March 2, 2014

After church play dough time with quiet naughty and noisy naughty! These two make church...interesting.

It's pretty fantastic when your kids genuinely like each other! These two never fight and always are planning something. Their latest idea has been planning a restaurant. Love them!

“Like it? Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?” I totally Tom Sawyered all my kids into painting the doors for the craft room. They couldn't get enough!

Bekah's Baptism

February 4th was a very special day that we won't forget anytime soon. 

Our sweet baby girl made the decision to get baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was so lucky to have her amazing daddy be the Priesthood holder who was able to perform these blessings for her.

Her grandma's were both able to come, so it was really special for her...and for the rest of us!

 I have the absolute BEST friends on the planet who drove out to support us on this fun weekend. Sara, Carissa, Jaime, Cathy and April-you rock. Literally. Love each and every one of your cute faces.

 Right before the dunk we were able to get a couple pics with Bekah and her daddy. Obligatory.

And how cute are these friends of hers who drove out with their mommies to be a part of this special day? I know this just made it such an incredible experience for her and she loves these friends as much as I love their moms. Ann, Theo, Raegan, Phoebe and Ellie...thanks for being exactly the kinds of friends that I have always wanted for my daughter, she is so lucky.

My life as a fairytale

Once upon a time there lived a handsome prince. He was handsome and charming...but he was lonely.

One day while working on his mode of transportation he saw a fair maiden and thought...

Hubba Hubba!

So he began to court her. He took her out on romantic dates and even sang to her.

The maiden thought he was just so charming, he always did just what she wished.

It didn't matter that he didn't have a lot of money.

He was poor. Poor and Perfect.

Daily Something September 19, 2011 The Tote

Daily Something
We have been working on getting rid of things that don't matter and taking care of the things that do. That said, our garage is still very full of totes and boxes of 'stuff.' One such tote Chad has been toting around since before we were married. Full of miscellaneous things of his dads, from his childhood, from his mission, from who knows where else. A lot of it was sentimental and things we will want to either display or put away in a nice place...not in a tote in the garage. He finally went through it and got rid of all of the stuff that wasn't important any longer or that was just plain silly. I know it's not a big story, or maybe even something that is interesting. But to us, it's a pretty big deal. That tote has been following us around for 10 years and now it's empty. Everything in its right place. It feels good. Simplifying doesn't need to take years, it only took him maybe a half an hour to go through it. Yet it still took 10 years to get to it. Procrastinating is never worth it.

Daily Something September 16: Pack Mule

Daily Something;
I don't really have much to say about the pack mule that carries my children to bed each night.
Except that my kids are pretty darn lucky to have him.
He's the best dad in the world.
He's the best husband in the universe.
He is a hard worker, he has the prettiest eyes, he is giving, kind, charitable, sweet, funny, handsome, strong, genuine, happy, calm, patient, loving, helpful...
Oh, would you look at that.
Turns out there's a lot to say about this pack mule.

Daily Something September 12: Phone Call

Daily Something
We are all outside; Chad is cleaning the garage and I am spray painting my latest furniture makeover. Bekah and Porter are coloring on the porch while still wearing their bike helmets. Christopher is begging for yet another treat while Oliver sits in his stroller eating treats of his own. It is hot. Extremely hot for a mid September afternoon, but we are enjoying this extra little bit of summer that mother nature is treating us to.
Chad's phone rings. He looks at the caller ID and his face lights up and he says, "Hey there!" before he even answers. The way his eyes sparkle and the grin that spreads across his face tells me it must be Publishers Clearing House or at the very least Santa Claus.
I was way off.
It's Ryeleigh.
Ryeleigh his 12 year old daughter, whom he has desperately tried to get a hold of for months. They keep missing one another's calls. He didn't have anything particular he needed to tell her. I think he just needed to hear her voice. He needed to hear that she missed him and loved him even a little bit as much as he misses and loves her. He needed to hear that she still needs her daddy.
He listened proudly as she listed off her present achievements, intently as she told her story of the most recent dog escapade and nervously when he asked if she would want to spend time with him over Thanksgiving week.
I don't think even Santa Claus could have given him a better present than her saying that she would love to.
That little blue eyed girl that had him so very tightly wound around his little finger when I met them 10 years ago...hasn't unwound that string one bit.

Is there anything sweeter...

...than a baby sleeping on your shoulder?

I can't think of one.single.thing.

This little guy has us smitten.

Gaga.

Crazy in love.

We would do anything to make him smile.

He knows this, and demands attention at all hours of the day.

We give it, even when the dishes have been piling up for days, the garage is a mess, there are pictures to edit, a neglected family blog, exercise to do, laundry to be put away, and meals to prepare.

Sometimes we wish we could do those other things that need our attention, but getting smiles and slobbery kisses from him is just too big a temptation to pass up 99% of the time.

So yes, our house is messy, and there are things left undone.

But he is our last...and we are soaking it up.

