There is sickness all around, when there's love at home.:)

Seriously, I don't remember ever having the whole family sick like this ever. Usually people take turns, but not so much this time. We suspect it's the H1N1 virus. Tenderheart's teacher informed me on Friday that two other kids from his class have the virus, so yeah. Anyway, we are coping, but it's left me as a very worn out Momma! I've had some stomach cramping, but so far no other of the same symptoms, which is GREAT or else I'm afraid I wouldn't be up to caring for everyone else the way I have been able to. As it is, I hope this is over soon, because at times I wonder if I have anymore of myself to give!

Fall has been BEAUTIFUL. We headed up the canyon to enjoy some of the fall colors during the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference the first weekend of this month. After the session ended, we decided to get out of the van, and take a little stroll with the kids. We pulled into a dirt parking lot and thought the kids would enjoy seeing some people rock climbing and bouldering... we only walked for a few minutes, and headed back. At arrival to the van, we were sad to find the front passenger window smashed out, and my purse missing. Not only was it my purse, but the 'black hole'(as Josh refer's to it) contained both of our cell phones, my Nintendo ds, Josh's ipod, and several other special items. I still worrying if someone is toying with my identity, but I did everything I could to protect myself. Hopefully they took my cash and threw the rest of the purse out. Possibly the most difficult part was having Missy realize that her birthday money was in my wallet. She had been trying to be so thoughtful about what to do with it, and some misguided person had taken it from her. It was really sad. You may wonder why I had all the electronics in my purse?

My Dad had open heart surgery a week or so earlier, and I hadn't unloaded from spending time at the hospital during surgery. He is doing so well now, it's so incredible that they can fix a person's heart, and be up and going only a few weeks later. He got the go ahead to drive again this week, and to stop taking the cumadin. He's a happy guy. It all happened so smoothly, and I'm just really grateful that he didn't have a heart attack to help us realize the degree of heart disease that he was having.

Josh is doing GREAT in nursing school. It's overwhelming and exhausting on a nearly daily basis. But his hard work is paying off! I'm so proud of him. We made a paper chain that lines one of our walls in the living room. We take one chain off every Monday evening for Family home evening. When we reach the end of the chain, he'll be done with his associates RN. :) It's fun to have a way to see his progress, even if it is going to take a long time.

Missy is off track for the first time this year starting tomorrow. It's had perfect timing with her flu bug, but we'll see how we like this year round thing! She is doing well in school- it's fun to see her little mind blossoming. I wish I had more time to spend with her at home encouraging her to excel beyond what is being taught at school. One day I'll be more organized and able to spend quality time with each child each day right? ha ha.

Tenderheart has been sick about every 3rd day this whole month! It's been alarming, and if I can get him well for a couple days our Dr. wants to do some blood work just to make sure everything is ok. He is going to be devastated, and I'm not looking forward to it, but I'd rather err on the side of too careful, than not careful enough, because it has been a LONG month for him.

Pickle, who is not a baby, but loves to be called our baby is doing so good and being a big boy. It's been sooooo nice not to have to diaper anyone! He is a great little shadow to his siblings, and wants to be where the action is. He's got some of the funniest facial expressions, and loves to make people laugh.

So last night after I woke up and checked on all my sickies, I couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to browse around looking at blogs and I came across NieNieDialogues. So inspiring! After reading a couple months of her entries, I just had to go and kiss each of my sickies one more time and cherish them a little bit more. Life is full of joy if you want it to be, and our Heavenly Father wants to guide us and direct us through life if we only trust and rely on him. Anyway, her blog is very uplifting, and makes me want to be a better Mommy/Wife/Daughter/Friend in so many ways- and I know it's possible. :)

A bit of this and that.

I've felt very uninspired to Blog lately... we've had a few blog worthy events, but for some reason just haven't had the blogging bug. The fall busy-ness has started, so we're trying to ease into being REALLY busy.

*Tenderheart started preschool this last week, and I'm so glad for him to have an outlet, and friends to play with.

*Missy has her 'assessment' this week, and then starts Kindergarten the next week.

*Josh starts school the same week as Missy. This first semester will work out well because most weeks he'll just work 4 10's, and then have school all day on Fridays. However, some weeks he tests on Thursdays, and on those weeks he'll have to work some on Saturday. Starting in January it won't be as nice, but we'll enjoy our time until then.

*We've been being patient with Pickle(our youngest) potty training. He's gone a whole week a couple times, but just hasn't made a habit of it yet. It'll come in time I'm sure. :)

Tenderheart learned how to ride a 2 wheeler the week of his 4th birthday. He took off and has done great! He's very proud of himself, and it's fun to see him already attempting some tricks that scare me- esp when he pulls them off successfully!

