Pumpkin Land

Yesterday I went with Ella's Kindergarten class to Pumpkin Land. It was a brisk day and light snow was actually starting to fall as we were getting out of the car. I brought my Suburban so I could fit a bunch of extra little bodies and their car seats. It made me laugh seeing 5 boosters and Halle's car seat in the back because they barely fit. They watched "Finding Nemo" on the way there. When I turned on the movie, it was right at the part when Nemo is reunited with his dad (I hope I'm not blowing the ending...we have all seen this by now right!?). I looked in my rear view and saw all six expressions filled with JOY and EXCITEMENT! Mouths were open and eyes were huge.

I couldn't help but remember when my whole world WAS my parents. Everything revolved around them. My worst nightmares were about loosing them and my greatest dreams were of being in their arms. Don't get me wrong, I still feel this way but as I have gotten older I have realized that my view of completeness is so much larger. Not only do I admire my parents, I have developed a deeper understanding of what real love is

as I try and be just as great for my kids.

Unselfish, long suffering, and patience are the first three words that come to mind when I try to express parental love. Of course there are many more.

Now I see my view of love expanding to so many people. Jon and the kids are my world. I have amazing siblings that I would do anything for, Grandparents that loved and served me, extended family that are just as close, and friends that I would consider family.

I can only imagine as I am wobbling around at age 97 how many people I will care for and worry about as I lay watching "The Price is Right" or blogging :).

Family is THE most important thing on earth and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by family that not only love to have fun and laugh together but also treat each other with respect and kindness. Nobody tries to control anyone else in their journey but appreciates their individuality.

OK WOW...a little bit of a tangent :)

Back to the corn fields ...haha!

Pumpkin Land had a lot to offer younger children with a little corn maze, petting zoo, big fun decorations to climb on and through, picnic tables for our freezing snack time,
and a mini light show. They had a blast!

This is Carol Stewart another mother from school. She was dressed so darling (as usual) and I asked her if I could take her picture with her daughter. She didn't like that idea so much, so I had to sneak one in when she wasn't looking!

This is Ella's sweet SWEET teacher, Mrs. Harken. She is the epitome of the PERFECT kindergarten teacher. She has an incomparable ability to talk calm to the kids but with fluctuations in her voice and face keep them under perfect control. This is Ella's second year with her and both Ella and teacher were ecstatic! Ella was the youngest in her class last year and wasn't quite ready to move on. The kids in first grade are reading chapter books and Ella was just reading sentences by the end of the year so we decided it would be better for her ego to hold her back and let her be at the top of her class. This is exactly what happened and has thrived as a little leader with all the subjects and helping the other kids.

Mrs. Harken's daughter showed up with her baby for a minute.

It was really cold and I am sure they both loved snuggling!

So precious.

Halle was lucky to tag along because normally they ask that younger children stay home but I didn't have a babysitter and they needed my car. She kept right up with the other kids. I am sure this comes from being the youngest and used to chasing around
everyone that is bigger than herself.

I was so impressed with Mr. Harken when he asked the class to smile, and then added the infamous  Line......"O.K. Now do a crazy face!"

Purple People Eaters!

While Spencer and Melinda were visiting Utah we had to take advantage and go play! We started with dinner at Flemings in Salt Lake. It was good, but not as outragous as the price. I guess you expect a lot when you are paying more than Wendy's. I think their marketing is to serve really good wine so the food tastes better. We don't drink and it didn't work on us. Just kidding, it wasn't THAT bad. They are famous for their steak and I ordered Butternut Squash soup that was really spicy. Spencer was cute because I could tell he was so excited to see Melinda after being away to visit his parents on their mission in Argentina.

After dinner Spence came up behind Melinda and hugged her. I couldn't help but laugh at how they looked because he is SO much taller than Melinda, or many people for that matter! I told Melinda to try and carry him. We had a laugh attack trying. I was having issues trying to carry Jon in my heels but I'm sure it was much easier after Jon loosing seventy pounds this year!

He is almost down to what he weighed when I met him.

People don't recognize him, but I am just starting to!

We had planned on going to Thriller with them but I thought Jon and Spence would appreciate some boy play so Melinda and I decided to change it up! We let Jon know so he could help us trick Spencer. I was so scared I would blow the story so I chose to keep my mouth shut about the plans! After dinner we started driving to "Thriller". Spencer was being so calm and vaguely offering to Jon the fact that we might be off track. After we ended up on the west side of the freeway and obviously not on the way to Kingsbury Hall, Spence proclaimed, "What planet are you from! This is not the way!" Melinda and I were repressing fits of laughter in the back seat because Spencer always HAS to know the PLAN and he was in the dark. (This bothers him regularly while hanging out with me because I don't know specifics of travel until I get there. He likes to buy the ticket 4 months in advance.) Jon let him know he had to check on a building first. When we pulled up I could see the light come on in his face and he just laughed! We had a great time!

