Too much!

I always knew that life would get busier as the kids got older, but Holy Cow! The funny thing is, I don't feel more stressed. I used to get anxiety so easy when I had too many things going on. Now I'm busy pretty much all day everyday, but I don't feel stressed almost ever. The same things keep me busy. Sewing, crocheting, doing craft fairs, reading with the kids, doing homework, cleaning, cooking, driving every where etc :) And I love it all!

We were able to go up to the cabin for Labor Day. We had so much fun! Mom even came and stayed a night! Here is Jer giving Jenna a ride on the swing.

I love this picture too. We love our trampoline!!

Jer played in both the spring and Summer leagues in Softball. We LOVED going to Dad's Games every week. The last couple night games got kinda cold. I'm glad I keep lots of blankets in the car.

My favorite things Jenna says are: "Why you go to Zumba?" and "Are you sweaty?" :D

I think she's so funny! She decided to try on my sports bra and got some help from Dad. What a goof.

The biggest thing though that happened is Summer turned 8!!! I can't believe I have two big girls now!! She is so grown up! She loves second grade and is reading so well! I don't have to worry about her at all. She just does what she's supposed to and never complains. She comes right home from school and does her homework. It's hard for me to realize that she is so big. I guess that's because when she's not being to grown up, she is still barking and being a crazy animal ;) So funny! Summer and Logan started 4H last week too. Funny enough, she is in the Princess class. They learn etiquette, etc. She loves it. Logan is in edible Arts.

She has also grown so much too! I'm so thankful for all the hand-me-downs or we wouldn't have any clothes to wear.
She was so excited to get her ears pierced! (Our rule is when you can choose to be baptized, you can choose to make holes in your ears :) We went the next weekend and got them done. She is so diligent about cleaning them 3 times a day! My poor girls. I wish I had the desire to do hair. At least they love to do their own. She did her this day ;)
After we ate at Red Robin (minus Daddy, he was at the cabin with Grandpa. We sent him a picture to make him jealous ;) It was so fun!

Well, that's just a bit of our fun crazy lives. I wouldn't be surprised if another month or two goes by till I can update again.



I just realized that I never posted about Kylee and her play! This summer she decided she would love to try out for a play. My good friend and Zumba instructor and her husband, Tina and Chad Mortensen, have been directing plays for a group in Payson called Upstage Theater for Youth for a couple of years now.

This year they are doing Alice in Wonderland and I told Kylee about it. They accept ages 5-18. Summer just wasn't ready yet (she couldn't memorize a song in time), and Logan is too crazy :), so Kylee tried out alone. She sang "Happy Working Song" from Enchanted. She was so nervous so she was quiet, but she did so good :) I kept reminding her that it's her first time and may not make it, but it would be o-k. She was so excited when we found out she made it! She is part of the Ensemble (background singers and dancers). I have been able to help a bit with going to play practices and sewing dresses. I LOVE seeing her there. She makes me so proud. She absolutely loves it! They practice for 2 hrs every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The performances will be the first 3 Friday's and Saturdays in November, and the first two Mondays.
I can't wait! I'll definitely take pictures! Maybe a little video :)

Family Pictures!

So a little P.S. to my last post. I recently listened again to some conference talks from April and

Elder Holland's from Sunday afternoon session was one of my favorites. He made me laugh, he made me cry and he made me feel so happy! I encourage everyone to read, watch or listen to, not only his, but all conference talks again. LDS.org is a great site. Also Mormonchannel.org is so great too! I have the app on my ipod and can listen, watch and read talks and more whenever I want! It's great.

Here's a fun quick quote from Elder Holland's talk, "So if you are trying to do the best you can—if, for example, you keep trying to hold family home evening in spite of the bedlam that sometimes reigns in a houseful of little bedlamites—then give yourself high marks,...". I just love that!

Anyway ;) Here are our recent family pictures. I love them! They turned out so good!

Just some thoughts...

I've had a lot of things on my mind lately. Life is so great ;) I just can't help but watch others and wonder why they can't see life the way I do. I have such a hard time listening and watching other people who are negative. I definitely am not perfect and I have my moments of negativity, but I think less and less often as I "grow up". The first couple of years after Jeremy and I were married we definitely had a lot to learn! We argued A LOT! I noticed everything he did wrong and pointed them out, or got quiet and mad about things he didn't even know he did wrong!

At some point I read a great article in the Jan. 2005 Ensign called "Falling out of love... and climbing back in". It changed my life. I realized that if I wanted to have a good relationship with my husband I had to change myself! I really worked on not sulking about things that Jeremy didn't even know about. Talking to him calmly if something was bothering me. Telling him how much I love him and thank you for all the little things he did, and most of all doing the things I needed to do to be closer to my Heavenly Father. I have always been active. As in I go to church. (Except for a few months when we were first married. He didn't want to go and so I didn't go either. I learned quick that I didn't like it).

What I realized (only like a year or so ago), what I needed to do was do all the "Sunday School Answers". I needed to be closer to my Heavenly Father and earn the help I needed from the Holy Ghost. I needed to read my scriptures, pray (on my knees!), and have family home evening and scripture study with my family!

I have noticed a huge difference not only in my life; my personal happiness, but in my family too! Jer and I get along so good! No, we're not perfect. We never will be, but we can solve issues so much better and we have issues way less! We have had, almost ;), consistent FHE for almost a year, and we have read scriptures and the friend daily with only a few misses also. I definitely feel opposition sometimes. Satan pushes us hard to argue and for me to yell, etc. But we feel the benefits so much more.

The whole reason though, this has been so much on my mind is how much I have seen with people in my life (close family and friends) the sadness that comes from not doing these things, and being negative. People are going to hurt you. You are going to be annoyed by people. The key is not lowering yourself to their level!! I have had to remind my kids lately that talking bad about ANYONE is not ok! No matter what they have done! And if someone is talking negative about someone else to them, they should ask them not to, change the subject or leave the situation. It is a lot harder as an adult though. Especially if it's someone close to you.

I also feel so sad when people question ANYTHING the church tells us. I have a strong testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which means I believe President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of God. That means that anything he, or his servants; ex. members of the Seventy or Stake Presidencies or Bishoprics, is from God! Everything! You don't question that! Heavenly Father will not lead you wrong. Yes people are imperfect and sometimes they won't do things right. That is when you listen to the Holy Ghost and everything will be ok.

Phew. I feel so much better I got that off my mind ;).

On a more exciting note:

Kylee tried out for and got into a play this weekend!!! She will be part of the Ensemble (the background singers etc.) in Alice in Wonderland in November! Till then it will be a lot of practicing and some fun times ;) Summer is really excited to try out next year! Let me know if anyone is interested in coming to see it!

P.S. School starts on Monday! I'm excited, but can't believe it!