Ten on Tuesday

1. We got rid of our land line for a home phone. Our carrier prices have been going up and up and Verizon was having a great deal so now if you call our home number, it will go to a cell phone. I am getting very tired of Cox!!

2. In connection with the first thing, Bryant is now the proud owner of a IPhone 4. He loves the games, apps and everything that comes with it. But with up grading to a smartphone, we had to get a new plan for our cell phones. We had our last plan for over 10 years and the guys at Verizon had a hard time figuring out how to upgrade.

3. On Saturday, we had Elena and Meghan sleepover and the girls loved having them here. They thought it was so cool to take a friend to church too!

4. We celebrate Labor Day on Sunday with the Rapiers and Wolfleys. Had lots of fun food, interesting and a variety of conversations and the kids played hard! Bryant was missed since he had to work and so was Tanna - she just could not make it from Logan!

5. Labor Day - was a day of labor - I did 8 loads of wash, went through Madi and Maya's drawer and played games with the kids! I love being home with them!

6. Getting older - my kids are getting older and have learned some things at school that I never learned. And when I mean school, I mean the playground. Bryant and I had interesting conversation with Max and Madi on Sunday and I am sure it is just the beginning of things to come. I am not quite sure if I am ready for it!

7. Fasting - I love the fasting and the ways that I feel when I have fasted and prayed and the reassurance that comes with it. The timing might not always be what I want, but I am grateful for the guidance that I have in my life

8. Grandma Great - my grandma turned 92 on Saturday and I spent the day thinking about her. What an amazing woman she is and how she is an wonderful example to me of service and the many things that she has taught my mom!

9. Bryant - things are always better when he is around. It was 12 years ago this past weekend that Bryant graduated from the Police Academy and I am so grateful to have been able to spend all of that time with him! Our kids love having him home and wrestling, playing games and just being together!!

10. College football - I love the fall for many reasons but one is College Football. Max has gotten into football and so I am excited to have someone watch it with me this year!! It makes me think of cooler weather, leaves changing and loosing your voice yelling for your favorite team!!

Ten on Tuesday

1. A few weeks ago, Owen started doing a couch to 5k in nine weeks - well Bryant joined in and has run ever week! I am so proud of him. I get to run with him 2 of the 3 times a week and running with him is making me run faster. He may not have run for 11 or so years but he can still run at a faster pace which is helping me run faster! I can't thank Kris enough for posting Owen's running on her blog!

2. Sorry that it is sideways - but Madi ran for VP of student council last week and here is her poster. She had to give a speech in front of the 4, 5 and 6th graders and did a great job. There were 7 kids running for the same spot and sadly she didn't win but she was chosen by her teacher to be the class representative! Way to go Madi and do something that was a little scary!

3. On Saturday I left my home at 8:55 and when I can back at 10:05 no one was home but there was a note on the mirror saying - "Went to U C, Max had to get S". So, I called Bryant on his cell and found out that Max had gotten 6 stitches in his arm.

4. How did Max get 6 stitches in his arm? Well they were wrestling on the floor, Bryant throw a pillow and it happen it hit the bottom of the chain on the ceiling fan which flipped up and hit the glass that surrounds the lights and a very small piece just happen to come off. They wrestled for a few more minutes until Max realized that he was bleeding. So grateful that urgent care was close by and not busy at all!

5. Maya wanted her hair in braids too - just like Madi a few weeks ago!

6. Unfortunately with shorter hair it did not work out quite as well as Madi's did.

7. The heat is still here - The extreme heat advisory will have been in affect for almost 2 weeks by the time it is supposed to be done. I can't wait!

8. We are looking for a new car and would love some advice. Our Minivan (Honda - which I love) is slowing dying and with 3 kids I don't think I want another minivan. I am looking for a car that has a possible 3rd row in case we need to take more than just our family some where. We have a Yukon that we use when we go camping - but at 12 mpg, it is not the best thing for me to drive around - so any suggestions?

9. My nephew Brock is serving his missin in AZ, we hope to see him once or twice - he is serving right now in the reservation and loving it! Way to go!

10. Piano - my kids have been taking again since June and I love hearing them play! They have the best teacher and they love her and she loves them!! Thanks a million Shannon!

Ten on Tuesday - kinda of boring and no photos!

1. On Sunday, they annouced that it was President Monson's birthday and he would like everyone to do something nice for someone else. Madi and Max wrote him a letter telling them happy birthday and what nice things that they did. We are mailing them off tomorrow! I am proud of my kids for doing that.

2. Also on Sunday, we were watching a show on TV and someone on the show took the name of the Lord in vain. Maya said, why do they always have to say that. Can we change the show? I was super proud of her for recognzing that what they were saying was and also to have the courage to tell us to change the channel. Thanks so much Maya for standing up for what is right.

3. Madi is running for VP of Student Council. She decided to do it, even though 5 of her friends are running for the same spot. This has been a great lesson for her so far. The elections are Friday - so you will have to wait until next tuesday to see if she won!

4. IT IS TOOOOOOO HOT HERE!!!!!

5. This week at school, the kids have not been able to go outside for recess due to the heat! WHY DO WE START SCHOOL IN AUGUST?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? It has to be cheaper to start in September and go thru part of June!

6. Can you tell that I am getting a little tired of the heat. August and September are always the worst months for me when it comes to the heat. In my mind, going back to school means fall and the cooler weather!

