Dream Car

When I was first married I said I would never want anything more than a treadmill, a kitchen aid and a good vacuum. Luckily I have it all and am a happy woman. BUT I still love to dream up fantastic dreams and I plan to post many of my 'dreams' in the near future. Emily and I used to always dream up so many things and I wish I had recorded it all. So I dedicate the first of many future dream posts to Emily.

This dream post is of my dream car. For years and years I have loved this car. It is an AMC Eagle. You might think I am joking or being sarcastic but I am DEAD SERIOUS! I LOVE the lines and dream of the day when I can own one and work on it in my garage. Sometimes when I am at pep boys or auto zone and stop to look at the owners manuals just to see what the engine will look like. I want to 'know' my car. 1 or 2 years ago there was one for sale in Idaho. My dear dad who knows how much I would love one of these babies called to let me know he had bartered them down to $200. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS! Jay said absolutely not. I have kicked myself ever since, I don't know the next time I will find such a cherry deal...... You can bet your pretty pants I would be driving that baby right now to soccer practice, dance lessons and the grocery store. That particular one was powder blue, which I am fine with I would have probably re painted it to be that same light baby blue color. BUT I also really like the look of the following one. Navy with the wood paneling. Definitely one of my top 3 paint choices.

You may not know this, but in the 1980s this was a very forward thinking car. It was one of the first SUV crossover type cars. It is on a Jeep frame but has a car like body. It has 4 wheel drive but maneuvers like a car. You can drive it off road or parking lot style. SO versatile! And look at the door handles! How cool are they? One day, it may have to be without Jay's consent you will see me "Fly like an eagle..." in my AMC. And you can bet there will some sweet Steve Miller Band playin through the speakers :)

I believe this is why I have the car I have. As you can see in "split screen" "look a like" mode, my acura MDX looks as close as you can get to one of these beauties without the marital stress of actually purchasing one :( So until the day when my dreams come true I will love and take care of my sweet 'look a like an eagle' MDX.

We tried painting pumpkins this year. We did pumpkins a little early and knew if we carved them they would not last till Halloween. Jacob escapes regularly to the front porch and throws them(even the big ones) down the stairs or into the flower beds. Needless to say, I don't think they will last till halloween with all their dents and bruises. Boys.....


With the leaves changing and falling I have had a hankering for something yummy. This morning it was fully satisfied with pumpkin pancakes drizzled with honey cinnamon syrup topped with nuts and chocolate chips...mmmmm Click here for the recipe.




This was the first real costume we bought for Ashtyn. She was 2 years old and it has been worn every year since by a sister, friend or cousin. We haven't received Jacobs costume in the mail yet, so, for the Halloween Party/Trunk of Treat I was thrilled to put him in the pumpkin.

My favorite story of this costume was the day we bought it (October 1st or before:) Ashtyn was so excited and wanted to show her dad. We went to practice at the U and she put it on. Ashtyn bounced all over the practice field. Coach Busch was having a bad week and said watching a little 2 year old pumpkin run up and down the field was what he needed to get him back on track. He said it was that moment he realized life is so much more than winning and losing football games.

There is no other Holiday that compares to Halloween. The excitement, the anticipation (31 whole days), the sugar, etc, etc....It makes for a magical season...I LOVE FALL (No, mom, you mean AAUUTUMN! --Alayna)

My To Do List

There are days I have to write #6 down because unfortunately I forget to do it....One day I hope to write #6 as the ONE AND ONLY thing to do on my list and I can forget the unimportant things.

Amber Alert?

I love having my little sister close enough that we can play. We signed the girls up for the half time spectacular at the CSU / Utah football game. They practice the friday night before for FOUR hours then perform during half time. Last year I watched the ENTIRE 4 hours and about went insane but I didn't dare leave my sweet "do as she will" 3 year old. This year Emily and I sat around for the firs 25 minutes or so and decided chasing Jacob through hundreds of dancer/cheerleaders was not much fun. We left to dinner and to shop. I was not sure who was more brave, Kennedy for staying by herself or Emily for leaving... (Although, Kennedy was not informed her mom was leaving) As we were at dinner Jay called to find out where the girls were so he could go see them. He called as he was leaving to tell us that he was so unimpressed with the cheer and dance teams "camp" (As the football summer camp director he is particularly critical.) He told us "Aspen, Ashtyn and Alayna were doing great and having fun so it was worth the money spent". I asked if he saw Kennedy (Emily's daughter). "OOPS! I forgot she was there..." Emily started dialing for an Amber Alert wondering if she would ever see her little girl again. I begged Jay to 'run so fast' and just check to make sure she was still there, but he was late for meetings and was already running to his car. We still had about an hour and a half before the practice was over and we really didn't want to have to sit in the crowded room any longer than was necessary so we continued to shop. Emily the whole time thinking and talking about needing to call for an Amber Alert. It was so much fun to be able to go shopping with her and be silly. When we did arrive back at the practice Kennedy had missed her mom, but was just fine. No Amber Alert needed. Kennedy and Alayna were in awe of the amazing stunts the girls were doing. Here are some pics of the girls stretching. The best pictures are those of Kennedy on Emily's camera. That girl can stretch:)

