4th of July

Since Sunday was July 4th, we didn't really plan anything big to do. I dressed up the 2 youngest girls in red, white, and blue and Cam and Addie wore blue as well, the rest of us were not so patriotically dressed. Chase's mom had the crock pot full of her yummy orange chicken and I had premade a fruit salad so we were already to eat when we got home from church. Eating right when you get home on a fast Sunday when your church meets from 1-4 is crucial, everyone is absolutely starving.

After calming down a very grouchy baby yet again, I joined a game of Phase 10 (already in progress) with Chase, his mom, Chase's brother Grant, and sisters Ceri and Molly. I lost terribly, I blame it on lack of sleep due to my crazy baby's schedule and just plain bad luck. She has been particularily grumpy this week, I believe because of her shots and possibly a cold or allergies. Joelle has been stuffy, poor thing and because babies breathe so much through their noses I think she wakes herself up because she's so stuffed up. One break through though, I think she finally understands that when I suction her nose with the blue bulb thingy I'm not trying to torture her, but help her breathe better. She has smiled at me the last 2 times I've suctioned her nose.

Anyway, I digress... While the kids watched a movie and played with the baby, everyone else played games. After the games we walked to the golf course across the street from Chase's parents' house to watch the fireworks being set off by the city in the distance. It was awesome because we didn't have to go far and didn't have to fight crowds either. While we were sitting there watching, someone who lived in one of the houses on the golf course drove out in their golf cart and set off a whole bunch of illegal fireworks like 30 ft. away from us, it was awesome. The proximity of the fireworks freaked Emery out a little, but we all had a lot of fun and she calmed down once she knew she was safe. On our way there she told Chase that she didn't want to get scared, but she handled it all pretty well and enjoyed it. So, not a very eventful 4th of July, but we all had a lot of fun spending time with family and Addie proclaimed it to be her best 4th of July ever! Sorry, but I have no pictures. I have some pics of the kids wearing patriotic clothing on other days though : )

Good Things to Come

A friend posted this on her blog. I had heard this story before, but was reminded of it when I watched it again. I can't say how much this was needed right now for our family. I so very much needed to hear this message, and I wanted to share it with others as well. Things are tough, the world is scary, and life is frustrating and downright sucks sometimes. Some days I wonder if it's even worth it to go on. I am thankful for the gospel and my family in my life. That is the reason I get up every day determined not to quit or give up.

I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who is mindful of our trials and heartache even if it doesn't seem like it at the time, and I am sure He is our biggest cheerleader up there cheering us on. I can just imagine Him cheering for us, "Don't Quit! You can do it!" It's hard for me to let go sometimes as well and realize I'm not in charge and that if I just do my best and have faith then things will work out, maybe not how I expected them to, but they will work out. I believe our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy; He didn't send us here to experience only sorrow and pain. I think I sometimes forget that he gave us the Plan of Happiness, He wishes for us to be happy! So, for all of you out there barely treading water to stay afloat, I wish that we may all find hope and happiness and don't ever quit!

Photo Contest

So, I opened my email today and received a notification that Cam is in the running for a photo contest I entered him in for Parents Magazine. I'm so excited, not really hopeful, but excited. I know there are thousands of other kids out there in the running. This is our first time in a photo contest; I entered my kids just for fun, never really thinking any of them would be picked. If people go and vote for Cam this week (and you can vote every day) he will move on to the finals if he wins. The grand prize is a trip to NY, but I'd be happy with a new camera. Not sure if a camera is a prize or not, just wishful thinking. Anyway, so all of you out there vote for Cam, he's a cutie : )

To vote for Cam, click on the link below.

http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/353065

Comments

Just letting you all know that I'm sorry if you have commented and it hasn't been posted. For some reason my blog has problems with comments. I'm supposed to be notified by email if someone makes a comment so I can approve it, but for some reason I stopped getting notifications until I actually approve the said comment on my blog. Confusing, yes well, it shouldn't be, but so it goes. Today, I just received a comment from June 7th, so I am very sorry if you have made a comment and then it never shows up. I promise you I am not ignoring you or angry or anything that I wouldn't post your comment. Maybe none of you think this is a big deal, but I just don't want anyone's feelings to be hurt. I enjoy your comments and keeping in touch with everyone. So, April your comment is now posted, sorry it took almost a month for me to get it. And for any of you waiting with baited breath to see your comment, I'm sorry, hopefully I'll get it soon : )

Happy Father's Day!

We are so lucky to have such a special guy for a husband and father! We began the day by having Chase read all his cards and pictures that the kids had made him. The kids were very excited to tell their dad how much they love and appreciate him.

