Update! Fall!

*Warning* This update is a little long with no pictures. Since this blog is somewhat my journal and my scrapbook lately I wanted to get some of things in with little time. If you would like to skip it! I'll understand! If you want to hear about us for the last few months.... read on!

This fall has been a very busy one. I must admit that it has been a bit better since football ended. I took a six week course to be certified in intensive care, and I have also gone back to Weber State to work on completion of my bachelors degree. Brent is going to school two nights a week at Bridgerland. He is working on Mechanic/Electrical something or other. I honestly don't really know what he is doing. But, I am proud of him for going to school.

Tanner is in the seventh grade. He is starting to look more like a teenager, and he defiantly acts like one. He loves his cell phone, texting, computers and the PS3. He is still a good kid and helps me with the kids and around the house. He has been testing his boundaries with us a bit lately. He is enjoying scouts and is planning to go on his first snow camping trip this weekend.

Landon has had a pretty crazy fall. I think I have made some comments prior to this about his difficult start to the year. He is improving very much. He comes home and does his homework everyday (most days without an argument). He loves his dog Lucy and his friends. He is kind of a funny kid. As we we have been getting ready for Christmas we have had many many ideas for Tanner and Megan. Landon, well... he is not really into anything. He just likes to be with his friends and otherwise it seems all we do is home work? Kinda sad..

Megan has just loved kindergarten and is learning to read. She can sound out just about any word with just a little help. That is if you can get her to sit still long enough. Megan is so loving and gives us hugs and kisses every day. But she has been very emotional lately. Today she hugged her dad three or four times at lunch. When he went to leave she didn't get to hug him again. She cried for 20 minutes because she was unable to hug him goodbye. I think we only have about 18 more years of that to go! She is also Mrs. Destructive! She ruins everything in her path. Seriously, my boys were nothing compared to her. She is harder on clothes, shoes and her room in NEVER clean. We love her very much anyway!

The boys have been bird hunting. They have really enjoyed taking Lucy out. She is doing.... well OK. She did better when the colder weather came because the grasshoppers were gone. She would rather hunt grasshoppers and bugs than birds. Until it snowed and got really cold. They took her out the day after Thanksgiving and she just shut down. She was to cold.

I guess I must include Tank. Tank spends his days sitting in front of the heat vent or hiding in a blanket in the spare bedroom.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We met up with the Izzy clan at the church. We visited, played basketball, and ate lots of good food. After we went to my moms with all my bothers and sisters. I didn't take a single picture. We played games, cards, ate more food, and mom and Melissa took ALL the kids swimming. It really was a fun day. I truly love the days that we all get together, the kids play, we visit and the men watch TV. I reminds me of being a child. I loved hanging with my cousins. I am so grateful that my kids and their cousins are close.

I have taken a few family pictures. I just have not had time to post them to my photography blog. Sorry! I am looking into taking an online mentoring class. I think it will be just another step to improving my photography. I am looking forward to it. I just wish that I had some more time to put into my favorite hobby. I have been thinking lately that we have to choose the things that we are going to strive for. Sometimes I want that to be school and my education. Other days I want to quit school and put more focus on taking pictures. I also have joined the Sports Academy and Melissa and I have been working out together. I really like the time we spend together. It is amazing to me that when we work together, and then go to the gym together, we never run out of things to talk to each other about. She is a wonderful sister and friend. I also have had the chance to go to Amie's Zumba class. I LOVE her class. It's not just Zumba that I love. It is her class. I went to the class at my gym and it was not so great. Amie is so talented at teaching. She really is fun and makes everyone there feel that they are amazing. She was born to instruct in a gym!!

We are ready for Christmas and looking forward to happy holidays! We wish you the same.

Football Fall 2010

Landon and Tanner both played Sky View Jr. League football this year. Brent coached Landon's team. The boys both played great. Football this year was a better experience that the last time that Tanner played. I still miss soccer sometimes but Tanner does not. It is hard to take pictures of the kids in football. Everyone looks the same. It makes it hard when they wear a helmet. Landon would wear bright colored socks to help me find him on the field. Tanner wore arm guards but this is not as obvious. I think Brent really enjoyed coaching. Football is very demanding. All three boys were gone from 5-7:30 four nights a week and games every Saturday. I think they will be doing this again.... even still!

First day of school 2010-2011

Tanner started the 7th grade this year at Cedar Ridge Middle School. He was happy to be in the older group at the school this year. He has to be to the bus stop at 7:11 AM.

Landon decided to disappear the first day of school. I walked all the other kids to class and found Landon sitting in his seat in class. NO... he was not just so excited to get to school he left early. He followed Squirrel (aka Josh) to school early. He did not have any breakfast or comb his hair. (I was not a happy mom)

Megan did not start school the same time as everyone else. On the first day of school she had her kindergarten evaluation with her teacher. She then did not start school for another 5 days. It was a long 5 days for her to wait to start. She was so very very excited to start school. There are so many kindergartners in our neighborhood. Her good friend Kenadie is in her class.

