Winn or Lose

{Apologies}

2011-08-26T16:49:00.001-06:00

evidently i dropped off the planet for about 6 months, but i'm back though my posts are just going to be short little snippets. but it is updated!!!!

{Lucian Lee}

2011-08-26T16:46:00.002-06:00

My brother and his sweet wife had their first child the end of July. Little Lucian is so sweet and beautiful. I wish we lived closer so that we could be his buddy all the time. Congratulations Dave & Sarah!!

{summertime}

2011-08-26T16:36:00.003-06:00

i swear the summer could not have gone any faster than it has this year. but we have had had so much fun. this year uintah rec had a free summer in the park with activities almost every day! couple that with free school lunch for 6 weeks, and we have been gone. we have also had fun at home, gone to family reunions x2 and met up with friends. it has been a great summer, and now we are ready for a great fall..

{Easter}

2011-08-26T16:27:00.002-06:00

for easter we did our traditional easter stuff! though this year we did try a different technique for "dying" our easter eggs. This year we decided to try using crayons and crayon shavings. i have to say that it worked VERY well!!! we all enjoyed the change from the usual!

the girls easter morning

shaved crayon "dying"

ellie "dying" her eggs

kairi "dying" her egg

kesslynn working hard

{kesslynn is 4}

2011-08-26T16:16:00.003-06:00

crazy how time flies when you are having fun... and blinking. My Kessie turned four in March. I know I am ultra late on posting this, but I'm trying and it counts! She got to have a birthday party for friends this year and had her little friends from church and preschool join us. They played "duck, duck, goose!"

had a pinata and cake and presents.

She loved it and as you can see still played the part of the diva ;)

Basic Black

2011-03-03T17:25:00.003-07:00

Kesslynn is soooooooooooooooooo difficult to dress. Rather difficult to convince to wear anything she isn't in the mood for. This outfit is one she picked out, then that same day refused to wear. She chose to wear it this day and I decided that I had better get a picture while I had the chance.

Talon Moving...

2011-03-03T17:20:00.002-07:00

Talon left on his mission December 29, 2010. We spent most of the holidays getting everything together just in time to celebrate Christmas then take him to the MTC in Provo. He has since moved on to Alabama where he is serving and has his first companion (above) Elder Dansie. If you want to know more let me know and I'll add you to his blog: ala-birm.blogspot.com

Family Picture Time

2011-03-03T17:10:00.002-07:00

Before Talon left on his Mission, I thought we really should have a current family picture taken. So Mindy was soo great to get them for us! Plus as an added bonus she got pictures of all of my siblings/ spouses. I love Mindy's pictures and would recommend her to anyone.

Holiday Busy-Ness

2011-03-03T16:42:00.003-07:00

Holidays start out every year with Holly Days. Some of my kids really love it while others.....

Don't

Ice Skating with Daddy. Though Daddy couldn't do it for long.

Geocaching! and Finding the Perfect Cache for Kairi!

Seeing Santa!!!

Playing in the Snow

Christmas Morning

Small Town Kids

2011-03-03T16:40:00.001-07:00

NUFF SAID

Chomper Check

2011-03-03T16:31:00.002-07:00

I took Kesslynn for her first check up at the Dentist. I thought that things would be okay, but that was before they told me that she had 5 (yup 5) cavities. I was given a referral to the Pediatric Dentist, but during that check up they told me she only had 7 (oh yeah 7) that needed to be fixed to the tune of $300/hr just for the Anesthetist!!!! Not to mention however much it would cost for the Dental work itself. Plus 2 hours of her being sedated. So I took her for one last consult who fixed 2 cavities, then told me the others weren't yet ready to be filled. So this now has taught me that I should stick with the Dentist that I trust (the one who only fixed 2 cavities- He's my regular dentist.) Live and Learn. She is now doing great, and we will keep going through Door #3.

QuickPics...

2011-03-03T16:28:00.003-07:00

Kairi Age 7

Elika Age 1

Kesslynn Age 3

Having some fun with a Fall photo shoot!!!!

Firefighter Kesslynn

2011-03-03T16:14:00.002-07:00

As a preschool, we were able to tour our local Firestation. The firemen were AWESOME with the kids. They talked with them about not being afraid of the firemen. Gave them a demonstration of what the firemen look like all geared up. Talked with them about calling 911 and having an emergency plan. We had a lot of fun. The kids got to tour the firetrucks and were given all kinds of cool swag. All in all I think it was good for them to get to see this side of life. I hope to NEVER need their help, but I hope my Kess knows what to do.

SE7EN

2011-03-03T15:56:00.002-07:00

My sweet girl is 7!!!! I still can't believe that she is this old. Only one more year and we will be baptizing her. There are sooo many things that I love about this little girl. As you can see her passion at this time is "Save the Planet." She loves science and learning. She is the champion of the underdog and always wants to give a voice to those who don't have a voice. She is passionate about the things that she loves.

Kairi- I am soooo glad and grateful you are mine....

SO....

to celebrate:

Elika helped me to make her cupcakes while Kairi and Kesslynn were at school. Elika enjoyed herself immensely.

Interestingly enough, Kairi loves BATS. I have no idea why. She specifically asked for bat cupcakes- and what kind of mother would I be to deny her. There was no birthday party this year, as I want her to live it up next year. We just had a quiet family gathering.

Burger King was the party spot of choice, and as you can see Talon thought that he might try and trump Kairi for Birthday Royalty.

Kairi also shares a birthday with her Great-Grandmother Winn. So we took a couple of cupcakes to her house to wish her a happy birthday and have them blow out candles together. It was a great day and we are so grateful for them both.

Minute to Win It (Achievement Day Style)

2011-03-03T15:28:00.004-07:00

I have been an Achievement Day Leader for about a year now. In that time we have done so many fun things. One of my favorites was this Daddy- Daughter Date we had. It was based on the show "Minute to Win It." Of course we started with dinner and potluck salad. Then we moved onto...

Moving an Oreo cookie from your forehead to your mouth without dropping it. It was great fun to watch the girls and their fathers attempting this.

From there we moved onto this gem:

Do you know how difficult it is to keep a feather in the air for one minute? Neither do I! Not one person was able to accomplish this.

Next up we split into teams, and instructed the teams to attempt to retrieve a penny from each leg of a (new) pair of pantyhose. All the while not using your hands to assist. That means- one hand down one leg and the other down the other leg. As you can see it was quite entertaining.

Next each team had to take a stack of red cups with a single blue cup at the bottom. Alternating hands, we instructed them to move the blue cup from the bottom to the top by only moving the top cup to the bottom. It didn't matter who won (mainly because I can't remember) but I know the girls (and the dad's) had fun.

Next and Last with the light fading fast, the girls insisted on this one last game. Using only toilet plungers we instructed them to wheel themselves on a skateboard from one side of the parking lot to the other. Every dad and every daughter did this. The laughing that ensued carried me through the night. I have the best pictures of this and great blackmail for our bishop and Sunday School presidency.

