The really bad kind of floaties

Here is my cute kiddo, Jack, all dressed up in Kole's hat and shoes (he likes to wear my high heel shoes too). He looks sweet and innocent... but looks can be deceiving.

I had to give him 4 baths yesterday. Really, I'm not some OCD mom. It's just that he knows the best ways to get extra dirty.

Bath #1. It all started out as a normal morning bath with Eve & Jack together. All is going well and then... dun, dun, dun... there is screaming and pointing from Eve as she makes a mad dash to get out of the water. I look in and at first I don't see anything amidst the menagerie of toys covering the surface but then it appears. Something unusual is floating in the bath posing as an innocent toy. What could it be? Oh yes, it is poo. Jack looks confused about the commotion but overall doesn't seem too phased. After all, he is the culprit who caused our unwelcome bath time guest. They say not to throw the baby out with the bath water, but I say everything else goes! Or at least soaks in bleach for a day. Now, I don't know what it is about that kid but he loves to poo in the bath. I stoped counting how many times it has happened. No time of day is safe. He is always ready to ruin a perfectly good hot bath.

Bath #2. The bath to get clean from the first bath.

Bath #3. Jack found the garden unattended and decided to pick my cherry tomatoes (Naughty kid. But in his defense, they do look a lot like grapes at this stage) and he then proceeded to cover himself, and the deck, in dirt and mud. He likes to rub it in his hair for some reason. Once again, this is a common occurrence. I can't turn my back for a minute! And as much as I love the dirt in the diaper routine, I think it is easiest just to plop him in the tub. I am a firm believer in the magic of baby wipes but they just aren't meant to tackle every mess.

Bath #4. Pasta night. Need I say more. I strip the kids down to their skivvies before we eat things with red sauce. Bad ettiquett I know but hey, we rarely have dinner guests... hope we don't sound too white trash. Well, in the aftermath it is clear that it is time for one last bath.

It is a good thing he is a so darn cute.

Reunion and Rain

Well, my blog account is being strange and it will only let me download one of my photos right now. When I try to do more I get error messages. And when I click to look at my blog, it won't show my latest posts. Hopefully, it is still updating as normal for everyone else. I don't know what is wrong.

Anyways, last week we had a water day primary activity. The kids had so much fun. They played water versions of kick-ball where the bases were tubs and pools (that is my one picture: Eve was die-hard to stay in the cold water as long as she needed to), there was a water balloon toss with sheets, a race to fill buckets with water from sponges and the water version of duck-duck-goose (called dribble-dribble-drench). Amidst the chaos of trying to explain even simple games to the little kids and then trying to get them to actually play using some sort of rule system, we envied how little kids don't need rules to games to enjoy themselves. As long as they were getting wet, or getting the grown-ups wet, they were having fun. Good times for everyone. Just as we were leaving, the storm clouds came in and heralded in a cold weekend.

Just our luck, this last weekend was the Nielsen Family Reunion. Kole and I have been slackers and haven't gone for the last 6 years. Last time I went we were just about to get married. Every year it is held in Idaho at Lava Hot springs. Lava is a po-dunk little town with not much to do unless you like water. They have hot springs, of course, and a little river to tube down and they also have a big pool with lots of slides and really high platform diving boards. So, what is the weather like the time we finally go? That's right, cold and rainy. Kole's dad said he can't remember it raining in all the years they've been having the family reunion there. Just our luck that the time we actually go it was too cold and rainy to do pretty much anything. Hence why I have absolutely no pictures... we didn't do anything worth taking pictures of! We ended up staying in the motel room almost the whole time. But the kids still had fun. You can tell we don't go on many family vacations since the kids had a blast just hanging out in the motel room- the highlights included jumping on the beds and having all of us sleep in the same room together... I guess something different is always exciting to little kids. Eve even asked me "is this our new home?"

Come and Gone

Here's to the Sky View Class of 1999. See you again in 10 more years.

This last weekend was my 10 year high school reunion. I can't believe it is over already. I am getting old. I had been expecting it for well, 10 years of course, and looking forward to it for about a year, but now it is over. The last 10 years went by so fast and I'm sure the next 10 will go by even faster. I guess as every year and month and day becomes a smaller and smaller percentage of your overall life, it just seems like they come and go all the quicker.

But anyways, it was great to see old friends. We hardly see anyone from high school anymore and especially not all together and at once. I had a lot of fun. I know Kole had fun too since he also went to Sky View and is only a grade older so he knew a lot of people there. I admit I had forgotten a lot of names (and faces to be honest). That probably has to do a lot with the fact that I was soooooo shy in high school so I hardly knew anyone but my closest friends... and I always joke that I was so shy that I hardly even talked to them. I am way different now- Kole knows I hardly ever shut-up. But admittedly, the reunion made me feel a little like my old, less-social self. Strange how some situations will do that to ya.

