Um...I can explain

why I haven't updated this thing in a long while,

why my kids have eaten obscene amounts of chips and hot dogs this week,

why I have bags the size of a large mountain under my eyes,

why I haven't returned many phone calls,

why my body aches from head to toe,

why the only thing out of my mouth to my children is, JUST A MINUTE,

why my whole house has a layer of dust over everything,

why my fingernails are permanently stained black,

why I stink of BO, propane, and fruit, mixed all together (yuck)

and........

why my children look like this:

Yep, this picture has "neglect" written all over it. So, this is WHY:

114 jars of pears, 28 jars of peaches, and 18 freezer bags of corn later. Labor Day, DJ, Regan, and I spent all day putting up corn which we purchased from the sweetest family in our ward. (120 ears for $15.00) pretty great deal, huh? Funny thing is, we came home and decided to check our corn, thinking it produced nothing this year, WRONG, we picked another 50 ears and then a few days later, my mom picked yet another 50. I guess I'll check things a little better next year. Although, Haroldsen corn is to die for so if you are in need of corn, go visit their garden. Anyway, Wednesday, my 7 boxes of pears decided to ripen so I worked for 12 hours, with a few interruptions, okay, a lot of interruptions, but was still able to get 56 quarts done. Regan was my right hand man in the evening and stayed up a little too late on a school night helping me! We did have a great visit with no interruptions which is worth it to me! Thursday, my mom came up bright and early in the morning and worked her heart out all day, she also managed to prepare a beautiful meal which she brought with her, knowing that I we needed to feed the missionaries that evening. Mom, you are amazing! My grandma came out for a bit to lend a hand as well and then, DJ came home just in time to see the 114 jars lined nicely on the table. He quickly went to work cleaning up the garage and kitchen with mom, while I tended to the kids.

Thanks to my mom for coming to the rescue and, thank you, Regan, for always being willing to help me! The fruit is all down in storage, nicely lined out on the shelves. I've decided I'm going to be the "fruit Nazi" If anyone wants a bottle of fruit, they'll have to come to me first. (just kidding)

Chuckars Baseball with the Andrus's

A couple of weeks ago, we went with our good friends, the Andrus's, to the Chuckar's Baseball game. We were lucky enough to join them in their Suite room where we enjoyed great seats, endless popcorn, and yummy ice cream with all the toppings. I have to admit, not much baseball was watched by any of us though. Holly and I can't help but gab our heads off when we're together. The kids found the Disney Channel much more interesting than the actual game and the husbands were busy fiddling around on their I-touch's. DJ's "in training" as I like to call it, and Jason is his I-touch trainer since we are technologically challenged. Anyway, we all had a fun time and to end the evening, the guys offered to take all the kids home to bed while Holly and I finished watching the game (ha ha ha). We couldn't turn down that offer and enjoyed gabbing for another hour. Thanks, wonderful husbands!!

South Dakota Part 3

Someday I will have this whole trip documented, I hope! It was such an amazing trip, I don't want to forget anything. I think I left off just as we were heading through Needles Highway! One word for you, AMAZING!!! It was truly a beautiful, scenic drive and we were lucky enough to begin the beautiful drive by seeing a few Big Horn Sheep right along the road. They didn't seem a bit scared of the crowd of people (including us) gathered around snapping photos.

We kept driving along the highway, taking in the breathe taking views of pointy mountains(hence the name "Needles Highway." We stopped several times to let the kids hike which they thoroughly enjoyed. Even the babies got in on the action, they seriously think they are as old as the other kids. I'm so glad we took them with us, not that I would've left them home, but the thoughts of two little babes in the car for hours upon hours made me a bit nervous. But, it all worked out, thanks to my mom's ingenius "car packets" for each of the children packed with endless games, toys, snacks, educational packets, you name it, it was in the bag. Among the favorites were the license plate spotting game, road trip bingo, people watching game, the flash cards, and the snacks. There was literally something for them to do every second of the car ride so it made for a very pleasant, not perfect, but generally pleasant car ride. I learned that even 14 month old babies love flashcards. Maybe I should've done that earlier but I just didn't think about it. Anyway, I have a great mom who always thinks of everything and most of all is always trying to make my life a bit easier.

