The Rex Crew

Happy Birthday Avery!

2011-07-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

My little girl is 9! This sounds cliche, but how can she be this old?

For her birthday we went to Red Robin for lunch with some friends, then it was off to Park City for an afternoon of shopping. Avery tried on EVERYTHING in the Gap and Justice. She could out shop us all. Then, we picked up a gift for the whole family. A great friend of JD's who's kids are all grown up, offered us their trampoline. Such a fun day.

A few things about Avery at age 9:

Still a spit fire: She runs hot. She is always poised for a fight (and usually finds one)
love music: She is constantly singing something (at the top of her lungs).
love babies and little kids: She's been called the baby whisperer. She can take even the most grumpy baby and get them to like her. She's alway willing to take a toddler to the potty or follow them around a playground.
learning to love reading: Like to learn about history through reading.
loves riding bikes: she has started to ride her bike everywhere
new found love BASEBALL: We're are starting to wonder if the love of baseball is actually the love of baseball boys or the game itself, but either way she's out on the field.

Drive-in movie!!

2011-06-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

We love to head out to the drive-in movies a couple times a year. This year we headed out without know what was playing. To our great suprise it was the opening night for Cars 2. The place was packed, but they had lost of fun.

Being the middle of June the sun didn't set until 9:30. The movie didn't end until 11:30. The kids were so tired we didn't make it to see Pirates.....Oh well, still worth the trip.

Ward Water fight June 17

2011-06-26T10:18:00.001-07:00

Our ward had a water party. All the kids joined in with their squirt guns and hoses. Even the great-grandmas joined in. The kids held nothing back against the 80 somethings. Quite funny.

Jetblue boutique- June 17

2011-06-26T10:17:00.001-07:00

Jetblue Spring Boutique out did themselves this year. First time in 6 years it didn't rain, so we packed up the kids and an extra one and headed to the park. Every one that wanted got their face painted.
Halle wanted a butterfly.

Carson wanted a tiger, Jack want nothing to do with it.

Avery did a butter fly too, but went with the smaller version.

Sea World came and brought some non-aquatic furry friends with them. The kids loved the lemur.

They each got a plush animal from Sea World. They jumped on the bounce houses until they were ready to puke. Good times for all!

Disneyland.....again!

2011-06-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

We just can't get enough of the D-land. Needing a little family time, we headed down to sunny So Cal. It's great this year, because we're all tall enough for all the rides. Makes my life easier when I have them all by myself.
I can even throw them on the Tea cups with out me!!!! Hallelujah!!!
The big kids in back me and the little ones in front.
Not to self, don't do the canoes ever again, and I mean EVER!! Biggest waste f time and my arms hurt after. I want sore feet after Disneyland not sore arms.

last day of school

2011-06-26T10:13:00.001-07:00

The last day of school wrapped up witha few tears, but mostly smiles. Halle loved her teacher Ms. Walters. she taught her how to read and write. Halle made lots of new friends. She was sad because 2 of her best friends are moving away during the summer.

Field day - June 2

2011-06-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Field day is always a hit with the kids. They love to climb the bounce houses, eat watermelon, dunk the 6th graders in the dunk booth, eat snow cones and popcorn, and most of all run through the firemans hoses. This year it was bit chilly and the water didn't last too long, which the kids didn't seem to mind. Don't let the blue sky full you, it was barely 60 degrees. But hot or cold, the kids had a good time.

AR school winner and McReader of the year - May 27

2011-06-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

Every since Easton was a baby all he wanted to do was read. His toys sat untouched, while his books became tattered and torn. His desire to read to himself brought him to teach himself to read at 5 and he hasn't put a book down since.

This year Easton was bound and determined to beat his friend Henry at reading. Half way through the year, Henry gave up, and Easton didn't stop until the end. He ended the year at about 650 points, which was about double his previous best.

Those points earned him the highest earner in the school! and the McReader of the year. We are so proud of him. Setting a goal and achieving it.
McReader award winners receive a book. Just what he needs.
Recieving his award.

Easton and Henry. Friends with a fierce competitivness.

Fit Fun Run - May 20

2011-06-26T10:09:00.001-07:00

The kids school does a Fit Fun Run every year. This year I joined in for the 3 miles. I tried running it with Easton. He ditched me in the first 2 minutes, but I past him and he never caught up. Halle's walked the mile with her Kindergarten friends. Avery ran with last years teacher that she still loves. It's such a great program to get the kids in shape. It gives them so much confidence when they achieve the mile goal they set for themselves.

First unofficial race completed! Granted it was with 300 children, but 3 miles is 3 miles. Unofficial time 28:44.....next stop 10k??? we'll see!

Last day of preschool....forever!

2011-06-26T10:08:00.001-07:00

After 6 straight years of a Rex attending Murray Community Preschool we said goodbye. Carson was our last graduate of preschool. I don't want to even think about how much money was spent there, but we have 4 very smart, very ready for kindergarten kids because of them. Thanks to all the teachers who helped, taught and loved my kids!
Good bye, Ms. F!

Goodbye Ms Karen!

Carson's green thumb May 15

2011-06-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

Carson planted this bean plant in preschool. We were all amazed with how well it did. It never warmed up enought to plant it outside but we were able to harvest about 10 beans from this plant.

Service update- May13

2011-06-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Service update:
March: Humanitarian Aid
The LDS churches humanitarian aid office has different care packages that you can donate to. Infant, School, and overall Care. Each person picked the kind they wanted to do. We went shopping and bought the items needed. It was interesting to see the simiple things people need.
April: Shampoo for Charity
Jetblue has a collection box for all the hotel shampoo, conditioners, and soaps that crewmembers collect in their travels. Then they donate all the items to a charity organization that puts together care packages. So,we went through our drawers and ended up with over 50 bottles. We tookt the items to Jetblue to be donated.
May: Locks of Love
Avery was our service provider for May. She cut 10" off her hair and donated the stresses to Locks of Love. It was harder on mom than on her. She now loves her short hair, and loves knowing that she help some other girl who doesn't have hair.
Long lovely locks

Almost to her behind.

First snip!

.........and there it goes.
So, cute......

.......and so proud!

Mother's day - May 6

2011-06-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

The kids picked out the flowers and pot for Grandma Pam. They planted everything themselves. They had so much fun giving it to her.

Halle's passion.....Dirt! - May 3

2011-06-26T09:36:00.002-07:00

Halle has loved the dirt since she was born. So, this year we decided to put that love into good use. On a rare day when it was just Halle and I, and was not raining, we went to the store and bought some flowers.
She bought a couple bags of rich soil and flowers. Her color palet included purple, pink and yellow. We both got new gardening gloves and off we went.
At home she grabbed a rake and went straight to work.
We strategiclly planted the flowers in the ground.
She learned to be gentle with the little plants or they would break.
After some fertilizer, her work was done. Now, we wait!

Crazy Weather-April 30

2011-06-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

April 30th, 8 inches of snow......seriously?

Arbor day winner - April 29

2011-06-26T09:35:00.002-07:00

Easton's class entered the Arbor Day contest. Each child had to draw a representation of how trees effect our lives. Easton free handed the shape of the country then researched what type of trees could be found in different regions of the U.S. He then drew the trees and fun things that can be done with those trees. And......he won for McMillian!

He was able to missed school and go to Murray park for a bar-b-que for the winners. Then there was a little program for arbor day and all the winners were announced. The only down fall is that it was about 35 degrees and going from rain to snow all day. But we managed to have a good time.

Easter

2011-06-26T09:35:00.001-07:00

Every year since we moved in 7 years ago, our circle has had a Easter Egg Hunt. Even then we had a lot of kids, but this year we have doubled our numbers. The kids have so much fun running from house to house collecting eggs.

I have this exact picture of these 3 girls when they were about a year and a half. They have grown up so much!

We love to dye eggs. I try to keep up my mom's tradition of a dozen eggs per kids. That's 4 dozen eggs. We did something different this year and colored on them with colored crayons and loved the effect.

Easter morning!!! By the time the kids got up, the dogs had found 3 of the eggs. But there was still tons to be found.

Grandma had an Easter egg hunt as well. The adults played too with exploding eggs. If you threw them at someone they would explode with confetti. It was fun except of the welts we all had after.

My kids have inherited their Grandmas taste for Peeps. Avery made sure no one touched hers :)

Chuck E Cheese Please - April 26

2011-06-26T09:34:00.001-07:00

As parents we've been trying to take the little kids out to do little kid things. Much to often they are being shuttled around from baseball games and dance concerts, to school assemblies and big kids type activities. So, we decided to take the little ones to Chuck-e-Cheese. We decided against pizza, but played $20 worth of video games and came away with handfuls of cheap little wonders that made them so happy!

San Diego at the Del Mar with a side of Disneyland - April 16

2011-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun tagging along on JD's work trip. San Diego is always one of our favorite vaction spots. This time we stayed at the Del Mar. The beach was so much fun. Coronado beach is enormous.
Here is the Hoopty! We rented this 6 seater sadan. It took me and JD back to the good ole dating days.

Why is it the divest place have the best food? Brown Bag Deli is one of the best sandwiches to ever make its way to my mouth. But make sure you know what you want before you get up to order or "no sandwich for you!" and get there early, because when the bread is gone, they go home.

Kid after my own heart. Would rather sit on the side of the pool and read, then to dive in. Well, at least for a little while, anyway.

This kids almost as big as me. Where did my baby boy go?

Speaking of big kids, I think Avery is going to take after her mom and be a shorty. Halle on the other hand has that Rex gene and is looking to be a giant.

What way to the weight room?

The kids spent hours finding clams. They toted them around all day. They would throw them up into the air and the seagulls would catch them. Then they'd drop them from the air to crack them open.

After a few days in the sun we stopped in at Disneyland for a day. It had been awhile since we were all there as a family. For the first time we were all able to go on all but 1 ride!! It is so much fun to have the entire family on a ride together.

Here we're getting soaked on Grizzy Rapids. Not my favorite.

Avery's either. Halle didn't mind so much under the poncho.

This time just boys went. Way too cold for the rest of us.

Can you believe this is the first time we've seen Fantasmic?
Gotta love the Sun Wheel.....
Carson was loving all the rides he's never been on before. He didn't even mind being wet.
Girls havin' fun!
Tower of Terror! My favorite!
It's been documented, they liked each other for the 20 seconds it took to take this picture.

