I made the soccer team!The school one, that is. Sixth graders hardly ever make the team. Loves to everyone.

Jane

Nie Nie

For months I have been reading the Nie Nie Dialogues and getting to know Stephanie Neilson and her family.  On August 16th I was shocked to find out that she and her husband were in a horrible plane accident in Arizona.  They were badly burned and will be in the hospital for months.  Their 4 children have been taken into the care of family members here in Utah.

Design Mom has initiated a silent auction to help raise money.  So tomorrow I will be honored to host my own silent auction and the proceeds will go directly to Stephanie and her family to help with medical bills and other expenses as they recover. 

Please check out my blog tomorrow to see what I will be auctioning off and to make a bid.  I will also have links to other blogs that are auctioning off other great items.  You could also donate directly to the Neilson family by clicking the Donate to Nie Nie button in the sidebar of my blog.

In the meantime click here or here to learn more about this sad yet amazing story.

summer's over

i was just bawling this morning that the summer is over and there are so many things i didn't get to do that i wanted to do. not enough slumber parties or time on the hammock looking at the view or movies or games or just whatever.  then i had a few minutes before i went to work and so i got on the blog.  i haven't read forever.  i am so far behind. i don't blog because i never have any pictures to post.  how boring is that!

this morning it was an answer to my prayer and another one of God's tender mercies for me.  we did have a great summer didn't we!!! i know sometimes i get so caught up in doing i don't see or acknowledge what was done. 

thank you for thoughts, pictures, inspirational talks, pictures etc. that you shared.  you are all so wonderful. we are truly blessed as a family to have each other, live in the land we do, have the health, strength and means to enjoy it and the best part is that you all appreciate it. your blogs are so sweet.

thanks for the reality check.  life is so good--way fast--but so good!!!

love aunt Le Anne aka g'ma Danna

Trip to the Beach and Lessons Learned
So today was supposed to be a nice lazy day but I made the mistake of thinking that we had taken the dogs out later than we actually did last night and this morning Joe had an accident in his crate. I hurried and took Cody out to tinkle but didn't let him poop in my anxiety over getting Joe cleaned up and so... while I was bathing Joe, Cody pooped in his crate. I swear, they must have known they were finally getting back on my good side after a month of spending almost all of my free thinking time wondering if I could talk the girls into selling them on Craig's List (I know, I am a bad AND stupid person). But it was all my fault and I couldn't blame them too much. They have been really good and now that they are getting used to the house they aren't barking nearly as much as they were. There was only one way to go really. Anyway, I had given Cody a trim last night and then Sawyer was to ornery for me to do Joe so today I bathed both dogs, cleaned their crates, and trimmed Joe all up. They are very handsome boys and I now know that as badly as I want to sleep in on a Saturday, or let Jane sleep in, if they sound like they are getting restless they need to go out. Bark or no bark.

After the grossness of doggie doo doo I had to take a shower and Ellyn tried to climb in fully dressed and Sawyer wanted me and so the three of us took a shower. Hence the cute Sawyer pictures. From there we packed a lunch and went to the beach.

Next lesson learned. Ellyn can run very fast if she wants to get to the water AND she has no issues sitting down as huge waves come rushing toward her. I was able to get to her on the first two attempts, one with wet cuffs for both of us and then I was holding Sawyer and Ellyn made a dash. Thankfully I was able to grab Juliet (Ellyn's harness) and I could feel the force sucking on her. Not that I think she would have been swept away but as I am reaching for her she plops right down, laughing her little laugh and the wave sweeps right up to her chest and up to just below my knees. Next lesson, bring an entire change of clothing for Ellyn or picnic to the beach comes abruptly to an end.

I am so happy we live out in Carmel Valley versus right in Monterey. Every day it is sunny and warm out here, not hot, warm. Almost any day that we drive into Monterey it is overcast and about 8-10 degrees cooler. The sun is good for my psyche. So I have discovered that beach days are just like they are on the Oregon Coast, bundled up in fleeces and pants or capris. I brought plenty of fleeces for the girls and Sawyer but I wish I would have brought some more warm things for me. Between Ellyn and Sawyer my clothes don't stay clean very long. I could always go buy more, which, if Mike is reading this he is rolling his eyes and saying "Go to the store Woman." But... I am too cheap when I know I have plenty on their way. So it's jean jacket or Nike fleece. They are both dirty now even as I write.

