Photo Shoot

I'm know it's Halloween and everyone is expecting Halloween pictures, but I don't have them uploaded yet, so you get my photo shoot that I did with my kids today. The weather was perfect for taking pictures, nice and overcast, so I took advantage of J.D.'s half day of school to go and take a few pictures. I wanted to do more, but Tyson and Piper both fell asleep on our way to our second location. So I will be trying to do more tomorrow or Sunday evening. I will post Halloween pictures tomorrow.

I like taking my own photo's because I'm not much on posed photography and I prefer outdoor pictures as oppossed to studio. I love doing it, even thoug it's frustrating. Piper was not cooperating with me for our group photo's. I'll have to retry those one's next time. I didn't get one good shot of all of them looking at me. I am going to do them in the Peach Orchard just up the street and possibly the Opera House or at the Tabernacle. It's been a very long day. Good night everyone, sleep tight!

Jack O Lantern's

We carved a few pumpkins last night. J.D. was the only one of my kids who was really into it. Tyson just wanted to watch Speed Racer and Piper just wanted to pester us!! J.D. and I had a really good time though and the first thing he asked me this morning was if he could carve the rest of them. We'll see I said, because man is it messy!

It took me forever to convince J.D. to stick his hand inside the pumpkin. Piper wouldn't let me do it to her. She flipped out.

However, she played with the guts once they were in the bowl. At one poing she even picked up a chunk of pumpkin and put it in her mouth. I wish I had my camera handy for that one. Her face was priceless. J.D. was taking a lot of pictures because my hands were so yucky.

Look at all those yummy pumpkin seeds!

I'm roasting them as I type!

J.D. was insistent that he have a chance to carve his own pumpkin. HE SCARES ME!! He is not at all careful with a knife. Sherry your crazy for giving Brannigan a knife for Christmas. I was poked several times and almost lost a finger once or twice. EEK!!

Cute little guys!

Piper wanted nothing to do with them!

She kept screaming and throwing herself down on the ground.

Funny stuff, so we did it again.

I called my mom after we had cleaned up and said thank you for doing all the fun things that we did as kids, because as an adult they kinda stink. And she laughed. She said that it really isn't as much fun for the parents but the memories are priceless and they are. I hope my kids remember all this crazy stuff that we do.

Brenden's Birthday Party

I didn't get to take too many pictures. I was too busy chasing kids, okay one kid, namely Piper. She was like a WILD WOMAN! But here are just a couple that I was able to sneak.

I love this picture. Piper was stealing Casen's chip and he did not like it. But she got it from him anyway and he cried. I felt bad. Mean old girl, huh Casen?


Here is Casen and J.D. J.D. kept trying to get him to go down the slide, but he wanted no part of it.

Look, she's already got the boys following her.

Sunday Thoughts

Under the plan of heaven, the husband and the wife walk side by side as companions, neither one ahead of the other, but a daughter of God and a son of God walking side by side. Let your families be families of love and peace and happiness. Gather your children around you and have your family home evenings, teach your children the ways of the Lord, read to them from the scriptures, and let them come to know the great truths of the eternal gospel as set forth in these words of the Almighty.

President Godon B. Hinckley

I miss him....

Picky Eater

Unless it's a corn dog, cereal, pizza, or chips, Tyson does not eat of his own free will and choice. He does eat a few other things, but they are few and far between. Every bite that goes in his mouth is fed to him by me. He'll eat it if I put it in his mouth, but that doesn't mean he likes it. Here are a few pictures from our dinner tonight. We had Potato Chip Chicken, Baked Potato, and green beans. The middle picture is from baked potatoes. He hates potatoes.

It's a good thing he's cute. I sure do love him and am glad that I took these pictures, because 30 years from now, these will be fun to look back at!

Piper Peek-a-boo

Just because she's stinkin' cute!!

What Does Joy Mean to You?

I love this word. I have thought about it quite a bit ever since I went to Time Out For Women.

What does the word Joy mean to me? I think everyone has a different definition of the word joy. To some it may be living in a spotless house or maybe to some it may be driving a nice car and living in a nice neighborhood. What does the word Joy mean to you?

