House Tour

It's finally up! I'll still be making changes in the future to some things in the house but here it is for now. I filmed it back in November and finally got around to posting it.

five years of pictures

Ever since we had Carson it's been my goal to take family pictures every Fall to document how our family grows and changes....it hasn't grown since 2011, but we've changed a little bit. This year October was so busy that I never got around to getting our pictures done, then November came, and today (November 10th) I decided we were going to snap a quick family picture, even though it was freezing cold (like the first day below 50 this Fall), I meant to do it earlier, but since I didn't we only got one family picture and a couple of Carson, oh well, at least I got a family picture.

So I decided to make a collage of the last five years....

(click on the picture to enlarge)

Halloween

It's already almost halfway into November so I need to post about Halloween. Friday, the day before Halloween, our ward had a Halloween party and trunk-or-treat. Our ward did such a great job with the decorations, games, and food. It was probably one of my favorite Halloween parties I've been to.

My pirate

Halloween morning at two in the morning Carson woke up with a high fever of 101. He woke up again at 4:30 and said, "Mommy, I can't sleep, my brain is too hot." I felt so bad for the poor guy, thank goodness children's tylenol helped him get some sleep. He was sick all day and didn't feel like eating or doing anything. We hung out and watched cartoons, the only thing he wanted was ice cream. I was so bummed he wouldn't get to go trick-or-treating, I even asked him if he wanted to go and he just said, "No, Mommy, I'm sick." So he was completely fine not going, wasn't even upset at all. Around dinner time I went and got pizza and breadsticks, which Carson requested, but he only ate one breadstick. We watched E.T. (which was awesome because I haven't seen that since I was a kid), and had cider and donuts. Carson loved the movie and still quotes it all the time. It was definitely not our typical Halloween since little man was sick but it was actually quite nice having a cozy night in.

Here are some more snapshots from October....

He was so excited to see it light up!

Attempting banana ghosts for breakfast

Preschool Halloween party. They even did a little play for us, Carson was a mummy.

Caramel Apples....my favorite Fall treat!

Field Trips

Carson's preschool went on two field trips this month, one to the fire station and one to the corn maze. I accompanied him on both field trips and loved being able to go with him and his class. I make it a point for our family to go to the corn maze every year as one of our Fall activities, man the corn mazes are so posh now compared to the ones I went to growing up, we just had a corn maze and that was it!

At the fire station!

Playing in the corn pit at the corn maze

Barrel Train

Pedal go carts

Getting ready to go in the maze

Petting Zoo

Air pillow---kinda reminded me of the blob on Heavyweights, but without the water to jump into.

Riding on the Hay ride

Some more of October....

Last Sunday was Carson's first Primary Program and he did such a great job! I snapped this real quick at the program practice on Saturday. The primary president had the kids come up with their own parts for the program. It was so cute to hear Carson say his line he came up with all by himself.

This is what my house has smelled like all week--hellloo heaven!

Wednesday was October 21st, 2015. If you don't know the significance of this day, well then, I don't even know what to say. I was sooo excited for this day ever since January 1st of this year. I was super bummed when Keith said he would be in Denver all week for training because both of us love the whole BTTF trilogy. I had planned to go to the marathon at the movie theater down the street and get some yummy food for a date, but alas, I watched the first two movies by myself, still really cool to be a part of this day though.

I decided we needed to get our Fall hike in before Winter hits, so yesterday the three of us headed to Casper Mountain and did some hiking. It's still been super warm here in Casper, this week it dropped to the 60s but before that we were still in the 70s and low 80s,  it's been a nice Fall.

Anndd yeah that about sums up October so far....I promise my next post will be a house tour, I know some of you have asked so I'm hoping to do a video this week. 

In everything, Give Thanks

As I was preparing my Young Women's lesson today on gratitude I went to Pinterest to find a handout about giving thanks, I found this one and was immediately drawn to it because of the scripture and below it stated,  "Give Thanks, even in infertility and loss." I clicked on it and began to read Hannah's story. I felt her pain, her loss, her sadness, but most of all I learned from her to "give thanks" even in the trials you're going through, even when it seems you are alone, you're not, God remembers.

