Great deals!

Yesterday I went to Walmart with my mother in law and sister in law. We actually weren't all going to go but we decided to brave it with all the kids and we, especially me were so glad we did. As we were walking in we saw all this furniture on sale so we started to check it out. It was all there old display furniture and there was some really good stuff. I saw this this really nice entertainment center and it was only $25. I had been wanting one for downstairs but I really didn't want to spend more that $100 and that's how much they cost. I told the lady I wanted the entertainment center and I said I wouldn't mind this other desk either but I didn't want to pay $50 for it. The manager was there and he asked how much I would pay so I said $25 and he said ok, I was so happy. He then said that there was a little file cabinet that went with it and wondered how much I would pay for that. I was a little cheeky and said I would pay $30 for both, he then said, what about $35 for both so I said sure! I was so excited, what great deals. Trish got a side table too for only $10, the only hard thing was squeezing it all into our cars along with all our kids. That night we put the entertainment center downstairs, it looks so nice. Now we just need to finish the craft room so I can put my desk in there, YAY for bargains!!!

So cute, well some of the time!

This little man really does have me wrapped around his finger. He's my only boy and him looking a little like Peter aren't the best combination for a sucker like me! He really is a lovely boy and I love him so much but there are times I think, what have I done wrong, he's NUTS!!! Last week he fell asleep on the couch and he looked so cute and innocent, (don't mind all the nice stains on the couch from my kids peeing, drooling, spilling and boggies). So many people have told me that boys are easier than girls but at this point in time, I beg to differ. His new favourite word is idiot, he knows it's a bad word but some how just can't control himself from saying it. Anyway I just thought this was a super cute picture. I really do love him so much and even though there are many times he makes me go crazy, I would never trade him for anything. I'm just hoping one day he'll be that easy boy that everyone tells me about, then it will all be worth it!

Hard but well worth every minute!

A few months ago Steve and I got called in to talk to a member of the bishopric. We pretty much knew what they were going to talk to us about so we weren't too worried. The stake had been planning a trek for the youth and they were in need of Ma and Pa's but they were also inviting any families that wanted to go. We had been debating whether to take our kids or just go as a Ma and Pa but after going to see Brother Blanchard our decision was made, we had been called to be a Ma and Pa. After going on the trek I am now VERY glad we didn't take our kids, it would have been sooo hard. Our good friends the Paynes took all their kids and they were so amazing, I think my kids would have had such a hard time. The Payne kids were so impressive and Shera and Clint did so well with them.

I'm not sure what I was expecting the trek to be like or how hard it would be and yes it was hard but all of that was so worth it. The evening before we left, everyone that was going met together so we could meet the kids that would be in our families. Not all our kids were there but the ones that were, were kind of quiet so I wondered what it would be like. They gave us this cool staff, water bottles for all the kids, red bandanna's and a red flag to decorate. The next morning we all met back at the church for breakfast and then we all car pooled up to Bone to begin the trek. Our family consisted of Brandon who was 16, he used to be in our ward, then there was Landon who was 14 I think, he used to be in our ward too and still is in my mother in laws ward. Then we had a boy called Corban who was 13, he was a lovely kid. Then we had Ben who was 12 and was so cute, he was pretty short but helped with whatever he could. Then we had 2 girls Rachel who was 15 I think, she was so sweet and kind and then there was Sarah who was 12 and was fun and bubbly. Also last minute they added one more boy to our family, his name was Mo Mo and I think he was 12 also, he was super quiet but opened up more as time went on.

Once we got there each family got a hand cart which we packed with our 5 gallon buckets and then it was time to begin! We didn't actually get going until around 11am and when we did start our boys were gung ho and going super fast. Then it began to get harder and harder as the day went on. After going about 5 miles we stopped for lunch and met up with the (real) families that were coming with us. Just before we got there for lunch there was a set of hills that were pretty rough but the kids did it and worked so hard. After lunch we were back on the trail and the hills continued. That first day we walked just over 10 miles, helped fix a couple of broken wagons, went up and down I don't know how many hills, our boys helped as many people as they could and we finally got to camp at around 7pm. Once we got there we had to set up camp and cook our dinner. They had square dancing while the food was cooking, it was 9:30pm by the time we had dinner and then the kids all went to bed pretty fast, they were wrecked and so were we! Just after everyone went to bed someone played the trumpet, I guess it's called taps, I don't know?! It was a long, HARD day and we were all really dirty but we did it and the kids were so impressive.