Preschool Part Deux

2011-03-03T15:14:00.002-07:00

My Kessie started preschool at the beginning of the school year. She was SO excited, and so was I. We again are doing the round-robin type preschool. The group I am associated with is a lot of fun and so creative. We have two groups a 4-year-old group and a 3-year-old group. Kessie is in the 3-year-old group. She is loving it! Making friends and learning is what she is doing. Once a month we also have a field trip. So far we have been to the Fire Department (pictures to come), partied with both groups, and been to the Bakery. It has been a great experience.

happy birthday talon

2010-09-08T21:24:00.004-06:00

shout out to my littlest brotha talon.......

happy 19th....

i can't wait to see you on your journey

*hugs*

quick little shot of his birthday cupcakes.... he loves "halo"

i {heart} my family

2010-09-08T21:13:00.003-06:00

disclaimer: this is not to seperate anyone out.... because my family is rather large, but this is MY family that i grew up with and they are special in and of themselves...... (some one will say something about how special we all really are too...)

over labor day weekend we got to have my family visit us. talon was set apart as an elder and recieved the melchezidek and dad and dave, sarah and gizmo came to visit. i love having them here and wish i could keep everyone close, but alas it is not to be. so when they come i relish in them being here. while here we went geocaching and then spent some time at red fleet. i had taken some pictures and came across this:

this is my family, we play rough and love each other all in the same breath. i am yet to find a grouping quite as unique as MY FAMILY...... love to each of you......

First Grade 2010

2010-09-08T21:05:00.003-06:00

my little girl put on her big girl pants and went to school as long as cameron is at work..... this sucks.

when it was kindergarten, she was gone part of the day and it was fine, maybe it cut into my day a little bit, but it was still fine.

now my buddy and often times my best friend is gone all day to school...

before she started i thought how much i would get done and how much i would enjoy her being gone and the free time it would afford me.....

i was wrong.....

i miss her.....

and it doesn't get any better than it is now, huh?

*sigh*
*tear*
*tear*
*tear*

{not a great picture of her, but it is her on the first day of school}

*of note, she cried when she got off the bus and saw me. at least it is reciprocated.....

time management

2010-09-08T20:50:00.004-06:00

so obviously i have been on blogger hiatus.... and this is where we get to the root of the problem. cameron and i have been busy doing things all summer and one of those things that have been great fun is geocaching. think of it like a really big treasure hunt with a bunch of people you don't know. we tried it out and had a b*l*a*s*t... so we picked up this cute little buddy

and have been traipsing about all over vernal "caching"/treasure hunting.

some are big and other's are not. this is our very first time geocaching, but i can assure you that it is not and has not been our last.....

jam session

2010-09-08T20:35:00.002-06:00

during our visit to marissa & levi's house, talon noted that levi had a drum set much like the one he had at home. after a while he got permission to go and play on it. soon after levi snuck downstairs and cameron caught them jamming together. it is one of those moments when you know that they were happy right where they were....

clarke planetarium, slc

2010-09-08T20:26:00.004-06:00

we recently got to get the heck out of dodge {dodge=vernal} and go visit cameron's sister in slc. we had a bunch of fun!!!! cameron his dad, and levi's family {i bowed out gracefully, sorry rissa and levi} took a weekend and poured cement around marissa and levi's house, marissa and i got to visit and care for kids and sneak away to enjoy visiting the planetarium. i've never been, but when we go to the city this is the kind of thing i {love} to do with my kids. so we loaded finn and marissa into the van and off we went. the girls and finn got to see all kinds of wonderful aspects of space and our solar system and spent a great deal of time touring the "free" section of the planetarium. we even went to {mars} and {the moon}!!!! we couldn't have had more fun. though i think that marissa had her fill of the stairs :p. thanks marissa and levi for hosting us and for all the fun!!!!

Uintah County Fair {UCF}

2010-09-08T18:10:00.004-06:00

we spent some time at the annual {ucf} again this year and did the rounds. first stop of course is the candy drop {sorry no pictures- i hope you understand}the fire department and the library team up to do this for the kids. they get the hook and ladder truck extend the ladder all the way out and drop -full size- candy bars for the little kids. then for the older kids they rope off an area {no parents allowed- too many elbows being thrown, imagine that!} and have a helicopter come and drop candy from above. my kids are picky so we don't ever end up with too much- thank goodness!!! next stop is the firefighter challenge basically where the kiddos get to spray the hose and set a wooden fire picture spinning and to see how fast they can get it spinning. kesslynn was a little afraid, but after watching kairi decided that she could give it a try. they each earned a fire fighter hat out of the deal. last stop is the little red barn. it is something that the 4-h put together a few years ago and it has grown and grown. kids love it and mine are no exception. it takes you through planting, harvesting, picking, feeding, milking until you get the stuff {fruit, vegetable, eggs, milk, etc} and take it to the grocer and get paid. the girls love it and can't wait every year to go through it!!!! it reallly is a lot of fun!!!! we did manage to avoid the over priced carnival {hurray!!!} to top it all off...

{just yell}

2010-09-06T23:48:00.002-06:00

i was reminiscing some of my later posts and came across {simple}. just so you know those days are not gone. but now if i want something done i {yell} and then amazingly everyone who lives here starts to work and who doesn't .... leaves. hahahahaha just wanted others to know that despite the fun that we are having, we have those {just yell} days too. to those whose lives have more turmoil than mine currently- you can {just yell} twice...... love to you all!!!!

lsdkfhiawhifkjbvc,vaih

2010-09-06T23:19:00.003-06:00

i didn't know what to call this one... so it is isdkfniawhifkibvc,vaih, affectionately...... anyhow the point of it all is to say this. since i got myself a "manny" (ie: Talon- we'll get into this a little later) Cameron and I have been taking some time for ourselves, and on one such occasion our "family" was supposed to go to the Dinosaur Museum {it is free on the fourth of July} but the kids were aweful at the parade, so Talon stayed home with them and Cameron and I got to go explore without the posse. During such a momentous occasion we got a picture of the two of us that I haven't seen the likes of for about 9 years... It's not professional, but it is us... not glamed up not fake not cheesy it is us.......... and I {heart} it......

Family Picture Time

2010-09-06T22:48:00.004-06:00

After cousin camp, we got all the Winn's together and snapped a few photos... These are my favorites...

It's the CCFR (Cousin Camp/ Family Reunion)

2010-09-06T22:31:00.003-06:00

hahahahahahahahahaha sorry i think abbreviations are A-W-E-S-O-M-E and so i abbrev. anyhow we attended the cousin camp again this year and every year the kids have so much fun. this year i felt so much more relaxed and it was way more enjoyable. i don't know what the difference was, but we worked it out. any how here are a few highlights..... some more than others are for posterity's sake......

* kessie * bo * bessie *

2010-09-06T22:20:00.003-06:00

I have a montage of pictures just of my darling girl.....

maybe someday i can catch her spirit.....