I guess I felt that I related with her too, because in her story she suffered a miscarriage and then it took 16 months for her to get pregnant again, only to lose the second baby also. The 16 months hit me, in two days it's been 16 months since my miscarriage. I did not think I would still be trying to have a little baby 16 months later, but I loved her attitude, that she was thankful for this trial, she didn't know why, but she did know that God was in control. She did have a happy ending and now has a baby girl.

Awhile back I was washing my hands in the bathroom at church when I overheard a lady ask another girl how old her baby was, "Seven months," she replied, immediately my heart hurt because I knew right away, had I carried my baby full term he or she would have been seven months also. I couldn't help but want to cry, my baby was supposed to be seven months too.

In October 1988, President Reagan declared October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month saying, "When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan, When a  spouse loses his or her partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn't a word to describe them."

I've seen a lot and read a lot this month on Facebook and blogs of other women's stories of loss, many similar to mine, and many different, but each one makes me cry because I feel their pain. It's something you can't know until you go through it, something at times you feel alone until you talk to someone else who has gone through it and realize that it is more common than we think, 1 in 4 women will experience it.

Today at Carson's primary program practice I talked to the mom whose baby was seven months just a short time ago and now she is nine months. I couldn't help but look at the baby girl and wonder if my baby was a boy or a girl, if my baby would be that big, if my baby would be just waking up from a nap or running around wildly between the pews. I will always wonder who he/she would have been.

I'm grateful to get to teach this lesson on gratitude because it started out as something so different, yes I'm grateful for all my blessings, which are many, so many, but I am also grateful for my trials, and this one I am currently experiencing because it has taught me so much and is still teaching me patience and trust in the Lord and that I don't have to do this alone.

28 is Great!

Friday was another birthday for me....28 years! Yikes! Two more years and I'm 30, kinda freaking out over here! Keith says it'll be ok and it's not that bad, guess we'll see in two years.

Friday morning I woke up to roses and my favorite king size candy bar. We took our time getting ready then headed to our favorite breakfast place, you guessed it--Eggington's!! Of course I had to get my favorite dish--pecan french toast. After stuffing our bellies full we headed out to the mall to get some of my birthday gifts. I got to pick out a new pair of Fall boots, my current ones are two years old and wearing thin, since I wear them everywhere. After a few more stores and present shopping we headed to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner.

We went home and relaxed a bit and then headed to the movies to see Pan. It was different than I thought it was going to be, but we all liked it! After the movie Keith made us yummy kabobs, mashed potatoes and veggies, cake and presents followed. I got so many texts, Facebook messages, emails and calls that all made my day so special. Thanks everyone who thought of me on this day.

Here's to 28 being great!!

Not sure why this one is kinda fuzzy--but breakfast pic!

Carson helping me model my new boots

My sister Shiree sent me some memories she had of me growing up for my birthday present. I loved this present because so many of these memories I don't remember because I was so little. I'll share just a few.

I remember going to the hospital with Dad and Chad the day or so after she was born.  Chad had gotten hit by a car while riding his bike on the Highway and was telling Mom about it.  I remember holding Kara and being surprised how dark her hair was.  When I went home Trent and Laura asked me what color of hair she had and I said black.  After they saw her, they told me it was brown.  I was only 7, it looked black to me!

When Kara was almost 2, she fell off the deck in the backyard and cut her lip open. This was on Labor Day and everyone was getting ready to go to Marve’s for a b-bque.  Dad asked me if I would go with Mom to take Kara to the hospital since Mom was 9 months pregnant with Misti, he thought she would need help.  So I went and I remember the doctors telling Mom and I to leave the room so they could knock Kara out and put in stitches.  I remember her screaming so bad and holding out her arms to us but we had to leave.  I felt bad leaving her when she was so scared.  I got hot lunch money the next day because Dad knew I had missed the b-bque. 

