Enough wisdom to slowdown

I realized something. life will run off with you if you let it. Sometimes, you just have to stop and breathe it in. My prayer lately has been, "Heavenly Father, help me remember how quickly this is going by. Help me appreciate every single day–even the hard ones. Show me the beauty in each moment–even the bad ones.”

This has been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe because school is getting ready to start. Maybe because my husband is employed with a job that takes him away from our family EVERY week. Maybe because our son with super powers is showing signs of being independent. Here’s the deal: It’s our job to raise independent kids; but no one tells you how to handle it when it really happens. Maybe because I'm at "that" stage of my life that "things" don't matter - just my family and making sure they remember joy yesterday, experience joy today, and anticipate joy tomorrow.

The cure isn’t to slow down. That’s impossible. The cure is a heart of wisdom. The wisdom to know that broken dishes, stained clothes, and spilled food are never reasons to lose your temper. The wisdom to know that school assignments can always be done later. The wisdom to know that every moment is a sacred moment–changing diapers, snuggling on the sofa, swinging at the park, even that last drink before really going to bed. They’re all sacred, if you can just slow down enough to see it.

I have a lot of emotions running through my mind. I feel like it's time to get back to blogging and spending less time on social media. 

Halloween

There wasn't a lot of excitement in our house for Halloween. The kids had a hard time deciding what to dress up as. I don't like Halloween and would have rather skipped the whole festivities. Emmett and I attended Garhett, Trent, and Paige's class parties and watched their school parade. Emmett and I dressed up as skeletons.

Garhett designed his own costume this year, must be something about this age. All my friends said their boys did this too when they were 11. Garhett wanted a plain black t-shirt with iron on letters saying "Name" on the front and "Costume" on the back.

Here's Garhett with some of his classmates enjoying their party!

Next is Trent, he has dressed up as some sort of Ninja for the past 3-4 years. Completely by choice (no parent forcing). This year he wanted to be the Black Ninja of Death (Is there such a thing? I am not sure, but for him there is).

Here's Trent enjoying his class party!

Our sweet Paige! The one I hoped would stay with the Princess dress up a lot longer than she did. Last year (in preschool) she decided that she would be a vampire. This year she wanted to be "Bat Girl". So I made bat wings out of foam for her and attached them with elastic around her arms. She hated it! Decided that she would be the "Evil" Vampire this year. Are we seeing a pattern here with my children - not caring, wanting to kill, and just wanting to be BAD!!! I think it's time to sit down and have a heart to heart with my children! lol

Without further ado - Here is Paige! The Evil Vampire with purple fangs. Here she is with her BFF Aubrey!

Here's Paige and her classmates enjoying their Halloween Festivities.

Paige and Emmett waiting patiently waiting while I got a pedicure! A much needed one. 

Our ward had a trunk or treat. I stayed at the car and handed out candy while Scott took the kids around trunk or treating!

Halloween was fun, but am glad it is over. We got home dumped everyone's candy on the table and went through it. Everyone is allowed to choose their 2 favorite candies, the rest goes into a community bowl.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

We sent grandma and grandpa home for the weekend to rest from the labors of the Morgan Clan. Today I was feeling pretty good, so we decided to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. We thought we would be adventurous this year and go through the corn maze. The corn maze was shaped like the BSU Bronco's football player. It was fun at first and then kids were bored with the tedious turn after turn after turn and seeming like they were getting no where. Emmett did awesome!

We bought him a monkey pack that he wears and then we hold onto the tail, so he can't run off. Yes, I know another word for this would be a leash. I am so against leashes for children. I would mock people who put their children on a leash, and would just be disgusted. Well here I am once again, eating crow. Emmett is so busy and active and I must say FAST!!!! That since my surgery there was no way I was going to be able to catch him if he took off. Hence the "monkey on his back" pack. Emmett did so well wearing the pack that he didn't mind us holding the tail. I think he was just happy not to be in the stroller and could walk around.