Swett Branding.... Cancelled

2010-09-06T22:05:00.003-06:00

Oh what an adventure we had!!! i got it in my mind that we should do the 101 ways to experience the uintah basin challenge and see how many of them we could accomplish this summer. however i didn't account for anything happening and so after this day, i tossed it out the window and we just decided to have FUN!!! anyhow on this day in june (i think) we decided (i decided) we should go to the swett branding. i got it in my head that it was in manila. so we packed the cooler and the kids and the van and headed out on a VERY rainy day. once in manila we couldn't find where we were going so i stopped and talked to the person (very nice lady i might add) at the forest service building and she not only informed me that i was in the wrong T-O-W-N but it was also cancelled... huh?! oh well- our adventure was not over. so we turn around to go back to vernal (which is an hour drive each way mind you) and decide to venture in the direction of the branding and stop and have lunch and then this occurred...

and then this.....

and can you see her gearing up.....

oh ya!!! here it is in all its glory.....

someday she'll thank me for having this picture :p

Busy.... Good Busy..... Busy

2010-09-06T21:46:00.004-06:00

We've been busy..... Good busy.... but busy.... We have had a ton of fun, and this is just the start of the fun for us!!! But I hope to update this enough to catch up to today. So here goes!! I've been harrassed recently to update. Evidently changing my background (which desperately needed updated) wasn't enough. Weird I know, but i try.. Anyhow some of this is rather random.

we've been four- wheeling......

swimming at the rec center....

and just traveling around the uintah basin....

oh you'll see the fun we've had!!!!!!!

graduation

2010-06-09T14:35:00.003-06:00

talon has limited what i can put on the blog concerning his graduation, but i'll put a few on here anyway.....

talon graduated from mvhs a bout a week ago, said good-bye to the valley :( and moved to vernal :). we love him tons...

kessie's new bike

2010-06-09T14:12:00.004-06:00

once there was a pretty girl who wanted a new bike.

she worked and worked and worked

and so did her dad

until one day

she finally earned it!!!!

projects

2010-06-09T14:09:00.002-06:00

just a little sumpin, sumpin.....

$10 +

Dollar Tree+

Glue Gun=

we also have an ongoing project here complete with follow-up reaction. stay tuned!!!!

Three Billie Goats Gruff

2010-06-08T23:08:00.002-06:00

kai brought home this and we decided to make a little video....

Family Picture Time

2010-06-08T22:43:00.003-06:00

What is a blog without the highlights of our family pictures? Sooooo..... here they are in all their glory!!! I love them, and I love the pictures of the kids!!! Thanks Melinda!!!

quicky

2010-04-26T14:52:00.004-06:00

this is just a quicky post of how cute the girls are in their "matchy*matchy" easter dresses.... love them....

ccf

2010-04-26T14:39:00.003-06:00

we were able to go and attend the good ole ccf (clark county fair). it has been several years since we attended and we really enjoyed ourselves. we went on friday, before the crowds and when the weather was beautiful. the kids were so excited and ran and played to their hearts content. for kesslynn the highlight was the multiple pony rides compliments of grandpa and his wife and talon for easter. i couldn't have asked for a finer easter gift. so thanks a ton!!! for kairi the highlight was the time she got to spend with bethany a friend from a few years ago who we have missed dearly. ellie just loved spending time with grandpa, as we all did.

easter

2010-04-26T14:29:00.003-06:00

easter came and went and the girls enjoyed themselves and the events leading up to it.

we made these eggs from a project that we found in family fun... the girls just loved doing it.

we colored easter eggs.....

saw the easter bunny.....

had an easter egg hunt....

and had happy easter pancakes compliments of dad

of course we watched conference as well and enjoyed it too.
happy easter everyone!!!!

sleepy

2010-04-26T14:26:00.001-06:00

i know that i have posted my children's various sleeping places before, but i couldn't pass up highlighting this gem.....

elliebellie*

2010-04-26T14:15:00.002-06:00

ellie belly is one!!!! really?! when did that happen you ask? well actually on march 23, 2010. do you remember that day? me either- really. i went to work- i know that much, but no big deal. she is one and we had a cake and ice cream and presents. that equals a birthday in my book and quite frankly when i have as many helpers as i do, low key birthdays are a relief. anyhow.... so we celebrate as usual. ellie had her right-of-passage cake that she promptly stuck her fingers in and she liked it and licked it. on top of that she also got a new outfit and a couple of books. since her birthday we have discovered (and i think that she has realized as well) that she loves loves loves books. if we sit down with the sisters to read, ellie will pick her own book for us to read. a few other things that crack us up about ellie are these:

1* no teeth yet hahahaha
2* no hair yet hahahaha
3* she has a sweet tooth as well
4* she loves books
5* she loves her mom and dad
6* she loves her sisters- individually as well as collectively
7* she loves chocolate milk
8* she loves to play peek*a*boo
9* she loves a bath
10* she loves to spit (lucky us)

crazy kessie hair

2010-03-22T21:54:00.003-06:00

i know i have blogged about "crazy kessie hair" in the past, but we have had a recent development that will {hopefully} improve the situation.

about a month ago i noticed that kess had a ton of new hair growth- and it was out of control. the more i tried to do her hair, the crazier it seemed to be.

after a while, i noticed that it was all curly. in fact i noticed all the new hair growth was curly- just her baby hair was not. weird i know.

well today i took her to get her hair cut and i love it- she loves it- cameron loves it!!!!

"avon calling"

2010-03-22T21:35:00.002-06:00

ellie thinks that it is awesome to talk on the phone...

in her head it goes something like "jababababbabab hahahahahahahaha jabababyayayababababa {repeat}"

i finally caught her doing it on camera.

it is so funny, because this is the most that you hear her talk -ever-

don't ask don't tell

2010-03-13T23:34:00.003-07:00

there is a don't ask don't tell policy at our house

i'm going to let you figure the missing pieces out yourselves

but this is how we wished mikey a happy birthday

i even had fun making them

{tidbit of info: i melted chocolate chips and followed

a pattern to make the symbols. this technique makes

short work of big decorating projects with *awesome*

results. want more info? email/message me and i'll give

ya the d.l.

ride

2010-03-13T23:30:00.003-07:00

my coolness factor bottomed out

bit the big one

d*o*a

and i couldn't be happier.

we now sport 2 {count them 1 + 1= 2} extra seats

cargo space

and

a new payee each month

but i'm okay with it

cause i've got a new ride......

i'm a vip in my family....

2010-03-13T23:25:00.002-07:00

does anyone else remember that song....

well kairi was the v*i*p of her class the middle of february. so

myself and the sisters went to kairi's class and shared pictures and

stories and funny stuff about kairi. kai ate up the attention. her

classmates shared very nice things about her. she came away in awe

the many friendships she has as well as a huge sense of importance

about herself.....

i'm a v*i*p you see.

i'm a v*i*p in my fam*i*ly

and that's a pretty good thing to be...

