Greetings from West Virginia .....

These are a few pictures that I stole from my sister in-law Hailee's facebook...of my brother Anthony and his little boy Kyson, mom and dad and Kyson..and just Kyson...who we haven't seen in almost a year!! He has gotten so BIG and is such a handsome little guy!! They went to this big fall fest...the largest pumpkin weighed over 1000 lbs. I miss you guys. Can't wait until you are closer (home would be nice but we will be good with CLOSER!!)

Another new BABY...it's a GIRL!

Our Nephew Derek and his cute little wife Devon are the proud parents of little Anisa Afton (I hope I spelt that right) Great Grandma Afton is so excited to have a little name sake....Little Anisa is 3 weeks old (I think). What a little cutie! It is so wild to see these nieces and nephews of ours become mom's and dad's....I believe Derek was like 5 1/2 when Rhett and I started dating...now he is a daddy. Little Anisa also has a big brother Asher (3). Congrats to the Jackson's and their new addition!!! We wish they didn't live so far...like WY...so we could meet her. Soon we hope!

Fall pictures '2007'

I LOVE FALL!! Happy Fall Y'All!!!

My top 10 reasons why I love fall:

1. The smell. I love the smell of fall. It shows up in late august and stays around until after Thanksgiving.

2. The color. Orange, red, brown, green and yellow all blended together. The changing of the leaves. This year we will have our own pile to play in. The last 2 years we have scooped up big piles at our neighbors across the street so the kids could just jump in them. It makes for some fun pictures.

3. The chill in the mornings, the warm afternoons and the chill in the evening.

4. The Hunt. Of course this is only our second hunt. But last years was fun. It helps when you actually get a deer...and Rhett did, the last day. It is fun to listen to all the hunting stories.

5. Pumpkin's, I love to decorate with pumpkins. I like to take the kids to the pumpkin patch and pick out their pumpkin. I like to make my porch all cute and take pictures of my kids...I like to make pumpkin pie, cookies, cake....dinner in a pumpkin. I like pumpkins.

6. The harvest. The picking of the yummy fresh veggies. Fresh salsa, making jam. Even though it is a TON of work. I really enjoyed it. Plus I LOVE looking at my pretty bottles.

7. Football. I really don't mind football. I actually like to watch games - without stress!!! LOL
But I love the feel of an exciting, fun game. I just like the atmosphere of it. There is no other outdoor sport with the same feeling as football. Go Dogs!! Go BYU! Go Blue!

8. Halloween.....the dress up, parties, tradition, candy. This morning I over heard Dallin and Jentrie talking about their favorite things involving halloween. Their #1 was decorating with pumpkins/going to the pumpkin patch which we will do on Oct. 1st. 2nd was dressing up and 3rd was trick or treating. To cute.!!! Jentries birthday, aunt Kayla's birthday...grandma Maxines birthday....love the fall.

9. Sunday afternoon drives to see the changing of the leaves in the mountains. I love the look of the mountain sides on fire with brillant fall color!

10. Did I mention the smell, color, taste...It is soup and casserole time. Time for sour dough biscuts and home made jam. A venison fry and dutch oven potatoes. A time to remember past 'Fall' memories. A time to miss all those who made past 'fall's' so memorable. I really just love Fall..always have.

Peaches...Peaches...and Tomatoes..

9-27-08
I love how pretty bottled fruit looks!!! I finally finished - I know it doesn't seem like much, and it has taken me 3 days to get it all done. You know an hour here, 3 hours there. When the kids go to bed. Well, today I just let them be free...I finished the last 12 qrts of peaches (24 total...wish is was more) 7 pints of jam (13 total) and 6 -1/2 pints of jam (12 total) - 1/2 pints I use for gifts. That is approx 60 cups of SUGAR!! and 7 boxes of pectin...and reusing lid screws (they are all gone from any of our local stores) and 250 peaches...I counted the pits :) Plus 9 pints of Salsa. My feet are sore, my hands are dry and burn a bit from the hot peppers...I know use gloves! But I am so PLEASED with my work. I still have tons of tomatoes left to do. I am pretty sure I know what I will be doing during General Conf. next Saturday :)

If you notice this jar...that little orange dot is a BB HOLE...I believe there is a story here...I just don't know it. All I know is the qrt jars...which have been in my basement for YEARS!! came from mom and dads place. Mom gave me a bunch of qrt jars when they started remodeling the house. So they basically went from their basement to mine...lol. Well because I totally dislike washing a zillion jars, I just put them in my dishwasher WITHOUT inspection. I had the peaches all nestled in their new home..haha...and started pouring the HOT syrup over them when I noticed liquid everywhere...and thus the BB Hole was discovered...Hum I wonder which brother....and when. LOL!

