Great Friends

I have been very lucky in my life to have such great friends. I have a lot of friends I have known for as long as I can remember, some I met in grade school, I then gained some friends in middle school and carried those same friends through out high school. My high school friends are so much fun. I hate calling them high school friends though because I know we will always be friends. We still get together for special occasions and some not so special occassions.

There are also many people and friends I have made through out college and living in different place. I have two friends that Brian and I both agree on! They are the first couple that we both like both the husband and the wife. We know they are friends but also consider them family. I feel we are closer to them than we are some brothers and sisters. My kids think they have 2 sets of parents. They help me out personally so much in raising my children. Thanks to them I am able to do fun things like go to water parks without going crazy. I know it sounds crazy but they actually act like they like hanging out in the kiddy pool and helping my kids down slides. They put up with my kids banging on their door and ringing their door bell at all hours of the day. They take my kids and play with them when they can tell I need a break. Aside from all that, they are great friends to talk to and we have a lot of fun with them. We both felt we needed to move into our homes and lucky for me they moved into the home right next to us so we share a porch. I know that we both felt that way because I needed someone else in my life. Thank you for everything you do for me Tim and Steph.

Jerry Sienfield

For Father's Day I bought Brian tickets to Jerry Seinfeld's stand up show in Salt Lake City. We met up with his sister and brother in-law for dinner first at the Spaghetti factory. We had so much fun and of course laughed a lot. These are not very clear pictures but I wanted to post them anyway.

In her shoes!

Peyton loves to wear any shoes that he can find. As soon as someone comes over to visit he will go to the door and put on the shoes that they left behind. I don't know what he did with his pants in the one picture but I thought it was funny. His father is getting concerned about the wearing of the woman's shoes but it really doesn't matter who's shoes or what shoes, as long as they are near him. I will have to say for being a boy and wearing high heels he is really good at balance. He does better in my shoes than my own sisters.

Family Night

We went bowling for family night. After our lane had some issues the kids got distracted with air hockey and the picture booth. We did have fun though. It amazed me that Peyton and Braxton could pick up the bowling ball on their own and load it onto the ramp. Tough kids!

I have to say I think bowling shoes are so ugly. For some reason I thought the kids shoes were so cute though.

P.S. Peyton spilled water in his car seat right when we got there. So please don't think I am one of those disgusting parents. Come on. You think I would really let him get to that point? In public?

Happy Fathers' Day

To all the men in my life that mean so much. I have 6 great brothers, 1 amazing father, the best father in-law anyone could ask for and the most important my husband.

To my brothers, thank you so much for being such great examples. You all hold qualities that I wish I had. Jared, David, Jimmy and Mark. Your are such great Dads and husbands. I have the best brothers anyone could ask for. I know any of you would do anything for me and love that I can depend on each one of you. I think I am also the only person who can say I feel all of my brothers are my best friends. Thank you Stephen and Kyle. Even though I am older than you I have always looked up to you. Partly because you are taller, but mostly because you have been such great examples.

To my Father in-law. Thank you for all you do for me and my family. You are an amazing person. I appreciate the council I receive from you, the love you have shown towards me and appreciate the lessons that you teach when we are all together as a family. I see so much of you in my husband. Thank you for that.

To my Father. You are the hardest worker I have ever met. You have sacrificed more for your family than anyone I know. You are one of the few people I know personally that will always stand for what is right no matter what. Thank you for teaching me hard work, dedication, and most of all the gospel. I don't think anyone cares for their children more than you do. I love you so much. Even though I don't always show it, I do remember the "principles" you teach me. VOTE FOR JIM!

And to my favorite person in this whole entire world....my husband. I can't do anything without you. You are the only thing that keeps me moving in a day. I know it does not always seem like I care but I love you more than anything. Thank you for being the person you are. You have made me a stronger person. You are such an amazing father. I could go on and on but given the fact that you don't even get onto this blog....I will stop. I just want you to know that if you do decide to change your mind and read this, that you are the best thing in my life. I am so excited to share an eternity with you.

