Winter Attitude

 In just a few weeks my kids and I will be entering a new era in our life's called  WINTER!! I have decided that no matter how cold it gets that my family is going to do something fun and new each month in the snow. Being how last year Montana had snow on the ground before Halloween, I'm getting my blog ready! I won't have a camera until January to share pix, but if your on my face book ill post pictures from my iPhone for you all!! We are ready with snow pants, winter coats, boots and gloves now all we need is some white stuff and let winter fun begin!! Do any of you have any fun ideas for playing in the snow??

Back to old school

WOW this month has flown by the three girls have all started school and so have John and I, we are one busy family! Because John and I both hated the school bus when we were kids we can't do it to Kailten, plus were only about 5minutes from her school anyway I drop her off and come home to get miss Payten ready for her school day. Because of her new self given haircut it takes me awhile to try and hide what she did to herself. However by mid morning its just me and the baby (John if hes not working) and I'll admit LIFE IS GOOD for those five hours, I had major guilt when I put Payten in preschool and now I have guilt because I LOVE her in preschool. Between Caden's naps and bedtime I do my homework, I must say I'm one stressed out momma!

Next John and I both were called to callings today, I'm nervous about mine because it's going to take more of my time that I feel I already don't have. However I'm looking forward to it and hope that I can be a good 14-17 year old Sunday School teacher :) also I have learned to love the members of this ward, I was scared because it's such a small ward only 6 elders that we wouldn't fit into the clicks, however they have made my family and I feel so welcomed we are excited to go to church and feel their love. I have also realized that church isn't about who wears what its about learning the lords message. So many members can't afford to buy a new dress so they wear the same dress every Sunday even if it's mismatched and has holes in the skirt nobody is judging them. I LOVE that, it's how church is supposed to be. I never sit alone in Relief Society and I never go the entire three hours with out a hug or a hand shake. I feel Heavenly Father is happy with how the Libby ward treats it's members! These members have it figured out it's about serving each other and learning the gospel.

Camping at the YAAK

Well we have successfully been camping twice this summer, hoping to fit in one more trip before the kids, John and I start school again. Our first trip was just for one night John and I decided that our 30 year old bones don't sleep well on the ground. This time around we made sure to buy air mattress and we all slept better even Caden. Caden is my professional camper, he was made to be outside in the dirt, I have never seen him so happy just sitting in a dirt pile with his shovel. He didn't even try to swim with the girls all he wanted was his shovel and bucket. The girls on the other hand needed to be entertained, fortunately they found their entertainment in the YAAK River. I like saying YAAK it sounds like you have something in your throat. They also loved coming up with skits for John and I, I was proud of Payten she learned her lines and was able to be included in the big girls fun. John and I learned a lesson from some old timers, after talking about them collecting twigs all day, we learned that night, that their fire was awesome and our fire wood fire was small and struggling. John and I went out and collect some twigs and soon had a blazing fire. Those old timers knew what they were doing after all! I love getting to spend time with my kids and hubby, we learn to work together, good old family time can be really fun and enjoyable. I can't believe that it's already August and that winter is soon approaching, a good attitude is whats going to get me threw this winter.

Puppy for Payten???

Since I last blogged Payten was kinda sleeping in her bed, well I'm happy to report that she has found her way back to our bed. The other night she even woke me up because she wanted to use my arm as her pillow. My next line of defense is to buy her a puppy (yeah I said PUPPY) for her birthday if she stays in her bed. So far we're not getting a dog :) I'm almost to the point where I'm going to lock my bedroom door at night, however I feel to guilty if she really needed us.

One Little White LIE

A week ago I found a mouse in my room, for those of you who know me know that I don't do mice of any kind. I screamed like the girl I am, scaring John to death. We closed the bedroom door and had a plan to capture our new house guest, well he had plans of his own and wiggled his body underneath our door and now was free inside the rest of the house. We looked for a while and concluded that he got down in the basement. When the electricians updated some of the outlets they drilled small golf ball holes in the hard wood leading to the basement. NICE right, John has since then filled the holes with something that fills holes! Anyway here is when my WHITE LIE comes in!

Payten refuses to sleep in her own bed, we move her to her bed three-four times a night until we just give in. (Insert lie) Payten honey a mouse lives in mommies room under her bed. If you don’t want the mouse to get you AKA eat your face, you have to sleep in your room because mice DO NOT LIKE PINK!! They won’t go in your room at night because your entire bed is PINK! To my awesomeness she has been sleeping in her own room all night long, she’s too afraid to even venture into my room. John almost ruined my plan when he told Payten that he killed the mouse and that night we had her sleeping right between us. The next morning he faked a mouse sighting and my plan was on track again. All I have to do is make sure she doesn’t wear pink jammies or else she feels safe enough to sleep with us. Yep I lied to my three year old; however it’s all in the name of SLEEP!

Saying Goodby to Sister Wives

For six and a half months I had the honor of living with my mom, and Crystal's family. In so many ways we were sister wives, without the sharing our husbands part! Crystal would clean the bathrooms and John and I would cook. One person was ALWAYS doing laundry while the other was watching the kids. Most people couldn't live with 14 other people, but we did it and had a good time. I got to know my nephews and nieces and had the chance to see Crystal as a mom. Over all it was fun and enjoyable. But like all good things they can't last forever, after talking to Haven on the phone one night John knew that she needed him back in Montana. The decision didn't come as easily to me, of course I didn't want Haven sad, but the selfish me didn't want to leave AZ, my home for the past 30 years. However how could I refuse Haven her dad and sister's and brother, especially when she was hurting so bad. The day after Easter we left AZ and I did okay up until we hit the Utah boarder, that's when I began to cry. With a prayer in my heart I asked my Heavenly Father to allow me to be brave. Sometimes it's hard for me, however all I have to do is see how HAPPY Haven is and I'm reassured that we made the right choice. Winter, yep its going to suck, but I have to be BRAVE.

Do your HW JESSICA

Just a quick update, summer thus far has been a blast. We have been busy almost every weekend exploring our new environment. On father's day we hiked the Ross Creek Cedar's that was amazing and a lot of fun. The following weekend we enjoyed our communities Loggers Day celebration, which ended in a carnival the kids loved it. I love finding CHEAP things to do with my family, we have walked the Libby Dam and seen the "beach" we love grilling hot dogs and smores on an open flame and lastly we ride our bikes daily to the park and I push the girls on the tire swing until they want to throw up! Thats it for now I need to get my HW done !