LOVE Santa like we LOVE the Prophet. Which is okay .....Right?
We are excited already with the spirit of the holidays...... My kids want to know which Grandma's we get to sleep at? Sadly, none we live to close .... But I have thought of pretending to go away myself....... packing up the bags and staying at their homes. So, Here is to a GREAT day in town getting food and other fun stuff to celebrate the holidays!

Fun Halloween Dinner....

2010-10-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

One of my preschool children made these for a treat last week. I LOVED them and did what I do best.... Copied the idea. I have a neice and a nephew who are freshman this year and have the luxury of leaving campus for lunch. I invited them and a few of their friends over for a halloween lunch..... Mummy pizzas and witch fingers along with a tiny can of pop which had a halloween logo on it.:O Fun Day! I made enough we ate them again for dinner.

Chips.......

2010-10-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

After a good days work or for a treat CHIPS are the treat my family prefers. Don't forget the pepsi.... (your mouth must be chip free before you drink )! So today after giving another go around of cleaning to the Firestation for tomorrow's Relief Society Night it was off to the store for our treat. This is a treat preferred by many a family member. Chips are what we eat.

October is Fire Prevention Month.... It is the focus also of Relief Society Night for our Ward. My hopes with that were it might inspire families to look and evaluate all of their emergency preparedness needs. No one needed this months topic more than myself. I look at it every year with my preschool children and encourage their families to practice fire drills in their homes BUT as always the one who prepares learn more than the students.

Last night as our family was preparing to go clean the firestation for FHE I was wasting time on the computer but smelling something peculiar. Dinner didn't smell that bad and when Drew walked in the door he went straight into the kitchen. He eyes went first to the stove which the light indicator said a burner was on. I was sure I had just turned them all off as well as the oven after taking some pumpkin cheese cake out of the oven. In two seconds I realized one burned had been left on and was melting my garbage can lid. If I had stuck to my original plan of leaving for the firestation as soon as the kids and I ate we'd been in big trouble.

Accidents happen. Make sure you have fire alarms installed. We had ours in their boxes for three years. They are up now!

Let the Fall Fun Begin...........

2010-10-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

My own photo before the Bell photo shoot at school

Labor day weekend with the Kidman's ..... enjoyed the Fair parade... Highlights were the free chocolate milk before the parade started.... Missionary Mall threw out ties...... the new recipe for corn on the cob.... Behind us some Hispanic ladies had a booth set up with corn on the cob but not just any kind of corn on the cob they buttered it, added parmesan cheese, then red pepper and tapitio. We tried it out later that night when the Kidman's came over for a BBQ.

We played Restaurant one day last week.... Liberty made the board with the menu.... Burton made the Kids meal sacks..... I made rolled Hot dogs ...... We ran really quick to Broulim's to select the chips, drink, and treat. We tore apart the toy closet to find all the McDonald's play equipment to add to the lunch. We even invited Sister Mecham over to be our customer. Hope she had a great meal.

Dog Bite ..... While at Green Canyon the kids had a great time.... the pool was shallow on one end and allowed them to venture out and play a little more.....Liberty and Burton really liked the freezing cold water hole next to the hot tub...... But things changed on the walk outside to leave..... It was evening and the kids were starving. ..... I walked in front of the building looking for a place to pull out our picnic but had decided to just make the sandwiches in the car because of the dog under the trees, the dog poop on the lawn, and a dead bird. Just as I turned to tell Drew what I decided I hear Cooper screaming and a dog growling and lunging toward Coop with that not nice growl and it continued pushing him backwards until Coop broke free screaming. Drew didn't see what had happened but was right there scooping Cooper up and me not being far away couldn't get my body to move fast enough. Blood was gushing out of his mouth and I am trying to see how bad it was and explain to Drew the details. So, Long story short we ended up going into Rexburg to the hospital, filling out police reports, and getting Cooper man stitched up. Things I learned for next time..... TAke a picture of the dang dog. Stupid ugly dog.... bit my son and I couldn't even tell what it was. I did know it wasn't a poodle. IT was WHITE. When I was telling the pool people what had happened.... THEY could have cared less.... They were like does it have brown eyes or blue eyes..... scars on its nose?....... I then watched the pool girl walk out and call the dog by its name and it moved to her calling it....... Bad experience..... Drew left mad that he didn't beat the dog...... I left grateful he didn't because I would have two wounded people..... I did wake up in the middle of the night to the sit of that dog tearing into my son..... I wish I could have moved faster.... I was so slow it felt like I didn't try at all.

It was a different experience than the car accident we were in. After that I thought NEXT time anwe have an accident I will know. NOPE

Loving being together ...... Drew thought I took a picture every 5 steps.... which I almost did ... I wish they turned out better.... I just loved the scenery..... Saw a lot of beautiful scenery on this drive.

{Square Ice Cream and our picnic at Palisades ......

Week 1 of Harvest is going to be hard to beat. We had a Great Time enjoying the Fall Season and can't complain about the warm temps that allowed for the fun times. I have always enjoyed this harvest break from school..... Love the smell of fresh dirt.......Love seeing the busyness of potato trucks up and down the highway..... I even got stuck behind a truck with a hay wagon that was going extremely slow and enjoyed slowing down for that moment (until this truck and many others pulled over to let me pass).... I Love the Fall colors and the beautiful evenings..... I love the smell of a great apple pie in the oven..... I Love the opportunity to prepare our home and yards for winter. With that being said, "We've been busy!" We kicked off the work the Saturday after school let out with a marathon washing windows day. Wowwee I didn't realize they were so dirty. I stood back and watched the sun beam off of them for quit some time. You should listen to the Relief Society broadcast when President Monson speaks at the end. He tells a story about dirty windows. :) Its a good one. Then off onto the week we played Restaurant, went shopping for halloween costumes, filled our car with 11 kids to go to the corn maze & Artic Circle, gotta day out with my sisters and mom to do a little shopping ( actually with no kids it is a busy one trying to fit a bazillion more stores because of the ease of running in and out ...... plus stores with breakable things), and a drive to Palisades, Jackson Hole, ending at Green Canyon to help Drew's hip and break up the drive.

I Love Fall.......

2010-09-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Leaves are falling all around ...... And I am sad to have things to do inside. I LOVE fall. Color wise it is my season. I LOVE the beginnings of every season. The anticipation of the activities they bring. I am so grateful we get a couple of weeks to celebrate this season with our children, Gearing up for winter, and enjoying the fall moments. Right now I need something pumpkin pie smelling and should be taking advantage of the to dos outside because fall does sneak in some crudy weather.
**I couldn't do everything but I did sneak out my pumpkin door hanger.

I LOVE Fall!

just because ......

2010-09-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

I had fun making these cupcakes after stealing the idea from a friend. I made them several times because they just turned out way to cute. I am also a person who needs something in my hand for a drop in visit type thing. The ones on the blog I stole them from are still cuter but I had to share. They were a fun first day of school treat, I wrapped some up to take to my visiting teaching sisters, and there I got the cute comment. One of sisters I visit has a six year old girl. She took the wrapped package away from her mom and then asked for assistance in opening. When the mom realized what the little girl was doing she grabbed them quickly from and said these were going to sit on the shelf for a couple of days to look at. Made me feel good.
AND my kitchen .... I painted the cupboards this summer. I had to be more quick than OCD but they are done and I feel better about them. We sprayed the hardware with a cool textured spray to look more like that of the oil brushed bronze. We added some new recipe book boxes and range hood and hopefully there will be more to come.

Still Learning......

2010-09-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

Why is it that I can't learn the first time. I've just been handed a simple challenge and once again failed. Not ten minutes ago I wondered why my Heavenly Father wasn't hearing the pleas of a little girl when I at that moment walked upon and found the item she desired so badly for picture day tomorrow. Listening to her sobing on her bed and thinking WHy does this have to be so tough. Why did I go on a garbage frenzy the last couple of days and think everything had to be in the DI pile or garbage. Why will He not let us find this expensive hair bow. But I've thought about this alot lately and thought maybe I had grown up and that if it really was my lot to have a HARD trial I would do it with a smile and not question Him. I told a friend just yesterday who is in the thick of something hard for her that one day she look back on this time and think, "Wow, I thought that was hard!"
I think I been given a couple of scares (or situations maybe better ) to see how Drew and I together would handle it but once its over and I know we are free and clear did I really appreciate my answer. The gift I was given. Did I or have I done all that I needed to to be truly worthing of that gift. I am grateful that the power to pray and to kneel down and ask a higher power for help is mine. I am grateful we have a plan for us and that this plan allowed me the challenges of losing a baby, look at the possiblility of breast cancer, and deal with every issue under the sun with the twins and come away with two healthy babies. I am grateful for the whisperings of the spirit to tell me how truly and completly blessed I am even though I don't always fall to my knees in a prayer of gratitude. It's just to bad I always make something so simple seem so Hard!

Back to School ..... Bubba!

2010-09-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

I Love that he wears his Dad's cologne. KIlls me everyday!

Note: All four kids in the top right picture... Cousins... .All in the same class.

My cute little preschool class. My prayers were answered so much this year.... I have a wonderful group of children and the first day was so much fun. I've come across some new learning material and I hope it adds upon the things I already LOVE.

So it is not exactly the day that Burton Started School BUT I have no good excuses for why but that I've just been busy. I 've thought this post a million times and I still hits me a different way each time. I did not burst into tears when Burton left or feel like throwing up while he was gone like I did with Liberty but I do feel I am in denial that he is old enough to be there. I LOVE to be the one that picks him up and hear about his day ..... I LOVE how this new adventure has made him hop right out of bed, get dressed, brush his teeth, do his own spike hair do, and pace the floor waiting for Liberty so they can run out and catch the bus. It does however make me sad that Cooper and Mack bawl ... I mean BAWL everyday they get on the bus. The Bus driver commented one day how she wants to cry everyday she gets up too and I had to let her in that its not that , it is the fact she takes our best friends away on the bus. Oh, and they are mad they don't get to ride the bus. The driver was very kind with the riding the bus and offered them a ride whenever they see it parked at her house. I hope she means it.:0

The day the older kids got to go meet their teachers at registration Cooper grabbed a back pack loaded it with random shoes so he could go meet his teacher. I kept asking him if he wanted to meet her and with a huge smile and bright eyes he would say "YES"! I would then reach out my hand and say HI! I'm Miss Kellie I'm your teacher. He would roll his eyes like I was crazy.

