Super Mommy

My 5 year old has recently made me aware of how amazing I really am....

I was making him a sandwich in the kitchen and he was behind me being especially obnoxious.

Me: "Jace don't do that!"

Jace:"How did you DO that?"
Me:"How did I do what?"
He grabs me and turns me around looking at my head.
Jace:"Can you see back there?"
Me: "Huh?"
Jace: "How did you see me in the back of your head?"
Me: "OH....All mommies can do that."
Jace: "NO WAY! Really?"
Me: "Yep!"

Hmmm....I sometimes forget about my mommy super powers. I'm glad that I have Jace around to remind me of them! I think I'll be using this one a LOT more often!

Bibbity Bobbity Boo!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dreams will come true.

Which Disney Princess are you?

Thanks Ame...that was fun....here's to hoping my dreams really will come true! Sigh....

Dance Dance Revolution

It was Girls Night Out at Mandi's house last night. Melissa came to visit and we ordered Cafe Rio and played Dance Dance Revolution. The only bad thing was that Mandi didn't get to attend her own party. Poor little Maci slipped on the trampoline and broke her leg. :( So...while we all partied at Mandi's house she was stuck in the ER with her sad little girl. Thanks for letting us hang out at your house Mand!

Is it obvious that Heather and I have absolutely no idea what we're doing!?

Cheree and Tia

Dawn and Anna

Me and Melissa

Kristin and Sandra (Sandra did NOT want her photo taken...but since she never checks the blog....she'll never know! Don't tell!)

....oh and Marci...you so don't look like a monkey when you dance!

Thanks for a fun night girls!

Camp Jeremiah Johnson

I LOVE my church calling! I'm the Stake Activity Day Leader. I'm so glad that I got to stay in the Primary section of church....I really love it! The biggest bonus though is getting to work with awesome people! I seriously love the ladies I work with! They are so organized, spiritual, and team oriented! We had our Stake Activity Day Camp this year at Camp Jeremiah Johnson. I really wanted to do this because I was excited for the girls to get to do some of the outdoorsy things that the boys always get to do in Cub Scouts. My apologies to everyone who had to experience my lack of knowledge on the whole day camp thingy....next time I'm planning to be awesome!
Kristin, Me, and Amy....(about 4 years ago the three of us were at girls camp together....so fun...wish I had a photo!)

Me and Camry....melting! (Yeah...it was me who said, "Cams, let's wear jeans cause we're going to be up in the mountains and we don't want to be cold!" DUH!)
Kasey, Camry, Hannah, and Savanna
Shooting bow and arrows

This is how you cock a gun when you're a "girly girl"
Megan and Camry learning how to tie a square knot
Megan and Camry using the buddy system

Kristin, Me, and Tanya

Whose idea was this? It's a good thing we were so HOT....because after our rafting adventure we were soaked!!

Boon...Dogs

We got to go to Boondocks for Garet's 6th birthday party the other night. Our entire family refers to Boondocks as Boon dogs....for some reason this is what Jace thinks it is called. Everyone used to laugh when he said it...and now this is what all of us call it, even the adults. This is one of the kids' favorite places to go for sure. At least once a year one of the kids picks it as their birthday spot.Bonnie won Aunt of the year and took Camry on the "simulator". It's one of those machines they stick you in and it looks like you're riding a roller coaster.....hmmm NO THANKS!! (this is them after the ride)
All Jace wanted to do was hang out with his dad! He followed him around everywhere saying, "Hey Dad do you want to play this...." They shared all of their tokens and had a ton of fun together.
Easton gets real serious about things like this...he has his dad's competitive side! I hope he never plans to own a motorcycle for real!
Bumper boats

Bryan got absolutely soaked on this ride! Seriously dripping wet!

The culprit of the soaking....Kaleb.

