My Fox Crew

Wow! Been a while.

2012-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Well, It has been a while since writing on here, sorry about that. Lets see, we have just been plugging along with our lives. Phil in enjoying school and should graduate with his bachelors in july (yay!) then (hopefully, fingers crossed and prayers said) He will get into grad school at the Y for fall. He is enjoying working at the MTC and he gets to teach elders quorum on sunday.
Parker is enjoying 4th grade. He has an awesome teacher and special ed team that helps him. I am happy that he will get to finish his elementary at this school, it is a really great school. He is currently obsessed with Angry Birds. You would think that he got to play all day on Angry Birds for how obsessed he is with it but he actually doesn't. Parker is in Webelos and is getting close to getting his badge. He is very excited to be in 11 yr old scouts, and with my scouting back ground I am in a little bit of a shock that he is almost there. Parker is growing just like his dad, he grew 3 inch in the last 4 months. He is currently 5'3'' that is only 2 inch shorter than me! I love that he is so tall but then again he is still my little boy and it is a little unnerving that he can look me in the eye when I talk to him.
Everett loves 3rd grade and also has an awesome teacher. He has a lot of friends in the neighborhood and loves that he sees them at school AND at church. He loves playing the game Farkle and is pretty good at it. He is currently in Bear scouts, and working hard on that. Everett has surpassed Phil in his Lego building talent. That kid makes some of the coolest things and constantly wows us. Everett is my biggest helper with Calvin, I LOVE it. Though Calvin is getting into a mom only phase, sorry Everett.
Mason is in 1st grade and is lucky to have his own Aunt Sarah (or Mrs. Bethel at school) for his teacher. The funniest thing is he seems to forget at school that she is his aunt and only thinks of her as his teacher. She is due anyday with a baby and a few months back when they found out that it was a boy, I told Mason that the baby was going to be his cousin. The look on his face was priceless, he looked so confused. You could actually see the wheels turning in his mind making the connection, it was really funny. Mason is an awesome reader and his reading some magic tree house books and Junie B jones. I LOVE this! He is always wanting to read and will read whatever I put in front of him.
Simon is 4 and my little mommas boy. Which I love! He likes to be where I am all the time and follows me around the house, when he isn't causing trouble with Calvin. He is the sweetest kid! Simon will give me hugs and kisses just because I am standing there (love it!). He has reached the wonderful age of pondering the world around him. He constantly is asking me questions. Not why questions but HOW, how do they make cars? How do they make metal? How do they make bones? thankfully he is only 4 and simple answers satisfy him. This boys is baby hungry also, he always sees babies and wants to sit and play with them or take care of them, (So cute!)
Calvin is 2 and thankful a fairly easy 2 year old. He does the same stuff most 2 year olds do but it doesn't seem as bad :)
He loves his brothers and gets what ever he wants from them, even stuff he isn't supposed to have because they give him whatever he wants! Calvin is the cutest kid, we have so much fun with him. He loves to color and cut paper and copy his big brother (good and bad).
I am keeping busy. I have some friend that I go walking with 2 to 3 times a week. Every wednesday I go to my friend Lynseys house and we work on our craft projects together, it is so fun and I get a lot accomplished. My current projects are Everetts baptism quilt (yes he is 9, hence the need to get it done:) and starting Masons baptism quilt. I have a year lets see if i can get it done. I got called to be the Relief society Activity Board Leader, so I get to head up all the fun relief society activities which I am very excited about. I also get to go into my kids classes every friday and either read with them or help the teacher with various projects. I love doing this, I enjoy seeing how their classes run and meet their friends. I keep busy with Calvin and Simon while the other boys are at school and we have fun here at home, if only I could get more organized and keep it clean. I have been enjoying being back in Utah, it took a while, but I enjoy it now. I see my sisters more often which I love and the cousins get a lot more play time in.
That seems to be all with our family, nothing terrible exciting but fun nonetheless. Lets see if I can post for often then every 8 months :)

Post traumatic stress

2011-05-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

I have heard of this phrase before and I did believe it was a real thing but I have never experienced it. That is until yesterday. If you don't remember back in December I was in a car accident. It was just bad enough to make me jumpy now and again while driving. Yesterday we had a wonderful day spent with friends and family. We drove up to Salt Lake and had a fun lunch and afternoon hanging out with my good friend from high school, Kelsey, for the afternoon. Then we went over to Wheelers Farm and had a birthday party for our nephew Cannon who turned three. The weather was so so all day, turning to light rain at the party. After we went back to Abe's house (Cannon's Dad, Phils brother) and played some games. When we left around 9:00 it was pouring rain. Driving on the freeway in the rain in not one of my favorite thing to do, thankfully Phil was doing the driving. We were just past the point of the mountain and I was starting to tensing up, double checking if everyone was in their seatbelt correctly. Then we hit some sort of pot hole or crack in the road that had filled with water. I lost it! Major flash back came into my head of hitting those other cars, hearing my kids crying and seeing their faces that were so scared. I tensed up so much that I got an instant headache, I also felt like I couldn't breath deep enough. I kept seeing the accident over and over in my head again like the day that it happened with added images of what could happen there with my whole family on the freeway in the rain. The crying came when Phil asked if I was OK, then Parker and Everett asked if I was OK. They were are so sweet with concern. I know I wasn't in that big of an accident but it can really rattle you. We all arrived home save and sound but I was exhausted from the experience. It eased up and almost completely faded away once the rain started to get lighter and all but stop 10 minute later. I do not care to repeat that experience and I do worry about this winter but for now I won't think about it and look forward to summer (if it ever gets here). On a funny note I told Phil that when I am an old lady he is going to have to drive me around because I want to give up on driving sometimes and moments like this speed that thinking up.
On a completely different note last sunday I taught relief society for the first time and really liked it. I was surprised I felt very comfortable asking everyones questions and getting their feed back. There is much to be said about being properly prepared in all ways, materially and spiritually. I received several complements of shock that I had never taught before, one woman said I was born to teach, that threw me. I am grateful for the experience and look forward to the next time, I was only a sub last sunday.

Super hero Simon!

2011-05-22T16:50:00.001-07:00

I just have to state my two FAVORITE thing about my three year olds. All of them have had differences. Ranging in degrees of naughtiness and helpfulness. But two things they have all done.
First is the superhero fixation. I love this phase. Simon has had the benefit of having three older brothers go through this already so he has like 12 capes he can choose from and various other super hero pajamas and masks. Simon currently wears a cape every day if not two capes everyday.
The second thing I love is the "I want to be in only my underwear all day" phase. I do help Simon get dressed everyday and it is only a matter of time before he realizes what I have done. There is one thing that Simon does that the others did not do and that is he puts the cloths he was wearing back into his drawer, I know! Crazy right! I am counting my blessings with that one.
Three year olds are the best!

Summer is overdue!

2011-05-22T16:32:00.001-07:00

Sitting in the grass, the Sunnis shining! I am eating strawberries with my boys and I am thinking "summer needs to get here". We are in the two week countdown for school to be out and my boys are just a little excited. Until today I wasn't but after sitting there and absorbing the sun and my boys I am looking forward to it.
I love watching my boys look for bugs and worms and have all sorts of fun summer adventures.
With Parker turning 10 I know his "little boy" adventure days are numbered. Hopefully he will hold on to it a little longer since he has little brothers to educate.
Simon is currently showing Calvin the joys that are roly poly bugs. So much fun watching Calvins excitement when the bugs roll in to balls. These guys are so much fun!

I can update from my phone now!!

2011-05-18T09:58:00.001-07:00

With the encouragement of my sister-in-law I finally activated my blog writer on my phone. Now I update from my phone;). I apologize in advance for any spelling problems since my phone sometimes has a mind of it's own and I don't alway catch it.
Well, we have been here in Utah for just over a month now. For the first time in my kids life the three older boys have friends that go to church AND are in their class at school AND live in walking distance range. It's a good motivator to get homework done.
Phil has been busy with school and work. He has school ALL day on Monday and Wednesday. Then he works all day Tuesday and Thursday morning. He then has class on Friday morning and spends the rest of the afternoon working on homework. His week is a little crazy and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
I am getting settled. Phils schedule is taking some getting used to and it will change each semester, but such is the life of college. I was called to be on the Relief Society board. I have had this calling several times and I really like it. I was also asked to teach Relief Society this Sunday. I have never done this before I am nervous but I am also excited to do it. Hopefully between these two thing I will get some friends.
I am in love with my house. Very lucky for us considering we found it online and only saw pictures until we moved it. My only complaint would be the street is to busy. We do have a great back yard to make up for it.
So that us what is going on in our lives right now. Two weeks Friday school gets out so we will be playing all day soon.
I think I may like updating from my phone, let's see how long it lasts.

Girlfriends!

2011-03-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

As I was driving down the road after a doctor appointment that I apparently forgot got canceled, I was thinking about my up and coming move. I know, I know I move a lot, please don't point it out I am VERY aware of it. Anyway, I was thinking of the friends that I have made in all the cities that I have lived in in the last 10 years. This blog is dedicated to those women who I have met and left, but I still remember them and love them. I have to say that I met a lot of women in the last 10 years but in each city there has been two or three that stand out in the crowd.
When Phil and I and our tiny baby Parker moved from my home state of Utah and ventured to the lands of Portland OR, I was scared. I was leaving my family and living very far away. I quickly became friends with a girl name Lisa Whilhelm. She lived in the same appartment complex and she had a little girl about a year older than Parker. We became partners to work with the activity day girls and we shared a pregnancy of our second children together. Then came Nancy Wise, we quickly hit it off, we both had technology geek husbands so we had a lot in common.
Our little family which consisted of Phil and I and our boys Parker and Everett moved to Las Vegas NV. In my ward I was scooped up in friendship with two wonderful girls Robin Bevel and Jennifer Smith. These girls were so wonderful, Robin and I shared a pregnancy together as well. I have to say that I owe a lot to these to women. I had a very, very hard pregnancy, not in the terms of baby stress or physical anything it was all mental for me. I had a horrible case of post partum depression after my second and in turn got magnified with my third. They called me many times a week and got me out of the house to go to parks and things like that. I have to say that I would have lost my mind quite literally if these two women weren't there to bring some light in.
Now our family was a family of 5 (Parker, Everett, Mason) we moved up to Spokane WA. I was happy to be living by some family in good ole' spokane. In our first weeks of living here I quickly became friends with Gina Shumate. We were the only "young" couple at an adult valentines party and soon realized that we lived a street away from each other. Gina got me into scrapbooking and we had many a girls night doing stamps and having fun. We did preschool with our 4 year olds and I feel she became a true life long time friend of mine.
Life does some crazy things, so our crew (Parker, Everett, Mason, and Simon) moved back to Portland I was able to reconnect with Nancy but Lisa had since moved. I was spotted my two wonderful women and was told I needed to join their all boys club. They were kidding of course but Tara Mansius had 3 boys, and Kate Jefferies had 2 boys then there was me with 4. All the boys were the same ages. There is something to be said about having friends that have all boys as well, there is an understanding that can't be explained unless you are there as well. All three of us shared a pregnancy as well, all due within 5 weeks of each other. Oh what fun we had, of course two of us had boys (Tara, and I) and Kate had a precious angle baby girl, Elsa <3. Sadly Elsa was a still born, I don't know what could draw a few women closer that helping a friend cope with that kind of loss while being pregnant at the same time. I Love those two dearly and my heart aches for them and their boys.
After all those wonderful adventures in Portland our not so little family (Parker, Everett, Mason, Simon AND Calvin) moved Back to Spokane. I was fortunate to reconnect with Gina (love you) again and to rekindle another friend Tracy Mckay. I knew Tracy back from when we lived in Spokane before. We were visiting teaching companions and I really enjoyed her. When we moved back I got assigned to visit teach her. I have to say that she is such an example to me of strength and intelligence. I love her dearly. I am happy to have strengthen our relationship since moving back.
I also should mention the friends that I have known the longest. My two dear friends from high school, who I am still in contact with. Kelsey (Laws) Richards and Rachel (Hammond) Gardner. These two were the best, I sometimes feel I wasn't the best of friend in high school. Kelsey was very involved in volleyball and I didn't attend any of her games (I am truly sorry Kelsey) I should have supported her better then. Kelsey was one of those friends that we though the exact same way about almost everything when we had conversations we were always saying thing like "I know" or "thats what I think". She was just the best and I love her still. We had our first babies a month a part how, fun is that! Then there is Rachel, Oh miss Rachel! We knew how to laugh. We had so many inside jokes that I am sure most people couldn't stand to be around us (again, sorry Kelsey). We could quote movies to make a whole conversation. After high school I actually lived with Rachel for a few months while I was engaged, I'm sure I drove her crazy in my love sick haze, but she was the first one to hug me when I came out of them temple after the wedding and she was there when I had my first kid. Such a great friend Rachel and I love you still. I love talking with these women now after 15+ years of friendship. With moving so much it is nice to talk to someone who knows you really well.
The main thing that all these women have in common is that they have blessed my life. I learned something from each and everyone of them. I saw their strengths and strived to better myself by their examples. I hope they all know how much they mean to me and I pray that we can keep in touch with the new adventures that my family has to look forward to. Thanks to you all who have be there for me and have loved me and helped me be a better me, you are my girls!