Back to school.....Liberty

2010-08-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

We tried to savor the last few days of summer vacation and we wore ourselves out. Last night I laid in bed until around 2 a.m. listening to the conversations of firemen trying to put out a fire in Wolverine Canyon, while writing several blog posts in my head, while dreaming of how the first day of preschool should be, and on and on I went. But after the long days and napless afternoons I was still awake. Praying that this would be a GREAT school year for Liberty. That she would LOVE her teacher as much as she did last year, praying for less paniced mornings, less crying, one that give her confidence, and that she would LOVE learning like she has in the past. On Monday we broke out my cotton candy machine I got for my birthday and we made batch after tiny batch of cotton candy with tags to take to the neighbor kids to wish them a Happy Back to School season. We included our neighbor Sister Mecham (90yrs old) and Sister Johnson because they LOVE cotton candy.
Last week I was reading through a magazine and found these cute candy pencils. Well, its a rolos packaged candy wrapped with yellow paper, aluminum foil, pink for the eraser, and a hershey kiss for the pencil tip. To top it off we added some ribbon and the kids signed them. We took them to their Back to School meet your teacher Registration Afternoon to give to their teachers. Camber and I were on a roll and ended up making them for their primary teachers too.
Liberty came home from school and was all smiles...AHHHH! Now we've trimmed up Burton's hair, picked out his clothes for his first day of KINDERGARTEN tomorrow. Heaven Help me........BOY is he different than Liberty:}. I am told its ok because he is a Boy! I am praying for no naughty bench.....crossing my fingers. He is always in a dead run or teasing that sister. I'll post the results tomorrow.

A Sad Day.......

2010-08-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

It has been a couple of weeks that we've been walking by these boots just sitting on the floor next to Mack's bedroom door and I have finally taken a minute to document a little piece of history. These boots are 32 years old. They were something of mine that my mom saved in her cedar chest. When Liberty and Breezy were born some of these old things resurfaced and we used them on token occasions. Liberty had a super cute denim dress she wore with these boots when she was 1. Then they would get used now and then. Burton came along and he wore them once to the Buckaroo Rodeo but not much more than that. Then this past winter they resurfaced again for the twins. Probably for Cooper because they were on the big side for them both. But when Mack looked at these boots the fight was on. They were HIS and to make sure of that he never took them off. (They have a smell that wasn't there 32 years ago.) He wore them to bed, to get his tonsils out, church, and everything else. When the temperatures started climbing he wore them with shorts but for some reason he set them aside in July to wear his crocs. The tears started coming the eve of the buckaroo when it was difficult to shove his little foot inside. They are a tight fit but he wore them to their final buckaroo, he has worn out the inside, and formed cracks on the outside. Here is to those little boots!

{Who have you been kissin'?}

2010-08-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

With her fever back and a tired and exhausted body, My little girl has MONO! A few calls to the doctor and a blood test says she needs to stay rested and not do much the rest of summer. NUTS!

The twins have been rapidly picking up some verbal skills and OH NUTs is something I hear quite frequently from Mack. I hear alot of PEE PEE TREE and things of that nature too.

{Family Pictures}

2010-08-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

I hope my sil Amber doesn't mind I post these?! I'll beg forgiveness later!:} Anyway, I was taken back when she asked me to take her family pictures. Not thinking I was good enough to do this. But I studied out some poses had to ask permission this time for my all time favorite convenient background and when I was done, I really thought I would like to learn more. Understand the capabilities of a camera better. These pictures aren't perfect but I really got some I like and I hope their family likes them too. It was an honor to be thought of good enough to even ask.

{Smile}

2010-08-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

Summer is flying by faster than I would like now that the weather is warm ..... And sadly I haven't had time to even look at pictures I've taken let alone blog about them...... Our family has been passing a bug around since last Wednesday (that is the day Liberty was with a full blown fever) rushed her into the doctor before the office closed that day and away we went for a prescription.......Her eyes were puffy (minus the black eye at that point), her ear was red, and her throat looked sore (none of the stated were bothering her though).......Buzzed to Shelley for medicine and on our way to feeling better...... To my surprise our adventure didn't stop there. Cooper woke up with the pukes followed by Burton and myself. Drew mentioning to me not to worry about him raced home from Supreme Saturday night with the pukes too. With that said, I did laundry all day Saturday thinking that if I got up and did something I would feel better. I once again washed every blanket santitized surfaces only to start over on Sunday with Drew. But Today as I was taking clothes of f the line I looked at this row of little boy underwear and it made me smile. I, too, have been potty training TWO little boys who pee anywhere and EVERYWHERE! We are very much working on this art. I wash underwear every day because with two it really disappears fast. We have been caught peeing on every tree, tire, and crack that looks to need some water.

Liberty's black eye is from Cooper and his strong arm holding a microphone. This happened the day she was really feeling like crap. So when the microphone connected to the eye I thought I needed to call 9- 1-1.

The sunflower was falling over and I needed to mow where it was laying so I mowed over the stem and decided to save the buds. It looks so pretty in the kitchen by the sink and window. I LOVE having fresh flowers in my home.

I have a whole summer to catch up on but I needed to start somewhere.

June 2010

2010-06-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Took picture for my 2 year old niece.

Took Baptism pictures for a cutie niece.

I was having a crummy day one day . I think I called it MOody Monday. Seriously was not a nice person. But while dinner was cooking, I jumped on the computer to stalk a blog and read about one of my friends who had a pity party the Thursday before. HER husband joined the fun and brought her home a dozen orange roses to celebrate the affair. I commented on the post and went about dinner. Shortly before Drew got home I see this friend on my door step with 6 wilty roses to join my party. Fit my day perfectly!

Memorial Day we went to the PlayMill in West Yellowstone and saw Beauty and the Beast. SOOOOO Good worth every penny!

Liberty's Birthday we had to do a pre-op appointment in Rexburg so in frigid temps we hit the splash park. The kids had fun for awhile........Didn't dare have to many people drive up and go with us because of our stinkin' June weather.

Father's Day gifts....... Made tape measures for the Great Dad's in our lives..... Turned out super cute.

Day after Liberty's birthday Mack had surgery...... Tonsils & Adnoids.......I hear people say its just his tonsils and think come over for our sleepless nights .....its not just tonsils........In the end we are hoping for a healthier kid.

Our little Liberty turned 7......Her first friend/relative party......Movie night ..... The Toothfairy

Our first year of T- Ball....... very fun for Burton.....Family Night proved to be great for Liberty too.

The story of June 2010...... June 3,4, 5.. our stake took the youth on a TREK. Drew and I were asked to be a ma &pa back in October. Things changed with our callings and so I thought we would be relieved of this too. Very Grateful we were still chosen. A very sacred experience of my life. Above are some of the pictures from events that forever changed my life. Listening to the sound of the handcart wheel, the feel of bitterly cold water, soggy clothes from a constant down pour, & pulling a handcart up a mountain side without the help of our brethren. Some very defining moments in our lives. Fun did not describe this trip for me but sacred did. It was very emotional for me the minute I stepped foot onto the trail with our new family and began sharing in the lives of our pioneer ancestors, hearing beautiful music, and great individuals share words of encouragement.

Tonight.....Stake Fireside

2010-05-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

{Just wanted to show some of the cute things that have come our way this week. These fortune cookies were made by Camber and her kids. Briggs gave them to his Preschool Teacher with
Real fortunes inside like ..... You are a gireat tichir :) Camber helped us make some yesterday to give to Liberty's Teacher & Sister Mecham for her 90th birthday}

{Cute little gifts from one of my students}

{Tonight is a Stake Relief Society Night Fireside. We wanted to add a little part to it so the sisters in our ward could connect too.....so we came up with FILL THE CAR.....We are hoping

they will fill their cars with sisters for points and extra points are for bringing their next door neighbor, a high school senior transitioning into Relief Society, a Grandma, a sister under thirty...... Categories for sedan and SUV .....*seat belts not required
So here is what I came up with for the PRIZE.... a little background ....picture a clown car full of sister pilling out to come to the fireside. We are hoping to add some giggles and friendship as sisters in zion.

What's up ? .........

2010-05-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

Life has been a little crazy to say the least at the Park house OR maybe it is just me! I can't get myself to write a blog although I do think of ideas very often BUT never take the chance to write it down or get to it. I do however LOVE to read blogs and wish everyday that all the blogs I stalked would have new updates. The weather maybe to blame for my blahza attitude. More than warm its cold and windy ....we're not talking a little wind 70 mph wind. For awhile we've been feeling sick......playing out in the sun.......our computer screen was DEAD........buying a new refrigerator (because ours POOPED it's jammies.....DREW) it was smoking one Sunday night.....cleaning up all our junk for the FREE two-week anything goes junk removal (LOVE this idea)......Celebrating our handsome 5 year olds Birthday (Birthday's here are a week long celebration) ...... not to forget our Anniversary .....HOLY 9 years Batman! (Lovin' Mack's GQ look.....the new style of two legs in one leg hole...don't forget the cell phone}

{Easter weekend....I had yelled at the kids to set out their easter baskets and Cooper brings back a laundry basket.....It was adorable until he pushed it too far and tipped over in it.}

{seaking warmer weather for Spring Break but didn't go far enough.... got to see Mel}

Now off for a killer two weeks to finish preschool.... Kids in the school district now get out May 24th.....checking into taking Mack's tonsils out.....Amber has her baby.....Janae is expecting.....Jamie is expecting......praying for warm weather all the days we desperately need to be outside......

Kindergarten Registration & Mack's Boots

2010-03-11T13:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the BOYS turn to register for KINDERGARTEN. Not much to it other than filling out paper work while the boys got to color a picture. I remember going to a screening for kindergarten when I was little and being drilled from our neighbor friends, that I would need to know what ketchup was made out of. Burton left good old A.W. Johnson so excited with a learning packet and came home to start writing his letters.
The twins have been working with a speech therapist along with Mack's Physical Therapist through the Idaho Infant Toddler program. Yesterday, I learned that when they are three they transfer the services to the School District. I could be loosing all my boys next winter. But the kicker is that the twins are my babies and they would ride a bus there. They aren't big enough. I can't imagine them big enough to climb up on the bus and sit quietly from home to the school. Gotta take some time to wrap my brain around this one.
We are starting to sign with the twins in hopes it will eliminate some frustration (slamming heads on hard surfaces). Our signs for the week are drink and eat. Mack has also learned to jump a little on the tramp inside our house and Cooper has learned the word YEP!

