Our Trip!!

Well, I had a crazy idea a couple months ago that I should go out to visit some family in Indiana and Ohio. Alone with my 4 kids, in February! Well, as crazy as it may sound, it turned out to be a great trip! The kids had a great time seeing cousins, I had a great time visiting and it turned out to be a fabulous trip. It's hard when family lives so far away and you only get to see each other every few years. So for this reason, my crazy trip alone with my 4 crazy kids was totally worth it.

Thanks Indiana Halversens for great "down home" fun! We loved shootin guns in the backyard, bowlin' with the Budwiser Bucket Boys, discovering the indoor flea market, spending good time at Wal-mart. My kids are head-over-heels for their cousins and aunt and uncle. Saxon misses his audience and Vie is in a state of depression without her "girls". Thanks for having us and for a few extra days at that!

Thanks Ohio Halversens for the blast we had up there! Our overblown Build-a-Bear experience at the busiest mall in the world, a super fabulous swimming experience, an almost COSI experience (lol), and good ol' "Chuckie's Fleas". But most of all for me, I enjoyed late night talks with sister-in laws and a nice sushi dinner with my big brother (notice my favorite moments were the quiet ones without my kids! hee hee!)

The hardest part about the trip was coming home and realizing how bad it stinks that we don't live closer. I have a pretty cool family. So, once again, I thank you for having us for a visit. We love you to death!

A little kick in the butt!

I love those moments in life that sort of give you a little kick in the butt! Well, I had one of those the other night. Lets start by saying that I am feeling like I am in a big rut. I am missing summer, feeling a little overwhelmed with 4 kids, trying to keep up with housework, dealing with a very irritating foot injury, feeling uninspired with my choreography, and just trying to keep it all together on a daily basis. (wait, this gets better, I promise) So, just when I was starting to really get "down" on my what seemed so important life, that nice little butt kickin came.

I woke up the other night about 3am and couldn't sleep. I was wide awake and didn't really feel like getting out of bed to start some housework or something so I grabbed my phone to check out some internet news and facebook and whatnot. I noticed my little google earth app and thought it would be fun to zoom in on China see some of the places that my hubby is visiting on his trip this week. Ok, so I know google earth is so old and everyone has been there, done that, but this time things really hit me. (yes, I know it was 3am, bear with me!!) As I scoped out Bejing, Hong Kong, and Singpore I was in awe of the masses of people in those areas. Millions and millions of dwellings with hundreds of millions of people living in them and this is just one little part of the world. I suddenly realized how completely insignificant I really am in the big picture. Suddenly all of the previous things that caused my "rut" seemed so unimportant. Sometimes we get so caught up in what's happening our lives and what's around us that we really do think that the world is in some way revolving around us. My kick in the butt was such a good one. Suddenly things became a little clearer. I've had these humbling experiences many times before, but this one was so perfect.

So I talked with my hubby about the whole google earth rediscovery. I told him that I realized how completely insignificant I really am. His response was, "You're pretty insignificant to the world, but you mean everything to me." Leave it up to perfect husbands to REALLY put things into perspective. Thanks babe.

Help! Has anyone seen my baby???

So, last April I had this perfect baby boy, Cache. Coming into this world at a WHOPPIN 10 lbs. 7oz., he came into my life and completely stole my heart. He has the most wonderfully pleasant disposition and people fall head over heels for him wherever we go. It's not hard to get him to smile, he does it so frequently and he is the most easygoing baby I have ever seen. I do have one SERIOUS problem with Cache though, he is growing up way too fast!!!

Its funny that with our oldest kids we are so excited for them to hit their big milestones, then we come to our last and we almost dread them. And why is it that Cache is growing faster than all of my others?? Or does it just seem that way? Oh, how I wish I could just bottle him up and keep him just as he is forever!! Everyday I see less of a baby and more of this adorable little person emerge. He's charming, lovable, and so much fun, but I am missing that little baby of mine. I'm not normally a gushy mom, but for some reason with this little guy I'm feelin it. I am absolutely, positively, unbelievably in love with this little baby of mine. Now, do any of you know how I can keep him this way???

I figured it out! (it's a miracle!)

S , trying to master the backyard ice rink!

V giving K a skating lesson!

We made the kids pose for a picture on Christmas morning before they could open their presents! We also make them drink a full glass of egg nog. Have you ever tried to drink that stuff fast? We're so mean! Look at those excited faces.

Lights at Temple Square.

Alright, I figured out my picture posting problem! So, here are a few pics of the holidays for your viewing pleasure! Sorry so late.

What Time Is It?

I've been spending way too much time on our home computer doing nothing interesting. I have failed to manage our files and have found that things have gotten out of hand and all the memory is being used. So I have been transfering files to our external to free up some space. I'm sure there is some technical terms for this problem, but I don't know about that. So, I'm spring cleaning all of our family photos and videos. Wow it's amazing how much we have done in the past 5 years! I'm feeling very nostalgic. Wondering where has all the time gone. I'm sure everyone does this.

Time is a funny thing. I find myself wishing I had more time everyday. Time to do this, time to do that, I guess that is why I am up so late! This is the only time I had to do this. So, for my New Years "Resolution" I am hoping to be more efficient with my time. Lately I have been finding myself so behind on things and it is driving me crazy. Of course having a 9 month old who is into EVERYTHING doesn't help, but still, I think I could manage things a little better. So, to my dear friends, I am wondering what little words of wisdom you all might have that might help me manage all those important things in life ie. family, housework, personal time, play, whatever!

And WHY CANT I POST PICTURES??? This is driving me crazy!!! HELP!