I have broken down and turned our heater on at night. I was refusing because it is summer dang it. But... we were all going to bed with fleeces on and long shirts and pants and then the night I pulled mine and Sawyer's hoods on over our heads I cracked. Love the heater.

I second that, Jess

Jess, I've been keeping up with Nie Nie since April 2008 because I saw her link on your blog. I read your post here this morning then went over to C Jane's blog. Have you read the comments where people were listing their favorite Nie Nie posts? I shortened my work-out time so I could read some, I only got half way through. I cried almost the whole time I was on the rowing machine, thinking about the whole situation. I am grateful for what I've learned about gratitude, beauty, family, homemaking, and lovin' your husband from Nie Nie.

This morning as I ran through the house out of breath trying to do all that was on my mental list, I thought it would be fun to take a few pictures of things on "my list" (side note: Adam was talking about my mom the other day and how she has this huge list of things to do every day. He said I am the same way but because I have blogs to read to see that other women don't get their impossible lists done every day that I'm a little more normal. I thought that was a big endorsement for blogging from my hubby who has been known to mock my blog time).

Part of my morning list:

Quality time with Adam before he leaves for work (no picture)
At least 30 minutes of scripture study time. Right now I'm trying to keep Adam and I up to date on the Gospel Doctrine lesson and I'm reading the Pearl of Great Price with this text book I bought for a BYU religion class.

Tristan wakes up first. Usually happy. Usually poopy.

Kaia is next. She's been on a grumpy kick lately. This morning she woke up crying and saying that she couldn't breathe and she has been sitting on the foof almost the whole morning with complaints of a "tummy ache". Adam tried to tickle her and she cried and pouted about that longer than should be humanly possible.

Sierra could sleep in forever if I let her. This picture was taken at 8:30 a.m. and I forced her up shortly thereafter. Good thing we didn't end up with morning Kindergarten that starts at 7:45 a.m.!

My mom's birthday is today and I've been staying up late (believe it or not I've seen the clock strike 11 p.m. more than twice this week, and if I'm ever going to get any reading done that is going to have to start happening more often). Two books influenced this project: The Creative Family and Doodle Stitching. As Sierra was drawing out her design I pleaded with her to keep it simple. The picture doesn't show, but there are lots of complicated elephants and other objects that we still need to complete. Here is Kaia working on her name. I think she made all of two stitches before she lost interest. In the above picture Kaia is holding two cards I made at a card exchange party I went to last night. I've always envied your card club, Jess, and now I've found one to join! Now I just need a girlfriend's cooking club.

I'm breaking my pact to never post pictures of my house in a state of disorder. We are getting ready (mentally) for a garage sale tomorrow and hopefully we'll be able to put a magic price on some of this stuff so someone with relieve us of it.
This is the journal I've kept since we got married. I only put nice things about Adam in here. I haven't written since July of 2007, not for a lack of wonderful things to record about my beloved husband, but because it has been in LeAnne's garage. Now it is back and I can't wait to fill it up. I really love Adam.

A sleepless night...

Darla that article was incredible.  It really hit home for me in a myriad of ways.  For months I have been reading a blog called The NieNie Dialogues.  Nie Nie is living the perfect life.  She adores her husband, her kids and her life.  Sometimes it was almost sickening to read her blog because she really is so perfect (but I couldn't help but read it.)  Well on Sunday I found out she, her husband, and his flight instructor had been in a plane crash in Arizona.  The instructor died and Nie and her husband were in critical condition and were burned very badly.  I also read her sister Cjane's blog so I have been reading all of the updates on their condition.  I can't stop reading about them.  There were some links to news stories and I just sobbed as I watched them.  They have 4 children and luckily their extended family that lives in Utah has been able to take care of the kids.  He has burns over a third of his body and she over 80%.  I just cannot imagine.  I have been sick about it to the point that I tossed and turned all night thinking about them.  It is a blessing that they lived but burns are not easy to recover from, it will be months and even then I am sure they will never be the same.  All these horrible scenarios keep flashing through my head of awful things that could happen to me and it is maddening.  