I needed to smile today. This picture is from our family movie night we finally haphazardly had last Friday night. It was a lot of fun and I would love more of those kind of nights. Drew & I worked together during the day on the house and we had a movie we wanted to watch and the kids wanted something else so we hooked up a t.v. in the boys room. The twins wandered back and forth and this is the outfit Mack fell asleep in. Yes, he is asleep even though his eyes look a little open. Drew's ankle socks make perfect leggings and his boots. The boots he wears 24/7. He does not want Coops to get a hold of them and he can't if Mack NEVER takes them off. Last night while putting the kids to bed Drew took off the boots and set them up high on the dresser. Tears were shed but his stinking little toes needed to air out. They were the first things he put on. Another funny thing about the boots.... he randomly switches which feet they are on through the day.

Firthmobile....

2010-02-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

That is what someone is Pleasant Grove, Utah thinks we here in good old Firth Idaho do for Fun :) I thinks this someone is someone special to my sister MELODY. BUT shh! keep it a secret :) He is a teacher at Pleasant Grove High School and I don't know the exact title of what he teaches but I know there was a time when Melody was into Making MOVIES in this TEACHER's room just so she could spend time with him.

He came to Firth with Mel for Breezy's Birthday weekend and he got to meet the FAMILY. I should just stop while I am ahead because what if he read this :} Drew and David took them snowmachining and he made a video. Since I am technology impaired I will let you look it up if you like on YOU TUBE.... FIRTHMOBILE.

They had only been dating for about 2 weeks at this point. But don't worry we broke him in with all sorts of embarassing questions. This one from Burton "ARe you going to be Melody's boyfriend until you get Married?!" The kids malled him to death but the adults we were on our best behavior:)

This weekend also happened to be Valentine's weekend and we made him frost sugar cookies and decorate them with candy hearts.

4th of July Centerpiece Ideas?

2010-02-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

I am putting this out there in case somebody reads this in the next two days. I am looking for ideas for a 4th of July Centerpiece. Our Relief Society Birthday party is next Wednesday and another Sister and I are creating a 4th of July table. I am doing the centerpiece but I haven't found anything I really LOVE. I was thinking a gingham blue/red fabric to be the bottom layer and then a bouquet of fresh sunflowers, a glass container filled with the brand spankin new baseballs I got Travis for Christmas (cross my fingers he will let me use them for frilly thing like this), and ________________? I need various heights and I feel like the sunflowers and baseball container will be too much the same. OH, from what I have found containers of lemonade on the table. Maybe a shorter, squatier container so it is a different height. The metal containers are used alot too. But I am trying to stay with the TRUE RED, WHITE, and BLUE colors.
If in your blog hopping or connections you have seen something cool.... LET ME KNOW!

My Very Own Reciept......

2010-01-31T07:09:00.000-08:00

I had to go to Idaho Falls for a few things yesterday. A thought hit me in the process of thinking of everything I needed..... Liberty has been dying to buy some workout clothes......The thought hits me that if she wants them so bad maybe that is what she can spend some of her own money on. Using her own money and concentrating on something she really wants as she picks the perfect things out ought to be a great learning experience for a girl her age ..... RIGHT? She was so cute as she was checking out, turning and asking how many dollars she needed, she unfolded her cash from the wallet and purse found for this special experience, and we began to count out the money to the cashier. The cashier put the receipt in the bag and away we went. BUT the moment of pure joy came as we were putting our things in the car and Liberty says, " I FINALLY HAVE MY OWN RECEIPT!"
(She wants to grow up and work at Sam's club because of the whole receipt thing)

**as a side note I was just laying in bed next to Cooper and saw a bit of freshly cut hair.... This is in additon to the first found on Mack and the other spot on Cooper's head.... Got to solve this mystery

Happy Birthday Mack & Cooper

2010-01-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Party for the TWINS...... We rented a cotton Candy Machine

Bought JONES soda because it added to the theme decor......

Isn't Cooper walking with determination

My SUGAR filled Thing 1 and Thing 2....they seriously are sooooo sticky in this picture......Drew didn't hesitate on giving them a bath tonight

Our Cute little family .........AHHH!

All the cousins after the carnival type games we played.....Fishbowl Frenzy....Tag the THING..... Pin the hair on the THINGS.....

GREAT NIGHT!

We're Having a Party!

2010-01-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

Who is this?.......

2010-01-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Liberty drew this picture over the break. We were in the car when it was shown to me, waiting in line to wash our disgusting car, I OOHed and AHHed at how well she had done and then asked her who was in the picture? A pause..... ME and MY SISTER (ready for the kicker) IF I HAD ONE! I immediately shot a glance at Drew and thinking like I do I am thinking is this a sign......Drew knows exactly what I am thinking and says "YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE AS IT IS" For a moment I thingk UGH! Am I Bad Mother..... NO I have twins that are almost 2! They are very frightening right now!

Power Out !......Nothing works

2010-01-20T08:32:00.001-08:00

Yesterday morning around 5:15 a.m. I heard Drew walking back upstairs to our bedroom....(I only wake up for prayer and go back to sleep....Drew is up and out the door by 5:30 a.m.).....Anyway, I heard him, which I usually NEVER do then I noticed his flashlight on his handy NEW phone he had to have.... THEN i heard the BOOM. I realized then we had no power..... atomatically thinking the whole town was out of power and my prayers were answered NO SCHOOL! ( I am so my mother's daughter....I even include these days in my prayers) Laying back down I was completely relaxed by the thought of a down day and imagined the lazy morning I could have watching the news and waiting for them to announce the closer. Drew had a few minutes before heading out the door and his job was to look up Rocky Mountain Power and call them. BUT he couldn't dial the number because it was so dark he couldn't see the numbers on his phone..... Then it hit me ...... NO POWER means NO TV..... NO TV means COMPLETE DARKNESS and I don't know where a flashlight is......The twins play everyday with one and right at that moment there was no way to find it.....so I wandered to our bedroom phone to call my parents to see if their power was out.....Good MORNING it's 5:30 a.m.(My parents live in town also....right next to the school if the school had power I was really in trouble) ..NOPE they had power and the means to have light regardless.....Thankfully my mom came to our rescue with flashlights and candles......I continued on with preschool from the light of our BIG front window ..... I aside the thought of doing my hair and makeup until I caught a glimpse of myself.....then trying to do my makeup by the light of a candle or flashlight is also another scary experience......So from all this I LEARNED I am ILL-PREPARED for disaster......wake up call .....Our house needs more than one stinkin' flashlight.....candles with matches....... ARe you prepared for the dark?

More Magical Christmas Moments to come......

2010-01-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

I am having the hardest time keeping up.....If I write this down maybe I will make it priority to post the rest of Christmas.

Our Magical Christmas Moments......

2010-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

The Family Room of the big remodel for David and Camber.... They have been working non stop since July on completing a home that will be Grandma's and their's. I LOVE the scallop border and the bead board. During the vacation Melody, Mom and I painted over 3,ooo ft and when we looked at all the trim to then paint Melody suggested the Lewis family might like to do it. We wouldn't want to leave them out right? J/K ..... This room was already here .... They retexture and painted.

ARe they REally Sharing? .....or from Cooper's grin.....Did he win the fight?

The week before Christmas Activities...... The beautiful girls took a lesson on talents to heart and discovered their LOVE for acting. They each played a part in the play The Christmas Carol put on at the Virginia Theatre in Shelley.

I made my Mother in Law's famous cheeseball for some neighbors and friends. I just sectioned the cheeseball into smaller balls and rolled them in parmesan cheese and decorated in cute snowmen. I could eat her cheeseball all by myself. LOVE LOVE LOVE this holiday munchie. ( On a side note: It has blue cheese in it..... Well, my little helper Cooper climbed up the cupboard to see the FOOD I was working with and decided to taste the blue cheese. He IMMEDIATELY threw up.......Doesn't like blue cheese...... GOOD .... more for me:))

The Sunday before Christmas..... Cute little Christmas outfits.....

Soo Cute.....

2010-01-06T18:28:00.001-08:00

This is my punishment.......For Christmas we gave the boys a BIG boy room and Liberty a Girl room ...... This means we said goodbye to bed with restriction and let them have more freedom....AHHH! I hope this transition starts to take because they might hurt themselves...... I do check the room for dangerous items like pennies, plastic, or sharp objects, before I tie it shut from my side ( please don't tell child protective services :)) They also learned to open door knobs with their fierce anger of the change. They are like me ..... CHANGE NO GOOD. Today when they woke up after short nap (they played for the first little while) I came into find all the wipes on the open floor and the flash light on. This is so FUN ! I need my sleeping babies back..... They are going to be 2 way to soon.

Our neighbors have a new batch of kittens and as we were driving by the other day I saw them playing on their front step. It was really cute and I am not an animal gal. We finally have a child who likes animals..... MACK LOVES little kitties...... He gave this kitty a hug and a cute little lick....:( Weird but he loves them.

The camel's back......{BROKEN}

2009-12-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

{Liberty Lost her FIRST tooth..... She has waited for this day FOREVER but as soon as it came she was scared and everyday she was going to wait till the next day to pull it out...... I finally thought tonight was the night and tried to make it exciting bribing her with peppermint icecream in Hot Chocolate .....OH! SOOO good ........ The Tooth Fairy can come tonight..... Now they are scared to sleep in their room....Scared of the Tooth Fairy.......Our life will change forever... She'll loose the tooth and graduate from High School.... AHH! one step and a time.....}

{We created Santa's workshop at preschool this week and made I- Spy bags.... Each child brought something to put inside and with the help of my great MOM team they helped put them together..... I already had cut the squares and sewn around them once..... they did have to be sewn twice to keep the rice in ......