Joy is my family. Each and every one of them bring me joy in their own individual way.Joy is knowing that I have an eternal companion who is my best friend. Joy is knowing that I have a home to go to and a place where I can escape the world and it's influences. Joy is knowing the purpose of my journey here on this earth. Joy is knowing that Heavenly Father LOVES me. That I am his daughter and he hears my prayers. It is in knowing that I don't have to be perfect, because I have an Brother who suffered for me.

Joy is knowing that I should have Joy in my journey. I loved President Monson's talk at conference about finding Joy in the Journey.

"In all living, hauve much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." I love this quote by President Hinckley. Heavenly Father would have never sent us to this earth if we weren't to experience Joy. We experience sorrow so that we may know Joy!

It is a joyful time to be alive. I have been trying to find Joy in the small and simple things in my life. The scripture that was the theme of Time Out For Women was Acts 2:28 "Thou hast made known to me the WAYS OF LIFE; thou shalt make me FULL OF JOY..."

Giveaway on Some of This

Go check out my other blog, we are having a short little giveaway. It ends Thursday!!

A Night Out on the Grass

It was such a beautiful night last night that I didn't have the heart to keep the kids in the house. We went outside and played in our front yard. Josh and I layed on the grass and watched and then we had doggy piles and tickeling galore!! Nothing beats just haning out with the kids!

Josh tickling Tyson
Tyson and J.D. on the teeter totter
All my kids being silly.
Can you see our feet??
Josh and Piper
The Great J.D.
Me and my Tootie!

I am so blessed!!

More conversations with J.D.

I just had to write this down for journaling purposes. J.D. really does say the funniest things. Every morning I ask my kids what they dreamed about. This is my conversation with J.D. this morning. The kid is cracking me up lately. I need to write it down in a regular journal, but in a sense this is my journal. You'll have to endure my J.D. conversations phase for a while.

Me: What did you dream about J.D.?

J.D.: Holly.

Me: Your girl crazy J.D. But it's okay mom and dad used to play kiss tag when they were in school.

J.D.: Did my dad kiss you?

Me: No I grew up in Marysvale and he grew up in Santa Clara, so we went to different schools.

J.D.: Did any boys kiss you?

Me: We used to run really fast to get away, but I did get caught once by Micheal Allan.

J.D.: If he kissed you, then why did you marry my dad?

Me:Because I loved him.

J.D.: Because he was lookin' good!!

5 minutes later~~~~~~

J.D.: We change rows today and guess who I get to sit by? Holly!!!

Me: That will be fun but J.D. you need to make sure... (going to say the word quite, but interrupted by a jubilant and beaming 6-year-old.)

J.D.: I know, I don't kiss her!!

How is my child so girl crazy? I then had to explain that he needs to be quite, because J.D. is a talker and he really is infatuated with Holly. This could be bad. Stay tuned for the conclusion to our saga........

Homemade Bread

My mom always made homemade bread and I loved it when I was growing up and I had tried my hand at it a few times, but never had any luck. You could build a house with my loaves they were so hard.

Josh had an awesome grandmother by the name of Lonnie. She passed away last year and we miss her dearly. One of the things that his uncle talked about at the funeral was how she always made bread and how much her children looked forward to that. That comment inspired me to learn how to make bread because I thought that is such a great memory for her kids and it was for me, in my home. So I found a recipe that I liked, but it was too complicated. So I tweaked it and looked at several other recipes and came up with the BEST recipe ever for wheat bread. And quess what? My kids won't touch it. J.D. calls it FAKE bread and asks for store bought. Oh, well! Josh and I love it and so does everyone else!

This is the look I got when she saw the bread in my hand.

Piper is the only one of my kids who will eat homemade bread and she loves it. Especially with Raspberry jam.

That's good stuff, huh sis? If your interested in my recipe, click here.

Converstaions with J.D.

Me: J.D. you look like an orphan. I am throwing those pants away.

J.D.: No they make me look like a teenager.

Me: They do not.

J.D. I saw a teenager wearing pants like these and he looked cool. I want to be a teenager.

Me: Why?

J.D.: Because teenagers are cool and they wear their hats like this. (sideways)

Me: You don't want to be a teenager yet. Your still little and it will make me sad if you grow up so fast.

J.D.: I still want to be a teenager because they walk to the school bus by themselves.

Just a Reminder

Just want to remind you guys to check out my other blog, Some of This and Some of That. I have tons of pictures on that sight, because that is where I post all of our craft projects that we do and we usually do at least something every day so there is lots of our pictures and happenings over there!! And I put this picture in just because it she is stinkin' cute!

