Smiling...

It snowed it snowed it snowed!!!!!
I have very limited access to the Internet, BUT I HAD to describe my enthusiasm that I am at my cabin and it snowed!! I'm with my B and my 3 crazy kiddos...You can see the smile on my face right now, right?!?! Because I can't post pictures right now! Also, KOZY 106.5 is playing Christmas music right now! All is well and I am sooo happy! I'll be home to get my Christmas tree up ASAP!!!
That's all until next time!

Halloween...

My kids LOVE Halloween.  They all chose their costumes this year and I think they did a pretty good job!  We carved pumpkins which you can tell is B's favorite thing to do....

I'll be honest, carving pumpkins is right up there with dying easter eggs!  I CAN'T stand to do it, but I will for this just to get the pumpkin seeds!  I LOVE THEM and will do ANYTHING to get them, including carve the pumpkins.

 MY PUMPKIN SEEDS!!!! Sprinkle with nutmeg and allspice and bake for an hour!  OH. MY. GOODNESS!

 Playing silly faces with our cute new neighbors!

 Vampire, Peter Pan and Jessie!

 My little Jessie

 After they had had enough trick or treating, Mara literally sat by the door waiting for kids to come knocking.  Can you tell she is tired?!

She was also a little grumpy....  off to the Holiday season!  Christmas music is playing as I write this!  I CAN'T wait!

Unexpected...

B has been doing a lot of traveling lately.  Some of the trips have been expected and others have been totally last minute.  For example, we were out for date night getting sushi and he sprung on me that he needed to go to Logan for the night and had to leave pretty quickly....So we ate, went home and he left. He had just gotten home from being away in Florida!  I was mad, but then I got these. 

How can I stay mad at that?!

She's 4, pumpkin patch and more...

My baby turned 4.  4!  I know I know everyone says the same old phrase, "it seems like only yesterday..." BUT it truly does seem like only yesterday I brought this baby home from the hospital.  She has brought so much joy, laughter and happiness into our lives. I can't think of not sharing every moment with this little one!  Now if I could only slow the clock down... 

I LOVE you Anna Sophia! You make my heart happy!

We made our way over to the pumpkin patch near our house. I love that we have so many to choose from, but this one is our favorite. The tractors, corn maze and lots of picture opportunities!

 

This is my favorite time of year!  

Us and color...

This fall has been amazing!  The colors have been mind blowing and I am glad that I was able to get family pictures to capture the color! My friend Sydney Davis did them.  Here is her website! http://www.impressionsbysydney.com/.  Here are some of my favorites!

Thanks Syd!

What is perfect...

I'm pretty sure I experienced almost every emotion possible yesterday. Well, maybe not all of them, but pretty darn close. All for reasons that shall remain only with me and my family. Let's just say, yesterday was a day of needed change and possible closure to something that just really needs to go far far away. I hope anyway. We have had a struggle in our family that has always been there since we said "I do"... day one, actually far before that. One that has put my marriage at risk time after time and our family to become a possible statistic.  I also know that if I don't write about it, it may consume me and take me down with it like it almost did yesterday. I'm not going to sugar coat anything. I don't think I can.  So please bear with me while I write what I am truly thinking.

For as long as I can remember, I have been envious of those around me that seem to put on a good show of a 'perfect life'. They surrounded me growing up.... But then one of those families was torn apart by something awful! I watched up close and from afar as my dear friends 'perfect family' came crashing down. Secrets were no longer secrets and an eternal marriage was no longer.  This happened nearly 18 years ago and the affects that this one mistake has had on the future of this family have been huge! All 4 kids have gone far away from what they once believed in.  Family, religion, trust. They are hurting... And I don't blame them. Some may call it a lack of faith... I call it something else. Everyone has choices that they have to make daily. Choices that may affect only them or perhaps everyone one around them. Maybe we don't know who it will affect until it actually does. I will remember this situation always. 

Recently my heart was broken. But not for long. The wrong that has happened in our family will and can be made right. The desire to make it right is there. And for this, I am grateful. There are some very strong influences out in the world today. Bad influences that are out to destroy families and future generations. I want nothing but the best for my family and their future families. Who doesn't?

Now this is where I get a little cheesy...
First and foremost, we must forgive. Then and only then, can we all be healed through something that is much more powerful than the influence that leads us to make the mistakes. Not only can we take away the mistake, but anger that consumes us because of them. The Atonement is real and the most powerful gift that has been given to all of us.  For this, I am truly thankful. Forgiveness in my opinion must come first. And, it has to come from both sides. It makes no sense to hold onto feelings of hurt and anger. It can only destroy us further. "When you forgive, you are in no way changing the past, but you sure do change the future." 

We are currently headed into my favorite time of the year. The holidays. What a beautiful time of year. A chance to remember the birth of our Savior. The chance to heal and remember what is truly important. Family. My family means everything to me. I will do everything I can to make sure we are strong and live in faith even when it seems almost impossible. 
I saw a quote yesterday that I needed to hear and I shall end with the beauty and simplicity of it's words. Stay strong... Have faith that good will always prevail. 

"You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it." Anonymous

Domestic confusion...

I am feeling VERY domestic lately... However, I having a very hard time with justifying my behavior.  I don't know, maybe it's the weather!  I get a TON done when it's cold.  LOVE THIS WEATHER!  It snowed today and the mountains are white.  It makes me happy.

In the last 3 days, I have painted my family room for the 6th time in 4 years, painted my hallway, crocheted a blanket for a friends new baby,  I have made about 8 gallons of peach jam, painted and reupholstered 1 chair and a bench, all this with my husband being out of town. 
So why can't I justfiy this behavior?!
WELL, because, I have not done that pile of laundry, the bathrooms are not cleaned, dishes are dirty, beds are not made and I still have to help the kids with their homework, piano lessons and my wood floors look like I have never cleaned them.
UGH! 

I'm going to paint my cute wood shutters I got at a yard sale.