A catch-up post

It has been a blur of a month! Last Friday, I was picking all the red tomatoes out of my garden as I was pulling the plants out to winterize the garden. Those tomato plants were tough and wouldn’t come out of the ground, so I pulled harder, and harder. Finally I pulled so hard, I hurt my back. I couldn’t walk, bend over, sleep, lay down, sit down…I was in so much pain. Oh well…too bad for me. I had to pick the rest of the plants and tomatoes. (I was only 1/3 the way done when I hurt myself!) I ended up sitting on my bottom and doing my best. I got them all out, peppers too, and got them in the 20 black yard garbage bags! The next day I canned all the tomatoes into juice. This year has been a successful canning year. I got 12 quarts of green beans, 59 pints of salsa, and 65 quarts of tomato juice. WHEW, I’m glad it’s over!

We went to J&J’s hayride to get a pumpkin. We went with a few of our friends and had a blast! It was threatening rain the whole time and was cold, but I think only the moms noticed it was cold! The kids were going crazy trying to find the best pumpkin out of the entire patch. Of course, all 3 of them couldn’t carry their pumpkin (still couldn’t walk, stand..ect) but I got them all to the van.

All my hard work and pain was worth it, Thomas didn’t think it would snow, but we got A TON! I say 6 inches, he says closer to a foot…who knows for sure?? (Weather man?) After church, the kids ran outside and made a huge snowman (well, Kaden was throwing up, so he didn’t…) Once Kaden felt a little better later in the day, they went to make another snowman, but the first had fallen over and they made a snow fort! It was nice to play in the snow.

This week I also went to training for my new job. I am doing early voting (so, more like a 3 day job??) I couldn’t even sit there listening to how we need to look up people’s names and give them a card to vote. Thomas called a chiropractor for me and got me an appointment. I have never been to one, so I didn’t know what to expect. He did some reflex things and made me bend and move ect. He took some X-rays and hooked me up to this machine that shocked my back. IT FELT SO GOOD!! He got the X-rays back and said it was a torn muscle. That is good/bad news he said. Good because it will heal, and I can do exercises to make it strong again…Bad, because it takes a long time to heal. He then cracked my back and sent me on my way. I COULD FINALY WALK!! I have an appointment on Monday with him, and I just may kiss him. I have been sore, but not in pain and can actually DO things. Ahhh I am in love with him ;)

The kids were out for UEA, so I had told them if they cleaned the house Thursday, we could do something fun on Friday. We went to cornbellies at Thanksgiving point with some of our friends. The kids had a blast!! We wore out the moms, and called it a day.
If you got through all of that…thanks! I have been busy with paperwork for super Saturday coming up next Saturday, trying to winterize our yard, cleaning, canning, and trying to have fun in the mist of it all!! The next few weeks will include me working early voting, Kinley’s birthday, a birthday party for Kinley (Yikes, that could be scary!) a visit from Thomas’ parents, pumpkin walk, Halloween parties (school, family) and Halloween. Should be busy and fun!

My "Alone-cone(s)"

When Hailey and Kaden were smaller, they loved to watch dragon tails. (Kinley, not so much). To be honest, I was a little weirded out with Zach and Weezy. Boy/Girl dragons that are stuck together.
In one episode, Zach needed to be alone, so he put on the "Alone-cone". It was a cone that he put on his head so he couldn't see or hear his sister. (I personally, don’t blame him...she was super annoying...LOOOOOOVEEEE ITTTTT!!! Ug, its been years, and it still can haunt me!) ANYWAY. For the past year, I have been somewhat jealous of Thomas' office. I told him all the time it was his alone-cone. A place that he could go, and the rest of us just didn’t go there. Well, with the basement finished, I got some space all to myself. Lets check it out. (CAUTION: These rooms ARE NOT decorated....you have been warned!)

With Kaden moving to the basement, it freed up his room to be my much anticipated "office". I have a desk, my computer and my all craft crap in here. The closet is full of all my scrapbook stuff I have collected but not done over the years. I has my toll painting, sewing (which I don't know how to do, so I'm not sure why I have it...) I have loved coming in here to talk on the phone. Shut the door (put on the cone) and have a quiet conversation. I have yet to have time to do any of my projects (I have been canning) but that will come!!

This is my workout room. Yeah, its safe from everyone else. Thomas keep threatening to use it, (and that would be okay) but so far, its just a threat. I love to watch the TV use the treadmill...sweat...go numb...ahhh my alone cone!! It is complete with a lock on the door. Kids have stopped even trying to think they can come in here. Its moms room :).

This is my bedroom. Not new, but it is one of my favorite places in the house that is mine. I do let Thomas in here, for the record.

I have enjoyed the basement. It has opened up a lot of room. Kaden has voiced his opinion that "mom has a lot of room's to herself" to which I reply "when your the dad you can give your wife lots of rooms to herself."

I'm not spoiled. I'm well taken care of....there is a difference!

Thinking of Onions.