I love the part that says "sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself"  and "you are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required."  

Her family has been asking for everyone to pray.  I really know that is the answer to so many things Just Pray.  Today as I was feeling tired from my sleepless night and feeling like I didn't want to clean up my  house for the millionth time I thought about how at least I was able to clean my house and I am not lying in a hospital bed recovering for months after a horrible accident.  Life is too precious.  I am trying to be better about finding the best in everything.

I hope this makes sense.  It is late.  I am tired.  I am emotional.  

Again, thanks for the article, it is just what I needed.

I love you guys.

Jess

gifts from HIM

I've been such a LAM-O (word?) lately. I'm sorry. I'm especially sorry to my beebs and my husband and all those who have to be near me here in Washington. I feel like I'm just fighting and fighting against change and growth...,and the Lord just wants to strip me of all this pride and weakness that keeps me from serving Him. And I think it's working. At least I'm trying. I read this article tonight with Geof. over the phone titled "Finding Joy in Life", by Richard G. Scott. What a great article. How blessed we are to read inspired words from those who are near to our Savior and have experienced so much. I'm grateful for all those I come in contact with who can teach me a little more about life and open my eyes to what is most important.

"Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required. Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.

Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness."

I have so much to be grateful for. SO MUCH!! What a wonderful family we have. I'm sitting in this big, comfortable home..., nothing to complain about, right (thanks Ellery and Le Anne!)??...and I have 3 of the most beautiful, healthy, funny kids ever. The Spirit told me tonight to enjoy being a mom. To have FUN with my kids. I'm going to pray for that tonight and hope that tomorrow is a good day.

We went to Portland today with my sister and fam (she's leaving tomorrow morning, by the way) and I couldn't help but appreciate and love that I was living in the Northwest!! How incredible it is here! SO much to offer. anyway, i'm talking, and should be sleeping. love to all of you.

~d-la

p.s. notice how excited Cole is in this pic?? He LOVES his Daddy and couldn't be in a better spot than on that motorcycle with him. (:

bglife

i think we are all scared to write after jessica’s wonderful blog, but i’m going to any way.

the summer is winding down as all of our company has gone and clint’s wedding is over. 

the weather has gone from 106 to 66 in two days.  that alone changes things.  have any of you ever watched charlotte’s web?  do you know when they get home from the fair and charlotte has died and there is a melancholy. 

 

the end of summer always has that feel now that i have kids going back to school.  the worst year was when brooke moved to germany.  we had spent every day together for almost a year a then she was gone.  i would try to take my kids to the same fun places without her but it just wasn’t the same. 

there are few cruel times in life:  one is sending your kids to school. 

maybe the end of summer wouldn’t bother me so much if our summers weren’t so dang fun.  starting with a visit from the aunts and ending with jesse, ton, and indie. 

this weekend is hood to coast, but cory’s not coming with me this year, which makes me sad.  but i do get to run with dave and adeena, (brooke’s in-laws). 

monday morning wilohm goes in to have his adenoids, and tonsils removed and tubes put in.  we are praying that it will help his hearing, because it is really getting bad! 

cory bought us the sound track to mama mia and the kids and i are in heaven.  that was the funnest movie and has the greatest music! 

so now that i have rambled on long enough i will end.    

loves……………..me

push ups this is the link.  hope you like it, we love it!

Push ups...

Hey Meags,

I was wondering if you could post the instructions to that push up challenge you guys are all doing.  I would like to give it a whirl.

Thanks,

Jess

The final chapter...

Day 7

August 11

Get ready for a picture fest.  I couldn't help it.  We took a gagillion pictures so it was hard to narrow it down to just these.  This was our favorite day by far.  We drove about 2 hours toCannon Beach (where they filmed Goonies) and spent the day frolicking in the ocean.