The next day we were woken up by the taps at about 7:30am. We cooked the breakfast, packed up camp and then it was back to walking by 10am. They had warned us that the first couple of miles would be hills and they were right. Our little Ben started saying his legs were hurting after the first hill so I said I would stay with him and we could just take it slow and steady. Mo Mo ended up walking with a leader from his ward, he wanted to go home because he was finding it really hard. He hung in there though and stayed so I was glad about that. The weather was a lot cooler the second day which was nice because the first day had been so hot. We stopped for lunch, the boys helped more people and we went up and down more hills. We stopped more that day because we wanted to make sure we were all staying together. Our boys were running back helping everyone all the time, they were great. Towards the end of the hike that day we got to a part where they told us that the men had to go to war so we were going to be left alone. The men had to all go up this hill and we then had to pull our carts up the hill on our own. I was a little worried because we were meant to have 4 girls in our family but 2 of our girls couldn't come so I only had 2 so I knew it would be hard. Sarah's Mom ended up helping us but it was still REALLY HARD. As we got to the top, the men were lined up on either side of us and been told not to help. I looked up once we got up there, thinking we were at the end but I was wrong. We were struggling but then next thing I knew our stake president came and took one side of the cart and our cousin Bryce took the other side. We had been close to the front but as soon as we got up there all the girls that had already made it ran back to help the rest of the sisters, it was so amazing. Steve and our boys said it was so hard to watch us struggle up the hill and not be able to help us. All in all that day we walked just under 6 miles and it was nice because we got to camp at around 3pm so were able to take our time and relax and have a fun evening. We had a big group devotional where we sang songs and then the pony express came to bring the kids letters from their parents. We broke off so the kids could read their letters and then we all got back together so President Fuller could speak to all of us. After that each family separated again to have individual testimony meetings around our own little camp fires. Brother Seedall joined our family and it went really well. I wasn't sure how our family would connect but we all did and I truly came to love each one of our kids, they were so great. That night when they played taps the kids were all still awake, what a difference a day made!

The last day it was way more relaxed. We took our time getting packed up and having breakfast. The plan was that the (real) families would walk about 3 miles and the rest of us would walk 8 miles. I think the leaders realised how shattered the kids all were so in the end we all walked 3 miles together. We didn't end up leaving until about 1:30pm so until then they had all these cool old games planned for everyone to play. The kids had a lot of fun doing that but as it got time to start walking again it was getting hotter and hotter so we were all getting eager to leave. The first half of the 3 miles had a lot of up hill and it was even harder because 2 of our boys went back to help other families which was great but made it a little harder for us but we made it. When we had just under a mile left we all stopped and talked for a little while. The first night when we met our families we had each been given a history of an actual pioneer that we were walking for. When we stopped they gave each of us the 2nd half to that history so we knew whether we had died or made it. All the people that died were told to start walking back to the cars and everyone else had to push the cart back. Three of our boys died but as soon as they made it back they were told to come back and find their families and be angles and help them make it home. As soon as we all saw the cars we all shouted for joy, it was a nice sight!!!

We all got loaded up and headed back to the stake center. We hung out there for a while until it was time to walk over to the Virlow building. We walked over there with our families and hand carts and the line was pretty long. They said there was 265 people on the trek. It was a pretty cool feeling walking into the stake pioneer activity. People started singing and they were cheering for us, it was pretty emotional. As we got to the end of the people I saw my mother in law with my kids, that was a nice sight. I really missed them and they were so excited to see us.

