This year was our turn to be with Nathan's family for Thanksgiving so naturally it was in Logan. I absolutely love Logan and maybe someday we will end up there. We left Wednesday afternoon the plan was to leave earlier but a fire caused us to be later. We listened to the Second book of The Five Kingdoms by Brandon Mull on the way out. I was not feeling very well and was trying to be pleasant and as happy as I could be to not ruin Thanksgiving for our family.
On Thanksgiving day it was pretty laid back. Since Kent had to work until 3:00 we weren't going to have our Thanksgiving dinner until then. So around 10:00 am we went to the high school and had a little turkey trot.
We wanted to get 40 miles in out of everyone and we ended up with close to 60 it was fun.

Sunday, after church and a visit from our home teachers, we headed to Logan to begin our trip to Yellow Stone. We made the 4 hour drive to Logan piece of cake with no incidents to report of. We left Logan Monday morning around 11 a.m. and made it all the way to Malad before our tire on our trailer blew out. We were able to find a tire place that just happened to have two tires in the size we needed. But as they were putting them on they noticed that our axle was bent and would just end up waring these tires out too. So what are we going to do. Luckily most of Nathan's family was with us. The most frustrating thing for Nathan was he felt like he was ruining everyone's vacation. But I'm so glad they stayed with us to help us get things squared away. We ended up spending the whole day in Malad at an LDS church with a park near by. We had lunch and was able to find some shade. We called Nathan's brother Kent and he brought another trailer out to take our trailer back to Logan on. Picked up some dinner at Burger King and because it was so late we decided to head back to Logan for the night and head up to Yellow Stone in the morning. Well on our way through Rexburg we decided to stop at the temple to do baptisms for the dead. To let the Lord know how thankful we were that no one was hurt and that we were grateful to be watched over. We ate at Subway then everyone but Brooklyn and I went into the temple to do some baptisms. Brooklyn and I took lots of pictures of the temple and the grounds around the temple that made the time go by so fast. They were in there for about an hour or so and then before you knew it we were on our way to Island Park. We were so excited to get there that we missed our turn, but when we finally got there the kids immediately changed into there suits and went swimming in the buffalo river. While Nathan and I set up camp. Then prepared dinner. For sleeping on the ground in the tent with our camper cushion as a mattress it was pretty comfortable.

This year Spring Break was April 14-18. Because we had a whole entire week off I opted to leave Nathan and MaKelle home while I took the rest to my Mom's. We  were able to shop and visit and I even took Landen to get his permit on April 16.  My parents said that he could drive their car and I about had a heart attack. He is going to be needing a lot of practice before I can even feel comfortable driving with him. We sure did enjoy visiting my family for Spring Break and look forward to many more happy visits soon.
On April 20 Landen was ordained to the office of a priest. He even invited his Grandma Schuring and she came. But like usual I forgot to take pictures. Maybe someday I'll get better at that. I'm so proud of Landen and the Young Man that he is turning out to be. So far any way. ;)

For Easter this year we were at my Mom's and we took family pictures and had a scavenger hunt and I really loved being with family and having a good time. We the parents hid the eggs at a small park by my moms home in Stansbury. I felt really bad because Grandma Idom came and went to take a step and fell. At least she was okay. Then we went back to my parents home for Easter dinner and it was really yummy.

When Nathan was visiting his parents in Logan and Landen was out at a wrestling tournament. MaKelle went with some friends to a movie and I took Salem and Brooklyn to go see Paddington. It was a pretty cute movie for families. Salem loved it. If your looking for a clean fun family movie this one is pretty good! I did have one pet peeve. I can't believe that people can't clean up after themselves at a movie. How hard is it to take your garbage to the can. Lots of them just leave them and go. So not cool.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2014 Nathan and the older three kids headed off to Young Mens and Womens. While Brooklyn and I enjoyed our time home together. I just put Brooklyn down to bed when I got a phone call from Nathan telling me that I needed to go pick up Salem because he had dislocated his knee. My first thought was not a very good one why don't you just pop it back in and we'll go to the Dr in the morning so we don't have to pay for ER. Bad mom I know. First of all that is not what you do your suppose to leave it and get it x-rayed so they can see if you have any broken bones or problems. My second thought to myself was I just want to stay in my warm home and why couldn't Nathan just bring him home. Needless to say I bucked up and headed to the church. When I got to the church I thought they would bring him right out but no I waited and waited for him to come out, then the thought occurred to me that it is probably worse then their making it sound because they didn't want Salem to worry or over hear what they were saying and go into shock anymore then he already is.