Yesterday...Today...and Tomorrow Tag

20 Years Ago....
I was 12 years old. My best friends were Codi, Toni, Marci, Melanie, Gina, and Shaylee. (I wonder what happened to some of those girls) I wore hot pink clothes, stir-up pants, and Guess jeans with zippers in the sides. I had big bangs and a bad perm. I used words like 'radical'. I was mean to my little brother and had just started to think that my parents were old. My world was pretty rosy.
10 Years Ago....
I had a beautiful 1 year old daughter that my world revolved around. I got to stay home with her all day long...we would watch Barney and the Price Is Right every morning. She really loved Bob Barker. We read books, went on walks, cleaned the house together....everything. It's weird to think about my life with only one baby! It was such a short time! Bryan and his brother's had just started their own construction business. My parents still lived in Blanding and Camry and I spent a lot of time there. We would leave Bryan at home to work and go visit for weeks at a time. We both loved our Grandma time!
5 Years Ago....
We moved into our new house when our little Jace was 2 weeks old. (Something I would NOT recommend doing) I had 3 little guys at home all day and no yard for them to play in. Seriously...this is kind of a blur. (maybe it was survival mode) We spent lots of time back at the old apartment building where Jeff and Bonnie were living while they built their house. The kids could play together in the backyard there. I think this is when Bonnie and I started to become really close. I'm thankful that I had her that summer to play with...we both had stuff to offer each other. She had the backyard with the green grass....and I had the air conditioner! We spent a lot of time together! :)
3 Years Ago....
Camry was going into the 3rd Grade and Easton was going into 1st. I was preparing myself to be home alone all day with just me and Jace. We got into quite the routine....after lunch we would read books on my bed until we would both fall fast asleep. Boy...I really miss those days! Bryan's business was going along really well. I got called to be the Primary President in my ward. That was scary...but ended up being one of the best experiences of my life!
1 Year Ago....
I got the kids into the new Charter School in our area. They were doing so great in school! We got a puppy. Bryan's business was really booming. He and his brother's purchased a ton of new equipment to make their business grow. Bryan's dad was diagnosed with Leukemia. Our family became regular visitors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
So Far This Year....
The kids ended their 5th and 3rd grade years with great grades and good experiences. Jace graduated from preschool. I'm never going to have a preschooler again...and it's a little sad for me. Gas prices are too high. Nobody is building houses. I went on two trips to Hawaii. We took the kids to Disneyland. (those things really don't go together..do they)
Yesterday I....
Took the kids to the store to buy Garet a birthday present. Paid my power bill. Took the kids to the park for a picnic with Bonnie and her kids. Went out to dinner and to Boondocks for Garet's birthday party.
Today I....
Babysat at the church while the kids had a primary activity. Took Camry to the dentist to get 5 baby teeth pulled (she refuses to pull out her loose teeth). Went to Target to get her a prize for getting her teeth pulled and to buy a new mop because mine broke. Helped Bonnie make 36 handouts for relief society. Cooked dinner for 6 kids, my husband, and my mother in law. Took Easton to Karate. Caught up on my blog. PHEW!
Tomorrow I will....
Be patient with my children. Play with them at the pool. Make a fabulous dinner....then GO OUT for a girls night with friends! Yahoo!!! Can't wait!
In The Next Year I....
Will go back to work. See my baby go to Kindergarton. Get back on the work out wagon. Maybe go back to school. (as soon as I decide what I want to be when I grow up) Work on my blog book for 2008. Finish all of my projects I have started over the last year. Be happy with every minute I get to spend with my family!

I'm tagging Kristin N, Michelle G, Amy J, and Bonnie

Grandpa's Quilt

For Father's Day we all got together and made Grandpa a quilt to keep him warm at the Huntsman Center. It's what you'd call a real "patchwork" quilt! Everyone picked their own fabric to match their personality. It was fun to put together. It looks real crazy...but he loves it. Grandma tying our quilt
A view of our craziness
Camry with Grandpa all wrapped up in his quilt.

~SIDE NOTE: for those of you wanting an update.....Mike is scheduled to begin the transplant process the middle of next week. For the rest of this week he expects to be poked and prodded in preparation. Please keep him in your prayers....and if you get up into the Salt Lake area I'm sure he would love a visit. He's feeling a little bit down about not being able to go home before the transplant....I can't imagine how it must feel being stuck in that hospital room day after day!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Random Facts about our Daddy

• Loves Golf
• Loves to make the kids laugh
• Gets in trouble for getting the kids too wound up before bedtime
• Watches movies he loves over and over and over and over.....
• Can sing the words to almost any song
• Loves puzzles
• He's a poker player...loves Vegas
• Can win any argument
• Hates being in the sun
• Loves Almond Joy candy bars
  

The kids were so proud of their Candy Gram that they made for their Dad last night! Giving him gifts is so much fun...he always acts super excited no matter what it is! Love you babe! Happy Father's Day from your biggest fans!

