And Part 3...

Today my awesome Charlie found a place that fixed my heater in my car for $288, and did it in a day. I have my car back and it is WARM! I'm sure you were all interested. So my life's a little boring right now. Wait, not boring, just a little exciting in ways I wish it weren't!

My Lemon-Part 2

Found out the day after my post about my awesome, reliable car that it's going to cost me at least $1,500 to get my heater working again. The fix it man even asked if we'd thought about trading it in. What did I tell you, did I jinx myself or what?!

First Grade

This morning I was making Brielles lunch. She told me that if I didn't give her very much stuff that she would eat her sandwich. When I give her too many things she runs out of time for her sandwich. So, I asked her if a sandwich and a pickle would be enough. She said, "Yeah, you don't have anything else to give me anyway." Brooke said, "Yuh, huh...pretzels." Then, get this, Brielle said, so matter of factly, "No, Brooke, I don't have time for pretzels. I have to meet this boy up by the tree at lunch." What?! "Yeah, I meet this boy up at the tree at lunch so we can chase another boy that always makes fun of me." Gosh, who knew it started to early. She then proceeded to tell me who likes who, and who chases who. I need to start going to school with that girl.

We Miss You!

Yesterday, the 14th, was the 5 year mark from the day I lost my mom. In some ways it has gotten easier, in other ways it hasn't. It felt good yesterday to talk about it all again. It stirs up emotions, but it also keeps memories alive. I have often thought about just letting the day go by as a normal day, to save myself from the sadness, but I don't think I could ever do that. When we lose people in our lives, it seems like after a while everyone else moves on with their lives, and you are stuck. Your life is somehow permanently different. There is a hole that cannot be filled. I think it is good for me to have a day where me and my family can remember that we are not alone in our sadness. We have eachother, and we have a day we can all be sad together, and reminisce together, and laugh together.

I love you mom, and miss you so much! We are thinking about you!

My Lemon

Charles bought my car for me in 2004. It is a 2004 and had somewhere in the vicinity of 4,000 miles on it when we bought it. I was working a couple a days a week at the time, so it was my job to make the payment. Then we moved here...I quit...Charles finally bit the bullet and paid the thing off last year sometime. Ever since we got it we have both been nervous that we bought a lemon. The engine always kindof sounded funny. Every niose it made, we worried. But last month, while we were on our way to California, we hit 100,000 miles. And that car has never given us problems. We have had our issues here and there, but nothing big. So, I now take back everything I said about it being a lemon. That car has been awesome. It has taken us to California twice, St. George at least 40 times, Yellowstone probably 4 or 5 times, Montana, Idaho a couple of times, etc. It has been puked in, pop has been sprayed all over the ceilings, it's had its fair share of Skittles and Bug Juice, and it has taken a beating. Kids climbing over seats, dragging mud and snow in, licking the windows, etc. We've crammed stuff in the back, piled stuff on top, I broke the running board when I ran over a tire, I had to replace the hood when we were attacked by falling rocks in Provo Canyon, but man, it has been a dang good car. Thanks for the good times...and many more to come...I hope. But I probably jinxed that by writing this post. Oh well, if it gives up the ghost I'll have to go buy my GMC Acadia.

Cookies!

A couple of weeks ago we were at my dads getting his boat ready for winter. I had Caleb in the stroller, and he was getting bored, so I gave him an Oreo. He enjoyed it until the vacuum lulled him to sleep. He's cute, huh?

The Middle of Nowhere

So last Thursday we took the kids out of school a little early, and headed for sunny St. George...again (we already have 3 more trips down there planned, I know, you're jealous). We were driving along, between Cedar and St. George. You can always count on Brooke to ask what town we are in, even when we are obviously NOT in a town at all. She has gotten screamed at numerous times for asking what town we are in when there is no sign of life anywhere to be found. So, she asked..."are we in St. George?" I said, "No." "Are we still in Cedar City?" I said, "No. We are in the middle of nowhere." Then, very dramatically, she sighed..."I thought we already PASSED the middle of nowhere?! Are there LOTS of nowheres?!"

