Way to go, Regan!

Regan started Cross Country a few weeks ago and participated in her first meet last Friday!  She was a bundle of nerves before the race, but she was able to shake it off and ended up running a great race.  She took 3rd place out of all the 7th/8th grade girls!!  Also, the Rocky Mountain Middle School girls took 1st place!  Way to go girls!  I love that they get to practice with the high school kids because I think it pushes them to be even better.

Rocky Mountain Middle School Girl's Cross Country team

She was so excited to win her very first trophy!

Way to go, Regan!  Keep up the hard work!

Lincoln Log Lover

Morgan loves to build and create things.  She doesn't mind playing by herself and usually comes up with some pretty cool creations.  Here are some of her latest!  She couldn't wait for D.J. to come home from work so she could show him her masterpiece.   

Grandpa & Grandma Rose's

We made a visit a couple of weeks ago to visit my mom after her 2nd knee surgery.  She's getting around amazingly well, though I'm sure she is in more pain than what she lets on.  She always greets us with a smile and gives the grandkids all of her attention.  The kids love playing out in the backyard and each have their favorite things that they like to do. 

Kaleb set up the race track on the patio which has 3 different levels.  The end of the racetrack was in mom and dad's zucchini plants so the boys had fun time searching for them among the vines.

Morgan LOVES to climb this tree in the backyard.  She gets higher and higher everytime and doesn't seem a bit afraid. 

I love this picture of her blending right in with the tree. 

Porter playing with the watering can!  Though I didn't get a picture of it, Kaleb is perfectly content with the hose and grandpa's long sprayer attached.  I think he spent at least an hour and a half spraying everything he could possibly think of in the backyard.

Kamryn loves to have Grandma paint her fingernails.  It's usually the first thing she asks for when we get there.  Mom is happy to oblige.  Porter loves going to grandma's house and has the cutest expression, kind of like the one on his face in this photo, whenever we go to "gumma's house."  I must admit that part of his excitement is over the "tandy" (candy) containers stashed throughout the house which always seemed to be well stocked. 

Jordyn isn't much in to climbing the tree but loves to hang on the branches for as long as she can hold on. 

I've always loved the front flowerbed.  It's always packed full of beautiful plants and colorful flowers.  Mom and dad are really great gardeners and have somehow managed to have a gorgeous garden despite the crazy weather.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised though.  I have vivid childhood memories of working in our VERY large garden for hours while rocking out to the Jet's.  I'll never forget the 5 gallon buckets full of green beans we were responsible to snap.  Funny thing is, I'm doing the very same thing to my kids only they're getting off easy.... we don't have anywhere near a 5 gallon bucket in a picking.  So kids, no complaining, PLEASE!

Homemade Raging Waters

                    Well...not really, but this was my attempt to make some backyard fun for the kids.  Thank goodness for duct tape which is what we used to attach the hose to the slide.  It doesn't take much to entertain my kids!

I'm going to miss these lazy days of summer!   

Stuff!

I have one word to describe life right now.....BUSY!   It's okay though.   I'm enjoying this stage despite occasionally feeling like a chicken with my head cut off.  I really need to get a day planner and quit using my tiny calendar and sticky notes.  One of the teachers at BYU Education week made fun of me for using sticky notes....you'd think that would be motivation enough to stop.  (no, I wasn't taking notes on sticky notes, she just asked me how I stay organized and I thought I better tell the truth)  Anyway, my current method isn't working for me with 4 kids in school, one of those being in middle school which adds even more craziness.  I'm going to get my life organized one of these days, maybe after the kids are all gone:) 

On with the random items of business backtracking quite a bit:

Amy and Flint Pugsley were married on August 12, 2010!  Amy is the youngest daughter of my Uncle Brent and Aunt Janet.  We weren't able to make it to their sealing in the Logan Temple but we made it out to Park Valley for their beautiful reception.  It was so great to be back in Park Valley where I grew up and visit with so many people I haven't seen in years. 

                                                     Don't they make a cute couple?

This is my Grandpa, Gary Rose!  I love this man.  He's true cowboy and a wonderful grandpa.  He still calls all of us including the great grandkids, on our B-days and sings the most goofy B-Day song. My kids look forward to these phone calls from their Great Grandpa.  Honestly, how many kids can say they know their great grandparents??  Each time I'm with my Grandparents, I realize just how lucky I am to have a few more moments with them. 

Just another photo of one of my favorite guys!

Great Grandma Rose with little Porter.  I love my Grandma.  She's been through so much over the years with poor health.  I don't know how much longer she'll be with us so moments like these are precious. 

Jordyn with my Aunt Christie, one of my dad's younger sisters.  I love all of my Aunt's so much and appreciate how sweet they are to each of my kids.  I belong to a great family!

Jordyn and Kaleb with Aunt Sheri, my dad's youngest sister.  I've always thought I had the prettiest Aunt's ever! 

Kamryn, Regan, Jordyn, and Aunt Christie.

Jordyn with my cousin, Crystal (Christie's daughter)  She was just married this summer and she and her husband Chris are always so cute with all the cousins.  My kids always look forward to family get together's so they can hang out with Crystal and Chris.  Can you tell how much Jordyn loves the camera?  She somehow always ends up in every picture.  You gotta love her.

