Not going anywhere for Christmas

Well now that we are not going anywhere for Christmas I guess I can now reveal my surprise.....






I wanted to surprise my Mom the most I guess. When my Mom and Layne came to visit this summer I was at the heaviest I have ever been not pregnant. I was not wanting pictures of myself posted unless I approved them first etc.
I am very excited to announce I have lost 20 pounds and 231/2 inches off my body. I was hoping to have taken more off before Christmas. I will still keep working on the pounds and toning but am so relieved to have the weight literally lifted.
I have ran faster and have noticed my endurance is noticeably better even to the dog. He has to run a lot faster to keep up.

poison oak

Well since our 5 acres has been neglected for quite a few years before we got here, and people have not put their garbage in the garbage cans, we decided to work out side last weekend and clear up some of the excess. It sure felt great getting some of the overgrowth and junk cleaned up around here. Raking the yard for needles, and leaves, trimming brush and weeds was so rewarding. We all put in a hard long days work, and huge burn pile. Now the acres down the drive and in about 12 ft has at least a better look to it. We know that clearing 5 acres of heavy dense forestation and POISON OAK, would be a work in progress and will definitely take time.
Of course, I am heavily allergic to poison oak and I am the one heading this project up. I am removing the brush and getting piles ready for my family to haul away. What do you think I look like now? Joe said "like I was a victim of plastic surgery gone bad". No kidding! Eyes swollen, neck covered and arms driving me crazy. Joe told me I was not to do that again. Anyone knows me and knows that I am way to stubborn and I couldn't ever let him do all that work by himself, and will inevitably be out there next chance I get, and with the consequences that go with that. I know I should be careful, and stuff but there is just so much work to be done. I know I should MAKE the landlord hire someone to come get the underbrush cleared for fire hazards, but I love being outside and would rather be outside than inside any day. Well lots to think about. No promises.

Adam

candid in the forest

having fun

Dad and Adam

Friends that joined the party

1st view of cemetary brownie birthday cake

Another view of the cemetary brownies

running candid

Some of the kids in front of the trail cam having tons of fun playing outside

Well Adam's birthday has gone and I didn't write about it. Since our schedules seem to be crazy here, we have celebrated the kids birthdays for most of the week of their birthday for some time now. I think they don't mind the attention and the singing everyday. They smile and enjoy the week.

This year I decided to have a birthday party with some friends. I decided to make a halloween themed party and have activities to match. I planned a mad scientist lab, draw a pumpkin blindfolded, treasure hunt, made a cake and stuff. We had 4 friends come and the boys played outside for a long time. I planned tons of food and to serve dinner but with the kids having parties that same day from school, everyone wasn't very hungry. Boys parties are definitely not as structured as girls. The boys would have been perfectly fine with playing solders and eating food for the entire time. Stress of the party can be eliminated for sure. We were happy that we had our friends come and share the fun day with us. All of our friends and family were sure missed and thought of.

ADAM is 9 now. Getting so tall. He is a joy to be around. He loves to make people laugh, wrestle, tease, he is very intelligent, he love math and science. Wants to be a FBI agent and solve mysteries. He loves to read mystery books but has not really found a book that will hold his attention very well. He would definitely want to watch the movie instead. He thinks 3rd grade is a breeze and it does show that with A's to A plus on all of his work. He has gotten several tokens that get passed out to kids at school for doing something nice, etc. without being asked and has been sent home with several notes telling us how he is such a great example to others. He loves spy stuff and wants to skateboard. (really hard to do that on gravel in the country). He has learned to ride a horse this year and is getting more confident every time he rides. He works hard and plays even harder. You are so loved and appreciated for all you are and do. Scouting this year has been fun and he earned his wolf, and tons of patches. He sold popcorn in front of local grocery store. He started out shy and nervous, and not long into it had people coming back from their cars wanting to at least donate change they found in their cars. He did a great job and was having a fun time. He loves exploring and is also loves to shoot the guns. (BB and air soft) We love you and are so glad you are a part of our family. HAPPY 9TH !

surprises

I have never been one to be very good at not revealing a surprise. Not that I cannot keep a secret, surprises are different somehow. As an example, Joe and I would find out we were pregnant and hope to wait till we were at least 3 months along. We tell people within a few weeks of being late. We always wanted to wait just in case something happened, etc. but that never happened and we have been fortunate to not miscarry. Another was we were hoping to not tell anyone when were pregnant with #5 and to show up at my brothers farewell 6 months along. yeah, never happened. We always knew the sex of our babies, and couldn't stand the anticipation. This time I am keeping my surprise. I will reveal it at christmas time when we visit. NO I AM NOT PREGNANT. That is not the surprise.

