Grandpa's Giant Pumpkin

Fall Break 2009

Last year for fall break my sister and I went on a road trip, this year Ben didn't want to be left out. We planned a road trip. Ben's car didn't pass inspection and so it needed repairs. Bye-bye vacation. Ben had the days off of work so we planned a more laid back cheap/free vacation, or staycation if you must. Enter the stomach flu. Wednesday night Addy and I both ended up sick. (Ben had his turn the weekend before) So, after a rocky start, we had an exceptionally laid back few days. Ben wrangled the kids until I was feeling better. Friday we went to the park across the street and let the kids play. They ran back and forth about 100 times. I'm not sure whose idea it was, but the kids ended up riding down the big hill in the wagon. The park has a huge hill that is perfect for sledding in the winter and water slides in the summer. We now have something to do in between. The kids loved dragging the wagon up the hill and riding down at full speed. They thought it was great. After an hour of wagon riding, we headed out for dinner. After dinner, we watched Monsters vs. Aliens. We all loved it. The kids went to bed and didn't make a sound that night, I think we wore them out. Saturday we did our chores and the kids played outside. Ben and the girls also made a yummy lime merengue pie. We then headed out to the park for more wagon rides down the hill, this time I took pictures. We then headed to Grandma and Grandpa Williams house to help Grandpa carve his 300 pound pumpkin that he grew in his garden. Each grandchild who was big enough got to draw one part of the face. The kids had a great time helping with the pumpkin and playing together. We had dinner together and then it was off to bed for the kiddos. Sunday we all slept in and barely made it to church, but we did make it, and on time. That was our super lazy, vacation. Hopefully next year we won't have car repairs and stomach flu and can go on a real vacation.

Spit Happens!

Having a baby with acid reflux means that I change my clothes and Maren's clothes a lot.

Send in the Clowns

Sydnee came home from pre-school with her face painted like a clown. They were learning about the circus and magic. She looked so cute I had to capture the moment.

First Smiles

Maren smiled for the first time on Labor day. She has a darling smile that melts my heart. She will smile when she hears my voice and anytime she gets attention. Addy and Sydnee love making her smile. I had forgotten how much fun it is to have a new baby in the house.

Why I Love Fall

I love fall! It is my favorite season of the year. As soon as it starts getting cooler, I get the urge to head for the hills. Two weeks ago I drug my family on our yearly outing to Cascade Springs. I love this place. Never mind that everyone else in Utah county decided to visit the same day. We had fun looking at the fish and the leaves. I feel like something is missing in my life until I get to see the fall leaves in the canyon. They were beautiful this year. I especially love the reds. Maren slept through our whole adventure, silly girl. Addy and Sydnee loved being able to run around and pick up leaves. I feel much better now that I have had my yearly dose of fall.

Garden of Wonders

We planted a small garden this year which has done quite well considering that it was planted in our weed and gravel side of the house. We've been eating fresh zuchini, tomatoes, spaghetti squash and we also have some onions we transplanted from our neighbors. Our tomatoes have been small and producing just enough to keep up with. Garden fresh tomatoes are my favorite. Lately they've been growing weird deformities and the such. Here are a few of the fun ones. Note:Ben picked up on the one with the crack, not me.

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

I remember where I was. I had worked the swing shift the night before at the emergency room. I woke up to the phone ringing. Ben called and told me to go turn on the TV. I did as he said and sat on the couch in my pajamas in total shock. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I think I sat on the couch glued to the TV for several days trying to comprehend what had happened and crying as I saw all of the people who were affected by this horrible terrorist attack. I also felt a renewed sense of patriotism and love for my country and fellow men. I said many prayers on behalf of our country and all of the people who live here. What a sad day in our history, but what a reminder for us of caring and compassion and how people all over the country pulled together to put the pieces back together. Addy asked me why the flags were out this morning and I explained to her what happened on 9/11. It was nice to walk to the school and see the flags waving and being reminded of what our flag and country stand for. I hope and pray that our country will progress and continue to be free. Our current government leaders have given me more reasons to pray for our country than ever before. So on this Patriot's day, I would like to say that I am a true patriot, I love and will always defend our country.

