I used to love the rain...

The nightmare...and this is a very tame picture. It's usually much worse.

Rain storms like the one last night with big booming thunder and lightening in the middle of the night used to be my favorite! Now, I dread them.

Ever since we moved in 2.5 years ago, we have had a problem with a bad grade on the south side of our house. There is a low point right by our window well and the water cannot run to the street. The other problem is the low point in the commons area that also drains into our yard. We fought with the builder (Symphony) and they said it wasn't their problem, etc. and it was never fixed. (Go figure).

So, everytime it rains, we are stuck at our house with our temporary solution to this problem. A pump from Home Depot that we turn on and off when needed.

Last night, I tried to stay awake to do the 'pump' because Mike was leaving early in the morning and driving to Vegas via St. George with Kerry and Reed. He really needed to sleep. Amanda, who is terrified of storms, woke up and was trying to sleep in our recliner just in front of the window we open to look out at the pool of water under it. Needless to say, she didn't sleep well and I didn't sleep well and Mike only got slightly more sleep than us.

Luckily, Brandon and Sydney slept through it all!

I let Amanda stay home this morning in case she was tired. She and Sydney helped me with Brandon's playgoup this morning. We are about to take them both to school and I'm hoping for a little nappy with Brandon.

So, although I know we need the rain....I'm praying for it to stop....at least until we get the guy we hired to fix our unwanted pond feature.

"Go Back!"

Here we go!

Into the scary maze! Doesn't Amanda look a little timid? She loved it! She was the leader for some of our time in the maze!

Out of focus, but still a gorgeous bunch! All of us went down this tube slide.

Brandon in the middle of these two other kids we don't know. He was having crazy fun on these!

My whole cute family on the slide!

The girls head first!

We took the kids to Black Island Farms Corn Maze tonight. We discovered this corn maze last year and really liked it. This year it was even bigger! Brandon was scared and kept saying, 'Go back!" He spent the whole time with his face buried in Mike's shoulder, or talking about corn and how it is 'Yummy in my tummy!' Sydney was scared, too. She wouldn't be convinced that it was fun and that Daddy is SMART and has a great sense of direction and would get us out. We had to remind her that we did get out of last year's corn maze just fine. Amanda loved it!
They also had pig races...yes, pig races! Three little piggies and it was pretty funny. The kids also LOVED the big slide. They played on those until we pulled them off. My pictures didn't turn out well at all, but I just wanted to show what they look like. A fun family night!
We also got "boo'd" the other night...which is really fun for the kids. So, tonight we "boo'd" the new next door neighbors and we tried to get the Jensen's. But, everytime we drove by their house, they were out in the driveway! So, to get rid of our candy before the 24 hour 'curse' set in, we boo'd the McCleary's and just like last year, they caught Amanda running home! "I saw you Amanda" Mason yells across the street. Too funny....at least our house is safe from the BOO curse! Whatever that might be.....

Good-bye Soccer

Sydney after scoring her goal!

Rylee, Ellie, Halle, Sydney and Coach

Saturday was our last soccer games for the fall season. Amanda's team didn't win for the first time, but they played so hard and were short 3 of their players. Amanda got a lot of good touches and we were really proud of her! I took pictures of Sydney's team. This poor team didn't win any games. Sydney kept saying, 'We're the loser team' But, she did score a goal this time. They are the youngest team in our group. They have a 4 year old, 3 five year olds and a couple of 6 year olds. Every other team just dominated these poor Green Dragons. I hope Sydney is having fun and that they can win at least one in the spring season. For now, our Saturdays are again....soccer free!

More Birthday Week

"I need Fabulous!" "Strike a pose.....Vogue! "

Amanda had her friend party today. A Hannah Montana Pop Star party. We decorated the unfinished basement and made a makeshift stage by hanging a bed sheet from the floor boards. Our old 'ghetto blaster' came in handy to blast Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus and High School Musical CD's. The girls danced and sang and posed for me the 'The Paparazzi". I painted everyone's fingernails and if they wanted, the girls put on nail art stickers. For the party favors, we gave them sunglasses, necklaces and bangles. Also, I kept some of the soap I made last night at the Festival of Trees meeting and gave them each a bar of yummy smelling soap! Amanda had a great time! Thankfully, the girls had activity days at 4pm, or I think we would have had a house full of young ladies until bedtime! And I guess that could be a fun thing, too.

