Thanks!

My friend Kristy fixed my title picture! No more extra people! Thanks Kristy!

Mondays...

"Mom, we have no bread!"
Then I find myself at Albertson's at 8:00am on the way to school!

We're Going to the Bahama's...

At 6 o'clock, is all I heard all day! And at 6:00 off they went, to the stake center that is! Elisabeth was so excited for her Daddy Daughter Date, and they had a great time. Her favorite part was... "daddy, had to dance!" the daddy's made up there own Hakka tribute to the girls. They also watched Johnny Lingo, did the hula and had dinner. I think the pictures of them are darling, she's got him wrapped around her finger!

13 Years And Counting...

Friday was our 13th Anniversary! Miah had to work but we were able to have lunch together. I can't believe how fast 13 years has gone by! Through the ups and downs we have stuck together, and truly can say "life is good." These past few years, have really made us rely on each other, and I wouldn't change a minute of it. So enough mushy stuff, check out these pictures of our wedding, I swear we were like 12! The one with my nieces and nephews is one of my all time favorite pictures, seriously the twins look so bored, Zac is freaking out, and Ali was cranky all day. And the girls are posing and looking darling!

BIG BOY FURNITURE!

So one of the reasons I was a little frazzled at back to school night, was our afternoon shopping trip. When Elisabeth was 1 years old, we got a great deal on a beautiful bedroom set, she has a full bed, dresser, bookshelf, night stand and cedar chest. And mean while Sam, who has all sorts of sleeping comfortably issues, has had the $99 dollar bunk bed and dresser. So lately Sam has been complaining about his rock hard mattress (what can I say it was cheap!) and little bed. Yesterday we went to look around a little bit at furniture and found another close out deal! It was so nice! We brought Sam back to see at and of course he liked it, SOLD, only problem it had to be picked up that night... i.e. Back to School Night. And we had plans... #2 reason for craziness... see below. So we did all sorts of trading cars, thanks Joey, and figured it out. We stayed up late putting the furniture together, he slept on the floor, and I spent Friday morning putting his room back together. It looks so great! No new furniture for Sam, until he buys his own!

Elisabeth was feeling all picked on because she didn't get new furniture so Saturday was spent moving her room around, it too looks great!

All this furniture moving only confirms my theory, you need to move, carpet or get new furniture about once a year, so you can clean out all your kids crap! So far we have done this for about 4 or 5 years, and it works great, just tell them they can have a yard sale and keep the money!


Reason #2 for craziness on Thursday! On anniversary was on Friday, but since Miah had to work we took the kiddos to one of our favorite places for "linner," BONSAI! So that had to be fit in, it was so yummy, we always leave stuffed! Our chef this time was pretty cool, he even used fire in his hand to lite the volcano!

Playing Catch Up...

Miah has been doing an online course and has been occupying my nightly computer time every night! So bear with me while I try to catch up!

Back to School Night...

Thursday I was in charge of my first official PTA president gig, I only found out I was in charge on Tuesday! Things went well, we sold t-shirts and signed up members. I also had to conduct, I had Sam and his friend do a color guard (they did a great job and took it rather seriously) and then our new school choir sang. The choir was awesome, they sang our school song and two other numbers, it brought so much school spirit. Then it was my time to speak, and for some reason I was shaking like a leaf! I don't usually have this kind problem, but it was probably due the fact I wasn't as prepared as I would have been. (see next post) But it went well, the budget passed introduced Mrs. Kranz and on we went. Things got a little hairy when we did break out sessions, and I had a million questions to answer in the hall and didn't quite get to my own kids classes, but oh well!
So.... first my first PTA president activity is checked off the list.

Here's our new t-shirts!

Photoshop Question...

I really like the picture at the top of my blog, but can anybody tell me how to cut out the lady's butt and the cute couple?

School Days...

