Mitt Romney and visiting teaching

I have to say Michael is a million times more of a politcal buff than I...he watches it on TV a lot and his radio is always turned to it.  Bill O'Reiley is his fave.  We did watch the republican campaign last night though and I thought it was great.  Tonight I came across a short biography video on Mitt and his lovely wife, Ann.  They have 5 boys and they were open about the hard times of raising a family.  In addition to raising a large family, Ann has multiple sclerosis which I didn't know unitl now.  Mitt said that hearing that diagnosis was the hardest time of his life.  I was so inspired by them.  It reminded me that everyone is dealing with their own problems and that just like everyone else, I have to "put on my big girl panties" and deal with it.  Mothering goes unnoticed so much of the time, so it was nice to see someone like Ann get recognized on this kind of level AND to feel like my efforts truly matter.  Janelle has been sick for over a week now.  First it was a yeast infection, then an ear infection, then thrush, so she hadn't been eating or drinking much, and it was hard for everyone.  Luckily she seems to be on the mend because she's less fussy and eating a litte bit more.  We probably won't do much for the Labor Day weekend and just hang out and take care of our little baby.  I'm so glad to have Michael home for a few days.

My visiting teaching companion and I did our VTing today.  The lessons have touched a lot on the history of VTing lately and its great purpose in our church.  I decided to share something different.  A couple of years ago I went to a general RS broadcast at the stake center in Lovell.  Barbara Thompson's talk touched me most.  I've always been a"pretty good" visiting teacher I guess.  Well probably not that good actually because I just did it to get it done and didn't think a lot about the sisters I visited until it was time to go visit them again.  Sometimes I felt frustrated about visiting teaching, like it wasn't all it was cracked up to be almost...until I heard this talk by Sister Thompson.  It strengthened my testimony of VTing and I've had a different out look ever since . Sis. Thompson said it was late one night and she was getting ready to leave town.  It was the end of the month and she hadn't gone to see a particular sister yet, whose name was Julie. She didn't have an appt., she hadn't called, but decided to go visit this particular sister anyway.   Julie had a 6 year old daughter with brittle-bone disease and all she could do was lay there and talk.  That particular night, Julie's daughter Ashley did something significant (can't even remember, rolled over or something) that she'd been working towards for 6 years.  This was a HUGE milestone for her and sis Thompson said that even though it was many years ago and that Ashley has since passed away, she thanks Heavenly Father for the opportunity to bless this little family and witness this precious moment. This simple story was so inspiring to me and the spirit told me that night that visiting teaching IS inspired and that it IS important, even though sometimes we don't see the blessings right away or even in this lifetime.  I love this gospel and am so glad for the direction, hope and peace it gives me.

Stetson's first day of kindergarten!!

Today was the day Stetson has been waiting for "For forever" as Stetson would put it.  He has been wanting to go to kindergarten since preschool got out.  Stetson was up at 7, ready for breakfast and ready to get the show on the road!!  Janelle and I walked him to school and it went pretty good.  When we first got to the playground, Stetson said "mom I don't know any of those kids, I don't want to go to kindergarten."  I explained that most of them were older kids that wouldn't be in his class and tried to assure him that his friends from class would be there soon.  Even when we did spot some familiar faces, he wanted to stay close to me 'til it was time to line up, which was fine with me.  After the kids went into the classroom I headed home feeling proud of myself for not making a scene lol and then saw a little boy bust out of one of the classrooms bawling for his mom, who was around the corner crying, too.  I think they'd just moved here so it was an extra hard say for them.  I wanted to go give her a hug and try to help somehow but the principal was right on it thankfully.  Being a mom is hard!! Truly though I have great memories of elementary school and had a great time.  Michael has really good memories of elementary, too.  A long-standing Simmons' tradition is on the first day of school, all the kids line up in front of the house and hold up the number of fingers they'll be in that year.  (2 fingers for 2nd grade and so on.)  I think kinders give a fist, or something like that, so that explains Stetson's fist.  I sure LOVE this boy like crazy and was so proud of him today.

Kandace is sort of wishing she was going to school today, too and felt a little left out.  At least her clothes match lol

Mom, remember

A few things about Kandace...
I got a little pumpkin treat bag thing at a yard sale this month and now she thinks its Halloween.  I have tried explaining to her multiple times that Halloween isn't for a while, and that there's 2 more months, but she still insists on saying things like this on a regular basis: "Mom, remember, I want to be a princess for Halloween."  "Mom, remember, I want my face painted for Halloween."  She ALWAYS starts out with "mom, remember"  cracks me up this girl
This girl's logic is...not very logical.  I.E...if she asks me for something and I say no, she'll say something like..."well can I have it after Valentine's Day?"  Uh, what??  I usually just nod and smile.  She is SO full of expression and SUCH a girl.  She must have been watching the gymnastics closer than I realized because she is ALWAYS busting a move and saying "mom, watch this totally awesome move."  She especially likes to do them on our neighbor's tramp. 
Kandace is sort of really wreckless.  She trips over things and falls all.the.time.  Abotu a month ago (and I know this wasn't her fault) she fell off a horse.  She had a nasty cut on her chin and I was a worried that her jaw was messed up so I took her to the dentist to check her mouth out but she seems ok and we put bio-oil on her chin every night after she falls asleep and hopefully it won't scar.  I guess I didn't take pics because I don't want to remember it. ha  I don't know why I never mentioned this next one--she has a brown tooth.  Some people call is gray, I think its brown.  She hit it on the playground beginning of summer but it didn't turn brown 'til like 2 weeks later, so we called Michael's uncle who is a dentist and he said it had died, happens all the time, and that it'd fall out with the rest of them when it was ready.  I was so relieved when I saw a little boy I know at the park and he had a brown tooth, too from hitting it on something.  Sure love you sweet girl. :)

