Thankful #5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

I am thankful for my health and my body. Our bodies do amazing things and I am grateful that I can walk, talk, see and hear each and everyday.

I am thankful for our country. I am grateful that women fought for the right to vote in the past so that I can vote today. I am grateful for the freedoms I have and look forward to a prosperous future in our country. Go Obama!

I am thankful for my boys, Aiden and Oliver. I learn so much from them. I learn to be a little more patient even though my patience wears thin and I am not a very nice mommy but I know they love me. I love how they give me kisses all the time and hugs. I love how smart they are and how they love to read even if they only make animal noises and are looking at the book upside down. I love how forgiving they are and unconditionally show love. I love them so much and can't wait to add another addition to our family ;)

I am thankful for the area I live. I love living in a place where I feel safe and loved by those around me. I love all of our diversities and what we each add to our community. I love my home and am grateful for it. I love having a yard and a garden where my children can learn and grow (even though they mainly like to eat dirt and play with sticks).

I am thankful for ALL of my family. Family is such a big deal to me. I love having them close and knowing we can count on each other. I love how we can all have different views on things but still love each other and accept each other. I am grateful for the friendships I have with my aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and grandparents. I am so grateful that I have a family that supports me and loves me unconditionally, and I them. :)

Thankful #4

Today I am thankful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love having more of a purpose in life and knowing that we continue to live, learn and grow after this life. I love knowing that I will be with my family forever. I love how it makes me feel :) I love learning more about our savior. I love how my faith focuses on Christ and teaches us to be like him and to treat everyone right. I am grateful my ancestors chose to become members of this church and the examples they are to me. I am thankful for the knowledge I have because of my faith and that I get to teach it to my children.

All Hallows Eve

This year we decided to Trick or Treat around our neighborhood. It was fun to see the other kids in their costumes and to see how well the boys would do. They grabbed handfuls of candy many times but most people encouraged it. We don't live on a flat plain either so by the time we were done we were a little tired, plus we didn't take the stroller so we either held the boys hands or held them and let me tell you they get heavy after a while. I also made David dress up which he was quite embarrassed about but went with it anyways. I told him he could have pay backs next year. EEK!

Oliver was a dinosaur and Aiden a Monkey and don't they look great with their mouths full of pretzels ?!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 Thankful #3
Today I am thankful that I have a job and that my husband has two jobs. One day I won't work anymore and David will only have one job but right now I am grateful for it and that I am able to help out with the bills.

Let The Games Begin

My parents had a few days off of school because of fall break so we invited them and David's Dad and Carrie out to breakfast. We went to Herm's Inn that is down on the island. I really love their french toast so of course I had to get it. When we go there I do try new things but the french toast is just the best. We then invited David's dad and Carrie to the Pumpkin walk and of course they obliged and came along.

My sister had the grandest idea to go to the pumpkin walk during the day. She is genius because last time we went it was at night and we waited in line for an hour just to get in, what a joke. So now that we have more children we thought that during the day would be warmer and less crowded and were we right or what?! It was so nice to just walk through at our own pace and we didn't have to worry about crowds at all. I think the boys liked it, they seemed to like the displays that had animals in them the most. :)

We had a great time and look forward to going again next year. I remember going to the Pumpkin Walk when we were little and I want to make it a tradition for our family so THANKS Marcie for coming up with the fun filled day!

The Beautiful Canyon

 

Sardine Canyon this year was so pretty. David got to see it every day going to work so by the time we actually went to see the colors as a family, some of the leaves had started to fall but it was beautiful even then.

Apple Picking

This year David and I and the boys went to their Great Grandma and Grandpa Buchanan's house to pick apples. They had a ton this year and they are and were delicious. David did the picking while the boys and I explored. The boys first found apples, then kitty cats, then the swings then finally the trampoline. David picked two big boxes full of Golden delicious apples with a few Fuji's.

The boys loved finding new things to play with. They haven't really jumped on a trampoline so Aiden was a little hesitant the let go of my legs at first but once he got a hold of Ollie he seemed to be a little braver.

David's dad was kind enough to buy us a new dehydrator since ours died while David was drying jalapeno's, so we dried lots and lots of apples. I probably filled 20 or more bottles of apples and now these are the only two left. As soon as they were done drying we were already eating them. They are so yummy!!

Thankful #2

Today I am grateful for my husbands days off. I love having him home. It seems though that I don't get much done because I just want to be with him all the time but I love him and love spending time with him.

Thankful #1

Today I am thankful for the Halloween candy the boys received and that David and I get to eat it and therefore try not to gain weight

Our Bounteous Garden

This year we were able to finally grow a garden and it was great. We planted five tomato plants of different varieties, two cucumber plants, about five different squash plants, sunflowers, two eggplants, two green peppers, one jalapeno and one tiny carrot. We also planted a herb garden of basil, cilantro, chives, and fennel. Last winter we used the garden spot as a compost so once everything started growing we had a lot of volunteer plants come up. We had two butternut's, two pumpkin, and a banana squash plant. They did really well and gave us lots to eat this winter. Yum!

The two tomatoes are from different plants. David started several plants from seed and bought a couple plants from the store. The humungous tomato was from our seed plant and the little one was from the store plant, there is a BIG difference there I think. Also the pear tomato plant we got from the store were in the perfect shape of a pear and would sometimes grow funny and not very big, but our pear tomato plant from seed grew really big and plump tomatoes.

And here is our lot :) Aiden and Oliver had fun helping me pick all of the veggies. They usually aren't allowed in the garden so they really enjoyed it.

 The squash Ollie is holding looks like a swan don't you think?

Here are our tomatoes, peppers and eggplants!

Happy Fall, We Love It All!

(P.S. if you need any tomatoes please come get some)

Lava Lava!

