Dad to the Rescue

This morning when I walked out to my car to leave for work I noticed my tire was completely flat. UGH. Meggan had already taken the girls somewhere and Timmy started his new job today so I was alone. I pulled out the bike pump and in desperation started pumping the tire so I could somehow get to the gas station. While I was doing this I called my dad. He came right over, gave me his car to get to work then took my car to the gas station then over to Discount Tires. Not long after I got to work he called me and told me they were able to get the rim off and were sanding all the corrosion off. Because my dad is a loyal customer to them they fixed it all for free and were able to fix something that the tire shop I bought my tires from couldn't fix. I will now be a loyal discount tire customer. I am one lucky girl to have my dad living 1/2 mile away from me and who is so willing and good at helping me. I'm sure that I take advantage of him, but I really am so grateful and just love him so much!

October Snow

Today we woke up to snow so the girls got all bundled up to enjoy playing in it. You've gotta love Utah.

Tayson's Bobcat

Tayson earned his bobcat this week at pack meeting. If you look really hard you can see my back (in the beige sweater) while I bend over and Tayson puts the pin on me. Thanks Luke for taking a picture without me asking. Sadly, he earned his bobcat on a day when I was at my wits end and actually left pack meeting before it was over because Sophie, Claire and Luke were too crazy for me to handle. Next time I'll do better. I love how much Tays loves cub scouts and I am proud of him for working hard to earn his bobcat. Way to go kiddo!

Tayson's leader sent me a few more pictures of his bobcat. Yippee!

Sophie and the iPad

I have an iPad to use for work stuff and it is the first thing Sophie grabs when I come home from work and the first thing she asks for in the morning. Her favorite thing to do is watch YouTube (or "uh uh oh" from Single Ladies as she calls it or her newest name for it is boo-boob - nice). Her favorite things to watch are movie previews (Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Bolt, etc), or how-to videos she LOVES the how to make a barbie cake tutorial and also princess makeup tutorials. She watches all the Single Ladies music video all the time too. She knows how to find Care Bear and Dora movies on the Netflicks app and has her own games she plays as well (dora, doodlejump, and plants vs. zombies are her favorites). The girl is iPad genius and cries when I take it to work everyday. This morning when she was up way too early for my liking I sent her back to her bedroom with the iPad and managed to get another hour of sleep.

Halloween Par-Tay

So my friend Laurie invited us to an awesome halloween par-tay. On the invitation it said "talent show"...... what? I'm so not a talent show kinda girl and Todd barely knows these people how will I ever get him to perform.

We finally decided to dress up as Guns-n-Roses and do a lip sync.

No those are NOT real cigs - but they really completed the outfits.
Our poor babysitter must have thought we were crazy!

All the girls

All the boys

Troy had the best outfit....he had to duct tape his chest. HA!

Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lisa - she is pure entertainment.

Hans and Traci were Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
my favorite outfit of the night!

Laurie and Suzette were 80's dancers and their hubbies did the Saturday Night Live dance of Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley - BEST TALENT EVER!

Gretchen and Abe did the "Evolution of Dance" routine. It was so awesome!

The party was a blast. After hanging out and the talent show we played "Just Dance 2" on the wii and Todd and I had to get it the next day. I love these girls!

Something just for me

This morning I saw this posted on a friends blog and feel like this is something I really needed to hear.

8 "Resolutions" Every Mom Should Make
1. I will embrace the fact that I am not perfect.
2. I will get down on the floor and play with my child(ren) every day.
3. I will take care of my body.
4. I will learn to love the chaos.
5. I will make family dinner a priority.
6. I will focus a little more on my marriage.
7. I will make time for my friends.
8. I will remind myself daily that time with my children is precious.

My life is completely overwhelming right now - work has been crazy busy, Todd is gone 4 days a week, the kids are in school, pre-school, dance, and cub scouts, Young Women's is a very time consuming calling and I have rededicated myself to getting my butt out of bed and working out 5 days a week. Last night I posted this on my facebook :

Tired so tired. Some days I just want to stop and enjoy things like my kids, the fall weather, my food and a good book. Maybe tomorrow. Sigh.

Also a few weeks ago in General Conference Pres. Uchtdorf spoke on simplifying our lives - I loved his talk but I just don't know what more I can simplify at this point. All I have left is my job, my kids, my calling and exercise. I never have time to watch TV and I fight to stay awake so I can read. Maybe instead of simplifying I should just take on the motto "this too shall pass" or one I taught in YW last week "I can do hard things".

Goodbye to Grandpa

Todd's grandpa passed away on 10/10/10 and this past weekend Todd and I were able to drive up to Idaho for his funeral. I have only known grandpa for 11 years but I will miss him terribly. I am so grateful that we have been able to spend so much time with him. My kids adore him and he always made a big effort to come down to see them and was so generous with them. They never went a birthday or Christmas without being spoiled by grandpa. And he made a special trip to come to each of their baby blessings. I will miss grandpa's laugh the most - oh how I love his loud HA! My first Olympic Triathlon happened to be in Burley Idaho and Todd and I had only been married a year and grandpa was there cheering me on at the end. For the last 11 years we have been up to the "birthdays" almost every year - our kids love going to see grandpa in Idaho because they get to play croquet. Now that he is gone I am even more grateful for all the years we made the trip with little crying kids. It was worth it.

Jan, Todd, Sophie and Grandpa
August 2008

Grandpa with all 8 great-grandkids
July 2010

Grandpa w/Claire
June 2006

I have more pictures I want to add....but they aren't on this computer.