Ups and downs

This picture was taken last week when I tried to get the kids to run through the sprinklers in our backyard since the whale pool is closed for the season. :(  Summer has gone so fast but we sure packed in some fun things!  The last couple of days have been not so fun...our little Janelle was really fussy last wednesday and I noticed some rashes that were getting worse so we got her in to see a physician here in Lovell since I can't ever get into our regular M.D. in Powell unless its for a well child.  We found out she had a yeast and ear infection so we got some prescriptions for her.  Her rash and fever have been going down but she was still really fussy so we had to skip out on our temple trip/school shopping trip.  Stetson & I had a mom/son date to Cody instead where we got him some new shoes and all his school suppplies.  Emily brought over a bunch of really nice clothes from Zach & Ben so we're set! It was so special to be just with Stetson.  I sure love that boy of mine.  Since Sat, Janelle's yeast infection spread to her mouth which is thrush, so I stayed home with her today while Michael took the kids to church.  My theory is if babies not happy, ain't nobody happy.  You can tell her mouth hurts because she's not eating or drinking much and she only wants to be held, which doesn't always comfort her either.  The only thing that calms her down lately are baths, yogurt and walks in the stroller.  Poor baby.  It makes me appreciate my kids' health and look forward to happier days for my nella!! On top of our sick baby, I start teaching step tomorrow and Stetson starts school the next day!  AHH!!

fishing!

Yesterday was our 2nd annual fishing trip with gpa Simmons.  It was beautiful!!  Being in the moutains is always special for me.  So beautiful and peaceful.  The kids weren't as excited about fishing as we'd hoped, but they sure were entertaining.  Gpa Simmons is a good sport about helping them and making it fun for them. 

Kandace was SO funny.  She is her mother's daughter.  She is scared of fish.  Am I scard of fish?  No, I just don't like to touch them.  In fact, dad and I had to perform "surgery" on a little fishie whose hook got caught down its throat.  It was a good attempt but the fish didn't make it despite our heroic efforts.  Back to Kandace--she would squeal and run away after dad caught the fish.  She didn't want to touch it or anything.  It was hilarious.

This pic might look like Kandace is enjoying the flopping fish by her head but she in fact, was not.

After fishing we had dinner at the Brading iron.  Thanks gpa for another great fishing trip!

pizza party

On Monday for FHE we had pizza at the park.  Matthew & Charlene are going back to Washington so we had one last hoorah.  It was awesome!! 

School starts in about a week and I have mixed emotions!!  Stetson has been getting letters in the mail about school supplies, lunches etc.  Its reassuring to me that he only has to go a 1/2 day for the first couple weeks but still scary and a huge milestone!  It makes me reevaluate how I've done the last 5 years teaching him and getting him ready for this major step!  I am so grateful for my kids.  My family is the best thing in my life and I am so blessed and should always remember that no matter what happens!

Carson & Stetson are great pals!  I'm sure Carson will look out for his little cousin at school this year!

all 8 grandkids!  Who is going to add #9?? lol don't worry, its not us

summer awesomeness

Becky comes to Lovell

Whenever Michael and I pass through Farson on our way to Utah, we try and stop to see my old roommate/good friend Becky Moss.  Her husband teaches school there.  Last time we passed through Farson we just missed each other so it was nice when Jason & Becky decided to take a tour of northwestern Wyoming and include Lovell in their road trip.  I keep telling them they need to find a job here and move to Lovell.  They arrived Fri afternoon a little while after we got back from camping.  Michael & Daniel went back to the mountain that day because they had a fishing trip planned and we partied back in Lovell.  Becky has 4 boys under the age of 5 and so between her kids and mine it was definitely a party!!  We had tacos, went on a walk to the elementary park, came home and visited and crashed.  For breakfast I made pancakes (not the shake n pour this time lol) and they hit the road Cody bound.  Becky you are my hero!!  Thank you for letting us party with your beautiful family!

Stetson loved having so many playmates. L-R: Bryant, Luke & Landon.  Baby Isaiah is their 4th.  All of Becky's kids have blonde hair and blue eyes and are SO so cute.

first Asay family campout!

Last Thursday we kept our promise to our kids that we would go camping this year!!  Michael got a pickup in the spring and a tent for father's day last year, so we had no more excuses!  The kids were in heaven.  As soon as we got there Stetson kept asking if we could go "explore."  He loves an adventure!  We got there early evening, set up the tents and had hotdogs, chips n dip and potatoe salad for dinner.  After dinner we cooked up some awesome s'mores and got the kids to bed (which was no easy feat).  Michael and I got some time to ourselves to just talk by the campfire and it was awesome.  Even more fun to me than being on a date out to eat or something.  It was beautiful and peaceful in the mountains and we love to go.

Keeping Janelle happy was tricky for this trip.  She wanted to be down in the dirt but since she doesn't walk yet we had to keep her in the stroller or in the pak n play.  The kids tried hard to entertain her.

For breakfast we had pancakes (thank you shake n pour bisquik) sausage, eggs and OJ.  The breakfast of champions!  Michael and I decided that its way too much work to do all this for just one night, so next time we'll plan on staying longer.