Christmas 2010

Temple Square lights with the Humphreys crew


Kate can't even look at Santa without crying!

Still little enough to sit on Santa's lap

With the look on Santa's face, Teegan must be on his good list!

Isaac's model shot...

Becca, Porter and Brooks

Christmas this year was interesting...everyone in our little family, except Trent, got the flu. Luckily I had made it my goal to have the shopping done ahead of time. I convinced Marissa, Mikah and my cousin McKenna to come Black Friday shopping with me. They braved the midnight Walmart crowd to throw some elbows to get a basketball hoop for Teegan. We weren't feeling too bad so we thought we'd attempt Target. When we got there at 2am the line already wrapped around the building and it was bitter cold outside. So we took a 2 hr nap and woke up just in time for the doors to open. As we approached the crowd, we came up with a plan to just try and blend into the line and sneak our way in. Marissa was the brave one who took the plunge and we were able to slip right in. There were a few cuss words thrown our way but we did it! It was crazy, but fun! One day the kids will realize what we go through to be Santa's little helpers.

Christmas day soon approached and it was great to visit with Noelle while she was serving the Lord in the Baltics. She sang to us in Russian. It was fun to hear from her. We enjoyed our Christmas breakfast with the Humphreys followed by being spoiled with gifts. We then headed up to the cabin for some after Christmas R&R. Becca and Isaac were there and it was fun to see little Porter all grown up. That's what Christmas is all about...enjoying time with family and making good memories.

November & December

Here's our attempt at a cute family picture for the annual Christmas card...

Jaysie was in the school choir this year and got really sick the day of her Christmas performance. She was bound and determined to be there because she had a group solo and felt that they couldn't go on without her. As she was getting ready, she was so pale and had to keep sitting down so she wouldn't pass out. We were a little worried about how this was going to go down. She did her part without any problems. But about three quarters of the way through, she all the sudden walks off the stage. She started blacking out and knew well enough to get off the stage before causing a scene luckily. After about 5 minutes, she got back up and finished. What a die hard!!

Kate turned 3! She got the same sickness Jaysie had and had a horrible fever on her birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Humphreys were brave and came up to see her anyway. All she wanted was a Fly Barbie (a Barbie with fairy wings) and a sparkly cos-toon (costume).

Alright...it's been awhile

I know, I know...I haven't been a great blogger lately. So here's a little glimpse since October.

Teegan turned 6 just before Halloween. His birthday wish was to get a "fast" skateboard. This is him just after rolling out of bed...he got lucky and didn't have to wait for his Dad to get home from work before opening his presents. Trent was working out of town this year and missed the big day.

For Teegan's party, we took a few of his friends to the Classic Fun Center. Trent made a special effort to get home in time for the party. One of the little boys at the party must have had some bowel problems that day. I noticed he had been in the boys bathroom for quite awhile. Just as Trent got there, I sent him in to check on this little boy. A few seconds later, Trent comes out with a horrified look on his face. The poor kid had a poop attack and didn't make it in time. There was poop all down his pants and into his sock! Not knowing what to do, Trent ended up throwing away underwear and socks and was able to salvage the pants with only a hint of smell every time he walked by. It was horrible!! Then I got to explain to his parents why he was coming home without underwear or socks. Embarrassing! They felt really bad about it too. Trent really went above and beyond that day...I still get a good chuckle when I think about it.

Carving pumpkins...with a "naughty" Grandma. Good heck, Krystyn! (I took this picture and didn't even notice her stunt until scanning through them later. When I showed her, she just laughed and laughed!)

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy kids! Yes, that's Jaysie's real hair...

