"How Great Shall Be Your Joy!"

Christmas in Bethlehem

2012-01-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

This Christmas, Ken's Mom wanted to do something to really bring the Spirit of Christ into the season! She has a friend that told her about a family tradition they have that they call Christmas in Bethlehem. So, we gave it a try; it turned out wonderful! Ken's Dad and brother, Mark, built a bazaar. They put up a wooden front with sections for different booths. Then we draped the tables with rich colored sheets and table cloths. We pulled different decorations from around the house to add to the theme. Ken even found a translating site he used to write the signs (and all the kids' names) in Hebrew . It really turned out amazing! Then we all dressed up in bath robes and sheets to get into character!

Penny prepared all sorts of near-as-could-be-authentic foods. We had all sorts of breads: bagels, pita bread, Inn bread, pita chips, apple struesel bread

Meat and Cheeses: cheddar, hummus, cream cheese, feta

Fruits and Nuts: figs, dates, olives, oranges, grapes, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, bananas, pears

And Jewish Latkes, which are little potato pancakes made with potatoes, onion, and egg.

Mark also made each of the kids a leather pouch to hold their coins in. We all received an invitation calling us to the house of our ancestors to be counted and taxed. We met at the corner of the road and Uncle Mark took everyone by buggy, to the South Gate.

The kids had to pay taxes to Grandpa and they had to pay Grandma for the food they bought from the bazaar. Then we all sat on blankets to eat.

We even had a blind beggar (Layne) asking everyone for alms.

After the feast, we had a program about the Nativity with song and scripture. My favorite part was at the end when Ned and Penny each said something to us. Penny talked about how when she had children or grandchildren, she never thought she could love another child or grandchild as much as the first; but then how Heavenly Father has blessed our hearts to grow with each new family member and we love everyone so much! It was so sweet! Ned echoed Penny's words and expressed his love for us and his happiness in having us all together.

It was such a memorable Christmas! It brought such a wonderful Spirit and meaning I have never felt before!

Temple Square

2012-01-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

We were so blessed to be able to visit Temple Square again this year! I really hope we're able to make it into a yearly tradition! This was probably the best part for me this Christmas! We went to Salt Lake City in the afternoon to visit Ken's brother Shane and his family. We had a good visit, then we decided to visit Temple Square. It was so beautiful, even in the day time! We didn't stay long enough for the lights, but it was wonderful, nonetheless!

The best part of Temple Square (if you're not attending the temple) is visiting the Christus. It was so neat when Bailey saw it. She stood in front of Him and reached up towards the statue. Then she said, "It's like He's hugging us." It was a really special moment and I'm so glad she recognized it!

We also took a quick visit to the Conference Center. I always love visiting that building!

It was such a wonderful experience to share as a family! It really started us with the right Spirit for Christmas!

Just Another Day in Paradise!

2012-01-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I like to throw in some random pictures of our every day life!

Bailey got some Bath Crayons for Christmas from a friend at school! All three kids LOVE them! They're pretty great!

Lately, the kids "can't sleep" unless Ken lays down with them. He's such a good sport about it; he's often out before they are! :)

Two on one! (literally)

He worked really hard on this one! :)

Play Hard VI: The Next Generation

2012-01-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

THE END...............................or is it just beginning??

Play Hard V: Look Alikes

2012-01-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Buddy the Elf finally found his long lost family!

Play Hard IV: Horseback Lacrosse and Polo

2012-01-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Play Hard IV The Movie!! Now on the big screen, the saga continues! Trying to squeeze every last ounce out of the day, the boys saddled up and brought out the Lacrosse Sticks and Polo Mallets. To even out their trio, their cousin, Tyler Perry (Producer/Camera Man via sky diving cam) joined the fun. Now available on YouTube at: GoPro Polo

Play Hard III: Stuntmen - Grounded

2011-12-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's episode three and those crazy knuckleheads are pushing it to the limit as they risk life and limb in an attempt to chicken fight on a wobbly swing set. Finally, their mother's pleading reaches their ears and they stop short of maiming themselves!

Flying is fun, but they just had to try a ground attack.

Will our heroes survive until next time?.......

Play Hard II: Stuntmen - Airborn

2011-12-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

In this episode, we follow these crazy fellows next door to Mark's back yard where they really put the pillows to the test!

Play Hard I: Fat Men Dancing

2011-12-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

In this episode, would-be stunt men Ken, Mark and Nick think they can appease their mother's fears by using pillows to soften the blows. As a "warm up" they start with a dance off...

Young Garrett looks on with a mixture of embarrassment and... maybe... a hint of admiration?

Quick Trip

2011-12-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

I wanted to get these posts published before Christmas so I wouldn't get behind... again... but... yeah... you know! Anyway, a couple weeks ago, we finally made it to UT. It was a quick trip, but Ken really wanted to go. It was driving him crazy that we were so close and hadn't been there yet! Friday night, we had been invited to a Christmas party for couples at our friend's the Atkinsons. We had a GREAT time!! It was so fun to meet so many people! After the party, we headed out for Utah! It was so cool that we could do that and still get there before 11:00pm! In the morning, we went with Ken's parents and Mark & Alicia to their ward Christmas breakfast. There was some YUMMY food!

They also had paper on the tables so the kids could color. Our kids (especially B) had so much fun with that!!

Grandpa Ned let Taysum wear one of his Christmas hats. When you push the button, it plays music, lights up, and dances around! It's quite the hat!!

And of course we had a visit from Santa Claus! Taysum asked for a hammer.

And Bailey asked for a hammer for Taysum! (Sweet girl)

Hayden was too nervous and didn't want to sit with Santa. :)

Grandpa Ned and Grammy Penny's Nativity scene

Bailey loved the kazoo she got from Santa!

Uncle Ken and little Lizzy

We went over to Uncle Mark's to play and ride horses. Bailey really loved the swing... until she started fighting me when I tried to slow her down to get her out. She did a face plant right into the ground. She had a bloody nose and lip... it was pretty sad! :(

It wasn't enough to deter her from riding horses, though!!

Bailey's favorite was getting to ride Copper!

That night, the grownups stayed up late watching movies and the cousins crashed, too! It was a quick, fun-packed trip!! We were so glad we went! It's a lot easier to only have to drive 3 hours instead of 9! The next few posts will be about Ken and his brothers and all the crazy things they did... yes... they are so crazy, they needed separate posting! :)

My Sweet Girl

2011-12-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

I've written before how my sweet Bailey will just randomly melt my heart and say, "Mom? I love you." Well, this morning, she said that and then she continued, "You know what I love best? I love all my family be safe so I don't be scared." That little girl has so much love inside her and it is such a blessing to have her in our family! She always talks about how she loves all her family. Whenever she plays with a toy, she tells me how it's a part of our family now. My favorite was when she told me baby Jesus was a part of our family now. Whenever she draws (which she LOVES to do) at least one of the pictures is of our family. She's such a precious reminder of love! :)

Update: 1/1/12 Last week I had the stomach flu. Ken said she was pretty worried about me. They came up to visit and B said, "But Mom, you have to make us dinner!" Then she crawled up next to me and patted my arm and said, "Don't worry. You always be our Mom, ok?"

Weekend Silliness

2011-12-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday (12/3) started out pretty silly at our house! Somehow, Taysum and Bailey came up with the idea of doing an Angry Bird Christmas Puppet Show! Ken helped them create a puppet theater and puppets. Then, they put on a show featuring Christmas songs! :)

Behind the scenes!

The audience

"Angry Bird Lake" (Swan Lake) and "Anger of the Birds" (Carol of the Bells)

"B" -hind the scenes

The cast!

Hayden put on a couple performances of his own! :) He LOVES to wear shoes... especially if they are someone else's! The bigger... the better!

He also started doing this funny thing at dinner that night where he'd take Ken's hand and look at it very closely and point at it... it look just like he was reading his palm or something!

I love relaxed, fun, imaginative weekends like this one!! :)

Ken's Substation

2011-12-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to brag on my hubby a bit! One of the biggest projects he was in charge of when he was working for Western Engineering was a new substation for the Four Corners area. The first substation he was in charge of was in Basin, WY. He had never worked with substations before and he just kind of had to learn along the way. He designed, requisitioned parts and workers, and oversaw the building of the substation. He went to town meeting after town meeting to meet the requirements and debate countless issues. He had to talk to land owners, some of them multiple times, about right of ways. He had to work out problem after problem and delay after delay! We could spend hours recounting the stresses, frustrations, and successes of this endeavor, but many of you lived through it with us!

Well, here are the fruits of his labor and success in the Four Corners area!! :) These were taken back in September. I'm so proud of him and all his hard work! He stuck to it and saw it through to the end! I'm so proud of you, hon!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

2011-12-11T00:10:00.000-07:00

So, it was just barely a few days after Thanksgiving, I don't think we were even completely finished digesting the succulent meal, and we dove right into Christmas! I always love it when our house is decorated for Christmas! I love the lights and colors and warmth it all brings; the Spirit of Christ.