San Fransico and Yosemite- March 30

2011-06-26T09:26:00.002-07:00

It's so great that we can jump on a plane and join JD on his work trips. This time it was to San Francisco. We took a day and drove to Yosemite. It was 80 degrees in San Fran, but the mountains were full of snow. It was melting fast, but there was plenty for snowballs.
Yosemite! Check!!

With all the run off the waterfalls were amazing!

Dome mountain.

El Capitain left us speachless. Pictures can't do it justice.
View of Alkatraz, maybe one year we'll actually make it on the island.....

Oh, he still loves his mama.
The seals are always a big hit.
We love Ghiradehelli chocolate factory.
The ice cream shop is fabulous with Gheridehelli chocolate sauce. Carson was in heaven!

The boys went to an A's game and left us girls to fend for ourselves for dinner. We walked to the only store near the hotel and came away with a nutritious dinner. Included: orange soda, fritos, teddy grams, canned bean dip and peeps. I'm such a good mom.

I love Orange

2011-06-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

I occasionally get an urge to paint something. I have some very crazy rooms because of it. This last urge came from my love of the color orange. My living room now boasts of October Leaves!

Carson funnies-March 24

2011-06-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Carson just asked to have a play date. I answered why don't you play with me, he answers, well mom, we really don't have anything in common.

he's already to cool for me :(

“Love, you Opa

2011-04-08T16:20:00.001-07:00

"Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk." Oct 2009 session The Love of God Dieter Uchdorf

I would like every one to close their eyes. Now picture yourself in 1946 in Dordrecht, Netherlands. You are a 16 year old boy and world war II has just ended. The war hasn't left you much, but what it has left is a strong sense of hope. Hope of a life. A life filled with a future of choices, and freedom, and love. Your country is starting to pull itself together . There are celebrations everywhere. After years of being censored, Jazz music can be heard everywhere and young people have begun to dance again. They dance to mourn their losses. They dance to celebrate living. They dance to the future they see in the horizon. At that moment you realize you don't know how to dance.

This was Rein, my Opa, my grandfather.

He gathered a couple of his friends and they decided they would have to learn to dance if they wanted any kind of social life. After some lessons the first "dance" they went to was being hosted by a local company. Rein and his friends were reluctant to actually get up and dance so they moved between the refreshments and the pot belly stove. Something, or should I say some one had caught his eye. As he sat and watched this beautiful young girl dance around, he knew he had to get to know her. He then found her brother Pete and asked permission to walk her home. The 15 year old Lanie agreed and it was the beginning of the rest of their lives.

The two were together non-stop after that. They went dancing all the time. Even after a play, the chairs would be removed and the dancing would begin and wouldn't end until 2 am. When the walk home became too long. Rein save his money and bought Lanie a bike. He borrowed his mothers and they would bike to and from the dances.

When the two became obviously serious about each other Rein's catholic priest came to tell him that he needed to stop seeing the Mormon girl. When he refused and brought Mormon missionaries to the priest office, he was quickly ex-communicated from the Catholic church. This would not be the last time that his beliefs in God would come into play in their relationship.

After about 5 years of dating Lanie's family decided to pack up their lives and move to Utah in the United States to be close to their church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They were engaged, and even though Rein had been baptized into the LDS faith, Lanie decided with the love of her family and the love of her savior she would leave Rein behind. She was "pretty sure" he would follow her. But she knew she needed to leave him there or she would never leave at all.

Rein was beside himself without his love. He tried to live without her, but failed. He would write her love letters in his tiny penmanship that she could barely make out. Eventually she received a letter that said he could not live without her and was crossing the ocean to be with her again.

After 2 weeks on a ship and 1 week on a bus, he arrived in Utah. 1 week later they were married in Lanie's parents family room. She wore a turquoise dress and he wore a suit he had tailored himself. For their honeymoon they borrowed $5 from Lanie's brother Pete and stay in a hotel.

After about 8 years, Rein took his true love as a bride again. This time she was dressed in white and was he and their 3 small children. This time they went to the temple to be sealed as a family, together forever. Oma described the scene to me of her husband, herself and their 3 small children all dress in white in the sealing room as one of the best days of her life.

As the years went on, there were high points and low points. Triumphs and disappointments. All the things that constitute a life lived well. They learned as did Joseph Smith learned in D&C 121:7-8, "thine ^badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a ^c small moment."

8And then, if thou ^a endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy ^b foes

Love is an amazing legacy to leave behind. As Elder Uchdorf says, love is "at the center of all and everything we do in our own family."

This past year, and most recently the last few weeks has been very challenging for the DeMie family. My Oma and Opa have had a lot of health challenges. To quote my favorite movie "The Notebook" these challenges weren't being sick they were "the natural wearing out process" that comes with age. But through these trials, continuing today and beyond, our family has come together and has become stronger.

The Love of this family started some 60 odd years ago when a then 15 year old Lanie met 16 year old Rein in Holland.

You may have noticed, our family does not have the normal age divisions that you see in most families. Oma and Opa's youngest child, my aunt is, 4 years older than their oldest grandchild. Their youngest grandchild is about 5 years younger than their oldest great-grand child. The reason I bring this up, is we are quite a site to see when all gathered together. There is no division where one starts and the other ends.

When the time came to say goodbye to Opa, we all took our turn. Sons and daughters, grandsons and grand daughters, and great grand children too. I stood back and looked around the room at all these people that my grandparents had made happen. The love that was in the room was the kind of "fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope." It was so moving to see us gathered together as a farewell party to Opa's grand voyage knowing that one day we may all be gather together like this in Heaven, for "whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven." DC 132:46

Opa taught me something about life. He taught me that we all make mistakes. We all have bad judgement from time to time. But no matter what our choices are or where our paths have taken us, we can always choose which way the next step will go. But the decision is ours. We all knew what he thought and where he expected us to go. On the day of my wedding, the bishop had made a baseball metaphor about marriage. He said he saw the playoffs in our future where the angels in the outfield would be cheering us on to be sealed together. After the ceremony Opa marched right up to us Temple recommend waiving around in his hand and said, "just to let you know, I already have my ticket to the playoffs." He hugged me and moved on. It was wonderful to have him be a witness to that playoff. The thing was through it all he didn't make me feel unworthy of his love. On the contrary, I knew he loved me more than anything. Even when he would yell at us to get out of the way of the TV because we were blocking the Jazz game, or the soccer game, or the football game I knew he loved having us around, just as long as around wasn't in front of the TV screen.

Elder Uchdorf said, "what we love determines what we seek.

What we seek determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

The choice to take dancing lessons was the first in a long line of choices that determined Opa's and the rest of our destiny.

Opa left a legacy. One of family. One of love and laughter, of expectations and tolerance. I will miss him, his presence and influence 'till me meet again.

The lost city of Atlantis

2011-03-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband worked so hard during 2010, that he earned the incentive trip through his company. The trip was a trip to the Bahamas staying at the Atlatis resort. The best part it was ALL paid for! Thank you honey, for a much needed getaway.
One evening we took a sunset dinner cruise. Once we were on the boat and endured the "food" it was an amazing boat ride. That evening was a "super moon." I told JD there would be and he was like, "I'm sure the moon will be super" But what he didn't know was it was a phenomenom of the moon. It was closer to the earth than had been in the last 20 years. It was 30% bigger and 20% closer to the earth. It made for an unbelievable full moon rising over the Atlantis. The cruise included the full moon, birds flying lower over the waives, Celine Dion "life will go on" in the back ground and my honey with his arms around me. AMAZING!
Here's some of JD's fellow employees and their spouses. It was fun to get to know some new people.
The "Super Moon" between the Atlantis towers.
This would be one of my wonderful poses that JD captured. After taking a thousand pictures he's bound to get a few great shots. grrrrrr.

This is Sherry and me wondering if we will be getting sea sick or not. As it turned out, neither of us did. Darmamine is my newest and favoritist drug ever invented!

Waiting for the cruise was excrutiating. We sat, and sat, and sat. It took at least an hour after getting to the dock and the time we were suppose to until we finally boarded the ship.

More waiting.............

Random picture in front of the Atlantis towers.

The Atlantis has a dolphin cove where you can go and interact with the dolphins. It was fun to touch the dolphin. I wish I could have actually got in the water and swam with them, but it was still fun.

Got to love the flattering wet suits....

Christian and Jesse, fellow employees that took the plunge with me.

The Atlantis water park was a lot of fun. From the lazy river (which I loved) to the 6 water slides, we pretty much didn't leave the pool until they forced us too.

This is the Chanlenger. Here JD is racing Dave for about the 15th time. JD came home with the fastest time of anyone in our group. It was pretty funny to watch these grown men egg each other on.
JD finally talk me into going down this crazy slide. It is a straight drop down through the shark tank. The sharks were the least of my worries, the fact that your legs hang over the edge of the slide when you first lay down is what wasn't working for me. But I did it and live to tell the tale.
Like a couple of kids. JD and Dave. I had to capture this moment the kids standing on the bridge with me commented after they went down, "did you see that splash?" Too funny!

Here is JD going down the plunge.

The night life was a little slow for us that don't drink or gamble or dance for that matter. We ate dinner, then dessert, then just wandered around for awhile. The saving grace for the night life was the fact that it was March Madnes and there was a sports book.
Me and my pirate fetish!
The wives enjoying the only chair left at the sports book.....do you think any of the 25 men around would offer up a seat??? NO WAY!

Watching BYU loose. Late night for Dave I guess.
Loving the warm sunshine and a good book.

So, on our first day at the pool, Dave and JD wanted to be the first ones around the lazy river. There were 2 little boys that wanted the same thing. (wish I would have got their picture). So when the life guard gave the go ahead, Dave and the 2 boys jumped in their singel tube and took off. I was sitting in the double and JD started running us down the river. When he got to the rapids he tried to jump on the back. He only succeeded in dumping the tube upside down. I went straight under, he landed on top of me as the rapids pushed us down the river, scraping and bruising us a it went. My rear end was bruised the rest of the trip.

After that scene we decided to forgo the race and go up to the slide. This is quite amazing. You sit in your tube and the river takes you right up to a conveyor belt. You sit in the tube as it take you up and then dumps you back into a water line at the top of the tower. Your tube floats around up to the slide and you go down. Usually this works without a hitch, however JD and I found ourselves backwards and needed to turn around in order to go down the slide. As JD stood up, he was standing on a plastic water grate, his weight pushed the grate apart and his big toe slipped between the slats then popped back into place, trapping his toe. I didn't weigh enough to displace the slats again. By this time he was screaming that it was breaking his toe. He finally just ripped it out leaving behind a good chunk of skin. We went down the slide and by the time we got out of the river it was bleeding pretty bad. I went and asked the towel people for some towels and ice and the next thing we knew the parametics were there to bandage him up and made him sign a waiver.

