Images in this post are bigger than they appear

Due to Alisha's comment in the previously post, about how much Eli has grown in the picture on the sidebar, I had to correct that. The picture of interest is over a year old. To you family members, you're, traditionally, going to get your own hard copy, but these are for you other readers. I'll post these on the sidebar to update the blog. Here's this years school pictures for all the kids.

 The older she gets, she looks more and more not like me. Bummer. I wish she did because I'd be gorgeous! ;o)

 The biggest change I see in him is around his eyes and nose. And maybe the chin. The eyebrows too. Probably the shape of the top of his head. The jawline, kinda different too. And that's all.

 For some reason, he looks chubbier in the picture than what I get to see on a daily picture. Perhaps this picture caught that moment I always miss. The moment of him holding still. It's really all a blur to me, anymore. (@Mercy: "What has Ashton been up to lately"? Finished his football season and missing it. Throwing the ball in the house and chasing his little brothers down the hall till he can tackle them. . He's been so responsible lately about getting his homework done as soon as he gets it. He is also teaching himself how to write in cursive, something usually taught in the 4th grade. He's still got two years till he gets there. It's pretty ambitious of him. One thing that has me worried is, he faked being sick at school so he could come home because there's a couple kids that pick on him. He thought a good solution was call mom and go home. I've been observing the situation and trying to teach him he can't do that and how to stick up for himself. Other than that, it's still football this, and football that.)

 Our little kernal keeper is not so little anymore, for sure! He definitely looks much older. More angel kisses on his face. A half grown, grownup tooth. But same bright blue eyes and mischevious grin.

Speaking of angel kisses!!!! They just can't keep their lips of this boy! And I completely understand why. I can't either! Such a cuddly, lovey, affectionate guy. (No he hasn't lost a tooth, just a big gap is all). And the red on the head is here to stay! YEAH!

Halloween 2011

What you need to start summer vacation

Bubbles. Spit or soap....doesn't matter.

 Cake. (that's a given) This is Mykael's second cake. She did the research, made the preps, and put it together. I helped her wrap it with the fondant....she did the rest!!!! (She even colored the fondant herself.) I may have some competition in a few years!

 Black. Ok, not really, but if you're 12 yr old boy. It's essential. And some sunglasses.

 Friends. And that is all.

 Oh! And an escape

Jelly bean trees and candycoated sunflower seeds

While I was busy in the kitchen one afternoon, Eli came in to me and announced he wanted to plant some seeds. My garden is far from being ready to plant anything and I really didn't want to dig any out for him to play with. So I instantly thought of the the bag of black jelly beans I have hidden in the cupboard and handed him one. I told him it was a jellybean tree seed and to go plant that. SO....he did.

 But he decided he was going to need some "furtilizer" and asked for a bottle of sprinkles. Then Ashton wanted in on the action and noticed the candycoated sunflower seeds I had used on my fishbowl cake last year. (They were old. It was time to plant them.) And he needed plant food as well and grabbed another bottle of sprinkles.

 For some reason, it attracted the attention of all the other kids and it turned into quite an event. Mykael picked the spot. She ordered Jaden to dig the holes (in socks, mind you) and the planting ensued.

 I REALLY don't know WHY she picked the middle of the lawn to dig the holes and by the time I caught it, the holes were already there! Whatever.

 I think the sunflower seeds actually look kind of magical. Like they'll grow into some pretty magnificent and I'll be able to climb up a huge stock and retrieve my wildest dreams.

 And the "plant food"....genius! Which I myself did not come up with.

Mykael had high intentions to keep this little fantastical event going and even went back the next day and stuck sticks in between the clump of grass and the untouched portion to make it look like they were "sprouting". Then by the time easter would come she would have retrieved bigger ones with leaves on them and tied eggs filled with jelly beans. Unfortunately....the "sprouts" turned into makeshift swords and guns and now litter my back yard. Or maybe they've made it to the wood pile for later marshmellow roasting.

I miss blogging

After going through some old posts, I realized that my blogging has kind of taken a slumpy turn. I feel like I haven't really had anything to blog about so I just haven't. Jared started Barber school last fall and with him being gone, I've been a little more busy than normal. He's got about 7 weeks left, and my life may return to a more less stressed pace.

I've got some big cakes coming up and could not be anymore excited. It's hard to not want to just start on them now, but I do believe in freshness. They are on a more difficult level but I'm ready for the challenge! Google "topsy turvy cakes" and you'll see what I get to do!

