September Birthdays

In no particular order:

The yummiest chocolate cake from Costco. We've decided it is too much for our little family to eat...guess we'll have to reserve it for when we're celebrating "back home".

Conner got a wireless full weather station kit. Now if only I can get all the pieces outside :)

At the arch of horns in the center of Jackson Hole. Paige being her normal stubborn self!

Tyler falling asleep about 2.3 seconds after his head hit the pillow. Grandpa's Calvin and Hobbes book is his favorite to read everytime we go.

Lego Pirate Code game from Grandma and Grandpa

Paperdoll cartridges for mom's cricut.

Yarn and crochet hook and tube loom for knitting from Grandma and Grandpa

Paige posing with the wildlife

In front of the visitors museum. Lots of fun things to see. We even got to see and touch live snakes!

Makelle and Paige playing at the park

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They came around again, and we were doing about the same thing as their birthdays last year! We went on a whirlwind Labor Day camping trip. We left Las Vegas 6:30 on Friday night, but it took 1 hour to get past the strip, which usually only takes 20 minutes. SO FRUSTRATING!! We didn't get to Kaysville until 3 in the morning!

We wanted to get up early and finish our drive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming first thing, but we didn't. Too tired! Even once we did get on the road, we had some car problems. (I don't know what it is with me and cars and camping trips--last year our transmission went out on our way to Yellowstone!) Luckily, we just reconnected a hose, and all was well. It was a bit unnerving though.

We got to camp about 3 or so in the afternoon. The family had just finished a run down the Snake River and it was coldish, so they decided it was the last one of the day. We headed into town and played at a park, the girls on the playground and the boys and mom and dad playing catch. We had a lot of fun.

We went to a Mexican restaurant for Uncle Mark's birthday and headed back to camp for the night. We all were very tired, so we crammed 11 people everywhere in Grandma Ruth's trailer. It was hard to sleep worrying that the kids would wake up, not remember where they were, and wake others up. Everyone did pretty okay. We got up and went into town again, for church. It was fast Sunday and it was fun to see where everyone was from and hear their testimonies.

We grabbed a bite to eat and window shopped (fabulous Sabbath day activities, I know!). It was at the fun shops that Grandma Ruth bought fun trinkets for Conner and Makelle's birthday. Conner got a pocketknife, which he was very excited about. We had yummy tinfoil dinners, played mafia-Conner's FAVORITE camping game and went to bed.

Despite the cold weather, a group ran the river on Monday. I think it was less than 50 degrees! With wet suit, they said it wasn't too bad, but I'm glad I didn't go. Makelle and Conner usually like to join them, but since it was so cold, they didn't feel up to it.

We headed back to Layton, where my parents took us to Olive Garden for the kids' birthdays. Yummy, never ending pasta bowl! We spent the night again, and headed out in the morning so we could get back for football. It was a lot of miles in a short amount of time, but it was great to be with family.

Our New Addition

Finally, something from the Nicholas family!!!

I decided that I have enough time :P that I ought to actually keep those I love informed of the goings on around here. After all, that will only take one post every week or so. We are pretty boring.

Not anymore! Eric brought home a puppy last Monday. It was a surprise to me, which didn't make me very happy. I used to think I wanted a dog. Then we had kids, then was even more convinced when we started traveling in the summer. I knew I didn't want the worry about whether animals could stay in apartments, or hotels, or get someone to sit it. Unfortunately, it was during the summer jobs, that Eric really fell in love with the idea of having a dog. With Eric and I living in 2 different locations, I still got off the hook when it came to getting our own dog. Well, I suppose now that we live in the same house again, he figured it'd be okay. We did make a deal before we moved to Las Vegas-- I would consider a dog, if Eric would consider adding a baby to our family. We'll see! Right now, I feel so busy, that I think I'd be doing a disservice to the baby and each of our other kids, as well as Eric and my calling if I were to have another one.