Good Sports

THE GOLDEN DRAGONS


THE WARRIORS

I don't own a minivan...never will...but I admit to being a soccer mom. I think Trent and I get more excited for the games than the kids do. We love watching them work hard, be persistant and achieve their goals. This year Jaysie upped her game and played competitive soccer. She truly enjoys her team, coaches and being on the field running her guts out. She is meek and mild off the field, but intense and driven on the field. Teegan played a strong game of soccer this season too. He wasn't on a competitive team but in his mind he was. Coach Karryn had to give him a special "defender" position at times to give the other kids a chance to touch the ball. He is small and fast with no fear. He was really fun to watch! No matter what they choose in life, I hope they tackle it with the same intensity and drive that they have on the soccer field.

October...my favorite month

Grandpa & Grandma had a pumpkin picking party out of their 1st year pumpkin patch.

Just messin' around with the new camera...

I love the month of October! It starts out with General Conference which I love for many reasons. It's church in my pajamas, along with inspiring messages and usually involves being with family. You just can't beat it! Then a few days later my birthday rolls around and I get spoiled again. This year Trent surprised me with a super fancy Canon camera. I am having a good time tinkering around with it...can't wait to figure out how to use all the cool features it offers. Next comes Fall Break for the kids which means spending time enjoying the beautiful fall colors and the crisp air. Shortly after that, Teegan's birthday sneaks in while trying to finalize the Halloween costumes for the year. Teegan always has big party ideas so we try to make them come to life just in time for the last hoorah...Halloween. Wow! What a month!

What women can do...

The mud slingers!


Marshmellow madness!


The fearless campers...looking their finest!

When the opening weekend of the Archery Elk Hunt falls on the same weekend as a family camping trip...what do you do? Well, send the men off in their camoflauge and 50lb. backpacks and never look back!
Being the determined woman that I am, I convinced or maybe drug my mom and very pregnant sister on what became the 1st Annual Women's Campout. My mom towed the boat for the first time and Trent towed the trailer to Hyrum Dam. He helped us unload and then kissed me goodbye. We managed to set up a tent, handle the boat and the trailer on our own. I was pretty proud of our efforts!
We had a great time wakeboarding, playing in the mud and having some good laughs. The jury is still out on whether we want to attempt this again...we have a great appreciation for the men in our lives and the "man's work" that they do. Ask my mom...she broke 3 nails on the trip while doing "man's work".
Overall, we faired out pretty well. I got the trailer home in one piece, the boat was dirty but still afloat and Rachel didn't go into labor. What can women do? Anything they want to!!

First 5K

Last weekend marked a milestone...Jaysie and I ran our very first 5K. It was surprisingly fun! Trent always comments whenever he drives by someone who is running that they don't look like they are having any fun. Well, I beg to differ! Although it is tough work, the rewards are what make it fun. We ran the Clinton Heritage Days 5K "Fun Run" with my two sisters in law, Lisa and Julette, and my nephew Brayden. Jaysie took first in her division and well...I wasn't first but I wasn't last either. My goal was to run the whole way and finish somewhere in the middle and I did that...so I'm happy!

Break out the sunscreen!

We took a little trip to the cabin this last week. The weather was in the 70's and it felt so nice to soak up a few rays. On Friday, we played at the pool for awhile then headed over to the beach to enjoy some more of the long awaited sunshine. We had a great time! We went back to the cabin for some dinner and got all cleaned up when Rachel started to feel a little sick. We gave her a hard time for spending too much time in the sun and applying too much tanning oil and figured she had a little heat stroke. Well after a few upchucks, she started feeling better. But by Saturday afternoon, Jaysie got sick. Then Marissa got sick. Then Mikah got sick! All three of them were losing their lunch on the drive home that night. It was aweful! When we got home, Kate started with it in the middle of the night. It's now Sunday night, Trent and I are a little green but holding on! Hopefully our next Bear Lake trip will bring better luck!

South Dakota 2010

I think this was the kids favorite part of the trip...meeting Ed the train conductor. He sat and talked with the kids during our train ride. Every time the train went by our camp, the kids would stop everything to run out and wave at Ed. He would stick his head out the window and yell, "Hi kids!" They would giggle everytime.

