Book Blog

I ask you all to head on over to my Book Blog as well. . . And spread the word!!

http://ruthiebookblog.blogspot.com/

23.7.08

A New Blog

It is in it's beginning stages and is being coauthored, but I invite all my friends to check it out and to participate.  If it's not your cup of tea or whatever other beverage you wish to insert there, that's fine, but remember that this new blog is about open discussion within the church specifically, and is also an arena in which you can comment anonymously.  If you wish your name to be attached to your comments, that's fine too, but please, at least check it out and spread the word if you like.

17.7.08

Knowledge

Hyrum's Little Tidbit--

Hyrum has taken to asking questions incessantly.  It can become quite tedious.  So today, when he asked me the five millionth question of the day, I asked, "Hyrum, why do you ask so many questions?"

He calmly and resolutely replied, "Because, I want to know everything!"

Well, there you are!

Bear Lake

Warning--There are a lot of pictures here.  For those new to my blog, I don't like slideshows for myself.  One, I copy my blog so that I can publish it--it is afterall my journal, and two, I like to really look at people's pictures and so I do the same for everyone else.  It can make the post a bit long, but for me, it's worth it.

Tuesday we hit Bear Lake.  First and only time this year (we hope to go camping with Daddy there next summer).  Auntie Kerrin and the soon to be Uncle Travis came along for some great fun.  It was the perfect day up there.  Only annoying thing--I got stuck going and coming in the sand down to the beach.  Travis had to push me out both times.  He sure got his workout that day, but I am really thankful I wasn't all alone.  It was gorgeous weather and the water was really not that cold.  Plus, were I sat us, we had like two wading pools and then it went into the actual lake.  Those pools were warmer than the lake so that's were the kids mainly played.  The first one was filled with algae which made it extra warm so it was the only place that Danny was willing to be (he doesn't much go for water, especially cold water, and so it was not only warm, it was shallow enough that it didn't touch his back, so he loved it).  He was pretty dirty from playing there but it was totally worth it.
Hyrum just wanted to go swimming with the big people, and so here he is taking off after Travis as he was heading out for a real swim.  I love the full on action there.
Porter got pretty cold and so he had to come and take a break and warm up with mom.  I wanted both of us in the shot but that was too hard for me to do myself.
Danny and Mom chillaxin in the warm water.  Danny just wanted to grab at me and not look at the camera.
Porter and Emma playing with Auntie in the shallows.

Danny getting ready to go crawling through the water.  He had so much fun.
Emma splashing about with Danny.
Mern digging a castle.  He wanted to build one just like his dad did last year.
Danny also got cold after his first bout in the lake.  He was mad at me for taking him out there and needed some warming up with mommy for a bit, before he went back out.
Hyrum chasing the floaty.  He wanted to ride in them, but alas he has gotten too big. 
Emma and Porter going out with Auntie and Travis.  It's also a really cool bird shot.

Porter starting to freeze.  This was when he had to be brought back to shore for a bit, although all he wanted to do is get back in the water.

These are some fun videos from the excursion.  First, Danny started splashing in the water, it's the first time he's done that (he doesn't in the bath so it was a cute first).  There was another video of him crawling about in the water, but for the life of me, I can't get it to upload.  Maybe I will try again later.

11.7.08

Standing and Projects

Well last time I tried two different posts and I think everyone read the 4th of July and skipped the Zoo one (which was actually pretty funny--so if you haven't read it, do), so this time I've just lumped a bunch of things into one.

This past week Danny has cruised past another milestone. He has pulled himself up all the way on to the furniture; well, not just the furniture but pretty much anything he can. Before he could only get to his knees, but now, he can't stop himself. Such a goofy boy. He seems to be in such a hurry to catch up with his big brothers and sister.
This is his favorite because he knows this is mommy's chair. Anything to get to mom. A momma's boy he definitely is.
This is Emma's hair after we pulled it out of the double buns. This doesn't even begin to cover just how much of a fro there was. This is my newest project and it was so much fun. I may even start doing them to sell. I use it as a scripture bag, but it would definitely work as a purse. I love the way it all came together but I could definitely change a couple of things. I would make the handle more of a cord and then add a clasp cover too for a purse. It was so much fun to make and it really turned out great.
Then here below is a wonderful video of Danny laughing. I apologize for so much jerking on the camera's part but I was trying to keep Porter away so that I could actually tickle Danny and get him laughing on the video. It was a real pain. Porter has become quite the camera hog so if I'm trying to video someone, he wants to hone in on the project which on my bad days can really really irritate me. I love him so much though. Porter is such a sweetie but he definitely has hit those terrible two's. I do have to be thankful though because he is almost three so I am thankful he hasn't hit them until now. His favorite phrase right now is "no I not!!" It's cute but definitely frustrating. Anyway. . . This is suppose to be about Dan. He's got the sweetest little laugh and he LOVES to be tickled. It's so funny.