Here's the paramedic making sure JD was going to sue.
Here he's getting operated, I mean a band-aid.
That is what all the fuss was about......a bruised big toe, missing some skin.
Another ridiculous picture caught while waiting for JD to take his 2000 picture.
We had such a great relaxing time together. It was much needed and apreciated. I think I should do it more often.

Carson's funnies

2011-03-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Carson- Mama, can I have a play date?

Mom- Why don't you play with me?

Carson- Well, mom, we really don't have anything in common.

********************

Carson- Mom, you talk a lot about going on a Disney Cruise.

Mom- I know I think it sounds like a lot of fun.

Carson- Mom, (pausing for effect) you realize there's not much on the crusie for parents, right?

*********************
Setting- Carson and Jack battling over a bike

Carson- Jack, you better be nice or I'm pulling out the big mittens. (he meant gloves)

***********************

Carson (5 years old)- mama, I can't wait for spring break.

mom- why's that?

Carson- cuz, that means I get to sleep in!

Juicer Man

2011-03-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

JD decided the road to being healthy and loosing weight begins and ends with juicing. The day this industrial stregnth juicer arrived, so did JD with $50.00 worth of produce to shoot through his new toy.

He truely was a kid in a candy store. He juiced apples, oranges, grapes, tomatoes, spinach, brussell sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, lemons, limes, and palmagranates. The worst of the bunch you ask was cucumber juice and palmagranates.

Halle told JD the other day, "Dad, if you were star student and got to bring in your favorite toy, I bet you'd bring your juicer." So true Halle, so true.

A man and his juicer

All 12 concotions he came up with! yuck!

Ballet West

2011-03-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

JD recieved some tickets to Ballet West new production of Sleeping Beauty.

I decided to take Halle on a special date. We got all dressed up, drove down town, had a nice dinner at her choice of Sizzler. I pulled out the tickets to check the address and realized the show was the following night.......Well, at least we had a fun meal together!

The next night, JD scored another 2 tickets so we took Avery and our friend London. There was a silent auction dinner then the show. The girls enjoyed themselves quite a bit. The show got quite long for them and they were about asleep when it ended. But they all found a love for the arts!

Breaking the Tooth Fairies Bank

2011-03-10T19:41:00.001-08:00

Halle had 2 front teeth that refused to come out. We had to visit our favorite dentist to get them pulled out. She was so brave to get 2 teeth pulled!!!!

BEFORE

AFTER!!!!

Service

2011-03-10T19:34:00.001-08:00

As a family resolution for the year, we decided to once a month do an act of service for someone. In January, the kids went through the toys they didn't play with much. They cleaned them and donated them to the local Children's Hospital. It was hard for them to part with toys they loved. I was so proud of them to be willing to give to children less fortunate than them.

In February, we decided to do service to each other. We made this clothes line with little buckets. Each bucket had a name on it. At the beginng of each week we drew names. The name we drew was the person we had to do service for all week. Each time a service was done they recieved a kiss or an hug, well a hersey "kiss" or "hug" in their bucket.

The kids had a great time help one another. I hope that they have learned that service can be just down the hall. We don't always have to look to outside our families to give service.

Avery's first email

2011-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

Avery needed to get a copy of a paper that she lost from her teacher. I was busy making dinner and she was freaking out. I told her to email her teacher and ask for another copy. She disapeared for a few minutes and came back and said it was done. I was surprised she was able to do it. I meant to check to see if it was done right, but forgot. Then I recieved a reply back from her teacher........read on to see what she wrote.

Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 6:22 PMTo: Winn, SheriSubject:

can avery have a new star of the week paper. if she can emale it or give it to her at school. avery loves you thank you for all you do love amy rex

Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 08:40:21 -0700Subject: RE:

I gave her a new one. Thanks for all you do. She is darling. Mrs. Winn

Oh, gotta love that girl!

Easton.....lol

2011-02-08T19:28:00.002-08:00

JD was commenting on his new juicer (pictures to come) and it's life time warranty. Easton looks up and says, "what are you supposed to do, call them up and tell them you want a replacement on your death bed?"

It took me a minute to follow him, then I replied, "it's not your lifetime, it's the lifetime of the juicer!"

Silly boy!

More hot tub fun

2011-02-08T19:28:00.001-08:00

One night I was getting ready for bed when I heard water falling. I was searching under the kitchen sink, checked out the fridge. Nothing was wrong. I turn around, glancing out the window and saw a stream of water spraying up from the hottub. Being a home owner is so much fun.

Carson and Jack's day o'fun!

2011-02-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Carson has found a friend I hope he has for a lifetime. They act alike, they talk alike, they even look alike. They have so much fun together.

This day Jack came over to play and didn't want to leave. He went to the store with us. He and Carson jumped into the car cart. They were having so much fun honking at people and crashing into each other we spend an extra 10 minutes just pushing them around!

New Year's resolutions

2011-02-04T15:32:00.002-08:00

I've never been one for big new year's resolutions. But try to aim for goals that are set. Some how it seems more do able. 2 years ago, it was to loose weight, and I did. 30 lbs to be exact. Last year it was to keep it off. That didn't go as well as I would have liked but 12 months later and I had only gained back 5 lbs I haven't gotten too hard on myself. This year I am concentrating on my house keeping skills.

It's no secret I'm am not a clean freak. Some people can't sleep knowing there's dishes in the sink. I have never had even an inkling of that problem. The result can be a very disorganized mess. I will do my deep cleaning like most people, however, I will just pick up a pile of crap and disinfect what's under it and set it back down.

Now with 4 kids, a husband, 2 old hairy dogs and a home office this life style was not working any more. I have started to hate the mess, the clutter and the constant cleaning that never goes away. So, that is my goal for 2011. To be a better house keeper.

I am starting it simple. Baby steps to success! In 2 week increments I add a new thing to keep up on. By writing it out I hope it motivates me to keep going.

Jan 1- Jan 14- keep dishes done, sink cleaned out constantly!
Jan 15-Jan 31- keep kitchen counters cleared of all non esential things
Feb. 1- Feb 14- Keep front room picked up and dusted once a week
Feb. 15-Feb 28- upstairs hallway clear of "stuff"
Mar 1-Mar 14- floors vaccummed every other day
Mar 15- Mar 30- make bed every day

etc, (more to come on the list)

3 steps in and I'm loving the results. Easton actually said it bugs him because the dishwasher is always dirty. I put them away to0 fast! Ha ha! That is one of the best compliments I could ask for.

Here's to a years worth of goals. Cheers!

Christmas Eve and Day

2011-02-04T15:32:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS EVE

On Christmas Eve our family tradition is giving one gift to all the kids from mom and dad. And the kids give us the gifts they've made for us.

JD and the kids made me this bowl for Christmas. The put their handprints all over it. The front says "Mom's popcorn bowl. Hands off" The inside says, "All Gone." I love it and my popcorn!

The kids made magnets for dad to take to the office. They each picked something that represented themselves and glued a magnet on it. Now dad can have a piece of them at work.

I love it when the kids all play together and seem to not only like each other, but love them too.

Halle confused about where her PJ's go.

The kids humor me every year and pretend they don't know their one gift on Christmas Eve is new PJ's.

Halle's gift to Dad. A slef portrait.

Sisters!

Avery's cute sata sack.

Carson made us an ornament.

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!

Avery's letter to Santa. She makes sure to leave him a lengthy letter each year.

So, many gifts! Halle couldn't stay away from her new barbie house.

Opa stopped in for a little gift giving (and JD's famous omelets)

Lisa too!

Criss Cross Crash! Just what he asked for!

So much fun!

Halle has been waiting years for this Barbie house. We could barely get her to open her other gifts. Once we were done she started playing with this and didn't stop until February!

Christmas time with our families

2011-02-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

For the DeMie family party, we decided to do a craft with the kids instead of exchanging gifts. A Christmas craft is a tradition my mom started when I was young. It was nice to pass it on to our kids. They made a frame with different paper glued to it. It was fun to see the kids personalities in the kind of paper they chose.

They boys made it through about 15 minutes then it was off to the impromtu wii tourny.

Us girls sat around and giggling and de coupaging.

The Rex's have their own traditions. This year grandma made cupcakes the theme of Christmas. Each child recieved their own ordament.

Every year the kids dress up and do the nativity. Little Henry was the little Jesus. It seems each of our kids has had that job, it's an initiation of sorts. They all enjoy it. With 16 kids it's more choas that spiritual, but fun either way.

Grandma also gives all the kids PJ's. There's is getting to be so many kids they don't fit in the picture anymore! Our kids were so excited to give the gifts to their cousins. Carson gave Logan this cool sled. Let me tell you 12 year old boys are hard to shop for, but Carson knew his cousin would love this and he did.

And of course they loved their presents too!

posing as a photographer- Stacie and Brandon

2011-01-24T02:50:00.001-08:00

My sweet baby sister and her fiance allowed me to drag them out into the woods on a bitterly cold and windy day to take their photos for their engagement. I think they turned out great. Stacie has the prettiest blue eyes that just sparkled that day. It's so great to see her so happy. Brandon has helped turn her into such a beautiful young women.

Love you both!

Game day at the U

2011-01-24T02:48:00.001-08:00

ESPN came to the University of Utah this year. JD and Easton were up there with all the other crazies. They always have so much fun cheering on the U's football team. It's hard to not get excite when you're in the middle of the crowd.

Taylor's Birthday

2011-01-24T00:59:00.000-08:00

My niece Taylor has a Christmas birthday. 2 day before actually, so like myself, her mom tries to make her birthday as non-christmasy as possible. So, off to Jungle Gyms we went.

Carson loved the bumper cars.

So did the girls. Taylor has taken a liking to Halle and Avery. It's so fun to see them forming a bond.

The little boys were having a blast on this ride. It goes round and round. It made me sick just watching it, but the kids went round and round for ever.

Happy Birthday Taylor!

family pictures

2011-01-24T00:55:00.000-08:00

I have been having fun taking pictures of my family. I am a total amature but I think I have a good eye for a neat picture. Photoshop helps to make the picture perfect.