Heres to the women I will meet in the future and the friendships that have yet to be!

MOVING AGAIN!!!

2011-02-27T23:20:00.000-08:00

I think that the word moving will become a swear word in my house, but yes that is what we are doing again in April. Phil got into BYU and will be studying computer engineering. I am excited for what the future holds and the thought that it will take him 3 years to complete his degree that means I have a guarantee that we WON'T be moving until he is done. AND I might add that that will be the longest we will have lived in any one house. I am not bitter at all so don't get me wrong, just stressed.
We are looking forward to being by my siblings. I haven't lived by my family for almost 10 years (yikes). So this should be really fun. Though I am sad to be leaving Spokane (again) I am really comfortable in my ward with some awesome friends and my kids are adjusting so well with friends and things that it is hard to change that. We will be OK, the boys are good sports about it. When we were telling our kids that dad was going back to school Everett was very adamant about Phil NOT going. I asked him why and he said "I don't want dad to GO to college". Poor kid thought Phil was leaving and we were staying here, we quickly explained what actually was happening and he was fine with that.
So here's to college life (again) with five kids in toe, should be a wonderful journey.

BY THE WAY- Does anybody want a lovable 2 year old male pugle (pug/beagle) named Pugsy. He is nutured and is wonderful with kids and other dogs, house trained, indoor dog, super sweet. It breaks my heart to get rid of him but we can't afford to keep him anymore and it limits EXTREMELY where we can live in Provo.

Waiting Game

2011-01-28T23:50:00.000-08:00

Life! There is nothing like life, isn't there.
I have been taking a class through BYU-Idaho in the pathway program and an institute class. It has been wonderful, I am sloooowly getting back into the hang of homework and understanding what the teacher wants me to do. It has been great though, having something to take me out of my mommy box for a little while has been just wonderful.I have made some friends in class and I actually feel like I can contribute with my "life experience" seeing how I am one of the OLDEST people in the class.
I am sure many of you know that we have been it quite the bind financially since Phil left Fox Capital (and before he left). Well, after weeks of contemplating Phil has decided to go back to school full time. He never finished his degree 10 years ago so we figured that now is a good time to go back and get a degree in something that he have a career and enjoy doing. He has applied to BYU where all of his generals are done and we are waiting to hear if he has gotten in. I know he will be and by this summer we will be living in Utah again for a few years while he finishes up his degree. He has decided to go into computer engineering, and anybody that has received help from Phil with their computers know that this is such a great thing for him to go into. I am thrilled beyond thrilled that he is going to be doing this. I know we have some tough times ahead but we have a plan! I am excited to be living by my siblings again for a little time they will be a great support to me with Phil being so busy. Since we will be on a college budget it will be good to see my family while he is in school.
So, YES we will be moving again and YES I am will be sad to leave Spokane but I am so excited about this opportunity for Phil. I am doing what I have always wanted to do, stay home with my kids. Now he is going to get an opportunity to do something he loves. This is so exciting and scary at the same time. Please, keep us in your prayers that he can get into BYU. I don't see why he wouldn't but it would be great for some extra help. Thanks

When It Rains it Pours!

2011-01-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

I hope and pray bad things ONLY come in three's. This new phase of life Phil and I are going through is not an easy adjustment but we are doing fine, counting our blessings and so forth. Well when you get a grip on things there is always something that has to slip and makes you have to grip harder so you don't fall on your face. Last friday I was in a car wreck. That sentence sounds so simple but simple it was not. I was heading down the wonderfully snowy icy road on my way to Taco Time for a quick lunch. I had Mason, Simon and Calvin with me. Thankfully I left Parker and Everett home since they NEVER want to buckle their seatbelt to the point of lying to me saying they have when they haven't! Anyway, a truck heading in the opposite direction turns in front of me with not enough space to finish the turn and I slam into him going probably 30 maybe 25 mph. I sent him sliding into another car and I then go on to slam head on to the car that was stopped waiting for the truck to go. I then send him sliding into the car behind him. Five cars in total, four of them have to be towed but thankfully NO ONE was hurt. I believe I got the brunt of the wreck hitting twice in motion. I have never been in a car wreck before and let me tell you I don't want to experience that again. It has been 3 days and I still have the images going through my mind over and over and it is worse while I am driving. Physically I am ok, I am going to the chiropractors tomorrow (I would have gone earlier but it was the new year holiday) I have been having constant headaches and pain between my shoulder blades.
On top of that our refrigerator is not working properly. I think we have that figured out we are trying to defrost it and hopefully that will work.
Then tonight we completely shatter our ceramic stovetop. I had place a #10 can of dried onion on the stove to get it out of my way while I prepare dinner (first mistake. Not having my kitchen cleaned up second mistake or you can flip that because if the kitchen was cleaned up I wouldn't have had to place the can on the stove because there would have been room somewhere else or it would have been put away two days ago when I got it out, grrrr! Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, can on counter. So then I fixed dinner and turned the stove off and apparently I bumped the burner knob the can was on and turned it on high. So we eat dinner and clean up the dinning room and everyone leaves for their various forms of activity. The older boys on the computer and Phil and I and Calvin in the front room. Thank goodness no one was in the kitchen. Next thing we hear is an explosion and what sounds like heavy rain falling. I first thought the kids threw snow and a light bulb again and went running into the kitchen to get the glass before the baby goes in there. What to I find? a smashed stove top with burnt dried onions ALL OVER THE KITCHEN!!! They had hit the ceiling with the really fried and black onions, it look like an ant hill ON MY CEILING! and then the toasty onions were EVERYWHERE! we are going to be cleaning those up for weeks. So now my house smells like burnt onions, all my refrigerator and freezer things are in the garage fridge, and we only have one car. GAAAG! We are all healthy and happy. There has been hardly any fights between our kids. The boys are loving school and doing great at it. Simon and Calvin are the cutest little buddies ever and I have the Best husband who makes me feel like the most beautiful and perfect person on the planet. I know we are tried so we can receive blessing and I know we will and I know Heavenly Father knows my pain and frustrations and he is with me and my family through everything. I am thankful for what I have and what I am going to learn from these test and I know I will not be tried harder that what I can handle. I just hope there is a little break from test until we get these ones figured out :)

I'm to impatient

2010-12-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

So I have a bunch more pictures to post of randomness of my kids, but I am so impatient with our slower internet that I'll do just one right now and I promise I will add some more soon.
Here is Calvin in our field before it snowed :)

First Day of school

2010-09-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah school started!!!
I have THREE kids in school, crazy! The boys were very excited to start school today. Parker my non-morning person was up before 7:00 fully dressed and ready to go, did I mention school doesn't start until 9. He got to enjoy breakfast all alone with his dad which is good for him I think, every boy deserves alone time with daddy. He had a slightly rough first day back, changing schools and all is not easy. Everett was NOT excited to be going back he was slightly grumpy all morning but when I picked him up after school he said it was the best day ever. Mason my little kindergartener was very excited this morning, but he has afternoon kindergarten. By the time we were at the school he was getting really nervous, but he warmed up quickly. When I picked him up he said that he was only there ten minutes (meaning time went by quick because he was having fun). I had 2 1/2 wonderful hours with only Calvin and Simon. They are the two busiest but Calvin took a nap and I put a short show on for Simon and he fell asleep and then so did I, NICE! I won't be continuing that but it is good to know that that is a possibility :) It may take me sometime getting used to the schedule but I can handle that.

I am enjoying being back in Spokane. When we lived here before I noticed that when I was out and about I always saw someone I knew, not just random people but someone I would want to stop and talk to. It is still like that and it is wonderful, I feel at home here. I do miss Portland but I am loving being back here, I just need more friends in my ward.

If I ever get on our computer (not laptop) I will post some pictures, hopefully soon (we will see about that).

Getting adjusted

2010-08-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well, we are SLOWLY getting adjusted here in Spokane. I used to think that I did the majority of the unpacking which I do, but the heavy and hard to move Phil would help me with. I am much more appreciative of Phils help now. Phil went to work the Monday after we got here which is great, but I have taken a lot longer to unpack than normal. I'm sure once school starts I will get more done.
The school district here is so packed that they only let an exact number of students per grade in the school. So if they get more enrolled they bus them to another school in the district as overflow students. So now Parker is going to Adams elementary and Everett and Mason are going to Sunrise, grrrrr! Now I will have not only two times (because of kindergarten) for pick up/drop off, I will have two schools to go to. Thankfully the schools are like two minutes apart I can deal with that.
We have already been asked to speak in church AGAIN I was hoping for SOME time. I was talking to a lady in the mothers room who has been here for 8 months and hasn't had to speak yet, what the heck, why do we go before they do? oh well, I was totally expecting it to happen :)
The boys are loving the house and the room to roam but they have been getting board with no friends (you know who you are). We are happy to be back here but it feels WEIRD moving back into a house we have lived in before. I can sort of relate to missionaries now, leaving home for two years and coming back. Things are familiar yet unfamiliar, you remember how you used to do things but you have changed and grown over the course of time. Some of your same friends are here and are ready to start the friendship up where you left off and other friends are no longer here (tear). What a crazy time in our lives right now, we appreciate the prayers in our behave and the help we have received from family and friends. We know that the Lord will help us get though this rough time and we know the only things that really matter our our faith and our family, everything is replaceable.

Life Change.....Can you Guess?

2010-07-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

Come on give it a try.....

No I'm NOT pregnant....

Any Guesses?

Nope

OK here it is......

We are moving again!!!!

This is not a joke we are doing it again. Thankfully we are moving to a paying job and a house and city we love. We are going back to Spokane. Timing was good with our old house, our renters moved out at the beginning of July. The boys are thrilled to be moving by so many cousins and they LOVE the house. I am anxious to just get it over with and just be there and settled in. We are not going to have an easy road ahead of us with career change but there have be many blessing, I can't and don't feel bad. At times I am sad but who isn't with BIG changes. I am really going to miss my friends here, they have been some of THE BEST I have ever had. I am not ready to leave my calling, I don't feel I have learned all that I need to. I don't get to have any of the corn that we grew in our garden (Tara enjoy that for me). All that aside we are very blessed with our health and our family. I know we are being watched over and blessings will come from these trials. For those here in OC It has been wonderful knowing you and I hope you have happy lives and I hope we will see each other again.

Life as a Boy...

