TAG

o.k. here is is my 4th picture in my 4th folder

KARA.....this was the first day of my summer vacation. I wanted to spend the whole day with the kids. We actually had a fun day at the park playing and we went and got a slush!!

Since this is a picture of Kara and I am way behind on my post (I know I know sorry Amy) I think I will tell ya about Kara's birthday.

It was October 27th. We went the Saturday before to Logan to Firehouse pizza to eat then we went to the pumpkin walk. It was a lot of fun she really loved it. All my family was there, but Dizzle and Tate of course!

This was her favorite one because it has elephants in it. I don't know what is up with elephants lately, but she loves them she got 4 of them for her birthday and she is an elephant for Halloween.

And on her birthday we just stayed home with her. We got her this little red car and she loved it, she sat in it practically all night. Then Gary's fam came over. She is such a fun little girl, she has such a fun personality. She is already talking and she says the funniest things. I love it. I can't believe my baby is 2! We love you Kara!!

Halloween

I love Halloween!!! We had so much fun this year! We carved pumpkins, painted pumpkins, and loved the trick-or-treating!! I need to learn to do a slide show because we had so much fun pictures, but here are a few!!

Ryleigh Jo was "Miss Riverside" she loves dressing up and looking beautiful. Shandee was a "Rock Star" she came up with it all on her own. she had a guitar, but it got heavy. Kara was an Elephant! I had bought her a princess dress, but she said "No I'm Hate it" so we looked all over for an elephant costume, we found one ,but it cost a lot so we printed a picture and she took it over to grandma Vickie and said make it, so she found one on e-bay for $3.99, YEA!!! she loved it, she would say, "Trick-or-Treat, I'm a elephant"
Ryleigh Jo had a few fun things at her school, They had a costume parade during school and then they got to paint pumpkins for the pumpkin walk they do every year. Her class did rock stars, it was cute!

My Sister

Eight years ago today my sister passed away. I can't believe it has been so long ago. It seems like just yesterday! I think about my sister everyday. Today is a day that I seem so remember her the most.

I bought some flowers, so Sunday I went with all my girls to the cemetery to put them on her grave. It is interesting how none of my girls have met Brandee, but they seem to know her. We talk about her a lot and I hope they will know her when they see her again. They always like to hear stories about her.

One of the hardest parts about loosing my sister is thinking about the what could have beens. How we could have done things together with our kids, how she could have been an amazing aunt, and so on and so on. I really believe that she is still really a big part of our lives, I know she would not want to miss out on all the things going on in my life. I have felt her many times. The day Ryleigh Jo was born, I was in labor for over 24 hours and I know that Brandee was having one last little party with her niece before sending her to me! I feel her when we are all together as a family laughing and talking, I know she is there with us. When my brothers have gone to temple I know she is there. I really miss her and wish she was still her to do all the fun sister stuff with me, but if she has to be gone I am glad I can still feel her with us. I know she has been there to protect me many times too.

This is a picture of us in the hospital with my sister when she was fighting her cancer. She was in the hospital for exactly one month. I tried to go visit her every day and I would bring my little brothers with me when I could.
This is a really scary picture of us rocking out before a concert that she dragged me to. I loved going places with her and she always had fun things for us to do. I think we went to a Def Leopard concert!! She also took me to the Phantom of the Opera.

I really miss my sister, but today was just a really hard day! I know it is hard for my whole family. It is something that is just so hard and you never want to have to deal with loosing someone.

Shandee's Birthday

My little middle is 5!!!! Shandee is such a fun little girl! She talks so cute and we just love having her in our family. She has her grandpa Cleve wrapped around her finger. She just loves doing everything with him and she always has. Happy Birthday Shandee V. we love you!!!

Shandee had her birthday on Wednesday. Since our families are so busy and Gary works nights we decided to have her family parties on the next two Sundays. So I was worried that Shandee would feel disappointed and not have a good birthday. I asked Gary's sister if we could have Shandee's cousin sleep over on Tuesday. Whenever Shandee is talking about her she says, "My best friend", so Audrey slept over and we had tons of fun making cakes and getting ready for her birthday.When I got home from work we were waiting for Ryleigh Jo to come home from school so we could open presents and have cake and ice cream before Gary had to go to work, Shandee asked if she could go outside and I said sure you can it's your birthday you can do anything you want on your birthday. When I went to call her in I could not find her I was looking for her when my mom called and asked if I had lost Shandee, my mom asked her if her mom knew where she was she said, "It's o.k. it's my birthday I can do anything I want on my birthday and I wanted to come to grandma's house!"
Then for a present from grandma and grandpa they go the mall to get a build a bear. It was really cute and Shandee got a horse that she named Ariel. As soon as she was done she said lets hurry home to show grandpa.
Shandee had a great day for her birthday. It turned out to be a really fun day and she was just wore right out!!

TAGGED

Why 4?? This was really hard for me to think of 4 on each thing, sorry I'm lame in my answers.

