cascade springs

We headed up the canyon after lunch to take in all the beautiful fall color. We had never been to Cascade Springs before so that is where we headed. It was the perfect "hike" for my littles. Oh, fall, how I love thee!

12 on 12 | september

1. Cinnamon rolls rising on the counter.
2. Regional conference at 10:00. Two of my favorite speakers, Julie Beck and Elder Holland. When Sister Beck talked about mothers spending too much time on the computer, Emma looked over at me. Time to repent.
3. A tired Annie after conference.
4. Hot dogs and chips for lunch. Not healthy but easy.
5. Dave came home from Boise with a suitcase full of Living Scripture videos and coloring books that we essentially stole from our friends (Thanks so much, Steph!). The kids are so thrilled and would have watched them the whole entire day if we'd let them.
6. Nothing like a Sabbath nap. Unfortunately they were rather short.
7. We gathered round the table and wrote cards for Grandpa Slade and letters to our missionary, Evan.
8. I accompanied a violinist for her Book 3 play through recital. Emma came to turn pages.
9. Boys playing/fighting/wrestling on the tramp.
10. Anne, the master of disaster, pulling out movies from the cabinet.
11. Bedtime stories with Dad. He was reading Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon-Pie Adventure (one of our absolute favorites). He added a few new voices in and the boys were laughing so hard. Adorable.
12. I was lying down on my bed and Emma came in to join me. I filled this jar up with 25 cent boxes of crayons and Emma has made good use of it.

The best part of the day probably was after I stopped taking pictures. The boys were all in bed. Dave and I were reading in the living room. The two girls came in to join us. We got to have a good conversation with Emma. Not about anything in particular but she seems to be so happy when when we talk about anything. Anne was making us all laugh with her antics. I was reading Julie Beck's Women's Conference talk and loving every word of it. It was just such a pleasant way to end the day.

his eye is on the sparrow

I know that the Lord is watching over me and my loved ones. Without a doubt.

My dad has been in the ICU in a Ft. Collins hospital for over a week now. I don't think it is really my place to post a long list of what ails him but let it suffice to say that he has not doing well. After a severe decline at the beginning of last week, he has been making small steps forward. We are so thankful for that.

I was able to go out to Colorado to be with him and my mom for a few days. Dave is in Boise and the week was so full of commitments. I was able to clear the calendar of things that involved me and my in laws graciously stepped up to take care kids. At the time when I was able to come, Dad was fairly stable. I knew that there wasn't really anything for me to do nor would it be a very pleasant experience. I decided to come anyway because this was the only time in the foreseeable future when I could leave the kids without much issue.

I drove out on Wednesday, leaving about two in the afternoon. About forty miles outside of Laramie, my fuel light came on. It was starting to get dark and I had no idea how far the car would actually be able to go. I started coasting in neutral down the hills and continually praying that I could make it to a gas station. I don't actually know how close I was to running out of gas. I just know that I didn't and I am so grateful for that.

The next two days were rather uneventful and quiet. I was able to sit in Dad's hospital room, waste time on the computer, talk with Mom and my siblings, talk a tiny bit with Dad, ask the nurses lots of questions, and learn lots of medical terms I hope I never need to use again. I told Dad that it was hard to see him like that but I was glad I came. He whispered back that he was glad I came too. I asked him if he was going to keep working hard to get out of there and he said, "Fightin' and screamin'."

There aren't a lot of answers for the future right now. Its my hope that Mom and Dad both know that they are loved and have children to support them whenever the answers do come.

thirty days hath september

Oh, September. Already you are making me crazy and its only the first day! School, soccer and music classes have all started recently. My husband is working in Boise. I can't figure out when to actually have dinner on some evenings. Sigh. It is going to be a crazy busy month.

Today we hosted history and science co-op at our house. I always tell myself to prepare early. I always seem to be scrambling to the end. I should listen to myself!

We held a debate about building a nuclear power plant (after studying about the Chernobyl disaster). We acted like a cell dividing. As a nod to DNA, I had them break a code to build a structure out of playdough and popsicle sticks. And finally, we made edible cell models with jello and candy.


Our co-op is made up of six families with a total of 31 kids between us. Needless to say, it is a tad chaotic. And lots of fun.

As I ushered the last guest out the door, I promptly plopped down on the couch and read Mockingjay all afternoon. That is my kind of afternoon.

Then the evening rush hit:
-Pick up Emma from a friend's.
-Rush Emma and Nathan to soccer practice.
-Take Emma to her Triple Threat (music dance acting) class.
-Pick up dinner at McDonald's.
-Feel really guilty about spending that much money on unhealthy food when its my fault I didn't make dinner because I was reading.
-Read some more while waiting until its time to go back to get Emma.
-Pick up Emma. Get her a smoothie and take a second trip to McDonald's.
-Let the kids watch TV until bedtime.
-Finish Mockingjay.
-Ignore the mess in my kitchen and blog instead.

Tomorrow there is only one soccer practice on the schedule. Maybe I will actually get my act together.