After 11 Christmases, we broke in a new tree! Our first tree was given to us by Ken's sister and was a beautiful little tree for us for over a decade. A couple years ago, my sister gave us a larger tree, so we decided to try it out this year. Also, we retired our beautiful star! It was very beautiful, but falling apart more and more each year and it was getting harder and harder to get it to stay on our tree. So, we have also been enjoying our new star this year! It's been a beautiful Christmas season so far, and I pray the true Spirit of the season with grow in my heart a little more each day... even beyond Christmas Day!

Hayden was very excited and curious about all the commotion. He grabbed a Santa hat and sat down in front of the tree, cute as could be, and I just had to grab my camera...

... and of course get everyone involved! :)

A few days later (I know it's the same clothes, but they are clean!) Bailey and Hayden were enjoying some popcorn and a movie in the bean bag.

Then, our little friend Jacob, who visits often from next door came over and joined the party! :) Let the holidays and festivities begin! :)

Giving Thanks

2011-12-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

For Thanksgiving, we went to Lovell. It was really hard to leave Lovell to move to Rock Springs and we were all a bit homesick; so it was nice to be able to go back and visit for a few days. We were so impressed with the kids! We only made 1 stop the whole trip... which, for us, is unheard of! :) Our stop was for dinner at McDonald's in Lander.

The kids were so excited for Thanksgiving and wanted to help as much as they could! Bailey helped Grandma with the pies and made some yummy pinwheels with the leftover crust!

Meanwhile, Taysum was helping Ken put together some shelves and fix a curtain rod for my mom!

We had a great Thanksgiving with my parents, my grandparents the Lindsays, Nick and Lindi and also the sister missionaries! It was so good to be with family and enjoy their wonderful company! :)

For a couple years now, I've wanted to start a Thanksgiving tradition with the kids, and I finally did it this year! I thought it would be fun to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving while eating snacks from Charlie's Thanksgiving Dinner: Toast, Popcorn, Pretzel Sticks and Jelly Beans! It was a big hit with the kids and I'm hoping we'll be able to do it again next year with the Cutler crew! :)

Even the adults sat down to enjoy the show...

The biggest hit, by far, for the kids was Grandpa's iPad; they had so much fun with that and with Grandpa!

It was fun to be with my Mom and sister over the weekend! My mom and I worked on some crafts for Christmas. The three of us also went to watch Breaking Dawn: Part I. We've seen all the movies together, so far, and it was fun to be able to be with them again for that!

I love this time of year when we are given extra opportunity to remember all the many, wonderful things our Father in Heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ have done for us. The greatest gift being, the Gospel and our family! "Both sides" are just perfect for us and feels more like one big family! We have three beautiful, loving children who bring joy and meaning to our life. I've been so blessed to have my love, my friend, my husband by my side, as I am by his through this wonderful life! I could never express the depth of my gratitude for these treasured blessings!!

Snow and Ice

2011-12-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks after we moved to Rock Springs, we endured our first big snow storm! By the weekend, the kids were out playing in the snow with Ken; throwing snowballs and building snowmen!

That evening, we went to Ken's company party at the Rec Center. They had ice skating, pizza and Santa! It was the kids' first time skating and they were bound and determined to do it on their own! They fell down... A LOT, but they always got right back up and tried again! Taysum wasn't doing too bad by the end of the evening!

Hayden and I stayed on the sideline

Up...

and down...

Hayden entertained himself, and me, by climbing up and down the bleachers!

Pizza Time!

Pizza in the Penalty Box!

Tenacious Taysum giving it another try!

Some Things Are Just Really COOL!

2011-12-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

My brother, Elder Anderson, left the MTC in Provo, after being there for 8 weeks, for Chile on Halloween Day. A while later, my parents received an email from his mission president saying he had arrived safely. They also sent some pictures. This is Elder Anderson with President and Sis. Humphry. There was also an address for a mission blog which has been fun to follow!

A few weeks before Tyler left, I was reading in the Ensign about the Area Seventies. I thought it would be cool to see who would be over Tyler's area. I was surprised when I saw a familiar face! Elder Kent F. Richards! He was Ken's Mission President in Texas!! We knew he had been called as a General Authority and it was just really touching to me that my husband's mission president was now a General Authority taking care of the area my baby brother is serving in! What hit home even more, was when I went to the mission blog and there was a picture of all four of them (Pres. & Sis. Richards and Pres. & Sis. Humphry) sitting there together! It was just really something else!

Cowboy Cutie

2011-12-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

No words needed here!

A Night Out with Cliffford

2011-12-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

For FHE one night, we went to a Read In at White Mountain Library. They had a couple very special guests come by to visit!

Clifford and Emily Elizabeth! EE read us a story and then everyone got to take a picture with her and Clifford! The kids really loved it!

Bailey was first in line!

Then they gave each of the kids a free book as well!

Then they got to choose a paw print to sign, promising Clifford they'd be good readers!

At the end, they each got a "doggie treat" (Muddy Buddies Mix)

Thank you, White Mountain Library, Clifford and EE! We had a great time!

WWCC Dinosaur Exhibit

2011-12-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

One really nice thing about living in a bigger city is there are a lot of fun things for families to do! If you know where and when to look, you can find some of these fun activities for free! Like the Dinosaur Exhibit at Western Wyoming Community College. It's free and open to the public. The kids LOVED it and had a good time "hunting down" the location of the next dinosaur. Here are some of the displays we saw:

(Adorable-saurus) :)

This was really cool, too! They had a pendulum suspended from the ceiling. I don't remember/understand all the details, but it somehow it moves with the rotation of the earth?! It was really cool at any rate!

The Tyrannosaurus Rex was the kids' favorite! It was absolutely HUGE! I could tell you I wouldn't want one of those chasing me! I wouldn't get far at all!

Bailey found a cool tree!

The prehistoric cowboy J/K they also had some art exhibits on display as well! It was really great and I'm excited to get more involved in the college activities!

Home Away From Home...Away From Home

2011-12-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ken's first day of work for PacifiCorp at the Jim Bridger Plant here in Rock Springs was October 17th. During the three weeks before we could move to RS, the company put him up in a very nice suite! The kids would have a lot of fun there when we would visit! Hayden looked so tiny in that huge king bed!

The kids LOVED getting to swim there so often!

This wasn't at the suite, but I thought it was sweet (haha) so I threw it in here, too.

After living in a hotel (as nice as it was) I don't know if I'll ever be able to get Ken to stay in a hotel again! :) He was certainly glad when we were finally down here to stay and he could come home to our home after work!

It's Hard to Say Goodbye!

2011-12-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

As anxious as we were to be with Ken again and begin our new life, it was REALLY hard to say goodbye to the wonderful people in Lovell who have done so much for us and our little family! We've made so many friends and have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people who have influenced and helped our kids. We miss them dearly! Not to mention our awesome family! We are so blessed to have been able to have our kids around grandparents, great-grandparents, an Aunt and Uncle and cousins for as long as we did! They loved, supported, and helped us through some of the most difficult and wonderful times! We're excited to visit when we can!

Ms. Lori and Ms. Carol

Mrs. Ashby

We had a little goodbye party for the kids. They had their friends and cousins over for a movie and some pizza. I think they had a good time! My parents were so wonderful to let us do it at their house where we were staying!

Whitney and Marissa

Ozz

Carissa, Quinn, Bailey, Whitney, Marissa, Hayden, Celeste, CJ, Taysum and Ozz

Pizza time!

Computer with the cousins!

That night, Hayden fell asleep in a chair in the room the kids were sleeping in. When I looked in on him in the morning, this is how I found him! :) Pretty tricky there, little boy!

Second First Day of School!

2011-11-22T13:23:00.001-07:00

One of the hardest parts of the move, was the kids were really sad to leave their teachers, friends and schools. After awhile, we were able to get them excited about trying a new school and making new friends.

The school closest to our house had a full first grade, so Taysum gets bused to another school. In the morning, we drop him off at Westridge Elementary (the close school) and then he rides over to Desert View Elementary about 6-7 miles away. After school, he is bused right to our house, but he doesn't get home until about 4:30 or so. We've tried picking him up to save some time, but it doesn't save too much time and he has a great bus driver who he's really gotten attached to. He prefers the bus! :) He and Ken race everyday to see who gets home first! I was very impressed with how welcoming and accommodating DVE has been! They've been great to work with! We got him registered on a Friday afternoon, and by Monday morning, they had a meeting set up with the principal, his new teacher and a para for him! He loves it out there and seems to be doing pretty well!

