Tyson

A few weeks ago Mom sent me some photos and asked me to post them.  Here is our little Tyson who we are SO excited to get to see at Thanksgiving this year.  I am sorry that it took me so long to post these, but here he is in all of his hilarious glory.  We all understand that circumstances keep them in Kansas, as well as Britt and her beautiful crew and Michael in Austin with his crew, but we sure do miss them all.  Can't wait to have this little man running around the house again!  We love you Tyson!!!

Meal Balance

Some of you have heard of this from me.  Some of you have not, but I have to just take a moment and share this little venture I am embarking on.  Let's just start by saying that I am tired of feeling tired.  We know that.  In all of the times I have set out to get healthy, to lose weight, to work out, to stress less, to play more...how many ways are there to get healthy?  More than my wallet can take, that is for sure.  Well, a few weeks ago my good friend Kassie came to me with a plan.  This plan includes 14 breakfasts, 28 proteins, 28 vegetables, and 28 snacks.  All of it.  Cooked fresh and then frozen, shipped to my door overnight and ready to cook in the packaging bags in the microwave, much like steam bags.  The other key factor is the cost.  For all of that I will spend $168. plus 11.95 for overnight shipping on this huge, 26 pound box.  At first I thought she was nuts.  I went to her home and tried the food and I have to tell you, it is so, so good.  I agreed to signing up as I know that I want to get on a better page for health and weight loss, without all of the headache!  Along the way, it has become clear to me that this little venture will also be a profitable business.  Kassie has set herself up in just 3 weeks to have recurring income of $1200/ month.  (an amount that has increased in the last few days, I am sure.)  Curious yet?  Yeah, me too!  So, now I am in a little baby business that is sure to grow quickly.  The first step is to get started and see how much weight I can lose.  If the program works as well as the food tastes, I am sure that this will be great fun!

Also of importance, this program (called Meal Balance, by the way) is 95% gluten free.  It is very Atkins in nature without all of the prep work.  This is a business in the making and for those who might be interested, now is the time to sign up.  Can you tell that I am excited?!?  I really am.  You will be able to follow my progress and stumbles on a new blog in the next few days.  Yep, it's official: I am excited!

Funny stuff

As you know by now, I follow Stephanie Nielson over at nienie.  Well, today she shares a few stories about her day with her precious children and at the end she recalls something that her husband, Christian, said to their 2 screaming daughters in the shower that  has just made me laugh:  and I quote, 

"Oh girls, guess what? The devil called and said you guys were doing awesome."


Hilarious.

Moving on.  Ok, so a lot has happened actually.  Pictures have been taken and I need to share but truthfully I am rather cocooned in the warmth of having my family whole again, if only for 9 1/2 days.  Larry is home and there is no doubt that he is a busy, busy bee.  Fixing, and hanging, and patching, and washing, and EATING, and cooking and eating some more.  No sleeping in over here, in case you were wondering.  I am missing my stolen sleep, but love having him home.  We have faithfully headed over to the Pumpkin Patch, only to tromp through sticky, smelly mud and hay with scents wafting through the crisp fall air that bear little resemblance to Fall and much closer to filthy animals on a hot summer day.  Ick.  Ick.  Ick.  We didn't stay long, though we did get our requisite photos.  In an effort to sustain the children's excitement while guiding them to the car, we offered to carve pumpkins at home.  It worked.  Pizza and pumpkins and another little mess that had much better smells and results than could be found at the farm.  Larry's carving device of choice was a bit more industrial.  (see photo)  The kids all reveled in scooping out "punkin poop", as Kierstin called it.  Pizza was delivered and gobbled up and the night was complete.  Rain has kept things pretty mushy around here, but we thoroughly enjoyed being home and warm and dry and together.  

It's Friday and he is headed home! (and crafting fun)

5 weeks???  Has it really been 5 weeks since we had Larry home?  It is hard to believe how fast time is going by these days.  Some days feel significantly longer than others, but then we get four or five days in a row that feel like one long day.  It is a wonderful chilly morning with actual sunshine and leaves falling from the trees: Fall.  Fall is here and Halloween is right around the corner.  Kimball turns 13 on Sunday, and that makes you really realize just how fast time goes by.  13 years with Kimball, 15 years (give or take) with Larry and so many memories in between.  I am particularly grateful this morning for the chill, Larry's return, a warm (clean) home and the comfort of a great family and network of friends that I cherish.  I am a lucky girl today.

Larry will be home for 9 1/2 days and then he will be home at Thanksgiving, another wonderful holiday to look forward to.  These coming months will be filled with family and fun and new memories to be made.  I just hope that it slows down long enough to soak it all in.

OH!  And if you are on the lookout for cute do it yourself gifts, you must spend some time over here:  We Are THAT Family
You won't be disappointed.

