MUSE

The stars all aligned and I was able to go to the Muse concert with Jon and a bunch of other friends. This was Jon's 5th time, my first. If there is one passion in his life, it is MUSE. I have to admit, they are pretty incredible! I've been listening to their album on my runs lately and it so rocks.

Anyway, I wasn't sure I would be able to go until the last minute, the night before. We have a hard time finding a babysitter. It was on a school night and I can't leave Meg for very long because that stubborn little cutie will ONLY nurse! (more on that to come in another post...) Ben's girlfriend. Sara ended up doing it and she was awesome!! Thanks SOOO much!

I had to go late, missing the opening band, which was OK with me except that Jon went at 2 in the afternoon to wait in line so he could be front row! So I was going to have to fight the wild crowd to find him, and everyone else.

It took me about an hour and a half to get there when it normally takes about 1/2 hour because the traffic was so crazy! PLUS, a blizzard started as I was driving. I had to park about a mile away and run in the blizzard with only a light jacket!

I had missed the first 2 songs, which were my favorites, and then it was time to push my way up!! I was so brave, and bold. This is a hard thing for me to do. Jon said I wouldn't be able to and told me to just stand in the back. (nice.) But, then there was my sister Annie! I made it about 2/3 the way up and then she came for me!! She grabbed my hand and we marched up to where everyone was!! YEAH!!! "That's what sisters do!" she said.

Here is a little video clip:

Jon got in 2 fights with the same skinny little Utah County dweeb trying to show off for his girlfriend and act tough and cool, clearly he was neither. Just adds to the adrenaline of the rock concert experience, I guess. And the best part is...besides literally being on the front row against the bar, Jon caught a pick! It was a fun night!

little kids

This is what Charlie wore to bed tonight:

And here he is enjoying a grilled cheese at Downtown Philly:
This is Meg's (and my) new favorite:

My new BFF

I've been telling Jon for a while now that I need a new BFF. A particular type of friend. I need a Will to my Grace.

So Jon found one for me. Here he is:

WARNING: He swears a couple times at the end. Not bad swears.

Great Grandpa

We recently went to St George for a week while the kids were off track to get some sun and enjoy some time away. We did a lot of fun things while we were there.




Hiking,

Shopping,

walks in the park,

feeding the ducks...

..from inside the car because they are so fiesty! One bit Charlie as they had him pinned against the back bumper. He kept nervously repeating, "they won't hurt you!" until they attacked and we ran for the door.

We saw a house burn down...

and we went swimming! Granpa Kay came with because Jon had to get some work done. He took Charlie through the mens locker room while I took the girls through the women's. The girls got out to the pool first and I watched as Charlie and Grandpa came walking out hand in hand, Charlie shivering from the pre-requisite shower. Grandpa stayed with Charlie the whole time. It was so heart warming to watch! How many kids get to have memories of swimming with their great-grandpa? Or even their grandpa? It was so special!

I'm back...

It's been too long but I finally got my computer back (and my life back) so I'm just going to post some photos of the last few months and hopefully get back in the swing of blogging!

Meg

Sorry but this post will not have any pictures yet!! My computer crashed so I am using Jon's and need to figure things out when I have more time.
Anyway, wanted to update everyone on the birth of our baby now that it's been almost 2 weeks! Time flies so much faster outside the womb.
I was scheduled for a C-section on Friday the 28th of August but convinced myself she would come sooner because Charlie was born at 38 weeks. That did not happen. So on Friday morning Jon and I went to the hospital at 6am and at 747 out little cutie was born. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 19 inches long. She has a lot of dark hair, mostly in the back. None of out other kids have had that much hair or hair that dark. We are hoping it won't all rub off!
I was in the hospital until Monday. My mom came and stayed with us for almost a whole week, which is such a life saver. Everything is so calm and peaceful when she is here. The kids are better behaved, the house is clean, food is delicious, and I just feel like everything will be OK. Needless to say I cried like a baby when she left!
I've had a lot of help from my mother-in-law and generous neighbors too. Meg is a great eater and nights have gotten a LITTLE but better. She just likes to eat every 2-3 hours but she'll go back to sleep after she's fed. The other kids can't get enough of her. Paige and Haily adore her and are such great helpers. Charlie is so tender and loving with her. He has been very gentle so far.
The girls went back to school today so things have quieted down during the day. Overall, I feel we are all adjusting pretty well. For me, having 4 kids isn't too much harder. Probably because my older 2 are so helpful, can go and play outside by themselves, and are in school all day.
We are so happy to have this little cutie in our house. There is nothing like a newborn baby! We welcome anyone who wants to come peek at her, just call first please! :)
I will get pictures up as soon as I find a minute!

Gardening: 1st Year

Here are some photos we took over the past few months of the progress of our first ever garden! We are enjoying lots of peas, zucchini, tomatoes, and carrots. Our corn did not turn out, and the watermelon and cucumbers didn't even come up! But we had fun and will surely do it again next year!
Here are Jon and the kids shoveling soil and manure into the garden spot.




Here are the kids doing some weeding.


Charlie watering:
And Haily harvesting some carrots: