The other sacred day!

You must know. Around our house, Saturday is the other sacred day. According to Travis Saturday should be 48 hours long instead of the usual 24 hours. It should be free of any "must do's" and reserved only for playing. It is not a day that you sleep in or relax in any way. It is a day that you must arise way before the sun rises to ensure that not one minute is wasted. It is planned the night before with precision. For my highly energetic husband it is a day for him to wear all his hats in life...his bike helmet (road or mountain biking), his cowboy hat (roping with his dad), his bandanna (for wake boarding), his ball cap (worn for golf), his nightlight hat (for the rides, runs or any activity after the sun has gone down), and the mounds of sunscreen that cover his stylish buzzed head for all the activities in between. You must also know-all activities are sure to pass regardless of the weather.

This past Saturday was no different. I scheduled a hair appointment at 7am. I ensured the morning slot this week. Sorry fellas-that is why Travis wasn't at flag football. From there is was soccer. Travis wore his beany as he coached the five-year old girls in the rain. Straight from the soccer field we went bowling. The kids have been wanting to bowl for some time, but that isn't an activity that we do when the sun is shining :). Rylee wanted to change out of her soccer uniform before bowling, but there wasn't time. She compromised and just wore her leggings, under shirt and shin guards with a sweatshirt that happened to be in the car (all making a very interesting outfit). We had a ball! From there we headed home for a great lunch, put the two boys to bed, and played games with Rylee. Travis had church meetings for the remainder of the day.

At the end of our weekend we are usually tired, exhausted and have a long list of "to do's" for the week. I must say-I love it!

My "Punkins"

We love Halloween and all the pumpkins. We enjoyed a warm night at the pumpkin patch this week. We ran around the hay maze and took a lot of pictures. The following night Rylee and I went to Thanksgiving Point for more Halloween fun.

What a blessing...

After five short months and a lot of guff we blessed our little Nash. It was a wonderful day. He looked so cute. He was a bit too big to wear the little white blessing outfits that baby's usually wear, so he got to wear a cute cream sweater and plaid shorts (as you can see in his picture). We had a great lunch following the blessing with both the Welches and Williams. It was fun to celebrate Nash. We are so grateful for good family that loves and supports us.

TAG!

How fun. I have never been tagged before, so this is new and exciting. Thanks Rachel. Here we go-

1. Q-The best thing you cooked last week?
I just asked Travis what his answer to this question would be and his response was, "that Cafe Rio night was pretty good". Need I say more!! I actually like to cook, but I LOVE to crock pot. We had some great beef burritos that I made in my crock pot, served with fresh tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. Who says we need Cafe Rio anyway :).

2. Q - If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who.
I have a lot of places I would like to go. My crazy husband is not one to go on a vacation unless it is warm and fun-no sight seeing. But I would rope him into skipping through Europe.

3. Q - When was the last time you cried.
Just the other day. I walked downstairs to see what the kids were up to. It sounded like the walls were coming down. I peeked my head quietly around the corner. Rylee had on her CD player with the volume cranked up, and she and Boston were dancing and laughing their heads off. I felt so grateful to be their mom.

4. Q- 5 things you were doing this month 10 years ago.
I was preparing to serve a mission in CT. I shopped, shopped and shopped some more for "cute" missionary attire. Attended the Jordan River Temple for the first time. Wrote letters to Travis in MN about every day. Quit my job at the dermatologist office to spend time with family and friends before I left.

5. Q- 5 things on your to do list today.
I am usually a list girl, although today is Sunday. I do have a short list for tomorrow...laundry day, stain the inside of front door, sign up for parent/teacher conference, pay bills, and mail a package to my darling nephew in OH.

6. Q- 5 favorite snacks.
Red licorice, diet coke, peanut M&M's, trail mix, and popcorn with hot tamales (I know that sounds weird, but it is great).

7. Q - 5 Bad Habits.
Not having my cell phone with me. Staying up too late. Drinking too much diet coke (is that all that bad??). Returning phone calls promptly. And trying on many different things before I am ready for the day. I make a mess of our closet.

8. Q- 5 favorite foods
I love Mexican f00d; chips and salsa, taco's and taco salads. Olive Garden soup and salad. A turkey sandwich on tasty wheat bread. Great Harvest "monkey bread". Watermelon, and corn on the cob.

9. Q- 5 Places I've been.
Hawaii, Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Valarta, Cabo), NY, Ft. Lauderdale, and San Fransisco.

10. Q- 5 Favorite Memories
The day my cute husband asked me to marry him. We dated for years, finally it was going to be "for real". I remember his excitement and mine as well. The sweet joy that each of our children have brought into our lives. They are my passion. The day that my Mom, my sister Natalie and I hopped on a plane to LA for a day. We wanted to shop and just get away. We rented a convertible and spent a lot of time on the highway in traffic. We laughed, sang, danced and shopped when we finally got to the mall. Days and countless hours working on our home with wonderful family that was here to help all the time. And finding a cute note Rylee left me under my pillow the other night.

Now, the 4 people I tag are: Laura, Marilyn, Heidi, and Jessica Welch.

"The Usual"

I spend a fair amount of time each day talking to my sisters or my mom on the phone. Each time we talk the conversation starts out the same. "What are you up to today?" My response to that question most often is "the usual". To my sisters that don't have kids or may not be married, they have no idea what I am talking about. So this is for you, some highlights of the "the usual" this past week (which I happen to love).


Attended the "Watermelon's" soccer game-which they won.


Got this cute boy to finally take a nap. It just took PJ's and his new shoes. Who knew!!




Went on many scooter rides with the neighborhood scooter gang.


Spent time with cousins (Baby Nash and Noah-8 days apart).


Went on a fancy date with the hubby.


Helped our youngest get a job at "Big Bee's". For those who don't remember Big Bee's, it was a hamburger/ice cream shop in Sandy. They wore shirts that looked similar to what Nash is wearing. Travis gets a kick out of this outfit.


Got these crazy kids ready in time for church so we could sit on the "soft seats".

Spent time at Grandma and Grandpa "lillums", where the kids love to pick plums with Grandpa, and then take out the stone (pit).

Got a pet bird. Just kidding. This pigeon was sitting on our doorstep when we got home one night. Travis put out his finger and it walked right on. He soon flew away. That is the kind of pet I like.

I made a wish & it came true...

It is a miracle-a family picture with all smiles and no screaming (I love how professionals now can cut and paste different heads in different pictures). I usually dread picture day, really what mom doesn't. It does not matter how much prep work I put into getting ready, or what bribes I give, it usually doesn't play out the same way I had imagined. I got our family picture back just the other day and was pleasantly surprised, but not only that, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our little family. Some time ago I made this wonderful wish & it came true!!

Fun in St.Gorgeous

We had the ultimate relaxing weekend. We headed to St. George (or St. Gorgeous as the girls would say) with our good friends the Medina's. We stayed in her parents home that lies right up by the red cliffs of Tuachon. It was beautiful. We relaxed by the pool all day long eating chips and salsa and drinking diet coke. It was my kind of weekend. We all played hard and laughed a lot. With our crazy husbands and cute kids-there is a lot to laugh at. Boston even practiced his golf swing on the little putting green next to the pool. Never a dull moment!

Rylee loved jumping off the jumping rock.

Bo worked on his short game. He's getting good!

No one stays dry when Travis is around.

Staci and the girls.