School!

Matthew started school on the 25th. First grade! The whole day away from his mother. He is loving it. I'm getting used to it. I think Maren is the most sad, even though those two fight constantly. When we go to wait for the bus to drop Matthew off Maren loves to sit on the porch and wait and often times she'll bring out Doggie (Matthews favorite stuffed animal from the time he was 2)to wait for the bus with us. Today was interesting, Matthew got ready way late. He came up and had on some small soccer shorts and a short t-shirt. Not school attire. So I freaked and he changed. Then came up 1 minute before the bus and we couldn't find is back pack anywhere. And I was hobbling around in pain since I have been having major knee issues (which is a WHOLE other story). So, I sent him off to the bus anyway without it, but not before giving him a major talking to, where let's just say I wasn't the poster child for good moms. And so when he got home I asked him if he felt bad all day that I had gotten mad at him and he said "No, sometimes that just happens in life, you gotta get mad." He is so classic! I love that kid! He even had his first "hot" school lunch today, pizza day! He said he loved it and that "Mom they even have chocolate milk there in these little boxes." Oh the joys of childhood and school lunch. I still miss the peanut butter squares they served at ours. :-)

Fun Trip to Zermatt

Well just got back from a fun vacation with all of my siblings and their kids. It was wild with 19 kids and 15 adults! Eating dinner meals was always quite interesting. Before we went up on Friday night though we attended the annual IVF picinic. It is always really fun to see all those miracle children. It's amazing! It's also neat to show off our kids to the staff that helped us achieve our dreams. They are like proud parents as well. They have face painting there and a magician. Matthew was spider man and Maren was a butterfly. We opted not to paint Will's face cause we knew that would spread in a matter of seconds!




After the picnic we got up to Zermatt in Midway and it was just beautiful! You would not believe the rooms they are incredible. Saturday morning I woke up nice and early with my sisters and Dad to do a hot air balloon! I couldn't believe I actually got on it cause it was really scary in a way and I hate heights. But it was fun and really smooth. The only scarey part was landing in a nice cow pasture and hoping that the balloon was stable enough to get out, not in poo that is.

Then we had fun swimming and getting massages that day. The kids had tons of fun with their cousins.


Oh and I had to take this one picture of Maren cause she is such a doll, even though I know she will kill me later in life. But when we swim she has an eternal wedgie! And she's at the age she can't figure out to pull it out yet! It's too hilarious! Tell me if these aren't the best fluffy buns you have ever seen!

The Kids also went on pony rides that afternoon. They totally enjoyed it! Maren still wants to go back.


On Sunday we were able to go on the Heber Creeper, yikes! IF you have not done that in awhile, the 3 hour trip is LONG! And I'm not sure aobut the burgers that Dave bought me on the train. Oo boy!



Also at Zermatt they have the cutest little carousel that you can ride. Maren loved it, but Matthew refused to go on because he said it makes him sick. I agree! I wasn't fun loving enough to even try to go on it and hold in the hurling feeling. So Matthew and I observed.



On Monday we rode or tried to ride the Alpin slide. It was raining so Dave and Matthew only got one trip in going down. Maren refused to go and proceeded to throw a 15 minute tantrum underneath some picinic tables at the bottom of the slide. It was not one of my best motherhood moments. In addition to that loving screaming sound I pick up Will to find that he has a stinky diaper miles away from the nearest changing area. So I owe my sanity to my sister Annie who picked up the 25lbs. chunk and carried him to a bathroom and changed his foul smelling diaper! She is a saint! All in all it was a fun vacation, we went home Tuesday and got ready to start school for Matthew the next day. More on that in the next post!

Ode to the Cure

The one and only reason I have today for posting on my blog is to relish in the fact that I have secured tickets for The Cure coming to SLC in October!! I am quite proud of my accomplishment and not bad seats either. You must know that I have had a one true love relationship with Robert Smith for years. Including a huge 16x20 poster that I use to hang all over my rooms in college. Even causing one roommate in my soroity house to be very scared of me. But I don't care! I think that I may dawn all the goth clothes I can muster up for the event. And even better, I'll be attending with my bestest bud Brooke, who also shares the same love as I for Robert Smith and The Cure from high school! Maybe I should make Dave wear red lipstick for the occasion. Do you think he would? ;-) Love it! Ejoy the video!

