Fridays

Since Fridays are a little different now with homeschool going on we have to plan some fun things once school is done to replenish ourselves. The canyon leaves were quickly changing and the weather was good and a hike felt just right!! We set off hiking up Middle canyon on an ATV trail. 

It was nice to breathe some mountain air and take in the beauty that is so close to us. The kids had fun exploring and seeing new things and finding things to climb on! 

Carter thought this tree was pretty cool. One base that split into 2 trees. We called them TWINS! It was a beautiful day to get out and I'm so glad my kids love hiking as much as I do!

 

Momma's Bday weekend

Early on, with all of this virus crap, Mom told us she wanted family to visit for her bday. It had been a while since we've been home so we went up for the weekend! Tony and his family live there now so its an added bonus to see cousins every time we go now. Mollie and Ashton played foosball. 

Carter talked Jordan into setting up the antique criss cross crash hot wheels. 

Tony did dishes and him and Monse made an awesome taco dinner with all the fixings and toppings! 

Her other request was a chocolate cake! Grandpa was in charge of that and he picked a good one! It was pretty tasty. 

Even though it was her birthday, she was still giving us gifts. She made some hats for Carter and some bags for each of the girls. Thanks gma!

The older I get the more I appreciate my mom and cherish her friendship. We sure loved getting to be there for the weekend and celebrating and serving her! Happy birthday mom!

 

Meet JILLY BEAN!

For several years I have told my family we would not  be getting a dog. I kept almost talking myself into it and then after I read up on having a puppy, talked myself out of it. It all sounded too familiar....sleepless nights, crying, doctor visits, feedings, cleaning up poop...there's a reason we didn't have anymore kids! I also kept looking at them and the prices just kept going UP! Ridiculous prices confirmed we could not afford a dog. 

Then I found a post for goldendoodles in Tooele! Just a few miles from where we lived. The price was lower and they had 10 puppies!! We had just refinanced our home to get a lower interest rate and we pulled out some money for home renovations. If there ever was a time, now was the time. I feel like the stars aligned. We loaded up the kids and went to LOOK at puppies. 

Well you can't just look at puppies...you have to hold them and play with them and snuggle them and oh my heck they were cute! I was set on a golden one but one little black girl climbed up on Mollie and snuggled right into her. The girls were all squeeling and Oooohing and ahhhhing....And then there was Carter. He stood with his nose in the corner and wouldn't even LOOK at the dog. He did not want her and he told me he would sell her if I bought one. After a long talk with him and telling him we would all be praying for his heart to be softened he told me a few days later that he would give the dog a chance.

 Well,  I guess the dog chose us because a few weeks later on Sept. 15 when she was old enough to come home, Jilly Bean joined our family. 

She had SO much attention and was constantly cuddled.  The night we picked her up I had to go to work but the kids and Chad were all happy to get to play with her. 

Oh this pic of Jilly and Chad just makes me so happy! Look at that cute face! And the smile on my hubbys face! We all were smitten!

When I got home the family was still outside playing with her. So I told them it was my turn to play. 

And here's Carters face showing how he really feels about the dog. We've currently had her 3 months and he still won't touch her! But he does giggle when she does silly things and is slowly warming up to her.

And I originally said no animals on the couch but that didn't last. However we did get a new couch and I'm still trying to enforce that one for the sake of new furniture!

Rylee loves petting her and is always by her side 

And Jilly loves soccer! Who knew! She loves to chase the ball when the kids kick it around the yard. 

And one evening this is where she chose to fall asleep! On my face!

Bri is ALWAYS holding her and I keep telling her that soon she will be too big to hold her! 

And look at this pretty pic of this baby! One of the first that I took of her! Getting a black dogs face is slightly hard but the lighting here was perfect!

Within just a few weeks of having her, we took her on her first road trip to grandmas for her birthday! She did really great and just layed down below me or sat on my lap. She did so great!

Sometimes she would get brave and peek out the window .She's kinda a fraidy cat. 

