Inspiring!

I feel like I have been in my own little vacuum. This morning I got online and checked a few sites I love to see (yes, I am a blog stalker). Anyways, I found out that Stephanie Nielson was on Oprah on October 8th. She is known as NieNie in the bloggers world. She survived a plane crash and she was burned on over 80% of her body. Through it all she has been an inspiration to many...including me. What a touching reminder of my own blessings of being a healthy, strong mother. I am so very blessed. If you haven't seen it, check it out here. http://www.oprah.com/media/20090924-tows-stephanie-struggle-crash

What's been happening here...

Well, school has started along with fall sports and everything that goes with that...I love it.

I just finished my 3rd week of Cosmetology school and I have already changed my own hair (of course). I love it (school & my hair). I will post a picture of my hair when I have actually done it (today was a super lazy day).

Yesterday we scrubbed the house like mad until the boy's football game and then met with some potential clients after that, so I was exhausted by the time we were done. We did get a job though! Yeah! So, now I will be designing evenings and weekends and going to school during the day. Fun, fun!

I finally framed the family tree I have been working on...thought I would share:

Football picture...the boy's team is 4-0 and they are doing awesome! They both look so natural out there this year. It is the funnest thing to watch your own kids! I will admit that I don't have any good pictures. They are all terrible. I will try to get some better ones before the season is over. I may even take some video...it is way more fun to watch them in action!

Tyler is #10 and Tanner is #7

First Day of School

Fall has hit and it's school time again! We woke up this morning and looked at the thermometer- it said 32! Summer is gone and I'm sad! I was more nervous than my kids this morning...I had an upset stomach and felt really anxious. I think they were just excited, which is really good! My boys are headed to the middle school this year and Syd is in 3rd grade. I remember when I was this old. I hope it's a good first day for everyone!

Braiding Sydney's hair.

Tanner packing his backpack
My cute, big kids all ready to go. Check out the bright shoes! I was just happy they let me take a picture this year. I guess the key is to take it at home, not school. They are way too cool for that!

Fun with the McLoughlins

Every year our friends, the McLoughlin's come over for Labor day. We always have a blast! This year was no exception. We hiked Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park on Saturday. All I can say is that it is appropriately named! It was beautiful though. Here are some shots of the hike.

Me and the girls

Me and my kids

The whole hiking gangMonkey Face rock...check out the people in the monkey's mouth!

Tyler and Nyle

Playin' in crooked river

Mackenzie and Laura (the Trammel's foreign exchange student)


Check out all the climbers. There were hundreds of people there that day.

We did a little leg wrestling Sunday night. Here are some spectators.

It was totally hilarious, but we decided it was probably something that you only see Mormons do when they are bored!

Thanks for coming McLoughlin family! See you sometime this winter!

Birthday Boys

My boys turned 11 last week! It has been a hard, long journey, but so rewarding! Just looking at all our old pictures makes me realize how much they have grown (and how much I have changed). Thought I would share a few:

The boys and their tool belts so that they could be like dad!
The first day of kindergarten. Even then they were too cool for pictures!

Flexing with dad last summer in Shasta

We had a birthday party with a lot of their friends and it turned out one of the funnest parties ever! We just played flag football and ate pizza. It was great.

The crew posing for me

The McLoughlin family came into town right in time for the party...more to come on their visit.

Last days of Summer

We had another great weekend on the Lake. This time we went out with Dianne, Mackenzie and their foreign exchange student, Laura. It was great! Laura even wakeboarded! All those pics are on Dianne's camera, because I was taking them for her. Oh well, I will post pictures of beautiful Laura later.

Nyle and Dianne tubing
Hang on Di!

Sydney smiling away!

My beautiful neice, Mackenzie. I know this picture is sideways, but I kind of like it that way!

Dianne became a wakeboarder this summer! I'm so proud of her!

Tyler and Dustin trying to stand on the tube
I love this happy, smiling face!

Sewing projects and a Moonlit hike!

First off, here are some pictures of a few sewing projects I finally completed, thanks to Dianne!

This skirt doesn't look too cute on the floor, but it looks cute on...my first attempt at clothing for me!

This is Sydney's apron. She picked out all the fabric!

My apron

Last week my good friend and "leader of hikes" was out of town and so I thought I would lead a hike. We did it in the evening to include more women that are usually working during the day. We hiked Clear Lake. It was a beautiful little hike, but the maps said it was 5 miles and it turned out to be more like 7! The sun set long before we got to our cars, so a few of us walked through the dark woods, using only our cell phones for light, and got the cars and picked everyone up at the lodge. Thank heavens for the road to the lodge! Otherwise, everyone would have had to do the spooky hike through the dark woods! Needless to say, I will not be leading any hikes anymore! I don't think anyone would follow! It was still a lot of fun and everyone had a great attitude! Here are some pics!

My boys being told that they really didn't want to swim in water that was 38 degrees all year long!

Monica and Syd
The sun is setting and we are only half way around the lake!

Syd and friends in front of a giant tree