Month 8

November 25, 2012

It has been so fun to watch the outside colors go up!  Nerve-wracking and exciting all at once.  Looks like this is really happening.  :)

So much to be Thankful for.

Truly, I do not have in my memory a Thanksgiving when I have felt more grateful.  My Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer this summer and I will feel eternally grateful for the awakening it has caused within me.  As heartbreaking as this news has been and as hard as it has been for me (for all of us) to watch and experience this horrid disease change our lives, it has made me keenly aware of

what matters most.

We are blessed to be a part of 2 incredible families that are imperfect, talented, very funny, kind, good to their core, dare I say quirky? And yes, all OURS!!  

They..........matter most. 

Happy Thanksgiving 

Happy Halloween 2012

We had a few different occasions for costumes this year.  My parents hosted a party, so I brought my

THINGS.

If you ever need a fun party game, wrap kids in duct tape and throw cotton balls at them.  

They LOVED it!!

Then for the REAL deal, our costuming went as follows.....

Jack the Gangster.

James

King of The Wild Things.

Aspen and Eliza as Thing 1 & Thing 2.

Let the games begin......and may the odds be ever in your favor.

What a great night.

Good weather.  Good food.  Chatting with good friends.  

Loved Halloween this year.

Month 7

October 23rd, 2012

I know it looks more like December....but that's Utah for you!  Windows are in....YIPEE!!

I love this pic.  This is how Jame-O will remember 2012.  On site, with a snack....and an iPad.  I'm not proud....it just is what it is right now.  : )  

UEA 2012

On a whim, this fall, we took the Minnie Winnie 

(Tom's parents RV) and headed for Moab.  

Our kids thought they died and landed in some sort of outdoor playground heaven!

We hiked. We biked. We ate.  We slept.

Delicate Arch

Jamo was completely mesmerized with all things camp fire.

Good times.

Month 6

September 22, 2012

 Hmmmmmm..month 6 looks a lot like month 5.... and 4.  : )

It's what's on the inside that counts-right?

Windows and doors are going up this week.  Possibly a little sheet rocking...

  We are so excited to see the outside take shape.

This is view from the front window.  

89.9 % of the reason I agreed to this crazy endeavor in the first place.

I haven't taken a picture yet that does it justice.    

Xterra Tri at Snowbasin

Tom's last race of the season. His exact words......

"Ummmm. OUCH!"

Beautiful course.  Amazing day.  Very sore muscles. 

Go Dad!

The happy supporters. 

2 of Tom's training buddies on the podium for age category wins.

Way to go, Matt & Jared!!

And, yes...sadly that is a tiger on Matt's shirt. :)

And why not a stop at the Paul Mitchell tent for some Saturday haircuts? Check.

Handsome devils.

Fun day!

Tonight, we went to the open house of the Brigham City Temple.  

It is truly amazing to see how much thought went into every detail of this beautiful building.  

Some of the paintings within are honestly breathtaking.  

I'm so glad our kids were able to have the experience of seeing inside a temple at their young ages.  With Tom's parents serving a temple mission right now, they have been curious to know more about what happens there.  Even Jamo, whose very nature is the antithesis of "reverent," was quite peaceful throughout the tour.  It was like he could sense that we were in a special place.  That, or we may have promised him a peach shake for good behavior.  :)

Very cool night.     

First Day of School 2012

My babies are growing up!  Make it stop!

Aspen heads to 3rd Grade today with Mrs. Scott

And Jack....into the land of 5th Grade with Mrs. Gibbons.  It's very weird to send our kids to grades that I actually remember being in myself.  

Pretty sure I wore a bowtie my first day of 5th grade.  

Maybe that's why it's so memorable.  

Saddest day of Jamo's life to date.  Watching his summer buddies head out without him.  

Just me and you kid.  What should we do for the next 7.5 hours?!?

Already hard at work.  

Goodbye Summer...you were a memorable one.

Mission Bound.

Tom's parents headed out on their mission to Preston, England today.  My heart hurts.

Tom dropped them off at the airport.  It was ugly.  They are two of the kindest, most unassuming, good to the core, people I know.  The Preston temple has no idea what an absolute gold mine is headed their way.  They will be amazing missionaries and we are so excited for them.  They have looked forward to this time for as long as I have been in this family and it is FINALLY happening!!!

Yeah for them. Sad for us.

We love you G & G!

Make us proud!

Month 5 - August 31, 2012

It's looking like a real house now.  So many decisions for an indecisive person like myself.

Yikes!!

ELEVEN

What is happening?!? Our eldest is OLD!!!

What does that make us?!?  Older?

Fun times at Boondocks with his buddy Sam and cousin Jonah.

Nothing better than a full game card and no parents.

All smiles.

Happy Birthday Buddy!  

Tom & Jack competed in a local triathlon this weekend.  They had a great time racing together.  It was the longest distance Jack has done so far.  Way to go buddy!!

Month 4-July 22, 2012

It's coming along.

And a few days later....

We got to watch the trusses be lifted.
 Jamo was mesmerized. 
I was too to tell you the truth.   

July 14, 2012

This sweet girl was baptized today.

By her Dad.

It was such a beautiful day.  

He gave her the most beautiful confirmation blessing I think I have ever heard.  

Both of her Grandma's spoke.  

All of us, cried.

And ate.

 We are so proud of you, Aspen.  

Aspen's 8th Birthday

The Lion House

What a fun day! 

 She loved being surrounded by friends and cousins and learned all sorts of Pioneer history. 

  

Do you know how many children Brigham Young had?

A lot more than this gaggle of adorable girls.

Happy Birthday Penny! 

Oh my.....it's time to grab a snack and check back a post or 7.  

I've got some catching up to do.  

So, this is apparently what happens when hay fever (which I haven't had in 10 years!) kicks in. I can't sleep, it's 3:44 am.....I guess I do the only thing on my ever extending "to do" list that can be done without disturbing the house....update the blog.  Ouch.  

4th of July

Priceless moment watching James clap for all of the veterans in the parade. 

Aspen was in the Kaysville parade this year with her tumbling group. She was thrilled!  And I might add...doing "the sprinkler" like nobody's watching.  Who is this girl?   

Month 3 - June 25, 2012

It's so amazing to see our home take shape after seeing it on paper for so long!

Jack is sorta counting on this saw horse being left behind and Jamo located the nail gun ammo in 2 seconds flat.  

Oh the joy for our boys in all this construction fun!!

And in true Penny form, I found her standing in the corner of her cement space arranging her imaginary furniture.