Pictures from the UK

 Scottish Highland Cows... or Hairy Coos as they are called in the UK. They are so cute. Jer couldn't touch them or he wouldn't be allowed near American cattle for 2 weeks. Sad...

 The UK was a very festive place to be... what with the Royal wedding and all!

Me eating the yummiest hot chocolate ever at the Elephant House in Scotland where JK Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter book.

 At Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

 Usborne Trip Earners

 Me and Jer with Randall and Carol White outside Westminster Abbey. Randall is the CEO.

 Changing of the Horse Guard at Buckingham Palace

 Buckingham Palace

 Outside the Tower of London

 Tower Bridge

 Westminster Abbey. We got there just in time for a nice leisurely tour before they closed for the Royal Wedding.

 Guard at the Tower of London outside where we keep the Crown Jewels. Cameras aren't allowed in the vault where they keep the jewels, but trust me they were spectacular. We saw the Hope Diamond which I believe is the largest diamond in the world.

 Stonehenge.

 This yellow crop was everywhere... it turns into Canola Oil.

 Shakespeare's Garden and House... well, the one he grew up in and inherited when his father died.

Big Ben.

What I've Learned From Being a Mom

Today I was vacuuming oats out of my oven and the drawer under the over because Cal spilt about 6 cups of quick oats which led me to think about how the first time as a mom I had to vacuum up oats I had made the mistake of running over the oats with the vacuum instead of the using the hose.  Just so you know the beater brush on the vacuum will grind up the oats and you'll be left rolled oats and oat dust. Anyway... so this got me thinking on some of the other things I've learned from motherhood... many of which I didn't expect. So here is a list:

• Pay for the more expensive laundry detergent... it is worth it.
• Same with the more expensive diapers and wipes.
• Never dress a child in the morning in an outfit that you need to be presentable at 6 pm.
• In fact, if a child needs to be in a specific outfit or costume do not dress them in it until the last moment possible! This is true whether they are a baby or a 3rd grader... I don't have any experience beyond 3rd grade yet!
• Baby oil removes crayon from the walls.
• Alcohol removes marker from the walls.
• Sometimes you just have to repaint the walls.
• Water based latex paint can be removed from carpet (kind of).
• I know why my mom always wore holy jeans! I never understood why she didn't just buy herself some new jeans when we got our school clothes. Or why Santa brought me a doll, books and clothes; but  my mom would only get useful gifts like vacuums and make-up... why didn't Santa bring her some new clothes so she didn't have to wear holy jeans! I get it now.
• It takes 30 min to get ready to leave for the doctor's office, church, etc. (15 min. to get shoes on and hair re-combed. 15 min. to get kids buckled into carseats and then to make the numerous trips from the garage to the house when you realize you forgot an immunization record, or a snack, or a book, or someone took their shoes off in the 2 min. from the time you put them on to the time they got in the car and the shoes are still in the house.)
• Oh... going back to painting walls... always put two coats of paint on a room where the kids are going to be alot because paint washes off when you wash the walls. I learned this one the hard way after I washed some walls down to the primer.
• Vinegar... it cleans up a wide variety of things and it is safe.
• Playdough sweeps up easily and can provide mom with a few minutes of quiet time!
• Don't take an interrupted shower or bath for granted.
• The control lock on front loading washers is there for a reason... use it! 
• Don't plan on being productive after 3 pm. To think you can get anything done from 3 pm to bedtime is just setting yourself up for disappointment. If it is important... plan on doing it early in the day when kids are happier and more cooperative or after they are asleep.
• I am reminded of Heavenly Father's love for me when at times I very strongly sense the love that He has for my little ones. And I remember... although I'm not so fresh from his presence or as sweet and innocent... I am His child too. And if He loves me 1/2 as much as I know He loves them... well, it's a lot. I remember when I was a teenager or in college and my Grandma Heslop bore her testimony in church and said that she always wondered how Heavenly Father could love everyone, but as a mother and grandmother she understands because each baby that is born in her family is loved just as much as the ones before... and just because she has a new grandchild, she doesn't love the others less. I also remember worrying when I just had Matthew how I could possibly love another child as much. And now, I know... there are no limits on how much many people you can love more than... well, anything else. 

Yes,,. It is April and this is a Christmas Post

Obviously, I am way behind on this blog. Now that we have Scouts, Achievement Days, preschool, karate, musical theater, plus Usborne and Jer's classes I feel like I am running all the time. Usborne has been super busy since Christmas, which I didn't expect, but am grateful for. Anyway... I want to make a blog book, but haven't yet because I didn't even have Christmas posted. But now, for better or worse it is posted. :)

Taylor Swift or Lady Antebellum...

I really love listening to Taylor Swift. She is beautiful and her songs have such a depth and maturity. I love some of the phrases in her writing. One I noticed today was "a careless man's careful daughter." I love good writing! Anyway, Taylor Swifts songs really take me back to my high school and college days... dating, heartbreak, falling in love... when each day was exciting and intense.

