Obsessed much

Apparently my kids and husband think I am obsessed. I LOVE the changing leaves and want to go on drives up the canyon all the time. They on the other hand would rather sit at home and stare at the TV. This drives me crazy. We only have a few short weeks to enjoy the splendor of Autumn. Jeron has yet to even go with me so I don't know what his deal is. In my attempt to go one last time I was able to round up three of the five kids...still no hubby though.

It was literally BEAUTIFUL up there and believe it or not these protesting children had a great time.  They ran up and down the mountain and enjoyed themselves.  A LOT!  Maybe I am not so crazy after all.

The Great Salt Lake was so pretty with the sunset hitting the water.  

Shhh, dont tell anyone but JJ is hugging Emma.

My little sass-a-frass  

Goof nut

Its not very often I get my pic with this guy.  I sure do love my only son.

I sure love her.

I sure love her too.

I can't believe how big this pretty little lady is getting.  She is growing up so fast.

And this handsome devil just makes me feel old.  

She is such a cutie pie.

I love that Elsie is pulling a face but looking at JJ to see if that is what she should be doing.  

Sisters are the best.  

I could have stayed up there all night if the darn mosquitoes weren't out, and my baby was calling me too.

Oh, how I wish Autumn was longer than this.

Autumn Leaves

We headed up to the Bountiful B to take some pictures of the leaves.  We weren't finding a place that I really loved.  I took the kids up a dirt road all through the mountains of Bountiful, Centerville, and even on to Farmington.  To tell you the truth I was nervous driving up the canyon and was nervous to turn around and drive down.  I couldn't tell my kids this because they were all peeing their pants as it was.  The leaves were amazing and I wish I knew how to use my camera because we could have gotten some amazing pictures.  

We stopped at this one place to turn around when we noticed a paraglider in the air.  He was actually landing right at this spot to get in his car.  It was pretty cool to watch from that close up.  I had to keep this picture though so everyone could see Emma's new I am totally mad at you face.  

Seriously, it is so beautiful up here.

After we went on our never ending drive up the canyon we headed over to Mueller Park Canyon for some quick pictures.  The kids were done after being stuck in the car for that long.  I really was asking a lot of them to stand and smile for a few minute.  (Yes, that is sarcasm in my voice)

Elsie recently is an amputee.  I look at this picture and it screams "Children of the Corn"  I think I will print it next year for Halloween.

I did get this gem though.  Oh, how I adore Poppins.

And I could squeeze this one when she tilts her head and smiles so pretty.  

Elsie has the most beautiful smile but she has hit that age where you forget how to smile.  It is so frustrating for pictures. 

Yes, I know these ones are over exposed but her eyes are so blue.  I love it.  This is her eye color.  So, why is it that her eyes are the right color but the rest is over exposed.  Oh, I wish I knew how to use my camera.

I could eat her.

JJ took this picture.  I thought it was pretty good.

Don't worry they all got kiddie cones for their troubles.  Yes, I pay my kids to enjoy nature. 

The conection is there

Before Elsie was born we debated names for her. We really liked Elsie but it was cray cray to name her Elsie with an Ellie already in the family. I loved the name though and kept coming back to it again and again. We toyed with so many names. Maren, Miriam, Lila, but for some reason I just loved Elsie the most for her.

When she was born Elsie was in the NICU for a while.  I remember the days being long and scary.  I would pray that she would be able to go home.  I could feel I was being helped by the other side.  I could feel my great grandmother "gammy" comforting me and my sweet baby.  Her name is Rachel.  I have felt her around me in the past and I know she is aware of me.  I also could feel my great grandmother Elsie.  I never knew her so maybe that is why I have been unaware of her around at times, but at this time in my life she was very much there.  The doctors had told me that Elsie could go home as soon as she would nurse.  She had been fed by feeding tubes up to this point.  I was so nervous so again I prayed that this would happen.  I could feel my great grandmother Elsie helping me teach my baby how to nurse.  I know this is weird to some of you but it was so true and real to me.  I know these two special women were there to help me and my baby through a very challenging time for my family.   Elsie latched right on and nursed better than any of my other babies.  Elsie was named after these two sweet women.  Elsie Rachel Snow.

