Wed Sept 30th

Went for a run and got to chat with my good old friend Stephanie. It felt just like old times. 

I'm fighting the gloomies today. It took me a while to pinpoint why but I've decided it's from this cloudy yucky weather. I always forget how much the lack of sun affects me, but it does and it makes me depressed. I hope the sun comes out tomorrow. I don't like feeling like this. I feel worthless and like a terrible mom and like my life is going nowhere. It's amazing what a bunch of clouds can do to me. 

To try and disapprove my own belief that I'm a terrible mom, I made a witch decoration with Lisey while Lincoln took his nap. Then after he got up we went to the farm and rode the ponies and the carriage. Crafting with Lisey and getting out, helped lift my spirits and it made me feel like at a little bit of a better mom. 

This is Blondie, the house Lisey likes the mouse bc she had blonde hair just like her. Lisey rode her 3 different times and a short fat pony once. 

Link only wanted to ride once but he really enjoyed that one time. 

Riding in the carriage :)

Lisey the giant!

Lisey loves doing crafts! Especially Halloween crafts. She went on and on about the witch and the making the different pieces of her. I definitely need to do more crafts with her. She loves them and its something fun we can do together. While we were making our witch, she told me that she likes to sleep in my bed because she loves me. She talked about Giga being my mom and Papa being my dad. She said how much she misses Cam and Anne. It was so fun hearing her talk so much in her cute tiny voice. 

After school and homework we went to Deseret Book to look at scriptures, cases and CTR rings. I can't believe Ella is almost 8 years old! She's really excited to be baptized :)

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Tues Sept 29th

Let's see...what happened today? Well we started the morning with Ella telling me "you're running my life" because I told her she couldn't play on the iPad. When did she turn into a teenager? I laughed and told her that I could really ruin her life if she wanted me to. Probably not the best response. Looks like with Ella I'll be getting a lot of practice on how to respond to those kinds of statements. 

The rest of the day went ok though. I went for a run with Lisey and Lincoln on the trail. It was beautiful out! I listened to more of the "Richest Man in Babylon". It's a super great book about how to live within your means and become rich. Listening to it makes me super motivated to save money and make changes it live within our income. We can become rich. We just need to change first!

After school we went down to Provo. Adam and nick took the kids to build a bear and Adam got Lisey and Ella a stuffed animal for Lisey's birthday. I went to Sian's house to help clean. Tomorrow is the official move out date. I bet they're feeling sad about leaving. They lived in that house for 3 years. I guess my statement I made earlier still stands. Life is hard. Hopefully we can all make the best of things in the house together. 

Mon Sept 28th

We got Ella off to school without a fuss and then Nick came with me for a walk along the Jordan river trail. It was so fun getting to excercise with Nick. I hope he had a good enough time that he'll want to do it more often. 

Ammon came over for FHE. We had tacos and a lesson on what to do if you see pornagraphy. We watched the video about it on lds.org and I think it really sunk in. Hopefully we'll be able to keep our kids safe from pornagraphy but if they see it at least they'll know what to do. 

Sun Sept 27th

It's been a good Sunday. There was minimal fighting and grouchyness which always makes for the best Sundays (what am I saying... it makes for the best any day!) 

The last meeting was combined and it was about protecting our household, especially our children, from pornagraphy. We need to put protection on our computers and devices. We need to keep the line of communication open so our kids know that they can come talk to us about anything. Kids are being exposed to pornagraphy younger and younger. It's on the internet. It's on commercials. It's on the iPad ads. We have to protect our kids from its evil tentacles. I think what we need to do is delete the apps that have ads that pop up. Who knows what's on those ads. It's worth it to have a few bought games that we know are good, then tons of ok games that we don't know what might pop up on them. Our kids are worth our best efforts. We need to fight to protect them. We can't passively stand by. We have to take an active stand against pornagraphy. 

Link took and nap when we got home from church and my dear sweet husband played with the kids while I took a nap. I think I needed it. I didn't even need to read to get tired. I slept about an hour and a half and woke up naturally. What a great present from my true love :). 