Update of my monkeys...cause we all know they grow so fast.
Mykael never ceases to amaze me! This chicks' heart is solid gold! Unfortunately I can't necessarily take credit for that in the genetics department, but I hope that some of our talks have contributed to who she is becoming! Without going into too much detail she basically has kept a neutral ground when it comes to friends and the nasty whisperings that so often occur at that age. She has been able to look at situations with a non-judgemental perspective and been patient with the outcome. Even when she was the "butt of the joke". She has the amazing ability to squash any gossip or rumors that come her way, stopping any further hurt to her or anyone else. I just love her for that! She will definitely be an amazing friend to whomever she meets.

When you find a nitch that just works in your life you go with it. And that's how Jaden is with his karate. It's his and his thing alone. I'm excited to see him continue to earn his belts again and compete in competitions. He'll be awesome!

Ashton's "love" has moved away. (or rather my choice of love for him.) Lilli moved 7 hours away and my only hope is the story of the Swan Princess. Before she had left, I took him to the store to buy her a locket. Her mother and I have high hopes that distance will make the hearts grow fonder and just like in the movie...they'll live happily ever after. I know he's only 6, but a mom can only hope!

Eli...........is still Eli. Still constructing things with the junk he finds around here but these things are becoming more functional. I think there's more of my grandpa W in him than I thought. He's ALWAYS making things or wanting to buy things for his friends. LOVES wrapping them up and giving them as gifts. He's just going all the time. But at night, he's ready to lay down and cuddle with Jared or I. He's so soft and so warm all the time! And his hugs are TIGHT!

Dylan is SOOOO friendly! Says Hi to EVERYONE! To the point that it's distracting. He talks loud (poor thing gets that from me) and asks a LOT of questions. He's definitely the star of his own movie/life. And people love him. We can't go anywhere without him having struck up a conversation with at least 3 complete strangers. And they walk away smiling. His faith is definitely sprouting. And I love talking to him about that. With the sweetness, there's an equal amount of red-head temper. And we'll just leave it at that.

I'm anxious for warmer weather. I'm itching to get out in the dirt again. I've got flowers to plant! For now, I'm just doing what I always do.

The day trip the kids just couldn't thank us enough for.

You reach a point in your routine that a getaway trip becomes vital. And this particular day. It didn't matter, it HAD to happen. We spent the morning cleaning. And when dad got home from school. We were outta here! I kept tell them we were going to go to the mountains, but they assumed just up the road. But I've had my sight on a particular area for awhile now and I didn't care that it took an hour to get there.

 Nobody challenged my decision. So when we got to Daniel's Summit, it wasn't what I was hoping for because the peak fall colors had already come and gone and the trees were mostly bare, but the day was nice, sunny, and peaceful.

 I asked a lady at the gift shop for a nice trail and she pointed out a direction we could go. So we went the opposite direction. (She pointed us DOWN the mountain into a ravine-ish area and there was snow. I needed to keep in the sun as much as possible.

We happend upon these beautiful horses and chilled with them. My love for horses is kind of in my blood, so I didn't care if we were trespassing like Jared thought. They are actually pack horses that common folk, like ourselves, can 'rent' to ride up a trail for the day or so. And they're weren't any trespassing signs that we could see.

 AND...if we were, nobody met us with the tip of thier shotgun, so we were good. I just love the coloring on this black and white one.

 Our "hike" consisted of meandering along a well traveled dirt road and posing in the aspens. I was needing to flex my cameras muscles that hadn't been used in a while.

 The camera kept coming back to Kael, and she nicely abliged when she noticed Jared pointing it in her general direction. Sometimes one of my little stinks made an appearance. But only to be a stink.

 I have no idea what he was trying to do, but he really thought he was being sneaky. Even though Jared was plotting the whole thing off to the side.

 Nothing like riding a wooden fence. Brings back memories of Idaho.

 Always running AWAY from me!

 Nice pose Kael. In the background is Strawberry resevoir. A lake I have grown to love from the MANY trips to Vernal and back.

 He found a full bundle of sticks that he requested I pack back to the car so we could bring them home. Which I did. Because it's Eli. And that is all.

 Trying to be artsy fartsy and take black and whites of old dead twisted trees. I was having to lay on this log to get the shot of one such trees.

 growth among the dead

 We love Uncle Coley. A Lot! And every chance we get, to show that love. Jaden pins it right on the head.

 Batting snow

 Couldn't let his big brother have one up on him. So he batted as well.

 Old dead twisty wood.

 Beautifully creepy.

 There were about 3 old tractors parked spuradically around the mountain we were on. Made for great shots.

 Weird when your baby isn't a baby anymore.

 A late lunch at the logde. YUMMY And the log decor....loved it!

 On the way home I saw the coloring of the brush and thought it looked like a rainbow. Can you see it?

Jaden, on the way home, said, "I know I keep saying this, but I just have to say thanks again. For taking us."

Perfect end to a perfect day. This is Deer creek. And that snow capped moutain is Timpanoogas. Love that I wake up to that. E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y!