Pumpkin carving!

Patrick's creation

Brenna & Austin

cheesy Wyatt

Patrick

scary Brenna

We carved pumpkins last night. Gramma & Grampa Maass and Austin joined us! We had a great time. It was fun to see each of the kids and their very own creations!!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

* I wish I could have found a picture of all the kids all together. I am so sorry! :(

Happy Birthday Gaylen! I really hope you have a fantastic day.

Just a couple of my favorite things about my husband:

* His laugh! He doesn't hide his emotions well at all - I love when he just BURSTS out laughing!

* He will go out of his way to fill my car with gas because he knows how much I HATE putting gas in my car!

* When it is cold out - he will lay on my side of the bed first so I don't have to get into cold sheets! (How sweet is THAT!)

* He loves his kids so much. He worries about all of them and just wants the very best for them. I love to watch him with any (and all) of the kids.

* He is ALWAYS willing to help someone out. He will go out of his way to help someone. He doesn't have to receive a call requesting his help - he will jump right in.

* I love his little phrases that only he uses. "Hutcheecomebuck" (Excuse the spelling!)

* I love when he responds with "Well, happy birthday to you".

* He works so hard for us.

* He brings me flowers from my garden.

* He ALWAYS encourages me.

These are just a few of my favorite things - I could list dozens more. Gaylen, I hope you have a fabulous birthday. Here's to dozens more! I love you so much!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Tomorrow is our anniversary. We try to be "unplugged" on Sunday so - I am posting a day early. :) I cannot believe how the years have gone by... I am so grateful for Gaylen & the great man he is. I am so glad he is my husband. I am so thankful for the countless things he does for me. I am so blessed. I cannot believe it has been 13 years and it just keeps getting better. I am so grateful for the way Gaylen brings out the best in me, for his unwavering support, for his love. I am so grateful for the family we have together. Things get a little crazy around here at times - but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am grateful for the things I have learned in the last 13 years and the things we have done together. Gaylen - thank you for always being you, always giving so much, always being willing to help, working so hard so I can stay home and raise our little family, making me laugh... there are just too many things to list. I love you so much. I am looking forward to so many more years to come.

Happy Anniversary!

I love you so!

I love...

* when my kids laugh all together.

* when I get a hug 'out of the blue'.

* they offer to help.

* when my kids ask about my day.

* when Patrick says "You are my best friend".

* when Wyatt says "You are awesome Mom".

* when Brenna says "I love you more".

* when Wyatt & Brenna are waiting at the door for me to pull into the garage.

* when they ask for a blessing for another in their prayers.

* when they say "Thanks for dinner".

* when they run back to give me another hug.

* when my husband kisses me like he means it. :D

* when we all lay on our bed together and giggle.

* when we say family prayer.

* when we do "highs & lows" at dinner and someone has two "highs" and no "lows".

* when they worry about each other

* when we are all together. :)

* when Gaylen & I are alone together. :)

* when Patrick or Wyatt read to Brenna.

* when Brenna lays down on the floor to talk to Lucky.

* when we laugh.

I love so many things, so many times. I am so so grateful for our little family & our big family. I am grateful for the craziness of our home. I am grateful for the occasional moments of silence. I know we are so blessed. I thank Heavenly Father each day for all of our many blessings. I found this quote on another blog and loved it so much...

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things."

I am so grateful for the little things.

Just a couple of funky pics we took.... the one of Patrick kinda creeps me out. I am waiting for a Jack Nicholson voice - eeek!

Do you remember?

Eight years ago - this nation suffered a terrible tragedy.  But many good things came from this tragedy - people were more friendly, more kind, more giving, more patriotic.  Our great nation was an even greater nation - it arose from the ashes of 9/11 like a phoenix - bringing hope to its citizens.  Sadly - most of the patriotism, kindness and kinship of that horrible time has faded.  This nation is again in turmoil - we need to pull together again.  We need to pull back together.  We need peace.

Today - I hope we can remember the tragedy, the lives lost but also remember the days after 9/11.  Reach out to your neighbor, the stranger on the street.  Be kind.  We should never forget that day, the heroes of that day, the people who died and the people who lived.  We should remember...

Labor Day!

Welcome to Bear Lake!!

Patrick

Sweet Brenna

Wyatt

I love this pic.  My kids...

On Labor Day - we decided to head up to Bear Lake.  Wyatt had to pick something in the state to focus on for the school year - he chose Bear Lake.  We decided to show him the lake.  We had such a great time!!  The weather was beautiful!  It was a great day.  The water was COLD but it didn't stop the kids from enjoying it!  

We had a great time!  I hope to make it a tradition!