Indie's first step in the ocean.

Tony and Meagan had a great time body surfing in the ocean.  I went out for a while but then chickened out.  My fear of sharks/undertoe got the better of me.  Plus if the water wasn't subzero it might be more enticing.

Haystack Rock is in the background.

After the beach we headed to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  It is a lactose intolerant's nightmare but my dream come true.  Cheese, cheese everywhere.  Those are 40 pound blocks of cheese floating around.

After the tour of the factory you get to taste several types of cheese.  Then you can go to the store and buy as much cheese, ice cream, milk, yogurt, etc. as you want.

  

The traditional picture by the ship outside of Tillamook.

We visited the Cape Meares Lighthouse and Tony got some fabulous shots.  Notice the looming mist in the trees.  As we were driving a huge female elk was standing in the road.  I could not believe all the wonderful things we were seeing. 

Day 8

August 12

This was the beautiful view we woke up to every morning, I could lift my head from my pillow and see directly out the window.

The last morning we were there, we woke up to find two deer eating blackberries in Aunt LeAnne's orchard.

We planned on leaving at 8 a.m. but decided to sleep in so we wouldn't be tired for the 11 hour drive home.  We left at 11 a.m. and the drive went okay until about the eighth hour.  Indie realized that if she made herself throw up we would have to pull over, take her out of her seat, and clean her up.  She took full advantage of this little fact.  Later my friend pointed out that maybe she was car sick.  I hope that was not the case, I would feel really bad.  We finally made it home at 11 p.m.  Home sweet home. 

The End.

P.S.

LeAnne and family,

Thank you for opening your home to us, feeding us and entertaining us.  We seriously had a blast and loved that we were able to see so many beautiful things.  It was such a relaxing vacation and was just what we needed.  Thank you.

We love you so much,

T, J & I

More from the Northwest...

Day 4

August 8

Battleground Washington is right across the Columbia River from Portland Oregon so we spent a lot of time there.  Portland is known as the City of Roses, there are even roses growing along the side of the freeway.  So of course we had to visit the Rose Gardens.

This is a spectacular place with roses as far as the eye can see.  The wonderful smell is apparent as soon as you walk through the gate.  Each rose is labeled throughout the garden. 

We went to this amazing park to let the all the kids play and let the parents relax.  But I think the parents ended up playing just as much.

Indie loves a good swing.  Don't worry I "wet oned" her hands after.

This is my cousin Meagan going down the slide with her kids Jackson, Bennett and Wilohm.  It was hysterical.

Afterwards Ellynn and Jason took us to downtown Portland to walk along the waterfront.

That night we went to Cory and Meagan's beautiful home for a delicious dinner.  And talk about an amazing view...you can see Mount St. Helens from their house.

Day 5

August 9

Saturday morning Geof, Tony and I went for a run in Battleground.  We weren't quite sure how to react to all that oxygen.  Brooke and her kids got packed up and headed to California to start their new life.  We decided to head in to Portland and go to the original Spaghetti Factory.

It is a really unique building with a purple roof and tons of windows so you dine with a fantastic view of the Willamette River.

Afterwards we took a walk along the river.

Seriously everywhere we went there were tons of rivers and lakes with trails all along them.  There were always people out walking or biking.  It is awesome.

This is Tony's signature move and the kids were getting in on the action.

We found a park with the only remaining teeter-totters in the world.  Just kidding but I haven't been on one in ages.  It really starts to hurt your inner thighs after a while.  I can see why they have been removed from a lot of parks, we had a few close calls.

This is my new favorite picture of my babies.

Day 6

August 10

Their ward doesn't meet until 3 p.m. so we had some time to kill before church.  We walked around Lewisville Park.

And then played at a park.

Couldn't you just eat her with a spoon?  I swear Hazel is adorable.

That evening we had a delicious dinner of fresh salmon, broccoli salad, roasted potatoes, garlic bread and sushi for an appetizer.  It was awesome.  We had family home evening and then snuggled down for some Olympics.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Until tomorrow...

