Commitment

This year is half way over, to my sheer amazement, and I want to use this half way point to recommit myself to my goals.  I feel very strongly that to just go with the flow of life is to not really live but to just get by.  I don't want to just get by, I want to grow and progress and really see improvement in my life!

Sometimes a thought will resonate with me and leave me pondering on it for days and this was one of those thoughts..."motivation follows commitment".  That has really struck a cord with me for some reason and has got me thinking about whether it is true or not.  I am the type of person that needs to "feel" motivated (you know, be in the mood) to do things that need to get done.  Sometimes waiting around for that gets me in trouble and sometimes trying to find motivation get me in trouble too!  So to think that by committing myself to something is what brings the motivation is a really neat thought!  And you know what ...I think it may be a true statement. 

This was in my little Franklin Covey planning pages for today:

"Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be."

Karen Ravn

That really touched me... 

So with all that has been going on in my mind and marinating I feel the desire to re-commit myself to my goals and maybe even take a look at them and make sure they are the right ones.  I want to be deliberate in living my life not just getting by.  I have six more months to make this year a good one and make and keep my commitments!

4th of July

 We had a great 4th.  We didn't have anything planned and just kind of went with the flow.  That is hard for me to do most of the time but I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it.

 Celia and Kim with their families came over for awhile and we also had some of the kids friends from school come play for a few hours. 

 Michael surprised the kids with renting one of these for the day and man oh man...those kids had fun.  I hardly saw them all day. 

 Tatum was a little off yesterday but for him that means he just squeaks a little here and there.  He is so happy and I love that he is an angel.

 Morgan and Hayden had fun running up and down on the slip and slide for awhile..

 We all went to the rodeo later that day and when we got home we did some sparklers.  I think the kids were pretty great all day yesterday. I was really surprised that the rodeo kept their attention. 

Cole was being scary and we were being scared...I guess in this picture.

 The sparklers are so magical...I love looking at them but even more than that, I love watching the kids look at them and marvel...so fun!

 Mike was able to get some great shots of the boys coming down the slide a million miles an hour.

Priceless the little faces they make right before their bodies hit that cold water at the bottom.

Baptism

 Here are the pre- pictures of the big day. 

 Michael took these shots and I am very impressed! 

 It scares me to look at this one of Cole...he looks so big!

 Here is the set up that day.  Simple....

 This is the sweetest picture..I am so happy that Michael can baptize our son! 

 The program went well.  He only had to be dunked twice! His little foot popped up the first time.

 These two little boys melt my heart.  So sweet. 

 Uncle TJ came with his cute family.  Cole wanted him to give the talk on Baptism and I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  Aunt Jaime and Kylie led the music, Aunt Denise played the piano and we had friends give the prayers.

 It was super sweet of Aunt Denise and her kids to come and support Cole with his big day! 

I am so proud of Cole and his decision to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Mike's Parents Visit

It was exciting having Mike's parents visit again this year.  Tommy was feeling well enough that he could come too.  They stayed one week with TJ and one with us. 

 Nursing moms...this was us over at TJ's house picking up his parents and hanging out for awhile.

 Morgan and Kaden are total buds...they are sooo cute to watch play together.  And I can't believe what a little man Kaden is....super cute!

 Here is London and Tatum together.  They are two months apart and we are looking forward to watching these guys grow up together.

 Here is the girl version of Harry Potter.

 Now the first part of Elaine and Tommy's stay at our house was great...and then that fateful Thursday hit.  Mike took the boys and Tommy for a drive in the mountains and Elaine and I stayed behind and chatted.  When they got home Tommy was acting really strange so Mike had to call for an ambulance!  On top of it when they got home Mike told me Carson had thrown up in the car.  So I made a sick bed for him  and I'm glad I did because he kept throwing up for the next two days.

 So we find out that Tommy had an pneumonia and had to stay there to get a blood transfusion too!  He was in bad shape.  Back at home that night Cole started throwing up also.  Now my kids usually throw up once and then they are playing again.  This sickness had them throwing up for 3- 4 days and then fevering for two....it was not good. 



 Then Morgan got it.  I really don't want to go through the day by day play but let me just say HORRIBLE.  It took me a few weeks to get over all that we went through.  Once the sickness finally did leave. 

The picture below is of Carson in the emergency room.  That was another "fun" little trip in the middle of the whole ordeal.  Needless to say he was fine..thank heavens...always look for those silver linings in any situation, right?

So Tommy was able to get out of the hospital on Sunday and they flew home the next day.  It was not the best trip for all of us but we are all glad we were able to see each other and have a good time when we were all feeling well. 

Mass Catch Up

Basement Update

 These pictures are not great (phone pictures...boo) but you can see what we did with our basement space. This is the kids workstation.  This is a place where they can play on the computer (when its hooked up), a place to do homework, a place to do crafts...I love it and hope it gets utilized.

 My new favorite place to go is Ikea...wow so much fun stuff there. These adorable little hanging cups are from there.    I love all the neat ways you can organize these days.

This is the beginning of my little work station set up.  I am copying a lady over at Iheartorganizing blog.  She has created in me a desire to really make my house pretty and way more organized.  I have all the pieces and parts for this baby to finish but its talking my hubby into helping me that's holding up the project now. 

Tatum is 4 months in three days!  He is chunking up great and is still an angel baby.  He is now sleeping through the night and I love it! Lots to write up on him later...I am in mass catch up mood.

4-H Update



We did a hike awhile back that was so nice.  I love being only minutes away from the mountains.  Here are most of the kids in our group and they are all great. 

Tatum was so good as usual.  It even started raining on us and he was a trooper still.

Those who did not have hoods got drenched!  As you can see Morgan didn't mind much.

Memorial Day

We took the kids to the cemetery and showed them grave sites of fallen soldiers.  It is really amazing how many people serve our country and sacrifice so much for us.  I am always so impressed and touched by that fact. 

We then went out for a great lunch of burger and fries at a cute place in Tooele. 

Morgan is so fun.  The things she says and does keeps me laughing.  Where do kids come up with there stuff?

The boys.  Cole is into these weird hand signs now when we take pictures. 

Summer Day Camp

This horrible picture is at our library for movie and popcorn day.  We were the first there so the kids all got to sit on bean bags up front.  They were pretty happy.

So this summer day camp idea comes from the Powerofmoms.com.  This is an amazing site full of ideas for moms that uplift and help us in our rolls.  (Again I have so much to say on that site and will have to do it later!)  The idea is this...every day of the week has themes.... Monday is make it day, Tuesday is take a trip day, Wednesday is wet day, Thursday is thinking day, and Friday is friends day.  If the kids complete there chores, school work, and other goals things they are rewarded by doing the fun thing for the day. 

We have not been consistent with it but it is in place and ready to go when I need it and we have been using it. 

Here is Tatum on one of our "Wet Wednesday" trips to the swimming pool.  He likes the water and has been great on all our excursions so far!

We have a good friend who took Morgan to a Princess day in town here awhile back.  When Morgan came back she was on cloud nine!  She is so girly and into all that stuff and it makes me so happy.