Why have I lacked in the blogging area? Lack of motivation? Lack of sleep? Lack of time? Lack of all the above?!
Well life has taken a turn for a down hill ride on a steep roller coaster. I can see the upswing W-A-Y ahead but am not there yet on this ride. So for a lack of blogging well I'll just say LIFE is the reason.
Ben: Started preschool and LOVES it!! He talks about it to anyone who is willing to hear. He tells me he learns new things everyday an remembers some things from when he was "way little". He is constantly jamming around the house sing and dancing to his own life musical! He is learning to brush his own teeth! Learning to dress himself (still working on it with lots of frustration and tears)! Learning to "start" tying his shoes. Learning that when he turns 5 he gets to go to the big school across the street. Loves to build high towers and sobs when Symi triumphantly knocks them down. He constantly wants to help with everything. He's already asking Santa for big boy tools so that he can really help Daddy with working on stuff. He and Symi are playing more and more together. Ben is loving Primary and looks forward to singing the songs and coming home to tell us all about them and have us sing them with him. Family Home Evening I think Ben wants to dominate!! He always wants to be incharge and conduct the meeting, say a talk, and pray both times. It's hard to share these and trying to figure out the FHE isn't Primary.
Symi: Is getting chunkier! Since changing her to Soy Milk it's putting more calories into her diet and she's gaining a little bit of weight! YEAH!!! She is walking EVERYWHERE!! Climbing onto anything she can get her little knee up to. Jabbering up a storm. Still growls all the time like a mad dog. Knows what a dog and cat are. Knows what a dog says. LOVES and ADORES any kind of baby. Knows how to sign "Please" and "More" and giggles when you ask her to sign "Thank you". Her favorite thing to do is to grab a book and then back up into your lap and watch while you read her books. She's fascinated! She knows that to go outside she must have her boots on and will bring them to me randomly throughout the day and then throw herself against the door sobbing to go out. She loves to be outside is an understatement. This girl could LIVE outside and be completely content and happy. She has learned to fold her arms! SO SO SO SO CUTE!!!!! We just have to say prayer and she's ready! Dane and I can't get over it! She likes to give hugs and kisses on her terms and we treasure what we get! This little girl is growing up too fast. And I can now say I don't have a baby anymore! (tears)(sobs)
Dane: Is in the market for job hunting/deciding to go back for a Masters/ trying to figure out what he wants to do with a career now/ trying to find a balance with job, home, church callings, and hobbies. He's still trying to decide. I'm trying to help him with all the many ideas and options that I seem to come across on the internet. So far there are jobs of interest in Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. Now it's a What? When? Where? Benefits? But he's trying to not get frustrated and working on focusing and deciding. Many prayers, many fasting days, and temple trips. Working on it.
Me: I've been working on over coming a cold, then flu, then sleep deprivation from me being sick and then 2 kids being sick too. I think I'm on the tail end of the flu and now working on catching up with my house work? Ewe. It's been since Labor Day that I've really cleaned it well!? Gross. I've also been working on getting both the kids insured again. It's been some ROUGH months financially trying to make ends meet with 2 kids that have medications and Dr's visits that could easily spend our whole Family Budget in just a few days!! Insurance is a must! But I'm very happy to say that all my hard work paid off and they are now Insured!! My newest hobby has been trying to find recipes that have NO Dairy, No eggs, and No wheat in them. Let me tell you I don't like my new hobby and so far I've failed several times and Symi has suffered. Thus we have suffered. I'll just keep looking and trying!
I canned peaches and peach pit syrup this year.
Ben riding Pheonix this summer. 
Just sending you some happy smiles from us!
