Fall About You

Haven't seen one of these in a while....

1. Favorite season: summer

2. Favorite physical feature: yikes! do wrists count?

3. Chore you most detest: cleaning out closets/drawers. My kids grow out of their clothes too fast!

4. Color your hair regularly? no

5. Top item on your wish list: piano

6. Favorite way to 'scent' your house: plug-ins

7. What are you eating for dinner tonight? don't know yet...

8. Are your toenails painted? no

9. One thing you splurge on even if $ is tight: going to the movie!

10. Post the most recent photo of you

11. Tag 8 friends: Brandi, Jana, Christel, Lindsay, Rachel, Chelsea, Laci, Emily

Wallet Woes

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!

Sisters in Zion

So, in case you didn't already know, I basically have the coolest family ever. Last weekend my sisters and mom came to visit. My youngest sister is getting married so Friday night her fiance came over and we were up till 1:00 in the morning talking and laughing in the midst of which I endured a hair styling session from Daisy. I don't think I've been up that late doing nothing since the old college days! Saturday morning we were off to do wedding shopping. Then, one of the best parts about going shopping with the girls: lunch! This day we chose Red Robin.


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 on the way out. The meeting was fantastic. The choir was amazing live and each of the speakers was inspiring. Just being there with so many other women was inspiring. And yes, my sister is holding her blister-inflicting shoes.
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.

Past the City Limit Sign

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:
Best Things About Living In The Fields:
1. The sweet smell of fresh cut alfalfa
2. I don't have to worry about my kids getting hit by a car, ever.
3. I can nurse my baby on the back porch and no one will ever see (yes, I do.)
4. My kids can have animals, do chores, and ride their horses in their own backyard.
5. It's beautiful!

Worst Things About Living In The Fields:
1. The water. The hard well water is kicking my butt.
2. The flies. and more flies, and more flies.
3. No mail delivery. Who doesn't like to get mail?
4. No school buses. I have to take Daisy and pick her up.
5. The insects. The entrance to my house looks like an insect graveyard. We're not talking a few lowly casualties, it's an unmistakable mass grave for crawling things.
5.1. No neighbors. Unless the corn counts. Ok, that could legitimately be listed under both headings.
5.2. Library fees. Not a city resident? Must pay a non-resident fee to use the library. Rude!
5.3. No such thing as a clean car. Dirt roads. Need I say more?
5.4. No vote! Call me naive, but I was told when I went to vote today that I cannot. I don't live in city limits, so I can't vote for City Council. Do you know what that is? Taxation without representation. They make the decisions for my city, but my vote is not allowed. Being told you are not allowed to vote = All.Fired.Up.

Ok, so the 'Worst' list is a tad bit longer than the 'Best' list. Maybe Jeff and I need to have a little talk about his lifetime goal to always live 'in the fields.'

Isaac's Trademark...Gone

Since the moment he entered this world, Isaac's trademark has been his hair. It was long and thick and out-of-control right from the start. Throughout his stay in the hospital all the nurses would tease about putting bows in it because it was so long. Everywhere we go - the mall, the movie, the zoo, the pediatrician, the photographer, church, family reunions - people comment on Isaac's outstanding (literally) hair. Several people have hinted, some not so subtly, that it was time to tame his locks. I resisted because it would make him seem older. That was the way he came! However, I knew I couldn't hold out forever. So this weekend when my mom was here I had her do the deed. Isaac's trademark hair is now just a lock of a memory taped into his baby book.

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.

Riding Club

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?

See ya Summer, School is Cool!

In my entire lifetime history of blogging, I have never gone this long without a post, and I may have even started some vicious rumors with my last post! I would try to make up some outlandish excuse, but I have none. This much is true: I have dearly missed blogging! I didn't realize how much I love it and how much it helps me wind down. It is real 'me' time, which I don't seem to make a lot of these days. So...here it is, our entire summer recap.

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.

We spent Pioneer Day in Antimony for our second annual Sullivan Stampede, which is code for family reunion. We took the horses (of course) and really enjoyed ourselves. How cool is it that I come from one of the greatest families around?

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.)

I am a director on the County Fair board, so fair time is a big deal at our house. This year was just as much work but not as much stress as last year. The kids entered their roosters and Daisy competed in the walk/trot event on her horse, earning a blue ribbon. After all of the events and competitions were over, we took the kids to the Demolition Derby (or the Crash Cars, as Levi calls it.) While I am convinced that Demolition Derby is just a more appealing way to say Trailer Trash Convention, the kids totally loved it, and that's what matters.

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.

Jeff is back to school next week. He has a killer semester ahead, but we're ready to jump in with both feet. Even though the summer has flown by, we have had so much fun, and we're ready to buckle down and get into a routine again. By next summer we'll be one year closer to Pharmacy school, Daisy will be all done with Kindergarten, and Isaac will be a year old. And maybe I'll make the time to blog between now and then.