Our trip away...

On October 23rd-26th Nils and I went on a trip out to Branson, MO. Nils had a Reinke convention for his work (the company they do pivots with) and when he had told Bart him and Brandon were getting things ready to go Bart told him to take me and make a little vacation out of it the best we could. So, Nils decided to take me along. It was all new territory to us and we figured it'd be some good time away. We went with Brandon and his girlfriend Hidee.
This was my first flying experience since about 12 years ago when I flew with the school to Mexico! I was way beyond nervous, but at the same time excited.
I went through the excitment of being away and having time alone and then it was mixed with me freaking out and not wanting to leave the kids! I have actually never left my kids for more then two nights....we usually go stay somewhere for two nights on our anniversary & that's the only times we've left the kiddos. They were going to be staying with my mom. She'd was bringing them to our place to sleep at night then to her place during the day.
We had to leave that Sunday morning about 5AM. I am not a morning person, so this was hard! I REALLY wanted to kiss the kids bye again but knew if I went into their rooms they'd be awake and it'd be hard for them and they wouldn't go back to sleep. So off we went. As I pulled out of the driveway that morning I felt so many emotions. I knew they'd be fine, but every worry possible started in my head. :)
We finally made it to the SLC airport. I got the random search in security and didn't really dig that. Man, it seems you have to get naked just to get through security! LOL Finally we were off and flew into Denver. We had about a 15 min wait there then we boarded up again and flew off to Branson.
When we landed in Branson, MO. I looked out and wondered "Where the heck are we!" It was a little airport and did not look or feel like an airport at all. They had us get off the plane and walk down an outside little tarp covered area and into the building. It was strange but neat to experience!
While in Branson the boys did their meetings during the day so Hidee and I went and drove into Branson and found some shops to hit and things to check out. It was a neat town. Not big like I imagined, but by all means not little. My favorite was driving down the town at night time seeing all the lights and things. There was one night after we all ate dinner together that Brandon & Hidee went off to do their own things so Nils and I decided to hop in the rental car and drive and look. It was SO fun. Just to look at all the lights, new sights, and talk without screaming kids and not being in a rush to get anywhere!
The hotel that we stayed at where the convention all was held was so nice! It was situated on a lake front. You had the lake view out the right side (some rooms that is all they had) then off to the left were the mountain view/hill. We were lucky enough to be in some of the rooms that had the middle of both views! It was gorgeous! We had a balcony and I enjoyed the weather out sitting there in the quiet! The weather was great, in the 70's, and it made sitting out there wonderful.
Wednesday we had to head home. We got to the Branson airport and ended up having to wait a couple hours. The weather in Denver was yucky and there was ice so all flights in and out of there were delayed. Sitting in that little airport was indeed boring, but as others told me; 'welcome to the world of flying' :) We finally got to Denver in enough time to run to the next gate, grab a quick sandwich and board the plane. We got into SLC and both said to each other we wanted to go back to Branson cuz we were freezing.
We didn't home to out place until a little after midnight so I decided not to wake the kids cuz Ryder had school the next day. When I got him up the next morning though he was excited to see me. He then went right in to his dad and gave him loves. It was great to be home!!
I had a really fun time! I enjoyed seeing new sights and having a break from the kids. At the same time, I missed the kids and was very grateful when I got to come home to them! I even found I then had more patience with them and realized just how much those stinkers pull at my heart strings. :)
I am grateful for the safety we had on our trip and for the opportunity we had to go. I am already hoping we can have a convention next year and go together!
Here are pics I got while on the trip. Enjoy Branson like we did!

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Pumpkin Decorating

So Nils and I just are not that big on Halloween. I like seeing my kids get dressed up and excited, but that is about it. (Yep, party poopers!) Just not a huge fan; not sure why but oh well. Anyhow, the kids had asked if we could carve pumpkins. I was up for that. We usually have done some each year. However,to our suprise,our pumpkins in our garden grew very little! They were small and we knew carving them wouldn't be much of a success. So I told the kids we were just decorate them and then I'd go into town one day and buy bigger ones for us to carve. So they each picked their little pumpkin out of the garden. Me being me, I was late getting to it this year so really we only had a little over a week until Halloween. I happened to run into the store that day and found some cute pumpkin decorating kits. I had to buy them; they had my name all over them! LOL So long story short we did the lazy man's way of decorating pumpkins. :) The kids had a blast doing them though and laughed at how funny they were and how scary they could do it. After they put the faces on, they took markers and wrote their names and added a little more decor to them. We made the activity a family night and the kids really did enjoy it.
So, here is our lazy man's decoration for pumpkins. :)

