Cousin Time

We kidnapped Lauren for the long weekend and exchanged the twins in return. They have been with Tina and Steve and Lauren has been with us. Kenna has enjoyed having her older cousin dote on her and play games constantly and at any given time! They have watched movies together, gone to the rodeo, drawn pictures, written stories, gone to a movie, made bracelets and just "hung out". Its been fun. Addy came over a couple of times and joined with them in their activities and Sadie came for the movie and nail painting activity.

Lauren, Kenna, Addy and Chandler on top of a mountain by our house. I wish I could have captured the view that is seen from that point.

Three girls before crawling under the covers...Kenna, Addy and Lauren!

Lots of fun with various toe nail polish. It is interesting how they all wore flip flops. Could it be in the blood?

New Resolution: Take More Pictures

OK - So, we have had an eventful month. Lots of out of town visitors have come, Russ had his 20 year HS Reunion, the boys and Russ went to Fathers/Sons with the Scadden Uncles and male cousins, and we've had some vacation time with dad here and there. What do I have to show for it? Basically....Nothing but embedded images in my mind. I failed yet again to take pictures. I could blame it on the fact that our camera was lost in March or the undeniable truth that Brenna took her camera with her to MS, or even the reality that the camera I really want is too expensive. Truthfully, I'm just a loser mom who has not documented all the events taking place through pictures.

I decided today when I saw how large our garden has grown and the produce it is giving us, I needed to find another solution. Thus, I'm going to use my phone camera to take pictures of everything I can until I can afford to get the good camera Russ and I have been eyeing.

I did manage to get this picture of my kids and Drew Robertson playing with them at the Herriman Beach. It has been fun to have Drew over to play with the boys...sort of a second generation thing. His dad, Mike, grew up with me and we hung out tons during our teenage years. I can't count the number of homes we toilet papered! Good times! Anyway, Drew has been in town visiting his aunt and came to stay the evening with my boys, played at the beach, joined the neighborhood group of boys in night games, and in general...fit in like an old shoe.

Brenna, The July-Absent Member of our Family

Russ and I picked up Brenna this morning from EFY and are happy to have her home with us for a few days. She had a great time, obtained keen insight to gospel questions (deep concepts) and is currently washing and packing to leave for MS early next week. I don't know how we are going to function without her but I'm so very glad she has this opportunity to visit family, help with a new baby and find out further of what great stuff she is made. Love you Brenna-Brat!

(Her group of girls at EFY 2010.)

With a bit of enthusiasm and a touch of sadness...

...2010 All Star Season has come to a close. Our fourth of July weekend was spent running to and from the ballfield, up to Kaysville for extended family pictures, washing uniforms, parades and more baseball.


Tanner is a bit fierce on the mound as this picture shows. He did well in this tournament hitting and even slugged some balls that I thought were nearly out of the park.

The team was concentrating on what was before them. They had warmed up but not yet played (notice their uniforms are yet white) and the team they were facing had a reputation for being relentless. Our boys did their best but alas, the reported opponent was a bit harsh.

The black and white photo of the Herriman 12 & U All Star's Baseball Team!

Herriman Days Parade

This past weekend was the Herriman City Days Celebration. Saturday morning's activities began with a very long parade. Since we are closely associated with the Herriman Community Garden (and have a plot there this year to grow our vegetables), the French Family and our family put together a "garden type" float. Our kids rode on the trailer and threw candy and seed packets. I was quite surprised at the number of people who came out to support the parade. Herriman is a relatively small place but still, there were 77 floats/trailers...not to mention people attending the parade!

The kids were getting hot as we were preparing to start our journey in the lineup. The sun was out and it was 90 degrees at 9:30 in the morning this day!

Chandler got out of the trailer a little later with the older boys and marched up and down the road handing out goodies to the younger children sitting on the curb. He really thought he was super special and just as big as everyone else. I wish I had captured a picture of his big smile.

