Horse flies and the bird refuge thingie

We went to explore another thing in our city. The bird place (I can't think of the real name of it now). It is a great place to go bird watching and lots of birds nest there. Bald Eagles are popular there in the spring. And it is free. yippee!

We had a lot of fun checking it out....but we mostly just drove around because there seemed to be a lot of horse flies. (You can see one on Ashlyn's bum)

The girls were kind of bummed because they really wanted to hike around somewhere (even though they were all in flip flops). So we went and found a trail at the base of the mountain that we hadn't checked out yet. I am thankful that my girls love to hike.

First things first..

Who knows. Maybe it was number 1 on her check list of things to do today. But shortly after I got out of bed I look out the window and this is what see.

Now the sun was barely peeking over the mountains and here she is running through the sprinklers on a chilly morning. I guess I should say that I am grateful she was at least wearing a coat.

I was wondering how she got out there when I see that Weston is out there fixing a sprinkler. I can just imagine what she was thinking when she saw him out there....' Oh look Daddy's playing in the sprinklers! I wanna play too!'

Sweet feet

I am grateful that it is warm enough to go out barefoot....because the cooler weather will be here before I know it.

Green and Good for Garden

Spent a lot of the morning doing yard work with Weston when I spied this little guy....well actually he was rather big for a praying mantis.

I am grateful that he was on a perennial so he didn't end up in the garbage with the weeds.

Oh what do you do in the summer time...even though it is not really summer anymore, since school has started but I decided to post this anyway yeah.

I am thankful that we seemed to have a lot of clouds around this summer. Everytime we were in the car the girls would start spouting what they saw in each cloud formation....and since I was always the one driving I, unfortunately, missed seeing them as my kids see them.

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts!

Here's the bunch of coconuts that kept Weston and I entertained the whole time! They are so fun to be with!

I am grateful that Weston was able to get some time off so we could all go.

Laughter and a late night.

We went away on an over-nighter with Scott & Merry's family. It was tons of fun....and since this is the first time in a week or so that I have used something other than my cell phone camera, I am going to post a bunch of pictures to make up for it. Enjoy!

I am thankful that we were able to find camp sites close to each other.

Ummmm.....now what?

Second day of having the older 2 in school. I almost feel lost. I find my self standing around the house thinking 'What do I do now?' And then I hear a sweet little voice saying 'side? side?' cause she wants to go outside with me.

I am grateful for simple, yet fun ideas.

The REAL reason

I think that this is the real reson why I haven't been motivated to take pictures....I have been feel blue, down in the dumps, and maybe down-right depressed. I know a lot of times these posts that everyone puts up makes it seem like they live in the perfect world where there is always happiness, harmony...but lets face it, life is just not like that.

I knew that this was going to happen and I have been putting it off for quite a while. Weston wants me to get rid of Rose. She needs work and she is not that far from us, but it is still hard to get out to her....esp with little kids. People have offered to help watch them, but when ever I call on those people they say that they can't. And with winter coming Weston REALLY wants me to get rid of her.....now.

Sure it makes perfect sense. But I think of Rose as part of my family now.

I know some people that get a cat or a dog and then just get rid of it after a few months like it is nothing. And they do that over and over. I keep thinking why get a pet if you are not going to keep it and enjoy it. And if you didn't like it the first time...then why do it again!? (Sorry I am just getting some pent up bad-pet-owner frustrations out)

But for me (being a pet...no, let me make that an animal lover) once I get a pet it is and will always be part of my family. (My kids still talk about their pet hermit crabs that they had years ago). So I have been putting off putting her up for sale for a few weeks now. Today Weston asked me if I had done it yet and of course I said 'no. I can't bring myself to do it.' But I did it. I posted her on KSL. After church I find a message on my phone from someone who is interested in her. I can't bring myself to call her back so I tell Weston 'Your the one who wants Rose gone, so you call her back.' Well, for one thing I knew that I wouldn't be able to tell the person about Rose with out crying. So Weston makes the call and I keep waiting for him to set up a time for them to come take a look at her. It doesn't come. He just gets off the phone and says 'Well, she's sold.' I just started sobbing. Now I know some people may think that I am dumb for crying over her. But she is part of my family.....and now she is going to be gone. I love that horse and I just don't seem to handle loss of any kind well right now. And of course Ashlyn (my little horse lover) was right next to me sobbing her little heart out too.