Hayden wanted to be part of the action as well! He's a great little passenger and shopping buddy as we chauffeur his brother and sister around!

Bailey had kind of a crazy start... in Lovell, she qualified for services to work with a couple things with her speech, so we took her to the Child Development Center here in Rock Springs. She was excited about her Turtle Class, but didn't like that things were so different. They tested her again here, and her teacher said that Bailey is the smartest kids she's ever tested. She said they were getting into parts of the test she had never been in before, and just kind of had to make it up! At this point, they are not concerned about her speech, but gave us a few things to practice with her. So, we transferred her to a private preschool and she really enjoys it there! It's called Littlest Learner Preschool. Mer Lee McCort is her wonderful teacher and she's made some good friends. We've even joined a carpool, so we only have to drive once a week!

Halloween: Party 3

2011-11-22T11:23:00.001-07:00

And of course we went Trick or Treating! I was happy they took such a good picture together! Hayden was the Eency Weensy Spider.

We went with my sister to the Second Ward Trunk-or-Treat. Here are Nicole and Janet.

It got kind of windy and cold right as it started, so we had to bundle up a bit!

Aunt Lindsay and the cousins!

This was really cool! The elders carved these pumpkins. Left to right, if I remember correctly, there's a CTR one, I don't remember the second one, the one that is dark was the Angel Moroni, Then the temple, The Atonement, Christ, and Joseph Smith. I thought they were pretty impressive!! Yes, they are carved!

It was a busy, but really fun Halloween! The movers came and we got them started and then did all our fun craziness! It was a lot of fun to stay with Mom and Dad for a few days!

Halloween: Party 2

2011-11-22T11:16:00.003-07:00

Later that night, we went to the Halloween Party at the Library. They did a great job again this year and the kids had a blast! I was so glad they did it and I thought they had a pretty good turn out! They read some spooky stories, had a fun craft and had a little parade.

Taysum found another little friend who thought it was so cool that they were both Captain America! They had a great time together. When we were leaving, the little boy told his mom, "But I miss him!" It was so sweet!

For a craft, the kids got to make a ghost sucker

Bailey also won a prize! She won the Best Book Character prize because they thought she looked a lot like Fancy Nancy

I always loved the library growing up, and it's been so cool to take my kids and have them involved in activities in the same library I grew up going to! The ladies there are so sweet and they make it a fun time!

Halloween: Party 1

2011-11-22T11:16:00.001-07:00

Our second Halloween adventure was the Halloween Parade at the Elementary School. Taysum was Captain America this year. I didn't like the head piece so much, because it's so close to being a mask, but we figured you can still tell who he is and you can still see most of his face. He was a pretty cute (I mean cool) Captain America!

My nephew CJ was an English Guard

My nephew Quinn was a scarecrow (I love his pose!)

And there's the dancing Captain America! It was kind of fun, because when he came on the stage, I heard a kid yell out in excitement: "It's Captain America!"

Bailey and Hayden were so good during the parade! I was really proud of them! They had a lot of fun watching all the costumes!

My niece Carissa was Snow White

After Nearly 12 Years!

2011-11-22T11:11:00.001-07:00

Some of the appliances we have, we've had since our wedding! My Uncle David and Aunt Sari gave us this microwave. It's been a great little microwave and has hung in there! After our last move in Lovell, it was just tired out and gave up. It's been a great 12 years and we'll miss it! It's been through quite a lot! Here are some of its greatest moments:

It's been with us in two different states
It survived 10 different moves
One time in college Ken took it to our Communications class for a presentation about the Potato Button
A couple years ago, Taysum (for reasons unbeknownst to us) tried to microwave Kool Aid and yelled out "Fireworks in the kitchen!"

Rest in pieces, old friend! You'll be missed!

The Great Pumpkin

2011-11-22T11:09:00.001-07:00

I tried to be strong and make it though... but I just wasn't making it! It was a lot harder for me than I thought having Ken gone. I came to love a appreciate my family so much more!! They were so awesome and so helpful. Ken was so sweet and ended up coming back to Lovell over the weekend and he was such a HUGE help getting things sorted out! My Mom called and wanted to take our kids to see The Great Pumpkin! They had such a good time and thought it was awesome! They had a great time with Grandma!

VIP Halloween Party

2011-11-21T12:00:00.001-07:00

It's fun, but kind of crazy, how we seem to have as many Halloween Parties as we do Christmas Parties anymore!! The kids love it, though and I'm glad they had such good teachers that made it so fun for them! This year for Halloween, Bailey wanted to be a fairy and this is the costume we found. I thought she looked so adorable in it! :) I love her little poses as well! I love having a girl that likes to be girly now and then!

We signed up to bring fruit for her Halloween Party, and this is what I came up with. I just cut up some orange slices and decorated a few more like Jack-O-Lanterns. You can't really see it, but I used a small piece of brown pipe cleaner for a "stem" and curled some green pipe cleaner for "vines." I was pretty happy with how it turned out and it was quick, easy and fun! And the oranges were GONE!

Bailey's class:

Bailey was also up on the spotlight board! It says:
My name is Bailey
At preschool, I like to play with toys and eat some snacks!
When I grow up, I want to be a fireman and climb the ladder to save someone in the tree!
(That one is for you, Uncle Nick! :) )

Just Like My Brother

2011-11-21T11:23:00.001-07:00

Hayden is getting old enough that he is fascinated by what his big brother and sister are doing. Taysum and Bailey are starting to enjoy playing with him as well. Hayden has always loved cars and one of his favorite things to do is watch Taysum play MarioKart on the Wii. Recently he has started to "play" along with him! It's just so cute to me!

PS... please ignore the mess in the background!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-11-20T21:22:00.001-07:00

I just love my family so much! They were such a wonderful help and support while Ken was gone and I was trying to get things ready for the move! One night, I asked my parents to take the kids so I could go through some things and get ready for the move. They were so great! They even took them to my sister's house and helped them carve pumpkins. That was a huge relief, because I had no idea when we were going to do that! I sent my camera along and my Dad got some cute pictures of everyone! I'm so thankful for such a great family! They made it so fun for the kids and I was able to get a lot done! :)

I love this one!

Still Good in the World!

2011-11-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

Around the middle of October, we had one of those experiences that start out horrible and end up wonderful! We had had a lot of kids at our house one day and when they were all home, Taysum came to me with a toy stuck on his finger. He was embarrassed that he couldn't get it off on his own. I think he thought I would be mad. This is the toy that was stuck on his finger (it's an air launcher for foam rockets):

We tried everything we could think of to get it off and 1/2 hour later, and after a call to my firefighter brother, we were at the ER. The nurses and doctor were patient with us and very kind. They tried all they could think of, too, to no avail. Finally, they had to use a cutter they use to cut off casts. Taysum was extremely upset by then and even though I tried to reassure him, he thought they were going to cut his finger off. Finally, it came off! His finger was pretty sore and had a little cut around it, but he was ok other than that. It was quite an ordeal and we were both pretty traumatized by the whole thing. This is what the toy looked like by the end of it:

I regret my first few thoughts towards the company. I was really upset... I even tried to get some advice from a friend of mine who is a lawyer. I didn't necessarily want to make a big stink about it or anything, but I wanted someone to understand how awful this was for Taysum and not just be a comment lost somewhere in Customer Service limbo.

Finally, I called the company. I expected an automated operator with a long list of numbers to push for different departments. However, a REAL person answered! That was the first shock! I calmly explained the situation and her first response was, "Let me see if I can get our Executive VP on the line." Whoa! Shock number 2! Ready for number 3? He answered and listened to me! He empathized with me and seemed truly sincere! He said they hadn't had that happen before and they would certainly look into it. Then he said he wanted to send Taysum a toy to replace the one that was now broken and to say they were sorry this happened. (Of all things to be worried about, Taysum was most concerned that his toy was now broken!) He gave me his email address and told me to send him my information and they'd get something off to him. He asked what he likes, which kind of caught me off guard! This was no small company... the company is POOF-Slinky; the makers of Slinky! I mentioned he likes sports and building things, etc. A few days later, I got an email from his assistant saying a package had been sent. A few days after that, the package came! It was not just a one toy replacement! It was a whole box! And each item was specific to some of the things I had listed as his interests! I was amazed and so touched!

It just did my heart good to know that there are still people and large companies out there who are sincere and concerned in and interested in their customers! It was a great learning experience for me!

