It is official, my camera sucks. I really have never liked this one as much as the one before, but sand in CA took the good one to its grave. Anyway. To the left of Caleb in the pictures are his two best friends Tyler and Breanna. They have their own book club and everything.
I didn't get pictures, but Joseph had his preschool party. They got to wear their pjs to school and then they went around the world to see how different places celebrated christmas. Every new place they would lay down and pretend to sleep and wake up to Christmas morning again. He had a ball.
Trever's party is coming up next week. It's hard to imagine him being more excited for anything. He loves Miss Amy and enjoys school.
Well, the time has come for me to get ready for the day. As always the house work is calling. Hope all the kids enjoy their programs and partys.
Our fearless Lion hated his costume, and the baby wasn't going anywhere in the chilly weather, but we had Batman to defend against criminals, Zoro to defend against villians and Ben Ten to defend against aliens. 
Trever couldn't wait for school to start. He had to wait an entire week after Caleb started to go himself. It was a cruel form of torture. He is still enjoying it so far. We are all still trying to adjust to new schedules and homework, but things are starting to settle down. 
This is Joseph's third day of school, but this is such a cute picture. He loves school, not even one tear on the first day. He gets treasures for reading and they are already being super heros, and pirates. He asks every day if it is school day, and begs to go on the weekends. 
last weekend we got to watch Mia over the weekend and it was a true treat for us all. Ok, 6 kids with 5 age 5 and under was a little crazy. Mia is quick to laugh and squeal and is very loving. She is healthy and happy. She turned one in July. She is walking now, but still falls half way there and finishes crawling. We sure love her and miss her sweet loving spirit in our home. We are grateful her birth parents are so willing to continue sharing her with us. 
Kamden and Cami are still a part of our family. Kamden is alot like Trever. He is always on the go, and is pretty happy. Cami is the most smily happy baby I have seen. She is very content, and easy. Of course she has the reflux, all my babies do, but despite the constant puking she is happy. She usually has a huge grin with goo leaking out the sides. 
We were so very lucky to have my sister April and her cutie pie kids come to visit. On the way to the airport to pick them up, Trever asked if it was just Aunt April, or if Ashlyn was coming too. When I told him Ashlyn was coming he said......."Oh good...... I just love that girl!" We all feel that way not just about Ashlyn, but about April and our cute boy Collin too. 
We tried to keep the busy. We went to the movies, and the Treehouse museum. We all went to Cherry Hill and everyone went down at least one water slide. We look forward to seeing them again at Thanksgiving. 
The best news is that Caleb got his cast off. There was much drama and trauma, but we got it off and now he just has to wear the wrap for two weeks. He also decided to go for a new look and wanted me to buzz his hair again. It is nice to see his face again. 
This month we also went up to Rock Port. The Palmer family had their anual camp out. We just went up for a day....... I wasn't up for the all night tent and cold thing while I was still being super glued together. The kids all had fun, and we were glad Caleb's cast was waterproof. 
Well, today Joseph asked if he could go outside to pet the doggie. I said yes, and for over an hour I watched him gate off his garden and talk and pet and play with the dog with her chew toy. I finally decided that I couldn't get a good pic through the blinds, so I went out to find a very hot boy and a very hot dog. So I let them come in and Joseph wanted to give the dog a treat for being so good. And you can see what he did. 
Shaddow sat when Joseph said, and took the treat nicely right out of his hand. Now Trever on the other hand .... I just can't get him to understand that he is the one teaching the dog to treat him like a big chew toy. I think some weird part of him kind of likes it. I just hope they will both grow out of it before someone gets hurt. 
