Thanksgiving with the Morleys at David and Shannon's Home - Nov. 27, 2008

Among many things, Macy and Sarah go for a ride on one of the horses. The cousins had a ball! There was horse riding, pony riding (Nicholas loved riding the pony! Sarah is always willing to help.) running around, horsin' around in the hay, playing on the play set, playing in the dirt building dirt castles or tracks for cars, riding in the horse buggy, hanging out, playing the Wii, outdoor volleyball and lots of visiting.
Emily, Braden, Megan and Melanie get together for laughter and fun. Its so fun to watch these kids grow and be friends. They really enjoy each others company. It makes it so pleasant.
I'm going to see if I can name (see) all the kids in the hay barn. From Left - Kimball , someone in very back - I think its Monson, Cannon, Ethan, Estee with Macy behind her and Jeddy behind her, Chloe, AudriLyn with Brigham behind her, Holland with Hinckley behind him and Brandon next to Hinckly and finally Quinn looking like he's hangin' himself. Whew!
Anywho this was a wonderful day with the Morley side. We had, I think I heard, 52 different pies there! Can you imagine?
The Treanors (my dad and his family) where hosting a play day that we missed but we met up with them later.
SO much to be thankful for! My dear husband who brings me peace and laughter. My beautiful children who provide endless moments to live and learn. They are my joy! And of course, a wonderful extended family. Not to forget, the gospel, our Saviour, this beautiful land in which we live in, work, a home, and so much more. All is well.

Family Pictures - 2008

We did it! We actually accomplished getting our family portraits done. A big THANK YOU to Kimberly for coming and taking the shots for us. She did great!

The handsome hunk is Jed the dad, with me glued to his hip. Sweet Sarah (11) is below me and she still loves horses and sports. Above is Newly Brunette Emily (14), who loves volleyball, is still the one to make us smile and brings peace to our home. Fantastic Ethan (9) is charming and smart and loves to do things with his hands. Darling Macy (6) is our little "playdate" gal, who is always ready for fun and games with friends. She has an active imagination. (Do any of my kids lack that?!) Then comes our Beaming Nicholas (3) who is active, curious and loving. Never a dull moment with this little guy, much like his big brother Ethan.

I thought I'd share the picture of me with my little princess. She asked me to take a picture with her and I thought that was so sweet. She still likes her mommy and I'm so glad!!

Here are our Fabulous Five! I feel so blessed to be the mother of these precious children. I adore each child for different reasons. They are a blessing in my life.

Notice Nicholas trying to be sly about pulling Sarah's hair up with a stick. (oops her eyes are closed. Oh well.) He always has something up his sleeve! Sarah is holding Tia our 5 year old Yorkie and Emily has Daysie our 1 year old Yorkie.

Many have asked where this truck is. It's on a piece of property we own as you head south on the State Highway to Salem. Its classic, don't you think?

Halloween Night! Oct. 31, 2008

Here they are? Ready to take on Halloween night!
As you can see, some changed their look. Emily is a rapper, Sarah is a wounded "Soldier" (she had an assignment at school to dress in the Civil War time period. This is what she came up with.) and Macy is Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. The boys stayed the same.
We have had some unusually warm weather for this time of year. So the kids took advantage of the warmth and hit the streets with their dad!
Happy Halloween!

(We were living in the Salem house at the time. Waiting for the Spanish Fork House to close and complete the remodeling on it. I dubbed the Salem house, our "summer" home. Ha!)

Halloween at Grandma and Grandpa Hess' - Oct. 25, 2008

Emily, the 70's girl, tries her hand at carving a pumpkin. Ethan, was a jester, and Dad, was a rebel, now focus on the task at hand.