Our New House! :)

2011-11-20T14:04:00.001-07:00

Ken started his new job on October 17th. The company put him up in a hotel suite until we could afford to move down there with him. He left on the 15th, after I got back from Super Saturday. He took our safe with him which had some important documents in it that he needed for some paperwork to start. It turned out he had left the key in Lovell. So, I decided to head down there. I made arrangements for Taysum and Bailey with Aunt Lindsay, Grandma Anderson and our friend Nicole for "sleepovers" (which the kids were really excited about) and rides to and from school. I'm so thankful for so many wonderful people who are so loving and kind and helpful to our family! We packed up and Hayden and I headed for Rock Springs. Hayden was so wonderful on the trip! He got a little car sick on Monday, but what started out as a crazy rush ended up being a great and productive trip! I was able to contact some schools and visit possible places to live. Just by chance, we found the perfect place! I was touring an apartment we were considering and across the street, there was a subdivision of town houses. I thought, there's got to be something for rent in there! As I was driving in, I noticed a billboard with a contact number on it for rentals. I called and was able to arrange for a tour that evening. We loved it and told the manager we'd take it! It was such a relief to know where we were going to be living!

It's a part of a duplex and this is it from the outside.

Nice, big garage

I LOVE the kitchen!!

The Living and Dining Rooms are connected, and very open with the kitchen.

We have a good sized backyard completely fenced in! They also allowed us to have Tempo! We had him debarked and it's working out just great!

We also have a nice, little pantry

The boys' room

Can you guess whose room this is? :)

The kids' bathroom

The laundry room

It is awesome! They provide a washer and dryer and it's upstairs next to the bedrooms!!

The master bedroom

The master bathroom

There is also a 1/2 bathroom downstairs. I just love it and was so excited that things fell into place so quickly and so well! We were so very blessed!

The best part of the trip (aside from being with Ken) was being able to meet and visit with the Atkinsons. Jeff and Jen hung out with Ken in High School. I've heard a lot about them, but I was finally able to meet them and their cute kids. It was like we had been frinds forever and we had a great time getting to know them better! It was really nice to know we have friends there! We actually know quite a few people: Tony and Michelle Hall (I went to HS with them), the Atkinsons, the Stauffers, the Sorensons, the Hisers, the Wills; and there are a few Lovell people in Green River as well including Steve and Stacia Tirrell! Living in Rock Springs is going to be great!

The worst part of the trip, however, was on the way home. Lindsay had let me borrow their Expedition for the trip. We were nearly home, in Greybull, and I hit a deer! I didn't even see it until I hit it! It was crazy! It hit the front left corner... I didn't know what else to do, so I just kept driving. I got home and it looked like the only thing damaged was the front headlight. However, the next day, We could see that the whole side was dented and damaged... so it hit the front and then rolled off along the side and dented up the doors. I felt so awful! Come to find out, they were trying to sell it so they could buy a new vehicle. Long story short, we bought it from them and it worked out just fine. It was a real blessing in disguise for us; we were looking to buy a used SUV anyway and it's a good vehicle; luckily the damage (other than the light) is cosmetic. The very next week, Ken was coming home for the weekend and the car in front of him hit a deer. It totaled that vehicle and then Ken ran over it and got a flat tire. He was able to get the spare on and make it home. The next day when we got it fixed, they found it had been a tooth that had punctured the tube! Ken's accident cost a couple thousand less than mine, but it all worked out and we're very thankful that we're all ok and still have working vehicles!!

VIP Volunteer Fire Department

2011-11-20T13:51:00.001-07:00

One of my kids' favorite activities at the VIP Preschool has been Fire Safety week. They just LOVE making their fire engines and wearing their very own fire hat. They also love getting to see the firemen in their full gear and equipment and exploring the fire engines. Here's our little VIP volunteer firefighter, Bailey.

Relief Society Centerpiece 2011

2011-11-20T13:38:00.001-07:00

I was asked again this year to create a center piece for the tables for the General Relief Society Broadcast in our Stake. I was really happy they asked me to do it again. It was really fun to put together, after I figured out how I wanted the layout (tons of thanks to Becky Rael for your help on that!!) I was pretty happy with how they turned out! It's a two sided card that stands up on the table; the same thing is on both sides. There weren't enough of any one kind of button for all of them, but these are the four types I used.

While the Cat is Away... the Mice Shall Play!

2011-11-20T13:07:00.001-07:00

Even though the prospect of moving was overwhelming, we still couldn't resist some fun! On September 10th, the Lovell 5th Ward had a ward Relief Society temple day. I was able to go with my very, very dear friend, Janet. We rode together and it was so fun to have that time to talk. Another sweet friend, Jill, was there, too and the three of us had a wonderful experience participating in Initiatory work. It was such a great time and I'm so grateful I was able to go! After the temple, we all went to lunch at Olive Garden. We had a great turnout and it was so fun to see such a large group of sisters all together!

Meanwhile... back on the ranch, Ken and the kids were having a good time, too! They went to the Bike Rodeo. It's an annual event in Lovell to teach kids bike safety. They get a free helmet, if they don't have one, and go through all sorts of fun obstacle courses to learn and practice bike safety. Taysum had a great time on his bike and Bailey loved being on her scooter. I'm so proud of Lovell for providing such wonderful, educational, fun activities for the kids! :)

When they got home from the "rodeo," our good friends, Brad and Mary Ann Sapp, called up Ken and invited them to go boating! Ken couldn't resist! They packed up and headed out to the lake...

I wasn't there, so I don't know much more than what is in the great pictures Mary Ann sent on to me... I'm a little glad I wasn't there... it makes me nervous just seeing Hayden on the tube... I know Ken is very cautious and safe with the kids... I'm just a wimp! I'm glad they got to go and had such a great time! We miss our friends, the Sapps!

Ken and the girls: Bailey and Aimee Lynn

Bailey's First Day of Preschool

2011-11-19T23:32:00.001-07:00

Our beautiful miss Bailey Grace started Preschool this year at the VIP Preschool. She has been so excited to go to school. We've been so fortunate to have this wonderful program! Miss Carol and Miss Lori are just the best and we love them! Here are some cute little school girl poses! :)

Lovin' her Tinker Bell backpack

Here she comes, world!

Her very own cubby

A welcome from Miss Lori

Signing in

Hayden was ready to sign up, too!

Question of the Day with Miss Carol

Do you have a dog?

Getting right into it!

She had a lot of great kids in her class, including her best friends Whitney and Marissa and Owen from her primary class!

We're so proud of you, Bailey! We know you will do great things as you continue to be curious and love learning! You're growing up so fast and we love the little lady you are becoming!

It's a Good Life!

2011-11-19T23:10:00.001-07:00

These are just some fun, random pictures! :)

Ken went on a business trip to the Four Corners area in the middle of September. He saw these zebras and got to pet them. He wanted to make sure he got a picture. One of the guys he was with said he told his daughter and she didn't believe him. Ken was excited for Bailey to see these pictures. Also, while on this trip, he was offered the job in Rock Springs! It was unreal and didn't seem possible! We were excited, but nervous!

Tyler and a Trip

2011-10-11T11:36:00.000-06:00

We had so much going on the end of August. The most wonderful, and emotional, was seeing my youngest brother off on his mission! Tyler is just... good! He's such a good person! We love him so much and really miss him! He's so caring, considerate, and generous! So strong, humble and kind! I was able to be with my parents and sister when Pres. Caldwell set him apart as a missionary. That was my first experience attending a missionary setting apart and it was incredible! The missionary spirit is very unique; powerful and exciting! I am so glad I was able to be part of it! All too soon, came the day we sent him off! He had to be to the Cody airport super early in the morning and I was able to go see him off with my parents. Another missionary from Lovell was also headed out on the same plane. Elder Ethan Croft is serving in Africa; it was fun to have the Crofts there as well.

Elder Anderson and Elder Croft

The Elders and parents

My baby brother!

Chad also made it up to say goodbye!

Tender moments

Ready to board!

Well, he didn't quite make it without a hitch... the wind was really strong that morning and they asked someone to volunteer to go on a different flight. No one would volunteer, so they picked someone randomly and... yup... Tyler was the lucky draw! :S It was a little stressful, but they got things figured out and he was able to leave on a flight later that same day; around noon. In a way, it was kind of nice because he was able to take a good nap!

I'm so glad that I went! Later that day, we headed out on a trip of our own. Ken got an interview in Rock Springs, WY for a job as an Engineer for PacifiCorp. He did well in his phone interview and was invited to Rock Springs for a face to face interview. We had the chance to go with him. Taysum stayed with Gpa and Gma Anderson so he wouldn't miss school. Hayden and Bailey did really well on the trip and we enjoyed it! We also took the kids swimming at the hotel and now Bailey always talks about how going to Rock Springs = going swimming!

First Day of First Grade

2011-10-11T11:21:00.001-06:00

I just cannot believe how grown up this kid is getting to be! We're so proud of him and how far he's come over the years. We've had to overcome some difficult things and we're still working on it; but overall, it's been a privilege and a miracle to be this special boy's mother.

Taysum was very excited to be a first grader! He has a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Ashby, and he just loves school! Everything has gone very well getting accommodations in place for him and he is just thriving! These are some pictures of him on the first day!