This trek was such an amazing experience. Even though I've written a ton about it, it doesn't really say how it really was. When I got home and looked at the few pictures I had taken it made me miss that time we had there. Even though we were SUPER filthy it was so worth every bit of that dirt. I'll never be able to fully understand all that the pioneers went through to walk all those months and lose so many loved ones so that we could have the church that we have today. Even though it was hard and we were tired I can't begin to imagine how much they had to endure as they had babies, lost babies, lost husbands, lost wives, and lost children. Then once they finally reached Utah they couldn't just jump in a car and go home to have a shower and get into a nice warm bed. They had to build their homes and continue to struggle and work. How blessed we are to live in a time where we have so much. Before we left Sydney had been watching a show about the pioneers and was so worried that we were going to die but we reassured her that we would be ok, that we had doctors, cars and all these wonderful things that could help us if we were to get hurt and they didn't have those things. We are truly blessed and I feel even more blessed to have been able to be a part of this trek. We had a fantastic family, our kids impressed me so much, our boys and of course Steve were willing to help everyone and do whatever they needed to do to help us and everyone else. I loved our little family and even though I hated feeling disgusting and dirty I would love to do it again. I can't believe it's already been and gone, time is just flying by. I hope I always remember the feeling we felt while on the trek, it was a great blessing to be there. Thanks to all those who put this great event on for us, it was AMAZING, thank you!

Summer, summer, summer time!!!

Since we've been home from England the time has continued to go by really fast. We had Rod's wedding reception, then the next weekend was the 4th of July, then we had swimming lessons for 2 weeks and during all that we've had park days, lots of cleaning and laundry and just lots of stuff going on! Even though it's been busy the kids have had lots of fun so all the madness is well worth it. The 4th of July was lots of fun like always. It started off with a fun BBQ with friends at the Layton's the night before, they're such great hosts. The morning of the 4th we went to the parade bright and early, we had staked off our usual spot and all the family joined us so it was lots of fun. Then it was off to Gma and Gpa Johnson's for our family BBQ and playing in the flooded lawn which the kids love. Then after a quick rest at home it was off to our staked off spot for the fireworks. This year they took peoples stakes out so Steve and his Mom spray painted our spots which was pretty funny. Scott and Kluane Dixon and they're kids hung out with us for the fireworks which was lots of fun. Hadley was the only one out of all my kids that stayed awake for the whole show.

Swimming lessons were fun as usual but this year was even more fun for Spencer because he got to go into his own class, not Mommy and me like he's done for the past 2 years. He gave his teachers quite a run for their money, he was all over the place for the first few days but his teachers handled him well. The last day of lessons the kids got to jump off the diving board which they loved. Spencer wouldn't get out afterwards though, I told his teachers sorry he was such a nutter but they said they loved him so that was good to hear. He really is a lovely boy but can be quite a monkey sometimes. The kids all did so well, Maddie almost passed her class, she was in quite a hard class this time. Spencer and Sydney both passed so that was good. It was fun because we went at the same time as Kristy and her kids so they each had a friend in their class. By the way, thanks Kristy for letting me push in line with you at sign ups!

Our trip to England

I've been so bad at writing my blog this summer so I thought I should get caught up before it's too late. Our summer started out with a trip home to England. We were there for 4 weeks but Steve only stayed with us for 2 of those weeks. We had thought that it would be a while before we got chance to go home again but just after Christmas my Dad called me to tell me that he had cancer. It was a crazy time but we decided it would be best to be home when my Dad got his surgery. After 12 weeks of chemo his surgery was scheduled and we went home for almost the whole month of June. Steve wasn't able to be there for the surgery but while he was there we had lots of fun together. My Dad planned a fun holiday to Scarborough which was great! I really love it when we go home and my kids get to do things that I did when I was younger. We went to the beach and weather was lovely and the kids got to go on a donkey ride, we even got crabs legs and the kids thought that was so much fun.

