Branching out

So for all of you "Twiliters", just in case you are looking to read something else I have found an author that I really like. Her name is Michele Ashman Bell. I have read one of her books already and am well into a second one with the third on deck. The first book I read was "Without a Flaw" and I am now reading "Perfect Timing". The reason why I love her books so much is that she does a great job including the gospel in her books. While reading you are being spiritually up lifted. Ben keeps on saying that he's going to take my library card away because I get so focused on what I am reading. Poor guy feels neglected. But at least I am doing something at home. When he wants to do something for himself he goes fishing. I don't have shopping any more and all my quilting stuff is in storage. What else is there for me to do? There is only so much cleaning a person can do.

Anyhow back to the point after "Breaking Dawn" comes out it might be nice to branch out to other books.

Random pictures

They have learned to work together. We are in trouble!

I love thumb suckers. She is starting to learn that she can self sooth.

Why do boys think this is so funny. Silly husband.

I got this pool at a yard sale for 5 bucks. I was so glad I found it so the kids could play. On a side note since we get our water from a well it comes out at the temp of ice water. When ever we fill the pool the girls lips turn purple. But the are young and don't care.

Family is Wonderful!

the sisters

the brothers, I still think my husband is the cutest.

our family, aren't we so cute.

lool at those tired eyes

We've been back from our vacation for a while but I am always so frustrated with how slow our Internet is that I haven't wanted to get on the last little while.

Anyhow we had such a fun time and it was really great for our kids to play with their cousins. The older ones were such a blessing because they would take over and we wouldn't have to worry so much about keeping a close eye on them. Alex buddied up with the oldest boy cousin Bubba (not his given name just family nickname) and every where he went she wanted to be. Aubrey buddied up with his sister Hanna. Cecilia just drifted but Carrie and Robin the oldest girls took good care of her. Cecilia was so tired during our trip that she would grab her Lulu and silky and would lay down where ever she was. We found her in interesting spots. On the picnic table, under the table, on the sidewalk. I felt bad for her but Ben's family was on the move this reunion.

Jackson's eye has healed great and his mother says that you can hardly tell that there was an injury, but we are still being careful when it comes to sticks. I will say that I really miss all of my sister in-laws. We took a small shopping trip and it was so much fun to have someone to be with and talk to. That is one thing I really miss about not living around family, not having girl time. On our shopping trip we did find a great little quilt shop and since Ben won't let me start any projects till I finish the one's that I have started I have been regenerated on getting them done.

We also found out on our trip that Aubrey is a total city girl. Ever since we have moved here she will bring up every so often that she misses our house in Roy. I totally agree with her but when we stopped by on our way down to the reunion she started saying that she missed being around things. Then when we got to the reunion the closer we got to Bryce Canyon the more she complained. The day that was set aside for us to hike she refused to go. She kept on demanding to go back to our cabin (which was a war she lost). When we got back home Ben asked if the girls wanted to go fishing with him (what a good daddy), Aubrey said she didn't want to go because she doesn't like the woods she liked shopping. I couldn't help but laugh.

I have to say that being married to Ben is so awesome. He is a great man who works so hard for our family but also his family is a blessing to my life also. They all just ban together.

Why you don't run with sticks

So we are at our family reunion which is so far not that bad. When everyone got here it started to down pour and so we unloaded everything and then went to the town park to eat and visit. One huge problem it was still raining so everyone (especially the kids) got wet.

All the 25 kids were running around playing, and there was bound to be some bumps and bruses along the way. Well those bumps and bruses got pretty serious when Jackson our 3 yr old nephew was running and bumped into another nephew who was running with a stick. When the two of them hit the stick went into Jackson's eye and a piece broke off in the white part of his eye.

