The story of the cabin and our 2009 fall pictures

It's tradition to take a picnic up the canyon between sessions of October conference and enjoy a hike, indulge in the beautiful colors and take pictures for our Christmas cards for the season. This year we were offered a nights stay at a cabin owned by a guy that John works with. My mom agreed to watch our kids over night and John and I headed to Logan canyon for an evening/ night together, just the two of us. How romantic right? A cozy mountain cabin, the gorgeous fall colors, a fireplace. Unfortunately when we arrived the cabin was filthy, and covered in rat and mouse poop. It was everywhere! All over the carpet, the couches, the backs of the couches, counter tops, table, on top of the microwave, on the pillows, the bed and even on the seat of the toilet. It was a kind offer, but we didn't stay more than a couple of minutes. Instead we checked into the Marriott Hotel in Logan, the nicest place in the valley. Why waste an over night babysitter, right! Feeling guilty since the coworker had been so excited to share his cabin, John wanted to take the kids back to the cabin spot the next morning, enjoy our picnic out on the lawn and hike and take our pictures around it. That way he could tell the friend we had enjoyed ourselves without causing hurt feelings. They had a fun old swing that the kids enjoyed and the hiking trails around made for some great colorful family pictures. The kids were even more excited to find snail shells dotting the hillside. We did end up having a really nice traditional fall picnic!

To choke, or take a picture, that is the question!

September 30, 2009
Today there is a high of 47 degrees. Compare that to yesterdays high of 85 and you can see that we all think it is freezing!

October 1, 2009
Yesterday was freezing cold, and today is even colder! Our tomatoes all froze to death out in the garden along with the squash and all remaining plants (with the exception of all the ripe tomatoes that we brought in for one last batch). Truth be told, I am glad! I have had enough canning/ freezing/ jamming for this year, and now that it has frosted, the apples will soon be ready along with the grapes. There are fall colors everywhere and snow on the mountains all the way down to the benches. I know it will warm up again before winter actually sets in, but in the mean time it is so cold that the kids don't want to go outside, and it's SEP conference time along with UEA weekend, so no school for the week. The kids decided to entertain themselves by dumping out EVERY game, toy bin, box, doll, dress ups, blanket, pillow, etc. Which is the thing in this world that will make me go crazy faster than any other "activity" other than when they tear my newly made bed apart! ARGHH! So now they are all grounded to their rooms until the stuff is put back because I need a time out!It's going to be a very long winter...and fall just started! I love my kids, I love my kids, I love my kids!

The ultrasound says: It's a girl!

For a long time, before we were even expecting Jacob, Olivia has told us she had a baby sister coming. When we were expecting Jacob, she was so insistent that this was the baby sister she knew she would have. But Jacob was very much a boy, no matter how much she pouted and wanted us to change him to a girl. She told us "No, it's a girl! I prayed to Heavenly Father and asked him for a baby sister and he said 'Yes.'" Thank goodness she loved her brother and didn't want to trade him after he got here. She even got defensive when Great Grandma tried to trade him for a girl at the grocery store. But she has continued to ask when her sister was coming. We told her that she wasn't going to have a sister, that she would be the only Princess for us. We were pretty satisfied with our four kids. But apparently Heavenly Father does have plans of his own because despite our birth control efforts, I found myself with very familiar feelings and sickness. Jacob was only nine months old! We were the infertile couple, eight years of not being able to get pregnant. How could this happen using birth control?! Olivia smiled and told us that this was her baby sister. I reminded her over and over again that it probably was a brother (and we love our boys! They are just so much FUN!), that's just the way things seem to go. But she insisted, and I hoped for her. On the day of our ultrasound, I tried not to get her hopes up. I reminded her again as she left for school that it might be a boy, but she was confident saying "But... it MIGHT be a girl." In truth, as I left to meet John at the doctor's office, I realized that it didn't matter what we have, we love them all, and we really just hoped for a healthy baby. But the ultrasound tech smiled and told us "You are going to have a very happy little daughter. It's definately a baby girl!" I was so excited! "Are you sure?" I asked, I don't think Olivia would forgive me if we told her one thing and brought home another. The tech pointed out the reasons for his conclusion from several different views, and we left with a fistful of ultrasound pictures and the reassurance that this was a very healthy little girl. I bought a pink balloon, originally figuring that a balloon would ease the fact that it was blue, and went to pick Olivia up from kindergarten. She smiled as she came to greet me and said "Thanks for the balloon." "What color is it?" I asked her and she looked at it and then at me and squealed "It's a baby sister, it's a baby sister!" and then ran to tell her teacher the news. Mrs. Allen was so excited for her and said that the balloon was such a fun way to tell her. We tied the balloon to the porch for Spencer to see as he came home from school, and he did exactly as I figured, walked right passed it. When I asked him if he saw it, he said "Yes". Olivia in exaspertion blurted out "It's a baby girl!". Spencer smiled and said "It's a girl!?" and then turned and began watching Matthew's cartoons. Boys! Oh well, I guess Spencer figures he's been through the boys and the girls. What's another either way? We are all excited though. Even John who is finally okay with the idea of being the father of 5 kids! As has been said before, 'Children are a poor man's riches'. We are wealthy beyond measure!

