A Day in the Life of Gage

I caught Gage doing some cute things yesterday and was able to catch them all on the camera.

Visiting the Cousins

I could call this "our trip to Utah", but I think my kids would not remember exactly where they went, only that it involved being with their cousins. And, to them, that was the best part about it. Over Fall Break we went and stayed with Zane's sister in Highland, UT. I went a day early with Mallory and spent some time with my old (she's not old) roommate and dear friend, Kathy. That was a treat for me. We enjoyed the best weather and the view of the mountains the entire week. When I asked my boys if they did everything that they wanted to do while we were there, they said, "no, we didn't buy a house." There happens to be any empty spec home right next door to their cousins and they spent all week trying to convince us to buy it. If only it were that easy! The cousins have a pool and a heated one at that, so each night was spent swimming. Mallory thought she could swim, so she tried to wiggle out of Zane's arms each time in the pool. She would find her bathing suit hanging up in the bathroom and try to get us to put it on her as well. The boys went to Boondocks (a version of Family Fun Center owned by the Huishes) where they raced cars and played laser tag. We made it to Thanksgiving Point, BYU campus, the jumpy jumpy place (with tramps not bouncers), visited with the Bradleys, and just rode scooters around the lake by the cousins' house to feed the ducks. My sister in law and I started a few (hundred) sewing projects and we even managed to finish a few of them. I even picked up some fabric to finish a few at home. Zane is so happy about that! It was such a nice trip that we might just have to buy that house next door. (Just kidding kids).

In front of the BYU Bookstore

At the ice cream counter at Thanksgiving Point

In the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point

Mallory's face when I ask her to say "cheese"

Zane and his brother Beau who came down to visit from SLC

Trevor at the lake by the cousin's house

Gage next to one of the art pieces next to the MOA at BYU

Mallory trying to swim away from Zane

Zane and I at the ice cream shop at Thanksgiving Point

Trevor, Gage and Sadie at Thanksgiving Point

The kids with their cousin Shad ready to head to the lake for a walk

Tom Boy

Busy Weekend....Bring It On

The lady at Costco asked me on Friday night if I was excited for the weekend. "Yeah," I said, "but it's going to be a busy one." Little did she know that I was at Costco sneaking away from my babysitting duties for just a few minutes before they closed as Zane relieved me back at home. It had already been a crazy week - baseball game every night (a few rained out), my turn for kid swaps, sewing, etc., but the weekend brought on more fun. Saturday was Super Saturday at our ward and I was teaching a diaper bag sewing class. That morning as I was working out I got a phone call from Kristi to inform me of a great garage sale. So, I hopped off the elliptical and drove all sweaty to find some good books and future Christmas gifts for the kids. I came home and quickly got ready for Super Sat. and spent 4 hours sewing. Then, came home to clean up the disaster that Saturday brings to our house because my mom (who is tending) and four nieces and nephews were coming to stay the night and visit. My kids were so excited to see their cousins. They live in Cincinnati and are so close, but we haven't been able to see them as much as we have wanted to with gas prices, baseball games, and life taking over. Now they are moving to Spain (where their parents are house hunting at the moment) in just a month and I know my kids are going to miss them badly. So, this was a well needed cousin visit. We went to both Trevor's and Boston's baseball games that night with 4 extra kids in tow. It was a bit wild keeping track of them all and they did manage to get quite dirty, but I think the rock and dirt throwing was fun for them. Right as we were packing up to get to Trevor's 5 o'clock game, Zane called to say Trevor got a hit and even managed to score. It was his first hit in a baseball game and he was on cloud nine. I wish I could have been there to see it. Boston's game was at 7 and we managed to see two innings. But, my mom and I needed to get them all home to get them in baths. And, as for Sunday...you know the routine - try, try, try to get there on time, but still end up in the overflow where we are louder than everyone else! All the adults in the house managed a small nap after church and then the Cincinnatians and their leader (my mom) packed up to leave. We all drove out to see Zane's finished house (which is up for a National Award for energy efficiency - do you want to buy it?) in Middletown and they left back home from there. Ummmm...a great and tiring weekend!

I Was Just Thinking...

*Did anyone else gain 5 lbs. from baking over Conference Weekend? It's dangerous to be inside that long.

*Gas was $3.33 and I was soooo excited. Who would have thought that would be considered a good deal? I think I am just happy when something is cheaper than it was the day before (like rotisserie chickens at Coscto - now back to $5.99)

*It feels so good to have my Halloween decorations up and now I am wanting to create some more to add to the mess!

Lollipop Kid

St. James Art Fair

No kids. Can you believe it? I got to go without any of my beautiful children. They wouldn't have liked it anyways, but I sure did. The weather was perfect for a fall fair and I just love going. I have been about five times and even though most of the art is high end and expensive, I enjoy the atmosphere. Oh, and I enjoy a good deep fried corn dog. Seriously...they were so good. I got to go with Melissa and we met up with some other Cheryl and Kristi. I picked up a few trinkets - a typewriter key charm (the letter U) to match my ones I bought last year (the letter T and a mini Dec. calendar charm) and something for Mallory. But, mostly I just enjoyed the company and the food (two lunches).

Molly and Gage

Scary....

I love the fall and surprisingly I don't have my fall/Halloween decorations up yet. I usually get those out in the middle of September as soon as we get one cool day. But, I think tomorrow, October 1st, will be the day this year. The one thing we have done to commence the season is to make out feet into ghost. Trevor did this a long time ago in a Lunch Bunch at gymnastics and we have repeated it a few times. This year it was Gage's turn and a few days later he decided he wanted to add some more ghosts. Mallory and I were recruited for the additional ones. He took care of adding the googly eyes and mouths. Pretty scary, don't you think?

