These are pictures of the framed pictures I'm entering in the photo contest. This one is the Grand Canyon.

The next 2 are not being entered but are ones I thought about entering.
This pink one is of the sunset with all of the smoke we've had lately.

I'm doing another brave thing this week. I'm entering some of my photos in the Country Fair. We'll see how they do. I've always liked taking pictures. I've never had a class on it, though, so I don't expect too much. My sister has helped me a little, giving me a few pointers and helping me crop. I'll let you know if I win otherwise let's just pretend this didn't happen!

No kids!

This is my newest niece, Lilly, in the cute outfit I made for her. I want to make these and sell them - they are made with vintage handkerchiefs. We went to Winnemucca for her blessing on Sunday. Ben and Sarah were so excited to see their cousins. We made it through church without any problems - we only had to take Sarah out once because she wanted to go potty. And they knew her as Kylee in the nursery because Kannon didn't tell anyone who she was. They asked her cousin, Quade, and he told them she was Kylee. Then they asked Sarah if that was her name and she said, "Yeah." Cute, huh? Then we had a great lunch at their house and the kids played. Grandma P. wanted to take one of Sasha's kids home but they weren't up for it. I said, "you can take Ben." Well, Grandma ended up taking both of my children for the week. I'm dealing with it a little better today. Sunday, driving home was odd and going to bed was weird. I knew Monday morning would be hard. I usually wake up with the sound of the kids watching tv or asking for breakfast, or occasionally fighting. Yesterday there was nothing. I wasn't sure what to do with myself. Don't get me wrong there's plenty to do. It's just odd not having my children to care for or work around.

My mom was having an odd day to. Trying to adjust to having her mother come and stay with her for a few days (she's been in a rehab center and not doing well - they decided to bring her home to, basically, die.) So, I went out to help my mom and she really helped me. I'm glad she's my friend. Anyway, this is the first time in a long time that I've been home without my children. Probably since Ben was born. I've got a huge list of things I want to do. Some weeding out of their things, painting, even some scrapbooking. I feel much more productive today. I'm almost finished blogging and watering the plants. Then on to laundry and cleaning a little.

24th of July

We had a fun 24th of July celebration on Saturday. We combined with another ward for a breakfast. We stopped at a couple of yard sales on our way there. Got some really great games that I'm looking forward to playing with the fam. We ate our pancakes and the kids played. Then they had a parade. This picture is Ben and his friend Hyrum getting ready for the parade.

They had organized a lot of fun games, too. This is Ben being a wheelbarrow with his friend Reed. They didn't do so well. I don't think Reed could hold him up very well and Ben's arms weren't as strong as he would have liked them to be. A few times he was down on his arms instead of up on his hands! But, they finished. He also did a 3-legged race with his friend Luke and then a foot race.
Kannon also did a foot race. He quit three quarters of the way because "I knew I wasn't going to win." He did cross the finish line but by then he was almost walking. I didn't even try the women's foot race because I knew I would lose. I've never been a fast runner and some of the other ladies ARE runners. I didn't want to embarrass my family either by being the last and biggest up there! But congrats to Kim - a winner of the race!!! I did do a piggy-back race with Ben - I didn't win, obviously, but we weren't last either and it was fun. Kannon and I did the water balloon toss and we did okay - that was more for fun anyway. Of course that turned into a little water fight with the leftovers. Ben had a great time throwing them at his friends mothers! Sorry! And I was able to break a few on Kannon that he was holding! It was a good time.

Finding Me!