ColoradoBennett

I wanted to take a picture to show how Le Anne has designed the girls new room nearly single handed . The amazing quilts, the fun IKEA lights for Kaia's birthday, and the poster pictures she gave us a few years ago. Sierra is wearing a new school outfit Gram bought her. I'm not sure what is up with the triangles. Sierra made them a while back. Kinda reminds me of a person Lydia was telling us about who filled her room with triangles, even sleeping with a few over her eyes. I won't let it go that far :). We are looking for bunk beds on craigslist, but if we don't find any then our plan is to stack food storage under their beds and hide it with a dust ruffle.
Here we are making pineapple-zucchini bread in our new kitchen. There are plenty of things I'd like to change about this kitchen if I owned it, but I don't so I don't worry about a thing. It is great.
Adam is reading "The Lion's Paw" to Sierra right now. Kaia is jumping up and down, asking for more food. I'm ready to collapse in a heap because I've spent the last several hours cleaning and putting away laundry. In no time at all, I'll have to do it all over again. I found some notes from a religion class I took at BYU. I think the following information is very interesting:
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children...And unto Adam he said...cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Genesis 3:16-17). Professor Draper said that the words "sorrow" have different translations as applied to Eve and Adam. Eve: sorrow=etzwa (to toil, back breaking labor over and over again): Eve's greatest work will be in conception, her life, soul will be put into the raising of children. Adam: sorrow=etzev (back breaking labor, to work all the days of his life): Adam's greatest work is providing food for Eve and all the children. Eve doesn't have time for both etzwah and etzev.
I've always told the kids Adam has to go to work to make money so we can buy food. Who knew this was in accordance with ancient Hebrew?
Here are a few recent videos:




I stopped recording right before Tristan shook his hands and said "All done!". Maybe you are wondering why he is eating cheese along with his morning bowl of cereal. Don't judge me. He started screaming for cheese when I opened the fridge to get milk and I caved.

Washington or bust...

On a whim, we decided take a road trip to Washington to visit my cousins.  Tony's schedule recently changed so he now works 7 days in a row and then has 7 days off.  He also finished up a summer class he has been taking so we thought we would take advantage of this time and take a much needed break. 

Day 1

August 5

The plan was to leave right after work on Tuesday but we didn't actually get out the door until 8 p.m.  Our goal was to make it to Boise so after 4 hours of driving we pulled in at midnight.  We didn't want to spend a lot of money on a hotel we would only actually be in for 9 hours so we checked into the Econo Lodge which turned out to be a dive.  I think the quote of the day was, "that better be marinara sauce," when Tony saw some questionable red substance on the comforter.  Classic.  Also classic, the height of this shower head.

Day 2

August 6

We took off at 9 a.m. after enjoying our continental breakfast of toast that we toasted ourselves.  The next 7 hours are a blur, no I'm kidding, Indie actually did surprisingly well.  We borrowed Alicia's "big girl" car seat and she just chilled.

We stopped at Multnomah Falls on our way in.  What an amazing place, it was just the beginning of our budding romance with the Northwest.

We finally arrived at Aunt LeAnne's at about 4 p.m. and made ourselves at home.  That evening we headed to Battleground Lake for dinner and a swim.

Little friends June, Indie and Sawyer.

This is a horrible picture but this is the most incredible place.  It is a caldera lake that is surrounded by a thick forest.  One of my most favorite parts of  this trip was swimming across this beautiful lake.

Day 3

August 7

Early Thursday morning LeAnne, Brookie, Tony and I went to the Portland Temple for a session.  What a beautiful place.  They even have a room where families can take wedding pictures indoors because of the rain.

What would a trip to Washington be without a visit to Burgerville?  Walla walla onion rings, raspberry shakes and Tillamook cheeseburgers...Hello.

That afternoon we went to Lake Merwin, yet another fabulous place.

We found a secret cove perfect for cliff jumping.

Tony and Ind were just hanging out on LeAnne's deck that has a perfect view of the valley.

To be continued...