Nine years later and four beautiful children. Life never seems to slows down. I have two jobs; working as a Labor and Delivery nurse and a mom. "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family." ---President Monson
Jayson's family does themed Thanksgiving events. This year was "Old West." (kids were excited they got to wear their Halloween costumes again). We basically made all the costumes ourselves.
Our little posse- Calamity Jane, Jesse James, Texas Jack, and Lily Olay.
There were games for the kids and adults. Ambree loved the horse race and Grandma let her keep her lucky horse at the end. She sleeps with it! For dinner we had BBQ, corn bread, salad, and Root beer.
Here is our Saloon piano player.
Here we are at the Root Beer bar of the Saloon. All the adult card games were played in the Saloon that we decorated. The winners of each circle got to participate in a shoot out at high noon.
Here are the finalists. We also had an amazing talent show to top off the evening. Jayson sang a cowboy song with his 7 brothers and I sang, "He shouldn't, Hadn't-a,Oughtn't-a Swang Me" from The Great Race. It was very fun, but the kids were exhausted (and the mom!) after the long eventful day.
My wonderful, happy, healthy family The roof over my head My husband's job My health and ability to carry children The opportunity to stay home with my children My education The right to live in a free land and a safe neighborhood The privilege to serve in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The blessings of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life The Atonement of Jesus Christ The Love of God
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints October 2009
Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.
God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.
He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.
What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us
This was the only half way descent photo I could get of the little outlaws!
He wants to be a cowboy, baby!
I actually made Ambree's costume from scratch! (the vest and skirt) NO pattern and NO help from Jayson--pretty good if I do say so myself! Jayson made Revery's vest.
They had a blast at our Ward Trunk-or-Treat(24th) and then Ambree got to go out with Daddy on Saturday. She was ones of those hard-core late night trick-or-treaters since we had to wait for Daddy to come home from work. She is becoming quite the Pro, even running from house to house! I carried on the Halloween tradition of Clam Chowder and Monkey Bread!One trick-or-treater boy said, "oh it smells good in here! What are you cooking?" I thought he was going to ditch the trick-or-treating and come eat with us.
Saturday I ran in the Prison Break 5K with my good friend Mandy. She totally rocked it! I tried to keep up, but she is fast! (Plus I am carrying around a little extra baggage these days!) It was super cold and a little windy, but we had such a blast!
We are standing right in front of the Idaho State Prison. The prisoners were watching the race from the windows. Towards the end several army Tanks passed us, just not something you see everyday. Right before the finish line Ambree ran out to run with me. I just grabbed her and we crossed the finish line together. She wanted to have a flag to wave at me she said. Jayson brought the kids to cheer me on again. Thanks for the support Family! All the finishers received medals and they had a breakfast afterward. A very exciting day, this has become addicting!
We had the Kimbers and Taylors over for a great party last weekend. We started out with Navajo tacos, Jayson did a great job on the dough and frying! Our first time making them so it was quite the experience. Lets just say I swept the floor 5 times and mopped 3 times in one evening.
Ambree was a dragon or tiger most the night and really didn't want to have anything to do with gutting her pumpkin. She did have a great time with all her friends though.
I had fun making "nasty" candy jars; such as milkweed bugs, crocodile teeth, slimy worms, and ear wax. The kids loved the candy assortment.
Jayson did Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc, but I just realized we did not take a picture and now he is already shriveled up.
Ambree drew this picture back in June. Several people thought we were expecting another baby, I assured them we were not. It was just Ambree's imagination or wishful thinking.
. . .
Turns out that I was wrong! Ambree can see the Future. For shortly after this picture was drawn we Discovered . . .
Guess our family needed another baby!
Baby #3 will be joining the family in early March. We followed suit from the last two and did not find out the gender.
Three kids in 4 years almost to the day. Never thought that would happen!
Barrel Train Ride, the kids loved it, can you tell?
Hayride with all our friends: The Becks, Hanbys, Kimbers, and Taylors. We can continue all our Moscow traditions! Not to sure about this.
This little guy loved the Pumpkin patch! Sister was more interested in finding Rev a small green pumpkin, then to find a pumpkin for herself.He tried to pick up all the pumpkins.
Even this one!
My Boys!
We tried to get the kids to pose on the hay bails, it didn't work too well.
I had been telling Ambree for weeks about the pumpkin patch and that she would get to ride a pony. She loves horses! When we saw it was $5 per ride it was a little hard to swallow, but she loved it. Worth every penny!
Saturday I took the kids to a store to look for shoes for Revery.Ambree was not acting her best prior to this stop, not listening to my first instincts I preceded with this stop against my better judgment.She did okay at first because there were toys to play with and a little girl her age.I was able to browse and try a few shoes on Rev.
Once that little girl left, Ambree started bringing items up to me, “this would be great."I suggested she continue playing because I was almost done looking.She brought more items how about this for Rev?“This is cute.”I would quickly put the items back and go back to Revery.Finally, I was done!I was trying to get Rev's original shoes on so we could leave, when she spotted a pink bag and asked if she could have it.I explained that we were there to look at shoes for Revery and that she could earn money (current good behavior incentive program) to buy it later.She said,“no” that I should just buy it now.When I told her again that I was not going to purchase the bag she made a mad dash out the door.The whole time the sales lady and an older women customer are watching the scene unfold.Grabbing Rev, I chased after her, returned the pink bag to its rightful spot, and then escorted her to the car as she is calling me an old lady.
I put both kids in the car and climbed in the back to be face to face with her. I had a long discussion about what she just did was stealing.Stealing is wrong.Jesus doesn’t want us to steal, etc.Mommy doesn’t want to take her to do fun things or the store when she acts this way.(Mommy rarely takes her out, so that is probably part of the problem and my fault. I think she needs to get out more, then she could learn what behavior is expected).You now, a good 10 minute lecture.Now she is sobbing.“I am so sorry, I won’t do it again.”
Ready to go home, I realize that the back doors are child locked, so I have to climb over the console to the drivers seat, where I notice my shirt ribbon is stuck in my coat zipper (which I had to cut to get my coat off).With a day like this I am wondering what else could go wrong?
As we are almost home I hear this from the back:
Ambree:“I am sorry Rev, I can’t make a decision.
Me:What Ambree?
Ambree:I am not talking to you I am talking to Revery.
Me:Oh.
Ambree:I can’t make a decision right now.Do you know what a decision is? (Waiting for his reply)
Ambree:A decision is when you are happy or smiling, but I can’t do those things right now.
Ambree:I wish I could be happy, but I am not, see?I have these tears.
I could not help but chuckle.I love the way she talks to Revery as if he is going to respond.He is her best friend and confidante.And they are my treasures.When I have these moments of extreme motherhood and terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, I try to just step back and laugh.
A messy meatball dinner and a Revery blow-out later, I told Jayson I would prepare his Primary lesson if he would put Ambree to bed.
Our little posse- Calamity Jane, Jesse James, Texas Jack, and Lily Olay.
There were games for the kids and adults. Ambree loved the horse race and Grandma let her keep her lucky horse at the end. She sleeps with it! For dinner we had BBQ, corn bread, salad, and Root beer.
Here is our Saloon piano player.
Here we are at the Root Beer bar of the Saloon. All the adult card games were played in the Saloon that we decorated. The winners of each circle got to participate in a shoot out at high noon.
Here are the finalists. We also had an amazing talent show to top off the evening. Jayson sang a cowboy song with his 7 brothers and I sang, "He shouldn't, Hadn't-a,Oughtn't-a Swang Me" from The Great Race. It was very fun, but the kids were exhausted (and the mom!) after the long eventful day. 
