Faith's New Love!

We found this pink unicorn stick horse and the dollar store and Faith is in love! Her passion for unicorns at full height with this.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Yesterday I took the preschoolers and Jesse to the pumpkin patch. A couple of kids couldn't make it, so there was only a few of us but it was still a lot of fun. We started out with the kids going through the hay bale maze. After the initial traffic jam from the kids on all the groups, they all raced through and had a lot of fun. Then we went and picked pumpkins. I think Jesse and Faith both felt they could only get a pumpkin from the very back of the patch because they both just kept walking without getting a pumpkin. Faith was very choosy about hers as well. Every one I suggested just wasn't quite right. Finally we had to just pick one or go with out so we could head back to where everyone else was.
We ended the adventure with a hay ride around the pumpkin patch. Jesse enjoyed taking pictures on the different colored pumpkins on the way. We had a great time finished the morning with a little shopping before heading home for school.

Gratitude

I am so thankful for the life I have been blessed to lead. It is by no means easy, but it is very fulfilling. I love my wonderful family with all there differences and quirks. It is amazing to watch them grow and become such amazing people.

I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is such a blessing to be able to know my Heavenly Fathers plan for us and to be able to have an eternal family. I love the joy I find in the gospel. I am so grateful for the temple and the opportunity I have to go weekly to partake of the peace and joy there. It truly sustains me through the week.

I am so grateful for the wonderful friends I have. It is such a wonderful thing to be able to turn to them when needed, laugh with them, cry with them, or just hang out instead of working out.

We have been very blessed to find the employment that allows our family to grow and develop through difficult times. It is far from glamorous, but it pays the bills and allows for all our needs.

I am grateful to have the medical assistance that is helping Jesse and Faith with their different medical needs. It is such a joy to see Jesse begin to improve lately and hope that it continues. While I don't know if they will ever be "cured" it is amazing to have only had one ER trip with Faith in the last 2 years instead of 3-4 times a year and to see Jesse improve from hour long (+) meltdowns that were extremely violent to ones lasting minutes instead.

I am so very blessed to have a husband that works so hard and does so much for our family. I love him so much. He is always concerned about taking care of us and is an amazing person.

I am so thankful for the many things I have in my life and for all that the Lord has blessed us with.

Briatin's Birthday or WHAT ANOTHER TEENAGER!!!!!!

Ok so there is nothing that makes you feel old like having multiple teenagers in the house!! On September 3rd Britain turned 13. That evening was crazy with his cross country meet, a baby shower for a friend, and a pack meeting that thankfully was cancelled shortly before it was supposed to start, so we decided to have his birthday celebration the following Saturday. We enjoyed Britain's birthday meal picks that included pancakes, pizza, and shepherds pie. For his activity he decided to go shooting, so we all headed to the shooting range and Robert helped everyone shoot for a few hours before heading back for presents, cake, and ice cream.

Britain was ecstatic to get an mp3 player and some wii games that he played the rest of the evening with Jesse. It was a great day celebrating a wonderful kid. I am amazed how hast they grow up. We love you Brit!!

Pictures will come in the future if I can ever get them off my phone! =P

Time, What's That?!

I have gotten so bad about blogging lately, since summer started and I can't use my camera, I am at a loss. School so far is going good for all the kids. Tyler is loving high school and really enjoys her French class. Britain has had some struggles again so far socially, but is excelling academically like always. Jesse is enjoying the virtual academy, but for mom it depends on the minute how her feelings are about it. Faith is loving preschool still and can never get enough of learning. She most likely will start reading soon as she is ready for it, mom just has to find the time to teach her.

Robert continues to remain busy with work and is working on adding some fun time in as well (it is so hard when you work the amount of hours he does). I am busy with preschool, teaching Jesse, and life. I love my exercise group as they help me maintain my sanity right now in life. Some days I feel like I am hanging off the edge. I am glad I have the knowledge that Heavenly Father know what I can handle, because I think we may differ some days on that issue but knowing he is there gives me some much needed comfort.

Summers End

So the end of summer is here and the older kids are all back to school today. Jesse and Faith will start on Monday. It has been a long and busy summer. We started off with scout day camp, girls camp, and later scout camp. We had a great 4th of July weekend with my family being here. It was a great weekend to remember our great nation. We also kept busy with summer camp for preschool which lasted all but the first week and last week and a half of summer break.

We enjoyed a fun weekend camping with friends. The kids enjoyed riding the four wheelers which was a new experience for them. Britain and Tyler also enjoyed going out on a bunny hunt at night and watching all the guys having fun. Robert was able to join us about 1 in the morning and then went out on a hunt with a few of our friends to end the night.

Lately we have been busy sewing and canning. Tyler made seven dresses for humanitarian aid as a value project and I made four for Faith. We have also been canning alot lately. We canned 26 quarts of apricots, 51 quarts of green beans, 77 quarts of peaches, 8 quarts of tomatoes, and about 40 bags each of frozen corn and zucchini.

It has been a great summer and we are glad to be back at school.

Women's Fitness Celebration

The past few years Tyler and I have participated in the Women's Fitness Celebration. It is so much fun and such a great way to bond as family and friends. Our Healthy Living Enrichment Group has set up a team for the event this year and would like everyone to join us! If you are interested visit www.celebrateall.org to learn more about it and to register. Out team is the CIII Divas. I can't wait to have a great time this year!