Adventures

This weekend was adventurous.

Friday night was a football preseason game. but of course we had to go. I was desperately in need of some football action. So despite still feeling sick and very tired, we went to the game. We pulled out a win and had a good time. David and Rachel snacked on Coa Coa Puffs and Juice Boxes to keep entertained. Rachel is always ready to go after half time. She doesn't watch the game, she is there for the cheerleaders, so when they are done, she's done.

Saturday morning came early after a late night. I needed to get snacks for my soccer team. (cold orange slices, YUM!) And Winslow had a Health Fair to Attend. So I took all 4 kids by myself to the soccer fields. Winslow did save the day by running home and bringing me my stroller so I could strap David in. Rachel and Abby had games at 8am. (remember I am coaching Abby's team.) Jacob had pictures at 8:30am. Thankfully, Jacob is a big boy and went to the pictures and back by himself. I had warned my soccer team that I would have a system for the game and they were not to whine about wanting to play. (gotta give them credit for wanting to play, but I can only do so much!) I was able to catch a few glimses of Rachel on her field while Abby's team played. Jacob's game was at 9am, and then we came home and crashed. Winslow, David, and I were all pretty trashed. Wins and David are struggling with allergies.

Jacob and his friend Seth helped Winslow dig holes for our trees we are planting. And that was pretty much it. I had my 3 little ones in bed by 8:15pm a miracle at my house. Winslow was asleep too. I waited up for Jacob who got to go to a birthday party on a ranch and play laser tag. Which is his new fascination and what he wants for his birthday. (his list changes almost weekly.)

Since we all crashed Saturday night I had to get up early and get going for early Sunday church. I spent the majority of Sacrament Meeting in the foyer with David. I finally took him on a walk outside, and thus missed saying the closing prayer. Oops! So a member of the bishopric jumped in for me. I got a new calling which brings my total to 3. I am still the primary choirister and the Enrichment leader, and now a member of the activities commitee. (I will be release from enrichment leader After our big Super Saturday at the end of September.)

After Church we came home and ate a quick lunch and headed to Winslow's parents house. We switched the seating arrangements in the truck and it seemed to work well. The kids were hilarious. They kept quoting movies and making us laugh. The drive was GORGEOUS. And of course we all took a nap while Winslow drove. There's something about the hum of the vehicle that always puts me to sleep. Rachel woke up about 15 minutes out and shouted "We're almost to Lita's HOUSE!!!" They get so excited.

Grandma and Grandpa's house is always one of wonders. Lisa always has food ready for us, it's always delicious! The kids know exactly where to find the toys, and she is always thinking of them. David found the water paints right away. Rachel and David had so much fun painting at the little table. I love to sit on their rocking bench outside and enjoy the breeze and all of Lisa's gorgeous flowers. Lisa took David for a ride in the wagon. Abby danced with a long stick in the grass. Jacob found a rubber band gun. And Rachel found the racing car to drive.

One of the grandest adventures this weekend was that we brought home chickens! 3 chickens. So now we are officially chicken farmers. ha! I am enjoying watching them and the kids are soo excited. (Hopefully they keep being excited.)

Finding Joy in the little things.

Catching Up

It's been an interesting week. We made a mad dash to Walmart on Monday night. (remember it's an hour drive for us.) It had rained and the kids kept trying to play in the puddles and I was trying to keep them dry so we could leave.

Tuesday, I don't even remember tuesday.

Wednesday was Picture day and we played at the park.

Thursday I came down with a nasty stomach bug and spent the majority of the day on the couch moaning and longing to hurl and get it over with.

Today I am hoping to bring my house back to order after a day of sickness.

Things I remember from the week. I made homemade granola. YUM! Rachel did my hair. I love having my hair brushed. I hiked with Dianne and was super sore afterwards, but soo worth it. Soccer practice was crazy and no one listened, but I think they had a good time. I got to talk to my mom. She's been off CRUISING:). I love talking with my mom. Rachel got her whole hand smashed in the front door. OUCH!! and Winslow threatened to take doors off if it happens again.(Believe him, our kids had their doors off for months earlier this year. It's one of his biggest pet peeves.) Our cat hurt his leg in a fight, and I wondered again how many lives left he has. The weather is absolutely gorgeous and I was sorry I missed being outside yesterday, for the prettiest day yet. We have corn on our stalks and I am praying the frosts hold off long enough for me to get all my tomatoes harvested. My snapdragons are blooming and there is a chill in the air. Fall is comming. Football starts tonight and I am SOO excited. I love high school football. Powerade is my best friend when I don't feel good.