And, if you are thinking of joining me for our upcoming Super Saturday, check this out:
Highland Village Ward Super Saturday 
I will be posting more pictures and info in the coming days.  It promises to be a fun day!

Time to catch up

There were SO many pictures on my camera. I uploaded everything and thought you might enjoy a little peak into the past two weeks of fun. Conference, a birthday for the Nowski, Toy Story with the 3 Musketeers, and a fun little science project with Kaden. So, much, fun!

Conference Sunday

Kaden's birthday

Toy Story Movie

Kaden's Science Experiment

Pumpkins

So, someone told me that the pumpkins were a little much, so lets try this background for a bit.

It's a rainy Tuesday morning and I have just sent my three older children to school, one had missed 4 days plus Monday off for Columbus Day, one missed three days and said Monday, and the other missed one day plus. So, how much fun do you suppose this morning was? Pleasant? Blissful? All on time? No, no and no. We managed to get everyone out the door with only tears once from Kaden and Kyra and lots of coughing from Kimball. Waiting for more fever from that one. Kierstin is home with her own version of the fever/ cough/ runny nose, with cute pink cheeks to match. So far she is pleasant. (I shouldn't say that out loud though.)

I have pictures to share of various activities in the last week or so, and will do so later. The camera is in the car and it is, at present, raining quite a bit. I have pictures of Kaden's 10th birthday, Tyson being Tyson, and everyday fun from the Ganson house. It's been a busy couple of weeks, hampered with sickness and a nasty ingrown toenail for the big guy. That was bad. All in all, we are scooting through these days hanging on with all hands possible and trying to slow down when slow down is necessary. Laundry has piled a little, Larry would be itching by now, but all is well.

Here we are in October, facing the imminent emergence of a teenager in our midst and the fast approaching Holidays. I love, love, love this time of year. It will not be the same with Larry in Vancouver, as he is a big part of the heart of our celebration. I can honestly say that this trip has been harder than I thought it would be in many ways. We are fine, as always, but there are moments when I think we might not be...moments when sleep is the only way to end the frustration for one day and start over with optimism in the morning. We are optimistic this morning. Rain, cool air, and kids in school. I think I shall relax for a bit and then dive into the laundry before it takes over.

Just for fun!

Larry has done it again. Made me laugh!

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Hmmm. Sickness has found us this morning. Again, HMMM!

Fever of 101.4, headache, stuffy nose, slight nausea. Got them all, well, that is to say that one of my children has woken up with it this early morning. The only one that I really wish didn't have it, I mean I don't want any of them to have it but this one...KADEN! His birthday is tomorrow and grand plans have been started, excitement has been building in his little almost 10 year old head. He is worried about homework, and missing much anticipated activities at school, and most importantly he is worried about being sick on his birthday. Well, the reality is that he will be. I highly doubt that this will only touch down for a 24 hour period, more than likely we are in for a number of days of this. On one hand I am so sad for him, on the other, sickness forces a major slow down that I actually love. Things still have to get done, but the extraneous running around stops. The big plans get put on hold and you focus on the one, as long as it stays just one of course. Birthday plans will have to change for this little man, and that makes him sad but never fear...I can do fun even with a fever, we just have to stay home.

More to share on the amazing Conference weekend we just had but enjoy this one picture that I think really captures the coziness we shared. Kids in new pj's, laying together on the big cozy chair, grey skies in the background and the stuff you can't capture in a photo...the smells of pot roast cooking all day and homemade treats. We were well taught and I learned A LOT, but what I really remembered was how much we need those quiet weekends and to slow down and listen and be together. It really was a wonderful weekend.

Elizabeth Smart

I will never forget that day. She was taken from her home and all of Salt Lake City was horrified. They looked and looked for her. For months. I remember also the day they found her. I remember seeing the police car in Sandy, UT across the street from where I had stopped for lunch. I remember thinking something was peculiar about it. Later that night, on the news, that same police car, same street, same people were on the news and she had been found...Alive. I cried and laughed and felt so much relief at her safe return.

She testified against her captor and shared her horrifying story. It was the worst case scenario for that young girl, for her parents, for anyone really. But that young girl is now 21, and about to leave on a mission for the Church. For her faith that sustained her. That beautiful girl, with so many reasons to stay close to home, to be afraid...is going to Paris on a mission. I don't know why but it made me so proud of her and of her family to read that. I am proud to be a Latter-day Saint. I am proud to be among some amazing women, some crazies too, but that's to be expected right? (we call it colorful at our house though) I don't have it all figured out, but I know that I am happy here.

So, to Elizabeth, I am sorry that you had to relive those horrible memories, but I am so very proud of you.