Yummy dinner!

Oh man...we love this weather!

One of our favorite things to do is have dinner outside.

In the summer time this is an every day activity.

It is so nice to just hose off the deck instead of cleaning the kitchen up.

So this evening was just so beautiful, we had to have dinner outside.

Spagetti...mmmm...not really considered a 'picnic' type food.

But it was just perfect!

Actually, one of the foods that we can get this boy to eat!

And, man he was loving it...

But really, I think he was loving the mess more.

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We went to the park this afternoon.

And Brent told me about a little encounter with the little kids.

Elsie and Porter were playing on the small gym, and a little girl came up and pushed Elsie out of the way.

Well, Elsie looses her balance easy, so she fell...of course.

Next, Brent saw Porter go up to the little girl and knock her over...and he was going at her for more when Brent finally got to them.

Now maybe it is cause he is a rotten and mean little boy. (Not really!)

But we truly believe that we got this big burly boy for one main reason.

He is Elsie's protector.

Recently he has shown such a sweet tenderness towards Elsie.

She still gets a little nervous when he gets near her...but she is getting used to him being nice too.

He's a good boy.

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* I am Thankful for the great weather...and the things we got done in the yard today.

* I am Thankful for movie night. It is always fun to stay up late with the kids...if you don't have to have an early morning!!!

* I am Thankful, and a little sad, that I totally spaced signing up for Robie Creek. I would love to run it again...I'm just not ready this year...but I am so happy to be running again...So maybe next year!

Top readers!!!

I went and picked Cassi up from the bus stop and she comes out of the bus with a new book bag.

I asked her where she got it from.

Then she told me that she was the top reader in her class, and for the whole kindergarten. (From the schools read-a-thon)

And then she told me that Madi was ALSO the top reader of her class and also the third grade!

Yay!

Way to go girls!

We were so proud of the hard work they put toward their reading goals!

They both wish they won top reader for the school, cause they got a DVD player...but that just means they will be reading even more next year!

Along with the book bags they also got some free book certificates, free kids meal certificates, and lots of fun little things.

So we decided to take them out as a reward for their accomplishment.

We went to Chilies and it was a lot of fun.
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*I am Thankful that my kids got their Dads love of reading...and not my lack for love of reading!

*I am Thankful that tomorrow is Friday! This great weather makes me want to get out and do something really fun as a family!

*I am Thankful that I am almost done priming my chairs...it is becoming a slow process, but I am still very excited about the outcome!

It's FINALLY open!!!

They finally removed the fences that blocked us from our new park!

We noticed it was open when we got home last night...but it was too late to go over.

So we took advantage of the nice weather today and went to the park.

It is nice and big and doesn't seem too crowded even when there is a ton of kiddos!

It is gonna be nice to have it so close to us.

Porter thought he was a pretty big boy in the swing!

Kinda weird, but the park doesn't have baby swings...oh well...there is plenty of other things for them to do!

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*I am Thankful we missed the bad weather in Evanston, the bad weather in Utah, and I hear that we skipped over some bad weather while we were gone from Idaho. We did pretty good!

*I am Thankful that I got a really great run in this morning! Thanks Aryn!

*I am Thankful that Elsie wore her eye patch today with not really any problems. We weren't sure how it would go over...but I think we can do it every day. We will see!

Best buddies...

It was so much fun to watch these two kiddos play with each other.

Abi was so sweet with Elsie.

They have a very sweet little relationship with each other and it was fun to be able to stay with my sister Rachel so these two could have all the time they wanted with each other!

My other girls had a blast with Abi too.

She is just a fun little girl.

Thanks Rachel, for letting us stay with you guys!

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We are home now!

It was a great trip...but SO nice to be back home!

I am ready for my own bed.

Brent didn't have a terrible relaxing trip...only because it was hard for him to ever get comfy, so he didn't ever sleep very good.

So he is happy to be home...even though that doesn't mean he will get great sleep here either...maybe in another week.

The trip home was good.

Elsie was so tired, but wouldn't sleep...so she had a couple meltdowns.

But Porter traveled like a Champ!!!

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*I am Thankful to be home, safe and sound!

*I am Thankful that we got the chance to visit with our families. It had been such a long time (by our standards, anyway...) So it was nice to be able to see as many family members as we did!

*I am Thankful that right now I get to go get in my Jammies and go watch LOST with my hubby.

Exhausted!!!

Oh man...I need sleep!

These guys are having so much fun!

