Family Pictures

We took some impromptu family pictures in the back yard. My friend graciously came over and snapped some pictures. The kids were not extremely cooperative - but all in all, the pictures turned out great. I'm putting together some ads for my city council campaign and initially I was going to use a family picture... but decided last minute to not use one. The kids were disappointed they weren't in the paper and told me that I should have used the family picture and not just my picture. It made me laugh - I hated the thought of putting my picture in the paper. Funny how the perspective changes over time! :)

Cannon's Birthday

My baby is 2. There truly is something to 'the baby'. Until you have the one that is deemed 'the last' you really can't comprehend the allowances you will give..... yes, the spoiling that will happen. Here are a few of my baby's: He still loves to be held at night to go to sleep. Some nights he never makes it into his own bed and LOVES to cuddle with me. He's my own heater. No need for covers! He still loves his 'ba' (bottle). Yes - we're bad parents because we still give him one. But honestly, I think it is the only way he would drink milk. Oh, we still heat it up - not just warm, it's really warm milk. He can drink a bottle in 1 minute flat - he gulps it down. None of this going to bed with a bottle (maybe happened with the other kids...) he drinks it and then will either hand it to you, or throw it, depending on his mood! He loves to be outside with the kids and loves to explore the neighborhood. Neighbors bring him home more than I would like to admit. Darn Houdini!


He loves the cat and the cat seems to love him. Even though he likes to maul the cat. He also loves to take off his diaper and sit on the toilet. I would love to believe he will be potty trained soon, but honestly not really holding out any hope. I also just found a killer deal on diapers - amazon.com. Signed up for the mom program and am getting a pack of diapers (140) for $23. AMAZING DEAL! Now after six kids I'm finding this deal - FIGURES!!


Cannon loves to watch TV - especially Dora and Little Einsteins, but most days, any cartoon will do. He also rules the house. The saying, "He who screams loudest gets his way" holds true for Cannon. Especially for his brothers and sister who are creating a monster because they ALL cater to him!! He also loves to shower, long showers with lots of toys. He sits in the shower and plays with toys and gets really mad when you tell him it's time to get out. He also does not like to bath. Strange, I know!


He's starting to talk quite a bit and we've taught him some sign language, which has been fun to see how quickly he learns and remembers. He loves his friends at the Bonnie's, and especially loves his 'Fred' - who is like an additional grandpa. Everyday when Fred comes home from work, Cannon will sit in his chair. Once Fred takes him out of his chair, Cannon sits between his feet - maybe to make sure he doesn't leave again.... who knows, but it's cute. When I pick him up he always says, "Bye Fre." Can't quite get the whole name out, but they both know.


For his birthday this year we picked up a Dora and Diego cake. Cannon loves cake! He was so excited when we put the cake down and he wanted to dig right into the frosting (definitely related to his mother). Apparently the cat is also part of the family, because the cat helped himself to a corner of the cake too..... gross huh? The cat will eat anything. We had tons of kids around (not ALL mine!) and ate cake and ice cream and Jerrick opened Cannon's presents. Jerrick was so excited to see what was in them he couldn't wait for Cannon to get around to it. The best present was a little tractor that has a dumping basket on the back. The kids though it was great to put the cat in it - and the cat didn't seem to complain while Cannon scooted him around. It was lots of fun!

With Ryker in school this year it seems that the baby era of my life is coming to an end. It's sad in a way because I will miss holding a baby. But there is something about having the ability to make your OWN sandwich and get your OWN drink!! And I'm realizing it's pretty easy and simple when they're little. The REAL challenges are just beginning!! But I'm loving every minute of it!

Peanut Butter Eyeball Truffles

It's all about yummy desserts!! I found this great recipe to make creepy peanut butter truffle eyeballs. YUM! So, we started creating. Here's the recipe:

3/4 c. peanut butter
3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. Reeses Peanut Butter Cereal (crushed)
measure before crushing
4 - 6 cups powdered sugar

Mix all together and form balls. Dip in white chocolate, then dip in red colored white chocolate. Use toothpick to give 'blood-shot' eye look. Add chocolate chip (pointy side down) into red area to give an eye look. These are super yummy!!

