It's a miracle- we have grass!

Okay, I am sorry if this is lame, but I am posting pictures of my yard (no offense Dude). If you had any idea of what my back yard used to look like, I think you will be impressed with the improvements we've made.

This whole back half of our yard used to be pasture, but since the only large animals we've ever owned sit and fetch instead of neigh or moo, it has been used for little more than to grow an amazing assortment of weeds. I finally got fed up with looking at it, and it has been slowly evolving over the last year into what it is now. Though I still have more plans and projects, I love to look out and look at how far it's come! (Look Stephanie, over the corn is your old pad! :) )

Hey Dude, this picture is for you- these are my zinnias. They started out as a tiny straight row of seeds, and this is what they turned into! I wish I had taken this in August when they were at their prime! I used to go back to the garden just so I could look at them.

These are my 3 main tomato plants. I have never seen anything like them! I have gotten hundreds of tomatoes off of these puppies! I am out of jars from canning and am making lots of salsa- and just trying to give away the rest before they go bad!

Yippie!!!!!! After 11 years, we have FINALLY planted some trees!!!! Just think how big they would be if we'd done it back then! This was Jeff's project from last Saturday. Let's see, we've got an apricot, a nectarine, 2 peach, a cherry, and a pluot- which is a cross between a plum and an apricot. I hope to never have to buy fruit again.

Payter zooming by-

In the spring Jeff put in his dream b-ball court. It also does good as a place to ride bikes, which currently is its primary use. How 'bout the heavenly beam shining down on it! The part that I am most excited about is the grass. We seeded the whole back ourselves and I thought it would NEVER come in and crowd out all the weeds. It has been a test of my patience, but I knew when it finally came in I would appreciate it all the more- and I do!

The garden is also starting to fade- but it is the biggest I've ever done, and I was pretty proud of it. Jeff helped me put in black plastic and we watered with soaker hoses this year. It was WAY low maintenance! The only big job was picking (and using) all the food it produced!! The big lined hole on the left is to put the trampoline in whenever we get around to that project. (heh, heh)

This picture kinda shows the paver-patio play area- I think I've shown that before.

To the left of our barn is the psycho raspberry patch (it went crazy this year)

I think I am just savoring the green in these pictures. I really am a summer girl. I wish we could have another 2 months of days just like this one. (sigh) Oh well. I am trying to make the most of it while it's here.

Okay- enough of my boring yard pictures. On to more blah blah. So, there has been somewhat of a mystery at my house. No one is really sure what happened, there were no witnesses. The victim was, well, me. (No, I did not witness it either)

So, I finally got a shiner. All my growing up, if I ever got konked in the head I would think, 'Surely this time it will do it!!' and nope, never got a black eye. Though I was deprived of this childhood experience, I always thought it would look pretty cool to have a black eye- everyone would think I was tough, and of course ask about the cool story that undoubtedly went with it.
This one came a little different than I had imagined. Want to hear the story? Well, I woke up Wednesday morning and rubbed my sleepy little eyes and Dang! It kinda hurt. Hum, thought I, I must be getting a stye in my left eye. As I walk into the living room I realize my eyelid is blocking my view- wierd, said I, and walked to the mirror to see what was up, and there she was. That's about all I know.

Though I have no way of figuring out the real story- or proving any guesses- I do have a few theories.

A- I rolled out of bed and hit it on the nightstand (not likely, it is shorter than the matress and you'd think I'd remember getting back in bed)

B- Jeff elbowed me- I'm not sure how that would pan out- it is my left eye and I sleep on the left side. So I would've had to have been laying on my right side and have him come across just so-

C- I was sleepwalking and fought off some ninja burglers who broke in and were attempting to take over our house as we slept. This theory would also explain the numb-chucks I found under the kitchen table that morning.

So, I was kinda proud of this shiner that I didn't have to even remember getting until I had to go to Parent Night at the elementary and all of the sudden I felt like everyone thought I was a domestic violence victim. I think I wouldn't have felt so self-conscious if I didn't have such a lame story to go with it. Does it sound fishy to say I have no idea how it got there? I'd like to clear Jeff's name and say he had nothing to do with it, but honestly, I don't know. Maybe he did. There was that one night I woke up and he was standing over me wringing his hands and giggling... Okay, I feel bad even joking about it. I guess I will just have to wait for it to go away. Thank goodness for sunglasses (I haven't had much luck covering it with makeup).

