Monday, October 15, 2012

Little weekend getaway.

A couple of weeks ago Dave and I decided on the spur of the moment that we wanted to go to Bear Lake that weekend.  So I called my grandma and made sure her cabin wasn't being used and she said we could use it.  We left Friday evening and took up Dave's fishing boat.  Dave's brother and his wife and sweet little "K" came with us. 
It.
Was.
Wonderful!
 
It was beautiful, warm and peaceful.  It was a perfect weekend getaway.
The sunset was much farther to the south-west than I am used to.
It was only in the low 70's but the kids still wanted to swim and LOVED it!
Dave had fun taking everyone on his boat for rides and fishing.

While everyone else was out boating and fishing Sam and I played on the beach.
 


I love the reflection in this one.
Look at his curl shadows in the water!



Then he had a bath in the sink.


I loved this impromptu daddy-kid-pile cuddle.
 
 
We took a Saturday afternoon drive to Montpelier Idaho.  All the kids napped.
 

 
On our way home on Sunday we stopped in Logan Canyon to take some portraits.
It was SO beautiful!
 
I think my kids were even more beautiful though!




 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

A Sunday evening drive...

I
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE
Sunday drives in the mountains. 
 
 
I especially love them in the Fall.
 
 
So a couple of Sunday's ago I talked Dave and the kids into going with me to look at the fall leaves.  It was so gorgeous!  We had so much fun. I just marvel at the beauty of Autumn and I cannot deny the existence of God when I am surrounded by his beautiful handiwork.



 

 

It was AWESOME.
The end.
  
 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

First Day of School!

Oh my... can they really be this big? 
 
 
This day was bitter sweet for me.  I was very excited for them to get back to school and for them not to be stuck at home with me anymore (it was not the best summer ever due to me being a slug).  At the same time I miss them.  They are gone for nearly 8 hours. 
 
8 hours that they are under the influence of others.
8 hours that I am not there to kiss and comfort them when they get hurt.
8 hours that I am not there to help and guide them when they are unsure.
8 hours that I don't get to see them grow and be oh so cute!
 
On the flip side I enjoy 8 hours that I don't have to be the entertainment committee.  I love having sweet one on one time with Sam.  I am not sure how Sam feels about that, he sure gets grumpy with me in the afternoons when he is waiting for his best friends to come home. 
 
James was SO excited to be in first grade... to get to be in ALL DAY school and have school lunch.
 
 
Ella of course was ready to be a 3rd grader and to jump right back in to the social scene...
 
I think it is going to be a great year!
 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Augusto!

August was a rough month for me.  My thyroid issued hit a head early in August and that is when I went to the Doctor, got diagnosed and got on medication.  My meds didn't really kick in until mid September though so August was a bit exhausting for me.  I was definitely ready for school to start again!  We did do some really fun things... here they are!

GOSHEN
 
In early August Ella and James had an AMAZING opportunity to participate in a LDS Church
production.  The church is filming scenes from the life of the Savior on an amazing set in Goshen Utah. My kids got to participate in the scene of Jesus blessing the little children.  It was a LONG... HOT and repetitive day.  I don't think Ella and James were quite prepared for take after take but they were troopers and did really well.  The film should be available on the Church website sometime next year.  I hope my kids make it into the final cut.  The set of these wonderful videos is a closed set.  That means that I signed a document saying I WOULD NOT publish any pictures that were taken on set.

This was in the official casting call information I was sent:
 Definition of "ON SET" -- There are basically two areas on a film set: "on set" and "off set." Off-set is where you check-in, change into wardrobe, do makeup, eat lunch, and otherwise spend time when you’re not involved in a scene. On-set is where the action is: director, camera, lights and actors involved in shooting a scene. Cameras are allowed OFF-set, but not ON-set. 
 
We did get some wonderful pictures of the kids on set but I cannot post them anywhere or even email them.  So if you want to see them you have to see them in person.  I DO have some really fun pictures of the kids OFF set that I can post... here they are: 
 
We had to wake up at about 4:30 AM to make it to the set 2 hours away by 7:00 AM.
 
Ella in the makeup chair.  She later said that this was her favorite part of the whole day.

My kids were baffled that the makeup artists had to make their skin darker and make them look dirty.

James made this face the WHOLE time he was in makeup.  The makeup artist was cracking up.

It was NOT James's favorite part of the day.


James was a bit too blond so they had to put a turban on him... which was hilarious since we hadn't cut his hair in months in preparation for this shoot.

My little Hebrew children with a couple of the actors that play two of the 12 apostles. (I cant remember which)

Craft services lunch! 

It was a long day of shooting and the kids were super excited to be done and go home.  We got home at about 9:30 PM.  That is a LONG day for an 8 and 6 year old.
Dave and my parents were able to visit and see a little bit of the filming too.  The set has the most amazing spirit and all of the actors and crew are so wonderful.  I found myself crying during many of the takes  because I felt like I was transported back in time and granted a glimpse of my Savior.

(A HUGE THANK YOU to Dave, My Mom and Amanda for making sure Sam was taken care of while I was gone ALL day.  It was the longest I had ever been away from him.)

 
LAGOON
 
the kids and I were able to go to Lagoon once this summer.  Luckily we went on a Stake Lagoon day so Sam and I got in free (we weren't riding any rides).   It was a long day for me but the kids had a BALL with their Grandma's and cousins.   
 

It was Mahla Leslie's birthday and she had FUN!


 
Sam thought it was HILARIOUS to drink and then let the water dribble out of his mouth...

He was laughing hysterically.


 
My favorite part of Lagoon is Pioneer Village.  So those of us still standing at the end of the day went and got an old timey picture taken.  I added my mustache because, well... it looks so good!

 

The AQUARIUM
One Saturday Dave and I surprised the kids with a trip to see the sharks at the aquarium.

Sammy LOVED all the colorful fish.
I am not too comfortable in front of the camera right now but my kids mean more to me than my vanity... and they wanted a picture with Mom.  So by Jove they got one!



A BIRTHDAY AT
"THIS IS THE PLACE"
STATE PARK

One of my nephew turned 9 in August and all he wanted was for a day at "This is the Place" with all of his cousins.


MAN those are some CUTE kids!


Me and a bunch of silly kids!

Ella got to be the "DUNCE" at the old School house.

One of our favorite things was seeing these wonderful Native American Dancers. (Small world moment... one of the dancers (the guy with the microphone) was a neighbor of my sister in law when she was growing up in Hawaii.)