Princess hair.

Recently I decided I needed to be better about doing my girls hair. I'm not fabulous with hair. In fact, I it's never been a strong point for me. Well, it was time to do something about that. So I asked some friends for help and looked up stuff on the internet. My favorite site is http://www.princesshairstyles.com/.

So, today was picture day at preschool and I decided to be brave and try this hairstyle. Rachel calls it Bride Hair. It took forever but it turned out AWESOME!!

pictures from this week

I love this quote from Elder Holland

New green pillow

snuggling with my babies after bath time

the girl's curtains

Finally finished putting up the rest of the vinyl stickers in the girls room

Hair bow holder.

Projects

This week has been one of projects. I needed to spruce things up a bit. I redid the curtains in the girls room. I took their old white sheer curtains and gave them a face lift. When I say old I mean it. These are hand me downs from my mom. They were in my house growing up. So they are about 20 years old! They are pretty but I've been looking at them for quite a while~ While I was at home depot I saw some pretty sheer curtains with ribbons and flowers, and I thought "I can do that." So, I did. And it cost me less than a third of what it would have to buy new ones. I still need to finish the last panel, but I really like them.

I got a new vinyl lettering quote and put it up in my front room.

I put up new curtains in the front room and added a new pillow to spice up the color.

I made a hair bow holder (you know a "thingy") and it took me about a half hour. Jacob and Abby helped me with the hot glue.

I worked on some relief society projects too.
And I cleared out a bunch of stuff from my garage.

I love the feeling of accomplishment.

We had soccer games on Saturday and Rachel made 3 goals. She was sooo pumped.
Abby and another player on her team nearly beat each other up, that was a special moment. (A boy shoved her, and Abby isn't one to take it, she shoved back.)
Jacob is struggling in Math and we are trying hard to not poke our eyes out. I am really grateful for all those who have given good suggestions.

I got to sing in church 2 times today. I love to sing. My friend Nancy Davis is kind enough to sing with me. She has a beautiful voice and we blend well. So it's super fun for me. We sang a gorgeous duet of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. One of my favorite songs.

I'm getting the Christmas bug. I am starting to think of all sorts of ideas for Christmas presents. I would like to Make the majority of them this year.

Definitely a step up this Sunday from last.

emotionally unstable.

That's how you could explain my dinner with the sister missionaries.
Church was good today. Primary was fun. Sr. Primary was really good and I got chills a couple of times when they sang.
But I got a little overwhelmed this afternoon.
Dishes piled high from breakfast and lunch, laundry still undone, kid's bedrooms a disaster. I felt a little overwhelmed.
And we had scheduled the sister missionaries for dinner.
My children were fighting. Attitude was high!
I was out of an ingredient I needed for my regular recipe for cornbread so I tried a new one.
Well....
The chili beans were underdone (I realized I didn't let them sit after I boiled them!)
The corn bread burnt!
My Kids were fighting over who got to mix the lemonade (in front of the sister missionaries.
And it all put me over the edge.
I was devastated.
So I told the sister missionaries, "If you promise to eat it, I promise not to cry."
Well, I cried. I laughed hysterically and I snorted. I'm sure I was a real treat.
It was an interesting dinner.
My kids quoted Nacho Libre the whole time and all I could think of was "this is the worst lunch I have ever had!"
Wow!
That says it all.
The sisters were very gracious, and we made them promise to come back again, so I could redeem myself.
I wish I could say we changed names to protect the innocent, but really it was just all me!

Summer's End pics

Sitting in a truck with a sucker. No Worries.

Watching Mud Volleyball

Riding the 4 wheeler with grandpa Minson

4th of July Parade

Abby and Makelle. Super cute girls!!!

Jacob and my cousin Brett. "Yeah we're cool!"

Sweet fire truck. David was all over it. The firefighters let him jump right in. He was in Heaven.

Summer's End

So I tried mutliple times to upload pictures. Will try again later. But here are my thoughts for now.

Summer is at it's end. We've had a great summer. I have so enjoyed being home with my kids. We were able to work hard on our back yard and I am so loving it.

We got to go to 2 new temples (well new to us.) We spent time with family, we learned church history, we made fabulous memories, and visited friends.

It is with some sadness that we aproach school days. I admit, my kids are ready to do something new. To have a little break from each other. But they really are good friends.

I have enjoyed watching my children grow.