Our weekend in Grand Junction

So I am way behind on posting. Perhaps it is because I have discovered the black hole of cyberspace that is Facebook. Man, why do I keep complicating my life when what I really need do is simplify?

Anyway, here are pics from our recent weekend trip to Grand Junction, Colorado. Two of our favorite families, the Jolleys and Vances, live there. They were friends of ours in Philadelphia and how splendid for us that they both happened to move to a town a mere 4 hours away.

Okay so I didn't even get any pictures of Jeena/Tyler or Angie/Kennan. I'm a total dork. But here are all the kids:

Our hike to the Colorado National Monument:

Nate told the kids that they had to climb this huge rock to get there. They put forth quite an effort before we showed them the real trail.

Whoa!

Tanner and Kaden as Indiana Jones

We also went mountain biking while we were there. Nate was in heaven. He was pretty hard core with it in college but hasn't really been since. For those of you who know me well and are having a hard time believing that I did it, here is proof:

I only almost died once. (Actually it was pretty fun! I'm anxious to get better at it.)

Thanks Angie and Jeena for a super fun weekend! Love you guys! I think you have us almost convinced to move there. :p

My Agreement With God

So it turns out that I'm not the perfect mother I always imagined I would be. Drat.

Don't get me wrong. Some days I am awesome. I'm totally at the top of my game, and I think, "Wow, I nailed that. I'm on fire."

But more often, that is not the case. I wake each morning firmly committed to performing my best impression of June Cleaver, but somehow by 10:00 a.m. I'm completely unraveled.

Anyone else know what I'm talking about?

Well, yesterday we were having one of those days. I got a little testy with the kids. I'm not proud of it, but it happened. I kind of ranted and raved. But then mid-lecture I suddenly stopped, and looked at their little faces and thought (and this is me talking to myself inside my head), "What are you doing? Look at these beautiful people God has sent you to look after. Do you have any idea how incredible they are? They are some of God's choicest spirits. Saved through the ages for this time. This place. Because they proved themselves faithful. Valiant. Noble. True. Do you really think you should be lecturing them with that tone?" And then I felt very small. Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising such incredible spirits. Who am I to be their mother? Me? Seriously?

But this is where the Lord comes in. You see, over the years God and I have had many "discussions" on this very topic. I go to Him feeling discouraged and inadequate and He reminds me that He loves these little ones even more than I do and doesn't want to see them fall either. He knows I'm trying. He knows the yearnings of my soul. He knows that I fall into bed each night exhausted... humbled... repentant... determined to be a little better the next day.

I like to think that over the years we've come up with an agreement, me and God: If I try to do my very best (and I do... I DO!), then He will make up the difference. Somehow He will take my flawed parenting and make it good enough, whole enough, to help these amazing little people reach their full potential. There will be bumps along the way. Of course there will. These kids still have their free agency. I understand that. I know I won't be able to control everything that happens over the years. But it gives me confidence knowing that I have a partner in the Lord who knows all things. Me alone, pretty scary. Me and God (and Nate I should probably add because he's a wonderful father!), totally unstoppable.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."

-Alma 26:12

You Betcha!

The Flowbee: an electric powered vacuum attachment made for cutting hair (Wikipedia definition)

That's right...the vacuum sucks your hair up and the flowbee attachment cuts it off.

We have never paid for a haircut for our boys.

Nate hasn't paid for a haircut in over 10 years.

Don't judge til you've tried it.

First Snowfall

Last night we got our first snowfall.

Check out the snowflake on the left- pretty coolThis is always an exciting time for the kids.

In this pic, Will had just gotten out of the bath.

At least he remembered his boots.

This morning we were delighted to find that the snow had stuck.

Or at least the kids were.

I'm not sure that I'm ready for winter.

But ready or not, HERE IT COMES.

10.09.08- Dru and Tyler's Wedding

This week my darling sister Dru got married.
She married her handsome beau Tyler.
Dru and Ty are so happy together.
And that means we couldn't be happier for them!