{The girls did mini drill team... Liberty loved it and can't wait for more}

{ Grandma Anthony bought this trampoline for the twins ...... Mack needed it for Physical Therapy to learn to jump ..... It is so cute watching him try ..... He pops on one knee slightly and that is a jump..... BUT he can flip over the bar like a pro.......

Just some cute hats I've been making for baby gifts ...... ILOVE the colors and how they look stacked with the simple ribbon wrapping...... LOVE it!

You maybe asking yourself .........what? I LOVE the HOLIDAYS.........I LOVE that I started my shopping in SEPTEMBER..........I LOVE sewing projects this time of year...........I LOVE thinking of other people and trying to find the gift they will absolutely LOVE .......... I LOVE spending time being creative and looking for ideas to make the project feel complete, wrapped with care, and given so they know they have been thought about and I didn't go just buy some random thing........ I am know DISLIKING shopping..... IF I HAVE TO BUY ONE MORE THING ...... IT might be the straw that breaks the camel's back...... Last week I had been waiting for since I wrote my preschool lesson plans in November....... I run preschool Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday {for this week only} ....... On a Normal week I am dead tired Thursday and Friday is the day I let the apron strings loose :) and I only function at half speed....... Friday was the huge Christmas Preschool Celebration ..... we first practiced coloring {KINDERGARTEN COLORING - paying attention to detail or to some just learning to color}....... We watched PREP and Landing ...... SO CUTE ....... The kids didn't hardly move while watching it........ my copy got the commercials and my niece even wanted to watch a commercial (the carolers singing about shopping at the overpriced mall .... TJ MaXX )...... a gift exchange { I always like that I have extra Mom's willing to help on the day because learning to give a gift IS HARD!...... I haven't had a hard one for a while but this year we had someone who REALLY LOVED the lipgloss they brought {she was so cute when she realized the gift she got in return was good too!}.....

Well, OFF to sleep to get ready for another day and a GREAT week....... SO many things to be thankful for and blessed to have time to enjoy the HOLIDAY..... Hoping to remember the meaning of the season as we do all of it...... Enjoy the week!

Liberty got her first Loose Tooth and Dad pulled it tonight........ Burton is going through growing pains...... His legs and ankles are always hurting him in the moments the boy isn't HUNGRY!.....Cooper and Mack and I go the rounds EVERY single day about getting into things they don't need to be in..... Tonight Cooper threw up after sampling the dishwasher detergent..... My dang chairs and table might be the death of me too....... Climbing.....Climbing ..... and scooting them ever so close to DANGER all the time....... IF the two of them need anything they either come find someone's finger to pull and drag them to the desired location OR they push a chair ...... it is really wearing me down....... I told Drew to reflect on how demanding it was in the beginning...... and how on the weekends I took a couple of hours inbetween pumping schedules to run errands by myself...... I feel like that again! I do still feel so blessed don't get me wrong...... Tonight as Drew and I were cleaning up dinner {a fine gourmet meal of MAC & Cheese } Drew asked "What can we do this week to make it special"..... Well, I was going to MADLY finish all the un finished projects I've taken on to make the day special but with that I know I need to slow down and do them with the kids....... then He asks where my Christmas card is? HMMMM..... you know the one we always send out..... OH, ya ..... I haven't done it yet..... Took the picture for it at Thanksgiving time but haven't thought of anything clever to say and taken the time to make it cute..... I WILL do that this week .......

Family Traditions 2009

2009-12-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

Last Week in Pictures.....2009

2009-12-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

Park Family Thanksgiving 2009 .... The top left picture that isn't shown very well and the middle is of the boys sleeping off the turkey dinner. In the picture at the food table is Jordyn ( Chad & Elda's oldest 13). Just a little info to help mark time.....Amber and Luke's first Thanksgiving in their new home and expecting baby #2...... Ashley (Amber's twin) not here because her due date for baby #2 was the day before.... She finally had him on December 1...... Colt Henry Dean..... 8lbs....... Tracy and Mandy have 7 children with their youngest Andrea born in May....... Chad and Elda have a teenage daughter Liberty caught sitting by a boy at a Basketball game last week :O Elda is actively coaching HIGH School VOlley ball and Basketball......getcha head in the Game because if she is not coaching they are following one of their children at a game .........Casey and Krissy have 6 kids and Krissy is knee deep in dental Hygiene school grateful that one semester is almost down......Jamie and Ryan live in Shelley with a new dental practice in IF...... We are grateful to have grandparents so close that we can ask for pretty much anything.... This last year Mike and Joan came to the rescue as we learned the routine with twins ..... One night I called Joan crying for help to hold babies as they were both sick and pucking and Mike made a pediasure run......More than that it is the Sunday night visits and chips and pop.... and all the things my kids can sweet talk them into.....Drew and I finish up the group and we love where we live.... Are very grateful for Drew's employment and INSURANCE..... Very excited to be the parents of a young family..... They make us laugh every chance they get.

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast ..... complete with a smoked Turkey and lots of yummy finger foods.

New decorating idea for the preschool basement..... My cluster of three trees I used before just would not work with 20 + people.

This is Mack at the scene of the accident ...... The day after......The picture in the top left has a house with candycanes.... That would be the one that was pulled from a cord that I so carelessly left hanging to the side of the TV cabinet....... When will I learn nothing is safe.........Today is day 2 after said accident and Mack now is asking for sympathy.....When He had to wait for his lunch, He pointed to his head and said...."HEAD..... HURT" ...... HE still had to wait his turn:(

{Think to Thank}

2009-11-30T13:22:00.001-08:00

I've had one of those weeks where to many things have happened that turned into blessings that I could not pass up the chance to recognize them and write them down. It all happened to fall on the week of Thanksgiving which couldn't have been better and also give me the Christmas Spirit.

The Thursday before Thanksgiving, I went to grab the enevelope I had collected all my preschool checks (my income) to take them to the bank. Went the EXACT spot they had been organized and placed BUT they were not there. That afternoon I took to cleaning the house but everywhere I cleaned I KNEW they could not be. When Drew got home from work, I took a break from cleaning and he started. I am really not disorganized but I do have a house with almost two year olds that climb and pull everything apart. Needless to say we went to bed without finding the money. Everytime I woke up through the night in a worry I would think of someplace to check. My last thought took me to the outside garbage which had been emptied Thursday morning but I had taken out a bag since the pick up. I wasn't about to check the garbage and the thought had come to me earlier in the day but I tossed it aside. The middle of the night thought came and I told myself I would check first thing in the morning. And I did. Put on my latex gloves and went to the garbage. Pulled the can on my lawn and started for the bag I took out. Pull each little piece and shaking it before placing it in a pile on the lawn. The whole time thinking.....IT BETTER BE IN HERE IF I AM DIGGING THROUGH THIS MESS...... well, sure enough with the shake of one item let my envelope of money fall to the ground..... I ran inside holding the enevelope and IMMEDIATELY gave a prayer of thanks with my family. I am so lucky that bag wasn't taken out the night before.

Tuesday, Camber and I decided was the day for our children to recieve thier second dose of the flu shot. I was hoping not to have to pay $88.00 again......I would rather use it somewhere fun ......BUT this is what I am doing to improve our health this year. So far so good......Got everyone into the clinic and now can't find my check book when they tell me I need to pay again. I asked them to bill me but then realized they could take debit cards. I gave my card to the lady and she had to go down the hall to scan it. As she is coming back down the hall within our view, she stops and chats with two other nurses. Meanwhile, Camber and I are trying to control 7 out of control kids in a Doctor's office. FUN! Camber and I comment back and forth to each other that we are could be spared some grief if they would give us the shots and let these crazy kids leave. The nurse with my card finally comes toward me and says "We've just "pow-wowed" and I we see no reason to charge you again!" ARE YOU FOR REAL..... IS THIS THE PLACE THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY AND YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING NICE FOR ME! I graciously thanked the lady and told her how much I appreciated this gesture.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving morning. Drew went to play in the TURKEY bowl with his buddies ...... I put the twins down for a early nap ...... Liberty and Burton and I made this so cute turkey bread basket, with the smell of homemade rolls and a clean house.

Camber and her mother in law were hitting BLACK Friday and invited my mom and I to come along. WE had the BEST TIME. We did have to calm my mom down in the first store and give her the "WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT SOMETIME" talk..... She wanted to just run into every store stash the stuff and then make rounds to purchase when the lines had died down. Once we got past that we found the shortest lines in every store. We went to Porter's where I wanted to purchase a barn with the 40% coupon they had so Camber stood in line, Mom grabbed the only barn, and we took turns roaming until we were up. We'd been in line maybe a30 minutes. I set my barn on the table and my coupon and the lady tells me that I can't use the coupon on toys. WHAT! Yeap! right on the coupons says it excludes toys. So, push it toward her and tell her I don't want it . It is an unfinished wood barn. She stands there looking it over and starts ringing it up, then tells me I stood in line to long for her not to give it to me with the coupon. WOOHOO!

The remainder of the weekend we decorated for Christmas, visited with family, and tried to mind our P's and Q's.

Today! I very calmly and really quite enjoying the blessing I have doing the laundry and feeling blessed to have healthy kids, and I could go on BUT the phone rings while I am on one of my many trips downstairs and it is Drew and he starts telling me something about DECEMBER 17 th when I he Mack crying and Burton run to the top of the stairs telling me there is blood. I dropped the phone ran upstairs and sure enough lots of blood in the head above his eye. I am screaming about blood and a head wound so Drew can hear me because I can't find the cordless and I am know where near the wall phone. Of course, no one has shoes on and both twins have stinky diapers. They were suppose to be changed and in bed for a nap. I wrapped Mack in a blanket and shouted orders for Burton to find socks and trade holding a towel on Mack's head while I panicked for someone close to help transport this mess. I called my Mom and said leave class we've got a head wound. She did and was trying to call the secretary as she is putting on Coops shoes ( I live two seconds away from her work at the High School and another two seconds to the Medical Clinic). Get to the clinic no one is at the front desk and a Lady is standing in line in front of me. I had seen her try to get their attention before I cut in line in front of the other two people already seated. So, I left Drew with a heart attack and he is calling Camber to come check on me but she is alone at the store but luckily Mike (another employee) answered the call for help. So now I have Camber relieving Mom from the twin and Burton..... I am leaving my house looking like your worst nightmare......Mom can go back to school.......David flies up to get Coop and Burton........Camber stays to fill out paper work, Burton is only one who knows what really happened and finally gets a chance to tell us and then Camber stays to rub Mack's head while I wrap him tight in the blanket as he gets three stitches. SO.....Just like our car accident there are a lot of things I learned today to do better in an emergency. This was stitches but the nurse said "oh, wait you have three boys ...... wait for broken bones......." Came home hug Mack until he fell asleep....Now back to my Monday! Drew took Mack in yesterday for a double ear infection and tonsilitis. He is going to love Tylenol this week.

