Picture Journal

This post starts with my most recent phone pictures, going backwards in time, then gets the oldest camera pictures and brings us back to the present...

On Thursday Peter wanted to walk home with Kambria, but I agreed to pick Ammon up.

He looked so handsome coming out to meet me that I couldn't resist taking his picture.

I am trying to be more consistent with being with my boys during homework time.

I have found that getting snacks/treats helps them get more excited and therefore more motivated.

We went shopping for some new work clothes for Daddy.

We decided that the boys both needed new church shirts as well.

They loved the funny mirror in the dressing room.

We were invited to have dinner with the Spanish Fork cousins.

ALL of the kids were crazy that day.

But it was still a nice visit and a great meal.

Every once in a while I get bored and take pictures of myself.

I've been feeling really fat and haven't like recent pictures at all.

So I took a minute to take a picture that I didn't totally hate.

These are just a couple of several boxes of peaches from our tree.

Life has been so busy with moving plans etc that I had to give them all away.

It was heartbreaking.

But I made sure they all found good homes and were hopefully well used.

This is me starting to look very pregnant - at about 22 weeks... 

(Ugh, I get worried when I remember how big I get before this is all over...)

Peter lost a tooth at school.

He was so excited because he got special attention and even a prize!

He couldn't wait to show me the new gap in his mouth the second he got into the car.

It was way after bedtime one day when Peter came out just to steal an extra hug from Daddy.

It was adorable!

We had fun celebrating the first birthday of my beautiful niece!

Peter was excited to start a new season of soccer!

Ammon broke yet ANOTHER pair of glasses.

This resulted in ordering pair number FOUR in this prescription.

Thank goodness for guarantees!

This picture cracks me up!

Ammon "cleaned" his room.

This is when my back was bad so I would have him take a picture to show me his progress.

He explained that nothing else could be picked up because everything seen here was a prop in a game...

While my back was out we received dinner from several friends and family members.

We also got creative and had a night of grilling.

Banana boats were dessert.

(Remember my cell phone pictures are in reverse order...)

The boys had a blast making their treats.

It was fun to have a project in addition to dessert.

For dinner we made tin foil dinners which we also cooked on the grill.

They were a HUGE hit with the kids!

I ordered 20 lbs of pears and Peggy helped me can them.

(And by help, I mean she did most of the work!)

Ammon has LOVED them and scarfs them down whenever he is allowed to.

I bought this shirt before the Ultra Sound and brought it to the doctor's appointment with me.

As soon as the sonogram was over, I marched into the bathroom to change my shirt!

My sister asked me if I had bought a boy one just in case.

Nope!

We knew it was a girl.

It was fun to find out we were right!

She didn't make it easy on us, though.

At first she wasn't in a position that we could get a good look.

After the appointment was over, Andrew and I each admitted to each other that we prayed to know for sure.

We have spent so much time thinking that we knew - we just wanted it settled.

Ultimately she did turn and we were able to get a conclusive answer.

I did have to go back for a second sonogram, though.

We never were able to get a good look at her heart that first time.

With my back being miserable, we were late to church and sat out in the foyer.

As it was, I went home before Sacrament was over.

Not only was I in lots of pain, but I was loopy from the Loratab.

I only took it at night after that.

Making this dessert, and an accompanying dinner for company, was about the last thing I did for two weeks.

That evening my back started to bother me.

The next day I was down and out completely.

Ammon decided to step on the stove and look up on the fridge for a hidden electronic device.

Fortunately we found a replacement stove in the classifieds, so it wasn't as expensive as it could have been.

Still, not his best moment.

Grandpa spent a few months in a care facility.

He kept trying to escape and ultimately was moved to a less ideal area.

But for a little while there he had a nice private room and we had some pleasant visits.

I asked Ammon to set the table.

We NEVER set the table with the spoon and knife.

But he decided to go formal.

I just loved how "formal" it was, and yet half way off the table.

This is just so "him".

Total overachiever on one hand, and totally careless on the other.

I love that boy!

This is the best profile shot we got of our little girl.

(We are done with phone pictures and on to the camera pictures now...)

For the first day of school, Dad took charge of pictures at home.

He had Ammon write the sign with his name, the date, and what grade he was in.

Then they took pictures and you can't read any of it...

At school Ammon was excited to just run into friends and go play on the playground.

He thought Peter had a great idea with the teeter totter and joined him there.

When the bell rang, he was quick to line up and seemed happy to go in.

He actually didn't sleep much the night before.

Around 5:00 in the morning I got up with him.

He told me he was especially worried about spelling tests.

He explained, "I noticed they get harder every year".

But despite his nerves, he seemed happy to start 4th grade.

Peter's official first day of school wasn't until the next day.

But he did get to attend a small orientation meeting with a handful of students from his class.

We scheduled ours right after school started.

So after Ammon went in, we headed to Peter's classroom.

After the orientation, we went out and Peter loved having the playground to himself.

Later, I took him out to lunch - his last day not being a full-day student.

On Peter's first day I had the boys both bring their scooters.

I was excited that they would be able to ride home together.

My back was still bothering me quite a bit, and I only took pictures the other moms set up.

This was Peter with a neighbor that is in his class.

Here he is with Kambira.

You can see I wasn't very focused...

Fortunately Peter didn't care whether or not I was focused.

He was excited to start school.

When his teacher came to get them, he was out of there and never looked back.

He loves school!

My parents bought the lot next to my sisters house about five years ago.

When the economy went crazy they took the conservative approach.

It was quickly paid in full and they have just sat on it.

But they finally decided it was time to build.

They sold their house earlier this summer.

They are living in a rental while the news house is being built.

It's going to be a BIG house.

The boys had fun playing in the hole.

We had a fun family gathering for my Dad's 60th birthday.

Everyone had so much going on this year that we took the easy way out and went to a restaurant.

Everyone but Dan was able to make it.

Ammon had a blast with his younger cousin.

It was a great meal and fun company.

It was weird to think that we won't be around for these types of gatherings much longer.

But we just enjoyed the time we had.

Peter has been doing well and having fun with another season of soccer.

We are hoping to find him a league in Alaska.

He won't be able to finish his season here.

He played good defense today.

He has lots of energy.

I love seeing him run around the field.

He is always so happy to be in the game.

The coach said that the best team in the league was the one they played today.

He had Peter on defense most of the day and was thrilled when no points were scored.

Ultimately Peter switched out of the defense position.

And that is when the only score of the game was made.

Our house was showing during Peter's game.

Another showing was scheduled, so we decided to crash Michael's foot ball game.

Andrew had a BLAST watching Michael play.

I decided that I am SO GLAD to NOT be a football mom.

The parents, the coaches, the refs - everyone seemed so INTENSE.

And we watched an 8 year old quarterback get flattened on the field!

I also have a harder time following the game - I never was a football person.

On the way home I told Andrew I am sorry he doesn't get to be a foot ball dad - 

but that I am SOOO glad he isn't.

He said he is thrilled to be a football uncle.

We are both happy to have our kids play soccer.

We move in three weeks!

Lots of changes will be upcoming.

We are getting more and more excited as the logistics get worked out.

Now we just need to sell our house!