Trunk-or-Treat

Tyler and his "girlfriend"

Sammi's good friend

Adam's good friend

Sammi decided to be a pioneer since she forgot her witch costume at school on Friday. She had a good friend that had an extra costume. She fit right in with their family's theme. Look, the pioneers even took along a mouse. I bet they took those with them for real all the time.

I should have had Sam step in with their photo. Fun

Crazy running man Joe, and little mouse.

Jasper

Our social mouse

Sick pioneer

Sam, Ian and John about ready for some chili.

Johnny needs a shave. What do you expect from a pirate?

When I was a teenager, I had really long, light brown/blond hair and was bone strait. Those that knew me then would probably not think that this costume is a far stretch from the look I had everyday. The people I know here all had to do double takes and some people didn't know who I was. Very funny.

I love trunk or treat. We don't have to go up and down neighborhoods to get candy. I know everyone in the group and kids are in a safe environment and wont get run over by cars in the hustle to get their stash of candy. The bonus this year is that we weren't going to go anywhere on Sunday but to church. So, this was the best thing for our family. We got plenty of candy and all had a wonderful time.

I love dressing up. Being someone I am not, have imagination, creative in the process of figuring out what to wear, etc. In our home we have costumes and play all the time. I love that the kids want to play and find sometimes the simplest thing and play for hours with it.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Woops, I forgot this was below where I wrote, Joe and all the long locks.

a month or so

Ian's little feet

Sammi drinking from the spring

Ty and Ian playing in the river

The fish caught

Ian telling me to get out of the car and close the door.

Rhea and Sammi fishing

JP and Adam fishing

John throwing rocks in the water

At the river

view from the 2nd story

My friend Ruby

Grandma Doris and Raegan

Kids and GG

GG with kids

John's first day of school

1st day for John

5th grade

John Kindergarten

Adam 3rd

Boy, I have been busier than I thought. Not keeping up on posting has been not good. How am I to even remember all that has occurred in the last month?

One of the funnest things that we had the privilege to do is have my Grandma Doris come for four days. boy she arrived a month ago and I didn't write about it...We got to spend time talking, visiting the kids at school, and shopping in our downtown stores. I ended up getting really sick one night and had to go to the doctor and that was a blessing she was here, she watched the kids for us. I know it was stressful, Tyler was a real handful and acted out like he was a wild man. Grandma told me what he was doing and I have never seen him EVER act like that. Sorry Grandma!! I had labs drawn and a few days later got the results and my blood work came back fine. just some weird fluke of the flu or something that came and went so quickly. It had all of us stumped.

Having Grandma here was such a joy. We all enjoyed her company so very much. I finally felt like we were able to get to know each other even with all the kid interruptions. I loved hearing the stories she shared with me about her family and about her past. I got to know more about my Dad's father and will be asking to see pictures when I go to see my Dad this year. I am very glad she took the time to visit us. Next time she will need to have an open ended stay, and just stay for as long as she wants.

I posted the picture proofs of the kids school pictures. I wanted you to see what they look like at the moment. They are growing so much. I love who they each are becoming. It makes me so happy. Scary, Sammi has been "asked out" by two boys now, and I am proud of her and love how she reacts to the boys who like her. "I cannot date until I am 16". Even when the boys try to tell her to keep it a secret and not to tell me, she said, "no way" and tells me as soon as she walks in the door from school. I told her it is flattering that boys like her, and I ask her what she thinks of the boys who tell her to lie to me? She said," if the boys are pushing me to do something that you don't want me to do, those boys I wouldn't like because they obviously don't really like me. They also don't know me very well to want me do disobey my parents!" YES!!! She does like a boy at school don't get me wrong, she likes him because he is a good kid at school and is respectful, and also tells kids not to use bad language. I love that Sammi is still playing at school. So many kids in 5th grade want to stand around looking older and have no imagination. Some kids at school started teasing her for playing dragons, and playing on the school equipment. She came back telling them they are only in 5th grade and it was FUN! A couple of days later some of those kids she saw playing at recess, and she smiled.

