Fillmore Hot Pots

We have decided as a family to do a better job writing our story.   We are the authors of what we think is a pretty fun life.  We hope to use this blog as an opportunity to record the blessing we enjoy as a family.   We hope to blog much more and use it as a way record our journey together.

This is for you Michelle. I told you I would post again. I think two years is a long enough break. Now I need to re-teach myself how to use this : )
Obvioulsy there are some major updates, but the biggest is the addition of this cutie to our family (thus the name change of the blog).

Aspen Claire

04/04/14

She was our surprise, and we have loved every minute of getting to know her. I am so glad she came to join our family. She is very spoiled with all of her big sisters. They all love her so much, and have the cutest relationships with her. She lights up and can hardly contain her excitement when they get home from school. She has been a blessing in so many ways, and I can't imagine life without her. Heavenly Father definitely knows what we need and when we need it.

I'll Take It As A Compliment

As I was starting the truck and heading home from the store, a little voice from the backseat asks me a question.  "Mom, do you promise that when I grow up I will look like you?"  

"I think you will, you already look just like I did when I was your age."

"Ok, because I really want to look like you." 

She knows just the right things to say to me.  I sure love her.

Thanksgiving

Our year has been a very full one, but not in the way that we would have chosen.  We have not had the opportunity to go camping at all this year, and have really missed the mountains, wildlife, and peace that goes along with it.  Matt has spent a lot of time out of town this year, so the girls and I have really missed him too.  That is why we decided to do our Thanksgiving a little different this year.  It was a day that Matt would be home all day, and we wanted to take full advantage of that with no other distractions.  We loaded up the four-wheeler and his dad's rhino and headed to the hills.  The weather was beautiful.  We went to one of our favorite places, Tabiona Mountain.  The plan was to drive all day on the wheelers, and to spot as many deer and elk that we could.


All bundled up and ready to go.  Notice how clean the rhino is.  I followed behind on the 4-wheeler, and played.  It was so fun to follow them and watch those little bobble-heads bouncing around.

There were a few mud puddles along the way.  This is after about 4 1/2 hours of riding.  They still look happy to me.  I wish we would have taken pictures of the snow that we went through.  We were too busy having fun.  We did accomplish our goal of seeing lots of animals.  The girls saw their first mega herds of elk.  There were quite a few deer also.  At one point the deer were running along with us through the snow.  It was really neat.

It was pretty chilly, and that fire was so toasty and warm

Beautiful view as the sun goes down.

Our Thanksgiving dinner.  It was delicious.  We also had hot chocolate with candy canes.

I was wearing Matt's insulated camo pants and they came up to my chest.  The girls thought it was hilarious how big and puffy they were on me.  I didn't care because my legs were nice and warm all day.

Watching the coals die down, as the perfect day came to a close.

Overtired

After school, I asked the kids to put away their clean clothes.  Annie was not happy about it.  There was a little drama involved, as she told me that her basket was just too full.  She threw herself on top of the basket in a full on pout.  I walked away because she knows she has a choice; she can put it away and enjoy the evening, or not do the job and deal with the consequences.  She also knows that if she will put forth the effort and start the job, I will come and help her.  I left to go help her sisters that chose to put theirs away.  About thirty minutes later, I came down to see if she was putting them away yet, and found her in the same spot, fast asleep...

It must have been a long day.

Random (Just so I can say I blogged)

 I needed to do some sort of post, so I picked some random pics to share.  Hopefully there are a few more posts to come.  I have lots of subjects to choose from.  It's just a matter of sitting down and doing it...

I took these of Mazie last year, and meant to publish them at the time.  Obviously that didn't happen.  I just love how much fun she was having.  There is something about playing in a pile of leaves that just make you smile.  I can't wait for the new leaves this year.

  

Aren't they gorgeous?  I am in love with this picture.  They all look so sweet.  I can't believe they are all in school.  This is Abby's last year of elementary, and Mazie's first.  They are definitely growing fast.

The other night I started unloading the dishwasher.  I was promptly kicked out of the kitchen, and told I couldn't help in there by Annie.  These two little sweethearts took it upon themselves to load and unload the dishwasher.  Then they hand washed all whatever didn't fit.  They were so cute sharing the little step stool, working together. 

I took this old shelf from Annie and Mazie's room and decided to spruce it up a little.  It was white with a lot of "love" from the girls.  I sanded the whole thing down and found this awesome color to go with their under the sea room.  I'm happy with the way it turned out, and I think the girls are glad to have somewhere to put all of their treasures.

More Lovely Locks

Mazie finally decided to cut her hair!!!  She has been growing it out to donate.  Here are her before and after shots.  I LOVE the short hair on her (for more reasons than one).  She really likes it too.