Anyhow, this is Lady Sadie. She is a pure Yorkie, that Eric is proud to say he got for $50! (more about that in a few) She is a bundle of energy right when she wakes up, and again for a while right before bed, but mostly lays around the rest of the day. She seems to be pretty good natured, not real yappy, and really not too rough with the kids. She loves their attention, though is hiding out in her kennel now, to escape the love of Paige, I'm afraid. She has enjoyed walking the kids to school with me, and seems to be getting the hang of being house broken. The kids are very good to help, though we'll see how long that lasts!

I guess I should've realized this was happening. About 2 months ago, Eric told me about a lady they sold an alarm to. She'd just had puppies, and was so grateful for the system Eric provided for them, that she promised Eric and another guy each puppies for $50. Apparently, she usually sells them for $1500. I thought I'd said no at the time, but I guess I must not have made myself clear enough! Anyhow, she's here now, and I think I like her. I know the kids do, and maybe it'll be good for us all.

Tyler's Birthday

Tyler turned 8 this year and though Conner didn't think it was fair (he had to wait till he turned 9), Tyler got a set of hard backed scriptures. He was very excited!

Tyler has been wanting to play tennis with mom and Pyper since last summer, so I thought he'd love his own racket. I was right. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. It was rainy and cold all day. Tyler said it was his worst birthday ever, but then requalified it with...because of the weather.

With Eric home for Easter, we got to celebrate Tyler's birthday on his day!

Tyler's Baptism

April is alway busy at our house with 3 Birthdays and Easter (usually), and General Conference-which eliminates the weekend we could celebrate Tyler's Birthday. This year we got to add Tyler's Baptism to the list.

It was wonderful! Eric got into town on Friday night and we just had fun that night. Pizza and a movie-in for my Birthday. We had haircuts, and a few errands to run before the baptism. We did well and got to the Stake Center early. We sang our favorite songs. The speakers were great and the spirit was strong. All I know is that the smile on Tyler's face said it all. I am so proud of him!

Just found!

I have been organizing all of my digital pictures and just found this one. It is a family picture taken at our family reunion (hence the dirtiness) in 2003. It was about 6 weeks before Makelle joined our family. My boys were so tiny!

She wouldn't have looked good in dirt anyhow. :)

Pinewood Derby

Conner got to enter another pinewood derby with the scouts. I was a bit nervous about his car, since Eric is in California most of the time and we only got about 3 weeks notice. Luckily, they did the cutting out at his weekly den meeting. I drew a couple of designs and Conner picked the one he liked best. We borrowed a chisel from Grandpa Neil and did our best.

The Sunday before the race, I got a message from the neighboring ward's Bishop. He asked if I might return his call. I'll admit, I was a little nervous. I left a message for him the next day, but he wasn't able to call me until 10:35 Monday night. He had seen the poster up in the foyer about the derby and wondered if he could help Conner with his car since Eric was out of town. Our sons are friends, which is how he knew that. I told him I'd be grateful for any help! He said he could help him the next day after school. Oh wait, for about 15 minutes before a few interviews, maybe another 15-30 minutes after, and dinner and a little more help before having to be to the church for the evening! And he was headed out of town on Wednesday. They got some done, but there was just a bit more work to be done, so he'd bring the car by in the morning before he headed out. What an amazing man! Not only to offer the help, but use up the little time he has for himself to do it.

He showed me how to get the wheels on and what I could do if it needed more or less weight after painting it. He wasn't messing around!

We did our best, got it painted, the wheels on just right, and it weighed just exactly at 5.0 oz. He raced the car 8 times--on a pretty amazing track, and won! By at least .6 of a second everytime. It was very fun! Bishop M. is pretty proud of his track record (he and Mason have won both of their races too). I was grateful for the help!

The boys and I were talking after the race. Next years race will be hard with them "competing" against each other. We decided that Tyler could win the next one. Like we could make that happen!! :)

Family picture