Yeah, but you should see the other guy!

Riley and the tricycle had an argument. The trike won. It looks better in real life. Yesterday, Hyrum & I got to help Edith put flowers on the graves at the cemetery for Memorial Day. It made me so happy. Cemeteries used to freak me out, but now they are so special to me. Especially this one. I was so glad that I was helping to beautify that place for anyone and everyone who came to pay respects to deceased loved ones.

And.....we are MOVING!?! I can't believe it either. Evan took a job in Enterprise, Utah on the Holt Dairy. It's definitely bitter-sweet. We loved it here and the branch, our home, our friends, etc. but we're looking forward to living in a small community and raising our family there. And we're only 45 minutes from St. George and a temple! YAY!! So, all of you that were afraid of the vast openess of Spring Valley, now you can come visit :) Anyway, life is crazy with packing and everything. The best way to contact me for awhile will probably be the internet, but we're here for at least another week. Enterprise or bust, baby!

Birthday Girl!!! 2

Birthday morning....she was so excited about the balloons Before she pulled her hair out...

Yumm...hot dog boats, aka "snowballs on skis"

"Mom, when is it MY birthday?"

Opening presents like a pro!

Goggles, life jacket, a tutu and bracelet. What more could a girl want?

Chillin' with Hy on her new sleeping bag in new jammies with a new baby.

Happy birthday to my girl! She is always looking to get into something. She LOVES to draw and climb on things. She is speaking really well and we understand her more and more each day. She loves Hyrum, loves animals and dancing, pretty dresses and princesses and SuGaR! I love my little Riley :)

Yay for my Young Women

Brianna & Mindy Iverson Amelia (not from our branch, but still way cool) and Ashlee Humphries

Brianna, Annie (my way cool former partner in crime), Ashlee, Amanda, me, Mindy

Three of our four girls earned their Young Womanhood Recognition and were recognized last Sunday. It was so neat. Annie was even able to come to be a part of it. I'm so proud of these girls--they've worked really hard!

Thank goodness for the neighbor kids!

Brooke & Austin have been a source of entertainment and "roll my eyes" moments over the past 3 years.

For instance, Brooke brought her dance DVD over a couple of days ago so we could watch it with her. In one part, she does a little "shimmy" thing and I said, "Oh, Brooke! Look at you shake your 'groove thing'!"

"Yeah," she answered. Pause. "Only, its a skirt." (not a groove thing).

Speaking of, Hy started shaking his on the couch yesterday. I asked, "What are you doing?"

Hy: "Austin taught me how to shake my bootie." Then he starts chanting, "Shake your bootie, shake your bootie" Except instead of bootie, with Hy's speech impediment or lack of understanding, instead of "bootie" he kept calling it a part of the female anatomy. I kept trying to tell him to say "bootie" but he wouldn't. Yeah, we better not encourage that phrase in our house.

But Brooke & Austin are some of Hy & Ri's favorite people! Heaven bless'em!

I might never know...

I was THIS close to finding out if I could ever get hired as a teacher this week.

I finished my last year of student-teaching really believing that I would never teach because Evan and I both had the same goal of me being a stay-at-home mom. Basically, I put myself into my classes half-heartedly.

The passed few months and the instability of the economy put my views in perspective. We have been considering a move for our family and part of that move might require me to work outside of the home.

I've have come somewhat close to applying for a teaching job about 3 times in the 8 years we have been married. But anytime I started filling out applications and inquiring about a teaching position, I would get sick in my stomach and know that it wasn't right for me.

This time, I felt justified in leaving my children with another person. I've almost felt like I would do more good outside the home because I'm not the best "stay-at-home" mom AT ALL. One of my good friends grows a garden like you wouldn't believe and could live off of it; another friend does scrapbooking stuff online as a business from her home; others photography; others play with their kids all day or homeschool them; then there's me: you had better let me watch my Biggest Loser show or I will throw you out of the house!!!!!

Anyway, the application was actually finished and sent in. I was nervously anticipating a call from the principal and really nervous whether I would even make an interview! Then Evan came home from work and said he felt that the move wasn't right for us right now and that I'd probably put an end to my application process so it didn't get too far.

WHAT?

I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, be relieved or be torqued off (I was all of the above). After a lot of thought and prayer, I've felt good that I don't have to teach right away. We still don't know what we are going to do. But we're here for now and might as well enjoy it.

But I'll always wonder if I really could get hired as a teacher...

*PS--Any of you out there who do work outside of the home...you are amazing and a hero in my book.

First ___________of the season

Earlier this month, we had some "warmer" weather. Evan was "itchin' to go fishin" and Hyrum wanted a "firepit". So we got to do both!

Riley tackling her s'more!


Hyrum roasting his mallow. (Notice the stocking caps for the "warmer" weather?)

Riley trying to decide if she wanted to touch the fish or not.

Hyrum with his fish and his new invention "two hats". He wore his hats like that all evening and was so proud of himself.

"The first season of the fish!" We kept telling Hy that is was the first fish of the season but he kept mixing up his words. Evan DID catch the first fish this year but please note two things: I don't have my license yet AND he was using my pole.