We love you, Grandpa Mark!

Jason and his brother, Jules, are flying out tomorrow morning to be with their Dad, who is suffering greatly from cancer. All Jason's siblings will be or have been there over the weekend, which must be comforting to Mark and Deb both. The boys wrote letters to Grandpa Mark tonight, and I was so choked up to hear their very tender thoughts toward him. We all wish we could be there at this time, and send all our love with Jason. Bennett said, "Mom, do you know what red x's mean? They mean KISSES!" So here's to you, Grandpa Mark!
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Rainy days...

These photos are a few weeks old, but they got lost somehow in iphoto. Could it be because we have about 8000 photos there? Anyway, we had a crazy rainstorm that the kids had a great time playing in. They weren't just splashing in the puddles. Oh no, that wasn't enough. They also had to turn the hose on for even more fun. They loved it! The neighbor kids came out to join them.

Back to Inishfre

I was so excited to get back to Irish dance class on Thursday! Last year I danced a lot as I was in "the company" and even got to perform on St. Patrick's Day, which was so much fun. I love all the girls I danced with; they have become great friends. This year it would be comical/pitiful to see me dance in the performance at 7 months pregnant. So I am taking a class once a week to keep up on and improve upon my "skills," which can use a lot of work. Best of all, I get to dance with Julie! These are some photos from last year's class.

Weekend fun...

Yes, I know this is my third post of the day. Crazy! But I didn't want to neglect the exciting weekend we had.

First, we went to see little Porter, who wins the baby cutie pants award. Then we stayed at Grandma Katherine's, while Jason went backpacking with Jules. And then Jason and I took Bennett to the Mountain Dew AST Games in Salt Lake. Owen preferred to stay with Grandma, and told us he had already seen the event, but he saw the one with Tony Hawk. ??? Where did he get that?

Anyway, we went with my cousin Jen and her cute family. Bennett was soooooo excited to see Sean White. And Jason and I were excited to see Bucky Lasek and Bob Burnquist, you know, because they're the older generation of skateboarders. :) Anyway, it was tons of fun. There were lots of little hooligans there, but tons of families like us too. And a warm churro helped keep us warm after sitting in the rain for awhile.

If you see Bennett in the next little while, chances are he'll be wearing his Dave Mirra BMX shirt. It's his new favorite.

8 Great Years...

Happy Anniversary to us! It's been 8 years of bliss! Here are some photos of Jason that show just a glimpse of what an awesome guy I married.

Happy Birthday to Jason

Jason's birthday yesterday was great. He did have to ask me if he was going to be 36 or 37, so I guess that just shows that the years don't even count anymore. He's forever young anyway, my skateboarding, bike-riding, snowboarding honey. He and some friends went mountain biking, and then came back for pizza. Bennett chose Transformer decorations, which took Jason back to his 14th year of life. Here are some photos of the festivities. Take note of the special pizza the boys decorated for him... And the "death by habanero" pizza as well. Aye, aye aye!

Lunchlady Land

I just have to share the adventure I had today with Bennett and Owen.

Ever since Bennett started Kindergarten, he has been a teensy bit obsessed with... the cafeteria. He has been really worried that someday he'll have to go in there, and somehow it had become this very scary place in his mind that he would talk to me about while lying in bed at night, sharing with me the secrets of his soul. I remember feeling the SAME WAY about the cafeteria! It was always rather mysterious to me.

So, last night I asked him if he wanted to go with me to lunch at... the cafeteria after school. He got very giggly and nervous and kept drifting off to sleep, only to say, "I just can't stop thinking about the cafeteria!" or "I just can't stop thinking about the lunch menu!" It was hilarious.

So this morning Owen and I set off to meet him and his friend Coleman, and Coleman's mom, Laura. It was quite the lunch date! We joined about 40 other kindergarteners for a feast of corndogs, broccoli, rolls, fruit cups, and my favorite: criss-cross cut fries. Mmmmmm..... Just to let you know, school lunch is exactly like it was when you were a kid. I'm surprised I ever learned to like veggies at all after sampling that cold, clammy, very un-broccoli tasting broccoli today.

Bennett was pretty quiet during the meal. I think he was a little intimidated by all the lunchladies pacing around the tables telling everyone how fast they needed to hurry. I myself was a little intimidated by them. But in the end he was all smiles, and told me tonight, "This was a great day, Mom."

Sniff! Yes it was!

Motorcycle Mania

Our friends, Jared and Julie were kind enough to take us up to Providence a.k.a. "Redneck" Canyon for some dirt-biking adventures not just once but TWICE during the same week. The boys were of course in absolute heaven. We hauled the bikes on a trailer behind our Landcruiser, and Owen's jaw dropped in wonder and glee when he saw them parked in front of our house. We all had a great time, and we were even lucky enough to eat Julie's homemade BBQ chicken and Dutch oven potatoes. Delish!