Dru opted for a simple wedding.
She wanted to put the bulk of the money toward a charming condo for her and Ty.
SMART girl.
My mom made Dru's wedding dress.
(Yes, my mom is super crafty.)
(And yes, Dru is super gorgeous!!)

Dru and Maddie

All the grand kids: Cole (Dori's), David, Will, Jackson (Andrea's), Nora, Tess and Tate (Wyatt's)
The Horsley sibs: Eve, Dori, Andrea, Dru, Wyatt and his wife Chelsea, Maddie, me
The 3 younger girls: Eve, Dru and Maddie
Isn't Dru's hair neat?? LOVE it.
Dru and Tyler with my parents
I have been laughing about this picture for days now.
(But for the record, my dad doesn't think it's that funny.)
Uncle Brian & Nora

Cute Tess
Tired-of-taking-pictures Tess


After the temple, we headed over to our favorite bit of heaven: Cucina Toscana
TO DIE FOR Italian.
My sis Eve probably put it best when she said, "You guys, I think this meal is the best thing that's ever happened to me!"

me and Handsome

Wishing all the best to the beautiful couple.

Ouch!

These are the moments that I am very grateful for a husband that's a pediatrician.

Not that Nate had to apply any advanced medical training for this one.

Just ice and some Tylenol.

But still, I needed assurance that yes, that ginormous goose-egg will someday go away and no, he will not have any permanent brain damage.

Oh Davey...watch out for those doors!

Stinkin Dirt

2007: Installed the sprinkling system

2008: Replaced the main water line

2009: NO MORE digging up the front yard!

TAGGED

My cute sister Eve tagged me. I know- you are all so sick of hearing about me. And I'm not sure I can come up with anything original. My life is an open book- I feel like you all know everything. But here are 6 more random facts.

The rules:

1. Link to person who has tagged you: Eve

2. Post the rules on your blog

3. Write 6 random things about yourself

4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

1. I cannot watch reality TV because I get too nervous and embarrassed for the people on it. I just don't like watching people make fools of themselves. And Sarah Palin...oh, I feel so shy for her right now. I mean- okay, she's not ready to be the VP of our country, but I'm still sad inside that she's been so publicly humiliated.

2. I am a total tightwad. Money stresses me out! (A quality I inherited from my papa!) Every month when I pay the bills/balance the checkbook I am amazed at how expensive life is. Why is this so surprising every month? I don't know. I need to get over it already.

3. I hate shopping and feel very awkward in clothing stores. I feel like the sales people are all staring me up and down, and I have really lost touch with what is in style nowadays and what is not. Everything cute that I wear is something that one of my sisters, sister-in-law or mother gave me. Somehow in a family of many chic and stylish girls, I missed the "hip" gene.

4. When I fold my laundry I play this little game where I imagine that I am 10 years younger and looking at future me folding these clothes and I wonder what I could guess about my family from our laundry. Like would I get that I had 2 boys and 2 girls and that 3 of them were the same size and age? Okay, so it sounds stupid now that I am writing it out...BUT it makes laundry time more fun. (Yes Stacey I copied that word-for-word from the comment that I left on your blog a while ago.)

5. Infertility has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I know that sounds ridiculous, and of course it is, I completely hate it, BUT the lessons that I have learned and the ways in which I have grown from experiencing that particular challenge and our subsequent adoptions have completely altered my life. I am SO grateful to be an adoptive mom. I know that that is something biological moms think we adoptive moms say just to make ourselves feel better, but IT'S NOT! It is such an honor and a privilege to be an adoptive parent and only those that have been through it know what I'm talking about. ;)

6. I love looking at houses. It is a vain obsession of mine. Not that I ever plan on having anything too grandiose. But I still regularly drive through my favorite neighborhoods, and I always know which houses are on the market (even though I don't plan on moving for years). I love OLD houses with charming features like parlor rooms, leaded glass windows and antique doorknobs. My current favorite is this one.

Now I tag: All the ladies in my ward and the Springer girls (you know who you are). I'm not going to follow the rules and post you all a comment...I'm too lazy.