We are halfway through the week and I still feel as if it is Monday! It is starting to get dark earlier and earlier and that throws me off completely! This week has been busier than usual, and it will just get crazier from here on out. The girls loved going to Lagoon with my aunt and uncle on Saturday. They went through the haunted houses and tons of rides. Savannah says they weren't that scary, and Mackenzie was freaked out a little by the clowns. She is not a big fan of clowns to begin with and when they are scary clowns for Halloween it makes it worse. I was able to get the house clean and I actually enjoyed about an hour and a half of absolute peace Saturday night. DJ went to bed at 6:30, Dallas had to work, the girls were gone and Ever and Ramos went off to a friends to carve pumpkins. I sat and atched a movie and worked on my singing time lesson for church the next day. It was wonderful. Sunday was the usual.We are getting ready for the primary program in a couple of weeks, so we practiced all of the songs and standing and sitting quietly without collapsing into our seats. It may not sound that difficult, but you try getting a group of kids ranging from 4 to 11 to all stand up and sit down at the same time and not make a ton of noise!My favorite part of the day was choir practice. We got to pull out the Christmas music and that is my favorite thing in the world. I love to sing in the Christmas program, and this year's music is going to be beautiful!





Monday was DJ dental appointment, and it went okay. He sat perfectly still and let them take x-rays and clean his teeth. The bad news is that he has some of the same problems with his mouth that Mackenzie had and has and it is going to cost and arm and two legs to fix. Tuesday was a fun day at school. The kids are getting very excited about Halloween, so my classroom was anything but quiet.Today is the party and I am going to try to remain calm and not worry too much about keeping everything right on time because I know we will run over, but it will probably still drive me a little nutty. Mackenzie went to the orthodontist yesterday and will be getting braces next week. She is thrilled to say the least.

Ouch...That hurts!

It is the end of yet another week and here I am writing another entry. This week was a little different from the usual. The girls went to the dentist on Monday; both had fillings and Savannah had two teeth pulled. Needless to say, they were both pretty numb when we went to dinner at a friends house that night. Kenzie had a better time of it though since she still had all of her teeth. Savannah gave up about halfway through the meal and just took some of her food home. Next week will be the orthodontist for Mackenzie after which I will be comatose from the shock of the price of braces!

My aunt called last night and said that she will be in town this weekend and wants to come by. So now I definitely have to make sure the house is all clean, but the upside is that she is taking the girls to Lagoon for the day, so getting everything done won't be as frustrating.This is the last weekend for soccer which of course makes me happy, but it doesn't mean that life will slow down any. Dallas has to work the rodeo tomorrow night, and I guess the Army has sponsored the Winter Series Rodeos so he will be working most of those.

Martha had gone to Sara's on the East coast for a week and she brought back pictures of my niece and nephew.I haven't seen Emily since she was a baby and I have never seen Carson so it was nice to see how big they have gotten. I wish our families lived closer so that we could visit more often, but for now pictures will have to do.

Carson

Emily

Well, I am off to the land of laundry with a tour of the island of dishes! Hope everyones weekend is a good one!

Life as we Know It

Just a quick post to say hey. Work is going wonderfully, and I really like the kids in my class, which is not always a given. We will have our first holiday party at the end of this month, and I am looking forward to it, but I am also dreading it. Eighteen four year olds with lots of sugar running through their systems! In other news, the girls will be done with soccer next week! Yeah! I haven't had a soccer break since March and I need one. Mackenzie will start up with tennis again next week, and Savannah will just be doing choir and Spanish club through the winter.I am trying to find a good white cake recipe that I can use for Autumn's wedding cake, so if any of you have a good one or know where to find one, please leave a comment!The annual banquet for Dallas' battalion is at the end of this month and I am in desperate need of a new dress. I am trying to be frugal and get one that will work for Autumn's reception and pictures, but so far no luck. I just hate buying a dress I will only wear once! Well, I am done rambling for now.TTFN

Souper Saturday

Today was a very cold and snowy day here in the land northward.It was also a fun day for me. Our ward had it's annual Super Saturday where we have several different lessons, some lunch and of course some fun crafts. This year's theme was back to the basics and we had lessons on things like organization, menu planning, time management, serving others everyday, and keeping our children safe.

