Bills, bills, bills

Sept. 28, 2008
The kids and I were glad to get our daddy back from Kentucky late on Thursday. In fact I was so glad that when he got home @ midnight that we stayed up talking for a few more hours about everything that happened w/ both of us while we were apart. Casey says everything in Kentucky is looking very promising and as long as oil is high and the pumps are pumping out the black stuff we will get the green. I like that kind of talk.

Kolby and Shelby had dental appointments and man teeth are expensive. When all said and done, it will cost us around $500 for Kolby and Shelby will be $900-$1,000 dollars. I told my dentist because of my bills to him we will never be able to stop working & can kiss the idea of ever being able to retire goodbye. Oh but just look at those smiles they are worth every penny.

On Saturday Casey left in the morning to go with the young men in our ward to a Turkey Shoot & the kids and I did our Saturday chores. Kolby & I had a long talk about getting our chores done before we play. He is a good cleaner and does his chores well, Shelby on the other hand drags her feet constantly and thinks she needs somebody "helping" her no matter what the task is. Looks like Cooper listened to my little pep talk and is starting early or at least I am crossing my fingers. When Casey got home we had ourselves a visit from Aunt Cindy & Grandma Joy. Grandma & Grandpa just got back from a trip to Scotland & came bearing souvenir gifts and stories. Then I went to the General Relief Society broadcast. It was a good meeting as always.

FAITH OF A 5 YEAR OLD
On Sunday I made some Carmel corn then later when we were nearing dinner we were deciding what to make Casey suggested scones and Navajo tacos b/c and I quote, "I'm feeling especially skinny today." So we fried away including a blooming onion as well. mmm mmm it was tasty were just tring to put on a few extra layers for the winter so we can stay warm.

Kolby gave a talk in Primary today. It is his favorite thing to do, infact he seems to always be assigned the talks so we are running out of ideas. I thought it would be a good idea for him to share a testimony building experience that he had himself. He said, "one time I was at school & my mom was getting some gas. Shelby, Cooper & mom hurried home to meet me at the house when I got done with school. A min. after I got home Mom said," everyone in the car, hurry, hurry, hurry! I lost my wallet at the gas station." When we were in the car mom said she was scared she wouldn't find it & it had important stuff in it. So I asked my mom if I should say a prayer cause when I am scared I say a prayer & Heavenly Father helps me feel better. She said it was a great idea, so I did. I told mom after the prayer that I had a good feeling but then we couldn't find it at the gas station so mom said that we all need to look for it on the road as we drove home. And I decided that I should say another prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help us find it. Even though I was nervous I told my mom that I thought we would find it & she said i hope so buddy. We still couldn't find it so when we got to our home I said maybe we should go inside and look and she said good idea. So we all went inside and right after we did the phone rang. Mom said it was a lady & she found her wallet. We were so excited we all went to get it and told Kathline Thank you for being honest & told her she was an answer to our prayers. I know Heavenly Father hears my prayers & helps me find things & helps me not be scared." Kolby has got quite a big testimony for a little guy, it does my heart good to know this. Infact just a couple days ago he couldn't find a toy he was searching for. It was getting late and I just wanted him to go to bed. I said i would find it after he went to bed so he could have it in the morning. And then he snapped his fingers and said ahh I know, we can just say a prayer. So he did and about a min. later he found it. Such great amounts of faith he has already at age 5 (almost 6). We are so proud of him and the young man he is becoming.

Making Memories!

September 19, 2008
This time of the year is my favorite time to be in the mountains and we were going to go camping this weekend but b/c of uncertanty of the weather we decided to stay a little lower for the weekend. We headed up little cotton wood canyon for a couple hikes. The 1st hike was short & a little rocky for little legs. At the end of the hike was a waterfall.

Then just across the road was our 2nd hike which was a longer but easier hike for the kids and at the end across a creek was an old milling building (very cool.) On the way back down of this hike we had a race, Kolby got to say were each race started and ended so you can guess who won every time. On this hike we all found a great hiking stick, even Cooper. Then we went and found a picnicking area & made a fire and made hot dogs & roasted smores. It rained on us a little but all & all very nice hiking weather. We had a blast! Quoting Kolby,"this is an awesome day." And so it was just that...an awesome day.

September 20, 2008
We had planned to sleep out on the tramp last night but on the way home from our picnics Kolby didn't feel well & they all fell to sleep. which was a good thing b/c it rained cats & dogs pretty much all night. We made up for it by making German Pancakes (the kids favorite) for breakfast. Every Sunday Kolby gets to go help Casey prepare for the sacrament with the young men in the ward & Shelby gets so sad every week b/c she doesn't get to go. Well, she & I had the opportunity to go clean the church together. She was so cute and she would say, "I'm such a good cleaner huh mom." Sunday when it was time for Casey to leave on Sunday it will be a bit easier b/c she had her turn & now its Kolbys. When Shelby and I got home we all went for a bike ride on the Jordan River trail. It was really pretty and fun too. I told Kolby if he won us all that I would make us all fresh peach milkshakes. mmm mmm they were tasty too. Another great day with the family.

***The other day we went to the book mobile to check out some books and Shelby found a video she wanted to check out (the little princess, ofcoarse) she said to the librarian, " we are going to get this, is it on sale?" Oh boy, a fellow coupon shopper in the making.

