Thanksgiving break

We kicked off Thanksgiving weekend with a DELICIOUS meal prepared by Michael's mom. She is truly a great cook. After that we hung out and then headed for gpa Simmons' house to spend some time with my family. The next day we went back to the farm for annual preg testing of the cows. Jan always cooks a yummy lunch that day as well. On Saturday we went to Mildred's to say hi to Michael's aunt Cheryl & Max Esplin, Uncle Gaylen, Uncle Clark & aunt Kristy. Kandace was lucky enough to help her great aunt Cheryl put curlers in great gma Asay's hair. She is such a girl and loves to do anything girly. After that we had lunch at cowtown and just enjoyed a quiet day at home. That night we took the kids to Puss n boots at the hyart and Stan & Jan watched Janelle.
Stetson was so excited--he is asking questions non stop these days..what does this word mean, why is this like that, and so on. I'm glad he's so inquisitive. Kandace is testing our patience but we are oh so crazy about her. She actually cut my hair the other day. I was visiting with the primary pres. in the living room and she climbed behind me without me realizing it and by the time I looked back I saw she had scissors in her hand. I gasped, immediately put my hand on my hair to feel for missing hair and sure enough she'd taken like an inch off, but you can't really tell (at least I don't think so).
I've recently discovered that I am over scouting in the primary presidency, and this is no simple task. I'm trying hard to get things figured out and do the best I can. It will be a challenge!
The kids are excited about Christmas. Its always a struggle for me to find a balance between the magic of getting presents/santa, etc, and teaching the true meaning of Christmas. I'm excited to get the nativity out and talk about the sweet baby Jesus.
I'm still loving singing in the stake choir.

holiday mingle

We're ringing in the holiday season already this year. On Saturday, Jill and her boys, me and my kids and Jan went to the firehall for pictures with Santa, cookies and crafts. Pictures with Santa went surprisingly smooth this year--I was sort of expecting havoc with Janelle and her newfound "stranger anxiety" but she was awesome! After that Kandace was very eager to get her face painted and Stetson very carefully colored a puzzle Christmas tree. Kandace was very specific on how she wanted her little glove painted (halfway through she asked the painter to make sure it had purple in it). Stetson got a penguin painted right before we left. Little get togethers like these are fun for the kids but always a little stressful for mama. I'm always looking around doing a headcount to make sure they're all still there and behaving themselves. For a second I couldn't find Kandace until another mother pointed out to me that she was under the table right next to me. Sheesh. In other news, I've been singing with the stake choir for a few weeks now getting ready for the stake Christmas concert. I LOVE it. I look forward to it each week and am so glad to have a hobby that is fun and fulfilling that I can still do amidst the craziness of our lives. I was just released today from being the beehive advisor (sad to leave those girls) and am now the 2nd counselor in the primary. I'm grateful for callings and the chance I get to serve and somehow repay my Heavenly Father in a very small way for all the blessings I have. I'm excited to spend time in primary with Stetson but hoping he'll still behave well with his mom in there.

The weather has recenly turned frigid, and I'm never ready for it. :( Wish I was in Cabo. I ask Michael when we're going almost every day. Really I do. Brenda's youngest boy Dane reported his mission today. I love hearing from returned missionaries and feeling their strong spirit. He talked about repentance and the enabling power of the atonement. I loved it and am so happy for him and his family.

We recently got some exciting news for Michael. More to come on that later.

Lately

Lately my kids have been making me a little crazy. Stetson is almost ALWAYS asking me questions, wanting to play games, wanting me to guess something, wanting me to watch something, you get the picture. I love that he is so inquisitive and enthusiastic, but sometimes I just need some peace and quiet!! Kandace can hardly get a word in because he's so vocal. Tonight after prayers he asked me why we say prayers. I saw this as a perfect teaching opportunity and tried hard not to mess it up. I said because every night we need to tell Heavenly Father what we're thankful for, like our warm house, our clothes, food, etc. I then told him its a chance to ask for things, but that Heavenly Father doesn't always give us what we want, but that he gives us what he needs. Ironically, Stetson said he needed Jesus. He asked me if Heavenly Father would give Jesus to Stetson, and I said yes. I said we can't see him, but we can feel him and see pictures of him.