Later that afternoon, we attended Tanner's All-Star game. Though his team lost this game, he pitched four innings and only walked 2 players the entire game! I've never seen him so confident on the mound. It was a good feeling to watch him conquer his nerves and do so well!

Steven Lord came to the ballfield to join us and spent the night with us. We grilled and then attended the evening festivals at the park. Jerrico Road performed and then they had quite a fireworks performance. Steven and the kids road on some of the carnival rides during the evening hours.

Sunday morning, our bishopric was changed. I know Bishop Hess needs a break - as does his family. However, it was a sad day for me. So many experiences and tiny miracles occured when we were moving into this house and Bishop Hess was a part of those...though he is unaware of how he played a part during many of those occurrences. He has been influential in Brenna and Tanner's lives, as well as my primary age children. The morning was bitter-sweet!

Our new bishopric will be awesome too. The bishop is a fun loving man with a great heart. His counselors will be very supportive and helpful as well. Russ was called to serve as the Executive Secretary and will be busier. Thats okay though. We felt change coming and I'll take this change over bishopric any day. :)

While the Manager is Away...

A week ago Russ's manager, Jed, was out on vacation. He left Russ in charge of all of the manager's meetings as well as a few other tasks. The first mistake Jed made was leaving his office open. It seems the guys would rather pull pranks than eat lunch or go home in the evenings. They rolled Jed's office in foil - big time. It was such a great job, I had to blog with pictures for all to see.

Nothing escaped the foil roll....

Not even the books, pens or pictures!

My favorite is the plant. Oh, I forgot to mention an important aspect of this prank. The morning Jed came back to work, the guys had a strobe light hooked up, further "shining" the room. Needless to say, Jed worked in shades that first day!

Mom, the Head Delinquent

OK. So I realize there is only a week left of this hideous year round school schedule. Still, I couldn't resist my kid's pleadings that I let them stay home and play at the Herriman Beach. I justified it by looking at my calendar and seeing that Brenna is going to be gone most of the summer. This was one of the few beautiful days where they could lounge and play together. (At least the justification SOUNDS good. My kids know I'm a sucker for keeping them home and playing - especially when sun, sand and water is involved!)

Chandler had so much fun "learning" to build a sand castle. He is shown here gathering water for the mote.

Taylor, Carter and Tanner dug holes to crawl into. These pictures don't show the magnificence of their creations because I failed to get shots of their stellar hole digging skills at the end. (I could swear they are part canine after viewing their sand graves - )

Tanner and Carter, in this shot, have built themselves a nice beach sand "hot tub". Their imagination made me laugh. :)

It was a fun day and one we won't soon forget!

She's here....Finally!

Karoleigh GraceLyn York, aka "Karli", arrived on Saturday, June 19th. Weighing in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 21" long, she is a beauty! We're glad she has joined our (extended) family. This is Kristin's baby -

Tying Knots

So, Russ is actually in a state of denial/shock that I've begun crocheting. Anyone who knows me has probably questioned my sanity because well, this is typically far from anything I would ever sit down to do. Nonetheless, I'm spending my evenings in therapy - knot therapy, for I truly find it relaxes me. These are some of the baby gifts I've made recently.

This "turtle blanket" is for my sister, Kristin, and her new baby that she hopes to birth sooner than later...

Also for little Karoleigh GraceLyn (aka "Karli"), is this ladybug blanket and burp cloth set. It was really fun to do this one.

Carter and Taylor's teacher is due to have her first baby - a girl - in a few weeks. Since her nursery theme is the moon and stars, we selected this print and I crocheted around this blanket for her room.

Visitors

Well, we have had Robby and Paula here with their 3 children. It has been an eventful week as we went with them to the temple for the first time. They received their endowments in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Wednesday and then were sealed in the Bountiful Temple on Thursday.

These were some of the missionaries who worked with their family in Jackson. The RM on the left, Elder Carrin, had returned home on Wednesday from his mission and made it to the Bountiful Temple on Thursday for their sealing. Now THAT is dedication!

