our latest projects

I got the first year of my blog made into a book and LOVE it. {I used Blurb.} It's so nice to know I have a hard copy of some of the events in our family life. That is the main purpose of my blog, to be able to journal and document our life. It seems a lot less stressful than having piles and piles of pictures stacked up waiting for me to somehow scrapbook.... and I get to share it with you. {Assuming that if you check my blog you care about me and my family.}

We decided to finally finish our basement bathroom. We had a shower curtain hanging up to cover up the fact that we never finished the shower..... but now there's no need to cover up a thing!

{If you're wondering, the black stuff is waterproofer stuff.... it smells REALLY bad, but a good thing to put on before you get started. So I'm told!}
Nate and his mad skills!
I became quite the little tile layer if I do say so myself! Nate would cut, I would stick them on.

This is what happens to the tub when a hammer falls on it.... it landed head first perfectly. Dang it!



Nate found this piece of furniture at a home he has been working on. The lady didn't want it anymore and he thought Rachel would like it in her room.

So after a day of sanding, priming, painting.... painting again {I didn't like the first color we put on.... figures!} it was finally done. Oh and we repainted Rachel's headboard to match AND to cover up some permanent marker she had drawn on it when she was three. It only took us 4 years to fix... not bad in my book!!
She loves it and I think it is perfect for her!

first day of school

Rachel- 2nd Grade
What a little poser!

Kaden- 1st Grade

A little on the sleepy, grumpy side!

Farewell, my dear children!

I actually met them by the school and walked them to their classes-- just to make sure they knew exactly where to go. And of course, they never seem to care too much about me as soon as they see their friends.... and I'm okay with that..... I think. When they got home from school they said it was a fun day and they really like their teachers. (Always good to hear.) Kaden said he got tired, which is expected those first few weeks of 1st grade. So it turned out to be a great day, unless you count Rachel putting her feet in dirty ditch water with her brand new shoes on to cool off on the walk home from school! Then the day would just be mediocre, but we AREN'T counting that!

the week in pictures

with a few words....
Tye tripped and hit his head on Grandpa and Nana Bishop's coffee table. It split open about a quarter inch.... nothing a couple steri-strips can't fix! {The same night probably two minutes later Haley smashed her fingers in the door and Kaden tripped on their stairs and Rachel stepped on is head! Nate and I just laughed.... in a kind, caring way of course.}

Found Kaden one morning all cozied up with the clean laundry I didn't get around to folding. Is it really better than your own bed, Kaden???

Yep, that's nail polish all over her cheek! Unfortunately, I was still out of nail polish remover and had to borrow some from our neighbor. (Thanks Jamie!)

We've got ourselves a little tattoo artist! She did it again after I cleaned her all up-- I still don't know where the pen she used is! What a little stink!

20 week ultrasound

I had my ultrasound scheduled for August 11th at what I thought was 10:00 a.m. When I checked in at the desk the lady tells me I'm a half hour late and they can't fit me in. I was so upset (and cried for most the rest of the day... hormones!) How could I not know the right time? I'm really not sure who messed up.... I like to blame it on them, though! So I reschedule it for Friday the 14th to fit into Nate's schedule a little better, but realized a day later that my kids had a primary activity at the same time and they really wanted to see the baby AND go to their activity (which ended up getting rained out). So I rescheduled it AGAIN for Thursday the 13th at noon. It was so fun to see the baby and know that there's really a little life inside me..... so amazing every time! So the tie breaker is.....That's right, a girl! Tye and Haley didn't care much. Rachel cheered and Kaden ended up in tears as we left. He wanted another brother. I'm sure he'll be excited for his new baby sister when the time comes. There are four of us pregnant on Nate's side of the fam..... 3 are having boys! I just couldn't follow the crowd, could I?! But I think it will be fun for Haley to have a sister close in age to her. I really only want a healthy child so I am extremely happy that things look fine with her growth and development.... we're half way there! {It showed my due date being two days later--Dec. 31st instead of the 29th..... maybe we will end up with a New Year's baby after all!}Holding out on most of the maternity clothes just a little bit longer!!

randomness

Don't, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to "quickly" paint your toes before church! Lucky for me, I have a husband who has lacquer thinner hanging around! I was completely out of nail polish remover, but I have a suspicion it wouldn't have done the job quite as well anyway! And it had to be bright RED didn't it??? Why can't pregnant women hold on to anything? It flew out of my hand like I thought it was a little bird! When I was pregnant with Rachel I dropped a glass bowl of melted butter all over my mom's kitchen floor. The bowl shattered and I cried! The floor was slippery and greasy for weeks. I was 37 weeks then.... I've still got 4 1/2 months to go!!!!

