It's a Bunch of B.S.

Wakeup sleepy heads

2011-04-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Makinzi and Madi-I finally updated my blog. Now get off my back and get out of my house!!!

Love you

Steph

More Pix

2010-06-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

New York, New York

2010-06-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing time in New York City. I would love to go again someday, but I have to admit it is nice walking down the street and not touching anyone. There is so many people there. My kids are not invited to go there. They would disappear in the crowd and I would never see them again. There also is no grass anywhere besides Central Park. All you see are buildings and concrete. I would never own a car either if I lived there. People are crazy drivers. We get upset if someone cuts you off here. In New York there are no lines on the street, so a one lane road has 3 rows of cars trying to go down it-Its nuts! The subway is awesome. Its like an amusement ride. Next time we go I am skipping all the tourist places like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Empire State building. In these places you literally stand in line to get to stand in another line. My plan next time is to eat out all day, see a show at night, and then run around Central Park the next morning. They have the best food. We ate in Little Italy and my life was complete. The food was so good! I could eat there every night. They also have the best cheesecake and pizza there too. Its a good thing we walked so much or I would have gained 100 lbs. I would recommed seeing Wicked or any Broadway show for that matter. It was so much fun I cant even describe it-so I won't. If you really want to know about my New York experience-call me.

Love the baby

2010-03-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

Brody loves to hold babies. This is the first time he held baby E. He had so much fun. I was surprized he held her for so long. At his therapy office there is a lady who brings her baby in to work sometimes. He will work hard in order to go and look at her baby. Funny kid!

Family Pictures

2009-11-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

This is for you KellyAnn. I am finally updating. I've been kind of busy lately and this has been in the back of mind. But we went and had our family pictures done. Afterwards I am reminded as to why we don't do them very often. Ms.Joe is emotional, Stryd is a typical kid that doesn't want to hold still and Brod was himself. Thank heaven's for editing-otherwise it would have been a disaster. But hope you enjoy.

Slip and Slide

2009-07-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

It is finally getting hot enough to set up the slip and slide. The kids had a blast. They come up with their own ways of sliding. Brody jumps, Joe trips, and Stryder just runs the whole length. I would show them the correct form of slip and sliding, but that would require me to get in my swimsuit and throw myself in freezing cold water. It's not that hot!

Hide and Seek

2009-06-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

Jo loves to play games! Her favorite lately is Hide and Seek. She is really good. She'll hide under blankets and won't move a muscle or even breathe. Other times she crawls behind the clothes in our closet and covers herself up. It would take me forever to find her. I actually am looking too! But today-Stryder was playing and he is a terrible hider. When I call out-"where are you?" He laughs or says "In here!" It drives Jo crazy. She is always shushing him or telling him to be quiet. The game doesn't last very long. Stryder always give away their hiding place when he busts out at you.

I always wanted a pond!

2009-06-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

While we were at church I could hear that there was a massive thunderstorm rolling through! I had no idea. There was standing water in the parking lot that stretched from one side to the other. Water splashed over cars as they pulled out of the parking lot. We had to find an alternative route home because water would have reached almost the top of our tires if we tried to turn at the corner we normally do. Our garden is now the pond I always dreamed of. Except it looks dirty and ugly. In the picture above you may notice that you can see a flower. That flower is under water. The flowers used to be in my house, but I was chastised on how I didn't water them and they were dying. I planted them maybe a week and a half ago and they have been getting plenty of water since.

26.2

2009-06-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

If you ever have the urge to run a marathon-I highly recommend it! If I can finish-you can too! I have to admit, it was the funnest thing I have ever done. All those weeks of traning, wondering why am I doing this, pays off in the end. It was an amazing feeling to turn that last corner and to see the finish line. It was even better to see Brad at the end. Water never tasted so good and walking never hurt so bad. I wanted to do a "I did it" dance, but my legs thought it best not to do anymore than I had to. It was the most painful punishment to run this marathon-I am not going to sugar coat it. I wanted to cry every time I saw stairs. I think I even broke my foot, though I haven't gone in to see a doctor. My joints and muscles protested any type of movement I made for a few days. Even with all that pain, I am willing to do it again. I never have felt so good about an accomplishment then I did about this one. I can now cross off one more item from my "Things to do before I die" list. CHECK! Thanks Holly for convincing me to do this. I would never would have done it without your encouragement. Next time though-you are running it with me.

3 little monkeys jumping off the bed

2009-03-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

They all fell off and bumped their heads, but no doctor needed to be called. At least I don't think they have concussions. They are running around still so I think they'll be okay.

Marriage is what bring us together today...