Noorlander For Congress

This is a great website! http://www.noorlander2008.com/ I know I am a little bias, but even if I wasn't I would be ready for a change. It doesn't matter what party you are from, vote for Jim Noorlander for Congress this year. He is running in the 3rd district against Chris Cannon.

My trip to Nebraska

My sister Hannah and I left to Nebraska to see our brother Jared. Map quest says it will take 11 hours and 50 minutes. We decided to leave at 4 am so the kids would sleep for a good portion of the ride. It worked like a charm. They went back to sleep and woke up at our first stop to get gas. We fed them breakfast that we had packed, filled up on gas and were off again. After watching one movie they all fell back to sleep again. We made it to his house only 13 hours after our departure. It rained the whole way.





After one of our stops Nicole said she needed to throw up. Since she says this anytime she is tired we kind of ignored her. Then Hannah looked in the back and saw one very white face. I tried to stop fast but it was not good enough. It was everywhere. Braxton was sitting right next to her and has a very weak stomach. After smelling it from her he started dry heaving and then threw up. Lucky for me (not for him) He was able to keep it in his mouth. I know...really sick. He asked inbetween dry heaves "Does that stink Mom?" He was dry heaving the whole time we were cleaning it up. Somewhere in Nebraska there is a huge pile of wipies on the side of the road.

The Clean-up

We wanted to find out what had made Nicole react the way she did. Perhaps it was the box of cheeze it crackers combined with apple juice, PP&J, string cheese, and gogurts. Maybe it was the fact she drank a whole pint of strawberry milk in about 5 minutes. Or could it be that the milk we found was actually expired? Hmmm....some things remain a mistery.
We thought we had done a pretty good job of cleaning up what we called the "incident". We didn't even smell anything until we were a couple blocks away from Jared's house. Then we rolled down the windows. Combined with a pig farm and humidity it hit us pretty hard. After we were all done unloading the kids and luggage we headed for the nearest car wash. The only thing available was a self serve carpet washer. It basically rubbed the mess into the carpet. So the smell stayed. When we took the car seats out we noticed a mess underneath them.


We hosed the seats down in the car wash and then realized we did not want to take soaking wet seats into the car with us. So we rigged them to the top of the car.
We only noticed the warningsign on the car seats after we did this.
We also hosed down the weather mats that are heavy plastic. I didn't want to put them in the car either. I thought because they were so heavy they would do just fine on the hood. We were only going a couple of blocks! As soon as we hit 5 mph they hit my windshield then flew into the middle of on coming traffic. I thought I was going to die. Not enough to quit laughing though. Since I was in the driver seat I made Hannah get out and chase the mats. We almost lost the cars seats too but luckily for the cars behind us, they stayed. Can I just say I have a testimony on leather seats. I think from this point forward I will forever buy cars with leather seats.

Paxton

When Peyton was a baby my dad would get confused and combine Peyton and Braxton. He called Peyton "Paxton". I don't blame him. He has 11 kids of his own and 20 grand kids. He has to go through the 7 siblings in front of me before he can say my name. "Sarah, Kerrie, Jared, David, Hannah, Jimmy, Mark, Laura...ya that's your name, come here"

Well the name has stuck in my family. Instead of asking about Braxton and Peyton we just combine them into one now. People will ask are Laura and Paxton coming? It works. It takes a whole 2 seconds off a conversation. When you do the numbers and how often my name is brought up in conversation (with me there or behind my back) that is a lot of saved time.

Although I wish we could have gotten out of the car to take a picture I didn't want to make any unnecessary stops. There were several great places along the trip and someday I hope to be able to stop at all of those. But when we have 4 kids and trying to make good time it does not work.

