It's been cool this weekend, it was so nice to be able to see the kids in something different;) We went to the boys soccer game and of course I forgot our camera, I am a little slow still and definitely not on top of my game. Nannie bought Gwynnie this outfit before she left on Friday. I love it!
Paige and Nate dropped by last weekend on their way to Vegas for the U game. It was soooo fun to have them stay the night and play with us for awhile. Gwynnie LOVED Nate and Paige. Paige is still a little kid sometimes and my kids find her games the most amusing thing ever. She is so sweet and fun I miss not seeing her that much. It was fun to have Nate around too, all the boys went to the local High School Homecoming game that night while Paige and I took the babies and shopped. Thanks for coming you two! Aren't they a beautiful couple? 
Swiss Days was this last weekend and our ward had a booth that Bob and I were in charge of. So, Friday afternoon was spent in the heat helping 20 million little kids make beaded necklaces and showing them how the pioneers did their printing. Thank you to my friends who volunteered at the booth, it was greatly appreciated. We were suppose to set up the next day but we were rained out. This is a picture of us attempting to hit some of the booths that were still open. Gil is a perfect example of what we looked like 5 minutes out of the car! We were soaked, so no Swiss Days this year. I have to say though that the rain was a welcome change. Anyway, in all it was a great weekend. Bring on the fall!
I seriously can't believe I am doing this again in a week!
So I have been laid up all week after surgery to remove some severe varicose veins on my right leg and else where on Monday. My amazing mom has taken over my life because the first 24 hours I had to be flat in bed, and I am now just getting up. Today was the first day that I actually got to look at my legs. I have 38 incisions and stitches. The surgery hurt and was pretty disgusting to be awake through. My Doctor was great and so was his staff, but it was never going to be pleasant to have an actual crochet hook pull out diseased veins. These are the better pictures, other pictures that are to graphic for this site are not pretty and kind of hurt me to look at them. I get to do this again in two weeks for my left leg so YEA!! Really I will be glad to have the pain gone and truthfully feel like I can wear anything above the ankle again. Well worth it!
I am a little embarrassed of the close up of the legs. It's never good when the Doctor asked if you have lost a lot of weight because you have stretch marks on your calves.....No, just a little toxemia with my first baby! Anyway, it is documented and now you know why I have been fairly silent! Thanks to my great friends who have brought treats, called and Sarah who brought dinner! The biggest thanks to my Mom who takes great care of all of us! Bob thanks to you too for just dealing with me crazy on pain meds:)
Lyle is 60! We love our dad!
We all gathered for Papa Lyle's 60th Birthday celebration. Nick and Amy flew in from MN, we drove up from SG. Connie reserved a room at Ruby River for all of the family. I would love to say that it was really enjoyable but three girls under the age of three is a little scary!
The three boys who are all 12 months did great! Cute 
Gil and Aunt Amy.....She is a really nice aunt, who doesn't love her?
Gilly Bear LOVED his spagehetti! He thought dinner was wonderful.
The four boys can never get enough time together. We love our Hunter and Taft.
The Birthday boy himself enjoying a little appetizer.
The Grandkids up in the pottting shed with Papa Lyle.
The darling little Beutler family.
It was really fun to see the newest Lamoreaux ......Mr. Caleb, who has grown so much and is so sweet. 
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Lyle and his boys having a group hug?
8 things that attract me to friends:
-if you are really quirky in a fascinating way.
-if you are trust worthy.
-if you like to read.
-if I think you are smart.
-if you make me laugh a lot.
-if you are really a positive person and if you have no problem giving other people compliments for their achievements.
-if you can tell a great story.
-if you can talk on the phone with me for hours and there was really nothing said.
8 songs I could listen to on repeat:
-anything Indigo girls
-anything Sarah McLachlan
-anything Edie Birkell
-anything Brandi Carlisle
-anything Tim Mcgraw
-any Christmas Music and all year long( I have been that way as long as I can remember, just ask my dad and brothers;)
- anything Peter Paul and Mary
- anything Norah Jones
8 Things I learned this year:
-Having babies 15 months apart is okay if you have an AWESOME husband.