10.7.08

Picture Perfect

I finally found a pretty, decent dress for Emma and so on Sunday I decided that pictures of my bella dona would be in order. Plus I had her hair up in this two cute buns and it was great (until I took them out and then her hair was hilarious--those pictures I'll post in another post). I was trying to get her to pose and smile. It was cute and funny as she went along. Then, the boys had to join in.
Cheese. . .
On the chair and minus her thumb. I had to beg her to stop sucking her thumb so I could actually see her pretty face.
She refused to smile big because I made her take her thumb out.
Our first attempt. Nearly impossible to keep the boys off, but at least I got one. Such a sweetie.
First Porter joined in. They are a cute pair.
Then, of course, Hyrum had to join. I love Porter's smile here, and Hyrum really loves his little sis.
Well, since two out of three were there. The third boy must join in. Although, he wasn't as thrilled about pictures as the others. Dan had just woken up from his nap.
Porter kisses and Hyrum snuggles.
The best shot. I wish Danny had been in a smiling mood, but it's cute nonetheless. They are indeed trying, but man I love these kids. They sure make the days a bit sweeter. I love being their mom. Plus, with Joe being gone, it's sure wonderful to have a piece of him here with me. They love each other so much too. Yes, they fight, what siblings don't, but generally, I have a loving little bunch. I've been so blessed in my life. Thank you to all, including my little ones, who have made my life a little bit sweeter.

5.7.08

The 4th of July

Last night we all headed up to Aunt Janet and Uncle Chad's to watch the fireworks. They shoot off at Weber High and since they live across the street, I figured it was the best and easiest place to go. And thankfully, Janet didn't mind us coming. It wasn't a bad fourth. I missed Joe pretty bad, I love the 4th of July because it's such a family holiday, and so it was a hard day for me. But, we went over to Amy Mair's house and the kids all played in the pool and then her and the boys came to dinner. We George Forman Grilled our dinner. I don't have a BBQ so that was the best we could muster. For those of you who don't know, Amy lives behind me--she use to live in Macomb so we knew one another from there--but her husband is also deployed, happens to be in the same unit as Joe. It was quite cool to run into one another again and so we try to do some things together, plus, her kids and mine get along pretty good so it's nice to let them play.
Aunt Kerrin and Hyrum and Emma. That's Aunt Janet sitting in the background. No pictures of me this time because I left the little camera at home and Kerrin really couldn't figure out how to get a focused shot with the fancy camera.
Here's Amy with her boys: Isaiah and Elijah and of course, Nehemiah is in her tummy (he's due to come out via c-section on Labor Day).
Kept trying to get a good shot of Danny but the flash was so blinding that this was as good as we got.
Aunt Janet, Heather and Amber watched the fireworks from the roof of their house. Now that's how to watch fireworks. This is Joe's Aunt and cousins (Uncle Chad and the boys had gone on a campout in Vernal for the weekend).
This is the best shot I could get of the actual fireworks. I was just too far away for anything better.
Isaiah and Hyrum share in some sort of secret. Isaiah is actually about a year and half younger than Hyrum but they get along great. Emma loves Isaiah.
Emma actually stayed awake this time around.
Heather and Amber playing with Danny.
Elijah strapped down so he wouldn't run off on Amy, who really can't chase after him anymore.
Emma might have stayed awake, but this is what Porter did for the entire fireworks show. He fell asleep on the way up there and never rejoined the world of the living. It was fun, but I really wished Joe could have been there. Well, next year we'll really make it a blast!!! Thank you sweetheart for serving our country though. It definitely gives the 4th of July a whole new dimension.

Zoo Day

On Thursday I hopped in the car with the kids to the zoo. It was Military Appreciation Week at the Hoogle Zoo and so there we went. We have a membership but I was hoping to bump into some people I knew who were going because all military and their families were free. I got there pretty early in hopes of avoiding the horrible heat, however, it was already pretty hot but that's life. Besides the kids didn't want to see the animals, they wanted to play at the park. I was a bit annoyed because what's the point of driving all the way to Salt Lake just to play at a playground, but whatever. I was able to run into some people though. We saw Amy and her kids, the Shermans (which was great, was really happy to be able to see them), and then we ran into Brian and the kids-so I was able to see their new little one and she is a cutie.