We drove through some pretty tight tunnels on the Needles Highway.

Arriving at Mt. Rushmore

Once school was out, it was time for another road trip. This year we ventured off to Keystone, SD to see Mount Rushmore and explore the Black Hills. We made a quick stop to the Utah Lineman's Rodeo in SLC first so Trent could climb in the opening flag ceremomy. Then we headed east with Grandma & Grandpa and Brian & Julette's family for nine days of RVing fun. We made it to Casper the first night, which was a little more than half way, and arrived in Keystone the following afternoon. I'd have to say it wasn't too bad...the kids traveled well. We spent the next 6 days seeing all the sites. We saw Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse (from a helicopter), Deadwood, Wall Drug store, rode the train, climbed funny looking rocks in Custer State Park and hiked at Devil's Tower too. We were busy! We visited the Reptile Gardens, Old MacDonald's farm and panned for gold on top of all that. Time flies when you're having fun! On our trip home, we stopped at Martin's Cove to learn a little about our pioneer heritage. It was a humbling experience. The weather was rainy, windy and cold that day and it gave me a better appreciation for what our ancestors had to endure. We spent the night in Rawlins, WY where the temperature was in the 30's for the middle of June. It was crazy! But we all made it home safe and sound with no mechanical breakdowns and lots of great memories.

Mothers

This weekend I spent a little time thinking about all the mothers around me and what great women each one of them are. I spent a little time with my Grandma over the weekend helping her and Grandpa get their yard in order. My grandparents have alway kept an immaculate yard with beautiful flowers and a garden full of goods for all who stop by. I thought as I was raking leaves, digging weeds and planting petunias...Why don't they make their lives simpler? Just cut down that big Sycamore tree to rid yourself of the hundreds of leaves, cover the huge garden area with grass to cut down the weeds, plant fewer pots of flowers that will just require fertilizing and watering. But then I realized...they do it out of love. Love for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who climb and swing from that Sycamore tree. Love of watching the fruits of their labors turn into beautiful vegetables that they can give away to friends and family, when they feel that their age limits them to giving much else. Love of the memories that have been made and shared in their home and the pride they have for the things they've worked so hard to get. I realized that these things are important to them and rightfully so. I enjoyed every minute of that service and will gladly do it again because it is LOVE.
My mom has taught me many lessons about what is truly important in life. When I'm complaining to her about the mom duties that I dislike or the insignificant things that are bothering me that day, she reminds me ever so tactfully about what is really important. I realize then that drips on the toilet seat and sticky spots on the kitchen floor are really not the end of the world (atleast for the day). She shows me that spending time with my children day in and day out will come to an end and I will miss it when it's gone. She teaches me that age doesn't matter and that you can be young and vibrant and do the same things in your 50's as you did in your 30's. I love her for all of these reasons and for so many more.
Though these two women have helped shape my life, many other women have contributed. From my mother-in-law whom I love dearly to women I've worked with over the years and all those in between...Happy Mother's Day!

Easter 2010

Spring was hard to find this year...unless you visited your local IFA. It is a tradition to take the kids to IFA to see the new chicks, bunnies, ducks and geese each year. Well this year the tradition took a little turn. Instead of the traditional begging to bring home a chick or bunny, Jaysie started analyzing. She said, "Mom, you know chicks only cost $3.00 and I have enough money to buy one." I tried to explain that they really end up costing more that that once you add in food, shelter, etc. She wasn't taking NO for an answer so I pulled out the famous line..."Talk to your father about it." So she did and he was a sucker and the next thing I know we are bringing home 5 baby chicks. Actually, I was just as excited as the kids...just shocked that Trent gave in! So 2 days later, we had our first casualty. Kate loved her chick, named Dora, soooo much that she killed it. It reminded me of the scene from Finding Nemo when they show the picture of Darla holding the bag with the goldfish floating upside down. At that moment, she looked just like her but with a lifeless chick instead of a goldfish. It was not good. Good news is that we replaced the chick and now we have 5 chicks that are plumping right up for a good chicken dinner! (Just kidding, we're hoping to just eat their eggs)

