The life we lead

It would be a massive understatement to say that I have been busy. The past month feels more like 3 months worth of stuff. Sometimes I honestly believe that a day has more than 24 hours. We squeeze so much into every day.

In the past month we have said goodbye to summer, we have welcomed Fall with a trip to the pumpkin patch, a trip to see my brothers and my sister Nicole in Salt Lake for the weekend. (A much needed trip, I was so homesick for my family. I had not seen them in over a year), time at the Iron County Fair, soccer, a big birthday bash and a night out to see Tarzan. And of course there have been massive hours at school and at work and so much more.

My most recent anxious moments have centered around Becca.
My dear sweet Becca turned nine and then within a week it came to my attention that I would need to pull her out of the Charter school all my children attend. It is a really long and angst filled story but suffice it to say that I decided that the Charter School was no longer the best choice for her. We are back to trying out Fiddlers starting next Tuesday. And my anxiety is ridiculous. I never thought I would choose to go back to Fiddlers. But here we are and I pray that I have made the right decision. Her brother and sister are remaining at the Charter school for the year. They seem to be progressing and doing well there.

Here is a few photos of us over the past month.

Pumpkin patch. We came home with 140 pounds worth of pumpkins. We are greedy about pumpkins.

We went with a few friends.

My niece Alexa. I got three new nieces this year. Here is one of them. Too bad she just moved to New Zealand. I held her as much as possible.

Bret, Jess and Cody. Now happily settled in New Zealand.

Jake is a little tired out after a few too many horse rides at the sibling reunion in Salt Lake My brother is such a good sport.

That's what you get for sticking your tongue out at me Nicole.

Oh look, she is cute. And so is her hubby and her youngest child Cami (my other new niece).

 A beautiful drive up Cottonwood Canyon

Becca and I see Tarzan at Tuacahn.

Becca turns 9 with some ghoulish treats and fun friends. Oh the day of baking that preceded her party was intense.

A witch and a really happy dead guy.

Forgot this one. Becca got to meet some of the cast of Tarzan. This is Kala.

And finally we watched lots of soccer and Tom and I are relieved it is over.

100 percent plus a little more

Some days are harder than others. Today was one of those days. It had its glorious moments like when Isaac won a new electric guitar from the drawing at the Orthodontists office or when I had lunch with my tween aged boy at one of my favorite places to eat (Pastry Pub) or when Isaac saw his uncle driving down the road and held up his newly acquired guitar to show his guitar loving uncle as we drove past. Then there was the moment at the end of a long exhausting day when Mom is plum tuckered out and Isaac starts throwing up non stop. Awesome.

There was the moment when Rebecca just played some good soccer that was great to watch and then there was the moment later when her sister fell backward in her chair after I had told her to stop jumping up and down on it. The great part was how I just let her sit there for a moment and someone else got up to help her up. I was so frustrated that she had fallen exactly as I said she would that I had an "I don't feel sorry for you moment."

There was the great moment with the bazillion eight year old achievement day girls and the exhausting glad it is over moment as I took half the brood home.

There was the brilliance of an aha moment in Alive! Utah marketing planning with my Dad and then the realization of the work that would incur.

There was dinner and breakfast and soccer and gas stations and 5 trips to the school today. I am pooped and I am praying no one is throwing up in the morning.

Cookbook giveaway on my food blog

I am cross promoting myself. I have this cool cookbook to giveaway. I recieved one from the company to review and one to giveaway. It is awesome for all those food storage buffs. It is a make your own mix cookbook and has everything from biscuit mix to onion soup mix. Then it gives you tons of recipes to use with each mix. I am so excited to use mine. Go enter the giveaway at http://pantryeats.blogspot.com/. I will ship it to the winner.

And while you are at it go visit Alive! Utah. Our September issue is up and it is amazing if I do say so myself. If you are not a facebook fan or a registered member I hope you sign up too.

We are also having an amazing, and I mean amazing giveaway, for the working gal or guy in Cedar City on our Deal Diva column.

Back to School

They are back in school and my days are both quiter and more crazy. The crazy starts at about 3 p.m and finishes itself out around 7 p.m. Everyday. Basically, I tell everyone don't ask me to do anything in these hours -- because I am booked solid. But the kids are are all happy to be back at school and heaven help me I am happy to have them back in school too.