So far school has been a breeze for Megan, Tanner is doing well except for a struggle with Math. Landon... well he loves to make things interesting. If you have been around over the last couple of months I know you have heard the deal with Landon. If not, well things are starting to improve with Landon right now. I will just say that school and Landon have not ever mixed well and this year has been an all time record for us. We hope to find some answers soon.

Landon once I found him!!

Megan, Cai, Tyler, Kylie, and Cole some of the carpool kids

Tanner looking so happy to have his picture taken

Tyler, Cai, Landon, Megan, Kylie, Kenadie, and Cole
This is our car pool group from the neighborhood this year

Megan lost a tooth!

On July 31st, 2010 Megan lost her first tooth! She was so excited to leave it for the tooth fairy. She was generously paid for that little tiny tooth. What a great tooth fairy!! She is such a fun girl. I can't imagine a day without her in my life. She makes me smile every day! I am saddened by her growing so much, but look forward to every single moment I get to share with her!

The kids summer vacation with Grandma Peggy. July 23-30th.

The kids spent a week with Grandma Peggy and Kristen this summer. It was great for them and me. Great for them because they love love love going there, and are spoiled rotten and great for me because I was working the whole time and didn't have to worry about them being home alone. Brent with up the kids on Friday. They all went to the air show in Idaho Falls on Saturday but did not take any pictures. Tanner tried to leave the camera on the public bus, finally got it. But still no pictures. Brent came home the next day. Peggy and Kristen took the kids through Yellowstone National Park to Jackson Hole and went to see the Bar J Wranglers. All three of the kids really loved the show. They ate dinner and laughed. Megan talked about how they sing funny. At first I didn't understand.... but then she sang it for me. It went something like. YO do ho ho ho. Yo do ho ho ho! Yes, they were yodeling. She still will just pop off and yodel every once in a while. They went back to grandmas and spent the rest of the week at her house going to the gas station for candy, playing games, watching TV and being spoiled with their favorite meals to eat. I drove up the next week and retrieved them. The y had fun as always!! Thanks Grandma and Kristen!

Bear Lake July 9th, 2010

We left the cabin and drove over to Bear Lake to play for the day. When we got there it was a usual day at Bear Lake. Warm enough, but cold enough. Bear Lake has a way of always always being cold. The sky was very ominous. The Grey clouds would come around and then leave. Then they started to come around and drop a few little drops and leave. So, Most of the people around us started to leave. We had not been there for very long and the kids did not seem to mind so we decided to stick it out and see. Well, We got it!!!! First a few drops were coming around but then all of the sudden...... DOWN POUR!! I am not exaggerating. None of the adults had gotten into the water. Well, in about two minutes of being in this rain we were as wet as each child who had immersed themselves in the water. We were soaked down past every piece of clothing we owned and more. I ran to the car and threw my camera in and moved out again to get the chairs and other things we had brought. Mom (Grandma Izzy) had rode her motor cycle over. We all sat in the cars and waited to the majority of the storm to pass and then dropped grandma off at her motor cycle to brave the ride home and headed back to the cabin. It was still a lot of fun. A story I think we will all remember and laugh at!

Anna has proof that Tanner teased her and occasionally was mean!

And Adam had the same proof against Anna!

Megan dancing in her own little world

Trevon and his sweet smile.... Freezing!

And... Adam dancing in his own little world! LOL!

Cameron's sweet smile.... Freezing!

What a fun day and a fun experience! I could go anywhere with these kids and their parents. I just love family!

Our week at Izzy cabin ...July 8th 2010

We again had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time up at the cabin this summer. What a blessing to have such a wonderful place open to us to share as a family. Every time I write about going up there it makes me smile. It makes me think of all the fond memories my kids will have of the cabin and their cousins, which in turn makes me think of my fond memories as a child being at the cabin with my cousins. I love it.

It was warm outside and we watched the kids play in the water. It was a blast. See below. If you can't tell, I love pictures, and I like to let pictures tell the story for me. (I am not a very good writer, or good at English) and you don't HAVE to agree!

Adam was full on the entire time. When this kid plays (which is all the time) he plays hard! He sweats and runs, and laughs, and lives! We should all try to be more like Adam. He kept posing for the camera while sliding! What a fun kid!!!

Of course the kids chased after and caught snakes. This is a must for any cabin visit, unless its in the winter.

Yet again, Adam taking on the swimming pool! Head first!

Eventually the slide was not fun enough and they blew up this jump and put it at the beginning. Look at Trevon fly!

There were a ton of humming birds up there this summer. Those darn little buggers are not easy to get a picture of!

Cameron and Tanner rode motorcycles the ENTIRE time. We did not see them unless it was time to eat and they were off again. It was great for Tanner to have Cameron there. He looks up to him so much! They really get along well.
(Side note... I was taking a photography class around this time. These pictures of some of my attempts to take a panning picture. That is a pictures that is supposed to show movement.The subject should be slightly in focus and everything else blurry. Fun to do but not easy!)

Below is Cameron's take off for his jump........and then

His landing!

We had a great time. Day two Bear Lake!