Back to Blogging

After not having a computer for a year we finally have one again! Yay!! Even before our old computer called it quits, it was struggling with allowing me to use blogger. I had the Blogger app on my phone, but it was hard to type too much on such a small keypad. And I couldn't add photos from my phone. I'm hoping the issues I have had with blogging won't be an issue any more. I guess we'll see!
This is a photo Steve took of V. fishing the other day. They've gone a lot this year and she loves it! I love seeing the two of them enjoying time together!

V. didn't have soccer practice tonight and I actually had some energy so I went to the gym. I have a hard time finding the time to workout during the Summer so it was nice to go.
I got home to see that Steve and V. weren't home.
After a bit, they got home and V. came running into the house to tell me she had caught a fish! She was so excited!
Steve had taken her to get a happy meal for dinner then to Jensen's Grove for some fishing. It sounds like they had a fun evening together!
I love the relationship between these two!

Trying to catch up on blogging but admitting that too much has happened so I end up just rambling....

I haven't blogged in a little bit. I had plans to post back-to-school photos, Fall photos etc. But my computer is being dumb and won't upload pictures from my memory cards. Grrr!!!
But I figured I better get back to at least writing on this blog. Hopefully I can figure out how to get some photos on here soon...
2nd Grade started for V. last month. She has  a great teacher! She already knew about half the kids in her class which made her comfortable and excited. After a month of school, she is still loving it and comes home everyday eager to talk about her day! She had a bad fall on the gravel at recess one day and when she got home all she had was a band aid on. When I took it off, I saw there was still gravel and dirt in her cut and skin. Steve cleaned it and she cried because it hurt so bad! We were a little worried it might get infected. After 4 days it was still bleeding and not scabbing over. But we kept washing it and putting fresh band aids on and it did finally scab over. Now it looks like a little scar on her knee. It seems like every Fall when V. is back in school it only takes a couple days before she comes home with band aids all over her legs/knees. She just gets running so fast and having fun! I guess it's a sign of childhood to have band aids on your knees all the time, right?
V. already met her goal in the A.R. testing/reading program they do. I'm not too familiar with this. But she said her goal was a 4. She was at 2. 5. Then she read a Magic Treehouse book {a series she is loving right now!}and she said because it was a chapter book it was worth 3 points. So she took her test on it and got her score/points up to 5.5. So she says that means she gets to eat lunch with her teacher for meeting her goal! { I love that kids love the reward of eating lunch with their teacher!} Anyway, we are out for Harvest break right now, so she will get her reward when school starts back up.
Steve has been hunting this month and he shot a bull elk with his bow 2 weeks ago. He was by himself and it was back in aways, so it took him about 9 hours to cut it up, skin it and pack it out. We decided to get all but the backstrap in ground meat. We picked up the meat from the processor the other day and it feels so good knowing/seeing our freezer full of fresh, lean meat!
Steve's brother, Mike is staying with us this week and Steve has the week off work. The 2 of them have been out hunting trying to get Mike an elk. Tuesday they took V. with them and she was thrilled and had the time of her life! They got into some elk. Steve stayed with V. in the truck where they watched the elk through the spotting scope. Mike was creeping up on the herd when a truck went by and spooked them all. SO he didn't get any, but like I said, V. had the time of her life. She loved that she got to ride in the back of the pick up {with Mike} as well. That's just part of growing up in Idaho!
Yesterday Steve and Mike went out again and found the herd of elk again. They crept up and Mike took a shot but the wind caught his arrow. SO he missed. And the elk were spooked and took off. Oh well, they have a few more days before Mike goes home to try to get him an elk.
Oh, so much more to talk about, but I feel like I'm just rambling on....
Next week is also Harvest Break and we have a fun event that week that I'll post about later! :)

I went out with a friend last night and had a very enjoyable time and a much needed break!
Anyhoo, when I got home V. was already asleep so I gave her a kiss then talked with Steve about what they did while I was gone. He said they went fishing then came home and had Mac & Cheese{V. would live off that if she could!}. He said that later in the evening she came into our room and had a downcast face and was humphing. He asked her what was wrong. She said{in a very serious tone}," I just don't understand. Almost all my toys are made in China. Why? Why is everything from China?"
At this point Steve is thinking that she's being all political or something and he was very surprised!
She then continued," All my toys from Santa say 'made in China' on them. I don't understand. Aren't they made in Santa's workshop? Does he HAVE a workshop? Why are they from China?"
Steve said he probably had the deer-in-headlights look at this point. He was like, "Where is this coming from? When did she get old enough to start asking questions like this?"
So he turned to joking and told her that maybe Santa made a stop in China on the way to our house for her toys or something.
 Then the next morning she approached me with the same questions. So I told her something like maybe Santa gets parts from China, or has workshops all over the world and has one in China, or something like that.
Anyway, he said she was very serious and seemed genuinely upset by all this.
It has us wondering if this is the year she stops believing in Santa. It's sad to think about her growing up. I have a friend who says in their house they say ,"If you don't believe you don't receive." She says none of her kids have ever asked about Santa{not even the teens}. If they start, they are just told,"If you don't believe you don't receive."
But I've always told V. that she can ask us anything and we'd always be truthful with her. I was thinking more along the lines of talking about life and such. I didn't think about Santa. So do I break her heart when she asks about Santa by telling her the truth or do I just say that I believe in the magic myself, because if you don't believe you don't receive. Or is that too cryptic for a child?
I guess we need to do some serious thinking about how to answer her when she asks....
p.s.
I have found a few ideas on Pinterest of ways to talk to our child about Santa. I think I might take a couple of those and change them to fit us and they way we talk with V.