Things I Love ~ Just random ramblings

I used to be good at keeping journals. I also used to scrapbook, quite a bit. I really enjoyed doing those things, but the time just isn't there anymore, but oh my goodness, I always can find time to blog!! How is that? I just want to jot down a few things that I like for journaling purposes.

I love Josh. I love him a lot!! I think he's pretty hot and he is also one of the kindest guy's I know. He's never home and it drives me CRAZY, but he's always helping somebody fix a car or helping with this or that. I shouldn't complain. He's amazing. One of the most charitable people I know. I am glad he fixes my car, because I am not mechanical. Ask him and he'll tell you. He thinks it's FUNNY that I can't change my own tire! I like the way he laughs at me, because I am kinda silly and I love the way he hugs me! I LOVE hugs from him. I love him for how hard he works to provide for our family and all the things he does to make sure that we are happy. I love the way he loves me and I love the way he loves my kids. He is the best daddy ever! I love to watch him play with them and love to see their faces light up when he walks in the room. I Love you 5 lbs. babe!!

I love J.D. because he is my first baby. I love that he still loves to snuggle and that he shares my love of books. I love that he always tells me that I am the best mom ever and how he never forgets to tell me I love you at least a dozen times a day. I love his crazy hair and his obsession with cowboys. I love that he is compassionate. He is so tenderhearted. Such an amazing kid.

I love Tyson. The kid melts my heart with his blond hair and butterscotch colored eyes. He is my joy and my heart. I love how he comes and finds me first thing every morning and gives me a great big Tootie Squeeze and tells me he loves me. I love that he is so independent and very much his own person. I love that he is adventurous, but also scared of the dark and of monsters. I love how he climbs EVERYTHING and is a sugar junkie, like his momma! He makes me want to do a happy dance.

And Piper. What to say about Piper? The girls is outrageous and wild and I love everything about her. I love the way she throws tantrums and how much of a tom boy she is . I love her cute little cheeks, her cute little legs, her buddah belly and her toosh!! I love how she carry's around her babydolls and how she loves her brothers. Nothing makes me happier than to see her hugging the boys around the waist with those cute little arms and how she kisses them on the cheek. I also love to see her hold her own with Tyson and how she fights back. She will be strong!

I love good friends. I am fortunate to have some great ones, some crazy ones, and even some weird ones and I love each and every one of you. I love that I can be a stay at home mom and spend my days playing with my kids. I love to read am grateful for people who have the imaginations to write good books. I love to learn and I love to craft. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love to give service to others. I love to bake and cook and I love good food. That's why I am a chunky monkey, but oh well. I love the smell of cookies and homemade bread. I love Marysvale and want to return to live there someday as dysfunctional as it may be. I love a good game of basketball and I loved coaching my young women this year. It was fun. I love my calling in young women. The girls make me feel young, but they also have a way of making me realize that I am getting older.

Thanks for listening to the ramblings of a crazy mom. I haven't had much by the way of adult conversation today, so just lots of thoughts. I am grateful for the life I have and I just want to make sure that my family knows I love them. Good night everyone and thanks again!

More Marysvale Pictures

We always have a good time hanging out with our Winckel cousins. We stay at Sherry and Austin's house when we go home, because Josh is allergic to cats and Mom has one. Plus the cousins like being able to be together and play.

Cute Riyo! The girls a little monster! She's 6 months younger than Piper, but wears the same size clothes and is about 1 inch shorter. She's gonna be tall like Austin.

Me and J.D.

Piper, Ashton, Tyson and Riyo

Piper and her daddy!!

Gracie looking for help. Piper loves dogs and loves to maul them. Gracie was so good to just take it!

We looked out the window and here comes Tyson walking home from the school with a sleeping bag wrapped around him. He told me he was scared of the cold!

Snow + Trampoline = FUN!!!!

We made an impromptu trip to Marysvale this weekend and it SNOWED!! Never fails, I go home and it's unseasonably cold. Anyway, my kids had so much fun. Sherry pulled out the box of gloves and hats and Tyson got so excited and said " Oh look, a glove station!" He's so cute. J.D. kept knocking everybody down because he had on his slick old cowboy boots. The pictures pretty much speak for themselves.