My Wonderful Things This Year:
I spent last weekend with female family members at Time Out For Women! Lucky! Last year my great friend, Brandi, invited me to go and we had such a good time that I wanted to take my whole family and go again this year. What this means is that I have been waiting for this for a whole year! I was so excited when it finally arrived. Can I tell you how easy it is to get packed and ready and go somewhere by myself? I kissed my kids goodbye and left them (even my infant son) in the very capable hands of their father and was off. This is a picture of my mom, sisters and I leaving my parents house for our girls-only weekend.
The first night of the event featured Chieko Okasaki and Hilary Weeks. Not a Hilary Weeks fan? Well, just invest in one of her CD's and you will be. She is fantastic. I fell in love at last year's Time Out and was so happy to see her again this year. This picture is of my adorable sisters and I.
Our whole clan laughed together and cried together. Pictured are two of my aunts with their daughters and daughters-in-law.
Saturday we got to hear from Mary Ellen Edmunds, Emily Watts, Jill Manning (wondering how to make sure your family is safe online? Check out her stuff at www.deseretbook.com/jill) and Emily Freeman. It was refreshing, uplifting, inspiring, encouraging...all the things a Time Out is supposed to be. Here's a group shot of us on our way out.
A few things I learned at Time Out: Being in a room with 3000 other Latter-Day Saint women makes you realize that no matter what you are going through, other women understand you. Women come in all different shapes and sizes, so I guess I'm ok. Olive Garden has whole wheat linguine (this, by the way, is fantastic news.) Being hooked to a breast pump for a good portion of time is not a lot of fun, and makes you feel somewhat bovine. Hotel pools sometimes close, destroying your plans to do water aerobics with your sisters. Music can evoke powerful emotions. Being alone in a car for several hours gives you a lot of time to think...which is a very good thing.
Now I hardly recognize my own child! He looks completely different! He looks older and chubbier. Even his eyes appear to be a different color since he is now a blonde. I cried big tears but it didn't help. Isaac's hair is gone forever. 
Our Happy Halloween began with the arrival of a spooky package in the mail filled with frights from Grandma. There was even a new toy for Isaac inside!
The package was complete with sugar cookie mix, frosting, sprinkles (the hit) and cookie cutters. We got right to work making our Halloween treats.
Next on the agenda was the local craft fair. Both Daisy and Levi's dance classes were invited to perform. Levi did a stellar job at his "Ghostbusters" routine. Even though it was his very first performance he was not scared at all.
Daisy's class performed a stunning number to "Purple People Eater" (What? Her horn didn't give it away?)
Before we knew it, it was time for Grandma's annual Halloween Party, and this year was better than ever complete with games and even a spook alley. Isaac won the best costume award as our little puppy (ok, there was no best costume award, but he was so cute!)
The older kids had a bit of costume schizophrenia throughout the Halloween holiday, but for Grandma's party, Levi settled on the purple dinosaur and Daisy was the ghost.
This is a shot of all the costumed cousins at the festivities, featuring the oldest grandchild holding the youngest.
There were two cool things about carving pumpkins this year: Grandpa and Grandma joined us and we grew all the pumpkins in our very own garden! Daisy carved hers all by herself and Levi was totally grossed out by the guts.
We met dad for dinner one night while he was studying late with some friends for midterms and ended up eating at Pirate Island almost by accident. If you are as unfortunate as we were until we happened upon this eating establishment, count yourself lucky that you now know of the coolest place to take your kids to eat! No more Chucky Cheese! Pirate Island was a dream come true complete with real pirates (I swear our waiter was Jack Sparrow himself) and great food. Highly recommended by the Dansie family. Located behind University Mall.
The next costuming took place for the carnival at Daisy's school, which we would have missed out on had it not been for Grandma calling and saving the day. It was the most well organized school carnival I have ever been to! The kids had a blast and it was super inexpensive. We're sold on the school carnival from here on out.
Our final Halloween event was the glorious trick-or-treating. Since my poor kids have a mom that is ANTI trunk-or-treat (don't get me started) they had to get their candy the old fashioned way...which they loved. Levi was totally in character as the coolest cowboy in the west. Daisy was delighted when he surrendered the ghost so she could be Casper again. All our festivities made for a super duper happy Halloween. Hope the same for you!
