CRAZY SUMMER!!!

So, It has been one hectic summer for us, which I'm sure it has been for most people. After three and a half years living in Provo, we decided to move. We moved down to Payson, so we could be closer to J.J.'s work. (He had been commuting from Provo to Payson to work every day.) So, now that School has started, maybe I can be better at updating this blog. The kids sarted school two weeks ago. Things are going okay. I guess every kid has the emotional meltdowns and mood swings at the beginning of school, right? (And Moms do, too, right? ha, ha)

So, sometime during our move, we lost the cord that hooks our camera up to the computer, so we're going to have like 300 pictures from this summer to put on here. We just found it yesterday, but I've been swamped with other things the last day or two. I'll post some pictures up later on.

These are some pictures of us at a Rock and Gem Show a week or so ago. We had a lot of fun. The kids loved it!

There isn't too much going on right now. We all are hoping that Spring will come back to Provo. We are sad that those wonderful Spring days of a couple of weeks ago are gone and replaced with snow showers every other day.

We have had a few changes to our lives recently. Cassie has decided to become a big girl over night. She is running everywhere, and talks almost non-stop. Granted, most of the things she says are not real words...but her vocabulary grows everyday. Her biggest news is that she now sleeps in a toddler bed (she kept trying to climb in and out of her crib).

Lexi and Jason are both doing very well in school. Lexi reads the newspaper with Dad alot, and Jason reads everything on the computer monitor when Dad or Mom get on the computer. It's kind of interesting that they have their preferences in their reading material. But, everyone in our family LOVES to read books. unfortunately, books can be found on almost every surface in our home. Lexi, Jason, and Cassie drag their books all over the house (and sometimes I do, too).

Lexi's Birthday!

These are some pictures of Lexi's fairy birthday party. She had so much fun! I can't believe she is seven years old!

Cassie is so silly! Lately she has been climbing into the teeniest boxes, trying to make herself fit!

We just laugh and tell her how cute she is!

My kids are so cute! Not the best pictures in the world. In fact, there really weren't very many good ones at all. I should have had Amy, my sister-in-law, the professional photographer come take pictures of us. Oh, well. Life goes on.

Cassie playing Peek-a-boo!

I am a little behind, but in all honesty, I don't think I'm doing too horrible. The month of December was... what can I say... FUN! We were all sick with this terrible cough for almost the whole month! It was awful, but Christmas came, and made us all better! We had toys, toys, candy, and more toys littering our house for days! I love that! Yeah, right! :) I get to a point where I just want to throw everything away, including the new junk we got! So, this week, I have been working on deep cleaning my house, one room at a time. I have polished off the kitchen, and yesterday I was going to start on the office, but... well.... the computer is in here, see. And things just don't always turn out the way I had planned. Today I had the same idea, but... as you can see... I'm here again. Plus the kids didn't have school today, so I never get done what I plan when they are home. It's just all crazy! But, we love life at our house!

Lexi the Pilgrim

Lexi had a Thanksgiving Program at her school on the last day of school before Thanksgiving. She was a pilgrim. I videotaped the performance because J.J. was at work. It was pretty cheesy, but cute. (What first grade performance isn't?!?)

So... It's been a little while since I've posted anything on here. I've been a little busy trying to do EVERYTHING, that NOTHING is getting done. Am I the only one that ever feels like that?

I have been trying to start up a business, selling my caramels. Can I just say CHAOS!!!!!!! I am going crazy with all of the problems that I keep running into. I've tried a variety of things, only to realize I need to down-size and start with the basics. I am doing too much, with no time to do it. I have some stuff on etsy.com, but have decided to try to just sell caramels by word of mouth. So...If anyone knows anyone that would like caramels for Christmas give me a holler!

This is a crazy time of year anyway. For our family, it starts being crazy in October. The 26th is J.J.'s birthday, then Halloween is right behind it. In November, we are trying to make sure we get Christmas shopping finished, before the mad rushes at the stores, so I don't have to deal with traffic jams down the aisles in Wal-mart. (But something always is forgotten.) With Cassie's 1st birthday and Thanksgiving being on the same day this year, it kind of made it easy. (J.J.'s family was all gathered together anyway, and we put a candle in Cassie's pumpkin pie!) We did have a small family party with cupcakes before we went to Grandma & Grandpa Miller's house, though.

December started out with my birthday on the 2nd, and we only have three weeks left until Christmas! J.J.'s work Christmas party is tonight-no kids allowed, we're still taking Cassie with us though. I hope she's good. I am the room mother for Jason's kindergarten class, so his Christmas party is on the 19th (also my 10-year wedding anniversary). Our tree is up, and the outside of the house is decked out with Christmas lights. The kids have caught the "Moody Bug" that goes along with Christmas coming. (Do you know what bug I'm talking about? Maybe my kids are the only ones that are hyped up for the whole month of December.)

As much as I say how busy things are, I still love this time of year. I love thinking about all the things I am thankful for, my family being right at the top of that list. I love constantly baking for my family, especially baking the Christmas goodies with the kids. I have already had many requests from my kids for Christmas treats, and it's only the 5th! I love spending more time with my family, as we clebrate the holidays.

I love my family...

I know I put this picture on before, but I absolutely LOVE it! You can see all three of the kids' personalities in it! They are so cute. My children make me happy. I can never be angry with them for long. I get frustrated at times (what mom doesn't?), but it never lasts. Their spirits are just too sweet. I love that they are so quick to make amends when I am frustrated with them. I need to learn from them, and follow their example. I need to tell them more how much I love them.

We went to my niece, Kora's, baptism yesterday. It was wonderful to be there with her and her family for this spiritual time in her life. The gospel is such a wonderful blessing in our lives. I am greatful for the covenants we make when we are baptized, and am glad for the weekly renewal of those covenants. I do know that throughout my life I have always felt the Spirit there. Helping me, guiding me to know what things I should do. I love having the knowledge, that if I try to live the way I should, I can have the Spirit with me always.