DeMie family Christmas party

2011-01-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

I had my family over for a little Christmas get together. We decided since money was so tight this year to make a fun craft instead of presents. We bought the pre cut wood frames from a friend of mine. We then cut paper to fit the frame, then decoupaged the paper to the frame. Finished it off with a matching patch of fabric. Each kid, even Easton was excited with his gift.

shhh....our little secret

2011-01-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

On Thursday morning Carson asked me if I would cuddle with him and watch scooby doo. What mom can say no to that. We snuggled down under 3 blankets and watched the movie. At some point I fell fast asleep. Carson woke me up 10 minutes before I was supposed to pick up Halle. So we ran and got our shoes and jumped in the car. We raced over to pick her up.

My plans had been to run to the market after picking her up to get what I needed for my crock pot dinner. Well, we still went, me in my PJ's. I told the kids before we got our of the car, "shhhh, this is our secret. Don't tell anyone mom went to the store in her PJ's."

As soon as we got out of the car we ran into some school friends. Embarrass, we said hi and went it to shop. As I ordering some meat from the butcher, Carson comes up and says, "mom, our secret is out" I asked him who he told, thinking it was the school friend, he says laughing, "oh just some random person!"

Merry Christmas from Disneyland!

2011-01-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early for our kids. It was a total surprise! Disneyland trip for Christmas!

It all sounds very glamorous, however, that's not quite how it went down. We were planning on leaving on Friday morning. It was Tuesday night. I was working my graveyard shift. Earlier in the day I had gone and purchased fun things for a Disney themed stocking that I was going to give each child the morning we left (the only good thing I did). JD came home from his mom's house at midnight and informed me the free tickets we had expired the next day! I completely freaked out. We had to leave for the airport in 6 hours and I hadn't packed a thing. Unfortunately, this meant JD couldn't go with us. He had a big meeting the next day that he couldn't get out of.

I quickly got off work. Finished making the ornaments (see above), loaded up the stockings, packed a bag, just enough stuff for 1 day, made hotel reservations, and got to bed at 2:30 am. At 5:00 am the alarm went off and up I got. We woke the kids up individually with their stocking and told them we were going to Disneyland. They were so excited.

We headed to the airport and found 5 inches of snow freshly and still falling snow!

Thank goodness mom works for an airline! The plane happened to be empty and I slept most of the way.

The plane had to be de-iced, and so we got to sit on the plane for an extra hour. The kids were restless knowing what was coming up.
I love Disneyland at Christmas! First thing we saw in the park is the ginormous Christmas tree right in the middle of Main Street. Look at the bulbs, they're as big as Carson's head!

Main street was covered in lights and garland, notice the Mickey faces hanging in the garland.

Meeting Mickey, Carson was not cooperating, so Mickey did the choke hold to get the picture.

My boys wanted nothing to do with Mini, but the girls were ready for the photo-op.

Little man was too short to go on Indiana Jones. So, gulp, I sent the other 3 alone on the ride. Carson and I waited at the exit for them and played some Cars go fish. He didn't seem to notice he was being left out.

Aladin and Jasmin were really cute to the girls.

The haunted mansion is decorated from Halloween through Christmas like the Nightmare before Christmas. It's a different ride during this time. We all loved it.

At night the flipped on all the Christmas lights. I had given them some glow stick necklaces and bracelettes. I found them at the dollar store. I could have sold them for $10 to the other moms in line. I was asked about 8 times where I got them from. I felt bad my kids were having so much fun and the other kids were jealous, but hay, be prepared next time ladies!

All 4 of my kids are all about the roller coasters. We hit all of them most multiple times.

The castle was amazing! It was hung with millions of lights and had the coolest lighted icycles.

In the throng with thousands of others trying to leave.

After waking up at 5 am and a full day at Disneyland, the walk back to the hotel was full of turmoil. Halle cried the entire 1 mile walk and I had to carry Carson half the way. They could even stand up waiting for the green light.

But it was a good day in the end, crazy, but good. Needless to say I got them into bed and they were all out in 5 minutes and slept until 10:30 the next day.

JD met us there late the next day. Luckily the hotel had a consierge lounge and a covered pool, because it rain the next 2 days. So we played a lot in the pool and had lots of treats from the lounge.

The pool was acutall pretty cold. I kept my butt in the hot tub, but the kids talked JD into getting in and playing with them.

Even they needed to warm up now and then.

We gave up on the So Cal weather and tried to get home early. We missed our first flight so we tool solice at the mall. We visited Santa while we were there.

So sad, Easton was too cool to see Santa this year. Maybe after his lump of coal he'll sit on his lap next year. Maybe.

Mile stone for the car!!!

2011-01-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

My van has hit old age!

99,999

100,000!!!!

Dear my first silver mini van, even though I have an upgrade now, please know that you have outlasted her and I still love you. Please, please, please, don't break on me now!

Christmas Dance Recital

2011-01-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

As always, Avery was the hit of her dance recital. She is really coming along as a dancer. She is in both tap and ballet, as well as jazz. She definately has the sass down for the jazz number. I told her the stage is the only place she can't be sassy enough and she just eats that up.
I loved her hair. When she dance it bounced around. So,, cute!

Lots and lots of Snow

2010-12-06T02:13:00.000-08:00

Winter came early to Utah!! A November snow storm dumped 7 inches one week and the next another 13!!! And cold, brrrrrrrrr.

The blocked kick heard throughout Utah

2010-12-06T01:35:00.000-08:00

I finnaly got my way and went to the last Utah football game. It was against BYU. It was supper cold but a lot of fun.

After the blocked punt that won us the game I even got to storm the field for the first time ever! Wahoo! Go Utes!

Over the Hill! Or at lease climbing to the Top

2010-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:00

I turned another year older. I swear I woke up this morning to a gray eye brow! Seriously! My gray hair line as officially moved to the bang area, and will no longer be hidden by the bi monthly coloring job.

But besides that I had a good day. JD and I had a yummy dinner at my favorite Rodizio Grill and then spent the night a hotel near the Gateway. I wasn't feeling too well, and ended up staying awake most of the night coughing, so the next day the family let me take a 2 hour nap. You know you're old when you are thrilled to be able to take a nap in the middle of the day.

Later that night I blew out the candles on my apple pie and we munch down the carmel apples that JD and the kids made me.

Thanks guys for a great day!

The Boy Who Lived!

2010-12-06T01:19:00.000-08:00

I was so super excited when JD surprised me and my kids with premiere tickets to the new Harry Potter movie. We were able to see it earlier before the midnight showing. I'm pretty sure I was more excited than the kids. We arrived 2 hours early. So we wandered the mall, ate ice cream, looked at the real owl that was walking around and played inside the children's museum for a bit. Then we grabbed our popcorn and drinks and headed to the movie!

I just love the world the Rawlings has created.

Happy Halloween!

2010-12-06T00:57:00.000-08:00

We battle the rain and cold to trick or treat in this year. The kids are all older now and we were able to cover a lot more ground this year in less time. They made out like bandits since the rain kept more people off the streets, lots of houses gave them handfuls of goodies.

I won! I won!

2010-12-06T00:54:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I recieved an email that I had wone "Her Secret Symmetry" by Audrey Neffenegger. I loved her book "The Time Traveler's Wife" and couldn't wait to read this for a spooky Halloween read. It came one day before Halloween, and turned out to not be as spooky as I was hoping. Actually it didn't turn out to be as good as I was hoping either.

Sick kidos

2010-12-06T00:52:00.000-08:00

The week before Halloween was rough for the Rex's. More throwing up than one mom can handle.

All my bowls were divided out amoungst the sicko's. They were carried around and slept with by the whole clan. Good times! Thanks ward party for the extra special treat.

They finally did what we said!

2010-12-06T00:36:00.000-08:00

JD cleaned out the hot tub....Well, he turned his duties over to Avery and Halle. I assumed he gave them instructions on how to do it. Little did I know they use dish soap to clean the bottom of the empty hot tub. And a lot of it. Which they didn't rinse off.

So, when JD filled the hot tub up with water and turned on the jets, here's what we got.

Emergency preparedness drill

2010-10-22T02:38:00.001-07:00

Our kids school took part in an emergency preparedness drill. The tosh hospital and 2 fire departments were involved. Parents had to come to the school and find their children out in the playground/field and sign the children out. Just like if there was a disaster. They filled part of the school with smoke to give the fire men a chance to work in real live conditions. Some of the kids were given fake wounds and have to be triaged and actually were taken by ambulance to the hospital. My kids weren't chosen for any of these escapades, to their dismay. It was a crazy sight to see though.
Fire men are so cool!

The array of ambulances and firetrucks.

The poor people driving by that didn't know that this was a drill! There were kids on gurnies everywhere covered in sheets! Just crazy!

Utah in the fall....

2010-10-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

The two little ones and I took a drive up the canyon to see the fall leaves. The higher we went the brighter the colors. These pictures can't do it justice. The leaves were so bright yellow the mountains looked like they were on fire. It was breath taking.

Panda-rific!

2010-10-22T02:12:00.000-07:00

Now that it's just me and Carson some days, I like to treat him to some special one on one time. This day I asked him if he wanted to go to lunch. I offered to go somewhere healthy and he responded with "Is orange chicken healthy?" I assured him it's healthier when he shares it with me. So we drove over to Panda Express to share some orange chicken. As we're walking into the store he looks up and me and says, "this in Panda-rific!" Oh how I love this little guy.

Craft time!

2010-10-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

For a slow afternoon craft, me and the kids decided to make our own crayons. At first the kids thought I was crazy. But in the end they were so excited with their multi colored crayons, they walked away thinking I'm a genius.

We started by finding all the old broken crayons and removing all the paper. Then we broke the crayons up into small pieces.

The kids then picked out the array of colors for their new crayons and we placed them in a mini cupcake tin. I turned the oven on low and placed the tin inside. We baked them for about 10 minutes until they were all melted down. We took them out and put them in the fridge to set.

..............and waaa laaa, we have new mulit colored crayons.

And happy kids!

