Inversion

 deja vu from last january, we are stuck in an inversion!!!  sadly, that does not allow any storms to touch down so we are on a record dry month.  not good for the upcoming year, but there is still hope, right?

 we did get one, snow storm!  it was great.  after school, ellee took a late nap and the kids and i built a snowman, played, and went sledding behind the 4 wheeler.  it was 'snow' much fun!  winter time is so dark and dreary with the fog, but we have enjoyed our family time this time of year where we have a good schedule, are strict with our scriptures, prayers, and fhe, and have everyone home together.  it is good!  i love this time with my kids.  i am thankful for my health.  i am thankful we are able to provide for our family.  lots of things i could go into...

 this is just going to briefly touch what we have been up to.  it seems lately, there are many things i want to remember. many things i want to do.  many things i want to become and help my children become.  but here's a few pictures to sum things up.  bentley and bridon get out the bb guns and shoot around until their hands are freezing.  the pic above, bridon is posing as a 'soldier' but he is cracking himself up.  today, i was singing ' i hope they call me on a mission' while folding laundry. emerson started singing with me and said she can't wait to go. (she always talks about going on a mission like mom and aunt natalie).  bridon got his crazy business going on and said he didn't want to go.  what do you do on a mission anyway!!?  he asks.  so i explained what you get to do in sharing the restored gospel of jesus christ and what that means (in 5 year old terms).  he left.  then he came back, yelling.  'i am never going on a mission!!"  and he started talking loud and high and kind of crying like he does when he's upset.  i asked why.   totally serious, he shrieks back "you have to wear church clothes all day and all night and never take them off!!! i am never going!  i hate church clothes!" 

 we have broken up the monotony a little bit with sand piles in our driveway for a couple of days.  lots of exploration there and sand everywhere in the house until they hit the pivot tracks.  so, yes some tractor work and some working of the cattle as well (check out ben's sweet roping skills:).  for fun, bridon and i and our neighbor and her son, went up skiing and got some sunshine!!  bridon did great.  he was a little frustrated in the beginning, but nothing serious.  by the end, we had hit the lift and were going up and down under the lights on the little 'coach' hill.  it was a great day!!  he and chad were exhausted by the end.  the kids had mlk day off a few days ago, so we headed out to givens hot springs and they had a blast at the 'sprinkles' as emerson calls it.  little ellee was totally crazy and wild and wanted to drown herself.  just before we left, the boys and i were hauling in costco stuff and someone left the bathroom door open (a def no-no for her).  ellee came wandering into the kitchen drinking out of a cup that she had, yes, sadly, dipped into the toilet. she loves the toilet!!!  naughty!  more on her later. 

 and the new winter portraits (on the side bar) of the boys were just the other day.  i think they turned out pretty good!  all the frost sticks to the trees and makes it pretty, but cold and slick...and no snow, but we've all ready discussed that.  anyhow, i took them up to the orchard on perch and as we were hurrying about while the girls waited in the car, i ran forward and launched straight into a ditch that was completely covered and filled with leaves!  talk about abrupt and some scrapage on my hands and knees!  the camera took a bang but still works.  phew!  bentley almost died laughing.  then he and bridon got to horsing around and did the very same thing, only they were buried up to their necks instead of their waist like me!!  he still said it was his 'rose' of the day at dinner time watching me 'take a digger.'  no respect for his poor mama! in his defense, i imagine it was pretty funny to watch:)