::school's out::

2010-03-13T23:20:00.003-07:00

one day there was no school.

for a couple of days to be exact.

i needed my kids entertained.

i imagined i was not the only one.

we invited the neighborhood kids for a few hours.

everyone wins....

calling the tooth fairy

2010-03-13T23:12:00.004-07:00

i think i have mentioned before my difficulty in getting kairi to keep her eyes open during indoor pictures, but this is the best picture i have, so we will work with it. we have recently been visited by the tooth fairy- twice to be exact.

kairi has been losing teeth... no surprise there {she is 6 for crying out loud} but i just didn't realize that i had a child who was old enough to lose teeth. i know this sounds stupid, but really? i know my age.. i know what it says about me.. but i don't feel it and so this came as a surprise. especially since the adult teeth started coming in unbeknownst to me and i didn't clue into it until the adult tooth was already through and pushing her bottom teeth around. i hauled her to the dentist to have him pull it and he sent me {& her} promptly back home to let nature take it's course. so we let it {aided by her father who just can't resist making "someone" bleed hahahaha} needless to say the tooth fairy visit yielded this girl 5 bucks for the first tooth and 4 quarters for the second....

i must have gotten a different tooth fairy, because i was exstatic with 50 cents...... or maybe it is inflation.....

thfree

2010-03-13T22:33:00.004-07:00

today is my kessie*bessie's third birthday

she is so excited

she went through lowe's with us saying:

"birfday girl here. it's my birfday"

and to anyone who would ask:

"today i'm thfree"

we celebrated with a new dress

the standard family party complete with:

a few presents

{thanks for the new dresses and very few "toys"- we've had our fill}

a rainbow "birfday" cake

{this is the highlight of their birthday's for me...}

a rousing rendition of "happy birthday"

{in which she helped sing to herself, hahahahaha}

she couldn't be happier....

some fun things about kessie*bessie
she loves dresses {not kidding: i counted the ones in her closet tonight- there are 26!!!! not including the ones in the laundry!!!}
she takes on different personas *dora *millie *minnie *june {some she even has a monologue memorized for}
she has a sweet tooth that includes sweets for breakfast * lunch * and dinner
she loves to dance
she loves to sing
she loves nursery
she loves ellie*belly and kai*kai
she loves bunny rabbits
she loves to jump and climb and run
she is potty*training {finally}
she loves to be loved {hugs and kisses abound}
we love her so very much and can't believe how wonderful the past thfree years have been with her....

{picture-rama}

2009-12-27T18:41:00.004-07:00

{rachel & jeff}

{talon}

{tenille & mike}

{run-down}

2009-12-27T16:31:00.004-07:00

top 9 things that have occurred since i posted last.....

{1} picked apples

{2} made candy corn

{3} annual trip to the corn maize

{4} celebrated halloween

{5} celebrated thanksgiving

{6} celebrated tenille's licensure as an {LPN}

{7} obtained a crawler

{8} celebrated christmas

{9} learned to fly a fly

{until}

2009-10-21T11:25:00.002-06:00

some people realized i left a recent {or not so recent} update kind of, open-ended.... well we had some things in the works, and they have come through. for the past several months i have been struggling with finding my own self worth. other struggles have been placed on top of that and have taken some time to dig through. cameron used to work really long hours like 12 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week. it was killing us, him and me. after sundance closed their doors and he found a new job that doesn't allow him to work over 40 hours a week i thought things would ease for me and my mind, however they didn't. we have tried giving me one night out a week to get a break from all that the girls needed and to just figure out how to be heidi and not just "mom." this helped quite a bit, but it has been so long since i have just done what i wanted, that i had no idea what to do. i do get the chance to have dinner with friends though and that is nice. but still fulfillment eluded me. it finally slapped me upside the head what i needed to do, and i was really hesitant, but everything is working out better than i could imagine.

i

went

back

to

work!!!!!!

i love it!!!! i work one night a week in the nursery at the hospital.. rocking babies, feeding babies, changing diapers, burping babies... everything i do at home, but i get paid for it!!!! i don't really care about the pay, but the chance to get back to nursing could not feel better. i have been so lucky to get to spend the last 5 years at home with my kids, and i may be a bad mom for not finding fulfillment in being "just mom," but i needed the outlet and a chance to be "heidi." part of being me is being a nurse-- it is a part of my soul, my person---- me.... i don't know what this adventure will bring for me, but i am most grateful for the opportunity!!!!!

(lady/kai)bug birthday

2009-09-27T21:49:00.005-06:00

confused about the title.... well you probably are.... we call her kai-bug and she wanted a lady bug party

so......

this week has been a lady bug party type theme

kairi celebrated her 6th birthday party and floored me with her maturity from 5 to 6 almost overnight.

here are the highlights...

ladybug pancakes compliments of her daddy

ladybug cake compliments of her mommy

birthday presents compliments of all in attendance

top ten trivia of kairi

10* loves to learn about anything especially science (volcanoes, and the way the body is designed)

9* loves to play with friends and there are plenty of them around here

8* loves junie b jones

7* loves her little sisters and is an awesome big sister

6* loves going to school, but hates to get out of bed for school (figure that one out) hehehe

5* has a great big heart and feels overwhelmed by her feelings sometimes

4* is very tech saavy (she can run the computer almost as good as i can)

3* loves to help out however she can

2* loves special time with the "special people" in her life

1* loves to *l*e*a*r*n* ( did i already mention that?) huh?

kairi i am so proud of how big you are getting and what a big girl you are.... i love you

{pics}

2009-09-11T15:35:00.003-06:00

sorry i am not very inventive right now, but sometimes, it just doesn't happen......

but a heads up on {who} these are of....

kaitlynn {cameron's sister}
james {family friend}
michael {cameron's cousin}
kairi, kesslynn & elika {my girls} *like you didn't know*

{the game of life}

2009-09-11T15:24:00.002-06:00

the top ten things that we have done since i last posted:

10: birthdays...... my birthday, cameron's birthday, and preparing for kairi's birthday

9: rolling over.. ellie mastered rolling over and would roll everywhere

8: water activities..... primary splash park, library closing activity generally participating in water games

7: redecorating.... painted two rooms in my house-- hurray

6: kindergarten... kairi started kindergarten and loves it....

5: crazy church stuff.... parties, new stake organized, oquirrh mountain temple dedication

4: zoo.... we visited the zoo {shocker}

3: grandma greats..... in one week we visited every great grandma the girls have. it wasn't on purpose, but it was enjoyable

2: crawling.... ellie now is a crawler, i tried to talk her out of it, but true to children she didn't listen

1: pictures... check out the slide show of my favorite pictures i have recentlu taken

kind of ant-climatic, but that is how our lives are right now..... until...

{lost but not forgotten}

2009-09-05T22:28:00.001-06:00

whoops!! it would seem that i haven't updated in almost 2 months--- so sorry!! so keep checking back this coming week and i should have something or other posted of interest... don't anyone start thinking for one second that there is a "big announcement" or anything... my hiatus is more of finding my rhythm to life.... i'm sure there are some who can relate......

{bless this child}

2009-07-17T10:13:00.002-06:00

we blessed our sweet ellie about a month ago. it was beautiful to have occur and always makes me feel better when my baby is blessed. we were so lucky to have all of our siblings able to attend and visit. i love both of our families and i don't know what i would do without them. anyhow, i finally go around to taking ellie's pictures in her blessing dress and so here they are showcased. also everyone should leave a comment as to their favorite and the winning picture will be posted in the sidebar.....

{spare me the change}

2009-07-11T22:59:00.003-06:00

june 1

july 1

sundance rv decided to close up shop recently and we had to find a new job. luckily we were able to secure one quickly. after 6 years with sundance it was like going to the first day of school all over again. will we ever grow up? probably not.... but at least most people will keep every thought that comes to their minds to themselves, and we don't have to raise our hands to be excused from the lunch table. but he does have to wear a name badge.........

{sucker}

2009-07-05T16:05:00.002-06:00

ellie found her thumb.....

by the way she sucks on it, it must be cherry flavored.....