Aunt Kimberly, as a rocker chick (Ava, her daughter, was a rocker chick too!) and her Lion, Evan
One big, crazy, happy family. I love this picture because each of the kids really show their personality. I know I look very intimidating in my black Skull shirt. I should have won Best Costume, don't ya think? Just so you know, Nicholas is a dragon, NOT a devil. Just ask him and he will set you straight. He was determined to be a "dragon" when he found this costume and as he continued to beg, I just couldn't not do it. You know? Macy is a Leopard Cat Girl...okay. I know. I'm not sure who comes up with costume ideas but you know, it fits her. Just look at the whole package there - she has it down. Sarah and Ethan are both Jesters and I love how they have a hand on each others' neck. Its just like them to push each others' buttons. They will out-grow that, right?! And Emily is just how she is, posing for emphasis as a70's girl. I think this portrays her well at this phase of life. And Jed? Well, he has always wanted to be a rebel. Ha!
I thought I would just post this for posterity's sake. Eventhough it is late.

Nicholas as "Jungle Man"

Today my day started out with a few little adventures. With none other than...Nicholas. First I go into his room looking for him, as he told me to come play with him after I finished making my bed. He was nowhere to be seen but one clue was left behind. The screen to his window!! Through the curtains, I see Nicholas trying to open the window which was completely shut. I open the window and drag him back into his room. I'm not pleased. I tell him to NEVER get on the roof again. He looks at me kind of bewildered through his tears and says, "The roof?" "Yes," I say. Again he looks at me confused. Thinking of "the curb story", I realize he doesn't know what the "roof" is. Thinking of what would make sense to him, I point to the window and tell him not to go out the window ever again. He got it. At least I hope so. My goodness, if it wasn't for the screen I would of never found the boy! (Until a neighbor called, right?!)
Next, Nicholas is outside trying to ride his bike. After a few minutes out there, Jed said, "Michele, Nicholas is crying out there. Go check on him." I just assumed he fell over in the snow when the bike tipped or something like that. I walk out the door and hear him crying but don't see him. His bike is on the porch which seemed odd enough so I walked over there. My word, the boy had fallen into the window well! No scrapes or bruises, just a sad boy. Aahh, thankfully.
Finally I find Nicholas at the top of a tree in our front yard and I tell him that seeing him up in the tree so high makes me very nervous. He says to me, "Oh mom, its okay. I'm jungle man!" I laughed and said, "Nicholas, you can still fallout of that tree and crack your head open." "No mom," he says, trying his darn-dest to reassure me. So my brother Aaron, who happens to be there, says the same, "Nico, you need to get down from the tree so you don't fall and crack your head open!" Nicholas puts up his hands (aahh!) and says, "Oh Aaron, Jungle man don't fall out of trees and crack their head open!" So obviously we are laughing listening to this little fellow, who's oozing with confidence and giving us a big story. I can barely watch him as he tells me, "Look mom, I can get down myself. See!" When he finally reaches the ground, without falling or cracking his head open, he says, " See mom, Jungle man can get down from the tree ALL by his-self!" Relieved, I say to him, "Yes, you got down alright. Now go play with your cars." Without missing a beat, he says, "No mom, jungle man don't play with cars...you know, jungle man don't play with toys either." Oh my, oh my! Never a dull moment.

Wow! Where has the time gone?

Unbelievable! A New Year is now upon us!
My last post said we would move into our house in Spanish Fork in a week or so, well, that didn't happen. We moved in a week and a half before Christmas. I got our tree up the weekend before! Not long enough! I love Christmas and decorating for the Season. We enjoyed our first Christmas at home in over four years! It was fun! It really felt nice to be together and watch each other open a few gifts. We did miss going to Mexico for the service projects and spoke fondly of those memories.
So now Christmas comes down and we settle in for a New and Fantastic Year. My intent is to keep this blog up to date now that we are in. I'm thinking we are here to stay. But I'm not a betting woman so I won't bet on it. :)
May you all have a wonderfully successful Year filled with love, friendship and adventure. Please keep in touch! Loves

Dear Family and Friends...

Its been over two months since I've posted!! Ahh! We have been up to our eyeballs with a move last month to Salem and now remodeling a home in Spanish Fork to move into in the next week or so. Wow! It was certainly no small task to pack up our house in Payson, glad that's over! I'm all for simplicity. But all is well. Counting our many blessings!
There is much to post but wanted you to know we are doing well and I'm anxious to get settled and start "journaling" again through blogging. Take care - loads of love -
Belle and family