Causin' Trouble

She may look innocent, but this little lady is stirrin' up some trouble at our house. No longer are plants, toilet paper or low lying breakables safe. She's on the move and keepin' it lively.

The Ladies!!!

The Ladies of the house have been on my mind today. It started this morning when, once again, Madeline got up with Autumn and took care of her. She doesn't even wake me up. They just go downstairs and watch TV until I make my way down to make the bottle.


Autumn just waits for it, grabs it, and gulps away, opting to stay with her big sister for their morning ritual. (The best part is that I get to go for a jog at this point.)

Madeline also surprised us all my making her first goal in soccer. At practice she can be seen attempting cartwheels and moving at a snails pace, but in the game today, she was makin' some moves!


The next lady that is touching my life, is my mom. I don't know if I mentioned it, but my mom has been living with us since April and I am loving the extra set of hands. She is also the reason for the return on my morning jogs. No longer do I have to wait until Jason is home ( seeing as with an ER schedule it is totally random and strange), I can just set my alarm and grandma Kathy is here to monitor the troops.





Not only that, but she watches the kids so Jro and I can both go to Mutual every tues. She has taken over our Sunday dinners and best of all, she helps with homework and answers a few of the thousands of questions that come my way each day. Now, as most of you know, I tend to be a bit controlling and regimented. I know my ways are hard to a free spirit like my mom, but we have found a good balance and I appreciate all that she does for our family.

Last but not least, Miss Autumn. My heart just pangs watching her change every day. She is almost 10 months, doing her one-legged funky crawl, trying to walk, cutting her first tooth, testing out the high notes of her emerging voice, making messes, causing a ruckus and wrapping the whole family tighter and tighter around her cubby finger. She is happy, happy. She is a flirt and a tease. Please stop getting older......PLEASE!!!!!

Poop on them!!!!

I am struggling this year letting my kids go out into the world. I have a hard time taking in all of the input I am constantly getting about them. How they measure up, how their quirks are affecting them, how others perceive them, how many friends they have, how do they feel about themselves. With three kids in school, I feel like there are very few days that I am not worried about someone for something. They each have their unique challenges and I just worry and worry, wanting them to handle things like I want them to, rather than let them work it out in their own time.

Nothing hurts worse than when someone makes a negative statement about your own children, and it seems that people are just a little too free with their comments to me. I get far more hurt than if they were to comment about me. In fact, I guess that is what drives me so crazy!! People are always analyzing kids behavior with a fine tooth comb and trying to place blame or find a reason for each little moment. In my experience, it seems to me that kids are just a little bit nuts!! They do things, say things and try things that are completely wrong, weird and inappropriate, but isn't that the point. Isn't that why they are kids? Why do we try so hard to define these little people before they have a chance to define themselves. Worst of all is that I react. Not to the person who talks negatively about my family, but to my kids. I try to make them fit in, try to make others see what is so great about them.

My new decision is simple......"Poop on those nay sayers" You heard me!!! My kids rock!!! They are totally obnoxious, weird, rude, and unruly. But still, they ROCK!!! They are kind-hearted, inquisitive, bright and unique. If someone cannot see those things in them, then they have the problem and I repeat "POOP ON THEM!!!" Man that feels good to say. Try it!!! Shout it out loud!!!! It helps to relieve some of the hurt that is plaguing me right now. What my kids need of me is someone who is in their corner, ready to stand with them, stand up for them and filter out the world's poop and stay focused on what I already know about them.

Cold Camping

As one of our final summer activities, Jason talked me into 2 nights of camping. I actually like to camp, but after many failed attempts, I have grown adverse to camping with a baby. I had planned for a quiet weekend with Autumn, but Jason looked so disappointed that his great vision of family togetherness would not come true, that I caved. Luckily his parents and their trusty trailer had signed up, so I felt confident as we loaded up and headed up I70 to Turquoise Lake, near Leadville.

















We were there about 15 minutes before every child was covered in dirt and Jason was beaming with satisfaction. I decided to try a new campfire meal, marinated kabobs. It turned out great, except the fact that I didn't have a good method for turning them. No need to fret, Papa Ed fears no fire, and flipped them with his bare hands. (Once again upping his position on the mountain man scale)





The Lake was incredible. Pure glass each morning (not to mention, cold as ice all day) and full of plenty of fish for us to catch. Poor Jaxen couldn't stand to watch them suffer, so we released them all back to lake. (I must admit that I was relieved as well, it just makes me sad)












We froze at night as the temperature plummeted to 30 degrees each night. I ended up sharing a cozy night with both Elijah and Autumn snuggled close---I must say, I totally loved it.