Life's Markers

Chan's preschool graduation was a special night for him. It marked his passage into REAL SCHOOL. (Or so he thinks...) Next fall, watch out Pre-K because there will be a new man in town and he is ready to learn and be like "the big kids". When Chandler's teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he quickly said, "a teenager". So it looks like mom and dad are going to have their hands full with this one for sure!

Brenna has officially finished school and is technically classified as a high school freshman. It is hard to believe that she is a freshman and that I am a mother with a high school student! She aced all her classes (again) and has a full academic load lined up next year complete with a little R&R with the high school swim team. I'm glad she will have the social aspect back in her life but oh, how I'm going to miss my Brenna girl. [The last 1/2 of the academic year, she finished school with an online charter program taking Geometry, High School LA and Spanish - along with other classes.]

MeKenna had a project to reconstruct London in 3-D and give an oral report on her country. She did an awesome job presenting because she was well prepped by her older sister. Brenna and I were happy to help her get this project behind her and reclaim the kitchen space.

Carter and Taylor finished their football season and are looking forward to trying tackle football in the fall. They had fun with new friends and gained new skills on the field.

Tanner's baseball season continues and though the team isn't doing very well, Tanner is holding his own on the mound. It has been a difficult season with an inexperienced coach. Sometimes it is amazing what we learn when we are placed in undesireable circumstances.

As for Russ and myself, we are just doing well to survive the hectic days and the emotion that results from decisions others have made. I can't control choices that are made out of my realm but I am learning how better to cope with those decisions that impact my life. I've been blessed with wonderful friends who support me, allow me to cry on their shoulders and some who even insist on bringing my family dinner. With friends like that, I can get through these trials.

In the end, I'm very grateful for Russ and my children. Most men don't listen but want to "fix" everything. Russ is good about validating my feelings and emotions, holding me when I need to cry, and lightening my load in the house. Sometimes he'll even take the kids out for "daddy time" and let me have time by myself. I love him so much!

Playing Catch-Up with Modge Podge Events

I have been slothful in keeping our blog updated as we have whizzed from one event to the next. After looking at the lack of pictures we have taken due to a loss of my camera, I decided to post a mirage of events into one posting with pictures taken from my handy-dandy phone. Thus, the title "Playing Catch-Up" becomes apropros.



We've been blessed with many visitors the past few months, all of which we became aquainted with in Georgia. I can not express in words the feeling I have when I see a familiar "Georgia face". Deep down, I am giddy - while also very appreciative to Heavenly Father for continuing relationships. When I see our Texas friends, I feel the same way!

Anyway, our family friend Steven Lord came to visit one Sunday afternoon for a chimichanga dinner. He played with the kids on the tramp and then everyone roasted marshmallows that evening as we sat around talking. We haven't seen Steven since he left on his mission 3 years ago. He looks really good and has grown so much - physically and spiritually. I witnessed a maturity in him that was gained during our 3 year absence. (Hopefully it wasn't gained BECAUSE he was away from us for three years though!) We hope to see more of him. I don't have pictures of Brandon Clay's Sunday afternoon visit with us. Maybe the next time he is around, we'll snag some and get them on a post.

Lee-Lee Hughes and Ruthie Hughes Meacham brought little Chase to visit us shortly after he was born. Chandler couldn't get enough of him and was very attentive to this baby's gestures and stretches. Russ and I took the kids to Provo for Chase's blessing and went with the family afterwards to Santaquin for a brunch. I wish I had captured on camera Chandler and CJ playing together, but the one picture I did manage turned out blury. I'm sad Ruthie and Todd are moving but hope they visit Utah often and we get to "hook up". We've known Ruthie since she was about 12 and watched her grow, marry and have children of her own. Talk about making us feel old! We really hope Lee-Lee continues to come and visit. I've missed her so much and was very grateful to be able to spend some time with her one evening driving around!