We each were able to choose three classes to go to and I chose the organization, menu planning and child safety classes. We talked about how to cook only once a month and freeze your meals for the month. I am not sure if I would be able to do that right of the bat, but maybe I could start out doing two weeks at a time or something. It sounds like an interesting idea, and would probably save me time by not having to figure out what to feed everyone every evening. The child safety class had some good ideas about Internet safety and keeping information about our kids in a safe spot. We received fingerprinting kits for each child in our house and she told us to keep them in our purses and in our cars. She also mentioned having a family home evening about Internet safety and what the rules are for our household. That way our kids know what is expected of them and they also know that it is okay to talk to their parents about things they may come across online. Some of the statistics were a little scary and made me wish we were on an Army Post again.

Lunch was soup, bread, and fresh veggies from gardens around the ward. Afterwards we did several different crafts. I gathered some new FHE lessons, made a cute little soap bottle and painted and glued two very cute little signs for Halloween and the fall season. I got home at about three o'clock and thought I could hang out for the rest of the day, but my family had other plans. They wanted potato soup for dinner, so it was off to the store in the snow and rain for me. I made soup, but I did cheat and buy the bread and a cake for dessert. It ended up being a fairly cozy evening. Dallas was in a wonderful mood because UT had won their game, and Savannah, DJ and I snuggled in my bed and watched Harry Potter. Mackenzie was being a teenager and hanging out in her room listening to the radio and reading Twilight yet again.It was a nice way to spend a Saturday.

Mrs. Autumn Roberts

Last Friday my little sister finally got married. She and Evan were married in Las Vegas and Martha and I decided to road trip it. I was able to go to the wedding and see my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, my niece, and my new nephew. It was a crazy time, but alot of fun.

Autumn was absolutely gorgeous in her wedding gown, and Evan was handsome of course. They both cried right through the ceremony and you could tell that they were both extremely happy. I am glad that my sister has found someone to spend the rest of her life with, and I hope that one day it will be for all of eternity.

Martha and I did some shopping and walked around the strip a bit before going home. We also got to spend some time with Katy, Stephen and their kids. They had just finished laying down tile in the main room and it looks really nice. Gracie is growing so fast and is beautiful while Jo is still tiny but handsome. I can't wait until we are all together at Thanksgiving time and all of the cousins can play together.

Grace

Joseph
As promised here are pictures of Autumn's wedding. I couldn't take any of the ceremony but I took plenty before and afters.


This is when I first arrived at the chapel before the wedding.


Autumn in her gown.



Here they are saying Hello to Evan's brother and his kids.

Relief Society Conference

I just returned from Salt Lake and the Relief Society General conference. It was absolutely wonderful. Our stake took buses up and it was fun to ride up with sisters from my ward and to get to know them better. The meeting was beautiful and I loved President Uchtdorf's talk the most. It was just what I needed to hear right now to get me through my rough patches. I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for knowing exactly what I need and when. I have been feeling rather lonely lately, and this outing and meeting have filled me spiritually so that I can make it through for awhile longer. It was also amazing to stand and sing with around 20,000 other sisters and to hear the sound of our voices ringing through the conference center. The spirit was truly there tonight, and I am glad I was able to enjoy the evening with my fellow sisters in the church.For those of you who missed the broadcast or maybe just want to learn a little bit about what I am talking about, you can go to lds.org and download the meeting. It is worth the time.

Soccer Pics for Fall 2008

Okay, so I finally took my camera to the games today and actually used it to take pictures of the girls. So, here they are in all of their glory!

Savannah is the bright orange number eight. The girls really like the uniforms this year and we hope that they keep them.