2010-05-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Parker has reaching quite a wonderful age. He understands right and wrong, he know how to do things with limited explanation. He ponders things about the world, family and himself. Here is something he said to me today that I found very interesting in him understanding himself. We had a friend over that I was watching and they all were having a wonderful time on the trampoline, then the swings, then the slide and just plane old running about boy stuff. While Parker was on the swings he says to me "Mom, I noticed when other kids are around I want to show off how tough and strong I am, why is that?" My response "Parker, I guess thats just part of being a BOY". I thought that was so funny I had to share it.

I LOVE MY BOYS! I enjoy them more and more the older they get.

Cinco De Mayo Adventures

2010-05-05T18:55:00.001-07:00

The 5th of may was an adventuresome day. I had a blast in the morning making some homemade baby food with my friend Tara. It is soooo yummy we had a hard time not eating it ourselves. Here is Calvin with a big spoonful. He loves it, store bought baby food he wasn't digging very much. He LOVES this food.

Shortly after Mason stepped on some glass and sliced in between his toes. He was a trooper he cried shortly after it happened. We went to the urgent care, they were great. They handled him really well. They never said the word SHOT. He didn't get upset until after the numbing shot. He then cried the whole time they put the stitch in. I think it was more from delayed realization that he got shots, but he was VERY brave. When he got home he had a lot of fun retailing the story to his brothers. His version was MUCH more gruesome and gory. Whats the fun of telling a story if it doesn't get a reaction, right? (sorry if the picture grosses you out, but he wanted me to post it)

Change

2010-05-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

Since life is all about change and we are going through some changes in our family. I thought I should change up the look of my blog. What do you think? I think the girl looks like me (kinda) thats why I picked it, also if anyone knows me it GREEN (actually #1 reason I picked it). Hope you enjoy reading and leave a comment please, I love them.

A few changes I have been doing myself (in no particular order). I have been trying really listen to my children, complaints and ramblings. I have realized I really need to connect with each one in their ways. Be it playing a computer game WITH them. Or sitting on the couch and hearing a long drawn out story from a dream they had. Or giving them extra hugs and telling them how great they are. I have been doing it and am loving the response from my little guys. I don't understand boys and why they do what they do, which is funny seeing how I have five of them. So I figured I need to just delve into their world. It has been great, but my gun noise making abilities STILL haven't improved (LOL).

I have also been trying remember my morning prayers. I have alway been good and night just not so great in the morning. I am what you would call "NOT" a morning person. Mornings I barely can remember who is who and where they need to go (as a side note, I jokingly call myself sleeping beauty, because MY prince Philip has to kiss me awake, though that doesn't always work, LOL). So this has been fairly hard but I have been doing good. I had to write in soap on my bathroom mirror "morning prayer" so I would remember but it has worked. I feel better because of it and makes listening to my kids that much easier.

I have also been trying to cook more. I mean I have always "cooked" or rather warmed something up that was food and we ate it. I have been trying to MAKE dinner not just feed my family. This has been hard since I don't really know how. I am learning most of it from this website. She is great because she has pictures for each step (I am a very visual learner) of what she makes, AND it is SIMPLE ingredients. She lives on a ranch and cook for ranchers. Having a bunch of boys, meat and potatoes are perfect for my house. I just ease up on the butter, which she uses a lot of. I am enjoying it and so is my family. Some of my new favorites meals to make that get a lot of attention are Pot roast, Sloppy Joes, Chicken strips and Cinnamon Toast (the right way).

I have also been able to serve in the primary presidency as the 1st councilor. At first I was dreading it. But now I have learned the blessing of serving these kids. I get to teach such innocent and powerful young spirits. I have been able to overcome some major fears in a very non-threatening environment. I have felt spiritual inspiration while giving sharing times and they have been, to me, mind blowing. I am not great with words and sometimes the things that have come out of my mouth have been straight from heavenly father through me. I have found a love for these kids that I wasn't expecting. One major lesson I have learned, NEVER wear pointed toe heels in primary, your feet will kill you after two hours.

Heres to life, to bettering ourselves and its changes good and bad!

Pinewood Derby

2010-04-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Parker got to do his first Pinewood Derby this week. He was so excited to make his car, and I am proud to announce he did MOST of the work HIMSELF. He wanted a cool Super Mario car so he came up with the idea of a Bullet Bill. His car didn't place anything (which is OK, but he was a little disappointed) but he did win an award for "Toughest Car" that made his day. He was lucky also to have sharing day at school the next day so he got to bring it to show his class.

Here he is with his good buddy Kaden.

There is his cool bullet bill Pinewood Derby.

His car is the middle black blurr. It actually beat another car this round after we put some graphite on the wheels.

With having fun little tinkering boys I thought these guys NEED to dismantle some type of electronic device. Luckily my brother-in-law had an old non-working mac computer. Phil took the back off and let the boys go to town with screw drivers. Simon was content to hold the flash light. Calvin was so intrigued by the whole thing, it was very cute. I guess he has had this at work for a while and when Mason would go with him to work he would do this there also.

This had them entertained a good 45 min.

I just love seeing all their little heads hard at work, and little Calvin staring at me, he is so cute!

What fun these brothers have together.

Book signing

2010-04-21T14:14:00.001-07:00

My good friend Tara told me about this blog The Pioneer Woman. She has great cooking tutorials and photos and other things. I have really enjoyed reading her blog. Well, she came out with a cook book and did a mini book tour here in Portland and Seattle. Since I have never been to a book signing I thought it would be fun to go, so Tara and I went.

This is her after she arrived during the Q/A part of the book signing.

(sorry it's blurry, I had to hold my camera in the air to get this shot and I couldn't tell it was focused)

Having never been to a book signing we didn't know what to expect, so after two hours and two grumpy babies and two tired mommies we decided to just get a quick photo (to say "yes we were there"). I know, I know how lame are we, but whatever! we went and we will know what to expect next time.

Me (w/Calvin) and Tara (w/Bennet), Bree in the background.

If I haven't ever mentioned it before these two babies are only 11 hours apart in age. So fun!

Blessed Parker

2010-04-21T14:13:00.001-07:00

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am so thankful for my oldest child Parker. He is such a good help. He looks like a little mini Phil sitting here with Calvin. We were at the soccer games for 3 hours (an hour for each game and one in between). Parker spent half of the time playing WITH Simon on the playground and the other half playing with Calvin on the side lines. I am so lucky to have him as my helper, Thank you Parker you will make a wonderful dad someday.

Mason Soccer

2010-04-21T14:10:00.001-07:00

Watching 4 and 5 year olds play soccer is so entertaining. The first half of the game is spent getting the kids to get the ball to the right goal. Mason is one of 3 boys on his team but he doesn't seem to care. He loves it.

Right after this was taken he made the first goal. GO MASON!

Everett Soccer

2010-04-21T14:05:00.001-07:00

This boy LOVES soccer. I think he will make a great goalie, he likes to hang on the outskirts and keep the ball out of the goal. But he is good when he get in the game as well.

Of course he has to stop and give Calvin attention, as always

Do you think this guy is a proud big brother? Nah, not at all (LOL!)

Calvin is getting Big

2010-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well in the last two weeks Calvin has gotten 2 teeth, started rolling, and sitting up by himself. You forget just how quick these things go with babies. He is so fun and very adored around here.

Everett is such a good helper. If only Calvin were slightly lighter he would be held a lot more, I guess thats a good thing then

The many faces of Simon

2010-04-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

This kid is such a crack up, he make the cutest faces in the world. There is something to be said about two year olds, they are tough but man are they the cutest things EVER! I think Heavenly Father made them that way so they would survive adolescence.

I just want to kiss him!

Random fun

2010-04-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

Yea! I'm updating. We have been have some fun at our house. My mom gave me this great idea, for easter we gave the boys shaving cream. No, we aren't preparing for shaving we are having good CLEAN fun. I must say our kitchen table smelled and felt smooth and fresh after this. Also the boys LOOOVED it!

I call this picture "Learning from the masters" I think its funny how the older two are doing the arm toots and the younger two are watching intently, while the "middle" child just laughs. How could I resist posting such a funny picture

I had to show off my chubby baby. I can't leave all this cute cub alone, who could. Don't you just want to eat him up, so nummy!

PICTURES!!!!

2010-03-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

We got our annual family pictures done last month and I think they turned out really well. A huge thanks to my friend Tara who took them. You can see more of them here. The boys get a little crazy with pictures so thankfully Tara knows my boys are wasn't annoyed by it (Thanks Tara). Hope you enjoy them, we had fun.

Parker 8 1/2

Everett 7

Mason 5

Simon 2

Calvin 5 1/2 months

We had an "all boys" shot (but they were to dark), so I jokingly said "well are we going to have an all girls shot then?" so we did. How often do you get a pretty picture of your self when your a mom of lots of little ones? Especially when your "ready" for a picture, that was fun.

New Callings

2010-03-13T11:28:00.001-08:00

Well a month or so back our stake did a realigning of our ward boundaries. We went from 4 wards to 5. So, with that Phil and I both got new callings. Phil went from the Assistant Varsity Coach to the 1st counselor in the Young Mens Presidency. I went from being the Bear den leader to the 1st Counselor in the Primary presidency. Phil is still working with the same boys, minus a few that went to the other ward and some added responsibilities. I am, should I say waaay out of my comfort zone. I am excited about the new experiences and things that I will learn. I am excited about the blessings that this calling will bring to me and my family. Also the many thing I will learn and grow from being here that will help me in other areas of my life. I thank the lord every day for all my blessings and trials. I hope to be able to do a good job. I will extremely miss my cub scouts (I LOVED that calling) but I still get to see the boys and interact with them so I won't miss them to much. Here's to new things!

A Few Firsts

2010-03-07T18:25:00.001-08:00

I decided to try some solid foods with Calvin this week. He didn't like the bib but did't mind the food. Sorry about the blurry pictures I needed help from Everett and he doesn't quite understand my camera and focusing.

****Warning****

***funny naked shots of a toddler***

I figured if Pioneer Woman (scroll down, its there) can post a picture of her naked toddler on a 4 wheeler, I can post these of Simon, I have Waaaaay less readers than she does.

This is why you don't do three things:

1 - Get Simon out of the bath and NOT get his dress RIGHT AWAY!

2 - Leave the door TO the Garage open.

3 - Leave you car unlocked

Luckily he didn't leave me a present in there at all. If your wondering he is looking for gum, sneaky little guy.

Wolf and Mascara

2010-02-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

Parker has worked really hard over the past 9 months and has finally received his Wolf Badge. Thus begins our families journey into scouting, I can hardly wait!

What happens when you leave your bedroom door open and then can't find your two year old..... This happens!

Yea, he looks really sorry. Luckily he didn't poke his eye out with that mascara. So cute how they like to copy mommy.

What happened to Simon?

2010-02-12T16:01:00.000-08:00

Simon is the biggest crack up, he is constantly making funny faces or doing funny things. Here is one of his newest things, he loves these vampire teeth.

His new love is this batman suit, originally bought for Everett when he was 4 (I think) now it has moved onto a new owner. The funny thing is almost every time I get him dressed in it and say "wow, your batman" he alway punches me. Silly kid!

This one of my boys is just way to cute.

My Babies

2010-01-26T21:44:00.000-08:00

See if you can guess which of my boys are these. I didn't put them in order.

No time

2010-01-05T23:04:00.001-08:00

Sorry, with new baby, holidays and various other activities, blogging has been put on the bottom of the totem pole of things to do. I apologize to those who have been bugging me to update (Scott this post is for you). I will still up date but not as often as I used to. Thanks to all those who read this, I appreciate your loyalty.