We went to church where we were surprised by a little book of pictures of all the kids in the primary and things they said about their dads. They were really funny to read, especially Addie's comment that the thing she and Chase had in common were the apparent love of Rhinos. One of the speakers gave a wonderful talk on Fathers, which made the day perfect. Joelle got really upset towards the end of church. I took her out into the hall and tried in vain to get her to calm down as her screams were heard throughout the church. I eventually headed for the exit as Chase heard the unmistakable screams of his youngest and followed me out to help. He took Joelle and magically calmed her down and got her to sleep after only a few minutes. I kept telling him, I should take her because it was Father's Day, but he just told me, "I'm a Dad."

We came home to what I thought would be an easy meal of BBQ Ribs in the crock pot. I ended up having to defat (is that a word?) the meat before it was edible. It turned out to be a pretty good Father's Day meal of BBQ Rib sandwiches with Chase's mom's salads, followed up by desert of Lime Cupcakes and Chase's Mint Chocolate Chip Shakes. See what a good husband and Dad, he even makes treats for everyone on Father's Day when he didn't have to. We ended the evening watching Mystery Science Theatre for some laughs.

I've included a few pictures from our Father's Day, but neglected to take pictures of all of Chase's loot. He got even more when the kids continued to make him more stuff at home and again at church. I love the pictures of Chase and all the kids, it makes me smile and happy inside to see my kids with their dad. Chase is an awesome father and husband! He helps with the day to day jobs and tasks of being a parent, including baths, cooking, feeding, and poopy diapers. He takes time to play with the kids, including wrestling and teasing them which they love. They never get enough of their dad. Having 5 kids probably tires Chase out especially when he starts swinging and tossing them around, or giving piggy back and horsy rides. They always want to do it "Again!, Again!". One of my favorite sounds is the kids laughing as their dad chases, tickles, and plays with them. Thank you Chase for being such a blessing in my life and in the lives of our children, we couldn't ask for a better Dad than you!

Happy Be-lated Mother's Day!

So, I normally don't like Mother's Day. It's a day for greeting card companies and other businesses to make money peddling their Mother's Day garbage. It's also a day that I feel overwhelmingly inadequate as a mother and I'm reminded of all my motherly flaws. This particular Mother's Day however, ended up being a sweet one. The kids made all sorts of stuff for me, Chase also helped them put together a candy-gram poster. Chase took Joelle during Relief Society for me so I'd get a break, and Emery treated me to her repertoire of Mother's Day songs, some of them modified to fit Mother's Day. I got to try out a long awaited recipe from my Pioneer Woman cook book, fried chicken and biscuits, it was a very nice day. I have a fabulous husband and fabulous kids!

My Candy Gram

All of my Mother's Day loot.

First Picnic of the Year 4-17-2010

We decided to go on a picnic at the park by the library. It was finally nice enough to venture outside and have some fun. It was a little chilly still, but a lot of fun. Chase's sister Brie and her boyfriend Dave brought some baked beans and soda. I'm trying to remember everything else we had but not sure. I think we had sandwiches from Winco and cream puffs and strawberries from Costco. The strawberries were huge and sooooo delicious!

The kids ran around and played while Emery decided to collect every pine cone in the park that she could find. I think she kept calling them 'parrots', she has a very vivid imagination. Then everyone joined in a game of freeze tag.

Addie got teased of course because of her running. Previously, at school while running to get on the monkey bars she tripped and biffed it and banged up her knees pretty bad (see Chase's blog). Anyway, she was running around like a gimp, so everyone started copying her. Later in the game though, miraculously she didn't have to run like that anymore. Sometimes, Addie likes to milk it a little, she is my little drama queen. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and we were glad it was nice out for a change, even if for a little while. UT weather is so unpredictable and annoying sometimes. This year, we had a few days of spring and then it skipped right to summer.

Cam trying to eat a massive strawberry.

My handsome little guy!

My goofy little Emery.

Look, more pine cones, I mean parrots!

Oh, how she loved her 'parrots'.

She was so nice and wanted to share her 'parrots' with everyone too.

My handsome hubby!

Bailey being cute and all grown up inside the garden maze at the library.

Bailey with her strawberry face.

Addie chewing on a cream puff.

Addie in the garden getting ready to chomp her huge strawberry.

Chase racing Cam.

Chase standing on the picnic table, I think.

Joelle 1 1/2 months old enjoying herself outside. This was her first big daytrip outdoors.

OK, not so happy anymore. She's starting to give us the pirate grimmace...ARRRRGHHHHH!

Really not happy anymore, I think it was time to go home.

Brie and Dave , and I'm not sure who's head walked right in front of the camera when I took this. Sorry, but they still make a cute couple.