7. Bryant is looking for a different position at work that would let him spend more time with our family! He and I are praying for something to come up and soon!

8. no pictures this week. It was a slow week - sorry - hopefully we will take some this week.

9. We now have a new tradition on Friday nights. We have a dance party. I put on pandora and we pick a radio station and the kids and I rock out! It is one of the times during the week that I feel like a fun mom!

10. Love reading emails and blogs from Brock and Tanna - can't believe that they are on missions and at college! I remember when they were born or became part of our family! They have set such a great example to my kids! Thanks Brock and Tanna! You guys are the best and my kids miss you!

10 on Tuesday - Back to School, Raingutter Ragatta and more

1. Last night - Max had the Raingutter Ragatta and he won for the wolves! His prize - a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts! He and Bryant worked on the boat and had a great time!

2. Pictures are a little out of order - Monday night - Madi asked if Iwould put her hair in tiny braids so that she could have kinky hair - this is the result - the other pictures show the before!

Front - After

Side shot- before 11 braids

Another before shot -

3. This is what happens when you leave your digital camera out and the kids move all of the bean bags to the bottom of the stairs. You find over 50 pictures of them jumping off of the stairs! Love Maya's karate action in this one!

4. First day of School - Madi is in 5th grade with Mr Cook - she was very excited to go back to school to see her friends and also to wear the jeans with the sparkles on the pants and pocket!

5. Max is in 3rd grade with Mrs. Hoffman as his teacher. He said that he was not excited to go BUT he was the first one awake and dressed and ready to go at 6:15 am. Our bus does not get to our home until 7:50......

6. Maya is in 1st grade - can't believe it. She has Mrs. Jacks for her teacher and could have not been more excited to go back to school!

7. Here they are - all ready to rule the school! So grateful for the summer of fun that we have and can't wait to see how much they learn and grow this year!

8. Bryant - this is the most exciting post for me - Bryant has started running. When I read last week about Owen doing a couch to 5k in nine weeks - I challenged Bryant to do it and he is!!!! Last week he ran 3 times and all without me mentioning it to him! The best one was Saturday night - he got home at 1am and knew that he had to run so he went and did it! Can't wait to go running with him today!

9. With the kids back in school, I am back at work 3 days a week. I am working Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 to 2:30. I really do love my job and the people who I work with! I am really grateful that last summer, I was offered this job. It has been a blessing in our lives!

10. Piano - the kids started taking piano lessons again back in June and I was alittle worried about how and if they would practice. They LOVE it and they love their teacher. She lives 2 houses away so no driving back and forth (this is my favorite part), it is with a lady in the ward that loves them and they love her and they are practicing! I can't believe how much progress each one has made in 2 1/2 months!

10 On Tuesday - What we did all summer long!

Just like every other summer - we go swimming every day. Here are some of the fun pictures from swim team and just messing around!

Maya learned how to dive off of the diving board!

Max learned how to do a jack knife and get a big splash!

He was also the only brave one in the family to dive off of the high dive!

My three tan and happy kids - the last day of swimming - it ended far to quickly this year!

Max and Matt at swim team! - always swimming together!

Maya at swim team and loved wearing her swim cap - she started off the year in the 6 and unders - which is where she is supposed to be but ended up swimming with the 7 & 8 yr olds to get a better workout!

Maya - just after she finished her first meet! So much better this year and even a smile on her face!

Max after he had just swum his hardest in his first swim meet!

Madi - looking lovely for the camera - she did great too!
We love spending lots of time at the pool each summer and can't wait for next year!!!

Five Fotos for Friday

In Pocatello, they were having a appreciation day at the airport - we stopped by and the kids got to do lots of fun things! Here is Maya being trained by an Army guy (love my technical name) on how to shot a gun - they were hooked up to a laser and the target would bing everytime it got it! Love how her leg is bent!

Madi - be taught too! She hit the target everytime she shot!

Max is getting tips on where to point the gun and how to use the sights!

Another picture from the St. George Temple - love how Max is "hugging" his sisters!

The first night in the hotel. In order to fit 3 kids on a Queen bed - we had them sleep sideways! It was the beginning of tons and tons of fun for 2 weeks!

10 reasons why I am a slacker!!

I have not been very good about updating my blog this summer and here are the top 10 reasons why I haven't been:

10, Went fishing on the way back from Idaho - all 3 kids caught fish and Max's weighed the most at almost 2.5 lbs!

9. Spent too much time at the Idaho Falls July 4th Parade - my kids loved cheering for the floats and people as they went by. Our matching Old Navy shirts also took time away from the blog.

8. Made some swords out of PVC pipes and foam water noodles and had to fight off evil uncles and cousins and had a ton of fun doing so!!!

7. Madi and Maya were wrapped up in very colorful toolle and it took way to long to untangle them! The wind carried the toole all around and it made them look like fairy princesses.

6. After days of watching and waiting - the rouge bunny finally let Maya, Max and Madi put it. They put in a lot of time sitting close by with out touching it!

5. Eating and eating as a family. - enough said

4. Stopping for hamburgers at the same place that Man VS Food did - this time - Food won!

3. Shooting soda cans, clay pigeons and lots of water bottles to make sure that the area stayed green from the water spray!

2. Visiting the St. George Temple - one that we had not stopped off to see! So white and beautiful with the most peaceful feeling!

And the number one reason why I am a slacker about blogging - Vegas Baby - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!! More summer fun pictures on Five on Friday