Justin's hair

Justin's hair is quite the topic around our house. It is the longest its ever been. He kept it long for Halloween and then didn't even do the 70s basketball player thing. I don't mind it and I think it even looks good when he has it curly. He just puts mousse in it and it curls great.
After playing soccer it gets pretty wild though. The picture below has his hair all fro'd out. The picture doesn't really do it justice.

Tonight I asked him if he was ready for a haircut yet. He'd said the other day its really starting to drive him crazy. He said he wanted me to straighten it before I cut it. We'd mentioned awhile ago that we should do that just to see what it would look like. So Brooke and I both worked on him. It was so funny, all of us sitting in the bathroom. Below is the results:


I think he should go to school like this but he says he doesn't want to go through us straightening it again.

Kamryn's owie

A couple of sundays ago Kamryn and Jared were out playing on the trampoline with Taylor. Kamryn fell over Taylor's leg and hurt her leg/ankle. She wouldn't walk on it the rest of the day so I was worried that it was broken. She didn't seem to be in too much pain but refused to walk on it. The next morning she still wouldn't walk on it so I took her to the ER to check it out (for us its the best place to go in this kind of situation because our pediatrician doesn't do xrays at the office).
The nurses were so cute with Kamryn and totally spoiled her. They gave her a little stuffed orange bear, coloring books and crayons and treated her like royalty. Kamryn was a very good patient, although very shy. She only cried when the doctor moved her foot and ankle around. They did xrays and there was no fracture. With a child her age they still wrapped it up in a splint so she wouldn't walk on it and it could heal.
She was very heavy to carry around. She still went to school and sat in an umbrella stroller so it was easier to get around. All of her classmates helped her out and her friends drew her pictures to help her get better. Some of her other friends even brought her paper dolls that she loved to play with.

By Thursday she was walking around with the splint on it and it was coming undone. She wanted me to take it off so I did. She limped around for a couple of days and now is completely back to normal, thank goodness.

Perfect Pilgrims

Aren't these the cutest pilgrims you've ever seen?

Jared and Kamryn with their preschool buddies after their Thanksgiving feast at school. They were so excited about eating their feast at school and told everyone about it, including the cashier at Kohl's this morning.

Super 17

Justin's 17th birthday was yesterday. I can't believe it!
I can't be old enough to have a son that old.
Here's a few recent pictures of Justin:

Receiving some merit badges at our last court of honor.

Justin was able to participate in Taylor's ordination.

Justin showing off his "fro"

Justin with a "mullet"

I haven't taken his birthday picture yet but will have to add it in when I do.

Justin is a great son. For family night we honored him and everyone told something they liked about Justin. Taylor is glad Justin has been teaching him how to play frisbee. Brooke likes that he is a nice older brother. I like Justin's sense of humor. Paul commented on how Justin has absolutely no temper. We all agreed. I don't think I've ever seen Justin upset or angry or mad. I think that is pretty amazing.

I love you Justin.

"I'm Not Fat"

Overheard this morning while Jared and Kamryn were in their room getting dressed.
I heard her yell "I'm not fat" and then start crying. She came to me and said, "Jared said I'm fat."
She was very upset by this. I told her she's not fat and I told Jared its not nice to say that to somebody.
There is so much reality in all of that, sad :(

Digging out and catching up

Yesterday was the first tuesday since school started that I wasn't at volleyball. Wow, it felt weird and great at the same time. I loved supporting Brooke on Brighton's team but it is nice to have some time back in our lives.
I've let a lot go during the volleyball season and hopefully now I'll get some things caught up.
I rearranged Jared and Kamryn's room and cleaned out their closet and drawers to put away summer clothes.
Yesterday I worked on Justin's room. For the kids birthdays, I clean their room. Not to embarass him, but his take's the most work. He's not the cleanest or neatest of our kids (that award goes to Taylor). It's a satisfying job because it looks so much better when I'm done - now if it would just stay that way. I of course, forgot, to take before and after pictures.
And as usual, I have a lot to catch up on here. Maybe that will happen today while the kids are at school.