I will, however, give a quick account of our going ons here but I will edit all the craziness of wrestling, climbing, messes, eating and other normal home activities. Calvin is now almost 4 months old, he is such a happy baby. He is always smiling at everyone, especially his brothers. Simon is just over 2 years old and crazy as ever. I love seeing little 2 year old personalities, how they take characteristics from their older siblings and turn them into their own. He is a busy boy but very affectionate and has a smile and ear piercing laugh that really catches your attention, he is so fun. Mason is 5 and is doing a co-op preschool with his two good friends Carter and Toby. Mason loves to learn and read and absolutely LOVES Lego anything on the Wii. Everett is 7 and is in 1st grade now. He is such a HUGE help with Calvin. Everett always has been good with babies but he is now old enough to really help. I think he has a special bond with Calvin, after smiling for me and Phil he would smile for him. Parker is 8 and in 2nd grade. He loves legos and drawing and does really well with combining the two. I am still working with the bears in my ward and on the Relief Society board (formerly Enrichment board). I am adjusting well to 5 kids, if it weren't for Phil the boys wouldn't make it to school EVER. Phil is still working with the varsity boys. Thing may get changed up this sunday because they are creating a new ward in our stake. They are taking the 4 wards that make up our stake now and rearranging the boundaries to make a 5th ward. Kind of exciting, we have never been involved with a something like this before.

Well that is really all, maybe this summer I may venture out with my crew and have some fun adventures but for now with the Oregon winter (i.e. RAIN) we will stay inside.

Keep checking up on us things may get exciting or maybe not.

new pic

2009-10-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

If you go to Phil photo gallery here we have some super cute pictures of Calvin. My good friend Tara took them (thanks Tara). I am learning what it is like having a small baby, how fun for my last to be little, lucky me. These photos were taken when he was 3 weeks old, he is now 4 weeks and weighs a whopping 8lbs 4oz. my last 3 children were this or bigger at birth so this is fun. Enjoy the photos.

2 weeks old

2009-09-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

The last two weeks were supposed to be filled with anxiousness, cleaning my house spotless, nervousness, impatience, and extreme crabbiness and uncomfort. Instead they have been filled with some uncomfort, but mostly just loves and kisses and cuddling with my new baby.

Calvin was supposed to be born today September 28th via scheduled c-section at 7:00am. Instead two weeks ago this is what happened. I had a normal day on September 14th. I got Parker and Everett off to school and tried to entertain Mason and Simon until they got home. We went for a walk, read books, had lunch and watched a video. Well around 2:30 right after Parker and Everett got home from school and thankfully Phil came home early I started getting some pain in my incision area (from my 4 previous c-section). So I sat down and let Phil take charge while I waited out the pain. It was intertwined with some contractions, this had happened before and died off after a two hours. well after 4:30 they were just as bad as before so Phil told me to call the doctor just to let them know what is going on and get some advice. I didn't think they were going to say much but I call anyway. They told me to go in to the hospital and get checked out. I was actually shocked and was anxious to go. Phil didn't think it was going to be a big deal at all and wanted me to go alone or take Everett with me. I said "I think this might be more than a in and out thing so YOU should take me". Well we got a babysitter right away and headed up to the hospital, which is like 30 min away. After I call the doctor I started paying attention to how often the pain and contractions were and for a solid hour including the drive they were 5 min. apart (you have to remember I have never REALLY gone into labor before so I was a little freaked out). Once at the hospital they checked us into the triage and started to monitor me and the contractions. For 2 hours the contractions stayed at 4 to 5 min apart. Phil and I weren't sure what we were waiting for, I guess we were expecting to go home soon. The nurse that was watching me came to give me and IV ,in hopes that the added fluids would stop the contractions, said casually "yea, if your still having incisional pain and your 37 weeks along with your 5th c-section your not going home tonight your having a baby". My jaw dropped to the floor, we weren't prepared at all we didn't bring the camera, I hadn't had a blessing yet, and I just realized while typing this we didn't get a picture of how big I was just before delivering. So after that we started making mental plans, whats happening with the kids who's going to bring us our camera and give me a blessing (I was not going into surgery without a Priesthood blessing). At 8:00pm the on call doctor (we missed our doctor by an hour) came in and told us he would prefer not to section me now, with being 37 weeks for the baby's health, but the consequences if he didn't (i.e. uterine rupture) were greater if he didn't. So as soon as the O.R. was open, which it would be in half an hour we would have the surgery. I was floored, I didn't have the chance to get scared or nervous because I went strait into mom mode. I got on the phone and made the arrangements for who (Marti Mcquay) was taking care of my other kids while I was in the hospital, who was picking them up from school, call the school and let them know pick up changes, canceling visiting teaching, of course had to call my mom and sisters and pregnant friends (beat ya by 12 hours Tara hee!hee!), by the time I was done they were actually waiting for ME to get off the phone to take me in there. What an experience, I am happy it is over and VERY happy to have my baby and recovering.

These Pictures are of us in the Hospital, so they are a few weeks old. I'll get some new ones once I get them downloaded.

Calvin Jim Fox

2009-09-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

Little Calvin decided he didn't want to wait two more weeks and decided to join our family sooner. He was born Monday September 14th at 9:36 pm. He weighed a whopping 6lb 11oz and is 19 3/4 inch long. He is so cute and resembles Parker as a new born. He has spent the day in the NICU, he has an air bubble outside of he lung and he need to be kept under supervision, so it doesn't get worse. Hopefully tomorrow morning he will get to be with me in my room but we will see what the Doc says in the morning. we have taken pictures they just aren't on my laptop so we will post some later. I am doing great and recovering well from the c-section. Here hoping for tomorrow.

Raise your had if.......

2009-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

you ever sang the song:

"Jingle Bells, Batman smell

Robin laid and egg

the bat mobile lost its wheel

and the Joker got away"

Well I know I sang it a lot as a kid, now my own boys have their own song they sing. Here it is:

"I am Ironman running over people with my ice cream van"

Sung to the tune to Ironman. I think it's funny to see the next generations little (although violent) creations. Lets see what the will come up with next.

Wow, it's been awhile....

2009-08-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

well I guess having summer and being pregnant has made me totally forget about blogging. So school start is just over 2 weeks and I am very anxious. We have had a very mellow summer for the most part since nothing my kids do is every mellow. We haven't gone any where or done much except for family reunions. We had a Bethel family reunion (minus my brother) in June and in July we had a Fox Family reunion and funnily enough both were at the same place. Other than that it has been swimming in the back yard, playing Legos and watching way to much Ben 10 (my boys favorite cartoon). I am currently 34 weeks along and we will be having this little guy on September 28th. I am getting excited to hold a new born again and hopefully we will survive the crazy school schedules with him as well. Phil just got back from a 5 day long High Adventure trip with the young men in our ward. They went sea kayaking in washington at Camp Parson. Phil enjoyed himself and hopefully his back will be feeling better soon. Not a terribly exciting summer but the boys will be very anxious to be in school and doing something every day. Hopefully I will get some pictures of our adventures this summer posted soon if not it will be new pictures of baby Calvin in just under 5 weeks.

Parkers turns 8, joins Cub scouts and gets Baptized

2009-06-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

My once little boy Parker has turned 8 on May 13th, and was able to join my wolf den. If any of you know my family we are big scouters (my dad has worked for the Boy Scouts for the last 18 years, for those who don't know). Needless to say we were very excited about this and I am happy to be starting the journey of being a mom of scouts. He quickly earned his Bobcat and is patiently (for Parker) working on his Wolf, according to him he wants it NOW!

On June 13th he was baptized. I think I was is shock because everything seemed to just roll along smoothly. But then again I have noticed all the craziness before a spiritual event is usually just the adversary trying to get us to make wrong choices and once that has passed the spirit is overwhelming. Parker was so precious he was beaming from head to toe. As his mom I kept worrying about him not being prepared and knowing what he should for this event. But then he must take in more than I realize because he was so anxious to be baptized that as soon as the prayer was over he threw his head back and didn't even plug his nose, Phil just barely caught him to actually help him. It was wonderful. Thanks to all those who came to support Parker, we were happy you could be there.

Sweetest Boys Ever

2009-05-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a conversation I had with Parker and Everett as I was putting them to bed tonight.

Parker: Mom, is the baby still a boy?

Me: Yes Parker it is still a boy (I had another ultrasound today as well, definitely a boy!)

Everett: Is there a chance that we can have a little girl.

Me: No, I am sorry Everett we are just going to be an all boy family.

Parker: Well you could have another baby and that one could be a girl.

Me: thats true Parker, but I have prayed about it and this baby is going to be the last baby in our family.

(Both boys get really sad looks on their faces)

Parker: is there two babies in there so one could be a girl?

Me: No Parker I am sorry there is only one baby and it is a boy.

Everett: why don't we get to have a girl baby?

Me: well Everett, heavenly father knows us better than we know ourselves and he knows that we are meant to be an all boy family.

(They were not satisfied with that answer)

Me: won't it be fun to have just brothers and mommy being the only girl?

(still not satisfied)

Me: Everett think of this, maybe when your a daddy you might get a little girl as your daughter.

(Everett gets a huge grin on his face and starts to giggle)

Everett: (very seriously)Well I won't be able to get her Legos, she won't know what to do with them.

Me: I am sure you'll figure that out Everett when the time comes. :) Good night Boys.

And the final results are....

2009-04-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

We had an ultrasound today to find out what our baby is and we are happy to announce that we are having baby boy #5. I am very happy. I also want to say that I don't need sympathy for not having a girl (this is our last baby) I am quit please with my lot. I know Heavenly Father knows me better than I know my self and this is what he has blessed me with. I am thankful to have another boy, I know what to do with them and I get to have so many blessing of priesthood in my home and I am thrilled with the idea of daughter-in-laws and other such things. I get to be the only girl and there for spoiled by my boys which I already am but even more so now.

Divine inspiration

2009-03-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

I have been spending a lot of time praying about how to help Parker with his reading, since we are now homeschooling and I didn't become a big reader until 2 years ago (so I have no clue how to go about this). I opened Aprils Ensign and in the back there is a story in the Latter-day Saints voices about a mom who's first grader is struggling with reading. Her answer was to have him read the Book of Mormon and highlight a few words and slowly he started recognizing more words. I thought well that would definitely cover two things that he needs, learning to read and reading the scriptures. I started it a few days ago with him and he really enjoys it (which is a first) he loves highlighting the words he knows and has surprised me and himself with words he already knows. He just started by looking for the words Lord and God and then he started highlighting like crazy. I am so proud of him and I know that this will help him become a more confident reader. I am so thankful for a Father in heaven that looks out for me continually, and helps me finds answers to my prayers.

Names and Baby names

2009-03-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Everett was curious as to what we will name the baby, I am not even thinking about it yet. but I got out the baby book and had him point to several to see what he thought. After a while we started looking up our own names to see their meanings. When I named each of the boys I did this but I haven't looked back at it since. It was quit fun to remember naming all my kids and seeing their reactions to what their names mean.

Parker means a park keeper, Parker was with Phil at stake conference so he didn't have a reaction.

Everett means strong as a boar, so if you know Everett at all this made his day (once I explained a boar is a wild pig) and he spent the next 10 min. running around on all fours pretending to be a wild pig. Another side note to Everetts name is his middle name in my maiden name (Bethel) and coincidentally the Bethel family crest has 4 boars on it. That was a fun thing to find out.

Mason means a stone worker, decided that means he is super strong to work with stone

Simon my sweet baby his name means in hebrew he who listens to me. Could you get any sweeter.

Also I looked up Phil's name and my name. Philip means lover of horses and Katie means pure

How fun is that we have a "pure love of horses" hee! hee!

Ode to LEGOS

2009-03-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

what a blessing legos have been in my life during the last 3 weeks. We haven't had a toy that my kids will play with from morning to night and still want to play with the next day. they have been my saving grace to get me through my morning sickness, and I will deal with them ending up all over my house if they keep doing their job and get me through this pregnancy. So here's to you Legos thanks for being a life saver.