Come Come Ye Saints

Do you ever just go to Church in a found mood and it doesn't get better! lol Usually I go and I feel the Spirit as I'm there but yesterday was a major test of my faith! lol First off hubby and I were in a fight over what dumb stuff I don't know. Then we ended up being 5 minutes early instead of our usual 10 minutes early and we had to sit in the overflow! My ward bugs me so bad that it is so crowded! And one old person takes up an entire bench and sits right in the middle. Don't you think those should be left for families? So we are in the overflow/gym where it is so loud and noisey I think "WHY AM I HERE?" and toy with the idea of just going home. But I'm trying to endure to the end. Then all of my children are screaming and crying and I almost just want to let them scream and cry, because hey we are in the back. Finally I go out with Will and sit in the foyer which was also crowded. And I SWEAR to you I did not hear ONE WORD of the entire sacrament meeting. I think it was on scripture reading but that could have just been because I know last weeks was on scriptures and we have a monthly theme. lol Also I think our ward building was hotter inside than it was outside. I was seriously sweating and for those who know me, you know I don't sweat that much. Poor Will with his chubby 25 lbs. on his 7 month old frame was just plain sticky. Then I go to primary where it is a further test of my strength. We had one boy who is around 5 who literally picks up chairs and acts as if he is going to throw them throughout the entire junior primary hour. Then lovingly the primary counselor in charge of sharing time took up all of 7 minutes and left me with 30, yes 30 minutes to sing my little heart out in junior primary. And this we know is singing a solo because the sunbeams just stare at me. Then in senior I asked the primary presidency before church if I could go first for singing time rather than sharing time because Dave has to teach a young men's lesson (on "self mastery" lol no less- and yes that was the title) and I have to get my baby so he doesn't have to teach the lesson while trying to bounce the 25 pounder on his knee while he trys to talk and focus on self mastery details. So knowing before hand that this lovely counselor only took a 7 minute sharing time, (and let this be a lesson to you- if you teach sharing time ONCE a month come up with more than the Friend magazine provides) of which her sharing time included 5 minutes of "panel" discussion from others in the ward and not even her talking. I know that she is not going to like that I'm only going to use my 15 minutes of what I should have to teach music and then go get my baby. So I see the primary presidency huddled in the corner and then over walks this counselor saying to me "only leave me 10 minutes okay?" (with a nice perky smile) which insures that they then want me to have a 40 minute singing time in the senior primary! What the heck? And I look at her and with the best smile I could muster up said " sorry I can't do that, I have to get my baby" And she says to me "well waht else will we do!" in her most annoyed voice. And I say "well I can take 20 minutes but that is it." And I'm even more bothered because when I re-accepted this calling after having the baby they all knew that I would take it only if they would work with me on being able to get my baby while my husband teaches. But that has proved not to be the case. Anyway, so I take my 20 minutes which I still think is being nice, and then go get my baby while I run from one place to the next sweating. Pick up the baby, while he fusses and I sit in the primary room and then the counselor finshes up her 7 minute sharing time and looks at me and says "Now Sis. Stone is going to do more music time" While I stand there and hold my 25 lbs. baby!! And I look at her annoyed and say "well that is fine if you want to come here and hold MY baby while I fill the rest of primary". The primary president at this time knowing I am fumed and that takes a lot for me to be openly fumed, comes over and offers to hold the baby. I finish primary up by practicing a song because I couldn't even be nice enough to play the game I brought for time fillers. I was too ticked! Anyway, that is my synopsis of Church yesterday. I guess that by enduring to the end I hope to recieve many blessings! Please say I will!

I Love These Chubby Faced People

I just had to post some random samplings of recent pictures. I just love these cutie pies and how lucky we are to have them!

Oh the Summer

We've been having fun the last week playing with the family. Dave's sister came here from Las Vegas and brought her kids. My kids have so much fun playing with their cousins. We were able to light fireworks, go swimming, slide on the slip and slide, roast hot dogs in Opa's big make shift fire pit and s'mores! It was fun being together almost every day. But I have to say I am still catching up on my house work and laundry! We also had fun on the 4th of July swimming up at my Dad's house and hanging out with the Larson cousins. I was able to make my potato salad several times over the last week and that is just so summer to me! Here's the recipe:
10 potatoes
8 eggs
24 oz. sour cream
3/4 mayo
1/4 c evaporated milk
4 T relish
1 T salt (more if wanted)
1/4 cup dried onions

I use read potatoes and boil them. Also hard boil the eggs. Then I make the dressing mixture just by stirring it altogether and then pour it ontop of the eggs and potatoes. Make sure to allow at least 4 hours of refrigeration before serving but it tastes way better that way.

Dave is applying for a promotion at his work, so keep your fingers crossed that he can get it. This would be his dream job! He has worked so hard he deserves it!