What do you think? I should make you all vote on your favorite cause. Or suggest a better one. Woah- blah blah is right. I am getting way too long winded. Time for bed. I just hope I don't wake up with a broken arm.

Craziness from a crazy person

Last week I started a long post about my new crazy life and how I am mourning the loss of my summer freedom- then I looked back at it and decided it was too long and whiny. Things are busy, but we are adjusting, the kids are getting used to their new sleep schedule (yeah!), and I guess it all works out.

Although I am not getting tons done (like I'd imagined) while the older ones are at school, being here with just the little ones helps me focus on doing things that are more 'just for them'. I love that aspect, and our days feel somewhat laid back. Once kids get home we start the run-around, (soccer, gymnastics, piano, scouts, activity days, ect.) all while trying to make sure we keep up on the growing amount of homework the kids are expected to do. It is a little overwhelming when everyone needs my help at the same time, (which is also supposed to be when I am making dinner) and sometimes I feel stretched a little thin. Thank goodness for Jeff and his flexible work schedule. I can't imagine what it will be like when all of my children are involved in school and activities. I will try to not think about that until I have to.

For now, I just worry if I am filling everyone's needs. I have so little time with my older kids. When they get home and ALL want to have my attention- to show me things, or tell me about their day- everyone wants to talk at once, and it is so hard to give them that personal attention. As a mom, it just makes you worry that you are doing (or even capable of doing?) enough. Dang. I got long-winded and a little whiny again. Oh well, on to the pictures.



We managed to squeeze in a 4 day camping trip with some friends over Labor day. We went to Stanley Lake and took our dinosaur trailer. I think it is older than Jeff. Despite its oldness, it is extremely fun to camp in! And it sleeps our whole fam!

Here's a bunch of our group at a hot springs. The spring runs off the mountain and into the river, and then people have piled rocks to make pools. Where you sit determines how hot it is. It was pretty cool, and it was nice to wash off after being dirty campers.

On Sunday we got to attend Testimony meeting in Stanley which I thought was so awesome. The room was full, so the overflow was out in a beautiful meadow. I had such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude as I sat in that meeting of this beautiful world Heavenly Father gave us. What a beautiful place that was.

We took the kids to the fish hatchery, where the kids got to fish a stocked pond. Neither Jeff or I can boast of being avid fishermen, but in the spirit of earning more scout requirements, I purchased a pole and some bait on the way out of town, and we gave it a stab.

I guess if you are inexperienced, a stocked pond is the way to go. All four of the older kids (the only ones who actually cared) caught fish. And I appreciate Jeff so much for being so determined to get Lexie a fish. She tried and tried, and he hung in there with her until all the patience paid off. I think she'd have been so disappointed in we'd given up.

When we got back to camp, Jeff took some of the kids down to the lake to clean the fish. Kobe about lost his lunch and came back to hang out at the fire with me, while Brooklyn and her pal Lizza thought it was SO cool!

Jeff wrapped them in foil and cooked 'em up for dinner. Again, Brookie and Lizza were good sports and ate some fish. I went for the s'mores instead.

Our friends, the Wallaces, brought along a canoe and gave rides which was fun and unique. It was cool being on a beautiful mountain lake with no loud motor boats around. Everyone had rafts or canoes.

That's the Sawtooth Mountains in the background. Soooo pretty. So yeah, fun trip for the most part. That would be other than the overtired meltdowns from the first week of school. I think everyone had at least one.

On to some of the other pics begging to be talked about.

Okay, I had to throw this one in for fun. It is Lukie's favorite chair. (the dogs water bowl)

Here is the new-school-clothes fashion show. I had to take pictures of EACH outfit. (I couldn't even pretend-they checked the camera)

Just thought you'd like to see what the boys do during a fashion show- nice, everyone is smiling at this point.

Okay, we made it to 1st day of school. Gotta do the backpack picture.

Oh NO! Sorry Lukie, I know you would not approve. I couldn't help myself. Aren't they cute little twins? We must have been low on clean laundry after our camping trip.

I apologize that that was somewhat of a scatterbrained and disorganized post. Well, such is life this time of year, right? I hope you are all surviving your own adjustments.