Getting there!

From her golden yellow room to painting it gray we have now completed the duvet cover and added pillows.

I bought 2 queen flat sheets and did pin tucking on 5 inches of it to add some detail to the duvet cover. I sewed ties on the corners of the duvet and the inside of the cover so I could tie the two together. This will make sure that the insert won't move around inside of the cover.

We then added pillows. TONS of them. Poor Julia ... this is what happens when she lets her Mom do the linens! She now officially has more pillows on her bed than I do!

Next ... hanging her photography on the walls. Slowly, but surely (I sure have slowed down) ... stay tuned!

Not a baby anymore

Today was the day. We put the crib away. I swore I would never take a child out of the crib until they

1. climbed out
2. we move to another house in another state
3. another one is on the way.


Kendall did not climb out, we are not moving and NO, I am not announcing anything either.


This crib was used for 7 years straight with Julia (for 2 years then Jenna came along), Jenna (for two years and the Jaley came along) and Jaley (for 3 years and then we moved to IL). It was put away for 1 year when we moved to IL and then set it back up for Kerst and has been up ever since and has been used by Kendall for the past 3 years.


Kendall was not happy taking it down. John distracted him by having Kendall help him disassemble the crib. John quickly slipped it out and stored it in some ceiling shelving racks in the garage. When we got back from a family outing, I took Kendall to his room for his nap. Oh the look on his face when he noticed/remembered his crib was gone.

"Daddy lost my crib."

He has been enjoying the top bunk for the last 3 weeks - and hasn't even climbed down!

My baby has officially grown up. He will always be my baby - and so will my other 4 kids.

Families ARE Forever

We found out almost 2 weeks ago that our nephew/cousin Jason (in khaki pants) has been diagonosed with an extremely rare type of lymphoma (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH to be brief). (In the words of his mom, Mary - John's sister) "This is a condition where the white blood cells are attacking the other blood cells and and T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder where the T-cells are reproducing abnormally. His treatment plan is chemotherapy and likely a bone marrow transplant." His younger sister is a bone marrow match.

Reading their updates over the last week and the letters from Jason's brother and sister serving missions has been amazing. I was touched with the letter of gratitude and encouragement that Mary sent to her missionaries. "We will all 'gird up our loins, fresh courage take.'" This family IS amazing. I'm blessed to be a part of their family!

Jason fought a fierce battle that ended last night.

I will miss his smile. His gentle teasing. His sweet "Hello Aunt Corin" whenever I saw him. He was a smart, wonderful, friendly and brave young man. Someday he will greet me once again with his "Hello Aunt Corin" and that wonderful smile.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his amazing parents and siblings (two of which are serving missions in South America).

Families ARE Forever.

Stake Pioneer Day

I am going backtrack and post some of our fun activities we did this summer.

July 25, 2009


We had a Stake Pioneer Day at our Stake President's barn. It included a wonderful dinner of BBQ pulled pork, side dishes, salads and treats.

After we ate, we headed out for some fun.

Tug-or-war, water balloon toss, sack races, handcart races, bow and arrow and BB gun target practice.

It was a fun time and we even wore out our little buddy!

Slowly Trickling Out

Today is the day. The first day of school - except for Julia and Kendall.

Jenna had a full day of fun planned for her at the HS. Only freshmen and new students are there today. They are doing team building activities and lots of getting to know you games, etc. No backpacks. No lunches. Only cash for the lunchroom. Oh ... and of course, she wouldn't forget her phone ;o). She was gone by 7:20.

Kerst was next. He told me when he woke up that he was going to fall asleep in school. Kendall and I walked Kerst and his walking buddy, J. Cl., to school. Kendall was NOT happy when we turned away from the school and left Kerst behind.

Jaley was next. She had a half day in the afternoon. It is nice that they have the younger students in the middle school and high school have rule of the school for a day before the "bigger kids" arrive. We didn't have that in IL. Jaley is a "bigger kid" this year! 7th grade. I can't believe it. Kendall was not happy AGAIN when Jaley left; at least he was still sleeping when Jenna left. Being disappointed three times in one day with being left behind is not good on a toddler ;o)

Julia had to go in sometime today to get her school picture taken for her id. Kendall and I went and hung out with her. Kendall felt like he fit right in ... he was back in his old romping ground when I would go in to take photos during the musicals. I don't think he realizes that there are at least 12 years difference between him and the students there.

And Kendall. He has his "meet your teacher" tomorrow at noon. He starts preschool on Thursday! I can't believe it!

Early Morning Seminary starts next week - 6:30 a.m. We will have 12 years straight of Seminary. 1 year off and then 4 more years with Kendall.

A new routine is starting. I'm going to miss the summer, but will enjoy a new routine.

Giraffes eat ...

I found this in my drafts back in June ... thought I would go ahead and post it. I think I was hoping to get a video - I did at one of our family reunions during Kendall's talent portion of the family talent show.

June 5, 2009

Kendall has been into telling me what animals eat.

"Cows eat grass."

Today he told me that giraffes eat leaves. He remembered! I sing "Old McDonald had a farm" with the kids in nursery at church. I have little finger puppets for them to hold while singing that song. Kendall loves the giraffe puppet (I know, you have probably never seen a giraffe on a farm ... ) What sound does a giraffe make for that song? "Munch, munch, munch." I explained to the nursery kids that giraffes eat leaves so "munch, munch, munch."

"Giraffes eat leaves."

I decided to expand his knowledge of what animals eat so I added another one.

"Lions eat ....



























Kendall!"

He laughed. We enjoy hearing him tell us that "cows eat grass, giraffes eat leaves and lions eat Kendall."

She's got talent!

It's in the genes! My sisters, Kelly and Shannon, have an amazing talent in photography. I enjoy it myself.

Julia was encouraged by her high school photography teacher to enter some of her photos in the local county fair. So, she did.

Here is what she entered:
Fight for the ball! (From when the U18 UT FC soccer team came to our home for their Pikes Peak Tournament and were the champions). This photo was a 1st place photo in the "peak of action" category. Our boys are once again in 1st place ... with the photo.

Fence by the bluff. This was entered in the nature category.

"Ant's Perspective" took 1st in the Black and White category!

POP! Placed 1st in the category "photos of a teen" AND IT WAS ALSO AWARDED BEST IN SHOW!!!! Julia took this photo of herself while we were driving to UT last fall ... trying to keep herself entertained during the long drive. It is a favorite photo of mine. I convinced her to enter this one instead of another photo she had taken of a friend. She didn't want to submit a photo of herself. I'm glad she did!

Family Feet. This was entered in her grade level category.

Unexpected Beauty. This was entered in the macro focus category.

Evening Glow. In the sunset category.

Bright-eyed Toddler (Kendall). This took 1st in the infant-toddler category!

New Generation. This took 1st place in the photos of people aged 60 and older.

I think John and I should get "Best of Show" in the genes category ;o) - Photos of our kids took several 1st place ribbons ... so it is in the genes!