I love the 80's...and 90's

You know when you see those poor, poor people that just love the 80's so much they just cannot bring themselves to get rid of their 80's hair? I witness that very thing again on Saturday night. Let me say it was not just any 80's hair it was a full on lady with the molet hair...short bangs and hair to her butt. I would feel bad but I am sure she just things she looks so cool! Just to clarify this picture was not the woman...although add a foot of hair and you would not be far off. I would have taken a picture but considering she was less than 4 feet I could not do it. After seeing this it got us talking about the styles we used to wear and how much we loved them or how ridicules they actually were. One was a style similar to this...
While talking about the old styles we used to wear, Janean said, "remember the overalls and you had to undo the one strap? What was the point of that. It was so stupid!" I kid you not, this is such a true story. We walked into Nordstrom the exact same night (probably about an hour later) and low and behold, a poor girl who did not get the memo that not only was it not okay to wear overalls but also "What is the point of the one strap undone. It is so stupid!"
I really would not judge someone who wore overalls in 2008. Even if it did have one strap undone. It just makes for a good story. I cannot wait to wear stirrup pants again.

Helping with the dishes!

Despite what my profile says, I do clean occasionally! Usually with the help of one of my children. Although it makes it difficult sometimes, it also makes it fun. Peyton's job is to put all of his dirty clothes in the laundry basket in the bathroom. Braxton has to clean his room. Even if Peyton messed it up. And they both are on dish duty. Peyton puts all the bottles and suckie cups away, while Braxton has to put the silverware, measuring cups, and serving utensils in the correct spot. Sometimes it all makes it and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes Peyton gets a little confused....

6 random things about me

I was tagged by Janean so I will try to be original



1. I met and married my husband within 5 months. Somethings are just meant to be!



2. I love to eat popcorn and peanut m&m's together. It taste so good! Something a college roommate started me on.
3. I have a very low tolerance for stupidity. Seriously. Why do so many people not use their brains.
4. I love to try to tickle my husband even though he is not ticklish. I think every time that maybe it will work, but it always ends in a fight!
5. I don't know how to swim. Really. Ask my in-laws or my old roommate Carrie. After going swimming with her she told me that it was the most unattractive thing she has ever seen and to make sure that I marry the guy before he takes me swimming because it will totally change his mind. So that is what I did. I can swim on my back but usually I just stay in the shallow end without getting my head wet. I even have to plug my noise if I am water skiing when I fall. It drives Brian crazy.
6. I talk in my sleep. It is the craziest thing. I can have full on conversations with you and never remember. I start off by saying really random things. If you talk to me I will answer questions to everything you want to know. I always tell the truth. There have been several times that I have pretended I was asleep while Brian was trying to ask me questions. He still does not know that I was awake for those things. I know crazy and mean, but he really should not take advantage of the situation. I know I did not give him the answers he wanted to hear.

I tag Lindsay, Stephanie Naylor, Autum, and what the heck...Stephanie Duvall as well.

My new official Website

So it has taken a long time but I officially have a website! I am really excited but am still making changes as well. It is http://www.myfourseasonsphotography.com
I am trying to get a bigger portfolio of maternity pictures so anyone who knows anyone let me know. I will do them for free and give them a CD of all the pictures. I am also trying some new things babies as well. So any infants that you know of or are coming I want them 2 weeks or younger!

Daddy's Homecoming

When I start making dinner the boys know that Brian is going to be home soon. They both start asking for him and wait by the window until he gets home. I can tell he is always excited by their enthusiasm to see him and at the same time I am sure he wishes he could just come home and relax. Either way he is a great Dad. He loves to read them bedtime stories at night and helps out by putting them to sleep nearly every night. He tries to make sure that I get to relax at night. Especially on the days that they were truly exhausting. I am so

grateful he is such a great dad and husband.

My best friend Lindsay was in town for the weekend. We met up for lunch so that we could see each other. I get so excited when I get to spend time with her. She is one friend that I know I will always be close no matter how far apart we live. We really understand each other...she knows what I mean! My kids absolutely love her. Braxton has a little crush on her. Whenever we are with her he loves to kiss her. I feel a little bad she has to put up with it but she doesn't seem to mind. Lindsay is one of the smartest people I know. She always excels in everything she does. I wish I was more like her. She has had the great opportunity to finish school this year and is graduating in June. I am sometimes a little jealous that she has been able to fulfill her goals and dreams. She always tells me all the time how lucky I am to have the kids I do. She gives me the reassurance I need in making me feel great about being a mom, letting me know that I am fulfilling the goals I have set. I know she is going to be a great mother someday. I can tell in the way she talks about future plans for her family and the way she is with my kids. I am so excited and proud of her for all the things she as accomplished in her life. I love you Seth and Lindsay.