{singing in the room}

2009-07-05T15:39:00.003-06:00

the boys had a LAN {local area network} party at our house a few weeks ago and were rocking out to "gamer-music" i couldn't resist taping them and really couldn't resist posting it...... welcome to my home!!!!

{munchies}

2009-07-05T15:16:00.006-06:00

what do you do when you have a hankering for something and a {few} coupons to get it.....

you splurge....

like this!!!!!

{happy father's day}

2009-07-05T15:11:00.002-06:00

happy father's day to these three!!!! even if it is late..... {better late than never}

{privacy please}

2009-06-12T14:45:00.002-06:00

we have a large sliding glass door in our dining/ kitchen area... i have had the dilemma of dressing the window, because the dining room is so small. this fact alone, has caused me to tap the creative juices and come up with this solution that provides privacy & beauty {at least i think}, without cutting into my "space"

{loved}

2009-06-12T14:43:00.001-06:00

i am loved this much by three of the sweetest girls to walk the planet.....

thanks a bunch sweethearts

{where's waldo}

2009-06-12T14:38:00.002-06:00

i went to check on the girls before i slept the other night and i couldn't find kairi....

this is what i walked into.....can you find her?

here she is.....

{two of a kind}

2009-06-12T14:33:00.002-06:00

this is a picture of cameron & ellie; keith & keifer....

our lives have run pretty parallel. they are great friends of ours and we are even blessed to have them as family. our children are close in age {except they are 1 up on us, and they have boys- we have girls} we are so blessed.... thank you so much {i kind of just like the picture}

{graduation day}

2009-06-12T14:18:00.003-06:00

i may be a bit late, but nonetheless here is our little graduate in all her glory.

i participated in a co-op preschool system this year and enjoyed it. more than that so did kairi... she made new friends, got her creative juices rolling, and got to be a part of an organized school curriculum outside of church.

as the mothers/teachers of this co-op, we decided to hold graduation and it was a lot of fun. peggy and i were teamed up to make the caps/gown combos and it was awesome. kesslynn and peggy's son joe who is the same age helped to place the shape stickers on the tops of the "mortarboards."

we are so proud of our little graduate and all she has accomplished thus far.

{ya they're mine}

2009-05-31T22:51:00.003-06:00

today in church we sat down for the last 10 minutes of sacrament {as is the case lately, but we are working on it} and visited with a sister in our ward who has 2 girls as her oldest children. she began to say that she had noticed that the oldest is "the bossy one' and the next one was "the ham"
i couldn't agree more-- although kairi has her cooky side, she does tend to be bossy. and as previous posts have solidified kess definitely fulfills the "ham" role. i am so grateful for all the little things that make them them.....

{hello nurse!!!}

2009-05-31T22:35:00.004-06:00

congratulations to my little sister!!! she did it!!!

and now she joins a growing list of nurses in our family. evidently caring and compassion, poop and puke, insomnia and exhaustion run in our genes.

i am so proud of her for all her hard work!!! love you 't'.

she is now an lpn....

uncle kevin {mom's side} he's a nurse too!!!

getting her nightingale lamp

pinning ceremony

ya we got your back you lucky girl you!!!

{tricky toes}

2009-05-22T23:21:00.002-06:00

i've talked of this before- here is a video of kesslynn doing "tricky toes" don't cringe!!!

{should i be worried}

2009-05-22T23:18:00.001-06:00

is this a sign of things to come?

{the mother of invention}

2009-05-22T22:58:00.004-06:00

some video of what kairi is and kairi does... especially on a "non-friend" day...gotta love her

{mommy day}

2009-05-22T22:48:00.003-06:00

happy mommy day to me! i was treated to sleeping in, sick kids, handprints that i don't have to clean up- i just get to keep them (the best kind), hugs and kisses abound... nothing better than that. i know it's late, but happy mommy day to all and especially to two very special individuals: my mom and my mother-in-law. i know it is late, but i thought of you both all day long. the one cannot replace the other and they both stand as equals. i am fortunate enough to have the knowledge that i truly have one on earth and one in heaven- she is not gone. i love you both dearly. thank you for all you do, are and help me to be.

{desperation}

2009-05-04T09:50:00.001-06:00

so sorry to disappoint, but really we have had a fairly quiet week this week {hurray- i think}. except for one little thing. kairi is what one might call a "social butterfly" of sorts. she recently acquired a new friend down the road and around the corner. the way our subdivision is set up is in a loop so if you start walking in one direction and follow the road you will eventually end up where you began. well i allowed kairi to go see if her friend would play. about an hour later she returns with the introduction "mom i need to tell you the truth." i love that she is honest, because it is so very important to me in my life, but this intro is not what i was expecting. she then tells me that her friend couldn't play/ wasn't home and so she had spent the last hour or so knocking on RANDOM doors, asking if they had kids that she could play with. AAAAARRRGGGG! so i am posting a poll at the bottom to see if anyone else has the problem of their child needing a never-ending pool of friends. please let me know- i am desperate......

{Simple}

2009-04-26T21:38:00.002-06:00

today i missed church....

because i couldn't find my shoe.....

it shouldn't feel so frustrating.....

i am going to blog on this.. it may be too personal for some, but i am blogging it anyway, because, like me, i know someone out there needs to hear that someone else struggles... i am that someone else.

my girls are precious and loving and everything i have wanted, then the day gets rolling and i have to deal with the crying and whining and screaming and fits and diapers and eating and dishes and, and, and.....

i literally sat on the floor today and cried in my husband's arms over my missing shoe. i then proceeded to throw away my girls things that were left out. packed up the mess in the playroom. screamed and yelled and threw my own fit...

then i felt a little better. i wish i could keep it all together and keep a nice house, clean children, children that are dressed, and have time to have fun with my kids. i feel like all i do is clean up and i never have time to just "play" with them.

i even threw out the cleaning system i was using so i could sit while i was pregnant and it has been shelved ever since, so i could attend to 3 instead of 2.

i visited with the most amazing person today and watched (and listened) as i heard my words come through her lips at her own trouble-makers. there is comfort in this. i didn't feel like such a failure. and so i post my own troubles in hopes that someone else will feel comfort. because that is what we are to do. and if you feel compelled share your own challenges so that i can have others riding this crazy boat of motherhood with me.....

{Abundance}

2009-04-26T21:33:00.002-06:00

they tell me that she is too little.....

to increase her calories......

do you think that this is what "they" mean?

Overheard....

2009-04-22T17:02:00.002-06:00

Kesslynn: "Kairi Jo Winn, I stinky butt!!"

Kairi: "Yes Kesslynn, You do have a stinky butt."

Guess I had better get on that--

~~ Easter ~~

2009-04-18T12:48:00.004-06:00

This year our Easter was VERY low key. Ellie was almost 3 weeks old, so it really slowed us down on what we could do. Of course, we took the kids to the XRQ Easter Egg hunt, which is really an Easter Candy Hunt. They both came away with just the right amount of candy and I re-used it to fill the easter eggs. Kesslynn has the most serious sweet tooth that is only rivaled by one particular little boy (ahem- Isaac -ahem). So this year I vowed to NOT buy ANY candy. I also have a sweet tooth, and at this point in time I think it has gotten the better of me... necessitating a trip to the dentist- soon.) Anyway, so this is what the girls did and how much fun they had despite the "low key" I have to say they still had fun, and I think we will keep it up.....

