Hard Day

11 years ago today, my dad died from cancer.  This year for some reason it hit me a lot harder (maybe due to lack of sleep).  It didn't help that I couldn't find many pictures of him today (the ones above are the only ones I could find) - that made it really hard for some reason.  There are so many things I miss about him and reasons I wish he was here.  

A few reasons why I wish he were here:

• to meet Ed
• to take my boys to football games
• to go to my boys' soccer games
• to see me as a mom
• to give me advise
• to give me a hug
• to take care of my mom (so she wasn't so lonely and so she didn't have to work so hard)
• and a million other reasons

Memories I have of him:

• watching detective shows with me
• asking silly questions about what is happening in a TV show or movie
• saying he has never seen a movie before until 2 hours into it and then finally realizing he had seen it
• riding horses
• him making me branding cows (and breaking needle after needle in the cows)
• going to Disneyland & the beach
• going camping & fishing
• helping me with my homework
• always being there for me
• going on round-ups
• and about a million more

He was such a great man and the best dad in the world.  I really do miss him!

Breckidy Brecken

My little Breckidy Brecken (which is one of his little nicknames - we sing him a song we made up that says Breckidy Brecken and it always makes him dance & smile) is growing up so fast.  He is just so much fun.  He crawls everywhere and now can pull himself up so he is standing  When he does stand up, he is almost always on his tippy toes - I think that is from being in his jumpy toy so much.  Before we know it, he is going to be walking!

Family Pictures

Hey - my cousin (actually my cousin's wife) Amanda is a photographer and does a fabulous job.  She took our family pictures last year (the ones on our Christmas card - if you didn't get a Christmas card from us, give me your address so I can send you one this year) and she took our family pictures when she was here a few weeks ago.  She would love to come back up here to Utah to do pictures for others if anyone is interested (and of course to see me and my family).  As long as 3 or 4 families book with her, she will fly up here and do them.  She has more info on her blog along with example pictures.  Check her out.  It would be a great opportunity to get family pictures just to have and/or for Christmas cards.  Here is her photography blog (shows lots of examples - you will see some of my family from last year) and here is her photo blog (that has her package deals and one picture of my boys from this year).  If you have questions, leave her a comment or I can give you her email address.  But if you do want her to take your pictures, let her now soon so we can get her to come back up.

Luncheon Recipes

Three of my friends have birthdays in August - so we had a birthday lunch for them today at my house.  It was so much fun to be with all the girls (and a ton of little kids that aren't old enough for school) in the middle of the day.  I hope we do it more often.  Anyway, I made fruit salsa, avocado eggrolls (from Cheesecake Factory), chocolate cake, mini-cheesecakes, and a mustard sauce (from Planet Hollywood).  I thought I would put the recipes on my blog for everyone to enjoy.  So, enjoy!  Also, let me know if you can read the recipes or if I need to use a different font.  I will change it if I need to.

Trip to Oregon

What a fabulous trip we had to Oregon to visit my sister Gina this summer (back in July).  She lives in The Dalles (about an hour East of Portland).  She has 2 cute little kids (Carlie - almost 4, and Berkeley - no almost 4 months old).  It was fun to go and see her (we take turns going to see each other in the summers).  It is an all day trip to get out there but it is worth it to go and see her and her family.  I just wish they lived closer so we could see each other more often.

Matthew's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Matthew had a rough start today.  At the beginning of the summer, Matthew was so excited for kindergarten.  But as it got closer, he started to get more and more scared.  Then this morning, he seemed okay about school - almost even excited.  When we first got to school, he was okay - especially when he saw his friend Austin and he got to play on the playground with him.  He was even okay when it was time to go into his classroom (even though he wouldn't let me take a picture of the 2 of us).  Once we got in there we did a list of things his teacher (Mrs. Fotheringham) had on the board for us to do.  Then it was time for me to leave - that is when he fell about.  He started to cry.  I tried bribing him with everything from pizza to a new wii game.  I thought I had him with the wii game but no luck.  Finally, his teacher had to hold him back (what a great start - having his teacher restrain him on the first day).  I will admit, I cried a little walking out to my car.  Luckily, one of my friends who has a little boy in the same class drove past me as I was getting into my car and told me that Matthew was fine.  She said that once Mrs. Fotheringham started to read a story, he calmed right down.  Thank heavens!  I seriously think I would have cried for the next 2.5 hours until it was time to pick him up.  

And boy what a different little guy he was when he came out of school.  He came running to me, ALL SMILES and telling me what a great time he had and that he was excited to go back tomorrow!  Cross your fingers for me that tomorrow goes well!
 