I also just wanted to thank everyone for their comments on my last post, it really helped me. Sometimes when I'm blogging I feel like I'm just bragging and it is dumb, but I was really glad that I was able to post my feelings and get such a great response back from others, this is why I love blogging. Thanks everyone for being such great friends!!!
O.k. here goes............

4 RANDOM THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
1.His cute little butt
2.That he works nights so he can be with the girls while I'm at work
3.That he makes me feel like I am the most beautiful woman in the world (I know I know he just wants to get laid)
4.That he relates ever thing anyone is talking about to a movie (I had to grow to love this about him)
4 MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER & OVER
I could watch almost any movie over and over because I don't remember them, this drives Gary crazy ha ha
1.Dances with wolves
2.The hot chick
3.The man in the iron mask
4. The little mermaid(and I DO!!)
4 T.V. SHOWS I WATCH
1.Judge Judy
2.Ellen
3.Friends(even though I have seen every one and know what will happen)
4. reality shows!!!
4 PLACES I'VE BEEN
1.Jamaica
2.Mexico
3.Navoo
4.Florida
4 PEOPLE WHO EMAIL ME REGULARLY
1.My Mommy
2.My sister (Kresta)
3.Comic shop (aaaahhh Husband)
4.My brother on his mission
4 OF MY FAVORITE FOODS
1.Cheetos
2.fruit
3.chocolate
4.fiber one bars
4 PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
1.Hawaii
2.heaven(to see my sister, just for a visit though)
3.France
4. Rhode Island???
4 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE UPCOMING YEAR
1.Ryleigh Jo getting baptized
2.Christmas
3.??
4.??
4 PEOPLE I HAVE TAGGED
1.Sheila
2.Cindy
3.Sara
4. Does anyone else read my blog???

Expressing my feelings

O.k. so a few things have happened with my oldest daughter lately that have been bothering me and I am wondering if I am teaching my daughter all that I need so she is acting the way I hope that she will.
I teach primary and I was sitting in front of Ryleigh Jo's class and I heard a little girl say to her that she should not be wearing that dress, that it was really in modest and her mom thinks it is bad to wear something like that. The dress Ryleigh Jo had on was just fine, it was a cap sleeve, anyway, after that Ryleigh Jo came and sat by me and was really upset. It makes me sad to think that people are judging that way at such a young age. I try to teach Ryleigh to be nice and to mind her own business. I know that they are just kids, but it made me realize how much kids act like their parents, they are just saying what they hear in the home. because this little girls parents are always making comments and judging people and it really bothers me.
Then today I was watching her at dance practice and some other girls from the other class got finished early so they were watching them finish dancing. I was enjoying myself watching how silly she is and how much fun she was having, then these two girls started talking about her. They were saying that she should not be a dancer and she doesn't know what she was doing(This is her first year) it really made me sad, then they just kept going on and on about how she acts weird and she's a pet (i guess that meant teacher's pet) and just some really mean things and I just sat and listened as the tears trickled down my cheeks. I know they are just kids but it just makes me so sad. I know it is only going to get worse as my kids get older, and grow up. I don't know if my heart can handle three girls growing up. Anyway my biggest thing is that I just hope that I can teach my girls how to act nice to everyone, because I don't want anyone to hurt over things my kids may have said about them. And I know it happens and I am still working on it because kids are just so honest and they don't know how hurtful words can be. Why is parenting so difficult?

Dancing

Ryleigh Jo and Shandee started dancing class today. I had been debating if I really wanted to let them do it. But after Shandee did cheer camp and just loved it I decided to give it a go.
Shandee goes at 3:00 for an hour and Ryleigh Jo goes at 5:00. So I have to hurry home from work to get Shandee back in town on time and then go and get Ryleigh Jo. It is a little hectic, but that's o.k. I guess that is what my Tuesday's will be from now on. Running back and forth.
Shandee was really excited she said she had a lot of fun and can't wait to go back next week. Ryleigh Jo said it was really hot and she just don't know if she can do the splits. I think it will be fun for them, I'm excited. Now we just have to get them cute little outfits to dance in and I also need to find ballet and tap shoes. I told Ryleigh Jo she should use her money to buy the ballet shoes and she said she would use $2.00 of the dollars and I could buy the rest. If only they only cost that much, oh well they will have fun times!!!!

Back to School

Good bye Summer!!

I have dreaded this all summer!! Yes it is time to go back to school and back to work!!! I had a wonderful summer staying home with my kids!

We had a lot of fun, but it is time to get back to working life. Ryleigh Jo was excited to start 2nd grade!! She has two teachers this year. Mrs. Reeder and Mrs. Kirby. She had a really good first week. She had Mrs. Reeder last year for 1st grade, but I asked her how she liked her other teacher and she said, "she doesn't yell at all like I thought she would!"

Shandee is sad to have her big sis gone all day, she runs out when the bus comes home and says my favorite sister is home. She says Kara is mean to her and she really is!!

We had a few last minute fun things before school started. My friend Amy and I took our kids to Salk Lake to the Children's museum and to the gateway to play in the fountains. They had a ton of fun running around the museum it was really cool!