But we are also ready to go home.

You know how it is...so great to get away...but always great to get home!

Porter and Owen.

Owen was so excited to have another boy round.

But all Porter did was beat on Owen...but Owen liked that too, cause that is what boys do, right???

Thanks Owen for putting up with him!

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We spent the whole morning over at Emmy's house.

The kids had all kinds of fun there.

I should have gotten more pictures than I did...oh well.

I tried to take a picture of Emily with the kiddos...but Elsie had just gotten a sliver and she was pretty upset..so she didn't want any part of the picture...

But I did get this one before the group shot...testing my lighting...

I thought it was so sweet.

Elsie was showing Emmy her sliver...

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*I am Thankful that my kids have such a special bond with Aunt Emmy. Porter is a little stinker...but he has no problem going to Emily...he just loves her...just like the other kiddos do!

*I am Thankful that I got to go for a nice run this morning...but I miss my running girls, Aryn and Jenni!

*I am Thankful, again, for such wonderful families in our lives. We are blessed to have such great people in our lives!

Another great day!

It has been another fun day.

We got to go to church with Grandma and Grandpa Matthews..which is always a fun time.

We hung out for a bit before we packed up.

Then we headed to Springville.

So now we are here with the Peterson side of the family.

And we had a really fun afternoon!

Our trips home have become full of farm animals!!!

And we love it.

In Springville they have chickens and goats and my Mom has her bees...which are very cool!

They usually have a big dinner here on Sunday evenings with everyone who still lives in the area...which is the majority.

So it was the perfect time to come and visit with everyone...except the Idahoans...one in Idaho falls...the other in Moscow.

Oh ya...and the one in Paris!

There was a lot going on there this afternoon.

My Mom just found out that they actually own more land then they thought at the back of the lot...so now they have a forest...and all the little cousins have made a clubhouse out of a hollowed out pine tree.

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Also...I was an eye witness to a crime!

Some people got pulled over in front of the homestead...and as I was walking up from the back of the lot I saw a girl chuck something into a bush.

Well, Brent went to check it out and it was a baggie of marijuana.

So he got one of the cops...told him and I had to come and pick out the girl who did it.

Which is hard...you always think you could pick the right person out...but it was tough!

Anyway...that all got taken care of...I just hope she didn't follow us to get back at me!!!

But it sure got my heart pumping...

But I am a scardy cat.

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Then we had a campfire back in the 'forest'.

Marshmallows and all.

I am sure we will have another full day tomorrow...

So I better get to bed!

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*I am Thankful that we got to see so much of the family today...

*I am Thankful that all the kids are asleep...Cassi had two naps today...you can tell how much sleep she got last night with the cousins!!! But I am glad she still got to sleep tonight!

*I am Thankful for the great weather that we can get outside and enjoy each other!!!

Perfect day!

The weather today was just beautiful!!!

The kids ran around all day in t-shirts...and some times that doesn't even happen in the summer time here!

So it was a great day for the kiddos to ride Strip.

We were getting ready to take our packed lunch up to the feed store for Grandpa and Dad...

But then we saw Dad was walking down the lane with Strip!

So we put Elsie and Cassi on...and we all walked up to the feed store.

Then we had our little picnic as the kids took turns riding Strip.

Brent had fun teaching the big kids how to ride a horse...and they were very excited about having a chance to ride Strip without being led by someone!

So it was a fun afternoon.

This afternoon the girls went to spend some time with Heather and Lauren in Randolf...

Well, Nancy (Brent's sister and Heather and Laurens mom) called and ended up keeping them for the night.

Thanks Nance!

I hope they aren't too much trouble for you!
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*I am Thankful that the kids got to spend so much time with their cousins...they get along so wonderfully...and they are making memories that will last a life time!!!

*I am Thankful it was such a beautiful day today...it is always a great way to boost your spirits when you can be outside in the beautiful weather!

*I am Thankful to have such wonderful in-laws...only I hate to call them in-laws...cause they really are my family!

Safe and sound

Well, WE are safe and sound...

Poor Grandma might just get mauled to death!

We sure are happy to be here...and I think the weather might be warmer here!

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It was a rough night...and thought maybe we might cancel our last minute trip.

Porter went to bed at 7:00...that is normal.

He woke up around 10:00, also kind of normal...but he usually goes right back to sleep.

Last night he didn't go back to bed until 2:30 a.m.

I finally got in bed...thought he would for sure sleep in at least...