Elves and Hobbits

2009-03-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

I saw this on my friends blog and thought it was fun, here are our names if we were Elves or Hobbits.

Hobbits

Phil - Lardo Took of Great Smials

Katie - Tigerlily Took of Great Smials

Parker - Wilibald Took of Great Smials

Everett - Longo Took of Great Smials

Mason - Berilac Took of Great Smials

Simon - Mungo Took of Great Smials

Elves

Phil - Eo Tiwele

Katie - Tari Tiwele

Parker - Golradir Tiwele

Everett - Lamalas Tiwele

Mason - Amras Tiwele

Simon - Finrod Tiwele

here is the web sight if you want to find out yours http://www.chriswetherell.com/hobbit/

New Do

2009-03-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

So I kinda got sick of my curly hair and I really missed my healthy looking strait hair. So I made a drastic change to get me there faster.

Tender Moment

2009-02-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

Since the day my kids have liked legos and us having a new baby in the house we have been constantly telling the boys not to leave legos on the floor or to let Simon get them. With our boys we have to be pretty graphic in our description of what will happen other wise we get no action out of them. A common saying is "don't let Simon get the legos or he will eat them, then he will choke on them and die!". I Guess we did a really good job at getting out point across. The other day Phil and the boys (not Simon) were organizing the Legos, you know sorting the people and accessories from the building things. When all of a sudden I hear Mason screaming bloody murder and Phil starting to calm him down (for those who don't know, Mason screams like this if he drops a toy or Parker looks at him wrong, thats why I didn't jump up and run up stairs). I hear Mason through tears say "I swallowed a Lego and now I am going to DIE!". I had to chuckle at that, but then a few minutes later Phil brings him to me and he is extremely distraught. So I cuddle him and give as much comforting words as I can and he is beginning to calm down when Phil comes back down stairs carrying Everett. I look up and Everett is red eyed and has a tear stained face. Phil told me he couldn't find Everett for a minute and when he did he was crying. Everett told Phil that he was really scared for Mason and didn't want him to die. Phil calmly told Everett not to worry Mason is not going to die but if he was that worried maybe he should say a prayer for him, Everett's response was that he already did but he would feel better if they said another one together. If there is ever a moment that makes a mother feel on top of the world it was in that moment for me seeing that brotherly love and faith in a prayer. With everything I try to teach my kids everyday and sometimes feel it goes in one ear and out the other I live for the moments that you can see it actually working. Who ever knows Everett knows he is the toughest most independent boy, but man, he has the largest spirit I have ever seen. I pray every night that I can teach and guide that wonderful spirit to be the strongest he can be and I know with Heavenly Fathers help I can do that. I live through all of the struggles and hard times of parenting for a tiny glimpse of those big powerful spirits and every now and then I am rewarded.

Disneyland

2009-02-11T18:29:00.001-08:00

I finally got some pictures on here of Disneyland and I am still working on Legoland (I working with how my morning sickness goes) so here is Disneyland. We will have a lot more pictures on our Phils Photo Gallery we have a link on the side of the blog. I didn't want to post everything we took a lot of pictures

This is what Simon did most of the time he still had fun, I think he like to Dumbo ride the best.

This is our first ride, If you notice Mason was not to happy. We learned he is a lot different than his brothers he doesn't like fast rides.

on Pirate Island trying to escape.

Phil took this of Parker and Emma during the ride, they had fun.

in front of the castle the boys didn't want to be there because princess are icky.

Everett trying to drive he didn't have the leg power to push the gas, he enjoyed it though.

Everett and Adam got picked to do Jedi training, it was so fun. Everett even got to battle Darth Vader and resist the dark side to become a padowan.

Mason loved the tea cups (me:yuck!) Luckily Emma liked them as well and took him on it several times.

Here we are at the front of the park.

CALIFORNIA

2009-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

I thought I would get these picture on here sooner but I have been feeling like crap (morning sickness) so sorry. We had so much fun on our trip to Cali. After our stop to the Redwoods we drove down to San Franscio. I have only been slightly interested in this city to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard street. After being there I am so intrigued. I really want to make a trip just to see the city. I was so impressed with it, it was such a fascinating city.

Going Private

2009-02-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

I think it is time to go private. If you want to keep reading my blog just post you email or email me at pkfox@comcast.net I will send you an invite. Thanks for reading!

2009-01-29T23:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick video Phil put together and some pics from today's events. The Redwoods are amazing. Stay tuned for more videos and pictures from our California trip.

Trip to Caifornia

2009-01-28T11:02:00.000-08:00

I am so excited we are leaving on our trip today. Our plan is to drive to Cresent City tonight stay their and tomorrow we will check out the Redwood Forest. Then we will dive to San Fransico Drive over the Golden Gate Bridge stay their a night. Then off to Anaheim were we'll hopefully go to a Mona Vie conference (we think its sold out). We will then hang out at the beach and catch some sun and swimming. We plan to go one day to Lego Land and one day to Disney Land. I am so excited. We are taking my niece Emma and nephew Adam. I'll post pictures next week when we get back. CALIFORNIA AND SUN HERE WE COME!!!

Thanks Mom and Dad

2009-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

Well my parents sent us money for Christmas to get out family something. I had the wonderful Idea to get a fondue pot. We tried it out today and we had a blast (Thanks Kate and Brent for the oil we forgot that in our grocery shopping and didn't realize until today). And if your wondering where Mason is he is crashed on the couch, he made it through church today, yea. Thanks so much Mom and Dad we love it.

2009-01-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a great little video Phil put together of Simon rocking out. This was the actual song he was dancing to. Notice his mouth he is actually pretending to sing. What Can I say my kids are so cool. Pause the music on the side to hear the song.

Wall of Photos

2009-01-21T20:49:00.001-08:00

Here is my completed project pictures and all.

Family Pictures

2009-01-19T22:09:00.001-08:00

We had my friend Tara do our family Photos (thanks Tara) and they turned out so cute. Man if my kids are this cute now what am I going to do when they are teenagers, Yikes!! There is also one on just Phil and I on the side bar. I also had to put two of Simon he was just to darn cute.

Enjoy!

Simon 14 1/2 months

Mason 4

Everett 6

Parker 7 1/2

I am spoiled!!

2009-01-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

I did a post the other day on being overruled by being the only girl, now here is the other end of it. I get to be pampered and spoiled by all my loving boys. I let them work with some craft stuff just to play with yesterday and this is what they came up with.

No help from me they made some fun little earrings that I can change the color to match my outfits. Boy, do they know their mom or what I am so lucky.

It Time to Clean the Bathroom When...

2009-01-16T23:10:00.000-08:00

Warning if you are sensitive about cleaning don't read any further.

1. You notice the red ring around the toilet and at the bottom of the sink.

2. You have dust bunnies/hair balls the size of golf balls (slight exaggeration)

3. Your tripping on all the things your toddler has pulled out of the drawers and cabinets.

4. You dirty your shirt with makeup when you lean over the sink.

5. You have to creatively balance Q-tips on the mound that is your garbage.

and the biggest way to tell it is time to clean your bathroom is...

6. When your 4 year old walks in and says "Mom, your bathroom is really messy you should do something about that"

Fox Crew

2009-01-13T21:34:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I am overruled

2009-01-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

One of the many down falls of being the only girl in the house is there have been a few times that testosterone overrules any objection that I have to some activities that take place in the house like this for example.

Yes they are throwing a football in the HOUSE! Isn't that the number one no no rule we have heard all of our lives. Not only that but they had to be higher to match dads hight so almost smash the light with their throws. Well I guess thats what happens when you have been snowed in for a week and need some physical activity (that is why I let them do it by-the-way)

I just played with Simon or I should say kept the ball away from him and made sure he didn't fall of the window ledge :-)

Dinner with Parker

2009-01-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

As part of my plan of raising boys I am determined to have boys that can cook and do house hold things before they go on missions so I have a while to get them ready for that task. In view of that I have decided to let Parker plan and cook a meal for the family of his choice every other week and as he gets older more often. We went to the store and he decided that he wanted some steaks, shrimp, fish, fruit salad, and rolls. I was very fun shopping with him and helping him think about how much we will eat. I think he was more excited about the fruit salad than anything else, he picked out apples, bananas, pears, star fruit, mango, watermelon and grapes, it was very good. We planned to grill everything but silly me I didn't know how to hook up the grill, so he cooked them up on the stove instead. He was having a wonderful time cutting the fruit and I could tell he loved the responsibility.

First Attempt

2009-01-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

I have been having fun decorating my house. For Christmas Phil gave me a 12inch Cricut. So here is my first time decorating with Vinyl. I also covered the mat for the picture frames myself. I had no help on this project and had so much fun with it. If you'll notice the pictures are empty we haven't taken the pictures yet so it will just have to wait. What do you think?

Journals

2009-01-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here are my boys journals, remember I typed what they said, except I did tweak a few sentences to make more cense

Parker 1-4-09

I am excited to turn 8 in May and get baptized . I was excited to get my Webkin bat for Christmas. I got two other Webkins for Christmas and I gave my elephant one to Everett. I can't believe I got to go on Webkin world and get stuff for my bat. I did have fun in the snow trying to built a snowman, and snow angles, and jumping on the snow trap. Today in church we talked about getting older and now I am in CTR 8 and my class is with CTR 7, we get to sit in the back row. We got some brand new Legos. I can't believe I got a science kit which I am very excited to do.

Everett 1-4-09

I like my cool robotic remote control "Spike" dinosaur that I got for Christmas. I love to be with my mom. The snow is super fun. I am now in CTR 7 the same class with Parker, we got to keep one of the same teachers as last year. I love my baby brother and I love my family. I don't like mice. We built with our blocks this week and played with our new legos. I don't like rats.

Mason 1-4-09

(This part is written by me)Here is a quote of the week for Mason, "Gimme a beat" proceeded my air guitar and head banging. What can I say my kids are so cool.

Now here is Mason:

I like guinea pigs. I love my mommy. I love my daddy. I love Simon, and I love my brothers. I love the earth.

(This is me again)

This is such a fun project to do with my kids (when I remember) They are so funny and cute when they are trying really hard to come up with some serious answers to my questions.

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T00:19:00.000-08:00

I am so happy for this new year, it brings many new and exciting things. I remember talking about the year 2009, 8 years ago when I was 5 months pregnant with Parker. I was thinking that in eight years our little boy will be getting baptized but that was so far away. Now here I am already planning the big day 6 months in advance. I am going to be a reck, just thinking about it tonight made me start to cry with happiness. I have a lot a new years resolutions but I am going to try the hardest at reading to my children more. I tend to forget to do this a lot, not that I don't think it is important I just get busy with meals and bedtime that I forget. So #1 on my list for this year is that. What are some of your resolutions?

Warning!! Cheesy blog Update.

2008-12-28T22:26:00.000-08:00

As of a few years ago I was not a reader. But then I got inspired by a wonderful sister-in-law (Thanks Mary) who has read more books than I have ever heard of, I became a more proficient reader. I am not a book worm but I find now that I actually have a stack of books waiting for me to read. Can you believe that a stack of books!!!! Anyway, I am currently reading a book for a little book club I am in with two of my sister-in-laws (Hi Amy, and Tiffany) called "The Agony and the Ecstasy" it is a Biographical Novel of Michelangelo. The reason for this post is that I had to say that it amazes me how I can start reading a book that I hardly understand anything that they are saying in it, like all of the Italian names and places in this current book. Then I get a hundred or so pages in it and I find that I am, for the most part, understanding it and looking up info that I just read online to understand what they are talking about. Or in this case looking up pictures of Michelangelo's sculptures and artwork to fully absorb the feeling in the book.