Volleyball

Volleyball is a big focus in our family right now. We are enjoying watching Brooke play for Brighton. i have been very involved being the team mom for the sophomores. I spent the last 2 days working on taking pictures of the volleyball girls and teams to use in the display case by the gym. The girls helped me get it all up today. I forgot to take my camera with me today so I could get a picture of the finished project. next post. These are some of my favorite group shots:

The sophomore's team attempt at a pyramid

all of the sophomores that play for Brighton - on 3 teams

The freshmen that play for Brighton

The sophomore team

The great coaches

Adam, Kathy and Katie

The Varsity Team - the girl they are holding is Lori Mendenhall, the only senior on the team.

The JV Team having fun

The Juniors just hanging out

M-I-L update #4

Its been a couple of long days since i wrote last.
On Thursday Carolyn was moved to Highland Care Center, a nice enough place. John doesn't subscribe to regular medicare so she didn't qualify for Aspen Ridge. I am learning quickly that medicare is very complicated.
The move itself was quite taxing on Carolyn and it exhausted her. She is in a shared room and her first roommate was quite crazy - either schizophrenic or severe ahlzheimer. So her 2nd day there she changed rooms and now has a very pleasant roommate. She is faring pretty well and keeping her spirits up, which is very remarkable considering how much pain she is in.
I have been there every day and I usually take Jared and Kamryn with me. They love to color and cutout pictures for her and hang them up in her room. We took Halloween decorations to put on her window.
Its going to be a long haul and we just try to get her through each day.

M-I-L Update #3

So, I spent a couple of hours at the hospital on Wednesday. In the morning I took Jared and Kamryn there and they colored lots of pictures to decorate Carolyn's room. They also picked out mylar balloons to take to her. It was hard for them to pick out get well balloons for their Grammy - they wanted the mickey mouse and princess ones.
She was fitted for her back brace and doesn't like it. Its like a turtle shell - hard plastic that fits pretty tight all around her torso. She will be in it for 4 weeks to 6 months, the average is usually about 3 months.
Today, most likely, they will be moving her to Aspen Ridge, a transitional care facility. It is right by Wheeler Farm and very close to their home. This will be very good for her and John - she can get good care and he can get some rest. We're not sure how long she'll be there or what the next step will be.

M-I-L update #2

So, I spent all afternoon and evening at the hospital with Paul's parents. All things considered, Carolyn is in pretty good spirits. She was measured for a back brace today and will be fitted with it tomorrow. Lots of decisions have to be made now - does she go to short term care facility and then home with home health care or to long term care facility. These are things no children should ever have to decide for their parents.

M-I-L update

We got a call at midnight last night from Paul's dad telling us that Carolyn had fallen again and they were on their way to the hospital again. This time she broke her back and she's been admitted to the hospital. Paul was there all night with his dad. Not a good way to start out the week.

Life is Busy

Life continues to fly by so quickly. I can't believe September is almost over. I love October for lots of reason - Fall is my favorite season, although it means winter is coming and that is depressing; its my birthday which means going out to eat; halloween is coming which can be fun with my preschoolers; football, soccer and volleyball season keeps us very busy but enjoying all those games; fall break at school so we get to sleep in a couple of days, yea!
Here's what we were up to last week:
Monday - laundry day as usual but while I did the laundry I spent the day reading "The Help" - one of the best books I've ever read. Its over 400 pages and I started it on Sunday and finished it on Tuesday.
Tuesday - watched Brooke play volleyball against Lone Peak. They are a powerhouse school in all sports. Even though Brooke's team lost they played their best ever. I stayed for all the teams' games and it was so exciting to watch the varsity team beat Lone Peak - go Bengals!
Wednesday - took Kamryn to dance and then took the twins to preschool. On the way to preschool I got a call on my cell phone from Paul's dad. I knew it wasn't going to be good - Paul's mom had fallen early in the morning and hit her head and broke her wrist. They went in the ambulance to the hospital and he was calling to see if I could pick them up. Of course! So we spent the rest of the late afternoon and evening with them.
Thursday - stayed with Paul's mom during the morning and then took the kids to preschool. After school took Brooke and Taylor to the doctor to get several warts burned off. Came right back from that to host Brooke's volleyball team dinner at our house. The girls decorated t-shirts for game days and then had dinner on the patio. It was perfect weather for a fun evening.
Friday - worked on the ward newsletter all morning and got it emailed off by 1:00. Then met my cousin at my grandma's to visit her. In the evening went to dinner groups for our ward activity.
Saturday - helped some neighbors, went to a boutique-twice, and then soccer for the afternoon watching the boys play great (Justin scored 5 goals in one game), then went to the RS broadcast and dinner and enjoyed visiting with good friends, watched the last quarter of the Utah game - go UTES! and ended the evening watching a Carole King concert on the big screen with Paul for our date.
Wow, I'm tired.