Disclaimer.... I didn't have red food coloring, I didn't measure the cereal out BEFORE crushing, and no toothpick to spread the pink eye part - which sounded great, but my chocolate turned hard when I added the food coloring. There is something to that, just not sure what.... but all and all, they were really good and lots of fun with the kids. Ryker helped me roll the dough and he and Cannon had a great time helping me poke sucker sticks in the balls for dipping. Then, they all tried one, but mom (and dad) had more than a few..... probably why I am NOT losing weight! Found the recipe on someone's blog - but I honestly can't find it now. Although I did find a variation of the recipe on candy.about.com.

Joyous Moments

This week has been a busy one. It seems like there is never a slow moment. This was our week -

Monday - Weight Watchers, football practice, cheerleading practice, finding my boys who roam the neighborhood. Homework, reading, dinner, baths, bed, the typical drill. Sadly, this is almost every night, so when we had the additional stuff added on, it made for a really LONG week!

Tuesday - employee picnic, started at 3:30, got home around 8:00. Friend came over around 8:45 to do fun Cricut stuff... Jared at Church... I think I was supposed to be in charge of homework, reading, etc.... hate it when I have to be the responsible one!! :) Just kidding, forced children to do homework, read, have baths and eventually go to bed.

Wednesday - Jared leaves for Reno. Drop cat off at vet for declaw and 'no babies' as I told my kids - since they didn't know what spaying was... doctor appointment for me, high blood pressure now under control - thank you drugs. Somehow I don't feel old enough to have to deal with this. I guess it's my body telling me I'm no longer 20. Not really sure when that happened and I started getting older - don't feel like it most days. Okay, maybe the days when I eat too much sugar and my head is going to explode... I picked the cat up around 4:45, everything went well. Try to keep cat from jumping on things (yeah, right), and calm. Hmmm, bring cat home, Cannon tries to maul, have to save cat. Lock cat in the bathroom. Try to relax before going to 'meet the candidates' night. Feeling very apprehensive - hate confrontation, and especially the unknown. Have no idea what they are going to ask... It's about 6:45, Monica and Jaxon are still gone. Jared's in Reno having the time of his life. I'm in stress mode. Realize the cat has escaped out of the bathroom (thanks to Cannon). Cat is bleeding everywhere. Cat has reached under the door of the bathroom and pulled off one of his bandages. Blood is everywhere.... freaking out. Catch cat, call vet. "Can you bring the cat in?" "NO - I live in Wendover." "Oh, okay, just get some gauze wrap and some animal tape (?) and wrap it up." "Okay" This is not going to work... I have to leave to be at the city hall. No babysitter, no gauze wrap, bleeding cat, looks like a horror movie in my bathroom... Stress!! Call Gunnar, please come watch Cannon, text Monica and Jaxon to hurry home, leave, hoping the cat doesn't bleed to death.... survive candidate night. Come home - kids freaking out. I locked the bathroom so they can't get in. Gunnar's telling them that the cat was bleeding from her neck. Have to open the bathroom door with a bobbypin. Cat has pulled off other bandage. Try to bandage with gauze I just bought ($10). Doesn't work, surprised? Give up, lock cat back in bathroom, AFTER everyone admires the mess..... and comments. Try to deal with homework. Only child that has homework is asleep... Give up. Call Jared. His day has been good. Flew private jet from Wendover, picked up by limo, put up in new, really nice room. Had a basket of goodies in room. Ate in nice restaurant, had a great day. (Not fair!). Talk his ear off for an hour telling him about my day. He is sympathetic - as if there was a choice! Go to bed, late...

