Just another one of our fun traditions that Levi would not let us forget, as if we wanted to.

Ok so the princess has been through a lot lately so I thought I would write a special spot for her (as if she wasn't spoiled enough).
First, The potty training. I had shown her what to do since she was 2 but she just wasn't that interested, I think she kind of liked being the baby and saw no point in being a big girl. Finally she decided that she wanted to wear those cute unders with the tinkerbell on them, so with the help of skittles and a lot of juice, we did it! She hasn't had an accident since. Yeah! I am officially done with diapers until I get mine when I'm OLD. haha.
Second My older girls and I tricked her into getting her ears pierced. She kinda wanted to so we took that as a go, cause we REALLY wanted her to.
It took an hour in the ear piercing chair to get both of the workers there and she was starting to get anxious and ask a lot of questions like was it going to hurt? We would just tell her half truths so that she would sit there and go through with it. The jar full of suckers was a big pull on her getting it done. Finally both workers were ready, they counted to 3 and bang. We thought it was done, but the look on Sophia's face said that we had better have a good reason for doing this to her. She cried hard, and pointed a finger at one of the ladies that had been with us most the time, when Sophia caught her breathe she said to her "Your Mean!". The poor girl. could only say that she was so sorry and that her ears were very pretty, and I think that she might have had a tear herself. (She was really good with Sophia).
The other big trial that I thought would be harder than it has is: Sophia has had her binki taken away. I decided to start a couple of nights before, I told her that in a few days she would no longer have her binki, but she could have it tonight. That night at about 2am she woke up screaming for her binki even though I could tell that she still had it in her mouth. She just had a bad dream. A couple of days later I told her that we are now going to sleep without a binki, but she will always have her blanket and pillow and dolls etc.. she cried for a few minutes in mourning, then I reminded her that she would have all the other things to sleep with, I let her sleep on the couch, (being nap time) while I layed nearby. She layed there but just kept staring at me until she finally fell asleep. The next few times she asked for her binki but I just showed her all the things that she did have. I guess it really does help to count our blessings when we are going through trials.

Here comes Santa

Levi had a good time meeting Santa at the Fire Station Party.

Sophia, not as much, but as long as Daddy held her it was ok to get close to him.

She liked him from afar

Boy is Santa bossy!!!

Ok, this is really uncomfortable for Dan so be sensitive!

Tree searching, and finding

At home we all helped Mom decorate "her" tree. There is another tree downstairs that has all the boxes of heirloom ornaments, I think next year I may need a bigger tree! (not pictured)
Sophia is so cute in her puffy coat, she loved running around in the sweet smells of Pine.
As usual, Levi will not stay looking at the Camera for more that a second, I don't even know what is distracting him cause it's just us and the trees. Go figure.
It is tradition to get our tree at a farm that gets their trees from Montana, they are so fresh that we can keep it up till well after Christmas if we water it well. Send me a comment if you would like to know where to go.

Beautiful Falling leaves

Don't
you
love
the
autumn
leaves.
.
.
.
.
We do.

The Hunt 2008

Cody and Dan got a Northern Utah tag this year, so they headed north for their hunt.
When they finally got a good sight, Dan had Cody go, while Dan held back, but in Cody's rush to shoot he forgot to take the safety off. Dan thought that they might lose their chance so he took aim while Cody readied again. Cody got a shot in but Dan got the kill. Dan feels real bad and still calls it Cody's.
They went out the next weekend to a more easterly part of the state and had no views whatsoever. It was chalked up to good bonding time and a learning experience.

Hollows Eve

All the kids love to design their pumkins, they get more creative every year.







Levi really got into this Holloween this year so of course I did too. It was fun to let him kind of create and get excited about decorating the porch and yard.

hay ride!

It would of been a sleigh ride if we had gone last weekend, (it snowed), but this day was soooo nice, just perfect for going to search for pumkins and play at the pumpkin patch and at the red barn. If anyone has not taken the short drive to Santaquin's South Ridge Farms, they are missing out. There are so many yummy foods, like ice-cream (the best), apples, tomatoes, dried fruits- especially their tart cherries, kettle corn, pies, doughnuts,cider, nuts, jellies and syrups, salt, crafts, cookbooks and more. I love that place.


We had a lot of fun taking a hay ride to the pumpkin patch, taking silly pictures and finding just the right pumkin. The Rowleys are such a sweet family that has run Southridge farms for many generations. We had a lot of fun.

canyon pics 08

These pictures were ok if you are wanting some entertainment, it was even more entertaining to be there but we won't go into those details.
Anyway, None of the ones taken with the digital camera turned out, which are the ones here. I took some with my other camera that should be much better,
Levi and Sophia refused to either smile or look at the camera, there just was too much to explore in the canyon. But all the kids were very cute.

