HOME UPDATE

We have Stucco, Stone, Doors and Trim!!! We are so excited, it's starting to look like a home. Maybe we will have a home that "Trick or Treaters" can come to. Maybe I will be able to find my kids Halloween buckets because they will be in "MY" garage. Maybe, just maybe we will be able to celebrate Brody's birthday in our new home. It's cutting it close, but cross your fingers, we are crossing ours!

Stucco and Stone

Doors and Door Trim Baseboards

Hip, Hip, Hooray. We will keep you updated on the progress. Coming up: Paint, Cabinets, and Flooring. This is the fun stuff! Meet the new house BBQ here we come!

SWEET LITTLE FEET

Our sweet little Embry is the funniest sleeper. We have the benefit of seeing her sleep every night since she is in our room (livin' with the in-laws). The other night we heard her roll over and hit the crib with what we thought was her head. So we looked over and saw the cutest thing ever, her two little footsies hanging out. We had to get the camera. As you can see she is sound asleep still. I don't know how that could be comfortable, but I do know that it's cute.

TAG I'M IT!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
- Ten years ago almost to the day (September 27) I got engaged to the greatest guy I know. He was so sweet and took me on the best date, dinner with live music, and then to the temple grounds where he asked me to dance. The song we danced to was "Wanted" by Alan Jackson. Dustin had changed the words and recorded himself singing his own version, lines that were about the time we dated until that day. I will never forget that day and how I felt.

2. What was I doing 5 years ago?
-Believe it or not I was living with my in-laws just like I am today. We haven't lived with them for 5 years, but we lived with them 5 years ago while our last home was being built. This seems to be a trend. Hopefully, we will never have to move again.

3. What was I doing 1 year ago today?
- I was very pregnant anxiously awaiting the birth of my little Embry Girl. She is now almost a year, wow, the time really does fly.

4. What was I doing yesterday?
- went to the gym, took the big kids to school, fed the baby, did laundry, read stories with Brody and Embry, fed the baby, worked on getting doors, trim and baseboards for our new home, helped with homework, went to scouts, fed the baby, and went to book club. Yep, that's the gist of it.

5. What are 5 snacks I enjoy eating?
- cornbread with honey on top, trail mix, grapes, honey wheat pretzels and reeses pieces (pretty much anything with peanut butter).

6. What I would do with $100 million dollars?
- Where did I get all that money? I'm with Kari, I would definitely buy season court side tickets to the Suns Games, Dustin's dream. Pay off our new home and decorate every room exactly how I've planned. Not worry about the cost of flooring. Take the family to Hawaii, Disney World, and Legoland (for Brody). Upgrade the Tahoe to something with more trunk space and great tires and rims. Go on a great 10th anniversary vacation with my honey to Aspen Colorado (he really wants to go there) and relax in the snow country. Go on a shopping spree to clothe the entire family. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.

7. What are 5 bad habits that I have?
1. I can't relax
2. When I'm nervous I bite my finger nails
3. I always think I'm right (only when Dustin and I disagree)
4. Not getting enough sleep (perfect case and point, it's 11:22pm and I'm still blogging away even though I am getting up at 5:30am to go to the gym)
5. I love to snack

8. 5 things I like to do(this is not in order of importance)
1. Have my Dustin all to my self with no interruptions
2. read to my kids, tickle my kids, hug my kids, cuddle with my kids
3. clean (I love to get in the groove of cleaning, but hate being interrupted)
4. scrapbook
5. workout

9. 5 TV shows that I watch
1. The Office
2. Survivor
3. One Tree Hill
4. Friday Night Lights
5. Smallville

10. 5 biggest joys right now.
1. Dustin
2. The Holidays
3. The cooler weather
4. My kiddos
5. My new house being built

I tag: Tamra, Niki, LaChae, Sarah, Tenay, Karissa, Melanie, & Mary

PLAY DATE

Yesterday Brody got to have a play date with two of his cousins. I needed to make cupcakes for Kenley's class, and they wanted to help. It was a lot of fun and they did such a great job helping, sharing and taking turns. I let them each decorate their own cupcake and eat it. Oh, and don't forget the best part of all, licking the bowl!

Mixin'
Lickin' the bowl
Brody's cupcake
Jehryn's cupcake
Dani's Cupcake

Scrumptious

Yummy

Delicious

GROWN-UP STUFF

Okay... I've been going back and forth about telling this story, so today I told it to Dustin and he said that I had to blog it. While Dustin was hunting this last week the kids and I started a tradition. They would take turns sleeping in bed with me. The first night was Kenley's turn and she followed me all around the house until I was ready to go to bed. She even followed me into the bathroom. In the bathroom she saw a tampon and asked what it was. I explained to her in fairly basic terms what they were used for, how they worked and that one day she would use them. When we were done talking I told her that I loved her and if she had any other questions she could ask any time. Well the next day I received a note from her teacher about her reading level (It was a good letter by the way) and wanted to tell her I was proud of her so I said to her "Kenley I need to talk to you about something" and to that she replied "Mom, please don't talk to me about that grown-up stuff again". I laughed so hard. What a funny little girl I have. What is she going to say when I try to talk to her about the "birds and the bees"?

HOUSE UPDATE

GUESS WHAT! WE HAVE DRYWALL!!Family room
Kitchen
Basement
Tunnel between the boys rooms
It's comin' along. Not too long and we will have a home again.

