Friend Day

Harlee was not so sad to leave St. George a day early because that meant that Aubrey could come over and hang out on Monday.  They are the cutest friends.  While they were over we were looking back at old blog posts from when they were really little.  They have been friends for about 7 years and still have the best time together.  This picture was from a smoothie challenge they did when they made smoothies of gross stuff and had to drink it!  Never a dull moment when they are together.

Fall Break in our favorite place

Well the much anticipated Fall Break in the SG did not go exactly according to plan... The FDA showed up at Joey's work on Monday and he was told he needed to be at work until they left on Friday.  So we I would drive down on Thursday morning with the kids and Joey would drive the truck down on Friday.  As we were leaving early Thursday morning I received a text from Joey that his truck had died.  We got his truck towed and they thought it was the alternator.  Turns out they could not figure out was wrong with the truck and they could not get it to run.  We decided to get him a rental car and he finally made it down Friday night around 8pm.  While we waited for him we tried out the rec center pool, tried Nielson's custard, swam, went to the park, watched Netflix, and relaxed.  We were so happy when he got down there.  We woke up Saturday morning and went to a few garage sales.  Then we swam and went to Burger Theory-our favorite.  Mindi and Hailee met us for lunch which was really fun.  We spent the rest of the day relaxing.  We slept in on Sunday and then got ready to come home.  Traffic was awful and we made it home in 6 hours!  Not the best ending to the trip but Joey made us laugh with his corny jokes to pass the time.  I sure love this family of mine and I love the time that we get to spend together.

Pajama Day

Today Tag was studying the letter P at school so he got to wear his pajamas to school.  He was so excited to wear his super mario pants.  I love that he is loving school and learning so much!  I am not sure if I mentioned it but a few weeks ago I had his parent teacher conference and his teacher just gushed about him.  She said she was asking the kids what they "like" since like was one of their sight words.  She said that the other kids would say "icecream" or "puppies" and Tag said "I like soft couches and I like to snuggle with my mom!"  Seriously cannot get enough of this blessing of mine.

Running with Tag and his friends

This morning I was running on the treadmill and Tag came down to run with me.  He kept leaving and coming back bringing a new Luigi with him.  He had to situate all four Luigi's on the treadmill just perfectly before he could start working out.  I love to get glimpses of what in going on in his cute little head.  Such a funny boy!

Four times the Toothfairy Love

 

Today Gray had to go to the dentist and have four teeth pulled.  I don't know what I was thinking but it was not an easy process.  I thought we would get the teeth pulled and take him back to school.  This was not the case.  He was in so much pain following the procedure.  Poor Gray.  He is usually super tough but he was whaling in pain.  The only silver lining was when he woke up the next morning to $8 under his pillow from the toothfairy.  Love his almost toothless grin.  Such a cute boy!

Trying New Things...

Today I came home from Harmon's with a package of baby carrots.  Tag asked me if he could have one! I was super surprised and gave him one.  He took a bite and chewed it up before asking if he could spit it out.  I was so proud of him though for trying something new.  I have not updated his food journey too much lately but he is doing awesome.  Since he has been at his new therapy (Autism Behavorial Intervention) he has eaten vanila pudding, applesauce, and teddy graham cookies.  I am so proud of him.  I know that food is such a difficult thing for him and he is so brave to try new things. 

Sluffin Swim...

This year is crazy with swim.  Gray goes to practice M-Th and Luke and Nash go five days a week.  I decided that they could skip swim on Tuesday and we spent a few hours at Cornbellys.  The boys invited Kai to come and we had a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect and it was not crowded at all.  They started with the bouncing area and Tag was even allowed to go and jump with the big kids.  After that we made our way around enjoying a lot of fun activities.  We ended our time there with rock climbing.  Tag climbed super high but was so sad that he did not make it to the top.  He is so hard on himself.  I am feeling like the season pass purchase was a good one.  So fun to watch these cute kids enjoy themselves.

Tag's Field Trip

Tag was supposed to go to the zoo for his field trip but they were not going to make it back in time for his therapy.  So Erika and I decided to do our own field trip with Mia and Tag.  We went to Cornbelly's and the kids had so much fun.  They spent a ton of time in the corn beach and then also loved the slides, ropes course, and zipline.  I love to watch Tag have fun.  After Cornbellys we went to Chick Fila for lunch.  So fun to have Tag and Mia in the same class this year. 