-Having two kids in School is great.
-I like to spend way too much money.
-Family is essential, but good friends are really important too.
-Taking an all girl trip is GREAT FUN, and needs to happen on a yearly basis!
-I now have to Iron to feel like clothes look nice, and I hate that I have added one more thing that I have too do.
-I need a lot less sleep than I ever thought. Diet Dr. Pepper is my best friend.
-I always wanted red hair.
-I can't drink a soda unless it is diet.
- I made my sister pay me to play Barbies and My Little Ponies with me.
-I never loved Barbies, I always liked the baby dolls. Stephanie Folkman and I played dolls in the 7th grade and swore each other to secrecy.
-My nick name growing up was Bister (baby/big sister)
-I dreamt about my High school boyfriend for years after I got married, it always bothered me...Lisa (my SIL) read about dreams and told me why, then it didn't bug me anymore.
-I sleep talk and walk in my sleep all the time. One time I called my parents at 3am and I was totally asleep. After that Bob moved the phone from my bedside.
Mom and Kevin Pepper as Homecoming King and Queen (or Squaw and Brave)
Someones wedding? Is that Daryl with you? And Aunt Sandi!
Mom's Bridal Shower
Bryce's baby blessing
Mom and baby Bryce
I don't know where this picture is but I do know that my mom is very thin and this was ALWAYS my favorite way here hair was cut.
Nannie xoxoxox
I found these little gems as I was leaving mom's house today....I never gave her my birthday blog shout out, I was in LA, so here it is.
Things that are my mom:
-She never wears fingernail polish.
-Her hands are beautiful, thin and she has beautiful nails.
-She is very short and little.
-She and I have the same mole on our shoulder. (Kennan thinks it's disgusting)
-She was always up and ready before we went to school in the morning. (until jr. high)
-She shaves her legs dry:)
-She will floss her teeth at any given point in the day, grocery shopping, watching a movie.... (this bothers my dad)
-She has PERFECTLY straight teeth naturally.
-She can settle ANY baby down.
-She often brought breakfast in bed, just to start the morning off right.
-She is VERY fast at everything she does, cleaning, crafty projects, sewing, and everything else.
-She loves to eat. Which she has happily passed down to us.
-She always makes way to much food (it's called the Ausman overkill.)
-She loves diet coke with a squirt of lemon.
-She welcomes everyone in to her home. Poor old boyfriends hated to leave her.
-Old friends still ask about my mom, their old YW leader, and then gush on how much they love her and how she helped them.
-She gives wonderful advice, accept when it's partial to seeing her grand babies.
-When one of her children is struggling she circles the wagons.
-She is a great artist.
-She has lovely hand writing.
-She is a gatherer.
-She laughs at us even when we are a little crude.
-I taught her how to pluck her eyebrows (I was 17).
-Blue eye shadow is what she chose for me when I first started wearing makeup. -She supports you on WHATEVER you decide.
-She is the best after you have a baby.
-She is the favorite Grandma. (Sorry, but it's true)
-She will come in a pinch.
-She is the smartest lady I know....seriously!
-She is my Hero and the best of mom's.
Happy 53rd Mama!
In April a friend in my book group, Lisa, proposed an idea of us going to LA to see Wicked......12 of us ladies jumped at the chance! Here we are in front of the Theater. 
Mary Ann and I were roommates and buddies. This girl is one of my favorite people and could be a sister to me. We had so much fun together, we always do.
Mary Ann, me, Anne(pronounced Annie) and Sarah.
Before the show, we all met to leave together as a "pack of chicks" as some man on the streets referred to us. From left to right: Jen, Sarah, Mary Ann, Me and Sally
Before the show we went to the Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner. We actually ordered cheesecake and took it home with us for our after the show treat.
Anne resaerched on the internet and found a great mall called the "Grove". It seemed to have been the perfect spot for 12 very different women. We got up in the morning and went straight there. We saw a movie, everyone chose the ones they wanted to see and then shopped ALL day. It was a blast, and everyone rotated who they were with according to who wanted to shop where. 