Quality time with mom

2010-09-10T02:09:00.001-07:00

As a last ode to summer I took my little man to Wheeler Farm for some pictures, animal petting and exploring. We had so much fun, just the 2 of us. We haven't had much time to spend one on one, since, well, since he was born. So now with Halle in school we get to spend more quality time together. On the way out he was holding my hand, swinging my arm and looked up at me and said, "mom this is the best activity we did all summer." I ask why that was and he said "cuz it's just you and me." Then he finished with, "do you think we can do this every year before school starts?" I smiled and said, "of course." But, really how many more years will my little guy want to spend alone time with his mama at the farm? I want to cry each day this little boy grows older. I am holding on to his childhood so tight, I don't what I will do when he finally out grows me.

Easton is 10!

2010-09-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

I am the mother of a 10 year old!!!

My Easton where to start? The child came into this world 10 past his expiration date kicking and screaming. He never slept through the night until he was 2 and was given a real pillow top mattress to sleep on. He never like to play with trucks or blocks or toys of any kind. He loved to read books, throw balls, watch movies and the computer. In ten years, not much has changed.

This boy taught himself to read at age 5 by playing on the internet and hasn't stopped since. He LOVES to read. I think more than anything else in the world. We have a little contest to see who can read the most books. He read 12 books over the summer and is now diving into the Lord of the Rings. I'll let him win me on those.

Easton is a highly intelligent child. JD and I are pretty sure that he will be smarter than us by age 12 (if he isn't already). I see Ivy League in his future ( and big $$$$ in mine).

He excells is most everything he sets his mind too. Baseball, football, school, anything he tries at. EXCEPT, cleaning. Easton is the messiest child I have. The boy cannot find a garbage can, laudry basket or sink to save his life. He can tell you 10 animals that live in the african desert that start with the letter "T" but can't remember that he gave his football jersey to his coach to have his name put on the back of it until we've searched the house over for 90 minutes. He reads on an high school level, but can't figure out where he put the book that he set down 2 minutes ago.

I love this boy dearly and hope he knows that he is a very special person to us. I have loved watching him grow the past 10 years and can't wait to see where the next 10 take him.

First Day of School times 4

2010-09-10T01:35:00.000-07:00

School started this year in 3 waves. The big kids started first, a week later Halle started Kindergarten, and a week and a half later, Carson.

Carson had to wait for all 3 of his siblings to get to his first day. He was so antsy. Every night he would ask me, "Is tomorrow my first day of school?" After so many "No's" he was so excited when it was a yes! He could barely sleep the night before. I'm so glad he loves his preschool and Mrs. F and Miss Karen. We love that place!

Halle started Kindergarten this year, sigh. I had a hard time with this one. Carson and Halle have been with me, together, since Halle was 6 months old. So to have them seperated for the first time was harder for me than either of them. We, and by that I mean I, am doing better after a few weeks. I thought that Carson and I could use the time alone to play and go on adventures, but all he wants to do is sit by himself in the quiet house. It's quiet funny actually.
Halle's first day was perfect. She was so excited to go to the big school. She is the oldest in the class by a few days, but the tallest by a half a foot. She is still a little shy, get her feelings hurt easily, but has the sweetest smile and kindest heart.

The other munchkins would barely stand still for a picture. They acted like this was old news to them. Easton has his same teacher as last year and Avery always acts too cool. Both were excited to have some of their best friends in the class this year.

Utah Fan Fest 2010

2010-09-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

Last year the University of Utah decided not to have their annual Fan Fest. A Saturday that all fans of all sports can come together to meet the players of their favorite sports. I thought my poor husband was going to have a stroke from being denied this wonderful opprotunity. I suppose a lot of fans were upset, because they brought it back this year and the fans came in numbers.

Can you say Christmas card?

We met the tennis team. Carson gave it a try. Look at that cocentration.

We golfed.
Some better than others.
We met the swim team. We raced rubber duckies down the water tracks, powered by our squirt bottles. Carson and I won by the seat of our speedoes.

We met some VERY tall basketball players.

We met swoop.
He thought Carson was a football.
Carson was terrified of these HUGE lineman from the football team. But have you ever seen cuter faces? They were like big teddy bears. I guess Carson hasn't forgotten how hard they hit those other players.
The gymnastic team was in charge of the jump house. And jump they did.
Carson went on the obstacle course about 15 times. He would smoke the girls going up the ladders.

JD and I even found a moment to be together.

The changing of the seasons

2010-09-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

Most people mark the passage of time by the calender. They notice the cool breeze that begins to usher in the fall and slowly pushes summer away. As they mark off the days on their calender the warm days become fewer and fewer until the warmth of the sun can only be felt while sitting in an enclosed vehicle.

That's most people.

We here at the Rex home note the passage of the seasons by the sport equipment that is scattered around our house. Gone are the days of bat bags, gloves, bats, baseball caps and cleats that deposit red dirt all over my clean floor. Now I trip over sholder pads, oversized jerseys, footballs, helmets with face guards and cleats that deposit mud and dried grass all over my clean floor.

Yes, baseball season is over and Football season has begun.

Squirt

2010-09-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

‎.......yes, an UNopened bottle of Squirt when dropped from a barstool, will in fact "squirt." The lid will not come off, but will loosen enough to give the effect of a sprinkler head and it will "squirt" liquid from the ceiling to all four corners of a lager kitchen. It will not exclude covering windows, doors, homework, lights or children standing nearby.

Another vote for mom of the year.....

2010-08-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

I really ought to win the covetted prize of mother of the year one of these days....

Today the vote would be for laughing at my children while they are under serious distress.

Here's the story.....

I was lucky enough to have to drive our "new to us" car. It has no air conditioning which was ok because today was cool enough to keep the windows down and be content. I was making my 3rd trip to the elementary school with my two little ones in the back. All 4 windows were all the way down as we sat at a stop light. As we waited for the light to turn green I saw something fall from the sky. I searched the ground for the wounded baby bird with no luck. Halle asked what it was, but I wasn't entirely sure. The light turned green and I accelerated and the next second I hear a blood curtling scream. I glance back to see a dragonfly the size of a small bird buzzing around Halle's head. Then it moved to Carson and he started screaming too. It was buzzing so loud and they just kept screaming. I couldn't pull over right then. So, I did what any mother of the year would do, I laughed. And I laughed and I laughed.

I finally got to where I could pull over and threw open the door for Halle and she jumped out still screaming. But poor Carson was stuck in the seatbelt and couldn't get out. It was all I could do to stop laughing long enough to rescue him from the car.

I was still laughing 10 minutes later as I tried to check Avery out of school. In fact, I'm chuckling now. Meanwhile my little ones are having nightmare of giant bugs buzzing around the faces.

Happy Birthday Halle!

2010-08-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

My little Halle turned 6. It's so cliche, but she is growing up so fast. I found out that she'd be a big sister when she was only 7 months old, so she and Carson have always felt like my little twins. To see her getting ready to start Kindergarten, make me sad. It's the first time that the 2 of them have been seperated. Halle is excited that she moving on without her brother. She's stretching her wings. Since, her birthday she has been testing her indepence and trying my patience. 90% of the time she is the sweetest, easy going child around.... The other 10% of the time she is the most stuborn, unreasonable child ever born. Either way we love her to death.

Happy 6th birthday Halle bear!

Avery decides to be baptized!

2010-08-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

On July 31rst Avery became a memember of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are so proud of her decision. We believe it's the start of beautiful relationship between her and her Heavenly Father.

A special side note....
Avery and I searched around for the perfect dress for her baptism. If you know Avery, this was an impossible thing. I ended the search with, "when she gets married, I'm giving her cash and making her go pick out the dress by herself." I was not sure what we were going to do. Somewhere in the middle of all this Avery's grandma gave me a box full of old fabric she didn't want anymore. One day I was going through it and found about 8 yards of this beautiful off white silk fabric. The idea hit me that I could make her dress. I DO NOT do patterns so I just started cutting. I added the puffy cap sleeves she liked from one dress she tried on, the empire waist from another, the tulle overlay from yet another. And walla, she had her dress. I took it over to grandma's house to show her the dress. She grabbed the dress and started crying. I was bewildered. I did a good job, but I'm not sure tear worthy. Through her tears, she choked out that the fabric was left over fabric from her wedding dress. I had no idea. So this dress is quite special on many levels.

First Annual Rex Familly Olympics

2010-08-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

After A LOT of talking of who was better than who, the Rex men decided that they were going to have a family olympics. The spent a good 2 hours deciding on the events, rules, and rewards. I was a little nervous to send these very competive brothers out to find the best of the best (at least for this year). But, surprising all us wives, they did very well. Very little name calling, no choke holds or punches thrown, and they still talked to each other afterwords.

THE EVENTS

GOLF (longest shot)
winner = Dale

FIELD GOAL KICK
winner = Matt

SOCCER GAOL KICK
winner = JD

PUNT, PASS, KICK
winner = JD

FOOTBALL THROW
winner = Dale

50 YARD DASH
winner = Jimmy

HOME RUN DERBY
winner = Jimmy

1/2 MILE RUN
winner = Jimmy

BASKETBALL FREE THROWS AND 3 POINT SHOTS
winner = Brett

OBSTACLE COURSE
winner = Jimmy

SWIMMING
winner = Matt

BP With the Buzz

2010-08-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

An annual event that JD has taken to is batting practice with the Buzz at "whom ever is sponsoring the team this year" Stadium. JD gets a kick out of hitting off a major league BP pitcher. This is the first year I was invited. I got a kick out of watching all these men go up there with their metal bats. They pitcher took it pretty easy on them and they'd get a few decent hits. There was this lady in front of us. She was wearing a buzz jersey, talking how she "special ordered" her wood bat. She spent 10 minutes stretching and everything. The entire time tell JD how to hit and what to watch for. She got in the cage and hit one pitch. That's it.

JD got in there and the pitcher threw it to him like he had the others and JD ripped it to the left field wall. Every one in line stopped in mid sentence. After that the pitcher starting throwing his good stuff. JD knock a couple off the wall and one that almost went over. At one point the pitcher through a change up and JD about cleated himself.

Seeing that I fell in love with a ball player, it was exciting to watch the ballplayer in him come out again, if only for a few minutes.

After the kids got to hit in the outfield, sending there balls over the fence. It was a fun outing.

Summer Water Fun

2010-08-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun afternoon at Grandma's house. An impromtu water party that lasted all day. The kids had so much fun running around carefree. Isn't that what summer is all about????

Here's my beautiful little nephew James. Don't you just want to eat him up?

Carson letting the sidewalk do all the work.

Avery and Taylor doing a little dance number for us. Taylor and her Mickey obsession carries over to the water party too.

And the old, "Of course I won't turn the water on while you lean over the spout" routine.