I guess 11 years to me means that this is not only the most recent pic of us together, it is the only one, since we have had kids. I guess one of us is usually using the camera. Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am proud of my husband and I love him very much. I am so greatful that he has worked so hard to be here and do all that he does. Happy anniversary. (Note: for our actual anniversary I had surgery and Jason took care of the kids. FUN)
I have always been emensly proud of him. He is my hero and has been a hero to many. I remember standing outside our apt in Buhl on a dark night. I must have been 3 or 4. We could see what appeared to be a head bobbing up and down in the front room of the apt. I remember my dad showing up in his uniform and telling us to stay put. Soon he came out of the house with a balloon and told me we were all very silly to be afraid of a balloon. I remember his smile on so many occasions that lightened the mood and helped us all to find happiness. I remember him letting us try to ride the cow, and laughing at Terry and I as we pretended to be cows and actually tried the cow lick. I was always so proud that he was a police man and I loved his stories. (Ok except the ones he told to scare me straight as a teenager)
Some of the most important lessons he has taught me are: Progression means that we try to be better with our children that our parents were with us. As our family progresses and gets better we perfect our ancestors. and If you are living the best you can and asking for the Lords help, He will guide your life, even if your path does not appear to follow the way you thought. Each path is different and just because it is different doesn't mean the Lord is not guiding it. and Heavenly Father does not stop all bad things from happening just because we pray for it. This life is a mortal one and is meant to be a trial. If we are to gain glory with our Father in Heaven, we must endure the trials of mortality. and there are really so many more. He taught me the power of a good laugh, and not to be so hard on myself. (ok dad, I still struggle with that, but I am trying)
Well, I miss my dad every day. He was my best friend for a long time. He taught me to be independant, but I still need him and often ask myself what he would do or what he would tell me if he were here. I remember many many nights of writing English papers or math homework in front of a good movie with my dad after work. I remember him rubbing my feet and vice versa. I now know what a great service that was. I truely miss things like........him calling me back up the stairs at 12:00 Am to ask me how far I would be if he hadn't called me back, and telling me to spit in one hand and want in the other to see which filled up faster and especially where to find sympathy in the dictionary. I could go on and on, but I don't want this to sound like an obituary. He is still kicking and is as busy and fun as ever. (Note the four wheeler rides he took the boys on) Here is to another 60 great years dad. (and I didn't even touch what a great Grandpa he is.) I love you.
His cousin Garrett broke his arm also, a couple of days before Caleb did. They were both very happy to have some company in their misery. 
This is some of the cousins at the big stump. It is an ancient stump that was washed ashore a long time ago. It was pretty cool. And yes that is construction in the background. Even on vacation we have to be right next to the construction. Seriously, our yurt is only about a one minute walk from here. 
I took a few minutes on Thurs day morning to try and get some good pictures of the ocean. Caleb came with me and this is one of my favorite shots. 
I have lots of pictures of the Aquarium , but this was my favorite creature that we saw. It is a Japaniese spider crab. Totally amazing. The whole time we were on this trip, I missed diving. I remember the time I went diving in Puget sound. The ocean facinates me. I will choose warmer waters to dive in next time though. 
The entire 853 miles to the campsite at Beverly Beach State park Joseph kept asking....."Are we on our twip" I would say "yes honey, this our trip" He would then adamately insist that he have his bucket that I had purchased for the trip to the beach. He learned how to say Idaho, Utah and Oregon as well as finially ....... the beach where he was givin his bucket. He could not have been happier. 
This is the Yurt we stayed in. It had electricity and a light in it as well as a pretty good heater. This one also came complete with a racoon living under it. He growled at Caleb and I one night as we came out to go to the bathrooms. When we came back he was slinking under the yurt. All night long I heard him dragging and trying to get into various plastic things that he was finding elsewhere in the campsite. The next morning, while we were eating breakfast, he came back. I swear I could read his thoughts. "If there were only three of you instead of four, I would seriously take you on." (Jason was having a shower)
The ocean was very very cold, but the kids loved to run from the waves anyway. It never pored rain on us, but it never did get really warm either. The sky in this picture is about the best shot of the sun I had. 
He used to be so little. And now he is really growing up. 
Trever can always come up with something silly to make us all laugh. We are all so greatful to have Trever.
This is what I am wishing for about now. Well, I hope you are all staying warm and that we will all survive the artic blast over the next few weeks. 