Olivia's first day of school...finally!

Finally! It's Olivia's turn to start kindergarten. Now that does not mean I was excited for her to go, I have been dreading this day for 5 years! Don't get me wrong, I am excited for her to have all the adventures and make lots of friends and show everyone how very smart she is, but it just doesn't seem fair that we get them for 5 short years and then they take them away from us for a good majority of the day. However, Olivia was beyond thrilled to start school. She picked out her outfit and how she wanted her hair. She packed and unpacked and repacked her backpack, laid everything carefully out and then couldn't sleep for a long time that night before.
The next morning, she was up before everyone else, her clothes on and sitting at the breakfast table anxious to get going. We even left for school extra early so that we would have time for all the first day pictures. "Just one more, just one more. Okay, one more. This is the last one, I promise. Okay, just this one last one!" I did great the whole time, walked her into her class, watched to make sure she could get down her chair and find her cubby - just so I knew she'd be alright, talked to her teacher one last time and then there was nothing else to do but wave goodbye and leave her there. The last bell rang and the kids all gathered to the carpet as they were asked, and she turned and with a "Go mom, I'll be just fine!" smile, joined the other kids and turned away from me. That's when I lost it. Cried all the way home. Sobbing, chest heaving, cries. Yes, I did the ugly cry! I think they should hand out big signs for us to wear home that say "Just dropped off my kindergartener". But maybe the swollen, leaking eyes say the same thing! I'll be fine, and I know Olivia will too! Do well, Baby Girl, we're cheering for you!

Olivia was so mad!!!

Kindergarten started a week after the other grades, and as much as I prepared her, and she told me she understood, on Spencer's first day of school Olivia was soooo MAD that she had been unjustly left out! She pouted and stomped around and flung her hair about to tell us just how unfair it all was! Hold on Baby Girl, just seven more days and it's your turn!

First Days of School! Spencer starts 4th grade!

Spencer and Olivia each had their own first day of School as the kindergarteners start a week after the other kids, but none the less we made the first day preparations for each of them. Daddy gave them their start of school blessings the night before, we laid out their first outfits, set out the back packs and charged up the camera batteries.
When did Spencer get old enough to be a fourth grader? It seems like I was just taking him to preschool! This is nuts, and almost unfair, but I do have to say that each stage has been fun! I hope this year can be as fantastic as last year was for you, Bud!

In these pictures is neighbor Brigette, who walks with them to school.

Just about walking!

Jacob is so close to walking! He takes a few steps here and there, but he just hasn't taken off. He is so persistent about standing on his own though, so walking can't be far behind!He will be happier when he can run with everyone else!


Sorry everyone, I don't know why it loaded sideways!