Adam is doing great at school. He is really not challenged at school, A+ on most of his work. He was doing some 4th grade work last year, and tells me he learned most of this work in 1st grade. He is completely bored. He loves the social stuff at school. loves gym and recess most of all. He earned his wolf in cub scouts and is enjoying doing cub scouts with Dad as his leader. He has been earning badges, belt loops and beads galore. We have a great cub scout den leader, and are really enjoying it as a family. Adam is also being a great example at school. He has been getting awards almost every day. The teachers notice how out of the way he goes to help others when he thinks no one is looking, in a variety of different ways. He love the recognition, and I think he really thrives on helping others, rewards are a bonus to him. He has even given the rewards to others because they don't have one. So sweet.

Johnny is loving kindergarten. 60 kids in his class all together. So I haven't been able to go visit like I was able to do with Sam and Adam. I know I have more kids, but I need to go in once in a while. Johnny comes home tired sometimes. The kids wake up at 545 and he has school full day everyday. He is loving learning to read and write. he said he doesn't get enough time to play with his friends. Sooo sad :( hehe. I think Jack likes being with John, I have found Jack sleeping on his bed some nights, with his head on John's legs. cute.

Tyler is having fun. We are having 2 kids over about 2-3 days a week while their mom subs at school. Tyler and the girl his age, are great friends and tell each other they love each other all day long. They get along great. Ty is very talkative and really carries on conversations very well. His health is great and is growing very tall. He is also very loving to others.

Ian is learning to share. I am very happy with the kids coming over, the boys are a few months apart and love the same toys so sometimes they want the same toys at the same time. That is fun drama! But both boys are learning and I like that they are doing better every day. Ian is speaking slowly but is getting better with his speech. when everyone just gives him what he wants without asking for it, speech gets delayed. A few months ago he was sitting in his chair and at dinner he said, "I want salt too". So I know he can talk when he wants to. My baby is growing so much. He is no longer my baby, time flies!! I know that is what everyone says even when the baby is 30.

Joe is going to get an insulin pump. We feel it will help regulate the blood levels better. We decided to also get the model that comes with a separate device that monitors the level of sugar in the blood constantly. It has an alarm if he starts to go too low. I think that will be helpful since he has had a few lows while sleeping.

I get frustrated at the order of my pictures. I wanted the pictures of GG and us to be first, and I cant move the arrangement very frustrating.

We went to my friends cabin about and hour and a half away last week. We had a blast. We needed to do it in the middle of the week because it was their last time out there because they will be going back to the Philippines in a few weeks. We will all miss them very much. I have really loved getting to know Ruby. She is a good person and I love the testimony she has of the gospel. Glen and the kids, Rhea 11 and JP 12, are such great friends, I know the kids will miss each other. The kids might not come back next year. I think it kind of gets hard to miss so much of school, and to home school the other part when they are here. Thank you for having us out to the cabin. It was so beautiful, and peaceful.

life

Joe and I went hunting on Saturday 9-21 for elk and had a wonderful time together. We went to a place that we have never been to before and kind of had to just explore. We saw plenty of deer and turkey and cattle tracks but no elk. Until the last 30 min we finally heard them. They were staying hidden in the forest right in front of us. We wouldn't have been able to narrow the gap because we would have needed to go across a field to get to them. It was also right before sun down, and didn't have a way to go around without being seen.
We had a blast and would enjoy very much doing that again. Now what to do with the kids... Baby sitter was very expensive for 17 hrs! picture when I find it. Found some!

Thank you Joe I love being with you. You are truly my best friend and I so enjoy being with you