The place I would like to visit......

2009-11-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

HaLloWeen 2009

2009-10-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treating to Grandma and Grandpa Park's house. NOt onlydid they have candy they had donuts and maple bars and chocolate milk.....we went to early or it would have been HOT chocolate. That's o.k. I love chocolate milk. I also got a LIVEWIRE Mountain Dew in trade for the Sausage Stars I made for Grandpa Park.

The Pumpkins carved for the Christensen's pumpkin walk MOnday NIght. The first on #13 is Burton's. Uncle David carved it to resemble his prize winning decorated potato I've yet to show.

This is a little glimpse of our day. Cooper was Sully, Mack was Mike from MONSTERS, INC., Liberty was HANNAH MONTANA, and Burton a HERO/ a FIREMAN!

The twins were going to use the Lightning McQueen and Mater costumes we had for Briggs and Burton at this age BUT it was to fitting to go with MONSTERS.

Drew is 30!

2009-10-31T21:53:00.001-07:00

For the big day I was trying to be so sneaky. I wanted to collect pictures from his life and make a game board like my mom had made for me. Then I needed questions for us to answer about him and then questions for him to answer, in an effort to race teams to a finish line. Working quietly on a project this doesn't come easily unless kids are in bed for the night or at naps. Finally, it all pulled together. Jamie and Amber helped me brainstorm events from Drew's life to make questions from and the then I googled 1979 to see what life was like then for questions for Drew. He really knew a lot about that year. I then downloaded from the TOP 100 hits songs I recognized from that year to play at his party.

We had a GREAT time. The game was fun.....DESSERT was good......we had a blast having our families there. This birthday was one to remember.

The changes a week can bring......

2009-10-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ever in a mad race to catch up, keep up on top of the pile, or manage the next mess before it begins spiral out of control seems to be the story of my life the last two weeks. I have had life to manage, presents to be sneaky about (Drew turned 30), and Young Women in Excellence to plan and now finally make happen ( I really have been excited about all of the above but it has been a lot of work behind the scences).
Tonight in an effort to catch up and clean the memory card of my camera, I was reviewing the activities of the last month And how truly my family has been blessed. My Dad has been really sick. He nevers throws in the towel but we knew he was sick when he asked to go to the ER not once but twice this month. He had a bad relapse of this illness last week and was admitted to the hospital. As busy as they are this year with the swine flu, they let him come home to sleep and to go back in for testing the next day. The night he came home happened to be Drew's Birthday and we had a little shindig planned with our families. Drew and His Dad administered to my Dad and I was so blessed to see the unity of families. All three men I admire coming together to use their priesthood power to make one whole.
A couple of days later good news arrived and the illness my dad is suffering from is giardia (coming from drinking river water to say it cleanly:)). So, last Sunday was a day of thanks and being ever so grateful to the blessing given to us. We recognized the blessing given to us. Now I sit in reflection of the week gone by and the everyday happenings, the conversations I've had, the blogs I've read ....I'm a blog hopper.....You need to read Payne on my blog list about change.....and how I should never take anything for granted. How life can take dramatic turns and sometimes it isn't always with good news. And now a Sunday later I am asking for that blessing to come to a family in need.

2009-10-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Time for explanation.....Last year we decided our annual Spud Harvest tradition would be to make Spudnuts in honor of the break. I feel like I gave it only a half hearted attempt to keep the tradition alive this year. I was sick the starting of the break and never got up to full speed like I would have liked.
Other events that made our weeks special were.......

Potelco... a local credit union sponsored a decorate a potato contest. Camber and I took the halloween theme and let the kids run with it. Liberty's potao was a mummy, Burton's the white skeleton, Briggs a bat, Cambree a black cat, and Averie's a candy corn. Burton's won the preschool level and he won $25.00 gift certificate to Toys R Us.... He split it in half with Liberty.
I also decided to CLEAN out baby girl stuff I wasn't going to use again and let someone else get good use of it before it was old and out of style. I threw together a little yard sale and along with other stuff I decided we didn't need anymore put on the front lawn. We sold four garbage sacks full of clothes and made $12.oo. We I got done sitting there we folded it up and hauled it to the DI.

Momma misses the binkie!........

2009-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

I was tricked. I know I should have taken the binkie away from Cooper months ago. Drew suggested the idea and I blew it off because I am the one home who listens to ALL of the whining and I need to be able to plug at least one of them up. Our annual Potato Harvest began a couple of weeks ago and for some reason I had been thinking prior to the vacation to pull the PLUG! WHY?! Because it is a break and I could lose sleep when I don't have preschool to worry about. My Mom also suggested it was time one day as I was frantically trying to find the dumb thing and decided after no luck of finding it that it was now the time to lose the binkie. I came home and threw away all the binkie's that miraculously appeared after never being able to find ONE.

So now the break is over and I can't figure out why I am so flustered and tired all the time. Yesterday, I found another one of those darn binkie's and KNEW WHY! Throwing out the binkie messed up everything. It made nap time hard to almost nonexistent. Then with the twins up in my business all day, I never can feel like I've gotten a thing accomplished. They are now pushing around chairs to stand on higher ground. Mostly, the counter where all the knives are placed which is below the cupboard they think all the candy is in.

The sad thing is I also have seen Cooper change from being my baby to a two year old this week. Last week he began jumping. He stands and jumps into the air from the ground . He tries so hard but doesn't get to far off the ground. I love it! He walks to the refrigerator and wants milk. If we try to fill his cup with the water from the refrigerator he screams. He has the cutest little face and sings this song from the monkeys OOO and AAAA from playhouse Disney. Cooper flipped and slammed his head on the concrete floor of Home Depot this week too. An Industrial sized store really needs industrial sized shopping carts NOT ones that feel like I am playing with a toy.

Mack is walking like a pro. He thinks it isn't fair when I think it is better to carry him because he wants to be down just like everyone else. He blows raspberries like crazy and it drives him nuts after a long day to have someone even touch his carseat let alone him. (That is when a blanket over the head comes in handy) His body is low tone so he feels like a light weight. Which is okay any day of the week because it doesn't keep him from anything he wants but when he is sick he feels REALLY sick. The home teacher's were here the other night and what a show off he was. He was running in circles through the living room into the kitchen and around while screaming. Cooper followed suit and it was a mad house. We were screaming to visit over the twins noise.

I had to make the binkie change now because what is really going to kill me is when we take away the crib and change the baby room to the BOY room at Christmas. EEK! We are so dependant on our routine...established from the NICU.....These babies are not cuddly or rocked to sleep but loved while getting bathed, jammied, and then put in their room lights off and the door shut. OH Boy....I am in for it......This is when the blanket over the head might work for me.

Asking Forgiveness?........

2009-10-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of posts back I listed how grateful I was for the preschool help that came my way this year. BUT I neglected to list a lot more people who help everyday kick off and for me to feel success.
Camber is coming over to help with preschool too. We have a great time together giggling at the kids and sharing glances when the roudy ones are about to throw us over the edge. It is so very nice and I appreciate her willingness to do whatever is needed especially when sick kids throw a curve ball in my preschool days. I am glad this is yet another activity we share experiences together.
My Good Looking Husband(read the Shelley Pioneer this week;)is always there in my frantic fits at night to ask what needs to be done to be ready in the morning for life and preschool. I love this guy. He stayed home from work today to help with the sick kid moments.

Happy Fall Ya'LL

Back to School pics .......

2009-10-06T13:51:00.001-07:00

8 seconds......

2009-09-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Awhile ag0 while in the mood to rip and tear and dejunk my "things" I came across these. A blast from my past. I've been kicking them around since then telling myself I am going to take a picture of them for my records :), so that in another 10 years I can have another good laugh.

I loved this movie and I LOVED Luke Perry. I remember wanting a picture of him so bad. I would frequent that movie store in the mall (it made me feel like I was at Universal Studios....Suncoast ?) waiting for these posters to arrive.

Park Family Getaway Weekend......Just down the road.

2009-09-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Park Family Reunion was just a short distance away......which turns out to be so nice and so needed as we sat back and got to see the craziness in all of our family members lives as the fall season quickly approaches. With Grid kid football games, Elda coaching volleyball, Krissy going back to school, Ryan starting his own dental practice, Luke hauling in dirt to start on the outside of the house they completed in April, it seemed that someone was always missing.
But these are the Adventures of Life.

Today.......

2009-09-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Back to School Picture Day ..... The day of the famous Bell Photographer picture shoot. We prepped for the day and had our own mini shoot before the bus came. So far Liberty loves everything about school. She loves school lunch (especially chicken sandwiches), She has been drawing some cute pages and writing sentences to go along with them. I love them. I love the math sheet and how big they write their numbers. I love waiting with her to catch the bus and being right there when she gets off the bus. Last week I picked enough strawberries to make 3 pints of jam. I waited until after school to make the jam and I am glad. While Liberty stirred the strawberries and sugar, I was busy preparing the pectin and containers, she unloaded her whole day to me. It happened to be a day when some kids weren't being very nice and we had the best one on one talk about it and how in our family we will treat everyone with love and respect. I was so grateful for that moment. I love my little girl.

The other day I was thumbing through a seagull book ad and I found this cd no time like NOW by Troy Dunn. It is very good and only $ 3.99 . I listened to it on Monday while prepping for preschool. If you want to borrow it.....call me.