And it kind of made me mad that they didn't even want to come and look at her. I instantly got scared that she is going to some meat-factory or (more likely) going to be turned into a brood mare making babies for the rest of her life. A few minutes later I feel a little better about them. Her husband calls and (talks to Weston, of course) says 'My wife just really wants a Paint and she is really excited, but we need to know a little more about this horse first.' I don't know why that made me feel a little bit better, but it did. Maybe it was because they were now seeming to be genuinely interested in her and wanted to get to know her before they even owned her and were just dieing to hear about the worlds greatest horse who is known to be really stubborn? Or maybe i am just wierd.

She is not gone yet. She will be here until Friday or Sunday. But I find that I can't even bring myself to go and see her yet. I know that I will just hang on her sobbing and brushing her and giving her lots of treats, spoiling her all I can these last few days with her.

Thanks for the memories Rose. Thanks for all of the learning experiences. Thanks for being able to help me find some solitude and peace out in the pasture with you.

But I guess some good will come of it. Weston said not to worry, I will get a horse again. Probably in a couple of years. (In fact we have been looking at houses with 1+ acres, but I want to stay in Farmington and there just isn't anything for sale right now here) But this time we will be moving to a house that is on atleast an acre so we can have the horse right there the whole time with us. And in the mean time Ashlyn and I will be taking horse backriding lessons so we can learn even more about these beautiful animals.

And believe me...In a couple of years I won't be forgetting to remind Weston about what he said about another horse. :)

All I have to say is that they better take good care of her or else I am taking her back!

Party! Party! Party!

Being in another mood to not take pictures I didn't take my camera with me today. Turns out, I was very grateful that at least my phone had a camera on it becuase who wouldn't want to miss taking at least one picture of Garrett's birthday party! It was so fun to be able to go to one of my nephews birthdays!

Then after the big shindig, we all went to check out the Herriman "beach." When I first told the girls that, they thought that we were going to the 'real' beach at first until I explained to them the whole thing about lakes/ponds can have beaches too.

All I have to say is that I am absolutely loving having more family close by.

(Now I just need to figure out a way to get everyone else out here....)

Aloha!

First off I must apologize....I have not been in the mood to take pictures of any kind. In fact if it were not for this blog I wouldn't take any. So sorry for lame pictures of the next few posts. Have had a hard few days...or I guess you could say week or 2.... I don't even feel like posting the few pics that I have taken. Anyway....

After spending the day at the pool (all part of our goal to make the most of these last few days) we showered and hurried over to Weston's work.....they were having a luau!

The music really made me miss Kauai. =( Hope to get back there some day.

But, man! It was SO SO SO hot! Made me wonder why I had even showered before I went! I was just about as wet as I was when I was swimming earlier that day! blah!

Besides the yummy food, they had entertainment too. And when they started dancing Acadia didn't hesitate to be right up there next to the lady performing dancing her own little dance near her. It was way cute! Too bad I don't have a video camera!

I am thankful for fun ways to get more people to the store.

It is no surprise.

Since summer is coming to an end with the start of school on Monday, the girls and I have been making the most of our last few days.

So today I told them that it was a water day. We filled up the water table, filled up the kiddie pool for one last time, turned on a sprinkler, and made one of those water-noodle sprinklers. They spent probably about 6+ hours outside.....I sure didn't last that long.....heck, Acadia didn't last that long even with all that water out there. Now, now....Don't worry I made them stay out of the water when I went in for a break here and there. =) They ate lunch out there and played in the 'club house.' And the amazing thing is that there was ABSOLUTELY NO FIGHTING!!!! I kept wondering if there would be flying pigs too. ;)

Acadia didn't want to get out of her swimming suit even though she was inside watching a movie (I didn't think making her change was worth the fight....I am trying to choose my battles and let other things slide so I am not such a mean mommy). Well hours later when the sun is starting to set she decides to change....Now this next part shouldn't come as a surprise.....and about 10 minutes later this is what I find:

I am grateful that no one got burned.