Dallas is the coach for Savannah's team again this year. This is him getting the girls ready to go back out after half time.


Mackenzie's team is lavender. They can't agree on a team name so we just yell "Go Purple!" alot.


Another glimpse of Kenzie's soccer skills.


I love that this is the backdrop for the girls' games!

Kenzie's photography

Mackenzie has taken to making movies and taking pictures of herself and those around her. These are a couple of recent ones that I liked.

Salsa, anyone?

I have decided that since I do not have enough in my life to keep me busy that I would make and can my very own salsa. I should definitely be seeking professional help. I went out into my garden and picked all of the tomatoes that were ready along with peppers and some other things that needed to be brought in. I took some pretty pictures so that everyone could see the things I grew this year. I then spent the rest of the day prepping the food, cooking the food, and canning the food. I just hope the food tastes good when we use it. If not, I quit! Martha is going to bring over some peaches later this weekend and we will go about making jam. I have done that one before, so I know that it will be worth the work.

Savannah's a whole decade old!

Okay, so I am not the best at keeping you all informed, but lets face it, you love that about me!! Just one one the many things to love!!Anyway, Tuesday was Savannah's 10th birthday and we celebrated her wonderful journey into the world on Saturday the 20th. We had a big party with lots of family and a few friends. I had it all planned that we would be outside for everything, but it decided to rain ALOT so I changed the plan. I called my mom and asked her to bring a movie over that kept with the soccer theme of the party. I figured the kids could go down and watch the movie while the adults visited upstairs. Then the power went out in the neighborhood. Of course I was in the middle of baking the bases for the fruit pizzas and was concerned about what I was going to do with all of these people in the dark. Fortunately, the power graced us with its presence again and we were able to enjoy each other's company in the light!

Savannah had decided that instead of birthday cake this year she would rather have fruit pizza, so that is what I made. Dallas and my brother protested this, but is was not their birthday so they had to deal. We also were celebrating my nephew Jonathon's birthday and Martha's birthday, so we had three fruit pizzas. Savannah received a new football, soccer ball, magic set, gift card for the bookstore, an ipod, and Guitar Hero. The last item mentioned kept most people in the house up until the wee hours of the morning. I however was very sleepy and went straight to bed as soon as I sent everyone home. It was alot of fun, but I am glad that it will be a whole other year before I have to do it again! Oh wait, I have two other children don't I? Well, at least I get a couple of weeks before it begins again!!

Very, Very Tired

We have had a busy day today. Both girls had soccer games and we also had Savannah's Birthday Party. There was lots of fun to be had and she got some really cool presents, but I am to tired for uploading pics and describing things right now. I will definitly update better tomorrow.

A Crazy Week So Far

Well, it has been a little nutty around here this week, but I am thankful that my family is with me and we are all healthy. One of my oldest friend's dad had a stroke last Friday and it has been difficult for her family to say the least. We are all praying for them and hope he gets well soon. My mom had surgery on Tuesday and it turned out to be a little more involved than we had originally expected. She had to have two shunts put into two of her arteries because they would collapse and she would have horrible chest pains that would land her in the hospital. They are hoping that this will work and she will no longer have to deal with that pain. She is doing fine and resting as much as you can expect my mother to rest.

My mother-in-law, Martha, has given me a bunch of pictures from this past summer and I thought I would share some of them with all of you. It is basically our life from another perspective and I hope you like them!

These are coming back from our camping trip near Spanish Fork.



Dallas' dad came up from Texas for a visit.




Dallas' step-dad's family business was set on fire a few weeks ago. This building was built by Brigham Young and was a historical site.



These are just a couple of cute pictures that I liked. Savannah is brushing her teeth after staying the night at Nana's house.The pig is named Winnie and sits in Martha's living room.

