{FaMilY PiCtuReS & ChRisTmAs CaRdS}

I know it is a little early to start thinking about Christmas, but I know that if your like me and you don't get a jump on your Christmas Cards they might not ever get done. I've had many people ask me about doing their family pictures and Christmas cards, so this year I decided to make it known that I would love to do them for anyone. There are more samples of my work and a price list at octoberroaddesign.blogspot.com (there is a link at the top right). I can use photographs you already have or I can use the ones I take. I custum design each card to your style. You can email me anytime ceryl@diversifiedtax.com

Primary Program

So I bet your wondering what a Fire Truck has to do with a Primary Program......Well, I have to preface this story with one from last year...it's what makes it so funny.

Last year was the first Primary Program I had done as the new Primary President. I was feeling like we needed A LOT more practice so one of my cute counselors had the idea to make breakfast the Sat. morning before and hold a practice. So we did. Well just as we were singing "Children Holding Hands Around the World" we were interrupted by the VERY LOUD fire alarm. Apparently we set it off with one of the smoking pancakes......oops! So of course the Fire Dept. came and all the kids thought it was so funny. The next morning at ward counsel, I was the butt of every joke of course.....it was pretty funny. SO this year we decided that we would hold a practice on Friday afternoon and have "store bought" cookies and Capri Sun's, you can't burn down the church with those.....right? The kids even asked if the Firemen were coming again. So they were happily singing "I am a Builder" when AGAIN we were interrupted by the fire alarm. We all just looked at each other in disbelief. I for sure thought someone had to be playing a joke on us. We took the kids out side, just as a precaution and there was the culprit. A cute little 2 year old hiding in the corner right by the pulled fire alarm. So I bet you can guess that soon the fire truck was there and all the kids were laughing. Well this time our bishop was still at work in Salt Lake and he had the key to turn it off. So we spent a lot of time in the lawn sharing the cookies with the firemen until we could track down a key to shut it off. (Thanks Bro. Higley for saving the day) Needless to say we didn't get much practice in, I thought they would take away my keys to the building, and the jokes just keep coming....but it was stinkin' funny and the kids LOVED it. Even though it was so not what was planned it ended up being the best part. The only thing I regret is not having my camera. Despite all the commotion the program went great. It's always a faith building experience. I was so proud of my darling primary kids. They did such a great job! Maybe next year I can just ask the Fire Dept. to come join us, they'll probably end up there anyway.

I'm Baa-aack!

I know, I know! What the heck happened to the last 4 months. Wait I know what happened......PTA! This whole PTA president thing is quite time consuming. I do have to admit that I have loved it though. I love being where my kids are, being involved with what they are doing, and getting to know their teachers and friends. Plus I get to rub shoulders with some really incredible people. I guess it's all worth it in the end. Well since I plan to copy my smart friend Heather and put all my posts in a book, I guess I better recap our summer and first couple weeks of school. So here it all is....in a nut shell.

June was full of softball tournaments, Lagoon, swimming, and of course PTA. July was crazy too. Kyle had knee surgery and was layed up for 3 weeks. He went crazy being home and I went crazy having him home. In between all the knee-healing process was more softball, primary activities, camping, and trying keep the lawn mowed. August was here much to quickly. And of course lots of PTA preparations for the first week of school. But it was fun to have my girls working right along side of me. There is something very "cool" about being able to be in the school and see all the teachers getting their class rooms put together before school actually starts! The girls loved being a part of it. Kemri started guitar lessons with my cutest friend Amanda. She loves it! Kesli tried out for the softball team again and made it, so she had fun getting to know the new girls on her team. We have our new little Paislee (Kylee & Jayson's baby) and we all can't get enough of her! I even got to baby sit her! I love that little stink. Then of course the girls started school. They both LOVE their teachers! Kesli made the student council and is loving it! Kyson started Preschool at Jelly Bean Junction. He loves going to preschool. We got very fun news that my cute sister Linsay and her husband Rusty are having a baby girl in February, and Kyle's sister Tiff is also having a baby in Feb. I love all these new babies, there is nothing better. It was a crazy and fun summer and what a great Back-to -School experience. I am truely grateful for such a wonderful school, with great teachers and pricipal. Now we are starting to get into fall and loving it! It's kindof nice to be back on some sort of a schedule.

I know I am a huge slacker and haven't posted forever, it's been a crazy summer...but I am posting now and I wanted everyone to see this cute little girl. Her name is Maryn and she is 3 years old with an inoperable brain tumor. The doctors have told her parents that she has 9-12 months even with radiation. As any parent they have been praying for a miracle. They have found a clinic in Texas, but insurance will not cover the crazy expensive cost of the treatment that might possibly save her life. So I came across this story and how they are trying to raise money to get their little girl to Texas to this clinic. I know that there are so many sick little angles, but for some reason this story just got to me. I've never met her, I just learned of her story on KSL. Maybe it's because she and I share the same birthday (and Amy:)), I don't know ,but I just wanted to share this website with everyone so if you are able ...Please donate to the cause. I can't even imagine getting that kind of news about one of my kids. So please take a minute and visit the website.......marynshope.org.....thanks:) I have the best friends in the world!