So here are doing a few different activities at the pumpkin patch.

 Here we are entering the corn maze!

 The look out bridge as we cross over the other half of the corn maze.

 Here is the kids bail of hay maze! Emmett was happy to be free to run!

 Emmett and Daddy feeding the Camel.

 Paige enjoying the pony ride.

 Trent and Dad launching pumpkins! Ready

 Set - GO!

 Emmett playing in the corn box.

 Paige enjoying the corn box too!

 Here is our family on the hay ride out to the pumpkins.

 Trent trying out the bungee jump.

 Attempting the back flip!

 Attempting the front flip!

Silly Kids!

We let each of the kids pick an activity that they wanted to do. Emmett chose the jump house, which we didn't get a picture of and Garhett chose laser tag. I wasn't able to get a picture of Garhett playing tag.

All in all it was a good, long, and dirty afternoon at the pumpkin patch, but we all had FUN!!!! I was able to get around pretty well, but let's just say after 3 hours of walking the patch, I was in need of some serious pain medicine. Hahaha!

Trip to the Oregon Coast

We went to Oregon over Labor Day weekend. We stayed with our awesome friends the Lowe's, who live in Eugene. It was an all day exhausting drive. The kids did really well.

After arriving at the Lowe's home, Scott and Jamie took off to the river to do some fishing. A couple hours later I received this text from Scott!



















This is the biggest fish Scott has ever caught in his entire life. It was a steel head (like salmon). Great Catch!

The second day we woke to an awesome crepes breakfast. Our kids haven't ever had crepes and they were loving it!! So naturally I had to get the recipe. After breakfast, we drove over to the coast and stayed the night in New Port. Our hotel was right off the beach, our kids loved it! I was happy the hotel had a decent weight room so I could work out. I was feeling real sluggish after all the car riding we've done. This is my view out the gym window. HEAVEN!!!


We had a great time playing at the beach, building sand castles, walking in town, seeing the seals. I love the beach and the ocean. It is such a serene place for me.

Eileen helping the boys bury Paige!

Scott and Emmett

Emmett loving the beach

Eileen walking with Lalia

Trent and Dylan

Garhett and Emmett

Emmett running from me

Garhett and Wyatt

Garhett

Emmett enjoying the sand

Emmett

Trent

Look at all those SEALS!

After our fun at the beach we drove back to the Lowe's home in Eugene. The kids were bummed that we weren't able to have a bonfire at the beach, so Jamie was nice enough to make a fire in the backyard for the kids. So here are the kids gathered around the fire - making smores. Notice that my kids don't have their shoes on.

Garhett roasting marshmallows

Emmett kicking it on the Lowe's garden bench

 Thank you Jamie, Eileen, Wyatt, Dylan, and Lalia for hosting us at your home. As always, we had such a great time.

On our way out of town, I begged for some shopping time at the outlets and IKEA. Whenever we are that close to either I must stop. We first did a little shopping at the outlet mall. Scott slept in the car with Emmett, while Garhett, Trent, Paige and I hit the stores. I LOVE TO SHOP!!! After the outlets we went to IKEA!

 





What a great Labor Day Weekend!

Back to School Party!

We were invited to a back to school party tonight with some friends. The kids were so excited! We spent the evening with the Roskelley's, the Halladay's, and the Tolman's. Jen is simply amazing. Jen is the perfect hostess of a party. She had lunch boxes on the counter with treats in them, Capri Sun's for the kids to drink, and fun bracelets for the kids. After the kids had fun running around their property, we sat around a bond fire and made s'mores.

Here is a little fun the kids had.

Paige and Brighton enjoying a horse ride.

Here is the gang enjoying conversation around the fire pit.

More conversation around the fire pit.

Scott helping Emmett roast his first marshmallow.

Carson jumping in on the roasting fun!

In the Roskelley's backyard they have a zipline for the kids. Trent was digging it. So I finally was able to capture Trent on one of his many zip rides. The video is kind of dark because when I captured him, it was dusk.