I know, I know

Okay. It has been a while since my last post. They made me sign up for a new blog because it's been so long! I am going to try my hardest to reach my goal to blog at least once a month. Here's the update:

This summer- We spent time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the family cabin with Dan's family, what a blast. We also spent 2 weeks in California visiting my family and friends, we had such a great time and miss living close to them all, especially our Niece and Nephew (sorry everyone else, they are just so cute!) We spent a lot of time camping, going to parks, and local water parks.

Bryan- Can you believe he is in the 5th grade? I was having a hard time believing it until we started to get the attitude to go along with it! He really is such a good kid. He's doing really well in school, enjoying soccer we have games every Saturday (I think the coordination caught up, he's really good!), having fun at scouts, and swimming in the pool that his grandparents just put in! He's liking his piano lessons and getting good at his tumbling- he has a really "cool" guy teacher who teaches them lots of neat tricks!

Cole- Big 3rd grader is doing great. He's doing pretty good in school, unfortunately he got his spelling from his mom. I can't help but think how grateful I am for spell check! Cole decided not to play soccer this year but cannot wait until basketball starts in another couple of months. He loves scouts. He's also becoming quite the swimmer and diver, he can do back and front flips off of the diving board! He is a natural at piano and is having fun with his tumbling teacher (same one that Bry has).

Cody- 2nd grade! Where does the time go? Cody is one of those kids that school just comes so easily for, reminds me of my brother. Cody will also play basketball in another couple of months. Cody is the best at the back flip off of the diving board, we all are impressed, he is definitely a little fish. Cody loves piano and is also really good at it. His tumbling teacher says that both him and Cole are naturals.

Dan- He has applied for Highway Patrol. We just found out that he passed the really harsh test they took 2 weeks ago and has been put into the background process. Dan has done all that he can and then some, we pray now constantly, as we know it is now in God's hands and which ever way it goes now it is his will. Dan keeps busy by working, and helping around the house. Because Dan works nights and sleeps when everyone is gone during the day, he is more of a Mr. Mom then he ever has been! We are so lucky to have him as a father and husband.

Me- Well I have been very busy! My sister in law Angy has talked me into quite a few things this past year. I am now the preschool director at her preschool, teach piano one night a week and she has just talked me into creating and running her new birthday party program. We will be putting on really fun birthday parties at the school, I am pretty excited about it. I am working anywhere between 30 and 40 hours weekly. I still make it home 3-4 days a week before the kids are home from school! I am one of the luckiest mom's ever! When the kids get home they will usually take turns practicing the piano, our home is always filled with so much music, it has a way of inviting the spirit. I am the den leader in our ward, Cole is in my group, it is quite fun! We meet once a week, I secretly wish we met more often. I guess my biggest news has been the pesky cancer that needed to be removed just over a month ago. They believe they got it all, only time will tell :) The biggest pain was the reconstruction. The cancer was on my forehead, it was the size of a quarter and went down to my skull. I had to have plastic surgery two days after the cancer was removed. It was quite yucky. I am so glad that we had a plastic surgeon do the reconstruction, it is healing nicely and with a little bit of makeup you won't be able to hardly see the scar. I have been very humbled by this whole experience and am grateful for the wisdom of our heavenly Father, I have learned so much about cancer. The kindness of others has beena real comfort, from my mom telling me she would come all the way from California to just "be here" to people showing up at my door with dinner without me knowing they were coming. I have also learned how to accept service, it's a lot harder then it sounds, and others do deserve the blessings that come from service. Since this experience I am one of those annoying Mom's who makes sure her children and EVERYONE else's around me have on plenty of sunblock. I slather it on and as my parents found out when they came to visit me I make sure other adults do to. Just normal sunblock won't do you should all be using broad band sun screen, it protects ALL layers of skin not just the top. Did you also know that most (not all) sun damage is done before you are even 20? Please protect your kids, tan babies are cute, but at what cost? I am apologizing ahead of time to my whole family, sorry if this will annoy you- TO BAD!!! :)

All in all we are doing well. We are happy and anticipating the fall and soon the snow- the kids love to go sledding and snow boarding. Life is good and we are looking forward to the many changes ahead!

My sister wanted me to post my yucky pics from the reconstruction so here is one, this is a about a week after surgery, the bruising and swelling is almost gone. As you can see the top incision goes from just past the middle of my forehead and into my hair line. The second one goes from the middle of my forehead straight down to my eyebrow. The kids think it's cool I have a big T on my forehead for Tara!















One of our favorite places to go is This is the Place in Salt Lake City. They have games, panning for gold, a petting farm, pony rides, a train ride, and replicas of houses from some of the early settlers. It is very educational and fun for the kids!







I found Mom and Dad's job when they retire!!!! The Old Man playing checkers with Cody and the Old Lady playing marbles on the floor with the boys!