Sunday, October 31, 2010

Last week Jacinda took a dance class from the Bountiful High Mandonelles. She got to perform during the half time of the football game. It was so cute. She wore her costume and had a great time dancing. I was filming it and kept laughing because her hat kept falling over her eyes and she could not move it because she was holding hands with the other dancers. She tried diligently to move it. Over all it was a cute performance and very entertaining.


I had to take a picture of Jacinda sleeping with all her stuffed animals at her side. She claims that they are her "babies" and puts them to bed when it is time for her to go to sleep. Too precious!


My cute kids after a night of trick or treating.

Lots on fun on Halloween! Yes it was a down pour of rain and our sacrifice resulted in lots of candy. Today, McCabe wanted to hand out his candy to his friends. He took some to church for his class and visited Carly Christiansen home to give her a treat. Every time I turn around Jacinda and McCabe are eating some sort of treat. I had to put down my foot because Jacinda would not eat her dinner. She begged me for a Kit Kat but I kept telling her “no.” Finally she said, “I want to eat my dinner. Let me eat my dinner.” Wow! It is amazing what kids promise to do for a piece of candy.

So what do parents do when the check on their sleeping kids and find a plastic bug on the floor? They put it on their kids, laugh, and take pictures. I know…cheap entertainment.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Can I start with a complaint? I had to go to the DMV 3 times in one day. I could not believe it. The new law that was passed years ago made it so you had to show your social security card, birth certificate, proof of residency, and in my case married. I went the first time and did not have my social security card or birth certificate. No big deal, just a 12 minute drive back to Bountiful. I got the requested info and then I was back on my way. When I got to the DMV, I gave the lady my paperwork. She asked me for my marriage license….”uh that was not originally requested,” was my reply. “I know, but your social security card does not match the name on your birth certificate,” was her response. Arggg! I was fuming. So once again I had to go back home get my marriage license and return. Needless to say I finally got my license. I am glad it will take a few before it expires. I do not plan to visit the DMV any time soon.

This past weekend we went to Wheeler historic farm. I had not been there in over 2 decades. It was so neat to see the animals and different farm houses. While there I came to the conclusion that I would have perished early in pioneer life. I am not as tough as my ancestors. I rely way too much on my modern conveniences. However, we did enjoy a tractor ride, walking through the corn maze, and picking pumpkins to take home.

Sasha, McCabe, and Jacinda by a plow.


McCabe, Sasha, Jacinda, Tim, and Xadia


Hayden Nippert and McCabe at Wheeler Farm

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. I took some pictures of the beautiful colors that surround me. The reds are so bright and the yellows are so vibrant. I am so glad God made things like this for personal enjoyment.

Trees in Mueller Park


So as my kids are getting older and able to understand more, I am trying to be a proactive mother in teaching them different areas of life. I have a weekly calendar of events. Mondays are chore/work days. Tuesdays are craft days and this past week we made magnets. Wednesdays are cooking days and we made Russian tea cakes. The kids loved playing in the powder sugar. It was all over their fingers and mouths. Thursdays are activity/learning days. We learned about volcanoes and made one. We had it erupt using vinegar, red food coloring, and baking powder. Jacinda thought that was the coolest thing she had ever seen. Fridays are library days. Unfortunately we did not make it to the library. We had a rough morning. It started out with bath time but Xadia made a mess in the tub so the older kids took a shower. I asked them to get dressed immediately after getting out of the shower. They decided instead to play in their fort. They accidently bonked heads and Jacinda got a bloody nose and a headache. She laid on the bed resting for the next hour and half. Time got away and we had to get some filing cabinets. So the library will wait until this Friday.

Jacinda and McCabe

Tim and Xadia

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Today is a pretty neat date 10/10/10 and it is Xadia’s first birthday. We celebrated yesterday with family. The cousins came and we enjoyed a Mexican meal and yummy cake and ice cream. Xadia devoured her cake. I love how she got chocolate all over her face.


Mimi, Sasha, and Nana Hefner


McCabe, Quinten Johnson, Jacinda, Vaughn and Clark Johnson waiting for some cake.


Birthday girl Xadia eating her cake.

Birthday girl getting a bath.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Ok so it has been forever since I last wrote on my blog but I have a good excuse….moving is time consuming. I feel like we are all moved in and on a schedule. However, yesterday was my birthday and since my battle with cancer birthdays are soooooooo special to me. (Thanks to all those who wished me a happy birthday.) It started with flowers and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then it was off to a well needed massage and then surprised with a box of mindy mints from Mrs. Cavanaugh’s chocolates (yummy!). The kids were begging me to open the box of chocolates in the car on the way home from the massage. They totally wanted to devour my birthday present. Ok I did cave because part of having a great birthday is sharing with others.

The afternoon was filled with work. I finished painting the cabinets and then helped Tim and the kids paint the columns in the front. I love the kids willingness to help but I had to scrape off their work and re-do it. They had globs of paint dripping down the columns onto the porch. What should have taken 30 minutes turned into 60 minutes (love it!!!). We finished just in time to hear conference. Wow!! I love the messages given. They are so needed. However, I must admit I feel overwhelmed as a parent because I have a huge responsibility to teach my children the gospel and raise them in love. I admit I get short with them but I need to stay focus. I am glad Heavenly Father has the apostles speak to remind me of my sacred duty as a mother.

I love being in Utah because the fall season is bringing gorgeous colors to the moutains. The mountains are filled with red, orange, and yellow leaves. It is absolutely beautiful. I will get a picture and post it. We do a lot of hikes. Jacinda and McCabe like to find a walking stick and look at everything on the trail. Jacinda is really good at spotting snakes. Today she saw one taking a nap in a dry creek bed.