A Legacy lives on

I think the last post was about our camping trip to Yellowstone & Island Park which was a blast. So I will pick up from there. Casey's brother Richard got married to Caitlin in the Logan temple Aug.16,2008. We had a night off because of my dad took the kids for us for a few hours & then my mom took them over night. Ahhh, there's nothing like a night off. My mom even took them swimming without swim suits & informed me later she was kicked out of the pool because Cooper didn't have on a swim diaper. Oh well, kids had a ball on their sleep over with grandma.
Then the next weekend Aug.23,2008, we zoomed once more to Rupert for the Twin Falls Temple dedication. That was fun, we've never been in the temple when it has been dedicated.

Aug.29, 2008. Then a few days after that Casey & I celebrated our 8 anniversary. We didn't do anything that night b/c Cooper was sick but we went to dinner & a play (Oklahoma) @ Thanksgiving Point. We both really enjoyed that & each others company, it has been a great 8 years & we are looking forward to many, many more.

Aug.30-Sept.1, 2008 We stayed put for Labor day weekend and we were ecstatic about that b/c we have been going so much it felt good to be home. We were going to take the kids on a little hike but the weather had other plans. It rained on and off pretty much all day. So instead they put on there rain boots & slickers and went around to neighbors distributing flyer's for our annual Dutch oven dinner in our back yard. Which was Sat. September 6. We had a lot off fun w/ friends & neighbors and Yummy food. Of coarse my cherry cobbler was voted #1 of the dutch oven desserts (so what if it was the only dutch oven dessert.)

SEPT.6, 2008 My brother Clint & I took off right after the party to go to Rupert because our grandma Garner wasn't doing very well and they didn't think she would live very much longer. So my little bro & i set off without spouses or children. Might I add this was the 1st night Casey has been alone w/ the kids w/out me since they were born (minus hospital stay while having another baby). It was awesome & especially b/c being with my bro. it was like going back in time. We turned up the radio, laughed, & even missed our exit to my dads house. We got there and my sister in laws face was plastered to the window & seconds later my dad was out in the yard b/c she thought we were drunk drivers. When it was time for sleep we all piled in the room were my older brother Justin proceeded to tell us as he was falling to sleep that he was hot & he couldn't help it, and my sister Gwen forgot how to stay on her side of the bed & stayed up talking to me tell way in the morning hours. Justin was our alarm clock & stunk us out of our beds. Clint and I hurried got ready & headed over to see grandma. When we got there grandma looked good & her mind was sharp. I guess the cancer didn't get everything. We walked in and immediately she said oh hi Tracy & Clint. Then she looked at me asked about me family & then Clint asked about his job search. We laughed as she told us a joke, then she confessed to Clint how bad she had felt when he was over for a visit once & she didn't have any goodies for him. She said she didn' t know what was taking Grandpa so damn long to come and get her. It was a great visit we had with Gram's for about one hr. then hospice came to bathe her so we went downstairs & about 15 min. later she passed. Either she was waiting for us or Grandpa must have heard her and decided he better listen to her plea or he would hear about it later. The viewing & funeral was Wed./Thurs. Sept. 10-11. It was a good service & was good seeing all my cousins, aunts & uncles. My sister in law, Jennete, had her baby boy on Tues. and all was well with them. Also throwing on more event in Kolby lost his 1st tooth on Sept. 10 right before bed while eating a peach. I have to say it was hard for me to go into my grandparents home and as instructed remove any gifts & pictures we gave to them. That was my second home & it was hard to see it all change so abruptly.
Grandma taught me a lot, she was an amazing homemaker. She taught me how to quilt though I will never will quilt like her. She taught me how to make hand dipped chocolates. She was an awesome canner and baker. She was very supportive and attend all my recitals & sports events that i can remember. She loved the out doors, fishing, camping, genealogy and her testimony was strong. And i will never forget once as a teenager she was out at our house one summer afternoon we were out in our shed working and grandma torn a nail and i was trying to repair it and my dad and I weren't seeing eye to eye on something that he said I couldn't do or go & of coarse I wanted to, anyhow Grandma said to my dad, "Oh, Ivan lay off of her she's a good kid, I remember someone that was a lot worse". I'll never forget that. There are many more memories i have of my Grandma Cherril Garner. I hope that I can be like her & I will continue to strive for that goal. She has big shoes to fill & it will be harder without her over my shoulder checking on my work but she was a good teacher so hopefully her legacy will live on threw me.

Sept.13 Casey & I went to the BYU/UNLV game, what a fun game & Casey totally called it, he said BYU was going to kill them. The end score of the game was BYU 59-UNLV 0. It was great weather maybe even to hot, especially with water $2.50 a bottle. Casey was so excited to go he went and bought us BYU shirts. He said the blue i was wearing wasn't the right color of blue. Now I'm ready.... GO COUGARS!

SEPT.14, 2008 Kolby lost another tooth. He is so excited that the tooth fairy came and now he has a chance to get more money. He is so cute b/c he can't talk quite right. Today Shelby was mad and didn't like what Casey was saying to her and said," dad, i JUST want a baby sitter!"
We had a good day we watched Lion King as a family, then went outside and played freeze tag! Kolby is pretty fast. We have fun kids.