Family Pictures August 19th 2008

Our Trip to to the Ranch With Young Farmers and Ranchers

Brandon and Lindsay's Open House- Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

I was not expecting to get any pictures of the open house, except what the photographer got, because I didn't have my camera. Garrick got out his cell phone and took some pictures, then let Rachel and Joelle take it for a while. I was impressed with some of the pictures they took. I can not take credit for one of these pictures, except just the editing.

Kaitlyn and Trevor

Kaitlyn

Hannah, Kaitlyn, Gracie, Annie, and Abbey

Lindsey and Gracie

Lindsay and Brandon

Trevor caught the Cat!

Gracie, Rachel, Abbey, Kaitlyn, Lydia, and Annie

Kaitlyn, Abbey, Gracie, and Annie

Hannah

Kaitlyn

Hannh turns 5! August 14, 2008

We went up High Creek to the Lions Camp to Cook Dutch Oven for Hannah's birthday. The kids all found a walking stick. Trevor soon decided to use them for hitting instead of walking, so they they had to be burned.

24th of July Hike to WHite Pine Lake

I invited myself to tag along on the annual hike that CeCille and Emily always go on for the 24th of July. They were hiking to White Pine Lake from Tony's Grove. I had never even been to Tony's Grove, and I really wanted to go. Garrick was so nice to work it out for me to go, because I know he would have liked to go too. It was not a hike for kids. I took Rachel to the Parade in the morning, then Garrick rode with his family into Logan to bring Rachel home, so I could go on the hike. The hike was about 8 miles total. I did not have cell phone coverage until we got back into Logan on the way back. I called the kids to see how things were going. Rachel told me they had a horrible day. Kaitlyn told me how hungry she was and how bad Trevor had been. I guess it is good to know I am needed, but it is also good to get away every now and then. Thanks to Anthony, CeCille, Courtney, and Emily for letting me come along.

CeCille and Courtney soaking their feet in the Lake.

Emily, CeCille, COurtney, Anthony

Emily, Holly, Courtney

Emily and Courtney

24th of July Parade in North Logan

Peace and Quiet

Wow- It is sooo quiet here in my house today! I think I like it, but I'm not quite sure. Since the kids started school, and Hannah goes to Kindergarten in the afternoons. There is a time almost every afternoon, when Trevor naps, and there is silence in my home.

Sometimes it makes me very sleepy, and I take a quick nap too. Most times I work in the office. Trying to catch up on all the things I put off during the summer months. I'm talking about bookwork for the dairy mostly- I haven't even started catching up on the Blog until today.

It has been a very long time since I have had quiet time in my house. I can remember when Rachel and Kyle were babies, I would try to get them to take their naps at the same time. But I was never organized enough to have a "quiet" time every day at the same time like Katie does. I have always liked to get up before anyone else in the house and get things done in the quiet morning. But even then, I love to hear the first footsteps coming up the stairs. It is usually Kyle or Rachel or both. That can be a great time to visit and hear about the dreams they had the night before.

I think it is good for our souls to have some quiet time each day to meditate on things that are really important. I know we can hear the Holy Ghost better when things finally quiet down.

But, at the same time I miss some of the noises typical from the summer. My favorite noises are from my kids playing together. I also love to hear my children singing or dancing. Rachel and Kaitlyn love to make up dances and perform for me. The will often teach Hannah and Trevor a part. Sometimes they make up a play and spend hours practicing downstairs before they come upstairs to perform for me.

I love to hear Kyle pull up on the four wheeler, to peek his head inside and ask Trevor if he wants to go for a little ride.

I guess it is just good that we have different seasons of our lives. I felt like summer went so quickly this year, but we did some fun things together as a family. Now, it really is good to get back on a schedule and start learning and doing new things. The kids love school, and they have wonderful teachers that can teach them things that I never could. So I will enjoy my peaceful afternoons, and I will try to savor the time they are home more too.