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

I am finally posting a recipe (it has been a long time - my college roommate/friend reminded me to post recipes again - it helps that I am cooking again).  This recipe comes from my friend Michelle T.  We are going camping tonight so I threw this together late last night so I can get it nice and cold to throw in a cooler and take with us.  It will taste so good camping - and it will be so easy.  All I will have to do is heat up the chicken up on the camping stove, put it in tortillas with cheese & salsa and that will be dinner (along with black bean salsa and chips).

Sharing - according to Gavin

Oh my, what a cutie. So, Matthew and Gavin were playing today (they are getting use to playing without Dallin around) when Gavin took some little toy away from Matthew.  They were yelling at each other and fighting (just being brothers - not too bad).  I asked what was going on and sweet little Gavin says,

"But Jesus wants us to share."

It was so cute and he was so serious.  I could not hide my smile/laughter.  Even though he took the toy from Matthew, I let him keep it since he was right, Jesus does want us to share (Gavin just has to learn to not steal things first).  I guess he does listen in Nursery and FHE.  I felt bad for Matthew not getting the toy, but Matthew is sweet and was okay with it (sort-of).

Trying New Foods

1st Day of 2nd Grade

School started yesterday (yeah - but it was so early).  Dallin was so excited to finally be in second grade.  He loved his first day (even though he asked why school was soooooo long).  He was happy to see familiar faces in his class - a few he just recognized from 1st grade, a few in his 1st grade class, and a good friend from church.  Dallin loves to learn and I am excited to watch him learn and excel this year.

Gavin's Prayer

Tonight, Gavin said the closing prayer at FHE (we have it on Sundays because I teach Monday nights).  He was so cute and excited to say it.  Here is part of his prayer:

"Please bless that we don't get stepped on by monsters.  Please bless that we stay home."

The crazy things that go on in a 3-year old's mind!

Dinosaur Craft Day

This summer, a couple of my friends organized a craft day for 9 families (about 22 kids).  My turn was back in July but I am just finally getting it blogged.  We did a couple different things relating to dinosaurs (since my boys, especially Gavin, LOVE dinosaurs).  We made dinosaur hats, pipe cleaner dinosaurs, and the kids all got to decorate dinosaur sugar cookies.  I think all the kids had a good time (at least I hope they did).  To make things run more smoothly, I made these instructions on how to make the pipe cleaner dinosaurs - they are really easy to make and pretty cute!

Pineview

Here is another little trip that I blogged at night while sitting on our balcony in Hawaii.  

Brecken CRAWLS!

Brecken has been really close to crawling lately, he would go a foot or so - but apparently, all he needed was for us to go out of town. By the time we got to the Salt Lake airport, Angela (who is watching our boys - we love her - thanks Angela!) called to tell us Brecken was really crawling.  I am so excited but sad to be missing it.  Luckily, Angela took some video and sent it to us.  Thanks again Angela!

View from our hotel room in Maui!

I will blog more later but I wanted to show everyone the awesome view from our room (we paid for a garden view room and got upgraded for free to an ocean view room).  Isn't it amazing!

Lake Powell - a little late - we went in June

I did all these pages on our flight to Maui (yes I said Maui! I will blog that as soon as I can) and thought I would put them on my blog while we are getting ready to go to dinner.  Sorry it took so long to do these pages - it was a very rough trip for me so I was not excited about doing them - but I am glad I finally did them.  And if I spelled any of your kids name's wrong, I am very sorry!  And there aren't many pictures of Ed or the boys out on the water - I didn't really leave the houseboat - luckily, Dani sent me a few of Ed skiing so at least I had some of him (thanks Dani).

Well Child Check-ups

Itty Bitty Soccer

My cute little Gavin finally is old enough to play Itty Bitty Soccer.  He has watched his brothers for years play (you have to be 3 or 4) - so he was so excited when I told him that HE got to play.  For the most part he does great.  Every once in a while he just wants to sit by me - but once he actually gets to kick the soccer ball, he is happy as can be.  I have LOVED getting to watch him play!  His cute little friend Tess is playing with him, so that makes it even more fun (and more fun for me since her mom, Carol, comes and we get to chat).

Camping with Daddy

Ed & his brothers try to go camping every once in a while.  They like to go out to the West Desert so they can shoot stuff.  Dallin & Matthew love to get to go with their daddy. They go on hikes, play games, & have fun hanging out with their daddy, uncles & cousins!