Gray's Field Trip

Today Gray had his field trip.  They went to the Museum of Curiosity.  He was super excited to go with his class and have a day away from school.  He said that he had fun but when I asked him what he loved the most he responded "I don't know!"  Sounds about right.  So glad that Gray gets to go and have these fun experiences.

Happy Birthday Joey

Since Joey's birthday was on Tuesday and I had activity days and Joey had bishopric meething, we decided to celebrate on Sunday.  We showered Joey with gifts, had mongolian beef for dinner, and finished the celebration with cake.  We are so grateful for the blessing that Joey is in our lives and we couldn't love him more. On Tuesday I left a list of the top 46 reasons why I love him in his car along with a cd of some of our favorite songs.  I seriously feel so lucky to get to love this man for eternity. Here are the reasons:

Top 46 reasons why I am the LUCKIEST…

1.     I love that you are the first person I want to call when something happens.

2.    I love that you have the most tender heart.

3.    I love that you willingly help anytime you can.

4.    I love that you shower me with bags full of Downeast goodies!

5.    I love that you love to watch So You Think You Can Dance with me.

6.    I love that you have a strong and beautiful testimony of the Gospel.

7.    I love that you taught me how to run and stay by my side as we complete many hard races.

8.    I love that you let me snuggle with you often even though you like your space.

9.    I love that you take me on dates every week.

10.  I love that you serve so diligently in your calling (even though it means we do not get to go to St. George as often)

11.   I love that you are the hardest worker I know and I am so grateful for that example.

12.  I love that you have willingly joined me on the low carb/low sugar lifestyle.  Could not do this without you!

13.  You have broadened my music taste and I love all the new artists you have introduced me to.

14.  I love that you do the laundry and take that off my plate.

15.  I love that you do the dancing car and make our kids laugh out loud.

16.  I love your witty sense of humor and how you can always make me laugh.

17.  I love the way you look at me from across the room.  So much love expressed without the need to say anything.

18.  I love your organization skills.

19.  I love how you love our kids and Ike!

20. I love that you always smell amazing.

21.  I love that you push me to do hard things.

22. I love that you are always finding deals on Facebook and KSL.

23. I love that you are so willing to stand up for what is right.

24. I love that you cannot speak of the Savior without tearing up.

25. I love that you will work a very long day and still offer to help with carpool on your way home.

26. I love that you support me in my job.

27. I love when you are in your talkative moods!  I could seriously listen to you talk about anything for hours.

28. I love that you are low maintenance when it comes to meals.  You are happy with most anything that I make.

29. I love to listen to you laugh as we watch Impractical Jokers or Will and Grace.  Slightly inappropriate but oh so funny!

30. I love the how safe I feel sleeping by my best friend.

31.  I love that you keep our yard so nice and that I rarely have to do anything with it!

32. I love that you always drive when we are together and I just get to relax.

33. I love the security that I feel knowing you will always do all that you can to provide for our family.

34. I love that you truly look good in anything!  I am so attracted to you.

35. I love the Saturday beard that you sport!

36. I love that you are such an example to our children.  If they grow up following your example they will turn out perfectly.to

37. I love that you can always get a splinter out of our kids fingers and that you are so willing to clip fingernails (if only you were good at throwing them away!)

38. I love that I trust you completely.  Such peace comes from having that.

39. I love that you send me such loving emails.

40. I love that whenever you get you a big drink you always bring me my favorite.

41.  I love that you are so smart and that I can send the kids to you when I am stumped by their homework.

42. I love that you act interested as I am constantly talking your ear off.

43. I love that I can count on you to always be there for me.

44. I love that you honor your priesthood and can bring that blessing into our home.

45. I love that you can harmonize perfectly with the Smiths.

46. I love that you get better with age and that I get to love you more each day.

 

General Conference

Typically we are watching conference in sunny St. George but this session we stayed home in Lehi because we are going to St. George in a few weeks for Fall Break.  Yesterday we all listened as we could with everyone tv blasting the words of our leaders.  So this morning I made sure that we all sat down to watch the Sunday morning session together.  We enjoyed a big breakfast and then the kids listened intently so they could color in the squares with different topics mentioned.  Conference was so amazing.  I love the spirit that I feel as I listened.  I know that the Gospel is true and I just pray that my children are feeling the spirit also.  President Monson is struggling with his health so he was not able to attend conference or to speak.  I am so sad to not get to hear from him but I know that all the other leaders that address us are speaking the truth.  So grateful for the opportunity that I have to escape the craziness and to sit and feel the spirit surrounded by my favorite people.  Such a gift.