Anniversary Present

This jewelry armoire is what Paul gave me for my anniversary.
This is one of those presents where I went and got it at the Early Bird Labor Day sale at RC Willey's (it was a great deal) and came home and told Paul he had gotten me a present for our anniversary, a little late.
I love this little armoire. I put it together (just screwed on the legs and the lid) all by myself and then had so much fun organizing my jewelry. My favorite part is the hidden necklace area - the sides open up so you can hang your necklaces. I've thought I wanted one of these but wasn't really sure so never really asked for it as a gift. But now I wonder how I've lived without it.

Happy Birthday Taylor

Today is Taylor's 12th birthday. I guess its pretty appropriate for a young man to turn 12 on Sunday in our church. He was ordained a deacon on his very birthday.

He's a pretty handsome young man with a great smile.

Taylor is a happy young man. He's very friendly and easy going these days.

He loves to play soccer and is enjoying 6th grade.

Taylor with his dad and brother, both grandfathers and bishop and young men's leaders who stood in the circle to ordain Taylor to the Aaronic priesthood and to be a deacon.

We love Taylor very much and are so proud of him.

Coloring is Hard Work

1st day at the Rainbow School

Jared

Kamryn and Jared at The Rainbow School

on their first day of school.

They were so excited to go to their super fun school.

Kamryn

Olivia, Kamryn, Phoebe, and Jared
after a great first day of school.

I've been just as excited for school to start as Jared and Kamryn were. Taylor went to the same school and it was such a great experience so I was really looking forward to Jared and Kamryn going there. Soon after Jared and Kamryn were born I called Miss Carol to put them on the waiting list for their school year. Miss Carol is the greatest teacher and she loves the kids so much. Its going to be a great year.

Camping 2009

We usually go camping with our whole family and extended family sometime during the summer but this year we could never get it scheduled. So Paul and I decided to just take Jared and Kamryn and go up overnight for a quick little camping trip.
We got to Washington Lake around noon on Friday and quickly got the tent set up because it was starting to rain. Paul's brother, Steve, and his daughters, Jess and Emily, were with us for the afternoon. Those 4 went on a hike to Rock Lake while I stayed at the camp with Jared and Kamryn. We had fun in the tent while it rained - we ate lunch, colored and read stories. Then the sun came out and we went down to the lake to hang out until Paul got back.
When he got back, we went out on the lake in our little blow up boat for almost 3 hours. Jared and Kamryn were great sports and loved catching a lot of fish.
When we were cold and it was almost dark we went back to camp and built a nice fire and had dinner and then went to bed.
Saturday we went out on the boat again for 2 hours and caught a lot more fish. We packed up camp and then went on a little "hike" to Crystal Lake. We also drove to Mirror Lake to see our friends who were camping there. We stopped at Provo River Falls so the kids could see the waterfalls. They were very concerned that we were going to go in the waterfalls.
It was a great short camping trip and so much fun to hang out with just our little kids.

Kamryn and Jared in the tent

Paul and Kamryn out fishing

Building our fire for the night

Jared and Kamryn helping to take down the tent.

Our little family at Washington Lake

Fishing fun

So much fun that it was exhausting

He's a happy fisherman

Liberty Park

We had so much fun on a late summer outing today to Liberty Park. My sisters and I and our dad met there with our younger kids. It was a perfect day to go, weather wise and people wise. It wasn't crowded at all and only preschool age kids there.
We went to "the canyons" area first and the kids had such a great time floating little boats down the streams. Then we headed over to the big fun playground area where there were water features and a playhouse and slides and swings.

Kyson

Jared

Jared, Kyson and Kamryn - what cuties!

Playing in the "great salt lake" at liberty park

Jared and Kyson running through the water features

Those two boys had a blast running through the water.

Jared with his cute little cousin, Meghan.

While these 2 were walking along so cute

she was telling him stories.