20 pounds in 30 days

The HCG update....
I am proud to say that I have completed 30 days of eating 500 calories a day, giving myself shots, not eating sugars, starches or dairy and drinking only water! Sounds crazy, but losing 20 pounds made it all worth it!
Seriously, I can't believe I did it! I never thought I would have the willpower to watch others eat all the fun stuff and be able to resist it, but I did. Now I am able to add a few more things into my diet...like more protein and dairy. This morning it was a big deal to be able to have a glass of milk with my scrambled eggs. I found myself almost feeling guilty as I was drinking it down. In fact, I couldn't bring myself to have any more than 1 small cup. It has definitely changed my thinking on food. I still can't have sugars and starches for three weeks, so I'm hoping for more weight loss. I've added in some heavier exercise and hope for some good results. We'll see how it goes....more updates to come.

Early Spring Break

Jaysie at Snow Canyon


Zions...Emerald pools hike

Teegan at Zions

The litte runaway...in Snow Canyon

We decided to break out the RV a little early this year. Where can you go camping in March? St. George!! I have been begging Trent to do some camping down south for a few years now and he finally gave in and took me to St. George. I was so excited, along with the kids, to feel a little warmth and soak up some sun.

We talked Grandma and Grandpa Humphreys and Brian and Julette into coming along with us and had a great time exploring Snow Canyon and Zions National Park. What beautiful places and great exercise!

One thing about staying in St. George in March is that you get to spend time with the snowbirds. There were plenty of them, but they seemed pretty accepting of us younger folk. We did have one run in though...it happened the first night we were there. We grilled some burgers, had a late dinner and were just enjoying our evening. By the time dinner was over, it was dark and the adults were busy cleaning up the mess. The kids were supposively on the other side of the trailer playing together and riding bikes. Well, my little Kate..bless her heart..decided to wander away. I don't know if she was following the kids and couldn't keep up or if she just decided she wanted to go to the pool by herself but she took off down the lane. Some women happened to walk by and saw this little girl alone and asking, "Where's my mommy?" So they picked her up and proceeded to go trailer to trailer asking if anyone was missing a child. They got to our trailers and asked us and we told them that we didn't think we were missing anyone, but decided to do a head count. Just as we realized we were down a child, the woman holding Kate walked up and we were shocked! I was so embarrassed and apologetic but this woman wasn't gonna go easy on me. She just kept saying...Do you realize what could have happened to her? She was way down there all by herself! I can't believe you didn't even realize she was gone! By this point, I just wanted to kick her but was also grateful to her for bringing Kate back. Let's just say I'm not in the running for "Mother of the Year" with that incident.

So after the rough start...we were very careful as to the logistics of all the children at all times. We came home with all of them, so I guess it ended well.

I hope to revisit St. George again next spring...it was wonderful!

The HCG Diet

Another New Year's resolution...to battle the bulge! This is a tough one for me...Why? Because I'm kind of a non-commital person and I like food. Now I can commit to things like my marriage and my family but committing to a diet is not something I like to do.
My mom and sister did the HCG diet this past fall and wanted me to do it with them. Being the person that I am, I can't jump into things that affect my health without doing heavy research first. So they did it without me and both lost 20 pounds in 30 days! They look great and don't have any residual effects, so I started looking into it more seriously. I went to my doctor and talked to her about it and read all kinds of information before taking the plunge!
In talking with my friend (who also did HCG), she put it this way. Doing this diet is like going to rehab. You go into rehab to change your lifestyle. If you come out of rehab and go right back to how you were living before, then it won't work.
So welcome to my rehab! I have officially checked myself into my own rehab. I am half way through and have lost 14 lbs! Now I know some people do this diet and keep it very hush, hush but I'm saying it loud and proud! My reasoning is to let people know that I am committed to changing my lifestyle forever! I am accountable! I want to be a healthy, happy mom who has the energy to keep up with my kids in everything they do. It's important to me and shows my kids how important their health is too.
No sugar...no starch...no problem!