2009-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

Heather was married last week! We are so excited for her. Her husband's name is Dane and the sweetest guy you'll meet. She asked Holly and I to do the cake for her. I was so excited until she told me she wanted simple and elegant. To me that means that I will not have anything to cover up all my mistakes on the cake. I need flowers, ribbon, and dark corner to display the cake, but she wanted just a white square cake with a ribbon bow in the middle. I have never done a square cake before and I had nothing to cover up my mistakes. But it turned out in the end thanks to Holly for all her genius ideas. I hope she liked it. I guess she can't complain too much-it was free! Congrats to Heather and Dane.

It's cold outside

2009-01-03T15:30:00.001-08:00

The kids love playing outside and riding around on the 4wheelers. When you put the two together-it's even better. That is if it doesn't feel like its below 0 degrees outside. It was awesome to go up to the south hills to go sledding and get pulled by the 4 wheelers. But when you stopped playing around and you realize that your toes are frozen, inside your nose is a block of ice and you are wet from head to toe, fun time is over. But it is a memory that we will remember. I just think next time we will wait when it's at least 32 degrees before we go.

Christmas pictures

2008-12-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas is always an exciting time of year. Baking, giving, shopping, more baking(because I ate the first batch), and taking pictures. I'm not sure why I think it is a good idea to take a family photo each year and send it out in the christmas cards, but I do. I am not a photographer-obviously- and my kids hate getting their pictures taken. It's like I'm pulling teeth. Brody says its too dangerous-Joe doesn't want her hair done-Stryder thinks its a game and runs away half dressed. It sure is an adventure to get them all to stay still, look at the camera and smile all at the right time. Here are a few of the most memorable pictures of this years photo shoot. Merry Christmas everyone!

Arrgh....Matey

2008-11-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, my kids are pretty cool! One of them got a pirate patch in their Halloween stash (which is no longer because they ate it all gone, with a little help from me). They were so funny. They would put it on and yell "Arrgh....Matey" It was hilarious!! I guess maybe you would had to have been there. Well, I thought it was funny.

Hold onto the ones you love

2008-11-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately it takes times of tragedy to remind us how precious and short life really is. A friend of mine is going through such a time in her life. I won't go into detail because it's really not my place. But I am reminded of the Year 2007 in my own family. I had 2 of my children in the hospital within months of each other. One because my body decided to go toxic on me and the pregnancy had to be terminated 6 weeks before he was due. Another was ran over by a pickup. These things aren't suppose to happen-at least not to me or my family. They happen to unknown people that live far away. This doesn't happen to regular people-right? I found out really quick that things like this do happen. They happen and there is nothing you can do about it. I know that trials are apart of this existence. I can handle my own trials. But to have my children-who are beyond precious to me-suffer, was almost unbearable. Watching them struggle was difficult to say the least. But it was a time that brought us together. Never had I prayed with such sincerity and conviction. It is hard to say "Thy will be done" and actually mean it. I now know, without a doubt, that there is a Father in Heaven who hears and answers prayers. I believe in guarding angels and miracles. My children wouldn't be here without them. I have a greater respect and appreciation for my husband who was my rock through this. I love him more then he probably realizes. I love my family even more. It's sad to say, but would I be so attached to them if these things didn't happen. There are days that I truly wonder. I also know that we were blessed in our time of need. Sometimes prayers are not answered in the way we want. I know, trust me on that! That is when faith comes in handy. The Lord knows what is best and he sees the whole big picture. We see only a portion. I guess my point is don't let it take times of tragedy to make you appreciate what you have in your own home. Don't ever take them for granted and never let them go.

The Biggest Loser

2008-11-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is actually here. What I mean is that I am finally dedicated to start working out and eating better. I am always saying tomorrow I will start and this time I actually mean it. This is actually because a group of girls I know have started their own "The biggest Loser" contest. We have 6 months to drop the weight and the person who has lost the most, gets the pot. You see everyone donates 10$ and the winner gets all. So of course the more people involved the more money. If anyone is interested in this contest let me know and I will send you the link to sign up. You need to sign up as an author in able to report your process every week. It will be a lot of fun and it should be motivating knowing you have to report how you are doing. Wish me luck!

Happily Ever After

2008-10-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Halloween-The Devil's holiday! Everyone is out begging for candy and we are no exception. We did the Trunk or Treat thing this year though. Brad decorated his trailer and dressed as some wicked guy. It looked awesome!! Just imagine being a little kid and having to go up to him to get your candy. There was a lot of kids who decided it wasn't worth it. Brad looked scary. The kids had fun too. Brody was a dragon, Joe was Wendy from Peter Pan, and Stryder the devil (we really didn't need a costume for him). I dressed up in my version of "Happily Ever After". I am a princess, who now is so much more. Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Cumin vs Cinnamon

2008-10-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

Did you know that when you make french toast, it is a good idea to use cinnamon instead of cumin? I decided this tonight. I was making french toast, of course, and it smelled like tacos. I really didn' t know why. As I was cleaning up I opened up my spice cupboard and my cinnamon was staring me in the face while I holding what I thought was the bottle. Let me explain a little. A few weeks ago, I noticed that my spice cupboard was getting a little cramped and decided to clean out a bit. I had a few repeat spices-spices that I already had and had bought more of- and decided to combine them-therefore making more room. Just because a label has a C on it doesn't necessarily mean that it is cinnamon. Just in case you are thinking of cleaning out your spice cupboard and don't read label very closely. I must have put the cumin in with the cinnamon. Moral of story- Cumin does not make great french toast. Syrup doesn't hide the taste. No- the kids will not eat it either, we already tried.