Okay, more about Needles Highway. It was just stunningly beautiful. Even the kids were ooohing and aawwing along the way. We could've spent hours climbing on the rocks but needed to move on down the road. After a bit more driving we came upon the "Needle" but before you could get the full affect, you had to drive through a one lane tunnel. The kids thought it was the neatest thing they'd seen thus far. It was kind of crazy because it was tough to see if any cars were coming through the other way because the sun was shining just right so we had to inch our way forward. After making it through, we parked and took pictures of the "Needle" which is pretty amazing. After a few more pictures, we drove for a bit more and came upon Sylvan Lake. I'd read about it and seen pictures before hand but you really can't begin to get the full affect of its beauty w/out actually going there yourself. I know I keep saying how beautiful and stunning places are but I have to say the same about this place. It's a must see if you ever decide to make the trip. We spent the afternoon playing there. Hiking, swimming, & playing on the sandy beach. We hoped to rent paddle boats but they were closed because of scattered thunderstorms. But we still totally enjoyed ourselves.

These pictures just don't do it justice, oh well! Go there someday and you'll see what I mean. Regan, Morgan, Kaleb, and I hiked around the lake, through another tunnel, up some rocks, and made our way around to the beach. Since we couldn't take strollers that way, DJ, Jordyn, and the babies went the other way. We met up and played on the beach for a couple of hours. Jordyn and Morgan loved trying to catch the tiny fish, Kaleb and the babies loved splashing in the water and playing in the sand. Regan and I walked out as far as we could w/out having to test our swimming skills.

Well, that's it for now! Still, tons more to come but I'm getting there. One more favorite picture to share with you, possibly my favorite. It just signifies the babies life for that week, stuck in a stroller with plugs in their mouths. Believe me, there were times I wished I could've traded them places!

Priceless!

On our way to Nevada for my nephew, Zach's, farewell, we made a stop in Park Valley to see my grandparents. I had the privilege of growing up in this wonderful community and have so many great memories of my childhood there. I don't make it back very often but this was the perfect opportunity to visit with my grandparents and visit the home I grew up in where my cousin and his wife now live. It was so much fun wandering around the yard, barnyard, and house as all the memories came flooding back. I usually have such a terrible memory but for some reason I could remember details this time. Evidently, I bored my children to death with all of my stories because after a while, Regan says, "mom, sometimes kids just aren't interested in historical sites." I laughed so hard I about wet my pants..she's such a character sometimes!

How many kids really get to know their Great Grandparents? The picture of my kids with G&G Rose is worth billions of dollars to me. I couldn't help but have perma-grin while taking all these shots.

This is the house I grew up in (totally transformed) thanks to Bill and Amber. They've been in continuous remodel mode for past couple of years so the house has had a few coats of paint, walls have been ripped out, things have been gutted. It did my heart good to see the house being so well taken care of. Thanks, Bill and Amber! I'm so glad you live there. Regan and Morgan thought Grandpa's and Uncle Brent's saddle room was so neat!

Grandpa Rose sitting on my favorite green rock in our old yard. Great Grandpa and Kaleb hanging out on the cellar roof having a visit. Notice Kaleb in his cowboy boots and wranglers. He would wear them everyday if they didn't have to be washed occasionally. I get teary-eyed every time I look at this picture with my little boy and his Great Grandpa. I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age!

We enjoyed a fun picnic with G&G Rose on their porch. Grandpa made sure the kids had a can of pop and some for the road. Grandma made sure the kids got ice cream bars, licorice, and animal crackers for the road.

Morg's tried climbing my favorite tree although I don't know why it's my favorite because I remember, like it was yesterday, getting home from a boating trip and all of us barfing our guts out underneath it.

Bill and Amber dropped what they were doing to saddle up the horses for the kids. You would've thought Kaleb had died and gone to heaven. He loves horses and just loved being out in the open, away from city life. He thinks he's a real cowboy! Morgan and Jordyn insisted on wearing jeans and their cowboy boots for the day as well. Regan informed me that she's a "city slicker" so she wouldn't be wearing her boots. Grandma Rose got a kick out of that one!

I took this picture, not necessarily of the kids playing on the swing set, but of the field behind them. This is where my parents planted our garden when I was little. I always wondered if it just seemed gigantic because I was a little kid weeding it but apparently not. It seemed just as big that day! I'm keeping this picture on our fridge to remind my kids how easy they have it when I ask them to go weed our little garden.

It's a Major Award!

No, not this...


(for all the "Christmas Story" lovers)



But this,


Yep, my hubby won an Ipod Touch!!! He went to a new employee meeting at the college with 5 other people and this was up for grabs. He was the lucky winner. He also won a gift certificate for $25.00 to the bookstore.



I'm glad it wasn't a leg lamp!!