Our trip wasn't quite as spectacular as it normally is. Charles got plenty of golfing in, and got some awesome stuff from the tournament he played in (he's getting it all for Christmas...I scored!), and we got to go on a date, which was so nice. But, 2 of my kids were sick the whole time. Fevers, puking, the whole works. Plus I was nervous about my in-laws all getting it because they were leaving for Mexico the same weekend. Stressful. I haven't heard whether or not they all ending up sick on their vacation, I hope they didn't. Anyway, we came home a little early, but we did have some fun, and can't wait to go back when everyone is healthy!

Halloween Night!

I don't have very many pictures of costumes this year...but I did dress my kids up, and we did take them trick or treating. Blake and Mary Ann brought Maesa up, and grandpa and Suzanne came over. We had pizza and headed out. Tori, Jacob and Caleb didn't last quite as long as Brooke and Brielle, and only got about half of the candy the girls did, but Tori and Jake sure loved handing out candy.

Love Halloween...and love when it's over ;)!

School Parties!

On Friday Tori and I went to school. I was helping out with Brielle's class party, which turned out awesome. Brooke's classroom is directly across the hall, so I was able to watch her party over there too. Brielle did crafts, made treats, and played games. Fun stuff.

I think Tori was pretty bored by the end. And I think I let her eat way too much candy. Sorry again Mary Ann!

After the party was Brielle's class program. She did awesome. She recited her part perfectly. Love that little girl!

The Annual Pumpkin Carving!

So, our Halloween festivities started on Thursday (they were supposed to start Wednesday with the Library Story Time party...but I got lazy...we didn't go). Anyway, grandpa and Suzanne came over for Taco Salad, and then we started carving. Tori was staying with us for a few days, so she was able to join the fun. Luckily we had an adult for every kid, so the carving went quickly.

Jacob kept begging me to take pictures of him holding guck. Every time he pulled out a handful he wanted me to take a picture.

Brielle and her insides

More of Jake

Tori's lid...I know...she has her coat on. She insisted that she was cold. Sorry Mary Ann, I know it's a million dollar coat. We tried to keep it clean, and I did eventually get her to take it off.

I had to BEG her to do this for one picture, and she even smiled!

Jacob and Grandpa...don't I have an awesome dad?!

Tori and her masterpiece

Brooke and Dad

Brielle and Suzanne. Brielle did almost all of the cutting on her pumpkin this year. Didn't she do awesome?!

Finally done!

My Splasher!

3 of my 4 kids hate being spashed. They scream and yell if someone splashes water on them. Not Caleb. He splashes non stop. From the minute I stick him in the water until I'm dragging him out...he is splashing. My other kids don't like taking baths with him.

He sure is cute, isn't he?!

Wow!

These are the two dozen roses Chuck brought me for absolutely no reason...Nice huh?!

Our Vacation-Part 3...Finally

So I'm finally getting around to finishing our vacation. I know. I'm slow. Anyway, we spent Saturday at Sea World. We were there when they opened, and we didn't leave until they closed. And we had a great time!!

Jacob is still singing..."SHAMU, SHAMU!"
And this Sesame Street ride was almost as good as the tea cups...
The kiddos with Grandma and Grandpa Balch. Can't thank you guys enough for coming with us! Grandpa pushed the double stroller the entire time...I loved it.

We were wandering through the Arctic exhibit and there was a polar bear cave. I told Chuck to take a picture of Jacob in it, so Jacob climbed in. Just as Charles was snapping the picture, the bear roared inside the cave...awesome picture, eh?

It was pretty hot all day, and later in the afternoon we finally decided to go on the water ride. Just as the fog rolled in and it got cold. We waited in line for way too long...for this...

We were absolutely soaked. Brooke got the wettest, and she literally shivered the rest of the time we were there. I don't think she enjoyed the ride very much. Okay, at all.

And combine a water ride, and the humidity...and this is what you get...

We decided before we left that we had better get a picture of us by the Sea World sign. We were wet and tired, but we had fun!

After Sea World we went back to the hotel for pizza. And bed.

And then the dreaded day...Sunday...the drive home. I was surprised at how well it went. We went all the way rather than stay in St. George which I was worried about, but the kids were excellent and we made it in 12 hours. Awesome vacation. We need more awesome vacations!