4 Weeks Old

2009-04-18T12:36:00.004-06:00

Just some quick pictures of Ellie at {almost} 4 weeks old.....

{

Kairi is responsible for this shot....{above}

Elika Ann Winn

2009-04-13T22:50:00.002-06:00

Wish I had an updated picture for you, but I don't so-- Oh well!!!!

First of all-- Congrats to all the new moms out there!!! Hurray we all got there relatively unscathed. Now the fun starts with a newborn and getting used to THAT new schedule!!

I realized it has been awhile, and I still haven't given the whole "birth story." So here goes.

March 20th was my due date and the first day of spring, but no baby. So I waited. At my last appointment, my doctor (surprisingly didn't hound hehehe) asked what I wanted to do. He asked if I was ready and if I wanted to be induced. Honestly I was sitting on the fence. I wanted to have Ellie so bad, but an induction is hard on a body, and I just wasn't sure I was at that point. So he told me to go home and think about how "done" I was and call him if I didn't want to wait even 1 more week. I figured I'd see how long I could tough it out.

Sunday came. 2 days after my due date, and HURRAY!!! contractions started about 3pm. They were so wimpy though. I didn't think that they hurt and the last time I went through this, the contractions hurt in a different place--- my back. So I was waiting for that to start. It never did... My contractions were like 1 hour apart, so I went and did my Sunday ritual miserable as I was. By the time I went to bed that night they were probably 30-45 min apart. Closer, but I wasn't going to the hospital for them either.

Monday morning came. 3 days after my due date, and HIP HIP HURRAY!!!! the contractions woke me up about 3 am. But they were like 30 min apart so I decided to go back to sleep. No point in going to the hospital for these wimpy things either. About 6 am, they woke me up again, and this time something felt different--- the contractions were actually starting to hurt. Now I needed to breathe. I woke up Cameron, and we yanked our little ones out of bed and hauled them to the hospital, where Cameron's dad met us to take the girls with him. Hopefully I was staying!!!

The nurse came in and checked me.... 3cm... You have to be kidding me... I was a 3 two doctors appointments ago!!! I was ready to go home. But my nurse (she was my nurse with Kesslynn too) had me stay for an hour. "If you change in the next hour we will keep you..." Praying for change....

1 hour later: Hurray!!! I am now a 5!!! (After a really terrible contraction- thus prompting the quick placement of the blissful "EPIDURAL". After the heaven drug was placed, the rest was kind of a blur.

Of note, however, is the downside to my tale. I have had the same doctor with all the kids. This time around we go in for delivery and find out that he is out of town. Sucky.... He is an awesome doctor, and I can't say enough nice things about him (can I Chandra hahahaha) Anyway I got the newest OB in town-- He'll do.....

From here on out it is pretty much textbook.... "PUSH!" "PUSH!" "BREATHE!" etc... She showed up at 2:38pm. I was exhausted in a way I can't describe. I am so glad she got here and that I didn't have to labor for too terribly long!! Thus is the end of the anti-climactic tale.

Ellie is now 3 weeks old and she is a dear. We all are in love with her and she makes it so easy. I heard it said recently that you really learn to love a baby with your third. I think that it is so true. I know what to cherish, what to forget and I'm getting a little better at rolling with the punches the kids throw at me. Kesslynn may be running around without a diaper on 90% of the time, but she is wearing a smile... Kairi's hair is a mess and her clothes don't match, but she is happy and I think she is clean. I may miss my shower 2 out of 3 days, but I have deodorant and I'm no longer pregnant. I can pick up my kids, hug them tight, wipe away their tears, read them stories with them on my lap, and hold my brand-new baby. I am Happy.....

* iRoq*

2009-03-24T22:50:00.003-06:00

Betcha can't guess why.....

Because I helped create and bring

This:

Enjoy this tidbit slide show and come back later for "the rest of the story."

{ { {{ Happy Birthday Kessie}} } }

2009-03-14T14:05:00.002-06:00

My current baby is 2!!!! And I can't believe it....
It took some convincing to get her here and there were so many emotions that we dealt with surrounding and during her birth. It was a hard one. But I would not change it for anything!!! She is such a blessing to our family!!!

We celebrated with a little family party that goes something like this:

:::Cake::::

:::Candle Drama:::

:::Recovery:::

:::Presents:::

:::Resting:::

So there is the party!!!!

Some things about Kesslynn Leigh that are fun to talk about:

1. She loves "Dora the Explorer"
2. She is seldom clothed~ She even undressed at the doctor's office during her 2 year
old check up!!!
3. She loves to be "tricky"- her current trick is to walk on the tops of her toes
{imagine curling your toes under and walking like that}
4. She snores-- just like her dad and her sister
5. She loves to eat EVERYTHING
6. She loves her big sister and can't get enough of her
7. She has started saying "Love you too!"
8. She goes crazy at about 7pm every night- that is how I know she is tired
9. She is learning to pray and gets help from everyone
10. She loves to tell me that she is my girl

Happy Birthday Kesslynn!!! We love you!!!

Us....

2009-03-04T21:43:00.002-07:00

Okay, so I don't particularly like to post about myself.... It is always much more fun to tell everyone about my girls or husband. But I figure I am getting close enough to popping that I had better catch you all up....

No Baby yet.... If I go on my own I will be surprised. I am Due March 20. I don't expect anything until at least then-- so don't stress that you missed something :: I promise you didn't.

The Baby is turned, but that is the extent of her making her way here. My doctor will probably have to hound me into having this baby, because he had to hound me into the last one. I even got induced TWICE with Kesslynn before we actually got her here. {The first time I had the induction was for my doctor's sake. He doesn't like Mama's that get too close- or go over- their due dates} So anyway.....

Baby has no name at this point and I think it will come down to a little crunch time/ pressure before we decide on one. It hasn't felt very pressing to have a name when we get there so we go with it.

As for me, I feel pretty crappy, but probably no different than anyone else. The older girls exhaust me and Kesslynn is almost 2 which is more than enough child to handle and I have Kairi on top of that. Our neighbors {the people we built our home with- convenient for us} are great to let Kairi come play and have really been the friends we knew they would be when we were building. My misery at this point is nothing that is abnormal for anyone as far along as me and I expect no sympathy- Just be aware that my fuse is short and I don't answer the phone or the door for that matter when I feel like this to spare others my wrath.... {I am afraid that when my fuse is this short my emotions tend to override my reasoning and when they clash anyone in my way should beware}

So go ahead- come visit me I Dare Ya!!!!! J/K..... Keep watching the blog, I'll post when we pop!!!

Happy "GETTING MUCH OLDER" Birthday Dave!!!!!

2009-03-03T16:46:00.003-07:00

Davy---

We hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!! Love you- Heidi, Kairi, Kesslynn and Cameron

How Fancy are You?

2009-02-13T12:31:00.007-07:00

We are this Fancy:

We read Fancy Nancy {during our Tea Party}. How Divine!
{that's a fancy way of saying "wonderful"}

We learned to curtsy.
{that's a fancy way of saying "bow"}

We had tea and cookies
{that's a fancy way of saying "punch and goodies"}

Finally, we made exquisite Valentine's Boxes
{that's a fancy way of saying "pretty"}

All in all, we had a Divine time!!!

