Reindeer

When we were up in Salt Lake a few weeks ago , we went to Thanksgiving Point and there were real reindeer. We were glad we brought our coats because we got snowed on and it was a little colder than we were used to(:

Finding our tree

We went up on Utah hill to get our tree and were pleasantly surprised to find snow, and lots of it. We should have brought our sleds. Since the snow was so deep, I sent Trent on a little excursion to find the perfect tree and he did not disappoint(: While he was gone, Tanner made a snowman. Taggert really doesn't like the snow so he stayed in the truck and bawled, and I think Whitley would have been okay if she would have had snow boots on. Brinley did very well and slept most of the time. I love this time of year!

Lungse Mwet Kosrae!

Dave Harris, from New Zealand, his son and daughter, and my Brinley.

Two weeks ago, we went up to Salt Lake to meet with some of the Elders that Trent and I both served with on Kosrae. One of the Elders was from New Zealand in Salt Lake for a training for work, and there was just no question as to if we were going or not. It was so good to be with the "Bomb Zone" again. We played a game that was probably pretty stupid for an outsider looking in, but it was good to hear the language again, and know that I still understand it(: I think the best thing was just to know that these good Elders that I served with are still strong in the Gospel. They are married and have families of their own and it is just a good feeling knowing they stayed strong. It reminds me of Ammon in the Book of Mormon when he meets up with his brothers after like a 15 year mission to the Lamanites. He was so happy to see them and see that they were still firm in the faith. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve a mission. It was an experience I will never forget, and one that set my life up for things that I never could have imagined on my own. My life was definetly headed in a different direction before my mission, but I am so grateful that I went with the plan my Heavenly Father had for me. I have such a beautiful family because of it. My decision to serve a mission is one I will never regret!!!! Every time we get together, the pictures come out! The Wade's are always so good to let us crash at their house. They even got a pinata for the kids. Thanks Jen, sorry it was so late when we left. You guys are great!!!

Halloween-a little late

I love those moms who are able to be so creative and dress their kids up like the Jackson 5 or the Scooby Doo crew. I'm just not one of those so we have Whitley as a very cute Dorothy! Brinley was a cute little piggy. Tag was a vampire because his teeth have not grown in yet. (His teacher said he was the cutest vampire she had ever seen) And, Tanner was an army guy, courtesy of his cousin Bradley. I guess Tanner had written a letter to Bradley and asked him to send him all his army stuff-he never lets me read the letters, I just send them off for him. So, thanks Bradley!

The elementary school does a Halloween carnival and a trunk or treat which is usually fun, but Trent was deer hunting and I had my four kids all by myself. Brinley really didn't feel good and Tag was being so crazy. I was asking myself why I even bother, but then we go home and I have three bags full of candy, and I think, "That wasn't so bad"!

Whitley's 2 and Tanner's missing 2(:

Whitley is now officially 2!!! I am starting to see a little more attitude coming out in her. She is starting to say "mine" and telling me "NO" a lot more than I can appreciate. She is still a cute little girl. I have been trying ot do more with her hair but she is so tender headed that most days I just leave it alone. She is not prissy but she does like her dollies, any dolly, or stuffed animal. She has tried "nursing" her dolly and even knew what the breast pump was used for. She is a sweet girl who loves her daddy, and she is not going to be left out just because she is a girl. She wants to ride the horse, ride the 4 wheeler, and play in the dirt just like her brothers. We are very grateful to have her in our home!

We have been watching Tanner's tonsils grow bigger and bigger over the last two years and the doctor finally decided they needed to come out. It's actually a funny story. I took Tanner to the doctor because he said he had a sore throat. When the doctor looked in his mouth he said, " Whoa! It looks like two balls back there!" I had to stifle a laugh because I didn't want the doctor to think I was a pervert or something, but once we got back in the car, Tanner said, "My balls are a little high-hahaha!" The poor kid doesn't have a chance(:

He had surgery last Tuesday and he has done really, really well. I was expecting him to be all whiney, but only occasionally has he been irritable. I have had to threaten him to keep him from running around.

Tag has been sick since last Wednesday so I have had all my kids home and Trent's sister's two girls so I am ready for my boys to go back to school.

Brinley is now 4 months old and she is geting so fun. She is staying up and playing longer during the day and she will laugh and smile at us. Whitley always says," Brinley talking." She has been such a good baby. All the kids love her so much, sometimes too much. It has been hard to tell Tag not to kiss her because he is sick so hopefully she won't get it too. When I took her in for her check up she weighed 15lbs. 10oz. and was 25 1/2" long. At four months, Whitley weighed 20lbs and was 26" long. So she is chunky, but not quite like her sister. I love my baby girls!!!

Conference

What a powerful conference! Sounds to me like we need a lot more love and a lot more service. I was in awe at the profound testimony of the Book of Mormon by Elder Holland!!! Every word he said was true! The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith did not and could not have made up the sacred words written in that book. It came from God for us. Our Heavenly Father loves us and he wants us to return to him. The Book of Mormon is our guide to get us safely there. I know I need to redecicate myself to serious study every day. It was a great weekend!