I Little Understanding

I now know why the pioneers were able to settle places like St. George or Mesa with out Air Conditioning.

The kids and I decided to tag-a-long on Lyle's Elk hunt this year. It was over the Thanksgiving holiday so I knew that it would be colder than the other times that we have gone camping. We packed layers of clothes but we still froze.

Just like the pioneers, I NEVER want to be that cold again. The wind would blow and it felt like it went right through your jacket. I can't imagine having to cross a frozen river or be run out of your house in the middle of a snow storm. I do know how cold I was and how cold the baby was. At one point Jared's lips were blue.



We do have some help. A while back Lyle's mom offered for us to buy her pop-up trailer from her. We took her up on the offer and have gone camping in the trailer a couple of times. I would not have gone with Lyle if we did not have it. It has a heater in it and we would turn it on and run it a couple of cycles before turning it off for the night. Then in the morning we would turn it on before anyone got ready and run it so that the trailer was warm to get dress in.

When Lyle and I go camping he does all the cooking while I get the little kids ready for the day and keep them warm. Because we were tagging along Lyle would leave camp early and not come back until after lunch for a quick sandwich and then be gone again until after dark. Austin really stepped up and would start the water for hot chocolate and get the fire going. Josie would also hold Whitney so I could make the meals. Friday morning I was making breakfast and William was so cold he was crying at my side. I told him to go see Joey so she could get him warm but he just wanted me. I informed him I was making breakfast and couldn't pick him up. After a couple of minutes he turned to me and said. "Mom, you need to make me happy!" I couldn't help but laugh.

Halloween 2011

For Halloween this year we went to our church's trunk-or-treat party. Jared went as his Grandpa Sauls (complete with the Mt. Dew)
Austin was an army guy.

Josie went as a witch.

Whitney was a pumpkin.

Anna was a cheerleader.

William was Bob the Builder.

Helping Dad

Having an old truck means that Lyle does a lot of the work himself. Before we had kids I would be out helping him by holding the light or handing him tools. The whole time I would be helping him I would be thinking about everything that needs to be done inside the house. After I had the kids I told him that they are his help. The kids are finally starting to get old enough to help. Austin hates getting dirty and would rather not work on the truck.

Josie is to busy with school work to help, so packing the bearings fell to Jared. He LOVED to get in there and get his hands dirty. Lyle said he did a good job.

Growing Little Girl

Whitney is getting so big! I keep forgetting how big they get so fast. Yesterday she rolled all over my family room but ended up under my chair many times. Don't you wish you could be this flexible?
This is her favorite place to be while I am cooking dinner. It is a Johnny Jumper that she jumps in and spins around. Her legs start pumping before we can get her in it!

10 Years Old! Already!

Jared turned 10 this year. He has really grown up the last year. He has worked hard in school this year. I do not need to remind him to do ALL of his homework and he has studied so well he got Honor Roll this last quarter.

As his birthday was approaching he asked if I could just give him money that he could put toward buying himself a DS, just like Austin did. Lyle and I thought that he has done so well that we got him a DS light for his birthday. He is one HAPPY boy!


When we went to get his cake they only had a Halloween cake left so he had them take off the plastic "Happy Halloween" and replace it with "Happy Birthday Jared". He had them leave the ghosts and skeletons on, he thought the were cool.

Josie is 12!

Josie turned 12 this year! She has started Young Woman's and is already passing things off in her Personal Progress book.

The kids are getting older now so I let them pick what they want for dessert. Lyle always gets pumpkin pie for his birthday and I like ice cream sundaes. Josie decided to have Key lime pie. It was very yummy and no one complained about he change.


Josie also wanted to ride a horse for her birthday. She did this a couple of years ago for her birthday but we had a rough time getting with Lyle's boss to have her ride his horse. Since that time my BFF moved to and back from Idaho and got horses. I got with her and Josie enjoyed riding the horses by herself.

She also wanted a volleyball. I guess it is the new thing at the school. I think she had a great birthday.