Fun for kids and fun for sisters (see here:)

Confessions of a holic

I LOVE a project. I have a list of at least 6 projects that I keep in my head ready at any moment. You know just in case I have a minute or an extra set of hands to complete it. OR for when Jay asks "What would YOU like to do today?" I do have to note that he has figured this out and does not ask the golden question as often OR he will phrase it so I know he is not in a project mood. Which is a hard concept for me because I am ALWAYS in a project mood. I even have lists of project for houses I do not own, for other people and their homes, some with out them even knowing. (Emily, I am just waiting for the o.k. to get started on your curtains...:) I do enough projects I have even been asked if I ever "feel guilty for working on a project instead of tending to my kids?" My reply was "Nope, most of the times they help me or have a project of their own to do." I am not sure if this is always the case, occasionally I get a little absorbed and I am not always sure what the kids are doing...One of the reasons I feel like this may be an obsession or addiction.

This weekend was a bit of a binge of the projects and therefore why I decided I might need to look into therapy. Friday It started with making spaghetti sauce, then I thought to start on Halloween costumes and stayed up til 2am sewing. It was a good thing I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies earlier that evening to give me a 1am boost. Sat morning I couldn't sleep because I was so excited to have the day for projects and woke up early. I started with a side table for the sitting area in my room AND since Jays night stand wasn't working I refinished one from the DI, but WAIT, my night stand was not the correct height, so while at Lowes (The girls love the build and grow projects) I grabbed a couple extra legs to add to my night stand. Now the thing with refinishing is the wait in between coats and letting paint/stain/finish dry. What to do with that down time. It was way too freezing to work in the yard so I decided I NEED a LAUNDRY CHUTE. When we first walked through this house before we made the purchase, I instantly knew a laundry chute would be one of the first projects I wanted to accomplish. It has been pushed behind finishing the garage walls/floors, finishing the basement, installing a door to the master bath, cabinets flanking the fire place, adding a wall or architecture to master etc, etc, etc. So now finally I got out the sheet rock knife and saw and cut me a hole for the long awaited laundry chute.

Hopefully this next week I can finish it before someone falls down the hole. Some people drown themselves in alcohol, some people binge on enormous amounts of food, some like a pretty woman. Me I can't stop the projects.....and this weekend was a HUGE binge. Should I get help? Is there a P.A.?

I loved reading the sweet answers from T & T's blog and decided I needed to know what my children thought of their parents.