Until 5:00.

He was up again...and went back down in enough time for the other kids to wake up.

So I am tired.

But he was fine this morning and today, besides being SO TIRED!

I think maybe he was having bad dreams or something.

I don't know...poor boy.

I hope it is a better night!

It has to be...we are here, right!

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On the agenda tomorrow....

Riding Strip!

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This is my first trip/vacation since being on my wellness challenge...

Lets just say it isn't fun to take a 5 hour road trip when everyone is eating yummy junk food!

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*I am Thankful we had a safe trip...and the kids were pretty dang good.

*I am Thankful I am going to bed SOON!

*I am Thankful that we finally got to get away...we needed to get out of the house!

Bad smells!

There has been a weird smell around the house for the last couple days.

We could not pinpoint where it was coming from.

Until yesterday when I smelled the carpet.

YUCK!

For the first few weeks after surgery, Brent used an ice machine.

It is a cooler type thing that has a hose attached and runs to a pad that is attached to his shoulder, so he gets continuous freezing water.

Well, Porter LOVED this ice machine.

We tried to keep it tied up, but you have to refill it every day and night...

Well, Porter got to it before we got it tied up.

And he dumped it over.

I thought I mopped it up really good.

But guess what...our new carpet is REALLY THICK!

So I guess I didn't get enough water out...and it was starting to cause problems.

Stinky problems.

So Brent had to pull the NEW carpet up...with Drew's help...two guys with one bum arm each makes one full man right?

We shampooed it...

Now there is a fan on the plywood, a fan on the padding, and a fan on the carpet.

What a bummer.

But I think it is gonna be fine.

I hope so anyway!

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I took Madi and Elsie to get their eyes checked today.

Madi has been getting headaches from reading...

Well, her eyes are having a hard time 'converging'.

So they sold us a computer game for her to use for 7 minutes everyday to help strengthen those muscles to make her eyes 'converge' like they should when she reads.

The dang game costs $80.

And it looks like it was made in the 80's.

Oh well...it is what she needed...hopefully it helps out.

Elsie got a new prescription...so I need to get her new glasses.

But she has to wear an eye patch for 2 hours every day.

We were doing the eye drops...but now doc wants us to do the eye patch!

We will see how that goes!

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*I am truly Thankful to have the Young family in our lives! They really are our family away from home! Thanks guys for having us over for pizza tonight!

*I am Thankful that we are finally gonna go visit our families....it has been so long! Since Christmas time, I think.

*I am Thankful that my hubby can fix anything. We have three potable DVD's that have quit working...Well, tonight he merged the three to give us one working machine! How cool is that??? And seriously...does anyone else have as bad of luck with portable DVD players as we do???

My happy helper!

Every day at about 4:30 or 5:00, Elsie has a bit of a meltdown.

She is so completely exhausted by that time of day...and if she has already taken a nap earlier, it isn't much better, cause then she is just groggy and grumpy.

We usually try to get her mind on something else...like Strip (Grandpas horse that she has made her own), or her teachers and friends at school.

But those things don't always work.

Then we started having her help to set the table.

She was so proud to walk back and forth from the table to the cupboards with cups, forks, whatever we needed.

It first started with her giving the stuff to the bigger girls.

Then it progressed to her helping along side the girls placing things at each spot.

Well, yesterday I was starting to make dinner, Elsie kind of moved me out of the way from the silverware drawer, I thought she was just watching what I was doing.

Well, a few seconds later I noticed that she was walking towards the table with a handful of forks.

She was setting the table on her own...and no one asked her.

Isn't that just perfect?

Today, she did the exact same thing.

She was a little more demanding about me getting the (paper) plates down for her.

But Elsie being demanding is also one of the cutest things around.

So she set the entire table...forks, plates, cups, and even straws...all on her own.

She would walk to each spot and say the name of who was sitting there.

She just makes me smile from ear to ear.

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*I am Thankful that I have this blog to share my life with those who care...but mostly I am so Thankful to document the lives of my children growing up...I wish I would have been better at it when the big girls were little...

*I am Thankful That the Doc says that everything looks great with Brent's arm...I am a little irritated with the x-ray tech who moved his arm in ways he isn't supposed to move it yet...
*I am Thankful that this morning went a little smoother again...I think we are getting the hang of things...it is funny how it all falls on me. If I am mad and in a hurry...everyone is mad and in a hurry...if I am calm...guess what???? So are they!