Grandma isn't a pet person but she let Jilly snuggle up to her and lick all her fingers and sit in her chair. Thanks mom. 

She did good there but you could just tell she was a little uncomfortable being out of her element. Once we were back home though, she found all her favorite spots to lay and enjoyed them. 

Under Rylee's chair is probably her favorite place. I'm sure theres a few snacks under there. 

    For our first puppy, we've learned a few lessons but for the most part she is amazing! She only whined the first night in her kennel but after that she did just fine. She had very few accidents in the house and usually only when I'm too busy to remember to take her out or I'm not home. She is kennel trained and mostly potty trained and learning tricks and commands so quickly! She doesn't chew things up but she does love to steal socks or wrappers and run off with them. She did chew up our trampoline mat but I wasn't too upset because it needed to be thrown away anyway. She is such a good dog and has been a beautiful addition to our family. Yes its like a newborn for the most part, but the difference is that I can put her in her kennel any time and walk away. She doesn't go to stores with me or keep me up at night and that is a BIG difference.  The kids have had to learn some self control and not smother her. And she's taught all of us a little more responsibility. Welcome to the fam Jilly bean. 

Also just for the record, she was born July 21, 2020. And here are her mom and dad and one of the first pictures her breeder sent us after we decided we wanted her! So tiny!!!

 

Rylee's first day of K!

I can't believe my sweet little BABY of the family is officially in school! (Almost) We got her all ready on the first day and a few hours later she was not feeling good. She had a fever and so she missed her first week of school!! But look how stinking cute she is!!! <3

Mrs Nill is her teacher this year and she is in the afternoon class. 

So we snuggled alot the next few days and waited till she was better before she went. 

When she was finally better, she already had a new outfit picked out and she wanted Cafe Rio for lunch! Sure baby girl! 

We had a little time to kill after lunch so we also went to the park. I know my park days are dwindling so I'm trying to cherish them while they are here. 

I can't even tell you in words how much it hurts my heart to send my 5 year old to school in a mask. It kills me. I even bought her a cute shield but they nixed that. It makes me a little sick. Fortunately, she adapted and adjusted really quick and made the decision to go to school and wear a mask. It's not a big deal now for her at all. Kids are amazing. 

And just like the others, I couldn't walk her in...another hurt to the heart! Sure love this strong, smart and ready to take on the world, little girl. 

And just for fun. a house that goes all out decorating for Halloween that is just up from the school. They added to it all month long and this was just the beginning of it!

 

I have a 12 year old!

Wow I can't believe this day is here. It freaks me out when I think of what little time I have with Carter left in my home. He is such a source of calmness and growth. He is a good kid and makes good choices easily without worrying what others think of him. He is super kind and always (mostly) happy. Some of those pre teen emotions are starting to kick in!!

He requested this raspberry brownie dessert and we had the Eash family over for dinner and dessert. 

On Tuesday, his birthday, he woke up to a stack of presents and a new Fortnite nerf gun. And Donuts!

We made him wait til after school to open gifts. This shirt was from me! :)

He is getting really excited for snowboarding this winter and asked for a lot of snow gear. 

Of course we had to get in some spakens! He requested Alfredo for his birthday dinner.

On the weekend we invited family to be with us but Mom got sick and she and Tony's family didn't end up coming. But his neighborhood friends showed up for a nerf gun fight in the back yard. 

And they played and played and stunk really good. 

Carter and Brody were in charge of setting up a course and they did a  pretty good job with what the could find. 

I'm so glad he's found this group of guys to call his buddies. Even if they cause some hat shenanigans in pictures (see pic). These boys are all pretty great. 

And instead of cake he wanted frosted brownies! Yum. Good choice kid. 

 Happy 12th birthday bud. Your mom and dad are so proud of the person you are becoming. We are grateful for your desire to do good and we hope you hang on to your goals of serving a mission and succeeding in life. We love you C-man!