{If you have a little girl--- prepare for a Fancy Nancy habit... It is great fun!!!}

<< Rock It Out, Kairi!!! >>

2009-02-13T11:00:00.004-07:00

Kairi and Kesslynn totally jammin' out to "Punk Rock Princess" {Something Corporate} and "Basketball" {Babe the Blue Ox}.....

Punk Rock Princess {above}

Basketball {below}

Logandale Chapel Burns....

2009-02-10T16:22:00.003-07:00

I am at a loss for words, at the pictures and videos that are being released regarding this. There are many happy memories to be remembered in this place. One of which is that I was baptized and confirmed in this building. I will never forget that it was the Stake House for all of my growing up years and then the New Stake Center was built about the time I was 14. I didn't realize the history of it, but I always new it was special. Visit this link and witness a small part of my life before......

As more and more comes out about the fire, I am stunned by the historical significance and the deep history that this building carried in my hometown. Here is a history of the Logandale Chapel that I found on MVProgress.com {the local newspaper}... Read it if you like.... the history is impressive

+++Heavenly Party+++

2009-01-26T21:45:00.003-07:00

I don't know all that goes on in Heaven, but for the sake of moving on and for my girls I have been trying to make events that were about my Mom in some way (ie birthday, death day, mother's day etc....) somewhat uplifting, without forgetting why we do it. So here is another post about my Mom. Her birthday was January 17. She would have been 55, but Kairi and Kesslynn don't care about that. So we decided to have a "Grandma Jo's 3rd Heavenly Birthday Party." Complete with cake, ice cream, party hats and the aforementioned party favors. Kairi is always up for a party and had been counting down the days until this birthday party was to commence. On that day, she awoke before the rest of us and came downstairs and decorated the table- getting the table cloth in place, setting up the crowns, plates, napkins, paper cups etc. It was the evening, before we got to do it, but she didn't care. She and Kesslynn decorated the cake and then we all sang "Happy Birthday" and danced to "Ring of Fire." (Ring of Fire has no significance that I am aware of, the girls just love to dance to it).... You may or may not care about this, but sometimes there are those who could use some good ideas as to how to keep your loved one in your life- without all the sadness. I CHOOSE how to handle this, because I couldn't when she died.......

****SNO*W****

2009-01-26T08:57:00.003-07:00

This post is for my family that DOES NOT get snow.........

I think I win!!!!!! Hahahahaha
I just got word that they are only making it a half day of school because of the snow....

It is still snowing and is supposed to continue all day today......

Cameron went to work this morning and said he passed a snow plow--- IN THE DITCH {comforting}

Party Fun

2009-01-25T17:45:00.004-07:00

Evidently Party favors offer at least one hour of enjoyment for all ages......

{RELAX}

2009-01-25T17:38:00.003-07:00

We all need to find our niche, so to speak..... My kids have tackled the art of relaxation.....

Whether you prefer to work your way into a ZEN state

~or~

Topple over where you stand.........

the end product is the same--- SHEER RELAXATION...

I hate CHARLIE and I want to kill his HORSE

2009-01-23T22:26:00.003-07:00

There are many, many, many joys of pregnancy to be discussed. However, can I just say that the one that always gets me comes right about now- 8 weeks before delivery. There is nothing like being on the threshold of waking, streching your body to it's limits and the start of day and--- WHAM!!!!! getting a calf or two tied up in a knot that you feel would take a hundred breadmakers 6 days to knead out of your muscle..... And that is why I want to kill Charlie's Horse.......

Sweetest Part

2008-12-27T16:26:00.003-07:00

Christmas is all about the kids.... I don't care who you are, it really is. This Christmas, Kairi set out the Traditional Milk and Cookies for Santa, but then she added her own special touch that only Kairi can add. She added a gift to Santa for the reindeer, wrapped in a gift box was a little bell. Then she added a note.... you'll see. Santa, of course, responded. Later that day, I asked what her favorite part of the day was (thinking of all the gifts she was given) and she responded "Leaving Santa a note and gift for the reindeer and having him write me back and tell me I was a good girl." Even when she was little she was very enthusiastic about praise, I would say that it is continuing on...... She is already trying to be her best for next year.....

Christmas Morning--- Executed

2008-12-27T16:01:00.002-07:00

Glimpse at Christmas Morning in the Winn Household.....

Christmas Highlights

2008-12-27T15:37:00.002-07:00

1. Making Snowflake Window Clings..... You can also see the T-shirts we made.... So Cute!!!
2. Easy as Making Cookies
3. The biggest Ward I have ever lived in!!! (And we live out in the Boonies of Vernal!!!!)

4. The Claus' Meet and Greet

5. Making Gingerbread/Graham Cracker Houses

6. Play Tee-Pee...... I love this, and so do they

7. Mrs Claus at the Library Story Hour

8. Kess got in and only came out to unwrap one gift, The only one that she couldn't open from the Car

9. Can you say Gaming is Hereditary?

10. Made an apron for both girls.... They love to cook...

The Month in a Nutshell....

"Pajama Pants Shirt"

2008-12-27T15:21:00.004-07:00

No idea where she got this.... I sent her to get ready for bed and this is what I got..... As you can see it happened on more than one occasion....

Wee Willie Winkle.......

2008-12-27T15:10:00.003-07:00

Maybe not that song, but Kesslynn has found her "singing voice" and she uses it. It is so cute to hear her singing and she does it frequently. Here is a snippet of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

---Teamwork---

2008-11-28T21:52:00.002-07:00

I have much to be Thankful for..... our Thanksgiving was fairly easy. Then, of course, the holidays hit-- or in this case the Holly Days. Every year for the past few years Vernal puts on "Holly Days." A day full of fun, free, family activities. I am all about it. I love the holidays and really enjoy this day-after-Thanksgiving treat.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER......

Yesterday (after we had eaten) should have given me a clue....

Kairi comes to me in tears (as usual---I swear nothing happens without the waterworks, like I won't believe her without them or something.....) telling me that she got dog poop on my jacket....

that she was wearing, because she couldn't find her own.......

OUTSIDE.......

she leaves, after relinquishing said "dirty jacket"

There wasn't that much there, but several of us could still {Smell}

**checking shoes**

"DANG IT!!!!" She also stepped in it--- the crap I mean....

Oh well, through the course of conversation, I realize it could have been worse.... She could have been her cousin, whose hand was the reason that my jacket had poop on it.... (hehehehe)

It's okay!!! It's the Holidays and everyone is happy--especially me. I love the Holidays and Holly Days is now upon us!!!!!!

Ya that thought lasted about an hour.......

So that brings us to today....

Item #1: Go see Santa Clause {after lunch--mind you}

We are standing in line, and Kairi and I are having an in depth conversation about the fact that she forgot her list to give to Santa and that now he won't know what she wants.....

[cue Cameron and Kesslynn for that matter]

Cameron: "Heidi we are done here....."

I look up just in time to see Kesslynn unload, I believe, Lunch and Breakfast into her Father's shoulder {dang it}

Off we go home to let Kesslynn sleep and Cameron clean up...

