A little bit W.T.

Last week when I talked about all the animals we have around here, and how I try to shoot them, I was feeling a little bit like white trash. Here are a few reasons that maybe we are a little more WT than we want to admit:

• Yes, I tried to shoot a woodchuck from my deck in my pajamas (My neighbor saw the whole thing from their bedroom). For the record, I did hit it.
• My boys feel free to pee anywhere outside. They think it is fun to 'water' the trees.
• My kids never have shoes on outside.
• We have a three car garage and only one car can park inside.
• One of my kids, I won't name names (Eli), likes to pick his nose. What do I do?
• Our back yard sometimes looks like a bedroom with clothes thrown all over the floor. Sometimes the kids feel like they need to disrobe outside.
• Our kids like the fascinating sounds that their bodies make (You know what I mean).
• Our sandbox is a big pile of dirt on the side of the house.
• In some flower beds, the weeds are taller than the shrubs.
• Last week, on the side of our house, we had a jacked up skid steer with a tire missing.

Do these things make me white trash? I think the only thing we are missing is the couch on the front lawn and 3 or 4 cars up on blocks.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

We had Eli's pre-school graduation last night. It was so cute! He sang all the songs and knew all the actions. I was so proud. I think Eli was the cutest one there.

Miss Kelly had a few of the kids go up between the songs and say what the wanted to be when they grew up. It was so cute! Of course, some of the kids were scared and didn't want to do it. Others didn't even care what they said. Eli got up there and said it perfectly. He said, "When I grow up I want to be a Fireman." Both, Troy and I, thought he would have said he wanted to be a pirate. For the last few months he has told us when he grows up he wants to be a 'real pirate'. The best part of the whole program was when one of the kids got up and said, "Superman!" He didn't say "what I want to be" or anything, just "Superman." It was so cute.

I love that kids are themselves. They haven't been tainted by other people or things yet. They are so innocent. I wish I could be that way again. Instead I live through my children and pretend to be innocent again. I guess thats OK.

Is this the city?

So if a skunk isn't enough in the middle of South Jordan. We looked out our window sunday morning and on the sidewalk, in the front yard, was a great big fat woodchuck. He was just sitting there wondering what to do. Then all of a sudden he took off running into a neighbors yard.


We had woodchucks in our yard last year and I don't want them this year. They dig behind our rockwalls and ruin them. I got so mad last year I even tried to shoot one. I hit it in the foot but then it ran away. I just hope they stay out of our yard this year.


Here is one of the woodchucks we caught last year. They are not very nice.

We also have some deer that come down in the mornings. The kids love to see them.




Here are some of the deer. Sorry I didn't have my zoom lens on.

With all these animals, you would think we were living in the mountains or the boondocks. We don't, we live about a mile from the freeway. Crazy!!!

Peeeew!!!

Last night we decided to go to Gateway with the kids. We had a good dinner and fun shopping. On our way home we had to pick up a work truck and bring it back to our house. So I dropped Troy off at the truck and he was a few minutes behind me. It was about 9:30 when we got home and the kids were extremely tired. I got them out of the car and tucked them in bed, expecting Troy any minute to kiss them goodnight.

By the time I was done, Troy still wasn't in the house. I knew he was home, so I went out to the garage to see what was taking him so long. I opened the door and staring at me was a black and white SKUNK!

Yes, a skunk there in my garage. I guess when I got home it was in the bushes. When Troy got home he drove up and scared it into the garage. Troy was standing outside wondering what to do. He didn't want to get sprayed. When I opened the door I scared the skunk and it ran under my car. I thought for sure it would spray all over in the garage.

Troy and I were now wondering what to do when all of a sudden the skunk just ran out. Troy took off running like a girl. He thought the skunk was going to chase him. He said, "It's after me!" Thank goodness the skunk ran the other way. We hurried and closed the garage as fast as we could.

I was so glad, the skunk didn't even leave a scent. That was a little too close to nature for me.

Happy Birthday G-Man

Happy Birthday Gabe. I can't believe he is six. He has grown up so fast it is amazing to me. I was pregnant with him during the 2002 winter olympics and during 9-11. I just can't believe it has been six years.

Things about Gabe:

• He is so smart, especially at math. He can just figure things out.
• He is very energetic. Always has to be doing something.
• He loves to ride his bike.
• He is very sensitive to people and tries to make people happy.
• He loves tractors and dump trucks and anything that moves with wheels.
• He always thinks about what is right and wrong and knows which one to choose.

There are so many things about Gabe and I love them all. Happy sixth birthday Gabe!!!

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Sorry, my slideshow wouldn't work. Just go to this link.