First there was a family party at the park in the afternoon and so we got to see everyone along with their kids. I'm sure at least half the women were prego... including my friends Jen and Emilee (with twin boys). Everyone has really multiplied! The kids had fun playing together and I had a good time just running into people I practically had forgotten about. Good thing for those lame name tags everyone complained about. I sure needed them. I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone but here are a few of what I did get.




Just the girls- Brooklyn, Eve, Baylee & Elisha







(Top to bottom/ Left to Right) Jen, Emilee, Me, Michele, Landon, Hilary, Elisa, Charee.

That evening we had an adult only dinner up at USU. It was nice to socialize without the kids around and we had a fun time with the good friends at our table. Once again, not too many pictures. But anyone who was there may unknowingly have some pictures with Kole in them. He had fun trying to go behind groups getting their pictures taken and seeing if he could end up in them. He's a little strange but I love him anyhow.

Kole, Me, J.D. & Brittney

Hope to see everyone again before more years go by.

Slow week

Well, it seems like everyone I know is packing in the fun before summer is over. But not us. We've just been taking it easy and avoiding the sunburns. Still plenty of summer left to get some fun in before the snow takes over, right? I guess in Utah that means I have about 2 more weeks. Anyways, this is what happens in our house when we are too lazy to go do anything exciting.

One of these things is not like the others...

Jack likes to play hide-and-go-seek in his toy box lately. He throws out the extra toys until there is enough room for him in there. I guess he thinks I won't notice him. It's funny the way his little mind works.



What do you think of Eve's new hair?
OK, it's actually just the effects of the way my kids like to keep cool.
Summer is hot- but not in front of our swamp cooler. It is pretty powerful and makes for some nice hair for anyone who gets too close. It's set up behind our washing machine so the kids can just sit on the washer and enjoy the breeze. When we can't go swimming, this makes the heat bearable.

This is Eve's "I'm so cold!" face






Still trapped!

Unlike many of my friends who are moving their 18 month olds into big kid beds, I am not quite ready to give my little guy that much freedom. No one would be getting any sleep if I did that now. Either he would be constantly climbing into my bed at night or getting into trouble around the house. As long as he can't escape or doesn't get hurt trying to, he can just stay in a crib until he's 5... or it's time for another baby to take over.
Ya know, either/or.

What is that?!?!

Here are Kole (closer to the camera) and Landon goofing around on the diving boards. Kole has been bugging me for over a week to put up this video. He is so proud of this dive. See if you can figure out what they are imitating... if you figure it out I'm sure you will see they haven't emotionally matured one bit since high school.

Change is Good

Change is good- and hard- but still good.

First and foremost- Kole got a new job!!! He now works at Allstate Insurance. Yes, he sells insurance. OK, so it's not his dream job and it's not even close to what he went to school for but it just sort of fell into his lap. They needed someone who is bilingual and so some of Kole's Spanish speaking friends from his job at Sizzler recommended him and go figure, he got the job. It is good for now... more money, good benefits, weekends off, plus it is in town so we don't have to move. That makes my mom really happy. And hey, anything is better than Sizzler! We even found out we were paying too much with our insurance company so we are going switch which will save us a few hundred dollars a year. That's always good. The only down side, I feel like he is always gone! He doesn't get home from Allstate until close to 6 and he still has to do his landscaping job on the side- at least until Fall rolls around. I feel bad. He works hard so I can stay home with the kids. But that means that he doesn't get to see them very much before bedtime. I guess that is just what having a "real" job is like. He makes so many sacrifices for us. I am so thankful I have such a wonderful hubby.

The second big change: Kole's younger but much bigger brother Keaton left for Army boot camp on Sunday. It doesn't feel like he is gone yet because I am not always over at Kole's parent's house but I'm sure it will really feel like it once we have a Sunday dinner there without him. But hey, I bet Deb & Dave will be saving a bundle on groceries from now on. ;) I am excited for Keaton. It is such a big life decision and there is no way I could ever do something like that. I am way thankful that people like him are so willing to serve and sacrifice so much. I think the Army will be really good for Keaton. There is something about the military that can really make or break people. Sometimes when people get dropped into a really hard situation they meltdown and become victims of circumstance while others seem to develop an amazing attitude and character- They become people with greater direction and purpose as they gain a perspective that helps them to know what is really important in life. I hope to see Keaton grow and learn from everything he will experience. I know he can handle it and it will be something he is good at if he does what he knows he should. We love you Keaton and hope you are having fun- in between the torture at least.

