Soccer has started

Here is Kyson playing soccer this year. This is his 3rd year and he is doing so good. He has gotten much more aggressive, (I don't know where he gets that from:)), I think I fouled out of most bball games I played, so I am excited to see that come out a little. The past couple of years he has kinda stood back and waited for the ball to come to him. This year he is right in there taking it away, passing and making goals. And he loves it.



I think its funny to see how much bigger he is than the other players on the team. I don't know if you can tell, but he is quite a bit taller than everyone else.

Its a New Day!

Well, things are good these days. Everything has kinda settled down, with school starting and all. Kyson is in 1st grade and going all day, and Landon is in preschool 3 days a week in the morning. Plus my mother in law, bless her, takes Landon and Kennedy one day a week, for like the whole day. I actually feel like I am able to get things done these days. I often find myself at preschool 20 min early to get Landon, wondering how to kill 20 minutes.

I have recently had a breakthrough I think. After the whole miscarriage, almost dieing thing, I promptly gained 8 pounds in a week, and ate my way through being sad. (I'm not very good at sad.) Well, I decided I needed some help, so I went and saw Dr. Kris, and he worked his magic and I tell you, I feel like a new person. I have dropped 12 pounds in the past 2 weeks!!! YEA! I think I made a breakthrough and I finally feel like I am in control. I chopped my hair off, see below, and just feel like I am becoming a new person, a better person. Does this all sound totally hoaky? I know... Anyway, I just feel like I am in a really good place for myself right now. I have a LOOOONG way to go, for sure. But for the first time EVER, I know I can do it and will do it, and be rid of my unhealthy overweight self forever. I feel like I just have a whole different outlook on things, ya know? Ok, now I'm rambling.

So the picture isnt all that great, I know. But hopefully you can kinda get the gist of what my hair looks like. I'm not really sure how to fix it, so its not quite as cute as it was Saturday when I got it done, but oh well. I swear, I'd love to go get my hair styled every day if I could. She does such a great job!



By the way, I haven't had hair this short since like 4th grade, I think. When its is a pony tail, it barely reaches the back of my neck, and I have bangs. I don't think I've had bangs since 1980 something! CRAZY!

Badger Mountain

We went and climbed Badger Mountain on Monday night for family night with a few other families. It was tons of fun. I climbed it quite a bit over the summer and it is quite a workout. I think its about 2 miles up and then ya gotta come back down. I've always wanted to take the boys but wasn't really sure if they'd make it all the way. So Jacob stayed with Kennedy at the park down below and up we went. I think the whole trip took about an hour which I actually thought was really good with all the kids that went up.

Kennedy got to play at the park...

The boys climbing up...

Landon and Carson resting, almost there....

It was dark by the time we got to the top, so I didn't get very good pictures, but the view is amazing from up there and the moon was full and huge, which you can't really see....

Way to go boys... I am so proud of you for getting to the top!

Seahawks vs Niners

We went to see the Seahawks play the 49ers this weekend. I have always wanted to see the 49ers play, so we took the boys and Dan and Ky Ostler and all went and watched the game. It was way fun. It was sooooo loud. I had no idea, but apparently they designed the stadium to be loud. They call the fans the 12th player, and on EVERY defensive play the entire crowd screams and yells, which causes the players to not be able to hear each other and thus have tons of false starts. Apparently they are know all over for having more false starts by visiting teams then any other pro arena. Anyway, so it was LOUD! It was a lot of fun. Thanks babe for the tickets! That was awesome.



I love this picture of Landon
... and then the boys got a little tired by the end of the 3rd quarter. Landon actually slept throught the whole 2nd half. I don't know how. It was so LOUD.

Dear Mr. Obama

So, I know people are so anti war these days... I'm not crazy about it myself. Whenever I get a chance to ask someone who has served or who has a husband or son serving I always expect their answer to be... negative, I guess. But it never has been. I am amazed at the strength of the men and women who serve our country and I am so grateful for them. Today, I had 3 different videos in my email of different stories or whatever that involve the military and I am amazed at the strength of the feelings I feel as I watch these videos. I think that we just take so much for granted. We have no idea what other parts of the world live like. I think that this presidential election is going to be a pivitol moment in what happens to our country, and many others around the world. I hope and pray that we as Americans are blessed with a fraction of the strength that the men and women who serve our country have, and that we can help make the decisions that will lead to be made to make this wonderful country even better.