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Ryder turns 6

FINALLY I know, I know. I just haven't had the time to sit and blog so I am a tad behind on this thing.
Our Ryder celebrated his 6th birthday September 19th! Crazy how the time just flies by us. He actually had two birthdays this year. One we did for the family w/ grandparents and then my sister Val was able to be here. We then did one for him and his friends.
For the family party we just had the grandparents and my sisters here. We had subs, cake and opened presents. Easy and quick. Ryder only wanted Ben 10 stuff, but I told them it was for his friends. So I then suprised him and got a few Transformer decorations and a Transformer cake. He thought that was really neat! He is all over the Transformer and Ben 10 stuff I tell ya what!
For his friend's birthday he chose to do a Ben 10 theme. His favorite! Ryder had a blast with his friends. I was nervous to actually have friends come, but after it was all over I was glad I did it. He had fun and I too had fun getting to meet some of his friends he talks about from school, but who I never really had met before. He had them come to the house and we played a couple games, opened presents and ate cupcakes. What a good group of kids too. They just all played and had a great time. No fighting at all and man those boys were so polite in saying please and thank you and taking turns! I was amazed and it was sure nice.
Ryder ended up with a lot of fun things for his birthday. If I remember them all here is what he got between his family gifts and friend's gifts. He got a nerf gun, Ben 10 board game, legos, walkie talkies, Ben 10 shoot thing, puzzles, pencils, clothes, Tag Reading books, and some candy.

For Ryder as well at school they did a little celebration in his class. All day he was able to wear a birthday hat, and they had his name on the board. I was invited to attend the little party they did so I went up. His class sang to him then he talked a little bit about himself. The class then took turns saying something fun about Ryder or something they liked about Ryder. He then passed out treats to them and they all lined up to give him big hugs. He then got to leave an hour early to come home with his mom. He thought having the day be all about him was pretty neat and I think it was really neat thing his teacher did!

So overall a great 6th birthday for Ryder. He is such a great kid and growing more and more every day. He is loving school and is a huge help to me around the house when he is home. I think I have myself a mommy's boy! :) I don't mind one bit either! Here is to another great year with Ryder watching him grow even more!

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Brooklyn Starts Preschool

Brooklyn had her first day of Preschool yesterday. She is going to Miss Mindy's Learning Adventure in Preston. It is the same one Ryder went to as well. We absolutley LOVE Miss Mindy as she has been a miracle worker with Ryder and she is ever so nice and cute with the kids.

Brooklyn was so stinkin excited as I got her up and told her she needed to get ready to go to school. She jumped right up and was ready in no time waiting for me to do her hair. She has been waiting awhile now after watching Ryder go to Preschool and now Kindergarten and she always would ask when it'd be her turn. Well, her turn was finally here and boy she thought she owned the world! It was really neat actually to see her so stinckin excited and smiling from ear to ear. It almost reminded me of the kids on Christmas morning. LOL Hopefully she'll keep up that big wave of excitement about school for a long time!! (fingers crossed)

I have talked to her teacher that Brooklyn struggles a little. Her speech is under par right now, but Miss Mindy has told me not to stress right now and she'd do some "testing" and some work with her and let me know her thoughts in a few months as to where she is and what not. Hopefully we can get her to move upward and improve. Even trying to do ABC's here she has no desire in the world. Hopefully someone else can get her to work and do it. Brooklyn also doesn't have a very good attention span, which is probably the age, so she will need some work in that department as well so that she can sit and listen to the teacher. I hope this all helps and I'm excited to see her progress through the year. Ryder grew SO much in his time in Preschool so I am anxious to see Brooklyn's outcome.

Suprise too; I didn't cry and didn't feel totally worried like I did when I had first taken Ryder. I did however have a part of me that was taken back that she was actually old enough now for Preschool. She looked so big and acted so big it was a tad bit weird. It was like an overnight change. As many of you know Brooklyn is and has been my hardest kid. She is a complete handful and VERY moody. She constantly seems to be finding anything to get into that she knows she shouldn't just to test my buttons. At the same time though Brooklyn can be so loving and funny. The things that she comes up leave you scratching your head and/or laughing your guts out! I wouldn't trade her for anything but yet those couple hours away for me was a breather and very much needed. It's amazing what just a few hours can do. :)

Here are some pictures of my little Brooklyn. As you can tell in a couple she didn't want pictures taken, she just wanted me to get her up to school. lol So now here is to wishing for good progress from her. Good luck to Brooklyn for growing and learning lots this year! Love her to pieces!

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Ryder starts Kindergarten!