Anyways, on Saturday before Keaton left, we had a family party at the Brigham City pool and spent some last minute time together. It was a perfect day for laying out but a little chilly for swimming. So our totally pale little clan wore our SPF 50 sunscreen and did a little of both. For some reason I can't get tan anymore so since I can only be two colors (red or white) I would rather be white. It is less painful. All the guys had lots of fun playing volleyball and being dorks on the diving boards. Playing on the boards with Kole and Landon reminds me of the good ol' days of high school when we were on the diving team together. Those guys have some pretty unique and funny dives which I had forgotten about over the last 10 years. I even did a little diving myself. Really, you should be impressed. But in the end we all had to admit we are not as young as we used to be. The kids had so much fun. It took Jack about 2 hours until he would get wet past his knees. Wimp. Eve made us go down the slide over and over. I thought she would be scared but she loved it. Most of the time I made Kole take her but I took my turns too. I thought Jack would like the slide but I don't think he was quite ready. Maybe next summer.
Whelp, here are some action pics...

Kole and Eve on the slide- for the umpteenth time that day.

Kole trying not to drown Jack

Oooo, Ahhhh

Fourth of July weekend in Cache Valley is always busy busy. Logan does its fireworks on the 3rd instead of the 4th so that's what we did on Friday night. We had a really good view! We watched them from my mom's work at the Children's House up at Utah State University. It is right next to the football stadium where they set the fireworks off from. We could even hear the music but we were just far enough away that it wasn't too loud or too quiet. The kids really loved the fireworks. Eve had a running commentary going which we would try to stop but couldn't seem to- "Oooo, there's a blue one... there's a red one... I like the purple ones..." And every time there was a lull in between sets she would yell "More fireworks!" But Jack was just mesmerized the whole time. He sat completely still on my mom's lap all the way through just staring. I don't know if I've ever seen him so still when he wasn't asleep.
Unfortunately, not a lot of pictures- it was too dark.

But here is Eve with a sparkler... trying not to light her hair on fire.


On the 4th was the Cache Valley Cruise-In. It's one of the country's largest classic car shows. But we actually didn't go. Been there done that before. Plus, it is very crowded and too hot to sit in the sun while cars I know nothing about drive by and blow exhaust in our faces. We decided to be lazy instead and ended up spending some time with my mom and dad. But Kole's younger bro Sam had his classic Mustang in the show. It is very cool. I think he's been working on that car for as long as we've been married- and it's still not completely done.

On Sunday the 5th Eve gave her very first talk in primary. She did really well. After church we had our usual Fast Sunday dinner at Kole's parent's house (always on the first Sunday of the month). Lots of good company. All of Kole's brothers were there. This will be one of the last times we are all together for a while. Kole's brother Damion is in town. He usually lives in Washington DC but has been around here quite a bit lately. Kole's younger brother Keaton won't be around here much longer. He is joining the army. He leaves for boot camp in Georgia on the 12th. Can you imagine doing boot camp in the middle of summer in Georgia?!! I feel bad for him already.

Anyways, here is a picture of the guys in Kole's family. Many of them are available... you can submit any dating applications, including a current photo, to me and I will pass them along.

From left to right: Kole's dad Dave, Kole's single and available brothers Sam, Keaton and Damion, then Kole, Kole's little bro Grayson, Kole's cousins Landon and Nick (who is also available).

Here are some other pics from that day:

Hopefully you know who all is in this picture.

Here is a picture for Damion to show his friends back in DC of "his two wives and kids he picked up while on vacation in Utah."

Jack and Kennady

Eve and Brooklyn

Jack practicing his pull-ups

Herding Cats at the Temple

Like I've said before, trying to get my kids to pose for pictures together is like herding cats. So of course that was exactly what it was like the other day when we went to have Family Home Evening at the Logan Temple. It didn't really help that about 2 minutes after we got there, Jack biffed it running full speed down the sidewalk and skidded on his chin. Most of the pictures are too far away to tell but it wasn't pretty. But anyways, sadly these are the best of what we got. The first picture up top is really the best picture of Eve and Jack together. They are both looking at the camera and smiling but you can't even see their faces to tell.


This is by the door to the baptism area. We kept having to tell Eve NOT to ring the doorbell.

Always such pretty flowers around the temple. They constantly dig up old and dying flowers and put new ones in so it always looks nice for the wedding pictures.

Daddy-daughter snuggles

Jack taking a little break.

