So Much in Just One Month

Well, today being September 11th, the day we remember the terrorists attacks of September 11th, 2001, has helped me to reflect on my life and how grateful I am for the basic things in life. I am so thankful to God my beautiful home, for my yard, for our vehicles, for food and food storage, for health, for a beautiful sunshiny day, for the beautiful blue sky, for my beautiful family, & my knowledge of the gospel.
I know that these are all blessings from God and that He is aware of us.
So the kids started school a couple of weeks ago. It has actually been an easier transition than I thought, but I am sad without them & Aynslee really doesn't know what to do with herself without Kaylese to play with. I about bawled the first morning Wylie got on the bus to go to middle school. He seems to like it and has adjusted fine, but it's just hard for me to be ok with the fact that he is growing up. He has changed and grown a lot. He looks older.. so sad. I am very proud of him though. He is a good boy and I am so grateful He is so good. Tyrik starting kindergarten has been hard. He doesn't know as much as my other kids did going in, so I have really had to make myself take the time to work with him and help him. I feel so guilty because he really hasn't been taught and worked with like the others were because of things going on with the older kids and having to give so much attention to two more babies. I know that he is very smart and he is already catching on fast. I just feel bad because he doesn't love school because of that aspect. I hope it gets better. Kaylese and Ryland both seem to like their teachers and classes. Kaylese started dance and tumbling and is already doing her backhandspring unassisted in class. She was very excited! They started piano this week. I hope it's a fun thing for them this year, we will see. Last weekend we went to Elko to visit Jeffrey & Anna because they moved there and they blessed their baby Samuel William on Sunday. He is a doll. It was so nice to visit with them and see their kids. Mom & Dad Masters actually paid for our hotel room which was a blessing. We got to visit them and see Mom & Dad Slade, Devin, Skyler & Emily Sunday too. The drive wasn't the greatest because the kids thought it was "so far" and Baylor and I both ended up with colds so he didn't sleep at all at the hotel, but it was still a great time. I am so grateful we were able to go. Monday was Labor Day so we spent it on the mountain at Miller's Flat (Cook Family Cabin). It was a beautiful day.
We went to Lake Powell for a couple of days the week that the kids started school. The kids had a great time. Wylie wake boarded, Ryland tried, and Kaylese learned how to knee board. Tyrik loved swimming, sliding down the slide on the house boat, & playing on the beach. I could tell by the time we left My Mom, Dad & Devin were pretty done and bugged by the kids, so that's actually why I decided to leave Tuesday instead of Wednesday. We left Aynslee & Baylor at home with Marian, which was nice.
Aynslee's birthday was a lot of fun. She is a big 3 year old now. She is even potty trained just in the last month, but she does have accidents if I don't remind her. She got a bunny (it's adorable), a princess Elsa dress, & some clothes and shoes, so she was in heaven. Spencer borrowed his cousins pony so she and Kaylese could ride her that week. She is actually a minature horse. Aynslee & Kaylese loved it! Let's see, Spencer just took me on a date tonight up to the Cheesecake Factory (my favorite place to eat) and then took me to visit my Gr. & Gr. Slade. Oh how I love those people! It was such a nice break and much needed time with him. Wylie had a scout camp up at Miller's Flat lastnight, so Spencer went & took  Ryland and stayed On The Mountain in his Dads camp. It is so beautiful and has cooled off a ton already. Fall has definitely arrived. I love it, but am already dreading what is following...I know, I just need to be grateful.
The run for President has begun again. There are many candidates running just for the Republican party vote. We watched a debate the other night. It was interesting to watch. Donald Trump, a billionaire celebrity is in the race. He really doesn't know policies or how to deal with real issues in my opinion. Dr. Ben Carson a retired pediatric neurosurgeon is running. I really like him. I wish so badly he could get in. I have read several of his books. He is an intelligent, kind, God Fearing Man. We will see what happens as it gets closer. 
I had a really hard time saying goodbye to summer. It sounds dumb, but I love everything about it. It is the warm sunshine, the time with my children, the flowers, family fun, all of it. I just love it.

Way too Long!