(I try to convince him it's ok to leave the top button undone, but he insists on having all the buttons buttoned!)

Awesome Mario backpack from Gpa and Gma A

Grandpa and Grandma Taysum

2011-10-10T09:47:00.000-06:00

Well, we're almost to the end of August postsz! This was one of, if not the, best part! My Grandpa and Grandma Garrick came to visit! They live in California and we only get to see them once every few years. I've always admired them and it's a very special time when they come! They came to be part of Tyler's farewell. We also had the chance to go up to Five Springs. We were still busy finishing up moving and settling in, so it was a nice break! Five Springs is one of my favorite spots! The kids had a great time, too!

We roasted some hotdogs for dinner.

Hayden really loved the watermelon!

Taysum got his name from his Great-Grandpa Garrick. Taysum was his mother's maiden name and is his middle name... so it's a pretty special name! Grandpa is always so kind to Taysum and tries to make a connection with him. He always points out they are both Taysums...we call him Grandpa Taysum sometimes.

What else but S'mores for dessert!?

The bros-in-law!

Father and daughter

Mother-in-law and son-in-law

Tyler's farewell was wonderful! He did a great job and I know he's going to be a wonderful missionary! It was so great to have some time with Gpa and Gma G as well! They are among the most wonderful people you could know!!

Ward Campout

2011-10-07T10:26:00.000-06:00

Each year, our ward has a camp out. It's always a great time! This year, I din't go because Hayden wasn't feeling very well, so we stayed home. Ken took the other two and they all had a great time!

4 Wheeling with the Carpenters

Good Morning, B!!

Bro. Thomas took the ward rappelling, too! Bailey really wanted to do it, but the gear was too uncomfortable for her, so she decided not to.

Our little dare-devil, Taysum loved, it though! I was really proud of Ken for taking them. I would have been so scared to death of them being on a cliff like that, I probably would have lost it. He said it was a little unnerving, but our wonderful ward members were very helpful!

Our New House

2011-10-06T09:03:00.000-06:00

Things have been really interesting and busy in the Cutler household! The first big change was a move! It's a long story, but we were so very blessed to find a home to rent that would be a great relief on our finances. Since you can see our "old" house from our "new" house, as it's just around the corner, we were able to move in gradually. It was a little difficult on the kids, but I think they handled things pretty well! We had so much help from family and friends, it was so wonderful! We are finally settled in and we really enjoy our new home!

Hayden helping me sweep! :)

New House

Living Room

Our Bedroom

Utility Room (which I LOVE having!!)

Pantry (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!)

This Patio is like another room in the house! The kids love playing on it; Hayden would stay out there all day, if we'd let him! :) I love the way B says patio. She pronounces it like pot(like to boil water in)io... it's pretty cute! :) The backyard and garage are great as well! There is a clothes line in the back as well, which was great to use during the last bit of heat we've had!

Yeah, ok... we're not ones to have inside furniture outside, but it's a covered patio and we have no room inside for it... we're not sure if we're going to keep it or get rid of it, so for now...

B showing us the Kitchen...

Our Office/Gym/Dining Room

(There's a treadmill hiding behind the corner)

Bathroom

Kid's Playroom/Bedroom

These mirrors are something else!

As you can see, we're pretty comfortable in our new home! :D

Cash Reunion 2011

2011-10-05T14:38:00.002-06:00

The day after the Dave Stamey concert, we headed out for Utah! When I thought about it, I realized that we hadn't been there in 9 months!! We were excited to get to spend some time with the Cutlers! Since we were able to leave in the morning, we didn't get in too late, which was nice. The next day, we packed up and headed towards Heber. There is a large camp there owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They use it mostly for Young Women's Camps, but on weekends they aren't booked, they allow families to rent it out. It was a great location for a big group like the Cash clan! It was very beautiful and comfortable. The thing that amazed me the most was the deer! They weren't afraid of people at all! We saw this Mama and two babies everywhere we went! It was something else! This is them taking a leisurely stroll right through our camp site! They weren't more than 30-40ft. away! It didn't even spook them as we all came out of the cabin to see them!

The pavilion where we did most of our activities was surrounded by this wonderful, soft sand. This is where Hayden spent most of his time! Playing in and eating the sand! xp

Bailey really enjoyed the craft table! Taysum and Bailey each made a little foam teddy bear for the other!

However, I think one of the biggest attractions was the table trolley rides!

After lunch on the first day, most everyone went to ride the zip line! Ken was really excited to take the kids, but Bailey decided she wanted to come back to the cabin. So, B, Hayden and I stayed in the cabin and took a nap, read, and relaxed. Taysum, however, was quite the little trooper, I was told! He had NO fear and acted like a pro on the zip line! He climbed up all by himself, saying the whole way, "I think I can, I think I can!" Once he got to the top, he set off with a grand Diego/Superman pose all the way down! Then rest of the day I heard over and over how impressive he was! :)

That night, we celebrated a wonderful lady! We celebrated Grandma Mary Ellen's 80th birthday. Ken's mom was in charge of the reunion this year; she really wanted it to focus on Grandma ME and to be a special tribute to her.

The program began with the oldest grandchild of each family sharing memories of her. We heard from: Shane, Molly, Jed, Katie, and Allie(?). John and Joel's families emailed Mom with some memories as well and she read them. There were lots of tears, laughs and hugs!

There were a few performances as well. The first stanza of the poem "It Couldn't Be Done" by Edgar Albert Guest is a heartfelt mantra for the Cash family. All the great-grandchildren memorized it and recited it for Great Grandma. It was so powerful to hear as all the children recited it with confidence and love!

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, [I] with a chuckle replied
"Maybe it couldn’t," but [I] would[n't] be one
Who [had said] so [until I'd] tried.
So [I started] right in with the trace of a grin
... If [I] worried [at all] [I] hid it.
[And I] started to sing as [I] tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and [I] did it!

Per Penny's request, the Nick Cash family was able to come up with a song. It was titled, "That's What M-E Means to Me." I'll have to find our copy of it, so I can save the words!

Also, Ken had written a poem for his Grandma. He did a great job!

After the program, we had cake and ice cream!

You can't get a bunch of Cashes together without having homemade ice cream! To liven things up a bit, it was made into a contest with ME being the judge! She was a pretty tough judge, too! Kristen Kassing was the big winner, though! (Her's was my favorite!)

Ken, ME and Holly (Ken's sister)

In my opinion, we were in the "fun" cabin! Ken's brother's Mark and Nick and their families shared a cabin with us! It was a busy place! ;)

Hayden and Lucy "arranging" the furniture!

These four are closest in age and always have a great time together!

The three youngest, each a month apart!

Bedtime stories with Aunt Alicia

We did have a pretty big scare during the night. In the next cabin over, Ken's nephew Layne (14) fell out of the top bunk... as near as we can tell, he was sleep walking. He landed on his head and it split. He was bleeding heavily. All the adults were scared to death. They got him down to the hospital and all he needed were stitches. He was back in the morning before everyone was up! It was scary, but also a miracle!

The breakfast crew!

My favorite thing about getting together with the Cashes is the music! They are a talented bunch and it's a lot of fun to just sit around and listen! We have guitars, mandolins, violins, banjos, drums, and wonderful voices!

Just Bailey

We also had a talent show (another tradition). This time, only the young kids participated. We had a lot of singing, but we also had gymnastics, jokes, and stand up comedy! I have to admit though, I was one proud Mama. Taysum and Bailey got up there (with no encouragement or direction from us) and sang "Gitchi Gitchi Goo" from Phineas and Ferb. They did a great job and they got the loudest applause!

What a look! :)

He's a star!

After the talent show, Ken and Taysum went with a group to go on the paddle-boats. They had a good time with that, too, but we didn't end up with any pictures! One "funny" story, though... while they were out in the boats, Taysum had to go to the bathroom. So, he just stood up and decided the lake was as good as a toilet! Luckily, the Camp Missionaries didn't seem to realize exactly what he was doing, because he only got in trouble for standing up in the boat!

Another Deer sighting!

It was a quick, but great two days! We even had time to go back to Grandpa Ned's and Grandma Penny's and have some fun with just the Cutlers. The kids watched movies while the adults played games upstairs.

I love this picture!

Ken and his four brothers have created a series of ridiculous competitions which they call the "NavaJo Challenge." They think up feats of strength, agility, balance, pain and silliness and they compete to see who is the most.... I don't even know! Anyway, they do crazy things like: push-up contests, the slapping game (don't ask), leg and arm wrestling, races, obstacle courses and anything else that comes to their crazy minds. I do have to admit, it is pretty entertaining to watch and I love seeing Ken with his brothers! This is Mark during one of the races.

We had a great time with our family and we are so blessed to have such a fun, talented, fantastic family to be with!!