37 Reasons I Love Steve

Today is Steve's birthday. He turned 37! So I thought I'd share 37 reasons why I love him!{Even though there are many, many more!}

1} He makes me laugh!
2} He snores. Sometimes it keeps me awake, but usually the sound of his snoring is comforting.
3} He works hard to provide for us.
4} He encourages and supports my desire to be a stay at home mom.
5} I love when he grabs me and starts humming a tango tune and twirls me around and dips me.
6} I love the way his tongue sticks out a little when he is focusing/working on something.
7} He always lets me have the last piece of pie or cake.
8} He spoils our daughter {and me}.
9} I love when he starts tickling matches with V., or I or the both of us!
10} He takes me for rides in the mountains in the Fall because he knows I love Fall so much.
11} He loves me even when I say or do stupid things.
12} He is always the first to be humble and say sorry when we have a disagreement.
13} He sometimes brings a no-bake cookie home from the cafeteria at work for me because he knows I like them.
14} His facial wrinkles. I love knowing that those wrinkles are a sign of living life. Laugh lines,worry lines, lines from hard work, etc. I love that we are going through these life experiences together.
15} I love that he lets me warm my cold feet on his warm ones in bed.
16} He laughs at my jokes.
17} He makes me feel beautiful because he tells me I am.
18} He is a worthy Priesthood holder. And he uses his Priesthood power to heal and bless and lead us.
19} I love when he spends time with V. She adores him and he adores her. 2 peas in a pod they are!
20} He is forgiving. Many times I have said or done things that aren't right and are hurtful to others. He always forgives me.
21} He holds my hand.
22} He takes care of me when I'm sick. Or like now, with the restrictions I have because of my back he does my housework for me.
23} He brings me breakfast in bed every Mother's Day. { Usually donuts and hot cocoa.}
24} He holds his tongue and comments back when I'm being crazy. Like some of my O.C.D. things I do that really are rather silly but I HAVE to do anyway!
25} I love the way he snuggles up to me at night.
26} I love how he plays with V. and encourages her to follow her dreams.
27} He supports me in my hobbies and craft selling business.
28} He has been to almost all of my races and always has flowers or something for me when I finish.
29} I love when he puts his arms around me while I'm in the kitchen. And sometimes a kiss follows! ;)
30} I love that even though it seems like we always have a doctors bill needing to be paid off and it's usually because of me, he never complains about it or makes me feel bad about it.
31} I love how he sometimes will stay up late at night when I have a migrain and rub my head and neck until I fall asleep.
32} He is so patient with me.
33} He knows my favorite flower, color, candy, food, musicians, and most of my favorite movies.
34} I love how sometimes all we have to do is look at each other and immediately know what the other is thinking!
35} He is so easy going.
36} He is my calming agent. Back when I was in the Primary Presidency and it would be my turn to do Sharing Time, he would always stand outside in the hall where I could see him through the open door. I always got so nervous{ even had a panic attack a couple of times }. Being able to see him always comforted and calmed me.
37} He loves me. Just the way I am!

Father/Daughter

I love my two sweeties! They have such an awesome bond. They share the same interests. They share inside jokes. They enjoy plotting together ways to pull practical jokes on me!
We bought a new toilet a few weeks ago. YAY! The box it came in was big and in the living room. Over the next few days V. had colored it and "moved" in. She has a blanket and stuffed toys in there. She loves playing in there! One day I walked into the living room to see only Steve's legs sticking out of the box. He had crawled in as far as he could with her and all I heard was giggling and talking coming from inside the box. Yes, that box has been sitting in our living room for a few weeks now, but I just can't throw it out yet! ;)
Currently those two little hooligans are out fishing. Yes, we had snow today. But most of it has melted now and they really wanted to go fishing so they went. V.was way excited for Steve to get home and take her out!
These two are my life and I'm so grateful to have them in my life! I hope they continue to enjoy hanging out together and talking so when she is a teenager they are still close!
{I tried to upload a cute picture of the two of them hanging out in the box but for some reason it won't upload. grrr!}

Facebook status from a year ago today~

2 things~
1:For some reason V. has been calling Steve 'my bus' for about a week n...ow. She'll go around saying,"Hey Bus this, hey Bus that" etc. Weird.
2: I'm loving how craft blogs are starting to show Halloween crafts and some are even starting Christmas crafts. WHEEEEE! I LOVE IT

I totally had forgotten how she used to call him that! Kinda fun to remember.....

V.'s first soccer game!

Alright, we'll take a break from the vacay posts for a moment.

The day after we got home from our trip, V. had her first soccer game. YAY!

She was way excited! We bought her shoes and shinguards while in Anahiem. The night of her game, Steve helped her get ready and was explaining some of the rules to her. And reminding her that it's all for fun!

Then they went out back to practice some.

Then it was time for the game!

She did really well. She came off the field at one point saying she needed some chap stick. Then she came off saying her shinguards were hurting her, so Steve fixed them for her. Then at the end she came off the field crying and saying she was done. So other than coming off the field 3 times during the game, she did well!

She even had a friend on the other team that she was trying to get the ball from in this next picture! 

Overall, it looks like she might be following in her dads footsteps afterall!

My two loves!

Look at these two cuties! My sweethearts!

This was taken at Outback when we were having dinner with some friends last month.

And this photo was a couple of weeks ago. I was making dinner and I heard V.

ask Steve if he would play with her. I came in to find this~

They were playing with her magnetic princess dolls. She was reading Beauty and the Beast

and they were acting it out with the dolls. So precious, isn't it?

I thank the Lord every day for these two. I love them to pieces!