Julie and I were pretty troubled by the two men and their kids trying to set up a shooting range just across the road from our campsite. One of them asked us, "Hey, do you guys know how many feet there are in 30 yards? Like, there are 3 feet in a yard, right, so how many feet in 30 yards?" Does it worry you that these are the kinds of people handling large guns in a location near you?!

We did manage to stay safe and have a great time, both nights. You know it was a successful adventure when you end up just throwing the kids' socks in the garbage when you get home because they are black like unto soot. Much tub-time is required after such an activity, and early church is not recommended the next morning.

Here's to good health!

Yes, it's true! We just found out last weeked that we'll be having a new little family member joining us sometime next May. May sure sounds like a long time away, and believe me, it will be longer for me than anyone. (Except maybe Grandma Katherine who loves babies more than anything on the earth, and can't wait for them to get here safe and sound, and is probably right this second rocking little Porter while Jaime naps.)

But I am excited to have a baby in some warmer weather than we are used to. Oh, and if you are wondering, both Bennett and Owen have assured us that this baby is indeed another brother. Why break tradition?

Despite the wonderful news, this week was not my favorite. I had a nasty flu bug or something that rendered me useless for a few days. Jason was a trooper to get the kids up and ready for school, to school, home from school, etc. etc. etc. while I languished and moaned feebly from bed. He also forced me to drink Gatorade and nibble crackers against my will, kept the kitchen clean, and even mowed the lawn, took the kids to the skate park, and attended a scout meeting. Oh, yeah, and he worked full time (mostly). I'm sure he was mindful that next week is his birthday, and was perhaps earning some extra birthday points... But I don't care why he did it. I am just so lucky to have him to take care of us all.

Kudos to my kids as well, and thanks to sweet Bennett for remembering me in his nightly prayers and for Owen making me a very special macaroni necklace at school which he told me "taked a very long time." And of course to Jake who had to entertain himself for many hours on end to my amazement. What great boys.

Welcome, little Porter!

On Thursday my little sister, Jaime, had a baby! I am so excited for their sweet little family. Tyler is such a cute dad, and Jaime is a natural mother. I love to see her with her cute little baby. And he is so very, very cute!!! Congratulations, Jaime and Tyler!

My little mountaineers!

A few days ago we went for a little picnic/hike adventure up the canyon. It was so fun, and I was amazed at how far my boys would hike! Of course they were fighting over who got to sit with Jake in the jogger on the way home, but really, they were troopers.


Don't you love the month of September?? It's so beautiful! I'm so happy that the weather has finally cooled down! I feel like we can all go outside again and enjoy some physical activity without getting heatstroke.

Bennett and I were suprised at what an awesome climber Owen was. He was, as he always is when doing dangerous things, completely fearless. Until he looked down from the top, that is.

Bear Lake Monsters

Last week a couple of girlfriends and I took the kids to Bear Lake for the afternoon. First we went out for hamburgers and lots of fries, and then proceeded down the road to the lake. It was raining when we arrived, but the kids didn't care! The moms were all huddled up, standing under the hatchback of Julie's van for shelter while the kids were begging for their swimsuits. I think I vaguely recall a time when I, too, could swim in cold water on a cold day and be happy as a lark. Not anymore. I'm such a wimp! It did clear up after all, and we were all able to enjoy the water. And Julie's homemade rice krispy treats. Yummy. And a few other goodies, but we don't really need to list them all.

Carson and Owen had a great time playing in the water until their lips were blue...







And Jake and Layla relaxed on the beach making plans for their futures...together. Right, Britt?

My husband: Garden guru.

It is somewhat embarrassing to me that my husband is more a culinary expert than I am. Here's the latest example: He has been pickling everything we grew in our garden this year. He also made fabulous roasted veggie salsa and plans to make more plum jam this year from our very plum-laden trees. He puts me to shame, but I sure love reaping the benefits of such a handy husband. We'll be stocked all winter!

At least I can say I helped with the awesome garden we have in the backyard! Our neighbor introduced us to the Mittleider method of gardening, and we have enjoyed it so much. Why do we love it so much? It's WEED FREE!

Here are some pictures...

Recap of our summer fun...

Jacob had lots of fun following his big brothers around this summer. He is changing so much and makes us laugh every day with his silly antics.

He has mostly outgrown that unhappy, screaming phase and is now more full-time funny and sweet. Of course he's still surly on occasion, but is happy as a clam if he is dancing, standing on a skateboard or other dangerous, wheeled object, or eating all the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms. Not that we eat sugar cereal.