I love Sarah Palin! I am so excited about her place in this race. I love the fact that she is not "Washington". Washington is so messed up. I love that her son is about to serve in Iraq. I think it puts a twist on things. She supports it, it seems, but would also have an interest in ending the war. I think she will breath freshness into the Republican Party, which we desperately need. I think McCain has a shot now. I hope they are able to grab it and run! I hope she's as successful in the White House as she has been in Alaska. Wouldn't it be nice to get a Presidency that could actually make some positive changes in our government?

Am I rambling? Sorry... any thoughts... by the way Ihope my video comes through and I hope you like it. I thought it was very touching.

Viper Baby!

So what another busy week! Its got to slow down eventually, right? So, last week school started and off Kyson went to first grade... all day school, which I am loving, he is not so crazy about. He leaves for the bus at 7:40 and gets off the bus in the afternoon at 4:00. That is 8 1/2 hours! More than an adults work day, and he says it is soooo long. We are going to be driving him I think to help but hopefully he will adjust to it quickly. First grade does not seem to be quite as much fun as kindergarden. :)

On Monday, I went to the hospitol to see Amanda who was getting ready to have her baby and she and Billy invited Sonja and I into the delivery room to watch. Cool, right? Well, long story short... the baby decided to come while there were no nurses or doctors in the room and pretty much, Billy, Sonja and I delivered the baby. (Billy did yell and one nurse came in to help out, but we had our hands right in there.) It was SO COOL! The doctor eventually made it, when it was over... do you think they still have to pay him? Anyway, it was AMAZING, and I am in love with that baby boy, Jackson. He is so cute. Thank you Billy and Amanda! What an awesome expirience.

On Wednesday, I left for Utah with Kennedy. We left the boys home and made it a girl trip. It was super fun to just hang out with her, I don't think I've ever done that. We drove down with my parents in our truck. We spent Friday in Bountiful, Micheala Haggett got married, and did the wedding/reception thing. It was a wonderful. Everything seemed to go so smoothly and the reception was a lot of fun. Kennedy is such a little trooper and just kinda goes with whatever is going on. Saturday we headed to the Park City Outlets with Michelle and new baby girl Camryn, who is so stinking cute, and Lindy and Aizlyn. Did a little shopping, more girl time, hit Cafe Rio for lunch and the Braza Grill (one of those places they bring meat around to your table on a stick) for dinner! (No wonder I gained 5 pounds!) On Sunday, Michelle and Matt blessed Camryn and it was awesome. She cried through the whole thing, but she has this super cute, raspy, quiet cry. It really wasn't loud until they held the microphone up to Matt. But he gave such a great blessing. Its amazing to me that even while she was crying he was able to feel the spirit and deliver such a great blessing. Michelle put on a great luncheon and we were able to see lots of extended family at the blessing so that was so nice. My dad and Lindy packed up her place into the trailer we hauled down and we took off Monday morning for home.

We were making pretty good time, until just about 20 miles before Boise, we ran right into stopped traffic. Apparently, a car went down the OFF RAMP right into a semi truck traveling on the freeway. The semi, I assumed, tried to swerve and ended up blocking all the lanes of traffic going our direction. There was a fatality, I'm sure the driver of the car that ran head on into a semi traveling 65 mph. OUCH! So we were stalled for 2 hours until they were able to turn us around and go around a back road. What a mess. So... we finally pull into town around 8:00. I was so ready to get out of the car. We get into the culdesac and just about everyone I know is in the front yard, hanging out. Wierd, huh? Except I didn't think much of it. Jacob told me everyone came over for a pizza party. I'm talking to people and turn around to see Kennedy driving this new toy...

My baby girl got her first Viper! (which is a car I've always dreamed of having.. someday) Isn't she so darn cute in it?!

I look at Stacey and I'm like, Seriously... thinking we were only gone for a few days... She's loving it though and its super cute. So we are all hanging out and Jacob walks over to me, with this look on his face. And I notice there are video cameras out and I am thinking what the heck is going on. He presses the garage opener and I start thinking... Oh no, what did he do? I am trying to grab the opener because I'm freaking out and everyone is looking at me and I am afraid to see whats inside... when I hear this ROAR of THUNDER. Seriously the loudest thing ever. These lights come on and Def Lepperd, Pour Some Sugar On Me, starts blaring out of my garage, and Sonja drives this out of the garage! Everyone is freaking out, there are cameras everywhere and I am just thinking, this is not for real... But it is! So here is a picture of me in my new car... Yes its a Dodge Viper! And it is FREAKIN AWESOME!!!! (and it had a huge red bow on it!)