I've had some neat opportunities this summer to "find" myself. To really discover what I like to do. The summer before the 6th grade my mom signed my brother, sister and I up for summer band. That was my first experience with the french horn and I loved it! I still remember having note-holding contests and trying to be as good as Mr. Fleming. He could hold his breath forever! I played in the school band 6th-9th grade and then I quit. I only had room for one more elective and I picked jazz choir over band. (I would still pick singing in a choir over playing in a band - if I had to choose, that is!) Off and on over the past 5-10 years I've had nightmares where I was supposed to be playing in a concert and couldn't remember anything or I didn't have my instrument. Well, my nightmare came true this summer. Mr. Fleming called me in June and invited me to play in the newly formed city band. He said he'd have a horn I could borrow. The first practice I didn't even stay - just picked up my horn. At home I printed off a fingering chart that I found on the blessed internet and practiced, but I didn't do well. The first practice I went to I mostly just wrote in the fingering on the music and the few times I tried to play I just shook my head a lot. I felt so stupid. There's nothing like sitting next to a kid almost 20 years younger than you and having him teach you what to do. Miraculously, though, I've improved. Each time I practice I get a little better. Within a month Mr. Fleming even commented that I was doing really well, that I was hitting notes I wouldn't even have attempted at the beginning. So, it's been fun. Now I'd like to purchase my own horn so that I don't lose this talent again.

We had our first concert last Thursday. It wasn't advertised real well, but we had a few people show up at the gazebo at the park. It was hot, but fun to perform again after 17 years! So, this is a picture of me afterwards. It's kind of cheesy and I hate my hair in this picture, but I realized that there aren't any pictures of me playing the french horn when I was younger. Sad, but true. I think it must have been because we had such a big family and it was either forgotten or couldn't be afforded (to develop film) - I don't know, but here it is! It was really fun to have my sis and her husband play, too. She plays the saxophone and got to sit right next to me. (I'm still sad you are moving away!)

So I said there were other things that helped me discover myself. At girls camp we had a day that was filled with new experiences for most of the girls. We canoed (I loved that!), rock climbed (which I love to do, but chose not to that day), and they taught us how to use a bow and arrow. I was one of the last to leave the area because I loved it so much. I came away wishing I had my own. (I haven't given up on that desire, yet.) And I wasn't too bad, either. Then yesterday Kannon and I went and played tennis together. Ever since high school when some of my friends were playing tennis, I thought, "if I ever tried tennis I think I'd be pretty good at it." Well, the first time I ever played was on my mission with a couple of the elders. And I stunk! I was also super self-conscious around them, too. So, along the way we've bought tennis rackets for both of us and Ben, too. But we've never actually played. I always thought it would be a fun date. Since we don't have the kids this week I asked Kannon if he wanted to play tennis for a date/FHE and he agreed. We played for just over an hour and I loved every minute of it. He complained about spending so much time picking up balls, but I just chalked it up to fun exercise. I'm still not good. I still miss the ball most of the time (which is why we spent so much time picking them up!) but I did a pretty good serve. I have no idea how to play the game, scoring and what-not. Maybe someday someone will teach me! But, I still loved it and plan on doing it more. Maybe the kids can pick up the balls for us next time!

So now you know a little more about me. I love playing the french horn, shooting the bow and arrow, and playing tennis!

Eight Pounds!

I was so disgusted when I saw this picture of me, I even totally cropped it when I was developing it - but it really shows the weight on me - no cover-ups here!

Okay, so I just can't keep this to myself any more. In the past 8 1/2 years I've gained 80 pounds - ugh! Just typing that makes me sick. And no, it's not from having 2 babies, it's because I was lazy and I love food. Now, in the past month I've lost weight for the first time in those 8 1/2 years! I've lost 8 lbs. and I'm so excited. I think the best thing about actually LOSING weight is that it really motivates me to keep it up. I haven't yet got an exercise program down. I've worked hard to change the fact that most of what I eat is fruit and vegetable. And I'm enjoying that. I've also been working really hard on the house and pulling weeds which I've considered my exercise (considering that it makes me sweat so much!) So, if you see me or talk to me or email or whatever!!! please ask me how I'm doing - help me stay motivated, I'm sure I'll have down times when I don't lose much or any at all. Those are the times I will start feeling like it's pointless and I'll want more support. So, if you don't hear an update from me - please ask me!