It was kind of weird going home this time, not because going home is weird but it was weird to realise how many things I had forgotten about. One thing I forgot about was buttercups, how crazy is that? I really do love being able to go home and being able to go home for my Dad this time was really important to me. The first two weeks we had lots of fun and we did the last two weeks too but there was lots of traveling back and forth to see my Dad in hospital so it was really busy and made the time go by so fast. It was so hard when I saw my Dad for the first time in the hospital after he had the surgery. My Dad is normally such a strong man but right after the surgery he looked so frail and it was hard for me to see him like that. Each day he got better but it was still hard to see him struggling. I was glad to be there to help my Mom and it was so nice to see the kids play together and have such fun with their cousins. Spencer and Ethan loved playing together, they were such a cheeky pair. The girls even got to go to school with Kezia and Ethan and they even wore uniforms and had school dinners so they could have the full experience.

Living so far away from home really is hard sometimes. I love being with my family and it's so nice when the kids can all spend time together, they really love it. I do feel blessed to be able to live so close to Steve's family, I think without them and some really good friends it would be so bad. I'm blessed I am able to go home so much and my family are able to come here so much too. I could write tons about our trip home but instead I've added a slide show of most of the things we did. I really do have an amazing family. We might a little nuts at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. My Mom and Dad are the best and I'm so lucky to be their daughter. My Dad is recovering well and hopefully he'll keep doing well. Going home was FANTASTIC but it went by way to fast. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me come home, you're the best and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Before our trip to England

Well I finally have a minute to try and catch up on blogging. The month before we left to go to England was so busy and there was so much to do I got so behind on blogging. I thought I would just add a few pictures of some of the things we did in the month of May so here goes!

Maddie played in her first volleyball tournaments this spring. She had little practises for 2 years before that but this year they got to play games and she loved it. Her team looked so cute and did so well. They played in the U10 division and most the kids on Maddie's team were 7-8 years old. Maddie got so much better towards the end and got about 18 serves in her last tournament.

Maddie also had her end of year class program, the kids were so cute and did so well. It was hard to get pictures but I got a couple of video clips. Maddie did so well at school this past year, she's growing up way to fast, she's such a good girl.


Steve and I went out on a date before we left for England. We took Hadley with us and she was chowing down on the fries. She loves food but you would never guess that because she's so tiny. Another day Steve gave the kids a bath and decided to put lots of crazy things on Hadley. She really is so cute, we love having her in our family.

Sydney had her kindergarten graduation which was fun. They sang lots of fun songs and got their diploma's. She did so well at school this year and learnt a lot. She got a special prize for getting top marks on one of her tests and also got a certificate for having perfect attendance.

Besides all of this, we had the school carnival which I helped at, it was tons of fun. We even won an ipod and a gift certificate. Also I had to pack for our 4 week trip to England and buy things for my family to take with us. To add to the madness we ended up buying a car the day we were going to Utah to leave for England. My poor neighbour and great friend Shera was so nice and watched my kids most of the day so I could run around like a mad women, THANK YOU!!! It was a fun month though even though it was pretty nuts. Maybe soon I'll catch up on June and our trip to England but first I should probably get my house in order as it's a disaster!

Rod and Mollie's Idaho Reception

So, we're home and all pretty shattered but we're back! We got back really late, 1:30am Saturday morning and the kids didn't sleep again until 9:30pm that night. Maddie wasn't feeling too good and had a couple of naps but by the evening she was feeling better. I think the thing that helped the most was that it was Rod and Mollie's wedding reception, it kept us all going and awake.

It was a fun night, the kids had fun bringing in all the presents and playing with Mollie's nieces and nephews. It was nice to see some of our family and friends here after being away for so long. I was lame and didn't take very many photos but here's a couple I took. Hadley is big into waving these days and was waving at everyone the whole time, it was pretty cute. When we got Spencer dressed we tried to do his top button on his shirt but he told Steve it was killing him so we had to leave it undone. The girls got to wear their princess dresses again, they all looked so cute.
Rod and Mollie looked so happy and good together. We're excited to have her as part as our family. It'll be sad they're not living close to all of us up here but hopefully we'll still get to see them a lot. Congratulations Rod and Mollie, we're so happy for you. I'm sad I wasn't there for the wedding but I'm glad I was able to get back for the reception up here. I love Steve's family, they're so great, it's so nice to be back here with them but also sad to leave my family.