The girls watching the presents: Ashley, Julia, Syd, Maddy, Susie, Maria, Hanalee...Elizabeth must be giving the present.

Beautiful!

Mom and Sydney time

Yesterday, Sydney and I had the rare moment that we were home together ALONE! So, perfect time for Sydney to paint Mommy's fingernails! Stacie & Dan gave the girls cute baskets full of girly stuff like nail polish for their birthdays. Sydney had been painting her nails and her friend's nails. I was so lucky to be treated to a 'polish' by Syd! Don' they look fabulous!?!

Sydney also got alone time with Daddy yesterday as it was her date night. They went to McDonald's (definately Syd's choice) and to get slushies. Good day for Sydney!

Also, I had to laugh right out loud this morning and here's the story. I hate getting up out of bed anytime before 6am. I love mornings. But, I hate to get up early to go to the gym. I'm sure most people that go that early in the morning also hate it, but see....I have a severe motivation problem! I give into the temptation to hit snooze, cuddle up next to Mike and just wait until the kids wake up before I start my day!

So, this week, I told myself that I could get up early for 2 days to make it to the weight classes I like at my gym. I did it! (Give me a star, it's those little accomplishments that give me warm fuzzies), and seriously, it was like an "early workout gal" reunion! A handful of workout buddies, as well as 5 gals from the neighborhood. I almost enjoyed myself! This morning, Kristen, the instructor shouted as I was leaving, "You're back, Jill!" As in, she's coming again...or maybe: Jill's in the workout frame of mind again....not as in "Yippee, you're here!" I just laughed right out loud at her....maybe it was because it was so stinking early and my brain was not functioning. Maybe it was the loss of blood flow to the brain after laying on my back, throwing the exercise ball in the air and catching it with my feet or maybe it's because Ok, I guess I can use that as motivation to come again next week....I said, "Yep, Kristen, I'm back." ...and I'm sleepy! Where's the snoozzzzzzzzeeeeee......

Happy Birthday AMANDA!

Amanda's birthday week started with our traditional Mrs. Backers cake! The kids and I went to the bakery on Saturday when Mike went to Priesthood meeting. They enjoyed their gingerbread cookies again. They even passed up the Halloween sugar cookies. The girls did say these gingerbread cookies were a little stale. You know, I have always thought that about the cookies I get from Mrs. Backers. Our homemade ones are way better.....but back to birthday week! We celebrated as our little family on Sunday.

On Monday, Grandma and Papa Gibson came up to celebrate since this was Amanda's actual birthday. We had a great homemade cake and Amanda wouldn't smile for the camera, so I just take the picture anyway! G&G gave her two books: The Secret Garden and Black Beauty. Amanda is a great reader and it is fun to see her into the chapter books that I used to love to read. She also got the High School Musical 2 board/CD game. So, we played a round of that and the kids loved dancing to the music.

Papa and Sydney and Brandon wearing 'hats' Papa, you are a good sport!

Amanda also had a great day at school/ballet and soccer as everyone sang to her and she got a special seat cover for her school chair that she said was 'comfy'.....

Amanda is having a 'Hannah Montana' friend birthday party on Friday. She has it all planned out and is really excited....I'll post pictures later.

It's hard to believe this child that made us parents is 9 years old! We love her so much and are so proud of the young lady that she is! We love you Manda Panda!

Conference Weekend

I'm always a little sad when conference is over. Maybe it's because during the 2 days worth of speakers, I usually get to hear something, as opposed to the 3 hours of church on Sunday, where I usually get to hear zero. But, it is more than that. It's getting to hear from our Prophet and other leaders. The message in their talks is always so simple to understand and inspires me to want to do better in my life.

The other things I like about conference weekend are the get-togethers. A week ago my Mom and I got together to go to the Relief Society meeting in the conference center. It was pouring rain and the only umbrella we have is a Disney princess pink one. But, I used it and didn't feel too stupid. As soon as the first song started, both my Mom and I were in tears. We are just that way.....touched by beautiful things and then our eyes start to leak! We topped off the evening with dinner at The Dodo...ummmmmmm, delish!

Mike always goes to Priesthood session downtown with his Dad and his brothers. This has been a tradition ever since I've known him. This year, his Dad was out of town, but promised to buy the boys dinner still. All the local boys went, plus Brock (who is 14) and afterward they went to Flemings for dinner...telling themselves that 'Dad would tell us to get whatever we want!' They did and they had a great time.