Buckaroo Man

2011-09-26T12:01:00.000-06:00

Around ten years ago or so, my bro-in-law, Mark, introduced us to the talents of Dave Stamey (davestamey.com). He's a Cowboy Entertainer and we've really enjoyed his music over the years. Early this past summer, I did a search on his tour schedule to see ifop it would be feasible to attend one of his concerts. Turns out he was performing in Cody in August! When I did the search, it was the end of May or so, so I thought tickets would be the perfect Father's Day gift!

The performance was going to take place at Robin's Nest Bed & Breakfast (robinsnestcody.com). I called to see about tickets. She explained that it was a private party, but they invite anyone who would like to come. They just asked for a small donation to cover Mr. Stamey's expenses and to bring a dish for a pot-luck. It sounded perfect! Since there weren't any actual tickets, I made up this little card for Ken to open on Father's Day:

He was thrilled with the idea and SO excited! Even though it was kind of a long time to wait! On August 10th, we headed up to Cody. This place was just amazing! The food was fantastic and there was just such a fun atmosphere! Dave Stamey was so great! We enjoyed it so very much and had a great time meeting him! It was a great experience and I'm so glad Ken and I got to share this evening together!

(Sorry the view is sideways!)

Father's and Son's Campout

2011-09-22T08:33:00.002-06:00

This year, Ken took the boys (yes BOTH boys) on the Father's and Son's Campout! I kept telling him he could leave Hayden, but he said, "He's my son, too!" I was so impressed that he took him and they all had a great time! Bailey was sad that she didn't get to go. We were in the process of moving to our new house (around the corner) so I told her we'd have a campout there and we had a good time. I was able to get a lot of painting done!

Soccer Stars!

2011-09-20T08:46:00.001-06:00

Soccer season is a busy time for our family! I'm glad that Ken has had the chance to help boost the soccer program here in Lovell! He's a great coach and very patient with the little guys!

Taysum was SO excited about the soccer camp! I can't believe how grown up he looks to me in this picture!

Bailey was thrilled to be Daddy's Assistant Coach! She expected everyone to listen to her and we finally had to take the whistle away! ;)

Hayden was the team's biggest fan!

Taysum did much better than last year! He started out strong and was right in the game! He even made some great blocks! We are so proud of him! After a few games, though, he decided he was done and that was that.

B's Birthday

2011-09-19T14:10:00.000-06:00

August 2007

August 2011

Our sweet little B is 4 years old now! It's unbelievable! She is such a sweet, loving, helpful girl! At least 4 or 5 times a day she'll say, "Mom? I love you." She always wants to help whether it's laundry, dishes or cooking! When we're at the store and she sees something out of place, she has to put it in the right place! She always says the cutest things and keeps us smiling! Some of her key words lately are: actually, observation, and that makes sense. She knows she's a "Big" girl now and, in most respects, I think she's pretty mature for her age! She still has her love for animals, but she is also becoming more "girly"!

She was SO excited to turn 4 and I think she had a pretty fun birthday! She really likes the movie "Tangled" and it's the first real interest she's shown in princesses, so I was very excited to do a "Tangled" themed party!

The morning began with presents

Her nick-name is B, so we bought a Bee necklace for her.

Tangled shirt

Rapunzel doll (I love that she is starting to like dolls!)

Good morning, sleepy head!

So this was my idea for a Tangled cake: I love that a cast iron skillet is the weapon of choice in the movie, so I had to incorporate that! Then I used the "sun" theme and lots of purple. I found the little doll for a topper and it came with a cut out of the tower, so I threw that in there, too. It wasn't exactly what I had pictured, but I was pretty happy with it!

This was kind of a last minute idea I had at the store, I grabbed some head bands, yellow streamer and double sided tape and this is what we came up with for Rapunzel hair!

My mom was such an incredible help and the party seriously would have flopped if not for her!! Thanks SO much, Grandma!

This gift was a big hit with all the kids (fruit snacks).

Some serious gift opening going on!

The boys started some cup stacking and they were making some pretty impressive structures!

Time for a pretty princess wish!

Bailey had fun with a bubble blower from her cousins and the girls really enjoyed all the bubbles!

Hayden is really hard to get a picture of anymore. When he sees the camera, he just wants to see the picture and comes running before you can even take it!

We are so blessed to have this beautiful, sweet girl in our family! We love you, B!!!

Forever Family

2011-09-18T17:17:00.001-06:00

The end of July was a great week of family!

My brother Matt came to visit for a week and we had a great time with him! Everyone else was working during the day, so we were really lucky to get to have him to ourselves quite a bit. He was such a great help! We love our Uncle Matt!!

Sweet brother helping Bailey get her sandals on!

Lovin' on lil' bro!

Brings new meaning to... Coneheads!

July 30th was one of the most incredible days of my life! Just one of those "glimpse into Heaven" days. My youngest brother went through the temple to receive his endowment. Both parents and all five kids with their spouses (except 1... :( we missed you SO much Megan... I hope the wedding was great, though!) were in the temple together! It was such a wonderful and precious experience!

It was also neat because our cousin Yosef also went through the same session. He will be serving his mission in Germany! After the temple, we went to Olive Garden for lunch... Yummy!

My brothers! :D

Who would have thought!?

2011-09-08T12:29:00.001-06:00

Oh me of little faith! Honestly, when I planted my garden, I really didn't think anything would grow! I was just thrilled when something sprouted at all let alone actually producing!!! Huh!

Great Grandpa

2011-09-08T12:27:00.003-06:00

My kids have really been into Angry Birds lately! Taysum thought it would be a good idea to make Angry Bird masks. He's the Red Bird and Bailey is one of the Piggies!

July 24th is my Grandpa D Vincent Anderson's birthday! We celebrated with a family dinner. It was really fun to be together to celebrate Grandpa! He's a tough guy, but he is very loving and really wants the best for us. I love you, Grandpa!

Grandpa and Grandma

Yellowstone

2011-09-08T12:18:00.000-06:00

In July and August, the Anderson crew was trying to do some fun things before my youngest brother Tyler left for his mission. One of those fun things was a trip to Yellowstone! It was a bit of a crazy trip for the Cutlers, but we survived! Right as we got into the park, we were on a very narrow, very crowded road. Everyone was going super slow, because there was also a buffalo on the road. There was no place for any of us to go, and I think he might have been feeling a bit cornered; he was trapped between a rock face and cars. My parents were ahead of us, and we saw the buffalo take a swing at them with his head... well, we were next in line.... and this time he didn't miss! He left a big dent in our van door. At first it was a shock and almost humorous, but the more we thought about it, the more sobering it became! If he had hit it a few inches higher, he would have likely shattered the window that Hayden was sitting right by. A few inches to the left or right and we wouldn't have been able to use the door any more. A few inches lower, he could have done damage to the tire, tire well, or door. We were actually pretty blessed. He rocked the van pretty well and it shook the kids up a little. Hayden let out a nervous whimper and the kids still talk about it today. Mostly they just thought it was really rude of the buffalo to put a dent in our car! :) Makes for a good memory, though... I guess!?
We stopped for a quick bathroom break and the kids skipped some rocks on the lake. It was amazingly full!!

Then it was on to Old Faithful! Our "luck" continued as we got out of the car and I snapped Ken's new fishing pole on accident. He was nice about it, of course, but I felt so bad!! We tried to brush it off and went to see the geyser!

We got our seats to watch 'er blow, but we had to wait a while.

Some of us decided to hike around the other mineral pools while we waited. On our walk, we saw some other smaller geysers go off.

Still waiting...

3..... 2..... 1.....

BLAST OFF!!

Next, we went to find a place to eat our picnic lunch. We found a BEAUTIFUL spot right by the river! It was really perfect! ... that is until Taysum fell in the river... he got right out, but was soaked! Luckily, I had packed some extra clothes.

Our next "fun" event was on the way to our next stop. Hayden got car sick and threw up all over himself and his car seat. Again, luckily I had an extra set of clothes. We got him all cleaned up and on our way again. We were going to meet up with the Andersons and Lindsays, but I'm a poor navigator and we missed our turn. By the time we figured it out, we had to back track a ways. We met everyone at the intersection to the next stop. They were going to go on to the next point and wait for us. We could have gone on, but we didn't want to miss the falls.

My favorite stop in Yellowstone is Artist's Point.
You can see the yellow stone for which the park is named,

You can also see the magnificent falls!

Finally we caught up with our family at the mud pots, but the Lindsays had decided to go on home. It was a fun day despite the TONS of bathroom stops, the overhaul on our van door, breaking Ken's fishing pole, the carsickness and all the wardrobe changes!! We were glad we went!

This isn't "our buffalo" but you can see how they just walk around like they own the place! Can you believe the nerve of this guy?! ;)
I've been through Yellowstone dozens of times and the novelty of buffalo has kind of worn off. The rest of the day when I'd see them, though... they made me a little nervous!