Ahhh. The Balloon Glow

It was a tough decision whether to go or not. Great friends would be there (Cheryl and her gang had come from Lexington for it) and I LOVE the BALLOON GLOW. But, Gage was in a rage, Zane was at a campout with the scouts for the weekend and I was wiped out. So, I called my friend and told her why I wasn't coming, hoping that she would talk me in to it. She did, and we went. It was so beautiful. The weather was perfect (despite a little wind), the company great, and the balloons beautiful. I was still a bit of a mess there (recovering from earlier) and repeated myself a million times to my friends ("my flash just won't work on this camera"), but hopefully they took me for the mess I was and rolled with it. Gage ran away two times and was pretty far before we found him. He told me that it was okay and to not worry because nobody would take him. I wish I could believe that. We did see the fireworks and my boys got to go on some blowup slides. It was fun, but next time I will need another set of hands and eyes to help me enjoy all that the Balloon Glow has to offer!

Baseball Field at Dusk

Running Away

Going on the fourth day without school because of the power outage, I *kind of* had a break down with the kids (*totally*) and thought (actually, I threatened) about running away. I even thought about where I would go and what I would do. After thinking it through awhile, I came to the realization that there is no where else I want to be. I just want to take it all in stride a little bit more. So what if my four year old is crawling under all the fabric on the floor of Hobby Lobby or running out of the store to the parking lot while I am still paying? I need to pay faster in order to grab him or just be grateful that it was the floor of Hobby Lobby and not Wal Mart (I have a thing about Wal Mart and germs). So, little four year old and his other siblings, I am soooo determined to see the beauty in all of this before all of this goes away. Being a mom was tops on my list and now that my list has that checked off, I tend to forget about how badly I wanted this. Right now as I listen to Gage (the noted four year old) sing "When Jesus Christ Was Baptized" in his dad's lap and ask what immersion is (he asks that every time he sings it), I know that he's a blessing. So, here's to the enjoyment of it all!!!

I've Never Heard Gage Laugh So Hard

I came down to find Trevor and Gage watching this on the computer. Gage was uncontrollably laughing.

Wind Storm from Ike

So when I hear that there are hurricanes in the Gulf or Atlantic, I don't think that we will ever feel it here in Kentucky. Yesterday we had an intense wind storm that came from Ike. It was crazy - up to 75 mph winds. We lost parts to our fence, tree limbs, etc., but we were one of the lucky few who still have power. I feel for those that don't because they are saying that it might be awhile since a lot of the crews from LG&E were in Houston helping out with Ike victims. So, now we have kids home from school (and I just got a phone call that said there isn't school tomorrow either) because the schools don't have power and many of the grocery stores and gas stations aren't open. It was nothing like a hurricane, but feeling those strong winds made me so fearful for those who tried to ride out the hurricane in the Gulf. Their winds were double, with rain, and I can't imagine being in it.

Fall Ball

After a very long and hot day of the JDRF walk (unusually hot - in the high 90s in September) both Trevor and Boston had their first baseball games. Now, for Trevor this was his very first ball game since he played T-Ball when he was 5. It was all so new to him and because of that, he had a bit of fear. He managed to come away almost unscathed. When he was up to bat for his second time, the pitcher hit him with the ball. He put on a great face, managed to steal a couple of bases and score. But, when he got to the dugout he finally let down his guard and told us how much it hurt. He did get a DQ Blizzard out of it. And, with this being kid pitch, unfortunately, it will probably happen again! Here's to wearing body pads!

Photos from Walk

We think that's Jeff in the toothbrush costume. Are yo sure he was in Utah Melissa?
Gage and the Texas Roadhouse Armadillo
Gage got a ride at the end of the walk on Zane's shoulders
Eating the well earned pizza lunch at the end of the walk
This is the shirt they gave out to all who raised over $100
Eating our power breakfasts and waiting for the walk to begin
Gage got to pick the winner of the raffle
He got a model car for drawing the winner - He carried it the entire walk
Taking a break along the route (while Gage was throwing a fit)!

JDRF Walk, again.

Thank you everyone who donated in such a short amount of time - we raised $450! You all are awesome. And, if you didn't, then we'll be telling you about it next year so that you can participate next time. I think we need to recruit some more walkers for our Gage's Speed Racers Team. It really is a fun thing and I am so glad that we did it again this year. We just got home from it a few hours ago and we are tired. But, so worth it. They asked Gage to draw out the winning name for the big raffle drawing before the walk and Scott Reynolds from the news was up there on stage with Gage helping him and announcing the winner. They gave Gage a die cast Ford truck for helping out and he carried that the entire walk. Mallory stayed in the wagon for most of it and loved when the airplanes would fly over since the walk was right next to Bowman Field. Boston ran almost the entire time - that is one sweaty, exercising kid! It was for a great cause (Gagey Boy) and such a great thing to do as a family. But, I am warning you...I really am going to recruit others to walk with us next year!

Harry the Caterpillar

Fall Ball

JDRF Walk

Well, better late than never, huh? The JDRF Walk is this Saturday and it's the walk to raise money to cure juvenile diabetes. We weren't going to do it this year. With financial strains all around us, I just kept thinking it was hard to ask others to donate. But, the kids really want to walk and really it's about supporting our Gage whether we raise a bundle or just a few pennies. So, if you feel like it's your year to donate a few pennies, then go here. It will take you directly to our donation page where you go do it all online. Thanks in advance. last year's walk