A funny from Sydnee

Today Sydnee came upstairs all dressed up carrying a wand and told me she was a fairy. Her's our conversation:
Syd:What would you like for your wish mommy?
Me: I wish for a clean house.
Syd:My wand can't do that(with a disgusted look on her face)
Me:What can it do?
Syd:It can make you a princess or make your house a castle.

Hmmm, if I turn the house into a castle will it be clean? Or if I'm turned into a princess, does that excuse me from cleaning? What to choose? If only it were a real magic wand.

Blessing Day

Maren trying to eat her sleeve



Ben blessed Maren this last Sunday. He did a great job, especially since he wasn't feeling well. It was such a nice day, and Maren looked so pretty in white. I insisted on taking pictures since I don't have any of my other girls in the dress. We had a crazy photographer so our family photos aren't too great, but I love the pictures of Maren and all of the Yancey girls.

A little funny thing from our photo shoot. Addy tried to start a game of chase with her cousin Eve. Eve put her hands on her hips and said "I am not going to even try to run in these heels, look at them they're too high." I laughed out loud. Eve is 8 going on 17.

Bad Habit

One of my darling children has a ver bad, very gross habit. I'll give you 3 guesses as to what it is. Okay, so it's kind of blurry, maybe this zoomed in version will help.



Did you figure it out? Yes, it's a boogie. My darling has the habit of picking her nose and wiping it on the walls of her bedroom. This has happened many times. I end up making her scrub it off and then I give the use a tissue, not the wall speech. This time was so gross, I added one more thing, a box of tissues. Problem solved, habit broken. What a wonderful thing a $2 box of tissues is.

Firsts...

Addy started first grade a few weeks ago. She loves school and her teacher Mrs. Weight. She likes being a big kid and staying at school the whole day. The highlights of her day are recess and eating lunch at school. Today was a big day for her, I gave her money to eat school lunch. She usually takes a sack lunch, so today was a big deal. I am feeling a little overwhelmed since Maren has been nursing non-stop so I finally caved in and let her walk home from school with her friends. Most days, this works out. There were a few day where I was getting really worried because it was late and she wasn't home. I found out they were taking their sweet time wandering home, stopping to rest in the shade, using the port-a-potties at the park and then finally making it home. Things are better now that we've chatted about coming straight home. Addy loves to give her friends that she walks with a popsicle to eat on the way home, yesterday there were at least 6 kids on my porch begging for popsicles. Addy is doing great with her reading, she is reading "Ramona the Pest" right now. That was one of my favorite books as a kid. She enjoys doing her homework which I hope will continue in the years to come.



Sydnee had her first day of Pre-school on Tuesday. She was up and dressed by 7:30a.m. and asked me if it was time to go about every five minutes. She was so happy to go and to wear her new "school clothes" she had her clothes picked out weeks ago. When she got home from school, she talked non-stop until bed time. She is so eager to learn. We have home school every day where works on her letters and numbers and lots of work books from the Target dollar bins. I am so thrilled that she is enjoying school. It's good for her to get out of the house and away from mom for a while.

Catching Up

Oh, my dear sweet blog how I've missed you. For some reason I have been quite busy lately and haven't had time to keep up with anything. Please refer to the cow picture I posted earlier. Anyway, life is going good. Maren is actually taking a nap right now which is allowing me to do something. I almost don't dare write the word nap for fear she will wake up. Maren is a sweet baby, but she has the Williams sensitive gastro-intestinal system and reflux. I am starting her on formula since the nursing thing just isn't working. Hopefully naps will become a daily habit, if not, I will be sprouting many more gray hairs and the bags under my eyes will surpass the carry on bag size and have to be checked.