Ken had promised the kids they could go fishing. It is really expensive to fish in the park, so on the way home, we stopped at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir west of Cody. Ken spent most of the time just trying to get the kids' lines untangled. They were really upset that they didn't catch anything, but at least we kept our promise to them, right?! ;) To end the day, Bailey had an accident, and we used our last change of clothing.

Ken's a die-hard and was determined to fish, even though he only had half the pole to fish with!!

Finally...at the end of the day... we did make it home! :)

Splish Splash

2011-07-25T21:05:00.005-06:00

It's amazing how much fun can be had with some kids, and a little water!!

The cutest little thing Hayden does lately is he likes to sit on "big" chairs; then he pats the seat next to him because he wants you to sit with him! :)

The Croft Menagerie

2011-07-25T20:20:00.003-06:00

May I just say, "GO WYO!!!"

A couple weeks ago, our friends, the Crofts, invited us over for dinner. It was so delicious! The kids' favorite part was seeing all of their animals. They have hedgehogs, a baby raccoon, dogs, and birds. They loved it! The kids were excited, but a little unsure about the hedgehogs!

Another Look at My Garden

2011-07-22T07:12:00.004-06:00

I know this may sound a little pessimistic, but I really didn't think anything would grow when I planted my garden. I figured even if they did grow, the grasshoppers would get them. I've never had much patience when it's come to plants, but they are actually growing great! They may even produce, which would really be something! :)

BeansAn actual bud!
White potatoes
Red Potatoes
Pumpkin

OK, I have a little confession to make. When I planted the garden, I only had one potato. So, I planted it and then got some red seed potatoes the next day. So, a few days later, I planted the reds along with the white... or so I thought! I guess I wasn't paying much attention, because I planted them in the pumpkin barrel! So, I have one white potato in a barrel by itself and four reds with one pumpkin in another barrel! It's a little crowded, but so far so good! :s

And the first zucchini flower!

We have a tree that hangs over from the neighbor's yard and we have to cut it back every year. This year, Taysum thought it would be fun to make a nest out of the branches Ken cut. They were pretty proud of their little nest! :)

Silly Kiddos

2011-07-22T07:11:00.002-06:00

These are just some fun pictures of our crazy Cutler kids!
May the Force be with you!

Taysum tasting a lime!

Fourth of July 2011

2011-07-22T07:10:00.002-06:00

Fourth of July!! What more can I say?! The kids were so excited to dress in their "America clothes."

Taysum and Bailey making an "oo" with Ken's juggling rings
We went out to the lake with the family. The kids love Horseshoe Bend! We had a great time with the Andersons and Lindsays!

Later that evening we had a yummy Bar B Q at Grandpa and Grandma's!
Grandpa had set up his new wall tent and the kids had a blast playing in it!
Then, when it started getting dark, we went out to the Lindsay's for fireworks. They always put on a good show!

We are so very blessed to live in this amazing country! And even more so to live in this beautiful part of that country! I'm so especially thankful to have the freedom to spend such a wonderful time with my family!

Mustang Days 2011

2011-07-22T07:09:00.002-06:00

Taysum has been going to a school program called Pup's Club. It's a summer program where they get to read, do crafts, sing songs, play games and just have a good time! I was hired as a sub and have had a great time helping out and getting to be with Taysum! The week of Mustang Days, they were in the park. This is the robot Taysum drew with sidewalk chalk.Friday night, Ken and the kids went camping with my family. Matt and Megan were in town, so it was a fun group. I kept Hayden home because he was pretty sick. Saturday was the parade and it was a beautiful day. The kids had a lot of fun and really enjoyed all the candy! We sat with Chad's family. This was our crew!

Carissa was on the Dance Academy float. Bailey had been invited as well, but she didn't get back from camping in time. The little girl to the left is in my primary class! :)
Matt rode on his 10 year High School reunion float.
Later that evening, we had a family dinner at Uncle Dan's. It was really nice to see everyone and we had a great time! I love my family!!

After the dinner, we got the kids all ready for bed and then headed to Horse Shoe Bend for the fireworks! We took a movie for the kids to watch on Ken's laptop. Best. Idea. Ever!!

It was a little crazy this year. We were sitting next to some noisy neighbors. Then, just before the finale, someone started to leave and was shining their headlights right in our faces for a long time which made it hard to see the fireworks. Then they went tearing through! It was scary and annoying! Usually, I'm a lot more into Mustang Days, but this year I was sick and Hayden was sick. We still had a nice time, though!

At the Drive In

2011-07-22T07:02:00.001-06:00

We figured the Sapp family hadn't had nearly enough of our craziness, so the day after our Gillette trip, we went to the drive-in with them to see Kung Fu Panda 2. I had also been invited to a baby shower in Powell, so Ken took the kids to the park while I went to the shower and then we went to the drive-in.

It was a pretty good time. Hayden was just going nuts and wiggling all around. Then, all the sudden he crashed and was out! :) Drive-ins are always fun!

Our Trip to Gillette

2011-07-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

During the middle of June, we went with Ken on a business trip to Gillette. There was a big oil show there and Western Engineering had a booth set up. Ken and his co-worker, Brad, left super early in the morning. Brad's wife, Mary Ann, and their two kids drove over with us later in the day. It was a pretty good trip, and the kids did pretty well! Hayden got a little car sick and we had to stop and do some major clean-up. Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful drive. I really enjoyed getting to know Mary Ann a little better; we actually have quite a bit in common!

We got there quite a bit later than we had planned, but the kids were set on swimming. We settled a bit and then headed to the pool. For dinner, we just ordered pizza to the room. We were watching their kids while Brad and Mary Ann went to the banquet for the oil show. When they got back, we were able to meet up with the Ringer family! It's been a while since we've seen them and it was so great to get to hang out with them for a bit and see how well they are doing! Some of our friends are really struggling right now and it was really refreshing to know that even though the Ringers had difficult things in their life, they've come through it and are as wonderful as ever! They are great friends and we love getting to have some time with them! We were all so exhausted and it was so late by the time we got back to our room, we all pretty much crashed right away. I stayed up doing some laundry from Hayden's little mishap. It was kind of crazy, because I had to drive around for quite a while trying to find some laundry soap! I finally got to bed and we all slept pretty well!

Breakfast the next morning was amazing!! Ken and Brad had pretty much accomplished what they needed to at the show, so they went to man the booth for the morning, then came and got us for lunch. Then we decided we were so close to Devil's Tower (45 min.) we couldn't pass up the chance to go! Ken's been wanting to go there for quite awhile now! I'm so glad we took the time to go! It was so beautiful and it was an incredible sight! I know I went with my family when I was young, but I didn't remember much of it! It was mostly fun to see Ken so excited about it! The kids had a great time, too!

We went back to Gillette and the guys tore the booth down. We stopped by Wal Mart and I did some shopping for Bailey and I, then we were on our way home! We saw some moose in the mountains.

The water was just unbelievable! This was above Ten Sleep! It was just so incredible to see!

Even though family trips can be a big production, I'm glad we went and that we were able to have that time with Ken and to get to know the Sapp family better!

Sweet Sabbath Morning

2011-07-10T09:24:00.003-06:00

I have a little story that I want to write down before I forget. Yesterday morning, the kids got out on the wrong side of our bed. They were grumpy and arguing and crying and it wasn't a fun way to wake up! I went to make some muffins and the butter was hard, so it was a mess to try and cream it with the sugar. Then I realized I didn't have an egg, so I had to go borrow one. Then I realized I was out of flour, so I had to go digging in our food storage. Then our can opener decided not to work. So, I got the can half way open and then I tried to pry it the rest of the way open. It flipped back and smacked my finger pretty good. Taysum and Bailey were in the kitchen with me and they were pretty worried about me. Bailey said, "Heavenly Father will help you feel better, Mom. Because Heavenly Father helps people feel better." And I did! It was so sweet and so true. I had a whole new outlook on the morning, thanks to my sweet B. And by the way, the muffins turned out just fine! :)

Silliness

2011-06-29T12:26:00.000-06:00

Making silly noises and faces with Daddy

Taysum wanted his picture taken eating lunch

And Bailey didn't want to be left out either

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-27T15:11:00.000-06:00

All day long, Taysum was convinced that he needed to make a surf board. I put him off, saying we'd talk to Daddy about it when he got home. So, after Celeste's party, Ken took the kids into the garage, found an odd piece of wood and cut out, sanded and painted surfboards with them! That man never ceases to amaze me! The kids had a blast and I was able to finish up my garden barrels!

Even Hayden got a little one!

Saturday morning they had a great time catching some waves!

Taysum insisted that it was a "beautiful summer day and that they needed to go swimming. It was still pretty chilly, but we broke out the hose and pool and let them run around for a bit.