Well, it's been too long. I told myself I wouldn't let it go this long. It's been such a fun filled past month though. Lots to tell. Let's see how many details I can remember. So the 4th of July celebration was so fun as always. Loris family stayed for a few weeks, which was great! Her kids have grown up so much! Our kids loved having them here. Baylor was excited about the fireworks until it got a little dark and up over our heads, then he was so scared! So I ended up sitting in Jamie's house, but that was ok with me because I will no longer have a baby next year, which makes me sad. I am so grateful for this wonderful country we live in, and the celebration we have every year with the Cook family. The kids have so much fun with cousins and we love to spend time with Spencers family. So the weeks following were filled with walking lambs, practicing judging, etc... The kids had their Lamb Show the day before Lamb Day and it went well. None of them placed, but they have improved so much this year and learned so much! It really surprised me. Their sale went better than expected the next day too. They should each end up with $500.00 in their pockets (savings) this year after costs are paid. Lb Day itself was great! Spencer, Wylie & I all ran in the 5K & Lamb scram that morning. We all beat our times, so that was good. We headed down to the parade start because Tracy put together the small sheep camps again. He pointed out that all of the grandchildren being together might not happen again for years to come because Clancy is hoping to be on a mission by next Lamb Day, so he had a lady come take pictures. It was neat to have them all there. They all rode in the parade, even Clancy and Baylor. We had lunch after in Tracy & Marian's building. My Mom & Dad Masters were here, which just made it funner. The kids played at some of the games at the park, we watched some of the softball games and then watched the fireworks, which was awesome because we were right under them. It was a fun, great Lamb Day again. I am so grateful for this great community I live in. So my Dad left Sunday, but my Mom stayed because Spencer & I went on Trek in Wyoming with the Ward for Youth Conference. What a surprisingly wonderful experience. The youth in our group were Catherine Lund, Aubry Madsen, Bailee Hansen, Alan Oldroyd, Wyatt Farnsworth, and Kaden Allred. What a great group of kids! Loved getting to know them! The Trek was so different than I imagined. There were missionaries at each spot, telling History and stories of the pioneers. There was even a spot we got to go see that they told us was Hallowed ground because The Savior himself had walked there. It was a grave site for 11 pioneers. There was fun line dancing. I loved getting to know the other leaders and adults that I didn't know so well in the ward. Diane and Kim Johnson were in charge of it all and she was not in good health and wasn't supposed to come, so I am so grateful for all they did to put it together. We had a special fast last Sunday for her health. We also got to see a slide show of a bunch of pictures. It was very fun to watch. So that was a busy couple of weeks. Let's see, since then, we started another round of swimming lessons. Wylie got a new motorbike(100). He has been to the farm a lot and riding and hiking for scouts and doing his family history calling. He was just called as the Deacons quorum President and had such a neat blessing from Bishop last week for it. You could feel the Spirit very strong. I am so grateful for Him. He is an excellent Young Man, in all the ways he should be. I am scared to send him to Middle School because I fear his innocence will not last, but I just pray that He will stand up for what he knows to be right, even when others won't. I couldn't ask for a better son. I feel that all my boys are so strong and will be such great leaders someday, I just need to get them in the right direction. I try so hard everyday to teach my children things that are right and what is most important in this life. It's been so nice because Kaylese has spent so much time with me at home this summer. She is such a great help and big sister. I have really enjoyed it!  Ryland has now taken over Wylie's other motorbike, and is enjoying it. He has helped me a lot at home this summer too. He has played with Tyrik a lot, which Tyrik has loved! It's been great. We got to have a one on one with him the other night. He chose to go bowling and watch the movie- Pixels. It was fun to spend that time with him :) The next night we took Kaylese. Her & I got pedicures first. Ya, she loved it. Then we took her to help us pick some bunnies out for Aynslee's birthday present. Ya, I know, weird. We finally gave into the idea of pets again. I hope I don't regret it soon. So we picked those out. We then went out to eat and even grocery shopped. Now we have two more to go before school starts. It was one of my goals, to do a one on one with each of the four going to school before they went. Oh, so Jeff & Anna had their baby boy Samuel in July. I can't wait to hold him. He looks adorable!! They also moved to Elko because Jeffrey got a new job as assistant District Attorney there. Colby just graduated from lineman school in Idaho. I hope he gets a job soon. Rianna was baptized last Saturday, that was great to go to. We also went to the Cook family reunion that day, which was a lot of fun. Devin graduated officially from Nursing School and got a job in an ICU, at a hospital in Murray. We have had some really big rainstorms, which have been a great blessing. Oh, Elder Packer died of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles. Only less than a month after Elder Perry. It was such a nice funeral (watched it on tv). Sad to see those two go. What amazing men!  Now to see who the next two apostles are. Elder Nelson was called now to the President of the the Twelve Apostles. I am just hoping to really enjoy this last week a half with my kids before school starts. :( I love summer and have loved spending time with them. We even got school shopping and going through all their clothes all done already, which is a huge job. I just wish they could stay my babies. Oh how I love them! Aynslee talks so well now. Baylor can pull himself up to anything now and even does a weird type of crawl. He is starting to get a little temper though...I hope it's just the age. He is still the cutest thing ever though :) I love my family more than anything! I have enjoyed time this summer with my husband, kids, and extended family so much! There is nothing better. I hope I didn't forget anything. Oh, one funny. So our Bishop was teaching sharing time in Primary and said " Jesus Loves Everyone of You". Tyrik stands up and says loudly, while pointing to his teacher-"Not Him, because He's Old!" Ya, he said they all laughed pretty hard. That kid, he is something else! Love him. :) Until next time, which is hopefully soon.