What a great idea, Goose!

Ashlyn wanted to do Family Home Evening tonight. She had the great idea of setting up a mini-golf course in our backyard.

She used various sized buckets (and even a bug cage) as different holes.

She had tons of hazards for each hole. Water-noodles, flip flops, shovels, chairs....what ever she could find in the backyard she pretty much used as some type of obstacle for us to get around.

And then for each hole we had to use a different type of club. Actually only 2 holes used a real golf club! The other ones used things like a hanger, a musical instrument, an empty paper towel roll and they each had to be used a certain way.

It turned out great and I could tell she was proud of herself for doing it all!

I am thankful that I was able to tie a lesson into it on life and the things that will try to get in our way to returning to our Father in Heaven.

The egg-head family

I have had some wheat grass seeds around the house for awhile and the girls and I decided to use some of it to make out own generic cheea heads.

I am grateful that the cats didn't knock them out of the window until the grass was tall.

Really?!

I am grateful for our first 2 peaches off of our tree! Yum!

I am grateful for picnics in the park and good climbing trees.

Hurry Girls!!!

'Hurry! Quick! We have an animal emergency!' I yelled to my kids as I ran in the house to grab a wash cloth. When I went outside to get the chilckens their food and water and when I bent down to grab the hose I almost stepped on a teeny tiny humming brid that was laying on it's back and breathing really fast. Now the first thing that came to my mind was 'gross! I wonder what disease it has!?' But then I thought 'No, when will I ever get to get this close to a humming bird again?' So as I ran in and told the girls what was going on they all ran out to look at it and then Ashlyn runs in and down the stairs yelling 'I'll get a box!' I pick it up gently in the washcloth and I say to Ella 'Quick! Get my camera!' Right before Ashlyn comes out with the box and Ella struggles to find the camera, it fly's right out of my hands and up into the trees.

It made me regret having Ella go get my camera and that Ashlyn had ran downstairs. I thought it was very neat to get to inspect that little bird up close and 2 of my girls missed that experience. =(

I am thankful that they got a little glimpse of it before they all ran off to try and help it (and to get my stinkin' camera).

Another one finished?

Went to finish another projeect today. A few months ago I started to re-do my entryway....added beadboard, painted the walls red,etc (the beadboard isn't all the way finished....we still need to add the chair rail to one of the walls). I want it to be more of a mud room and since I can't really afford a real bench with the budget I have I opted to use something else. At Ikea I found some unfinished stools for cheap and got 3 of them. So today I painted them white, but I am really undecisive on how I want the top of them to look. I know I don't want them just plain white. I really don't like how undecisive I am....oh well. So I didn't actually finish the stools, but I am grateful that atleast they are painted! =)

Out with the old and in with the new

Yes, I liked this old solid wood door. But it has just gotten so beat up the past year.

It wouldn't open without having to yank on it over and over and over again (almost pulling your arms out of the sockets in the process). And it wouldn't close without having to bump it over and over again with your hip (I got a few bruises from doing that). And this past winter I noticed that you could see sunlight coming through the seams in the middle of the door. And half the time it wouldn't lock unless you fiddled with it for 20 minutes. So I guess it was the right time to replace it.

Here is the new door. I never knew that installing one would take all day. Seems like the whole house is crooked....even the foundation, which made it a real pain to try to get the door to fit.
But with the help of Weston's brother and dad, we did! Thanks for the help you guys!

I am grateful that I picked one that has a window so my entryway doesn't seem like a dark cave anymore.

Now I just need to decide what color I want to paint it.....hmmm.

So how do you get your sister, who is playing 'dead', to wake up?

I am grateful for harmony.