Swim bums are my favorite!

Yellowstone or bust!

2010-07-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Where to begin...... We decide (on very short notice) to take the family to Yellowstone for the long weekend. JD invited his mother along, since it's one of her favorite places on earth. We piled into the car with all of our camping gear and headed north. We stopped in Ogden for a 30 minute work apointment for JD. An hour and half later we were back on the road.

We made it 45 minutes before we had our first potty stop......

In Idaho Falls, we stopped for a Walmart run for some forgotten items, and the potty again. When we came out we were greeted by a fly over from the Blue Barons. They were practicing for an air show for the following day. We followed them toward the airstip and watched them fly around for awhile. After picking up lunch another hour had passed and we were on our way.

30 miles from the park we were stuck in traffic. Let me rephrase that. Stopped in a line of cars for 45 minutes, not moving, on the top of a mountain.

When we were finally moving again we drove through 20 miles of road construction. We arrived in the park in time to watch the sun go down.

The Rex's are not road trippers.

In the park we saw many, many animals. 2 mama Grizzly Bears with 2-3 cubs, a black bear, Buffaloes in the hundreds, 4 huge elk with ginormous racks, a dozen deer, a heard of femal elk wander Mamoth Springs Village, an Eagle, a million squirels, and even more mosquitoes.

We saw geysers, or geyserts as Carson calls them, and hot springs until the kids cried mercy. Carson was the only one thuroghly enthralled by these wonders. AT Old Faithful he kept asking why the guys in charge didn't turn it on since there were so many people waiting to see it go off. He was having a hard time understanding that they were as natural as clouds.

We stayed one night in a lodge and then roughed it the next two. JD was such a trooper. He HATES to sleep in a tent, but cuddled up to me on our air mattress to keep me warm all night. He has now perfected the fire pit hot ham and cheese sandwich. And made the best seat in the house around the campfire.

Luckily the ride home wasn't as eventful as the drive there. We stopped in Jackson to see Jenny Lake and eat at our favorite BBQ place. Unfortunately, the BBQ place has grown too big and had a 45 minute wait. So, we grabbed Wendy's for the kids and were off.

All in all, it was a fun weekend. Maybe in 2 years JD will take us camping again.....Maybe.

The Dog Days of Summer = Baseball

2010-07-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

The end of June through mid July consisted of not much more than baseball, baseball, and then more baseball. JD coached Easton's all star baseball team this summer and they did very well.

All-stars starts off with a good 2 weeks of practice before the games begin. What that meant for the rest of us. Is dinner at 4 o'clock if we wanted to eat with J and Easton, which meant we ate again at 9 when they got home. On game days we ate hot dogs from the snack shack with a ring pop for desert or made a drive through run on the way to the ball park.

At one point practice ocurred on JD's birthday. So, I baked 3 dozen mini cupcakes with lots of frosting and took them to practice. The boys took turns throwing the cupcakes at JD. For a baseball team, I was surprised to see how many missed him. But it was entertaining anyway.

The other kids learned how to entertain themselves. They found a secret passage through the foilage around the outfield fence, played sword fighting with twigs, found mud puddles left behind by the ground crews (in red dirt, btw), and made friends with the other siblings that were drug around the valley.

The team had some practice games with the older kids and Taylorsville. They beat the 10 year olds and played a good game against T-ville.

Then it was regionals in Ogden.....That was a bit of a drive. Luckily the team won their games and we only had to make the trek twice. It also meant they won regionals.

From there it was off to state. They lost their first game. It was a bummer, because we knew they could have won that team. From there they had to climb the lossers bracket. They did a great job. Winning there next 2 games, and finally sucumbing to Taylorsville.

I was so proud of Easton. He has worked so hard all season to better himself. He's a great team mate and volunteered to sit the bench so his other team mates could get in the game. He has the most beautiful swing. Even I, who knows little about the mechanics of a good swing can tell that he has talent in that swing. When he connects with the ball it goes far and it goes fast. His running is coming along. Let's just say it's a good thing he hits the ball far.

A little goes a long way!

2010-07-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

In May I started warning my kids that when school got out their lives were changing. No more free passes around here. My house was in a constant state of chaos and I felt that I never stopped cleaning. It was like that greek mythology story of the man in Hades pushing a huge bolder up the hill and as soon as he gets it to the top, it rolls back down and he has to start over. So, as soon as school started the CHORE CHARTS began.

The first day of summer I sat the kids down with my clipboard. We went through each room showing and writing down every detail on how to clean each and every room. I then typed it all up and made the charts.

Now, this isn't the graph on the wall where the kids put stickers when they've picked up their socks. Nope, this is an individual folder that contains what is expected of that child on each and every day. Having it written out step by step avoids the overwhelmed feeling that kids always get as well as avoids the "I don't know what to do" whine. I change the chores around every week. Eccept laundry day. That stays the same each week. Yep, that's right. Each child (includeing the 4 year old) does their own laundry. Wash, dry, fold and put away. They each get from 2-5 "jobs" a day, depending on the difficulty level. The older two are asigned to help one on the youner two. There are no chores on Saturday and Sunday, except for the kitchen and dog duty. Saturday is yard work. The kids learned pretty quick that if they keep their room clean they have less to do the next day.

I don't want to seem to be wasting my children's summer away, by creating my own little merry maids, so here's what I do for them in return. Every day their chores are done, we do something "fun." Fun can be anything from the zoo, to ice cream, to a nature walk, playdate, making cookies, etc.

The result is amazing. Monday is always the hardest day of cleaning. After the weekend the house is a wreck. Today we had the house clean in 1 and a half hours. Floors done, toilets scrubbed, beds made, dishes clean. For fun we went to the libray and book store. Last night I asked Carson what he liked that I did as a mommy and he said, "well, I kinda like doing my chores." I almost cried.

Happy 8th birthday Avery!

2010-07-06T01:07:00.001-07:00

My vivacious little Avery turn 8 years old this week. Wow how time flies. She is eating up being a tween. She is in love with my ipod, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, any and all Disney shows that elude to singing, dancing, dating, and being silly. She wants to be a mom when she grows up and love practicing her "mothering" skills on her siblings and cousins. I love to watch her hip her baby cousing and carry him around like a proud mama. She loves to cook and can actually be trusted to make scrambled eggs and pancakes almost unassisted. In the last year she has gone from not reading a lick to reading chapter books and won the McReader of the year in her class. She is spunky and strong headed. She battles with me when ever possible just to see how far she can get with me. I love that she questions her world and doesn't always take no for an answer. These are great qualites to have. My wish is to one day have her use them for good not evil. I know that as she grows she will turn these traits into things that will take her far in life as a leader, as a mother, and as a great daughter. She is a great little girl and I'm so glad she's mine!

A Doose Sighting!!!!

2010-07-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

Would any one please tell me if this creature looks anything like a baby moose??? While at the cabin Dale spotted this creature just outside. He yells, "there's a baby moose out here!" We all tip toe outside to see the little guy and snapped some pics. Only to find no moose only a deer. After much deliberating and proving Dale wrong, Dale tells all the kids that he said "DOOSE" not moose. That it was a cross between a deer and a moose.....Needless to say Carson came home and started telling people all about the doose that he saw while camping.

Camping Rex style

2010-07-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

It is a wonder to me how a family that produced 5 Eagle Scouts could hate true camping so much. The Rex's would take the Marriott and room service any day over a tent and campfire cooking.

We all decided to meet half way with a long weekend at a cabin by Strawberry resevoir. The "cabin" is equipped with 2 bathrooms, 1 shower, tv with DVD player, stove, fridge, and microwave. It's a long way off of tent poles, blow up mattresses and campfires, but we managed to have a good time.

Grandma and her sons took ALL the kids fishing down to the lake. The women stayed back and relaxed, hoping that the men would come back with as many children as they left with. In the end they had all the children, but no fish. They did have fun though!

Uncle Dale is training for a triathalon and felt the need to swim in Strawberry. If you've been there you know this is not a good idea. The 50 degree water is not meant for swimming. He doned his wet suit and jumped in for and icy swim. We're glad he came back alive.

We spent all day Saturday at Starvation lake. Which is warm and swimmable. It was a lot of fun, but terribly windy. I didn't pull out my camera for fear of what the sandblasting might do to it. So there are no pictures of Sabrina's wardrobe malfunction, Dale and Lincoln getting dumped in the lake by the wind, the boat wreck caused by a out of control ski boat, or the kiddies loving it up in the surf and sun...... But they would of been great pics!!!!!

T-ball......check!

2010-07-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

Carson loves to check things off his to do list, and now we can check t-ball off the summer to-do list. He and Halle had a great time playing t-ball with uncle Dale as their coach. Carson would get his gear on hours before game time. Although his attention span rarely held through the entire 45 minute game, he couldn't wait to go to the ball field again. Halle just loved being there. She wasn't thrilled with all the boys, but she is easily convinced by the game end treats.

Willow pond park

2010-07-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

We invited some friends and cousins to come to the park to play in the water. There is so much fun things to do it the summer time.

Running through the sprinklers with friends

2010-07-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

After a long day of baseball in the sun, the James' came over and ran through the sprinklers. They had hours of fun.

Just point and click

2010-06-22T01:14:00.000-07:00

Some times there is no time to find the camera to capture the moment. For that I'm grateful for the (usually) good quality of my blackberry camera. Here are a few of what I've found on my phone in the last little while.....
Halle and Carson at T-ball. They are both so stinkin' cute get up there to bat. Coach/uncle Dale told Carson to watch the ball so he could catch it, Carson said I can't watch it when you throw it behind me!

We took the kids over to a local pet store that had Scales and Tales giving demonstrations all day long. They had some of the coolest creatures from a horn lizzard thing to a comono dragon. Plus some HUGE snakes. Avery wanted a picture with the huge python, but she wasn't strong enough to hold its 90+ pounds, so JD strapped the creature around his neck and Avery back into him to pose for the picture. As if on queue I said "Oh, Avery, where's that things head?" and the animal handler, not skipping a beat put his finger in Avery's hair. Well, she scream bloddy murder, the entire store broken into laughter and I almost peed my pants. All the comotion upset the snake and he took the biggest crap on JD. It was pure comedy.

The other day I was trying to get the kids out the door when I heard music coming from the living room and could see Carson's little feet stick out from the side of the sofa. He had turned on the radio and was listening to classical music. I smiled and went about my buisness. A few minutes later I hear Halle say, "Carson, dance with me," and he gets up and they start waltzing across the living room floor. Absolutely adorable.

