A Little Photo Shoot!

My friend Melissa is a photographer starting up... She did a great job and is trying to get some business... check her out at Missy Lee Photography.

Congrats Todd and Anna!!!

This is the best news in the WORLD!!!

Claire A. Kirby
Born Dec. 3rd

Todd and Anna
brought home their new baby girl today!!!

I just have to say...

For those of you who don't know Todd and Anna... let me fill you in! They have been married for almost 10 years (I think) They adopted Nate just over 4 years ago... he is great, full of energy and very happy. They put their papers in for another child quite awhile ago and now here she is... This little baby Claire has no idea how blessed she is coming into a home like this!!

Todd my brother is great... He is fun, smart, humble, and a hero to many. He has been through a lot in his life and keeps on going... with a good attitude. He works hard for his family. I look up to him in so many ways. He is a great guy with a great family. He is an awesome dad to Nate and I know Claire is going to love her daddy too. Love You Todd!!!

Now Anna, She is amazing. Me describing her wont do her justice. She is giving, thoughtful, smart, funny, friendly, loving, stylish, and an awesome mom. She handles our "odd" family perfectly. She has been the person we all turn to in any medical situation... During my mom's heart attack she calmed us and explained what was happening so we could understand. She did the same through my brother Dave's tragedy. She put stitches in my foot and in Jacob's head. She gives me advice on the books I read and I love them all, she helps me think of decoration ideas and colors because she just has that gift. Anna gives, and gives, and gives to everyone that knows her. She is great. How lucky these two little kids are to have such a wonderful person as their mom. I love you Anna and wish you the best!!

And also a heartfelt thanks to Claire's birth mom who choose to give her child a wonderful life.

Wow, what a great day!

$30 dollars anyone?

Jacob created this "imperial walker" this morning. For those Star Wars fans you know what this is. Jacob loves Star Wars. He has many figures and is constantly thinking about what he can build next to carry them around. He is pretty proud of this one. He said, "Mom, after I am done playing with this I think I will sell it to some other kid." I asked, "How much are you going to sell it for?" He confidently said, "Thirty dollars." Any takers?

Wondering why I haven't posted in 2 weeks?...
This is the reason!

I have been chasing my little Mason all over the house trying to give him medicine!!! He hates it and tries to hide when I mention it. He has been so sick the last two weeks. I have been to the doctor's office twice (edit... now three times) with him and up in the wee hours of the night for many nights. I finally think we have a handle on it so he was playing more today rather than clinging to my hip.

It makes me so sad when the kids are sick... I worry, I stress, I second-guess everything I thought I knew and I lose lots of sleep. I am so happy to see the end of this nearing... we had such a healthy summer...I am not looking forward to the sick season quickly approaching.

Happy 30th Chucky Ducky!

Heather's husband Chuck got hooked up this year with gifts. Thanks to Mine and Heather's clearance rack shopping. She got him all the things he has wanted for years... problem is... now I have to help her decide what to get him for Christmas.

By the way... my vote goes to keeping the beard!!! It just looks so warm and toasty! This is a 3 week beard, Mark and I want to see what a 7 week one looks like. :)

Projects, Projects, and more Projects...

So this is the time of year Heather and I take on more projects than we can handle. We do it every year so why change this year. It is becoming a tradition with the late nights leading up to Christmas. I am so excited for the holidays... all the smells, good food, music and family parties. Mason was up past his bedtime and helped Heather and I with our first coat of paint. What a good little helper.

Finished Product!!!

Go Vote!!

Hey, No complaining if you don't go vote!

Halloween Night

Mason was so excited he ran to each door, said trick-or-treat, and thank you in his little 2yr old voice. People loved the miniature bee that could talk. It is a little shocking, considering his size! Iree needed a little more pressure to let go of my hand, go on the porch, and get her candy. She loosened up after a block or two. We have some cute video I will work on posting.

Jacob went out with his two buds, Nash and Spencer. Spencer's dad took them around and they had a blast. Jacob would have been a little impatient with the speed we were moving at so it is a good thing he was able to go with his friends.

Nash, Spencer and Jacob

Trunk-or-Treat

We went to a trunk-or-treat Halloween Party last night at the church. The kids had a blast as always. Notice Iree in Costume #2 "CookieMonster". Jacob is of course a clone... and Mason is a Cheeta.

Heather was in charge of my trunk while I took the kids around. She kept scaring kids when they reached for candy she would reach out the dead hand... lots of kids were jumping away from my trunk!!!... There were so many kids I ran out of candy....so I just snuck a huge handfull of what Mason collected and we out lasted the crowd... he doesn't need it anyway...right?