Ok, so this is super cool and all, but REALLY? What am I going to do with a Viper? It only has 2 seats, no top, etc. I am so worried about hospitol bills from my little adventure a couple of weeks ago, we have a rental house in need of a LOT of work, and on and on... Then I get home and go in our room, by the way, the house is spotless, after me being gone for 5 days, and there is a red rose on my pillow with a letter...

September 1, 2008
Annette,

You are the best thing to ever happen to me. You complete me in ways that never knew existed. Every part of my life and in every way, you fill in the blanks. Where I lack, you are strong. Where I need support, you strengthen. Where I need love or affection, you give it to me. Every part of my life is more complete because you are in my life.

You have given me three beautiful children that bring so much happiness to my life. Not only are they “beautiful”, but they are so very precious. They are gifts from Heavenly Father that I could have never known if it weren’t for you. Thank you so much for wanting a family and doing such a good job with the kids. Thanks for choosing me, and letting me be apart of your life. It is such a blessing.

You clean and cook and wash and plan and host and organize and on and on and on. I assure you that it doesn’t go unnoticed. I see how hard you work to keep it all together and with as hard as it is, you seem to make it look so easy.

You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I am not just talking about being my best friend either. You are constantly looking for ways to help others. I have watched you for years now, and am continually impresses with all the cakes, dinners, phone calls, deserts, or even just a hug, to dozens and dozens of people that you feel you need help. You enjoy doing those things and I know that all of your friends enjoy you being there for them. Others are lucky to call you their friend.

You are truly a choice spirit of our Heavenly Father. You were sent here to earth to help our family be better and you are doing a perfect job of it. You are my best friend, my Bonita, my world and eternal love. I have said it before, but because it means so much to me, I will say it again, I love you and thank you for working so hard to raise our kids, keep the house in order, and help me run our business. Can you imagine if I were attempting to do it on my own? What a train wreck! Not only couldn’t I do it, I don’t even want to think of doing it. I can’t thank you enough for all that you do for us, for me, for the kids.

The thought of loosing you brings tears to my eyes. And I can’t even explain the pain and emptiness that my heart feels when I think of it. Not that I dwell on those kinds of thoughts, but with what just happened to you recently, my mind has turned there more than once. I think that the scare we went through with loosing this baby was the worst and yet maybe the best thing to happen to us.

It brought us closer and shined a light on how fragile and important your life is to me. While taking care of you in the hospital I thought of all that we have not done together. I thought of all that we have been through….the good, the bad and all the dreams yet to be fulfilled.

I have had some “revelations” if you can call it that. My mind keeps focusing on the thoughts that if is now time to live life instead of just planning for tomorrows. All we have is right now, this moment, nothing more, and nothing less. Yesterday is in the past and all we can do is learn from it. Tomorrow may never happen. But today… ….Today, we have 24 hours and we need to remember to make that time important. I need to remember to show you how important each new 24 hours really is to me. I know it isn’t a stunning revelation, but I do believe that Heavenly Father is talking to me and reminding me of how important my wife and family really are to me. I am thankful for that.

I want to fulfill your every dream, your every childhood wish. You deserve to be happy and be spoiled in every way. I work hard every day so that you never have to worry. I hope I am doing enough for you. I am committed to providing your every want, your every need.

I love you! There is no better way to put it. I love you and want you to know that. Thanks for being the perfect friend, the perfect wife, the perfect mom, the perfect daughter of Heavenly Father. Thanks for being the perfect fit for me.

I Love You…..
Jacob

……with a little bit of editing help from Dan (smile)


So how can you say to that? Don't I have the most wonderful husband ever? Not sure what I did to deserve him, but every day I am thankful for him and all he does for our family. Love you babe!

Oh yea, and there were tickets to the Seahawks & 49ers game in a couple of weeks, something else I've always wanted to do is see the Niners play!

I feel so overwhelmed... Sorry for the eternal posts lately, but WOW!