Believe it or NOT, Melinda and I didn't try to match!! She did however make me this scarf and gave it to me in the car but I was just wearing the one that went with what I was already wearing! I felt like I was in Jr. High when the girl at Flemings asked if we tried to match! I loved the black lice protector so much that I had to pose in it!

Yes Barrie I'm writing about you

Because Jon had to work late and I had a fatty nap today, I am up late with a lot on my mind. I was reflecting on a comment my friend Barrie made the other day on my blog. He mentioned that he noticed artistic ability in my writing but said he could tell I did it for my family.

(A nice way to say I haven't developed it). It's ok Barrie, I said it not you :)

I think he hit it right on the mark. What is interesting to me is that he also said he didn't have anyone to write about, (meaning no kids) and so he writes about his own journey. He is a very talented writer and photographer. I love to read the words of people that put thought into how they express themselves on paper or music to relay their most personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I hope to develop my writing and photography over the years as my kids get a little older and I can focus a bit more.

It made me think how interesting it is that the paths in life we take affect so much of the talents we develop. There isn't a right or wrong path, there are so many valuable roads we can pursue that encourage the growth in the varying talents we innately have.

Sliding doors.

Luckily we have each other to lean on to balance out our talents, or lack there of !

Barrie is a free spirit and reminds me a lot of my brother Dan. I think that is why I liked him right from the start. I don't even honestly know him that well yet. He taught Ella how to snow ski at Sundance last season and he is Spencer's brother. He and Spencer are two totally different people. They remind me of my brothers....the same but different. I think there is a natural competitiveness/closeness that comes with brothers. I asked Barrie if I could post some of the pictures he took at Sundance this fall. They are absolutely perfect and capture the mountains essence in my head beautifully.

Thanks Barrie!

Sometimes my friends can't understand why I love to hike for exercise. I just want to drag them up there, plop them on their butt and force them to sit still. I don't know how someone can be in a surrounding like this and not want to return. The mountain is just as spiritual as church is to me, if not more. I don't feel closer to my Heavenly Father anywhere then on the mountain, except in the temple. There are many references in the scriptures to the mountain being a temple. It is what keeps me going when times get tough, a visual reminder of my blessings and the power of love he has for us. This isn't exercise, it is survival!

Remembering why we are here makes hard times seem a lot more trivial.

It is quiet at first in the mountains when nobody is around, but if you sit long enough and just listen, it is amazing what you hear. I was hiking up Rock Canyon last week and stopped for a minute to watch the leaves fall. I couldn't believe how fast they were falling off the branches. As they dropped swaying side to side hitting the other leaves and branches on the way down it was almost noisy!

It reminded me of listening and being sensitive to the spirit. At first when you try, it is just quiet but if you wait long enough you hear things you never realized were there.

It even becomes loud if you are patient and practice.

Sometimes there might even be a mountain lion that is quiet and sneaks up on you like that guy in Bountiful last week (where I am from, and hike sometimes).

If that happens you are supposed to be still and watch,

but I would run like hell!

I stole a picture of Barrie off his blog to give him credit for the pictures. I don't think he planned on me putting his mug on my blog...Better to apologize than ask for permission right?

My little Zombie

Last Thursday Kinley performed the Thriller dance with Rosie and Lizzy for us. They took the class at Orem Rec. Center for fun! It was a blast watching them dress up crazy and dance for us. They did the dance in the dark first to fit the mood but everyone wanted them to do it again in the light so we could get some pictures.

I have taught my kids a healthy appreciation for Michael Jackson because he is a talented artist! A little off his rocker, yes....but talented. All of them including Halle knew the song and were dancing in their seats. Whitney is on a dance team at Center Stage and will be performing several times in the next few months. Kinley, Brigton and Ella will be in the Nutcracker for Rocky Mountain Ballet this year. It should be a blast for the Holiday season...after all of the practices and driving are over that is!

Lizzy

This picture of LIzzy KILLS me because she is the nicest person I know and she looks SCARY!

Rosie

Rosie can't even look mean when she is trying!

Kinley

Kinley has always been dramatic and an actor at heart

so her extreme psycho look doesn't surprise me!

Just try and tell me that Kinley doesn't look like Reese Witherspoon in this picture! I see it in her every once in a while. The other day Tiff said she looked like Elizabeth Smart... They are both cute girls, but not as cute as Kinley!

O.K.

Kinley isn't so cute here.