We had spaghetti and apple sausage for dinner with Sian and Steve and Will. Then they went down to Provo to get some of their stuff and we went on a bike ride/walk. It was a great Sunday :). 

Fri Sept 25th

Nick is feeling slightly better from his throw up and diarrhea attack the last two days. 

Lisey and I went to Walmart and got Will two light sabers for his birthday. Then Lisey rode the frozen bike (the same one she got for her birthday) around and around the store. 

Then after school we went to Ella's school carnival. For $20 we all got dinner and the kids got to play a bunch of games. It was fun. I'm admit that it really made me miss JCT and Texas though. I miss knowing tons of people and recognizing most of the staff. Starting over in a new place stinks. One of the many negatives of moving. 

Still on a happy note the kids had a great time just being kids and playing festival games and winning silly little prizes. They had a fun photo booth where we just acted silly :). 

I couldn't get a good pic of it but Link was loving the bubbles. He was laughing and swatting at them. Very cute to watch. 

The kids did a sack race as one of the games. Good old fashioned fun!

Sat Sept 26th

Link and I went on the trail this morning for a 6 mile run. It was beautiful out. Link wasn't loving as much as I was. I had to take him out for a few minutes and just hold him bc he was so sad. I think he doesn't feel good again. He took two crazy short naps today and woke up sad from both. Poor little buddy. 

Then we went to the harvest festival and saw these huge pumpkins. 

They were ginormous and gorgeous!  

I loved this one for how crazy orange it is. I can finally understand how orange could be someone's favorite color. This orange is tempting me to change over. 

Huge pear gourds. 

Huge watermelons. These growers are amazing! Such huge produce! 

They had a craft for the kids. Ella made hers into a cat. Lisey made several, her main goal being too use as much glue as possible. Both girls had fun though. 

Then we went to Will's birthday party. It was Zelda themed.  The kids went on a quest to find and defeat a dragon (a dragon piñata). They found treasures along the way to help them on their quest (a compass, a key (a cool iron one), and a wooden flute). 

The McCuens slept at our house last night. They are officially staying in our basement. They're landlord upped their rent and now they can't afford to live in there house. Plus Sian needs someone with her most of the time because she is still fainting a bunch. So service here we come. I know it will be tough sometimes, but I also know that if we can keep a positive attitude about things, we'll be blessed. 

Tues Sept 22nd

Happy birthday dear Lisey, happy birthday to you! Lisey had a great day at preschool where they celebrated her birthday by singing to her while she wore a birthday crown. Then after Ella got home from school we went to the Lehi community pool. Lisey's friend Bonnie came too. We all had a blast!

There were several slides to ride down and a lazy river to float in. Lisey chose an awesome place to celebrate her birthday!

Then we had cafe rio for Lisey's birthday dinner. My little baby girl is 4! I love you Lisey!

Mon Sept 21st

Poor Link was vomiting a ton today. He threw up all over himself and me and the floor and the bathroom rug. Then I cleaned everything up and got he and I changed and then he threw up again. I got us changed again and then he threw up all over both of us again. I got us changed and yes you guessed it he threw up all over is again. I left him in his diaper after that one but he was done throwing up for now. Poor little guy. It's so miserable when babies are sick. 

Ammon came over for FHE. We went to the Jordan river trail to walk and ride bikes. Ammon had two flat ties and brought tubes and new tires to fix them. Being the best sister I am, I helped. Well I meant to help. I changed the outside of the tire, but then put the same tube back in. It took a long time to put it back together. It was very helpful of me! Right... After all that hard work Ammon just had to walk his bike around the trail. 

Nick played with the kids while we fixed the bike. This is a Nick version of hide and go seek. 

Lisey has had a couple of spills on her bike so she wanted dad right by her holding her hand. 

It was a gorgeous walk and a gorgeous sunset.

By the night didn't end there. Ammon threw up violently when we got back to the house. Looks like he caught the same thing Lincoln has. Poor uncle Ammon! 