Hi Dad!

We are in Portland right now while dad is home studying for finals.
We miss you honey! Good luck on your test tomorrow! :)

(I was taking some maternity pics and while the mom to be was changing I threw my kids together for this pic. I just realized that this is the only picture I have of all 4 of my kids together! WHAT?!?! This must be remedied!)

Fox Family Reunion

This last week my whole family came into town to stay at the Running Y Ranch to have an early Thanksgiving and a little family reunion. Trae and Tabitha (who is pregnant, YIPPEE!) drove to Portland and picked up my brother and mother and came in to town (10 hour drive) Then Toshya, Craig, their daughter Mckayla and Zachary drove in from Utah (12 hour drive). We had the very painful drive of about 20 minutes to get to the Ranch. :)

Here are just a few pics from the fun long weekend...

Bekah and Mckayla-lots of fun to have a cousin to play with!
Went out to Crater Lake and froze our buns off in 19 degree weather...well those of us who got out of the car. I may be the only sane one in my family, staying in the car with the buns warmer on full blast!
Can you tell Chad is cold and that Zachary is a giant man child? When did that happen? I cannot believe how much bigger he is than Chad...unbelievable!
My sweet angel boys sleeping-100% brothers through and through. I think it is hysterical that they are both sleeping the exact same way, but opposite of each other-this is about the only time that they are not competing in some way.
It was such a fun trip and I am so glad that they were all able to come out and have such a fun time-thanks mom for the very many awesome memories!

And it was a thing of perfection...

My dream is to have that tree that looks like something out of a magazine-with matching ornaments, all the branches at perfect intervals down the trunk-all symetrical like....

But then I wouldn't have these memories....

My kids all gathered around our cut down tree, finding ornaments from years past...
The baby placing the star on top of the tree...You know he really didn't put the star on top right? Chad put it on top, and I took a picture of him taking it off-he is destructo-baby after all-but it looks like he did do something to contribute besides pulling the ornaments off and breaking a couple huh?

Then of course, if we had the magazine tree, I wouldn't get to come back in after the kids lost interest and space out all the ornaments that were placed in 3 large clumps around the bottom of the tree.And where's the fun in that?

I have a feeling that until the kids are grown, and maybe even after that, my dream of the magazine tree is out of the question-but that doesn't mean we don't always have the perfect tree.

I want my house made out of Gingerbread

Yes folks, I think the witch in Hansel and Gretal was on to something...Gingerbread is cheap to make.

And candy sales are still very high-even in a recession...

So finding the right part for repairs, would be easy and affordable.

The labor in building your home would be enjoyable and could be done by small children, without violating any child labor laws.

And food storage would not be necessary...

You could just eat a cabinet or something in rough times.
Unless it rained.

But if you just had a really big umbrella over your house, I think you'd be set.

Eight Years

EiGhT years ago today, I married my best friend...

...and that is the corniest thing I ever did write. And yet, if it wasn't so darn true, I would erase it immediately and gag a little bit for the thought of saying something so cliche' and utterly gushy.

Chad still makes me smile, laugh, tingly and all together too happy.

 

I think that after 8 years of wedded bliss,

• if you still think your spouse is the best looking person to ever walk the planet earth,
• if you still call each other for no other reason than to hear their voice and remind them how much you love them,
• if you never fight, and rarely even get annoyed with them,
• if you still want to spend time with them, over your fabulous and funny friends any day of the week,
• if you still get all weak in the knees after one kiss from them,
• if you count down the minutes until they get home from wherever they are at the moment,
• if you still laugh at their jokes and melt at their singing,
• and if you are still as much in love as the day you got married, but a whole bunch more....

Then I am certain that it is the forever kind of love, the kind of love in the movies, the kind of love in vampire falls in love with mortal books, the kind of love that every little girl (and romantic little boys) dreams about finding.

 

And now that is the corniest (yet truest) thing I have ever written!

I love you Chaddy poo punkin bum!

Forever...and ever.

Spelunkin'

This last Friday, Chad was able to hang out with us for a bit, so we went to the lava beds and went cave exploring. The kids had a ton of fun with their flashlights and being able to go at their own pace and really explore, it was a fun afternoon.
Here they are going down into the depths of one of the caves... ...and here they are in the depths...speaking of depths,look at how blue my McDreamy's eyes are...he is so adorable in every way.

Here they all are right before we were going into a cave, I don't remember why the kids were making frowny faces, just being silly I guess.

We would have stayed longer, but we had to get going to go feed the horses that Chad was taking care of for the day, we will definately have to go back again. It was a good time for all of the kids-and that my friends is a rare, rare thing these days.