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Alayna: Pick basil leaves (I had just asked her to pick basil leaves.)
Ashtyn: Good Job
2. What makes Mom happy?
Alayna: When I surprise you that I got on my clothes and jammies
Ashtyn: Good kids
3.What makes Mom sad?
Alayna: If I don't do what you told me to do
Ashtyn: Bad kids
4. How does you Mom make you laugh?
She gives me laugh tickles
Tickles and jokes
5. What was your Mom like as a child?
Watching movies, playing with her sisters and watching movies with them and eating by them
Cute, I bet.
6. How old is your Mom?
21
30
7. How tall is your Mom?
10 Feet tall
4 Feet tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Go to parks with me
Play the piano
9. What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Work and help the baby
Do errands
10. If your Mom became famous, what would it be for?
Helping everybody in the world
Being nice
11. What is your Mom good at?
Helping me and giving me plenty to eat
Piano and Dance
12. What is your Mom not good at?
She's good at everything, I think.
Sports
13. What does your Mom do for her job?
Pick daddy up from his work
Nothing
14. What is your Mom's favorite food?
Fruits and vegetables
Brownies
15. What makes you proud of your Mom?
Taking me to do fun things and going swimming
Everything
16. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Ariels mom, do you know what her name is? I'll try to find out......
Hannah Montana
17. What do you and your Mom do together?
Ride our bikes, look for cars and go to the park
Shop
18. How are you and your Mom the same?
We both like to go swimming
We are both cute
19. How are you different?
The colors of our hair. Her hair is brown and mine is blonde
Freckles
20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
She says "I love you more"
Everything
21. What does your Mom like most about your Dad?
He pays lots and lots of money to her
His coolness
22. What is your Moms favorite place to go?
Cafe Rio
Idaho
1. What is something Dad always says to you?
I love YOU more
I love you
2. What makes Dad happy?
When I watch movies with him
Football and Family
3. What makes Dad sad?
When I am not there with him
Bad stuff, not doing you chores
4. How does your Dad make you laugh?
That's a hard question....
Jokes and tickles
5. What was your Dad like as a child?
He loved going to football games, and watching movies of it and watching basketball and seeing basketball.
A teaser
6. How old is your Dad?
18
32
7. How tall is your Dad?
32 feet tall
5 feet tall
8. What is his favorite thing to do?
Be with me
Coach
9. What does your Dad do when you're not around?
Work at work
Coach and watch football
10. If your Dad became famous, what would it be for?
He is famous, being on TV for football games
Being nice and cool
11. What is your Dad good at?
Driving Crazy
Sports
12. What is your Dad not good at?
Listening to me
Dance
13. What does your Dad do for his job?
Work at his work, going to football games and coaching
Coach football
14. What is your Dad's favorite food?
Pepperoni Pizza
Pizza
15. What makes you proud of your Dad?
When he loves me and gives me kisses and hugs
How hard he works
16. If your Dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Benny the bull from Dora
A looney toon
17. What do you and your Dad do together?
Read books
Play
18. How are you and your Dad the same?
The way we say "I love YOU more"
We are both athletic
19. How are you different?
The color of our hair, thats the only thing I can think of....
Our hair
20. How do you know your Dad loves you?
He gives me 'sloblerly' kisses and hugs
Everything
21. What does your Dad like most about your Mom?
going on dates with each other
Her skills
22. What is your Dads favorite place to go?
I would say...the movie theaters with me
Sports Authority

What do your kids think of you?

Oh, Ashtyn....

**Monday afternoon 4:45 p.m. Murray UT**

Ashtyn: Mom, guess what happened when I went to the bathroom at school this morning?

Mom: What?

Ashtyn: I realized I had put my pants on backwards.

The silliest thing is she still didn't change them when she showed me at 4:45 in the afternoon! And went the rest of the night with them on backwards.

R&R

When 911 took place, I could not wait for the prophetic counsel and messages of peace that general conference would bring. Ever since there is such a feeling of comfort I get every 6 months from listening to such great messages. This time was no different I was so ready for General Conference. About a month ago I checked and was so excited to see Jay had a Thursday game this weekend which gave him ALL of saturday off. We are at the half way point of the football season and I have been on the brink of insanity. I don't know if it is 3 kids or maybe it is just the craziness of our schedule but it is about all I can take this year. So this weekend with Jay home for ALMOST 45 straight hours, throw in some inspiring talks, I feel like a new woman.

Friday Jay got home and we all jumped into the car to go to dinner and the Lehi High School football game (even when he has time off he is still recruiting or something...) Luckily we only had to stay for the first half. The kids were not thrilled about going to another game BUT Ashtyn was able to catch up with her 1st crush. When we were living in Lehi, there was a cute little boy, Ryan Christofferson. He would come over with his parents to visit and on one particular time he and Ashtyn were writing notes on the magna doodle. One of the things he wrote was " You are beautiful". After they left that night, She told me about their notes. I have never seen anyone so twitterpated in my life. She floated for at least 2 weeks. She wondered when we moved if she would ever see him again....(Ashtyn had just turn 5 years old when we moved). She would talk about him regularly....Fast forward a few years to Friday night at the LHS football game and there he is, much much taller than before and Ashtyn was twitterpated all over. He has been brought up many times in conversations (by Ashtyn) this weekend. So even if the game was boring (Jay on the sideline talking to Dave Fox the WHOLE time, while I walked the kids around and around). Ashtyn left with a little bounce in her step. When we got home Jay helped to put kids to sleep and we watched an ENTIRE movie together, uninterrupted. That was just the beginning. We got up the next morning and made breakfast together, listened to conference went to Alayna's soccer game in the rain, jay watched football, the kids and took a nap while I played in the garage (something I haven't been able to do for MONTHS) more conference AND swimming. When Jay returned from priesthood, he helped put kids to sleep again and we went to the basement to watch another movie together. Once again uninterrupted. Sunday we once again enjoyed our morning in bed. We went to the Waltons for a FABULOUS lunch. (I wish I could eat at her house for every meal) When it was time for Jay to go back to work at 4:30. I was bummed but my 'well' has been filled. It was so nice to have him around. It gets hard, but like all the seasons, they change too. I am glad Jay has a job he loves and that is ever changing. I can make it through the rest of the season now. Lets keep those W's coming.