Recently Elsie has been very curious about her "grandma that she is named after."  She keeps talking to me about Grandma Elsie.  I have been surprised by this connect.  It is cute to have my little lady come up to me and ask me questions about her.  Just the other day she asked me if  she could take a flag to Elsie's grave.  I thought this was an interesting request.  I called my mom and we made a day of it.

We first went up to PCMC and got Elsie's cast off.  This was very exciting for Elsie and I would love to show you but my phone decided to stop working right when we got there. UGH!  So there are pics on my moms phone and hopefully I can add those soon.  She did great getting it off.  Her leg was so hairy.  It is such a strange thing that the body does.  It literally looked like a man leg.  It also was so skinny.  She is still very nervous to walk on it but at least it is off.  Her cute little foot sticks out like a golf club.  The doctor says it will all clear up with time...including the hair.  haha

After this we headed to the cemetery to visit Elsie's grave.  I just realized that Gammy is buried there too.  We could have gone to both.  dang it.  I felt horrible because we forgot the flag.  We will have to go again.  We didn't know exactly where to go so my mom called my Uncle Greg and he directed us there.  She has a pretty tombstone.  I want one like this or wait like the one behind Elsie.

It was very nice of mama to come with us to do this.  

I love these ladies.  It was a beautiful day to visit the grave.  I should do it more.  I love this cemetery. 

JJ gave his first talk as a Young Man

In our church when you turn 12 one of the things that is expected of you is that you will talk in sacrament meeting in front of the entire congregation.  This is something you should do once a year.  It is actually a really good thing.  It builds confidence.  JJ did a great job.  He addressed the audience and spoke clearly.  I was very nervous for him.  It is crazy how nervous you get as a parent.  He did a great job and I had nothing to be nervous about.

The Big Game

I love tradition and one of my favorite traditions is being a Utah fan. I have passed this tradition on to my cute kiddos. Like my parents before me this has been a time honored event. This year is a bit different because this will be the last time Utah and byu play consecutively.  I am  having a hard time with this.  I feel that a part of Utah history is dying.  My husband unfortenately cheers for the TDS.  I have showed the kids the errors in their fathers ways.  This year though I had a deserter.  Elsie LOVES her daddy.  She couldn't bare to not cheer for his team too.  So yes, that is a blue bow and a blue "y" on her cheek.  Jeron was so proud.

I think she is a bit confused because her she is shooting flashing a "U"

I am not to happy about this little traitor in our midst.  

ADORABLE

DISGRACE

Ellie is a UTAH fan through and through.  Love her face!

Emma has always stayed true.  Awesome lady

Emry is a Ute in the making. 

JJ was up at mama and papas to mow the lawn so he was not around to get pictures.  He is of course still a Utah fan along with the rest of my good children.  Elsie will have to learn the hard way I guess.  The game game was a good game.  It was extremely intense and in the end of course the UTES came out on top.  21-24.  UTAH won.  Like I said Elsie will learn the hard way.  I will have to say that I do feel bad for Jeron.  In the 14  years we have been married I have come out on top a lot more than he he has.  It pays to pick a winning team to cheer for.  GO UTES!

Somebody is sleeping in my bed...

I know, I know. This is taboo.  I just love it though.  When you have five kids and a husband life is cray cray.  In order for me to get good snuggles in with this bambino it requires that I sleep with her.  Yes, there you have it.  I sleep with her.  She loves every minute of it though.  She now won't sleep at night without me but that is just fine with me.  

Everyone always wants to take her from me except at midnight.  This is when we get some good one on one choos and loves.  

She is growing so fast, and I want to savor every thing. 

I just love my little squishy pants.  I will keep her with me as long as she will have me, or until she starts kicking me.  hahaha