The End of a long day

The last couple of days have been so hard for me to deal with. Peyton has his molars coming in and has been crying non stop. He is also a little spoiled and knows what he wants and will throw a fit until he gets it. I don't do well with crying. It doesn't help that for some reason his nap times have been short. On Sunday in nursery (his first time...he is still to young) Peyton stepped on a ball and fell right on his back. Now even though a couple of us laughed a little I felt bad after I saw his mouth bleeding. He had bit his lip and now has a huge sore in there and won't eat anything. But it is now night time and both kids are asleep. After looking in their rooms to check on them, I feel bad for the frustration I felt earlier in the day. I know I am truly blessed to have the children I do. They mean everything to me. I just love it when they sleep!

Fun in the Sun

So I never take pictures of my own kids. Just little candids with my camera. Poor Peyton has very few pictures compared to Braxton. I just find it very hard to get my kids attention and today is a perfect example of why I do not do pictures of my own. It was hot, they did not listen to me at all, even when I shouted for them to look at me....nothing. For the longest time I have been wanting to take some of them on the railroad tracks playing with trains. This is the first time in history I had to yell at my son and tell him he had to play with his trains. It was so hot outside and he wanted to go do other thing, I thought these pictures would never work out. I did manage to get a couple in. I made Brian's sister come along. I wanted to get some shots of her kids as well. Thanks to my kids I did not get to spend too much time with hers. I will have to make it up to her and take them out all on their own at another time. I was able to get a couple of her and her kids but it was work. And I must add that I totally stole this spot from someone else. Sorry. I just loved it so much I had to go.

Just food for thought

Well don't know about anyone else but a friend of mine really got me thinking about food storage. I am starting to really see a difference on my grocery bill because of the rising cost in food and am noticing more than anything that at the end of shopping for the same things, there is no money left! For some reason I am getting a little nervous and am for sure going to get started on my food storage again. It is something that I am really good about for a while and then think, we have enough....well now I am going back to getting lots of food.

The Zoo

On Friday Amber and I took our kids to the zoo. It was the first time I have taken Peyton. He loved it. He also is getting really into trains because of his brother and loved the train ride. Even though my arm looks really fat in this picture I am trying to convince myself it is only because it is sqwashed against my body.

Trains

Braxton loves trains. Any thing that has to do with trains he loves. We have lived in the back yard of a train track for 2 years now and he will still run to the window every time he hears the whistle blowing. Even if it means it is 2 in the morning. If he hears it he will go running to the window. He was so excited to be this close to a train I could barely get a picture. He had the biggest grin on his face the whole time we were riding. It was only the little one at the Hogle zoo. I am so excited to take him to Thomas the train in Heber next week.

Before the Game

Brian and Matt were both really excited to get to the game early because they were sure if we did they would have a chance to throw that ball for 145 grand between quarters. Not so much. Instead we were able take a few pictures and watch Andrea go star hunting. She wanted pictures of every famous person she could get. I loved it.

Sites of LA

Even though Brian has lived in California most of his life he had never done the walk of stars. I had never been either. We had some time before our flight and decided to go see a couple of the sites. We must have been on the wrong street because we did not see many names that we recognized or evolved later than the 90's. These are the biggest stars we knew.

More Laker vs Jazz

We took our friends Matt and Andrea with us to the game. They are Utah fans and we are Lakers fans so it was a lot of fun. This is Matt's way of showing his support for the Lakers.

So Brian and I went on our 2nd over night trip without kids since we have been married. Because Braxton was just a tiny baby for our first anniversary (and I am pretty sure we were incredibly poor), we did not do anything. We left him with my sister for our 2nd anniversary for one night. So to make the long story a little shorter, we were able to get away with no kids for a night and go to LA for the Jazz, Lakers game.

Just trying this out

So I am posting a video and picture just to see if this is really working. No exciting news.