Soccer and more soccer

Well, today started the first day of the fall soccer season, and I forgot the camera!! So you will have to wait until next week for adorable pictures of the girls in their new uniforms. Mackenzie refereed two games(sidelines only) and then dashed off to Mountain Green for her game. They played well, but ended up losing the game. Savannah' s team however won their game with a shutout. Dallas said they played wonderfully and I think he is excited about the prospects of a winning season this year. All of the girls had a lot of fun, which is the most important part.



I had a pretty decent day. I was able to get the rest of the paperwork that I had handed out to coaches, and even met a few of the nicer parents. We still had a glitch with one particular parent, but it was handled with very little drama and I think everyone is happy now. Now if only we could get all of the extra uniforms in, my job would be done! The only complaint I have is that is was windy so I couldn't put up my big umbrella and the results of that are a sunburn and a very bad headache.




Yesterday Bill, Nena, Dad and the kids headed off to Texas for a week or so. We all went over to say goodbye and take some pictures. I did take my camera for that, so y'all won't be completely without pictures. I got some really cute ones of Bill and his son Bradley and also of Mackenzie and Zachary playing tag.

Bill and Bradley

Zachary showing off what he made at school.

Mackenzie tickling Zachary after she caught him.

The next big thing to get ready for here is Savannah's tenth birthday. She has already made her requests for funnel cakes for breakfast and fruit pizza instead of birthday cake. There are still a few weeks until the big day and I am sure she will change her mind at least a dozen times. I will definitely keep everyone updated.

My First Day of School

Yesterday was my first day teaching at my new job. It was a pretty good day once it got started. I have eighteen four year olds in my class, but most of them are girls, so hopefully I won't be driven nutty. At this age boys are such a handful and having more than five or six in a class can make you seriously consider changing careers. We got a bit of a late start because of all of the parents who wanted to come in and get pictures and console crying children(I had two of those)but once they left things went fairly smoothly. The class lasts for 2hours and 15 minutes and we have a ton of stuff to do in that time. We start with prayer and the pledge, then move on to job board and calender. We learn our letter of the day and line up to go to the story room for Spanish and scripture stories. Then off to the big room for P.E. We go to the music room after that and then either do an art project or some science experiment. Then it is back to my classroom for a little math and a review of what we did that day, putting all of the kids' papers in their backpacks and sending them home with their moms. It is crazy busy and it takes tons of planning and prep work, but I have so much fun with these kids it is worth all the work.







DJ started preschool yesterday also, and he had a blast. He talked about everything he did all the way home, and also used visual aids so that I would completely understand what he was talking about. His only complaint was that they did not have a snack during school and he was hungry. He is feeling very grown up and keeps reminding us that he is a big boy now. I know he is, but I personally would like to keep him a baby just a little while longer.

Labor Day Weekend

This has been a really fun weekend! Friday night we went camping with the ward up by Morgan. The place was beautiful, and we got to visit and play games with our friends from church. We did have to leave early on Saturday though because Dallas and I had a soccer meeting to go to. Once that was over we headed home and went to work. We got the lawn mowed, the garage cleaned out, and the whole family worked in the garden that evening. Sunday was church, of course, and then our usual lazy afternoon. Monday morning the girls and I braved the wet weather and headed to the book store. Grandma Ewing had sent each of the girls a gift card for Barnes and Noble and they couldn't wait to go and pick out new books. That is one of the Jones family's favorite pastimes! The weather cleared in the afternoon, just in time for our barbecue with the whole family. All of the cousins played outside in the backyard while the grownups watched a movie and enjoyed each others company.

Tomorrow is my first day at work and DJ's first day of school, so be on the lookout for his pictures. He is so excited and keeps saying "Thank You!" every time we remind him he has school tomorrow. I have to go and look over my plan for tomorrow and make sure that I have everything gathered and ready to go. Wish me luck!