Ballet Class Halloween Party

Ireland is in costume #3 "A Fairy" she thought it would work best for dancing.

Maelyn and Iree love their dance class.

I guess 2nd isn't all that bad.

We had the rec league championships last night. We just couldn't get past "The Dominators" they have a great team... It is a blast playing them because it is real competition. I normally hate taking second in anything but I guess it is just rec league so it is ok...I'll live.

Here is our team.

Martha, Heather, Me, Tameisha, Tasha and Lindsay.

We already play again next week... It is the never ending league.

I love it.

And It Begins...

Halloween Week

Iree's Halloween Program at her preschool.

She is Snow White... don't know if that will change by Halloween but I wouldn't be surprised.

She has 4 other events this week (Dance Class, Church Activity, her other Preschool and Halloween night) so I will of course take pictures and post all the Halloween fun.

Maybe this is why I should pay a photographer...

It was such a beautiful day and the leaves are an awesome red. I though I would go out and do a little photo shoot with the kids. I need to update the individual pictures hanging in the entryway they are over a year old. I snapped away thinking, "If I just take 100 pictures I am should end up with at least one of each kid that will work." Well I filled the card and this what I got. I think my kids are just plain tired of me taking pictures and the sun was just a little too bright.

I hope we have better luck next time...

Thriving Ivory Concert
They are an awesome new band check them out.
Thriving Ivory


Benton Paul opened for Thriving Ivory. He is a local kid from Highland and he was very good. Overall the music for the night was great.

We had a few other exciting things happen... while waiting in a line with a thousand people we were talking and laughing and out of the blue I was pummeled in the head with ice!!! Someone drove by and threw a large Wendy's cup of ice water out the window... and it had to hit us!!!! It hit Mark in the shoulder and then bounced right onto my head... Heather and I started laughing hysterically and we just had to get pictures... I heard the people behind us say, "If I was her I would be so mad!!" Chill out people... life is funny! I always like a good laugh even if it is at my expense!

At least it was only water...

Oh yeah... I almost forgot... we also got a parking ticket... the sign was tacked on a stop sign in an odd place and none of us noticed it... So all in all our cheap date night actually was a little more spendy than expected.

Tickets $10.00 (killer deal thanks to 101.9 the end)
Water $3.00 (no drinking fountain)
Baby sitter $33.00 (gets more spendy each year)
Parking Ticket $45.00 (just plain stupid on our part)
Lots of laughs $Priceless

The Joys of being "Mom"

Just a little warning... if you don't like disgusting stories you better stop reading!

I just want you to get the real feel of what life at our house is like. :)

So this morning I was going about my usual routine. Iree and Mace were in the bath and I was across the hall folding laundry. I heard Iree scream (nothing unusual she screams at everything) so I didn't pay much attention. Then I hear Mason laughing and saying "Poop mom... Poop" I ran in the bathroom and Iree practacly jumped into my arms. I looked in the bath water and saw 3 little logs floating around. I took her to my shower and turned it on and then went back for Mace. In that short time he must have hit the poop and made it decinigrate in the water... (brown water... get my drift... oh, with many floaties!) I plucked him out of the water, holding him at arms length I took him to my shower. After scrubing the kids and getting them dressed I returned the the stincky, disgusting bathroom to clean. Some of you know that it doesn't take much to make me gag... even the thought of poop in a bathtub makes me gag!!! But there I was cleaning it. Like I said... The Joys of being Mom!

Spencer David Perry

Oct. 10 2008
10:30 p.m
8 lbs. 5 oz
23 in

I got the pictures today so here they are... Sawyer got his little buddy and I am sure Scott, Sunny and Sammy are a big help and love the little guy. I get all tongue tied when I try and say all their names. One thing is for sure... Michelle sure has cute kids.


Congrats Michelle!!!

First Snow
Excitement!!!

Iree and Jacob put on snow clothes over pajamas because they were so excited to go out in the snow.

#22 is here!!!

Spencer David Perry
Oct. 10 2008
10:30 p.m
8 lbs. 5 oz
23 in

This is my sister Michelle's #5. She has had every one all natural... yes she is a lot tougher than me. She had him at home with a midwife. Every thing went great and a lot faster than her other deliveries. I don't have a picture yet but as soon as I get one I will post it.

This makes 22 grand kids under 12 years old.

Congrats Michelle!!!