Rachel out of the blue wanted to do the dishes.... "Okay!" Would I ever say "No" to that???

I have officially taken my kids swimming twice!! This time I was smart enough to be the one BEHIND the camera! It's also a plus to have it be free.... we used my brother's condo pool. I also forgot Haley's swimming suit..... poor girl!

quick trip

July 27th-29th while Nate went on another business trip, this time to Arizona and Missouri (yes, I know they aren't close to each other.... two words.... air travel) I packed up the car and took the kids to Rexburg to visit my sister and her family. My kids have been begging all summer to go to Idaho. Idaho to them is like what a tropical island is to me. It is the most exciting place on the planet to them!! I actually really like Idaho too, so don't think I'm a hater. Anyway, we stayed busy, but didn't do tons of stuff. We were only there a couple of days, but had a really fun time!

Mesa Falls

All the kiddos. (Never mind Haley's dirty shirt and stylish hair.... it was the day we arrived after a 4 hour car ride. The kids did surpising well too. Only one bathroom stop and minimal fighting.... the ride back to Utah... that's a different story!)

Swimming

So I must explain that I am only displaying these pictures of me to prove that I SHOULD NOT EVER go swimming.... I pull the most horrendous faces. Add that to me in a swimming suit.... Ugh! Sorry to all those who witnessed me that day. The kids had soooo much fun though. And that's all that really matters. :)

Tye and Jamison

Motor Bikes

Lucky for Rachel (and Kaden) Uncle Tony was nice enough to get out the motor bikes and let them go for a spin. I'm not sure how much she bugged him and begged him to get them out, but whatever she did it worked! They did really well for their first time and would have ridden them for hours if I would have let them. Kaden only wrecked a couple times and I'm not sure if Rachel ever did. No one got hurt so it was a success.

And then there's Haley, who I could not keep off the counter. She probably ate a pound of strawberries all by herself!

Thank you Tony, Marci, Abbey, Savanna, Ryan, Jamison and Chandler!

30 is the new 20..... right?

This post is a bit late, but I decided I better document it.... if only for posterity's sake!

I turned 30 on July 19th. I actually was fine about it on my birthday. It was the day before that I freaked out at the thought of leaving my 20's behind..... my last day of 29-- FOREVER! {sniff, sniff} I know my sisters don't feel any sorrow for me and most of my friends for that matter so that is all I will say about the incident!

Nate had to leave on a business trip early on the 19th (we're about 50/50 with him being around on my birthday) so I managed church alone.... my first time with all the kids! We (I) survived. My parents made me a yummy dinner and cake so the kids and I enjoyed the evening at their house. My mom turned 60 ten days after I turned 30.... I am exactly 1/2 her age. (She also had 6 kids at 30..... I'll have 5 at 30. I'm glad it isn't a contest!)

Mom, Me, Dad and Little Miss Haley hanging on!

Nate took me out the night before and gave me a day spa gift certificate and a dozen yellow roses. I told him yellow means "friendship".... all he said was, "I thought they looked summery." I was just trying to give him a hard time and he's right, they are summery. I loved them and he is my best friend so they were perfect! I had a great birthday and I'll be fine for another 9 years and Three Hundred some odd days.....

Happy Birthday to Haley!

Haley was a grump when she woke up on her 2nd birthday....

But then I sang Happy Birthday to her and she cheered right up!


Then a fly landed on her head and it was back to grump town for her!

We invited the grandparents over for cake and ice cream.... our usual birthday routine.


She opened her gifts.... with lots of help from her brothers.

She tried to blow out her candles, but they were too far away from her so Rachel, Kaden and Tye helped her out. I actually made the cake this time and slaved over the icing. (No need to clap and cheer...) It was the boiled kind and it didn't go to sugar either. Wahoo!! (Now you can cheer!) No really, it is always a miracle if I actually end up making the cake. I'm just hoping my kids never EVER expect me to make them a masterpiece. It ain't happenin'! I might just have to hire my sis-in-law, Kerstin, to do it for me!

Haley was tired of her picture getting taken and wasn't going to sit still long enough for me to take more.

Happy 2nd birthday sweet Haley! How did you get to be two??? We love you and are so happy you are a part of our family.

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