If you recognize the big black rectangle in the photo it is a sign that you really know me. I got this wallet in the 8th grade. It has two zipper compartments. One is the wallet part, which has more than enough room for my coupons, checkbook, club cards, money, business cards, etc. The other compartment is one of those old school planners. You know, the kind where you write down your appointments on the dated calendar pages. Yeah, I almost have to special order the refills since nobody uses these dinosaurs anymore...except me. That's the section where my kids' photos live and where I have paper to write down everything I need to in a day, like how I want my meat cut at the deli counter, or a note to leave on the windshield of the lady I visit teach. This wallet is a monster. It doesn't fit in a purse. It is a purse. I love it. Here's the really bad news. My wallet died. The zipper finally broke to a point beyond repair.
Since a person cannot be without a wallet I went to the dreaded Wal-Mart and bought the biggest wallet I could find. It's an ugly sucker. And it's too small. It's a wrestling match to get my coupons out at the grocery store. I am accumulating coins because it is too complicated to fish them out and use them. I don't have any room for note paper! I'm soliciting advice. What do you carry all of your essentials in? How do you fit everything? Help!
After lunch we dropped the kids off with Jeff, who was on campus studying, and headed to Temple Square for the General Relief Society Meeting. That's right, I scored us tickets and we all got to go together! This is us on our way in. Oh, and if you're wondering if we changed into dresses in the parking lot (you weren't wondering?) yes, we did. 
And a GNO would not be complete (and neither would I) without Cold Stone. It was divine, celestial, heavenly, all the things ice cream on a spiritual night should be. I think ice cream by nature is spiritual...which is why my baby weight has now turned into Cold Stone weight. 
I absolutely love spending time with my mom and sisters. I am a better person just by being with them.
We live in 'The Fields.' Jeff has always wanted to live 'out' and wants to forevermore. There are tons of things I love about living out here, and I feel totally blessed to be here right now. But...there are some things that aren't so hot. Here are the Top 5:
This is a good 'before' shot so you can see just how manly his mullet had become.
This is how he felt about getting rid of his famous do that he had worked so hard growing and grooming. I must confess that I, too, shed a few tears of my own (sniffle, sniffle.)
Here's an 'after' shot from the back. Yikes! It's gone!
And here's an 'after' shot from the front. Nope, I didn't let them take any off the top. While we bid farewell to the mullet, we are holding on to the mohawk for a bit longer. And as you can see, he survived the whole ordeal just fine.
Jeff loves competing with the local riding club. It gives him a chance to ride, which is his real passion. It's also a time for him to socialize, which I don't think he would do at all without riding club. He takes the kids with him to practice every Tuesday night and they all look forward to it. This past weekend his meet was in Huntington so the kids and I drove over to cheer him on. I even got to see my super cute friend Jana, which was a real treat. He placed in a few events which means he will advance to the upcoming State Meet.
After a full day of riding and playing all of us had very dirty boots...except Isaac.
This is Jeff's team. Yee-haw.
Daddy giving Isaac some love, since the older two are the ones who usually end up in the saddle with him.
This is a picture of Jeff and Levi last weekend. Jeff took both Daisy and Levi camping with his family one last time before school started. Isaac and I stayed home. It was a blissful weekend for both of us. I couldn't believe how much I could accomplish with just one child to take care of! We decided the whole "Leave Mom At Home For The Weekend" will be something we institute on a quarterly basis. I need the break, and Jeff and the kids need the time together. Where will I send them come November?
The Fourth of July weekend was a blast. We didn't go anywhere camping for the first time since Jeff and I have been married, so off we went to the City Carnival at the Park. I had a great time because it reminded me of how we celebrated the fourth when I was growing up. Daisy's dance group performed, then the kids played the carnival games and got their faces painted. That night we were all set to go for fireworks, that is until it started raining. The next day was Isaac's blessing day. Our fab family traveled from far and near to be there. Isaac cried the whole time, but Jeff still gave a beautiful blessing.