Our family with Great Grandma and Grandpa Rose.  I'm grateful for my heritage and I have these two people to thank for it.  I love you Grandpa and Grandma!

The kids with Grandma!

Kaleb hanging out in the barnyard.  He is a little cowboy--I guess he just has it in his blood.  Sometimes I wish we lived out in Park Valley or in Cokeville so he could have this kind of life.  He loves it!

My cousin Bill built this dance floor for the reception and the kids had a ball dancing together!

Chris dipping Morgan!  Like I said, the kids adore this guy!

Kaleb, Morgan, and Porter exploring at Aunt Janet's place!

Happy Birthday, Patty!

DJ's oldest sister, Patty celebrated her B-Day on August 18, just two days before Regan's B-Day.  We were able to go to Montpelier to the Nursing home where she lives to celebrate with some of DJ's family.  DJ's mom went to a lot of trouble to bring a yummy meal for all of us to enjoy out on the patio and thankfully the weather cooperated.  All the kids LOVE Aunt Patty as you can tell in the picture!!  She has the best sense of humor and can bring a smile to any one's face.  She's been through a lot in her life yet still keeps a positive out look and has a sense of humor about the many trials she's been through. The kids love when we get to stop at the nursing home to visit Patty--they love all of her fun talking stuffed animals, love all of her funny quotes and pictures on her walls, love her treat jar, love her funny sense of humor and love to take turns taking rides on her electric wheelchair!! 

The B-Day Girl, Patty!!  Some of my favorite things about Patty are:

* her quick wit

* her positive attitude

*her sense of humor

*her frequent phone calls

* her determination to not give up

*her concern for everyone around her

*her love for all the nieces and nephews

*her generosity

*her smile

....and the list could go on!  I love you Patty and hope you have a great year!

Morgan enjoying yummy food and mom making sure everyone has enough Cheetos!  DJ's mom is amazing!  She has always cooked for the 5,000 so even if there are only a few people coming to a party, there is always TONS of great food.  She knows how to throw a great party!

Tana and Kami

Regan and Janae

Patty's party on the patio (I dare you to say that a few times:)

She's "12"

We celebrated Regan's 12th B-Day last Friday.  It blows me away to look at these pictures and see my little girl growing up.  I can hardly believe we're old enough to have a daughter in Young Women's and entering Middle School.  She has been anxiously awaiting this B-Day for lot's of reasons, mainly because of her excitement over entering Young Women's and being able to go to the temple to do Baptisms for the dead which she got to do with her dad the morning of her B-Day.  Also, turning "12" meant a few other exciting things--getting her ears pierced and wearing a little mascara and lip gloss!!!  I about died when she got dressed for church last Sunday in her new outfit, applied a bit of mascara and did her own hair.  I think D.J. wanted to cry as he introduced her at the pulpit with her advancement in to the Young Women program.  He looked at her and said, "I don't think this young lady is old enough to go to Young Women's."  It was pretty cute and made me realize how quickly the years go by raising kids. 

Birthday cakes are a big deal at our house.  When the kids are really young I help them choose a fun cake and we have fun making and decorating it but as they get older, they get to do it all on their own.  This year Regan wanted to have a layered cake so we worked together finding the right size pans, baked the cakes, and then she did the rest.  Pretty darn cute!!  She was so proud of her masterpiece!!

Have you ever tried to take a picture of 6 kids all together??  Another example of my stinky camera skills but atleast you can see all of their adorable faces.   Jordyn kept sneaking in all of Regan's B-Day pic's.  She is NOT camera shy.

Regan opening one of her favorite gifts from her sister's--Earrings!!

Morgan and Regan checking out Grandma Rose's fun homemade cards.  They really are one of our favorite things about Birthday.  She has the cutest card making program and inserts some of her favorite photo's from the year of the kids and personalizes it with a cute message.  Morgan doesn't love having her picture taken as much as Jordyn so I'm always happy when I can get a cute photo of this beauty. 

My cute parents, just wish that DJ's parents didn't live so far away.  I truly have the best parents and in-laws ever!!!

Regan with one of her best buddies-Lindee Andrus!  These girls have been friends since 2nd grade and have remained great friends even though they attend different schools.  Regan had a late night the night of her B-Day and had a ball hanging out together!

These little munchkins love their big sister!  She really is like their second mom--if I'm going somewhere, they immediately ask for "Re Re."

Lindee and Regan wanted to watch their movie alone with no little one's bugging them.  I thought I was doing a pretty good job until I realized that Kami was missing.  This is where I found her, under the girls snack table, occasionally you'd see this little hand sneaking up for the popcorn bowl.

Is this face adorable, or what?

Morgan and Alissa Andrus (Lindee's younger sister) also one of Morgan's best buddies!  They got to have a late night of their own!  They always have the best time when they play together.

All in all, Regan had a great B-Day!  Some of my favorite things about her are:

Her kind personality

Her excitement for life

Her willingness to help

Her ability to recognize when I need help

Her desire to be obedient

Her hard work ethic

Her determination to do well at anything she tries

Her sensitivity to everyone's feelings

Her love for her brother's and sister's

I love you, Regan!  I'm so excited to watch you in all of your middle school activities!  It's going to be a great year!!  Regan is running cross country this year, she started the season a couple of weeks ago and is loving it so far.  She has her first meet on Friday at Sugar Salem High School!  Pictures to come!