I remember when Kara fell in the sewer and Mom brought her into the house, she was screaming so bad.  I felt bad for her knowing she could have died. I took her from Mom and held her until she fell asleep.

I remember Kara wanted to hold my porcelain doll I got for Christmas when I was 10.  I’d only had it for a little while and Kara was on the top bunk with me playing with it.  Then she accidentally dropped the doll onto the cement floor.  I remember her face turned gray because she was so scared.  I felt bad that she was scared, so I didn’t get too mad, I think I just glued it back.

I remember Dad and Mom sitting with Jared who was almost 2 in the living room.  Mom was pregnant with Kara and I heard Dad ask Jared how the baby got into Mom’s belly.  He asked Jared if Mom swallowed a baby and Jared just laughed.

 Trying to guess if Mom was going to have a boy or girl in October or November (she wasn’t sure of due date)

We Love Visitors!

Back in September Keith's parents and little sis came to visit us for a week in Casper!! We went down to Denver on Wednesday, the second of September and picked them up.

We started our fun on Thursday by shopping the day away getting Krista everything she needed for her first semester of college at BYUI. Afterwards we showed them around Casper Mountain, Bridle Waterfall and attempted to go to Crimson Dawn Museum on the mountain but it closed just before we got there. We ended up walking around the museum there because they have a trail you can follow and stories along the trail.

Friday we finished up the shopping and went to Alcova Lake and had plans of swimming and fishing because it was supposed to be a nice day, but a storm rolled in so we thought we'd wait it out but we mostly just hung out in the car. The boys did fish a bit. At least his family got to see the lake. I don't have any pics of this day :(

Saturday we headed out to Devil's Tower because Krista had never been. We had lunch on the way and spent the day there walking around the tower.

Sunday was church and we just hung out afterwards and skyped family.

Monday was Labor Day so we decided to head to Natural Bridge and then have a BBQ when we got back. Everyone seemed to have the same idea as us because it was packed, but it was a gorgeous day and super fun!

 Tuesday was Carson's first day of preschool so Keith's mom, Keith and I all went and dropped him off. Afterwards we ran errands and hung out at the house. Later Keith took everyone to Martin's Cove while I went to YWs.

Wednesday we had a museum day and went to the National Historic Trails Museum and the Fort Caspar Musuem.

Outside the Historic Trails Museum overlooking Casper.

Thursday we headed out to Rexburg to take Krista to college. On the way we stopped at Sacajawea's grave in Fort Washakie, WY.

 Friday I spent the day with my family in Idaho Falls. I did an art lesson for my sister Misiti's second grade class and then Misti, my mom and dad, brother Kirk and niece Brecka all went to Pizza Pie Cafe for Misti's early birthday dinner. We went back to my aunt's house and went hot tubbing and hung out.

This is a pic Keith took of Brandon (his brother) and his daughter Ivory and Carson holding hands on a walk in Rexburg.

Pizza coma!!

Saturday we had a BBQ at Porter Park that my family came up for, it was so warm that Carson and Ivory even played at the splash pad. We split into teams and played an awesome game of ultimate frisbee! We also had cake and ice cream for Misti. We ended the night by watching the Boise State/BYU game. Yeah...don't talk to me about it...at least that's the only game BSU has lost so far...

Sunday we all went to church and had lasagna for lunch after and then watched The Cokeville Miracle-- a true story about a bombing at a Wyoming school in the 1980s. Soo good! Then we headed back to Casper.

The following Wednesday Keith's parents drove back to Casper with Keith's other sister Catherine and her husband. We got to hang out with them until Saturday. We went to the river, fishing, the Tate Dinosaur Museum and back to the waterfall again. Saturday they flew out of Denver and we miss everyone!! So those of you (hint hint-- Brandon, Shae, Nikki, Misti, Kirk, Mom & Dad and many others who haven't visited yet, COME!!!)

At the Tate Museum