Another year has begun! And not a moment to late, since in recent days I think my kids would have disagreed on what color the sky is! Elisabeth was super excited to have her BFF in her class, and a bunch of other good friends. She has Ms. Bruce, who Sam had in 4th grade, and she is terrific and will make for a great year. Sam doesn't have as many close friends in his class, but was being positive. He has a new teacher, Mrs. Schutz, it is only her 2nd year teaching. Both the kids came home with great reviews of the days! Which is always good to hear as a mom. Now it's back to a routine, lessons, practicing instruments, homework and the dreaded lunches. But I am glad to be back at it, I seem to get more done the busier I am, and with this PTA president thing I am pretty darn busy!

And by the way 6th grade boys don't really love to have mom take their picture or to have dad hug them in front of "everybody!"

Temple Dedication...

© 2009, Matt Fowler.

Yesterday we attended the 9am dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was so neat to see as a family, it was like we were there with President Monsen.

Two things that were spoken about really struck me. The member of the Quorum of the Seventy talked about how for early Saints traveling to the temple was measured in days and hours, and now most of us can attend a temple in just minutes. He went on to talk about our journey to the temple can also be looked at in years, the years it takes us to prepare to be worthy.

It got me thinking of when Jeremiah and I decided we wanted to be sealed in the temple and the journey we took. Our Bishop at the time, who had also married us, gave us many challenges and goals that we had to reach first. He gave us the challenge to attend church every week, and then gave us callings that helped that along, chorister and Miah was in charge of the preparing the sacrament. Then he challenged us to follow principles such as tithing, prayer and scripture reading. We would meet with him every couple of weeks, and each time we were excited that he would tell us we were ready, but he would extend another challenge to us. Finally, we were ready! And with me 7 months pregnant we went to the temple on February 28, 1998, we were sealed as a family. As we looked back we were so glad to that the journey had been hard, we had learned so much about each other and the gospel, and in way we were glad we did it the hard way.

Elder Bednar also talked about something I love about the temple. We are all the same when we enter the Lord's house, we aren't labeled by our professions, station in life, clothes or other worldly items. We are all their for one reason, to learn and worship. The Temple is place of peace in our hectic life.

So I am glad we were able to attend, my kids enjoyed the pictures before hand and the Hosanna Shout, but in between Elisabeth slept and Sam sorta listened, hopefully it will still be memorable to them.

Some Thoughts of My Former Love...

I have just calmed down enough to write this post.
It helps that last night, he, who's name I'd rather not say.
Didn't complete to many passes.

Just when I was starting to put my bitterness aside...
I was starting look past the year with the Jets,
and wham he slams it all in my face!
Really, Brett, Really?
The Vikings!

And if indeed you do "just want to play football,"
Just be a man and say I don't want to live in a dorm and go to training camp!
Don't retire one week
and then show up 3 weeks later
oh, I changed my mind!

And please,
don't keep crying during new conferences,
and saying your daughter wants you to win one more Super Bowl
and for heavens sakes...
You know the whole sports world is watching
Be on time
and wear a clean shirt,
and hat, too.
You freaking hillbilly!

So my love of affair is over,
I'd burn all our #4 stuff,
but that would be half of the Packers shrine
in our basement.

So we move on...
Game 1 of the pre-season
WIN
Game 2 -
Winning at this very moment!

And...
Boy is it going to be fun to see the boys,
especially AJ Hawk
Beat up on the old man!

Lagoon, a blog anniversary!

My first ever blog post was about Lagoon, so it's kinda an anniversary. We finally go to Lagoon on Thursday, it's getting harder to get the cousins together the older they get. The VanT's were off to St. George so we went with the Rigby boys, and Stetson's friend Logan. We had a great time, even when sweating. The kids got along great and rode from 11am to 9:30pm, boy was I ready to go home. I didn't get many pictures, I think Jana got more, but this one is when we bribed them to go home with Dippin' Dots.

What a way to end the summer...

