Temple Lights.........

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

I remember the first time I saw the lights on Temple Square after moving to Utah, it was like nothing I had seen before. I was filled with the Christmas spirit. Every year since that first one I have tried to go downtown to take in that spirit again. Over the years I have gone with friends, church groups, dates, and family. I have to say that the best times have been with my our kids. Its fun to see them excited, everything is so simple when you're young.

Last Monday we went with some friends for Family Home Evening. Its fun to remind the boys that the temple is a sacred place and that they hopefully will all go there someday (now I'm singing the primary song). It was a cold night,but very fun regardless. We ended the night with hot chocolate of course.

This is all the kidos. Only one girl in the group. (even our friends have mostly boys)

The boys. (We didn't want to get Ben out of the stroller because he then wouldn't go back in)

The boys again. (this is taken from the roof at the Joseph Smith Building)

Nick and Ben

Ben all bundled up!

Winter Drive.....Not so much of Winter!

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard

Last Sunday we were sitting around a bit bored, and thought we would go for a ride and get a few pictures of the boys in the mountains. We stopped at the "s-curve" in big cottonwood canyon. There is a small waterfall right off the road there and some fun rocks for the boys to play on. The boys played until it got dark and they got cold. I was hoping to see snow but we never made it high enough in the canyon. No one fell in the river or off a rock, and the snow will come soon enough I guess. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the day.

Back to School.....

"The role of the teacher remains the highest calling of a free people. To the teacher, America entrusts her most precious resource, her children; and asks that they be prepared...to face the rigors of individual participation in a democratic society. "

I always loved the end of summer because I knew we would be starting school again soon. I loved going back to meet with friends, the challenge of new classes and new teachers. This excitement always lasted well into the first week then it was over and I couldn't wait for summer to come again.
This year our schedule has changed. Mat has to get up earlier then the other boys to get off to middle school. He is doing well so far. Luckily for him he didn't let my nervousness effect him. To him its the same old stuff just at a new building. So far his favorite class is band. He is playing the trumpet. I know he will continue to do well in school, its the social part and puberty that I worry about at this age.
Drew is in 4th grade. He has already gone on a field trip and another is planned for next week. He has the same teacher that Mat did and its always nice when they are happy to have the younger sibling.
For Nick this year is the start of all day school. The first few days were rough, he would come home a bit crabby. He has gotten the hang of eating lunch at school and loves his class so far.
I now have some free time during the day with all three at school. When Ben takes a nap I feel like I have hurry and get everything done at once.




Here is a picture of Drew and Nick on their first day. (We didn't get one of Mat)
These are just a few cute ones of Ben. He is growing too fast!

Stoned..........

Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.

So I have known for several years now that my body does not process calcium very well. It all started when I was pregnant with Mat and I developed a kidney stone. My Mom and her mom, and my grandpa Foster all have had stones so I thought it was one more health issue I would have to face. The stone was sent for testing and it was a calcium stone (ironically the bump on my forehead is made of calcium also). I had two more stones since then, one when I was pregnant with Drew and one with Nick. The doctor seems to think that they develop when I take prenatal vitamins. So you can imagine my relief when I gave birth to the last baby with no stone in site........ so I thought.

Last week I woke at about 4 am with terrible back pain, the pain I had become much to familiar with. I had some left over Percocet from Ben's birth so I took one and turned on the heating pad and tried to endure through the pain. I didn't want to go to the hospital as I knew they would only give me more pain meds and probably send me home until it passed. I thought that I would save myself the expense of the hospital co-pay and just ride it out. Well that didn't happen. I was in such pain and was throwing up so much that I finally went in (I threw up out of the window of the car on the way to the hospital going 65 mph on the freeway....that's a fun story). A CT scan reveled a kidney stone 3.8 cm (in the world of kidney stones that is very, very big). I met with a urologist who said he would have to surgically remove it. I was admitted to the hospital that day and the stone was removed the next day. He had to place stents in my ureter as there was so much swelling. He also found a hole in the top of my kidney where it kinda exploded due to pressure caused by the stone. I had to spend another night in the hospital so they could give me some iv antibiotics.

I have had the pain of a natural child birth and these stupid stones. The stones are much worse, and you don't get the joy of taking home a cute baby at the end of all the pain.

Weekend Fun..........

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.


Last weekend we went out to my Parents property to have a bit of fun. Grandpa just got a new four wheeler and the boys were dying to try it out. We always have a great time, but it seems the four wheeler is the new favorite thing. Mat took right to it and was able to drive it well on his own right away. Drew I think was able to sense the power it had and it it took him until the second day to feel okay to go on his own. Nick enjoyed rides from everyone. It was the first all day outdoor activity for Ben. I remembered the sunscreen, but forgot to bring a hat for him. I tried using sunscreen but all it did was give him greasy hair. So being the great scout he is (always be prepared), Grandpa tied one of his handkerchiefs to Ben's head. It really worked good. I couldn't stop laughing at him as he looked o so cute.


Grandma had to get a "biker" shot.

Mat learning from grandpa how to drive the machine up a very steep hill.
"Don't mess with me."
Nick waiting for his turn. He really couldn't get enough.

One more shot of the baby as I couldn't stop myself with the pictures.

Nick taking his turn for a camera shot on the motorbike.

Smile.........

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. ~Charles Gordy

The smiles at our house have recently changed! Nick has lost his first tooth. All my boys know that I love to pull out their teeth, I bribe them with everything and anything I can think of for them to let me pull them out. I was sad to find out that Nick let his 5 year old friend pull it out( and just because he asked if he could). I guess I'll have to try a more simple approach with the next tooth. I am so happy I have his mouth and Ben's to still pull. I had to work the night the tooth fairy came, but it was exciting to see him that morning when I got home.

The other smile change in our house is in Mat's mouth. He got braces! I think he looks very handsome with them on. (the cheesy picture below does not capture how good he looks). He was able to pick the colors of the band things they put on and I was a bit surprised he said blue and "pink". I mean I thought that in a house with all boys I would be the only one picking pink things. I think the dental assistant must have sensed my confusion when I asked Mat "are you sure you want pink". She quickly told me that pink is the new black. She said that lots of boys pick pink now a days. Regardless, he looks grown up with them. He looks much to old to be my son, right.

Blessings......

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.



The 9th of march was a big day for our family. Mat was ordained a deacon, and Ben was Blessed. According to my big life plan for myself this would not have happened. I didn't think that I would have a 12 year old and a new born. But the best thing about life is that God is watching and knows our needs more than we think we know ourselves. It turns out that the way things are happening for our family is better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I love these boys we have be blessed with. I love the age differences, and their unique personalities.
The day was very nice. All of Bretts family was there except Dan who lives in Florida, and Robyn and her family who lives in Canada (and Mexico now), and my whole family was there except my brother Gain and his family. They all were missed. I love the support that was given to Mat as he is growing in the church. He has a wonderful extended family of priesthood holders whose examples he can follow.
We had a wonderful lunch afterwards at Chris and Amy's house (their house is a bit bigger than ours and only live a mile away, we are so glad they moved back to Utah). We had more food than we knew what to do with. It was a wonderful day!



Mat and Ben

Mat in his new Tie, and Ben looking cute (sorry I don't know how to flip this picture)

Ben's shirt matched his eyes.



A bit of a smile!