We were in Portland this last weekend for a couple days. On Friday we took Zachary to Harry Potter for his birthday and then we went on a little trip to Target. 2 things- First: I miss and love you Target! You smell like dreams! (Only a select few might get that reference....) Second: Has anyone else seen the recent installment of Harry Potter, a little dark for a PG rating no? Is it just me?Then that night my mom took all of us to a nickel arcade and Bekah and Ryeleigh cleaned out the place. Ryeleigh won the jackpot on that ticket thing they have at all the Chuck E Cheese type places. Then Bekah has a hidden talent I never knew about...she rocks at the claw! She was able to win herself 3 stuffed animals and a ball. She is a rock star! Then we all went and saw Monsters vs Aliens in their cheap theatre. That was a funny movie, and none of us had seen it yet-so that was a bonus. Saturday morning we took the kids to the airport and it was bittersweet. It's always sad to see them go, but they were really excited to get home to see their mom, and pretty soon their new baby sister, she will be born any day now.Then Chad and Tyler went to the movie (again) while my mom, Tabitha, the kids and I went to IKEA. Yeah! Always the highlight for me. This time there was a damper on my high though. Topher was so excited about going in the play area, and since he is 3 and potty trained and all, I was all for letting him go play so I could enjoy my shopping that much more. Well I get him and Bekah all signed in, they are all excited and then the lady has him stand against this ruler. Then she tells me he is too short. What is there some dangerous kind of ride in there? Nope-them is just the rules. Topher is short for his age-heck he is short for a 2 year olds age. I thought it was completely discriminatory that just because he is short he can't play. So then I had to bring both of them with me, which was fine, they did fine, but they were upset, and I could have had a lot more fun shopping with them actually happy about being there. Anyway so that's my IKEA rant. I still heart you IKEA and your fantastic prices on all the wonderful goodness you supply...but please don't discriminate against short kids. It's not their fault-it's in their genes!That night we had a salmon bbq with some of my moms friends and had a lot of fun conversation, and then I had to get to work on school stuff. I'm in the last week of my first two classes! Time flies doesn't it?Sunday we made our way to the rhododendron gardens before we headed out to feed the ducks and the geese. That is where all these pictures are from.It was really beautiful and being able to spend a little extra time with my family was great.One thing Chad and I realized though while we were there is, there is no place like home. One time our home was Portland, and we loved it there, and still hold a special place for it in our hearts-the zoo, OMSI, IKEA, all the beautiful Targets, all the fun shopping, Sunny Hans, all the other fun and wonderful restaurants, and our friends and family that are there. We know though, that Klamath Falls is where we are supposed to be, at least right now. We love it, and wouldn't trade all of our wide open spaces for the nicest house in the little crammed in neighborhood, that used to be the neighborhood of our dreams. Funny how perspective changes, depending on where you are in your lives, huh?

So one of my moms favorite things to tease Chad and I about is when we were first dating, I was talking to one of my friends on the phone while my mom was in the room, (first mistake) about the new love of my life.
I was telling my friend that my dreamy hunk was short, (2 inches shorter than me-I was young and shallow, and I NEVER went out with anyone shorter than me...more than once), but then I said what will go down in history as the most used phrase by my mother when referring to her son in law, "But he has REALLY Buff arms."
Chad is a hard working man, always has been since I've known him, and he does...have really buff arms.
When I see him flexing those forearms, doing any kind of work...mercy!
Doing that work with a baby attached to his back...seriously!
Makes me want to make more babies with this man with really buff arms...

Men at Work plus on Tough Chica

These 3 hotties were out all day yesterday starting the long process of building a fence in the Appah's backyard to keep their little escapee confined. Chad and Jason were using this big contraption to dig holes for the posts, and when April and I saw them and all their rippling muscles doing manual labor, we thought it was pretty hot and had to get out our cameras. But what's hotter than our 2 hubbies sweatin and working in the sun? When they can't get the thing out of the ground and ask for this tough chica's help. Beauty and Brawn-the whole package! I hope we can still be friends after she see's this post-hee hee! Love ya April!

At the Carwash yeah.

It's warm enough again to handwash the car-Chad's and the kids most favorite thing to do. Porter and I stayed dry just kickin it in the backyard while everyone else got soaked. Good times.

Mandatory

Dying the eggs the night before mandatory photo's. The mandatory cute kids taking a look at what mischief that Easter Bunny had been up to-hiding eggs and toys all over the house-the funny thing is in the pictures of the 2 older ones, they had no idea all those eggs were behind them, they didn't even notice when they walked down the stairs. Sneaky Rabbit! Porter opened his after church since he was still asleep when the older kids woke up-he was super excited about everything, especially after he found out what was in the bag of animal crackers!

The kids each got a personalized chocolate egg from their Grandma Mona in the mail-they love getting mail, especially when it tastes this good!

And seriously so sad- Chad has been working so hard this weekend, with no sleep that today when he came home, he was too tired to start getting ready for church and too tired to even watch the kids find their Easter surprises (he was at work when the Easter bunny came too). This is where I found him a few minutes after he got home. Curled up and passed out in front of the heater vent in the hall. Poor guy!