Thursday - Relief Society. Yum, made homemade jam and bread. Jared still gone. Gunnar needs a 2 liter pop bottle. Take a few children to the store. Takes longer than it should.... come home exhausted. Jerrick fell asleep again without doing his homework. I hate being a single mother!! I can't wait for Jared to get home tomorrow! But - I am inspired. Thinking I'm going to make jam tomorrow.

Friday - Yeah! A whole night with nothing to do! So, I made cookies, 3 batches of jam, fresh bread, AND even did the dishes. My mother would be proud!! I cleaned up my mess. The rest of the house suffered, but hey - there is always tomorrow! Plus, cleaning is over-rated! Jared got home around 11 or so. He flew home around noon, but needed to go to work... it was nice to have him home!

Saturday - sleep in. (Best thing about my kids - they know how much their mommy loves to sleep in on Saturdays)! Jaxon's football game, laundry, dishes, more laundry, wedding reception, Wendover documentary, have friend see Monica's dress - discuss how I am going to alter it and make it appropriate. Still need to go to the store, iron church clothes and find Ryker. I know he's around somewhere, but dang there are a lot of them some days!! :)

There are moments that I have to admit to myself how insanely crazy I really am. Although I wouldn't change anything. I love the craziness! And I love my children and my husband. I hate when he's gone - he is my sanity, and sometimes a better mother than I am. I am so thankful for healthy and happy children who inspire me to be a better person and have shown me there are no limits on love. It's hard sometimes to enjoy the moments, especially when the moments are frantic and stressful! But there truly is a silver lining to everything - those are my joyous moments, the moments I know, I was meant to be a mother of all these crazy kids!

Random Pictures

I have a friend who has the most amazing back yard..... I snuck in (okay - with permission) and took some pictures. The only thing that would have made it more perfect was spa music playing in the background!! There are three water features, one of them being a pond with fish and water lilies. Serenity describes this little slice of heaven! It backs the golf course and there is no traffic noise, only quiet. The gardener is one fantastic lady!! That night I also took some pictures of the moon. Came up with some of my favorite pictures (other than the ones with my kids!).

First Day of School

The first day of school is always exciting. This year I have five kids in school. One of those, 'where did the time go' moments! Ryker was so excited to start kindergarten. All day! Scary! The other kids were excited too! Monica is going to be a freshman - not sure how I got old enough to have a freshman..... Jaxon is starting 7th grade (also at the high school). Gunnar is in 4th grade and Jerrick is in 2nd. Poor Cannon still has 4 years before he goes to school - which we figured would be the year that Monica goes to college, he'll go to school. Interesting comparison! Then I will have to admit that I'm getting older!!





This year is going to be a great year for everyone! Jaxon was able to sign up to be a lunch helper - which means free lunch and extra food! It was his idea and he is LOVING it! I really love it since school lunch in high school costs $2.75 each day. Five kids in school will kill me just for lunch. Elementary school lunch is $2.50 per day. So, $13.00/day or $65.00/wk can buy some pretty great stuff for cold lunch! Which is what the option is going to be for the younger ones.

Monica tried out to be a cheerleader at the end of last school year - and she made it! So I now have an official cheerleader at my house! Which comes with it's own drama. Although it hasn't been too bad yet! Maybe part of it is being 14 - but there has to be a part I can blame on being a cheerleader! She cheered her first varsity game on Friday night. She was nervous and excited and did a great job! It was fun to see her cheering.

This year for the younger boys is going to be great! I know each of their teachers (well, getting to know Gunnar's) and I know what great teachers they are. All my babies are growing up.....

Salt Flat Pictures

I've wanted to take pictures out on the Salt Flats for a while, so the boys and I (Jared and Monica were gone (work and California), headed for a little family home evening excursion. The boys had a great time playing on the flats and I took some fun pictures. We met someone traveling from Illinois who was a helicopter pilot in the airforce and Jaxon had a great time talking to him about 'army' stuff. He also had two dogs that had a great time playing with the kids. It was the pefect time of day and I took some pictures of the sun setting. We finished our evening with sundaes from McDonalds. Nothing says I love you - like ice cream!!