Sarah, Jen and Mary Ann had make-overs in Nordstroms. Sarah made sure they gave her "smokey eyes" for that evening.
We left Friday morning and took a leisurely drive to LA with stops for shopping along the way. After we checked in to our hotel rooms we set off to hit the walk of stars and to look for something to eat. We were in downtown Hollywood and I have to say it was a bit scary. We may have passed thirty sex shops along our walk to dinner. I was glad to be a "pack of chicks" then.
We found a great Italian restaurant and had a lovely dinner there. There was singing and music and we were treated really well. It was great.
We took two vans full of six women each. This was Jodi's van and she did a great job of following Sarah's very fast and efficient driving. 
I rode in Sarah's van with some of my very favorite people. Sarah, Anne, Mary Ann, Kelly, and Sally. We started a game of what was your most embarrassing moment that turned into some really deep and funny stories of our lives. This lasted the 6 hours there and the 6 hours home. Is it wrong to say that I enjoyed this trip more than most any other trip I have taken? I loved the drive as much as the show. Every moment was fun. I forgot that it is really fun to take a rode trip, (just not with little children). I loved all of the girl time, no men upset about our shopping and girls in PJ's talking to all hours of the night. 
Disclaimer: My husband is GREAT and he takes wonderful care of my children.
OK the front had some issues but he put barrettes in and it worked.
Great job huh? Well he forgot to use hair spray which is a must with her very fine baby hair. He said that by the afternoon she had pulled it out (something she would NEVER do with me.) Because it was falling out, she was so bugged by it.
This is what I came home to Sunday evening! Anne took this picture because we all knew it had to be documented.
When we pulled up Tucker and Gwyn were riding down the driveway on some scary contraption. Gil was at the top of the drive way in a walker!*%...no dad, he was fixing dinner. As we pulled up every girl in that car was roaring with laughter, poor Bob was so bugged at us. Really everyone was laughing because Gwyn NEVER looks like this. They all know me way to well to know I dress her up always. In truth I think the way Gwyn looked was the way he felt. He had been up with Gil all night and was very tired. He told me the next day that he was glad I was the one to stay at home and that I took care of everything.....how's that for a weekend away. He had a taste of my everyday life. Not that he doesn't help me all the time because he really does, just that cleaning the kitchen can get very old. We agreed that we are glad we are not single parents!
The petting zoo was fun back then and Tuck was fairly timid to touch things but things have changed! I know have 4 children who have no fear of touching the animals.
Sweet little Tucks' face peering through the window.
Now 2007
Gil could pull this deer's ears and he just sat there, it was really fun for the kids.
It makes me all warm inside when my kids get along and have fun together.
Okay so here is my Tucker story: We we hiked Timp cave this summer and two days later a little boy was eaten by a bear not far from where we were. That story freaked Tuck out, and for good reason. Then when we got to Jackson the people at the condos where we stayed warned us that the bears had been spotted near by frequently. So we shouldn't leave our garbage or food outside.
So the first night that Bob put them to bed Tucker asked Bob " Dad, are bears smart enough to stack themselves to get to my window?" he asked knowing it was probably impossible but he had to ask. The next day we went to Jenny Lake and a Ranger stopped us and told us to be careful because just that afternoon a bear had gotten into some one's lunch. After that Tucker was an anxiety ridden boy.
One of the nights he woke up to find we were next door playing games, he knew this, he knew he could get us, but fear gripped him. We could hear him on the monitor talking to himself and crying. We ran back to the Condo that minute to find him shaking and crying. That night he slept in between Bob and I and we held him all night.
We then played games at our place. Every night we were there he ended up in our bed. The poor boy was terrified of bears. On our way home we went to Bear World. You drive through this animal sanctuary where the bears wander free so they tell you to lock your doors and keep your windows up. Tucker stayed buckled up and hands clenched while we drove through the first time. Then he relaxed when he could see them up close and that they weren't bothered by us at all.
When we left he told us that he wished we could have done this on our way up so he wouldn't have been so scared, sweet little man struggled all weekend. The night we got home he slept so long and so hard, when he woke up Tuesday morning he told us"I finally got a good nights sleep".