The End of the Beginning

Well, today is the last day of the first week of school. The girls are happy with their teachers and classes, and I am officially broke. Mackenzie was fitted for her violin and she should be able to start bringing it home next week. I have mixed feelings about this. I am excited that she is learning to play an instrument, but not quite as excited about having to listen to the practices.Savannah I loving the fourth grade, and chatters about her teacher everyday after school. I am so glad that she has a reason to look forward to school and doesn't dread it. Soccer starts next week, so I am almost done with my duty there. I don't know if I will do this particular job again. It hasn't been to bad except for this one mother who has now taken to calling repeatedly and leaving nasty messages on my machine. Some people need to soooo get a life!

Dennis' family business burnt down Tuesday night. His daughter and grandson were in the building, but made it out okay. They believe that it was arson, but I haven't heard anything definite yet. The building was historical and had been there since the late 1800's, and Dennis' family had run there business from there since I think 1875. Anyway, they are still trying to figure how much the damage is totaled at, and I feel horrible for him. He and Martha went away for a few days for some peace and quiet and to regroup, which I think they deserve. I am terrified of our house catching fire and can't even imagine what his daughter is feeling right now.

We are going camping with the ward tonight, and then the rest of the weekend will be spent at home recovering from our weird week. My hope is to get in at least one decent nap, but we shall see.

Soccer Parents

Okay, I am somewhat of a soccer mom. I admit it, I volunteer for things that have to do with soccer, I actively participate in soccer stuff, and I want my daughter to play well. However, I do not throw a fit if my daughter gets put on a different team than her friends from school. I am of the belief that meeting and interacting with new people is good for my child. It will help her grow as a person and it will help her be able to handle many different situations as she gets older. I am apparently the only parent in my child's school who who thinks this way. I am the age coordinator for Savannah's age group this year, and let me tell you, some of these parents need to cut the cord. I am trying to make up six teams and fill as many requests as I can, but I can't always do that, especially if no request was made on their registration. This has not stopped parents from calling repeatedly and complaining about teams. They want this girl, not that girl on their team, and they want this coach not that coach, even though the other coach is not coaching this year. They all have their opinions on how things should be done, yet none of them are volunteering to help the organization in any capacity.That frustrates me. It is kind of like the concept of If you didn't bother to Vote, you don't really have the right to complain about how the country is being run.Anyway, I just needed to vent a little and now I feel better. Hopefully this will all end when the first games start. One can only hope. TTFN

And We're Off!!

The girls have started the school year! Hurray! Although it is a little wierd to be the mother of a seventh grader, who is becoming much to cool to be seen with her mother. So I just dropped her off and wished her well. Savannah however, still is unashamed of me and wanted me to walk her into school. So we had to get both boys dressed and ready to go also, but it wasn't so bad. Vannah ran into one of her friends right away and I was no longer needed after I paid for her lunches. They both gave in and let me take pictures of them for the scrapbooks, and of course DJ had to have a picture too, even though his first day isn't until next week.Well, here's to a little more peace and quiet around the house!

Where in the world is...?

Last night Dallas and I were able to go on an actual date that involved more than a quick meal and a movie. We attended a concert called Acappellastock here in Ogden. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it is basically several different acapella groups performing at one venue. I have a friend whose husband is in the group that hosts the concert every year and she hooked us up with tickets. There were some really awesome performers there like High Fidelity and TonicSolFa. The main event however was the group Rockapella, now being called XRP. You might remember that they sang the theme song for Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? The high schoolers next to us made me feel really old when they said," What show are they talking about? I have never heard of it?" The show was a blast and we both really enjoyed it. I think that Dallas was surprised that it was so much fun. I have a feeling that he was expecting three hours of Barbershop Quartets, and that wasn't the case at all.

Tomorrow the girls go back to school and I have a week to get everything in order again before I start working and DJ starts school. I am looking forward to some peace and quiet around the house again.TTFN

Soccer pics

I had to repost this due to technical difficulties. This is our Savannah playing on the All-star soccer team this year. They played in three tournaments all over the valley and placed fifth in two of them. Savannah played keeper most of the time but she did get a couple of quarters in as a center. Her soccer skills improved considerably, and she really started to like being keeper.