Thursday, November 7, 2013

Polar Plunge

 O the laughs and tears we share.
They create some great memories for our family of 5.
When one of us have a project it usually turns into a family project which means something is going to go down.
Our latest happened on a busy night between 10:30 and 11:00.
Yes... We should have been in bed. 
And wish we would have, but then I wouldn't have this great story to share.
See Tay has Photography this trimester, and had an assignment that was already past due.
She had to take light pictures in the dark.
So thinking it would be so cool to take different kinds of lights and do it out on the dock in Mantua over the water would be so AWESOME right?!
Well that's when it all happened.
First off, it was pitch black up there.
Second, your on a dock in the dark with 5 people and a camera on a tripod playing with sparklers and a flash light.
Plus a mother that likes to document EVERYTHING her family does.
So here how our night went down.
After Aaron and Tay get the camera and tripod ready and
I secure Cloe next to dad, I go light Briar's sparklers.
Everything is going good, he quickly goes through a handful while Tay snaps away.
Then dad decides its his turn to try an idea.
He heads down to the end of the dock and starts twirling his cool l.e.d. flashing light around his wrist.
Next thing we know we hear a PLOP!
Yes, the strap broke and the cool flashing light is now flashing at the bottom of the lake.
We laughed hysterically all night.
So back to our original idea of sparklers, Briar and I decided we would do it together this time.
between lighting them we share in more giggles about dads light, since it was still flashing down there.
 I hear Tay say dad dropped his phone, 
 I start pulling my phone out while trying to see if he got it and my phone slips out of my hand, <PANIC> I hear THUD <O good its on the dock > but immediately following I hear PLOP
Yes my phone is in the water.
 I start yelling I just dropped my phone in the water.
 Aaron comes running as Briar is hitting the deck to try and grab it, Just as it sinks out of his reach.
I am crying, begging Aaron to jump in a get it.
after a flash light and brand new cell phone, we decide to call it a night.
I cried and apologized all the way home. <Cloe cried with me>
she hates it when I cry.
needless to say my new phone, full of pictures of my loved ones and Aaron's cool flashlight are still in Mantua reservoir.
Because, nobody wanted to take the Polar Plunge.
Probably a good thing it was super cold Briar had to have his hand on the vent all the way home to warm up.
But in the end I still have most of the pictures that were on my phone because I put most everything on insta gram or Facebook.
And My sweet forgiving husband took half a day vacation and went and got me a new phone the next day.
It is water proof and the screen is shatter proof and the case is shock absorbent. 
Do you think he knows me?!
Any ways these pics are not from that night, Tay has them at school. 
But we let Cloe play the next night in the driveway where it was safe.
P.s. the water made no effect at all on the pics.


This one is Cloe spinning



and Tay our photographer taking her turn.

Always a memory to be made and shared.
I cherish them so deeply.
Good, bad or even sad.
We always come out together and strong.
Happy Halloween!!

Late post but...
What a fun adventure pumpkin carving was. 
I think I had pumpkin and seeds on every ounce of the kitchen.
But it was Cloe first time.
I know sad, but she has painted pumpkins every other year.
So... here are some pictures from our night.







 And the final outcome is...



Pretty darn cute huh!?

This year Cloe wanted to be a nerd for Halloween.
So we got up early and got her ready for school all nerded out. 

She makes a pretty cute nerd if ya ask me.
others must have agreed since she made a haul for only a few houses.
Its hard to hit many houses when everyone wants to visit with her. 
Which is totally fine and safer.

p.s she still has tons of her candy left and I don't restrict their halloween candy.
What?! its theirs... AND they work hard for the candy.
Plus its once a year right


Wednesday, October 23, 2013


This little cutie is growing up way to fast.
2nd grade now.
Tay captured this picture of her for a photography assignment last weekend.
she loves apples, but hates the skin.

Cloe's class has been writing letters in class and she brought one home to Aaron and I a couple of weeks ago.

We recently had parent teacher conference and Cloe is doing very well.
Scoring well off the charts in everything.
She is reading at a 3rd grade level and blowing math up like a super star.
I am so proud of her.
She is such a strong personality that stands up for what she believes and tries to take care of everybody. 
She is tender hearted yet takes no bull.
she loves the church and can't wait to be baptized in a few months.
She loves and looks up to Taylor and Briar all the while keeping them in line and showing them she may be small but is still the boss.
She captures the hearts of EVERYONE she meets.
I haven't met many people like her.
She will do great things.
This girl completes our family and makes us all smile and laugh everyday.
And as excited as I am to see her grow up and accomplish great things, I want to freeze her.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

what have we been up to???

Well...
lets see,
There has been some football.
lots of football.
Briar is playing Sophomore and dressing/ with some game time on Varsity.


This picture is against Ogden Varsity at our Homecoming.
Briar intercepted the ball stopping a touchdown for Ogden.
Such a happy and proud moment.

And...
We have had some Cheer leading.
Also lots of that going on.


Tay is having a blast with cheer and staying busy.
between practices, fundraisers and covering all the different sports games.
But has been excited to be cheering on her brother and friends.
I think she is Gorgeous!
(just sayin)


Tay and B after the homecoming game
Dang! 
I have some good lookin kids.

And we cant forget our Izzy girl.
She has been super busy too.
She has done mini cheer camp, Future rockettes,
and her all time favorite, gymnastics.
She is so good and has moved through levels quickly.
She was even invited to do pre team.
which is by invation only.



Iz can now do multiple back handsprings in a row,
 roundoff backhandsprings,
 almost has her ariel down,
 cartwheels on the beem, 
and many other fun things. 
She amazes me everyday!

Aaron and I are staying plenty busy with work and supporting our 3 favs.
Our biggest and best accomplishments,
Besides staying together for so long.
Love him forever!

New beginning...
Continuing on with a fresh start...?

After some talking Aaron and I decided that we would start a new blog.
I was feeling completely overwhelmed by how much I had slacked off on my blogging / journaling my family and our journey.
life had gotten so crazy and every time I sat down to catch up, I felt defeated. 
So, I would turn it off.
 I didn't know where to start, I didn't want to leave anything out. 
Knowing I could never catch up but wanting to tell our story.
We decided I need a fresh start.
I wanted a new blog name that would fit our story.
Then yesterday I came across a quote that hit me. 
With a slight change it was us.

"LOVE ANCHORS US"

It couldn't fit us better.
 I am so anxious to start journaling again. 
We have so many stories and experiences I don't want forgotten.

Like...

A couple of weeks ago, Cloe had missed church and was so sad because she finally got to give the talk in sharing time and missed it.
So after some loves, I asked her to prepare a talk that she could share with the family after dinner.
She was so excited. 
She got right to it and even planned an entire sharing time complete with songs, prayer and a spot light.
Her talk was so cute.
But what stole the show was her spot light.
She has memorized the spot light saying our ward does.
 and the light landed on Aaron.
this is how it went down.
Cloe: what is your favorite article of faith?
Dad: the first one.
Cloe: Of coarse it is, its the easiest one. I don't blame ya!
{giggles}
Cloe: What is your favorite thing to do? Probably watching the back of your eye lids!?
Dad: (laughing) well yeah! I was gonna say sleeping.

We died laughing
This Little girl completes our family.
She has the heart yet stubbornness of all of us together.
I love my family and our life.
Is it hard sometimes? yes
 Sometimes I might even want to hide in a closet and cry?
but...
Most of the time I just want to be with them every second.

To my family XOXO