The other day Carson was being too quiet so I called him to my room where I was doing laundry to ask what he was up to. He answered,with a big sigh, that he just needed some alone time. I obliqed and went back to the clothes. But then I started hearing a tune of "I'm dreaming of a White Washer" being sung in the laundry room. I found Carson with his head stuck in the glass of the front load washer singing his heart out. He stayed there for 20 minutes.

Winner, winner chicken dinner!

2010-06-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

Easton won his first Pine Wood Derby race! He was proud of his little black car. It raced quite well considering......Considering he and JD put it together at 11 o'clock the night before. JD hijacking a car kit from the church at 10:30pm. They actually had to wait to weigh it for the paint to dry. But even with all the procrastination, the little feller got that car to win first place.

Field Day

2010-06-15T01:41:00.000-07:00

The last day of school is a favorite around here. The day starts with a drive in movie for the first graders. They make their own card board box Cars complete with custom paint jobs. Then its field day. Their school has 3 HUGE inflatables that the kids climb, slide and jump on. There is watermellon, snowcones, popcorn and a dunking booth full of 6th graders. Last but not least the firetruck pulls up and opens fire from the top of their ladder on the field full on hundreds of screaming school kids (and their little siblings). The kids come home, cold, tired and grinning from ear to ear.

Happy Memorial Day!

2010-06-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

This Memorial day was spent with my family and friends. It was a wonderfully quiet day.

Coming off my grave yard shift I splet until noon. The power was out so we decided to go out to lunch. Unfortunately, the power was out in most of the buildings near our house. An hour and a half later we finally ended up 10 miles from home at a burger joint. We had a race to see who could finish the crossword puzzle on the kids menu first, Avery and I smoked JD and Easton. The kids were laughing and having so much fun. Simple pleasures.

We went grocery shopping (with NO fighting), got drinks at Sonic's happy hour, and got home in time to throw home made ice cream in the maker and headed to the baseball field.

Easton really wanted to strike me out. His pitching is coming along. I couldn't help but laugh at him on the mound. He was so serious, but was so afraid of hitting me all the pitches were outside. Our friends the James' met us there and we had a little practice. Suzanne and I can really hit the ball. I don't know who was more surprised by that, us or our husband or our boys. JD decided to try his gimpy hand out by batting. He was only bunting and Suz and I were chatting behind second base. We heard the crack of the bat and intinctively look up right as a ball came whizzing between our heads. 12 inches either way and it would have taken one of us out. JD felt REALLY bad, (I think it scared him to the core) and we called the game.

The James' came over for a B-B-Q and home made ice cream.

Afterwards, JD and I watched Dear John. It was a great Memorial Day movie. A great portrayal of what soldiers give up for us. Not just their mortal life, they give up living their lives. They give up falling in love, having children, a regular job. And they do this all for their pride and love for this country and the people who live here.

Thank you to all the people who proudly serve this country so that I can have weekends like this in safety and freedom. Thank you for fighting to make sure people around the world may one day have the same freedoms and safety that so many of us take for granted.

May 24 and May 27

2010-05-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

Utah springs! Can it get any better?

May 24
Blizzard
2" of snow
32 degrees
Heater ON
Snow boots/coats ON

May 27
Warm
sprinklers ON
78 degrees
air conditioner ON
swim suit/flip flops ON

End of year preschool programs

2010-05-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

We ended the preschool year with a bang, both kids did a program and an art show. Then had a luau party.

Carson loves to sing and belted out on the songs louder than any one else. He was super excited to show us his art projects. The day of the luau, he came up to me 20 minutes before it was time to go and said, "mom, I'm ready for my luau to begin, let's go." He has loved preschool and can't wait for next year to start.

Halle is sad that she is done with preschool, but super happy that she made such good friends. She has learned so much and can't wait to start kindergarten in the fall.

She picked out her luau outfit and couldn't wait to party all day. She has such cute teachers.

I have been very happy with this preschool. Easton started here when he was 4, five years ago. Next year will be Carson's (and my) last year with the preschool. Murray district might own half my house, but the kids are better for it.

Fit, Fun, Run!

2010-05-27T23:00:00.001-07:00

The kids school does a school race every year. The kids start training as soon as they can get the snow cleared away. They go a little farther every week until the end of the year. For the run the younger grades do either 1 or 2 miles, the middle grades do 2 or 3 miles, and the older ones do 3 miles.

Easton did the full 3 miles and Avery did 2. Avery took longer than Easton did. We were about to send out the search party, but she eventually came sauntering in. I don't think she even broke a sweat. Easton however, made great time, and was dripping like a crazy.

I'm so poud of them both for setting a gaol and achieving it. Great job guys!

How amazing are people?!?

2010-05-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

What an amazing day.

So, much time was spent, organizing, preparing, emailing, bugging others, shopping, and pulling it all together, and...... it was worth every second. Even if we had earned $100.00 it would had been worth it, but we when handed Jamie and Sean over 6,000.00 it was amazing.

Each person that helped out, from the boutique vendors, the magician Paul Brewer, all the people who donated raffle and auction items, the friends and family that worked tirelessly making french fries, hot dogs, snow cones, painted faces and manned the bounce house a big old THANK YOU!!!

Plus, thank you to everyone that came to support our cause. Every dollar helped. The great thing about events like this is it allows everyone to help. I know few people knowing that all they could afford to give to a family in need was $10 would actually do so. But coming to this carnival whether you could spend $5 or $500 you were able to help and feel good about doing it.

I was so excited to see Chase playing and watching the magician. He may only be 3 and not understand what is going on all the time, but it was happiness on his face watching the rabbit come out of the magicians hat surrounded by over a hundered friends and family.

Thank you to all!

Chasing a Cure for Chase Carnival

2010-05-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

We would love to have everyone come out for some fun. We have lots planned for the day.

If anyone would like to make donations, they are still being accepted. We are in need of few things. Please leave me a comment and I'll let you know what you can do.

Thanks!

Halle lost her first tooth

2010-05-10T01:45:00.001-07:00

Carmel apple + loose tooth = a visit from the tooth fairy.

Moms Rock

2010-05-10T01:37:00.001-07:00

My favorite treat ever! Carmel Apples with chocolate drisseled over them. Yum!
The kids gave me this cool Moms Rock night shirt or work clothes as I like to call them.
I think this picture looks like my head was super-imposed on a child's body. Am I really that little?

JD and the kids made me breakfast in bed. After church they worked on picking up the house and left me alone for a needed nap. After that they made me a yummy Filley Mignon steak dinner complete with bernaise sauce and crab legs (although I hate crab legs the rest of them thoroughly enjoyed them). We then took a drive to the cemetary to pay our respects to my mom, grandma Joey. I had to explain to Carson that she was my mommy. At this age they all have had a hard time realizing that I have a mom and that she's in heaven. Then it was presant time. I got paint brushes with permission to paint my bedroom AND bathroom. (this is big for me) Then carmel apples to tide me over during my long graveyard shift.

Bitter Sweet Day

2010-05-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

Another Mother's day down. This day is always so bitter sweet for me. I tried to put on my happy face for my kids sake. Inside though, my heart is always a little broken. This year was especially strange to me.

My mother passed away 12 years and 1 week ago. It was one week before Mother's day. We buried her on the Wednesday before that Mother's day. For some reason this May 3rd left me missing her more than ever. I have found myself wanting to talk to her about raising my kids, how was I as a child, what to do with this or that problem. How do I handle a fight with my husband? All these things I want to ask her and no one else.

Maybe it's because she found her cancer at 32 years old and I'm coming up to that birthday. Maybe it's because a lot of my friends are older than she was when she died. Maybe it's because she has been gone longer than my baby sister knew her, meaning I've raised her longer than her own mother did. Most likely it's all of this.

So, if I seem a little off lately it's because I have a heavy heart. I long for the day when I cross the veil and go into my mother's loving arms. I know that she is there waiting for me and watches over me even as I speak. I was asked once if knowing the fullness of the gospel helps me deal with her being gone, the answer is yes and no. It helps knowing she's there waiting, beautiful, without pain. But it doesn't help the longing I have for her counsel, her touch, her voice today.

Softball

2010-05-10T01:01:00.000-07:00

This year I some how got talked into coaching Avery's softball team, because I have nothing else to do in my life. This team of 10 7-8 year olds is teaching me a lot about patience, but most of all it's taught me how to be the mother of a child that some one else is coaching. This coaching stuff is hard, especially for a mother of 4. I have some special parent helpers, without whom I would no way make this work.

Avery has improved so much this year and I am glad to see her love a game that I myself enjoyed for so many years. She is a lefty hitter and we think a righty thrower, but she really could throw either way. It's disconcerting to me to try to helper her because everything is backwards. Easton helps her with the lefty questions. I know when I'm out of my league.

Dance recital(s), yes that's plural!

2010-05-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

My girls had their dance recital this year. Avery performed on Saturday night and both of them performed on Monday. They both did awesome. Avery had both of her dances down perfect. Halle's only hang up was the little girl next to her wouldn't get off her dance house. She actually pushed her during the second show.

The boys were troopers sitting through 4 hours of dance numbers. That is 24 numbers performed 4 times. Carson loved all the modern songs and was belting out One Republics "Apologize" like he was the lead singer and Easton tried to act unimpressed by the scores of girls dancing before him....Few more years and he'll truely apreciate it.

NOW I'm a soccer mom...

2010-05-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

It took 3 kids to become an official soccer mom. Halle wanted to play soccer this year, and although JD and I know little about the sport, we signed her up and she loves it. It's as they call it "hula hoop" ball. You could throw a hula hoop around the girls, because they all stick together in a cluster, but Halle is thrilled with all of it.

Getting a mamogram is fun to do, to do, to do, to do!

2010-05-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

My own mother passed away 12 years and 4 days ago from breast cancer. Exactly 1 week before Mother's day. Although it has left my spirits low for every mother's day since, now that I'm a mother, I use this sadness as a reminder to get my own tests done so that I may never leave my children too early. My sister and I go every year in my mother's memory to get our mamograms done together. Although we are both a ways from 40 we are in a high risk group and figure a little discomfort is ok, because early detection is the best cure for cancer.

I myself started going a few years back and have had a few scares. The doctors don't mess around anymore. In 3 years, I've had close to 10 mamograms, 3 ultra sounds, 2 MRI's and 1 biopsy. They leave nothing to chance.