Pickle is hardly a baby anymore, even though I still call him my baby. He's a very loving little kid and I think has perfected the moodiness that most 2 year olds go through.

Our Vacation this year we took to Green River, UT (was home base where we camped)- but took day trips to Arches National Park, and Goblin Valley. We tried a hike to 'little wild horse canyon'. But decided that perhaps our kids are a bit young for the hike, or else we need to go again in the fall/spring when it's not so hot. They had a tough time hiking through a lot of the dry sand. But they DID make the hike up to Delicate Arch. We were so proud of them, because we had several people look at us like we were crazy taking our small children on the hike(in the heat- and because it wasn't the easiest hike.) Anyway, it was fullfilling for them, and we hope it helped them enjoy the outdoors and the rewards of hiking.

This is Balanced rock. :)

I LOVE this picture because Josh really is a wonderful Daddy and this picture shows how much love he has for our children. They were just pooped from the little wild horse canyon hike, and I couldn't carry one of them anymore because I was super tired too. But we all survived and hopefully we all have a good memory of a family vacation. :)

Summer Fun

We have been so busy having fun the past few weeks that I haven't wanted to sit down and blog about it. (although I should have just for better memories.)

June 2nd we got to go to the open house for the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was beautiful! The kids were very well behaved, and could feel the reverence and peace that we feel as we go there on our Monthly dates to the temple. Hopefully it helped them understand a little why Mommy and Daddy love to go there!

Josh got both of our families together for a bbq for my birthday(June 5th). It was great to have everyone together, I felt very loved! These are the gifts that my kiddo's picked out for me from the dollar store. Lovely huh?

The following day(June 6th) was the air show at Hill Air Force Base. We had been hiking on Monday and on the way down the trail we had a big plane with 4 fighter jets on it's wings fly by. It was loud, and beautiful! I kinda begged Josh into going to the airshow after we saw that, and it actually was a great time! Lots of walking, and tons of people, but so worth it.

Last Thursday we received a phone call from Select Health, letting Josh know he'd been accepted into their RN nursing program that will start on August 26th! We were/and are so excited about this! This means that instead of being reimbursed for school- they pay up front, and we will be provided with an allowance for books too. It also means that instead of taking 3 classes+clinical each semester, Josh will be taking 2 classes a semester+clinical(although he will have to go to school through the summer). This makes it a lot more possible for Josh to work full time through the program, since we don't really have any other options. We are feeling showered with blessings right now.

Then on Friday my cousins Matt and Shaye were coming to visit Grandma, so luckily that meant we got to spend time with them too! We headed up to the Zoo on Saturday- and were having a great time.... and then it started raining, and thundering, and lightening, then pouring! It was definitely an adventure and a visit to the zoo that I won't forget! We were all soaked! The animals were all wide awake and so active- they were just waiting for the lovely storm to come.

Saturday evening the storm had cleared out so we decided to try out the drive in theatre. We saw Night at the Museum 2, and then Wolverine. It was a bit chilly and we all ended up in our cars, but it was fun none the less. I fell asleep during Wolverine because I was cuddling the boys trying to distract them from watching it... it was a little intense for a little 2 and almost 4 year old.

Monday... the 15th was Josh and my 7th wedding anniversary. It's strange to me that it's been that long already, but when I look at all we have accomplished it's very fulfilling!

*3 beautiful children

*Josh got his associates degree

*2.5 years waiting to get into the nursing program

*several moves from home to home.

*many church callings

*LOTS of lessons learned.

*obviously this list could go on and on-

Monday Josh and I finally used his birthday present and went to the indoor climbing gym called Momentum. I was proud to make it to the top a couple times, even if it was on the easiest climbs. Josh did a great job too, and we plan to try and go more often(than once every 7 years;))

Yesterday we got a few things done for the prep for the RN nursing program.. then headed up to Lagoon. Wicked was a new favorite ride! After a few hours, we really just started missing our kids, and sharing the fun with them. Josh's parents were kind enough to take the kids for both days, and even over night! Thanks so much!! It's crazy how kids can make you so crazy, but then a short time without them makes you so anxious to see them.

It was a lovely anniversary- we are so grateful for our marriage and for the many blessings it has brought to us. I love you Josh!