So tonight Jeremy and I were watching some music videos on YouTube. We started with this Bruno Mars one which was good. Then we watched some new Taylor Swift videos and we liked those. YouTube suggested that we watch some Lady Antebellum clips. I commented on how many of my middle-aged friends really loved Lady Antebellum, but I didn't know anything about them. So we watched and I realized I DID in fact know and recognize their songs.. and I also realized why my middle-aged friends liked them so much (especially compared to younger artists like Taylor Swift) and then sadly... I realized... I could relate to them more than I could Taylor Swift. ... Having a childhood vs. Having a past... Taking me back vs. My emotions now... I am old.

1 Year Old!!

A year ago, our sweet little guy made a dramatic entrance into the world. He was so sweet and tiny... and loved so much...

 And now here he is opening presents...

 And eating dairy free birthday cake (angel food cake, strawberries, and cool whip)...

 He can run; tries to jump; puts EVERYTHING in his mouth; comforts his siblings when they are sad; gives hugs and kisses; and says: mom, dad, go, no, and Go Cougars! And he is still SO, SO loved!

And the people who CAN enjoy dairy products ate this ice cream cupcake cake that Kiersten made.

Happy Birthday Calvin! We can't imagine life without you!

Fallen Off the Face of the Blogging Planet

We don't have a camera right now... so I haven't taken many pictures... and I think a post without pictures is boring... so I have posted. There is my excuse. Someday when my kids are reading this family history there will be a gap of this summer/fall, but that is life. I guess I should get a new camera. I've been trying to hold out until the day after Thanksgiving sales, but I don't want to take Calvin's first birthday pictures with my cell phone.

Anyway, here is Calvin. He is quite the climber... especially when he want to see or touch something.

 A better shot of "what" he had climbed on.

 And here is after having a Matthew change his diaper. I think it is the first diaper Matthew has ever changed and other than the fact that it is backwards he did an excellent job.

 Cal in his BYU jersey. He looks SO cute in it.

 Speaking of BYU... we have season tickets! And after months of anticipation we had to sell half of them because they conflicted with Jer's EMT class. BUMMER! But we have LOVED being back in the stadium.

 We have AWESOME neighbors! On the morning of Ashton's birthday, Katie looked out the window and saw this on their garage. How great is that!

 Ashton with his farm scene cake Grandma Cox made him.

 And with his "Holly" (New Holland Tractor) cake that I made him. It turned out pretty great if I do say so myself.

Jeremy bought two goats. They try to sneak in the house and sometimes succeed. It has been fun to have them, but really, really, really annoying.

What the Kids Want for Christmas

William: Useful, big, toy crane & pajamas
Ashton: Builder set & another builder set
Katie: Nintendo DS, necklace, Santa's autograph
Matthew: For all the poor people and the homeless to have presents. Then, if there is any time left  a shelf for his scriptures.

The 1900s

My kids have a funny view of time. For example, in FHE this week Katie was telling us about Lorenzo Snow and how he died in 1901 and then she added, "That means he was alive around the same time as mom and dad because they grew up in the 1900s."

Later, she told us about George Albert Smith who was married when he was 22 years old. At that point Matthew shouted, "Hey, that is when I'm going to try to get married." This led Ashton to ask Jeremy, "Who was born first, you or mom?" Jer said, "Me." Ashton had knowing look on his face and said, "OH! That explains why you are taller."

Another funny statement from the same FHE... Katie said, "Sometimes Heavenly Father and Jesus see what you're struggling with and they tell the prophets and then they talk about it in General Conference. Me, Dad, and Matt experienced that." (She was referring to advice on no sleepovers, being home more, and not spending too much time playing video games.)

What $20 Can Get You...

$20!!

A large pizza and breadsticks without cheese

OR
All these books,

Plus $80 worth of business supplies

And an amazing OPPORTUNITY to promote literacy, get free books, 

and make money!

  

 

You can contact me at jill@utahusbornebooks.com if you want more info! This offer ends Aug. 30 @ 9 am.

My Favorite Picture of Calvin

I love this picture of Calvin... I took it with a little point and shoot, but my friend Amanda edited to make it look lovely. He has grown up so much since then... I need to take one of his sweet little baby curls now.

Some Summer Stuff

This summer we did a lot of fun things... we just didn't have a camera to capture them. My cell phone even died so we didn't even get them on there. (I did get a new cell phone so I will post the pictures from it.)
Some of the fun things we did include: St. George and touring Brigham Young's winter home, the mountains for the 4th of July, petting tigers at the Sevier Co. Fair, Jeremy and the kids went camping of the 24th of July and I went to Usborne National Convention, bridal and baby showers and Kellie's wedding, pageant and swimming lessons.

Okay... it looks like the only pictures I have are of Calvin and Will. I guess the big kids were too busy playing with friends, riding bikes, being on the farm, etc. to get their pictures taken.
Will was attacked by wasps.
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508320108354282066" />
He LOVES watermelon
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508320023707733154" />
Oops...
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508319916097992418" />
Grandpa Cragun with Calvin and Bailey
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508319779980115410" />