Levi's Birthday Party

We didn't really let on that Levi's birthday was getting close until a couple of days before, mainly because he is already an excitable boy and it would just be hard on Mom. Which proved to be true, he has never made so many messes in his life because of his energy level and excitement.

The day finally came and he was so excited, he woke up at his usual time and just like Christmas morning, ran to the living room, hardly noticing the 5o balloons on the floor outside his bedroom door. He just ran through the balloons saying whooah, He got a beginners scooter and loved it. Mom took him to the park without having to earn it(he usually has to pick something up that he messed before he can go). I asked him what he wanted for breakfast, and that he could have anything he wanted, he said "cool! I want cookies and candy!", he had cereal instead, cause he couldn't decide on real breakfast foods.

He wanted a starwars cake, notice the two finger swipes in the frosting, I'll give you two guesses whodunit.
It was very entertaining to watch him open his presents, he was ooing and ahing the whole time.
He really had a great day especially spending it with his family.

Bike rides just got fun

We finally figured out a way to go on bike rides with the little ones. Cody, Kait, and Sheree found that if you strap a pillow to the bar that it makes a fine seat for them.

Sophia looks so cute in this bike helmet, she really loves to go on bike rides.

Reaping what we sow

These are just a sample of the yummy things that have come out of our garden this year. We are really lucky to have peaches, most of the orchards did not even produce much because of a damp spring.



This is our first watermelon ever from our garden. It was one of those dream watermelons that are sugary sweet and so watery good.

We attended Cousin Sara's Wedding at the Timpanogas Temple.

Even Sophia knew that Sara was now a princess. She called her Princess Sara, and without cue ran up to her to admire her beautiful dress, and get a hug from her.

The Pioneer Trek in Wyoming

Just a few snapshots of moments on our trek at the end of July.

Our ward decided to re-enact the Martin and Willie handcart companies crossing the U.S. to get to Utah aka. Zion.

They wanted to be as close to the Pioneers as possible so here are some ways that we put it together

1. We went to Martin's Cove, And the Willie Center, where both companies traveled over and had their most trials of exhaustion and death. But is also the place where they were rescued.

2. We were split into "families" with Ma's and Pa's and children assigned to them. Dan and I were a Ma and Pa, Our older kids were put with other families

3. We wore the most likeness to period clothing that we could come up with on a budget. The women and girls sewed their own skirts and the men went to the closest merchantile (D.I.) to dress themselves. A very giving woman in our ward made bonnets for every woman and girl.

4. There was no modern technology (besides the vans to get us there) allowed. And cameras.

5. We had to pack everything we wanted to bring into a 5 gallon bucket which had to weigh less than 17lbs. same as the handcart pioneers.

6. Each person was assigned a pioneer name and history and we were told to get to know that person before we left so that we could trek in honor of their name.

We were there for 4 days, traveled 18 or more miles while pushing handcarts. It was more spiritual than I could ever explain and has brought our ward and especially our youth a whole lot closer.

Hey! are we there yet

We have had a busy summer so I want to catch everyone up on all of it then I can get detailed later.

Jenni and the Family worked very hard to prepare the garden for planting, so much had to be done.

Before

Now it is amazing the growth, we've enjoyed all kinds of fruits and vegetable and herbs from this small area.

After


We went to Montana in June, just days after Sophia's 2nd birthday, she just ate up all the attention, presents, and cake




We originally wanted to go camping for a few days, but I guess I forgot to tell the weatherman to hold the rain, It was nothing but rain and ticks.

We did get a chance to visit Barry and Heidi, and Patty and Steven's grave site.







Kait and Sheree went to girls camp, they had such a good time but Kait only took pictures of her friends, and the wildlife.(which may be the same subject).

Meet Dan the hydrant man. He walked the entire Provo city parade route, what a trooper on the Forth of July.

Also Cody and Levi got to ride on the top of the Provo fire truck, Levi was an enthusiastic waver at the start, but was near asleep by the end.

Sophia was thoroughly impressed with the princesses.















Levi learned to salute the military and flag whenever they went by. He was quick to do it, just like a true American on the fourth of July.



In July, Jenni flew to Portland to see her sister get sealed to her husband Eric. "I am so glad that I went, I don't get to see my sister very much so it was good to be there for them."-Jenni