GOOOAAAALLLLL!

When I married Jay, I thought there could only be one athlete in the family, so I did not try out for the soccer team. There may have been a little bit of fear that I wouldn't make it as well, but the point is, I have always felt a little regret for not trying. So when one of the gals I visit teach told me about her soccer team I was all over it. It was a ton of fun, I love everyone of my teammates. There are 3 seasons to county soccer, spring, summer and fall. We won the league in the spring. Some things I learned from this;1.I still can play 2.Even with 3 kids and no husband to rely on I can still do things/activities for me. 4.I love to slide tackle 5. My ankles are not as strong as they used to be. 6.It is good for my kids to see me participating in a sport. 7.My kids are the best cheerleaders and supporters.

So above is our team, minus a few. This was the final night we had just lost our game in the finals to the same team we lost to in the summer. BUMMER. BUT look out come spring.

There was 1 week of craziness when Ashtyn, Alayna and I all had a game or practice. Ashtyn's soccer ended just as Alayna's started so it didn't last long. Here is Alayna in her first game. I love that these pics portray her as actually playing. Most of the game she is running off the field to tell me something, watching everyone else chase the ball or crying because she didn't make the goal. When we play together in the yard I am amazed with he ball handling skills but we just need to get her to use them when she is playing.

The football season's schedule has worked out that Jay was able to slip away for a few of her games. It is fun to see him coaching his 4 year old who is so far from the 19 year old athlete he is used to. He does a good job of switching hats.

Yellowstone

I love when my dad calls me up to ask if I want to go on a hike. This time it was to go on a hike in a remote part of Yellowstone. We have been camping and hiking all over the 'metro' part of Yellowstone. This was a chance to go to the southwest and the wettest part of this National Park. Most of the year the bugs are so bad, the hike is unbearable and the ferns are up to your waist. We were excited to have the time to go in the fall when we could enjoy it. You can actually hike all the way to old faithful on this trail, I think dad said it would be around 30-40 miles...We opted for the the hike just under 17 miles. I had planned to take Jacob with me in the pack, but was very glad I listen to the voice of reason (the voices of Dad, Josie and Blake) who said to leave him at the cabin. We were lucky to have Mikyla and Erica tend ALL our kids while we hiked. I was worried that Jakey was going to be a bear but thanks to modern technology and good cell service I called just before noon and found out he had taken a nap and was a happy boy. I was able to stop worrying and enjoy the absolute beauty of this part of the earth. It was so nice to visit the whole way with Josie, Dad and Blake. It is not often I get to have uninterrupted adult conversation ALL DAY LONG. This was definitely one of those trips I will wrap up and tuck neatly in the corner of my heart to always have with me.
The hike started near (sort of near) mesa falls and in a very wooded area, then we had to cross an ocean of grass to another mountain range. The falls colors were just starting to change, and so was the weather. We started with a little mist, cool air and it was overcast. Mid day the sun came out and we got hot, with 5 miles left I fell in the river while crossing one of the many log bridges. At first I was annoyed for getting soaked, but then realized I was no more wet than before. It had started raining in a downpour and then it hailed, but it was good motivation to hustle back to the car.
The hike took us to some waterfalls, the first was called silver scarf falls, the second was dunanda falls(I don't think that I spelled it right?). So why go 17 miles for a waterfall? Reason 1; I like to go where only a few people have been, see a beauty that is relatively untouched. Reason 2; to see and absolutely breathtaking creation.
When we got to our destination, it was still a little cool but I was brave and got in the hot pots at the base of the falls. We were all in awe sitting in the hot pots watching the massive amounts of water raging over this mountain. I could not believe how much wind was created by the falling water. I was sad Jay could not have been there. I would have made him go with me behind the falls and steal a kiss. I tried to get Blake and Josie to live out my fantasy, but no such luck. As we soaked and relaxed in the hot tubs I kept watching the sky and the clouds were rolling in fast. Dad was so kind (since I didn't pack much) to share his chamois/camping towel as we decided it was time to head back. We quickly changed clothes (good thing it is in a remote area ;) if you know what I mean) and as we were changing one of the rain and hail storms started. I didn't pack any water shoes or sandals so barefoot I hustled the 400 yards back to where we could cross the river. I was a little nervous when the lightning and the thunder hit at the same time so I left everyone behind hoping to get under the tree on the other side of the river and put my shoes on. By the time I got to the tree the sun was coming back out and the rain/hail had stopped. We all had to take a deep breath to recover from the adrenaline of the flight:)
I decided I really need to take my kids on more hikes so they can learn to love and enjoy the earth in such a beautiful way. I can't wait for Dad's next hiking endeavor......