Timeout for some Israelsen Quotes

I have to type my kids' quotes so that I can remember them. Here are some of their latest:

• Hy: You know that guy Elmo? Remember when he sang with President Monson's band? (referring to when the Muppets sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

Hyrum and Riley were discussing football. 

Riley: You don't want to do football because you do a lot of foot work

Hyrum: No, I don't want to do football because Sean Loughmiller told me you have to wear kneepads on your nuts!

• Riley and Evan were watching America's Funniest Videos (AFV) on YouTube one night. She started calling it "Africa's Funniest Videos". We aren't sure where she got the Africa.

Hyrum: "I am 1/2 Spaganic" (combining the words organic and Spanish)

• Me: Lindsay, what are you going to do for Riley for Christmas (Riley just gave Lindsay a coupon for a slush puppies at Bake Central).
• Lindsay: I'm going to let her do my jobs.

Lindsay (during a prayer): Please bless Kelsey won't take off her pants anymore.

• Lindsay wanted to call Grandmummsie, but g-mum-z was an appointment getting a facial at Wendy Christiansen's. (She had a nursery leader named Wendy as well). Linz asked what a facial was. I explained that you get a massage, you get exfoliated and clean you face and your face is soft and clean and like new. After a few seconds, Lindsay proclaimed, " When I grow up, I'm gonna go to the 'nother Wendy and get my face pulled off!

Linz: I'm gonna kick Ross (the cat) with my woman shoes!

• Lindsay was calling meatloaf "muffalo"

Lindsay: This chicken (it was pork) is like a dream come true!

(And these are from last year and I may have already written them, but I want to record them again, just in case:

• Allison Schumann: called string cheese "Scream cheese"
• Linz: Scripture of Mormon
• Me: Where's your smile? Linz: It fell down

Uncle Justin and Aunt Ami (long before she was the aunt) came to visit on the way through to Boise. This was their secondish date. Suddenly, Hyrum asked if they wanted to come downstair to see the 'virgin' table. Amidst mine and Evan's peals of laughter, we explained to some confused and slightly nervous visitor that Hyrum was talking about the INVERSION table for Evan's back!

Hy's 9 and that's fine! Evan's 36 and that's....old! ;)

Hy's buddy Thomas was going to have a bday party....on Hy's bday. These boys are one day apart. So I called Thomas' mom and (since it was Hyrum's year to have a party) I asked if they could combine. Ashley was so good about it. It was way awesome and the boys had a blast. We were going to do it at the park, but the weather was bad, so we did it in the church instead.

L to R: Ethan Felthauser, Will Rex, Trevor Bankhead, Thomas Harper, Sean Laughmiller.

Thomas' siblings: Grace, (Hyrum), James, Emma 

 The awesome soccer cakes that Ashley made.

 Hy got a money pizza from Grandma Vicky. $50!!! That was one excited 9-year old. We gave him a pitchfork and he got some long johns and some Legos. I sure love this boy of mine :)

 Ev started to work for Heber Laughmiller for the month starting on his birthday. We had a cake for him and he made his own steaks (because I can't cook them like he can). Love my sugar daddy ;)

Fast Forward Fall of 15

Ol' Buzzy got to be in the Homecoming Parade as a Cub Scout flag bearer. He grabbed the flag when he saw us.... ;)

 I'm a cheap-skate, so on school picture day, I decided to take my own pics. These are pics that aren't on the wall, but cute, anyway!

 We took most of them in the chicken coop.

 After the second round of pics, I had them do their summer chores. Linz was in charge of feeding  the chickens scraps. Then she'd put Herbie's food in her bucket and carry it back to the house where Herbie's dish is.

 Hy would bring a couple of milk jugs filled with water for the dogs & chickens.

 Ri would feed the chickens their chicken feed and then gather eggs.

 Hy would help feed the dogs and sometimes scrape the kennels.

 And Jibbers, ol' Jibbers would SOMETIMES carry the empty milk jugs back to the house.

 We are doing preschool with Allison and Lindsay this year. They love it! Here they are in their aprons.

 Allison told me this is her "Deb" outfit from Napoleon Dynamite. Makes me laugh! Love that girl.

 One day, the girls and I did mani/pedi makeovers. Included was watching 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.

 Face masks and foot soak!

 Riley put my hair in curlers and then fell asleep.