Better late than never!

Well once again it's been a long time since I've posted anything on here and I'm not actually going to catch up on all of that today either. The reason I wanted to post today was to let my Dad and Steve know how much I love them.

This year for fathers day we weren't with Steve because he had gone back to America after spending 2 weeks in England with us and my family. It was sad not being with him and it was SUPER crazy in sacrament meeting without him. All in all for me it was quite a manic day, I felt abit blahhh and I was so tired. After having a day like that it truly made me appreciate Steve WAY more than I already do. He is such an amazing Dad and husband. He helps me so much with the kids, especially when I get stressed out and need a break. It has been so nice to be here but I have really missed Steve these past 2 weeks. I feel so blessed to have married a man who loves me so unconditionally and puts up with me. I know lots of people think I'm super laid back which I am most of the time but behind closed doors I am quite a stress head. Anyway thank you Steve for loving me, for being the best Dad and husband ever, for working hard every day so we are able to have all the wonderful things we have, YOU ARE THE BEST and I LOVE YOU and can't wait to see you in a few days, YIPPEE!!!

Now onto my Dad! I love my Dad, he really is the best. Growing up I think I was quite cheeky to my Dad but my Dad was and still is always there for me whenever I need him. My Dad organised a FAB holiday to Scarborough which my kids absolutely loved, (I'll write more about that later). It was so nice to spend so much time with him before he had to go and have a major surgery. Going to see him after the surgery was reassuring but also sad. I'm used to my Dad being so strong and to see him frail and weak was hard. My Dad raised me to be strong in the gospel and to stand up for what I believe in and not to be afraid to say it. I am so grateful for that and grateful to be his daughter, to have been taught so many amazing lessons and to have had so many wonderful experiences with him and all our family. I really do love you Dad and I'm so glad you're surgery went well. You're so strong and I know it's hard but keep with it. Thanks for always putting up with me even when I'm cheeky, I love you!

Happy again!

Hadley wasn't feeling good at all last week, she had a super high temperature and wanted me to hold her all the time. This week she is feeling so much better and is back giving me her cheesy grin, she's so cute!

That's where me and Sydney live!

So for the past month or so every time we drive past a cemetery Spencer tells me it's where him and Sydney live. At first I thought what on earth are you talking about but then he kept saying it all the time, especially when we would pass the little Lincoln cemetery. He started saying it when pass the main cemetery in town too so I asked him why he said that. I told him that is where dead people go and I don't want him to die. He never really had any good answers, he would just say that him and Syd get bad guys there. I don't think I've ever even taken him to a cemetery before, I think the only time he might have gone was with my Dad in England but I'm not even sure he went.

Anyway yesterday we were taking Steve back to work and we drove by the main cemetery and he said it again! Then he was saying that it was a different one that him and Syd lived at. Then he told us that he lived there with the shiny guy, Heavenly Father. Steve and I looked at each other like, WHAT??? Spencer then corrected himself and said it was actually Jesus which still totally freaked me out. It was already making me feel nervous him talking about living in a cemetery but this made it worse!

I already worry so much about my kids like we all do so when they say things like this is makes it worse! My Mom has lost 2 of her children, I wouldn't know what to do if I lost any of mine. I love my kids so much, they may drive me nuts at times but truthfully I wouldn't have it any other way.

We did question Spencer a bunch but he never gave a great answer. The only comforting thing he said is that it was when I was in Nanny's belly. He's only 3 so for him to say that is beyond what he knows, I think. Anyway it gave me some comfort because I thought, well maybe he's remembering when he was in Heaven. Also you're not really with Jesus is the spirit world are you? Anyway that's what I'm telling myself because it has freaked me out a little, especially the whole shiny person part. Oh kids, they say the craziest things!!!