Do smells ever make you remember things? They are harvesting the onions by my house. You can get some strong smells once in awhile. Today, as I was driving down the street, I saw an onion on the side of the road, along with the smell. It reminded me that 3 years ago today, I had my hysterectomy. How, you ask, does that even go along with each other? Well, my mom was coming over to my house after I got home from the hospital. Thomas had taken off time from work, but had to go back...mom and dad were my babysitters. Kinley wasn't quite one yet, so I needed a lot of help. On her way over, she realized that she had forgotten an onion in the bag of things she had brought over to make me soup. She saw an onion on the side of the road on the way over, and made dad stop to get it.
I remember telling her that I had onions, but not much more then that (drugs, baby...) The point is, she didn't care if it was embarrassing or who was watching...she was doing it to take care of me. Her whole life she put us kids in front of her needs. I am grateful for her in my life and today seeing onions all over the sides of the road I couldn't help but think of her. I sure miss her. Maybe I will pick one up and make me some soup? Onion rings anyone?? :)

Plastic Bag Parachute's

Last night I was letting two of the kids play outside while the third was taking a bath. Hailey was taking her bath first, so I was chilling out in my bedroom. I hear Kinley and Kaden go in out out of the house a few times. I go out to get Kinley to take her bath and find that they are parachuting. That is right. Parachuting right here in our backyard. Kinley goes in and Hailey came out (that is why I don't have a picture of Kinley). Well Hailey and Kaden decide that the reason they aren't flying is because they don't have enough bags on their back. Here Kaden is showing that he has 5 plastic sacks on his back. He is ready to fly "super high"!

I remember thinking up ways that I could fly when I was a kid. The safest way for me to try out my ideas (none of which were any good) was to convince Nate to do them. (Not just flying...any idea!) Ahhh good times, huh Nate!? Nate?? NATHAN!?!??

Jedi Princess

Kinley is so funny to me. She is such a girly girl. She is in a dress 90% of the time. She loves her little dress up shoes, play makeup, purses, sunglasses, princess dress up clothes, necklaces, bracelets, rings etc. She loves playing with her baby dolls and dressing them up, feeding them and changing them.

In the same breath, she is the biggest "tom boy"! She loves fighting dad and Kaden with light sabers, dart guns, bow and arrows made out of sticks. She loves playing in the dirt and LOVES it when Kaden and his friends let her play with them! She isn't even remotely afraid of snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders or any creepy thing. (Kaden's friend calls her over to kill spider's and she will pick them up and squish it with her fingers....gross!)

All I can say is one day her friends (which I am guessing will be mostly boys) will enjoy a cute girly girl that is a tom boy to hang out with!!
*she is quite good with the saber...Thomas has to stay on his toes. When Kinley and Kaden tag team him...he is in trouble!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Wahooo!! The day finally came! I have to admit, when I saw the school district on my caller id on Wednesday night, I freaked out a bit. I was afraid they were going to say "SIKE" (yes, I dated myself there...) and tell me school wasn't starting again. Thomas answered the phone and I couldn't read his face on if it was bad news (see, I cant read Thomas' face either!) I started to get tears in my eyes. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids....but we have been off track since May, and well, I love them so much they should go to school...we will leave it at that!

Hailey is in the third grade, and Kaden is in first. They both have loved going to school! I had to chuckle at Hailey's "wavy" hair and her leggings. When she left I told Thomas that could have been me in the 3rd grade. Crimped hair and leggings. She pulls it off better then I ever could though....ahhh stirrup pants and sweater shirts...gotta love the styles!

Question: what item(s) of clothing do you wish came back??

Dancing, camping and first day of Pre-school!

We went camping Labor Day weekend. We went to South Fork and had a great time! We usually go tubing down the river, but it was too cold...it sure felt like FALL! Kaden is really into hiking (every time we go camping, he wants to go on a hike. Does anyone know any good places to go around here?) Thomas went high up the mountain the first day without us because Kaden wanted him to catch him a lizard. We have never come home critter free, but I was thinking yeah right, good luck boy! Well, 30 minutes later, Thomas comes down with a tiny little lizard. Kaden named him Lizzy, to remember the lizard Spike ate. The next day Hailey and Kaden wanted to go up the steep mountain with their dad. Good luck guys! Mom doesn't do high steep mountains, but thanks! They head up. Kinley follows. In flip flops!? So, I follow her, thinking she will get scared like her mom. NO LOVE. She kept going, and I kept trying to keep up with her. I am about half way up when I freak out. I made her sit down and I had a miniature panic session. Finally our friend that came with us came back to see what was taking us so long. He helped Kinley get down while I kept telling myself I was okay. I wasn't dying today. It was a really fun trip, and a nice way to end an extremely busy summer! On Monday, we met some of my family at Kangaroo Zoo. The kids LOVED that place. I have never even heard of it before, Thanks Preston and Chrystie for the fun time!Since the new school is late opening, Kinley was the first to start. She went today!! She was so excited! Last week we had to go meet the teacher. She told me I could go home, that I wasn't the helper mom today. She loved it today! She loved riding home with Harrison. She thinks he is so funny. After all, he did say dum dum give me some gum gum. HILARIOUS! I am so excited for her to go, she has been wanting to go since last year! With Kinley in school, I have 2 days a week that I am A.L.O.N.E!! (No, I wont babysit or run any errands for you! HA HA)
During the summer 2 of the young women in our ward did a dance camp. Kinley was in the younger class, and Hailey was in the older class. They loved it! They had a little recital the other day. The pictures aren't great. My camera needs to die. :) The younger kids sort of just sat there and moved a little here and there. It was cute though!
I was pretty proud of Hailey. She seemed to remember her dance. She had this cheesy perma-grin the entire time! I fought so hard not to laugh. She defiantly has a "dance face" (as Amy puts it ;)
Summer is winding down. I am excited for the other two to start school on Friday. Fall is my favorite season! Well, after all the canning is done! Come on tomatoes, lets get it over with!