He was a good sport though..... He laughed....... Until the diarrhea started....

Good thing he can handle the front end [I can't]

Good thing I can handle the back end [He can't]

That's what it is all about---Teamwork........

SEV3N

2008-11-25T16:59:00.002-07:00

MY SEVEN

7 Things I can do

I can still fit my high school jeans {when I'm not pregnant-of course}
I can craft till the cows come home-- I love crafting and creating.
I can READ all day long :::: there are things that get ignored though (kids, meals, chores)
I can cook
I can do the wiring from start to finish in a pretty basic house like mine!!!
I can start an IV and find a vein on just about anyone [except babies]
I can find almost anything on the internet- I heart the internet!!

7 Things I can't do

See my toes
Get out of bed in the morning
Cry when it is appropriate { I cry when I shouldn't and don't when I should}
Find the "perfect" haircut **the mantle has been passed, more on this later**
Make a BOY I love my girls, though
Find it in me to clean the Bathroom-- consistently
Dig a STUPID hole to plant a STUPID tree....

7 Things that attracted me to my Husband

He rode a bike & could do tricks on it
His ears were pierced
His tongue was pierced
He wore baggy pants {is there a pattern here.....}
He was still a member of the Church
He made me feel special and beautiful
He was making something of himself-- going to school

7 Things I always say

Kessie lets change your diaper
Kairi STOP... Listen to me
Kairi no one knows what you are saying when you cry
Kairi stop crying
Kessie don't bite
Hello
Cooolll!!!

7 Things I love to EAT {this is unfair....}

Cake
Cookies
Candy
Chips and Cheese
Ice Cream
Carbohydrates
Sweet Pea Taffy
Frozen Yogurt and mini Gummi Bears

7 People I tag

Peggy
Kathy
Levi/Marissa
Alison
Shauna
Sarah
Chris

::::: Husband Tag :::::

2008-11-25T16:16:00.002-07:00

1. His Name? Cameron {Cameroni, Cam, Hunny, Dear, you get the idea....}

2. Who eats more? I think he does.... He can really put it away if he likes it (ie brownies)

3. Who said "I Love You" first? I think I claim this one, but it was promptly reciprocated

4. Who is TALLER? No question here---he is, I'm short.

5. Who is smarter? I am not touching this one-- I vote TIE!!!!!

6. Who is more sensitive? I win this one too? I cried while watching Design Star---I am pregnant though.

7. Who does the LAUNDRY? Do we really need to ask this question..... Of course, I do.

8. Who sleeps one the right side of the bed (when looking at it)? HE DOES (closer to the kids, hehe)

9. Who pays the bills? I do-- but he is the money genius... I think he is trying to teach

10. Who cooks more? I really like to cook-- otherwise we all get Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

11. Who is more Stubborn? {ding ding ding} Winner here-- that is me.....

12. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? He is.... I can be very patient, and I have a LLLLLLllllllloooooonnnnnnnggggggg memory!!!

13. Who has more siblings? He does.... (4 sisters) I have (1 sister & 2 brothers)

14. Who wears the pants in the relationship? ME!!!! <at least all signs point to me>

15. What do you like to do TOGETHER? We are like toddlers... side by side play

16. Who eats more sweets? That would be me..... ah-hem

17. Guilty Pleasures? Good question.... Probably like Peggy-- Technology {and we wonder why we get along}

18. How did you meet? He was my neighbor... I spied on him doing tricks on his bike in the complex parking lot.....

19. Who asked whom out first? Didn't go down like that........

20. Who kissed whom first? Is there any doubt? My "playa" husband-- totally hit this first!!!

21. Who proposed? He did.... Rainbow Park ( i think--- hey it doesn't matter where!!!)

22. His best features and qualities? He has a great smile and beautiful eyes. He is kind and patient and loving. I know I make his list....

ThanksGiving

2008-11-25T16:03:00.003-07:00

This time of year always comes. Then it goes as well. However, through blogging I have met a woman, who I would say, had ThanksGiving in her heart every day of the year. As many of you will notice now that I have posted this, In my side bar is a link to "Nie Nie". If you want a softer, kinder, more peaceful heart- visit this woman's blog and bask in the Spirit that eminates from her words. StephaNIE NIElson is a blogging mom who up until August you would have sworn had everything- and enjoyed EVERYTHING. Even when her neighborhood had a huge blow-up and the cops were involved, she took it in stride and posted the most comical post ever. She loved being married, being a mom, and a homemaker. In August, she and her husband were in a private airplane crash and both were burned severely. She is still in rehab. The pilot died in that crash. Because of her blogging spirit, people are drawn to her blog in droves and even while she was laying in a coma, she was spreading the Gospel-- through example.

The reason I post about this is to give ThanksGiving.... for all the things in my life that at times I have felt were mundane. They are not.... Through Nie Nie's words I have a new appreciation for my girls, my struggles, my husband and my marriage. She left words that were simple but conveyed EVERYTHING. I may post more often or not, but I am trying to capture the spirit she holds and that gets her family through the trying times. She is the glue that keeps her family together-- you can tell. But it is before life got hard and now that it is hard, her words are there to keep perspective. I have no idea, how she is handling things, but right now it would be hard to envision it being very hard not to have kept some of the spirit that she has been so blessed with and in turn has blessed others with.

Winn or Lose

{Apologies}

{Lucian Lee}

{summertime}

{Easter}

{kesslynn is 4}

Basic Black

Talon Moving...

Family Picture Time

Holiday Busy-Ness

Small Town Kids

Chomper Check

QuickPics...

Firefighter Kesslynn

S*E*7*E*N

Minute to Win It (Achievement Day Style)

Preschool Part Deux

happy birthday talon

i {heart} my family

First Grade 2010

** time management **

jam session

clarke planetarium, slc

Uintah County Fair {UCF}

{just yell}

lsdkfhiawhifkjbvc,vaih

Family Picture Time

It's the CCFR (Cousin Camp/ Family Reunion)

* kessie * bo * bessie *

Swett Branding.... Cancelled

Busy.... Good Busy..... Busy

graduation

kessie's new bike

projects

Three Billie Goats Gruff

Family Picture Time

quicky

ccf

easter

sleepy

*ellie*bellie*

*crazy kessie hair*

"avon calling"

don't ask don't tell

*ride*

i'm a v*i*p in my fam*i*ly....

::school's out::

*calling the tooth fairy*

**thfree**

{picture-rama}

{run-down}

{until}

(lady/kai)bug birthday

{pics}

{the game of life}

{lost but not forgotten}

{bless this child}

{spare me the change}

{sucker}

{singing in the room}

{munchies}

{happy father's day}

{privacy please}

{loved}

{where's waldo}

{two of a kind}

{graduation day}

{ya they're mine}

{hello nurse!!!}

{tricky toes}

{should i be worried}

{the mother of invention}

{mommy day}

{desperation}

{Simple}

{Abundance}

Overheard....

~*~ Easter ~*~

4 Weeks Old

Elika Ann Winn

SE7EN

time management

elliebellie*

crazy kessie hair

ride

i'm a vip in my family....

calling the tooth fairy

thfree

~~ Easter ~~

* iRoq*

****SNO*W****

{RELAX}

ThanksGiving