Ryleigh Jo loved the grocery store. Shandee loved feeding the horse and the ball thing where you shoved balls into pipes.

Kara loved it all, they had this little cute tree house!

We took the front runner from Ogden to Salt Lake, it was kind of a lot of money, but it was really fun for the kids. They definitely want to do it again! Thanks Amy, Chaz, and Jace!
Then my family went to Bear Lake! It was a ton of fun. The girls loved it. We have never taken them before, so it was great! Gary loved building castles and Kara was a great helper!! And since my sister Kresta stalks my blog and LOVES to be on it here are few pictures of her,(oh shoot I don't have any of her, I'll have to get them from my mom) and by the way I kick butt at 500!!!!
This is my "happy" sexy brother and you can see part of Kresta, man I need better pictures!!Notice the attention to detail!!Ryleigh Jo and Amanda (Sorry Ashlee, yet again no good pictures!!!)

Last, but not least the old Box Elder county fair!! We went to the parade, LAME!!!! Then we took the kids to ride rides for $1.00 we have never went on wed. night before, but Gary had the day off, so we braved the crowds. It was really not that bad! My brother Dylan and niece Ashlee's pig made it this year, so we watched them show their pigs. They both got blue ribbons. We didn't really go back that much until Saturday night we went and ate and then picked up the girls pictures. Every year Gary makes sure they enter a picture. Shandee got a purple and Ryleigh Jo got a blue.(Dang, my pictures of the kids at the fair are on my mom's camera too)

Oh yea we went to the rodeo Thursday night. It was family night my parents took us it was really fun for the girls, I'm not really in to that sort of thing,but the girls love it!

Cute cowgirls and cowboy(Just tilt the head)sorry I'm stupid!!!

Sorry this post is so long, but I guess that is what happens when you don't write forever and a lot of things happen. I will try harder to be a better blogger!! And I have tons of more cute pictures I'll have to learn how to do a slide show!! Thanks for reading!

catching up

Well I guess I need to post to tell everyone what we have been up to. I honestly thought people didn't read my blog, but I have had a few people tell me I need to update. I am really not that great at this, but here goes. We have been having a great summer!!! I'm way sad it is almost over!! We have been swimming a few times, we had a family Reunion there are a few pictures. It was a Hawaii themed party. It was a lot of fun. We also went to dinosaur park, but it was way too hot, but it was fun to be with cousins.Ryleigh Jo and Shandee got to do hi-stepper camp. Shandee just loved it. She came home and kept doing her dance over and over, she also tried to teach Kara. Ryleigh Jo just did it she said it was o.k. Then they got to be in the kid's parade for wheat and beat days.

We also did a little family vacation. We went to park city for a couple of days. We just got a hotel room and swam and shopped a little. The girls had fun swimming. It rained one day and we swam in the rain, it was fun. On the way home we stopped at the Layton Hill's mall and they had this play area and there was a channel 5 desk, they loved it. It had a camera on them so they could see themselves on t.v., it was silly!!
Well we have a few fun things planned this week, Brigham pool, Bear lake, a sleep over at grandma and grandpa Atkin's house and of course the FAIR next week.

P.S. Here is a cute pic. of Kara cleaning!!! Yes I will lend her to anyone, she also does windows!! She actually makes more of a mess than help, but she is dang cute!!!

SUMMER!!!!!!

Yea summer is here!! I know now it is 1/3 over, but I am finally blogging about it! We have a had a great summer so far. We really have not been doing much and that is the best part!! We stay home and have fun together as a family. Here are a few of the things that we have done!

Shandee got her tonsils out. Everything went great. I was really nervous, she was my first child to have a major surgery. She talks different now, which is funny. She did really good!

We have had a few swim days outside. We put our slide to go into the pool and Kara loves it. She will go out in her clothes and try it out if I am not watching her too close. We got a new slip and slide. We are having fun. I'm not sure if we will do swim lessons this year, but we might. We have not gone to Brigham pool yet, but hope to soon. When we are not outside playing we are inside having fun too. The girls like to help me cook. One day we made Cinnamon rolls, Kara loved the frosting.


We went camping with Gary's family to Lava. I'm not much of a camper, but the girls had fun. They had a camper for us to stay in so it was not so bad. We went 4-wheeling and it was really fun,(I don't have pictures of that yet) Kara and Shandee both fell asleep on the 4-wheelers. It was a long ride like 2 hours and it was kinda scary with Gary driving. We also went swimming in lava and they dipped in the river a little bit. Kara loved it. I think that is all of the camping we will do this summer!!

One day I took the girls to the Tree house in Ogden. It was a lot of fun the girls loved it!! They have such fun things to do. Kara loved dressing up and playing with the babies. Shandee loved the play house with a fridge and table and food. Ryleigh Jo just loved running around playing with everything. I might go again and ask my friend in the ward to go with me. It was a lot of fun.

We had a good 4th of July, but I think I will end this post and do the 4th later, this is just too much!!! And sorry I do not know how I rotated those picture, just tilt your head, they are cute!!! Hope everyone is having a great summer!! I know I am!!!!