Turkey Shoot 2012

What started out as sharing a tradition from the Nordfelts friends in Idaho has become quite a tradition with us here in Utah.  It was probably 9 years ago that it started.  We visited my sister for an unforgettable Thanksgiving in Idaho.  Their friends had a tradition of shooting off rockets on Thanksgiving morning.  It was such a cold cold day in Idaho.  The fog was so thick you could hardly even see the rockets go off.  But that was part of the fun.  They would disappear then reappear out of the fog.  The children would run like crazy to catch the rockets so they could safely return to earth! :)  Also to get bragging rights as to how many they could catch!

We have kept this tradition ever since.  We usually buy the pre-built ready to fly rockets.  This year Kaden and Jaxon wanted to try to build their own. Kaden succeeded. Jaxon, well when he opened his and found that he had to do all of the little pieces....well he gave up!  Little fart!  Kaden and Mace assembled theirs and flew it today!  It went and returned safely all in one piece!  How fun for them to know they were able to build it themselves.

We are so happy that Rappleyes and this year Nordfelts and Petersens came also.  It was cold as usual but still fun!

Called to Serve

WOW! After the big announcement President Monson made in General Conference this last session:

"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. . . ."

Many people have been buzzing about whether they will now submit their papers and proceed with a mission that may have otherwise been on the back burner and potentially not gone through with.  This however, was never the intention to leave it on the back burner for Tyson!

He is such a great kid! This 18 year old man has saved every penny for his mission and has been waiting anxiously for the time when he can turn in his papers.  The time was now and he did it!!! What an accomplishment, what a great kid and how stinkin exciting for me and my family to experience.  His adoptive mom and dad have been so kind an gracious to let me and my family be a part of his.  It has been a great experience.  I am so thankful they have allowed us to play a small part in his life.  Thank you so much for letting us be a part.  Thank you so much for being such a great example of a wonderful man!  He is growing into such a great man also.  HOLY MOLEY!  this kid is tall.  Yes. He. Is.  He is now at least 6'3", and handsome as they come!

He got his call on Wednesday November 14, 2012.  He will be serving his mission in the Argentina, Neuquen mission.  His oldest brother also served a mission in Argentina.  After looking into the climate and temperatures etc.  It seems as though it is very much like the climate of Utah.  However, the seasons will be opposite!  How weird to have snow in July? :)

Congratulations Tyson, we are so happy for you as you move on to the next BIG phase of your life!

RoCk On

Rock On is all I can say here!  Seriously.  One night I came down from putting Ella and Zeke Down and found this.  My men jammin out!  Not just Jammin out!  Bearin it all!  WHAT?  Seriously this kid doesn't mind walking around like this all the time.  NOPE.  In fact, one night after football this year, I found him eating at the dinner table BUTT NAKED!  Well....I have no words!

Ella's 2nd Birthday

OH MY GOODNESS!!!
She has been 2 for just a little over a month now and oh my word! Am I sad? Am I happy? or both?  My baby is growing right before my eyes.  I. MUST. REMEMBER. EVERY. MINUTE.  My boys are older and the time flew.  As I was happy to see them get bigger and bigger....not realizing what that fully meant.  She must stay small for some time!  I need her to stay small.  Despite the fact she is EXTREMELY INDEPENDENT and insists on doing things on her own, I need to remember this.

I try my hardest to listen and heed to the advise of those who have been here and done this!  The majority of what I hear is I wish I had done this I wish I had done that.  I miss this, I miss that.  While they all differ the majority of what I am told is to enjoy the time now and try not to worry about the little things.  The majority of people tell me they wish they had just spent more time with them, and actually enjoyed the time.  I try my hardest.  With life going non-stop I try.  I try to listen and enjoy the hours and minutes spent with my two little ones still at home, because before I know it they will be grown and WON'T want to spend that time with me as much.

OK I know this is sappy...BUT seriously these little guys mean so much to me! I love how Ella insists on having her 'own' Lysol wipe when I wipe the table.  I love how she insists on putting on her own 'sox'.  She says 'me, me, me' when she insists on opening a container.  She insists on trying to put on her own shoes.  I hope this means she WILL be independent.  I want her to be confident and try all she can.  I want her to know who she is and not let anyone tell her she is not as wonderful as she is.  I absolutely LOVE how she loves 'Fancy Nancy books'.  They are just the cutest darn books I have read.  I love to read how fancy the world is to a 5 year old (is that how old she is??).  I hope in a small way Ella wants to be as fancy and that she will view the world in such a positive and 'Glorious' way. I firmly believe you can conquer so much with a positive attitude.  I love how Ella reaches up when I am reading to her and grabs my head and pulls it closer to her.  I love how she loves to rock in the chair I have rocked her in since she was born and read her stories.  When I'm not around I love how she knows how to turn on her primary music grab a book and climb into that rocking chair and read a story by herself.  I love how she loves Strawberry Shortcake.  I love how she bosses those brothers around and how they do what she asks.....most of the time.

I love it.  I am happy to see her grow but want to remember all I can.  Man, I love this little girl.

Ella and the BOBBI

Seriously I don't know what I am going to do with this girl!  I don't know if its because she is my girl or because she is my baby...maybe both. I don't know if I am ever going to get the Bob (as she has so lovingly named the binki) away from this girl.  Now she has discovered if she finds another one she gets twice the pleasure!  What a little fart! But seriously how cute!  She only has it at nap and bedtime and honestly maybe I am just too lazy.  I am afraid she will not nap with out her bob and I NEED THOSE NAPS as much or more than her!  So I guess this is what it means when the baby gets spoiled....OH DEAR!

whooo goes there???

Opening my blinds this morning I looked out the window and found this!!! How cool is that? Seriously this cute little guy stayed at our house for the whole day. I kept checking in on him to make sure he was still there.

He stayed all day and was gone in the morning. Perhaps he was just taking a rest and found my uh-hem 'not so quiet' little home a good spot for him.  (sigh)  Seriously, my sister just gave me some decorative bird houses cages that I wanted to keep him with!  I know, ridiculous right?  But yes, that is me.  I would have a farm if I could! :)  Still I feel lucky while it lasted.

Playing in the Leaves

Sometimes it takes FORCING the children outdoors for enjoyment!  Seriously, when I was this age I lived for the times we could play in the leaves.  Today I FORCED Zeke outside.  Away from the video games, TV and movies.  He grabbed a couple of friends and were jumping on the trampoline.  I watched them from the house and thought I am going to go enjoy the last bit of fall I can before it gets too cold to enjoy.  Then me being my busy body self thought hhhmmmm need to rake the leaves. AH! what fun.  So we played in the leaves.  Pure joy on these boys faces! Pure joy.