Jacinda is getting really big. This year she will be six. She loves kindergarten and is very creative. Her latest kick is making octopus hands and rock drawings. In fact we went to a missionary re-union to see some of the elders we previously housed in Washington. Left to her own devices, Jacinda made 2 gifts and gave the rock drawing to Kelly Kemp and the octopus hand (filled with cotton balls) to Oakley Nelson. Both boys were very generous and thanked Jacinda for their gifts. She was beaming.

Picture rock (has a frog catching a fly with its tongue) and octopus hand done by Jacinda

(She likes it....she really likes it! Just a little blast from the past with the life cereal commericials)

Xadia is getting really close to walking. She will stand for a few seconds and then fall. It is very typical for her to pull herself up and hold the cabinets as she walks. Next Sunday is her first birthday. She is a cutie.

My happy Xadia

Sunday, September 12, 2010

We are finally settled into our new home. The past two weeks have been crazy with getting our Longview housed packed and then unpacking in our new house. We are set next to Wasatch forest property under the “B” in Bountiful. It is very dry here (I forgot about that). The weather is very enjoyable as it heads into autumn. I have been busy cleaning our new home and fighting a little sickness. The second day in Utah I got laryngitis and an annoying cough. I think I am at the tail end of things (thank goodness). The first project was tiling a bathroom sink and painting the cabinet part black. I really like how it turned out. It took it from the nineties and brought it up to date. The second project was making curtains for the 14 foot windows. I will take a picture of that when I am finished. I am still waiting for my special order fabric to arrive.

Tim has been super busy with building shelves in the garage and chasing a mountain wood-rat. This wood-rat looks like a cross between a rat and a squirrel. Our house had been vacant for 4 years and this rodent moved into our bathroom duct sometime within those 4 years. Well Tim got on the job of catching that critter. It was a riot to watch my husband devise strategies to get the wood-rat. He set out rat traps, glue traps, and had a BB gun next to the back door. Well to make a long story short, after a night of watching for it and waking me up at 6:00 am, let me just say that the glue trap and 12 fatal shots did the trick.


Mountain wood rat and a little mouse in the glue trap


Look at the size of that thing!!



Awe....sweet victory!

Since the move, Jacinda has started school. She has Ms. Holbrook and loves kindergarten. She begs me to walk to school but we live 1.3 miles away so I will drive the majority of the route and then we will walk the rest of the way. It is so funny how she will hold my hand and pull me out of sheer excitement for school. I hope that motivation will stay with her for a very long time. I recall a time in 3rd grade when I decided to drop out of school when I got to high school. Funny how we change our minds and end up shifting into over drive.


Jacinda's first day of kindergarten

McCabe likes our street because he can ride his bike on the sidewalks. Every day he says to me, “I know, you walk baby and I ride my bike…how about that?” It is quite enjoyable to walk up and down the street. At the one end is a fantastic view of the temple and valley. I feel like I am standing on top of the world.

I wanted to share a little insight. Last week in church we talked about Job and the trials he faced. At the end of class I had a thought that summed up the discussion. I learned that to the faithful, trials are bonding moments with the lord. I can testify to that in my own personal life. It seems that I draw closer to the lord when life gets a little more difficult.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Here are some random pictures.


Tim, Xadia, McCabe, with Brinton, Preston, and Kate Squire posing for a picture by the giant squirrel. Only in Longview will you find a shrine built to squirrels. There is also a bridge for them to cross the street.


McCabe pleading with me not to take his picture. Sorry bud! I could not resist. You look so cute in your goggles and swim shorts.


Love this picture! Here are my 3 babies. They all decided to put on a diaper and crawl on the floor to be like Xadia.

My baby chomper. Look at those teeth!

Who can resist a game of airplane? Each child takes his/her turn. I am glad that Tim is very careful with the kids.

The flavor of this week is bittersweet. The word is out that we are moving to Bountiful Utah. I am excited about the change and happy to return to Utah but at the same time sad to say goodbye to the friends and family here in Longview Washington. There is not a day that passes without a headache. The children don’t quite understand but they are showing excitement for the move.

I have started packing and it is taking a long time. Come to think about it I am packing for 3 kids who cannot pack for themselves. I can’t believe how much stress goes with moving. This move is by far the most stressful (and we have moved 4 times). Trying to get the house sold, packing the house, and dealing with kids wears me down very quickly. At the moment, I am in the recliner listening to hymns while Xadia is upstairs in her crib crying. I need to get her but I am so tired, fortunately Tim just stepped in and is taking care of her. I am so grateful for his help.

This past week I ran into something strange. There was an article on yahoo about people who earn 6 figures by posting videos on youtube. The article gave the top 10 gross earners along with their sites. I watched a clip from the #1 and #10 top earners. I was disgusted. They were supposed to be comedy skits but I found them vulgar and demoralizing. There was a lot of cursing and references to genitals. It was uninspiring and sad to see that this is how part of society gets its thrills and entertainment.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Wow, I can’t believe how tired I am. Summer has been packed with activities. We just finished with swimming lessons. I had to withdraw McCabe because he would not get in the water unless I was next to him. After the second lesson, I went to the front desk with soaking wet pants and asked for a refund. The YMCA was very nice and gave me a full refund. Jacinda is a different story. She loved her swimming lessons. By the end of the second week, she was able to swim the length of the pool all by herself. I am very proud of her.

This past week the squires (my sister and her family) came to visit. We went to the park, the river, and fixed our playground toy while they were here. McCabe and Brinton were so cute. They were best buds. Brinton asked if McCabe could come to his house and then would put his arm around his shoulder. McCabe would say, “yes, I will come.” And then put his arm around Brinton. Love these young boys.