Eve and Jack on their way home.

Pretty as a Princess

Princess Eve with Prince Daddy

Eve is fascinated with getting married lately even though I don't think she really understands what being married means. She is always telling us "I'm going to the temple tomorrow to get married." And over and over again we have to tell her that she will have to wait until she is bigger to get married. "But I am big" she insists and so we have to tell her she has to be as big as mommy and daddy. A look of utter disappointment crosses her face. We try to ease the pain by telling her she has to find her prince before she can get married. Her response: "Jack is my prince. We will get married tomorrow." Then I have to tell her that she can't marry her brother! "Then I'll marry daddy. Daddy is my prince," she says. She is so cute and innocent. Doesn't every little girl think it would be great to marry their daddy? But of course then I tell her that daddy is mine and that she has to find her own prince... someone not in her family. She always seems pretty sad when I tell her she can't marry Jack or daddy. I mean really, we are not "that" kind of family.

















However, last night the kids are playing a little too quietly in their room (which usually means they are up to no good) so I open the door to surprise them and see Jack sitting in his chair wearing the princess crown. Probably not a good sign but it was so cute I had to take a picture. I guess both my kids can be pretty as a princess.

What a Saint!

So, I just wanted to tell everyone how amazing my friend Lyssa is. Lyssa and I go to church together and we are visiting teaching companions in our ward.

(FYI for my non-Mormon readers out there- a ward is basically a relatively small and local group of members of about 300 to 400 people which have been divided into a congregation from out of out of the total membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which has about 13+ million members total. Also, if you don't know what exactly visiting teaching is, it is a divine system set up among the women in our church to watch over and take care of each other. The men have a program too called Home Teaching. With visiting teaching the women are set up in pairs and are then assigned and organized to "visit" two, three or four other women in the ward. It is set up in such a way that all the women in the ward who want to be visiting teachers can be but even if there are those who are not visiting teachers themselves, they still have their own visiting teachers who are there for them. At least monthly, the visiting teachers go to their homes and visit with them and share an uplifting message and basically make sure they are doing OK and see if there is anything they can do to help them out in anyway at anytime. And then they keep in touch throughout the month is case anything new comes up. Some of my greatest friendships at church have come because of visiting teaching and I know what a brilliant and inspired program it is.) Hope all that made sense. Sorry, this posting has a lot of "Mormonese." I'll try to avoid that in the future.

So, anyways, getting back to my original point... Lyssa and I visiting teach Ati, Katrina and Maelynn. Lyssa, being a good visiting teacher and a good friend, knew that Maelynn's anniversary was coming up this month- it was earlier this week in fact. She also knew that Maelynn needed some R&R alone with her hubby without the kids so they could unwind from the day to day craziness of life. Note, Maelynn has five kids under the age of 7 including twin two year old boys. Needless to say, her life can be hectic. So, while Lyssa was praying one day about a month ago, she felt inspired by the Spirit to offer to babysit Maelynn's kids for 4 days over her anniversary. Of course Maelynn was way excited and accepted her offer. Now, if that doesn't seem amazing enough, Lyssa has three little kids of her own. Can you imagine 8 little kids under 7?!? Good thing Lyssa's house is much bigger than mine because there is no way I could attempt that in my tiny house. I guess most people would think Lyssa is completely insane but I think she is awesome.

Now, if that doesn't all seem crazy enough, just three weeks ago Maelynn was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sad, SAD, SAD! I am sure you will find me blogging about that a lot in the future since I find myself profoundly effected by the whole situation... And yet, as seemingly tragic as the circumstances are, I think it is wonderful to know that even before any of the people in this story knew just how badly Maelynn needed this help, God was mindful of her situation and inspired Lyssa to help her out in such an extraordinary way. I also know that as wonderful as Lyssa is and as much work as it was to watch over all those little kids, it was truly God's work that she was doing. Therefore from at least the time she received the inspiration to do it to at least the time it was over, she was also empowered and enabled to accomplish all that needed to be done. It's not like God would ask her to do something and then abandon her in her time of need. I know that most often that is how God accomplishes His work- through people doing things for other people. What a blessing it is for ordinary people to be trusted and entrusted with God's work, to be empowered to accomplish things they never thought they could. Pretty cool if you ask me. I know that to many people out there, such things may just seem like a coincidence or just a nice story but to me it was a simple example of how deeply God loves each of us and how despite the difficulties of life, He is always there to provide His tender mercies so the hard parts of life don't consume us. I think that if we are paying attention, we will see that God is completely involved in each of our lives and that He is always pouring out His blessings, whether we notice or not.