Well, my boy started Kindgergarten. I knew this day would eventually come and it did! He has only had one day there, but will have his second day tomorrow. He is going on Tuesday and Thursdays all day. I really struggled with deciding to let him do all day for two days a week or to go everyday for half day. If I did the every day for half day I'd have to either take him to school everyday or go pick him up everyday. The bus would only bus one way. It then quickly became common sense to just let him do all day for two days a week so I wasn't using that much gas to go drive into town every day. Besides, I felt like he would barely get there and I'd have to go pick him up. I just felt like he needed more class time per day. I of course was very worried because it's such a long day for him, but I figured he'd have to get use to it because for 1st grade he wouldn't have an option and would be there all day every day.
I put him on that big yellow bus at 7:10 that morning. He was so excited and got up with no problems at all! He was dressed quickly and ready to roll with hardly any "hurry up" comments from me. I tried to stay cool and collect for him, but it was really actually tearing me up inside. I sent him on the bus and as that big yellow thing swallowed him up and drove off my heart sank. (Yep, I'm a whimp!)
Now just let me explain myself a little here so you don't think I'm off my rocker or something! I have had my kids home with me 7 days a week and we start every day from 7:30 usually to about 9PM together. There may be a time here and there I have been gone an hour or so for certain things without them, but they are usually right there with me. SO, to just have Ryder gone really was making me worry. A little churn in my stomach. I have never worked because I find it ever so important to raise my own kids and if that means we struggle and have tight budgets so be it. I know some families have to have both parents work, but I have found to "make do" and not work.
Okay, now back to the subject.... I sent him on the bus then loaded myself up and drove to the school to wait for him. I went over and waited where the buses unload and then walked with him to class. I put him in his classroom, gave him a kiss and left. I could feel some tears coming and hurried to bail before he saw. His teacher gave me a smile as if she knew and off I went. I had to stop at the office to pay lunch money and it was one of those moments that if you talk you are going to loose it and the tears are gonna come. So I asked just what I had to, paid, and off I went in like five minutes. Boy let me tell you how hard it was for me to drive away from that school! I cried. Yep, like a little kid I cried. :)
Nils decided his work was rather slow that day so we went up later and had lunch together to help get my mind off things. Which was neat; I love my husband! All day though I found myself looking at the clock to see what time it was; if it was time for him to be home yet. Man time seemed to move slow that day. Each time I looked at the clock I found myself asking "wonder what he's doing right now." Then the worries flooded my mind. I started wondering about all the little nonsense things like, will he find friends at recess, will he know where to go after, will he eat the lunch they have, will he get to missing me, and on and on....
Well, finally about 4:15 hit and Brook and I went to sit outside and wait for him. Then about 4:30 we saw the bus coming down the hill for us. I couldn't help but smile! Brooklyn was jumping up and down yelling "I see him, he's coming" while I just smiled. LOL
When Ryder came in the house he was tired. He was hot and sweaty and pooped right out. He got him a snack and watched some TV while I decided to get dinner started. He then came out and asked if he could go in and take a nap. Nope, no way man. He ate and was to bed early again.
So now that I wrote a book, I'm sorry to all who had to sit and read. I enjoy blogging though because really this is my scrabook/journal in a way. I have my life on this computer and blogging is a way of marking down the eventful days of my life.
Good luck to my Ryder and here is to hoping for the best for him. PLEASE don't let him become a victim of teasing; I just worry and pray every day he doesn't have to deal with that.
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Gavin's Birthday

Wowzers, my baby turned 1 on July 28th! Really, it doesn't seem quite fair that they grow up so stinkin fast. I have really enjoyed him though and am amazed he's already a year.
His birthday actually fell at quite a busy time this year. We had a ton going on. We had the rodeo activities we'd made plans for then I was running hectic trying to finish up things for girls camp. His birthday fell on the Thursday, the first night for the famous preston night rodeo things. So we went to the parade with the kids. After we stopped and got some icecream cones and came home and just hung out together watching a movie. (and of course I sat and held him!) :)
We then had his little birthday bash on Sunday. We just had the grandparents come over for a light dinner then cake and icecream. Gotta love the 1st birthdays when they dig into their very own cake!! That was the best part of the night to watch.
As he was eating his cake he'd start out by taking little tiny pinches of frosting between his fingers, lick it, then wipe the rest down his chest. He then decided that no one was getting after him and it was pretty good so he started going to town on it.
Short and sweet for his birthday and yet fun! That little stinker is growing up on me and makes me laugh everyday. He does the strangest things and/or gives the funniest looks all the time and I can't help but giggle. I love him to death!!! I have really enjoyed every day with him! I love you Gavin, happy birthday buddy!!

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Preston Rodeo Time

So we just had our Famous Preston Night Rodeo weekend. It's a crazy time to go to Preston, but still a fun time. On Thursday night we went to the parade with Kory, Jen and their kids, and being me I forgot my camera. Friday night we went with the Blake's to the rodeo. It was just the adults and the kids stayed home. It was a great night of laughter and fun! Again though, I didn't take any pictures of the rodeo. On Saturday night we went with Brooks and Robin to the parade then to eat, then to the carnival. It was wonderful seeing them finally and letting the kids all goof around together. I did remember my camera for the parade, but left it behind when we went over the carnival. I got a few pictures of their son Jaxson goofing around with Ryder waiting for the parade to start. Brooklyn was in the parade Saturday night and looked pretty. Thanks for all of you who hung out and made it such a fun weekend for us. Gotta love that Famous Preston Night Rodeo!

Here are a couple pictures of Jaxson and Ryder while they waited for the parade to start. The first one Jaxson is being silly w/ Ryder's toy and making himself look a bit mischevious when I asked for a picture. The other one Jaxson looked over at his mom for a picture and did some crazy look that I just had to get a picture of! LOL It ended up blury though because I was in a hurry to snap a good picture of him. Jaxson is hillarious and was just a ball of fun that night and the kids all got along so well!!


Here is the picture I got of Brooklyn riding in the parade again. She was just so cute! She said she had a lot of fun riding in the parade. It took her a bit to find us, but when she spotted us she quickly threw us some candy. :)