Disconnected- and lovely. :)

We had the opportunity to go spend some time with my cousin for Memorial Day. We honestly had one of the best weekend's we have had for a VERY long time. The cabin we stayed at was not close enough to a cell phone tower, so we were totally disconnected: no phone, no computer, no Internet. This is something I need to do more often. As you can see this cabin is still in the works. They bought the land several years ago, and as a family have been working on it. Josh is ready to pack up and go help them work as often as they'd let us be up there. :)

For "Date Night" our hubby's arranged for us to shoot shotguns at clay pigeon's- and miraculously I even hit a couple! (Josh and Chuck are pictured here.. they were way better than Katie and I.)

We had a few pretty intense rain/thunder storms. Lightning actually struck close enough to the cabin that we saw sparks. :S And we lost our generator power for a few minutes too. It was a bit tense for a couple minutes, but we were all safe!

We got several rides on the 4-wheelers. The rest of date night with the boys was them taking us for a ride on the 4 wheelers. I have a really bad impression of 4 wheelers due to a past experience, but I was brave. And had a great time riding with my very responsible, and not crazy Husband. :) (This picture was of Chuck's Dad- my kids are still calling him Grandpa Bert)

Grandpa Bert was kind enough to bring a friend snake for us to observe for the duration of our trip. The kids were kind enough to try and feed him some goldfish crackers. I'm not sure the snake appreciated them, but at least the kids were trying!

Here is a cute picture of Katie's youngest. I LOVE his red hair!

(sorry it's sideways... not sure why it's like that. )

These girls had so much fun, and I know that my big helper is lonely and bored without her cousins. :)

The kids all got along really well! It was so fun to have them get to know each other better. My kids keep asking when we'll get to see them again.

Another 4 wheeler ride. :) Tenderheart and his double-mallow cookie smore. :)
Our cute dragonfly friend.
She found him out on the pond.
Tenderheart's favorite activity was rowing in the pond. He and an 8 year old snuck away into a canoe- and lucky for us they navigated the pond without tipping it!
Home made teeter totter. :)

We had a GREAT weekend- and are grateful to those who helped us have a weekend away from our stresses. We feel very refreshed and want Katie and Chuck to know how much we love and appreciate them! We are already looking forward to our next get together- whenever that may be.

65 degrees and Sunny

The past few weeks have been the most ideal weather! I had a few opportunities stack on top of each other, and have been insanely busy. Somehow, I've mustered up the energy to keep up with all the life has handed me- which has been a huge blessing. In the past, I would have caved under the pressure.

My Mom's yard has been blossoming!

(yes, I do realize this is a weedy dandilion- but they are vibrant and pretty in a way!)

Josh and I have been being more diligent about going to the Temple. Thanks to our good friends, for going with us. It's something we really look forward to, and have felt blessed for being there! We are excited about the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple that will soon be finished. We both are scheduled to help at least one night with the open house, which should be a neat experience.

We took a day trip to my Grandparents home up in Idaho. Leaving the valley for a day was a needed break. While it was nice to be in thier home again, it made me miss my Grandpa. Although my Grandma has suffered a stroke and isn't able to communicate as well as she used to, she is a strong woman, and I admire her strength, and faith- she knows that Grandpa is in a better place. I'm so glad that they were able to live a long good life together.

One of our dear friends from high school recently lost his wife to cancer. She was only 29. He's aching miserably- and I can't blame him. It's just hard to know how to help him, or if anyone really can help him hurt less. I know time supposedly helps, but really that's not much for consolation is it? Luckily, he seems to have strong faith. That there is a bigger plan than just life here on earth. I pray that is faith can carry him through the rough time he is experiencing.

We are STILL waiting to hear if we got accepted to the Nursing program through Josh's work. But we think that we may have been approved for a small pell-grant that will cover at least some of our expenses this fall if we just go with SLCC's program. Either way, we are couting down the time until we don't see each other much. We are going on at least two little trips this summer, and hoping it is just a relaxed very quality-family-filled few months.

Let's go fly a kite.

It seems that EVERYONE has already flown kites and posted pictures of thier cute kids flying them, so I thought I'd be original.. (ha ha) and post some of our adventure this past Sunday flying them. These kites were awesome. Even my 2 year old was doing pretty good flying it! (although he and my 3 year old kept letting go. ) Tenderheart was so excited that his kite would keep flying even when he'd let go of it!

I decided it was time to cut the boys hair shorter for the summer. I had been putting it off becuase I had never let it grow as long before, and I kinda liked it! But it's been getting warm, so I figured it will always grow... right? So Tenderheart wouldn't look at me or smile, but he was quite proud of his crazy upset face picture and gave me permission to post it on here. :) It's got to be rough being a 3.75 year old...