Our Favorite Dad's

• My Dad...My dad is the most tenderhearted, loving, affectionate, fun and best all around dad there is! I am the luckiest daughter to have had such a great dad!
• Mike...My other dad. Mike is the most patient and giving man I know. We love him so much and are keeping him around for a LONG time!
• My little bro...Colby is super dad! He helps out more than any dad I know and he is a great uncle to his niece and nephews!
• The Halliday Brothers....We are so lucky to live near all of Bryan's brothers! Everyone of them are great dad's and love my kids!
• Doctor....Dr. Amber is our adopted Grandpa. He is a wonderful person and we are so lucky to have him in our lives!
• My Grandpa Northern....My fellow blogger. My Grandpa gives the best hugs and is still the most fun Grandpa around!
• My Grandpa Otto....My quiet Grandpa. He doesn't get around as good as he used to, but I still think of him as the most energetic athletic Grandpa around!
• Grandpa Fred...Bryans Grandpa is amazing. He is seriously the youngest 80 something year old I know!
• My Uncle Chuck....My summer dad. My Uncle Chuck has put up with me every summer of my life. I'm so thankful for him...and he will always be in my mind...the perfect husband!
• Bryan....Last but not least! I could not possibly ask for a better daddy for my kids. Bryan is the fun and playful parent. We are so lucky to have him! He is the best Dad around!

Old Friends

Damon and Codi and their girls came to visit for a few days. Damon is Bryan's best friend from highschool. They were born a day apart and both had twin brothers. Codi and I also grew up together in the same grade and were always close friends. It has been so much fun to hang out together now that we have kids of our own. They all get along so great and have so much fun together! We hadn't seen them in quite a while so we tried to cram as much fun into two days as we could! Thanks guys for finally taking a day off of work to come see us! We miss you already!! Come again!Camry, Megan, Brianne, Jace, and Easton ready to swim!

Jace and Easton at Kung Fu Panda...(Jace ALWAYS has to make some sort of weird face when I take a picture this has to be one of my favorites...his look of surprise)

Me and Codi....two tired, windblown mommies!

Brianne. This girl cracks me up! She is 100% her dad! She is full of spunk and humor! ...oh and added bonus...she is Bryans little namesake! So cute!

Brianne and Jace got along so great! They had tons of fun together! He was very sad to see her go!

Camry and Megan

I thought about trying to find a photo of me and Codi at this age...but I figured that would be too embarrassing! (ugly eighties and all)...I'm just going to go ahead and post pics of the girls weekend together. They are so cute! They get along great and have so much fun together! Codi's girls are two of the girliest girls I know....and we are definitely lacking the girl spirit around here most of the time! It's fun for Camry to have some girls around to have fun with! And BOY did they have fun! They crammed everything they could into two short days together!

Going to get Megans hair trimmed.

A good friend always shaves the other friends legs!

Swimming

At the movies...to see Kung Fu Panda....LOVED IT!

Justice...just for girls. Our FAVORITE store!

They had to find matching outfits...but Megan being the bargain shopper of the two couldn't stand to spend this much money on an outfit...so they settled for this one.....

So cute! (Codi and I used to dress the same too)

Tuckered out and a little sad that it was their last night together!

A Hair Raising Event

A little background here is necessary....When I was in the fifth grade all of my friends, and I mean ALL of them, were shaving their legs. EXCEPT for me! I remember begging and pleading and getting a no every time! Poor me....(I'm still traumatized!) So because of my sad story I decided long ago as soon as Camry asked if she could shave her legs I would let her. Honestly, I figured it would have happened a long time ago. Last summer she mentioned it...I told her she could, but that once she started shaving them she would have to do it all of the time...that turned her off right away. Fast forward to today. Her buddy Megan is here to visit. Megan says, "Hey, Camry your legs are real hairy...you should really shave them!" (Megans mother is dying about this!) They asked my permission and I said, "SHAVE AWAY!" I'm going to be honest...it's a little sad, but exciting at the same time. My little girl is growing up! So fun! We're off to buy an electric razor!

For Real?!

Okay...so I went to Macey's to pick up some milk while Easton was at Karate. I admit I wasn't looking my best...but I HAD actually taken a shower! Ryan is my checker today. Just as I'm about to gather my milk up and leave, pimply faced Ryan asks me, "Hey, does your daughter work here?" EXCUSE ME?! Did this brace face just ask me if I was old enough to have a daughter that worked at Macey's? Seriously!? Should I be offended? I think I am! Botox here I come!