The yumminess from our garden...yup even the bell peppers. The long red peppers came from our neighbor. Jentrie's favorite are the grape tomatoes..she will eat them with salt ALL day..I seriously had to tell her to stop!

Happy Harvest!!!

Pizza Night...

9/26/08
The kids (mostly Jentrie) sold Little Cesar Pizza kits for PTA fundraiser this month. Our FAVORITE is the family pack individual 6" personal pan pizza's. Rhett had a FB game in South Summit, so I thought we would have a pizza movie night. Here are a few fun pictures of the kids making their OWN pizza's. YUMMMMM! What do you think...if you know me, it was really hard for me to NOT help...they were so proud of their creations and they ate them! I even let them have a pizza picnic and a movie the family room. Good times, it would of been even better with Daddy. We missed him! This morning as a 'Thank You' for pizza night, the kids brought me breakfast in bed....toast with my yummy peach jam, a pudding cup, and a glass of apple cider. TO sweet! Thanks guys! Mom loves you!

Kids At School

9/24/2008

I KNOW I am seriously troubled!! I needed to find Rhett and ask him a few questions...I don't even remember WHAT....anyway, he was putting in some hours at the GVES (The HS was out due to a water main break). So off to the Elementary school I went in search for Rhett. Well I JUST happen to have my camera with me (if you know me, that isn't a surprise!) Jentrie was having lunch and Dallin was doing math (looks happy huh!) lol. So I just had to take a picture of them at school. :) I did find Rhett (finally) and thought I took a picture of him doing play ground duty...guess I didn't. Opps, another time :)

New Family Picture

Let Them Be Little

If you haven't already noticed...I love song lyrics...they make me laugh, they make me cry, some make me happy, some make me
sad. My sister in-law Kayla is a HUGE Billy Dean fan. She introduced this song to me several years ago. This morning as I woke up (way to early) t0 find Peyton snuggled deep in the covers - this song POPPED into my brain. When I came home from my walk this is what I found. Bubba is our baby and he is growing so fast...much like the rest of our babies. Sometimes as mom and dad we get grumpy when our beds and our sleep are interrupted by little people, but it won't be to much longer and they won't need those middle of the night cuddles and then what?? So I think I'll save my middle of the night complaining for when they give me something to really complain about...hopefully they will totally perfect and not give me any middle of the night anything!!! LOL Hey, I can dream, hope, pray.... but right now I think I will just 'let them be little'.









I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.
So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:
Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.
So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
Let them be little
(Check out my play list to hear the song)

Family Home Evening...

Rhett is the EQ President for our ward...he along with the rest of his presidency planned a super fun outing for their Quorum and their families. (Close to 50 in attendance) We all gathered at a favorite spot up Mayfield Canyon and had a weenie roast, salads and the best part...S'MORES!! yum....it was totally fun, even though we were late, we had a PTA fundraiser and I (jentrie) had to deliver frozen pizzas because they couldn't all fit in my freezer! It all turned out great and I think most everybody had a wonderful time. The 22nd of September is the anniversary of when the Prophet Joseph Smith received the Golden Plates...too cool! Therefore, our FHE lesson was on the Prophet Joseph and how important he is to us and to the Gospel. There is super talented Lady in our ward (Cindy) who played the guitar, and we sang primary songs along with a great song about Joseph Smith. We made it home, filthy and stinky...physically and spiritually full! It was great fun!! Good Job EQP!!!

Future Football and drill team?????

Who knows. But right now they are having a good time, I am glad at this age (most of the time) fun is fairly simple. Dallin is doing flag and hanging in there. ( He is the one in the middle with his hands on his knees.) I was surprised he asked to play again this year. I am just glad he is wanting to be involved! And it only lasts about 6 weeks!! He is doing a good job and is always excited for other teammates who also do well. Then there's the girls. They would be involved in EVERYTHING! But Rhett and I decided that the mini drill team would be just perfect - plus it was for only a week. They along with cousin Hadlee performed at the high school football game at half time. They were cute and did a good job.

Aunt Judy and top ramen...

7/2006 helping me..
5/2007 going thru treatments -
8/2007 her last visit to Gunnison.