Tanner is the starting pitcher for his baseball team and is keeping his pitch-count down most games. He has worked hard and his loser mom has not gotten any pictures of him on the mound this season to post. (She'll have to work on that!) Also, the "mom" needs to work on gathering pictures of Carter & Taylor playing spring flag football. We weren't able to convince the twins to play baseball and it broke our hearts. However, they are old enough to make their own sporting decisions so I am keeping my fingers crossed they'll go back to the diamond next year!

Chandler is playing t-ball for the first time and what an experience it has been. It is fun to watch Russ coach the team and bond further with little ChanMan. The kids are so cute out on the field watching the ball roll past them. You can almost see the light go on in their heads with the electricity spreading to all the players at the same time as they suddenly kick it into gear and chase the ball - ALL of the players at once...to the SAME location! Once in a while there is a little bit of a struggle to convince a player to throw the ball and where to get it to. Its a good thing they don't keep score for this age group. Each player bats and runs the bases every inning. Chandler gets excited because he "hits homeruns" all the time. :)


Russ has been working very hard the last month with a side project and regular full time work. He had some extra free time this last week and took Chandler fishing for the first time. It must be in the hormones because I've never heard a girl talk about a fishing trip for as long or as consistent as ChanMan. He would fish morning, noon and night if someone would take him. Our biggest problem is that we don't really have fish lovers at the house. Maybe he could start a business and sell his profits of the day? Russ says everytime he casts into the water, he gets a bite. Hmmmm....We'll have to think about this one.





One other thing that I do have pictures for this last month is my niece's baptism. Here is Kenna with Addy. Lately, Kenna can't get enough "Addy time". A positive about our move is the witnessing of cousins becoming good friends.

Brenna is in this picture with her cousins, Lauren and Amanda. I wish I had the picture I took of these three together playing dress up when they were little girls. They aren't so little anymore. Where does time go?

Last but not least, Russ had his birthday on Mother's Day. With our running around last month, we decided a quick get away was in order. We're very grateful for our children's help in keeping the house picked up and allowing us to be away for a night at Park City. It wasn't cold but it wasn't warm either. The weather was perfect - and so was the company!

Soil Therapy

There is something therapeutic about soil on the hands. Russ and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary by pulling out the old dead pine tree and replacing it with a smaller, ALIVE version! I would have liked to have put a larger tree in its place but the small one we planted was $150 so we decided we'll just have to let it grow to the size we have in mind.

Here is a shot from inside the car just after we hooked up a tow-pull and yanked the dead tree out. It came out quite easily...too easily, in fact!



After we planted the new tree in the front along with the three fruit trees in the back, I spent 3 days planting perinneals inbetween the rocks with great hope that they will spread throughout the years and make the area beautiful. We have a long way to go with the yard, but we are finally seeing a little progress. I planted petunias and violas in the front as well. If the snow would just stay away from us until fall.....keeping my fingers crossed!





We are super excited about the fruit trees in the backyard. At the nursery, we found that many of the trees have been grafted to contain several varieties of fruit. We bought a peach tree with 5 different grafts and a cherry tree with 4 kinds of cherries. (One of the cherry varieties is Rainer - my favorite cherry. It has a whitish/yellowish skin with some streaks of red throughout.) We also bought a Gala Apple tree and are excited for next year when the tree will start yielding fruit. For now, I'm enjoying the beautiful blossoms of the peach tree.



I have found that when depression or sadness sets in, I just need to get outdoors with the intention of making my hands and feet dirty. Maybe this is just the southern girl in me, but it is my personal therapy prescription!


Oh - Russ is also setting up some buckets for me to plant my tomato and pepper plants into. I've grown them from seeds and am excited for our salsa garden. We bought some water walls which are supposed to help the plant produce 6 weeks earlier and 6 weeks later without the weather playing a factor in production. I'm feeling like quite the farmer, but very happy in this role.

MeKenna's Baptism

What a wonderful day we had for Kenna's baptism! She was the only child baptized from our ward and so we were able to cater the program around her and have everyone speak that she wanted. Brenna talked on baptism and Aunt Patti spoke on the Holy Ghost. Her siblings and cousins all sang, "If The Savior Stood Beside Me" and it brought tears to my eyes. She even had her own, personalized beautician inbetween the baptism and confirmation. What a princess she was and is! (Thanks again, Brindi!)