When Mike goes with his family, I usually take the kids and go with my family. My Mom has been hosting the girls night for awhile. We now stay at her house and order dinner in as there are too many little ones running around. My kids and I were soooo sad that we didn't make it this time because it was pouring rain ALL day and with our flooding problem at our house, I couldn't leave. We would have come home to a flooded basement. We are in talks with a contractor to fix it, but it won't be a quick fix.

We did have a minor injury today, though. On our second walk of the day, we went to the playground in the common area. The kids were playing and all of a sudden Amanda was screaming. She had been climbing on part of the playground and it came off! It took her down hard as well as giving her a fat lip, bleeding gums or teeth somewhere...we couldn't tell where, a red mark on her cheek, black and blue bump between her eyes and a huge bump right on top of her head! Poor thing! I'm hoping she doesn't look so beat up in the morning as it's her birthday tomorrow!

So, goodbye conference weekend! Mike asked me if I thought President Hinckley would make it to April conference and I said yes. Pres. Hinckley was cute at the close of his talk saying he is now 97 years old and hopes to make it to the next one. I'm betting he'll make it to 100!

Amazing, isn't it.

I just wanted to make sure I wrote this down, so I could remember to share this testimony with my children in future years when they will fully comprehend.

When President Hinckley announced Henry B Eyring was being called to the 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency, I thought to myself....I know that.

I knew that he was going to be called.

Not as a premonition~

not in a smug I told you so way

but as a silent confirmation of what just took place was right.

I reflected back to last conference as I heard Elder Eyring speak and the powerful yet humble testimony he bore and how it made me take notice. I felt in my heart something would change.

As the speculation from a reporter on the news last night ran through her list of 'who could be called' and 'why he could be called,' I thought, I know it's Elder Eyring.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who had this confirmation. We spoke to Steven shortly after the announcement and he echoed that he felt Elder Eyring would be called.

I know Heavenly Father was touching the souls of His children to just let them know,

this is right.

Date night!

This photo has nothing to do with this post, but I really like it. It's a picture of someone's backyard. I'm hoping my backyard will morph into this someday! So peaceful...

Oh, I needed a date night this week! Luckily, our friends from Murray invited us to dinner! We have been going with this group since we moved and it's so nice to hang out with people you have history with (contrast our ward in Kville) and who like us! We went to a new pizza place by Red Rock and it was pretty tasty. Not American pizza, more Italy authentic. Good company. So much fun to catch up and chat with Charles', Irvines, Wilsons, Brousseaus and Solomons. Thanks to Mom and Dad for watching the monkeys while we relaxed.

I really needed it!

Also, a good recipe group on Thursday. Here's a picture of my Scary Spider Cupcakes that I made. They were funny looking, but fun to make. I don't like licorice gumdrops, so I made some spiders from orange gumdrops and I think they look a little more like octopus than spiders!

I'm enjoying this group of gals. Mike was attending a class, so Amanda tended while I ran a few houses down to recipe group. She does a pretty good job, but if I'm gone for over an hour, then the phone calls start.

Not really a good GNO when you are answering the phone every 10 minutes.

Oh, and we took away Mater's manhood. Neutered the boy! We followed the mobile neutering clinic to Taylorsville. They do it for half the price of the vet. Since Mike was going to the class, he took Mater to his parents to be tended until I could come pick him up after recipe group. I couldn't talk Mike's dad into keeping Mater. I sure hope this helps....the dog needs to win some points. The only thing that is keeping him here is Amanda loving him so much. She hand fed him when we got home since he had his 'collar' on. Very sweet!

Pity Party Ahead...

I feel like the planets are aligned against me in my attempts to exercise! I've been super ready to exercise everyday this week and then something big always stands in the way.

Last night, I had a horrible problem with my sciatic nerve again. This episode left me in tears and barely able to walk...at times I couldn't walk. At least it isn't as bad as the time I had it when I was pregnant with Brandon and I was in bed for 2 days. But, it's still bad. My cute hubby did whatever he could, but if you have ever dealt with this, you know you can't have someone help you walk because it hurts worse. Anyway, there is my pity party for the day.

I'm not fishing for sympathy....just documenting. I'm popping ibuprofen today and taking it easy. Maybe tomorrow...