Well, the zoo part may have been a bust, but I'm still on the ball with pictures.
Here's Danny just smiling away while his brothers and sister played at the park. Such a little cutie. I still can't believe he's seven months old. He's really crawling now-hands and feet a moving and so now he's getting dangerous around the house. He's one place, you turn around and he's disappeared. Thankfully, he hasn't tried the stairs yet, but I have a gate all ready for if he even looks like he's going to try. He also LOVES big boy food, no baby food, no bottles, but he will chow down on some beans or bread or potatoes. The biggest problem is that he's still too little to really go to town on the big boy food so he can get a bit frustrated with his mom. He is in such a hurry to grow up. Cutest thing--he sees his dad's picture and actually says "dada." His mom thinks it's cute.
Porter playing in the egg. Emma is actually inside of there.
Hyrum and Porter on the spider. Porter just sat there forever. He loved the spider.
Mern shows his daringness and catwalks the alligator.
Emma playing in the eggs.
Hyrum and Emma take a break at the elephant. Since we were there so early, they were actually able to get on the elephant for a picture. Usually it is so crowded, it's not worth it, so they were pretty happy.
Dan and Porter just chilled while Emma and Hyrum ran off to the elephant.
This was so cute. Porter just crawled in there. Porter's big news--we are giving up the paci. Yup, all day he's without. I'm still letting him have it at night for now but before too long, he will be giving that up as well. He had started chewing on them and breaking them, so Mom figured it was really time to say adious to the binkie.
Mern playing on the jungle gym. Hyrum is his momma's big helper. We've had a little ant situation in the kitchen. There's a gap they were coming through. I took care of them right quick, but before I could, Hyrum figured he would be a big boy and help me out. He comes up to me all proud and says, "Mom, I sprayed the ants with Febreeze so they would smell good and then they would eat each other." I laughed so hard. Oh, the mind of a child. You've gotta love it.
Emma loves this group seesaw thing. Before we left, her and Mern sat on one side and mom on the other and I bounced them good. They didn't want to stop. Silly kids. I was a bit irritated that we didn't get to walk the zoo and see the animals, but all in all, it wasn't a bad day. Man, I love my kids.

1.7.08

Who Tag-Thanks Melinda

1- What is his name? Joseph, goes by Joe or Merk.

2- Who eats more? Depends on what we are eating, but usually him.

3- Who said I love you first? I did, but only because I told him that I wanted to. I needed to feel safe enough with him to say it first and so he waited on me. One of the great things about my sweet hubby.

4- Who is taller? He is but that's not hard seeings as I am only 5' 1".

5- Who is smarter? I think we are pretty equal on that. Joe has a better memory than me, but then again, I've given birth to four kids and I think I gave them all my brain cells.

7- Who does the laundry? I do, but that's because the laundry is one of those things I'm pretty anal about. If it's not done right then I have to do it over again anyway.

8- Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Looking from the foot of the bed, I do.

9- Who pays the bills? I do. My husband is in the military though and with him deployed every now and then, it's better for me to do it all anyway.

10- Who cooks more? We share that responsibility when Joe is home.

11- What meals do you eat together? None right now. He's in Afghanistan.

12- Who is more stubborn? In all honesty, I would have to say, me.

13- Who is the first to admit they are wrong? I don't know. I think we share in that one too.

14- Who has more sibling? He does.

15- Who wears the pants in the relationship? We both do. Man I hate skirts.

16- What do you like to do together? Heck right now, I'd go for just about anything as long as he was here and we were together. Man I miss him.

17- Who eats more sweets? Well he use to, but since he's trying to quit and actually succeeding, probably me.

18-Guilty Pleasures? Me-Mt. Dew, Code Red or Supernova. Him-well, I don't quite know now that he's given up the crap, but before either Jelly Belly's or Sunflower seeds.

19- How did you meet? We were both in the BYU 14th Ward. He dated my best friend and as a result he was my temple buddy (I was endowed already and he was the only other person who went with me every week).

20- Who asked who out first? Neither. We never really "dated" in the truest sense of the world. We just hung out and it was usually mutual.

21-Who kissed who first? He kissed me, but only after I had spent the entire night before (when I knew he wanted to kiss me) telling him he wasn't allowed to kiss me unless he was sure I was the one. The next night he kissed me, guess he was pretty sure.

22- Who proposed? He did. In the tunnel at BYU where we had our first kiss. He was going to wait until Valentine's Day and after asking my dad permission, but we were talking about how we could always ask him together, so he looks at me and says, "so you want to marry me?" I thought he was joking, afterall who in their right mind would want to marry me. So I asked him if he was serious. He, of course, said he was, and I immediately said yes!! It was the best night.

23- His best features? His hands. Well, all of him, but I really like his hands.

24- What is his greatest quality? There are too many to name. His ability to love me the way he does is probably the one that I appreciate the most.

I tag-- Karen, Kerrin, and Patricia.

New Glasses

So I got new glasses, and I am very happy. Now I can see the tv from my bed. And I can read street signs down the block again. Hyrum helped me pick out the frame, and Mom doesn't think he did too bad a job.
On another note. These are some cute pictures of Danny. This is his new favorite place to play and his brothers love entertaining him there. So does Emma, but to be frank, Dan seems to prefer the boys which makes Emma a bit sad. I try to encourage equal time for her sake, but hopefully Dan will enjoy her company more as he gets a bit older. It's not that he doesn't like Emma, he does, she can make him roll with laughter just as well, just not as often.