Trick or Treat

2008-10-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why we use the word "Boo!" to scare people? Is it really a scary word by itself? Or is it the fact that when you do use it, you are jumping out behind the bushes wearing a mask that depicts Satan's minions that causes a victim fear? Honestly, Satan's minions could use the word pickle and I would probably drop to the floor, crying. I am a wimp though. I love and hate to be scared. I love it because it's awesome-but hate it because my mind doesn't know where the line between reality and fiction is. I will sleep with the lights on while church music is playing and a baseball bat in one hand. I'm not sure what purpose the bat has. Anyways-The Halloween party was awesome. Thanks for coming!!

The girl who cries "wolf" and those who don't listen

2008-10-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

Little Joe has a tendency to scream whenever she has the urge. We have tried to explain that she uses that scream only when blood or death is involved, but to no avail. We hear her scream all too often and don't rush to her aid as we probably should. Well today I should have. I was upstairs while she was downstair and I heard the scream. I just sat there upstairs and called to her to come up to me. By the time she arrived blood had streamed down her face and it was all over her hands and in her hair. Oops, I guess she really was hurt. I tried to get her to tell me what happened, but I couldn't understand her over her screams. The cut really wasn't that bad, but I sure do feel like a bad parent. Poor Joe! We really do love her, I promise.

Fall Day

2008-09-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

We drove up to the south hills today. The leaves up at the top are starting to turn and it feels like fall is in the air. The kids had a blast running around looking for bears, crocodiles, and flying chickens. Though we didn't see any of them. Joe was the self declared leader. But if you are ever really lost, my suggestion is not to follow her. She likes to find the most difficult and steepest route to go up. It was entertaining to watch them run around having fun. It was wonderful getting away for a few hours and spending time with the family. I've decided a cabin would be awesome to have.

Along came a Spider...

2008-09-18T13:44:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I went outside with Joe and she wanted to show me something "Cool" She told me look at the web and I could see a spider. Just a side note. I am terrified of spiders, but since it was Joe wanting to show me I was willing to put my fears aside and be strong. When I knelt down though and saw the spider I flipped. Not only was it a big spider, but a black widow. I don't know how long its been there. But long enough that Joe knew exactly where it was before we even went outside. Holy macarooni. I called Brad so he would come home and kill it. Until then, I am leaving and not coming back until its done. Though I had to take a picture of it. Thank heavens I have a great zoom on my camera.

Boots for walking

2008-09-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Brody was pretending to sleep in my closet. He ended up trying on different shoes and presenting himself to everyone. I had to take a keep this one forever. He even walked the catwalk for me as I took pictures of him.

Pink or Green

2008-09-05T14:39:00.001-07:00

I always wanted another little girl. Maybe Stryder can play the role of both boy and girl. He really couldn't decide which pair he liked best. So what do you think--Pink?? Green??

With Extra Aloe

2008-08-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is a fun activity to do with the kids. Shaving cream with the extra aloe I find leaves their skin feeling silky smooth with just a hint of masculinity. Their breath also smells fresh afterwards.

Ouchy!

2008-08-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Joe didn't have that much fun after she fell running down a hill made of asphalt. The poor little thing. Brad could hear her scream on the other side of the park. He turned and decided there wasn't anything he could do for her and walked back to the car with Stryder and waited for us.

Shoshone Falls

2008-08-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

We decided to go to Shoshone Falls and see its wonders before it dried up again. The kids had a blast! Nothing is more fun than running down the steep hills only to find out that you can't stop at the end. The Falls themselves weren't half bad either. It's been awhile since we'd been there, but there is a lot more water going over than in the past years. Pretty impressive!

Petroleum Jelly

2008-07-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

If you ever watch Stryder make sure you actually WATCH him.

Jumping on the Band Wagon!

2008-07-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

Since everyone else is doing it, we might as well be bloggers. It's only right that we allow you the same courtesey of checking up on us as we do with all of you. Ours lives are pretty typical as lives go. Our three kids are still alive which is a bonus for them. Brody is doing so good with his therapies. He is starting to have conversations with people and the light grows brighter every day in his eyes. JoJo is so grown up. She is a great big sister, though sometimes too helpful. Stryder is running everywhere getting into everything. He is saying a few words, but mostly yells. Life is always adventure here and life is always busy.