We packed as much as we could into 4 days!
And boy did we have a great time!
The run down:
Ruins at Mesa Verde
(must see!)
Stop at the 4 corners
(something my kids have always wanted to do)
Swimming in between every stop
Feeding Sam in between those
Hummer Ride
(funnest thing ever!)
Hole In the Rock
(one of the weirdest things ever)
Delicate Arch at Sunset
(BEAUTIFUL)
Rafting down the Colorado

We are truly blessed to live so close to so many National Parks, I can't believe that it's only been in the past view years that I have visited any of them. I'm glad I am able to take my kids out and show them God's beauty and that there are places with out tv and gameboys.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Celebrating Stockton's Birthday

We spent Saturday celebrating my nephew Stockton's b-day, the kids had a great time bowling together. And the "little boys" and my kids even made a trip to Target fun. Stockton is a great kid, he is so funny! He and Sam are known to tape themselves together or hide in each others cars in hopes of longer play time!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Zoo...

Today's "daddy's day off adventure," was to the zoo. We used to go every year for Sam's birthday but it's probably been 4 years since we last went. It was really hot, but it was fun to see all the baby animals.

And Another One's Gone...

Well almost. Tonight we were lucky enough to see Jacob set apart as a missionary. He told us he was scared to death, this from a kid who went sky diving yesterday! He did look pretty scared. But I know he will do great, he has had his call for months and has been preparing. So I have to say we didn't have the same bawling fest we did with Jordan, because I guess he wasn't the first, and mostly because he kept making me laugh! That is what I will miss the most, he and Jordan, always lighten the mood anywhere they go! We joked about writing one letter and sending it to both boys, or just rewriting our blog posts, with the names changed. But really the people of the Czech Republic are lucky to have Elder Rigby, and we will miss him, but are SOOO proud of him! Love ya Jake!

Lawn Mowing 101...

Elisabeth has been wanting to mow the lawn all summer, and today I finally let her help. She thought it was so fun! Sam also thought it was fun to let her do all she wanted! The first summer we let Sam mow he loved it too, and wanted to mow 2 and 3 times a week, so I won't count on her enthusiasm lasting. But she did look cute man handling that big lawn mower!

And tomorrow is my nephew Zac's big 14th birthday!
What a great kid, he has such a great laugh and smile, love ya Zac!

Jake and his dog bird hunting earlier this week!

Happy 20th Birthday to my nephews Jake and Jordan! I am so proud of these two and love them to pieces! They are the life of every family get together, and it will be quiet without them around for 18 months!

First "hunt"...

Sam had a ball Tuesday night on his first outing for peasants. Except for our missionary Jordan, all the boy cousins were there, plus Grandpa and Uncle Chad. Sam was able to shot clay pigeons, and the older boys got to shoot birds too. Then they all headed to McDonald's, for what I heard was some pretty boy like conversation. He was practically sleep walking when he came through the door at 11pm, but boy did he have some memories with him.

Long, but Good Day...

Our Sunday started early today, we were dressed and ready for church by 7:00am (I even had Elisabeth's hair done.) and then we hit the road. Two of my "Tremonton Cousins" blessed their babies today at their parents church. The babies are both DARLING! And it was so nice to see family I don't see nearly enough. Elisabeth loved holding the babies and playing with my cousins little girl. They were trying to figure out a sleepover, only problem one lives in Murray and the other in Nephi! Unfortunately I didn't get the camera out to take some pictures of all the cute little kids, my Aunt and Uncle will have 7 grandkids under 5 years old by fall.

We came home for a quick minute, to change and cut up watermelon, before heading the other direction to my brother's house in Bluffdale. We had a fish fry for my nephews birthday. The kids got to swim, ride horses and most importantly just be with their cousins! They love it there. I did get a couple pictures of them with the horse, and Elisabeth with the "lucky" horseshoe she HAD to bring home.

So all in all, we are ready to hit the sack, but what a good day it's been.