This is in memory of Aunt Judy. She has been gone now for 9 months and she is deeply missed. My kids talk about her often. I am so glad they were able to know what an awesome person she was. They often see and hear things and will respond with "That was like aunt Judy huh mom"..or "Mom would aunt Judy like that?" Anyway, Aunt Judy (along with Gma Maxine) was one of these sweet ladies that when things came on sale...she stocked up and gave away! Can anyone guess what she gave away often??? :) Top Ramen.....Today I stocked up on case lots. As the kids were helping me unload the load...Jentrie was like "YAY top ramen...can we have these for dinner?" (Heck ya!) Anyway, as I was making our lovely dinner of noodles...both Jentrie and Dallin said, "Mom, ramon noodles remind me of Aunt Judy!" (with smiles on their cute little faces) I thought that was very sweet. I was very surprised that they remember her giving some to us. Something so simple that she did for many years (for many people) is now a beloved memory for my kids. Who would of thought. So thank you dear Auntie for those years of top ramen! We miss you everyday!

Okay I Lied..

I do have a picture of my brother Brady (SSGT McDonald) I know he hates this attention...But I am so proud of him and of all our service men and women...Thank You for your service and sacrifice..For our freedom and safety...May God always be with you and your families...This picture is of Brady, Kayla, Hadlee and Houston...just over a year ago (june 2007) when Brady left for Camp Bucca Iraq with the 145th FA; Manti Unit. This was Brady's second tour in Iraq. This picture was taken at the ANG airport in SLC just before getting on the plane. 9/11 did affect everyone in one way or another! Thanks Brady, We love you! And are so glad to have you home...kayla, you rock!

That September Day!!!

Wow, okay...I have no cutesy picture of my children today. I had quite an in depth conversation with my Dallin this morning. He woke up early and said to me..."Mom, do you know what today is?" I replied that I did. Dallin was only 18 months old, I was 8 months pregnant with Jentrie and I remember exactly where I was that day!!! Rhett and I had been trying to get Dallin to sleep in his own room before the baby came. (we spoiled him and he liked our room better) I had fallen asleep with Dallin that night (which wasn't hard being 8 mo. pregnant...I'd just sit and go to sleep) any way...Rhett comes flying in to Dallin's bedroom yelling that the towers are under attack. I was glued to any and every news station available, going back and forth in between commercials. In total SHOCK!! Being so grateful everyone I knew was NOT on any plane..and heart sick for those who were. Seven years...it seems like yesterday. A bit surreal. This is in honor of those lost that day, but to those who have lost and served everyday since...our military...sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters....aunts, uncles, cousins, grandfathers & grandmothers....friends...who fight so that day won't happen again. This morning I was once again glued to Fox News, President Bush made a comment that because of the hard work and dedication of our military there has not been another attack on US ground in 2553 days....I hope and pray that number continues to rise. God Bless You All and God Bless The USA!
That September Day
Where were you when the world stopped turning
That September day,
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin' on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock
At the sight of that black smoke risin' against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger and fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride for the Red, White and Blue
And the heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters.
*I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some of the good things he gave us
And the greatest is Love.*
Where were you when the world stopped turning
That September day
Teachin' a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you lover her
Did you dust off that Bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not got to sleep
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
Did you speak to some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and by you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on 'I love Lucy' re-runs
Did you go to church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love..
*I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is Love!* (Alan Jackson)
God be with you!

Our Baby Started Preschool....

He has been so excited knowing he was FINALLY going to preschool! "I am BiG!" he'd say! And he did look so big walking up the stairs to Ms. Alice's Preschool! I cannot believe in just a few short years we will have all of our babies in school!!!! All I have to say is "Don't Blink"...here are the lyrics to the the song by Kenny Chesney - Don't Blink... They are so very true!

Don't Blink

I turned on the evening news

Saw an old man being interviewed

Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what's the secret to life?

He looked up from his old pipe

Laughed and said, "All I can say is

Don't blink, just like when your six years old

And you take a nap

And you wake up and your twenty five

And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink, you just might miss

Your babies growing up like mine did

Turning into moms and dads

Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years

Goes faster than you think, So don't blink.

I was glued to my TV, when it looked

Like he looked at me and said,

'Best start putting first things first'

'Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand

You can't flip it over and start again

Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth

So I've been trying to slow it down

I've been trying to take it in

In this 'here today, gone tomorrow' world we are living in

So don't blink, just like when your six years old

And you take a nap

And you wake up and your twenty five

And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink, you just might miss

Your babies growing up like mine did

Turing into moms and dads

Next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed

And your praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend a hundred years

Goes faster than you think...so don't blink.

Life goes faster than you think

So Don't Blink...

IgGy....the IgUanNa

Dallin's friend Ignatius the Iguana other wise known as 'Iggy'! He was so excited that his teacher Mrs. Hatch has a pet iquana..she is such a fun teacher...he (so far) is really liking school...I hope it stays that way!

Football....

All though the game wasn't the best....the kids had a good time :) The two extra's are Brady's kids; Hadlee and Houston.