RAGNAR

About a year ago my cute sister-in-law, Kristen ran Ragnar (a relay from Logan to Park City, 187.7 miles!) She said it was the funnest most horrible thing she had ever done. You have a team of 12 people split into two vans of 6. Each person does three legs of various distances. So she talked me & Kyle into doing it with her and Kyle's brother Chad. We started training in about February. About a month before the race one of the couples had to drop out. We had to franticly think of 2 more people that had been running that could fill their place. Kyle called his friend Casey and I called my friend Kiley. Luckily they both agreed (crazy fools)! So It was set! Me, Kyle, Kristen, Chad, Casey and Kiley made up Van #1. We got to Logan Friday morning about 6:30. Kyle was our first runner. He started at 7:40am. We all ran our guts out! Up hills, off road, in the heat. We slept about a total of 3 hours, lived on Gatorade and Power Bars, laughed our butts off at the stupidest things that I'm certain nobody else would ever find funny and finally we made it 187.7 miles to Park City around 2:15pm Saturday afternoon. 30 hours and 19 minutes! I'm going to have to agree with Kristen "It was the funnest, most horrible thing I've ever done!" But heres the crazy part......I WILL totally do it again. And I think it's safe to say that everyone in our van would do it too. Everyone seriously did such an awesome job. Each person ran anywhere from 13 to 20 miles! It was a crazy weekend, but one of the funnest things ever! Casey & Kiley Thank you! You are both ROCK STARS!! And Chad & Kristen thanks so much for putting it all together! There was a lot of time and preparation on their part and we couldn't have done it with out them! Kyle & I both loved every minute ( even the puking in the porta potties, injured knee, dry heaving, & stinky colbalt blue van) You learn a lot about some one when you spend 2 days with no sleep in a van....and we still love them all, maybe even more......I just wonder if they can all say the same for us...ha ha! It is an awesome feeling to accomplish such a huge goal, now we just need to start training for next year!

"God be with you 'till we meet again"

June 3rd my cute little brother left for the MTC. We had to say our goodbyes in the parking lot of the Marriot Center because of the whole "swine flu scare" It was a little wierd to watch him ride off in the car, knowing that was it until 2011. We've heard from him a few times in emails and letters and he seems to have already learned so much. I eam so proud of him. He will be an awesome missionary. He gets on the plain for Florida tommorrow. I'm a little nervous for him, but excited too. We'll all miss you baby brother....but two years will go quickly I hope..and "God be with you 'till we meet again"

{GIANT CATCH-UP}

WOW! What a crazy last month. I haven't updated in a long time! We have just run from one thing to the next...but it has been super fun. Here is a quick update of the last month or so.........

Last Day of school! I saw this cutest idea on Studio 5. The girls really loved thier teachers this year and wanted to do something special for them for the last day of school. So we made these cute aprons, stuffed full of markers. post-its, hand sanitizer and lots of little things that teachers need. The girls wore them to get on the bus so they would get smushed.

Kesli had to do a presentation for class as part of her grade. She had to pick something to teach that she had a passion for and knew something about. Of course she picked softball. She put together an awesome little power point presentation. Then she had the whole class go outside and play a little game of softball. Coach Rich (grandpa) came and helped. She even got Mrs. Irvine up to bat. Kesli doesn't love to speak in front of people (Primary talks are traumatic) but she did a very good job and I was so proud of her.

Kemri had "pet day" at school. She was so excited to bring her little Copper puppy. She always loves to show him off. He was a little naughty....but not as much as we thought, so over all it was a fun experience.

Kyson has always LOVED! uncle Taylor's drums. So just before he left on his mission he gave Kyson his practice pad and new drum sticks! Kyson was so excited! I thought it was so stinkin' cute that he wrote this message on the pad for him. What a cute uncle!

KYSON'S 4th BIRTHDAY! He has asked me every morning since June 1st if he is still four and not just "half and a 3" I love my little guy...happy birthday buddy!

Kesli's 5th grade program all about American History. (Don't ya love the powdered wig). She has loved this past school year with her teacher Mrs. Irvine! She was an incredible teacher.

PrEScHoOL gRaDuAtiOn! Kyson Loved Preschool this year. He loved his teachers and looked forward to going every time!

Memorial Day weekend we planned to hike Waterfall Canyon. We got there and saw that we had to park like a mile down the road! There were TONZ of people there, so we decided to go to Adams Canyon instead.....same thing. I guess everyone else had the idea to go hiking memorial day too. We ended up spening the rest of the afternoon at Beus Pond feeding the ducks and geese and then went for icecream. Even though it was not what we planned it was fun just to hang out with our little fam.