That afternoon, we decided to go on a hike into Cottonwood Canyon. I remember going once when I was really young, but that's it. Ken went with the scouts once and really enjoyed it, and it's really close, too. The kids did great and they really loved it! We were really proud of Taysum for walking the whole way! It was very beautiful and a perfect day for it!

The runoff was unbelievable!

I just love those cute Cutler kids!

They wanted to climb some "BIG" rocks!

We found a nice little spot to stop and rest and eat our snack we had packed.

One of our plastic bags got away from us and got caught in a tree. The good boy scout that he is, Ken threw rocks at it until he got it down. It was pretty entertaining to watch! ;)

The kids were throwing, too...

This Memorial Day, was the best Memorial Day I've experienced. We usually have a nice time getting together with family, listening to patriotic music, putting out the flag, saying the pledge of allegiance, etc. However, this year, I went to one of the Memorial services they have in our area each year. My Dad is usually asked to participate and this is the first year I've made it to one. It was raining, but not too badly and it added to the peace and solemnity of the occasion. I had my umbrella and shared it with a stranger. I was really proud of my Dad! They have three services, one in each of the cemeteries in the area. I attended the one in Cowley where my great Uncle Ed was recently buried; he was in the service. Later, Ken attended the one in Lovell as a representative of the Boy Scouts. My nephew CJ came in his Cub Scout uniform and he was on the front page of our local paper.

One of the school choirs sang as well. They did a great job.

Our Color Guard. A member of our bishopric, Bro. Thomas led the color guard (he's holding the rifle) and my Aunt Meg provided a marching cadence as the drum corp.

The rifle salute was provided by members of our local guard (3 or 4 of whom are our neighbors, the Hisers).

"On behalf of a grateful nation..." my Dad presented the traditional bouquet of red poppies to those who gave their lives that we might enjoy the blessed lives we've been given.

It was such a moving program and I was surprised at how deeply it stirred my soul. It was a bittersweet mixture of emotions: pride, sadness, loss and hope all at the same time! When I got home, we had our own little Memorial Day service. We put up our flag, sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee", said the pledge and a prayer. I was so glad we were able to share this with our kids!

The rest of the day was spent preparing for a family dinner together that night. We and the Lindsays all met together at my parents' house and it was a really nice time just being together! That night when we got home, the kids colored some Memorial Day coloring sheets my dad had printed off for them. Then Taysum sang this song for us.

I am so humbled and thankful to be so blessed to live in this wonderful nation. She certainly has been struggling as of late, but I still "stand beside her." I'm so thankful to be able to raise my family here. I'm so thankful to all those who have given their time and lives to make that possible! I'm so proud of my Grandpa Garrick, my Dad, my Father-in law, my Great-Uncle Ed, my Uncle Rick, and Ken's Great-Uncle Robin, who gave his life in Vietnam. I'm sure I have a few other relatives who are in the service and I am thankful for them as well. What a great country we are privileged to live in! "In God we [still] trust" and may "God Bless America!"

Garden in a Bucket

2011-06-26T22:19:00.000-06:00

In front of our house, there are four large barrels. Every year I want to put flowers in them... but it never quite works out how I planned. So, this year, I decided to plant our "garden" in them! I planted beans, potatoes, pumpkins and zucchini (things I thought would be easy to grow). I was nervous, because I've never been very good with plants, but it's been a very rewarding experience! Step one was to clear out all the weeds:

Before

After

Before

After

I moved this planter by our door and planted flowers. I planted pansies, because that's one of my favorites.

Before

After

This experience has been wonderful so far! It's taught me a lot about hope and the reward of hard work! I feel more connected to my parents and grandpa also, because they were such great gardeners! I'm excited to see what happens!

Called to Serve

2011-06-26T21:50:00.000-06:00

My "baby brother" Tyler is going on a mission! He was called to the Chile, Concepcion Mission--to serve two years for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He'll be learning Spanish! The cool thing about it being in Chile is our Uncle David served there. We are so proud of Tyler's decision to serve! We're so thankful for the wonderful example he is to us and especially to our children. We love you, Uncle Tyler!

It was a such a great experience to be there when he opened his call. We were all together at Lindsay's house celebrating Celeste's birthday. Tyler had received his call in the mail that morning. I think it was probably one of the hardest things he's had to do, but he waited the whole day until we were all together that evening before he opened it! Even Matt and Megan joined us over Skype! :)

Drum roll, please...

Something wasn't quite working with the volume, so Ty had to read it again so Matt and Megan could hear. ;)

A picture of the brothers! (And Megan)

The gray area is the Chile Concepcion Mission area... it's a pretty large mission!

He will enter the Provo MTC August 31st. He can hardly wait to go! I know he will be a great missionary and that the people will love him for his kindness and service. I know he will work hard and do what it takes to do his part to serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. We love you, Tyler!

Last Days of Kindergarten

2011-06-26T20:55:00.000-06:00

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Taysum was in Kindergarten this year; now it's over and we're halfway through the summer before he's a first grader!
The last week of school was just one big party it seemed! They went on a field trip to the zoo, to the library, to a movie, they had a fun day sports day, they went swimming, and all sorts of fun things! And all in the rain, too! :) They had a good time even though it was pretty wet!

Yes... it was wet and cold enough he needed his heavy coat!

First Day

Last Day

Thanks for a great year, Mrs. Floy!

Ken and I had a hard time deciding whether to have Taysum move on to Kindergarten this year or not. He's pretty young in his age group, and we weren't sure if he was socially ready. We know now we made the right decision! We are so proud of how far he's come and how well he's done! It certainly wasn't easy, but he did his best and made it through the year! We couldn't be happier with all he's accomplished!

The Mark Cutlers

2011-06-26T17:57:00.000-06:00

Every year towards the end of May, Ken's brother Mark and his family come for a visit. They go to a leather show in Sheridan during the week and then they come over the mountain to visit us. This year, we went over to see them and the leather show. The kids just love their cousins and everyone had a great time! We hung out in their room for a little while and took the kids swimming. Taysum and Bailey both were a little too brave and jumped in on their own... there were a few too many close calls, but we survived!

It rained the entire time we were in Sheridan! We tried to head back that night, but as we got up the mountain, the rain turned to snow. At one point, we were sliding backwards and couldn't go further. So, we turned around and went back to Sheridan. Mark and Alicia helped us find a hotel (every place was packed because there was so much going on!) and we stayed the night. The next day we made it over the mountain and we were able to really enjoy hanging out together!

Our kids and their kids are the closest cousins in age, and it's really fun to see them together! Lizzy is only 2 months younger than Hayden.

We even had a rodeo!

Sammi and Bailey listening to Aunt Alicia read a story

We took them to Quinn's birthday party as well...

Ken was leaving for Utah the the next morning by plane, and they were driving home. I got really sick that night, but I survived Ken being gone! As Ken was packing up, Taysum put Ken's hardhat on... it was pretty cute!

We love this tradition of getting to see them each year! We always have a great time with them! We're already looking forward to next year! :)

Taysum's Birthday!

2011-06-25T09:02:00.000-06:00

Our Taysum Guy is 6 years old! (5/18/11) I just can't believe how grown up he's getting! It's been such a priviledge and blessing to watch this little boy grow and develop. He's come so far and he's just doing better and better all the time! We love him so much! He's pretty excited to be six and feels pretty grown up! This year, he had a Lego party! If you've every seen him when he's excited, you know how fun it is to watch. He gets so excited about the littlest things and everything is the best thing that has ever happened! First thing in the morning, he opened presents from us. He loves getting new Wii games, so we had this all set up for him when he woke up. It's The Very Hungry Caterpillar ABC's.

He was even thrilled about getting new clothes!

I wanted to get some pictures of our big little man, but Baiely didn't want to be left out!

Then...

And now...

I found these cool candies online... it was so great, because they actually stuck together pretty well!

We had his party at the park. I didn't realize that little league was going on, so there were tons of people there, but we had fun anyway! Sweet Uncle Nick made the trip from Billings just to be with us!

He got some more really fun gifts from family

It was a little windy, so we had to blow out the candles "in shifts" :)

Hayden was loving him some ice cream!

The girls...

Not sure who the little boy in the red T shirt is... he just kind of invited himself to the party... had cake and ice cream and everything! :)

The gift from the Lindsay's was the hit of the party! It was a little rocket shooter and everyone wanted a turn. Ken and the Uncles had a fun time trying to get it off the roof a couple times!

When we got home from the party, we just had to set up the basketball hoop from Grandpa and Grandma. The kids loved it!

Happy birthday, Taysum! We love you so much and we are so proud of you! I feel so blessed to get to be your mommy. You are so smart and handsome and I just stand in awe of your love for life! I hope this year and every year is the best year of your life!