Mothers Day

Today I have been thinking a lot about Mothers Day! I have had such a crazy week, I think my body finally got tired and gave up. I woke up today and I can't even talk so I stayed home from church. It gave me the opportunity to reflect a little about this day.

I remembered what happened to me six years ago. I was blessed with my beautiful boy, Gabe. He was born at 12:35 am on May 12th, which was Mothers Day. I couldn't ask for a better gift. He has been such a good boy. Even at his young age, he has always been concerned for me. I think we have a special bond (I do with all my kids), but I know he loves me and I love him.

I was also thinking about the women in my life. There are three women who really stick out to me. I have my mom (Gloria), my second mom (Paula), and my Grandma Tilla. I have learned so much from these women.

My mom has taught me to be the person I am today. She always looks for the blessings in things. She is so spiritual. She has been the Relief Society President in her ward for three years now and she has had so many challenges. She just deals with it and knows that that is where she is supposed to be right now. She is also a good cook. Thanks to her, she is the one that takes the time to teach my kids how to cook. Thanks Mom, I love you!

My other mom, Paula, has taught me so many things. The first thing that always comes to my mind is that she always tells me, "This too shall pass." Sometimes I am going through hard times and she always knows the right thing to say. She has always been there for me. She has saved me in more than one situation. A couple of months ago I crashed my car into the garage door as I was leaving (the door wasn't all the way up, oops!). I was trying to take Gabe to school and she was here in about two minutes. Thank you for raising such a wonderful son and husband too. Thanks for everything, I love you too!

Lastly, my grandma Tilla. I know everybody loves their grandmas, but not like I love mine. I have always had something special with her. First of all, she named me. My name, Kelli Jo, came from her. So growing up I was always known as 'Little Tilla'. We spent a lot of time together. The five years I was in college, and years after that, I spent one lunch a week at her house. She made me lunch and we sat and talked. I was blessed with her testimony and spirit. One week, she gave me a ring that she had worn for 30 years. I have now been wearing it for about 20 years. She is such a strong woman. When her eighth child (my mom) turned one, she was widowed. She did what she had to do to support her family. It was hard and I have never heard her complain. She is now 98 years old and I still get to visit her. Thanks Grandma for all the many memories and the ring that will always remind me of you.

Thanks to all the other women in my life, my sisters and friends (you know who you are)! I love you all and wouldn't be who I am today if I didn't have you in my life.

More Moab Madness

As I said before, we were so busy and didn't have a minute to spare. The bike ride was great. We got to see dinosaur footprints right in the slickrock. Our bike ride took us to a point where you can look over Arches National Park. While we were gone the dads took the kids on a hike to a tunnel. It was such beautiful weather and a great fun packed weekend. Thanks to Heidi, Jason, Gary, Linda, Mark, Heather, Crystal, Dallin, Liz, Meg, Troy and the 13 kids we had in tow. Here's to next year!!!

Don't stop 'til you drop

This past weekend we went to Moab with a whole bunch of friends, most of them known as the Simkins Family. There were a few stragglers including our family and Meg. This is now the second year that we have done this. Last year we tented it and had no running water or toilets. This year we went a bit nicer and rented a couple condos. Staying in the condo didn't slow us down one bit.

A few things we did:

• Took kids on a 3 mile hike (I didn't have to carry any kids)
• Ate at Pasta Jays 2 times
• Biking and more biking
• Convinced Meg to get a mountain bike
• The kids stayed up until atleast 11:00 pm each night
• Saw dinosaur tracks and Indian writings
• Caught lizards (will explain later)
• Went rock climbing
• Went swimming
• Ate yummy buffalo burgers
• Took Meg to Deadhorse point for the first time

We had so much fun. Here are a few pictures of the chaos.


Heidi with the kids minus the Massey's.


Madison doing her rock climbing.

More Moab craziness to come later.

Birthday Party Planning 101

Gabe's birthday is on May 12th. He wants to have a birthday party for some kids in the ward and all the boys from his Kindergarten class. I figure it will be about 15 to 18 boys. I need some help with planning his party. I need ideas for games etc.

Gabe said he wants to have his party here in the back yard. My first concern is the weather. It was snowing today. I am hoping that it will be a good day but you never know. If I plan games to play outside I should probably have some backups that I can do inside, Right?

Next, I need to know what to do. He said he wants to play relay games. So I was thinking to play a few games and then have some pizza (we are doing it at lunch time). Then open presents and have cake and icecream. Is that all I need to do? I hate planning parties and worrying about what the kids will like to do.

Give me your input and some game ideas, Thanks!!!