It was two years ago this new years that I challenged my self to become a better reader and now here I am reading a novel about Michelangelo, I am blown away and amazed at the power of a book. I wish I could have figured this out a lot sooner but I am thankful for those that have inspired me and humored me (like you all) by listening to my child like view at this world of reading.

The Day Portland Froze

2008-12-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

This was a crazy day. We had just got about 6 inches of snow and then we got a half inch of freezing rain(ice) on top of it. The boys had a blast playing ON it.

Today we got another 6-8 inches of snow on top of the ice. Here is the proof. I know this does not compare to you guys in Spokane but for us this is huge.

This is our bonus room window, it is not a privacy window, that is ice.

Needless to say, we are enjoying the snow while it lasts.

Christmas Card

2008-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am going for a paper free approch to the Christmas letter this year, so that means only my fellow bloggers and family are going to read this (sorry Danci, I will tell you what it says). Well to start out my letter I should say what I have said in every letter for the last five or more years. Can anyone guess? Yes, we moved again. We are currently residing in Oregon City OR. I didn't send out a letter last year because we moved here just before Christmas last year 2007. Here is a rundown of what our family has been up to in the last two years.

Phil - Was building homes in Spokane when the market dropped, so we packed up and moved to Portland to keep Fox Capital condensed in Portland. Phil has also gotten in to a new career path of selling Mona Vie for more info on that give him a call 503-929-2721. He wants me to write that life is great and drink it! feel it! share it!

Katie - I have been busy over a year ago I had our fourth boy Simon Walter Fox on October 29th 2007, that has consumed my life the last year. I am currently the Den Leader for the Wolf Cub Scouts, which is a calling I really wanted since I have four boys. Honestly I would rather have my kids heavily involved with scouts than with sports. We moved from Spokane and that was hard for me we had been there 3 years, the longest we have lived anywhere. I didn't get a letter out for reasons of a new baby and a move to a new state so I think you all will understand that. I keep my self busy with my kids, and in my spare time which is almost non-existent I like to read, blog (my new obsession), I still enjoy sewing but can't find the time at the moment, read to my kids and do crafts or projects with them.

Parker - Is 7 1/2 now, we recently took him out of school to homeschool him. He has been loving it and I can already see a huge difference in him and it has only been a few weeks. His current obsession is Science projects, Pandas and legos. He is a great help with the baby and still tries to make me happy in all he does. He is looking forward to his baptism in May. We are looking forward to that as well. Parker is such a joy in our home and we are blessed to have him around and we love him so much.

Everett - Is 6 now and in Kindergarden, he absolutely loves it and his teacher, he is such a smart kid. Everett still loves bats and the color black and small things, if it is small or mini it will find its way in his pockets or his room, ie: my moms mini travel scriptures, small note pads, tiny pencils, little cups anything little he likes. He loves to have a notebook and pencil to carry around and pretend things. Everett is so intense with everything. He loves hugs and gives great ones and you should hear this kids prayers they are amazing, you can tell he already has a personal relationship with Heavenly Father. Everett is my second mother to Simon. He is so precious with him always playing with him and reading him books. Who needs a big sister when Everett is there to help with any little whine that Simon makes. Everett is wonderful and we love him a lot.

Mason - Is 4 and a wonderful little guy. If I get a child that will sing it will be this kid, he loves musicals and is always singing. In family home evening he has to do a solo before and after we sing the opening and closing songs. Mason also loves movies, I struggle with him every day all day to get him to only watch one movie. It usually ends up to be more with some TV shows included but I try. Mason is such an obedient child, he is four so he does fight the rules but it doesn't take much to get him to correct his ways and do what he should. He is very quick to say sorry and give hugs and kiss. Mason is so fun and we love him so much.

Simon - Is a fun 14 month old. He is such a happy baby and is so patient with his older brother who try to wrestle him. He is a big momma's boy, but he does like dad too. He only says "Hi, Dad" and "Bye" with a wave and a huge grin on his face. Simon's favorite activity is taking the vent covers off and throwing socks and toys in them. He has currently knocked the Christmas tree down twice, something my other three have never done. Luckily there was a brother standing right by him and caught it before it landed on top of him. Simon is so much fun and I have enjoyed him immensely.

We are so blessed in our lives and our trials and we are thankful for both. We are thankful for this Christmas season and all the snow we have been getting. We hope everyone is safe in this weather and can find joy in this season of their lives. We love all of you and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Love Philip, Katie, Parker, Everett, Mason and Simon

For your Info

2008-12-20T00:03:00.001-08:00

If you were wondering you can make these yourself at www.elfyourself.com and the first one titled "My Christmas Elf" all the pictures are of Phil, we have a camera on our computer that you can do funny effects on. That one made the boys crack up.

Silly Family of Elves

2008-12-19T20:59:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My Christmas Elf

2008-12-19T20:15:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Fun New Christmas Treat

2008-12-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

My mom told me about this fun Christmas treat that is easy for the kids to do. My kids loved doing them and eating them.

All you need is:

Pretzels

Heresy Kisses (stripped are the cutest)

Plain M&M's

place the pretzels on a cookie sheet, then put a heresy kiss on top bake in over at 225 for 2 to 3 min. then pull out and put a M&M on the top. Then Cool.

They turned out quite cute and very yummy (we found peppermint stripped kisses very yummy). The boys loved watching the kisses melt.

I hate snow days!!

2008-12-17T20:40:00.000-08:00

Being from Utah snow days were few and far between. They usually happened because there was like 4 feet of snow or something like that. Poor Oregon no one can handle the snow so a few inches and a little ice and everything shuts down. I wouldn't mind usually, I would enjoy the free schedule and make what we can of it. Then days like today happen, if you ever think your having a bad day just reread this blog and you won't feel so bad. So it started out like any other day that we get to sleep in. We had a lazy morning reading scriptures, making beds, getting dressed normal morning stuff. I grabbed a stack of books to read to the boys, I didn't feel like doing much. After I got Simon down for a nap and got the boys heavily involved with a drawing and coloring project I decided it was time for a shower. They usually are fine when I get in the shower so I had no reason to suppose I should hurry and check on them. When I came out I noticed the sneaky suspicious look on one of their faces (honestly can't remember which one). I went in to Parker and Everett's room and they quickly told me that they made a potion. This is a usual occurrence and so I didn't feel the need to fear then I said "that is not something we do in our rooms could you please take it into the kitchen". See, I did keep my cool at one point in this and by the way I am editing most of my reactions in this. Then they told me that a little had spilled and they need help cleaning it up. I lift the blanket on the top bunk, which Mason was hiding under and trying to prop up with my flashlight, something I don't let them play with I might add because they waste the battery. Anyway, they had taken my vanilla extract, not the cheap imitation kind the large 8 dollar a bottle kind and mixed it with mouth wash and soft water crystals (little rocks that you can add colored water to and change their size and color). It was puddling in the middle of the bed and covered a good two foot or more space. I totally lost it and scream "what the heck is this!!" I could tell I was rapidly losing control so I stopped and went into the hallway got to my knees and said a prayer. (I got into the habit of this a couple of years ago and it has greatly increased the life span of my children) Thankfully all of my kids realized that this was not a really good choice and during my prayer time (basically timeout time) they all came and gave me hugs and kisses and said they were sorry. Replaying this made me realize that this wasn't as bad as somethings that they have done but it was still in the top five worse messes they have made. I was able to calm down enough to tell them they need to strip the bed and change their clothes ( yes they were covered as well) and put everything in the wash with out complaint or wasting any time, amazingly they did exactly what I said. We were able to somewhat recover from this matter minus the water incident in the bath room and the card mess in the bonus room and the beating each other up all day long. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband that didn't question me with frozen pizza's for dinner, and that I was leaving to grocery shop for "I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG". So now that it is 9:oo at night I am doing alright. Wow! a little venting makes you feel better doesn't it. I want to end with I do love my boys and I am thankful that they are creative and want to discover and explore things. Without them my life would be pointless and I wouldn't know what to do with my self. I love being a mom and I would not trade it for anything.

Snow!! What in Portland.

2008-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

I don't like snow... that means its to cold for rain. If you can name the book that the previous sentence is from give your self bonus points. I don't personally love to snow, though I do enjoy watching in from inside my warm house during Christmas time. Having spent 2 or 3 WINTERS in Spokane the novelty wore off very quickly when it is may and still snowing. Anyways I did enjoy waking up to snow this morning and it is hard to not get excited when your kids are. We quickly pulled out our boxed up snowsuits and luckily they all still fit. Church was canceled so the boys enjoyed a morning of playing in the snow. Then after a short family devotional (no church) we gathered our gear and headed to Stu and Tiff house. The boys loved sledding on a wakeboard down the hills and playing in the snow with their cousins. I stayed warm inside and made some cute Christmas decor crafts with Mckenna and Emma. No matter how long we stay at their house it is never long enough, but we eventually we got them away with no fight and we happy with our/their fun filled snow day to be repeated tomorrow.

And this is what Simon did. He didn't touch this on his head I don't think he even knew it was there. Isn't he a sweety.

Life Changes

2008-12-12T21:50:00.000-08:00

As if I need more changes in life here is another one. We have officially taken Parker out of school to homeschool him. We attempted this last year, but me being very pregnant and planning a move to Portland it didn't work out. I kept getting an unsettling feeling with Parker being in school, we held him back a year and that seemed to help a lot but it was still a struggle for me. I didn't feel he was getting his education in a way that was going to help him to love to learn. Finally after a lot of prayer and talking with Phil I made the decision. I know it is going to be hard and frustrating at times but I find myself being excited about it. I still plan on sending my other children to school and if the need arises I will take them out as well, but for now it is only Parker. We have had a lot of fun this week, I am trying to have him direct his learning so he will throughly enjoy it. I am mainly focusing on reading with him, this is the area he needs to gain the most confidence in. I am amazed at how excited he get about learning when he gets to take control and not have to go at a certain pace. One day this week we started with reading some science books (he loves art and science over anything) on molecules and changing states of matter. Parker thought that was fun so we did an experiment on melting ice cubes(solids) to water (liquids) to boiling it (gas). Parker was so excited he wanted to read about molecules then he wanted to draw pictures of it and label everything. It was so much fun and I found my self completely enjoying it anxious to do more. I am excited about this new change and I know that it will help my son with his love of learning. I pray that I can keep this excitement and work through the hard times.

What do You Get When You Put Three LDS Stay at Home Mom Sisters and Put Them in VEGAS!!

2008-12-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

TOTAL CRAZYNESS!!

I don't love this picture but it works, little Jonas is in the hip pack on Danci

I am serious, who says you need to drink, gamble or go to a show in vegas to have fun. A few of the highlights are probably more silly to us three than to anyone else. First of all our elavator to our hotel had a lot of force and everytime we got in it Danci (sister in picture with me above) would fake like she was going to throw up whether there were other people in there or not after a couple of time she wasn't faking anymore. Then after we got back late from seeing Freemont street we were so tired our reactions were a little slow and we weren't sure what level we needed to get off the elevator to get to our hotel. Sheila got off and looked around and me and Danci just stared at her while the elevator doors closed leaving Sheila alone. The funny part was that Danci and I could hear Sheila banging on the doors calling our names and then when the doors opened all three of us were bent over stamping our feet on the ground in hysterical laughter in the exact same position (since childhood we have nick named this as the Bethel Indian Dance). As I said before these things are probably more funny to us than to anyone else. Then to top off the night of hysterical delirious laughter the next morning we realized we didn't remember where we parked. After going to two different levels and not finding our car we send Danci on foot up the stairs to find our car while we waited with the luggage. This alone was funny but what made it more hysterical was while we were waiting for Danci to come back a worker over heard our conversation and started to ask us some questions like "Do you remember getting on an elevator" or "Do you remember parking next to a post" or something like that. I know she thought we were drunk the night before and that was how she was trying to help us. I made it funny because our responses were slow like were hung over but we weren't just exhausted. We had a wonderful time talking, who knew that you don't need the radio or tv on at all over a three day period. We talked solid from Salt Lake to Vegas and back again. Having been to Vegas a lot during high school we didn't feel like we needed to do a lot of things so we were content with only going to Coca Cola facorty and M&M world. Our only regret was that we couldn't see Stomp, the only showing was at 7:00 and that was when my Mona Vie meeting was (that was the reason for the trip). I love my sister and this trip was over due, we are already planning our second sisters weekend, who knows what town we will reek havoc on next time. As a side note Jonas (Danci's baby) came with us and was an angle he slept good and enjoyed being toted around with Danci so she was able to enjoy herself as well.