Snowshoeing Adventure!

One of my New Year's resolutions is to do more ME things. I decided this was an important goal because sometimes ME get's put on the back burner. So one of the things I decided to try was snowshoeing! Some people might think...of all things, why snowshoeing? My response....I'll do ANYTHING to get out of the house, including snowshoeing! I've really enjoyed getting out on a sunny winter day and enjoying the beauty that winter brings.

Well, I thought I'd try and share my love of snowshoeing with Teegan the other day. I gave him the option of going to Aunt Rachel's to be babysat or coming snowshoeing with me. He decided to come with me, so I rented him some snowshoes and we headed up to North Fork for a leisurely trek with Roxy (the dog) and Kylie, my fellow snowshoer. We hadn't been on the trail for more than 5 minutes before these words came out of Teegan's mouth...."Mom, I shoulda gone to Rachel's" I knew right then that this wasn't going to be as exciting for Teegan as it was for me. Needless to say, from now on...snowshoeing will be a ME thing only!

Being NINE is Pretty Fine!

Even Grandma was excited to do gymnastics!

I have a nine year old! WEIRD!! I'm not old enough (mentally) to have a nine year old, it seems. As much as I hate to admit it, Jaysie turned nine years old on February 9th. She really wanted to have a party this year, so we rented Elite Gymnastics and let 29 kids come and bounce off their walls instead of mine. It was worth every penny! We invited all the family and friends that Jaysie could think of and had a great time....until Jaysie came down with an ear ache toward the end of the night. She made it through the rest of the party but once we headed for home, the tears started to flow. She was in horrible pain and by this time it was too late to take her to the doctor. We tried everything to ease the pain but nothing seemed to work. Finally the Motrin kicked in and she was able to go to sleep for a few hours, but by the next morning we were back at it. I took her in as soon as the clinic opened and got the not so surprising news that she had a horrible ear infection. After $100.00 in medicine, she was feeling much better (What a rip! Don't get me started on the pharmaceutical injustice in this country).

She was back to normal by her actual birthday, well enough to ask me to check her out of school to go to lunch. I checked her out and as we were walking out the doors, I asked her where she wanted to go. Without hesitation, she says...Olive Garden! I'm starting to realize that my little Jaysie has expensive taste. I got her to compromise on Fazoli's, instead. Her next request was to have steak for dinner...luckily I had some steaks in the freezer to satisfy her. Then it was cheesecake for dessert! Wow! If this foretells the future, she's gonna be hard to afford! Good luck to whoever she marries!

But seriously, Jaysie is a really sweet girl. She is friendly to everyone she meets and has the most tender heart. She is a great big sister and we love her very much. I enjoyed being able to spend this time with her and celebrate her nineth year. She is a special part of our family and we were happy to do something special for her this year. Happy Birthday Jaysie!

She's a dancin, dancin, dancin machine...

Kurt, Lisa, Kenli and Kalli came to watch Jaysie (you're a trooper, Kurt)


Aunt Mikah doing what she does best...

Grandma & Grandpa Humphreys

Jaysie showing off her long legs or sticks

Her #1 fans...Teegan & Kate (flowers by Trent)

Last night was Jaysie's winter dance recital at Weber High School. She did awesome and was the top dancer in her group (but I wasn't really watching anyone else). The girl's got rhythm, that's for sure! I was especially proud of her because she hasn't felt good the past few days and was still determined to perform. We had to take a couple breaks just trying to get her ready because she would turn pale and look like she was going to pass out. But like they say, "The show must go on!" She pulled it off and gave a good show for all her #1 fans. Thanks to the whole Bremser fam, Grandma & Grandpa Humphreys, Grandma Meyer and Mikah for coming out.