Marshmallow Roast

Jody built us this way cool fire pit at the beginning of summer, and I have been dying to use it ever since! We finally got around to having some friends over this weekend, and I am happy to say the rain cleared up just in time to roast marshmallows! We had a barbeque first and it was so nice to just sit around and enjoy the company of friends, while the kids ran around outside (I am learning that 5 acres has its perks!) We are so lucky to have such great friends here. When the kids talked Jody into starting the fire and breaking out the smores stuff, it was the perfect way to end our farewell to summer!

Moments

Pretty Moments . . .




Brielle has so many cute new dresses, that I almost missed-out on having her wear this cute little green number from her little cousins. She felt so pretty today at church!


Sticky Moments . . .

Jody snuck outside to give Brielle her very first sucker this week! I caught him red-handed (literally, it was a mess!) but snapped a couple pictures for the scrapbook before I yelled at him!

Relaxing moments . . .

Watching Jody and the kids practicing soccer in the front yard with the kids. What a great Dad, huh?!

The sweetest mommy moment of

the week . . .

Today, after church, one of the primary teachers pulled me aside and said that Trayson had them all in tears today. There was one brief moment of panick on my part before she explained! They asked the kids what faith was and Trayson raised his hand and said, "Faith is knowing that Heavenly Father will keep Daddy safe while he is at war." Yeah, let the tears just flow!

Thanks MOM!

Ever since Hayley wrote her sweet blog about our amazing Dad, I've been planning on writing something equally as cheesy about mom, just to prove to Hayley that I am, of course, the "favorite" daughter! I got kinda busy, and then I thought better of writing something like that just to be a punk, but was reminded of it earlier today. I overheard some women talking about how they were doing everything they could to not be like their mothers. They were just joking, but it caught my attention because I had just been thinking about how I wish I was MORE like mine! I have several friends who are going through some difficult things right now (husbands being deployed, baby blues, family junk) and I was wishing that I could do something to somehow ease their troubles. All I could think of was, "what would my mom do?". All my life, my mom would always know some little thing to do for someone that would help get them through a rough spot. She was always baking something to drop off at a friends house, just cause they had looked a little blue, or whipping up a cute little craft for someone who'd been feeling down. She always acted like it wasn't much, but it still amazes me that she could always think of something --- and what's more, she always did it! I find that, even when I have a small flash of brilliance somewhere in the back of my mind, the execution fails me and I end up mopping the floor or, (usually) reading a book instead. How does she do it!?

This is just one of the small ways I'm hoping to become more like my mom. The older my children get, the more I hope I will be able to bond with them the way she did with us. I hope I'll remember to stay up late when I'm really tired, so that I can look into their eyes when they get home from a date. I hope I'll remember that they need a new shirt (or monster truck) when they're really stressed-out about something. I hope I'll remember that happy grandchildren are more important than clean floors. I hope I have just enough of her in me to survive their teenage years and still be their best friend!

THANKS MOM!

VROOM!

There's nothing my guys like more than the combinations of loud engines, wheels, and dirt! Lance and Milisa were kind enough to drive thier four-wheelers all the way up from Layton this weekend so that we could all enjoy the thrill (ok, so I just took pictures)!

Trayson and Breje couldn't wait to get out there and ride. Kutter was a little more shy at first, but a little ride with Aunt Milisa was all he needed to get him hooked! Once he got into it, we couldn't keep him away!

We had tons of fun hanging out with Lance, Milisa, and Cayden! We spent most of our time being lazy and eating (when we weren't out in the dust, anyway) but it was great to just get a chance to chat with them. We usually only see them at family gatherings, which are loads of fun, but there's little chance to really spend one-on-one time with people. The best part was watching how much fun the boys have together.

Thanks guys! I hope it was worth the 3 hours you spent on the side of the road fixing your trailer and the long, ugly drive after! We're sure glad you came!