Here are some of our attempted crazy pictures and other photos of our trip.

Katie, Danci and Sheila outside Coca Cola world

Me and the wall of M&M's in M&M world

Danci and I in the Elevator

You figure out why this picture is funny.

Me with the street performer "Gold Man" (Parker loves gold so I got this for him)

Sheila being Sheila

Me with the wax Nicolas Cage

Sheila with the wax Nicolas Cage

Sheila and Danci (and Jonas) outside Paris

we stayed next door at Balley's

Parker and Everetts Journal

2008-11-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

Parker 11-30-08

The thing that was the most fun this week that I did was make cardboard reindeer with grandpa and dad. I also got an Eve bowl with my own money. I like it because it is a fun thing I got from the disney store. I went to the mall and grandma and Grandpa went with us. We went to built a bear to look at stuff and disney store so I could use my own money to buy something. We got to see Bolt in 3D for Masons birthday.

Everett 11-30-08

Hun! no, I will not eat this shoe I will not eat this gun ,I will not do anything. (I told Everett I would type what he would say and this is what he said, I don't think he was into the whole journal thing this week)

Just for the Record

2008-11-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write down for my own benefit that at this moment my WHOLE house is clean. That includes all the laundry, all the dishes, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, moping, and 3 bathrooms. I wanted to write it down because I am sure that it is only a matter of minutes before that changes. This is all in preparation for my mom coming tonight. I just figured out why I have to have a perfectly clean house when my parents come. It is because the child inside of me feels like my mom is going to come in and check all the nooks and crannies to make sure I did it right. Like when I was a kid having to clean my room, even though she has never done that and I know she doesn't think that I can't help it. But I do enjoy having it so clean for a time. Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me?

Parker and Everett's journal

2008-11-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

I am going to try a new Sunday activity. Lets see if I can be consistent with it. I want to post some journaling of the boys, with me as the scribe, thanks Amy for the idea. They have been wanting to do some blogging as well. So as you read this next part remember it's coming from my boys.

Parker 11/24/08

I really like halloween colors. When I go to color I always want to do a Halloween picture. I worked worked really hard on my homework this week, and I earned a mini turkey from Build-a-bears. I like my turkey because it is a fall thing. In church today I learned about being respectful. I like to play with my friends, we have a lot of fun doing jungle. Some of my friends are Kyle, Ryan, Will, Emmy, Kyla, Mattie, Natalie, Julia, and AJ. My favorite thing to do in school is art. My favorite kind of animal is a Panda, a Monkey, and a frog. My favorite kind of Halloween person is a skeleton.

Everett 11/24/08

I really like mini things because they are easy to hold. I worked really hard with doing my home work every day this week and I earned a mini back back with play school things for my Build-a-bear. In church today I learned about being respectful to Jesus and my mom and dad. I want to make a mini journal and not write on the computer, so we are going to do that next.

well there it is hopefully as weeks go by they may become a little more detailed, but then again they are boys so this is something.

Here are our mini Journals, we just cover stapled paper with felt and cut out animal shapes out of felt, If you can't tell Everett's is a Panda, Mason's is a bear, and Parkers is a turkey.

A Tribute to my Dad!

2008-11-21T22:44:00.003-08:00

My Dad with Simon over 4th of July

My Dad had his 58 birthday yesterday and I wanted to write a blog in honor of him. A little about my dad, he is one of the most fun and wonderful men in my life. I was never embarrassed by him when I was in high school. I was alway very anxious to give him a big hug whenever I saw him and it didn't matter where we were. He was always wanting to do fun things with us, like take my sisters and I to Las Vegas to go shopping (just so you know I get my love of bags from my dad, his just have a manly twist to them). He would always get something for us girls for Valentines Day, most of the time it was a smaller version of what he got my mom. My favorite memory of him would be driving with him in his little truck and listening to Bob Segger. He would turn the music up so loud and sing and dance, maybe that is where I get it from. My dad was always active in my life, he deeply cared about the choices that I made and I could never and will never let him down or disappoint him. Another thing I love about my dad is how he loves my mom, and shows it. Every time I have flown my mom up to visit me she spends the whole time finding little love notes in her things, one time we counted about 30 different notes (in her shoes, stuffed in socks and things like that) it is so cute. He is so good at loving my mom that it gave me the confidence to want that for myself and not accept anything less, and I did get that. My dad honors his priesthood and that in and of itself is one of the greatest things he has done for me. I knew I could always turn to my dad for anything and he would listen to me and love me and for that I am so grateful. I love you daddy happy #58.

My Dad with Mason at Cherry Hill over 4th of July

My life with boys

2008-11-15T22:23:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love haveing all boys there are so many fun times and some not so fun times. I love getting into bugs and crawly things. I don't like spiders but bugs are very fascinating things, we are constantly reading books on bugs, drawing pictures of bugs and so on. I only have a few rules with my kids when it comes to bugs and things 1) keep them outside, 2) if you catch it be nice and let in go sometime today and 3) don't shove them in my face. Well today my kids were playing outside and found that if you dig through the leaves pilled in the gutter there are a lot of worms. They got probable 20 or so worms and put them in a container and continued to play with them. They did sneak in to the house once or twice (as usual) with them and I quickly reminded them of rule #1 so out they went. The day went on and I was in my mom cleaning mode and started to strip the bed to wash sheets. I pulled my covers down and I noticed a very wet kleenex on Phils side of the bed. I went over to it and low and behold my wonderful boys had squished a handful of worms in a tissue and thought it would be a funny joke on mom and dad to find it in their bed. I happened to be brushing my teeth at the same time so I couldn't yell at the moment. My toothbrush thankfully has a two minute timer to help be brush better. In this case that timer saved my kids life, for two minutes was enough time to get me to calm down and be able to somewhat reasonable talk to my kids. I don't know if I will ever get the fascination my kids have for somethings, but hopefully I will be able to handle it as well as I did today.

First Word

2008-11-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

I am officially declaring Simon's first word is EAT. I thought I heard him say this word several times in the past few weeks but I just claimed it as me trying to hear him say words. Today when he woke up from his nap a little sadder than usually he pointed to the stairs and said EAT so I went down stairs and he pointed to the fridge and again said EAT. He also just started to point and things which is so cute. If you know my Simon at all you will know that since he was about 4 or 5 months old he would throw a fit it you where by him eating and not give him any. So there it is my first child who didn't say Mama or Dada but he did say EAT.

All alone

2008-11-08T19:30:00.000-08:00

I am surviving my longest time away from my husband, when I have stayed home and not taken off to Utah to be with my family. Phil has been in L.A. since Wednesday and has been having a wonderful time training and learning about Mona Vie and his new career path. I have been coping well with him gone. I realize how much I do enjoy having him around and home much I depend on his daily pep talk to get me through my day. He comes home tomorrow (YEA!). I on the other hand am trying to make new friends in my new ward, which I am sick of doing but hopefully this is the last time for a while. So I am inviting some new and one old friend over on Tuesday for a get to know you lunch. I am wanting to play a game to get to know them a little better and I am not sure what game to play (any suggestions?), but I will figure one out.

With Phil being gone I finally organized my craft room. It is not completely unpacked put it is functional and it doesn't look like I just threw boxes in that room and closed the door anymore so that is good. If you can't tell I just feel like blabbering on here, I have to admit I love blogging for two reasons one is I know I am doing some sort of journaling and saving precious memories and two I love reading the comments that people make. So if you ever read my blog please leave a comment (preferable a nice one) because I love it.

Halloween

2008-11-06T12:30:00.001-08:00

This is posted a little late but oh well. We went on a spontaneous trip to Spokane just before Halloween. Since it was so quick we forgot (of course) the boys costumes. Thanks to cheap Walmart halloween make up and a nice sister-in-law (thanks Mary). We ended up with two Vampires, a pumpkin, and a lion. For the record Mason didn't want to be a vampire he said they were to scary, but I think he looks like a scary Jack 'o' lanturne. We had fun going with Bay and Mary to their ward party and trunk or treat. I personally don't like halloween so that was good enough for me. They boys enjoyed it and they loved scaring Grandma Fox.

Simon Turned ONE!

2008-10-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here he is enjoying his birthday cupcake.

I can't believe my baby has turned one. Simon is almost running around to keep up with his brothers. He is still a major mamma's boy and prefers me over anyone. He is the happiest baby, whenever he sees us he not only smiles but laughs and bounces. Simon is our pale, red hair, blue eyed boy, talk about sticking out like a sore thumb. We love having him around he is such a joy in our family. Here is some pictures of the day he was born.

This was taken the night before the c-section

Mommy and baby

Oh! so cute. Those nine months take forever but then time speeds up ;(

2008-10-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a video from our day at the pumpkin patch. Sorry it is not very good quality.

Enjoy

Pumpkin Pie

2008-10-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

My kids asked if I could make pumpkin pie. Well I have never made it before so I though why not. here are the results.

And the results are 3 thumbs up and one that will eat whatever you put in his mouth

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

We did our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. This year we went to a place called Hoffmans farm. It was alright, kind of junkie. We probably won't go there next year. I was wanting to go to an actual field and cut the pumpkins off the vine like we did in Spokane. The boys had a fun time so thats all that matters.

Mason loved pulling this wagon around, he would pull it hard backwards and not see the pumpkins in his way and he would trip over them. It was so sad but he would not let me help him.

Here is a picture of me and Simon, he had a grand time riding on my back.

Parker and Everett loved the pony rides. Mason would not ride on them, he remembers not liking them when we were in Rapid City when he was two.

My Little Monkey

2008-10-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is what I found after I had been upstairs for a minute. Notice the spoons that he is showing me. I guess the dishwasher need to always be locked from now on. Isn't he cute.

Boys Versus Girls

2008-10-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am having a strange experience tonight. As you know I have only boys, so I am used to playing things like: wrestle, bug hunt, chase and tickle, building blocks, play dough and coloring. I know that girls do some of these things as well but it is so much different then the way my boys play from what I have experienced. I am watching some of my nieces (and nephew) tonight and I asked them what they wanted to do. One says well "I wanted to play school, I brought some glasses that I could wear and be the teacher" then she went and explained all the things that she wanted to do. I was so impressed because this is exactly how I played as a kid. I have been listening to them play for like 20 minutes and it is so cute hearing her say "OK, now students" and that sort of thing. I went and peeked at them and all my boys were sitting on make shift chairs and upturned plastic tubs for desks with papers and pens and they were "playing school" even Mason. I don't think that I have seen them sit that long with something that was not a movie or video game. Anyways I think it is really cute and foreign to me, my boys would never come up with this idea on their own. I hope someday Phil and I can experience having a girl. I wanted to tell Tiffany that she has awesome kids and they are so much fun and I love them all.

Treckin"

2008-10-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Well I am just trecking through life from SON up to SON down. Big news Simon officially walked yesterday from the couch to the window, which is like 8 feet. Then he saw the older boys running laps around the couches so he decided to give it a try. It was so cute seeing his face all geared up to move his head tilted forward and arms ready and then one step and he was down on the ground. He wouldn't let me help him (I have another Everett in the making), he tried again and then gave in to let me hold his hand so he could go faster. He was so cute laughing and giggling the the whole way. Now a day later he try's to walk before he crawls. He is so much fun.

