HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Nothin new. I just forgot Jess's birthday. Actually, I usually don't forget her birthday, because she reminds me for about 2 months prior. I usually know about 50 different things she wants before I actually pick something out for her. She can never make up her mind. But this year, with as buzy as I have been with my job being under pressure, learning a whole new program, and being put under a microscope since January, the pressure was just too much, my brain just blew a gasket.Randy even made me go to the doctors to get my brain tested for Alzhiemers. Don't worry, I dont have a brain toomah, and there isnt any true test to see if I am loosing it. If it happens, it happens. I'll be fine. Well, I understand my favorite son in law made her birthday a very special day.(Jess, be carefull how you wash your underwear). I hope all my family knows that I don't forget things out of "not caring". I just really do have a bad memory. Be patient with me, k ? . Love Mom.

Family Update

Things are still going just fine here in Iowa. The weather is cooling down and some of the trees are starting to turn yellow and red. We booked our flight back home for Christmas so we should be home from December 17th to January 3rd, I think. Ethan and Noah still aren't crawling, but they sit up pretty darn well. Hmm, what else? The ward here is great. They only have like three inactive families in the whole ward, and their visiting and home teaching is like 100% every month. I've made a few friends already and of course Joe already made like 12 friends too, so we usually don't have to sit around on the weekends. Joe is doing really well in school. Although he does get pretty busy and pretty stressed, he still seems to find time for me and the boys. He loves to show off his scooter to all of his classmates, and there are a few that are considering getting their own. This is a pretty boring post, but at least its something. I know you guys get really busy, but I still hope to hear more about what is going on back home. Usually when I call mom, she only has a few minutes to talk so I don't get to hear much about whats going on. Alex, you started volleyball? I'm so proud of you, I wish I could be there to play around with you. Addie, I hear all about what a great helper you are with your little brothers. I'll bet you are going to do such a great job teaching them how to play games and read and write. I miss you all so much! Hunter, Ashlee and Haylee: what has been happening in your lives? What about Mason and Jaden? Are they talking very much or playing together? Justin and Bud, how is business? Britt, I hope Austen get over his cold soon, and I hope that you find the perfect little (or big) home in just the right place. Josh and Red, I hope that you are able to find time for each other amid your busy schedules. I love you all!
Jess

No Bull

A once in a life time meeting. After spending twenty years & countless hours at the bog holes, in Cache Valley, it finally happened. Lets start at the beginning. Justin has an archery Elk tag. And in my younger days, I hunted Elk with my dad for over twenty years in the same spot some sixteen miles north of the Hardware ranch. In those twenty years, if memory serves, we bagged four bulls, missed two and drank three vats of beer. However, Justin had never been up there, and I have only made the trip once in the past thirty years, but it’s just like riding a bike. We got lost three times before finding camp at about 11:00 P.M. After a restful night sleep, for me, Justin took off at around 5:00 A.M., who KNOWS why, anyway, he came back to get me, and we both traveled to the bog holes, after secluding ourselves some 70 Yards away in the brush, I told Just " lets give it an hour and see what happens”. About 40 minutes later a huge 5 point bull Elk appeared through the brush, and lumbered toward the bog holes, where he lay down, and began to waller in the mud. We watched this magnificent creature for well over 10 minutes. At one point he even got out of the mud, walked over to some grass and lay down again almost like he was drying himself, only to return to the pot holes and lay down again. When he finally got cooled down enough, the elk came out of the bog holes and headed straight for our position, we didn't move a muscle as that grand animal strolled directly at us. Finally at no more than 10 feet away and still coming, I raised my hand and took off my cap. The Bull immediately stopped, and then bolted. He left at a somewhat faster pace. I have never seen that grand of a sight in my whole life, oh by the way Justin had a spike tag.

More fun Pictures

Jaden after an otter pop

Joe did this with my phone
you're the man Dr. Whitehead!

Mason eating ice cream at buca di beppo

My crazy kids climbing in the window

Mason the "swinger"

Wow that is embarrassing

Thanks for the wonderful picture jess. School started for me again. It is a busy semester but I am taking some fun classes so it shouldn’t be too bad. Jaden and Mason are climbing out of their cribs now so that sucks. We are still trying to sell our home but we don’t know where we want to move. We have been talking about Layton. Anyway, there’s not much new with us. I’ll try to post a picture from my phone of Jaden climbing out of his crib.

Do I have to do everything around here?

I guess so. Okay family, heres the deal, this will be our family's blog. Everyone will have the username and password and we can all put up posts of how we are doing and pictures or whatever. This is may seem a little trivial to the rest of you since you all see each other all the time, but i don't get to so humor me. If you decide that you are too busy to put up pictures, I may or may not post some embarrassing ones for you, like the one below. There you have it everyone. I sincerely hope that this takes so that i can keep up on the latest family news. Love ya! Jess