Becca starts 4th grade.

Isaac starts 7th grade

Lia starts Kindergarten.

See all those collared shirts - that is the dress code at the kids' school and I hate it but I think we managed to find outfits that don't look like ugly uniforms.

Get my Alive! magazine button

Finally, finally! I have a button for Alive! Utah.Thank you Karynn, owner of bloomshot photography. Karynn is an old friend and one talented chica. She takes great photos and is running a giveaway and some great deals at her photo site. You really should check her out.

Here is where the begging ensues. I am trying to get the word out about Alive! and I need help. If you are an Alive! reader and a blogger will you put my button on your site. I will send all kinds of good thoughts your way.

Here is the code: the first half is the button and link. The second half is a code box, in case you want to encourage others to grab my button.









<center><a href="http://aliveutah.com/"><img border="0" src=" http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww227/karynn77/WEBAlivebutton5.jpg"/></a></center>

Family pics

It has been six years since I have had professional family pics done. Three years since I had family pics done and 2 since I bought school pics. It is time for some family pics. Abbey Kyhl of AK Studio and Design took these. I am not loving the family pics as much as the individual photos. What was I thinking wearing that shirt? And Tom has some serious glasses glare, but overall I love them.

What great kids!

Is he handsome or what? Of course this is pre glasses and pre braces. But I still think he is pretty cute.

I do love that smile.

This photo reminds me of a photo of my mother with her young girls. Life comes full circle.

My favorite photo

My favorite photo

Or is it this one?

There are more way more. But enough is enough.

Summer Summer Summer

So, I have never taken two whole months off from this blog before. But summer has been insane here. Really really insane. Finally I am on vacation in California, staring at the beach from the hotel window. Awesome. I have a moment to breathe, So I am going to try and give you an update. I have been buried in kids, house and trying to make my online magazine work. I finally decided not to publish an August issue because frankly I was two minutes from a nervous breakdown. Next month I will have an awesome issue but for the next few weeks I wanted to spend some time with my family.

Isaac --
Isaac declared that he didn't want to do soccer, football or any team sports this year. He needed a break. He is not ultra competitive and so I think he just wanted to have some free play time. He did do golf and he has to work at his Dad's office once a week. However he did decide to do the Utah Shakespearean Festival's playmakers program. He loved it. And I mean loved it. Isaac got to do a scene from Macbeth and he was actually surprisingly good. If you are my facebook fan you can check out the video here. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1420417867&v=box_3&ref=mf#!/profile.php?id=1420417867&v=app_2392950137
Isaac also went on his first week long scout camp. I have never prayed so much in my life. All day long I prayed for that boy's safety. And I don't care what Tom says he must have been worried too because there was not a single family prayer that he didn't pray for Isaac's safety.  I was so happy to have him home safe and sound. He had a great time with no serious problems. The worst thing that happened was that someone stole his pocketknife and fly fishing flies.


Rebecca on pre-swim team

Rebecca has tried not to be bored. She is easily bored. She actually enjoys the stimulation school gives her. She would literally watch TV all day if I let her. However, she started pre swim team this summer and while the first day seriously kicked her butt and saw her in tears, she has learned to love it and is hoping she will get to be on the Jr. Swim team in September. She has really improved and can beat her brother in a freestyle race -- barely but he is 3 1/2 years older than her.

Lia has tried to keep busy. She took swim lessons too and she is busy getting ready to do her first year of soccer. After watching years of her siblings' soccer games she is so excited to get the chance to finally play herself. I am actually glad Isaac is not doing soccer this year. It is never fun to do three games a day. She will also start Kindergarten in a few weeks. She is excited to be at school.

We have had a busy summer full of fireworks on July 4th a rocking party for Tom's 40th where his band, some good cousin time and a few good days at Cedar City's reservoir where the kids literally swam and splashed for 3 hours. We are now having an awesome vacation in Southern California.

I got a new laptop (because my hubby loves me) and I am still trying to figure some stuff out. When I have gotten my laptop groove down I will add some more photos.