As of now that is the only big thing, we have been enjoying cousins this week Abe and Betsy came up to visit Betsy's brother so we luckily got to see them as well. We are also looking forward to seeing Grandma and Grandpa Fox who are coming on Wednesday. Just not that much happening in our little family except for school, Mona Vie (Phil), Scouts, Mona Vie and playing, Oh did I mention Mona Vie.

Per request of my sister Sheila I am going try updating my blog more often with thing like this so if you don't like it, well then don't read it (just kidding)

Tagged again

2008-10-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

I got tagged by Carrie, I am supposed to name 7 quirky thing about myself. Lets see if I can

1. I am what I call color anal, I have to have my cloths, home decor and most anything with color on it matching or coordinating. I will obsess over having a black belt with brown shoes (on myself I don't notice anybody else)and most likely change within 10 minutes because I can't stop thinking about it. I line up my color pencils in color order and tape them so they stay in the same order when ever I need them.

2. I have double jointed thumbs and my fingers bend pretty far back, so I can shake my own hand.

3. I don't like to voice my opinion, and when I do my body gets really shaky as I am talking.

4. I blush like no body business. I get bright red when I laugh, when people look at me, when I am the center of attention. I pretty much blush at everything embarrassing or not.

5. I have no self control when it comes to cookies or brownies.

6. Every time I am sick even if I am throwing up, in the back of my mind I think I must be faking it (Thanks Sheila : )

7. When I was 8 I didn't like they way my knees turned in when I walked so I trained my self to walk with my knees strain, so now I walk with my feet pointed out not strait.

That took a while but then I got on a role and could name a few more but thought I should stop.

Now I tag Sheila, Melissa Fox, Kelly Marker, Kathy Rump

Standing Man

2008-10-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Why do they have to grow up, I guess it is necessary. This morning Simon was sitting on the ground in front of me then he just stood up. He took his first official steps a few days ago. He is definitely a very independent baby because he won't walk holding my hands but he will cruse around furniture one handed. Congrats Simon your growing so quick.

Everett's Lasts and Firsts

2008-10-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

I didn't post all the pictures I wanted of Everett. Here are a couple more.

Everett and I made this bat pinata. This was fun, but it will be the last time we do a pinata for a birthday.

Everett and his first day of school

Shortly before the first day of school Everett lost his first tooth, to say he was excited when he realized what the Tooth fairy bring is and understatement. Look at those beautiful eyes.

Children's Museum

2008-10-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

We went to the children's museum with Aunt Mary on friday. The boys didn't have school so we thought it would be fun to get out, so did the rest of Portland. It was busy so I didn't take a lot of pictures. They did face painting themselves, Everett didn't want to and Parker went a little crazy. Mason wasn't ready to leave thats why he is crying, we did have a lot of fun.

Happy #6 Everett

2008-10-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

OK so this is a few days late but here it is. Everett turned 6 on October 3 2002. Everett is our most enthusiastic child. He is our biggest cuddle bug also. He is a great big brother, he always gets Simon when he wakes up from his nap and Simon laughs a wiggles every time Everett plays and talks to him. Everett started Kindergarten this year and he is loving it, he loves being independent. Everett has been into bats, the color black and batman since he was two, so its a good thing his birthday is in October. We had a party for him this year and I think he had fun, he had a hard time doing anything other than opening presents. In other words he didn't want to do anything else and was kind of pouting with everything. He was very happy in the end, and thanks to those who got him something. He is enjoying having new toys that are HIS and saying "you need to ask me because they are mine", thankfully he is not being to overbearing. It is always nice when they have a birthday because for a short time they seem to be more helpful because they are trying to be more responsible. Here are some pictures of Everett over the years.

Everett in the Hospital

Look at those FAT cheeks, to cute.

After swimming about 9 months old.

Everett in Hawaii at 16 month, I couldn't keep him off this it wasn't even ours.

Had to do a naked shot, He has always loved the water.

We love you Everett!!

Husband Tag, I'm it!

2008-10-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I got tagged by my Sister, so here we go.

1. Were did you meet? At a dance club in Provo called Club Omni

2. How long did you date before you got married? We meet at the end of February and were married the end of July so that is 5 months.

3. How long have you been married? Just over 8 years

4. What is you favorite feature of his? His Big brown eyes

5. What is your favorite quality of his? He is the most humble man I have ever met and the most giving man he would give our car to someone who needed it more than we do.

6. Does he have a nickname for you? Babe, and honestly he does call me dude, I never noticed until my brother-in-law pointed it out and was appalled, but I don't mind.

7. What is his favorite color? Blue

8. What is his favorite food? Mona Vie, he also likes peanut butter on toast.

9. What is his favorite sport? That's easy Golf, but he does get in to BYU football and that is it thank goodness.

10. When and where was your first kiss? Back seat of his friend's car driving home from our 2nd date. It was a total surprise kiss and it was the best kiss of my life, I always wanted a surprise kiss.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Our dates are usually dinner and a movie, but we like to sing along to our favorite songs together and drive around, we did that a lot when we were dating.

12. Do you have any Children? 4 boys, Parker Young 7, Everett Bethel 6, Mason Joseph almost 4, and Simon Walter 1 in 3 weeks.

13. Does he have a hidden talent? he is a closet Photographer and he grills the best steak, Chicken, Pork pretty much anything he grills is awesome.

14. How old is he? 30, not matter how old he gets I am still married to a FOX :)

15. Who Said "I love you" first? He did, than I said it the next day.

16. What do you admire most about him? He is known as the peacemaker in his family. He always is good at calming me down. He gets along with everybody, and children love him. He is the most selfless person, I don't think I have ever heard him say "What about me" or "That's not fair". He loves our children so much, and he honors his priesthood to bless our family. He is so giving and responsible for our family. He loves his Parents and Brothers and Sisters. I could keep going but I'll end with this, he makes me feel like the most beautiful and most accomplished woman in the world and I love him so much.

17. Do you think he will read this? Yes, he most definitely will.

That was fun, now I tag Gina Shumate, Carrie Meerdink, Betsy Fox, Amy Fox

Our New pet

2008-09-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Meet our new pet. He/she is a Bearded Dragon named Flash Dragon Fox. The boys came up with the name and he goes by flash. I am actually surprized at how much I like him, and I do enjoy holding him myself.

Here is Everett showing off Flash.

The boys like to play a game with him when we feed him his crickets. They all pick a cricket and pretend that they are one (a cricket) and watch to see who is the last one to get eaten, it is kind of fun.

First and Lasts

2008-09-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

My friend Gina did this so I thought what the heck.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR FIRSTS:

FIRST REAL BEST FRIEND: Sarah Sheafer, lived next door to me until I moved at the age of 10

FIRST SCHOOL:Fox Hill Elementary

FIRST CELL PHONE: Early 1999

FIRST FUNERAL: Grandpa Jones 1990

FIRST PET: Cat Figero and Dog Mickey

FIRST BIG TRIP: We went to Gallup,New Mexico every summer to see my grandma

FISRT FIGHT: I never stood up for my self until I was a teenager against my sisters so I am not sure

FIRST CELEBRITY CRUSH: Fred Savage from the Wonder Years

FIRST TIME OUT OF THE COUNTRY: Tiajuana on my honeymoon

FIRST JOB: Camp Maple Dale boy scout camp, my parents paid me $20 a week to run all over and do odd jobs I was 11.

FIRST MYSPACE FRIEND: Don't have one

EVERYONE HAS THEIR LASTS

LAST BERSON YOU HUGGED: Parker

LAST CAR RIDE: Home from Fred Meyer

LAST TIME YOU CRIED: Watching the thing on Gina's page. This Click here made me cry twice watching it then thinking about watching it.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED: Bride and Prejudice, cheese fun movie

LAST FOOD YOU ATE: Chocolate fudge brownie Dryers Ice cream, YUMMY

LAST ITEM BOUGHT: Chocolate fudge brownie ice cream

LAST SHIRT WORN: light blue knit 3/4 length sleeve

LAST PHONE CALL: wrong # on my cell

LAST TEXT MESSAGE: Phil saying he would pick up what I wanted at the store

LAST KISS: Parker, kissed him good night

LAST THING YOU TOUCHED: Keyboard

LAST FUNERAL: Grandpa Jolley 2005

LAST TIME AT THE MALL: Date with Phil went to Cheesecake Factory

LAST TIME YOU WERE EXCITED FOR SOMETHING: To night having our Friends the Meerdinks over

LAST PERSON YOU SAW: Phil

LAST THING YOU DRANK: Squirt Soda

LAST PERSON THAT BROKE YOUR HEART: old boyfriend Chad

LAST TIME YOU WERE REALLY HONESTLY HAPPY: right now!

Sweet boys

2008-09-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

My boys are so sweet. With school going they have started to miss each other. Yesterday Parker and Everett both got to go to the library at school to get books. When I picked up Everett he was so excited and said "I got a book that Parker is going to love (a book with a dragon in it)". Then a few hours later I picked up Parker and he jumped in the car with a big grin and said "Everett I have a surprize for you", it was a book on bats (Everett loves bats). That brought a tear to my eye to see them thinking of each other and being so excited about it. I love my kids.

Beach+cousins+Good Weather=Labor Day Fun

2008-09-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day we went out to Hug Point on the coast with Stuart and Jesse's families we played there for a while. The weather was supposed to be cold but it felt really warm (65 degrees) and there was no wind. We weren't prepared for WARM weather, so the boys took off their shirts and rolled up their pants and played in the water anyways (benefits of boys). Then for dinner we drove up to sunset beach, about 15 min up the coast where you can drive onto the beach and roasted hotdogs and smores. We had a FHE on the Wise man and the Foolish man. it was a lot of fun. Thanks Jesse and Amy for coming up with the idea. Check out a video phil made on his photo gallery site http://gallery.me.com/youngfox#100000

This was Simon's first time playing in the sand and he loved it.

Mason did have fun this was the only picture that I got of him close up.

Phil is always stealing other people's babies (this is my nephew James) it is so cute, kids just love Phil.

Parker looks so grown up in this picture he had a lot of fun getting soaked in jeans

I don't know why put I love this picture.

My cute red hair blue eyed baby boy.

Simon was so cute in the sand he was digging his toes in to it, he didn't know what to think of the water (it was very cold)

This is me and my niece Emma with our feet sinking in the sand.

So cute Simon and Phil, I usually don't get any pictures with Phil in them because he takes the pictures luckily Mckenna (my niece) wanted to play with Phil's camera and she to some awesome and cute shots thanks Mckenna.

Isn't he the cutest thing ever (I think so)

Seaside

2008-08-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

So here is a quick video and some pics Phil threw together from our weekend at Seaside. Thanks Stu and Tiff, we had a blast. Sorry you couldn't make it Carrie and Carey.

Getting Settled

2008-08-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we are felling settled for only living here a week. I will be much happier when we get a couch in our family room but other than that everything is wonderful. This home has a much better flow than our rental did and I am happy about that. The kids still rather play in the front yard (what was the point of a back yard again?) hopefully they will enjoy the space soon. One major perk for this place, according to the kids can be summed up in one word SLUGS. They have found at least one or two a day, that makes me happy, I love bugs (spiders don't count they have 8 legs). The boys are getting excited about school, Parker met his teacher last night, I couldn't find her as first because she looks 16. She just got married so she is legal, I don't feel that I am old enough to feel this way but what ever. Parker seems excited hopefully this 1st grade experience is better than last time, I am sure it will be. Everett gets to meet his teacher tonight and he is very excited about that, I hope he likes her. Mason is in for a shock when they both go to school next week, he is convinced that he is going as well.