We look forward to going to Lava Hot Springs every year with David's Moms family. We go up on Sunday and leave Wednesday after breakfast. The fun usually starts Sunday night with going to the hot pools. His family loves sitting in the hottest pool. I figure it is because it is not as crowded which is nice.

Monday was pool day. David and I were in charge of lunch at the pool, so we provided sandwiches. This year the boys actually lasted more then two minutes in the pool. Aiden of course was a little more hesitant but warmed up to the water pretty fast.
David's cousin Karina and I went down the slides this year. Last year I was too chicken so this I did it. I was suppose to go off the first platform with her too but we left earlier so we could get the boys down for a nap, so in the end I did not make the jump. We all had a lot of fun and my niece and nephew Scarlett and Harrison went down the kiddie slide a little more then a thousand times. I wish I had a picture of Harrison's face. He would prepare for the water way early by having his eyes closed and mouth shut, it was great.
The rest of the day we hung out, played games, napped and ate food.

Ross and Adrie with the boys

 Aiden, Oliver and Scarlett found the chest full of ice and loved sucking on them. Mmmm!

Tuesday was floating the river day. I always get a little anxious before the first float because you never know how it is going to be. But after the first run all fears are gone. Two years ago we decided to hold onto each others tubes forming one long line and we've never gone back. It is so much more fun seeing everyone's reaction and laughing together rather then going alone. Also this way, rarely anyone falls off. If someone does it is usually brought on by their own doing or trying to do a trick.

On our second time down everything was great, we made it down the first and second drop without a hitch. Ross and I were in the front of the line and we got pushed to the side which made us stop. We then  were at the end getting dragged through the trees. We were about to go under the bridge when I realized that my tube was deflating, and pretty rapidly. Within seconds I had no tube and couldn't get out of the water, so I hurried and pulled myself up onto David's tube in front of me and made it through the rapids without a scratch. Once it was smooth I got out where I did get scratched and met up with his mom, aunt Karen, Adrie and the twins who were watching from the sidelines. We met back up at the truck and went to fetch me a tube and go down the river again. The guy at the tube rental told us that the next tube was free but if it happened again I would have to pay for it so the next 5 times we went down I made sure to stay away from the edges. I love floating the river and I would say it is my favorite day in Lava.

this is not the bridge where I had to try and survive at. :)

I love David's face in this picture, and the whole time Ross kept saying he was "Michael Phelpsing it up" because at one point he used his flip flops to paddle to catch up to us. He was hilarious the entire time, but I am not sure what pose he was trying to pull off here.

Running into people, Yeah it's our thing!

Josh almost lost it there

See you next year Lava Lava!!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa McAllister for the awesome accommodations.

3rd Annual Meyer Reunion

We had our reunion on Saturday the 28th of July at my parents house. We all arrived at my parents house on Friday spent both Friday and Saturday nights there.

I made German pancakes for breakfast, which didn't turn out as fluffy as when David makes them but, he was still sleeping since we had a late night with the boys so he couldn't work his magic. Soon after breakfast we got ready and headed to the High School to get family pictures taken by my friend Sami Rose. She did a great job and brought a helper which was nice since there were 18 of us. We hadn't had family pictures taken since 2007, and since then we have added 6 people to our family.

After pictures we relaxed, put babies down for naps and just hung out until lunch. Steven and Michelle brought yummy Papa Murphey's Pizza and made salad. Once our stomachs were stuffed we headed outside to make our stepping stones. I found online a way to make your own clay mosaic pieces by just breaking up plates. When David and I went to the DI to get the plates the cashier was going to wrap them up in paper so they wouldn't break. I told him there was no point since we were going to break them anyway, he just laughed. My dad and my brother Steve were the mixers of the mortar and I supervised. Everyone laid out their pieces for their ideas and some got pretty creative. Regan did a flower and sun, Abe did a cool sun burst design, Nick did a U for UofU, David did an owl, Steve did an A for Aggies, My dad did a hand, Brenden did a palm tree,  My mom, Marcie, Michelle, Mckay, Maylee, Ben, and I just did mosaic pieces of art. The three youngest even got in on the action and put a few pieces in on their own stone. We weren't too smart at first and put some of the stones in the sun to dry which dried them too quickly and some cracked. But no worries my dad patched them up and even glued my mom's back together. :) We had a lot of fun and it was a hit. YESSSS!!

Next up, Water time. My parents blew up their shark pool and the kids didn't hesitate to get in. My brother brought a huge Beach ball that squirted water and my Nephew Brenden had squirt guns which were used constantly with the guys. Steve, Nick and David had fun ganging up on each other and on Brenden. In the end Nick and Steve got each other soaked the most because they resorted to using the hoses. We also played water balloon toss and actually tossed it without dropping it 15 times, pretty impressive I'd say. :)

Soon it was time for Marcie's yummy dinner of Mexican casserole and fruit. Again we got stuffed with deliciousness and then it was Party time. We had five Birthdays in a 3 week span so we celebrated them all. First it was my moms, Steve's, Brenden's, David's and then Autumns. My sister in law Michelle made a cake for each person, and they were all delicious. We sang and they opened presents and just had a great night after that.

Marcie and Abe went home late on Saturday since she had sharing time at 9 the next morning so we put the boys in their room and they slept much better that night. I made Crepes for breakfast Sunday morning and Steven and Michelle went home a little before lunch. David and I spent the day there since we had dinner at his mom's at five. It was good to relax and nap a little bit. Nick hung around too.

We had an awesome time with everyone and can't wait until next year!

Maylee loved the shiny rocks and I tried to go from hot to cool if you didn't notice. The boys had fun putting their artistic talent into their stone even if they only put a couple on there.

My cute niece Regan and I making faces

Aiden and Oliver