Make shift splint so that he wouldn't be able to move his knee.

The Scouts got to practice their first aide skills to night for sure, or at least the leaders did.

Very scary thing to see him after they worked so hard to pop it back into place to see him lye there shaking. He was on crutches for a month and finally got to the physical therapist and they put him in a walking brace and not wearing the brace at all in less then two weeks. We did end up going to a specialist at Primary Children's Hospital and they are surprised that it has taken him 12+ years to dislocate his knee because where the knee cap sits is really shallow. Let's hope that we don't have  more in the future.

This year I decided to do something different for Valentines Day and wanted to start a new tradition or two. I printed out some I love you because... and gave them to everyone to write to someone else in our family for 14 days. It worked for about the first week and then it was forgotten about. Maybe we could try again next year. I also decided to buy books for the kids instead of candy. Well that went over well with MaKelle not so much the other three they don't like to read like she does. I'm not going to give up on that one, going to do that one again.
MaKelle got Divergent,

Landen The Maze Runner,

Salem The Polar Express,

and Brooklyn Ginger Pye.

Great new traditions that hopefully will help us learn to serve and love one another better.
Happy Valentines Day everyone.

May 1 -2 Mindy, MaKenzie, and I decided to go to the BYU Women's Conference this year for the first time. I was nervous leaving my family, but knew that they would be just fine without me. I left Wednesday at 2:00, drove to Mindy's and got to her house around 5:00.  She was at scouts so I waited until close to 6:00 to get in. I called her house, but no one answered.  I should have gone to the door because as it turns out Kayden was home the whole time.
They put me in Lexi's room and then we had spaghetti for dinner. After which we headed to go pick up Mercedes from soccer, dropped her off for her young women's.

We had so much fun! I learned so much and hopefully I can apply it and be a better mom, person, wife, and friend but mostly just do better! All Sister's should plan on going next year and Mom too! Loads of fun and great company!!

I can't believe that MaKelle is 17. She's going to be a senior next year. I'm so excited for her and sad at the same time. This is going to be a year of first and lasts for me and her. She'll be leaving us around this time next year. I'm going to be an emotional woman that's for sure.
I can't put to words my feelings for her. No one could ask for a better daughter. It sure is a good thing we have her as our oldest. She sure has done a fabulous job of being a "good" example for her younger siblings. If only she maybe could have prepared us better for the rest of them.  Haha I remember my mom telling me the same thing. MaKelle I want you to know that I love you with all my heart and are so very proud of the "lady" you're turning out to be! You are a daughter of God! You have integrity and Divine potential. I don't ever want you to forget that. Hold to the teachings of the gospel and the examples of your "hero's" and you will never be led astray!

Anyway for MaKelle's birthday while she was at school Nathan and I went to the temple in Vernal and did a session then went shopping for MaKelle. I had bought her tickets to a Conference - "When Life Gets Hard" - and that was it nothing else. I had planned on taking her shopping on our Mother Daughter day so hadn't bought her anything to open that morning. Her father thought that she needed to have something so we bought her a bunch of stuff and let her open it before we left to our conference.

Things I want to remember about MaKelle at 17...
1.  She is Happy most all the Time
2.  Easy to get along with
3.  Loves to talk and tell me every detail about her day!
4.  Reads her scriptures every morning and night.
5.  Writes in her journal every day.
6.  Plays the flute and piano really well and enjoys it!
7.  Composes and arranges many of her own songs that she plays at recitals and church.
8.  I love that she loves soccer as much as I do.
9.  She's fun to work with and usually sings while she does!
10. She's Dependable
11. She knows she's a daughter of God and tries her best to keep all the commandments and covenants.
12. She is a good driver.
13. Great helper.
14. Good Listener.
15. Fun to be around.
16. Loves animals especially her cat.
17. I love her beautiful smile!