Yo Yo Mace Dancing :)

We have finally figured out how to get our videos going!!
This is Mason on the 24th of July in Mapleton. Sweet rhythm.

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

I saw this on Reiko's Blog and thought I would give it a shot... I do not consider myself a "princess" in any way so I was a little curious who they would come up with. It turns out I am exactly like Reiko... So Reiko, I guess you like to hang out in comfortable clothes and your idea of a date is hiking to a waterfall! I didn't realize we were so a like. :)

"Oh Man! You have a "Joseph"!!!"

This is our family's word for "bedhead." Mason woke up with a pretty nice one because we slept the last 4 hours of the night on the couch! Ugh!!! I just had to take a picture and explain.

My dad's name is Joseph... He has a "Joseph" 24/7. Ok, maybe not the moment he steps out of the shower and combs it down with his ancient brush. It stays down until it dries and whammo the hair on the top/back of his head sticks straight up. He knows we call it this and laughs with us.

Sister's Night Out

We missed you Michelle!!!
Michelle lives in Idaho and is about to pop any second... She was actually due last Saturday and nothing has happened so far... Hopefully labor is starting as I type.

We have decided that around each of our birthday's we will go out with no kids or husbands... just the sisters.

My sisters are awesome.
It has taken a lot of work from all of us to overcome our "social issues" and actually be true sisters. I feel like the last little while I have become so much closer to each of them. I have always loved them but now I can actually tell them with out feeling awkward. We had a great time and they didn't put up too much fuss when I made them pose for a picture. (I fear people are getting sick of my camera)

You know you are absorbed in hilarious conversation when you say "tampon" way too loud and you see heads turn in your direction. It is so great to be close and share our lives with each other.

What other set of sisters can put together a volleyball team and kick some serious butt!

I love you guys!
Thanks for a great night out!

Pumpkin Patch

The kids and I went to pick out pumpkins... we had a great time playing in the pumpkin field, in the wheelbarrow and going through the corn maze. I put a ton of pictures on... I just couldn't decide which ones to post... enjoy.

This is my new favorite group for the month... This is their music playing now... It took me a few tries before I really liked it... but now I like almost every song on the CD. He has a very unique voice that I like. Mark got some cheap tickets to their concert next weekend. Wow another date night... I love it! I am a music nut... I have to have something playing all of the time so I just thought I would let you all know what I listen to lately at home and in the car.

"Mark McNees, you wont believe it but here.... is... The Best and Most Amazing Brazilian you ever known in your life!!!"

The other night Mark checked his messages and had a hilarious message from Ito... Ito and Mark go way back. They played volleyball together in High School. Ito was a foreign exchange student from Brazil. They were great friends and lost touch for over 10 years. Mark has often talked about Ito and how fun he was. We had a great visit. He has been traveling so we went through pictures, he has been to some amazing places. Hopefully we can go visit him in Brazil soon... how awesome would that be.

American Fork Canyon
Fall Leaves

We took a little drive up the canyon today... we wanted to take family pictures but it was raining so we just went for a drive. It was beautiful... we will do pictures next weekend so hopefully we will have blue skies and no rain.

The fall leaves made me think of Dave... he loved the outdoors and hunting... hunting season is coming up. I decided to take some leaves to his grave... Heidi picked a bench so the kids and anyone else could sit and look out over Utah Lake. The other side lists Heidi and the kids. I never understood why people would visit graves. I just didn't understand the peace you can feel. Now I find comfort there. What a beautiful fall day. :)

The Day I Loved Construction!

We have a lot of constrution going on around us. A few days ago they started digging the foundation for a home across the street. I usually get anoyed with the loud noise that goes on all day... but not today! I had a house to deep clean and these trucks kept Mason busy for more than an hour... no kidding, he watched out the window and would say, "dump it" , "truck dump it!" Here is what I got done...
Dishes,
Vacuuming,
Toy reduction!!!,
Bathrooms,
Moping,
Windows,
Dusting,
Cleaned out the fridge,
magic erasered my walls that had crayon on them,
and I even read a few pages from my book. All before we had to go pick up Iree from pre-school.

The Clone is
7!!!
Jacob's birthday is conveniently located before Halloween so a costume is the perfect gift. He and 5 of his friends are going to be Star Wars characters. This is Jacob on the left and his friend Spencer on the right. They have been wearing the costumes everywhere.

Heather and I constructed a clone cake...good thing about 7 year olds... they could totally see the clone we created. When my mom came the next day she looked at the cake and said, "Oh, what is that... a rocket?"