I went to YW in excellence tonight and I am SO SO glad I did. There was a special spirit there, and I thought about how I need to share the gospel with others because who wouldn't want THIS for their daughter? These girls shared a variety of talents from quilting to self-defense. I was especially touched when I saw a very tall, pretty girl with dark hair stand up to present her project. I thought to myself, one day my girls are going to be standing up there presenting projects, and they might look a little like this girl. It made all my crazy, hard days worth it. I have been so in the moment, forgetting that these days will pass, and one day I'll think, "wow time has flown by."

4 months

My precious Janelle turned 4 months yesterday. She is a dream. I go get her usually around 8 or 8:30 for her first feeding. After that, she's awake for about an hour, and then I simply lay her down. I don't rock her or anything. Now rocking your babe to sleep can be a special time, and I've loved the times I have, but lets be honest, I have 2 other kids to take care of, a house to clean, bills to pay, etc, so its a blessing to be able to lay her down. After like a 1 1/2 hr nap I simply go wake her up again and feed her. We follow this cycle throughout the day, so she ends up with 4-5 feedings and about 3 naps. During her wake time she is amazing, I say amazing because it truly amazes me that she hardly cries, she just kicks her feet and "talks" to me. I usually put her in the bouncer on the kitchen counter so she can watch my cook breakfast for the kids if its in the morning. Other times of the day she usually kicks on the floor, sits in her bumbo, bouncer or on my lap. She is independntely happy and usually doens't need us to constanly bounce or entertain her. I find myself going to pick her up and enjoy her just because I want to, not because she's crying to be held. She sleeps almost 12 hrs a night. I've been pumping and giving her bottles, which is good. It helps my supply stay up and gives me freedom. Like last night, I pumped a bottle and gave it to Jan to give her when I was with Michael.

Janelle if you are reading this I hope you know you are an angel and everyone here loves you like crazy. :)xoxox MOM

show and tell something about my family

Yesterday at preschool, Stetson got to bring something to show and tell about his family. I framed this picture and typed out a little write-up to go with it. This is what it said:
My grandpa Asay is a 3rd generation farmer here in Lovell. Every year, I get to go to the mountains with my dad, mom, uncles, grandpa, grandma and cousins to go get cows that belong to my grandpa Asay. I love when we get to do this because I get to ride on horses, eat yummy hamburgers and be with my family!

date night.

For the last couple weeks, Michael has been spending all his time off work at the farm. His dad is harvesting his beets and its a real critical time for him. I've been complaining because he's been gone so much, but I'm in the wrong because I'm being selfish and not thinking about the bigger picture. I love that Michael is so anxious to help and please his dad. He's a good boy. :) Yesterday Jan watched the kids and I got to ride along. We took 2 loads in (about 14 tons each). We watched the beets go up the piler and into the "big pile" that everyone can see as they go in and out of Lovell. Then we went back to the farm to fill up. Michael's dad drives the digger, which digs the beets. The 2nd to the last picture is of the topper, and it takes the tops off the beets before Stan digs them up. Once we get filled up we head back to town where we get weighed, drop the beets, weight again and then get a ticket. I've always been impressed at how patient Stan is during harvest (and all the time for that matter). Trucks are always breaking down and other things are always going wrong, but I've never seen him lose his cool. He has great faith it seems like, that everything will work out, and it always does. The Lord takes care of us.

more Halloween

Well the day finally arrived, Halloween fun began at 4 when I took the 3 kids to the library for some stories, games and crafts. Michael's beet truck broke down while we were there, so he parked it at the country store and walked over to the library..he could have won best costume with his grungy farmer garb. :) But Stetson actually won "best boy" costume. After the library we went home to feed the baby and then headed to gma Asays for pizza and our first trick or treat stop. After gma Asays was great gma Asay, then great gma Dorothy, great gpa Monk, gpa Simmons, aunt Marguerite, Mike & Rachel then home where I took the kids around the block to get some more. Halloween is so fun with little kids!

My pirate, pumpkin and fairy princess. I'm a lucky mom!