Soon enough it was time for the much anticipated Ute Stampede. Jeff, Daisy, and Levi rode in the parade. The rodeo was a grand ol' time, as always. We went with the whole family on Thursday night, took the kids to the nasty carnival on Friday night, and then went to the rodeo again on Saturday. Each day is complete with a parade, and my favorite part of the Stampede: chuckwagon breakfast at the park.
Before we knew it we were celebrating Levi's third birthday! He has been waiting and waiting. He wanted EVERYTHING for his birthday, but mostly just trucks. He had a great John Deere cake and a party with our family. Now he reminds us every day that he is big, and he asks me several times a week if he is still three (as if being three came and went like his birthday did.)
For a Fun Family Finale we took the kids on a weekend getaway to the zoo, since we have NEVER been, and did some school shopping for dad and Daisy. Jeff worked like a mad man this summer so we were overdue for some family time before school started up again. The zoo was everything we imagined. The kids were awesome, it was not too hot or crowded, and we got to see tons of animals. Levi's favorite was the crocodiles (which he calls alligators) and Daisy's fav was the new baby giraffe. Isaac was just glad they didn't put him in with the monkeys since he kind of looks like one.
Just a few days after we got home it was Daisy's first day of school! It is no secret that I have been dreading this day for months. It tells you something about my emotional state when I confess that I have cried about this day several times a week since June. But ready or not, here it is. Daisy, on the other hand, was ecstatic (which actually made things much easier for me.) She is SO ready to be a school girl. She is so cute getting ready every day, and I love to hear what she has to report when she gets home. I still get a choked up when I drop her off each day, but I just say a little prayer and smile and wave. 
So...the next day this is what we find: Isaac has found his own thumb - and he likes it. With all the trouble we have had trying to break Daisy's habit I hate to admit that I think Isaac's new discovery is adorable!
My great sister-in-law flew out from Ohio (where my brother-in-law is in dental school) with her son Davis, who is Levi's age, and her new baby Reece. It was so great to see them! The kids played together as if they get to see each other on a regular basis. Hopefully we can live closer together eventually. 
We made our way down to my grandparent's cabin with our friends the Bosh's last weekend. It was a quick trip, but a nice getaway.
We rode four wheelers, watched movies, ate lots of food, and roasted marshmallows. Growing up we went to the cabin every summer. Now that I have children of my own it is so much fun to take them there and enjoy it all over again.
And here's a shot of my three kids (woah! Do I really have three children??) Daisy and Levi both adore Isaac and help out wherever they can. It has been so much fun to watch Daisy fill her new role and to see Levi become a big brother. I don't know where I would be without them.
We had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. We went to sunny St. George where one of my cutest friends in the world is a photographer. She did a session with Isaac as well as some 5 Generation shots with the women in my family. Get a sneak peak (and check out her other great work) at http://momentstorememberphotography.blogspot.com. It was so good to see her, and to get such great photos done.
We stayed with my family for the holiday weekend. It was the first time my dad got to see Isaac. The kids were so excited to see Grandpa's new puppies!
Daisy learned to ride her bike without training wheels. I haven't gotten a great shot of her bike-riding skills yet, but I did take this picture of her after her first crash. She is doing so well. It seems like it took me forever to learn how to ride a bike, but as soon as Jeff took her training wheels off, she was a pro!
As you probably know, the Memorial Day weekend was very rainy. Grandma helped Levi search for worms after we got home from church. They would find the ones that were still alive and 'rescue' them by putting them back in the grass. What could be more fun? 
Some of the newest arrivals at the Dansie family farm (haha) are our pink piglets. I must admit that they are pretty cute for pigs. Levi was so excited that they were pink (our last pigs were not pink.) Daisy and Levi both love the pigs and take turns emptying the slop bucket for them.
It wouldn't officially be summer without baseball, right? Daisy is loving playing T ball this year. She thinks it is very cool that she gets to be number 5 since she is 5 years old. With the beautiful sunshine, working in the garden, and heading to the ball field a few times a week, I know summer is finally here. 