Today..... Liberty ready for picture day. check

Twins and Burton walk to the mail box. check

To Blackfoot to have a flouride varnish put on the twins teeth. (Infant Toddler program ....what a blessing....They keep track of the twins and Mack with physical therapy.....)They even let Burton have it done.....She found a treasure for Uncle Ryan to work on. :( She said the flouride might help seal it up but we do have an upcoming appt. so better safe than sorry. check

McDonald's .....Check (we never do this on a week day)

Wal-Mart......check ( I had to get everything I didn't get over the weekend and yesterday woke up sweating bullets because I hate to be the slightest bit unprepared for preschool.)

Working on new preschool worksheets. almost check

Liberty got a sticker club chain letter type thing we need to get sent out. will be checked off after school

Aunt Clydene ( Drew's side) asked to be a volunteer for my preschool. I am so excited to have her here. It is going to be a great time. I am embarassed today. She came to drop off something and Burton answered the door but didn't come downstairs to tell me she was here. She came downstairs to me working on preschool and singing at the top of my lungs.

Take a listen to this song.... Out of My League by Stephen Speaks

Good Morning Cooper!

2009-09-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

A nap time ....bedtime ...... or life in general is always better with a silky blanket and a binkie. I get to see this cuteness every morning. I am Lucky!

Burton's First day of Preschool .....his last year!

2009-09-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

All in a Weeks Work.......

2009-09-02T11:03:00.001-07:00

I was raised by a Mom who is a "LISTER". She creates lists and runs her life off of these lists. I, too, am a LISTER. Now with the connection of blogs and internet maybe we could tell if this was a family trait. If my cousins, too, are LISTER's. I love that my mom will even go back over her list and add things from her day on the list just so she can mark them off and visually see what she has tackled in a day.

WELL, These pictures are my addition to my list. They were not on MY list but snuck in and now I need to see beyond my everyday have to's. I can guarantee one of these pictures will not happen every year!:)

My Preschool school year started last Tuesday. I am a School Teacher at heart and I love school, but I LOVE summer. I took time to smell the crayons and new school supplies in preparing for this day and as I loaded my angel girl up for her first day of 1st Grade. You gotta love the colors and them bunched all together still with the pointed ends. OH, Happy Day!
This year I added to the decor of my preschool basement and painted the flowers ...... which adds to my last year tree.....Both needing some shading so they really pop!.....AND I found this quote that moved me and I new it was my theme for preschool......This is the start of something .....BIG!
My sister in law Jamie lives closer to us now and we are enjoying the moments of being together. She takes the twins for me during preschool and then we visit for awhile when we exchange kids. We are loving the fact that they are a fixture to the area.
The ERMC NICU had a reunion for all the babies who had once been patients. This year I wanted to go. I know time passes and these incredibly important people work with hundreds every year, and there is really no way of telling them how truly grateful I am to have TWO HEALTHY baby boys, or for them to reminise about our time there.....BUT that experience made a huge impression on my life and I am forever grateful for this experience. I would love to spill my guts more but I can 't see through the tears. Anyway, It was fun to see the nurse that didn't want Mack to be alone in the nursery and I know she was very patient and did everything she could to get him home quickly to us. Mack was even on the news. They had a meal, games, and jump houses. I loved seeing all of the families with twins and triplets. Someone to stare at myself.
Mack is walking. It is not his strongest or fastest mode of transportation yet BUT he is WALKING and Standing up from the middle of the room. I was overjoyed to see his growth all pull together this last week.
Drew always reads the thrifty nickel. He picks up faithfully every week. He also is an avid reader of the TRADING POST at work. Well, He found a snow machine this week but it had a sticker price higher than I wanted to hear. It didn't stop there. On Thursday he came home from work with a whole lot of compliments more than usual. His request was to go and LOOK at the snowmachine. As it got later into the evening it was WHAT DO THINK ABOUT ME GOING TO LOOK AT THE MACHINE....WHAT IF I BROUGHT IT HOME?....... By Friday morning he was situated with a truck and trailer on our way to Rexburg to LOOK and BUY a snowmachine. He did get a really good deal and it looks brand new. The comment of the day that killed me was as we were driving out of town Drew was telling me about how he could turn around and sell it for a lot more and Make some money off the deal. I gave a quizical look like why the heck? Then the killer response was ...."The only thing I will make on this is MEMORIES!"
Burton hamming it up and posing like the ever so studious student. The two little ones trying to follow suit.

Liberty's 1st Day of First Grade.......She's Gone

2009-08-19T08:20:00.001-07:00

Discovering Myself......

2009-08-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

This morning I had a moment where the spirit spoke to me and life was set on the right speed and I knew that I was being allowed one of those moments I had been praying for. To walk with my Heavenly Father and see in abundance all of the blessing of my harvest so to speak. My life is spent alot in a rush at times. Rushing to get things done before the twins wake up, or before the preschool kids get here, before it is nap time, before I am completely exhausted, before a short deadline, or whatever the cause is I am in a Rush. One of my pet peeves is hearing
young children say they are stressed because that is how the MOM always is. I really try not to do things like that.
Another one of my situations is I feel like it is my time to remember the time I need to put into enriching my life so I can bless my family. Getting up early, taking a moment to exercise, reading my scriptures, getting myself ready for the day, and taking a long breathe before my children wake up. NOT EASY!
Our routine has been so out of wac this summer that the twins haven't napped like normal. This morning they were crying after being up an hour and before summer hit this was routine to go back down for a nap. That is what they did this morning.
With time on my hands and a very messy kitchen from yesterday I set to WORK. It then became more than work but a moment of pure Joy. To clean up the mess I needed to use the raspberries so kindly given to me from my SIL Krissy. So away to my 1st attempt at jam. Did it and felt great. While in the middle of the mess I was rushing because with a lot to do I had to hurry before the twins woke up. The spirit then spoke to me and said, "SLOW DOWN.... this is fun....enjoy....look at your harvest." My mind allowed me to open up to all the blessings that the things I had been baking this week was used for good.

I made 4 pints of raspberry jam
I washed up the mess from that and turned around and made 4 pints of strawberry jam. Wow, I even picked 2 pints of strawberries from my own garden. Yeah!
Tuesday I made 5 loaves of bread for my family. I am doing this now to keep them full.
Picked our 2nd red tomato
Made peanut butter No-Bakes .....because we were starving one afternoon
Made 4 loaves of Sour Cream banana bread
Made 100+ bags of cotton candy ......primary party and neighborhood delivery ...So SWEET to be your neighbor!
set aside of raspberries to eat by MYSELF with cream and sugar .....mmmm!

To end my baking bliss I was rewarded by the simple thanks and gratitude from the people we delivered to. Our elderly widow neighbors yelled back to use after we gave them cotton candy... "How did you know this was my favorite!" and I was baking the banana bread for breakfast yesterday and hoped I would get it down before 8:00 a.m. because our PT guy was coming to evaluate Mack. It didn't and the aroma filled the house. Mr. Hurley noticed the smell and began raving about how good it smelled. He LOVES banana bread......He always ask for banana cake for his Birthday.....He hasn't smelled that smell or tasted it for well, along time because his Mom had passed away and she was the one who made it..... The comments keep rolling about the banana bread so I broke away to the kitchen, placed the bread in a bag, tied a ribbon around it, and as he was leaving I handed him the bread which was still warm.....He paused and just sat there and smelled the bread.....I think he even had to gain composure for a minute. Mr. Hurley left and I went about slicing our own loaf for breakfast. Not five minutes later I get a phone call and didn't recognize the number. I, answered the phone friendly, and it was Mr. Hurley, Thanking me for the BEST bread he had ever tasted. He could eat the whole loaf but thought he should save some for our other PT Lindsey who comes. I told him to eat it all I would make Lindsey something else. Wow, GREAT DAY!

Moving......

2009-08-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Sick and tired of moving....Can you tell he's had it.

Loving my Geeky beak I got for my Birthday.

Discovering that there is mud and that If he can distract me, he could have a great time.

Cousins....we have people moving like crazy this month. The girls in this picture are my sil's girls Brooke and Sydney. The Kidman family moved their family to Southeast Idaho from Meridian the first of July. They purchased a dental practice in Idaho Falls. Living with Grandpa and Grandma Park until they found something to rent. Which turned out to be the week Camber and Janae moved. I am not really that much help in taking ALL my children to someone's house to help and keep track of the little munchkins. So, I offered to let them come play at my house so they could maybe make progress in putting stuff away. It was a day my kids have been dreaming of Forever. The added little boy in the picture is Amber's little Zak. Lucky for us she had a dentist appointment with the new dentist in town so Zak got to play as well.

....I added ALL because their was one day at gymnastics I tried to watch the kids and what they were learning BUT dragging that darn twin stroller everywhere doesn't always fit the little pathways designed. A kind lady offered her help manuevering the stroller and boys and when we got to our destination the door out she asked if I brought my daycare with me. Four children in a household constitutes as a daycare?

Breezy......

2009-08-05T21:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight this picture of Bree at Gymnastics makes me almost giggle myself silly. I wonder if she learned or just loved seeing her crazy self in the mirror. Camber and I would watch from the front window of the building and see her lose herself in watching herself in the mirror. Camber would get so mad that she wasn't really paying attention to the detail of the move she was in

BUT as her Aunt tonight all I can do is laugh. She is one creative little girl. Heaven help her mother. Bree and family are adding a second story onto the house they just bought this summer. Anyway, this week we were discussing the important details that us girls care about HOW WILL IT BE DECORATED? and Camber thought for Bree's room she will put down laminate floor and mirrored closet doors so she watch and dance herself silly.

Buckaroo Rodeo Parade 2009

2009-08-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Our very own chicken scramble. We know that this event takes place every year but do we plan ahead? For the rodeo.....YES.....for the parade......WISH WE DID. It is one of those set in stone traditions by now. As a child my mom created GREAT floats....as a teenager we began the scramble, my sisters and I feeling a little silly riding in the parade. So, this is when my dad's Mustang came in handy. He would drive that and one of us would ride and throw candy. Now it is up to us to carry on this tradition. When Drew and I first got married, I made a big deal of it advertising for my preschool. Funny thing was I had to borrow children to ride my float.
So, the Saturday parade began at 11:oo a.m. and I had to think of something quick. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. worried I would sleep to late so I set the alarm but of course couldn't go to sleep. I could only think of the million and one things to do before the 11: 00 a.m. deadline. A float....kids breakfast...kids ready.....everyone happy?.....oh, yeah, me ready.....signs created......candy..... everyone happy!
I made my sign and My Mom came up with the idea of stuffing everyone in the GEO dressed like clowns. Kids loved the idea. They would sleep in the geo if we'd let them. Made everyone a clown face out of lipstick and liner. They wore their get up from the rodeo the night before. Now for the uncomfortable and yet sticky ride through Firth. By the end of the parade Cooper felt like the sticky covering of a candy apple. The twins thought we were crazy for throwing the candy, they were in heaven trying to eat each and every piece before it left the little car.
At the end of the parade route at the city park is FREE ice cream and soda for all the parade goers. We went over to the kids were dying from the heat. With the added ice cream and soda the twins and kids , oh, yeah don't forget the makeup we smeared all over their faces, they were a MESS. On the upside ..... MEMORIES were made!