 After shot of the makeovers. Work it Lindsay.

 Ooo la la, Miss Riley. And that look, Kelsey!

 Hyrum had a very special experience to go to General Conference for the first time and see President Monson in real life! It was neat day. Unfortunately, that was the day I started my 14 day cough :( I was coughing all through President Monson's talk in the conference center and I was right in the front of the balcony in the middle. It was miserable and one of the worst coughs I've ever had.

 Kelsey decided to try the makeover on her own....

 Cooks cook cookies with the letter "C".

 Kelsey wanted to be "baby" like her cousins that all still have binkies. She learned where Grandmummsie's stash was and would suck/chew on the binky the rest of the day. She even requested a "bah" (bottle). Tricky Kelsey.

 Campbell soup kids and their hot cocoa.

KonMari

I like to think that I balk at the "trendy" things. I don't know why. I never watched the movie "Titanic." Still haven't. Why? Because it was HUGE and I had no interest in it. I didn't want to be like the other "sheep." I never finished Harry Potter series (although I think I will someday) and never even started the "Hunger Games." Now, I am into some trends, and this one was HUGE for me. This is below scriptures and a lot of my favorite LDS authors and speakers for me but right there with FlyLady and Dave Ramsey: Marie Kondo and "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I heard about it and decided to look into it. Mom got me the book and I was hooked!

The first thing to declutter during your "decluttering" marathon is your clothing. I never thought I had very much clothing but I was still surprised at the volume. 

Most pioneer women had 2/maybe 3 dresses...a work dress and a church dress. How come we have to have so much?

The picture on the left is my closet before and the picture on the right is my closet after. You may not be able to tell a huge difference, but I could. My closet actually looked beautiful to me! And I almost just wanted to leave the doors open rather than close them. It was truly refreshing. I got rid of clothes that didn't fit or that I really didn't love and it was so free-ing!

Next is your books. Again, I was shocked about how many I had.

(*I had an after shot of my "library" closet, but I can't upload it for some reason).

Anyway, my declutter marathon is continuing. My goal is to be done in 6 months (April 2016). It feels good and I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to declutter and tidy!

Jackson Hole

Dad & Mom got a time share for a place in Jackson Hole for a week. I tried to get Ev to go with me. He said no. I tried the Relief Society Presidency. They popped and fizzled. So, dad and mom finally made time as did Decca one weekend and they invited me and the little minions to go with them. So we did. I actually got to ride the Harley to Bear World. Decca got the scenic route to Jackson Hole. Such is life.

Cute bear cubs wrestling each other at Bear World.

 Kelsey and I wore our Mama Bear and Baby Bear shirts.

 Our "hike" in Jackson by Jenny Lake. It was the LoToJa bike race and there were a TON of people. But the weather was perfect. Apparently there were a lot of bears in the area as well, so we were a little nervous. If I ever go to Jackson again, I need to take my bike!!!!

 Photo Op!

 Me and my girls

 Decca and I went to Bubba's Bar-b-que for some ribs. Oh...they were good.

EISF 2015 and a Wolf (Aowooooooooo!)

Poppa Jeff took us to the Blackfoot fair. Since Hy & Ri were in school, we just took the younger two. They milked a fake cow, saw a pink tractor and got AWESOME cowgirl hats!

 Hyrum got his Wolf! Yes!  And it was a fun pack meeting with spraying the fire hose to boot. Congrats Buzzy!

Ami & Justin's Wedding, Part 2

So, because of my lack of preparation, I actually missed the sealing ;( I was so bummed. Again, because of my procrastination, I missed out. I was glad Evan got to go in. The kids and I enjoyed the a/c...and the visitor's center.

 My favorite in-laws and the groom and bride.

 L to R: Jake, Andi, Marty, Missy, LaVell, Vicki, Riley, Justin, Ami, Bernie, Kalene, Hyrum, Aunt Jill, Aunt Ethel, Me, Ev (holding a melting Jibbers and a fried Machi-machi).

 At the reception. It started raining. that helped with the heat. A little.

 This is a momentous moment! The last time the original six were together was at our wedding...12 years ago! Kalene, Karma, Ami & Justin, Amber, Evan & Wayne.

 Basically, the whole clan! Woo hoo! Love our family. So grateful for Ami who was willing to join this crew!