Unfortunately, we lost our camera at the Stake Center so we don't have any of the pictures we took before hand nor the ones we took right afterwards.

Everyone came back to the house after the baptism for pasta and alfredo, marinara or another sauce that Russ likes. We had homemade bread sticks, snicker salad, green salads, banana pudding, cake and Brindi's famous treat spread. Again, I don't have pictures because we lost our camera. :(

One of the best surprises the day of Kenna's baptism was that the Gallups came to see Aunt Patti. It has been many years since they have visited so it was really nice to see them together.

For journaling purposes, the following people attended Kenna's baptism: Russ, Debi, Brenna, Tanner, Carter, Taylor, Chandler; Brother Rick Uribe (Conducted), Sister Mia Chase, Grandma Carol Curry, Aunt Kristin & Uncle Michael York, Aunt Patti Alexander, (Cousins) John & Danika Pope, Dan & Suzanne Gallup, (Kenna's Teacher) Dannielle Petersen along with her husband and baby Carter; The North Family - Jed, Laura, Deven, Amber, Bubba, Jared, Mikel, Ciera, Taylynn, Taryn and Zane; Brindi Nichol; Grandpa Dean Scadden (who witnessed), Grandpa Richard Scadden (who witnessed), Grandma Marie Scadden, Aunt Tina & Uncle Steve Estoque with Brandon, Amanda, Lauren & Nate; Uncle Kory & Aunt Melanie Scadden with Sadie, Ian, Sam and Ava; Uncle Jeff & Aunt Stephanie Scadden with Addy, Tyson, Jackson and Boston; Aunt Lara & Uncle Chris Lifferth with Amelia; Mark Davis, Marcelo Gomez, Ruth & Todd Mecham with CJ, Mindy & Avery Houghton and Brother Reggie Rappley.

Arrow of Light Recipients

Carter and Taylor both received their Arrow of Light awards at Pack Meeting last month. Russ painted their faces and they lit the light/candles for each of the 7 virtues associated with this award. We're proud of our boys and their accomplishment!

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies

I just looked at my blog and realized I haven't posted in a couple weeks. Since I'm trying to keep this up better, I've been racking my brain about what I could write.

Basically, nothing is new. Our life is still crazy busy. Russ and I picked up the cookie order yesterday from the warehouse. Can you say Girl Scout Cookies everywhere? I have them stacked in our third garage - under lock and key! We delivered the cookies to the girls who had ordered them and now it is time for me to help MeKenna get her personal orders together and out to the various people she needs to deliver them to. This is a picture of our trailer loaded with cookies as we were preparing to leave the warehouse. We put the "other" kinds of cookies (is there REALLY anything else but Samoas?) into the back of the Suburban.

Happy Birthday, Kenna-Girl!

My beautiful MeKenna is now 8. I have yet to figure out how time has slipped through my fingers! Kenna is full of life, love and is THE socialite of the family.

I was thinking about the first time I ever layed eyes on my sweet princess. We were so happy to have another little girl in our family - finally! How sad I was when they whisked her off to NICU for a few days. How happy I was that the NICU experience would be nothing like Tanner or the twins!

Kenna: Everyone was so excited to have you come home. Your brothers were inquisitive and protective, but no one was more loving towards you than your big sister, Brenna. She adored you (and still does)! I want you to know how special you are to us. I want you to know how much you add to the dynamics in our family and how I'm in awe of your spirit. I want you to always remember your Heavenly Father loves you and you really are a princess! I love you so much, even though you are a little "sassy". I guess that is what makes you Kenna though. I'm happy you have made the decision to be baptized and to wear your 2nd white dress. Someday after your mission, you'll put on your 3rd white dress and be somebody's else's queen but you'll always be our little princess. I love you so much, Kenna-girl!

(Above: Here is proof of your natural "sassiness" that we laugh about so much!)