Matching Socks? Broken Camera? Gotta Love Janae!

2009-08-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've been holding onto this picture for 6 months waiting for the right time to post. Late night and Drew is working REALLY late and I can't slow down for the life of me. Thinking of how many fun adventures I am behind on posting. Back to Janae. This picture of the socks kills me. You want to know why. Janae ( my youngest sister) is always knocked out to the hilt. She won't go anywhere (even to HardTimes or Good ol' Stop N' Shop ) without a trendy hat or makeup. I love the way she dresses and she always smells good. Even her dress down days have flair with a cute scarf or hat. Anyway she is a doll. So when I saw her sock situation it nearly killed me. She doesn't have matching socks. She doesn't even care that one is short and one is LONG. OH, it Kills me. This would drive me nuts and would so embarass me if I were to ever get caught. Gotta LOVE Janae. We do !

Nope it's not. Lucky for me. I took this picture to test out my camera. I thought it was broken. So LUCKY it's not.

SUMMER MADNESS..........

2009-07-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Our Neighborhood loves block parties. We decided to host the SUMMER BLOCK BASH and set out to deliver the invites. The day we delivered was so blasted HOT we hadn't even rounded to a different street before the kids were dying. With a lot of invites to go, luckily the store (my dad's parts store), and then Grandma Anthony's yard provided some much needed relief. The water in the pool was so REFRESHING and the cold water for once felt GREAT after this big adventure!

Love my guys and their shades. Mack is into everything around his neck which is so scary. These sunglasses are his fav because they can hang around his neck.

Our Summer treat. What a bargain right now and the kids absolutely love them and WILL consume a whole bag in one setting if you let them. I let them because I needed to keep their attention with me during our time away at swimming lessons.

We LOVE ............

2009-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Watermelon.....and eating dinner in our backyard.

A funny thing that happened on our street this summer. So.....There was a yeard sale advertised in the post office and Vince (the guy who works with my dad) loves yard sales and DI. My kids were talking to him about our neighbors to the left of us having a YARD Sale. He said to them in response that He had seen it posted in the post office but figured if they couldn't spell it right he didn't see the point in going. OH Well, this wasn't our Neighbors who had the YEARD sale because the address posted was different. We went out trying to figure out who else on our street was selling their stuff. We found it......another sign in front of the yard advertising a YEARD SEAL. We've gotten a kick out this and have laughed on several occasions.

Mack needs time alone.......

2009-07-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

This has been happening more and more lately. Do you think he is tired of us? I first noticed it one day when we had been running around town and he had missed both of his naps. I thought he was just tired and sick of Cooper bugging him (they seem to bug each other ALOT these days) when they were trapped in their carseats. He has continued to do it and I think it is his way of seeking time for himself. He has had enough! Don't laugh when I am walking around with a blanket on my head. :) Just know its been a LONG day.

Sunday Object Lessons........

2009-07-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

My Sunday calling for our ward takes me to the Young Women. I have been blessed the last two lesson to find object lessons that go so well with my lesson that in my preparing for them my kids are asking me a ton of questions. So.......as with Young Women sometimes I feel like I am talking to myself because they are so quiet and other times I feel like my skirt is down around my ankles because they are so involved in whispering back and forth and I get really self conscious. Anyway, my lesson a couple of weeks ago was on Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and here was the object lesson that I rolled over into family home evening because my kids were dying to know why I was taking ice cream to church. It was such a great lesson for both age groups and I had their attention focused on me the whole time.

Ice Cream......Sabbath Day Holy

On the table I have YUMMY ice cream goodies. Ice cream, carmel, chocolate, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry for the top. Behind me I have in a baggy some dirt and grass, a few pennies, and a bottle of bathroom cleaner.

So I began by talking about the Sabbath and listening to the primary song Saturday and then I ask ....... How can we make a Sunday our Heavenly Father would be pleased with. I then point to the ICE CREAM SUNDAY items. For everything they want on this monsterous Sunday they have to give one thing we can do to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy. So... We talking and chatting about ideas and I am adding the fun toppings. Now we have this great Sunday and our Father in Heaven can pleased very pleased with the ways in which we will keep the sabbath day holy. Now for the BUT......

But what if we forgot to buy our supplies for a project that was due first thing Monday morning and we HAD to go to the store. (drop the pennies around the delicious Sunday) Could you still eat the sunday? Was it ruined? watch the faces this is when it gets good. they think the sunday looks so good they may be willing to eat around the pennies. But thier is sure disappointed on their faces.

But what if we had been asked to play with an all star soccer team in tournament that took place on Sunday (drop the grass and dirt) Did this ruin your sunday? BUT wait

You hurry to clean up the house before your guests come even though you should have done it on Saturday. ( spray the cleaner all over the sunday) Did this ruin your Sunday?

Now with all the disppointed class members finish the lesson and tie in the ICE CREAM SUNDAY. SOOOOOO much fun and a GREAT attention getter.

2nd Lesson was on Scripture Study

I took two glass containers that held the same amount of water and two oranges.

The 1st orange I named Elsie and told the class that it represented the Youth just like them. Elsie does all teh daily things that they have been told will keep them safe or "afloat" in life such as daily prayer, scripture study, getting along with others, church attendance.......

Place the orange in the first container .....it will float to the top of the water.

The 2nd orange I named Sophie.

Sophie didnt' say her prayers this morning BUT she was really in a hurry.

Sophie didn't attend YW this week because she a test to study for.

Sophie had a HUGE fight with her Mom about going to the High School dance with a date , She know she is wrong because she's not 16 yet, BUT her mom should have let her go anyway.

Sophie told her geometry teacher that she'd lost her homework and would redo it BUT she knew she'd never finished it in the first time.

For each of those instances I am peeling off chunks of the orange peel.

With the orange half peeled, I ask the class How they think Sophie is doing? Is she staying afloat by staying true to the guidance and directors the Lord has given her? I then place the orange into the 2nd container of water and it willl sink but not all the way.

Taking the orange out and I finish taking chunks of the peel with more little situations that don't seem like a big deal to do JUST ONCE. Once all the small infractions have peeled away the entire orange .... I placed it back in the water and it sinks.

Wrapped it by telling them about the air pockets that oranges have that are barely noticeable and keep the orange afloat. We have small, routine directors in our lives (daily prayer, scripture study....)that keep our spirits afloat BUT if we "PEEL them off" we are sinking ourselves slowly but surely. BUT we can keep ourselves afloat by doing the small things. Then I continued on with our scripture study lesson and gave a couple of personal experiences. The lesson was so fun especially with my little ones.

I hope that my ramblings make sense and your family can have fun learning gospel principles.

We struggle being faithful with this because it seems unnerving to wrangle my little Puppies as a rude lady put it to me one day and try express the importance of the night and the lesson.

Happy Family Home Evening.

Sawmill Canyon

2009-07-12T14:28:00.001-07:00

My All American 4th of July

2009-07-12T14:01:00.001-07:00

This year I wanted an All American 4th of July. Camping turned into just a day trip so we planned for the kids to have just as much fun at home. Last year was our first year in this part of the neighborhood and when we woke up on the 4th of July the Neighbors and their extended family were all getting together for a big family breakfast. My children looked out the window wishing they were Mecham's too. I bought the kids all red, white and blue (washed each outfit at least once that day) and we set off the day with a breakfast at the Lewis's house. We rushed home to pick our messy house from our day trip to Sawmill Canyon (which made the kids cry to leave). We played yard games at our house like badmiton, swimming, and lounged in the summer sun listening the laughs....giggles.....and new Rascal Flatts cd....ILOVE the song Summer Nights. Travis invited us to use the remainder chuckars tickets he had so we jumped on the chance. We'd never done that.....now I know why LITTLE KIDS! But it put us in Idaho Falls and I wanted to see the fireworks. I love how watching them makes me feel. I love that we have a radio station that put music to them. I love the Neil Diamond song Coming to America.....I thought for the longest time my Uncle Charlie was the one that sang that song. :) We had a wonderful day and not to mention the next day too. Everyone made my Birthday special. Drew even put on a firework show that night in front of our house for me. I am lucky to share my birthday with Grandma Gentillon, Travis, and my nephew Brian.

Janae's Birthday Bash!

2009-07-12T13:33:00.001-07:00

Travis surprised Janae and rented Segways for her Birthday on Friday. We all met up and instantly fell in love with riding those darn things. The kids learned so fast and Travis and Janae were kind enough to let them..... HOG them. Now the Birthday dreams for next year involve segways. Travis also gave Janae an authentic Boston Red Sox jersey......the team of her choice.....and a season of Prison Break. She also recieved a few things to decorate her new apartment/ house.... OH, and not to mention cute clothes. She is a great Aunt and loves to love our children. My sisters are spectacular.....There are many things I couldn't do without them. We have a great time together and love to be involved in each others worlds. So glad a mundane day can be spiced up with one of their ideas. My SIL are all there for me too. They are also apart of our world. I think alot about how much they have all helped in from the beginning with the twins. Wow! how time flies but no matter the need they are always there.

Burton's Surgery Day

2009-07-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

MACK AND COOPER EATING THE MEAL OUR VISITING TEACHERS BROUGHT OVER THAT WEEK FOR US. WE LOVE THOSE LADIES!