In honor of Mother's day, remind all your mother's, sister's, daughter's, and friend's to schedule their yearly momograms. Picking a week like mother's day will remind you to do it every year.

You can join our Mamo party if you want! Leave a comment with your email address and I'll give you the date and time. Or, start your own. It's a lot less scary when your not alone.

6 lbs in 3 weeks!

2010-05-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

I am considering this my second wave. The first weight loss wave went from January 2009-August 2009, total weight loss, about 30 lbs. Last go around I kept it from by blogging world, but this next goal I plan on sharing. If not for anyone else, then for me to keep account of my ups and downs, and so I'll remember what works for me in this weight loss/health up challenge.

What I'm doing:
Weight Watchers (again)
Working out (new)

I added the gym this go around and am noticing the difference. Now I know that 6 lbs in 3 weeks is no HCG diet, but concidering this is pure diet and excercise I'm thrilled with myself.

After Aug I kept watching what I ate and lost a few more pounds. But I had a health scare that had to do with my diet. It's called hypoglycemic. It's a condition not a disease and the only thing to fix it is a balance diet. What happens is my blood sugar drops too low too quick and I get all shaky, queezy and can't think. I've had it my entire life, but by August I had lowered my sugar intake so much that I was having the "episodes" 3-4 times a day. It scared me and by Christmas I ate every sugary treat I could find. The episodes went away and it was a scary thought to go back to them.

3 weeks ago I got on the scale. Let out a blood curling scream and sign up for the gym and weight watchers on the same day.

This go around I've introduced some low calorie substitutes that still have sugar in them, and so far keeping the blood sugar levels in check and still loosing weight.

To hit this new goal I need to loose 7 more pounds. This may seem like a lot since I know I look small, but trust me folks, when you're 5'1" with a very small frame, 109 is the "healthy weight" and my goal is above that.

Next post: There's $$$ to be made as a personal trainer.

Not for the feint of heart

2010-04-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is JD's hand post op. About 20 years ago, the doctors found a growth in JD's finger while doing an x-ray on his broken wrist. It turn out to be a benign tumor that had grown into the bone. They replaced the bone with a bone graph from his hip. 3 years later it came back and they replaced it with artificial coral. Fast forward 15 years and it came back yet again. This time, they took bone from his wrist and replace the wrist bone with the coral.

He is doing better now, but for the first few days he was in a lot of pain. Loratab became his best friend, he is trying to come to off it. It still hurts, but he's doing better.

I on the other hand am still trying to recoop after this crazy week:

Sunday: JD's mom had a family dinner for us. Afterward JD and I moved a big desk since we knew he'd be layed up for a few months. While carrying the desk upstair part of it fell off and landed on my foot, leaving a huge bruise and me barely walking.

Monday: Get up at 7am. Take Halle and Carson to the neighbors house, take JD to TOSH with Easton and Avery. Start JD's processed, at 8:15 walk the kids over to school. At 11:30 Stacie picks up little kids and waits for JD to wake up after surgery. 1pm get JD home and into bed. 5:30 girls dance, Pam picks them up and the boys and feeds them. 8pm everyone home in bed.

Tuesday: I take kids to school. Later Easton has game at 5:30, Avery 7. Pam drove the boys to the girls game, since I being the coach had to get there early.

Wednesday: Deep breath. Easy school, dance, scouts, dinner, bed.

Thursday: I had to be to a work training at 7:30. I left at 7am. My neighbor Carrie borrowed my van and took my kids and her car pool to school. Then came back and got Carson and took him to play group and then brought him home. After school the kids walked to grandma's house and waited for me to pick them up. My prayers were answered and the heavens open up and rained and rained. No games, hallelujah. Just Halle's soccer game.

Friday: Training at 7am. Kids get mixed up in the shuffle of the week and don't get pick up for school, so JD drives them. (ignoring the "do not operate heavy machinery while taking this drug" warning) Another neighbor picks up preschooler and take them to school and then brings them home too. My sister picks up the big kids after school and brings them all lunch. My sister in law brings dinner and we eat, happy it's not fast food again.

Saturday: Traing at 7am. Pam picks up family taking them to Halle's soccer game and brings them back. JD falls to sleep after taking his meds. Kids fend for themselves for awhile. Pam comes back and takes the kids to run errands to let JD sleep. I get home and Pam helps clean my kitchen and make dinner.

Long story short, thank you to all of those who save me this week, Pam, Stacie, Carrie, Arlene , Miki, Jenny and everyone for the well wishing.

It does take a village to raise a family. Thanks my village!

....Again the parent of the year goes to......

2010-04-18T21:42:00.001-07:00

Announcing for the second year running the parent of the year goes to.....ME!

This is an honor to have been selected for this coveted award and accept it graciously.

This beautiful Sunday morning, my wonderful children allowed me to sleep in until 10:30. This not an unusual event seeing that I work until 4 am most days, but to have my hubby sleeping until then too, was not common at all. This would be great accept that church started at 11am. Well, we jump out of bed and I rush to get the 2 little ones ready, whilst fighting with Avery that she cannot wear the spaghetti strap summer dress to church. JD showers and gets ready while I finish Halles hair and put on Carson's shoes. JD and Avery are now fighting that she cannot wear gym shorts to church either. She slams her door shut, to try yet another outfit. By this time I am still in my robe and it's 11:05. JD rounds up the kids and I hear him yell everyone get in the car. The door shuts and the house is instantly quiet. I assume that I am to follow when I am dressed.

I finished getting ready, taking more time than usual do to my sore foot (more on that on a later date). 20 minutes later I head out the door.

I attend my 2 classes and meet the family at sacrament meeting aprox one and a half hour later. Halle asks me where Avery is because she never showed up to class. I start thinking of all the places she could have gone to ditch primary when JD looks at me and says, "Didn't you bring Avery to church?"

So, to may a long story short, we went to church and left Avery home by herself for 2 hours without telling her where we were or anything.

Mother of the year is a great title to hold.

Office with a View

2010-04-16T01:05:00.001-07:00

I have finally done it! I have gotten that office with a view I've always wanted! The only bad part is there's nothing to see at 2 am!

but......look at my fancy set up. See what I do for my job. That screen tuck back for occasional use is in fact my work computer. Notice the provisions for my night of hard work......popcorn, diet coke, scandolous book, laptop to digi scrapbook, remote for the tv, not sure what to do with tape and scissors (maybe JD will wake up taped to the bed :)

I have been working at Jetblue for 5 years this month and am loving the benefits of working all those crappy shifts so that now I can pick what ever shift I like and because of that, spend more time blogging than actually working! Yeah Me!

Play Group

2010-04-16T00:47:00.000-07:00

Play groups are an essential part of life. I wish I would have figured it out with child number 1 & 2. Once a week my wee little boy gets to go to someone elses house with 4-5 other little boys and reek havoc on that poor mothers house. They play, they run, they laugh, they run, they have a snack, they run, they do a project, they run, they scream and then run and scream and run and scream.....Get the picture. But once every 5 weeks it's our turn to play hostest to these adorable little monsters. Today was one of these days.

My poor Halle tried desperately to find a friend to go play with, but alas no one was home so she braved the house full of boys with me. The little men played blocks, sword fighting (not the bathroom kind, thank goodness!), hid all the pieces to connect four (still missing a few actually). At the point they seemed to be ready to burst the confinds of my house, I fed them a quick snack and shewed them out the door. We went on a walk. Owen refused to give up the Bob the Builder helmet and protective eye wear, he's hilarious.

We learned how to cross the street by looking bothways. They looked like bobble heads as they crossed the street looking back and forth as fast as they could.

I made them do little tricks like walking backwards and doing summersaults as we went. Afterward we rode bikes and wrote on the side walk with chalk.

Such a fun day! Now 5 more weeks of bliss!

7 Wonders of the World......Grand Canyon...check

2010-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

JD has a fascination with the seven wonders of the world. In all honesty there's a dozen different list as to what these wonders really are. So, we have compiled the lists to the ones that we want to see. So far we've crossed the Redwood Forest, Igasu(?) Falls in Brazil , and now the grand canyon from our list.

We started the road trip by going through Zion's national park. The kids thought it was a cool place. Carson loved the tunnels that the road goes through. We stayed in Page, AZ as the Glenn Canyon Damn is one of the few places to cross the Colorado River. The next morning we drove to the south rim of the Grandy Canyon.

The grand canyon is an awesome sight. I was amazed at not only the depth of the canyon but the expanse from rim to rim. There are plateau that stand alone in the middle of the canyon a thousand feet below the rim, but still a thousand feet up from the river. A sign told us that a indian tribe lived on one these plateau. It's unfathomable that a person could reach a place like that without a helicopter. I thought that the canyon would be more colorful. We came to learn though, that the canyon changes colors during the day, depending how the sun is hitting the rocks. For the best colors go during sunrise or sunset, not high noon like we did.

I have 4 children and therefore had 4 very different reactions to the canyons. Carson was by far the funniest. For our first sight of the Grand Canyon, JD went to the rim first to video everyone's first reaction. Carson was running down the path, straying off it from time to time, giving me a complete heart attack knowing there was a shear cliff around. But as he came bounding down the the edge of the trail to see the canyon he froze, his eyes bugging out. We tried to get a picture at the edge (which is fenced off to prevent falling) but Carson refused to turn his back to the "big hole" as he came to call it. I picked him up and carried him the rest of the walk looking around. The entire time he had his face buried in my neck chanting over and over, "get me out of here, get me out of here." Once he was safely back in the car, he refused to get out again. Holding on to his car seat buckles when ever we turned off the car.

Easton thought it was cool, but that it only required one glimpse to get the jist and he spent the rest of the time in the car watching his crazy little brother.

Halle liked it but was nervous about the heights and hated the cold breeze that was blowing.

Avery was enamoured with this world wonder. Her and her dad stopped at every turn off to get every vantige point of this masses canyon. She had no fear of the edge and was constantly being told to back up. I could see her in years to come jumping off cliffs with a parachute strapped to her back, she looked like she wished she could fly off the side.

Here are some cell pictures and fuzzy Avery pictures of the Grand Canyon.

After we had our fill of the "big hole," we headed off to Las Vegas. We decided to take Route 66 detour. Carson loves "Cars" the movie and it was fun to show him the sign and there is a town that looks just like Radiator springs.