Breaker Breaker One Niner

Communication has come a long way since I was a kid. I remember being so disappointed that our cans with the strings attached to them didn't work as well as I'd hoped. My dad actually had a "CB" in our jeep that we would play on. Talking to truckers was a big highlight! So...Camry came home talking on this little gadget the other day. Her friend Megan...who by the way lives down the street and around the corner.....let her borrow one of her walkie talkies. (that is probably not what it is called). They can chat till all hours on these tiny little things with amazing clarity!
These girls are so cute. They are constantly checking in on each other over the walkies. I'm seriously thinking I might need one! I can just see myself, "Pssshh..hey Bonnie whacha doin?".....
Over and Out!

Celebration of Life Tag

Rochelle tagged me with her "celebration of life" tag. I don't know that I'm really in the mood today to be planning my own funeral....but in the spirit of tagging I will try. (my mom is going to hate this!)I don't have too many requests. I figure I won't be there so whoever is in charge can do as they please. However...there are a couple of things that would be nice.

1. I would like my husband to cry! A lot would be nice.....I don't want him to be so sad he can't go on...just sad enough to let me know (as I'm looking down on him from above) that he really is missing me at that moment.
2. I really don't care the cost of my casket...but I would like it to be beautiful! Dark wood would be nice...please no Oak! Silk on the inside...preferably pink...(but not old lady looking pink).
3. I think I'd like to have popcorn served at my funeral luncheon (movie theatre style)...it is after all my favorite food.
4. Because Rochelle is making me do this...I think I should give her a job. Maybe she could do an "ode to the blog" I do love the blog! Maybe a display of all of my old blog designs would be good.

I plan on living a long and prosperous life. Therefore, I don't think these plans will be needed...but I guess just in case....

I'm tagging Bonnie, Jenny, and KerrieLeigh

SERIOUSLY???!!!

Just thought I'd vent a little. Maybe it will make me feel better...probably not though! I am freaking out! I accidentally erased my entire blog...thankfully not my posts too! I was planning on spending the day in my yard...but now I think I'll be spending my day at my computer restoring all of my settings! Oh Brother! Sometimes I just really hate myself! If for some reason I miss your name on my link list...it's not because I don't want you on there...it's because I'm trying to remember everyone's blog addresses!! AAAHHHHHH! I have people ask me all of the time how I figure out all of these things on the blog...my answer is always, "I just push buttons." Hmmm...maybe not such a good idea!

Keepin' It Real Tag

I was tagged by my friend Aundrea. This tag is all about keepin' it real! The rules are to take pictures of the things listed below, but no straightening, primping or prepping. Leave everything just as they look and take the picture! Then tag five people.

1. Fridge: Amazingly there is actually a wide variety of food in there!

2. Closet: My name is Autumn...and I have a problem. (does everyone have to color coordinate their closet?)

3. Kitchen Sink:I hurried and took this picture before I cleared the table from breakfast....the fruity pebbles were all over the table...but the sink looked fabulous! :)

4. Laundry Pile: How humiliating! Seriously...I hate laundry...and it NEVER ends!

5. Toilet: Today I'm thankful for my strict put the lid down before you flush rule! ..Oh and yes that is my garbage can ON TOP of my toilet. I have a dog and her name is Emmy. :)6. Favorite Room: Love this room so much it's hard to come out of some days! My bed is so comfy and warm! I have spent just about every day of Jace's life reading stories and taking a resty in the afternoon with him while the kids were at school....I'm making myself sad thinking about this since he's going to go to Kindergarten in the fall! :(
7. Favorite Pair Of Shoes: My Aunt Jean bought these for me. She is so generous. Whenever she takes me and the girls shopping she'll say, "today is pick a pair of shoes day"....or "today is pick a pair of pants day". So fun! I love that about her!
8. What The Kids Are Doing Right Now:

Camry is playing outside with her buddy Megan.

Easton is out front riding his ripstick...by the way he is really good at it...and it is HARD!

Jace and Grandma are playing a serious game of Trouble inside.

9. Self Portrait: This was the only one I cheated on...I had taken this self portrait another day...but I do still look just the same. (only today I didn't take a shower) Yuck!

10. Where You Want To Go: I would love to go to Paris with my husband...so romantic!

I am tagging:

Cami, Natelli, Tanya B., Teri, and Jacci