As a kid your parents always tell you not to run with sticks and I always thought my mom was being over protective and as a mom myself I have told my kids the same things. Knowing the possibilites but not really thinking anything would happen. Now I have seen first had what can happen you better believe that my kids won't be playing with sticks. Yeah I know I am over protective but I don't want to have my kids flown to Primary Children Hospital because they need to see a specialist to get the stick out.

I do have to say on a personal note that I am super glad that I married Ben. Melissa our sister in-law was here by herself and her husband Jared was coming up later tonight. Anywho I am glad that I married Ben because he was so great to go get his oil to give Jackson a blessing and aslo he went with Melissa to drive to the hospital and to help out in anyway that he can. He's so great when something comes up like this to be there as the solid rock. I feel horrible for Jackson and for his parents. It's just the worst when your child get's hurt and there's nothing you can do about it.

I am hoping that is the worst thing that happenes during this reunion and that the rest goes very smoothly. I will post pictures when we get back of all our fun.

Leaving on Vacation

So we are taking off tomorrow to go to Ben's family reunion this weekend. We are super excited to go. I have been baking tons of cookies for it so that Alex will be able to have them when everyone else does. We are planning some hiking and relaxing. I plan on doing more of the latter.

Just to update on the whole house situation. We decided to walk away from the house we wanted and have lined up to rent another house that is bigger and better for our family. We will be in a different ward and even a different stake even though it's only 20 minutes from where we are. I am sad and excited to be in a different ward. We have met some really great people in our ward we are in now. They have shown us so much love and support.

I was also thinking that we were off the hook for giving a talk in this ward since we're going to be moving soon but our bishop called today and asked us to speak on the 20th. I thought we dodged that bullet. Oh well we aren't the type of people to say no. I was sort of hoping that we could start going to our new ward so we could start to get to know people there. Maybe we will get callings in our new ward. Our bishop in our ward we are in now said that he wanted to give us callings but the callings that we would of gotten would of required us to be around for a while. He mention primary and Sunday school teacher. I know the primary calling would of been for me since I have been serving in the primary since I graduated from high school. I love singing time and getting to know the kids but I would like to spread my wings in other areas. Maybe it's that I'm not doing the job right. The Lord is holding me back in primary or he's just letting me get what I gave to all my teachers in primary. I wish now that I was a better kid.

We are feeling really positive about not getting the house we wanted and moving into this new house. We are bummed but we are also happy to of been able to find this house to rent. It's got an updated kitchen and also a jetted tub. Also we are going to have a family room again that is separate from the living area. We feel really good about what has happened and are glad that the Lord has blessed us with a bigger rental for the same amount of money. The Lord has really been there for us and who knows maybe he was protecting us from something bad happening.

We hope that the Lord is blessing all of you like he has been doing for us.

10 Things about moving

Good:

1. You can tell what year it is in your pictures by the house in the background.
2. You get to meet lots of new people.
3. You don't have a bunch of stuff you don't need due to having to go through it all so often.
4. Your kids can adjust really well in new situations.
5. If you don't like your baby doctor it's all good because the next will be with someone else.
6. If you don't like the calling you have you know it will be over soon.
7. If you get bored of your house it's all good because you'll have a new one soon.
8. You don't have to pay for vacations.
9. It's okay if you don't unpack all the boxes because it makes it easier for the next time if you don't.
10. You get to see the beauty of different areas.

Bad:

1. You are always leaving friends behind.
2. You have to pack and unpack way too much.
3. Just when you get the house organized it's time to leave again.
4. You don't ever get to see your flowers bloom.
5. You really aren't able to make long term plans in fear that you won't be able to follow through.
6. You have the stress of buying and selling homes.
7. You have to think really hard when it comes to giving you local address, phone, and zip.
8. You run out of spaces on forms where you have to write your residences down for the last 5 years.
9. You get confused about what state you are living in.
10. You pay the same amount for gas for the moving vans that you would to take your family on a really nice vaction.

For all of you that we have left behind we love and miss you so very much. You have all helped us make memories that will last forever. You all mean so much to us.