This year we went out Trick or Treating, door to door, for real. We have never done this. Normally we go to the few family houses we have around town and call it good. However my sister had different plans for us. :) The kids had a great time and thought it was a great adventure. I was tired, but I think I was tired before we went.

Oh, we did have one scary experience when a very large alien opened the door. Trace and Tell wanted NONE OF THAT! They were traumatized. They did not want to ring more doorbells unless I was right there with them. And even then they would ring it and then step WAY back.

Kodi was a bumblebee. (Short story - When we were getting ready Kodi was walking around the house in her black leotard. Gideon informed her that "your leotard kinda looks like a diaper". Brotherly love at it's finest!)

Gideon was Superman.

Trace was Buzz Lightyear.

Tell was a Fireman.

My big boy started preschool today. He had a "super, duper, ally, ooper time"! He goes for two hours, three days a week. I consoled my self by making Oreo Truffles of which I ate one, and called Heath to come take the rest away. :)

This weekend was the Iron County Fair. We had a blast! (I forgot the camera.) We hit the parade first. Then Heath and Kodi split to go see about parade floats and ended up in the parade. :) The boys and I watched as much of the parade as our attention could hold, and then headed to the fair grounds. Uncle Darce and family showed us all the horses and bulls. We had lunch with the Blue Grandma and Papa. And then went to the horse races. I have never been to one before. (I have seen them on TV.) It was so EXCITING! On the way out we stopped by the petting zoo. By the end of the day we were definitely tired, dirty, and happy.

Dear Jeri,

I am sad! You have not updated me in ages. People keep coming to check in on you and your family and nothing new is there for them to see. Please take the time soon to let the world know what you guys are up to. Yes, I know you finally added a background. Thank goodness because white was B O R I N G!! But the masses need more.

Sincerely,
Your Blog

Gideon found happiness in all kinds of rope. He tied the Tahoe up, he tied the trailer up, he walked on the rope, he swung the rope around, he LOVES rope.

The Tell bear, ate and ate and ate some more. What kind of a camping trip would it truly be with out s'mores and the sticky face that goes with it?

Hannah was more than happy to help Heath out relaxing in the hammock.

And the 4wheeler got just a bit of use on this trip. :) We went up to the lake and fished and scouted out some great campsites for the 4th of July weekend party that is coming up.

We love our Daddy and are so thankful for him!!

Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there! We hope that you had a great day!

June has been hoping for us. We had Daddy's birthday. We spent time on the farm with Aunt Danna and her family. We went and saw some awesome fireworks for the Summer Games. And we added to our family. We would like to introduce you to Gus Gus. :) The little sucker won't hold still for a picture so you can't really see how big, or little I should say, he is from this picture. We all think he is great. Hannah really hasn't decided what to think about him and has been mostly avoiding him.

We bought our house about 4 years ago. It has been through a lot since then. The front yard has had the weeds overtake it. It has had weed killer dowsed on it. It has been cleaned and scraped with a big ol' tractor. It has more dirt added, and finally it has had sod laid on it.
These are my flowers that come up through the grass every year. I do nothing to help these beauties appear, or stay alive for that matter. Each year when it is finally time to mow the lawn it is too hot and they have died for the year. So in my patient mode, I mow right on over them each week wondering if next year they will again prevail and greet us each spring. So far they do. In fact this year there seems to be more than before. I love these flowers. They bring my heart joy each time I drive up to the house, look out the window, or catch their beautiful color out of the corner of my eye. They remind me to be strong and to "bloom" no matter what happens on around or under us. I make the choice to withstand all the bad stuff that comes my way and come away from it even better than before!

And here is my blue eyed baby. Oddly enough my kids remind me to be better as well. They forgive me so easily for my shortcomings. They may not like what I say, but at the end of the day they love me and give me the best hugs. My hubby and the kids bring my soul to life, and make me smile each day. So, I will also forgive others for their shortcomings, and remember that we are all children of God at the end of the day!

St. Patrick's Day has never been a big holiday for me. I haven't really ever anticipated the day, or stressed about what green I will find to wear. (My eyes are green, and I wear those everyday.)

Well this morning at approximately 3:00 in the AM, my little daughter came upstairs in tears!
"Mommy, I HAVE to wear green to school or I will get pinched."
"Sister, we will find some green to wear in the morning I promise."
Then she calmed down and finally went back to sleep. (It felt like hours to me, but in reality it was probably only about 10 minutes.)

This morning we found green for everyone to wear. (Except for Daddy, he left before she woke up because she had a late night waking - see above.) The world has been made right, and all will go well at school today.

Then she did tell me about some little green men. (She couldn't remember what they were called.) And that they would come and paint her face. She said this smiling but later confessed to hiding under her blankets.

I love that girl! So today HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY to all!!

K - "Mom, did the groundhog see his shadow?"
M - "Yep, what does that mean?"
K - "I guess we get 16 more months of winter."

Gideon: "Kodi I know that you are getting big, BUT you are still little!"