There were so many great little moments. Jason was right, it is worth all of the trouble and mess to get away from all of the distractions. We could just relax and focus on each other for a while.

After that, it was time to get ready for school. I always brain storm my new battle plans for getting everyone off, getting all of my work done and how to meet all of our demands without turning into psycho mom. The game plan this year.....LESS DRILL SARGEANT MOM...LESS MULTI-TASKING...and MORE ONE ON ONE. It's not perfect, but I feel like I'm getting better. It's so much pressure being the mom. My mood runs the whole house and sometimes my mood ain't so great. In my head I repeat "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" It will all get done in due time.

Jaxen's Post

This summer I went river rafting. I went with my dad, my grandma, grandpa and my cousins that I never get to see. I was in a raft with my dad, grandma and grandpa. I loved when we went down rocks and little falls. I didn't fall in, but I did jump in. It was my first time and I had a blast.

RAFTING IS AWESOME!!!!

A Monumentous Ending and a brief testimony

I mentioned the Jubilee back in April. Our Stake was preparing to celebrate 50 years since it was formed. As a part of the festivities they wanted to have a "cultural performance" aka a road show. The idea was to honor all of the decades through song and dance. When I saw the flyer I thought, "How cute, I'll be sure to come and watch"

Well, my friend was the director and was worrying to me about not having any choreographers. Seeing the desperation in her face, I told her I could do one, so I was assigned the "Thriller" dance. To make a long story short, I showed up and I was the only choreographer to do so at first. After one practice, I was named "principle choreographer" WHAT!!!??? I have four kids home for the summer, one of whom was 5 months old and nursing full time!! How could I give that much time???

You know what happened next. I accepted, out of guilt and there it began. 3 days a week for 4-5 hours at a time in the gym at the Stake Center. Hours in my living room making up moves and trying to figure out how to get 60 performers all together and to keep up the charade that I had some kind of experience with this scale of a production



















There were times when I felt sick to my stomach, sure that this thing would never look right. To make it worse, one of the nights, they had invited a bunch of VIP's, including the mayor" to watch. At the meetings they would first remind us of the VIP's and then remind us of our lack of budget. It felt so big, so out of reach, but we just kept on working and hoping that the Lord would make up the difference for us.

All that I can say, is that He did! And He did it in a big way. We had one tech rehersal, then one run through on the stage at the high school. Let's just say, it was rough.

Feeling very fearful, we had just a few hours before the audience came. The air was electric with nerves and a whole lot of HOPE! From the first song, it was magical!!! The performers were on fire and they hit every mark of the hour long show, and (my own personal triumph,) they stood in STRAIGHT LINES!!!!!






















They paid me a special honor by asking me, nay forcing me, to dance in Thriller with them. Our MJ was Ian Griffey, a young man that I had taught to swim when he was 5 years old. He was amazing---his moon walk was incredible and he had the crowd going crazy!








Looking at these pictures makes me so proud to know these great people. They have so much talent and were so willing to give over their summers for this show. That last night of performance was bitter-sweet. We had made a little family and it was just over. I don't know if I'll ever have an opportunity like this again and it stretched me in so many ways.


(the directors)


(my friend Dee, who I roped in to choreograph the 60's swing number)

Of course, there was a fireside to end the week of JUBILATION. Our former Stake President spoke, (he's the Elvis above) and he said that Heavenly Father will give us all of his choicest blessings if we will just SHOW UP. I could have never imagined the amazing blessings this would bring. I felt so much help and inspiration that went far beyond my capabilities. I know now just how true President Lewis' thoughts were. If we just show up we will be molded into what He knows we can be. I'm so glad I did it, so glad I showed up and so glad to have my wed, thurs and saturdays back.

There, that was a long one, but it's now officially recorded for posterity.

Cousins for Cali and a day in Boulder

Man we love these guys! Anne, Andy and their kids Luca, Aiden and Marcus are some of our favorite people. Unfortunately, we only see them every 4 or 5 years. This time they came out our way and we had some great adventures. After Water World and then a full day of rafting (which Jaxen will write about soon), everyone wanted a mellow day. We headed to Boulder and soaked in FlarIrons.

Boulder Canyon
































I love Aiden's hair!!! According to his parents, he does too!







29th street science displays












and of course, Yummy greek lunch at Daphney's


Hangin' with these guys almost did us in. They are so kick back and so down to earth. Next time, we're coming to you at the beach!