THE HOT DAYS OF SOCCER

We must be crazy! Three of our four kiddos are playing soccer this year. Today We spent a total of 4 hours in the blazing sun. And we still have 6 more weeks to go. The kids did really good and never once complained about having to be in the heat. They ran their little booties off on the field and then dropped when they came out for a break. Little Brod is still getting the hang of things and watched the ball go right past him a couple of times. Kenley has been playing for three years now and really knows how to go after the ball. Brock is really starting to enjoy the game and even did a header in his game today. It's so fun to watch them all even if it is 120 degrees outside. The shade makes it bearable and possible for little Embry to come watch. She loves to be outside but will not go in the grass making it nice for us because she will stay on the blanket and we don't have to chase her around. Even though it's hot it's great to get outside and spend time together as a family, supporting each other.

COLORADO HUNTIN'

Dustin had a blast on his hunting trip to Colorado. He got a coyote and a deer, another sucessful hunt. We are glad to have him home and I think he kinda missed us too.

OUR DADDY'S HOME

Yea, our daddy is home. He was gone hunting for a whole 7 days. We really missed him a ton. We almost didn't recognize him when he walked in the door with all that hair on his face.
Embry didn't want to kiss him cause he was so scratchy. She would look at him and then turn her head the other way and smile.
Of corse he hopped right in the shower, he was pretty stinky after not showering for a week. A few minutes later he called me into the bathroom and said which side do you like better. What do you think?

A REFRESHING CHANGE

What do you guys think of the new blog layout? I need a different picture of the kiddos on top. The one I have is too big. I have a cute idea I just have to get them all together to get one taken. We get family pictures next weekend, maybe I'll use one of those. You'll just have to wait and see. Until then...

SISTERS

I have the greatest sisters in the world. Tuesday's are always my day that I dread. I have a crazy schedule and can't get everyone where they need to be and be where I need to be also. I have had to rely on my sisters to help me out. If anyone knows me, they know that I don't like to be a burden to anyone. It feels like in the last 7 months I have been a huge burden to many people. Living with my in-laws, having a calling that requires that I find a sitter for my kids once a week and registering three of my children in soccer, therefore, not making it possible to get each of them to their practices on time without assistance. What was I thinking? Today I feel really blessed to have such a wonderful family. Tenay takes and picks up Brock from piano every Tuesday for me so that I can be at scouts and takes Brock to soccer practice so that I can pick Kenley up from music. Heather takes Kenley to practice so she won't be late while I'm finishing up Brody's practice. Kirsi prints off my scout news letter for me and brings it home so that I can fulfill my calling. Karissa is so willing to cut my kiddos hair and pick up any hair product for me at a great price. Christine plays with Embry and Brody when I'm getting ready for the day and is so willing to watch them when I run to pick up Brock and Kenley from school. LaChae is so sweet and never forgets any of my kids birthdays. Tamra takes me in every other Thursday when I am homeless because the cleaning lady is coming, not to mention, she is so willing to watch my kiddos even if it means she has to come to my house. Niki will call me to tell me the desk I've been dreaming about getting from Potterybarn is on craigslist for half the price and in great condition, then brings me the cash to pay for it when I don't have time to go to the bank. (I paid her back of course) These are all things that have happened in the past few days that made me realize what great sisters I have. I am such a lucky girl! Thank you so much for all you do for me and my family. I only hope that I can be half the sister to you that you all are to me. I love you guys!

BOY, DO I FEEL SPOILED!

Dustin is so sweet! Everytime he goes hunting he sends me beautiful roses. This time they came FedEx. Who would have thought that you could send flowers FedEx? Thanks Dustin for being the best husband a girl could have.

Such a little girl

Embry is growing so fast, we can't believe it. She smiles all the time and if she's not smiling just look at her and smile, she'll smile back. She has learned how to pull up to standing, sleep sitting up and crawl really fast in the last month. She has also learned what the doggie says, how to give kisses, discovered that she hates baby food, likes to find and eat bugs off the floor and says "What's that?" (of course only mom and dad know what she is saying). She trys to mimic all that we say. What a fun age, we are having a blast with her. We love you Embry!

It's Brody's Turn

After watching his brother and sister play soccer for his whole life (he went to his first soccer game, Brock's, when he was only two weeks old), Brody finally gets his turn to play on his own team in his own games.
He was a little shy at first and wasn't sure if he wanted to participate.
But once he decided to get out there he did great. He ran and ran and was a great soccer player.
He really attacked the ball and worked really hard not to use his hands to play.
Yea Brody, we are so excited to watch your games!

Those golden locks are gone!

BEFORE

AFTER

I found my clean-cut little Brody under all that hair. What a handsome boy I have. With long hair or short, my little Broder is such a fun boy to hang out with.

Dustin's Celebrity Look-a-Likes

http://www.myheritage.com

What do you think? Do they look like Dustin?

Amy's Celebrity Look-a-Likes

http://www.myheritage.com

What do you think? Do I look like any of these?

HE DID IT!

Last year, shortly after Brock turned 7, Dustin and I made a deal with him that if he could read the whole Book of Mormon we would buy him an XBox 360. He had been asking us for one and we didn't feel that we should just go out and buy him one, but that he should earn it. He was a year from being baptized and we felt that this would be a good goal for him. Well a year later he achieved his goal. He learned at the end that if he prays, Heavenly Father will let him know if the words he has read are true, he wants to do that tonight. What a great example to all of us, I am so proud of him. Not many 8 year olds can say that they have read the whole Book of Mormon. Way to go Brock! We love you!