 

Sun Sept 20th

After church we went for a little family bike ride to the park. 

Lisey loves her new bike! And Ella has found a new love for her old bike. 

Little Link swinging like an old pro! 

Thurs Sept 24th

So far the age of four has been filled with tears. Lisey has been very sad lately and I'm not sure what the cause is. It's just sadness and crying and crying and crying. I feel like a bad mom. I don't know how to fix this problem. She's sad and I don't know how to fix it. Not only do I not know how to fix it but I don't even know what to do. Motherhood is a tough job. I'm convinced one of the purposes of becoming a mother is so that you can appreciate your mother. Until you become one you don't know how hard of a job it is.

Ella told me that it was "evil of me" to keep her from playing the iPad and watching TV until she was done with her homework. Because of her procrastination she hadn't done her spelling in 2 days and so she wasn't able to play the iPad in 2 days. And that was very "evil of me". I told her that her not being able to play the iPad was only a consequence of her choice of not doing her homework. I want for her is to get an education and learn to love heavenly father, having the courage to do what is right. Playing the iPad, instead of doing spelling homework, does not complete any of those goals. I guess it's tough being a kid too. I guess life is just hard. 

Speaking of hard... Poor Nick got the stomach sickness. He was throwing up all last night and had terrible diarrhea. It was horrible just hearing him vomit. Poor Nick! He still felt sick today and stayed in bed for most of the day. 

Luckily kids usually bounce back quick from the hardships of youth. I guess that's one reason Heavenly Father wants us to be like little kids. Experience the sorrow then bounce back to happiness. Sweet kids. 

A delicious bowl of apples from Grandma  Great's house ☺️  

Wed Sept 23rd

We ran out of milk last night so we didn't have any this morning for cereal. Lisey was OK with having cherrios without milk but she told me "You need to go to the store. Jesus goes to the store. That's the rules". Haha. I think Lisey knows Jesus is the ultimate boss. Anything he does is the right thing to do. It's a good theory Lisey. I guess I better get more on the ball on teaching her the more important things Jesus does (besides going potty and going to the store haha ;). 

Then Lisey tells me "I miss giga and Papa and Cam and Anne". And she says "I miss your mom and your dad." Lisey has a way with words and is very smart haha.

After school the kids and I went to visit Grandma Great. Leslie and her 3 kids were there too. Grandma made tacos and we enjoyed a lovely dinner together. Then the kids played out back. 

Ella having a tea party with cousin Olivia. 

The kids had a great time picking fruit. We brought home two big bags of plums, a big bag of apples, three tiny pumpkins and one big one. Oh yeah and some grapes. Grandma Great's house is the best! 

Link's favorite part was eating the fruit! He loves plums and grapes and was a great big wonderful sticky mess. But he had a great time! We love Grandma Great's house!

 

Thurs Sept 17th

New favorite pic of Link! He looks so cute! 

Cute boy!!

I went for a crazy long 8 mile run this morning just Lincoln and I. I found his cool trail that goes along the Jordan River. I didn't mean to go quite so far but I had assumed the path would connect up near to a road near our house, but it didn't. It just went in a loop so I had to go all the way back. So instead of a 5 mile run like I planned, it turned into 8 miles. But it felt good to run so far and for so long. I felt bad though because it was a bit chilly and u think Link got cold. Poor buddy. But he slept a lot of the way so I guess he was OK. 

I was a beautiful trail. I will definitely be going there again. 

Before preschool we went to a little working farm they have at Thanksgiving point for music makers. Both Lisey and Lincoln loved hitting around different instruments. Lisey's friend Bonnie came too. 

After making some music we checked out all the cool animals. Lisey and Lincoln rode a pony--twice. They both loved it!

Lisey loves animals!

Lisey had fun with her friend Bonnie. 

After Ella got home from school we went to the party store to look at Halloween decorations and to get Leisy some birthday decorations and balloons.  

My glamorous little girl.