A Day of Perspective

These last few weeks have been "weird" for me... I think it has been a combination of non-stop obligations and needs, burn-out, and a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder starting, mixed with an overload of Halloween candy (that needs to vacate our house immediately:)! No matter what it has been, today was amazing as we attended the funeral of Steve's former neighbor in Orem (Kathryn Robinson). (He did a beautiful job singing 2 songs on the program: "You Raise Me Up," and "I Believe"). She was only in her mid-fifties and died suddenly last week from a tear in her aorta! She had just retired LAST WEEK after working 23 years at the Midvale post-office. (Talk about NOT FAIR:)! As I sat and listened to her family recount all of the memories with her, it put my own life and trials in perspective very quickly about how brief this mortal existence really is and how each of us need to really live each day as if it were our last (as one of these days, it will be)! I thought of how I haven't wanted to do things this last week (like a midnight work shift or prepare a lesson) and then thought of her and what she would probably give to be back for a little more time here with her loved ones. Anywho, the afternoon was spent preparing/setting-up for our YW in Excellence program which was a spiritual high tonight (with the talks, music, & video presentation). Mikelle spoke on the value "Choice & Accountability" and even used one of Aunt Annissa's phrases in her talk about "we all make our choices:)." We have such WONDERFUL YW in our ward! It was a wonderful "re-grouping" day for me to strive to do better, try harder, and most of all...ENJOY TODAY!

Thirty Days Hath September...WTHeck..now it's November!

My Mom's favorite line when I ask her how she is doing is: "We are hanging in there!" All I can say is ditto for us as well as life just keeps marching on! There are so many highlights in life that brighten up the mundane parts...one of which is our new little nephew/cousin Tracen!
What a handsome little hunk he is!

Congrats Porters! We are thrilled for you!

It was fun to go visit for a few minutes at the hospital. We barely made it in before the swine flu visitor precautions were instated just a few days later.

YW just keeps hopping with activities, lessons, meetings and trainings. The youth put on the Halloween carnival for the Primary kids this year. The Beehives booths were the Jonah and the whale fishing pond and also the 10 virgins face painting booth.

We just added 3 more Beehives last week and although the pic doesn't show it, we are up to 20 Beehives! They are all such wonderful girls!

We hit Trafalga during the kids fall break.

We cleaned up the yard and trimmed the bushes.

Big helper!

Back away from the trimmer Mikelle!

Clean up! Clean up! Everybody do your share!

Frightmares at Lagoon. We knew it would be crazy on the day we picked to go but the weather was so nice-we couldn't resist!

"Good Evvvening!"

Growing up too fast!

Posing by the bumper cars...

When Pop is around...Kennedy is Pop's girl!

The kids aren't into the really scary haunted houses-but we did dare do the haunted junkyard walk.

The last ride we took with our 2009 season passes!

We hit Texas Roadhouse on the way home for the boys b-day!

Ride em!

Cam's "glow in the dark" blue retainer to help correct his cross-bite and prepare for braces!

He has been completely diligent on wearing it 23.5/7 as he is supposed to!

We make time for one TV show..Biggest loser!

It is so inspiring to watch-but had to kick the first week off with treats!:)

Mikelle turned into "Jillikelle" (following in trainer Jillian's footsteps) at home. She took it upon herself to be the boys personal trainer and worked them out hard for a few days at home:) She loved acting all mean when yelling at them (jokingly) to finish their sit-ups etc.

She is a little whiz on the computer; typing up her own little workout for them!

Pushing Christian in his work-out!

The kids had fun getting their Halloween costumes and makeup ready!
Here's our cute cheetah!

...and our scary vampire!

... and jailbird who really got into the make up!

Steve's theater days coming back!

Costumes!

The family gathering at J & C's!

Cute little devil Aidan!

The cousins.

Karate held a back to school bash. Cameron worked so hard to earn tickets for the drawing they held for prizes like a rip stick. He was bummed to not win anything but there were only about 5 winners out of a whole box of tickets students had earned.It was still fun to watch all the demo teams perform again.

I take the preschool kids one day a week after preschool gets out. We try to do a little activity/outing here and there.

We have been to the mall, zoo, and park. Lately we have just been playing at home though since that works too!

More fun at the mall!

We only went there once as Kenz threw a tantrum when it was time to go the first time!

The zoo was fun.

Kids meals at the mall--also only once:)

Preschool has been fun! Here's her first day finally getting posted!

She loves having so many of her friends in the same class!

We love Miss Liza!

The boys have spent the last 2 months being involved with flag football. Christian was signed up for tackle football but they sent our money back saying we were out of the boundaries for the team. Christian said her would just do flag football instead this year and Cameron was excited to join him!

Here are some of their moves...

I love how they use Cam's karate trophy (that he won in class for having the best form) for all sports pictures! They crack me up! The real participation trophies are by their feet!

Kennedy's preschool fieldtrip to Pumpkinland.

They all get to pick a pumpkin to take home!

Our neice Stefani was in the Miss Utah Outstanding Teen Pageant.

She did a great job and we are proud of her!

Kennedy & I like to put on Sombreros to help Mikelle study her spanish vocabulary words!

I think we like Spanish more than Mikelle does. She is excited to have now just started French (new term and they try an intro to 3 languages this year). Our efforts had to have played a little into Mikelle's good grades for 1st term:)...4.0/High Honor Roll and straight outstanding citizenship! You go girl!

After a year of changing dentists 2 other times (changing practice locations and changes in insurance coverages etc), our orthodontist recommended the Jones brothers:) They are twins just like our boys so I had to take a pic at their first visit.

I guess the school carnival brings Oct. to a close. A few moms ran the whole thing (along with the teachers doing the games). We served the meals and misc. food etc. All of the planning and prep came together to make $7,000 (before expenses) for the school. Glad it is over but it turned out to be fun!