Sounds kind of funny to say this......BUT today was a good day. After a winter full of illness. I was looking for a solution. Burton had strep throat twice in a month. SO.......I went to work checking into a solution for him. Flu bug we'll get no matter what if I don't clorox my house into the ground first. This next year everyone and I MEAN EVERYONE will get the flu shot.

My SIL Amber had her son's tonils out in April so she shared with me all of the reasons, concerns, post op care, and afterward thoughts. I made the appointment with an ENT in Rexburg and moved forward with the matter. After our initial visit, the P.A. made me feel kind of stupid for just wanting them out. Like I wanted to torture my son with surgery. I scheduled surgery anyway and came home to worry. I had almost talked myself out of it but decided to go and look at all his prior history at the medical center. The nurse looked at Burton's charts while she was printing them for my keep and said that in her experience with her children having their tonsils out was a good thing. So we did!

The surgery was on a Monday, so on Friday morning Drew and I took Burton for his pre-op appt. My mom kept the other kids and so it was just us. Which turned out to be so much fun. It had been awhile since we had done a one on one with the kids and today was very much needed for Burton. We visited the doctor and Burton rode the cool chair up and down like a space ship and once the visit was over, he got to pick a toy off the toy wall. Next to the hospital to do our admit papers. We got to ride a golf cart up to the front doors and hold hands with Burton swinging him along with all of our attention. The hospital had a fish tank with all the nemo fish in it, that was too cool. After all that we took him to McDonald's to eat and play. It was fun to give every ounce of attention to him. The day was incredible. I love my biggest boy. So he woke up early Monday morning to put the cream on his hands and put on the basketball shorts we bought him for surgery. He was thinking this was going to be an awesome experience from all the attention on Friday, new shorts, the food we bought in preparation for the week and he couldn't not tell everyone he was having surgery on Monday.

At the hospital they gave him a gown to wear over his shorts, a gown for a little doll (they let him draw a face on it and they bandaged up when they did something to Burton) Burton named the doll /action figure Baldy even though he drew hair on it. But good old Mom threw in Ruff, Ruff and he was handy to have by Burton's side. The day went well and Burton was home by 4:00p.m. The following days were hard just in keeping from wanting to ride his bike. The mornings were hard waking up with a dry throat. But he recovered so well. He was awesome and for the record......WANTS THEM OUT AGAIN!

2009-06-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

There have been a couple of messages from the Ensign and conference talks that I 've thought alot about lately and thought I would share since it is Sunday.

I was unwrapping the ensign from its plastice cover when it came and saw this one. I felt that it fit perfectly with a combine Young Women activity I did to say goodbye to the senior girls.

Let us, "encouraged President Brigham Young, " show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on

beauty and true excellence."

The next thought I had has been entering my mind frequently. I really need to find the talk and read the whole thing. I also saw a u tube clip the church puts out using this quote given by Elder Eyring.......

"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder , asking questions:

Did God send a message that was just for me?

Did I see His hand in my life?

I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those I love, will need to remember how much God LOVES us and how much we need Him."

Enjoy your Sabbath day. Liberty is so excited for tongiht. Birthday day is tomorrow.

Reverence and Respect

2009-06-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

A soldier killed in a Helicopter accident in Hawaii was buried in Firth on Monday. The soldier was from Pocatello but is related to a prominate family in the area. I had heard of this story on the news but chose not to listen closely to the details for some reason. Later on in the week I connected the soldier to the Pocatello area as I heard details of the procession from the airport to the funeral home. Then again that it is all I paid attention to. Monday as we were leaving school lunch....( a favorite June activity......I'll need to remind my kids later they loved school lunch) I looked over at the cemetary and saw flags around the perimeter and down both sides of the road. When we figured out what was happening, we had a few minutes to run home put on some red, white, and blue and ride our bikes back to the Firth Church to wait for the funeral procession. It was a great experience to teach my children about the freedoms we enjoying, and about reverence and respect. I am grateful to those who serve so valiantly fighting for our freedom. A very special sight to feel the hush come over the crowd and see the procession pass.

Happy Birthday Liberty!

2009-06-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

2009-06-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

What a relief it is to have gates in the back instead of a huge escape route. Having the yard enclosed is soooooo nice. We even took the fence down the retaining wall a short way to put a entrance gate to the backyard. If it quits raining I think we will start enjoying the backyard more because I won't have to be on high alert anymore. Drew and I put up the gate late one night by the light of his head lamp.....so romantic! :)

What are you so worried about?.......This isn't Dangerous!

2009-06-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

What I LOVE about Cooper and His dangerous escapades is the look he gets in his eyes. He takes little movements to make it look like he isn't doing anything before he rams into the danger zone full speed. All the while he looks over his shoulders giving me a cute innocent grin. Not in this big picture though. The one on the left HE knows he is in TROUBLE!
I am starting to figure out that boys do live more dangerously. Burton has been riding without training wheels on his bike for a little over a month. At first, I could see him being more cautious in his riding. Two weeks ago I noticed him riding without one hand. The loose hand was off the handle bars but ridgedly straight with his hand pointed toward the ground BUT he was doing the one handed trick. Last week I caught the riding standing up trick. This week he is riding standing up or blazing his way around the bike brigade two or three times before we get to the frog pond. Anyway........THEY are all growing up and I never imagined what it would be like to have THREE boys and two serve missions at the same time. I had a Sister in the ward call wanting me to donate all of Liberty's old sundresses to her so she could give them to families in the Dominican Republic. I was retelling the request to my sister when I heard Liberty say "YOU CAN'T I MIGHT GET A SISTER!" Do not take this as an announcement but I couldn't give away her dresses.

Challis Hot Springs

2009-06-04T06:16:00.001-07:00

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?

2009-06-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

I have recently had the chance to prepare a Young Women Combine Activity where we said goodbye to the senior girls and learned more about the importance of writing in journals. I asked a long time friend to come and share how she learned the importance of journals. At a meeting with the Young Women Leaders a couple of weeks ago we were discussing girls camp, as we looked through the scout trailer to inventory the things we already had access to. A side note.....I think the utensils had a good licking at best before tossed back into tote that carried them. Anyway, the discussion of girls camp made me remember my days at girls camp and I remembered my friend's mom who was an important fixture to those memories. A sister mentioned she couldn't do rhyme type chants or skits and I reminded her I couldn't either but Sister Broadbent could. Tuesday Night when Ruthan was speaking I could almost hear Jackie's laugh. As part of her talk she read some of the most perfect journal entries from her sister's journal (with permission this time....Remember the days of reading your sisters diary without them knowing). The night was so fun and it made me want to do better. I need to capture more memories in writing a journal and also work harder at photo journals too.
I would like to know if anyone has downloaded their blog into a book. Thinking this might be my new way to scrapbook.

We are a week and a half into summer. Last week the older kids and I planted 4 rows of corn and weeded the already planted strawberries, raspberries, and peas. I was so excited to see how eager they were to pull weeds. Liberty especially. They were so cute counting the corn seed into each and every hole.
I also have a neighbor that finds the best coupon deals. It amazes me every time. So, I went through the Sunday paper collecting the coupons of my choice. I had since been kicking the pile around because I had no time to cut them out. I was just about the chuck them when a brilliant idea hit me. FINE MOTOR practice for Liberty and Burton. Pulled out the coupons, set the kids up to the table, circled the coupons I wanted and gave them instructions to follow the dotted line.
They had a blast. Doing a million things at once, as soon as I got them cutting, I ran out to hang up a load of laundry, and got sidetracked by the weeds growing by the edge of the fence. Pretty soon, Burton came outside needing more coupons. I told him that I would find him so more coupons as I was crouched over pulling weeds. He sweetly said to me, "Coupons grow in WEEDS?"

Yesterday, we finished the garden another moment I tried to get the camera but I was way to muddy to come in the house and didn't want to wash up and go back out. This time we planted red potatoes,and spaghetti squash. After a short while, Burton knew he could shovel and Liberty set the seed. They made a good team.
I've been struggling with Burton's fashion since the weather has warmed. All winter it was a t-shirt, COWBOY pants, and his school shoes (usually placed on the wrong feet.....I could not tell him any different!). Oh, I can't forget his cowboy belt that was cinched way WAY to tight. With the warm weather his outfits are pretty much the same but with shorts and long socks. So now the way to tight belt holds his shorts up Steve Urkel style, and to top that off with long socks. Very cute! I finally bought him some no show socks but he continues to wear the way old long socks. So, He is getting dressed a couple of days ago and he brings me this old sock and is so concerned ...... he wants Liberty to sew the hole he just ripped in the sock. It was so cute! Well, that afternoon I was staining a wood project I had and needed old rag. Quickly I thought of Burton's sock. I asked for it, he gave it to me. Later that afternoon, when we headed out for a walk he needed his sock. Liberty sitting next to the project at the table holds up this disgusting brown sock. Burton holds the sock and says,"How am I suppose to wear this?" I ruined his good socks.

The Twins are growing into trouble. AHHHHH! Mack has bruises all across his forehead but he can go down stairs if my eyes are closed....SCARY.......He can pinch my nose so I say HONK HONK! and I pinch his nose and he says HONK HONK!
Cooper has the biggest cheesy grin and loves to take off running. We are very close to being done with the fence because of him. My back neighbor found him in their yard last week and I was even standing guard. So back gates are up and this weekend the side will be too! He also loves to run into us to hug us and we dramatize it by falling over for a good laugh.
We are off running at all different speeds. It is fun but WAY exhausting!

Happy Birthday ......MELODY!

2009-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

I want to make a list of all the things we LOVE about our Aunt Melody but I want my kids input too so this post will be updated throughout the day.

If it weren't for Melody I wouldn't be listening to FUN, COOL songs that Liberty loves to dance too.

I am continually amazed at the strength and testimony of Melody. I love to listen to her give talks in church.

She is a GREAT aunt and spoils the kids rotten with her time and attention.

While here for spring break the girls talked her into picking them up from school for the majority of the week. Camber and I wrote notes for each day for the girls to give to their teacher. This is school policy. Breezy teacher then has since added to that policy. Cambree.... on the day Mel was not picking them up tried to pass a note she kept on to the teacher. Well, the teacher had the note and Bree felt guilty after recess and confessed that she would be riding the bus and DON"T call my MOM. I can't really remember the story but now we have to sign and DATE the note and the teacher will then tear it up!